For a moment we thought he was going to die there, for he remained
motionless and convulsed, as it were, under Marcasse's caressing hand;
then suddenly he sprang up, as if struck with an idea worthy of a man,
and set off with the speed of lightning in the direction of Patience's
hut.
"Yes, go and tell my friend, good dog!" exclaimed Marcasse; "a better
friend than you would be more than man."
He turned towards me, and I saw two big tears trickling down the cheeks
of the impassive hidalgo.
We hastened our steps till we reached the hut. It had undergone striking
improvements; a pretty rustic garden, inclosed by a quickset hedge with
a bank of stones behind, extended round the little house. The approach
to this was no longer a rough little path, but a handsome walk, on
either side of which splendid vegetables stretched out in regular rows,
like an army in marching order. The van was composed of a battalion of
cabbages; carrots and lettuces formed the main body; and along the hedge
some modest sorrel brought up the rear. Beautiful apple-trees, already
well grown, spread their verdant shade above these plants; while
pear-trees, alternately standards and espaliers, with borders of thyme
and sage kissing the feet of sunflowers and gilliflowers, convicted
Patience of a strange return to ideas of social order, and even to a
taste for luxuries.
The change was so remarkable that I thought I should no longer find
Patience in the cottage.
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