The Happy Life of a Duchess

It is undeniable that Adele was moved by her life attitude that she revealed that she tried her best to dress herself up to make herself look tidy even in difficult situations, just like the timid son behind him, although he was hungry, he also did not lose his bottom line and conscience. To steal food, or pretend to be pitiful.

That's not to say it can't be done, anything can happen before surviving.

But rather than putting down her dignity and kneeling down to beg, this lady is more willing to pay her own labor and hard work to earn a salary to cope with life, although she may not get a high salary.

Adele said a few words to the servant next to him, so he ran over to talk to the two of them on his own initiative.

The wife was still a little nervous with her son, but after hearing the servant's words clearly, she looked here, then showed an extremely gentle smile, and walked over with her son.

"My dear lady." She bowed to Adele and introduced herself very proactively, "Are you interested in my work? Maybe you would like to have another tailor who can embroider for you?"

She was still a little embarrassed when she spoke, and she didn't seem used to talking to "big shots". Adele understood what she said.

Not surprisingly, this lady wants to do embroidery work for others to earn a little wages. This is also the most common way. What she shows to others is a handkerchief that she sewed by herself. The stitches on the handkerchief are very fine and careful. , is a pattern of several water lilies blooming quietly on the water blue handkerchief.

In terms of craftsmanship, this flower is considered excellent, and Adele is not proficient. Seeing this embroiderer, she decided to praise it for its excellence.

At least the embroidery is lifelike, and the layout is also exquisite. Several water lilies in different blooming states are clustered together, surrounded by green water lily leaves. Interestingly, the edge of the handkerchief is also embroidered with beautiful interlocking green. Adele was amazed by the delicate pattern of lotus leaves connected in long strips.

"It's beautiful."

Adele smiled, and the other party recognized that her smile was sincere, so she was also slightly relieved.

"Perhaps you would like to have a cup of coffee with me."

Adele thought about it, and decided to invite the other two to a nearby coffee shop for a cup of coffee.

Although the other party looks like a poor man, but judging by his appearance, words and deeds, he is not really reduced to the bottom of society.

It should be ordinary civilians who are living a difficult life, but they have been affected a little, which makes life look particularly sad.

The British coffee shop next to it has been open for a relatively long time in a street.

Compared with those who follow the trend, this shop has existed for more than ten years, and the taste of handmade coffee is also very mellow and authentic, which is liked by everyone around.

The waiter took a few people to sit down in a secluded corner on the first floor as requested.

Adele was also unambiguous, and ordered a cake and two small buns for the son of the other party. When the child saw the white soft bread, his eyes lit up. The desire really entered the heart, but he still remembered looking at his mother. Attitude.

The lady was full of embarrassment and hesitation, and finally let the child eat slowly with Adele's nod.

The little boy did eat very slowly. Although he gnawed most of it in one bite at first, he seemed to realize that he should be more cautious after eating the smell of soft bread. Maybe there would be nothing left after eating, so he slowed down eating Even the chewing slowed down a bit, and I took small bites, cherishing it very much.

The desserts in the coffee shop are not too much, even if it is bread, the two small breads will be gone soon. When facing the cake, he is more cautious, and he dare not even drink milk .

Adele saw this in her eyes.

The other party and she both ordered a cup of coffee, but didn't drink much.

The hard-working seamstress took a few sips, presumably to moisturize chapped lips, and she was done.

After the conversation, Adele knew that the other party really came from the disaster area, but it was not the center of the disaster area, but a peripheral area with relatively weak influence.

However, her and her son's experience is more special, because the control is fast, and the scope of influence is actually not large. This time, not too many people died, but it caused a lot of refugees, because the landlords there were too unruly. .

Madame Daumier is a widow, and she has lived with her son, who looks only six or seven years old, but is actually nine years old, for nearly five years.

She has been living as a widow in the original site, living in seclusion, living a frugal life on weekdays, and often working to subsidize her family.

But the infestation changed everything.

The only house in their family was occupied by the deceased husband's relatives for various reasons, and there was nothing left of the surviving food.

Mrs. Daumier's life is not rich. It is only because of her tailoring skills, practical workmanship and sincerity that she can barely make ends meet.

As a result, I finally saved some money and food, and wanted to send my son to school, but in the end I faced such a thing.

Mrs. Daumier is true, and she doesn't understand anything, especially those relatives who used to seem a little friendly. They have produced all kinds of evidence, and what are the words of a reliable village priest to prove themselves Indeed, the reasonable and legal heir to the house.

In desperation, she took the last bit of money that could not be robbed, and left her hometown with her son, and came to Paris to join her distant uncle and uncle.

Mrs. Daumier's uncle's life is not very good, but it is still possible to pack up a utility room that was used by him and give them orphans and widows to live in.

It's just that all the burdens of life can't fall on this elderly uncle, so Madame Daumier decided to find another embroidery job in Paris.

"Can I have a look at other works?"

Adele guessed that such a wife who had the courage to take her son to leave her hometown must be prepared.

Sure enough, besides the square handkerchief, she also took out a few works from the bag her son was carrying, including more sophisticated handkerchiefs with patterns drawn by her own hands, and some small things sewn with leftover materials and other patterns.

"This is... the blueprint?"

Adele was surprised that such an unattractive wife was able to come up with a decent design drawing.

"These are imitations."

she explained.

Adele saw it too.

The existence of these drawings may not be for a noble lady like Adele, but for her to be able to get a job in some tailor shops, especially clothing stores.

What most ordinary clothing stores need is not so much outstanding creativity, but mass-produced craftsmanship and excellent imitation ability.

What they have to do is to copy the clothes worn by the most fashionable lady in Paris, and then try to manufacture a large number of similar clothes of the same style, and sell them to more ladies who hope to pursue this "trend" .

Only aristocrats with sufficient financial resources and status at home will choose to customize, and they will be able to have enough outstanding clothes to lead the trend.

"Your eyes are sharp."

Adele heartfelt praise.

Maybe the other party is looking for opportunities around here, not just to meet some kind-hearted shops or nobles who are willing to accept her, or give her some jobs, but to be able to see as many people who come and go as possible. The clothes on their bodies of various people in Paris.

They may not all be French, and they don't all dress sufficiently to represent Parisian taste.

But the flow of people here is large enough, and people from different countries and cultures will gather here.

Of course, the biggest possibility is that there will be occasional activities of the most fashionable and top people in Paris here.

She didn't get the chance to show up at those fancy dinner parties, and usually didn't get together to really see the trends first-hand.

What can be circulated in the market is already a fashion behind, but she also carefully grasped the extremely small opportunity.Seize the moment in what some people are wearing before the fashion takes over all the people.

"Thank you for your compliment."

Mrs. Daumier was a little uneasy, but she was quite confident in what she was very good at.

"I like you very much."

Adele meant it.

After the other party explained some of her thoughts in a more confident and natural voice, and took out a needle and thread on the spot to show her her excellent sewing skills and relatively sophisticated embroidery level in a short period of time, Adai Er was really moved.

"If there are better fabrics, I will definitely be able to play better."

Although most of the time the lady responded with a slightly shy and gentle smile, only at this time did she show her confidence and sharpness.

She is not without pride, and she also has excellent aesthetics, otherwise she would not have acted like a relative who bullied their orphans and widows, resolutely cut off her wrists, took what little money was left and defected to Paris, and Boldly looking for job opportunities, although she has saved her face, she has not lost her dignity.

Even if it is work, she does it frankly, with a righteous heart and a heart, and the most important thing is that her craftsmanship is also very good, at least the basic skills are solid enough, although I don't know how creative she is, but a Journeyman was enough for Adele to offer her a job.

"Perhaps you would like to serve the Duke's Palace."

Adele smiled.

The other party was shocked.

She thought that Adele would be a lady of outstanding status, but she thought she was just a baroness, at most an earl, but she didn't expect that she would have the good fortune to talk face-to-face with a duchess.

She was stunned, and then reacted subconsciously, directly pulling the child to stand up, saying that she was unwilling to continue doing anything.

So Adele didn't force it, and called the servant who was waiting on the side, gave him some money, and then ordered something, then turned to look at Mrs. Daumier and her son.

"Little Monsieur Daumier is very lovely, too."

She compliments.

Anyway, this is a well-behaved child. Although I don't know how smart he is, at least the quality of being well-behaved is not easy for a boy of this age.

The little boy returned her a shy but very innocent smile. After being pulled up by his mother, he no longer dared to continue eating, but he tasted everything on the table, including the bread and small cakes. There is still a little bit of milk left.

It was her last sentence that really moved her and prompted her to make up her mind.

That confident statement, combined with her excellent knowledge of fabrics, made Adele feel that this might be an opportunity.Because Mrs. Daumier grew up in a farming family, she has some knowledge about the production of cotton, linen, and silk, and she has even done related planting and breeding before.

Although I later gave up part of it to take care of my son, some knowledge and skills are still stored in my mind.

"Tomorrow, you can come to the Duke's Mansion, the Bailu Manor not far from Provence Street, the residence of the Juradi family. Our Duke's Mansion has regular tailors to do work. Generally speaking, it will not be assigned to outside tailors to work, but I I think I can give you a chance, and a special housekeeper will come to discuss with you about the specific remuneration, but you have to know that if you agree to work for me, you will basically lose the opportunity to work outside. .”

"Thank you for your generosity."

What Mrs. Daumier did not say was that there was no shortage of workers in Paris at this time. She had found many places, and these "little cleverness" could not make her, a foreigner, appreciated in Paris, and her wages were reduced to one. No matter how low it is, the cheap labor and salary are not even enough to meet the three meals and daily expenses of her, uncle and son. She feels more and more difficult, so she can't help but look for opportunities on the street.

She doesn't think this is a place that can be used to "sell pity", just like she took the child just because she was worried, not to exchange him for a little pity and charity from the rich.

She hopes that her ability will be recognized. She believes that her embroidery work is not worthless, at least not so cheap that she only rests for three or four hours a day. A franc, not even lamp oil.

Facts have proved that she was willing to listen to her explanation and spend a few minutes watching her show after countless failures. Works of people.

She has made a decision, as long as the price offered by the young lady's family is a little higher than before, and can meet the daily expenses of three people, she is willing to work. If she wants to work, she can accept it, no matter how hard it is.

Before parting, she received a bag of bread bought by the waiter on Adele's order. The fluffy buns were at least more in line with her son's taste than the dry, hard, chewy black bread, and she felt more and more grateful.

When Adele returned home, she received another letter from her friend Leo. This time she came to invite her to watch the play "Lucles Borgia" at the Porte Saint-Martin Theater. ", she said in the letter that she had already reserved a box and prepared tickets half a month ago, and this popular and sought-after drama did not bother her.

But before that, she had been hesitating whether to go or not. She thought that before she really decided on a certain gentleman, she must watch the show no matter what.

However, due to some scruples and reasons that she could not express in the letter, she was a little uneasy and hesitant at the same time. This kind of mood made her not make up her mind immediately, nor did she invite anyone else to go with her, or even tell anyone about herself. Actually booked a ticket for this show.

It wasn't until a few days ago that she realized that the play was about to start and she couldn't procrastinate any longer, so she finally made up her mind and sent a letter to her closest friend, Adele, begging Adele to join her .

"It's related to some of my perceptions."

She said so in the letter.

The author has something to say:

Adele: What is so mysterious?