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； and stood facing the south。 All the windows were in the front of the house； for its small size and lack of depth from back to front made other openings unnecessary。 The doors and shutters were painted green； and the underside of the penthouses had been lined with deal boards in the German fashion； and painted white。 The rustic charm of the whole little dwelling lay in its spotless cleanliness。
Climbing plants and briar roses grew about the house； a great walnut tree had been allowed to remain among the flowering acacias and trees that bore sweet…scented blossoms； and a few weeping willows had been set by the little streams in the garden space。 A thick belt of pines and beeches grew behind the house； so that the picturesque little dwelling was brought out into strong relief by the sombre width of background。 At that hour of the day； the air was fragrant with the scents from the hillsides and the perfume from La Fosseuse's garden。 The sky overhead was clear and serene； but low clouds hung on the horizon； and the far…off peaks had begun to take the deep rose hues that the sunset often brings。 At the height which they had reached the whole valley lay before their eyes； from distant Grenoble to the little lake at the foot of the circle of crags by which Genestas had passed on the previous day。 Some little distance above the house a line of poplars on the hill indicated the highway that led to Grenoble。 Rays of sunlight fell slantwise across the little town which glittered like a diamond； for the soft red light which poured over it like a flood was reflected by all its window…panes。 Genestas reined in his horse at the sight； and pointed to the dwellings in the valley； to the new town； and to La Fosseuse's house。
〃Since the victory of Wagram； and Napoleon's return to the Tuileries in 1815；〃 he said； with a sigh； 〃nothing has so stirred me as the sight of all this。 I owe this pleasure to you； sir； for you have taught me to see beauty in a landscape。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the doctor； smiling as he spoke； 〃It is better to build towns than to storm them。〃
〃Oh！ sir； how about the taking of Moscow and the surrender of Mantua！ Why； you do not really know what that means！ Is it not a glory for all of us？ You are a good man； but Napoleon also was a good man。 If it had not been for England； you both would have understood each other； and our Emperor would never have fallen。 There are no spies here；〃 said the officer； looking around him； 〃and I can say openly that I love him； now that he is dead！ What a ruler！ He knew every man when he saw him！ He would have made you a Councillor of State； for he was a great administrator himself； even to the point of knowing how many cartridges were left in the men's boxes after an action。 Poor man！ While you were talking about La Fosseuse； I thought of him； and how he was lying dead in St。 Helena！ Was that the kind of climate and country to suit HIM； whose seat had been a throne； and who had lived with his feet in the stirrups； hein？ They say that he used to work in the garden。 The deuce！ He was not made to plant cabbages。 。 。 。 And now we must serve the Bourbons； and loyally； sir； for； after all； France is France； as you were saying yesterday。〃
Genestas dismounted as he uttered these last words； and mechanically followed the example set by Benassis； who fastened his horse's bridle to a tree。
〃Can she be away？〃 said the doctor； when he did not see La Fosseuse on the threshold。 They went into the house； but there was no one in the sitting room on the ground floor。
〃She must have heard the sound of a second horse；〃 said Benassis； with a smile； 〃and has gone upstairs to put on her cap； or her sash； or some piece of finery。〃
He left Genestas alone； and went upstairs in search of La Fosseuse。 The commandant made a survey of the room。 He noticed the pattern of the paper that covered the wallsroses scattered over a gray background； and the straw matting that did duty for a carpet on the floor。 The armchair； the table； and the smaller chairs were made of wood from which the bark had not been removed。 The room was not without ornament； some flower…stands； as they might be called； made of osiers and wooden hoops； had been filled with moss and flowers； and the windows were draped by white dimity curtains bordered with a scarlet fringe。 There was a mirror above the chimney…piece； where a plain china jar stood between two candlesticks。 Some calico lay on the table； shirts； apparently； had been cut out and begun； several pairs of gussets were finished； and a work…basket； scissors； needles and thread； and all a needle…woman's requirements lay beside them。 Everything was as fresh and clean as a shell that the sea had tossed up on the beach。 Genestas saw that a kitchen lay on the other side of the passage； and that the staircase was at the further end of it。 The upper story； like the ground floor； evidently consisted of two rooms only。 〃Come； do not be frightened；〃 Benassis was saying to La Fosseuse； 〃come down…stairs！〃
Genestas promptly retreated into the sitting…room when he heard these words； and in another moment a slender girl； well and gracefully made； appeared in the doorway。 She wore a gown of cambric； covered with narrow pink stripes； and cut low at the throat； so as to display a muslin chemisette。 Shyness and timidity had brought the color to a face which had nothing very remarkable about it save a certain flatness of feature which called to mind the Cossack and Russian countenances that since the disasters of 1814 have unfortunately come to be so widely known in France。 La Fosseuse was； in fact； very like these men of the North。 Her nose turned up at the end； and was sunk in her face； her mouth was wide and her chin small； her hands and arms were red and； like her feet； were of the peasant type； large and strong。 Although she had been used to an outdoor life； to exposure to the sun and the scorching summer winds； her complexion had the bleached look of withered grass； but after the first glance this made her face more interesting； and there was such a sweet expression in her blue eyes； so much grace about her movements； and such music in her voice； that little as her features seemed to harmonize with the disposition which Benassis had praised to the commandant； the officer recognized in her the capricious and ailing creature； condemned to suffering by a nature that had been thwarted in its growth。
La Fosseuse deftly stirred the fire of dry branches and turfs of peat； then sat down in an armchair and took up one of the shirts that she had begun。 She sat there under the officer's eyes； half bashful； afraid to look up； and calm to all appearance； but her bodice rose and fell with the rapid breathing that betrayed her nervousness； and it struck Genestas that her figure was very graceful。
〃Well； my poor child； is your work going on nicely？〃 said Benassis； taking up the material intended for the shirts； and passing it through his fingers。
La Fosseuse gave the doctor a timid and beseeching glance。
〃Do not scold me； sir；〃 she entreated； 〃I have not touched them to… day； although they were ordered by you； and for people who need them very badly。 But the weather has been so fine！ I wandered out and picked a quantity of mushrooms and white truffles； and took them over to Jacquotte； she was very pleased； for some people are coming to dinner。 I was so glad that I thought of it； something seemed to tell me to go to look for them。〃
She began to ply her needle again。
〃You have a very pretty house here； mademoiselle；〃 said Genestas； addressing her。
〃It is not mine at all； sir；〃 she said； looking at the stranger； and her eyes seemed to grow red and tearful； 〃it belongs to M。 Benassis；〃 and she turned towards the doctor with a gentle expression on her face。
〃You know quite well； my child； that you will never have to leave it；〃 he said； as he took her hand in his。
La Fosseuse suddenly rose and left the room。
〃Well；〃 said the doctor； addressing the officer；〃what do you think of her？〃
〃There is something strangely touching about her；〃 Genestas answered。 〃How very nicely you have fitted up this little nest of hers！〃
〃Bah！ a wall…paper at fifteen or twenty sous； it was carefully chosen； but that was all。 The furniture is nothing very much either； my basket…maker made it for me； he wanted to show his gratitude； and La Fosseuse made the curtains herself out of a few yards of calico。 This little house of hers； and her simple furniture； seem pretty to you； because you come upon them up here on a hillside in a forlorn part of the world where you did not expect to find things clean and tidy。 The reason of the prettiness is a kind of harmony between the little house and its surroundings。 Nature has set picturesque groups of trees and running streams about it； and has scattered her fairest flowers among the grass； her sweet…scented wild strawberry blossoms； and her lovely violets。 。 。 。 Well； what is the matter？〃 asked Benassis； as La Fosseuse came back to them。
〃Oh！ nothing； nothing；〃 she answered。 〃I fancied that one of my chickens was missing； and had not been shut up。〃
Her remark was disingenuous； but this was only noticed by the doctor； who said in her ear； 〃You have been crying！〃
〃Why do y