ring which the Baroness recovered
her health, though her palsied trembling never left her. She made
herself familiar with her duties, which afforded her a noble distraction
from her sorrow and constant food for the divine goodness of her heart.
She also regarded it as an opportunity for finding her husband in the
course of one of those expeditions which took her into every part of
Paris.

During this time, Vauvinet had been paid, and the pension of six
thousand francs was almost redeemed. Victorin could maintain his mother
as well as Hortense out of the ten thousand francs interest on the money
left by Marshal Hulot in trust for them. Adeline's salary amounted to
six thousand francs a year; and this, added to the Baron's pension when
it was freed, would presently secure an income of twelve thousand francs
a year to the mother and daughter.

Thus, the poor woman would have been almost happy but for her perpetual
anxieties as to the Baron's fate; for she longed to have him with her to
share the improved fortunes that smiled on the family; and but for
the constant sight of her forsaken daughter; and but for the terrible
thrusts constantly and _unconsciously_ dealt her by Lisbeth, whose
diabolical character had free course.

A scene which took place at the beginning of the month of March 1843
will show the results of Lisbeth's latent and persistent hatred, still
seconded, as she always was, by Madame Marneffe.

Two great events had occurred in the Marneffe household. In the first
place, Valerie had given birth to a still-born child, whose little
coffin had cost her two thousand francs a year. And then, as to Marneffe
himself, eleven months since, this is the report given by Lisbeth to
the Hulot family one day on her return from a visit of discovery at the
hotel Marneffe.

"This morning," said she, "that dreadful Valerie sent for Doctor
Bianchon to ask whether the medical men who had condemned her husband
yesterday had made no mistake. Bianchon pronounced that to-night at the
latest that horrible creature will depart to the torments that await
him. Old Crevel and Madame Marneffe saw the doctor out; and your father,
my dear Celestine, gave him five gold pieces for his good news.

"When he came back into the drawing-room, Crevel cut capers like a
dancer; he embraced that woman, exclaiming, 'Then, at last, you will
be Madame Crevel!'--And to me, when she had gone back to her husband's
bedside, for he was at his last gasp