first thoughts were of her own little stock of clothes. Of jewelry she
never had been the mistress of much, though the vicomtesse had
managed to save a few relics of her own ancient magnificence.
Nevertheless, they were articles of but little value, the days of her exile
having made many demands on all such resources.

It happened, one evening when Adrienne was receiving her wages from
the milliner, that the poor girl overheard a discourse that proved she
was not paid at the rate at which others were remunerated. Her eyes
told her that her own work was the neatest in the shop, and she also
saw that she did more than any other girl employed by the same person.
As she knew her own expertness with the needle, this did not surprise
her; but she felt some wonder that more and better work should
produce the least reward. Little did she understand the artifices of the
selfish and calculating, one of the most familiar of their frauds being to
conceal from the skillful their own success, lest it should command a
price in proportion to its claims. The milliner heard Adrienne's lady-like
and gentle remonstrance with alarm, and she felt that she was in danger
of losing a prize. But two expedients suggested themselves; to offer a
higher price, or to undervalue the services she was so fearful of losing.
Her practiced policy, as well as her selfishness, counseled her to try the
latter expedient first.

"You amaze me, mademoiselle," she answered, when Adrienne,
trembling at her own resolution, ceased speaking. "I was thinking myself
whether I could afford to pay you fifteen sous, when so many young
women who have been regularly brought up to the business are willing
to work for less. I am afraid we must part, unless you can consent to
receive twelve sous in future."