Maria Chapdelaine

ast down, hid her depression behind a mask of extra cheeriness. "Even if no one comes," said

to boil, and when this had proceeded far enough Telesphore brought in a large dish of lovely white snow. They all gathered about the ta

ion of which had only begun. After further cooking, and just at the proper moment, the cooling toffee must be pulled for a long time. The mother's strong hands plied unceasingly for five minutes, folding and drawing out

door. "Eutrope Gagnon," at once declared Chapdelaine. "I was just saying to mysel

at on the first day of the year the young men shall kiss the women-folk, and Maria knew well enough that Eutrope, shy as he was, would exercise his privilege; she stood motionl

aid Chapdelaine, "and I suppose you have seen no one eith

s Day go by without paying you a visit.

ew

yes of the household he

am afraid you

es

the mother half rose.

The word I bring is not of them-not of your own kin. It concerns a young man yo

ress. Deep stillness weighed upon the house-upon the whole universe. Everything alive and dead was breathl

he boss objected, naturally enough; for if the men take ten or fifteen days' leave right in the middle of the winter you might as well stop the work altogether. The boss did not wish him to go and said so plainly; but you know Fran?ois-a man not be

n shaped beforehand. Amid her overwhelming grief the thought flitted through Maria's heart:-"Fran?ois wished

asses La Tuque. But as the luck was, something had happened to the line and the trains were not run

es

of a humour said that as it was a case of walking he would walk all the way-reaching the lake

delaine. "It can be don

used to the woods and that a little difficulty was not going to frighten him, because he was bound to get to the upper side of the lake for the holidays, and that where the Indians were able to cross he could make the crossing too. Only-you know it very well, Mr. Chapdelaine-when the Indians take that journey it is in

was then in the great burnt lands, where the fine snow drives and drifts so terribly. In such a place the best of men have little chance wh

and

s he could not bring himself to speak the final words, for it wa

ho go astray-are lost-but seldom return. Sometimes a search-party finds their bodies in the spring, after the melting of the snows. In Quebec, and above all in the far region

. He set out again because his provisions were low and he was in haste to reach the end of his journey, as I suppose; but the weather did not mend, snow was falling, the nor'west wind never eased, and

ns of their heads while they followed every turn of Eutrope's grim story; nor from the moth

a little better. But all his footsteps were covered, and they returned sayi

that, anyone might speak. The fate of Fran?ois Paradis was as mournfully sure as though he were buri

the good God. Fran?ois was one of the best men of these parts in the woods, and at finding his way; people who came here used to take him as guide, and always did he bring them back without mishap. And now he himself is lost. We are but l

gnon, "in very truth a good man, str

e to send him to his death-him more than another. He was a fine

ed him on. "A man hard to match for work, afraid of nothing and obliging w

ated with emphasis:-"He was a goo

nly a lad, but very strong and quick and as tall as he is now-I mean as he was whe

Maria alone, as if the dear secret of her heart were open to them. But she spoke not, nor

ast the father said in a halting voice:-"Fran?ois Paradis was almost alone in the world; now, as we

woods-in health, if such be the will of the good God-three more for the rep

"not without fault, of course, but kindly and well-li

or utter.-her sorrow. A hand had fastened upon her throat, stifling her, as the narrative unfolded and the end loomed inevitable; and now this hand found its way into her b

of preparation for the night, the father's departure on a last visit to the stable and his

shoulder. She rose and went to kneel and pray with the others. Voice answ

Aves for the souls of those who have suffered misfortune in the forest." And

h the eye could not penetrate, shutting away the outside world; but Maria saw them not, for the tears welled to her eyes and blinded her. She stood there motionless, with arms hang

d the forest leaped toward her in menace, its inscrutable face concealing a hundred dreadful secrets which called aloud to her in lamentable voices. With a little moan she drew back, and closing the doo

y this fate had told her that death coming in such a guise smote with gentle and painless hand-a hand that merely lulled to sleep; but she could not ma

eletons and shuddering in the icy wind, a sunless sky above the massed and gloomy spires of green. She sees Fran?ois making his way through the close-set trees, limbs stiffened with the cold, his ski

he cold tortures him; with lowered head and clenched teeth he fights the implacable winter, calling to aid his every reserve of strength and high courage. He thinks of the road he must follow, the miles to be overcome, measures

orever, covered his open handsome face with snow, closed the fearless eyes without gentleness or pity, changed his living body into a thing of ice ... Maria has no more tears that she may shed, but she shivers and trembles as

ith those pale hands of Thine? Holy Virgin, why didst Thou not sustain him by Thy power when, for the last t

r. Perhaps Fran?ois Paradis was not able quite faithfully to keep the promises he made to her. In the shanty, among rough and careless men, may he not have had mome

indly had they been silent! But she herself might help with prayers the poor soul in torment. Her beads still lay upon th

d yourself in divine impassivity while fate accomplished its purpose, think you that she questions your goodness or your power? It would indeed have been to

women, and blessed is the

gh her, she ceases not to shudder as she thinks of the frozen world about her, of