Every window looked out on some new view of the
lake; in the far distance lay the mountains, fantastic visions of
changing color and evanescent cloud; above them spread the sunny sky,
before them stretched the broad sheet of water, never the same in its
fitful changes. All their surroundings seemed to dream for them, all
things smiled upon them.
Then weighty matters recalled M. de Nueil to France. His father and
brother died, and he was obliged to leave Geneva. The lovers bought
the house; and if they could have had their way, they would have
removed the hills piecemeal, drawn off the lake with a siphon, and
taken everything away with them.
Mme. de Beauseant followed M. de Nueil. She realized her property, and
bought a considerable estate near Manerville, adjoining Gaston's
lands, and here they lived together; Gaston very graciously giving up
Manerville to his mother for the present in consideration of the
bachelor freedom in which she left him.
Mme. de Beauseant's estate was close to a little town in one of the
most picturesque spots in the valley of the Auge. Here the lovers
raised barriers between themselves and social intercourse, barriers
which no creature could overleap, and here the happy days of
Switzerland were lived over again. For nine whole years they knew
happiness which it serves no purpose to describe; happiness which may
be divined from the outcome of the story by those whose souls can
comprehend poetry and prayer in their infinite manifestations.
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