Paula the Waldensian - Eva Lecomte

Chapter 10
In the country
Once a year we were accustomed to visit our grandparents and this was
generally made a real family reunion. There we met with all our uncles and
aunts and cousins. It was also a joyful occasion for Teresa who was very
fond of Justina, grandmother's faithful old servant Grandfather had been a
very successful farmer, intelligent, hard-working and economical without
being stingy. After many years' work he had amassed a considerable fortune.
The big farm which to Catalina and Rosa was but a dim memory, but whose
glories Teresa had often recounted to us, had been sold quite a number of
years before. My grandfather had then bought a beautiful house nearby, with
a few acres surrounding it just to remind him of his former activities. The
garden itself was large and imposing and well-cared for under the critical
eyes of both of our grandparents, who specialized in new and rare plants.
The flowers, appearing in profusion in all seasons of the year (even in winter
in the great hot-houses), filled the air with their delicious perfumes.
Our grandparents reigned over this domain and it was here that they
loved to welcome us. Our father was their especial pride and joy as he was
the oldest son.
Our grandfather had a gruff enormous voice and possessed a pair of
great square shoulders; in fact, he was a real "countryman." But beneath his
rude exterior he had a heart of gold, and no one could gain the confidence of
a little child quicker than he.
Grandmother was of a different type with her long black dress and her
beautiful white hair, of which she was justly proud. She could easily have
been mistaken for a noblewoman. She was a strong character and had had the
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