The Country Doctor

the officer's face. It touched him to have been so well understood. He was a

bles of mine, C

to his feet with sudden energy, a change of position that seemed to be prompted by inward dis

ing to and fro in the salon, like a bumble-bee in quest o

you, sir?" inq

r the first time in my life, and I am well punished for it; for after this I cannot explain why I came here to play the spy upon you, confound it! Ever since I have had a glimpse of your soul, so to speak, I would far sooner have tak

"As you said but a short time ago, sir, we were friends before we knew each other. I have been very anxious to mak

at the first. Yet, now! It is quite as well that I wore a mask, and came here myself in search of information concerning you, for now I know that I must hold my

understand you

our friend through thick and thin. Pierre Joseph Genestas' sword and purse are at your disposal, and I am yours to the last drop of my blood. Well, after all, your words have fallen on good

untry a benefit quite as great as any that the most skilful physician can bestow. The latter lessens the sufferings of some few individuals, and the fo

the commandant in

en a moment! I have killed a good many Christians in my time, it is true; but you may kill people and ke

go

to give you any pai

t, I can bear

child's life, sir," sai

brows, but by a gesture he e

ing himself to a single patient? Not in a town, that much was certain. I had heard you spoken of as an excellent man, but I wished to be quite sure that this reputa

e doctor; "so thi

you a long story, in which I do not exactly play the part of a hero;

ndant, at night when every one is sleeping, I do not sleep.... The thought of my troubles lies heavily on me, and then I try to forget them

aid Genestas, "I pre

housekeeper, "bring in some wine and biscuits. We will bo

very bad for you!"

for me a brief respite every night, a few moments during which life becomes less of a burden.... Come. I am li

se days. More than once during the Retreat I had owed my life to him. He was a quartermaster, Renard by name; we could not but be like brothers (military discipline apart) after what he had done for me. They billeted us on the same house, a sort of shanty, a rat-hole of a place where a whole family lived, though you would not have tho

vet, and dark lashes to them like rats' tails; her hair was so thick and glossy that it made you long to stroke it. She was perfection, and nothing less! I was the first to discover this curious arrangement. I was walking up and down outside one evening, smoking my pipe, after they thought I had gone to bed. The childr

never been in love before. I was hard hit, and over head and ears in love. There I stayed smoking my pipe, absorbed in watching the Jewess until she blew out the candle and went to bed. I could not close my e

ry, to clear my head. I kept him at a trot for two mortal h

se me, Benassis, I am no orator; things come out just as they turn up in my mind. I

said th

ere; and, as my comrade understood the jargon that those heathens talked, I begged him to help me to lay my proposals before her father and mother, and to try to arrange some kind of communication between me and Judith. Judith they called her. In short, sir, for a fortnight the Jew and his wife so arranged matters that we supped every night

l's, and a thorough knowledge of the art of wheedling people. It was HE whom Judith loved; she cared about as much for me as a horse cares for roast fowls. Whilst I was in the seventh heaven, soaring above the clouds at the bare sight of Judith, my friend Renard (who, as you see, fairly deserved his name) arrived at an understanding with the girl, and to such good purpose, that they were m

he girl herself, and the quartermaster were all in the plot like thieves in a fair. While I was smoking my pipe, and worshiping Judith as if she h

to rob a friend of happiness and life and the woman he loves. My birds, in fact, were married and happy; and there was I, every evening at supper, moonstruck, gazing at Judith, responding like some fellow in a farce to the looks

eds get himself into a scrape, by choosing that moment to take leave of a Polish lady who lived outside the town, a quarter of a mile away; the Cossack advanced guard just caught him nicely, him and his picket. There was scarcely time to spring into our saddles and draw up before the town so as to engage in a cavalry skirmish. We

the field. We were completely surrounded. I was by Renard's side in the front rank, and I saw how my friend fought and charged like a demon; he was thinking of his wife. Thanks to him, we managed to regain the town, which our invalids had put more or less in a state of defence, but it was pitiful to see it. We were the last to return-he and I. A body of Cossacks appeared in our way, and on this we rode in hot has

' Renard said; 'it i

ime; I dismounted, and propped him up on a little straw by the corner of the house. A

I had taken Judith from you. Take care of her and of her

. I went in search of her, took her up behind me in the saddle, and, thanks to my swift horse, caught up the regiment which was effecting its retreat. As for the Jew and his family, there was not one of

hting at Hanau. I was wounded in the engagement, and only rejoined Judith at Strasburg; then I returned to Paris, for, unluckily, I was laid up all through the campaign in France. If it had not been for that wretched mishap, I should have entered the Grenadier Guards, and then the Emperor would have promoted me. As it was, sir, I had three br

'your child has not

have I!'

sary papers, I will marry you; and as for the child,

a place in my heart. She died, poor woman, while the father and mother Jews and the papers were on the way. The day before she died, she found strength enough to rise and dress herself for her wedding, to g

1815. Ever since that time, without letting any one know my story, which did not sound very well, I have looked after the little rogue as if he were my own child. I don't know what became of his grand

cked up by it. He has a delicate chest. By all I can make out from the doctors in Paris, there would be some hope for him still if he were allowed to run wild among the hills, if he was properly cared for, and constantly looked after by some

will to submit me to this final trial, and I will endure it. I will offer up these sufferings to God, whose

d them warmly, unable to check the tears that fi

ce with regard to

ant. You are

Genestas answered. "

will you bri

ill let me. He has been a

n. I shall wait for you in La Fosseuse's cottage, a

other good-night. When they reached the landing that lay between their rooms,

go without telling you that you are the third among christened men to make

of sadness and a cordial grasp of t

e in use everywhere on the roads in these hilly districts. Genestas' companion was a thin, delicate-looking lad, apparently about twelve years of age, though in reality he was in his sixteenth year. Before alighting, the officer looked round about him in several directions in search of a peasant who would take the carria

lovely country, Adrien? Learning to hunt and to ride a horse

all lads of his age, he cared nothing for the beauty of natural scenery;

Genestas' heart; he said no more to his son, a

cried Benassis, rising from the

ts delicate oval outlines, one of the most noticeable characteristics of a noble head. The lad was the living image of his mother. He had her olive complexion, beautiful black ey

ly, my little man?"

s,

knees; turn bac

rters, and showed his knee to the

t, shout as loud as yo

. Now give me

e, soft, and blue-veined ha

you at schoo

aint

read his breviary

s,

t go straight

ter is a worthy priest; he advised me to take my little ra

nse for him, and put him in Butifer's hands, and the two of them shall have some chamois-hunting. Give your son four or five months of out-door life, and you will not know him again, commandant! How delighted Butifer will be! I know the fellow; he will take you over into Switzerland, my young friend; haul you over the Alpine passes and up the mountain peaks, and add six inches to your height in six months; he will put some color

ed more and more at eve

e is very anxious to see you," said Benassi

rew him a little aside. "Then he is

than yo

is the matt

ssis; "he is a little

ble, which was made of walnut wood. There was no tablecloth, but the surface might have been varnished, it was so well rubbed and polished. Eggs, butter, a rice pudding, and fragrant wild strawberries had been set out, and the poor child had put flowers everywhere about the room; evidently it was a great day for her. A

erms on which you are receiving hospitality. You

is breakfast in peace, and then, af

"but it must be upon one condition: you will tell us the story

answered, as her color rose. "Will you take a little more ric

ease, made

s delicious,"

ay to her coffee and

hear our prett

er's stern exterior, and you can talk freely before him. We do not want to press you to talk, do not tell us anything unless you like: but if ever you can be listened to and understood, poor

rved, I will tell about my 'love affairs' very willingly. But M. le Commandant w

e, mademoiselle," Genest

er was kind, but his wife could not abide me, and was always saying hard things. I used to feel very miserable; for though I was a beggar, I was not a naughty child; I used to say my prayers every night and morning, I

ease God to let her live a happier life up there than she did here below! And, above all things, if she might only lie a little softer there, for she was always grumbling about the pallet-bed that we both used to sleep upon. You could not possibly imagine how it hurts one's soul to be repulsed by every one, to receive nothing but hard words and looks that cut you to the heart, just as if they were so many stabs of a knife. I have known poor old people who were so used to these things that they did not mind them a bit, but I was not born for that sort of life. A 'No' always made me cry. Every evening I came back again more unhappy tha

l my tidbits for him. He knew me, and came to look for me every evening. How he used to spring up at me! And he would bite my feet, he was not ashamed of my poverty; there was something so grateful and so kind in his eyes that it brought tears into mine to see it. 'That is the one living creature that really cares for me!' I used to

Pere Manseau. One day his wife saw that the dog was fond of me, so she herself took a sudden violent fancy to him. The dog, mind you, could not bear her. Oh, animals know people by instinct! If you really care for them, they find it out in a moment. I had a gold coin, a twenty-franc piece, sewed

aven forbid that I should take their money from the poor! Keep t

oisoned; and my poor spaniel died in my arms.... I cried over him as if he had been my child, and buried him under a pine-tree. You do not know all that I laid in that grave. As I sat there beside it, I told myself that henceforward I should always be alone in the world; that I had nothing left to hop

ake care of the poor little one; we will beg together, and I will be a mother to him. Two of us

d over me, but that was nicer than being alone, I used to think! Pshaw! no sooner did the little good-for-nothing know that I carried a twenty-franc piece sewed into my skirtband than he cut the stitches, and stole my gold coin, the price of

ng lady, as beautiful as the Virgin Mary, in the carriage, and a young man, who looked like th

my throat. Some kind of instinct drew me towards him. After he had recognized me, I went on my way again; I felt quite sure that he and the young lady with him would leave the carriage to see the waterfall at Couz, and so they did. When they alighted, they saw me once more, under the walnut-trees by the wayside. They asked me many questions, and seemed to take an interest in what I told them about myself. In all my life I had never heard such pleasant voices as they had, that handsome young man and his sister, for she was

use, "you see that Providence has kept a f

se looked at Benassis wi

Genestas. The officer's exclamati

said La Fosseuse at

after a moment, "I had been sent with a despatch to General Davoust's quarters, and I was on the way back

n Genestas, are

your Ma

re out i

your Ma

are on,' he said; 'turn to the left, you

h in 1815. But for that mistake, perhaps I might have been a colonel to-day; I never meant to betray the Bourbons, France must be defended, and that was all I thought about. I was a Major in the Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard; and although my wound still gave me trouble, I swung a sabre in the battle of Waterloo.

he came towards me, 'so we ar

foot, as I did. He pointed to the villainous English vessel that was keeping the entrance to the Harbor.

at the doctor and at La Fosseu

the Guard, and who hurried you into your traveling

ried eagerly, 'the ga

ty, but I am not free; I have a mot

rien over there prevented m

box that I have used though this last campaign. And stay on in France; after all, brave men are wanted there! Remain in the service, and keep

' he said; 'the history of our last two ca

ust either give himself up to them, or cross the breadth of France again. We were wretchedly anxious; the minutes seemed like hours! On the one hand there were the Bourbons, who would have shot Napoleon if he had fallen into their clutches; and on the other, the English, a dishonored race: they covered themselves with shame by flinging a foe who asked

t about it, captain?'

up the white flag and man the brig with a few devoted followers. We will tackle

tain. But Napoleon looked at us and said,

im, and he knew it. There was a traitor in the harbor, who by means of signals gave warning to the Emperor's enemies of his presence. Then Napoleon fell back on a last resource; he did as he had bee

s snuff-box?" as

t Grenoble," the

nk that you have something in your possession that hi

er

he is dead? Come, tel

he is dead; there i

nough to see anything but his hat, and even so I wa

d Genestas. "Well, Adrien, how do you like this

t La Fosseuse. Benassis never took his eyes off Ad

again, I have a pretty long round to make, and I shall want a horse. I d

with us?" said Gene

I have a lot of things to ta

ad raised La Fosseuse's spirits; she led the way along

ve liked to hear you tell us about some adventure in the wars. I liked what you told u

some thrilling adventure during our walk. Come, now, something

h! stop a bit though, a funny thing did once happen to me. I was with the Grand Army in 1805, and so, of course, I was at Austerlitz. There was a great deal of skirmish

re a countess lived, a young and pretty woman she was. Of course, I meant to lodge in the house, and I hurried there to put a stop to pillage of any sort. I came into the salon just as my quartermaster was pointing his carbine at the countess, his brutal way of asking for what she certainly could not give the

y were going to run me through the bo

nd a devoted friend in her, if at any time I should be in any sort of trouble. In short, she did not know how to make enough of me. She was as fair as a wedding morning and as charming as a kitten. We had d

pt on saying to myself, 'I wish a bullet would co

ticular; a nice wound in the arm I should have liked best, so that I might be nursed and made much of by the princess. I flung myself on the enemy, like mad; but I had n

found that she had taken Adrien completely under her wing, and had installed him in M. Gravier's celebrated room. With no small astonishment, she heard her master's order to put u

nassis' reiterated assurances that the lad would soon

l of a regiment stationed at Poitiers. He was just thinking of writing to Benassis to tell him of the journey he w

imself. He has grown brisk and active too; he is a good walker, and rides well; he is not in the least like the lad of sixteen who looked like a boy of twelve eight months ago; any on

he says before I make up my mind what to do with that fellow," and with that he went to a farewel

servant handed him a letter. It had been brought by a mes

is honor; probably, he thought, the letter merely contained a request to gratify some boyish whim, so he left it u

ar fat

comment, "you know how to coa

M. Benassi

tas' hands; it was some time

sternation. The trou

a sudden shock. It

ectly well the day b

bout him. Only the d

atients, even those w

nown what was going t

met, saying, 'Good-

'clock he came back

tired; Jacquotte noti

weather was so very c

-bath for him, as she

d gone to his head. S

er tears for these tw

foot-bath, he wou

y; he made a good din

than usual; we both

en him laugh so much

ck, a man came with

was a serious case

said to me, 'I shall

on horseback when I

ly when it is as cold

ll a

nt. At nine o'clock

M. Benassis. Jacquott

She gave me the lette

a good fire in our bed

sis when he came in, f

d in his room. I rak

irs to wait for my go

f curiosity, befo

ticed the handwriting

I think it was a lady

se of things that

heard the horse retu

olle, 'It is cold eno

ot feel at all well.'

?' And M. Benassis an

me ups

tea here, all ready

t you know, and said

ile. In a moment he

could not breathe. 'H

self down in an armch

d,' I said; 'here it i

p and glanced at the

'perhaps she is free

nds shook. After a li

opened the letter. T

had given that I watc

e was flushed, and t

nly he fell, head forw

how purple

me,' he said, stamme

ed to rise. 'I must b

hand.... 'Adrien,'

e it to me, and I th

and Nicolle. Jacquott

hurrying upstairs; h

bed. Our dear friend

to him, and although

Nicolle galloped off

and in this way sprea

r in a moment. M. Jan

aintance were the fir

nd, M. Benassis was

s, not even when M.

t was an attack of g

ctic s

these details, dear f

r him. As for me, I a

o you that I cared mor

I learned more from M

er I could have

he scene next morning

e place. The garden a

How they sobbed and

ne recalled the last t

he had said, or they

d those who were leas

Every one wanted to

every moment. The sa

d children came from

strict, and even bey

in the

four of the oldest men

was a very difficult

etween the church an

early five thousand pe

the Host were passin

church. In spite of t

ou could hear the so

as far as the end of

tarted again for the

the town, little think

first to be buried th

he said the prayers;

owd. And so

he people dispersed

ith them. The next da

ers, set to work to r

high, above the spot w

ow with green sods, a

ear father, have all

assis' will lying open

t was known how his p

for his loss became e

I am writing for Butif

me back with your an

you come to fetch me

what you wish me to d

y you in

, I send my love, and

o

N GENE

t go over," the

gh which the bare trees and damp house fronts seemed strangely unfamiliar. The very silence was gloomy. There is such a thing as a silence full of light and gladness; on a bright

h that day, the heavy sky above him was a leaden gray, there was no greenness about the hills, which were still waiting for the cloak of winter snow that invests them with a certain beauty of its own. There was something painful in all this bleak and bare desolation for a man who was traveling to find a grave at his journey's end; the thought of that grave haunted him. Th

e the charity-children were being brought up recalled vivid memories of Benassis and of his kindness of heart. The officer made up his mind to call the

oman, who was sitting by the fire with the little

e here one fine morning last

that is for you

ly, sir. May He

the officer; "it is all through M. Ben

sed her eyes and

e, and made all of us his heirs; but we have lost him who was worth m

d Genestas, making a few playful cuts

es went out with him; they watched

the door was fastened and the shutters closed. In some anxiety he returned to the highway, and rode on under the poplars, now bare and leafless. Befo

ay, old

monsieur, our late mayor! Ah! sir, would it not have been far better if God had only taken a poor rheumatic

here is no one at home up the

gave a loo

? The sun has not sho

ten o

here every day. He has left her five hundred livres a year and her house for as

re you going

had been ailing for a long while, and he died yesterday morning. It really looked as though it was M. Benass

drin and Goguelat, each carrying a pickaxe and shovel. He called to

ted Goguelat, "we know that well enough. We h

make a grand st

he was the Napoleon of our

from saying mass. Seeing that the officer made as though he were about to dismount, Butifer promptly went to hold the horse, while Adrien sprang forward and

oodness! Thanks to our poor friend, you have almost grown int

st myself now that M. le Maire is gone. He wanted me to go for a soldier, didn't he? Well, then, I wi

hand in the other's. "I will find something to suit you,

irreparable it is. He was like an angel of God among us. Fortunately, he did not suffer at all; it was a p

accompany me to the cemetery? I should

few paces distance. They went in the direction of the little lake, and as soon as they were clear of t

ds should be removed a stated distance from human dwellings, he himself gave this piece of land to the commune. We are burying a child, poor little thing, in the new cemetery to-day, so we shall have begun by laying innocence and virtue there. Can it be that death is after all a rewar

rf. La Fosseuse, her face buried in her hands, was sobbing bitterly; she was sitting on the pile of stones in which they had planted a great wooden cross, made fro

O

E L

MONSIEU

THER O

FOR

ir," asked Gen

everywhere, from the heights up there above us dow

oved from where he stood and came nearer to La Fosseu

," he said, "I will come to f

DE

appears in other stori

Joachim

Vend

drevill

el Ch

stic