CIHM
Microfiche
Series
(l\^onog raphe)
ICiyAH
Collection de
microfiches
(monographies)
lii
Canadian Inatltuta for HIatorieal MIcroraproduetkHW / InatHut Canadian da mieroraproductlona hiatoriquaa
1995
TMlinial and WMamplik No«m / Noan tMhniqim at biMiogcaptiiqiMi
Tha Imtitutt hat attamptad to
copy aaaUaMa for filmini. Faatiiraa of thii copy
may ba MMiognpiifeaNy uniqua, whiali may altar
of dM imaiat in tha raproduction. or whMi may
lof
Colourad cown/
Couaartuia da eoulauf
□ Covara dMiMfBd/
a
J Couvarturt •ndomroayfa
Covari rtstorarf Mid/or laminatid/
Counrtura rtstMirto tt/ou palltailia
I U titn di couvartura manqiw
I I Cow titit mininfl/
D
Cartas atefrapliiquai an coulaur
Colaurad ink li.a. othar than blua or black)/
Encra da coulaur (i.a. aulra qua Maua ou iwira)
I Planchai at/ou illintrationa an coulaur
QColouiad platai and/or illuatrationi/
I
u
Bound with othar matarial/
Rali* anc d'autrat documants
□ Tifht bindinf may cauM ihadoan or dl it ort i on
akNi9 intarier maifin/
La raliura mria paut ca uMr da I'omhraou da la
ditainion la ton| da la maria kitMaura
□ Blank laans addad durina raitoralion may appaar
within tha taxt. Whanaaar poaaiMa. thaia haaa
baan omittad from filmint/
II M paut qua cartainaa pafai Manchat aiouttat
kin d'una rattauration apparaiaMflt dam la laxia,
mail, lonqua oala Mail potiibla. cat pafas n'ont
patMfihniat.
D
Additional eommants;/
Commantairat lu p p H mantairai:
L'Inatitut a mienfihn« la maillaur axamplaira qu'll
luiaMpottiMadatapncurar. Lat dMaili da eat
aiamplaira qui torn paut-Mra uniquat du point da »u
HMiovaphiqua. qui pauaant modif iar una hnafa
raproduita. ou qui pauaant axigar una modHication
dam la mMMda normala da f ihnaga torn indiquts
Colourad patat/
□ PatH raatorad and/or laminatad/
Pataa laataurta at/ou palliGuMat
r^ Paiai diteolound. ttainad or foxad/
n;
EShowdlroufh/
Tramparanoa
Quality of print aariai/
Oualiti in««ala da I'imprattion
□ Continuous pagination/
Pagination continue
□ Indudat indaxlaal/
Comprand un (daa) indax
Titia on haadar takan from:/
La titta da I'an-ttta proaiant:
□ Titlapagaof
Pagadatitra
I I Caption of 'mutl
nu—l
da la livraiton
n
Tilra da dipart da la livraison
Maithaad/
Ganariqua (piriodiquai) da la liaraiton
Thii itam it filmed at the reduction ratio checked
Ce document eit tHmk eu taux da rMuction indiquA
""" 1«X 1IX
12X
z
ax
22X
MX
XX
2*x
28X
Tha copy fliinad har* haa baan raproduead thanka
to tha ganaroaity of:
National Library of Canada
L'axamplaira filin« fut raprodult grtoa i la
94n4roalt« da:
BIMIottiAqua natlonala dH Canada
Tha Imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality
poaalbia oonaMarlng tha oondlt'an and laglblllty
of tha original copy and In kaaping with tha
filming contract tpaoHloatlona.
Laa Imagaa aulvantaa ont ttt raprodultaa avae la
plu* grand toln, eompta tami da la condition at
do la nattatd da l'axamplaira film*, at an
conf ormM avae laa oondltlona du contrat da
Original coplaa In printed papar eovar* ara fllmad
beginning with the front cover end ending on
the leet pege «vlth a printed or llluetrated Imprea-
■k>n, or the back cover when eppropriata. All
other origlnel coplaa are filmed beginning on the
f ir*t pege with e printed or llluetreted impree-
alon, and ending on the ieet page with a printed
or iiluatrated impreaakin.
Lee examplalrae origlnaux dont la eouvarture en
pepler eat Imprimto aont fllm4e en commen«ent
per le premier plat at an tarmlnant aolt par la
damMre pege qui eomporte une emprelnte
dimpreaeion ou d'lHuatratlon, adt per le ceeond
plot, eelon le oee. Toue lea autrea axemplelrea
orlgineux aont fUm<e en oommenfent par la
premMre pege qui eomporte une emprelnte
d'Impreealon ou d'llluatratlon at en terminent per
la darnMre page qui eomporte une telle
emprelnte.
The laat recorded frame on each microfiche
(hall contain tha cymbol —»■ (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V Imeening "END"\
whichever eppllee.
Un dee symboles suivants apparahra aur ia
darnltre Image do cheque microfiche, selon le
cee: le symbole ^ algnlf le "A SUIVRE", le
symbolo ▼ signlfle "FIN".
Mapa. plates, charts, etc., mey be filmed at
different reduction retkw. Those too lerge to bo
entirety included In one expoaure are filmed
boglnnhig In the upper left hend comer, left to
right end top to bottom, as many frames aa
required. The following diegrems illustrsta tha
method:
Lea cartee, plenchee. taUeeux, etc.. pouvent Mre
flimte * dee taux do iMuotlon differents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour ttra
reproduit en un soul cllch*. II est f llmt t psrtir
do I'angia supdrieur gauche, de geucha t droite,
et de heut en bee, en prenant la nombre
d'images nd cass elre. Lee dkigremmee iiulvents
Wustrent hi mdthodo.
1 2 3
1
2
3
4
5
6^
MKtOCOrV USOIUTION TBT OMRT
(ANSI ond ISO Tf 5T CHART No. 2)
1 ''^
m|2£
us
itt |£
II
I^Ui
III I.I
u
■lUb
1.25 iU
1
1.8
'A 11^ 1^
/APPLIED IM/GE Inc
1653 Eost Main StrHt
RochesUr, N«« York I4f:n9 USA
(716) *82 -0300 -Phone
(716) 288-5»M-F«
Work
EMILE ZOLA
hJ^
a.
•
WORK
nilNTBD BY
irOTTnWOODB AHD CO. LTO., MBW-tTIUUT tQUAU
WORK
[TRAVAIL]
■y
fiMILE ZOLA
TRANSLATIO BV
ERNEST ALFRED VIZETELLY
TORONTO
THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED
1901
T5I3
'^Ol
p ^ ^ ^
880580
PREFACE
' WoEK ' ia the second book of the new series which M. Zola
began with ' Fruitfuhiess,' and which he hopes to complete
with ' Truth ' and ' Jastioe.' I should much have liked to
discuss here in some detail several of the matters which
M. Zola brings forward in this instalment of his literary
testament, but unfortunately the latter part of the present
translation has been made by me in the midst of great bodily
suffering, and I have not now the strength to do as I desired.
I will only say, therefore, that ' Work ' embraces many
features. It is, first, an exposition of M. Zola's gospel of '
work, as the duty of every man born into the world and the
sovereign cure for many ills— a gospel which he has set
forth more than once in the course of his numerous writings,
and which will be found synthstised, so to say, in a paper
called ' Life and Labour ' translated by me for the ' New
Beview ' some years ago.' Secondly, ' Work ' deals with the
present-day conditions of society so far as those conditions
are affected by Capital and Labour. And, thirdly and par-
ticularly, it embraces a scheme of social reorganisation and
regeneration in which the ideas of Charles Fourier, the eminent
philosopher, are taken as a basis and broadened and adapted
to the needs of a new century. Some may regard this scheme
as being merely the splendid dream of a poet (the book
' Knr Bevitw, No. 60, July, 1898.
V WOJiK
certainly abonndB in Bymbolism), but all mnst admit that it it
a scheme ot pacific evolution, and therefore one to be preferred
to the violent remedies proposed by most Socialist schools.
In this respect the book has a peculiar significance.
Though the English press pays very little attention to the
matter, things are moving apace in France. The quiet of
that country is only surface-deep. The Socialist schools are
each day making more and more progress. The very peasants
are fast becoming Socialists, and, as I wrote comparatively
recently in my preface to the new English version of M. Zola's
' Oerminal,' the most serious troubles may almost at any
moment convulse the Eepublic. Thus it is well that M. Zola,
who has always been a fervent partisan of peace and human
brotherliness, should be found at such a juncture pointing
out pacific courses to those who believe that a bath of blood
mnst necessarily precede all social regeneration.
Incidentally, in the course of his statements and arguments,
M. Zola brings forward some very interesting points. I
would particularly refer the reader to what he writes on the
subject of education. Again, his sketch of the unhappy
French peasant of nowadays may be scanned with advantage
by those who foolishly believe that peasant to be one of the
most contented beings in the world. The contrary is un-
happily the case, the subdivision of the soil having reached
such a point that the land cannot be properly or profitably
cultivated. [After lasting a hundred years, the order of things
established in the French provinces by the Great Bevolution
has utterly broken down. The economic conditions of the
world have changed, and the only hope for French agrioiJture
rests in ttrming on a huge scale. This the peasant, amidst
his hard struggle with pauperism, is now realising, and this
it is which is fast making him a Socialist.
All that M. Zola writes in ' Work' on the subject of iron
fUEPACE
«ent time, y^d^^^"' ^ ''"^ "^'^ «»«"«* at the pre-
in Science-the great TL ^''! '«^""''« ^Woh he places
labour, ie assuredly jaSdbv. ^ "'"^'^ """""""^ "^
".ore on science Kt^'w ' ^T '"^^' ^ -^^ ^«
between men, to brinT ah„„f '*""' °* ""otberliness
human race. * ""^ ''°'"P«'»'i-« happiness for the
HJirbisrinLr^LTi ""'r "^^ '-^-^ "^
'he present transLIriVe „"" ^'. *''""' ''^°'- '-
which might have been rln/.T""' " "^^'^ 'travail,-
• conditions oflabr.X^ 1 J ""' "' ' '''''°"' ^""'' *«
as these matte^^XUtt^JtS-'r/,'' '°"''' ""^
think that ' Labour • J2 1 T ^ ^- ^°^' '"""e ^1
E.«h-sh ver„?n o7hisI?k Z^^ VT """ '"' '^^
that man should feW „o mfr^- te'do " ''i ^°'^'^ '^^^
groan beneath eMessivBfJ T ' °*' "°' '^^ ^'^ to
"wi, in heaJtr«dri''rf'«™f^^^^«'"« thatheshould
h-ghten his t sk a^d at" ,?' "''' *'* '^'^ "^ -'»- '»
^app.e.to«iida;irrk:r;:; ^"''^ ^-^
4p»'>' 1901,
E. A. V.
WORK
BOOK I
which the Mionne to^t flo^beujfin ii T^ "* «°^ «
ot the Bleose MonntahM Zd whlTh- V"* *»» Promontories
the Ah™, „ thTo^SgnoneSworkiT^fe ••»«?•
»8«)n,ie perceived two S ft^rn^rJ^ '^^ "« 'he
pooriy clad, her Wd hSf u5d«n^*° ''^'^8 ^^ y°^e.
Btaff; M,dtheother;aeXiTm13il*"?? ™88«^ '""U""
fiwed child, about Si Wo?r.^^ " afarts. was a white-
Both had their eyw fii^^n the S^^^S^^ "'S^^ "* »"•
^. motionleL. with^tS? ^o^i^ U^ ^^i^SI
-atehrrttt^tiSS:tuJ5;S5^.§^t^C'o'e'-^^
down at present, but koro™ t),rl"i, ^ "° '°°8»' «»°"»g
BtiU driving a nimber""Snd£ ,Svft^ i^Petnous wind wj
which filtered a tov,ydiZl'?f*?1,'''?^' •"""»'
ness. Along the rS ov» Jhfnh J^.^t^??' °' """*J "d-
where big pivSg-stMa^^^ /l,v„-^^ u*^ ^^ °^ "^as. M»d
there flow^I^^ver of Mwrmnf ^fi'lt ^^ «««nnous tiffic.
dust of the neirhCrLi" aWo^fa nJ^T? ^"^^^ °"'"'»«^
were for erer going by rndtWno(?"fi.'?°^ *™''~l8
a ivox/:
smoke. An ominons meluichol; Bwept b^ with the wind ; one
might have thought that the mnrky ^uiTering twilight was
bringing the end of the world in its tram.
Lno had stopped short at a few paces from the young
woman and the boy, and he heard the latter saying with a
shrewd decisive air, like one who was already a little man :
' I say, ma grande,' would you like me to speak to him t
P'r'apg he wouldn't get so angry with me.'
But the young woman replied : ' No, no, frirot, those are
not matters for little boys.'
Then again they continued waiting in silence, with an air
of anxious resignation.
Luc was now looking at the Abyss. From professional
curiosity he bad visited it when first passing through Beauolair
the previous spring. And during the few hours that he had
again found himself in the district, suddenly snmmoned
thither by his friend Jordan, he bad heard through what a
frightful crisis the region had just passed. There had been a
terrible strike of two months' duration, and ruin was piled up
on either side. The estabUshment had greatly suffered from
the stoppage of work, and the workmen, their rage increased
by their ^werlessness, bad almost starred. It was only two
days previously, on the Thursday, that work had been resumed
after reciprocal concessions, wrung &om either |)arty with the
greatest difficulty after the most furious wranglmg. And the
men had gone back like joyless, vanquished beings enraged by
defeat, retaining ir their hearts only a recollection of their
sufferings and a keen desire for revenge.
Under the wild flight of the mourning clouds the Abyss
spread its sombre piles of buildings and sheds. It was like a
monster which had sprung up there, extending by degrees the
roofs of its little town. One could guess the ages of the
various structures by the colour of those roofs which arose and
spread out in every direction. The establishment now occu-
pied a surface of many acres and employed a thousand hands.
The lofty, bluish, slated roofs of the great halls with coupled
windows, overtopped the old blackened tiles of the earlier
buildings, which were far mo' e humble. Up above one per-
ceived from the road the gigantic hives of the cementmg-
fumaces, ranged in a row, as well as the tempering tower,
' Literally *mj big one,' »^.' big BiBter.* We have no exact equivalent
for this ezpreision as a form of endf'arment, nor for the enBning on«,
(rirvt, Uttle brother.— rrons.
Booty bSrCa^ledTtSTe i^nj"Z; 'r^^ 'l""*' '•«»•
at regular intervSrnTr^. Ki ^^ '°*'* ?^,"'» olond., whUrt
inoessantly exhaled envelnnl^ ,t t • ^ . vapour that it
ti.« perapJatioTof- "a 'TnV t^ere ^i 'M^L'^'' °i
|ts organ,, the impact, the noise of it7 eTrv^ffoA ' th^'^ "^
huge boL an^maS ^e t?l sh^kTZHf.""!! "''I
the road, in the depths rf » Ttl. Kn*M- ^ ?' "•* *^8«o'
Qoriimon had first f„™oj • "* '"^'^""K. where the first
despe«to dSToeo" wo Wt h^"' °°* S?"^" ''«" ">« ^"'^^
like the vm^ pu°8e of ^« ^r™*™ '""'"' "«" •^'«8 'here
devonringSr:s%aa^'^i°r'' "'""' *""■ °' "^"^ l^-
g»duallJl„Sa%Shttbl'Z?r"'", T' rWot was
yet lighted up the ySrda fc^ Ik ""«'* ' ?"J"'' ''""P "
throA the dustv ^d^™ 4,"" *Il*'* *?' ''^l^' gleaming
transpieroed the S, irith » i^n °^' '/V"".^ ^"°« ""^'"^
3ir '^^ '^"- ^•^'"t^e ^^vjifCd r
officts s'jJuo k's'i Ato^k *lnd'*L^^ surmounting the
poor ohUd saying- 'lTsL ^ ^""."^f" "gain heard the
out now.' ^ ■ ' ^ ^""^i 'W will be coming
• Jnrt K'e5St7'" "'""^'^' ""' y°°"8 '"■"'^ ""^-^ed-
wiaJ^^felTb'^k'ri!^ IT"*^ *•"» «™. J"*' ragged
remStedthede^lcvTher^? before her face, and Luo
surely less than twenty fihrh'^*','^"'l "l^""- ^he was
.poor.thinlittle"C'?;hil'^^^^L^- S^Tbltet^
«3
4 WORK
binned by iean, and • p»le month that twltohtd Uttoriy with
sa&ring. And what • light, girliib Ihune then wm within
her old threadbare dreul And with what a weak and
trembling arm did she prew to her skirts the ohild, her little
brother, who was (air hke herself end eqnallv ill-oombed, bat
stronger-looking and more resolute I Lao (eft his compassion
increasing, whilst the two poor creatures on their side gnw
distrustfully anxious about that gentleman who had stopped
so near, and was examining them so persistently. She, in
particular, seemed embarrassed by the scrutiny of that yoaog
fellow of five-and-twenty, so tall and handsome, with square-
set shoulders, broad hands and a (ace all health and joy, whose
firmly-marked (eatures were o'ertopped by a steaight sod
towering brow, the towering brow o( the EVunant family.
Bhe had averted her gaze as it met the yonog man's brown
eye^ which looked her frankly in the &ee. Then sha onoe
more stole a furtive glance, and seeing that ha was smiling
at her in a kindly way, she drew back a little more, in the
disquietude born of her great distrsES.
The clang of a bell was heard, there was a atii in the
Abyss, and then began the departure of the day-shifts which
the night-shifts wue about to replace; (or never is there •
pause in the monster's devouring life ; it flames and forges
Ix>th by day and night. Nevertheless there was some dcJay
in the departure of the day-hands. Although work had only
been resumed on the Thursday, most of them had applied for
an advance, for after that terrible strike of two months'
duration great was the hunger in every home. At last they
began to appear, coming along one by one or in litUe parties,
all gloomy and in a hurry, with their heads bent whilst in the
depths of their pockets they stowed away their few dearly
earned silver coins which would procure a uttle bread for wife
and children. And in turn they disappeared along the black
highway.
'There he is, ma grande,' the little boy muttered.
' Can't you see him 7 He's with Bourron,'
* Yes, yes ; keep quiet.'
Two men, two puddlers, had just left the works. The
first, who was accompanied hj Bourron, had a cloth jacket
thrown over his shoulders. He was barely six-and-twonty ;
his hair and beard were ruddy, and he was rather short,
though his muscles were strong. Under a prominent brow
ha showed a hook nose, massive jaws, and projecting cheek*
WORK
«««^ TalTet«M. wmTwI i?°*^ *° " °M jwl'et 3
]■• y^dod the morf esjSd^to M^,''lf ~'"i-«toiict on
£KStS'^^*3-'^/osi.e waanow g^nU,,
other workmenipproMhaunf.jD* P*"»^ o" seeine two
ha «Jr^ '. **■* eaten into bv iho ™trl: ™**<' growing,
and deefeiS^ nol"^ *"""'" "^ "' ^^^ fe
0«h«a«.F,„eh«dc«ried«.oiaM«ko.erb«ke,
6 IVOJtK
knd be bitd itoppad to tak th* othMi in • hnikj toIm: 'Did
'^^widMdtouowtoinif thay had gon* to th* aMUar'i
offle* and obtilnsd an advano* then. And when Bago,
withoQt a word, ilapped hii pooket in which loma flTa-frano
nieoM jingled, Uie othn made a deapairing geatare and
axolaimed : ' Thunder t To think that I've got to tighten mj
belt until to-morrow morning, and that I sliall be djing of
thirst all night unless my wife by some miracle or other
contrives to bring me my ration by-and-by.'
His ration was tour quarts of wine for each day or ni^ht-
ihift, and he was wont to say that this quantitv only just
anffioad to moisten Us body, to such a degree did the fomaoaa
drain all the blood and water from his flesh. He oast a
mournful glance at his basket, in wtiich nothing save a hunk
of bread waa jolting. The failure to secure hia naual four
qnarta of wine meant the end of everything, black agony amidat
overpowaxing unbearable toiL
'Baht' aaid Bourron complacently, 'your wife won|t
leave yon in '.he lurch ; aha hasn't her equal for getting credit
aomewhare.'
Then, all at once, the four men standing in the aticky
mud became ailent and touched their caps. Luc had seen a
kind of bath-ohair approaching, propelled by a servant ; and
ensconced within it aat an old gentleman with a broad face
and regular features around which fell an abundance of long
white hair. In thia old gentleman the young fellow
recognised JMme Qnrignon, ' Monsieur JirAme ' aa ha waa
called thronehaut Qie region, the son of Blaise Qori^on,
the drawer, by whom the Abyss had been founded. Very
aged and paralysed, never speudng, Monsieur Jirdme caused
himself to be carted about in this fashion, no matter what
might be the weather.
That evening, as he paaaed the works on his way back to
his daughter's residence. La Onerdaohe, a neighbouring
estate, he had signed to his servant to go more slowly,
und with his still bright, living eyes he had then taken
a long look at the ever-busy monster, at the day hands
departing homewud, and at the night hands arriving, whilst
the vague twilight fell from the uvid sky besmirched by
rushing clouds. And his glance had aftertsaraa rested on
the manager's house, a square building standing in a garden,
which hia &ther had erected forty years previously, and
WORK
*ty were both workmen ^d drew i>n S™^^^^ If'
tortpa. might h.ve come to Tb^^ ,w'V'°2'.n "' .'''^
^^ Be, quiet, Boorron muttered. .you'U b. g2Si^ii„o
5-W>'e'^''up.'i^wif: -dwhenMonrieur JWme.
•ovJSgngS'fSmwh'om S^'t'l.'u.e'tiS^'r? "^-Sl*
jwvant meanwhile ilowlv Dwhedth^ K.?i.^ <rf Iifc. Th.
lending tS^^toru^tf °"' ?«^' '^* '"""^ ««>*«>
8 WORK
wfatl wonld hftpMB : the monty h« bad obUintd wooU b«
■prat in lonM winwbop, and ha and har litUa brothar would
baT* to tpand anotbar wbola araninc waiting, dTing of
itarration, amidit tba Uttat wind in tna atiaata. And bar
■aiTaringi and a fit n( raddan angar Imt bar ao mneb eonraga
that, panr and woofnl tbougb aba waa, aba wrat and took bar
■tana bafora Uia man.
■ Ba raaaonabla, Aogtuta,' laid iba ; ' yon ean't laava ma
ont-ot-doon.'
Ha did not anawer, but itapped on in order to pan har.
■ If yon are not going home at once, give me the kejr, at
anvrata,' aba continued. ' We've been in the (tnat erar ainoe
tbia morning, without even a moraal of bread to eat'
At tbia ha bunt forth : ' Just let me ba t Haven't yon
dona atieUng to me like a leeob ? '
'WbT did you earry off the key tbia morning?' ■be
anawered. ■ I only aik you to give me the key, yon can eoma
in when yon like. It is almost night now, and yon tnrely
don't want na to aleep la the pavement.'
' Tha key I the key I I haven't got it, and even if I bad I
wouldn't give it you. Just understuid, once for all, that I've
had raongh of it, that I don't want to liave anything mora to
do with you, that it's quite enough that we starved together foi
two months, and that now yon oan go lomewhare abw, and
■aaifi'mtbaiel'
Ha abonted those words in her faoe, violently and aavagaly ;
and aba, poor little ereatnre, quivered beneath bis inaolts,
whilst gently persevering in her efforts with all tha woeful
desperation of a wretch who feels the very ground giving way
bemathher.
'Ohiyonareomellyonareemeirabegaaped. 'We'llhave
a talk when ypn oome home to-night. I'll go away to-mottow
if it's necessary. But to-day, give me tba key just In to-day.'
Then the man, infuriated, pushed her, thrust her aside
with a brutal gesture. ' Curse it all 1 ' he cried, ' doesn't the
road belong to me as much as on 7 6o and oroak wherever
yon like I I tell yon that it's all over.' And as little Nanet,
seeing hia sister sob, stepped forward with his air of deoision,
his pmk fkoe and tangle of fair hair, Bagu p.Uded : * What I
the brat as well t Am I to have the whole family on my
■honlden now ? Wait a minute, you young rascal ; I'll let
yon fitel my boot somewhere.'
Joaine quickly drew Nanet iowarda her. And they both
WOXK ,
{!Sr!l?hL"'i*h!'f'"^'''«J? "■• ""'' mod. .hivoring with
dreanSirof » r«m«fll^ ho' ro of generous enthusiasm m
"turn to Be»uoW^ Ve oaTe nTn'n ^W "^ "''''"°8 "" ^
Chi could ever W ^^li • '"™? T'^"^^' '''«'«' i"**"-!
h..ur£^y,:%5^f-iwh^^^^^^^ e^^pea
"> WORfT
^S^^w^T^^ Beauolair and trying to take hia bMrinn br
a^^JT"" °U'«}t "''" '"" »""™rt "»» sooty dSuS
S^.^J^ iJ"".^'.^'''",'.'?"' '*■ buUdings bordering th«
Bma road ; beneath lam roUed the Mionne. whilst higher up!
hS^ ^ embanbnent on the left, passed the raUwaytoe from
wl!r« fi. * .J?"? °,' "''' ^'*'"« MoiLitains, at thi s^
where vhey parted to disclose the great plain of La BoumagSe.
t^„^ J ^^ .^ *^','^'y' »' '!•« «P°* "here the raWne
^u^ mto the plain, Beaudair reared its houses : a
wretohed ooUeotion of working-class dwellings, prolonged over
tte flat by a httle middle-dass town, in wh^ we™ ?he bu"
ih^tT ""• ^r'-^' ""> l»w-courts, and the prison,
^ the. ancient church, whose waUs threatened to faU
stood part in new and part in old Beauclair. This toirn. the
chief one of an arrondissement,' numbered barely six thousand
S^ff •■ *'« th""""^ °i **'«"' ^"^e Po°' huible souls in
m^enng bodies, warped, ground to death by iniquitous hard
Ali„^.» " *°°?u*" fi^^fything fully whe£, above the
Abyss, half-way up the promontory of the Bleuse Mountains,
he djstangmshed the dark silhouette of the blast furnace of
La Or«cherie. Labour! labour! ah! who would redeem
and reorgamse it according to the natural law of truth and
equity so as to restore to it its position as the most noble, aU-
regulatrng, aU-powerful force of the world, and so as to ensure
» jnst diyision of the world's riches, thereby at last brinmne
the happmesB which is rightly due to every man !
AlUiough the rain had again ceased Lno also ended bv
gomg down towards Beauclair. Workmen were stiU leaving
thfnwt^'ri^."'*'^*?*'"°°8*''«™ « *hey tramped on,
thintong of that rageful resumption of work after ^ the
diBMters .of the strike. Such infinite sadness bom of re-
bellion and powerlessness pervaded the young man that he
would have gone away that evening, indeed that moment,
nad He not feared to inconvenience his friend Jordan. The
latter— the master of La Creoherie— had been placed in a
pjMition of great embarrassment by the sudden death of the
old engineer who had managed his smeltery, and he had
wnttrai to Luc, asking him to come, inquire into thines
and give hun some good advice. Then, the young man, on
—l?"^-^^"^ 'department' or county ia for adminutntive
f^STj;""!''*. '»^.'™.«»«.or four 'ar/ondissemeZ^rind ^
airondisswnmiti in their turn are subdivided into ' oantooi.*— IVow
WOXJC
It
of other oooS^^^Z^M 'Z%^Z ^Jr^,' ?'' '" }^^
he Boaroely l^w, he had JrmT^i? ' ■''"'! *0'™ "l'''*
telling the'ser,^ who t^%ntrfH^''" ? """"«•
even return to dinnlr V^ on hun that he should not
popukr mumW^roasi™. ?'*^' mtereeted «e he was in
ofthe town. *** «>"'8tl»uig to eat in any tavern
the heavy tnunninoTf ^ on through the black mud amidst
felt aSJdrf^M? '^* Iwraased, sUent workmenTHe
Bhonlfrg^off.terh'eraZ.'^f'^ ''^'^T ^S
poignant ud so keen th« n^^T ■"? ""I*. ""^ '<"»nd. w
baiited? HemuLnotfll^h.i*'?*''?.'''^'* •" ""^ ever
together, and^P^W lmU«Al ^- *' ''* Z""** f*""*' *"*»
ing at times in the «ea^Pari„ w?^*''°<*''i'°' '""-l "^ »<»k-
with the faawdiea^ *hf^ buildmg.yards. he was familiar
^««mt. in a^fa^^Vi trinrhli'**"":r"*'' "«»
triumph of the labom.wo3dnff^„P"'* *? "■* V^t^txa
he do. in whidi wJu M jrv^T- ^i' "'"'* «>°l'i
e-.KXTtETi-i if ^"■'^ -"
Messiah-like capacity that an unknown foroa had eaii Ua
mto that woefnl region to fulfil the long-dre»mt-of mission of
aeuTeranoe and bappinesi ?
When Lno, raising bis head, iieed himic of thoae Tagna
reflections, he perceived that he had come back to Beanclaii
agam. Four la,rge streets, meeting at a central square, the
Place de la Mame, divide the town into four more or less
equal portions; and each of thew streets bears the name of
some neiabbourmg town towtiUs which it leads. On the
north IS the Bue de Brias, on the west the Rue de Saint-Cron,
on the east the Rue de MagnoUes, and on the south the Bue
de iormene. The most popular, the most bustling of aU—
with Its many shops stocked to overflowing— is the Bue de
Bnas, m which, Luc at present found himself. For in that
direction he aU the factories, from which a dark stream of
toUers pours whenever leaving-off time comes round. Just
as Luc arrived, the great door of the Courier boot-works,
belonging to the Mayor of Beauclair, opened, and away rushed
Its hvo hundred hands, amongst whom were numbered more
than two hundred women and ohadren. Then, in some of
tbe neighbouring streets, were Chodoige's works, where only
nails were made ; Hausser's works, which turned out more
tban a hundred thousand scythes and sickles every year, and
Mirande s works, which more particularly supplied agricultural
machinery.
They had aU suffered from the strike at the Abyss, where
they Bupphed themselves with raw material, iron and
steel. Distress and hunger had passed over every one of
them, tte wan, thm workers who poured from them on to
the muddy paving-stones had rancour in their eyes and mute
revolt upon their lips, although they showed the seemiuR
resignation of a hnrmng, tramping flock. Under the few
lamps, whose yellow flames flickered in the wind, the street
was black with toUers homeward bound. And the block in
the circulation was increased by a number of housewives who
having at last secured a few coppers to spend, were hasteninB
to one or another shop to treat themselves to a big loaf or a
little meat.
It seemed to Luc as if he were in some town, the siege of
wbioh had been raised that very evening. Hither and thither
among the crowd walked gendarmes, quite a number of armed
men, who kept a dose watch on the inhabitants, as if from
tmt of a resumption of hostilities, some sodden fury arisiug
boB galling soffering*, whenoe might oome thesaekol tl».tn.n
emSS? hSi' th! *^S"»" authorities, hadVveroome the w«e.
STfiT'th?^,^ oyeipowered slaves still remained so thrito-
hS^«„^toth1Mer4' '"^' '^ ''"' '"'"">' •«**'•
WlulstooDtinuinghis ramble Lno mineled wifh (ho »«,„«
SSii, - i.*°'1 '^ '^' "t™^ o" the toreshold kS!^^
Monsieur Dacheux," stammered Natalio •)*,««, u
S "w^^d'^V"-' ^"^"""^ hasTneb^^t;, theCta^ou
Snow, and wiU receive something on account Jmrn^-
feHn^'- --^^ ^'- "^- m-eat-S^^
u
WORK
stitte of 7onw nearly mined me I How e«n jon think »•
foolenoDghtobeonToiuiider There wiUalumvi be enotwh
^ worlmen to prevent honest folk from doing basinen.
Wlien people don't work enoogh to eat meat, ther so
witbont it I ' °
He bniied hinuelf with poUtioe, and like a nartow-rainded
hot-tempered man, one who was greatly feared, he was on the
side of the noh and powerfnl. On his lips the word ' meat '
assumed aristocratio importance : meat was saored, it was a
luxury reserved to the happy ones of the earth, when it oueht
to have belonged to all.
. - i ^°" "'* '°® '"" '"*"'" fro™ 1"' summer,' he resumed •
' I have to pay people, I have I '
At ttiis Natalie almost eoUapsed, then she again strove
to touch him, pleading in a low prayerful voioe. But an
mcident whidi oocnrred just then completed her diseomfiture.
Madame Dachenx, an ugly, dark, insignificant-looking little
l^°^l who none the less contrived to make her husband
the taU of the town, stepped forward with her little daughter
Julienne, a child of four, plump, healthy, fair, and foU of
gaiehr. And the two children having caught sight of one
another, little Louis Fauohard, despito aU his wretehedness,
began to laugh, whilst the buxom Julienne, feeling amused,
and doubtless as yet unoonsdous of social mequaUties, drew
near and took hold of his hands. In such wise that there
was sudden play, fraught with childish delight, as at the
prospect of some future reoonciliatioD of the clasMs.
'The Uttle nuisance I ' cried Dachenx, who had quite loet
hi» temper. ' She's alvrays getting between my legs, tio
and sit down at once I ' ' -»
"Hien; turning his wrath upon his wife, he ronrtly sent
her buk to the cash desk, saying that the beet thing she
could do was to keep an eye on the till, so that she might not
be robbed agam, as she had been robbed only two days
previously. And, haunted as he was by that theft, of which
he bad never ceased to complain with the greatest indignation
dunng the hkst forty-eight hours, he went on, addressing
himself to aU the people in the shop: 'Yes, indeed, some
S°^.?f beggar woman crept in and took five francs out of
the tiU whilst Madame Dacheus wat looking to see if the
flies laughed. She wasn't able to d«ny it, she still had the
money m her hand. Oh I I had her taken into custody at
once. She's at the gaol. It is frightful, frightful ; we shall
WOXIC ,j
%^r'''^ "' "'"""^'"^ -<«" " we don't keep on,
to I»^^i^J!^T ^'^ '■• »8»^° ''tohed iii. meat
mirrom andTilyTit^d „n k^I^ 1''°^.' <J««o»t«l with
establishment.*^ of? of ?£' JI "f ^ ^""J- ""* •'""'her-a
seldom aUn/foXC,*' wfJ"?"'-'~^8 "»»" ^J"> »«•
trough or Ws oven^n S« Li'^''''' "°?'" ''''' """^^8
son, AT,ri8te,»Udoften „L'^°"'',°*" ^' '^f* «»* theii
Mit»i:f*'.B?owd/°^„^TTn.^r''"?"' -^^^ Madame
your Olympe. I need not Lk ™,^1f »h'" " '?" *"'*'«^ ""^
The pTsant wm am" fn t^„^hL*" "> 8°°'» i«>>ltl»-'
, sedate W He did not W h„f ^I^^'l ^'^ " •'"'^
his thoughtful way, • Yes. y^' thi*°WU^ •'"'^'^8 *°
doesn't get along so baivVri. n uS?'* "» 8°°^; one
most p<5r!y^*Zn.t To !kw ^r''*"««- ThI soil's the
' promiL yL, M^^^e M^ine' It'^ . '*"? •"""" '''^ b™" ^
|6
WOXK
Mid for sowing and numniing. And the beautiful Maduae
Mitaine gently nodded her head. It wu quite true. One
had to work a great deal nowadays to reap bnt little satis-
laotion. Few were able to satisfy their hunger. She did not
busy herself with politics, bnt, mm IHeu, things were really
taking a very bad turn. During that strike, for instance, her
Heart had almost burst at the thought that a great many poor
people went to bed without even a crust to eat when her shop
was full of loaves. But trade was trade, was it not ? One
ooiUd not give one's goods away for nothing, particularly as
u domg so one might seem to be encouraging rebellion.
And Leniant approved her. * Yes, yes," said he, ' every,
one hia own. It's only fair thai one should get profit from
things when one has taken trouble with them. But all the
saniB there ^ some who want to make too much profit."
Evariste, interested by the sight of Arstee and Olympe,
had made up his mind to quit the counter and do them the
honours of the shop. And like a big boy of ten he smiled
oomplaisantly at the httle girl of six, whose big round head
and gay expression probably amused him.
' Give them each a little cake,' said beautiful Madame
Mitame, who greatly spoilt her son, and was brincini? him ud
to kindly ways.
And then, as ifevariste began by giving a cake to Arsine,
she protested jestingly : ' But you must be eaUant, my dear.
One ought to begin with the kdies I •
At this Evariste and Olympe, all confusion, began to
laugh, and promptly became friends. Ah I the dear little
ones, they constitute the best part of Ufe. If some day they
were mmded to be wise they would not devour one anoUier as
do the folk of to-day. And Lenfant went o£f, saying that he
hoped to be able to bring some bran after aU, but, of course,
later on.
Madame Mitaine, who had accompanied him to her door,
watched him climb into his cart and drive down the Bne de
Bnas. And at this moment I uo noticed Madame Fauchard
draggmg her litUe Louis witl ler, and suddenly making up
her mind to approach the baker's vrife. She spoke some
words which Lue did not catch, a request no doubt for further
credit, for beautiful Madame Mitaine, with a gesture of consent,
immediately went into her shop again, and gave her a large
loaf, which the poor creature hastened to carry away, close-
pressed to her scraggy bosom.
llketaS5i5^,rhfvTa?A?";.^<'B"'««-i4'tth, flock,
to him M a ft iw,, L"" *^" increased. It now seemed
Then.« he rtS^Me^l-CdTll'^M"'"'''!:"*'" ^^•
tt/;»rSltvSi - ?1-' s,-i^
fiMoa mora th»n MoaL" ""*y' «» ""» one yon agk two
--4^a?Va sit tpl^fthn/Ji^^
with':ter^^„a,^:'2J|"«a m^,ext™melvacti^^^
whSt they hawked arnn^f^ 54? °'. P"*"' "^e". """d saws
each succeeding ^^vemonth/nS'"^ """'^*^ *» «°We it
Vefy important Sesra«mX''*'"Vx°''»' 'l'^ l^^ad of
of the rerion anT fk! ""ddlemen between the factories
Banssere- scylkeTand stklts Tl« M^^'l""'^ ''' '"^'' «>»
-'dh^toestahhlX^'S^^-S^^^atc^^
It
WORK
evMiing when they emptied their till and eonnted ap the
money that they had amaseed, levied ai tribute on the needi
of othen. They weie like OMlera oogwheela in that looial
maofaiue, whioh was now bst getting out of order; they
made it gratei and they oonsumed mnoh of its remafaiiiig
«ne^.
Whilst the peasant aad the ironmonger were diipnting
fariously over a reduction of a franc which the former de-
manded, Luc again began to examine the dUldren. There
were two in the shop — Augusta, a big, thoughtful-looking boy
of twelve, who was learning a lesson, and Eulalie, a Uttle girl,
who seeme(' to be scarcely five years old, and who, giave and
gentle, sat quietlv on a little ohair as if judging all the folk
who entered. She had shown en interest in Arsine Lenfant
from the moment he crossed the threshold. Finding him to
her taste, no doubt, she greeted him like the (ro^d-hearted
Uttle body she was. And the meeting became coiuulete when
a woman entered, bringing a fifth child with her. This woman
was Babette, the wife of Bourron the puddler, a plump, round,
fresh-looking creature, whose gaiety nothing would ever dim,
and who held bv the hand her daughter Marthe, a little thing
but fbni years old, who seemed as plump and as gay as herself
The ehild, it should be said, at once quitted her mother and
nn to Auguste Laboqne, whom she doubtless knew.
Babette meantime promptly pat an end to the bartering
between the ironmonger and &e peasant, who agreed to halve
the franc over which they had been disputing. Then the
woman, who had brought back a saucepan purchased the
previous day, exdaimed : ■ It leaks. Monsieur Laboque. I
noticed it duaotlv I put it on the fire. I can't possibly keep
a saucepan that leaks, you know.'
Whilst Laboqne, fuming, examined the ntensil and de-
cided to give another in exchange, Madame laboque began
to speak of her children. They were perfect pests, said she,
they never stirred, one from her ohair, the other from his
books. It was quite necessary to earn money for them, for
they were not a bit like their parents, nobody would ever find
them up and doing to earn a pile. Meantime Auguste
Laboque, listening to nothing, stood smiling at Marthe
Bourron, and Eulalie Laboque offered her little band to
Ara^ne Lenfant, whilst the other Lenfant, Olytnpc, thought-
fully finished eating the cake which little Mitaine had gfven
her. And it was altogether a very pleasant and moving seen;,
WORK ,g
S S^n^h f***'**-.. ^''*^* "e no go2d workmeirien. they
Mj^^i**^ ■*"•* ■«>»»''»y8- And what a lot of wmSJ
'^ wknt^T" "bW again this afteZ,n/ "'"'■
-K ?*»"? *^e PlOM I Of course they do. It isn't we wh«
t«'^* ' ?i^'"' '?2 "'' ""• '^W """ined out » strike te
«wSS^"i?,' y°",'°'rv'*'> " the, haven't the moneyto bS
jnything they steal whatever they can. Only a mud^. „^
nj/fi^' — ' ' ^t"""* °' «"^*«" disquietude, tuminir
P^ ""q.'uvering as he pointed to the t&eateninB ^rtS«.f
^wded with the gloomy throng, as if he KZ?. tt
rarush^some invasion which might sweepUmX otom
and toadesmim. away and despoiJlgm of ev^ySSg
her p&TuU"'?&n;t"ffto^'i''*^^
could people do with them? It's iust lik«r»«.„ ^'
way-Poomplains thaTa box o^^s^^^^^'-i^'^JoS'n
from him. ^m. urchin just wanted to SlTem? nS
tn™ ^7*%?^"."°?**°^' ever convinced that things would
wDom all the housewives ought to have ourafiiJ flha kTS
juat seen her man Bourron go into his pC with R,^
and Bourron would oertainlv break un S fit-.^ ^'
there But when aU was St was oi3? nat^^W .^Z!
should amuse himself a bit after toiling so h«d ^d 4^
S,'ir/i,"r° '° 'l^^P'^ilo-PWoalfiew st'took^er^^^
Eer W;^'iersarp^''" '"' °''' ''" ^'"^ ""^
■ We ought to have some troops here, you know/ resumed
M
WOJtlC
Z«boqiu. MpUniag Ug vUwt to th« p«Mui 'I'm la
bvonr of giviog • good l«Hon to all thoM ravolatioiwiiw.
S;X'rSs«s' "*'' ' •^'^ '"* '^ -««
iMfut joggad hit hMcL With hif dittmttfbl eammon
MUM ho hMiteUd to tzpnu hit opiniani. At Itit ht too
wnt <a, iMdug Artiat tsA OlrmiM tway and tavias :
Well, I hop. that aU thue affairt S.t^ UiS W« "iaSd
the workmen won't end badly I '
p, I^ ,*''• •*■' minute or two Imo had been examining
Cafflaai t eetablithment over the road, at the other corner^
the Hue da Bnai and the Place do la Mairie. At first the
Cafflan^ man and wife, had eimply kept a grooery, which
now Had a very flourishing appearanoe with it« display of
open saoki, its piles of tinned provisions and all torta of
comestible goodt protected by nettmg from the nimble finsen
of niMandert. Tten the idea bad come to them of gdw
intottie wine bpsmese, and they had rented an adjoining Aop
and Jud atted it up as a wineshop and eating-house, when
nowadays they UtoraUy coined gold. The hands employed at
iJlthe neighhonrinB wmIm, nptobly the Abyss. coiikD^ed a
toilble amopnt of alcohol. There was an endless procession
of ttiem going m and coming ont of Caffiaox'g establish-
ment, partionlarlv on the Saturdays when they wen paid.
Many lingered and ate there, and many came away dead dronk.
The place was a den of poison, where the strongest lost the
use of both thenr heads and their arms. Thus the idea at
once ownrred to Luc to enter it to see what might be Roina
on inside. It was a very simple matter; as he was to dine
out, he might as weU dine there. How many times m Paris
had not his passion to learn everything about the ' people," to
dive to the depths of their misery and suffering, impeUed him
to enter the very worst dens and spend hours in them 1
He quietly mstalled himself at one of the Uttle tables
near the huge imo bar. The room was large, a dozen work-
naen stood up drinking, whilst others, seated at table, drank,
shouted, and played cards, amidst the thick smoke from their
pipes, a smoke in which the gas-jets merely looked like red
s^ts. And at the very first gUnoe around him Luc recoK-
nised Ragu and Bourron seated face to face at a noighbourinir
table, and shoutmg violenUy at one another. They had
doubtless begun by drinking a qnwt of wine, then they had
ordered an omelet, some sausages and some cheese; and th»
WOXJC „
'TU master, will always be the masters.' rtammend
n3 bA,2^^,^!:ii"" worker who was exasperated roshed
traitor, a spy of the masters of the Abyss, who had hdbJwm
tue men chatter whilst he was Doi8onin<r th.™ t I TT^?,
"««^fava perdition; ty^^ySi^T^^Z^of^:^
w»gM«mmg life necessitated the eiiitenoTofte^ris „d
taveni, finished by rof ,g the wage-ei^g d^'^^Brf^i?
here was a bad man ana a bad plaS, rSv bn^inVl^',:
ctfa^^r' *" *"'' '"'•»' ^ ti'thTSrtd^.^?
liuo-s attention wai for a moment drawn from the
'jfcdS^-!
t«
WORK
2i^w<.°*'-.u'^ ^ ^ ?*»^ <rf «i toBM door
eommnalo^ng with the grooujr ihop, and J>« •mMMUtet on
th. ttr..hold of • pr.4Wgirl .bout ^L^ ,«« Sil^^hi.
iji HonoriiM, Um Okffikni'i daugliter, a .tort, dimVniiiott*.
wlHi Am blMk ejM. She Mter ifaiTtd uit time in the
«»Si- .i.'°"''°'i''*"?,''A""^8P«"'7- And on now
entering ihe merelj oaUed her mother, a itoot, ^rnin.
uJ^'t""'*".'!?'." ''" hneband.who stood beUndthi
W rino bar. All thoee tradesfolk, n eager for gain, aU those
fi.^ ^'J?'*'"*' Aopkeepers seemed to have very fine children,
thought Lno. And would those children for ever and ever
remain as grasping, as hard, and as egotistical as their fore-
runners 1
But all at once a charming and mournful vision appeared
before the young' man. Amidst the pestilential odonlTthe
thickening tobaooo-smoke, the noise of a souffle which h»d
d^^nrM^H^i"" ""• •l"-'" ■" '"in' standing, so
vague and blurred, however, that at the first moment hi?did
rt,l?t!S- 1^ ^°°l- Trembling, anS still hesi«itil^ ^he
?^-^t 'm ?*«°' T?"? '^'^ "»* '«« ''«': "d for a moment
«,? ^^r *" '?,"'">'?« ^«. »o »l™ in her wretched gown,
and with so gentle and shadowy a face under her ngf»d
Jtenu. But he was struck by something which he bad not
observed over yonder near the Abyss : hir right hand was no
^n^L'^fT^' 7"PP*^ """^ to the wrist with linen,
doubfless a banSage for some injury which she had received.
1..™; n A% """"t?™^ "P »11 ter courage. She mast
thJ J ^"""^ Vl' *" C»fl5»»«'8 "hop, have gSnced through
l^?hT n >"■? u""-^ "^" ^8" ■' t»W9- She drew nZ
Ti-.K ,]"■"'• i'".^?°8.''*P' """^ 1"^ ker girlish hand upon
^ot™„^*^-,,®?' ^t' *°.*^* «'°' "' his" intoxication, ?Sd
h^'autSt'ttn'^'S""' '"^ ^"'"^ by shaking hi^-untU
tbe— ""d'o^'wl^^te;^'"" "■*'»»'*'-' What to
fl.ti' J'^k'^i''* *" dealt the table snob a thump with his
fist that the gUsses and the quart-bottles fairly daieed
1~,n "1°"' ^l"' 7°" d°""* »°«n8 home/ she answered
coking very pale and half closing her large fri«htOTed eV^
in sntioipation of some act of brutality. * "rigntened eyes
But Eftgn w»» not listening to her, he wae working bim-
WOJiX
windy darkness wrapped them round oloe more '^' '^''
H
WOXK
How frightful was the misoiy, how hateful wan tha
WUhhi Llll'w'S^* T^""^ "'"y degradation iZS^T
With his heart bleeding, hia mind cloud^ by the blackest
?^^i?T°°'' H*8^ wandered through the thrwS
crowd whose numbers still increased in the RueTS
whi^if ?°"^°r^ '\"" *•"" '»8"e atmosphere of W
which had come from the recent struggle between the oImsm
«„!^^'?,7''''''' "?^'' S?"^***' ''toll near return one coX
scent m the very air. That resumption of work was but a
deceptive peace, there was low growling amid Jt all the
resigna onof the toilers, a silent oSvingf^r revenge -their
eyes stUl retained a gleam of ferocity, and were r^f to flash
once more On both sides of the way w^eteWs full of
ZZ'^"^}'^'^\<'°^r'^mth^ir pay, poisonous MhalTt^ons
TmnfiJ^ hTr?i'° *.*" ™7 ="««'- ^l^lst the shoprnew
emptied, but stil and ever levied on the meagre resources of
the housewives Uiat iniquitous and monstroTtrSutHaM
"^s.'SOT.^sar • - «"*. ^ -«;
h- w?^ ^^ Ji""^ ^°? recognised several persons whom
f^lo Zii^^'oT 'P"fi?- ^^? outhoritieswere thlX
tear no doubt of something beini? amiao H« ..— «_-
Gourier and Sub-Prefect Ch'fii^a p\Ton ^ll^^T.
first, a nervous man of large property, wouldTave "ked to
have troops m the town ; but the second, an aSle wlif of
hZritri"''^'*"*'" was sharper, hadwisXcllnt^^
himself mth the services of the gendarmes. Gaume th«
nresidmg judge of the local court, a!so we^ b>. o^Zin^
bv Captam /olhvet, an officer on the retired liTThV™
shop they paused to exchange greetings with the MazellL
?°°"' 'Tf .*^^°P'» "20, thanks to a rapidly^S
moome, had finaUy W received into the hig^SHflhe
^^a.nf^ "■*"? *'"" r''« '" ^^ ^o^'ol with T^Sy
confident expressions on their faces, a. they glknccd sM^yg
m'sic
•s
heard thVmX.f^l^^om.^V*? *?*" ""> M"^*"** he
the Judge and^eTaDfafniti,"''''?''*"' '^ " questioning
indeedl^ing from m?uth t„ ° '''tu""''''^]- tittle-tattle waf
been tak» from DwC^'s tiu?"' hn//'*:;^"?"'' ^'^ ^"^
abstracted from Caffianx"s^on'h^,t^?o°' '^/°*'' '"'^ •>««»
were those to whSHhe theft of tA^"''''*"?'"''"'"™^
e»verise. The terror which w^ nl„^ '"^"* '. Paring-knivea
people. Was it true then thirth« »™^V«""*-^ "P"" «»°»ble
themselves, and pnrS cartvfnT°''i''°''*"*'''*"""^"K
very night, that stomv niI7^^^ u"i *°™« massacre that
BeanclSr? Tha Sroif trTk.^h Y'^'^ ''"''"' °^«'
of gear, hunger was iSi^^ ! had put everything out
the%;onorSolTthe«arr^,''«» t^^^
tive and murderous maiaesB T^T '^^ breeding destruo-
filthy, muddy rmdwav .l!fi!X *k ? f^^g'b, right along the
founJaU th/So^^nt^" id de^'^-*°°';£"«'"»'» °°»
iaiqmtous toil Oie toil „/»i. aepadation that come from
ment of Sie few-labi„ d^^h '^^^l °»°'''«' &' tbe e^?^
frightful misS^ tKs^ ri^'^^r'^''''"'^' 'b«
«napto8titntion whioh^re its ml^ ' '°^*"'^' '*"' 'beft
Pale girls passed bvf:^^™ monstrous parasitic growths.
Bntter; and drun™n Sn went off ^■f^r'^!.'""'' '"'»«>
puddles and the darknes ° * "'^"' ""^'■K'' ^ tbe
-.^^.rnSsrs&c'^^K^ri'^'''^^^-^
what horrid dark nook had" .i, T."^^ /°"°« be ? In
Nanet? But S^^at owe a^J * °°°«'" "'"B« 'rf'b little
to sweep overlhe Zwd fi^? " r^*' ? hurricane seemed
one nportte othy^'arabourhf' '* Q-^'.i''"^ P«8s^
•midrt the growing terror ^WmL™ "*»°"°«"?8 accents
from every dde. ' ' ""^'^ "»™» back wUdly
~«^"^, excited crowa was now rushmg np the
ifaM
t6
WOJRJC
street. The afisir mnet have taken place at Mitaine'i shop.
Women ghrielied, an old man fell down and had to be picked
np. One fat gendarme ran so impetaonsly throDgh the
gionps that he npset two persons.
liQC himself began to rmi, carried away by the general
panic. And as he passed near Judge Ganme he heard him
saying slowly to Captain Jollivet: 'It's a child who has
stolen a loaf of bread.'
That answer came back again, punctuated as it were by
the rush of the crowd. But there was a great deal of
scrambling and nothing could yet be seen. The tradespeople
standing on the thresholds of their shops turned pale, and
thought of putting up their shutters. A jeweller was already
removing the watcl^es from his window. Meantime, a general
eddying took place around the fiit gendarme, who was busy
exerting his elbows.
Then Luc, beside whom Mayor Gourier and Sub-Prefect
Ch&telard were also running, aga'n doteoted the words, the
pitiful murmur rising amidst a little shudder : ' It's a child
who has stolen a loaf of bread.'
At lost, as the young man was just reaching Mitaine's
shop m the wake of the fat gendarme, he saw him rush forward
to assist a comrade, a long, lanky gendarme, who was roughly
holding a boy, between five and six years old, by the wrist.
And in this boy Luc at once recognised Nanet, with his fair
tumbled head, which he still earned erect with the resolute
air of a little man. He had just stolen a loaif of bread &om
beautiful Madame Mitaine's open window. The theft conld not
be denied, for the lad was still holding the big loaf, which was
nearlv as tall as himself. And so it was really £is childish
act of larceny which had upset and excited the whole Bne de
Brias. Some passers-by having noticed it had denounced it
to the gendarme, who bad set off at a run. But the lad on
his side had slipped away very fast, disappearing among the
groups, and the gendarme, raising a perfect hollabaJoo in his
desperation, had nearly turned all Beauclair topsy-turvy. He
was triumphant now, for he had captured the culpnt, and
had brought him back to the scene of the theft to confound
him.
'It's a child who has stolen a loaf of bread,' the people
repeated.
Madame Hitaine, astonished at such an uproar, had coma
once more to the dooi of her shop. And she was quite
But the little feUow was not put out. He iuiiiwb~<»
eyes so fuU of indulgent kindness. Poor litt'e deril^ T,d h^
S'SSff '; wV- ~^^'^^
Ite «,a^Tl» K "«'' ?^ ' handsome woman accustomed to
Be ooorted by all her customers, she said in her Ray quiet ™v^
Igave7h"w '"■• K'"*'™'-*'" ctUddidn-fsirthekff;
Without relaxing his hold on Nanet, the eendarme stood
vermn. has juBt robbed you, Madame Mitain^t'd *y'u lan't
Quite pink from having told a fib, the baker's wife none
the less repeated gently: 'You are mistaken, nei^U.^1?
that hv h„ff f ^'- ^^r ^'° * '<""P«' '"h her, pretotimj
all J?C^ °°^'^ indulgence she would end by h^Lg ttem
aU pillaged and massacred, Sub-Prefect nhAtoUwf iT
had judged the scene at a glwce hke a shretd^?^; T °
proached the gendarme and mide hLfrele^NTet S wh™S"
JJ^-te';-'*"-"'^ ^'^'' ^« -<»= 'Off wr*yi°fe
her^drrLTSlt^ ^L^^^^-^^^
*' WOSJC
"Z^l.%':^f' ' """^'«"» '"'« -^ iMi he«d
'Ah I ourae it I so little urohins six years old have ti> i»t
because you are cowards I • starving its simply
mn«.^;-. "' * ™''<' appearance but with a glow of intelli-
ff hfa7;f 7^'^ ^' ''"°* "^ 'P'^'^i"?. Proolain§ng the dream
to whom everything belongsfmay^aTtt'b^d up^'the'':^;^'
Women took fright on hearing this. Even the n,«n :„
presence of the aggressive vehement of We's w^U
became silent and retreated. uaxiau^ZTi^iht^^ '°"*'
^«u°.° '°^ 8° '" P™°°. they thought.
terH5^2Z^?"'5Me^-"o\hr:;r^^
much If you are unable to BmellthisevenSgt^tete^th^^
""•ters I Ah I may evemhl^ ? v"?" l*" """dereii. our
hiB authority. SoSy Ir to tT'^ f ."S*^ *» «««i«e
darmea sprang upon We t^d I^k?™']?^' ^° '^ree gen-
deserted side str^t, S't^eir ll ™5 ^°'^ - '"o^.
The crowd itself had shown bnft ""^ ^°°^^^ dieu ai^v
which were promptly qZted l^-?fK"°°'"«^<"<»7mpS
"P «|d the trampingC afrt^h '«V «""'« i°« 'as S
b«yond the horizon, tatK™ i!Pr'''''^e from the deptt^
doud of fire which 'would conZ^»nr°* °l'*'"« »ven|in|
8">md. And with hiBhoZvTJ^J^'^ ^/"""^i' 'o ttf
the thought of it. What I muU t?^ w/°'^* ^.»» ="ff«ed at
force, would theft and murfer h« n?^'**"" ''^/'S'^' 5" Would
find Itself once more vnmntbJ^^tT^ ^°' "■'"kind to
traoted state it had wemed Vt ^1* ?^ J^tioe ? In his dis
sombre faces of tbeZ^n^t^'^^r''^' "^ "■« ^^h
Utory thought remainS'tha^ of '/ °?,.'?'"°P»»«<»'^'e Vo^o-"
£-.-d^ascertaining^otlt%Xn':^4^^^^
WamtleXrS'XhVf V"' "" *''« courage of
rapid y, for the dear littlo fellow ir»^^' Tl^°°^ ^'"^ fairly
|"gbis big loaf. He pressed Vm P'^' <'"S'=«l'y in carry^
hands, from fear of dropSt and frl"?''' "'^^ ''""^ hi«
g^-hearted man or Bom^g' Z^ ^Zt'^' *oo lest some
On heanng Luc's hasty footsteos in fS '^"," ^o"" !»'«•
felt extremely frighten^ ^ottratrenSiTrt ""Buto'n'
30
WORK
glancing round he recognised by the Ught of one of the lart
gWB-lamps the gentleman who had smiled at him and his bin
Mter, and tiiereupon he felt reassured, and aUowed hims^
to be overtaken.
' Shall I carry your loaf for jrou ? 'the young man asked.
Oh, no I I want to keep it. It pleases mo,' said the
boy.
^W were now on the high road beyond Beauolair, in the
darlmess felling from the low and stormy sky. The lights of
the Abyss alone gleamed forth some distance off. And one
could n.;ar the child splashing through the mud, whilst he
raised bis loaf as high as possible, so that it might not got
' You know where yon are going ? ' asked Luc.
' Of course.'
' Is it very far 1 '
' No — ^it's somewhere.'
A vague fear must have been stealing over Nanet aeain
for his steps slackened. Why did the gentleman want to
fcnow ? Feeling that he was his big sister's only protector,
the litUe man sought to devisp some ruse. But Luc, who
guesMd his feelings, and wished to show him that he was a
tnend, began to play with him, catching him in his arms
»' ™9 ">oment when he narrowly missed stumbling in a
• Look out. my boy I Yon mustn't get any mud-iam on
yonr bread.' = .» , mu
Conquered, having felt the affectionate warmth of those
b« brotherly arms, Nanet burst into the careless laugh of
oh^dhood and said to his new Mend :' Oh I you are strons
and kmd, you are I ' ^
Then ha went trotting on, without showing further
maquietude. But where could Josine have hidden herself?
Tha toad stretched out, and in the motionless shadow of each
successive tree Luo fancied he could see her waiting. He
was drawing near the Abyss, the ground already shook
with the heavy blows of the steam-hammer, whilst the sur-
roundmga were illumined by a fiery cloud of vapour
traversed by the broad rays of the sleotrio Ughts. Nwjet
without gomg past the Abyss, turned towards the bridge and
crossed the Mioune. Thus Luo found himself brnii<Tht hack
to the very spot where he bad first met the boy and his
lister earher in the evening. But all at oiiee the lad ruehea
WJJL
fine ^T •"« '^'«' »««» ti* o"*^' look at ttl.. aee how
taoing the Abyss whi«h .^^tT^T '^' ""y "o^o Palings
when he heard the Mehin>. l k^*^ ?«"^» ""» P^Ungs
whenheperoSvU JoBin. ^'' ""u^ ""derstood everything
the benoh^lLe hi^'SSei^Sf^r!^'""*^' V "^"oniu^n
offering, letting h«liWe^ro^e* rT""!, ''' ''""8" '"d
standing what £e vrith *»,« »^i J„ *° J*' ?"f' ""^^l? "ider-
had inini^'i^^io^^f^J,^J^,''^,.of the streets,
if lifeless, sobbed \o.i^l^il^^- ^"^ *■« "o'-l. "
eat. ther'e-stZ'^ J?''* "^^ '-^« "/' ^O" --t eat. do
offering. sho^dfX' 3:"^ .d«"«y of privation and
He qSirdSMndsdCh! w''*'''y5^~"»8«o»s creaturesi
in tie wa4:Ktme bi?k J^d^Zi-^^^f his. handkerchief
Fortonatalv that ^o^hIT'^ " *" ^"'^t' ''""Ples.
last he took hold ofX v^^ w^.^°' t ^V "^'^ ""«• ^t
-Id warmed them '^ Rn'P"^ fln.'n^'.™''^^ '^'"»'
seemed to awaken tMT^sZl'h^i,^^^ '''*„"8^*d »"d
prostrate condition^ duTtoZk o^L^*^' ^"' *» •>"
her; it appeared to W e^te^tull ?Sf t h""^"^ astonished
be there with th»t u.? . '"*' "e^ brother should
hands^lSe gttkman wh^Z*?"^ ^^J^ *^* *^ -^
imagined that it^M th« ^„f? woognised. Perhaps she
breir^Ha p^ we^'fif!?^*^«;,'^l»o ^ broajhtthe
Ha had to helD her h^ *?^ "^"^^ "o' '''eak thVernst
he Pas8eS'hertty^^„tb?:ne":^tra^«h""''Tr' ^
herself in her haste to quit thf.!^-^ "?!«''* °°*''l'oke
griped her. And then thTwhofe of CT '""Jf' ^^'^
hg«« began to tremble,^d she wept we„rn; "'"' ^P*?"
i^^rhetMiJs?-^-^^^
shivering c!-!Sen,fJm°"''^L*^'""« "■« "h"* the
longer llo^Xw t^ st^oT T' T »''° Tr »• ''''''"' °°
t his hear, gentl^L'SiJ^:^ b^r""hatrw^;r/t^ ^^1
i-IT'
s»
tVOKK
SLi. u!2^S!i^*ViH*Jv'^'?''°'*» "»' refibring and load-
i,»tu'^*f^*'°^,'»«*» «ff •»« own •»»». ud ate like a
ISSw f ^^t',^^ *• ? weep wh:?*S'y ^
fler side, unable to leave Her like that alone in the nicUt with
that Bleepjng ohUd. He had understood at last thTt wmTof
the plumsmess Uiat she had shown in eating had b^enTe to
he, mjured hand, around which, as well K couwSm^L^
she had again wound her bloodstained bandase. '"""""'8*'
You have injured yourself ? ' he said.
Yes. monsieur, a boot^sUtohing machine broke one of
my fingers and I had to have it out off. But it wm my &nlt
so^^e foreman «ud. though Monsieur Gourii' ^"MtS;
tr.^ti^"'* "" ' Mmewhat low and yery gentle voicfc which
ttemWed at moments as with a kind of sfi.^. ^
GounV.'tte mJ^?? "" "^''''^ ''^'^^ *» Monrien,
. 'Yes, monsieur, I first went there whan I was flfteen—T-n,
eighteen now My mother worked ther7moT&;;nS
K«, nJ?! "'i.^*'^- /'"» »" alone, I've ody^vliZ
Ai^' .?*"*'■ 7''° f ^?'' ^'^ My name's Josine.' '
only^ to .T* z"" ''""« ''*' ?'<^' ^ »°o»> "iw that Luo
^i^^SdeT^tffo^j^xtwrheS:? °
dS'a^as1tL°l;rrf"''«'-°?''''^^^^^^^
oies at last from the effect of over- work, and then the danahto,
,ust sixteen years of age, has to become^mXr to h» UttiS
W^S!*"? •'"i'"? IdlliDg herself with hard WOTk/th^rf, a?
tomes she is unable to earn bread enough for herseU aiid «.« W
ThM comes the inevitable tragedy whU do« Sef,XS>1 of a
good-lookmg workgirl-a seducei; passes. Tel^A Ts^, on
fw*.'W!i«Ni^ttw.*i.«*?
I
to her. Her oS& Wt ^^i,f '''^'Jf«° U>«t my romS
month* later she ig Intv nf .''"^y "a«mberg. *^' ^|
live with Bagu, whr«„t.Sl '^"""^ '»""' 'l^"' of ^ino to
Then her acoH^itbeLrw",V'"°™ '» ^' of mirriLe
herself unable to ooTni^^orCl?"?''''"'',, »°^ "K«
the strike has rendered Raeaso f^^tlf .' '«'/ moment when
h« begun to beat her, aceuKer^of tfn'l^?''*'"' ""»' I'*
own misery. And from that momLf ^u^^ ""* '^"'o of hia
worse, and now he has timied her^n"^ ^^'T «° ^™« •'»d to
even give her the key soTat she maVl* >'"''' """^ '^U °ot
Nanet. ' '"'" ="« may go home to bed with
Bhelh^lKeSS^"^^^^^^ toLnothat if
her and make up his minTff „ ^?"'*''°°'9 a"aohed to
the young man hint^ tCtolll"'^''''- f °'^<'^«'. "hen
tmi No, nothing Tf ttat w.^"^ a5 tit r'^^u'""^«»'ved
fell, they no longer spoke Thai !? ■^^''^^•, ^'^ 'flenoe
not a mother, that shTl.id L™^'' that Josine w«
manflagu, brought Luo »^L?J^^ children to that
Bmgala?f6^1ingofrehrfVn^l°'J'," doloroua oompasfflaTa
Vague ideas a^se toWs' ^nd wL'tv" ""'''^ ^^^i-
»w»y over the dim scene ffi ^ J^'u^^" 'r««'ewd far
that gorge of Brias whiK hS' Sf. ^ ••«»? ««enied
before it was steeped in shadn^ n "*^f^ *" "»» twilight
Bleuse Mountains re^?edthe°rfliX"» '„f''"."^? '''»««>«
became more dense. Midwav „n th^ I of rooks the darkness
young man now and agai™leard th« *^' >'"°'^ ^^ tbe
train which whistled and s?oweddoin ^^-^^ """"« of a
B ation. At his feet h? dfstSsC tS! ", approached the
ripplmg against the stockade whose bJ™» * k"m ^? ^'°""'''
Ana then, on his left, came th« .nr?^ ?;."P.''*^'' '^o bridge.
the two promontories'of7heK''S,:nt™"§°' '^'K^^ee,
on the verge of the vasi ^oZTr,.T^\^^^'''S'^ie
pestuous night roUed on krabl„fknSi°'^r^''"* ""« *«•"-
%g.J9
34
WOXK
was k «ubmi89ivfl r T^J?^™ * . "* "^d *^"ia that she
thm Bhe explained things to him. Bagu occupied ,
i littln
«iJljr h.d not got the Wtrith hi^ •uin>ected that if B«n'
to I« Toape, Who wa. ^U^u.'^* "'"»* »>•»• hwaedlt
Jodne shudde^l. ' * * *" '"' ""^ "ki"* her for the k!^
eoATi,^ r*t"hA"-/^'' •»"« »•• K one'
m.n, but! know tSrhe ^^rk^aUh ' Tk"'" *" S'^n-'tur^
» master puddler, named Cnai« • ' ^^^" *°-'^8'"- He'.
be good-natnr^. WeU ^V^ou?.! '?° V'^' "««■"«! ^ meto
to him about you/ ' " ' ^""^ ""P'e. I "iU go and spe^
^SdJo-'ftjlXedCa^ '■''r -'-'"-•'""«
went out towards the younTm,m ^nl^ *' ''•"• ''''°'e bei4
yon are l-how can I ever K you?^ '°°°™"' '"'' 8°°3
« bt Zee" iteaw Ctf^ 'JT V^" \'"'«'. «^ I--.
»gged wrapper had faul ow her T„ '^"™-''«~'e'i, for hei
longer weeping, her blue ev« al..l^°"'^*"- She was no
W Uttl. mouth had fonS ™f;f ""'^ '^"^ tenderness, and
With her Mpple pScef S^^«. ""u"" "". y°°«^J »mi"e
oJiiMish air, she iS l7k„^°*l' ^^* ^^ retained quite a
a«>d gav. Her iX &ir ha°r o7 tLT 'nP'.»y^' ""P'e!
fcUen, ialf unbound, overihe naL „# h"' °^"P* "'"»■ ^»d
qmte.girlid, and oand'd Tppe^ran ' t' T^"''' '«"' »»«'
B.. infinitely charmed, bv dZ^^,^? " ^^ abandonment.
«d eetonisied at tte 4hT^Z't.?f ?'''«*«''. 'elt moved
■eemed to emerge from ttf rLJlJr '^T"* "'eature that
met badly clad, frightened ^d w^^'"' **?« ''''°'° be bad
looked at him with o mj^eh adTXf v^^ ''«''''«'■. '^e
him so candidly her sonLlike one wh^' '^, ""tendered to
Moooured and loved. Handsome «n^i,"V*'' ?'» herself
^med (<, her a very god afteTanth«l!:'^^^'"' "'«• he
She would have kissed his very fo„f'„- ?""*''*y "^ Bag™-
before him with her hands RtniL ?"1'' = ""^ 'he st«)d
ggH the mutilated Ca'^'.:^d*Tht^*'''''"P"''''"«^
bloc^-stamed bandage. And-s^^lthl^f^erawZ^^^;:^
m
mfMki
n
Sofk^'S^t'L'^'*'?"^'""' "»• »' tl'o »»•» hand, of th«
earnmg system, he' read^the pCs new^^^^ lite^'
from them a revolntionaiy educaUon in^Ch ^.» «~
Michel Q.jHgnoD's lU s«c«33 in buskew hil berp«u"du,'
*^t difllculUei which htd bMek «.. . . "
«gon .v„ .inc. the BMnf^SS™ o;,*»"^ J^^^ of tb.
OM there coaaed to be romnnt!!.^" " '""■ '»iJ« «nd (rirder.
•yndjcatea and class grouS^l?' Ti*""? wndemaed aJJ
' That li .tout w.p„,
j;i:u.
' 320} Ibl.
wm^
38
WORX
sboTTcd great nnwillingneaa to complete the reTiaion of the
tarifFs, and thought it neoeasary in his turn to arm himself,
in some measure, decreeing a ' state of siege ' at the Abyss.
Soon after he had begun to act thus rigoroualy the men
complained that no individual liberty was left to them. A
close watch wag kept on them, on their thoughts and opinions
as well as on their actions, even outside the works. Thn-ie
who put on a humble flattering manner and perchance became
spies, gained the management's good graces, whilst the proud
and independent were treated as dangerous men. Aiid as the
manager was by instinct a staunch conservative, a defender
of the existing order of things, and openly evinced the resolve
to have none but men of his own views in the place, all the
underlings, the engineers, foremen, and inspectors strove to
surpass one another in energy, displaying implacable severity
with regard to obedience, and what Uiey chose to call 'a
proper spirit.'
Bonnaire, hurt in his opinions, his craving for liberty and
justice, naturally found himself at the head of the malcontents.
It was he who with a few mates waited on Delaveau to
acquaint him with their complaints. He spoke out very
plainly, and, indeed, exasperated the manager without obtain-
ing the rise in wages that he asked for. Delaveau did not
believe in the possibility of a general strike among his hands,
for the metal workers do not readily lose their tempers,
and for many years there had been no strike at all at the
Ab^ss, whereas among the pitmen of the coal mines of Brias
strikes broke out oontinuaUy. When, therefore, contrary to
Delaveau's anticipations, a general strike did occur among
his own men, when one morning only two hundred out of a
thousand presented themselves at the works, which he had
u) dose, his resentment was so great that he stubbornly held
to the course he had chosen and refused to make the slight-
est concession. When Bonnaire and a deputation of the
syndicate ventured to go to him he began by turning them
out of doors. He was the master, the quarrrel was between
his workmen and himself, and he intended to settle it with
his workmen and with nobody else. Bonnaire therefore
returned to see him accompanied only by three mates. But
all that they could obtain from him were arguments and
calculations, tending to show that the prosperity of the
Abyss would be compromisi^d if he should increase the men's
wages. Funds had Let^ii cuulldtd lo him, a iiotory had been
VO-4WVI
.1%..; r^m^ ^%
WOJiJC
39
sZ;alTmiI«tn» '^■''"''"S. °"""« ""> ™°™ "'"bfcm after
Sorea8Sra,^/L fS ''*?«-«"°?'? ^ well as for the OTnier
moreaaing as it did the misery of the men whilst the nlant
WhenTe l™^t T"* '''^'*^ ""^ "">«' sober This h^ds
thrltiT "i*™»*«'y ga^e way, and took Bonnaire back with
in thi "•'"'^'^''^ ^'^^ •»« ■'" being compiled to Mt
Sir^'. -^^^ l>i--linations,l.lelyromadesi^'
nJ^ 'u*' F'O'"*''' Bonnaire felt that he was condemned
ante such croumstances he was at first abSeir^"
jnllmg to go back to the works at aU. But he v™^ a <nS^f
wZZlt »t^ T*^'.'""' ""^ they dLl^eHiat'SS
M themll™ T ""'*™ ^f "'™«^ ''°* »t the same time
hf 3! <r; u* »PFe"d to resign himself to their wishes
rapt^ tit ™8^*."<" P^ve the cause of t^raTl^i
S^^on^^L hlTfr- •'°7«'«\h" mates had suffered
2r.. -Z^T.; '^'>}»^ fall> made np his mind and intended
to BMnfice himseW in order that none other might have to
5t'^t'''^*°uu' °l*^' semi-viotory which had bwn ga^ed
And thus, aJthough he had ended by returningto work oTthe
Thursday, i hadTieen with the intention of tfldSg htowVoff
af t^ ^"""8 ^""'^y' ^~ •"• '"8 convinced that hisTrSence
wi^l/'f'l-''" °° longer possible. He took none of hie
m^tL'^s^^^S^"^^"".""' •>"* 'in^Ply warned the lna«"
mentra, Saturday morning of his intention to leave IfTe
jrere stUl working at the Abyss that night it was solelv
desired to disappear in a quiet, honest way.
40
tfOJlX
JSw!" lU bSts '".i'T^ totSat". Si's
in order toT'^d it toScTrthwTl^L'"'"'^' ^°«''
resounded Sf the aSe' wfth ?.' t^ ^«^=' °^ '»•« '-^3.
rollers B it ol Wf '"'" '^* '^"'''^» rumbling of the
^S^? KrwTsrpTd«rSL'"°»'^^
WOUK ^,
fu'Siaia\^o':^?^™? '^'"^ ^^"-^ as.floormg-
to Ser^^^SfcTarrLSSf *" "'"?'' ^""^ ">»''•
entire^leJy ""' ^ '' *'»»«P'«"^ the darkness of the
labour betXu them w'"°'»r* *?"! *"™",«' ">d humai
dra2°gC*^°°^'""^°°"'''"'«« y°» »°*'' "ked Luc.
acitd.ttdda™S -"SSeS* "^'"^ "'•-f
.TiJl
relapsed toto sOenef l^klL rt^« '".^"' ""> '«>™«>
NdtW spoke for^tlmr-th^J^'"^ °'' ^^ »'J'"»^-
prolongeTby the S'of tb« ? * *? "'**"'^ °' ^''^^g.
And wien t/e m^ter^uX ^as Jw"^Mn °^1 't?""'
self beard he simply S^d • ' An Lfct t.ii'^'* '".""'''« ''*"■
I'll go Trith you M ^'as iW' J5 ^!' whatlcan-
qnartera of an honr" ^°°° "" ^ ^« &msk^ in about three-
resol^rwaJt-I^I.?tl\*l'"^° ''''^°«'' "l«»dy. L-o
was cutting b.^stoS'vritt„ m 'k • .'""™ "«" »» """d
butter. At ^h motir^mf ^ ^•'"*.' *?'* " ^^ «*««1 "««
of metal feU, wd a h^S w« ^'?'"°!^' '*'"• » ""'« ?•««•
In a barrow i^ the ttt^S? T*^' "^J? t° »» oaJried
of dxty-sii funds' w3*±^^J' '*">'« «»«> <*«?«
wrts^l «fe^- -i^"S
level with the bossy ground Htter^ S?;,""""- ■^"* ""a
openings of six batteriH w'ef e^h d.^^^ •T.k""'
compartments. Those narrno, iv^; ' T^- "™ed wto three
walk occupied the wh^leZem«n?^' 8^8 Pi" whose brick
of air and flaming gLth.&S^'Jr*'"''-'?^ ^^ ^^'-^
by means of a i^<^^oSt^\tT^.T'^.^^^
ground of the shadowThftr;!,.! ' **"»'™« the beaten
above the intern^ Tell thl^^ m^^ six sUts, open
subterranean bSer^nML'"?'''!^''''*' '"'""o. ^^
c.,.r. id 00. jom, and from each inter;'^sp^"V^
1-^ ' r -ii*-
'^A
•-, *■•
WOBK
43
labour dver the Bame which ho \,^a i,„„_ ' * wmoie
been condemned: perpetuaUy ren^tinf tvfi.f ^ '"'' '"^
s&tr'L^:^^ - 1 ^r rhS w ^
ih. nTn ♦ '.'' "=°°«™"» "^ intellectual downfall ; for oauX in
the monster's grasp at sixteen years of acre after a ™^-
tary education suddenly cut shoit, he re^mber^ fhl^tT";
once possessed intelligence an intll^tfn T^u *"'*''*^
Ubour winch he performed like some bUnded beLt crn«h J
down by destructive baleful toil. And he now C b^ onf
sole craving, one sole delight, which was to drfnt f j ?°,'
his four quarts of wine a! each ^ift^l^'r^.fS''
^ZA'^'l^^.7^f. bated'sldn'pe'rn.th' !J|
u> the happy stupor of perpetual intoxication * "*
44
WOJIK
wonTJ'tlii'^*^' Fanchard had greatly feared that the fin
«P«gL'hl?"h ""d greatly given to complaining, Z
^n?^1^. ?°"?!.y " ^ ^°^ ''■ey would minage to «ret
emythuig to eat on the moi-row. Bat her husband, who wm
™»l. hS-, "PPl' *° •** manager for an advance wTif
dSnk^/.?*- ^"";' ?f bread sufficed him as foS, 1 e
»Wi™ . '* once found himseU full of confideaw. When
h.lf^L^.r°"'7 "■* r "*'•«'' ""i^*^ »>« tossJd S «,ott,er
lalf-qnart at a gulp, and went to the water eiatern to Wk
»li"«\''°*" "P"" *•»' enveloped him. TheTwith W
jooden shoes on fcs feet and wet gk^es on his handr;L^
too with long iron pincers, he stoSl astride the funW^st
inghu right foot on the cover, which had just b^^u^ed
aside, his chest and stomach being exposed the wMe tSth«
tt^,^"^^ ^^'^ ".°^ from'^the^pS vd^' %^^l
S^f 'k''''^™^ T^ ^' blazing like a torch in the
'^OBtot a brazier. His wooden shoes steamed Us anmn
and hi, gloves steamed, the whole of his fles?"et^ed to S."u
Hi?';™?°' '""'?"* "I^^-e ""7 baste, he looked bSow Sm
His eves, accustomed to the brightest glare souX th«
sT.htl •" *b6^!P«">.of the bumiSg pit. ^iheuKLi^
™fi^' ? '^f ^ **"? '' '"b his long pincers, and ^Xa
sudden straightenmg of the loins, with three sipnle Avth
imcal movements-one of his hinds open^gTd dX„
a^ong the rod until the other joined i^^^drew up to!
cruoAle. rawmg easUy, at arm's length, thatwe"ght?f one
hundred uid ten pounds-pincers a^d crucible c?mbfaed-
and deposited it on the ground, where it looked like ^e pie^
I *''1,T' ". ?"' "f ^•^'^^ whiteness, whi.A"3nv
changed to pmk. Then he began the operatic K'
drawmg the crucibles forth one by one amidst tte^c^a
fL°,ltTl.''l?'°"'5'^ *^*" than Strength, comkg ^T^
Miidst that mcaadescent matter without ever buiLghiS
without seemmg even to feel the intolerable ]j^8'™«»"'
and thfrt?r *'"°« *? cast some little shells, of one hundred
and thirty-two pounds. The bottle-shaped mouldi ^
WORK
4S
HM il^g off the orufliblM with the aid of iron roda wUdh
,v!S-J ' ^^ *"• owKaWe* with his larm. round,
fflfe'l-r^ T^^f^ "" *°*» «•«* mould? 'jKa
Cr.nT!? "'" '^.'1 '"'»• '^»»' J"' » faint pinkiBh Snw
here and there amidat a shooting of fine blue hTmIh^m
dehoate as flowers. It might have been thonoht thlt th«
w^dT- t^f"^, «»"? bright, goldTanWquev^j^ll
I^jftTM'"'"''^'^^!.'"'^ P'^^'^ and nimble movZiitg
rem^n";*^^" ''" unaconBtomed to it aU, felt stifling, unable to
«fS!f / f ? ""yionger. At a distance of twelfi and even
hfteen feet from the fomaoes his face was sZclIed anT»
burmngperspiration streamed from him The sheu! h J
^'wW n^;."""^ he watched them ^Ung, astfh^
£n^xtMre^Sd"a a£reS
teopt^affir ^x-rA6B.
thousand tons and its hammers of lesser nower so^ l^?
taSed^i^ttetbe^l""'*""^- Then hTlSiaTe
il^lu^t tne tube of a large naval gun, more than nine-
teen feet long which was stiU warm from havinVnassSS;
of steel had spread out and adapted themselves like ml?I^„f
paste to form that tube, which w^ waiU^ chainid^S to
whit 1' PfT'*^ "^r ""^ »»™«^ to the SgTthes
which were farther oflf, beyond the hall wherethe MarHn
C wentTrM"' ^'^^l-oaating plant '^,^^1.'*'"
iiuo went on to the end, across that haU also tho mn»t
spacious of them all, for there tho largest Zc^'^'re Tst
The Martm furnace enabled one to pour large^uI^tMes ni
eight feet overhead two rolling bridges worked byelwtridtv
!^-,!^l""^I^> ThenLuo entered the UtheworZon
» huge closed shed which was rather better keptThiTt^i
4«
tfOXJT
power were filndeT ^»Z^JT^^^^ delioao, u^
PUte. which MAei off "ewt<Jk"" '"" "'^ ""oT
plue givei , finish to woS. aIj tu"*" " • wrpenter-e
preoue If mtrict meoK„, ^^ ^^1" ^"P the iTibes of
•musing as toys. Only somf^j *f '^"' '« J^'e's. and m
•~>h lighted bj . sin^Jeirrio uT TJ'''!' •" "is^t-tim"
«unt sound in the deip sC TS'i "i-^^TS '<"•* *>»' »
projectiles. There was oZ Tii ??*? '''^ '^'«' oome upon
Ue.tobec.lib;Vd:,rnauf Utt ^f "^^ fi-*^ ^ a
'"'»> » prodigious speed. Mlil™! „L ""^^ round and roand
silver curls flew awaTSmm,.ii°^*™'8' "hioh suggested
ilfterwards it Z'^^X'^at t L'^hr^'r^^'K
tempered, and finished h„7? ** hollowed internally
of. .U that heroic hmnl^ wZr^'i'fi ' ^s the outcome
bnoMg royalty to man a" Wcto^i^,!?''J?8»''°'' »' '«»
Lucleheld a vision of massacre a^ *k k,'''/°J?*» »' °»ture,
of a battle-field I HeTS™ '^* "?°^'hirsty madness
o»me upon a Urge lalhe, whe™ T^LT^ " •» •"'"« -Jistsnce
whose forged tuEe he W j„rse-n w.™ T'" ^ *''•' ""e
however, was already cahteatedexT^™iT°'^f- ^'O'-e.
new money. Under the Bn«J!?.i ^*"^' ""^ 'hone liJie
forward, attentively watoUnW^" if *• y"""" »ho leant
make, that of . ^tehnTtt an'S'"?^ V^' a clock:
with a gentle humming whiL7?^h'S^ *°™S^ interminably
marveUona precisJoT^i^a^^^-jJ^ m^'de '^l'*' " wit£
been tempered, cast from the^.Siiffr.''*' '^°°'^ have
of petroleum oil, to what battSd*iJ„'?J' ^" ^*o a bath
Whl'^ldSf^^fhe-'dS^^^^^
stor beyond the wild ^^of Z clouds A^t^ * ^8^«
shinmg here and there in the y Jd «nL,2 A'^'k -iTP Slobes
and agam he saw the chimne™ ril„ •5l^'^''«° "oon,
and a coal-smirohed sky, across Sh™'*'^ Inrid smoke
formmgaBitweresomsg8Se„ri'=>«"P"° every side,
which transmitted electKwer t^^*^ f ""* '""»
i^wer. iiie machines whioh
WOUX
^P^^ ■ar.^'te'--*'. r- working Z
PeroMTod that ho waa S'l-^? j**^!"* »«>und him h*
inroaees fop the ornoibles*^ "'" 8*"*^ oontaiiung the
-ci?te':i^rror a'rz~«^ «•-• s«ve.t,
b^ Pjece of oagting wW7h W.« i • T°« '"O"*'"* for gome
fwie hundred poundZThrmonir'^t''^^' 'l"*" thonS
m readiness in the p t j^ t^""^*^ ?'^ ''» fwnel was wS
procession was. watfy;,r^L"t!g''^°™g haJi. i^SlSf
H.^\C^idSSea^^^^
"wranoe of the well r^!w?°"y ™P''Ji'y. thrDMf^
^««« were ^ ^^^^,J^'>^^?^^ 4 whiSblS^
hastening np. olboSZT^^oU, * '"' ? ""* ""'d-t of fi^
hack, jnjjgUng au u,, « ^Se ^°iS^*^ "powhing off and oomiS
puddler. ^"^ *°" « • moment, monBienr,' said the
w«5hi.t"h^^^eadU^%^-oe, whose open door
- -t« the other to '^Cl.^L.'^^e ^^rTow^'t^
48
WORK
with the fourth ud Iwt portion. For twenty minniM h« hid
b««n itaading bebn Uut Toraoioni maw, hif ohtat ahnoit
enoUing from th* heat o{ the faniM«,hiahMidimuiipal»ting
hii heavy hooked bar, and hii eyee dearly leeing how to do
the work aright in spite of all the dazzling flamei. Ha gazed
fixedly at the fiery baU of steel whioh he roUed over and over
cintinuoualy in the centre of the brazier ; and in the fierce
reverberation whioh gildod his tall pinkish form against the
black background of darkness, he looked like some maker of
planets, busily creating new worlds. But at last he finished,
withdrew his flaming bar, and handed over to his mate the
last hundredweight of the charge.
The stoker was in readiness with a little iron chariot.
Armed with his pincers the assistant puddler seized hold of
the ball, whioh suggested some huge fiery sponge that had
sprouted on the side of a voloanio cavern, and with an effort
he brought it out and threw it into the chariot, which the
stoker juickly wheeled to the hammer. A smith at once
caught it with his own pincers and placed and turned it over
under the hammer, whioh all at once began working. Then
came a deafening noise and a perfect dazzlement. The
mound quaked, a pealing of bells seemed to ring out, whilst
the smith, gloved and bound round with leather, disappeared
amidst a perfect tornado of sparks. At some moments the
npaotorations were so Ur^ that they burst, here and there,
take canister shoi Impassive amidst that fusillade, the smith
turned the sponge over and over in order that it might be
stmck on every side and converted into a ' lump,' a loaf of
steel, ready for the rollers. And the hammer obeyed hun,
struck here, stmok there, shwkening or hastening its blows
without a word even coming from his lips, without anyone
even detecting the signs whioh he made to the hammer-lad
who sat aloft in his Uttle box with his hand on the startine-
lever. "
Luc, who had drawn near whilst Bonnaire was changing
jus clothes, recognised little Fortune, Fauchard's brother-in-
law, in the hammer-lad thus perched on high, motionless
for hours together, giving no other sign of life than a little
mechanical gesture of the hand amidst the deafening uproar
which he raised. A touch on the right-hand lever so that
the hammer might fall, a tsuoh on the left-hand lever so that
it might rise, that was all ; the little lad's mind was confined
to that narrow space. By the bright gleams of the sparks
tVOJtX ^,
one oould for • momwit pwoaivt him, lUm ud <nU with .n
5d.«,h«,.dL|ooloar.d ff«"^ tb.'bKty^^ft^
^wwMtad by Erotiih work, In which there wm nithlnB
wffi! ""•• » *»^ tter. WM never . ohancTUSy
M2*?rhfs^ir&b<^e'^4r'* '^ =»'-^-
««w!.!^T .u*"" °1 •"' "™» »" « bindle made up of his
worKng-olothe. and certain amaU article, belonging to him-
^tn^^tSfno'Lj^*' '^" "' ~ '-vingTeri^to
' Qnite «o-let as be off,' nid Lne.
m^W.n^'';^ " W- fomace, the furnace whichShS
S«« Z,^J^ "now U»n Un year, of hard toU. taming o"
U^Z^T^\' d ^^^ '>''*^ fi» for ">e roUer«nHe WM
iMThig the establidunent of hi. own free will in th- m!.
Ho.«* 'k 'J'^Sr?"',"" "^''™"«' 'M the more S:
rfLaS? the throat, and paased oat the first in ad3
itwoS'db^'yoTff ''"^^' -tbatpieceisstiUwarm-
v«ill'^^ T''*, "y 'j?^''"- "^^7 wosMd the two dim
yar^ under the lonar lights, and passed before the few
tmldong where the tUt-hammers ^ebeaTing rageftiT
seized hold of them agam, and the glow and crowl of th«
monster died away behind them. The^iTd wi fSlblotiTg
a wmd earning the ragged flight of clouds skvVard • Tid
h. w^*? «°? '"^ ^°^ ^°^^ reclining on the bench where
S?tK^ 'f ^"' '"°*'°°le» «nd starini into thVdartasM
with Nanet asleep and pressing his head »a«in»t her he tSH
R,nS^w:;,l?' ''%'»""it««'» '^^ i^Bsion e^'ded s*:^
Bonnaire would now find the poor creature some piacTof
'■^ 1L
s«
WORK
ihdtM. Bat the pnddlnr inddmlv baaun* Mnl»rrMMd uicl
knxioai kt th« idM of the loene wnioh wonU follow hii bom*-
doming when Ui wife, that terrible Toapa, ihonld Me bim
aeooiDMnying that bou;. The icene wm bound to be the
more mghtfiil linoe he had not told bii wife of bii intention to
quit the worki. He foresaw . I ndeod, that a tremendooi qnarrel
would break ont when she learnt that he waa without work,
through throwing himself voluntarily out ot emptoTment.
' Shall I aooompanj yon 1 ' Lno suggested ; 'I might ba
able to explain things.'
'Upon my word, monsieur,' replied the other, feeling
relieved, ' it would perhaps be (he better if yon did.'
Mo words passed between Bonnaire and Josine. Bha
seemed ashamed in presence of the master puddler, and if he,
with his pood nature, knowing too all that she suffered with
Baga, evmoad a kind of fittherly pity towards her, he none
the less blamed her for having yielded to that bad fellow.
Josine had awakened Nanet on seeing the two men arrive,
and after an encouraging sign from Luc, she and the boy
followed them in silence. All four turned to the right, skirting
the railway embankment, and thus entering Old Beanclair,
whose hovels spread like some horrid stagnrint pool over the
flat ground just at the opening of the gorge. There waa an
intricate maze of narrow steets and lanes lackmg both air
and light, and infected by filthy gntters which the mora
torrential rains alone cleansed. The overcrowding of the
wretched populace in so small a space was hard to understand,
when in front of it one perceived La Boumwne spreading its
immense plain where the breath of heaven blew freely as over
the sea. The bitter I'eenness of the battle for money and
property alone accounteJ for the niggardly fashion in which
the right of the inhabitants to some httle portion of the soil,
the few yards requisite for everyday life, had been granted.
Speculators had taken a hand in it all, and one or two
centuries of wretchedness had culminated in a cloaca of cheap
lodgings, whence people were frequently expelled by their
landlords, low as might be the rents demanded for certain
of those dens, where well-to-do people would not have
allowed even their dogs to sleep, tihanoe-wise over the
ground had risen those little dark houses, those damp shanties
nf pl9:fit^r=wnrkj tho?e vermin and fevar^brftodJiig ?^?™? ; and
mournful indeed at that night hour, under the lugubrious
iky, appeared that aceursed city of labour, so dim, so closely-
«.. -"mp ^M^m^ML^i^^smj
WORK
S«
pout, filthy too, like aomo horrid vegetation of social in-
joitice.
Bonnaire, walking ahead, followed a lane, then turned
into another, and at last reached the Rue dea Troia-Lunen,
on* of the narrowost of the so-called streets. It had no foot-
ways, and was paved with pointed pebbles picked from the
b«d of the Mionne. The black and creviced house of which
he occupied the first floor had one day suddenly ' settled,'
lurching in such wise that it had been necessary to shore up
the frontage with four great beams ; and Ragu, as it happened,
oooupied the two rooms of the second story, whose sloping
floor those beams supported. Down below, there was no
hall ; the precipitous ladder-like stairs started from the very
threshold.
' And 10, monsieur,' Bonnnlre nt last said to Luc, ' you
will be kind enough to come up witli me.'
He had once more become embarrassed. Josine under-
stood that he did not dare take her to his rooms for fear of
some affiront, though he suffered at having to leave her still in
the street with the child. In her gentle resigned way she
therefore arranged matters. ' We need not go in," she said ;
' we'll wait on the stairs up above.'
Bonnaire immediately fell in with the suggestion. • That's
best,' said he. ' Have a little patience, sit down a moment, and
if the key's in my place, I'll bring it to you, and then you can
go to bed.'
Josine and Nanet had already disappeared into the dense
darkness enveloping the stairs. One could no longer even
hear them breathing, they had ensoonoed themselves m some
nook overhead. And Bonnaire in his turn then went up,
guiding Luc, warning him respecting the height of the steps,
and teUing him to keep hold of the greasy rope which served
in lieu of a hand-rail.
' There, monsieur, that's it. Don't move,' 'le said at last.
'Ah I the landings aren't large, and one wou , turn a fine
somersault if one were to fall.'
He opened a door and politely made Luc pass before him
into a fairly spacious room, where a little petroleum lamp shed
a yellowish light. In spite of the lateness of the hour La Toupe
was still mending some house linen beside this lamp ; whilst
her father, Paddy Lunot, as be was eallad, had fallen asleep
in a shac , wy nook, with his pipe, which had gone out, between
bis gums. In a bed, standmg in one corner, slept the two
i2
s»
WORK
children, Luoien aiid Antoinette, one six, the other four yean
old, and both of them fine, big chUdren for their respitiva
ages. Apart from this common room, where the family cooked
and ate their meals, the lodging only comprised two others, the
bed-room of the husband and wife, and that of Daddy Lnnot.
IjaTonpe, stupefied at seeing her husband return at that
Hour, for she had been warned of nothing, raised her head,
eiolaimmg: ' What, is it you ? ' '
He did not wish to start the great quarrel by immediately
tdhngherthat he had left the Abyss. He preferred to setUe
the matter of Josme and Nanet first of all. So he repUed
evasiTidy: '.Yes, I've finished, so I've come back.' tLu,
without learajg his wife time to ask any more questions, he
introdnoed Luc, saymg: 'Here, this gentleman, who is a
fnendof Monsieur Jordan's, came to ask me somethine— he'U
ezplam it to you." *
Hot surprise and suspicion increasing, La Toupe turned to-
wards the young man, who thereby perceived her gJeat likeness
to her brother Bagu. Short and choleric, she had his strongly
muked face, with thick ruddy hair, a low forehead, thin nose
Md massive laws. Her bright complexion, the freshness
of wluoh still rendered her attractive and young-lookinK
„i„vf u j^"-'?°*y.y*JJ" °^ *8«' »l°n« explained the reason
wluoh had induced Bonnaire to marry her, though he
Ttif Tu''*" ^iqna'nted with her abominable temper.
That which everybody had then foreseen had come to piss.
La Toupe made the home wretched by her everlasting fits of
anger. In order to secure some peace her husband had \a
bow to her will m every little matter of their daily Ufe. Very
coquettish, consumed by the ambition to be weU-dressed and
possess jeweHeiy, she only evinced a little genUeness when
she vras able to deck herself in a new gown.
. Luc, being thus called upon to speak, felt the necessity of
gammg her good will by a compliment. From the moment
of crOBsmg the threshold, however bare might be the scanty
furniture, he had remarked that the room seemed very clean,
thanks undoubtedly to the housewife's oarefuhiess. And
^,^'°*' T" ^ '■'* ^^ *" exclaimed: 'Ah I what fine
children, they are sleeping Uke little angels."
La Toupe smUed.^ut looked at him fixedly and waited,
feehng thoroughly oonvmced that this genUeman would not
tl,T„''V-^'°!!" °"' '".'»" ''"'" " l^* tad not had":
thing of importance to obtain from her. And when he found
•.«.c
'
WOXK
53
her hnaband in a C? ' Whf U wD-f^t-*""*^ ^°''"^'
any concern of miner Wliat b this again ? Is it
herfeteoSt'^^l:,!"'-^^^^ ^"- '^ ^-^y
oneo^hftoStt^h:-:" «"»»'«««'« Wwith you.
to know anvthinc ahont A^.,. "."™"'" ' j""'.-' "'"' * ''an'
of them. wneediing gold chains and sUt gowns out
T„,-' °"*,°°8'''. to ho kind-hearted, madame ' was all fhat
-c
"^<;flUlr>*' »
54
WOSK
their w^tles in company, could no longer separate. Notm-
thelesa Bagu, who had some sense left him, had torn himsell
away from Caffiaux's wine-shop, saying that, however pleasant
it might be there, he none the less had to go back to work on
the morrow. And thus he had looked in at his sister's with
ms mate, in order to get his key.
' Your key I ' cried La Toupe sharply, ' there it is I And
i won t keep it agam, mind. I've just had a lot of foo'Jsh
tbings said to me m order to make me give it to that (ai-
about. Another time when von want to turn somebody ont
of the house just do it vourself."
Eagu, whose heart had doubtless been softened by Uqnor.
began to laugh : ' She's so stupid, is Josine,' he said. ' H she
bad wanted to be pleasant she would have drunk f. glass with
us instead of snivfelling. But women never know how to
tackle men."
He was unable to express himself more fully, for just
then Bourron, who had Men on a chair, laughing at nothinc
Tnth his everlasting good humour, inquired of Bonnairel
°?y> " " ''"* t*"*" tliat you're leaving the works ? '
La Toupe turned round, starting as if a pistol had been
fired off behmd her. • What I He's leaving the worksl"
she oned.
Silence fell. Then Bonnaire courageously came to a
decision. 'Yes, I'm leaving the works; I can't do other-
wise.
, ',^''?'.'* leaving the works I you're leaving the works I •
bawled lus wife, qmte furious and distracted as she took her
staad before him. ■ So that two months' strike, which made
us spend aU our savings, wasn't enough, eh ? It's for you to
pay the pipe^ now eh ? So we shaU die of starvation, and I
shall have to go about naked ! ' > <* *
Hedid not lose his temper, but gently answered : 'It's
quite possible that you won't have a new gown for New
YearsDay, and perhaps too we shall have to go on short
commons. But I repeat to you that I'm doing what I ought
She did not give up the battle as yet, but drew still nearer,
shouting m lus face: 'Oh, bunkum I you needn't imagine
that fo ks will be grateful to you I Your mates don'tlcrSple
to say that if It hadn't been for that strike of yours they'd
never have starved during those two months. Do you know
what they U say when they hear that you've left the works ?
WORK
55
K" fl "^' " ?f "*' yo" "S""' "« «»* yoii're only an
W \.}A °'T t"r '"" *° ^° """^ • fooliah thing I \"
aea^ yon U go back to-morrow I '
C^JLi^ „ » S^ i""" '° "'«" despotioaUy in ordinary
household matters, he became lilie iron whenever any OMe of
oonsoence arose. And so, without raising his voice! i^ a
nlZ. J" "'"•^ ^:^J"'^ ^^^- ^ answered: ' You ^U
pl«iselfeep quiet Those are matters for us men,- woi^n
hke you don't understand anything about them Midlo^f«
^^\^l they shouldn't mWe^ith ihem ' "u'r^very
mM but the best thmg you can do is to go on mending yoS
linen agam if you don't want a quarrel.' ^ '
lamn ^T'i^\ ^u^'^x ''*' ^^^^ t^"* <=hair near the
temp, and forced her to sit down again. Conauered
S^f.'"^'".'* ^^^ "•"> '">«' wouW henSthl^
tt- i^t VP Hi' °'"^'"! ^^ •"'^« " P'«'™<=e °f feeling m
tohe- mterest in the questions from which she had been so
a^vely thrust aside. Awakened by the noise of vofce?
aidd^LTmot her fatner, without evinciig any astonishJeTat
SU'^ L° l,'" r,l°' •^t'-Pb "S''**^ '^^ PiP« once m»e .Ld
hstened to the talk with the air of an old philosopher X
had lost every Jlusion ; whUst in their Uttle bed the chuCn
Luoien and Antomette. likewise roused from the5 XmW
opened their eyes widely, and seemed to beTtnW to
vmdeytand the seriou. things which the big iSriew
invoto U^ro^' "^^^ '^'"-" *» ^«. " tf to
«wtfiS°'' •''"•?'u, """P^ " *»* no* 80, monsieur? The
^h^tlT '."'t'''^'' «d « i' had to be b^n over again, I
shouU begm it over again-that is, iXuld emKiy
mfluenoe m ui^gmy mates to try to secure justice. ^One
can t let oneself be devoured-work ought to be paid at iti
proper pnoe, unless men are wilhng to^become me™ slaved
And we were so much in the right that Monsieur DeWu
had to «V9 way on every point by accepting our new wZ
t^. But I can now see that he is furious, and that som^
body, ,a mj wife puts it, has got to pay for t^dam^e !f
I w«» not to go off willingly to-day, h?d find a St for
^L?" 0"' *<^»«>"ow- So wiat? Am I t? hang on
obitmately «,d become a pretext for everlasting dis" to"?
£%llt
^%"^
S6
woxx
2l wrti of ^^i*" 'JH»"° "^Z^- " -o-W hring «>«m
Erike % f d^-5?l "^T "' "■;**■ *^k«d of contmnmg
wn,t - J -r " • 'v ^"' """ t*"*' they are aU baok at
work and qu,ta quiet I prefor to take myself off. ThaT w5l
settle evezytJung; none of them wUlatir, and I shaU have
S:r^hW^j<i- T'-^fB^yvie^ofhiS^;:!
fX woSwA*" '"" ?'~"' »na'ta'cit'^Xii4rp*.SS!
fuuy before hiB fnmaoe, f.x)m that man whom he had seen
^^tJ^^' """""' »"* conciliatory fa hoSieSd
mattera, there now arose one of the heroes of labour meof
those obscure Btrdgglers who have gi3heir Wh^i beini
lhe^i?t°o1'"^"fr ""^ '''"' <»"? their KrWt?
the pomt of mimolatmg themselves i£ silence for thellSto of
re J^*iS?.'Lt:;^3?ra5^^? Toupe meanwhile
'buti"i^:[f^':'b\raJlSe?°'""«'' ^' «"-"-"'
pretty gang they are. aU of them I Only as we n^ ftlm we
product of Uie present day wage system. He oriTnnrat
t^ uST""* <»Pi«^t rule, he'^was^^ by tCstiSfa o
th^t^ w»P08ed on him, and was eveHipable ofTSort
hi^« ;,„?%* '"^^""^"^ ''**^™ ^""^ bent Wm; he%^ly
r„^^! JS^ "' 1 "•''''• -^^^Pecti"* established traditions^d
envymg the employer-that sovereign master whTDosseM^
uid enjoyed evervthing; and the on^covert ambi«,S^tS
nourished, was tiat oF taking the employer" Z»m,JS fine
BSi-i^/"?*' *°. ^™«*« ""^ »i°y life ^ wftum!
he"^^h1"i:ifnoTm%°do"''*'"^' ^^^'^^-t"- t^*
. ■ Ah I that pig Delaveau I • he said, • I should like to ba
^^±'^'^\ "" ^t"^ ""^ ^ "'^ J^^ in mine It w^nld
amuse me to see hun smoking one of those big cigars K
"M^msM^SL wwii^^7.:Hiyiti«if
^
WORK
57
whae making a baU. But everything happens, you know a^d
we may aU become masters in the next sE^J r ' *^
Xhw Idea amused Bourron vastly ; he gaped with admira.
t™ ^h^A^^'-S"*^" '•">' haldrunk^Cth^,. f TU?e
formal uL""^" '^'"Se^ Wb Bhouldere, fuU of contempt
for that base conception of the future victory of the Sis
hlL™ P^'^'t ?,* ^""^ "'^' "fleeted7and he thoigW
show thif ho"'*^ ^'u?".""" '""^ j"=' ''«''" «"d. wisWng to
show that he was nght, he again spoke. In his wo^Tmn
ta3^h^ ^"""f .t^' ideLuchCit isforSuIat^by tSe
to?^^«i. °°''- °^ ft? P"'y- ^"' °^ "^ 'he natio/hla
in ^^2,1 "^r""" °i^^^ =°" ■""* »•' instruments of labour
Ul^^ ijT*''^""*"»'°™ 'tern to one and all. Then
^oZofrtivV^^T"""" would be proportionate to tfie
Bo™«?™^^'*.,T5 ""^ "°PP"«^- The Witter on which
Sl^» tf!.T Kri^fu-"*" ft« P™"""^ "^e'tod to employ
™,J^^?*'u^.*'"' socialisation, and particnlarly the
workmgof It when it should be put iito prS- for such
intncate macUnery would need dfection a£d«,Xl a hSSd,
and vexatory State police system. And when iT who^
offered some objections, the other repUed with the qirietX^
IfvtS^'T; 'Eyerythmg belon|s to us; we ri^Sl take
everyttung back so that each may have his juLt share of\rork
and rest, trouble and joy. There is no otheV TOwonlble
U^S^^tJ^'gr^r"" "^ """ ^"^^'^^^ "' ^^-^^^^
Even Bagu and Bourron agreed with this. Had not thn
T««e-«8tem corrupted andloisoned eve^Uungl It was
tt*^.chd.Memmated anger and hatred, ^ve Ise t^ el«s
TJ^' '°°? '"r °^ e'ttermination which capital and
hS^ LT" ^^^A ? """ •>? '•"« wage-system that^m^
^ti,^r ""^^ *°'"^'' ""«' "midst ^the conilot rf
egotism, the monstrous tyranny of a social system bZd on
imqmty. Misery had no other cause. tS Wge^em
was the evU ferment which engendered hunger^h aU iS
flSTI^^Sn'^fT"' """• »"-!<». P«»«tution?theSwi^
Wth,Zf r£ °^°'*° '"? women cast beyond the pale of
A^^^'^ ^^ perverse, destniotive forces athwart Sdo^.
And where was only o^e remedy, the abolition ofthe w4e
5S
WORK
Wtem, Thinh mnst be replao«d by the other, the new dMunt.
of Bystom, whoee secret fa^morrow wouiSom ir^^k
ni'^ "^^'^ o^fte By,temr«^'"^-tiJ^S:^
tnriM ; and a bitter political mtlu resulted from thfrZi^f
the Socahst parties each of which sought tTimZronlh.
others Its own plans for the reorganisation of lab^anS th!
s'?sCt"'^t:"''""°"»°,' ''^'"'- But nonele lesTthTiS'
2^ J? ■'" P^"' ^o™ "" condemned by one MidSl
and nothing could save it ; it had served itsliiie, Z "woSm
duappear even as slavery, once so universal, had dSaniWS
reaing^m. a dispens.^ where one can s^ the "SStor
grabs twice a week, a workshop, too, and a schoolfrarth^
^^•tn^i*''?."^'' MonsieurlbeW^ls^-t a?^ s^wlS
whrlut t^hfs o^no'^'-at'lSf 'it'/rreT'^
M hiS%'x"SS.Si'ed'^^^'^^HT^a?^fit'^'^'^',5'^«
^ "-fi^arfy'^'^y feLsTdra^'er'arthfib^^
Hnort and stout as he was with & n»l» .,„«. / -aoyss.
xst* ^^^'•"'f^^^^^^uriru^ii
wi^iersMg hu.,. Pernapg it was the water with which he had
H ./ f 1^
r
WORK
59
been obliged to drench himaeU in the peiformanee of his
he W been attookea in the lega at an early age, and now he
oojUd onlv walk with great difficulty. And le'" hKt
fnlflUed the necessary conditions to obtain even the ridioulona
penamn of three hundred francs a year ' to which the new
worlmen would be entitled later on/he would have perished
hn4^ f/ri" \% streets, like some old stricken Wof
h^^l 1^' ^M «^'?'' ^ ^"P^' °" ''"' "d^ce of Bonnai're
in »>,?. **''*"i u""" i?' ^»''*°8 tim pay for her generosity
Si troKfion'^"'"'' •^ *" ~'°'^"'^ reprolcheaVl
ThJ,^'"' ^^l\ ^^- °'°^'y repeated, 'I knew the QuriRnons
There was Monsieur Michel, who's now dead and who wm
^ Jj HA'!!iT'i°.'^J5 ^'"'"' ''I'e^Iwas eighteen
J^.. . ?^ "'^y forty.five at that time, b5 that
doean t prevent hun from still being aUve. But before
Monmeur J«r6me. there was Monsieur Blaise, the fornSd^
Itl^J^^'^l'f^ ''™^^" n'^« Abyss withTs Wt hSe™
™te"*^T'^ ''?* *8°- I ^i^'t Imow him myself. But
wik^t-tlft'^ ^' ""^ ""y grandfather, PiLe B^
™ S?. "'i""^ ""1°°* may even say that Pierre Biiu
WM his mate, amoe they were both mere workmen wUh
hMdlT a copper m their pockets when they started on the job
togetW, m the gorge of the Bleuse Mountains, then dewX
Th^ S^t'nn."' "■? Mionne where there ^Z^^VA
Ihe Qungnons made a big fortune, whereas here am I
^\wl ""' ^??°"^ »•><> U never be any richer thw I^
^^f^^Z"^ ^ ''"''• '° '"y "otl^nK of my d»ugh?»
and her dnldren who are all threatened witi star4tionf ju"
mor^ Bagus have always been for a hundred years' or
-inJ'l" °°- ""^y ""*' ^» ™^ "'ese things, but rather
S^l? '•?''^*' *"= P'P«' surprised at seeing no smoke
^r;!^'" '■• ^'"•"'""''■■-8'hatLuowasUsteSiSgS
wth oompsjMionate mterest, he concluded with a slightX^
poor uevusl There will always be masters and workmen.
■121.
6e
WORIC
one thing th.f. de,irabla ^h^" . man g"t. oW ulhThL
to W Ie«t have the means to buf wTlf^B^'^t
«,n7^^l!j'"^*^Tf" Toupe,'why yon'Te smoked two
sons worUi to-day I Do yon imagine that I'm ffoin/ tn V«I„
jon^ntobac^,, now that we shin't even be'^Sf to bS?
resist ^*L£^"'"t?"'* ^""^ »^» ™«oned him with
f^^H!^-. r*y^ » drawer, deformed, hebetated, rednoed
toimbeoJiTand paralysis by his mechknioal toT Cthft
poor teij ttere survived nothing save the fflt sen«m»{
Bnt Bonnaire protested superbly: 'No no! Tt ™«'t
J«wi|.\Sje%ffwr.e-&-:i„^SS
^^^toereby we are to procure happiness "Al^'t
T .J,?^i'rV\""''""*^^''e"''°a'aerryway. 'Hnrrvun
I should hke to see that. It would just sSl mT^hlt
nothmg more to do. and to eat ohioken K^ mZ ? '""*'
'K4^e7pt;,r' """""' -"•"'^^BouSon in ecstasy.
BileSthC irn^^P'f ''^* °^ "**?' disiUuBion, old Lnnot
BUenoed them in order to resume : ' Let aU that be, thoselre
^1 ^P. ^"* '"°P«« ^""^ when one's young I A mm'S h^
ttew„l'°"S*^?u' '^i^'' ^"Bi"*' S he'sgoin^tochSS^
with /S. ^fc"' '^*? """ '"''^^ ?°«« °"' "nd he's swept awy
WJli the oijers. I bear no grudge against anybodvfd^f
fto^ Ana ? Y^^ W'nveyanoe, which a servanfpS
along. And I take off my cap to him, because it's onl7fit
that one should do so to a man who gave om work Wo
M'l who'g 10 rich. I fcncy, though, that he dom't Im„»
t),.^iri,*^.t""P°" '■^^■''^ ">»' Bounon ud he. on leaving
gave one the idea of throwine one's tool, intn ♦TT.' i i
Sfl^fr ^''*° P*°P^« say to us : 'Yon see verrw^ thS
v^ weU thS'i \^} " "*"* ™'»'«^' l"""-" I ZSa
very weu tnat aU that money oan only have been imin<Jik.
SS i hfrS? ^'*^•''/ ^.'^^8 theirffind Se5T#
and a homd thmg hke that ie always paid forMmrAiVl
The excessive prosperity of any one inSiXal wfll nevHi
of a go^ deal more wretchedness.' ' "'* P""*
As Bonuaire said, liocien and Antoinetta hnH ««* »
heads motionless on the bolstar a thnLvTZi ■ "
appearing in their large eyes as ii S tS^^"""??
nodetrtand the conversation.^ ' ^^ ""'^ •*""
Cf
tVOKK
Some d»y happier than as I ' laid La Toupe vioioiulT.
Yea, of oourae, that ii if they don't perish of want to-morrow,
■mce you'll have no more bread to give them."
Thoee words fell on Bonnaire like a hatchet-stroke He
staggered, quailing amidst his dream beneath the sudden iey
chill of the misery which he seemed to have songht by
qmtting the works. And Luc felt the quiver of that misery
pass thronyh that large bare room where the little petroleum
lamp was smoking dismally. Was not the struggle an
impossible one? Would they not all-grandfather, father,
mother, and children— bo condemned to an early death if the
wage-earner should persist in his impotent protest against
J"^/,, Im?**^. "'*°*^ <»«ie, a big Mack sliadow seemed
tofaU ohillmg the room, and for a moment darkening every
B"* • knock was heard, followed by laughter, and
In came Babette, Bourron's wife, with her dollish face which
ever wore a merry look. Plump and fresh, with a wUte skin
and heavy tresses of a wheaten hue, she seemed like eternal
spring. Paihng to find her husband at Caffiaui's wine-shop
she had come to seek him at Bonnaire's, well knowing that
he had some trouble in getting home when she did not lead
him thither herself. Moreover, she showed no desire to scold ;
on the contrary she seemed amused, as if she thought it only
right that her husband should have taken a little enjoyment.
' Ah I here you are, father Joy I ' she gaily cried when
rtie perceived him. ' I suspected that you were still with
Bagu, and that I should find you here. It's late, yon know
old nun. I've put Marthe and S^bastien to bed, and now
I ve got to put you to bed too I '
Even as she never got angry with him, so Bourron never
got angry with her, for she showed so much good grace in
carrying him off from his mates.
'Ah I that's a good 'unl' he cried. 'Did you hear it?
My wife puts me to bed I WeU, well, I'm agreeable since it
alw^s has to end like that t '
He rose, and Babette, realising by the gloominess of every-
body s face, that she had stumbled upon some serious worry
perhaps even a quarrel, endeavoured to arrange matters,
bhe, in her own household, sang from morning till night,
showmg much affection for her husband, conp^ling him and
telling him triumphant stories of future prosperity whenever
he felt discouraged. The hateful want in whioh she bad
i^jm^ 1
I
WOUK ,j
would turS^t^"riiht «d w"""* •°°'*°r' "■»* "^8«
road to Par^isB * ' " "" ***°'«^ »o b« on t£e
childl^ m r"" "'"" "'"' y°° »" ' ■ 'he asked. • Are th.
7ou'Srbe?orrf *"y^-:j^:ntvi''r\ '^
waiting for yon Bomewhere Oh Iw™ w L°°f £"'''/»
baek again if you choose, you know I ^ "■ *° *''" *"«
to»n onronrthTb,!" T^uZuT'L'*' "-^ "^^k"^""
been ehonting in Bonrron'B faoTthith.^M* T"'"* *" '"'
» laiybones who h^ ?nni^lv^i * ^^ °°* °'«»° »o '«ed
m^L. and h^ad'l^^t'kS^rw ^ tef/uffioie^'-*'*''^*
tion for it. Since his return, wir h. h^ ^""P*""-
sober, and no loneer felt «, L.k * ! ^""^ become mora
his sster eiasZated Lm S?^ T""'' °^'**"»'«- B«»des,
.u .birarir::'La:y\tiV'T^ '^«»
and she woulM sw a b^wn^ *! One might kiU her
Bonnaire, who hid 'Lv^ ^ "'^ *° °°«- Then turning to
he said, • to be a w"sTB«,„"f wT,' " f^^' "'"P'^- " Josme,
ihe got to no/yy'y8''"'«'«'"gb'eacd hie that. Wherehai
^-OT^/ ^'f^.mE
64
WOUJT
•J.& teff • """ "" ^' '"^'' 'P^" *o du,at:
• ohair, silent amidst Ms oheerleaa snr,nn„^^ ^. "P°°
gazing to away into the thmSg Str^j^X
an opiK>rtumty to foUow his terrible^ife to bed ^ '"
whiir^usCha'^rSlh^d''"'"''" '^^ '- 'o ^'
On the kning Bagn was stiU calling, in tones which
Ll.iwm. *-^iflflikA
WORK
'Joiin«loom«, Joiinal
•5
ItoUyoa
MWbMtlM ntoMiinff; •
Uul I'm no longer taStj '
towirfl N«eWo S:ddlS*t?.5? '\f*'^»" b, turned
■•Id the man. '^ ' """P' «l>e« ran off,'
* Oh I no, where would yoi' ,. ,pr > ■
have eat down on the itiUn ij^i ' ' ' '* """•»
tohim a. if hewerette >'.nt^ ' ' '."?'• '••*«•<»
• fragile ladder vi^iTZ.'.nZo' T: i '%'f "^ ,«•"• of
wentlowerandlow«rhA*»rliLj.i V '\'-^V). i^ndwho
for he well nndenrtood that l'^^^ ^^^ J'°" *" «>« "»".
be friXi'ed*"'"''' •"• ''^^'^' '» O'der that .he might not
Buttolt"',JJe\tSJ^*''.r.'f" ""'S^"?' ""^ °o "Plycame.
fr^ to .that'hlnd of h .^Ld'Sae'ed'TiSlenT"? '^
wann4are:inredTn.e''Sim" "'*"* ""' '"°'''*"'«^ ''y
stm SJl,«d,? ^""i!;^''^ '^'^y. P"«^. ">. light form w«.
powerful charm had flowS into il.v^" ^ s\e«' »nd
m ^
W ju?.
66
TVOXK
up at last die had ai^TelLl to thi ^ J v'' ? «™^
•Ah^ thi« i^ "°" •^^■'' '«'*'» was h«Ll np above
at the sky. mie ten^h^f V'T ^'^f'^'^ "Pwari
tars y>^\v^J^^^^\t^.T^ ?°'to?. and
oloads. But l^Sark ZT*., ^^J^ ."''' motfonleBi
n.d„.holyin jLVhth^wt^te'f^', '""' '^' *"
work, sending fo?th a dulV ^mWe L.^ ^e" t^^'"- '*
notes o£ it. tilt-hammers which Z deewr U,^.^°!S«
lyonx
«r
that hour the terrori^ T^h^tTJ^^ "*? """""S- ^°' »*
conld soe of it on the Wnw of th^ J^^ "''*P' "^ »" »»«
na«, where not » %hT^&"'* teiT'inStS'"*^ ''«.»"
exist save the Abyss, whose h-inlKi^Jf^**^ Memed to
there a noise as o/?hUder1onCJiJ'S„^r "o «;pite;
*"«««»»tly devoured the h>es~° men ' ^' '""^ """'*'
Lu/;Ltt^,'e^'terdS^d'"a^i^'^%^"^^^ And
•oad on his way back to ?£ &£,??S ''S"' 1°.'° *•>» ^rias
him. As he waT r^h^„ 1?''*"*' T'^*" •>" ^^ »waited
illnmined the Xle^stSS tL\ "^^^^ «'"' "'"''ienly
Blen«,Monntains7'he1aamK^ri*„''* *7 P^ontories of the
tte far-away fiel.£ of LX^™|nT Th.^^''^' "^ f""
the bUst fiimaoe whose blMk .1^ J '* S'"" """e fi™>»
yptheheiVw^iJX nL^t rf r.onfl''''*?"^ '"?"'«'
Lno nused his eves it nm^« 1 oonflagration. And aa
beheld someleddtU th« .n^™ ™*'°?^ to him as if he
the renovTtioSlf hr^^t^.'"""'^ P«»"'««^ to hi. dr«tm of
III
° fritdi^^rf^oK^rBor..'?'" ^^'?""' "• «-<^-^
at La Guerdaohr KrCnffi 'r*"* "^r.*" '»»«*
Md that the JordanrwZS ^\ that he was at Beanolair,
she told him how hannv i^ i".'j"?*'°'°« °° «•« Monday
order that Xv Xht cKf * Tu"'*^ J~ "^ ™« ^m again, U
enterprises together tathTnJedvdl^iT' 1?r ^« "»««i*«blS
Antoine. And Lnn .iJ; J owtaot of the Faubourir St.
kind of ;ffeoUonate ieverlTr'^ ^'^"""' ^^^ '^ •
-"^r^hrrB-KK----^^^
v3
6S
WOltK
he passed througrtXtt., tw'^°"i* «"«'«' P«t *«>.
"hfuw ooart an J fT" ''?" assembled the sub-prefecture!
Bue dTBi^ d.w;r •' ''^'"? "P""^ °°' beyond tha popnZs
Rn. J r- ''®™''' "Pe«^Jy reached the fields by wav of H,»
It was in 1828 that Blaise Q„rignoD, the workman by
tVOJfJP .
He had never emBloTea»or?fi, •'■'*'''' *^'''»°»new-
line of ancestors obsSyZSS^A^i^' »ergy, a long
battling in the riam worlnn„^ *, "PP""*'^' 'WtbfnUy
victor who oonld toU eighteen WT. S,**"/^?"* "' **■'«
Jfence, good sense, an^wal swe„ni nfc?"^ ^^'^ "*»"'•
than twenty yearshe caC T Sln'fotrh^i'C^t- ^ '*5"
gave employment to twelve hun ZS S,T* , *•"* S"™^'
miUions of francs. And at last «Hfl- ''°r''P~P>?. ™d gained
hoase erected b^ hie faU^i V. * "5 the hnmble little
thousand francs' on the nnrchU^fT""^"^*^ *.'8'" '""■^"^
sumptuous resfdence'^ &t?n li'm^'^^^.''''^ "^
trwToSfiitin' dl^H^'lr' - -S
nation based on Ms dream nfZk' P™?"?* » f"ture of domi-
it for thren^ent ofan .S«'T °*^
that he felt USSUJ TJ^^^^ ^d fnfin?/ "^^ i*"* ^'''^
not even increase amonR Ws chiMrTl^^S.**' '^^.''onM i*
aiminntion and exhwsUnn dari^„T?°' *?" **"' »" ^""S" of
Jt once a first nSoZ," feK^t? • '""'' y'*? ' ^St aU
b? « vigorous rS, J;^L4 Ci 't if."'"' 7?,° "^'"•^ to
his very prime. inde«3^ oS^iwo aSJIft' T "'V y°»"8-«
lysis depnved him of«ie^ofZ?ht i'^ ye«ra of age-para-
render the manag^ent oJ^he AK«,V ^u^^^" '"^ ^ <""•
Michel QunXn the tht4 Y/ .u '^«°''*'' ^"' «"«" *>"■
thirty. He h^°°' *5nm^ bml.""'pS?' '"" "'O" i°"
•gainst his father-sNri^Th J^ '! f'^'^'P^*' "•«•• """'h
folly beautiful but ^Jr fli^hfvT"*^ w Paris a wonder-
very flighty woman. And betwewi the
■M2,000.
the Utter tlCy^rs^id ^^^fi'^M"!?" '^'''Bfi^Md
m«.er who squen^rirbJ^^ if '^ "f /""'"^^
»e™., „.L,af jSroriife"'\«: Vo'^t-r tL"a't t
WORK
France, which, thanks to a nl^i^'i''^"'"**" ""^ Eastern
0888, were now able to e^^W ^« discovered chemical pro-
h~i been impossfble to JSSi? irnr^r '*"='' '°,™"'y "
years' duration, Michel felt ih^Ak' '" * ??T^'« °^ '"<>
Weath him, ind one dav ll,» k^'' "cabling to pieces
by haying to'b^^w ttreS'hl^^^l '" "^^ "°^8«<i
some heavy bills than ^«K! t^o.^sand francs to meet
dwvehimlodXe^tion"^'""' """""'y- » '"'"ible dra^a
love°,^tra'S^"tt"Whlt'ffi °"-r? "" "-^'y i-
concealed i/ BeiudWr T? «t„i k''""! K' ^^ P'™ "d
droam of fleeing wUhh'.rfi '"°«8,''e wdulged in the wild
from aU finS worries HilT '^'^ °^ "^^''«''• ^ »'""
in his studies Ud an Se h^ aTj^""*^'^' ''''° »"«' '"Ji"!
.«e, resided with hto in a^tiL"„7°,:r'l" """'' ?«"» "^
"oquainted with tCinW^e ateSt wl^*^- '^"^.""r'' ''''"
jested. He made fiuT^o ^f ?^ iu'''"'*''i°4««J he often
•mongstfaU that ViSy^?ill,^Lt'''15 f^* *? "«" f°o'
pretemd to ride hnnJ Jlf^ u^* , '™°> 'o' he greatly
Ujy life of im'aZble li^ir^ S^-^^My 1<»^'J''
opj/ count eeveraJ^ntunW rf1?^./?""« man, as if he
thus it happened ttatnn.?^ 'Uustnons ancestry. And
htherhadasyetmX^ t^!^ttc,"r^^'T' ''"'=*' l""
Master Qusta/e omt^K tL^«H*"''?' 'f t*" W^ents.
arms around hisTe^kat th« ..^o^f^f*"'' ''"''"^ flung her
the sp^d/d^nfeS of^^J ?^P*' 'T^ """ ™oWe. And
that of another .^d another a^s'^^'b?. ^"^^"^ foUowed^
ShrE'aiB^'of^rr^--^
Philip;^ likewise Vsli;-:^ f'^^'^tKuTSSl'
7»
rfojtx
^^hX'1S''LS,'^y afr«, into which 1« i^ b^
with . t«or,1Surt l21'„Tl°T,5"u^ tobenowiBBiSS
Priwte Mylwa, linoe ha «nffSfi / been iwt perforo. to »
oomplictid X^MtSl dSr^f "a"*?""" of the .pin'
«nd Ua». who tSl wTdoi.t»^f^/ from that .ulfSrer
aeemed to be dead, there ™m\infi^ .V'''!. ■» ""•' ^e also
he, toJtt-ter^T-"'?' ^ «- y*"" "^'ore
whiUt TieitinTat a JJm^^^ Boisgelin, who hid met her
then »ir^i^^l^^'^\,^'^°^i' the Aby« w."
made Mrangementewhioh !S.hiS u-' °'>««'?tatiou« wky had
dowry of a Sn tnZ, ^^^ ^"^ '^ Py* hi» daagiteTa
'««^thy, haX^iShS'ft,,^ t^"" "".J^ "de w4 very
fortun/'of n,o4 ^^"^ ^^onf S^."'" ■"",? '""""^
Huspioions affairs, redolent of ueur; anT*vf^»»"'u*" ■"'^ of
however, was not personal! v LSI- V^^ theft—bv which he,
perfect idleness evTS^ffil""*^*^' ™,°'=« ^^ had lived iS
heMin great estX aTd envy ZYTJ^' '"'f ' ^e wiS
to bow to him, for he reridna f^a ^fP'* "^^ ^^^ys e«ger
MonoMo in PariI.^ffi'i^,^y'!i"'5?sion near the pSo
ffwoe. Uler seekSTdSrtiS^tfnn k '"'^ ^"^P"'' »°<J «tra^
m spending the fortune Sri £: i^T^**"** '•"•howed
oven lowenng himself tn «?J; ' ™ forerunners without
that Boii^',^S.^„?^ f '"^*"V '''" "aisfortuaiW
"••MiSSeSonttfSh f!.^« longer mrfficd at last to W h^
'hi* he JSKS no^r'lhe^Zr'''^'^'"" °f
?o»»«iKi over some new^Sd m^l .^l'" J"^ ""«"
Sr -tnnng his fortune l^^Si^ TL t:re^^^.
s^ sj.^ Wot SJht«x,•"pi^S'"s ri^-««'^i'
«««•; ud among thow wbo Ji^ «^T •"'°'' *"'•• »«« •dnoatad
WORK
ii
»<«* a point ind^^to «ufn '7'" ''""•"fly rumod, to
at hi. hands, whicffl™? Wled It' '•°"«''^ "^ '^k*!
now be able to do. ainw hlk^ow n'Jh.";'"^ ''^•* '" "<>«"
It was then that SuzBnn„ hi? T • """T *° ''°* '"'h them.
?ood sense, ^d ^urZ" t %ucri'°"'^ "f™"""'"^«'«™
(eet again. She remised hmtbrhf *" ''""^^ ™ l*"
•lowiy, was intact And «L i^^ . "f ^f"^ °^ miUion. her
retrieved b/,e^LX Iw'Z?'' "^ ^^'"^^^ ">« ""»""»"
wouid now be "«a^e to ker;p°"wh'"'""f,''' '''^"'^ 'W
■I that way. But bow w7™ f hf; . ^P"""*' °»ihon was fonnS
on the proceeds of fwT^fir "■*? ^ •"«• P""""!"!? in Paris
sufflcedTrllpMon ;o^^^^^^^ °f f™^'". when six had not
"ightof aUtheZu' oonsliD»^ f"^f "K"'" " 't«
encounter at last decTde^re^Z™""' ^"" ""' ' * •""«<»
of on?s'b\'tLTsir^whrr ip^^r''"''''^ -«
mventor, had left her Sbhr Zr n^'"'• "^ "^""^y
eppneer, occupied a mcS;^"^ ST. R?'^"'''?' ■" »*"'
time when Michel 0.tri!l„i ^ • " , ""' coal-pit at the
w»U acquainted with Ube Sti„n J?k '»^' ""'f' ""^ «T
certain he could i»s»or^ to nm^L V''!.'^*'y°^' ■^''»'* he felt
«»»Mi»tion. be w^te p»S? P*"'' '? » "«" "yetem of
the».one e;e^'?^ tl Zet"'hf'^.^ 1 -^pitafists, and
fcoetolac. wi7tircou8inX-;«L° /"'^^r^ ''™'«^^
came to han. How was it S^' J^F'^tion at once
thought of that weSth?Jeliv^ th^n" ?'-. ?°' P'e^ously
"•nied a Qnrimon ? hn !.!• ''"°' «» 't happened, had
position of JheBdweLsno^^;°«.,'!'"'" ^^^ the pii^
Sjeh they ^.hed^H^Vest ^3 aXl^ " ''°?''' °* '""^"
peUveau extended his Xns and «7 '«7?°^y " Po»ihIe.
be had with his cS d?,!,^''''"^ mterviews which
wtelligence. and energy that he Sded 'h, """^ •"»""««'«•
snooess. There was r!a ly «nius fa thn I <»7«cmg him of
The Boisgelins must orofW hi fi . P''" •"" ''^d devised.
faUen on^MicherQariSion Iv thr**'"^'^^'' ""^^ had
ftancs when tbey wer" C?h t™f Jir ''<"■''» 'or a million
steel of saperiJ quIiitTwhilT u""''-.^"^ »'"' making
Pnrflta. lloreove?" wh^Sd^it '^^^^^^'^^^ '^ ^
tuy I« Guerf«h;9 %_ fu"l'*,°'",*'!« Boisgelins afio
.■^ liiu jor5g(i iiquijgtjgn of the
KHL£^iNlClfiS.i. J
u
woxx
n i
•till have hM • nSrfk to ^TL^^ '"^ "»"
inoome. Thev would gimX k.™ t^ '^''?*P"''«^y
which the B^^iTpJd for 1£^ ^r'^'*^ f r°'"S°'' f~"»
"^^f, oBTiDg no fnnher aoooonia to nndar (n «k. -iu'
Bnmving heirs— that ia Ann* t^™!!*?; """*' "p ""« other
«U Ua angagementB, reorganised the wm?. «n!2!r fu
onfof the mrrri^n^Lri^rtTf'iS:!!^ ^"^ «
aone, Aamed for BoSgX b, itsTweWe h^L^"° ' ^ *^
enabled him to instal hto«l7at T. « "jndred workpeople
montfi had%one abo„ri^e ^d dr^ ^''uitea'^af ^^"^
'7f^iA.-7r.t*.in
IVOXX
IS
only . few monSs old hFI, J^f^' "'"' ". ""5' '^« "«
•eviith veJ Md ?;.• _5' '"^ "■•" ^mpletod hi. thirty-
floor .i him^'ta^'^Sik tfoutTL'^Sn. R? ,""," """«
that for moreTw . " ^yem^l^l,^«' '"T*" ■*""'
^1 ™e'^;.2trt;ir3f5''t^^^^
moreTdo^th her TS^n^' T'"^'', ^ ''»'•' '^y^^S
fo. 6 woa«. -u> i« beautifui; that ebe musrfind th^p^;:;
7«
WORK
mSSrSw Bi;-^m'"!""'"'"',"^"°'« "O' rich, ofifenSi to
wofflw .n which he wotUd prove . iupport aad 1 m^.
towudi the end that she had in view ^. t,.^ .A T^
«Sr°om *^«,'"«P "" eTund^h'e'li "h'Sr \u
ftath of • deTotee for whom she was a aoddew And fr™!
IW.^r.'T/'^ ^"'"S? followed it, CT;ve^^'Z
Femande, had demrcd. Within two month, of beino inS!'
fnTl," ^ Gnerdaohe by her hu.band. .he deS™^;
entered upon an intrigue with Boieifelin who had jS^{
pa...onately enamoured' of her. In Tat hwdwrne ehZ^n
Sites; Ttz 'SS 's'.tS^F^
wh^i, !^^ '" "orta of .pite and rancour, the covert hatrad
why ^e had Uitened to BoiMelin, for ahe honed S!S^k!
to mjke Suzanne .offer. Anino; 31 wS fSv at tI
^^^V f«"«>de reined there Uke^bSS «e^
^hjtop hjar d «m of a life of display, in whtoh .he h^^
SSti^ fi^rfh' J'", ""oney whiSh Delaveau ^unTta
5n?{!ri^ u *he twelve hundred toiler, of the AbvM
And, mdeed. .he even hoped that ,he would «,me fine dav ^"
a. «nnt.!i"* ""i' ''""u' """'1' "^'"Pled Luc's thought.
aoeradanoe with Suzanne", inv tat bn. If he did nnt tn«„
compMMiy, At la^t. as he reiKd hig head, he perceived
S^J!!! r'y ' """^^ 7»^» or to from ih« Aim dmU
S^»n %'^' *">•' before hi. iind'. JT^^^Z
rtoje aU other fignni that of MoiuUar JirAmt ttT^SnS
Wittlt of a frightful family drama. Them wMhir^n^Zf
Qn.tave carrying off hJ.'father^ miiSL «d dffi^^
faU„»:it of 'Sf^'^P?' "' ^ P««iP'ce.tSlWth'thr4nS
impuwmt of the Furie*. There was his daughter Uore hi
son rhUippe, marnring an unworthy woman, gliding Withher
uie anniAUation of the family was beina comnletail h. i»
erUferment. thatFemand, who had ap^Jd Sfthem^
if to oonsummata their ruin with thoSterribla sh^t^hiu
t^th of hers Amidst his long silent J&«me h!d ^tnli^
wd was witaessmg all those things. But dU hr«S
them, did hejudm them? It was 1>aid that his mi^hJd
&h!!f''',r«?''i •"l" ^^P "d limpid we™ Cy^
wSloLhon™ /'^"''■r'^' ""'"?,''"' ""^ 'hose that tod
jus long hours of immobihty ? All his hopes had crumbled •
the viotonous strength amassed through a long StrTof
to a long hne of descendants whose fortune would ever 3
^™ „7 . T'^'' enjoyment I In three generation.™ .
reserre of creative power which had reomrad .« m.^^
ojnturie. of wretchednew and effort to aocuS h°ad C
gluttonously consumed. Amidst the eager satofXn^
So^rSt. S^Lnf, il t^^^ .f «8eneracy. Gorg^
.midst allU. fbn;born^,/;Str A^ l^, ^lIS
..^ L.<L
i:^^ . .:>i3^*fiLf^ii^" '-^M^TM ^iifiijai:ji&
"•WOCOW HMIUTION TBT OMIT
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHAIIT No. 2)
1.0 !fi
I.I
u
£ 122
us, 1 20
^1^
1.6
^
>^PPLIED IM/1GE Inc
t«3 Eo»t Morn Strwt
RoehMtaf. N«> York 14609 usa
(716) 462 - 0300 - Ph»«
(7I«) 286 -5989 -Fa.
78
tVOSK
La Oaerdaohe, which he JMme had parahMed, draaming ol
some day peopling it with numerous descendants, haprrr
oonples who wonld diffuse the blessed glory of his name,
how sad he must feel at seeing half its rooms empty, what
anger he must experience at seeing it virtually handed over
to that strange woman, who brought the final poisonous fer-
ment m the folds of her skirts I He himself lived there in
sohtude, keeping up an affectionate intercourse solely with
hM pand-daughter Suzanne, who was the only person still
admitted to the large room which he occupied on the ground
floor. She, when only ten years old, had ahready helped to nnrse
lum there, like a loving little girl touched by her poor grand-
papa's misfortune. And when she had returned to the spot,
a married woman, after the purchase of the family property,
she had insisted on her grandfather remaining there, although
nothing belonged to him, for he had divided his whole pro-
BOTty among his children at the time when paralysis had
fallen on him like a thunderbolt.
Suzanne was not without scruples in this matter. It
seemed to her that in following Delavean's advice she and
her husband had despoiled the two remaining members of the
family, Aunt Laure and Andr£, the cripple. As a matter of
fact they were provided for ; and thus it was on grandfather
Jtedme thi.( she lavished her affection, watching over him
uke a good angel. But although a smile would appear in the
depths of his clear eyes when he fixed them upon her, there
remained as it were but two cavities seemingly full of spring
water in his frigid, deeply marked countenance, directly the
wild hfe of La Guerdache bitted past hun. Was he conscious
of It, and did he think about it, and if so were not his thoughts
compounded of despair ?
Luc faund himself at last before the monumental iron gate
opening into the Formerie highway at a point whence started
a road leading to the neighbouring village of Lee Combettes,
and ho simply had to push a little side gate open in order to
reach the royal avenue of elm-trees. Beyond them one saw
the ohAteau, a huge eeventeenth-oentuiy pile, quite imposing
in its simplicity, with its two upper stones each showing a line
of twelve windows, and its raised ground floor, which was
reached by a double flight of steps, decorated with some
handsome vases. The park, which was of great extent, all
copses and lawns, was traversed by the Mionne, which fed a
large piece of ornamental water where swans swam to and fro.
w.l^™;„T '"T"^^ ^"8 *°''«^ the •*•!>• when • lisbt
welcoming Uugh made him turn his head. Unde7moii.k tS-
percer^ed Suzanne, who «it there with her eon SSi pU^
awidt^J'™^"; "^^b '^""^ ' ' ""^ I**- ' I '"'▼e oome down to
oj^^' "^Hnt-H ""I %»°'«"'7woman who is not AaidTtto
^ShT^™;^''.^^ °'^S" •» "«~P' my »bmpt invitation T
nret?^ h^.^ '* ^"" T"* offering her hand. She WM Mt
ffit« rSnnl'l T "'rr^g. very fair and 8maU,\ritra
h^8u!ffl^^ ^^' ""'y.^"'. "nd eyes of a soft blue. Ha
„5fr^ ""^ always considered her to be somewhat inrif
S^s"of\3a„^'7'^f«''' "r^- «U theSt?ui^f:
beti^^n SSu. Ws^w^!' •""^' "^ -'^^O " fo' » moment
,«J ?i '^j^" ^^° ''*™ "nnd to ttink of me I I am verv
very pleased to meet yon again,' he said. '"''
wretehllTn^ ''!?"J'^ *'^«'' ""d had first met him in a
'n«sengerinTtte™^twn%olet"Ze"S^^^^
So
WOSK
Ime, however, had just noticed Paul, who ran ap with
some wild flowers in liis hand ; and the young man burst into
exolamations at seeing how much the boy had grown. Very
fair and slim, he had a gentle, smiling face, and greatly
resembled his mother.
' Well,' said the latter gaily, ' he will now soon be seven
years old. He is already a little man.'
Seated and talking together like brother and sister in the
warm radiance of that September day, Lno and Suzanne
became so absorbed in their happy recollections that they
did not even perceive Bougelin descend the steps and advance
towards them. Smart of mien, wearing a well-out country
jacket, and a single eye-glass, the master of La Guerdache was
a brawny coxcomb with gre^ eyes, a large nose, and waxed
moustaohes.i He brought his dark brown hair in curls over
his narrow brow, whioh was already being denuded by bald-
ness.
_' Qood day, my dear Froment,' he exclaimed, with a lisp
whioh he exaggerated so as to be the more in the fashion.
' A thousand thanks for consenting to make one of ns.'
Then, without more ado, after a vigorous hand-shake h.
VAnglaise, he turned to his wife : ' I say, my dear, I hope
orders were given to send the victoria to Delaveau's.'
There was no occasion for Suzanne to reply, for Just then
the victoria came up the t^venue of elms, and the Delaveaus
alighted before the stone table. Delaveau was a short, broad-
shoiddered man, possessini; a bull-dog's head, massive, low,
and with projecting jaw-bones. With his snub nose, big
goggle eyes, and fresh-coloured cheeks half bidden by a thick
black beard, he carried himself in a miUtary, authoritative
manner, A delightful contrast was presented by his wife
Femiuide, a tall and supple brunette with blue eyes and
superb shoulders. Never had more sumptuous or blacker hair
crowned a more pure or whiter countenance, with large azure
eyes of glowing tenderness, and a small fresh mouth whose
little teeth seemed to be of unchangeable brilliancy, and strong
enough to break pebbles. She herself, however, was proudest
of her delicately shaped feet, in which she found an incontest-
able proof of her princely origin.
She immediately apologised to Suzanne, whilst making a
maid alight with her daughter Nise, who was now three years
of age and as fair as her mother was dark, having a early
tumbled head, eyes blue like the sky, and a pink mouth whioh
«» «•« Uughtag. aimpling the ^uj, b„j^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^
♦2Lfi^ *" "''*. '^'^ ^0°' to assume whenewr ha
on'3lri^htV°°*^'^™' Everything seem. toT^g
a 4tf s-m^«o:j->&ft^^^^
St
woxjr
' Oh I k anperblj bnilt man, veiy &ir and fresh-ooloimd.
I txa anre that Nise will be the very image of him.'
By this time Boiagelin had apparently oome to the oon-
elusion that it was not the correct thins tr await one's guests
under an oak tree — only commonplace bourgeoit after retiring
from business into the country could venture to do so and
aocOTdingly he led the whole party towards the drawing-room.
At that moment Monsieur J^rdme made his appearance, in his
litOe conveyance propelled by a servant. The old man had
Insisted on living quite apart from the other inmates of La
Onerdacbe ; he had his own hours for rising, going to bed,
and going out ; and he invariably took his meals by himself.
He would not let the others occupy themselves with him, and
indeed it was an established rule in the house that he shonld
not even be spoken to. Thus, when he suddenly appeared
before them thiy contented themselves with bowing in sUence,
Suzanne alone smiling and ^ving him a long and affectionate
^ance. On his side Monsieur J^me, who was starting on
one of those long promenades which at times kept him out of
doors the whole afternoon, gazed at the others fixedly like
some forgotten onlooker who has ceased to belong to the
wo».d and no longer responds to salutations. And beneath
the cold keenness of the old man's stare Luo felt his uneasi-
ness, his tor'juring doubts return.
The drawing-room was a rich and extremely large apart-
ment, hung with red brooatelle and furnished sumptuously
m the Louis-Quatcrze style. The party had scarcely entered
It when some other guests arrived, Sub-Prefect ChAteUrd,
followed by Mayor Gourier, the latter's wife Lfenore, and
their son Aohille. Ch&telard, who at forty could itOl claim
to be a good-looking man, was bald, with an aquiline nose, a
msoreet. mouth, and large eyes which shone keenly behind
the glasses he wore. He was a piece of Parisian wreckage,
who, after losing bis hair and his digestion in the capital, had
ssoured the sub-prefecture of Beauclair as an asylum, thanks
to an intimate friend who had been pitehforked into o6Bce as
a minister of state. Deficient in ambition, suffering from a
liver complaint, and realising the necessity of rest, he had
fallen upon pleasant lines there through making the acquaint-
ance of the beautiful Madame Gourier, with whom he carried
on an unclouded liaison, which wag favourably viewed by
those he governed, and even accepted, it was said, by the
lady's bBiband, the latter's thought* Wag given elsewhsrs.
WORK
«3
the Uttertb^^^ 't„^ daughter Euoile, and foUowed by
Gaome a m^^ft?'.^°""'l'''.~P,'»^ O" ">« "tired liat.
illiktto b?U» aXdr '" "■'' """ ••- -"'^ "fto-*^
Captain JoUivst, though he looked rather worn for a man
as
•4 WOSX
only flT»«nd-tUrt7 Ttftii old, wm none the lew • huaiome
fdlow ^th • itabbom brow and Tiotorioui meoitMhei.
Vtnvt oontiMted ia Madegasourbad oompdled him to wnd in
his papers ; and having just then inheritea an income of twelve
thonsand f ranoi a jear, he had decided to establish himself at
Beanolair, his native place, and marry Lneile, whose cooing
tnitle-dove ways had quite npeet him, Oaume, who had no
fortune of his own, and lived poorly on his pay as a presiding
judge, eonld not deoUne the proposals of such a suitor. Yet
his secret despair seemed to increase, for never had he evinced
more severity in applying the law, rigorously following the
strict, stem wording of the Code. People said, however,
that implacable as he might seem to be, he was really a dis-
heartened man, a disconsolate pessimist who doubted every-
thing, and partionlarly^ human justice. If that were true,
what must have been his sufferings, the sufferings of a judge
who, while asking himself if be has any right to do so, passes
sentences on unhappy wretches who are nally the victmis of
everybody's crime?
Soon after the Oaumes came the Mazelles with their
daughter Louise, a child three years of age, another guest for
the little table. These Mazelles were a perfectly happy couple,
two stout follcs of the same age— that is, little more than
finrty — and they had grown so much alike in course of time
that each now had the same rosy smiling face, the same
esntle parental way as the other. They had spent a hundred
wousand firanos to install themselves in true houmeois
fiwhion in a fine substantial house snrronnded by a &rly
large garden near the sub-prefecture ; and they lived therein
on an income of some fifteen thousand francs a year derived
from investments in Benies, which to their fuicy alone seemed
safs. Their happiness, the beatitude of their hfe, which was
now spent in doingnothing, had become proverbiaL Often were
Eople heard to say : ' Ah I if one could only be like Monsieur
azelle who does nothing t He's lucky and no mistake I '
To this he answered that he had worked hard during ten
years, and was fully entitled to his fortune. The fact was
that, after beginning life as a petty oommiasion agent in tho
coal trade, he had found a bride with a dowry of fifty thousand
finncs, and had been skilful or perhaps simply lucky enough
to foresee the strikes, whose frequent recurrence over a period
of nearly ten years were destined to bring about a consider-
able rise in the prices of French coal. His great stroke had
WUKK
H
coiuuited in making (ore tk the lowest ponible prioai of lome
▼ei7 large stocks of ooal abroad and m ra-selfiiig them at a
huge profit to French manoiaotaren when a inJden iUlnre
in their own supplies was forcing them to close their worb.
At the same time Maselle had shown himself a perfect sage,
retiring from business when he was nearly forty -that is, as
soon as he found himself in possession of the six hundred then-
sand francs which, according to his calcuUtion, would ensure
his wife and himself a life of perfect felicity. He had not
even yielded to the temptation of trying to make a million,
for he was far too much afraid that fortune might play him
false. And never had egotism triumphed more serenely,
never had optimism a greater right to say that everything
was for the best in the best of worlds, than in the case of these
perfectly worthy people, who were very fond of one another
and of that tardy arrival, their Uttle girl. Fully satisfied,
free from all feverishness, having no further ambition to
satisfy, they presented a perfect picture of happiness— the
happmess which shuts itself up and does not even glance at
the unhappiness of others. The only little flaw in this hap-
piness lay m the circumstance that Madame Mazelle, aveiT
plump and blooming dame, imagined that she was afflicted
with some serious, nameless, undsflnable complaint, on which
aeoonnt she was all the more coddled by her ever-smiling
husband, who spoke with a kind of tender vanity about ' my
wife s illness ' m the same way as he might have spoken of
' my wife 8 wonderful golden hair.' WithiO, this supposed ill-
ness gave rise to no sadness or fear. And it was simply with as-
tonishment that the worthy couple contemplated th^little girl,
Louise, who was growing up so unlike either of them— that
13, dark, iim, and quick, with an amusing little head, which,
mth its obhqnely set eyes and slender nose, suggested that
of a young goat. This astonishicant of theirs was rapturous,
""v r* .^'"'^ '"'d 'alien from heaven as a present, to bring
a htUe life mto their sunshiny house, which fell asleep so
easily during their long hours of placid digestion. Beauolair
society mUingly made fun of the MazeUes, comparing them
to poUeta in a fattening pen, but it none the less resceoted
them, bowed to them, and mvited them tm its entertainments ;
for witti their fortune, which was so safe and substantial, they
reigned over the workers, the poorly, paid officials, and oven
the millionaire capitalists, since the tatter were always liable
to some catastrophe.
•• WORK
»!. M ""'.ft.*. "S''."*" S""*' «P«>trf »t I* GwrfMhi
that ixj, AbM Mule, the rector A St. Vinouit, the rich
pMieh of BMUoUir, urriTed, none too foon, howerer, for the
others were aboat to enter the dining-room. He •polosiied
for being Ute, nying that hii dnUe^hitd detdnod him/ He
WM » tkU, itrong mui, with a iqnue-ihaped fitee, • beak-like
"<«•. V*^ • iMge firm month. StiU young, onlj dz-and.
thirty, be would wiUinf ly haTe battled for the Filth had it
not been for a slight mipediment of ipeeoh which rendered
peachmg difficult. This explained why he was resigned to
burring himself alire at Beauolair. The expression of his
dark stubborn eyes alone testified to his past dream of a
militant career. He was not without intelligence, La per-
fectly understood the crisis through which Catholicism was
passing, an^ whilst preserving silence with respect to the
f»re which he sometimes experienced when he saw his
church deserted by the masses, he clung strictly to the letter
of the Church s dogmas, feeling certain that the whole of the
ancient edifice would be swept away should science and the
spirit of free examination ever effent a breach in it. More-
over, he accepted the Invitations to La Querdache without
any illusions concerning the virtues of the bourgaouie.
Indeed, he lurched and dmed there in some measure from a
mint of duty, .j order to hide the sores whose existence ha
divined there under the cloak of religion.
Luc was delighted with the gay brightness and pleasant
luxuriousness of the spacious dinmg-room which occupied one
end of tibe ground floor, and had a number of large windows
overlooUng the tawns and trees of the park. All that verdure
seemed to belong to the room, which, with its pearl-greywood-
woit and hangmgs of a soft sea-green, became like the ban-
qneting-hril of some idyUic fierie ehampttre. And the
richness of the table, the whiteness of the napery, the blaze
of the silver uid cirstal, the flowers, too, spread over the
bOMd, were a festival for the eyes amidst a wondrous setting
of light and perfume. So keenly was Luc impressed by it alt
that his expenences on the previous evening suddenly arose
before his mmd's eyes, and he pictured the bkek and hungry
toilers tramping through the mud of the Bne de BriasTaw
puddlere and drawers roasting themselves before the hellish
Barnes of the furnaces, and particularly Bonnaire in his
wretched home, and the woeful Josine seated on tht stain,
saved from starving tbat night, thanks to the loaf which hw
WOltK i,
UMI« biothw had itolan. How maeh u^nii uiMrr thtn
v'M I And on what aooorwd toU, what batafol fofferuic wai
I . Md the laxaiy of the idle and the harp; I
. . **,'''''"• "''«" <»▼•" "'W '•id BW fifteen, Lao fotind
mmseir placed between Fernando and Delarean. Oontrarr
to proper oeage, Boiegelin, who bad Madame Mazelle on hu
right. Lad placed Femande on big leh. He ought to have
aadgned ttiat seat to Madame Gourier, bat in friendlj hoaiei
itwaeanderstood that Uonore ought alwayi to be plaoed
near her (nend Sub-Prefect Ohitelard. The Utter natorSlT
oooupied the place of honour on Suzanne's right hand, Judiie
Oaume bemg on her left. As for Abb« Marie, he bad bMO
luaeed next to Uonore, his most assiduous and preferred
penitent Then the betrothed couple. Captain JolBvet and
Lnoile, sat at one end of the table facing young AchiUe
Oonner, who, at the other end, remained silent between
Delaveau and the abb«. And Suzanne. fuU of foresight, had
BiTon orders for the httle table to be set behind her, so that
she might be near to watch it. Seven-year-old Paul presided
over it between three-year-old Nise and three year-old Louise,
™? !*'? behaved m a somewhat disquieting fashion, tor
their little paws were continuaUy straying over the pUtes and
C?i *"«.«'»»»«'• LooUly » maid remained beside them,
while at Uie larger table the waiting was done by the two
valets, whom the coachman assisted.
Ab soon as the scirambled eggs, accompanied by santeme.
naa been served, a general conversation was started. Befer-
enoe was made to the bread suppUed by the Beaudair bakers.
. rm. • . "npoTOble for me to get used to it,' said Boisgelin.
ThMr fancy bread is uneatable, so I get mine from Pans.'
He said this in the simplest manner possible, but they all
g anced with vague respect at their roUs. However, the un-
pleasant occurrences of the previous evening stiU haunted
every "wd, and Femande exclaimed : 'By the way, do you
Srt'i ht ?^*' '^ ' '"''"'* "'"'P ""•" ^"° ^ ^"•*
Luc could not help laughing. ■ Oh, madame, pillaged I '
rtSleal(ii^ ■ "'""■™P'y»'W»>'^lohiffwho
' We were there too,' declared Captain JoUivet, ruffled br
Jif if-.Tr?'*' """'''je .ton* of the young man's voice.
It !s „„eh to be regretted that the child was not arrested.
at least tor example s sake.
in the town »e.tod.7S7gke l\^°?«l??° ••"»"*
M it were. »t that plei^l ubU l^^ut'"^^ '?'*'• ''•
beantiful thinn* V^Siii J? ^''™°,'"'" ■'">'» n'<» "nd
ihoald be Itept then!'
mJlr'wiyfCcSr^nroe'Ztg^ bead At>t,i„hf.
releaM W ™^'' ""^-^Sa^ry, made up hie nind tS
exaction -n.; 7°«»1^ je"! fear beneath humoroua
whirrghr.^iii^'-iLriite^.ii's'' ? ^'"-
wa. certainly to refrain iT^^.r^^X'^^'^^tZr^
Lang, h^l oMiTo th. wind., for Ui. mor. thoM^ro«bw«
•pr»«d, thf mon wonU thty b«w frnii.
♦„ l""!?!? • *•«»•»■? e*'™*^ down, Mt «»wiDg hii moniUohM.
for he did not wiih to oontrtdlot lu Utin father-ln-Uw
openW But Sob-Prtfect OhiUUrd. who h.d Kto^w^
pat. f»uh to noUiing,.xo1.im.d: 'Ah I 1 qnite nnde«tand
yoar V..6W., Monmenr le Pr^ridsnt. What you haTdone ?S
m my opmion exceUent policy. The .piri'. of the masse. U
not worse a BeaudiOr tTan It i. el«,wh.re. Thlt,piriti"
overywhere the san^e ; one must strive to acooitom onenlf to
t . and the proper coarse is to prolong the premnt itate of
thtog. u much a. poMible, for it Men^ certinXt when a
change oome. it wifi be fbr .he worse.' "'™*" "»» *"•» •
Luc fancied that he eoald detect w>me jeering irony in the
amused by the covert terror of the provincial bourgioU aron^
bim. Moreover, Ohitelard's practical policy W^I^^^d
An^^y^^ QovernmK-,t machtoe continued* working
«»,'r* °'"y^"^ «no ; there wa. grating and 'Am
J^if^'^^^^^" '°"^' "" ^ pi"** »d cAimbletoto
^\i'i^ " "■* ""^ '»<"'•' •ys'*™ °>l«lit appeaT There
CMtelard, laughing was wont to My among his intinites
The machme roUed on because it was woSad up! bSt ,i
the first rmUywrious jolt it would go to thedeuw Even
ooaon, tne timid reforms which were eisaved. the usalesB naw
Uws which men voted without even dartogto ™? ^M^Z
thewild. ragefuJ batthng of parties, were only^culatedto
aggravate and hasten the supreme agony. Such a r^™
must feel astonished every mornine atSg itaelf st'l&
and must say to itwlf that the SownfaU wou d surX^M
on the morrow. He, Ch4tolaid, being m no wise a^<LT
arranged matters so as to last as long as the rAj.W d?d A
prudent BepubUoan. as it was needfS to be,7erpreLted
Uie Qovemmentjust sufficiently to retato hisyst.XnS
P«ace with those under his jurisdiction. And if everj W^g
90
IVOXX
^»^pple over, he at »U event, would t^ not to be nnder
irtrfvJilT ^"7 ^^•' ^* ooMlnded, ' tliat the onibrtuiate
SSS^e^J^bl?/ '^ " •" '^ ""°" •"" endearn:.1
~„^''°u?°°i" ^ ""* endowed with the anb-preftefB
oinatie phUoeophj, although as a nde they agreS^ tawtha
^ortoTIS" '°.^"^'"'« theadministratioJKto^ h1
now proteeted: 'Allow me, allow me, my dear friend, too
many conoeadons might carry us a loig way, I toowft^
riffCto ^nli''^*^"'''^ l"^'- .,?"' " ^ 8™" '•>« workers tte
rtSl- ™P"^« their lot, I wiU never accept the Bubverave
theone8,tho^ Ideas of the Colleotivists, wWoh wo"d S
aU mviliBed society to an end.' ^
he h'ad*'uw,''l*™^^""f voice rang out the fears which
5!.,^ ■ .u ? expenenoed, the ferocity of a threatened
^^^'''f"^'-^ ff?'" '" "P'e»io» which iSdltoM
\^J»% '*'" u * 5*?*!*" "^Rht be forced to resume wS^
under the penalty of being shot.
„J^t^ '°L'?y P"^' *'^* ^o^e eveiything fbr the work-
peop eat my factory,' he continued ; • they've got reUrf fands
genmon fanas, cheap dwellings, ev^iy adJant^e T^Sl
« Jn» t °" T tLey want ? It seems as ifthe woridwew
ooimng to an end-is that not so, Monsieur Delaveau ? '
r«v«^t.w'°*^'rl*' ^'■y*' ^'^ «" *« continued eating
rav^noMly, and hstemng, scarcely taking part in the ^
^Jn^b. "??T! ^, *? *"\' '*"^ ''«• in his quiet energetic
end without fighting a httle to make it laet. I am of the
^T An'^^r''™' '* Sous-Prdfet, the strike has end^
7u^ n • . . ^ °"'e even had some good news. Bonnaira
the (tollectivist, the leader whom I was ^peU^ to takebtS'
h«, done justice to himself-he quitted the wXlaSS'
V JrJ^".* '!\*»l'"°/i^??"8 *» »PPe*r very loyal and just.
™^ ''.»d»"ght to defend hie own Inierests. By going on
on stnke the workmen fancied that they were ser^e thSr
interests. He, as manager of the works, ifended^S^^f
WOXK
9«
the plant, the property entnuted to him. And he wu irilling
to ■how Bome indalgenoe, dnee he felt hinuelf to be the
Btmnger. His one duty was simply to maintain what existed,
the working of the wage-system such as it had been organised
by the wisdom bom of experienoe. All practical truth
centred in that ; a^art from it there were bat criminal dreams,
snoh as that Colleoti-nsm, the enforcement of which wonld have
brooght about the most frightfiil catastrophes. He also
■poke of workmen's nnions and syndicates, which he resisted
energetically, for he divined that they might prove a powerful
engine of war. At the same time he triumphed like an active
haid-working manager, who was well pleased that the strike
had not Mused greater ravages or become a positive disaster,
in snoh wise as to prevent him from carrying out his engage-
ments with his cousin that year.
Just then the two valets were handing round some roast
par^id^s, whilst the coachman, acting as butler, offered some
'And so," said Boisgelin, in a bantering way, 'yon
promise me that we sha'n't be reduced to potatoes, and that
we may eat those partridges without any twinges of remorse ? '
A lond burst of laughter greeted this jest, which was deemed
extremely witty.
'I promise it,' gaily said Delaveau, who laughed like the
others. ' You may eat and sleep in peace— the revolution which
IS to carry away your income won't take place to-morrow.'
Luc, who remained silent, could fed his heart beating.
That was indeed the position, the wage system, the capitalist
exiddting the labour of the others. He advanced five francs,
made them produce seven francs, by making the workmen toil,
and spent the two francs profit. At least, however, that man
Delaveau worked, exerted his brain and his muscles; but by
what right did Boisgelin, who had never done anything, live
and eat in such luxury ? Luc was struck, too, by the demeanour
of Femande, who sat beside him. She appeared to be greatly
interested in that conversation, though it seemed little suited
to women. She grew both excited ajid delighted over the
defeat of the toUers and the victory of that wealth which she
devoured like the young wolf she was. Her red lips curved
over, dispUying her sharp teeth while she laughed flie Ungh
?? '■ **• ^ '"^**^ *''® "*" ■' '''*' satisfying her rancour
and her cravings, in front of the gentle woman whom she was
deceiving, between her foppish lover, whom she domhiated,
9i
IVOXK
tehSr B&iJl!!!S*2>\'''l'' WM gaining futnt. million.
ThA JoiiaT """'""^g.MBe besides politics ? '
views- <?„ , ^b-prafeo Immediately adhered to her
^irL. • 5f'"°ly. " w tinpardonable on oor pit I
wvertT^'H;T°'"7' •*/ S^""^"^ conversation ceased; each
reverted to his or her favourite subject. Abb* Maria IhiS
prrfMt, uid the open hostility of the mayor, who mX a
parade of anti-olerical ideas. Ah I how th« i^ka-.
SlL^'i^" i'''"«'" "^ *""' -^»l Sem^^'whth* he'^wf,
gUed upon to support, and which ended in such a c^Lfa |
as only consolation was the devout sympathv of I^m«
oiuers argued. She hkewise transcressed, but at leiuit >ho
the tribuna^ of penitence, accusing herself of CZ deriv^
rrelect Lhatelard, who sat on her other hand.
^i^tfr? the pnest, worthy Monsieur Mazelle, who remained
^OBt forgotten between Judge Gaume and CapWnTuWet
MijSirZ.r' "'T'y- °^°8 to his fears of indigesUon
PWitwal matters no longer interested him, since, thanks to W^
faeome, he had placed himself bayond the ^h Tsto?mf
Nwertheless he was oompeUed to lend e^toTe theonW
the eaptein, who was eager to pour forth his feelingB o "rooh
a qmet hstener. ^e army, so the captain said, wm fte s<K
tl^LT'^iA ^""'t' ^ '""'O'da^ce with 'her iZSa
taaditions, could only be a warlilce nation, and vrou]°"^v
recover equUibnum when she reconquered Euro^ and reii^
Mo~e of arms. It was stupid of Veople to ac^»™ .S^
mdsed? Did anythmg of that exist? Socialism I why it
WORK
93
TTM • Btapendoiu &rce I There Tronld dwayi be soldiers,
and down below there most be people to do the fatigae datiei.
A sabre could at an; rate be seen, bnt who had ever seen the
Idea that famous Idea, the pretended Qaeon of the Earth.
The captain langhed at bis own wit; and worthy Mazelle,
who felt profound respect for the army, complacentlv langhed
with him ; whilst Lncile, his betrothed, examined him in
silence with the side-long glances of an enigmatical amoraia,
smiling fidntly and strangely the while, as if amused to think
what a husband he would make. Meantime, at the other end
of the table, young Achille Gourier immured himself in the
silence of a witness and a judge, his eyes gleaming with all
the contempt which be felt for his parents and the friends
with whom tiiey compelled him to take lunch.
However, at the moment when a pdti of ducks' liver, a
perfect marvel, was being served, another voice arose, and was
beard by everybody — it was that of Madame Mazelle, hitherto
silent, busy with her plate and her mysterious complaint
which required ample nourishment. Findmg herself neglected
by Boisgelin, whose attention was given entirely to Femande,
she had ultimately &llen on Oourier, to whom she gave
particulars about her home, her perfect agreement with her
hasband, and her ideas of the maimer in which she meant to
have her daughter Louise educated.
' I won't let them worry her brain, ah I no, indeed t why
should she worry ? She's an only chUd, she will inherit all
ourBentes.'
All at once, without reflecting, Luc yielded to bis desire
to protest : ' Bnt don't yon kni w, madame,' said he, ' that
they are going to suppress the rig. t of inheritance ? Oh yes,
very soon, diNctiy the new social system is organised.'
All round the table it was thought that he was jesting,
and Madame Mazelle's stupe'iction was so comical to behold
that everybody helped on the joke. The right of inheritance
suppressed I How infamous 1 What I the money earned by
the father wonld be taken from the children, and they in their
tnm would have to earn their own bread ? Why, yes, of
course, that was the logical outcome of ColIectiTism, Mazelle,
quite scared by it all, came to his wife's help, saying that he
did not feel anxious, for his whole fortune was invested in
State Bentes, and nobody would ever dare to touch the
national ledgers.
' That's just where you make a mistake, monsieur,' Luc
** IVOIIX
'*^ed by the threatof -,„? "'*7''eM so digtiaoted so
natnw that Oh4t«u~i ?** *" wversion of thaU™ «
^ not behaved partieffiy weU h?""'" ^l"^ *°^ ^^
«W fcahion: 'No, no aU ti,J„ ™ saKl in a banter-
^^)^- ^e iL. be^ 4^,r fte-^rthe^^^y
wfe^Oarbfe^oV^'J"^- .^'" °-e «.d aU
the Fatnre Blowing across th« ^M '^ P?'"°«> ^^ breeze of
P«>{»rty.'«idMayorGo^r"^ °° '"« '^r " *onohe.
si^jrJrASt'SJtw^tns;:
^,^t ooa actx i.^^'ar^d^^a-^^
«n>y, the clergAhich ^stoedihrdJ^*- '^•'^- ttl
^nS?.!*""' structure of iS^tv i/^?^«.r'»' "?»'«"'.
toll of the greater number fedfh^/ '^^"''' ""e murderoug
beheld the previous day A^r „• ■ ''°°° ''bich he had
MW the front of that ro tinJ^^iif j??: "P°° "■« ™" he now
•ng npon every side Ani 1 u *^'^''« ^bioh was coUa™
«-«»«. He^^ddet^tthattSrsiS^oXaLX?
WORK ^
f bat itioTt to forget and to diyert theli mindi whJUt nuhiiut
I on towkrda the precipice. ,^
, The dewert waa now being aerred, and the table wm
i oowed with pastry and magnificent fruit. The better to
brmg ba«k the good spirits of the Mazelles, the others, as soon
a* Uie champo^e was poured out, began to sing the praises
of i^esB, divine idleness, which bebngs not tothis worU.
And then Luo, as he continued reflecting, suddenly understood
what It was that weighed upon his mind : it was the problem
of how the future might be freed, in presence of thrae folks
wno represented the myust and tyrannical authority of the
After eoffise, which was served in the drawing-room.
Boisgehn suggested a stroU through the park as far as the
farm, rhroughout the repast he had been prodigal in his
attenfaons to Femande, but she still gave him the cold
BhouMer, reframmg even from answering him, and reserving
her bright smiles for the sub-prefeot seated in front of he^
Matters had Been hke this for a week past, and were always
so when he did not immediately satisfy one of her eapriooi.
The real cause of then: present quarrel was that she had
insisted on his giving a stag-hunt for the sole delight of
sho^ herseU at It ^i a new and appropriate oost^ He
had taken the hberty to refuse, as the expanses would be vwy
peat; and, moreov« Suzanne, having been warned of the
matter, had begged him to be a litUe reasonable. Thus a
Btraggle had ended by breaking out between the two women.
S:. MifeTfte'oft^"" "'"'* '^ '"'^ '""^ ^ ""» '^'y.
During lunch Suzanne's sad and gentle eyes h- " missed
nothing of Femande's affected coldness and her «mS^
anxious attenbras. And so when the latter propose a stroU
she Mderstood that he was simply seeking si oSportnn%to
be alone with her sulky rival, in order to defen/himself and
w^ her back. Greatly hurt by this, but incapable of battling,
she should remain mdoors in order to k^p the Mazelles
company. For they, from considerations of health, mvm
5!f,^u ''■emselves on leaving table. Judge Gaume, his
daughter Luoile, and Captain Joilivet also declared that they
should not |o out; and this led to Abbi Marie nropo»ing to
^the judge a game of chess. Young AchiUe GoWierhad
•Iroady taken leave, under pretext that he was preparing ft«
wpaiKd to th* W waliS. S^. ^ GouriM., ud Lno
loftTtweB. ' ^^ """'y *<"'«^ " nadep the
flT.*Se^;^*^itS'ffi r «'5«>'«««7; the
brought up ttTreM a«« flT ..^f^^^'^d "onpre
chat? A^ong uTm JXiSn'i? *" T" "^fi^*""'!
rnpt. said he/and Kolui^'^f wIT^!^"^* •»»''■
be cheap, ^" ^ felohJS L?*''™.'*'^ **** ""^ "tould
have to nrt with the man W^^ me^ o7t^ f°°'"''"'
dwcoMed, for the farmer h«fl T.blj renewal of the lease was
^onnti^r to no ir'^'aSlen^'^/^'en't^'jS^'^lt'T'
Les Combettes no-TthT^llagT ™n£r w^^" S""?^' ^'
separated from mine bv fLT™?^ yonder, whose land ig only
wfiat Uttir^^ment S«« T. ™ «)ad you can't imaging
bimeelf the whUe I Ah tw^ ^ "^'S'""""' P«>Jysing
fStidaUty after Xiho™ fin! ^7"" «"»°6'J^8 good i2
monghlftWhidnothW^f?, •"'""' '^'^^ walk straight
«»t l,ey wou^d'^^fh';^^^^^^-;-. ^ were convin^d
WORK gy
TUi »brnpl eoBdadon nude Imo imila. NeT«rth«lan,
?• f^.**?" "7 *••• ""eomwloM oonileHioB ih»t the pre-
tended bankraptoy of (he wU eune from • hwk of Mreement
tmm ftoee who tilled it. The p*rty wm now onitting the
pjrk, ud the young mtn'a gUnee nnged over the great plain
01 lA Boonugne, farmerlT so tamons for its fmitfolnew; bnt
now aoonied of growing oold and etetile, and of no longer Yield-
ing initenanoe for ite inhabitants. On the left nnead the
extenaiT* landi of Boifgelin'a fcrm, whilst on the right Imo
peroeived the humble loofa of Lea Combettes, sronnd which
were grouped many amaU fielda, cut up into litUe moraels by
repeated partition amongat nnmerona heira, in raob wiae that
the whoU reaembled a etretoh of patchwork. And Luc aaked
liimseU what could poasiUy be done in order that cordial
amement might return, in order that from ao many contm-
dietary uid barren efforts a great impolae of aoUdanty micht
apring, with muveraal happineaa fiw ita object
It BO happened that as the promenadera were approaching
Hiejumhouse, a lar^e and fairly waU-kept bnlfiBngr&iw
heard some loud aweanng and thumpiag of fista nponatable—
m bet, aU the uproar of a violent quarrel. Then they aaw
two peaeanta, one atont and heavy, and the other thin aed
nemua, come out of the honae, and after threatening one
anothn /or a last time, go off, each by a diffenmt path,
through the flelda towards Lea Combettes.
• What'B the matter, Feuillat ? • Boisgelin inqu'-ed of the
farmer who had come to his threshold.
T ' S** 'w? °othing, monsieur; only two more fellows of
lies (tombettes who had a dispute about a boundary, and
wanted me to umpire between them. The Leo&nts and the
xvonnots have been disputing together from &ther to son for
years uid yeara past, and it maddens them nowadays merely
to catch sight of one another. It's of no use my talking reason
to them. You heard them just now I They'd like to devour
one another. And, mm Dim, what fools they are I they'd be
togfe UtUt-'^ " *'*^ '""'' ™'' '^'''' ^^ ■«'*«
Then, sor^, perhaps, that he had allowed this remark to
S^k^' iS' J?, 7*? °°* •">« '^'io'» ""8 a»8ter should
have heard, FemUat let his eyelids fall, and with an
espresHonkss, impenetrable face, resumed in a husky voice :
moment r ' gentlemen like to come in aiid rest a
9S
fVOSX
!
Wh« th« Utter ril„„t'*°^''"»''°° with Boi.gelln.
thougnt o'er £^ 'JSt^ S^^u^"* '^J. i^qni^d i/ liHS
of g»iaiiig hii point 'h«!JI-j^'^..^'P'°™»'"' *idroni
thoSghtaZthTtCiht tb^t ^fT^'/'P'w'*"'' ^ «*>
thoM who tilled it t5oi.«^!i !?! Ifu ""?'" *° Won* to
might onee^ lC^"|^i^ ^ ^-m. « order that Sie,
with • shrug of the XnM«; w- ^* ""« »<»1'' ««dhe.
fl^U««hl3ZJditZriS^2r'hn?^K^'J^*'.»^'^ '^'' P»"'».
to them ? For hi/bSt S^^^™"* ""S' «°^ '"'^ '•"" low
abletofertiliM t£^ .^•,i^>7 ~"^^,.''»i* nntU he wm
fcr. landlord. whoe^^onrthoTg^f ^^L'^^"^'.!-'' ««>»
M soon as the crone .C^m • " "* *" ""^ the rent
something elaTbe^Sti^ »«„•'"?*'• ^'"' «■•« wa.
he piotnAd whoever hi tri^L'^*'"i"l»°r"^« «»*
w«»>»W8 agreement amnnr^ ''**' "''° "■« ^tow: •
common. «, that tiCe mgh? b?^,SiS'" ** """^ «
seal, with the helpTLSSerr Si ^^P*"" • '^
few ideas which had gnST,^- <f l^' "^^ *•« «>•
were best kept fronr STSS h,,^" ^"?^'^ f *" "^^
occaeionaUy^ped hii '^'^^'°^' •">' '^hioh, aU the lame,
found the ooliae^"bLL,«»T'i, ^^ ?""> """o •8»itt
with which S^b^^!K*«<'^«oft°il»ndpo^
evening- at Bonne's hLTln thi r"'*j°° «"« PW'ioM
Dry and ashen, Uteher mT L« ^. n ? ?» Trois-Lones.
attitude of silent reaiXtTnnLaf^ :?"""*' "^ «>«» in «n
bo, of twelve, Uo K° he «d hL"?',."^^' ^^"' » %
And it was evident to Luotha on .f?"^^ "" """ *«^^-
peasants as among thrinan»ti.f ^ *" °^«^' »n«»ig the
?ccnrs6d. aishonoied recarf^d J""??"' ""^ ''"'"'d ''hou?
t did not even pS fo,^^tr th^ T""' * ^^^S"^. since
to hie toa as to a chain In *^« „ • uv^"*' '''° «"« "veted
Combettes thesiSs werf ceS"*"^ tillage of lS
/arm; *he dwellings th^sZ^'Sj^ttSfc'S:}
0* domaitia uimaig m npon ,_, . j^ ]>nfantaL with th.<.
lSi!r-,f. . ''•'J"* T"'<'"ednaM, ud added to their woeTby
tt«r ngeful p«,on to prey on one Mother. Luo, uTSSm
ud gUnoing eroond hiin, pictured aU the horronrfTS
n.o.Jer who alone oouid p^Virmt':!"^,' ^^'^'^
^OhM?i t-ll^h " "°»ly J-"' that I should profit b, it.'
I ^r§S?r '-^^"''^-^^^ ^'e oZt
I tuc&°trt^t^7Mrthe';a^"'8"''A'^^ «'°'«' d<««
'•" WOSK
amused him. franght as it wai with charm andhOTT ^
Paul BoisgeUn had obtained permiMion to ^e hlit.n
««/ ™t^ • • * "*^° °' *''«™ ''•" lying down nndei a wiJJow
Soaernt .n^fj."' ** adventorewa. that the heHf
nSid?n th^!^'''* ?°°"« '•*«• '" Wbi had fonnd the
pond in the ^KMsession of lome wovking-olase inTaden lh«.
a Aedge. To hia mirpnse Lno fonnd that the leader an^i^^t
T^^Jr ^i??"*'^ Bonnaire. Bvidantly eno^lt ™
«^SJ£^ -xi.' ■" 'f ""P'e enough. Luoien had fitted
?nd nI^I""^ ' maohaniMn that carried it over thTwaST
SSf ^Zi'"'S5 '^'^ to take him to a fine pond he toew
trayellpd quite thirty feet through th^ wateT'wi^t^a
Bprmg requiring to fee wound affe.hrbu7rfortSyl
vS^i '*'* °° """^ '^'='"'''"> '»"'<»» ma17the UUU
boat bMk to ihora, in oidn to wind op tha ipriag kfnih, iIm
ttgwlynn iomrdi him. Oood utton and ti)« pleMnt* of
pl»7 broQffht them together.
< I nude it, -jr know,' uid the Ud.
' Oh I let me ae I give it me t ' repLed the duneel.
But th«t WM uliing him too mneh, and he energetieally
defended the boat from the approach o( her pillaging handi.
' No, no,' said he, ' it gave me too muoh trouble. Leave
go or 700*11 breali it.'
However, finding her verr pretty and gay, he beeame more
cordial, and laid to her : ' I'll make 70a another one U 70a
like.'
Then he pat the boat in the water again, and the wheela
OQoe more began to revolve, whilst Louise accepted his offer,
jping her handi and litting down on the grasa b7 hii side,
in her torn won over, and treating him as if he were an
habitoal pla7fellow.
Meantime it TagQel7 occorred to Paul, who was the oldest
of the whole partv, quite a little man of seven, that he ought
to find out who the others were. Noticing Antoinette, he felt
emboldened b7 her amiable demeanour, her health7, pretty
face, so lie inqaii«d : 'How old are 70a 7 '
' I'm four 7ear8 old, but papa saTs I look as if I wai six.'
' Who'f your papa ? '
' Who 1. papa 1 ynhj, papa, of course, silly I '
The little minx laughed in such a prett7 wa7 that Paol
regarded her answer us decisive, and questioned her no further,
but sat down by her side, in such wise that the7 at once
became the best friends in the world. She looLed so pleasant
with her good health and pert expression that he doubtless
failed to notice that she wore a very simple woollen fh>ck
devoid of all pretensions to elegance.
• And yonr papa,' said she. ' Do all these trees belong to
lum ? What a lot of room you have to pla7 in I We got in
through the bole in the hedge over there, you Imow.'
' It isn't allowed,' said Paul. ' And I'm not often allowed
to come here, since I might fall into the water. But it's so
amusing I You mustn't say anything, because we should get
punished if you did.'
But all at once a dramatic incident ooonrred. Master
Nanet,whowas so fair and wavy-haired, had been standing in
admiration before Nise, who was yet fairer and more wavy-
haured than himself. They looked like two toys, and they
•uUimid : ■ Aere'i BO m^f . ''■ '" • "PWl of bt«i«da^
" ^^^J ^7* -'^^^^^^^ "* "* '^ "^ "
•««»i«. Md earned her like . „ri,t^^^'"'* "•«' "l"^/
wiling about like » nniini. < ' . '"""• *•" i»i>f of them
the .hrill o« whioh Sh J '?"f n« kid8. OnfortinS^^
th. maids Wtoeir f"w^f„7!l« »■" *">»>' ""ltd w^
They roee, uid werT rtSld »Pth?^«u?"r *^« '^''•
ttioee TorniRsters who hSv- M*" f*"" °^ ^^ iavadera
whohild 'heSjde^^tSteh''''T?i'' "•enoT.Sd
do bourgeois. A- M^ntfl '' • j "'^ children of well-to-
Mt it d,ould bT^Switid anT^"^S °' ^ '^••^ '"«
UgB would oarr. him foU^<S^h T.*^ " &« a. hi» little
f«ll flat noon theirltarnlLnhf r 7 ""^^'^ *<> the hedge.
whihrt the^,4s:r™^^:s^4'u &°"L"i^^
■StTt's-w'- o?i S ~ -s^^x^i:
""X-'flte'tSr r '« 'W ^^^^^^ "-^
»«hng of egotirai, the hatef" battl«^.M '""?^'? f»*««>'.
pa«ionB contended. It waTnow ft!i • ^ "0 ^^'"^ ^ ^^^
gelin-' gueste were tak^^f^ve *°" ° «'«'''' "« th. Boi^
WOKK
t«j
liij? *!f 1°"^ f^f^ bow«T«r, on pHMMnf Ifoniitur
J4rt.M fjjctotoy ia hii b»th-«li>tr on Un'STof tL MdhT"
!»• olf gMUwiM l«a jort wtorwd toom UTloM
mAp. Md h^ rifMd to hit Nmnt lo iMttUmthaN:
».^Z^S *"? WMmthofllw tan, Mif iadMd h« dMind
Itat d»7. Oa tha ttopi, amoogst tht Udiet tod RMitl«a«i
J^ltta^g.r»dtath«p«kwithP«rii«l.. Bom. mlirat,;
«w Bdnelin aDMu with tb* jonni womra. Thw ww.
miUng gnutly dd* bj nde, uid obtttug together m ft their
kog itrull wm th. moet ii»tnr.l thins In th7world. SoMine
mW no «pUnjtk».. but Lno pla&ly ..w tbet her hudf
SitSrS^ ^Li!?'u'*"V"*° ''? """"^ for iho hud to pUv
ftjprt of • good hoetoe. and affeot amiabUitr. And^
Wt kamW wonnded, and oonld not help itarting when Boil-
gdto, adjrnniw Oaptein Jollifet, dedai^ that hiiheoM Mm
«pto eea bun, fa o^^er thai ther might oonmlt togathor and
2!!^*? tbat irtag-bunt whioh hitherto he had bSt^agody
thonc^t of ThM the die yn» o .t, the wife wae d^Me^
Jheotte had wo-i the day. b».i impoewl her fcoliah uS
warteful whun apon h«>r lover during that long itroU whioh
fcr impndenea wai tantamount to a pnblioly given «««ig«»a5Ti
BJuanne'. heut roee rebeUiooily at the ihonghtTll™
SJJ ^'^J^l^ ""t*!?'^'*' ?* .""? 8» •'•y **"> •»«»
dwiaiea and lofty, bent on ihielding the honour of hw n^
»nd her house with aU the abnegation of a virtuoui woman.
id»pii>ng into the silence of heroic afFeetion, that silenoe ii^
whtoh she bad resolved to Hve, siaee it would prottct ber fhnn
all the inire around her. Luc, who could divine everythin
nrw only detected her torment m the aniver of her feverii ,
nand when he pressed it on bidding her good-bye.
Monsieur JlrOme, meanwhUe, had watched the scene with
wn^.,^" S^?^^u*" U^'e.'Pring water, in whioh one
wondered whether there yet lingered inteUigenoe to nndar-
j 1J?°" P^ ^^^- *»«' ^ afterwards witnessed the
departure of theguests— that departure which suKgasted • Hm
of aU the elements of human power, aU the sooii^ authorities
the masters who served aa ezai ni to the masses. OhAteUVd
went off in his carriage with Gourier and Ltonore, the latter
WiteUng hig daughter's langnishing turtle-dora^ii^iSfw
bOTwd if!riKS"-.^* Mpnsienp Mrtme, to whom tWaU
AbJS^i.lii/'*''^^ remained, and the numager of the
re(teSdto^«''LT^'^^'"'°?"- ThenBoisgelinolumaUy
t-:rS£!^,ss'jar'vS' r '"^"»
WORK
los
Joidan wonld do with nfeienoe to the muagaiiMnt of bis blut-
fdiDMa now that the old en^eer Lsioche wm dead. One of
Delavean's seeiet piojeols had been to bny the blast-fatnaoe ai
well as the extensive tiaot of land which separated it Cram the
sted-works, in saoh wise as to double the valne of the Abyss.
But the whole constituted a big monthfol, and as he did not
expect to have the neoessaiy money for such a purchase for a
long time to come, he had only thought of slow, progressive
extension. On the other hand, the sudden death of Laroohe
had now qniclcened his desires, and hehad&nciedthathe might
Chaps be able to some to arrangements with Jordan, whom
knew to be immersed In his favourite scientific studies, and
desirous of ridding himself of a business which brought him a
deal of worry. This was why the sudden arrival of Luo in
response to a summons firom Jordan had greatly disturbed
Deiaveau, who feared that the young man might upset the
plans of which he had hitherto only spoken indirectly. At the
first questions which the manager put to him in a good-natured
way, liuc, although unable to understand everyuing, became
suspicious, and he therefore replied evasively :
' I \ aow nothing, I have not seen Jordan for more than
six months,' said he. ' As for his blast-fnmace, why, I suppose
that he will simply con£de the management to some devei
young engineer.'
Whilst ii,. spoke, he noticed that Femande's eyes never
left him. Nisei.ad fallen asleep on the young woman's lap, and
she kept silence, seemingly greatly interested in the conversa-
tion of the others, as if she could divine that her future was
at stake, for she had already detected that this young man
was an enemy. Had he not sided with Suzanne in the matter
of the hunt; had not she, Femande, seen them in cordial
agreement, with their hands clasped like brother and sister ?
Then, feeling that war was virtiudly declared between them,
she smiled a keen, cruel smile, like one detenuined on victory.
'Oh t I merely mention the matter,' repeated Deiaveau,
beating a retreat, ' because I was told that Jordan thought of
confining himself to his studies and discoveries. Some of the
latter are admirable 1 '
' Yes, admirable I ' repeated Luc, with the conviction of an
enthusiast.
At last the carriage stopped before La CrScherie, and the
young man alighted, thanked Deiaveau, and found himself
alone. He again felt the great quiver that had come upon
io6
WOSK
«»nWw£ ^ hr.^'^i'^i^ beneficent de.ttn» had
f^ both sidesrf tte hS.^1 " ^"«^* He hS'tlS.
o' "ome. th, estaentiriTedS !? " S* ^9"^*°™ "^
wmnnersted, jld in mn J„ * °? '"'»«"• Work, buUv
become meri tortu™ .^"Sl !SJ."n"i? ¥P^'«<»'H hS
*he very nobility. IjaalHT ..ST ■ *" '' "bonld h»v» been
h-irt ^ bnTeti^gat ^tl?°f. ''•P.If^^ mankind S
«»Mnedtoopen aWto rive bSlh to°lh" f ' "^ •"■• »'^»
•--i» within him for month« ZJ "'»"''«" which I had
^ bom his whoTb^? P^A,^ht» "^ ^°' J"'"^
POSfflble miaeion nowadava thl» .1, f'i :""' ^»» no other
oonr of the wretohS^3 ^^1 t^^P« ^ ""e bu"
upon the earth. '""* " '""« JMtioe once more
<rf that day to strolling tSeh^l^'^/P^V"'* "«>«4
« Me iJieufle Mountains that .^r-" l'- "««"'« "wge
jutted out like a proS^'! t^fL'^f"*."' '"" "biS
gorge opened into L great pZifl of L.T'* ''"*' *« B^"
ui this wise from the north^nl^„?°rSP"- ^^t^M
south, the park was li^e a ^tn«i ^^.u"""™* '"""^g the
springtide i^ed. °""^ hothouse where eternal
casoad:slLlo'kyT,Sl wis'Tnt?!?'"^"*' '^--tb in crystalline
3nd goat-pathe. flfgljf orst:riS'fjT°"^ 4e*^^^
the summit amidit eUmbiTr,Ct^^a ^''' '"^^'>^ *^
Down below, the springs uiStedZa^^J^*'*™*" "^^bs.
vi«orouskinds.'Si,ti:Syi:UtttiZ^^^|
WORK
ler
of nature to look after itseU, for he only employea one gar-
dmar and two ladi, who, apart from attending to the kitchen
garden and a few flower-beds below the house-terraoe, eimpW
had to keep thwgE Bomewhat tidy. '
Jordan's grandfather, Aur^Uen Jordan de Beanvisase
wa« bom in 1790 on the eve of the Reign of Terror. The
BeauTieageg, one of the most ancit.it and illnstrious families
of the district, had then already faUen from their high estate
and of theur formerly vast territorial possessions they only
retamed two farms— now annexed to Les Combettes— and
between two and three thousand acres of bare rook and barren
moor, a broad strip indeed of the lofty plateau of the Bleuse
Mountains. Aurfihen was less than three years old when his
Mrents were compelled to emigrate, abandoning their flaming
ohAtean one terrible winter's night. And until 1816 Aur^lien
nad his home m Austria, where his mother and then his father
died m swift succession, leaving him in a fearful state of
penmy, reared in the hard school of manual toil, with no other
bread to eat thui that which he earned as a worker in an iron
^J?f; T • °»f,i3»' oompleted his twenty-sixth year when,
under Louis XVIlI., he returned to Beauclair and found the
anoestraJ property stiU further diminished, for the two farms
were iMt, and there now on.> remained the Uttle park and the
two or three thousand acres of stones which nobody cared for.
Misfortune had demooi-atised Aur«ien, who felt that he oonld
no tonger be a Beauvisage. Henceforth then he simply
signed himself Jordan, and he married the daughter of a very
noh farmer of Saint-Cron, his wife's dowry enabling him to
build on the site of the old ch&teau the iowae^s brick
residence m which his grandson now dwelt. But he had
become a worker, his hands were still grimy, and he remem-
bered the iron mine and blast-lumaoe where he had toiled in
Austra. Ah-eady m 1818 he began to look around him, and
at Kst, among the desolate rocks of his domain, he discovered
a similar mine, the existence of which he had been Ud to
suspect bv ceri;am old stories told him by his parents. And
nur^^ K^ up the ridge on a kind of natural landing or
t^Z^\t°l }^ Cr«oherie, he installed his own blast-
farmuje the first established in the region. Prom thit
moment he became absorbed in industrial toil, though without
ever realising any very large profits, for he lacked capital, and
fiis Me proved one continual 'oattie from that cause. His only
title to the gratitude of the district was that by the presence df
io8
WOUX
«aong others betog BW Onri^r,™ ^1 ^a P"^"' *™''>
lmessSverv^„Ji'l!^f^Pr«^ exquisite kind'
perfect pl^t tit'n ta^ IZ^.t''^'"" ".T"' '''« >"«"
crow/edlhe^ Uvef F^ancor"')' I^^.'"''"*^ fruitfulnes^
Miohon. C™^e? a hnmlt^^-°"T^ kindliness. Doctor
charitableness a Fourierinn^^^^ fT"""! '»" "^ divine
d«ys. withdreV in Ws a al^a to Tt^^'SS"'^ °' ?* «""
daughter buUt him a oavi LT., • f '*''^erie, where his
latefy occupied. TherHZ' tw?*,* '?^?^ 1^"^ I""* J""^
books, amidst all the llTf f " ""e^ootor died among his
until thXth F3i '[ fLTniT? "L^ *'""'"'• And
oocorred five years aStW if /k ^^ loved mother, which
La Cr^cherieCI on amfd-t Jl *^^ *"^ '•"'6'.
prosperity .nd Sty * '"^ °^ never-failing
woxx
109
•ppuntmenU, and bad taken passionately to the investiga-
tioni wbioh the application of eleotrioitj offered to stadioas
■oientists. On one side of the hoose he built a very spaoiooi
laboratory, installed the necessary machinery for powerfiil
motive force in an adjacent shed, and then gradually took to
special studies, surrendering himself almost completely to the
dream of smelting ore in electrical furnaces in a practical
way adapted to the requirements of industry. And from that
time he virtually cloistered himself, lived like a monk,
absorbed in his experiments, his great work, which became
as it were his very life. Beside him, his sister had now
taken his dead mother's place; and indeed, beforn long
Scenrette was Uke his faithful guardian, his good angel, one
who took eveiT care of him, and set round bim all the warm
affection that he needed. Moreover she managed the house-
hold, spared him many muterial wnrries, served him as a
secretary andasdstant-preparator, rendered all sorts of help ever
gently and quietly with a placid smile*upon her face. The blast-
furnace luckily ptve no trouble, for the old engineer Laroche,
a bequest of Aur^lien Jordan, the founder, he4 been there
more than thirty years, in such wise that the present owner,
deeplv immersed m his studies and experiments, was able to
detach himself entirely from business matters. He left the
worthy Laroobe free to manage the blast-fuinace in accord-
ance with the routine of years ; for he himself had ceased to
bother about possible ameliorations, since he cared nothine
for mere relative, transitory improvements now that he bad
begun to seek the radical change, the art of smelting by
electrical means, which would revolutionise the whole world
of metallurgieal industry. Indeed, it was often Soeuretta who
had to intervene and come to a decision on certain matters
with Laroche, particularly when she knew that her brother's
mmd was busy with some important investigation, and she
did not wish him to be disturbed by any outside matters.
Kow, however, Laroche's sudden death had so thoroughly
upset the usual well-regulated order of things, that Jordan,
who deemed himself sufficiently rich, and had no ambition
apart from his studies, would willingly have rid himself of
tte blast-furnace by at once opening negotiations with
Deutveau, whose desires were toiown to him, had not
Scsorette more prudently obtained from him a promise that
he would in the first place consult Luc, in whom she placed
great confidence. Thence had come the pressing call
I to
tvoxx
;^to*Bi?„'el2r« »«« which had brougbt Wm ..
MtiSiahed ^S™ on.^n;' ■? "5"* "*y "'•7 I»i»d
to studies I^^S G w° "'*" .*? P«»«'°*» ^
between them, bSonTn.. -5** »y™P»'»'y had ariswi
tion for the T^thTwho^ so entlfio T"" .^ «"»* "^^
and upon deep affeotioTr4 ^ t^Ui^lV? '^!*^ >>im.
who seemed to him likn on4!. j; • «»Peot for the gijter,
ness. He ha" mU was T«n J"S- P*'™"^<»"°n of »o^
chemist BoupS^stu'5l,™rTi?^ ^'^ ^i <^<Si
sulphur and phoUat^hiXt i^V"* °!«"A"ged with
meroial use. AnI sXSte r J»l7^ 'i""?^ to turn to com-
hehad«venherbS*^Si3'¥.i™fj:» P»tio»Urs that
ahe weU rememhered. Now for S *f ® *7"^ ""oh
muie discovered by AurSfen IZa^^ ^i"" ^» '«»" ""«
Bleuse Moontains'had be°n ab^n^^*^' P^**"" «" t*"*
reached by the work«M^8„lnhL J u^'. »« in the veins
«.oh a pofnt tha?K nSte^fe*""™ prevaUedT
pay the cost of extraoUon S hf- 1^ '^'^^ ""'t*! to
W ceased, and thV^eWrfU Orlwf* °' "«' S^""™
tte Granval mines near S • ilit^i^ T® ""S "'"' '«^ by
tbe ore, which was of&ri^^ „ rL"*^**? ^^ bringing
of the neighbou^ SS'S^fc^'^^y-." ^«" « '»«« «S
f»™»ce. But Ms'^wis^^* "^r*^ P'-'tform of the
thought of thosTohe.SoZe^^s&n.'^^ ^"°"**« °f'«^
woording to what Lno l«d^ m& '""P'oTmen* of which,
to work their own rZitb^ VaIT^P- •«•"« ">"»
the young man before hw^ther i^l?*^ ^ *» oonsult
she felt too that she ought to tooTS.^' ^^^ ^^'^'
would be ceded to Delafeau AoSlT.^l, , "^"S "^ ''»»'
b JtS^rrd tr^^tV't ^F''- ?''«' '--
ra Iway station, driving ThUhrl?h«T' •^°'" '¥"■ »' «"«
bnnp them hoie. Jofdan shor^JS „ "^^"''"<'^> "as to
;ae' long, and gentle fa^ tuh hafr f„?'i'^"' «°a«"''at
brown. Ee alighted fror'the tr^^ T*^ ^"^ "' » '«>«d
overcoat, although that Ce SenteSS, ^"P**^ ^ * '""S ^^
With his keen, penetrating blwke^!^ in ivl° ?■ T™ o""-
seemed to have taken ref^e T '^4= fi^'"^ ^'^ ''" ^'»«ty
fnaud Lm. "^s, ne was the first to perceive hA
fVOXK ,1,
< Ah. my dear follow I ' wkid ha, ■ how kind of you to have
wilted (wail You eua'i have an idea of the oataiuopbe
that took va away, that poor oonsin of oun, dying like that,
all alone, yonder, and we having to go and bury him, when
there's nothing we hate so much as travelling. . . , Well, it's
ail over now, and here we are.'
' And Jie health's good and yon are not over-tired ? ' asked
Luo.
' No, not too mpch. I was fortunately able to sleep.'
Bnt Soenrette was in her turn coming up, after making sore
that none of the travelling-rugs bad been left inside the
carriage. She was not pretty : like her brother she had a
very slight fignre, and was pale, oomplexionless, indeed insig-
nifioant after the fashion of a woman who is resigned to being
• good housewife and nnrse. And yet her tender smiles lent
infinite oharm to her face, whose only beaaty dwelt in its
passionate eyes, in the depth of which glowed all the craving
for love which lurked within her, but of which she herself
was as ytt ignorant. Hitherto she had loved none except-
ing her brother, and him she loved after the fashion of
some cloistered maid, who for the sake of her Deity renounces
the whole world. Before even speaking to Luo she called :
'Be careful. Martial — ^yon ought to put on your scarf.'
Then, turning towards the young man, she showed herself
charmmg, at once giving proof of the keen sympathy she felt
lot him : ' How many apologies we owe you, Monsieur
Froment ! What can you have thought of us when you found
us gone on your arrival I Have you been comfortable at all
events, have you been properly cajed for ? '
' Admirably— I've lived like a prince.'
'Oh I you are jesting. Before I started I took good care
to give all necessary orders so that you might lack nothing.
Bnt all the same I was absent and unable to watch ; and you
cannot imagine how vexed I felt at the idea of abandoning
you like that in our poor empty house.'
They had got into the carriage, and the conversation cor.
bnued as they drove away. Luc fully reassured them at last
* 'r?^8 them that he had spent two very interesting days,
of which he would give them full particulars later on. When
May reached La GrSoherie, although the night was falling,
Jordan looked eagerly around him, so delighted at returning
to hu wonted life that he gave vent to cries of joy. It seemed
to him at if he were coming back after an absence of levnal
Ill
WORK
J£r.h?ir" »«PPfaei» Uyin the little nookwhi««SS
m?£i ir?"'/'"*o'"^' ^'^ ^^ ^•'''* of th« <»re. of life *
WWrt WMtmgfor Scenrottetohave the dinner served. Jordan
washed himself m some warm water, and then insisted^
i±^5;ui,^'''''? labo»tory.for he himself wiSC^r to
^^J'w'' ?''"8 ^^^ » "«''* """ell that he shonlThaw
s?at t' teiifs'^itfe^^-t^si! "' »" ""»«"> '"• •^^
f^tL.T'"' ""^*i'' TS'' ^"'f'" °' plan'. »nd electrical
furnaces on a reduced scale in the cornen;. A eysterof
caMee and wires hangmg overhead ftom end to end of the
iSS" ^^7?' •'.1*\«='"?1 Mo«™ force from the neighbouring
shed and distributeu it among the appliances, tools and
™"^'"^'5S''?i '^f*.u*>« neo^essaryei^rimMts^ht b^
made. And beside aU this scientific seventy was a ^raSnand
oomr retreat m front of one of the windows, a retreat with low
bookcases and deep Mmohairs, the couch on which the bro4«
^^ If "Tf**^ *^2?"' »"^ ** "'«« *•"• »' which tte
fiSftfuT^^"""'"'"' °^'" """ "" ""^'""8 •»•« ^ •
»j;^'^.i!*""'^ *, l^''"''' ""^ *!>» "''ole room became
radiant with a rush of electric light. •/"^•ma
.•»i'*^i.''®'?. -^ TJ ' ^^ •"«■ ' K«»"y now, I only feel all
^^LTSS°J ? ""^^""T- \''^'' ^"y- *"* ndsfortune which
passionately interested in a new experiment-I shall hawto
begm It agam. But, mm Dieu I hbw well I feel I •
infl lf<,'!?h„'^^*V'°*''"^= "."'""F had come to his cheeks,
S^t^nf^'^^i'- '^?" antoation than usual. Leaning
back on the couch in the attitude he usually assumed when
yielding to thought, he compelled Luo also to sit doW^
1 say, my good friend," he continued, ' we have plentv of
bme-have we not ?-to talk of the matters which mKe
K) desirous to see yon that I ventured to summon you here!
Besides, it 18 necessary that Soeurette should be present, for
Sa Zi«m. t^ ^i°°"' 71 r">»'9. 0" Chat at dessert.
And meantime, how happy I feel at having yon there in front
WOXK
"3
ofnMioteUjrouhowIkmgtttiiigonwithmyiiadiMl Th«j
doa't mngress very faat, bat I work at them, ud that'i the
gnat tning, 70D know. It's enough il one worka two hoon a
Then, thii aiaall; iaoitnrn man went on chatting, reoonnt-
ing his experiments, which as a rule he confided to nobodr,
excepting the trees of his park, as he sometimei jestingly
exclaimed. An electrical furnace being already devised, lie
had at first simply sought how it might be praotically
employed for the smelting of iron ore. In Switzerland, where
the motive power derived from the torrents enabled one to
perform certain work inexpensively, he had inspected f amaces
which melted alnminium under excellent conditions. 'Why
should it not be possible to treat iron in the same way ? To
solve the problem it was only necessary to apply the same
pnndples to a given case. The blast-furnaces in use gave
scarcely more than 1,600 degrees of heat,' whereas 2,000 were
obtained with the electrical furnaces, a temperature which
would produce immediate fusion of perfect regoluity. And
Jordan had without any difficulty planned such a furnace ai
he thought advisable, a simple cube of brickwork, some sis
feet long on each side, the bottom and crucible being of
magnesia, the most refractory substance known. He had
also calculated and determined the volume of the electrodes,
two large cylinders of carbon, and his first real find consisted
in discovenng that he might borrow from them the carbon
necessary to disox^genate the ore, in such wise that the
operation of rjieltmg would be greatly simplified, for there
would be but little slag. If the furnace were built, however,
or at least roughed out, how was one to set it working and
keep it working in a practical, constant manner, in accordance
with industrial requirements ?
' There 1 ' said he, pointing to a model in a corner of the
laboratorv. ' There is my electrical furnace. Doubtless it
needs to be perfected ; it is defective in various respects, there
are little difficulties which are not yet solved. Nevertheless,
such as it is, it has given me some pigs of excellent oast iron,
and I estimate that a battery of ten similar furnaces working
for ten hours would do the work of three establishments liku
mme kept alight both by day and night. And what easy
work it would be, without any cause for anxiety, work which
' It may be p»inm«4 thit M. ZoU meoni centigrade dtgnn.—
>«4
WOXX
SSSLy^'lV^ »»r •imply tnrntog on .witoh... Bnt 1
murt eonfeM that my pl« eort dm m maoh money m If th«
w«r. dlTW fagote. An3 io th. probUm i. pWi .nooSf^
? lis,?*' *> *". l» only » Uboratory toy, »nd wlU wUy
editwith«.p«,ttomdurtri^ „t«rpri« wtin I .mabr^
ftjditwithMjbundanoe of eleotrieity at » anffloientty low
oort to render the imelting of iron ore remunerative.'
Then be expUmed that for the laat aix months he had lefl
IM famaoeon one aide to devote himieU entirely to itadyinii
the tranipori of eleotnoal force. Might not economy already
from, and by transmitting electrical force by eaies to the
distant faotonn re^nirmg it? That again was a problem
1^ many wSimti'sta had been endeavouring to whe to
■wraal yean, and unfortunately they aU found thenuelTea
confronted by a considerable loss of force during transit.
Borne more experiments have just been made,' said lioo
wth an mcredulous air. <I reaUy thinic that there is no
means of preventing loss.
fcii°wM„i,"S"*t "^^f^K ««?"« ohrtinaoy, that invincible
ttith which he brought mto his investigations during the
months and months which he at times expended over them
before amvmg at the slightest grain of tmthT
' (hie must thmli nothing before one is quite certain,' said
i!lij w ""»?y "eoored some good results ; and some day
rTSSJi -.r"."^ "*°"^ "P- "•"•liMd. and directed hithw
and thither without any loss at aU. If twenty years' search-
ing IS necessary, weU I'll give twenty years. It's aU very
simple: one sets to work anew every morning, one begins
afresh nptU one finds-whatever should I myself do if I did
not begin again and again ? '
He said this with such naive grandeur that Luc felt moved
as by a deed of heroism. And he loolied at Jordan, so sliffht,
BO puny of build, ever in poor health, coughing, pain-racked
under his serves and shawls, in that vast laboratory littered
with gigantic applumces, traversed by wires oharied with
lightmng and filled more and more each day by colossal
laUim^the labour of a little insignificant being who went to
•j5*ii.**1""8[' J»,*"'°« to desperation, like an inse«t lost
aimdst the dust of the ground. Where was it that he found
not only inteUeetual aneiigy but also sufficient physical viRour
to undertake and cany through so many mighty tasksf fop
(h« aooompliahment of which the Uves of several strong,
WORK
'>5
bwlthj iiien teemed to be neoeiauy ? He eonld hardly trut
I abont, he oonld iouoely bresthe, end yet be railed • very world
I with hie little bandi, week thoagb they were, like thoee of »
■ieUy obild.
However, Scaurette now made her appearanoe, and gaily
exolaimcd : ' What I aren't you coming to dinner f I eliall
took up the laboratory, my dear Martial, if yoa won't be
reaionable.'
The dining-room, like the takn — two rather email apart-
menti u warm and aa cosy ai neeti, in which one detected
the watohfnl care of a wom»n'e heart— overlooked a vaet
itretch of greenery, a panorama of meadowi and ploughed
field) ipreading to tbe dim distant horizon of La Bonmagne.
Bat at that boor of night, although the weather wai lo mild,
tbe ourtaing were drawn. Luc now again noticed what
minute attentione the sister lavished on the brother. He,
Martial, followed quite an intricate regimen, having his
special dishes, his special bread, and even his special wnter,
which was slightly warmed in order to ' take the chill off it.'
He ate like a bird, rose and went to bed early, like the
chickens, who are eensible creatures; then during the day
came short walks and rests between the honn that he gave
to work. To those who expressed abtonithment at ilia
prodigious amount of work that he accomplished, and who
thought him a terrible labourer, toiling from morning till
night and showing himself no mercy, he replied that he
worked scarcely tkree hours a Jay, two in the morning and
one in the afternoon. And even in the morning a i^ll of
recreation came between the two hours that he gave to work ;
for he could not fix his attention upon a subject for more
than one hour at a stretch without experiencing vertigo,
without feeling as if his brain were emptying. Never luid
he been able to toil for a longer time, and bis value rested
solely in his will-power, bis tenacity, the passion that ha
imported into the work whiRh he undertook, and with which
he persevered, on and on, in all intellectual bravery, even if
years went by before he brought it to a head.
Iiuc now at last discovered an answer to that question
which he had so often asked himself : wherever did Jordan,
■ffho was so slight and weak, find the gtrongtb requisite tot
his mighty tasks? He found it solely in method, in the
owrefnl, well-reasoned employment of all his means, however
slight they might be. He even mode use of his weakness,
iS
ii6
lyoRjc
Ming it »i » WMpon which pr*v«utcd him from bains
dUtaibed by outdden. But kbor* kU eln, ha wm ever
intent on one Mid the wme thing, the worli he had in huid.
To Ui»t work he gave e -eiy minute at hii diipoeal, without
Mwr yieldipg to dueoui-aeement or Uuitnde, bat laetained by
the onbUing deeperate laith which raiief moontaint. le it
known what a maei of work one maj pile up when one worke
«iiy two honri a day on some usaful and decisive task, which
la never interrnpted by idlenem or fancy ? Such work ii like
the grain of wh<»t which, accumnUting, fUl« the sack, or Uke
Uia eTer-falling drop of water which cauBee the river to over-
"U; , "^ byetone, the edifice riaes, the monument giowa,
unHI it o'ertope the mountains. And it was thus, by a
prodigy of method and personal adaptation, that thin iijhly
Uttle man, wrapped in rugs and diinking his water warm for
"^Vu t "i"""" "'*'' *°'^' acoomplishod work of the
mightiest bnd, and this although he gave to it only the few
hours of intellectaal health that he succeeded in wrestino
from his ohytical wes'-.ic. .
The dinner proved a very friendly and cheerful repast.
The household service was entirely in the hands of women,
tor Boeurette found men too noisy and rough for her brother.
The coachman and groom simply procured assistants on
certain occasions when some very heavy work liad to be done.
And the servajnt-girls, all carefully selected, pkasant-looking.
gentle and skilful, contributed to the happy qtiiescence of
UMt cosy dwelling, where only a few intimates were received.
Inat evenm^r, for the return of th . master and mistress, the
dmner conmsted of some dear soup, a barbel from the
Mlonne with melted butter, a roast fowl and some salad— all
very simple dishes.
' 80^ yon have really not felt over-bored since Saturday ? '
Boeurette mquired of Luc when they were aU three seated at
Uie table.
'No, I assure you,' the young man answered, 'And
besides, yon have no notion how fuUy my time has been
ocoupied.
Then he first of aU recounted his Saturday evening, the
covert state of rebellion in which he had foo- \ Beanolau:, the
Uieft of a loaf by Nanet, the arrest of Lange, and his visit to
Bonnaire thfi victim of the strike. But bj- a strange acruplB,
at which he afterwards felt astonished, he virtuaUy skipped
His meetmg with Josine, and did not menUon her by nami^
WOXK
"7
■ Poor felki I ' eieUinMd BaonlU aempaisioMtely. ' Tlul
frighttnl itrik* rednoed thtm to bnad aod water, ud •Ton
tboM who had bread ww* loeky. What can on* do ? How
oaa on* help them f Almi gira but the ilightett reliaf, and
jou don't know how diitrauad I hava b««n daring the lait
two monthi, at feeling that we, the rioh and happy, art la
utterly powerleM.'
She wae a humanitarian, a pupil of her grandfather
Dr. Uiohon, the oldFourieriitand Saint-Biinonian, who whan
•be wae quite little had taken her on hie kneee to teU her
iome fine atoriee of hie own invention, etoriei of pbalaniteriea
eetabUehed on bliieiol iilanda, of ciUee where men had tonnd
the fulfilment of all their drMmi of happinen amidit eternal
•pringtide.
' what can be done 7 What can be done ? ' she repeated
doloronely, with her beautiful, soft, oompaeaionate eyee fixed
upon Lnc. ■ Something ought to be done, surely.'
Then Lno, emotion gainmg on him, raised a heartfelt ery.
' Ah I yes, it's high time, one must act.'
Bui Jor<?sn wagged his head; he, immersed in the
cloistered life of a scisaiist, nerer oooupied himself with
polities. He held tuem in contempt, and nqjustly— for after
all it is necessary that men should watch over the manner in
which they are governed. He, however, living amidst the
absolute, regarded pasdiig events, the accidents of the day, as
mare jolts on the road, and consequently of no account.
Aeoording to him it was science alone which led mankind to
truth, justice, and final happiness, that perfect city of the
future towards which the nations plod on so slowly, and with
so much anguish. Of what use, therefore, was it to worry about
all the rest ? Was it not sufficient that science should advance 1
For it advanced in spite of everything — each of its conquests
was definitive. And whatever might be the catastrophes of the
journey, at the end there rose the victory of life, tne accom-
plishment of the destiny of mankind. Thus, though he was
very gentle and tender-hearted like his siste^ i e dosed his
ears to the contemporary battle, and shut lus.....«lf up in his
laboratory, where, as he expressed it, he manufactured happi-
ness for to-morrow.
' Act 1 ' he declared in his turn. ' Thought is an act, and
the most fmitful of all acts in influence upon the world. Do
\re even know what seeds are germinating now? The
sufferings of all those poor wretches are very die' r; wing, but
II>
WOXK
I do not allow myBelf to b« disturbed by them, for the hmost
will come m ita due Besson.'
f^ri^""' '«'e™^^">d disturbed as he himself felt, did not
&?;. \^'?*'^5 ""'r*"" ^ "'»*« ''""he had spent
Ms Sunday, hig mvitation to La Guerdaohe, the lunch thVe
IhaWK^* •"^. ">«'»' t»Me, and what had been done ud
what h^ been said. But whilst he spoke he could see that
tt'&tho^' foC'* '"'""'"« ~^'' " " '^«y *~"' -
'We seldom see the BoisgeUns now that they are Uvinc
?qwT '5.i°^ exclaimed, with his quiet frankness,
rhey showed themsdyes very amiable in Paris, but here we
^J"**!.'-;*^ "" i*"" »" intercourse has graduaUy
^tlh-f ""***' "."S"' ^ acknowledged that our Weas anj
pur habits are very different from theirs. As for Delaveau he
JBanrnteUigent and active feUow, absorbed in hirbSss
R.i,!?''"."^®- •^^ ^ ■""'* '^^ *!>"* the fine society of
S^ r ■^'f^'^^^t *° """^ " P"*"' ""' I keep my /oot
^o^it" "• ^^'i^^^*^ "' "' indignation and at remLntag
alone like some dangerous madman.' *
..M T'*'?t''**^. *" .'??«''• ' ^'^^^ exaggerates a little.'
Tm S?*-tJ.J "^"* ^'''^ ""'«' ■^'"o •« "Worthy man, M
wellas Doctor Novarre and Hermeline the sohiolma^e^
whose conversation mterests me. And if it is true that we
Ji^am simply on a footing of courtesy with La Guerdacheri
none the less retam smcere friendship for Madame Boisgelin.
who is so good, so charming.' ""gwm,
exouS": 7^u"¥ f. *«"* ^ ""ter at times, thereupon
exclaimed : ' Why don't you say at once that it is I wto
wcl^^^r" V'l ^ ''?'"' ""^ "^ « I ^ere not he«, yo2
would throw the doors wide open I • <=™ you
' Why, of course I ' she answered gaily, • the house is sneh
as you desire it to be. But if yon wMTlt I wn qiSte S»
0«fJL*n" ^^' "■« invite Sub-Prefect OhitSard, Mayof
S^^Llf »" G«ume, Captain Jollivet, and the MazeUes wd
.?,. w''?*^"'^ *°^ '•'e D^laveaus. You shaU ocen the h»ll
with Madame Mazelle ! ' ^^ * "*"
«J^!'k!1?!'' °° J*"'?"*! ^°' '^ey felt very happy that
evMung, both on account of tUJr return to thefr ne^t and rf
Lnc 8 presence beside them. At last, when the dw^ww
•arved, they proceeded to deal with the great question. The
t^«f *»\.T^':r^' ^ «°"* "^ ^ ^^" light 'elt slippers,
whiob rendered their footsteps inaudible; wd the |^
WORK
H9
d'hLng-rwjm ' eemed fall of the charm of sffeeUonste Intimuy,
w.Hen tsartf. »nd minds can be opened in all freedom.
' Bo iiil^, my friend,' eaid Jordan, ' ia what I aak of jonr
friendship. I wish yon to study the qnestion, and tell me
what yon yourself would do if you were in my plaoe.'
He recapitulated the whole business, and explained how
he himself regarded it. He would long since have rid himself
of the blast-furnace if it had not, so to say, continued work-
ing of its own accord in the jog-trot manner regulated by
routine. The profits remained sutHcient, but holding himself
to be rich enough he did not take them into account. And
on the other hand, had he been minded to increase them,
double or treble them as ambition might dictate, it would
have been necessary to renew a part of the plant, improve
the systems employed, and in a word devote oneself to them
entirely. That was a thing which he could not and would
not do, the more particularly as those ancient blast-furnaces,
whose methods to him seemed so childish and barbarous,
possessed no interest for him, and could be of no help in the
experiments of electrical smelting in which he was now
passionately absorbed. So he let the furnace go, occupied
himself with it as little as possible, whilst awaiting an oppor-
tunity to get rid of it altogether.
' YoD understand, my friend, don't you ? ' he said to Luc.
'And now, you see, all at once old Larocbe dies, and the
whole management and all its worries fall on my shoulders
again. You can't imagine what a lot of things ought to be
done — a man's lifetime would scarcely suffice if one wished to
deal with the matter seriously. For my part nothing in the
world would induce me to relinquish my studies, my investi-
gations. The best course, therefore, is to sell, and I am
virtually ready to do so ; still, first of all, I should much like
to have your opinion.'
Luc onderstood Jordan's views, and thought them reason-
able.
' No doubt,' he answered, ' you cannot change your work
and habits, your whole life. You yourself and the world
would both lose too much by it. But at the same time I
think yon might give the matter a little more thought, for
perhaps there are other solutions possible. Besides, in order
to sell yon must find a purchaser.'
'Oh I I have a purchaser,' Jordan resumed. 'Delaveaa
ba* long desired to annex the blast-furnace of Ja Grteherie
130
WOXX
' tE th« v!l ®- '! ?° ~"'* "^ intelligent man.'
c^f peehngcaldned rock amongst whilhtheTeSne Hatrefa^e
Soe™t'te'""a ™li'''°i'"'*i5 '^. "° '<"'»6' «>« ''O'ted ? • insisted
^B eyening in i-ans that the ironmasters in Eastern France
WOSX III
had muiagecl to make nae of most defective ore by eubjeoting
it to some chemical treatment. Why faaa that pioeesB never
been tried here?'
Jordan raised his arms towards the ceiling in a fit of de-
spair. ' Why _? why, mjr dear ? ' he cried. ' Because Larocho
was deficient in all initiative ; because I myself have never
had time to attend to the mr.tter ; because things worked in
a certain way and could not be got to work otherwise. If
I'm selling the property it's precisely becauso I don't want to
hear it mentioned again, for it is radically impossible for me to
direct the business, and the mere thought of it makes me ill.'
He had risen, and his sister seeing him so agitated, re-
mained silent for fear lest in provoking a dispute she might
throw him into a fever.
'There are moments,' he continued, 'when I think of
sending for Delaveau so that he may take everything whether
he pa^s or not. I am not hard up for money. It's like those
eleotnoal furnaces which so greatly impassion me; I have
never once thought of employing them myself and of coining
money with them, for as soon as I solve all the difficulties
in my way, I shall give my invention to everybody, so as to
help on universal prosperity and happiness. . . . Well then,
it is understood. As our friend considers my plan to be a
reasonable one, we will study the conditions of sale together
to-morrow, and then I'll finish everything.'
Lno made no resp(nise ; a feeling of repugnance still
possessed him, and he did not wish to pledge himself too far.
Bat Jordan became yet more excited, and ended by suggesting
that the;r should go up to see the furnace, the more especially
as he wished to ascertain how things had gone there during
his three days' absence.
' I am not without anxiety,' said he. ' Although Laroche
has been dead a week I have not replaced him — I have let my
master-smelter, Morfain, direct the work. He is a capital
fellow t He was bom up yonder, and grew up amidst the
fires I Nevertheless the responsibiUty is heavy for a mere
workman such as he is.'
ScBuretto, alarmed by her brother's suggestion, intervened
entreatingly. ■ Oh, Mutial I ' she cried, ' you have only just
oome ba(W firom a long journey, and yet, tired as yon must be,
yon want to go out again at ten o'clock at night.'
Jordan thereupon became very gentle again, and kissed
her. ' Don't worry, little one,' said he ; ' you Enow that I never
Its
WORK
jure that the night wm^IiIt Zm r^^' ■? ?"^ to make
beneath the heavens whiXZ^J? ""« fields aU slumbered
velvet spangled wUh s Ws ^^ '"'* ^^ " '^"''Py <" ^^
Baid' tote^^«^^^^,nX; ''.T*".^?--*'
remain out late.' brother. 'Do not let him
whi2h"wM ^uToItT ^"^ *? "'^.'' » "»'«"' Btairway
halfway up the huge ndBToftL bi « ^"™«« stood,
• labyrinthine sta^^y of L^lto «r "°'^'^'"- » '""^
pines and olimbinTSStr aT^i. il^' '^'^8 ^^"^
W one peroeiv^ SrlTaok pilTtf ^"/i °°u™"^ T ""
fo^tasti^^taroulrrce^tSftf '^"°'"' "^"^
w-.^fCS^^'g'^^'^S^^^^ijAirt steps, and as he
Mora"at°hSm^ir'' '' """ *° ""^« "-« ""ether
• Why'h'e^' ^X ' '^1^ ^"o « astonishment
into.rLY'o'f"'d:^^g?irr;hi^''H, ^ ,*■« *™«d
obstmately wth hialon ^d ^lan^J • •" '*°8» "«wt
offers that I have mLe of ™„ J* ''u'?'' *? "?'»« »' all the
AU along the g«w of Bri^* ^ ''* » "*"« »»0"«>-'
people dwell h. Sar iX^'^M f -"'^'»"' "^ Poor
remamed there from^to f-Vi, S*^"^*^ ^ Ws part
had first see^ th^ hgW^aSd mn^"''' I*"' previously^J
beside his work, that fti;,^^;^^!"',''' '"'I ."""b 'lose
prison, and his ompoT^rZvlf' ^'S.^i'f'^J^ •*'«• *^
historic dwelling, he hkd h«h^II "it ^^ -^^ "^^'"^ a pre-
oaves, dosing bfuTridwtf, !!/;''* *"u""**' ">»" ""he
^^m^-^im
WOSK
"3
bedroom, and the oommon room, which serred at once ta
kitohen, dining-room, and workshop. And all three ohambera
were very clean, with their walls and their yaulted roof of
ttone, and their substantial, if roughly hewn, furniture.
As Jordan had said, the Moriiaaus from &ther to son had
been master-smelters at La Crioherie. The grandfather faaC
helped to found the establishment, and after an uninterrupted
family reign of more than eighty years the grandson now kept
watch over the tappings. Like some indisputable title of
nobility the hereditary character of his calling filled Morfain
with pride. His wife ' '^d now been dead four years, leaving
him a eon then sixteen, i a daughter then fourteen years
of age. The lad had immediately begun to work at the fur-
nace, and the girl had taken care of the two men, cooking
their meals, sweeping and cleaning the dwelling-place like a
good housewife. In this wise had the days gone by; the
girl was now eighteen and the lad twenty, and the father
quietly watched his race continuing pending the time when
he might hand over the furnace to his son, even as his father
had transmitted it to him.
' Ah I so you are here, Morfain,' said Jordan, when he
bad pushed open the door, which was merely closed by a
latch. ' I have just returned home, and I wanted to know
how things were getting on.'
Within the rocky cavity, lighted by a small and smoky
lamp, the father and son sat at table eating some soup - a
mess of broth and vegetables— before starting on their night's
work, whilst the daughter stood in the rear, serving l^em.
And their huge shadows seemed to fill the place, which was
very solemn and silent. At last in a gruff voice Morfain
slowly answered, ' We've had a bad business. Monsieur Jor-
dan, but I hope that things will be quiet now.'
He rose to his feet, as did his son, and stood there between
the lad and the girl, idl three of them strongly built and of
such lofty stature that their heads almost touched the rough
smoky stone vault, which served as a ceiling to the room.
One might have taken them for three apparitions of the
vanished ages, some family of mighty toilers w..ose long
efforts throughout the centuries bad subjugated nature.
Lno gazed with amazement at Morfain, a veritable
oolossns, one of the Vnlcans of old by whom fire was first
oonqoered. He had an enormous head, with a brood face,
ravined and scorched by the flames. His brow was a bossy
124
WOSJC
S?i«5fLTiJ'°''*^..^''*>« '»»'«. Ws now showed lilu tn
•»«le B beak between bia oheeks, which looked m if fwi,.2
^en ravaged by Bome flow of kVa tjdWs ."ouL t^^i^d
tLw"" '»1°" "d the BtreDgth of pinee« of oTdTtoel
Then Luo glanced at the son, Petit-Da ' m ho wm «X^
Md fitw w °'°°'?' *° pronounce certain words badl^
waf ."'oS?oS;alS«,t r' tgHaKtjr 'th«''' "«""
SsStw-f^Sj^thrr^-"-^^^^^
by dawning powere ot'thonKht7
Finally Luo ■" ■ ■
.f!5T 1 ? region, yet one who in her wildness dreamt
he^&thiA''3'' '""' ^"^ -^^ "^ "«' approach of thLgB that
leorea au tbe long overpowermg labour of mankinil ™ iL
deadly to°l' ' """*"' "°'"^'y «>»' springs from
.—11 •'^° "*° finished their soup Btandine. hastily
Bwallownig large spoonfuls of it whilst th^e girTS, lE
I
► t ■
WORJC
us
to wipe tlie table. They rarely ipoke together, a gesture or a
glance Bufliced for them to unaerstand each other. Neverthe-
fesa the father, affectionately aofleniiig his gruff voioe, said to
Ma-BIeue : ' You can put oat the light, yoa need not wait
for D8, we shall have a rest up above.'
Then whilst Morfain and Fetit-Da went off in front,
accompanying Jordan, Luc, who was in the rear, glanced
ronnd, and on the threshold of that barbarian home he per-
oeived Ma-Bleue, standing erect, tall and superb, like some
amoro»a of the ancient days, whilst her large azure eyes
wandered dreamily far away into the clear night.
The black pile of the furnace soon arose before the young
man's view. It was of a very ancient pattern, heavy and
squat, not more than fifty feet in height. But by degrees
various improvements had been added, new organs, as it were,
which bad ended by forming a little village around it. The
running hall, floored with fine sand, looked light and elegant
with its iron framework roofed with tiles. Then on the left,
inside a lai-ge glazed shed, was the blast apparatus with its
steam engine ; whilst on the right rose the two groups of
lofty cylinders, those in which the combustible gases became
purified, and those in which thejr served to warm the blast
nom the engine, in order that it might reach the furnace
burning hot, and in this wise hasten combustion. And there
were idso a number of water-tanks and a whole system of
piping, which kept moisture ever trickling down the sides of
the biick walls in order to cool them and diminish the wear
and tear of the awful fire raging within. Thns the monster
virtcally disappeared beneath the intricate medley of its
adjuncts, a conglomeration of buildings, a bristling of iron
tanks, an entanglement of big metal pipes, the whole forming
an extraordinary jumble which, at night-time especially,
displayed the most barbarous, fantastic silhouettes. Above,
beside the rock one perceived the bridge which brought tite
trucks laden wHh ore and fuel to the level of the mouth of
the furnace. Below, the kieve reared its black cone, and then
itom the belly downward a powerful metal armature sustained
the brickwork which supported the water conduits and the
tsmx twyers. Finally, at the bottom there was bat the
omcible, with its taphole closed with a bung of refractory
clay. But what a gigantic beast the whole made, a beast it
disquieting, bewildering shape, which devoured atonM ud
gava out metal in fusion.
I}<
tVOJtX
doira the uda. of the brioki, and the oeaaelesi diitant nimK
pi the blast apparatus in the engine-shed. And the onl?
lights were those of three or four lanterns gleaming amidst
the darkness, which the shadows of the huge huUdings
rendered the more dense. Moreover, only a few pale figures
wore seen flitting about, the eight smelters of the night-ihift.
who wandered hither and thither whUst waiting for the next
mn. On the platform of the mouth of the fiimaoe up above
(me eould not even discern the men who, sUentlv obeym« the
signals sent them frpm below, poured into the furnaol the
reqmute charges of ore and fuel. And there was not a cry.
not a flash of light; it was all dim, mute labour, somethiiS
mighty and savage accomplished in the gloom. ^^
JordMi, however, moved by the bad news given him, had
revert^ to his dream ; and pointing to the pUe of buildings,
he said to Luo. who had now joined him :■ You see it, my
fnend ; now am I not right in wishing to do away with aU
that, in wishmg to replace such a cumbersome monster, which
entails such pamful toil, by my battery of electrical furnaces,
which woiUd be so clean, so simple, so easily managed?
Smoe the day when the first men dug a hole in the ground
!^* -M K* "S? \ °»"Slmg it with branches which they
set aUght, there has reallv been little change in the methods
employed. They are still obUdish and ^Uve. Ourbh^
fuznaoM are mere adaptations of the prehistoric pits, ahanged
uito hoUow columns and enlarged according to requirMuents.
And one contmnes throwing in the ora and the combustible
peU meU, and burmng them togethei. One might take such
a fiimace to be some infernal animal, down whose throat one
IS for ever ponnng food compounded of coal and oxide of iron,
which «he b^t digests amidst a hurricane of fire, and which
it gives out down below in the form of fused metal, whilst
the gases, the dust, the slag of every kind goes off elsewhere.
And observe that the whole operation rests in the slow
desomt of the digested substances, in total absolute digestion,
for the object of all the improvements hitherto effected has
been to bcihtate it. Formerly there was no blast, no
blowing apparatus, and fusion was therefore slower and
more defective. Then cold air was employed, and next it
was perceived that a better result was obtained by heating
-li^*rPlr 'f^-^v-^yp-
WORK
117
the air. At lut osme the ides of lieating tliat air br
txHTowing feam the furnace itself the gasea wbieh had
formerly bamt at ite mouth in a plume of flames. And in
khii wise man^ external organs have been added to our blast-
fomaoes, but m spite of ever; improTement, in spite of their
huge proportions, they have remained ohildish, and have even
grown more and more delicate, liable to frequent accidents.
Ah I yon can't imagine the illnesses which fall upon such a
monster. There is no puny, sickly little child in the whole
world whose daily digestion gives as much anxiety to his
parents as a monster like this gives to those in charge of it.
Day and night incessantly two shifts, each of six loaders up
above and eight smelters down below, with foremen, an
engineer, and so forth, are on the spot, busy with the food
suppL'ed to the beast, and the output it yields ; and at the
slightest disturbance, if the metal run out should not be
latisfaotory, everybody is in a state of alarm. For five
years now this furnace has been alight ; never for a single
minnte has the internal fire ceased to perform its work ; and
it may bum another five years in the same way before it is
extinguished to allow of repairs being made. And if those
in charge tremble and watch so carefully over the work, it
is because there is the everlasting possibility that the fire
may go out of itself, through some accident of unforeseen
gravity in the monster's bowels. And to go out, to become
extinguished, means death. Ah I those little electrical
furnaces of mine, which lads might work, they won't disturb
an^rbody's rest at nights, and they will be so healthy, and so
active and so docile I '
Lno oould not help laughing, amused by the loving passion
which entered into Jordan's scientific researches. However,
they had now been joined by Morfain and Petit-Da, and the
former, under the pale gleam of a lantern, pointed to one of
the fonr pipes which, at a height of nine or ten feet, penetrated
the monster's flanks.
' There I it was that twyer which got stopped op,
Monsieur Jordan,' he said, ' and unfortunately I had gone
home to bed, so that I only noticed what was the matter the
next d%y. As the blast did not penetrate a chill occurred,
and a quantity of matter got together and hardened. Nothing
more went down, but I only l)eaame aware of the trouble at
the moment of tapping, on seeing the slag come out in a
tbiok pulp which was abea'-r black. And you can under-
ui
WOKK
•tima my fright ; for I remembered our miafortua* ten vekn
Never before had Morfain apoken lo many wordi at a
jtajtoh His voice trembled Si he roS The fom«
Mcident, for no more terrible Ulnen can fall oa the monSer
than one of thoae chiUa «h> h solidify the ore wd Lnv°rt it
Sin j*^'^"'?.''"'™"- By degrees the whole mass becomes
dulled^d adheres to the furiiace: and then therf '.S.^
else to be done but to demolish the pile, raze it to the around
like some old tower chokeful of atones. " " " "" grouna,
'And what did you do ? ' Jordan inquired.
Morfain did not i immediately answer. He had ended hv
lovmg that monster whose flow of glowing if^ hS MOwheS
hia face for more than thirty yeai-s. It waslikTa oii!St »
m«to. a god of fire whieh bVadored. bendfng b^^eS" 'he
Sf m/.IJfn^'K°' '•'' rr "P '^" ^'^ ''«'"' '"««d upon Wm
IZ^iSr *' l**"^'^ ,?*" ' <>»'»'« " 1"" sole means of
procuring daiiy bread. He scarcely knew how to read ha
W not Eeen touched by the new spfrit which JasabJ^; he
experienced no feelings of rebellion, but cheerfully aocTpted
his life of hai-d servitude, vain of his strong arSis XS
^» »^'o."'^-'' ^r^'l.*'" '^^^"'y 'o that^crSncUng cdZJ
nf Lw ^8«'"«>".,'»e ^ateted without ever a thought
^gofag out on Btnke. And his barbarous and territSe
god had become his passion; his faith in that divinit/waa
insfanct wi^ secret tenderness, and he still qnive^'Jih
1» h^ t^ ^"t'y I"'? ^"'S^^O"^ attac^Xm wWch
devofon. ^ ' ' *" »'™orfi>»M7 effort, of
. J,.^^''*' I did I • he at last responded. ' Well. I beean hv
^:^^L^' farges of coal, anfthen I trW to o&hj
twyer by working the blast apparatus as I had sometimes
seen Monsieur Laroche do. But the attack was Sv^
serious, and we had to disjoint the twyer and attaS^ th^
stoppage with bars. Ah I it wasn't ia easy jSJ and
™in„ S^* f" S- *" P*'."' ""^ I '" be'ter pleased wC!
Mnong ^e slag this morning, I found some rerinants of ore
for I reahsed &at the matter whieh hsd set had Tot brokra
•light now, and we shaU be doing good work again. Beaidei
wosx
«»»
Alftough he WM weU-nigh ezhanated by tuoh . long
JMeooMd, h» added In a lower voice: 'I really believe
Monaieur Jordan, that I ehould have gone up "C tS
flung myself into the mouth il I had not had better news to
whSJ ™„^"'i,'"'l'""*t:. •'''° °°'7 » '"'••'■nan. » "melter, in
rn^nX./'''*^.'°"?^5°?*'«!."°8 «« » genUeman's p^st,
M engineers post. And jnst fancy me letting the fur^e
go out and 'ellmg you on your return home that it was dead I
Ah I no, indeed, I'd have died tool I haven't been to bed
mlt!!?,^, ** ^""1' ,1'? J'*?' ''»'<'b here, like I did beside
S^^^nn^K.'u *° ^'°" ?"• ^""^ " P'*'*'"' I may admitit.
rt!S^^ ^^^ y°,? '5°°^ ™« 6'"''"8 ^»s 'he first food I had
tasted for forty-eight hours, for I couldn't eat before, my own
stomaoh seemed to be stopped up like the furnace's. I don't
WMt to apolo^se, but simply to let you know how happy I feel
"i: having failed in the confldenco you put in me."
That big feUow, hardened by perpetual fire, whose hmbs
•mm like steel, almost wept as he spoke those words, and
Jo«tan pressed his hands affectionately, saying : 'I know how
valiimt you are, my good Morfain ; I know that if a disaster
had happened you would have fought on to the very end.'
Meantime Petit-Da had stood listening in the gloom, inter-
vening neither by word nor gesture. He only moved when
Ills lather gave him an order respecting the tapping. Every
fonr-and-twenty hours the metal was run out five times, at
intervals of nearly five hours. The charge, which might be
eighty tons a day, was at that moment reduced to about fifty,
which would give runs of ten tons each. By the faint light
of the lanterns the needful arrangements were made in
mlenoe; channels and panels for casting were prepared in the
flne Mnd of the large haU ; and then before running out the
met^ the raly thing remaimng to bo done was to get rid of
the alas. Thus the shadowy forms of workmen were seen
passing dowly, busily engaged in operations which could bo
onl^ dimly distinguished, whUst amidst the heavy silence
which prevaUed within the squatting idol, one sflll heard
nothing save the trickling of the drops oi water which were
oonrshig down its sides.
• Monsionr Jordan,' Morfain inquired, ' would you like to
see the slag run out ? '
Jordan and Luo followed him, and a few steps brought
.:•-"•*--*_- 1 :
IJO
IVOXX
them to % hUIock fomad of u »coumuUtion of wmU. Tha
U^rtl!^' ^r^» °"' m . flood of ipulZ^dwM, M
« fte culdrpn of fu.mg m«tol were being^iimiXlK,
'The oolour'B good, you Me, Monweur Jordan.' returned
»nn«, had ju«t thrust a bar into the bung of refractory dav
ni^hf.hHT' ""■ ^P;^'?• ,V"* "»" the eight ~n of tti
ffi f.li?t r" '''y"'!""»Uy ""nming th? bar in furC
h..,^ ti ^;i^,fj?' """^.^ "»"«'? t» diSiemed, and oneTnly
heard the duff b owe of the rammer. Then/aU at^w J
tttLt'.' ^ '^ "«"• >Pn"d. » B-nall peep-hole tCJgh
Wc^^oTthi^? "^'" ^.'■'; ^?' ■« y«' there was onlyalkS
bar^B^ l^n^"i^.°"'"^' "* ^«'""^'' ■""'J to t^eSnothar
efc'rtT^ n,ii?; r^ "}" " ^"""^ »"^ «"^^ with heroul^
^?? 7 ^i.""!" i° '"^"^e the aperture. Then oan» the
meW ^uJ^ll^ '?^''*^.'"" tum,5— .,ly. a river of^
™! «ii^^ along the channel in t^. ^u, md then i^
out, filling the moulds, and forming blazing iS whM?Jw
and heat qmte worohed the eyes o1 thlbehC 5^ gZ
Sb^^' ?'/*^'»'« ethereaUty, «,d fusees of gSld, ffl'tfaUv
refined, a floreaoenoe of oomflowers, as it were am d»i?m3^f
of wheat-ears. Whenever any obetade T'd " d «S^-
TumW i::?/"""*"" sparks'and'^: tj^l^^
And^' tJl"""" *" T" ^"^^^ ^ » »»°inet of sKw
i^l.A °T- ?' '"^ «<"°« miraculous sin had HmT^
mtense dawn burst over everything, castine a «^C
Sottrafif^Lrss^^^^^^^^^
suddenly found themselves enveloped by a ni^b'us o"gl5^
f"' ¥A
I a \^m-'
WOXK ,j,
Ana Uw (^Nftt glow iprMd to aU the lunoundioffi ooniunri
ih. hug. ndge of the SZe MounUin. ZtTZ'iSt
^di^.w",7t LTi^r A* "'f "« "°'' »' ^S
wtlfViTtJ!"'*'.'*'' "**. f"^' "ndying the quality o( the
metal by the colour and limpidity of the flow. '' ™ "»•
out ^^« it r* 80?^ *o'l'. Buch ae we ought to tuni
Luo alM waa talcing an interest in the prooeedinn Bo
olothee. latt^e by Uttle aU the moulds haS be!n fiUefa^
cr^Oe bll^t s^tlSrtgrgrit TaU^Sg ut
pr/hrSi^ ^wttelg'ht'^^.t ^1' n-Trf S
oon^owars and golden wheat-ears was reaped. Then glX
nnftlyfeU once more, blotting out the hafi andthefumZ
and aU the attorning buUdings, whilst it seemed « if ?h!
l^ten.8 had been lighted np^afresh ^sJ^dTuTe wo kmen
one oould i«am only distinguish some vague figures aotivelv
of his mates, who were again plugging the tap-hoS wi^
ev^fc^^th^'bW ^* *J? sSenoe^wlSfh las now iepi'r tC
.yo;'a'^°ht:«t^!j-;;j?'*--'^'>«ix--ed,
' mL"!"' ^ "'"^' T°^ "^^ '"«''' •>«".' tie "nan answered
^mat I you mean to stay.anS pass a third sleepiest i^hi
Jora«^''L^!r'*?'*°'P'^"*,'^^*''e''»'<*.hou8e, Monsieur
Jordan, and one sleeps venr well on it. We'll relieve «u,k oTh "
ay fcu and I ; we'll each do two hours' sentry duty in tn^'
Jn, ' ^J*' ^*'!i'"^^ ^""J* ^"^^ "« now ^ right a«^'
mi
^m.'^y^
«3»
WORK
' No, no, Monsieni Jorfan, let me do m I wish. There'i
no more danger, but I want to make sore how things go until
to-morrow. It will please me to do so.'
Thus Jordan and Lno, after shaking hands with him, had
to leave hun there. And Lno felt extremely moved, for
Morfain bad left on him an impression of great loftiness in
which met long years of painful and dooUe labour, »U the
nobUity of the crushing toil which mankind had undertaken
in the hope of attaining to irest and happiness. It had all
begun with the ancient Vulcans, who had subjngated fire in
those heroic times which Jordan had recaUed, when the first
smelters had reduced their ore m a pit dug in the earth, in
which they lighted wood. It was on that day, the day when
man first conquered iron and fashioned it, that he became
the master of the world, and that the era of oivilisation first
began. Morfain, dwelling in his rocky cave, and for whom
nothing existed apart from the difficulties and the glory
of his caUmg, seemed to Lno Uke some direct descendut ot
those pnnntive toUers, whose far-off oharaoteristios still lived
by force of heredity in him, silent and resigned as he was,
giving all the strength of his muscles without ever a murmur,
even as Us predecessors had done at the dawn of human
society. Ah I how much perspiration had streamed forth and
how many arms had toUed to the point of exhaustion during
thousands and thousands of years I And yet nothing changed
—fire, if conquered, stiU made its victims, stiU had its slaves,
Uiose who fed it, those who scorched their blood in subjugatine
It, whUst the privUeged ones of the earth Uved in idleness,
m hcnnes whfch were fresh and cool I Morfain, like some
legendary hero, did not seem even to suspect the existence of
all the monsbous iniquity around him ; he was ignorant of
rebeUion, of the storm growling afar ; he remiSied quite
impassive at his deadly post, there where his sires had died
and where he himself would die. And Luc also conjured up
another figure, that of Bonnaire, another hero of labour, one
who strujjgled against the oppressors, the exploiters, in order
that jUBtiM might at hist reign ; and who devoted himself to
his TOmrades cause even to the point of giving up his daily
bread. Had not aU those suffering men groaned long enough
beneath theur burdens, and, however admirable might be thSr
toil, had not the hour struck for the deliverance of the sUves
m order that thejr might at last become free citizens in a
fraternal commujijty, amidst which peace would spring from*
]u8t apportionment of labour and wealth ? ■
WORK
m
Mok^J^rS "/<«*«». ."kilflt descending the stepa out in the
rook, stopped Wore a night-watohman'slint to bwb «n omT,
to .""S^ l^„r ^"'I'r ""d b^'Ant.'Sn^'
!?„?.*r™5?-.. Behind some bushes, amidst some soattered
rooks, he distancUv saw two shadow^ forms pasringrS
in a kiss. Luo readily reoogmaed the girl, so tall she was. s8
SSd^1,;i'°^tM ^^^ "" "O"* "«"«' than Ma!BWh2
U^lri""* ^*5 ""l"* T« '^^'^^^ to fill her face, lid the
i^n^^nH"'^^ ^ "^"^i"* <^°"i'". tl>« mayor's so^ that
SLl^ b»ndsomo youth whose demeanour he, Luo, h^
noticed at La Guerdache-that demeanour so eioresSve of
cjmtemptforthe rotting bcmrgcmie of whioh^he wM^nl of
the revoltog sons. Ever shoStmg, fishing, imd riS^he
K* t.M r r°°8 '^^ steep'^paths KbI^M^'u^
tarns, beside the torrents or deep in the pine woods An/l
^f ^^^"wh"^ ^"^ ^ '°™. '"•> th^t bLutif'uUh'y, ^d
Sin!f ?^ °'.°'' »wve been oonquered%y the advent of ^t
Prinoe Chanmng, who brought her something that wm bev3
^J^t^'r^ °" 9.^" ^«^8''«°1 dreams of rSw
Miidst the sternness of that desert. To-morrowl to-moWl
ZZ wl*^* "^^^ ^^'^ ^ Ma-Bleue's bTue ey^Xn
Se th™«CI T..^«>°8 **« »'">7.'>he stood so thoughtM m
the threshold of her mountain oave ? Her father and her
brother were watching over their work up yondw! ^d she
had escaped down the precipitous paths. Si fJr h« to
whn'^IS'T'K'^' taUfloviLg lad,^thTt io^ti stSrii^
vowJ^ t i° ''",?', P'*?"y »3 if 8he had Zn a bdS
vowed that he would love her for ever
thfl thl'l'**^^' ^ .MM^ement, Luo felt a heart-pang at
tte thought of how grieved the father would be should he
?el-on„ft\' '^'^'•"'"tmg. Then a tender feeling t(Sk pos-
session of the young man's heart, a caressing breaSi of hone
came to him at the sight of that free and gentle love Wew
not those ohUdren, who belonged to si^ch different classed
fflrtherg^n of iu^lc^r"""^''"" ""^ """^ "* '-'
^JZ^alt^ mo« wor * '°^"' ""'•*' ""^ P"''' ""^^
his fiS'n°.i''" v'' '*°«''* *^'^' I tope ? • said the young man to
his friend. ' Your sister would never forgive me, you kn^/
m
'34
WOUK
' 'So, no, I feel quite well. And I am
tobedln th«
I intend to
best of niiritB, for I've quite made up my mini „
rid myself of that enterprige, sinoe it doee not inteien me, and
proves siioh a constant source of worry.'
For a moment Lnc remained silent, for nneasiness bad
retnined to him, as if, indeed, he were frightened by Jordan's
demaion. However, as he left his friend he said, shaking his
hand for the last time, ' No, wait, give me to-morrow to Uiink
the matter over. We will have another talk in the evening,
and afterwards you shall come to a decision.'
Then they parted for the night. Lno did not go to bed
unmedlfttely. He occupied— in the pavilion formerly erected
for Dr. Michon, Jordan's maternal giandfather— the spacious
room where the doctor had spent his last years among his
books ; and during the three days that he had occupied this
chamber the young man had grown fond of the pleasantness,
peacefutaess, and odour of work that filled it. That evening,
however, the fever of doubt, by which he was possessed, op-
pressed him, and throwing one of the windows wide open he
leant out, hopmg in this wise to calm himself a little before
he went to bed. The window overlooked the road leading
from La Cricherie to Beauohur. In front spread soma un-
cultivated fields strewn with rocks, and beyond them one
could distmgoish the jumbled roofs of the sleepfaig town.
For a few minutes Luc remained inhaling the gusts of air
which arose from the great plain of La Boumagne. The night
was warm and moist, and athwart a slight haze a bluish light
desoraded from the starry sky. Lnc fistened to the distant
sounds with which the night quivered; and before long he
reoogmsed the dull, rhythmical blows of the hammers of the
Abyss, that Cyclopean forge whence day and night aUke there
came a clang of steel. Then he raised his eyes and sought
the black, silent smeltery of La Crecherie, but it was now
mingled with the inky bar which the promontory of the Bleuse
Mountams set against the sky. Lowering his eyes he at last
directed them upon the close-set roofs of the town, whose
heavy slumber seemed to be cradled by the rhytiimio blows of
the hammers— those blows which suggested the quick and
diffioult breathing of some giant worker, some pwn-racked
Prometheus, chained to eternal toil. And Luc's feeling of
uneasiness was increased bv it all ; he could not quiet his
fever ; the people and the things that he had beheld during
taose last three days crowaeU upon his mind, passed before
kim in a tragic scramble, the sense of which he strove to
HS^-.,fiP n
IVOSK
»3S
^V^ V "^ *' Pu™'''*"' ''*^«'' possesaed hig spirit now
tortared h.m more than ever. Assuredly he would L unable
to B^ep until he found a means of solving it.
hn«h.°.'.l7fu**'°T ^ ^'T'' wross the road, amongst the
tHn»lf?-\*?' ™eta-»'V°^denly heard a fresh sound, some-
l^*wJ^?';,?° ^h ^"K^" """'"^ °°' *«" '»"" it might
SLJ^ ^ '1**"8 °' * ^"^'0 ''"'P. tbe rustle of an
W^^ ^L^T^""! f'"""? darkness that spread far, far away.
No doul.t he had been mistaken. But the sounds reached his
ears again, and even seemed to come nearer. Interested by
teem, seized with a stranp- emotion which astonished him,
flnSJ '"'* *" P?.°lf »'«,.t''e darkness, and at last he dis'
MngMshed a vague, hght, delicate form which seemed to float
S* L^'!; *"^ ?.V." •'* "»« ™»'''« *» 'eM wba' 'tat form
might be, and was wilhng to beUeve himself the victim of
Bome delusion, when, with a nimble spring like that of some
wild goat, a womwi crossed the road and lightly threw him a
Uttle nosegay which brushed against his face Uke a caress.
It was a little bunch of mountain pansies, just gathered amons
SrfmS'^'brit powerful aroma, that he was qoitl
♦1, /^£'~^* divined that it wag she, he recognised her by
that fresh sign 9^ her heart's thankfulness, by that adorable
gesture rf infinite gratitude I And it all kerned to him
exquisite m that iimiesg, at that late hoar, though be could
not teU how she had happened to be there, whether she had
beenwatchmg for his return, and how she could have con-
wu *° ??"»e. ™less mdeed Eagu were working at a night-
shift. Without a word, having had no other deure thanthat
of eipresamg her feelings bv the gift of those flowers, which
she had so hghUy thrown km, she was already fleeing, dis-
appearing mto the darkness spread over the uncultivated
moor; and oijy then did Luo distinguish another and a
wnaUer form, that assuredly of Nanet, bounding along near
her. They both vanished, and then he again heard nought
save the hammers of the Abyss, ever rhythmicaUy beating in
the distance. His torment was not passed, but his heart had
been wa™M by a glow which seemed to bring him invincible
strength. It was with rapture that he inhaled the little
nosegay Ah I the power of kindness, which is the bond of
brotherhood, the power of tenderness, by which alone happicasa
Is created, the power of love, which wiU save and m^e the
136
IVOSX
Luo went to bed and put out tba light, hopina tliai hli
dreariness of mind and body would b"ing 1dm found ^d
refreshing g^^p in which his fever would at b^Tbe d^L"
But when the large room sank into silence and oEw
Bionnd him.he found himself quite unaWeto ctoSeUs ev^
they stared into the darkness, and terrible insoSkepf h^
b,mm.g hot, stiU a prey to his one obstinSe^XiZlS
Josine was ever rising before him, oominK back amin ».r,a
iigam with her childish" lace and dilefS^SarT STo^ce
more saw her ip tears, standing, full of tenor!^ she wS
wme-Bhop, then thrown into the street by Bagu in solrahJ a
fiuhion that blood gushed from her maim'ed hSdTMd hSIaw
SSri^niX''''^T-^"l" t*"" Mionne, forsaken midst ttl
aZ.I iLl.. ''°'^8 ^" ''"°?«"^ ^^o «»»« V>or wandering
^^; ^i liavmg no prospect Wor her saveVfinal tS?
S™„tf '^""- M^?"^. after those three days of unexp^ted
ahnost unconscious inquiry, to which destiiy hJler^!
dffi as'^f? Itrf^ °^ ?^r"7 apporfioned tofl oU
amaea as if it were shame, toil conducting to the »t
ateocious misery for the vast majority of manSnd^ l^ame fa
^ eyes synUietisad in the distressii case of that s^tS
whose misfortunes wrung his heart. »"*"'"""' *o"y girl
^.n!*"""!?*!;"^,' tJ^npng around him, pressing ibrward
IlwS! J- • u"^V"*'» "' Beanolair, along which tawmSed
^ the dismhented wretohes, secretly dreaa&ig of ve^w
S such hZ^'"^;."'!^''^' "^^ ^^ revolStion^KS
m such homes as the Bonnaires' cold, bare, sorry roomT^^
ev^ the mere necessaries of life wer^ wai^tinZwWlS
tnSw^"*^-"'' *f "J *° ^^^ J^o waisfCdf and^lefi
the fem^ starving. And, on the other hand, he behdd at
La Guerdache aU the insolence of corrupting laiurv iS thl
S^J^? "T^T""^ "'^^ "»" finishing Iff thHriW^emd
gorged to stiflmg point with all tie iniquitous wealth «*1S'
tlo^X'^. the labour and the tLs'°of The tom^
w..dly lofty biMt-fumaoe, where not one worker complii^
••^^•.♦^-kl
IVORK
'37
the lonji effortg of mankmd were stiioken, so to bst. by
• euTM, unmobihsed in eternal doloor, without hope of any
complete freeing of the race, of its final delive^ce from
Slavery, and the entry of one and all into the city of jostics
and peace And Luc had seen and heard Beauolair ontoldng
upon aU sides, for the fratricidal warfare was not waged only
between oUsses, its destructive ferment was peiverting
families, a blast of folly and hatred was sweeping by, flllinS
T? ^ T*^ bitterness. Monstrous dramu ioOii homes
that should hare been cleanly, fathers, mothers, and ohUdren
•hke rolled into the sewers. Folk lied nnceasingly, they
stole, they kUled. And at the end of wretcSfs ^l
hunger came onme perforce : woman selling herself, man
smkmgto dnnk, all Wan kind becoming a rageful W
Sun, ™^f^i. ?°^..!?'f"f '"''Jy "P"" satisfying its vices.
Many were the frightful signs that announced thl inevitable
o»tastrophe ; the old social framework was about to topple
down amidst blood and mire. ""fi""
Horror-strf .km by those visions of shame and chastisement,
weepmg with aU the human tenderness within him, Luc the^
.1^ ^"iv ". ^® phantom of Josine returning from the
depths of the darkness and stretching out arms of entreaty!
t^Att"^ •, none but her remained: itwasunon
her that the worm-t-ten, leprous edifice would faU. She
^came, as It were, Uie one victim, she, the pnny UtUe work-
girl with the maimed hand, who was starving and who would
™m'M°<i''ir"'iL'-Pi'^^J« yet charming oLture, i^ whom
seemed to be embodied aU the misery ftat arose from the
aMursed wage-system. He now suffered as she must suffer,
and, above aU else, m his wild dream of saving Beauclair there
was a craving to save her. If som» superhinan power had
S^J^Si^*''*? '"' ■'?'^^ ?"" transformed that town,
now rott^ by egotism, mto a happy abode of soUdarity, in
order that she might be happy. I^/ realised at preset thS
thw dream of his was an old one, that it had always possessed
bim emoe the days when he had lived in one of the poM
quarters of Pans, among the obscure heroes and the dolorous
victims of labour. It was a dream into which entered secret
disqmetude respeotmg the future, that future which he dared
not predict, and an idea that some mysterious mission had
been confided to him And all at once, amidst the
oonfasion in which he stiUstmggled, it seemed to him that the
aecidve hour had come. Josine was starving, Josine was
138
woxx
aobbmg, and that oonia be aUowed no longer. He mnat
art, he mnat at once reUeve aU the miaery and aU the rafler-
ing, u» order that things bo iniquitong might eeaee.
th. J^ f u* T^2 however, he at Uat feU into a doni, in
tte midst of which it seemed as if voices were calling Utn.
Tbns before long he awoke with a start, and then the voices
seemed to gather strength , as if wildly summoning him to that
urgent work for which the hour had struck, and &e imperious
w!a^^ "n' ^"- ■^^ »'»''« »" '"''" »Ppe»l8, he AmUt
heard the call of a very gentle voice, which he recognised—
we voice of Joafaie, lamenting and entreating. From that
moment agam she alone seemed to be present, he could feel
the warm carera of thei kiss which she had set upon his hand.
Md could smeU the little bunch of pansies which she had
thrown him m he stood at the window. Indeed, the wild
ftagrance^the flowers now seemed to fiUthe whole room.
Then he struggled no longer. He lighted his candle, rose,
and for a few minntes walked about the room. In order to rid
m brain of the fixed idea which oppressed it he strove to
ftinV of nothmg He looked at the few old engravings
tangmg from the waUs, he looked at the old-fishionrf
arhcles of furniture which spoke of Doctor Michon's simple
and studious habits, he gazed around the whole room, in which
a deal of fandlines^ good sense, and wisdom seemed to have
lingered. At last his attention became riveted on the book-
S^jLJl"*o"."'t'' '*'?* °"«' '"*h B'*™ tloo™. and therein
the former Samt-Simoman and Fourierist had gathered
together the humanitarian writings which had fired Us mind
in youth. All the social phUosophers. aU the precursors, all
Uie apostles of the new Gospel figured there : Saint-Simon.
Pounm, Auguste Comte, Proudhon, Cabet, Pierre Leroui!
with others and others— indeed, a complete coUection, down to
the most obscure disciples. And Luc, candle in hand read
the names and titles on the backs of the volumes, counted
them, sad grew astonished at their number, at the fitrt that
so much good seed should have been oast to the winds, that
so many good words should be slumbering there, waitinc for
the harvest. °
He himself had read widely, he was weU acquainted with
the chief passages of most of those books. The philosophical,
economicftl, and social systems of their authors were familiar
to him. But never as now, on finding these authors all united
WOBJC
«39
there in % wrried phalanx, had he been ao olearly aonsdoiu of
their forsa, their Talne, the human erolaticn which ibej
^ified. They fonned, so to say, the advance guard of the
ntnre eentnry, an advanoe gnaid soon to be followed Irf the
hnge army of the nationg. And on seeing them thne, nde bT
tide, ^aoeably mingling together, endowed by nnion with
•overeign stren^, Lne was particularly struck by their
Intense brotherbness. He was not ignorant of the contra-
dictory views which had formerly parted them, of the desperate
battle* even which they had waged together, bat tiiey now
seemed to have become all brothers, reconciled in a common
Ooapel, in the unique and final truths which all of them had
brought. And that which arose from their words like a
dawning promise was that religion of humanity in which they
had all believed, their love for the di^iherited ones of the
world, their hatred of all social injustice, their faith in Work
as the true saviour of mankind.
Opening the bookcase, Luc wished to select one of the
tolnmes. Since he was unable to sleep, he would read a few
pages, and thus take patience until slumber should come to
him. He hesitated for a moment, and at last selected a very
little volume, in which one of Fourier's disoiplea had summed
up the whole of his master's work. The title ' Solidarity ' had
moved the young man. Would he not find in that book a
few pages brimful of strength and hope such as he needed f
Thna, he 8!ipped into bed again, and began to read. And
soon he became as passionately interested in his reading as if
he had before him some poignant dnuna in which l^e &te of
the whole human race was decided. The author's doctrines
thus condensed, reduced to the very essence of the truths they
contained, acquired extraordinary power. Fourier's genius
had in the first place asserted itself m turning the passions of
man into the very forces of life. The long and disastrous
error of Catholicism had lain in ever seeking to muzzle the
passions, in striving to kill the man within man, to fling him
like a slave at the root of a deity of tyranny and nothingness.
In the free future society conceived by Fourier the passions
were to produce as much good as they had produced evil in
the chained and terrorised society of the dead centuries.
They constituted immortal desire, the energy which raises
worlds, the internal famaoe of will and strength which
imiiarts to each being the power to act. Man deprived of a
■ingle passion would he mutilated, as if be were deprived of
140
WORK
<me<rfhi««en«M. InrtinoU. hitherto thnutUelt and <ini.h«a
-i^ they were .vU beast., would wheiTMM toey w.^f£a
bMome only the various needi of uiil«i«l^JttaSrS
tMiding towards unity, striving amidst obrtaclJSta^^'jS
tappiness. Aiid there were reaUy no egotists nol^^
there were only men hungering for'unity i?d Wonv S*«
]S2lhaTS?Z,'° •" ¥°^^^^ as'sZinherdio'^d
see that the road was wide enough for aU to pass alonffit »t
r^Z™"?^- ??1° ""PP«>Pri«t« tasks, they wou^^^
SS ^f^£i "**" Joy'-iy"*""" M simply thelrlogioal Jbosen
Then anoUier stroke of genius on Fourier's part was th«
i5UL T* '""'H""-'!" pride, health, gaietV. ud ve^W
ol^T.. Ji ""If'? ""f •* J° reorganise work S. oiSer to w!
organise the whole of society, of which work woSd Jm tjfi
one civic obligation, the ,?tal rSe^ Th»^ To^ "£, nS
totter question of irut^, toposing worfon^qM
•Sorted bv^ allnJL*^' "*3^*^' '°* """Id »« freely
wjoepiea oy aU, allotted accordmg to tastes and natn™..
S^'Zf tf„T« '^^i''' ^°"™. *^* "^^ bl iX^bte;
and constanUy varied according to the choicerSf thA
rt^ tf""- t *<"« woulTbecome li toTen^ 1^2
m which there would not be one idler, and in w^h mS
laoour Which nught be necessary for the town to live The
tendency towards unity and final harmonV vranM TJl- i^f
jnh^bitante together ^d compel theTto^g^^J^thtL^eS
wnraig the vanous series of workers. *An§ thelSote
mMhaoMm would rest in that : the workman ohoodnT the
task which he could perform most joyously, not riTOto^foS
wor« to another. Moreover, the world would not h>
revolutionised all of a sudden, the beginnkgs woSd be ™.U
tte system being tried first of all in sWiow^ship of T^
ftouaand souls The dream would then approwh fu^Sienr
Uh^ T^™V '^' P^-^^er?. the ooimnon house, woui
be built. At first, too, one would simply appeal to willing
WORK
«4i
mcQ, and link thorn togetber in such win m to form an
•nooiation of capital, work, and talent. Tfaoie who now
poiaesied mone^r, those whose arms were strong, and those
who had brains wotdd be asked to come to an understanding
and combine, patting their various means together. They
would produce with an energy and an abundance fu greater
than now, and they would mvide the profits they reaped as
equitably as possible, until the day came when capital, work,
and talent might be blended together and form the common
patrimony of a free brotherhood, in which CTerything would
belong to everybody amidst general harmony.
At each page of the little book which Luc was reading
the loving splendour of its title ' Solidarity ' became more
and more apparent Certain phrases shone forth like beacon-
fires. Man's reason was infallible; truth was absolute; a
truth demonstrated by science became irrevocable, eternal.
Work was to be a festiral. Each man's happiness would soma
day rest in the happiness of others. Neither envy nor hatred
would be left when room was at last found in the world for the
happiness of one and all. In the social machine, all inter-
mediaries that were useless and led to a waste of strength
would be suppressed ; thus commerce, as it is now under-
stood, would be condemned, and the consumer would deal
with the producer. All parasitic growths, the innumerable
vegetations living upon social corruption, upon the permanent
state of war in which men now languish, would be mown down.
There would be no more armies, no more courts of law, no
more prisons I And, above all, amidst the great Dawn which
would thus have risen, there would appear Justice flaming like
the sun, driving away misery, giving to each being that waa
bom the right to live and partake of daily bread, and allotting
to one and all his or her due share of happiness.
Luc had ceased reading : he was reflecting now. The
whole great, heroic Nineteenth Century spread out before
his mind's eye, with its continuous batthng, its dolorous,
valiant efforts to attain to truth and justice. The irresistible
democratic advance, the rise of the masses filled that century
from end to end. The Bevolution at the end of the previous
one had brought only the middle classes to power ; another
century was needed for the evolution to become complete, for
the people to obtain its share of influence. Seeds germinated,
however, in the old and often ploughed monarchical soil ; and
already during the days of '48 Uie question of the wa^
«4t
ffOJtJC
WM in their ium rotting. And now. on the thr-lSuJlX
»•' J»°»"7. •• soon M the ipreikding onrud« rfthTiWMlSI
•hould have ouried the oITwdJ faSeWk .UT^
reog«u«tiono/ Ubour wouU nrov. the^ ftTd^a^rt^
of fatore eooiety. whioh woulTonly be .ble to exS^. kit
gp^ionment of weelth. The violent oriS. wSd. b2d o^SJ
^wn empire, when the old world pwed from wnXATto
*''.*.'»«;-»7«»«"> *" M nothing ooipS Witt t^tonribk
t?I!*^ °"*"?* *V »^ 0' ^ wage-eyrtemiLSg
ttWBgh roooewiye evolotionf and tnuirionnitioi., ud ^^
toU«,me«.m.thingd«,. And from thM ^thinTiS
wanM b« bom the Happy and brotherly looial Byrtwn^ to-
Luo gently pat down the Utile book and blew out hie light.
wrtoring deep wae approaching. True, no preoiae Wwer.
^oometo U.. urgent appeals whioh had previoudTnpS
him; b«U he heard thoee appeals no more. It wasaiif tte
Rented Wngs who bj'h^ them were noToo^„
™ i?S^ '**.,'?J:° t"»^ "^ '"« *»kuig patience. Serf
S^M*!?™ -^ *^ '*^~' '""W rise. l.io himself w
tronUed with no more feverishness, he felt thai his mind
was pregnant with ideas, to whioh indeed it might oive Wrth
on the Tei7 morrow U his nighfB slumber ffid V «^
^ delight mto a deep deep, -nsited by geniuVWthTMd
fcs. ^^»u' 'T[?''* " '^"^ '^''^^ «« *•»« following morning
lui first thought on seeing the sun rise in the bS)ad dea!
tterod^ stairway leading to the smdtery. He widied to
SM Morfem agun, and obtain certain information from him.
in this respect he was yielding to a sudden inspiration. With
S?f^ "£!*;.'" ^ *^'' '* «■»"« precise opinion respecting
^nSiil^I^"^ ™"*v Themaster-Bmefter^ason^ofttf
^^K ?J**^' ^^""^ ^* *"°"^ °P »°^ ''^'". »ft«' J^ night
spent beside the furnace, whioh decidedly had now recove^
woxx
MJ
own, wUoh nobody would head, although he h»d Stox^Tm
«P««tontoit. >hi.thialdn«,old]SiS.rttfiS^^
W done wroM in deepuriBp and forwidng the mini
dHjeUjr ">e woriona of it hed &Ued to prove 4mune«S«!
^^»^^ u »'T.'°"°'"^ ^ oertMJy become «
•l«mm.ble one, charged with sulphur <md phoeplite. to lu^
toUwr. or to open freidi onea at a point of the gor^wS
he deaanate^ in order to find oncTmore the saiVScSuS
""••^""•riy- And he baaed his opinion upjnSSSS
™n knowledge of ^ the rock, of tie regioTwyTStS
jcakd and ex^ored for forty years. A. h?nat it, he wm n^
• man of science, he was only a poor tofler, siid did nS
peetme to compete with those gentlemen the engineen.
Neyertheless he was astonished that no confidence wfiw
Stel.y'lTe^t^ '''""" ~'^"°* *" *•" ^ ^
The man's quiet confidence impressed Lno the num
abandoned state even after the discoveiy of thTohmi^
process which would have aUowed the defective oreT be
°T' ^. •*. ''«iel»«"n immediately, even if they had to
rest content with treating the ore otimically. Bit what
wodd it be if Mprfain-a oSnviotions shoddTre,^,'^d
they should agam come upon rich and pure lodes! Th™
Luc immediately accepted the master-smeltor's proposal to
t?a nlTt^^ wu SfPtomber morning, the walk amC
t^S^h;*??'"^ ^* lonely wUds fragiint with lavend^f
WM dehghtfjj. l)unng three hours thetwo men climW up
follJ^J"*,. '• "^*° ''^*^? S'^S*'- "^''^ ^^^ grottoes.
th^n!5?**K * P'^f-'^^'wd ridges where the rocks jSTp
through the soa Uke portions of the skeleton of som^^
bnned; monster. And by degrees Morfain's convioUon giSSS
▼^^iSlvllFl
■44
wosx
upon Lm, bringing him tX iMitkbop* Uut thm In Uiai
•pot Ujr • temn whieh mu in hit iloth bad OMMd by. and
to i2^iSrgttk"r '^"'"' *" ^^ ^y**"*
J ^ I'r"* '°*"" ""■ "*'<'" '•>« *• explontiou Ur-
mfa.t«d Lne Moepted • P»po«l to lonoh off egg. ud milk
np In «!• BlenM Monntami. When »boat two o'eloek b«
OMne down »g«ui, dtlighted, hit Innn inflated by the free
£?^ ?^J^' *••'"?•?• r^^'wd him with exeUmation.,
tomot knowing what had become of him ther had beran to
grow uxioiM. He apologised for not having warnedthem,
^ {I^*f* 'ul!l L'.u*"^ '°^ •"*• '^y """"B the Ubleland*
Si iK?i?l k*"^ "^'i T*. !*■*?*• """• He Tentmad to
teU thu flb beoaase th|B Jorduii, whom he fonnd itiU at Uble,
were not alone. Ai wai their onitom eyery leoond Tneaday
ofth. montt. they had with them three gu^, Abb< Marie.
SSSJSti^T^V^^ Hemehne, the eehoolmaiter, whom
Bonuatto delighted to gather together, langhingly ealUng
Uiem her pnvy counoiUore, became thay all three helped
her m her oharitoble worlca. The doors of La Crtofae^
r2i 'T? "•"*"? .'"'P' «'°"«^' Jor^'n M™>g thero in
loUtnde hke lome doiatered acientiat, were thrown open for
those thTM visitor^ who were treated as inUmates. Itoonld
not be said, howeyer, that they owed this &Tonr to their cordial
agreement, for they were perpetnaUy ditpnting together.
But, on the other hand, their duongsions amnsed 8«rarette.
Md indeed rendered her vet more partial to them, since
■^^ * distraction for Jordan, who listened to them
. o.'i?'Ju'?° •*!? lonohed?' said Soeorette, addressing Lno.
Htiu, that won t prevent yon from taUng a onp of ooffee with
09, Will it 7
^ ' Oh I I'U accent the onp of cofTee,* he answered gaUy.
i on are too amiable— I deserve the bitterest reproaches.'
They then passed into the drawing-room. Its windows
were open, the lawns of the park spread ont, and all the
exquisite aroma of the great trees came into the house. In a
horn-shaped porcelain vase bloomed a splendid bonquet of
rose»-roses which Doctor Novarre lovingly cultivated, and »
bundi of which he brought for Scenrette each time that he
lunehed at La Oricherie.
Whilst the coffee was being served a discussion on eduea-
Bonal matters began afresii between the priest and the school-
M^mt^,^M:^v
WOKK
us
u Ji? IV^- T *"• ««'*•>'»»**»>> yotir pupili/ daeknd AbM
k i' ''.? J?*?** y^ •>•'" "'*'•'> "llglon oat ol your
Mbooli. Ood if th* niMtw of human intelligtnee ; one koowi
nothing eiMpttna Uirongh Him.'
Tafl and •taray, with hif m«U bsalc mI in a broad, fuU,
regular faee, the pneit ipoke with aU the anthoritatiTCriiab'
bornneai bom of hu narrow dootrinea, plaoing the only
ebanee of the world's aalvation in CathoUeinn, and the rioid
obiervanoe of ita dogma*. And, in front of him, HeimelSe.
the Mhoolmaiter, ilim of boild and angular of faoe, with a
bony forehead and pomted chin, evinced similar stnbbomneu,
bemg quite as formalist and authoritaUve as the other in the
praotioe of his own meohanioal religion of progrea, which
dSdnto ""*"^ *' ^ ^' "' '"'' "^ «nU*tMy
' ^'t bother me,' said he, ' with your i«ligion, which hai
never led men to aught but error and ruin. If I get nothinc
out of my pupils it is because, in the first place, theyMe
taken from me too early, to be placed in the factories. And
■eoondly, and mrre particularly, it is because there is less and
less disomline, because the master is left without any authority.
If a ohild IS whipped nowadays the parent* shriek like a pack
of tools. But if I were only allowed to give those youngsters
* "i". 8°od caning! I think I should open their minds a Uttle '
Then, as Soeurette, quits affected by this theory, began to
protest, he explained his views. For him, given the general
corruption, there was only one means of saving society, whioh
was to sabjeet the children to the disciplined liberty, insert
behef in renuhlioan principles in them by fbroe, •{ necessary,
and m such a manner that they should never lose it. Hu
drejm yn» to make each pupil a servant of the State, a sla\-a
of the Btats, on* who sacrificed to the State hi* entire per-
sonality. And he could picture nothing beyond one and the
same lesson, learnt by all in one and the same manner, with
*'»6«»e object of servini. "le community. Such was his harsh
and doleful religion, a leiigion in which the democracy was
dehvered from the past by dint of punishments, and then
agam condemned to forced labour, happiness being decreed
under penalty of being caned.
n B<J*Abb4 Marie obstinately repeated: 'OutsidothopalB of
Catholioisro there is only darkness.'
I4tf
WORK
' Why, Gatholioism is toppling over I * exolumed Henneline.
' It's for that very reason that m have to ralae another aoeial
framework.'
The priest, no donht, was eonsoions of the anpreme battle
which Catholioiem was waging against the spuit of seienoe,
whose victory spread day by day. Bnt he would not acknow-
ledge it ; he did not even admit that his church was gradually
emptying. ' Oatholicism I' he resnmed, 'its frameworic is
itill BO solid, so eternal, so divine, that you copy it when you
talk of raising I know not what atheistical State in which
yon would replace the Deity by some mechanical contrivance
appointed to mstruot and govern men I '
' Some mechanical contrivance, why not I ' retorted
Hermeline, exasperated by the touch of truth contained in
the priest's attack. ' Home has never been aught bat a wine-
press, pressing out the blood of the world I '
When their discussions reached this violent stage Doctor
Novarre "- --' '' ' ■• —
way.
on sfle fvu.* w« HQ&wAuu, D«uvo juu novo i^uii Bu wr aoifio
accuse one another of copying your religions one from the
other,'
Short and spare, with a slender nose and keen ayes, the
doctor was a man of a tolerant, gentle, bnt slightly sarcastic
turn of mind, one who, having given himself to sdenee, refused
to let himself be excited hj political and social questions.
Like Jordan, whose great friend he was, he often sud that he
only adopted truths when they had been scientifically demon-
strated. Modest, timid, too, as he was, without any ambition,
he contented himself with healing his patients to the best of
his abiUty, and .his only passion was for the rosebnshes which
he cultivated between the four walls of the garden of the littia
dwelling where he lived in happy peacefulness.
Luc had hitherto contented himself with listening. Buf
at last he renalled what he ha,d read the previous night, and
he then spoke out : ' The terrible part of it,' said he, ' is that
in our Bchools the starting-point is invariably the idea that
man is an evil be'ng, who brings into the world with him a
spirit of rebellion and sloth, and that a prafeot system of
punishments and rewards is necessarv if one is to get any-
thing out of him. Thus education has been turned into
torture, and study has become as repulsive to our brains as
manual labour is to our limbs. Our professors hava bean
WORK
HI
turned into so many gaolers ruling a scholastic penitentiary,
and the. mission given to them is that of kneading the minds
of ohfldren in aooordanoe with certain fixed programmes,
and runnmg them aU through one and the same mould, with-
oultaking any account of varying individualities. Thus the
masters are no longer aught but the shiyen of initiative ; they
cmahaU onti(»l spirit, aU free examination,aUpersonalawaken-
mg of talmt heneath a pile of ready-made ideas and official-
troths, and the worst is that the characters of the children are
•fliBOted qmte as badly as their minds, and that the system of
teaohmg employed produces in the long run little else but
dolts and hypocntes.'
Hermelino must have fancied that he was being personally
attacked, for he now broke in rather sharply : ' But how
wonld yon have one proceed then, monsieur? Come and
take my place, and you will soon see how little you will get
out of .ne pupils if you don't subject them one and all to the
same discipline, like a master who for them is the embodi-
ment of authority.'
' The ouster,- continued Luc with his dreamy air, ' should
have nootherdutythan that of awakening energy and encourag-
ing the child's aptitude in one or another respect by provoking
qneatumi from him and enabling him to cbBvelop hia
persMiality. Deep in the human race there is an immense
uuatiabla craving to learn and know, and this shonld be the
OBBincantivB to study without need of any rewards o*
ponishmeats. It. would evidently be sufficient if one
contented oneself with giving each pupil facilities for prose-
cuting the particular studies that pleased him, and vrith
rendering those studies attractive to him, allowing him to
engage in them by himself, then progress in them by the
force of his own nnderstanding, with the oontmually recur-
ring delight of making fresh discoveries. Fir men to make
their offspring men bv treating them as such, is not that tii«
whole educational problem which has to be solved ? '
Abb^ Marie, who was finishing his coffee, shrugged his
broad shoulders ; and, like a priest whom dogma endowed
with infallibility, he remarked : ' Sin is in man, and he can
only be saved by penitence. Idleness, which is one of the
capital sins, can only be redeeoied by labour, the punishment
which Ood imposed on the first man after the fall.'
' But that's an error, Abb6,' quietly said Doctor Novarre.
* Idleness is simply a malady when it really exists, (hat is,
t3
My^it m;
148
WOXX
vhen the body reftum to vork, shiinki from kll btigne. Ton
mfty be certain then that this invincible languor is a aign of
grave internal disorder. And apart ttom that, wLerehaT*
you ever seen idle people 7 Take tuose who are so-called idle
people by race, habit, and taste. Does not a society lady, who
dances aU night at a ball, do greater harm to her eyesight
and expend far more muscular energy than a workwoman who
sits at her little table embroider.ng tul daylight 7 Do not the
men of pleasure, who are for ever figuring in public, taking
part in exhausting festivities, work in their own way quite as
hard as the men who toil at their benches and anvils ? And
remember how ligbtlv and joyfully, on emerging from some
repulsive task, we all rash into some violent amusement or
exercise which tires out our limbs. The meaning of it all is
that work is only oppressive when it does not please us. And
if one could succeed in imposing on people only such work as
would be agreeable to them, as they might freely choose, there
would certainly be no idlers left.'
But Hermeline in bis turn shrugged his shoulders, saying :
' Ask a child which he prefers, his grammar or his arithmebo.
He will tell you that he prefers neither. The whole question
has been threshed oat ; a child is a sapling which neMs to be
trained straight and corrected.'
'And one can only correct," said the priest, this time in
full agreement with the schoolmaster, * by crashing everything
in any way shameful or diabolic that original sin has left in
man."
Silence fell. Soeurelte had been listening intently, iriillst
Jordan, looking out through one of the windows, let Us glance
stray thougbtfolly under the big trees. In the words of the
pnest and the sohoohnaster Luc recognised the pessimist oon-
oeptions of Catholicism adopted by ^e sectarian followers of
progress, which the State was to decree by exercise of
authonty. Man was regarded as a child ever m fault. His
passions were hunted down : for centuries efforts had been
made to crush them, to kill the man which was within man.
And then again, Luc recalled Fourier, who had preached
qmte another doctrine : the passions, utilised and ennobled,
be«)nung necessary creative energies, whilst man was at last
delivered from the deadly weight of the religions of nothing-
ness, which are merely so many hateful social police systems
devised to maintain the usurpation of the powerful and the
rtcJ?.
I X.P' »
WOJUt ,„
. Tt ™!m k"' " """"eh refleotiog aloud, thereupon reeumea
tli !rl^ be STifflcient to oonTince people ol this troth That
alf^ the happiness realieedfSr A, the mator^he
the happmess of the individual.* B^awr mu oe
But Henneline and Abb* Marie began to laugh.
.„«Z "" °i? "^V «»id the sohoXaater. <fo awaken
»«B7, you bepn by destroying personal interest. Pra?
expUm to me What motive wiU prompt man to action when
fl« Sj^drthrbl'f -f^^'V ^™"»'*"t«""^^^^^
wn,ir p * boUer, It will be found at the outset of all
work. But you would crush it, and although vou desire mw,
^«r vl '"''"°<"' y,°" ^<^ by 4riing & his
quirt waT"' ?T™th J:!Y S° *■">' ^"^ ""^""^ " the same
2Sa«J^ » V *? *'"' «g°t'3m. such as we have hitherto
understood it, has «ven us such a frightfnl social svalem^
S'Slotrb e !?"?"r''*^r^^^«™8-*'>"' it woulfreS
2t^?r™« t^ °°°J* "tber factor. But I repeat that 1
Jfloeftepot^m if by such you mean the very legitimate de^
^ .»"»«|W9 craving, which each man las frhLineS'
^^Jl^^t\ ^T-^ ^**."»'' I would slrSenU
oy making it what it ought to be in order to brine almnt th«
happy community in whfoh the happiness of each'^^be t^e
we'ZuM be±?a%°>.'f ■• %"' « " BuffidTnt tha
!!.£? . °* oon^nced that in working for others we are
^miTt^J'f''""? 'i *f <"*P- ^°' ">ose reasons ai^
agreoment must be arnved at for the reorganisation of work
^ "Ponft* certainty that our own ^hest felid.y^
S^b^Ss.^* " "'"" "' ''^'"y ^ '»"« homes of ^
..^™*"°® sneered, and Abb6 Marie agahi broke in-
Ir^" ""S ""Wtber," that is the teaching of o^W^e
Master. Only He also said that happiness was not of ttU
l^kZJM^T^^.f^^^ '"*^«'«' toTtempt to m1
the angdom of Godupon this eaxth when il is in heaven.'
wbBl. .ffn?* , T% ^y be done,' Lno retorted. ' The
whole effort of mankmd upon its march, aU prcwress and aU
'^'T: *??^ ^ *'"' future city of happiness.'^^
But the schoolmaster, who was no loneer Usteninv
e^ly assailed the priest : < Ah I no, Abb«, ZTbeSS
with your promtsfs of a celestial paradise; they arlo.5?^
'56
tVOJiX
to dupe the poor. And besides, Jesus of Nazareth reaUjr
belongs to us; you stole Him from us, and arranged Hu
sayings and eveiything else in order to suit the irposes of
yonr domination. As a matter of bat, He was simply a
revolutionary and a free-thinker I '
Thus the battle began anew, and Dootor Novarre had to
calm them once more by showing that one was right in certain
respects and the other in others. As usual, liowever, the
various questions vhich had been debated remained in
suspense, for no final solution was ever arrived at. The
ttcnee had been drunk long since, and it was Jordan who, in
his thoughtful manner, put in the last word.
' Tbe one sole tijuth,' said he, ■ lies in Work ; the world
will some day become such as Work will make it. '
Then Soeurette, who, without intervening, had listened
to Luc with passionate interest, spoke of a reftige which she
thought of establishing for the infant children of factory
women. From that moment the dootor, schoolmaster, and
priest engaged in quiet and friendly conversation as to how
this asylum might best be organised, and the abuses of similar
establishments avoided. And, meantime, the shadows of the
great trees lengthened over the lawns of the park, and the
wood-pigeons flew down to the grass in the golden September
sunshine.
It was already four o'clock when the three guests quitted
La Or&iherie. Jordan and Luc, for the sake of a little
exercise, aocompanied them as far as the first houses of the
*^wn. Then, on their way back across some stony fields
which Jordan left uncultivated, the latter suggested that they
should extend their stroll a little in order to call upon Lange
the potter. Jordan had allowed him to instal himself in a
wild nook of his estate below the smeltery, asking no rent
or other payment from him. And Lange, like Mor&in, had
made himself a dwelling in a rocky cavity which some of the
dd torrents rushing past the lower part of the Bleuse
Mountains had excavated in the gigantic wall formed by the
promontory. Moreover, he had ended by constructing three
kilns near the slope whence he took his clay ; and he lived
there without God or master amidst all the free independence
of his work.
' No doubt he's a man of extreme views,' added Jordan, in
answer to a question from Luo, who felt greatly interested in
Lange. • What you told me about his violent outburst in
WORK
'SI
the Bua de BiUi the othei evening did not miiprise me. He
WM lucky m getting released, for the affiui might have
tnnied out very badly for him. But you have no notfon how
intelligent he is, and what art he puts into his simple
rarthen pots, although he has virtually had no education.
Ue was bom hereabouts, and his parents were poor work-
people. Left an orphan at ten years of age, he worked as a
mason 8 help, then as an apprentice potter, and now, since
Ive aUowed him to settle on my land, he is his own
employer, as he Uughingly puts it. ... I am the more
piurtioularly mterested in some attempts he is making with
refractory clay, for, as you know, I want to find the clay best
suited to resist the terrible temperature of my electrical
tumaoes.
At last, on looking up, Luc perceived Lange's dwelling-
I«ace among the bushes. Faced by a little parapet of dry
stones, it suggested a barbarian camp. And as the young
man saw a tall, shapely, dark-oomplexioned girl erect upon
Uie threshold he inquired : ' Is Lange married, then ? ■
i„*u u-*' "P***^ Jordan, ' but he lives with that girl, who is
both his slave and his wife. It is quite a romance. Five
y^ ago, when she was barely fifteen, he found her lying in a
oitoh, very ill, half dead in fact, abandoned there by some band
of gypsies. Nobody has ever known exactly where she come
nom ; she herself won't answer when she's ques* ned. Well,
Lange carried her home upon his shoulders, nu ted her and
cured her, and you can't imagine the ardent gratitude that
she has always shown him since. She lacked even shoes
for her feet when he found her. Even to-day she seldom puts
any on, unless indeed she is going down into the town ; in
such wise that the whole district and even Lange himself call
hM ' Barefeet.' She is the only person that he employs, she
helps him with his work and even in dragging his barrow
when he goes about the fairs to sell his pottery, for that is
his way of disposing of his goods, which are weU known
throughout the region.'
Erect on the threshold of the little enclosure, which had a
gate of <^pen fencing, Barefeet watched the gentlemen ap-
proach, and thus Luc on his side was well able to examine
her with her dark regular-featured face, her hair bkok asink,
and her large wild eyes, which became full of ineffable tender-
ness HiiOiiBVer they turned upon Lange. The young man also
lemarked her bare feet, childish feet, of a light bronze hue,
«5«
WOSJC
resting in the cUyey soil, which wm always damp. And iht
■nod there in working eoBtnme, that ia, barely elad in garment*
of grey Imen, and (bowing her ihapely legs and mnsoiUar arms.
When she had come to the oonelnsion that the gentleman
accompanying the owner of the estate was a friend, she
qmtted her post of observation, and, after warning Lange,
returned to the kiln which she bad previously been watching.
Ah I It's you, Monsieur Jordan,' exclaimed Lange, in his
turn presenting himselt 'Do you know that since that
affidr the other evening Barefeet is for ever imagining that
people are coming to arrest me. I &ncy that if any policeman
should present himself here he would not escape whole from her
olutcfaes . . . You have come to see my last refractory bricks,
eh ? Well, here they are— I'll tell you the composition.'
Luc leadUy recognised the knotty little man, of whom he
had wnght a gUmpse amidst the gloom of the Bne de Briai
whilst he was announcing the inevitable catastrophe, and
cnrdng that corrupt town of BeaucUir, whose crimes had
condemned it. Only, as be now scrutinised him in detail, he
was surprised by the loftiness of his brow, over which fell a
dark tugle of hair, and the keenness of his eyes, which
guttered with intelligence, and at times flared up with
uger. Most of all, however, the young fellow was surprised
at divining beneath a rugged exterior and apparent violence a
mxa of contemplative nature, a gentle dreamer, a simpU
roBHo poet, who, urged on by his absolute ideas of justice, had
finally come to the point of desiring to annihilate the old and
guilty world.
T _^' introducing Lno as an engineer, a friend of his,
Jor^n asked Lange with a Uugh to show the young man
what he called his museum.
' Oh I if it can interest the gentleman, willingly,' said
Lange ; • they are merely thingswhich 1 fire for amusement'!
■ake— th«ffe, all that pottery under the shed. You may give
it aU a glance, monsieur, while I explain my bricks to Mon-
aieni Jordan.'
Luc's astonishment increased. Under the shed he found
a number of faience figures, vases, pots, and dishes of the
strangest shapes and colours, which, whilst denoting great
ipiorance on the maker's part, were yet delightful in their
original naivety. The firings bad at times yielded soma
superb results ; much of the ename! dispiajed =. wondicag
richness of tone. But what particularly struck the young
WORK
«SJ
man among the current pottery which Langfe prepared for
his nin»l ouatomers at the marketa and fairs, the crockery, the
BtMk-pota, the pitchers and basins, was the elegance of shape
and charm of colonr which showed forth like some florescence
of the pmnlar genius. It seemed indeed as if the potter had
denyed his talent from his race, that those creations of his,
instinct with the sonl of the masses, sprang naturally from
his big fingers, as though in fact he had intuitively re-
dis<»yered the primitive models, so full of practical beauty.
When Lango came back with Jordan, who had ordered of
him a few hundred bricks with which it was intended to try
a new eleotrioal furnace, he received with a smile the con-
gratulations tendered him by Luc, who marvelled at the gaiety
of the faiences, which looked so bright, so flowery with purple
and azure, m the broad sunlight.
'Yes, yes," said the potter, 'they set a few poppies and
cornflowers, as it were, in people's houses. I've always
thought that roofs and house-fronts ought to be decorated in
that style. It would not cost very much, if the tradesmen
would only leave off thieving ; and you'd see, too, how pleasant
» town would look— quite like a nosegay set in greenery
But there's nothing to be done with the dirty bmirgtoit of
nowadays!' "
Then he at once lapsed into his sectarian passion, plunged
into the ideas of Anarchy which he had derived from a few
pamphlets that by some chance had fallen into his hands.
Furst of all one had to destroy everything, seize everything in
revolutionary style. Salvation would only be obtained by the
annihilation of all authority, for if any, even the most insignifi-
rant, remained standing, it would suffice for the reconstruction
of the whole edifice of iniquity and tyranny. Next the free
commune, without any government whatever, might be
estabhshed by means of agreement between different groups,
whidi would incessantly be varied and modified, according to
the desues and needs of each. Luc was struck at finding in
this theory much that had been devised by Fourier, and indeed
the ultimate dream was the same, even if the roads to be
allowed were different. Thus the Anarchist was but a
Fourierist, a disabused and exasperated CoIIectivist, who no
longer believed in political means, but was resolved to use
force and extermination as bis instrument to reach sociiJ
liappineas, since centuries of slow evolution seemed unlikely
to achieve it. And thus, when Luc mentioned Bonnaire,
»S4
IVOJiX
}^A^?^ ^** ^"OOWM in hi* irony, ibowiiu nuu
«»mon. dbUecUvigm in which on. woSd uSSS,^
«!! ^ff " ^^"^ Beauolair, whow t8ob he overlS
the potior onoe more poured hi. l^entation, hi. prSo
oity of truth ud jostioe might at fut rise from it. aahw.
«^tl . . n 4 t' ""' violence, Jordan looked at him cnriouriT.
«j!y>g : 'But, Lange, my good feUow, you are not w baSy
'I, Monaiear Jordan, I'm very happy, a. happy a. one
«,^"^'l. u^°° *"'* 1" "ne take this little bit of WS. the
^f'^^J^'^^'Su*" "" '"■ *^ I'™ ^y own maaterTl pay
wnplover to crueh me, and no workman for me to crulh I
2?^*'S"'y *"u^ ■?? P^***'" to good folk who ne^em
without bemg wbbed by tradesmen or aUowing them torob
^7^-f^ .And when I'm so inclined I've stiU lime to miSm
myself by firiM those faience figures and ornamental MtT^d
^te^wUebnjfht colour, please my eyes. Ah°nofiBdS,
W8 don't complam, we feel happy in living when the mS
comes to cheer us. Isn't that so.Barefeetr
The girl had ^rawn near, with her hands quite pink from
SrCwl? ^{^"^ the wheel. And she smSed &7^
■he looked at the man, the god whose servant she had i^
herseU, and to whom she whblly belonged. ""' "" "^ •""«
«» Tlilr Slff '^*'' "1™** ^^^^'^ * tlwre are too many
poor devils suffering, and so we shaU have to blow ud
fiaudair one of these fine mornings in order thWt it ml, b?
^^fT P"^'/- ^"P^e^pda fy deeds is the onty ^^i^
that is of any good; only lombs can rouse the people! ^
do you know that I've everything here tUfs^ssarTto
SZfli*r " *V~ do^"" •><""»» "Web woSd^Sovl
wond^y powerful. Some fine day, perhaps, I shall *S
rff vnth the barrow, which I puU in fr^, ySi' knoT wlSe
SS.^^^' *f .°?^ tas to drag It along the bad village
roads from market to market. So we takS a rest now wd
•gam under the trees, at spot, where there are sprfn^hw^
WORK
'SS
Only, tUt daj, w* iba'n't quit BMooUir, w* duJl m •lona
•U tb* ttneti, and thart'U U • bomb bldcUn in Mob liodi-
pot. Wa ibkll deposit onn at tbe rab-prefaotate, anotbar
at tba town-ball, anotbar at tba law oourtt, tban anotbar
at tba oburoh, at all tba plaoas in fact where tbare'i anTthins
to tba abape of antbonty to be deatroyed. Tba mat^
wiU bum, eaob will last the neoesaaiy time. Then all at onoe
Baanolaii wiU go np I A frightful eruption wiU bum it and
carry It away. Eh? What do you think of that, of my Uttla
promenade, with my barrow, and my UtUe distribuUon of the
rtodi-j^tB I'm makmg to bring about the happiness of man-
He laughed a laugh of ecstasy, bis &oe aU aglow with
ex^tMnent, and as the beautiful dark girl begM to laugh
wjtb bun be tnmed and said to her : 'Isn't that so, Barefeet»
1 U pi^ and you shall push, and it will be even a finer walk
than the one we take under the willows alongside the Mioana
when we go to the fair at Magnolles I '
Jordan did not argue the point, but made a gesture as
mudj as to say that ha, as a sdentut, regarded such a con-
cepUon as imbecility. But when they bad taken leave and
were returning to La Or«oherie Lno quivered at the thought
of that black poem, that dream of ensuring butpiness by
destruction, which thus haunted the minds of a few primiti4
poets among the disinherited classes. And thus, each deep in
his own meditations, the two men went homeward in silenca.
On rewiring direo* to the laboratory they there found
Bfflurette quietlv seated at a Utde table, where she was m^Wn.
a dean copy of one of her brother's manuscripts. ShejuiS
raised her head and smiled at him and his ooippanion then
turned to her task once more.
. . '.•^ '.' *"^ Jordan, throwing himself back in an arm-chair,
Jt Is quite certam that my only good time is that which I
spend hare amon^ my appliances and papers. As soon as
I coma back to this laboratory, hope and peace seem to rise to
my heart once more.'
He glanced affectionately around the spacious room, whose
large windows ware open, the glow of the setting sun antarina
wannly and caressingly, whilst between the trees one sMrtba
roofs uid oaaements of Baanolair shiaiag in the distanoe.
' How wretched and futile all those disputes are I ' Jordan
rewuned, whilst Lno softly paced np and down. ' As I listened
to tbe pnest and the schoolmaster after lunch I felt astonished
:MJm
156
lyosx
that people conid Iom their time in itriviiig to eoaTiae* on*
another when thej viewed qneitiani from oppodto itudpoiate.
and oould not even «pe»k the wuneUngMge. FlMwobMrrT
that they never oome here without bMinning prwdMlr tho
iwme diaonnions afresh, and teaohing abwdutely tt* iMno
jpoiat af on the preylou* ooeation. And heridei, how ijUt it
1« to confine Mieielf to the abnlnte, to talce no aooonnt of
expwienoe, and to fight on eimply with eontradiotorr ariru-
mentsl I am entirely of the opinion of the doctor, wlio
ammea himself with annihikting both priest and lohool-
master by merely opposing one to the other! And thm, as
regards that fellow Lange, can one imagine a man dreamine
of more ndioulous things— losing himaeU in more manifest,
dangeroas errors, aU through bestirring himself chanoewise,
and disdalmng certamiies ? No, decidedly, political passions
do not sut me; the things which those people say to one
another seem to me devoid of sense, and the bineat questions
wiucb thev broach are in my eyes mare pastime* fbr amuse-
ment on the road. I cannot understand why snob vain battle*
should be fought over pettv incidents, when the discovery of
the smallest soientifio truth does more for progress than fiftv
years of social struggling!' — —luv
Lno begra to laugh. ' Yon are falling into the absoint*
yourself, said he. 'Man ought to struggle, politics simply
represent the necessity in wHoh he finds hteSdl to def£a
his needs and ensure himself the greatest sum of happiness
'You are right,' acknowledged Jordan, with Us simpi*
good faith. ' Perhaps my disdain for poUtios merely comes
ftom soine covert remorse, some desire to live in ignorance of
the country's political afiain in order to avoid being disturbed
by them. But, sincerely now, I think that I am still a good
oitiien fa shutting myself up m myUboratory, for each suves
the nation according to his lights. And assuredly the real
revolubonanes, the real men of action, those who do the most
to enrare the advent of truth and justice fa the f^tur^ are the
•dentists. A government passes and falls; a people grows,
triumphs, and then dedfaes ; but tiie truths of science are
transmitted from generation to generation, over spreadfag, ever
Siving increase of Ught and certafaty. A pause of a century
oes not count, the forward march 11 always resumed at last
Md in spits of every obstacle mankind goes on towards
knowledge. The objection that one wiU never know every-
M% ^-
lyoxx
«S7
thing U tidionloai ; ih* qoMtion ii to Imib m moeh m w*
OMi in order that w« nuty atUin to the grettatt h»ppin«M
ponibU. And so, I rapaat it, how animporttnt w* thoM
poUtioal joltf on the road in which netioni take mch
pauionate intereit. Whilit people let the lalvation of pro-
greu in the maintenance or fall of a minlttry, it ie really the
■dentist who determines what the morrow shall be by illomin-
> « the darkness of the moltitude with a fresh spark of troth.
All injostioe will cease when all truth has been aoqnired.'
Bilenoe foil. Soeurette, who had put down her pen, was
now listening. After pondering for a fow moments, Jordan,
without transition, resumed : ' Work, ah I work, I owe my
life to it. You see what a poor, puny little being I am. X
remember that mv mother used to wrap me in thick rugs
whenever the wind was at all violent ; yet it was she who set
me to work, as to a r6g%m» which was certain to bring good
health. _ Bhe did not condemn me to crashing stadies, forms
of punishment with which growing minds are so often
tortured. But she instilled into me a habit of regular, varied,
and attractive work. And it was thus that I learnt to work
M one learns to breathe and to walk. Work has become Uke
uie function of my being, the necessary natural play of my
lunbs and organs, the object of my life, and the very means
that enables me to Uve. I have lived beoaose I have worked ;
some sort of equilibrium has been arrived at between the
world and me ; 1 have given it back in work what it has
brcucLt me in the form of sensations, and I beUevs that all
health lies therein, that is in well-regulated exchanges, a
pertaot adaptation of the organism to its surroundings. And,
however slight of build I may be, I shall live to a good old
age, that's certain, since like a little lachine I have been
carefully put together and wound up, and work logically.'
Luo nad caused in his slow perambulation. I&eSaarette
he was now listening with passionate interest.
'But that is only a question of the Vtt of beings, of
the necessity of good hygiene, if one is to Lave good life,'
continued Jordan. ' Work is life itself ; life is the continual
work of chemio^ and mechanical forces. Since the firat
atom stirred to join the atoms near it, the great creative work
has never ceased; and this creative work, which continues
and will always continue, is like the very task of eternity, the
universal task to which we all contribute our store. Is not
the universe an immense workshop, where there is never an
•'^r^-^Hil
>s«
WORK
•off d»y/ where m»tt«r from the limplest fermenit to Um
mort perfect creatnrM acts, make*, brings forth nnoeMiiislT.
^efleldi whioh b«ioma eorered with orope work ; theilowlT
growing foreete work; the rivere etrnuning throosh tb
T»U»jf work ; the eeM rolling their waree from on* tomthar
MBtmait work ; the world*, carried by the rhythm of BnTita-
Mjm thtonj^ the iniinita, work. Thew i* not a bainTnot a
thin; that can remain «till, in idlenea*; aU find thraiaalT**
f*T ■JS?°*' ■•* *" "'"''• ^°"^ *" oontribuUto th* common
ta*k. Who or whatever doea not work, diaappeaia from that
▼«y oatiM, 1* thriut aaide a* something uaelei* and onmbar-
■ome, and has to jrield place to the necessary, indispenaabia
worker. Bnch is the one law of life, which, npon the whole
I* sin»|ly matter worldng, a force in perpetual activity tondinc
towards that final work of happiness, an imperions craving fw
wmcb wa all have withm us.'
For uo^er moment Jordan reflected, bis eyes wanderina
"" fway. Then he resumed: 'And what an admirabto
regulator IB work, what orderliness it brings with it where-
over it reign* I It is peace, it is joy, even as it is health. I
am confounded when I see it disdained, vilified, regarded aa
ohasfasemoit and ahame. WhUst saving m* from oertain
death, It also gave me aU that is good in me. And what an
admiraWe ormm.eritis.how weU it regulates the facnltiai
of the BMnd, the pUy of the muscles, the rdle of each group
"ili: 1 "'^ of workers. It would of itself suffice a* a
political oonetitntion, a human police, a social ration Hin.
We are botn solely for the sake of the hive : we none of as
"2?f ""i^,*"? ^'"^ """• *•>»" 0" individual, momentarr
et^. AU other explanations would be vain and false Our
Mjvidnal hve* appear to be sacrificed to the universal life of
future world*. No happiness is possible unless we set it in
the solidary happiness of eternal and general toU. And this
M why I should hke to see the foundation of the Bellgion of
Work— a hosannah to work which saves, work in which is to-
be found the one truth, and sovereign health, joy, and peace I '
He ceased speaking and Soeurotto raised a cry of loving
enthusiasm: 'How right you are, brother, and how true!
how beantifol it is I '
But Luc seemed more moved even than she. He had
remained standing there, motionless, his eyes gradually fiUine
with light, as if he were some apostle illumined by a suddenly
desaending ray. And all at once he spoke ; ' Listen, Jordan.
fjf^'iimw'^m^Mm^'^w^. wm^^
m>xK
»s»
•T«ry4him, both the blMt-fornaM nA tfa* mis*. Tli«fi mr
Mfww.Tgij. il Ton now Iwcom I ]>.,• qniu Bi.dSnp ^
miaa upon Ui»»uWec».' ^^ ^ '
«K.^"^7^ ^ " "* .T^"' *''• «onnection of which with
cSaJ^I 5r '. '"* -»i«d him, tho mMter of I*
„~^ ,*^ ' '" '^"•\'tv«r, r u'nod lilent for > moment.
bM0f,.ac,.yM, W OK....-,-.;. ; woA hi^ iuddenfr raised
him, Mr ..vd hi.„ - ..a . u. -(irt, it last showing him then«i^
homoB, -wliich I. ti to ,ad b«ea olonded in miit. ifhta
2J^n,!J*!L"r"'; "1. .««i"if««.PteoiMon. grew animated,
a^med abjclutc c^rtM,- . /-»i& ,!«, globed within him
"Se'rlT^" "" '"" "'^ "^ '^•^ .xtr^-rdinarypow.;
• I ^"SLTa?.".!* 7" ^* P-'°P*^? *° DelaTean,' he repeated.
th.Z^-?* abandoned mine to-day. Snoh a. the oJ^a in
robiSSJ,* it t^tl.*"' **" ?'»",*rye good profit from it by
robjeotin^ it to the new chemical prooesMa. And Morfain
haa oonpncrf me that one wiU find exoeUent lodea<« ft.
The blaat-fomaoe will yield cast iron cheaply, and if it b«
SSS.^Sll:.^'"*?' «.m. puddling fomaJSi'Xg m U^
ateam h*mmert and ao forth, one may again begin makins
*nth_the moat proeperona ateel-woilci of the north and thi
«te™«™'* ^^f'^r^. increajing. becoming .beer con-
ifTi.' , ^ "*"* "<»•? abeady; uid if I deaiia to
jeU the place it i. precisely in 'order to' escape frimTthI
cares of gain.
finiJh'"' » ?''«iP»?»'on»te gestnre Lno broke in: -Let me
fh. ^•T ^".'^^- ^* ''"■' y°" "^''* I ^«"" to enrich, it is
net nnw tK^^-r"' ^Y.^P'^^'<> "bo"" we were speaking of
i!^!. u° • "'*'.;«"™s of iniquitous and vilified Ufionr ! As
yon have said, work ought of itself alone to be a soo,^
roMon d'ttrc. At the moment I heard you, the path to^S^
^^^^ <»n only be brought about by such a reorganisaLn
of work I*, w,U lead to an equitable ap^rtioament ofw^ft
x6«
WORK
the only solntion by which our miieiy and Bofferingi may be
dispelled lies in that. If the old somal tabrie, now eiMking
and rotting, is to be replaoed bv another it most b« n^ the
basis of work, shared by all and benefiting all, aooepted, indeed,
as tiie universal law. Well, that is what I shonld like to attempt
here, a reorganisation of work on a small soale, a brotherly
enterprise, a rough draft, as it were, of the so<nal system of
to-morrow, which I should contrast with the other enter-
prises, Uiose based upon the wage system, the ancient prisons
where workmen are I'egarded as slaves and tortured and
dishonoured.'
He went on speaking in quivering accents, outlining his
dream, all that ha^ germinated in his mind since his recent
perusal of Fourier's theories. There ought to be an associa-
tion between capital, work, and talent. Jordan would provide
the money required, Bonnaire and his mates would give their
aims, and his, Luc's, would be the brain that plans and
directs. Whilst speaking, the young man again began to
walk np and down, pointing vehemently the while towards
the neighbouring roofs of Beauolair. It was Beaudair that
he would save, extricate from the shame and crime in which
he had seen it sinking for three days past. As he gradually
unfolded his plan of action he marvelled at himself, for he
had not thought that he had all this in him. But he at last
■aw things dearly, he had found his road. And he bow
replied to all the distressing questions which be had put to
himself during his insomnia without then finding any answer
to them. In particular he now responded to those appeals
from the wretched which had come to him from out of the
darkness. At present he distinctly beard those cries, and he
vent forward to succour the poor beings who raised them ;
he would save them by regenerated work, by work which
would no longer divide men mto inimical, all-devouring castes,
but would unite them in one sole brotherljr family, wherein
the efforts of each would be directed to obtaining the happiness
of all.
' But the application of Fourier's formula,' said Jordan,
•does not destroy the wage-system. Even among the Col-
lectivists little of that system is changed excepting the name.
To annihilate it, one would have to go as far as anarchy.'
Luc was obliged to admit the truth of this objection ; and
in doing so he passed his feelings and opinions in review.
The theories of Bonnaire, the Collectivist, and the dreams of
WORK
i6i
Luge, the Aiuiobi8t,atiU lingered in hi« ears. The disouwiona
between AbM Mule, eohoolmuter Henueline, and Doctor
Novarre, also seemed to begin a&esh and continne endlessly.
The whole made up a chaos of contrary opinions, particnlarly
as Luc likewise recalled the objections exchanged by the
precursors of Socialism, Saint-Smion, Auguste Comte, and
Fnradhon. Why was it then that amongst so many formulae
he himself should choose those of Fourier 7 No doubt he was
acquainted with a is,i> fortunate applications of them, but he
also knew how slowly attempts progressed, and what difficulties
stood in the wav of any decisive result. Perhaps his choice
was due to the fact that revolutionary violence was quite re-
pugnant to him personally, since he had set his scientmc fiuth
m ceaseless evolution, which has all eternity before it to
achieve its ends. Moreover, a complete and sudden expropria-
tion of present-day possessors could not be eflected without
terrible catastrophes which would increase the present sum
of misery and sorrow. Would it not be best therefore to
profit by the opportunity of such a practical experiment as lay
before him, an attempt in which ho would find contentment
for his whole being : his own native goodness of heart and
his foith in man's goodness also ? He was upbuoyed by some
exalted heroic feehng, a &itb, a kind of prescience, which
seemed to make success a certunty. And, besides, even if the
application of Fourier's formulas should not bring about the
immediate end of the wage-system, it Wduld at least be a
forward step, it would tend towards the final victory, the
destruction of capital, the disappearance of mere traders,
commercial middle-mim, and the annihilation of the power of
money, that source of all evils whose uselessness would ^a
proved. The great quarrel of the socialist schools is one as to
the means which should be employed. The schools are all
•gieed aa to the object in view, sjid they will all be reconciled
when some day the happy community is at last established.
It was the first foundations of that community which Lno
desired to lay, by collecting scattered forces, associating men
of good will together, and he was convinced that, given the
frightful massacre now going on, there could be no better
poir >f departure.
Jordan remained sceptical, however. ■ Fourier had flashes
of genius,' said he, ' that is certain. Only he has now been
d^d more than sixty years, and if ho st;U retains a few
■*rjLikr«J
162.
•^CJiX
stubborn disciplee I see no sign of big leligiou CQnqneiiqg Aft
world.'
' Catbolioisiu took four centuriee to oonquer a gmall pwl
oi it,'' Lno qniokly retorted. ' Besides, I don't adopt die
whole of Fonrier's views ; I regard him simply as a wise man,
to whom one day a vision of the truth appeared. Moreoveir,
he is not the only one ; others helped to prepare the formula
and others'will perfect it. One thmg whiohyon oannot 4eny
is that the evolution now proceeding so rapidly dates bom far
back. 'The whole of our century has been given to the
laborious engendering of the new social system which will
arise to-morrow. Each day for a hundred ^earg past the
workers have been, bom a httle more to social life, and to-
morrow they vrill be masters cf their destinies by virtue
of that scientific law which ensures life to the strongest,
healthiest, and worthiest. It is all that which we nowMayi
behold, &e finnl struggle between the privileged few by
whom wealth has been stolen, and the great toiling maeies
who wish to recover the possession of wealth of wmch tbey
have been despoiled for long centuries. History teachea us
how a few seized on the greatest happiness possible — to the
detriment of all the others; and now since then all the
wretched despoiled ones have never ceased to struggle, furi-
ously, e^er to reconquer as much happiness aa they could.
For the Ust fifty years the contest hag become merciless, and
one now sees the privileged folk seized with fear, and slowly
relinquishing of uieir own accord certain of their privileges.
The times are approaching, one can feel it by all the con-
cessions which the holders of land and wealth make to ,the,
people. In the political sphere much has been given it already,
and it will also oe necessary to give it much in the economic
sphere. One sees nothing but new laws favouring the workers,
humanitarian measures of all kinds, the triumphs too of
associations and imions, and all announce the coming era*
The battle between labour and capital has reached such an
acute crisis that one can already predict the defeat of the
latter. In time, the disappearance of the wage-system is
certain. And this is why I feel convinced that I shall conquer
by helping on the advent of that something else which will
replace the wage-system, that reorganisation of work, which
will give us more justice and a loftier civilisation.'
He waq radiant with henevnlence, faith, and hope. And
Gontinuins he went back to history, to the robberies perpe-
mmp^^m'Mm^m^ im
WORK
««3
(rated by the gtronger in the earliest days of the world, the
wietohed mnltitade being redooed to slavery and the posaeuors
puuig crime upon crime in order that they might not be
oUiged to restore anything to those who were de^ioUed, and
who perished by Btarvation or violence. And he showed the
aeotmiulation of wealth increased by time, and still now
in the hands of a few, who held the country estates, the
hoosfis in the towns, the factories of the industrial centres
the mmea where coal and metal slumber, the means of trans-
port by road, canal, and rail, and then the Eentes, the gold
and the silver, the millions which circulate through the banks,
briefly the whole wealth of earth, aU that constitutes the
mealoulable fortune of mankind. And was it not abominable
ihat 80 much wealth should only lead to the frightful indigenes
of the greater number? Did not such a state of things
demand justice ? Could one not see the inevitable necessity
of proceeding to a fresh apportionment of wealth ? Such
miqmty, in which on the one hand one beheld idleness
gorged with possession, and on the other pain-racked labour,
agonising in misery, had made man wolfish towards man.
Instead of uniting to conquer and domesticate the forces
of natore, men wolfishly devoured one another. Their
barbaroos social system oast them to hatred and error and
madness; infante and aged beings were abandoned, and
woman was crushed down, to become a beast of harden toe
some, and a mere instrument of pleasure for others. The
wovken themselves, oormpted by exampie, accepted their
Mcvitude, bmdiag their heads amidst the universal cowardice.
And how frightful, too, was the waste of human fortune, ^
coloml sums spent on warfare, and %11 the money giv«n to
usdess functionaries, to judges and to gendarmes! And then
tiers, was all the money which without necessity remained in
the hands of the traders, those parasite intermediaries, whose
gams were levied on the consumers-! But, after all, this was
only the daily loss of an illogical, badly oonstructed social
system. Apart from it there was downright crime, famine
dehberately organised by those who detained the instrumente
of labour, m order to protect their profits. They reduced the
output of a factory, they imposed off-days upon miners, they
created misery for purposes of economic warfare, in order to
keep up high prices. And yet people were astonished that
tue machiiiB uLouid be cracking and collapsmg beneath such
a pile of suffering, injustice, and shame t
I«4
WORK
' No, BO I * cried Lno, ' that cannot Uit, unless mankind
U to disappear in a final attack of madness. The social
compact must be chan^, each man that is bom has a right
to life, and the earth is the common fortune of us all. The
instruments of work must be restored to all, each must do his
own share of the general labour. If history, with its hatreds,
its wars, its crimes, has hitherto been nothmg but the abomi-
nable outcome of original theft, of the tyranny of a few
thieves who had to urge men on to murder one another, and
institute law courts and prisons to defend their deeds of rapine,
it is time to begin history afresh, and to sot, at the dawn of
the new era, a great act of equity, the restoration of the
wealth of the earth to all men, work once again becoming
the universal la\f of human society, even as it is that of the
universe, in order that peace may be made among us and
happy brotherliness at last prevail. And that shul be I I
will work for it, and I will succeed ! '
He seemed so passionate, so lofty, so viotorioni in bis
ncophetic exaltation, that Jordan, marvelling, turned towards
Soenrette to say, ' Just look at him, is he not handsome ? '
Soeurette herself, quivering, pale with admiration, had
not taken her eyes from Luc. It seemed as if a kind of
religions fervour possessed her. ' Oh ! he is handsome,' she
moimursd faintly, ' and he is good as well.'
■ Only, my dear friend,' reiumed Jordan, smiling, 'you are
rtftUy an Anarchist, however much jtm may deem yooiMlf
to b« an evolutioniit. But you are right in holding that one
bagins by Fourier's formula, and ends oy the free man in the
£rw commune.'
Xiuo himself had begun to laugh. ' At all events,' s^ he,
< let's make a start ; we shall see whither logic will lead as.'
Jordan had become thoughtful, however, and no longer
seemed to bear him. He, the doistered scientist, had bean pro-
foundly stirred, and if he still doubted the possibility of
hastening m&akind's advance, he no longer denied the utility
of experiment.
' Individual initiative is no doubt in some respects all-
powerful,' he said. ' To dotermine facts, one simply needs a
man of will and action, some rebel of genius and free mind who
brings the new tmtli with him. In cases of accident, when
salvation depends on cutting a cable or splitting a beam,
only a man and a hatchet are necessary. Will is everything,
ise Dibvioar id ha who wiuius the hutuiiei. Noiuiu^ romsU,
IVOHJC
mounWi.. collapse and seas wtire before an MividuaUtJ
sion^oTthe^liS^'I^,' i" "?r ^'".'^ ^"O '""»'' <"> «?««-
i_ ■ ^'' ^^ conviction elowinc wUliin him h»
taew not yet what pnius he brough? wUh f ii^'buTh^M pS!
UU^ r,l^n"*r ''"* "r** *» •»"*«' »»«n long JSI-
iMmg, a strength compounded of revolt arninst Si thpin
^?X1 ?"'"/«"' as were soientificaUy proved. He wm
mUn touldl^L'lLt"' ■"' "^" ""^** '"' -«"-*' '^^
S:^&"r '^"~- -Vita^".^-,rL-
h^nd, so as to rii myself of them and to be able to^l^o
myself in peace to my studios and esperimenS Sn Ikf
r^ « ^^ ?*"!• } 8*" undertako nothing without money
A^ M ''??t'^,«'ousand francs' to estfbUsh Sie ^0^
dream of^ which will be lilte the foundation of the fntZ^citv
;ou; LnTtaTr,?'*^/''?' ^ °^- y°" » eood investmenHfacJ
know°i^ i°^i" ''"*¥ >• 'nt^T^w. be went on : < Yes, I
S?.^I. ^°" ■".? "°' ^«»'™ to become any richer. NevirT
sW^JSSV""',=i ""* ''y" P'" °«' your moliy I shsj
t£rv™ J^~^ * '"' *" y?" °'"«"»1 wmt" i" 8«ok /manner
&,S^^M T'""" *"" °«^" ^ disturbed.'
.Mctan^rZ^ wi "'*'"'*■ 8?'*' '"" °' ^"'otio''. fi>U in that
ipaoioni room, where so much work was already germinating
■ 20,0002.
\1
iM
WORK
for the harvesto of the dayi to oome. The daoiiion that had
to be taken was fraoght -with sooh great importance for the
fatnre that it set ■omethiog lilw a religious quiver there
during that august int«val of auspanse.
' Yoam is a eonl of renunciation and benevolence,' said
Lno again. ' Did you not apprise me of it yesterday when
yon told me that you would not trade upon the discoveries
you pursue, those rleotrical furnaces which will some day
reduce human labour and enrich mankind with new wealth ?
For my part it is not a gift that I ask of ^ou, it is brotherly
help, help to enable me to lessen the injustice of the times and
create some happiness in the world.'
Then, in very simple fashion, Jordan consented. 'I'm
willing, my frieqd,' he said. ' You shall have the money to
realise your dream. Only, as one never ought to tell a £uRe-
hood, I will sdd that, in my eyes, that dream is still only so
much generous Utopia, for yon have not fully convinced me.
Excuse the doubts of a scientist . . . But no matter, you are
a good fellow ; make your attempt — I will be with you I '
Luc, whom enthusiasm seemed to raise from the ground,
gave a cry of triumph : ■ Thanks I I tell you that the work \n
as good as done, and that we shall know the divine joy of
having accomplished it I '
S<Eurette hitherto had not intervened — she had not aren
■tirred. But all the kindliness of her heart had nade itself
manifest in her hee, big tears of tender emotioB illed bar eyas.
All at once, under some irresistible impulse, she rose, draw near
to Lao, silent, ii&cracted, and kissed lum on the face, her tears
gnahing forth ■■ she did so. Then, in her wondrous emotion,
she flung hraaelf into her brother's arms, and long remained
sobbing there.
Slightly surprised b^ the kiss she had given the young
man, Jordan anxiously mquired : ■ What is the mattor, little
sister 1 At least you don't disapprove of what is prtmoaad,
do you ? It is true that we ought to have consalted yon.
But there is still time— are you with us 1 '
' Oh, yes t oh, yes I ' she stammered, smiling, suddenly
radiant amidst her tears; 'you are two heroes, and I will
serve you — dispose of me.'
Late on the evening of that same day, towards eleven
o'clock, Lno leant out of the window of the little pavilion, as
on the previous night, in onfer to inhale for a moment the
oaun fresh air. In &ont ot him, beyond tiw nnonltivated
WORK
167
M^ rtrewn with rocks, Beanelair ma faUing uleeu
CTtogniihing ita liffhto one by one; whilst on the left the
h^K"^""?^ ^^,'i} ** "O'* <" "« hammers. Neve?
h«d the breathing of the pun-racked giant seemed to Luc
more hoarse, more oppress*^. Bnt again, as on the previous
fk*? u V""!?^^^"* ^™ '*="*'' "■« "»d, so light a sound
Mgrt-birf. His heart snddMUy palpitated, however, when he
hewdthe sound afresh, (or he recognised a gentle quiver of
WKiMh. And a^ he saw a vague, deUcate, ani slender
»rm which s^med to float over the grass. Then, with the
J^^kL' T"^ 8°*'- * ^"""^ 'S'oaaei the road, and threw
hun a httle bouquet so skilfully that he once more received it
2 mf.Z.»^ ? '*""!• ■ *" "".thePKvious night, too, it was
SJ^u 5' mountam pansies, gathered just then among
perito^*b'?f powerful aroma that he was quite
♦endraiss"""*' ^'"^' ' ' ^^ *'"'''™*^' penetrated by infinite
She it was Who had returned, and who, nitfve, simple like
thMi very flowers, once again gave him her whole soul, ever
vraft the same gesture of passionate gratitude. And he felt
r«^ed, revived, amidst aU thephyacal and mental fitiirae
■iflowinB upon so decisive adav. Werenotthose flowers already
» reward for hw first eflbrts, for his resolution to proceed to
•ehon ? And it was in her, Josine, that he loved the snffer-
mg toUers, It was she whom he wished to save from monstrous
fate. He had found her the most wretohed, the most insulted
and dended, so near to debasement that she was on the point
of faUing mto the gutter. With her poor hand mutilated by
work, she typified the whole race of the victims, the slaves,
who gave theu flesh for work or for pleasure. When he
should have redeemed her, he would have redeemed the entire
race. And she, too, was love, love that is needful for harmony,
for ^e happiness of the city of the future.
B„t -Sf ° V '^^ ^V '■ ' ^°^^^ ' ^°^^° ' I* " yon. Josine I '
But witoout a W'ord she was already fleeing, disappearing into
the darkness of the uncultivated moor. Then he again called
her : Josine ! Josme I It is you, I know it, Josine ; I want
to Qjeak to you I
Thereupon, trembling but happy, she came back with the
SMie bght step, pjid paused on the foad beiow the window.
IBS, It 18 I, Monsieur Luc," she murmured.
168
tfOJtX
w« T^,^''S!^^.f"''"^• I ''»™ *>">« good nowJtor
1«»— I !»▼• fcnnd Wm lome work.'
Blw sh<>w»a her pUunre by • Ungh, tinmd with ttnotimi
AM, oontinaed h« in a lower voioe, for he. likewiie. wai
faeliag moved, ' I AaU have work for lOl wh?wK%Jfc
fcTei^y"?* *" '^ *" P'°'*^ ' litUe jurticeandhapiSSS
n.„^i?i°" •*'" nadawtood him, for her Ungh became vet
JS: ^ '°''' *?«>««•'» LuoT- Then ib» vinon besuto
S^^^ ^""^ "r the licht ehadow fleeing thronSthe
iS^u ■«»°I«»i«d by anoSier and •mS^ooeTlW
J^^fflSttt"' '^' ""' ''•"' wa.n^t.S
! i?*"? ' ^**"* ' ■^« »»»o»r, Jodne I '
■Thank von, Monsienr Lno I ■
k„t u! 'S^J^^^V^ dtotingniah her, she had diMtppeaied.
but he itiU heard her expreMoni of iatitndTMdJwttS
luL^Sd'ws'hllrt. » '°«-^'' «*«» -Wch penetrated and
mnto« Li°"& ^T ^? '•' ""««' »' the window, fuU of
^»Hi^^i**""^*".'"'P«- ^•''"" "'« Abyss where
MOM^d toU was panting, and La Guerdaohe, whose pi^
teL'^S'^^i**^ P»t«tuponthelowpl«nof LaBoimJSn^
^ T^^"^ xS*^ Beauolair. the workeA' dwelling.plMe,^S&
rt. abiky rotting hovel, slumbering beneathie'^ wffi
r«i?.£'T^ "^^ "^'fo^e- There lay the oloa^TH
iw.^*^.*? P°"^' ^^ •»*'9n« 8wl of the wage-system^
^,I?°i!t'^ ""!? '° i^* K™""'^ with aU its hahSTSmT;
^^^L r "^^ »hf' ">»nWnd might be cured™ the
^ecte of the long efforts to poison it. ISd on the same spot
h« was m jmsj^tum, already raising the future city, Se
•Aoae of truth, jusbce, and happiness, whose white hon«a he
couMalreadypwtnre smiling &eelyand fratemaUy amonpt
ddi«to TOTdnre, under a mighty suh of joy. """"S"
ant, all at once, the whole horiMin wu illansissd, •
M --.-1 H<#"4
wotuc
•«9
«»•* pink glow lighted ap tb« roob ol a^— i-t. tu. _,„
|2g« b. aught thaSTJlra i;t'.m:J^;J".S^
170
m>jtx
BOOK II
Thmb yews went by, and Lno eitabliahed hia new fkotory
which gave birth to a whole town of workers. The land
which lay below the ndge of the Bleuse Mountaina extended
over a spaoe of lome twelve hundred square yards, a neat
J?Sf"^ wluoh, sloping iliffhtly, stretched from the park of La
Or«oherie to the jumbled buildings of the Abyss. And the
beginnings were necessarily modest, only a part of the moor
was at first utilised, the rest being reserved for the extensions
™ioh It was hoped the future would justify.
*u ui x'!"''" ■**^. •8»^»t »l>e rooky promontory, just below
the blast-fumaoe, with which they communicated bi two lifts.
Pending the revoluUon which Jordan's electrioai fumaees
would effect, Lno had done little to the smaltciT; he had
improTed it in a few matters of detail, and then left it in
Morfam s huids to continue working according to old-time
routme. But in the new works, both as regards the buildings
and the plant, he had avaUed himself of aU poiil^e
improvements in order to increase the output and dudnith
the labour of the workers. In a like spirit he desired that the
bouses of th« workers, each of which stood in a garden, should
be homes of comfort where family life might flouriih. Some
fifty werealready built on the land near La Cr«cherie, fbnnimr
quite a httle town advancmg towards Beaudair. The buiUins
^ each new house, indeed, was like a fresh step taken byt^
future city towards the conquest of the old, guilty and con-
demned one. Then, in the centre of the land, Luc had erected
I^~T.T1; r'*' ^ •"«* i*^^* containing schools, a
Ubrary, a h^l for meetings and festivities, baths and so forth.
IhiB was all that he had retained of Fourier's phalansterr.
leaving everybody free to build as he pleased, and only deem-
ujg collective action to be nscessftry for certain pnbHe swrioeB.
r M*
woxx
«7«
oSS^'for ^"JS?"*'.' S°*7r d.i»rtoent. not 'o Sm"on
•rUeta. tba whole Uing eondnotad on the prindplM rfTeo!
.w^"',"?/^""".' "" """^^y ' beginning, bnt there w^no
I,?- i "[/'•ir"' "'"' ""'^ »''«<'" ■«« "d judged, work
W rn.'^i."''^ •"'• •"W'^'d in miking .aa£ nSd pwZw
Ji«d_ not the happy thoiurht awn^ui »„ i,j» ?/Vl.?!°*?'*
S^'^k"' '-? ^?^"P '^- '^ 'he ente^riM oS^S
^l^^^f I*rtioul«l^ deUghted him we. tSt he hedmSl
fcr?lF.^' mJ?" 'Pr°8* •<*"«"^ "nong the highlrroS^
SLSS'th":'or'£ :^d°ttT °' ''""'1: "^P"« wl"Xoh
vwBUHa ue worke and the oommoD-house, B»ve mointura tn
«d?ShTtoX''hi^f^"'^ ^^'^^^^^^
g.^'^ujvrrjictteliL^v^^^^
whiZ' ?"''~'?«^^»»<» doleful, had remained und« DeUv^'
WT^T ?°"S!"'^ ^'^ "P^"d to *•» »ew works, taking ^a,
Wm hu brother-m-Uw fiagu. who in his torn had md™S
F^;^t-S,"«S'L "^^^ then workeTwi Auo "^
iranchMd wished to question them. In the state of heb^t^
to whjd. fifteen years of labour, ever the same.Tv^ a re^'^^
5^1 ,• ^ ri\ ^' tmvmg at any decision by himT^
m!fnth K K* ^ '*«'?« h'" ^<^°^^ of mind, tiat foTC
suffiwent strength of wiU to make it. Prom the mommt of
oommg as he did from the grimy, dusty AbTM into «),«.o
heavy tumbledown halls thfTght^rody ^to^^'Z
mjJjeUed^ m the first instance, at fhe s.>h?rf^h?S'4
»i»UB Of La Creohene, aU brick and iron, throuou whoM broai
S^°^.K*^t r*?^" '^'^'^- Au'thTworkshors We
.sZ" w *• »hundanoe of water facilitated frequent wwh-
3i„^ ** "condition, by reason of the new smoke^^
Thu^ in heu of an infernal, oyolopean den there we^ bright
jn^:''^M^jS^r:i^:j!mm:z T.Xr wr..:.
*«aOC0fY RiSOUITION TBT CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
^ APPLIED IM/C3E In
^^ 165^ Coat Main StrMt
^2 RoctwiUf. Na* Yofk 14609 USA
S (^'6) ^^2 - 0300 - Phan«
K (716) 280 - S9S9 ~ Fox
I7»
WORK
Bhmy spacions workshops in which toil seemed to lose mooh
of Its harshEesa. No Soubt the employment of ekotriSlv
^as stJl very Umited; there was stftlTdeaienLR roar of
efforts'^'^nwLt' '""' '^li/tJ^ad been founrfo? h°„ma°„'
Waf. „♦ 'i,^-°"f """,? °' '^» furnaces had there been
S.-1 "'*=''»°"=^1 appliances, which, although hithMtS
freed from excessive labour. At La Creoherie thev wero
feehng their way, so to say; and yet how crcat was Tho
im^ov^ment which already Resulted from dLKss.Z, a'd
^in.'^Tu^^i'^ expected to find Bonnaire, the master-pud-
dler, at his fhmaoe, and was surprised to comrunon him
'"'*^HXr " 'r^' rolling-machle for the mTkingWR
puddltogtlie/""""^ """ ''=''"■ ''«'- y- ^ven up
'No,' Bonnaire replied, 'but we do a little bit of everv-
th ng here. That's the rule of the pUce : two houra on o?o
whnl' LT*i*' °'/'"' .^°°. ^ "0' easily induce the men
whom he took on to quit whatever might be their SD«!iStv
Later, however, reforms would be reahsed, for the Sr^'
woJk ^^^ r'?''^ '?«'"S'^ "^^^l appranticesWps, since
W a fc^l """^ '^ "^^ attractive by vk^ing it, andri^°n|
but a few hours to any one particular form ""«' Pving
.i„ Ah!' sighed Fauchard, 'wouldn't it just amuse me to
tTenTcfntl t^ t;hrr' ^ "^ ^^ ^^ «'
CJ^n ^^^ •'^^•"'?,"al to shake handS with BagTanl
U^s^iJ ° •^»? busily engaged in receiving the r«T ^\
nnt ™^ •''f,.^'"'* ' ""Kbt 'or Fauchard. The rails were
not made m the same wav as at the Abyss. He Iwked at
LtrwTrds "°?hrih- 1"«^'^' ""'""^ ^« '""1^ "»' have pu
i^i.1^ u- i .\^ ^^^^ ™°" particuUrly made him suffer
S was'^the'^m"' "''"••=^^ "^ •'V^''^ to tb« si^^Ta^^
tool, was the dim consciousness that he might have been a
Xt a fr^'te' "^^ rV'- ^' ^» '°^««d «o ^Td totohik
Iil™^!, j' Wealthy joyful man he might have become if
rtei*^^ ?-°l""' "^^ '"t" ^^'^ brutifying gaTthe AWs I
The rails, which ever grew longer before hi! lyes, seemed to
WORK
m
ThesterfbillS «,1 'r "t^oj^i""? speed and regularity
174
WORK
She«D^n „?*■'"' ^rf"*?^ y^'l^*^ ^y "•""■nio"! treatment
of ^hISL fL*" •f'^'J' ' "^ S"'' ^* *^t the mannfcotSe
of girders and mlg, being euffioiently remunerative enn^
the prospent^ of the works. They paid their w^7tt; ZZj
^^yJr}" '■ ^^°^ ^•^°'*" "«" ^™«ted towards the7ntoe
^d hl™lt?-°° °' P^^i'- ^''^ ''°''™«° ^a'' 'heir oomfo-t
and happmess mcrease. None the less his daily life waTf nU
L^r^^^^^"" "•*' complicated creation of Ids XTwere
considerable advances to make, an entire Httle ai^ to l3
and worries assailed him both as a reformer, asT rarine^'
mdeAtoSdter ■ f ""^'^ "^"^^ -^rt"^. y«t ^e^faUy
at B^nal*''R."^~"'j*'?, ""'y P»"=«^ ^°' » """""snt to smile
„„T. * II f\ "''*" '^*' ''»'l "here the rollingmaohinerv
ana rails made there ; it was the good foice of m^ )«
S3 P^irtUef^er^ts^JS'l^f i^^^^^^
S^ AhT'^K^f r ^^ ""' «*^ *<» e*ta^*^
urns. _ Ajii might the steel girders and framewnrk. k.
oibes, bndges to cross riyers and valleys, miaht rails^
b^r.^t'^ the presses and form eXs3 to aboiwj
frontier? bnng nation, together, and win the whole vrorld
over to the broWly oivili^tion of to-mOTrowl
rt« ^f ?' •'"^v.*^ ^"° P*™^ "to the large foundry where
the preat steam-hammer began to pound away, foS^
St ftP^^" ^"^««' thVroUing mwlSfwa^
suddenly stopped, and an mterval ensued pendingthe 2^rtL^
of another section. Fauohaid then dre " nearer t^WsSd
mates, and some conversation ensued between Tern
he 4ui5-er' "^ ^""^ "^^ "^''* ''*™ = y°° "^ ^"'^fi^d, eh ? ■
'Satisfied, no doubt,' Bonnaire replied. 'The working
WOXK ,^5
dlLd/l^L*"!? °'..*^''* *'°«"' *»« " what on« does ■»
w»rt. h2V7^ j f °\ '^^ •''"«^ mainstays of the new
he workei anfl T^fLi ??* "* '?"* '""« **»« ">» was sensible,
«-t:?iT^aS}: r^^aTer ^f.t""o.^Sfe^
aouL^whrt'yrz^to^r'^' *^°" «"" -^ '"' "* "-«y.
douWe^^l '''L'ri'*"?''."!^'' '^" to jest :< Oh I the
just to betrin wif). t • «;j v. TV > "" ' » hundred francs
ioun^boufTorSHndayf'''- '^^ -°"* " '^"^ ">" *1
176
IVOSK
ao-opentive aiorea and the gay Uttle houaaa which are let to nt
umost for nothing. Certainly this ien't yet real justioe, bu;
all the same we are on the road to it.'
Bagn continued sneering, and a desire came to him to
jatiafy another hatred, for if he jested about La Cr«cherie,
he never spoke of the Abyss otherwise than with ferocious
rancour.
'And what kind af &oe does that animal Deiaveau pull
nowadays 1 ' he inquired. ' It amuses me to think that he
must be quite wild at having another show erected dose to
his own, and one too that seems likely to do good business.
He sm a rage, isn't he?'
Pauohard waved his arm vaguely and replied : ' Of course
he must U m a rage, only he doesn't show it over much,
^d yet I reallv don't know, because I've enough worries
of my own without troubling about those of other people.
I m heard say that he doesn't care a fig about your works
and the competition. He says, it seems, that cannons and
JheUs will always be wanted, because men are fools and will
always go on murdering one another.'
Luc, who was just then returning from the foundry, heard
those last words. For three years past, since the day when
. *'»?,^Pja»»iIed on Jordan to keep the blaat-fnmaoe anl
estabhsh forges and steel-works, he had known that he had
u enemy in Deiaveau. The blow had been a severe one for
the kttMr, who had hoped to acquire La Crtoherie for a com-
pa»tiyely small sum payable over a term of years, and who
in Uen thereof saw it pass into the hands of an audacious
young man, full of intelligence and activity, possessed of
MCh ci-eative vigour that at the very outset of his operations
he raised the nucleus of a town. Nevertheless after the
SS"* isS' *"* *"' *°"'' "' surprise, DeUveau had felt
fcU of confidence. He would confine himself to the manu-
facture of ordnance and projectiles, in which line the profits
were large ones, and in which he feared no competition. The
Mnouncement that the neighbouring works would resume
the makmg of rails and girders had at first filled him with
merriment, ignorant as he was that the mine would be worked
afresh, "^hen, on understanding the situation, realising that
large proi ts might be made by treating the defective ore
ehraucally, he did not lose his temper, but declared to every-
body that there was room for all enterprises, and that he
would willingly leave the making of rails and girders to his
^VORK
but poUte int^"ri^ ' ' „ i Pf "^ '^l °° aisturged. cold
of juirand^ee work rnlT".^'^' ?'*?"" ^at centre
Might gain "wn T, n-^ Vu '"°'' '^' '" t'™* "» spWt
fail him, his arms howevB?»JTt. * ^S''?'' °' ""P^'al n>'ght
for him in L&th«^2»^^'' ^^''"^^•P *'?'" "he still retained
lives ^ * ^""^'y ''™8«'« '''''"h now parted their
thel^erve'forh."''°^i?i??"'','''''^' '^^ P"* himself on
sary cSIte ^h thrAt''*'^^'''" *° avoid all unneoes-
.Ju,d corCt!!;\t!'fcr^7wr«f tCr
N
178
WORK
serrioeg, but he did not -wish it to be tald that he ifled to
•ttraot them. As a matter of fact, it was the vorkerg of La
CMcherie who decided whether a new hand should be admitted
or not. Accordingly, as Bonnaire had on various previous
oocamons spoken to him of Fauohard, Luo feigned a belief
that the latter was trying to gain admittance from his former
comrades. * Ah I it's you, my friend,' said he ; 'you've corns
to see if your old mates will make room for you, eh ? *
The other, once more full of doubt, incapable of prompt
resdntion, began to stammer disjointed words. All novelty
frightened him, accustomed as he was to blind routine. Those
new works, those large, light, clean halls, filled him with
emotion as if they formed part of some awesome place where
It would be impossible for him to live. He was already eager
*o ™*™?. **> ^" Wack and pain-fraught inferno. B»gu had
derided hiiu. What was the good of changing, when nothing
was certain 1 Besides, he dimly realised, perhaps, that it was
too late for him to make a change.
' No, no, monsieur, not yet," he stuttered ; ' I should like to,
but I don't know. I'll see a little later— I'll consult my wiffe.'
Luo smiled. ' Quite so, quite so— one has to please the
women. Au reeoir, my friend.'
Then Fauchard went off in an awkward way, astonished
at the turn that his visit had taken, for he had certainly made
1* ^'''iS* •°'«"'io° of asking for work, if he found the place
to his hking, and one could earn more money there than a«
the Abyss.
Fot a moment Luo remained speaking to Bonnaire about
some improvements which he wished to introduce into the
roUing-maohinery. But Ragu had a complaint to make.
Monsieur Luo,' said he, ' a gust of wind has broken three
more panes in the window of our bed-room. And I must
warn yon that this time we really won't pay. It all comes
from our house being the first in the line of the wind that
comes from the plain. One freezes in it.'
He was always complaining, always finding reasons for
mwontent. 'Besides, it's very simple. Monsieur Luo,' he
added, 'you've only got to call at our house to see how it
happens. Josine will show you.'
Since Eagu had been working at La Cr^cherie Sceurette
had prerailed on him to marry Josine; and thus they lived
together in one of the little houses of the newto?ra of workers,
» house which stood between those of Bonnaire and Bonrron.
WORK
»79
<U«agreement m his home. Onlv a few nimrrol. K.S k.„i
out caused chiefly by the presence^^ N^et wTo'at^h-vTd "
SdtaTte «&r"' whenever Josine wks so^wW In^
inclined to shed tears, she oarefu ly closed the window in
Bnt^::' ^k","""?'^""' •"'!•'' ""'hear her weeprng ' '"
R.J; .V L""^?" •'.".^ P.'^'e^ over Luc's brow, 'viry well
Bagu he stoply sa.d, • I will call at your house.' ^ '
tn do,? oonversabon ceased, the machinery had begnn
^fwV""* i"°"' 4~wmnB the voices of one and aU
Ti L^r 'fcr™' ^''''=\«Weste-' the mastication
01 a giant. *or another moment Luo watched the wnrk
sm^ing a Bonnaire. encouraging Bourron <S.d Ragu strWue
he'raT°,^nSd'i;'r ?r"« *'""' S""* o^rkerMof
.ffij^t .?f ""°«^, ''^'^' nothing can prove substantial and
^fZ^Tihir^'"'^- ^i ^^ ''^ 9"'««d the workshops,
J„ n.^?. / K^t common-house, as he did each morning
deSrfif of « '°IV'"""""?8 °' ^°*'"e ^^' he tasted the
delight of a yet keener hope among the little world of
chUdten, by whom the future was per8.rnified.
I»™. IfiJ'"""""^^^' "^'nraUy enough, was as yet only a
^M^lT' ^I •'"f.'J">»'> erecting which Luo lad aiied
a a^fct 't''^ the place as commodious as poSe
liW^. !*• ?H? **,°?'' occupied one wing of^t, tlie
one, whilst the meeting and festival-hall, together with
various offices, occupied the central pile. The sSs ^re
a™ted mto three Jstinct sections, first a kindTf iXn
riil^LT ?-f*,'°°*'" ^°"°^S various avocations coufd
lOace their htUe ones, even when these were mere babes in
swaddhng clothes; secondly a school proper, comprismg fiie
f^^- Lf *v "S^ " '^"'P'^'^ ^y^'em of education was in
teoe ; imd thurdly a series of workshops for apprentices
m^e pupils fre3uented.the latter even whilst foUowmg thef;
aZ^\ ^^"T/ *T'''?"'y ""'' °'""'»' eallings ^ their
»™^«fl ^''^**/''';^'°P"^• ■^"^ *he sexes were not
^awted, boys and girls grew up side by side, from the
?^. . ^ workshop of apprenticeship, wtich they quitted
^f °™er__*9_'nf'^y. passing meantime through the five classes
mini^fnr?r' "''"*'? *'''y ""t^'^e by side on the forms,
minghng there as they were bound to mingle in after life
i8o
WORK
To separate the sexes from infancy, to bring uu Lovs and
Sher'dt.'^Zl"'''" ^ffe-ll^'ly. one in ig'no^^ncVoftte
wner, does not this render them n mical, and does it Mt
S? L*^ PfT.'* *?"" *•' heightening the nTy'stery of^he laws
th. ..*°^ »t raotion 1 Peace will only be complete b^twwn
hoJnw"' ™ ^^ """""'" '"*«"«' 'hich ought to miito thZ
WhnS°T'^i^* had greatl;^ aided Luo in organising the schools
AS^^llff""' ""i!- 'Pr8 the monejr he had promis^T h^
Z.^TTTC^^ measures should be adopted, his sister hsS
Kw i™in ?!"""°"''-"' T'T*' « '•"'' °'" town which
Lv?f; *,°^ ' "T.* '"^ »l''»ys been latent within her and
a few Z°r71t' ^V-'hJitherto had been unable to go b^y^d
a lew poor folk pointed out to her by Abb^ Marie SStnr
Novarre, or Hermeline the sohoohnaster, suddenW «^d^'
Z K°t?n?' ^r;' '"iS* ^""""y °f woikers, whoSd to
£^r:a'2^l.f-i^^i-^2:is^^
SuS'atJistrif'riLViSsi^i'S^^^^^^
Z^^tTSlTY'^!'" """^^'o" <«>a a pretty UuX^^bS!
rL l^j the children of others to look after ? • ^
oui, u *" *°^"' •>? fin^'ig »n assistant in Josine whn
mott sSir™^ ,'° ^T- ™>»«ned childUss -Eth
^^f SjBuretto employed her among the infants • 3
t^r»,^*i'''*' *" '"^^y ^"« ''y solicitud! for thriUtle o^s
r&^^«>i^g??hTthrbL^^^^^^^^^ ^»- - o5.^
fo£t="!ion^Th^- '■ ^^<srh\^'«br'.';w
«I;ttrgTe^fiK^^^«-l^c?h^
WORK ,g,
^4t t&-^^^^^\ I^'«e pink ^, „,
women with lim d„,Hn?' *°" "'*«' ''•» «ome wiUing
oneg, thoM eems of lnfm!.„;7 • ' u*'"''1^ "'" »- hoae little
Somi ofUie S«„ i?"""'' '" "''°'" 'l"" '«'"- «8 rising,
littlemen andS wimro?'thr«^.°r« fwt-there we£
these were at libertv Sni """^".^ ^o" yeaw of age, and
need of wtion was awakinJ L^lf^ heroes in whom the
a.ni^&l'^n.^rwh^reU;'" ''"^-^ '^'•' ^»««"
CS£te.r ^ ^'^ -^eerth'^rfi:SLX^t':
which ?hS?te^?t,^,^"rX«.°"' '» '^e verandah, along
<rfthefive'crs.^rfottTnXr?hL^^'«^1'^^'»"
view over the creenerv nf ♦>;« „ j the other, allowing a
warm these dSnSe"^!^^^"' "^.^ *5« ^e^ther beSig
wise that Luo imd sZrettTlS "m°'.'"^?°P«"' '" «»«S
room without earing ' '*"* *'''" '" e'»°''« '"to eoch
-anZ iuUe'atew p^ °mm/ f °/ '^« -'"■*^" ^ad
flntcVin whiortL?STAv,/t^f''°?- F""' the
read, to the fifth in IhToh .hev trt'i^/ ""^T ^^ "?"^<J '^^
ing him the elementrof geneL Wi T"" '"'"• "''"' '««''■
they partictaarly strove tnn?»^i laowledge necessary to life,
an/iacts,inoXthath«„^i?i^ m. presence of things
realities of" he world ' ThT/^ o 80^2^'^''™'?^ ^""^ "'«
of orderliness and method in ^^h ^^"1^'/° *'!''''«» » spirit
there can \^^noCtT^o^^tt^\^''l^i^°^^'^^'''^'>^
and enables one t^go on wlini i f^'t"?^ ^^"^ classifies
taowledge one hW° fly "S^°?^iT«"«^' ?i^^
was not condemned in tl/XWia 0^^°' i^
iSi
WORK
-yatem thVindivldu" en"?^ of e^Jh t-uJil «^ \ ""i'
and Bt muUted In iik« mii„. • ? P" *"' »waliened
curiosity of the child for »n thZf ^' , 'neitinguisbabla
ik7Wrj'd^.i & j£" s
necessaiy if one wiahj. chSd to^me'f l^^'^fn '5
fi JSornTto'r^','rrnfor^°^^"^? ^^f «"- -^^
Cwe« g^^e^ t^crcCr'SS'^^''^ T" ^^•
body might be fortm^nt^^'i^ ^ ?''l' '" °"'" ">»' the
stu4sfproSnartotherMU°a''''°"^'.'^°? "«» "^^
amidst the things on w^rfS!?,!? \ ^"P'i* "*" *""8h'
shops, now iHfes^nce of the nhlT"' !^ "<" « 'O*.
ani^ids and dK .!r LoTJ^ phenomena of nature, among
Then, to^efforts were mal? ''»'<"-f°°"«? ""d mountains.
what manid^dmlW wa^lVof^tht'*'' "^' ?T * "°'i°" »'
u «auy was, and of the necessity for solidarity.
^HL:
WORK
'83
men lat^LA V^ K^ifi """'^ *"** ""« iw****! harvest—
others too who ore verj twbffi. Thev Du«h ^A fit?'''*
writing, a tool was already placed in his han,l ■ »«T?»j •
1 84
WORK
thai eMh pupil on leaving the school simply had to choose
ae oaUmg he himself preferred, and peiK^t himself k it
^»A '~™*?P- 1? J»ke manner beaniy flourished ; the
»S^^! 1 ^'"^ '^'^''8'' '^"^ <" °"^e. ^''ring, painting,
and sculpture, and in souls that were weU awaken^ the joys
Sn!^^"*.'*". ""."v" •"?"• ,^'*" fo"^ *•»<«« "ho had to ion
fine themselves to the first elements such studies tended to
£™Hf.f?- "" ■? ?°.' °.' "•"'•'^ *o"" embellishing the
»^^i li?™!- ^\ "> 'be garden, at the close of fine days,
amidst radiant sunsets, the children were gathered together tt^
Sh^Sfi^'mSt^S'"' " "^ '* ''^' by si^cttS
♦h.f^?^'*'^"!'''"??" ^""y "=■' wlien he was informed
that two peasants of Les Combettes, Lenfant and Yvonnot
rUe mTetfugXl'" '*■" ^» *''^ ""'« ^^^ ~"^''
.' v^? i'^''^ "P"/ *''.°"* '"^^ «'"«"' ? ' asked Soeurette.
AnJ ftt V„ ^Tt ' 'J?*? asked me to fix an appointment.
And for my ^ I greatly desired to see them, for Ywas talk-
indLesromw'^v"'* i' ?'*^/^-'' •'«*^'^» ^a CrScherie
and i^eg Combettes if we desire to win the day.'
nlan« . <.ni?ff *" *'™- ""J'J"*' "''« °n« ''«' knew aU his
plans ; and after pressmg his hand she returned with her
ttrfut'i^'"lt^{:'.''1f '^'^'l r^««' ''he^ woSd aS
tne^^ture people that he needed for the fulfilment of his
,«„£f°'"l'' i""® '''"?"'=' °^ ^a Gnerdaohe, had ended bv
ln.j tk £T ? • ■^?' " ""s necessary to Uve, as FeuUlat said •
M l™LT?'Vf 'y"'*'" ^^ '^'=°'"« «» ^«f«^tive that it ^d
th. ™?S i.''*^ ^V ^°^ '*''^'s. It was leading, indeed, to
stohWn^,if l^P'^y °J ^^^ ?°"- ^'^^ s° Feuiuit. likfttl
tn n^^ "" ^'.,™'' ^*°"''^ ""y «•" 'dsa 'hich he imparted
tnrklh\'^""?'-'=°?'''"'«^ urging on certain experiientel
work which he desired to see tried near his farmr SS
in'.,w w'^"°° ?^.'l« P*''^^*^ «' Les CoStes,^oS
orj he^r'™tr''''i '^ f ^'''"S *'««*''«' ^ -^ comioCty
the crfiafil^f '' °' '*".^' °°'' •="' "P '"'o li"'« strips, ana
™lSfS ^°^ one great estate, whence they would derive
W ^u V^P'r^.'''^ P^'-^'P'-'s of high cultivation on a
largo scale. And the idea which Feuillat kept back in the
IVOUK
I8S
1
de^Uw of his mind muBt have been that of persuading
BoMgelin to let the farm enter the new association, whenthe
ant expenments should have succeeded. If Boisgelin should
Mfuse, facts would end by compelling him to consent. In
JfemlUt moreover, sUent man that he was, bending beneath
such servitude as appeared inevitable, there was something of
the nature of a patient, crafty apostle, who was resolved to
gam ground by degrees, undeterred therefrom by any feeling
of weariness. ' """""o
I^ had just achieved a first success by reconciling Lenfint
and Yvonnot, whose families had been quarrelling for centuries,
ihe former haying been chosen mayor of the vUlage and the
Jatter adjoint, or deputy mayor, he had given them to under-
stand that they would be the real masters if they could only
agree together. Then he had slowly won them to his idea of
a general agreement, by which alone the village could emerge
from tli3 wretchedness bom of routine in which it vegetated,
and once more find in the earth an inexhaustible source of
fortune. As the works of La Crecherie were at that time
bemg estabhshed, he cited them as an example, spoke of their
growing_ prosperity, and profiting by some water question
which had to be settled between La Crecherie and Les
Oombettes, he even ended by putting Lenfant and Yvonnot in
commumcation with Luc. Thus it was that the viUaga
ma^r and his deputy happened, that morning, to be at the
Luc immediately consented to what they came to ask him,
and the good nature he evinced in doing so in some degree
dispelled their habitual distrust. « "efcrao
'It's understood, messieurs," said he, 'La Crecherie will
henceforth canalise all the springs captured among the rocks,
and turn those which it does not employ into the Grand-Jean
nvntot, which crosses the lands of your village before joining
the Mionne. At little cost, if you only establish somi
reservoirs, yon will have abundant means for watering vour
Jand and increasing its bearing qualities three times over ■
Lenfant who was short and stout, wagged his big head
Mid reflected : ' It will certainly cost too much,' said he. Th^
Yvonnot, who was short and slim, with a dark face and bad-
tempered mouth, added: 'Besides, monsieur, one thing that
troubles ns is that this water will lead to a lot more dis-
putes among us when we divide it. You act like a good
neighbour in giving it to ns, and we are mnoh obliged to yon.
i86
WORK
tbe two men. • But water wh?<,r,Pf^'°"'"'y ^«8«ed to dm
to belong to every^* w''^^'? '"''''^^'v Baid he, <oagW
warms, and the Jandton Ih- 1, u^® *°" ''■'"<* "hines md
As fprthebestwtyVShidt^VwT'''^'' '"■^ ""•^'^^^
to dmde it at aU. '^ What N.f „,! ^*'^'' ^^'3' the best ia not
left to aU of them.' ^"''"* S'^^^ '« "" aen should ^
f^\^^^r.'^l\^''^J^ -a«u.g. For .
It was Lenfant, the Rreater tMn? / ^?*^ ^='«^ "» the floor
^Plied. ' Yes. yeTw^ W Thf f ' 'T^' '''"' »t C
Bpoke to us of all that No^oubuflT'' ^'-P" G»«daohe
eome to an agreement as you hate dnn/i?'^ '^^ ^°' ^^^ to
ffloney and land and ams and ^I!.i ■ *""*' "^^ P°t their
share the profits. If seems certain fi J" '*'"""'"• ""^ then
wonlil. ^"PP"^ ^ that fashl ° But Tit 7^ "^"^ 8"^ ""^
would be some risk in it and T tl,,- u '.u " "^® ^"""e- there
talk of it a good deal lonL^fLl ?'','''»' °°« ''iU have to
are convinced.' ^ '*^°" »" °^ "8 at Les Combettes
wav;^fL^s"'r:^':'''?^:t,^';P«' « Yvonnot ^^ a sudden
agreement, and are rm* l^' ^^ ^**' *" »ow pretty wellT
But aU the Srs hZ (^^^'"'1' "PP"'*"! to such noTdtie?
a lot of doing. I w^'^ou ' * «'^«<f "''». and that Xake
chj."gef re^^^^ all social
to some was the idea of harin^ t^^' -^"T heart-rending
which from father to son mb L!? i* *,"? ""^ « st^P of land
see it merged into iie strips of le™? v' '^^^'^''- "^^ to
aany butej disappointments due to h.^iT*'?"''*'' "^ »he
over-dmded soil, which ended bv fill! ''»n''™Ptoy of the
despair and disgust, must h«In f„^ -^ agriculturists with
possible salvaJSn Sn^^andS'""^' i^^""" '^'> »» 5
^ -ohines^or KhL^ iri^a"^^^^^^'^^^^^^^
IVOJiK
.87
W^wt^ .^5'°^u"®'°?' <^«'°'«iUypreparedin neighbouring
^^^"^^ r*^ continuous waterings by which the oropf
WOTkea rione, m isolation, were leading to famiSe, but pro-
digious plenty would ensue if the peasants of a viUage would
procure the necessary machinery, manure, and water. Extra-
ordinary ertiHty would be created thereby. T^ or tl^ee
i^ZrS"'^ suffice to feed two or three families. ThepomSa!
^^jT'^r-^^^ ^ *'^''?*^' "« «"1 'ool'' amply siffice
f^™. J*'^" were cultivated logically, all the creative
forces workmg harmoniously together. Aid that would a^^
mean happmess ; the peasants' labour would not be one-third
aLir "^ "?* "T'l^^ ^""^^ ^ liberated from aU sorlrS
Wm andthrt A**"," °^"'5 »°°«yl«°der who preys upon
^ S„ *!, •^'u"^'^^ '"8? landowner and the Stati^ who like-
wise do their best to crush him.
BM vlni^^^^J • dedaired Len'ant inhis thoughtful way.
h. M? i.fT"*' *°°^ ^'^ ""."/t "^'"^y- * Ah ! dash it ! ' said
he, '^ tiiat be true we should be fools not to try it •
Lno ^oT5T '^"c .situated at La Crficherie,' resumed
1^0, Who had been keepmg a final argument ii reserve
•We have hardlv been three years in existence, and oSZai-'
^^^^^•^^ •°" •"■"^l^bo have combined^geTer "^^
meat and dnnk wine, and they have no debts left ^d no fSr
for ^e future. Question them, and visit our workshops, oSJ
homes, our common house, aU that we have manw^ to
create m so short a time. It's aU the fruit of unioTaXou
yom^el^ves wiU accomplish prodigies as soon as yo'uToome
in c'horasr"' **"''' '^°' ''^ ^°^' ^^ t'^o peasants answered
^.if^? 'M??* ••''*'°'® '^^^ '■» ^"O *hey had inquisitivelv
visited La Crgohene, appraising the wealth already aSfj
feelmg amazed at the sight of that happy town which was
wringing up so rapidly, and wondering what gain there milht
ThI Jn^^'^f ^''' '^.""'y *°"'^ '•"°'''°« ^ 'he same mS
fhe force of example was gradually winning them over.
Well, since you know, it's all simple enough.' Luc irailv
^ow 1 ^^\rf? ''""^ = ' "«" """'t «vT f you dZ
S^« „I„ T that's necessary. And you others need tods
spades, ploughs machmes made of the steel which we manufao
tore. And so the solution of the problem is simple enoughtl
i88
wosr
' there ahouS" ^^^f ll^ ^-^^e it. Itw«^
There wire the ChodorgeTrk^lv*^ *" =''»™ "W^d
Hauaser works which rnXsoXl T^'t- "^^ mUs, X
jnose of the oIothinB tmiJo- ? : ''"' hnildinif tradea ^
" Me young man
WORK
189
Sni^ te '^ " «« f ^a-. where their chi.aren'
They had doubdt'ron^Sf^S-.?^?. ^''*^' **« "'"'"g-
them that Com CrfZi*tM"i%r*'' ? .~^«' *° "^o^
taUdnif about A;,i..-fu' ""'"^ ""• "hole region was
fuU of turbXn S/ Thi sklrt^'of t ^^^{ "k 'H" '"^''
oii\wSoS3£Sr?-P^-
sheep. Behind him were ff™f,^ V?* th, fleece of a young
ten years of a«e, the fSS^-^r" •'^'^ '^'° «^e «»
in«tt«a ^th her ifkeik olt!,w''™,? S«[""«»' «|ning
admit himself tobein't'hevS^'' ""^ ''^^ wouMTve?
. P»' "8 the matter ? ■ Luc inquired.
that he led there her^^Z^°'%"- ^ have just leamt
time they even cHm&ettho^au'^' ''^^^«' '"<' ^-
roiir;:^Ch^;>raii^&^^^^
strongly bolted wteroonrse had ceased was kept
he. ^?isnTt^?il.ft te aK "ov^r^r'- 7^* °'»H.' -«>
myself, and then I o^ed1h'^°drto? Ai ?"' "^^ •'^
pleasantness.ISdlZeaH^l^^*^f°° "fu^""* ««"<>"" "^^
«.d Wicked to disobl^^n^'thllalolir "^^ " '' '""^ ^-«
1 90
WORK
Nanet stood listeninB and looking with his eTe> wide onan
t^^^\^'^''\ atlK,ttom, but Enable to KaW^
mpjrtanoe of hu transgression, he felt moved at seeing Luc
so disturbed. If he had climbed over the wall to ift the
^H ■''■•'7»?>'=aa8eNise Delaveau hsd some tSaJmiM*^
\nth her that afternoon, Paul Boisgelin, Louise MazeflTand
other amusing Uttle 6o«rj«,£,, ani beoki^^ thej^il ^^.^d
• Why was it so wrong ? • the boy repeated with an air of
„a J*"? ^w","""^ *** 1^^"° ^"lo had been present, and
™w„l.^""^ "TT' "i"*"" t^'^y J-ad done They Sd
n»^lf,^'*1? ".r"* '"?,r*i'» = '*■«? "-^ "°t broken any plan^
flowe^eds ^ "™ *''' '^'"' 'y^« '" ""> P»*h» °» t° the
•Sh«^^t./t' °\ ■^^fy./e" ''"t 18.' he said in oonolusion.
pKa togetw.' °" ""^ ""' ' '*^ •■*' ""■=« "«'^
Luo forced back a smUe. But in his heart a vision wan
t'i^f rtr'*'"' "'¥'^° "^ *•"> *'° rivircbssTs^X"
Sltte h^'^f^ "^P^y- '??i''»8'' '"S^'her, in spite o1
Wnir^tT^ f^ '"'f'l ^hich separated their fathers,
to them^ P**""**^*" °^ *he future community flower forth
^J}h^^^^ possible,' said he, ' that Nisc may be charming,
aad that you may agree very weU together ; only it is S'
^r ^tl tt" " *° "T "*" °° ■>«' '"""J »°^ yo° on ours, to
order that there may be no complaints ■
«l„MC!^^'''T*i*''.T* '"'^'.'''y aU the charm of that tonooent
^dhood, looked at him with eyes so suggestive of forriveness
Me ™'^^;!f ""'"' «^'"'? V' r^' y°"^"^ not dof I^ato
little Mes, because you might bring some real worry on us.'
;„„ ^!? ^*°{^i '°^ Yvonnot had finally taken leave, carry-
ing o«f their chddren, who, after mmgling to the play of tfie
now finished, thought of gotog home agam. But fie s uddeSv
^W^S'^"*^,*"?' had promised toZ Josine, and sohe ™^
onl^J^^ "^'k "u H.S morning had hitherto been a go^
h::;t".Sl''^f ^oS" *"• '""^^ ^ -""^ *- ""°™ home with*W^
The house occupied by Ragu and Josine, one of tk first
WORK
jgi
Aat h«d been buUt, stood near the park of La Cr«oherie.
between the houseg ooonpied by the Bonnaireg and the
iJounrong. L^ 5 was crossing the road when, at some distance,
at a comer of the foot pavement, he saw a small group of
women, who appeared to be busily chattering. And he soon
recognised Madame Bonnaire and Madame Bourron, who were
apparently gmng some information to Madame Fauohard,
she having wime that morning, like her husband, to see if
««^.Tii, Tj™'?''!*^ such a Tom Tiddler's ground as
some folk assorted. Judging by the sharp voice and harsh
gestures of Madame Bonnaire-La Toupe as folks called her-
nlTnT^f ^''i"'' '•"*' '''* ''"';?°' P"°"°» » '^^y seductive
K i, u ^* "" concern. Cross-grained as she was, she
could be happy nowhere, but invariably spent her time in
Wilinp her own life and that of otheiT At the ve^
begmmng she had seemed pleased to find her husband obtain-
ing work at La Cr«oherie, but after dreaming of immediately
securing a big share of the profits, she was now enraged at
having to wait for it, perhaps for a considerable time tocome.
uer great gnevance, however, was that she could not even
succeed in buymg herself a watch, an article of which she
Had coveted the possession for several years already. Qoite a
oontrast to her was Babette Bourron, who was ever in a state
ot delight, and did not cease extolling the advantages of her
new home, her keenest satisfaction arising perhaps from the
laot tnat her husband no longer came home drunk with
Bagn. Between the two of them— La Toupe and La
Bourron — Madame Fauchard, looking more emaciated,
unlucky, and mournful than ever, remained in a state of some
perplexity, but she was naturally inclined to favour the
pessimism of La Toupe, the more particularly as she was
convinced that there was no more joy for her in this life
The sight of La Toupe and La Fauchard thus distressfully
ohattermg was vei^ disagreeable to Luc. It robbed him of
1U3 good huniour, the more especially as he knew what a dis-
turbMoe in the future organisation of work, peace, andiustice
was threatened by women. He felt that they were aU-power-
ful, and It was by and for them that he would have Mked to
found his city. Thus his courage often faUed him when he
met snch as were evU, hostUe, or simply indifferent-women
WHO, instead of proving: » belp such as he awaited, might
DMome an obstacle, a destructive force indeed by which his
tobonr might be annihilated. However, he passedf the gossips
«9»
WORK
Wlen .n her lap and, gazW f«L*'""?' •"" •""" ''"k --d
'" «> deep a reverie that "ie did n^t '^^ "!!* "'"' P'" ^K^d
For • moment he nauaed «,^ i "°' «^en hear him ento
longer the wretchXrirJ th?t ti%^»^ t^^'- She wa? no
pavements, dying of aWvaUon L5f^ h°"» »«>"rin? the
wd woeful feMMderT^d tkn';^'^,'^'^' '''"' « Pwched
jwd-twenty now, and look^ctei' "•' H?"' ^^^^ «" one.
Wue linen stuff her fl™;,- oUarming m her simple irown nf
»hin. And hrSK^iPPthT'''^^' b/nTm7a°s
delicate florescence above her A ,f*i" ?"'• ««"ned like a
wg blue eyes and ite lutle J^u^k' '°°? '"^^ ^i"> '»« laugh"
She seemed also to be seated HfiV' ^T^ ^ » «>sebSd.
gay and clean little pXurfu?ptw°l-5i:^'^ '^ «>at
*j"e room that she mn«t «,!*?*? '""' varnished deal—
ehe had e„te?earh^p^a/'^d fa /5 ^''^ '^"l? »«"'»« wWcI
which she had taken romu^«H^^''5«' ?"^ embellishing
years past. ** """'' P"de and pleasure for thwf
had prevailed on Batra to folwV^ "**^'^. ^^hen Bonnairo
La Cr«cherie she hS deeS'hi^?,,'"'* J°'° the others^
teals. ThenceforwarfslTwoiJd hi '*^*'^.f«''° «" '"ture
her daUv bread woulTbeL^T.55'«» "ice little homeL
after consn.-ing £no who foi hf, " ""'y consented to it
master. And dlip iS'h„ beinc thLTrf' '«'"' God m"
tug bom of the mLenKSC ,^v ^ » »Ptnrong feel-
"» h.m before he si«,^ m. . ^"i"* *« had divined
n S that the best. Kde^'tSf J^^?"" S«' "^ter alT^
S-e could not do oSbenrise th«„ n,"'^ «"='"«• solution?
J^mg L„o had toa^ar pleased f^lf^ .^"^ ^^ ^
for her the same affeotiSTXr h«^/ • ''*' *'.^«' ^taming
'* '" ""*''"' '•■« -- ba^ Biii^tTo^'^m%"sh1
tyoxje
«M
Blie''\nt rm%!!f.°°'"*uPT' broken. Mondenr Luc,' said
-.««£*T*''!** *^.* "'S''*' however, he at last wrunB a full
^nfesBton from her. Bagu did Mt become aSftised to
iff!;tt^^" J' °^^l' Peacefulness, and slow and Suou^
muieis yet habituated to slavery, and consoIinR himself fo* it
Wh ,TS?- ^T- "''''" J"* intonoated himsflSlnJed
1^^/^'*'''°°,' H PO'erless words. He regrettJd^S.e^U^
.n™i''^*r""'''^°P=i*« '^"e'* warfare S^tooM'.
one 8 wife and ohUdren when one at last returned E
»»4
WORK
of worri«i.^xfetrM to wtther^hiiJf ^ """ '•'• *» «»*«
whotlur tli^r^V,?! L "'"'"'«' ""ngs were going **11. ud
n.» ^°L?'*°"* /•" •**'*«» Jo»iM and Lue The Tonn.
comJS>,h»v2^uV '"" *"'^* °''^" ^"^ Bo"^
her incessant desln to bartand fctl « ii ^~ "*? ''y
And so, Josine/ he slowly resumed. • ,on are not happy f ■
IVORK
>95
1
A^f^t^"^ *° P".**''= 'O*" Montl«ur Lne, why
•bonld I not b« hippy, when you h«T« done w mndi te
But her itrength fuled her, and again two big tearn
»PPf^ "» ''•' 'JM "tl rolled down hwoheaki.
' You eee very well, Joeine, you are not happr,' repeated
ine young man.
'I am not happy, ife true, Moniienr Lne,' ihe at lait
aniwered, • only you can do nothing in the matter. It ii no
lanit of youre. You have been a Providence for me, and
wnat oan one do if there's nothing that can change Raim-g
heart? He u beooming quite malioions again ; he cm no
longer abide Nanet ; he nearly broke everytH" •» here yeeterday
erenmg, and he gtruck me, becauM the c^ 1 eo he aaid.
josweied him improperly. But leave me, Moniienr Lne—
S^ii!^ .T^tmH"'' ""'y .W""*™ me; at all eventa I
promiM you that I'll worry as little as I can.'
Bob* broke upon her trembling voice, which was seareely
andible. And he, powerless as he was, experienced inoreasinc
•adUMS. A shadow was oast over the whole of his happv
morning ; he was chilled by doubt and despair— he usuaUy so
wave, whoaestrength lay so much in joyous hope. Although
things obeyed lum, although material success seemed f sur^,
was be to find himself powerless to change men and develop
^vins love, the fruitful flower of kindliness and soUdaritv in
thMT hsMts ? If men should remain in a state of hatred and
violence his work would never be accomplished. Yet how
was he to awaken them to affection, how was he to teach them
Jiappmess ? That dear Joaine, whom he had sought in the
ven depths, whom he had saved from such awful misery she
to him seemed the very image of his work. That work would
not leaUy exist untU she was happy. She was woman, wretched
woman, the slave, the beast of burden and the toy, that he had
dreamt of saving. And if she was still and ever unhappy,
nothing substantial could have been founded, eveiything stiU
remamed to be done. Amidst his grief Luc foresaw many
dolorous days ; a keen perception came to him of the fact that
a temble struggle was about to open between the past and the
future, and that he himself would shed in it both tears and
blood.
' I>o not cnr Josine,' aaid he ; ' be brave, and I promise you
that you shall be happy, for yon must be happy in order that
everybody may be so,'
19«
tvoxi:
«M1»IW Of TMUrilSd^l "^ •'"•'''^ ""> *> Ol*" With iS
^« r«voir, Jodne.'
w^D • fln.1 «noonnt«r made him «.^/ ^ ^ CombettM,
u«dr'icihW."w'^^^^ cis^ri.-
ehuM meetings with him nn- ^ ^ '" I'M other frermJt
^Iwly the first meetogo?;urur»: "r."""™' ""^ pS
»he AbyM ud mziM with L* , ''* ''•^ »e«n him mIX,
<J»«ignoM. In like fwhionTe w« °«t «^ '^* '•"*»"• «' the
Md guing »t it. nerr bnUdinm ^' ^J J?!'!f"'8 ^ O'ioherie
thoee Mme elear and eeemwff '.!? ? ' " "■« »nnlight, with
h« signed to his «erwntTbriS/v'°P'' /'*•»' I'M- WhVh^
What did he think of It then X^" *° ".'"°'"«' evetythtaf ?
eetablirf,.? Perhaps after alMSr^P*"™"' "^'^ h"wK
K^l'- "^f »««^Pri= 'oMheTarro?'' '<»»«<*«.«
«^-!^,'''?*^'°'<'»«>°nd childhood ^^-l'**"' °'^ "w
■"▼•nt slackened his naoe M™.- t, . '"^'«'"' wWUt the
IHWrive. raised his broaT^id rfJ^'r" •'*'*°'- «»ve md im
Bideof whiohfeUhisWwhihf^" eonntenwoe, on SthTr
•yerything. letting nSa wafc a r^'"*'' «^S^
Which he'hKrerWay* "^ •'''»''« '^-'^^^^^
m>jtx
»»r
he »t*rted, ind drew bank ruL . a? .."'n. nowtver,
were not ^ide enough fo^two «J p.*^ • '«"••« th. ,o,d
bent double. bowTpSly^^ik'V^V'i.*'?'' •'''• ""^
jnoeetor, to tho mMtar and founder tW^h^^'.j*'''."^?'*.*
?r4^xrLrdnrji^i^^^^^^^^^
isfute'^«i„^sS^^^^^^^
wo^ropao. U Cr*c^.^e;:;LrpXru^e"w]^^^^
looked >t hie toi^ ^aml rf.l™ T" ..'° P'^k »w»y I He
etood what Se^W™ htt"" •*.''* «","/"'' «<» under?
growing .nd^o,peri'i''%?,t'^>V' T'*" '"'""»""•' ^
could eSd by Wvi^S Ticto^ '^""'' ""* ''«""•». "d obiid
n
At firet there hKy b4„ jf ^"u"? 'f.f""" Be»««l«ip.
.none^der™ ^. ^^^^^bK^ ^raS'^b:?
ret^uI^JeJ^r^^St^rfiitd^ l^^^'^^-. *He
00-operat.ve stores oHL fSSXot-. "i.*-^i'Pj»y«d "««1^- The
with derision ^h"7J't ™'''^i'**"^''««"»g»rfea
suocesBf.!, eounSramon^ thT""1' ''*" ""'^ P^"g
^«to-., hands. butV.^x^T„srwr.dTM!
*'• WORK
U^Sn^?.° ^"'^ ° P"^"" with those disaetroMideM of
w the firat instance a^ enabling the humble ones of the^f
Srooe™ uTb.T^'";^"' .andjcheaply. The buLhe„r£e
i H nn ft5, .^ bakers the wine dealers, would aU have to put
' out t Th'" 1 P?°Pl« '«" '» »'«»''«d in doZ wi?S-
°t wasTbomS<,*'''T''*f*°P'''P'? ^°"'«^ ^ ohorfs that
ctZ\LlTT^} •^° '^*" society did indeed seem to be
f^f „f f *^ oollapsmg now that they oould no loncer levv
the prohts of parasites, and thereby increase the mte^^of thj
ty,r.?}^^ °'°*' ^^^^^ °^ '^' however, were the Laboonea
ThVnrif^ k' ?"* ^f ^""^ ""d the Place deuS
teriiS'Li^rc^^i^f^-s^^
out large quantities ; and the worst wsa th"t w^ ^J ^»*
d^v m.B^^^ ^l ^% Laboques became smaUereverJ
rS«^V^^°^'"^-'^^-i"-
^nf^.,f i''"™"^'"',*' robbed, Simply because theru'seUss
Mid Caffiaux the grocer and wineleUer, who, althouX?eekW
of rancour, was of a colder temperament and wSd h?.^
mterests carefully. Even the Kautiful SaTe^Mitoie ttS
WORK
199
n
baker's wife, though inolioed to agreement, came at times and
lamented with the others the 1o9b of a few of her cuBtomerg.
' Do you know,' Laboque cried, ' that this Monsieur Lno,
as people call him, has at bottom only one idea, that of
destroymg trade? Yes, he boasts of it, he shouts the
monstrous words aloud : " Trade is robbery. ' ' For him we are
all robbers, and we've got to disappear I It was to sweep us
away that he established La CrScherie.'
Daofaeuz listened with dilated eyes, and all his blood rush-
ing to his face. 'Then how will one manage to eat and
clothe oneself, and all the rest ? ' he asked.
' Well, he says that the consumer will apply direct to the
producer.'
'And the money 1 ' the butcher asked.
'Money? Why, he suppresses that too I There's to be no
more money. Isn't it stupid, eh ? As if people could live
without money I '
At this Daobeux almost choked with fury. 'No more
trade I no more money I Why, he wants to destroy everything.
Isn't there a prison for such a bandit ? He'll ruin Beauelur
if we don't put a stop to it I '
But Caffianx was gravely wagging his head. ' He says a
good many more things. He says first of all that every-
body ought to work— he wants to turn the world Sto a
perfect stone-yard, where there'll be guards with staves tc -"hi
tliat everybody does his task. He says, too, that there ought
to be neither rich nor poor ; according to him one will be no
richer when one's bom than when one dies ; one will eat
according to what one earns, neither more nor less, too, than
one's neighbour ; and one won't even have the right to save
up money.'
' Well, but what about inheritances ? ' put in Dacheux.
' There will be no more inberitances.'
' What I no more inheritances ? I shan't be able to leave
my daughter my own money ? Thunder ! that is coming it
too strong ! ' And thereupon the butcher banged his fist
on the table with such violence that it shook.
' He says, too,' continued Caffiaux, 'that there will be no
more authorities of any kind, no government, no -gendarmes,
no judges, no prisons. Each will live as he pleases, eat and
sleep as he fancies. He says also that machinery will end
by doing all the work, and that the workmen will simidy
have to drive it. It is to be tbn earthly paradise, because
IVOXJC
to take ni, with othe^ter on Tt^^ "" * '^J^'^V ^«l>i
M for ohlldren. the oWm^Uy Jiu?2''l' "" '"f'?""- ^ ■
them np in a heap as ehm^^Z^lv "^""^^ "' '''em, bnnjr
she. ■ I hop^that eac° mAth? ' -n^ ?°,°'' '''^'« ""m ! ' said
to bring up W own lr« „n " '"^^ f ' '«»»' ^"ve the rSht
are foriLken by S pa e„ts to*h^ ?" '°u' '^« childrenXo
J^rangera as ii orpUasylUs bTS, "•? P«U-«eU b^
tha what you have been tel W i« l^t^f^ " '^^^^^ *<> "»«
' Say at once that it-c, au?^ . , " """ly proper.'
beside 4nself ' Whv tLw^ ' ™?"^ """l"*"^. who was
b« a house of iil-fame 1 ' "^ ^'""°"' *"««" society ;iUri4?y"
inJS^<tXd;??'°ThV°Uri/'«''f "^¥0 threatened
cannot let him ruin an<J ^iXl *'°°''«" J^"" is mad. We
We shall have toT8r*ee'toSw",:ndS'T ^.*'^" '"^W""
The anger mor^sedTwever 15 ,.? ^^^ *" '*°P " »"•'
explosionjvhenBeanclairlSfh^i*?''!T?° * ""^^^n*'
La Cr«cherie was spreadta^to fhl *'?^*''''°"« disease of
Les Combettes. StuMfS w.? neighbouring village of
was passed on all S'llthat MZr^t^' "ondenmfiion
bauohmg poisoning the peLa^???' /ft^"" '^ "'"' de-
four hundred inhabitant of th % ^C'*' woonoiling the
j^BiBted by hisTpuS^'l^^'^^^* "Sar'^"?"!' '^^ A"!
their W in oommra by Se «? "^^'"=*/ ""«"" *» Pnt
snailar to that which M TapZ li* t*^'*^., "^ r-^iation
at La Crecherie. Henoeforth tiT' ■*'*"}' and work together
estate, in such wi"e that L if- '"'"''' ''" hut one larm
manure might be aroU on a wT^, "'«.^l ^ "««<>. S
practised with a v?ew7o mciTnf fh'' '"'' '"'8'' *'°"'^»«<'n
reaping large profits, which woSL*^u "T '«"'°1'J and
Moreover^ the two associSnT that of f .'r 1^^ °.»« ""^ «"•
M Les Combettes wonM ™„i 1, ™ ■'^* <^'"*'herie and that
the peasants wo^d supplt Z wt? """"oWate each other
workmen would supoTLn. *?"*". ^'h bread, and the
/aotured articles l^lSforlTt T'*^ '""'^ ""^ *«'°«-
would be a oonMotion /f t^otirjl: ^C^ ^by
WORK 201
degrees to faiion, and forming the embryo of t brotherly
people. Assuredly the old world would come to an end if
Socialism should win over the peasantry, the innumerable
toilers of the country districts, who had hitherto been regarded
as the ramparts of egotistical ownership, preferring to die of
unremunerative labour on their strips of land rather than
part with them. The shook of this change was felt through-
out Beauclair, and a shudder passed lilte a warning of the
coming catastrophe.
Again the Ijaboques ~. re the first to be affected. They
lost the custom of Les Combettes. They no longer saw
Lenfant nor any of the others come to buy spades, ploughs,
tools, and utensils. On the last occasion when Lenfant called
he haggled and finall;^ bought nothing, plainly declaring to
them that he would gain thirty per cent, by no longer dealing
with them, since they were compelled to levy such a profit on
articles which they themselves procured at neighbouring
works. Henceforth all the folk of Les Combettes addressed
themselves direct to La CrScherie, adhering to the co-opera-
tive stores there, which grew and grew in importance. And
then terror set in among all the petty retailers of Beauclair.
' One must act, one must act t ' Laboque repeated with
growing violence each time that Dacheax and Caffiaux came
to see him. ' If we wait till that madman has infected the
whole region with his monstrous doctrines, we shall be too
late.'
' But what can be done ? ' Caffiaux prudently inquired.
_ Dachenx for his part favoured brutal siuJghter. 'One
might wait for him one evening at a street corner and treat
him to one of those hidings which give a man food for re-
flection.'
But Laboque, puny and cunning, dreamt of some safer
means of killing his man. 'No, no, the whole town is rising
against him, and we must wait for an opportur^ty when we
shall ha\ e tbe whole town on our side.'
Such u^ opportunity did indeed arise. For centuries past
old Beauclair had been traversed by a filthy rivulet, a kind of
open drain, which was called the Clouque. It was not known
whence it came ; it seemed to flow up from under some
antique hovels at tbe opening of the Brias gorges, and
according to the common opinion it was one of those moun-
tain torrents whose sooices remain unknown. Some very old
inhabitants remembered having seen it in full flood at certain
WOJiK
$01
periods. But for I "'"^^
seemed too weat 1 fi, "^ ""''e^'^ over Bm tt debated
3»ietly oont1Lu^'l.'i" «»««• was shelv;d and Jh' ^?P«"«'
bonrhood i\t. Perfuming and conf.,^ ^" *°e Clooque
attributed IniiM', '^e bad fevers of th./; i^*'. f""^ <rf
M to whUher thof *'''" ^•"ained was . Li"'™' ''"^ been
,At «t'°C^f^'t«veZa\ttsV^ ''""""'^
oveii,]n8o/ht«'7^^.° " had occSJed Jlf: '"T"*"' •»«•;
2n/or one and ijl thAT^'^i' beneficent later fl "'"'
Before lone nmofc k " '*^ ^rst united H,^.' ^°'"n«
WOXK
803
m
3
and Idlling people, was forgotten. Folk talked no more of
bnr^g it, each recounted what great benefit he or she had
derived from it, for watering, for washing, and for the daily
needs of life. Such a theft oould not be tolerated ; it was
absolutely necessary that La Crecherie should restore the
Clouque, that filthy drain which had poisoned the town.
Naturally enough it was Laboque who shouted ^e loudest.
He paid an officii visit to Oourier, the mayor, to inquire
what decision he intended to propose to the Hnnioipal
Council under such grave circumstances. He, Laboque,
elaimed to be particularly injured, for the Clouque had flowed
behind r.' house, at the end of bis little garden; and he
alleged the j. he had i < rived considerable advantages therefrom.
If he had Irawn up a protest and sought to colleot signatures
he would undoubtedly have obtained those of all the inhabi-
tants of bis district. But, in his opinion, the town itself
ought to take the affair in hand, and commence an action
against La Cr8oherie, claiming the restitution of the torrent,
and damages for the temporary loss of it. Gourier listened,
and in spite of his own hatred against Luc, contented him-
self with nodding approval. Fi^illy he declared that he
mnst have a few days to reflect, look into the matter, and
consult those around him. He fully understood that Laboque
was nr^ng the town to take up the matter, in order that
he might not have to do so himself. And no doubt Sub-
Prefect Ch&telard, whom all complications terrified and with
whom Gourier shut himself up for a couple of hours, was
able to convince him that it was always wise to let others
embark in law-suits ; for when the mayor sent for the iron-
monger again, it was only to explain to him at great length
that an action started by the town would drag on and
lead to nothing serious, whereas one brought by a private
individual would prove far more disastrous for La CrSoherie,
particularly if after a first condemnation other private
individuals followed suit, prolonging matters indefinitely,
A few days later Laboque issued a writ and claimed five
and twenty thousand feancs damages. Taking as a pretext a
kind of treat offered by bis son and daughter, Augnste and
Eulalie, to their young friends, Honorine CafBaux, ^variste
Mitaine, and Julienne Dacheux, Laboque held quite a
meeting at his house. The young folk were now fast grow-
ing up— Augusta was sixteen and Eulaiie jine; ^variste, now
in his fourteenth year, was already becoming serious, and
J04
young pSpte 1 '^'^'°« the yowZt 'f ^° 'W' bat eijhj
'Monsieur Gourieftnfi ^'''','* «»« LibS!''?-' P*"''''.
'^8 should ruin ?h! '^.""^ 'b»' « We can^2^! J" '"" 'nendg.
awards me ten th ' r'h' ^^' "» S^w IS*" ''"'fi""!'
you who CM Si h°"°^°^.frMcs. WeUth '„ '^e court only
*Pinhia^t'lVn"* "ailar action"' ^T'^fiu^dred of
have to ei^,.T i '.? '"■"'on I And i w • ^""^^ have to
raised. Thlt^^^SeonVr"' '^^^^o^ktf~''r^
he IS so proud of A)?7 ' *'"° of that 6mTrth 7°^^" he
They all „„. ^ "' Wends, wlia?. ''^r'*' ''hicii
f ining'thewXofW f.^ '''4h«raUh'!f '^f == ' *
I-oo, tliat madman „i, * ."^'^oheria andlowLn .u '^«" «'
human society rim *'^? ""ost veneraWpTf; j "'^""es,
,, 'I Bhoulfha^*®^" »lone reflected "'^°'^'^''"°n«o/
the
w '?°t to begi,^"^'^«;''«oneofy;u/"'"-"'-'*w'syard.
^te'iiJ^^F'^-Se.ttria^-. " M-^ame
^a issue a C*^^^.f 'he stream Cs^ceSi^f ^^'""' hou"e
jntentionofoompX"'?'*'' her 'hat day wi'h t^
fie Imew lier to^K"? ''*'• t" enter into a fni!? i""* ^''P'ess
, Slje at first becan *„ I .. » oe no d to win
tvonx
tos
might reader my ouBtomers ill. It wai so dirty ted it innelt
•o b^ that whenever it is given back to na we shall have to
spend the necessary money to get rid of it by making it pass
underground as there was formerly a question of doing.'
Laboque pretended that he did not hear this. ' At all
events, Madame Mitaine,' said he. 'you are with us, your
interests are the same as ours, and if I win my suit you
wll act with all the other river-side people, relying on the
ehoaeiugie, won't you ? ' r- r i / b
' We'll see, we'll see,' replied the baker's beautiful wife,
becommg grave, ' I'm willing enough to be on the side of
Jostioe, If li: IS just.'
Laboque had to rest content with that oondiUonal promise.
Uesides, hjs state of excitement and rancour deprived him of
all sense ; he thought that victory was already won, and that ha
waa about to crush aU those socialist follies which in four years
had diminished his sales by one half. It was society that he
avenged by bangmg his fist on the table in company with
DMheui, whilst the prudent Caffiaux, before definitely com-
mitbng himself, waited to see which side would triumph.
Keauclair was quite upset when it heard of Laboque's writ,
and his demand for an indemnity of twenty-five thousand
&M1CS. This was indeed an ultimatum, a declaration of war.
mm that moment there was a rallying-point around which
all the scattered hatreds grouped themselves into an army
which pronounced itself vigorously against Luc and his work,
that diabolical factory, where the ruin of ancient and respectable
society was being forged. All Beauclair ended by belonging to
this umy, the injured tradesmen drew their customers together,
and aU the gentlefolk joined, since the new ideas quite terrified
them. Indeed, there was not a petty rentier who did not feel
himself threatened by some frightful cataclysm, in which his
own nan-ow egotistical life would collapse. The women, too.
were indignant and disgusted now that La CrSoherie wag
depicted to them as a huge disorderly house, the triumph of
which, with Its doctrine of free love, would place them at any
man's mercy. Even the workmen, even the starving poor,
became anxious, and began to curse the man who dreamt of
saving them, but whom they accused of aggravating their
misery by increasmg the pitilessness of theii- employers and
the wealthy. What distracted Beauclair more than aU else,
however, wbb a violent campaign which the local newspaper,
the httle sheet pubUshed by Lebleu the printer, started
IVOJtJT
206
•ttaok, it ahonld h« .Vi7^S«*W "noh • (ensatinn n!?!
It was. however, ceVtaii thi^°°' 'J^ •*«niwhiiig iS wS^
Sr <" BSudSth:teea'S'r "" "^"^ ■•» tte civU
the secret object of enablSt ^ i^nS \'^°"' '"""J'. ^^
« an agreement prior to «.. JS?!f m?^ '^ "neet and irrive
J^N^'f^' /"''e^ G»ume w^S'^h,-.^°°''S'' Sub-Prefeot
w,?'- '."^ ^"»Uy Abb °M«r^''' m?" , wn-in-Iaw Captain
&" "^^ "teadled, in orf„ thatch, ''^'!? °^ *^'> ^o™
aayor at half-past Z^Tto feS? ,^? "' 7°»t. -^Ued on the
Gouner had been living in^j*?* "T"^ »' I* Cr^ohlrie
qmver was passing thrfurfiThi iT" F". ""^ ^^ed th»™
employed at his lirge Cfwlrt. ""-J^^" °^ ^^^' that he
jnen wen, evidently ilfla^^°bJli° ""« B"" <>e Bri«, ThI
be better to vield, to help on 7..^. ^•""'*" " " wonld not
wojJd be mied by it ff he muT^T^"" ^'""^"' '"he
This, however, was a won-v w^; 1, V'*?*'"'^* to belong to it
was another which fiM^ hf '^^^t ^« M "ecret, fofiieM
him t,uo's personal enemvw.^^ ^?** ™ncour, and mS!
although the mayor wan rm™?ii- *°'''"' seonrity. But
I
' WeU,' Mtid he to ChAteUrd, m soon u he uw Iha Utu.
enter, -that lawsjit i. .t hand now Lab«™" „ bUn^
»ee me again, as he wanted some oertifioatS He Is rtU of
opmion hat the town oupht to intepv«?e. L.d it ta^y
™v ^' «'^JPre'■e<'t contented himeeU with smiling. ' No no
i*boaue, ^ho tl^ts for vengaanoe and massacre, to act by
mmseu. itaat was fittuig, and, I beg you. DersavarB in tl..*
toZflnt^rZ*"." "?^*«'^':^<'"'riJiX7y:b?toe
to profit by Laboque's victory if he should be viotorioM
^l^XTti^T'^ •""- ''»' i^vantag^oJe'^JS?^
mJX i^^tt^^T^a-f si^btt?^, S ^
^St ^'"L'?^ '"°"*" *° ••« iot^ii^n theii. Thing, were
w^nif ^'^S'* '* ™^''* ^d"« «" then, and finXwfwe
happilyu, the warm fittle nest which he had chown ^
whok pohcy therefore consisted in letting th^Tio ta
vinced tfiat the Qovemment, amidst the difficulties ofite W
Inm with praises, whilst he quietly finished bur^ngO,rofd
j^s^frcuK-^n^rr-'""- "' '■^^ -°^»'« «' ^'
*••
tvojtx
KS -.Sd- SS '^.t^J'ffitH
connected with hil life ri^ri°^«'' "* " •>« ^1' eve^T^f
to which he clnnif m^!^"^*'', ^^e" thathmMn fS
J«okage which mfgh?±^"°?'' ".'o a ^p^'^t
else have suffered at seeing thitj death— he must above all
dao^hterLucile, of Xm*he t^r^§'» •'«»»> with his
wrpnal of countenance and «T!.^ ■^°^' *°^ who was so
She a her turn was now deoeirin. l,"'°?«'{ '^'«' ^^'^ ^h^
havmg surprised the'intr[ffu^*suff!l%° ,^""""- ^he Judge
tnTr"^ uf *'■*' betraX;^^ WJ^T " " '^ >* we?e
TiT^^'^J^' h«art. &reS"d fj^'*"*" ever-bleeding
tion, which would have bK.JS? hf™ """u* 'P""^'^ "plwa-
the awful day when his Sad kmjP/r'''","A''«P«''«o« of
after confessing her fault B,7* k ^!"^'^ before his eyes ■
Andhowcou,donebelievclfa\'?h':^i'S^S !
WORX
309
it wu Um most bMutifal
I erually 1 ' ""• "'"' "«'• »»>• •uffer to
I MDM^nSr tJ^ ".""f ^"P*"" "d Luoill made their
hS'^r.i r^'.rmed'totm',r'h' ^ Crtohene'w'S
article,\°° L'?u"mour^' 7o'^''"'™*' '"^° **• ««^
in.„Uing one ', XS,/ he s^d?" '^•"^" " "^ "^
I write I* h. iE.M°, ?^^ •, 8^''"" of embarraeamenl : • Oh
idea., rome notM vou toow L™' ""' / 8^^' ^"»° «>°'«
dTT^JSjd'^^^^andrvlVZ^^^^^^^^^^ -" °-
He rose painfully, and took his hat aaid gloves in order to
p
^.>J9.
tie
M^OJtJT
I* ta th. .t^it. \^ LuSte!^,*27*^' *»"« •««» J-
•nn, b. «|joy^ , moSwl^ ?riSh»£r!~'*?>, »wU. of hi,
• lowrf qwird. "' " a«Uglitfal loijrtfalaeM m aftw
room of th. p,viiion bnuX* aTonrFZ"* ""{? '^ '"°'»«-
«>• horn, of the muultZt ih^^V^°'"i ^^'"^ "•• »<>»
other martmeat, whioh bel«Sn h./^^'^f """t^ed one
Md which oommanioXdbv. w^^ ",1^* "' Pri'^'oroom.
offices of the work^ThLriTfl^f^f''^'^ ""«?»''«''•
*•« >ome bed.room,. Stooe a ^LJt ""' "«»"1 Aoow
P«Sd!*^ WM the first guest to .rriye, «d e«, ««oe^.
»o* B^s^L'e' A^"„'?.^''™-<'«. - ** 8«.tly aistres^rf, ■ i.
«»^fi"'°s*he'Vok: OD^'tLS'''^ "P'^«<» 1" ^ry
hetdMhe, ud hM ^n ^2^1-? i "f™*^ *i«» • tjS
Each time that tS,^i^ *° '*"• ^" «»»>•'
Aby« matter, (^k tSs'3^'St^^„ '"""r "J «°i^ *» the
te awiding such an amSt^™ '5?t'''°°^.'?°'«P"*««*
I><J»v««««, in hi. blindnesf^SSd S J^a ^1 ^^ "^ onlr
Mowow,BoiBB3S^tefmf^.^?"^*"'"athetmth.
*Ah. «, her; w^„Te1^^l'lf?«*^«'«'«»'«»tion.
•«•'»« M good a, um2 1 » ' '»"'0" Uw-suit.' said
condeipnedC "'"^ «? La Orioheiie wiU be
»attT^t£^f:^{i",,'»-a -boulder,. .Wbatdoe.it
'It does us hann. nrdoubt bTloSTh"""' ^^ "P"*^
but we don't compete in mnn/fc 7 P* *^* P"''^ of metal.
nothing very serioCasyer^^'^'""* articles, and there il
Um
m
obMaclsi
threatened her enjoyment of Ufe. Therein for her 1«^'„
gmt an.qn. onm.. With her ever-inore«ring .priStoZ
Plewnre and luxnry. ihe required ever larger profit. MTbiin.
tiZ^Zj^'^'SS' '"Woning .teel at the flaming d^ S«
thMT fnmaoe.. She wa« the devourer of men and mowy th.
would become of hev nopes of future pomp ^d ^itv rf
ta^e?^d"l:''!2S'°''-^K'*'SP«1"°"J With tut si„Sw
^ hn^ ' • i*fi "*'*''" **" husband nor Boiagdln iiy
rert, but ever urged them on, worried them inoe«ant^«toJ
{^ opportunity to give expr.,«on to her^r 'inT^
mJn^^,^^^ •'™«°*^ * ""P^"' ^d of way-never
meddling with biumeM matten, but spending the DrofiUrf
toe worE. wi&out counting them. Mttingwf only gkTrv^ta
t«ng. handsome ladykUler,aneleganthomman,.XSeS
jpwtaman-mvi none the less aco^tom«i to shiver wheTh.
hewdFeraande speak .rf possible ruin. Thus, on tha presMt
^^i^"^'*!'"^ DeUve«n.inwhomhi«.tain^S«-
All IS goug on well hei« 7 ' /,-u,uuu«ur
tv,«?^^!.tf*?"" "^^ '^.n'gged his shoulders. ' I repeat
that the works are in no wise affeoted as yet. Moreover^.
Tl^"^ L' rising-agajnst that man-heVmar wS
^L!t^A°^,^tu °?P°P«1»' »>« i» ; and if at bottom I am weU
pleased with that law-suit, it is because it wiU finish him off
^J^/i Tfu°° °\ Beauclair. Before three months have
elapsed al the workmen that he has taken from us will be
coming with hands clasped to beg me to take t^em b«k You
will see you will see I Authority is the only sound principle
^^^tl r"""' °' I'bo"" arrant stupidityTrSie
S^meThrs'-otTasJe":- '"'*^« P"^'" ''^•" °°" "«
SUenoe fell, then he ^ded more slowly, with a faint shade
r3
ail
WORK
ii:
what would alarm me wonSCanv ^vTl ~° "*«'•«*• •»<»
should establiBr^Tubst^tite.^* mdiBPensable that ^
reduce his expenditure, Md that «L;„ I '°™''-.'°'»''» ''^^^ ^
mightsuffertherefrom She had t^^'f"fl''"''?J«'>''"«8.
moment with looking at BoiseeL "Sj'?"' »'«"'««. for the
'-ccord, plainly answered ' X^nT^" ?"' '''' °^ l"" own
ttoment. I can't Tt anVtli; arf^T""' "°' "' *« ?«=«•"
heavy. At the same timfl mL th.iif ^ ^^P'°'*' "« *°o
you make my monev ^»li ^^^ ^ou once more, for
WewillseeaborStLestL:/" "°" '^?° Jon prom sed^
^ Nevertheless Feraande rema?n«7'^' "*" ^'''^ " o^"^-'
her covert anger fell n„„nNfci.^v'°,*"*'^oas state, and
m.der the sn^bn^of a maid :h'''^J"'l'""''^'' "^o^'.
th^mhn beC takL her tS ' ™d T'" ^r'"^''* "^^^ ■»'o
M^nef^« oW to^ot^ SS ^5S t^d ItttL^:
wron?diing°°Wo™,^°*«','«l'« ^'* admit M,y
it a ize„^times!*sh°e rain^°n;nt'f ??''^ \}^^ ^^^^
garden wall to admit all ?Si^^°^* ,'^^ °'^ '^oo' « our
^to our grounds There was tL"rHr^''^^* ^'^^''^'^e
little rascal for whom she lllt *"«*.l't«e Nanet, a frightful
yonrboyPaulwTs^«tei™^«d "- affection. Vd
^ of them fraternising wiTh;C'^l°.,T Louise Mazelle,
Bonnaire, who left us to ™1 1 • "^^^^ren of that man
w^th Antoinette, and ^^Ssf wi«, /n^' ^"''"i""- ^es, Panl
N«e and her Nanet!le"LrLmT'tr'.*''''?'"r"«
B i"eia to tiic assault of our
WOUIt
»i3
flower-beas. Yet she hug not even a ,Uma of shm. m her
cheeks, you see ! ' ="■.<«. ju aer
' i* ""'' J?3'-' Nise simply answereii iu L: - "Aea voice •
kTis'^tt ttJ^^""""'' ^' '"^'^ '°«^'''" -y --™ :
_ This answer made Femande quite angry :' Ah I you think
him funny, do you? Just listen to me. If ever I S
you with him, you shaU have no deasert for a week. I don't
want yon to get me into any unpleasantness with those
Kl°T 7; J'^'r.r"''^ «° "b""' everywhCsayW
that we attract their children here in order to render thei
^A ^°".^^' ■?/? Tl'-s t^e it is serious ; you will have
to deal with me if yon see Nanet again.'
' Yes, mamma,' said Nise in her quiet, smiling way. And
r^?f?' ^tt ^™' ?*f.?"' '^'' '""id, after kfssTng every-
body, the mother concluded : ' It is very simple-I shall have
the door wal ed up. In that wav I shall be certain that the
children won't communicate. Ttere is nothing worse than
that— It corrupts them."
Neither L/elaveau nor Boisgelin had intervened : for on
Che one hand they saw in this affair only so much childish-
when^^L"" ^a" ""'^'."'^y "PP'Oved of severe measures
when good order was m question. But the future waa
germinating. Btubbom MademoiseUe Nise had carried away
^laSS Bo'^ic'r *'""'" "' '"'°^'' "'" '^' '""" "°^
At last the guests arrived, the Gouricrs with ChAtelard,
then Judge Gaume with the JolUvets. Abb6 Marie was
the last to appear, late according to hia wont. Though the
Mazelles had expressly promised to come and take coffee,
some obstacle prevented them from sharing the repast. Thu^
there were ody ten at table; but then they had desired
Ii-» f" *i."^ °°'"''*' S* 9^"" t*"^' tl'ey ""gbt be able to
^Lln.M, T- ?*'"'""' *^! ^i°8-room, of which
iemande felt ashamed, was such a small one that the
old mahogany sideboard interfered with the service whenever
therewere more than a dozen round the table
From the serving of the fish, some delicious trout of the
Mionne, the conversation naturally fell on La Or«oherie and
^uo. And what was said by those educated bourgeois, in a
position to know the truth about what they called ' socialist
Utopia, proved scarcely one whit more .TOnsibie or intelligent
man cue extraordinary views expressed by such people aa
»«4
Bacheux and Laboqne.
Work
i
very rapidly. Wthth«JrlJf^i° ^^•=°°'* » populoas one,
wage system, and that there wUl be a i «7.^ •'^- °"P?™'' "'"
when only workera am iTw ^"["8 a, just division of wealth
the oomnfunXluri cln'*?'' ^"^"8, "' ^^''^ °f toil to
d«am than feat, for itTi?^.Z''t,°'°°.'"°'« ^"8«™»«
Qotuier? ' " inreaheable, is it not. Monsieur
plate%^?SS.e'^,rwiS«,7^^^^^^^ bent over his
npon to make nse of^.*"""' »"d 'f" ^Msolves may be oaUed
exec4le deeds 'ZZtL'^rn-TslTof'tf^^
Lac— is planninir aiminiit »ii tiT » i ^ , °' '"*' Monsienr
onrs, such as the gS o&Ar '°^%''"'* "" ^^<=« of
it to us ? ■ ^ °^ °°' ^^'^e™ aade it and bequeathed
awse. Tie m^Xn oTht TateS fZ^ °^^. T^' ^uo
-enge.' So^rb^yr^st^rs 'zz^ '^
WORK
"S
Gonner for news of his bod, AohiUe the renegade, and the
mayor had to curse the lad once again. ChAtelard alone
tned to taok about and keep the discussion on a jocular
footing. But in this he faUed, for the captain continued
prophesying the worst disasters if the factious-minded were
not immediately kicked into obedience and order. \nd his
words diseeminated such a panic that Boisgehn, bbcomine
annous again, appealed to Delaveau, from whom there
nappily came a reassuring declaration.
A., '^".m?'' " *''*"^y '"'•' declared the manager of the
Abyss. 'The prosperity of La Creoherie is only on the
surface, and an accident would suffice to bring everything to
tne ground. Thus, for instance, my wife was lately lAnm
me some particulars ' j' s » "s
' Yes," broke m Femande, happy to have an opportunity
of rehevmg her feehngs, 'the information came to me from
my laundress. She knows one of our former hands, a man
named Bagu, who left us in order to go to the new works,
weu, It seems that Bagu is declaring everywhere that he has
had qnrte enough of that dirty den, that the men are bored to
death there, that he isn't the only one to complain, and that
one of these fine days they will aU be coming back here. Ah I
who wiU begm, who will deal the blow necessary to make that
man Luc totter and fall to pieces ? '
'But there's the Laboque lawsuit,' said Boisgelin, oominjt
to the young woman's help. 'I hope that wiU suffice for
everything.
i'resh silence ensued whilst some roast ducks made their
appearance. Although the Laboque lawsuit was the real
motive of that fnendly gathering, nobody as yet had dared to
speak of it in presence of the silence which Judge Oaome
preserved. He ate but little, his secret sorrows having
brought him a complaint of the digestive organs, and he
rontented himself with listening to the others and gazing at
them with his cold grey eyes, whence he knew how to mth-
draw aU expression. Never had he been seen in a less
communicative mood, and this ended by embarrassing the
others, who would have liked to know on what footing to treat
hun, and at least have some certainty as to the judgment
whi(A he would deliver. Although no thought of possible
acquittal at his hands entered anybody's mind, they all hoped
that he woo'd have the good taste to pledge himself in a suffi-
ciently clear fashion.
*i6
JVOXJC
inquired 'AllX™J!i °!' Mo"™^" le Prfsidont?' h«
water in aioh rfasWont tt ♦ P^^H "''*'?'"' «'«»' * 'o'"'"
as8u;^X'a„l^^t%*7?^°";f ."05, became apparent^ f";
sore distressVuie °ons of thiVaTfi^/^°* '^'°^'^^ ^"^ «
times had reach^ m«h a Lr„f '''■'*-^?<«d peasants of former
liberty by an honfstSoienr '"^^*'"' ""^*'«^ » »»
vagT^mark^towLeTthevXP *%«"".' •»•"«»* with that
ofLno's ooniSion Tir.'™i i''"'**''^*'«''*''« certainty
after a BuS «L tW™**" "" now virtually over, for
and the desZ B^t^hf 'T. "^^^ "<""« ^'^^berry ices
and they laughed ll^' i^^'t^V^^^'^' """^ '^^ioxiJ,
victory mfn !h.t ifT •' '" "^^y were convinced of
better, bat she^g dehttft f^*^'"* l.''?"'^'*'"' "»« "o
•bofi«hed. that nowTve her rtatn"'.''*'?''"''* '°°'^ »>«
*;tlldBg.boutdisaSrettogsrM^l'';Lr^^^^^
lu. wfe with profound satisfa^t^'tii^'attrotrs";:]
WOXK
•«r
'jegged them to raise those horrid subjeots no more, ainee
the; had such a bad effect on Madame ilazelle's failing health.
And then the gathering became delightful, they all hastened
to revert to the happiness of life, a hfe of wealth and enjoy-
ment, of which they plucked all the flowers.
At last, amidst growing anger and hatred, the day of the
famous lawsuit dawned. Kever had Beanclair been so upset by
furious passion. Luc in the first instance had felt astonished
at Iiaboque's writ, and had simply laughed at it, particularly as
it seemed to him impassible that the claim for twenty-five
thousand francs byway of damages could be sustained. If the
Clouquehad dried up it would in the first place be difficult for
anybody to prove that this had been caused by the capturing of
hillside springs at La Crgcherie ; and moreover those springs
belonged to the estate, to the Jordans, and were free from all
servitude, in such wise that the owner had a full right to dispose
of them as he pleased. On the other hand Laboque must assur-
edly base his claim for damages on facts proving that he had
really sustained injury and loss, but he simply made such a
feeble and clumsy attempt to do so that no court of justice in
the world could possibly decide in his favour. As Luo
jocularly put it, it was he who ought to have claimed a public
grant as a reward for having deUvered the waterside land-
owners from a source of infection, of which they had long
complained. The town now simply had to fill up the bed of
the stream and sell the land for building pui-poses, thereby
putting a few hundred thousand francs into its coffers. Thus
Luc laughed, not imagining that such a lawsuit as Laboque'a
could be at all serious. It was only afterwards, on finding
rancour and hostility rising against him on every side, that he
began to realise the gravity of the situation, and the peril in
which his work would be placed.
This was a first painful shock for him. He was not ignorant
of the maliciousness of man. In giving battle to the old
world, he had fully expected that the latter would not yield
him place without anger and resistance. He was prepared
for the Calvary he foresaw, the stones and mud with which
the ungrateful multitude usually pelt precursors. Yet his
heart wavered as he realised the approach of folly, cruelty,
and betrayal. He understood that behind the Laboques and
the other petty traders there was the whole bourgeoisie, all
who possess and are unwilling to part with aught of their
possessions. His attempts at association and co-operation
«i8
WORK
that were now Ci^rth^rdvee'' ,v '*'°"'^ '" «^<«7 'o™
"'•'.^ri^gto crush h!m ute ieuX? "" the struggle
would rush upon him and devour hi™ w*', P'"'' °' ''"'ves
of those enemies, funoUonariestr^-^^^^' ">« °«'°es
Plaoid faces who would hay" eatt^hy!; T^''^'"^' '^«»
bun M at a street corner Anf *r^,*'"'* '^ they seen
distress of heart, he oremlt^/u.^*"'"'*' mastering his
that one can found nothCwittuSr^"" °^'^"' ^^^-^^
sided. Beauclair was inTsUtl^* ^ Jndge Gaume pre-
had come in from the neighbotini ^r"' u'i ""« ^""^ '^o
the general feverishness on the Pilate i?'P?<l '<> i^^wase
Sue de Brias. Soeurette who fcT f ? ^^^T' ""^ ^ the
begged Luc to ask a few Z^Jh '5"f "«■ ''"'J therefore
Bat he stubbornly refused t^ ^^* ^^^^ ^ accompany him.
eoart alone, just L" e had rasolv^'tn^*, ^"i'^ to*^ tolhe
son, having engaged an r^v^I * • ^,^^«^^ himself in per-
When he L^^itZ^Z^ w7i^ " " ■"»««' "' fo™.
orowded with noisy peTpk ^^l^}^^ T/^"" "'^ "^"ady
curiosity which griets an iso?af^ ^^'"'y^^'^^d the eager
saorifioe became maSfest Lu„^' "•°?™''^ ^"'^ ^eadyfor
rage of his enemies?Xp™ZZTV'^'^'**^''«»»«^the
insolent. He remained sta?S^!^ 1 ^^ demeanour to be
to defendants, andTuist anr«Hf " ^°°' °^ *''« »»neb aUotted
people around him.KoS £S *' ""'"lo-^l' P»oW
and other shopkeepers amoC^ fc"' °'?''»»»- Oaffiaux,
with ardent faces, ^om he s!w for fhl fi'"Z'"™°' '"e™"
he felt a little relieved on finJLrtw ^^'' T' however.
Guerdache and the Abyss haT^f*^i!l ^\ "^tunates of La
"fi^ from comingt^L^tti-^J"^^ the g^ ^^
Long and exciting nrooeedin^p „ ^- . * '^"^te.
was notSing of the Idni fe,rt" "v,''"*'*'*''' ''°* "»««
provincial advocates with a rCte in^ "^""t? .'»'« of those
are «.e terror of a region And t51^",?"4:'"°»'»<«'' "ho
Luc's enemies spent was when tM,^ '*" "l"' *^« which
how flimsy were the legS woMdl on -1? k^P^" ^"'^
damages was ba^, he«^n^°nZ^Cs J^^^th^'^^^-Jg
^-"^^.^ ^19^. *.aL
WOXK
•19
tetania attempted at La Crtoherie. He made bia hearers
laugh a good deal with the oomioal and distorted picture
which he tow of the proposed future society. And he raised
general indignation when he pictured the children of both
sexes being corrupted, the holy institution of marriage being
abohshed, and free love and aU such horrors taking its place.
Ijovertheless, the general opinion was that he had not found
the supreme insult or argument, the bludgeon blow by which
a smt 18 gained and a man for ever crushed. And so great,
therefore, became the anxiety that when Luc in his turn
spoke, his shghtest words were greeted with murmurs. He
spoke very simply, refrained from replying to the attacks
made upon his enterprise, and contented himself with showinc
with decisive force that Laboque's demands were iU-founded!
Would he not rather have rendered a service to Beauclair if
he had. indeed, dried up that pestUential Clouque, and pre-
sented the town with good building land ? It was not even
proved, however, that the works carried out at La Cr«oherie
had caused the disappearance of the torrent, and he was wait-
ing for the other side to give proof of it. When he concluded,
some of his bitterness of heart appeared, for he declared that
If he desired nobody's thanks for whatever useful work he
might have done, he would be happy if people would but
aUow him to puisue his enterprises in peace, without seeking
woundless quarrels with him. On several occasions Judge
Gaumehad to enjoin silence on the audience; nevertheless
when the pubhc prosecutor also had spoken, in a designedly
confused manner, in turn praising and condemning both
paities, Laboque's advocate replied in so violent a fashion
oalhng Luc an Anarchist bent on destroying the town, that loud
acclamations burst forth, and the judge had to threaten that he
would order the court to be cleared if such demonstrations
were renewed. Then he postponed judgment for a fortnight.
When that fortnight was past, the popular passions had
become yet more heated, and folk aUnost came to blows on
the market-place m discussing the probable terms of the
judgment. Nearly everybody, however, was convinced that it
would be a severe one, fixing the damages at ten or fifteen
thousand francs, and ordering the defendant to restore the
Uouqne to its former condition. At the same time some
people wagged their heads and felt sore of nothing, for they
had not been satisfied with Judge Qaume's demeanour in
court. Anxiety was caused, too, by the manner in which the
W^T0^^ M.
a 10
WORK
Jl;
■I
i
I
jndge had ghut himself im «* i
ttn;""'''''''-""^-^^^ morrow 0/ th.
won. It was said that he was ro»i? ^^ "^ """« indisposi-
^± .Bunply desired to plU hffl k P*'^*"' health, Md
jomoial oonsoienoe. What diA-^ • *.7 *" influence hig
which his daughter even was t^t !?,' "'"""7 closed, and
what moral struggle, what in?«^ 1 /Mowed to enter? To
P"y amidst his If^'kJdWeTe"!"*^'.'"^ he Men a
iw,^*^ "^ *•"" he W believedTn?^V '^ ''"" '"'had
whach occupied many people, but whi^h « °™ "ere questions
Judgment was to be deliMw^Tr " """^ """W answer
foS^n^^f f"' "K"'" '«^<^dTlS^!°^'''">"nihilated.
^resfrrts^niS'^-cttr^^^^
wg around hi™ ^""T"" He stood up smiling and look
fn™ -™= ui UI8 mission. Ho
thf ti!!"'°r ""■" '^'hout even ap'^-nTf™""'* *"■* '"ok-
p4tK7heXurjutt'»^"-'''^ZdTrias'!'
his two assessors MdlheZli?""'"'' """« •». followed bv
which his Jndg,Sent^as^^ifc/°'«' V?"* ""« P»Per on
"^'^edthus.motionlZa^^ent'l^l^ » """""e"' he
"wav beyond the crowd At lasf 1t i' ^'i" his eyes gazine far
empiasrs. he begaTto read hii^ J''°'''^'''°"»'hefl^te^
business, for 'whf^s ' foUot^'iS!''^''^'- I' "as a tong
wgularity, presenting the vS, T *"?" '^*h monotonou!
«o»rt m full detail 1.ndS'j;;;''o»^BubmittedtoT
Peoplepresentlistened without ntT^.P^f^hle aspect. The
was read, and without mMari^wir''"^* ""«=h of what
"■oesaanUy and closely ^dfSl^ir"'* *^*' inclusion, so
one another. It seemed, howe^?t! "k f'""' "■''« foC
Lues contentions were kdoptld L L^'' '""^"^ «tep that
Si^.*""** '*''*''-^'» 'M •oqnittwl, tbtMtioa wm dif.
ThoB, everybody having understw i the position, tbero came
crowd, maddened by kes for months past, was robbed of «.
promised vietim I jt demanded that^viotC" SSS^ hto
Wm l?^'"i*"^S '°,P'*«"'' "•"<* ^ •'tempt to wS it?f
him was made at the last moment by a jnam tSo hiS
stranger who had come nobody Imew wfienoe to ronunt
had he not with diabohcal wickedness stolen the town's
Z^i ^*l"§ ' ""!?° "^'^ disappearance was a di^?e?
for aU who had propertv near its bantT? The 'Journal de
B«LuolMr had repeated those accusations every weeWll the
auaorit.es. all the gentlefolk had spread themXa^ ^d
S2.«l»«°™ M °°*'' ^t^'^J^^ »"«ed. convinced tCa
peatUenoe would come from La Cr«cherie. 'saw red" and
hZStih '" """^ *^""' '°""«''' "«• t^« "ries
to d'elSil^,^'; .""^ "■■'" ^0 ^-»'' -«" «>« P0>-«.
s^dmg amidst the uoroar. He wishef to speak wdgiva
hope of making himself heard. And for dignity's wSMhe had
to rest content with suspending the sit3Ty *tt,d«wte»
from^the^courtfeUowed gyhisU a««sso?s7nrtte3
nJhS, k*^ ""aineteato ^d smiling beside his bench.
tmor^f r. »» '""«1' ™JPri?d as hii adversaries by tt,
tenor of the judgment, for he knew in what a vitiated
atmosphere the judge ived. It was comforting to meet a ju^
man amid so much human baseness. When however thp
rM^'ln ^/"'/rV^' ^"'''' "-"'l^ ^^^^ sad on"'and
his heart fiUed with bitterness as he turned towards that
SiZM""*- T"' ^'^}'' ^'^' *° those pett7wjS
{^^fif n"""?**''?* workmen? Had he not desired to
benefit all, was he not working in order that aU might becom^
ten.^Tf•'Jf^''"',*r'Jl.^"' *•"> fi»'« still threatened
hun, and the shouts hished hun more violently than ever-
.^k'^*#L
^^M
WOXK
To dwth with th*
MMe gnardi had not at Iwt .,?™ ? i'^*' '° »«' »* W. 4
ojtteoourt-room and seouriL ^^^"^ '" t^^'ting h^ont
0' Judge Qaume, the oST* .1 ""* ^'""■- Then, Sn ShiJf
refrain from \.>».^ii^^^^^ f^^ «»ine to be^L^to
•wnuteaofhia We. for hnhnn^."?. "'^ """" P»infiU fi^'
enlprit rijonld thns^f fo^'''* ?«"'■<>■> of an a^wnt
|ws^o-r!^H3-^» c^^S
i|obody«jmedto notSS^u^'^^H the Race de UkaiSj
the oport had waited ^h^for./ ^'^'' "*■» had qohSd
?ertam that he would TotTatu» *'T?"'"te8; vien Reeling
h«d gone off to spread the n^l "^ f^"' '"* I"*' hour., thef
town. Bat on the Place deTwl*' "^"'ttal throaghThi
^".g held, Luo was rewg^i^d "S!' "^"^ ^^ '""''ft wtj
few persons even beganlfMlow Sm '"♦^""'''^ <»" ^^ «
wtentions, but solelf to see wbTmtu'^°* " '«' 'i'h evil
^y some peasants ind theiT oult^^ ^^^^°- ''here were
««™ who were not mi«d up T^^"" P'r"*' •"<"« "ight
•«v
tf'OJtJT
»»3
AU the tndeapeople ol the neighbourhood htd huUn^
to Laboque's establishment direotly Thrhad h«rf t^
«.lm"K:J"""'"''P'°"°?'~°'«»*«dtimBelf with tuminahii
crim brave eve. on tEe tumultuous throng wh^T^
Laboque'B husky invectives. This was takenXTu « a^t
Ini^^fi"^.^ 8^*"^ -"""O"' aroT gathered"^
K d^Sh^ii'S,.',^-'"'^",'"'^. ' ^° death with Se Si
10 death with the poisoner I To death with him 1 •
Suie^.Twr^'TwVgllXl'-SrierHtr'^^^^^
A^f .L ^° l'"'^ ''"^ "•« PO'"""" ' To death with hiTr
went^? ^r "^f"*" °"^" ««'««''• l-"' S^^w and spread M he
went at a leisurely pace up the Sue de Briaa n„V „*^ u
shop came fresh trad«g4>DlB to i^t thT'^ °' *-"''
Women showed themselverrthe" d^" ^^Th^ST^
yomig man as he passed. Some in°°SxSemU^evt'
»»4
WOXJC
raAtd np ud ihouM with Um man : 'To dMth with tki
thirf and poiionw ' Luo mw on* af Oi.™ . #.i
SS^t^J^tfc """ • J.">f-boot, who alMct threw hC
!h. kf.*TT J^ >o«ng man'a legi in order that he misht be
the better heard : ' To death with the thic« I To death »ith
MuTU P?°'""'«T'''"' Who could h.vTire,^J
J*ught him to raise that ehoul of hatred ? But matter.
SSirDlinT^^^IP'il'^ '^« factorieV.ituated°iiX
upper part of the street. The workirirli nt a™^..'. i. I
.r h w '?rt" *''-^^"&Cd'^ r\^
rhiiT! J w*° 'I'*'* ^'"■» e^en 'i^e workmen of the
Chodorge and Mirande factories, who stood smokinff on th«
foot-pavement waiting for the bells to rinTtCcliSf of the
djnnerhour, and who, brutified by servitude likeiri" joined
othere. 'To death with the thief 1 To death wluT iS.
poisoner I To death with him I • ^o ««•"« with the
h«,^«* i^' »«*»'<>' «>• Bue de Brias, with that giowine
UrMti and msulta I Luc remembered tlTe evening of his
ta^trL^?!"'-,-'"'"!^??^ previondy. when the bl^k
i^'i^l^^ disinherited starveling, along that i«ae
•teeet had ^ him with snob active colnjassion t^he "ad
Wh^ tt ^' ^ *° "■« salvation of the vietebji
aIm 1. *• "^^ '** *°"' y«*" !»»*. that 10 muoh hat^
AouTd have sprang up against hii ? He had made him.^
S5dtSvanffi.T™^' '^•' »P0'"« ^ a co^JatunuTa
work-work thr^T''',°'?''°'''«^ •'y »•"« ennoblement
IL «^™^^ ' * "#">^°' of Iximan wealth. He had given
Ml example of what he desired to establish at that T,a
«nl"'''!J5*'^^'"? the future city was germfaa 4, and whore
™«iw«^.''°".'' justice and happinels as waTfor tJe S
possible already reigned. And that had sufficed-the wS
town regarded him as a malefactor; for he amid feel that
Howt> ' °* " T '^Ji'"? '*>« '"«'' °°^ barking at his heels
How bitter was the suffering thai accompanied that cLTOty-'
'% ..-
.'M''*
WORK „,
JlIS*"v'i^''k'? '"^"J' ""^ "">•' '"»''« •mWrt the blow, of
V-t..7 bjing. whose redemption they wek to Cton
Yet M for those boxLTQcoi, whosi quiet di«e«tion« he tmnwS
hv th??."'"' '^«/'">'"i'>8 Wml for X th v not SS
SSrib^^e^'l*"\ ««»'«>,"<'>"«<> «iO80.hopkee^«T^o
» better employment of booIbI forces, and of preventinV .II
useless waste of the public fortune.' And he^e"eT«cui^
Z, iT ? i" ",*'. '° ''boriously raising a city of justice vet
who hooted and insulted him^ such i degiie, indeed Z'd
««l™i"f,f '"'«", °?K^'> ""d 'heif hearts chiK OnW'if he
fnS .t'T.'"' '" '"''' ''°"'"''"' brotherliness, h/ bl^!
the nobles, the free and happy men of tomorrow.
ih. ^^iT"? "■'■' "«'«'>^">8 that endless Rue de Brias. and
the pack of wolves was still increasing in number thSr
& -SfTS"* 1° """"'""^ 'Todeat^^thTethirfl I^
death with the poisoner ! To death with him I •
*or a moment he paused, turned, and looked at all those
P«pU m order that they might not imagine tt»t he wm
therea-bouto. on. man stooped down, took up a rtone «d
.-J***.. ! u Ifflinediately afterwards others stoooed
and^tlr. stone, began to r«n upon him amidst ewr^w^g
To ?iitl S^,'^' "'"''• ^° ^^"^ -"> »he poisoner 1
So now he was being stoned. However, he made not a
geeture even, but mumed his walk, pwse^ring in (^ ag^t
of his Oalvarv. His hands were empty, he hiS wiA himnn
weapon save fcis hght walking-stick, StWs he had ZZ
A^v «m- But he remained very calm, full of theK
W™ fnill''*1>i^''"°x??*°^!^.^' hism'issionit would rende?
him mvulnerable. His grief-stricken heart alone suffered
cruelly rent as it was by the sight of so much eC^d
X;?f„'- ^«''"«'='' t? his eyes, and he had to makVagrTat
effort to prevent theni from flowing down his cheeks
T„ .1 .1 *Ju ,?''h the thief ! To death with the poisoner I
A stone at last gtniok one of Luc's heels, then another
-€.^m J
aa6
WORK
rebounded over the Bround T^wTV^' ^ "??? °^ "" "t""**
~ ne« Luc-. head.Cue 5h ■haSute'"*? ^T
He no bnger turned round hn? .*;ii ]"°"8nt Imn struck.
Bne do Brias attoe s^ iLiT™!'^ ""^ ever ascended the
who, after going for alS^Ui^'^yPf"" !f '^'°"' ^ <»»«
» stone did^lum. tS'iSa rioST^ ^°°f- ^°t »* »"«
striking his lefthinT^t *hl^.'**'i »°'l«'en another,
ground. . «™ leu m big red drops upon the
^v^^.ft'z^'l^l^ri T°^-'hwith
momentorily stayed the adtm^ S^™"*,"" "^^^ °' P"""
seized with cowaidioe!nowt^^; ^^'*'*1 P*"?'* '"» off.
"«««d to We iSd rZ« the moment to kiU the man
and carriedThe cSS'aw^^it Iff* """"en too, shrieked,
furious £anatics thTkerL th^*^"°??- 0"'^ ""« »ob
tinuing his painful Tourney just ri«S^ ; ^""t "''" o""-
after wiping his earSrith h i hL^t ^- ?' J^hand; then,
latter o^^his &torpato^ut'h^'L''' .'^PI^ ""e
pace, and could hear hTp^ersd^J had, «l»okened his
When on the nape of huS T. fffTf 5J"'« °«" <» him.
of the throng. hftSnld ^ni^V '^H" "■« '^«"t ?"«•>«
on ft-^ticJ^:!" tKnS'^^""5,^l tone. fiUinl
workman with carrotv ^rlnli^ the short and scraggy
smith belonging tTSeAbv.^l'"* duU ey^s. He waf a
hound he rSdSeZi whom tZl'Sf- 71^^ » ^
the bottom of the street an?T«VS? ''**° following from
motive for his fren^i^'Ctfi"'."*'' "»•« ?eemed to%e no
vwlenoeinhisface" ^' ^^ ^P*' *"h the greatest
To ;2htlh W^,^^" ^'^^ "r" <>«'* '^th the poi«,nerl
final abonJnable ou^e H^ f^i" t^^"^^, .»'e°«»th that
and an involuntary i3 lee of hisThif^T* ^^^^^^^^^ P»le.
to raise his uninjured Znd\n^ .\''*."'« Pwraptedhim
looked like some s^erb «it^.,f ""'" " ^K"^?- He
with one blow he could ha^e^euK IT'^^t}^' ^"^
e,es, however, .owed ^"^^t^^i^^^
> .mr
iVOUK
»»7
which hitherto he h»d been able to keep back, but which he
could now no longer hide, suoh had iZme the b tteS^ of
^t^L ^'^T ^^'^ ^^^ **"»« <^0'^ be w mu,^
ipioranoe, so temble a nusunderfltanding, that aU those doot
^ppy. weU-lovedtoUers should refuse to beTaveSf^d
whiS l^*.tnt°"*' ^"? shut himself up in the little paviUon
which he still occupied at the end of the park, alongaidethe
mSfio^-^T?*""*^"*''- .P'f ■"""^""1 did not leave Mm an^
thr««<» ''"l"""? ^i'P'^'y*'' '°™"^» ''^ 'I''" afternoon'
„„„if r^ P"?"' .°' ^'^^ ""'^d, told him what warfare
S Th^l'^'r' •^'" •""' """^^ whole to^t^:
S"„^ ^ T-'? "•* supreme convulsions of an expiring
SZ,lS^- "'',"* "^^ ".""^"^K *° ^«- I' resisted^
Bta^M funously with the hope of staying the march of
mankind. Some, the partisans of authorityTiet salration S
pibJessrepreggion ; others, the sentimentaUste, appeal to t^
St^ t' ^^.' f' "^ '""^^ ^' """ we;p??or when hi
ei«:SI?ftiWinyTh'''"' ,"?•** °''?*"' '^»' '«'^«'l '^'h
exasperation, jomed the revolutionanes as if eacer to finish
Zt^'K°T-n.^^*?'"^"''f«l* """ he hadZ^v^n
Sjf*^'" *" Beanclair, which was Hke a miniature 'world
aaudrt the gr«.t one. And if he remained brave and stiU T
S,f7 »!»'"«' •»9^«* none the less bitterly distressed, aS
Wr^lf ./^ weakness pommg over him, he preferred to shut
himself U5 and dram his cup of sorrow to the dregs in nrivaov
only riiowjng himself once more when he WhfulnK^
Sw.^^^""^? '^"'^ •>« ^"'^ bothlhll^rs^^
bSuWtoTl^' *"'«•'* '"^"'*^" nobody wasto
h.J'^^ i^lVi °'*^°*'''' ''<"'«^'. l"* fanoied that he could
hear some hght footeteps on the road. Then came a low^
scarce audible, which made him shiver. He went to own
the wmdow, and on looking between the laths of the shutters
he per^ived a slender form. Then a very gentle voic"
M.^^ed. saying : ' It is I, Monsieur Luc, I mu^t f^ak to you
~flIJ*T'.**'-° ''°'"* °' •'°"°*- I-"' ^d not even pause to
reflect, but at once went to open the little door communicating
^L.'ur'- ^f '*?"" h« ^^ *"» '°'° his closed room!
wnere a lamp was bummg peacefully. But on looking at her
«2
,^1Ea
tiV
JVOUX
herte;:Thftk^a^dH^/y«t''«,^r -J^^Ped about
away. "*"*' ""^ '^» "oU" of her gown was torn
«ooount of the threate hSe ft-, t^"" ^°""' '"'*<»>
know of them this very eS ■' ^' ' "*"'^'""y y" '*<><J«1
penS'tati^''Butd'fBrialfe" '•'"•"^ what had hap-
' the govemor/ M he S LnXTJ^"" °"^" ^ "l"'^
town, had gone off to C^„"°' ^"-^ ^d ^^""^ «"" of the
jnd othersl,tra; wito hk^'"An7M''f I-ITIT ^°»™"
home, drunk, of course ^d ah™?fn» TT* !* ^^J returned
enough of La Cr«chen« ^nf^^* ""' ''» had had quite
. dii;^ den whe^ one wt;&to d^?t'''°P.\^7 '""sTta
the right to drink a ffioo^ni j?^""' ""d, H "°* «ven
•fter jeering and lauSX^ .i^/i"?* '^'"'*^ '»• A' •"'.
J«Hr"»8e. he hMh^ ?o Jm™i«^* m au sorts of fou^
thefr cfothee at onorinl^„thr^. ''*''• ^S!^' ^ P«k »P
morning to the AbyM,whS^iw J ?*''•* «? "^ "" 'he
wer. readily taken on M,*^.tiT'?i*'^?^ O^^oherie
before commTto sueh ^51' • "''•J^ deaired him to mum
he,«d tSg1.^rtut'oftr.'se'' had ended by b^^
^U certainly mX ^^^^'^ ^^' '^t to ^jnre. Bagu
-and h7wfll^SJ?!L ^<^2^-"°thing oa^restrain hS
othe» whom ^^^nZf^^^ '"" "« ^^^ "^
help it, but I riuu hive tofofw u?* ^? .?y,P«t, I can't
60 much that IMt I mnrf t« , » ^°'' '°^ '* alQievee ma
might never see you ag^'" " ''°" "* """«' fo' fc« k't I
he had sappS? ffis workmen «.T" ^'^^,'' '^''^ '>"«
returning to ttie hard tnil J!,^ ^?i °^ ^^'^ ^e»^n» him,
times, si^^th nosteW for h^ wretchedness of ^form^^
laboriously striven to extricate th?,^ f T''""'^ ^^ ^'^'>°
won naught of thdr mSds oJ T^. \T y«"«hehad
worst was that ^osij^^l^^r^^ ^^^^
piR^
^^-
WORK
»»»
^«iT Thn» n!!lt^"' ^l' "'^'«^' »«•*•». e«' into the
be^ie- for d?d&r'' ^'"''' »°? /verything remained to
U «»^ :„i ""1 "0* Jos"J6 personify the sufferinij neonle*
^tt^r^^^/^K "■" '°'^'" humble, the lowest, the nS^stTthl
"ouM^ntbe^Ll^d.'""^ " '^°"'"' "^o^ll ^'^ff'r. the world
,J>?\ ' ''°"°*' ■^°?°*' '"''' erieved I am foryou-how I oltv
™«f'„7l' ^'^r'l^.='^« '^°'«d' l^te someSriorpow^ £
fs";ithaSrXrstSr'^rt'c:'in'°,'t
cohort him.how^nldsh^XTfe.mKce'^tSi^nt^^^^^^^
/Oh, Monsieur Luc,' said she, 'you do not know hn.
^J^t >ncreafflng tenderness. How she suffered ! how he
ttfnSfi'fK-"^ \^^^ """"SW "f J>». even M she oiUy
Wui^!^' "* "^""""y °' P"y ""^ " craving for iSJl
r„n' T*^ ""V" *•« P'tiea,' said Luc at last; 'there la only
you Josme whose suffering iaacrime, and whom I mus save?
on„M • w' ^°°"e," I"!". I aonot count; it is youTho
ought not to suffer, for you are the providence of us ill"
ihen as she let herself sink into his arms, he clasncd
re«i.S;?'T'''y-'°,>'' ''r''^'- » ^^ » crisis not W
resisted-the mmghng of two flames in order that they
BStb'°fh™T? ^."' "^-^ ^"^^ «'^« °^ affection anJ
tKo 'it . ^ L^^' '^'''' -"^"'""y accomplished. All had led
tnem to it ; a sudden vision appeared to them of their love
"^W^.
»J0
WORK
k?^ *. ■ -^ were two beiiigg mesting in a lone-awiiSS
tass, attomng to florescence. No remorse wmd^W
»HJp»«d even as they existed, in ordeTttTt Sot ^t h^
S^JX i^ ''°"''* ^^ '^'°« conscious that a ^tUn
s-ij'i" C '""• '"" '"' "i"™' '«"• '•*»■■ ■«
J- . ^^t "'■'?>;'» WM the h»Pd which had been «i..ht
wit^ Sr* ' ^'^ "° ' " "•- ^- ^ -^^t I Mss it
«,«^T°°*^ ''•^ "j" *° ^''^ s«a' W by the ininrv he
< o2 ^ „???\''*"^*J' °r°*^ '^"'d with cZse^'.^'
^^^ Oh, Luc I she cned, • how you love me, and how I love
A^d ZST/"'""^ ""^ '^"^ ""'"""'^ through theffi
brtw^nYirwJ? /r' ""' ye' over, the tIrriWe battle
fHiead, love at least was sown for the harvest of the fmt^e.
''^^u.mM^
■;^y^
WOXK
131
m
Fbom that time forward, at each fresh disaator which fell
upon La CrSoherie, when men refused to follow Lue or
impeded him in his endeavoors to establish a commtmity
of work, justice, and peace, he invariably exclaimed : ' But
they don't love I If they only loved, aU would prove fruitful,
all would grow and triumph m the sunlight.'
His work had reached the torturing all-deciding hour of
regression, that hour Tiien, in eve^ forward march, there
comes a struggle, a forced halt. One ceases to advance,
ono even recedes, the ground that has been gained seems to
crumble away, and it appears even as if one would never
reach one's goal. And this, too, is the hour when with
firmness of mind and unconquerable faith in final victory
heroes make themselves manifest.
Lno strove to restrain Bagu when he found him desirous
of withdrawing from the association and returning to the
Abyss. But he was confronted by an evilly disposed ..inter,
one who fell happy i- doing wrong, since defection on the
part of the men r ?ht ruia the new works. Besides there
was something di • in Bagu's case, a form of nostalgia, a
craving to retor '0 slavish labour and black miseir, «.
that horrid past which he carried with him in his blood.
In the warm sunlight, amidst the gay cleanliness of his little
home, girt round with verdure, he had ever regretted the
narrow evil-smelling streets of Old Beauclair, the soiled
hovels through which swept a pestilential atmosphere.
Whenever he spent k> hour in the large dear hall of the
common-house, where alcohol was not allowed, he waa
haunted by the acrid smells of Oaffiaux's tavern. Even the
orderly manner in which the co-operative stores were now
managed angered him, and prompted him to spend his money
after his own fashion with the dealers of the Ene de Brias,
whom he himself called thieves, but with whom he at least
had the pleasure of quarrelling. And the more Luc insisted,
pointing out how senseless was his departure, the more
stubborn did Bagu become, full of the idea that if such
efforts were made to retain him, it must be because his
departure would deal the works a severe blow.
' No, no. Monsieur Luc,' said he, ' there's no arrangement
b n
«£3
m
i
that are not at Si t^^/t° at^''*' '^^ '"'^o •daitional worrie"
at La Crlch^rirl.:/'"^'^ t *'Sf '° '^^^ P™"'' --^o
the salaries earned it ^heAbysT-ttf t*° "'"%«"'«' *h.n
answer. ■ We live a.nll ;= ;/ \ "' ^'"' "laae haste to
tte future is certlun'f 1 1' h"av„ *"*t^'""» '^ "^« '^h^
t has been in the convicti™ T**'''*** Bacrifices of yon,
lies at tho end. Burprttn" 1*^ ^^^'ybody's happiness
necessary together Mafthmtte Jfr*"/"' ""^^
of work also.' ""^ *ask and a great deal
On'^i^S'HoZV^l:,^^^ "^r^K^f "-- «^-
happiness,- 'he said jeerinriy "tL^l °'" '^e'yhod^'s
prefer to begin by my omi'^' ""*' « ^e^y PWtty. Only I
bo i^indXtt *S: r/'^i,*'"!^" — * -»M
all. he had no interest™ rtt^L^i"" ,^«.P'«'wd. After
ovil disposition migh prove feSf*"'^'"?"'' °»°' 'hose
thought of Josine's departurr^^^T '^'^T""'' 2»* the
sUghUy ashamed when he reaS^th^^K* ^^ "^ ^ *>''
BO much warmth in seekLg to „ Jn R ^ had only shown
because he wished to retsL, h.^ ?i ^"'S.*' ^^ Cr^oherie
she would go back to live «S^f**u'H','l The thought that
with that m\nX,rela;3iS*^ ^"''- °',0" ^"""^
MBuredly treat her ^Ui vfoknL " P''''°? ^" ^™1'. ™nld
Hemcturedheroncemore^nfrR'''",""':?'™''''' *<> !-»«•
alUthyroom,apreytoBordid deafl? ''*' ^'°''' ^■•"'<«. i«
no longer be nea? to^^toh over her ^ v''?\= """^ ^e would
and hfi would have liked to w t\ J^^' '^^ '^ his now,
in order to rendir her life a Cn,"^ her always with him'
njght she came back to see Wma?,'/f.f- °° '^« ^"""'i"*
rending scene between thflm V.^ *^^'^ "*« 'hen a heart-
•ndnUms. But «^° prevailed •'l'/"^''' '''!?, fW«onB
Bhonid accept facts T tWwere' f,T "1?^^"' ''"""'ey
compromise the success of tCCl -I'- '^ did not wish t^
*o both of them. Josine would foiwp"'' """'""^ «»™»°'>
not refuse to do so witW ra^ 1°"^ ^?«"' »">« she could
whilst Luc at La cScS'^^^'"? » dangerous scandal;
-rybodys happiness if ^^e^ c^S^c^irihTvict^lo,^'
ivojix:
»33
f;
aome d»y unite Uiem. Thoy were titaag, lince love, tlio
invinolble, was with them. She promised that ahe wouU
come back to see him ; neverthelegg how painful waa the
rending when she bade him good-bye, and when, on the
morrow, he saw her quit La Cr&iherie, walking behind Bagn,
who with Bourron waa pushing a little hand-oart contiUnmB
their few ohattels I °
Three days later Bourron Mowed Bagu, whom he had
met each evenmo at Oaffianx-a wine-shop. His mate had
joked to suoh a degree about the 'syrups' of the common-
house, that he fancied he was acting as became a free man
when in his turn he again went to live in the Rue dea Trois
Lunes. His wife, Babette, after at first attempting to prevent
such foohsh conduct, ended by resigning herself to it with all
her usual gaiety. Bah ! things would go on right enough, for
her hnsbuid was a good fellow at bottom, and sooner or
later would see things clearly. Thereupon she laughed, and
moved her goods, simply saying av, revoir to her neighbours :
lor the could not beheve that she would never return to those
pretty gardens which she had found so pleasant. She par-
Uoularlv hoped to bring back her daughter, Marthe, and her
son, bSbastien, who were making so much progress at the
schools. And, Soeurette having spoken of keeping them
there, she consented to it. i- b • «"•
However, the situation at La Cr^oherie became yet worse,
for other workmen yielded to the contagion of bad example
by taking themselves oflF in the same fashion as Bourron and
Jiagu had done. They lacked faith quite as much as love,
and Luc found himself battling with human bad will
cowardice, defection in various forms, such as one always
encounters when one works for the happiness of others. He
felt ^at even Bonnaire, always so reasonable and loyal, waa
seOTeUy shaken. His home was troubled by the daily quarrels
picked by his wife, La Toupe, whose vanity remained unsatis-
fied, for she had not yet been able to buy either the sUk
gown or the watoh which she had been coveting ever since
Tif /^ t "*"^*'' *« "M one of those women who regret
tuat they have not been bom princesses; and thus ideas of
equahty and of a community of interests angered her. She
P t5j?"?""*® perpetually blowing in the house, rationed
out Vsaiy Lanot s tobacco more gingerly than ever, and waa
lor ever husthng her ehildren, Lucien and Antoinette Two
more ttad been bom to her, Zoi and S^verin, and this again
rii
111
•34
WORK
•ooQirtomed to thoM sto^an?^?^*^ '*7 «»lm ; he WM
•P«»k.\o>^o7^-nBn™ heTmarj.':"°T' ^-^^M to
="^"t!in'So»Z«^ ^a^r^-fe
Jss»;t4Xtkrtoi:^r "« ■" " •'-' ^y- ^^
actipr, wiU have tobeTCpidT'"^'^ *"*' "^"'""onary
bra"^-whrbe'^au'Sfat"S^'C^-°^-»<^»^
method which is too mnth. »M.r> °°'bing. Ifg yoar
WOSK
•35
!?^!l!f * ' ^*^ *•'. »lx»n>n»«on that one can only heal
« by applying a red-hot iron.' '
' Then what ought one to do, my friend ? '
It 18 neoesaary that the people should at onoe nice aU
the implement, of Ubour; Tfe neoe«ary thTit M
.teT™^"' ^9'^ "I"' "nd dispose of aU the S
Itself m order to org,«ise compulsory ,^i;ersal work.' ^
Onoe more did Bonnaire explain his ideas. He had
wmamed ent«ely on the side of 6oUeotivism. ,^d W who
^tened sorrowfully felt astonished that he had uTno ^se
5,. n?l?^ him «pealtmg in the Bue dea Trois Lnnm ra
^e^g now, stiU holdmg to the same revolutionary oon-
which he had spent at La Cricherie. He held evolutiorto
demand far too many years forreaUsation ; and he was w^
l^frev'SuSr^'' "' "-"^ '^•"^ ^ immediate'^
—J H'' ^ "*^*' '^P.'*" "''»* ""^ ^on'' take.' "«id he by
way of conclusion. -To have everything we murt take evei^^
.f.S"'"i[*"\J'"® "^ '■^^ "^t- a°d the night shifts had
started work m the resounding gaUeries. Luo, whilst 1 steidM
to those renewed efforts of lat^ur, could feeUn inde oriffi
sadness steahng over him aa he foresaw that hisTork w?ttW
be comnromisea by the eager haste of even the bT to ^f
of fMtf ? ^^*"^ '»'* "*»^'^ "»« reaUsation
'I won't argue with yon again, my friend ' he at 1i»(
or^if^Iv ? ^•"'*.!^'' "■*.' »?H^isiverevol„tion isi^si^
or likely to give good results in the circumstances in wUoh
we find ourselves. And I am convinced that asS^iation ^
^'T^^'Z f *■■ i^! Pr^'eraWe road, one along which pro-
gresa may be slow, but which wiU aU the same end by leaSf
na to the promised city. We have often talked of IS
mattera without altogether agreeing. Bo what use woiUd^
\t^ T f ■" af""'' f "d thereby sadden ourselves ? One Zw
«,at I do hope of you is, that in the difficulties thS
Z^^ZT''nV^^I°\'^ """^ ^'^^^ to the S.
prise we founded together.'
I
•3«
WORK
know ve17w.ll that I ,m "ft .^f^y"»»/f"bted me? You'
Ineversayto otier. what rvrw*!?^. £"■'>""<»«!
I never eay lo Ttler. what rv^w"^^ P""'' '^ """^ i
matter, between ?"u I^dJe ClSf, r you; tho?e are
nntjl the walll^KCin ott'aT •"" """"" "'°«"'"^
wllingWhte?^ waT ^n^fS^*^?? ? "" •"•" "I'O" «»!
more. He had LJwa™^ »if^; T^'"'' ^""^^^ "m even
fellows ^sh^ to fnlTn^p "'!'' '"0 or three wrong-headed
«^ing the aS, of h« ma^T '^'" •""" '°''"' «°d
epeedily became quiet Infln?^.!^ S Tt" ,""*' "" o*''*''
themseWhS m^ .n„i? °m ''' ""« ^^ *•>«' one of
anyTrlherof qdtttnf Jh.T''''' V"*"""*"*'- """o «Poke
Boanairl^'padfytog hU revoH o^«*^ that epeotade of
~me, Monsieur LnZ I shill haiTi, -^ ^"'^ '° ^°- '^" ">«
He^^forotherwi.Vel'^e'^dtWoT.fartr^
sPr- ^
tVOXK ,„
Bmntir* m ii h«ppm«d_whan th« pair of thtm pMMd before
wnw .tap of Und which hrf been UA him bSdd. tg.^K
withalitUe w»U of itonM. In vain had Luo wpoidto
to iTMitif "^^ department which he had found itSL»ry
fcee without either God or master.- So he eon^oed
dweUuig m Us wUd den and making common pottS??.lSSi,
Btook.pot.,and pitchers, which he afterward. SrteftlttS
niarketo ^d fafr. of the neighbouring TiUagesThThSiiSJ
Ihat •venuig, as it happened, they were retuniing tosetfaer
coriiSCin^." '""^*" P'°''l?«ri"8»' "^e young man
k. '.^^'ly^*"^' 7,?H ?"*'??'; 'o ?'• "« l""^, Uonsienr Luc,
^-Si!,*!"** ,"••' L' ^""" ° "k fo''* »«»«wered Langi
Indeed, he only carted his ware, about when bread wa«
lacking m his home. Throughout hi. spare time he^ge^
over pottery which was not inr«nded for^e, remainSv te
honrs m oontempUtion of tha things ha thu. ^Se^ .»«
haTOjg the dreuny ezpreMdon of those of wma ruticpoet Ml
™™ '• '«'"''?~. !"• 'W7 P»n. and stock-pots, dispUWa
which bespoke poetic fancy. A son of the pe^e, as ha wmu
W^flf'j^r^y "f"^ "P°° *• old priSiCpJpX
iSM?liS!i*^ *i""' ''"?'"« ^°>»~fi« ntendTwbich
MiM. ftwn periiotion of proportipng and abMdnte adaptability
to the UMS to which the utenril i. intended to be pntr '
™.™^?n7h' ^'"l"=H''^i^'* ""'"i*? °° examining a few unsold
pieces m the little Land-cart. And the sight of Barefeet, that
^L^' TT\ ^"b '"''* i^^ ^'"'"K' »>«°^er limbs of a
wrestler and the hrm bonomof an Amazon, Ukewise filled him
with mingled admiration and astonishment.
to her " '"^ *° ^"^^ **" *'""*' "" ^*^' '^"'' ■' ? ' lie .aid
But s!iu was a silent creature, and contented herself with
W .^J .'nf ■ '"8. '"'M ?yes, whilst the potter answered in
her stead: 'Oh I we rest m the shade by the wayside when
*4«
woxj:
riM young wonuuj )wd to^i^ h« . u,_
«n plMe UBd« .d,^ ow into the .nolo.are and ■•( it
♦roth tQ toU dM WM^?S ffiL'*^ "X '^ *''"<>•• But
aMMMWur of „ uncouth pSLnTTn^' ^^ '??••*'' ">•
t»uok.i.tUttl« man Tri^K,u^^:LA P^* »' '"» th*'
»Migl«o/hMr.^be^!2i"?'*'P*^ ''••d. buAy with »
jj^j^ ™ oeard, wai of • very gentle md amorouj
'wy : ' Well, im't wm.h^^ I, ^»"" Wi rough, frank
bwntoke wiUiii'to U h^Trj'.K '""'♦^•"'"Ivm upin your
Eaoh timeaS h! ™ ^'T "" ^ .*"•"»» you want ? ■ '
Shave's^- b/^ou'^re ^ft .^f^'?»*y>^
wJ/tU, i. tolS^ ,t' «'?'ytbing i, rott;n7»nd L.
'Oh 1 with bSKh.t^.*&';'J«*. •""Ply i"t«ven«i.
your famous sooialisaZH Z ^.t?„Tn ' "1;??^'^ '"^ ''
?tie!^a- ^i;s;|S"pth°iitK
noticed, was as ^"TX^Z.^-^^^ i^^^
jn w^^ w-
enemiVr «^ a *" ^ '"•'' °' different raoet, herediUry
for o'n, ^X^ey mlt .T^S^tJ^"'^"'?*"?^
mmmmM
' She^hdi't?' *° •*■ '""•'' »d<l«l I-"g. in .U dmpUoity.
But what .long mad yet remuned to b« trav«U.d k^a fc»_
t™«J«s which Jordan, never wearying, was stiU striving to
to,?rdrktd'tr?.in?tf::e?src
Rm a1Si.«^^ J» fT°'"^ "»• V"!"" °f the pri>5!
fo Morlain abject anTffiSHe ^nM"* w "*"' •^**
But there was yet another reason which aneered Morf«.in
with those new times which ho wished to ismf™ .-j^-
"ii-^%»rik «'
weU-loved houSof thL^-wlf ' death had worked as the
forgave her, saT^g to 2i^.StL?..."=°'t5'^ "• """J "■«»
^y have OTt mSd &,t fil- "'" ''"'^^ «»suredly some
name-that TAohm,, o!? •" ^^^^^^' ^*^« ''™ ••<" Io'»'s
Beauolair Theintri^e wT' **" •'°° "^ "'^ ""y"' »'
•inidst the evening Kesunde?tr°? °° ^T y«»™ ""W.
paths of the BleSse S^t^ff *^® "*"7 ^''y- ^'o^K the
patches of thrae and iZiT"' '?\T' """^ rocks and
Serconrse^tHsfamni^^^ breaking off aU
bc^geoisie bored i^ddTsSsted »,£? .'^ wT"^' ^"""^ ^^
takehimonatLaTffi„ • ^*1 *'J?1' '^SSei Luo to
He thus severfld «™,^* ' ■** ^^ ^^ ''«''0"'e a designer.
BeeJ^'SVut"r:S'nr'f ■r''? ?^' '" ^'"^ """^
whole antiqie e^fice m, at tf,^^"^^ "'i'^' o""^"*'- The
good and iSUT^gSC shaken it^'^lP'r^ t~ "^
perhaps even ^gUngfor, trson''otL''ma^^r°"« '"' '^
lielessandTeSus trouUe t Jai^L' s' ^"""^^ '° ''''°
aie matter, in thHII Ti?" ^ 7!"" "^f Soenrette insist on
LaCr^Wie-sgrprXaTrh^^rsS u^^^^^^^^
Ktthatrth1hte™'^«.?° ^^^ to close her fyesX
.on^e1itteJ^ataWt:en"tlJr^reo^^
**' WORK
' T iJJ^r ''*?^ '^i' *=' 0° *J>e taWe and made it shake
J W « my father lived,' said he, • and yourZ?y /s H^^-
dav^*Bnt"5?* **■* *''?• "^ '"^^^'Z exchanged four words a
-<riencea^d"us2"idr orthenrr'"'' "'""«'' '^ "">
her from 4 '•'"' *^" °*' *°'™' """ «"^ ^^>^^ ^k
awi^fwrTaj^ 11 ' ".^Dde'. and dark, with a ray wide-
x'%!ir«ii.5r' ^;...
JVORK
h« people e^et l:^";^; ^^^ f^' *•»!« 7°" chosen) WiU
lived too long • ' ^^ ' « a the end o( everything. I've
7oaS°MdtfiLfCVvr^: t ^j" •^^ ^o
-poke like a sensible Ud?^ho was Lnlv;^"?"™*- • ^^ »»
as long as might be nwes^^if "^^ to "main patient
matter later on NeveSZ^wK^t'""?'^ "^ »•»»* the
to meet what lmrmIoSdthe«£f ?„''*•'?? *'" <^^ <"'«"»<i
friendly good day? Sthonah^M^ u».T»idung one another a
positioijhat .Srnof LwaS ptveWerJ^ '''*^? «^«
one another. And even if diff.^f^I i """ ^™ "aring for
little, would that not have hL^l,'''^?^ were to mingle a
thus learn to knc/eMhoIheian^"??/'^''' T^ ""' ^°^
Morfain, however fan o/^.^***???"'* other more?
lirten to those ri^m'ente fle^ddJS^ '"""°'""'' "^^ "»'
peat tragic wave of his ;rm^ nn^i^'^' "»? "P- and with a
hi. he;3llmost touohS, C^eS < Be':^^'^^^^ ^^'^
M you like I Do ae vom sistertL .1 °?' J~ ">* •» "oon
thing that's respeo "ble W„^„T^ i" ^?°' ' ^pit on every.
somebody has cliiigXTisAl..^ '°°^l' recognise you;
wild den; where I h?™ the «»t« ^.1' "" ^f? '•""^ ^ this
and crush me to dmSh I ■ '^^ "*"" ^ ^""n on me
thrJ^oidld^'hearTTh^ T^, ^JTr^' r"^ » '»"»
affected by them, for he hdd utrl^S^' % "" 8^*17
a long time he W)n^ xri^ hS^^u"i T"^ «'*««'"■ Po^
arrival of the yowTrntn whom ^^ , "i'5* ""«''«'• °» the
forced back his'pSff ?o bewm^ ^J^"^ " * '""'«'. ^
a submissive sufordiW*;!??^ fl°® T" » ""« workman.
He did^?evM lu^w hSitSV""- "I'^'^r'^y""^ *■« <»»t."
latter waa the primtr lusTof t^° i^*'"- ^f"' *'*'"'"«»' ^^
upsetting the ^ion^T^n^l^lf^"^"""'""" *'»'''l' were
masters after lOi had a riTf T^ . '° °"«* Pain. The
T ^ for the worimen t^ "^''' '"..*"' *' 'W P'««ed, and it
their elde:: ffi^e ifbeTreTheT'' ""' "" "«"' -''"
Do not be alarmed. Monsieur Lue,' he said. ■ if I happen
»44
WORK
no telkol aT^ °"i ^■'PPen'. 'or you know that I'm
SotS fmm ird'^nl"* ••"'{" '"^ «■»» the work doe"
uo« Buner irom it , for I always keep one eye onen ana nn
metal IS ever ran out otherwise than in my ~ce aC
Ihen, desirous of changing the conversation, he brnsonelv
said ^. ?^r°?*i^7^*^y.'*,?™ 8°"« ^ow" 'o yo» by-and-by .■ he
£e"onnVKr>''«^^^^
;i-'^'>«f^W;boTet;Tthe^^^^^^^^
eated. What would you have ? An evU spell ^» to S™
Brea^Wx.r'^4 resounded to Luc's ears like the knell of his
Jiven at La Crfiohene he encountered reason. fZ\i!.
u qntn of the notet diseomfort into vbJBh hn n. ii!»!!!?>.
One Tuesday, after they had risen frSn table! the dispute
to his o^n UghSsed" to ^eSrt i ^'^rZ^t^:^^
man quieOy contents himself ^Cpi;^;. ' Yes weS
you^'c^eat'o? >T° «?Pl'^''?= ' WeU. do you know what
dZla^l, m^i rebel yVre^'^s" oTw ""'^ ^°. '""•"^
r^, such as it needs then- in order to be stron- and Xrkf/
Thenoo con.es the necessity for discipline and a Bystem of
.w "mr
»48
JVOXX
^S^^TZ'bT'^T" V"' P™*™"""- which are
old republican, a free-iJiAC^.ri: .f°'™y P"" I am an
will ev^^r picture mfw a ^''T'^Z*; ^".^y- ^ ^r>^'
yet your systea of edncatZ^ J ' retrograde mind ; aSd
In lilf a ciutSyf^lTuZa^vstrnf '"'*t "^^ "' *"'<»"«'
no more citizeni no mor7BoX^n. ''°'"''' ''*'? ""^'^ b«
indeed. I defy yiu to Cke S, °f°" P"'""'"- '^^s.
inea;andin4atca«^hX^,!?dZ " T^T''^^'-^ ^^
the event of war ? • ""* """"'y "^^'end itaelf in
d^d^it^aSL'^vrunlTd ^zf of"" sr-^ »»
soldien. be.some day. if men no l!.n»„ « k.°^ ^^^ "" "^
in rebellion 4Sineme" tate^^?«„»i!?°r'*''y 8«»»»«on.
Luct^^^^t '"'^•'" ^-^~ - -taatrophee.. «.a
nioi^w-f Zft'sCif^'intS^g ' ^«''*^ P'""^ of to-
turn out S»™ riv^*ttteLn''°°iS ^""'f "^ *»
authoritarian reoubUo TW^^ ^" "■* "««^ o* Ws
dieoipli^^Pfi'^;,^''*" JO-J^^ be no more politi^
of the State, but in Ueu SSf^rn?'*' "°i"»~ sovereignty
leadiag to the wont f^f*""^^ •*?■« '^'°'^erly Iio«W8,
And & .t once AbwEe w^"i?L""'£,'"f debauch^
nodding his head aDDroS!" ^^^^.^ad been listening and
exohu^ ^ I v„»^S^? * '• ^"^^ "°* "sist an impSseto
^^ind^r* ^°" "" «""'« "e^'- -^"l "^ that'^rpj?
noee^^'^ia^t^'^'detl'lVr r '?*'""* ^^ "^"^o
new society, in which he fe1th^» n > funous attack upon the
jeg«ded s&plyTthe histiri^' f^t'T^^^ condemned.
But he W ^.^^rhlte^f^ rhl^h^rbe^^m^TnTp^
■mmM wt^^j^m^
T^W.«:r^-'^
within his narrow doo^rin^ N^i^l*'^' oonaolation
more attached to the letter of Hnl^. he shown himself
severer penance on hVpenlt^ntf S^^ T*I ^*^ •"« ^fli«««l
that the ioj.r<7eoi» worll^v u" '' '"^*^ *>« were desirous
cloak of relil^nT Sht aMett^lh^w'Tr^'' ''V''""^ "^^
when it was submergS^ On thfV. i. * u^"'. ^meanour
fall, he at any ratew^H h. .fT- I ^^"^ '"* '*"™1> would
last mass be/ea^ the^^ "' ^'' •^^' «"<! wonld finish his
Satli' /s' r^ t" hlnTwtr^rA ' "'f^."''' "-«» «"
brought UD toffethor .L T ° *" *''°™ lads and sirls
dest^yedrtt'Sorjd K°t •''^"'"' "l"^^^
earth as in the timfof The pa^ns Th« li^ ^Tf ' ''"' '»'
arawn^cf it aU is so correcfK SKK,^:^-
b^me^sUent. andgazed &\Z ofth°S^ «ttj
Luo' .^a^to^^^ii" t J:'"!^-. '^^i^e liunself this time to
Boh.ils.^^'^on^ bf4""^'^'»««ducatio^ given in yo«
you have turned the dS ontT^Sif^"'!.' ''^^ " **^'
^/neglected to buildTclfu^ch ^ f'^'^f o^^lV^"""
town, among so many handanm- .tTj t , ?^ ™ J"""' »ew
pretend thai that von ^Ir "^^.^^^ edifices. Do you
tithertoha^bZlbrtod^so A»H°"' ?'^^ ^° ^^^^
""fr^/orthegovorTent^ofml^^"" '""' »''"'"" >««»
«spit'S'rif"b:Kh?'rff- ^^'^'-a^i-freewith
becZenoneoKas^ttfehth!^"!? ^ ^"^ t"^' i' «
be buUt should there"e^faiti,f ,M* "^ °^.°°«- ^"t one can
be allowable for aZ^^ T^l^}± f^"^ t ^K"^ "^wayg
Batisfaotions«,manja^^m t?*"-.^*'^" '"""^
»«»8»ity of. religion thTt iT^H^i^^ "^ "«"^ <» tJ-
one desies to govlm m™ B„?l^^ ' real necessity when
themataU; <rt^™conS*ry t™ ^"" ^,.to S^-em
the free city. Let me ^5^0^^-., t" l"™ free in
M
148
lyoxK
by hnmu •volution. Seiena« deitroya aU doomu on* b»
world. What la the aaa of a CathoUo church at La Creoheria
•mceyounatBeauoUdr U already too largergrow^^K mor,
«d more dewrted, and destined one of theS,'C to to»la
W^ty,ft^t^ very pale, but he would not understand.
2ffl™itf.; ii^S"^™' "' • ^^"^ '''^° PJ~=«» Ws strength in
^i?^i°.- '""'??) «"5'.°" «» P«»'' he contented hSeelf
SS'eX'^n^idTcffir''*^""'^"'"''''''"*"-''^"
Th.^lHS?w !?* ?^"* ^ "^"'"^ l''"'»lf any longer.
The pnest s words of praise were stiU suffocating him, particu
Urly u they had been foUowed by that declLition of X
chToS {w^J?¥''°l '^•"'" '^."o.Abbil • heshout^,.„o
a« h.X^* ^ '"t'5* °? «>°<»»bnent of the fact that ma ters
S^tes lf„?^?tr'^- "■ *''!u?''' '°"'° ■" accordance with my
S^»^"i;„ ■ u^""!*"/""* 'bing that I approve, it is certainl?
™ '^,°^^"^°r*,l''°y.^'''*«'*"P°»- Govern men? WhJ
yes, only mstead of the priests in their churches, it is we the
wnnw" w** ^}'^ ^"^f- '°8"'8l"8 temper, declared that he
would not aUow sacrilegious language ti be used La his
presence, the dispute became so bitter that Doctor Nova™ as
UBual, was forced to intervene. He had hitherto UsS' to
^'nfawL':^*^.'^'' '*~'"1''''' like ageSKd somewhit
sceptical man who was not put out by any vu".1s. however
'^C™« J^ I ^* ^j I"** '■*' beginning to pain Sceurette.
rnn ^^tl. TK ^^ ''*' y°° ^""s' agree, since both of
yon put the churches to use. The Abb4 will Always be able
tS! r?» *•? ^*'*''' "• y«"8 °f 8r«a' abundance.' Thm
«f Jl ^ "*"!? '° "P""^ °^ » °«' ««» that he had ju™
SSl heaTX*" ^"T,; "' ""'*' P*'"'" '^'y "^ite and pC
and Jta heart warmed by a pronounced flush of carmine. He
^^A%''m "^ V^I ^°''«"' ^bich had beenpl^ed i^
™^.?^i. '•'t^'^ l"^ Sceurette looking at it smUed Vnoa
S™ S' ?* ??,4 ?' ""*' florescence all ofiarm and perfaS?
Sv'?'ZAil'^^*"*1 '"'^ ^^ by the vSen^S
nowaday^ marked the quarrels attending her Tuesday lunches.
WOXK
»49
H tWngi wtot on in that fwhion, it woald Men U impoaiibl*
fcr them to t one another. ""i>u»«uw
n.^li*r ""ll'oow that Jordan emerged ftom hi. reverie.
U.l^„2,*^*^ '°''T"u»"""'"''' "" "deed he wer^
Uitenrng to the others. 6nt he made a remark which showed
^r. t; r'? "• "^f ""^ '«*°- ' »« you know,' eiolaimS
.^'1^' ' u f* electrician in America has sacoeeded in
Btonng enough solar heat to produce eleotricitT ? •
n.rt^ .^.1 T P"]*"' it« >ohoolma8ter, and the doctor had de-
parted and Luc found hmiself alone with the Jordans profound
t'X.^tn ^''«'^''"«'"°' «iJ 'l-e poor menwhoCZe
another and crashed one another in their blind strurele for
^fi'^'iST T'.*5?J''°,?« """'^ '»*«'• As time went^y, see-
^L^} "'".' ^i®""^*' *•?« '«"''«d 'or the common wwS,
«X5 ^ ™°'™T^ '8"°'* *''» "''°"» «^«» of those whom one
™o^t„^- tT' ^"° ''"s sometimes seized with discourage-
SS^iJl^ J? would not as yet confess, but which left bJth
W.^?,!"^ ^i? """^ Btrengthless as after some great us^
on th« «nf.°t" J°- ?.""»"«?» i^s'^U would capsize and seem
on the pomt of sinkmg. And again that day he raised his
SS™ tef = ',?"* *?;' ^°"'* ^ " they'lovy^uVoSd
prove fruitful, all would grow and triumph in the sunlight I *
A few days later, one autumn mominff, at a verv earl*
te St"** experienced a terrible heartW which threw
J^S.^**^* *^*1!' ""S""^- SI'o invariably rose beUmeZ
which she had estabhshed for the infants of her crtcl,^, wheZ
aashe went along the terrace which ended at the ^vilira
^^^- ^!^^^V^ """""^ *° *»«" *° B'ano" down at the
^^h*? ?' ^?T "^'looked. And precisely at that
«??^, i I ^2°' "' *•"' P*^"" °?™^8 w'o the road was
fo^'^h?*^- ^^"^^^ "T"" "e"^ a woman of slender
S^U i "^""^diately afterwards disappeared amidst the
^tash mommg mist. Nevertheless S^Srette had time to
recognise her : it was Josme, leaving Luc at break of day.
bince Bagu s departure from La Creoherie Josine, indeed,
had returned to see Luc every now and then. On thirooea-
return, for she feared lest she might be surprised when le^
^Liv""^ or returmng thither by some of her inqnisitivi
S? ^°"- ■ ^"<»^"> 'I'V^ea of lying and hiding herself S
order to join the man whom she regarded as a god had
become so painful to her thai she prefe^ed to await tte d^
»So
woxx
whan Joiina wm »t l«at »Ua to L, k* i. "^ •'"^^ "owe
morning mi,t „, ".^ dej«e vX h^i^?'';. ^I *^«
•nfficently to prevent Jorlw". dZ fr^ J^«'*^°"l'' "°*
S<8urette, in the shock of h.fS; ° ™»P"«ng her.
rooted to the spot/L uShe L. tllT'If?'' '^^^ ""fl^ •I'ort.
Such wu her^t^on * ^* Kn «?'"' <>Pr?« before her
•» first .ha couWTnot^n r^T'^.^V ber ears. th»t
to the dairy to°rive ui^r" ..^ *ii'''!«*" »*"* «be was goinB
to her Som, thTd;,rr rSSJ? t^" bouse and climbing wildly
then she fluk/hS^inT^ A" '?°.''?^ '^">d bar" And
eye. •nd be,°!r:?^17,^^k«d -tmnng to cover both her
withW' thJtl'hftraA'"'' ^^'^ . r«.ding
Luo;. •ftcLatettt'nd tlLcK'dS' to be J^
pamonately devoted to t^ w^k *hSh i!^''' ""* ^^° *"
accomplish. Yet now «>,« t.T 5 ■ °" *" *»* striding to
fever, Jndihi. l^S^ hi" I™. *" ff '"''' '*•'"" by buxLg
And had she oSy^ooma^Jn^r ^l^be love Luc then?
wa. too Ute for h'er^^TirCe f Th^ "ta^ ""«" j'
love had spmngT^r hotit hlT^*^ """'? ^«"' ber
that she h^ad l>r^^ tZ^tT^Jiy'^ ^°7.i'W"
thirtieth year, happysimn f^n^l • ' ""*". ""^ "> bar
intimacy, untiuoM til? n^i^i.""" ^^J.^^nent of affectionate
jn«hadfe,5hat li,t JS Zsote"""'! '''?• Her tear^
the .uddan oblCa wWch C rifan 7 ^h''^';??'' °^"
mantowhomunknowinelvsh^J^ u^..''" **•» *be
And now naught^ tte^^lJ^tf ^J"?" ^"^ '*»^ ""^ «>»1-
and .he aaked henetf m^t !t^*^^°^ bar love axirtad for her ;
.uocead in ^iS^;^ttf%t't~^^ <'^°'^^ "*»
tbat she should n!t U lo'J^"^r:tuSr.iceTet3'ro^"
t .MM
WORK
»S'
power, in such wise as to lessen cost price ooMiderablvirf
torily atthe works and W^ f^° "'" 8?»8 °" «»««f»«-
nothing seemed-to eSs^i^he wS','*"' ^L,'*""^
morning at an early hour he had res^'^ Zldie' leL^
1
• •i
^s»
WOJtK
•«en obstMle, lome error taU. mS^..^? '*" "",'<"••
which he had nwrlected «d .h;,u 51'°°.'' .""»• ^e*"'
^ my,., tb. ,a^,„,a^,. j. „j^ ^, .^ ^^
€fw. .^rmWi
irojtx
*Si
■ ifl ! efo'fl he
Jonir.ii
urhttpa,'
There WM truth in thU. Luo love.' r,„.,. fc..,-.^^, ,hr,
WM M amoTOM, • womM of charm f.,,,1 ..» oi,>n V m, ho
tow of hii heart. And besides, be».,i, wna
paiiion which peoples the world.
kn.-fc'" """tH""''.?!^ Bceurette, 'he J<. er,
knew her, so why did he not love me first ? '
More and more embarrassed by these qur-;
anxiously sought for deUcate and kindly wordb i orhaD» '
he answered, 'it was because he lived here like a frien/ a
'"° wl'n .^^ '',»? ''*'«»"'' • brother for von wd me' '
Whilst speaking thus, Jordan looke/at his siTtSi and tbi.
Ume he did not telTher aU that he thought He obj'e^i he?
iSd^r ri,^'*-^'' not represent love: she was t^'So
hSr tkf/" ^''•™'"8 ?? dontt, very gentle and vewkfed •
tat then ever clad in bUok, sombre-lSoking and niuui
aU «ie silent and devoted ones. For Luc she had neVerbi^n
•ught but an inteUigent and a benevolent creatlSi. '^°
snml°"tWif"S!T'"\?' '""' "ist^'.' Jordan presently re-
JZ. h.^!!^' •"" ^T »" '*'«" your Wher and
nune, he cannot love you m the same way u he loves Jos^e
Such a thmg would not have entered his mind. But Tne
™S r5^r,?"J^ ""'' '•* '°^'"' yo" » great deal; he lo^es
yon indeed aU the more, as much m fSot as I mysSf lo"
t^,^A f^'"^\^ '""Id not admit it. Her whole being pro-
h«^.f«rT''i'".'l?'"''^='\*"^'' "P'o"™ 0' sobsZcriTd
her distress aloud : ' No, no ; he does not love me the more •
what IS that when I suffer as I am suffering now that I ^
^I. ±'° f." ' . J'J^ "f""' ""8" of aU th?se things a litU^
l^jTil !^ '^^ ""^ """• "^ ^ '"' "'" *oldd
Like herself, Jordan was becoming more and more dia-
tews. 'Ljttl. sister, httle sister,' said he, 'you grieve me
»54
JVOJtIC
calm and wnsible, .^d y^S^wXL.-" u'f ;""""' "^
^^ one ooght ^ evinCSToX tT^fl^e^rr. ^f
for ^e.' "ZJ."^^ ^'?r?end:.^' '"'^ "^ '^-'■''»
tively, ^ *°°" friends.' nhe answered plain-
'But I am nof anmTTh^r r.°«7 '^*'^ '^'°-'
only fmffer.' ^^ ^ '"^^ °° '"»« 'or anybody; I
me ? Why dSes he noHo?e me%^ ' ^^ '^ »■« "»* '"^
enough. NoThe doe 'note y^n' « 1"!'°^ Z"- "«"
know that yon are the beat thi lt\ .\^ • *'® °°«« »<>*
•nd affeotioiate of w™^en Y™ innM l'' *\ '"""* ^"^'"^
pwiion and helner • th^™;. *w "?''* {^^* ^^ » «' oom-
Sd easier B^the otCr ^e'^r.,"''!'*'*""'' ■»«»
assuredly was a powerful fo«^!^ ^ ^^', '^""'y' "■« that
U^L'slut'rt^n^sC.^.r"'-^ -« «»«^ -er hair.
•D 4 1. — ?:„""'"'" "" m nis an
But she BtUl went on struggling.
'No I no I I cannot.' ^
out I Our hfe would be broken n^ ^7 **" w»>ol-to speak
»d you would suffer1fc„Ttrn,rLr'^'^!,*:t
-^«?^KeSi:j;r&-nt,^^.^
%.r%
WOXK
«S5
me like that. Yon are an egotist I ' *^
fn„';:»" *^*'" ' 1 "P'j*^ •''"^»"- ' When I am only think
n?„i^/°"' ""' ^?'. '^'"« ""*«'■ At this mome^gri^n,
bhwE/y^K"""^ kindUness to exasperation BSThow
bittOT would be your remorse if I were to Sow yoi to dLt™T
eveiythmg I You would no longer be aWeto Uve li n««^{
of the rams that you would have piled up P,^,"dCZn
b./rstippz^.^d-fter^r.'^if^?:^
She stilf protMted, but like one who is surrenderinR Her
-itwu" '^?P*"e^' Lno that very day was to take diieu,u^
wu"" •'?"^*' ""* ''•'«° »» h^-PMt eleven bTioin'^Z
downoajt, that he noticed nothing. Josine's fareweU th«nZ>!?
«tyof thatsepj^ration. filledhimwith A^^'^'Jt^^
of the ove wluoh he deemed essential fofhis missTor sZJfJ
B>e^h^ h^ T "■• «^PP? ""Jtitnde to wh"m heTd
Si S-rlw ^' ^ ^*. "^y- ^^ the moment of ririi
r* the obataoles which hindered hi« advance had ris^Tn
^ r-^u"''? ■?™™o>"'t»ble impedimonto. A Uack^iol
Sii^toJt^n'";::il,'T"l^ tohlT La creche^ o^Z
path to rum, wrecked already, to such a point indeed th«t i?
rre°t°C tt"^ *" ""f? '*■ **«" -Je^^eS^o^aSiUer
he^«l„ f)!^ '^'' ™P°«"W« to establish brotherly^rf
S^ aS^ fi„r'^*'TT '"'^'y *«'8hed upon t/eS
fZL.™!i T\ ^^^ ^°^ ^y the most frightful dS-
h^^^^i-''\^^ "*' '"<"^' I""" lost his Sith The
Wowrn within him wavered; he was ahnost on the ^int of
ren^nomg hi. task, fearing as he did that def^t wL^ «
II
astf
nojix
ao, I do not fael weU ,' he answered « T «^ »
•gain lay b«k in his ^ & "°'""'«""^ oyerwhehned.
Botupthismorntgr&^^Aiin :*^,^^^^
before om of he l^^e ^ndoTfJ^ll """' J*"?"* "' ti""*"
w.i.m bi*,ri7ijMri£i^,''.",;; C£rs?^ "^
m: diinnion uid mrall W- *''" ""^ "» "s^vJng
bnt»I«>»gooamTefltinenr?^d''^f °* anuw like von,
not "peak the truth, for vonr n^ ?". * ■PP««» that fdid
up m the -Msaoter lait Mt S?nSi''''t '^ ^ ""^ow^
be haunted by remorse?' ^""'' ""^^fow that I should
^ «rK|e^Pj„Xb, w ,, h«ha„d. as if
•wh aay, becoming neoLtt!?,r^°"'ednp : more money S
I «. longer dare to*a^kTo?Ton° fo? « l'^" ^'^.««"- And
tnbrely.Ihave no right to nun' InV /"* ^"^cemjaelt
with me.' »"' "*> P°" yon and your sister /own
'^^iu!°^i^'^CZr^'>.^tast ScBurette
h«i an/ iTh'er brolST^^u" ^i"«,'»''le. loolted b^ at
deep emotion. ' •'^""8 developments in a state of
^h."^^d y"oJ?^ Z^::^^- ^or^ quietly
^oonvmoing mi of th^. Tdfd nS?Swf ^""^ you^ended
l^-^« convinced that sciewe^ tk?' ?** '<**»' e»ter.
and will alone bring about uSeevolutini^^*"^"^'"'""™"?.
ing man towards tnith and in!«° • °.?^'o-'uonow, lead-
your theory of soUdariWs'^ ^ ""J^^" ""'^'^'y- But
window after my day Worri ^t '^"'■'"J- Sitting at this
•t was with iateWthaTi saw U ° i°°>«'' V°'" ^^' ^d
wd I said to myself Uiat iV^ ff^Tf «■ , It amused me ;
^ty would one day prove iJ^iTl^ *" "• »"<» eleo
thing be abandoned, t£m? • *' ''elpmate. Must eve^.
^mJstS^. he"'Sred*=^I%'-» ^-= -^y
^ing lather than imnoM .''/Pr'' '» ''""don evwy"
How could yon give C th« I''' '"^^'"> °P°u ySJ.
need? . How'conlf ? e^en have^SS"'*'*^''"' we should
you for it?' nave audacity enough to ask
the'^M S"bKo'urweVT'"°« n- This was
b__ „fa^_,,^, ,„, . j^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ imSs?ble''''FX"th
.58
WOXK
a iwwing defeat, a momentarr ipeU of oowaidie*.
panwd however, by the moat frightful loffermg.
^' ""^wer the remark whi^ Luc with a shnddw had
jfK *" ''r/??T"°8 *^* '»'«« »°«>™* of money whioh
^f, «?j ^r""^ ^" "8« °'~ *■» ■!»" limb., then
l^i ^1 tl ^? yo">ow, my good frieSd, I'm not yety
mmimg. You know how I thought that I had planned a
pnfeot Boheme for transmitting electric force chlaply and
ri™ ^^' ^^?'"' l'?°8 distances. Well, I was miitikS ;
I have, discovered nothing of what I thou^t I had. An «-
penment which I made this moming by way of checking
evepUung Med completely, andThlv7,;^S& my1S§
^i. il^ necessary to begin all over again. That mei^ a
V^^^ of years, and you will undeSitand how wor^g
liMBto_ encounter defeat when one imagines victory tobf
BoBurette had turned towards her brother. Quite unset at
heanng of that defeat of which she had MUi;rbKio'
^SliL^* S?.T^ ^"°' prompted to compassion by his
?J",4''P^/ Btratohed out his hand in order to eras/ S«
^ J with brothers sympathy. And SorfaT ffi ^.
m«ned dm, apart from the slight feverish tremulonsnea
wluoh^always came over him when he had exerted hiS
< W1.^^:T T'"'i ?° ?'"' *"*«°'^ 'o do ? ■ Luc inquired.
«t X^ ^^ 1 ^,?' "7 8ood friend ? Why, 1 AaU
^^hlS^ ■**"• I e»>»ll male a fresh start to-mj^row ; I
riiaU begin my work anew from the very beginning, Thire
^ evidMiUy nothmg else to be done. It isdmpl?' enoug"
n^ ^ ?f' ^''- °"8^' "«'«' to throw up a task, tf it
o^t T15 ^'^"' ^l''^ y«*"' » '''ole lifetimtone stiU
ought to persevere with it. If one makes a mistake one
as many tunes as may be necessary. Obstades and Wi^
dr»^s«emeyitable on the road,7nd mustll antfoTpatS
.n^'^f '^^"- ^'"""'^'' «« lil-e a sacred child, ^d it
irauU be onm.na< i.ot to persevere during the period of
f^^- There is »me of our blood in it. we have no
neftU, and nuad. Kvpn lu a mMU^~ j;«. -f x- ..®.. ' ^"r
« doM not ooBt us life we W. k^ ^^ "''""'«' m- And 5
•"jompfahed. and that ^^'rhel^^a^'i'^^ '^ dowheoi?!;
H-^rKt-'d^-Siv^^^^^
who was listening, TLmi^^i^ ^" "*""• ^nd to Luo
^•te""TV-^4b'ei^g' gust of energy ean.e"iS
force in the ;:,ri|.' w"hen ont^ha""^ = *'•"'" " »<> other
« mvinoible. Why shouW we doubt ./T" '""• '" '""'^e
we ourselves who (ieate to mn™l 1 °' *»-"«"row since it is
"•■^W"*. Ah I holy work «™^-,.'^ P™^e to-morrow's
"y We. the one Je^^n';^, I'^^^f,?*'^"* '"''. ""oTlr?
™A''{srr^:':^„At£rr^<rwith hin.se« he
wtomed tohis lips in mo^„t ' f i"""* '•* "^'"^ «'«'
»?»m he related how work h.^ «"*' emotion. And on™
bk If he were sSu ^^ i^ wJ''ll'*''"°i^ -""J "^S
his Ufe a task for wWohhl hL ^"^ be bad takeTSto
bis being. He wJtnvh.o^thW'*^ f. '^' fuSs o1
J* '"'JO'k "bould rema^Zi^^'ed M "•" ^^ "" '""a
he had never entered hisTCS^ S^ *'.'?".''" bealth"
How many times had ho «„r 5 ji ^ withont feehnc relief
racked limbsTd tea^ W^' '*°r '° bis task with p^."
bad heJed him. m^J^- ^"i?^. ^'^^ occasion Wk
of di.»onragement bd ^ly^met^^v^^''"*"' »"»»^"t«
AU at once he tnmed to^rf, T b'? Wg of idleness.
K^^wd by way of Mnclnri^- 'v "" "* ^" '''°^'7 smile,
J^ I* Cr«ol.eri, die. ™u ri l?;?^ friend: if you
i- work. ^, Snttfe for^hST '" ''" «-'''' ^»"b
hT^^Sh' T'h^'&f ff^boftS^
TlTaWL^-^/^^f^^ergV
eertaint--'---- - '"^-""""* °* td^ fro>" -k-^~ "■"'^'
seemed to radiate.
irom whom peace and
■ 2
t6o
WOSK
'Ah I you ue right,' he cried; 'I am » aamxA I feal
the glonfloation and reorganisation of S-savinit work. K
that Booney which mnat again be died r ""»J— »"
BowS^S;*^'"'*^ ••' '"f o'™ Pawionate oathnrsi. wai
111 ^r?*! ^ "?^ ?°" "'""ly «°™d his puny shoidrnT
mon« W.'°Lr'* '"' ^™P'y '**^' 'I'af give you the
«t^/" w' '^^ eoonomiBe; we shaU alwayl be able to
frmt Provided that I am atill ifile to Zy thTei^fS;! of
my expenmentfl, the rest will be aU right.' ^ °
with''d2e5"l':;!?J' ^"'•^ "''''« ^-^' -^ '" P"«^ tkem
Thl^l "*■ j*x ^°^?^> ' we have forgotten Saurette.'
Jhh. ™ti3"K'*°° '"."'' '?« ^"^ ^«"' l-*' elbowerXK
do^T«^ehelS;"V'" '''°^- ^'8 tears were' streamhig
w^nf^ -r ^- •!?' P<~'> io'tured, bleeding heart was
jmbng aU ito woe. She, as well as Luc, hadbSn steed to
the depths of her being by all that she hi h«S F™™^
thing which her broth^bad saidT S^M^'J^^^Sk
r„*T^K"""^'^.'"'' *""• °^ heart. The nSw^
woA of abnegabon in the presence of one's IskdKt
not also mean acceptance of Ufe. whatever tt iXht 1« «fi
S*^ to Uve it loyally in order CSl ^k h^^",
Sfilhf^°^J*''^'"?'"^ ^^« ^^. "I'e nowwodSThave
ttonght herself evil-minded and cowarfly had sh' sTOBht to
hmder the great work, had she not devoted hei^ toit even
to renuncmtjon of aU eUe besides. The ^at tou«^ of W
BimnU, kindly, sublime nature had re.umfdtJ her"fLmo4
and whi^'^.r^ P™""^. \'°°? ^^^ °P°" her brotherTbww •'
» hi^Jr„„M'"T°'i^*"^« ^^' ''"'^ ^<" I'e^d resting
kLu '^'^^' <^ whispered to him gently, ' Thank voif
W J"" ^'' bealed me; I will s^tZ'm,^: ' '
«tir,^l,!m«7/'' """^ T^ eas r for action, was now be-
■tofflg hMMelf. He had gone back towards the window
jmd was gwmg a the glow which fell upon the roofeofS
U^t^l^'^r. '\^"^ """ heavens.^ And s^^el^
«^ i°iLT^5,i^-%-^l"^ °?~„'"<'.^« "Peated his favowTt^
»io O XSot'XZl"" '"''J-*>*ed fled.. sa,a«tt<,
|».e a.ust love even ^Jo^'C^hSf JI.'T' "P"*^^
Those words, from one who ~ *?" ^f^ o*" ever be/
greeDM^ amidst which Jhel^'^f/'^;?'- 8»^«^ towardTthe
rs;;^^ •>-' -Xr/iKct jh"a^.tT/|
^-^iS^^eSSsS^S '^^o »• 'V fc-n^erof cities
tenhr^j-i«^^-i-°^^^
^»p' love, in tketnt^ -^-fMteS
heart wUh tenderness an^ hope A, l,^' '*"*"'. ""^ AUed w2
dependsnoies of the works desL,« ^f ■'" «°^ ""»d the
{hJDg, he was surprised tn ?t''"'"» o' Pving an eye to everv
hnnits of laajrhter ri,!;„V '" """"^ ^^Rht, fresh vetoes t?^
foot of the mounL"n nf ''""' ' '=°™«'- "f *he propertTat^f
;n^t.^e ..Shine. -tlS'^l-sTS.^^^^^y^-^f |
» On Lno's side of the w~" " ., t ■ ,
i* Creoherie in search of o^ZZu, ^'"^ ^^'^^ returned to
!/
^^m^mimgm
761
IVOItJC
Mcompany him on boom terrible lizard hunt. All three U
them stood there with upturned faoee, Uughing and eaUing,
wlulit on the other side of the wall, other ohUdren who oould
not be leen were laughing and calling alio. It waa easy to
nndentand that Wise Delaveaa had had some yountr frioads
to lunoh, and that the party on being diamiamd to the garden
had heard the calls of those outside it, one and all becoming
eager to see each other, join hands, and amnse themselves
together. Unfortunately, the former doorway had been waUed
up, for their elders had grown tired of scolding them. At
Ddaveau's the children were even forbidden to go to the
botton^ of the garden, and were punished if they were found
domg so ; whilst at La Cr«oherie there were many efforts to
nuke them understand that their disobedience might bring
about some unpleasant affair, complaints, and even a lawsuit"
But, lilie utless young creatures yielding to the unknown
forces of the future, they continued meeting and mingling
fratermsing together in total forgetfulness of all class rancour
and hostility.
Shrill, pure, and crystalline voices continued rising, almost
suggesting the notes of glnlarks.
'Isthatyou, Nise? Good day, Nise I '
' Good day, Nanet I Are you by yourself, Nanet ? •
Oh, no I I m with Lnoien and Antoinette I And tou.
Nise, are yon alone ? • ' ^
' Oh I no, no, I'm with Louise and Paul I Good day, good
day, Nanet I ' •" *
' Good day, good day, Niee I '
. At each ' good day,' again and again repeated, came peals
of laughter, so amused did they feel at talking together with-
out seeing one another.
' I say, Nise, are you still there?'
' Why, yes, Nanet, I'm still here.'
' Niss, Nise, listen I Are you coming ?'
' Oh, Nanet, how can I, since the door's walled up ?•
' Jump, jump, Nise, jump, my little Nise I '
Nanet, my little Nanet, jump, jump I '
Then came perfect delirium, all six of them repeated
'jump, jump I ' whilst dancing before the waU. as if mdeed
they miagined that by bounding higher and higher they
would at last find themselves together. They turned and
waltzed, and bowed to the pitiless wsU, and with that elaldiili
»^i^c:i.^.5'iK-
WORK
»63
powOT of imkgiDatjon which Buppresseg aU obttMlei pUved
M U they oould really see one mother. ""•""'" I«yM
you W^hi?!^'"'''"^'"' ''^ "°'«- 'I^*^' Ni«.l do
'No, Nanet, I don't know.'
h, t3!l!' ^1? *™°? *° 8et on the waU, and I'U puU you no
by the shoulders and get you over here." ' ^
Oh I that's it, Nanet, that's it 1 Climb np I •
«^ /- ? tece Nanet, clinging to the stone ^ with hands
^.h J^ u* * ""o^' bMtnding it, he looked quite oomiaJ
5r hS %»^^ h^^-Ws large bins eyes, anThii tambUd
TW ^;^'°'°**'*'"^«,"'"'^- 'J""" yo" keoP watch.'
„- I ^ bending oyer Delaveau's garden, quite proud of
Come on, Nise, let me catch hold of you ' '
Oh, no I not me first, Nanet I I'U keep watch over here '
Then who's coming, Nise V "ju uver uere.
^W^I'- ?«"*'yitto««eifitbreaks.' * ^
BUenee followed. One only heard the oraokinn of soma
old woodwork mingled with Stifled laughter. A^d ^m
^SSri^„S:;'[h'rr ," V- °°8" "°* to restireTrder by
r.^t-^^.,'*"^ of urchms even as one scatters sparrows
on surpnsmg tiiem m a bam. How many times alread^ad
not he himself molded those children, IZZ^^^^
riayfiJnesa should prove the cause of some annoying tronbl"
Yet there was something ven charming about thi SSlvm^
md joypusness which they dipUyed in'seeSng to jo"^
•nottier m spite of every prohibftion and every oSsWe I
;„.* J~\u '^„*'' '?°°>Pl' "ose. Paul's head appeared
S«„^- """vT^- ""^ ?'"'*» "^ ««° hoisting UmuK
then paremg him over in order that he might Ml intone
arms of L«cien and Antoinette. Although p|n^ UmS^lf w«
more than fourteen, he was not a heaw weSht He Sd
remamed sto and ieli.atP, a handsomef KmplerionSd
lad, very good-natured and gentle, with q^iok and iSSe^
JTIL *«~"y h- had fallen into Antoinette"emb»c? he
kissed her for he knew her well, and was fond of^I^' eir
bnt'^vl'^y;:;?." '^L ""• P""^' ""^ ""y graceful, alSiough
364
lyojfjc
wonun: quite npSetUn. W S^^ ^'"l5.''li-'"'«^ "»"«
were etnpefled to find SiarBST? ri'„^* '"'"'1'' *^azeUe., who
hail Bpruig from Sieir nl^M. » notoug enthueiaetio wUding
for sLet to p«. h« o^bntCm'^ ^^u* ^"^ "o**'"" '"»
the arms of £™1m h«'f„li^?^°'^"°'""<»'dtato
oldest of all of S A tSr'^t"^ fr?**' *»«' "" ^e
with great ingeoSty and ir^i^fwi^'i . °J *"*"'■ '"'^'^^
extralrdinary'^^^J "''"'"*'^« '^»'- »'e "^ her «,me
hither and thither *^"™ '"'*' ""''"8 ""^ wving
WOBX
tohaTapoUadiM
foorUm
.t the feetS Heuso'K.tor °"""' ""^»'"^ """k
wars liico tkl _ 'ii " " "' *" '"O prohibitiona ? Thev
ohUdren. th«>ka to tS lyo\J^ whTh """"P'"'"'? by their
expect to gain a.ifmora crouni "r a 41 w ,^* ^'^ ?°'
t i
^ .\ ^ ^. ^'
vJik^j:
fictoeon nsoiuTioN tbt ouut
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
in
Hi
'1^
Hi
in
U£ 1
12.2
|3^ 1
Lh
IB
U
u
1^ 1
2.0
hmS
1
1.8
Mi il
1.6
i /1PPLIED \M/K3E Inc
les:) C«t Main Str^tt
Roch«t«f, Nmr rorh 14609 USA
(716) 482 - 0300 - PhoM
(716) 288 - 5989 - Fo,(
*66
WORK
enoouragin* the men in thTT^ r?** *•**"' ""^ «wywhew,
over the maiuweremt of th«^S? °°.:^°""'"^w»*eJ^
amldat th'eTm« wdX^Sd^r'T. '^."" 'i'*'' *°^.
in obedience (o aTavTXwrn*??- "'**'"•*«"'. « «
ment was the m'S rf hk^w®"* '^,8«»'«»t thieve.
were not always shared h» R«nL- ^i" *"™o«l» hia news
wd kindly IniS'g^tion te^^ ^''•*'~* ""^ *^* »>»"
the most feiSiS. the mM?d«lS^7?^?* *** ""^ i» J>im
whose helprt^oSdTve te^^™°±\'fT'''°°*'*"«'°*
enterprise. And Sde^«.» .SJ5?***"u?u**' '*^«" t^^o
liuo iad inflnencld JI tlSf ^?**° 7^'''» ni^luA from
ending himwS^^i^j^* *T""^"? "* ^ Or«<>herie.>^
happiness himilf had ««j3i^ °? .T"^ "»»*» Md
faim. Thus thr'sto^J!!^Sii'^°P^*'»«™»elTM around
more and mo™ ol^ to^eth^S ' ,^k *^' ^^
ing that he workadT. {?Ke">«. each ending by onderstand-
thSt of ■Sl/o^a 'is T^'^'^L'^'" ^ wortodfi
quitted the wX. anff ule"thTI!S' »»*.'' "iiWl* lumd
enabled the folk of tZcs^^^^, ' ?««»«" help. It
and to .voidt,^^":^^*™ ^ '"l^.^^^^ rh"^
fand, moreover, thev were tS™ m^ '^'^'" ^o *•>«
inaohinery.whShh^Crr^tLi"* to purehase new
▼arioug pVioesses «S ^?-k^^ reqmsite by ohanges in
=", TOO, mere eame a few strokes of Inok.
tVOXJC
167
finding 80 mnoh vitaUty in L» Cr^Bri« wh^ *J
^nger contend againBt the neighCSngworfa «^S
M^eet to oommereUI ron and »teel-th3 ~ii. • J^
and itruotnral materials which iTrrA^ilS^ ™ls, girders.
ft^ "re X, SS^ r* '"''«™>?»">. "nd ao it happen^
InSsX BulSSl^ Si "' IT'S'"' ■!»" U> «iii»l
»by»» of inMlednera ? ^^ •wdJowed op bym
<h. »omna 5W Si W^ '"^ •? "■«* "o tin
u lb. Ab„ts S*2rfiXS CS'' r™'!^ "■'
»r„S.5SB-;^"is:d5bSs
p^. .K-iZ!- siS Es^^
woxx
169
fe X,r^f M^S"*"^"' *•"* »"-«=°"»Pti"g. devoaring creature.
£& aH. rt ^If "u"' "" squandered in capnces and foUy
imM.i i? G"e'd«lw was nought but a round of feetivitiei.
•midat which Femande enjoyed such pleasing triumrhs that
hnllT'"'- ^^^ '«8?^ °° BoisgeUn. she told him that h^r
tne works nearly go Urge a revenue as he might have done-
and, according to her. the only way to spar him on wn;
»Z^^'°hv''n ,'^"' demands'for 'money. The dlranou?
SfrS, ' Dda,veau-who was one of those authoritative
«,!« *''" take women into their confidence, making no
^« „ ^..''"T^'^ *°^^^ ''y ''"''"•"cing Femande that hei
7Z^^ ^ nght one, and that if she wished to reaUse heJ
dream of retummg to Ppis with miUions of francs to sqZd",
she must harass him without cessation. i-"""""-,
One night, however. Delaveau forgot himself in Fernanda's
presence A hunt had taken ph.ce at La Guerd«he ST,!
and m the course of it Femande, whose deUght itwaTto
gaUop about on horseback, had for a time disal^JedTthe
eT„r^ of Boisgelin. A great dimier h^foKd i^Sl
thf SL^' ""^ "u"*," P«» "Midnight when a carriage brought
the Delaveaus back to the Abyss. The yomig^man?X
w^ed overcome with fatigue, satiated as it lere^X the
oonsummg enjoyment of which her life was compomdS
hastened to get to bed. whilst her husband, aftrSoff
hw coat, went hither and thither about th; room/SfiSg
both angry and worried. «w»uig
.^Jk-^'^'u® *"^*^ *'y '"qnWng, 'did not Boisgelin teU you
anyUung when you went off with him?' "»«uyou
At this Femande, who was closing her eyes, opened them
agam in surprise 'No,' she answer^, 'no&iigSesS
w.tw . n °i *°' " """' ^* ^'^ previously had a discussion
iTlW ; l*^"'" resumed ■ He asked me to let him have
Mother ten thousand francs for the end of the month. But
V'^J-r'^^''^I.!^^T^ ^'''' ^POBsiWe. it's madkess !•
Femande raised her head, and her eyes glittered. ' Mad-
BtTle of Uvinj. There oJ^„??,'' •" ^°*™ » '"'tdo^ Us
"tter pale, ffl dS/'X?? "'.»P ^M looking
blind to hi. wife's mJscoSuet «„^ ""'fm". °' * '»"'»nd
Bensible person left TTu QuL!^* ??= ^''"»'''' ""lyone
enjoys nothing there. I m^ Zfl,',^* ""ly one, too,' who
to see her always looking ^iS^ ^z^nne. It grieves me
her to-day to mterveiw^^.w ' fo^ewr, when I begeed
forcing bwk hM to^A th^ ii*" •""'"'^'^ "J"* •n»^^
nothing.' "*"• ""' »•'« "M resolved to meddfe in
wifef,J.i';So^JLXdt::?Ji'',W•^ *? ^e, Ws
dignity in her life of wSl'til k"'"''!^ ^'«''' '»»?
exasperation to a olimai. Bu^r. - ' *??,"«*" ^emande's
the thought that the works tS5," "*'" ""^ """^ed by
ment-mtght be in periT "^^ "^^ «>»"« of her eiyoy.
'-^^•itoi^'i^.tZl^J'J^ ron say that? ■ d.e
^ She pnt thfs quest on in "So^?a*r* ?? "'S' '«" ' '
^an^ forced hack tWth^ wfetrt^'-jd^
■oniyWdTg"^ i'n ftatletfbTie*'-?''.^-''*- ""^^ "e.
perpetually empty the sS^ n „ >'^' '' Boisgelin did not
poor paltiy brain of a coxcomb ■' ^°° = *« "«" ""^y the
bedirre.'^^^ruKTar^t^^'r''^ ^?"^-*^
a gross mind, a miser, S desire^Si'/" »°?^dn»l with
possible with the lar^e sums wZh t^ ^ P"* "little as
U'OffJC
!Kl'^JS."5.rl;L^" "-w *■*••«
(OBnapeot. ^"'' '"^ "«*">■■« whom it a impawble
large staff as he mighrLveVrS^fh ^''°" °' ''''=
*« dpubties. the evil that preyed u^ort Wols" fcho.'
•7»
WORK
ohannlng in herdmiW m^?.T^' ''*?i'^* ''^' looking so
workmen, she on her «?I.^?„1T 5^°" *''* *°'^ "' Pam-racked
•h«ay foliage of La GuerfLttn '" «»? »PP«elnnder the
of faioy, and with her whU^tLtSL"'T';,'.°u'\« '"^ winds
thousands of francs wh^^h™n;!*K """nohed the hundreds of
coined for her aSidst S.?™ *''*^''*'"'?"»°^'"«««-eamers
hammers. That ^f ^ SfSi'S"'^ V^? .««»'
ejes Trida onen m ST- j ■ ^" "" husband, with his
one and another, she^^ f?h.rJ^%?'°f°°J'vP'»'»^ 'o
tion of the day so%«fr,'iS.l ■ ''*P' off ter intoxiea-
•"loself ended bv falling .=i™ j f ^'"" *' ™* Dehiveau
perverse, ^Mj 3 "„ 3' ""f ^"l' that some weird,
eatin« awTv ^n^ii^JT " ?*" "' ''O''' beneath the Abyss
pestnous night. ' '^^^'^ °" "O"" ^gonJ. tem-
Whilst making eTOA^Ioi.^JJP"'!*^^.''*' t^at evening.
desired as comuensatinn wJi,l 4, i ■. i^ °° *'" '"^ always
years, but it ^^m^yC'^i^i^^^-'^l'^ ''*""""
Mings, with a flat of a thifnlL^ S? ^ P»ns hke vanquished
aeptfs'of some suburban7sTrfct^?r°°°»' rentaf in the
..om, of ^nuHou^^Siir'^NSl SiV^'itx rr:^nrto'
W^'
U"*; ilw wonU not allow har gold«n pnr to umm !.«..
•uoh bght graceftUnew. there was the keen appetite of ^:
^Til „f ?S She npver risked her Uttle feet on thVunewn
80.1 of the workshops ; she never evinced the faintest inS
w toe human flock which passed to and fro before her dwr
^TA fT'..'"' T~^ ^^'"- Nevertheless thos^ woA.
J^J?^'/"^^''*? ^^' ""J ^^o Mea that fortune i^Rhthf
westod from her by the ruin of the business rowed far to
revolt prompted her to defend herself aa energeUoaUv m tf
h^eitaelf were toreatened. Whosoever harm^Sewwks
beoama her personal enemy, a daneerous evil-d™* n?»kJ^«
Sn^ •"" ^"!? °^^'"' '"^ Sooo on inoreaKJTsiSX
where, with a woman's keen acumen, she had gnees^ toatlS
wa. toe man who would strive to bar herZtoTsSiortoal
hme, moreover, she had frequently come iSo roUiston wito
hrm,jind now it was he whothreat^ed to^e^tWthe aC
I?sh^riw'',^"l^*° ^ *« loathsomeness of m^,Sn^
U she should allow him a free hand her happiness would S
M^'A^d'to^' ^IX I' '""'^'^^ thS?X*,^tr ta
innsnm^ l!? * i^"*''^ her seeming graoiousness, she waa
her^^^ofm^r"-"*^*?-. One thought alone possessed
vSno. ,™. s°PPressmg that man, and she dreamt of de-
pfir* <^*?*'™phe in which he might perish.
fa«,wSrLT°'^' 5*^ ""^ 8°°» ^y "°°« Josi°e had bidden
teeweU to Luc, and smoe that time she had become enceintf.
Kaga had discovered the truth one day, when in Tfit of
^e'i^ri,''* ^^ir^/^ *° l^"* »"'• He hSself h<^
reverted to his old hfe of debauchery, leading astrav aU tha
utterly neglecting his own wife. Tiius his discovery both
WORK
»74
hor tor the moat tkuaeUJot^n^^,^ '^^"^
any man out 'of d^rT^He trf^^u "' •"' •P*'"°« «'">
devisa to wring from her ha^nw '^^ *'*? °""' he oould
vioJence, or hii pro^use^ fcTlff °"8'^».'«1^ threat!. hi«
sometimes exolaiL ™t!,U rr» m **' ""'""? J"' l^' "onld
Andlpromi^youthat'^nirave'VuToner "' "^ -«^'
.paS^oT^r^tt^rSj^^^r^^^^ '0' -body,
Thus Bagu »u^ht th^oJprimoTh''"'''*'*''''*'*"™'
however much le misht watch T* •"' own mates; but
question, he learnt Z^L^i'tt'lffJ^ T"^ 5« "»%»>»
respect only increased his fiiT " ^* °"^" ^"^d.
^ha^t^tn^^rdt £t"^"^'^^^
lover to teuEWi? B^ff *"? «My hastened to hi
her, and she tCght thaf U ™"hl"* ^'' "^"^^ "^ "^
that a chance meetino .i«i ^ '^"' *° "^^ : "> »noh wiia
even theTS^^rw « onlv t?!?!^ ^"^ ^^ ^ '^^ A?d
•eoMt by a gesturl^^fnr J^tK *° '^°»^' 1»^ '"th her
Luc^^hr^ frhri^^:,i^«'/^^^^^ *•> --.
wrath and violence InH nf^S i' ""^ *°*"' ''e'"^ of Bagu'a
upon Josine hS he Ln^ U^J''''"^ T*'*"'' ^-^^P
"latter, the other's w;,m'j°JJ*'"^^^^^ on the
have sufficed to dest^S^ K F-^f . T'P*'*"°" »ould
garded Josine as his ownl^e' llT '^»*. foment he re-
since she was goon to beS^'e f IT '""■ ""^ "^^ "'o"*.
of the child, and not tl,«^S? wother-and the fathe^
band. Eagi had vow^ thil hr" *^l "^' """i "ole hus-
with ohild^n, tnd thM there t-T""'*^ k^'T '^ •"^•''ed
bond which ^^iT^vrAr^zt.'s-^:
WORK ,yj
(lut, whatever hameii Uwi msw •.. n. ;
nnion, no real nSnSre T).^!'t "'' "'•'•'» »<> "^
•Ki„t'e^d"L;roff.rb;i,o^°' -p^sr;?^, g..ped.
But he, quivering, had clawed her round the waiet and
^ whispenng paa.ion.tel,, -S^ „o, Joeine, I w^tto teU
to lek«",;n T '™*«^e,*oo "»nct, and it ie crin^ of oe
ioin'e^'tt m^T'thatTr""' ,*° '"'^ '°°' "d yT^
hrru.'?.'»;'u^t^Vap'??y,P^/ou in n,, hon,e. your
embrML''Bn?^f ^'^T«.*^J^'' ^ontle and ooneoling
Mked^^l;)^.,^ ^'*Jl" "" °'°" "»«"• than that ? ' she
^^^s^f-u^rhX«oS^^^
wife mnoe I am the father of your child." eaid he. Cd^rit
IB that ;yon ought to foUow. By-and by~when oTcTv of
lusboe .8 buUt, there wUl be no othef ' Uw save thaf of
love, and pur union will be re-pected by „„o anHl Wbv
t7«
WOHX
■hodd v« tronbU kbout ih« pMpl* whom m mkj MudiJlM
IV J L '■ ."''• •"™«d itubbomly bsnt on MMiiflo*, wTiwr
tli«l »he took onlythe prannt into account, for ihawubS
him tab. mnd iX obitMlM. in order that h. might bMom*
powerfal and triomphant, he railed a cry ot grief; 'What.
wJl yon Bern return to me then ? WiU that dhild neyar be
miacmthepraienoeofoneandaU?' -"".roe
Again ihe olaeped him with her delicate, endearina armi.
and with her hpg near his she softly murmured : 'I will
come back on the day when you need me, when I ehall be not
V^. ^1^S'™*?15'" u*""' ' ''*'?' "^ *''«■' I 'iU bring
with ma that dear chUd whoee presence wiU endow ua both
with mcrease of strength.'
Black Beauclair, the old, pestUential den of accursed toil,
lay around them, agonising in the darkness beneath the
amAing weight of ita centuries of Iniquity, whilst those
l<^ 7^'* *** '■"P* ^ ' '"*"• «' peace'iid CpiSS!
flower, hke hidden armour, too. Oh I do not pity me : I am
•trong and I am very happy.' ' • * ""
And Luo made answer : ' You are my wife ; I loved you
Irlr II , ^" « yo" keep my name secret so will I keep yonrs ;
il '^.^^Ztr^ir?'^'''^ "" ^" yourselfdeem
happy^^e rtallbeT'*'^' ""^ '^°'""'' '"" ""' "^ "^^
twJ J5 '^"■* '*?"'■ ''H ''"' "^e me good and reason-
t. .i,S J " •^'^"■* \ Buoconred yon one evening that
we shall be so very happy later on. amidst the happiness of
li^v!^"?""' '^"° speaking they remained yet another moment
S^ *i '•°'' ""l"?"*': ^''«" Jo""* freed herself and
returned, glonous and invincible, to martyrdom, whilst Luo
disappouea amidst the gloom, strengthened by that inter-
Wotor^ ready to resume the battle which would lelS to
A few weeks later, however, chance placed Josine's secret
J-t^'l
WORK
»77
^tn^T^t^Aw^^'i F«nuuid. knew Ragu, whoM nddtn
return to the AbvM had created aait« a Mnwtion therein
him in other wavs although hi. conduct was execrable. Thai
^rnande .houlJ have heard of the drama which had up.et
Ka«u ■ home wa. not surprising. IIo made no attempt what-
ever to conceal the facts, but openly denounced his wife •■
! JZl*i*" «"»'"™'''"» the result that the affair became
a common subject of conversation in the workshops. It
LV .rPprS^ /■'''°"' '* ""*. manager's house, and one
aay in Femandes presence .Jclaveau expressed his great
t?5,°'iLT„„".t " "i=/?r K«8". »ow thit he was "^^rd
tonnhii? r. ''i T"'"!?^ ''^* ' madman, at times never
touching a tool for three days in succession, and at other,
rushing upon his task and stirring the fusing metal with
,-n piJ.'°iw2 winter morning, when Delaveaa was absent
^.f*?^ 'ju'""*' ^? ^^ »°"«' ">• previous day. Femande
qnestioned her maid, who had just brought her the tea and
toast which composed her first breakfast. Nise was seated
there dnnkmg her own milk and casting covetous eyes at her
aUowed to drink, though she was very fond of it
' Is It true, F^icie,' Femande inquired, ' that t , Raima
fc!!,S"/i'l','^??.'«T^ The laundress told >rtSat
Bagn had half killed his wife."
Ik l^^.l"'*.*™^" '^ '•■*''= "», madame,' replied the maid,
«^ th. i^n. * ,sS" ^t^-^ "»gg«rated. for I saw Josine
PM» the house a httle while ago, and she looked no worse
than she usually does,"
..i;)^^*",^^ "^^ ."^ '^«° '•»« maid, as she went off.
added, 'All the simie, it's pretty certain that he will end by
BUing her one of these days. He teUs everybody that ho
means to do so.* ' '
Silence fell again, and Femande slowly ato her toast.
amidst the heavy stillness, Nise, letting her thoughts escnpd
her unawares, began to hum in an undertone: ' Racn isn't
Joame s real husband ; her husband is Monsieur Luc, Monsieur
Luc, Monsieur Luc I ' "~»"i
At this her mother raised her eyes in stupefaction, and
»78
WOXX
Mmmo an innooMt air. ' Oh. for nothing I I don't taJw •
•^WM Wwh^n'L"/^"' '"^n- '"'<''J'«Jyfe" enlightened!
Bn/ikfi^^^'/'.'?' "^««^ Nanet who had told her
^\^%r^?:^^ "' ^^e "8«^ «»Wed andTunWied M
oSnK o^e' tof ^ «,^},'*^ .»nd Louise Maz&ir^
• niTi 1? "T'\-"'* ™Ji "o she persisted in her falaabnniJ •
Feveiishly desirous of ascertaining the truth hor m»»,»
Luc ? ■ '"''' ^°" *•"" •^°^«'''' «*• »"«»«id w«i Mondenr
' Yes, mamma.'
wall, he My. he CSbT^ '" ^°»^'-^ know»_
question. t^hS.K^'^'b!?* *""»«' P?* any farther
hitherto ai8Sly^?.NL.rt jS?i! «°f'>»i'y,'hioh ehelad
^^ch'^.SSSS'i""^""^^^^
she dreamt of rtMoKh.^- '"^ ^ ^ » confused Way
would be her Tiotorv if iiho ««.,ij^^ / . " 8™>t, then,
hated masted of L7crMferieL°^ ^ BuppreesinB the
life of luxury and pleaBwer -ri- «?^ ^}^?, ^J"^*^^ her
tion would^ kiUed ^"^ W?th S '""*^' *« *"»P**i-
•knnkard, fuU of jeal",^ uid S .T, *Jf J°- If «*?"' *
expected. It would doubtleTsXce t„ ff ^'u'^."'-*''* ^
him to draw his knifn Rn?!^ • "»?«™e him, to prompt
this aboT^h^^^'she to «t ?• "^r- ^^ "" "'•^'o briiJg
denUy to warn bT^ toM^^jL 2^^' P«'P«f,«'°"e was evi-
man whom he hK™ S^^^^J?* '"*^,"'« ""^ of the
P"t. Then, howeyT^c^l diffiiTtr '.?' *"» '"°°«"
w«p him, where, ani' bTwhom ? A?fi«t T !?" "*.• *°
«ndmg him an anonymoLt^.U^atatWou^'
ago
WOJiK
lught came and ^'Ht to td 8^« h'^ " °^ ' ^"^
that there waa nobodVXm .hTL i5 ^^ .P*™ oonyinoed
this desira tehniw?ir^- ^*"°"« favoured her in
early hX<iS^^^^VZt^^' *?''• °? "'^'^8 »* •»
quitted the ntahtrii^ ShfS.i^''" ""^ "''^J Bagu as he
work, and had thoncht n?!^^i ? '^•'*' ^o^me needle-
irillh^ to lether mS tLT? "'"*, "^ i^"' " !"« ^ere
the flTBt wotS ttarp^dL^ipLiiT'-..^^'. ^^''*^' »*
to his vifa B.^Tk r^x . ""ssed to him with reaneot
winter waa rianftwhra Lu„^ » ?!i°,T™?8 light of
gwoalond oiTMiSfell to th, JS^^V^Tf^ *° ""eethim,
ed np the bScm M^„* ■ ' ^°°f '^'»'«* W" assaihujt
wosx
aSi
for helj^ ,ina ahrieking that Kagu had just JriUed Monileur
^"of^r T"J^™ il'P-^. howeyer. before wme rf thj
Sr.W^! "'" heard these caUs and were able "0^* up
the Btneken man, who had swooned away. The blobd that
^Jtt'n^'^ already formed qufte a A' «d tte
BWps of the right wing of the oommon-housewhinh «!.
mn Jk' ^T ''*,"'8 """^y 'bought of puiuing W X'
Si ™'riv^^i*f away already. The attentof olTelSd
BU was given to Luc, who, just as the men were ahnnt tn
»«or hun into a haU adjoinln'g the cla8s!«Sms. e "erSi f^
.1^e^^trat^h^aS2nl-?efn?.odsr "''--"
retaininX'h.?'"""'' Sfflurette arrived. One of the Uttle girls
retwnuig her presence of mind, had gone to warn her at the
dairy, whilst, on the other hand, one of tkrworC™ in
down to Beauclair in order to fetih Doctor NovZewC
8«urette entered the pavilion and saw Lucw7h;re^tS
'^i^^t.'^''^/^i^-^^ ^^SXt ?h1
i^\: ^ '"? ?^^. ''*'•• She took hold of one of Luc's
iJl 1« ~ '■ '"'* ^-'"^ "• »°^ '"bbed. and stammered teth
^L^°? against which she had battled, and which she
tad buried deep within her. In IosIdk hiin she filt tw
would be unaKle to hve another day. And amidst hHSn.?
felKn^ •.2?'.^"?"" ""* ^"O- "Ponwhom C t^lTwere
J»Umg, had at last recovered consciousness, and was Sn^
to her with infinite affection, infinite tenderness At l^thS
ft^% breathed the words, • You love merTh". ^%l
reg^toVSl^,rrnJ^3Si!Zr^:^^^^^^
at no longer having to lie to him, for she Tdt thft I,.,*i
2J. «. great and so lofty it would neve'r^^^VsuffXja
Ton' T^ 'iTf^T'-^™ L' -** «*«?«•' ' but do I count, I ?
lou live, and that is aufScient. I am not jealous of your
si8i
WOXX
^^X ^^tP ^ °"^ 1^™' JO- anrt live; «a I
which had long .Zi.de?«dt ""'' •'jl, ."bsolate lo4^
™ "S Stiatefvoice^'"' ■"' '"'^''' «^ «««^ ' • be
wound, with the-a8SUTof8«!LT"'*^v*° »»»>ine ihe
a nurse he was weU ^ZinM "S!!"' '"* "J-ose slrill »s
came a moment of toexZ,^hl« ^^ »^ence feU. There
ui.hoped.for relief, a glow o/w -Sflf^-; t^V" '"""'^-i
shoulder-blade and h^ Twerv^^^^* ""^^ ^ ""'<* *he
«mply gashing the flesh ATThf**^"" '^*»1 "8™. but
a frightful one! and it stmed a, ff S^L*""" *^ woSnd was
in which event oompKL X^f ^"^ "'l''* >« •'"ken.
were no immediate daSgwCv^i .Z'™" ^ '*'*"
be a long time coming YntTP^^"?* '""^ »* »U events
death h^ been^v^ | ^'^ ^"^ '"'^"^ ^ ^e thought Srt
the te hef^p^r *^;rni"S'v ^ 'f^*^ '^"^ '»
know of it ? • he askid ^ "' «°<^ Jordan, does he
.ou- ^^•-^^end.tAtj^J'Jgi.Butl^^^^^^^
itwaj JoflinTwho ent^"' a!!?°'°°P?'"^- ^n^ this time
she had hastened to t)^'.™* *?.» fi"' news of the crime
That which she had fel^ "Pot, distracted, wild with S
^ surprised :n5 reS "^ ^Kd ^^ri"^
Luc, her husband, the father o7h^Siidl?T, ^ ^'^
there was nothing more forher tfh^Sr i- °" ^^ "" over,
in her real home. *° '"^*' *« would die there
to me I ■ ' saspea. " is you— you have come back
Then, as she, staggerin, forward, sank down beside him,
WORK
•83
once more-thoy who were alH»dy for ever UnkedWK
it i8^''o'v6;-^wr.,T* ''"'' *» y""- ^"<^' "he said, -and
no^l Pto^hir ciLfthTf ptresv'i
. ^J"* .*'' »' once he remembered Scenretla wr^A «,«- k.
^'^i "•"u"*', '^* manifested in bomidless affS in .
gift of her whole life, touched him like m wt of ^he ?nf JLt
moBtdevot^LS'.i:^,Jo'?^en°r "^ ""«" '"'«"'
co.£|:i^^a:fr^;s^^^^^^
.rhS ^Jlfa^^lf^- "TKoetT^rSf^r.1
284
WORK
ever th.lle ^oZuTJ^)"^, .I-uo promi«d. hT
only turned soft glances nmn^=' T*" "<> "><>». bnt
of his bed. °° ""^ "S"'. 'he other on the left
would arise. As the two wI2n mn^Jf'"" '>«» W-'^pb
the injured man ODeaed hir«l T"*^ ?eatly around hW
Then he fell .^e "^mln^urinr <rf? " *''*"' "^^
wdnowweshaUbette^qS;..' ' •*" '*°«' »* »"'.
& !3"IeSrer^rS'ofdi^-?.'''"^' --P"^ *"
he jaa dying. Josine aSd s^nreftf ^f™ ''"*S'°.«''* "»'
Jordan came to seat himseU beJde .J-.TS '?'"*^ '^ ""d
forsaking his laboratory athin!.™ J- kI*^ °' Mguiah, thus
We mother's last iS' &™li'! *"«J °ot'*done since
Uioae loving heartHwch ^ hour St* '"" ""« ^''I*'' "^
'The'r?%1r''^°«»^'''^^b»a[h'?''°'" *^P«"«^ *« «»
npset L'^lt,^* wi?k^t"oSlr' ^- ^^ 9-to
■hops, bnt at every moment thTl,«° ?* ^*^ aouming work-
was great BolidiSty ^o„„lhem Jf"??,'',^"^'- There
Section for the vict^of th^r^^-^ *?■'*" «" "lious
bghten the bonds oWratoiSfv w°"' "^i."'' ^'^ ""ore to
sympathy became apparent -a ^t^' ^'*° ? Be»no]air
for that joung, hanSe li/J? """' P^OP'* there felt
•PMt ftSn bS WMmsUcel^nl??-''?.''''''. '""' '^l
very charming womaniVhoh.Sw""'*^ '° ^»^"« loved a
beaten by her husfi Briefll nob Jr'*""/ '^^^-^ '^^
dahsed at seeing Josine instel he^K ^^T""?^ .'" •>« «=«"-
was indeed thon|ht odte nltoVTl * " ^""^ ''«^de. It
of the child 1 And W *^' ^'°' "»■ l-" "ot the father
inany tears the S to BveVlS'T^. »' ««» ««' S
the gendarmes ^4atcK>CL°fo^rr^,^f
rvoxjc
»™wis of • m J, half dero^ h,^' P^""* MouoWm, the
T'^^ the body of Cn^nZT ,'"'"«^„tJ>«t they oonU
f-BoIoble, th.'t "terTthf def ;£t°'^r'' * "'"'■ '^^^
«n»med ocowred to nobody ""' **'« "<" legally
?^'"^»*" « ftht fehr'^^f- "-*»' No««
Indeed, a few d»v7l»£. *k i .^°' answer for Luo- «nS^
Utoe88,mhertnm«X^ VK-SSri-" """"gho"* hi-
to a vigoroua boy. named h, Ws na™T^-^- *« «"« ^Irth
weeks which followed Lnn^ftil^." Bihue. DurinR the
•na-chair.nearS;-, M ?h^'r ^?^' «»ted S «
worn with sunshine ; on toi tl,! !?''y 8P™>gtide filled the
boaoh of lovely «mm whSl *£ i^*"* "»» »l'n'y« a fresh
««*«•. like a pree^I^tionX^tS Wuk '•«'?«l't ^Wto
wa« wont to sa^r. Between t^ri?' t^""' »ndT)eanty, as he
P«ed by little ^HilS?e whom w"''^™' ""» «»dK oocu?
greater strength Td ho? than jW l?^ ?'™^- ^et
now flowered from their TesiTthrtf '"^ P^^loosly known
Lnc constantly rewated «n^-i!* .f*"°° °' *•»» eUld. S
ft.tnreinwhiohhrE;dS,A ^^^^ ?'*°'' '<" *he
set to work once more hf w.S^Z?*'.*^® *™* '^I'en he might
would found the STof jusT?™ «n^ "' ***' .""nvinced thatTe
aWre he had lov^^tt ,oT^^„Tn' T"*!? •'°''«« «d
w founded without a child A^T° *^? •"''«• Nothing
broadenmgandthenropaTatonoflii f.. living work, thf
morrow will duly fSllowttv ThL*'''' !'5,"™°<'« 'bat to-
bnngs life, alone works for huSmhHLr'"^ couple alone
begin ber n"41lfe bytt^ofTucT ""S' '"«■ ""e to
arms, exclaiming: 'Ah I wu a,^^- ' ''« """sbt her in his
^me also 1 A^d now we we neS f°'"'I '"^ "bil'lls
more from fate I • *" perfected, and fear nothing
*86
WOXX
Am non m Luo wm able to mam* Um mukSMDMit o(
•J *"'"' ™ fiynipathy which h»d gone ont to hun on til
udM fa«lp«d him to aeoomplish prodigies. MoreoTer, it wm
not only the baptism of blood which bronght abont the
auoocM of L» Ortcherie, > inooeM which now ever insraMed
oonUnuously and invincibly. There wm also a laoky die'
oovenr : the mme once mora became a lonroe of great wealth,
for they feU at but upon conaiderable lodes of excellent ore,
thus ^ving that Morfain had been right. From that time
forward iron and steel were turned out of such excellent qnality,
and at such a low cost, that the Abyss wm even threatened
In Its manufacture of snperfinA articles. AU competition
became mipossible. And then there wm also the effect of the
great democratic movement which now tended on all sides to
an mcrcMe in the means of communication, to an endless
extension of railway lines, and to the erection of bridges,
buildings, whole cities indeed, in which iron and steel were
employed to a prodigious and ever larger and larger extent
SmM the days of the first Vulcana who had smelted ore in a
pit for the purpose of forging weapons to defend themselves
and conquer dominion over beings and things, the employ-
ment of iron had been steadily spreading, and when its con-
quest by science should be perfect, when it would be possible
to work It for next to nothing and adapt it to aU usages, iron
Itself would be.ime a source of justice and peace. That
however, which more particularly brought about the prosperity
and triumph of La Or«cherie wm its improved management^
mto which there entered increase of truth, equity, and
solidarity. Its success had been certain from the day when
It had been founded on the provisional system of an Msociation
between capital, hibour, and inteffigence ; and the difficult
days through which it had passed, the obstacles of all kinds
the various crises which had been deemed deadly, were simply
so many mevitable jolts upon the road during the firet trymg
days of the advance, when it is necessary that one should
brace oneself for resistance if one desires to attain one's goal.
All this was now clearly manifest ; the enterprise had ever
been full of life, laden with sap whence the harvests of the
future would spring.
The works were now like a practical lesson, a decisive
experiment which would gradually convince everybody. How
was it possible to deny the strength of that Msociation of
capital, Ikbour, and intelligence when the profits became
WOXJC
187
l^!!!^'*' to yew. Md th« workmen of I* Crtoherin
Its muMuiM, it, oon^h»llBjSm^r.ni ;?"""■
J., Ji"!i-^*, «'5«"^"»a7 ewmple which La Creoherie dav
f88
WORK
Muningi, th* iaortM* of eomfort ; and b«w bniUiagi ttom
(» all lidM, tontiniially adding thamtalvM to thoM wUeh
had bean flnt mMtad. In thna yaan tha popaUtion waa
doubled, and the pace of the progreu waa ineraaaed till it
became one of inondible rapiditr. Thii waa the dreamt^
oitT, the dty of reorganited work, reatored to ita itatoi of
aoUlitT, the oity of happineai at lait oonquared, ipiinaing
natnrally from the soil aroond the worki, whieh likewiae grew
and iptead, becoming, aa it were, a mettopolii, a eentiml
heart, the aoorce of life, diapen^jig and regulating iodal
exiitenee. The workihopa, the great halU became larger and
larger until thev ooverea aorei of ground, whilit the little
bright, gar dwelUng-houies, standing amidst the greeneir of
their gardens, multiplied incessantly even as the number of
workers increased. And this overflowing wave of new build-
ings advanced towards the Abyss, which it threatened to
destroy and submerge. At first, between the two establish-
ments there had beui a great bare space made up of all the
uncultivated land which Jordan owned below the ridge of the
Bleuse Mountains. Now, beyond the few houses first built
Bear La Orteherie, there had come others and ever others,
lines of honses invading everything like a rising tide, which
only some two or three hundred yards sewmSed from the
Abyss. And whenever the waves might advance against it,
would it not be covered, carried away, to be replaced by a
trinut>hant florescence of health and joyf Even Old
Beandair was threatened, for one part of the new city was
marching thither, and would sweep off that black and evil-
smelling den of ttie old-time workers, that nest of pain and
pestilence, where the wage-system lay at ita last gasp under
the crumbling ceilings of the hovels.
One avenmg, when Luc stood gazing at his new city,
which he could already ijictare covenng the whole estuary of
the Brias gorges, Bonnaire brought Babette, Bourron's wife,
to him. Said she, with her everlasting expression of good
humour, ■ It's like this, Monsieur Luo. My man would very
much like to come back to work at La Cr&iherie. Only he
wasn't bold enough to come and speak to yon himself, for be
remembers that he took himself off in a very wrong fashion.
Bo I've come for him.'
Then Bonnaire added : ' One ought to forgive Bonrron.
That wretched Bagu led him astray. There's no malice in
Bonrron ; he's only weak, and perhaps we can still save him."
woxx
389
ouiy then »re X <S. li??'!:?''**' "^^ "vers. I How
led to them b? rheKtS^idtSrlST'.>'^"'''''? "■*' »™
eMnotreeietl Bo„n^-iii 2 "» ,™veller« whom thev
. mediocre wXTi1"ih.^«B^n?'^ had become
the recruit WM roch» -*X one th^i£^"°"' '"""^«''
paddlerwaenotdiepoiie. ^KL tt^'ttS™" •""*-•
np W^ mtd .riLt''"^^iJS?5H^'''ni«'' ^'
^ wt of «Xi'«„n^:^lL\Y±''\T'''' " ^^
anything good ontofhto!: '* '^ *'" "•»« «•'
n,J. f^* J?""'.?'. joyful manner he added- 'This will
LrCrl2rir.*'SH'' J""""'' ''°"»« added to the ohlrs
V™fw ^^ ''"* ■''" 'nsredulous! Do you wmemK
You were anxwus ,«, to the result of the expe^rimS™and ii
t90
WORK
•bi. to touch th.^u ,iu, sstTflZi^' tS: :?«°s^ "*
of CouSmT ' *""• "^ ^ '''" ' y«* •" "y '«^tioa
good-natured. .U hand. ,^™ BtreSUtowiri, £to ''JK^ i"
with flowers around them AfU^alll. '°>'*'."'7 J"*"™
knew'Ba,wril"w?BSSS''b^n'^f Lno 'aughtag. for he
way perhapTSan manTofS ^?^t'*^"*' ^"^ *° • »>•"«'
don'tVour diildren^^y Be ^i^l '»'«"'*.: •"'' « *e
member that theTutuTs beno^f^ t?** ^'"'"""' ""-^ "■
town is growing, always ^/g"?^ '*''"'8" ♦» «•' ^^ our
whi2h'°io^'L%sthenour/t?i^'"^ ^ ««' •«»«-
coloured faience showed so^S i^*^^; !f/ht'ofT>. "°ff- °'
Beauolair and the Abyss "* °° '^* "^« »' OW
hi^d'yr^hS \t «'l"woJr'^"{'' '" Crioherie alone
fVOJtX
■ranted, niMgre oroM. t„ Ji 7"Y »P«t»ol« with ita noor
to oM.fk«hioMd methodT^??!,. '"^";'*''»»«dlM™no.
bond between th. vilC^S ttfwSr'"!^^^?''' ■^'^W*
whidi for M many Tewi had M.m!S • P*" ^A"'' meohanio,
•Ton and rteelto order tt*t «?« i j ^* *'"'" supplyini,
Mtte other hand ITJm lo^K^f^l"^' ^ C°'"'^"«-
Crfoherie. At aU eventa „nf„„ "•'e.tlinven without La
would spring. And ^hat ! J^P^' ".immunity of to Wr^
eented bythatn^n !.„ ".^racalotts spectacle was nr7
J>th crops I Amidst £e o.h« sS^'ll'"' " »»«'flowed
disunion and inoomoetenM T /.^^^ °^ '»»<' stricken by
• liWe sea of nTCT^'whfch^'^"*'/''™''' " "^«™
pWedatfiretwith etapZwon Jd .)7^°''I*«^°° ^''^^'
dryness, such rterility^esSv j''*" ''''' ^n'T- Such
abmii^ce to-day r^r^ttt^tJ".?"** "«°-" «d
folk of Le. coml^ttes.' Keighb^^^ "viut^^ral^:
agt
WOXK
making inqmnee, and showing a desiie to join the movement
« was said that the mayors of Fleviranges, Lignerolles, and
Bonneheax were drawing up articles of association and col-
leotmg signatures. Thus the Httle green sea would soon
grow, iom other seas, and spread its waves of greenery afar
nntil the whole eioanse of La Eoumagne would form but one
sole domam, one sole pacific ocean of com, vast enoush to
nourish the whole of a happy people.
For pleasure's sake, Luo often took long walks through
Uiose fertile fields, and he occasionally met Feuillat,
Bowehn's farmer, who likewise stroUed about, with his hands
m his pockets, whilst contemplating in his silent enigmatioal
''*X ^?^°, °' ""^ ^°* ""P' ''!''«•' sprang from that
weu-tilled land. Luc knew what a large part FeuSlat had had
in promptmg Lenfant and Yvonnot to take the initiative, and
he was aware that the farmer still advised them nowadays.
Ihus the young man remained fuU of surprise at seeing in
what a lamentable condition the other left the land which he
himsdf farmed-the land belonging to La Guerdaohe, whose
sorry fields looked like an uncultivated desert beside the rich
domam of Les Gombettes.
One morning, as Luc and Feuillat were chatting whilst
they sauntered along the road which separated the two
Mtates, the former could not help remarking: 'I sav
Femllat, don't you feel ashamed at keepmg your land ui
such poor condition, when over the way your neighbours'
land IS so admirably cultivated ? Surely your own interest
ought to urge you to active and intelligent work, such as I
know you to be quite capable of."
At first the farmer simply smiled; then he fearlessly
spoke out: 'Oh, Monsieur Luc! shame is far too fine a
mmtiment for such poor devils as we are. As for my interest.
It IS just to get a hvmg, and no more, out of this land which
does not belong to me. That's what I do ; I cultivate it just
sufficiently to procure bread. I should simply be a dupe if I
were to work it properly, manure it and improve it ; for all
that would only enrich Monsieur Boisgelin, who each time
my lease expires is free to turn me out of doors. No, no I
To make a field a good field it ought to belong to oneself,
better still to everybody.'
Then he began to jeer at the folk who shouted to the
peasants : ' Love the land I Love the land I ' No doubt he
was vnlhng to love it: but aU the same he wished to be
WORK
»93
-«» a.d fructify the sou i„ oX'^n^rse rhe'^o^n:?^
Again did Feuillat break into a -"-.nf !.„„», mi ,.
contented himself with aavino • • s^™~I ■^•*''- ^''®° '"^
impressed by the great guet'Tirui^ei^s" h'^'S^
»94
WORK
qmvering, ovar that aea of com. If he felt lo itioiu ana
competent at La Crtoherie, it was beoauee he now had hii
granary and wag assured of bread, through having added a
oommnnity of peasants to his community of indnitrial
workers. And the delight he experienced when he saw hia
mty marching on, its waves of houses ever "idvandng to the
conquest of the Abyss and Old Beauola' was no greater
thm that which he felt when he came view the fertile
fields of Les Combettes, which on their side were likewise
marching on, stretching into the neighbouring fields, and
gradually spreading out into an ocean of crops which would
cover La Boumagne from ore to the other end. Here as
there tue effort was identical; the same civilisation was
coming— mankind was marching towards troth, justice,
peace, and happiness.
The first effect of La Crfioherie'g success was to make the
petty fectones of the region understand the advantage they
would reap by foUowing its example and combining with it.
Jhe Chodorge works— nail works which purchased all their
raw material from their powerful neighbours— were the first
to come to a decision, aUowing themselves to be absorbed by
Lia Cr«ohene in the interest of both sides. Then the Hauser
works, which after manufacturing sabres had made scythes
and sickles their specialty, likewise joined the association,
forming as it were a natural adjunct of the great forge.
Borne dilBculties arose with another establishment, that of
Mirande & Co., who built agricultural machinery, for one of
the two partners was a reactionist, and fought against all
novelties. But the position of the firm became so criUcal
that, fearmg a catastrophe, he withdrew from it, and the other
partner hastened to save his works by merging them into
those of La Creohene. AU the establishments thus drawn
into the movement of association and soUdarity accepted the
same statutes— a division of profits based upon an alliance
between capital, work, and mtelligenee. They ended by
constituting one sole famUy made up of various groups, evM
ready to welcome fresh adherents, and in this wise capable of
spreadmg indefimtely. And in this there was a re-oastinir of
society, which reconstituted itself on the bads of a new
organisation of work, tending to the freedom and happiness
of mankind. '"'
Beandair was astonished and disconcerted, and its anxiety
soon reached a climax. What I would La Creohene grow
WORK
195
jnthout oMsation, absorb every littie factory it might meet,
tbia one, that one, and then that other? And would the
town itself and the immense plain beside it be swaUowed up
and bMome the dependencies, the domain, the very flesh o1
JjaCraohene? Men's hearts were disturbed, and their brains
began to wonder in what direction might lie the true interest
01 one and aU, and the possibiUty of fortune. The perplexity
01 the petty traders, particularly the usual household pur-
veyors, increased and increased as day by day their takmeg
dimraished. It became a question whether they would not
be soon obUged to put up their shutters. The sensation was
general when people learnt that Caffiaux, the grocer and
u* '"'.°»° <»™» to »n arrangement with La Cr«cherie by
which his estabUshment would be turned into a simple
dMi, a kmd of branch of the factory's general stores.
Caffiaux had long been regarded as the hireUng of the Abyss,
more or less a spy, one who poisoned the worker with alcohol
and then sold his secrets to his masters, for taverns are the
strongest piUars of the wage-system. At aU events the
man was a suspicious character, one who ever watched to
see which side would prove victorious, and who was always
prepared to commit some act of treachery, readUy turning
his coat with the ease of one who is by no means partial to
nms the circumstance that he had so jauntily set himself
on the side of La CrScherie greatly increased the r, ixiety of
tiis neighbours, who, for their own parts, wished to take np
the most profitable position as soon as possible. A pro-
nounced movement of adherence to the association then set
m, and was destined to proceed more and more rapidly,
^eautiful Madame Mitaino, the bakeress, had not waited for
Oaffiaui's conversion to express approval of the develop-
ments at La CrScherie, and she was quite disposed to enter
the association, though her establishment remained prosperous,
thanks to the reputation for beauty and kindliness which
she had imparted to it. Butcher Dacheux alone persevered
m obstmate resistance, fuu of fury at the downfall of all
his cherished notions. He declared that rather than yield to
the ourrent he would prefer to die amongst bis last quarters
of beef on the day when he should no longer find a bourgeoU
disposed to buy them at their proper price. And it seemed
mdeed as if this would come to pags, for his customers were
gradually deserting him, and such were his fits of wrath
296
WOXK
that assuredly he was threatened with some sudden stroke of
apoplexy.
One day Daoheux betook himself to Laboque's establish-
ment, whither he had begged Madame Mitaine also to repair.
It was a question, said he, of seeing to the moral and wm-
mercial interests of the whole distnot. A rumour was cur-
rent that the Laboques, in order to avoid bankruptoy, were
on the pomt of making peace with Luo and joinmg La
Crdchene, m such a wsy as to become mere depositiuies of
Its goods. Since the works had been directly exohanginR
theur iron and steel, their tools and machinery for the bread
of Les Combettes and the other syndicated viUages, the
Laboqnes had lost their best customers, the peasani^ of the
envuwns, without counting the housewives and even the
bovrpeoisa of Beanclair, who efiected great savings by
making their purchases at the stores of La Cr«cherie, which
Ijuo by a happy inspiration had ended by throwing open to
everybody. This meant the death of trSde, such as Uhad
Jntherto been understood, such as it was personified by the
middleman who mtervened between producer and consmner.
If^^^i''* "°^5 °l '■>• ""d Ji^ng I'te a parasite on the
needs of others. And tins amidst their deserted bazaar the
Laboqnes poured forth their lamentations.
..t ZwA ?*<=*'«»» "?^ed. the woman, dark iiid scraggy,
Murage to knit herself some stockings; whUst the man,
with the eyes and the snout of a ferret, came and went like
SoTOMd" oo^"' "** pigeon-holes full of unsold, dust-
. V ' ^i'^ '''ft I hear ? • cried the butcher, flushing purple.
«^*'^'%'T*^ *""i°'.' I'»Hm. so pople say, yoS W^on
the point of surrendering I j-o thinfof it I ^You who Ct
that disastrous lawsuit, you who swore that you'd kiU the
»«t vin* 1? '* '• "^""^'^ r ' y°" y°" "^ ' Would yoo now
set yonreelf agamst us, then, and add to the disaster ? '
BntLaboque, whose hopes were aU shattered, burst into
hl^L. V" ?°''o enough worry; just leave me in psace,'
he answered. ' As for that idiotic lawsuit, you all urged me
!^iL„ »°°''7°" ^'"'' spend enough money with me to
enable me to mate my monthly payments. So you need not
come taunting me about saving my skin.' And pointing to
his dusty goods he went on: 'My skin's thereVand ^ I
don t come to an arrangement the bailiffs will be here neit
rvox/r
»97
Wedneatlay. Yes, ifg quite true, since you want me to say it-
yes, Im negotiating with La Crfioherie, I've come to an
understajiding with them, and I ahaU sign the Tpen to"
eiluLJeT "'^ hesitating, but I'm bei^ wom^^ond
Blm^f ■S!?'',°P°? X"}^' "'•''"' D'ohe". qaite thunder-
ThSn in^ ahnost diokmg, was only able to stammer oaths.
«r„^Jf 5" ^«?!?^r' Laboque, huddled up behind her
^^'•^T^ '°'*H^" P'.^°' '" » l"' and*^ monotonous
m m,;«l.T^ m"" u"'''^ ^ ^'"^' "^ ^^^' '0 l"*™ taken
so much trouble when we first started in business and went
!n }S! -.ff^T^S^f ' ^T. "^^^K" '« ''"»8« ' And then too.
all the efforts that we had to make here ii order to open this
^^An w . *J^T •' '™'" y"" '° y^« ' We were rewarded.
?°,„^^. •• *^«.'"^'°ess prospered, and we dreamt of baying
«. 'Muse right m the country and of retiring to it and UVinI
ra our income. But now eveiything is orumbUng away!
Beauol^has gone mad, though i can't yet miderstid^j!
^JJ^^' r*"^'' ^"'^ Daeheux; 'why, because the
BeTOlution has come, and the bourgeoi, Je cowarda and
don t even dare to defend themselves" For my part, if I'm
Sle^«.r^ii!i '^o -y ■-•- - -'-i ^ »»>»
w„n^te\*™'i«-'^ ^'' shoulders. 'A lot of use that
Tf h oi I, ^* t"''""*^- . ' ^''« '" ^'^y "'U 'ten folk are
with one. but when a man feels that to-morrow hewiU be left
qmto alone, the best is to go where the others are going, how-
uTeU OToughT^ *""^^ °°* *" ^° ^- Caffiaux understood
' Ah I that filthy Caffiaux I • shouted the butoher, fuU of
fury once more. « There's a traitor for you-a mac wholells
him a hundred thousand francs to desert us.'
-t.^.. f "ndred thousand francs,' repeated the ironmonger,
whose eyes glowed, although he feigned ironical scepticifm
R„rJ? ^^ h^ ?^t^ ^t*"? '° '"«• I'** 'al'e them St once
SI '* «. "'"Pii*" >>« obstmate, and the sensible course is
always to side with the stronger.'
' How awful ! how awful I ' resumed Uadame Laboque in
^nL!r°^ T-"*- y^^ ^°''^ '" '=«rtainl, being turned
upside down ; it is coming to an end." •>""<"•
Beautiful Madame Mitaine, who was just then entering
•9<
WOSK
was averysendble (rirLlSJe^v »«Sv'''^ .?"'»"•• *bo
foarteenthbirtM«^stUDU;edi^tS^5.S^v!^ P""*^ »""
thaXinfeatod the iifii ffi ^^ Wht''o;i"^!ier°'-'='?-
"ojioTB wue. 'Uea elnui nn »— » . ', """^wi sue
quarrel because he liM^fn^Si *'?'' °.°''' •>"* we shan't
These youM i^oVSlt^^^ ''"° *^« ***''»'» '•Uing.
from o4Z &e bS SS" "S '^*^ '^ ^««'°'
be here. AU I iS ^mv ?«^l^*l ,™ ''* *»" »° longer
he does.- *" ^ "* of n>7 Evanste u to love me well, and &t
b.d'^m*:?»etJ^ooftr**°° *»■"-''»"• -'-"e
it might be faSv^L™!^ w "*^T''*''«i"«"dMthat
manSf B^uoU5o^h?^t^'lTr"'.T ""*.' '^ *^^
did not as yetbeS I, th^^ full freedom of action. She
she relied ^n feg1t'^LT^rXt'l^so'±^%h'
IS to say, when shn mmht »„„i 'VK"! "? 8° Pleased, that
way SrdSU "'.X^ltt t ^' ^"' ^T^M- ^y
to-night.' .as 1 can t do otherwise, I shaU sign
399
SSil^if M'iS"!""* *» ^°°' behind hi^went offTS^
blow HiUhr^v.'" *° '*.°^^«' ''y """her uid greater
on ^^t t„ T""^"? ° ^^ C'«oheriH had reaotSy
Mpi^w^k^ ^n't^S-"'' ^"^'^ "' » partnership between
^Stth^^L^rJ^^^H^'^' '^^'^e^ which the profits
Md m time even the clockmrkers and the jeweUera Til 1M«
300
tVOJRX
would «om. dayjota ihZ f^^\^ *?"""<"» "nk wWoh
"ooial reorganisitiM whiS tlw**""" HJ ' ■"»' "y*""" of
future community. '""'^ P""" ">« o"' «3e of the
i-i°&JlmA°L:n''Zi"? ^ °'«'''»- ^y
• man oF Gourier'a intdl^ ?h?,. .{, ^'^ ««"»ted from
that it must have be«n .„„ . / ."'^ f^""*! 0P""0n wag
Prefect Chrtllarrwh^e^Ctl*'" '^^ '"/y~ ""y 8n»>-
baokground and Sy^^J^T^^A """"^ ""? """^ « "»•
«^uchur grad„aSfy'^:l,XL:d''itsT ^h'^'iSflf''''''^
oorrect one, for the mattAr j,.j i. /;?•,*"*"'■<•
*;««n*r, when the mawr !^d ?h« f ""/"?* »' » «'"«
tether. Evcrythine is itoinatLZ . '"* *°^ <>' <»>'
and the BevoTutiinSs aSCT^t*" ''°''» '" P""'
remains of the old. rotting r?^ni * •T^P.^'^'y "tatever
^Ai^STffl.-K^'-^ 'Are you. your.
trouble alSut my'paZ°a'e^^t°I a"m ' , ''° ^"'""""O'" *i»
little as poaaible in tfi« »!'„ * l""- °'*^" '"""Kb to do as
•m alwayHf preiLl^'tKmf'"^"''*"^'' *°V «nd1
whoever they m^aTbr^li\Sl\°P'°T "" ""^ ^^Periota.
fVO/lJC
301
301
ih»t airecHon, norgkniwd l»bour would end by iwMDi]» ih.
old Wquitoos bourgeoise society »w.y. AihhUa^'^
lute iMotivity there had sprung up a Kenuine AMrSiZ/t
though m public he carefully klpt this rZSedTSSS«th
a demeanour of diplomatic reeervef <»"''""«> breath
' all' thii "^rV""' dear Gourier,' he concluded with a UuRb
aU this wont prevent me from declarinir myself 0B.S1.
h»^,jo. m . a«i ,< ,.0..,. iwn „ ,i2'Ct.7u
been absolute master. Beneath his heavy exterior how*™,
that he would nsk nothing by the change, but7on CmSt
">8. *na thus he at last set to work. ^ """*'
The whole bourgeoisie of Beauolair was ■(>iinfl»n.«.i t^
putations caUed upon Judge Gaume to C hfrnln w "*"
unwUhngnes, to go to the mayor with r^p^esenS^Ch
^'" WORK
horn., hid, wllh «o^^ih^^°"'*:»%htftoioK,
proprietor, beoomiMMrteS, .t ll.^'''"' u*?! P'^»« "d
»J^«.g. feeling tSt?t^°SUt J^J ^"!1 ''"^ ""^ *«•
•tronger, wd thin vtub^it? K ** '"' **>• •"? of the
?««7. one day elo,^,Xr to w'"t^ ""• O'*^"?'
^jarmed and reduced to idteS^ sBTf-h.-.'^^' *P*^. "lu.
fcllow.town^'^"^;t';^«^^«>d«^ddenlyo^
jwge hinuelf on thei Sde A. ^''L*^/?' *•»• J«dge to
had not broken oBMt'te,tn^^€^^ theoaptai?
ttey exchanged MlnteTwwi^^ '"* *"• father-m-laT
bfing entruetod wito Uie ddf«u »?' ?°**-r -^"^onlinglyToi;
•nd two long hour? ehips^W„ir».f ' wnwnonioM faehlon.
WW then learnt thatSTh^^ ? v **"« <>"* <rf >* awUnrit
.vasive repCfrom his fa^.^iS'L^i? tft,*t "^^e
woonciled with hie ^fo of I? , «' ''°* *•** ^» h»d become
to the oo,«n9,l''^f^, ^ *« '""^wing day d.e reS
feauolair waa stDoefiad h,»,i. jV ^Mgreae again. AU
dalona barinesef^^^e ifl^''«±r™^' '" • ^wyaciT
laughter. ■ "o we aflair ended in a great outitaSot
^rJa^'J^^^of^telj .uccee^ied in drawing
<^oe, without g^rSe^ t*t™*f!5' "'•\'^' P^^bf
whatever. Ab a ruleTe JX we^o^ '""' "' "^"io^
made his way to the Boalin^Zu °°* ,•^'7 morning and
»Yf°ne. whe™ he walked uT^dfe""*"' '.^"f- "J^^^ed
with hjs head bent and his'^h™! d« J? L^°TJ «^"w.
stooped as if beneath some fin^ „„,i 'P*"^ ^^^ bim. He
by tha failorc of hiTwhde hfe^tS« if ^''*' ?" l' ''"Sbed down
good which he had fo^d he cou^^' or^ ^,^i "Jf". or the
raised h.8 eyes for a momM,t ar^J °°L\, ^^ '^«"«ver he
to be looking and waiting for wm^^n^^K-T*/!.*'* ^^'^'^
.'r'i"^P«/obance he would nlvTZ^KZ^"^ ^^ °°' """e.
*be Boulevard de Ma«molles thf m Now one morning, on
•«1^ to go to mass Sed' suLw *"*"' ^'"» ^'^^
tbe .nd«e in order to -^ ^'t^ZZ^l^^^^
n^ojtJT
Sttlfj^' ^ ^ '^•^ would U^ u>^ , j;^
•nj^thlSr';.^^'''"^ -^« do yoa U.i„kol
«>• dirtiT Swf .S^J:!^Ck1 '2f • -"^^"t 8"^ into
J»« •load „ thouS' ffi™''i^^'^"*°» "vJSr. u^J?
world wJl well last another twen t, . *'*3 "'"aed ; ' the
««f, the ve?Sthi?r^n,-rT"^»"' wSwnied: 'Ahl
t>tm OS talldng of ,^S^. '***" " Je'. »nd when afae
monung till wrenL. ,heTd,^;" "e naturally do faJm
deapur «he simply tnT, mpn/^^r'"^'- WhuTw
'WtohedgirLwhyfron won't wf " ^ ""^ *<> ^<"' "You
like « goat, and ^'swersT- OM I d^?'' ' 'i^" J"™-'' »l~u°
•bit; iBhall leall the mentii" °S\°^'^ tl">t-no, not
IS. ^- ^'. ItbougTX 'doea^^- J^^on«
fortune m ten vearT Thf^i: c"? '^«» *bat he had m^l
delightWlifeVS of wh?I J' ViT ^ le^C tt^
youth, „d that his felt-'t£hYn™ '^'"* '^'*^y ^ ^
^ -«b, ^rhap, ,e 00.^^ r.^^ ^^-^ '^at
^^-
304
WORK
b.^PP,:e.«d. In that case thVm.V«^l*:nr:l;
cmMXmeMaz«Ue;TrD^tor Novr,^V°/"'^§ H' *»
brnto eoongh to teUtha oU iX » w "I" ""^ °"* ^.y been
Not ill.in&dl when rfie hiS^C*' '*«.™"°°* i" »»»11.
lovingly forts mlSrTearl^t^In-liri''^''*' '!!"•" •»
thoae ino3de£ts of the evolution 1^;), ^f. 1. ■ '*'*•"'"•,
desert thf CatS'^huXs ltviL?^'«*VM""*^.,"'""^^
nettles like the ruins of adeadS^»»t '° brambles and
tion would berin Andti-th *i,T.1 system, another oivilisa-
presence of Zfow wr^^^'aU'oH l^^^^^^^
very decorak-rS,-^-^- tsTrs^J^yi-^l
IJFI
WORK
which th. whSe town L«n^ •' i"*«°"7. »>« li& of lin
h« jr^uded that W. MTnVlLdin» 1 ^l* »»oly office, though
which ha himMlf wnnM f, '*"*°« Jo •tornal perditioa tm
» ohildiri. «l Well eS"^' %'«,?» ^' They we«
WM "olely in the hope of Mt^^ti^^ i""' •*•"• »« *"'». '»
from heaven. Even m the» h^^f ^?t '?""'°*' '««<="/
d'd they iarwit thSr^,^5Si-^.^?'tS ''""5 """""y- »'
deriTuig Bente. from t^h"m7n u»h Anl"" *'»«»'?<»» of
the •«», ia that dying loZi^Xv,^^ T fl »" »"■«
n the first centuftee hid K f^ri.r'''V"'.* '•^"> ''•"ich
iMtod the .pint of rennnoiS an^ 'u'?'' "' *>"». »11
•Phit which WM moVe than e«r „i>''"°''"* oMienoi-,
power of the Chuwh w.slo »,! 1 Pf«>»^ nowad.™ if the
?oIc.gj»hid i??rom h'J^irS^*^- Thu. t6e»i«?
rf God in Hi. merey did notV^n,Tf •''''? "nmbere^and
Pfrhap,, behold the awfu? ,f?^ » ""'L '"°l ''«'"=«• ^e wonW^
cha«rfJli„g^;'^^iS^^'^^»^«'™Phe-^^ o, ",;?,•
crashmg the Star of the DWnT "*' "' ""> "'T". "d
kept them weUwitWahLn,Md ate f^ il«?nol]o,. H.
^"Jf^. f-ill of disdaintor^sC"!:!.^ remS. braye and
that the Chnreh wu th. ™!.^ *.*^*°'''' """der the pretext
he «etHermdineThe"X&/wr"'- • ^»* '^««^»
»ge oyer the euccessM^ of r ^r iT °''*" *" » oontinnoM
over to the reaotioSsTii. oil P*"''*"*' »°^ '"dy to go
lonpr discus^Thtg " °^th hi.'T "*" ???"•>"«• ^^ ^
deoEired that he placS^his^^st iL tt^n' .'>''«"«'". but
certainl, be allo^ng thefla AnLi?,-.!'* ^mmtjr, who mast
objeotof nltimatelvstrS'S^™ .2' «'°n»»lw with the
»nd thus makinBit Iri™! . t^*"' ^''^'"iM of religion
^rgecns Beauclair, devonrfiH k^ .•'^' *''*' Plague-spot,
demned to be deste^ved .nl „f ' u^l*"™' "»« ^wn wn
purified, if on ito Ste ™« £ • /l""^ ">« e"th must be
«d delight, jaltici" and ^^i^f ^iT %' ""^ "' '«^*
pomted to the approach of^h^*.*' ,?^*'7 symptom
...tern wa. at f« "^^'tbrdSS^^ ^X
3o6
WORK
living strength^ thanm^f^^Tlu"*' bringing »U the
for ^^^Tm^^iT^^.^Z^^^'^'^'t'^''^^-^' ""das
nants o£ the Sd system tw' iT?"-""'' """^"^ «""
wind. The maaS%^„'^Sr'°?l^. •>« »'«P' away by the
wd recognised one another. Thm it W^« "**?^'
them to exchange a few worfs ^^* necessary for
Wer£CeTjS?tr:S ,^oj]«- le Prudent.
quite^olrA^ZXo}^' "^""^ *^«W 'It «
Of of 'n^r^ittS^Hn^,^^^^^^ -»
every^Tng'rfSt a^r °" "^'^ «~^ """ '^ P«*»P" «'
«6i™i£'zSfc*r'BS.^iS\uS'.i""' "" '?" i^
WOKK
«inoe it so greaUy - \ „ ,j ,. ^"f
could no lonfer Zi^t^' P""' ,"' ""^ '»'"e"al. He
Md Projectileali. e^;,,esnffM6; T? "?°?ffture of guna
«»Uu'g off in orc«-3 ^n^flL'J^^"^ M been a marked
more particularly scent n„ °,°*y "' ^^nce had been
pe~=e^sooial%„,^X^^ ™anu^^^^^^ ">at sj^bofe
tures of aU kinds in wh."h iron\n^"»''Ty'! ''"'J8««. struo-
"orstwas that the ordera for nX "'*«' '"""Phed The
» few establishmentsrn" XoZ^^Z' l^""^ ^^°» '° "-^y
them to pay their way and if ?h« !,w '° ^''aWe aU of
behmd him into conf^io^'^^ATd whenT'^' """ ^«"
yonder. The suooiss of Luo" e.LriI""f«*' "^"'''J 'h«m
the men employed at La CrTo wi^ ™*".' '''" "o^ evident •
at tte Abyss, and yet they onWwnrH"'- ':"'"? ■" """oh »«
besides, there were otC a^taJt^^ .l'^*" ''on«- And,
houses, the schools whTe the cMd^' w"''^J?.^?'»»' «'«e
"^ ,!° merrily, the oommon-house^h^r'^ '^'°«« "» ^«"
Md the general stores, whose nri^!! I "^T,*" «^« «» fite,
than those of other paces the w>.i !" Z'"' » '*'''^ 'owS
heaUh and increase of comfort °'' ''°*''8 '" '"or^aae of
AbyS ^f > "L^^vaU ^S^lost fi^es. The men of the
demanded a rise in wages A, ?fV -^"'^ °^ ^^ Crecherie
demand, many of Thfm natwaU? wyf '^'° 8™°' *b'^
Delaveau was paralysed bytttkT. °^- '^.^' ^"""y-
Old not yet confesn h.m»«i« * °' * reserve fund n«
»«&>:» w ti^e'r/ wo^Td'^^rhi;'' "°"'''. ^-« '"«w
cmded by triumphing if he C ^.^ T T"'""' ^-'ve
thonsjinjrfi^ncs^hdphim to^-ISiZ'tf*.,' few hundred
he obstmatelj beheved to b^ a t^i,T!?°«'"^»''™'s. which
-he to continue «ght.Wb'owXTrto°1aoe"^;i-
x3
3o8
WORK
^^^\^^^7d,:^ZT'''l-^'^'^ which h,
business. YetTe struSon hLwil"''''''* '=^'"«'' "^ "«'
aU his inteUigen(». his TOrv W« ?I i'^^'T!' *"<"' d'^"""*
he might stiir°ave the crCbL^ B^tTv' If J^' '"'P* «»*
and that he might wrini? from fh.^ ■7^''''' •■' snpported,
the revenue thafhe^SSrorsed" '*^""' ««•''""*«/ to him'
that'htS^oTnge'&Sot'f \r« '">» *^« ^^
hadcovenanted toexTrLt from /hft" """ ?"«'« which he
became materialised iTthim^f * ""JT"?^' "°^ ^'^ ^e^ea*
whenhewascoSed^torefZhir*' •"^'°° °° "■« ^"J^
on the last occaCthen ac ou^s hrif'''"^, '^"'•°"8''
posit on had nroved tn 1^.? ? bad been balanced the
respect ^^^^ ^aTX\^^''t''Z'''^\'^ "o
matter he was inflamed bvF.^nf'L ^ue-^aehe. In this
band like an oi at th^ pto4h Z i'\''''° J"/'"^ ''^^ ^"o-
tiU it bled in orfer to tocwTitl iT''"'' *«,»» Soared
had the young woman .hn^ V ' »'"''' Properly. Never
insatiable than now She w« ^""" ?r '"^«»*' ""»«
excesses. There ^li s^metCg'^w"L*\„^' ", P*"'"" '<"
thmg that suggested a Se w jl,^ ^ *"'^?*' «»"«-
acquaintances flit M:dom. nL.f .,** "^Possible. Her
ChAteUrd confidentiX toTd U^l Gni ■'^^*u S-b-Prefect
woman would assuredlv end hv nt^L ?™*' **' '''^ ''tie
of foUy. from which^l of lhBUt^*i^"°i '°°"' 8^* P>«»
had contented WUwUh chr<Z"h Jf "• .^"l-^rto^ she
»^ng BoisgeUn upon her huS* Z ^'""^ ">*» a heU by
tmual demiids formonnv »l. ?' P??°f'"» '^ with con.
into such a stete of e^' !?tf"''y, ^^^'j^eau was thrown
growling at nSht wh^T^*' °?.'*?' ^"^ e™° continued
wound open. Nevertheless" hfSSl. 5 mahcously kept his
one side^e an iMocint ' ir^,^ f^."?^ .^*'' »* ^er upon
impossible ft, sMp^°*' ""'"'«'»1»'« being whom it Sas
whil°lA'ertUnLlte!^r'y'l°"-.T'>« P-'y-BHts
he could feel the TOr?^™nA"«'*',^u"'.°«'»^«»"fi»<'ie^
beneath him. nt hS^nK- .* '"^^^ "P"" t««nblmg
in the safe. On the even n^ Wof'*?'^/"''''"* °' "o^
payments had to be m^The^sh^f h; '1',/*' •°° j'^"'' «"«
room to reflect and write anm-irf* ^u"^, "Px?" ^ P"™**
«o dine at La ^^^Z^r^^^t^'^^^^^^^^
Boijgelin, in wLioh, afteTpwiv .fS fi.'^."''''.'??"'''' ^'J»
he h»A at last prevailed on Wi to ^.^ h™"" P"''""".
He meant to liSiit him to T^rcLVliT ^ "Psn-^iture.
ye.™, and had even ad^sed hhnTsell flT'^, ^°l "«™"^
now, alone in his private Zm nil. ^^^^^^^ And
slowly, every now and thpn S^' ?*',?'«»» walked about
coke fire wYioh waTL'XTa'kk.'i"'„;'r^8.'^« '"8«
chimney-piece. The onlv no^ihu "^ stove before the
secure time: he must write to L^'Jl"' '"^""'"n W" to
possibly desire to see Th" wo^k cloL^'^'S' ^^° <»»M «ot
not hurry about it • he wr.^Tz\.^\ However, he did
Meantime, he continued ^Ir*" \«. '«"«" aW dimier
window ti the XTetr ret^^Ll^K «°*"8 ^"^ °»«
could see the far.spre;din3 lam^of L^ ^i °?* '^*'»«e ta
distant park and tte pa^im wL/. r <^'«'''^.«ne, even to the
frosty atmosphere was^e^der^^nd t"h« T^"^' "^^^ '"'"•
» sky as pure as crystal: a pde^nwi =™ was setting i„
growing town into deUcate ^r»llr ? ^'"^ bringing the
pound. NeverhadDelaveau seen iff ""f-*, ^-^'^ ^'^^-
to palpitate with life- ha Pm?M 1 ' °° V^irHj. It seemed
branofies of the tree's and h„t'^ '^^?^ "'a "ght slender
smallest detaUs of tt^ houses Zl^^l' A" 'H''^6"ish the
fcjence which rendered them so tT Ther«^ ^«'=°™«°"'' of
when, under the oblique ravs offll, c„.f ?f"?.^ * moment
began to flame and sparwJlike hun^^^ '^,'v*'* ''•''^°ws
wae Ike a trimnph, a IS ^dS ^' °^ '"'.°fi"«- «
frawmg the cretonne Vurtkinsasi^eir^"'""^''^'^ """«•
La l^Sirrijrciaf ;:Lt7Ss^r °' ""^'-^ of
spreading out and threate^ninglhe Ab™ rfK°'-"°''V'« on.
DeUveau on his side often (^iet„t^{f T-? ""/•"on, so
ever growing, threatening M™ J?i.*^ * ^' "' »"^ fo™d it
times of recent MMshadLwr"' ''S"'!"^''- How many
on ^h occasiofhe h«S^ie?tt "Sffnf ^"^ 'tat wi„dowTt?J
>ng larger and drawiw neamr *^ ^u L^^^ °^ ^0"s«s grow-
from a remoteTbf of a Jea "^^ fT }^ ^"^ "^"^^
deserted land; one house had !n ''™'i'', °f uncultivated,
wave, then another, T^d anothe?^T^^ ^^'^ "''« * "'tic'
covered the whole spkcrbefore hem t^^ ^T ^*'«' ^^^
3 few hundred ya^s ^^^ '^t.'^ ^T^Vr^-^
310
tVOXAT
enoe. And doubts had nw^me to hi^''°i'*"^P°°?-
WORK
bowed hi, head a J"t T^Lt^^^^" t^^^ ^ »' ^
remain^, deep u. angdsh B Wth^"*"" ^^ """ l"-
wttle of a oarSage wm heard an^ » 5"' ™*°« '"•''"ent the
W Mt "turned from ttfe"li^rrt?^^'^l°°': ^«"'»»'i«>
MndjDg the servants to b^ *' ^ Guerdache. and was
ar ''''° ^- •>- -ra!;;i?^rcj°j ^aS^
wit^su^'ate''^"' ''" " " ''«™' How can one live
th«w ^ff tttfgntenTC ' W "^^ ^'-Pe-J and
and appeared ^fl^i Z^^t± C^l'^ ^''^ ^"'^'^'l
and white lace, with aras aXil? T ''• 8°^«<J in sUlc
^pressed no sunrise atT«r l? ^""° *""■ Her husband
notice ^"^'^^-^Z^^'X^C^^'lfr-^- did not e^
passion always rendered him oSt Lt ' ^Z 'x'auty ; and
hun of both foresight and strei^ v ^" Y'"'"'' deprived
-to^cat^g chamf emanatr^t b^^^^J^o^i,^^ a'tX^
fti/J^zKS;ed'°„7:r hef re ^'*'-"' ^'^ ^- bead
aark bire;rs'';Lh«*rui:h'af "*"/ "P"**' ^er large
«». now /lo;ed ^th . sombrf l™^V'^?.^8 "P™8-
whioh usnaUy smiled in sThl ? J ?*' ^'"e mouth,
opened, showiig her strong tr«tht.^°^r'y ^*««i«»l way
»j:^-wtife^^^^^
whibtshestil}X»ed!'SinT-' "'"' *°'«^ "^ -^.
J.nte'iSt:^?^^^^ quietude of that
«- ". aU haste,, and thr^a Sefth':*^.,!:^^)
3i»
WOXX
^ti the WL ^ ^^ «^«"7 ^'^^ ooimeoted ft
was stifling her. "^^^e"- « last she blurted out what
•' ?^sTw?n^\{!' ^ Gnerdache this momtog ? •
-^neh ruin. MmZ S .1,?i^?' ''^"* °° "'^ «'» o^ ""in
woollen gow^i^^a d^ b'r^'l'^ ^"^ *° «»"«°' '"J^lf »iU.
'I had to ten him the truth.'
burstSS foruTfnVn'^^^^^t'^^ ""^ *° "^tn^ia herself from
all ov^r har lif?if ^"'*'"' ""^ '""^^ «t once. It "m
would be gi4TitUGi„f„i'"°%!' 5°' ''»"''' no^ hunts,
to her, for hZ not BoWewi; ^*5 i"".'! ^°"" ^ «I<"'ed
be compeUed to seilT^.'^'^^T^Atd' wT
turning to Paris with mim^^ V ^, ™' ^''«*™ "^ ra-
AU that she had imarinfd^hl L^ '^T^V "" """^^^ '^^
luxury, and nleaaS^^L^ 1 H^^T"""" her grasp, fortune,
ruin^k^mpCed her and^Sai"^ .W^i> A" but
increased her e:^pe™tion bv hf. .'''?"'^«^ B°««eHn had
in bending his hn^b»^S.tesfsr'°^^'^ «"«^«'
tinuitits:]^ *• iCt^^ttifl-^^rSS-'^i*' «•"-
fell on me as if the varv noiii„„. !t„ ? , ^"'*' "ewa
other mefnf of7a?;ab^o^^^^^^^^ '^''«-' ' ' "»- is no
hke you others, I won't havelJlTn-t. ^ou°°4'Ce°S
WOSJC
Wt'^l^rati;-'"" "' ^*^- '-'-«« yon. for';
her mother, the m^'c te^W shte?',!?? "^« "'^fi
prize which her grw bw^fv w « """^ /"'*^ '° "P'ore the
after sednoUon eh^ wT, ^ 1*^'"/'^ '° P«>mi«e her-for
»poa that^ous ''^,^„^*Xt?^°°*''-, And follow^'
deep within her h^lCZ^l' ">emory of which ahe hid
«pfomi,7the icc^t^Te of th T'"^*?"' ?" ""'""Jation «d
whom s/e hKk'eXl elhf ^Jnt^"""^^?''^^"
■npport, a husband whoni bJib mf„K» . . "*®^ "' "°™e
had wie a luckv sTrnt^ fn! ^''- -P"' *° "=«• And (hen
eu^cessof her pla^SCb-^T'^^^^^^ "' '^' Abyss, the
BoisgeliB conquered La Gaerd^hnnT* ^'^ '"' *""•
enjoyment at her diroosal T^«i ^^ *'*^ '"^"^7 and
ijplete with all the pC^ tlr^ Jk T/! ^*.^ 1°^''^'
the enjoyer. the Mr^S «!.«».<. .-"t*"^ '*'«'«. '*«
appetitoa a^d the d^rfc L^T "*' "''f^uig her endless
c£5dhood,"appyL Ivh/TeTr^iTr*^-''^ ^" ""^
order with her and Vn «.!•?''• ''""SWig ruin and dis-
whichX to; from 8n^J^ '^'' ""^""S °^« 'te teaw
that this wwnot to w Z^.L*'*"- /"? "O"' ^^ *J^
van_qmshed,intonh'^X;*J:'ft%rer« *° ''^^^'
repeals "Tl^nTgf br t^o^uT"- ^« '"-^^-^ ' «>•«
to which I have beenVcu^timed ! • ^'^^ ^'"^ '"'"''"g
riao^dSIf'^^rrtUl r^S""*".'- ''""»8'^ "" «t«rdy
great heat ofti^lre ^^*°*^ "»« '^J^' by the
i^^Z^Z for' ouTeem'S mt1o'L''°"''/«' - '^ <"
to-night. I ail very fonH ™,f^!. ° **, °*"'=''y reasonable
to make anyZrWce to sn^r/^' *' Z°° '"°''' ""^ »m ready
you will resT^y^Jae f^?Sl^;LT'"°«» Butlhope tha'
mean to fight ailonTaa U,«™^f k lu^^"*" 'e'*"^ '° "^o- I
fame past she had Med tTsatWy h„"'°"«i* °V»- P"' wm*
Though she was unwiuLff fcT^t? O" Passion for enioTment:
npon her. She ™ fnF*, ^^' "P ''«' Present Uteit^fh
and her lover, ;r„otnl?r::«??r'*'^"' ^tuSuLI
dered wrathfulJy whether^sheT.^.™ ' ^1 ^'^ ""^^ »<»>
eager to b.te an/to destroy ^"^ ^"""^ "^ ""<='> » pagsion;
any new ones I ' " ' " '^° * ?<>» who-U ever give me
re8oundtrmakin«%he'Z„"T.°' »'""'«•"' hammer stiU
hammer forg^Tdflieht t^^^ k'"'"'''''- I-'ng h^ a^.
,fealth she o6veted whit ih *"■'• ''' ^"^"8 '«>» stwl^,
lives in order IhKo™ tl^' ^°°^ °^ '°""« ga^th^r
ment For a moment sh? £ J'L'T °/^"" andSelenjoy'
of Ubonr sounding St tte h^,^ '^* "^"'o^-" ««nmXn
pavage hatred inoK^ she t3 "''*'"t- "^hen. with he?
„^- ?»aUing to the '^^'^^.'^'X^U^X^^
«>»^ W.f„i a. I was. a p «' ^^^^^o ^n^jm^.
hfr m
fVOJiJf
Wend I I took yon ^.n J^„ „„ •' '?"'' '! yourself, my
royal poRition Jme A^d iJTtJST""'*!^.'^ » '""une, k
h.ve f pt none of yo" r e^Sgeme^ir """ '* " "•»»«" '-
of your engi^eLnts-nCeY' No „'°"°"? A"**"*"?' "<""»
wi& me, fSr It's ^iLinulJ, ? i."""* '^"' Boisgelin than
You pre; Jed Tum ^'t°usT hi'"""' '""'^ **■« A>r fellow,
mised him a fabulou^ income an^ ""^l '° '"" = '"" P™"
enough money leferbuyViTshoer wr° '"^»
isn't capable of manaeino Y l.f™ k • °*^- ^^''^° ' "»"
remains a petty cle^^l iL.P ''"""ess, my friend, hu
Those sa::^errdrto'rtu^ Z^ TTLTI^'^^'-
turned round and round in »,i. k if ™"* ''*^ ^^n
think that he W tov^ tha^ L^' "^ «>onscienoe. To
her speak of theSTma^ ., IT" u" ''^"' "^ <» hear
her sidTSiere h^ JXffi " n,ST ''"«^ ^ '''"'"l' on
tioni For nearly aft^n^h.Ti'^*'''""'^ """^ e^lonla-
and so heroicX to te? ^hnr^n,;'\*^°l*""°8 so loyaUy
and yet she acc'u^ h,m „? SZaci w aS2 T't" ^i'^^^'
knowledge! He oaueht hoM ^'^S 'u " '"'' °' business
hands,lSd shS.k W Mvin! i °^.'',!f "T arms with both
that the soundof his o,^ ^LmftKr i?"'' ^.^^^ ^^^
you unhappy woman °^ irmSm^.^'''^'*^ «'^«'.
with ;:^^rd S's°rs?Zof "Ti,^"?"! •"^"'^^
rongh gr«,p had left ro^dhtdlli^Utf.-r'*" "^'^ ''"
beat me now, vou blant^n.J^ aeacate white arms. ' Tou
yon beat meT'yKt^mfJ'J^' ^°" ''""« ' ' '^^ <="«<'• ' Ah I
-^\7z^:^r^^zt^t^-f'^' "l^- "- <»-
•nan's oountenaieewhfdi .hetno!^ T'?"'^""" « *»""
nails. Never had she hated him £f *° '««"■'« with her
oai .ore. ^^^''^^onT^^t^LV^,^ ^
■'^f^W\tm/^lB.. «►•' 1
318
WOXJC
UughtMeM.per.ted Femande to »uch , pdnt that ri.-
bec^e h.U It'mon.. What could .he say to Um that
♦i,.t ;„ 'u .^ ""?«'• ^° I ' So it was not thanks tTme
thatron kept yoir place 1 ' oumau m me
«l,n,^f/*/?.°° ^; "^ Boddenly risen to her throat. Ah I to
shwit It faU m i^ dog's face, to .hout that she had neve?
tears' i-'^'i-S-r^^S
Delaveau did not immediately understand her TJin.«
iiSC^' '"^'^« ''''° ^-^^ thetce. Sd ZZ
' What is that you say ? •
n»t \1^I ^* ^'7if '^.*° Boisgelin's mistress for twelve years
P».i, and mnoe there's nothing left, since all i> f.ii;/- .
piews, weU, there, that's the end of it ?' ^« *"
«l.n^J^T^*?™ •"*" delirious, stammering, with his teeth
denohed, Delaveau rushed upon her, caught hold of W ams
Aook her, and threw her intTthe ai>.ch\ir. CwoiSdZre
^hfat^'^^i^^r'^^^^ "^ that provoking naSt, which
she displayed, her bare shoulder, and tare bosL, to pS
her fa,m ever msultmg and torturing him again oC Ti
Sh^ t^*' *""\ "^^y- ""d he Mw and divined things cltJS
fi\^? ?r '°''?^ ^'^ = ^« We beside him had nevS^n
aught but hypocrisy, ruse, falsehood, and betaTyS! I??m
£,ijr_ Tpicfik.Tit| :^-^^^%d^^
lyoxx
3«7
!-?k 4 1 •" ""0^«n'? emerged a she-wolf, aU lombre fury
|»Mi tonorant had sprung from her; she wai the perverter.
^ ^'fl ',•"• •"•!? '''"'i' """"P'^d .11 around her ; hm
^n ™J**'' "V.?*'.*' "^ treachery, whose ei^OTment had
been made up of the tears and blood of others.
•h. fainlS hi^*.'" •"" »''»88ling with hifi stupefaction
drank^' ' '°'" workmen do when they are
H,.m''n'i"^^°*u'''L''''8''""' ""«"«« ''I'ich fell between
fc.? r.*""" '■^"^ "", fl^""^" "<"" of the steam,
hammer, the commotion of labour which, without a nauso
Mcompanied both his days and his nigC The ^Zi
came to him hke a well-known voice, whose clear lansna™
wSTnntF" "'^ '^.IT'"''? °f *•>« horrible adveK
Was It not Femande, with her little teeth of unchangeable
h^W^ ^"^ ^:T^ "•" the wealth which yonderhammeJ
ahe J«^f?l^ •"' ''.T"'* "^""S*" possessed his brain:
she was the devourer, the one cause of the disaster, of the
Sr,*'"^?/*T"r^' ?' *'■* -^<^yi^o.hU, approaching bank
roptoy. Wtilst he had been heroically striving to klep his
LTf^!' I?''""!? "'^^^^ '"'"" » ^"y- endeavouring to
f^?.-S^\°'i"'i.°""°"i''8 ''""■ " '" ehe who had
E^Srt-" ''". ."^"^ •Pd rotted it. She had Uved thew
„t i. r* '??'"°8,?> q"i?'. "i'h her soft smiling face and
J!Jl^t5*i;^"» ^ the poison, the destrucUve ageEt who had
paralvsed his efforts anJannihUated his work. Yes, ruin had
ever 6een present beside him, at his table, in his Knd he
^e hlnT \ ^?' had shaken everything with her little
^ehanii, and pulverised everything with her Uttle wh tl
L^ G««SjS°''^^"''?'f\'''f«° "'^'^ ^'^ "*°™ed from
la Gnerdache, intoxicated bv the caresses of her lover bv
Z.f^5 fw w ^^ ^^ ^"J"? "°""^ ber, and, when she haj
w/e™ S5* ">toxicaUon, lying by his side, whilst he, wift
h^\l «rf^-n°T'/""°« ^^ ""> ^"'°'««' tortured his
^h 7^» *" ^f^f ^"^ "^s fo' saving the Abyss.
f„d fw,"°i*r° ""Z"/ ^??' "' disturbing her slumW^
And this which seemed to him the supreme horror of ijL
SSlldfer'" with mad fmy and mad, him K . You
318
WORK
wiJ'iidtiLf' """ ""'' ■«••'•■• '•-••<'. growing
both. *' ^ '""'* '""^'J »»»w Mffloed for
tloii^«.l°?H?'^ k'", ™»'»™™ent, his momentary hesita-
SKa'r^rn/trto'^iS^^^
began to laugh, with In insufungf Lnt^ng Wh '"whiu
j™ yo^a not going to kiU me. then% Kili°CT me th^ if
lying creature, amidst the smoking ruh.a^^»t oU^^i
Sjst™ which he had so fooUshiy st^vTtolfe^'d ^ '^"^
With a terrible kick, he overturned the stove, and pro-
-^mm^.'mmf"m''
&'f;|^.L^J,t^fJ„°'Jif,-. ever ™^.Un« ..
cretonna onrtSnrw^re th« B°! / '5* '"°^'""' Then the
began to bnra ThT Tii. " 1° .^»"' »''"«« ">« carpet
terJ^'gaTe rin" t'^^'andte't, '"^u?^""'^ "? '° »•"
•widng a passage where the fl»t^! ''"">■"« toB^ther. and
She d^ted to3d« tl?. ,W *? ''"."''^ not reach them.
found DelaW who" ^^-'^ i i° ' °' "" ^°°' »''«
« terribU lut' The "h^s'^'n?^, her passage. He looked
the one which op^n^tto l^^^t^"^ "•" ""'«' d°°'.
room with the works Bu^itT^'"J^,'"7''"""""=""8"^«
sih«^:s».^ii----^^^^^^^
anrf.;:?} °''* '^' ''^ """ ^<" '«» me pass, „.nrfererl
^^^h^^Xtl^l ?or^ '"'«^« "- •'•^' opening
fierce dJterminat^n Wi w' «^ '"i*^ motionless, full of
and tLnTnSdid'^hntWoM n?^.''" "»?'' *°*° ">" "«*.
back into the^atre o/the r^J ^"u"?"i' ""^ '"^8 ^ei
pwfeot bra8ierAn^L„ *!,'"• '''""? ^"^ °ow become a
KKa aUW st^T-tr T"^' hobble battle. She
byffi dreTof death •^KaT^^.k ''5' ^""^"^ *«nf°W
)5
if
^ •■ 4ii
3»
WORX
A„/. ^ "' their abomiMble existence miglit be annihilated
And to accomplish this he needed all tfie stMnffth of hij
^^ "^'Ji^ J.*"" "^ '«" """kin?. and^toM in
the mght have escaped. At last he imprisoned her S a
final savage embrace, and thevfaU together amidst the em^4
of the floormg whilst the last hangings burnt awavUk!
hM\J:f ?"'""'8?' '^l bit him, he did not release her, but
iSg^flSg^'b^eTj'."* ^*""^-*''- witfaV^-crfr
«1W '„K *''*u* ^ Cr«cherie, as Nanet left the macbinerv
»Uerjr where he was now serving his apprentioesto as m
Abyss. At first he imagmed that it came from the cement
h^nnST?^ ?k"* '" !'"8'"°«»'> i"creased,Z^ ^t once
ft. «tw'°°li''"' *™i.^-*''? manager's house was on fire!
5.!l th^r*"*^*' '•?.^,^*'' «'«"'''' ^" te thought of Ki«
S^rtv w^l"^ off wiWy and came into collision with the
partv-waU, over which, in former times, they had bothcUmbed
r«In S"^ ""a ""^l ^ ^ i°8«'^«'- And o/ce agai^ wUh the
help of hands and feet, he somehow got over the waU and
found himself in the garden, alone as yet, for no allm hSd
I^M^^J^S featmre of the conflagration was that like a fire
T?^^^«?*' '"*''°?' ?'y'^y ^'"^n lowing sign of Ufe
htL^^^"' '»™»«'ei dosed, and the door* wS^ already
It^rfii" «"'*''«« that one could neither goTnorW^
It merely seemed to Nanet that he could hear some loud
ones ana a commotion like that of some h"rribTdS
struggle. But at last the shutters of one of the^nd l^r
win&ws were flung back violently, and thra, ^dst Sbe
«nK.ke, appeared Nise, aU in white, wearing on"; hTchen^
diBtrSjTon, affi.°|'!;p'?° ' •" '^«'''-^' -«d Nanet in
He had perceived a long ladder lying alongside a shed
But on gomg to take it he found thS^it yX^netji
inom«t of temble anguish ensued. The ladtook^p a lar^
rJIT'Ti li %M.
WORK
3»i
of the first floor took fire *S u ™""°8' ^"^ '1»8 whole
»?d .parks that .t%e^tatornts'"NSl'P''"™K« °' """"ke
Appeared from sight. Nan? .hm ^1 S u' "P.^^o^e. quite
which grew wilder^ and ,Sd;r'^„^\'f ^" T"' ^,'"'«^».
the Wfe'^'H^ltr^^^rie^-i ''«'''«' "ble to take
managed to set i? w^t n ^L"^ afterwards how he had
was lie to rear it Mder the t^„"i''"^S°'«' ^""'i bat he
perceived that it was too "hort ^t^\ ^^"^ ^°^«^^r, he
the discovery that his cour^^'^l'"!,'* ^'" "« ^e»pair at
was, only sixteen yeara ^t^^^^-^^' ^^^^^^ ^at he
JP:^'^.'^-^^^'^'^'^^^^ Itdoesn.
bea^mh*ra"rdr°4trrt^'s'^H'''''°-8»™'
get oat, olutohing hold oTthf 1» ^ the roof, manag^ to
terror, imagining* that th*S»r''"°*-. Bat. maddened by
she euddeSy lefp fato eUe and'^fen 'i^' ^"^^^ ^er^
broken, besiaie the flight o/Z,s ' ^**^' "^'b her sknU
--^^^^^^i^'^f^:'^'^^ b'a beoome more
out. He piotared CivL «f «%"'? ''^ "bout to jamp
"d he raiS.d HSt tert&7caU -^In't' ^^^^^"^^ blo^
I'm coming I • ® *"^ • °°° ' Jnmp ; I'm coming,
the MSr%S' wht'h?J^lfi,'^.* ^r^ ^«"<"' «<"«'a*d
^^tid-Sj-if S«^^^ S*«-h'
spreading; the wSb, «,i;2 J 1*5,?''°" ''^^ »"« and ever
Ipiite as^it s£^ Zi„r the' ^l^t ^V 'j^,^*' "^"^^ ^
I-f Hehadmanytth't^hrt^nfti,:^-^^-
332
WOSK
W ^Pu*^ *•" '"^"' ^^ '»" "P- "^ •»">« down laii, .
I^t l,^" S^i ■''PP?'!' "'her than stepped, down the Sdder
b^» .„r?iw*^ ?'^^' ^'•' ''^ "id Bhe were covered with
burns and fdl fainting in one another's arms, olasped in so
Criohene, whither Soenrette, who had now been warned
repaired to nurse them. ^^ warnea,
Half an hour later the house feU; not a stone of it
remained standing. And the worst was that tteTs Ster
"jwhin^ the generri offices by way of the wooden ^e^'h^'
the great hall where the puddling-fumaoes and the rolling-
Sf^~17. ^ '°-'.'*^^- "^^^ *"««' '°'ks were in dZ^'
™~^ a'^ "f"^,' "'°«' °'^ buildings, almost aU <rfwhich
were o dry woodwork. It was said thS the Delaveaus' other
wSil? „ ^*° £^* "■*, ''"™ *» *^ night-shifts, who had
n^l ^ ^^t '"°^^\ ^°* tliey t»d no fire-ekgine, Zud
h^h??^^ V ^°^l '^ *^.*" «'"^«» of La^Sherie.
„f^ ^L}""'}Tf' ~°" *" •'«>*'>"l7 fwliion to the help
ThXrj^'"i''"i!?'°f' T^"" •«* «"Pne and firemen.
The Beauclair fire bngade, whose organisation was very defect
Ab™^^ ™ "^ npaiterwaMs. Aniit was too late toivX
r.T5 • '' JT """' ^^^e 'rem one to the other end of Ss
soriUd workshops oyer an expanse of several acres, fTrmSg ,
huge brasiffl whence emergelonly the lofty ohimnUsudtte
towra in which great cannon wer^ temperi^^ '
When the dawn rose after that night of disaster numerona
under the hnd chilly November sky. The Beauiiir au^!
'^^•/*v'''^"'*" Chitelard and Mayor GourieThad not
quitted the scene of the catastrophe, ^ Ju^qJZ, was
with them, as weU as his son-in-law. Captain JollivetAbM
^^i Z'^i t^' °°'y ""^^'^ "l"™ " '" light! ^dwas
soon foUowed by a stream of inquisitive h]k,Zu^eJ^
shopkeepers, the MazeUes, the Laboques, the CaZ^ Sd
even Dacheux a gust of terror was sweeping by; »e ^d
tenl'*"' ^*^ ^T^' "-^^ 8™** anxi^ beiJg to kn^w
^TvZ Jl '»'"'«'Pl'« eo^ld possibly ha/e takin pla^
Only one witness remained, the servant-^l who had ma^sx^
Ontr^v; She related that Madame h2d return^ fr^La
Gnerdache about midnight, and that immediately afto^arda
*;y^<.^: ^y^-
"'"'" us
ronmants of his^nn.^'L, P** ^'''^ °'"^ "here the
hunmer was imteUed. JordaiT^S^Z 'v* ?***""■
remained in Boita nf tko J^' '^PP~ "? » ™g, obstinately
But destiny in its W seeml^^ W *^°? dolorous years,
a hnrrioane. l^^oT^t^.tZ *'"»°''?'?»«d i^elf into
•wept away. Xm^hUatS m^' tr'^'^* '^ '^«d.
pttt&erhalV«Zu^the^s^relShtnT°«'''' f" "">
»Mrfa5^L£^fi|^«
honB«Jventotht&Z'S/l3"°'"'"°«''^«" of
sr^i^^AV^'^^rs-rK^^^^^
the?h\d7ertttlL'se^ttar>;!«T. ^°^ -<='' -
attempted to siknK. Se"»s of ^ T" *''•'" TS
pettr«:^^;'rr:Snd'"^ .t^l; - -^e »^
3*4
WOSX
last opMjy nmgiBg thenwelTei upon th«b dde. Lum ma
right; there are tragic honMwhe£ae<»yingioai.HirS&ek«o
THth madne.8. fling themeelves npon UiepJiT^ iKd n?w S
aU those Bun, works of the Ab$«, whe^TSie Wef™Um
hSh ohS,«^£,i *t frameworks of roofs, above which thf
n. J^ni mominK abont eleven o'clock, when the snn at hist
S^LTt^ I, • *° ^"^ 'i"?"' *'°»»«"" «•*">• passed bT
Ws^al n;^ "' propeUed by a servant. He wsS making
TOM starbng the works and the growmg town of La CraoheriT
which lookel so bright and gavin the dry/mmshtoy ^w'
And now he beheld the field of defeat. tSe m»^k3^a
V^ r.1, " "'^^u"^ empty eves, aa transparent as spring
no gesture ; he smiply looked, and then was wheeled mI«
no^g^t him tiling whether U^^X^T^
'mi* t-al
3*5
BOOK III
Bain sad-
Tuesdav^S^r^JSe n *2JL"«7B«y^.to stop the g^d
be discbuged <» miul ^^^' domestics would have to
h^ f ^ In the hSge hWitsflf tl^^T** ?' """""■
*-ng-wom, biUiard-room, wd sS^L^T*-"'"'^
Woil"*^ '«""^« ^ «"« -dden ..t-de tof
almost nnhinged"heJL,tR.?I?'??;,'^*'' 1^ ^ind
what to do lith hffl w^ZL^W.^y'-^'^io'''
distress amidst the dorafaU rf 1^» ?/'*-l" ^« » '^^ i°
WM at bottom a somrTdni i C. ° °' »;oyment. He
they were dne to W he h^T"""'.'^' °°* convinced that
in 4 We ; he taSed U^^el?rbe''r ""I H!?^**" ^""
a privileged beinjr one „f t^ fif f u ^^nt from others—
b/the ifboar ^f'otSe,^l!tdt '^" '° .^l*^ """J ■""""ed
Btood the catastrophe ^Jhilh^l/ ^°^- "n"^^ •"« ''•^e ™der-
3a6
WORK
hadvamshXthejla ?S7°{: ' '""]"?'*. *e capital
money to Uv^? He ^L^^ Tu"* """'f ''«' '""' «»<''•'«
an answer to that question "^ °™ """^ without finding
onjojer of life Se bS^; ^ ^* vengeance, for a mere
But the greatest bW was to SsJiS^7u'?t"r"^">? «?»''•
in strength of i^^^i^C^ir^^^^^^''^^^'^^^'^
energy to set his affaim in n-i„. rC '**"*<'. "»* necessary
waitforapnreCeXhowoi§d^f:k.?^? ^' °5' "'*"« *<"
and materWMtSd Cn^yi'^J^'h^* ?f ^' ?^ ""f" Pl«t
BoisgeBn greatly dou^ S» .^T'' "^^ ?^ ' ^"*
ever turn up, anS in nar^nwiv^ ^? Purchaser would
obtain fa>m hSn a ^^^^fn, ? ^°"'"*^ ''^*"'" •»« *<>nia
otnatior Mo^ver^e a^.'^L^'^S''?^ ^ "^'^^''^ the
^^^he wooS'n^o irger-C^^nlXt^«rh1i?e.t
that wonian fuU of heroio gentleness whom he had ^ SSiy
WORK
3»7
with Fernande upon her, aha had again and aeain rBgolv«3
npon asserting herself and driving tfiTSitnTdeTX ^t^n^
^sitoTbafd«''T^«."P appearances inlhrprencrol
P«,I^V-: ^«^oV",8>»"«W^ entirely to the education of
Paul, whom she wished to save from disaster Ha5 it n^f
sL W *^ ''TuS-'" »''°"» »«" renunoiatiSn, her sacrifice
I^.S^'r°"^' the delight of seeing him grow up r^mnable
and ^eotionato ; and it was only fiSm a See! m to »t
that Suzanne had beheld the slow ruin of theAbvsraBd til
?~*">8 P^P^rity of La Crficherie. Like her K^d ^!
W no doub whatever that Delaveau, inforn^ of th^ta, A
^^"SS'J^ ^' ^/«* P?" '» ordeTto dlsS^yMm-'
s™^!: that oprraptmg, devouring creature, his guilty wife
a^hT^t.J?"''''*"-^ ^ ■*« t»»°''8l'tof it, and asWeraelf
Jlt^taoS^f S^' i° '""' '""^ "'S'^ contribute to the
catastrophe by her own resignation, her weakness in
iderafang betrayaJ and shame i. her own hom7?^g s"
many Tears. Hghe had only rebelled at the outwt Mrifana
the wune would never have'reaohed that climax 'ffie?
2S forTr°°? t^ "P™* ""■ ""^ "-"^"^ her to com!
S^™^r K* wretched man whom, since the days of the
S^^h'5^'i'i'^."*"^°8»'"'»t like one /l^S
through the deserted garden and the empty house ^"°'
dra^Vrnfire^BiM^T^rm^XThf
^W^XLhT A^;k She'"J''q°ite8t™d. fiUed with
Six ™ "ght. And she, who for many years had never
s^ken to hun unless it were necessarv to do .i in thefre^nel
in despainng that
you
strength you need.'
#'#
3a8
WOUK
i^^AT^"^^. !t«?. •» tahSstf. ,*" '^'
uuuea «(meuigii«i than at
egotistical Pleasure tu^TStoCtl A r^"^" »''<»"
Bueh utter aejeotion tbS hf .^J?^^ j ^"I. '' '^ ^">
fault. He mWiS n^tt-'^^'/'r'*'""' """fof"^ hig
*. i» MTue, ne en(
Jong, I have behaved aoominahi- Ah I wh, Mi
don me, why did tou tri- . t^ • i' ™
HisworiawoK'h«;':S"l'tJ,l?«i««k?
His wori awok<, in V"":t:"« *" in me back?'
covert CSL* wUoh"'Bhrf u"!: t^ ^ ^VT^^^, the
perhaps not done ^ her datv fW *5°°?H *''*' "^« ^^
Buooumi aroWd them J*™"' ''''*" '^* "«»'' ""^ the erring
too ffi ?n s^j^g' ° tid ° LT 'r ^-^ ""'^*' ""' I was
-wabig Mow of eigr^etSge^nran-atMl^l
m^'^m'.'-
WOSJC 3„
rw« about to «pa1J tS^'ltX?^ rra'^w^^^'i
wi.h^ortoM>^ jaTuS. " ^ «--' ^^-^ -^ ^
SrJ^f!: i -J, ""»*. P^s me some courage iwam We m«
m such a teinble position I We ahall ),»^»»5 ^"Sars
•rrugement, take^me decision.' "• **• '"""' **" *'"">
of the two^mn, L^ It u"^. thousand francs left out
330
WOUK
borrow dx hundred thoiuand franw, a dabt wUeh twd
weighed heavily upon the buiineBs. It imMj seemed u if
the worki were qnite dead linee ther were burnt, and beiidaa,
before erecting them afreeh it would be neeeaaarr to pay the
debt of six hundred thousand franos.
'Then what do you inteud to do ? ' Suzanne hiquired.
Boisgelin thereupon explained the two solutions between
which he hesitated, unable to adopt either, so great ivere the
diflioultiee which attended both. On the one hand they
might rid themselves of everything, sell what remained of
the Abyss for what it would fetch— that is, no doobt, barely
enough to pay the outstanding debt of six hundred thousand
francs ; or, on the other hand, they might try to find fresh
funds, and Establish a company, to whfoh he would belong
by contributing the hmd and the pUnt that had been saved.
But hero again there seemed little hope of effeotir? suoh a
oombmation. Meantime, a solution was every day beooming
more necessary, for their ruin was growing more and more
complete.
' We also have La Guordaohe— we ean sell it' remarked
Suzanne.
' Oh I sell La Gnerdache I ' he answered in a deepairing
way. 'Part with this property to which we ate io aoon^
tomed, so attached I And all to go and hide ounalvaa in
some wretched hovel I What a downfall it would be, what a
lot more grief it would bring I '
Suzanne became grave again, for she well perceived that
he was not resigned to the idea of leading a rea«>nable modest
•i ' "9 ™»11 inevitably have to come to it, my friend,'
said she. ' We cannot continue living upon such a footing.'
'No doubt, no doubt, we shsU sell La GuerdaoheTbut
later on, when an opportunity presents itself. If we were to
put it up for sale now we should not obtain half its value, for
m doing so we should confess our ruin, and the whole district
would league itself against us to rejoice and speculate on our
misfortunes.' Then he added more direct arguments: ' Besides
my <^, La Guerdaohe belongs to you. As is stated in the deeds!
the five hundred thousand francs of the purchase money were
taken from your dowry, the remaining five hundred thousand
francs of which formed half of the million which the Abyss
Mst us. Whilst we are co-proprietors of the works, la,
Guerdaohe is entirely your own property, and I simply desire
to keep it for yon as long as possible.'
WORK
331
old intimacy wW gmTdeid ' sSu lrS?f 1 " ""''
upon tlie earth Thi. «h^ t, V » "?" .'"""'* "^ 'ova
the abnegation of a saorifioed wife nf . ™-v!t P' ''?'
oontinuel living for her »1 A, pZ ^7*"° "^^
Lao ceased to exist for I,.. ? fil "°™ *^*' moment
«««• w exut for her, and the question which her
m
i^c
33*
WOJiX
hlubMd W now pat HTiT*] wbU MMB«d tO b* Huh .
fUrtjmt pMt thai A. WM ua.W. io hid. hS wirprijT ™* '
'How o«n I hsT* Man MoniUar Frommt JkkT • Am .t
fci««*«»i- 'Yob know ih.» for mowMSy.Mri
intoMoarM UtwMn of bM bMo brok«i off.' •"'"*»•"
But BoMgidii. qnl.Uy ihrugged bii •bouldwi. • Oh I that
doMo t pNTent it ; too mi^ ht £»t. met him and hay. •pok«
lolmn. Iou»gre.aM well together form.rly. SoTOuhlw
kept up no relationa with him »t »U ? ■ oo you nay.
woJid taow u.-""'*'^' *""*"•«* •^«P^^ ' " I i«d. you
1. P" "^"'.■hment wai inoreasinn ; .h. Mt hnri br h^
hu.Und'. inrieteno.; adiamed. toofit UiiJqniuoM
S!t.n^'l Whatoould b. hi. object? wItM h° wiih
that she had kept up relations with Luo ? In ier tm ^A.
'. ott"' "4 "•qui'ed : ' Why do vou IL m. ^iV*
Ju.lnow.-" ^o^m-o^j «. idea wfiieh ooourrad to nw
l„ui^°'!!^'' *■•* T^^. *** "» »»*«<«'. »nd revealed what b.
' No, not exactly."
^J^"", '' '' ^•*'y '^?'*- ''^' ^e"ow Luo must have a mat
&^.rr'.°'",H.'^*"' "^^ »■" done M"S?h
harm; u that not bo? And t ia quite lesitimato tSt «
should get a Urge sum out of hfm A^ om s!j™ti™
eertam^y hes in that direction, partic^arly if we 4^ S
mterest m the business which would enable Tt^S^lS
Guerdach. without heed of retrenchment in o« miSS« rf
-..^.^^* ^^"^^^ wi1> "orrow and dismay. What I ha
was stiU the same man as formerly ; that frishtful lemSn hil
not corrected him I He only dreamt of speXtngoJ^Sie»
ttem«w* Pffi' fro"" the Bituation i^whidi tt«foS
toemsdves. And w particular he still had one sole oWeot
ihatof doing nothing, of remaining an idle ° a kept S^^
oth«w«e a oapitahst. In the wild lespair al^dJt wliohh:
.f cwi^'iP' r\m
€
nottii«»Wi. Jf "•' ^* ^^^ oontinn. to liye, doing
MM«Ppwred nob •> h* «»ll7 wm-. m»n intont on .njoj.
MBn?rif:4^i.""?'.*i'''"'^ '^ ■'"O" everything.
2ZhS'^£'„t'hn^? '""«'"• P^'^^'P'- »'8" have
».J^ th. wretched beins I So now he bad sank to eo low >
KSed to rir«. 1^}1 ^ '«"''. '^"•drawn from hi^
«M K- fk • .* """ '"^ impression. ' You are richt •
kn^ fln7. "'»'»"• I BhaU prepare my pUn of attack
rf if 0^^h^!f°* °' ."P*"^"! "P '"'^'oourse wi, the dS
of I« Ortohene— tmless, indeed, I aUow him to take !).« fit«t
step., which would be a more skilful co^m" ""■ ''""
fl.^5! '^ ?°"* '"I'vened by the hope of duping another and
^uldUve irwith'lhld'n^ ira^S^».^f^f wo*;^
He roN, e*v. . „gh of rMlef, and looked on th. grit ^fc
334
WOJtX
Mil!;!
It Memedmoie extenaiTe still on that olear winter dar, and
he hoped to giye tttea in it again as soon as the sprins should
come. Finally he exelaimea : ' It would reaUv be too stupid
for us to distress onrselves. Can folk like ourselves ever
become paupers?'
Suzanne, who had remained seated, felt her painful sadness
inor^. For a moment she had entertained the naive hope
of reforming that man, and now she perceived that every
temprot and revolution might pass over him without bringing
amendment, or even understanding of the new times. The
ancient system of the exploitation of man by man was in his
blood, he could only Uve on others. He would always remain
a bip; bad child who would fall to her charge later on should
juflbce evei; do its work. And thus she could only regard him
with great and bitter pity.
Throughout that long conversation Paul had remained
motionless, listening to his parents with his usual gentle, in-
telligent, and loving expression. All the feelings which in
turn agitated his mother were reflected in his large pensive
fyfl"; He was in constant oommunion with her, and suffered
hke herself at seeing how unworthy his father was. She at
last perceived his ininful embarrassment, and asked him :
' Where were you going just now, my child ? *
' I was gomg to the farm, mother ; Feuillal must have
received the new plough for the winter ploughing.'
Boisgelin laughed : ' And that interests you 1 ' he asked.
' Why yes, father. At Les Combettes they have steam
plcnghs which turn up furrows several thousand yards long
MOW that all the fields have been joined together ; and it is
superb to see the land turned up like that and fertUiaed.'
He was overflowing with youthful enthusiasm. His
mother, who felt touched by it, smiled at him. ' Go, go, my
boy," she said, 'go and see the new plough, and work— your
health will be all the better for it.' '
During the ensuing days Suzanne noticed that her hus-
band evinced no haste in putting his project into execution.
It seemed as if he deemed it sufficient to have discovered a
solution which in his opinion would save them alL That done
he relapsed into indolence, incapable of any effort. However,
there was another big child at La Guerdaohe, whose manner
suddenly caused Suzanne considerable disquietude. Monsieur
J6r6me, her grandfather, who had just reached the advanced
age of eighty-eight, in spite of the species of living death to
^sm :''^m^%jm^^-^^^:^m.
WOXJC
335
Bervant nroDellntl H,„.™ t Data-otiair which a
. »>ini8terJdThir;anta eZ,ina7., ^^"^, ^'« "<«" "^
M she had aWy showrwii . "^^ o^g attention
years Soraine h. ^n no hi^ n%i.^" m<«>y monotonous
retuniinjr? IMd nnt tK„.. u j ■ , ""'wasitnow
ejBB, anVhis LerisW ^iTn"" ^°?"*" J*'*""''"
awakenine? Perh.™ in/«J ^T'!i'' "'^"'"'« » Pos«We
con«>ious?l^*l^iS?^Cn,^ tha™ ^^T -*^«i,»^
miracle, now when he wfT di^l.^^ ? iT *?"■ i"' ™'"*' ^md of
phyrioai bond of'{LS"3if'^8^h to death, the hard
measure, releasing WX™ tlT JT™? ?>. wme sUght
which h;hadso1onrii^i^ri^nT' '^^ ^^obilit/in
ing "tonishment^ aZ^P^"^- » Y^^ T*ff'.«"''-
alowworkofdeUyeranoe Swanne watched that
bauP^ch^ltXStp'h:, Kl ^""-" .«'«-•«
the old man's room, qdte^S bv th^ i'" "^^^S ^"^
which he had watch'e^ht d^t ^ M^d^fi^'T '^"'
▼ant, 'I made up my mind to taU vnn ""i?*™*' "J^ tbe ser-
* And what did he say ? '
33«
WORK
raoMT^ orders to report to her every evening what had hap-
pmed dnnng the dav. In this wise she was able to foUow
the growing fever which seemed to have oome upon Monshor
JteOme. He was possessed by a desire to see and hear, he
made it plain by signs that he wished to have his outings
prolonged, as if he were eager for the sights which he foond
upon the roads. But he particularly insisted on being taken
each day to the same spots, either the Abyss or La 0.a«herie,
and he never wearied of contemplating the former's uombre
nuns and the latter's gay prosperity. He compelled his ser-
vant to slacken his pace, made him go past the same spot
several times, and all the while he more and more distinctly
stammered those diqointed words, whose sense was not yet
apparent. iSuzanne, quite upset by this awakening, at last
sent for Doctor Novarre, whose opinion she was anziona to
ascertam.
' Doctor,' said she, after explaining the case to him, ' you
cannot conceive how it frightens me. It is as if I were
witnessing a resurrection. My heart contracts, it all apoears
to me like some prodigious sign announcing extraordmary
Novarre smiled at her nervousness, and wished to see things
aimself. But It was not easy to deal with Monsieur J6r6me :
he had closed his door to doctors as well as to others ; and
besides, as his aihnent admitted of no treatment, Novarre had
for yeara abstained from making any attempt to enter his
room. Di the present instance the doctor had to wait for the
old mu in the park, where he bowed to him as he passed in
his bath chaur. Next he followed him along the load, and
on drawmg near saw that his eyes began to gleam whilst his
hps parted, and a vague stammering came from them. In
his turn Novarre felt astonished and dtirred.
'You were quite right, Madame,' he came to tell Suzanne,
the case is a very singular one. We are evidentiy in presence
of some onsis affecting the whole organbm, and arising from
some great internal shock.'
'But what do you expect will happen, doctor ? ' Bocanne
anxiously mqnired, ' and what can we do ? '
' Oh, we can do nothing, that is unfortunately eertam, and
as for foreseeing what such a condition may lead to, I won't
attempt it. Yet I ought to teU you that if suoh eases are very
rare they do occasionally occur. Thus I remember examining
man who had bMO ihnt
at the asylum of Saini-Oron an old
iiyo<
i-Oro
fyp^.^Tc'z'-- «" "-P-. to z
oUtter. Bai tt, extraorfina.^ni^T'^?'" *«»n" o^ceaaelVs.
Mdentood averJ^nTd^^h^"]' ?«^ ™en, heard, wd
slumber. And whm^fe re^fJS''*/'"'^ ?«*" o' apparent
an endless narrativf ofh^ns^i^' ^7" °f, «?«*'"''' was
a^ '^-'^ -SKe^TnlTarp!!- --^^
f-^- 'And wi»t^bei^rX?t'ratrxt^.?^t
^rJ^''^^^a'^lntnr^r S''"'^^ 'H'^ed
that son is almost ahwvs a^nST '*'' °'"^°'*' » "^^ of
tion. One find, in .- tte ete^'^Sl,"?/'"'"^? dissolu-
throws up a last flame blf^'^.S °^ """ ^^ "^'^
l^^'A l^lwep'* Wh •^- ^^ ^■
^P^^^l Sj|»VoSl^' - 1
«en heard, and understood ^v—tl-^^S."* *«• Had he
S-^ even ^t^rlSStsa^rt-troniS^
q»«1ion'r*^%rt^*dd4t'^^,' b^-^yto ask«,other
genoe has quite' deS torn 'o.??'-.""^'^' * """ «t^-
who does not oonsidl^^t^rfXT' vpnT"'"™ °^"'« "^^^fst
-^-Pectin^ matters ^^^'^ ^^ryiUSZl
i^et 'AuiZ^mZ:^ ifT''' ^' ^0- 'Every,
we still penetrate wTiSCoh d^ffi^/f"' ^/"^"-"'owhiTfa
certainly remain intaS a^teX lof nf '' ^'^j^K^""* can
»nnot speak it does not follow ^at l^"""" V?"'*"'"' ^°e
Howevsr, T e't ■:!- Z . , ow tfiat one is unable to thint
338
WOXK
\U\l\
te OTOT ' ^ """"^ ""^ *""*''* "^ •«* to •onile inlinoy
intalj?.^''* " '*°^''''" **"* ^ "V have wUined his&ealties
™J ^^^ I»™jWe ; I eTOn begin to nupeot that «iieh in the
^t^*"*"^"'!^ ""yu""* ""^keningof his whole bei^,
^ Sa^7 "^^"^ '^"^ '^" *° »» ~"°'"«f "'"' ^
^m «.d ttS^.^ •" 'r«*' ^^"^ ^ »•«' grand&ther'B
feZir rf ^iTJ^ T* ' ?ior ^s-^ction without a secret
W ^^ T^^A u" *'"?'*. *''* ""*« "gi^'y in which he
SS^J^ liu? P'^l'^" *"* '"'d ^'*««<1 '^. heard, and
r«™linS^*-'^'°'^' ^?"' """^ '^"^ ">irty years he had
hT^t^r ""S"'"^^ '""'«8«. as it were, of Uie decline of
diLTfll^"™^'^**', r'° ^'^ ^^ •"'^«W the root of hL
«^^-^' »/o^f?ll "oelerated from father to son by the
^^n^"^"' ''f'?- ^ ?« devouring blaze of enjoyient
W. fcT^''^"!? ^"4 .'"?«*^ *° ^n""™* the fortune \^oh
fen H.r^''* '^•^'^* ^?.' f"* '•^oJ' *>« J^^d deemed ao
w^» /• ^1 "If" ?" *"■ *"«•'** ™™ himself for worthless
^IT^ ' P'?*°l-*°' : whilst his daughter Laure. losinVw
head m mysticism, entered a convent ; and his ieeond son
Phihgpe. married to a hussy, perished in a duelXr «
unbeoile cueer. He had afci) Men his grandsM G^taw
mjp^lhM father Michel to suicide by rof^Twrn rf hS
SS!^ SfAfV''? *""^ ^'""^^ fr«n» that he W
ooUeoted for h^ bnsmeas payments ; whilst at the same tim*
his other grandson Andre, PhiUppe's ohUd, ^ re wJedto
ofS^^'°ji""-.*^*c'^'^*'^°BoisgIuS,fteX^1
t.fj^A^''^^^ ^"'''^*' P""""'"* the imperilled Abyss,
and conBde its management to a poor cousin, Delaveau, who
of hift-rS.* * °i^''* ^^"l ^^ ^^ discovered the betrajtS
^f r * I^^f ^ ^"'^ "■*' "O'^'^mb Boisgelin-the pSr
of them maddened by such a craving for Iutui^ and pl«J^
that they had destroyed all around tiiem. iSI he hadZJ
W ^}T'^^ well-loved work, so smaU and modest whenT
h^J?f r*^^" ^^ his father, so greatly enlarg^ by
.n^M • I ^"^ "^"xt*"" *''?«'• •"Wch he had hoped uTraoi
would make a oity, the empfre as it were of iroHnd ste^
WOXIC
339
M if Nothing of the Qurii^nn^^^s ' •""* *''"'« °' '''^^'
glowed among his «»ndoh& ^fT^f^^^ '»' ^°'k
what»prooe«sionoftertble™nr,^nT°' *^* ootogenarian,
century of effort, ^.d^^riSSI ™ Vr""'!^'?* » '*«>'«
and the future of . fc^^f Td thA * ^''J^* P"*"''
too, it Tas that the bmSin wh^ tw */ ^F^tP^g thing,
alnmber should at Uats£iw„!t !' f-^'^ '"^ 8««"6<i S)
thing should threaten t^^A't^^^*" ''^*' """^ ""»' «''ery-
of trlth. if Tn^^eto^e tS."^,^?? 'V ^ * S^^*' ^'^
•nd by speaking pl^, |^^ ""' "^^^^^ stammered should
waiSd^th'^oiSS^ 'sheT/n""' ^'"'"'»« "-
of the race: PaS^.rth.i;.. ! • "JV^ ™" '«» the last
La«e t^ laWydi^ta thfr^'V?! '^^ Q^ignons. Aunt
lived for nearly Wy^ Cannehte oonvwit where she had
the world sinoe'ScyTd'b^nfl^7 ^^^' """ "^ ^°'^
Thus nowadaysTXwver ptl"^ ^ead 'or many years already.
Monsieur WrdmeTroZ t^« „lT' ""."" ^'' °«>'1'"» ^^to
gleaming with?„'t:up;,'^',t^^^?S^ T^ T^ T^
That lal was the sole fedl wJ^eoflT. V.^'^'S ''?"*•
powerful trunk he had on^oS ^ ™t ^^ "^'^
branches, a whole swarminir *»S^J*^ ?"''" °' vigorous
«»t family tre^ IrTTnlw L^^ll^fiv,'"^*^- ^"^ "<"
from sturdy, toilineforerSnl^?' w ^' »°AT'8''"'' tlerived
forth and spr^Zjun^^*" ^ ^"J^lt """"^ "m Wossom
joy of the worid?Tat b^hnwT' "^ ^^ ^'^^^ "^ »" 'he
with the comlg of W's^aiit-l-f P ^"^ ^"^7 exhausted
century a misawnt life nf^wf ui'^''^^ "" ''"^ ^^"^ ^^ »
strength amS thrm.rS, IT^^ ^"^ consumed the whole
was whenTat unhaPDv .n^nHTf^^ "°' '»'"«' "
surviying amidst s^mu^i!SS^*^*I\'.*'« ^JP'^'^c witness
one sole heir, that ge^Ue dSta «« ^""'^l^ confronted by
the last gift voudiSfedhv Iff? "i."!"*^ ?*"'• ""^^ '»» «ke
to the oSimons i^ni^.^ °; !'.'"'* P'"'''»P8 J^ad left him
flower rn^^°Z^ "e'^ ''hat f ' ' '"'^'•' ^''"^ ''*'«* '«'^
the fapt that only that AA^^^ml^^^ZZ^ ^V^i
I 3
340
WORK
WhiTi?^' *'*>^ imagined that he oonld h^ thi
tanjhter of an eTer-moreaemg troop of bovg and girl.^ hi.
ertato when the erer-frmtful dynaetj of the QarignoM^J
™«». Bnt, on the contrary, the rdoms had irrown emDti«r
daj by day; dponkennegs. madness, and d^ff J.Tbt
1^5^* Mwtn" had eome to complete the min of the ho™-
iS Jn^T^j"" ''^u'* °' "■» »«»"^ floor '»» abandoned to
JS^^ AlnSi^/ ^<md.floor reception-room, w^ only
^tl^-„ ii^'-.*°«'"?*' 'o admit a little gnnshine.
The race would end if Paul did not raise it np a£rMh-Si«
bnt^^llSJ:"* ^. Bhonld have prospeiXi Xt^toSl
.hi„5 ^** f""^^ ^'*""? which would crumble aw m
abandonment unless new life were imparted to u! '
Monri^^iwT"'' 'S** •"'• '^^« """' 'ho attended
^Tr«-t^°"' '1?'? now distinguish certain word. Srt
lu.rtammenng. At la.t a dirtinct phraw was d«tectM!3
the mu came to repeat it to Suzanne. "••*«*^ ««'
k-4 T • ^ "0* manage it without difficulty, madame.
™ni S"T '2° '^* *^ °>«'"^? Monsieur rep^teT^
mnrt give back, one mn.t give back." • *-»""• "na
m^nfil^^JI^t incredulous. The word, seemed to have no
meamng. What was to be given back ?
. i_ ?°?.™?** "^^o mow attentively,' she said to the servant •
' try tp distinguish the word, better.' ' »«"o "»» «en«nt ,
" T «f„^* "O'™''.' i>?yever, the man was still more positive.
I assure madame,' said he, • that Monsieur really says :<' One
^Xl^^^' °™ ""?'* ^'* ^^^■" H« »"?« '' twenty and
thttty times m snooession in a low but persistent voice as if
pnttmg all his strength into it.' '
™J;ifc!i,**?® T°"« Suzanne determined to watch her
ES^^'!'w\V°°'^'J*^''' ^''« ■"'?•'» understand thin^
™ wu^.Hi- 'oUowing day the old man was unable to e!t
tK« ^f ""^ ?■"** ^f^.; Suzanne was ereatlv Sed^
this, aad agam seat for Novarre, who wag ^unable to do any.
1 13K
■ipiM \ .5^
tVO/lJt
<»rwd ro8ew)od, thZfcj wafa 1»,^ / ''^ furniture WM of
was a taU mirror in w^ 7)f« „ i^* fo^r-poster, and there
old trees, stretch^ owr anTmm^^^ "" ^'^^' "'o'^Mn the
saw first the jnmbled roofs of r1. P^nonma in which one
Mountains with CcSnfJ^^^'^"'r^ *''«° 'l"e Bleuse
whose gigantic chinTneTs st^l^rSse e'ecT'''''^' '"' '''^ ^'""•
^X ZTZ '^^ ctJ^^vZ ''t "f- •«<«
winter sunshine: and aU at nn„ i. ^ !'^^^ *" a^™"* the
hearing Monsieur j'rdme peak "K' r''"' ""'^«d °»
face had been turned toWs ™« f?*., ^w moments his
which he had been looki^Hi thi%° **''! r°^°'« t^^wngh
first he only utterly t^ Zil • ""• ^''°' ^<»^»- Andlt
'Monsieur Luc'
oome'^^irS.^rise". Mon',''*"? *«"' ''« ^nite over-
had never bS^j inte^^e tS ^^ \ °« ^dfct^r
been i«norMt of his «^n^ ^Ti"" H"' H® °°8'»t *» J»Te
what t^ld lalety ^^^iSS ^if ^iS^.'"' "" •^W o^
rtood everything, eronMhithLS everything, and nnder-
fewed. 23' tt^"oJi*^*^»''^«J7 suspected a«d
hiB lip. whiAhadW,^^ 'Monsieur Lnc,' fJling from
that he had reCedrn^,i f , ?"«' ^*" "^e a firrt w^
«.d conliSL^^^aU^l inWhgenco ainidst his silSJS,
^^^^^^^ »na unaerrtand. Suzanne felt her anguish in-
die '.^^. "*"' *^'^»" !-«• that you say, grandfather?'
■Yes, yes, Monsieur Lno.'
Kpeaisa; ' ' — " vCiiOjsu impaneaoe h«
' Monsieur Lnc I '
34*
WOSK
III
Monaeur «rtme qnioUy noddedhS head! and than ■■ if
nvJi^^^Zlif. *° -- to «. ^„_yoa ,i.h to
to W ■'*"'"""""• I*'»^«<»°e»*once-Iwai,p6ak
The sniprisa and the vague fright that Dosseued Hii7anni>
»rto°L«oTTh^«- ^i«^»i^MonS;ra?^e^:srs
Bay to iiuo? There were such painfiil nogsibilltiaiL that f™
a moment ahe tried to avoid graniingthe^ m^^ ^r,^
a. ^ mdeed she imagined hiTS hf deUrioa. Tt h?°^
ass's -^s&srttH
ultima?SytC' '•"' '°" '^ ^ "">• «»"^ther » • .he
oh, auLce r *" *'°""'"" ^'"'- ^ "'" '^'^ to »^»tanoe-
hop;^7t r^iu^'^ir ''"'"• ^ '^ -»« *<> »>-. -a i
|fedte.rrr^^.^7t^^^^^^
?ew words, so painful were the memoes thTa.e?L„2S
hoW^fi^A^"^?"*^' ?"" ?""'^» <""«id« ">e oommon-
h^^ . u '^ ^' niormng inapeotion, when the note ^
mTef»«e1 ^A^^ ^^^^ ^ft"^ ^» followed toe 70Z
messenger. But how great was the emotion whioh hn fclllS
wading those simple yet touching words :°M7wen4 I ha^
need of yon, come at onee.' Events had %^^t^
mmk^-
IVOXX
tJut wonid MiiSnS t! a»y— like one, too, who wu oertain
U« fr> ndAip torTmoment"a„yr'- ^^^ ^ °<" ^<'"'"«J
finding her evX'TI.^'tm fcrteriv'^ec't^^''*" ?'
former timee. Tha moai f^^iTJji i ■""'V, affection as m
around rm,vi^''ZrioWiiW""' ''^ ''"" ^""^
and things, yet kLvn «. ?°'' »''«'P">8 away men
themK'Cd ta h^roZ^-^o^-^P-a^n "'•^fo-d
him that BoSn miahf S , » "onient it occurred to
mmmtm
.he'^'arLSto^ir"' "-"""^ ""™-^ -^-^
h ipmart„rrtht^,:s'^S Atr^tS^ "t^
c».emo^1S-h^";a^S>lMtT4°'r^'^tf
m , Sk_. S'%£"»^
344
tyoRx
and htroiam .hehXh^^^'- ^? ^^^.- *~. '»>»» dignity
■eparaaon she h^ neve? be^ ah"."*'^ Th?i m. spite of
heart-he had pitied W™^.. j ' '^ ^ ""^^ "d
that fell upon h» He w 'ft^** """f »] ^h f«»h trial
help her. It wou^d W. tlf*i'*°;i wondered how be might
proVe tfa;i he lad foSroti^A^*''*''!*^ '''°> '» ^ '"e to
h^ren^^S"^"-^^^^^^^^
frieni, on^wt^Zi'^'^Vbe^ll'^ .'^l!' '»»'
•w«tedyonr,n»u„on.toUCw. ^ '"' "^ ''"•' "^^
that foF.;r„nit5'thfruk°ti'^«?"«?r °' «'«'«-^
embr^ied and kiwed «Sh otW ^^fc" "'^"«*«'. «>•* they
who fear nought rftManfoUT^,^*^^'^?''" *■ "«>*
npon me-I beUevVd ftaff must oSS^ ^ fiT."'^'' '»°"'
never forgive me for Cg&eM,lof^h. -'*''•" '?" ''?°"
yon must be struggling.' *^' *""'*■ "> ^Woh
' Curse you, my friend I But I was with ,™ r :, ,
w\i^m
WORK
345
yoa'°''itw«fhL„r" ''""Id .»>•;. com. about without
VrL\ ^" »ne Others who ruined mo. And you will see
howbr.velo« be, no matter how deUoat. yo/marthtok
' But Paul, your son ? '
ue will work. You know wliat wealth has done to m,
. n™«^» ""°°* *' '",','°'^ ^"'"•"y 'he had sent him such
hta Vt wL r •5'* ''»«"/« "he revealed, wished to speak to
UMeved Hi. ?„,r" °//''?°? """'- '" I'^'O' No^arre
oeueved in his unnunent dissolution. Astonished bv thAM
bding, even a. she had been, seized too, Uke hfrseff with
IT^J^^^i^^" '^°^^\ "'• "■" "'-rec'tion in'VM h
Mi^e^ tSi^** ' ^""?^ f "'^-^ene. L«o none the less
d^Svir'r LiTht ?e°S " '" ''''^'^' ""' '^^ »»
a«d;.^ss;yrrr'h^^v'i^:'°^ "' '''°"'"" '*'*""'•'
IaifrsriWit'liSiSt"s«i^Jrrr^;^^
feng time past it has seemed u if my gnmd father no lonLr
knew that my husband existed. He dSeTnot swak to S^
w«t'i:t"?b«T '^'? ^.-"^ ^- Mo'J^v'er^^htS.Td
h^.° .?S*'''"u« ««]y this mominff, and he hai not yet Mme
sS'-ssns ^^-^^^^
wZr.S^ •^■u''i'u''** ^ "y^" *»"«d to''"^" thrwindow
whose enrtams had been drawn back. In all probability h'
h^n"^nSf ftT'^ oyer the park and the sSng
SfSf^^lv^.*''® ^^7^ *°d ^ Crficherie showing yonder
ttl.^' Ben^ft^o„„t.i„, b the jumb^^r^ft or
Saw; iL " ' scene which seemej to attract him
meMstiblv, hke some symboUsm of the past, the present
' 0»n^*h«r/ Mid Suzanne, ' I hare bad Monsieur Lua
A'ijf?'
fm
■ I): '
i'
M
i
I 'iLlfc
he once moi* torn*! hii h^ ;„>^'*'.V"'»'°ent. howew
«a «nb2SSLf„"^»»f«^^"toj,i,hmcniM wdlM^^^^^
iath^yoa WW. h«n to^^rSS; ".'S:^""'?"'''^^
'No no, Boisgelin. Boiggolin..
»nd regular featnrwT fa, wmITu "''^ »8e, with his t^ fei
to be einmbering. NotTTnnnt^ °"*"7* 'nnature eeemed
"banaonod to dust AndJ.!!*.,^ '*°"«« "hwh had beln
mm^m^ m^iiHii^/ 1^
tyojfjc
«fmj »oM him of the .^'"^itaf/;" ,; , r'- > ' J '^
Moniim J«rtm.-i room, the old m£,v r /"' ' ■"■ "
{r«o. Md the .Utement K. w" .. a ' 'li"'. ■"t;"^^''
En— before ipeitkiiiir. »u thM. nn/^ * ^'- '-Borv
fcwmtaoteeofreflS' ""^ "" '"*' ""'"'^ ■^''' -^
Bp^y,ott'Sfi£'S?«' -r 1 - :.u.b«..
But tgftin the old men loo^ i«n«^ .C ' '«<*"•»'
a<«heMked..p.„I.whe»ia]PaSr "^^ '"''"-• <"*
DoyouwjntPeultobeheretooV
'Yee, yes, I want him.'
•toply bowed to^ i^"her finkw"Jl?K^^''«''""'"«>
meeting after lo manv »««- f»'»u * * nothmp to say on
bre.r.Jready'SlCytJIS^*^"^" whio| «.»'«""
qmver of the air one only iLrd thT ^™^ i?' .'J^ '°^^''* **"
tion of Monsienr WrflmB (W . ."°'2?''^at heavy respira-
light, were taraed tSs ^« IJST ^ '"?« «'»«- '^^ of
•ymbolioal Sthe uCr of^^I^S^' *°^^ «»» horizon
bom. And the minntes went hv .?^i *"*?" """^ b«
348
tVOSJC
'One must give back, one muat give back I •
'One mnst give back, my child, give back I •
Suzanne shuddered, and exchkSged a g ance ,rith W
nlenoe of those who surrounded him K^on J3^' *S
«^^, ud eT«n M SnMnne had diviaad with qniyuing
^S^'ii T M *^*.P^ "'^'^ now cam. bM^ »U thS
W?^ ^' !^"* ??"*■ .I*"^8 forth in a floodfrim that
S^tS^*°T; ""P*"^" '^*"««. » long imprisoned within his
SZ.^';il^ family of happy, then stricken, beings, ii
Mder to draw from everythins- &e great lesson. On the day
t^!^T^' 5*'"^ 8"i°8 '0 ^ death, he spread out all the
irinm^Wi • '^"^ " *""> ''*"'' after teUeving in the
tnumohuit reign of his race over an empire established bv
^^:^^.^\1^ long enough to see boU. raceTdlmp^
Z^i.N^^ ••' ^ ^^'' f ' ""« '"*""• And he told why Si
this had happened, he judged it, and offered reparation.
witiri w""*!*' f*?! "■? ^"' Qurignon, thVdrawer who
7^^ t^^^^' had founded the Abyss, he being as poor a«
they were, but probably more skilful ^d economical. Then
Hn'l.^T^' ""'/eoond Qurignon, the one who had gained a
fortune, and pUed.up millions in the course of a stubbDrn
staggle,inwhlchhehaddisplayedheroiodr^Ln,i^
dS; S^^ *o his skill in adapting the conditions ofpro-
dnotion to those of sale, he knew very weU that he was siiiply
the outcome of long generabons of toilers from whom he £a
derived aU hw strength and triumph. How many peaKuta
p««ptang M they tilled the glebe" how many ^rCH?
hauft^bvUie handling of tools had been required for the
faTntl >"'°~ ^'f '^'^Bnons who hlT^nquer^
sntunet imong those forerunners there had been a keen
^h^^'^'ti'TJ*' ■" ^^ ?°' enfranchisement of the poor
^iSj n 2*"°?'7'i°^°'"l"''»PPO>ntedtask. And
at last one Qurignon had been strong enough to conquer, to
esoapefromthegaol of poverty, to acquire the long-desired
wealth, and bwome m his turn a rich man, a master I bZ
T^^u^ !?*JT^' *!»' " i? two generations, his descen-
dMts collapsed, feU once more into the dolorous strugrie for
^.!^T' ."'^""s'ed already as they were by enjoyment, oon-
Mimed by it as bjr a flame. ' t j > >~"
h„i.??* ""^ fw ''*?''• °^ °""* Sive back, one mast give
back I repeated Monsieur Jirdme. *
hJ''^u^T ^'?/°° I^"^'^' "^o »^'«' ysars of excesses
had killed himself on the eve of a pay-diy ; there was h^
M^M
I
11'
M wylnm, and QnrtavT^^w^'J "^"^ P"'*^ »''»y in
f^y. there was his MM^Tf^u*" ^J hnsiaesB payments.
hearted, K«gibl6, wSl-lS^ ^°f **' Suzume, the tender
"purchasing the Abvss aid T.^*°2' V""^ ''°»'»nd Xr
?°*j.f dest^raotiot ^'^h^\^'^^^^^ H completed^
Guerdache, where he h^ hoZ ^" "»?'. "" «hes, and I*
had become a desert. And whi^j,;. ^ ?'' "«« "warminK.
oar^g off both his ^Js^rkLTu"^'^ ^"^ ooll^
another work arise La Or^K • ^^^ own, he had sem
Fo^rit,, throbtog ^th%r/« l^HK r- ""wWS
He knew aU those thing becanth?. ,^' " '"°"«''* ^^^ i"
them m the oonrse of hf« ",?"'* "'s clear eyes had witnem*?
oontempUtion':'X° h^h^"fc'-f . '^oL ^°-"^^t
at the moment when ««« „. ^r™*'^ °«tnde the Aby«.
outside La Cr«oheS where ttf""'' '^^t ""^ ^^^gfor
his own foundation took „Tth- ""*" ^^° had des5^
he had passed blto^Llbyt^' ^^,^^ ^^ ^-^^
^'.TX'-"^ creation hel^rCdtn^ft SS
back?^' --' 8ive back, one must gi.e back, one „„st gi,e
flowing'\S:^i,th L'raiP^'ifl.*^*^ hi. dowly
qaence of all the disastrous eventL^-\'l '5* °»*°n»l oonw-
much suffering. If evewuf *"'" ''^loh had caused himK,
acquued by the labour of?*hfJ fortune which he had
poisonous? The e^oym^t°fcr,« both poisoned^
most certain of destrucH™ « ' ^^^ fortune Irings is th«
^^sorganises a ?amily ^ to S'°'°T/' ba^ter^f a r^
than half a century i W co^iT?"* "*8^ies. In^s'
^noe the genius wW,5i1hrQSo>»'r«'''' ""e inteS!
^veral centuries of rough tea tI?'-'!'^ """"'"e^ during
workers had been their Olha^te T^^' °^ ""ose robusf ■
- they ought to •PP-PHate'td'-e^I^rrwrtS'^^- |
IVOXK
^^^t^X^^^^T- A-dthe wealth they
▼lew Uum to cite as an^i^wf„Tu ," the moral point of
of hia feUow-men wEo W^ eovereign master of thousande
duoing thr^uh K^ J^°t perspmng over their toil, pro
mereblacknnith myXta Jil'',^'^^^ ^^ intelligenoe a
tribntea to the woS^ of i^n.^tr^'^^"'*' ^ """Ply eon-
eanilibrium Thrha1«SL«^?'J?' *?* ^«™vato8 s^i'a] dis-
o?the unSppKK^foSl f^il^- "»"y?<""PO"»ded
he out* down and purioir' Thi / "**? happmess which
way, as the aaying Z, h»™ I, J'T*'*?? '^° °'»''«« ^ia
oomradea, lives ^nheip^il """f i? '^""^"'da of other
it often happena^at Ttfi i, ^'^ °"^ '''^^ suffering. And
by fortune S, wMch oofey f °* " Pr^"*-! by success.
tionately. provea lu^^eX "^This" irwh/ tZ' "r?".'-
oourse 18 to revert to salnturr -^.iT "why the only right
aU earning thei? U^^^^o^na 7^^ ? ""? ^ °' '^-
ihe exertiSn of theSrlnS/'Csc^r"""' '''''' *"
^iveS^kr-rtftl^i-Jr «^- '"-'• - --*
onei,°Uabirto^ire''ofC'*^?ii T' '""^ reatitute becauae
One must (rivrbaik lL3 7l"oh one steals from another.
of happines^K'do^r On^mnT' ""fl'^ •*'*''°*y
of juatioe, and even mmf ,^?'„«1^ ^ ^^^ •'**''' '° » spiri'
th^ wpieaa o/:«r^'^x*rLrin^';r^'°^"''' r~
One muat give back in^er thi?!^^ "•* ^*PP'°e" of all.
and Uve a tappyuZeIn 1« mM.* '/"^^ '"^7 better health
must give baoTWui^iflii Z^nlrT"^ .Pf"^- 0°«
egotistical holders of Uie pubUc Sni''°'*'"*°' ^'' "" ^
wealth that thev saa^^Lv^^ J^^^' ^^™ '° 'esto™ the
great esta?Lrthe Sndustr af IP^ pleasures-the
towns-peao; wouM te iestortd L ^ ''"T "'" "^«- '^e
once more amongZna^dZf.iT;?''' '""^ ^""'^ Ao^^'
of possessions thKC"2lh«T" '^.r.''^'^ »banda,ioe
One must give back h^^?,!^ "^ '"'"''I '^ 'eft in ponurv.
desires tlLf oth„ weteo?!?' T" '^' ""^ """Ple if Z
whence have come Iuth/«Su fr ^ "°derstand, may realise
>aay be inapij^to endL A^T ^^f" ^"^ ^'^'' """^
vigour by pLIiS Sfrnnl'''4rkt"'' ■''"'••™"'^«>
_ -s -u -n-e .„oro iato B0HV8 liie, daily
3S»
IVOXK
oommdes, in .howmir themth^t ^nl '^ "" »*nrning to one'*
one «tu™ to odX|& tee ZJ^"^?"' "^ «"•*
common effort, ■mththThoprth^th.*? !»*??»»« « «»e
peace wiU sooi strike Am) L«^ . •''°"' "*' J""««e Md
die with . clear ct^eni"! W wTat't' •'" '"'" »"
T..„ u J ° **'' ""c 'Oust ffive baofc I '
give'bwkf:'"'""''"'' "'^ ^«' * "> ^l""" and how are we to
was inorderthat height helim^J^hP.^"'' '»*'^.?«'' '''
He has alreadvdone mn«h7^wt"""?'Py°"'n»y«'> Wren.
alone can intovene a„?^tore wt'f ""''■ "' "P»««on. he
to the sons and ^^^on^omo™ th "^'' °^ ""^ fo^n^e
father's comrades ' *°™ '^° "'" ™7 o^ and my
the^^Tet'h^heSlrft^'l" c' ',5^"?°^«« ^^^^ of
hostiUt^;'.lcano^*j1o'o^ thir'l^r:^^^^^^^^
owners of the Abyss ue willing t^i'i "*~; ""*' "' i' the
into our a,«xriation ^U o4.hS^ ""STh."""" '^'^''»
other f«,tories have already dSnL; toe" Ab™^!!*^* '*' "
fanuly— double, in fact tha imn«Uvl, T" ™' ""oreaw our
K by . giving back >u meaL Tr^^^,°" ^"'^K '°'~-
a step towards the aLlute jSs?iL^"th^ ZT^. °' ■ 1""~'
yon J w,U consent to what 'XZy'y^^'^XJi^ """'
ask noising Ce'" "' '"•""^'^ ^^'*-« ^low^s^fwl;,, ; < I
addition to the amount which mav^Ltfff "^P""' ""'J '"
an interest in the enterprise whil »1^ ^ '^n'T ^"'^^
arranged. I „e.,d money^nd I v^sht s^- ^ ^^^ ^ ^
WORK
353
a-JSt'" thefts '"' ^ ^"^ °«*'^°8 fo' "ooie
rr. •_. V oomrary to the spmt whioh iraides na Wo
OOTtin^^ M^f^K^t ^ come with his ruin, the old man
BO a. to enlarge the fields which had be^ unitd bvS^?'
te^'lihUie^'sS"" P*-^*"' '»>" ^^fc^S
?^«S!!v! 1 '^™" suioe a proper nnderstandiiw of their
St^ *^ MconcUed them. There would be butSie st^h
SS. ^1 ^^''^ P''" °' I"* Eoumagn. wod& end by
yielding one vast harvest to fill the granariis of «mne«l«J
ST±^;, ^^ *i ^^ I* GuerdacheTS^tobCon^
snffenng so that she might keep nothing of the nroDertv
whioh had poisoned the Qurignons!^ Then, rever ing tTO
who still sat on the edge of the bed, and tiking Ws W hi'
his own, and looking at him earnestly wiThfs eves which
Cr'ZTTrf d^' Monsieur Wra'me said i^' aTowoTtS
ohSiY™;J,-n It '""'".?'■'' '""'''■ ""o '""'" P^o back, my
WUU. Yon wiU keep aothmg. yon will cive vondflr n,tt t^
to» old somxaaes, «, that they may rejoice there on high days,'
A A
'5* WORK
hour, o*g^ety„d good ^^^^^^^^ft^'Tl
workmen. TheTwin }1JS ^1 ""• oWdren of poor
they are ailtog » ^eJ&^lT^t"' ^^^ °"«^ wC
all, aU back, my oMd S wn',211 T"^* ^"P nothing, gi,e
And work a^dliw wlelyC Z wf"*,""™^ tmm^iSn.
out the.ianghti'Ti^e"!'' oi^'^C^S^"!^
niarry her, so that she niR» h^^T^ l ,•*"* 'o'*" and
whoilBOTiai,OTk.whn^^Tir^«.y°" handiome ohildian.
tteir turn ha^ttm^fohSn for ?,»PP' J^^P- «S^
futurity. Keep nothi^ my^M <ri™ 'L!^.'"* °'
there^ alone LsalvaSorpS'^dlor'^'*^ back, fo-
aloffie^."^h:;Sffir;L"J:^" ^•"«»« be^itifal.
g«atroomh»dbe.Ze auwat ^t°;f '""'"'yif'^- ^S
which had fiUed it withXht t^J ^ V^ ?' "" "M ">•».
liitewi« became faster retfr^'j^^f^ f"'^^,' "••"«* his voice
atlastaooompl^1?S"ht«'°«^»J8iI«n«». Hehad
j"tice. to hJ^nlhTX^f X h' "?•»«<»'. *"*. wd
primordial i%ht of 7«rr ™n i ^ ^P">«« which ia the
evening he Si^^™"- ■^°d»"" duty done, that «une
f^^t^-^lX.t^l^^^i^^oUH Mon.
for a moment in the li^ISL Tk!^ themselve. alone
•motion that their heaSTi^ th^'™ "° °'"~™ *>y
or^^JmiZinTtt ^rsu^irr ^''" ««"wm w-»h
moment.' '^ "" »'*«'^ ♦» >»*ter» from thia
She had taken hold of hig handd Tkh, .^ ,
«»»r«J. 'I place my faith m yo„ I wiLl*?*"^'' *«
you h«TO already performed Rn/r^'„ know what miracles
which you wiU acoomnl^lTh °,'"" ^°n''' '*>« prodiify
is nothing bTlS^T^i^ if'T^'""^? "" *"• Ah I Te™
loved r* • '*'"'*^*"^°%'>eenlovedasImyKjf
bJi^.Z.rso-IS-eiSrh^/ °[ -^"h Bhe h««M had
'Myfriend,myfrieni'RhBW^! J '^" '"'^"^ moment,
have had tor7o4g g5^'*4lThl 'n^ .*^f ' ^''ength ^ "^d
l>ad I felt beside LTe'jL'aAT^ { f ^^^ P^
.._.._, .„an, a aero, one whoo)
WORK
355
for iendamsM »hn l^^V^. o.<meiA wonum eager
m QnngnonB desires were but half fulfilled dZLthTt
completely to the ^r.^^^^^\t^ Ti^^^^J^t
^•..■"i.- JlSk 3 »'
r^^'^^''^:^^^^'^'^*^^ brow. fe.
omplojed to faS.fom^i^&«hI^?i'f°'"""°*""'y««
home for weak children .nd wom» wh! 1,^^° ' oonvJeronl
motherB. Free bedTwMe Sf^^u '■*^ "«""y •>«<"»•
bo»rd, and the park noZbLo^^^f^.J^T' ''*'> e»tni*OM
world, forming a hu« ^f°«!? *" "l* humble ones of th.
where children%l3°4wrioV/rr^"'' "^ •" dreamlarTd!
where the multiWe iCd S^«Zn"°°''?"'* ^^^" ''«»1"'
oo sensible, so genUe and^«t .IT" ^.^o^nM Snwume,
authority oyer C.a^d he'Lway^™;,!?\*^'^ •»>*J''S
began to de«re «Z ooluSn H^ ?"if * ^"^T^ «»* b"
WeU about aU day loS^fhe .„ffe^ ^tZT' "' f*?®^
of shame, a need of action fn,. v,7- ij ""? * "*"«' fecJiaK
*!«> the managemeSt^d mn^n^"^ °° i""*" «~ h^^
Shooting TeSd a ^uKrT* °.' "^ '"«* '"^
»onth3, but as soon M^hrfine w^k ''""« ""• ^*«
"pthing for him to do exoe?* tS J^f*'"? '*'°« t^ere was
dismal ennui then crushed h£dn^ .""J '»<»«onaUy, and
prevailed on Luc to confided frT; /°^.»°''hen Suzanne
of control over a depitoent of t^'^"'"P,'° '^'°. » kind
meant emploj^nentfoJ^rLurs of ht°r™' "'""''• '^bioh
ended by acceptine thn ntelT °°»™ of his time every day, he
then i4rcyJfl&t:.f^^t'^' which had'su/e'red!
^a^teS^^^rl^Urei^i^^^'^^end
"i — J? irOia Diie partioi-
Y^mriTmi^^Mj^iT i- .ifr
tVOJtJC
357
^Lofi^^S'*\'''l1f«^"»,""'"" '» •J""' 'he words they
apoke of and devote themselves to the common work of g^v»^
founded! '" ^^ ""^ '°' ''°"'™ '•''" "'^ f "'"" d°y hak to?e
Eight years had abeady elapsed when Paul Boisgelin who
was seven-and-twenty, married Bonnaire'e elS&ter
n,?l, 'u"*?"'?" y*^ "'"J- As soon as the Snds ff I^
K^ th. f '"""r' *•■* ^°"'«««» "sociationTlanl. w«h
»nd directed one of the sections of the domain, which iS
been necessary to divide into several groups And it wL^
his parents' u'tt^e house at La Cr«cheri^ whither he reta^^
^tZr^'^^t' i^".'"' '"^ ""o^"^ his acquis
h^^«. rr*"?'."''" "^*^ '^"' herparonts in a •.efghbSS
house. Close mteroourse had sprung up between that rimSf
KowhT^""J '1','' V" b!irfss of t^ QuSS
And Stho^Ih M i^'^''^^ """^ welcomed every one so ktodly
»ma^!S * .J^*^' ^onoaire. the terrible La Toupe. hid
S?, nJ 1""" f-ffi""'' customer to deal with, the dmSe
nobUity of character displayed by Bonnaire, that h™ of
ZJ^rT.°^*'"' ^°'^^."? °' ""« "«'' oity, had soffit to
render the intercourse intimate. It was charming towTthe
wwXteT •"?*»"'•' "^ drawing yetTs^erlkruS'
ri!°i^?".'i°u'':iT,*?™«<'.Kt"T tie representative, of
»_4 • , '" '^-'^- "=^ "^"uoiiy lought one aeainst the other
Antomette, who resembled her father, being a good lo^^j
» ioKr^^ot. by birth who h^'^ *J*?P'* "'•med.he, PmI
Antoinett., • d.ngbUr „^ 1^ 8°"? b^k to the ioil, wd Jh.
• g"**/^ w "JX. t tbe?r?.V~i^"(f with he"h\S5!*
c^m«l "-e 'JSnciliati^?^f?^«<=»', °"P«i«J^ whichJrSf
after tt^Srlh'ojXl^PyfV' f"* warn Job, day Aorti,
I* Onerdaobe. HentUt^ v , 'nsmselvee tomtber al
the people in .ccordancrCh w« /*"• ""^'' °' "" "^t* ^
whZfe.'^ » Ai^f fe Antoinette had for
wluob bad been instaffed fa tZ^hif convalescent home
had reigned; and. laaZi ™ *l *'*'° '''«™ the Qnri»nona
;*•, "ow able to si™runVS.etar„,°', ^ "uslann:
wWat Suzanne, like a irood^^°*'f^ ^^age of the nark,
A few p«»a in the rear wiSked'STelSS fe.-' "^^-^ "" ^7
memoneg arose at the ri^ht „/ .w ^'^elm. And what
eopsee, those UwnV SLTSi °' "^* Pn°oeJy honae. ttc«
/-««. the (P^llopfa/'o K'°°?,f T «"» nWrrf ^
longer re«)nndld,bntwh^*h„KH,'"'y^« »' honndTno
Mjoyed the health-riTteB^,i„ bwnble of the world at W
that oame from the^HtTl.'l''' .•,?•» ""> ""tW delight
E'agnificent domain wS^ow^t- *'^ the lainry of tf at
opened its bri^h 1;^^°' ^*'"' 'he conralel^nt home
stocked laiderstD them ^r^n u" P'**'"" «'^. it» wS
Mt gardeners oultivaSd Ms of ^'' "^l™/"' their de^
TLey found tho™ their lon«--^';hKii^["°"-**'«^^« flowere
And it was delightful to .£^fa^'''^ ''""■?<'' f^utyLdgr^'
which for <»ntarii, h^'^^"°yj yo-^'MdmotherhSd^
np m sunless hovels, d^ng?f ^tht"""^^*" •'^^eiing, Ant
^nmoned to partake ofth* j°oy oftej'^^J*'*"-'™^*''"!/
belonging by right to ever^ hJ™ ' ""* '*'•" of happinei
happiness at which i^umlbl^ T'""' "»« 1"^^
8-ed fiom afar withou^-^af/^^Xtt^Tf'^^^^
•»8»n to l«nBh loJuy '' '*'°°'' » "" »' 'riUowi, Loo
they might plsr beide thit^S^ ... * r*^?* "" °^^ "'"t
w>t«r; and the arHni «# *u !v „ "* "o"* over the
veiled^' torb^t«?^'i"'^J°?'f*' M»^eUe,wto»U mar:
intrude". And^„'X hS" W^? °"^i '"*'°''" '*">^<'
the» had been betmtEMa at^n^PaM. J"****- °''*"»"''
withNanet, Lonke^lTTt-; ' •?'" T"*"" ^toinette, Nlso
thJh^Wr-i^t'' ^?S1 i?„'»-TW. declared
said Antoinette, who felt Wghl^aiZl ""'^ *""" '*"" '''''■"
not h.TO been a very a^g*"^ .""""^ "y """'"T oould
effortt^^&J:«"^l':^ 'ie^P^. .w« maldng an
moment! It seemT t^' me thft I^' ?"^ *"■ l"^*^^ *
Uttle boat had to rb™„g°? b^ liS*a ' I^r'""-'?"'
wheels ceased turning; and thtn^ore „f thfi^HT'""*,''" '*»
rowly missed falling into the Cd-.^^ ',?" «"'/ ""-
•ntraders. the litUe ban^ta nu.aw.von ^- '^^'^"^ tte
approach.' ' ^ ""^ °° "«e">g some people
WeffimT^'i^l^rihat'.^"' '"J"" «°"»"'»"
of hope in tie%iX'^^J ^nfTn"^'*''''^* * -l"''*"
Rested the reconoiliVtion wW^h ^ . """^ measure sug.
its naive fr^raUy ^ ^t.Tl ^ ?"??• ChildhoodTn
tow^»_ justice Z^. 7^^, tl-TU^^^,;: Ltpi^'2
J^^^JA. ':^i,i:AMiffr^^' Jm^j^:^^mM^M
MICROCOPY RBOWTION TtST CHART
(ANSr and ISO TEST CHART h4o. 2)
i /^PLIED IMHGE Inc
1653 Eotl Main StrMt
Roeh«t«r, Nnr York 14909 USA
(716) 482 - 0300 - Phnn.
(716) 288-5988 - Fm
36o
WORK
She, on her ^e '^.-ngly S'toS 'Vnr?.? -^nLothJ.
" very good, becaiae hf i, „ieen " T»?i, ' '""' l"^* J"'
we wiU marry him to one of tnn^^,;,»~,i*' ^"' ""' ^^ar Lno,
manner the^o^ilSCwiirbeoS^nW*"^^'!"' "din that
of yesterday will bennited Ind naoS flV" the combatants
aeacendants. Are you wiCgV^^^^^irhrrSJl'r^tt?
-A'of^KoXX'Za .°" «'-*-«'-dcMdren
whi^t'sSet^tho'^^t' noT'^itf"-' '^f«1 »- -"'•'er,
park, his fomeresrale H mao™,^,"""^' ^°°''«'l """d the
out any bitterness, to su^h*tZ^dS^'%?''"'8^ '^*-
upset and stupefied him. And ttTei th! ^ "" ""'' '"""W
walk along the shady p^thrLfl Tn^ V ^ ^^""""^ «•»«
changmgsmUeswhi/htoUthei?^k,y^^ ^"'"°' """"'y »"
™bifo%rMo7heletof''ti'^i°''™ they paused for .
of the very room wh«™ \f • *"* ?^^' ""^er the windows
that PoinTZ peTcred-Cw"/!^'"'' ^"^ died fSL
trees-the distant 3a nfnfT" '^^ ""''« "^^ the great
and the Abys" Tw' "/ed^tTiTi ?°^ *''» !'» 0'««We
insUence. Thev wfnM ^i • ?P°i? ^'"'' spreading panorama
boilt afresh XT^e Ks^'u ?,"^ '^^ ^fyssTw
with It one sole oity of wo?k Jill Cr^ohene, and forming
ransformed ini^^mJBpm7 b^^^^"^ "^^ '""">^^-
JusUce and more lovHere bom th^^ *°^ 8*"* ?• More
the waves of little sSg h?ust Lft?' """^S- ^nd
waves which the anxionsD5av«n1fi.i m, greenery, those
had flowed over the once bCku^^'^.?''"y''«l»»°cing.
enlarging the future cUy Thev n^w T*"?'/ ?*"• «'»
expanse from the ridee of tJ,/ ni '^''"P'^d the whole
Mionne, and they woufd sL L« T ^°'^^'^ to the
sweep away Old fieSrt1bat^,^y^ ?™^ *°™nt. to
hovelsof servitude Td agony A^d '%''"»«™«<»' "^ the
•" •' '«' -"« •-^^X^tiran'dTa^^ts.''"' ''""
IVOSJC
361
11
dIfJnf 1*™'"*^°°"" """yi^S Beauolair towards its new
on i7.ii°J%'°""»' «*?• '"^ ^"torious. asserted itself, and
on aU sides there came frequent marriages, drawine vaiiona
W,™^ * J* '•■*. viotonous overthrew aU obstacles,
tnumphed oyer the greatest resistanoe with a passion f" of
te«rS; •"». ??'°='?° "^ J°y ''^o'" proclaimed in the
broad sonlight what happmess there was ii being, in lovimr
in creating yet more and more. ^ *'
Tear^"a ?^nv n?^^^ 't' *''" ^^^P'"" ^""''B thelast ten
^!!f!^ Af^'y ?J.'^"« boys and two girls haa sprung up
?h^^ J "• ^'^^i ^H ^^^^^' •'0™ before the coUapse of
the Abyss, was already eleven. Then, at intervals of two
old-'Thlrrrf *'''''*"= «'"'^'««' "iow'snownLeyears
old, Th^r4Be,who was seven; Pauline, who was five- and
h^/l' ^^°Z^. ^^'^- . "^^ "•« ol^ P-'^Mon another sUuXe
.iL„r ;»^>,ll !ff • ?^'^ ""^ '°, ""« sniUing Josine, the con-
ftn^fiTlnl. 't "f ««'«'° sp™°« largely from that triumphant
fruitfuhiess. In Josme, the amorosa had now largely givei wav
to he mother; yet she and Luo were stiU loversf fo'r k™ S
not age It remains the eternal flame, the imiortal brarie?
whence the Ufe of the world derives its being. Cer haS a
th.~ tw '^\ !?''*"• ^^^ "^ey '°^ed one another so well
ten^J^r?*^"^™* ^^^ ''■em by. Whenever any reco
InffZ™ ^itJ"'?"' Pf^i Fe*°"e^. when Josine recaSedher
^TZ^ *^* aownfaU in which she would have perished
«^,iAl^%^°' ^°^ ^"^P'°8 hand, she flung her arms
^^^^4T\ "■ ?• '"J'P"" of mexhaustible gratitude,
J^m l!^-'^u" °u^ emotion, felt that the iniquitous op^bri^
from which he had saved her rendered her all the dearer to
-:.^?°*''u'"?! Nanet, who was now becoming a man, lodged
GiL"^'t^f * ^\',^« "''"■' " »" still call^'JS
wii^ J^ ^ ''*'° intelligence and an enterprising braven^
which was ever on the alert, the young foUow captivated W
whose dearest pupil he became, a youthful ''sciple fSll of the
rl
36a
tf^OXK
MMterB lessoM. And raeantiine at »),- t -,
honse wisso near to LmTi«« Htti^N-'**'*"" ' ^^o^
growing np in the affeotionVt; eW». /* ?"*' "" ^^^^
given her . home on the morro "5 th- fc"^' ''«' '"^
Abyss, happy in beiuK able t^^nnti * ^e«t™otion of the
Bhe founri ohan^^ng^l'^"l*^y°™e girl, in whom
followed thai Nanet an! S'^^?" T »««"»»»*• And it
ended by living soIeW on« f™ ♦S^? '"'* Mother every day.
did not tbeHeSal date fr?m°fc ^^ ">»«erof &S
days when child-love div?n!h? "wwoy, from the disti.;,t
with a craving to be 'to«tho,<^"S?™«"' ^'^ ^^ them
punishments ind even tt^'JS,'*?"8*''"» ^ b^ve S
tad been fair and ZlylibfiiTSf,!^?'^?' ^ meet ? They
how silvery had seeme^'thdr Uuihtrwh™ hose days, anS
they embraced, knowinc nothing ffk * *' **"*" meeting
she the boury^e bTbU tT,« i 7^*' Parted them sooiaUy.
«chin of thTreetB%ft,'^eT»n'„/''^^~i'^»'« ""«
worker. Then had oimeXe WMfT °' ' ""'"hed manual
aaved by Nanet, to whZ neoW wT"* "l^""""' ^^
covered with bins and at ^.r^^ . "'"fS' •»*•» "'them
And to-day alsjThey^ereffhfenn^ "• ."'"T' »' ***".
to the same light laughtet as in 1^/v.'"?^' ""^ 8»^e vent
»?>ilarity of dtmeanoS « J o^etitl"!.^' l^^ ^^^^"^ »
Nise had now become a big rirl W^w ""* .°u'^«'- ^ut
adored one another * ^ ' "*' * ■"« y^th, and the"
wasmLS?a'^!^i?S'arS '^. '»"«». -hilst L„o
to grow up in kiXess^ul' bea„t! '^•'* u^*? J'^'P^* ^ise
years of age at the time of the te™"?."!. ^^f^^^od^heen thirteen
mother, whose rem^s had b^T^^,"' °' h^UXhei and
wisethatnothingof them was fo^nfl^S^.u*" «J'«.in «moh
burnt house. For loiwTe^th«^i^^L"'*I*°'»*"*8 »' the
tion of that night, ffi ™ „„* ^^ shuddered at the reooUeo-
BO far ae that was^^oeTed i^°^'"^''*"°'«"i«ge;
wait nnta she should T^w^n^^f^' ^^ '^'"ds wishef t<^
might come to a fiT and 8«T,!,?kY ^ °'^" '^*' "J-* herself
himself was ver^ y^rherSder hv^"""?- .^^""^ N^e'
still an apprenScJ. ^ith thK''X?5;'irr ^'^' «"1
over, sunply intent as they were m' Jfit^ °"''^«' "ore-
they themselves were in no hlL S±"8 ^"7 *<««*her,
•AotioMie kiM. Bat amidst their oordial agreement there
k. ™ P^ . ""^ '"""■ ' »''« P"* on l»er princess's airs as
^^t,Tt ^ r"^"^ ^8""' l"' wmetimeS though? W 't^
S^ 'i.^ 0°f^ "' ^ ?.'"" ""^ of the/<^at whfoh sh^
WS-^;»|.? T™* 'i ''?* "°* forbidden to appear
beautifnl-on the contrary ; but it iras not right to spoU o^s
beanty by assuming an sir of contempt for othera. At first
Ntee, m whom reappeared some Uttle Sf her mothert pasrion
for enjoyment and her father's despotic diZriaonr^ew
st^twV" "" f^'^^"^' -^^ endeavou^to de^n
wtt .^^-rt^'^'S'i?""?*": ^•" " Bheworshipp^
slri42^ ^ *^ ^Z confidmg in him, Hstening to him, S
St3ri^/ *"f Y^y becoming the best and gentlest of
Uttle women. And when, as sometimes happened she did
not TOcceed m this, die remarked with a uSRt if she
^n^iT"" ^^^ t *"'8''*« *be latter would no doubt be
M^of tt**'^ ''««!«l''>»"«e it was necessa.^ ttat the
blood of the prmces of this world should have time tobecoma
TSr,^-"""^^ \r'? '•«"'"'^'7 «°« of descendaX""
Nan^t ! Jlt^^^ "' ^"* took place, wW Kise was twenty and
Wanet twenty-three years old. It had long been wished for
foreseen, »n^ awaited. For seven years not a diy h^XsS
iT^°° Anf P '"X""^ ^^^ d*«me4».« of the foZg ^d=
T.i ^^ ^-^^ mamage of Delavean's daSghter^tt
thebrother of Josine, who was now to aU intentf wd Z?
poses Lao s wife, extmgnished aU hatred, and sealed a Ct
of aUiance, there was a desire that it should be made a
».nT!^~^*^"*'f8 forgiveness of the past ,^d the newZn
wri^^'5^»r^f'^'°'° the future With this oWe~1t
^^ siW twt« ■^°'^^ ^ ^^^ '^^ dancing r he
very site 01 the Abyss, in one of the halls now erected the™
as an adjunct to La (Mcherie, which at presentT.^ ovH
acres and acres of ground, and ever and ever grew
Luc and Saurette were the organisers and masters of the
for Ni^ T^o^'i^S^"^* ?*'"*f ^" N»°«*- "-d Sceurette
o^iLJ^ ,7- ^'^ *° ™P*'* *o the festival aU the
splendour of a triumph, to endow it with the gaiety of how?a
fomhnent, to make it Uke the very victory of ttie dty of Xk
and peace, now founded and prosperous. It is iood^Lt
n^^T^"" ^5"^^ ^/°'8e in%reat reioici^gs" S We
needs frequent days of beauty, joy, ,4 exXtiin. Thug
3«4
ivoji/r
■Ihe bnok walls, too wam nJ^ ^x**," "" »noient times
»;n-s effort fo JZ Win .T^ e'^'t.^'t.""'"''^ of
leading solely to happiness. '""^' ■"" »<>'' attractive wd
bridXrClVtr^ro^, /r. «■" '«'- of the
whole population of tK«-™:' t*"* heroine NiBa tT
i^toteZf r^l°4f5„"«^ 'i'ty. where all work w« itop^'
fTr *i?'"'' ''^° »* 'l>at time W not '^t'*'* .*•"« Boisgelins
Th«i "^ wedding was only to tekl'nl ""^"^ Antofiette,
Then came the Bonnaires t6« R™ ^ "* '"" ye»™ late"
«deed, all those who^s h>S ^""^".I "'*° the Fauohuds
work. Those men IT^^T^^^^.H^ "■« 'i'to^^
IVORK
36s
S:ddLi;rTh^^«uL';-r' who.. „„«be„ .m
a JeS'^rflK f„«a ^i^?' °/ "i' powerful m'^tj
and WaSiTft 4b IZ ZL^^'I "^ ""'o ""serous,
Bnt in^l flirr ' '",* *'*™'' """"e of life.
366
WORK
the «ged rang their weuSft' i^"'^ »»P"8.,in which
their toil, the women HhTK^ » i ' ^* '"*" the triumph of
ward. o>me the d«noes IrithT^ ♦ i '^•"" '•°P««- After-
which brought aU tut b«th«rl5??*i "^"""^ ""^ »''»'".
stretching ont\tta reTOlT,w!f' J*"'® P«°P'« ^x^d in hand
murio, tSroi^h the h^„*f tK ^1°" *° ""> »'«^8 <>' 8*7
formerly touTaomncfLds^er^"*' ""^• '^"^ ^
Brimv, unhealthy inferno whiluj f° ?""* "> the dirty,
the/ameshadswe^'^°ay''"^e,un£'l J^*"..""! *h^'
now entered freely. And the 7n»,Sl ''*•."'* ""■■ ""^ !««.
went around the huw annlln. '^* "^* *"" ««°e "wd
formidable *te^ hZne™ Z '• "■« «'1°'"»1 P^eaaes, the
'Wch wo,« a^iRSit UnlT*J£ Pl»"^8°««'hine8,
flowera and foliaBrwhikuTn ,„ ^'^ ^"^ adommenta of
dance, aa if Xr^'^^'UZi^'^ ~"^'f '^ t^e
morrow of increase in ennit, .L / ^ ^ '^o" thlnga, that
of UieirlongXtiS^^'L^*^''-"'^"**^"'"?
^ |a«rr^7reta"'^'''»^'^»i'«i
h7;it^r^^,-->-i-'^^^
fallen and it wm qSte Zk ^b.^V.*'' Y^*" *^« "ig^t had
thom»nd. of Tm'pa eS^'g the «v S^h^ ^^/'^'ylfow.d.
the rface. Jordan's rea«Sdief ^^L^j"."' ^':*™« """^
Jielfed fruit. After nWdrf^ta ^TlJ^^^^}^ »' '"'
*- ■ .rt of electSr?ot'-wi?blf'',!:ff '.r^-
?or_the transport 7f .S^TorUh'^^f'^t'eiXr
gemoua means of transSon Mf^? Tf?
mg coal was saved^^K™. ?/"'**>?*»'
trooroSi^.r^^rsai'^'^^^^^^^
mouth, and the SafhiSery whiohf,;>n 7"" ''^"■' »* **"> Pifs
electrical energy sent U ^ ^ te°'?"?*^ °^°"'»' ^to
which allowed of no loss on tl,« I °''*™ by special cables,
cost price was now orjy ha?f of Jh ^' ^ V't "^ """t the
This then was a first ^eafv?cto^'''Ll' ^^^j^^^^ly been.
lUummed, power distributed aSwi ^'^berie profusely
and the si^ appWeR «r,m»^ ■ '''""°"8''°'b the largi
and fortune auSeT' Zd°a1 ZT^' T'^'' ^acilitat^t
tual^afreahs(l^towaristajpfnes3 ^^ '""" '* "« '^-
When Jordan, on beholding the festive Ulumination
WORK
3«7
»nte^ Lao'i .freotioMte intention, he b*g.n to Uagh
in»ti;J',I#'?L'1'°^u~/°° S"^' "»« • •»"9'Wt tool Ai •
Ihirtli^i'**^" T"^ "• '" " yo° """* remember
WhS fe?"*°l*? '?'!• "■* problem for ten long yeanl
••^n^ '~^' T't ^•'~'' ^^ I "o* encounter wWl
he Bh^S^ l»"8Wn« with ais friend, whose courage and faith
\\J} """T ^' f? "*"•■ «"3 be in reply ; 'yon are the
tt^JSrinJ'T- ^^ "^7°/ «"■"«'• loftier master of^er^
JSdT.l«tl^T*'*^'°'**^; y°" •""« P"' ^"'"'e" to flight
and as eleotnoity at present costs so little, we shall be able to
^^'«^.' ^'"'" '•~^* .H <^'^'"'"'^ to replace the sun m
^w^Tm^'^k'"' "^ *° *^« abundance of mechanic^
S^ i^il t- \ ^T T**""' ?"« ""^ »'"' «"ffioo» for work
«ih^™i.L ° ,r ».'.° ^ «>°Ployed. Thus we acckim you
tJ^*" °' ''8^' ""^ warmth and power.'
6o„i™J7S ."J"^!^- " f ™8 which BoBurette, fearing the
^fe?' tbe evenmg, had thrown over his shoulders, waa
1^1^^*.'* *,*" ?"«?,J^'' •"'"'"I ^'°' °ow sparkling Uto
tbf^i ° .*»7l»°^- Short and puny, with a pS^ face and
the feeble air of one who is on the point of dying, he stroUed
about those glowmg haUs, examining them c^ousT f^
teL*^' ^i *«°,y~" be had s«ioely stirred ^m hU
^^U*°*7- ^^™ ¥ marvelled at the results already ob-
W h,^™™Tfu °' * r'*'."' "^"^ ^« bad been botL the
least known and the most active artisan.
n„ '«;<?' ^^'' ^^ ""Ottered, ' the result is very good already.
?,?t,™ l*^J"""* J^'. ^^° K**"*^- We are advancing, the
future we dreamt of is nearer to us. And I owe you my
outset that I scarcely believed in the success of your mission.
But you still have a great deal to accomplish, and for m;
fSi^like to I- °~ ""* *° °°*^« "y ""« "^« "' -^ «""'
;]...2**K*°^! ^T ""^ thoughtful. ' Though we have re-
duced the cost of eleotncity by one half, it sSl remains tM
368
IVORK
»°d money. ifemetUng elWu n22!f !?' "?. ««''»■'»• tim.
tio«l, Bunple, and dirant T L_^ needed, iomethuiir more nnu
I ought to i<;;,nuT^d, a se^°r I!? "«" i» *h*.t di^^SS;
itte to tell people wh.t - JS r u *~°'* ni»dne.f, wd Idon^
engine wd the boiler, which ai' °°? ""S*" '" ""PPrew the
between the coal eitatTtod «Tth "'°?''^°'* intemSw
!^jj"~' energy oontainedTtteoSSl'i^t^ *° '"""rformnh^
without having to hrma m JTiI.!? f "'"' alectrioal enerov
fet knowhowfhat ia^'b^tn'^ttThf *"*? J"^''- ^S
;' hope to gpcoeed. And if I do%o„. I tL^' *'!.*"' ''«''. ^d
WiU cost B6aroely anythinV B^ i, ,i i?° "•«">»* eleotneitv
everybt^y. spread TSo«,t.„'S'" ^'^^^ ^ P^ it to
agent of universal comfort/ ' "^ °"^'' '* toe^ctorion.
"°:%°'"l'"">ilentandthonghtfiU ^ ' •" " " »• « ^
belong'to'7v^tdrw;;'4e''r'r' i"'"'"' l-oWcity will
breezes or theTe^Jg.'^ft^S Z^J "''."^»'' «J^e
dMtly to one and all, and ^X^^^V^- P^» " 'bun!
they choose. It must cirouUte ^ ^,f **° ^K« °^ » as
blood of sodal life Tn ...v. u " ""^ ^owns like the »»
t»« on a .\Soh or a tenM""* *""' °»"" me^y Uy72
«"gbt. Atni^S'tiij^^^tEX&T^^W^t
anothet sun, wiSoh will eTt.vrl7i2^^u**7' *'*'*rioity will set
oppress winter, it^Sl bri^^.*'' *^' "*«"• An^ U ^f
warming the old cLS^ and^ '^??»', •°»'»er into betag
among the douds^Thi^s "hTl^* V*" ""» "">'' ^
of what I have done «. w ,'./"" °°' Particularly nronS
aU that has to bf "^omprsLd ' " "^ ^^'^ "'"« ^^ 'Me^of
-n^tnL^e^'^;,?t±ytl.^W^^
and for that to boTshZd nS^! ^^^'P'o^'^wmoneati™
of the rivers a^d ^^^Zl^ToiXCl' """ ""» "»^"
- »"e to give it in a floo§t^1tt„n^^- £ J
wox/r
369
ewe to escort N.nSt wffi to thSr i?*? i"^*" *•"• »^«
Mdimationa in honour of thfl™..!? ?''J'H»' *!<"»•. M>id«»
. About thia time lov'ukewii' r«^ t^ H, »fiW tti.in.
of Beauelair, and it ™ S^h^ r "'T?*^ "" ^rgeoUi,
idler, liriag on toeir^^oZ th.t .w °' *''• MweUes, thoae
Their d»nS™ lSu!™ hS ^" '^* '*"P«''* *»' !>""* foi^
« .difTer.nTw.atni'tl'llirthrn'^ "^ "P"'*''^
•otiTeandenterpriainffBirl .hi *" °^"- ^ extremely
d«,laring that "S?' "efa*w<;i'd' WI T//' r"' *" ""> '"°"~'
pUoed their great delicht in^«.v fl- ^" Pwents, who
She WM «, only ch?ld,l2id ttev an^^' bj utaleaa agitation,
fortune invested in State^.„^!'' 'S^ ''°"''* ^"^ » very fine
»ble in refu^g to ah'St ^^^{"''"'"sienotunrSson!
ri.elte,jdfrom the worries of u, ?%hev*h "°" °°?''' """
content with their ecotiatin.i i!. • *'' "" P»wnt», were
did •he *™ubleXuf the'l.felZ^'",!*^/ "»*"fo™
were oh»nging the world ifiT-v^/i ''^^•.*?' '^eaa which
qmw, full of life, taldngTwLionftf'.nif "fV^^^ •« <>' •
and thua. amidat herl^rc^lov- fc^* "" !!"7'bing;
great deal of atupefaoUaTat hf^nl ? i"' uf ' "■*" ''w •
unlike themselves: At St .1- „n^S ' ^"e^ter so utterly
de pa„ion. ariwoh they haM«^,?P«* "T" ^J " cou^
shoulders, thinWngitMme »««»»? «"npW gWged the&
K>on came to such » cWi S,!f^h ""'i" '*'i°- ^nt things
of the world to be at Cd '^ ^""'" •*"•"«* «>« end
Dela'^^rwKL^tSSymeraVti!"^ °' ^-
boats which travelled bvth^mL.1 "^ °u '°°8«' °»de little
Luc's gnidan "Had Cmel'r' °^" ^* '""«'. but under
mechanician, destined to Jf^r/Jf'T ""«^«m' and inventive
where he abeadvfi^^^p'^f^f^'"''^'"*'' toLaCr&herie.
■ «=<»«i.ur, he took afort^^f 't^t^^^, ? -"1-^ J
BB
370
fyOJfJT
•impl* workman, likg bii f.ther, whom be reverod A.M n«
dont* In th. .M.„t loT. with which L^J^Zin^fh^i br
S^t.ron,Tn't t^' "'• "" "*""»• r.b,IliKich
fiSSTtlTfrCih. /?i *f«7V«>" notion.. Mid to behaT« dif-
SLtV^t?,". ^••i!*"'"*:?'.'''"'* '•••° •ttMhm.nt of th~
S«X^i!' """""B fi"-'. 'nded by loving her quit, m
t^flL^A f T f^'r i^ *•■• "0" "Monf bl. of th. tw"
M i /*!? *" ''"'■' noWy's feelings. He suffered »t the
idea tha she was too refined and too rich for hi™ riLpW
X.LS .r'^t'11; ' '"^'"''2' " '"« ""•'l °°» have her!
Whereas she, at the mere thought of opposition to th.i;
mamage, became wildly rebellious, and taC of throvrin J
up portion and fortune to go and liV. with him °*
par^?."i^£!foJ[fif "■°°*''«,tl"' battle went on. Luoien's
^Si iu' * '"■ ~""°°° ""*«• '<""'^ much have prefenS
^onTi^w^k "^^Ty,""""* •"»'••" '''"'gl'ter. TimebaSiSSSS
aone Its work, and there was no reason to be proud of seeinv
th.^SSr'lJ? *"°"!'" "'*"'' o" *»'«' '"n of aiiughtaro?
the expiring 6oarsreo,rie. All the profit of such an alC^
wou^d soon be on the side of the 4o«««,Z itISf wh?«h
a «d'S;M''^' ^P'' in orde/C^S^iS'iSd
l«t 1 J^ B'rengtt. Quarrels on the subject of the matohat
last broke out m Bonnaire's household. Bis wife the nmn^
"d^^r'ble Toupe, would doubtless ha^ cons^Knn
itlTi h if^'i *'''°8}'! "' *•" evolution now ii proRm,
Suv fihf »"J^.»"~n8dber craving for domination SK
?aav cifp^l f *^ •"•« •""*^' disposition even in her prewnt
saw oircumBtances, often reproaching her husband fornot
reiiow, wao had done no work for years past. HowevBr wh=„
ehe heard Lueien declare that eve/if he^should m^ Lout
home ZT-^'f,! f'^l^^'" '""noybould eveTJnter hfs
home, she quite lost her head, and in her turn onnosed th.
mat^. smoe it would not bring her any profit ^^^
Toun?' BoZC^"*.,T "-^"^^ wplanation between La
ioupe, aonnaire, and Lnoien, in the DreaancB nf n.jj!.
They had just fimshed dining in the brieht olean^;nin» '
«»m, who«i window opened onto the^Tg!;^„^.%°i^
h»ve oeaaeu toMtiL hi, * "y«iing for u« tou might
hther i^m^^lf fJ'tf; '""* '°" '""'* ""»' both j-ou,
ide.oft"»tmISage" ' '"' °"*°' over-plew^i with'the
^^P)y »ia: -But i"5JLTth2^iK',^rti^^!
h«^°po^he^\rb^i^T•^,''^/,^J]t:i2i'ad'''^^^^ "?«'
your eonieut without wninff me of itV^^V u^"" ?"'
than a fortnight ago thatmiol » m. Jl '"' '"'^ "• '«"
about like a weather-ooolt, eh ? • ^ ^°^ *^'
I think and hell do ^h7Llb^^- ^' ^'^' »'"'*
you ^J, yfur!^^.''?^ ^Jrr- '"».'" «~^y f°» over;
the««S7«fKre« SS^alr? ''^•"' «""y saying
be«. here with MrnZur L^r/ou Ve'T^JdX^ ' '?.""'*
what you've donrCtC^ "'' ^''"'P'' y°" ^P" '»«*''
37*
WORK
dream about." ' ' ™ "'°'« iourgeoU whom yon
l.ere!ta^b7'^^,^»^e^inore -A, forwhat exiat.
never nnderatood anrthin/of « l^'*!" " *° ""e- '»' I've
you ijre happy, aoSSf be ter'frvo^rv'f^'' «"''• '"
no, I'm not. HappineBs is »tl„ Z°" =,''"' I m not happy.
your division of profits, yointo™, th^ ''"" "8»«ole,
cheaply, your coupons andTour p»»^^ T °°* ««'« *>»uiga
hundred thous-md francs intoT^^V^.^'"'^' ^' "ever put a
tbem as I please, oaXgs°wh1Jhn?kl!°T **'''' ^ "'^ "P^d
Me^f in iatr^t m^ ,t
witted nature, Te^n'tinnedn.'aInlT.f'^^^^^ "♦"'bor^ dull"
U should have been fall ofloSS* ' *'°°" » '"^' "i-*"
• You*S:rad»' fTX'lLr "■ j^ - f" « to Bay to her •
us too I • • " " '"" "'■0 make yourself unhappy „d
emfcr^htev^uc^ S^; J"--, "^o f^t very
parents, had to em»« «Z ^f^''^"' »«»9 between hS
tell her that he lov^ ^d «»^. ^1°"' "'«' k*™ her and
olnng to herviewrimd sLuK\*'*'i. Neverthel«a Se
Mk my lather what he thinks of ,!?„,*" ?°'*'.»°^- ' ^ ' Ju8«
body has » share, and that wonl^l "'"J^ ^ ''*''''>' evity!
of yours, whicb kre to WMn«^t!^ '"*"?« »°^ happineb
workman, he ia I v™ "generate the world. He's an nu
ivo/ijr
373
I
n>7 fether, J«Ci W?*" r'^""!'*"!; ,?'««>. with whom
worked. Rerre ffi ^a bLS^^*'""'' ^"« Bagu'
together, two wireSrswho^Z ?>:"'*'""' **" «"«««
now you see the Qurimons kre m«f!? ""*. '""« »°^'- And
•nd the Bagug hsv"«mZ^ ^T -^"^ 8^^»' millionaires,
Things oJil^^^^^'^^fi'^. *«y "«" »'«f°«
weU as thev are ' °°* """" ''«l'"e that the, are
him^l'rno^f^i?,^!^^^^^^ r '"^dcomeover
thin A^e'tLS^'^XaH^^^^^ ^ "'PP- '"at
«rame, whom you s™^of hti i„ "•' '™«Past- Monsieur
< V , ''*°''~'"'w's that ? •
he owc^X^Sri^Ts^^^^ rS" '""^ ^^'^ ''"'"'
oconrred a long time a^o XiS^ ' ^°" ^member ? it
yes,?i^i^a"csnirsin'::iirw^r^'^i •;i^^ ^--
money baek he was ^ fi,i • ^*^' '' "" ' ^eU, if he gave his
Da^J\:^^t'C'nr'i^?i^,rir'*?p'-"'''y' '«
big fortune likefte 0^?«w^- "' ^y'l'U'e but making a
miter, an iSf genaer"^",??' "" ""^^l^ e^Joy life like a
tiU nicht TW h.l ' ^J"" »mu8ed himself from mominc
of the%MeSltnSbr"ke1 d'o',^'^'' ?T/', " '«^""»'
sole regret was that tw w" „rV"P'°'i^*^^^««'''l'o»8
exploiteis. ^ '"^ ""' ''««n bom among the
criiT' Fatfc'tl^oh"aZl"^» ''"«''• ' y°» »«« ' • Bbo
the ian to start^on a „M°°' " 1°" '"^»'« »"! he's not
andwhe„;?rra?i;h\ttra^^r-' ^^^^'-oneyl
tl^e .tubbo^^rsh'^w^„l4 -- ^„ t &^S
il
!:l
1 . '
374
WOJIX
PM»di8e, in the midst of firatemul happineBs, denyiiur lis
Just then, however, Babette Bourron came in Unlik*
La Creohene, where work had become uSit^^v ^
«S't^thrr' ""^ "^ "^^^ amidst cfmforfo^e"?
„.,„„.' ° "slecided, eh?' she exclaimed. 'Lud^ in
iT^u^ t^!i^"'d°"°?V''''°°' ^ ""«* this mamlng.'
lia loupe turned white with restrained wmth *tl,rj.t
for ha^"^ *«'^2' •'°=^»- '*'°°' Bhe had ne^forl^'
whom^aSS ^d fc^'S'^P"""*' "^ ^- t^^«^
hanSome SZ' »i? ^'"*' °»°«°'er. » number of
fc °p3'ahXl^4°^CTK);':ir«.:^
Tw broS rT Ye't t^ Jr*' ^T^^ ^"^ ^ "*'-^
liL a ladv Th»t wl ^^u- °'*v.*'" ''«»™'8 » bo^et
do nothug but aggravate me, so just let me be I ' ' '°"
Then she rushed out of the room, bangingthe door behind
hM,^dleavmg the others in silent UaS^^tstt
of her friend, whom she indulgently pronounoed to be "^
wox/c
375
arauiKe mSte™ T!^ ^7' V '^„'° P™™se that he would
femlyiMs Wo^i .J f^? tappioess at the mercy of
spoU thefts of b«th.X^,*rP*' '^*»''' ""ffi"" "■«" to
They spent a whole night talking ft over and S H^'
daughter to a worianan ? Thev felt t W "^.^ f -^ ?f
be deniaivo . fi^.iTtT i- ' . "'*' *""" a Union would
06 deouive. a final abdication on the part of the bomgi^
Ml'
1^
IM
3/6
WOXK
governir.g classed sh^'d°bl"«Sn^'J~^^^^^
floJ^ry IS where th^f I,.? '*''*.*'• '** *''«" » '^ei;
steetogel faS^'to face S C« ^^PJ?* '"x.'^'^y ■^''' '^V''.
at their r<^X'^.fJ'^^iT^l^^^'^^f^^^
was obliged to absent him..lfTl • T^*"?^" the other
aimg th^L^Cf hi.^,ML I * ''*?' H'^^^d.'" Ohatelard's
Bon iohille! whorZafut \'^''!«,^^^^^^^^
WOXK
377
?"i' u 't *? """T"*^' I'^onie l^d captivated her grandfather,
he had resigned hinuelf to opening hia door to her
S^.nli ll t «" TS" •>»d/o">»lyre^ellelagainEthisantho.
«ty, and that Ma-Blene, of whom he atiU oooaaionally spoke
f m»^?f £•- ,'u'"' 'V°".*l^ eipresaed it, it waa hard for tim,
fi.^nl^*'?'*''/"' of lawful marriage, to receive at his
flreaida a couple of revolutionaries, who had simply espoused
one another under the atara one warm summer's night; But
the times were aoatrange, such extraordinary things happened,
that a charming granddaughter become a very acceptable
present, even although she were the offspring of impenitent
free love. ChAtdard had gaily insistedon reclnciliati?^ ; and
Gouner, amce hia aon had been bringing Wonie to see him.
Cr^chene, though, to hia tainking, it had hitherto remained a
source of oatastrophes. oiuoiudub
Judge Gaume and AbbA Marie were late in arriving that
day at the Mazelles', but the latter could not refrain from
explaining their position to the sub-prefect and the mayor.
aWe wW? '*°'*° tteraselves to their daughter's unreason-
^u^' '°j ^ certainly understand. Monsieur le Sous-
l^«et, aaid Mazelle in an anxioua but pcmpoua manner,
apart from the gnef which such a marriage would cause ua
we have to consider the deplorable effect which it would have
BOoiaUy, Mid our heavy reaponsibility towarda distinguished
i^Tb ""^ '■ "*"' °'*"' *° ^ *°"'« towards
They were seated in the warm shade, perfumed bv the
cUmbmg rosea, at a table with gay-coloured napery, on which
Blood aeveral diahes of httle cakes ; and Ch4telard, still a well-
groomed, fine-lookmg man in spite of his years, smiled in a
discreetly iromoal manner. < We are already in the abyss,
dear Monsieur Mazelle,' he repUed. ■ It would be very wrone
of you to put yourself out about the Government, the authori-
ties, or even fine aooiety, for only a semblance of these things
now exists. I am atUl aub-prefect and my friend Goarier la
Btall mayor, no doubt. Only we are scarcely more than
Bhadows, and there la no longer any real, aubstantial State
behind ua. Aad it la the same with the powerful and the
wealthy, a little of whose power and wealth ia carried off each
aucoeeding day by the new organisation of work. So don't take
the trouble to defend them, particularly as they themselves,
I
J *f
W:
378
WORK
, He WM fond of that sW?' ^ ■ !? *•" O"^' ' '
Bpnngiag from the ruinB. MnS ' "'■'^ ""' » "•'' <»>e wa.
place ial-arig. the anoW e^fil '^"T,,.''^*"'^ ''"« *^
8jvmg place to a ^^Ao^ZZT" ^'^.'^°8 <"<»" byS
»'^^^-i^'tbru^intT4V£tj;.^%7iX^
the husband exclaimed .-'B^ilv^^flf"^ on the little oakes.
to each a point ae that 1 l^H 1°/°" ""?'' "« threatened
of reducing .:ie intereet on Bfn°r8 • ' '*" '^' P*"?'" t^mk
before Sr"lt»Wy^ Ztf^' * tl'f '"l be euppreased
plan will be fo„„d fo? C^Bs^B^f Sf. ^^ • "' "tbir. aome
"ban't haVtoe B^of'J^n''' "*^"^'^«: 'Ibope that we
poor daughtJi'x^X'i.y r°« rj* f ^"»y ' B»t »::
wasonforcompellinehertomii.' *?"' " •" additional
are no longer pos.ifi8,STh«r;^?; }^?'«°od maniagea
todisappeiS. Sit i«%Sh,^Ill ^'"'/^ Jnheritanoe ig abSat
«amed ooaple wiU h.:ft?^Kri^r\ ""-'""^ «"""
whether your danchter Lnnil; ■" °'^ happineea. And
worhnan's son, tTe capiwTthe ^? ' ^«^" «« «^a
beidentical-so much fove if tL?r^7'f''"'^P'^'ai soon
s.a'i s£,-°a 'Jssr^X' ssjss
son;m-Uw, eh ? ■ P' *"*' ^»"»en Bonnaire aa our
«."°;=fes4. ik'swctt.^„"
loon-
> «o
WOAK
379
fond of one another, it Is »t least oertain that yon wiU make
them happy.
Gouner had hitherto said nothing. He felt ill at ease
at bmns; oaUed upon to decide snoh a question— he, whose
son had gone o£f to hve with Ma-Bleue, Uiat wild girl of the
rooKs, whom he now received in his highly respectable middle-
alass home. At last an avowal of his embarrassment escaped
hm : 'That s true ; the best thing after aU is to marry them.
When their parents don't marry them the young people take
ftemselves off and get married as they fancy. Ahl m what
times are we living I ' ., j 04 nimu
He raised his arms towards heaven, and Chdtelard had to
exercise all his inauence to prevent him from falling into
black melancholy. Gonrier's old age-foUowing on a some-
what dissolute life-was fuU of stupor; he constantly fell
asleep, at table, m the midst of conversation, even whilst
walkmg out of doors. With the resigned air of a once terrible
employer of labour, whom facts had vanquished, he ended by
saying: 'Well, what else can be expected? After us the
deluge, as many of our class now say. We are done for '
u J'7?? *^ **"' moment that Judge Gaume arrived, much
beMnd ^s tame. Nowadays his legs sweUed, and it was only
with difficulty aiat he could walk, helping himself alone
with a stack He was nearly seventy, and was awaiting his
pension, fall of secret disgust for that human justice which
he had admmistered during so many years, contenting him-
self the wh'le with strictlv applying the written law, Uke a
pnest who no longer beheves, but is sustained solely by
dogma. In his home, however, the drama of love and
betoayal which had wrecked his life had pursued its course
stubbornly and pitilessly. The disaster, which had begun
with the smcide of his wife, had been completed by his daughter
Jjucile, who had caused her husband, Captain JoUivet, to be
taJIed m a murderous duel by one of her lovers, with whom
she had afterwards eloped. The police were seeking her, and
Gaume now bved alone with her one chUd, Andr*, a delicate,
affeotaonato youth of sixteen, over whom he watched with
anxious affecbon. Buffioient misfortune had faUen, he felt •
avenging destiny, punishing some old unknown crime, must
go no further. Yet he still wondered to what good power,
what future of true justice and faithful love he might guide
that youth in order that his race might be renewed and at last
wm happmesE.
fn
ii!l
38e
It^OXJC
Judge Q.»CimStiUtolf?.iSm.!i T„^»'»"' Bo"""'*.
them— pMtionl«^ H tkli "«/»»»« = 'Marry them, vumj
ove,^ ob.taole,!"*y;-St"a^^^^ lo*^
intent on pre8eJlduri^sW«w'*/™"l^*°'' ''''''''''••
daoions ririditv of7«m!f^*' hig last days hie wonted men-
•Imahimjustnow anHi w™^*"^ ^"''' ^« '««™ed.
^alo3^«one\Tt"l;r;'J^\n:h^^-^^^
who had remained a dVvoS^^ • ^^"^f^ Gourier,
would stiU be onre if the dlZf !,»/ .^?**"'-. . ^^^ "P"b"<>
us. It was thev who nra^ «?/ *'^,''°' '"«^ *° t'J'e "from
and become thT^TMters^ ^""P^* "" *° "P"'* e^«ything
Mar^^iSfs^^^TtTi^^^rstrn-- :^~' ^"W
do quite riiht. MSam«^,.™n ^ *"!.,1'"P*y eburoh. You
bouquets fo? the v1?^ . *'""'"'' ^ ■"»" "»<^« bim some
«J^T flu\?^fCbririft irr^f '^r."^ «"> Pri-t
of the roses. In l^nno™ h? u ??^bt amidst the perfume
Wthful parishioner M^ame'S'a.'eUe d^nbr"* '^ ""'*
hun,but she was not reaUyrbeUever ■ futhtt fif*""""?? ^
wligion was aomethin)? ornam«mt!T - w i ,' ** '""Jb* w
?he was a right.rld^7r;^~fflb'L' r^t^'*'' """
ignorantofhia destiny-he wotiM»nmTy i? ^^^^ '*■ »o'
he awMted the SrstiU oeleZi/tK '"S^"^ *° ^» &*« :
unawareof the ^^^^"^.^^^1^^^'^.^^^^
tvoxx
3«i
HU oLuroh WM beoomiDg emptier and emptier, ajin« a little
of the great ornoiflx, which .till h.5.g toTm tte 4«U And
As it happened Madame MazeUe was far too much niuut
-Witt ^ ■?? steamed in the caps of bricht porcelain
S! •/"?»/ gilded the little cakeg^ying ifth^^S
diahee. Andahe went on shaking her big, plwid heS^ for
?ii ' ?"* '°"^'«« '°»''^ ""I'y be the last blow '.S5
1 cannot make np my mind to it '
patie^d.^'"*'" ^«""^M»^elle; 'wo will exhaust Lonise'e
But all at once both hnsband and wife wb™ ti,n« j— »_ u
for Louise herseU stood before thlmamZ^the„^t»«i
at the entrance of the arbour. They hTd ffneSd h« iTr
room on her couch, suffering from that lovTS^efa whi,£
Jn^h! 1: ?~'°'^Novarrf, contentmeirZe ^i^c^^'
No doubt she had guessed that the others were dwiJingha
fate, and with her beautiful black hair just caught up in^f
flSwL .tl^h^J ^"""g-g"'" with a patter^ Me red
n^S^' t} ^T^V"" K'^ *"»*«• Quivering with t^
S^ith.* Ii"T**^.^"' ^« ^'^^^ charming %ith he?
wmewhat obhquely-set eyes gleaming in her slender fwa
It^J^L'^'fr'^'^y'^'^e^'^^ the gay sparUe
™™^.''T^"'*'''*''°"^' ^Pol'e'' 1>7 herpa^Zts -Ah
rn^ma I ah, papa I what was that you were Sf ' she
.-f^onl?-" Ti?"^? *»' some merely chuffLrice
Mm question ? I've told you already, and I teU you mS" I
wish Lucien to be my husband, and si he shall" • ^ ' *
;i.„„i* "& hajtoonquered by the sudden apparition of his
Wius'^ft^W ?t*'" ^^"^ ,'° et^uggleagainsfKTvitable
you were to have mhented, is already in jeopardy, lo it ii
,i|
im
3««
tyoxx
^^^}!^'C^f «"- ^y you wiii fl„a ,o«™.„
Then LoniM «nl!vj^ » "•nmble m»m»ge.'
•Yon, mot:;^i^P'„1f„J^^ -Pj;b. /oyer ^*«^
r-uoien wiU earn mrb^ for S.^ '^ '?X? ""J •» Wpj.
to quiet her b, .t Iwt 4eS tS h.. f "»*"»>:»«» wiion.
were not peopl/to oTtirueffiJ'."th.'?".^ J*""''". 'W
d«y. in j,e«,e. As for Sub.R.«Sf /n,*,!? !2'HS^ '" ™^ '»>«'
Md Judge Gaume, whUst drfSlriS *W^'"» <^°°"«.
sweeping them away lilie bite of^Sl. nS"'" ^'^ '<"«
oonsjnt to what one Lnot p^v^t "■ ^ """* "•<^«
oeptiM.. •OurfrifndttrTriBht^w?'^^ -oaroelyper-
It « our children who maTe Jhe Ei,*^;". "^ ''°°« ^"- "^w
tookX°'S'thl^"'=lte*rorr ^"^ ^^o
ment prevaUed on hiefriani nT^ . •"■ Pe"onal amuw
the toTO-hall on L wJddl^f ^"k'?*"" '°.,P''« * «nwd baU at
ffooJ joke to make Lb^^tLui B*^ ^- *i'°°«''* '* »
weddmg, which became a sS of (he ™?,ih^-,''?°" '* 'W"
to power. Thev wmil,l ,i!„ .. * """"titude'e aoeeaaion
thattown-ha^I whilh wLf^ZS^""* '3^' »' »uthoi%?a
house, where tC mayor i^sn^fc'"'"^ !?!? "^^ '»°''»o»
between the various' sS ^™*'' tT/'^",? ''°' » «»k
luxuriously decorated, andTher^M mnS a- "^ '^o**
the wedding of Nanet and ml I^d ^X "^^ "^^^ « »*
arose at the sight of Uie hZu\ „ • ■?''»™»tion8 onoe mora
Bturiy. followed^Sy Jl bis ma^offi r°l'°'-~ '*°»» ""
BO sUm and passionate, foU^w^ by^ th1°fi'™' *?^ ^«''»'
Jo^. whose presence had b^ desi/J k k* """'^'y »' ">«
kindofsu^eprote^ ^"u "^2 ,^V«s C"^^e ^S
fvoxfr
3»3
Ti^i. '^^Ji' ^\ •»«W»»d«j won ovw to tb. nub
MOBUghl, ouned iwa^ and oonqnered to nob • point th»t a
jT^tm^T more muruge. between tbe Ud. .nd rirli of tbe
te'^"ti'rb:5;?dttr"''"^»'^ •"-"^^'
together tor the futn™ d^ of h.ppiW..^TbW ^W
oleu of Beanolau:. now on tbe point of dis.pp«,riM ^Tta
d»nghton, and <K>n. to the artkane of La Eeife Sd Ihf
Pf~"i »' Le. Combetteg. Tbe Laboque. wt Te ex^nU
SeK^^Ur'^PM^T'"* '^ marrylartbrBour^TJ^d
theirdaughter Eulahe to many ArsAne Lonfant. They had
oeaeed sti^glmg for .ome .y.--^ »lready, for tbej real Wth^
^jD^lr °\^''' *''• "- » ~gwheel wLh W ^n
f^^ t,"^^"^ V""«l »"'* "»J*1'. '»» vanquished wd
f^*"/i' '^' °^*'?J "'«y»"^ ''«e° obliged to JlowthSr
ehop of the Bue de Briae to be tamed intoa mere ZitS
eTndioated fiMtonea. Then, taking a further etep they hi^
l^!^tt^ "•'"? "'%'*°P' 'fai^trhad^rmerl^ iniX
g^^re. where Luo'e indulgence had proou^them an
m«peotor»hip by way of ooenpation. And now old aee h^
S'by\Wl?' m ^tiSTment, t I of WtSme^t a^
8c»red by the tight of that new world which evinced nme
of their own pwdon for lucre. The new ^eS Sd
grown up for other forme of actiyity and deuJb tSS monT
matong. And thus their children, Auguete^S'S
married as they pleased, encountering no obstacle on tW
I»^te Bide save the coyert dieapproyfl of old folk who reS
the past. It was arranged that the two weddings shoull^
celebrated on the same day at Les Combettes, now a „«
^J^S.n7''7*.°'"^^ 1' ^'^^}^'' '^«» '"^e bright bSI
!Sf ^5 *°' °} *»"« ""exhaustible wealth of the earth. And
the weddings took place at haryest-time-indeed, on the yery
last day of the haryesting, when huge ricks abeady a^M
upon every side oyer the great golden pUin. ^^^
Femllat, the former farmer of La Guerdaohe. had alrea^T
married his son Won to Eugenie, daughter of Yyonnottbe
Msessor, whom he bad formerly recoleiled with Feuiilat^
(he mayor-that re~onciliation whence had sprung the gwd
m.
384
WOKK
•illli
I' 'h|i|'
biting ft.. d!.dlTuS?tfc™L^ ^°™*' ^T*' *''•» «»">•
wh«n ft«7 should Jn* temth* JTu *^i ^i?*"* ^* '«>» "
Md method A tISiln™ / .u '"" '* ''''• "«» of idenea
peroeiT«d In wQ d^»oUon \tX ^ }, ^* ''^- H. had
the p,..aat., • eoStfon Jf1ff?rt?°\^r*J5?'?^ »»
ing once more fte lole ninth., ii„u^' *"* ****^ ^wjom-
by one fa^J^ j)^d h^ h.T£i"ft''l' ^'°' "^ cropped
dream, he US mm hi, n.,tKi^H^.'K« '"Jfilment of hi,
the fa^m of U GueriMri^Ji? • ^.*''^^ *«»'"»>".
Combette,.otwS^vm«e1^1Sls"'''.P""^ °' ^
oreated, and let on the m.wS*/!f,^.l "^ "'"•*°' » ^' •rt«t«
anneiation, of toe XWh!?.^** ^f'""?*; ""y ■»«»««ive
Fe«ill.t,whohad»m^edih.lI^ /Jj*" <*' ^ Bonmagne.
"dvice was aJway. found profiteWe "-ings, and whoM
EuMe°"Latrn.w«''d3 l^°''5*;i T ^*»« ''th
AngnstedetSnLefto Ml^r^U h'i."^ "■? '•**•'"" ''«>*ber
Bourron at toe sLe til! u ^' mamage wift Martha
idea was ^^epW^S ^tiildT ^ tfleuillat. who4
/iU whieh should be SkethS^ ^'J^ *"»"•«'• B"**
triumph of Los CombetteB-rtil- "'tbe pacification and
betwft^n the^amnt .„;i ,1. • *J 'f?'^ ^'^ *» fraternity
bitterly oZ^ron"i„^fteftt"'^r*«';,/°™»ir^
could estafifish Bodal we^?h^nH „.. """j;! »'""=«• "Jo"'
al.ototheendof Tunt^tjnir Jf^*^;- ^W would drink
barbarous thing ct^cd h^dTwhlch ^^ ^"«PP«"»°»« of that
rtruggle betweli. toe deafer who Bold a tlTtl"''**'^ " ^'"«'*''
made com crow and tho ^117 i * '^'''' *b8 peasant who
increased by^rZfts of a nnr^bl?' /-'^ ''™»^" » P™«
what better day coSd be chosen^ ^iS.'T!^''^'"'- ^nd
ton toan that^hen Z ^°Z.1it^^t^XV''^t,
watvr
J«5
for ih. hipnCw 0? ,S ^' "woneUed, drew SrW .noagli
ye» htd folk fraternisS K, f JfT IS! ' *» "<^«. "^ naTer
youth •JSXn^tnMht to»t Zir** ',"«? "'
roUed from owTto the oSS ll^ !. 5?*". •«ca»in»tions
onlooker. oaUed to UiemirfeLL^i.°'.u'" ""''"•'• The
vieionWtoTef^Srt w^which h J'rf'1 """^?° "^
Wk together, by IriX th,m t?? ''"»<^7,^™r" »" those
00
ii
It
386
WORK
m
had Deen dead for ten years, and hei establiahment had been
merged into the general storea of La Ortoherie, ai was the
case with most ol the retail basinesses of the town. She lived
lilie a retired worker with her son Evariste, both very prond
of the fact that Luc had given them the charge of the eleotri-
eal kneading appliances, which yielded an abundance of white
lignt bread. Whilst Evariste m his turn was bestowing a
betrothal kiss on Olympe, who had tamed pihk with pleasure,
Madame Mitaine suddenly recognised in a thin, dark little
woman seated beside a rick, her old ueighboor, Madame
Dacheux, the butcher's wife. She thereupon went and sat
down beside her. * Must it not all flni^ in weddings,' she
asked gaily, 'since all these young folk were ever playing
together?'
Madaihe Dacheux, however, remained silent and gloomy.
She also had lost her husband, who had died from the effects
of a badly aimed blow with his chopper, which had struck off
his right hand. According to some folk, clumsiness had
nothing to do with it, the butcher having voluntarily out off
his hand in a fit of furious anger, rather than sign a transfer
of his shop to La CrScherie. Beoent ooourrenoes, and the
idea that holy meat, the meat of the wealthy, was now being
placed within the reach of all and appearing at the tables <S
the poorest, must have maddened that violent, reactionary,
and tyraimical man. He had died from the effects of gan-
grene improperly treated, leaving his wife in a state of terror
com the oaths which he had heaped upon her during his final
agony.
'And your Julienne, how is she?' Madame Mitaine
inquired in her amiable way. ' I met her the other day. She
looked superb.'
The batcher's widow was at last obliged to answer.
Pointing to a couple figuring in one of the quadrille sets, she
said : 'She's dancing yonder. I'm watching her.'
Julienne indeed was dancing on the arm of a tali, good-
looking fellow, Louis Fauchard, the eon of the former drawer.
Sturdy of build, white of skin, her whole face beaming with
health. Julienne evidently enjoyed the embrace of that
vigorous yet gentle-looking youth, who was one of the best
smiths of La Creoherie.
' Oh I does that mean another marriage, then f ' asked
Madame Mitaine, laughing.
But Madame Dacheux shuddered and protested : ' Oh I
WORK
S«7
™J^^.k ^'?'.?° y"" say mioh a thing? You know what
my hugband'a Ideas were. He would rial from his tomb if I
wT^ W?' T*^ "?* workman, the son of that
beef on medit, and whom he drove out of our shop so often
because she never paid I '
In iuft'^I and tremulous voice the buteher's widow went on
to relate what a tortunng life she led. Her husband appeared
to her at night-time. Although he was dead he stiU miSeh»
W w»t* J'" despotic authority, tormenting her, upbraiding
W, frightening her with devilish threats in her diams. ThI
poor, soared msignificant woman was so unlucky that even
widowhood had not brought her peace.
i.J,.*ifni ^tS" !l'*' "f"^^^* "nan? contrary to his wishes,'
ahe^Mooluded, 'he would certainly come back every night ia
fc, Ji? VI ^^^^^ *!«» noTT. and Madame Mitaine strove
IS.^^ btt.assurmgher that she would soon get rid of her
nightmares if she would only set a Uttle happiness around her.
Jurt then, as It happened, M61arS, the ever-complaininj!
Madame Bouchard, whom for years one had seen peraetoaUy
runnmg about to procure the four quarts of wine which her
Zl 1"*"^^ ^°' ^l ''^'*' ^'^ "^^ 'i* » hesitating
^\ u • ?? .'■'"',8'*? ""ffered from want She occupied one
of the bright httle houses of La Crficheri. iWth Rmchard.
Who, infirm and stupefied, had now ceased aU wofk. LodrinR
with hM, moreover, was her brother Fortune, now forty-five
years of ^e, and abeady an old man, half-blind, and deaf,
owing to Uie brutish, mechanical, uniform toU to which he had
been oondeimied at the Abyss from his fifteenth year onward.
Ihns, m spite of the comforts which La Pauohard owed to
the new pension and mutual relief syatem, she had remained
a oomplaming creature, a wretched waif of the past, with two
Old children on her hands. Therein lay a lesson, an example
^thit. *™* grief which the wage-system had brought
' Have yon seen my men ? • she asked Madame Mitaine, re-
femng to her husband and brother. < I lost them in the crowd.
Oh I there they are I '
With halting gait, arm-in-arm, by way of propping up
each other, the brothers-in-law passed by— Fauchard, wrojked
and acne fOT, suggesting some ghost of the painful toU of the
p*it; and Fortune, looking less aged but quite as downcast,
:'f
388
WOXK
I
stricken geemingly with imbeoiUty. Through aU th« iturdv
erowd, overflowmg with new life and hope imidst the ?w^'
31^' I ^^° °^<'.'*"«"»'« men Btro- hither and thither,
freely displayug their decrepitude. nnu..standing nothing of
l^^^Z^^^:^.r' """ "''" -"""oWng'th,
MJii^'^M^.™ "'''l,'.™"^''^'-" ^°^' *''e» goo3.' resumed
S,.n^""°'' '^^r'^e ^ Fauchard. -Your son ia
sturdy and gay enough I «" •»
™nii3f'"Xl'°*' ^'""° ^*' *''« ">«=' °f ''e»l'lj.' tbe other
tt&. K?* T "I °°r' '"""'' "''« ">« ^»'''«". now thai
the times have changed. Just see how be dances I He will
never know cold and hunger.- "« wiu
Thereupon Madame Mitaine, in her good-natured wav
~™'1t P«'r'\"'» ^^PP'-^^" <" the young c^e^'o
were smihng at each other so lovingly whilst they danced
before her. She brought the two motLrs. Madame FaS
and Madame Dachenx. together, and made them sit down sWe
«'nA*°l'?'"u'''* """'^^ *« buteher's widow and Z-
^Med her that she ought to consent to her daughter's msS-
Th^naii^"* solitude that made the poor old creature suffer ;
^^iJ^f grandohUdren to eUmb up on her knees and put
aU troublesome phantoms to flight. »"upu.
'Ah. num Dim I 'she ended by eiclauning, ' I'm agreeable
aU the same, on condition that I'm not left rione. iWaelf
never said no to anybody. It was h> who woXdn't h^el!
« Jou Se.?^ '"^ "' ""^ P'°°''" *° ^'^«°^ "">• 'l^'" ^°° ^0
«.J!^T ^°" »"^ /"Henne learnt that their mothers con-
t.nLVf r'u **" "".^ ^^"g'"^'- And thus amidst the
general joy fresh joy was bom.
mJ^Tm?*"^^ y°" *'i"i'' of parting these young people?'
.L« T • J'* S"ven my Evariste to Olyipe Le^t.
whom I remember as quite a Utile girl, when she nsTto
^S. T '?y„«''°P »nd my boy gave he? cakes. It's the sam2
^iww" ^"«'*^; How many times have I not seen hS.
prowling near your shop, Madame Daoheui, and playins wiS
^ur Juhennel The Laboques. the BounlonsXffliS
•M the Yvonaotg, whose marriages are now being celebrated.
Why, they aU grew up together, at the very time when ftdi
I
tVOJtJT
389
, 309
K aastme*' '"• ""'*"' "^ ""'^ '0° ««• 'heir
When his danghterMaB^^hJ? "'*"i"'8eei>erat:.is.
dream of loTO with A^niafl^ bad gone off to realise her
were robbing him of the bent r^T^lu- ,? Si? "*'' *"°6"
and tavemor M»^.:- u j "»"6"'8r ot bafiiaux, the grocer
c^lnrnhiirma^^e fVof^r^^'TP'r"' "^
mm wai that a Urrible quarrel, a frightfiiTrapturi, between
. •■ c
390
WORK
the two men enned. From tbfti time forwud the muter-
nnelter no longer gpoke, save to direct the fumaee work, bat
Bhnt hiraseU ap in his cavern like some fierce and motionleaa
gpeotre of the dead ages.
ThoQ^ years and years went by Morfiun did not appear
to age. Be was always the same old-time eonqaeror of fire,
a colossus with a huge head, a nose like an eagle's beak, and
naming eyes set between cheeks which a flow of lava seemed
to have ravaged. His twisted lips, now seldom parted,
retained their tawny redness suggestive of boms. And it
seemed as if no human condderations would again weigh
with him in the depths of the implacable solitude in which
he had shut himself on perceiving that his daughter and his
son had joined the party of to-morrow. Ma-Bleae had pre-
sented Aohille with a sweet little girl, Ltenie, who was grow-
ing up all ^[race and tenderness. And Petit-Da's wife, Hono-
nne, had given birth to a strong and charming boy, Baymond,
now an intelligent young man who wonld soon Ije old enough
to marnr. But the children's grandfather did not soften— he
repulsed them, shrank even from seeing them.
On the other hand, however, amidst the collapse of his
aflfection for his kin, the species of paternal passion which he
had ^ways evinced for his furnace seemed to increase. That
growling monster ever afire, whose flaming digestion he con-
trolled both dav and night, was seeming> regarded by him as
some child. The slightest disturbance in its work threw him
into anguish ; he spent sleepless nights in watching over the
working of the twyers, displaying all the devotion of a young
lover amidst the embers whose heat his skin no longer feared.
Luc, rendered anxious by Morfain's great age, had spoken of
pensiopmg him off, but renounced the idea at the sight of the
guivering rebeUion, the inconsolable grief which was displayed
y that hero of toil, who was so proud of having exhausted,
consumed his muscles in pursuing the conquest of fire. How-
ever, the hour for retirement would come forcibly from the
mevitable march of progress, and Luc indulgently decided to
wait awhile.
Morfain had abeady felt that he was threatened. He waa
aware of the researches which Jordan was making with
the view of replacing the old, slow, barbarous smeltery by
batteries of electrical furnaces. The idea that one might
extinguish and demolish the giaj.t cile which flamed during
Mven and eight yean at a stretch, quite distracted the matter-
i
SSi^'' "J^i"?' '^*°'*' ""'""Sly alarmed when Jordan
SKtem .rjfT'"'''"' ••' '"^^8 «"'' »' tbe moulds
lH!h?.li 7 T A'7?'"''"'"''*^' "nd bringing eleotri^itv
mthout loss to La Orfoherie by cable. However aa thn po J
^oe rtUl remained too high for eleo?rioi^rrempW ^^^^
J^i^f °4^L,^v'^'^'"t^J'' '° "J"'=« over Ztnmtyot
JOWMis yiotorv. During the ensuing ten years eaoh frMh
defeat which fell on Jordan delighted him He ind^^ iS
oovert irony, feehng convinced that fire would never s^S
»^ ^ be conquered by that strange new power, thltmvTt^f
nous thunder whose flashes were not even risibS He Sng^
for h . master's defeat, the annihilation of the new applS
o^ ir™ T' ''rs "oostraoted and improved ffiu »?
onoe the position became very threatening, a rumotfr spread
that Jordan had at last completed his great worrharinfdTs
covered a means of transforming calorical eneri^ Skito
mSi^ ThMh°"V''' '"'''^' mechanioal^nS^bcTng
S f^t^^ I"' ""* '**"" '"'K*"^- '''»' cumbersome and
coBtlv mtermediary, was suppressed. And in thiswise the
Cnb^y^T '"^'^ '^^ ""»' °' «'««'ricity would bHowered
«mX "^f ""^ ".'1°"'^ ••« P°«=i''l« to employ it Cthe
smeltangof ore. A first battery of electrical finaces wa«
indeed almdy being fitted up, wd MorfaiirfnUrf despT
Sdit '"'^' "°""^ tis^blast-fumar'as if 2;S^
TT.^"Jl^V°.' immediately give orders for its demoUtion.
^th t^laJl"^ fu^T^^ «•">« """"l^ve «perimen?s
work went on in both forms, and the old smelter snent Mme
abominable days, for he now realised that ^e weU W
monster m his charge was condemned. He saw it forS
Z^na^^ "TrP '^,* ^ ^ ''^«"' 'herea^LlquS
pi«l such little space, and did their work, it was said, so well
wl'Sor'^''- !^°'^'^°' ^' P"'*' ^ of rancoSi. neTer
went down to see them, but spoke of them disdainfully as of
™n^Sl^!i,'^"'5.'"'^, K"'*" ""» *^« ^"'Pi'e of 'he world
??™f ^ ft"""*' ^°; °°' °°« ^ould have to revert to
«™rk5r"*^"=^J'?"* ^^ b"™' '0' «e°t°ries without
hrnrrL**^'^^"'*^*^! *nd,alonewiththefewmenunder
doi^Zl'^^"'"^""^ '"?''' "''« himself, Morfaia looked
down contemptuously on the shed in which the eleotriMa
r
that foUowfag upSiMtt ,hf M ^''"f, " r- ^•'^•l*'
after which It might be d^oliJl.^^ 'tf'^P^'"' «> «° »"'*•
warned of this, did not ^sweHut^ai^^''*'"' '"'■ **?«
bronze countenance reveSSff nnrt,;„ 5^!^ unpaeaiTe. his
soul His calnn.::, filftfea"SS2. MIT" ^ ^'
»o%rbrrh?rrlti^^->^?^^^^^^^^
Baymoni Fort mo^^ Jk /* rP."^"' ''""'8''» his son
as Tforier days' S7he r^w ^1^.'°"°"* '"*" "~"'"««.
livid ekV over ihe dark eartfi^ W*'S'J'"°8 ''O"" «
broke the silence, sari^R? Well tho ' ^'"^''.''? "^o »"d
there is yet another^^' *"' ""' '™ ^"'»8 for me.
farJL%fe'mrn-u„^^rVoJ^°"r' "'^ *° ""« '"«'-
shadowy in the inore^faW?''^'^ ''"'«»*• "l^eady
time, tfie nsaal woaTm aSn^lT" ^«''^°' ^" '^-^ '«*
into the plug of refracto?^ ol^ ttt'^' ^ '^" ''« tl»™'
finaUy the tSmX^S^ff*^? i'"'*,^'' '"^"e< ""^
stream of flames nmm^onJ thf ?^ '"**f^ -P"""^ ^""h. a
WOXK
393
mo™^w«"tobj'l"'i;^^""' «»"'• '"'"' "-at there h no
cort^"4Sfto°lrnow' X:f'"°'*'= 'Father, you've
must hve somethnes with one ^'d'lI^.IHS.e? '^h ^thS
go away now.' ' * ^°'"' ^ " ''"^ » '<"'''• »"' you can
washes T^t^ Zth bed° ET^r'*^ '^ ""f "^' ^ ""^
order to make tu™ tW if was nteteT^S" And"!'- ? '°
wwng to abai^do'! But at lasfthl TTk" '"'"'^ ''»
and then one moming the IraSd nM ,"°°^2^!" *"^«^'
him BO manyjears of study and experiment ^ """
•So^o^'vXr'eSLSlL'^*"'^'' *■* ""^"^^ i°y-'y-
iiuo, however, scrutinised him rather anxionslv W. v,. j
of the Bnelter. underk orders, however, b^ saved wifw^
394
WORK
Ui»( death which he had oontemplaied, petohanoe ai a laat
eof hii loorohed frame (o the monster, ai thoagh indeed
let hii pride in dying by fire, after loving and »er\tag it eo
laithfally for more than half a eentory.
* It ispleasant to find yon still inqnisitive at yonr age, my
good Morfain," said Luo, without takmg his eyee from him.
' Now, just examine these toys.'
The batterv stretched out before them, showing ten fur-
naces, ten cubes of red briolt-work over six feet high and
nearly five feet long. And above them one only saw the
powerful eleotrodes, thick cylinders of carbon, to which the
eleotrio cables were attached. The operations were very
simple. An endless screw, worked by a switch, served the
ten furnaces, bringing the ore and discharging it into them.
A second switch set np the current, the arc whose extra-
ordinary tet.:peratnre of two thousand degrees sufficed to melt
almost four hundredweight of metal in five minutes. And it
was only necessary to turn a third switch for the platinum door
of each oven to nse up and for a kind cf rolUng way, lined
mth fine sand, to start off on the march and reoe;' tiie ten
pigs, each of four hundredweight, and oarry them into the
cool air cntside.
' Well, my good Morfain,' asked Jordan with the gaiety
of a happy child, ■ what do you think of it ? '
Then he told him of the output. Those toys, each yield-
ing four hundredweight of metal every five minutes, oonld
torn out altogether a total of two hundred and forty tons
daily, if they were allowed to work ten hours at a stretch.
This was a prodigious output when one eonsideied that the
old blast-furnace, burning day and night alike, could not
supply one-third of the quantity. As a matter of fact the
electrical furnaces were seldom kept working more than three
or foiu hours, and the advantage was that they could be
lighted and extinguished as one pleased, in accordance with
one's needs, whatever 'quantity of raw material that was re-
quired being immediately obtained. And how easily they
worked, and what cleanliness and simplicity there was I As
the electrodes themselves supplied the carbon necessary for
the carbnrisation of the ore, Uiere was little dust. The gases
alone escaped, and the quantity of slag was so small that a
daily cleaning sufficed to get rid of it. There was no longer
any need of a barbarous colossus whose digestion caused
disquietude, nor of any of the numeroua and «uab«noma
li;iL J
WOXIC
395
!S?K^*"' ">•?»"«•". the beaten, the blut mschmerr
t^the ooiutani ooireiit of water, w th which it had^
Me««a2; to eomjund it. There 4a. no lon^r any fcjrf
mptTingr the moneter whilat still ablaze, beoaueeTtwver
wap^went wrong. Loaders watching a the mouth ifd
■m<ato» piercmg the plug and broUing^in the flamw of the
oLran^w"" '<»'8«,"9'?»ed to be*on the alert, foUowSg
nJ^l^fif/ ?• ^° eleotnoal fumaoes, extending over a aurfaoe
rf?u ili'l *ll'°,'"'«'^v'^? """O Bixteen feet in wid^S
Boinal^ft.f^^l''?"''' ''»^« '"'ffi««d to >et eveiything
™toh of the eleotrodee, and a third at that of the rolling
-n^^' ^°7?° "''"'' ,°' " ' ^^t do you think of it, my
goodMorfain ? repeated Jordan triumphantly. ^ '
^J^" ™"t».'-™H'*' '™ '°°''«<1 »t the fumacee without
SSr^'/tTA'Tf- %' '"" '^^"dy "t band, sSdowl
weie numg the shed, and the working of the battery with its
rf oW m^JtSIT 'T*^ ** '^™'«'' '•'"«' t''- little ««"
^ore, moy^ by the endless screw, were emptied one by one
3hl^?irf'lS 7"°*^ *.« P'»tinnm doors^penecC t^eten
Itj^ fl ""* **° .r^' *•!"** "PO" ""« gloom/and the
ten pigs, flowery with cornflowers amidst lars It whwTt
alOT^ and confanuously journeyed off on the rolling wTy.
Bowever, Petit-Da, who hitherto had remained iuent
^"t^.n «»"».«Pj«>ation8, and pointing to the thick
S th-^ •^' *T°^8 ^"^ "■« "f'e"' "rougLt the current
Jo^a thZf '^' '^ T^' 7*?° ""• *»"'«■ *•»« «leotricity cZes
along that cable, and such is its force that if the wireswere
seywed everything would be blown up I • " ™ "^ '«"
l.n^'.n''°'S ^°^'' eahnness had reassured, began to
langh. ' Don't say that,' he exclaimed, ' you would ^ten
our young people Nothing would be blown up (Sfy thS
R^M^'^i man who touched the wires would bS in diiger!
Besides, the cable is a strong one.' "-^oi.
'Yes, that's true,' Petit-Da resumed; 'a strong wrist
would be needed to break it.' "^uk wnsj
Mor&in, stiU impassive, drew near. To reach the cable
he simply h»a to raise his hands. However, for a moment
39«
tyoxx
■
long«r h* rwuintd then motionltM, nothing on Ui teonlitd
M If with a T»gae prenuitimeat of a estartmht. ™™™'
n„.n^„''„^S? *ri»t you ..7?' Morfain at laat .xelainiwl.
h„M^?tt°"i.'"Jl?*?''f^ ""w •« intervene h. eaoghi
illn..^* ""• '^''' h.. hand., harfened by fire anra,
strong as iron pincers. And he bent the cable and broke it
S* ^'-K ^°i ^ghtninf came, the wires met, and a
mighty dassUng flash linrst forth. Then the whole shed w».
?ft??„MV° fr^fr-ul-'?''*" "^^ ^e heKoSht but
the faU of that tall, hghtning-strioken old man, who fiopned
aU of a piece, like an oak felled in the forest. "OPP*".
AlJ^^r' ^ *", ^ '"°'"^- ^°^'^ ">d I'M. utterly
Peti??»^.Vw'i'i''^'?"'T°''"' M"'»« '<> •» dead, S
«,. ii? "^'?»''•^^•^0"d and wept. Stretched upon h s back,
fte old smelter did not appear to have suffered. He lay there
hke some colossal figure of old iron. However, his g^mu
were smouldermg. and the fire had to be put out ConbtW
he had been unwilling to survive the well-L.^ mon.to. that
blast-furnace of which he had been the last fervent wor-
subduer of fire, the conqueror of metals, bending ben»^ £a
wSIl^^-n"' ytr""J!?h l"* « P™''^ ""f *»■•» l^SS over!
whelmmg labour-the labour of humanity maiSj towa^i
future hapoiness-as to make it a title of noW^ hIC
JnT.hT'f^""' knowing that new times were boin,bS(riSg
to each by the victory of a just apportionment of worVf
little re3t,a httle gaiety, a h'ttle happy enjoyment such 'a*
hitherto only a few privileged beings'fiid tested, dSg ij
from the iniquitous suffermg of the greater number, ^d h"
Will ^^^ "rr ^'t^,' °'""°»*« J"""" 0' the ancieTanI
terrible corvie, like a Vulcan chained to his form » Min^
enemy of all that would have free7hLn7set«ngT; ^lo^i^
his servitude, and regarding the possibli diminution of BJ^
fermg and effort as mere downfaU. And the force of the n^
^^^^H^^V^i which he had come to deny and SsSt had
annihilated him. And now he slept. /""amsmi.naa
R ^?*"t.1 'j-" i?'®', **"* °""* marriages took pUoe. stiU
further blending the classes together and fightening ttTlKmds
of that fraternal and peaceful people whJe?wa.T4 «a^
>tCii/,
•^J^a«. HiUir* FromMit, th* tldMi fon ol Ln« mn» i«-i«.
brotlur • /n.1 in tti. „ >"« was BATerin, Luoien's younoer
3 to «,.^riL'°tr^.V''L"P'?°8*r^
^lI.j-„ "••people, tbe resigned and miffhtv toilara of tlm
JXtSS"^ *"" "'ol-t-nary worker w1.o',^ea"wnS
Ma'j^n^"^ 'aboST • " ""' '^PF descendants of Luo
The ancient leprous district, the filthy hovels where lE
rbis-r«rCe.trrct^^^^^^
39«
WOkK
who* M(»b h«a Urad eoop«d op in fUU, hud glvtii pUe* io
bMlthier dwaUingi noattand throagh th« hag* gtwdmi, whioh
BeaaoUir wh baoomiog, «Mb of th«m ^ity with light and
with itreuning wkter. And the city WM foondad, » yaiy
grut and very glorioni oity, whose mnlit kTenaM em
•tretahed »w»y, overflowing alieadv into ,th« Btiguboorins
fieldi of the teitile Boomagne. > -«
Till mowrean went bv, and love which had onited w man;
oonplei, victorioui and fruitful love, brought eaeh home-
hold a floresoenee of children, a new growth going towardi the
future. At each freeb generation a Tittle more truth, Juitioe,
and peaes wotld spread and reign throughout the world.
Cue, who WM already w-ity-five yeara old, evinced, with
uereaiing age, a livelier, a keener affection for children.
Now that he taw big long-dreamt-of city in being, bii mind
went out to the rising generations. To them he gave all bis
time with the thought that the future rested with uieu Hipe
men, who have long lived amidst certain beliefs and habits,
and who perchance are chained to the past by atavism, cannot
be altered ; whereas children may be influenced, freed bom
ialse ideas, helped to grow and progress, in aocordanoe with
the natural inclination towards evolntiott which is within
them.
Thus, during the visits which on two mornings every
week Luo continued to pay to his work, he devoted moat c*
bis attention and time to the schools and the erieha where
tiie very Uttle ones were kept. He began by inspecting them
before proceeding to the workshops and the stores, and as he
changed bis visitmg days every week, he generally took all
the turbulent young people by surprise.
One Tuesday, a delightful morning in spring, he set out
for the schools at about eight o'clock. The sunrays were
Boattering golden rain amidst the young greenery, and as Luo
walked slowly down one of the avenues past the house
where the Boisgelins resided, he heard a well-loved voice
oalUng him. It was that of Suzanne, who, having seen him
passing, had come to the garden-gate. ' Oh I pray come in
for a moment, my friend," said she. ' The poor man has
another attack, and I feel very anxieus,'
«>• lim. Wed to work, in" TTo »» sl«!!^."^ •" '^^ •♦
PT« him , idod of ini,^toii£B .t ih-^*'. '^'"•*' "^d
tb« nun who hu n«» ^«!r^ Mr" «•"•»• •tore*. Bat
WUr from birth. U^wnrm^' *^J*^. who hai !,•«„
«!• or nuth^' Thu ^i'^T"' "^ "" »« '<>«>«•' bend to
whelmed. He ^SLdt^ K"'- '" '^**°'« •>«>». w«-
"o bnger wy Snnd of pC^ i!^S i'.?""°'': f« »!"<« wm
•Mk into iaoMMin. boiSST^^, ' u^".'^ *" ^"« Wm he
jpueed. HewM^4ndtaR£'l^"j'"?'' '" """^^ »ot bJ
-xi-ted. .xt«o,din4X"^h!ak'' ^l^^l
noMed phMtom aW «,^kT?. *»dering. like a pX
**ooh^^r;e^^°^tt^barthng W tte bu.SS
wWoM ail the othewTffiJSS!' ^' »■?."« ^^ nothing
delight and health wUoh^« ft^^!?' "'"'flowing with the
- he found that hrwS>^r^'s>r„*'.r- ^^-^j^^.
work amidrt that nation of CI«„?k°'^''"' ^^? ^^3 not
upon him that he was the W T' """ V""" '^«» "«i»«d
nation was a nation^ dave8 w^i^ "f '.""■• ""^ *•"»* «>>»
•maering inoalonlable wealth Jm1'"i? "°^"'T ^^ *■» benefit,
he pleased for his sole S„!^ ^ he would dispose of »i
wasommbling to piwL thfZ?;; ,-'^''^°"8^ °''^«'> 'ooiety
bin., and he Mmi^^e ^.,?P"'M.'^«» bad survived in
who, poeeessCWe oaStfl'i?/'!'^''^'' 8od-oapit.list°
other men his Xves th™* k^' *"•"''' *"^ '^'^^'^
«80tistiealhappiCs '"**"''"^ ''*"'»»" »' his own
•i*S'r^if:«°,»^"^'-h/dofth«ho;.o.d.^
..f-'
*9*-ff
400
WOUJC
vam-loofang ooicomb, always weU groomed, freshly shavea,
sad weanng that distinotive mark of conceit, a siigle eye-
fcii ^ '»I«""8. Sj'ooe and weak mouth alone WTealed
t^Ti '■'f °^^w°"°"^- •^*. *^'" °"'™«°' he was about to
s?t:d'ov» ws'i!^."""" ^ "" '"'' ^"''' *°^ ' ^y •"•"«
T „.' !^'J: '^'^J' ."P '. •^•^^y 0"* ^"^ "''0"t I * exclaimed
n? * a good-natured manner. "-"aeu
..««. i''''\°*°*°"'''.'?y ^*" '«"'"''' replied Boisgelin,
after pvmg him a suspicious glance. 'Eveiybody de^r.^
me. How can I sleep m peace with all those miUions which
my money brmgs me m, and which this nation of workmen
"^^I'^r'^'^^ll ^,"? "bligedtosee to thS^^"
otherwise there would be a leakage of hundreds of thou^ds
01 irancs every hour,
.„-^^"f?°°® °'J'^®-* ",8? °' ^^P*^' *M addressing Lue she
said . I was advising him not to go out to-day. What is the
use of worrymg like that.' imasH me
But her husband sUenced her: 'It isn't merely to-day's
Sr. Jv it* "0™.= »e. Jere are all the sums pUed up
already-those miUiards which fresh millions increue ever?
SntffiV ^ ?""'? '°'« .^y»e" "^ong them; Ino longer know
how to hve m the midst of such a colossal fortune. It 1'
l^^ ^"^ ^ shoiUd invest it, manage it, watch over it, in
Anl„t?,°^T\'°y^°'''^'" ^'""^ robbed-is that not so?
I^WlntJ "" J'f'?.'''*' **™*''y ^""^ 'O*. and makes me
ha"'n^?he7fi» ^^j^^d.''"^"'"'' *^^° '""^ ""^ ^^ ''"'
His voice had begun to tremble dolorously, and big tears
LllAT *"" "^r^- H« •'^I'ed a P"iable objeS. a^
^^™!?^ ^?'??^y ?^°y*^ ^"''' ■^^•o "garded him as ^
♦^?S^ i''?K'^/u'^l"''"°"' ""?'""« otherwas now stirred
to the depths of his heart. ' Oh I ' said he, ' you can at Irart
take a day s rest. I'm of your wife's opinion.' If Iwere Tu
lair5Vrs"^,oir ' ''"'^' ^' » -' ««^- »^
But Boisgelin again sorutinised him and, as if vieldine to
. desjre to confide in him, as in a safe friend,Cum^ :
No, no, It IS mdispensablo that I should go out. What
bothers me even more than exercising superlieion o.or mv
men and my fortune, is that I don't even know where to nu
Jiardi I They end by b«»ming an enoumbtanoe-no room*
P'JSX
4»1
*«««. Boi^elin profit^ by ?he OD^"*f'"' *° ""'"i" h»
&,?f «?-5- He could :tS?^:2t'.M. ""P r ' °' «"«
??*" ™ »nnlit avenue, he epeedilv 5; ^ ^''i "''' '""'"g
""Pulae was to ran aftei hii^^^d brinf PT^", .^""'^ S^^
aet ifT-y""' "»? Wend? Tefe^^ '""''' ''^ ^"6-
«ot wrongly in letting him wanLfiK ? Suzanne, ' that you
him prowling around tCioSowT*' ^u*"? °«'« ""eet
tremble for him, fo' he becomes ,fn 7"'*' J '"-""""eo
harden of all that imaginary mnn.l 8''J?"'y, breath the
ffit^''»"*d°°«''i^itauStoLl^'^ that a sudden
1 shut him up ? He in n„i„ S " "^ 'eared. But how can
him in conii^e».„t ".°,5'L'"'PP7 »"* of doors, and t„^,!t?
T,Crl- "*''* ^°ne with it in is to i^„ fl. ^ ""i' » ewden
1 shut him up ? He in n„i„ S " °e 'eared. But how can
him in oonii^ement woX L ^^Ji' ""* °^^<»". and to pC
«mM .°P*"''» to anyb,
Tt, * "' schoolboy ■ " -■"■»"» as wua and as
resolved to adom^Ly hir'tl"!,*" the schools Suzanne
Baxty.e,ght already, 'fint she bL'" ''^ »««^: e^"' was
?ofave.ever desiro'us of ^o^L Sf,^!?'""?'. ^-ealthy and
helpmg on good work. And sSL .h "t^ '" '"''e«. and
wh!fi'"'' '"'' '"^ l^'d nothing mot tn^ been living at La
IS ^"l"?" """ied and the f^th«rJ ° '°f ^^'^ «"" Paul,
had created a larger family for herse.fLT"' ?^"'''«°' =be
*fc '"'^W'o and singing for somfi nf */ becommg a teacher
the schools. Th,-« h.i-?j J-^°°.™e of the youngest nnniu ,„
.e musical Ltte'^S \-J,t »'!<»
'"" BonooiB. This hebed hor TT i- i " /onngest pupils in
her to arouse the muskal iLttir' ^T^^' ^^ ^eUghted
She herself was a b3 ™ '.°?™':' 'n those little ohildren
was not so ZchrLZTeZ r' ^''".''" berambitTon
to render their 8ingiL^Z',?S''?J''. '<='"'"'« '» them, as
the woods. And she L5 ^^f ' 'i''^ *''*' "f the warblers of
w«i .11 the aono«us''git:?:nr'«"'?"\"='^'«-'h^^^^^
*he young ones who Re° tlr f* '" •"/ *'*»'• ""^
cer hands afterwards filled the
DD
■^
!0^f^'^'''*MjmjtW?^-
401
WORK
other dMsei, the workshops, and indeed the whole town, With
perpetual mirthM melody.
' Bnt 70a don't give yonr lesson to-day, do you 7 ' Loo
inqnired.
' No, I only want to profit by the play-hour to make my
little cherubs rehearse a chorus. But uiere are also some
matters for me to consider with Soeurette and Josine.'
The three women had become great, and indeed insepar-
able, friends. Soeurette had retained the management of the
central eriehe, where she watched over the very little ones —
the children still in their cradles and those who could scarcely
walk. As for Josine, she directed the needlework and house-
hold lessons, turning all the girls who passed through the
schools into good wives and mothers, well able to manage
their homes. In addition, the three friends formed together a
kind of ooun(ftl which looked into all important questions
concerning women in the new city.
Luc and Suzanne, following the avenue, at last reached
the large square where the common-house arose, surrounded
by green lawns decked with burubs and flower-beds. The
building was not the modest pile of earlier years; in its
stead there had been erected a perfect palaoe, with a long
polychromatic facade, in which decorated stoneware and
painted faience were blended with ironwork. In the large
halls erected for meetings, theatrical performances, spec-
tacular displays, and games, the people found themselves
at their ease, at home as it were. They frequently frater-
nised at the festivities which were interspersed among the
days of work. If the little houses, where eaoh lived as he
listed, were modest oneSj the common-house, on the contrary,
displayed dazzling luxury tnd beauty, such as was appropriate
for the sovereign abode of the people-king. The common-
house even tended to became a town in the town, so fre-
quently was it enlarged in accordance with increasing needs.
Other buildings, too, arose behind it — libraries, laboratories,
and lecture-halls, which facilitated free study, researoh,
experiment, and the diffusion of the acquired truths. There
were also courts and covered buildings for athletic exercises,
without mentioning some admirable free baths, flooded with
the fresh and pure water captured on the slopes of the Bleuse
Mountains, that water to whose inexhaustible abundance the
city owed its cleanliness, health, and gaiety. But the schools
especially had become a little world by themselves, occupying
» nniaber of bnildin™ na«, «, *°3
^— -fwitiu to mem. ■— «• eu
nime^hparf Ltm br^L.t^'^ -»« those littie^ },;;«,- «
Pl«ted''^te:^°°^°^«',« .ngh^^^^^^ amidst a g„de„
ticnlar charm, derived f^ i, aavanoing years a nar
F^«-; ^£"£"-^-«hf^iir^i
^-^ ws:.e t" t-r^:-r,--t^d£|
j»|Js a^rL^ :^Sinr' ^-- - holding «„
tandSoenrettewase^^S? "" ''"' °'<i- '^'"''e right
"" '*"-'»™ grandson, Olivier
IP
D D 3
wsmmm^mt . ifP^m
404
wosx
Fromoni, the child of hia eldest son Uilaire, and of Colette, the
daughter of Nanet and Nige.
' Oh I ' replied Soeurette, ' it is merely a splinter which
must have come from the table of his chair. There, it's out
now I'
The boy had raieed a alight cry of pain and then had begun
to laugh again ; while a little girl, a four-year-old, who ran
about in all freedom, hastened up with open arms as if to
take hold of him and carry him off.
' Will you let him be, Mariette ? ' exclaimed Josine, full
of alarm. 'One must not torn one's little brother into
a doU.'
Mariette protested, declaring that she would be very good.
And Josine, like a kind grandmother, already calmed, glimced
at Luc, and the pair of them smiled, well pleased to see all
those young folk who had sprung from their love around
them. However, Suzanne was bringing them two other fair-
headed little granddaughters, H^l^e and Berthe, who were
twins, in their fourth year. Their mother was Pauline, Luc's
second daughter, now the wife of Andr6 Jollivet, who had
been brought np by his grand&ther Judge Oaume, after the
captain's tragical death and Lucile's disappearance. Of their
five children, Luo and Jofiine had already married three,
HiUdre, Th^rtee, and Pauline, whilst the two others, Charles
and Jnles, were as yet merely ' engaged.'
'And these darlings — yon were forgetting them,' said
Suzanne gaily.
H^ine and Berthe, the twins, threw their arms around
the neck of their grandfather, of whom they were extremely
fond ; Mariette also tried to climb upon his knees, whilst little
Olivier thrust out his hands, which no longer hurt him, and
frantically implored grandpapa to take him on his shoulders.
Luo, half stifled by caresses, began to jest :
' That's it, my friend, you have now only to fetch Maurice,
your nightingale as you call him. Then there would be five
of them to devour me. Good heavens I what shall I do when
there are dozens ? '
Then, setting the twins and Mariette on the floor, he took
hold of Olivier and threw him np into the air, at which the
child raised cries of rapturous delight.
' Oome, be reasonable, aU of you,' Luo resumed when ha
had set the boy on his chair again, 'one can't be alwayi
playing, yon know ; I must attend to the others.'
another litH.''''"*^y''«li
»t tS^ ^i™,'''' '^se that they wmfiil? Mtenningllng of
toe wK:r";»?l^«> her Httle folk. f„, u „.. .... „
"MB wnen some at iho™ . i . "'"^ ^'Ki for it was
nor^i , ™' ""* Josine for 1
needlework ward, where Mve?;,
was also th«
for her
of
406
WOMJC
the Uttle girla prefened to gpend their pl^-hour in learning
to make dreageg for their dolls. Thaa Lao alone foUowM
Sazanne down the oovered gallery into whioh opened the At*
olass-roome.
It had long since been.neoessary to subdivide the olasaes,
provide more spaoious buildings, and even enlarge the depen-
dencies, the gymnasioms, the apprenticeship workshopB, and
the gardens into which the children were tamed in all liberty
every two hours. After a few trials a definite system of
education had been arrived at, and this system, whidi ren-
dered Btady attractive by leaving the pupil all his personality,
and only requiring of him attention to such lessons as he pre-
ferrcil, as he freely chose, yielded admirable results, provi£ng
the city each year with a new generation that tended more
and more towaords truth and justice. This was, indeed, the
only good way to hasten the future, to create such men as
might be entrusted with the realisation of to-mor-ow, free
from all lying dogmas, reared amidst the necessary rettlities
of life, and won over to proven scientific facts. And now that
the new system worked so well nothing seemed more logical
or more profitable than to abstain from bending a whole class
beneath the rod of soma master who would have tried to im-
pose his personal views upon some fifty pupils of varying
disposition and sensibility. It seemed indeed quite natunu
that one should simply awaken a desire to learn among those
papils, then direct them on their journey of disoovery, and
favoor the individual faculties which each might display.
The five classes had thus become experimental grounds, where
the children gradually explored the field of human knowledge,
not to devour that knowledge gluttonously without digesting
any of it, but to awaken individual intellect, assimilate know-
ledge ill accordance with personal comprehension, and in par-
ticular make sure of one's specialities.
Lao and Suzanne had to wait another moment for the
school work to cease. From the covered gallery tiiey were
able to glance into the large olass-iooms, where each pupil had
his or her little table and chair. Long tables and forms
had been discarded, and the new system made the pnpil feel as
if he were virtually his own master. But how say was
the sight of all thess lads and girls mingled togeuer pio-
niseuously I And with what deep attention they listened to
the professor who went from one to another, trashing la a
conversational manner, and at times even provoking oontn-
•^l^i^k" #.
^•ureaau the interest of r ,?;;„'•* '™ '^ason then an
make them oogn sant of liV!n„ *i,- "^ mammate books Z
«he passion of idew And^* '"«'' *°"' ™P«t to tLm
Pleasnre of learn W an/ £^*"-°" '" »"»n of itSj .u^
a™, eiclaumng: • Good mofni^ <±S ^^"''^ in £uX'
Xhis was Maurice ih„ =„_ i &,*™''"*'''er.'
•nam^^Ba^onrM:.'"""' ^^^'^^o J?^n>ent, who had
Come ohild^' shSTreS'n ' ^*"''' ""^ nightingale .
^th^t^et^toto/s^dri^,^- Amon^ascoroof
Bonnaire and L4onie ^nri^r ft« '?'"1:."'« ""n "^ 8«v^
Ma-Bleue. whose love had flow^^ daughter of AohiUe and
^ks o the Bleuse Mount^T^te,? '^t "^^ ^^^
jvonnot, a granddaughter^ A „f^..? P'l '^as Germaine
Bonrroa. A handsome ^sSLtel H^"" wdlSrthe
and m her one found bIendSlS^l!J"'f '''"K P'l she wm
other, ft amused Luo to n^,il?l?^ ""« agaSst the
those alhanoes, those fiL, ^'e' the intricate skein«„1
"WM9 enraptured hiiaT^ ' ^ '**"• 'hose endleg, in!
V :^'^
408
WOXK
But SuMuuM Bpoka: 'You lUU hear th«m,' ih* nid:
« 18 a hvnm to the rising gun, a saluU on the part of child*
hood to the pUnet which will ripen the crops."
Some fifty children assembled together on the lawn amidst
the chestnut trees. And the chant arose, verv fresh, pure,
and gay. There was no great musical science in it. It was
merely a series of couplets, sung by a girl and a boy alter-
nately, and emphasised by choral repetition. But it was so
lively, so expressive of naive faith in the planet of light and
Kindhness, that it possessed a stirring charm as sung by those
voung and somewhat shrill voices. For his part Maurice
Morfam, the httle boy who replied to Germaine Yvonnot, the
girl, possessed, even as Suzanne had said, an angel voice of
crystalline hghtness, rising to the most delightful, high-toned,
Uute-like notes. And the chorus-singing suggested the
warbhng and chirruping of birds in freedom on the branches.
JNothing could have been more amusing.
Luc laughed, like a weU-pleased grandpapa, and Maurice,
full of pride, again rushed into his arms.
niaUinafi'.'f'i™!'/"^''^/^"^?'"''' 'y°" "°8 Uke a little
nightingale I And do you know that is very nice, because in
life, you see, you will he able to sing in your hours of worry,
and your songs wiU bring back your courage. One ought
never to weep, one ought always to sing.'
' That is what I tell them I ' exclaimed Suzanne. ' Every-
body ought to sing, and I teach them in order that they may
sing here, and in studying, and in their workshops, and
afterwards throughout their lives. The nation that sings is
a nation of health and gaiety.'
She displayed no severity nor vanity in the lessons which
sue gave in this fashion amidst the garden greenery. Her
only ambition was to open those young souls to the mirth of
fraternal song and the clear beauty of harmony. As she
*K^'?5 J ''• 'J?«°eTer the day of universal justice and peace
snould davra, the whole happy city would sing beneath the
'Come, my Uttle friends," she exclaimed, ' once again, and
carefully, m time. There is no occasion to hurry.'
Once again the chant arose, but towards the finish of it
the young vocalists ware disturbed. A man appeared amidst
some shrubbery behind the chestnut trees-a man who fur-
lively turned round as if to hide himseU. Luc, however.
perceiTed that it T7as Boisgelin, and was greatly surprised by
mS^Ali"^'
in«JecUbl6 wealth i^ order tlaH „• ?«'"•'<»• away hi,
tim. He was often me. beha^tt^*" m5' *" «'°1«° ^"m
with fear, at a loss where hrmiLht^i" "'^7"7'*"'«'»''ling
fo'tMe, the Wright of wwS^wedl.lS'^ '"r '^'" "«?'«
w^th p,t:f ,i th78mht. and bS v«T 1 "• ^"o "'""idared
to perceived that the oM^rin wf^ ',*' "°™ «oncerned when
Uowever, Suzanne whn h.j *
wpeated in a louder Toioe7' Keen timr^'^ ^?'"«''"'' P"'".
bl^vl^SS^nterfJimtSt'tt t""'^'"^' '^"^ •
«?^*'^T°" '''««WWren° recovering *K .^°''«""8 shrubs.
«luted the sovereign sunlriSS I ?,S? t^eir composure, had
Suzanne complimented therifn \ ■ •"i^'"' "?• ^uo and
them to their nlavTh.-!? '"' '^."' "^o^ts and dismisap^
.pprenUceshfp t^Lsh^J "on'S Z^&f.^'I'iV ^'^^^'
'D«d yon see him ? • SuLnn« izf/!^* °f ""« garden,
moment's silence. ' Ah ' >.e unhan^^ '° * ^V 'O'"'- »"«' •
makes me I • But as Luc tijersnJr!?'^' man, how anxious he
he had been UMble to follow S»r ''"''?'' '"'" "«'«' "^"t
•gam, she once mor" proved ?oi°. V^ '"'? ^^ l«>me
foUowedyon; you would wrhad f^ . ^^ ."""'^ "°' have
there would hive been qtSte a sc^/'^^^i? ''"" ^im, and
"^'" to you, is that le may be fo^d Jf' °i^^'^' ^
with his head broken.' ' """" ""me day in a pit
the «S,gP"i'^,'«^7. for they were now reaching
playtime there, ph^g wSSd ^fiT» ^P*"' * P"" «>' ttei?
hroidering, whiUt othen wiS^'refc """' ""'*"» °' «".
»Wpo( ground busied themselvM^t^ S^*'" "«'8hbonring
iwefflng. And now T.noTfd sL "" ^'»««»' 'owing, and
«tandmginalar»e7oomwhTrls!ZfL!!??'" ■"«' •r°««e.
•"aoWnes. place! side by side T,«*'if","?«' ""^ '«aving
Birls and sometimes by b?vsHe«*?°'ked sometimes bf
3wn were singing, and a iovn„. .1' i^i'" '*''»»l of the ohil-
Mlmate theXgh^p" ^^ ' "P"^'* °' emulation seemed to
'Do yon hear them,' exclaimed Suaanne. whose gaiety
't ^*^
410
U'OJIX
•They wiU klwtyi tlag, thoM wubUn
had ntnrnad.
nine.'
Oh, grandmamma I ' said she ' I can't tn™ »,-
ass- '"• ^ ■ " •!.- c.'.S "'dS;
took aninterest in these little matters awara u iTi »!. tiT *
everything has its importance, thThappTwe"e™nTn™n
"r^^rm-e^riSlrelo-^L^l^FSf
"'-e th- loving 'a^dd:"t^"irarS'*tht''hdZC'S
powerfully to bring about the ftdfllment '( Us dr«S ^,
nr'JSi^^^f'^'^-. TheysurroS h m Uce^bob
^W ^^^mw'"^*^'^' *^«, '^'"""l love wK he
detail of ^rStion ^tt '^fe it' t!^« «S?«
towards the works, their loving eye^ long fouff hi.'Z?
The factory halls and workshops, which were now mn.h
more extensive than formerly, were'^till of the h^ttT ^
which comes from an abmfdance of sunshine ^X^^
know wh.t pain waa »nd fifShlj < '' "••a»«lTM did not
Stha e«Ler dkw th. ^^f?' machine., not tho maotoS
awJitne., muveni tooliiWifntT ^ "*«*'• '"'" ''beratinK
Around tho» b™ dy work^« Srl^L^K'*^'' ""»° ""te.^
WM« only «o many driwn ^f 2Sf?* ''' j'^'rioity. there
ooneirted in moviig Xe™ » .i2?^^'"' 'S'i'"' "wJ* dntie.
that the mechanZ ^^ p^peW^ Th""""J?"'"°» """*
not exceed foor hours, Mda^^E; J^^' "OfW"? day did
two upon one task, beCrJheT^ S th. * • T"' °«'""'.n
houre by a mate whiJ«t v,f iffJ .?' ™ eipwtion of hia two
of wor/ind^trijS^ l^eulCa P^f"^. ^9 -"me other fom
the general employmS,?!^ ^11/*' °' P"'"'"' '"lotion. Again,
•wajwith the up^t?L''S'"?P?*" badvirtuaUydre
««2nded. and no^erwere enw/. T^^°^ '"^ on^'
workmen, the voeal mirth XhtMJ''u'''? ~°8» <>' ">«
their BchoolB like a florescence of h» J,^' •"? ''""Sht from
whole lives. And th^Sng of uZ^ "°'^"^'"'*°'' """i'
sUent machinery, at onceTo,^LriX°? ■"«» <^<^d that
proclaimed the dilight of iusrilnri^n f f,'"' '" ">«»ge.
^ A. Luc passed thr^„g'h''«,fhX™t'' '^"^r^^ ''°'^
furnaces, he paused for a moment t? «^^"""* 'i"* P"^"^?
words with a strong you^gm^ ^f t^lr*" '/^ ^™"'"y
who managed one of S Z^.l "*?,?' °' thereabouts,
assistance. °" '""aces without any need of
»ti;fiTrT„f?;'red"^ *'"°« °° -atisfactorily. are you
Bo/^^!'''V:!lV^V/^^^«"'^U\^^^ and Marth.
pnddler, who had now reS^j^^i***'' ^^^n the
fertble task of ^ng tb^^^^u !f '^Z' *"^! ^ P*'*"™ «>«
bar amidst aU the flarteg of tte fire^f ,°1!^>''' » '""S
P«fonned by mechanioll means and ^n^J^« •'"'' ""^
oontrivanoe brought th» A,7n"~ V-° -. ? I^i. f ingenious
placed it on the oharint ^'Ci^"° -t ". °^ '^o furnace and
Without the ^rl^r^;^jf J^;™^^* ^^^^ the helve hamS?
^iJ^i^Mm
4I«
WO/tJC
limb. rem»irdn« nimffiS "PPeariDg on fail brow, hS
imder tb« hammer, one M I i^ *l? *" ^'l^* "• """^'n
trioit,,»nd doing ev°^tb?LtS!r;.'*i'!"'L''?''*^ by •!««.
without nwd of LrS^ S™ Sff .'" ^ ^'"'' ''"*^'
thi. •ide and now u'poT h.t AnS tt & °'*'',"°» "P""
W eaaUv and tbe wund it ».l . hammer also worked
that it became lite rmul^i °"' *"? ~ char and light
of the workmen ^ "oompaniment to the mirth
hi. 'hanT' 'ThUet"'; "1" ^tf^'«*'f ' «"« *~»"i««
intereeted, and I ahl U d^o f oouple o1 hou?. l^''^!' ^"'^ 8~"'
workshop.' ooupie ot Hour, m the oarpenten'
le«?t%:riou!r1:S^nVXil7tre?" '%»r^/l«'''*'i^
order that he ^KtLl^ml^T '?■ * ?' *■" »«•. i"
to M,y-good work, good amueement.' ^* "*•" '"^^
far indeed froTthTold ^ !l-.H?!i''''"l'''* "-»»«« to b.
glowing pit. kowUdd^ lit. „ ^•'y"' "** baU with ita
worked, M'':^!?.^ o'f fire 'ha7'totft"rt "'^ •*'? '^^
their hundred pound.' weiX of f„.,v !',»^'' "•"S'b
the old-time grim^ filthylhL the™*w«*^- ^"^ °'
gaUery, harinS broid wi7do™ti,rnnaK t? ?°!^ • I*"'"'" -
Btreamed, and a pavemOTt rf & I'J""? ."■« '""^^o
opened, batterie. of ?^metricaUrdi±'i^ ''t'''''° *"<*
efeotrioity wa. emnloved to .™fk ^u ^*° furnace.. As
Bilent. cW r/Ch^ 5l*^C «"'7««n"ned cold.
the eye. of ^^^^^^ '^f^^t^'^ ^^^^^^^^
•OhI no, Moi'^r if;^' r '°»'' I-uc a,lod ho.
of Ev»ri«U Mi»..v J'^"*^ arawD near w« :!" ".r* """^
bi«.fe^°^4^K .if ,o„ wouM .,, ^ .^ .,„.
n^V "^ ^ ''«"«° stiu7 "' ""■ ''^*'' "^ yo" sons iS>d
ii
111
m
414
JVOXK
fimoy he amnaed hin^ >fter completmg his Teguli fo^{
W work by preparing omamenj ded|ns foTX'°tte
However, he had abeady set himseli to his tub »)„«i,
wav Rin«l !'lZ?° ^?", v«>7 happy, looked on in a iS^
m™, „?^u *°'"?^ '""^ •"'^ "^n employed the tMriwJ
uproar of the machinery had ceased • one mU^J^ii
ti™^f ^r '^^«5 Twas aU the good and«,n8tIS?|rodM!
taon of an epoch of peace, raUs and yet more rXii^«
that every femtier might be crossed and ttaftte^ti^
drawn closer and closer together, miirht h««nni» w ^T ^
n^on., spread over the surf^^lftt,^ *"^hwf '±
beoommg a perfect network of roads. ^dTaddibvJftnThf
maKTrTelTA""^ J^l «^"« '^^ "^ ZZS^
matenais for the erection of the mnumerable edi6oeB whi^
the reconcUed communities needed for their pnblTliflth.
common-houaes, the libraries, the maseums!"hrawln^ kr
mfancy and old age, the huge general stores ind thZ^e/
fnTt^Xl'^'' "^* '^^ "^'^P "' '^' federatentlSL:
Ana nnally, there were the innumerable machinan i3
apphances which upon aU sides and in aSfSo" LCj
2fc ^%.- Jlk . "T^
o' i^ mty of fraternity, jS^dT;" ■'*'' ^ *^« -««Son
Before Mtnnanxf homaSjTPP™**-
glance at the battorrT* i . ^^^'^ desired to (rive ». i^
PUoedMorf^tCTte?,' H.^f,,^««' wWcf h^J^^
one of &e^VlZ:^ThlTJn *^^ *~"> «S?t tZ.t
Lncian Bonnair. andS,?," w ®' Cl»"dwe, the daa«htM 5
b^tte. E^ Jhe fejf^^^^, «d the otherTBu^rb
^Hne. Ab it was nee^ that'ftL^' J*°,^* "^ EnSie
attention to switching t^nrSfl ^ "'""^'1 P^e »U th^
««* only able to^ l?LSrB„tT Tt"^' W 'ew^
SL^TO a^gronp of chUdref who^'^ '^'^' "^
^S/^;'^^^P^^^r^ -an^dtivelyon'
Lndoviol Q4.S'>,'«e Maurice 1 Good-day, my little
yon hare come to f«"Sr'^ ^^ ' Ar« lessoii ovi^, ^^
crea^.S"^! ^tS^irlf'i *^' '*?^» by way of re.
nofaons of various fo™?ofwor?«y*°°Jf, ~'9uire so^e C
*^e place in comparative CdoJ r ''"^ to run a^t
-de^Iain^l,3t?h:S7ffheti;r^^^^^
«.ou^8h ^y1S«Tl^f!!,?\^P05*-- .
'"ne years old had'
of a littli
already leamTrgr^T
a man who,
many
4i<
WORK
thingi, axelaimed ' Oh 1 1 know, I't« aliaadv mvd. it. Oiand-
lather Morfain showed me everything one day. Bnt tell me,
grandfather Froment, is it true that there need to be fnniaeei
as high as mountains, and that one had to bnm one's lace
day and night in order to get anything out of them T '
The others all began to langh at this, and it was COandina
who answered : ' Of coarse there were I Orandfaiher Bonnaire
has often told me of it, and yon, Maurice, ought to know tha
story, for your great-grandfather— the great Morfain as he ia
still called— was the last to wrestle with fire like a hero. Ha
lived up yonder in a cavern in the rocks, and never came
down to the town, but from one end of the year to the other
watched over his gigantic furnace, the monster whose ming
one can still see on the mountain-side, like those of some
storm-rent castle-keep of the andent days.'
Maurice's e^es dilated with astonishment, and he listened
with all the passionate interest of a child to whom some
prodigious faiir-tale is being told. ' Oh I I know, I know I
Grandfather Morfain told me all about his father and the
furnace as high as a mountain. But, all the same, I thought
he waa inventing it just to amuse us, for he does invent
stories when he wants to make us laugh. And so it's
true?'
'Why yea, it's true I' Claudine continued. 'Up above
there were workmen who loaded the furnace, by emptying into
it truck-loads of ore and coal, and down below there were
other workmen ever on the watoh, ever nursing the monster
so that it might not have an attack of indigestion which would
have prevented the work from being properly performed.'
r^l^^ ^d, *»* iMted seven and eight years at a stretch,' said
Celine, the other young woman; 'the monster remained alight
all that time, always flaming like a crater, withont it b^ig
possible ior one to let it cool, for if it did cool, there was a
great loss, it had to be broken open, and cleaned, and i^oat
entirely rebuilt.'
Then Claudine resumed : ' So you see, my little Maurice,
your great-grandfather Morfain had a vast deal of work to do,
since he could hardly quit that fire for a moment during seven
or eight years ; besides which, every five hours, he had to
clear the tap-hole with an iron bar, in order to release the
smelted ore, wuich ran out Uke a perfect river of flames, hot
enough to roast one, as if one were a duck on the spit.'
At this the hitherto stupefied children burst into loud
'^ -^iSf-il
WOJIK
417
I
-^t^i';„r:i,^iSrL^!?^S'^" T'' ""■^^ «--
too mnoh troable.' ' " """' *•"• Bi^en one
days.' "• '°' " ^ 'e'y amusing to work nowa-
been tSd hiL And T way S^Z^"' "'^«'' '?'«'' ^ad
ended by savino. ■ < Aif 11^ »nmmuig up everything, ha
dnok.' ' ' ***' °°* "o longer roagti like a
cnof J.Si^;&^^t'«c'^^,t„S' Wee. T" "^^
by a Bimple ewt™ ThT^l*M *^ the ourrent on op off
«UamB^therBS^;.I^V^|Zht7"l'^dt^.^* \'
that hid dSSi^ I Pam-raoked giant Hving in a world
Bo«gelii,^o ttd. KM onSo?,^™."*^ P^^«^
^^•rt^i^h?^r£S^--^^^^^
otth7-;^^.^r:?iHi^S=-S
»o jom bim, cta him, and lead "hi'm^'tly hS^e^B^^
a a
4i8
WORK
hid lately bJW^OMrief off ,5tH; in ""'"S ^J"*"' N°™™
«nd retired, wu ending his dayTin a sLf^TSj^^ jL***
^ ^»rSrl^' ^•:^".'t^t Sa,„rett,, who «t
8<dioolma8te;lLa^W»&e„W.ij'Fr°*1? "** t^"
help me. This^?urelTthfri.?T "•'■./•>" »»?•" *<>
paeSons, evil ml^C^V^^l^^J°'^ 0P«»'«
appointed to crash, are noTOdlvs onlti™?i?"f ''''" ^^'^'^
is ft possible for ^rStetTto ha™ ^r^' '•' ^T" ^O"
jdning the priest in Ws hf 2^ of aSl who I.^.^ Vj "^u"""'
l.M^ r*'^^
JVOXX
?>nr ehoroli will h. «, i ■*''
OOP religion, no doSbiwMn^' '*■''"' ^ "»* defend itf
•dmitteTthe neoeS T 'T ?""«• B"' I have alwa™
Catholid^nw^^leT^;!/^?-"" for ">«. Peoplol'Sa
So ,star yourself I We «e^th^„ governing machine,
expiauationafterwarfa, whe^i. C' ""^ ''^ ^ have an
ground together.' ' ™ '* ''»^« re-conquered the lost
-^^^^m^^tC^l^^^^" ^-'- Aa . rule
At last to slowly said : ■ I do th« .k i^ ^°'''" °' ««' "gry.
ay altarev.^„'on^„g ^^^;°^^« w^^^^^
faiplore God to perforS a Se ^l"^? " ""P'7' ""^ I
He deems it nec^sary • °™'"- He wiU surely do so, if
do nothing.' °°« """st help oneseUl It is cowardly to
.^Xn, Sfon"tlorht°;'°ir'''' 'r '"^ -
* H the good doctor tSs stSl he« ■ Jri"^.*" intervene :
you not to agree so weU S;, "^ ?*■*• ^^ ''ould beg
agreement ^nlf mXs your Ih^m' ""-^ '"^ ^'^l
ae. my fi.eni; i shouH ha^J^L'""*;. ^°" K^^^o
7»ve- -on to oar ideas but i^ ^ '° ^appy-not to
o£ «I .^oe. a little of all Ih. „ J? you admit, by virtue
effeete j this region ■* ^"^ '''"<''» ou. 'eashav.
inde^^d^p^tret'tetlf''^-'' '" «"-««- ^d
jeo- hearth, so to say, rf the new ^J^T"^' ^^^^ '^^
danoy she stiU exercis^ ove! th!™ I' ^^^''^ "J"*' »«>en-
put up with the pr^s^oe of Luc thi'"-''f ^^^ "■«? "^^^
though he, ;t should ^ adm^?LJr J'^'''°T"« adversary,
»PP«««;ooofiriumphingovt^*e^' ^T''"'..'?^"'''^ ""
he reframed from iitervenin J h™L '^'i"=!°° 'his occasion,
might deny aU that heTad "rt^J %'^'T { H«"a«li»e
this was simply the last revolt of i),/-' ?H' "'°''8'" ^uo.
agamst the liberation of maL Imth w ^n^^Pl^ °^ authority
seemg the nations so nea? fte pl?'??''^ "^^ '°''^y- On
weU as reHgious servitude, Z S aS '1*^? fir""" "'^ »»
once aU-powerful Church, wtichha^'ir"*"' ?***« »°^ 'he
for possession of them, now tri^ f„ l.'^"^'°"«'y contended
»d^I«^e themselve'e ^ir, *? ^Z t Teco^e? te
■ Ah . • criedHermeline again, -if ,„„ ,^ y„^^„
■ I 1
%^
4ae
WORK
»bW, it mntt be all OT«r Tn »h.( ^ t
b.aten: it i. ^r GodHiZif'to I'or ""^^ '^'^ "^^ ^
any farther. OnlyTSIat onivl; ''^■*' *^^ nobody epoka
eholypa«t,BwepttUn?hthe^rS CX f^"" K'"^
rose and took his leave ThLiu ""*"'"■« sohoolmaater
the same. Scam tte ^ishld ■?<; "Sin in?T' T '''»°* *» ^»
which at each recurring visit sheV.Sh^''' ''"'^ *^« ■"«
pve him for his poor. Thl, t^^t ''"° »«enstomed to
alms which he hadlbMn ■J««L- ' '"O"*^*'. be refused tba
forty years; ^d to a loHttrj^S^'"'?'" "°" «»«
you. mademoiselle; keen that n,ot ''°"/ ^^ = 'No, thank
His'^eLT\'ld''?et?t*LXr^V""l^° -" P-"'
more BtarveWs in that toS^nfp '^^'?• ^° ""O" P<»r no
80 black, so wSS^ Mripi^''"°\"'''^"=^''«''»dJmiTO
come from the waae-ZS,™ Vl 1 ,«?'!?' «"«» "bioh had
and crime soon dla^Cr «»„ ^**'?^. '''^n '' 'ould ah^
tion of work °n ac^oX^ wUhTuZ"'.^'^ ' P« ^rS-
bring about a bettor .„^!!-J"°''''® '^d '"ffioed already to
whef wo7ksho>5fon^''^i!'T«°' S! ''«^""- ^"^-^
joy. an entirely^f^^ "^'! &','"'°''" ""^ J><«1«" a^S
people the happfdw ' bwtherly race would assuredly
bad hitorMSei'/r'*' ^-iPP*^ ^ »^ ""«.
through which no dSuM K^^tr' ^^**'"P°° 1*««
i>ftr'f:'"^Hermel"e haSe^^^enr^v ^* ""'•
without takinit hi. evfl« nff ti!„ * aeparted, he woke up, and
watching witi pasTonafe tow"* hf '^i"'.'~°'"^*°^'
manner: 'Each time that T...?^' "o said m a dreamy
My sad and ISous lupp^Llrr''* \ ^«°°"' ^■
Buppose it were never to risl^,^ „r"!u"°l,*° ""n^ back,
bound earth, what « to Jki- ^^.. "'" ** '"'ack and ftost-
lifel ThTs'u^rtheS'the^'L''^"''' '^!? overtalTall
germs would wither or rot ' kr.t^^^' *j"^°* whom aU
must place our ho^°of"jiefiSd fnlnJ^K*^-"^ «"»* '^
were not to help us^fe wo2fd soml "^^^^ '<» « "
ly
I
4»*
wosx
^^|ln deep Mleno. feU in the little lotoi. foU ol weh
J^wboMte mtim»oy. It wu delightful toieelhrw^-
pedwJly .toeped in the gloom. Twne gleami idUhorS
jurt .bove the Wb, whilst the pSt t^ fcd^Wl^lSd
Wme hke light «,d quivering%pp«tionri? ttT'bh;
h^.? ^"^ ".J™ "?' ">« BweetKlrts' honr-theVe.*
-?^ *° 7''°'° "■^P"'' "^ ^ Cr4oherie remained oMTwd
Nobody troubled about the roaming" shadowy MunSi who
holdmg one another by the hand. gr^uaUy Sited aw« and
fc3^^ ? 1 .f°?' "'"^ °'''"' B«lianoe was placed on the
freedom to love that was granted them, for this Vonld ^mdeJ
them gentle and chaste, like future siouseTwhom B.^w!f
become, an indissolnbli tie if iJ^tuSHe^ tS W.
And at.^ ""f another, knowing and consenting, nwer p^
^iot^^'t^Ml^ avenues, over the U^swhere^e
BuaaowB stretched, there came sauntering couples, who neonlad
mTS'v'?^^'"'?' *'"'' ""yterious glS)m Siddrt ttHdlei
ofdeUght which the fresh odours of W broSTht froK
As oUier couples arrived Luc reooenised unnno «!..«
several of the lads and girls whom hehKn tattf ™A
shop, that morning. Were not yondefsh^o^ fo^n^'i;
?^e"same V^ °*''*f,."'ii' they iemed ca?rie?by o^^nl
o&^T'^ *^'^* »°^ ^"« Fauohard ? loS th^
o^ers too, wtose arms were tightly clasped around ewhott^
waist, were they not Alexandre Fenillat and a&rS^™
fancied that he recognised his son Charles ^ hf. .JJ!
around the dark-hSd Celine Lenfantri^d Wa so^ jSS
Ahftle'^L^f^i' T^"^ ^^^ ^ Claudine fiSm^^
U,. I«»t J^ '°^' *^ messengers of the new springtide
^li^, r,"'t^*? .^ '*""' *° *»*^ idling within^mS
glow of hfe which the generations transmit one to tWher?
tir^w^^h^^^^'J^^" "^'^ ^niver which comes a iJe
first whispered words, and the innocent caress ^ nl!,n ;^
Which ignorant hearts seek one ^^.^Vil^^TZ
#m.
ttta iMae park to exehanm Sfto..TK T^.""^ 'IP^ ^
For there would ever Ua^^ ^i^Ll '"^^ '^"Son-
•nd more free paesioa Cd^» S^ Wpmeaa wd more
BTen now other mqdI«i rfjS. *" "".<»«»»• of h»rmon7
•ftf' the good da/ oi^ woii tte ^^- "" wq°Wte evening
tnd cover, ahado^ lik^ dia^'^T* T?* '^<^<* ^^
Perfime. with noiiht breK^n^ "!2P*^> °'y«««'y Md
•ounds of langhterind KwT* ^ ""■ '^''<' «w light
f^ 'i*'^'t^1::^f^^Z^"-'^^ onteide the
And on finding himttere .h-^i^^S""','' •^° "wking Lno
wwied bv Bo&mJin'e n^lon * i°'1. ^ ^<" ?™'tly she wm
wtumed Wrteteli*^^,«««'. for ie hed not y«
aoors after nightfalL ^ ''* ""«»^ Mke this out of
W«' to^K^^filLoi^'Xl*!;'' ?^ '™»« •" 'o'ving
old child I • '"*'• •"> ' 'J"* unhappy num, the poor
r/''^n:?"afr/it?.'l:'^«J!«8ohomeagai„. -He
•honld be the,. FrSrwrti^.'^J '" '? ''^^''t you
bri^ you tidings.' '" "y P*'* I will h»ve a look round ind
inthX'XtirofreK^'ii.^' "d -"'"•a the park.
•J>op^ Buthehad^S^v?*S!^H.'^<'n«thework
*M near the littlTwHS^^^K*^ '"^^^ '"«P«. ^d
J««diBe. when he lSted1„ h!i^„'^°'?'. qni** • ioik of
wUoh came from imlS^alnt m« ',"«'" ""yof terror
«mto that foliam thL »^ olnmp of greenerV. ^m
• What i8 the matter ? mat w S* *»" Cl"dine Boniaire!
But thevdid not answer 5.^,1*?"^/°°^' ^eoaUed.
tenwr, like love hirnl ^ ' ""^^ "^^ »» beneath a blast n*
«.«8ttgh^^entt^r°"CwhL'?''' l^^ ^«M by
Mter the oopse.he alsTLve v«.t w.^°°,'^'^ ^ded tb
Porhe had almost fa^Sdi*?.T!f'^??«'>;<'' horror.
414
WORK
gUM. oj light fklllng from the Aj whart th. .tut «^ ««.
^Ah I ih. vahaim MM, the poor old ehild I • hiiSmnMJ
h2!ri&lf.S5^u> 7"^' »nSir.ding quit. omST ttS
«,a UM !?• ""if **' "• «»n^ioM he out doSitS bod*
■»*
H'OXJC
h«r*,to th« wret<!h.d end of the nM?«.T2^ '^ •«qnuii»ed
tt« gre»tegt stir M dl was dls^dhvT^^i^,,"*^^^- ^•"
flew thronjh the desert^ n"e ' "" mmm which
^mX'/^UuJ^'nhrn* TdSU^l' "!%«'""«* would
•nd waa in a yerv d.m.»2ii?^"'^"»'eeo't century
«d... The rteeJ^htd^aSr b^r'/"^'Jr« "P"" !^'
yjWpreyiou.ly/butfromSokrfVnT.ftP';'';?^ '°°" '"^y
to poatpone au'work on the ™fini "u "'i?^ "^^ "«<'«8s"y
•w»r. were Mready yieltoB fJ .?' ^l""' '"'^' ""ton
»PpUoation for. glint had Ln mi ""^ ^" '™' *''«>7
orerbuidened with debt> iL^ ^'^' "" ™°- The State
Jjpon Theto^Su^tef^'a'lt^^^^^
ob%«i to "ek i^^oSthe^^l^'thrr"'''' '"^ ^^»
•••eMie inoie and more nrolnti • , '"?» ««">» which
not to fldi upo"KufdfA!%^rl"i\'^««' ^«
thodoomof werithypariahiSera th.^.^^,^^ •■* '""»'' »'
•way, their leal wai W Sn^' n '^•'"?' "«" dwindling
b»««/Bl lAmo^ th^*^?- J?°""? the lifetime of thf
PWTed iome oomiensatimfif, i. u' T"'* "treme piety
Prieathad fouTd p^"S,°°i,elD iS^h^^'Tf ' ''"'"'«°. th^
ever, only Madame Ma«II. 1^^ "•. Subsequently, how-
onlr did'her Cour d^l%\WZT^ •*°^'""' »<» °ot
generous disposition. In wurse of^tin,?" " •■"" '^'"' »' •
fier fortune consumed her^nd ,>,, ^Z" T""*™ »=Peoting
quently to Saint Vinmnt in f,?,!? • '™.' '«»» »°d 'ms fre-
to thejrieet save a ?e°;°JCr ^mtuTefwb "^ ".^"^^ ^" '"«
n- clungobstinatelytoK^^'oTrb:tt'5f^m^^^
IM
?.**
4* tyojtr
S^uK f!*^ ««n»iBrf, tlM ehaNh bMtm* quite .mptr. ud
wWoh jB««klnd now rt iMt Uft hi. rrinioTSl^^La
Hoondhfan. Hm eomnUiiMM h»d bMn dowwUm kTmH
^ iU own mlquitie* In t^ Cd h. oMt th« «lS^
wlMon o»er iti lui tgonj ; it had ditd unidat • fln^l i^U
And u ywn, too, h»d 1m woglit • tOugt in thoitriot Utter of
dogm., in order that h. might oon«d?nothing toth. tath,
ol wmc, which, he cold redi«,. wereTStmting to tte
5?^!ir^''^5»f'?*°** ^y^^^ «>• •MUrTt edifice
w!».S^ would be dertroyed. Science, Indeed, had at
theKmgdom of God wm .lout to be «>t. not in wme fJidou.
pmdiie, but upon ^ very euth, in the nune of triumphut
oonwoui. free, jnd muter of hiJiSetiny, wieTweeping mmt
^•i^STt S'*^"?.*^*. *»"'<«"• of ^bolimwrnWuX
heh.dlo.thinMeU3uringthe anguU^ of hie long etru^
•^rt nature. After Uie templee of ancient idSatn^
^ohc ohuNhe. in their turn £ad to iU^fp,^, now fl^ a
fraternal people wt Iti oertein happincM in the »Ie force U
ite hnng KOidanty without need of any poUtical .r.^ 3
puniehmente and reward.. Thus the Bril.r«iiicec<KSn2
and hdr table ahke had been deserted linM the WthMUd
departed from hu church, beheld each daywhenheceUbratod
TH,^^,^ "S?"" in the wall, epreadig, «id the bMo.
of the roof, yieldmg more and more. It wa. a eoiubut
wumblmg, a gradual prooeu of dertruotion and rain, the
dighteet premomtoiy wund. of which he could deteotT But
■rnce he had been unable to rammon the builder, even for the
?J2i.^'?.3! "?f™' ^ """^ neoeMarily allow the work of
death to foUow ita courm and culminate m the natural end '^f
n^flik! 1.^* ''■,y\l^'^*^ "d continued to .ay hi.
^,'a^* ' ^"^ °^ ^^' "Jon* wi1> hi. fbnaken raced
whilrt the roof cracked more and more above the altar '
A mommg came when Abbi Mario perceived that uother
large rtreteh of the vaulting of the nave had .pUt durimr the
nreviou. n^ht. Aud although he now felt*certeirS the
downfaJl which he had been anticipating for month, pagt, he
neverthelesB came to celebrate his last mass, clad in his richest
Jf. .-^ --^^MIP,
trojtr ,,
irSS'Tb^.'tin^..^*^'^**^ with . nc Uk,
«»rdtn iMto Uut .Mleft forgethUlv oat of dooiTttooiaatJ
i„ .^^>'**,A'>W Marie wu reading the OoiDel he h«»rf .
:'S!a:peT2J^"&sr^^ "eir*^ir/wZa"Li?'
"e ™w °fi P' V °« f? '^"'- »"' »» t"^' ve^A. "h»
ihf ^ .' u""*'?? 5'" P™y"' '""d »he oh JiML . ™ w
.1S,SB'^f :^th L*!;?' """"'• ^* T" «^wi»tior He'
ofr»^oXhT«r.e^^ra\rt-4"xi?t"3
4>8
JVOXX
■teeplS tcitend ^d tSn in ita IS^ »' """"^er. The .haken
ol t^e roof open, Md taij^ *J^'«"' "PP^g^ttw renainder
hage litter of atolel wd «?» ^J^^ ^^^"f^^ "° »« •
nanti of the ehrttered altar h^l^ ^'°*PP*"«? *">' '^e rem-
Wa blood. And in Hlf. t. '.u. "onsumed his flesh, drunk
great crndfirof pa^Md"^ l'Z« '!1,''''''J°""^ °'^"
been shattered to atZT,!? Vr*1, '"^- ^hat also had
«hgion^„ tad.1Sriast nril'" '^"''- .•^'""'' y«' ">»"'»
perked ^thSe'la'Jt'ofTh'eCh'r'* •"" •"' ""*■ "^
-^^S^AZ^^^"' 'h ^t^ -cl.oohn«,ter.
folk are wont to do ^hen haZSS T** *'^'^i'8 "^""^ " <>"
words flonld not be nCnW 5?.^^- 1' ?"?« ^^«^ >de»- His
tain thS neSed nS^lC nnl^ '" ^'"? ^«^ *° »»-
dead in his bed. S'aJ o^ '.f* J?"™^*' *" '*• ^^^
had been ol^red away . ^J '^ "" "T^" »' *''« "h""*
fine tree. 2nd Aadv wX^ridZJ" P'f»*«^, '"*«. with
LoTers went thither on ri^i^'J- '"set-smelling Uwne.
to the park of La CrfioheSe^. t?°"«'l '"'"° " ""'7 "ent
ing, children yei^^^'Ji^^^^^ *"/' '"«' «^« »P"ad-
lovers whose Wsses to^/.w ''~°?"'g 'ovew in their turn,
After the gly dft d work ^« l"*"" '^J*' '*'*°«' ''«»«^''>
ing upon ever, fide LTT}^^ f^l"' *« "»«» "«>■"-
slept the dM* of a «,li°nn °/ ^^\ ?«^g>>tful garden where
now beheld the «^wS °A"«'*'''«?°'«"'d death, one
flonweenoeofUfe. ^ °^ '""°*° J^^' "»• overflowing
?rS?nr'a^iS^rJ^-^t~Sh1«'^^^^^^ "*,
^mJw. -iBi
IfOJlJC
4»9
JbMltli.
reward oFIim lone effnr^ *i. ^P"**"' *"* »<>» tastsd >U ihA
BoShiaW^oiS,*? ^»^!!«" - waning,
^VB had stood the ga A the Iht^* "^^ Z'^"" « fonae?
disappeared. Kear thlt »~,f , ^^^' ^''■='» had long giaca
p..nned the MioMe^barL^L" T^ "ridge 'Z'Z'e
^™»* had been cc -ed o?er^o? « !■' r"*^*^ ^O' ^^
hundred yards, to admit ntth * distance of about a
What'lhi.^.'^'^'^^ Pf'^ago ofa broad bonle^d."
wonld erer hani^^iJ/W J'°'^^'' Bonnaire. ^o
threshold of ttTaSuaBil^Jl ^°T." ""ok and n,„^2
owr which there w^^l^^ "i '?•* "wad. open mac/
lined with BSSngloK 'A"!'' "i^S^WookinraK
moment, erect and h«d4^e lib, t^K^*^ «""« i^ a
he experienced ereai m»^ ' "" *" Wpy old man he wiul
this other seemed to Ce*bS^^feS °^ "»• ^^
ofethes were in tatters, hi fi^!?!^ K^T^' *>' "«
kwfeame emaciated uidZmbKn^^^^ b"*/ with hair,
' A poor man I • mutteredBnnLf 'nth some e»il fever,
astonishment. """""a Bonnaire, speaking alond in hi
f inoe bSSi^S^ 'se^L^^W"^ ^*^ ^ now gone by
1« who sat on Sie S. Td nJ h3' '''?'"i' Iw^e^rthat
shoes and clothes weSthitf ^ h & *" ?? "P""- His
sunk opon that bench near the^^L "Au'"? ^^ '""«* "»'•
fotgue, after trampin.? The r™5, ^ °'^*^' '°^n fr°« sheer
-y SS?Iu^i^,?ZX'^T ,r 1° *■-: 'Can I help ,.„
jou seem to be in great diet«i7 '^ ^ '^nstj, W
430
WOJIX
Then, u the other did not aiMwer, bat itill lat hil
^♦l "T "n" '^^ '*? *°™ '"'• PO™* o' *Jw hoMon
to the other, Bonnaire oontinned : 'Are yon hungry? do tou
need a good bed ? Let me guide you-yon wiU £^ WS
tne nelp you need.
Thereupon the old and wretohed-looldng beggar began to
itammer in a low voice, as if speaking to himself : ' B^olair.
BeanoUur— IS this really Beanolair ? ' ^^
;i«l'.^"?u"S '' "' y°" "* »* Beauolair, that's oertfin,'
dedared the former master-puddler with a smile. iJnt oil
seemg the other give signs of increasing surprise and anzietr
he ended by understanding the truth : • You knew Beauoto
formerly, no doubt,' said he. ' It is perhaps a long time since
yon were last here?' «■ r e om<,o
'Yes, it was more than fifty years ago,' the Btranirer
answered m a husky voice. »"™«er
Then Bonnaire burst into good-natured laughter. 'In
tnat case I am not astonished if yon find a difficulty in
reoognismg the place,' he retorted. 'There have been wme
changes. For instance, here the Abyss works have dis-
appeared, whilrt yonder the sordid hovels of old Beanolair
city has been bmlt; the park of La Cr«cherie has spread over
everythmg, invadmg the former town with its gr^erv and
tummg it into a vast garden, where the little white houses
peep brightly from among the trees. And thus one naturally
fiS? '™~' before one can recognise the place.'
The stranger had foUowed the explanations, turning his
glanoe upon the wious points which Bonnaire with^tle
gaiety mdioated. But again he wagged his head as if he
could not believe what was told him. 'No, no,' said he 'I
don t recogmse it; this can't be Beanolair. Yonder are the
two promontories of the Blense Mountains, between which the
Bnas gorge opens ; and yonder, too, iut away, is the plain of
La Eoumagne. That's certain, but all the rest-those fine
gardMs and those houses belong to some other spot, some
wealthy and mniUug land which I never saw before. Ahl well
I shall have to walk further; I must have made a mistake
In tne road.
After picking np his staff and his waUet, he was making
an effort to nse from the bench when his eyes at bst restel
friendly. And at the first glance which he gave BoSSre he
mmmTi- 5^
r^mm.
WORK
431
Tiolenoe? All »w^ k- ^*^ ^ moments of nvage
'Bagnl- ' '
th. ^'.5^^ ''*?" P*°P'* •'»^ '^'ieved him to be dead I Rnt
Th!*^*'i?'^' " i^ y°° ' ' Bonnaire repeated.
U-^oJdt' tt\f •^""^i-W' h-d.h«waUeton
•Rn^o^' ^ *^* ^^'^^ '"°« °' '""ner tunes, he remmsd ■
>_'*i--^»r.
'-^^^^^ai^'^^t'J, r ''• '«,"*«^-
the Diaca whore I was BW tK, m!.*^'*'? P*«»« •*
shonldn'tWe died easy ta^Jf.M"', T™«^ »•. »nd I
in this direction ffl.i",T^'' l^*^* "O""' tor . streU
The roads are still free • * '"''"^y "V *<>. i»'» « »
'Nodonbt.'
bad'lISn -Tni^.'!^-;"^ ' y*« •80. When a man", go,
offer me hospitality UieT/<i,^^'4ij;.^J°'" f'**' '^'*y°»
Eagn's astoniehnZt iior^aaedf?! ^?°""^*^/ 0° *•" ^V
left, bat oonid not rJSS .' riLfi'"''''? ^."^^^ "^ *»
Bonaairo stopped befm^^. ^^'* "P*"' A* hist, when
eiolamation esoanoH H»»„ .u • ',o*"™P of fine trees, an
ideas of fomeT^ •^ht°l'^^n '"' ^V**" ™»^ S
you've beoome ^^g^nowl • ' " ™ °"^'' y""" '^^o !
IVe'^t/;''C^%^t't"ate.£^''"n '^"■"O.-
to^lay. But in a senre^it's irnJ^w*"' ."^ ^ "■ onlyoni
fortune, and aUW^ri:!;,^?^.""** ""'' •" "*lf our
said he, ■ and^ a SaTsUl works feT"' ^ t ^'^^'^^
bis fortune.' ™ " ° beoause he hasn't made
bouse, whToh wi that of\is"^an7//Tf"°«n.'*'''''« « ^'
the wife of Charles ^on.M.t ^n^fl^^*"**!' A*"'^^'. "<"'
l,«»n .i„.j —J ,_■ , '™men«. ^fdd^ iunot had long singe
been d^dTand hida ™h^'A Dfddy £unot had li^^'ein^
had folIoWeS hii. to hiB X^2w^ '•'* ?«™bleC
* frightful Quarrel ttM^iPo ^ "°^ ""^ previous year. a,&m
b. -P'/ -ade a^ttle S^^^tJT^'^; R^^^^-^
WORJf
of the Bentiers, whom v^ mn.t "^^ ?**^«"e' 'l^e daughter
Ortcherie. But shrand r^ i u°° °^ ">« master of La
«»w to all the rest.' "^o-monow, when ife dajMght, we'll
^->^, & tt?r±e^t?°^- /" t""""" -^es, those
qmteTeared him H^w*wm h'Tv^^f °« "-y "* » Aop
whm«> mai>7nnfa>ow'eT»t« «nT '° understand tiling?
b>rihs had taken pC ? h! "?^ '" x"'^' "■"ridges and
seated at a well-spr^ table !*„'' °°' T^ "^aiS, but!
«yenousIy in ihe ^a^oom ;hth Z' if • ?• ""^ "^^ ^^^
hy an electric lamp; The crmfnrtTj •'""'"'"J' "lamined
around him must h«™ w i?^ ?" ""^ ease which he fait
bond's Bhould°rfo^TeSed\^„r"^ "P°° the old va^-
done for,' as with his fZ w// °°? ^S^*^' "o™ utteriy
the food, glancing askZe ?he whil°eTt aJ? S!"'" ''^ ^«^°"'^^
happmess in which he h^ no^harA w-'^*'°'=°'npas8iDg
downcast mien at the sijht „?° I ^" 'e'7 silence, his
«ve of aU his long sttVL^„Z''^ '^°''°''' '"'' «»?'«"
vengeance, his now i^Za^fa T' ^" I?''"'*'^ tbirst for
seeing disaster fau'n^hewlniT "^ . '^^Pbi^g and
at toe sight of his gloominess ™nd?T?f *' "S"'" »"«»«?
^»'"es bo hadrollfd dS th?fjffi, ''™';g'> ''bat ad-
more and more aPtomahfld«t «„! •u-*'^'"^"'"?. and felt
»noh destitution. atfindmg him stiU aUve and in
' Whai.0 k.
' ^T.''*^® y°° oome from ? ' he endnd l,„ ■
Oh, fiom eyerywheremoreorless r Sf,„^ "nqnirmg.
reepme ffnsin../ '""moriess i Bagu answered with
a sweepmg gesture. - ....^
'Ah^I^so you've seen a good many countries and people
Md things ? ' - . -„u j«opje
Oh, y«i ; in France, Germany, England and America, and
4M
WOXX
^'^^^^^^'^^^
^d nothing of his old nature had departed fromWm ^t
wS?^i w?h ""'^ 1^ "> "^ l^^ °t revolution I iCHS
that did not prevent me from starving / "* "°^' "" •"
He had passed through strikes and terrible rirfn™ ;„
w ^
irOMA'
435
•PPe«.. unoo?^ ^^Z^'^.^^V'" melts Lddis
m5 flower forthT*. few &^d°;K'''r «*?"' «P"»"
brotherly eon. AU manS ""e glow of the great
But ho, Bagu, bad wortml T"^*'")" of the happy city
WM. had aimpi; s„Cft™''lTf,'«°*«? revellerXt ife
Jitaessed. mirdy eaw^iS blow/ ^^'"''^'"'P?'*'' ^^ ^ad
flndmg an opportunity oTOr^Sii.' *''f"'° ''"''O"' ever
for once i„ hTlif^Snlc Wa fi?,'"T * "S^ ""^'o ™Uar. and,
. confirmed old v.^a™nd and be.f.?f "y"' ''''^ b^-ne
for the Bo-called o,^ of just'ce an^^n!f' ^* t?""*^ »°' » ""se
lum baok his twentieth Ww^i^f^*- I' would not brine
PalMe full of slIvL whe«1^^''^'-'L'?''''l "ot give hiTf
amidst a round of^SUTi^ Uke'?.',!^'"''^,*"''^ J"'" '^^j'
of. And he jeered bittoT'atth.f5'"°Sl'^** ^°°^ »Pe»k
-^« Which ^r^^'X£-:i^^x£^^
«idB^!^*^'^„^«W sufficed for happiness' quietly
hejUthy and gay. I wSl ZwTU , ". ""^ '«'""if»l ""d
the aummer feativid »,«ri;) uV^ ; ■'^^o one on the morrow
frnito of the wrthl a^^^ •'*«^* '^^ »" the flow^^nd
amid* the ^ve^S" Su7?f I" P^^^r J?*""^"
tlae nowerful sTrj^nSSS bLe ° ""^ '"^' *° "•"<*
W^WdrS'Sia'^; |'--y anxiety, a cover.
to-morrow «IS f S!"' ^^Wes where the s^etv of
^i^u^^^iti^jTt,?"!^ frightful stC;,li'
">« town, bis own wliani^T'iT i'TS" ," ^iriuaUy installed in
'!
436
it^oxir
frantically on »U lidos, coma into being on bii nativa «Dot.
dunng hjs absence ? Had be returned merely to behold th.
felicity of o her., now that he himself could no longer exp^t
any joy m life ? The idea that he had spoUt his 8^8^"^
the very end seemed to him like a supreme crushing blow
Snill^'f.,T »? '".^ re«iness whilst he sat there £lenUy
finishing the bottle of wine which had been placed before him.
r^rii" ° Bonnaire rose to show him to hfs room-a sweet-
smelhng white room with a large white bed in it-he foUowed
with a heavy step, suffering from the open-handed biotherly
hospitahty offered to him with such happy ease """*"''
mon^igf ■'"'"' "^ ^°^ ^'^'^'' ""^ Bonnaire, ' tiU to-morrow
In J3!!'i^'°"T"°.''r:"'^*" *''" """e^ "orW ahonld fall
to pieces durmg the night.
Bonnaiie, who also went to bed, found soma difficulty la
pettinp to sleep, for he sf ill felt worried with respect to Bain^^
intentions rfehad a dozen times resisted hi/desiretoVat
plwm questions to him on the subject, from fear of provol^g
wLm^^^'T '^P'""*"?"; f"' he thought it Lght bl
S^tS^nlt^ ^'"P '^ matter in reserve and act hereafter
^^ to oircumstances. He feared some frightful scene ;
Z^^"^- ^.'v 'wtehed vagabond, maddened V want and
*sMter, might have oome back in order to provokS a scandal,
Bn^.i^l'u"""," •^"'^l' ""* «'«° »"«4t murder again
Bonnure therefore resolved that he wonfd no. leaTrhim
SiSl fTT" "^ *••* '°"°'"°e ^»y- Moreover, inhS
hn^„/™*'',T''"" f^e-Tthing at Beauclair. there ^aa £e
Jn^?n?i "' '«^«',?"d power a^ would make him realise
iiZ,fl wrt '^u'''?.'?^'' ""* "''«"i'»' o' anyonainT
-i^ ^''*° he should have seen and learnt eveiything ha
final batUe for the sake of general harmony, peace, MdW
fl„„^?*''""/'^™*.°" *• following m^ig a joyoM
flonnrii o? trmnpeta sped over the roofs of Beanelai/M:
^T^*^*Jt^'^°^^'"^- ThasnnwasalreZ'hSi
S^J^Si^"""^?^*^ Windows op«ied.pe«ti;Sifl?w
ttrongh the greenery from one house to another, Ldi one oonld
S?^ ^°l T '"^y '?^=8 *« <^ °f it. city, whilst
the trumpet (aUg continued, arousing from garden ti garden
the ones of chUdren and the laughte? of loving coupler
WORK ^j^
w Jitt cft« 2±!?',!r^ ''^«««. found E.«u up.
htdweUr. ed' SvCSZShS ^' **•": Now that he
former d.y, , wiStSd^SoTiSS? '^^"Mquite the jeerer of
to •A>o,^edgnh?UKcf^i?^'i 'rf'?* Md 'refusing
■eeinghiBhoitmter he SdSl».V ' «lighte.t propess. On
taruSnglanjh. ^'''**^ •»"* »><»" » Wa old evU
thoM who don-tTk; to b^' SSa^ 5S?lri.^''«?r''"» fo'
yon wakened every momC in«™. i, "[ '^™' »'««P- Are
The old in«tor.puX*p^KS;T^' ^^ "•*' ■"■^'' ' '
mood. He gmUed qS iSd^.™ ^^ H? «"*" *° ""'«
only the riv^i ^ orhMv^fTI'tf^i; N"' % ««''«
rd^K'^rr^ilSlrt^^^^^^^^^^^
-^S95 i^tdV^ - - -
you have hers— .l»ti.. ._j "" «garag au those uventiong
on. They m^ ?e S^i'd^ht ^°k °°'' '".»^« *° ■'^'"h
but it'i itiuTK.»!,Si:' ?°V"' "^^^^ one's in a hnrrv
~U Wo^^'dd'stove -"ind "".^r »°/ "^ °^-
he eomandedWying • 7yo„ wI ?" '"" ^l"* ^-^ °°' '^P'y.
ficeaT^'tSri^^^J an^'lJ^Bh' IV'l'"'' '■*""»^« »«-■
health and joy i£d gi^tth^ n» R.'7^°'' '"l" °°' ''^ '«?
8-dena theUathtd''^":S^e?a'X„^r'°" "'"«'' "^^
^T^^'^Zi^'^^'tAf' ^"7 0^ our happy
•TMT Sde andfertSe on, I?, p f " " ^*^8 fo»"> on
w»e egg8.LaraTfad?*i^\ ^'i the whUe eioth there
li
43«
WORK
old hcit Udih.d on hii wretched BUMt tETmort ddUoaU
^i^^T' ' ;*»P'f,»°d "iffeotioMie EoroitaUtT, wUohMt «»
gwion. eyenlng, Bonnidre prudently refnuned from iikiS
Bagn any direct qnestions. Yet he felt penuaded thlTSi
otoer. after the fashion of aU oriminaU, £«d r^,S.«d to ^
hXuu^'"*°"j oonowned bv an invinoible craving to
^ii' '§?"' f"^ know what W taken pUee duWh"
abeenoe. Was Joauie still alive, and if so what ™ riie
W ?„'r^-.^l.''**° »'^ '«"" d-^'b. and C helakSJ
ttem both 1 Surely It was an ardent curiosity with wspwt to
« J T. T^^r ^y""^ «"'**"* >" the v^bondTCgM
S!!;*!^!*"! ^^u°°' '°'°*^°° »^»°'' bowevMLprefeniaT*"
parenUy to keep his secret looked within him-WS^h^l
^.^."i^'i Wmseif with putting into ewcntion the pUn wUoh
he had thought of the previous night. Without Sntio^M
<For'™„ ^.'""r f "^^"^ the greatness of iS" mT '
For you to understand thinm nroDerlv m» ontA &110- ■
our position before we take a stroU thr/ngh Beau^. We
m^!,™«f ^1*2 *^'' '^""'P^' ""> '»" flore«»ncrrf the
movem.nt, which was scarcely beginning when you went
Mj.k J'®,!?'*''*1'° *•'» °"e" 0' the evolution, the esta-
W^ent of the works of La Crtoherie. based on an aiJoSa^oa
between capital, labour, and brains, a^d its staumUwS, i£^
O^hL^ •lu'u'^ beenvanquiAed and repUoedTa^
Oracherie, wth its pleasant white houses, Lad mdusJlT
ti^kJl? Bonnaire showed how, both in a spirit of tolta-
toMi «id by reason of the necessities of the position snthA
ciation ; and how m due course other groups had bMn fomiM
««ry caUmg of a similar kind grXly Wng .™ffl
together every fanuly as it were, mating Ld^mitin^
mr.™^™ "^"^^''f PJ^°"" "^ the one hand wdff
consumers on the other had completed the victory wort hS„i
reorganised on a basis of humanUdaSi3?riS to it!
tram a new form of society. There was niw only f<S?W-
► ^*iii:#'\
greaUymmplifiea: VerewL?L^ ****' '''*."»• becoming
pri»OM; fbr diapZi o^^jrl if „? °/ '?' oourta and
ttd no longer uried ma "afa&.lf"'"* ""'!«»' ««'"'«<'.
P.'1I»«. or murder. Wh5^Xjd°^JT'"~'"'°' ''»«''»
Mco there were no more ^rnoLth"'? »ny orfme left
brotherly pe.ee waa beinniwiS ^"">»»e"»«l one., eince
"ery day.'STbeing^atTfcoSdfh.T'''^ ^^ •?">" ^"^J
came from the h^pineS^'oTX .^»' «'d''«Jual .^"PPwess
blood tax-the ooiion^™, vJa ^ °* ^^ ""''gned, the
taxee; there werrSTtoZT ^^^ t^PT«> ^J^ ^ other
prohibiUve lawa. but In Uefthe^f^iS",;?! "y. J^nd or any
and exchange. And in Z^tXl .^i.^i*' '"' Pwdnotioi
innnmerable ewBtov^ fSSS""'"'*""^ *•"* P«tt-Mites-the
wealth had set in, auTh a Dro^lfffP"™?^'. *•"« Pe»tert
l»<iiw that from ^ea? to T^h^°™ i'^^P °/ ""''<" """"i-
wd3u»atened to buret bJZthtl^f^"™ ''*?™» *°° »°»U
of the pnblio fbrtune * ' ever-growmg abundance
r.aJh!d«>ie'S,Sf '•:i»*?"SP^ Bagu when Bom,aire had
do nothing ; Snd if von Itm trl""^"' *' """^ ?'«"«""« w to
To myidfa thereVno MttinZirL'''ie°I » 8«''"«"''^
K^-s^teT^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
'''dii^gl^'^iF^^w^^^^^^^ --
have pSc^' powr^fa oTiand«' ^"'- "'^1''' ''^"1' ^°"Jd
»«Wt the force of experience ? Vn7Z °' ^""^ •""" OM
U« witne«^g ^-^eruJed^ J,X'oo^7„PS:^ i^l
f i^.^rmM
44»
WORK
brothMly UppineM, which I antiut c( m lonffl And thai
p.h.nc. h.i coin.*om.j I'm w«k .nough-V you Uki to
put h that w»7-to rMt oontenl with tS-d«T'i oonqirti
cerUin m I am of to-morrow-. And tietory. 6f cSTS
liberty vA juntioa tr* not eompleta, Mpittl uid the »«■
jUm m»,t entirely diMpp«r. th« e'ociS p«,nn.t bTrid
^nr».M°"".°°'i^?;-^ And we try to Mt in each wira that onr
godchildren'. ohUdren may brTng .boat the reign of jomUm
ud Itberty m their entirety.' ' j"»m»
Then he explained the new edneational method, which
were m force, the working of the erfcAu 1X«,1, JnS
^prentichip workshop., t1.e adopUonlSd' cSTw^W
an the form, of energy .cringing from the pM«on., and th.
up-bringiDg of boy. an/ girU together wWi the riew of
ln„M 5 '** "^l^^ ^ "' '"'» °° "l""!' 'he city. rt^Iga
reeted with the conple. of to-morrow ; it might be taken thai
kI!!5i.^.°. *'°tF'"^?."P ""'^" "" inoreaw of equity and
kindhne.3 woulf eont^bute it. .tone to the flnlj eifio.
SSTt^Tth?!.' «*y.'"»i»h would continue aoc^Sg
now that the .uppreuion of the right of inheritanc»-alm^t
^^ly •««o'»/'V-prevented the building 0^^?^
the work of others or on egotiaticU .aving. of their own wm»
overflowwg with work, freed from obataolegand WniSiL.
wealt^ that production would aasuredly Seme day hweto
be moderated. Enjoyment, onoe reaervi for a few pn'Xed
f^.Sfv'lJJ"" to-day akeady within the reach of .J" Wf
S,ifn """"^'^ "?P'* ""> P""'" •^'fi"" had beMmo
I^T^ l^^P*"""/-'"*" enough to hold huge multoud^
S^f, nf tT""" t"*^ '1 commodious a. to & faideed taS
P^es of the people, centres of enjoyment where it Wedto
..TaMil"'*'"? °>°«/°'»?. and libraries, theatres, batW
Ser^lS'5 P'f"*" ^'".'i''«™ons of on. and another iT^
f^ h.M. 'k-^"".^'' porches,' opening out of meetmg and W
ture hall, wbieh die wliole town frequented in it. hou?. of nSt
ibW'y*../%.^*«firf.
WOJtX
441
T^. ^**. ''"' * •"•* Bomber of boipitab. nMitl iiaUuJ
toflrm and th* tged oonld antai freely ; othen, too. puUou-
I™ S! 'i"^ ^° " •Mlyetwf .nta their babei
motherhood end ohUdhood-the moft." 1,1 , in tli^ »,■ .- ^
ete™l Ufe,the child who ie the Tir . on!.n- iacltt,
«nUi^^\°°ir;' ?»»?•'» e»ilr ODjInd.-l -BiD.^, you h» J
S^^,u. f^';"';'*. "■ 8° »° i«c all a „, f.,e •l>.,.^.,ou.
i^i'Soikofr '"•*'• '^''"■'•^- ^"-•^'^
deoiBTeergnment: 'As you like; but »U >: ..mp „? Jr!
not gentlemen, you ere still poor devili if you atil woA
J^OTevr*"' "'• '"''° *"■' "^''' 'O"'" "-'^^ •
n, Jil-?'%^~/ "^ "■* •"""• ' "'"• •JoeWo oer with evjom-
modjbon for two persone wu waiting. Similar can woe at
the di<|po.al of all The old mMter-pnddler, whoX^Sul
£l!n,T^ ^ retained a dew eyeight 'aid a C
MdS^ companion get m. and thra fci* hii own eS
'Yon don't mean to cripple me for good with this
meohaniim, eh?' aekedBagu. 8«« wiw inig
.1 J»^„V' ^aK\ ^ ''"?«"'• We get on yeiy well together,
eleotnoity and I, Bonnaire replied, adding: 'You wif find
'LV^ ■ ' •' *"."" °»' '""^ "•'•<'•' drives our machinery.
MTvant. Oh I it has been necessary to produce it in incalonl-
and that the former master of La Crficherie is trying to So
niSil* 'iJi'iJ?'",'* '''t"°8 over Beaudair at night time,
and hve amidst the glow of eternal day.'
-i.iS?4k°*''^ri 1^'" 'i^ °,' P""^8 »U darkness to flight.
«^* '^ gWed rapidly along the broad avenues. Before
expiring B<«nc!iur he proposed to go as far as Les Combettes
m order to show his companion the magnificent estate which
waeohanginglnEownagnemtoapaiadiseoffertiUty. Ihe
*** WORK
"•ny 'oot paaienmn were almirf^l t ^^- ^ «»•♦
ride of the iad itoet^JdTlS!^tP'"*?*- . ■^<' <» eithe;
the old-time n«i™- » * i. PT*"* »«» of grain. Iiutead nf
'-'iytiiKrfor„r^*'„„°' i^-". bK.j^;^''/
3»ted by thousands of aawcZa V"'''' ^T' ""'■'^ <«J«-
•owened. ani high S^tiS^lLlrf Jv^"^' *»»• "^
vegetables and fruit eMhJSSSS Th?^!'?'^ *T° ""P' »'
WM spared many e&rts^i...''' '°"'"*^erT, man
enchantment oveflZ^' and l^'"*" /P?"« °P " » by
wa. even said thatlST woS^J i!^*' °' P'onghel land. l{
,^ or ^Tsof snSe'f'^oXTtre^^^s'^^C?
»we^S^"'.8?f„^"r'';"^«^ Bo"""" with a
for 1 ^eTO-to wh^ere^* SK riJ^J breadXad'
M bom.' ^™ »oqmres a nght as soon as he
Biok and the'tafl^'reteiTfelm'^ u'^'T"""* omftb.
good health it bo^owl^ml^? 7°''™?- ^hen one's in
The car was n^ tat^ ±,*° "?*i5 ^""^ nothing.'
rows of cherry treM^^^?*J??l2°^' »°^'*»« Mdfess
llghtlnl "peoSle^hTS^Lw'^* P'«»°'«d »^"
and green was the Ct K±S2 ^•*'«? »»* ye* ripe.
P«"»reM. NeTerthSsthW™**li2? the apple .Td
enongh dessert indeed for iTthM. „^'*'"'7 *bnndance,
•Priny. Bnt they w^ at l«t Z,1,°*^t°'' S"**' '^e ensaing
•ordil Tillage rf fomer rLT^'f- ^ Oombettes, Thi
houses hTbe^ St a^^ "Sl ^'"PP'*"^, and white
Gi«d.Jean. the onrmthTs^am wlf^r"^ ''°°««'^'' "■•
"to pnre water oontribntir^ to S'tT« 1'" "f^ oanalised,
.t;z:°TdiSd£S -^^^^'^^^^^
W wallowed'f^r -^r^feC^^^^^^'STS
p-mmw-
WOXK ^3
Wttted that spot, and an evolution had set in towards sdence
bringing health, wealth, and joy in its train SinaTTll w
jowenled to oo-operate 'the hip^toei of'^^^i h J^z^e tato
.t-_j« !*°"«J» old Oombettes,' said Bonnaire, ' the hovels
;S^^„','''^^^^ ^™8' -"d «■« fieroe-lo^gZSS^'ti
h^XraiL'^r*""^''""""' SeewhatfsSo'S
Jul ^^" "jsgeje^ousy, however, Bagu would not let himself
Sf wf te^*,. W,th that hatred of w^rk which had leSd
Sil L ^-^^ hereditaryhatred of a wage-eamer oKd t^
toil, he replied: 'If they work they are not happy Their
notbmg And though in former times he had often reviled
the priests, he now added: 'Doesn't the catechism sa^Ub^
work IS man's punishment and mark of degradWion ?%h«„
once one gets to h«»ven one has nothing t^T^heiS.'
Qn«;L.?" '^'u''*"' *" Beauolair the car passed La
Guerdaohe which was now enlarged, and whoM ^nn^
were fuU of young mothers, their b»L Td pUvM cSuTe^
Bat even tte «ght of that palace of the peop£3^te beauu"
W park did not influence 4^1, ' After'aSrwUtVthe va"ue
wokitudJ?*^ ""* '""' '^* ^"^ entirely to oneseL' isn't
However, the litUe car was stiU speeding along, and thev
«on found themselves in Beanelair on'^TZfe^&e townfS
Bagu had remarked on first perceiving it, did indeedpra^
h T^' °' ' '"8» 8»nJ6n. The houws. instesTorS
pressea dose one to the other, as in the days ofZsSnv 3
toi^r, seemed to have dispersed in order tJat thSZia^
ZtL?^^^ ""n ?^v°""' 9"'"«''''- ""^ health lZ^SJ^
nothing smoe aU had been put in common from oMto «,«
&P/T?'*°1''' *^/ Bleuse Mountains. Why, therefore
shoiUd folk have Wped themselves together when tte who?^
£^ nf \T too much for a family when so many imSe^
S^.t f I earth are absolutelv uninhabited ? *hus7Mdb
fam^had chosen its lot, and halbuUt according toi^aSw
Broad avenues ran past the gardens, supplyiL abukdwt
means of oommnnication, bat people were not reqdJ^to
■:C^. »».■
Duud their honma m it.,, lu
•tonewMB ud fclenoa^l.^^ "^ «»y' "^ deoMi£d*?th
avenues met, rose the niMyS^ iJ ^/ I*^*" ''J>"« t^
which triumphed steel anS'.E, ^ i?^^«». W* piles in
compounded ^of1i^ii^''„««- Their ^-Ifni/cenr^S
for which they were hx^liJX^ ?^."* '" *« P«pSe
of materials wd stjie of d^fo^A?' *°'f^<» in the'S
was mtended that the mTm^ u"" , A *''8" buildinmit
mjeums. libnuiS,. tteaSS^' b.1^°"^1 t »* •'SZ^'a.e
and amusement h»U, were b^t»„„' '"^^ratories, mietto*
to the entire coZuS?" ''"^»° """y^on-mon-hoiees, opSS
^tia'^^^£8n.of,ug,ri.^^
Mauae. whence stkrted ihL fi! "^ °" "" "M Place de fi
Bne de Brias, the fiSTde fV,™" *^?' thoroughfaws-the
raumg to pieces from sheer ^tJ.,^ *.,°'^ town-haU wai
together with the old scho^» ^h^"T'v'* "« demolish^
under the master's rod And ^^^ ""* ^^^ 'earned toZn
"'large pavilions, ohemie^ «d »h'i?",Tl.">''« ««S
»11 are free to study Md«T?.l^'?'*} '•'oratories, whe»
hare made some Kery^ff ^' '•>«" ""V thii^k tt«
conmmniW., ThenrtT t^e foS^ ^r' J^T' °™'''» to thj
formed, their hoveb ha?; been fl^ntf'' ^l" ^^ trans?
remains save the eudenT^Au^ *"y' ""^ little of them
which "mndxyma^^jrhave^ndL" bvnl''^."'' .^P'-tlefK
the poor de^s of foTSier ttae^?''*^ ''^ ^^^e the children S
brougKrbrtbTX'W."'' ""■". *««'rfonn.tlon,
mstance, "Jthough the^ffiLZL^h;!:.'?!^ 'ytem- FoJ
two wings had even bera J&'iHt S^ '^'' P«»«rved and
"••o a pub«c Ubrary. m tla^."^ J«^ ^^^^
where water »boand^rTherS«» ^'^.l^^ » bath-house
W been pUntedT toe ^^oU^uS!n^t «'\f^^' ''^<=''
where some fine shady VOTdan, .1™ T^ chnrch-a garden
Hub wise, aa the varionJTJ!^^ nndergronnd orypt. in
who h& disposed of th«m ;„ ^ 'everted to the peiple.
their own coS^VSyme^r^ * °"^" " '» »«««-
.venu7B:i:;'.g^Uuorjri.r°j^;j^''''"« fi°« w
•M we now ? • '■ *°^ wqmred of his guide : ' Wheri
aisappeared. the shops S ,,n !!? «' ^.t^'ff completely
iMt t£eold houses were demoM ♦!!"*' i,""' "'•'"• "^ «'
new ones whioh smile so nW.„?i *° ™*,''* "<"n for those
lihto bushes. ThToiona^r&'''?°°«**'^''''^'''''"''and
ooTired up, and the ride' wjf of fhT"""" **'"• '"«' ^een
passes oyer it.' ^"^ "^ ">" •'»"«. on the right,
far^eJres':°^rh1i^«etS;'„ff ^r "> ^"- "'
WMijr workers had trudged d^yb/rju""' °''' ^^'"^^
■titntion had prowled thfrVa7n,„if» T-, .^"°8" """^ P'o-
went from shop to shop to beg 1 iuv '°'j?' ^n?u^^^^^
wigned the libooues kwln!? .1?^?'' '"*^''- There had
whlhrt Caffianx Sed the i. !"•""«. °° •" purchasers,
MdDaohenxkepTSswLh nrr?''" ^°"'°'«^ 'J™''"'
the chosen f ood of WweaUh v n f ^u' *?*"'• '""'y n'«»l^
Mit«no had been wmfng to clo^ t^l^' ^^^^^ Madame
happened to disappear from hef-hnn^ \'''*''.' '"»' °' two
the street nrchins^We Mable to «X ""tu " '^ ''"y '^en
now aU the misery^ ^%a,Sn„ 1^1'° '•"*" "^""Se'- But
theayenue S^br^'S^^ '^f^.^'r/rP.' »W and
with only the houses ^»t„' 1 ^°°^^^ ^^ sunlight,
whilst thJmultiTudeatiSu&onTY'""t"P°" ""»« ^^n^
that bright festiyemotSg ' ''°»^"'« "^ "i^P^S on
on the site of that newl^k wh^^ i^*'??T °^«' yonder,
Pwping out of the g?L^? "''*" """ ^^'^ hoasefronts are
And this timeheremoined aghast. The spot h. mentioned
ilii
44<
WOItK
Oity of Work, in hoSonr of ThS ?^°*^i'^ °' '•»• '»*PP7
houses were gay with hMtini-trill?/'' ?i "«™»^^ »" <*'
the light moiSigbreeM «nd*^^?^ * onflamme. lapped in
Mvered with rosee, the atrwite ^L * ^"T"' *~- "««>
them; such an^abMCce onL'T-''^"' '*=»!*'^ ^^'h
plantationa of the neiS^nrh!^ #w ?v«™'^ "> *l"«wst
able to adorn iteelf ,^?h S^u *''"' "•* ''*'°'« 'o'™ *as
maids and youths fleTnSrt i„ f *"' ""* '*°"" «"?*"« of
pure voices if the ZK^J^Tr^ ^r^*-. whTVe
It seemed as if the IimnM.j- V*. the very srui itself,
partioipatinjin the fes«^ «^t "'K°"^'^ '"'""'" •!»
mjder the sly', ,^p~o^teSJ t «w f *";. '*■!?'» »' «»'<»
delightfully bine. Afi the Zbi/L^"*' "^^ ?^«°' «d »
Jtwety, .4yed m Ughf-cttd""" °''V~''?°« »"*<> the
beantifdl stuffs, which Ead™^?^-*^"''' '^°"^ with
now at the diipoSl oflu If^'w.'''*' "^ ^'^'^ *«•
their magnifioenVn.iul.ii' '' ""hions, very simple in
onoe m^TiS^' S^'^* ??'»«' 'ook adorabk^U "
used for pSw of^o^J.'^P^^-"" «>'' ^plj
bom .founTS^Ter'^c^rC necutS ^'*^K«^ ,««' '^
her rings, even as thruttl.^L « . ' ''" '>»oelets, and
their toys ButTeweUenr no °Z»°' '"T" **'" ^'^ &■>»«
become so much UaaW A^S^ "^ '*'°«' SoM had imply
famaoe. were aLt to 'prod™ ' i^TrC,' *^- '^'^
diamonds and precious sto?r°"k'"!!^'^»"* ^""""ti^p of
«ipphires_ge4 eno^h/ tadeJto Mr''"?f ■I"'"*'^ *^
the world. The maidTwho uZifl l, " "" "" ^'»«' of
arms r'readv had^efr b»^,^ 5"?^ "^ thair lovns'
-pi«. those who. love i!. rfr::^o^'S:s'jK::2.ai
WOXK
+♦7
theyonng folk of twenty, too, who had reMntly mat«d and
were never more to ^; and thoae aim who h£d grown cSd
^dit mutual affection, and whose hand-daBp had tightened
with each lucceeding year. 6""""««
inqS"" "* ""*' •" *°"* """ *•»»*?■ B^ »t last
. . '.?'' ' *^*y »" calling on one another,' Bonnaire anawered
mjitmg one anothw to the grand dinner which ie to be given
Uu« evening, and which you wiU attend. And many arljnet
•rtroUmg about in the sunshine for the love of tte th W
hecauae they feel gay and at home in our beautiful brotherly
•J • .°^^^^' '•»»" »re entertainments and games on aU
Bides, with admission graUs, of course, for one mav freely
entor aU our public establishments. Those parties olE
Children are being taken to one or another circus, and others
M the crowd are going to meetings, theatrical performances,
oTlrr^u'catPo" *""""• '°" '"'"'' ^°*« ^'o »" '^^^
Then, aU at onoe, on reaching a house whose occupiers, it
seBmed. were about to go out, Bonnaire stopped the <ir.
Would you hke to visit one of our new houses ? ■ he asked.
• ^ "" w"?* ""y, 8»"'J=<»» Faioien Uves, and as we hava
jnst caught him at home, he wUl receive us.'
F^en was the son of Siverin Bonnaire, who had
marned IA>nie the daughter of Ma-Bleue and AohiUe
ttonrim. He, Fflioien, only a fortnight previously had for
hi" »rt espoused Htiine Jollivet, daughter of Andr« Jollivet
mdtanlme Froment. But when Bonnaire wished to explain
thon ralataonships to Bagu, the latter made the gesture rfa
man who feels qmte lost amidst such a tangle of alliances
Ihe young people were charming— the wife very young and
adorably fair; the husband also fair, and tall and steouB
Love pOTfnmed aU the bright, gay, simple, yet elegantfy
that day full of roses; for it seemed as if roses had rained
upon Beauc^— there were some everywhere, even on the
rooa. The whole house was visited, and then they returned to a
room which served as a workshop-a large, square apartment.
Where an electrical motor was installed. Besides following
three or four other callings, FiUcien was by taste a metal-
tnmar, imd preferred to work at this avocation in his own
Home. Several of his comrades, young men of bU own ase.
ware iimilarly wcUned, and a new movement wae thus arijdng
M
44»
tyonjc
■9*6" took his aaa£ in *i,.
word. He had remSned Jfe^tT.. '^^f 'ittout .p«Udn. a
we^to-do 4o«rj,««i, when t^re^^ „„ J'"«» *fi» howei of
WORK
«*.«. that it waa, brin^ngTSiefGl"^' «*""%""' ""^U-
And nothing could havel»fnCv„!: '*"""' "d to beast ?
«we« that^omed the pre^s^Tiff u" T™ '°°'>J^g. The
PlMing, rolling, Mdt.fmZ'.^u^'**'^ hammers, tfie giant
te^JtiTrworkh^ IkL™ v^ machines, proclaim^ howtS.
•nd amidst gene?S" la^hfer?Ste°f V"~" "^rr*" ^°™"!
•toe, or glancing nowTttb?Lur=^*r """S*" '^t'» »«n
walls of speoklesf bThta^' 'i'''',L"°^*' ^°?'' *°d "owat the
many of which weTunW„''t ''V^'^l «"« machines,
or.,tn«»,^vided^th ™1^ ^T f''^ "«» l»°ge
that they might p^rfJrai m«rof /hi ^l" ** ""•"• ^ <»^«
man, the njMt tS^ »^i' °' ,'?* *»^f o""* allotted to
»«dlegs, arms, f^*a^ItS<U^ '^thTi'^'"'='^t- ^ome
embrace, clutch, and ^S msti? tth *^ ""8" ""<"«-
snppU, nimble, and sS The ne« n^^S.- «lf* *' <»«»
whwh the 'bloom' wm kn«J.5 , i.^ ■ ''I?"* famaces, in
"*««* Bagu. wL TJlt^*u'".^''^"'"*"y' Partioulily
,^«?e^-f r£e3e--ld-«
&4^m4rtoi £^' Ff ?'^" ^^4!
b^fthl-rry^Srf ^^'t «-"- -tS"
man^iS^f'^^rart^^^^^^^^^^^
fau.c.'lei^U'B^»-^~^^ of a hundred thousand
Then he took ^^^Z^tti'^J:^lT:j^t^:
fw^-
450
ffOJUl
we.l«, of the city wt^'^ZxrdST Th^^iiH*'* ""^
iMged, perforce, yew by vearfcrn„r^'„ I *' }^ ''«« en-
the production of manufactnradS ^v^lT"*^ *? <*••'
Nowhere elae could one better *^te'^ "'■'""°'»»«»-
fortune a nation might amaw whSTllMnJ *" woalonUble
done away with -the droneTLid ??<.»., •""*""??««^» *«»
t^rn.r."'^ -•= °^ o^^e-it^^aiTii"
oan^^&ttS^^^^ '.each of „3
that it all represents a hnml™^ .u *" 4°*^ "^o"' you think
happy life for\rch7us"?'^^,te'1?I^ Ws'^worlTof
true, and, as you have aaiy tw "* "1 equally rich. if.
fortune b«h>g nothkj to you tLru'^h^P''" y""^, ?!«"««.!
whwh had originated Zone 1hr™?tw°*-?'*"'°™°'«"'
Perhaps then the sreat wort«lf„„!r ?^','' .'"^'y workshops
would Md by SeaZ^^T^r^ "'^ ^"^'^ general st^ri
towards increasHnS tb^' ''°"?« »' 'J"' "dv^^
hap&SC- :?l7^ar fr -^-' 0'
how he might hide the &ct th^t hT^ ^"^ f ' » lo" <" to
This tmie Bonnaire burst intnJ;-
my good fellow, I used The f CnT^?"T'"'«*- 'OJ>l
proaohedmefor havinrceMed M h. ^^'T^^'' "»^ you re'
Anarchist of me. BnfilTt^a, is Zf ^"^ '"" '»•'« -^
Mythmy at all since the common dL^ A* *" '"' 'o"*"
•ndjustioe has been reaSsed R?^ ^'f^Tu"/ >PP"»ess. truth.
• Uttle way with me s^MesomitM " '^' [ '^'"'' »' 'I come
Wg up our visit.' "** something else by way of finM
mo^ffi&^
had formerly instaUed his rnr! mf^," ,?" •'^*"«« the potter
w-.ded 4h O'yli-tm tgrbuXg'fe
m'^^^mmm^:j^
WOJiJC
deoowtioM which «ioraed the ;holl c tv ''T^i'^'"-'"''^
to the friendly entreaUes of Lur»i!i i*?'- ^'«1<J»8 mdeed
•n«e to reliew (he miMrvof tih. JL ."^ ?**""» • '•'I* equity
take some pupur S ?he m^'' *' ^^«^ ^^ deoidid to
would be aWto realCan old 1-' ^"V^^y^« ^ m he
-oatteriBg broadcaTaU ^e biht 2tl^' b? njakin/and
golden wheatears, oornflowere andZn.- ""'• g'""'"? like
t'j'^'f 1°»8 desired to enC"thehouCa7'''' •'''"«^ J*'
the garden greenery. And beautv h^ w '' Pf ^P""? on' of
the touch of his fig. Shands h» 7°'""*^'°'^'^ ""der
form of art, coming Ci the Ij,''*"'? '^ *° admirable
m.tinot with all thf non^ll I P""? * "^ returning to it
He had t „„„'Jhe Z takiShlhr?''' ^^ 8°««
and table pottery, pan" Mt« ni^^- "*.'"«°»'i8' k'tehen
qmsitein form a^d S.'^e [in'g te ^loriol ''^'''^'~'^^ "^
m the most oommonplaoe dXlif« • i,^ ? i.°"l '=^*™ "^ wt
inoreased his productbn, ado^U thn ™w * ^'^,i'«''" ?««
superb friezes, peopling t)>B T,^^^ , P'?''''" build ngs with
setting up in Kquirt iKoZr''''\«?^=«f"l»'«C
nosepys, and whence the water ohL"' "^"^ ^°°^'^ hk.
aU tSe freshness of eternalTouJh in,l'fi,"°P ^<"^<^ ^^
whom he had created in his own L. ""* '^»°d °f artists
art in the very pots whToh UieToZ^* "°^ '!' 'be beauty of
for toeir preserves and jfm ^"""^^'"^^ «sed as reoeptaile.
^teps oi'tteol'otehXoi'^ X' '\ «"!« %bt of
completed his seventy-fifth year hi. ^^T^^ be had nearly
remained robust. He sU l,£fH: °'^°" ^5"*' figure had
head, bushy with b"r and be^ n^'^T"?0''^'^» s^us^e
at present all the ki^d^ess b^'^ ^7^7'"'^ ^^^ """«'• But
bari gleamed from his eye's Ml " •,'"'*''» bis rough
playful children stood before him biv. °?''^'; ^ party of
one another and stretched o„^th;i^Tan°^,^i^^T''° P»»bed
with a distribution of little present^ T, 1, ^'1=' ?« ''«"' o"
every /«« day. He thus apport oSed am™. '^^'^ ^^ '"'bit
clay figures modelled with a few ?h„,^ w ^, "'*'" ^o^^e little
baked by the gross, yet very gracofur.nl™'"'' •^'''""^d ="><!
ch«mingly comical/ The7rep™eseldfb=" "T"- "'"»"=es
jects, everyday occuDatim;; VlP'^'^^^'''ed the most s mple sub-
delights o^h'e St w'X^we^t^^^
or crymg, young ,,-rll attendinrt" ti " h 'l^'fM'IKbing
... I. lu,., liOiisuaoia duties,
4S»
WOUK
mort touohmg .nd most human\^WM thlt to J-t??''*^'
life entered. Moreover the mTrVthTf^J^ j r ^'^•* ""*'
dc^ed the oenfirierwM on« U?!?.^- T^*^ Immortal ud
life as was daily bread. " °*«««'y to their
pod: kiss yo Jmammaa' ^d V^'arfl; ^\^fT^'!f^
..S*«" JJ»^ listened motionless and silenfh!,* \.
evidently r;or* and more surprised: ^? W ^tw , •" •'^
Bueer he exploded : ' Ah l^wtor W™lfi.t m ^''^^ous
^""C.^r ^"'k^^ Wowin^^^tL'Tholel w^h? ■•• '"^
IfOJtJC
4S3
»*tor maladiotion npon the ■eenniyi ,^4. .
But thing! tnniid ont^U,.^„ ^""^'u** ''7 lightning.
Thersn^n L^«' toe fo^L7 ^ m,«le pewe. eh ?■ "
bitter qwrreU. : ' We Were .^T^ *"! '*^ """^ ^"^ '"oh
we not,^nn.ire ? 'he resZif^^ ^ *" ""o "other, were
liberty, eqaityTand «>rdi^Tnl»I.!^'*^ ^ *° *'" "'^of
«*oli; Mly we dS 1 to^!^^^* ""^"^ wewiehea to
thoeawhot'houghtttSftheyoniht ^'l "^ '°u '""«"'- "^
reedy to masRaSe t^si who »hn»J^ '3" *" *•" "«»" '"«
left. ButnowthatweWwr^ ^f^^ ^ turn to the
^too ..tupid of „, IZunT^i^'^f^'Z^' T'"
BoMsire ? A. I «.id before, p^S^I^mlS; • *^' "'" "'
pre^Td'VoSS H^C^^:^' ^"-'^ ^«^ '" ". «-P.
-»-!4'io'^'n^zLtgr^'!:^-'z^'r^.^ -t
vented as from nuking mSt^J Or 3/h. *' "'"'''' P""
right, since now here weWhf; J Or perhaps we were all
that at bottom weTw^^StL^ri^"'"* to admit
Justi^ti'X'rerLC'wsum^*'.'" '"''' ?' ""^J""'
lads and lassies to wntiCfth'! w?,r. T "^ ^'^ °° '•«'«'
^u.hear, myhttleroKj^ilJtLN^-mtZe^^^^?^^^
B.jS''L''hS't5w^f.ihif^T,'" Winning afresl,. when
pre^SytKa^dbZ^Sir ;«,''*'{:'' T^'^ ^^^
ful and mysterious aeetdl" w' 1™/' ""? ^'<'"'° »' » '"«bt-
M't0
iSttJmW'j
\:)m.^9M
Miaocorv rkoiution tbt chart
{ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
^ APPLIED IN/HGE Inc
g^ 1653 Eott Uoin Slr««t
rjSE ???^?"*'- **«» fo'*' K609 US*
^S {716) 482 -0300- PhoM
S^ (^IS) 288 - 59S9 - Fo>
positthemat the town-M th««nh ^ f ?"'' ^tending to de-
in all the places jnXed where tStr5'"'"V''*'*'^°rt8--
to be destroyed. For mrnth« I^^/" ""yfo™ of authority
had made Lange's hearUleed ^a 1°J ^'*" ""J" '"8*° d«»th
attainment orsom^bhl^n^^ra^^?''^^' »''«' t^e
of that gentle yet ZMsSrmi '^ '*^' ^°' """ '°'"'
alms of a piece of brelS hafl fc^ 'J"'. '" "'»™ 'or 'he
royal gift ?f her beauty '^*' "*"'*^ °" ''''» ">«
he criU'™X"Si°t:bt ?T -■ : ^°" «« » ^ •»«.'
are you ? Where hav^ In,. '" "if ''«»'' '•''« 'hat ? Who
her forgiveness, acousfng mTgelf of hl-'^ owning I still ask
If I haven't heiomeTh&i^^n jitl^^ ?"»«/ •■" ^«ath ?
for she is always ^th me she' i« m! " *^ ^" ''^'"" '"«'"ory.
you you are a bad man; I don't waf?l'^"°'''^°'- B°»
g;t want to know your -L'^UrV^orrtt'uJ
^r™irha^tow\:S?«^»? o^'l
with mfinite quiv;ring kTndTiness "^^ '^"'P^""? "s heart
ansiS <WhoW,^1eut'""*"^' "^^^ «"»»"-
Mcognised Bagu, S'jed te^fr'"**^ *'^** **■« !»**«' had
any painful ^laS^s *Kfs' 4rt 't^ "^^'^ ''"i-l
desire to linger and quarrel butr^hvJST^ ^ *'^"«^ «»
he had seen and hea?d h1^ 'dea t m^ m "in, ■*" *•">'
day of summer. The Mmst t^ ,??'* ^ *«■* <»» that first
Ot the Whole City, t^h: B 'wS^^t^^l-ih*^-"^.
wfleoted the puTDle clow nf tl, ^' r^s'^s and the silver
gold money. wTfit ,lT«^„,i *'"°'''- . ^^ sUvermoney, like
without n^^n'g^RaJ:,'"' "JSt'li^ ^'^^'^ '"j^ "> 'h« other.,
onef for Tar'tntrfSonr^r- .^"' ""> '""« '« « ">"«
.im m„ Jow ?.?S; ■ hT ITS' , ""•";■. ^ »'
gTanddaughtorK'a^Wm,n°rl,''''''''-'.' '?« ""'^ e'«''t-
nteJded if his th?ee othtr^.W" *»5K'!'°"''^ l'"^^ been
4S6
WORK
*^ff to go om, oonSaeT „« f.^' "^ "° l^P?
had been laid on Ben^^X „„!^" ""* »» ^"'ent halS
at »»e'7Btreet.eoSS.'*^'rw^™°''*»o^ay8be murderS
proposed to take her Trith h^.u'"'^. »*•"** ^er damfhtep
o png fed by others^and \t 'ij^'onl'^f "l""* 'jSh?
dead-stncken by apop exv hnr fe^l ?. ^7 *« ^^ foiid
among a package of h^S'te^:^' T^ T^^' »°d resting
lost all value. Poor p^rfe I T?«^"!?-^'' ■''''''''' J""! 'i^uaSf
faction, absolutely ovSe a^d Lm'^-"' » =t8to of stap^^
had been turned topsy tu?J^ •' ""^ ^'"lanng that the worid
thosepSutat te sat^ eT '°<='-«^ "> --P for
a world whence idleness wasTnt^^^* ""' "^ opinion that
"J- Then he again looked ronn5 i"*' ""' '"'^h living
gloomier as he no«Md thfl- °'^- ^™' ""d became v^
the abundance and W J? .."r«^^P'"'= of one andS ani
to the othersXsVtS;t'n'r™^'' "' ''^ '»"«. t^
of dd^U stapK^df ve"; ^^.r- ''^'"' -" "-de up
everything being semd " sUvT& "^^ ^•^' ««P««M^
to arise, salntm™ *i. .A ""^"^ aishea, joyous soni>. \.^1
arise ag^^i'S; "f, » ^'"' hours' time it" wo'ulThkrX*
the robins, the blackcapMhe finoht 'l*''^"««hbourho<rf_
down on. the tables before Sr*" *''* !P"™''«. ^ew
darkening greenery. Thev Xhf»^ Tfj, '° ""^ ^ong the
hopped down to A the crnmhl 1 ''"i?^ "J" ""''^ sho^den
damtiesfromtheUndsofthTu?.i'° *^« "loth, and aooeotS
Beauclair had Cme at,™ .r'''^'"'° "P^ *•"« women^n*^
been aware of thTo We t W tr""* ^^ P««« *»=ey SS
from Its kindly inhabits n'i^^"°'°"8erfear«da,^
part Tl "^.^^^^TLTZ^t, ^^^
P-t of t{.e various families; eac'h" S/^Jj ^^^^^^^
:^ t^^-^'^ fl- down to take their share of the co«!
the^th^tterT "tCI^^ '"*°'' ' ' «"«^ Bonnaire. • Ho^
inuHjCwattth^ to&r'^fl'' '°'r™ "P^^ion
Bide, like a very whW^ndnf 1^.1 r'{AT.^"''^ ^"^ e'*'?
dessert quite livelv so ,«.,^„ 1* Iv ,?°« '""^^ made the
jauntily ;mong toe orerrT.L?l;S ""* "'"". '''=«' ^m^fS
feUcit/andsplLZrthaTBLn,h»f *•."'*''•. '^"^ of all thi
ing, nothing hrdMcK^/. ''u'"*'?^^''"'^ 'he mom.
peaceful and how happy wL thlf ';'^"'°"'8'y ">« him how
Josme whom he wished */i .^To to " "<" L"' -^d
curiosity that he hS ^nwff „• ^^ "°» »" 'he ardent
in a desire to behSld Z™^"^ s^^ ^''J^'"" culminating
planation,Bom,airan^:Sd: ' Cw'^^^JJll't" "" "•
!™«'2'^'i^* """"^ °^ the tabled ' '*'"' '"" =
hou^^TthafoMhe M7rSLs°"V*A'S' »''^''" ">« "«*
b«ide his wife. Hono^e C^„x l^to tft.*"""^! °'« ''
Morfein. a t^yoSr^eteen^^^rs rf tf^^"' ^^SS."*
tensity, though die^w now n.J^*' '"^'T*^ ^ 'heir in-
scraps *Sr"S»-
^ymg a bright and bi'^fcet '^ '" ™'"* ^'^' ■"" «"
Gonner, the first to deD«iif.!i -^vT **»"'''"! Lfcnore
h^seU to the new BtaWthbS " He h^^'lT "^^^
arms to heaven io astonishment\f i? -^"^ often raised his
labour no longer, and hn h.?l *' ■'^"'K an employer of
with all the meaScholvof^n '*V"" '» talto/th^L°t
wonld willingly Ce devour J fh''^"''- """'• "^H althoughT
actually begun t^rS ?h ' * P"*°'' « ^^^er dayfhad
Church, theVi„t°CoSions a^ndXr •"' *"« ^S
and the pea ng beUs Chit^ -? processions, the inoenuB
gallantly ?allen*asleep in "eS^'°,° '\ other hand^^
•PpeariBg t. sflenL^rith the ;ir wS''*°i-'"^ »*'~rt*s-
he had so complacently foUowe/^ whose funeral processlba
"oned.theZrof'jX'Gau'mT »"*"*•• *- «» «en-
presenoe at that table of b^'^^'^'' ''*"«''a"ed by the
great-granddaughters miteeaL ^15°° A°d'« an/ his
grandson, Gaume had Hv^ toTh« "'\'- ^'°°« with hg
the desolation of his swilfc »n^^ i'«^ °' "wety-two in M
howerer, when the lawTourts a„/fr°"'- "^^^ On the day
had felt himself in TrnZum /r*^ ?"™° were closed he
torture of his care^r\s TjXe T^^? .">« «»l
senting to play the part of inWlibl«T"*.,J"^?^°e "e"^. "on!
»"??*« of all thepos^blefafi^Sf I,?"''*^'°'"'« J"««oe.
-avebeen a b^ .ud^; rw^XK^SK
WORK
459
1 . 459
mmority of despoUers, and with wh ch .wtl .k^ ""*"
multitude of wretched Blaves but inS i k ?^' '?* ^reat
feot epidemics of theft and Sr ^"" ''^"""^ "^""8 P""
Fresh bitterness awaited Bagu at the neit taMa ♦!,.♦ „«
St; l/i r' ""u"*,^ ^"^"'^ Laboque and CrivS
•» .m lb.,, ,„ s<l»«i„. rt, w ^^J ,™S«
46o
lyojtjr
were taking plaoe p^iiFfr™'* «« P«at chaDMs«W«i.
dei»rted. Lenfant and Yv^not hi? i ^f ^^bettes, ere h|
^eir graves, in that ea^ wff ^ '•'«>? Allowed hi^ fo
genoe and fertilised ^i. ••,'"" ^°^ '"^ed with inSli)
Dacheu,. the Caffi^:c «d ihr^T \P°''«'- ^nd after°**tt
i^m
tyo/ijir
461
nuaery and snffarinT^fv^Ji y.™, <>'» '»oour system, fuirof
pSd «d dMt^.""' '°'^""°"'' ^^g'-V'tem; Zi
H»«t" lnS?o a chmtx "^Jr'"''?!^"'*''"'* ">«>»«»"
yeara old. took some rose l^M.tlt^ ^f" ""^'bout five
hor ehubby little £1^x1^^^^^^!"^ TL^" *»"«• '°
great-BTankther'aThUe heaS » y P""*^ ""»» "wr her
some mo™ '1 ^'he v^'e to "^^^^S' ''""' y°" ««• ""^ there's
some in your hKd in vnl ^°" " f °''°- O'' ' yo"'™
You've simeev^wTberef SL"'"?.'^ "? y°" ""^ t~-
pa Bourron I ."^"^'^ ' And bonne file, bonne flte, grand-
Bonnaire in a husky voice • ' L at«n J^'^r* .*"°°*»'y '""l to
it back any loneer ? I ™iv „ii °'/''*' ' "»« n™ <>« keeping
they? ShU them me ,';'^y"""«*o «««'**'»• Whereof
II
46i
tyoxx
wa Nisekd taken their dIm«t2" ' -"^^ "e-"' i« NwSt
the arfsana, traders, and tUler/on. Tn'?' "^^ """ ^^"'^
yet once again flew around tL^?n ""'^J ?^ **■« vicinity who
among the branches. Sere "»« " u'*^"™ "'"4 to S
flappmgof little wings that the Th""'' ""^^^^ '^niTnoTi
snow of warm Uving down vt- '*,"«, ^as covered as wiH. ?
b.rds, caressed thel «d jhfn lef fh^""''^ '°°^^^^ of S.^
fidence thus displayed by the rl- ""*" »"• And the coS
fraught with adSrable sweetness t "^.^ *^« inches was
?M^*e^' Zrei^-^U-Sniatt fctasT^^
WOUK
ffi3
K wan trim . ^5 ?*"* O"' o' Grandma Jos uo'» slasii I ■
anu^ed" d'eotched t'-r' The wS?' "j^ -'/Jfclh
whole town of gardens a^a™„? '^ ^"V" ''''«> *« tha
When the bird Ud flo^ awav T?f«'?'* J'^'''?8 '*""""'«'•
raised it amidst the ^rpirkw 0^1"" "'^ B'"". »"d
~j'!;l?°rf t'e^L'l^'bf^ W remained an
had laughingly moistoniTheTlfns^ith fh""" ^'' "^^^ •"^'.
turn drunk o/it and i^i ^?To ^h„ t'"! f' f "" i" his
whose /d/fi it is to-dayl Mav it vJ ' "^"^ "' °« O''^.
way it g,oy> in Uberty, prWeritv^^.lT^^f" ""I "P""^'
WW tho wholo world ovii to u;^'tf,tT'y'?°''n"y''
niony I • °^" '" *!'<= worii of universal har-
triumphant faifh Ld jl ^mLT^^^a"""^"'^''^ ""h
Bimplv expressed the Jelfght he fdt ft f ' °'" T^^^'^ !"«
fuUof life and strength. He wJLf.?'« ^^ "^"'^ «>
the father; and aU those \^oZ^Jzt °^^^J' ""« "^a^or,
tables celebrating ZkLilZS^^.J^" "*' *' *''°'»
b«8 people, his friends, hirkiS hr'''""'"*''''^*"
brotherly, and prosperous family An ^lamT'^'"^^*'
the ardentlylovingwisheswhioh h, «ff J ™*'i°° B'ee'ed
ascending i^to the evZKr s^d ^ir "^ "? ^°' ^'^ "'y-
table even to the most dfetfit .? °^°^ ^""^ t«ble to
risen to their feet,Tn beir^urn h!!i°|-''- .,°?* ""^ »" ^ad
and drinking the health nf r „^ "A^^- "'^''" S'^ses aloft
patriarchsof work Ihe the r^S» ""^/"^'n^; the heroes, the
and as motheTand h ' he ?av?our w^' «/°"'^*'' '''' ''I^"««
saved the whole wre^hed wo"f tba\i° "*'' ^^' ^"«J
iniquity and suffering And it t== ^age-eamers from
tion aidmagSSf; testifvLrto tr""'"? ^"" °^ "»1»-
ol the vast throng for all LrfcL fir'?,':"^*.«'»"'"'l«
464
H^OJiJC
-jejng^when Luc, ^^o^T^^^^"^ ^^^
jpring.. Onr city is a d?y XelrZ.^'' *''" '^'*' °' <»"
rf.ke room, Josfnel AKu'ttLnS"''.^'"''"'"'"™^
know, come, seat vonrself Lt»^„ '''•.''''°'» "• do not
•houldUketohonKvoufc"^,,'^''' '.""^ ""«■ fo' we
other oities of the world ' uakoown brothers of the
f«ther a^fr- " " "*^«'' ->"> »«"y horror, retr»ted ^t
' No, no, I cannot.'
ifyoj^;^:;,5o":a"''fiid ;V'""-»/ ^-^ ^.
hand.. We aak you nd hnr v„„ °^ ''^'P'"* "^ comforting
aU i. forpven ; Cl^nTJ°Z^^ZT-^'"''T": ^
happmen of all may nrodnl. th^l •*' "" °™« that the
you. dear wife, repetl Kat to him ^J??'" °1 "«"'• And
Bhe.'^'hrKXft'ga ™«^': '.""^.^^a.' «id
»nd your own ? You oZfrSm ,^'°" ",°V""'' ""health
in jou we BhaU have the plewZ^^MUnr"- *" • '"°"'"'
It Is a custom at BeauoCr mf- !" '"8'ngourfiunUy
exchange a Mss of p^e;hcV^!:»?JtJf,..°^ ^^^' ^
glass and drink, for the Cof ^uT? "''*'^'°K' T»k«thi.
WU?&SSi^n^fc;/i„*SS^^^^^ vio.
aidSli^r:^^^-'^^t--«>t suspect the truth,
to experience fresh aufreSri^"!?.!?"^^"'"^?^ merely
hfm £.s destiny of sloth an! ^S^^i^^«??« *?<";* *!*
h.m an expression of deep ^adneTcTe'in.^'l&J-'^ at
WORK
46s
to our (Mnily. a the how when^t U iZ-r" "."""" '"''''»»
together. prLin, Toand on S rid .f hJLdln'h.S'r r™"!'^
It u muglioff, tablei an ioinin- ..1,1 """',"' >>»»a. Look
in honour of the festival 'fS^^r \ "1°^ "' """ "P"*
natural, the child«n at firat kIZh , ^°^ " ""' "" T'"«
♦*ble to Uble, for7he?e was a ^nin '"«""'"««". (?oing from
member, of p^rtioXfa:^"];*, 'to S/T"*.."''' "»"<'^«J
themselves side bv side Hrco„lfs/™„^n''" """^ ■«""
•at at the table 0/ theMoiS?M Vninl "" Bonnaire, who
of tt3 Bourrons. and AnStte Botn^f °'^' '''? »' "' *'""
Luc, help feeliig draw toward tL^if''''" ?*.'?,' """ °^
their elder brother Lucrn hJd his 011^9^"^'"''' '^''™
natural that the Froments,s^tt^^dfche»^ '"" ".?1'
one casts into different furrow. "chftrf-,!L* °°™ "'""''
Bonnaires, Th6riaeandP»nW it' 1?'°8 ""ong the
desire to oin tKth^r?^ he "3e "^nt''"".- 4"'-^
city? Thus one beheld th«?.ii *?? ""»'<" "^ the
together in suchVi^ that not ^ttJT^' '^djnitine
r«;e^re^z.4Hf9"^^^^^^
The whole city thus CLmf a rii^^?. "l^ '*?■ ""« f^'a^"'
famiUe. were'blended fnto onHSe ° Z'"' >^^^^ """
eveiy breast, and the samfl lnv« ™.!f * 'P'",' animated
MeStime frim the far-sfr^g^' ^"^itvZln ''"i ,h?^
M, Mvere gn p»ce. the iarmony^f sphZTnd " en ^^""
^ Bonnaire had not intervened h,,tAoi,./^ and men.
lUgu, watching for the chIZ thrt h! . ?i ^'5 *'*' «"
cUy of surprise! which! oneSfone Ushatt *'**'.''■'''
until at last he was terrified 3' frt^ .? the warderer
bh.e of glory._ At las^^^aui^J ^^^^^^^^
bl«e of i^lpryrAri^r^lZXTZV^^^'. t""'
and
-ITt-T**!*'.. ""?,"'* 8*'o '"m bs hand. 'C
raSjr^'^'^^i^vitor^Ki^^^^^^^^^
now .«. that one may work and aHheTme'tiSiVhaS
WORK
breath of our lungs, the bW J„ ' ■°'" """te^ it Is the
In my heart-that of retuSLToR!''^,°?« '»««'^' ttoS
man and that woman on?e L ° ^«»"'''f"' of finding tSat
flesh the knife I had u^d „„ ,i ' ^"^ °' jlanting in tCr
an-nsed me and inatL;tt/e°mU» ' ^^^
on ^r:>^^^^;^,Z''^A^t'^^T^'^- Already'
claimed/- 5,4 and 7eepSrn""».^PPy """i^.' he Ix-
morrow we'U see -• ^ ^*"' '"•'"?''* »' my house. To-
' Sleep again at your hona« I cw. .
I'm ^mg at onoe I ™ "'* ' ^^ ' "o, no I I'm going
' But you cannot start off ai ti,;. i, '
Bagu added: ' Your happine«iwhi"^' of suppressed wiiJh
ness^K-^rrat'"t S^' ^T' ^ -«i-
house again, and the other, unw^?W«v? ^** '"' ^"«n t" Ws
Bonnaie watched the mSir^bl''!?" " Ke-ture of farewU
Btops, and y»ish at la^Tawaf in T.^ <?'^.^"' ^Wg
radnaUy falling. ' " "''V « the night, whioh was
WORK
467
held thoae'X'oXn to ^ "^h t? ^xV
mmmms
468
tvonx
had loved. Then Nanet and Nigs want off « t •
kiBB, whilst still younif • a^ finaltJ^; .' ewJi'^gmg a last
a hero amidst the etir of work oMv^f^u °?'"«'*'l ^^
to the feotory to see a new riSnTham^Z^'^^ *"^ ^^^^
forged a great piece of me^Ck ' ^^'^ •'e'T stroke
triumSn?KS,l°°i °aitt^°r *" "^^ '^^ <>'
and surrounded wih thn SpIk"? *'°"* '■«'"»i'>ed, loved
Sffiurette, and SuTawe U^ti^?.'** '^J*!?""'"' »' Josi^
whose health and eoXe in S oH "^ ""* "'"^ ^°«~'
lived on simply to be the hJLT* ^*«* '*™ marvellous
Since Lno hSd s^aw^lv L.!,^^**f *°^ °""«8 of the niM
Ming Wm tiirhrttmn./'/"*^"".^' ^^ '«g« KradSlTy
SpaSiehad come tT^/esidrin tJT^ '°, ^J" ^-^^d
jrith Jo^e the glo^ofl- Jg in-'C; 'T^^^ '*"'^"«
than eighty now, of unchangeable Svl^j Ff, "^ ""^
of his intelligence-^uitrvoX fn^!^^^''i'""P<'=8«8»on
laugh, had i^otw2 for Cwwt^g^u '"' fl^ '^»»' •
were becoming like lead An^ fnT. '*«'' °^ ^s "hloh
not quit herfrother Jorf^°^X^^r°*'^y>"«*t«'M
torv,l,ut worked there in^L^'SL"?'' "«^«5 '«« his labor..
night. He was Luc" elder bv1^nt°" '"^.'^«P' ^^"^ •*
atninetvtheslow and methoflUf ^f'^f' *°^ had retained
indebte/for the aZnXS? o^f ^^i' '° ^^''''^ ^^ ^
work-ever seemingly Tthl"^! If "''• * '",=' """ount of
-ergna:^j^^af -•' S?- -^^^
shaU live to a g^d oW age I shall i?^.'-""" *'i "^« ^"""^ I
my work is fished. You'll st vnvfl ^' ?" t*"* ^»7 »•«">
when the time has come and V'rn'**' ^ =''>" know
ft^^ds. saying: " Good.-S^rmJ d^^J^rr/S ^^t
worfZt?^tt"Xdn^--%^ ^-^"^"on his
^»?/"nks were warmed in order thsth.^^r' =" "P"!
cold, and he took long rests on 1 nn , ^i,'?**"' "°' ""toh
hourswhiohhewasabltodevJLtohi,«^'T° """ ''"«'
three such hours sufficed him how«lil WBeaiohes. Two or
-nt of a con^derable amZt fe^i^^u^^^r^S
wosx
469
too weak foi any exer^r'it w^rh'' 'l'" •"" '"^^' ^^'^
thoughts for him^ CS«LTt w«r.' "^"'^"'^ out his
own life. ueooming as it were a prolongation of his
wheI°the°t;?'^itJ.'^Sl,''^f^*r"l^ r^y.^ completed
a? unUmited as thVinCbWter'ofl'T H ^ "^'"^.^'^
«r which one can breathe in aU be^am n, "^'^ V **
Mtv years he had acoomnlisli^^ ^ * ?* , ^,""°« '^^^ P»8t
to tLat solution. ^^lf^„?„?!^'^«»' "' ''ork tending
by burning coals wh^ they^S'theo^\'^d'.H°' '^'''^''J
jng the electric force he obS^ t? '?i^'^*°^*«P»'°''-
fcotories. And after Ions M^iSi? u' ^^^ '° numerous
appliance by whK even tWorm^'f^'^ "^^-^^ » "«^
contained in' coal into Z"r c^lS ii'th^r"*' .,*"*•'«?
energy having to be employed He S' ^ *»." "*"''"?<»'
away witL boilers whiVh i.™ , "« "^ m this manner done
per Mnt to Uie wsttrT^'rl'''?''* °^ """^ t*""" «%
l-tj^by the ZprcoS;^^^^^^^ 'rUr^
of electricity for^soci^Tddn™.^*^"'""' '" "•""'dance
less, in his opSra it^tm ™i»)^^f ° Purposes. Neverthe-
have it for Sg like theT,^!^ ^ ""'"^J ^'^ ''^^^^ ^
disposalofall. fifrides afeHS?.''"*? ^^"^ '" »' "-e
^ssibility-in £act:"&X'!'thTthe''cSL"±" 'J 'Y,
" Jruiterrdtoui^h%n^^- ^^^^
«cked by coulCg. abeady wUh ont^^."? P^'* *«^«'^'
incessanUT tortDKS hjT^iL^ .u?",® '°°' "^ "^e STOve, he
which thi!Ltene7the futZte'SeSs' H ""^ "i^^P^^
would prove nrVthr.°a?n^''^^',t^
470
WORK
ruptions which d^ ias^s hrnn».f* r*".**' ??^ **"« *»'«■
the few watercwaSs SHU L K«7''' l*"""'; Unfortonately,
teins-apart fro^e «nri^„ ''r(?."°d 'n the Bleuse Mou£.
ae,«gn Jordan tLX-^tUXftheS t "^'F^'
ma. and reflux of the ooean »wl *'• '^* oontmual
beats against the X^^} Yi P°?'*'' ^''^^ <»» ""e march,
already given attentS L *^«/°°'i»?»'8- SoientisrSS
researc'hfs Md eTOnll.^ ^*'' '""' .*■« *''"'«^ ^ theS
The distanorof BeZollTfrl, th"^' /''P*'^?''! applianoel^
electrical force could Xe^yTf^^ Ti"".*? °''«*«1«. ^r
considerable distoces C J-nSlf °?i"*^u'^""'"' ^°^ »''«
graduallj, took compfeie posL^^ of hf,^ *^"°^ ^> "«»
a prod gious dream fnll «f iif !l , """' tl»rowing him into
P»ny and chUly LK. ?^Pi"*'l*°,'''« '''«>1« ^orld.
passion irtL sun He oC'w.ft^'?!^ "^'"y" -^"eda
With a quiverine fear of th« inl^-^*^i' Pursuing its course.
at evening, and Kes he roKvfi.'^^-"'' """ ""^ " "*'
that he might have thfiiV™^* . ■ ^^.*''® mommg in order
should be Lw^Xn thrse^'. tfT« i' "T"' '^°- « «
reappear, what end?ess, icrdead^t S** °°'?I ^^ °«™'
mankind I Thii» Tn,./ov> V' ™*'"y "'gnt would fall unon
ingit as Bomethtoga'^trflrr^PP^ the sunfrega'rf"
and regulator which iXt ^ • ? ?' ""^ ''orW, the creator
nourished them with7he frSte o^ tt "SJ^l 'P"'"'' ""d
mcalculable number of centuries Th/^li'i'' *^™»«»"»>t an
source of hfe since it w.= tKo . ,® *™ ^as the eternal
why should not the sun conS 1,;/°'^*°, **«^ J"^""
Danng thous«.ds of ye^a s'tS^iajtV?^
IVOSIC
471
™ J™^ .1 T^ ^"^ preserved in its bosom that immanM
^ftJtth °£'' °^ heat, which had come to us like a p^S
ffipstih:^.;Sp--tf^jSLf:^^^
^irffl^ZTiS^rlidlSlrS
^ its «f nin „; ?^ °'^" ?*.' , °°« ""'gl" 'iU'out suffering
SEMIS'S SSyi'T' S"I~"~
„t^ • f*"'^^'*''^ possessed Jordan had already occniiiflfl
other nunds Scientists had succeeded in dSchSn
phanoes which captured solar heat and ^rfnSomed i i^E;
electnoity but m infinitesimal quantities. ZTstr,mie^to
^f«.™ '\"'*';f,'y/'" laboratory experiments T was
necessary to be able to operate on a laree scale and in .
the secret of his researches from everybody. In fine w^^?r
With the short, Blow step of a weak old man to^he new S
to hia. task, wrestled ^t^r^5^"P«5t«d ^""«« he ohLg
sovereign planet_he, the littla j..^*^.^'°**«<»"«« the
hot a em^y would haw Wiled Ir''"*^* ■"»- ''•'"^ too
heroism, never did toe pTranitnl' ^T' ^" ""ere greate
of a loftier victory over the If" f "? '^"'^ *»"' "P«»3I
yesterday had bee2^ de^v toun^JS, f°«««--foroes which
to-day were conquereTsubjX^to Li," '"'^' »°'^ "^^
oeeded m solving the problem «,. '. ^^"^- ^ »uo
parted with some litSe ^4 in«L^.-^u', *°."^ 8'°rio"» wn
never cooling, it hw wamtd^h? "l'i''H8'°''^'J"'hioh,
centuries, ^ter some Krials net"-"" ^"'"'°«'' ■" """r
planned and erected, and su?pM%I?'j'' ?'"? <i«fini«vely
whole year with as much electrt^tv !t ^'"^ throughout a
quired, even as the sSs o? Ih^ ^ *'."? '"•'aWtmtg re-
with water. NeZthS^ n„ ' "pountains supplied them
the loss from thrreslrvoS ZaS""^ ''f^^' waS observ^
improvements had to be d?Z.^^ "^^ '°^«' ""^ «»°e kst
out fear of diminution the neZarv^Z?"' °' """^S ^■^-
m such wise that another 8^«» 'if *"■ "^?^« "^ Power,
above the town thro>^houI dC c„M '^^ T.'^^'^ "^J-tod
Again did JordanVt to woik^ m^^^^ ?.' December.
8 111, resolved upon keepingah'e m,tinfic^°?^'i '"*, '^"'88'*^
pleted. His strength d^liSed Cl^^ ^^ !"'°'^d •«• "O"'-
out,andhad to reft conteSmfh . ^*' 1°?* """We to go
works respecting the fin J 1^1 /t°?'58 his orders to the
hisfashiorseveralmontosweJbv fit r'"-"!"""'- !»
tory he there perfected his work resolv^?' "^? ""J^" l'''~«-
day wben this work should b^ ended Ard°th1 1^"' °? "■«
he found a means of preventing .ii i *''/' ^*7 a^^ed :
reservoirs absolutely LBrZ„w! "^^ '^' °^ rendering his
store 01 el>.otricforc'efo7ao„„';irt^nA*'°'^,8*''^''
one desire— to bid fareweU tn ),;» „ 'i ^°? '''*" ''e had but
and return again inr^trtl We'""'' '"""""'^ ^« «»ds.
eiid^^rttie^erjitSi^arv"' "".v--^ '^
quested S(Eurette to have him 7^rri^ • *" 8old. Jordan re-
^t time, to the wSwC«f hi "'*""'"•'''"''. for the
nstaUed. He wished la !Lze * n m7 'T"""™" "^ »«<«
tlK-t^,:£f-^^=retK^^^
-n ho was taken to th^eTo&s, i1 ^ ^^.^S i^'i
IVOXX
473
mspeotmg everything and nftolatinff the acUon of tha »«.
plianoes. The works were built atT a ve^f^tS ?L bu^
aU the oonduoting cables passed underground '
bearers h'aJt?/ra'l°' ^"^'?« ^" "»'- J«*"» bade his
oearers nalt for a moment m the central oourtvard whoi... »v.
gave a long supreme glance around hto aTTh&eug^f a
new world, endowed with the source of eterad iSe L!
r^s'stur^r^h"' '^ """-."fe ASd fitiSty hi1:;n'S
?^tri?sitra3i:t'^'<»y= ^onowir^^i^!
wiU^t k^rZhf-*^;"^^' "H? '»""■ ^^° '••'"ts that he
Ju .?.* V. • .,'° ^*' """^ *"" work is done. However
an^, who were ever coming and goinij between th«^
^.\X.tS,'^^- '-^'« ofSf h-^Tudt^
puA;:^VndSu£\h^ie'e%t'ltSof^^^
temew would brmg with it. • But Luc <s Uke yo^^m;
^e'dotst^;?'*'""-'^'^- How would yJuShS?
'My bearers wUl carry him down, sister.' he replied.
' s|
474
WORK
It was impossible for Sfflm-BfTI * ' f""'"™"'"* ' '
ajw in his arm-ohidr r1 »PPe»«d, likewise carriS hvlSf
another a l«,t good-bye r ""'"'" "S*^ ""<» Wd Me
answeS.'"'.X l''^ J""' '!>« «""«- ">/ dear Lu, ■ j„m
natural that tL^^^^ -d voj we" & ^^^^^
underoneofourdeartreS,h„"'^*>' «"« »" thiswwf
The tree under wSw. f""*^*^* J^ave lovedso wM. !
a superb giant that haMX'!' IJ"^ *,'''« ""'"J C^™!'
tne two old men as with a Im^„» , '"?^ ""»> »y enveloned
women, standing in th« , * splendour, whilJt the th?«
solicitude. ^ '" '^« «ar, watched overiiem ^
Luc began to Uugh ? Yes ™f ^r"™**' ^^f"**-'
pohtioal, economic^, Md »^:T' *^ ^o" said, my friend
WORK
475
Wi^fc'? \u ^hl' "^ "^ *«»" ''"'«^ ">e hour of
achievement iZ ^S^"; ?!• 'f'»«fi<»n' gW of your
in heart, and I drnoT^fh . *°'^'' y°". ?*«• '" ^nd and
to S SiSbLg ^.und ™" Thte\*° "Ty""^* "^"""^
h'^teli'^^"'^^^^^^^^
neuui and the one reason for livinff and .1mn» a-j
™« mild Yotr 1 if*" "'''' *?" *''* 'l''^' '" the depZ of
And what an imperishable monument, what a St l^^Z'
But the latter replied to Jordan: 'Science remaiiw the
^di.po6*I that eleoK " Jf i'^fl" H "0* Pl*»«d at
MMMuy agent of all work ^i .« • i r, J"" ^"me tlia
wa. bniJdinrmv friJ!? °' obedient aervinte. WfilJl T
-ietlT «pte W^tlirr*^ ri^ '«« -"-• Jordan
le one «J^»-rf.,i "-.,''®" ^'"9 voice, 'for at hnttnJ t-.lT^
^h! w'- f" ""^ '^•?Kudt;'o7°Ju'?'« °°'"' ^ •'•^
those reservoJof fo«^"ri?^Sfe*!:' ">« omplo^lSrof
>«t will and testamenrto huL^^Ji^ 7?" "BoSting hS
notMng, and was so abmid^K .t^'^K'^ »>««»^oort
inhabitants of BeanoWTin^j,.. " '°**" ^ «<»«» to the
hke the atreams wW flo^^"*^*^ °'*»»"6 tSey de«iS
•ir which camTfredyT.m'S? 7" Woxhanatible; likethe
- A^K'tt^n^d -tr Auae. even the »o.t
wihoutcoSntteg I'twasonI? ^"^ ""^ distributed
Bwitchee and the^howe was mL^tfT"'. to turn on a fej
cooked, and various b^r^d K„h f^^ ""f""^' '»«» wm
working. AH sorts ofZeTon- H«1! °'^v'PJ^"»°««8 were set
mvented for householdTSm™^ "^f^^ were being
work which they had forS^^? ' "''?7"« women of thi
action fo'man„i'J^/°'^;''yd^»e. substituting meohanicj
faotoiy-worker, the ancient hmS ' u. ""* housewife to the
altogether reUevSoT^^rri.^7,ZLT' ^ '"^'"' ''»^ ^IS.
a subjugated and domSL ^it "i'?^ useless suffering;
Uie old-time toilers S^rfo^^l'I^J""'' .""^ "Placing
Ml sUence and cleanliness ^STl!^ "** T''' »"»"«d to it.
ipr
■^^
IVOJIJC
Md ooDMienoe entered" mMi^li. ti^^'?'' "*?• ^^^ow
work, devoting himlllf to a? -J^' ^'»'"« ^^e king of
cmting mow truth MdbWtTT^^'J^'jf!!^' "'»
«>• few faonr« of general wort - ir?* •" "" *»^'' »««
munity. And meant^e olTo thr„„? ''* ^T'* '*' ""« "O""-
the eid-looking ho^^ aU i * °,±P ''''r'"" ''"'■"'J',
burden, „d 8lrvitu^\ere f^ frX\h'^ '?' ?""?''*'
been oompeUed to drae the m^#n!f? .1,"'° ."*i:'' ""' ^-d
load, the/had carried ind .^1 ?*" i^V bad tnm^, the
Heidi an/theW?e • '""' ""°«^ *° ""PP? "'• in the
uJ;^UES,/°l-''«*.^« ''rW' force coold be
fa«h benefit. Sn had i^ventLtL'"?"*'"'^"' " *>»•
power that two le suSl^niw "*"''* °' ■"«'' ff»»»
the dream of liahtii,., Jnlh. ■""'""ne an avenue Thug
ttoe would L^hfbTftlfi'i^"" tZ ?«"«""'•' "isb'J!
glaea houaei had abo b^iZ"*^ • * v"«i? J""^ "P'^did
•n improved system of heati^j*^^ "• "^'"^ ■>' """"^ o'
fruits could be eaX^JTat 5l i ""' 'Sgo^Wes. and
foUof them they we^eSbuteSVotHi j|eJown w„
night, ceased to exist. Moreover i^^l ? V^^^' '"''«
were facilitated more and Zr^hankT<!n ??S^°~'"''*'«"
power which was appUed toTn infi„t. .*° S®, '"* "notive
with^'J;nVjf?y"«^.;?Jt?«-»P'f"e<'.^^
task is suiBofently weU ^v^J^^^'ln''"''' ""^ 'be general
in allpeaoefulnesB Tot!lJ^„*u° '""'^ i°* '° f"" asleep
wiUbeli^coveMan^nSnTiS^oZT/'tL^fr''^^^^
as he conquered the ocews^ To mn^r?!i~i atmosphere even
oorresponS from one toTe o^er e"d „£ fh^"!' "J'l" '"
wire or cable. Human =J^„v.\: °' *°® **rth without
the world wi h the raDidTnf r'°v,!°«'='""' ^^ ^^ «>und
my friend, is the delSc'e of tie n.?" ^l^ ""•'" ^'»««d.
great invincible revoluTiona' who wfn''"'' ^y.«'''e",<». the
crease of peace and truth ^ortn-^^ T" ''""8 *''™ ^■
the froatiMs so to sav f; y?"rself long ago obliterated
»»Te ext^nd',^ fa^^r^LTS^^r"^'^""^"'"*'"'^
piercing mountains, gathS^grn^^Cs^fCIn"; ST
47>
tVOJtX
t»* "wty, when ih« iiinT^-l? . 5? ^^ Mother, howtnr
»Iw»ji teen ^e ao oompoMd m wh^^-i " '""y y<"> »>•▼•
•Hotter religion, migit pu, erro, 'L*"''' '° •'*^°" on*
«»«n their domin.tiof.bn^Mien^w*??"^*"*' '» ""^w ^
every day, creating more lSh?m^«''K '"?*"«? 'o^^^H
b«ppine.8. And by the imiftiM. /"" »>«y'herline»., mwe
'awd»ofmen,inddnrwSdrh.«l. i^'"' P"*' ">»»»• the
Jordan waa orowinir tw . j i- ' , '"" °^ •»• »1 .
Nev«rtheleM W«lhfd'^'"^AVl'* ^^ '""^ ''•»»•
able to th«ik you VuStly fo^tej''^.?","''^" «*
PM«^ between thoTr.S^^^^^JJ"«r. '"d a light quiver had
Mlhe planet-. g<5SS dwt" now S".' i'?' '«*''"««'«
approached, and a dellffhtini .tin ' P*'" bue. Niehi
tall herbage. Thettwl.^Tn'P'''^ slowly orerSe
and atteSive, fall of^S^' '*■" f«"-lins thJre. rilwt
neverthelees became anSoT and i„f, "^^T^^ interview
.TfaS jr^.t^«=-?:r. «lf7«yTn'trr^e;ed!"'B?^;'
--.»..uw„H oecame anxious anc
ever a. Josine and Stenrette oovereJ Ln^ j^v";""- ™w-
ffiLr *° '"-•• •' ^-"^-^°;"ho'":v*;^',ii^,*
aboStl:2pl^t*Cm1h^&n'in^r' ^^'' -
Tok* • few iMt word! ' •Mtwiged » lut gUoM ud
«a:?rh1W'„«S"'^ «{-.»«i. .'Do not b.
one remaine immortal. wTh?™ ^J**.'«""' '" o""*".
othen, we have worked for ih«m „!ri^'/'""' <»>"elve. to
»««in in them, and h„, ZSZtaL*^^ *" ""!? "* »»™
l>7e, my friend.' "^°' °" ">«» of our work. Good-
Ui.i''^ «m j;" ?f ttnSJT^ = ' ^-^■'-y'- "y Wend, all
Each i. bom for hi, ta k that T.'^h.^ 7'°'*^ "'"'o^
nature bringi a freih beWlnl! tk "", ""'e '•e»»on of ijfc •
need.anottSwortaaan^"'!^^';^'^' '^"j'J r*" 'j'"'' that .he
workman can lie down, the S^th^lftlufl? '"''''' •>'«'. «•«
Me». Good-bye. mv friend • ^"^ '"'" '«»'" '~ other
hewMa^ri'-^^^t-r^,^^^^^^^^ J""^'"; but
OMnetothehelpofbothoftbBm "■"« . affe«tionate wimen
"Changed that W emb^e*''7h-/,Y'"n "'.!'? '^Uet th"
Uiey were full of gaietf^diZi^?*''*? •''*'•''• <>WMren,
»ep»ration. feelinir nether ^f^"°"' *' ">•* moment of
done all theirduK^heirST,!,""' ""'"*• ""«• '^ey hi
'?". "o t<^' oPJhe mo^r^Z'S^r^t^^"- And ""7 ''^ »»
^d'^r'^rh^Si.T^^^^ became ,nten«
vwlehing behind the y^Tl^d d^Snt I 5"' •»«""«".
perched on the Ume tree^at/^iL- ^°'.^.°'*^°'>- A bird
etole over the br^oherStttfiT^*''"'""'' "badowe
park with its clumps of tTees Nt, i It^ ^f'^Uge. and aU the
mto thedelightful';„tt"ftlffi' and its lawns, .«.k
•eked that he iSighTS ttd ^l^f""' *"?> "''•J'- Lu? hi
U'tle longer, andls he sS^ ^Mht/T"° °"A' ""» »"* •
«;«ng off along . broad.lTrSht ^thtlv"*'^^'^ '"'' '"'"^
Jordan looked round. «,d a^list'^gfcand'a^haU-ffi
48o
WORK
done, his day be1^rended-hf ^^Zt^^^^t' ''^"»
the morrow very ^fally with « ™fi ^l■ ^^^^ on
ScBurette-slovi^^s ^' '"*'' * smile upon his lips, in
Luc was destined to live five TOtti-i. !«.,»-.,■_ It i
of his which he seldom auittpd «nf ti • f '° '^,*' """-olwir
^n his happy citf he o& iSh^o'^S 'h/Ct ZZ
He once more saw his noinf n» ;i„„. .i ^l ... P*'* "gam.
of genius had suddenly iuimined LnP^lf.;^ 1''°'* "^«^
him to action on the very monw It ™« ? X^ P?""!"*^ .
he was indebted if he had Sto make fh.f ^°™'"" *^"
La Cr«oherie. The firat comm J l,^ -,1' .^^'Penment at
first bright cleaf:orkXsZfir8rdw^lt''r'='''^Mi'e '
their white waUs smiling am aJthe greerer^h^i°Jir '"'^
from Fourierist ideas, idks which hKenleM™?''^^
hke good grain iu winter fields, ever ready to fr^^^"°?
flower. Even like Catholicism the h2o!^/?^''^ "^
might need centuries to be fi^v estthS S' ,H"P«"y
evolution afterwards, what Si^uou 'broadeufnlTtl'-" '
pies as love grew and the citysDrpafll r! ^?'P™""-
bination between capital, work and brain ^nl^™P°™«. *"""-
diate experiment, F^^iirier, the evoluti™ »f^ '' ^ ?° "^'^''■
tion of the ColMvists,ind XrwSd^etn M'4u°'"8r*?r-
tarian dream of the Anarehists Tn tw ° -"..'^^ ^''«'"-
gradually became anSted,- and tkTd'^SrP"'^
became the only regulators and basis oTte new ^^W ^m"
crin
exisi
00 1(
Wha
one
ruse
all, ,
cumsi
idioti(
chasti
from t
pieces
Prisoni
whokt
ffork.i,
IVOJtK
pact. Aith , °^^
iMven set at last upon ^k*"*" •"""mon mMP'^Z ."""""iJed
And that was fho j'^.® '^'^^. ' ^^^ '™gdom „?
fotio, and the ^Vf" '^^'"'" ? cZ«\ '" "« good dr
r T
r I
48j
WORK
T-^^^^^^Z^^}:'^^', -^ fro. the
♦he truth and bent \^ \^v^ '■J'^ j?fonned. imowing
became the alleged 'ntopia. of ™1! "1^'"' ^^ ^!^^
the passiona, instead oS„ rnXliJ'^ Wpinees. Since
cnltfvated Uke the^i^fo^fofT^^ and stiied, had been
bitterness, and had be^m. .„■'.'''*? ^»^1°«»»" original
flowering 'of iSdi^'duar^e» ""'lJI^^I^' ? "^^'i^^ons
m the development and Xc? n of ^iT'* '«»PP«e'» %
sense of love. The longlfforts nf ™Vu 5'* ¥"'*'' "^ t*"*
expansion of the mM and l„T^? ^'"'"^ ^ ">« ^
evenrneed. man beh,? mik £ h°s e»^*' '''°'™- "^"^
m Its entirety also An<l «^n i,. e"™*/. and hving life
realisation in the^^aofeonhp^^P "'^V *'"'« '^""'d
of humanityfreed frZ do™'™'^^?" ".' ^S^o religion
d-«r. its Jd, itsjoy?andTK ^ "" "''" "" ^"^"^
»w!c^\°tor^S„^'>^^^^^^^ Wort, the
outset desired to destroy the iniouSSw."* ^ '* ""« '-"y
dreamt of anewcompaotXhwo^nir^';'^-'**"' ""^ "^
ment of wealth. But what » dpi? ^°^ °^ V°?^ apportion-
necessary to travewel In tht of ground it had been
hadSd from^uriw for rfim '^'^u''"'' """""oS
association of workerMh^ ^rfed attLr",^".*"^ ">«
of the workshops, the ^unrof wnT*"'^" ^™'«^ 'a^our
series, parting to meet^SZ ^d r^;^' r ^°"^« Baccessive
stant plav of free ^iZ^J^u °^?H°? '""> »" '^e con-
of tbe'^l/bertarianC^''J'i7h°^''^«"?«J'- The germs
he repudiated brutal re^htion L^V°™\"' Fourier, for if
the existing mechanifm of s^jeT/te '7-°''''^»°«« °f
their result to that sooietv'Vflfl^™^-^ doctnnes tended in
system had long Ce%' af Z r^ ^°/?'''* ""« ''»8«°
passing through van* uTsW«» nf °*' ■°l ^ Cr&,herie,
profits, a pere^ta^f^te'tf/nfL'''^'''*'''"'' ^'^^o" o
It had been transformed l^Tueh a mrn'°°'''° /"'• ^' '■«'
CoUectivists,reali8init their fn.^ni! °^'^ *^ *° sa'wfy the
' vouchers foiwork^^Net^EV J;-,?"''""'^ oiroulatioa of
system, attenuated, d^sS'tL J^," ^^"''i^^d the wage-
the doctrine of the Liber^^' rn™ "^°''°,8 *° ^^e. ?nd
away in the course of a S^™ ""??* "^°°6 had swet, <».
liberty and juS "4 "thj?,' el'^tv' haJ "l.^^U-^'-^oe^ by
days, that unity and harmonv th^K ^'" °^™«™ of other
present no authority S^S>^l"°''-'f"y"^«''- At
' ™""n«"> tae new social compact was
WOXK
483
practised it, stirtinB wil th. „u •^° '"^'"'7 <>« groDM
clothing,andinetelK thei^aSl^""'", °' ^'^ buS
of the soil, but mnW^wJ^d'^^in'"''"''*"^ *««"««
wise as to be adapted to5l?n^v^di?rfli'°''"'»»°%. » SMh
the needs of the'^oommuni y Nothi^^T"/" T" "" '« "^J
expansion, each citizen foS part of it°/*"'^ ^'"^'J"'"
desired, passed from the cuJtivation of Z"^ ^"."P' '« •"
work, gave his time as best suiterMffu- ™'^ to factory
And there was no Cger^y^eol^t^'r."^^
swce only one class existed a wS? »^*'''**° «lMses,
equj^y rich, equally happKeducat^d tot? '°° °f ''"'"="
nodifferenceei*herinattiS^'orTS°'nf/'''"'>^'''^'h
and customs. Work was irin„ ?^ .^^'P'^^^-or'niaannei-e
and only deity, insTmcrw«hlV»ei« t&' "?'' °««'«^
redeemed mankind when it was dvfnf nf fo? u^' T"^ " ^"^
towa'id: hWthf X;t,^^« ---« breeze wafted
most delicilte as weuTs h^mig^ ?£, .""^.V w"'""'^ ,°' "• ^J'*
the new machinery which oomnwif' '^"' P**'™''^ by
nature and loaded him ^th wS It,^ T", """^^^'t ^
from long hours of rough toTj*^^„ abuiidance. Freed
exert his mind ; art and BPinn^i' ™*°?'a' the better able to
mentality was ev^risteg "'StS; *' '*"«' °^ """^nt
exception, and men '■: seniuf ^J^^ ^?''™ '^^^ to be an
^. Thescience of ahmentation hL"P,'°T^•'«•
tiomsedbychemistry, theeartt J,°^t 't^y- l^i^" ^«^olu.
wheat, no more olives no CrfRS/anr T'*^'^ °° ""ore
oil, and wine for the whole cftfTuldh»/*' ^"°"8J' bread,
laboratories. In physics in «7?- -.^ "ome from its
inventions were ev/rTd ev ? elrShT'^^'fy. '^^
possible, and endowing men with thS % '^°?*'» °' 'be
aU, seemg aU, and capable of^i "'S.Pf^^'- of gods, knowing
art. the. growth and Son of belutTin'""* '*■« ^'^^^ "^
extraordinary florescence of all the arts^nLTu'^ IV^^' "«
the multitude throbbed in everv .m^ ' aT,. '^'•' ^^ soul of
with aU its.passions.f^S. lov7g :^',^5 ^''.^S y»« 1"^
t-t^ Inspired by theuniversallirgi:Siierrsi;\tL^^^
113
484
WORK
onoe varied and vet all nno litl *l *?« ■"" » majesty at
charming vaK "Jl tSon anVs *oMnd1t?.^' H.B?lf. al/the
expression in them. Then sculn?n~ - 1'^^.?*''''«» ^n-^ing
museums with living bronze and 'L^i.'' ^ ' ?'"^™"' ""^
rated the public edifices th««)?^'V.?'"* P*'°'«™ deco-
the libraries, the theatre »nfl?v,'T^,°';'"»"- '•>« ""a'tets,
Bion with so Js borrowed'from illv". f' ^^ «' ■"' """^ •^'^"-
gave to that innurSle neol wh'. ,. ^'t™ '»°'«°'«
Btrong, and powerful works ttA«" ""^ fT' ^«*-
Genius expanded, acouirino. fro^^ ! !?.' ?*'"«'^ 'o'' t*»eni.
knowledge and friedZ a" nn"*^ '""^ • ™'° '"""^"^ '^
had it dispkyjd s„°h Sfour' "Th":"""^' "ever beiora
aristooratio, hot-house literature of the LrilTTl '^'^^^
away by the literature of hum«n?*V P*°' 1>*^ been swept
life, which all had b„lnL . '^.' P°^"« overflowing with
wUch returned to thefis'^f''S*''' '"' *'"'" "°'^' ""^
youth. M d^e^endefem the'^^^^^^ T"' «'«"^
two promontories of the X™ i5 l*?''^^'' ''«'''ee'' the
Bpre^ over the meadow-laid of ^°a°^'°'' """^ '"' °°'
weather its white hous^front Lm^ ^°?"8°^- I" «»«
without a sinele Duff nf .™ u V.™' *^ ^■""^s' 'he verdure
sphere forTht'^fre^irSerj:^^^^^^^^^^^
everywhere replaced coal and wood 7n, r'-.^'eotno'ty having
hghtsilk canopy of the broad bI«;=tv''°^i'"P'''««- '^'^^
maculate, without a speck of soot Vhl^'*"^ "T .""• ™-
remained a new one brieht ^n!i ^ a° "'P^"' t^'* town
breezes, whilst Tn all' sidfs one w^MJ"^'" ^^? '•^''•«*i°8
the crystalUne streamtog „f ' rfn^'' I'l" """-"l^Pg °f water,
health and perpetual delight Th^'rrP""'^ •""""S'"
creased, fresh houses were built fro%^ ^"1"'°" steadUy in-
A happy people, free and hrn4! ? ^ f ^*'"' "«" P's^ted.
attracUon.and thu3 thehttU tS' Y^"^^ ■" '""'« o^
Saint-Cron, Formerie Ld M».in!^ "f *he neighbonrhood,
sary to foUow the eiamnk Tp '°' ^"^ '"""^ '' °eces-
by becoming srmanrP^lonLtinnri'J''k"''^ •''?'' «°<'««
It had been sumcient^o^St7xiitt''r^sSS.-
\ fr
WORK
48s
of It. ManlMdha3lmowTbut on^»t?''V'?='^« perception
the snaggle for happ^ess whTo^Wt'^™"8''''"«»««».
every form of religion, everv form J '° ^^ '°°°'^ beneath
■8 merely an indi^^ua effS aoou rf T"""'".'- ^S"'"-"
sum of happiness for self ° and X 'hoJ^! f ?»*«»' Po^ible
egotism w treating his fellows ar^Jh ?°' ^*<=^ set his
oonvmced that the happSess of i^h""! '^'"«° ^^ becomes
of all ? If there was ooTt^ntfon h«L™°'' .'?» "'« ^^aPPiness
mthepast,itwasbecauM the oldlT**? '''^"'«°' ^'«"sts
one o the other, malrin?warfarlfr'*' Paot opposed them
But let it be deminstrlt°d that work , ""■^ -'""^ "' so<=ie'y-
tion wealth iuatly aad th«f th •'^°'8'"'"e<J ^U appop-
lead to hariionfanTunity and T"""""'' ^^^^^ ^eelyf ?^
and happiness Im K/bhshed fn IT^.r'',"'""''''*"'^
solidarity. Why should one fieht nit ''~";?^y '=°°'««t
interests cease to clash ? If all tl? «f""8t the other, when
exertions of eeneratinna ti! *" 'he desperate, pain-frauifht
and ^^^^Ci^m^^'Zf^Zir^. of'XrtsS
out so many centuries had fnfv 1! j "*' slaughter through-
of the.world, the "u^uga« the^naf'"''!'/ '° "•« """^uest
long since have been thfabsoluL if ""' ^°'"^^' ^a" would
and things. When humnity at laJSlf ™™8» °^ "'eatur^s
imbecile dementia, when m^ ceased r^ ^^^^^"^ °^ ""
towards his brother, and res^v^ Til* ^ '"''^""7 """ned
and wealth hitherto squSr^ ^ C f""* '^l'''^ 8«°i»s
thecommonworkofhipZess th^m * annihilation, to
onthatdaythonatioSst tortedl t.'^ ""' *^*'°«""''
the happy city. And no ! i is not !?« ^T """"^ '"'"^s
Its every need satisfied havina >„ K A, '^»' « nation having
would thereby gradu^^s/th^'sZ^lh'i?^''^'"?*^^
Md sink wto torpor and catalepsv tI^ . '*'''"'''' *° '''«•
always be without a limit there will JltL,"'^'' •^'»°» ^"
the Unknown to be conquered P.L T^^' ™"'*"' ™"ot of
contented, desire will X bfrih t ''/?" * ?«'^ '''having is
of which will exalt m?n and iaLThl^'i; ""' ^'""fac^on
and beauty. Desire is infinite ^d i f T. f^ .°* ^'^"''e
banaue, resplenJ4fw?tVTora:j'1?orvi^S^^^^^
486
tVOJiX
whole earth, the unboSid^exi^r 1 5" "''"^ft th*
pateri^lauB'.thesomSre'Tf tS.mo^life''' ^'"'"'' ""^ "">
repirted"?h!f CS^f^ ^j» 'fT^'^r., towi. he often
hanstible harvests of wXeVskn^db^th ^? '•^''Pn ^"e--
very outset he had felt Xat ?f ». brotherhness. At the
city by and for winan « it » ? Mcessar^ to found his
ev/r desirable^d Wifa Wn *" P'°^« f™"fal and for
her due place Tbeautv dLi^ '2 javed-Josine set in
that the symbol of the at."^ a lt:n "l'*"''?'^"*''''-^'" ■><>'
ensuring Lcial peace! and^fr^^'?' &■?» °^ *he sexc,
Then, too, the new system ^ S,, J*" We in common?
reared together and MnnSn? f?""**'""- the sexes being
broughtthem to. oomplerZer^^ T' ^''T'^'^P' had
sincerely desirous of Xtfnrf, 7k °^'°^',.?°^ ""^^e them
object wW was rltd rC„ *t* °"f °>T'- "^ ^1^"' **»*'
one might be loved War^^tn . • *^ J^**' ^**^ "» order that
Jn creating haSss ft waffi.l? *',!'?"'• F™* ^"^"^ hiy
happy onfselff'^^Tnow Jo^fc- ' jLT*'°8'?"y ''««^»
consent alone, reXted mlrriL™ a **'' ' "° '»'' """tnal
girl had knowkoTanothTrS;., ^ y°u""? """' » JOMg
through the^^e Zkshorw^f?!' «days, had ^ssed
stoweS themselves one ™t?P«nS!?f V t^^ "^^^ they be-
like the floresoen^erthSrX •ntimt?'th^'^™^ T^'^
selves to one another for life, lonra^^feit^ ^^^ *''*'"■
dominating; they erew nM w„fu '""hful umons pre-
grown up U)»ethfr ^n^ k . *°8?ther, even as they Ld
aieir rightsTinK Lu^ th! 7*' "^ ^^^" ^^"^^ heings!
liberty remained «entlesetam«r "'"'^ , '"^- '^^^ *hd;
those who ceased to agree^'™^°^^^^^ ">""?? P^^siWe for
with one or the oth^r S t^t^J^ f offsprmg remained
supervened inthe charee of thl '^' °' •''''"° difficulties
duel of man and woman all Lfn,, T"""",^?- "^^^ hitter
set the sexe. one aZnst the othr ft""' ^^"^ ^'^ «° I""**
enemies, came to af Jnd in Zt !^', * ^ '*'*8*' irreconcilable
respects woman thfif»^;°?'°''°?-" woman free in all
poffon'asSi^qi^ an°^,,r'°" ^f ?''°' ^'""^g he^
of love. Sh7had a ri^hUo^h f '"f "' ^^°' '" ^^^ "nl""
.»an.toplayalan-s?alla1rasthedTs1Tu^;£^^^^^
lyoxx
487
tions. One oontr^Ti ?«<="" ?7 .and gooial oonsMera-
the flame, the focus JeLw"tiS*^."* ""^ P*'^'""'''
univerBal love, sprin«rin7from th« w!j wxlsspread, general,
to the mothei. the^TtLr Th„ \^j*^ ""^P'^' ""^ PMswg
world in ev;r.bro^enr« waven »«?„» 7'°'\?'u*''« ^'«>'''
bathing the entirTearS. tIJ'^ u *.°' '°'^ "*"«'" ^^^ed by
air on which eve,^'bXtf^Th*«^^°'°^'fJ'''^ ">« P°'«
and UndlinesT^hichT^i' iaV"""*""* ^*'^*'' of tendemeai
aides ; O tt ^TO^^wf ='^ ""'^S ^o"" "»
ftom his entire citv ^»™ 7^ ^ °°^ =° abundantly ;
488
WORK
pUnet, in that houaeXnt ,rt,e™ i^« ?1'°''°" "' » ^'^S
Sec^njtea with roses, aJ^*": ^hnrC
form sheaves of wW f ^it J^^ H" ^" *""• ' They
not the peace sprWks fe^m If {^"^T (^'^^^'y- I" "^
and is harvested the^lZh day?- '"''' ''^ *" ''"'" 8™^
jewi^Viftd^aTeSteffi^o^^^ 1 "'*"«''""'
had surrounded him with the wbH^fj"^'"'"'"™' '''»'''•
women, whose presence filled hk W ^^^o'^"" "^ t»ioM three
brilliancy I Thev were fnll n/. v\ ^^^^ "'"> perfume and
finitely iSvingtKe'eSf el whl"**'- *^""«ly good, in
in life, and gentle Cd«w^th? •'''*/ .•""""e'"' l"™ Joy
t:.re8bold of th^ Lv? And tL '''"°*^ ^™ '^ "^e virj
white, light and aeffike^aoKke'r IS."'' ""i '"^'^
glowing with youthful etemal n».!;*^'' ^ '^v' P"" ^"""M.
they lived on iso, wd werT MkeT, / ^e lived on ; M,d
intelligence, healthy and strong »« * '^' ^'^ activity and
everything, coming ^dg^'toiiTwhenVr '1/P'^ »'
longer move, hke guardi^s honae^vl 5* '"'"self oould no
prolonged and broadweThia life 5^1! ' »"A«»"Panions, who
At seventy-eight yews of Lt^^''"^ the usual limits.
rota, the Evef who hKng Z fc' ^"ff"^ ""« «'»<'-
suffering, fiitremelv slim «^ f- ° °*^*'^ *«»" "^r and
that hal retard u/ptumnr'O lr> # «»'«
gracefulness, her delicate charm In theTriVu'^ ^V- ?"??'«
white hair seemed to recover soaS nf if» *^'/'^'■' *"«
sovereign gold of youth And T^„ .^ i'f. S°'^*° ^ine. tbe
distant day when he h^d t?l„ ^^l"*^ ''e' s'"!!. as oi the
forherhis'lovVLthe whoesXti"'' °f' '?« ^ ^" '"^
women; choosing her, Meed a^h ^'°^'*; ^°' ''" '°^»"d
most dolorous, in order thatT^'t., I ^* P"'* wretched, the
he might Ukc^ise save a hL^- ber-should he save her-
shame^and hCer Ze ltehinn?!f!'*i°^ '''^ '°rfd whom
days it was reliSv t^t h«Tf \ '^* "'"*'■ *=™n nowa-
wound dealt by r^tt Ubot in }t' '°?"'*'«^ ^'^^. "•«
system, from which\TrmpS an^^* '^T\ "^ ""« ^age-
bim to extricai. the worS H° w^„H''' ^" ^^^J""* ^^e'^
.n his mission of redemp^S an^ttTaStet ^^^
mM^:i§
WORK
489
a deaire for the iafn'tf of lov« wl^^ • P*'f°°' ^- P*!""" »"'J
age had not weaZ^ ' ""^"'^ ">e=ttop2.aUle flame
women, on hfr f"t bua?fh. t. ?' ?°' '^"™ °^ ">« '^ree
aeem^'aa if \A oZd' o'grt ol7e ""^Smiu o'fl '°"«
bi»^me a Kfui lit^ '" former timas, iihe hid
whose eyes wefe f,m of Lh T""""' " "■'"« ^^"« "O"'*.
oriaie of her love for Ln« Xi^.J't"* ^^''i'" ""« "JiBtregsing
maining unJoved herlS vl^l, ^' «?"''.'" '°^^8 •°"J ""
every hour deUghr/nd V w h»n' '° °^^? ^ ""'''«''"
I'iry-^^i'^^^r^^^^
assweet^skveit^f ' P"''""""' '^^"'^^'''P' '!'*<=»' was
themrtCioTthfm;sfv"'«''{ri;?J''««'*-'''««M«B'.
3eated near ^^^^^^.^.f^^t^^XXltzl^^,
.M-^ iiipai .'
490
Sonreti* i
WOXJC
the day when her h«frt had «D^ln ,f •?*<'"°''- ^nd on
UJ another's arms «nTn^i "P"**"' ">o hero waa alreadv
his hearth. sCC be?n\'a7?ri °'//"«"'^ ""»i°^»
"°J' "^d had found per?eo"peace in thf /" ^""'••'"""' ^^^
^-ThiSiJisrS? 7:-MA rhe°!
eternal fire. *" ""« "^w » brasier of ioTe, and retained Iti
dai",;:,^"5^:7b^;tveTc,'«t^
'ffVf'y ol5;glorion8, Sauliful H '''^Jr°T"' *'"' "^
'ailed to bend higloftrfilwrhflr«L?"fl?''^y-^™ye'i™had
"vefor that stifTeni^ fTus .»« 'T^k'"',* ''•■? "'^ "'fon?-
^dowlike a happy fpectato, T^^^^"^^ ^P' ''*'" »' hfi
H« hair had "ot^fK^m Jb^J,*^' ';^ he '''"l. founded!
It had gimply whitened »n^„ j- "'^.'""y. towerinc brow
white mane; like thLt of s^r^iS* ^'l^"^ »««" ! S
last daye were briRhtened a^ old, resting lion. AnlhS
^th which Jodnef stfretL an^lt"".*^ ^^ «"« "^"^^
He had loved all three n?*L™ ^V^^anne surrounded him
that vast love of UrwhU™ A*"^.,''*'" '"^^^ them wiTh
anohbrotherlinessa^'d WnXs Tut "" '""•"' ^'"■'"^»
wiUi Jordan, no doubt, the wMk beinlT' "y^^^- As
to die. Somnolence caine owr h.vf^? ^°°?' ^^ ^"^ «>on
weU-eamed repose who^e adv^Tl' ^''^ "foretaste of the
seremty It ^ ^Si go^T„ J« f'^f^ with joyous
approaching, for he knew ?t7nS ""*' ''« saw death
heU no nied of any S^dJ^'j^''* "^'^^ and gentle, and
to accept it with a brave he-rt*^ SLl °^\''*"'°'°~der
set upon the earth whwl t»,«T * ?®*'*" henceforth was
•nd justice realised the deal th?«Sf='P°fiW« "mm of tr^tt
Each being remained i^ortann\hi^°'^"°"^ happiness.
him, the torrent of love^ts in.r» % ^!"'™''°°» hi>™ of
tyoxK ^„
^ TZJ"^ "" innumerable men whoee livei he h.d .le-
Anxioug though they felt at seeing him thus Rentlv ■ink
tog. Joaine, SoBuretto, and Suzanne did not wish to L,^
They opened the windows every mominRin order th!ti^.'
3.™?we« t.^'^ ""^y deco'ratedTd'piri' th'e'^m'
Irema oT^ou^ AnT/' P9»»«f "8 »" 'be brightness an^
ohiH«n%^f "1 knowmg how attached Luo was to
UaZ^A 1 '^ '»"°""»ded him with a joyous party of litUe
lads and la«Bies, whose fair and dark Uds wer"Lke otheJ
nosegays-the flowery to-morrow, the strenXand Wv of
the years to come. And when all tho» Uttle fnlt SL^i
S*A'^'°? ana playing aroLd Ws am^ohdr, Luo
Bmiled at them tenderly and watched their play with in iSS
dMned ,^ approach by the expre^ssion in the c ear^ °;,fte
Su«n„l *?"• T^ '"',]''« ereat-grandohildren. the vew
Wtle ones, those who would set the most childhood the mort
fa ure promise around him in his last moments And these
li?^Me^".«d al '„r;.P''^'''*''»?^«° ^-'"- BO-neof Zm
.W i i?3' ^^ ,^ "^^^ descendants of the workers bv
fT,uX 1-r*' '"^ J"-^ °° ^ C'«''''«"« tad forSy been
of cWU;«n » T " '''"'™:»8 sPSotMle. that sunlit room f^S
or children and roses, and the hero, the old lion with thewMt.
lUron" ''^"^""^ and lovingly' taking an intre Un the
A tall lad of eighteen, Francois, the son of HinnolvtB
^erkXt ^r ^''"'"'"'' ='™'« '^ "atrain^hisTK
said W^ t^? "'""''^ hands w;th me, my handsome Fraa^ois,'
Mod Lne. ' \ou must not be sad. you see how cheerful we ail
«e. And be a good man. You have grown taller latelrvon
wiU rt. :e a superb sweetheart for some charming gJri''^' ^
Blmonne, the d»aBht«r , • aVckT %'T«n"n« Bourroo, and
Wand it i. right tLtvouZ5?^'if'''''*ii'"'°»''' »'<J
""•klMTOn on your f«lh oLI^^^ j^""- ^"n" "nd let
cf.udinoBonnii™:°a''d1S« '~" clarles FS>ment^
lud sprung from Jrd^^vSTl^l cT'^'t «')*»«>• "h"
the unmarried grandchild™^ hi ^ C^ine Lenfant. Only
could not haveWld the ^arri^ been invited, for the room
fcmiliea And Lao hTughed "t? TL T\ ^'^' "''"' *"^
Ahce and Biohard to him < ffy f^° ah^".''*' ? »' '«' <«"ed
of an age to marry now run^ , T*' ""^ he, 'you are
heaIthylil<eyou«^lf"°lt,^^°?j"«,^ J'^J^ who '» JOJO"- «d
one another wc!!, and may vo-r „h?i ^''i'^J'? Then love
joyous as you are.-AnnouR,"!.^ ''''*"> " ^<^i^J Md
•bout to begin your «Sn.^nL t^*^' "' •>'» '«!'ow, you Me
•»d you als^o haCa St ZriJS. ?^/ '~'?""''''«"' ^^«^
Md smg. and be a geSius | ■ ^ °° '°' "'■'"■ ^ell, work
S!}r4.""^~ -aTg^raTon-' \''"- "'
^r^e^^ one^of the a^aSSrs-^f^^d^^rolh^-dVut!
my\?o^'^Urs-'^,«K. 'bedear litUe grandson of
o^tauZVsriir-^^^^
^^Oeorges, -rat^oVn^^^C 1^.^^/ g
five'JZTd' ' HeTas^'th/'fr fT."'"' ''"' -' barely
H^'^ne.olUvet;^hrt^i?g-^^^
WORK
493
ham tihealway. plenty of nice thing, in herhand.1^ Anil
of memones arose, for ho waa the eon of P«nl p^! ii 1
T.,„'^??/' '''*>« CJtoent, come little Luce, my nets' said
Jh^WtiVof/o^ul^'S^Jt'^^^^^^
".d st^rong. ifttle EnH^now uTell foT^L:S?,8,r^
Hilaire has told me, and is wrll nk-^ 1 t^' hf K^^o'^'her
,^pr^,rtS.7st'^'t^h7ooroh\h'nu^^^^^^^^^^
fc*?ha^V^^;XdTsl^-r^
would ever enlarge t. He had always relied on th" chiUrLn
td tdf:?:?S: irffiuxr.-f Ss
^n^r*^'^'^"^''"' ""^ 'i'l^whatintenr^eaonhia^:
pomted them the executors of his wiU, his dreaTof humliri^
freed rDor» and more, and dweUing together in happSr ^
Go, go, my dear children I Be good, very goSS,^! Very
494
WORK
jnst with one another I Bemember thaf ««,. .11 1_- ,
day ; and always love me toII and invpT.v.'^u^*^ ">« ^•
You wiU Imow eveiYthiDKl^me div l^-,,°i^"''«" «'«"
done, and it will b^foryou^ children T^^ ^° '^^ '"'^«
there be plenty of work nientv nfi.f^ ^°/^yoa do. Let
Meantime, my dear Zldr^neo L} \ ""^ Pl«f 'y of love I
health and gaiety" ' *° ^""^ P'*?' a°d keep full of
joyott^dt!1rfar'oTno^.t'^"TJ'''«^ '<> «-<> »»■«
Luo was growing S and weakV BuT S°"^'' T. *"'
consent to this-he desired tw «! J'-i, "' '^'' ^°"W not
near him, in order thThemirtf"H''^/° '"'«''' «">»«
joyous soinds of their lathTer It™ ^^If^"* '""'^»' '^-^
they should play in the garden .^i 'h?n arranged that
couW hea'r aL seeXrand\eU wellXref ""^ ^'^
toJtprie^rwtreadT ^^^^fi^'"^^ -■"<"«
gUded the room as withTXrv ^^^ *^^ honzon. It
chair amidst that'lpTeXf ?KmaK-/''l ^ ^'? «»'-
while far away. Josine and sl^tf*? •,^''*°'' e^^i^S *•!«
came and leant one on his riitthntt; =''«»' ^i^e himself,
Suzamie, Mated cCbT^^apleLd to &^ ''^*
At last, in a voice which seemed tn^» '^*"°« ^'« ^"«"-
distant, he slowly laid : 'C our townT' "f* """^ """^
rated Beauolair scintil ates nThe nure If^'^T ^*«*"«-
know that the neighbouring townsifilf^'P^^ff' ™^ ^
merie,and Saint-Cron-have foUow^f"*'' ^''«°°"«l' ^^■
example to the cause of aU poCfurhlppLTr T\ \ T^
becoming of the world bevnnd H,! {, -^^ ^'- ■^"' ''na* "a
of the Blfuse MourKd Cnd trSir.-'^' f'l'*' "-^"^
Eoumagne-what point hl™^ *?,„ '"* ^f ^' ''™ Pl»m of La
reached in the longTuggle the diZ:^r"!f .?°'*. "'""""^
towards the happy city ?"' """^ *"* "°o^y ffl»wh
Again he became silent, full nf thn..»i,t n
that the evolution was in progress evf^l.,^* ''»' "'""^
each hour- with increasing^sS S ^r\'"P'*'^8
movement had gained the nrS^o *?"..'''* *<"'''s the
and then the nefghbour ng Sr^'n^'d^^dre """"'^ '""'•"'
frontiers, no mo?e insuriountaWe 'm^rJ • ""'*^* "° """"^
deUverance flew from coStto ooXe^»w?^-°'^'^'-
govemments and religions and nr^h-nS *' ™«epjn8 away
things did not on aU saXs teke Z^^ ''^^- ^°''«^"'
the evolution, in the ior^ ^^^ Z,°'X.Z^;,,Z'Z
495
trary paths that the liujona were toT«t f^l * • ''°°"
nlfl ^J!™"! feU again. Josine, Soeurette, and Suzanne very
old, very beautiful, and very good, were like himToU !!^i'^
dreaming, with their glances wfnderilglr '"' '"^'
It was at last Josine who beean • 'Ihavn hoawi ««*i,-
atraveUer told them me,' she laid.' -L one ^t &~
ttv w'"""'^'^ ^r^"^ '^« wasters of powe?F«C:
they had waged the most desperate of political battle?^
m»t Af/ ^°r'^°'°" "^ the^egislature and he goveri
S!S V^^ "' ''"y. "^'^ ""*'''« '° ^° «o in legal f!S
they had recourse to a coup d'itat when they felt^™.;
enough for one, and certain of substantial suppo^^^^^ atonf
b^, all Aarwoalth^tlr the'^Sr^^^^^^
aU the instruments of work reverted to the woXrS Nn
a.d capiLust and empl^r.^Sr^d'ttnttrrf
social life. But, of coarse, that tremendous shock tL»f
sadden radical changes, could not take pC without terrib!
troubles ansmg. The classes would not aUow theSs
to be dispossessed even of property thev had JS!.? i
there were frightful outbreaks WaHdes S^J^^
preferred to get killed on the threshold of thei?"este?es S?W
pe^le destroyed their property, flooded S, fie up^'
ro.^, anmhifat^ factories and goods, whilst cipiteUsts bS™t
Tt^^- ^^^J**?^.', ^^"^^ ^"^^ ^^ to be taken bTaSt
That oightftU civa war lasted for years, and the paveS
496
WORK
ever earned corpses to the ocean. Then the sovereim 8^i«
of ™Tni L,^ '"»°°'"7- An hour's work became the standarf
At fi™t' rl"?r ^""8 ^"^'itated by a system of vouchers,
ov.r nrli statistical commission was established to watch
Lh ™™n '°° '"^'''"'"bute products in accordance with
6Mh person s amount of work. Then other controlling officM 1
were found necessary, and little by little an intricate omrd! '
sation grew up, impeding the working of the mw S
lT'°l; J.'"?^^*" '"'I" "^-iof "gimfntation and baS i
K 1; * ^^ y«t.e^?lnt"on was taking place, even this
was a step towards justice; for work rose to hinonr once
M?h»'?n^''"^"' r' T^ % divided with morl eqdty!
At the end, assuredly, there lay the disappearance of the
Zf„^'r/T°t °* fPiW-the suppression of trade *nd
^^^h t ^ ^^"^ ''T *°'i"'»* this CoUectivist Stated
viJ^i^L "t"^ catastrophes, deluged with so much
blood, IS to-day entering the sphere of peace, coming at last
to the fraternal soUdarity of the free, working nations.'
Josine censed speaking, and again relapsed into a mute
contemplation of the great horizon!* But Luc gen?ly repuS
Yes tha was one of the bloody paths, one of those wh ch I
kdl«r ^f^"- ^"'■f°'^' ''•'''' ""^""^ it, s°nce it has
thn wfw n-'^f-.u"". 8*="°8 ^" a™?' as if exploring
the world behind the gigantic promontories of the B1™m
Mountams, m her turn took up the tale: 'I also hS
story-some eye-witnesses told me these frightful twW
They happened m a vast neighbouring empire wherVtoe
blorn^'" t "^^T °•^'?"'''^ ''"^ sh^rapnersucS i^
blowing up the old social framework. The people had su?
^'?*K i° ^^^^^}^y that they ended by leaguing themselves
with tha Anarchists in order to complete t^luferatZ woA
world pr^ r^ T'P .r^y- '^' '»'' ''""'hs of the^ro'ten
T- i^r -j'.^i™? *'^* 'he cities flared like torches in the
XlTff ♦""' ^°'''^"« "^'"^^ °1^ ''°*°hers of the people!
«„t i°«W i""" T'! ?.°.^ •'"'°e slaughtered, and who did
wlTl ^^*f, ^""^ ^'^ ''^^ the prophesied deluge of
blood, the totful necessity of which h£d long been foretcM
bl^' ^Tl!^"^' °^ *°'^"''y- Afterwards the new times
began. The cry was no longer: 'To each according tohia
WOMK ^57
work,' but: 'To each according to big needs.' Man had a
right to life, lodging, clothing, and daUy bread. So all the
w»lth was heaped together and divided, people only beinc
rationed when there was a lack of abundance. But with aU
"Tuj- S* ^f^' ^""^ "*'"" exploited soientiflcally and
methodicaUy, there must come incalculable produce, an
immenBe fortune, sufficient to satisfy the appetites of all.
When the thieving and parasitic society of olden time had
disappeared, together with morgy, the source of all crimes, and
the savage laws of restriction and repression which had been
the sources of every iniquity, peace would reign in the Liber-
tarian community, in which the happiness of each would be
derived from the happiness of all. And there was to be no
more authority of any kind, no more laws, no more govern-
ment. If the Anarchists had accepted iron and fire as their in-
struments, behoving in the sanguinary necessity of extermina-
tion as a brst step, it was because they were convinced that they
could not utterly destroy monarchical andreUgious atavism,
and forever crush the last surviving germs of authority, unless
the ancient sore should be thus brutally cauterised. In order
that one might not be caught in the toUs again it was neces-
sary to sever every living link with a past of error and
despotism. All poUtics were evU and poisonous, because
they were fetaUy compounded of compromises and bargains,
in which the disinherited were duped. And the loftyrpure
dr^m of Anarchy had sought reaUsation when the old world
had been mned and swept away. That dream was the
broadest and the most ideal conception of a just and peaceful
human race, man free in a free state of society, and eSiman
delivered from every hindrance and shackle, living in the full
enjoyment of all his senses and faculties, fully exercising his
right to hve and to be happy through his share in the pos-
sesion of all the wealth of the earth. But then, Anarchy had
gradually become merged into the Communist evolution, for
!i°J^'l.'' '^"^ °^^7 * ^°™ °^ political negation, and simply
differed from other hnds of sociaUsm by its determination to
throw everything down before building up afresh. It accepted
association, the constitution of free groups Uving by ex-
changes oonstanUy circulating, expending their strength and
reconstitutrng themselves, Kke the very blood of the human
Body; and thus the great empire where it triumphed amidst
massacre and conflagration, has now joined the other freed
nations m the universal federation.'
XX
498
WORK
flr«,r^^v.^'"*^,u^'™? »"^ remained motionless and
dr^my, with her elbow resting on the back of Lao's arm-
ohair. He, whoso voice was thickening, slowly said- 'Yes
fteWchists, after (he Collectivists, were bo^d to folbw
♦W»Wf..,°' ^'""^". ,°° *« 1»" d^y on reaching X
threshold of the prpimsed land. If the roLds were dSfrent!
the goal remainel identical.' And after thinking a ^iU he
resumed : • Yet, how many tears, how much bloSf, how many
abominable wars there have been in order to ZtH
fratema pea^ie which all equally desired I HowmZ cen
tur.es of fratricidal slaughter have foUowed one S the
oth^rwhen the question was simply whether one ought to
SklyV"^^' " ''" *° °'^«' *° """I' happiness more
wl,I?!.L®"f*Ti Z^" '''*«'*° ^^ remained silent, and
wTnoTin '°^?^'Tu"".^='^8 "-^y""^ ^^^ horizon, at
Sl 7?=? i !'k''T*.T^"','' «"'^«™'1 "'"» compassion : < Ah !
the last war. the last battle I It was so frightfil that when it
^s U S 5' *T -^^^'^y*^ their ^swords and tteir
guns. It took place durmg the earlier stage of the ereat
onf bTm Jwh "T^" "r''?i*?« world?andI was^ ofd
that «nLm "u*"*^ r" '".8'' '°=' '»■«' se°«68 amidst
tbat supreme shook of the nations. In that crisis which
^^tl TFk "^"*«d upon the other half, and other con-
Jm^°7'^ ''?'"• *"^^««'= °^ sJ^PS battled on aU the
oceans for dommion over water and earth. Not a sinrfe
Tl^Z ""' *" T^"^ "!""'• ^ " «'"'« of neutrluty S
^tfr^fn? r ' ""f •"*•' ^°"^'?^ = '^'^ *™ immense aUiea
entered into line, glowing with hereditary fury, and resolv^
iSf LT °°* *°° """^y, ^ '^9 ^^Pty- barren fields. And
P,?ril "^* ''"°'*' .°* ?■!''"« •'™'''«" "^et M tbe centred
«S ' °° T* '"'" P "°= ''•^9™ ""^ions of beings had
space to murder one another. Over leagues and leagues^
the troops deploy foUowed by reinforcements ; such /to«Mt
^«11„ -^h ''k stiU remiuned human flesh for bullets and
ff ^P^ T'"''-'?'*"'". ^'^ °°' *'^ "o time to remove
^^^t^' '?* P^^^^ °* ''o'Pses formed waUs, behind which
new re^ments ever advanced in order to get killed. And
?hfl^lf,°°*'*&y'?^'"""«' ■"«» murdered%ne another in
the darkness. Each time that the sun arose it illumined yS
WORK
499
larger pools of blood, a field of carnage where deatb in his
horrible harvesting piled the corpses of the soldiers in loftier
and loftier ricks. And on all sides there was lightning, entire
army corps disappeared amidst a clap of thunder. It was not
necessary that the combatants should draw near or even see
each other, their guns carried long miles, and threw shells
which in exploding swept acres of ground bare, and asphyxiated
and poisoned all around. Balloons also threw bombs from
the very heavens, setting towns ablaze as they passefl. Science
had mvented explosives and murderous engines which carried
death over prodigious distances, and annihilated a whole com-
munity as suddenly as an earthquake might have done. And
what a monstrous massacre showed forth on the last evening
of that gigantic battle! Never bei. - had such a huge
human sacrifice smoked beneath the hen, one I More than a
million men lay there in the great ravaged fields, alongside
the watercourses, across the meadows. One could walk for
hours and hours, and one ever met a yet larger harvest of
slaughtered soldiers, who lay there with their eyes wide open,
and their black moutho agape, as if to cry aloud that man-
kind was mad I And that was the last battle, to such a
degree did horror freeze every heart when men awakened
from that frightful intoxication, bom of greed for dominion,
lust for power ; whilst the conviction came to all that war
was no longer possible, since science in its almightiness was
destined to be the sove'eign creator of life, and not the artisan
of destruction.'
Then Suzanne in her turn relapsed into silence, quivering
the while, but with bright eyes, radiant indeed with Qie peace
of the future. And Luc, whose voice was becoming a mere
breath, concluded : ' Yes, war is dead, the supreme itape has
been reached, the brotherly kiss comes after the long
rough, dolorous journey. And my day is over, I can now ao
to sleep.' "*
He spoke no more. That last minute was august and
sweet. Josine, Soeurette, and Suzanne did not stir, but
waited, exempt from sadness, full indeed of tender fervour in
that calm room, gay with flowers and sunshine. Under the
window the joyous children were still playing— one could
hear the shrill ones of the very little ones, and the laughter
of their elders, all the mirth of the future on the march to
broader and broader joys. And then there was the friendly sun
resplendent on the horizon, the sun, the fertiliser, the father
'mjiiL.i|p!fe->
Soo
IVOJiJC
THE END.
PRINTBD BY
•MTTWW00D8 AXD CO. LTD^ HIT^TBWT njUARI
tiOHDON
of
Doe
the
lag