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"Herarentsdied.Shecontinuedtheirwork.
"Oneday,onenteringthevillage,whereherheartalwaysremained,shesawChouquetcomingoutofhisharmacywithayoungladyleaningonhisarm.Shewashiswife.
"Thatnightthechairmenderthrewherselfintotheriver.Adrunkardassingthesotulledheroutandtookhertothedrugstore.YoungChouquetcamedowninhisdressinggowntoreviveher.Withoutseemingtoknowwhoshewasheundressedherandrubbedher;thenhesaidtoher,inaharshvoice:‘Youaremad!Peolemustnotdostuidthingslikethat.’
"Hisvoicebroughthertolifeagain.Hehadsokentoher!Shewashayforalongtime.Herefusedremunerationforhistrouble,althoughsheinsisted.
"Allherlifeassedinthisway.Sheworked,thinkingalwaysofhim.Shebegantobuymedicinesathisharmacy;thisgaveherachancetotalktohimandtoseehimclosely.Inthisway,shewasstillabletogivehimmoney.
"AsIsaidbefore,shediedthissring.Whenshehadclosedheratheticstorysheentreatedmetotakeherearningstothemansheloved.Shehadworkedonlythatshemightleavehimsomethingtoremindhimofherafterherdeath.
"Igavetheriestfiftyfrancsforherfuneralexenses.ThenextmorningIwenttoseetheChouquets.Theywerefinishingbreakfast,sittingoositeeachother,fatandred,imortantandself-satisfied.
"Theywelcomedmeandofferedmesomecoffee,whichIacceted.ThenIbeganmystoryinatremblingvoice,surethattheywouldbesoftened,eventotears.
"AssoonasChouquetunderstoodthathehadbeenlovedby‘thatvagabond!thatchair-mender!thatwanderer!’hesworewithindignationasthoughhisreutationhadbeensullied,theresectofdecenteolelost,hisersonalhonor,somethingreciousanddearertohimthanlife,gone.
"Hisexaseratedwifeketreeating:‘Thatbeggar!Thatbeggar!’Seemingunabletofindwordssuitabletotheenormity.
"Hestooduandbeganstridingabout.Hemuttered:‘Canyouunderstandanythingsohorrible,doctor?Oh,ifIhadonlyknownitwhileshewasalive,Ishouldhavehadherthrownintorison.Iromiseyoushewouldnothaveescaed.’
"Iwasdumfounded;Ihardlyknewwhattothinkorsay,butIhadtofinishmymission.‘Shecommissionedme,’Isaid,‘togiveyouhersavings,whichamounttothreethousandfivehundredfrancs.AswhatIhavejusttoldyouseemstobeverydisagreeable,erhasyouwouldrefertogivethismoneytotheoor.’
"Theylookedatme,thatmanandwoman,&aos;seechlesswithamazement.Itookthefewthousandfrancsfromoutofmyocket.Wretched-lookingmoneyfromeverycountry.Penniesandgoldiecesallmixedtogether.ThenIasked:‘Whatisyourdecision?’
"MadameChouquetsokefirst.‘Well,sinceitisthedyingwoman&aos;swish,itseemstomeimossibletorefuseit.’
"Herhusbandsaid,inashamefacedmanner:‘Wecouldbuysomethingforourchildrenwithit.’
"Ianswereddryly:‘Asyouwish.’
"Herelied:‘Well,giveittousanyhow,sinceshecommissionedyoutodoso;wewillfindawaytoutittosomegoodurose.’
"Igavethemthemoney,bowedandleft.
"ThenextdayChouquetcametomeandsaidbrusquely:
"‘Thatwomanleftherwagonhere-whathaveyoudonewithit?’
"‘Nothing;takeitifyouwish.’
"It&aos;sjustwhatIwanted,&aos;headded,andwalkedoff.Icalledhimbackandsaid:
"‘Shealsoleftheroldhorseandtwodogs.Don&aos;tyouneedthem?’
"Hestaredatmesurrised:‘Well,no!Really,whatwouldIdowiththem?’
"‘Disoseofthemasyoulike.’Helaughedandheldouthishandtome.Ishookit.WhatcouldIdo?Thedoctorandthedruggistinacountryvillagemustnotbeatenmity.
"Ihaveketthedogs.Theriesttooktheoldhorse.ThewagonisusefultoChouquet,andwiththemoneyhehasboughtrailroadstock.
"Thatistheonlydee,sincerelovethatIhaveeverknowninallmylife.
"
Thedoctorlookedu.Themarquise,whoseeyeswerefulloftears,sighedandsaid:
"Thereisnodenyingthefact,onlywomenknowhowtolove.
"
