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"My dear, one man to two widows is none too much," said Mademoiselle des Touches, taking Calyste's arm, and leaving Beatrix to watch the vessel till it disappeared. At this moment Calyste heard the approaching voices of Mademoiselle de Pen-Hoel, the Vicomtesse de Kergarouet, Charlotte, and Gasselin, who were all talking at once, like so many magpies.
"Oh! my child!" she said, taking him in her arms, and kissing the beautiful hair that was still hers, "marry whom you will, and when you will, but be happy! My part in life is not to hamper you." Mariotte came to lay the table. Gasselin was out exercising Calyste's horse, which the youth had not mounted for two months.
The old maid was questioning Gasselin as to what had brought him and his master to Saint-Nazaire; the carriage of Mademoiselle des Touches had already caught her eye. Before the young Breton could get out of sight, Charlotte had seen him. "Why, there's Calyste!" she exclaimed eagerly. "Go and offer them seats in my carriage," said Camille to Calyste; "the maid can sit with the coachman.
This enabled Gasselin to consort with Madame de Rochefide's cook, and before long, Sabine gave Calyste the same fare, only better; but still he made difficulties. "What is wanting now?" she said. "Oh, nothing," he answered, looking round the table for something he did not find.
The ladder being placed, she was able, by the help of Gasselin, who lowered Camille's red shawl till he could grasp it, to reach the round top of the rock, where the Breton took her in his arms and carried her to the shore as though she were an infant. "I should not have said no to death but suffering!" she murmured to Felicite, in a feeble voice.
Mademoiselle du Guenic then said the prayer aloud. After it was over, some one rapped at the door on the lane. Gasselin went to open it. "I dare say it is Monsieur le cure; he usually comes first," said Mariotte. Every one now recognized the rector's foot on the resounding steps of the portico.
When it was cold or rainy he put on a goat's-skin, after the fashion of his country. Mariotte, who was also over forty, was as a woman what Gasselin was as a man. No team could be better matched, same complexion, same figure, same little eyes that were lively and black.
Sabine studied her attitudes, her toilets; she took heed about herself in all the infinitely little trifles of love. The cooking trouble lasted nearly a month. Sabine, assisted by Mariotte and Gasselin, invented various little vaudeville schemes to ascertain the dishes which Madame de Rochefide served to Calyste. Gasselin was substituted for Calyste's groom, who had fallen conveniently ill.
He had no wish to see either Conti or Claude again; but he did expect to be invited to drive back with the ladies, leaving Gasselin to lead his horse. He was gay as a bird, thinking to himself, "She has just passed here; her eyes saw those trees! What a lovely road!" he said to Gasselin. "Ah! monsieur, Brittany is the most beautiful country in all the world," replied the Breton.
The rector and the chevalier had arrived in time for the liqueurs at dessert. As soon as Mariotte, assisted by Gasselin and Madame de Kergarouet's maid, had cleared the table, there was a general and enthusiastic cry for mouche. Joy appeared to reign in the household. All supposed Calyste to be free of his late entanglement, and almost as good as married to the little Charlotte.
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