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card； and did not fail to repair to the Theatre Francais that evening； to see the celebrated actress in her mythological role； concerning which he gained some information from his neighbors。
A man； however； who as a private soldier had possessed sufficient force of character to learn to read； write； and cipher； could clearly understand that as a captain he ought to continue his education。 So from this time forth he read new books and romances with avidity； in this way gaining a half…knowledge； of which he made a very fair use。 He went so far in his gratitude to his teachers as to undertake the defence of Pigault…Lebrun； remarking that in his opinion he was instructive and not seldom profound。
This officer； whose acquired practical wisdom did not allow him to make any journey in vain； had just come from Grenoble； and was on his way to the Grande Chartreuse； after obtaining on the previous evening a week's leave of absence from his colonel。 He had not expected that the journey would be a long one； but when； league after league； he had been misled as to the distance by the lying statements of the peasants； he thought it would be prudent not to venture any farther without fortifying the inner man。 Small as were his chances of finding any housewife in her dwelling at a time when every one was hard at work in the fields； he stopped before a little cluster of cottages that stood about a piece of land common to all of them； more or less describing a square； which was open to all comers。
The surface of the soil thus held in conjoint ownership was hard and carefully swept； but intersected by open drains。 Roses； ivy； and tall grasses grew over the cracked and disjointed walls。 Some rags were drying on a miserable currant bush that stood at the entrance of the square。 A pig wallowing in a heap of straw was the first inhabitant encountered by Genestas。 At the sound of horse hoofs the creature grunted； raised its head； and put a great black cat to flight。 A young peasant girl； who was carrying a bundle of grass on her head； suddenly appeared； followed at a distance by four little brats； clad in rags； it is true； but vigorous； sunburned； picturesque； bold…eyed； and riotous； thorough little imps； looking like angels。 The sun shone down with an indescribable purifying influence upon the air； the wretched cottages； the heaps of refuse； and the unkempt little crew。
The soldier asked whether it was possible to obtain a cup of milk。 All the answer the girl made him was a hoarse cry。 An old woman suddenly appeared on the threshold of one of the cabins； and the young peasant girl passed on into a cowshed； with a gesture that pointed out the aforesaid old woman； towards whom Genestas went； taking care at the same time to keep a tight hold on his horse； lest the children who were already running about under his hoofs should be hurt。 He repeated his request； with which the housewife flatly refused to comply。 She would not； she said； disturb the cream on the pans full of milk from which butter was to be made。 The officer overcame this objection by undertaking to repay her amply for the wasted cream； and then tied up his horse at the door； and went inside the cottage。
The four children belonging to the woman all appeared to be of the same agean odd circumstance which struck the commandant。 A fifth clung about her skirts； a weak； pale； sickly…looking child； who doubtless needed more care than the others； and who on that account was the best beloved； the Benjamin of the family。
Genestas seated himself in a corner by the fireless hearth。 A sublime symbol met his eyes on the high mantel…shelf above hima colored plaster cast of the Virgin with the Child Jesus in her arms。 Bare earth made the flooring of the cottage。 It had been beaten level in the first instance； but in course of time it had grown rough and uneven； so that though it was clean； its ruggedness was not unlike that of the magnified rind of an orange。 A sabot filled with salt； a frying…pan； and a large kettle hung inside the chimney。 The farther end of the room was completely filled by a four…post bedstead； with a scalloped valance for decoration。 The walls were black； there was an opening to admit the light above the worm…eaten door； and here and there were a few stools consisting of rough blocks of beech…wood； each set upon three wooden legs； a hutch for bread； a large wooden dipper； a bucket and some earthen milk…pans； a spinning…wheel on the top of the bread…hutch； and a few wicker mats for draining cheeses。 Such were the ornaments and household furniture of the wretched dwelling。
The officer； who had been absorbed in flicking his riding…whip against the floor； presently became a witness to a piece of by…play； all unsuspicious though he was that any drama was about to unfold itself。 No sooner had the old woman； followed by her scald…headed Benjamin； disappeared through a door that led into her dairy； than the four children； after having stared at the soldier as long as they wished； drove away the pig by way of a beginning。 This animal； their accustomed playmate； having come as far as the threshold； the little brats made such an energetic attack upon him； that he was forced to beat a hasty retreat。 When the enemy had been driven without； the children besieged the latch of a door that gave way before their united efforts； and slipped out of the worn staple that held it； and finally they bolted into a kind of fruit…loft； where they very soon fell to munching the dried plums； to the amusement of the commandant； who watched this spectacle。 The old woman； with the face like parchment and the dirty ragged clothing； came back at this moment； with a jug of milk for her visitor in her hand。
〃Oh！ you good…for…nothings！〃 cried she。
She ran to the children； clutched an arm of each child； bundled them into the room； and carefully closed the door of her storeroom of plenty。 But she did not take their prunes away from them。
〃Now； then； be good； my pets！ If one did not look after them；〃 she went on； looking at Genestas； 〃they would eat up the whole lot of prunes； the madcaps！〃
Then she seated herself on a three…legged stool； drew the little weakling between her knees； and began to comb and wash his head with a woman's skill and with motherly assiduity。 The four small thieves hung about。 Some of them stood； others leant against the bed or the bread… hutch。 They gnawed their prunes without saying a word； but they kept their sly and mischievous eyes fixed upon the stranger。 In spite of grimy countenances and noses that stood in need of wiping； they all looked strong and healthy。
〃Are they your children？〃 the soldier asked the old woman。
〃Asking your pardon； sir； they are charity children。 They give me three francs a month and a pound's weight of soap for each of them。〃
〃But it must cost you twice as much as that to keep them； good woman？〃
〃That is just what M。 Benassis tells me； sir； but if other folk will board the children for the same money； one has to make it do。 Nobody wants the children； but for all that there is a good deal of performance to go through before they will let us have them。 When the milk we give them comes to nothing； they cost us scarcely anything。 Bes