of this valley. Why, I'm 'most seventy
years old already! It is well enough for you to learn things--you're
young. As for me, the learning I have has stood by me up to now, and I
guess it will do me the rest of my days."

With a smile on his simple face the venerable man turned away.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VIII

PIERRE MAKES A FRIEND

The buyer who came to Bellerivre from the Gaspard silk mills was a
lively little Frenchman whom Pierre had often seen before.

"So it is you, my young friend, who this year raises the cocoons!" cried
the merchant cordially. "Who would have thought it possible? But
yesterday you were a baby in your father's arms. And now----" the little
man shrugged his shoulders. "Eh bien, le bon chien chasse de race! N'est
pas, Madame?"

Madame Bretton smiled.

"The lad is but doing his best to fill his father's place," she answered
quietly.

"That is as it should be with all good French boys, too," the
merchant assented. "And have you ever visited our silk mills at
Pont-de-Saint-Michel? No? Ah, but you should do so. It is only an hour's
journey, and if you are to raise silk you must learn all you can about
it. If I should give you a letter to our foreman would not Madame, your
mother, be willing you should go?"

Pierre glanced up eagerly.

His eyes sparkled.

"Would you, Mother? It would not cost very much, would it?" He turned
apologetically to the silk buyer. "You see," he explained, "in these war
days we must be very saving, for every franc that we can spare goes to
my father and my uncle, who are in the army."

"I know," sighed the agent. "Wherever I go it is the same. All the men
are at the front. But the cost of the trip I suggested is very little,
and I myself should be glad to----"

"No, Monsieur Leclerq," interrupted Madame Bretton. "I know what you
would say, and I thank you; but we are well able to pay Pierre's
expenses to Saint Michel, since you are so kind as to invite him. I am
sure the excursion would more than repay us. It would not be like taking
the money for a mere pleasure tour. Pierre shall go. It will be another
step toward making a silk merchant of him."

"I wish I could go, too," whispered Marie.

"You are not to be a silk merchant, cherie," answered her mother gently.
"We women are the stay-at-homes, who do all we can to help our men
forward in their careers; that is our work."

And so the next day Pierre, very happy and important, and with a larg