"Yourchild——see，hereheis。"
CatherinethensawBenjamin，andbegantotrembleviolently。
"Benjamin，"saidMadameGraslin，"comeandkissyourmother。"
"Mymother！"criedBenjamin，surprised。HejumpedintoCatherine’sarmsandshepressedhimtoherbreastwithalmostsavageforce。Buttheboyescapedherandranoffcryingout:"I’llgoandfetch/him/。"
MadameGraslinmadeCatherine，whowasalmostfainting，sitdown。AtthismomentshesawMonsieurBonnetandcouldnothelpblushingasshemetapiercinglookfromherconfessor，whichreadherheart。
"Ihope，"shesaid，trembling，"thatyouwillconsenttomarryFarrabescheandCatherineatonce。Don’tyourecognizeMonsieurBonnet，mydear？HewilltellyouthatFarrabesche，sincehisliberationhasbehavedasanhonestman;thewholeneighborhoodthinkswellofhim，andifthereisaplaceintheworldwhereyoumaylivehappyandrespecteditisatMontegnac。Youcanmake，byGod’shelp，agoodlivingasmyfarmers;forFarrabeschehasrecoveredcitizenship。"
"Thatisalltrue，mydearchild，"saidtherector。
JustthenFarrabescheappeared，pulledalongbyhisson。HewaspaleandspeechlessinpresenceofCatherineandMadameGraslin。Hishearttoldhimactivelybenevolenttheonehadbeen，andhowdeeplytheotherhadsufferedinhisabsence。Veroniqueledawaytherector，who，onhisside，wasanxioustotalkwithheralone。
Assoonastheywerefarenoughawaynottobeoverheard，MonsieurBonnetlookedfixedlyatVeronique;shecoloredanddroppedhereyeslikeaguiltyperson。
"Youdegradewell—doing，"hesaid，sternly。
"How？"sheasked，raisingherhead。
"Well—doing，"hereplied，"isapassionassuperiortothatofloveashumanityissuperiortotheindividualcreature。Now，youhavenotdonethisthingfromthesoleimpulseandsimplicityofvirtue。Youhavefallenfromtheheightsofhumanitytotheindulgenceoftheindividualcreature。YourbenevolencetoFarrabescheandCatherinecarrieswithitsomanymemoriesandforbiddenthoughtsthatithaslostallmeritintheeyesofGod。Tearfromyourhearttheremainsofthejavelinevilplantedthere。Donottakefromyouractionstheirtruevalue。Comeatlasttothatsaintlyignoranceofthegoodyoudowhichisthegracesupremeofhumanactions。"
MadameGraslinhadturnedawaytowipethetearsthattoldtherectorhiswordshadtouchedthebleedingwoundthatwasstillunhealedinherheart。
Farrabesche，Catherine，andBenjaminnowcameuptothanktheirbenefactress，butshemadethemasigntogoawayandleaveheralonewiththerector。
"Seehowthatgrievesthem，"shesaidtohimastheysadlywalkedaway。Therector，whoseheartwastender，recalledthembyasign。
"Youshallbecompletelyhappy，"shethensaid，givingtoFarrabescheapaperwhichshewasholdinginherhand。"Hereistheordinancewhichgivesyoubackyourrightsofcitizenshipandexemptsyoufromhumiliatinginspection。"
FarrabescherespectfullykissedthehandheldtowardhimandlookedatVeroniquewithaneyebothtenderandsubmissive，calmanddevoted，theexpressionofadevotionwhichnothingcouldeverchange，thelookofadogtohismaster。
"IfJacqueshassuffered，madame，"saidCatherine，herfineeyeslightingwithpleasure，"IhopeIcangivehimenoughhappinesstomakeupforhispain，for，nomatterwhathehasdone，heisnotbad。"
MadameGraslinturnedawayherhead;sheseemedovercomebythesightofthathappyfamily。Therectornowlefthertoenterthechurch，whithershedraggedherselfpresentlyonthearmofMonsieurGrossetete。
Afterbreakfasteveryone，eventheagedpeopleofthevillage，assembledtoseethebeginningofthegreatwork。Fromtheslopeleadinguptothechateau，MonsieurGrosseteteandMonsieurBonnet，betweenwhomwasVeronique，couldseethedirectionofthefourfirstcuttingsmarkedoutbypilesofgatheredstones。Ateachcuttingfivelaborerswerediggingoutandpilingupthegoodloamalongtheedges;
clearingaspaceabouteighteenfeetwide，thewidthofeachroad。Oneitherside，fourothermenwerediggingtheditchesandalsopilinguptheloamatthesidestomakeabank。Behindthem，asthebanksweremade，twomenwerediggingholesinwhichothersplantedtrees。
Ineachofthesedivisions，thirtyoldpaupers，ascoreofwomen，andfortyormoregirlsandchildrenwerepickingupstones，whichspeciallaborerspiledinheapsalongtheroadsidesoastokeeparecordofthequantitygatheredbyeachgroup。Thustheworkwentonrapidly，withpickedworkmenfullofardor。GrossetetepromisedMadameGraslintosendhersometreesandtoaskherotherfriendstodothesame;
forthenurseriesofthechateauwouldevidentlynotsufficetosupplysuchanextensiveplantation。Towardthecloseoftheday，whichwastoendinagranddinneratthechateau，FarrabescherequestedMadameGraslintogranthimanaudienceforafewmoments。
"Madame，"hesaid，presentinghimselfwithCatherine，"youweresogoodastooffermethefarmatthechateau。BygrantingmesogreatafavorIknowyouintendedtoputmeinthewayofmakingmyfortune。
ButCatherinehasideasaboutourfuturewhichwedesiretosubmittoyou。IfIweretosucceedandmakemoneytherewouldcertainlybepersonsenviousofmygoodfortune;awordissoonsaid;Imighthavequarrels，——Ifearthem;besides，Catherinewouldalwaysbeuneasy。Inshort，toocloseintercoursewiththeworldwillnotsuitus。IhavecomethereforetoaskyoutogiveusonlythelandattheopeningoftheGabouonthecommons，withasmallpieceofthewoodlandbehindtheRoche—Vive。InJulyyouwillhaveagreatmanyworkmenhere，anditwouldbeveryeasythentobuildafarmhouseinagoodpositionontheslopeofthehill。Weshouldbehappythere。IwillsendforGuepin。Mypoorcomradewillworklikeahorse;perhapsIcouldmarryhimhere。Mysonisnotado—nothingeither。Noonewouldputusoutofcountenance;wecouldcolonizethiscorneroftheestate，andI
shouldmakeitmyambitiontoturnitintoafinefarmforyou。
Moreover，IwanttoproposeasfarmerofyourgreatfarmnearthechateauacousinofCatherine，whohasmoneyandwouldthereforebemorecapablethanIcouldbeofmanagingsuchalargeaffairasthatfarm。IfitpleaseGodtoblessyourenterprise，infiveyearsfromnowyouwillhavefiveorsixthousandhornedbeastsorhorsesonthatplainbelow，anditwantsabetterheadthanminetomanagethem。"
MadameGraslinagreedtohisrequest，doingjusticetothegoodsenseofit。
Fromthetimetheworkontheplainbegan，Veronique’slifeassumedtheregularityofcountryexistence。Inthemorningsheheardmass，tookcareofherson，whomsheidolized，andwenttoseeherlaborers。
AfterdinnershereceivedherfriendsfromMontegnacinthelittlesalontotherightoftheclock—tower。ShetaughtRoubaud，Clousier，andtherectortoplaywhist，whichGerardknewalready。Therubbersusuallyendedatnineo’clock，afterwhichthecompanywithdrew。Thispeacefullifehadnoothereventstomarkitthanthesuccessofthevariouspartsofthegreatenterprise。
InJunethetorrentoftheGabouwentdry，andGerardestablishedhisheadquartersinthekeeper’shouse。Farrabeschehadalreadybuilthisfarmhouse，whichhecalledLeGabou。Fiftymasons，broughtfromParis，joinedthetwomountainsbyawalltwentyfeetthick，withafoundationtwelvefeetdeepandheavilycemented。Thewall，ordam，rosenearlysixtyfeetandtaperedinuntilitwasnotmorethantenfeetthickatthesummit。Gerardbackedthiswallonthevalleysidewithacementedslope，abouttwelvefeetwideatitsbase。Onthesidetowardthecommonsasimilarslope，coveredwithseveralfeetofarableearth，stillfurthersupportedthisgreatwork，whichnorushofwatercouldpossiblydamage。Theengineerprovidedincaseofunusualrainsanoverflowataproperheight。Themasonrywasinsertedintotheflankofeachmountainuntilthegraniteorthehard—panwasreached，sothatthewaterhadabsolutelynooutletatthesides。
ThisdamwasfinishedbythemiddleofAugust。AtthesametimeGerardwaspreparingthreecanalsintheprincipalvalleys，andnoneoftheseworkscameuptohisestimatedcosts。Thechateaufarmcouldnowbefinished。Theirrigationchannelsthroughtheplain，superintendedbyFresquin，startedfromthecanalmadebynaturealongthebaseofthemountainsontheplainside，throughwhichculvertswerecuttotheirrigatingchannels。Water—gateswerefittedintothosechannels，thesidesofwhichtheabundanceofrockhadenabledthemtostoneup，soastokeeptheflowofwateratanevenheightalongtheplain。
EverySundayaftermass，Veronique，theengineer，therector，thedoctor，andthemayorwalkeddownthroughtheparktoseethecourseofthewaters。Thewinterof1832and1833wasextremelyrainy。Thewaterofthethreestreamswhichhadbeendirectedtothetorrent，swollenbythewateroftherains，nowformedthreepondsinthevalleyoftheGabou，carefullyplacedatdifferentlevelssoastocreateasteadyreserveincaseofaseveredrought。AtcertainplaceswherethevalleywidenedGerardhadtakenadvantageofafewhillockstomakeislandsandplantthemwithtreesofvariedfoliage。Thesevastoperationscompletelychangedthefaceofthecountry;butfiveorsixyearswereofcourseneededtobringouttheirfullcharacter。
"Thecountrywasnaked，"saidFarrabesche，"andmadamehasclothedit。"
Sincethesegreatundertakingswerebegun，Veroniquehadbeencalled"Madame"throughoutthewholeneighborhood。WhentherainsceasedinJune，1833，theytriedtheirrigatingchannelsthroughtheplantedfields，andtheyoungverdurethusnourishedsoonshowedthesuperiorqualitiesofthe/marciti/ofItalyandthemeadowsofSwitzerland。
Thesystemofirrigation，modelledonthatofthefarmsinLombardy，wateredtheearthevenly，andkeptthesurfaceassmoothasacarpet。
Thenitreofthesnowdissolvinginthesechannelsnodoubtaddedmuchtothequalityoftheherbage。TheengineerhopedtofindintheproductsofsucceedingyearssomeanalogywiththoseofSwitzerland，towhichthisnitroussubstanceis，asweknow，asourceofperpetualriches。
Theplantationsalongtheroads，sufficientlymoistenedbythewaterallowedtorunthroughtheditches，maderapidgrowth。Sothatin1838，sixyearsafterMadameGraslinhadbegunherenterprise，thestonyplain，regardedashopelesslybarrenbytwentygenerations，wasverdant，productive，andwellplantedthroughout。Gerardhadbuiltfivefarmhouseswiththeirdependenciesuponit，withathousandacrestoeach。Gerard’sownfarmandthoseofGrosseteteandFresquin，whichreceivedtheoverflowfromMadame’sdomains，werebuiltonthesameplanandmanagedbythesamemethods。Theengineeralsobuiltacharminglittlehouseforhimselfonhisownproperty。Whenallwascompletelyfinished，theinhabitantsofMontegnac，instigatedbythepresentmayor，whowasanxioustoretire，electedGerardtothemayoraltyofthedistrict。
In1840thedepartureofthefirstherdofcattlesentfromMontegnactotheParismarketswasmadetheoccasionofaruralfete。Thefarmsoftheplainraisedfinebeastsandhorses;foritwasfound，afterthelandwascleanedup，thattherewereseveninchesofgoodsoilwhichtheannualfallofleaves，themanureleftbythepasturageofanimals，and，aboveall，themeltingofthesnowscontainedinthevalleyoftheGabou，increasedinfertility。
ItwasinthisyearthatMadameGraslinfounditnecessarytoobtainatutorforherson，whowasnowelevenyearsofage。Shedidnotwishtopartwithhim，andyetshewasanxioustomakehimathoroughlywell—educatedman。MonsieurBonnetwrotetotheSeminary。MadameGraslin，onherside，saidafewwordsastoherwishesandthedifficultyofobtainingtherightpersontoMonsieurDutheil，recentlyappointedarch—bishop。Thechoiceofsuchaman，whowouldlivenineyearsfamiliarlyinthechateau，wasaseriousmatter。GerardhadalreadyofferedtoteachmathematicstohisfriendFrancis;buthecouldnot，ofcourse，taketheplaceofaregulartutor。ThisquestionagitatedMadameGraslin’smind，andallthemorebecausesheknewthatherhealthwasbeginningtofail。
ThemoreprosperousgrewherdearMontegnac，themoresheincreasedthesecretausteritiesofherlife。MonseigneurDutheil，withwhomshecorrespondedregularly，foundatlastthemanshewanted。Hesentherfromhislatedioceseayoungprofessor，twenty—fiveyearsofage，namedRuffin，whosemindhadaspecialvocationfortheartofteaching。Thisyoungman’sknowledgewasgreat，andhisnaturewasoneofdeepfeeling，which，however，didnotprecludethesternnessnecessaryinthemanagementofyouth。Inhimreligiondidnotinanywayhamperknowledge;hewasalsopatient，andextremelyagreeableinappearanceandmanner。"Imakeyouafinepresent，mydeardaughter，"
wrotetheprelate;"thisyoungmanisfittoeducateaprince;
thereforeIthinkyouwillbegladtoarrangethefuturewithhim，forhecanundoubtedlybeaspiritualfathertoyourson。"
MonsieurRuffinprovedsosatisfactorytoMadameGraslin’sfaithfulfriendsthathisarrivalmadenochangeinthevariousintimaciesthatgroupedthemselvesaroundthisbelovedidol，whosehoursandmomentswereclaimedbyeachwithjealouseagerness。
Bytheyear1843theprosperityofMontegnachadincreasedbeyondallexpectation。ThefarmoftheGabourivalledthefarmsoftheplain，andthatofthechateausetanexampleofconstantimprovementtoall。
Thefiveotherfarms，increasinginvalue，obtainedhigherrent，reachingthesumofthirtythousandfrancsforeachattheendoftwelveyears。Thefarmers，whowerebeginningtogatherinthefruitsoftheirsacrificesandthoseofMadameGraslin，nowbegantoimprovethegrassoftheplains，sowingseedofbetterquality，therebeingnolongeranyoccasiontofeardrought。
DuringthisyearamanfromMontegnacstartedadiligencebetweenthechieftownofthearrondissementandLimoges，leavingbothplaceseachday。MonsieurClousier’snephewsoldhisofficeandobtainedalicenseasnotaryinMontegnac。ThegovernmentappointedFresquincollectorofthedistrict。ThenewnotarybuilthimselfaprettyhouseintheupperpartofMontegnac，plantedmulberriesinthegrounds，andbecameafteratimeassistant—mayortohisfriendGerard。
Theengineer，encouragedbysomuchsuccess，nowconceivedaschemeofanaturetorenderMadameGraslin’sfortunecolossal，——sheherselfhavingbythistimerecoveredpossessionoftheincomewhichhadbeenmortgagedfortherepaymentoftheloan。Gerard’snewschemewastomakeacanalofthelittleriver，andturnintoitthesuperabundantwatersoftheGabou。Thiscanal，whichheintendedtocarryintotheVienne，wouldformawaterwaybywhichtosenddowntimberfromthetwentythousandacresofforestlandbelongingtoMadameGraslininMontegnac，nowadmirablymanagedbyColorat，butwhich，forwantoftransportation，returnednoprofit。Athousandacrescouldbecutovereachyearwithoutdetrimenttotheforest，andifsentinthiswaytoLimoges，wouldfindareadymarketforbuildingpurposes。
ThiswastheoriginalplanofMonsieurGraslinhimself，whohadpaidverylittleattentiontotherector’sschemerelatingtotheplain，beingmuchmoreattractedbythatofturningthelittleriverintoacanal。
XIX
ADEATHBLOW
Atthebeginningofthefollowingyear，inspiteofMadameGraslin’sassumptionofstrength，herfriendsbegantonoticesymptomswhichforeshadowedhercomingdeath。Toallthedoctor’sremarks，andtotheinquiriesofthemostclear—sightedofherfriends，Veroniquemadetheinvariableanswerthatshewasperfectlywell。Butwhenthespringopenedshewentroundtovisitherforests，farms，andbeautifulmeadowswithachildlikejoyanddelightwhichbetrayedtothosewhoknewherbestasadforeboding。
FindinghimselfobligedtobuildasmallcementedwallbetweenthedamoftheGabouandtheparkofMontegnacalongthebaseofthehillcalledespeciallyLaCorreze，Gerardtookuptheideaofenclosingthewholeforestandthusunitingitwiththepark。MadameGraslinagreedtothis，andappointedthirtythousandfrancsayeartothiswork，whichwouldtakesevenyearstoaccomplishandwouldthenwithdrawthatfineforestfromtherightsexercisedbygovernmentoverthenon—
enclosedforestsofprivateindividuals。ThethreepondsoftheGabouwouldthusbecomeapartofthepark。Theseponds，ambitiouslycalledlakes，hadeachitsisland。
Thisyear，Gerardhadprepared，incollusionwithGrossetete，asurpriseforMadameGraslin’sbirthday。Hehadbuiltalittlehermitageonthelargestoftheislands，rusticontheoutsideandelegantlyarrangedwithin。Theoldbankertookpartintheconspiracy，inwhichFarrabesche，Fresquin，Clousier’snephew，andnearlyallthewell—to—dopeopleinMontegnacco—operated。Grossetetesentdownsomebeautifulfurniture。Theclocktower，copiedfromthatatVevay，madeacharmingeffectinthelandscape。Sixboats，twoforeachpond，weresecretlybuilt，painted，andriggedduringthewinterbyFarrabescheandGuepin，assistedbythecarpenterofMontegnac。
Whenthedayarrived（aboutthemiddleofMay）afterabreakfastMadameGraslingavetoherfriends，shewastakenbythemacrossthepark——whichwasfinelylaidoutbyGerard，who，forthelastfiveyears，hadimproveditlikealandscapearchitectandnaturalist——totheprettymeadowofthevalleyoftheGabou，where，attheshoreofthefirstlake，twooftheboatswerefloating。Thismeadow，wateredbyseveralclearstreamlets，layatthefootofthefineampitheatrewherethevalleyoftheGaboubegins。Thewoods，clearedinascientificmanner，soastoproducenoblemassesandvistasthatwerecharmingtotheeye，enclosedthemeadowandgaveitasolitudethatwasgratefultothesoul。GerardhadreproducedonaneminencethatchaletinthevalleyofSionabovetheroadtoBriegwhichtravellersadmiresomuch;hereweretobethedairyandthecow—shedsofthechateau。FromitsgallerytheeyerovedoverthelandscapecreatedbytheengineerwhichthethreelakesmadeworthyofcomparisonwiththebeautiesofSwitzerland。
Thedaywasbeautiful。Inthebluesky，notacloud;onearth，allthecharming，gracefulthingsthesoiloffersinthemonthofMay。Thetreesplantedtenyearsearlieronthebanks——weepingwillows，osier，alder，ash，theaspenofHolland，thepoplarsofItalyandVirginia，hawthornsandroses，acacias，birches，allchoicegrowthsarrangedastheirnatureandthelayofthelandmadesuitable——heldamidtheirfoliageafewfleecyvapors，bornofthewaters，whichroselikeaslendersmoke。Thesurfaceofthelakelet，clearasamirrorandcalmasthesky，reflectedthetallgreenmassesoftheforest，thetopsofwhich，distinctlydefinedinthelimpidatmosphere，contrastedwiththegrovesbelowwrappedintheirprettyveils。Thelakes，separatedbybroadcauseways，werethreemirrorsshowingdifferentreflections，thewatersofwhichflowedfromonetoanotherinmelodiouscascades。
Thesecausewayswereusedtogofromlaketolakewithoutpassingroundtheshores。Fromthechaletcouldbeseen，throughavistaamongthetrees，thethanklesswasteofthechalkcommons，resemblinganopenseaandcontrastingwiththefreshbeautyofthelakesandtheirverdure。
WhenVeroniquesawthejoyousnessofherfriendsastheyheldouttheirhandstohelpherintothelargestoftheboats，tearscameintohereyesandshekeptsilencetilltheytouchedthebankofthefirstcauseway。AsshesteppedintothesecondboatshesawthehermitagewithGrossetetesittingonabenchbeforeitwithallhisfamily。
"Dotheywishtomakemeregretdying？"shesaidtotherector。
"Wewishtopreventyoufromdying，"repliedClousier。
"Youcannotmakethedeadlive，"sheanswered。
MonsieurBonnetgaveherasternlookwhichrecalledhertoherself。
"Letmetakecareofyourhealth，"saidRoubaud，inagentle，persuasivevoice。"IamsureIcansavetothisregionitslivingglory，andtoallourfriendstheircommontie。"
Veroniquebowedherhead，andGerardrowedslowlytowardtheislandinthemiddleofthelake，thelargestofthethree，intowhichtheoverflowingwaterofthefirstwasripplingwithasoundthatgaveavoicetothatdelightfullandscape。
"Youhavedonewelltomakemebidfarewelltothisravishingnatureonsuchaday，"shesaid，lookingatthebeautyofthetrees，allsofulloffoliagethattheyhidtheshore。Theonlydisapprobationherfriendsallowedthemselveswastoshowagloomysilence;andVeronique，receivinganotherglancefromMonsieurBonnet，spranglightlyashore，assumingalivelyair，whichshedidnotrelinquish。
Oncemorethehostess，shewascharming，andtheGrossetetefamilyfeltshewasagainthebeautifulMadameGraslinofformerdays。
"Indeed，youcanstilllive，ifyouchoose！"saidhermotherinawhisper。
Atthisgayfestival，amidthesegloriouscreationsproducedbytheresourcesofnatureonly，nothingseemedlikelytowoundVeronique，andyetitwashereandnowthatshereceivedherdeath—blow。
Thepartyweretoreturnaboutnineo’clockbywayofthemeadows，theroadthroughwhich，aslovelyasanEnglishoranItalianroad，wastheprideofitsengineer。Theabundanceofsmallstones，laidasidewhentheplainwascleared，enabledhimtokeepitingoodorder;infact，forthelastfiveyearsitwas，inaway，macadamized。Carriageswereawaitingthecompanyattheopeningofthelastvalleytowardtheplain，almostatthebaseoftheRoche—Vive。Thehorses，raisedatMontegnac，wereamongthefirstthatwerereadyforthemarket。Themanagerofthestudhadselectedadozenforthestablesofthechateau，andtheirpresentfineappearancewaspartoftheprogrammeofthefete。MadameGraslin’sowncarriage，agiftfromGrossetete，wasdrawnbyfourofthefinestanimals，plainlyharnessed。
Afterdinnerthehappypartywenttotakecoffeeinalittlewoodenkiosk，madelikethoseontheBosphorus，andplacedonapointoftheislandfromwhichtheeyecouldreachtothefartherlakebeyond。FromthisspotMadameGraslinthoughtshesawhersonFrancisnearthenursery—groundformerlyplantedbyFarrabesche。Shelookedagain，butdidnotseehim;andMonsieurRuffinpointedhimouttoher，playingonthebankwithGrossetete’schildren。Veroniquebecamealarmedlestheshouldmeetwithsomeaccident。Notlisteningtoremonstrance，sherandownfromthekiosk，andjumpingintoaboat，begantorowtowardherson。Thislittleincidentcausedageneraldeparture。MonsieurGrosseteteproposedthattheyshouldallfollowherandwalkonthebeautifulshoreofthelake，alongthecurvesofthemountainousbluffs。OnlandingthereMadameGraslinsawhersoninthearmsofawomanindeepmourning。Judgingbytheshapeofherbonnetandthestyleofherclothes，thewomanwasaforeigner。Veroniquewasstartled，andcalledtoherson，whopresentlycametowardher。
"Whoisthatwoman？"sheaskedthechildrenroundabouther;"andwhydidFrancisleaveyoutogotoher？"
"Theladycalledhimbyname，"saidalittlegirl。
AtthatinstantMadameSauviatandGerard，whohadoutstrippedtherestofthecompany，cameup。
"Whoisthatwoman，mydearchild？"askedMadameGraslinassoonasFrancisreachedher。
"Idon’tknow，"heanswered;"butshekissedmeasyouandgrandmammakissedme——shecried，"whisperedFrancisinhismother’sear。
"ShallIgoafterher？"askedGerard。
"No！"saidMadameGraslin，withanabruptnessthatwasnotusualinher。
WithadelicacyforwhichVeroniquewasgrateful，Gerardledawaythechildrenandwentbacktodetaintherestoftheparty，leavingMadameSauviat，MadameGraslin，andFrancisalone。
"Whatdidshesaytoyou？"askedMadameSauviatofhergrandson。
"Idon’tknow;shedidnotspeakFrench。"
"Couldn’tyouunderstandanythingshesaid？"askedVeronique。
"No;butshekeptsayingoverandover，——andthat’swhyIrememberit，——/Mydearbrother/！"
Veroniquetookhermother’sarmandledhersonbythehand，butshehadscarcelygoneadozenstepsbeforeherstrengthgaveway。
"Whatisthematter？whathashappened？"saidtheothers，whonowcameup，toMadameSauviat。
"Oh！mydaughterisindanger！"saidtheoldwoman，ingutturaltones。
ItwasnecessarytocarryMadameGraslintohercarriage。ShesignedtoAlinetogetintoitwithFrancis，andalsoGerard。
"YouhavebeeninEngland，"shesaidtothelatterassoonassherecoveredherself，"andthereforenodoubtyouspeakEnglish;tellmethemeaningofthewords，/mydearbrother/。"
Onbeingtold，VeroniqueexchangedalookwithAlineandhermotherwhichmadethemshudder;buttheyrestrainedtheirfeelings。
Theshoutsandjoyouscriesofthosewhowereassistinginthedepartureofthecarriages，thesplendorofthesettingsunasitlayuponthemeadows，theperfectgaitofthebeautifulhorses，thelaughterofherfriendsastheyfollowedheronhorsebackatagallop，——noneofthesethingsrousedMadameGraslinfromhertorpor。Hermotherorderedthecoachmantohastenhishorses，andtheircarriagereachedthechateausometimebeforetheothers。Whenthecompanywereagainassembled，theyweretoldthatVeroniquehadgonetoherroomsandwasunabletoseeanyone。
"Ifear，"saidGerardtohisfriends，"thatMadameGraslinhashadsomefatalshock。"
"Where？how？"theyasked。
"Toherheart，"heanswered。
ThefollowingdayRoubaudstartedforParis。HehadseenMadameGraslin，andfoundhersoseriouslyillthathewishedfortheassistanceandadviceoftheablestphysicianoftheday。ButVeroniquehadonlyreceivedRoubaudtoputastoptohermotherandAline’sentreatiesthatshewoulddosomethingtobenefither;sheherselfknewthatdeathhadstrickenher。SherefusedtoseeMonsieurBonnet，sendingwordtohimthatthetimehadnotyetcome。ThoughallherfriendswhohadcomefromLimogestocelebrateherbirthdaywishedtobewithher，shebeggedthemtoexcuseherfromfulfillingthedutiesofhospitality，sayingthatshedesiredtoremaininthedeepestsolitude。AfterRoubaud’sdeparturetheotherguestsreturnedtoLimoges，lessdisappointedthandistressed;forallthosewhomGrossetetehadbroughtwithhimadoredVeronique。Theywerelostinconjectureastowhatmighthavecausedthismysteriousdisaster。
Oneevening，twodaysafterthedepartureofthecompany，AlinebroughtCatherinetoMadameGraslin’sapartment。LaFarrabeschestoppedshort，horrifiedatthechangesosuddenlywroughtinhermistress，whosefaceseemedtoheralmostdistorted。
"GoodGod，madame！"shecried，"whatharmthatgirlhasdone！Ifwehadonlyforeseenit，FarrabescheandI，wewouldneverhavetakenherin。Shehasjustheardthatmadameisill，andsendsmetotellMadameSauviatshewantstospeaktoher。"
"Here！"criedVeronique。"Whereisshe？"
"Myhusbandtookhertothechalet。"
"Verygood，"saidMadameGraslin;"tellFarrabeschetogoelsewhere。
Informthatladythatmymotherwillgotoher;tellhertoexpectthevisit。"