That scene from the window there, is it not beautiful?
Oh, very well! Others may possess in greater abundance than we, but as for myself, my business of the cooperage prospers,--behold my excellent wife Jeanne, yonder,--and this daughter of ours! What more could human being ask ?" Time and again, Josephine found herself repeating this same question,--What more could be asked than this?
What more did the great world offer?
It had not offered her, long used to luxury, so much as this.

To Hector at this moment she made evasive answer.
"I could willingly tarry with you always, Hector," said she, "if that were right." "Right ?" demanded Hector, swelling out his chest, "Why is it not right ?" He doubled up a mighty arm to show where the muscles rose upon it.

"See, I am strong! What is one more mouth to feed--could it even come to that for one of madame's wealth?
Madame but jests.
Did not madame bring me that Jeanne there?
Ah, if only it were right for her to linger with us, how happy we should be! Madame is a noblewoman, we are but poor; yet she has honored us.

Very well, then, what good to wonder about the future?
Madame is rich, that is true.

Suppose even she were poor, would it not be possible for madame to settle down here in St.Genevieve, and to teach the language of France--far better, to teach the English to these ignorant French ?" The sturdy speech of the fresh-looking, good-hearted fellow, touched the heart of a woman so world weary.