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told Bernadou that he was a downtrodden slave； a clod； a beast like a mule；
who fetched and carried that the rich might fatten； a dolt； an idiot； who
cared nothing for the rights of man and the wrongs of the poor。 Bernadou
had listened with a perplexed face； then with a smile； that had cleared it
like sunlight； he had answered； in his country dialect； 〃I do not know of
what you speak。 Rights？ Wrongs？ I cannot tell； But I have never owned a
sou； I have never told a lie； I am strong enough to hold my own with any
man that flouts me； and I am content where I am。 That is enough for me。〃
The peddler had called him a poor…spirited beast of burden； but had
said so out of reach of his arm； and by night had slunk away from the
Berceau de Dieu； and had been no more seen there to vex the quiet
contentment of its peaceful and peace…loving ways。
At night； indeed； sometimes； the little wine…shop of the village would
be frequented by some half…dozen of the peasant proprietors of the place；
who talked communism after their manner； not a very clear one； in excited
tones and with the feverish glances of conspirators。 But it meant little； and
came to less。 The weather and the price of wheat were dearer matters to
them； and in the end they usually drank their red wine in amity； and went
up the village street arm in arm； singing patriotic songs until their angry
wives flung open their lattices and thrust their white head…gear out into the
moonlight； and called to them shrewishly to get to bed and not make fools
of themselves in that fashion； which usually silenced and sobered them all
instantly； so that the revolutions of the Berceau de Dieu； if not quenched
in a wine…pot； were always smothered in a nightcap； and never by any
chance disturbed its repose。
But of these noisy patriots Bernadou was never one。 He had the
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instinctive conservatism of the French peasant； which is in such direct and
tough antagonism with the feverish socialism of the French artisan。 His
love was for the soila love deep…rooted as the oaks that grew in it。 Of
Paris he had a dim； vague dread； as of a superb beast continually draining
and devouring。 Of all forms of government he was alike ignorant。 So long
as he tilled his little angle of land in peace； so long as the sun ripened his
fruits and corn； so long as famine was away from his door and his
neighbours dwelt in good…fellowship with him； so long he was happy； and
cared not whether he was thus happy under a monarchy； an empire； or a
republic。 This wisdom； which the peddler called apathy and cursed； the
young man had imbibed from nature and the teachings of Reine Allix。
〃Look at home and mind thy word；〃 she had said always to him。 〃It is
labour enough for a man to keep his own life clean and his own hands
honest。 Be not thou at any time as they are who are for ever telling the
good God how He might have made the world on a better plan； while the
rats gnaw at their hay…stacks and the children cry over an empty platter。〃
And he had taken heed to her words； so that in all the country…side
there was not any lad truer； gentler； braver； or more patient at labour than
was Bernadou； and though some thought him mild even to foolishness；
and meek even to stupidity； he was no fool； and he had a certain rough
skill at music； and a rare gift at the culture of plants； and made his little
home bright within the winter…time with melody； and in the summer gay
without as a king's parterre。
At any rate； Reine Allix and he had been happy together for a quarter
of a century under the old gray thatch of the wayside cottage； where it
stood at the foot of the village street； with its great sycamores spread
above it。 Nor were they less happy when in mid…April； in the six and
twentieth year of his age； Bernadou had come in with a bunch of
primroses in his hand； and had bent down to her and saluted her with a
respectful tenderness； and said softly and a little shyly； 〃/Gran'mere/；
would it suit you if I were everto marry？〃
Reine Allix was silent a minute and more； cherishing the primroses
and placing them in a little brown cupful of water。 Then she looked at him
steadily with her clear； dark eyes。 〃Who is it； my child？〃 He was always a
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child to her； this last…born of the numerous brood that had once dwelt with
her under the spreading branches of the sycamores； and had now all
perished off the face of the earth； leaving himself and her alone。
Bernadou's eyes met hers frankly。 〃It is Margot Dal。 Does that please you；
/gran'mere/； or no？〃
〃It pleases me well；〃 she said； simply。 But there was a little quiver
about her firm…set mouth； and her aged head was bent over the primroses。
She had foreseen it； she was glad of it； and yet for the instant it was a pang
to her。
〃I am very thankful；〃 said Bernadou； with a flash of joy on his face。
He was independent of his grandmother； he could make enough to marry
upon by his daily toil； and he had a little store of gold and silver in his
bank in the thatch； put by for a rainy day； but he would have no more
thought of going against her will than he would have thought of lifting his
hand against her。 In the primitive homesteads of the Berceau de Dieu filial
reverence was still accounted the first of virtues； yet the simplest and the
most imperative。
〃I will go see Margot this evening；〃 said Reine Allix； after a little
pause。 〃She is a good girl and a brave； and of pure heart and fair name。
You have chosen well； my grandson。〃
Bernadou stooped his tall； fair； curly head； and she laid her hands on
him and blessed him。
That evening； as the sun set； Reine Allix kept her word； and went to
the young maiden who had allured the eyes and heart of Bernadou。 Margot
was an orphan； she had not a penny to her dower； she had been brought up
on charity； and she dwelt now in the family of the largest landowner of the
place； a miller with numerous offspring； and several head of cattle； and
many stretches of pasture and of orchard。 Margot worked for a hard master；
living indeed as one of the family； but sharply driven all day long at all
manner of housework and field work。 Reine Allix had kept her glance on
her； through some instinctive sense of the way that Bernadou's thoughts
were turning； and she had seen much to praise； nothing to chide； in the
young girl's modest； industrious； cheerful； uncomplaining life。 Margot was
very pretty； too； with the brown oval face and the great black soft eyes and
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the beautiful form of the Southern blood that had run in the veins of her
father； who had been a sailor of Marseilles； while her mother had been a
native of the Provencal country。 Altogether； Reine Allix knew that her
beloved one could not have done better or more wisely； if choose at all he
must。 〃Some people； indeed；〃 she said to herself as she climbed the street
whose sharp…set flints had been trodden by her wooden shoes for ninety
years〃Some people would mourn and scold because there is no store of
linen； no piece of silver plate； no little round sum in money with the poor
child。 But what does it matter？ We have enough for three。 It is wicked
indeed for parents to live so that they leave their daughter portionless； but
it is no fault of the child's。 Let them say what they like； it is a reason the
more that she should want a roof over her head and a husband to care for
her good。〃
So she climbed the steep way and the slanting road round the hill； and
went in by the door of the mill…house； and found Margot busy in washing
some spring lettuces and other green things in a bowl of bright water。
Reine Allix； in the fashion of her country and her breeding； was a