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。
\"Bertrande！\"itsaidinavoiceofemotion。Sheraisedherhead，utteredapiercingcry，andwasclaspedinherhusband\'sarms。
Thewholevillagebecameawareofthiseventthatsameevening。TheneighbourscrowdedroundBertrande\'sdoor，Martin\'sfriendsandrelationsnaturallywishingtoseehimafterthismiraculousreappearance，whilethosewhohadneverknownhimdesirednolesstogratifytheircuriosity;sothattheheroofthelittledrama，insteadofremainingquietlyathomewithhiswife，wasobligedtoexhibithimselfpubliclyinaneighbouringbarn。Hisfoursistersburstthroughthecrowdandfellonhisneckweeping;hisuncleexaminedhimdoubtfully，atfirst，thenextendedhisarms。Everybodyrecognisedhim，beginningwiththeoldservantMargherite，whohadbeenwiththeyoungcoupleeversincetheirwedding—day。Peopleobservedonlythatariperagehadstrengthenedhisfeatures，andgivenmorecharactertohiscountenanceandmoredevelopmenttohispowerfulfigure;alsothathehadascarovertherighteyebrow，andthathelimpedslightly。Thesewerethemarksofwoundshehadreceived，hesaid;whichnownolongertroubledhim。Heappearedanxioustoreturntohiswifeandchild，butthecrowdinsistedonhearingthestoryofhisadventuresduringhisvoluntaryabsence，andhewasobligedtosatisfythem。Eightyearsago，hesaid，thedesiretoseemoreoftheworldhadgainedanirresistiblemasteryoverhim;
heyieldedtoit，anddepartedsecretly。AnaturallongingtookhimtohisbirthplaceinBiscay，wherehehadseenhissurvivingrelatives。TherehemettheCardinalofBurgos，whotookhimintohisservice，promisinghimprofit，hardknockstogiveandtake，andplentyofadventure。Sometimeafter，heleftthecardinal\'shouseholdforthatofhisbrother，who，muchagainsthiswill，compelledhimtofollowhimtothewarandbeararmsagainsttheFrench。ThushefoundhimselfontheSpanishsideonthedayofSt。
Quentin，andreceivedaterriblegun—shotwoundintheleg。Beingcarriedintoahouseaanadjoiningvillage，hefellintothehandsofasurgeon，whoinsistedthatthelegmustbeamputatedimmediately，butwholefthimforamoment，andneverreturned。Thenheencounteredagoodoldwoman，whodressedhiswoundandnursedhimnightandday。Sothatinafewweeksherecovered，andwasabletosetoutforArtigues，toothankfultoreturntohishouseandland，stillmoretohiswifeandchild，andfullyresolvednevertoleavethemagain。
Havingendedhisstory，heshookhandswithhisstillwonderingneighbours，addressingbynamesomewhohadbeenveryyoungwhenheleft，andwho，hearingtheirnames，cameforwardnowasgrownmen，hardlyrecognisable，butmuchpleasedatbeingremembered。Hereturnedhissisters\'carresses，beggedhisuncle\'sforgivenessforthetroublehehadgiveninhisboyhood，recallingwithmirththevariouscorrectionsreceived。HementionedalsoanAugustinianmonkwhohadtaughthimtoread，andanotherreverendfather，aCapuchin，whoseirregularconducthadcausedmuchscandalintheneighbourhood。
Inshort，notwithstandinghisprolongedabsence，heseemedtohaveaperfectrecollectionofplaces，persons，andthings。Thegoodpeopleoverwhelmedhimwithcongratulations，vyingwithoneanotherinpraisinghimforhavingthegoodsensetocomehome，andindescribingthegriefandtheperfectvirtueofhisBertrande。
Emotionwasexcited，manywept，andseveralbottlesfromMartinGuerre\'scellarwereemptied。Atlengththeassemblydispersed，utteringmanyexclamationsabouttheextraordinarychancesofFate，andretiredtotheirownhomes，excited，astonished，andgratified，withtheoneexceptionofoldPierreGuerre，whohadbeenstruckbyanunsatisfactoryremarkmadebyhisnephew，andwhodreamedallnightaboutthechancesofpecuniarylossauguredbythelatter\'sreturn。
Itwasmidnightbeforethehusbandandwifewerealoneandabletogiveventtotheirfeelings。Bertrandestillfelthalfstupefied;
shecouldnotbelieveherowneyesandears，norrealisethatshesawagaininhermarriagechamberherhusbandofeightyearsago，himforwhomshehadwept;whosedeathshehaddeploredonlyafewhourspreviously。Inthesuddenshockcausedbysomuchjoysucceedingsomuchgrief，shehadnotbeenabletoexpresswhatshefelt;herconfusedideasweredifficulttoexplain，andsheseemeddeprivedofthepowersofspeechandreflection。Whenshebecamecalmerandmorecapableofanalysingherfeelings，shewasastonishednottofeeltowardsherhusbandthesameaffectionwhichhadmovedhersostronglyafewhoursbefore。Itwascertainlyhimself，thosewerethesamefeatures，thatwasthemantowhomshehadwillinglygivenherhand，herheart，herself，andyetnowthatshesawhimagainacoldbarrierofshyness，ofmodesty，seemedtohaverisenbetweenthem。Hisfirstkiss，even，hadnotmadeherhappy:sheblushedandfeltsaddened——acuriousresultofthelongabsence！Shecouldnotdefinethechangeswroughtbyyearsinhisappearance:hiscountenanceseemedharsher，yetthelinesofhisface，hisouterman，hiswholepersonality，didnotseemaltered，buthissoulhadchangeditsnature，adifferentmindlookedforthfromthoseeyes。Bertrandeknewhimforherhusband，andyetshehesitated。EvensoPenelope，onthe，returnofUlysses，requiredacertainprooftoconfirmtheevidenceofhereyes，andherlongabsenthusbandhadtoremindherofsecretsknownonlytoherself。
Martin，however，asifheunderstoodBertrande\'sfeelinganddivinedsomesecretmistrust，usedthemosttenderandaffectionatephrases，andeventheverypetnameswhichcloseintimacyhadformerlyendearedtothem。
\"Myqueen，\"hesaid，\"mybeautifuldove，canyounotlayasideyourresentment？Isitstillsostrongthatnosubmissioncansoftenit？
Cannotmyrepentancefindgraceinyoureyes？MyBertrande，myBertha，myBertranilla，asIusedtocallyou。\"
Shetriedtosmile，butstoppedshort，puzzled;thenamesweretheverysame，buttheinflexionofvoicequitedifferent。
Martintookherhandsinhis。\"Whatprettyhands！Doyoustillwearmyring？Yes，hereitis，andwithitthesapphireringIgaveyouthedaySanxiwasborn。\"
Bertrandedidnotanswer，butshetookthechildandplacedhiminhisfather\'sarms。
Martinshoweredcaressesonhisson，andspokeofthetimewhenhecarriedhimasababyinthegarden，liftinghimuptothefruittrees，sothathecouldreachandtrytobitethefruit。Herecollectedonedaywhenthepoorchildgothislegterriblytornbythorns，andconvincedhimself，notwithoutemotion，thatthescarcouldstillbeseen。
Bertrandewastouchedbythisdisplayofaffectionaterecollections，andfeltvexedatherowncoldness。ShecameuptoMartinandlaidherhandinhis。Hesaidgently——
\"Mydeparturecausedyougreatgrief:InowrepentwhatIdid。ButI
wasyoung，Iwasproud，andyourreproacheswereunjust。\"
\"Ah，\"saidshe，\"youhavenotforgottenthecauseofourquarrel？\"
\"ItwaslittleRose，ourneighbour，whomyousaidIwasmakingloveto，becauseyoufoundustogetheratthespringinthelittlewood。
Iexplainedthatwemetonlybychance，——besides，shewasonlyachild，——butyouwouldnotlisten，andinyouranger——\"
\"Ah！forgiveme，Martin，forgiveme！\"sheinterrupted，inconfusion。
\"Inyourblindangeryoutookup，Iknownotwhat，somethingwhichlayhandy，andflungitatme。Andhereisthemark，\"hecontinued，smiling，\"thisscar，whichisstilltobeseen。\"
\"Oh，Martin！\"Bertrandeexclaimed，\"canyoueverforgiveme？\"
\"Asyousee，\"Martinreplied，kissinghertenderly。
Muchmoved，Bertrandesweptasidehishair，andlookedatthescarvisibleonhisforehead。
\"But，\"shesaid，withsurprisenotfreefromalarm，\"thisscarseemstomelikeafreshone。\"
\"Ah！\"Martinexplained，witha，littleembarrassment;\"itreopenedlately。ButIhadthoughtnomoreaboutit。Letusforgetit，Bertrande;Ishouldnotlikearecollectionwhichmightmakeyouthinkyourselflessdeartomethanyouoncewere。\"
Andhedrewheruponhisknee。Sherepelledhimgently。
\"Sendthechildtobed，\"saidMartin。\"Tomorrowshallbeforhim;
to—nightyouhavethefirstplace，Bertrande，youonly。\"
Theboykissedhisfatherandwent。
Bertrandecameandkneltbesideherhusband，regardinghimattentivelywithanuneasysmile，whichdidnotappeartopleasehimbyanymeans。
\"Whatisthematter？\"saidhe。\"Whydoyouexaminemethus？\"
\"Idonotknow——forgiveme，oh！forgiveme！……Butthehappinessofseeingyouwassogreatandunexpected，itisalllikeadream。Imusttrytobecomeaccustomedtoit;givemesometimetocollectmyself;letmespendthisnightinprayer。IoughttooffermyjoyandmythanksgivingtoAlmightyGod——\"
\"Notso，\"interruptedherhusband，passinghisarmsroundherneckandstrokingherbeautifulhair。\"No;\'tistomethatyourfirstthoughtsaredue。Aftersomuchweariness，myrestisinagainbeholdingyou，andmyhappinessaftersomanytrialswillbefoundinyourlove。Thathopehassupportedmethroughout，andIlongtobeassuredthatitisnoillusion。\"Sosaying，heendeavouredtoraiseher。
\"Oh，\"shemurmured，\"Iprayyouleaveme。\"
\"What！\"heexclaimedangrily。\"Bertrande，isthisyourlove？Isitthusyoukeepfaithwithme？Youwillmakemedoubttheevidenceofyourfriends;youwillmakemethinkthatindifference，orevenanotherlove————\"
\"Youinsultme，\"saidBertrande，risingtoherfeet。
Hecaughtherinhisarms。\"No，no;Ithinknothingwhichcouldwoundyou，myqueen，andIbelieveyourfidelity，evenasbefore，youknow，onthatfirstjourney，whenyouwrotemetheselovingletterswhichIhavetreasuredeversince。Heretheyare。\"Andhedrewforthsomepapers，onwhichBertranderecognisedherownhandwriting。
\"Yes，\"hecontinued，\"Ihavereadand—re—readthem……See，youspokethenofyourloveandthesorrowsofabsence。Butwhyallthistroubleandterror？Youtremble，justasyoudidwhenIfirstreceivedyoufromyourfather\'shands……Itwashere，inthisveryroom……Youbeggedmethentoleaveyou，toletyouspendthenightinprayer;butIinsisted，doyouremember？andpressedyoutomyheart，asIdonow。\"
\"Oh，\"shemurmuredweakly，\"havepity！\"
Butthewordswereinterceptedbyakiss，andtheremembranceofthepast，thehappinessofthepresent，resumedtheirsway;theimaginaryterrorswereforgotten，andthecurtainsclosedaroundthemarriage—
bed。
ThenextdaywasafestivalinthevillageofArtigues。Martinreturnedthevisitsofallwhohadcometowelcomehimthepreviousnight，andtherewereendlessrecognitionsandembracings。Theyoungmenrememberedthathehadplayedwiththemwhentheywerelittle;
theoldmen，thattheyhadbeenathisweddingwhenhewasonlytwelve。
ThewomenrememberedhavingenviedBertrande，especiallytheprettyRose，daughterofMarcel，theapothecary，shewhohadrousedthedemonofjealousyin，thepoorwife\'sheart。AndRoseknewquitewellthatthejealousywasnotwithoutsomecause;forMartinhadindeedshownherattention，andshewasunabletoseehimagainwithoutemotion。Shewasnowthewifeofarichpeasant，ugly，old，andjealous，andshecompared，sighing，herunhappylotwiththatofhermorefortunateneighbour。Martin\'ssistersdetainedhimamongstthem，andspokeoftheirchildishgamesandoftheirparents，bothdeadinBiscay。Martindriedthetearswhichflowedattheserecollectionsofthepast，andturnedtheirthoughtstorejoicing。
Banquetsweregivenandreceived。Martininvitedallhisrelationsandformerfriends;aneasygaietyprevailed。Itwasremarkedthattheheroofthefeastrefrainedfromwine;hewasthereuponreproached，butansweredthatonaccountofthewoundshehadreceivedhewasobligedtoavoidexcess。Theexcusewasadmitted，theresultofMartin\'sprecautionsbeingthathekeptaclearheadonhisshoulders，whilealltheresthadtheirtonguesloosedbydrunkenness。
\"Ah！\"exclaimedoneoftheguests，whohadstudiedalittlemedicine，\"Martinisquiterighttobeafraidofdrink。Woundswhichhavethoroughlyhealedmaybereopenedandinflamedbyintemperance，andwineinthecaseofrecentwoundsisdeadlypoison。Menhavediedonthefieldofbattleinanhourortwomerelybecausetheyhadswallowedalittlebrandy。\"
MartinGuerregrewpale，andbeganaconversationwiththeprettyRose，hisneighbour。Bertrandeobservedthis，butwithoutuneasiness;shehadsufferedtoomuchfromherformersuspicions，besidesherhusbandshowedhersomuchaffectionthatshewasnowquitehappy。
Whenthefirstfewdayswereover，Martinbegantolookintohisaffairs。Hispropertyhadsufferedbyhislongabsence，andhewasobligedtogotoBiscaytoclaimhislittleestatethere，thelawhavingalreadylaidhandsuponit。Itwasseveralmonthsbefore，bydintofmakingjudicioussacrifices，hecouldregainpossessionofthehouseandfieldswhichhadbelongedtohisfather。Thisatlastaccomplished，hereturnedtoArtigues，inordertoresumethemanagementofhiswife\'sproperty，andwiththisendinview，aboutelevenmonthsafterhisreturn，hepaidavisittohisunclePierre。
Pierrewasexpectinghim;hewasextremelypolite，desiredMartin，tositdown，overwhelmedhimwithcompliments，knittinghisbrowsashediscoveredthathisnephewdecidedlymeantbusiness。Martinbrokesilence。
\"Uncle，\"hesaid，\"Icometothankyouforthecareyouhavetakenofmywife\'sproperty;shecouldneverhavemanageditalone。Youhavereceivedtheincomeinthefamilyinterest:asagoodguardian，I
expectednolessfromyouraffection。ButnowthatIhavereturned，andamfreefromothercares，wewillgoovertheaccounts，ifyouplease。\"