be some fear. Monsieur Bonnet took her back to the
terrace, saying:--

"Well, madame, what were you talking about with Farrabesche?"

In order not to speak falsely, Veronique evaded a reply; she questioned
Monsieur Bonnet.

"That man was your first victory here, was he not?" she said.

"Yes," he answered; "his conversion would, I thought, give me all
Montegnac--and I was not mistaken."

Veronique pressed Monsieur Bonnet's hand and said, with tears in her
voice, "I am your penitent from this day forth, monsieur; I shall go
to-morrow to the confessional."

Her last words showed a great internal effort, a terrible victory won
over herself. The rector brought her back to the house without saying
another word. After that he remained till dinner-time, talking about the
proposed improvements at Montegnac.

"Agriculture is a question of time," he said; "the little that I know of
it makes me understand what a gain it would be to get some good out of
the winter. The rains are now beginning, and the mountains will soon
be covered with snow; your operations cannot then be begun. Had you not
better hasten Monsieur Grossetete?"

Insensibly, Monsieur Bonnet, who at first did all the talking, led
Madame Graslin to join in the conversation and so distract her thoughts;
in fact, he left her almost recovered from the emotions of the day.
Madame Sauviat, however, thought her daughter too violently agitated to
be left alone, and she spent the night in her room.

XVI. CONCERNS ONE OF THE BLUNDERS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

The following day an express, sent from Limoges by Monsieur Grossetete
to Madame Graslin, brought her the following letter:--

To Madame Graslin:

My dear Child,--It was difficult to find horses, but I hope you
are satisfied with those I sent you. If you want work or draft
horses, you must look elsewhere. In any case, however, I advise
you to do your tilling and transportation with oxen. All the
countries where agriculture is carried on with horses lose capital
when the horse is past work; whereas cattle always return a profit
to those who use them.

I approve in every way of your enterprise, my child; you will thus
employ the passionate activity of your soul, which was turning
against yourself and thus injuring you.

Your second request, namely, for a man capable of understanding
and seconding your projects, requires me to find you a _rara avis_
such as we seldom raise