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led for some days' space。 He felt a distinct improvement in his
condition； a wonderful sense of ease； that quieted his apprehensions
and soothed his sufferings。
He would climb the crags； and then find a seat high up on some peak
whence he could see a vast expanse of distant country at a glance； and
he would spend whole days in this way； like a plant in the sun； or a
hare in its form。 And at last； growing familiar with the appearances
of the plant…life about him； and of the changes in the sky； he
minutely noted the progress of everything working around him in the
water； on the earth； or in the air。 He tried to share the secret
impulses of nature； sought by passive obedience to become a part of
it； and to lie within the conservative and despotic jurisdiction that
regulates instinctive existence。 He no longer wished to steer his own
course。
Just as criminals in olden times were safe from the pursuit of
justice； if they took refuge under the shadow of the altar； so Raphael
made an effort to slip into the sanctuary of life。 He succeeded in
becoming an integral part of the great and mighty fruit…producing
organization； he had adapted himself to the inclemency of the air； and
had dwelt in every cave among the rocks。 He had learned the ways and
habits of growth of every plant； had studied the laws of the
watercourses and their beds； and had come to know the animals； he was
at last so perfectly at one with this teeming earth； that he had in
some sort discerned its mysteries and caught the spirit of it。
The infinitely varied forms of every natural kingdom were； to his
thinking； only developments of one and the same substance； different
combinations brought about by the same impulse； endless emanations
from a measureless Being which was acting； thinking； moving； and
growing； and in harmony with which he longed to grow； to move； to
think； and act。 He had fancifully blended his life with the life of
the crags； he had deliberately planted himself there。 During the
earliest days of his sojourn in these pleasant surroundings； Valentin
tasted all the pleasures of childhood again； thanks to the strange
hallucination of apparent convalescence； which is not unlike the
pauses of delirium that nature mercifully provides for those in pain。
He went about making trifling discoveries； setting to work on endless
things； and finishing none of them； the evening's plans were quite
forgotten in the morning； he had no cares； he was happy； he thought
himself saved。
One morning he had lain in bed till noon； deep in the dreams between
sleep and waking； which give to realities a fantastic appearance； and
make the wildest fancies seem solid facts； while he was still
uncertain that he was not dreaming yet； he suddenly heard his hostess
giving a report of his health to Jonathan； for the first time。
Jonathan came to inquire after him daily； and the Auvergnate； thinking
no doubt that Valentin was still asleep； had not lowered the tones of
a voice developed in mountain air。
〃No better and no worse；〃 she said。 〃He coughed all last night again
fit to kill himself。 Poor gentleman； he coughs and spits till it is
piteous。 My husband and I often wonder to each other where he gets the
strength from to cough like that。 It goes to your heart。 What a cursed
complaint it is！ He has no strength at all。 I am always afraid I shall
find him dead in his bed some morning。 He is every bit as pale as a
waxen Christ。 DAME！ I watch him while he dresses； his poor body is as
thin as a nail。 And he does not feel well now； but no matter。 It's all
the same； he wears himself out with running about as if he had health
and to spare。 All the same； he is very brave； for he never complains
at all。 But really he would be better under the earth than on it； for
he is enduring the agonies of Christ。 I don't wish that myself； sir；
it is quite in our interests； but even if he didn't pay us what he
does； I should be just as fond of him； it is not our own interest that
is our motive。
〃Ah； mon Dieu！〃 she continued； 〃Parisians are the people for these
dogs' diseases。 Where did he catch it； now？ Poor young man！ And he is
so sure that he is going to get well！ That fever just gnaws him； you
know； it eats him away； it will be the death of him。 He has no notion
whatever of that； he does not know it； sir； he sees nothingYou
mustn't cry about him； M。 Jonathan； you must remember that he will be
happy； and will not suffer any more。 You ought to make a neuvaine for
him； I have seen wonderful cures come of the nine days' prayer； and I
would gladly pay for a wax taper to save such a gentle creature； so
good he is； a paschal lamb〃
As Raphael's voice had grown too weak to allow him to make himself
heard； he was compelled to listen to this horrible loquacity。 His
irritation； however； drove him out of bed at length； and he appeared
upon the threshold。
〃Old scoundrel！〃 he shouted to Jonathan； 〃do you mean to put me to
death？〃
The peasant woman took him for a ghost； and fled。
〃I forbid you to have any anxiety whatever about my health；〃 Raphael
went on。
〃Yes； my Lord Marquis；〃 said the old servant； wiping away his tears。
〃And for the future you had very much better not come here without my
orders。〃
Jonathan meant to be obedient； but in the look full of pity and
devotion that he gave the Marquis before he went； Raphael read his own
death…warrant。 Utterly disheartened； brought all at once to a sense of
his real position； Valentin sat down on the threshold； locked his arms
across his chest； and bowed his head。 Jonathan turned to his master in
alarm； with 〃My Lord〃
〃Go away； go away；〃 cried the invalid。
In the hours of the next morning； Raphael climbed the crags； and sat
down in a mossy cleft in the rocks； whence he could see the narrow
path along which the water for the dwelling was carried。 At the base
of the hill he saw Jonathan in conversation with the Auvergnate。 Some
malicious power interpreted for him all the woman's forebodings； and
filled the breeze and the silence with her ominous words。 Thrilled
with horror； he took refuge among the highest summits of the
mountains； and stayed there till the evening； but yet he could not
drive away the gloomy presentiments awakened within him in such an
unfortunate manner by a cruel solicitude on his account。
The Auvergne peasant herself suddenly appeared before him like a
shadow in the dusk； a perverse freak of the poet within him found a
vague resemblance between her black and white striped petticoat and
the bony frame of a spectre。
〃The damp is falling now； sir；〃 said she。 〃If you stop out there； you
will go off just like rotten fruit。 You must come in。 It isn't healthy
to breathe the damp； and you have taken nothing since the morning；
besides。〃
〃TONNERRE DE DIEU！ old witch；〃 he cried； 〃let me live after my own
fashion； I tell you； or I shall be off altogether。 It is quite bad
enough to dig my grave every morning； you might let it alone in the
evenings at least〃
〃Your grave； sir！ I dig your grave！and where may your grave be？ I
want to see you as old as father there； and not in your grave by any
manner of means。 The grave！ that comes soon