The Wandering Jew, Book IV.

with the Bacchanal Queen, the two sisters wer

to the young sempstress; "at least now

elet, in the midst of the crowd, Cephyse clasped her hands, and could not repress an exclamation of painful surprise. Then, approaching her sister, that she might contemplate her more closely, she took her thin, icy

thus!" Unable to artic

rself on the other's nec

f her sobs, she adde

ing-girl, deeply moved, and gently disengaging herself fr

e to be dressed in all this frippery, and throwing away so much money in follies, while you are thus miserably cl

up rather late last night, and that makes me a

n the midst of the intoxicated crowd, and yet it wa

Joyous cries were heard suddenly in the next apartment, and these w

s if overwhelmed with shame. "Cephyse," she said, "I entreat you not to grieve so. You will make me regret the de

are right," said the Bacch

you? fo

instead of having the courage t

er, and raise her a little in her own estimation, said to her tenderly: "In supporting it bravely for a whole

r! do not

ature like me exposed? Do I not naturally seek solitude, even as you se

e not always

, robust and full of life, hunger is fury, is madness. Alas! you must remember how many times I have seen you suffering from those painful attacks, when work failed us in our

ed the right to t

fails at last-I know you well, Cephyse-it was hunger that conquered you; and the pain

e those privations-y

sun, nailed constantly to your chair, clad almost in rags, and working without rest and without hope? No! for He has given us other wants than those of eating and drinking. Even in our humble condition, does not beauty require some little ornament? Does not youth require some movement, pleasure, gayety? Do not all ages call for relaxation and rest? Had you gained sufficient wages to satisfy h

have gained eighteenpence a day, my life would have been quite different; for,

t pity, but cannot blame you. You did not choose yo

erly; "you can encourage and console me in the midst of

t and good. If He has denied me many advantage

oy

would be too burdensome, and I should no

n; "you still know how to devote yourself for

th a faint smile, "I am as proud and happy as a poor little ant, who, after a great deal of

refused. Jacques Rennepont has still, I think, some money left-we are spending it in follies-now and then giving a little to poor people we may happen

d heart; but I am not in want of anything

ble-be it so-I respect your scruples. But you will not refuse a service from Jacques; he has been a workman,

ther Bunch, in a tone at once so mild and firm that the Bacchanal Queen saw that all persuas

r, taking her hand; "I am truly sorry-b

cannot accept assistance from my lover-it was an insult to propose it to you. There

t mean to hurt you

y as I am, I have sometimes moments of reflection, even in t

o you think

cques for a small sum of money, just enough to subsist on for a year,

good one; why n

ich man, that I did not like. Nor have I ever asked anything for myself. Jacques has spent perhaps ten thousand francs the last three or four months, yet we only occupy two half-furnished rooms, because we always live out of doors, like the birds: fortunately, when I first loved him, he had nothing at all, and I had just sold some jewels that had been given me, for a hundred francs, and put this sum in the lottery. As mad people and fools are always lucky, I gained a prize of four

ried Mother Bunc

him for all his riches, knowing that I was living with Jacques asked me to-But why should I trouble you with all these details? In one word, he lent Jacques mon

s money so foolishly, why not put it out to in

e gets in exchange for the nice little pieces of gold, with which one can purchase a thousand pleasures. As for marrying, I certainly like Jacques better than I ever liked any one; but it seems to me, that, if we were married, all our happiness would

his money will not last forev

if it would not come for a hundred years. If we were always sayi

ded the sharp, shrill noise of Ninny Moulin's rattle. To this tumult succeeded a chorus of barbarous cries, in th

tarted at this

etting impatient," said Cephyse

irl, in alarm; "if they were

o-neve

along the passage-they are approaching. Pray, sister, le

in the passage a deputation headed by Ninny Moulin, who was armed wi

r I poison myself with

y Mo

or I publish my banns

le Rose-Pompon, wit

will rise in arms, and carry her

ry her off!" repeate

ressing summonses; then, addressing her court in a majestic tone, she add

aking his rattle as he retired, followed by the dep

Cephyse, "this i

friend Agricola. Since I began to play the rich man, we have not seen each other, but I like him

amily have had many misf

n!" cried

son! what for?"

l offence. We had hoped

dred francs it could be

not been able; the per

aying to her lover: "Do you hear, Jacques? Agric

understand all about it.

was the suppor

stressing, as his father has but just

f my last bag. You will find here some twenty-five or thirty Napoleons, and I cannot make a better use of them than to serve a comrade in distress. Give t

a kiss!" said th

in and again!" said Jacques,

hat hereafter these very five hundred francs, when returned to Jacques, might be of the greatest use to him, she resolved to accept this offer. She took the purse, and with tearful eyes, said t

me; money was made for ot

recommenced more furiou

ent forth the mos

u do not return to them, and I have nothing left to pay for the damage. E

arms to Mother Bunch, who threw her

to her sister, "when

e than to see you in want, out of w

then, to see me?

Jacques; "we will pay a visit to

use yourself with a light heart, for M.

Bunch quietly withdrew, eager to carry one piece of good news at least to Dagobert; but intending, first of all, to go to the Rue de

sed, were watching before it, and talking in a low voice. Soon after, they w

he three first

is t

u sure

r. "I have just seen him; he is togged out like one of the

etch the captain, and the game is bagged." So saying, one of the three me

anqueting-room, accompanied by Jacques, and was receiv

lf; "now then, friends-noise and tumult, hurricane and tempest, thunder and earthquake-as muc

en!" cried they al