in the Passage du SoleilSun Alleya spot of which the name is one
of the antitheses dear to the Parisian； for the passage is especially
dark。 This writer； supposed to be a German； was named Vyder； and he
lived on matrimonial terms with a young creature of whom he was so
jealous that he never allowed her to go anywhere excepting to some
honest stove and flue…fitters； in the Rue Saint…Lazare； Italians； as
such fitters always are； but long since established in Paris。 These
people had been saved from a bankruptcy； which would have reduced them
to misery； by the Baroness； acting in behalf of Madame de la
Chanterie。 In a few months comfort had taken the place of poverty； and
Religion had found a home in hearts which once had cursed Heaven with
the energy peculiar to Italian stove…fitters。 So one of Madame Hulot's
first visits was to this family。
She was pleased at the scene that presented itself to her eyes at the
back of the house where these worthy folks lived in the Rue Saint…
Lazare； not far from the Rue du Rocher。 High above the stores and
workshops； now well filled； where toiled a swarm of apprentices and
workmenall Italians from the valley of Domo d'Ossolathe master's
family occupied a set of rooms； which hard work had blessed with
abundance。 The Baroness was hailed like the Virgin Mary in person。
After a quarter of an hour's questioning； Adeline； having to wait for
the father to inquire how his business was prospering； pursued her
saintly calling as a spy by asking whether they knew of any families
needing help。
〃Ah； dear lady； you who could save the damned from hell！〃 said the
Italian wife； 〃there is a girl quite near here to be saved from
perdition。〃
〃A girl well known to you？〃 asked the Baroness。
〃She is the granddaughter of a master my husband formerly worked for；
who came to France in 1798； after the Revolution； by name Judici。 Old
Judici； in Napoleon's time； was one of the principal stove…fitters in
Paris； he died in 1819； leaving his son a fine fortune。 But the
younger Judici wasted all his money on bad women； till； at last； he
married one who was sharper than the rest； and she had this poor
little girl； who is just turned fifteen。〃
〃And what is wrong with her？〃 asked Adeline； struck by the resemblance
between this Judici and her husband。
〃Well； madame； this child； named Atala； ran away from her father； and
came to live close by here with an old German of eighty at least；
named Vyder； who does odd jobs for people who cannot read and write。
Now； if this old sinner； who bought the child of her mother； they say
for fifteen hundred francs； would but marry her； as he certainly has
not long to live； and as he is said to have some few thousand of
francs a yearwell； the poor thing； who is a sweet little angel；
would be out of mischief； and above want； which must be the ruin of
her。〃
〃Thank you very much for the information。 I may do some good； but I
must act with caution。Who is the old man？〃
〃Oh！ madame； he is a good old fellow； he makes the child very happy；
and he has some sense too； for he left the part of town where the
Judicis live； as I believe； to snatch the child from her mother's
clutches。 The mother was jealous of her； and I dare say she thought
she could make money out of her beauty and make a /mademoiselle/ of
the girl。
〃Atala remembered us； and advised her gentleman to settle near us； and
as the good man sees how decent we are； he allows her to come here。
But get them married； madame； and you will do an action worthy of you。
Once married； the child will be independent and free from her mother；
who keeps an eye on her； and who； if she could make money by her；
would like to see her on the stage； or successful in the wicked life
she meant her to lead。〃
〃Why doesn't the old man marry her？〃
〃There was no necessity for it； you see；〃 said the Italian。 〃And
though old Vyder is not a bad old fellow； I fancy he is sharp enough
to wish to remain the master； while if he once got marriedwhy； the
poor man is afraid of the stone that hangs round every old man's
neck。〃
〃Could you send for the girl to come here？〃 said Madame Hulot。 〃I
should see her quietly； and find out what could be done〃
The stove…fitter's wife signed to her eldest girl； who ran off。 Ten
minutes later she returned； leading by the hand a child of fifteen and
a half； a beauty of the Italian type。 Mademoiselle Judici inherited
from her father that ivory skin which； rather yellow by day； is by
artificial light of lily…whiteness； eyes of Oriental beauty； form； and
brilliancy； close curling lashes like black feathers； hair of ebony
hue； and that native dignity of the Lombard race which makes the
foreigner； as he walks through Milan on a Sunday； fancy that every
porter's daughter is a princess。
Atala； told by the stove…fitter's daughter that she was to meet the
great lady of whom she had heard so much； had hastily dressed in a
black silk gown； a smart little cape； and neat boots。 A cap with a
cherry…colored bow added to the brilliant effect of her coloring。 The
child stood in an attitude of artless curiosity； studying the Baroness
out of the corner of her eye； for her palsied trembling puzzled her
greatly。
Adeline sighed deeply as she saw this jewel of womanhood in the mire
of prostitution； and determined to rescue her to virtue。
〃What is your name； my dear？〃
〃Atala； madame。〃
〃And can you read and write？〃
〃No； madame； but that does not matter； as monsieur can。〃
〃Did your parents ever take you to church？ Have you been to your first
Communion？ Do you know your Catechism？〃
〃Madame； papa wanted to make me do something of the kind you speak of；
but mamma would not have it〃
〃Your mother？〃 exclaimed the Baroness。 〃Is she bad to you； then？〃
〃She was always beating me。 I don't know why； but I was always being
quarreled over by my father and mother〃
〃Did you ever hear of God？〃 cried the Baroness。
The girl looked up wide…eyed。
〃Oh； yes； papa and mamma often said 'Good God；' and 'In God's name；'
and 'God's thunder；' 〃 said she； with perfect simplicity。
〃Then you never saw a church？ Did you never think of going into one？〃
〃A church？Notre…Dame； the Pantheon？I have seen them from a
distance； when papa took me into town； but that was not very often。
There are no churches like those in the Faubourg。〃
〃Which Faubourg did you live in？〃
〃In the Faubourg。〃
〃Yes； but which？〃
〃In the Rue de Charonne； madame。〃
The inhabitants of the Faubourg Saint…Antoine never call that
notorious district other than /the/ Faubourg。 To them it is the one
and only Faubourg； and manufacturers generally understand the words as
meaning the Faubourg Saint…Antoine。
〃Did no one ever tell you what was right or wrong？〃
〃Mamma used to beat me when I did not do what pleased her。〃
〃But did you not know that it was very wicked to run away from your
father and mother to go to live with an old man？〃
Atala Judici gazed at the Baroness with a haughty stare； but made no
reply。
〃She is a perfect little savage；〃 murmured Adeline。
〃There are a great many like her in the Faubourg； madame；〃 said the
stove…fitter's wife。
〃But she knows nothingnot even what is wrong。 Good Heavens！Why do
you not answer me？〃 said Madame Hulot； putting out her hand to take
Atala's。
Atala indignantly withdrew a step。
〃You are an old fool！〃 said she。 〃Why； my father and mother had had
nothing to eat for a week。 My mother wanted me to do much worse than
that； I think； for my father thrashed her and called her a thief！
However； Monsieur Vyder paid all their debts； and gave them some money
oh； a bagful！ And he brought me away； and poor papa was crying。 But
we had to part！Was it wicked？〃 she asked。
〃And are you very fond of Monsieur Vyder？〃
〃Fond of him？〃 said she。 〃I should think so！ He tells me beautiful
stories； madame； every evening； and he has given me nice gowns； and
linen； and a shawl。 Why； I am figged out like a princess； and I never
wear sabots now。 And then； I have not known what it is to be hungry
these two months past。 And I don't live on potatoes now。 He brings me
bonbons and burnt almonds； and chocolate almonds。Aren't they good？
I do anything he pleases for a bag of chocolate。Then my old Daddy is
very kind； he takes such care of me； and is so nice； I know now what
my mother ought to have been。He is going to get an old woman to help
me； for he doesn't like me to dirty my hands with cooking。 For the
past month； too； he has been making a little money； and he gives me
three francs every evening that I put into a money…box。 Only he will
never let me out except to come hereand he calls me his little
kitten！ Mamma never called me anything but bad namesand thief； and
vermin！〃
〃Well； then； my child； why should not Daddy Vyder be your husband？〃
〃But he is； madame；〃 said the girl； looking at Adeline with calm
pride； without a blush； her brow smooth； her eyes steady。 〃He told me
that I was his little wife； but it is a horrid bore to be a man's wife
if it were not for the burnt almonds！〃
〃Good Heaven！〃 said the Baroness to herself； 〃what monster can have
had the heart to betray such perfect； such holy innocence？ To restore