"
Then, on perceiving her mistress's radiant surprise, her joy at this
relief, she showed herself zealous: "Madame must not tire herself by
holding the little one. Madame hasn't the habit. If madame will allow me,
I will bring the nurse to her."
Heaving a sigh of happy deliverance, Valentine had allowed the servant to
take the child from her. So Heaven had not abandoned her! However, she
began to discuss the matter, and was not inclined to have the nurse
brought there. She somehow feared that if the other one, who was drunk in
her room, should come out and meet the new arrival, she would set about
beating them all and breaking everything. At last she insisted on taking
Santerre and Mathieu into the linen-room, saying that the latter must
certainly have some knowledge of these matters, although he declared the
contrary. Only Gaston and Lucie were formally forbidden to follow.
"You are not wanted," said their mother, "so stay here and play. But we
others will all go, and as softly as possible, please, so that that
drunken creature may not suspect anything."
Once in the linen-room, Valentine ordered all the doors to be carefully
secured.
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