Crossing to the opposite side of the bridge, she leaned on the parapet and gazed at the rapid waters of the stream. Little by little, she began to experience that strange fascination caused by the attraction of the abyss; and as her eyes followed the swift current, she felt overtaken by a sort of vertigo and drawn more and more toward the flowing waters. "Here is oblivion and an end to all sorrows!" thought the unhappy girl. "It is a sure refuge against all miseries, against fear and hunger, illness and unhappy old age--wretched as that of my godmother's--Ah! what would become of her without me?--" At that moment she felt her arm grasped violently, and a frightened voice cried out: "Look out, child, or you will fall into the river!" The girl drew back shuddering, and gazed wildly around her. "Do you know that you are very imprudent, to say the least of it, my child," said a good-natured looking woman, who stood beside her. "You were leaning so far over the parapet that I thought you would lose your footing any moment." "Thank you, madame," replied Mariette, "I am very careless, indeed." "You must be more careful, my dear," returned the woman warningly. "Heavens! how pale you are--are you ill?" "I feel a little faint, madame," said the girl, feeling a painful dizziness come over her, "but it will pass away." "Lean on me, then. You are, no doubt, just recovering from a serious illness?" "Yes--that's it, madame," responded Mariette, passing her hand over her brow, "but where am I?" "At the _Pont au Change_--Are you a stranger in Paris?" asked the woman, curiously. "No, madame; but I was overcome with a strange feeling of dizziness a few moments ago. It is passing over now, and I recognize the surroundings." "You had better take my arm, you are trembling so," suggested the kind-hearted woman. "Thank you, madame; it's not necessary, I live only a few steps from here." "Well, good-bye, and be very cautious." Having recovered the entire possession of her senses, Mariette now felt her bitter sorrows even more keenly than before; and she trembled at the thought of the harsh reception that awaited her in her desolate home, when she had so much need of consolation, or, at least, of that isolation and sad tranquility which lulls the most intense grief into calm hopelessness. Being anxious to mitigate the cruel reproaches which her prolonged absence would inevitably draw upon her, she bethought herself of her godmother's desire to obtain the part of a chicken, and determined to satisfy this whim in the hope of being forgiven. She therefore hastened to the neighboring shops, purchased the quarter of a fowl and two white rolls with what remained of the money obtained on her gown and fichu, and turned homeward once more. As she neared the house she was somewhat surprised to see an elegant cabriolet before the door; but she entered without giving the circumstance another thought, and stopping at the lodge asked for her key.