And a feeling of revolt and the wildest fancies instantly
arose within her. What was Mathieu doing in that house? whose child was
it that the young woman carried in her arms? At that moment the other
child seemed to peer forth from the past; she saw it in swaddling
clothes, like the infant there; indeed, she almost confounded one with
the other, and imagined that it was indeed her husband's illegitimate son
that was sleeping in his mother's arms before her. Then all the
satisfaction she had derived from what she had heard Madame Bourdieu say
departed, and she went off furious and ashamed, as if soiled and
threatened by all the vague abominations which she had for some time felt
around her, without knowing, however, whence came the little chill which
made her shudder as with dread.
As for Mathieu, he saw that neither Norine nor Cecile had recognized
Madame Beauchene under her veil, and so he quietly continued explaining
to the former that he would take steps to secure for her from the
Assistance Publique--the official organization for the relief of the
poor--a cradle and a supply of baby linen, as well as immediate pecuniary
succor, since she undertook to keep and nurse her child.
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