d to defer no longer a marriage that had long since been
resolved upon, and was necessitated by all sorts of considerations. For
more than two years now Rose had been sleeping in the little cemetery of
Janville, and for more than a year Blaise had joined her there, beneath
flowers which were ever fresh. And the souvenir of the dear dead ones,
whom they all visited, and who had remained alive in all their hearts,
was to participate in the coming festival. It was as if they themselves
had decided with their parents that the hour for the espousals had
struck, and that regret for their loss ought no longer to bar the joy of
growth and increase.

Denis's installation at the Beauchene works in his brother's place had
come about quite naturally. If he had not gone thither on leaving the
science school where he had spent three years, it was simply because
the position was at that time already held by Blaise. All his technical
studies marked him out for the post. In a single day he had fitted
himself for it, and he simply had to take up his quarters in the little
pavilion, Charlotte having fled to Chantebled with her little Berthe
directly after the horrible catastrophe. It should be added that Denis'
entry into the establishment offered a convenient solution with
regard to the large sum of money lent to Beauchene, which, it had been
arranged, should be reimbursed by a sixth share in the factory. That
money came from the family, and one brother simply took the place of the
other, signing the agreement which the deceased would have signed. With
a delicate rectitude, however, Denis insisted that out of his share of
the profits an annuity should be assigned to Charlotte, his brother's
widow.

Thus matters were settled in a week, in the manner that circumstances
logically demanded, and without possibility of discussion. Constance,
bewildered and overwhelmed, was not even able to struggle. Her husband
reduced her to silence by repeating: "What would you have me do? I must
have somebody to help me, and it is just as well to take Denis as a
stranger. Besides, if he worries me I will buy him out within a year and
give him his dismissal!"

At this Constance remained silent to avoid casting his ignominy in his
face, amid her despair at feeling the walls of the house crumble and
fall, bit by bit, upon her.

Once installed at the works, Denis considered that the time had come to
carry out the matrimonial plans which he had long since ar