carried her in your arms when she was small, and in your arms she drew her
last breath. She commended her poor children into your hands, and I want
you to remain forever at their side, but on one condition, remember--that
you never speak to them again on the subject of religion, neither of
prayer, nor of church, nor anything of the kind. Hear me well, Teresa! Hear
me! I have prayed very little in my life, but on that last night when my
dear wife passed away, if anyone prayed with all his heart and all his
strength, I did so. Kneeling beside her bed I promised God to serve Him; to
bring up my children for Him if He would only leave me my treasure. But He
didn't do it Then why should I serve Him?'

"When I saw that it was useless to argue with him I promised what he asked.
Just think, if I had been obliged to abandon you to a strange servant!" and
Teresa viewed the three of us with those great blue eyes of hers full of
affection for us.

"Oh," I cried, trying to take her great fat body in my arms, "What would we
have done without you!"

But Teresa, wanting very much to cry and yet trying hard not to show it,
put me gently aside, saying, "There, there! You are making me lose a lot of
time. Stand up, stand up! You have been on the floor at my feet for over
half-an-hour like a little purring kitten and wearing out your stockings
besides."

And then continuing without awaiting my reply:

"Well, I am only a poor ignorant servant. If I can read, it is because my
poor madame taught me. Nevertheless it has nearly broken my heart to see
all three of you, and Louis besides, growing up like a bunch of heathen.