She wished that she
might be very rich, to show him that she, too, could make others happy.
But the Lemballeuse had seen the good gentleman. The mother had rushed
forward; the two little sisters moaned as they held out their hands for
alms, whilst the elder one, letting go of her wounded ankles, looked at
the new-comer inquiringly with her wild eyes.
"Listen, my noisy children," said Felicien. Then, addressing the mother,
he continued, "You may go to the Grand Rue, at the corner of the Rue
Basse--"
Angelique had understood immediately, for the shoemaker had his shop
there. She interrupted him quickly, and was so agitated that she
stammered her words at random.
"But that is a useless thing to do! What would be the good of it? It is
much more simple--"
Yet she could not find in her own mind the more simple thing she
desired. What could she do? What could she invent, so to be before him
in giving her charity? Never had it seemed to her possible she could
detest him as she did now.
"You will say from me, that it is I who have sent you," continued
Felicien. "You will ask--"
Again she interrupted him. The contest lasted a moment longer. She
repeated in an anxious way:
"It is, indeed, much more simple; it is much easier--"
Suddenly she was calm.
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