ThosewholookedupfromtheirlowerlevelastheypassedalongtheruedelaCitemighthaveseen,onallfinedays,thedaughteroftheSauviatssittingatheropenwindow,sewing,embroidering,orprickingtheneedlethroughthecanvasofherworsted—work,withalookthatwasoftendreamy。Herheadwasvividlydefinedamongtheflowerswhichpoetizedthebrownandcrumblingsillsofhercasementwindowswiththeirleadedpanes。Sometimesthereflectionofthereddamaskwindow—
curtainsaddedtotheeffectofthathead,alreadysohighlycolored;
likeacrimsonflowersheglowedintheaerialgardensocarefullytraineduponherwindow—sill。
Thequaintoldhousepossessedthereforesomethingmorequaintthanitself,——theportraitofayounggirlworthyofMieris,orVanOstade,orTerburg,orGerardDouw,framedinoneofthoseold,defaced,halfruinedwindowsthebrushesoftheoldDutchpainterslovedsowell。
Whensomestranger,surprisedorinterestedbythebuilding,stoppedbeforeitandgazedatthesecondstory,oldSauviatwouldpokehisheadbeyondtheoverhangingprojection,certainthatheshouldseehisdaughteratherwindow。ThenhewouldretreatintotheshoprubbinghishandsandsayingtohiswifeintheAuvergnevernacular:——
\"Hey!oldwoman;they’readmiringyourdaughter!\"
In1820anincidentoccurredinthesimpleuneventfullifethegirlwasleading,whichmighthavehadnoimportanceinthelifeofanyotheryoungwoman,butwhich,inpointoffact,didnodoubtexerciseoverVeronique’sfutureaterribleinfluence。
Ononeofthesuppressedchurchfete—days,whenmanypersonswentabouttheirdailylabor,thoughtheSauviatsscrupulouslyclosedtheirshop,attendedmass,andtookawalk,Veroniquepassed,ontheirwaytothefields,abookseller’sstallonwhichlayacopyof\"PaulandVirginia。\"Shehadafancytobuyitforthesakeoftheengraving,andherfatherpaidahundredsousforthefatalvolume,whichheputintothepocketofhiscoat。
\"Wouldn’titbewelltoshowthatbooktoMonsieurlevicairebeforeyoureadit?\"saidhermother,towhomallprintedbookswereasealedmystery。
\"Ithoughtofit,\"answeredVeronique。
Thegirlpassedthewholenightreadingthestory,——oneofthemosttouchingbitsofwritingintheFrenchlanguage。Thepictureofmutuallove,halfBiblicalandworthyoftheearlieragesoftheworld,ravagedherheart。Ahand——wasitdivineordevilish?——raisedtheveilwhich,tillthen,hadhiddennaturefromher。TheLittleVirginstillexistinginthebeautifulyounggirlthoughtonthemorrowthatherflowershadneverbeensobeautiful;sheheardtheirsymboliclanguage,shelookedintothedepthsoftheazureskywithafixednessthatwasalmostecstasy,andtearswithoutacauserolleddownhercheeks。
Inthelifeofallwomentherecomesamomentwhentheycomprehendtheirdestiny,——whentheirhithertomuteorganizationspeaksperemptorily。Itisnotalwaysaman,chosenbysomefurtiveinvoluntaryglance,whoawakenstheirslumberingsixthsense;ofteneritissomeunexpectedsight,theaspectofscenery,the/coupd’oeil/
ofreligiouspomp,theharmonyofnature’sperfumes,arosydawnveiledinslightmists,thewinningnotesofsomedivinestmusic,orindeedanyunexpectedmotionwithinthesoulorwithinthebody。Tothislonelygirl,buriedinthatoldhouse,broughtupbysimple,halfrusticparents,whohadneverheardanunfitword,whosepureunsulliedmindhadneverknowntheslightestevilthought,——totheangelicpupilofSoeurMartheandthevicarofSaint—Etiennetherevelationoflove,thelifeofwomanhood,camefromthehandofgeniusthroughonesweetbook。Toanyothermindthebookwouldhaveofferednodanger;toheritwasworseinitseffectsthananobscenetale。Corruptionisrelative。Therearechasteandvirginnatureswhichasinglethoughtcorrupts,doingallthemoreharmbecausenothoughtofthedutyofresistancehasoccurred。
ThenextdayVeroniqueshowedthebooktothegoodpriest,whoapprovedthepurchase;forwhatcouldbemorechildlikeandinnocentandpurethanthehistoryofPaulandVirginia?Butthewarmthofthetropics,thebeautyofthescenery,thealmostpuerileinnocenceofalovethatseemedsosacredhaddonetheirworkonVeronique。ShewasledbythesweetandnobleachievementofitsauthortotheworshipoftheIdeal,thatfatalhumanreligion!ShedreamedofaloverlikePaul。Herthoughtscaressedthevoluptuousimageofthatbalmyisle。
Childlike,shenamedanislandintheVienne,belowLimogesandnearlyoppositetotheFaubourgSaint—Martial,theIledeFrance。Hermindlivedthereintheworldoffancyallyounggirlsconstruct,——aworldtheyenrichwiththeirownperfections。Shespentlonghoursatherwindow,lookingattheartisansorthemechanicswhopassedit,theonlymenwhomthemodestpositionofherparentsallowedhertothinkof。Accustomed,ofcourse,totheideaofeventuallymarryingamanofthepeople,shenowbecameawareofinstinctswithinherselfwhichrevolvedfromallcoarseness。
Insuchasituationshenaturallymademanyaromancesuchasyounggirlsarefondofweaving。Sheclaspedtheidea——perhapswiththenaturalardorofanobleandvirginimagination——ofennoblingoneofthosemen,andofraisinghimtotheheightwhereherowndreamsledher。ShemayhavemadeaPaulofsomeyoungmanwhocaughthereye,merelytofastenherwildideasonanactualbeing,asthemistsofadampatmosphere,touchedbyfrost,crystallizeonthebranchesofatreebythewayside。Shemusthaveflungherselfdeepintotheabyssesofherdream,forthoughsheoftenreturnedbearingonherbrow,asiffromvastheights,someluminousreflections,oftenersheseemedtocarryinherhandtheflowersthatgrewbesideatorrentshehadfolloweddownaprecipice。
OnthewarmsummereveningsshewouldaskherfathertotakeheronhisarmtothebanksoftheVienne,whereshewentintoecstasiesoverthebeautiesoftheskyandfields,thegloriesofthesettingsun,ortheinfinitesweetnessofthedewyevening。Hersoulexhaleditselfthenceforthinafragranceofnaturalpoesy。Herhair,untilthensimplywoundaboutherhead,shenowcurledandbraided。Herdressshowedsomeresearch。Thevinewhichwasrunningwildandnaturallyamongthebranchesoftheoldelm,wastransplanted,cutandtrainedoveragreenandprettytrellis。
AfterthereturnofoldSauviat(thenseventyyearsofage)fromatriptoParisinDecember,1822,thevicarcametoseehimoneevening,andafterafewinsignificantremarkshesaidsuddenly:——
\"Youhadbetterthinkofmarryingyourdaughter,Sauviat。Atyourageyououghtnottoputofftheaccomplishmentofsoimportantaduty。\"
\"ButisVeroniquewillingtobemarried?\"askedtheoldman,startled。
\"Asyouplease,father,\"shesaid,loweringhereyes。
\"Yes,we’llmarryher!\"criedstoutMadameSauviat,smiling。
\"Whydidn’tyouspeaktomeaboutitbeforeIwenttoParis,mother?\"
saidSauviat。\"Ishallhavetogobackthere。\"
Jerome—BaptisteSauviat,amaninwhoseeyesmoneyseemedtoconstitutethewholeofhappiness,whoknewnothingoflove,andhadneverseeninmarriageanythingbutthemeansoftransmittingpropertytoanotherself,hadlongsworntomarryVeroniquetosomerichbourgeois,——solong,infact,thattheideahadassumedinhisbrainthecharacteristicsofahobby。Hisneighbor,thehat—maker,whopossessedabouttwothousandfrancsayear,hadalreadyasked,onbehalfofhisson,towhomheproposedtogiveuphishat—makingestablishment,thehandofagirlsowellknownintheneighborhoodforherexemplaryconductandChristianprinciples。Sauviathadpolitelyrefused,withoutsayinganythingtoVeronique。Thedayafterthevicar——averyimportantpersonageintheeyesoftheSauviathousehold——hadmentionedthenecessaryofmarryingVeronique,whoseconfessorhewas,theoldmanshavedanddressedhimselfasforafete—day,andwentoutwithoutsayingawordtohiswifeordaughter;
bothknewverywell,however,thatthefatherwasinsearchofason—
in—law。OldSauviatwenttoMonsieurGraslin。
MonsieurGraslin,arichbankerinLimoges,had,likeSauviathimself,startedfromAuvergnewithoutapenny;hecametoLimogestobeaporter,foundaplaceasanoffice—boyinafinancialhouse,andthere,likemanyotherfinanciers,hemadehiswaybydintofeconomy,andalsothroughfortunatecircumstances。Cashierattwenty—fiveyearsofage,partnertenyearslater,inthefirmofPerretandGrossetete,heendedbyfindinghimselftheheadofthehouse,afterbuyingouttheseniorpartners,bothofwhomretiredintothecountry,leavinghimtheirfundstomanageinthebusinessatalowinterest。
PierreGraslin,thenforty—sevenyearsofage,wassupposedtopossessaboutsixhundredthousandfrancs。Theestimateofhisfortunehadlatelyincreasedthroughoutthedepartment,inconsequenceofhisoutlayinhavingbuilt,inanewquarterofthetowncalledtheplaced’Arbres(thusassistingtogiveLimogesanimprovedaspect),afinehouse,thefrontofitbeingonalinewithapublicbuildingwiththefacadeofwhichitcorresponded。Thishousehadnowbeenfinishedsixmonths,butPierreGraslindelayedfurnishingit;ithadcosthimsomuchthatheshrankfromthefurtherexpenseoflivinginit。Hisvanityhadledhimtotransgressthewiselawsbywhichhegovernedhislife。Hefelt,withthegoodsenseofabusinessman,thattheinteriorofthehouseoughttocorrespondwiththecharacteroftheoutside。Thefurniture,silver—ware,andotherneedfulaccessoriestothelifehewouldhavetoleadinhisnewmansionwould,heestimated,costhimnearlyasmuchastheoriginalbuilding。Inspite,therefore,ofthegossipoftonguesandthecharitablesuppositionsofhisneighbors,hecontinuedtoliveoninthedamp,old,anddirtyground—
floorapartmentintherueMontantmanignewherehisfortunehadbeenmade。Thepubliccarped,butGraslinhadtheapprovalofhisformerpartners,whopraisedaresolutionthatwassomewhatuncommon。
AfortuneandapositionlikethoseofPierreGraslinnaturallyexcitedthegreedofnotafewinasmallprovincialcity。DuringthelasttenyearsmorethanonepropositionofmarriagehadbeenintimatedtoMonsieurGraslin。Butthebachelorstatewassowellsuitedtoamanwhowasbusyfrommorningtillnight,overrunwithwork,eagerinthepursuitofmoneyasahunterforgame,andalwaystiredoutwithhisday’slabor,thatGraslinfellintononeofthetrapslaidforhimbyambitiousmotherswhocovetedsobrilliantapositionfortheirdaughters。
Graslin,anotherSauviatinanuppersphere,didnotspendmorethanfortysousaday,andclothedhimselfnobetterthanhisunder—clerk。
Twoclerksandanoffice—boysufficedhimtocarryonhisbusiness,whichwasimmensethroughthemultiplicityofitsdetails。Oneclerkattendedtothecorrespondence;theotherhadchargeoftheaccounts;
butPierreGraslinwashimselfthesoul,andbodytoo,ofthewholeconcern。Hisclerks,chosenfromhisownrelations,weresafemen,intelligentandaswell—trainedintheworkashimself。Asfortheoffice—boy,heledthelifeofatruckhorse,——upatfiveinthemorningatallseasons,andnevergettingtobedbeforeelevenatnight。
Graslinemployedacharwomanbytheday,anoldpeasantfromAuvergne,whodidhiscooking。Thebrownearthenwareoffwhichheate,andthestoutcoarselinenwhichheused,wereinkeepingwiththecharacterofhisfood。Theoldwomanhadstrictordersnevertospendmorethanthreefrancsdailyforthetotalexpensesofthehousehold。Theoffice—boywasalsoman—of—all—work。Theclerkstookcareoftheirownrooms。Thetablesofblackenedwood,thestrawchairshalfunseated,thewretchedbeds,thecountersanddesks,inshort,thewholefurnitureofhouseandofficewasnotworthmorethanathousandfrancs,includingacolossalironsafe,builtintothewall,beforewhichslepttheman—of—all—workwithtwodogsathisfeet。
Graslindidnotoftengointosociety,which,however,discussedhimconstantly。Twoorthreetimesayearhedinedwiththereceiver—
general,withwhomhisbusinessbroughthimintooccasionalintercourse。Healsooccasionallytookamealattheprefecture;forhehadbeenappointed,muchtohisregret,amemberoftheCouncil—
generalofthedepartment——\"awasteoftime,\"heremarked。Sometimeshisbrotherbankerswithwhomhehaddealingskepthimtobreakfastordinner;andhewasforcedalsotovisithisformerpartners,whospenttheirwintersinLimoges。Hecaredsolittletokeepuphisrelationstosocietythatintwenty—fiveyearsGraslinhadnotofferedsomuchasaglassofwatertoanyone。Whenhepassedalongthestreetpersonswouldnudgeeachotherandsay:\"That’sMonsieurGraslin\";
meaning,\"There’samanwhocametoLimogeswithoutapennyandhasnowacquiredanenormousfortune。\"TheAuvergnatbankerwasamodelwhichmorethanonefatherpointedouttohisson,andwiveshadbeenknowntoflinghiminthefacesoftheirhusbands。
WecannowunderstandthereasonsthatledamanwhohadbecomethepivotofthefinancialmachineofLimogestorepulsethevariouspropositionsofmarriagewhichparentsneverceasedtomaketohim。
Thedaughtersofhispartners,Messrs。PerretandGrossetete,weremarriedbeforeGraslinwasinapositiontotakeawife;butaseachoftheseladieshadyoungdaughters,thewiseheadsofthecommunityfinallyconcludedthatoldPerretoroldGrossetetehadmadeanarrangementwithGraslintowaitforoneofhisgranddaughters,andthenceforththeylefthimalone。
Sauviathadwatchedtheascendingcareerofhiscompatriotmoreattentivelyandseriouslythananyoneelse。HehadknownhimfromthetimehefirstcametoLimoges;buttheirrespectivepositionshadchangedsomuch,atleastapparently,thattheirfriendship,nowbecomemerelysuperficial,wasseldomfreshened。Still,inhisrelationascompatriot,GraslinneverdisdainedtotalkwithSauviatwhentheychancedtomeet。Bothcontinuedtokeepuptheirearly/tutoiement/,butonlyintheirnativedialect。Whenthereceiver—
generalofBourges,theyoungestofthebrothersGrossetete,marriedhisdaughterin1823totheyoungestsonofComteFontaine,SauviatfeltsurethattheGrosseteteswouldneverallowGraslintoentertheirfamily。
Afterhisconferencewiththebanker,PereSauviatreturnedhomejoyously。Hedinedthatnightinhisdaughter’sroom,andafterdinnerhesaidtohiswomenkind:——
\"VeroniquewillbeMadameGraslin。\"
\"MadameGraslin!\"exclaimedMereSauviat,astounded。
\"Isitpossible?\"saidVeronique,towhomGraslinwaspersonallyunknown,andwhoseimaginationregardedhimverymuchasaParisiangrisettewouldregardaRothschild。
\"Yes,itissettled,\"saidoldSauviatsolemnly。\"Graslinwillfurnishhishousemagnificently;heistogiveourdaughterafineParisiancarriageandthebesthorsestobefoundintheLimousin;hewillbuyanestateworthfivehundredthousandfrancs,andsettlethatandhistown—houseuponher。VeroniquewillbethefirstladyinLimoges,therichestinthedepartment,andshecandowhatshepleaseswithGraslin。\"
Veronique’seducation,herreligiousideas,andherboundlessaffectionforherparents,preventedherfrommakingasingleobjection;itdidnotevencrosshermindtothinkthatshehadbeendisposedofwithoutreferencetoherownwill。OnthemorrowSauviatwenttoParis,andwasabsentfornearlyaweek。
PierreGraslinwas,ascanreadilybeimagined,notmuchofatalker;
hewentstraightandrapidlytodeeds。Athingdecidedonwasathingdone。InFebruary,1822,astrangepieceofnewsburstlikeathunderboltonthetownofLimoges。ThehotelGraslinwasbeinghandsomelyfurnished;carriers’cartscamedayafterdayfromParis,andtheircontentswereunpackedinthecourtyard。Rumorsflewaboutthetownastothebeautyandgoodtasteofthemodernortheantiquefurnitureasitwasseentoarrive。ThegreatfirmofOdiotandCompanysentdownamagnificentserviceofplatebythemail—coach。
Threecarriages,acaleche,acoupe,andacabrioletarrived,wrappedinstrawwithasmuchcareasiftheywerejewels。
\"MonsieurGraslinisgoingtobemarried!\"
ThesewordsweresaidbyeverypairoflipsinLimogesinthecourseofasingleevening,——inthesalonsoftheupperclasses,inthekitchens,intheshops,inthestreets,inthesuburbs,andbeforelongthroughoutthewholesurroundingcountry。Buttowhom?Noonecouldanswer。Limogeshadamystery。
III
MARRIAGE
OnthereturnofoldSauviatGraslinpaidhisfirsteveningvisitathalf—pastnineo’clock。Veroniquewasexpectinghim,dressedinherbluesilkgownandmuslinguimpe,overwhichfellacollaretmadeoflawnwithadeephem。Herhairwassimplywornintwosmoothbandeaus,gatheredintoaGrecianknotatthebackofherhead。Shewasseatedonatapestriedchairbesidehermother,whooccupiedafinearmchairwithacarvedback,coveredwithredvelvet(evidentlytherelicofsomeoldchateau),whichstoodbesidethefireplace。Abrightfireblazedonthehearth。Onthechimney—piece,ateithersideofanantiqueclock,thevalueofwhichwaswhollyunknowntotheSauviats,sixwaxcandlesintwobrasssconcestwistedlikevine—shoots,lightedthedarkroomandVeroniqueinallherbuddingprime。Theoldmotherwaswearingherbestgown。
Fromthesilentstreet,atthattranquilhour,throughthesoftshadowsoftheancientstairway,Graslinappearedtothemodest,artlessVeronique,hermindstilldwellingonthesweetideaswhichBernadindeSaint—Pierrehadgivenheroflove。
Graslin,whowasshortandthin,hadthickblackhairlikethebristlesofabrush,whichbroughtintovigorousreliefafaceasredasthatofadrunkardemeritus,andcoveredwithsuppuratingpimples,eitherbleedingorabouttoburst。Withoutbeingcausedbyeczemaorscrofula,thesesignsofabloodoverheatedbycontinualtoil,anxiety,andthelustofbusiness,bywakefulnights,poorfood,andasoberlife,seemedtopartakeofboththesediseases。Inspiteoftheadviceofhispartners,hisclerks,andhisphysician,thebankerwouldnevercompelhimselftotakethehealthfulprecautionswhichmighthaveprevented,orwouldatleastmodify,thismalady,whichwasslightatfirst,buthadgreatlyincreasedfromyeartoyear。Hewantedtocureit,andwouldsometimestakebathsordrinksomeprescribedpotion;but,hurriedalongonthecurrentofhisbusiness,hesoonneglectedthecareofhisperson。Sometimeshethoughtofsuspendingworkforatime,travellingabout,andvisitingthenotedbathsforsuchdiseases;butwhereisthehunteraftermillionswhoiswillingtostopshort?
Inthatblazingfurnaceshonetwograyeyesrayedwithgreenlinesstartingfromthepupils,andspeckledwithbrownspots,——twoimplacableeyes,fullofresolution,rectitude,andshrewdcalculation。Graslin’snosewasshortandturnedup;hehadamouthwiththicklips,aprominentforehead,andhighcheek—bones,coarseearswithlargeedgesdiscoloredbytheconditionofhisblood,——inshort,hewasanancientsatyrinablacksatinwaistcoat,brownfrock—coat,andwhitecravat。Hisstrongandvigorousshoulders,whichbeganlifebybearingheavyburdens,werenowratherbent;andbeneaththistorso,undulydeveloped,cameapairofweaklegs,ratherbadlyaffixedtotheshortthighs。Histhinandhairyhandshadthecrookedfingersofthosewhosebusinessitistohandlemoney。Thehabitofquickdecisioncouldbeseeninthewaytheeyebrowsroseintoapointovereacharchoftheeye。Thoughthemouthwasgraveandpinched,itsexpressionwasthatofinwardkindliness;ittoldofanexcellentnature,sunkinbusiness,smotheredpossibly,thoughitmightrevivebycontactwithawoman。
AtthisapparitionVeronique’sheartwasviolentlyagitated;blacknesscamebeforehereyes;shethoughtshecriedaloud;butshereallysattheremute,withfixedandstaringgaze。
\"Veronique,thisisMonsieurGraslin,\"saidoldSauviat。
Veroniquerose,curtsied,droppedbackintoherchair,andlookedathermother,whowassmilingatthemillionaire,seeming,asherfatherdid,sohappy,——sohappythatthepoorgirlfoundstrengthtohidehersurpriseandherviolentrepulsion。DuringtheconversationwhichthentookplacesomethingwassaidofGraslin’shealth。Thebankerlookednaivelyintothemirror,withbevellededgesinanebonyframe。
\"Mademoiselle,\"hesaid,\"Iamnotgood—looking。\"
Thereuponheproceededtoexplaintheblotchesonhisfaceastheresultofhisoverworkedlife。Herelatedhowhehadconstantlydisobeyedhisphysician’sadvice;andremarkedthathehopedtochangehisappearancealtogetherwhenhehadawifetorulehishousehold,andtakebettercareofhimthanhetookofhimself。
\"Isamanmarriedforhisface,compatriot?\"saidSauviat,givingtheotheraheartyslaponthethigh。
Graslin’sspeechwentstraighttothosenaturalfeelingswhich,moreorless,filltheheartofeverywoman。ThethoughtcameintoVeronique’smindthatherface,too,hadbeendestroyedbyahorribledisease,andherChristianmodestyrebukedherfirstimpression。
Hearingawhistleinthestreet,Graslinwentdownstairs,followedbySauviat。Theyspeedilyreturned。Theoffice—boyhadbroughtthefirstbouquet,whichwasalittlelateincoming。Whenthebankerexhibitedthismoundofexoticflowers,thefragranceofwhichcompletelyfilledtheroom,andofferedittohisfuturewife,Veroniquefeltarushofconflictingemotions;shewassuddenlyplungedintotheidealandfantasticworldoftropicalnature。Neverbeforehadsheseenwhitecamelias,neverhadshesmeltthefragranceoftheAlpinecistus,theCapejessamine,thecedronella,thevolcameria,themoss—rose,oranyofthedivineperfumeswhichwootolove,andsingtothehearttheirhymnsoffragrance。GraslinleftVeroniquethatnightinthegraspofsuchemotions。
Fromthistimeforth,assoonasallLimogeswassleeping,thebankerwouldslipalongthewallstotheSauviats’house。Therehewouldtapgentlyonthewindow—shutter;thedogdidnotbark;oldSauviatcamedownandlethimin,andGraslinwouldthenspendanhourortwowithVeroniqueinthebrownroom,whereMadameSauviatalwaysservedhimatrueAuvergnatsupper。Neverdidthissingularloverarrivewithoutabouquetmadeoftherarestflowersfromthegreenhouseofhisoldpartner,MonsieurGrossetete,theonlypersonwhoasyetknewoftheapproachingmarriage。Theman—of—all—workwenteveryeveningtofetchthebunch,whichMonsieurGrossetetemadehimself。
Graslinmadeaboutfiftysuchvisitsintwomonths;eachtime,besidestheflowers,hebroughtwithhimsomerichpresent,——rings,awatch,agoldchain,awork—box,etc。Theseinconceivableextravagancesmustbeexplained,andawordsuffices。Veronique’sdowry,promisedbyherfather,consistedofnearlythewholeofoldSauviat’sproperty,namely,sevenhundredandfiftythousandfrancs。TheoldmanretainedanincomeofeightthousandfrancsderivedfromtheFunds,boughtforhimoriginallyforsixtythousandfrancsinassignatsbyhiscorrespondentBrezac,towhom,atthetimeofhisimprisonment,hehadconfidedthatsum,andwhokeptitforhimsafely。ThesesixtythousandfrancsinassignatswerethehalfofSauviat’sfortuneatthetimehecamesonearbeingguillotined。Brezacwasalso,atthesametime,thefaithfulrepositoryoftherest,namely,sevenhundredlouisd’or(anenormoussumatthattimeingold),withwhicholdSauviatbeganhisbusinessoncemoreassoonasherecoveredhisliberty。Inthirtyyearseachofthoselouisd’orhadbeentransformedintoabank—noteforathousandfrancs,bymeansoftheincomefromtheFunds,ofMadameSauviat’sinheritancefromherfather,oldChampagnac,andoftheprofitsaccruingfromthebusinessandtheaccumulatedinterestthereoninthehandsoftheBrezacfirm。BrezachimselfhadaloyalandhonestfriendshipforSauviat,——suchasallAuvergnatsareapttofeelforoneanother。
So,wheneverSauviatpassedthefrontoftheGraslinmansionhehadsaidtohimself,\"Veroniqueshallliveinthatfinepalace。\"Heknewverywellthatnogirlinallthedepartmentwouldhavesevenhundredandfiftythousandfrancsasamarriageportion,besidestheexpectationoftwohundredandfiftythousandmore。Graslin,hischosenson—in—law,wouldthereforeinfalliblymarryVeronique;andso,aswehaveseen,itcameabout。
EveryeveningVeroniquehadherfreshbunchofflowers,whichonthemorrowdeckedherlittlesalonandwascarefullyconcealedfromtheneighbors。Sheadmiredthebeautifuljewels,thepearlsanddiamonds,thebracelets,therubies,giftswhichassuredlygratifyallthedaughtersofEve。Shethoughtherselflessplainwhensheworethem。
Shesawhermotherhappyinthemarriage,andshehadnootherpointofviewfromwhichtomakecomparisons。Shewas,moreover,totallyignorantofthedutiesorthepurposeofmarriage。SheheardthesolemnvoiceofthevicarofSaint—EtiennepraisingGraslintoherasamanofhonor,withwhomshewouldleadanhonorablelife。ThusitwasthatVeroniqueconsentedtoreceiveMonsieurGraslinasherfuturehusband。
Whenithappensthatinalifesowithdrawnfromtheworld,sosolitaryasthatofVeronique,asinglepersonentersiteveryday,thatpersoncannotlongremainindifferent;eitherheishated,andtheaversion,justifiedbyadeepeningknowledgeofhischaracter,rendershimintolerable,orthehabitofseeingbodilydefectsdimstheeyetothem。Themindlooksaboutforcompensations;hiscountenanceawakenscuriosity;itsfeaturesbrighten;fleetingbeautiesappearinit。Atlasttheinner,hiddenbeneaththeouter,showsitself。Then,whenthefirstimpressionsarefairlyovercome,theattachmentfeltisallthestronger,becausethesoulclingstoitasitsowncreation。Thatislove。Andhereliesthereasonofthosepassionsconceivedbybeautifulthingsforotherbeingsapparentlyugly。Theoutwardaspect,forgottenbyaffection,isnolongerseeninacreaturewhosesoulisdeeplyvalued。Besidesthis,beauty,sonecessarytoawoman,takesmanystrangeaspectsinman;andthereisasmuchdiversityoffeelingamongwomenaboutthebeautyofmenasthereisamongmenaboutthebeautyofwomen。So,afterdeepreflectionandmuchdebatingwithherself,Veroniquegaveherconsenttothepublicationofthebanns。
FromthatmomentallLimogesrangwiththisinexplicableaffair,——
inexplicablebecausenooneknewthesecretofit,namely,theimmensityofthedowry。HadthatdowrybeenknownVeroniquecouldhavechosenahusbandwhereshepleased;butevenso,shemighthavemadeamistake。
Graslinwasthoughttobemuchinlove。UpholstererscamefromParistofitupthehouse。NothingwastalkedofinLimogesbuttheprofuseexpendituresofthebanker。Thevalueofthechandelierswascalculated;thegildingofthewalls,thefiguresontheclocks,allwerediscussed;thejardinieres,thecaloriferes,theobjectsofluxuryandnovelty,nothingwasleftunnoticed。InthegardenofthehotelGraslin,abovetheicehouse,wasanaviary,andalltheinhabitantsofthetownwerepresentlysurprisedbythesightofrarebirds,——Chinesepheasants,mysteriousbreedsofducks。Everyoneflockedtoseethem。MonsieurandMadameGrossetete,anoldcouplewhowerehighlyrespectedinLimoges,madeseveralvisitstotheSauviats,accompaniedbyGraslin。MadameGrossetete,amostexcellentwoman,congratulatedVeroniqueonherhappymarriage。ThustheChurch,thefamily,society,andallmaterialthingsdowntothemosttrivial,madethemselvesaccomplicestobringaboutthismarriage。
InthemonthofApriltheformalinvitationstotheweddingwereissuedtoallGraslin’sfriendsandacquaintance。Onafinespringmorningacalecheandacoupe,drawnbyLimousinhorseschosenbyMonsieurGrossetete,drewupateleveno’clockbeforetheshopoftheiron—dealer,bringing,tothegreatexcitementoftheneighborhood,theformerpartnersofthebridegroomandthelatter’stwoclerks。Thestreetwaslinedwithspectators,allanxioustoseetheSauviats’
daughter,onwhosebeautifulhairthemostrenownedhairdresserinLimogeshadplacedthebridalwreathandacostlyveilofEnglishlace。Veroniqueworeagownofsimplewhitemuslin。Aratherimposingassemblageofthemostdistinguishedwomeninthesocietyofthetownattendedtheweddinginthecathedral,wherethebishop,knowingthereligiousfervoroftheSauviats,deignedtomarryVeroniquehimself。
Thebridewasverygenerallyvotedplain。