ing now devolved on the timid, gentle,
unpracticed Adrienne. All females of her condition, in countries
advanced in civilization like France, look to the resource of imparting
a portion of what they themselves have acquired, to others of their own
sex, in moments of urgent necessity. The possibility of Adrienne's
being compelled to become a governess, or a companion, had long been
kept in view, but the situation of Mad. de la Rocheaimard forbade any
attempt of the sort, for the moment, had the state of the country
rendered it at all probable that a situation could have been procured.
On this fearful exigency, Adrienne had aroused all her energies, and
gone deliberately into the consideration of her circumstances.

{Mont de Piete = traditional term for a municipal pawn shop operated to
help the poor}

Poverty had compelled Mad. de la Rocheaimard to seek the cheapest
respectable lodgings she could find on reaching town. In anticipation
of a long residence, and, for the consideration of a considerable
abatement in price, she had fortunately paid six months' rent in
advance; thus removing from Adrienne the apprehension of having no
place in which to cover her head, for some time to come. These lodgings
were in an entresol of the Place Royale, a perfectly reputable and
private part of the town, and in many respects were highly eligible.
Many of the menial offices, too, were to be performed by the wife of
the porter, according to the bargain, leaving to poor Adrienne,
however, all the care of her grandmother, whose room she seldom
quitted, the duties of nurse and cook, and the still more important
task of finding the means of subsistence.

{entresol = mezzanine, low-ceilinged area between between the first and
second floors}

For quite a month the poor desolate girl contrived to provide for her
grandmother's necessities, by disposing of the different articles of
the trousseau. This store was now nearly exhausted, and she had found a
milliner who gave her a miserable pittance for toiling with her needle
eight or ten hours each day. Adrienne had not lost a moment, but had
begun this system of ill-requited industry long before her money was
exhausted. She foresaw that her grandmother must die, and the great
object of her present existence was to provide for the few remaining
wants of this only relative during the brief time she had yet to live,
and to give her decent and Christian burial. Of her own future lot, the
poor gir