rmy； where they make excellent solders。〃
〃Poor girl！〃 said Genestas。
〃Oh！ the folk round about do not pity her at all；〃 said Benassis； 〃on the other hand； they think her very lucky； but there is this difference between her and the other women： God has given strength to them and weakness to her； and they do not see that。〃
The moment that the two horsemen came out upon the road to Grenoble； Benassis stopped with an air of satisfaction； a different view had suddenly opened out before them； he foresaw its effect upon Genestas； and wished to enjoy his surprise。 As far as the eye could see； two green walls sixty feet high rose above a road which was rounded like a garden path。 The trees had not been cut or trimmed； each one preserved the magnificent palm…branch shape that makes the Lombard poplar one of the grandest of trees； there they stood； a natural monument which a man might well be proud of having reared。 The shadow had already reached one side of the road； transforming it into a vast wall of black leaves； but the setting sun shone full upon the other side； which stood out in contrast； for the young leaves at the tips of every branch had been dyed a bright golden hue； and； as the breeze stirred through the waving curtain； it gleamed in the light。
〃You must be very happy here！〃 cried Genestas。 〃The sight of this must be all pleasure to you。〃
〃The love of Nature is the only love that does not deceive human hopes。 There is no disappointment here；〃 said the doctor。 〃Those poplars are ten years old； have you ever seen any that are better grown than these of mine？〃
〃God is great！〃 said the soldier； coming to a stand in the middle of the road； of which he saw neither beginning nor end。
〃You do me good；〃 cried Benassis。 〃It was a pleasure to hear you say over again what I have so often said in the midst of this avenue。 There is something holy about this place。 Here； we are like two mere specks； and the feeling of our own littleness always brings us into the presence of God。〃
They rode on slowly and in silence； listening to their horses' hoof… beats； the sound echoed along the green corridor as it might have done beneath the vaulted roof of a cathedral。
〃How many things have a power to stir us which town…dwellers do not suspect；〃 said the doctor。 〃Do you not notice the sweet scent given off by the gum of the poplar buds； and the resin of the larches？ How delightful it is！〃
〃Listen！〃 exclaimed Genestas。 〃Let us wait a moment。〃
A distant sound of singing came to their ears。
〃Is it a woman or a man； or is it a bird？〃 asked the commandant in a low voice。 〃Is it the voice of this wonderful landscape？〃
〃It is something of all these things；〃 the doctor answered； as he dismounted and fastened his horse to a branch of a poplar tree。
He made a sign to the officer to follow his example and to come with him。 They went slowly along a footpath between two hedges of blossoming hawthorn which filled the damp evening air with its delicate fragrance。 The sun shone full into the pathway； the light and warmth were very perceptible after the shade thrown by the long wall of poplar trees； the still powerful rays poured a flood of red light over a cottage at the end of the stony track。 The ridge of the cottage roof was usually a bright green with its overgrowth of mosses and house…leeks； and the thatch was brown as a chestnut shell； but just now it seemed to be powdered with a golden dust。 The cottage itself was scarcely visible through the haze of light； the ruinous wall； the doorway and everything about it was radiant with a fleeting glory and a beauty due to chance； such as is sometimes seen for an instant in a human face； beneath the influence of a strong emotion that brings warmth and color into it。 In a life under the open sky and among the fields； the transient and tender grace of such moments as these draws from us the wish of the apostle who said to Jesus Christ upon the mountain； 〃Let us build a tabernacle and dwell here。〃
The wide landscape seemed at that moment to have found a voice whose purity； and sweetness equaled its own sweetness and purity； a voice as mournful as the dying light in the westfor a vague reminder of Death is divinely set in the heavens； and the sun above gives the same warning that is given here on earth by the flowers and the bright insects of the day。 There is a tinge of sadness about the radiance of sunset； and the melody was sad。 It was a song widely known in the days of yore； a ballad of love and sorrow that once had served to stir a national hatred of France for England。 Beaumarchais； in a later day； had given it back its true poetry by adapting it for the French theatre and putting it into the mouth of a page； who pours out his heart to his stepmother。 Just now it was simply the air that rose and fell。 There were no words； the plaintive voice of the singer touched and thrilled the soul。
〃It is the swan's song；〃 said Benassis。 〃That voice does not sound twice in a century for human ears。 Let us hurry； we must put a stop to the singing！ The child is killing himself； it would be cruel to listen to him any longer。 Be quiet； Jacques！ Come； come； be quiet！〃 cried the doctor。
The music ceased。 Genestas stood motionless and overcome with astonishment。 A cloud had drifted across the sun； the landscape and the voice were both mute。 Shadow； chillness； and silence had taken the place of the soft glory of the light； the warm breath of the breeze； and the child's singing。
〃What makes you disobey me？〃 asked Benassis。 〃I shall not bring you any more rice pudding nor snail broth！ No more fresh dates and white bread for you！ So you want to die and break your poor mother's heart； do you？〃
Genestas came into a little yard； which was sufficiently clean and tidily kept； and saw before him a lad of fifteen； who looked as delicate as a woman。 His hair was fair but scanty； and the color in his face was so bright that it seemed hardly natural。 He rose up slowly from the bench where he was sitting； beneath a thick bush of jessamine and some blossoming lilacs that were running riot； so that he was almost hidden among the leaves。
〃You know very well；〃 said the doctor； 〃that I told you not to talk； not to expose yourself to the chilly evening air； and to go to bed as soon as the sun was set。 What put it into your head to sing？〃
〃DAME！ M。 Benassis； it was so very warm out here； and it is so nice to feel warm！ I am always cold。 I felt so happy that without thinking I began to try over Malbrouk s'en va…t…en guerre； just for fun； and then I began to listen to myself because my voice was something like the sound of the flute your shepherd plays。〃
〃Well； my poor Jacques； this must not happen again； do you hear？ Let me have your hand；〃 and the doctor felt his pulse。
The boy's eyes had their usual sweet expression； but just now they shone with a feverish light。
〃It is just as I thought； you are covered with perspiration；〃 said Benassis。 〃Your mother has not come in yet？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Come！ go in…doors and get into bed。〃
The young invalid went back into the cottage； followed by Benassis and the officer。
〃Just light a candle； Captain Bluteau；〃 said the doctor； who was helping Jacques to take off his rough； tattered clothing。
When Genestas had struck a light； and the interior of the room was visible； he was surprised by the extreme thinness of the child； who seemed to be little more than skin and bone。 When the little peasant had been put to bed； Benassis tapped the lad's chest； and listened to the ominous sounds made in this way by his fingers； then； after some deliberation； he drew back the coverlet over Jacques； stepped back a few paces； folded his arms across his chest； and closely scrutinized his patient。
〃How do you feel； my little man？〃
〃Quite comfortable； sir。〃
A table； with four spindle legs； stood in the room； the doctor drew it up to the bed； found a tumbler and a phial on the mantel…shelf； and composed a draught； by carefully measuring a few drops of brown liquid from the phial into some water； Genestas holding the light the while。
〃Your mother is very late。〃
〃She is coming； sir；〃 said the child； 〃I can hear her footsteps on the path。〃
The doctor and the officer looked around them while they waited。 At the foot of the bed there was a sort of mattress made of moss； on which； doubtless； the mother was wont to sleep in her clothes； for there were neither sheets nor coverlet。 Genestas pointed out this bed to Benassis； who nodded slightly to show that he likewise had already admired this motherly devotion。 There was a clatter of sabots in the yard； and the doctor went out。
〃You will have to sit up with Jacques to…night； Mother Colas。 If he tells you that his breathing is bad； you must let him drink some of the draught that I have poured into the tumbler on the table。 Take care not to let him have more than two or three sips at a time； there ought to be enough in the tumbler to last him all through the night。 Above all things； do not touch the phial； and change the child's clothing at once。 He is perspiring heavily。〃
〃I could not manage to wash his shirts to…day； sir； I had to take the hemp over to Grenoble； as we wanted the money。〃
〃Very well； then； I w