the village rector-第29章

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cut　straight　across　the　brow　and　allowed　to　hang　down　on　either　side
of　the　face。　Taller　than　most　boys　of　his　age；　the　little　fellow　was
nearly　five　feet　high。　His　trousers；　like　his　shirt；　were　of　coarse
gray　linen；　his　waistcoat；　of　rough　blue　cloth　with　horn　buttons　much
worn　and　a　jacket　of　the　cloth　so　oddly　called　Maurienne　velvet；　with
which　the　Savoyards　like　to　clothe　themselves；　stout　hob…nailed　shoes；
and　no　stockings。　This　costume　was　exactly　like　that　of　his　father；
except　that　Farrabesche　had　on　his　head　the　broad…brimmed　felt　hat　of
the　peasantry；　while　the　boy　had　only　a　brown　woollen　cap。

Though　intelligent　and　animated；　the　child's　face　was　instinct　with
the　gravity　peculiar　to　all　human　beings　of　any　age　who　live　in
solitude；　he　seemed　to　put　himself　in　harmony　with　the　life　and　the
silence　of　the　woods。　Both　Farrabesche　and　his　son　were　specially
developed　on　their　physical　side；　possessing　many　of　the
characteristics　of　savages；piercing　sight；　constant　observation；
absolute　self…control；　a　keen　ear；　wonderful　agility；　and　an
intelligent　manner　of　speaking。　At　the　first　glance　the　boy　gave　his
father　Madame　Graslin　recognized　one　of　those　unbounded　affections　in
which　instinct　blends　with　thought；　and　a　most　active　happiness
strengthens　both　the　will　of　the　instinct　and　the　reasoning　of
thought。

〃This　must　be　the　child　I　have　heard　of；〃　said　Veronique；　motioning　to
the　boy。

〃Yes；　madame。〃

〃Have　you　made　no　attempt　to　find　his　mother？〃　asked　Veronique；　making
a　sign　to　Farrabesche　to　follow　her　a　little　distance。

〃Madame　may　not　be　aware　that　I　am　not　allowed　to　go　beyond　the
district　in　which　I　reside。〃

〃Have　you　never　received　any　news　of　her？〃

〃At　the　expiration　of　my　term；〃　he　answered；　〃I　received　from　the
Commissioner　a　thousand　francs；　sent　to　him　quarterly　for　me　in　little
sums　which　police　regulations　did　not　allow　me　to　receive　till　the　day
I　left　the　galleys。　I　think　that　Catherine　alone　would　have　thought　of
me；　as　it　was　not　Monsieur　Bonnet　who　sent　this　money；　therefore　I
have　kept　it　safely　for　Benjamin。〃

〃And　Catherine's　parents？〃

〃They　have　never　inquired　for　her　since　she　left。　Besides　they　did
enough　in　taking　charge　of　the　little　one。〃

〃Well；　Farrabesche；〃　said　Veronique；　returning　toward　the　house。　〃I
will　make　it　my　business　to　know　if　Catherine　still　lives；　and　if　so；
what　is　her　present　mode　of　life。〃

〃Oh！　madame；　whatever　that　may　be；〃　said　the　man　gently；　〃it　would　be
happiness　for　me　if　I　could　have　her　for　my　wife。　It　is　for　her　to
object；　not　me。　Our　marriage　would　legitimatize　this　poor　boy；　who　as
yet　knows　nothing　of　his　position。〃

The　look　the　father　threw　upon　the　lad　explained　the　life　of　these　two
beings；　abandoned；　or　voluntarily　isolated；　they　were　all　in　all　to
each　other；　like　two　compatriots　adrift　upon　a　desert。

〃Then　you　love　Catherine？〃　said　Veronique。

〃Even　if　I　did　not　love　her；　madame；〃　he　replied；　〃she　is　to　me；　in　my
situation；　the　only　woman　there　is　in　the　world。〃

Madame　Graslin　turned　hurriedly　and　walked　away　under　the　chestnut
trees；　as　if　attacked　by　some　sharp　pain；　the　keeper；　thinking　she　was
moved　by　a　sudden　caprice；　did　not　venture　to　follow　her。



XIV

THE　TORRENT　OF　THE　GABOU

Veronique　remained　for　some　minutes　under　the　chestnut　trees；
apparently　looking　at　the　landscape。　Thence　she　could　see　that　portion
of　the　forest　which　clothes　the　side　of　the　valley　down　which　flows
the　torrent　of　the　Gabou；　now　dry；　a　mass　of　stones；　looking　like　a
huge　ditch　cut　between　the　wooded　mountains　of　Montegnac　and　another
chain　of　parallel　hills　beyond；the　latter　being　much　steeper　and
without　vegetation；　except　for　heath　and　juniper　and　a　few　sparse
trees　toward　their　summit。

These　hills；　desolate　of　aspect；　belong　to　the　neighboring　domain　and
are　in　the　department　of　the　Correze。　A　country　road；　following　the
undulations　of　the　valley；　serves　to　mark　the　line　between　the
arrondissement　of　Montegnac　and　the　two　estates。　This　barren　slope
supports；　like　a　wall；　a　fine　piece　of　woodland　which　stretches　away
in　the　distance　from　its　rocky　summit。　Its　barrenness　forms　a　complete
contrast　to　the　other　slope；　on　which　is　the　cottage　of　Farrabesche。
On　the　one　side；　harsh；　disfigured　angularities；　on　the　other；
graceful　forms　and　curving　outlines；　there；　the　cold；　dumb　stillness
of　unfruitful　earth　held　up　by　horizontal　blocks　of　stone　and　naked
rock；　here；　trees　of　various　greens；　now　stripped　for　the　most　part　of
foliage；　but　showing　their　fine　straight　many…colored　trunks　on　every
slope　and　terrace　of　the　land；　their　interlacing　branches　swaying　to
the　breeze。　A　few　more　persistent　trees；　oaks；　elms；　beeches；　and
chestnuts；　still　retained　their　yellow；　bronzed；　or　crimsoned　foliage。

Toward　Montegnac；　where　the　valley　widened　immensely；　the　two　slopes
form　a　horse…shoe；　and　from　the　spot　where　Veronique　now　stood　leaning
against　a　tree　she　could　see　the　descending　valleys　lying　like　the
gradations　of　an　ampitheatre；　the　tree…tops　rising　from　each　tier　like
persons　in　the　audience。　This　fine　landscape　was　then　on　the　other
side　of　her　park；　though　it　afterwards　formed　part　of　it。　On　the　side
toward　the　cottage　near　which　she　stood　the　valley　narrows　more　and
more　until　it　becomes　a　gorge；　about　a　hundred　feet　wide。

The　beauty　of　this　view；　over　which　Madame　Graslin's　eyes　now　roved
mechanically；　recalled　her　presently　to　herself。　She　returned　to　the
cottage　where　the　father　and　son　were　standing；　silently　awaiting　her
and　not　seeking　to　explain　her　singular　absence。

She　examined　the　house；　which　was　built　with　more　care　than　its
thatched　roof　seemed　to　warrant。　It　had；　no　doubt；　been　abandoned　ever
since　the　Navarreins　ceased　to　care　for　this　domain。　No　more　hunts；　no
more　game…keepers。　Though　the　house　had　been　built　for　over　a　hundred
years；　the　walls　were　still　good；　notwithstanding　the　ivy　and　other
sorts　of　climbing…plants　which　clung　to　them。　When　Farrabesche
obtained　permission　to　live　there　he　tiled　the　room　on　the　lower　floor
and　put　in　furniture。　Veronique　saw；　as　she　entered；　two　beds；　a　large
walnut　wardrobe；　a　bread…box；　dresser；　table；　three　chairs；　and　on　the
dresser　a　few　brown　earthenware　dishes　and　other　utensils　necessary　to
life。　Above　the　fireplace　were　two　guns　and　two　gamebags。　A　number　of
little　things　evidently　made　by　the　father　for　the　child　touched
Veronique's　heartthe　model　of　a　man…of…war；　of　a　sloop；　a　carved
wooden　cup；　a　wooden　box　of　exquisite　workmanship；　a　coffer　inlaid　in
diaper　pattern；　a　crucifix；　and　a　splendid　rosary。　The　chaplet　was
made　of　plum…stones；　on　each　of　which　was　carved　a　head　of　marvellous
delicacy；of　Jesus　Christ；　of　the　apostles；　the　Madonna；　Saint　John
the　Baptist；　Saint　Joseph；　Saint　Anne；　the　two　Magdalens；　etc。

〃I　do　that　to　amuse　the　little　one　in　the　long　winter　evenings；〃　he
said；　as　if　excusing　himself。

The　front　of　the　house　was　covered　with　jessamine　and　roses；　trained
to　the　wall　and　wreathing　the　windows　of　the　upper　floor；　where
Farrabesche　stored　his　provisions。　He　bought　little　except　bread；
salt；　sugar；　and　a　few　such　articles；　for　he　kept　chickens；　ducks；　and
two　pigs。　Neither　he　nor　the　boy　drank　wine。

〃All　that　I　have　heard　of　you　and　all　that　I　now　see；〃　said　Madame
Graslin　at　last；　〃make　me　feel　an　interest　in　your　welfare　which　will
not；　I　hope；　be　a　barren　one。〃

〃I　recognize　Monsieur　Bonnet's　kindness　in　what　you　say；〃　cried
Farrabesche；　in　a　tone　of　feeling。

〃You　are　mistaken；　the　rector　has　not　yet　spoken　of　you　to　me；　chance
or　Godhas　done　it。〃

〃Yes；　madame；　God！　God　alone　can　do　miracles　for　a　miserable　man　like
me。〃

〃If　you　have　been　a　miserable　man；〃　said　Madame　Graslin；　lowering　her
voice　that　the　child　might　not　hear　her　（an　act　of　womanly　delicacy
which　touched　his　heart）；　〃your　repentance；　your　conduct；　and　the
rector's　esteem　have　now　fitted　you　to　become　a　happier　man。　I　have
given　orders　to　finish　the　building　of　the　large　farmhouse　which
Monsieur　Graslin　intended　to　establish　near　the　chateau。　I　shall　make
you　my　farmer；　and　you　will　have　an　opportunity　to　use　all　your
faculties；　and　also　to　employ　your　son。　The　/procureur…general/　in
Limoges　shall　be　informed　about　you；　and　the　humiliating　police…
inspection　you　are　now　subjected　to　shall　be　removed。　I　promise　you。〃

At　these　words　Farrabesche　fell　on　his　knees；　as　if　struck　down　by　the
realization　of　a　hope　he　had　long　considered　vain。　He　kissed　the　hem
of　Madame　Graslin's　habit；　then　her　feet。　Seeing　the　tears　in　his
father's　eyes；　the　boy　wept　too；　without　knowing　why。

〃Rise；　Farrabesche；〃　said　Madame　Graslin；　〃you　do　not　know　how　natural
it　is　that　I　should　do　for　you　what　I　have　promised。　You　planted　those
fine　trees；　did　you　not？〃　she　went　on；　pointing　to　the　groups　of
Northern　pine；　firs；　and　larches　at　the　foot　of　the　dry　and　rocky　hill
directly　opposite。

〃Yes；　madame。〃

〃Is　the　earth　better　there？〃

〃The　water　in　washing　down　among　the　rocks　brings　a　certain　amount　of
soil；　which　it　deposits。　I　have　profited　by　this；　for　the　whole　of　the
level　of　the　valley　belongs　to　you；the　road　is　your　boundary。〃

〃Is　there　much　water　at　the　bottom　of　that　long　valley？〃

〃Oh；　madame；〃　cried　Farrabesche；　〃before　long；　when　the　rains　begin；
you　will　hear　the　torrent　roar　even　at　the　chateau；　but　even　that　is
nothing　to　what　happens　in　spring　when　the　snows　melt。　The　water　then
rushes　down　from　all　parts　of　the　forest　behind　Montegnac；　from　those
great　slopes　which　are　back　of　the　hills　on　which　you　have　your　park。
All　the　water　of　these　mountains　pours　into　this　valley　and　makes　a
deluge。　Luckily　for　you；　the　trees　hold　the　earth；　otherwise　the　land
would　slide　into　the　valley。〃

〃Where　are　the　springs？〃　asked　Madame　Graslin；　giving　her　full
attention　to　what　he　said。

Farrabesche　pointed　to　a　narrow　gorge　which　seemed　to　end　the　valley
just　below　his　house。　〃They　are　mostly　on　a　clay　plateau　lying　between
the　Limousin　and　the　Correze；　they　are　mere　green　pools　during　the
summer；　and　lose　themselves　in　the　soil。　No　one　lives　in　that
unhealthy　region。　The　cattle　will　not　eat　the　grass　or　reeds　that　grow
near　the　brackish　water。　That　vast　tract；　which　has　more　than　three
thousand　acres　in　it；　is　an　open　common　for　three　districts；　but；　like
the　plains　of　Montegnac；　no　use　can　be　made　of　it。　This　side　on　your
property；　as　I　showed　you；　there　is　a　little　earth　among　the　stones；
but　over　there　is　nothing　but　sandy　rock。〃

〃Send　your　boy　for　the　horses；　I　will　ride　over　and　see　it　for
myself。〃

Benjamin　departed；　after　Madame　Graslin　had　shown　him　the　direction　in
which　he　would　find　Maurice　and　the　horses。

〃You　who　know；　so　they　tell　me；　every　peculiarity　of　the　country
thoroughly；〃　continued　Madame　Graslin；　〃explain　to　me　how　it　is　that
the　streams　of　my　forest　which　are　on　the　side　of　the　mountain　toward
Montegnac；　and　ought　therefore　to　send　their　waters　down　there；　do　not
do　so；　neither　in　regular　water…courses　nor　in　sudden　torrents　after
rains　and　the　melting　of　the　snows。〃

〃Ah；　madame；〃　said　Farrabesche；　〃the　rector；　who　thinks　all　the　time
about　the　welfare　of　Montegnac；　has　guessed　the　reason