"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。"