nd gathered flowers; and after
a time they set off at a wild run once more, one of the big brothers
carrying the little sister on his back.

Mathieu, however, had remained absent-minded, with his eyes wandering
hither and thither, throughout their walk. At times he did not hear
Marianne when she spoke to him; he lapsed into reverie before some
uncultivated tract, some copse overrun with brushwood, some spring which
suddenly bubbled up and was then lost in mire. Nevertheless, she felt
that there was no sadness nor feeling of indifference in his heart; for
as soon as he returned to her he laughed once more with his soft, loving
laugh. It was she who often sent him roaming about the country, even
alone, for she felt that it would do him good; and although she had
guessed that something very serious was passing through his mind, she
retained full confidence, waiting till it should please him to speak to
her.

Now, however, just as he had sunk once more into his reverie, his glance
wandering afar, studying the great varied expanse of land, she raised a
light cry: "Oh! look, look!"

Under the big oak tree she had placed Master Gervais in his little
carriage, among wild weeds which hid its wheels. And while she handed
a little silver mug, from which it was intended they should drink while
taking their snack, she had noticed that the child raised his head and
followed the movement of her hand, in which the silver sparkled beneath
the sun-rays. Forthwith she repeated the experiment, and again the
child's eyes followed the starry gleam.

"Ah! it can't be said that I'm mistaken, and am simply fancying it!" she
exclaimed. "It is certain that he can see quite plainly now. My pretty
pet, my little darling!"

She darted to the child to kiss him in celebration of that first clear
glance. And then, too, came the delight of the first smile.

"Why, look!" in his turn said Mathieu, who was leaning over the child
beside her, yielding to the same feeling of rapture, "there he is
smiling at you now. But of course, as soon as these little fellows see
clearly they begin to laugh."

She herself burst into a laugh. "You are right, he is laughing! Ah! how
funny he looks, and how happy I am!"

Both father and mother laughed together with content at the sight of
that infantile smile, vague and fleeting, like a faint ripple on the
pure water of some spring.

Amid this joy Marianne called the four others, who were bounding under
the young