CHAPTER XXXIV. MALEVOLA.

MadameBeckcalledmeonThursdayafternoon,andaskedwhetherIhadanyoccupationtohindermefromgoingintotownandexecutingsomelittlecommissionsforherattheshops. Beingdisengaged,andplacingmyselfatherservice,Iwaspresentlyfurnishedwithalistofthewools,silks,embroideringthread,etcetera,wantedinthepupils’work,andhavingequippedmyselfinamannersuitingthethreateningaspectofacloudyandsultryday,Iwasjustdrawingthespring-boltofthestreet-door,inacttoissueforth,whenMadame’svoiceagainsummonedmetothesalle-à-manger. “Pardon,MeessLucie!”criedshe,intheseeminghasteofanimpromptuthought,“Ihavejustrecollectedonemoreerrandforyou,ifyourgood-naturewillnotdeemitselfover-burdened?” OfcourseI“confoundedmyself”inasseverationstothecontraryandMadame,runningintothelittlesalon,broughtthenceaprettybasket,filledwithfinehothousefruit,rosy,perfect,andtempting,reposingamongstthedarkgreen,wax-likeleaves,andpaleyellowstarsof,Iknownotwhat,exoticplant. “There,”shesaid,“itisnotheavy,andwillnotshameyourneattoilette,asifitwereahousehold,servant-likedetail.DomethefavourtoleavethislittlebasketatthehouseofMadameWalravens,withmyfelicitationsonherfête.Shelivesdownintheoldtown,Numéro3,RuedesMages.Ifearyouwillfindthewalkratherlong,butyouhavethewholeafternoonbeforeyou,anddonothurryifyouarenotbackintimefordinner,Iwillorderaportiontobesaved,orGoton,withwhomyouareafavourite,willhavepleasureintossingupsometrifle,foryourespecialbenefit.Youshallnotbeforgotten,mabonneMeess.Andoh!please!”(callingmebackoncemore)“besuretoinsistonseeingMadameWalravensherself,andgivingthebasketintoherownhands,inorderthattheremaybenomistake,forsheisratherapunctiliouspersonage.Adieu!Aurevoir!” AndatlastIgotaway.Theshopcommissionstooksometimetoexecute,thatchoosingandmatchingofsilksandwoolsbeingalwaysatediousbusiness,butatlastIgotthroughmylist.Thepatternsfortheslippers,thebell-ropes,thecabaswereselected—theslidesandtasselsforthepurseschosen—thewhole“tripotage,”inshort,wasoffmymindnothingbutthefruitandthefelicitationsremainedtobeattendedto. Iratherlikedtheprospectofalongwalk,deepintotheoldandgrimBasse-VilleandIlikeditnoworsebecausetheeveningsky,overthecity,wassettlingintoamassofblack-bluemetal,heatedattherim,andinflamingslowlytoaheavyred. Ifearahighwind,becausestormdemandsthatexertionofstrengthanduseofactionIalwaysyieldwithpainbutthesullendown-fall,thethicksnow-descent,ordarkrushofrain,askonlyresignation—thequietabandonmentofgarmentsandpersontobe,drenched.Inreturn,itsweepsagreatcapitalcleanbeforeyouitmakesyouaquietpaththroughbroad,grandstreetsitpetrifiesalivingcityasifbyeasternenchantmentittransformsaVilletteintoaTadmor.Let,then,therainsfall,andthefloodsdescend—onlyImustfirstgetridofthisbasketoffruit. Anunknownclockfromanunknowntower(JeanBaptiste’svoicewasnowtoodistanttobeaudible)wastollingthethirdquarterpastfive,whenIreachedthatstreetandhousewhereofMadameBeckhadgivenmetheaddress.Itwasnostreetatallitseemedrathertobepartofasquare:itwasquiet,grassgrewbetweenthebroadgreyflags,thehouseswerelargeandlookedveryold—behindthemrosetheappearanceoftrees,indicatinggardensattheback.Antiquitybroodedabovethisregion,businesswasbanishedthence.Richmenhadoncepossessedthisquarter,andoncegrandeurhadmadeherseathere.Thatchurch,whosedark,half-ruinousturretsoverlookedthesquare,wasthevenerableandformerlyopulentshrineoftheMagi.Butwealthandgreatnesshadlongsincestretchedtheirgildedpinionsandfledhence,leavingthesetheirancientnests,perhapstohousePenuryforatime,orperhapstostandcoldandempty,moulderinguntenantedinthecourseofwinters. AsIcrossedthisdeserted“place,”onwhosepavementdropsalmostaslargeasafive-francpiecewerenowslowlydarkening,Isaw,initswholeexpanse,nosymptomorevidenceoflife,exceptwhatwasgiveninthefigureofaninfirmoldpriest,whowentpast,bendingandproppedonastaff—thetypeofeldanddecay. HehadissuedfromtheveryhousetowhichIwasdirectedandwhenIpausedbeforethedoorjustclosedafterhim,andrangthebell,heturnedtolookatme.Nordidhesoonaverthisgazeperhapshethoughtme,withmybasketofsummerfruit,andmylackofthedignityageconfers,anincongruousfigureinsuchascene.Iknow,hadayoungruddy-facedbonneopenedthedoortoadmitme,Ishouldhavethoughtsuchaonelittleinharmonywithherdwellingbut,whenIfoundmyselfconfrontedbyaveryoldwoman,wearingaveryantiquepeasantcostume,acapalikehideousandcostly,withlongfla