“In a few words I explained to her my situation. She seemed more surprised than moved.
“‘Such is life,’ she remarked,—‘sometimes up, sometimes down.’
“And, stepping up nearer,
“‘What do you expect to do now?’ she interrogated in a tone of voice so different from that in which she had spoken at first, that I felt more keenly the horror of my altered situation.
“‘I have no idea,’ I replied.
“After thinking for a moment,
“‘You can’t stay there,’ she resumed: ‘the gendarmes would arrest you. Come with me. We will talk things over at the house; and I’ll give you my advice.’
“I was so completely crushed, that I had neither strength nor will. Besides, what was the use of thinking? Had I any choice of resolutions? Finally, the woman’s offer seemed to me a last favor of destiny.
“‘I shall do as you say, madame,’ I replied.
“She proceeded at once to load up my little baggage on her cart. We started; and soon we arrived ‘home.’