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spare me away from him。 I suppose we should have starved； and made a sad
little paragraph in the English newspapersif the end had not come in
another way。 My poor Pratolungo was in truth worn out。 He sank under his
sixteenth exile。 I was left a widowwith nothing but the inheritance of
my husband's noble sentiments to console me。
I went back for awhile to good Papa and my sisters in Paris。 But it was
not in my nature to remain and be a burden on them at home。 I returned
again to London； with recommendations： and encountered inconceivable
disasters in the effort to earn a living honorably。 Of all the wealth
about methe prodigal； insolent； ostentatious wealthnone fell to my
share。 What right has anybody to be rich？ I defy you； whoever you may be；
to prove that anybody has a right to be rich。
Without dwelling on my disasters； let it be enough to say that I got up
one morning； with three pounds； seven shillings； and fourpence in my
purse； with my fervid temper； and my republican principlesand with
absolutely nothing in prospect； that is to say with not a halfpenny more
to come to me； unless I could earn it for myself。
In this sad case； what does an honest woman who is bent on winning her
own independence by her own work； do？ She takes three and sixpence out of
her little humble store； and she advertises herself in a newspaper。
One always advertises the best side of oneself。 （Ah； poor humanity！） My
best side was my musical side。 In the days of my vicissitudes （before my
marriage） I had at one time had a share in a millinery establishment in
Lyons。 At another time； I had been bedchamber…woman to a great lady in
Paris。 But in my present situation； these sides of myself were； for
various reasons； not so presentable as the pianoforte side。 I was not a
great playerfar from it。 But I had been soundly instructed； and I had；
what you call； a competent skill on the instrument。 Brief； I made the
best of myself； I promise you； in my advertisement。
The next day； I borrowed the newspaper； to enjoy the pride of seeing my
composition in print。
Ah； heaven！ what did I discover？ I discovered what other wretched
advertising people have found out before me。 Above my own advertisement；
the very thing I wanted was advertised for by somebody else！ Look in any
newspaper； and you will see strangers who （if I may so express myself）
exactly fit each other； advertising for each other； without knowing it。 I
had advertised myself as 〃accomplished musical companion for a lady。 With
cheerful temper to match。〃 And there above me was my unknown necessitous
fellow…creature； crying out in printers' types：〃Wanted； a companion for
a lady。 Must be an accomplished musician； and have a cheerful temper。
Testimonials to capacity； and first…rate references required。〃 Exactly
what I had offered！ 〃Apply by letter only； in the first instance。〃
Exactly what I had said！ Fie upon me； I had spent three and sixpence for
nothing。 I threw down the newspaper； in a transport of anger （like a
fool）and then took it up again （like a sensible woman）； and applied by
letter for the offered place。
My letter brought me into contact with a lawyer。 The lawyer enveloped
himself in mystery。 It seemed to be a professional habit with him to tell
nobody anything； if he could possibly help it。
Drop by drop； this wearisome man let the circumstances out。 The lady was
a young lady。 She was the daughter of a clergyman。 She lived in a retired
part of the country。 More even than that； she lived in a retired part of
the house。 Her father had married a second time。 Having only the young
lady as child by his first marriage； he had （I suppose by way of a
change） a large family by his second marriage。 Circumstances rendered it
necessary for the young lady to live as much apart as she could from the
tumult of a houseful of children。 So he went on； until there was no
keeping it in any longerand then he let it out。 The young lady was
blind！
Younglonelyblind。 I had a sudden inspiration。 I felt I should love
her。
The question of my musical capacity was； in this sad case； a serious one。
The poor young lady had one great pleasure to illumine her dark
lifeMusic。 Her companion was wanted to play from the book； and play
worthily； the works of the great masters （whom this young creature
adored）and she； listening； would take her place next at the piano； and
reproduce the music morsel by morsel； by ear。 A professor was appointed
to pronounce sentence on me； and declare if I could be trusted not to
misinterpret Mozart； Beethoven； and the other masters who have written
for the piano。 Through this ordeal I passed with success。 As for my
references； they spoke for themselves。 Not even the lawyer （though he
tried hard） could pick holes in them。 It was arranged on both sides that
I should； in the first instance； go on a month's visit to the young lady。
If we both wished it at the end of the time； I was to stay； on terms
arranged to my perfect satisfaction。 There was our treaty！
The next day I started for my visit by the railway。
My instructions directed me to travel to the town of Lewes in Sussex。
Arrived there； I was to ask for the pony…chaise of my young lady's
fatherdescribed on his card as Reverend Tertius Finch。 The chaise was
to take me to the rectory…house in the village of Dimchurch。 And the
village of Dimchurch was situated among the South Down Hills； three or
four miles from the coast。
When I stepped into the railway carriage； this was all I knew。 After my
adventurous lifeafter the volcanic agitations of my republican career
in the Doctor's timewas I about to bury myself in a remote English
village； and live a life as monotonous as the life of a sheep on a hill？
Ah； with all my experience； I had yet to learn that the narrowest human
limits are wide enough to contain the grandest human emotions。 I had seen
the Drama of Life amid the turmoil of tropical revolutions。 I was to see
it again； with all its palpitating interest； in the breezy solitudes of
the South Down Hills。
CHAPTER THE SECOND
Madame Pratolungo makes a Voyage on Land
A WELL…FED boy； with yellow Saxon hair； a little shabby green chaise； and
a rough brown ponythese objects confronted me at the Lewes Station。 I
said to the boy； 〃Are you Reverend Finch's servant？〃 And the boy
answered； 〃I be he。〃
We drove through the towna hilly town of desolate clean houses。 No
living creatures visible behind the jealously…shut windows。 No living
creatures entering or departing through the sad…colored closed doors。 No
theater； no place of amusement except an empty town…hall； with a sad
policeman meditating on its spruce white steps。 No customers in the
shops； and nobody to serve them behind the counter； even if they had
turned up。 Here and there on the pavements； an inhabitant with a capacity
for staring； and （apparently） a capacity for nothing else。 I said to
Reverend Finch's boy； 〃Is this a rich place？〃 Reverend Finch's boy
brightened and answered； 〃That it be！〃 Good。 At any rate； they don't
enjoy themselves herethe infamous rich！
Leaving this town of unamused citizens immured in domestic tombs； we got
on a fine high roadstill ascendingwith