sons of the soil-第34章

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for　military　service；　on　account　of　a　pretended　weakness　in　the

muscles　of　the　right　arm；　but　as　Jean…Louis　had　since　wielded

instruments　of　husbandry　with　remarkable　force　and　skill；　a　good　deal

of　talk　on　the　subject　had　gone　through　the　district。　Soudry；　Rigou；

and　Gaubertin；　who　were　the　special　protectors　of　the　family；　had

warned　Tonsard　that　he　must　not　expect　to　save　Nicolas；　who　was　tall

and　vigorous；　from　being　recruited　if　he　drew　a　fatal　number。

Nevertheless　Gaubertin　and　Rigou　were　so　well　aware　of　the　importance

of　conciliating　bold　men　able　and　willing　to　do　mischief；　if　properly

directed　against　Les　Aigues；　that　Rigou　held　out　certain　hopes　of

safety　to　Tonsard　and　his　son。　The　late　monk　was　occasionally　visited

by　Catherine　Tonsard　who　was　very　devoted　to　her　brother　Nicolas；　on

one　such　occasion　Rigou　advised　her　to　appeal　to　the　general　and　the

countess。



〃They　may　be　glad　to　do　you　this　service　to　cajole　you；　in　that　case；

it　is　just　so　much　gained　from　the　enemy；〃　he　said。　〃If　the　Shopman

refuses；　then　we　shall　see　what　we　shall　see。〃



Rigou　foresaw　that　the　general's　refusal　would　pass　as　one　wrong　the

more　done　by　the　land…owner　to　the　peasantry；　and　would　bind　Tonsard

by　an　additional　motive　of　gratitude　to　the　coalition；　in　case　the

crafty　mind　of　the　innkeeper　could　suggest　to　him　some　plausible　way

of　liberating　Nicolas。



Nicolas；　who　was　soon　to　appear　before　the　examining　board；　had　little

hope　of　the　general's　intervention　because　of　the　harm　done　to　Les

Aigues　by　all　the　members　of　the　Tonsard　family。　His　passion；　or　to

speak　more　correctly；　his　caprice　and　obstinate　pursuit　of　La　Pechina；

were　so　aggravated　by　the　prospect　of　his　immediate　departure；　which

left　him　no　time　to　seduce　her；　that　he　resolved　on　attempting

violence。　The　child's　contempt　for　her　prosecutor；　plainly　shown；

excited　the　Lovelace　of　the　Grand…I…Vert　to　a　hatred　whose　fury　was

equalled　only　by　his　desires。　For　the　last　three　days　he　had　been

watching　La　Pechina；　and　the　poor　child　knew　she　was　watched。　Between

Nicolas　and　his　prey　the　same　sort　of　understanding　existed　which

there　is　between　the　hunter　and　the　game。　When　the　girl　was　at　some

little　distance　from　the　pavilion　she　saw　Nicolas　in　one　of　the　paths

which　ran　parallel　to　the　walls　of　the　park；　leading　to　the　bridge　of

the　Avonne。　She　could　easily　have　escaped　the　man's　pursuit　had　she

appealed　to　her　grandfather；　but　all　young　girls；　even　the　most

unsophisticated；　have　a　strange　fear；　possibly　instinctive；　of

trusting　to　their　natural　protectors　under　the　like　circumstances。



Genevieve　had　heard　Pere　Niseron　take　an　oath　to　kill　any　man；　no

matter　who　he　was；　who　should　dare　to　TOUCH　（that　was　his　word）　his

granddaughter。　The　old　man　thought　the　child　amply　protected　by　the

halo　of　white　hair　and　honor　which　a　spotless　life　of　three…score

years　and　ten　had　laid　upon　his　brow。　The　vision　of　bloody　scenes

terrifies　the　imagination　of　young　girls　so　that　they　need　not　dive　to

the　bottom　of　their　hearts　for　other　numerous　and　inquisitive　reasons

which　seal　their　lips。



When　La　Pechina　started　with　the　milk　which　Madame　Michaud　had　sent　to

the　daughter　of　Gaillard；　the　keeper　of　the　gate　of　Conches；　whose　cow

had　just　calved；　she　looked　about　her　cautiously；　like　a　cat　when　it

ventures　out　onto　the　street。　She　saw　no　signs　of　Nicolas；　she

listened　to　the　silence；　as　the　poet　says；　and　hearing　nothing；　she

concluded　that　the　rascal　had　gone　to　his　day's　work。　The　peasants

were　just　beginning　to　cut　the　rye；　for　they　were　in　the　habit　of

getting　in　their　own　harvests　first；　so　as　to　benefit　by　the　best

strength　of　the　mowers。　But　Nicolas　was　not　a　man　to　mind　losing　a

day's　work；especially　now　that　he　expected　to　leave　the　country

after　the　fair　at　Soulanges　and　begin；　as　the　country　people　say；　the

new　life　of　a　soldier。



When　La　Pechina；　with　the　jug　on　her　head；　was　about　half…way；　Nicolas

slid　like　a　wild…cat　down　the　trunk　of　an　elm；　among　the　branches　of

which　he　was　hiding；　and　fell　like　a　thunderbolt　in　front　of　the　girl；

who　flung　away　her　pitcher　and　trusted　to　her　fleet　legs　to　regain　the

pavilion。　But　a　hundred　feet　farther　on；　Catherine　Tonsard；　who　was　on

the　watch；　rushed　out　of　the　wood　and　knocked　so　violently　against　the

flying　girl　that　she　was　thrown　down。　The　violence　of　the　fall　made

her　unconscious。　Catherine　picked　her　up　and　carried　her　into　the

woods　to　the　middle　of　a　tiny　meadow　where　the　Silver…spring　brook

bubbled　up。



Catherine　Tonsard　was　tall　and　strong；　and　in　every　respect　the　type

of　woman　whom　painters　and　sculptors　take；　as　the　Republic　did　in

former　days；　for　their　figures　of　Liberty。　She　charmed　the　young　men

of　the　valley　of　the　Avonne　with　her　voluminous　bosom；　her　muscular

legs；　and　a　waist　as　robust　as　it　was　flexible；　with　her　plump　arms；

her　eyes　that　could　flash　and　sparkle；　and　her　jaunty　air；　with　the

masses　of　hair　twisted　in　coils　around　her　head；　her　masculine

forehead　and　her　red　lips　curling　with　that　same　ferocious　smile　which

Eugene　Delacroix　and　David　（of　Angers）　caught　and　represented　so

admirably。　True　image　of　the　People；　this　fiery　and　swarthy　creature

seemed　to　emit　revolt　through　her　piercing　yellow　eyes；　blazing　with

the　insolence　of　a　soldier。　She　inherited　from　her　father　so　violent　a

nature　that　the　whole　family；　except　Tonsard；　and　all　who　frequented

the　tavern　feared　her。



〃Well；　how　are　you　now？〃　she　said　to　La　Pechina　as　the　latter

recovered　consciousness。



Catherine　had　placed　her　victim　on　a　little　mound　beside　the　brook　and

was　bringing　her　to　her　senses　with　dashes　of　cold　water。　〃Where　am

I？〃　said　the　child；　opening　her　beautiful　black　eyes　through　which　a

sun…ray　seemed　to　glide。



〃Ah！〃　said　Catherine；　〃if　it　hadn't　been　for　me　you'd　have　been

killed。〃



〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　girl；　still　bewildered；　〃what　happened　to　me？〃



〃You　stumbled　over　a　root　and　fell　flat　in　the　road　over　there；　as　if

shot。　Ha！　how　you　did　run！〃



〃It　was　your　brother　who　made　me；〃　said　La　Pechina；　remembering

Nicolas。



〃My　brother？　I　did　not　see　him；〃　said　Catherine。　〃What　did　he　do　to

you；　poor　fellow；　that　should　make　you　fly　as　if　he　were　a　wolf？　Isn't

he　handsomer　than　your　Monsieur　Michaud？〃



〃Oh！〃　said　the　girl；　contemptuously。



〃See　here；　little　one；　you　are　laying　up　a　crop　of　evils　for　yourself

by　loving　those　who　persecute　us。　Why　don't　you　keep　to　our　side？〃



〃Why　don't　you　come　to　church；　and　why　do　you　steal　things　night　and

day？〃　asked　the　child。



〃So　you　let　those　people　talk　you　over！〃　sneered　Catherine。　〃They　love

us；　don't　they？just　as　they　love　their　food　which　they　get　out　of

us；　and　they　want　new　dishes　every　day。　Did　you　ever　know　one　of　them

to　marry　a　peasant…girl？　Not　they！　Does　Sarcus　the　rich　let　his　son

marry　that　handsome　Gatienne　Giboulard？　Not　he；　though　she　is　the

daughter　of　a　rich　upholsterer。　You　have　never　been　at　the　Tivoli　ball

at　Soulanges　in　Socquard's　tavern；　you　had　better　come。　You'll　see　'em

all　there；　these　bourgeois　fellows；　and　you'll　find　they　are　not　worth

the　money　we　shall　get　out　of　them　when　we've　pulled　them　down。　Come

to　the　fair　this　year！〃



〃They　say　it's　fine；　that　Soulanges　fair！〃　cried　La　Pechina；

artlessly。



〃I'll　tell　you　what　it　is　in　two　words；〃　said　Catherine。　〃If　you　are

handsome；　you　are　well　ogled。　What　is　the　good　of　being　as　pretty　as

you　are　if　you　are　not　admired　by　the　men？　Ha！　when　I　heard　one　of

them　say　for　the　first　time；　'What　a　fine　sprig　of　a　girl！'　all　my

blood　was　on　fire。　It　was　at　Socquard's；　in　the　middle　of　a　dance；　my

grandfather；　Fourchon；　who　was　playing　the　clarionet；　heard　it　and

laughed。　Tivoli　seemed　to　me　as　grand　and　fine　as　heaven　itself。　It's

lighted　up；　my　dear；　with　glass　lamps；　and　you'll　think　you　are　in

paradise。　All　the　gentlemen　of　Soulanges　and　Auxerre　and　Ville…aux…

Fayes　will　be　there。　Ever　since　that　first　night　I've　loved　the　place

where　those　words　rang　in　my　ears　like　military　music。　It's　worthy

giving　your　eternity　to　hear　such　words　said　of　you　by　a　man　you

love。〃



〃Yes；　perhaps；〃　replied　La　Pechina；　thoughtfully。



〃Then　come；　and　get　the　praise　of　men；　you're　sure　of　it！〃　cried

Catherine。　〃Ha！　you'll　have　a　fine　chance；　handsome　as　you　are；　to

pick　up　good　luck。　There's　the　son　of　Monsieur　Lupin；　Amaury；　he　might

marry　you。　But　that's　not　all；　if　you　only　knew　what　comforts　you　can

find　there　against　vexation　and　worry。　Why；　Socquard's　boiled　wine

will　make　you　forget　every　trouble　you　ever　had。　Fancy！　it　can　make

you　dream；　and　feel　as　light　as　a　bird。　Didn't　you　ever　drink　boiled

wine？　Then　you　don't　know　what　life　is。〃



The　privilege　enjoyed　by　older　persons　to　wet　their　throats　with

boiled　wine　excites　the　curiosity　of　the　children　of　the　peasantry

over　twelve　years　of　age　to　such　a　degree　that　Genevieve　had　once　put

her　lips　to　a　glass　of　boiled　wine　ordered　by　the　doctor　for　her

grandfather　when　ill。　The　taste　had　left　a　sort　of　magic　influence　in

the　memory　of　the　poor　child；　which　may　explain　the　interest　with

which　she　listened；　and　on　which　the　evil…minded　Catherine　counted　to

carry　out　a　plan　already　half…successful。　No　doubt　she　was　trying　to

bring　her　victim；　giddy　from　the　fall；　to　the　moral　intoxication　so

dangerous　to　young　women　living　in　the　wilds　of　nature；　whose

imagination；　deprived　of　other　nourishment；　is　all　the　more　ardent

when　the　occasion　comes　to　exercise　it。　Boiled　wine；　which　Catherine

had　held　in　reserve；　was　to　end　the　matter　by　intoxicating　the　victim。



〃What　do　they　put　into　it？〃　asked　La　Pechina。



〃All　sorts　of　things；〃　replied　Catherine；　glancing　back　to　see　if　her

brother　were　coming；　〃in　the　first　place；　those　what　d'　ye　call　'ems

that　come　from　India；　cinnamon；　and　herbs　that　change　you　by　magic；

you　fancy　you　have　everything　you　wish　for；　boiled　wine　makes　you

happy！　you　can　snap　your　fingers　at　all　your　troubles！〃



〃I　should　be　afraid　to　drink　boiled　wine　at　a　dance；〃　said　La　Pechina。



〃Afraid　of　what？〃　asked　Catherine。　〃There's　not　the　slightest　danger。

Think　what　lots　of　people　there　will　be。　All　the　bourgeois　will　be

looking　at　us！　Ah！　it　is　one　of　those　days　that　make　up　for　all　our

misery。　See　it　and　die；for　it's　enough　to　satisfy　any　one。〃



〃If　Monsieur　and　Madame　Michaud　would　only　take　me！〃　cried　La　Pechina；

her　eyes　blazing。



〃Ask　your　grandfather　Niseron；　you　have　not　given　him　up；　poor　dear

man；　and　he'd　be　pleased　to　see　you　admired　like　a　little　queen。　Why

do　you　like　those　Arminacs　the　Michauds　better　than　your　grandfather

and　the　Burgundians。　It's　bad　to　neglect　your　own　people。　Besides；　why

should　the　Michauds　object　if　your　grandfather　takes　you　to　the　fair？

Oh！　if　you　knew　what　it　is　to　reign　over　a　man　and　put　him　beside

himself；　and　say　to　him；　as　I　say　to　Godain；　'Go　there！'　an