sons of the soil-第31章

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This　last　explanation　not　only　gives　a　true　presentation　of　the

personages　of　this　drama；　and　a　serious　meaning　even　to　its　petty

details；　but　it　also　throws　a　vivid　light　upon　the　scene　where　so　many

social　interests　are　now　marshalling。







CHAPTER　X



THE　SADNESS　OF　A　HAPPY　WOMAN



At　the　moment　when　the　general　was　getting　into　his　caleche　to　go　to

the　Prefecture；　the　countess　and　the　two　gentlemen　reached　the　gate　of

the　Avonne；　where；　for　the　last　eighteen　months；　Michaud　and　his　wife

Olympe　had　made　their　home。



Whose　remembered　the　pavilion　in　the　state　in　which　we　lately

described　it　would　have　supposed　it　had　been　rebuilt。　The　bricks

fallen　or　broken　by　time；　and　the　cement　lacking　to　their　edges；　were

replaced；　the　slate　roof　had　been　cleaned；　and　the　effect　of　the　white

balustrade　against　its　bluish　background　restored　the　gay　character　of

the　architecture。　The　approaches　to　the　building；　formerly　choked　up

and　sandy；　were　now　cared　for　by　the　man　whose　duty　it　was　to　keep　the

park　roadways　in　order。　The　poultry…yard；　stables；　and　cow…shed；

relegated　to　the　buildings　near　the　pheasantry　and　hidden　by　clumps　of

trees；　instead　of　afflicting　the　eye　with　their　foul　details；　now

blended　those　soft　murmurs　and　cooings　and　the　sound　of　flapping

wings；　which　are　among　the　most　delightful　accompaniments　of　Nature's

eternal　harmony；　with　the　peculiar　rustling　sounds　of　the　forest。　The

whole　scene　possessed　the　double　charm　of　a　natural；　untouched　forest

and　the　elegance　of　an　English　park。　The　surroundings　of　the　pavilion；

in　keeping　with　its　own　exterior；　presented　a　certain　noble；

dignified；　and　cordial　effect；　while　the　hand　of　a　young　and　happy

woman　gave　to　its　interior　a　very　different　look　from　what　it　wore

under　the　coarse　neglect　of　Courtecuisse。



Just　now　the　rich　season　of　the　year　was　putting　forth　its　natural

splendors。　The　perfume　of　the　flowerbeds　blended　with　the　wild　odor　of

the　woods；　and　the　meadows　near　by；　where　the　grass　had　been　lately

cut；　sent　up　the　fragrance　of　new…mown　hay。



When　the　countess　and　her　guests　reached　the　end　of　one　of　the　winding

paths　which　led　to　the　pavilion；　they　saw　Madame　Michaud；　sitting　in

the　open　air　before　the　door；　employed　in　making　a　baby's　garment。　The

young　woman　thus　placed；　thus　employed；　added　the　human　charm　that　was

needed　to　complete　the　scene；a　charm　so　touching　in　its　actuality

that　painters　have　committed　the　error　of　endeavoring　to　convey　it　in

their　pictures。　Such　artists　forget　that　the　SOUL　of　a　landscape；　if

they　represent　it　truly；　is　so　grand　that　the　human　element　is　crushed

by　it；　whereas　such　a　scene　added　to　Nature　limits　her　to　the

proportions　of　the　personality；　like　a　frame　to　which　the　mind　of　the

spectator　confines　it。　When　Poussin；　the　Raffaelle　of　France；　made　a

landscape　accessory　to　his　Shepherds　of　Arcadia　he　perceived　plainly

enough　that　man　becomes　diminutive　and　abject　when　Nature　is　made　the

principal　feature　on　a　canvas。　In　that　picture　August　is　in　its　glory；

the　harvest　is　ready；　all　simple　and　strong　human　interests　are

represented。　There　we　find　realized　in　nature　the　dream　of　many　men

whose　uncertain　life　of　mingled　good　and　evil　harshly　mixed　makes　them

long　for　peace　and　rest。



Let　us　now　relate；　in　few　words；　the　romance　of　this　home。　Justin

Michaud　did　not　reply　very　cordially　to　the　advances　made　to　him　by

the　illustrious　colonel　of　cuirassiers　when　first　offered　the

situation　of　bailiff　at　Les　Aigues。　He　was　then　thinking　of　re…

entering　the　service。　But　while　the　negotiations；　which　naturally　took

him　to　the　Hotel　Montcornet；　were　going　on；　he　met　the　countess's　head

waiting…maid。　This　young　girl；　who　was　entrusted　to　Madame　de

Montcornet　by　her　parents；　worthy　farmers　in　the　neighborhood　of

Alencon；　had　hopes　of　a　little　fortune；　some　twenty　or　thirty　thousand

francs；　when　the　heirs　were　all　of　age。　Like　other　farmers　who　marry

young；　and　whose　own　parents　are　still　living；　the　father　and　mother

of　the　girl；　being　pinched　for　immediate　means；　placed　her　with　the

young　countess。　Madame　de　Montcornet　had　her　taught　to　sew　and　to　make

dresses；　arranged　that　she　should　take　her　meals　alone；　and　was

rewarded　for　the　care　she　bestowed　on　Olympe　Charel　by　one　of　those

unconditional　attachments　which　are　so　precious　to　Parisians。



Olympe　Charel；　a　pretty　Norman　girl；　rather　stout；　with　fair　hair　of　a

golden　tint；　an　animated　face　lighted　by　intelligent　eyes；　and

distinguished　by　a　finely　curved　thoroughbred　nose；　with　a　maidenly

air　in　spite　of　a　certain　swaying　Spanish　manner　of　carrying　herself；

possessed　all　the　points　that　a　young　girl　born　just　above　the　level

of　the　masses　is　likely　to　acquire　from　whatever　close　companionship　a

mistress　is　willing　to　allow　her。　Always　suitably　dressed；　with　modest

bearing　and　manner；　and　able　to　express　herself　well；　Michaud　was　soon

in　love　with　her；all　the　more　when　he　found　that　his　sweetheart's

dowry　would　one　day　be　considerable。　The　obstacles　came　from　the

countess；　who　could　not　bear　to　part　with　so　invaluable　a　maid；　but

when　Montcornet　explained　to　her　the　affairs　at　Les　Aigues；　she　gave

way；　and　the　marriage　was　no　longer　delayed；　except　to　obtain　the

consent　of　the　parents；　which；　of　course；　was　quickly　given。



Michaud；　like　his　general；　looked　upon　his　wife　as　a　superior　being；

to　whom　he　owed　military　obedience　without　a　single　reservation。　He

found　in　the　peace　of　his　home　and　his　busy　life　out…of…doors　the

elements　of　a　happiness　soldiers　long　for　when　they　give　up　their

profession；enough　work　to　keep　his　body　healthy；　enough　fatigue　to

let　him　know　the　charms　of　rest。　In　spite　of　his　well…known

intrepidity；　Michaud　had　never　been　seriously　wounded；　and　he　had　none

of　those　physical　pains　which　often　sour　the　temper　of　veterans。　Like

all　really　strong　men；　his　temper　was　even；　his　wife；　therefore；　loved

him　utterly。　From　the　time　they　took　up　their　abode　in　the　pavilion；

this　happy　home　was　the　scene　of　a　long　honey…moon　in　harmony　with

Nature　and　with　the　art　whose　creations　surrounded　them；a

circumstance　rare　indeed！　The　things　about　us　are　seldom　in　keeping

with　the　condition　of　our　souls！



The　picture　was　so　pretty　that　the　countess　stopped　short　and　pointed

it　out　to　Blondet　and　the　abbe；　for　they　could　see　Madame　Michaud　from

where　they　stood；　without　her　seeing　them。



〃I　always　come　this　way　when　I　walk　in　the　park；〃　said　the　countess；

softly。　〃I　delight　in　looking　at　the　pavilion　and　its　two　turtle…

doves；　as　much　as　I　delight　in　a　fine　view。〃



She　leaned　significantly　on　Blondet's　arm；　as　if　to　make　him　share

sentiments　too　delicate　for　words　but　which　all　women　feel。



〃I　wish　I　were　a　gate…keeper　at　Les　Aigues；〃　said　Blondet；　smiling。

〃Why！　what　troubles　you？〃　he　added；　noticing　an　expression　of　sadness

on　the　countess's　face。



〃Nothing；〃　she　replied。



Women　are　always　hiding　some　important　thought　when　they　say；

hypocritically；　〃It　is　nothing。〃



〃A　woman　may　be　the　victim　of　ideas　which　would　seem　very　flimsy　to

you；〃　she　added；　〃but　which；　to　us；　are　terrible。　As　for　me；　I　envy

Olympe's　lot。〃



〃God　hears　you；〃　said　the　abbe；　smiling　as　though　to　soften　the

sternness　of　his　remark。



Madame　de　Montcornet　grew　seriously　uneasy　when　she　noticed　an

expression　of　fear　and　anxiety　in　Olympe's　face　and　attitude。　By　the

way　a　woman　draws　out　her　needle　or　sets　her　stitches　another　woman

understands　her　thoughts。　In　fact；　though　wearing　a　rose…colored

dress；　with　her　hair　carefully　braided　about　her　head；　the　bailiff's

wife　was　thinking　of　matters　that　were　out　of　keeping　with　her　pretty

dress；　the　glorious　day；　and　the　work　her　hands　were　engaged　on。　Her

beautiful　brow；　and　the　glance　she　turned　sometimes　on　the　ground　at

her　feet；　sometimes　on　the　foliage　around；　evidently　seeing　nothing；

betrayed　some　deep　anxiety；all　the　more　unconsciously　because　she

supposed　herself　alone。



〃Just　as　I　was　envying　her！　What　can　have　saddened　her？〃　whispered　the

countess　to　the　abbe。



〃Madame；〃　he　replied　in　the　same　tone；　〃tell　me　why　man　is　often

seized　with　vague　and　unaccountable　presentiments　of　evil　in　the　very

midst　of　some　perfect　happiness？〃



〃Abbe！〃　said　Blondet；　smiling；　〃you　talk　like　a　bishop。　Napoleon　said；

'Nothing　is　stolen；　all　is　bought！'〃



〃Such　a　maxim；　uttered　by　those　imperial　lips；　takes　the　proportions

of　society　itself；〃　replied　the　priest。



〃Well；　Olympe；　my　dear　girl；　what　is　the　matter？〃　said　the　countess

going　up　to　her　former　maid。　〃You　seem　sad　and　thoughtful；　is　it　a

lover's　quarrel？〃



Madame　Michaud's　face；　as　she　rose；　changed　completely。



〃My　dear；〃　said　Emile　Blondet；　in　a　fatherly　tone；　〃I　should　like　to

know　what　clouds　that　brow　of　yours；　in　this　pavilion　where　you　are

almost　as　well　lodged　as　the　Comte　d'Artois　at　the　Tuileries。　It　is

like　a　nest　of　nightingales　in　a　grove！　And　what　a　husband　we　have！

the　bravest　fellow　of　the　young　garde；　and　a　handsome　one；　who　loves

us　to　distraction！　If　I　had　known　the　advantages　Montcornet　has　given

you　here　I　should　have　left　my　diatribing　business　and　made　myself　a

bailiff。〃



〃It　is　not　the　place　for　a　man　of　your　talent；　monsieur；〃　replied

Olympe；　smiling　at　Blondet　as　an　old　acquaintance。



〃But　what　troubles　you；　dear？〃　said　the　countess。



〃Madame；　I'm　afraid〃



〃Afraid！　of　what？〃　said　the　countess；　eagerly；　for　the　word　reminded

her　of　Mouche　and　Fourchon。



〃Afraid　of　the　wolves；　is　that　it？〃　said　Emile；　making　Madame　Michaud

a　sign；　which　she　did　not　understand。



〃No；　monsieur；afraid　of　the　peasants。　I　was　born　in　Le　Perche；　where

of　course　there　are　some　bad　people；　but　I　had　no　idea　how　wicked

people　could　be　until　I　came　here。　I　try　not　to　meddle　in　Michaud's

affairs；　but　I　do　know　that　he　distrusts　the　peasants　so　much　that　he

goes　armed；　even　in　broad　daylight；　when　he　enters　the　forest。　He

warns　his　men　to　be　always　on　the　alert。　Every　now　and　then　things

happen　about　here　that　bode　no　good。　The　other　day　I　was　walking　along

the　wall；　near　the　source　of　that　little　sandy　rivulet　which　comes

from　the　forest　and　enters　the　park　through　a　culvert　about　five

hundred　feet　from　here；you　know　it；　madame？　it　is　called　Silver

Spring；　because　of　the　star…flowers　Bouret　is　said　to　have　sown　there。

Well；　I　overheard　the　talk　of　two　women　who　were　washing　their　linen

just　where　the　path　to　Conches　crosses　the　brook；　they　did　not　know　I

was　there。　Our　house　can　be　seen　from　that　point；　and　one　old　woman

pointed　it　out　to　the　other；　saying：　'See　what　a　lot　of　money　they

have　spent　on　the　man　who　turned　out　Courtecuisse。'　'They　ought　to　pay

a　man　well　when　they　set　him　to　harass　poor　people　as　that　man　does；'

answered　the　other。　'Well；　it　won't　be　for　long；'　said　the　first　one；

'the　thing　is　going　to　end　soon。　We　have　a　rig