bitter thoughts.

"Beyond my expectations," she replied. "As soon as the buildings were
finished we found two excellent farmers ready to hire them; one at four
thousand five hundred francs, taxes paid; the other at five thousand;
both leases for fifteen years. We have already planted three thousand
young trees on the new farms. Manette's cousin is delighted to get the
Rabelaye; Martineau has taken the Baude. All _our_ efforts have been
crowned with success. Clochegourde, without the reserved land which
we call the home-farm, and without the timber and vineyards, brings
in nineteen thousand francs a year, and the plantations are becoming
valuable. I am battling to let the home-farm to Martineau, the keeper,
whose eldest son can now take his place. He offers three thousand francs
if Monsieur de Mortsauf will build him a farm-house at the Commanderie.
We might then clear the approach to Clochegourde, finish the proposed
avenue to the main road, and have only the woodland and the vineyards
to take care of ourselves. If the king returns, _our_ pension will be
restored; WE shall consent after clashing a little with _our_ wife's
common-sense. Jacques' fortune will then be permanently secured. That
result obtained, I shall leave monsieur to lay by as much as he likes
for Madeleine, though the king will of course dower her, according to
custom. My conscience is easy; I have all but accomplished my task. And
you?" she said.

I explained to her the mission on which the king had sent me, and showed
her how her wise counsel had borne fruit. Was she endowed with second
sight thus to foretell events?

"Did I not write it to you?" she answered. "For you and for my children
alone I possess a remarkable faculty, of which I have spoken only to my
confessor, Monsieur de la Berge; he explains it by divine intervention.
Often, after deep meditation induced by fears about the health of my
children, my eyes close to the things of earth and see into another
region; if Jacques and Madeleine there appear to me as two luminous
figures they are sure to have good health for a certain period of time;
if wrapped in mist they are equally sure to fall ill soon after. As
for you, I not only see you brilliantly illuminated, but I hear a voice
which explains to me without words, by some mental communication, what
you ought to do. Does any law forbid me to use this wonderful gift for
my children and for you?" she asked, falling into a reverie. Then,
afte