OnceontheplainVeroniquerodeslowly。
\"WhoisthisFarrabeschewhomyouemploy？\"sheaskedherforester。
\"Hasmadamemethim？\"criedColorat。
\"Yes，butheranawayfromme。\"
\"Poorman！perhapshedoesnotknowhowkindmadameis。\"
\"Butwhathashedone？\"
\"Ah！madame，Farrabescheisamurderer，\"repliedChampion，simply。
\"Thentheypardonedhim！\"saidVeronique，inatremblingvoice。
\"No，madame，\"repliedColorat，\"Farrabeschewastriedandcondemnedtotenyearsatthegalleys;heservedhalfhistime，andthenhewasreleasedonparoleandcameherein1827。Heoweshislifetotherector，whopersuadedhimtogivehimselfuptojustice。Hehadbeencondemnedtodeathbydefault，andsoonerorlaterhemusthavebeentakenandexecuted。MonsieurBonnetwenttofindhiminthewoods，allalone，attheriskofbeingkilled。NooneknowswhathesaidtoFarrabesche。Theywerealonetogethertwodays;onthethirddaytherectorbroughtFarrabeschetoTulle，wherehegavehimselfup。
MonsieurBonnetwenttoseeagoodlawyerandbeggedhimtodohisbestfortheman。Farrabescheescapedwithtenyearsinirons。Therectorwenttovisithiminprison，andthatdangerousfellow，whousedtobetheterrorofthewholecountry，becameasgentleasagirl;heevenletthemtakehimtothegalleyswithoutastruggle。Onhisreturnhesettledherebytherector’sadvice;noonesaysawordagainsthim;hegoestomasseverySundayandallthefeast—days。
Thoughhisplaceisamongusheslipsinbesidethewallandsitsalone。Hegoestothealtarsometimesandprays，butwhenhetakestheholysacramenthealwayskneelsapart。\"
\"Andyousaythatmankilledanotherman？\"
\"One！\"exclaimedColorat;\"hekilledseveral！Butheisagoodmanallthesame。\"
\"Isthatpossible？\"exclaimedVeronique，lettingthebridlefallontheneckofherhorse。
\"Well，yousee，madame，\"saidtheforester，whoaskednobetterthantotellthetale，\"Farrabeschemayhavehadgoodreasonforwhathedid。HewasthelastoftheFarrabesches，——anoldfamilyoftheCorreze，don’tyouknow！Hiselderbrother，CaptainFarrabesche，diedtenyearsearlierinItaly，atMontenotte，acaptainwhenhewasonlytwenty—twoyearsold。Wasn’tthatill—luck？andsuchalad，too！knewhowtoreadandwrite，andbidfairtobeageneral。Thefamilygrievedterribly，andgoodreason，too。Asforme，Iheardallabouthisdeath，forIwasservingatthattimeunderL’AUTRE。Oh！hemadeafinedeath，didCaptainFarrabesche;hesavedthearmyandtheLittleCorporal。IwastheninthedivisionofGeneralSteingel，aGerman，——
thatis，anAlsacian，——afamousgoodgeneralbutrathershort—sighted，andthatwasthereasonwhyhewaskilledsoonafterCaptainFarrabesche。Theyoungerbrother——that’sthisone——wasonlysixyearsoldwhenheheardofhisbrother’sdeath。Thesecondbrotherservedtoo;butonlyasaprivatesoldier;hediedasergeantinthefirstregimentoftheGuard，atthebattleofAusterlitz，where，d’yesee，madame，theymanoeuvredjustasquietlyastheymightintheCarrousel。
Iwasthere！oh！Ihadtheluckofit！wentthroughitallwithoutascratch！NowthisFarrabescheofours，thoughhe’sabravefellow，tookitintohisheadhewouldn’tgotothewars;infact，thearmywasn’tahealthyplaceforoneofhisfamily。Sowhentheconscriptioncaughthimin1811heranaway，——arefractory，that’swhattheycalledthem。Andthenitwashewentandjoinedapartyof/chauffeurs/，ormaybehewasforcedto;atanyratehe/chauffed/！Nobodybuttherectorknowswhathereallydidwiththosebrigands——allduerespecttothem！Manyafighthehadwiththegendarmesandthesoldierstoo;
I’mtoldhewasinsevenregularbattles——\"
\"Theysayhekilledtwosoldiersandthreegendarmes，\"putinChampion。
\"Whoknowshowmany？——henevertold，\"wentonColorat。\"Atlast，madame，theycaughtnearlyallhiscomrades，buttheynevercouldcatchhim;hanghim！hewassoyoungandactive，andknewthecountrysowell，healwaysescaped。The/chauffeurs/heconsortedwithkeptthemselvesmostlyintheneighborhoodofBrivesandTulle;sometimestheycamedownthisway，becauseFarrabescheknewsuchgoodhiding—
placesabouthere。In1814theconscriptiontooknofurthernoticeofhim，becauseitwasabolished;butforallthat，hewasobligedtoliveinthewoodsin1815;because，don’tyousee？ashehadn’tenoughtoliveon，hehelpedtostopamail—coachoverthere，downthatgorge;andthenitwastheycondemnedhim。But，asItoldyoujustnow，therectorpersuadedhimtogivehimselfup。Itwasn’teasytoconvicthim，fornobodydaredtestifyagainsthim;andhislawyerandMonsieurBonnetworkedsohardtheygothimsentencedfortenyearsonly;whichwasprettygoodluckafterbeinga/chauffeur/——forhedid/chauffe/。\"
\"Willyoutellmewhat/chauffeur/means？\"
\"Ifyouwishit，madame，Iwilltellyouwhattheydid，asfarasI
knowaboutitfromothers，forIneverwas/chauffed/myself。Itwasn’tagoodthingtodo，butnecessityknowsnolaw。Well，thisishowitwas:sevenoreightwouldgotosomefarmerorland—ownerwhowasthoughttohavemoney;thefarmerwouldbuildagoodfireandgivethemasupper，lastinghalfthroughthenight，andthen，whenthefeastwasover，ifthemasterofthehousewouldn’tgivethemthesumdemanded，theyjustfastenedhisfeettothespit，anddidn’tunfastenthemtilltheygotit。That’showitwas。Theyalwayswentmasked。
Amongalltheirexpeditionstheysometimesmadeunluckyones。Hangit，there’llalwaysbeobstinate，miserlyoldfellowsintheworld！Oneofthem，afarmer，oldCochegrue，someanhe’dshaveanegg，heldout;heletthemroasthisfeet。Well，hediedofit。ThewifeofMonsieurDavid，nearBrives，diedofterroratmerelyseeingthosefellowstieherhusband’sfeet。ShediedsayingtoDavid:’Givethemallyouhave。’Hewouldn’t，andsoshejustpointedoutthehiding—place。The/chauffeurs/（that’swhytheycallthem/chauffeurs/，——warmers）weretheterrorofthewholecountryforoverfiveyears。Butyoumustgetitwellintoyourhead，——oh，excuseme，madame，butyoumustknowthatmorethanoneyoungmanofgoodfamilybelongedtothem，thoughsomehowtheywerenevertheonestobecaught。\"
MadameGraslinlistenedwithoutinterruptingorreplying。Therewassilenceforafewmoments，andthenlittleChampion，jealousoftherighttoamusehismistress，wantedtotellherwhatheknewofthelategalley—slave。
\"MadameoughttoknowmoreaboutFarrabesche;hehasn’thisequalatrunning，oratridingahorse。Hecankillanoxwithablowofhisfist;nobodycanshootlikehim;hecancarrysevenhundredfeetasstraightasadie，——there！Onedaytheysurprisedhimwiththreeofhiscomrades;twowerewounded，onewaskilled，——good！Farrabeschewasallbuttaken。Bah！hejustsprangonthehorseofoneofthegendarmesbehindtheman，prickedthehorsewithhisknife，madeitrunwithallitsmight，andsodisappeared，holdingthegendarmetightroundthebody。Butheheldhimsotightthatafteratimehethrewthebodyonthegroundandrodeawayaloneonthehorseandmasterofthehorse;andhehadthecheektogoandsellitnotthirtymilesfromLimoges！Afterthataffairhehidhimselfforthreemonthsandwasneverseen。Theauthoritiesofferedahundredgoldenlouistowhoeverwoulddeliverhimup。\"
\"Anothertime，\"addedColorat，\"whentheprefectofTulleofferedahundredlouisforhim，hemadeoneofhisowncousins，GiriexofVizay，earnthem。Hiscousindenouncedhim，andappearedtodeliverhimup。Oh，yes，hedeliveredhimsureenough！Thegendarmesweredelighted，andtookhimtoTulle;theretheyputhimintheprisonofLubersac，fromwhichheescapedthatverynight，profitingbyaholealreadybegunbyoneofhisaccompliceswhohadbeenexecuted。AlltheseadventuresgaveFarrabescheafinereputation。The/chauffeurs/
hadlotsofoutsidefriends;peoplereallylovedthem。Theywerenotskinflintslikethoseofto—day;theyspenttheirmoneyroyally，thosefellows！Justfancy，madame，oneeveningFarrabeschewaschasedbygendarmes;well，heescapedthembystayingtwentyminutesunderwaterinthepondofafarm—yard。Hebreathedairthroughastrawwhichhekeptabovethesurfaceofthepool，whichwashalfmuck。But，goodness！whatwasthatlittledisagreeablenesstoamanwhospendshisnightsinthetree—tops，wherethesparrowscanhardlyholdthemselves，watchingthesoldiersgoingtoandfroinsearchofhimbelow？Farrabeschewasoneofthehalf—dozen/chauffeurs/whomtheofficersofjusticecouldneverlayhandson。Butashebelongedtotheregionandwasbroughtupwiththem，andhad，astheysaid，onlyfledtheconscription，allthewomenwereonhisside，——andthat’sagreatdeal，youknow。\"
\"IsitreallycertainthatFarrabeschedidkillseveralpersons？\"
askedMadameGraslin。
\"Yes，certain，\"repliedColorat;\"itisevensaidthatitwashewhokilledthetravellerbythemail—coachin1812;butthecourierandthepostilion，theonlywitnesseswhocouldhaveidentifiedhim，weredeadbeforehewastried。\"
\"Triedfortherobbery？\"askedMadameGraslin。
\"Yes，theytookeverything;amongstittwenty—fivethousandfrancsbelongingtothegovernment。\"
MadameGraslinrodesilentlyafterthatfortwoorthreemiles。Thesunhadnowset，themoonwaslightingthegrayplain，whichlookedlikeanopensea。ChampionandColoratbegantowonderatMadameGraslin，whosesilenceseemedstrangetothem，andtheyweregreatlyastonishedtoseetheshiningtrackoftearsuponhercheeks;hereyeswereredandfulloftears，whichwerefallingdropbydropassherodealong。
\"Oh，madame，\"saidColorat，\"don’tpityhim！Theladhashadhisday。
Hehadprettygirlsinlovewithhim;andnow，thoughtobesureheiscloselywatchedbythepolice，heisprotectedbytherespectandgood—willoftherector;forhehasreallyrepented。Hisconductatthegalleyswasexemplary。Everybodyknowsheisashonestasthemosthonestmanamongus。Onlyheisproud;hedoesn’tchoosetoexposehimselftorebuff;sohelivesquietlybyhimselfanddoesgoodinhisownway。HehasmadeanurseryofabouttenacresforyouontheothersideoftheRoche—Vive;heplantsintheforestswhereverhethinksthere’sachanceofmakingatreegrow;hetrimsthetreeandcutsoutthedeadwood，andtiesitupintobundlesforthepoor。Allthepoorpeopleknowtheycangettheirwoodfromhimallcutandreadytoburn;sotheygoandaskhimforit，insteadoftakingitthemselvesandinjuringyourforest。Heisanotherkindof/chauffeur/now，andwarmshispoorneighborstotheircomfortandnottotheirharm。Oh，Farrabeschelovesyourforest！Hetakescareofitasifitwerehisownproperty。\"
\"Andhelives——allalone？\"exclaimedMadameGraslin，addingthetwolastwordshastily。
\"Excuseme，notquitealone，madame;hetakescareofaboyaboutfifteenyearsold，\"saidMauriceChampion。
\"Yes，that’sso，\"saidColorat;\"LaCurieuxgavebirthtothechildsomelittletimebeforeFarrabeschewascondemned。\"
\"Isithischild？\"askedMadameGraslin。
\"Peoplethinkso。\"
\"Whydidn’themarryher？\"
\"Howcouldhe？Theywouldcertainlyhavearrestedhim。Asitwas，whenLaCurieuxheardhewassentencedtothegalleysthepoorgirlleftthispartofthecountry。\"
\"Wassheaprettygirl？\"
\"Oh！\"saidMaurice，\"mymothersaysshewasverylikeanothergirlwhohasalsoleftMontegnacforsomethingthesamereason，——DeniseTascheron。\"
\"Shelovedhim？\"saidMadameGraslin。
\"Ha，yes！becausehe/chauffed/;womendolikethingsthatareoutoftheway。However，nothingeverdidsurprisethecommunitymorethanthatloveaffair。CatherineCurieuxlivedasvirtuousalifeasaholyvirgin;shepassedforapearlofpurityinhervillageofVizay，whichisreallyasmalltownintheCorrezeonthelinebetweenthetwodepartments。HerfatherandmotherarefarmerstotheMessieursBrezac。CatherineCurieuxwasaboutseventeenwhenFarrabeschewassenttothegalleys。TheFarrabescheswereanoldfamilyfromthesameregion，whosettledinthecommuneofMontegnac;theyhiredtheirfarmfromthevillage。ThefatherandmotherFarrabeschearedead，butCatherine’sthreesistersaremarried，oneinAubusson，anotherinLimoges，andathirdinSaint—Leonard。\"
\"DoyouthinkFarrabescheknowswhereCatherineCurieuxis？\"askedMadameGraslin。
\"Ifhedidknowhe’dbreakhisparole。Oh！he’dgotoher。AssoonashecamebackfromthegalleyshegotMonsieurBonnettoaskforthelittleboywhomthegrandfatherandgrandmotherweretakingcareof;
andMonsieurBonnetobtainedthechild。\"
\"Doesnooneknowwhatbecameofthemother？\"
\"Noone，\"saidColorat。\"Thegirlfeltthatshewasruined;shewasafraidtostayinherownvillage。ShewenttoParis。Whatisshedoingthere？Well，that’sthequestion;butyoumightaswellhuntforamarbleamongthestonesonthatplainaslookforherthere。\"
TheywerenowridinguptheascenttothechateauasColoratpointedtotheplainbelow。MadameSauviat，evidentlyuneasy，Alineandtheotherservantswerewaitingatthegate，notknowingwhattothinkofthislongabsence。
\"Mydear，\"saidMadameSauviat，helpingherdaughtertodismount，\"youmustbeverytired。\"
\"No，mother，\"repliedMadameGraslin，insochangedavoicethatMadameSauviatlookedcloselyatherandthensawthemarkoftears。
MadameGraslinwenttoherownroomswithAline，whotookherordersforallthatconcernedherpersonallife。Shenowshutherselfupandwouldnotevenadmithermother;whenMadameSauviataskedtoenter，Alinestoppedher，saying，\"Madamehasgonetosleep。\"
ThenextdayVeroniquerodeoutattendedbyMauriceonly。InordertoreachtheRoche—Viveasquicklyaspossibleshetooktheroadbywhichshehadreturnedthenightbefore。Astheyrodeupthegorgewhichliesbetweenthemountainpeakandthelasthilloftheforest（for，seenfromtheplain，theRoche—Vivelooksisolated）VeroniquerequestedMauricetoshowherthehouseinwhichFarrabeschelivedandthentoholdthehorsesandwaitforher;shewishedtogoalone。
MauricetookhertoapathwhichleddownontheothersideoftheRoche—Viveandshowedherthethatchedroofofadwellinghalfburiedinthemountain，belowwhichlaythenurserygrounds。Itwasthenaboutmid—day。Alightsmokeissuedfromthechimney。Veroniquereachedthecottageinafewmoments，butshedidnotmakeherpresenceknownatonce。Shestoodafewmomentslostinthoughtsknownonlytoherselfasshegazedonthemodestdwellingwhichstoodinthemiddleofagardenenclosedwithahedgeofthorns。
Beyondthelowerendofthegardenlayseveralcaresofmeadowlandsurroundedbyanevergreenhedge;theeyelookeddownontheflattenedtopsoffruittrees，apple，pear，andplumtreesscatteredhereandthereamongthesefields。Abovethehouse，towardthecrestofthemountainwherethesoilbecamesandy，rosetheyellowcrownsofasplendidgroveofchestnuts。Openingtherailedgatemadeofhalf—
rottenboardswhichenclosedthepremises，MadameGraslinsawastable，asmallpoultry—yardandallthepicturesqueandlivingaccessoriesofpoorhomes，whichhavesomuchofruralpoesyaboutthem。Whocouldseewithoutemotionthelinenflutteringonthehedges，thebunchesofonionshangingfromtheeaves，theironsaucepansdryinginthesun，thewoodenbenchoverhungwithhoneysuckle，thestone—cropclingingtothethatch，asitdoesontheroofsofnearlyallthecottagesinFrance，revealingahumblelifethatisalmostvegetative？
ItwasimpossibleforVeroniquetocomeuponherkeeperwithouthisreceivingduenotice;twofinehuntingdogsbegantobarkassoonastherustlingofherhabitwasheardonthedriedleaves。Shetooktheendofitoverherarmandadvancedtowardthehouse。Farrabescheandhisboy，whoweresittingonawoodenbenchoutsidethedoor，roseanduncoveredtheirheads，standinginarespectfulattitude，butwithouttheleastappearanceofservility。
\"Ihaveheard，\"saidVeronique，lookingattentivelyattheboy，\"thatyoutakemuchcareofmyinterests;Iwishedtoseeyourhouseandthenurseries，andaskyouafewquestionsrelatingtotheimprovementsI
intendtomake。\"
\"Iamatmadame’sorders，\"repliedFarrabesche。
Veroniqueadmiredtheboy，whohadacharmingfaceofaperfectoval，rathersunburnedandbrownbutveryregularinfeatures，theforeheadfinelymodelled，orange—coloredeyesofextremevivacity，blackhaircutstraightacrossthebrowandallowedtohangdownoneithersideoftheface。Tallerthanmostboysofhisage，thelittlefellowwasnearlyfivefeethigh。Histrousers，likehisshirt，wereofcoarsegraylinen，hiswaistcoat，ofroughblueclothwithhornbuttonsmuchwornandajacketoftheclothsooddlycalledMauriennevelvet，withwhichtheSavoyardsliketoclothethemselves，stouthob—nailedshoes，andnostockings。Thiscostumewasexactlylikethatofhisfather，exceptthatFarrabeschehadonhisheadthebroad—brimmedfelthatofthepeasantry，whiletheboyhadonlyabrownwoollencap。
Thoughintelligentandanimated，thechild’sfacewasinstinctwiththegravitypeculiartoallhumanbeingsofanyagewholiveinsolitude;heseemedtoputhimselfinharmonywiththelifeandthesilenceofthewoods。BothFarrabescheandhissonwerespeciallydevelopedontheirphysicalside，possessingmanyofthecharacteristicsofsavages，——piercingsight，constantobservation，absoluteself—control，akeenear，wonderfulagility，andanintelligentmannerofspeaking。AtthefirstglancetheboygavehisfatherMadameGraslinrecognizedoneofthoseunboundedaffectionsinwhichinstinctblendswiththought，andamostactivehappinessstrengthensboththewilloftheinstinctandthereasoningofthought。
\"ThismustbethechildIhaveheardof，\"saidVeronique，motioningtotheboy。
\"Yes，madame。\"
\"Haveyoumadenoattempttofindhismother？\"askedVeronique，makingasigntoFarrabeschetofollowheralittledistance。
\"MadamemaynotbeawarethatIamnotallowedtogobeyondthedistrictinwhichIreside。\"
\"Haveyouneverreceivedanynewsofher？\"
\"Attheexpirationofmyterm，\"heanswered，\"IreceivedfromtheCommissionerathousandfrancs，senttohimquarterlyformeinlittlesumswhichpoliceregulationsdidnotallowmetoreceivetillthedayIleftthegalleys。IthinkthatCatherinealonewouldhavethoughtofme，asitwasnotMonsieurBonnetwhosentthismoney;thereforeI
havekeptitsafelyforBenjamin。\"
\"AndCatherine’sparents？\"
\"Theyhaveneverinquiredforhersincesheleft。Besidestheydidenoughintakingchargeofthelittleone。\"
\"Well，Farrabesche，\"saidVeronique，returningtowardthehouse。\"I
willmakeitmybusinesstoknowifCatherinestilllives;andifso，whatisherpresentmodeoflife。\"
\"Oh！madame，whateverthatmaybe，\"saidthemangently，\"itwouldbehappinessformeifIcouldhaveherformywife。Itisforhertoobject，notme。Ourmarriagewouldlegitimatizethispoorboy，whoasyetknowsnothingofhisposition。\"
Thelookthefatherthrewupontheladexplainedthelifeofthesetwobeings，abandoned，orvoluntarilyisolated;theywereallinalltoeachother，liketwocompatriotsadriftuponadesert。
\"ThenyouloveCatherine？\"saidVeronique。
\"EvenifIdidnotloveher，madame，\"hereplied，\"sheistome，inmysituation，theonlywomanthereisintheworld。\"
MadameGraslinturnedhurriedlyandwalkedawayunderthechestnuttrees，asifattackedbysomesharppain;thekeeper，thinkingshewasmovedbyasuddencaprice，didnotventuretofollowher。
XIV
THETORRENTOFTHEGABOU
Veroniqueremainedforsomeminutesunderthechestnuttrees，apparentlylookingatthelandscape。ThenceshecouldseethatportionoftheforestwhichclothesthesideofthevalleydownwhichflowsthetorrentoftheGabou，nowdry，amassofstones，lookinglikeahugeditchcutbetweenthewoodedmountainsofMontegnacandanotherchainofparallelhillsbeyond，——thelatterbeingmuchsteeperandwithoutvegetation，exceptforheathandjuniperandafewsparsetreestowardtheirsummit。
Thesehills，desolateofaspect，belongtotheneighboringdomainandareinthedepartmentoftheCorreze。Acountryroad，followingtheundulationsofthevalley，servestomarkthelinebetweenthearrondissementofMontegnacandthetwoestates。Thisbarrenslopesupports，likeawall，afinepieceofwoodlandwhichstretchesawayinthedistancefromitsrockysummit。Itsbarrennessformsacompletecontrasttotheotherslope，onwhichisthecottageofFarrabesche。
Ontheoneside，harsh，disfiguredangularities，ontheother，gracefulformsandcurvingoutlines;there，thecold，dumbstillnessofunfruitfulearthheldupbyhorizontalblocksofstoneandnakedrock，here，treesofvariousgreens，nowstrippedforthemostpartoffoliage，butshowingtheirfinestraightmany—coloredtrunksoneveryslopeandterraceoftheland;theirinterlacingbranchesswayingtothebreeze。Afewmorepersistenttrees，oaks，elms，beeches，andchestnuts，stillretainedtheiryellow，bronzed，orcrimsonedfoliage。
TowardMontegnac，wherethevalleywidenedimmensely，thetwoslopesformahorse—shoe;andfromthespotwhereVeroniquenowstoodleaningagainstatreeshecouldseethedescendingvalleyslyinglikethegradationsofanampitheatre，thetree—topsrisingfromeachtierlikepersonsintheaudience。Thisfinelandscapewasthenontheothersideofherpark，thoughitafterwardsformedpartofit。Onthesidetowardthecottagenearwhichshestoodthevalleynarrowsmoreandmoreuntilitbecomesagorge，aboutahundredfeetwide。
Thebeautyofthisview，overwhichMadameGraslin’seyesnowrovedmechanically，recalledherpresentlytoherself。Shereturnedtothecottagewherethefatherandsonwerestanding，silentlyawaitingherandnotseekingtoexplainhersingularabsence。
Sheexaminedthehouse，whichwasbuiltwithmorecarethanitsthatchedroofseemedtowarrant。Ithad，nodoubt，beenabandonedeversincetheNavarreinsceasedtocareforthisdomain。Nomorehunts，nomoregame—keepers。Thoughthehousehadbeenbuiltforoverahundredyears，thewallswerestillgood，notwithstandingtheivyandothersortsofclimbing—plantswhichclungtothem。WhenFarrabescheobtainedpermissiontolivetherehetiledtheroomonthelowerfloorandputinfurniture。Veroniquesaw，assheentered，twobeds，alargewalnutwardrobe，abread—box，dresser，table，threechairs，andonthedresserafewbrownearthenwaredishesandotherutensilsnecessarytolife。Abovethefireplaceweretwogunsandtwogamebags。AnumberoflittlethingsevidentlymadebythefatherforthechildtouchedVeronique’sheart——themodelofaman—of—war，ofasloop，acarvedwoodencup，awoodenboxofexquisiteworkmanship，acofferinlaidindiaperpattern，acrucifix，andasplendidrosary。Thechapletwasmadeofplum—stones，oneachofwhichwascarvedaheadofmarvellousdelicacy，——ofJesusChrist，oftheapostles，theMadonna，SaintJohntheBaptist，SaintJoseph，SaintAnne，thetwoMagdalens，etc。
\"Idothattoamusethelittleoneinthelongwinterevenings，\"hesaid，asifexcusinghimself。
Thefrontofthehousewascoveredwithjessamineandroses，trainedtothewallandwreathingthewindowsoftheupperfloor，whereFarrabeschestoredhisprovisions。Heboughtlittleexceptbread，salt，sugar，andafewsucharticles，forhekeptchickens，ducks，andtwopigs。Neitherhenortheboydrankwine。
\"AllthatIhaveheardofyouandallthatInowsee，\"saidMadameGraslinatlast，\"makemefeelaninterestinyourwelfarewhichwillnot，Ihope，beabarrenone。\"
\"IrecognizeMonsieurBonnet’skindnessinwhatyousay，\"criedFarrabesche，inatoneoffeeling。
\"Youaremistaken;therectorhasnotyetspokenofyoutome;chance——orGod——hasdoneit。\"
\"Yes，madame，God！Godalonecandomiraclesforamiserablemanlikeme。\"
\"Ifyouhavebeenamiserableman，\"saidMadameGraslin，loweringhervoicethatthechildmightnothearher（anactofwomanlydelicacywhichtouchedhisheart），\"yourrepentance，yourconduct，andtherector’sesteemhavenowfittedyoutobecomeahappierman。IhavegivenorderstofinishthebuildingofthelargefarmhousewhichMonsieurGraslinintendedtoestablishnearthechateau。Ishallmakeyoumyfarmer，andyouwillhaveanopportunitytouseallyourfaculties，andalsotoemployyourson。The/procureur—general/inLimogesshallbeinformedaboutyou，andthehumiliatingpolice—
inspectionyouarenowsubjectedtoshallberemoved。Ipromiseyou。\"
AtthesewordsFarrabeschefellonhisknees，asifstruckdownbytherealizationofahopehehadlongconsideredvain。HekissedthehemofMadameGraslin’shabit，thenherfeet。Seeingthetearsinhisfather’seyes，theboywepttoo，withoutknowingwhy。
\"Rise，Farrabesche，\"saidMadameGraslin，\"youdonotknowhownaturalitisthatIshoulddoforyouwhatIhavepromised。Youplantedthosefinetrees，didyounot？\"shewenton，pointingtothegroupsofNorthernpine，firs，andlarchesatthefootofthedryandrockyhilldirectlyopposite。
\"Yes，madame。\"
\"Istheearthbetterthere？\"
\"Thewaterinwashingdownamongtherocksbringsacertainamountofsoil，whichitdeposits。Ihaveprofitedbythis;forthewholeofthelevelofthevalleybelongstoyou，——theroadisyourboundary。\"
\"Istheremuchwateratthebottomofthatlongvalley？\"