第10章

OneeveningMadameGraslinlookedattherectorwitheyesalmostglazedwiththatfatalindecisionoftenobservableinpersonswhoarecherishingthethoughtofdeath。FromthatmomentMonsieurBonnethesitatednolonger;hesetbeforehimthedutyofarrestingtheprogressofthiscruelmoralmalady。

AtfirsttherewasabriefstruggleofemptywordsbetweenthepriestandVeronique，inwhichtheybothsoughttoveiltheirrealthoughts。

Inspiteofthecold，VeroniquewassittingonthegranitebenchholdingFrancisonherknee。MadameSauviatwasstandingatthecorneroftheterrace，purposelysoplacedastohidethecemetery。Alinewaswaitingtotakethechildaway。

"Ihadsupposed，madame，"saidtherector，whowasnowpayinghisseventhvisit，"thatyouwereonlymelancholy;butIsee，"sinkinghisvoicetoawhisper，"thatyoursoulisindespair。ThatfeelingisneitherChristiannorCatholic。"

"But，"shereplied，lookingtoheavenwithpiercingeyesandlettingabittersmileflickeronherlips，"whatotherfeelingdoestheChurchleavetoalostsoulunlessitbedespair？"

Asheheardthesewordstherectorrealizedthevastextentoftheravagesinhersoul。

"Ah！"hesaid，"youaremakingthisterraceyourhell，whenitoughttobeyourCalvaryfromwhichtorisetoheaven。"

"Ihavenopridelefttoplacemeonsuchapedestal，"sheanswered，inatonewhichrevealedtheself—contemptthatlaywithinher。

Herethepriest，byoneofthoseinspirationswhicharebothnaturalandfrequentinnoblesouls，themanofGodliftedthechildinhisarmsandkisseditsforehead，saying，inafatherlyvoice，"Poorlittleone！"Thenhegaveithimselftothenurse，whocarrieditaway。

MadameSauviatlookedatherdaughter，andsawtheefficacyoftherector’swords;forVeronique’seyes，longdry，weremoistwithtears。

Theoldwomanmadeasigntothepriestanddisappeared。

"Letuswalk，"saidtherectortoVeroniqueleadingheralongtheterracetotheotherend，fromwhichLesTascheronscouldbeseen。

"Youbelongtome;ImustrenderaccounttoGodforyoursicksoul。"

"Givemetimetorecoverfrommydepression，"shesaidtohim。

"Yourdepressioncomesfrominjuriousmeditation，"hereplied，quickly。

"Yes，"shesaid，withthesimplicityofagriefwhichhasreachedthepointofmakingnoattemptatconcealment。

"Iseeplainlythatyouhavefallenintothegulfofapathy，"hecried。"Ifthereisadegreeofphysicalsufferingatwhichallsenseofmodestyexpires，thereisalsoadegreeofmoralsufferinginwhichallvigorofsoulislost;Iknowthat。"

Shewassurprisedtohearthatsubtleobservationandtofindsuchtenderpityfromthisvillagerector;but，aswehaveseenalready，theexquisitedelicacywhichnopassionhadevertouchedgavehimthetruematernalspiritforhisflock。This/mensdevinior/，thisapostolictenderness，placesthepriestaboveallothermenandmakeshim，inasense，divine。MadameGraslinhadnotasyethadenoughexperienceofMonsieurBonnettoknowthisbeautyhiddeninhissoullikeaspring，fromwhichflowedgraceandpurityandtruelife。

"Ah！monsieur，"shecried，givingherselfwhollyuptohimbyagesture，alook，suchasthedyinggive。

"Iunderstandyou，"hesaid。"Whatistobedone？Whatwillyoubecome？"

Theywalkedinsilencethewholelengthofthebalustrade，facingtowardtheplain。Thesolemnmomentseemedpropitioustothebearerofgoodtidings，thegospelmessenger，andhetookit。

"SupposeyourselfnowinthepresenceofGod，"hesaid，inalowvoice，mysteriously;"whatwouldyousaytoHim？"

MadameGraslinstoppedasthoughstruckbyathunderbolt;sheshuddered;thenshesaidsimply，intonesthatbroughttearstotherector’seyes:——

"Ishouldsay，asJesusChristsaid:’Father，whyhastthouforsakenme？’"

"Ah！Magdalen，thatisthesayingIexpectedofyou，"criedMonsieurBonnet，whocouldnothelpadmiringher。"YouseeyouareforcedtoappealtoGod’sjustice;youinvokeit！Listentome，madame。Religionis，byanticipation，divinejustice。TheChurchclaimsforherselftherighttojudgetheactionsofthesoul。Humanjusticeisafeebleimageofdivinejustice;itisbutapaleimitationofitappliedtotheneedsofsociety。"

"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"

"Youarenotthejudgeofyourowncase，youaredependentuponGod，"

saidthepriest;"youhaveneithertherighttocondemnyourselfnortherighttoabsolveyourself。God，mychild，isagreatreverserofjudgments。"

"Ah！"sheexclaimed。

"He/sees/theoriginofthings，whereweseeonlythethingsthemselves。"

Veroniquestoppedagain，struckbytheseideas，thatwerenewtoher。

"Toyou，"saidthebravepriest，"toyouwhosesoulisagreatone，I

oweotherwordsthanthoseIoughttogivetomyhumbleparishioners。

You，whosemindandspiritaresocultivated，youcanrisetothesensedivineoftheCatholicreligion，expressedbyimagesandwordstothepoorandchildlike。Listentomeattentively，forwhatIamabouttosayconcernsyou;nomatterhowextensiveisthepointofviewatwhichIplacemyselfforamoment，thecaseisyours。/Law/，inventedtoprotectsociety，isbasedonequality。Society，whichisnothingbutanassemblageofacts，isbasedoninequality。Thereisthereforelackofharmonybetweenactandlaw。Oughtsocietytomarchonfavoredorrepressedbylaw？Inotherwords，oughtlawtobeinoppositiontotheinteriorsocialmovementforthemaintenanceofsociety，orshoulditbebasedonthatmovementinordertoguideit？

Alllegislatorshavecontentedthemselveswithanalyzingacts，indicatingthosethatseemedtothemblamableorcriminal，andattachingpunishmentstosuchorrewardstoothers。Thatishumanlaw;

ithasneitherthemeanstopreventsin，northemeanstopreventthereturntosinfulnessofthoseitpunishes。Philanthropyisasublimeerror;ittorturesthebodyuselessly，itproducesnobalmtohealthesoul。Philanthropygivesbirthtoprojects，emitsideas，confidestheexecutionofthemtoman，tosilence，tolabor，torules，tothingsmuteandpowerless。Religionisabovetheseimperfections，foritextendsman’slifebeyondthisworld。Regardingusallasdegradedfromourhighestate，religionhasopenedtousaninexhaustibletreasureofindulgence。Weareallmoreorlessadvancedtowardourcompleteregeneration;nooneissinless;theChurchexpectswrong—

doing，evencrime。Wheresocietyseesacriminaltobeexpelledfromitsbosom，theChurchseesasoultosave。More，farmorethanthat！

InspiredbyGod，whomshestudiesandcontemplates，theChurchadmitstheinequalitiesofstrength，sheallowsforthedisproportionofburdens。Ifshefindsusunequalinheart，inbody，inmind，inaptitude，andvalue，shemakesusallequalbyrepentance。Henceequalityisnolongeravainword，forwecanbe，weare，allequalthroughfeeling。FromtheformlessfetichismofsavagestothegracefulinventionsofGreece，ortheprofoundandmetaphysicaldoctrinesofEgyptandIndia，whethertaughtincheerfulorinterrifyingworship，thereisaconvictioninthesoulofman——thatofhisfall，thatofhissin——fromwhichcomeseverywheretheideaofsacrificeandredemption。ThedeathoftheRedeemerofthehumanraceisanimageofwhatwehavetodoforourselves，——redeemourfaults，redeemourerrors，redeemourcrimes！Allisredeemable;Catholicismitselfisinthatword;henceitsadorablesacraments，whichhelpthetriumphofgraceandsustainthesinner。Toweep，tomoanlikeMagdaleninthedesert，isbutthebeginning;theendisAction。

Monasteriesweptandprayed;theyprayedandcivilized;theyweretheactiveagentsofourdivinereligion。Theybuilt，planted，cultivatedEurope;allthewhilesavingthetreasuresoflearning，knowledge，humanjustice，politics，andart。WeshalleverrecognizeinEuropetheplaceswherethoseradiantcentresoncewere。Nearlyallourmoderntownsarethechildrenofmonasteries。IfyoubelievethatGodwilljudgeyou，theChurchtellsyoubymyvoicethatsincanberedeemedbyworksofrepentance。ThemightyhandofGodweighsboththeevildoneandthevalueofbenefitsaccomplished。Beyourselflikethosemonasteries;workherethesamemiracles。Yourprayersmustbelabors。Fromyourlaborsmustcomethegoodofthoseabovewhomyouareplacedbyfortune，bysuperiorityofmind;eventhisnaturalpositionofyourdwellingistheimageofyoursocialsituation。"

Ashesaidthelastwords，thepriestandMadameGraslinturnedtowalkbacktowardtheplains，andtherectorpointedbothtothevillageatthefootofthehill，andtothechateaucommandingthewholelandscape。Itwasthenhalf—pastfouro’clock;aglowofyellowsunlightenvelopedthebalustradeandthegardens，illuminatedthechateau，sparkledonthegildedrailingsoftheroof，lightedthelongplaincutintwobythehigh—road，——asad，grayribbon，notborderedtherebythefringeoftreeswhichwavedaboveitelsewhereoneitherside。

WhenVeroniqueandMonsieurBonnethadpassedthemainbodyofthechateau，theycouldsee——beyondthecourtyard，thestables，andtheoffices——thegreatforestofMontegnac，alongwhichtheyellowglowwasglidinglikeasoftcaress。Thoughthislastgleamofthesettingsuntouchedthetree—topsonly，itenabledtheeyetoseedistinctlythecapricesofthatmarvelloustapestrywhichnaturemakesofaforestinautumn。TheoakswereamassofFlorentinebronze，thewalnutsandthechestnutsdisplayedtheirblue—greentones，theearlytreeswereputtingontheirgoldenfoliage，andallthesevariedcolorswereshadedwiththegrayofbarrenspots。Thetrunksoftreesalreadystrippedofleafageshowedtheirlight—graycolonnades;therusset，tawny，grayishcolors，artisticallyblendedbythepalereflectionsofanOctobersun，harmonizedwiththevastuncultivatedplain，greenasstagnantwater。

Athoughtcameintotherector’smindashelookedatthisfinespectacle，muteinotherways，——fornotatreerustled，notabirdchirped，deathwasontheplain，silenceintheforest;hereandtherealittlesmokefromthevillagechimneys，thatwasall。Thechateauseemedasgloomyasitsmistress。Bysomestrangelawallthingsaboutadwellingimitatetheonewhorulesthere;theowner’sspirithoversoverit。MadameGraslin——hermindgraspedbytherector’swords，hersoulstruckbyconviction，herheartaffectedinitstenderestemotionsbytheangelicqualityofthatpurevoice——stoppedshort。Therectorraisedhisarmandpointedtotheforest。Veroniquelookedthere。

"Doyounotthinkithasavagueresemblancetosociallife？"hesaid。

"Toeachitsdestiny。Howmanyinequalitiesinthatmassoftrees！

Thoseplacedthehighestlackearthandmoisture;theydiefirst。"

"Sometherearewhomtheshearsofthewomangatheringfagotscutshortintheirprime，"shesaidbitterly。

"Donotfallbackintothosethoughts，"saidtherectorsternly，thoughwithindulgencestill。"Themisfortuneofthisforestisthatithasneverbeencut。Doyouseethephenomenonthesemassespresent？"

Veronique，towhosemindthesingularitiesoftheforestnaturesuggestedlittle，lookedobedientlyattheforestandthenlethereyesdropgentlybackupontherector。

"Youdonotnotice，"hesaid，perceivingfromthatlookhertotalignorance，"thelineswherethetreesofallspeciesstillholdtheirgreenness？"

"Ah！true，"shesaid。"Iseethemnow。Whyisit？"

"Inthat，"repliedtherector，"liesthefutureofMontegnac，andyourownfortune，animmensefortune，asIonceexplainedtoMonsieurGraslin。Youseethefurrowsofthosethreedells，themountainstreamsofwhichflowintothetorrentoftheGabou。ThattorrentseparatestheforestofMontegnacfromthedistrictwhichonthissideadjoinsours。InSeptemberandOctoberitgoesdry，butinNovemberitisfullofwater，thevolumeofwhichwouldbegreatlyincreasedbyapartialclearingoftheforest，soastosendallthelesserstreamstojoinit。Asitis，itswatersdonogood;butifoneortwodamsweremadebetweenthetwohillsoneithersideofit，astheyhavedoneatRiquet，andatSaint—Ferreol——wheretheyhavemadeimmensereservoirstofeedtheLanguedoccanal——thisbarrenplaincouldbefertilizedbyjudiciousirrigationthroughtrenchesandculvertsmanagedbywatergates;sendingthewaterwhenneededovertheselands，anddivertingitatothertimestoourlittleriver。Youcouldplantfinepoplarsalongthesewater—coursesandraisethefinestcattleonsuchpasturageasyouwouldthenobtain。Whatisgrass，butsunandwater？Thereisquitesoilenoughontheplainstoholdtheroots;thestreamswillfurnishdewandmoisture;thepoplarswillholdandfeeduponthemists，returningtheirelementstotheherbage;thesearethesecretsofthefinevegetationofvalleys。Ifyouundertookthisworkyouwouldsoonseelifeandjoyandmovementwheresilencenowreigns，wheretheeyeissaddenedbybarrenfruitlessness。WouldnotthatbeanobleprayertoGod？Suchworkwouldbeabetteroccupationofyourleisurethantheindulgenceofmelancholythoughts。"

Veroniquepressedtherector’shand，answeringwithfourbriefwords，buttheyweregrandones:——

"Itshallbedone。"

"Youconceivethepossibilityofthisgreatwork，"hewenton;"butyoucannotexecuteit。NeitheryounorIhavethenecessaryknowledgetoaccomplishanideawhichmighthavecometoall，buttheexecutionofwhichpresentsimmensedifficulties;forsimpleasitmayseem，thematterrequiresthemostaccuratesciencewithallitsresources。

Seek，therefore，atoncefortheproperhumaninstrumentswhowillenableyouwithinthenextdozenyearstogetanincomeofsixorseventhousandlouisoutofthesixthousandacresyouirrigateandfertilize。SuchanenterprisewillmakeMontegnacatsomefuturedaythemostprosperousdistrictinthedepartment。Theforest，asyet，yieldsyounoreturn，butsoonerorlatercommercewillcomehereinsearchofitsfinewoods——thosetreasuresamassedbytime;theonlyonestheproductionofwhichcannotbehastenedorimproveduponbyman。TheStatemaysomedayprovideawayoftransportfromthisforest，formanyofthetreeswouldmakefinemastsforthenavy;butitwillwaituntiltheincreasingpopulationofMontegnacmakesademanduponitsprotection;fortheStateislikefortune，itcomesonlytotherich。Thisestate，wellmanaged，willbecome，inthecourseoftime，oneofthefinestinFrance;itwillbetheprideofyourgrandson，whomaythenfindthechateaupaltry，comparingitwithitsrevenues。"

"Here，"saidVeronique，"isafutureformylife。"

"Abeneficentworksuchasthatwillredeemwrongdoing，"saidtherector。

Seeingthatsheunderstoodhim，heattemptedtostrikeanotherblowonthiswoman’sintellect，judgingrightlythatinhertheintellectledtheheart，whereasinotherwomentheheartistheirroadtointelligence。

"Doyouknow，"hesaidafterapause，"theerrorinwhichyouareliving？"

Shelookedathimtimidly。

"Yourrepentanceisasyetonlyasenseofdefeatendured，——whichishorrible，foritisnothingelsethanthedespairofSatan;such，perhaps，wastherepentanceofmankindbeforethecomingofJesusChrist。Butourrepentance，therepentanceofChristians，isthehorrorofasoulstruckdownonanevilpath，towhom，bythisveryshock，GodhasrevealedHimself。YouarelikethepaganOrestes;makeyourselfanotherPaul。"

"Yourwordshavechangedmeutterly，"shecried。"Now——oh！nowIwanttolive。"

"Thespiritconquers，"thoughtthemodestrector，ashejoyfullytookhisleave。Hehadcastnourishmentbeforeasoulhuntedintosecretdespairbygivingtoitsrepentancetheformofagoodandnobleaction。

XII

THESOULOFFORESTS

VeroniquewrotetoMonsieurGrosseteteonthemorrow。AfewdayslatershereceivedfromLimogesthreesaddle—horsessentbyheroldfriend。

MonsieurBonnetfoundatVeronique’srequest，ayoungman，sonofthepostmaster，whowasdelightedtoserveVeroniqueandearngoodwages。

Thisyoungfellow，smallbutactive，witharoundface，blackeyesandhair，andnamedMauriceChampion，pleasedVeroniqueverymuchandwasimmediatelyinductedintohisoffice，whichwasthatoftakingcareofthehorsesandaccompanyinghismistressonherexcursions。

Thehead—foresterofMontegnacwasaformercavalry—sergeantintheRoyalguard，bornatLimoges，whomtheDucdeNavarreinshadsenttohisestateatMontegnactostudyitscapabilitiesandvalue，inorderthathemightderivesomeprofitfromit。JeromeColoratfoundnothingbutwastelandutterlybarren，woodsunavailableforwantoftransportation，aruinedchateau，andenormousoutlaysrequiredtorestorethehouseandgardens。Alarmed，aboveall，bythebedsoftorrentsstrewnwithgraniterockswhichseamedtheforest，thishonestbutunintelligentagentwastherealcauseofthesaleoftheproperty。

"Colorat，"saidMadameGraslintoherforester，forwhomshehadsent，"Ishallprobablyrideouteverymorning，beginningwithto—morrow。

YouknowallthedifferentpartsofthelandthatbelongedoriginallytothisestateandthosewhichMonsieurGraslinaddedtoit:Iwishyoutogowithmeandpointthemout;forIintendtovisiteverypartofthepropertymyself。"

ThefamilywithinthechateausawwithjoythechangethatnowappearedinVeronique’sbehavior。Withoutbeingtoldtodoso，Alinegotouthermistress’sriding—habitandputitingoodorderforuse。

ThenextdayMadameSauviatfeltunspeakablereliefwhenherdaughterleftherroomdressedtorideout。

GuidedbytheforesterandChampion，whofoundtheirwaybyrecollection，forthepathswerescarcelymarkedontheseunfrequentedmountains，MadameGraslinstartedonthefirstdayforthesummits，intendingtoexplorethoseonly，soastounderstandthewatershedandfamiliarizeherselfwiththelayoftheravines，thenaturalpathofthetorrentswhentheytoredowntheslopes。Shewishedtomeasurethetaskbeforeher，——tostudythelandandthewater—ways，andfindforherselftheessentialpointsoftheenterprisewhichtherectorhadsuggestedtoher。ShefollowedColorat，whorodeinadvance;Championwasafewstepsbehindher。

Solongastheyweremakingtheirwaythroughpartsthatweredensewithtrees，goingupanddownundulationsofgroundlyingneartoeachotherandverycharacteristicofthemountainsofFrance，Veroniquewaslostincontemplationofthemarvelsoftheforest。Firstcamethevenerablecentennialtrees，whichamazedhertillshegrewaccustomedtothem;next，thefull—grownyoungertreesreachingtotheirnaturalheight;then，insomemoreopenspot，asolitarypine—treeofenormousheight;or——butthiswasrare——oneofthoseflowingshrubs，dwarfelsewhere，buthereattainingtogiganticdevelopment，andoftenasoldasthesoilitself。Shesaw，withasensationquiteunspeakable，acloudrollingalongthefaceofthebarerocks。Shenoticedthewhitefurrowsmadedownthemountainsidesbythemeltingsnows，whichlookedatadistancelikescarsandgashes。Passingthroughagorgestrippedofvegetation，sheneverthelessadmired，inthecleftflanksoftherockyslope，agedchestnutsaserectastheAlpinefir—trees。

Therapiditywithwhichsheadvancedlefthernotimetotakeinallthevariedscene，thevastmovingsands，thequagmiresboastingafewscatteredtrees，fallengraniteboulders，overhangingrocks，shadedvalleys，broadopenspaceswithmossandheatherstillinbloom（thoughsomewasdried），uttersolitudesovergrownwithjuniperandcaper—bushes;sometimesuplandswithshortgrass，smallspacesenrichedbyanoozingspring，——inshort，muchsadness，manysplendors，thingssweet，thingsstrong，andallthesingularaspectsofmountainousNatureintheheartofFrance。

Asshewatchedthesemanypictures，variedinformbutallinspiredwiththesamethought，theawfulsadnessofthisNature，sowild，soruined，abandoned，fruitless，barren，filledhersoulandansweredtohersecretfeelings。Andwhen，throughanopeningamongthetrees，shecaughtaglimpseoftheplainbelowher，whenshecrossedsomearidravineovergravelandstones，whereafewstuntedbushesalonecouldgrow，thespiritofthisaustereNaturecametoher，suggestingobservationsnewtohermind，derivedfromthemanysignificationsofthisvariedscene。

Thereisnospotinaforestwhichdoesnothaveitssignificance;notaglade，notathicketbuthasitsanalogywiththelabyrinthofhumanthought。Whoisthereamongthosewhosemindsarecultivatedorwhoseheartsarewoundedwhocanwalkaloneinaforestandtheforestnotspeaktohim？Insensiblyavoiceliftsitself，consolingorterrible，butoftenerconsolingthanterrifying。Ifweseekthecausesofthesensation——grave，simple，sweet，mysterious——thatgraspsusthere，perhapsweshallfinditinthesublimeandartlessspectacleofallthesecreationsobeyingtheirdestinyandimmutablysubmissive。SoonerorlatertheoverwhelmingsenseofthepermanenceofNaturefillsourheartsandstirsthemdeeply，andweendbybeingconsciousofGod。SoitwaswithVeronique;inthesilenceofthosesummits，fromtheodorofthewoods，theserenityoftheair，shegathered——asshesaidthateveningtoMonsieurBonnet——thecertaintyofGod’smercy。Shesawthepossibilityofanorderofdeedshigherthananytowhichheraspirationshadeverreached。Shefeltasortofhappinesswithinher;

itwaslong，indeedsinceshehadknownsuchasenseofpeace。Didsheowethatfeelingtotheresemblanceshefoundbetweenthatbarrenlandscapeandthearid，exhaustedregionsofhersoul？Hadsheseenthosetroublesofnaturewithasortofjoy，thinkingthatNaturewaspunishedthoughithadnotsinned？Atanyrate，shewaspowerfullyaffected;ColoratandChampion，followingheratalittledistance，thoughthertransfigured。

AtacertainsportVeroniquewasstruckwiththesternharshaspectofthesteepandrockybedsofthedried—uptorrents。Shefoundherselflongingtohearthesoundofwatersplashingthroughthosescorchedravines。

"Theneedtolove！"shemurmured。

Ashamedofthewords，whichseemedtocometoherlikeavoice，shepushedherhorseboldlytowardthefirstpeakoftheCorreze，where，inspiteoftheforester’sadvice，sheinsistedongoing。Tellingherattendantstowaitforhershewentonalonetothesummit，whichiscalledtheRoche—Vive，andstayedthereforsometime，studyingthesurroundingcountry。Afterhearingthesecretvoiceofthemanycreationsaskingtoliveshenowreceivedwithinherthetouch，theinspiration，whichdeterminedhertoputintoherworkthatwonderfulperseverancedisplayedbyNature，ofwhichshehadherselfalreadygivenmanyproofs。

Shefastenedherhorsetoatreeandseatedherselfonalargerock，lettinghereyesroveoverthebroadexpanseofbarrenplain，whereNatureseemedastep—mother，——feelinginherheartthesamestirringsofmaternallovewithwhichattimesshegazeduponherinfant。

Preparedbythistrainofemotion，thesehalfinvoluntarymeditations（which，touseherownfineexpression，winnowedherheart），toreceivethesublimeinstructionofferedbythescenebeforeher，sheawokefromherlethargy。

"Iunderstoodthen，"shesaidafterwardstotherector，"thatoursoulsmustbeploughedandcultivatedlikethesoilitself。"

ThevastexpansebeforeherwaslightedbyapaleNovembersun。

Alreadyafewgraycloudschasedbyachillywindwerehurryingfromthewest。Itwasthenthreeo’clock。Veroniquehadtakenmorethanfourhourstoreachthesummit，but，likeallotherswhoareharrowedbyaninwardmisery，shepaidnoheedtoexternalcircumstances。AtthismomentherbeingwasactuallygrowingandmagnifyingwiththesublimeimpetusofNatureitself。

"Donotstayhereanylonger，madame，"saidaman，whosevoicemadeherquiver，"oryouwillsoonbeunabletoreturn;youaresixmilesfromanydwelling，andtheforestisimpassableatnight。Butthatisnotyourgreatestdanger。Beforelongthecoldonthissummitwillbecomeintense;thereasonofthisisunknown，butithascausedthedeathofmanypersons。"

MadameGraslinsawbeforeheraman’sface，almostblackwithsunburn，inwhichshoneeyesthatwereliketwotonguesofflame。Oneithersideofthisfacehungamassofbrownhair，andbelowitwasafan—

shapedbeard。Themanwasraisingrespectfullyoneofthoseenormousbroad—brimmedhatswhicharewornbythepeasantryofcentralFrance，andinsodoingdisplayedabaldbutsplendidforeheadsuchaswesometimesseeinwaysidebeggars。Veroniquedidnotfeeltheslightestfear;thesituationwasoneinwhichallthelesserconsiderationsthatmakeawomantimidhadceased。

"Whyareyouhere？"sheasked。

"Myhomeisnearby，"heanswered。

"Whatcanyoudoinsuchadesert？"shesaid。

"Ilive。"

"Buthow？whatmeansoflivingarethere？"

"Iearnalittlesomethingbywatchingthatpartoftheforest，"heanswered，pointingtotheothersideofthesummitfromtheonethatoverlookedMontegnac。MadameGraslinthensawthemuzzleofagunandalsoagame—bag。Ifshehadhadanyfearsthiswouldhaveputanendtothem。

"Thenyouareakeeper？"shesaid。

"No，madame;inordertobeakeeperwemusttakeacertainoath;andtotakeanoathwemusthavecivicrights。"

"Whoareyou，then？"

"IamFarrabesche，"hesaid，withdeephumility，loweringhiseyestotheground。

MadameGraslin，towhomthenametoldnothing，lookedatthemanandnoticedinhisface，theexpressionofwhichwasnowverygentle，thesignsofunderlyingferocity;irregularteethgavetothemouth，thelipsblood—red，anironicalexpressionfullofevilaudacity;thedarkandprominentcheek—boneshadsomethinganimalaboutthem。Themanwasofmiddleheight，withstrongshoulders，athick—setneck，andthelargehairyhandsofviolentmencapableofusingtheirstrengthinabrutalmanner。Hislastwordspointedtosomemystery，towhichhisbearing，theexpressionofhiscountenance，andhiswholeperson，gaveasinistermeaning。

"Youmustbeinmyservice，then？"saidVeroniqueinagentlevoice。

"HaveIthehonorofspeakingtoMadameGraslin？"askedFarrabesche。

"Yes，myfriend，"sheanswered。

Farrabescheinstantlydisappeared，withtherapidityofawildanimal，aftercastingaglanceathismistressthatwasfulloffear。

XIII

FARRABESCHE

Veroniquehastenedtomountherhorseandrejointheservants，whowerebeginningtobeuneasyabouther;forthestrangeunhealthinessoftheRoche—Vivewaswellknownthroughouttheneighborhood。Coloratbeggedhismistresstogodownintothelittlevalleywhichledtotheplain。Itwouldbedangerous，hesaid，toreturnbythehills，orbythetangledpathstheyhadfollowedinthemorning，where，evenwithhisknowledgeofthecountry，theywerelikelytobelostinthedusk。