'Then I shall build,' said he, 'a SALLE A MANGER, a SALON, a SALLE AU COMMUNE, and a number of rooms for servants; for at present there is not accommodation for a third part of my own people.' 'It accommodated our father's household,' said St.Aubert, grieved that the old mansion was to be thus improved, 'and that was not a small one.' 'Our notions are somewhat enlarged since those days,' said M.
Quesnel;--'what was then thought a decent style of living would not now be endured.' Even the calm St.Aubert blushed at these words, but his anger soon yielded to contempt.

'The ground about the chateau is encumbered with trees; I mean to cut some of them down.' 'Cut down the trees too!' said St.Aubert.
'Certainly.

Why should I not?
they interrupt my prospects.

There is a chesnut which spreads its branches before the whole south side of the chateau, and which is so ancient that they tell me the hollow of its trunk will hold a dozen men.

Your enthusiasm will scarcely contend that there can be either use, or beauty, in such a sapless old tree as this.' 'Good God!' exclaimed St.Aubert, 'you surely will not destroy that noble chesnut, which has flourished for centuries, the glory of the estate! It was in its maturity when the present mansion was built.