rom the Funds, which, if relinquished for six years, would be enough to
pay both capital and interest. This loan was obtained in March. By this
time the preliminary preparations carried on by Gerard and his foreman,
Fresquin, were fully completed; also, the surveying, estimating,
levelling, and sounding. The news of this great enterprise spreading
about the country, stimulated the laboring population. The indefatigable
Farrabesche, Colorat, Clousier, the mayor of Montegnac, Roubaud, and
others, interested either in the welfare of the neighborhood or in
Madame Graslin, selected such of these laborers as seemed the poorest,
or were most deserving of employment. Gerard bought for himself and for
Monsieur Grossetete a thousand acres on the other side of the high-road
to Montegnac. Fresquin, the foreman, bought five hundred, and sent for
his wife and children.

Early in April, 1832, Monsieur Grossetete came to see the land bought
for him by Gerard, though his journey was chiefly occasioned by the
advent of Catherine Curieux, who had come from Paris to Limoges by the
diligence. Grossetete now brought her with him to Montegnac. He found
Madame Graslin just starting for church. Monsieur Bonnet was to say
a mass to implore the blessing of heaven on the works that were then
beginning. All the laborers with their wives and children were present.

"Here is your protegee," said the old gentleman, presenting to Veronique
a feeble, suffering woman, apparently about thirty years of age.

"Are you Catherine Curieux?" asked Madame Graslin.

"Yes, madame."

Veronique looked at Catherine for a moment. She was rather tall,
well-made, and fair; her features wore an expression of extreme
gentleness which the beautiful gray tones of the eyes did not
contradict. The outline of the face, the shape of the brow had a
nobility both simple and august, such as we sometimes meet with in
country regions among very young girls,--a sort of flower of beauty,
which field labors, the constant cares of the household, the burning of
the sun, and want of personal care, remove with terrible rapidity. Her
movements had that ease of motion characteristic of country girls, to
which certain habits unconsciously contracted in Paris gave additional
grace. If Catherine had remained in the Correze she would by this time
have looked like an old woman, wrinkled and withered; her complexion,
once rosy, would have coarsened; but Paris, though it paled her, had
preserv