despair by giving to its repentance the form of a good and noble
action。
XII
THE SOUL OF FORESTS
Veronique wrote to Monsieur Grossetete on the morrow。 A few days later
she received from Limoges three saddle…horses sent by her old friend。
Monsieur Bonnet found at Veronique's request； a young man； son of the
postmaster； who was delighted to serve Veronique and earn good wages。
This young fellow； small but active； with a round face； black eyes and
hair； and named Maurice Champion； pleased Veronique very much and was
immediately inducted into his office； which was that of taking care of
the horses and accompanying his mistress on her excursions。
The head…forester of Montegnac was a former cavalry…sergeant in the
Royal guard； born at Limoges； whom the Duc de Navarreins had sent to
his estate at Montegnac to study its capabilities and value； in order
that he might derive some profit from it。 Jerome Colorat found nothing
but waste land utterly barren； woods unavailable for want of
transportation； a ruined chateau； and enormous outlays required to
restore the house and gardens。 Alarmed； above all； by the beds of
torrents strewn with granite rocks which seamed the forest； this
honest but unintelligent agent was the real cause of the sale of the
property。
〃Colorat；〃 said Madame Graslin to her forester； for whom she had sent；
〃I shall probably ride out every morning； beginning with to…morrow。
You know all the different parts of the land that belonged originally
to this estate and those which Monsieur Graslin added to it： I wish
you to go with me and point them out； for I intend to visit every part
of the property myself。〃
The family within the chateau saw with joy the change that now
appeared in Veronique's behavior。 Without being told to do so； Aline
got out her mistress's riding…habit and put it in good order for use。
The next day Madame Sauviat felt unspeakable relief when her daughter
left her room dressed to ride out。
Guided by the forester and Champion； who found their way by
recollection； for the paths were scarcely marked on these unfrequented
mountains； Madame Graslin started on the first day for the summits；
intending to explore those only； so as to understand the watershed and
familiarize herself with the lay of the ravines； the natural path of
the torrents when they tore down the slopes。 She wished to measure the
task before her；to study the land and the water…ways； and find for
herself the essential points of the enterprise which the rector had
suggested to her。 She followed Colorat； who rode in advance； Champion
was a few steps behind her。
So long as they were making their way through parts that were dense
with trees； going up and down undulations of ground lying near to each
other and very characteristic of the mountains of France； Veronique
was lost in contemplation of the marvels of the forest。 First came the
venerable centennial trees； which amazed her till she grew accustomed
to them； next； the full…grown younger trees reaching to their natural
height； then； in some more open spot； a solitary pine…tree of enormous
height； orbut this was rareone of those flowing shrubs； dwarf
elsewhere； but here attaining to gigantic development； and often as
old as the soil itself。 She saw； with a sensation quite unspeakable； a
cloud rolling along the face of the bare rocks。 She noticed the white
furrows made down the mountain sides by the melting snows； which
looked at a distance like scars and gashes。 Passing through a gorge
stripped of vegetation； she nevertheless admired； in the cleft flanks
of the rocky slope； aged chestnuts as erect as the Alpine fir…trees。
The rapidity with which she advanced left her no time to take in all
the varied scene； the vast moving sands； the quagmires boasting a few
scattered trees； fallen granite boulders； overhanging rocks； shaded
valleys； broad open spaces with moss and heather still in bloom
（though some was dried）； utter solitudes overgrown with juniper and
caper…bushes； sometimes uplands with short grass； small spaces
enriched by an oozing spring；in short； much sadness； many splendors；
things sweet； things strong； and all the singular aspects of
mountainous Nature in the heart of France。
As she watched these many pictures； varied in form but all inspired
with the same thought； the awful sadness of this Nature； so wild； so
ruined； abandoned； fruitless； barren； filled her soul and answered to
her secret feelings。 And when； through an opening among the trees； she
caught a glimpse of the plain below her； when she crossed some arid
ravine over gravel and stones； where a few stunted bushes alone could
grow； the spirit of this austere Nature came to her； suggesting
observations new to her mind； derived from the many significations of
this varied scene。
There is no spot in a forest which does not have its significance； not
a glade； not a thicket but has its analogy with the labyrinth of human
thought。 Who is there among those whose minds are cultivated or whose
hearts are wounded who can walk alone in a forest and the forest not
speak to him？ Insensibly a voice lifts itself； consoling or terrible；
but oftener consoling than terrifying。 If we seek the causes of the
sensationgrave； simple； sweet； mysteriousthat grasps us there；
perhaps we shall find it in the sublime and artless spectacle of all
these creations obeying their destiny and immutably submissive。 Sooner
or later the overwhelming sense of the permanence of Nature fills our
hearts and stirs them deeply； and we end by being conscious of God。 So
it was with Veronique； in the silence of those summits； from the odor
of the woods； the serenity of the air； she gatheredas she said that
evening to Monsieur Bonnetthe certainty of God's mercy。 She saw the
possibility of an order of deeds higher than any to which her
aspirations had ever reached。 She felt a sort of happiness within her；
it was long； indeed since she had known such a sense of peace。 Did she
owe that feeling to the resemblance she found between that barren
landscape and the arid； exhausted regions of her soul？ Had she seen
those troubles of nature with a sort of joy； thinking that Nature was
punished though it had not sinned？ At any rate； she was powerfully
affected； Colorat and Champion； following her at a little distance；
thought her transfigured。
At a certain sport Veronique was struck with the stern harsh aspect of
the steep and rocky beds of the dried…up torrents。 She found herself
longing to hear the sound of water splashing through those scorched
ravines。
〃The need to love！〃 she murmured。
Ashamed of the words； which seemed to come to her like a voice； she
pushed her horse boldly toward the first peak of the Correze； where；
in spite of the forester's advice； she insisted on going。 Telling her
attendants to wait for her she went on alone to the summit； which is
called the Roche…Vive； and stayed there for some time； studying the
surrounding country。 After hearing the secret voice of the many
creations asking to live she now received within her the touch； the
inspiration； which determined her to put into her work that wonderful
perseverance displayed by Nature； of which she had herself already
given many proofs。
She fastened her horse to a tree and seated herself on a large rock；
letting her eyes rove over the broad expanse of barren plain； where
Nature seemed a step…mother；feeling in her heart the same stirrings
of maternal love with which at times she gazed upon her infant。
Prepared by this train of emotion； these half involuntary meditations
（which； to use her own fine expression； winnowed her heart）； to
receive the sublime instruction offered by the scene before her； she
awoke from her lethargy。
〃I understood then；〃 she said afterwards to the rector； 〃that our
souls must be ploughed and cultivated like the soil itself。〃
The vast expanse before her was lighted by a pale November sun。
Already a few gray clouds chased by a chilly wind were hurrying from
the west。 It was then three o'clock。 Veronique had taken more than
four hours to reach the summit； but； like all others who are harrowed
by an inward misery； she paid no heed to external circumstances。 At
this moment her being was actually growing and magnifying with the
sublime impetus of Nature itself。
〃Do not stay here any longer； madame；〃 said a man； whose voice made
her quiver； 〃or you will soon be unable to return； you are six miles
from any dwelling； and the forest is impassable at night。 But that is
not your greatest danger。 Before long the cold on this summit will
become intense； the reason of this is unknown； but it has caused the
death of many persons。〃
Madame Graslin saw before her a man's face； almost black with sunburn；
in which shone eyes that were like two tongues of flame。 On either
side of this face hung a mass of brown hair； and below it was a fan…
shaped beard。 The man was raising respectfully one of those enormous
broad…brimmed hats which are worn by the peasantry of central France；
and in so doing displayed a bald but splendid forehead such as we
sometimes see in wayside beggars。 Veronique did not feel the slightest
fear； the situation was one in which all the lesser considerations
that make a woman timid had ceased。
〃Why are you here？〃 she asked。
〃My home is near by；〃 he answered。
〃What can you do in such a desert？〃 she said。
〃I live。〃
〃But how？ what means of living are there？〃
〃I earn a little something by watching that part of the forest；〃 he
answered； pointing to the other side of the summit from the one that
overlooked Montegnac。 Madame Graslin then saw the muzzle of a gun and
also a game…bag。 If she had had any fears this would have put an end
to them。
〃Then you are a keeper？〃 she said。
〃No； madame； in order to be a keeper we must take a certain oath； and
to take an oath we must have civic rights。〃
〃Who are you； then？〃
〃I am Farrabesche；〃 he said； with deep humility； lowering his eyes to
the ground。
Madame Graslin； to whom the name told nothing； looked at the man and
noticed in his face； the expression of which was now very gentle； the
signs of underlying ferocity； irregular teeth gave to the mouth； the