\"Ifwehaveawar，Francewillbewithouthorses，asNapoleonwasin1813，when，beingreducedtothoseofFranceonly，hecouldnotprofitbyhistwovictoriesofLutzenandBotzen，andsowascrushedatLeipzig，\"criedGrossetete。\"Ifpeacecontinues，theevilwillonlyincrease。Twenty—fiveyearsfromnowtheraceofcattleandhorseswillhavediminishedinFrancebyonehalf。\"
\"MonsieurGrosseteteisright，\"remarkedGerard。\"Sothattheworkyouareundertakinghere，madame，\"headded，addressingVeronique，\"isreallyaservicedonetothecountry。\"
\"Yes，\"saidthe/jugedepaix/，\"becauseMadamehasbutoneson，andtheinheritancewillnotbedividedup;buthowlongwillthatconditionlast？Foracertainlengthoftimethemagnificentculturewhichyouareabouttointroducewill，letushope，belongtoonlyoneproprietor，whowillcontinuetobreedhornedbeastsandhorses;butsoonerorlaterthedaymustcomewhentheseforestsandfieldswillbedividedupandsoldinsmallparcels。Dividedandredivided，thesixthousandacresofthatplainwillhaveathousandortwelvehundredowners，andthenceforth——nomorehorsesandcattle！\"
\"Oh！asforthosedays\"——beganthemayor。
\"There！don’tyouhearthe/Whatisthattome？/MonsieurClousiertalkedof？\"criedMonsieurGrossetete。\"Takenintheact！But，monsieur，\"resumedthebanker，gravelyaddressingthedumfoundedmayor，\"thosedayshavereallycome。InaradiusofthirtymilesroundParisthelandissodividedupintosmallholdingsthatmilchcowsarenolongerseen。TheCommuneofArgenteuilcontainsthirty—eightthousandeighthundredandeighty—fiveparcelsofland，manyofwhichdonotreturnafarthingofrevenue。IfitwerenotfortherichrefuseofParis，whichproducesafodderofstrongquality，Idon’tknowhowdairymenwouldgetalong。Asitis，thisover—stimulatingfoodandconfinementinclosestablesproduceinflammatorydiseases，ofwhichthecowsoftendie。TheyusecowsintheneighborhoodofParisastheydohorsesinthestreet。Cropsmoreprofitablethanhay——vegetables，fruit，appleorchards，vineyards——aretakingtheplaceofmeadow—lands。InafewyearsweshallseemilksenttoParisbythemail—coachesastheynowsendfish。WhatisgoingonaroundParisisalsogoingonroundallthelargecitiesofFrance;thelandwillthusbeusedupbeforemanyyearsaregone。Chaptelstatesthatin1800
therewerebarelytwomillionacresofvineyardinFrance;acarefulestimatewouldgivetenmillionto—day。Divided/adinfinitum/byourpresentsystemofinheritance，Normandywilllosehalfherproductionofhorsesandcattle;butshewillhaveamonopolyofmilkinParis，forherclimate，happily，forbidsgrapeculture。Weshallsoonseeacuriousphenomenonintheprogressiveriseinthecostofmeat。Intwentyyearsfromnow，in1850，Paris，whichpaidseventoelevensousforapoundofbeefin1814，willbepayingtwenty——unlesstherecomesamanofgeniuswhocancarryouttheplanofCharlesX。\"
\"YouhavelaidyourfingeronthemortalwoundofFrance，\"saidthe/jugedepaix/。\"TherootofourevilsliesinthesectionrelatingtoinheritanceintheCivilCode，inwhichtheequaldivisionofpropertyamongheirsisordained。That’sthepestlethatpoundsterritoryintocrumbs，individualizesfortunes，andtakesfromthemtheirneedfulstability;decomposingeverandneverrecomposing，——astateofthingswhichmustendintheruinofFrance。TheFrenchRevolutionemittedadestructivevirustowhichtheJulydayshavegivenfreshactivity。
Thisvitiatingelementistheaccessionofthepeasantrytotheownershipofland。Inthesection’OnInheritance’istheprincipleoftheevil，thepeasantisthemeansthroughwhichitworks。Nosoonerdoesthatclassgetaparceloflandintoitsmawthanitbeginstosubdivideit，tilltherearescarcelythreefurrowsleftineachlot。
Andeventhenthepeasantdoesnotstop！Hedividesthethreefurrowsacrosstheirlength，asMonsieurGrossetetehasjustshownusatArgenteuil。Theunreasonablepricewhichthepeasantattachestothesmallestscrapofhislandmakesitimpossibletorepurchaseandrestoreafineestate。Monsieur，\"hewenton，indicatingGrossetete，\"hasjustmentionedthediminutionintheraisingofhorsesandcattle;well，theCodehasmuchtodowiththat。Thepeasant—
proprietorownscows;helookstothemforhismeansofliving;hesellsthecalves，hesellshisbutter;heneverdreamsofraisingcattle，stilllessofraisinghorses;butashecannotraiseenoughfoddertosupporthiscowsthroughadryseason，hesendsthemtomarketwhenhecanfeedthemnolonger。Ifbysomefatalchancethehayweretofailfortwoyearsrunning，youwouldseeastartlingchangethethirdyearinthepriceofbeef，butespeciallyinthatofveal。\"
\"Thatmayputastopto’patrioticbanquets，’\"saidthedoctor，laughing。
\"Oh！\"exclaimedMadameGraslin，lookingatRoubaud，\"can’tpoliticsgetonwithoutthewitofjournalism，evenhere？\"
\"Inthislamentablebusiness，thebourgeoisieplaysthesame/role/asthepioneersofAmerica，\"continuedClousier。\"Itbuysupgreatestates，whichthepeasantrycouldnototherwiseacquire。Itcutsthemupandthensells，eitheratauctionorinsmalllotsatprivatesale，tothepeasants。Everythingisjudgedbyfiguresinthesedays，andI
knownonemoreeloquentthanthese。Francehasninety—ninemillionacres，which，subtractinghighways，roads，dunes，canals，andbarren，uncultivatedregionsdesertedbycapital，maybereducedtoeightymillions。Nowoutofeightymillionsofacrestothirty—twomillionsofinhabitantswefindonehundredandtwenty—fivemillionsofsmalllotsregisteredonthetax—list（Idon’tgivefractions）。Thus，youwillobserve，wehavegonetotheutmostlimitofagrarianlaw，andyetwehavenotseenthelastofpovertyordissatisfaction。Thosewhodivideterritoryintofragmentsandlessenproductionhave，ofcourse，plentyoforganstocryoutthattruesocialjusticeconsistsingivingeverymanalifeinterest，andnomore，inaparcelofland;
perpetualownership，theysay，isrobbery。TheSaint—Simoniansarealreadyproclaimingthatdoctrine。\"
\"Themagistratehasspoken，\"saidGrossetete，\"andhere’swhatthebankeraddstothoseboldconsiderations。ThefactthatthepeasantryandthelesserbourgeoisiecannowacquirelanddoesFranceaninjurywhichthegovernmentseemsnoteventosuspect。Wemayestimatethenumberofpeasantfamilies，omittingpaupers，atthreemillions。Thesefamiliessubsistonwages。Wagesarepaidinmoney，andnotinkind——\"
\"Yes，that’sanotherblunderofourlaws！\"criedClousier，interruptingthebanker。\"Therighttopayinkindmighthavebeengrantedin1790;now，ifweattemptedtocarrysuchalaw，weshouldriskarevolution。\"
\"Therefore，asIwasabouttosay，theproletarydrawstohimselfthemoneyofthecountry，\"resumedGrossetete。\"Nowthepeasanthasnootherpassion，desire，orwill，thantodiealand—owner。Thisdesire，asMonsieurClousierhaswellshown，wasbornoftheRevolution，andisthedirectresultofthesaleoftheNationaldomain。AmanmustbeignorantindeedofwhatisgoingonalloverFranceinthecountryregionsifheisnotawarethatthesethreemillionfamiliesareyearlyhoardingatleastfiftyfrancs，thussubtractingahundredandfiftymillionsfromcurrentuse。Thescienceofpoliticaleconomyhasmadeitanaxiomthatafive—francpiece，passingthroughahundredhandsinoneday，isequivalenttofivehundredfrancs。Now，itisperfectlyplaintoallofuswholiveinthecountryandobservethestateofaffairs，thateverypeasanthashiseyeonthelandhecovets;heiswatchingandwaitingforit，andheneverinvestshissavingselsewhere;heburiesthem。Insevenyearsthesavingsthusrenderedinertandunproductiveamounttoelevenhundredmillionfrancs。Butsincethelesserbourgeoisieburyasmuchmore，withthesamepurpose，Franceloseseverysevenyearstheinterestofatleasttwothousandmillions，——thatistosay，aboutonehundredmillions;alosswhichinforty—twoyearsamountstosixhundredmillionfrancs。
Butshenotonlylosessixhundredmillions，shefailstocreatewiththatmoneymanufacturingoragriculturalproducts，whichrepresentalossoftwelvehundredmillions;for，ifthemanufacturedproductwerenotdoubleinvaluetoitscostprice，commercecouldnotexist。Theproletariatactuallydeprivesitselfofsixhundredmillionsinwages。
Thesesixhundredmillionsofdeadloss（representingtoasterneconomistalossoftwelvehundredmillions，throughlackofthebenefitsofcirculation）explaintheconditionofinferiorityinwhichourcommerce，ourmerchantservice，andouragriculturestand，ascomparedwithEngland。Inspiteofthedifferenceofthetwoterritories，whichismorethantwothirdsinourfavor，EnglandcouldremountthecavalryoftwoFrencharmies，andshehasmeatforeveryman。Butthere，asthesystemoflandedpropertymakesitalmostimpossibleforthelowerclassestoobtainit，moneyisnothoarded;
itbecomescommercial，andisturnedover。Thus，besidestheevilofparcellingtheland，involvingthatofthediminutionofhorses，cattle，andsheep，thesectionoftheCodeoninheritancecostsussixhundredmillionsofinterest，lostbythehoardingofthemoneyofthepeasantryandbourgeoisie，andtwelvehundredmillions，atleast，ofproducts;or，includingthelossfromnon—circulation，threethousandmillionsinhalfacentury！\"
\"Themoraleffectisworsethanthematerialeffect，\"criedtherector。\"Wearemakingbeggar—proprietorsamongthepeopleandhalf—
taughtcommunitiesofthelesserbourgeoisie;andthefatalmaxim’Eachforhimself，’whichhaditseffectupontheupperclassesinJulyofthisyear，willsoonhavegangrenedthemiddleclasses。A
proletariatdevoidofsentiment，withnoothergodthanenvy，nootherfanaticismthanthedespairofhunger，withoutfaith，withoutbelief，willcomeforwardbeforelongandputitsfootontheheartofthenation。Foreigners，whohavethrivenundermonarchicalrule，willfindthat，havingroyalty，wehavenoking;havinglegality，wehavenolaws;havingproperty，noowners;nogovernmentwithourelections，noforcewithfreedom，nohappinesswithequality。LetushopethatbeforethatdaycomesGodmayraiseupinFranceaprovidentialman，oneofthoseElectwhogiveanewmindtonations，andlikeSyllaorlikeMarius，whetherhecomesfromaboveorrisesfrombelow，remakessociety。\"
\"Hewouldbesenttotheassizes，\"saidGerard。\"ThesentencepronouncedagainstSocratesandJesusChristwouldberenderedagainstthemin1831。Inthesedaysasintheolddays，enviousmediocrityletsthinkersdieofpoverty，andsogetsridofthegreatpoliticalphysicianswhohavestudiedthewoundsofFrance，andwhoopposethetendenciesoftheirepoch。Iftheybearupunderpoverty，commonmindsridiculethemorcallthemdreamers。InFrance，menrevoltinthemoralworldagainstthegreatmanofthefuture，justastheyrevoltinthepoliticalworldagainstasovereign。\"
\"Intheoldentimesophiststalkedtoalimitednumberofmen;to—daytheperiodicalpressenablesthemtoleadastrayanation，\"criedthe/jugedepaix/;\"andthatportionofthepresswhichpleadsforrightideasfindsnoecho。\"
ThemayorlookedatMonsieurClousierinamazement。MadameGraslin，gladtofindinasimple/jugedepaix/amanwhosemindwasoccupiedwithseriousquestions，saidtoMonsieurRoubaud，herneighbor，\"DoyouknowMonsieurClousier？\"
\"Notrightlyuntilto—day，madame。Youaredoingmiracles，\"heansweredinawhisper。\"Andyet，lookathisbrow，hownobleinshape！
Isn’titliketheclassicortraditionalbrowgivenbysculptorstoLycurgusandtheGreeksages？TherevolutionofJulyhasanevidentlyretrogradetendency，\"saidthedoctor（whomightinhisstudentdayshavemadeabarricadehimself），aftercarefullyconsideringGrossetete’scalculation。
\"Theseideasarethreefold，\"continuedClousier。\"Youhavetalkedoflawandfinance，buthowisitwiththegovernmentitself？Theroyalpower，weakenedbythedoctrineofnationalsovereignty，invirtueofwhichtheelectionofAugust9，1830，hasjustbeenmade，willendeavortocounteractthatrivalprinciplewhichgivestothepeopletherighttosaddlethenationwithanewdynastyeverytimeitdoesnotfullycomprehendtheideasofitsking。YouwillseethatweshallthenhaveinternalstruggleswhichwillarrestforlongperiodstogethertheprogressofFrance。\"
\"AllthesereefshavebeenwiselyevadedbyEngland，\"remarkedGerard。
\"Ihavebeenthere;Iadmirethatbeehive，whichsendsitsswarmsovertheuniverseandcivilizesmankind，——apeopleamongwhomdiscussionisapoliticalcomedy，whichsatisfiesthemassesandhidestheactionofpower，whichthenworksfreelyinitsuppersphere;acountrywhereelectionsarenotinthehandsofastupidbourgeoisie，astheyareinFrance。IfEnglandwereparcelledoutintosmallholdingsthenationwouldnolongerexist。Theland—owningclass，thelords，guidethesocialmechanism。Theirmerchant—service，underthenoseofEurope，takespossessionofwholeregionsoftheglobetomeettheneedsoftheircommerceandtogetridoftheirpaupersandmalcontents。
Insteadoffightingcapacities，aswedo，thwartingthem，nullifyingthem，theEnglisharistocraticclassseeksoutyoungtalent，rewardsit，andisconstantlyassimilatingit。Everythingwhichconcernstheactionofthegovernment，inthechoiceofmenandthings，ispromptinEngland，whereaswithusallisslow;andyettheEnglishareslowbynature，whileweareimpatient。Withthemmoneyisboldandactivelyemployed;withusitistimidandsuspicious。WhatMonsieurGrossetetehassaidoftheindustriallosseswhichthehoardingpeasantryinflictonFrancehasitsproofinafactIwillshowtoyouintwowords:Englishcapital，byitsperpetualturningover，hascreatedtenthousandmillionsofmanufacturingandinterest—bearingproperty;whereasFrenchcapital，whichisfarmoreabundant，hasnotcreatedonetenthofthatamount。\"
\"Andthatisallthemoreextraordinary，\"saidRoubaud，\"becausetheyarelymphatic，andwe，asageneralthing，aresanguineandenergetic。\"
\"Ah！monsieur，\"saidClousier，\"thereyoutouchagreatquestion，whichoughttobestudied:Howtofindinstitutionsproperlyadaptedtorepressthetemperamentofapeople！AssuredlyCromwellwasagreatlegislator。HealonemadetheEnglandofto—day，byinventingthe’NavigationAct，’whichhasmadetheEnglishenemiesofalltheworld，andinfusedintothemaferociousprideandself—conceit，whichistheirmainstay。But，inspiteoftheirMaltacitadel，ifFranceandRussiawillonlycomprehendtheparttheMediterraneanandtheBlackSeaoughttobemadetoplayinthefuture，theroadtoAsiathroughEgyptorbytheEuphrates，madefeasiblebyrecentdiscoveries，willkillEngland，asinformertimesthediscoveryoftheCapeofGoodHopekilledVenice。\"
\"NotonewordofGod’sprovidenceinallthis！\"criedtherector。
\"MonsieurClousierandMonsieurRoubaudareobliviousofreligion。Howisitwithyou，monsieur？\"headded，turningtoGerard。
\"Protestant，\"putinGrossetete。
\"Youguessedit，\"criedVeronique，lookingattherectorasshetookClousier’sarmtoreturntothesalon。
TheprejudiceGerard’sappearanceexcitedagainsthimhadbeenquicklydispelled，andthethreenotablescongratulatedthemselvesonsogoodanacquisition。
\"Unfortunately，\"saidMonsieurBonnet，\"thereisacauseofantagonismbetweenRussiaandtheCatholiccountrieswhichbordertheMediterranean，intheveryunimportantschismwhichseparatestheGreekreligionfromtheLatinreligion;anditisagreatmisfortuneforhumanity。\"
\"Weallpreachourownsaint，\"saidMadameGraslin。\"MonsieurGrossetetethinksofthelostmillions;MonsieurClousier，oftheoverthrowofrights;thedoctorhereregardslegislationasaquestionoftemperaments;andtherectorseesanobstacletothegoodunderstandingofFranceandRussiainreligion。\"
\"Addtothat，madame，\"saidGerard，\"thatIsee，inthehoardingofcapitalbythepeasantandthesmallburgher，thepostponementofthebuildingofrailroadsinFrance。\"
\"Thenwhatisityouallwant？\"sheasked。
\"WewantthewiseStatecouncillorswho，undertheEmperor，reflectedonthelaws，andalegislativebodyelectedbytheintelligenceofthecountryaswellasbytheland—owners，whoseonlyfunctionwouldbetoopposebadlegislationandcapriciouswars。TheChamber，asconstitutedto—day，willproceed，asyouwillsoonsee，togovern，andthatisthefirststeptolegalanarchy。\"
\"GoodGod！\"criedtherector，inaflushofsacredpatriotism，\"howcansuchenlightenedmindsasthese，\"andhemotionedtoClousier，Roubaud，andGerard，\"howcantheyseeevilsoclearlyandsuggestremedieswithoutfirstlookingwithinandapplyingaremedytothemselves？Allofyou，whorepresenttheattackedclasses，recognizethenecessityofthepassiveobedienceofthemassesoftheState，likethatofsoldiersduringawar;youwanttheunityofpower，andyoudesirethatitshallneverbebroughtintoquestion。WhatEnglandhasobtainedbythedevelopmentofherprideandself—interest（apartofhercreed）cannotbeobtainedinFrancebutthroughsentimentsduetoCatholicism，andnoneofyouareCatholics！HereamI，apriest，obligedtoleavemyowngroundandarguewitharguers。Howcanyouexpectthemassestobecomereligiousandobedientwhentheyseeirreligionandwantofdisciplineabovethem？Allpeoplesunitedbyanyfaithwhateverwillinevitablygetthebetterofpeopleswithoutanyfaithatall。Thelawofpublicinterest，whichgivesbirthtopatriotism，isdestroyedbythelawofprivateinterest，whichitsanctions，butwhichgivesbirthtoselfishness。Thereisnothingsolidanddurablebutthatwhichisnatural;andthenaturalthinginhumanpolicyistheFamily。Thefamilymustbethepointofdepartureforallinstitutions。Auniversaleffectprovesauniversalcause;andwhatyouhavejustbeensettingforthasevidentonallsidescomesfromthesocialprincipleitself;whichisnowwithoutforcebecauseithastakenforitsbasisindependenceofthoughtandwill，andsuchfreedomistheparentofindividualism。Tomakehappinessdependonthestability，intelligence，andcapacityofallisnotaswiseastomakehappinessdependonthestabilityandintelligenceofinstitutionsandthecapacityofasinglehead。Itiseasiertofindwisdominonemanthaninawholenation。Peopleshaveheartandnoeyes;theyfeel，andseenot。Governmentsoughttosee，andnotdetermineanythingthroughsentiment。Thereis，therefore，anevidentcontradictionbetweentheimpulsesofthemultitudeandtheactionofpowerwhosefunctionitistodirectandunifythoseimpulses。Tomeetwithagreatprinceiscertainlyararechance（touseyourterm），buttotrusttoawholeassembly，eventhoughitiscomposedofhonestmenonly，isfolly。Franceiscommittingthatfollyatthismoment。Alas！
youarejustasmuchconvincedofthatasIam。Ifallright—mindedmen，likeyourselves，wouldonlysetanexamplearoundthem，ifallintelligenthandswouldraise，inthegreatrepublicofsouls，thealtarsoftheoneChurchwhichhassettheinterestsofhumanitybeforeher，wemightagainbeholdinFrancethemiraclesourfathersdidhere。\"
\"Butthedifficultyis，monsieur，\"saidGerard，——\"ifImayspeaktoyouwiththefreedomoftheconfessional，——Ilookuponfaithasaliewetelltoourselves，onhopeasaliewetellaboutthefuture，andoncharityasatrickforchildrentokeepthemgoodbythepromiseofsugar—plums。\"
\"Still，wesleepbetterforbeingrockedbyhope，monsieur，\"saidMadameGraslin。
ThisspeechstoppedRoubaud，whowasabouttoreply;itseffectwasstrengthenedbyalookfromGrosseteteandtherector。
\"Isitourfault，\"saidClousier，\"thatJesusChristhadnotthetimetoformulateagovernmentinaccordancewithhismoralteaching，asdidMosesandConfucius，thetwogreatesthumanlaw—givers？——witnesstheexistence，asanation，oftheJewsandChinese，theformerinspiteoftheirdispersionoverthewholeearth，andthelatterinspiteoftheirisolation。\"
\"Ah！dearme！whatworkyouarecuttingoutforme！\"criedtherectornaively。\"ButIshalltriumph，Ishallconvertyouall！Youaremuchnearertothetruefaiththanyouthinkyouare。Truthalwayslurksbehindfalsehood;goonastep，turnround，andthenyou’llseeit。\"
Thislittleoutburstofthegoodrectorhadtheeffectofchangingtheconversation。
XVIII
CATHERINECURIEUX
Beforetakinghisdeparturethenextday，MonsieurGrossetetepromisedVeroniquetoassociatehimselfinallherplans，assoonastherealizationofthemwasapracticablething。MadameGraslinandGerardaccompaniedhiscarriageonhorseback，anddidnotleavehimtilltheyreachedthejunctionofthehigh—roadofMontegnacwiththatfromBordeauxtoLyon。Theengineerwassoimpatienttoseethelandhewastoreclaim，andVeroniquewassoimpatienttoshowittohim，thattheyhadplannedthisexpeditiontheeveningbefore。
Afterbiddingadieutothekindoldman，theyturnedofftheroadacrossthevastplain，andskirtedthemountainchainfromthefootoftherisewhichledtothechateautothesteepfaceoftheRoche—Vive。
TheengineerthensawplainlytheshelforbarricadeofrockmentionedbyFarrabesche;whichforms，asitwere，thelowestfoundationofthehills。BysodirectingthewaterthatitshouldnotoverflowtheindestructiblecanalwhichNaturehadbuilt，andbyclearingouttheaccumulationofearthwhichchokeditup，irrigationwouldbehelpedratherthanhinderedbythisnaturalsluice—way，whichwasraised，onanaverage，tenfeetabovetheplain。ThefirstimportantpointwastoestimatetheamountofwaterflowingthroughtheGabou，andtomakesurewhetherornottheslopesofthevalleyallowedanytoescapeinotherdirections。
VeroniquegaveFarrabescheahorse，anddirectedhimtoaccompanytheengineerandtoexplaintohimeverythinghehadhimselfnoticed。
Afterseveraldays’carefulexploration，Gerardfoundthatthebaseofthetwoparallelslopeswassufficientlysolid，thoughdifferentincomposition，toholdthewater，allowingnonetoescape。DuringthemonthofJanuary，whichwasrainy，heestimatedthequantityofwaterflowingthroughtheGabou。Thisquantity，addedtothatofthreestreamswhichcouldeasilybeledintoit，wouldsupplywaterenoughtoirrigateatractoflandthreetimesasextensiveastheplainofMontegnac。ThedammingoftheGabouandtheworksnecessarytodirectthewaterofthethreevalleystotheplain，oughtnottocostmorethansixtythousandfrancs;fortheengineerdiscoveredonthecommonsaquantityofcalcareoussoilwhichwouldfurnishthelimecheaply，theforestwascloseathand，thewoodandstonecostnothing，andthetransportationwastrifling。WhileawaitingtheseasonwhentheGabouwouldbedry（theonlytimesuitableforthework）allthenecessarypreparationscouldbemadesoastopushtheenterprisethroughrapidlywhenitwasoncebegun。
Butthepreparationoftheplainwasanotherthing;thataccordingtoGerard，wouldcostnotlessthantwohundredthousandfrancs，withoutincludingthesowingandplanting。Theplainwastobedividedintosquarecompartmentsoftwohundredandfiftyacreseach，wherethegroundhadtobecleared，notonlyofitsstuntedgrowths，butofrocks。Laborerswouldhavetodiginnumerabletrenches，andstonethemupsoastoletnowaterruntowaste，alsotodirectitsflowatwill。Thispartoftheenterpriseneededtheactiveandfaithfularmsofconscientiousworkers。Chanceprovidedthemwithatractoflandwithoutnaturalobstacles，alongevenstretchofplain，wherethewaters，havingafalloftenfeet，couldbedistributedatwill。
Nothinghinderedthefinestagriculturalresults，whileatthesametime，theeyewouldbegratifiedbyoneofthosemagnificentsheetsofverdurewhicharetheprideandthewealthofLombardy。Gerardsentforanoldandexperiencedforeman，whohadalreadybeenemployedbyhimelsewhereinthiscapacity，namedFresquin。
MadameGraslinwrotetoGrossetete，requestinghimtonegotiateforheraloanoftwohundredandfiftythousandfrancs，securedonherincomefromtheFunds，which，ifrelinquishedforsixyears，wouldbeenoughtopaybothcapitalandinterest。ThisloanwasobtainedinMarch。BythistimethepreliminarypreparationscarriedonbyGerardandhisforeman，Fresquin，werefullycompleted;also，thesurveying，estimating，levelling，andsounding。Thenewsofthisgreatenterprisespreadingaboutthecountry，stimulatedthelaboringpopulation。TheindefatigableFarrabesche，Colorat，Clousier，themayorofMontegnac，Roubaud，andothers，interestedeitherinthewelfareoftheneighborhoodorinMadameGraslin，selectedsuchoftheselaborersasseemedthepoorest，orweremostdeservingofemployment。GerardboughtforhimselfandforMonsieurGrosseteteathousandacresontheothersideofthehigh—roadtoMontegnac。Fresquin，theforeman，boughtfivehundred，andsentforhiswifeandchildren。
EarlyinApril，1832，MonsieurGrossetetecametoseethelandboughtforhimbyGerard，thoughhisjourneywaschieflyoccasionedbytheadventofCatherineCurieux，whohadcomefromParistoLimogesbythediligence。GrossetetenowbroughtherwithhimtoMontegnac。HefoundMadameGraslinjuststartingforchurch。MonsieurBonnetwastosayamasstoimploretheblessingofheavenontheworksthatwerethenbeginning。Allthelaborerswiththeirwivesandchildrenwerepresent。
\"Hereisyourprotegee，\"saidtheoldgentleman，presentingtoVeroniqueafeeble，sufferingwoman，apparentlyaboutthirtyyearsofage。
\"AreyouCatherineCurieux？\"askedMadameGraslin。
\"Yes，madame。\"
VeroniquelookedatCatherineforamoment。Shewasrathertall，well—
made，andfair;herfeaturesworeanexpressionofextremegentlenesswhichthebeautifulgraytonesoftheeyesdidnotcontradict。Theoutlineoftheface，theshapeofthebrowhadanobilitybothsimpleandaugust，suchaswesometimesmeetwithincountryregionsamongveryyounggirls，——asortofflowerofbeauty，whichfieldlabors，theconstantcaresofthehousehold，theburningofthesun，andwantofpersonalcare，removewithterriblerapidity。Hermovementshadthateaseofmotioncharacteristicofcountrygirls，towhichcertainhabitsunconsciouslycontractedinParisgaveadditionalgrace。IfCatherinehadremainedintheCorrezeshewouldbythistimehavelookedlikeanoldwoman，wrinkledandwithered;hercomplexion，oncerosy，wouldhavecoarsened;butParis，thoughitpaledher，hadpreservedherbeauty。Illness，toil，andgriefhadendowedherwiththemysteriousgiftsofmelancholy，theinwardvitalizingthought，whichislackingtopoorcountry—folkwhoselivesarealmostanimal。
Herdress，fullofthatParisiantastewhichallwomen，eventheleastcoquettish，contractsoreadily，distinguishedherstillfurtherfromanordinarypeasant—woman。Inherignoranceastowhatwasbeforeher，andhavingnomeansofjudgingMadameGraslin，sheappearedveryshyandshame—faced。
\"DoyoustillloveFarrabesche？\"askedVeronique，whenGrosseteteleftthemforamoment。
\"Yes，madame，\"sherepliedcoloring。
\"Why，then，havingsenthimathousandfrancsduringhisimprisonment，didyounotjoinhimafterhisrelease？Haveyouanyrepugnancetohim？SpeaktomeasthoughIwereyourmother。Areyouafraidhehasbecomealtogethercorrupt;ordidyoufearhenolongerwantedyou？\"
\"Neither，madame;butIdonotknowhowtoreadorwrite，andIwasservingaveryexactingoldlady;shefellillandIhadtonurseher。
ThoughIknewthetimewhenJacqueswouldbereleased，IcouldnotgetawayfromParisuntilafterthelady’sdeath。Shedidnotleavemeanything，notwithstandingmydevotiontoherinterestsandtoherpersonally。AfterthatIwantedtobecuredofanailmentcausedbynight—watchingandhardwork，andasIhadusedupmysavings，I
resolvedtogotothehospitalofSaint—Louis，whichIhavejustleft，cured。\"
\"Verygood，mychild，\"saidMadameGraslin，touchedbythissimpleexplanation。\"Buttellmenowwhyyouabandonedyourparentssoabruptly，whyyouleftyourchildbehindyou，andwhyyoudidnotsendanynewsofyourself，orgetsomeonetowriteforyou。\"
ForallanswerCatherinewept。
\"Madame，\"shesaidatlast，reassuredbythepressureofMadameGraslin’shand，\"Imayhavedonewrong，butIhadn’tthestrengthtostayhere。Ididnotfearmyself，butothers;Ifearedgossip，scandal。SolongasJacqueswasindanger，IwasnecessarytohimandIstayed;butafterhehadgoneIhadnostrengthleft，——agirlwithachildandnohusband！TheworstofcreatureswasbetterthanI。I
don’tknowwhatwouldhavebecomeofmehadIstayedtohearawordagainstmyboyorhisfather;Ishouldhavegonemad;Imighthavekilledmyself。Myfatherormymotherinamomentofangermighthavereproachedme。Iamtoosensitivetobearaquarreloraninsult，gentleasIam。Ihavehadmypunishmentinnotseeingmychild，Iwhohaveneverpassedadaywithoutthinkingofhiminalltheseyears！I
wishedtobeforgotten，andIhavebeen。Noonethoughtofme，——theybelievedmedead;andyet，manyatime，Ithoughtofleavingalljusttocomehereforadayandseemychild。\"