In 1840 the departure of the first herd of cattle sent from Montegnac to the Paris markets was made the occasion of a rural fete.  The farms of the plain raised fine beasts and horses; for it was found, after the land was cleaned up, that there were seven inches of good soil which the annual fall of leaves, the manure left by the pasturage of animals, and, above all, the melting of the snows contained in the valley of the Gabou, increased in fertility.

It was in this year that Madame Graslin found it necessary to obtain a tutor for her son, who was now eleven years of age.  She did not wish to part with him, and yet she was anxious to make him a thoroughly well-educated man.  Monsieur Bonnet wrote to the Seminary.  Madame Graslin, on her side, said a few words as to her wishes and the difficulty of obtaining the right person to Monsieur Dutheil, recently appointed arch-bishop.  The choice of such a man, who would live nine years familiarly in the chateau, was a serious matter.  Gerard had already offered to teach mathematics to his friend Francis; but he could not, of course, take the place of a regular tutor.  This question agitated Madame Graslin’s mind, and all the more because she knew that her health was beginning to fail.

The more prosperous grew her dear Montegnac, the more she increased the secret austerities of her life.  Monseigneur Dutheil, with whom she corresponded regularly, found at last the man she wanted.  He sent her from his late diocese a young professor, twenty-five years of age, named Ruffin, whose mind had a special vocation for the art of teaching.  This young man’s knowledge was great, and his nature was one of deep feeling, which, however, did not preclude the sternness necessary in the management of youth.  In him religion did not in any way hamper knowledge; he was also patient, and extremely agreeable in appearance and manner.  “I make you a fine present, my dear daughter,” wrote the prelate; “this young man is fit to educate a prince; therefore I think you will be glad to arrange the future with him, for he can undoubtedly be a spiritual father to your son.”

Monsieur Ruffin proved so satisfactory to Madame Graslin’s faithful friends that his arrival made no change in the various intimacies that grouped themselves around this beloved idol, whose hours and moments were claimed by each with jealous eagerness.

By the year 1843 the prosperity of Montegnac had increased beyond all expectation.  The farm of the Gabou rivalled the farms of the plain, and that of the chateau set an example of constant improvement to all.  The five other farms, increasing in value, obtained higher rent, reaching the sum of thirty thousand francs for each at the end of twelve years.  The farmers, who were beginning to gather in the fruits of their sacrifices and those of Madame Graslin, now began to improve the grass of the plains, sowing seed of better quality, there being no longer any occasion to fear drought.