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oved。 The room was not without ornament； some flower…stands； as they might be called； made of osiers and wooden hoops； had been filled with moss and flowers； and the windows were draped by white dimity curtains bordered with a scarlet fringe。 There was a mirror above the chimney…piece； where a plain china jar stood between two candlesticks。 Some calico lay on the table； shirts； apparently； had been cut out and begun； several pairs of gussets were finished； and a work…basket； scissors； needles and thread； and all a needle…woman's requirements lay beside them。 Everything was as fresh and clean as a shell that the sea had tossed up on the beach。 Genestas saw that a kitchen lay on the other side of the passage； and that the staircase was at the further end of it。 The upper story； like the ground floor； evidently consisted of two rooms only。 〃Come； do not be frightened；〃 Benassis was saying to La Fosseuse； 〃come down…stairs！〃
Genestas promptly retreated into the sitting…room when he heard these words； and in another moment a slender girl； well and gracefully made； appeared in the doorway。 She wore a gown of cambric； covered with narrow pink stripes； and cut low at the throat； so as to display a muslin chemisette。 Shyness and timidity had brought the color to a face which had nothing very remarkable about it save a certain flatness of feature which called to mind the Cossack and Russian countenances that since the disasters of 1814 have unfortunately come to be so widely known in France。 La Fosseuse was； in fact； very like these men of the North。 Her nose turned up at the end； and was sunk in her face； her mouth was wide and her chin small； her hands and arms were red and； like her feet； were of the peasant type； large and strong。 Although she had been used to an outdoor life； to exposure to the sun and the scorching summer winds； her complexion had the bleached look of withered grass； but after the first glance this made her face more interesting； and there was such a sweet expression in her blue eyes； so much grace about her movements； and such music in her voice； that little as her features seemed to harmonize with the disposition which Benassis had praised to the commandant； the officer recognized in her the capricious and ailing creature； condemned to suffering by a nature that had been thwarted in its growth。
La Fosseuse deftly stirred the fire of dry branches and turfs of peat； then sat down in an armchair and took up one of the shirts that she had begun。 She sat there under the officer's eyes； half bashful； afraid to look up； and calm to all appearance； but her bodice rose and fell with the rapid breathing that betrayed her nervousness； and it struck Genestas that her figure was very graceful。
〃Well； my poor child； is your work going on nicely？〃 said Benassis； taking up the material intended for the shirts； and passing it through his fingers。
La Fosseuse gave the doctor a timid and beseeching glance。
〃Do not scold me； sir；〃 she entreated； 〃I have not touched them to… day； although they were ordered by you； and for people who need them very badly。 But the weather has been so fine！ I wandered out and picked a quantity of mushrooms and white truffles； and took them over to Jacquotte； she was very pleased； for some people are coming to dinner。 I was so glad that I thought of it； something seemed to tell me to go to look for them。〃
She began to ply her needle again。
〃You have a very pretty house here； mademoiselle；〃 said Genestas； addressing her。
〃It is not mine at all； sir；〃 she said； looking at the stranger； and her eyes seemed to grow red and tearful； 〃it belongs to M。 Benassis；〃 and she turned towards the doctor with a gentle expression on her face。
〃You know quite well； my child； that you will never have to leave it；〃 he said； as he took her hand in his。
La Fosseuse suddenly rose and left the room。
〃Well；〃 said the doctor； addressing the officer；〃what do you think of her？〃
〃There is something strangely touching about her；〃 Genestas answered。 〃How very nicely you have fitted up this little nest of hers！〃
〃Bah！ a wall…paper at fifteen or twenty sous； it was carefully chosen； but that was all。 The furniture is nothing very much either； my basket…maker made it for me； he wanted to show his gratitude； and La Fosseuse made the curtains herself out of a few yards of calico。 This little house of hers； and her simple furniture； seem pretty to you； because you come upon them up here on a hillside in a forlorn part of the world where you did not expect to find things clean and tidy。 The reason of the prettiness is a kind of harmony between the little house and its surroundings。 Nature has set picturesque groups of trees and running streams about it； and has scattered her fairest flowers among the grass； her sweet…scented wild strawberry blossoms； and her lovely violets。 。 。 。 Well； what is the matter？〃 asked Benassis； as La Fosseuse came back to them。
〃Oh！ nothing； nothing；〃 she answered。 〃I fancied that one of my chickens was missing； and had not been shut up。〃
Her remark was disingenuous； but this was only noticed by the doctor； who said in her ear； 〃You have been crying！〃
〃Why do you say things like that to me before some one else？〃 she asked in reply。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said Genestas； 〃it is a great pity that you live here all by yourself； you ought to have a mate in such a charming cage as this。〃
〃That is true；〃 she said； 〃but what would you have？ I am poor； and I am hard to please。 I feel that it would not suit me at all to carry the soup out into the fields； nor to push a hand…cart； to feel the misery of those whom I should love； and have no power to put an end to it； to carry my children in my arms all day； and patch and re…patch a man's rags。 The cure tells me that such thoughts as these are not very Christian； I know that myself； but how can I help it？ There are days when I would rather eat a morsel of dry bread than cook anything for my dinner。 Why would you have me worry some man's life out with my failings？ He would perhaps work himself to death to satisfy my whims； and that would not be right。 Pshaw！ an unlucky lot has fallen to me； and I ought to bear it by myself。〃
〃And besides； she is a born do…nothing；〃 said Benassis。 〃We must take my poor Fosseuse as we find her。 But all that she has been saying to you simply means that she has never loved as yet；〃 he added； smiling。 Then he rose and went out on to the lawn for a moment。
〃You must be very fond of M。 Benassis？〃 asked Genestas。
〃Oh！ yes； sir； and there are plenty of people hereabouts who feel as I dothat they would be glad to do anything in the world for him。 And yet he who cures other people has some trouble of his own that nothing can cure。 You are his friend； perhaps you know what it is？ Who could have given pain to such a man； who is the very image of God on earth？ I know a great many who think that the corn grows faster if he has passed by their field in the morning。〃
〃And what do you think yourself？〃
〃I； sir？ When I have seen him；〃 she seemed to hesitate； then she went on； 〃I am happy all the rest of the day。〃
She bent her head over her work； and plied her needle with unwonted swiftness。
〃Well； h