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Rougeant heard Frank pass by alone, he hastily vaulted over the hedge, intending to attack him, if not with his fists, at least with his tongue. But Providence directed otherwise. He miscalculated the height of the hedge on the side of the road, for the field was higher than the road and fell flat on his nose and face, one of his feet twisting under him and getting sprained.
He planted himself before Miss Le Grove, to make sure she would see him, made a frightful grimace and shouted: "You're an old half-a-ton." Then he decamped. The other ladies giggled. The company dispersed. A group of youths who were standing near shouted "Well said, gamin." Going home, the topic of the conversation was Miss Le Grove, garnished with a sprinkling of Mr. Rougeant.
Rougeant had once told him that with a single look he could make her tremble, and that she would as soon think of refusing him as of refusing to grow older. Tom Soher smiled when he thought of his uncle's demeanour upon hearing the news which he had to impart. How he was to incite him. He must make his wrath rise to the highest pitch.
"What job?" said Jacques. "Working about here, I mean, working for Mr. Rougeant." "Well, ye-yes, but you've got to know how to tackle the guv'nor; he's a quair sort. I've worked for the Rougeants for forty-two years, and the old fellow's never given me more than my day's wage." Then he added in an undertone, "He's a reg'lar miser, he's got some tin! They say he's worth four hundred quarters."
It was this cry which the young lady heard. The same cry aroused Tom, who was sleeping soundly, doubtless dreaming of his fair cousin. He looked carefully over the hedge, and when he saw how matters stood and how his uncle lay, he took to his heels and fled. Cowardice lent him wings. The morning after the accident, Mr. Rougeant, whose wrath was terrible, began to abuse his daughter.
Rougeant," said Jacques, as he scrutinized the pale face and haggard look of the farmer. "So I am," was the answer. "Shall I fetch a doctor, or ." "Go about your work," angrily commanded Mr. Rougeant. Jacques did as he was bid. He, however, watched the farmer. Every morning, he expected to find him hanging from a beam. But as time passed on, Mr. Rougeant seemed to improve.
She says your daughter is so kind and so much like her mother, that she would be very thankful if Miss Rougeant would condescend to visit her once or twice while she is laid up." At the mention of his wife, Mr. Rougeant felt sorrow in his heart.
She was smiling, but directly her father looked round towards her, her face became as grave as a nun's. Mr. Rougeant continued triumphantly to talk about his farm. It was all the world to him, and almost the only thing about which he could converse. He never read a book.
This important piece of business having been accomplished, he started to go to town on foot. His interview with Miss Euston resulted in Adèle being accepted as a boarder. She was to be entirely entrusted to the care of Miss Euston, and, lastly, Mr. Rougeant was to pay an annual stipend of fifty guineas. When he came back home, Adèle's father sank in a chair. He was tired. Moreover, he was annoyed.
Rougeant was engaged in searching for the supposed thief with cocked gun, Frank was walking quickly towards his home. Of course, the farmer did not find the intruder, but he found the broken Chaumontel pear-tree, and he saw the pears scattered on the ground. "The unmitigated scoundrel," he muttered, "if I saw him now looking at his gun I'd make him decamp.
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