Before cultivating
those dry lands one must yet wait until the moisture should have
penetrated and fertilized them. That would be the work of the future, and
thus, by degrees, life would be diffused through the whole estate.
"Evening is coming on," resumed Mathieu, "I must make haste."
Then he set off again, throwing the seed with his broad rhythmical
gesture. And while Marianne, gravely smiling, watched him go, it occurred
to little Rose to follow in his track, and take up handfuls of earth,
which she scattered to the wind. The three boys perceived her, and Blaise
and Denis then hastened up, followed by Ambroise, all gleefully imitating
their father's gesture, and darting hither and thither around him. And
for a moment it was almost as if Mathieu with the sweep of his arm not
only cast the seed of expected corn into the furrows, but also sowed
those dear children, casting them here and there without cessation, so
that a whole nation of little sowers should spring up and finish
populating the world.
Two months more went by, and January had arrived with a hard frost, when
one day the Froments unexpectedly received a visit from Seguin and
Beauchene, who had come to try their luck at wild-duck shooting, among
such of the ponds on the plateau as had not yet been drained.
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