English
ThereafterMadameLoiselknewthehorribleexistenceoftheneedy.Sheboreherpart,however,withsuddenheroism.Thatdreadfuldebtmustbepaid.Shewouldpayit.Theydismissedtheirservant;theychangedtheirlodgings;theyrentedagarretundertheroof.
Shecametoknowwhatheavyhouseworkmeantandtheodiouscaresofthekitchen.Shewashedthedishes,usingherdaintyfingersandrosynailsongreasypotsandpans.
Shewashedthesoiledlinen,theshirtsandthedishcloths,whichshedrieduponaline;shecarriedtheslopsdowntothestreeteverymorningandcarriedupthewater,stoppingforbreathateverylanding.
Anddressedlikeawomanofthepeople,shewenttothefruiterer,thegrocer,thebutcher,abasketonherarm,bargaining,meetingwithimpertinence,defendinghermiserablemoney,soubysou.
Everymonththeyhadtomeetsomenotes,renewothers,obtainmoretime.
Herhusbandworkedevenings,makingupatradesman'saccounts,andlateatnightheoftencopiedmanuscriptforfivesousapage.
Thislifelastedtenyears.
Attheendoftenyearstheyhadpaideverything,everything,withtheratesofusuryandtheaccumulationsofthecompoundinterest.
MadameLoisellookedoldnow.Shehadbecomethewomanofimpoverishedhouseholds--strongandhardandrough.Withfrowsyhair,skirtsaskewandredhands,shetalkedloudwhilewashingthefloorwithgreatswishesofwater.
Butsometimes,whenherhusbandwasattheoffice,shesatdownnearthewindowandshethoughtofthatgayeveningoflongago,ofthatballwhereshehadbeensobeautifulandsoadmired.
Whatwouldhavehappenedifshehadnotlostthatnecklace?Whoknows?whoknows?Howstrangeandchangefulislife!Howsmallathingisneededtomakeorruinus!
ButoneSunday,havinggonetotakeawalkintheChampsElyseestorefreshherselfafterthelaborsoftheweek,shesuddenlyperceivedawomanwhowasleadingachild.ItwasMadameForestier,stillyoung,stillbeautiful,stillcharming.
MadameLoiselfeltmoved.Shouldshespeaktoher?Yes,certainly.Andnowthatshehadpaid,shewouldtellherallaboutit.Whynot?
Shewentup.
"Good-day,Jeanne."
Theother,astonishedtobefamiliarlyaddressedbythisplaingood-wife,didnotrecognizeheratallandstammered:
"But--madame!--Idonotknow----Youmusthavemistaken."
"No.IamMathildeLoisel."
Herfriendutteredacry.
"Oh,mypoorMathilde!Howyouarechanged!"
"Yes,Ihavehadaprettyhardlife,sinceIlastsawyou,andgreatpoverty--andthatbecauseofyou!"
"Ofme!Howso?"
"Doyourememberthatdiamondnecklaceyoulentmetowearattheministerialball?"
"Yes.Well?"
"Well,Ilostit."
"Whatdoyoumean?Youbroughtitback."
"Ibroughtyoubackanotherexactlylikeit.Andithastakenustenyearstopayforit.Youcanunderstandthatitwasnoteasyforus,foruswhohadnothing.Atlastitisended,andIamveryglad."
MadameForestierhadstopped.
"Yousaythatyouboughtanecklaceofdiamondstoreplacemine?"
"Yes.Younevernoticedit,then!Theywereverysimilar."
Andshesmiledwithajoythatwasatonceproudandingenuous.
MadameForestier,deeplymoved,tookherhands.
"Oh,mypoorMathilde!Why,mynecklacewaspaste!Itwasworthatmostonlyfivehundredfrancs!"
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