CHAPTER IX
THEFAMILYOFMICHAELAROUT
September15th,EightOclock
Thismorning,whileIwasarrangingmybooks,MotherGenevievecamein,andbroughtmethebasketoffruitIbuyofhereverySunday.ForthenearlytwentyyearsthatIhavelivedinthisquarter,Ihavedealtinherlittlefruit-shop.PerhapsIshouldbebetterservedelsewhere,butMotherGenevievehasbutlittlecustom;toleaveherwoulddoherharm,andcauseherunnecessarypain.Itseemstomethatthelengthofouracquaintancehasmademeincurasortoftacitobligationtoher;mypatronagehasbecomeherproperty.
Shehasputthebasketuponmytable,andasIwantherhusband,whoisajoiner,toaddsomeshelvestomybookcase,shehasgonedownstairsagainimmediatelytosendhimtome.
AtfirstIdidnotnoticeeitherherlooksorthesoundofhervoice:
but,nowthatIrecallthem,itseemstomethatshewasnotasjovialasusual.CanMotherGenevievebeintroubleaboutanything?
Poorwoman!Allherbestyearsweresubjecttosuchbittertrials,thatshemightthinkshehadreceivedherfullsharealready.WereItoliveahundredyears,Ishouldneverforgetthecircumstanceswhichmadeherknowntome,andwhichobtainedforhermyrespect.
Itwasatthetimeofmyfirstsettlinginthefaubourg.Ihadnoticedheremptyfruit-shop,whichnobodycameinto,and,beingattractedbyitsforsakenappearance,Imademylittlepurchasesinit.Ihavealwaysinstinctivelypreferredthepoorshops;thereislesschoiceinthem,butitseemstomethatmypurchaseisasignofsympathywithabrotherinpoverty.Theselittledealingsarealmostalwaysananchorofhopetothosewhoseveryexistenceisinperil——theonlymeansbywhichsomeorphangainsalivelihood.Theretheaimofthetradesmanisnottoenrichhimself,buttolive!Thepurchaseyoumakeofhimismorethananexchange——itisagoodaction.
MotherGenevieveatthattimewasstillyoung,buthadalreadylostthatfreshbloomofyouthwhichsufferingcausestowithersosoonamongthepoor.Herhusband,acleverjoiner,graduallyleftoffworkingtobecome,accordingtothepicturesqueexpressionoftheworkshops,aworshipperofSaintMonday.Thewagesoftheweek,whichwasalwaysreducedtotwoorthreeworkingdays,werecompletelydedicatedbyhimtotheworshipofthisgodoftheBarriers,——[ThecheapwineshopsareoutsidetheBarriers,toavoidtheoctroi,ormunicipalexcise.]——andGenevievewasobligedherselftoprovideforallthewantsofthehousehold.
Oneevening,whenIwenttomakesometriflingpurchasesofher,Iheardasoundofquarrellinginthebackshop.Therewerethevoicesofseveralwomen,amongwhichIdistinguishedthatofGenevieve,brokenbysobs.Onlookingfartherin,Iperceivedthefruit-womanholdingachildinherarms,andkissingit,whileacountrynurseseemedtobeclaimingherwagesfromher.Thepoorwoman,whowithoutdoubthadexhaustedeveryexplanationandeveryexcuse,wascryinginsilence,andoneofherneighborswastryinginvaintoappeasethecountrywoman.Excitedbythatloveofmoneywhichtheevilsofahardpeasantlifebuttoowellexcuse,anddisappointedbytherefusalofherexpectedwages,thenursewaslaunchingforthinrecriminations,threats,andabuse.Inspiteofmyself,Ilistenedtothequarrel,notdaringtointerfere,andnotthinkingofgoingaway,whenMichaelAroutappearedattheshop-door.
ThejoinerhadjustcomefromtheBarriers,wherehehadpassedpartofthedayatapublic-house.Hisblouse,withoutabelt,anduntiedatthethroat,showednoneofthenoblestainsofwork:inhishandheheldhiscap,whichhehadjustpickedupoutofthemud;hishairwasindisorder,hiseyefixed,andthepallorofdrunkennessinhisface.Hecamereelingin,lookedwildlyaroundhim,andcalledGenevieve.
Sheheardhisvoice,gaveastart,andrushedintotheshop;butatthesightofthemiserableman,whowastryinginvaintosteadyhimself,shepressedthechildinherarms,andbentoveritwithtears.
Thecountrywomanandtheneighborhadfollowedher.
"Come!come!"criedtheformerinarage,"doyouintendtopayme,afterall?"
"Askthemasterforthemoney,"ironicallyansweredthewomanfromthenextdoor,pointingtothejoiner,whohadjustfallenagainstthecounter.
Thecountrywomanlookedathim.
"Ah!heisthefather,"returnedshe."Well,whatidlebeggars!nottohaveapennytopayhonestpeople;andgettipsywithwineinthatway."
Thedrunkardraisedhishead.
"What!what!"stammeredhe;"whoisitthattalksofwine?Ivehadnothingbutbrandy!ButIamgoingbackagaintogetsomewine!Wife,givemeyourmoney;therearesomefriendswaitingformeatthePerelaTuille."
Genevievedidnotanswer:hewentroundthecounter,openedthetill,andbegantorummageinit.
"Youseewherethemoneyofthehousegoes!"observedtheneighbortothecountrywoman;"howcanthepoorunhappywomanpayyouwhenhetakesall?"
"Isthatmyfault?"repliedthenurse,angrily."Theyowetome,andsomehoworothertheymustpayme!"
Andlettingloosehertongue,asthesewomenoutofthecountrydo,shebeganrelatingatlengthallthecareshehadtakenofthechild,andalltheexpenseithadbeentoher.Inproportionassherecalledallshehaddone,herwordsseemedtoconvincehermorethaneverofherrights,andtoincreaseheranger.Thepoormother,whonodoubtfearedthatherviolencewouldfrightenthechild,returnedintothebackshop,andputitintoitscradle.
Whetheritisthatthecountrywomansawinthisactadeterminationtoescapeherclaims,orthatshewasblindedbypassion,Icannotsay;butsherushedintothenextroom,whereIheardthesoundsofquarrelling,withwhichthecriesofthechildweresoonmingled.Thejoiner,whowasstillrummaginginthetill,wasstartled,andraisedhishead.
AtthesamemomentGenevieveappearedatthedoor,holdinginherarmsthebabythatthecountrywomanwastryingtotearfromher.Sherantowardthecounter,andthrowingherselfbehindherhusband,cried:
"Michael,defendyourson!"
Thedrunkenmanquicklystooduperect,likeonewhoawakeswithastart.
"Myson!"stammeredhe;"whatson?"
Hislooksfelluponthechild;avaguerayofintelligencepassedoverhisfeatures.
"Robert,"resumedhe;"itisRobert!"
Hetriedtosteadyhimselfonhisfeet,thathemighttakethebaby,buthetottered.Thenurseapproachedhiminarage.
"Mymoney,orIshalltakethechildaway!"criedshe."ItisIwhohavefedandbroughtitup:ifyoudontpaymeforwhathasmadeitlive,itoughttobethesametoyouasifitweredead.IshallnotgountilIhavemydue,orthebaby."
"Andwhatwouldyoudowithhim?"murmuredGenevieve,pressingRobertagainstherbosom.
"TakeittotheFoundling!"repliedthecountrywoman,harshly;"thehospitalisabettermotherthanyouare,foritpaysforthefoodofitslittleones."
Attheword"Foundling,"Genevievehadexclaimedaloudinhorror.Withherarmswoundroundherson,whoseheadshehidinherbosom,andhertwohandsspreadoverhim,shehadretreatedtothewall,andremainedwithherbackagainstit,likealionessdefendingheryoung.TheneighborandIcontemplatedthisscene,withoutknowinghowwecouldinterfere.AsforMichael,helookedatusbyturns,makingavisibleefforttocomprehenditall.WhenhiseyeresteduponGenevieveandthechild,itlitupwithagleamofpleasure;butwhenheturnedtowardus,heagainbecamestupidandhesitating.
Atlast,apparentlymakingaprodigiouseffort,hecriedout,"Wait!"
Andgoingtoatubfilledwithwater,heplungedhisfaceintoitseveraltimes.
Everyeyewasturneduponhim;thecountrywomanherselfseemedastonished.Atlengthheraisedhisdrippinghead.Thisablutionhadpartlydispelledhisdrunkenness;helookedatusforamoment,thenheturnedtoGenevieve,andhisfacebrightenedup.
"Robert!"criedhe,goinguptothechild,andtakinghiminhisarms.
"Ah!givehimme,wife;Imustlookathim."
Themotherseemedtogiveuphissontohimwithreluctance,andstayedbeforehimwithherarmsextended,asifshefearedthechildwouldhaveafall.Thenursebeganagaininherturntospeak,andrenewedherclaims,thistimethreateningtoappealtolaw.AtfirstMichaellistenedtoherattentively,andwhenhecomprehendedhermeaning,hegavethechildbacktoitsmother.
"Howmuchdoweoweyou?"askedhe.
Thecountrywomanbegantoreckonupthedifferentexpenses,whichamountedtonearlythirtyfrancs.Thejoinerfelttothebottomofhispockets,butcouldfindnothing.Hisforeheadbecamecontractedbyfrowns;lowcursesbegantoescapehim.Allofasuddenherummagedinhisbreast,drewforthalargewatch,andholdingitupabovehishead:
"Hereitis——heresyourmoney!"criedhewithajoyfullaugh;"awatch,agoodone!Ialwayssaiditwouldkeepforadrinkonadryday;butitisnotIwhowilldrinkit,buttheyoungone.Ah!ah!ah!goandsellitforme,neighbor,andifthatisnotenough,Ihavemyearrings.Eh!
Genevieve,takethemoffforme;theearringswillsquareall!Theyshallnotsayyouhavebeendisgracedonaccountofthechild——no,notevenifImustpledgeabitofmyflesh!Mywatch,myearrings,andmyring——getridofallofthemformeatthegoldsmiths;paythewoman,andletthelittlefoolgotosleep.Givehimme,Genevieve;Iwillputhimtobed."
And,takingthebabyfromthearmsofhismother,hecarriedhimwithafirmsteptohiscradle.
ItwaseasytoperceivethechangewhichtookplaceinMichaelfromthisday.Hecutallhisolddrinkingacquaintances.Hewentearlyeverymorningtohiswork,andreturnedregularlyintheeveningtofinishthedaywithGenevieveandRobert.Verysoonhewouldnotleavethematall,andhehiredaplacenearthefruit-shop,andworkedinitonhisownaccount.
Theywouldsoonhavebeenabletoliveincomfort,haditnotbeenfortheexpenseswhichthechildrequired.Everythingwasgivenuptohiseducation.Hehadgonethroughtheregularschooltraining,hadstudiedmathematics,drawing,andthecarpenterstrade,andhadonlybeguntoworkafewmonthsago.Tillnow,theyhadbeenexhaustingeveryresourcewhichtheirlaboriousindustrycouldprovidetopushhimforwardinhisbusiness;and,happily,alltheseexertionshadnotproveduseless:theseedhadbroughtforthfruit,andthedaysofharvestwerecloseby.
WhileIwasthusrecallingtheseremembrancestomymind,Michaelhadcomein,andwasoccupiedinfixingshelveswheretheywerewanted.
DuringthetimeIwaswritingthenotesofmyjournal,Iwasalsoscrutinizingthejoiner.
Theexcessesofhisyouthandthelaborofhismanhoodhavedeeplymarkedhisface;hishairisthinandgray,hisshouldersstoop,hislegsareshrunkenandslightlybent.Thereseemsasortofweightinhiswholebeing.Hisveryfeatureshaveanexpressionofsorrowanddespondency.
Heanswersmyquestionsbymonosyllables,andlikeamanwhowishestoavoidconversation.Whencecomesthisdejection,whenonewouldthinkhehadallhecouldwishfor?Ishouldliketoknow!
Tenoclock——Michaelisjustgonedownstairstolookforatoolhehasforgotten.IhaveatlastsucceededindrawingfromhimthesecretofhisandGenevievessorrow.TheirsonRobertisthecauseofit!
Notthathehasturnedoutillafteralltheircare——notthatheisidleordissipated;butbothwereinhopeshewouldneverleavethemanymore.
Thepresenceoftheyoungmanwastohaverenewedandmadegladtheirlivesoncemore;hismothercountedthedays,hisfatherpreparedeverythingtoreceivetheirdearassociateintheirtoils;andatthemomentwhentheywerethusabouttoberepaidforalltheirsacrifices,RoberthadsuddenlyinformedthemthathehadjustengagedhimselftoacontractoratVersailles.
Everyremonstranceandeveryprayerwereuseless;hebroughtforwardthenecessityofinitiatinghimselfintoallthedetailsofanimportantcontract,thefacilitiesheshouldhaveinhisnewpositionofimprovinghimselfinhistrade,andthehopeshehadofturninghisknowledgetoadvantage.At,last,whenhismother,havingcometotheendofherarguments,begantocry,hehastilykissedher,andwentawaythathemightavoidanyfurtherremonstrances.
Hehadbeenabsentayear,andtherewasnothingtogivethemhopesofhisreturn.Hisparentshardlysawhimonceamonth,andthenheonlystayedafewmomentswiththem.
"IhavebeenpunishedwhereIhadhopedtoberewarded,"Michaelsaidtomejustnow."Ihadwishedforasavingandindustriousson,andGodhasgivenmeanambitiousandavariciousone!Ihadalwayssaidtomyselfthatwhenoncehewasgrownupweshouldhavehimalwayswithus,torecallouryouthandtoenlivenourhearts.Hismotherwasalwaysthinkingofgettinghimmarried,andhavingchildrenagaintocarefor.
Youknowwomenalwayswillbusythemselvesaboutothers.Asforme,Ithoughtofhimworkingnearmybench,andsinginghisnewsongs;forhehaslearntmusic,andisoneofthebestsingersattheOrpheon.
Adream,sir,truly!Directlythebirdwasfledged,hetooktoflight,andremembersneitherfathernormother.Yesterday,forinstance,wasthedayweexpectedhim;heshouldhavecometosupperwithus.NoRobertto-day,either!Hehashadsomeplantofinish,orsomebargaintoarrange,andhisoldparentsareputdownlastintheaccounts,afterthecustomersandthejoinerswork.Ah!ifIcouldhaveguessedhowitwouldhaveturnedout!Fool!tohavesacrificedmylikingsandmymoney,fornearlytwentyyears,totheeducationofathanklessson!WasitforthisItookthetroubletocuremyselfofdrinking,tobreakwithmyfriends,tobecomeanexampletotheneighborhood?Thejovialgoodfellowhasmadeagooseofhimself.Oh!ifIhadtobeginagain!No,no!youseewomenandchildrenareourbane.Theysoftenourhearts;theyleadusalifeofhopeandaffection;wepassaquarterofourlivesinfosteringthegrowthofagrainofcornwhichistobeeverythingtousinouroldage,andwhentheharvest-timecomes——good-night,theearisempty!"
Whilehewasspeaking,Michaelsvoicebecamehoarse,hiseyesfierce,andhislipsquivered.Iwishedtoanswerhim,butIcouldonlythinkofcommonplaceconsolations,andIremainedsilent.Thejoinerpretendedheneededatool,andleftme.
Poorfather!Ah!Iknowthosemomentsoftemptationwhenvirtuehasfailedtorewardus,andweregrethavingobeyedher!Whohasnotfeltthisweaknessinhoursoftrial,andwhohasnotuttered,atleastonce,themournfulexclamationofBrutus?
Butifvirtueisonlyaword,whatistheretheninlifethatistrueandreal?No,Iwillnotbelievethatgoodnessisinvain!Itdoesnotalwaysgivethehappinesswehadhopedfor,butitbringssomeother.
Intheworldeverythingisruledbyorder,andhasitsproperandnecessaryconsequences,andvirtuecannotbethesoleexceptiontothegenerallaw.Ifithadbeenprejudicialtothosewhopractisedit,experiencewouldhaveavengedthem;butexperiencehas,onthecontrary,madeitmoreuniversalandmoreholy.Weonlyaccuseitofbeingafaithlessdebtorbecausewedemandanimmediatepayment,andoneapparenttooursenses.Wealwaysconsiderlifeasafairytale,inwhicheverygoodactionmustberewardedbyavisiblewonder.Wedonotacceptaspaymentapeacefulconscience,self-content,oragoodnameamongmen——treasuresthataremorepreciousthananyother,butthevalueofwhichwedonotfeeltillafterwehavelostthem!
Michaeliscomeback,andhasreturnedtohiswork.Hissonhasnotyetarrived.
Bytellingmeofhishopesandhisgrievousdisappointments,hebecameexcited;heunceasinglywentoveragainthesamesubject,alwaysaddingsomethingtohisgriefs.Hehadjustwounduphisconfidentialdiscoursebyspeakingtomeofajoinersbusinesswhichhehadhopedtobuy,andworktogoodaccountwithRobertshelp.Thepresentownerhadmadeafortunebyit,and,afterthirtyyearsofbusiness,hewasthinkingofretiringtooneoftheornamentalcottagesintheoutskirtsofthecity,ausualretreatforthefrugalandsuccessfulworkingman.Michaelhadnotindeedthetwothousandfrancswhichmustbepaiddown;butperhapshecouldhavepersuadedMasterBenoittowait.Robertspresencewouldhavebeenasecurityforhim,fortheyoungmancouldnotfailtoinsuretheprosperityofaworkshop;besidesscienceandskill,hehadthepowerofinventionandbringingtoperfection.Hisfatherhaddiscoveredamonghisdrawingsanewplanforastaircase,whichhadoccupiedhisthoughtsforalongtime;andheevensuspectedhimofhavingengagedhimselftotheVersaillescontractorfortheverypurposeofexecutingit.Theyouthwastormentedbythisspiritofinvention,whichtookpossessionofallhisthoughts,and,whiledevotinghismindtostudy,hehadnotimetolistentohisfeelings.
Michaeltoldmeallthiswithamixedfeelingofprideandvexation.Isawhewasproudofthesonhewasabusing,andthathisverypridemadehimmoresensitivetothatsonsneglect.
SixoclockP.M——Ihavejustfinishedahappyday.Howmanyeventshavehappenedwithinafewhours,andwhatachangeforGenevieveandMichael!
Hehadjustfinishedfixingtheshelves,andtellingmeofhisson,whileIlaidtheclothformybreakfast.
Suddenlyweheardhurriedstepsinthepassage,thedooropened,andGenevieveenteredwithRobert.
Thejoinergaveastartofjoyfulsurprise,butherepresseditimmediately,asifhewishedtokeepuptheappearanceofdispleasure.
Theyoungmandidnotappeartonoticeit,butthrewhimselfintohisarmsinanopen-heartedmanner,whichsurprisedme.Genevieve,whosefaceshonewithhappiness,seemedtowishtospeak,andtorestrainherselfwithdifficulty.
ItoldRobertIwasgladtoseehim,andheansweredmewitheaseandcivility.
"Iexpectedyouyesterday,"saidMichaelArout,ratherdryly.
"Forgiveme,father,"repliedtheyoungworkman,"butIhadbusinessatSt.Germains.Iwasnotabletocomebacktillitwasverylate,andthenthemasterkeptme."
Thejoinerlookedathissonsidewise,andthentookuphishammeragain.
"Allright,"mutteredhe,inagrumblingtone;"whenwearewithotherpeoplewemustdoastheywish;buttherearesomewhowouldlikebettertoeatbrownbreadwiththeirownknifethanpartridgeswiththesilverforkofamaster."
"AndIamoneofthose,father,"repliedRobert,merrily,"but,astheproverbsays,"youmustshellthepeasbeforeyoucaneatthem."ItwasnecessarythatIshouldfirstworkinagreatworkshop——"
"Togoonwithyourplanofthestaircase,"interruptedMichael,ironically.
"YoumustnowsayMonsieurRaymondsplan,father,"repliedRobert,smiling.
"Why?"
"BecauseIhavesoldittohim."
Thejoiner,whowasplaningaboard,turnedroundquickly.
"Soldit!"criedhe,withsparklingeyes.
"ForthereasonthatIwasnotrichenoughtogiveithim."
Michaelthrewdowntheboardandtool.
"Thereheisagain!"resumedhe,angrily;"hisgoodgeniusputsanideaintohisheadwhichwouldhavemadehimknown,andhegoesandsellsittoarichman,whowilltakethehonorofithimself."
"Well,whatharmistheredone?"askedGenevieve.
"Whatharm!"criedthejoiner,inapassion."Youunderstandnothingaboutit——youareawoman;buthe——heknowswellthatatrueworkmannevergivesuphisowninventionsformoney,nomorethanasoldierwouldgiveuphiscross.Thatishisglory;heisboundtokeepitforthehonoritdoeshim!Ah,thunder!ifIhadevermadeadiscovery,ratherthanputitupatauctionIwouldhavesoldoneofmyeyes!Dontyouseethatanewinventionislikeachildtoaworkman?Hetakescareofit,hebringsitup,hemakesawayforitintheworld,anditisonlyapoorcreaturewhosellsit."
Robertcoloredalittle.
"Youwillthinkdifferently,father,"saidhe,"whenyouknowwhyIsoldmyplan."
"Yes,andyouwillthankhimforit,"addedGenevieve,whocouldnolongerkeepsilence.
"Never!"repliedMichael.
"But,wretchedman!"criedshe,"hesolditonlyforoursakes!"
Thejoinerlookedathiswifeandsonwithastonishment.Itwasnecessarytocometoanexplanation.ThelatterrelatedhowhehadenteredintoanegotiationwithMasterBenoit,whohadpositivelyrefusedtosellhisbusinessunlessonehalfofthetwothousandfrancswerefirstpaiddown.ItwasinthehopesofobtainingthissumthathehadgonetoworkwiththecontractoratVersailles;hehadhadanopportunityoftryinghisinvention,andoffindingapurchaser.Thankstothemoneyhereceivedforit,hehadjustconcludedthebargainwithBenoit,andhadbroughthisfatherthekeyofthenewwork-yard.
ThisexplanationwasgivenbytheyoungworkmanwithsomuchmodestyandsimplicitythatIwasquiteaffectedbyit.Genevievecried;Michaelpressedhissontohisheart,andinalongembraceheseemedtoaskhispardonforhavingunjustlyaccusedhim.
AllwasnowexplainedwithhonortoRobert.Theconductwhichhisparentshadascribedtoindifferencereallysprangfromaffection;hehadneitherobeyedthevoiceofambitionnorofavarice,noreventhenoblerinspirationofinventivegenius:hiswholemotiveandsingleaimhadbeenthehappinessofGenevieveandMichael.Thedayforprovinghisgratitudehadcome,andhehadreturnedthemsacrificeforsacrifice!
Aftertheexplanationsandexclamationsofjoywereover,allthreewereabouttoleaveme;but,theclothbeinglaid,Iaddedthreemoreplaces,andkeptthemtobreakfast.
Themealwasprolonged:thefarewasonlytolerable;buttheover-flowingsofaffectionmadeitdelicious.NeverhadIbetterunderstoodtheunspeakablecharmoffamilylove.Whatcalmenjoymentinthathappinesswhichisalwayssharedwithothers;inthatcommunityofinterestswhichunitessuchvariousfeelings;inthatassociationofexistenceswhichformsonesinglebeingofsomany!Whatismanwithoutthosehomeaffections,which,likesomanyroots,fixhimfirmlyintheearth,andpermithimtoimbibeallthejuicesoflife?Energy,happiness——donotallthesecomefromthem?Withoutfamilylifewherewouldmanlearntolove,toassociate,todenyhimself?Acommunityinlittle,isitnotthiswhichteachesushowtoliveinthegreatone?
Suchistheholinessofhome,that,toexpressourrelationwithGod,wehavebeenobligedtoborrowthewordsinventedforourfamilylife.MenhavenamedthemselvesthesonsofaheavenlyFather!
Ah!letuscarefullypreservethesechainsofdomesticunion.Donotletusunbindthehumansheaf,andscatteritsearstoallthecapricesofchanceandofthewinds;butletusratherenlargethisholylaw;letuscarrytheprinciplesandthehabitsofhomebeyondsetbounds;and,ifitmaybe,letusrealizetheprayeroftheApostleoftheGentileswhenheexclaimedtothenewbornchildrenofChrist:"Beyelike-minded,havingthesamelove,beingofoneaccord,ofonemind."