He had suddenly recalled his conversation
with Boutan respecting the demoralizing effects of that nurse trade, the
shameful bargaining, the common crime of two mothers, who each risked the
death of her child--the idle mother who bought another's services, the
venal mother who sold her milk. He felt cold at heart as he saw one child
carried off still full of life, and the other remain there already so
puny. And what would be fate's course? Would not one or the other,
perhaps both of them be sacrificed?
Valentine, however, was already leading both him and Santerre to the
spacious salon again; and she was so delighted, so fully relieved, that
she had recovered all her cavalier carelessness, her passion for noise
and pleasure. And as Mathieu was about to take his leave, he heard the
triumphant Santerre saying to her, while for a moment he retained her
hand in his clasp: "Till to-morrow, then." And she, who had cast her
buckler of defence aside, made answer: "Yes--yes, to-morrow."
A week later La Catiche was the acknowledged queen of the house. Andree
had recovered a little color, and was increasing in weight daily. And in
presence of this result the others bowed low indeed.
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