PierreGuerre，indeed，wassimplyathoroughegotist。Inhisyouthhehadbeenchargedwithusury;nooneknewbywhatmeanshehadbecomerich，forthelittledraperytradewhichhecalledhisprofessiondidnotappeartobeveryprofitable。
Afterhisnephew\'sdepartureitseemedonlynaturalthatheshouldposeasthefamilyguardian，andheappliedhimselftothetaskofincreasingthelittleincome，butwithoutconsideringhimselfboundtogiveanyaccounttoBertrande。So，oncepersuadedthatMartinwasnomore，hewasapparentlynotunwillingtoprolongasituationsomuchtohisownadvantage。
Nightwasfastcomingon;inthedimtwilightdistantobjectsbecameconfusedandindistinct。Itwastheendofautumn，thatmelancholyseasonwhichsuggestssomanygloomythoughtsandrecallssomanyblightedhopes。Thechildhadgoneintothehouse。Bertrande，stillsittingatthedoor，restingherforeheadonherhand，thoughtsadlyofheruncle\'swords;recallinginimaginationthepastsceneswhichtheysuggested，thetimeoftheirchildhood，when，marriedsoyoung，theywereasyetonlyplaymates，prefacingthegraverdutiesoflifebyinnocentpleasures;thenofthelovewhichgrewwiththeirincreasingage;thenofhowthislovebecamealtered，changingonhersideintopassion，onhisintoindifference。Shetriedtorecollecthimashehadbeenontheeveofhisdeparture，youngandhandsome，carryinghisheadhigh，cominghomefromafatiguinghuntandsittingbyhisson\'scradle;andthenalsosherememberedbitterlythejealoussuspicionsshehadconceived，theangerwithwhichshehadallowedthemtoescapeher，theconsequentquarrel，followedbythedisappearanceofheroffendedhusband，andtheeightsucceedingyearsofsolitudeandmourning。Sheweptoverhisdesertion;overthedesolationofherlife，seeingaroundheronlyindifferentorselfishpeople，andcaringonlytoliveforherchild\'ssake，whogaveheratleastashadowyreflectionofthehusbandshehadlost。\"Lost——yes，lostforever！\"shesaidtoherself，sighing，andlookingagainatthefieldswhenceshehadsooftenseenhimcomingatthissametwilighthour，returningtohishomefortheeveningmeal。Shecastawanderingeyeonthedistanthills，whichshowedablackoutlineagainstayetfierywesternsky，thenletitfallonalittlegroveofolivetreesplantedonthefarthersideofthebrookwhichskirtedherdwelling。Everythingwascalm;approachingnightbroughtsilencealongwithdarkness:itwasexactlywhatshesaweveryevening，buttoleavewhichrequiredalwaysaneffort。
Sherosetore—enterthehouse，whenherattentionwascaughtbyamovementamongstthetrees。Foramomentshethoughtshewasmistaken，butthebranchesagainrustled，thenpartedasunder，andtheformofamanappearedontheothersideofthebrook。
Terrified，Bertrandetriedtoscream，butnotasoundescapedherlips;hervoiceseemedparalyzedbyterror，asinanevildream。Andshealmostthoughtitwasadream，fornotwithstandingthedarkshadowscastaroundthisindistinctsemblance，sheseemedtorecognisefeaturesoncedeartoher。Hadherbitterreveriesendedbymakingherthevictimofahallucination？Shethoughtherbrainwasgivingway，andsankonherkneestoprayforhelp。Butthefigureremained;itstoodmotionless，withfoldedarms，silentlygazingather！Thenshethoughtofwitchcraft，ofevildemons，andsuperstitiousaseveryonewasinthosedays，shekissedacrucifixwhichhungfromherneck，andfellfaintingontheground。Withonespringthephantomcrossedthebrookandstoodbesideher。