r, then he went to his garden, where weed or damaging
insect was never seen. Sometimes Gasselin was observed motionless,
bare-headed, under a burning sun, watching for a field-mouse or the
terrible grub of the cockchafer; then, as soon as it was caught, he
would rush with the joy of a child to show his masters the noxious beast
that had occupied his mind for a week. He took pleasure in going to
Croisic on fast-days, to purchase a fish to be had for less money there
than at Guerande.

Thus no household was ever more truly one, more united in interests,
more bound together than this noble family sacredly devoted to its duty.
Masters and servants seemed made for one another. For twenty-five years
there had been neither trouble nor discord. The only griefs were the
petty ailments of the little boy, the only terrors were caused by the
events of 1814 and those of 1830. If the same things were invariably
done at the same hours, if the food was subjected to the regularity of
times and seasons, this monotony, like that of Nature varied only
by alterations of cloud and rain and sunshine, was sustained by the
affection existing in the hearts of all,--the more fruitful, the more
beneficent because it emanated from natural causes.

III. THREE BRETON SILHOUETTES

When night had fairly fallen, Gasselin came into the hall and asked his
master respectfully if he had further need of him.

"You can go out, or go to bed, after prayers," replied the baron, waking
up, "unless Madame or my sister--"

The two ladies here made a sign of consent. Gasselin then knelt down,
seeing that his masters rose to kneel upon their chairs; Mariotte also
knelt before her stool. Mademoiselle du Guenic then said the prayer
aloud. After it was over, some one rapped at the door on the lane.
Gasselin went to open it.

"I dare say it is Monsieur le cure; he usually comes first," said
Mariotte.

Every one now recognized the rector's foot on the resounding steps of
the portico. He bowed respectfully to the three occupants of the room,
and addressed them in phrases of that unctuous civility which priests
are accustomed to use. To the rather absent-minded greeting of the
mistress of the house, he replied by an ecclesiastically inquisitive
look.

"Are you anxious or ill, Madame la baronne?" he asked.

"Thank you, no," she replied.

Monsieur Grimont, a man of fifty, of middle height, lost in his cassock,
from which issued two stout shoes with silver b