OneeveningMadameGraslinlookedattherectorwitheyesalmostglazedwiththatfatalindecisionoftenobservableinpersonswhoarecherishingthethoughtofdeath。FromthatmomentMonsieurBonnethesitatednolonger;hesetbeforehimthedutyofarrestingtheprogressofthiscruelmoralmalady。
　　AtfirsttherewasabriefstruggleofemptywordsbetweenthepriestandVeronique，inwhichtheybothsoughttoveiltheirrealthoughts。
　　Inspiteofthecold，VeroniquewassittingonthegranitebenchholdingFrancisonherknee。MadameSauviatwasstandingatthecorneroftheterrace，purposelysoplacedastohidethecemetery。Alinewaswaitingtotakethechildaway。
　　"Ihadsupposed，madame，"saidtherector，whowasnowpayinghisseventhvisit，"thatyouwereonlymelancholy;butIsee，"sinkinghisvoicetoawhisper，"thatyoursoulisindespair。ThatfeelingisneitherChristiannorCatholic。"
　　"But，"shereplied，lookingtoheavenwithpiercingeyesandlettingabittersmileflickeronherlips，"whatotherfeelingdoestheChurchleavetoalostsoulunlessitbedespair？"
　　Asheheardthesewordstherectorrealizedthevastextentoftheravagesinhersoul。
　　"Ah！"hesaid，"youaremakingthisterraceyourhell，whenitoughttobeyourCalvaryfromwhichtorisetoheaven。"
　　"Ihavenopridelefttoplacemeonsuchapedestal，"sheanswered，inatonewhichrevealedtheself—contemptthatlaywithinher。
　　Herethepriest，byoneofthoseinspirationswhicharebothnaturalandfrequentinnoblesouls，themanofGodliftedthechildinhisarmsandkisseditsforehead，saying，inafatherlyvoice，"Poorlittleone！"Thenhegaveithimselftothenurse，whocarrieditaway。
　　MadameSauviatlookedatherdaughter，andsawtheefficacyoftherector’swords;forVeronique’seyes，longdry，weremoistwithtears。
　　Theoldwomanmadeasigntothepriestanddisappeared。
　　"Letuswalk，"saidtherectortoVeroniqueleadingheralongtheterracetotheotherend，fromwhichLesTascheronscouldbeseen。
　　"Youbelongtome;ImustrenderaccounttoGodforyoursicksoul。"
　　"Givemetimetorecoverfrommydepression，"shesaidtohim。
　　"Yourdepressioncomesfrominjuriousmeditation，"hereplied，quickly。
　　"Yes，"shesaid，withthesimplicityofagriefwhichhasreachedthepointofmakingnoattemptatconcealment。
　　"Iseeplainlythatyouhavefallenintothegulfofapathy，"hecried。"Ifthereisadegreeofphysicalsufferingatwhichallsenseofmodestyexpires，thereisalsoadegreeofmoralsufferinginwhichallvigorofsoulislost;Iknowthat。"
　　Shewassurprisedtohearthatsubtleobservationandtofindsuchtenderpityfromthisvillagerector;but，aswehaveseenalready，theexquisitedelicacywhichnopassionhadevertouchedgavehimthetruematernalspiritforhisflock。This/mensdevinior/，thisapostolictenderness，placesthepriestaboveallothermenandmakeshim，inasense，divine。MadameGraslinhadnotasyethadenoughexperienceofMonsieurBonnettoknowthisbeautyhiddeninhissoullikeaspring，fromwhichflowedgraceandpurityandtruelife。
　　"Ah！monsieur，"shecried，givingherselfwhollyuptohimbyagesture，alook，suchasthedyinggive。
　　"Iunderstandyou，"hesaid。"Whatistobedone？Whatwillyoubecome？"
　　Theywalkedinsilencethewholelengthofthebalustrade，facingtowardtheplain。Thesolemnmomentseemedpropitioustothebearerofgoodtidings，thegospelmessenger，andhetookit。
　　"SupposeyourselfnowinthepresenceofGod，"hesaid，inalowvoice，mysteriously;"whatwouldyousaytoHim？"
　　MadameGraslinstoppedasthoughstruckbyathunderbolt;sheshuddered;thenshesaidsimply，intonesthatbroughttearstotherector’seyes:——
　　"Ishouldsay，asJesusChristsaid:’Father，whyhastthouforsakenme？’"
　　"Ah！Magdalen，thatisthesayingIexpectedofyou，"criedMonsieurBonnet，whocouldnothelpadmiringher。"YouseeyouareforcedtoappealtoGod’sjustice;youinvokeit！Listentome，madame。Religionis，byanticipation，divinejustice。TheChurchclaimsforherselftherighttojudgetheactionsofthesoul。Humanjusticeisafeebleimageofdivinejustice;itisbutapaleimitationofitappliedtotheneedsofsociety。"
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"
　　"Youarenotthejudgeofyourowncase，youaredependentuponGod，"
　　saidthepriest;"youhaveneithertherighttocondemnyourselfnortherighttoabsolveyourself。God，mychild，isagreatreverserofjudgments。"
　　"Ah！"sheexclaimed。
　　"He/sees/theoriginofthings，whereweseeonlythethingsthemselves。"
　　Veroniquestoppedagain，struckbytheseideas，thatwerenewtoher。
　　"Toyou，"saidthebravepriest，"toyouwhosesoulisagreatone，I
　　oweotherwordsthanthoseIoughttogivetomyhumbleparishioners。
　　You，whosemindandspiritaresocultivated，youcanrisetothesensedivineoftheCatholicreligion，expressedbyimagesandwordstothepoorandchildlike。Listentomeattentively，forwhatIamabouttosayconcernsyou;nomatterhowextensiveisthepointofviewatwhichIplacemyselfforamoment，thecaseisyours。/Law/，inventedtoprotectsociety，isbasedonequality。Society，whichisnothingbutanassemblageofacts，isbasedoninequality。Thereisthereforelackofharmonybetweenactandlaw。Oughtsocietytomarchonfavoredorrepressedbylaw？Inotherwords，oughtlawtobeinoppositiontotheinteriorsocialmovementforthemaintenanceofsociety，orshoulditbebasedonthatmovementinordertoguideit？
　　Alllegislatorshavecontentedthemselveswithanalyzingacts，indicatingthosethatseemedtothemblamableorcriminal，andattachingpunishmentstosuchorrewardstoothers。Thatishumanlaw;
　　ithasneitherthemeanstopreventsin，northemeanstopreventthereturntosinfulnessofthoseitpunishes。Philanthropyisasublimeerror;ittorturesthebodyuselessly，itproducesnobalmtohealthesoul。Philanthropygivesbirthtoprojects，emitsideas，confidestheexecutionofthemtoman，tosilence，tolabor，torules，tothingsmuteandpowerless。Religionisabovetheseimperfections，foritextendsman’slifebeyondthisworld。Regardingusallasdegradedfromourhighestate，religionhasopenedtousaninexhaustibletreasureofindulgence。Weareallmoreorlessadvancedtowardourcompleteregeneration;nooneissinless;theChurchexpectswrong—
　　doing，evencrime。Wheresocietyseesacriminaltobeexpelledfromitsbosom，theChurchseesasoultosave。More，farmorethanthat！
　　InspiredbyGod，whomshestudiesandcontemplates，theChurchadmitstheinequalitiesofstrength，sheallowsforthedisproportionofburdens。Ifshefindsusunequalinheart，inbody，inmind，inaptitude，andvalue，shemakesusallequalbyrepentance。Henceequalityisnolongeravainword，forwecanbe，weare，allequalthroughfeeling。FromtheformlessfetichismofsavagestothegracefulinventionsofGreece，ortheprofoundandmetaphysicaldoctrinesofEgyptandIndia，whethertaughtincheerfulorinterrifyingworship，thereisaconvictioninthesoulofman——thatofhisfall，thatofhissin——fromwhichcomeseverywheretheideaofsacrificeandredemption。ThedeathoftheRedeemerofthehumanraceisanimageofwhatwehavetodoforourselves，——redeemourfaults，redeemourerrors，redeemourcrimes！Allisredeemable;Catholicismitselfisinthatword;henceitsadorablesacraments，whichhelpthetriumphofgraceandsustainthesinner。Toweep，tomoanlikeMagdaleninthedesert，isbutthebeginning;theendisAction。
　　Monasteriesweptandprayed;theyprayedandcivilized;theyweretheactiveagentsofourdivinereligion。Theybuilt，planted，cultivatedEurope;allthewhilesavingthetreasuresoflearning，knowledge，humanjustice，politics，andart。WeshalleverrecognizeinEuropetheplaceswherethoseradiantcentresoncewere。Nearlyallourmoderntownsarethechildrenofmonasteries。IfyoubelievethatGodwilljudgeyou，theChurchtellsyoubymyvoicethatsincanberedeemedbyworksofrepentance。ThemightyhandofGodweighsboththeevildoneandthevalueofbenefitsaccomplished。Beyourselflikethosemonasteries;workherethesamemiracles。Yourprayersmustbelabors。Fromyourlaborsmustcomethegoodofthoseabovewhomyouareplacedbyfortune，bysuperiorityofmind;eventhisnaturalpositionofyourdwellingistheimageofyoursocialsituation。"
　　Ashesaidthelastwords，thepriestandMadameGraslinturnedtowalkbacktowardtheplains，andtherectorpointedbothtothevillageatthefootofthehill，andtothechateaucommandingthewholelandscape。Itwasthenhalf—pastfouro’clock;aglowofyellowsunlightenvelopedthebalustradeandthegardens，illuminatedthechateau，sparkledonthegildedrailingsoftheroof，lightedthelongplaincutintwobythehigh—road，——asad，grayribbon，notborderedtherebythefringeoftreeswhichwavedaboveitelsewhereoneitherside。
　　WhenVeroniqueandMonsieurBonnethadpassedthemainbodyofthechateau，theycouldsee——beyondthecourtyard，thestables，andtheoffices——thegreatforestofMontegnac，alongwhichtheyellowglowwasglidinglikeasoftcaress。Thoughthislastgleamofthesettingsuntouchedthetree—topsonly，itenabledtheeyetoseedistinctlythecapricesofthatmarvelloustapestrywhichnaturemakesofaforestinautumn。TheoakswereamassofFlorentinebronze，thewalnutsandthechestnutsdisplayedtheirblue—greentones，theearlytreeswereputtingontheirgoldenfoliage，andallthesevariedcolorswereshadedwiththegrayofbarrenspots。Thetrunksoftreesalreadystrippedofleafageshowedtheirlight—graycolonnades;therusset，tawny，grayishcolors，artisticallyblendedbythepalereflectionsofanOctobersun，harmonizedwiththevastuncultivatedplain，greenasstagnantwater。
　　Athoughtcameintotherector’smindashelookedatthisfinespectacle，muteinotherways，——fornotatreerustled，notabirdchirped，deathwasontheplain，silenceintheforest;hereandtherealittlesmokefromthevillagechimneys，thatwasall。Thechateauseemedasgloomyasitsmistress。Bysomestrangelawallthingsaboutadwellingimitatetheonewhorulesthere;theowner’sspirithoversoverit。MadameGraslin——hermindgraspedbytherector’swords，hersoulstruckbyconviction，herheartaffectedinitstenderestemotionsbytheangelicqualityofthatpurevoice——stoppedshort。Therectorraisedhisarmandpointedtotheforest。Veroniquelookedthere。
　　"Doyounotthinkithasavagueresemblancetosociallife？"hesaid。
　　"Toeachitsdestiny。Howmanyinequalitiesinthatmassoftrees！
　　Thoseplacedthehighestlackearthandmoisture;theydiefirst。"
　　"Sometherearewhomtheshearsofthewomangatheringfagotscutshortintheirprime，"shesaidbitterly。
　　"Donotfallbackintothosethoughts，"saidtherectorsternly，thoughwithindulgencestill。"Themisfortuneofthisforestisthatithasneverbeencut。Doyouseethephenomenonthesemassespresent？"
　　Veronique，towhosemindthesingularitiesoftheforestnaturesuggestedlittle，lookedobedientlyattheforestandthenlethereyesdropgentlybackupontherector。
　　"Youdonotnotice，"hesaid，perceivingfromthatlookhertotalignorance，"thelineswherethetreesofallspeciesstillholdtheirgreenness？"
　　"Ah！true，"shesaid。"Iseethemnow。Whyisit？"
　　"Inthat，"repliedtherector，"liesthefutureofMontegnac，andyourownfortune，animmensefortune，asIonceexplainedtoMonsieurGraslin。Youseethefurrowsofthosethreedells，themountainstreamsofwhichflowintothetorrentoftheGabou。ThattorrentseparatestheforestofMontegnacfromthedistrictwhichonthissideadjoinsours。InSeptemberandOctoberitgoesdry，butinNovemberitisfullofwater，thevolumeofwhichwouldbegreatlyincreasedbyapartialclearingoftheforest，soastosendallthelesserstreamstojoinit。Asitis，itswatersdonogood;butifoneortwodamsweremadebetweenthetwohillsoneithersideofit，astheyhavedoneatRiquet，andatSaint—Ferreol——wheretheyhavemadeimmensereservoirstofeedtheLanguedoccanal——thisbarrenplaincouldbefertilizedbyjudiciousirrigationthroughtrenchesandculvertsmanagedbywatergates;sendingthewaterwhenneededovertheselands，anddivertingitatothertimestoourlittleriver。Youcouldplantfinepoplarsalongthesewater—coursesandraisethefinestcattleonsuchpasturageasyouwouldthenobtain。Whatisgrass，butsunandwater？Thereisquitesoilenoughontheplainstoholdtheroots;thestreamswillfurnishdewandmoisture;thepoplarswillholdandfeeduponthemists，returningtheirelementstotheherbage;thesearethesecretsofthefinevegetationofvalleys。Ifyouundertookthisworkyouwouldsoonseelifeandjoyandmovementwheresilencenowreigns，wheretheeyeissaddenedbybarrenfruitlessness。WouldnotthatbeanobleprayertoGod？Suchworkwouldbeabetteroccupationofyourleisurethantheindulgenceofmelancholythoughts。"
　　Veroniquepressedtherector’shand，answeringwithfourbriefwords，buttheyweregrandones:——
　　"Itshallbedone。"
　　"Youconceivethepossibilityofthisgreatwork，"hewenton;"butyoucannotexecuteit。NeitheryounorIhavethenecessaryknowledgetoaccomplishanideawhichmighthavecometoall，buttheexecutionofwhichpresentsimmensedifficulties;forsimpleasitmayseem，thematterrequiresthemostaccuratesciencewithallitsresources。
　　Seek，therefore，atoncefortheproperhumaninstrumentswhowillenableyouwithinthenextdozenyearstogetanincomeofsixorseventhousandlouisoutofthesixthousandacresyouirrigateandfertilize。SuchanenterprisewillmakeMontegnacatsomefuturedaythemostprosperousdistrictinthedepartment。Theforest，asyet，yieldsyounoreturn，butsoonerorlatercommercewillcomehereinsearchofitsfinewoods——thosetreasuresamassedbytime;theonlyonestheproductionofwhichcannotbehastenedorimproveduponbyman。TheStatemaysomedayprovideawayoftransportfromthisforest，formanyofthetreeswouldmakefinemastsforthenavy;butitwillwaituntiltheincreasingpopulationofMontegnacmakesademanduponitsprotection;fortheStateislikefortune，itcomesonlytotherich。Thisestate，wellmanaged，willbecome，inthecourseoftime，oneofthefinestinFrance;itwillbetheprideofyourgrandson，whomaythenfindthechateaupaltry，comparingitwithitsrevenues。"
　　"Here，"saidVeronique，"isafutureformylife。"
　　"Abeneficentworksuchasthatwillredeemwrongdoing，"saidtherector。
　　Seeingthatsheunderstoodhim，heattemptedtostrikeanotherblowonthiswoman’sintellect，judgingrightlythatinhertheintellectledtheheart，whereasinotherwomentheheartistheirroadtointelligence。
　　"Doyouknow，"hesaidafterapause，"theerrorinwhichyouareliving？"
　　Shelookedathimtimidly。
　　"Yourrepentanceisasyetonlyasenseofdefeatendured，——whichishorrible，foritisnothingelsethanthedespairofSatan;such，perhaps，wastherepentanceofmankindbeforethecomingofJesusChrist。Butourrepentance，therepentanceofChristians，isthehorrorofasoulstruckdownonanevilpath，towhom，bythisveryshock，GodhasrevealedHimself。YouarelikethepaganOrestes;makeyourselfanotherPaul。"
　　"Yourwordshavechangedmeutterly，"shecried。"Now——oh！nowIwanttolive。"
　　"Thespiritconquers，"thoughtthemodestrector，ashejoyfullytookhisleave。Hehadcastnourishmentbeforeasoulhuntedintosecretdespairbygivingtoitsrepentancetheformofagoodandnobleaction。
　　XII
　　THESOULOFFORESTS
　　VeroniquewrotetoMonsieurGrosseteteonthemorrow。AfewdayslatershereceivedfromLimogesthreesaddle—horsessentbyheroldfriend。
　　MonsieurBonnetfoundatVeronique’srequest，ayoungman，sonofthepostmaster，whowasdelightedtoserveVeroniqueandearngoodwages。
　　Thisyoungfellow，smallbutactive，witharoundface，blackeyesandhair，andnamedMauriceChampion，pleasedVeroniqueverymuchandwasimmediatelyinductedintohisoffice，whichwasthatoftakingcareofthehorsesandaccompanyinghismistressonherexcursions。
　　Thehead—foresterofMontegnacwasaformercavalry—sergeantintheRoyalguard，bornatLimoges，whomtheDucdeNavarreinshadsenttohisestateatMontegnactostudyitscapabilitiesandvalue，inorderthathemightderivesomeprofitfromit。JeromeColoratfoundnothingbutwastelandutterlybarren，woodsunavailableforwantoftransportation，aruinedchateau，andenormousoutlaysrequiredtorestorethehouseandgardens。Alarmed，aboveall，bythebedsoftorrentsstrewnwithgraniterockswhichseamedtheforest，thishonestbutunintelligentagentwastherealcauseofthesaleoftheproperty。
　　"Colorat，"saidMadameGraslintoherforester，forwhomshehadsent，"Ishallprobablyrideouteverymorning，beginningwithto—morrow。
　　YouknowallthedifferentpartsofthelandthatbelongedoriginallytothisestateandthosewhichMonsieurGraslinaddedtoit:Iwishyoutogowithmeandpointthemout;forIintendtovisiteverypartofthepropertymyself。"
　　ThefamilywithinthechateausawwithjoythechangethatnowappearedinVeronique’sbehavior。Withoutbeingtoldtodoso，Alinegotouthermistress’sriding—habitandputitingoodorderforuse。
　　ThenextdayMadameSauviatfeltunspeakablereliefwhenherdaughterleftherroomdressedtorideout。
　　GuidedbytheforesterandChampion，whofoundtheirwaybyrecollection，forthepathswerescarcelymarkedontheseunfrequentedmountains，MadameGraslinstartedonthefirstdayforthesummits，intendingtoexplorethoseonly，soastounderstandthewatershedandfamiliarizeherselfwiththelayoftheravines，thenaturalpathofthetorrentswhentheytoredowntheslopes。Shewishedtomeasurethetaskbeforeher，——tostudythelandandthewater—ways，andfindforherselftheessentialpointsoftheenterprisewhichtherectorhadsuggestedtoher。ShefollowedColorat，whorodeinadvance;Championwasafewstepsbehindher。
　　Solongastheyweremakingtheirwaythroughpartsthatweredensewithtrees，goingupanddownundulationsofgroundlyingneartoeachotherandverycharacteristicofthemountainsofFrance，Veroniquewaslostincontemplationofthemarvelsoftheforest。Firstcamethevenerablecentennialtrees，whichamazedhertillshegrewaccustomedtothem;next，thefull—grownyoungertreesreachingtotheirnaturalheight;then，insomemoreopenspot，asolitarypine—treeofenormousheight;or——butthiswasrare——oneofthoseflowingshrubs，dwarfelsewhere，buthereattainingtogiganticdevelopment，andoftenasoldasthesoilitself。Shesaw，withasensationquiteunspeakable，acloudrollingalongthefaceofthebarerocks。Shenoticedthewhitefurrowsmadedownthemountainsidesbythemeltingsnows，whichlookedatadistancelikescarsandgashes。Passingthroughagorgestrippedofvegetation，sheneverthelessadmired，inthecleftflanksoftherockyslope，agedchestnutsaserectastheAlpinefir—trees。
　　Therapiditywithwhichsheadvancedlefthernotimetotakeinallthevariedscene，thevastmovingsands，thequagmiresboastingafewscatteredtrees，fallengraniteboulders，overhangingrocks，shadedvalleys，broadopenspaceswithmossandheatherstillinbloom（thoughsomewasdried），uttersolitudesovergrownwithjuniperandcaper—bushes;sometimesuplandswithshortgrass，smallspacesenrichedbyanoozingspring，——inshort，muchsadness，manysplendors，thingssweet，thingsstrong，andallthesingularaspectsofmountainousNatureintheheartofFrance。
　　Asshewatchedthesemanypictures，variedinformbutallinspiredwiththesamethought，theawfulsadnessofthisNature，sowild，soruined，abandoned，fruitless，barren，filledhersoulandansweredtohersecretfeelings。Andwhen，throughanopeningamongthetrees，shecaughtaglimpseoftheplainbelowher，whenshecrossedsomearidravineovergravelandstones，whereafewstuntedbushesalonecouldgrow，thespiritofthisaustereNaturecametoher，suggestingobservationsnewtohermind，derivedfromthemanysignificationsofthisvariedscene。
　　Thereisnospotinaforestwhichdoesnothaveitssignificance;notaglade，notathicketbuthasitsanalogywiththelabyrinthofhumanthought。Whoisthereamongthosewhosemindsarecultivatedorwhoseheartsarewoundedwhocanwalkaloneinaforestandtheforestnotspeaktohim？Insensiblyavoiceliftsitself，consolingorterrible，butoftenerconsolingthanterrifying。Ifweseekthecausesofthesensation——grave，simple，sweet，mysterious——thatgraspsusthere，perhapsweshallfinditinthesublimeandartlessspectacleofallthesecreationsobeyingtheirdestinyandimmutablysubmissive。SoonerorlatertheoverwhelmingsenseofthepermanenceofNaturefillsourheartsandstirsthemdeeply，andweendbybeingconsciousofGod。SoitwaswithVeronique;inthesilenceofthosesummits，fromtheodorofthewoods，theserenityoftheair，shegathered——asshesaidthateveningtoMonsieurBonnet——thecertaintyofGod’smercy。Shesawthepossibilityofanorderofdeedshigherthananytowhichheraspirationshadeverreached。Shefeltasortofhappinesswithinher;
　　itwaslong，indeedsinceshehadknownsuchasenseofpeace。Didsheowethatfeelingtotheresemblanceshefoundbetweenthatbarrenlandscapeandthearid，exhaustedregionsofhersoul？Hadsheseenthosetroublesofnaturewithasortofjoy，thinkingthatNaturewaspunishedthoughithadnotsinned？Atanyrate，shewaspowerfullyaffected;ColoratandChampion，followingheratalittledistance，thoughthertransfigured。
　　AtacertainsportVeroniquewasstruckwiththesternharshaspectofthesteepandrockybedsofthedried—uptorrents。Shefoundherselflongingtohearthesoundofwatersplashingthroughthosescorchedravines。
　　"Theneedtolove！"shemurmured。
　　Ashamedofthewords，whichseemedtocometoherlikeavoice，shepushedherhorseboldlytowardthefirstpeakoftheCorreze，where，inspiteoftheforester’sadvice，sheinsistedongoing。Tellingherattendantstowaitforhershewentonalonetothesummit，whichiscalledtheRoche—Vive，andstayedthereforsometime，studyingthesurroundingcountry。Afterhearingthesecretvoiceofthemanycreationsaskingtoliveshenowreceivedwithinherthetouch，theinspiration，whichdeterminedhertoputintoherworkthatwonderfulperseverancedisplayedbyNature，ofwhichshehadherselfalreadygivenmanyproofs。
　　Shefastenedherhorsetoatreeandseatedherselfonalargerock，lettinghereyesroveoverthebroadexpanseofbarrenplain，whereNatureseemedastep—mother，——feelinginherheartthesamestirringsofmaternallovewithwhichattimesshegazeduponherinfant。
　　Preparedbythistrainofemotion，thesehalfinvoluntarymeditations（which，touseherownfineexpression，winnowedherheart），toreceivethesublimeinstructionofferedbythescenebeforeher，sheawokefromherlethargy。
　　"Iunderstoodthen，"shesaidafterwardstotherector，"thatoursoulsmustbeploughedandcultivatedlikethesoilitself。"
　　ThevastexpansebeforeherwaslightedbyapaleNovembersun。
　　Alreadyafewgraycloudschasedbyachillywindwerehurryingfromthewest。Itwasthenthreeo’clock。Veroniquehadtakenmorethanfourhourstoreachthesummit，but，likeallotherswhoareharrowedbyaninwardmisery，shepaidnoheedtoexternalcircumstances。AtthismomentherbeingwasactuallygrowingandmagnifyingwiththesublimeimpetusofNatureitself。
　　"Donotstayhereanylonger，madame，"saidaman，whosevoicemadeherquiver，"oryouwillsoonbeunabletoreturn;youaresixmilesfromanydwelling，andtheforestisimpassableatnight。Butthatisnotyourgreatestdanger。Beforelongthecoldonthissummitwillbecomeintense;thereasonofthisisunknown，butithascausedthedeathofmanypersons。"
　　MadameGraslinsawbeforeheraman’sface，almostblackwithsunburn，inwhichshoneeyesthatwereliketwotonguesofflame。Oneithersideofthisfacehungamassofbrownhair，andbelowitwasafan—
　　shapedbeard。Themanwasraisingrespectfullyoneofthoseenormousbroad—brimmedhatswhicharewornbythepeasantryofcentralFrance，andinsodoingdisplayedabaldbutsplendidforeheadsuchaswesometimesseeinwaysidebeggars。Veroniquedidnotfeeltheslightestfear;thesituationwasoneinwhichallthelesserconsiderationsthatmakeawomantimidhadceased。
　　"Whyareyouhere？"sheasked。
　　"Myhomeisnearby，"heanswered。
　　"Whatcanyoudoinsuchadesert？"shesaid。
　　"Ilive。"
　　"Buthow？whatmeansoflivingarethere？"
　　"Iearnalittlesomethingbywatchingthatpartoftheforest，"heanswered，pointingtotheothersideofthesummitfromtheonethatoverlookedMontegnac。MadameGraslinthensawthemuzzleofagunandalsoagame—bag。Ifshehadhadanyfearsthiswouldhaveputanendtothem。
　　"Thenyouareakeeper？"shesaid。
　　"No，madame;inordertobeakeeperwemusttakeacertainoath;andtotakeanoathwemusthavecivicrights。"
　　"Whoareyou，then？"
　　"IamFarrabesche，"hesaid，withdeephumility，loweringhiseyestotheground。
　　MadameGraslin，towhomthenametoldnothing，lookedatthemanandnoticedinhisface，theexpressionofwhichwasnowverygentle，thesignsofunderlyingferocity;irregularteethgavetothemouth，thelipsblood—red，anironicalexpressionfullofevilaudacity;thedarkandprominentcheek—boneshadsomethinganimalaboutthem。Themanwasofmiddleheight，withstrongshoulders，athick—setneck，andthelargehairyhandsofviolentmencapableofusingtheirstrengthinabrutalmanner。Hislastwordspointedtosomemystery，towhichhisbearing，theexpressionofhiscountenance，andhiswholeperson，gaveasinistermeaning。
　　"Youmustbeinmyservice，then？"saidVeroniqueinagentlevoice。
　　"HaveIthehonorofspeakingtoMadameGraslin？"askedFarrabesche。
　　"Yes，myfriend，"sheanswered。
　　Farrabescheinstantlydisappeared，withtherapidityofawildanimal，aftercastingaglanceathismistressthatwasfulloffear。
　　XIII
　　FARRABESCHE
　　Veroniquehastenedtomountherhorseandrejointheservants，whowerebeginningtobeuneasyabouther;forthestrangeunhealthinessoftheRoche—Vivewaswellknownthroughouttheneighborhood。Coloratbeggedhismistresstogodownintothelittlevalleywhichledtotheplain。Itwouldbedangerous，hesaid，toreturnbythehills，orbythetangledpathstheyhadfollowedinthemorning，where，evenwithhisknowledgeofthecountry，theywerelikelytobelostinthedusk。