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he square…shaped kind that gave rise to the expression 〃square…headed。〃 Genestas was accustomed to read the indications that mark the features of men destined to do great things； since he had been brought into close relations with the energetic natures sought out by Napoleon； so he suspected that there must be some mystery in this life of obscurity； and said to himself as he looked at the remarkable face before him：
〃How comes it that he is still a country doctor？〃
When he had made a careful study of this countenance； that； in spite of its resemblance to other human faces； revealed an inner life nowise in harmony with a commonplace exterior； he could not help sharing the doctor's interest in his patient； and the sight of that patient completely changed the current of his thoughts。
Much as the old cavalry officer had seen in the course of his soldier's career； he felt a thrill of surprise and horror at the sight of a human face which could never have been lighted up with thoughta livid face in which a look of dumb suffering showed so plainlythe same look that is sometimes worn by a child too young to speak； and too weak to cry any longer； in short； it was the wholly animal face of an old dying cretin。 The cretin was the one variety of the human species with which the commandant had not yet come in contact。 At the sight of the deep； circular folds of skin on the forehead； the sodden； fish…like eyes； and the head； with its short； coarse； scantily…growing haira head utterly divested of all the faculties of the senseswho would not have experienced； as Genestas did； an instinctive feeling of repulsion for a being that had neither the physical beauty of an animal nor the mental endowments of man； who was possessed of neither instinct nor reason； and who had never heard nor spoken any kind of articulate speech？ It seemed difficult to expend any regrets over the poor wretch now visibly drawing towards the very end of an existence which had not been life in any sense of the word； yet the old woman watched him with touching anxiety； and was rubbing his legs where the hot water did not reach them with as much tenderness as if he had been her husband。 Benassis himself； after a close scrutiny of the dull eyes and corpse…like face； gently took the cretin's hand and felt his pulse。
〃The bath is doing no good；〃 he said； shaking his head； 〃let us put him to bed again。〃
He lifted the inert mass himself； and carried him across to the truckle…bed； from whence； no doubt； he had just taken him。 Carefully he laid him at full length； and straightened the limbs that were growing cold already； putting the head and hand in position； with all the heed that a mother could bestow upon her child。
〃It is all over； death is very near；〃 added Benassis； who remained standing by the bedside。
The old woman gazed at the dying form； with her hands on her hips。 A few tears stole down her cheeks。 Genestas remained silent。 He was unable to explain to himself how it was that the death of a being that concerned him so little should affect him so much。 Unconsciously he shared the feeling of boundless pity that these hapless creatures excite among the dwellers in the sunless valleys wherein Nature has placed them。 This sentiment has degenerated into a kind of religious superstition in families to which cretins belong； but does it not spring from the most beautiful of Christian virtuesfrom charity； and from a belief in a reward hereafter； that most effectual support of our social system； and the one thought that enables us to endure our miseries？ The hope of inheriting eternal bliss helps the relations of these unhappy creatures and all others round about them to exert on a large scale； and with sublime devotion； a mother's ceaseless protecting care over an apathetic creature who does not understand it in the first instance； and who in a little while forgets it all。 Wonderful power of religion！ that has brought a blind beneficence to the aid of an equally blind misery。 Wherever cretins exist； there is a popular belief that the presence of one of these creatures brings luck to a familya superstition that serves to sweeten lives which； in the midst of a town population； would be condemned by a mistaken philanthropy to submit to the harsh discipline of an asylum。 In the higher end of the valley of Isere； where cretins are very numerous； they lead an out…of…door life with the cattle which they are taught to herd。 There； at any rate； they are at large； and receive the reverence due to misfortune。
A moment later the village bell clinked at slow regular intervals； to acquaint the flock with the death of one of their number。 In the sound that reached the cottage but faintly across the intervening space； there was a thought of religion which seemed to fill it with a melancholy peace。 The tread of many feet echoed up the road； giving notice of an approaching crowd of peoplea crowd that uttered not a word。 Then suddenly the chanting of the Church broke the stillness； calling up the confused thoughts that take possession of the most sceptical minds； and compel them to yield to the influence of the touching harmonies of the human voice。 The Church was coming to the aid of a creature that knew her not。 The cure appeared； preceded by a choir…boy； who bore the crucifix； and followed by the sacristan carrying the vase of holy water； and by some fifty women； old men； and children； who had all come to add their prayers to those of the Church。 The doctor and the soldier looked at each other； and silently withdrew to a corner to make room for the kneeling crowd within and without the cottage。 During the consoling ceremony of the Viaticum； celebrated for one who had never sinned； but to whom the Church on earth was bidding a last farewell； there were signs of real sorrow on most of the rough faces of the gathering； and tears flowed over the rugged cheeks that sun and wind and labor in the fields had tanned and wrinkled。 The sentiment of voluntary kinship was easy to explain。 There was not one in the place who had not pitied the unhappy creature； not one who would not have given him his daily bread。 Had he not met with a father's care from every child； and found a mother in the merriest little girl？
〃He is dead！〃 said the cure。
The words struck his hearers with the most unfeigned dismay。 The tall candles were lighted； and several people undertook to watch with the dead that night。 Benassis and the soldier went out。 A group of peasants in the doorway stopped the doctor to say：
〃Ah！ if you have not saved his life； sir； it was doubtless because God wished to take him to Himself。〃
〃I did my best； children；〃 the doctor answered。
When they had come a few paces from the deserted village； whose last inhabitant had just died； the doctor spoke to Genestas。
〃You would not believe； sir； what real solace is contained for me in what those peasants have just said。 Ten years ago I was very nearly stoned to death in this village。 It is empty to…day； but thirty families lived in it then。〃
Genestas' face and gesture so plainly expressed an inquiry； that； as they went along； the doctor told him the story promised by this beginning。
〃When I first settled here； sir； I found a dozen cretins in this part of the canton；〃 and the doctor turned round to point out the ruined cottages for the officer's benefit。 〃All the favorable conditions for spreading the hideous disease are there； the air is stagnant； the hamlet lies in the valley bottom； close beside a torrent supplied with water by the melted snows； and the sunlight only falls on the mountain…top； so that the valley itself gets no good of the sun。 Marriages among these unfortunate creatures are not forbidden by law； and in this district they are protected by superstitious notions； of whose power I had no conceptionsuperstitions which I blamed at first； and afterwards came to admire。 So cretinism was in a fair way to spread all over the valley from this spot。 Was it not doing the country a great service to put a stop to this mental and physical contagion？ But imperatively as the salutary changes were required； they might cost the life of any man who endeavored to bring them about。 Here； as in other social spheres； if any good is t