teful than pleased at the
service done him. But perhaps this good natural disposition, abandoned
without support or counsel, or help, and exasperated by bad treatment,
may become changed and embittered--and then will come the age of the
passions--the bad temptations--'

"Oh! in the deserted poor, virtue is doubly saintly and respectable!

"This morning, after having (as usual) gently reproached me for not going
to mass, Agricola's mother said to me these words, so touching in her
simple and believing mouth, 'Luckily, I pray for you and myself too, my
poor girl; the good God will hear me, and you will only go, I hope, to
Purgatory.'

"Good mother; angelic soul! she spoke those words in so grave and mild a
tone, with so strong a faith in the happy result of her pious
intercession, that I felt my eyes become moist, and I threw myself on her
neck, as sincerely grateful as if I had believed in Purgatory. This day
has been a lucky one for me. I hope I have found work, which luck I shall
owe to a young person full of heart and goodness, she is to take me
to-morrow to St. Mary's Convent, where she thinks she can find me
employment."

Florine, already much moved by the reading, started at this passage in
which Mother Bunch alluded to her, ere she continued as follows:

"Never shall I forget with what touching interest, what delicate
benevolence, this handsome young girl received me, so poor, and so
unfortunate. It does not astonish me, for she is attached to the person
of Mdlle. de Cardoville. She must be worthy to reside with Agricola's
benefactress. It will always be dear and pleasant to me to remember her
name. It is graceful and pretty as her face; it is Florine. I am nothing,
I have nothing--but if the fervent prayers of a grateful heart might be
heard, Mdlle. Florine would be happy, very happy. Alas! I am reduced to
say prayers for her--only prayers--for I can do nothing but remember and
love her!"

These lines, expressing so simply the sincere gratitude of the hunchback,
gave the last blow to Florine's hesitations. She could no longer resist
the generous temptation she felt. As she read these last fragments of the
journal, her affection and respect for Mother Bunch made new progress.
More than ever she felt how infamous it was in her to expose to sarcasms
and contempt the most secret thoughts of this unfortunate creature.
Happily, good is often as contagious as evil. Electrified by all that was
warm, noble, and mag