Page:Stories by Foreign Authors (French II).djvu/149

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
144
THE SEMPSTRESS' STORY.

out that he was a rising physician, nephew to the old doctor, and 'way above the common run. But he always spoke to the other like a soldier to his general.

"Well, that's not all the doctor did; for during the entire week after, he came every day, and when I would hear his carriage rumbling over our poor little street, I would say, 'Heaven knows what we shall ever do to pay him.' For we well knew that Doctor Faron attended dukes and noblemen, and charged them by the thousand.

"We had some hundred francs in the Savings, to be sure, but I was thinking what we should do if he charged two or three times as much. You can understand how very awkward it would have been. It fairly made me sick.

"At last, one morning when my husband was at home, I mustered up all my courage and began:

"'Doctor Faron, you have been so good, too good to us. You have saved our boy's life.'

"'You may prate over that just as much as you please, my dear; but recollect it is my trade to cut up such little chaps.'

"'But not those who live au cinquième in the Rue Serpente, sir.'

"You see, ma'm'selle, how I was leading up to the question?

"'How's that? how's that? Why, what are you talking about? Those before anybody else, to be sure. Are they not most in need?'