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voice； looking at him with a sort of coquetry。 〃This is my last
excursion； I dreamed last night the doctors arrived and captured me。〃
〃Do you want to see your woods？〃 asked Gerard。
〃For the last time； yes；〃 she answered。 〃But what I really want；〃 she
added； in a coaxing voice； 〃is to make you a singular proposition。〃
She asked Gerard to embark with her in one of the boats on the second
lake； to which she went on foot。 When the young man； surprised at her
intention； began to move the oars； she pointed to the hermitage as the
object of her coming。
〃My friend；〃 she said； after a long pause； during which she had been
contemplating the sky and water； the hills and shores； 〃I have a
strange request to make of you； but I think you are a man who would
obey my wishes〃
〃In all things； sure that you can wish only what is good。〃
〃I wish to marry you；〃 she answered； 〃if you consent you will
accomplish the wish of a dying woman； which is certain to secure your
happiness。〃
〃I am too ugly；〃 said the engineer。
〃The person to whom I refer is pretty； she is young； and wishes to
live at Montegnac。 If you will marry her you will help to soften my
last hours。 I will not dwell upon her virtues now； I only say her
nature is a rare one； in the matter of grace and youth and beauty； one
look will suffice； you are now about to see her at the hermitage。 As
we return home you must give me a serious yes or no。〃
Hearing this confidence； Gerard unconsciously quickened his oars；
which made Madame Graslin smile。 Denise； who was living alone； away
from all eyes； at the hermitage； recognized Madame Graslin and
immediately opened the door。 Veronique and Gerard entered。 The poor
girl could not help a blush as she met the eyes of the young man； who
was greatly surprised at her beauty。
〃I hope Madame Farrabesche has not let you want for anything？〃 said
Veronique。
〃Oh no！ madame； see！〃 and she pointed to her breakfast。
〃This is Monsieur Gerard； of whom I spoke to you；〃 went on Veronique。
〃He is to be my son's guardian； and after my death you shall live
together at the chateau until his majority。〃
〃Oh！ madame； do not talk in that way！〃
〃My dear child； look at me！〃 replied Veronique； addressing Denise； in
whose eyes the tears rose instantly。 〃She has just arrived from New
York；〃 she added； by way of introduction to Gerard。
The engineer put several questions about the new world to the young
woman； while Veronique； leaving them alone； went to look at the third
and more distant lake of the Gabou。 It was six o'clock as Veronique
and Gerard returned in the boat toward the chalet。
〃Well？〃 she said； looking at him。
〃You have my promise。〃
〃Though you are； I know； without prejudices；〃 she went on； 〃I must not
leave you ignorant of the reason why that poor girl； brought back here
by homesickness； left the place originally。〃
〃A false step？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 said Veronique。 〃Should I offer her to you if that were so？
She is the sister of a workman who died on the scaffold〃
〃Ah！ Tascheron；〃 he said； 〃the murderer of old Pingret。〃
〃Yes； she is the sister of a murderer；〃 said Madame Graslin； in a
bitter tone； 〃you are at liberty to take back your promise and〃
She did not finish； and Gerard was obliged to carry her to the bench
before the chalet； where she remained unconscious for some little
time。 When she opened her eyes Gerard was on his knees before her and
he said instantly：
〃I will marry Denise。〃
Madame Graslin took his head in both hands and kissed him on the
forehead； then； seeing his surprise at so much gratitude； she pressed
his hand and said：
〃Before long you will know the secret of all this。 Let us go back to
the terrace； for it is late； I am very tired； but I must look my last
on that dear plain。〃
Though the day had been insupportably hot； the storms which during
this year devastated parts of Europe and of France but respected the
Limousin； had run their course in the basin of the Loire； and the
atmosphere was singularly clear。 The sky was so pure that the eye
could seize the slightest details on the horizon。 What language can
render the delightful concert of busy sounds produced in the village
by the return of the workers from the fields？ Such a scene； to be
rightly given； needs a great landscape artist and also a great painter
of the human face。 Is there not； by the bye； in the lassitude of
Nature and that of man a curious affinity which is difficult to grasp？
The depressing heat of a dog…day and the rarification of the air give
to the least sound made by human beings all its signification。 The
women seated on their doorsteps and waiting for their husbands （who
often bring back the children） gossip with each other while still at
work。 The roofs are casting up the lines of smoke which tell of the
evening meal； the gayest among the peasantry； after which； they sleep。
All actions express the tranquil cheerful thoughts of those whose
day's work is over。 Songs are heard very different in character from
those of the morning； in this the peasants imitate the birds； whose
warbling at night is totally unlike their notes at dawn。 All nature
sings a hymn to rest； as it sang a hymn of joy to the coming sun。 The
slightest movements of living beings seem tinted then with the soft；
harmonious colors of the sunset cast upon the landscape and lending
even to the dusty roadways a placid air。 If any dared deny the
influence of this hour； the loveliest of the day； the flowers would
protest and intoxicate his senses with their penetrating perfumes；
which then exhale and mingle with the tender hum of insects and the
amorous note of birds。
The brooks which threaded the plain beyond the village were veiled in
fleecy vapor。 In the great meadows through which the high…road ran；
bordered with poplars； acacias； and ailanthus； wisely intermingled and
already giving shade；enormous and justly celebrated herds of cattle
were scattered here and there； some still grazing； others ruminating。
Men； women； and children were ending their day's work in the hay…
field； the most picturesque of all the country toils。 The night air；
freshened by distant storms； brought on its wings the satisfying odors
of the newly cut grass or the finished hay。 Every feature of this
beautiful panorama could be seen perfectly； those who feared a coming
storm were finishing in haste the hay…stacks； while others followed
with their pitchforks to fill the carts as they were driven along the
rows。 Others in the distance were still mowing； or turning the long
lines of fallen grass to dry it； or hastening to pile it into cocks。
The joyous laugh of the merry workers mingling with the shouts of the
children tumbling each other in the hay； rose on the air。 The eye
could distinguish the pink； red； or blue petticoats； the kerchiefs；
and the bare legs and arms of the women； all wearing broad…brimmed
hats of a coarse straw； and the shirts and trousers of the men； the
latter almost invariably white。 The last rays of the sun were
filtering through the long lines of poplars planted beside the
trenches which divided the plain into meadows of unequal size； and
caressing the groups of horses