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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 dropped the
book in which Madeleine was reading to her and took Jacques upon her
knees； in the paroxysms of a violent cough。
〃What's the matter？〃 cried the count； turning livid。
〃A sore throat；〃 answered the mother； who seemed not to see me； 〃but
it is nothing serious。〃
She was holding the child by the head and body； and her eyes seemed to
shed two rays of life into the poor frail creature。
〃You are so extraordinarily imprudent；〃 said the count； sharply； 〃you
expose him to the river damps and let him sit on a stone bench。〃
〃Why； papa； the stone is burning hot；〃 cried Madeleine。
〃They were suffocating higher up；〃 said the countess。
〃Women always want to prove they are right；〃 said the count； turning
to me。
To avoid agreeing or disagreeing with him by word or look I watched
Jacques； who complained of his throat。 His mother carried him away；
but as she did so she heard her husband say：
〃When they have brought such sickly children into the world they ought
to learn how to take care of them。〃
Words that were cruelly unjust； but his self…love drove him to defend
himself at the expense of his wife。 The countess hurried up the steps
and across the portico； and I saw her disappear through the glass
door。 Monsieur de Mortsauf seated himself on the bench； his head bowed
in gloomy silence。 My position became annoying； he neither spoke nor
looked at me。 Farewell to the walk he had proposed； in the course of
which I had hoped to fathom him。 I hardly remember a more unpleasant
moment。 Ought I to go away； or should I not go？ How many painful
thoughts must have arisen in his mind； to make him forget to follow
Jacques and learn how he was！ At last however he rose abruptly and
came towards me。 We both turned and looked at the smiling valley。
〃We will put off our walk to another day； Monsieur le comte；〃 I said
gently。
〃No； let us go；〃 he replied。 〃Unfortunately； I am accustomed to such
scenesI； who would give my life without the slightest regret to save
that of the child。〃
〃Jacques is better； my dear； he has gone to sleep；〃 said a golden
voice。 Madame de Mortsauf suddenly appeared at the end of the path。
She came forward； without bitterness or ill…will； and bowed to me。
〃I am glad to see that you like Clochegourde；〃 she said。
〃My dear； should you like me to ride over and fetch Monsieur
Deslandes？〃 said the count； as if wishing her to forgive his
injustice。
〃Don't be worried；〃 she said。 〃Jacques did not sleep last night；
that's all。 The child is very nervous； he had a bad dream； and I told
him stories all night to keep him quiet。 His cough is purely nervous；
I have stilled it with a lozenge； and he has gone to sleep。〃
〃Poor woman！〃 said her husband； taking her hand in his and giving her
a tearful look； 〃I knew nothing of it。〃
〃Why should you be troubled when there is no occasion？〃 she replied。
〃Now go and attend to the rye。 You know if you are not there the men
will let the gleaners of the other villages get into the field before
the sheaves are carried away。〃
〃I am going to take a first lesson in agriculture； madame；〃 I said to
her。
〃You have a very good master；〃 she replied； motioning towards the
count； whose mouth screwed itself into that smile of satisfaction
which is vulgarly termed a 〃bouche en coeur。〃
Two months later I learned she had passed that night in great anxiety；
fearing that her son had the croup； while I was in the boat； rocked by
thoughts