"No, not ugly, for you will have other children by her, and there's
nothing so sad as to have ugly, puny, unhealthy children. But a woman
still in her prime, in good health and neither ugly nor pretty, would do
your business nicely."

"It is easy to see," said Germain, smiling rather sadly, "that to get
such a one as you want we must have her made to order; especially as you
don't want her to be poor, and rich wives aren't easy to get, especially
for a widower."

"Suppose she was a widow herself, Germain? what do you say to a widow
without children, and a snug little property?"

"I don't know of any just now in our parish."

"Nor do I, but there are other places."

"You have some one in view, father; so tell me at once who it is."




IV

GERMAIN, THE CUNNING PLOUGHMAN


"Yes, I have some one in view," replied Père Maurice. "It's one Léonard,
widow of one Guérin, who lives at Fourche."