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d beg her bread as before。〃
There was a change in Benassis' tone as he uttered these last words。
〃I once determined to put her to the proof；〃 he said； 〃and I repented of it。 It is like espionage to bring a test to bear upon another； is it not？ It means that we suspect them at any rate。〃
Here the doctor paused； as though some inward reflection engrossed him； he was quite unconscious of the embarrassment that his last remark had caused to his companion； who busied himself with disentangling the reins in order to hide his confusion。 Benassis soon resumed his talk。
〃I should like to find a husband for my Fosseuse。 I should be glad to make over one of my farms to some good fellow who would make her happy。 And she would be happy。 The poor girl would love her children to distraction； for motherhood； which develops the whole of a woman's nature； would give full scope to her overflowing sentiments。 She has never cared for any one； however。 Yet her impressionable nature is a danger to her。 She knows this herself； and when she saw that I recognized it； she admitted the excitability of her temperament to me。 She belongs to the small minority of women whom the slightest contact with others causes to vibrate perilously； so that she must be made to value herself on her discretion and her womanly pride。 She is as wild and shy as a swallow！ Ah！ what a wealth of kindness there is in her！ Nature meant her to be a rich woman； she would be so beneficent： for a well…loved woman； she would be so faithful and true。 She is only twenty…two years old； and is sinking already beneath the weight of her soul； a victim to highly…strung nerves； to an organization either too delicate or too full of power。 A passionate love for a faithless lover would drive her mad； my poor Fosseuse！ I have made a study of her temperament； recognized the reality of her prolonged nervous attacks； and of the swift mysterious recurrence of her uplifted moods。 I found that they were immediately dependent on atmospheric changes and on the variations of the moon； a fact which I have carefully verified； and since then I have cared for her； as a creature unlike all others； for she is a being whose ailing existence I alone can understand。 As I have told you； she is the pet lamb。 But you shall see her； this is her cottage。〃
They had come about one…third of the way up the mountain side。 Low bushes grew on either hand along the steep paths which they were ascending at a foot pace。 At last； at a turn in one of the paths； Genestas saw La Fosseuse's dwelling； which stood on one of the largest knolls on the mountain。 Around it was a green sloping space of lawn about three acres in extent； planted with trees； and surrounded by a wall high enough to serve as a fence； but not so high as to shut out the view of the landscape。 Several rivulets that had their source in this garden formed little cascades among the trees。 The brick…built cottage with a low roof that projected several feet was a charming detail in the landscape。 It consisted of a ground floor and a single story； and stood facing the south。 All the windows were in the front of the house； for its small size and lack of depth from back to front made other openings unnecessary。 The doors and shutters were painted green； and the underside of the penthouses had been lined with deal boards in the German fashion； and painted white。 The rustic charm of the whole little dwelling lay in its spotless cleanliness。
Climbing plants and briar roses grew about the house； a great walnut tree had been allowed to remain among the flowering acacias and trees that bore sweet…scented blossoms； and a few weeping willows had been set by the little streams in the garden space。 A thick belt of pines and beeches grew behind the house； so that the picturesque little dwelling was brought out into strong relief by the sombre width of background。 At that hour of the day； the air was fragrant with the scents from the hillsides and the perfume from La Fosseuse's garden。 The sky overhead was clear and serene； but low clouds hung on the horizon； and the far…off peaks had begun to take the deep rose hues that the sunset often brings。 At the height which they had reached the whole valley lay before their eyes； from distant Grenoble to the little lake at the foot of the circle of crags by which Genestas had passed on the previous day。 Some little distance above the house a line of poplars on the hill indicated the highway that led to Grenoble。 Rays of sunlight fell slantwise across the little town which glittered like a diamond； for the soft red light which poured over it like a flood was reflected by all its window…panes。 Genestas reined in his horse at the sight； and pointed to the dwellings in the valley； to the new town； and to La Fosseuse's house。
〃Since the victory of Wagram； and Napoleon's return to the Tuileries in 1815；〃 he said； with a sigh； 〃nothing has so stirred me as the sight of all this。 I owe this pleasure to you； sir； for you have taught me to see beauty in a landscape。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the doctor； smiling as he spoke； 〃It is better to build towns than to storm them。〃
〃Oh！ sir； how about the taking of Moscow and the surrender of Mantua！ Why； you do not really know what that means！ Is it not a glory for all of us？ You are a good man； but Napoleon also was a good man。 If it had not been for England； you both would have understood each other； and our Emperor would never have fallen。 There are no spies here；〃 said the officer； looking around him； 〃and I can say openly that I love him； now that he is dead！ What a ruler！ He knew every man when he saw him！ He would have made you a Councillor of State； for he was a great administrator himself； even to the point of knowing how many cartridges were left in the men's boxes after an action。 Poor man！ While you were talking about La Fosseuse； I thought of him； and how he was lying dead in St。 Helena！ Was that the kind of climate and country to suit HIM； whose seat had been a throne； and who had lived with his feet in the stirrups； hein？ They say that he used to work in the garden。 The deuce！ He was not made to plant cabbages。 。 。 。 And now we must serve the Bourbons； and loyally； sir； for； after all； France is France； as you were saying yesterday。〃
Genestas dismounted as he uttered these last words； and mechanically followed the example set by Benassis； who fastened his horse's bridle to a tree。
〃Can she be away？〃 said the doctor； when he did not see La Fosseuse on the threshold。 They went into the house； but there was no one in the sitting room on the ground floor。
〃She must have heard the sound of a second horse；〃 said Benassis； with a smile； 〃and has gone upstairs to put on her cap； or her sash； or some piece of finery。〃
He left Genestas alone； and went upstairs in search of La Fosseuse。 The commandant made a survey of the room。 He noticed the pattern of the paper that covered the wallsroses scattered over a gray background； and the straw matting that did duty for a carpet on the floor。 The armchair； the table； and the smaller chairs were made of wood from which the bark had not been removed。 The room was not without ornament； some flower…stands； as they might be called； made of osiers