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refuses； then we shall see what we shall see。〃
Rigou foresaw that the general's refusal would pass as one wrong the
more done by the land…owner to the peasantry； and would bind Tonsard
by an additional motive of gratitude to the coalition； in case the
crafty mind of the innkeeper could suggest to him some plausible way
of liberating Nicolas。
Nicolas； who was soon to appear before the examining board； had little
hope of the general's intervention because of the harm done to Les
Aigues by all the members of the Tonsard family。 His passion； or to
speak more correctly； his caprice and obstinate pursuit of La Pechina；
were so aggravated by the prospect of his immediate departure； which
left him no time to seduce her； that he resolved on attempting
violence。 The child's contempt for her prosecutor； plainly shown；
excited the Lovelace of the Grand…I…Vert to a hatred whose fury was
equalled only by his desires。 For the last three days he had been
watching La Pechina； and the poor child knew she was watched。 Between
Nicolas and his prey the same sort of understanding existed which
there is between the hunter and the game。 When the girl was at some
little distance from the pavilion she saw Nicolas in one of the paths
which ran parallel to the walls of the park； leading to the bridge of
the Avonne。 She could easily have escaped the man's pursuit had she
appealed to her grandfather； but all young girls； even the most
unsophisticated； have a strange fear； possibly instinctive； of
trusting to their natural protectors under the like circumstances。
Genevieve had heard Pere Niseron take an oath to kill any man； no
matter who he was； who should dare to TOUCH （that was his word） his
granddaughter。 The old man thought the child amply protected by the
halo of white hair and honor which a spotless life of three…score
years and ten had laid upon his brow。 The vision of bloody scenes
terrifies the imagination of young girls so that they need not dive to
the bottom of their hearts for other numerous and inquisitive reasons
which seal their lips。
When La Pechina started with the milk which Madame Michaud had sent to
the daughter of Gaillard； the keeper of the gate of Conches； whose cow
had just calved； she looked about her cautiously； like a cat when it
ventures out onto the street。 She saw no signs of Nicolas； she
listened to the silence； as the poet says； and hearing nothing； she
concluded that the rascal had gone to his day's work。 The peasants
were just beginning to cut the rye； for they were in the habit of
getting in their own harvests first； so as to benefit by the best
strength of the mowers。 But Nicolas was not a man to mind losing a
day's work；especially now that he expected to leave the country
after the fair at Soulanges and begin； as the country people say； the
new life of a soldier。
When La Pechina； with the jug on her head； was about half…way； Nicolas
slid like a wild…cat down the trunk of an elm； among the branches of
which he was hiding； and fell like a thunderbolt in front of the girl；
who flung away her pitcher and trusted to her fleet legs to regain the
pavilion。 But a hundred feet farther on； Catherine Tonsard； who was on
the watch； rushed out of the wood and knocked so violently against the
flying girl that she was thrown down。 The violence of the fall made
her unconscious。 Catherine picked her up and carried her into the
woods to the middle of a tiny meadow where the Silver…spring brook
bubbled up。
Catherine Tonsard was tall and strong； and in every respect the type
of woman whom painters and sculptors take； as the Republic did in
former days； for their figures of Liberty。 She charmed the young men
of the valley of the Avonne with her voluminous bosom； her muscular
legs； and a waist as robust as it was flexible； with her plump arms；
her eyes that could flash and sparkle； and her jaunty air； with the
masses of hair twisted in coils around her head； her masculine
forehead and her red lips curling with that same ferocious smile which
Eugene Delacroix and David （of Angers） caught and represented so
admirably。 True image of the People； this fiery and swarthy creature
seemed to emit revolt through her piercing yellow eyes； blazing with
the insolence of a soldier。 She inherited from her father so violent a
nature that the whole family； except Tonsard； and all who frequented
the tavern feared her。
〃Well； how are you now？〃 she said to La Pechina as the latter
recovered consciousness。
Catherine had placed her victim on a little mound beside the brook and
was bringing her to her senses with dashes of cold water。 〃Where am
I？〃 said the child； opening her beautiful black eyes through which a
sun…ray seemed to glide。
〃Ah！〃 said Catherine； 〃if it hadn't been for me you'd have been
killed。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the girl； still bewildered； 〃what happened to me？〃
〃You stumbled over a root and fell flat in the road over there； as if
shot。 Ha！ how you did run！〃
〃It was your brother who made me；〃 said La Pechina； remembering
Nicolas。
〃My brother？ I did not see him；〃 said Catherine。 〃What did he do to
you； poor fellow； that should make you fly as if he were a wolf？ Isn't
he handsomer than your Monsieur Michaud？〃
〃Oh！〃 said the girl； contemptuously。
〃See here； little one； you are laying up a crop of evils for yourself
by loving those who persecute us。 Why don't you keep to our side？〃
〃Why don't you come to church； and why do you steal things night and
day？〃 asked the child。
〃So you let those people talk you over！〃 sneered Catherine。 〃They love
us； don't they？just as they love their food which they get out of
us； and they want new dishes every day。 Did you ever know one of them
to marry a peasant…girl？ Not they！ Does Sarcus the rich let his son
marry that handsome Gatienne Giboulard？ Not he； though she is the
daughter of a rich upholsterer。 You have never been at the Tivoli ball
at Soulanges in Socquard's tavern； you had better come。 You'll see 'em
all there； these bourgeois fellows； and you'll find they are not worth
the money we shall get out of them when we've pulled them down。 Come
to the fair this year！〃
〃They say it's fine； that Soulanges fair！〃 cried La Pechina；
artlessly。
〃I'll tell you what it is in two words；〃 said Catherine。 〃If you are
handsome； you are well ogled。 What is the good of being as pretty as
you are if you are not admired by the men？ Ha！ when I heard one of
them say for the first time； 'What a fine sprig of a girl！' all my
blood was on fire。 It was at Socquard's； in the middle of a dance； my
grandfather； Fourchon； who was playing the clarionet； heard it and
laughed。 Tivoli seemed to me as grand and fine as heaven itself。 It's
lighted up； my dear； with glass lamps； and you'll think you are in
paradise。 All the gentlemen of Soulanges and Auxerre and Ville…aux…
Fayes will be there。 Ever since that first night I've loved the place
where