s one that could never be doubted, he was
the helper who had become indispensable, the husband whose advent would
mean the best of all understandings and absolute certainty of happiness.

From the day of that wedding the government of the farm was finally
settled. Though Mathieu was barely five-and-fifty he abdicated, and
transferred his authority to Gervais, that son of the earth as with a
laugh he often called him, the first of his children born at Chantebled,
the one who had never left the farm, and who had at all times given him
the support of his arm and his brain and his heart. And now Frederic
in turn would think and strive as Gervais's devoted lieutenant, in
the great common task. Between them henceforth they would continue the
father's work, and perfect the system of culture, procuring appliances
of new design from the Beauchene works, now ruled by Denis, and ever
drawing from the soil the largest crops that it could be induced to
yield. Their wives had likewise divided their share of authority; Claire
surrendered the duties of supervision to Caroline, who was stronger and
more active than herself, and was content to attend to the accounts, the
turnover of considerable sums of money, all that was paid away and all
that was received. The two couples seemed to have been expressly and
cleverly selected to complete one another and to accomplish the greatest
sum of work without ever the slightest fear of conflict. And, indeed,
they lived in perfect union, with only one will among them, one purpose
which was ever more and more skilfully effected--the continual increase
of the happiness and wealth of Chantebled under the beneficent sun.

At the same time, if Mathieu had renounced the actual exercise of
authority, he none the less remained the creator, the oracle who was
consulted, listened to, and obeyed. He dwelt with Marianne in the
old shooting-box which had been transformed and enlarged into a very
comfortable house. Here they lived like the founders of a dynasty who
had retired in full glory, setting their only delight in beholding
around them the development and expansion of their race, the birth and
growth of their children's children. Leaving Claire and Gervais on one
side, there were as yet only Denis and Ambroise--the first to wing their
flight abroad--engaged in building up their fortunes in Paris. The three
girls, Louise, Madeleine, and Marguerite, who would soon be old enough
to marry, still dwelt in the