w side by side;
they gave them the breast at the same hours, and it was their desire to
see them both become very strong, very handsome, and very good. Although
one mother was almost twice as old as the other, they became, as it
were, sisters. The same nourishing milk flowed from both their fruitful
bosoms. And gleams of light penetrated their mourning: they began to
laugh when they saw those little cherubs laugh, and nothing could have
been gayer than the sight of that mother-in-law and that daughter-in-law
side by side, almost mingling, having but one cradle between them, amid
an unceasing florescence of maternity.

"Be careful," Mathieu suddenly said to Charlotte; "hide your drawings,
here are Gervais and Claire coming about the table."

Gervais at nineteen years of age was quite a colossus, the tallest and
the strongest of the family, with short, curly black hair, large bright
eyes, and a full broad-featured face. He had remained his father's
favorite son, the son of the fertile earth, the one in whom Mathieu
fostered a love for the estate, a passion for skilful agriculture, in
order that later on the young man might continue the good work which had
been begun. Mathieu already disburdened himself on Gervais of a part
of his duties, and was only waiting to see him married to give him the
control of the whole farm. And he often thought of adjoining to him
Claire when she found a husband in some worthy, sturdy fellow who would
assume part of the labor. Two men agreeing well would be none too many
for an enterprise which was increasing in importance every day. Since
Marianne had again been nursing, Claire had been attending to her work.
Though she had no beauty, she was of vigorous health and quite strong
for her seventeen years. She busied herself more particularly with
cookery and household affairs, but she also kept the accounts, being
shrewd-witted and very economically inclined, on which account the
prodigals of the family often made fun of her.

"And so it's here that the table is to be set," said Gervais; "I shall
have to see that the lawn is mowed then."

On her side Claire inquired what number of people there would be at
table and how she had better place them. Then, Gervais having called
to Frederic to bring a scythe, the three of them went on discussing the
arrangements. After Rose's death, Frederic, her betrothed, had continued
working beside Gervais, becoming his most active and intelligent comrade
and