I told the
Abbe, and he said it was a noble inspiration in itself, but that he
feared that one lady, and she a foreigner, could not change the
customs of centuries, and that innovations were dangerous. I also
tried to fire with the same zeal for reformation the Abbess of
Bellaise, who was a young and spirited woman, open to conviction; but
she was cloistered, and could not go to investigate matters as I did,
with the Abbe for my escort, and often with my son. He was enchanted
to present any little gift, and it was delightful that the peasants
should learn to connect all benefits with Monsieur le Marquis, as
they already called the little fellow.
I think they loved me the better when they found that I was the
grandchild of the Madame Eustace who had been hidden in their
cottages. I found two or three old people who still remembered her
wanderings when she kept the cows and knitted like a peasant girl
among them. I was even shown the ruinous chamber where my aunt
Thistlewood was born, and the people were enchanted to hear how much
the dear old lady had told me of them, and of their ways, and their
kindness to her.
I encouraged the people to make their cottages clean and not to be
afraid of comforts, promising that our intendant at least should not
interfere with them. I likewise let him know that I would not have
men forced to leave their fields when it would ruin their crops, and
that it was better that ours should suffer than theirs.
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