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。