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〃To her heart；〃 he answered。
The following day Roubaud started for Paris。 He had seen Madame
Graslin； and found her so seriously ill that he wished for the
assistance and advice of the ablest physician of the day。 But
Veronique had only received Roubaud to put a stop to her mother and
Aline's entreaties that she would do something to benefit her； she
herself knew that death had stricken her。 She refused to see Monsieur
Bonnet； sending word to him that the time had not yet come。 Though all
her friends who had come from Limoges to celebrate her birthday wished
to be with her； she begged them to excuse her from fulfilling the
duties of hospitality； saying that she desired to remain in the
deepest solitude。 After Roubaud's departure the other guests returned
to Limoges； less disappointed than distressed； for all those whom
Grossetete had brought with him adored Veronique。 They were lost in
conjecture as to what might have caused this mysterious disaster。
One evening； two days after the departure of the company； Aline
brought Catherine to Madame Graslin's apartment。 La Farrabesche
stopped short； horrified at the change so suddenly wrought in her
mistress； whose face seemed to her almost distorted。
〃Good God； madame！〃 she cried； 〃what harm that girl has done！ If we
had only foreseen it； Farrabesche and I； we would never have taken her
in。 She has just heard that madame is ill； and sends me to tell Madame
Sauviat she wants to speak to her。〃
〃Here！〃 cried Veronique。 〃Where is she？〃
〃My husband took her to the chalet。〃
〃Very good；〃 said Madame Graslin； 〃tell Farrabesche to go elsewhere。
Inform that lady that my mother will go to her； tell her to expect the
visit。〃
As soon as it was dark Veronique； leaning on her mother's arm； walked
slowly through the park to the chalet。 The moon was shining with all
its brilliancy； the air was soft； and the two women； visibly affected；
found encouragement； of a sort； in the things of nature。 The mother
stopped now and then； to rest her daughter； whose sufferings were
poignant； so that it was well…nigh midnight before they reached the
path that goes down from the woods to the sloping meadow where the
silvery roof of the chalet shone。 The moonlight gave to the surface of
the quiet water； the tint of pearls。 The little noises of the night；
echoing in the silence； made softest harmony。 Veronique sat down on
the bench of the chalet； amid this beauteous scene of the starry
night。 The murmur of two voices and the footfall of two persons still
at a distance on the sandy shore were brought by the water； which
sometimes； when all is still； reproduces sounds as faithfully as it
reflects objects on the surface。 Veronique recognized at once the
exquisite voice of the rector； and the rustle of his cassock； also the
movement of some silken stuff that was probably the material of a
woman's gown。
〃Let us go in；〃 she said to her mother。
Madame Sauviat and her daughter sat down on a crib in the lower room；
which was intended for a stable。
〃My child；〃 they heard the rector saying； 〃I do not blame you；you
are quite excusable； but your return may be the cause of irreparable
evil； she is the soul of this region。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur； then I had better go away to…night；〃 replied the
stranger。 〃ThoughI must tell youto leave my country once more is
death to me。 If I had stayed a day longer in that horrible New York；
where there is neither hope； nor faith； nor charity； I should have
died without being ill。 The air I breathed oppressed my chest； food
did not nourish me； I was dying while full of life and vigor。 My
sufferings ceased the moment I set foot upon the vessel to return。 I
seemed to be already in France。 Oh！ monsieur； I saw my mother and one
of my sisters…in…law die of grief。 My grandfather and grandmother
Tascheron are dead； dead； my dear Monsieur Bonnet； in spite of the
prosperity of Tascheronville；for my father founded a village in Ohio
and gave it that name。 That village is now almost a town； and a third
of all the land is cultivated by members of our family； whom God has
constantly protected。 Our tillage succeeded； our crops have been
enormous； and we are rich。 The town is Catholic； and we have managed
to build a Catholic church； we do not allow any other form of worship；
and we hope to convert by our example the many sects which surround
us。 True religion is in a minority in that land of money and selfish
interests； where the soul is cold。 Nevertheless； I will return to die
there； sooner than do harm or cause distress to the mother of our
Francis。 Only； Monsieur Bonnet； take me to…night to the parsonage that
I may pray upon /his/ tomb； the thought of which has brought me here；
the nearer I have come to where /he/ is； the more I felt myself
another being。 No； I never expected to feel so happy again as I do
here。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the rector； 〃come with me now。 If there should come
a time when you might return without doing injury； I will write to
you； Denise； but perhaps this visit to your birthplace will stop the
homesickness； and enable you to live over there without suffering〃
〃Oh！ to leave this country； now so beautiful！ What wonders Madame
Graslin has done for it！〃 she exclaimed； pointing to the lake as it
lay in the moonlight。 〃All this fine domain will belong to our dear
Francis。〃
〃You shall not go away； Denise；〃 said Madame Graslin； who was standing
at the stable door。
Jean…Francois Tascheron's sister clasped her hands on seeing the
spectre which addressed her。 At that moment the pale Veronique；
standing in the moonlight； was like a shade defined upon the darkness
of the open door…way。 Her eyes alone shone like stars。
〃No； my child； you shall not leave the country you have come so far to
see again； you shall be happy here； or God will refuse to help me； it
is He； no doubt； who has brought you back。〃
She took the astonished Denise by the hand； and led her away by a path
toward the other shore of the lake； leaving her mother and the rector；
who seated themselves on the bench。
〃Let her do as she wishes；〃 said Madame Sauviat。
A few moments later Veronique returned alone； and was taken back to
the chateau by her mother and Monsieur Bonnet。 Doubtless she had
formed some plan which required secrecy； for no one in the
neighborhood either saw Denise or heard any mention of her。
Madame Graslin took to her bed that day and never but once left it
again； she went from bad to worse daily； and seemed annoyed and
thwarted that she could not rise；trying to do so on several
occasions； and expressing a desire to walk out into the park。 A few
days； however； after the scene we have just related； about the
beginning of June； she made a violent effort； rose； dressed as if for
a gala day； and begged Gerard to give her his arm； declaring that she
was resolved to take a walk。 She gathered up all her strength and
expended it on this expedition； accomplishing her intention in a
paroxysm of will which had； necessarily； a fatal reaction。
〃Take me to the chalet； and alone；〃 she said to Gerard in a soft
voice； looking at him with a sort of coquetry。 〃This is my last
excursion； I dreamed last