DEDICATION
ToHelene。
Thetiniestboatisnotlaunchedupontheseawithouttheprotectionofsomelivingemblemorreveredname,placeduponitbythemariners。Inaccordancewiththistime—honoredcustom,Madame,Iprayyoutobetheprotectressofthisbooknowlauncheduponourliteraryocean;andmaytheImperialnamewhichtheChurchhascanonizedandyourdevotionhasdoublysanctifiedformeguarditfromperils。
DeBalzac。
THEVILLAGERECTOR
I
THESAUVIATS
InthelowertownofLimoges,atthecorneroftheruedelaVieille—
PosteandtheruedelaCitemighthavebeenseen,agenerationago,oneofthoseshopswhichwerescarcelychangedfromtheperiodofthemiddle—ages。Largetilesseamedwithathousandcrackslayonthesoilitself,whichwasdampinplaces,andwouldhavetrippedupthosewhofailedtoobservethehollowsandridgesofthissingularflooring。
Thedustywallsexhibitedacuriousmosaicofwoodandbrick,stonesandiron,weldedtogetherwithasolidityduetotime,possiblytochance。Formorethanahundredyearstheceiling,formedofcolossalbeams,bentbeneaththeweightoftheupperstories,thoughithadnevergivenwayunderthem。Built/encolombage/,thatistosay,withawoodenfrontage,thewholefacadewascoveredwithslates,soputonastoformgeometricalfigures,——thuspreservinganaiveimageoftheburgherhabitationsoftheoldentime。
Noneofthewindows,casedinwoodandformerlyadornedwithcarvings,nowdestroyedbytheactionoftheweather,hadcontinuedplumb;somebobbedforward,otherstippedbackward,whileafewseemeddisposedtofallapart;allhadacompostofearth,broughtfromheavenknowswhere,inthenooksandcrannieshollowedbytherain,inwhichthespring—tidebroughtforthfragileflowers,timidcreepingplants,andsparseherbage。Mosscarpetedtheroofanddrapeditssupports。Thecornerpillar,withitscompositemasonryofstoneblocksmingledwithbrickandpebbles,wasalarmingtotheeyebyreasonofitscurvature;
itseemedonthepointofgivingwayundertheweightofthehouse,thegableofwhichoverhungitbyatleasthalfafoot。Themunicipalauthoritiesandthecommissionerofhighwaysdid,eventually,pulltheoldbuildingdown,afterbuyingit,toenlargethesquare。
Thepillarwehavementioned,placedattheangleoftwostreets,wasatreasuretotheseekersforLimousinantiquities,onaccountofitslovelysculpturednicheinwhichwasaVirgin,mutilatedduringtheRevolution。Allvisitorswitharchaeologicalproclivitiesfoundtracesofthestonesocketsusedtoholdthecandelabrainwhichpublicpietylightedtapersorplacedits/ex—votos/andflowers。
Atthefartherendoftheshop,aworm—eatenwoodenstaircaseledtothetwoupperfloorswhichwereinturnsurmountedbyanattic。Thehouse,backingagainsttwoadjoininghouses,hadnodepthandderivedallitslightfromthefrontandsidewindows。Eachfloorhadtwosmallchambersonly,lightedbysinglewindows,onelookingoutontheruedelaCite,theotherontheruedelaVieille—Poste。
Inthemiddle—agesnoartisanwasbetterlodged。Thehousehadevidentlybelongedinthosetimestomakersofhalberdsandbattle—
axes,armorersinshort,artificerswhoseworkwasnotinjuredbyexposuretotheopenair;foritwasimpossibletoseeclearlywithin,unlesstheironshutterswereraisedfromeachsideofthebuilding;
wherewerealsotwodoors,oneoneithersideofthecornerpillar,asmaybeseeninmanyshopsatthecornersofstreets。Fromthesillofeachdoor——offinestonewornbythetreadofcenturies——alowwallaboutthreefeethighbegan;inthiswallwasagrooveorslot,repeatedaboveinthebeambywhichthewallofeachfacadewassupported。Fromtimeimmemorialtheheavyshuttershadbeenrolledalongthesegrooves,heldtherebyenormousironbars,whilethedoorswereclosedandsecuredinthesamemanner;sothatthesemerchantsandartificerscouldbarthemselvesintotheirhousesasintoafortress。
Examiningtheinterior,which,duringthefirsttwentyyearsofthiscentury,wasencumberedwitholdironandbrass,tiresofwheels,springs,bells,anythinginshortwhichthedestructionofbuildingsaffordedofoldmetals,personsinterestedintherelicsoftheoldtownnoticedsignsoftheflueofaforge,shownbyalongtrailofsoot,——aminordetailwhichconfirmedtheconjectureofarchaeologistsastotheoriginalusetowhichthebuildingwasput。Onthefirstfloor(abovetheground—floor)wasoneroomandthekitchen;onthefloorabovethatweretwobedrooms。Thegarretwasusedtoputawayarticlesmorechoiceanddelicatethanthosethatlaypell—mellabouttheshop。
Thishouse,hiredinthefirstinstance,wassubsequentlyboughtbyamannamedSauviat,ahawkerorpeddlerwho,from1786to1793,travelledthecountryoveraradiusofahundredandfiftymilesaroundAuvergne,exchangingcrockeryofacommonkind,plates,dishes,glasses,——inshort,thenecessaryarticlesofthepooresthouseholds,——foroldiron,brass,andlead,oranymetalunderanyshapeitmightlurkin。TheAuvergnatwouldgive,forinstance,abrownearthenwaresaucepanworthtwosousforapoundoflead,twopoundsofiron,abrokenspadeorhoeoracrackedkettle;andbeinginvariablythejudgeofhisowncause,hedidtheweighing。
AtthecloseofhisthirdyearSauviataddedthehawkingoftinandcopperwaretothatofhispottery。In1793hewasabletobuyachateausoldaspartoftheNationaldomain,whichheatoncepulledtopieces。Theprofitsweresuchthatherepeatedtheprocessatseveralpointsofthesphereinwhichheoperated;later,thesefirstsuccessfulessaysgavehimtheideaofproposingsomethingofalikenatureonalargerscaletooneofhiscompatriotswholivedinParis。
Thusithappenedthatthe\"BandeNoire,\"socelebratedforitsdevastations,haditsbirthinthebrainofoldSauviat,thepeddler,whomallLimogesafterwardsawandknewfortwenty—sevenyearsinthericketyoldshopamonghiscrackedbellsandrustybars,chainsandscales,histwistedleadengutters,andmetalrubbishofallkinds。Wemustdohimthejusticetosaythatheknewnothingofthecelebrityortheextentoftheassociationheoriginated;heprofitedbyhisownideaonlyinproportiontothecapitalheentrustedtothesincefamousfirmofBresac。
Tiredoffrequentingfairsandroamingthecountry,theAuvergnatsettledatLimoges,wherehemarried,in1797,thedaughterofacoppersmith,awidower,namedChampagnac。Whenhisfather—in—lawdiedheboughtthehouseinwhichhehadbeencarryingonhistradeofold—
irondealer,afterceasingtoroamthecountryasapeddler。SauviatwasfiftyyearsofagewhenhemarriedoldChampagnac’sdaughter,whowasherselfnotlessthanthirty。Neitherhandsomenorpretty,shewasneverthelessborninAuvergne,andthe/patois/seemedtobethemutualattraction;alsoshehadthesturdyframewhichenableswomentobearhardwork。InthefirstthreeyearsoftheirmarriedlifeSauviatcontinuedtodosomepeddling,andhiswifeaccompaniedhim,carryingironorleadonherback,andleadingthemiserablehorseandcartfullofcrockerywithwhichherhusbandpliedadisguisedusury。
Dark—skinned,high—colored,enjoyingrobusthealth,andshowingwhenshelaughedabrilliantsetofteeth,white,long,andbroadasalmonds,MadameSauviathadthehipsandbosomofawomanmadebyNatureexpresslyformaternity。
Ifthisstronggirlwerenotearliermarried,thefaultmustbeattributedtotheHarpagon\"nodowry\"herfatherpractised,thoughheneverreadMoliere。Sauviatwasnotdeterredbythelackofdowry;
besides,amanoffiftycan’tmakedifficulties,nottospeakofthefactthatsuchawifewouldsavehimthecostofaservant。Headdednothingtothefurnitureofhisbedroomwhere,fromthedayofhisweddingtothedayheleftthehouse,twentyyearslater,therewasneveranythingbutasinglefour—postbed,withvalanceandcurtainsofgreenserge,achest,abureau,fourchairs,atable,andalooking—glass,allcollectedfromdifferentlocalities。Thechestcontainedinitsuppersectionpewterplates,dishes,etc。,eacharticledissimilarfromtherest。Thekitchencanbeimaginedfromthebedroom。
Neitherhusbandnorwifeknewhowtoread,——aslightdefectofeducationwhichdidnotpreventthemfromcipheringadmirablyanddoingamostflourishingbusiness。Sauviatneverboughtanyarticlewithoutthecertaintyofbeingabletosellitforonehundredpercentprofit。Torelievehimselfofthenecessityofkeepingbooksandaccounts,heboughtandsoldforcashonly。Hehad,moreover,suchaperfectmemorythatthecostofanyarticle,wereitonlyafarthing,remainedinhismindyearafteryear,togetherwithitsaccruedinterest。
Exceptduringthetimerequiredforherhouseholdduties,MadameSauviatwasalwaysseatedinaricketywoodenchairplacedagainstthecornerpillarofthebuilding。Theresheknittedandlookedatthepassers,watchedovertheoldiron,soldandweighedit,andreceivedpaymentifSauviatwasawaymakingpurchases。Whenathomethehusbandcouldbeheardatdaybreakpushingopenhisshutters;thehouseholddogrushedoutintothestreet;andMadameSauviatpresentlycameouttohelphermaninspreadinguponthenaturalcountermadebythelowwallsoneithersideofthecornerofthehouseonthetwostreets,themultifariouscollectionofbells,springs,brokengunlocks,andtheotherrubbishoftheirbusiness,whichgaveapoverty—strickenlooktotheestablishment,thoughitusuallycontainedasmuchastwentythousandfrancs’worthoflead,steel,iron,andothermetals。
Neverweretheformerpeddlerandhiswifeknowntospeakoftheirfortune;theyconcealeditsamountascarefullyasacriminalhidesacrime;andforyearstheyweresuspectedofshavingbothgoldandsilvercoins。WhenChampagnacdiedtheSauviatsmadenoinventoryofhisproperty;buttheyrummaged,withtheintelligenceofrats,intoeverynookandcorneroftheoldman’shouse,leftitasnakedasacorpse,andsoldthewaresitcontainedintheirownshop。
Onceayear,inDecember,SauviatwenttoParisinoneofthepublicconveyances。Thegossipsoftheneighborhoodconcludedthatinordertoconcealfromotherstheamountofhisfortune,heinvestedithimselfontheseoccasions。Itwasknownlaterthat,havingbeenconnectedinhisyouthwithoneofthemostcelebrateddealersinmetal,anAuvergnatlikehimself,whowaslivinginParis,SauviatplacedhisfundswiththefirmofBresac,themainspringandspineofthatfamousassociationknownbythenameofthe\"BandeNoire,\"which,aswehavealreadysaid,tookitsrisefromasuggestionmadebySauviathimself。
Sauviatwasafatlittlemanwithawearyface,endowedbyNaturewithalookofhonestywhichattractedcustomersandfacilitatedthesaleofgoods。Hisstraightforwardassertions,andtheperfectindifferenceofhistoneandmanner,increasedthisimpression。Inperson,hisnaturallyruddycomplexionwashardlyperceptibleundertheblackmetallicdustwhichpowderedhiscurlyblackhairandtheseamsofafacepittedwiththesmall—pox。Hisforeheadwasnotwithoutdignity;
infact,itresembledthewell—knownbrowgivenbyallpainterstoSaintPeter,themanofthepeople,theroughest,butwithaltheshrewdest,oftheapostles。Hishandswerethoseofanindefatigableworker,——large,thick,square,andwrinkledwithdeepfurrows。Hischestwasofseeminglyindestructiblemuscularity。Heneverrelinquishedhispeddler’scostume,——thick,hobnailedshoes;bluestockingsknitbyhiswifeandhiddenbyleathergaiters;bottle—greenvelveteentrousers;acheckedwaistcoat,fromwhichdependedthebrasskeyofhissilverwatchbyanironchainwhichlongusagehadpolishedtillitshonelikesteel;ajacketwithshorttails,alsoofvelveteen,likethatofthetrousers;andaroundhisneckaprintedcottoncravatmuchfrayedbytherubbingofhisbeard。
OnSundaysandfete—daysSauviatworeafrock—coatofmarooncloth,sowelltakencareofthattwonewoneswereallheboughtintwentyyears。Thelivingofgalley—slaveswouldbethoughtsumptuousincomparisonwiththatoftheSauviats,whoneveratemeatexceptonthegreatfestivalsoftheChurch。Beforepayingoutthemoneyabsolutelyneededfortheirdailysubsistence,MadameSauviatwouldfeelinthetwopocketshiddenbetweenhergownandpetticoat,andbringforthasinglewell—scrapedcoin,——acrownofsixfrancs,orperhapsapieceoffifty—fivesous,——whichshewouldgazeatforalongtimebeforeshecouldbringherselftochangeit。AsageneralthingtheSauviatsateherrings,driedpeas,cheese,hardeggsinsalad,vegetablesseasonedinthecheapestmanner。Neverdidtheylayinprovisions,exceptperhapsabunchofgarlicoronions,whichcouldnotspoilandcostbutlittle。Thesmallamountofwoodtheyburnedinwintertheyboughtofitinerantsellersdaybyday。Byseveninwinter,bynineinsummer,thehouseholdwasinbed,andtheshopwasclosedandguardedbyahugedog,whichgotitslivingfromthekitchensintheneighborhood。MadameSauviatusedaboutthreefrancs’worthofcandlesinthecourseoftheyear。
Thesober,toilsomelifeofthesepersonswasbrightenedbyonejoy,butthatwasanaturaljoy,andforittheymadetheironlyknownoutlays。InMay,1802,MadameSauviatgavebirthtoadaughter。Shewasconfinedallalone,andwentaboutherhouseholdworkfivedayslater。Shenursedherchildintheopenair,seatedasusualinherchairbythecornerpillar,continuingtoselloldironwhiletheinfantsucked。Hermilkcostnothing,andsheletherlittledaughterfeedonitfortwoyears,neitherofthembeingtheworseforthelongnursing。
Veronique(thatwastheinfant’sname)becamethehandsomestchildintheLowertown,andeveryonewhosawherstoppedtolookather。TheneighborsthennoticedforthefirsttimeatraceoffeelingintheoldSauviats,ofwhichtheyhadsupposedthemdevoid。Whilethewifecookedthedinnerthehusbandheldthelittleone,orrockedittothetuneofanAuvergnatsong。TheworkmenastheypassedsometimessawhimmotionlessgazingatVeroniqueasleeponhermother’sknees。Hesoftenedhisharshvoicewhenhespoketoher,andwipedhishandsonhistrousersbeforetakingherup。WhenVeroniquetriedtowalk,thefatherbenthislegsandstoodatalittledistanceholdingouthisarmsandmakinglittlegrimaceswhichcontrastedfunnilywiththerigidfurrowsofhisstern,hardface。Themanofiron,brass,andleadbecameabeingoffleshandbloodandbones。Ifhehappenedtobestandingwithhisbackagainstthecornerpillarmotionless,acryfromVeroniquewouldagitatehimandsendhimflyingoverthemoundsofironfragmentstofindher;forshespentherchildhoodplayingwiththewreckofancientcastlesheapedinthedepthsofthatoldshop。Therewereotherdaysonwhichshewenttoplayinthestreetorwiththeneighboringchildren;buteventhenhermother’seyewasalwaysonher。
ItisnotunimportanttosayherethattheSauviatswereeminentlyreligious。AttheveryheightoftheRevolutiontheyobservedbothSundayandfete—days。TwiceSauviatcamenearhavinghisheadcutoffforhearingmassfromanunswornpriest。Hewasputinprison,beingjustlyaccusedofhelpingabishop,whoselifehesaved,toflythecountry。Fortunatelytheold—irondealer,whoknewthewaysofboltsandbars,wasabletoescape;neverthelesshewascondemnedtodeathbydefault,andas,bythebye,heneverpurgedhimselfofthatcontempt,hemaybesaidtohavedieddead。
Hiswifesharedhispiety。Theavariciousnessofthehouseholdyieldedtothedemandsofreligion。Theold—irondealersgavetheiralmspunctuallyatthesacramentandtoallthecollectionsinchurch。WhenthevicarofSaint—Etiennecalledtoaskhelpforhispoor,Sauviatorhiswifefetchedatoncewithoutreluctanceorsourfacesthesumtheythoughttheirfairshareoftheparishduties。ThemutilatedVirginontheircornerpillarneverfailed(after1799)tobewreathedwithhollyatEaster。Inthesummerseasonshewasfetedwithbouquetskeptfreshintumblersofblueglass;thiswasparticularlythecaseafterthebirthofVeronique。OnthedaysoftheprocessionstheSauviatsscrupulouslyhungtheirhousewithsheetscoveredwithflowers,andcontributedmoneytotheerectionandadornmentofthealtar,whichwastheprideandgloryofthewholesquare。
VeroniqueSauviatwas,therefore,broughtupinaChristianmanner。
FromthetimeshewassevenyearsoldshewastaughtbyaGraysisterfromAuvergnetowhomtheSauviatshaddonesomekindnessinformertimes。Bothhusbandandwifewereobligingwhenthematterdidnotaffecttheirpocketsorconsumetheirtime,——likeallpoorfolkwhoarecordiallyreadytobeserviceabletoothersintheirownway。TheGraysistertaughtVeroniquetoreadandwrite;shealsotaughtherthehistoryofthepeopleofGod,thecatechism,theOldandtheNewTestaments,andaverylittlearithmetic。Thatwasall;theworthysisterthoughtitenough;itwasinfacttoomuch。
AtnineyearsofageVeroniquesurprisedthewholeneighborhoodwithherbeauty。Everyoneadmiredherface,whichpromisedmuchtothepencilofartistswhoarealwaysseekinganobleideal。Shewascalled\"theLittleVirgin\"andshowedsignsalreadyofafinefigureandgreatdelicacyofcomplexion。HerMadonna—likeface——forthepopularvoicehadwellnamedher——wassurroundedbyawealthoffairhair,whichbroughtoutthepurityofherfeatures。WhoeverhasseenthesublimeVirginofTitianinhisgreatpictureofthe\"Presentation\"atVenice,willknowthatVeroniquewasinhergirlhood,——thesameingenuouscandor,thesameseraphicastonishmentinhereyes,thesamesimpleyetnobleattitude,thesamemajestyofchildhoodinherdemeanor。
Atelevenyearsofageshehadthesmall—pox,andowedherlifetothecareofSoeurMarthe。DuringthetwomonthsthattheirchildwasindangertheSauviatsbetrayedtothewholecommunitythedepthoftheirtenderness。Sauviatnolongerwentaboutthecountrytosales;hestayedintheshop,goingupstairsanddowntohisdaughter’sroom,sittingupwithhereverynightincompanywithhiswife。Hissilentanguishseemedsogreatthatnoonedaredtospeaktohim;hisneighborslookedathimwithcompassion,buttheyonlyaskednewsofVeroniquefromSoeurMarthe。Duringthedayswhenthechild’sdangerreachedacrisis,theneighborsandpasserssaw,forthefirstandonlytimeinSauviat’slife,tearsinhiseyesandrollingdownhishollowcheeks;hedidnotwipethem,butstoodforhoursasifstupefied,notdaringtogoupstairstohisdaughter’sroom,gazingbeforehimandseeingnothing,soobliviousofallthingsthatanyonemighthaverobbedhim。
Veroniquewassaved,butherbeautyperished。Herface,onceexquisitelycoloredwithatintinwhichbrownandrosewereharmoniouslymingled,cameoutfromthediseasewithamyriadofpitswhichthickenedtheskin,thefleshbeneathitbeingdeeplyindented。
Evenherforeheaddidnotescapetheravagesofthescourge;itturnedbrownandlookedasthoughitwerehammered,likemetal。Nothingcanbemorediscordantthanbricktonesoftheskinsurroundedbygoldenhair;theydestroyallharmony。Thesefissuresinthetissues,capriciouslyhollowed,injuredthepurityoftheprofileandthedelicacyofthelinesoftheface,especiallythatofthenose,theGrecianformofwhichwaslost,andthatofthechin,onceasexquisitelyroundedasapieceofwhiteporcelain。Thediseaseleftnothingunharmedexceptthepartsitwasunabletoreach,——theeyesandtheteeth。Shedidnot,however,losetheeleganceandbeautyofhershape,——neitherthefulnessofitslinesnorthegraceandsupplenessofherwaist。AtfifteenVeroniquewasstillafinegirl,andtothegreatconsolationofherfatherandmother,agoodandpiousgirl,busy,industrious,anddomestic。
Afterherconvalescenceandaftershehadmadeherfirstcommunion,herparentsgaveherthetwochambersonthesecondfloorforherownparticulardwelling。Sauviat,socourseinhiswayoflivingforhimselfandhiswife,nowhadcertainperceptionsofwhatcomfortmightbe;avagueideacametohimofconsolinghischildforhergreatloss,which,asyet,shedidnotcomprehend。ThedeprivationofthatbeautywhichwasoncetheprideandjoyofthosetwobeingsmadeVeroniquethemoredearandprecioustothem。Sauviatcamehomeoneday,bearingacarpethehadchanceduponinsomeofhisrounds,whichhenailedhimselfonVeronique’sfloor。Forherhesavedfromthesaleofanoldchateauthegorgeousbedofafinelady,upholsteredinredsilkdamask,withcurtainsandchairsofthesamerichstuff。Hefurnishedhertworoomswithantiquearticles,ofthetruevalueofwhichhewaswhollyignorant。Heboughtmignonetteandputthepotsontheledgeoutsideherwindow;andhereturnedfrommanyofhistripswithrosetrees,orpansies,oranykindofflowerwhichgardenersortavern—keeperswouldgivehim。
IfVeroniquecouldhavemadecomparisonsandknownthecharacter,pasthabits,andignoranceofherparentsshewouldhaveseenhowmuchtherewasofaffectionintheselittlethings;butasitwas,shesimplylovedthemfromherownsweetnatureandwithoutreflection。
Thegirlworethefinestlinenhermothercouldfindintheshops。
MadameSauviatleftherdaughteratlibertytobuywhatmaterialsshelikedforhergownsandothergarments;andthefatherandmotherwereproudofherchoice,whichwasneverextravagant。VeroniquewassatisfiedwithabluesilkgownforSundaysandfete—days,andonworking—dayssheworemerinoinwinterandstripedcottondressesinsummer。OnSundaysshewenttochurchwithherfatherandmother,andtookawalkaftervespersalongthebanksoftheVienneorabouttheenvirons。Onotherdaysshestayedathome,busyinfillingworsted—
workpatterns,thepaymentforwhichshegavetothepoor,——alifeofsimple,chaste,andexemplaryprinciplesandhabits。Shedidsomereadingtogetherwithhertapestry,butneverinanybooksexceptthoselenttoherbythevicarofSaint—Etienne,apriestwhomSoeurMarthehadfirstmadeknowntoherparents。
AlltherulesoftheSauviat’sdomesticeconomyweresuspendedinfavorofVeronique。Hermotherdelightedingivingherdaintythingstoeat,andcookedherfoodseparately。Thefatherandmotherstillatetheirnutsanddrybread,theirherringsandparchedpeasfricasseedinsaltbutter,whileforVeroniquenothingwasthoughttoochoiceandgood。
\"Veroniquemustcostyouaprettypenny,\"saidahatmakerwholivedoppositetotheSauviatsandhaddesignsontheirdaughterforhisson,estimatingthefortuneoftheold—irondealeratahundredthousandfrancs。
\"Yes,neighbor,yes,\"PereSauviatwouldsay;\"ifsheaskedmefortencrownsI’dletherhavethem。Shehasallshewants;butsheneverasksforanything;sheisasgentleasalamb。\"
Veroniquewas,asamatteroffact,absolutelyignorantofthevalueofthings。Shehadneverwantedforanything;sheneversawapieceofgoldtillthedayofhermarriage;shehadnomoneyofherown;hermotherboughtandgavehereverythingsheneededandwishedfor;sothatevenwhenshewantedtogivealmstoabeggar,thegirlfeltinhermother’spocketforthecoin。
\"Ifthat’sso,\"remarkedthehatmaker,\"shecan’tcostyoumuch。\"
\"Soyouthink,doyou?\"repliedSauviat。\"Youwouldn’tgetoffunderfortycrownsayear,Icantellyouthat。Why,herroom,shehasatleastahundredcrowns’worthoffurnitureinit!Butwhenamanhasbutonechild,hedoesn’tmind。Thelittleweownwillallgotoher。\"
\"Thelittle!Why,youmustberich,pereSauviat!Itisprettynighfortyyearsthatyouhavebeendoingabusinessinwhichtherearenolosses。\"
\"Ha!Isha’n’tgotothepoorhouseforwantofathousandfrancsorso!\"repliedtheold—irondealer。
FromthedaywhenVeroniquelostthesoftbeautywhichmadehergirlishfacetheadmirationofallwhosawit,PereSauviatredoubledinactivity。HisbusinessbecamesoprosperousthathenowwenttoParisseveraltimesayear。Everyonefeltthathewantedtocompensatehisdaughterbyforceofmoneyforwhathecalledher\"lossofprofit。\"WhenVeroniquewasfifteenyearsoldachangewasmadeintheinternalmannersandcustomsofthehousehold。Thefatherandmotherwentupstairsintheeveningstotheirdaughter’sapartment,whereVeroniquewouldreadtothem,bythelightofalampplacedbehindaglassglobefullofwater,the\"ViedesSaints,\"the\"LettresEdifiantes,\"andotherbookslentbythevicar。MadameSauviatknittedstockings,feelingthatshethusrecoupedherselfforthecostofoil。
Theneighborscouldseethroughthewindowtheoldcoupleseatedmotionlessintheirarmchairs,likeChineseimages,listeningtotheirdaughter,andadmiringherwithallthepowersoftheircontractedminds,obtusetoeverythingthatwasnotbusinessorreligiousfaith。
II
VERONIQUE
Thereare,nodoubt,manyyounggirlsintheworldaspureasVeronique,butnonepurerormoremodest。HerconfessionsmighthavesurprisedtheangelsandrejoicedtheBlessedVirgin。
Atsixteenyearsofageshewasfullydeveloped,andappearedthewomanshewaseventuallytobecome。Shewasofmediumheight,neitherherfathernorhermotherbeingtall;butherfigurewascharminginitsgracefulsuppleness,andintheserpentinecurveslaboriouslysoughtbypaintersandsculptors,——curveswhichNatureherselfdrawssodelicatelywithherlissomoutlines,revealedtotheeyeofartistsinspiteofswathinglinenandthickclothes,whichmouldthemselves,inevitably,uponthenude。Sincere,simple,andnatural,Veroniquesetthesebeautiesofherformintoreliefbymovementsthatwerewhollyfreefromaffectation。Shebroughtouther\"fullandcompleteeffect,\"
ifwemayborrowthatstrongtermfromlegalphraseology。ShehadtheplumparmsoftheAuvergnatwomen,theredanddimpledhandofabarmaid,andherstrongbutwell—shapedfeetwereinkeepingwiththerestofherfigure。
AttimesthereseemedtopasswithinheramarvellousanddelightfulphenomenonwhichpromisedtoLoveawomanconcealedthusfarfromeveryeye。Thisphenomenonwasperhapsonecauseoftheadmirationherfatherandmotherfeltforherbeauty,whichtheyoftendeclaredtobedivine,——tothegreatastonishmentoftheirneighbors。Thefirsttoremarkitwerethepriestsofthecathedralandtheworshipperswithheratthesamealtar。WhenastrongemotiontookpossessionofVeronique,——andthereligiousexaltationtowhichsheyieldedherselfonreceivingthecommunionmustbecountedamongthestrongestemotionsofsopureandcandidayoungcreature,——aninwardlightseemedtoeffaceforthemomentalltracesofthesmall—pox。Thepureandradiantfaceofherchildhoodreappearedinitspristinebeauty。
Thoughslightlyveiledbythethickenedsurfacediseasehadlaidthere,itshonewiththemysteriousbrilliancyofaflowerbloomingbeneaththewateroftheseawhenthesunispenetratingit。Veroniquewaschangedforafewmoments;theLittleVirginreappearedandthendisappearedagain,likeacelestialvision。Thepupilsofhereyes,giftedwiththepowerofgreatexpansion,wideneduntiltheycoveredthewholesurfaceoftheblueirisexceptforatinycircle。Thusthemetamorphoseoftheeye,whichbecameaskeenandvividasthatofaneagle,completedtheextraordinarychangeintheface。Wasitthestormofrestrainedpassions;wasitsomepowercomingfromthedepthsofthesoul,whichenlargedthepupilsinfulldaylightastheysometimesinothereyesenlargebynight,darkeningtheazureofthosecelestialorbs?
Howeverthatmaybe,itwasimpossibletolookindifferentlyatVeroniqueasshereturnedtoherseatfromthealtarwhereshehadunitedherselfwithGod,——amomentwhensheappearedtoalltheparishinherprimitivesplendor。Atsuchmomentsherbeautyeclipsedthatofthemostbeautifulofwomen。Whatacharmwasthereforthemanwholovedher,guardingjealouslythatveiloffleshwhichhidthewoman’ssoulfromeveryeye,——aveilwhichthehandoflovemightliftforaninstantandthenletdropoverconjugaldelights!Veronique’slipswerefaultlesslycurvedandpaintedintheclearvermilionofherpurewarmblood。Herchinandthelowerpartofherfacewerealittleheavy,intheacceptationgivenbypainterstothatterm,——aheavinesswhichis,accordingtotherelentlesslawsofphysiognomy,theindicationofanalmostmorbidvehemenceinpassion。Shehadaboveherbrow,whichwasfinelymodelledandalmostimperious,amagnificentdiademofhair,voluminous,redundant,andnowofachestnutcolor。
FromtheageofsixteentothedayofhermarriageVeronique’sbearingwasalwaysthoughtful,andsometimesmelancholy。Livinginsuchdeepsolitude,shewasforced,likeothersolitarypersons,toexamineandconsiderthespectacleofthatwhichwentonwithinher,——theprogressofherthought,thevarietyoftheimagesinhermind,andthescopeoffeelingswarmedandnurturedinalifesopure。