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care might prolong her life until the autumn。
〃Will all that cost much？〃 said the old man。 〃Will she need
medicines？〃
〃Not much medicine； but a great deal of care；〃 answered the doctor；
who could scarcely restrain a smile。
〃Now； Monsieur Bergerin；〃 said Grandet； 〃you are a man of honor； are
not you？ I trust to you！ Come and see my wife how and when you think
necessary。 Save my good wife！ I love her；don't you see？though I
never talk about it； I keep things to myself。 I'm full of trouble。
Troubles began when my brother died； I have to spend enormous sums on
his affairs in Paris。 Why； I'm paying through my nose； there's no end
to it。 Adieu； monsieur！ If you can save my wife； save her。 I'll spare
no expense； not even if it costs me a hundred or two hundred francs。〃
In spite of Grandet's fervent wishes for the health of his wife； whose
death threatened more than death to him； in spite of the consideration
he now showed on all occasions for the least wish of his astonished
wife and daughter； in spite of the tender care which Eugenie lavished
upon her mother；Madame Grandet rapidly approached her end。 Every day
she grew weaker and wasted visibly； as women of her age when attacked
by serious illness are wont to do。 She was fragile as the foliage in
autumn； the radiance of heaven shone through her as the sun strikes
athwart the withering leaves and gilds them。 It was a death worthy of
her life；a Christian death； and is not that sublime？ In the month of
October； 1822； her virtues； her angelic patience； her love for her
daughter； seemed to find special expression； and then she passed away
without a murmur。 Lamb without spot； she went to heaven； regretting
only the sweet companion of her cold and dreary life； for whom her
last glance seemed to prophesy a destiny of sorrows。 She shrank from
leaving her ewe…lamb； white as herself； alone in the midst of a
selfish world that sought to strip her of her fleece and grasp her
treasures。
〃My child；〃 she said as she expired； 〃there is no happiness except in
heaven； you will know it some day。〃
XII
On the morrow of this death Eugenie felt a new motive for attachment
to the house in which she was born； where she had suffered so much；
where her mother had just died。 She could not see the window and the
chair on its castors without weeping。 She thought she had mistaken the
heart of her old father when she found herself the object of his
tenderest cares。 He came in the morning and gave her his arm to take
her to breakfast； he looked at her for hours together with an eye that
was almost kind； he brooded over her as though she had been gold。 The
old man was so unlike himself； he trembled so often before his
daughter； that Nanon and the Cruchotines； who witnessed his weakness；
attributed it to his great age； and feared that his faculties were
giving away。 But the day on which the family put on their mourning；
and after dinner； to which meal Maitre Cruchot （the only person who
knew his secret） had been invited； the conduct of the old miser was
explained。
〃My dear child；〃 he said to Eugenie when the table had been cleared
and the doors carefully shut； 〃you are now your mother's heiress； and
we have a few little matters to settle between us。 Isn't that so；
Cruchot？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Is it necessary to talk of them to…day； father？〃
〃Yes； yes； little one； I can't bear the uncertainty in which I'm
placed。 I think you don't want to give me pain？〃
〃Oh！ father〃
〃Well； then！ let us settle it all to…night。〃
〃What is it you wish me to do？〃
〃My little girl； it is not for me to say。 Tell her； Cruchot。〃
〃Mademoiselle； your father does not wish to divide the property； nor
sell the estate； nor pay enormous taxes on the ready money which he
may possess。 Therefore； to avoid all this； he must be released from
making the inventory of his whole fortune； part of which you inherit
from your mother； and which is now undivided between you and your
father〃
〃Cruchot； are you quite sure of what you are saying before you tell it
to a mere child？〃
〃Let me tell it my own way； Grandet。〃
〃Yes； yes； my friend。 Neither you nor my daughter wish to rob me；do
you； little one？〃
〃But； Monsieur Cruchot； what am I to do？〃 said Eugenie impatiently。
〃Well；〃 said the notary； 〃it is necessary to sign this deed； by which
you renounce your rights to your mother's estate and leave your father
the use and disposition； during his lifetime； of all the property
undivided between you； of which he guarantees you the capital。〃
〃I do not understand a word of what you are saying；〃 returned Eugenie；
〃give me the deed； and show me where I am to sign it。〃
Pere Grandet looked alternately at the deed and at his daughter； at
his daughter and at the deed； undergoing as he did so such violent
emotion that he wiped the sweat from his brow。
〃My little girl；〃 he said； 〃if； instead of signing this deed； which
will cost a great deal to record； you would simply agree to renounce
your rights as heir to your poor dear； deceased mother's property； and
would trust to me for the future； I should like it better。 In that
case I will pay you monthly the good round sum of a hundred francs。
See； now； you could pay for as many masses as you want for anybody
Hein！ a hundred francs a monthin /livres/？〃
〃I will do all you wish； father。〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said the notary； 〃it is my duty to point out to you
that you are despoiling yourself without guarantee〃
〃Good heavens！ what is all that to me？〃
〃Hold your tongue； Cruchot！ It's settled； all settled；〃 cried Grandet；
taking his daughter's hand and striking it with his own。 〃Eugenie； you
won't go back on your word？you are an honest girl； hein？〃
〃Oh！ father！〃
He kissed her effusively； and pressed her in his arms till he almost
choked her。
〃Go； my good child； you restore your father's life； but you only
return to him that which he gave you： we are quits。 This is how
business should be done。 Life is a business。 I bless you！ you are a
virtuous girl； and you love your father。 Do just what you like in
future。 To…morrow； Cruchot；〃 he added； looking at the horrified
notary； 〃you will see about preparing the deed of relinquishment； and
then enter it on the records of the court。〃
The next morning Eugenie signed the papers by which she herself
completed her spoliation。 At the end of the first year； however； in
spite of his bargain； the old man had not given his daughter one sou
of the hundred francs he had so solemnly pledged to her。 When Eugenie
pleasantly reminded him of this； he could not help coloring； and went
hastily to his secret hiding…place； from whence he brought down about
a third of the jewels he had taken from his nephew； and gave them to
her。
〃There； little one；〃 he said in a sarcastic tone； 〃do you want those
for your twelve hundred francs？〃
〃Oh！ father； truly？ will you really give them to me？〃
〃I'll give you as many more next year；〃 he said； throwing them into
her apron。 〃So before long you'll get all his gewgaws；〃 he added；
rubbing his hands； delighted to be able to speculate on his daughter's
feelings。
Nevertheless； the old man； though still robust； felt the importance of
initiating his daughter into the secrets of his thrift and its
management。 For two consecutive years he made her order the household
meals in his presence and receive the rents； and he taught her slowly
and successively the names and remunerative capacity of his vineyards
and his farms。 About the third year he had so thoroughly accustomed
her to his avaricious methods that they had turned into the settled
habits of her own life； and he was able to leave the household keys in
her charge without anxiety； and to install her as mistress of the
house。
*****
Five years passed away without a single event to relieve the
monotonous existence of Eugenie and her father。 The same actions were
performed daily with the automatic regularity of clockwork。 The deep
sadness of Mademoiselle Grandet was known to every one； but if others
surmised the cause； she herself never uttered a word that justified
the suspicions which all Saumur entertained about the state of the
rich heiress's heart。 Her only society was made up of the three
Cruchots and a few of their particular friends whom they had； little
by little； introduced into the Grandet household。 They had taught her
to play whist； and they came every night for their game。 During the
year 1827 her father； feeling the weight of his infirmities； was
obliged to initiate her still further into the secrets of his landed
property； and told her that in case of difficulty she was to have
recourse to Maitre Cruchot； whose integrity was well known to him。
Towards the end of this year the old man； then eighty…two； was seized
by paralysis； which made rapid progress。 Dr。 Bergerin gave him up。
Eugenie； feeling that she was about to be left alone in the world；
came； as it were； nearer to her father； and clasped more tightly this
last living link of affection。 To her mind； as in that of all loving
women； love was the whole of life。 Charles was not there； and she
devoted all her care and attention to the old father； whose faculties
had begun to weaken； though his avarice remained instinctively acute。
The death of this man offe