第16章

"Yourchild——see，hereheis。"

CatherinethensawBenjamin，andbegantotrembleviolently。

"Benjamin，"saidMadameGraslin，"comeandkissyourmother。"

"Mymother！"criedBenjamin，surprised。HejumpedintoCatherine’sarmsandshepressedhimtoherbreastwithalmostsavageforce。Buttheboyescapedherandranoffcryingout:"I’llgoandfetch/him/。"

MadameGraslinmadeCatherine，whowasalmostfainting，sitdown。AtthismomentshesawMonsieurBonnetandcouldnothelpblushingasshemetapiercinglookfromherconfessor，whichreadherheart。

"Ihope，"shesaid，trembling，"thatyouwillconsenttomarryFarrabescheandCatherineatonce。Don’tyourecognizeMonsieurBonnet，mydear？HewilltellyouthatFarrabesche，sincehisliberationhasbehavedasanhonestman;thewholeneighborhoodthinkswellofhim，andifthereisaplaceintheworldwhereyoumaylivehappyandrespecteditisatMontegnac。Youcanmake，byGod’shelp，agoodlivingasmyfarmers;forFarrabeschehasrecoveredcitizenship。"

"Thatisalltrue，mydearchild，"saidtherector。

JustthenFarrabescheappeared，pulledalongbyhisson。HewaspaleandspeechlessinpresenceofCatherineandMadameGraslin。Hishearttoldhimactivelybenevolenttheonehadbeen，andhowdeeplytheotherhadsufferedinhisabsence。Veroniqueledawaytherector，who，onhisside，wasanxioustotalkwithheralone。

Assoonastheywerefarenoughawaynottobeoverheard，MonsieurBonnetlookedfixedlyatVeronique;shecoloredanddroppedhereyeslikeaguiltyperson。

"Youdegradewell—doing，"hesaid，sternly。

"How？"sheasked，raisingherhead。

"Well—doing，"hereplied，"isapassionassuperiortothatofloveashumanityissuperiortotheindividualcreature。Now，youhavenotdonethisthingfromthesoleimpulseandsimplicityofvirtue。Youhavefallenfromtheheightsofhumanitytotheindulgenceoftheindividualcreature。YourbenevolencetoFarrabescheandCatherinecarrieswithitsomanymemoriesandforbiddenthoughtsthatithaslostallmeritintheeyesofGod。Tearfromyourhearttheremainsofthejavelinevilplantedthere。Donottakefromyouractionstheirtruevalue。Comeatlasttothatsaintlyignoranceofthegoodyoudowhichisthegracesupremeofhumanactions。"

MadameGraslinhadturnedawaytowipethetearsthattoldtherectorhiswordshadtouchedthebleedingwoundthatwasstillunhealedinherheart。

Farrabesche，Catherine，andBenjaminnowcameuptothanktheirbenefactress，butshemadethemasigntogoawayandleaveheralonewiththerector。

"Seehowthatgrievesthem，"shesaidtohimastheysadlywalkedaway。Therector，whoseheartwastender，recalledthembyasign。

"Youshallbecompletelyhappy，"shethensaid，givingtoFarrabescheapaperwhichshewasholdinginherhand。"Hereistheordinancewhichgivesyoubackyourrightsofcitizenshipandexemptsyoufromhumiliatinginspection。"

FarrabescherespectfullykissedthehandheldtowardhimandlookedatVeroniquewithaneyebothtenderandsubmissive，calmanddevoted，theexpressionofadevotionwhichnothingcouldeverchange，thelookofadogtohismaster。

"IfJacqueshassuffered，madame，"saidCatherine，herfineeyeslightingwithpleasure，"IhopeIcangivehimenoughhappinesstomakeupforhispain，for，nomatterwhathehasdone，heisnotbad。"

MadameGraslinturnedawayherhead;sheseemedovercomebythesightofthathappyfamily。Therectornowlefthertoenterthechurch，whithershedraggedherselfpresentlyonthearmofMonsieurGrossetete。

Afterbreakfasteveryone，eventheagedpeopleofthevillage，assembledtoseethebeginningofthegreatwork。Fromtheslopeleadinguptothechateau，MonsieurGrosseteteandMonsieurBonnet，betweenwhomwasVeronique，couldseethedirectionofthefourfirstcuttingsmarkedoutbypilesofgatheredstones。Ateachcuttingfivelaborerswerediggingoutandpilingupthegoodloamalongtheedges;

clearingaspaceabouteighteenfeetwide，thewidthofeachroad。Oneitherside，fourothermenwerediggingtheditchesandalsopilinguptheloamatthesidestomakeabank。Behindthem，asthebanksweremade，twomenwerediggingholesinwhichothersplantedtrees。

Ineachofthesedivisions，thirtyoldpaupers，ascoreofwomen，andfortyormoregirlsandchildrenwerepickingupstones，whichspeciallaborerspiledinheapsalongtheroadsidesoastokeeparecordofthequantitygatheredbyeachgroup。Thustheworkwentonrapidly，withpickedworkmenfullofardor。GrossetetepromisedMadameGraslintosendhersometreesandtoaskherotherfriendstodothesame;

forthenurseriesofthechateauwouldevidentlynotsufficetosupplysuchanextensiveplantation。Towardthecloseoftheday，whichwastoendinagranddinneratthechateau，FarrabescherequestedMadameGraslintogranthimanaudienceforafewmoments。

"Madame，"hesaid，presentinghimselfwithCatherine，"youweresogoodastooffermethefarmatthechateau。BygrantingmesogreatafavorIknowyouintendedtoputmeinthewayofmakingmyfortune。

ButCatherinehasideasaboutourfuturewhichwedesiretosubmittoyou。IfIweretosucceedandmakemoneytherewouldcertainlybepersonsenviousofmygoodfortune;awordissoonsaid;Imighthavequarrels，——Ifearthem;besides，Catherinewouldalwaysbeuneasy。Inshort，toocloseintercoursewiththeworldwillnotsuitus。IhavecomethereforetoaskyoutogiveusonlythelandattheopeningoftheGabouonthecommons，withasmallpieceofthewoodlandbehindtheRoche—Vive。InJulyyouwillhaveagreatmanyworkmenhere，anditwouldbeveryeasythentobuildafarmhouseinagoodpositionontheslopeofthehill。Weshouldbehappythere。IwillsendforGuepin。Mypoorcomradewillworklikeahorse;perhapsIcouldmarryhimhere。Mysonisnotado—nothingeither。Noonewouldputusoutofcountenance;wecouldcolonizethiscorneroftheestate，andI

shouldmakeitmyambitiontoturnitintoafinefarmforyou。

Moreover，IwanttoproposeasfarmerofyourgreatfarmnearthechateauacousinofCatherine，whohasmoneyandwouldthereforebemorecapablethanIcouldbeofmanagingsuchalargeaffairasthatfarm。IfitpleaseGodtoblessyourenterprise，infiveyearsfromnowyouwillhavefiveorsixthousandhornedbeastsorhorsesonthatplainbelow，anditwantsabetterheadthanminetomanagethem。"

MadameGraslinagreedtohisrequest，doingjusticetothegoodsenseofit。

Fromthetimetheworkontheplainbegan，Veronique’slifeassumedtheregularityofcountryexistence。Inthemorningsheheardmass，tookcareofherson，whomsheidolized，andwenttoseeherlaborers。

AfterdinnershereceivedherfriendsfromMontegnacinthelittlesalontotherightoftheclock—tower。ShetaughtRoubaud，Clousier，andtherectortoplaywhist，whichGerardknewalready。Therubbersusuallyendedatnineo’clock，afterwhichthecompanywithdrew。Thispeacefullifehadnoothereventstomarkitthanthesuccessofthevariouspartsofthegreatenterprise。

InJunethetorrentoftheGabouwentdry，andGerardestablishedhisheadquartersinthekeeper’shouse。Farrabeschehadalreadybuilthisfarmhouse，whichhecalledLeGabou。Fiftymasons，broughtfromParis，joinedthetwomountainsbyawalltwentyfeetthick，withafoundationtwelvefeetdeepandheavilycemented。Thewall，ordam，rosenearlysixtyfeetandtaperedinuntilitwasnotmorethantenfeetthickatthesummit。Gerardbackedthiswallonthevalleysidewithacementedslope，abouttwelvefeetwideatitsbase。Onthesidetowardthecommonsasimilarslope，coveredwithseveralfeetofarableearth，stillfurthersupportedthisgreatwork，whichnorushofwatercouldpossiblydamage。Theengineerprovidedincaseofunusualrainsanoverflowataproperheight。Themasonrywasinsertedintotheflankofeachmountainuntilthegraniteorthehard—panwasreached，sothatthewaterhadabsolutelynooutletatthesides。

ThisdamwasfinishedbythemiddleofAugust。AtthesametimeGerardwaspreparingthreecanalsintheprincipalvalleys，andnoneoftheseworkscameuptohisestimatedcosts。Thechateaufarmcouldnowbefinished。Theirrigationchannelsthroughtheplain，superintendedbyFresquin，startedfromthecanalmadebynaturealongthebaseofthemountainsontheplainside，throughwhichculvertswerecuttotheirrigatingchannels。Water—gateswerefittedintothosechannels，thesidesofwhichtheabundanceofrockhadenabledthemtostoneup，soastokeeptheflowofwateratanevenheightalongtheplain。

EverySundayaftermass，Veronique，theengineer，therector，thedoctor，andthemayorwalkeddownthroughtheparktoseethecourseofthewaters。Thewinterof1832and1833wasextremelyrainy。Thewaterofthethreestreamswhichhadbeendirectedtothetorrent，swollenbythewateroftherains，nowformedthreepondsinthevalleyoftheGabou，carefullyplacedatdifferentlevelssoastocreateasteadyreserveincaseofaseveredrought。AtcertainplaceswherethevalleywidenedGerardhadtakenadvantageofafewhillockstomakeislandsandplantthemwithtreesofvariedfoliage。Thesevastoperationscompletelychangedthefaceofthecountry;butfiveorsixyearswereofcourseneededtobringouttheirfullcharacter。

"Thecountrywasnaked，"saidFarrabesche，"andmadamehasclothedit。"

Sincethesegreatundertakingswerebegun，Veroniquehadbeencalled"Madame"throughoutthewholeneighborhood。WhentherainsceasedinJune，1833，theytriedtheirrigatingchannelsthroughtheplantedfields，andtheyoungverdurethusnourishedsoonshowedthesuperiorqualitiesofthe/marciti/ofItalyandthemeadowsofSwitzerland。

Thesystemofirrigation，modelledonthatofthefarmsinLombardy，wateredtheearthevenly，andkeptthesurfaceassmoothasacarpet。

Thenitreofthesnowdissolvinginthesechannelsnodoubtaddedmuchtothequalityoftheherbage。TheengineerhopedtofindintheproductsofsucceedingyearssomeanalogywiththoseofSwitzerland，towhichthisnitroussubstanceis，asweknow，asourceofperpetualriches。

Theplantationsalongtheroads，sufficientlymoistenedbythewaterallowedtorunthroughtheditches，maderapidgrowth。Sothatin1838，sixyearsafterMadameGraslinhadbegunherenterprise，thestonyplain，regardedashopelesslybarrenbytwentygenerations，wasverdant，productive，andwellplantedthroughout。Gerardhadbuiltfivefarmhouseswiththeirdependenciesuponit，withathousandacrestoeach。Gerard’sownfarmandthoseofGrosseteteandFresquin，whichreceivedtheoverflowfromMadame’sdomains，werebuiltonthesameplanandmanagedbythesamemethods。Theengineeralsobuiltacharminglittlehouseforhimselfonhisownproperty。Whenallwascompletelyfinished，theinhabitantsofMontegnac，instigatedbythepresentmayor，whowasanxioustoretire，electedGerardtothemayoraltyofthedistrict。

In1840thedepartureofthefirstherdofcattlesentfromMontegnactotheParismarketswasmadetheoccasionofaruralfete。Thefarmsoftheplainraisedfinebeastsandhorses;foritwasfound，afterthelandwascleanedup，thattherewereseveninchesofgoodsoilwhichtheannualfallofleaves，themanureleftbythepasturageofanimals，and，aboveall，themeltingofthesnowscontainedinthevalleyoftheGabou，increasedinfertility。

ItwasinthisyearthatMadameGraslinfounditnecessarytoobtainatutorforherson，whowasnowelevenyearsofage。Shedidnotwishtopartwithhim，andyetshewasanxioustomakehimathoroughlywell—educatedman。MonsieurBonnetwrotetotheSeminary。MadameGraslin，onherside，saidafewwordsastoherwishesandthedifficultyofobtainingtherightpersontoMonsieurDutheil，recentlyappointedarch—bishop。Thechoiceofsuchaman，whowouldlivenineyearsfamiliarlyinthechateau，wasaseriousmatter。GerardhadalreadyofferedtoteachmathematicstohisfriendFrancis;buthecouldnot，ofcourse，taketheplaceofaregulartutor。ThisquestionagitatedMadameGraslin’smind，andallthemorebecausesheknewthatherhealthwasbeginningtofail。

ThemoreprosperousgrewherdearMontegnac，themoresheincreasedthesecretausteritiesofherlife。MonseigneurDutheil，withwhomshecorrespondedregularly，foundatlastthemanshewanted。Hesentherfromhislatedioceseayoungprofessor，twenty—fiveyearsofage，namedRuffin，whosemindhadaspecialvocationfortheartofteaching。Thisyoungman’sknowledgewasgreat，andhisnaturewasoneofdeepfeeling，which，however，didnotprecludethesternnessnecessaryinthemanagementofyouth。Inhimreligiondidnotinanywayhamperknowledge;hewasalsopatient，andextremelyagreeableinappearanceandmanner。"Imakeyouafinepresent，mydeardaughter，"

wrotetheprelate;"thisyoungmanisfittoeducateaprince;

thereforeIthinkyouwillbegladtoarrangethefuturewithhim，forhecanundoubtedlybeaspiritualfathertoyourson。"

MonsieurRuffinprovedsosatisfactorytoMadameGraslin’sfaithfulfriendsthathisarrivalmadenochangeinthevariousintimaciesthatgroupedthemselvesaroundthisbelovedidol，whosehoursandmomentswereclaimedbyeachwithjealouseagerness。

Bytheyear1843theprosperityofMontegnachadincreasedbeyondallexpectation。ThefarmoftheGabourivalledthefarmsoftheplain，andthatofthechateausetanexampleofconstantimprovementtoall。

Thefiveotherfarms，increasinginvalue，obtainedhigherrent，reachingthesumofthirtythousandfrancsforeachattheendoftwelveyears。Thefarmers，whowerebeginningtogatherinthefruitsoftheirsacrificesandthoseofMadameGraslin，nowbegantoimprovethegrassoftheplains，sowingseedofbetterquality，therebeingnolongeranyoccasiontofeardrought。

DuringthisyearamanfromMontegnacstartedadiligencebetweenthechieftownofthearrondissementandLimoges，leavingbothplaceseachday。MonsieurClousier’snephewsoldhisofficeandobtainedalicenseasnotaryinMontegnac。ThegovernmentappointedFresquincollectorofthedistrict。ThenewnotarybuilthimselfaprettyhouseintheupperpartofMontegnac，plantedmulberriesinthegrounds，andbecameafteratimeassistant—mayortohisfriendGerard。

Theengineer，encouragedbysomuchsuccess，nowconceivedaschemeofanaturetorenderMadameGraslin’sfortunecolossal，——sheherselfhavingbythistimerecoveredpossessionoftheincomewhichhadbeenmortgagedfortherepaymentoftheloan。Gerard’snewschemewastomakeacanalofthelittleriver，andturnintoitthesuperabundantwatersoftheGabou。Thiscanal，whichheintendedtocarryintotheVienne，wouldformawaterwaybywhichtosenddowntimberfromthetwentythousandacresofforestlandbelongingtoMadameGraslininMontegnac，nowadmirablymanagedbyColorat，butwhich，forwantoftransportation，returnednoprofit。Athousandacrescouldbecutovereachyearwithoutdetrimenttotheforest，andifsentinthiswaytoLimoges，wouldfindareadymarketforbuildingpurposes。

ThiswastheoriginalplanofMonsieurGraslinhimself，whohadpaidverylittleattentiontotherector’sschemerelatingtotheplain，beingmuchmoreattractedbythatofturningthelittleriverintoacanal。

XIX

ADEATHBLOW

Atthebeginningofthefollowingyear，inspiteofMadameGraslin’sassumptionofstrength，herfriendsbegantonoticesymptomswhichforeshadowedhercomingdeath。Toallthedoctor’sremarks，andtotheinquiriesofthemostclear—sightedofherfriends，Veroniquemadetheinvariableanswerthatshewasperfectlywell。Butwhenthespringopenedshewentroundtovisitherforests，farms，andbeautifulmeadowswithachildlikejoyanddelightwhichbetrayedtothosewhoknewherbestasadforeboding。

FindinghimselfobligedtobuildasmallcementedwallbetweenthedamoftheGabouandtheparkofMontegnacalongthebaseofthehillcalledespeciallyLaCorreze，Gerardtookuptheideaofenclosingthewholeforestandthusunitingitwiththepark。MadameGraslinagreedtothis，andappointedthirtythousandfrancsayeartothiswork，whichwouldtakesevenyearstoaccomplishandwouldthenwithdrawthatfineforestfromtherightsexercisedbygovernmentoverthenon—

enclosedforestsofprivateindividuals。ThethreepondsoftheGabouwouldthusbecomeapartofthepark。Theseponds，ambitiouslycalledlakes，hadeachitsisland。

Thisyear，Gerardhadprepared，incollusionwithGrossetete，asurpriseforMadameGraslin’sbirthday。Hehadbuiltalittlehermitageonthelargestoftheislands，rusticontheoutsideandelegantlyarrangedwithin。Theoldbankertookpartintheconspiracy，inwhichFarrabesche，Fresquin，Clousier’snephew，andnearlyallthewell—to—dopeopleinMontegnacco—operated。Grossetetesentdownsomebeautifulfurniture。Theclocktower，copiedfromthatatVevay，madeacharmingeffectinthelandscape。Sixboats，twoforeachpond，weresecretlybuilt，painted，andriggedduringthewinterbyFarrabescheandGuepin，assistedbythecarpenterofMontegnac。

Whenthedayarrived（aboutthemiddleofMay）afterabreakfastMadameGraslingavetoherfriends，shewastakenbythemacrossthepark——whichwasfinelylaidoutbyGerard，who，forthelastfiveyears，hadimproveditlikealandscapearchitectandnaturalist——totheprettymeadowofthevalleyoftheGabou，where，attheshoreofthefirstlake，twooftheboatswerefloating。Thismeadow，wateredbyseveralclearstreamlets，layatthefootofthefineampitheatrewherethevalleyoftheGaboubegins。Thewoods，clearedinascientificmanner，soastoproducenoblemassesandvistasthatwerecharmingtotheeye，enclosedthemeadowandgaveitasolitudethatwasgratefultothesoul。GerardhadreproducedonaneminencethatchaletinthevalleyofSionabovetheroadtoBriegwhichtravellersadmiresomuch;hereweretobethedairyandthecow—shedsofthechateau。FromitsgallerytheeyerovedoverthelandscapecreatedbytheengineerwhichthethreelakesmadeworthyofcomparisonwiththebeautiesofSwitzerland。

Thedaywasbeautiful。Inthebluesky，notacloud;onearth，allthecharming，gracefulthingsthesoiloffersinthemonthofMay。Thetreesplantedtenyearsearlieronthebanks——weepingwillows，osier，alder，ash，theaspenofHolland，thepoplarsofItalyandVirginia，hawthornsandroses，acacias，birches，allchoicegrowthsarrangedastheirnatureandthelayofthelandmadesuitable——heldamidtheirfoliageafewfleecyvapors，bornofthewaters，whichroselikeaslendersmoke。Thesurfaceofthelakelet，clearasamirrorandcalmasthesky，reflectedthetallgreenmassesoftheforest，thetopsofwhich，distinctlydefinedinthelimpidatmosphere，contrastedwiththegrovesbelowwrappedintheirprettyveils。Thelakes，separatedbybroadcauseways，werethreemirrorsshowingdifferentreflections，thewatersofwhichflowedfromonetoanotherinmelodiouscascades。

Thesecausewayswereusedtogofromlaketolakewithoutpassingroundtheshores。Fromthechaletcouldbeseen，throughavistaamongthetrees，thethanklesswasteofthechalkcommons，resemblinganopenseaandcontrastingwiththefreshbeautyofthelakesandtheirverdure。

WhenVeroniquesawthejoyousnessofherfriendsastheyheldouttheirhandstohelpherintothelargestoftheboats，tearscameintohereyesandshekeptsilencetilltheytouchedthebankofthefirstcauseway。AsshesteppedintothesecondboatshesawthehermitagewithGrossetetesittingonabenchbeforeitwithallhisfamily。

"Dotheywishtomakemeregretdying？"shesaidtotherector。

"Wewishtopreventyoufromdying，"repliedClousier。

"Youcannotmakethedeadlive，"sheanswered。

MonsieurBonnetgaveherasternlookwhichrecalledhertoherself。

"Letmetakecareofyourhealth，"saidRoubaud，inagentle，persuasivevoice。"IamsureIcansavetothisregionitslivingglory，andtoallourfriendstheircommontie。"

Veroniquebowedherhead，andGerardrowedslowlytowardtheislandinthemiddleofthelake，thelargestofthethree，intowhichtheoverflowingwaterofthefirstwasripplingwithasoundthatgaveavoicetothatdelightfullandscape。

"Youhavedonewelltomakemebidfarewelltothisravishingnatureonsuchaday，"shesaid，lookingatthebeautyofthetrees，allsofulloffoliagethattheyhidtheshore。Theonlydisapprobationherfriendsallowedthemselveswastoshowagloomysilence;andVeronique，receivinganotherglancefromMonsieurBonnet，spranglightlyashore，assumingalivelyair，whichshedidnotrelinquish。

Oncemorethehostess，shewascharming，andtheGrossetetefamilyfeltshewasagainthebeautifulMadameGraslinofformerdays。

"Indeed，youcanstilllive，ifyouchoose！"saidhermotherinawhisper。

Atthisgayfestival，amidthesegloriouscreationsproducedbytheresourcesofnatureonly，nothingseemedlikelytowoundVeronique，andyetitwashereandnowthatshereceivedherdeath—blow。

Thepartyweretoreturnaboutnineo’clockbywayofthemeadows，theroadthroughwhich，aslovelyasanEnglishoranItalianroad，wastheprideofitsengineer。Theabundanceofsmallstones，laidasidewhentheplainwascleared，enabledhimtokeepitingoodorder;infact，forthelastfiveyearsitwas，inaway，macadamized。Carriageswereawaitingthecompanyattheopeningofthelastvalleytowardtheplain，almostatthebaseoftheRoche—Vive。Thehorses，raisedatMontegnac，wereamongthefirstthatwerereadyforthemarket。Themanagerofthestudhadselectedadozenforthestablesofthechateau，andtheirpresentfineappearancewaspartoftheprogrammeofthefete。MadameGraslin’sowncarriage，agiftfromGrossetete，wasdrawnbyfourofthefinestanimals，plainlyharnessed。

Afterdinnerthehappypartywenttotakecoffeeinalittlewoodenkiosk，madelikethoseontheBosphorus，andplacedonapointoftheislandfromwhichtheeyecouldreachtothefartherlakebeyond。FromthisspotMadameGraslinthoughtshesawhersonFrancisnearthenursery—groundformerlyplantedbyFarrabesche。Shelookedagain，butdidnotseehim;andMonsieurRuffinpointedhimouttoher，playingonthebankwithGrossetete’schildren。Veroniquebecamealarmedlestheshouldmeetwithsomeaccident。Notlisteningtoremonstrance，sherandownfromthekiosk，andjumpingintoaboat，begantorowtowardherson。Thislittleincidentcausedageneraldeparture。MonsieurGrosseteteproposedthattheyshouldallfollowherandwalkonthebeautifulshoreofthelake，alongthecurvesofthemountainousbluffs。OnlandingthereMadameGraslinsawhersoninthearmsofawomanindeepmourning。Judgingbytheshapeofherbonnetandthestyleofherclothes，thewomanwasaforeigner。Veroniquewasstartled，andcalledtoherson，whopresentlycametowardher。

"Whoisthatwoman？"sheaskedthechildrenroundabouther;"andwhydidFrancisleaveyoutogotoher？"

"Theladycalledhimbyname，"saidalittlegirl。

AtthatinstantMadameSauviatandGerard，whohadoutstrippedtherestofthecompany，cameup。

"Whoisthatwoman，mydearchild？"askedMadameGraslinassoonasFrancisreachedher。

"Idon’tknow，"heanswered;"butshekissedmeasyouandgrandmammakissedme——shecried，"whisperedFrancisinhismother’sear。

"ShallIgoafterher？"askedGerard。

"No！"saidMadameGraslin，withanabruptnessthatwasnotusualinher。

WithadelicacyforwhichVeroniquewasgrateful，Gerardledawaythechildrenandwentbacktodetaintherestoftheparty，leavingMadameSauviat，MadameGraslin，andFrancisalone。

"Whatdidshesaytoyou？"askedMadameSauviatofhergrandson。

"Idon’tknow;shedidnotspeakFrench。"

"Couldn’tyouunderstandanythingshesaid？"askedVeronique。

"No;butshekeptsayingoverandover，——andthat’swhyIrememberit，——/Mydearbrother/！"

Veroniquetookhermother’sarmandledhersonbythehand，butshehadscarcelygoneadozenstepsbeforeherstrengthgaveway。

"Whatisthematter？whathashappened？"saidtheothers，whonowcameup，toMadameSauviat。

"Oh！mydaughterisindanger！"saidtheoldwoman，ingutturaltones。

ItwasnecessarytocarryMadameGraslintohercarriage。ShesignedtoAlinetogetintoitwithFrancis，andalsoGerard。

"YouhavebeeninEngland，"shesaidtothelatterassoonassherecoveredherself，"andthereforenodoubtyouspeakEnglish;tellmethemeaningofthewords，/mydearbrother/。"

Onbeingtold，VeroniqueexchangedalookwithAlineandhermotherwhichmadethemshudder;buttheyrestrainedtheirfeelings。

Theshoutsandjoyouscriesofthosewhowereassistinginthedepartureofthecarriages，thesplendorofthesettingsunasitlayuponthemeadows，theperfectgaitofthebeautifulhorses，thelaughterofherfriendsastheyfollowedheronhorsebackatagallop，——noneofthesethingsrousedMadameGraslinfromhertorpor。Hermotherorderedthecoachmantohastenhishorses，andtheircarriagereachedthechateausometimebeforetheothers。Whenthecompanywereagainassembled，theyweretoldthatVeroniquehadgonetoherroomsandwasunabletoseeanyone。

"Ifear，"saidGerardtohisfriends，"thatMadameGraslinhashadsomefatalshock。"

"Where？how？"theyasked。

"Toherheart，"heanswered。

ThefollowingdayRoubaudstartedforParis。HehadseenMadameGraslin，andfoundhersoseriouslyillthathewishedfortheassistanceandadviceoftheablestphysicianoftheday。ButVeroniquehadonlyreceivedRoubaudtoputastoptohermotherandAline’sentreatiesthatshewoulddosomethingtobenefither;sheherselfknewthatdeathhadstrickenher。SherefusedtoseeMonsieurBonnet，sendingwordtohimthatthetimehadnotyetcome。ThoughallherfriendswhohadcomefromLimogestocelebrateherbirthdaywishedtobewithher，shebeggedthemtoexcuseherfromfulfillingthedutiesofhospitality，sayingthatshedesiredtoremaininthedeepestsolitude。AfterRoubaud’sdeparturetheotherguestsreturnedtoLimoges，lessdisappointedthandistressed;forallthosewhomGrossetetehadbroughtwithhimadoredVeronique。Theywerelostinconjectureastowhatmighthavecausedthismysteriousdisaster。

Oneevening，twodaysafterthedepartureofthecompany，AlinebroughtCatherinetoMadameGraslin’sapartment。LaFarrabeschestoppedshort，horrifiedatthechangesosuddenlywroughtinhermistress，whosefaceseemedtoheralmostdistorted。

"GoodGod，madame！"shecried，"whatharmthatgirlhasdone！Ifwehadonlyforeseenit，FarrabescheandI，wewouldneverhavetakenherin。Shehasjustheardthatmadameisill，andsendsmetotellMadameSauviatshewantstospeaktoher。"

"Here！"criedVeronique。"Whereisshe？"

"Myhusbandtookhertothechalet。"

"Verygood，"saidMadameGraslin;"tellFarrabeschetogoelsewhere。

Informthatladythatmymotherwillgotoher;tellhertoexpectthevisit。"