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and the birth of life？ Do we not rock the babe with gentle songs and
softest glances？ Do we not tell it marvellous tales of the golden
future？ Hope herself； does she not spread her radiant wings above its
head？ Does it not shed； with infant fickleness； its tears of sorrow
and its tears of joy？ Does it not fret for trifles； cry for the pretty
pebbles with which to build its shifting palaces； for the flowers
forgotten as soon as plucked？ Is it not eager to grasp the coming
time； to spring forward into life？ Love is our second transformation。
Childhood and love were one and the same thing to Eugenie and to
Charles； it was a first passion； with all its child…like play；the
more caressing to their hearts because they now were wrapped in
sadness。 Struggling at birth against the gloom of mourning； their love
was only the more in harmony with the provincial plainness of that
gray and ruined house。 As they exchanged a few words beside the well
in the silent court； or lingered in the garden for the sunset hour；
sitting on a mossy seat saying to each other the infinite nothings of
love； or mused in the silent calm which reigned between the house and
the ramparts like that beneath the arches of a church； Charles
comprehended the sanctity of love； for his great lady； his dear
Annette； had taught him only its stormy troubles。 At this moment he
left the worldly passion； coquettish； vain； and showy as it was； and
turned to the true； pure love。 He loved even the house； whose customs
no longer seemed to him ridiculous。 He got up early in the mornings
that he might talk with Eugenie for a moment before her father came to
dole out the provisions； when the steps of the old man sounded on the
staircase he escaped into the garden。 The small criminality of this
morning /tete…a…tete/ which Nanon pretended not to see； gave to their
innocent love the lively charm of a forbidden joy。
After breakfast； when Grandet had gone to his fields and his other
occupations； Charles remained with the mother and daughter； finding an
unknown pleasure in holding their skeins； in watching them at work； in
listening to their quiet prattle。 The simplicity of this half…monastic
life； which revealed to him the beauty of these souls； unknown and
unknowing of the world； touched him keenly。 He had believed such
morals impossible in France； and admitted their existence nowhere but
in Germany； even so； they seemed to him fabulous； only real in the
novels of Auguste Lafontaine。 Soon Eugenie became to him the Margaret
of Goethebefore her fall。 Day by day his words； his looks enraptured
the poor girl； who yielded herself up with delicious non…resistance to
the current of love； she caught her happiness as a swimmer seizes the
overhanging branch of a willow to draw himself from the river and lie
at rest upon its shore。 Did no dread of a coming absence sadden the
happy hours of those fleeting days？ Daily some little circumstance
reminded them of the parting that was at hand。
Three days after the departure of des Grassins； Grandet took his
nephew to the Civil courts； with the solemnity which country people
attach to all legal acts； that he might sign a deed surrendering his
rights in his father's estate。 Terrible renunciation！ species of
domestic apostasy！ Charles also went before Maitre Cruchot to make two
powers of attorney；one for des Grassins； the other for the friend
whom he had charged with the sale of his belongings。 After that he
attended to all the formalities necessary to obtain a passport for
foreign countries； and finally； when he received his simple mourning
clothes from Paris； he sent for the tailor of Saumur and sold to him
his useless wardrobe。 This last act pleased Grandet exceedingly。
〃Ah！ now you look like a man prepared to embark and make your
fortune；〃 he said； when Charles appeared in a surtout of plain black
cloth。 〃Good！ very good！〃
〃I hope you will believe； monsieur；〃 answered his nephew； 〃that I
shall always try to conform to my situation。〃
〃What's that？〃 said his uncle； his eyes lighting up at a handful of
gold which Charles was carrying。
〃Monsieur； I have collected all my buttons and rings and other
superfluities which may have some value； but not knowing any one in
Saumur； I wanted to ask you to〃
〃To buy them？〃 said Grandet； interrupting him。
〃No； uncle； only to tell me of an honest man who〃
〃Give me those things； I will go upstairs and estimate their value； I
will come back and tell you what it is to a fraction。 Jeweller's
gold；〃 examining a long chain； 〃eighteen or nineteen carats。〃
The goodman held out his huge hand and received the mass of gold；
which he carried away。
〃Cousin；〃 said Grandet； 〃may I offer you these two buttons？ They can
fasten ribbons round your wrists； that sort of bracelet is much the
fashion just now。〃
〃I accept without hesitation；〃 she answered； giving him an
understanding look。
〃Aunt； here is my mother's thimble； I have always kept it carefully in
my dressing…case；〃 said Charles； presenting a pretty gold thimble to
Madame Grandet； who for many years had longed for one。
〃I cannot thank you； no words are possible； my nephew；〃 said the poor
mother； whose eyes filled with tears。 〃Night and morning in my prayers
I shall add one for you； the most earnest of allfor those who
travel。 If I die； Eugenie will keep this treasure for you。〃
〃They are worth nine hundred and eighty…nine francs； seventy…five
centimes；〃 said Grandet； opening the door。 〃To save you the pain of
selling them； I will advance the moneyin /livres/。〃
The word /livres/ on the littoral of the Loire signifies that crown
prices of six /livres/ are to be accepted as six francs without
deduction。
〃I dared not propose it to you；〃 answered Charles； 〃but it was most
repugnant to me to sell my jewels to some second…hand dealer in your
own town。 People should wash their dirty linen at home； as Napoleon
said。 I thank you for your kindness。〃
Grandet scratched his ear； and there was a moment's silence。
〃My dear uncle；〃 resumed Charles； looking at him with an uneasy air；
as if he feared to wound his feelings； 〃my aunt and cousin have been
kind enough to accept a trifling remembrance of me。 Will you allow me
to give you these sleeve…buttons； which are useless to me now？ They
will remind you of a poor fellow who； far away； will always think of
those who are henceforth all his family。〃
〃My lad； my lad； you mustn't rob yourself this way！ Let me see； wife；
what have you got？〃 he added； turning eagerly to her。 〃Ah！ a gold
thimble。 And you； little girl？ What！ diamond buttons？ Yes； I'll accept
your present； nephew；〃 he answered； shaking Charles by the hand。 〃But
you must let mepayyouryes； your passage to the Indies。 Yes； I
wish to pay your passage becaused'ye see； my boy？in valuing your
jewels I estimated only the weight of the gold； very likely the
workmanship is worth something。 So let us settle it that I am to give
you fifteen hundred francsin /livres/； Cruchot will lend them to me。
I haven't got a copper farthing here；unless Perrotet； who is
behindhand with his rent； should pay up。 By the bye； I'll go and see
him。〃
He took his hat； put on his gloves； and went out。
〃Then you are really going？〃 said Eugenie to her cousin； with a sad
look； mingled with admiration。
〃I must；〃 he said； bowing his head。
For some days past； Charles's whole bearing； manners； and speech had
become those of a man who； in spite of his profound affliction； feels
the weight of immense obligations and has the strength to gather
courage from misfortune。 He no longer repined； he became a man。
Eugenie never augured better of her cousin's character than when she
saw him come down in the plain black clothes which suited well with
his pale face and sombre countenance。 On that day the two women put on
their own mourning； and all three assisted at a Requiem celebrated in
the parish church for the soul of the late Guillaume Grandet。
At the second breakfast Charles received letters from Paris and began
to read them。
〃Well； cousin； are you satisfied with the management of your affairs？〃
said Eugenie in a low voice。
〃Never ask such questions； my daughter；〃 said Grandet。 〃What the
devil！ do I tell you my affairs？ Why do you poke your nose into your
cousin's？ Let the lad alone！〃
〃Oh！ I haven't any secrets；〃 said Charles。
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta； nephew； you'll soon find out that you must hold your
tongue in business。〃
When the two lovers were alone in the garden； Charles said to Eugenie；
drawing her down on the old bench beneath the walnut…tree；
〃I did right to trust Alphonse； he has done famously。 He has managed
my affairs with prudence and good faith。 I now owe nothing in Paris。
All my things have been sold； and he tells me that he has taken the
advice of an old sea…captain and spent three thousand francs on a
commercial outfit of European curiosities which will be sure to be in
demand in the Indies。 He has sent my trunks to Nantes； where a ship is
loading for San Domingo。 In five days； Eugenie； we must bid each other
farewellperhaps forever； at least for years。 My outfit and ten
thousand francs； which two of my friends send me； are a very small
beginn