M.de Guersaint, who belonged to the petty Norman _noblesse_, was a combination of architect and inventor; and he was at that time busy with a scheme of model dwellings for the poor, to which churches and schools were to be attached; an affair of considerable magnitude, planned none too well, however, and in which, with his customary impetuosity, the lack of foresight of an imperfect artist, he was risking the three hundred thousand francs that he possessed.

A similarity of religious faith had drawn Madame de Guersaint and Madame Froment together; but the former was altogether a superior woman, perspicuous and rigid, with an iron hand which alone prevented her household from gliding to a catastrophe; and she was bringing up her two daughters, Blanche and Marie, in principles of narrow piety, the elder one already being as grave as herself, whilst the younger, albeit very devout, was still fond of play, with an intensity of life within her which found vent in gay peals of sonorous laughter.

From their early childhood Pierre and Marie played together, the hedge was ever being crossed, the two families constantly mingled.

And on that clear sunshiny morning, when he pictured her parting the leafy branches she was already ten years old.

He, who was sixteen, was to enter the seminary on the following Tuesday.