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countess took my arm and leaned upon it； as if to let my heart feel
the weight of hers；the instinctive movement of a mother who seeks to
convey her joy。 Then she whispered in my ear； 〃You bring us
happiness。〃
Ah； to me； who knew her sleepless nights； her cares； her fears； her
former existence； in which； although the hand of God sustained her；
all was barren and wearisome； those words uttered by that rich voice
brought pleasures no other woman in the world could give me。
〃The terrible monotony of my life is broken； all things are radiant
with hope；〃 she said after a pause。 〃Oh； never leave me！ Do not
despise my harmless superstitions； be the elder son； the protector of
the younger。〃
In this； Natalie； there is nothing romantic。 To know the infinite of
our deepest feelings； we must in youth cast our lead into those great
lakes upon whose shores we live。 Though to many souls passions are
lava torrents flowing among arid rocks； other souls there be in whom
passion； restrained by insurmountable obstacles； fills with purest
water the crater of the volcano。
We had still another fete。 Madame de Mortsauf； wishing to accustom her
children to the practical things of life； and to give them some
experience of the toil by which men earn their living； had provided
each of them with a source of income； depending on the chances of
agriculture。 To Jacques she gave the produce of the walnut…trees； to
Madeleine that of the chestnuts。 The gathering of the nuts began soon
after the vintage；first the chestnuts； then the walnuts。 To beat
Madeleine's trees with a long pole and hear the nuts fall and rebound
on the dry； matted earth of a chestnut…grove； to see the serious
gravity of the little girl as she examined the heaps and estimated
their probable value； which to her represented many pleasures on which
she counted； the congratulations of Manette； the trusted servant who
alone supplied Madame de Mortsauf's place with the children； the
explanations of the mother； showing the necessity of labor to obtain
all crops； so often imperilled by the uncertainties of climate；all
these things made up a charming scene of innocent； childlike happiness
amid the fading colors of the late autumn。
Madeleine had a little granary of her own； in which I was to see her
brown treasure garnered and share her delight。 Well； I quiver still
when I recall the sound of each basketful of nuts as it was emptied on
the mass of yellow husks； mixed with earth； which made the floor of
the granary。 The count bought what was needed for the household； the
farmers and tenants； indeed； every one around Clochegourde； sent
buyers to the Mignonne； a pet name which the peasantry give even to
strangers； but which in this case belonged exclusively to Madeleine。
Jacques was less fortunate in gathering his walnuts。 It rained for
several days； but I consoled him with the advice to hold back his nuts
and sell them a little later。 Monsieur de Chessel had told me that the
walnut…trees in the Brehemont； also those about Amboise and Vouvray；
were not bearing。 Walnut oil is in great demand in Touraine。 Jacques
might get at least forty sous for the product of each tree； and as he
had two hundred the amount was considerable； he intended to spend it
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