CHAPTER V

    COMPENSATION
    Sunday,May27th
    Capitalcitieshaveonethingpeculiartothem:theirdaysofrestseemtobethesignalforageneraldispersionandflight.Likebirdsthatarejustrestoredtoliberty,thepeoplecomeoutoftheirstonecages,andjoyfullyflytowardthecountry.Itiswhoshallfindagreenhillockforaseat,ortheshadeofawoodforashelter;theygatherMayflowers,theyrunaboutthefields;thetownisforgottenuntiltheevening,whentheyreturnwithsprigsofbloominghawthornintheirhats,andtheirheartsgladdenedbypleasantthoughtsandrecollectionsofthepastday;thenextdaytheyreturnagaintotheirharnessandtowork.
    TheseruraladventuresaremostremarkableatParis.Whenthefineweathercomes,clerks,shopkeepers,andworkingmenlookforwardimpatientlyfortheSundayasthedayfortryingafewhoursofthispastorallife;theywalkthroughsixmilesofgrocersshopsandpublic-housesinthefaubourgs,inthesolehopeoffindingarealturnip-field.
    Thefatherofafamilybeginsthepracticaleducationofhissonbyshowinghimwheatwhichhasnottakentheformofaloaf,andcabbage"initswildstate."Heavenonlyknowstheencounters,thediscoveries,theadventuresthataremetwith!WhatParisianhasnothadhisOdysseyinanexcursionthroughthesuburbs,andwouldnotbeabletowriteacompaniontothefamousTravelsbyLandandbySeafromParistoSt.
    Cloud?
    Wedonotnowspeakofthatfloatingpopulationfromallparts,forwhomourFrenchBabylonisthecaravansaryofEurope:aphalanxofthinkers,artists,menofbusiness,andtravellers,who,likeHomershero,havearrivedintheirintellectualcountryafterbeholding"manypeoplesandcities;"butofthesettledParisian,whokeepshisappointedplace,andlivesonhisownfloorliketheoysteronhisrock,acuriousvestigeofthecredulity,theslowness,andthesimplicityofbygoneages.
    ForoneofthesingularitiesofParisis,thatitunitestwentypopulationscompletelydifferentincharacterandmanners.Bythesideofthegypsiesofcommerceandofart,whowanderthroughalltheseveralstagesoffortuneorfancy,liveaquietraceofpeoplewithanindependence,orwithregularwork,whoseexistenceresemblesthedialofaclock,onwhichthesamehandpointsbyturnstothesamehours.
    Ifnoothercitycanshowmorebrilliantandmorestirringformsoflife,noothercontainsmoreobscureandmoretranquilones.Greatcitiesarelikethesea:stormsagitateonlythesurface;ifyougotothebottom,youfindaregioninaccessibletothetumultandthenoise.
    Formypart,Ihavesettledonthevergeofthisregion,butdonotactuallyliveinit.Iamremovedfromtheturmoiloftheworld,andliveintheshelterofsolitude,butwithoutbeingabletodisconnectmythoughtsfromthestrugglegoingon.Ifollowatadistanceallitseventsofhappinessorgrief;Ijointhefeastsandthefunerals;forhowcanhewholookson,andknowswhatpasses,dootherthantakepart?
    Ignorancealonecankeepusstrangerstothelifearoundus:selfishnessitselfwillnotsufficeforthat.
    ThesereflectionsImadetomyselfinmyattic,intheintervalsofthevarioushouseholdworkstowhichabachelorisforcedwhenhehasnootherservantthanhisownreadywill.WhileIwaspursuingmydeductions,Ihadblackedmyboots,brushedmycoat,andtiedmycravat;Ihadatlastarrivedattheimportantmomentwhenwepronouncecomplacentlythatallisfinished,andthatwell.
    Agrandresolvehadjustdecidedmetodepartfrommyusualhabits.
    Theeveningbefore,IhadseenbytheadvertisementsthatthenextdaywasaholidayatSevres,andthatthechinamanufactorywouldbeopentothepublic.Iwastemptedbythebeautyofthemorning,andsuddenlydecidedtogothere.
    Onmyarrivalatthestationontheleftbank,Inoticedthecrowdhurryingoninthefearofbeinglate.Railroads,besidesmanyotheradvantages,possessthatofteachingtheFrenchpunctuality.Theywillsubmittotheclockwhentheyareconvincedthatitistheirmaster;theywilllearntowaitwhentheyfindtheywillnotbewaitedfor.
    Socialvirtues,are,inagreatdegree,goodhabits.Howmanygreatqualitiesaregraftedintonationsbytheirgeographicalposition,bypoliticalnecessity,andbyinstitutions!AvaricewasdestroyedforatimeamongtheLacedaemoniansbythecreationofanironcoinage,tooheavyandtoobulkytobeconvenientlyhoarded.
    Ifoundmyselfinacarriagewithtwomiddle-agedwomenbelongingtothedomesticandretiredclassofParisiansIhavespokenofabove.Afewcivilitiesweresufficienttogainmetheirconfidence,andaftersomeminutesIwasacquaintedwiththeirwholehistory.
    Theyweretwopoorsisters,leftorphansatfifteen,andhadlivedeversince,asthosewhoworkfortheirlivelihoodmustlive,byeconomyandprivation.Forthelasttwentyorthirtyyearstheyhadworkedinjewelryinthesamehouse;theyhadseentenmasterssucceedoneanother,andmaketheirfortunesinit,withoutanychangeintheirownlot.Theyhadalwayslivedinthesameroom,attheendofoneofthepassagesintheRueSt.Denis,wheretheairandthesunareunknown.Theybegantheirworkbeforedaylight,wentonwithittillafternightfall,andsawyearsucceedtoyearwithouttheirlivesbeingmarkedbyanyothereventsthantheSundayservice,awalk,oranillness.
    Theyoungeroftheseworthywork-womenwasforty,andobeyedhersisterasshedidwhenachild.Theelderlookedafterher,tookcareofher,andscoldedherwithamotherstenderness.Atfirstitwasamusing;afterwardonecouldnothelpseeingsomethingaffectinginthesetwogray-hairedchildren,oneunabletoleaveoffthehabitofobeying,theotherthatofprotecting.
    Anditwasnotinthatalonethatmytwocompanionsseemedyoungerthantheiryears;theyknewsolittlethattheirwonderneverceased.WehadhardlyarrivedatClamartbeforetheyinvoluntarilyexclaimed,likethekinginthechildrensgame,thatthey"didnotthinktheworldwassogreat"!
    Itwasthefirsttimetheyhadtrustedthemselvesonarailroad,anditwasamusingtoseetheirsuddenshocks,theiralarms,andtheircourageousdeterminations:everythingwasamarveltothem!Theyhadremainsofyouthwithinthem,whichmadethemsensibletothingswhichusuallyonlystrikeusinchildhood.Poorcreatures!theyhadstillthefeelingsofanotherage,thoughtheyhadlostitscharms.
    Butwastherenotsomethingholyinthissimplicity,whichhadbeenpreservedtothembyabstinencefromallthejoysoflife?Ah!accursedbehewhofirsthadthehadcouragetoattachridiculetothatnameof"oldmaid,"whichrecallssomanyimagesofgrievousdeception,ofdreariness,andofabandonment!Accursedbehewhocanfindasubjectforsarcasmininvoluntarymisfortune,andwhocancrowngrayhairswiththorns!
    ThetwosisterswerecalledFrancesandMadeleine.Thisdaysjourneywasafeatofcouragewithoutexampleintheirlives.Thefeverofthetimeshadinfectedthemunawares.YesterdayMadeleinehadsuddenlyproposedtheideaoftheexpedition,andFranceshadaccepteditimmediately.Perhapsitwouldhavebeenbetternottoyieldtothegreattemptationofferedbyheryoungersister;but"wehaveourfolliesatallages,"astheprudentFrancesphilosophicallyremarked.AsforMadeleine,therearenoregretsordoubtsforher;sheisthelife-guardsmanoftheestablishment.
    "Wereallymustamuseourselves,"saidshe;"welivebutonce."
    AndtheeldersistersmiledatthisEpicureanmaxim.Itwasevidentthatthefeverofindependencewasatitscrisisinbothofthem.
    Andintruthitwouldhavebeenagreatpityifanyscruplehadinterferedwiththeirhappiness,itwassofrankandgenial!Thesightofthetrees,whichseemedtoflyonbothsidesoftheroad,causedthemunceasingadmiration.Themeetingatrainpassinginthecontrarydirection,withthenoiseandrapidityofathunderbolt,madethemshuttheireyesandutteracry;butithadalreadydisappeared!Theylookaround,takecourageagain,andexpressthemselvesfullofastonishmentatthemarvel.
    Madeleinedeclaresthatsuchasightisworththeexpenseofthejourney,andFranceswouldhaveagreedwithherifshehadnotrecollected,withsomelittlealarm,thedeficitwhichsuchanexpensemustmakeintheirbudget.Thethreefrancsspentuponthissingleexpeditionwerethesavingsofawholeweekofwork.Thusthejoyoftheelderofthetwosisterswasmixedwithremorse;theprodigalchildnowandthenturneditseyestowardthebackstreetofSt.Denis.
    Butthemotionandthesuccessionofobjectsdistracther.SeethebridgeoftheValsurroundedbyitslovelylandscape:ontheright,Pariswithitsgrandmonuments,whichrisethroughthefog,orsparkleinthesun;ontheleft,Meudon,withitsvillas,itswoods,itsvines,anditsroyalcastle!Thetwowork-womenlookfromonewindowtotheotherwithexclamationsofdelight.Onefellow-passengerlaughsattheirchildishwonder;buttomeitisdeeplytouching,forIseeinitthesignofalongandmonotonousseclusion:theyaretheprisonersofwork,whohaverecoveredlibertyandfreshairforafewhours.
    Atlastthetrainstops,andwegetout.IshowthetwosistersthepaththatleadstoSevres,betweentherailwayandthegardens,andtheygoonbefore,whileIinquireaboutthetimeofreturning.
    Isoonjointhemagainatthenextstation,wheretheyhavestoppedatthelittlegardenbelongingtothegatekeeper;botharealreadyindeepconversationwithhimwhilehedigshisgarden-borders,andmarksouttheplacesforflower-seeds.Heinformsthemthatitisthetimeforhoeingoutweeds,formakinggraftsandlayers,forsowingannuals,andfordestroyingtheinsectsontherose-trees.Madeleinehasonthesillofherwindowtwowoodenboxes,inwhich,forwantofairandsun,shehasneverbeenabletomakeanythinggrowbutmustardandcress;butshepersuadesherselfthat,thankstothisinformation,allotherplantsmayhenceforththriveinthem.Atlastthegatekeeper,whoissowingaborderwithmignonette,giveshertherestoftheseedswhichhedoesnotwant,andtheoldmaidgoesoffdelighted,andbeginstoactoveragainthedreamofPairedandhercanofmilk,withtheseflowersofherimagination.
    Onreachingthegroveofacacias,wherethefairwasgoingon,Ilostsightofthetwosisters.Iwentaloneamongthesights:therewerelotteriesgoingon,mountebankshows,placesforeatinganddrinking,andforshootingwiththecross-bow.Ihavealwaysbeenstruckbythespiritoftheseout-of-doorfestivities.Indrawing-roomentertainments,peoplearecold,grave,oftenlistless,andmostofthosewhogotherearebroughttogetherbyhabitortheobligationsofsociety;inthecountryassemblies,onthecontrary,youonlyfindthosewhoareattractedbythehopeofenjoyment.There,itisaforcedconscription;here,theyarevolunteersforgayety!Then,howeasilytheyarepleased!Howfarthiscrowdofpeopleisyetfromknowingthattobepleasedwithnothing,andtolookdownoneverything,istheheightoffashionandgoodtaste!
    Doubtlesstheiramusementsareoftencoarse;eleganceandrefinementarewantinginthem;butatleasttheyhaveheartiness.Oh,thattheheartyenjoymentsofthesemerry-makingscouldberetainedinunionwithlessvulgarfeeling!Formerlyreligionstampeditsholycharacteronthecelebrationofcountryfestivals,andpurifiedthepleasureswithoutdeprivingthemoftheirsimplicity.
    Thehourarrivesatwhichthedoorsoftheporcelainmanufactoryandthemuseumofpotteryareopentothepublic.ImeetFrancesandMadeleineagaininthefirstroom.Frightenedatfindingthemselvesinthemidstofsuchregalmagnificence,theyhardlydarewalk;theyspeakinalowtone,asiftheywereinachurch.
    "Weareinthekingshouse,"saidtheeldestsister,forgettingthatthereisnolongerakinginFrance.
    Iencouragethemtogoon;Iwalkfirst,andtheymakeuptheirmindstofollowme.
    Whatwondersarebroughttogetherinthiscollection!Hereweseeclaymouldedintoeveryshape,tintedwitheverycolor,andcombinedwitheverysortofsubstance!
    Earthandwoodarethefirstsubstancesworkeduponbyman,andseemmoreparticularlymeantforhisuse.They,likethedomesticanimals,aretheessentialaccessoriesofhislife;thereforetheremustbeamoreintimateconnectionbetweenthemandus.Stoneandmetalsrequirelongpreparations;theyresistourfirstefforts,andbelonglesstotheindividualthantocommunities.Earthandwoodare,onthecontrary,theprincipalinstrumentsoftheisolatedbeingwhomustfeedandshelterhimself.
    This,doubtless,makesmefeelsomuchinterestedinthecollectionIamexamining.Thesecups,soroughlymodelledbythesavage,admitmetoaknowledgeofsomeofhishabits;theseelegantyetincorrectlyformedvasesoftheIndiantellmeofadecliningintelligence,——inwhichstillglimmersthetwilightofwhatwasoncebrightsunshine;thesejars,loadedwitharabesques,showthefancyoftheArabrudelyandignorantlycopiedbytheSpaniard!Wefindherethestampofeveryrace,everycountry,andeveryage.
    Mycompanionsseemedlittleinterestedinthesehistoricalassociations;theylookedatallwiththatcredulousadmirationwhichleavesnoroomforexaminationordiscussion.Madeleinereadthenamewrittenundereverypieceofworkmanship,andhersisteransweredwithanexclamationofwonder.
    Inthiswaywereachedalittlecourtyard,wheretheyhadthrownawaythefragmentsofsomebrokenchina.
    Francesperceivedacoloredsauceralmostwhole,ofwhichshetookpossessionasarecordofthevisitshewasmaking;henceforthshewouldhaveaspecimenoftheSevreschina,"whichisonlymadeforkings!"
    Iwouldnotundeceiveherbytellingherthattheproductsofthemanufactoryaresoldallovertheworld,andthathersaucer,beforeitwascracked,wasthesameasthosethatareboughtattheshopsforsixpence!WhyshouldIdestroytheillusionsofherhumbleexistence?
    Arewetobreakdownthehedge-flowersthatperfumeourpaths?Thingsareoftenestnothinginthemselves;thethoughtsweattachtothemalonegivethemvalue.Torectifyinnocentmistakes,inordertorecoversomeuselessreality,istobelikethoselearnedmenwhowillseenothinginaplantbutthechemicalelementsofwhichitiscomposed.
    Onleavingthemanufactory,thetwosisters,whohadtakenpossessionofmewiththefreedomofartlessness,invitedmetosharetheluncheontheyhadbroughtwiththem.Ideclinedatfirst,buttheyinsistedwithsomuchgood-nature,thatIfearedtopainthem,andwithsomeawkwardnessgaveway.
    Wehadonlytolookforaconvenientspot.Iledthemupthehill,andwefoundaplotofgrassenamelledwithdaisies,andshadedbytwowalnut-trees.
    Madeleinecouldnotcontainherselfforjoy.Allherlifeshehaddreamedofadinneroutonthegrass!Whilehelpinghersistertotaketheprovisionsfromthebasket,shetellsmeofallherexpeditionsintothecountrythathadbeenplanned,andputoff.Frances,ontheotherhand,wasbroughtupatMontmorency,andbeforeshebecameanorphanshehadoftengonebacktohernurseshouse.Thatwhichhadtheattractionofnoveltyforhersister,hadforherthecharmofrecollection.Shetoldofthevintageharveststowhichherparentshadtakenher;theridesonMotherLuretsdonkey,thattheycouldnotmakegototherightwithoutpullinghimtotheleft;thecherry-gathering;andthesailsonthelakeintheinnkeepersboat.
    Theserecollectionshaveallthecharmandfreshnessofchildhood.
    Francesrecallstoherselflesswhatshehasseenthanwhatshehasfelt.
    Whilesheistalkingtheclothislaid,andwesitdownunderatree.
    BeforeuswindsthevalleyofSevres,itsmany-storiedhousesabuttinguponthegardensandtheslopesofthehill;ontheothersidespreadsouttheparkofSt.Cloud,withitsmagnificentclumpsoftreesinterspersedwithmeadows;abovestretchtheheavenslikeanimmenseocean,inwhichthecloudsaresailing!Ilookatthisbeautifulcountry,andIlistentothesegoodoldmaids;Iadmire,andIaminterested;andtimepassesgentlyonwithoutmyperceivingit.
    Atlastthesunsets,andwehavetothinkofreturning.WhileMadeleineandFrancesclearawaythedinner,Iwalkdowntothemanufactorytoaskthehour.Themerrymakingisatitsheight;theblastsofthetrombonesresoundfromthebandundertheacacias.ForafewmomentsIforgetmyselfwithlookingabout;butIhavepromisedthetwosisterstotakethembacktotheBellevuestation;thetraincannotwait,andImakehastetoclimbthepathagainwhichleadstothewalnut-trees.
    JustbeforeIreachedthem,Iheardvoicesontheothersideofthehedge.MadeleineandFranceswerespeakingtoapoorgirlwhoseclotheswereburned,herhandsblackened,andherfacetiedupwithbloodstainedbandages.Isawthatshewasoneofthegirlsemployedatthegunpowdermills,whicharebuiltfurtheruponthecommon.Anexplosionhadtakenplaceafewdaysbefore;thegirlsmotherandeldersisterwerekilled;sheherselfescapedbyamiracle,andwasnowleftwithoutanymeansofsupport.Shetoldallthiswiththeresignedandunhopefulmannerofonewhohasalwaysbeenaccustomedtosuffer.Thetwosistersweremuchaffected;Isawthemconsultingwitheachotherinalowtone:thenFrancestookthirtysousoutofalittlecoarsesilkpurse,whichwasalltheyhadleft,andgavethemtothepoorgirl.Ihastenedontothatsideofthehedge;but,beforeIreachedit,Imetthetwooldsisters,whocalledouttomethattheywouldnotreturnbytherailway,butonfoot!
    Ithenunderstoodthatthemoneytheyhadmeantforthejourneyhadjustbeengiventothebeggar!Good,likeevil,iscontagious:Iruntothepoorwoundedgirl,giveherthesumthatwastopayformyownplace,andreturntoFrancesandMadeleine,andtellthemIwillwalkwiththem
    Iamjustcomebackfromtakingthemhome;andhaveleftthemdelightedwiththeirday,therecollectionofwhichwilllongmakethemhappy.
    ThismorningIwaspityingthosewhoselivesareobscureandjoyless;now,IunderstandthatGodhasprovidedacompensationwitheverytrial.
    Thesmallestpleasurederivesfromrarityarelishotherwiseunknown.
    Enjoymentisonlywhatwefeeltobesuch,andtheluxuriousmanfeelsnolonger:satietyhasdestroyedhisappetite,whileprivationpreservestotheotherthatfirstofearthlyblessings:thebeingeasilymadehappy.
    Oh,thatIcouldpersuadeeveryoneofthis!thatsotherichmightnotabusetheirriches,andthatthepoormighthavepatience.Ifhappinessistherarestofblessings,itisbecausethereceptionofitistherarestofvirtues.
    MadeleineandFrances!yepooroldmaidswhosecourage,resignation,andgenerousheartsareyouronlywealth,prayforthewretchedwhogivethemselvesuptodespair;fortheunhappywhohateandenvy;andfortheunfeelingintowhoseenjoymentsnopityenters