But remember, we have had great
good luck. No epidemic or disease came to blight the lives of our
caterpillars; nor did annoyances of any sort interrupt their spinning.
We did our part, certainly; but favorable conditions had much to do with
our success."

"I only hope we have kept the right sort of cocoons for breeding," said
Josef. "That is all that is troubling me now. Upon our selection will
depend the quality of our next season's crop. There are so many things
to think of in choosing cocoons for hatching. Not only must they be as
perfect as we can get them, but they must have nicely rounded ends and a
fine, strong thread. I tried to search out those with the ring-like band
round the centre, for I have heard your father say that if we could get
those we would be sure of having vigorous silkworms, since only
caterpillars of the most powerful constitution make their houses in that
way."

"It seems to me we kept out a lot more than we shall need for breeding,
Josef," complained Marie.

"We always have to put aside more than we actually require, Marie,
because many will fail to hatch successfully and will be a loss,"
explained Josef. "Usually growers plan to devote about a sixth of their
crop to this purpose."

"A sixth! Why, that would cut down our sales dreadfully!" ejaculated the
girl.

"Better sell less now and be assured of a plentiful supply of eggs next
year," was the dry answer. "Don't you think so?"

Therefore the cocoons for hatching were gathered into one place and
after the floss that clung to the outside of them had been removed so
that it should not entangle the moth when it came forth from its house,
Madame Bretton took a needle and being extremely careful not to pierce
the chrysalis inside by putting it through the centre of the cocoons she
strung them on strings from three to four feet long and hung them over
some wires stretched across the top of the room.

"There!" she said. "Nothing can reach them now. They will be well up out
of the way of both mice and chickens, and in a month or two should hatch
out all right."

The weather in the meantime had become very hot. The southern sun beat
down on Bellerivre, parching its hillsides, and tanning its people to a
dusky brown. But the peasants complained not of the high temperature,
for was not this torrid sun that burned so fiercely the very factor they
were calculating upon to complete for them the final preparation of
their cocoons for the marke