vegetables. But the
horse-dung, so necessary for the beds, was not to be had, inasmuch as
the farmers did not sell it, and the innkeepers refused to supply it. At
last, after many searches, in spite of the entreaties of Bouvard, and
flinging aside all shamefacedness, he made up his mind to go for the
dung himself.

It was in the midst of this occupation that Madame Bordin accosted him
one day on the high-road. When she had complimented him, she inquired
about his friend. This woman's black eyes, very small and very
brilliant, her high complexion, and her assurance (she even had a little
moustache) intimidated Pecuchet. He replied curtly, and turned his back
on her--an impoliteness of which Bouvard disapproved.

Then the bad weather came on, with frost and snow. They installed
themselves in the kitchen, and went in for trellis-work, or else kept
going from one room to another, chatted by the chimney corner, or
watched the rain coming down.

Since the middle of Lent they had awaited the approach of spring, and
each morning repeated: "Everything is starting out!" But the season was
late, and they consoled their impatience by saying: "Everything is going
to start out!"

At length they were able to gather the green peas. The asparagus gave a
good crop; and the vine was promising.

Since they were able to work together at gardening, they must needs
succeed at agriculture; and they were seized with an ambition to
cultivate the farm. With common sense and study of the subject, they
would get through it beyond a doubt.

But they should first see how others carried on operations, and so they
drew up a letter in which they begged of M. de Faverges to do them the
honour of allowing them to visit the lands which he cultivated.

The count made an appointment immediately to meet them.

After an hour's walking, they reached the side of a hill overlooking the
valley of the Orne. The river wound its way to the bottom of the valley.
Blocks of red sandstone stood here and there, and in the distance larger
masses of stone formed, as it were, a cliff overhanging fields of ripe
corn. On the opposite hill the verdure was so abundant that it hid the
house from view. Trees divided it into unequal squares, outlining
themselves amid the grass by more sombre lines.

Suddenly the entire estate came into view. The tiled roofs showed where
the farm stood. To the right rose the chateau with its white facade, and
beyond it was a wood. A lawn