_THE CANTINE._
In spite of the recent disasters, life seemed to return as by
enchantment, both in the towns and the rural districts. In all
directions every one was setting himself to work again to make up for
lost time. Although the misfortunes which had nearly cut off all the
sources of wealth in France were indelibly imprinted on their memories,
a patriotic instinct made its inhabitants redouble their efforts to
repair the mighty ruin, without indulging in vain recriminations. Those
who travelled through France during the months of February and March,
1870, might have compared the country to an ant’s nest disturbed by the
foot of some incautious stroller. These wonderful insects do not in
such a case waste their time in lamentations, and making processions to
supplicate the Providence of the ants: they set to work immediately;
and if you pass by next day, the traces of the convulsion that had
almost destroyed the colony have disappeared.
But at the end of March the journals brought to the _château_ the
disastrous news from Paris. M. de Gandelau had been thinking of sending
back his son to the Lyceum. Although satisfied that Paul would not be
losing his time, he thought it a pity that his classical studies should
be any longer interrupted. But the last news changed his intention. He
decided that his son should continue to work with his cousin, who had
resolved to stay at the _château_ and wait the course of events.
M. de Gandelau, loved and respected by the whole neighbourhood, had
no anxiety so far as he himself was concerned. Some sinister faces
had presented themselves in the neighbouring villages, but there
was no opening for such emissaries there, so they soon disappeared.
Master Branchu and Jean Godard had come to the _château_ to tell M. de
Gandelau that the workmen entreated him not to suspend the works, and
that if money was wanting, they would consent to wait for better days.
For the present they would ask only for soup and bread. In fact, M. de
Gandelau having made great sacrifices during the war, had not just now
at his disposal means sufficient for giving regular wages such as the
energetic carrying out of the works would demand. The most he could do
was to supply provisions. It was, therefore, decided that they should
set up a provision store near the works; that M. de Gandelau should
furnish meal, fuel, fresh meat twice a week, vegetables and bacon;
and that each workman should receive as many rations as his family
and he required for their subsistence. Each ration was estimated at
prime cost; and the balance was to be paid in money at a future day,
according to a well-recognized and carefully-adjusted scale of wages.
Half a dozen workmen who did not belong to the district would not
accept this arrangement, and quitted the works. The others, having
full confidence in M. de Gandelau’s good faith, agreed to these terms,
with so much the more readiness as they had thus the pleasing prospect
of the result of this fixed economy in the shape of a saving. Paul
was commissioned with this new branch of administration, and combined
the functions of a purveyor with those of an inspector. His cousin
initiated him in the system of accounts he must keep, so that all
interests might be protected.
Proud of this new employment, he acquitted himself well. Rising at
five o’clock in the morning, he might be seen riding on his pony from
the _château_ to the mill, from the mill to the neighbouring village,
and from the village to the building; he gave an account to his father
every evening of what had been given out during the day, and to his
cousin memoranda of the work done at the house.
This mode of life was giving vigour to his body; the responsibility
with which he saw himself invested was maturing his mind. Towards the
end of May it would have been difficult to recognise in this robust,
sensible, and methodical young man, the careless schoolboy of the month
of August preceding.
One morning Eugène said to him, “You will have to go to Chateauroux,
for we have not joiners here capable of executing our work. I will put
you in communication with a good master-joiner residing there, and you
will make arrangements with him; but first we must be prepared with the
necessary details.”