a cousin of Manette's； who wanted a large farm on the route。 His
family was numerous； the eldest son would drive the carts； the second
could attend to the business； the father living half…way along the
road； at Rabelaye； one of the farms then to let； would look after the
relays and enrich his land with the manure of the stables。 As to the
other farm； la Baude； the nearest to Clochegourde； one of their own
people； a worthy； intelligent； and industrious man； who saw the
advantages of the new system of agriculture； was ready to take a lease
on it。 The Cassine and the Rhetoriere need give no anxiety； their soil
was the very best in the neighborhood； the farm…houses once built； and
the ground brought into cultivation； it would be quite enough to
advertise them at Tours； tenants would soon apply for them。 In two
years' time Clochegourde would be worth at least twenty…four thousand
francs a year。 Gravelotte； the farm in Maine； which Monsieur de
Mortsauf had recovered after the emigration； was rented for seven
thousand francs a year for nine years； his pension was four thousand。
This income might not be a fortune； but it was certainly a competence。
Later； other additions to it might enable her to go to Paris and
attend to Jacques' education； in two years； she thought； his health
would be established。
With what feeling she uttered the word 〃Paris！〃 I knew her thought；
she wished to be as little separated as possible from her friend。 On
that I broke forth； I told her that she did not know me； that without
talking of it； I had resolved to finish my education by working day
and night so as to fit myself to be Jacques' tutor。 She looked grave。
〃No； Felix；〃 she said； 〃that cannot be； any more than your priesthood。
I thank you from my heart as a mother； but as a woman who loves you
sincerely I can never allow you to be the victim of your attachment to
me。 Such a position would be a social discredit to you； and I could
not allow it。 No！ I cannot be an injury to you in any way。 You；
Vicomte de Vandenesse； a tutor！ You； whose motto is 'Ne se vend！' Were
you Richelieu himself it would bar your way in life； it would give the
utmost pain to your family。 My friend； you do not know what insult
women of the world； like my mother； can put into a patronizing glance；
what degradation into a word； what contempt into a bow。〃
〃But if you love me； what is the world to me？〃
She pretended not to hear； and went on：
〃Though my father is most kind and desirous of doing all I ask； he
would never forgive your taking so humble a position； he would refuse
you his protection。 I could not consent to your becoming tutor to the
Dauphin even。 You must accept society as it is； never commit the fault
of flying in the face of it。 My friend； this rash proposal of〃
〃Love；〃 I whispered。
〃No； charity；〃 she said； controlling her tears； 〃this wild idea
enlightens me as to your character； your heart will be your bane。 I
shall claim from this moment the right to teach you certain things。
Let my woman's eye see for you sometimes。 Yes； from the solitudes of
Clochegourde I mean to share； silently； contentedly； in your
successes。 As to a tutor； do not fear； we shall find some good old
abbe； some learned Jesuit； and my father will gladly devote a handsome
sum to the education of the boy who is to bear his name。 Jacques is my
pride。 He is； however； eleven years old；〃 she added after a pause。
〃But it is with him as with you； when I first saw you I took you to be
about thirteen。〃
We now reached the Cassine； where Jacques； Madeleine； and I followed
her about as children follow a mother； but we were in her way； I left
her presently and went into the orchard where Martineau the elder；
keeper of the place； was discussing with Martineau the younger； the
bailiff； whether certain trees ought or ought not to be taken down；
they were arguing the matter as if it concerned their own property。 I
then saw how much the countess was beloved。 I spoke of it to a poor
laborer； who； with one foot on his spade and an elbow on its handle；
stood listening to the two doctors of pomology。
〃Ah； yes； monsieur；〃 he answered； 〃she is a good woman； and not
haughty like those hussies at Azay； who would see us die like dogs
sooner than yield us one penny of the price of a grave！ The day when
that woman leaves these parts the Blessed Virgin will weep； and we
too。 She knows what is due to her； but she knows our hardships； too；
and she puts them into the account。〃
With what pleasure I gave that man all the money I had。
A few days later a pony arrived for Jacques； his father； an excellent
horseman； wishing to accustom the child by degrees to the fatigues of
such exercise。 The boy had a pretty riding…dress； bought with the
product of the nuts。 The morning when he took his first lesson
accompanied by his father and by Madeleine； who jumped and shouted
about the lawn round which Jacques was riding； was a great maternal
festival for the countess。 The boy wore a blue collar embroidered by
her； a little sky…blue overcoat fastened by a polished leather belt； a
pair of white trousers pleated at the waist； and a Scotch cap； from
which his fair hair flowed in heavy locks。 He was charming to behold。
All the servants clustered round to share the domestic joy。 The little
heir smiled at his mother as he passed her； sitting erect； and quite
fearless。 This first manly act of a child to whom death had often
seemed so near； the promise of a sound future warranted by this ride
which showed him so handsome； so fresh； so rosy；what a reward for
all her cares！ Then too the joy of the father； who seemed to renew his
youth； and who smiled for the first time in many long months； the
pleasure shown on all faces； the shout of an old huntsman of the
Lenoncourts； who had just arrived from Tours； and who； seeing how the
boy held the reins； shouted to him； 〃Bravo； monsieur le vicomte！〃all
this was too much for the poor mother； and she burst into tears； she；
so calm in her griefs； was too weak to bear the joy of admiring her
boy as he bounded over the gravel； where so often she had led him in
the sunshine inwardly weeping his expected death。 She leaned upon my
arm unreservedly； and said： 〃I think I have never suffered。 Do not
leave us to…day。〃
The lesson over； Jacques jumped into his mother's arms； she caught him
and held him tightly to her； kissing him passionately。 I went with
Madeleine to arrange two magnificent bouquets for the dinner…table in
honor of the young equestrian。 When we returned to the salon the
countess said： 〃The fifteenth of October is certainly a great day with
me。 Jacques has taken his first riding lesson； and I have just set the
last stitch in my furniture cover。〃
〃Then； Blanche；〃 said the count； laughing； 〃I must pay you for it。〃
He offered her his arm and took her to the first courtyard； where
stood an open carriage which her father had sent her； and for which
the count had purchased two English horses。 The old huntsman had
prepared the surprise while Jacques was taking his lesson。 We got into
the carriage； and went to see where the new avenue entered the main
road towards Chinon。 As we returned； the countess said to me in an
anxious tone； 〃I am too happy； to me happiness is like an illness；it
overwhelms me； I fear it may vanish like a dream。〃
I loved her too passionately not to feel jealous；I who could give
her nothing！ In my rage against myself I longed for some means of
dying for her。 She asked me to tell her the thoughts that filled my
eyes； and I told her honestly。 She was more touched than by all her
presents； then taking me to the portico； she poured comfort into my
heart。 〃Love me as my aunt loved me；〃 she said； 〃and that will be
giving me your life； and if I take it； must I not ever be grateful to
you？
〃It was time I finished my tapestry；〃 she added as we re…entered the
salon； where I kissed her hand as if to renew my vows。 〃Perhaps you do
not know； Felix； why I began so formidable a piece of work。 Men find
the occupations of life a great resource against troubles； the
management of affairs distracts their mind； but we poor women have no
support within ourselves against our sorrows。 To be able to smile
before my children and my husband when my heart was heavy I felt the
need of controlling my inward sufferings by some physical exercise。 In
this way I escaped the depression which is apt to follow a great
strain upon the moral strength； and likewise all outbursts of
excitement。 The mere action of lifting my arm regularly as I drew the
stitches rocked my thoughts and gave to my spirit when the tempest
raged a monotonous ebb and flow which seemed to regulate its emotions。
To every stitch I confided my secrets；you understand me； do you not？
Well； while doing my last chair I have thought much； too much； of you；
dear friend。 What you have put into your bouquets I have said in my
embroidery。〃
The dinner was lovely。 Jacques； like all children when you take notice
of them； jumped into my arms when he saw the flowers I had arranged
for him as a garland。 His mother pretended to be jealous； ah； Natalie；
you should have seen the charming grace with which the dear child
offered them to her。 In the afternoon we played a game of backgammon；
I alone against Monsieur and Madame de Mortsauf； and the count was
charming。 They accompanied me along the road to Frapesle in the
twilight of a tranquil evening； one of those harmonious evenings when
our feelings gain in depth what they lose in vivacity。 It was a day of
days in this poor woman's life； a spot of brightness which often
comforted her thoughts in painful hours。
Soon； however； the riding lessons became a subject of contention。 The
countess justly feared the count's harsh reprimands to his son。
Jacques grew thin； dark circles surrounded his sweet blue eyes； rather
than trouble his mother； he suffered in silence。 I advised him to tell
his father he was tired when the count's temper was violent； but that
expedient proved unavailing； and it became necessary to substitute the
old huntsman as a teacher in place of the father； who could with
difficulty be induced to resign his pupil。 Angry reproaches and
contentions began onc