execution know that somewhere in a corner of this place a handful of girls know how to make point de France as well as they do in Venice or Alençon?”
“It doesn’t matter what they think.” Madeleine smiles and reaches for Laure.
Feeling Madeleine’s hand on her shoulder, Laure shakes it off. “Don’t you understand? We have been removed from out there . Those people gather outside our window for their monthly entertainment. To women like the Superior who come from their fine chambers, we provide a chance to be charitable.” For once Laure actually believes her own words.
“Yes, Laure, there is no doubt that some women and men involved in charitable work are not motivated by their hearts, but what is the use of dwelling on that? Think of Madame du Clos and Madame Gage and how much they try to help the girls under their care. We are fortunate, Laure, to be here in this dormitory. With the working girls, learning skills.”
“But when will we use these skills? When we’re dead? When they’ve killed us with their watery broth and morsels of bread?”
“We’ll get less if we complain. Come on. Let’s put your dress away. I actually don’t eat much, Laure. In fact, I findthe portions to be too large at times. You can have my butter tomorrow and my beans on Friday. Then you’ll fit this dress.”
Laure watches as Madeleine, who has the body of a child, carefully folds the bulky dress. She notices that Madeleine’s hands are shaking. She has frightened her by saying that they are no different than prostitutes. Laure wishes she could say something to reassure her. Something about being a seamstress next year, about meeting a Duke in the shop and being happy as his wife with children and fine clothes and a carriage. But now Laure doesn’t believe these things are possible. Not with Mireille Langlois dead. What hope could there possibly be for a naive and pious child, and herself the daughter of a street singer?
Laure agrees to return to the sewing workshop under the condition that Madame du Clos helps her to compose a letter to the King. Laure has decided that frightening Madeleine with her bitter thoughts on their situation is of no use. She has to do something more. Madame du Clos tells Laure that she doubts the King will read the letter. He has many things to worry about in the kingdom, such as expanding his rule into the Spanish Netherlands, destroying the churches of Protestants, and building new ships. Nonetheless, Madame du Clos agrees to let Laure write the letter.
The needlework instructor isn’t authorized to teach reading and writing, as she is neither a maîtresse nor an officer at the hospital. She cannot even read very well. She says it is because her eyes hurt too much at the end of the day, but Laure doubts that she could ever read. In fact, when Madame du Closdiscovered that Laure knew how to read and write, she asked her to help out with her account books.
Laure looks forward to this task at the end of every Wednesday. The other girls are jealous that Laure gets to leave her needlework thirty minutes before the end of the day to retreat into the back room of the workshop. The small room is even darker than the main work area, and the air inside smells of ink and paper. The account books are on a shelf at the back of the room. Laure has to stand on a stool and use both hands to pull the heavy books down from the shelf. They contain the records of the workshop since 1663. Each book details the production of that year: the sewing, knitting, embroidering, and lacemaking of the girls in the workshop. How many tablecloths and napkins, handkerchiefs, socks, and sheets are produced and embroidered by the handful of girls who work there.
Letters written by hospital administrators about the workshop are kept in a separate book. Laure knows she isn’t supposed to read these letters. But on the days that she finishes up early with the accounts, she hurries to take them down. Laure has a hard time
“It doesn’t matter what they think.” Madeleine smiles and reaches for Laure.
Feeling Madeleine’s hand on her shoulder, Laure shakes it off. “Don’t you understand? We have been removed from out there . Those people gather outside our window for their monthly entertainment. To women like the Superior who come from their fine chambers, we provide a chance to be charitable.” For once Laure actually believes her own words.
“Yes, Laure, there is no doubt that some women and men involved in charitable work are not motivated by their hearts, but what is the use of dwelling on that? Think of Madame du Clos and Madame Gage and how much they try to help the girls under their care. We are fortunate, Laure, to be here in this dormitory. With the working girls, learning skills.”
“But when will we use these skills? When we’re dead? When they’ve killed us with their watery broth and morsels of bread?”
“We’ll get less if we complain. Come on. Let’s put your dress away. I actually don’t eat much, Laure. In fact, I findthe portions to be too large at times. You can have my butter tomorrow and my beans on Friday. Then you’ll fit this dress.”
Laure watches as Madeleine, who has the body of a child, carefully folds the bulky dress. She notices that Madeleine’s hands are shaking. She has frightened her by saying that they are no different than prostitutes. Laure wishes she could say something to reassure her. Something about being a seamstress next year, about meeting a Duke in the shop and being happy as his wife with children and fine clothes and a carriage. But now Laure doesn’t believe these things are possible. Not with Mireille Langlois dead. What hope could there possibly be for a naive and pious child, and herself the daughter of a street singer?
Laure agrees to return to the sewing workshop under the condition that Madame du Clos helps her to compose a letter to the King. Laure has decided that frightening Madeleine with her bitter thoughts on their situation is of no use. She has to do something more. Madame du Clos tells Laure that she doubts the King will read the letter. He has many things to worry about in the kingdom, such as expanding his rule into the Spanish Netherlands, destroying the churches of Protestants, and building new ships. Nonetheless, Madame du Clos agrees to let Laure write the letter.
The needlework instructor isn’t authorized to teach reading and writing, as she is neither a maîtresse nor an officer at the hospital. She cannot even read very well. She says it is because her eyes hurt too much at the end of the day, but Laure doubts that she could ever read. In fact, when Madame du Closdiscovered that Laure knew how to read and write, she asked her to help out with her account books.
Laure looks forward to this task at the end of every Wednesday. The other girls are jealous that Laure gets to leave her needlework thirty minutes before the end of the day to retreat into the back room of the workshop. The small room is even darker than the main work area, and the air inside smells of ink and paper. The account books are on a shelf at the back of the room. Laure has to stand on a stool and use both hands to pull the heavy books down from the shelf. They contain the records of the workshop since 1663. Each book details the production of that year: the sewing, knitting, embroidering, and lacemaking of the girls in the workshop. How many tablecloths and napkins, handkerchiefs, socks, and sheets are produced and embroidered by the handful of girls who work there.
Letters written by hospital administrators about the workshop are kept in a separate book. Laure knows she isn’t supposed to read these letters. But on the days that she finishes up early with the accounts, she hurries to take them down. Laure has a hard time
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