"Oh! good Heavens," murmured Norine, who had turned quite pale, "I feared
that he had slit his hand."
For a moment Mathieu wondered if he would serve any useful purpose by
fulfilling the strange mission he had undertaken. Then it seemed to him
that it might be as well to say at least a word of warning to the young
woman who had grown so calm and quiet, thanks to the life of work which
she had at last embraced. And he proceeded very prudently, only revealing
the truth by slow degrees. Nevertheless, there came a moment when, after
reminding Norine of the birth of Alexandre-Honore, it became necessary
for him to add that the boy was living.
The mother looked at Mathieu in evident consternation. "He is living,
living! Why do you tell me that? I was so pleased at knowing nothing."
"No doubt; but it is best that you should know. I have even been assured
that he must now be in Paris, and I wondered whether he might have found
you, and have come to see you."
At this she lost all self-possession. "What! Have come to see me! Nobody
has been to see me. Do you think, then, that he might come? But I don't
want him to do so! I should go mad! A big fellow of fifteen falling on me
like that--a lad I don't know and don't care for! Oh! no, no; prevent it,
I beg of you; I couldn't--I couldn't bear it!"
With a gesture of utter distraction she had burst into tears, and had
caught hold of the little one near her, pressing him to her breast as if
to shield him from the other, the unknown son, the stranger, who by his
resurrection threatened to thrust himself in some degree in the younger
lad's place.
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