Then, without a word, she turned away and cut a stick, at the end of which she held out to the senator the rest of the provisions.
"What do they want of me ?" he asked.
Marthe departed giving him no answer.

By five o'clock she had reached the edge of the forest and was warned by Couraut of the presence of strangers.

She retraced her steps and made for the pavilion where she had lived so long; but just as she entered the avenue she was seen from afar by the forester of Gondreville, and she quickly reflected that her best plan was to go straight up to him.
"You are out early, Madame Michu," he said, accosting her.
"We are so unfortunate," she replied, "that I am obliged to do a servant's work myself.

I am going to Bellache for some grain." "Haven't you any at Cinq-Cygne ?" said the forester.
Marthe made no answer.

She continued on her way and reached the farm at Bellache, where she asked Beauvisage to give her some seed-grain, saying that Monsieur d'Hauteserre advised her to get it from him to renew her crop.