square compartments of two hundred and fifty acres each； where the
ground had to be cleared； not only of its stunted growths； but of
rocks。 Laborers would have to dig innumerable trenches； and stone them
up so as to let no water run to waste； also to direct its flow at
will。 This part of the enterprise needed the active and faithful arms
of conscientious workers。 Chance provided them with a tract of land
without natural obstacles； a long even stretch of plain； where the
waters； having a fall of ten feet； could be distributed at will。
Nothing hindered the finest agricultural results； while at the same
time； the eye would be gratified by one of those magnificent sheets of
verdure which are the pride and the wealth of Lombardy。 Gerard sent
for an old and experienced foreman； who had already been employed by
him elsewhere in this capacity； named Fresquin。
Madame Graslin wrote to Grossetete； requesting him to negotiate for
her a loan of two hundred and fifty thousand francs； secured on her
income from the Funds； which； if relinquished for six years； would be
enough to pay both capital and interest。 This loan was obtained in
March。 By this time the preliminary preparations carried on by Gerard
and his foreman； Fresquin； were fully completed； also； the surveying；
estimating； levelling； and sounding。 The news of this great enterprise
spreading about the country； stimulated the laboring population。 The
indefatigable Farrabesche； Colorat； Clousier； the mayor of Montegnac；
Roubaud； and others； interested either in the welfare of the
neighborhood or in Madame Graslin； selected such of these laborers as
seemed the poorest； or were most deserving of employment。 Gerard
bought for himself and for Monsieur Grossetete a thousand acres on the
other side of the high…road to Montegnac。 Fresquin； the foreman；
bought five hundred； and sent for his wife and children。
Early in April； 1832； Monsieur Grossetete came to see the land bought
for him by Gerard； though his journey was chiefly occasioned by the
advent of Catherine Curieux； who had come from Paris to Limoges by the
diligence。 Grossetete now brought her with him to Montegnac。 He found
Madame Graslin just starting for church。 Monsieur Bonnet was to say a
mass to implore the blessing of heaven on the works that were then
beginning。 All the laborers with their wives and children were
present。
〃Here is your protegee；〃 said the old gentleman； presenting to
Veronique a feeble； suffering woman； apparently about thirty years of
age。
〃Are you Catherine Curieux？〃 asked Madame Graslin。
〃Yes； madame。〃
Veronique looked at Catherine for a moment。 She was rather tall； well…
made； and fair； her features wore an expression of extreme gentleness
which the beautiful gray tones of the eyes did not contradict。 The
outline of the face； the shape of the brow had a nobility both simple
and august； such as we sometimes meet with in country regions among
very young girls；a sort of flower of beauty； which field labors； the
constant cares of the household； the burning of the sun； and want of
personal care； remove with terrible rapidity。 Her movements had that
ease of motion characteristic of country girls； to which certain
habits unconsciously contracted in Paris gave additional grace。 If
Catherine had remained in the Correze she would by this time have
looked like an old woman； wrinkled and withered； her complexion； once
rosy； would have coarsened； but Paris； though it paled her； had
preserved her beauty。 Illness； toil； and grief had endowed her with
the mysterious gifts of melancholy； the inward vitalizing thought；
which is lacking to poor country…folk whose lives are almost animal。
Her dress； full of that Parisian taste which all women； even the least
coquettish； contract so readily； distinguished her still further from
an ordinary peasant…woman。 In her ignorance as to what was before her；
and having no means of judging Madame Graslin； she appeared very shy
and shame…faced。
〃Do you still love Farrabesche？〃 asked Veronique； when Grossetete left
them for a moment。
〃Yes； madame；〃 she replied coloring。
〃Why； then； having sent him a thousand francs during his imprisonment；
did you not join him after his release？ Have you any repugnance to
him？ Speak to me as though I were your mother。 Are you afraid he has
become altogether corrupt； or did you fear he no longer wanted you？〃
〃Neither； madame； but I do not know how to read or write； and I was
serving a very exacting old lady； she fell ill and I had to nurse her。
Though I knew the time when Jacques would be released； I could not get
away from Paris until after the lady's death。 She did not leave me
anything； notwithstanding my devotion to her interests and to her
personally。 After that I wanted to be cured of an ailment caused by
night…watching and hard work； and as I had used up my savings； I
resolved to go to the hospital of Saint…Louis； which I have just left；
cured。〃
〃Very good； my child；〃 said Madame Graslin； touched by this simple
explanation。 〃But tell me now why you abandoned your parents so
abruptly； why you left your child behind you； and why you did not send
any news of yourself； or get some one to write for you。〃
For all answer Catherine wept。
〃Madame；〃 she said at last； reassured by the pressure of Madame
Graslin's hand； 〃I may have done wrong； but I hadn't the strength to
stay here。 I did not fear myself； but others； I feared gossip；
scandal。 So long as Jacques was in danger； I was necessary to him and
I stayed； but after he had gone I had no strength left；a girl with a
child and no husband！ The worst of creatures was better than I。 I
don't know what would have become of me had I stayed to hear a word
against my boy or his father； I should have gone mad； I might have
killed myself。 My father or my mother in a moment of anger might have
reproached me。 I am too sensitive to bear a quarrel or an insult；
gentle as I am。 I have had my punishment in not seeing my child； I who
have never passed a day without thinking of him in all these years！ I
wished to be forgotten； and I have been。 No one thought of me；they
believed me dead； and yet； many a time； I thought of leaving all just
to come here for a day and see my child。〃
〃Your childsee； here he is。〃
Catherine then saw Benjamin； and began to tremble violently。
〃Benjamin；〃 said Madame Graslin； 〃come and kiss your mother。〃
〃My mother！〃 cried Benjamin； surprised。 He jumped into Catherine's
arms and she pressed him to her breast with almost savage force。 But
the boy escaped her and ran off crying out： 〃I'll go and fetch /him/。〃
Madame Graslin made Catherine； who was almost fainting； sit down。 At
this moment she saw Monsieur Bonnet and could not help blushing as she
met a piercing look from her confessor； which read her heart。
〃I hope；〃 she said； trembling； 〃that you will consent to marry
Farrabesche and Catherine at once。 Don't you recognize Monsieur
Bonnet； my dear？ He will tell you that Farrabesche； since his
liberation has behaved as an honest man； the whole neighborhood thinks
well of him； and if there is a place in the world where you may live
happy and respected it is at Montegnac。 You can make； by God's help； a
good living as my farmers； for Farrabesche has recovered citizenship。〃
〃That is all true； my dear child；〃 said the rector。
Just then Farrabesche appeared； pulled along by his son。 He was pale
and speechless in presence of Catherine and Madame Graslin。 His heart
told him actively benevolent the one had been； and how deeply the
other had suffered in his absence。 Veronique led away the rector； who；
on his side； was anxious to talk with her alone。
As soon as they were far enough away not to be overheard； Monsieur
Bonnet looked fixedly at Veronique； she colored and dropped her eyes
like a guilty person。
〃You degrade well…doing；〃 he said； sternly。
〃How？〃 she asked； raising her head。
〃Well…doing；〃 he replied； 〃is a passion as superior to that of love as
humanity is superior to the individual creature。 Now； you have not
done this thing from the sole impulse and simplicity of virtue。 You
have fallen from the heights of humanity to the indulgence of the
individual creature。 Your benevolence to Farrabesche and Catherine
carries with it so many memories and forbidden thoughts that it has
lost all merit in the eyes of God。 Tear from your heart the remains of
the javelin evil planted there。 Do not take from your actions their
true value。 Come at last to that saintly ignorance of the good you do
which is the grace supreme of human actions。〃
Madame Graslin had turned away to wipe the tears that told the rector
his words had touched the bleeding wound that was still unhealed in
her heart。
Farrabesche； Catherine； and Benjamin now came up to thank their
benefactress； but she made them a sign to go away and leave her alone
with the rector。
〃See how that grieves them；〃 she said to him as they sadly walked
away。 The rector； whose heart was tender； recalled them by a sign。
〃You shall be completely happy；〃 she then said； giving to Farrabesche
a paper which she was holding in her hand。 〃Here is the ordinance
which gives you back your rights of citizenship and exempts you from
humiliating inspection。〃
Farrabesche respectfully kissed the hand held toward him and looked at
Veronique with an eye both tender and submissive； calm and devoted；
the expression of a devotion which nothing could ever change； the look
of a dog to his master。
〃If Jacques has suffered； madame；〃 said Catherine； her fine eyes
lighting with pleasure； 〃I hope I can give him enough happiness to
make up for his pain； for； no matter what he has done； he is not bad。〃
Madame Graslin turned away her head； she seemed overcome by the sight
of that happy family。 The rector now left her to enter the church；
whither she dragged herself presently on the arm of Monsieur
Grossetete。
After breakfast every one； even the aged people of the village；
assembled to see the beginning of the great work。 From the slope
leading up to the chateau； Monsieur Grossetete and Monsieur Bonnet；
between whom was Veronique； could see the direction of the four first
cuttings marked out by piles of