"I will say no more."
"When you are as old as I am, my dear," rejoined Madame Marillac, "you
will not think quite so positively as you think now. I have learned some
hard lessons," she proceeded, turning to Stella, "and I hope I am the
better for them. My life has not been a happy one--"
"Your life has been a martyrdom!" said the girl, breaking out again in
spite of herself. "Oh, my father! my father!" She pushed aside the work
and hid her face in her hands.
The gentle mother spoke severely for the first time. "Respect your
father's memory!" she said. Blanche trembled and kept silence. "I have
no false pride," Madame Marillac continued. "I own that we are miserably
poor; and I thank you, my dear young lady, for your kind intentions
toward us, without embarrassing you by any inquiries. We manage to
live. While my eyes last, our work helps to support us. My good eldest
daughter has some employment as a teacher of music, and contributes her
little share to assist our poor household. I don't distrust you--I only
say, let us try a little longer if we cannot help ourselves.
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