第2章

betweenfancyandreality，thespiritandthelife。Modestewasapureyounggirl，inquisitiveafterknowledge，understandingherdestiny，andfilledwithchastity，——theVirginofSpainratherthantheMadonnaofRaphael。

SheraisedherheadwhensheheardDumaysaytoExupere，"Comehere，youngman。"SeeingthemtogetherinthecornerofthesalonshesupposedtheyweretalkingofsomecommissioninParis。Thenshelookedatthefriendswhosurroundedher，asifsurprisedbytheirsilence，andexclaimedinhernaturalmanner，"Whyareyounotplaying？"——withaglanceatthegreentablewhichtheimposingMadameLatournellecalledthe"altar。"

"Yes，letusplay，"saidDumay，havingsentoffExupere。

"Sitthere，Butscha，"saidMadameLatournelle，separatingthehead—

clerkfromthegrouparoundMadameMignonandherdaughterbythewholewidthofthetable。

"Andyou，comeoverhere，"saidDumaytohiswife，makinghersitclosebyhim。

MadameDumay，alittleAmericanaboutthirty—sixyearsofage，wipedhereyesfurtively;sheadoredModeste，andfearedacatastrophe。

"Youarenotverylivelythisevening，"remarkedModeste。

"Weareplaying，"saidGobenheim，sortinghiscards。

Nomatterhowinterestingthissituationmayappear，itcanbemadestillmoresobyexplainingDumay’spositiontowardsModeste。Ifthebrevityofthisexplanationmakesitseemratherdry，thereadermustpardonitsdrynessinviewofourdesiretogetthroughwiththesepreliminariesasspeedilyaspossible，andthenecessityofrelatingthemaincircumstanceswhichgovernalldramas。

CHAPTERIII

PRELIMINARIES

JeanFrancoisBernardDumay，bornatVannes，startedasasoldierforthearmyofItalyin1799。Hisfather，presidentoftherevolutionarytribunalofthattown，haddisplayedsomuchenergyinhisofficethattheplacehadbecometoohottoholdthesonwhentheparent，apettifogginglawyer，perishedonthescaffoldaftertheninthThermidor。Onthedeathofhismother，whodiedofthegriefthiscatastropheoccasioned，JeansoldallthathepossessedandrushedtoItalyattheageoftwenty—two，attheverymomentwhenourarmieswerebeginningtoyield。OnthewayhemetayoungmaninthedepartmentofVar，whoforreasonsanalogoustohisownwasinsearchofglory，believingabattle—fieldlessperilousthanhisownProvence。CharlesMignon，thelastscionofanancientfamily，whichgaveitsnametoastreetinParisandtoamansionbuiltbyCardinalMignon，hadashrewdandcalculatingfather，whoseoneideawastosavehisfeudalestateofLaBastieintheComtatfromtheclawsoftheRevolution。Likealltimidfolkofthatday，theComtedeLaBastie，nowcitizenMignon，founditmorewholesometocutoffotherpeople’sheadsthantolethisownbecutoff。Theshamterroristdisappearedafterthe9thThermidor，andwastheninscribedonthelistofemigres。TheestateofLaBastiewassold;thetowersandbastionsoftheoldcastlewerepulleddown，andcitizenMignonwassoonafterdiscoveredatOrleansandputtodeathwithhiswifeandallhischildrenexceptCharles，whomhehadsenttofindarefugeforthefamilyintheUpperAlps。

Horrorstruckatthenews，CharleswaitedforbettertimesinavalleyofMontGenevra;andthereheremainedtill1799，subsistingonafewlouiswhichhisfatherhadputintohishandatstarting。Finally，whentwenty—threeyearsofage，andwithoutotherfortunethanhisfinepresenceandthatsouthernbeautywhich，whenitreachesperfection，maybecalledsublime（ofwhichAntinous，thefavoriteofAdrian，isthetype），CharlesresolvedtowagerhisProvencalaudacity——takingit，likemanyanotheryouth，foravocation——ontheredclothofwar。OnhiswaytothebaseofthearmyatNicehemettheBreton。

Thepairbecameintimate，partlyfromthecontrastsintheircharacters;theydrankfromthesamecupatthewaysidetorrents，brokethesamebiscuit，andwerebothmadesergeantsatthepeacewhichfollowedthebattleofMarengo。

Whenthewarrecommenced，CharlesMignonwaspromotedintothecavalryandlostsightofhiscomrade。In1812thelastoftheMignondeLaBastiewasanofficeroftheLegionofhonorandmajorofaregimentofcavalry。TakenprisonerbytheRussianshewassent，likesomanyothers，toSiberia。Hemadethejourneyincompanywithanotherprisoner，apoorlieutenant，inwhomherecognizedhisoldfriendJeanDumay，brave，neglected，undecorated，unhappy，likeamillionofotherwoollenepaulets，rankandfile——thatcanvasofmenonwhichNapoleonpaintedthepictureoftheEmpire。WhileinSiberia，thelieutenant—

colonel，tokilltime，taughtwritingandarithmetictotheBreton，whoseearlyeducationhadseemedauselesswasteoftimetoPereScevola。Charlesfoundintheoldcomradeofhismarchingdaysoneofthoserareheartsintowhichamancanpourhisgriefswhiletellinghisjoys。

TheyoungProvencalhadmetthefatewhichattendsallhandsomebachelors。In1804，atFrankfortontheMain，hewasadoredbyBettinaWallenrod，onlydaughterofabanker，andhemarriedherwithallthemoreenthusiasmbecauseshewasrichandanotedbeauty，whilehewasonlyalieutenantwithnoprospectsbuttheextremelyproblematicalfutureofasoldieroffortuneofthatday。OldWallenrod，adecayedGermanbaron（thereisalwaysabaroninaGermanbank）delightedtoknowthatthehandsomelieutenantwasthesolerepresentativeoftheMignondeLaBastie，approvedtheloveoftheblondeBettina，whosebeautyanartist（atthattimetherereallywasoneinFrankfort）hadlatelypaintedasanidealheadofGermany。WallenrodinvestedenoughmoneyintheFrenchfundstogivehisdaughterthirtythousandfrancsayear，andsettleditonhisanticipatedgrandsons，namingthemcountsofLaBastie—Wallenrod。This"dot"madeonlyasmallholeinhiscash—box，thevalueofmoneybeingthenverylow。ButtheEmpire，pursuingapolicyoftenattemptedbyotherdebtors，rarelypaiditsdividends;andCharleswasratheralarmedatthisinvestment，havinglessfaiththanhisfather—in—lawintheimperialeagle。Thephenomenonofbelief，orofadmirationwhichisephemeralbelief，isnotsoeasilymaintainedwheninclosequarterswiththeidol。Themechanicdistruststhemachinewhichthetravelleradmires;andtheofficersofthearmymightbecalledthestokersoftheNapoleonicengine，——if，indeed，theywerenotitsfuel。

However，theBaronWallenrod—Tustall—Bartenstildpromisedtocomeifnecessarytothehelpofthehousehold。CharleslovedBettinaWallenrodasmuchasshelovedhim，andthatissayingagooddeal;

butwhenaProvencalismovedtoenthusiasmallhisfeelingsandattachmentsaregenuineandnatural。Andhowcouldhefailtoadorethatblondebeauty，escaping，asitwere，fromthecanvasofDurer，giftedwithanangelicnatureandendowedwithFrankfortwealth？Thepairhadfourchildren，ofwhomonlytwodaughterssurvivedatthetimewhenhepouredhisgriefsintotheBreton’sheart。Dumaylovedtheselittleoneswithouthavingseenthem，solelythroughthesympathysowelldescribedbyCharlet，whichmakesasoldierthefatherofeverychild。Theeldest，namedBettinaCaroline，wasbornin1805;theother，MarieModeste，in1808。Theunfortunatelieutenant—

colonel，longwithouttidingsofthesecherisheddarlings，wassent，atthepeaceof1814，acrossRussiaandPrussiaonfoot，accompaniedbythelieutenant。Nodifferenceofepauletscouldcountbetweenthetwofriends，whoreachedFrankfortjustasNapoleonwasdisembarkingatCannes。

CharlesfoundhiswifeinFrankfort，inmourningforherfather，whohadalwaysidolizedherandtriedtokeepasmileuponherlips，evenbyhisdyingbed。OldWallenrodwasunabletosurvivethedisastersoftheEmpire。Atseventyyearsofagehespeculatedincottons，relyingonthegeniusofNapoleonwithoutcomprehendingthatgeniusisquiteasoftenbeyondasatthebottomofcurrentevents。TheoldmanhadpurchasednearlyasmanybalesofcottonastheEmperorhadlostmenduringhismagnificentcampaigninFrance。"Itieingoddon，"saidthefathertothedaughter，afatheroftheGoriottype，strivingtoquietagriefwhichdistressedhim。"Iowenomannanything——"andhedied，stilltryingtospeaktohisdaughterinthelanguagethatsheloved。

Thankfultohavesavedhiswifeanddaughtersfromthegeneralwreck，CharlesMignonreturnedtoParis，wheretheEmperormadehimlieutenant—colonelinthecuirassiersoftheGuardandcommanderoftheLegionofhonor。Thecoloneldreamedofbeingcountandgeneralafterthefirstvictory。Alas！thathopewasquenchedinthebloodofWaterloo。Thecolonel，slightlywounded，retiredtotheLoire，andleftToursbeforethedisbandmentofthearmy。

Inthespringof1816Charlessoldhiswife’spropertyoutofthefundstotheamountofnearlyfourhundredthousandfrancs，intendingtoseekhisfortuneinAmerica，andabandonhisowncountrywherepersecutionwasbeginningtolayaheavyhandonthesoldiersofNapoleon。HewenttoHavreaccompaniedbyDumay，whoselifehehadsavedatWaterloobytakinghimonthecrupperofhissaddleinthehurly—burlyoftheretreat。Dumaysharedtheopinionsandtheanxietiesofhiscolonel;thepoorfellowidolizedthetwolittlegirlsandfollowedCharleslikeaspaniel。Thelatter，confidencethatthehabitofobedience，thedisciplineofsubordination，andthehonestyandaffectionofthelieutenantwouldmakehimausefulaswellasafaithfulretainer，proposedtotakehimwithhiminacivilcapacity。Dumaywasonlytoohappytobeadoptedintothefamily，towhichheresolvedtoclinglikethemistletoetoanoak。

Whilewaitingforanopportunitytoembark，atthesametimemakingchoiceofashipandreflectingonthechancesofferedbythevariousportsforwhichtheysailed，thecolonelheardmuchtalkaboutthebrilliantfuturewhichthepeaceseemedtopromisetoHavre。Ashelistenedtotheseconversationsamongthemerchants，heforesawthemeansoffortune，andwithoutlossoftimehesetaboutmakinghimselftheowneroflandedproperty，abanker，andashipping—merchant。Heboughtlandandhousesinthetown，anddespatchedavesseltoNewYorkfreightedwithsilkspurchasedinLyonsatreducedprices。HesentDumayontheshipashisagent;andwhenthelatterreturned，aftermakingadoubleprofitbythesaleofthesilksandthepurchaseofcottonsatalowvaluation，hefoundthecolonelinstalledwithhisfamilyinthehandsomesthouseintherueRoyale，andstudyingtheprinciplesofbankingwiththeprodigiousactivityandintelligenceofanativeofProvence。

ThisdoubleoperationofDumay’swasworthafortunetothehouseofMignon。ThecolonelpurchasedthevillaatIngouvilleandrewardedhisagentwiththegiftofamodestlittlehouseintherueRoyale。ThepoortoilerhadbroughtbackfromNewYork，togetherwithhiscottons，aprettylittlewife，attracteditwouldseembyhisFrenchnature。

MissGrummerwasworthaboutfourthousanddollars（twentythousandfrancs），whichsumDumayplacedwithhiscolonel，towhomhenowbecameanalterego。Inashorttimehelearnedtokeephispatron’sbooks，asciencewhich，tousehisownexpression，pertainstothesergeant—majorsofcommerce。Thesimple—heartedsoldier，whomfortunehadforgottenfortwentyyears，thoughthimselfthehappiestmanintheworldastheownerofthelittlehouse（whichhismaster’sliberalityhadfurnished），withtwelvehundredfrancsayearfrommoneyinthefunds，andasalaryofthreethousandsixhundred。NeverinhisdreamshadLieutenantDumayhopedforasituationsogoodasthis;butgreaterstillwasthesatisfactionhederivedfromtheknowledgethathisluckyenterprisehadbeenthepivotofgoodfortunetotherichestcommercialhouseinHavre。

MadameDumay，aratherprettylittleAmerican，hadthemisfortunetoloseallherchildrenattheirbirth;andherlastconfinementwassodisastrousastodepriveherofthehopeofanyother。ShethereforeattachedherselftothetwolittleMignons，whomDumayhimselfloved，orwouldhaveloved，evenbetterthanhisownchildrenhadtheylived。

MadameDumay，whoseparentswerefarmersaccustomedtoalifeofeconomy，wasquitesatisfiedtoreceiveonlytwothousandfourhundredfrancsofherownandherhouseholdexpenses;sothateveryyearDumaylaidbytwothousandandsomeextrahundredswiththehouseofMignon。

Whentheyearlyaccountsweremadeupthecolonelalwaysaddedsomethingtothislittlestorebywayofacknowledgingthecashier’sservices，untilin1824thelatterhadacreditoffifty—eightthousandfrancs。InwasthenthatCharlesMignon，ComtedeLaBastie，atitleheneverused，crownedhiscashierwiththefinalhappinessofresidingattheChalet，whereatthetimewhenthisstorybeginsMadameMignonandherdaughterwerelivinginobscurity。

ThedeplorablestateofMadameMignon’shealthwascausedinpartbythecatastrophetowhichtheabsenceofherhusbandwasdue。GriefhadtakenthreeyearstobreakdownthedocileGermanwoman;butitwasagriefthatgnawedatherheartlikeawormatthecoreofasoundfruit。Itiseasytoreckonupitsobviouscauses。Twochildren，dyingininfancy，hadadoublegraveinasoulthatcouldneverforget。TheexileofherhusbandtoSiberiawastosuchawomanadailydeath。ThefailureoftherichhouseofWallenrod，andthedeathofherfather，leavinghiscoffersempty，wastoBettina，thenuncertainaboutthefateofherhusband，aterribleblow。ThejoyofCharles’sreturncamenearkillingthetenderGermanflower。AfterthatthesecondfalloftheEmpireandtheproposedexpatriationactedonherfeelingslikearenewedattackofthesamefever。Atlast，however，aftertenyearsofcontinualprosperity，thecomfortsofherhouse，whichwasthefinestinHavre，thedinners，balls，andfetesofaprosperousmerchant，thesplendorsofthevillaMignon，theunboundedrespectandconsiderationenjoyedbyherhusband，hisabsoluteaffection，givingheranunrivalledloveinreturnforhersingle—mindedloveforhim，——allthesethingsbroughtthewomanbacktolife。Atthemomentwhenherdoubtsandfearsatlastlefther，whenshecouldlookforwardtothebrighteveningofherstormylife，ahiddencatastrophe，buriedintheheartofthefamily，andofwhichweshallpresentlymakemention，cameastheprecursorofrenewedtrials。

InJanuary，1826，onthedaywhenHavrehadunanimouslychosenCharlesMignonasitsdeputy，threeletters，arrivingfromNewYork，Paris，andLondon，fellwiththedestructionofahammeruponthecrystalpalaceofhisprosperity。Inaninstantruinlikeavultureswoopeddownupontheirhappiness，justasthecoldfellin1812uponthegrandarmyinRussia。OnenightsufficedCharlesMignontodecideuponhiscourse，andhespentitinsettlinghisaccountswithDumay。Allheowned，notexceptinghisfurniture，wouldjustsufficetopayhiscreditors。

"Havreshallneverseemedoingnothing，"saidthecoloneltothelieutenant。"Dumay，Itakeyoursixtythousandfrancsatsixpercent。"

"Three，mycolonel。"

"Atnothing，then，"criedMignon，peremptorily;"youshallhaveyourshareintheprofitsofwhatInowundertake。The’Modeste，’whichisnolongermine，sailsto—morrow，andIsailinher。Icommittoyoumywifeanddaughter。Ishallnotwrite。Nonewsmustbetakenasgoodnews。"

Dumay，alwayssubordinate，askednoquestionsofhiscolonel。"I

think，"hesaidtoLatournellewithaknowinglittleglance，"thatmycolonelhasaplanlaidout。"

Thefollowingdayatdawnheaccompaniedhismasteronboardthe"Modeste"boundforConstantinople。There，onthepoopofthevessel，theBretonsaidtotheProvencal，——

"Whatareyourlastcommands，mycolonel？"

"ThatnomanshallentertheChalet，"criedthefatherwithstrongemotion。"Dumay，guardmylastchildasthoughyouwereabull—dog。

Deathtothemanwhoseducesanotherdaughter！Fearnothing，noteventhescaffold——Iwillbewithyou。"

"Mycolonel，goinpeace。Iunderstandyou。YoushallfindMademoiselleMignononyourreturnsuchasyounowgivehertome，orIshallbedead。Youknowme，andyouknowyourPyreneeshounds。Nomanshallreachyourdaughter。Forgivemefortroublingyouwithwords。"

ThetwosoldiersclaspedarmslikemenwhohadlearnedtounderstandeachotherinthesolitudesofSiberia。

OnthesamedaytheHavre"Courier"publishedthefollowingterrible，simple，energetic，andhonorablenotice:——

"ThehouseofCharlesMignonsuspendspayment。Buttheundersigned，assigneesoftheestate，undertaketopayallliabilities。Onandafterthisdate，holdersofnotesmayobtaintheusualdiscount。Thesaleofthelandedestateswillfullycoverallcurrentindebtedness。

"Thisnoticeisissuedforthehonorofthehouse，andtopreventanydisturbanceinthemoney—marketofthistown。

"MonsieurCharlesMignonsailedthismorningonthe’Modeste’forAsiaMinor，leavingfullpowerswiththeundersignedtosellhiswholeproperty，bothlandedandpersonal。

DUMAY，assigneeoftheBankaccounts，LATOURNELLE，notary，assigneeofthecityandvillaproperty，GOBENHEIM，assigneeofthecommercialproperty。"

LatournelleowedhisprosperitytothekindnessofMonsieurMignon，wholenthimonehundredthousandfrancsin1817tobuythefinestlawpracticeinHavre。Thepoorman，whohadnopecuniarymeans，wasnearlyfortyyearsofageandsawnoprospectofbeingotherthanhead—clerkfortherestofhisdays。HewastheonlymaninHavrewhosedevotioncouldbecomparedwithDumay’s。AsforGobenheim，heprofitedbytheliquidationtogetapartofMonsieurMignon’sbusiness，whichliftedhisownlittlebankintoprominence。

Whileunanimousregretsforthedisasterwereexpressedincounting—

rooms，onthewharves，andinprivatehouses，wherepraisesofamansoirreproachable，honorable，andbeneficentfilledeverymouth，LatournelleandDumay，silentandactiveasants，soldland，turnedpropertyintomoney，paidthedebts，andsettledupeverything。

Vilquinshowedagooddealofgenerosityinpurchasingthevilla，thetown—house，andafarm;andLatournellemadethemostofhisliberalitybygettingagoodpriceoutofhim。SocietywishedtoshowcivilitiestoMadameandMademoiselleMignon;buttheyhadalreadyobeyedthefather’slastwishesandtakenrefugeintheChalet，wheretheywentontheverymorningofhisdeparture，theexacthourofwhichhadbeenconcealedfromthem。Nottobeshakeninhisresolutionbyhisgriefatparting，thebravemansaidfarewelltohiswifeanddaughterwhiletheyslept。Threehundredvisitingcardswereleftatthehouse。Afortnightlater，justasCharleshadpredicted，completeforgetfulnesssettleddownupontheChalet，andprovedtothesewomenthewisdomanddignityofhiscommand。

DumaysentagentstorepresenthismasterinNewYork，Paris，andLondon，andfolloweduptheassignmentsofthethreebanking—houseswhosefailurehadcausedtheruinoftheHavrehouse，thusrealizingfivehundredthousandfrancsbetween1826and1828，aneighthofCharles’swholefortune;then，accordingtothelatter’sdirectionsgivenonthenightofhisdeparture，hesentthatsumtoNewYorkthroughthehouseofMongenodtothecreditofMonsieurCharlesMignon。Allthiswasdonewithmilitaryobedience，exceptinamatterofwithholdingthirtythousandfrancsforthepersonalexpensesofMadameandMademoiselleMignonasthecolonelhadorderedhimtodo，butwhichDumaydidnotdo。TheBretonsoldhisownlittlehousefortwentythousandfrancs，whichsumhegavetoMadameMignon，believingthatthemorecapitalhesenttohiscolonelthesoonerthelatterwouldreturn。

"Hemightperishforthewantofthirtythousandfrancs，"DumayremarkedtoLatournelle，whoboughtthelittlehouseatitsfullvalue，whereanapartmentwasalwayskeptreadyfortheinhabitantsoftheChalet。

CHAPTERIV

ASIMPLESTORY

SuchwastheresulttothecelebratedhouseofMignonatHavreofthecrisisof1825—26，whichconvulsedmanyoftheprincipalbusinesscentresinEuropeandcausedtheruinofseveralParisianbankers，amongthem（asthosewhorememberthatcrisiswillrecall）thepresidentofthechamberofcommerce。

Wecannowunderstandhowthisgreatdisaster，comingsuddenlyatthecloseoftenyearsofdomestichappiness，mightwellhavebeenthedeathofBettinaMignon，againseparatedfromherhusbandandignorantofhisfate，——toherasadventurousandperilousastheexiletoSiberia。Butthegriefwhichwasdragginghertothegravewasfarotherthanthesevisiblesorrows。ThecausticthatwasslowlyeatingintoherheartlaybeneathastoneinthelittlegraveyardofIngouville，onwhichwasinscribed:——

BETTINACAROLINEMIGNON

Diedagedtwenty—two。

Prayforher。

Thisinscriptionistotheyounggirlwhomitcoveredwhatmanyanotherepitaphhasbeenforthedeadlyingbeneaththem，——atableofcontentstoahiddenbook。Hereisthebook，initsdreadfulbrevity;

anditwillexplaintheoathexactedandtakenwhenthecolonelandthelieutenantbadeeachotherfarewell。

Ayoungmanofcharmingappearance，namedCharlesd’Estourny，cametoHavreforthecommonplacepurposeofbeingnearthesea，andtherehesawBettinaMignon。A"soi—disant"fashionableParisianisneverwithoutintroductions，andhewasinvitedattheinstanceofafriendoftheMignonstoafetegivenatIngouville。HefellinlovewithBettinaandwithherfortune，andinthreemonthshehaddonetheworkofseductionandenticedheraway。Thefatherofafamilyofdaughtersshouldnomoreallowayoungmanwhomhedoesnotknowtoenterhishomethanheshouldleavebooksandpaperslyingaboutwhichhehasnotread。Ayounggirl’sinnocenceislikemilk，whichasmallmatterturnssour，——aclapofthunder，anevilodor，ahotday，amerebreath。

WhenCharlesMignonreadhisdaughter’sletteroffarewellheinstantlydespatchedMadameDumaytoParis。ThefamilygaveoutthatajourneytoanotherclimatehadsuddenlybeenadvisedforCarolinebytheirphysician;andthephysicianhimselfsustainedtheexcuse，thoughunabletopreventsomegossipinthesocietyofHavre。"Suchavigorousyounggirl！withthecomplexionofaSpaniard，andthatblackhair！——sheconsumptive！""Yes，theysayshecommittedsomeimprudence。""Ah，ah！"criedaVilquin。"Iamtoldshecamebackbathedinperspirationafterridingonhorseback，anddrankicedwater;atleast，thatiswhatDr。Troussenardsays。"

BythetimeMadameDumayreturnedtoHavrethecatastropheofthefailurehadtakenplace，andsocietypaidnofurtherattentiontotheabsenceofBettinaorthereturnofthecashier’swife。Atthebeginningof1827thenewspapersrangwiththetrialofCharlesd’Estourny，whowasfoundguiltyofcheatingatcards。TheyoungcorsairescapedintoforeignpartswithouttakingthoughtofMademoiselleMignon，whowasoflittlevaluetohimsincethefailureofthebank。Bettinaheardofhisinfamousdesertionandofherfather’sruinalmostatthesametime。Shereturnedhomestruckbydeath，andwastedawayinashorttimeattheChalet。Herdeathatleastprotectedherreputation。TheillnessthatMonsieurMignonallegedtobethecauseofherabsence，andthedoctor’sorderwhichsenthertoNicewerenowgenerallybelieved。Uptothelastmomentthemotherhopedtosaveherdaughter’slife。BettinawasherdarlingandModestewasthefather’s。Therewassomethingtouchinginthetwopreferences。BettinawastheimageofCharles，justasModestewasthereproductionofhermother。Bothparentscontinuedtheirloveforeachotherintheirchildren。Bettina，adaughterofProvence，inheritedfromherfatherthebeautifulhair，blackasaraven’swing，whichdistinguishesthewomenoftheSouth，thebrowneye，almond—shapedandbrilliantasastar，theolivetint，thevelvetskinasofsomegoldenfruit，thearchedinstep，andtheSpanishwaistfromwhichtheshortbasqueskirtfellcrisply。Bothmotherandfatherwereproudofthecharmingcontrastbetweenthesisters。"Adevilandanangel！"theysaidtoeachother，laughing，littlethinkingitprophetic。

Afterweepingforamonthinthesolitudeofherchamber，wheresheadmittednoone，themothercameforthatlastwithinjuredeyes。

Beforelosinghersightaltogethershepersisted，againstthewishesofherfriends，invisitingherdaughter’sgrave，onwhichsherivetedhergazeincontemplation。Thatimageremainedvividinthedarknesswhichnowfelluponher，justastheredspectrumofanobjectshinesinoureyeswhenweclosetheminfulldaylight。ThisterribleanddoublemisfortunemadeDumay，notlessdevoted，butmoreanxiousaboutModeste，nowtheonlydaughterofthefatherwhowasunawareofhisloss。MadameDumay，idolizingModeste，likeotherwomendeprivedoftheirchildren，casthermotherlinessaboutthegirl，——yetwithoutdisregardingthecommandsofherhusband，whodistrustedfemaleintimacies。Thosecommandswerebrief。"Ifanyman，ofanyage，oranyrank，"Dumaysaid，"speakstoModeste，oglesher，makeslovetoher，heisadeadman。I’llblowhisbrainsoutandgivemyselftotheauthorities;mydeathmaysaveher。Ifyoudon’twishtoseemyheadcutoff，doyoutakemyplaceinwatchingherwhenIamobligedtogoout。"

ForthelastthreeyearsDumayhadexaminedhispistolseverynight。

HeseemedtohaveputhalftheburdenofhisoathuponthePyreneanhounds，twoanimalsofuncommonsagacity。OnesleptinsidetheChalet，theotherwasstationedinakennelwhichheneverleft，andwhereheneverbarked;butterriblewouldhavebeenthemomenthadthepairmadetheirteethmeetinsomeunknownadventurer。

WecannowimaginethesortoflifeledbymotheranddaughterattheChalet。MonsieurandMadameLatournelle，oftenaccompaniedbyGobenheim，cametocallandplaywhistwithDumaynearlyeveryevening。TheconversationturnedonthegossipofHavreandthepettyeventsofprovinciallife。Thelittlecompanyseparatedbetweennineandteno’clock。Modesteputhermothertobed，andtogethertheysaidtheirprayers，keptupeachother’scourage，andtalkedofthedearabsentone，thehusbandandfather。Afterkissinghermotherforgood—

night，thegirlwenttoherownroomaboutteno’clock。Thenextmorningshepreparedhermotherforthedaywiththesamecare，thesameprayers，thesameprattle。Toherpraisebeitsaidthatfromthedaywhentheterribleinfirmitydeprivedhermotherofasense，Modestehadbeenlikeaservanttoher，displayingatalltimesthesamesolicitude;neverwearyingoftheduty，neverthinkingitmonotonous。Suchconstantdevotion，combinedwithatendernessrareamongyounggirls，wasthoroughlyappreciatedbythosewhowitnessedit。TotheLatournellefamily，andtoMonsieurandMadameDumay，Modestewas，insoul，thepearlofprice。

Onsunnydays，betweenbreakfastanddinner，MadameMignonandMadameDumaytookalittlewalktowardthesea。Modesteaccompaniedthem，fortwoarmswereneededtosupporttheblindmother。Aboutamonthbeforethescenetowhichthisexplanationisaparenthesis，MadameMignonhadtakencounselwithherfriends，MadameLatournelle，thenotary，andDumay，whileMadameDumaycarriedModesteinanotherdirectionforalongerwalk。

"ListentowhatIhavetosay，"saidtheblindwoman。"Mydaughterisinlove。Ifeelit;Iseeit。Asingularchangehastakenplacewithinher，andIdonotseehowitisthatnoneofyouhaveperceivedit。"

"Inthenameofallthat’shonorable——"criedthelieutenant。

"Don’tinterruptme，Dumay。ForthelasttwomonthsModestehastakenasmuchcareofherpersonalappearanceasifsheexpectedtomeetalover。Shehasgrownextremelyfastidiousabouthershoes;shewantstosetoffherprettyfeet;shescoldsMadameGobet，theshoemaker。Itisthesamethingwithhermilliner。Somedaysmypoordarlingisabsorbedinthought，evidentlyexpectant，asifwaitingforsomeone。

Hervoicehascurttoneswhensheanswersaquestion，asthoughshewereinterruptedinthecurrentofherthoughtsandsecretexpectations。Then，ifthisawaitedloverhascome——"

"Goodheavens！"

"Sitdown，Dumay，"saidtheblindwoman。"Well，thenModesteisgay。

Oh！sheisnotgaytoyoursight;youcannotcatchthesegradations;

theyaretoodelicateforeyesthatseeonlytheoutsideofnature。

Hergaietyisbetrayedtomebythetonesofhervoice，bycertainaccentswhichIalonecancatchandunderstand。Modestethen，insteadofsittingstillandthoughtful，givesventtoawild，inwardactivitybyimpulsivemovements，——inshort，sheishappy。Thereisagrace，acharmintheveryideassheutters。Ah，myfriends，IknowhappinessaswellasIknowsorrow;Iknowitssigns。BythekissmyModestegivesmeIcanguesswhatispassingwithinher。Iknowwhethershehasreceivedwhatshewaslookingfor，orwhethersheisuneasyorexpectant。Therearemanygradationsinakiss，eveninthatofaninnocentyounggirl，andModesteisinnocenceitself;buthersistheinnocenceofknowledge，notofignorance。Imaybeblind，butmytendernessisall—seeing，andIchargeyoutowatchovermydaughter。"

Dumay，nowactuallyferocious，thenotary，inthecharacterofamanboundtoferretoutamystery，MadameLatournelle，thedeceivedchaperone，andMadameDumay，alarmedforherhusband’ssafety，becameatonceasetofspies，andModestefromthisdayforthwasneverleftaloneforaninstant。DumaypassednightsunderherwindowwrappedinhiscloaklikeajealousSpaniard;butwithallhismilitarysagacityhewasunabletodetecttheleastsuspicioussign。Unlessshelovedthenightingalesinthevillapark，orsomefairyprince，Modestecouldhaveseennoone，andhadneithergivennorreceivedasignal。

MadameDumay，whoneverwenttobedtillsheknewModestewasasleep，watchedtheroadfromtheupperwindowsoftheChaletwithavigilanceequaltoherhusband’s。UndertheseeightArguseyestheblamelesschild，whoseeverymotionwasstudiedandanalyzed，cameoutoftheordealsofullyacquittedofallcriminalconversationthatthefourfriendsdeclaredtoeachotherprivatelythatMadameMignonwasfoolishlyover—anxious。MadameLatournelle，whoalwaystookModestetochurchandbroughtherbackagain，wascommissionedtotellthemotherthatshewasmistakenaboutherdaughter。

"Modeste，"shesaid，"isayounggirlofveryexaltedideas;sheworksherselfintoenthusiasmforthepoetryofonewriterortheproseofanother。Youhaveonlytojudgebytheimpressionmadeuponherbythatscaffoldsymphony，’TheLastHoursofaConvict’"（thesayingwasButscha’s，whosuppliedwittohisbenefactresswithalavishhand）;

"sheseemedtomeallbutcrazywithadmirationforthatMonsieurHugo。