Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Textbook Ebook Handbook of Innovations in Cns Regenerative Medicine 1St Edition Antonio Salgado Editor All Chapter PDF
Textbook Ebook Handbook of Innovations in Cns Regenerative Medicine 1St Edition Antonio Salgado Editor All Chapter PDF
Edited by
Antonio J. Salgado
Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS),
School of Medicine, University of Minho,
Braga, Portugal
Elsevier
Radarweg 29, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, United Kingdom
50 Hampshire Street, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Details on how to seek
permission, further information about the Publisher’s permissions policies and our
arrangements with organizations such as the Copyright Clearance Center and the Copyright
Licensing Agency, can be found at our website: www.elsevier.com/permissions.
This book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the
Publisher (other than as may be noted herein).
Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and
experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or
medical treatment may become necessary.
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in
evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein.
In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety
of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.
To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors,
assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of
products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods,
products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
ISBN: 978-0-12-818084-6
Chapter 1
Insights on nervous system biology and anatomy 1
Madalena Esteves, Armando Almeida and Hugo Leite-Almeida
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Development of the vertebrate nervous system 2
1.2.1 Development of the trilaminar embryo 2
1.2.2 Neural induction 3
1.2.3 Neurulation 4
1.2.4 Development of brain vesicles 5
1.3 General organization of the nervous system 5
1.3.1 Spinal cord 6
1.3.2 Brain 7
1.3.3 Meninges and the ventricular system 12
1.4 Cells of the nervous system 13
1.4.1 Neurons 14
1.4.2 Glial cells 14
1.4.3 Ependymal cells 16
1.5 Technical approaches to study the nervous system 16
1.6 Conclusions 18
References 18
Chapter 2
Overview of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and the role
of protein aggregation in these neurodegenerative diseases 29
Mariah Lelos
2.1 Alzheimer’s disease 30
2.2 Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease 30
2.3 Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease 30
2.4 Neurodegeneration and neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease 31
2.5 Progression of amyloid deposition throughout the brain 32
2.6 Genetic influences 33
2.7 The amyloid cascade hypothesis 34
2.8 Parkinson’s disease 36
v
vi Contents
Chapter 3
Introduction to trauma in the central nervous system 55
Laureen D. Hachem and Michael G. Fehlings
3.1 Introduction 55
3.2 The current landscape of central nervous system trauma 56
3.3 Stages of central nervous system injury 57
3.3.1 Primary injury 57
3.3.2 Secondary injury: an overview of acute, subacute,
and chronic phases 58
3.4 Traumatic spinal cord injury pathophysiology 59
3.4.1 Acute injury 59
3.4.2 Subacute injury 65
3.4.3 Chronic injury 68
3.5 Traumatic brain injury 69
3.5.1 Classification 69
3.5.2 Cerebral perfusion and ischemia 70
3.5.3 Excitotoxicity and oxidative stress 70
3.5.4 Inflammation 70
3.5.5 Long-term sequelae 71
3.6 Guidelines for the management of neurotrauma 72
3.7 Conclusion 73
Acknowledgments 73
References 73
Chapter 4
Current clinical approaches in neurodegenerative diseases 79
Miguel Gago, Alvaro Machado and Sofia Rocha
4.1 Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease in a clinical context 79
4.1.1 Epidemiology of Parkinson’s disease 79
4.1.2 Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease 79
4.1.3 Clinical diagnosis and the natural history of Parkinson’s disease 80
4.1.4 Clinical diagnosis and the natural history of Alzheimer’s disease 81
4.1.5 Neuropathology and etiopathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease 81
4.1.6 Neuropathology and etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease 83
4.1.7 Genetics of Parkinson’s disease 83
4.1.8 Genetics of Alzheimer’s disease 84
Contents vii
Chapter 5
Neuroprotection in the injured spinal cord 125
Rui Lima, Inês M. Pereira and Nuno A. Silva
5.1 Spinal cord injury in a clinical context 125
5.1.1 Current spinal cord injury clinical management 126
5.2 Behind spinal cord injury 127
5.2.1 Permeability and vascular alterations 127
5.2.2 Metabolic alterations 127
5.2.3 Ionic disruption and excitotoxicity 128
5.2.4 Inflammatory response 128
5.2.5 Spinal cord scarring 129
5.3 Current neuroprotective therapies in spinal cord injury 130
5.3.1 Nimodipine 130
5.3.2 Glibenclamide (glyburide, DiaBeta) 131
5.3.3 Progesterone 131
5.3.4 Estrogen 132
5.3.5 Magnesium 132
5.3.6 Sygen (GM1) 132
5.3.7 Riluzole 133
5.3.8 Minocycline 134
5.3.9 IL-4 cytokine 134
5.3.10 Erythropoietin 135
5.3.11 Ibuprofen 135
5.3.12 Atorvastatin 136
5.3.13 Hypothermia 136
5.6 Final remarks 137
References 138
Chapter 6
The therapeutic potential of exogenous adult stem
cells for the injured central nervous system 147
Jayden A. Smith, Alice Braga, Regan Hamel, Carola Rutigliani,
Bryan Yu, Luca Peruzzotti-Jametti and Stefano Pluchino
6.1 Introduction 147
6.2 Adult stem cells and their sources 148
viii Contents
Chapter 7
Biomaterial-based systems as biomimetic agents in the
repair of the central nervous system 259
Jorge E. Collazos-Castro
7.1 Introduction 259
7.2 Considerations on the pathology of spinal cord trauma 260
Contents ix
Chapter 8
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in spinal cord
injury repair 291
Kristýna Kárová, Lucia Machova Urdzı́ková, Nataliya Romanyuk, Barbora
Svobodová, Kristýna Kekulová, Zuzana Kočı́, Pavla Jendelová and Šárka
Kubinová
8.1 Introduction 291
8.1.1 Pathophysiology of spinal cord injury 291
8.2 Experimental models of spinal cord injury: methodology,
advantages, disadvantages, and behavioral testing 293
8.2.1 Animal models of spinal cord injury 293
8.2.2 Behavioral testing of the animal spinal cord injury 295
8.3 Treatment strategies 299
8.3.1 Axon growth in spinal cord injury 300
8.4 Cell therapy: overview, comparison of various types of stem cells,
methods of application 302
8.4.1 Mesenchymal stem cells 302
8.4.2 Neural stem and progenitor cells 302
8.4.3 Oligodendrocyte precursor cells 303
8.4.4 Schwann cells 304
8.4.5 Olfactory ensheathing cells 304
8.4.6 Cell transplantation route 304
8.5 Antioxidant treatment 305
8.5.1 Epigallocatechin-3-gallate 306
8.5.2 Curcumin 307
8.6 Biomaterials in spinal cord injury 307
8.6.1 Synthetic scaffolds for spinal cord injury 308
8.6.2 Natural scaffolds 308
x Contents
Chapter 9
Toward the therapeutic application of small interfering
RNA bioconjugates in the central nervous system 333
João Cortinhas, Ana P. Pêgo and Pedro M.D. Moreno
9.1 Considerations on therapeutic drug delivery for neurological
disorders 333
9.2 Small interfering RNA 336
9.3 Barriers for siRNA delivery 338
9.4 Chemical modifications 339
9.5 Ribose modifications 340
9.5.1 Backbone modifications 342
9.6 Structural modifications 343
9.7 Bioconjugates 348
9.7.1 Lipids 349
9.7.2 Cell-penetrating peptides and polymers 350
9.7.3 Receptor-ligand conjugates 351
9.7.4 Antibodies 353
9.7.5 Aptamers 354
9.8 Dynamic polyconjugates 356
9.9 Other delivery systems: nanocarriers 357
9.10 Future perspectives 360
Acknowledgements 363
References 364
Chapter 10
Gene therapy approaches in central nervous system
regenerative medicine 375
Assumpcio Bosch and Miguel Chillon
10.1 Gene therapy 375
10.2 Gene therapy vectors 376
10.2.1 Adenovirus 376
10.2.2 Retrovirus 380
10.2.3 Lentivirus 381
10.2.4 Adenoassociated virus 381
10.2.5 Herpes simplex virus 382
10.2.6 Nonviral vectors 383
10.3 Gene therapy for nervous system 383
Contents xi
Chapter 11
Gene editing and central nervous system regeneration 399
Sara Monteiro Lopes and Luı́s Pereira de Almeida
11.1 Introduction 399
11.2 Targeted nucleases for efficient genome editing 400
11.3 Nuclease-mediated alterations: resolving double-strand breaks 403
11.4 CRISPR-Cas9 technology 405
11.4.1 From the natural bacterial system to the engineered nuclease 405
11.4.2 Dealing with challenges: Cas9 variants and orthologs 406
11.4.3 CRISPR-Cas9 as means for therapeutic genome editing:
evidence in brain disorders 408
11.4.4 Generation of cellular and animal models for brain disorders 419
11.4.5 Employing CRISPR-Cas beyond genome editing: gene
expression regulation in neurological disorders 419
11.4.6 Clinical translation 420
Acknowledgment 422
References 422
Chapter 12
Molecular therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative
diseases and injury 435
Muhibullah S. Tora, Pavlos Texakalidis, Alex Greven, Razan Faraj,
Julian L. Gendreau, Zhijia Liang, Thais Federici and Nicholas M. Boulis
12.1 Introduction 435
12.2 Spinal cord injury 435
12.2.1 Neurotrophins and growth factors 436
12.2.2 Inflammation 438
12.2.3 Promoting axonal growth 438
12.2.4 Modulation of excitotoxicity 439
12.2.5 Future directions 439
12.3 Traumatic brain injury 439
12.3.1 Growth factors 440
12.3.2 Modulation of free radicals 443
12.3.3 Inflammation 443
12.3.4 Excitotoxicity 443
12.3.5 Mir-23b, apolipoprotein-E, and Nav1.3 in the preclinical
setting 444
12.3.6 Future directions 444
12.4 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 444
12.4.1 Excitotoxicity 445
xii Contents
Chapter 13
Spinal cord stimulation for the recovery of function
following spinal cord injury 487
R.W.P. Kissane and R.M. Ichiyama
13.1 Introduction 487
13.2 A brief history into electricity induced neuromodulation 488
Contents xiii
Chapter 14
Electroceutical therapies for injuries of the nervous system 511
Guillermo Garcı́a-Alı́as, Jaume del Valle, Ignacio Delgado-Martı́nez
and Xavier Navarro
14.1 Introduction 511
14.2 Effects of electrical fields on neural growth in vitro 512
14.3 Electrical stimulation for peripheral nerve injuries and regeneration 513
14.4 Electrical stimulation in spinal cord injuries 515
14.4.1 Electrical stimulation improves axonal regeneration in the
spinal cord 516
14.4.2 Spinal cord neuromodulation 518
14.5 Electrical stimulation in brain injuries 521
14.5.1 Electrical stimulation for stroke 522
14.5.2 Techniques for noninvasive brain stimulation 524
14.5.3 Effects of noninvasive brain stimulation on brain ischemic
injury 525
References 527
Chapter 15
Role of mesenchymal stem cells in central nervous system
regenerative medicine: past, present, and future 539
António J. Salgado
15.1 Mesenchymal stem cells: origins 539
15.2 The paradigm shift: from differentiation to secretome 541
15.3 In vivo veritas 545
15.3.1 Spinal cord injury 545
15.3.2 Parkinson’s disease 552
15.4 What lies ahead 555
15.4.1 Secretome-based approaches 556
15.4.2 Modulation of mesenchymal stem cells secretome profile 557
15.4.3 New sources for mesenchymal stem cells 560
xiv Contents
Chapter 16
Three-dimensional culture systems in central nervous system
research 571
Itse Onuwaje and James B. Phillips
16.1 Introduction 571
16.1.1 Traditional methods of central nervous system culture 571
16.1.2 Shifting to three-dimensional systems 572
16.1.3 Introduction to three-dimensional systems used in
central nervous system research 573
16.2 Organoids 574
16.2.1 Definition of organoids 574
16.2.2 Development of organoids 575
16.2.3 Disease-specific organoid models 576
16.2.4 Strengths and limitations of organoids 577
16.3 Spheroid systems 578
16.3.1 Definition of spheroids 578
16.3.2 Development of spheroids 579
16.3.3 Disease-specific spheroid models 580
16.3.4 Strengths and limitations of spheroids 581
16.4 Scaffold-based models 581
16.4.1 Hydrogels 582
16.4.2 Solid porous scaffolds 586
16.4.3 Fibrous scaffolds 588
16.4.4 Summary 588
16.5 Challenges and future directions 590
16.5.1 Key challenges of advanced central nervous system culture
models 590
16.6 Concluding remarks 591
Acknowledgments 591
References 593
Chapter 17
Scaffolds for spinal cord injury repair: from proof of concept to
first in-human studies and clinical trials 603
Zhifeng Xiao , Yannan Zhao , Bing Chen and Jianwu Dai
17.1 Scaffold-based strategies to facilitate spinal cord injury repair 604
17.1.1 Scaffolds combined with neurotrophic factor transplantation
to facilitate spinal cord injury repair 604
17.1.2 Transplantation of stem cells combined with scaffolds
to facilitate spinal cord injury repair 606
Contents xv
Chapter 18
Animal models of central nervous system disorders 621
Eduardo D. Gomes, Sandra Barata-Antunes, Andreia Teixeira-Castro,
Rita C. Assunção-Silva, Cláudia R. Marques, Susana Monteiro,
Fábio G. Teixeira, Aline M. Fernandes and Nuno A. Silva
18.1 Introduction 621
18.1.1 Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system of central nervous
system disorders 621
18.1.2 Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for spinal cord injury 622
18.1.3 C. elegans as a model for Parkinson’s disease 624
18.2 Naturally regenerating animal models 627
18.2.1 Xenopus laevis 628
18.2.2 Salamander 629
18.2.3 Zebrafish 629
18.3 Rodents as a model of central nervous system disorders 630
18.4 Rodents as a model for spinal cord injury 631
18.4.1 Types of injury in rodent models 632
18.5 Rodents as a model for Parkinson’s disease 634
Acknowledgments 638
References 638
Chapter 19
Bioethics in translation research and clinical trials 651
Nadine Correia Santos
19.1 Introduction 651
19.1.1 Core ethical principles for guiding both basic and clinical
(stem cell) research 653
19.1.2 The need for regulations and ethical guidelines 656
19.1.3 The need for prioritizing rigorous and safe clinical trials 660
19.2 The role of research ethics committees 663
19.3 Conclusion 665
References 666
List of Contributors
Armando Almeida Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of
Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B’s—PT Government
Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
Rita C. Assunção-Silva Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School
of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/
3B’s PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
Sandra Barata-Antunes Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School
of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/
3B’s PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
Assumpcio Bosch Institut de Neurociènces (INc), Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Centro de
Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas
(CIBERNED), Centro de Biologı́a Molecular SEVERO OCHOA, Universidad
Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain; Vall d’Hebron
Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Research Group on Gene Therapy at Nervous
System, Barcelona, Spain
Nicholas M. Boulis Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of
Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
Alice Braga Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge,
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Bing Chen State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of
Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing,
China
Miguel Chillon Institut de Neurociènces (INc), Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Vall
d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Research Group on Gene Therapy at
Nervous System, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis
Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
Jorge E. Collazos-Castro Neural Repair and Biomaterials, National Hospital for
Paraplegics, Toledo, Spain
João Cortinhas i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of
Porto, Porto, Portugal; INEB—Biomedical Engineering Institute, University of
Porto, Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP),
Porto, Portugal; Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS),
University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
xvii
xviii List of Contributors
The central nervous system (CNS) is still considered to be the “holy grail”
of regenerative medicine. Its intrinsic low regenerative properties, as well as
its highly functional specialization, pose challenges that no other tissue or
organ present. Even with the tremendous advances achieved in the last cen-
tury in medicine, most of the severe conditions that affect the CNS are con-
sidered untreatable. Indeed, the complexity of CNS disorders demands the
development of innovative therapies. Areas such as cell transplantation
approaches, bio- and neuroengineering, molecular/pharmacotherapy thera-
pies, and enabling technologies are key in regenerative medicine approaches
that target injury and disease within the CNS. In the last decade, we have
witnessed the emergence of different approaches within these fields that will
probably pave the way for the emergence of innovative therapies that can
target CNS injury and disease in the future. However, when developing such
complex and combined strategies for therapeutic use, one has to be aware of
both regulatory and ethical issues. Particularly, those in academia need to
know the procedures and appropriate paths to follow to adequately take a
concept from the bench, to a clinical product or methodology, and to the
bedside. Therefore, it is thus essential to provide information that covers
both aspects of translational research, but above all immerses them in a
unique multidisciplinary approach that ultimately can foster new ideas and
strategies, and with it pave their way within the future of the CNS regenera-
tive medicine field. Having this in consideration the present book is focused
on topics that go from the basic biology of injury and disease in the CNS, to
upcoming fields in CNS regenerative medicine including cell transplantation,
bio- and neuroengineering, molecular/pharmacotherapy therapies, and
enabling technologies. By presenting these topics in a sequential and inte-
grated manner it is expected that the reader acquires a multidisciplinary
vision of CNS regenerative medicine, and with it, pave the way to new
regenerative routes that will overcome the limitations of the present ones.
xxiii
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
she had cause to complain, she would accuse the child of
ingratitude.
“She is a little ingrate, a little viper, that stings me after I have
warmed her. And to think of what I’ve done for her, and the worry
and anxiety I’ve suffered! After all, I’m poorly paid, and get but little
for all my studying and planning. She’s a little upstart, a little
aristocrat, who will trample on me some day. Well, it’s what one gets
in this world for doing a good deed. If I’d turned her and her mother
out to die in the street, I’d been thought more of than I am now, and
perhaps I’d been as well off.”
CHAPTER XIII
ONE OF THE NOBILITY
O N the next block, above little Gex’s fruit stall, was a small
cottage set close to the sidewalk, with two narrow windows
covered with batten shutters that no one remembered to have ever
seen opened. On one side was a high green fence, in which was a
small door, and above this fence some flowering trees were visible.
A pink crape-myrtle shed its transparent petals on the sidewalk
below. A white oleander and a Cape jasmine made the air fragrant,
while a “Gold of Ophir” rose, entwined with a beautiful “Reine
Henriette,” crept along the top of the fence, and hung in riotous
profusion above the heads of the passers.
Every day, in rain or shine, when Lady Jane visited little Gex, she
continued her walk to the green fence, and stood looking wistfully at
the clustering roses that bloomed securely beyond the reach of
pilfering fingers, vainly wishing that some of them would fall at her
feet, or that the gate might accidentally open, so that she could get a
peep within.
And Lady Jane was not more curious than most of the older
residents of Good Children Street. For many years it had been the
desire of the neighborhood to see what was going on behind that
impenetrable green fence. Those who were lucky enough to get a
glimpse, when the gate was opened for a moment to take the nickel
of milk, or loaf of bread, saw a beautiful little garden, carefully tended
and filled with exquisite flowers; but Lady Jane was never fortunate
enough to be present on one of those rare occasions, as they always
happened very early, and when her little yellow head was resting on
its pillow; but sometimes, while she lingered on the sidewalk, near
the gate, or under the tightly closed shutters, she would hear the
melodious song of a bird, or the tinkling, liquid sound of an ancient
piano, thin and clear as a trickling rivulet, and with it she would hear
sometimes a high, sweet, tremulous voice singing an aria from some
old-fashioned opera. Lady Jane didn’t know that it was an old-
fashioned opera, but she thought it very odd and beautiful, all the
same; and she loved to linger and listen to the correct but feeble
rendering of certain passages that touched her deeply: for the child
had an inborn love of music and one of the most exquisite little
voices ever heard.
Pepsie used to close her eyes in silent ecstasy when Lady Jane
sang the few simple airs and lullabies she had learned from her
mother, and when her tender little voice warbled
Pepsie would cover her face, and cry silently. No one ever heard her
sing but Pepsie. She was very shy about it, and if even Tite Souris
came into the room she would stop instantly.
Therefore, little Gex was very much surprised one day, when he
went out on the banquette, to see his small favorite before the closed
shutters with Tony in her arms, his long legs almost touching the
sidewalk, so carelessly was he held, while his enraptured little
mistress was standing with her serious eyes fixed steadily on the
window, her face pale and illumined with a sort of spiritual light, her
lips parted, and a ripple of the purest, sweetest, most liquid melody
issuing from between them that Gex had ever heard, even in those
old days when he used to haunt the French Opera.
He softly drew near to listen; she was keeping perfect time with
the tinkling piano and the faded voice of the singer within who with
many a quaver and break was singing a beautiful old French song;
and the bird-like voice of the child went up and down, in and out
through the difficult passages with wonderful passion and precision.
Gex slipped away silently, and stole almost guiltily into his little
den. He had discovered one of the child’s secret pleasures, as well
as one of her rare gifts, and he felt that he had no right to possess
such wonderful knowledge.
“Ma foi!” he thought, wiping way a fugitive tear, for the music had
awakened slumbering memories, “some one ought to know of that
voice. I wish Mam’selle d’Hautreve wasn’t so unapproachable; I’d
speak to her, and perhaps she’d teach the child.”
Presently Lady Jane entered, carrying Tony languidly; she said
good-morning as politely as usual, and smiled her charming smile,
but she seemed preoccupied, and unusually serious. With a tired
sigh she dropped Tony on the floor, and climbed up to her chair,
where she sat for some time in deep thought. At length she said in
an intensely earnest voice: “Oh, Mr. Gex, I wish I could get inside
that gate some way. I wish I could see who it is that sings.”
“Vhy, my leetle lady, it’s Mam’selle Diane vhat sings so fine.”
“Who is Mam’selle Diane?”
“Mam’selle Diane is the daughter of Madame d’Hautreve vhat live
all alone in the leetle shut-up house. Madame and Mam’selle Diane,
they are noblesse, of the nobility. Vell, you don’t know vhat is that.
Attendez, I vill try to make you understand.”
“Is it rich?” asked Lady Jane, anxious to help simplify the situation.
“Oh no, no, they are vairy, vairy poor; noblesse is vhat you’re born
vith.”
“Like the spine in the back,” suggested Lady Jane eagerly. “Pepsie
says you’re born with that.”
“No, it’s not that,” and Gex smiled a grim, puzzled smile, and
pushing his spectacles on the top of his head, he wiped his forehead
thoughtfully. “You’ve heard of the king, my leetle lady, now haven’t
you.”
“Oh, yes, yes,” returned Lady Jane brightly.
“They wear crowns and sit on thrones, and Pepsie says there is a
king of the carnival, King Rex.”
“Yes, that’s it,” said Gex, rubbing his hands with satisfaction, “and
the king is vay up high over everybody, and all the peoples must
honor the king. Vell, the noblesse is something like the king, my
leetle lady, only not quite so high up. Vell, Mam’selle’s grandpère vas
a noble. One of the French noblesse. Does my leetle lady
understand?”
“I think I do,” returned Lady Jane doubtfully. “Does she sit on a
throne and wear a crown?”
“Oh, no, no, no, they are poor, vairy poor,” said Gex humbly, “and
then, my leetle lady must know that the comte is naiver so high up as
the king, and then they have lost all their money and are poor, vairy
poor. Once, long ago, they vas rich, oh, vairy rich, and they had one
big, grand house, and the carriage, and the fine horses, and many,
many servant; now there’s only them two vhat lives all alone in the
leetle house. The grandpère, and the père, all are dead long ago,
and Madame d’Hautreve and Mam’selle Diane only are left to live in
the leetle house, shut up behind that high fence, alone, alvay alone.
And, my leetle lady, no one remembers them, I don’t believe, for it is
ten year I’ve been right in this Rue des Bons Enfants, and I naiver
have seen no one entair that gate, and no one comes out of it vairy
often. Mam’selle Diane must clean her banquette in the dark of the
night, for I’ve naiver seen her do it. I’ve vatched, but I have seen her,
naiver. Sometime, when it is vairy early, Mam’selle Diane comes to
my leetle shop for one dime of orange for Madam d’Hautreve, she is
vairy old and so poor. Ah, but she is one of the noblesse, the
genuine French noblesse, and Mam’selle Diane is so polite vhen she
come to my leetle shop.”
“If I should go there early, very early,” asked Lady Jane with
increasing interest, “and wait there all day, don’t you think I might
see her come out? You might, my leetle lady, and you might not.
About once in the month, Mam’selle Diane comes out all in the black
dress and veil, and one little black basket on her arm, and she goes
up toward Rue Royale. Vhen she goes out the basket it is heavy,
vhen she comes back it is light.”
“What does she carry in it, Mr. Gex?” asked Lady Jane, her eyes
large and her voice awe-stricken over the mysterious contents of the
basket.
“Ah, I know not, my leetle lady. It is one mystery,” returned Gex
solemnly. “Mam’selle is so proud and so shut up that no one can’t
find out anything. Poor lady, and vhen does she do her market, and
vhat do they eat, for all I evair see her buy is one nickel of bread,
and one nickel of milk.”
“But she’s got flowers and birds, and she plays on the piano and
sings,” said Lady Jane reflectively. “Perhaps she isn’t hungry and
doesn’t want anything to eat.”
“That may be so, my leetle lady,” replied Gex with smiling
approval, “I naiver thought of it, but it may be so—it may be so.
Perhaps the noblesse don’t have the big appetite, and don’t want so
much to eat as the common people.”
“Oh, I nearly forgot, Mr. Gex, Pepsie wants a nickel of cabbage,”
and Lady Jane suddenly returned to earth and earthly things did her
errand, took her lagniappe, and went away.
CHAPTER XIV
LADY JANE VISITS THE D’HAUTREVES
W HEN Mam’selle Diane joined Lady Jane in the garden, she had
gained her mother’s consent to give the child a music lesson
once a week. The old lady had been querulous and difficult; she had
discussed and objected, but finally Mam’selle Diane had overcome
her prejudices.
“You don’t know what kind of people her relatives are,” the old lady
said, complainingly, “and if we once open our doors to the child the
aunt may try to crowd in. We don’t want to make any new
acquaintances. There’s one satisfaction we still have, that, although
we are poor, very poor, we are always d’Hautreves, and we always
have been exclusive, and I hope we always shall be. As soon as we
allow those people to break down the barrier between us, they will
rush in on us, and, in a little while, they will forget who we are.”
“Never fear, mama; if the aunt is as well bred as the child, she will
not annoy us. If we wish to know her, we shall probably have to
make the first advances, for, judging by the child, they are not
common people. I have never seen so gentle and polite a little girl.
I’m sure she’ll be no trouble.”
“I don’t know about that. Children are natural gossips, and she is
very intelligent for her age. She will notice everything, and the secret
of your birds will get out.”
“Well, mama dear, if you feel that she will be an intrusion upon our
privacy, I won’t insist; but I should so like to have her, just for two
hours, say, once a week. It would give me a new interest; it would
renew my youth to hear her angelic little voice sometimes.”
“Oh, I suppose you must have your way, Diane, as you always do.
Young people nowadays have no respect for the prejudices of age.
We must yield all our traditions and habits to their new-fashioned
ideas, or else we are severe and tyrannical.”
“Oh, mama, dear mama, I’m sure you’re a little, just a little, unkind
now,” said Mam’selle Diane, soothingly. “I’ll give it up at once if you
really wish it; but I don’t think you do. I’m sure the child will interest
you; besides, I’m getting on so well with the bird—you wouldn’t have
me give up my model, would you?”
“Certainly not, my dear. If you need her, let her come. At least you
can try for a while, and if you find her troublesome, and the lessons a
task, you can stop them when you like.”
When this not very gracious consent was obtained, Mam’selle
Diane hastened to tell Lady Jane that, if her aunt approved, she
could come to her every Saturday, from one to three, when she
would teach her the piano, as well as singing; and that after the
lesson, if she liked to remain awhile in the garden with the birds and
flowers, she was at liberty to do so.
Lady Jane fairly flew to tell Pepsie the good news; but, much to
her surprise, her merry and practical friend burst into tears and hid
her face on the table among the pecan shells.
“Why, Pepsie—dear, dear Pepsie, what ails you?” cried Lady
Jane, in an agony of terror, “tell me what ails you?” and, dropping
Tony, she laid her little face among the shells and cried too.
“I’m—I’m—jealous,” said Pepsie, looking up after a while, and
rubbing her eyes furiously. “I’m a fool, I know, but I can’t help it; I
don’t want her to have you. I don’t want you to go there. Those fine,
proud people will teach you to look down on us. We’re poor, my
mother sells pralines, and the people that live behind that green
fence are too proud and fine to notice any one in this street. They’ve
lived here ever since I was born, and no one’s seen them, because
they’ve kept to themselves always; and now, when I’ve just got you
to love, they want to take you away, they want to teach you to—
despise—us!” and Pepsie stumbled over the unusual word in her
passionate vehemence, while she still cried and rubbed angrily.
“But don’t cry, Pepsie,” entreated Lady Jane. “I don’t love
Mam’selle Diane as well as I love you. It’s the music, the singing. Oh,
Pepsie, dear, dear Pepsie, let me learn music, and I’ll be good and
love you dearly!”
“No,—no, you won’t, you won’t care any more for me,” insisted
Pepsie, the little demon of jealousy raging to such a degree that she
was quite ready to be unjust, as well as unreasonable.
“Are you cross at me, Pepsie?” and Lady Jane crept almost across
the table to cling tearfully to her friend’s neck. “Don’t be cross, and I
won’t go to Mam’selle Diane. I won’t learn music, and, Pepsie, dear,
I’ll—I’ll—give you Tony!”
This was the extreme of renunciation, and it touched the generous
heart of the girl to the very quick. “You dear little angel!” she cried
with a sudden revulsion of feeling, clasping and kissing the child
passionately. “You’re as sweet and good as you can be, and I’m
wicked and selfish! Yes, wicked and selfish. It’s for your good, and
I’m trying to keep you away. You ought to hate me for being so
mean.”
At this moment Tite Souris entered, and, seeing the traces of tears
on her mistress’s cheeks, broke out in stern, reproachful tones.
“Miss Lady, what’s you be’n a-doin’ to my Miss Peps’? You done
made her cry. I see how she’s be’n a-gwine on. You jes’ look out, or
her ma’ll git a’ter you, ef yer makes dat po’ crooked gal cry dat a-
way.”
“Hush, Tite,” cried Pepsie, “you needn’t blame Miss Lady. It was
my fault. I was wicked and selfish, I didn’t want her to go to
Mam’selle Diane. I was jealous, that’s all.”
“Pepsie cried because she thought I wouldn’t love her,” put in Lady
Jane, in an explanatory tone, quite ignoring Tite’s burst of loyalty.
“Mam’selle Diane is nobility—French nobility—and Pepsie thought
I’d be proud, and love Mam’selle best,—didn’t you, Pepsie?”
“Now, jes’ hear dat chile,” cried Tite, scornfully. “If dey is nobil’ty,
dey is po’ white trash. Shore’s I live, dat tall lean one wat look lak a
graveyard figger, she git outen her bed ’fore sun-up, an’ brick her