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to the moral progress of his savages。 〃That old woman did immense
damage to your woods； but now she has no time for it； she stays at
home and spins from morning till night； her time is all taken up and
well paid for。〃
Peace reigned everywhere。 Groison made very satisfactory reports；
depredations seemed to have ceased； and it is even possible that the
state of the neighborhood and the feeling of the inhabitants might
really have changed if it had not been for the revengeful eagerness of
Gaubertin； the cabals of the leading society of Soulanges； and the
intrigues of Rigou； who one and all； with 〃the affair〃 in view； blew
the embers of hatred and crime in the hearts of the peasantry of the
valley des Aigues。
The keepers still complained of finding a great many branches cut with
shears in the deeper parts of the wood and left to dry； evidently as a
provision for winter。 They watched for the delinquents without ever
being able to catch them。 The count； assisted by Groison； had given
certificates of pauperism to only thirty or forty of the real poor of
the district； but the other two mayors had been less strict。 The more
clement the count showed himself in the affair at Conches the more
determined he was to enforce the laws about gleaning； which had now
degenerated into theft。 He did not interfere with the management of
three of his farms which were leased to tenants； nor with those whose
tenants worked for his profit； of which he had a number； but he
managed six farms himself； each of about two hundred acres； and he now
published a notice that it was forbidden； under pain of being arrested
and made to pay the fine imposed by the courts； to enter those fields
before the crop was carried away。 The order concerned only his own
immediate property。 Rigou； who knew the country well； had let his
farm…lands in portions and on short leases to men who knew how to get
in their own crops； and who paid him in grain； therefore gleaning did
not affect him。 The other proprietors were peasants； and no nefarious
gleaning was attempted on their land。
When the harvest began the count went himself to Michaud to see how
things were going on。 Groison； who advised him to do this； was to be
present himself at the gleaning of each particular field。 The
inhabitants of cities can have no idea what gleaning is to the
inhabitants of the country； the passion of these sons of the soil for
it seems inexplicable； there are women who will give up well…paid
employments to glean。 The wheat they pick up seems to them sweeter
than any other； and the provision they thus make for their chief and
most substantial food has to them an extraordinary attraction。 Mothers
take their babes and their little girls and boys； the feeblest old men
drag themselves into the wheat…fields； and even those who own property
are paupers for the nonce。 All gleaners appear in rags。
The count and Michaud were present on horseback when the first
tattered batch entered the first fields from which the wheat had been
carried。 It was ten o'clock in the morning。 August had been a hot
month； the sky was cloudless； blue as a periwinkle； the earth was
baked； the wheat flamed； the harvestmen worked with their faces
scorched by the reflection of the sun…rays on the hard and arid earth。
All were silent； their shirts wet with perspiration； while from time
to time； they slaked their thirst with water from round； earthenware
jugs； furnished with two handles and a mouth…piece stoppered with a
willow stick。
At the father end of the stubble…field stood the carts which contained
the sheaves； and near them a group of at least a hundred beings who
far exceeded the hideous conceptions of Murillo and Teniers； the
boldest painters of such scenes； or of Callot； that poet of the
fantastic in poverty。 The pictured bronze legs； the bare heads； the
ragged garments so curiously faded； so damp with grease； so darned and
spotted and discolored； in short； the painters' ideal of the material
of abject poverty was far surpassed by this scene； while the
expression on those faces； greedy； anxious； doltish； idiotic； savage；
showed the everlasting advantage which nature possesses over art by
its comparison with the immortal compositions of those princes of
color。 There were old women with necks like turkeys； and hairless；
scarlet eyelids； who stretched their heads forward like setters before
a partridge； there were children； silent as soldiers under arms；
little girls who stamped like animals waiting for their food； the
natures of childhood and old age were crushed beneath the fierceness
of a savage greed；greed for the property of others now their own by
long abuse。 All eyes were savage； all gestures menacing； but every one
kept silence in presence of the count； the field…keeper； and the
bailiff。 At this moment all classes were represented；the great land…
owners； the farmers； the working men； the paupers； the social question
was defined to the eye； hunger had convoked the actors in the scene。
The sun threw into relief the hard and hollow features of those faces；
it burned the bare feet dusty with the soil； children were present
with no clothing but a torn blouse； their blond hair tangled with
straw and chips； some women brought their babes just able to walk； and
left them rolling in the furrows。
The gloomy scene was harrowing to the old soldier； whose heart was
kind； and he said to Michaud： 〃It pains me to see it。 One must know
the importance of these measures to be able to insist upon them。〃
〃If every land…owner followed your example； lived on his property； and
did the good that you and yours are doing； general； there would be； I
won't say no poor； for they are always with us； but no poor man who
could not live by his labor。〃
〃The mayors of Conches； Cerneux； and Soulanges have sent us all their
paupers；〃 said Groison； who had now looked at the certificates； 〃they
had no right to do so。〃
〃No； but our people will go to their districts；〃 said the general。
〃For the time being we have done enough by preventing the gleaning
before the sheaves were taken away； we had better go step by step；〃 he
added； turning to leave the field。
〃Did you hear him？〃 said Mother Tonsard to the old Bonnebault woman；
for the general's last words were said in a rather louder tone than
the rest； and reached the ears of the two old women who were posted in
the road which led beside the field。
〃Yes； yes！ we haven't got to the end yet；a tooth to…day and to…
morrow an ear； if they could find a sauce for our livers they'd eat
'em as they do a calf's！〃 said old Bonnebault； whose threatening face
was turned in profile to the general as he passed her； though in the
twinkling of an eye she changed its expression to one of hypocritical
softness and submission as she hastened to make him a profound
curtsey。
〃So you are gleaning； are you； though my wife helps you to earn so
much money？〃
〃Hey！ my dear gentle