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on the equipment of a pony。 This wish led to a discussion with his
father； who bade him think of the uncertainty of such returns； and the
wisdom of creating a reserve fund for the years when the trees might
not bear； and so equalizing his resources。 I felt what was passing
through the mother's mind as she sat by in silence； she rejoiced in
the way Jacques listened to his father； the father seeming to recover
the paternal dignity that was lacking to him； thanks to the ideas
which she herself had prompted in him。 Did I not tell you truly that
in picturing this woman earthly language was insufficient to render
either her character or her spirit。 When such scenes occurred my soul
drank in their delights without analyzing them； but now； with what
vigor they detach themselves on the dark background of my troubled
life！ Like diamonds they shine against the settling of thoughts
degraded by alloy； of bitter regrets for a lost happiness。 Why do the
names of the two estates purchased after the Restoration； and in which
Monsieur and Madame de Mortsauf both took the deepest interest； the
Cassine and the Rhetoriere； move me more than the sacred names of the
Holy Land or of Greece？ 〃Who loves； knows！〃 cried La Fontaine。 Those
names possess the talismanic power of words uttered under certain
constellations by seers； they explain magic to me； they awaken
sleeping forms which arise and speak to me； they lead me to the happy
valley； they recreate skies and landscape。 But such evocations are in
the regions of the spiritual world； they pass in the silence of my own
soul。 Be not surprised； therefore； if I dwell on all these homely
scenes； the smallest details of that simple； almost common life are
ties which； frail as they may seem； bound me in closest union to the
countess。
The interests of her children gave Madame de Mortsauf almost as much
anxiety as their health。 I soon saw the truth of what she had told me
as to her secret share in the management of the family affairs； into
which I became slowly initiated。 After ten years' steady effort Madame
de Mortsauf had changed the method of cultivating the estate。 She had
〃put it in fours；〃 as the saying is in those parts； meaning the new
system under which wheat is sown every four years only； so as to make
the soil produce a different crop yearly。 To evade the obstinate
unwillingness of the peasantry it was found necessary to cancel the
old leases and give new ones； to divide the estate into four great
farms and let them on equal shares； the sort of lease that prevails in
Touraine and its neighborhood。 The owner of the estate gives the
house； farm…buildings； and seed…grain to tenants…at…will； with whom he
divides the costs of cultivation and the crops。 This division is
superintended by an agent or bailiff； whose business it is to take the
share belonging to the owner； a costly system； complicated by the
market changes of values； which alter the character of the shares
constantly。 The countess had induced Monsieur de Mortsauf to cultivate
a fifth farm； made up of the reserved lands about Clochegourde； as
much to occupy his mind as to show other farmers the excellence of the
new method by the evidence of facts。 Being thus； in a hidden way； the
mistress of the estate； she had slowly and with a woman's persistency
rebuilt two of the farm…houses on the principle of those in Artois and
Flanders。 It is easy to see her motive。 She wished； after the
expiration of the leases on shares； to relet to intelligent and
capable persons for rental in money； and thus simplify the revenues of
Clochegourde。 Fearing to die before her husband； she was anxious to
secure for him a regular income； and to her children a property which
no incapacity could jeopardize。 At the present time the fruit…trees
planted during the last ten years were in full bearing； the hedges；
which secured the boundaries from dispute； were in good order； the
elms and poplars were growing well。 With the new purchases and the new
farming system well under way； the estate of Clochegourde； divided
into four great farms； two of which still needed new houses； was
capable of bringing in forty thousand francs a year； ten thousand for
each farm； not counting the yield of the vineyards； and the two
hundred acres of woodland which adjoined them； nor the profits of the
model home…farm。 The roads to the great farms all opened on an avenue
which followed a straight line from Clochegourde to the main road
leading to Chinon。 The distance from the entrance of this avenue to
Tours was only fifteen miles； tenants would never be wanting；
especially now that everybody was talking of the count's improvements
and the excellent condition of his land。
The countess wished to put some fifteen thousand francs into each of
the estates lately purchased； and to turn the present dwellings into
two large farm…houses and buildings； in order that the property might
bring in a better rent after the ground had been cultivated for a year
or two。 These ideas； so simple in themselves； but complicated with the
thirty odd thousand francs it was necessary to expend upon them； were
just now the topic of many discussions between herself and the count；
sometimes amounting to bitter quarrels； in which she was sustained by
the thought of her children's interests。 The fear； 〃If I die to…morrow
what will become of them？〃 made her heart beat。 The gentle； peaceful
hearts to whom anger is an impossibility； and whose sole desire is to
shed on those about them their own inward peace； alone know what
strength is needed for such struggles； what demands upon the spirit
must be made before beginning the contest； what weariness ensues when
the fight is over and nothing has been won。 At this moment； just as
her children seemed less anemic； less frail； more active （for the
fruit season had had its effect on them）； and her moist eyes followed
them as they played about her with a sense of contentment which
renewed her strength and refreshed her heart； the poor woman was
called upon to bear the sharp sarcasms and attacks of an angry
opposition。 The count； alarmed at the plans she proposed； denied with
stolid obstinacy the advantages of all she had done and the
possibility of doing more。 He replied to conclusive reasoning with the
folly of a child who denies the influence of the sun in summer。 The
countess； however； carried the day。 The victory of commonsense over
insanity so healed her wounds that she forgot the battle。 That day we
all went to the Cassine and the Rhetoriere； to decide upon the
buildings。 The count walked alone in front； the children went next；
and we ourselves followed slowly； for she was speaking in a low；
gentle tone； which made her words like the murmur of the sea as it
ripples on a smooth beach。
She was； she said； certain of success。 A new line of communication
between Tours and Chinon was to be opened by an active man； a carrier；
a cousin of Manette's； who wanted a large farm on the