a gash on the mountain side.

"See what my parishioners have done to testify their gratitude to the
lady of the manor," he said, pointing to the line, which was really a
road; "we can now drive up to the chateau. This piece of road has been
made by them without costing you a penny, and two months hence we
shall plant it with trees. Monseigneur will understand what trouble
and care and devotion were needed to accomplish such a change."

"Is it possible they have done that?" said the bishop.

"Without accepting any payment for their work, Monseigneur. The
poorest put their hands into it, knowing that it would bring a mother
among them."

At the foot of the hill the travellers saw the whole population of the
neighborhood, who were lighting fire-boxes and discharging a few guns;
then two of the prettiest of the village girls, dressed in white, came
forward to offer Madame Graslin flowers and fruit.

"To be thus received in this village!" she exclaimed, grasping the
rector's hand as if she stood on the brink of a precipice.

The crowd accompanied the carriage to the iron gates of the avenue.
From there Madame Graslin could see her chateau, of which as yet she
had only caught glimpses, and she was thunderstruck at the
magnificence of the building. Stone is rare in those parts, the
granite of the mountains being difficult to quarry. The architect
employed by Graslin to restore the house had used brick as the chief
substance of this vast construction. This was rendered less costly by