La Moineaude was firmly
determined to say nothing to her husband. She trembled for his future and
that of her son Alfred, who was now employed at the works; for there was
no telling what might happen if Beauchene's name should be mentioned.
Life was indeed hard enough already, and what would become of them all
should the family bread-winners be turned away from the factory? Norine
certainly had no legal claim on Beauchene, the law being peremptory on
that point; but, now that she had lost her employment, and was driven
from home by her father, could he leave her to die of want in the
streets? The girl tried to enforce her moral claim by asserting that she
had always been virtuous before meeting Beauchene. In any case, her lot
remained a very hard one. That Beauchene was the father of her child
there could be no doubt; and at last Mathieu, without promising success,
told the mother that he would do all he could in the matter.
He kept his word that same afternoon, and after a great deal of
difficulty he succeeded. At first Beauchene fumed, stormed, denied,
equivocated, almost blamed Mathieu for interfering, talked too of
blackmail, and put on all sorts of high and mighty airs.
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