er husband's
death, and which she had now occupied for some twelve years, living
there in a very quiet retired way on the scanty income she had managed
to save, was the first in the village, on the high road. For a week past
her elder daughter Charlotte, Blaise's wife, had come to stay there with
her children, Berthe and Christophe, who needed change of air; and
on the previous evening they had been joined by Blaise, who was well
pleased to spend Sunday with them.

Madame Desvignes' younger daughter, Marthe, was delighted whenever her
sister thus came to spend a few weeks in the old home, bringing her
little ones with her, and once more occupying the room which had
belonged to her in her girlish days. All the laughter and playfulness of
the past came back again, and the one dream of worthy Madame Desvignes,
amid her pride at being a grandmamma, was of completing her life-work,
hitherto so prudently carried on, by marrying off Marthe in her turn. As
a matter of fact it had seemed likely that there might be three instead
of two weddings at Chantebled that spring. Denis, who, since leaving a
scientific school had embarked in fresh technical studies, often slept
at the farm and nearly every Sunday he saw Marthe, who was of the same
age as Rose and her constant companion. The young girl, a pretty blonde
like her sister Charlotte, but of a less impulsive and more practical
nature, had indeed attracted Denis, and, dowerless though she was, he
had made up his mind to marry her, since he had discovered that she
possessed the sterling qualities that help one on to fortune. But in
their chats together both evinced good sense and serene confidence,
without sign of undue haste. Particularly was this the case with Denis,
who was very methodical in his ways and unwilling to place a woman's
happiness in question until he could offer her an assured position.
Thus, of their own accord, they had postponed their marriage, quietly
and smilingly resisting the passionate assaults of Rose, whom the idea
of three weddings on the same day had greatly excited. At the same time,
Denis continued visiting Madame Desvignes, who, on her side, equally
prudent and confident, received him much as if he were her son. That
morning he had even quitted the farm at seven o'clock, saying that
he meant to surprise Blaise in bed; and thus he also was to be met at
Janville.

As it happened, the fete of Janville fell on Sunday, the second in
May. Encompassing th