betweenfancyandreality，thespiritandthelife。Modestewasapureyounggirl，inquisitiveafterknowledge，understandingherdestiny，andfilledwithchastity，——theVirginofSpainratherthantheMadonnaofRaphael。
SheraisedherheadwhensheheardDumaysaytoExupere，\"Comehere，youngman。\"SeeingthemtogetherinthecornerofthesalonshesupposedtheyweretalkingofsomecommissioninParis。Thenshelookedatthefriendswhosurroundedher，asifsurprisedbytheirsilence，andexclaimedinhernaturalmanner，\"Whyareyounotplaying？\"——withaglanceatthegreentablewhichtheimposingMadameLatournellecalledthe\"altar。\"
\"Yes，letusplay，\"saidDumay，havingsentoffExupere。
\"Sitthere，Butscha，\"saidMadameLatournelle，separatingthehead—
clerkfromthegrouparoundMadameMignonandherdaughterbythewholewidthofthetable。
\"Andyou，comeoverhere，\"saidDumaytohiswife，makinghersitclosebyhim。
MadameDumay，alittleAmericanaboutthirty—sixyearsofage，wipedhereyesfurtively;sheadoredModeste，andfearedacatastrophe。
\"Youarenotverylivelythisevening，\"remarkedModeste。
\"Weareplaying，\"saidGobenheim，sortinghiscards。
Nomatterhowinterestingthissituationmayappear，itcanbemadestillmoresobyexplainingDumay’spositiontowardsModeste。Ifthebrevityofthisexplanationmakesitseemratherdry，thereadermustpardonitsdrynessinviewofourdesiretogetthroughwiththesepreliminariesasspeedilyaspossible，andthenecessityofrelatingthemaincircumstanceswhichgovernalldramas。
CHAPTERIII
PRELIMINARIES
JeanFrancoisBernardDumay，bornatVannes，startedasasoldierforthearmyofItalyin1799。Hisfather，presidentoftherevolutionarytribunalofthattown，haddisplayedsomuchenergyinhisofficethattheplacehadbecometoohottoholdthesonwhentheparent，apettifogginglawyer，perishedonthescaffoldaftertheninthThermidor。Onthedeathofhismother，whodiedofthegriefthiscatastropheoccasioned，JeansoldallthathepossessedandrushedtoItalyattheageoftwenty—two，attheverymomentwhenourarmieswerebeginningtoyield。OnthewayhemetayoungmaninthedepartmentofVar，whoforreasonsanalogoustohisownwasinsearchofglory，believingabattle—fieldlessperilousthanhisownProvence。CharlesMignon，thelastscionofanancientfamily，whichgaveitsnametoastreetinParisandtoamansionbuiltbyCardinalMignon，hadashrewdandcalculatingfather，whoseoneideawastosavehisfeudalestateofLaBastieintheComtatfromtheclawsoftheRevolution。Likealltimidfolkofthatday，theComtedeLaBastie，nowcitizenMignon，founditmorewholesometocutoffotherpeople’sheadsthantolethisownbecutoff。Theshamterroristdisappearedafterthe9thThermidor，andwastheninscribedonthelistofemigres。TheestateofLaBastiewassold;thetowersandbastionsoftheoldcastlewerepulleddown，andcitizenMignonwassoonafterdiscoveredatOrleansandputtodeathwithhiswifeandallhischildrenexceptCharles，whomhehadsenttofindarefugeforthefamilyintheUpperAlps。
Horrorstruckatthenews，CharleswaitedforbettertimesinavalleyofMontGenevra;andthereheremainedtill1799，subsistingonafewlouiswhichhisfatherhadputintohishandatstarting。Finally，whentwenty—threeyearsofage，andwithoutotherfortunethanhisfinepresenceandthatsouthernbeautywhich，whenitreachesperfection，maybecalledsublime（ofwhichAntinous，thefavoriteofAdrian，isthetype），CharlesresolvedtowagerhisProvencalaudacity——takingit，likemanyanotheryouth，foravocation——ontheredclothofwar。OnhiswaytothebaseofthearmyatNicehemettheBreton。
Thepairbecameintimate，partlyfromthecontrastsintheircharacters;theydrankfromthesamecupatthewaysidetorrents，brokethesamebiscuit，andwerebothmadesergeantsatthepeacewhichfollowedthebattleofMarengo。
Whenthewarrecommenced，CharlesMignonwaspromotedintothecavalryandlostsightofhiscomrade。In1812thelastoftheMignondeLaBastiewasanofficeroftheLegionofhonorandmajorofaregimentofcavalry。TakenprisonerbytheRussianshewassent，likesomanyothers，toSiberia。Hemadethejourneyincompanywithanotherprisoner，apoorlieutenant，inwhomherecognizedhisoldfriendJeanDumay，brave，neglected，undecorated，unhappy，likeamillionofotherwoollenepaulets，rankandfile——thatcanvasofmenonwhichNapoleonpaintedthepictureoftheEmpire。WhileinSiberia，thelieutenant—
colonel，tokilltime，taughtwritingandarithmetictotheBreton，whoseearlyeducationhadseemedauselesswasteoftimetoPereScevola。Charlesfoundintheoldcomradeofhismarchingdaysoneofthoserareheartsintowhichamancanpourhisgriefswhiletellinghisjoys。
TheyoungProvencalhadmetthefatewhichattendsallhandsomebachelors。In1804，atFrankfortontheMain，hewasadoredbyBettinaWallenrod，onlydaughterofabanker，andhemarriedherwithallthemoreenthusiasmbecauseshewasrichandanotedbeauty，whilehewasonlyalieutenantwithnoprospectsbuttheextremelyproblematicalfutureofasoldieroffortuneofthatday。OldWallenrod，adecayedGermanbaron（thereisalwaysabaroninaGermanbank）delightedtoknowthatthehandsomelieutenantwasthesolerepresentativeoftheMignondeLaBastie，approvedtheloveoftheblondeBettina，whosebeautyanartist（atthattimetherereallywasoneinFrankfort）hadlatelypaintedasanidealheadofGermany。WallenrodinvestedenoughmoneyintheFrenchfundstogivehisdaughterthirtythousandfrancsayear，andsettleditonhisanticipatedgrandsons，namingthemcountsofLaBastie—Wallenrod。This\"dot\"madeonlyasmallholeinhiscash—box，thevalueofmoneybeingthenverylow。ButtheEmpire，pursuingapolicyoftenattemptedbyotherdebtors，rarelypaiditsdividends;andCharleswasratheralarmedatthisinvestment，havinglessfaiththanhisfather—in—lawintheimperialeagle。Thephenomenonofbelief，orofadmirationwhichisephemeralbelief，isnotsoeasilymaintainedwheninclosequarterswiththeidol。Themechanicdistruststhemachinewhichthetravelleradmires;andtheofficersofthearmymightbecalledthestokersoftheNapoleonicengine，——if，indeed，theywerenotitsfuel。
However，theBaronWallenrod—Tustall—Bartenstildpromisedtocomeifnecessarytothehelpofthehousehold。CharleslovedBettinaWallenrodasmuchasshelovedhim，andthatissayingagooddeal;
butwhenaProvencalismovedtoenthusiasmallhisfeelingsandattachmentsaregenuineandnatural。Andhowcouldhefailtoadorethatblondebeauty，escaping，asitwere，fromthecanvasofDurer，giftedwithanangelicnatureandendowedwithFrankfortwealth？Thepairhadfourchildren，ofwhomonlytwodaughterssurvivedatthetimewhenhepouredhisgriefsintotheBreton’sheart。Dumaylovedtheselittleoneswithouthavingseenthem，solelythroughthesympathysowelldescribedbyCharlet，whichmakesasoldierthefatherofeverychild。Theeldest，namedBettinaCaroline，wasbornin1805;theother，MarieModeste，in1808。Theunfortunatelieutenant—
colonel，longwithouttidingsofthesecherisheddarlings，wassent，atthepeaceof1814，acrossRussiaandPrussiaonfoot，accompaniedbythelieutenant。Nodifferenceofepauletscouldcountbetweenthetwofriends，whoreachedFrankfortjustasNapoleonwasdisembarkingatCannes。
CharlesfoundhiswifeinFrankfort，inmourningforherfather，whohadalwaysidolizedherandtriedtokeepasmileuponherlips，evenbyhisdyingbed。OldWallenrodwasunabletosurvivethedisastersoftheEmpire。Atseventyyearsofagehespeculatedincottons，relyingonthegeniusofNapoleonwithoutcomprehendingthatgeniusisquiteasoftenbeyondasatthebottomofcurrentevents。TheoldmanhadpurchasednearlyasmanybalesofcottonastheEmperorhadlostmenduringhismagnificentcampaigninFrance。\"Itieingoddon，\"saidthefathertothedaughter，afatheroftheGoriottype，strivingtoquietagriefwhichdistressedhim。\"Iowenomannanything——\"andhedied，stilltryingtospeaktohisdaughterinthelanguagethatsheloved。
Thankfultohavesavedhiswifeanddaughtersfromthegeneralwreck，CharlesMignonreturnedtoParis，wheretheEmperormadehimlieutenant—colonelinthecuirassiersoftheGuardandcommanderoftheLegionofhonor。Thecoloneldreamedofbeingcountandgeneralafterthefirstvictory。Alas！thathopewasquenchedinthebloodofWaterloo。Thecolonel，slightlywounded，retiredtotheLoire，andleftToursbeforethedisbandmentofthearmy。
Inthespringof1816Charlessoldhiswife’spropertyoutofthefundstotheamountofnearlyfourhundredthousandfrancs，intendingtoseekhisfortuneinAmerica，andabandonhisowncountrywherepersecutionwasbeginningtolayaheavyhandonthesoldiersofNapoleon。HewenttoHavreaccompaniedbyDumay，whoselifehehadsavedatWaterloobytakinghimonthecrupperofhissaddleinthehurly—burlyoftheretreat。Dumaysharedtheopinionsandtheanxietiesofhiscolonel;thepoorfellowidolizedthetwolittlegirlsandfollowedCharleslikeaspaniel。Thelatter，confidencethatthehabitofobedience，thedisciplineofsubordination，andthehonestyandaffectionofthelieutenantwouldmakehimausefulaswellasafaithfulretainer，proposedtotakehimwithhiminacivilcapacity。Dumaywasonlytoohappytobeadoptedintothefamily，towhichheresolvedtoclinglikethemistletoetoanoak。
Whilewaitingforanopportunitytoembark，atthesametimemakingchoiceofashipandreflectingonthechancesofferedbythevariousportsforwhichtheysailed，thecolonelheardmuchtalkaboutthebrilliantfuturewhichthepeaceseemedtopromisetoHavre。Ashelistenedtotheseconversationsamongthemerchants，heforesawthemeansoffortune，andwithoutlossoftimehesetaboutmakinghimselftheowneroflandedproperty，abanker，andashipping—merchant。Heboughtlandandhousesinthetown，anddespatchedavesseltoNewYorkfreightedwithsilkspurchasedinLyonsatreducedprices。HesentDumayontheshipashisagent;andwhenthelatterreturned，aftermakingadoubleprofitbythesaleofthesilksandthepurchaseofcottonsatalowvaluation，hefoundthecolonelinstalledwithhisfamilyinthehandsomesthouseintherueRoyale，andstudyingtheprinciplesofbankingwiththeprodigiousactivityandintelligenceofanativeofProvence。
ThisdoubleoperationofDumay’swasworthafortunetothehouseofMignon。ThecolonelpurchasedthevillaatIngouvilleandrewardedhisagentwiththegiftofamodestlittlehouseintherueRoyale。ThepoortoilerhadbroughtbackfromNewYork，togetherwithhiscottons，aprettylittlewife，attracteditwouldseembyhisFrenchnature。
MissGrummerwasworthaboutfourthousanddollars（twentythousandfrancs），whichsumDumayplacedwithhiscolonel，towhomhenowbecameanalterego。Inashorttimehelearnedtokeephispatron’sbooks，asciencewhich，tousehisownexpression，pertainstothesergeant—majorsofcommerce。Thesimple—heartedsoldier，whomfortunehadforgottenfortwentyyears，thoughthimselfthehappiestmanintheworldastheownerofthelittlehouse（whichhismaster’sliberalityhadfurnished），withtwelvehundredfrancsayearfrommoneyinthefunds，andasalaryofthreethousandsixhundred。NeverinhisdreamshadLieutenantDumayhopedforasituationsogoodasthis;butgreaterstillwasthesatisfactionhederivedfromtheknowledgethathisluckyenterprisehadbeenthepivotofgoodfortunetotherichestcommercialhouseinHavre。
MadameDumay，aratherprettylittleAmerican，hadthemisfortunetoloseallherchildrenattheirbirth;andherlastconfinementwassodisastrousastodepriveherofthehopeofanyother。ShethereforeattachedherselftothetwolittleMignons，whomDumayhimselfloved，orwouldhaveloved，evenbetterthanhisownchildrenhadtheylived。
MadameDumay，whoseparentswerefarmersaccustomedtoalifeofeconomy，wasquitesatisfiedtoreceiveonlytwothousandfourhundredfrancsofherownandherhouseholdexpenses;sothateveryyearDumaylaidbytwothousandandsomeextrahundredswiththehouseofMignon。
Whentheyearlyaccountsweremadeupthecolonelalwaysaddedsomethingtothislittlestorebywayofacknowledgingthecashier’sservices，untilin1824thelatterhadacreditoffifty—eightthousandfrancs。InwasthenthatCharlesMignon，ComtedeLaBastie，atitleheneverused，crownedhiscashierwiththefinalhappinessofresidingattheChalet，whereatthetimewhenthisstorybeginsMadameMignonandherdaughterwerelivinginobscurity。
ThedeplorablestateofMadameMignon’shealthwascausedinpartbythecatastrophetowhichtheabsenceofherhusbandwasdue。GriefhadtakenthreeyearstobreakdownthedocileGermanwoman;butitwasagriefthatgnawedatherheartlikeawormatthecoreofasoundfruit。Itiseasytoreckonupitsobviouscauses。Twochildren，dyingininfancy，hadadoublegraveinasoulthatcouldneverforget。TheexileofherhusbandtoSiberiawastosuchawomanadailydeath。ThefailureoftherichhouseofWallenrod，andthedeathofherfather，leavinghiscoffersempty，wastoBettina，thenuncertainaboutthefateofherhusband，aterribleblow。ThejoyofCharles’sreturncamenearkillingthetenderGermanflower。AfterthatthesecondfalloftheEmpireandtheproposedexpatriationactedonherfeelingslikearenewedattackofthesamefever。Atlast，however，aftertenyearsofcontinualprosperity，thecomfortsofherhouse，whichwasthefinestinHavre，thedinners，balls，andfetesofaprosperousmerchant，thesplendorsofthevillaMignon，theunboundedrespectandconsiderationenjoyedbyherhusband，hisabsoluteaffection，givingheranunrivalledloveinreturnforhersingle—mindedloveforhim，——allthesethingsbroughtthewomanbacktolife。Atthemomentwhenherdoubtsandfearsatlastlefther，whenshecouldlookforwardtothebrighteveningofherstormylife，ahiddencatastrophe，buriedintheheartofthefamily，andofwhichweshallpresentlymakemention，cameastheprecursorofrenewedtrials。
InJanuary，1826，onthedaywhenHavrehadunanimouslychosenCharlesMignonasitsdeputy，threeletters，arrivingfromNewYork，Paris，andLondon，fellwiththedestructionofahammeruponthecrystalpalaceofhisprosperity。Inaninstantruinlikeavultureswoopeddownupontheirhappiness，justasthecoldfellin1812uponthegrandarmyinRussia。OnenightsufficedCharlesMignontodecideuponhiscourse，andhespentitinsettlinghisaccountswithDumay。Allheowned，notexceptinghisfurniture，wouldjustsufficetopayhiscreditors。
\"Havreshallneverseemedoingnothing，\"saidthecoloneltothelieutenant。\"Dumay，Itakeyoursixtythousandfrancsatsixpercent。\"
\"Three，mycolonel。\"
\"Atnothing，then，\"criedMignon，peremptorily;\"youshallhaveyourshareintheprofitsofwhatInowundertake。The’Modeste，’whichisnolongermine，sailsto—morrow，andIsailinher。Icommittoyoumywifeanddaughter。Ishallnotwrite。Nonewsmustbetakenasgoodnews。\"
Dumay，alwayssubordinate，askednoquestionsofhiscolonel。\"I
think，\"hesaidtoLatournellewithaknowinglittleglance，\"thatmycolonelhasaplanlaidout。\"
Thefollowingdayatdawnheaccompaniedhismasteronboardthe\"Modeste\"boundforConstantinople。There，onthepoopofthevessel，theBretonsaidtotheProvencal，——
\"Whatareyourlastcommands，mycolonel？\"
\"ThatnomanshallentertheChalet，\"criedthefatherwithstrongemotion。\"Dumay，guardmylastchildasthoughyouwereabull—dog。
Deathtothemanwhoseducesanotherdaughter！Fearnothing，noteventhescaffold——Iwillbewithyou。\"
\"Mycolonel，goinpeace。Iunderstandyou。YoushallfindMademoiselleMignononyourreturnsuchasyounowgivehertome，orIshallbedead。Youknowme，andyouknowyourPyreneeshounds。Nomanshallreachyourdaughter。Forgivemefortroublingyouwithwords。\"
ThetwosoldiersclaspedarmslikemenwhohadlearnedtounderstandeachotherinthesolitudesofSiberia。
OnthesamedaytheHavre\"Courier\"publishedthefollowingterrible，simple，energetic，andhonorablenotice:——
\"ThehouseofCharlesMignonsuspendspayment。Buttheundersigned，assigneesoftheestate，undertaketopayallliabilities。Onandafterthisdate，holdersofnotesmayobtaintheusualdiscount。Thesaleofthelandedestateswillfullycoverallcurrentindebtedness。
\"Thisnoticeisissuedforthehonorofthehouse，andtopreventanydisturbanceinthemoney—marketofthistown。
\"MonsieurCharlesMignonsailedthismorningonthe’Modeste’forAsiaMinor，leavingfullpowerswiththeundersignedtosellhiswholeproperty，bothlandedandpersonal。
DUMAY，assigneeoftheBankaccounts，LATOURNELLE，notary，assigneeofthecityandvillaproperty，GOBENHEIM，assigneeofthecommercialproperty。\"
LatournelleowedhisprosperitytothekindnessofMonsieurMignon，wholenthimonehundredthousandfrancsin1817tobuythefinestlawpracticeinHavre。Thepoorman，whohadnopecuniarymeans，wasnearlyfortyyearsofageandsawnoprospectofbeingotherthanhead—clerkfortherestofhisdays。HewastheonlymaninHavrewhosedevotioncouldbecomparedwithDumay’s。AsforGobenheim，heprofitedbytheliquidationtogetapartofMonsieurMignon’sbusiness，whichliftedhisownlittlebankintoprominence。
Whileunanimousregretsforthedisasterwereexpressedincounting—
rooms，onthewharves，andinprivatehouses，wherepraisesofamansoirreproachable，honorable，andbeneficentfilledeverymouth，LatournelleandDumay，silentandactiveasants，soldland，turnedpropertyintomoney，paidthedebts，andsettledupeverything。
Vilquinshowedagooddealofgenerosityinpurchasingthevilla，thetown—house，andafarm;andLatournellemadethemostofhisliberalitybygettingagoodpriceoutofhim。SocietywishedtoshowcivilitiestoMadameandMademoiselleMignon;buttheyhadalreadyobeyedthefather’slastwishesandtakenrefugeintheChalet，wheretheywentontheverymorningofhisdeparture，theexacthourofwhichhadbeenconcealedfromthem。Nottobeshakeninhisresolutionbyhisgriefatparting，thebravemansaidfarewelltohiswifeanddaughterwhiletheyslept。Threehundredvisitingcardswereleftatthehouse。Afortnightlater，justasCharleshadpredicted，completeforgetfulnesssettleddownupontheChalet，andprovedtothesewomenthewisdomanddignityofhiscommand。
DumaysentagentstorepresenthismasterinNewYork，Paris，andLondon，andfolloweduptheassignmentsofthethreebanking—houseswhosefailurehadcausedtheruinoftheHavrehouse，thusrealizingfivehundredthousandfrancsbetween1826and1828，aneighthofCharles’swholefortune;then，accordingtothelatter’sdirectionsgivenonthenightofhisdeparture，hesentthatsumtoNewYorkthroughthehouseofMongenodtothecreditofMonsieurCharlesMignon。Allthiswasdonewithmilitaryobedience，exceptinamatterofwithholdingthirtythousandfrancsforthepersonalexpensesofMadameandMademoiselleMignonasthecolonelhadorderedhimtodo，butwhichDumaydidnotdo。TheBretonsoldhisownlittlehousefortwentythousandfrancs，whichsumhegavetoMadameMignon，believingthatthemorecapitalhesenttohiscolonelthesoonerthelatterwouldreturn。
\"Hemightperishforthewantofthirtythousandfrancs，\"DumayremarkedtoLatournelle，whoboughtthelittlehouseatitsfullvalue，whereanapartmentwasalwayskeptreadyfortheinhabitantsoftheChalet。
CHAPTERIV
ASIMPLESTORY
SuchwastheresulttothecelebratedhouseofMignonatHavreofthecrisisof1825—26，whichconvulsedmanyoftheprincipalbusinesscentresinEuropeandcausedtheruinofseveralParisianbankers，amongthem（asthosewhorememberthatcrisiswillrecall）thepresidentofthechamberofcommerce。
Wecannowunderstandhowthisgreatdisaster，comingsuddenlyatthecloseoftenyearsofdomestichappiness，mightwellhavebeenthedeathofBettinaMignon，againseparatedfromherhusbandandignorantofhisfate，——toherasadventurousandperilousastheexiletoSiberia。Butthegriefwhichwasdragginghertothegravewasfarotherthanthesevisiblesorrows。ThecausticthatwasslowlyeatingintoherheartlaybeneathastoneinthelittlegraveyardofIngouville，onwhichwasinscribed:——
BETTINACAROLINEMIGNON
Diedagedtwenty—two。
Prayforher。
Thisinscriptionistotheyounggirlwhomitcoveredwhatmanyanotherepitaphhasbeenforthedeadlyingbeneaththem，——atableofcontentstoahiddenbook。Hereisthebook，initsdreadfulbrevity;
anditwillexplaintheoathexactedandtakenwhenthecolonelandthelieutenantbadeeachotherfarewell。
Ayoungmanofcharmingappearance，namedCharlesd’Estourny，cametoHavreforthecommonplacepurposeofbeingnearthesea，andtherehesawBettinaMignon。A\"soi—disant\"fashionableParisianisneverwithoutintroductions，andhewasinvitedattheinstanceofafriendoftheMignonstoafetegivenatIngouville。HefellinlovewithBettinaandwithherfortune，andinthreemonthshehaddonetheworkofseductionandenticedheraway。Thefatherofafamilyofdaughtersshouldnomoreallowayoungmanwhomhedoesnotknowtoenterhishomethanheshouldleavebooksandpaperslyingaboutwhichhehasnotread。Ayounggirl’sinnocenceislikemilk，whichasmallmatterturnssour，——aclapofthunder，anevilodor，ahotday，amerebreath。
WhenCharlesMignonreadhisdaughter’sletteroffarewellheinstantlydespatchedMadameDumaytoParis。ThefamilygaveoutthatajourneytoanotherclimatehadsuddenlybeenadvisedforCarolinebytheirphysician;andthephysicianhimselfsustainedtheexcuse，thoughunabletopreventsomegossipinthesocietyofHavre。\"Suchavigorousyounggirl！withthecomplexionofaSpaniard，andthatblackhair！——sheconsumptive！\"\"Yes，theysayshecommittedsomeimprudence。\"\"Ah，ah！\"criedaVilquin。\"Iamtoldshecamebackbathedinperspirationafterridingonhorseback，anddrankicedwater;atleast，thatiswhatDr。Troussenardsays。\"
BythetimeMadameDumayreturnedtoHavrethecatastropheofthefailurehadtakenplace，andsocietypaidnofurtherattentiontotheabsenceofBettinaorthereturnofthecashier’swife。Atthebeginningof1827thenewspapersrangwiththetrialofCharlesd’Estourny，whowasfoundguiltyofcheatingatcards。TheyoungcorsairescapedintoforeignpartswithouttakingthoughtofMademoiselleMignon，whowasoflittlevaluetohimsincethefailureofthebank。Bettinaheardofhisinfamousdesertionandofherfather’sruinalmostatthesametime。Shereturnedhomestruckbydeath，andwastedawayinashorttimeattheChalet。Herdeathatleastprotectedherreputation。TheillnessthatMonsieurMignonallegedtobethecauseofherabsence，andthedoctor’sorderwhichsenthertoNicewerenowgenerallybelieved。Uptothelastmomentthemotherhopedtosaveherdaughter’slife。BettinawasherdarlingandModestewasthefather’s。Therewassomethingtouchinginthetwopreferences。BettinawastheimageofCharles，justasModestewasthereproductionofhermother。Bothparentscontinuedtheirloveforeachotherintheirchildren。Bettina，adaughterofProvence，inheritedfromherfatherthebeautifulhair，blackasaraven’swing，whichdistinguishesthewomenoftheSouth，thebrowneye，almond—shapedandbrilliantasastar，theolivetint，thevelvetskinasofsomegoldenfruit，thearchedinstep，andtheSpanishwaistfromwhichtheshortbasqueskirtfellcrisply。Bothmotherandfatherwereproudofthecharmingcontrastbetweenthesisters。\"Adevilandanangel！\"theysaidtoeachother，laughing，littlethinkingitprophetic。
Afterweepingforamonthinthesolitudeofherchamber，wheresheadmittednoone，themothercameforthatlastwithinjuredeyes。
Beforelosinghersightaltogethershepersisted，againstthewishesofherfriends，invisitingherdaughter’sgrave，onwhichsherivetedhergazeincontemplation。Thatimageremainedvividinthedarknesswhichnowfelluponher，justastheredspectrumofanobjectshinesinoureyeswhenweclosetheminfulldaylight。ThisterribleanddoublemisfortunemadeDumay，notlessdevoted，butmoreanxiousaboutModeste，nowtheonlydaughterofthefatherwhowasunawareofhisloss。MadameDumay，idolizingModeste，likeotherwomendeprivedoftheirchildren，casthermotherlinessaboutthegirl，——yetwithoutdisregardingthecommandsofherhusband，whodistrustedfemaleintimacies。Thosecommandswerebrief。\"Ifanyman，ofanyage，oranyrank，\"Dumaysaid，\"speakstoModeste，oglesher，makeslovetoher，heisadeadman。I’llblowhisbrainsoutandgivemyselftotheauthorities;mydeathmaysaveher。Ifyoudon’twishtoseemyheadcutoff，doyoutakemyplaceinwatchingherwhenIamobligedtogoout。\"
ForthelastthreeyearsDumayhadexaminedhispistolseverynight。
HeseemedtohaveputhalftheburdenofhisoathuponthePyreneanhounds，twoanimalsofuncommonsagacity。OnesleptinsidetheChalet，theotherwasstationedinakennelwhichheneverleft，andwhereheneverbarked;butterriblewouldhavebeenthemomenthadthepairmadetheirteethmeetinsomeunknownadventurer。
WecannowimaginethesortoflifeledbymotheranddaughterattheChalet。MonsieurandMadameLatournelle，oftenaccompaniedbyGobenheim，cametocallandplaywhistwithDumaynearlyeveryevening。TheconversationturnedonthegossipofHavreandthepettyeventsofprovinciallife。Thelittlecompanyseparatedbetweennineandteno’clock。Modesteputhermothertobed，andtogethertheysaidtheirprayers，keptupeachother’scourage，andtalkedofthedearabsentone，thehusbandandfather。Afterkissinghermotherforgood—
night，thegirlwenttoherownroomaboutteno’clock。Thenextmorningshepreparedhermotherforthedaywiththesamecare，thesameprayers，thesameprattle。Toherpraisebeitsaidthatfromthedaywhentheterribleinfirmitydeprivedhermotherofasense，Modestehadbeenlikeaservanttoher，displayingatalltimesthesamesolicitude;neverwearyingoftheduty，neverthinkingitmonotonous。Suchconstantdevotion，combinedwithatendernessrareamongyounggirls，wasthoroughlyappreciatedbythosewhowitnessedit。TotheLatournellefamily，andtoMonsieurandMadameDumay，Modestewas，insoul，thepearlofprice。
Onsunnydays，betweenbreakfastanddinner，MadameMignonandMadameDumaytookalittlewalktowardthesea。Modesteaccompaniedthem，fortwoarmswereneededtosupporttheblindmother。Aboutamonthbeforethescenetowhichthisexplanationisaparenthesis，MadameMignonhadtakencounselwithherfriends，MadameLatournelle，thenotary，andDumay，whileMadameDumaycarriedModesteinanotherdirectionforalongerwalk。
\"ListentowhatIhavetosay，\"saidtheblindwoman。\"Mydaughterisinlove。Ifeelit;Iseeit。Asingularchangehastakenplacewithinher，andIdonotseehowitisthatnoneofyouhaveperceivedit。\"
\"Inthenameofallthat’shonorable——\"criedthelieutenant。
\"Don’tinterruptme，Dumay。ForthelasttwomonthsModestehastakenasmuchcareofherpersonalappearanceasifsheexpectedtomeetalover。Shehasgrownextremelyfastidiousabouthershoes;shewantstosetoffherprettyfeet;shescoldsMadameGobet，theshoemaker。Itisthesamethingwithhermilliner。Somedaysmypoordarlingisabsorbedinthought，evidentlyexpectant，asifwaitingforsomeone。
Hervoicehascurttoneswhensheanswersaquestion，asthoughshewereinterruptedinthecurrentofherthoughtsandsecretexpectations。Then，ifthisawaitedloverhascome——\"
\"Goodheavens！\"
\"Sitdown，Dumay，\"saidtheblindwoman。\"Well，thenModesteisgay。
Oh！sheisnotgaytoyoursight;youcannotcatchthesegradations;
theyaretoodelicateforeyesthatseeonlytheoutsideofnature。
Hergaietyisbetrayedtomebythetonesofhervoice，bycertainaccentswhichIalonecancatchandunderstand。Modestethen，insteadofsittingstillandthoughtful，givesventtoawild，inwardactivitybyimpulsivemovements，——inshort，sheishappy。Thereisagrace，acharmintheveryideassheutters。Ah，myfriends，IknowhappinessaswellasIknowsorrow;Iknowitssigns。BythekissmyModestegivesmeIcanguesswhatispassingwithinher。Iknowwhethershehasreceivedwhatshewaslookingfor，orwhethersheisuneasyorexpectant。Therearemanygradationsinakiss，eveninthatofaninnocentyounggirl，andModesteisinnocenceitself;buthersistheinnocenceofknowledge，notofignorance。Imaybeblind，butmytendernessisall—seeing，andIchargeyoutowatchovermydaughter。\"
Dumay，nowactuallyferocious，thenotary，inthecharacterofamanboundtoferretoutamystery，MadameLatournelle，thedeceivedchaperone，andMadameDumay，alarmedforherhusband’ssafety，becameatonceasetofspies，andModestefromthisdayforthwasneverleftaloneforaninstant。DumaypassednightsunderherwindowwrappedinhiscloaklikeajealousSpaniard;butwithallhismilitarysagacityhewasunabletodetecttheleastsuspicioussign。Unlessshelovedthenightingalesinthevillapark，orsomefairyprince，Modestecouldhaveseennoone，andhadneithergivennorreceivedasignal。
MadameDumay，whoneverwenttobedtillsheknewModestewasasleep，watchedtheroadfromtheupperwindowsoftheChaletwithavigilanceequaltoherhusband’s。UndertheseeightArguseyestheblamelesschild，whoseeverymotionwasstudiedandanalyzed，cameoutoftheordealsofullyacquittedofallcriminalconversationthatthefourfriendsdeclaredtoeachotherprivatelythatMadameMignonwasfoolishlyover—anxious。MadameLatournelle，whoalwaystookModestetochurchandbroughtherbackagain，wascommissionedtotellthemotherthatshewasmistakenaboutherdaughter。
\"Modeste，\"shesaid，\"isayounggirlofveryexaltedideas;sheworksherselfintoenthusiasmforthepoetryofonewriterortheproseofanother。Youhaveonlytojudgebytheimpressionmadeuponherbythatscaffoldsymphony，’TheLastHoursofaConvict’\"（thesayingwasButscha’s，whosuppliedwittohisbenefactresswithalavishhand）;
\"sheseemedtomeallbutcrazywithadmirationforthatMonsieurHugo。
