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cause of this disaster increased the diseased tendencies of the man
himself。 His name doomed to extinction； a pure and irreproachable
young woman made miserable beside him and doomed to the anguish of
maternity without its joysthis uprising of his former into his
present life； with its growth of new sufferings； crushed his spirit
and completed its destruction。
The countess guessed the past from the present； and read the future。
Though nothing is so difficult as to make a man happy when he knows
himself to blame； she set herself to that task； which is worthy of an
angel。 She became stoical。 Descending into an abyss； whence she still
could see the sky； she devoted herself to the care of one man as the
sister of charity devotes herself to many。 To reconcile him with
himself； she forgave him that for which he had no forgiveness。 The
count grew miserly； she accepted the privations he imposed。 Like all
who have known the world only to acquire its suspiciousness； he feared
betrayal； she lived in solitude and yielded without a murmur to his
mistrust。 With a woman's tact she made him will to do that which was
right； till he fancied the ideas were his own； and thus enjoyed in his
own person the honors of a superiority that was never his。 After due
experience of married life； she came to the resolution of never
leaving Clochegourde； for she saw the hysterical tendencies of the
count's nature； and feared the outbreaks which might be talked of in
that gossipping and jealous neighborhood to the injury of her
children。 Thus； thanks to her； no one suspected Monsieur de Mortsauf's
real incapacity； for she wrapped his ruins in a mantle of ivy。 The
fickle； not merely discontented but embittered nature of the man found
rest and ease in his wife； his secret anguish was lessened by the balm
she shed upon it。
This brief history is in part a summary of that forced from Monsieur
de Chessel by his inward vexation。 His knowledge of the world enabled
him to penetrate several of the mysteries of Clochegourde。 But the
prescience of love could not be misled by the sublime attitude with
which Madame de Mortsauf deceived the world。 When alone in my little
bedroom； a sense of the full truth made me spring from my bed； I could
not bear to stay at Frapesle when I saw the lighted windows of
Clochegourde。 I dressed； went softly down； and left the chateau by the
door of a tower at the foot of a winding stairway。 The coolness of the
night calmed me。 I crossed the Indre by the bridge at the Red Mill；
took the ever…blessed punt； and rowed in front of Clochegourde； where
a brilliant light was streaming from a window looking towards Azay。
Again I plunged into my old meditations； but they were now peaceful；
intermingled with the love…note of the nightingale and the solitary
cry of the sedge…warbler。 Ideas glided like fairies through my mind；
lifting the black veil which had hidden till then the glorious future。
Soul and senses were alike charmed。 With what passion my thoughts rose
to her！ Again and again I cried； with the repetition of a madman；
〃Will she be mine？〃 During the preceding days the universe had
enlarged to me； but now in a single night I found its centre。 On her
my will and my ambition henceforth fastened； I desired to be all in
all to her； that I might heal and fill her lacerated heart。
Beautiful was that night beneath her windows； amid the murmur of
waters rippling through the sluices； broken only by a voice that told
the hours from the clock…tower of Sache。 During those hours of
darkness bathed in light； when this sidereal flower illumined my
existence； I betrothed to her my soul with the faith of the poor
Castilian knight whom we laugh at in the pages of Cervantes；a faith；
nevertheless； with which all love begins。
At the first gleam of day； the first note of the waking birds； I fled
back among the trees of Frapesle and reached the house； no one had
seen me； no one suspected by absence； and I slept soundly until the
bell rang for breakfast。 When the meal was over I went down； in spite
of the heat； to the meadow…lands for another sight of the Indre and
its isles； the valley and its slopes； of which I seemed so passionate
an admirer。 But once there； thanks to a swiftness of foot like that of
a loose horse； I returned to my punt； the willows； and Clochegourde。
All was silent and palpitating； as a landscape is at midday in summer。
The still foliage lay sharply defined on the blue of the sky； the
insects that live by light； the dragon…flies； the cantharides； were
flying among the reeds and the ash…trees； cattle chewed the cud in the
shade； the ruddy earth of the vineyards glowed； the adders glided up
and down the banks。 What a change in the sparkling and coquettish
landscape while I slept！ I sprang suddenly from the boat and ran up
the road which went round Clochegourde for I fancied that I saw the
count coming out。 I was not mistaken； he was walking beside the hedge；
evidently making for a gate on the road to Azay which followed the
bank of the river。
〃How are you this morning； Monsieur le comte？〃
He looked at me pleasantly； not being used to hear himself thus
addressed。
〃Quite well；〃 he answered。 〃You must love the country； to be rambling
about in this heat！〃
〃I was sent here to live in the open air。〃
〃Then what do you say to coming with me to see them cut my rye？〃
〃Gladly；〃 I replied。 〃I'll own to you that my ignorance is past
belief； I don't know rye from wheat； nor a poplar from an aspen； I
know nothing of farming； nor of the various methods of cultivating the
soil。〃
〃Well； come and learn；〃 he cried gaily； returning upon his steps。
〃Come in by the little gate above。〃
The count walked back along the hedge； he being within it and I
without。
〃You will learn nothing from Monsieur de Chessel；〃 he remarked； 〃he is
altogether too fine a gentleman to do more than receive the reports of
his bailiff。〃
The count then showed me his yards and the farm buildings； the
pleasure…grounds； orchards； vineyards； and kitchen garden； until we
finally came to the long alley of acacias and ailanthus beside the
river； at the end of which I saw Madame de Mortsauf sitting on a
bench； with her children。 A woman is very lovely under the light and
quivering shade of such foliage。 Surprised； perhaps； at my prompt
visit； she did not move； knowing very well that we should go to her。
The count made me admire the view of the valley； which at this point
is totally different from that seen from the heights above。 Here I
might have thought myself in a corner of Switzerland。 The meadows；
furrowed with little brooks which flow into the Indre； can be seen to
their full extent till lost in the misty distance。 Towards Montbazon
the eye ranges over a vast green plain； in all other directions it is
stopped by hills； by masses of trees； and rocks。 We quickened our
steps as we approached Madame de Mortsauf； who suddenly dropp