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？"