From these words, the first he had ever uttered on the subject which
most interested me, I concluded that he himself had long been favourable
to my suit, and that the obstacle, if one still existed, lay with Edmee.
My uncle's last remark implied a doubt which I dared not try to clear
up, and which caused me great uneasiness. Edmee's sensitive pride
inspired me with such awe, her unspeakable goodness filled me with such
respect that I dared not ask her point-blank to decide my fate. I made
up my mind to act as if I entertained no other hope than that she would
always let me be her brother and friend.

An event which long remained inexplicable afforded some distraction
to my thoughts for a few days. At first I had refused to go and take
possession of Roche-Mauprat.

"You really must," my uncle had said, "go and see the improvements I
have made in your property, the lands which have been brought under
cultivation, the cattle that I have put on each of your metayer-farms.
Now is the time for you to see how your affairs stand, and show your
tenants that you take an interest in their work. Otherwise, on my death,
everything will go from bad to worse and you will be obliged to let it,
which may bring you in a larger income, perhaps, but will diminish the
value of the property. I am too old now to go and manage your estate.
For the last two years I have been unable to leave off this miserable
dressing-gown; the abbe does not understand anything about it; Edmee has
an excellent head; but she cannot bring herself to go to that place; she
says she would be too much afraid, which is mere childishness."

"I know that I ought to display more courage," I replied; "and yet,
uncle, what you are asking me to do is for me the most difficult thing
in the world. I have not set foot on that accursed soil since the day