eviously, acted as her husband's
intermediary. And a feeling of revolt and the wildest fancies instantly
arose within her. What was Mathieu doing in that house? whose child was
it that the young woman carried in her arms? At that moment the other
child seemed to peer forth from the past; she saw it in swaddling
clothes, like the infant there; indeed, she almost confounded one with
the other, and imagined that it was indeed her husband's illegitimate
son that was sleeping in his mother's arms before her. Then all the
satisfaction she had derived from what she had heard Madame Bourdieu
say departed, and she went off furious and ashamed, as if soiled and
threatened by all the vague abominations which she had for some time
felt around her, without knowing, however, whence came the little chill
which made her shudder as with dread.

As for Mathieu, he saw that neither Norine nor Cecile had recognized
Madame Beauchene under her veil, and so he quietly continued explaining
to the former that he would take steps to secure for her from the
Assistance Publique--the official organization for the relief of
the poor--a cradle and a supply of baby linen, as well as immediate
pecuniary succor, since she undertook to keep and nurse her child.
Afterwards he would obtain for her an allowance of thirty francs a month
for at least one year. This would greatly help the sisters, particularly
in the earlier stages of their life together in the room which they had
settled to rent. When Mathieu added that he would take upon himself the
preliminary outlay of a little furniture and so forth, Norine insisted
upon kissing him.

"Oh! it is with a good heart," said she. "It does one good to meet a man
like you. And come, kiss my poor little fellow, too; it will bring him
good luck."

On reaching the Rue La Boetie it occurred to Mathieu, who was bound
for the Beauchene works, to take a cab and let Cecile alight near her
parents' home, since it was in the neighborhood of the factory. But she
explained to him that she wished, first of all, to call upon her sister
Euphrasie in the Rue Caroline. This street was in the same direction,
and so Mathieu made her get into the cab, telling her that he would set
her down at her sister's door.

She was so amazed, so happy at seeing her dream at last on the point of
realization, that as she sat in the cab by the side of Mathieu she did
not know how to thank him. Her eyes were quite moist, all smiles and
tears.