pite of all
misfortune, grew bigger as the years went on. Probably, in spite of
everything, Monsieur Lavilette and his family would have succeeded
better socially had it not been for one or two unpopular lawsuits
brought by the Lavilettes against two neighbours, small farmers, one of
whom was clearly in the wrong, and the other as clearly in the right.

When, after years had gone by, and the children of the Lavilettes
had grown up, young Monsieur Casimbault came from Quebec to sell his
property (it seemed to the people of Bonaventure like selling his
birthright), he was greatly surprised to find Monsieur Lavilette ready
with ten thousand dollars, to purchase the Manor Casimbault. Before the
parish had time to take breath Monsieur Casimbault had handed over the
deed, pocketed the money, and leaving the ancient heritage of his family
in the hands of the Lavilettes, (who forthwith prepared to enter upon
it, house and land), had hurried away to Quebec again without any pangs
of sentiment.

It was a little before this time that impertinent peasants in the parish
began to sing:

"O when you hear my little silver drum,
And when I blow my little gold trompette-a,
You must drop your work and come,
You must leave your pride at home,
And duck your heads before the Lavilette-a!"

Gatineau the miller, and Baby the keeper of the bridge, gave their
own reasons for the renewed progress of the Lavilettes. They met in
conference at the mill on the eve of the marriage of Sophie Lavilette
to Magon Farcinelle, farrier, farmer and member of the provincial
legislature, whose house lay behind the piece of maple wood, a mile or
so to the right of the Lavilettes' farmhouse. Farcinelle's engagement to
Sophie had come as a surprise to all, for, so far as people knew, there
had been no courting. Madame Lavilette had encouraged, had even tempted,
the spontaneous and jovial Farcinelle. Though he had never made a speech
in the House of Assembly, and it was hard to tell why he was elected,
save because everybody liked him, his official position and his
popularity held an important place in Madame Lavilette's long-developed
plans, which at last were to place her in a position equal to that of
the old seigneur, and launch her upon society at the capital.

They had gone more than once to the capital, where their family had been
well-known fifty years before, but few doors had been opened to them.
They were f