Yes, but how much, how much ?" The Abbe Constantin was seventy-two, and much money had passed through his hands, but this money had come to him in small sums, and the idea of such an offering as this had never entered his head.

Two thousand francs! Never had he had so much in his possession--no, not even one thousand.

He stammered: "I am very grateful to you, Madame; you are very good, Mademoiselle--" But after all he could not thank them enough, and Jean thought it necessary to come to his assistance.
"They have given you two thousand francs!" And then, full of warmest gratitude; the Cure cried: "Two thousand francs! Two thousand francs for my poor!" Pauline suddenly reappeared.
"Here, Pauline," said the Cure, "put away this money, and take care--" Old Pauline filled many positions in this simple household: cook, maid-of-all-work, treasurer, dispenser.

Her hands received with a respectful tremble these two little 'rouleaux' which represented so much misery alleviated, so much suffering relieved.
"One thousand francs a month! But there will be no poor left in the country." "That is just what I wish.

I am rich, very rich, and so is my sister; she is even richer than I am, because a young girl has not so many expenses, while I--Ah! well, I spend all that I can--all that I can.
When one has a great deal of money, too much, more than one feels to be just, tell me, Monsieur le Cure, is there any other way of obtaining pardon than to keep one's hands open, and give, give, give, all one can, and as usefully as one can?
Besides, you can give me something in return;" and, turning to Pauline, "Will you be so kind as to give me a glass of water?
No, nothing else; a glass of cold water; I am dying of thirst." "And I," said Bettina, laughing, while Pauline ran to fetch the water, "I am dying of something else-of hunger, to tell the truth.