Very soon the entire parish, from the most insignificant woodchopper to the Abbe Pernot himself, were made aware that there was something going on between M.de Buxieres and the daughter of old M.Vincart.
In the mean time, Julien, quite unconscious that his love for Reine was providing conversation for all the gossips of the country, was cursing the untoward event that kept him stretched in his invalid-chair.

At last, one day, he discovered he could put his foot down and walk a little with the assistance of his cane; a few days after, the doctor gave him permission to go out of doors.

His first visit was to La Thuiliere.
He went there in the afternoon and found Reine in the kitchen, seated by the side of her paralytic father, who was asleep.

She was reading a newspaper, which she retained in her hand, while rising to receive her visitor.

After she had congratulated him on his recovery, and he had expressed his cordial thanks for her timely aid, she showed him the paper.
"You find me in a state of disturbance," said she, with a slight degree of embarrassment, "it seems that we are going to have war and that our troops have entered Italy.