ything shall be
done for you, so that you need not leave your children; and, if your
lodging is unhealthy or too small, you shall have one found that is more
convenient and suitable, so that you may be in one room and your
children in another; you shall have a good nurse, who will watch them
whilst she attends to you, and when you entirely recover, if you are out
of work, I will take care that you are provided for until work comes,
and I will also take care of your children for the future."

"Ah, what do I hear?" said Jeanne Duport, all trembling and hardly
daring to look her benefactress in the face. "Why are so many kindnesses
showered on me? It is not possible! I leave the hospital, where I have
wept and suffered so much, and not leave my children again! Have a
nurse! Why, it is a miracle!"

"It is no miracle, my good woman," said Clemence, much affected. "What I
do for you," she added, blushing slightly at the remembrance of Rodolph,
"is inspired by a generous spirit, who has taught me to sympathise with
misfortune, and it is he whom you should thank."

"Ah, madame, I shall ever bless you!" said Jeanne, weeping.

"Well, then, you see, Jeanne," said Lorraine, much affected, "there are
also amongst the rich Rigolettes and Goualeuses with good hearts."

Madame d'Harville turned with much surprise towards Lorraine when she
heard her mention the two names.

"Do you know La Goualeuse and a young workwoman called Rigolette?" she
inquired of Lorraine.

"Yes, madame; La Goualeuse--good little angel!--did for me last year,
according to her small means, what you are going to do for Jeanne. Yes,
madame, and it does me good to say and repeat it to everybody, La
Goualeuse took me from a cellar in which I had been brought to bed on
the straw, and--dear, good girl!--placed me and my child in a room where
there was a good bed and a cradle; La Goualeuse spent the money from
pure charity, for she scarcely knew me, and was poor herself. But how
good it was! Was it not, madame?" said Lorraine.

"Yes, yes; charity from the poor to the poor is great and holy!" said
Clemence, with her eyes moistened by soft tears.

"It was the same with Mademoiselle Rigolette, who, according to her
little means as a sempstress," said Lorraine, "some days ago offered her
kind services to Jeanne."

"How singular!" said Clemence to herself, more and more affected, for
each of these two names, Goualeuse and Rigolette, reminded her of a
noble action