\"Messieurs，\"exclaimedthebishop，\"religionmustnotbeoversetinthisway。Themorepublicattentionisattractedtothematter，themoreIamdeterminedtoobtainanotabletriumph。TheChurchisnowinpresenceofagreatdifficulty。Wearecalledupontodomiraclesinthismanufacturingtown，wherethespiritofseditionagainstreligiousandmonarchicalprincipleshassuchdeeproot，wherethesystemofinquirybornofprotestantism（whichinthesedayscallsitselfliberalism，preparedatanymomenttotakeanothername）
extendsintoeverything。GoatoncetoMonsieurdeGrandville;heiswhollyonourside，andsaytohimfrommethatwebegforafewdays’
reprieve。Iwillgomyselfandseethatunhappyman。\"
\"You，Monseigneur！\"saidtheAbbedeRastignac。\"Ifyoushouldfail，wouldn’tthatcomplicatematters？Yououghtnottogounlessyouarecertainofsuccess。\"
\"IfMonseigneurwillpermitmetoexpressmyopinion，\"saidtheAbbeDutheil，\"IthinkIcansuggestameanswhichmaybringvictorytoreligioninthissadcase。\"
Theprelateansweredwithasignofassent，socoldlygivenastoshowhowlittlecredithegavetohisvicar—general。
\"IfanyonecaninfluencethatrebellioussoulandbringitbacktoGod，\"continuedtheAbbeDutheil，\"itistherectorofthevillageinwhichhewasborn，MonsieurBonnet。\"
\"Oneofyourproteges，\"remarkedthebishop。
\"Monseigneur，MonsieurBonnetisoneofthosemenwhoprotectthemselves，bothbytheiractivevirtuesandtheirgospelwork。\"
ThissimpleandmodestreplywasreceivedinasilencewhichwouldhaveembarrassedanyothermanthantheAbbeDutheil。Thethreepriestschosetoseeinitoneofthosehiddenandunanswerablesarcasmswhicharecharacteristicofecclesiastics，whocontrivetoexpresswhattheywanttosaywhileobservingthestrictestdecorum。
Inthiscasetherewasnothingofthekind。TheAbbeDutheilneverthoughtofhimselfandhadnodoublemeaning。
\"IhaveheardofSaintAristidesforsometime，\"saidthebishop，smiling。\"IfIhavelefthislightunderabushelImayhavebeenunjustorprejudiced。YourliberalsarealwayscryingupMonsieurBonnetasthoughhebelongedtotheirparty。Ishouldliketojudgeformyselfofthisruralapostle。Goatonce，messieurs，toMonsieurdeGrandville，andaskforthereprieve;IwillawaithisanswerbeforesendingourdearAbbeGabrieltoMontegnactofetchthesaintlyman。WewillgivehisBlessednessachancetodomiracles。\"
AshelistenedtothesewordsoftheprelatetheAbbeDutheilreddened;buthewouldnotallowhimselftotakenoticeoftheincivilitiesofthespeech。Thetwograndvicarsbowedinsilenceandwithdrew，leavingtheprelatealonewithhissecretary。
\"Thesecretsoftheconfessionwearesoanxioustoobtainfromtheunhappymanhimselfarenodoubtburiedthere，\"saidthebishoptohisyoungabbe，pointingtotheshadowofthepoplarswhereitfellonalonelyhousebetweentheislandandSaint—Etienne。
\"Ihavealwaysthoughtso，\"repliedGabriel。\"IamnotajudgeandI
willnotbeaninformer;butifIwereamagistrateIshouldhaveknownthenameofthatwomanwhotremblesateverysound，ateveryword，whileforcedtokeepherfeaturescalmandsereneunderpainofgoingtothescaffoldwithherlover。Shehasnothingtofear，however。Ihaveseentheman;hewillcarrythesecretofthatpassionatelovetothegravewithhim。\"
\"Ah！youslyfellow！\"saidthebishop，twistingtheearofhissecretaryashemotionedtothespacebetweentheislandandthesuburbofSaint—Etiennewhichthelastgleamsofthesettingsunwereilluminating，andonwhichtheyoungabbe’seyeswerefixed。\"Thatistheplacewherejusticeshouldhavesearched;don’tyouthinkso？\"
\"Iwenttoseethecriminaltotrytheeffectofmysuspicionsuponhim，\"repliedtheyoungman。\"Icouldnotspeakthemout，forfearofcompromisingthewomanforwhosesakehedies。\"
\"Yes，\"saidthebishop，\"wewillholdourtongues;wearenottheservantsofhumanjustice。Oneheadisenough。Besides，soonerorlater，thesecretwillbegiventotheChurch。\"
Theperspicacitywhichthehabitofmeditationgivestopriestsisfarsuperiortothatoflawyersorthepolice。Bydintofcontemplatingfromthoseterracesthesceneofthecrime，theprelateandhissecretaryhadendedbyperceivingcircumstancesunseenbyothers，inspiteofalltheinvestigationsbeforeandduringthetrialofthecase。
MonsieurdeGrandvillewasplayingwhistatMadameGraslin’shouse;itwasnecessarytoawaithisreturn;thebishopdidnotthereforereceivehisanswertillnearlymidnight。TheAbbeGabriel，towhomtheprelatelenthiscarriage，startedattwointhemorningforMontegnac。Thisregion，whichbeginsabouttwenty—fivemilesfromthetown，issituatedinthatpartoftheLimousinwhichliesatthebaseofthemountainsoftheCorrezeandfollowsthelineoftheCreuze。
TheyoungabbeleftLimogesallheavingwithexpectationofthespectacleonthemorrow，andstillunawarethatitwouldnottakeplace。
VII
MONTEGNAC
Priestsandreligiousdevoteeshaveatendencyinthematterofpaymentstokeepstrictlytotheletterofthelaw。Isthisfrompoverty，orfromtheselfishnesstowhichtheirisolationcondemnsthem，thusencouragingthenaturalinclinationofallmentoavarice;
orisitfromaconscientiousparsimonywhichsavesallitcanfordeedsofcharity？Eachnaturewillgiveadifferentanswertothisquestion。Thedifficultyofputtingthehandintothepocket，sometimesconcealedbyagraciouskindliness，oftenerunreservedlyexhibited，ismoreparticularlynoticeableintravelling。GabrieldeRastignac，theprettiestyouthwhohadservedbeforethealtarformanyalongday，gaveonlyathirty—sous/pour—boire/tothepostilion。Consequentlyhetravelledslowly。Postilionsdrivebishopsandotherclergywiththeutmostcarewhentheymerelydoublethelegalwage，andtheyrunnoriskofdamagingtheepiscopalcarriageforanysuchsum，fearing，theymightsay，togetthemselvesintotrouble。TheAbbeGabriel，whowastravellingaloneforthefirsttime，said，ateachrelay，inhisdulcetvoice:——
\"Praygofaster，postilion。\"
\"Weplythewhip，\"repliedanoldpostilion，\"accordingtohowthetravellerplieshisfingerandthumb。\"
Theyoungabbeflunghimselfbackintoacornerofthecarriageunabletocomprehendthatanswer。Tooccupythetimehebegantostudythecountrythroughwhichhewaspassing，makingseveralmentalexcursionsonfootamongthehillsthroughwhichtheroadwindsbetweenBordeauxandLyon。
AboutfifteenmilesfromLimogesthelandscape，losingthegracefulflowoftheViennethroughtheundulatingmeadowsoftheLimousin，whichincertainplacesremindoneofSwitzerland，especiallyaboutSaint—Leonard，takesonaharshandmelancholyaspect。Herewecomeuponvasttractsofuncultivatedland，sandyplainswithoutherbage，hemmedinonthehorizonbythesummitsoftheCorreze。ThesemountainshaveneithertheabruptriseoftheAlpinerangesnortheirsplendidridges;neitherthewarmgorgesanddesolatepeaksoftheAppenines，northepicturesquegrandeurofthePyrenees。Theirundulatingslopes，duetotheactionofwater，provethesubsidenceofsomegreatnaturalcatastropheinwhichthefloodsretiredslowly。
Thischaracteristic，commontomostoftheearthconvulsionsinFrance，hasperhapscontributed，togetherwiththeclimate，totheepitaphof/douce/bestowedbyallEuropeonoursunnyFrance。
ThoughthisabrupttransitionfromthesmilinglandscapesoftheLimousintothesterneraspectsofLaMarcheandAuvergnemayoffertothethinkerandthepoet，ashepassesthemonhisway，animageoftheInfinite，thatterrorofcertainminds;thoughitincitestorevelrythewomanoftheworld，boredasshetravelsluxuriouslyinhercarriage，——totheinhabitantsofthisregionNatureiscruel，savage，andwithoutresources。Thesoilofthesegreatgrayplainsisthankless。ThevicinityofacapitaltowncouldalonereproducethemiracleworkedinBrieduringthelasttwocenturies。Here，however，notonlyisatownlacking，butalsothegreatresidenceswhichsometimesgivelifetothesehopelessdeserts，wherecivilizationlanguishes，wheretheagriculturistseesonlybarrenness，andthetravellerfindsnotasingleinn，northatwhich，perchance，heistheretoseek，——thepicturesque。
Greatminds，however，donotdislikethesebarrenwastes，necessaryshadowsinNature’svastpicture。QuiterecentlyFenimoreCooperhasmagnificentlydevelopedwithhismelancholygeniusthepoesyofsuchsolitudes，inhis\"Prairie。\"Theseregions，unknowntobotanists，coveredbymineralrefuse，roundpebbles，andasterilesoil，castdefiancetocivilization。Franceshouldadopttheonlysolutiontothesedifficulties，astheBritishhavedoneinScotland，wherepatient，heroicagriculturehaschangedthearidwastesintofertilefarms。Leftintheirsavageandprimitivestatetheseuncultivatedsocialandnaturalwastesgivebirthtodiscouragement，laziness，weaknessresultingfrompoorfood，andcrimewhenneedsbecomeimportunate。
ThesefewwordspresentthepasthistoryofMontegnac。Whatcouldbedoneinthatgreattractofbarrenland，neglectedbythegovernment，abandonedbythenobility，uselesstoindustry，——whatbutwaragainstsocietywhichdisregardeditsduty？Consequently，theinhabitantsofMontegnaclivedtoarecentperiod，astheHighlandsofScotlandlivedinformertimes，bymurderandrapine。Fromthemereaspectofthisregionathinkingmanwouldunderstandhow，twentyyearsearlier，theinhabitantswereatwarwithsociety。Thegreatuplandplain，flankedononesidebythevalleyoftheVienne，ontheotherbythecharmingvalleysofLaMarche，thenbyAuvergne，andboundedbythemountainsoftheCorreze，islike（agricultureapart）theplateauofLaBeauce，whichseparatesthebasinoftheLoirefromthatoftheSeine，alsolikethoseofTouraineandBerry，andmanyotherofthegreatuplandplainswhicharecutlikefacetsonthesurfaceofFranceandarenumerousenoughtoclaimtheattentionofthewisestadministrators。
Itisamazingthatwhilecomplaintismadeoftheinfluxofpopulationtothesocialcentres，thegovernmentdoesnotemploythenaturalremedyofredeemingaregionwhere，asstatisticsshow，therearemanymillionacresofwasteland，certainpartsofwhich，especiallyinBerry，haveasoilfromseventoeightfeetdeep。
Manyoftheseplainswhichmightbecoveredbyvillagesandmadesplendidlyproductivebelongtoobstinatecommunes，theauthoritiesofwhichrefusetoselltothosewhowoulddevelopthem，merelytokeeptherighttopasturecowsuponthem！Onalltheseuseless，unproductivelandsiswrittentheword\"Incapacity。\"Allsoilshavesomespecialfertilityoftheirown。Armsandwillsareready;thethinglackingisasenseofdutycombinedwithtalentonthepartofthegovernment。InFrance，uptothepresenttime，theseuplandplainshavebeensacrificedtothevalleys;thegovernmenthaschosentogiveallitshelptothoseregionsofcountrywhichcantakecareofthemselves。
Mostoftheselucklessuplandsarewithoutwater，thefirstessentialforproduction。Themistswhichoughttofertilizethegray，deadsoilbydischargingoxygenuponit，sweepacrossitrapidly，drivenbythewind，forwantoftreeswhichmightarrestthemandsoobtaintheirnourishment。Merelytoplanttreesinsucharegionwouldbecarryingagospeltoit。Separatedfromthenearesttownorcitybyadistanceasinsurmountabletopoorfolkasthoughadesertlaybetweenthem，withnomeansofreachingamarketfortheirproducts（iftheyproducedanything），closetoanunexploredforestwhichsuppliedthemwithwoodandtheuncertainlivelihoodofpoaching，theinhabitantsoftensufferedfromhungerduringthewinters。Thesoilnotbeingsuitableforwheat，andtheunfortunatepeasantryhavingneithercattleofanykindnorfarmingimplements，theylivedforthemostpartonchestnuts。
Anyonewhohasstudiedzoologicalproductionsinamuseum，orbecomepersonallyawareoftheindescribabledepressioncausedbythebrowntonesofallEuropeanproducts，willunderstandhowtheconstantsightofthesegray，aridplainsmusthaveaffectedthemoralnatureoftheinhabitants，throughthedesolatesenseofutterbarrennesswhichtheypresenttotheeye。There，inthosedismalregions，isneithercoolnessnorbrightness，norshadenorcontrast，——noneofallthoseideasandspectaclesofNaturewhichawakenandrejoicetheheart;
evenastuntedapple—treewouldbehailedasafriend。
Acountryroad，recentlymade，runsthroughthecentreofthisgreatplain，andmeetsthehigh—road。Uponit，atadistanceofsomefifteenmilesfromthehigh—road，standsMontegnac，atthefootofahill，asitsnamedesignates，thechieftownofacantonordistrictintheHaute—Vienne。ThehillispartofMontegnac，whichthusunitesamountainousscenerywiththatoftheplains。ThisdistrictisaminiatureScotland，withitslowlandsandhighlands。Behindthehill，atthefootofwhichliesthevillage，rises，atadistanceofaboutthreemiles，thefirstpeakoftheCorrezemountains。ThespacebetweeniscoveredbythegreatforestofMontegnac，whichclothesthehill，extendsoverthevalley，andalongtheslopesofthemountain（thoughthesearebareinsomeplaces），continuingasfarasthehighwaytoAubusson，whereitdiminishestoapointnearasteepembankmentonthatroad。Thisembankmentcommandsaravinethroughwhichthepost—roadbetweenBordeauxandLyonpasses。Travellers，eitherafootorincarriages，wereoftenstoppedinthedepthsofthisdangerousgorgebyhighwaymen，whosedeedsofviolencewentunpunished，forthesitefavoredthem;theycouldinstantlydisappear，bywaysknowntothemalone，intotheinaccessiblepartsoftheforest。
Sucharegionwasnaturallyoutofreachoflaw。Noonenowtravelledthroughit。Withoutcirculation，neithercommerce，industry，exchangeofideas，noranyofthemeanstowealth，canexist;thematerialtriumphsofcivilizationarealwaystheresultoftheapplicationofprimitiveideas。Thoughtisinvariablythepointofdepartureandthegoalofallsocialexistence。ThehistoryofMontegnacisaproofofthataxiomofsocialscience。Whenatlasttheadministrationwasabletoconcernitselfwiththeneedsandthematerialprosperityofthisregionofcountry，itcutdownthisstripofforest，andstationedadetachmentofgendarmerieneartheravine，whichescortedthemail—
coachesbetweenthetworelays;but，totheshameofthegendarmeriebeitsaid，itwasthegospel，andnotthesword，therectorMonsieurBonnet，andnotCorporalChervin，whowonacivilvictorybychangingthemoralsofapopulation。Thispriest，filledwithChristiantendernessforthepoor，haplessregion，attemptedtoregenerateit，andsucceededintheattempt。
Aftertravellingforaboutanhourovertheseplains，alternatelystonyanddusty，wherethepartridgesflockedintranquilcoveys，theirwingswhirringwithadull，heavysoundasthecarriagecametowardthem，theAbbeGabriel，likeallothertravellersonthesameroad，sawwithsatisfactiontheroofsofMontegnacinthedistance。Attheentranceofthevillagewasoneofthosecuriouspost—relayswhichareseenonlyintheremotepartsofFrance。Itssignwasanoakboardonwhichsomepretentiouspostilionhadcarvedthewords，/Pausteochevos/，blackeningtheletterswithink，andthennailingtheboardbyitsfourcornersabovethedoorofawretchedstableinwhichtherewerenohorses。Thedoor，whichwasnearlyalwaysopen，hadaplanklaidonthesoilforitsthreshold，toprotectthestablefloor，whichwaslowerthantheroad，frominundationwhenitrained。Thediscouragedtravellercouldseewithinworn—out，mildewed，andmendedharnesses，certaintobreakataplungeofthehorses。Thehorsesthemselveswerehardatworkinthefields，oranywherebutinthestable。Ifbyanychancetheyhappentobeintheirstalls，theyareeating;iftheyhavefinishedeating，thepostilionhasgonetoseehisauntorhiscousin，orisgettinginthehay，orelseheisasleep;noonecansaywhereheis;thetravellerhastowaittillheisfound，andhenevercomestillhehasfinishedwhatheisabout。
Whenhedoescomehelosesanimmenseamountoftimelookingforhisjacketandhiswhip，orputtingthecollarsonhishorses。Nearby，atthedoorofthepost—house，aworthywomanisfumingevenmorethanthetraveller，inordertopreventthelatterfromcomplainingloudly。
Thisissuretobethewifeofthepost—master，whosehusbandisawayinthefields。
Thebishop’ssecretarylefthiscarriagebeforeapost—houseofthiskind，thewallsofwhichresembledageographicalmap，whilethethatchedroof，bloominglikeaflower—garden，seemedtobegivingwaybeneaththeweightofstone—crop。Afterbeggingthepost—mistresstohaveeverythinginreadinessforhisdepartureinanhour’stime，theabbeaskedthewaytotheparsonage。Thegoodwomanshowedhimalanewhichledtothechurch，tellinghimtherectorywasclosebesideit。
Whiletheyoungabbefollowedthislane，whichwasfullofstonesandclosedoneithersidebyhedges，thepost—mistressquestionedthepostilion。SincestartingfromLimogeseachpostilionhadinformedhissuccessoroftheconjecturesoftheLimogespostilionastothemissionofthebishop’smessenger。Whiletheinhabitantsofthetownweregettingoutofbedandtalkingofthecomingexecution，arumorspreadamongthecountrypeoplethatthebishophadobtainedthepardonoftheinnocentman;andmuchwassaidaboutthemistakestowhichhumanjusticewasliable。IfJean—Francoiswasexecutedlater，itwascertainthathewasregardedinthecountryregionsasamartyr。
Aftertakingafewstepsalongthelane，reddenedbytheautumnleaves，andblackwithmulberriesanddamsons，theAbbeGabrielturnedroundwiththeinstinctiveimpulsewhichleadsusalltomakeacquaintancewitharegionwhichweseeforthefirsttime，——asortofinstinctivephysicalcuriositysharedbydogsandhorses。
ThepositionofMontegnacwasexplainedtohimashiseyesrestedonvariouslittlestreamsflowingdownthehillsidesandonalittleriver，alongthebankofwhichrunsthecountryroadwhichconnectsthechieftownofthearrondissementwiththeprefecture。Likeallthevillagesofthisuplandplain，Montegnacisbuiltofearthbakedinthesunandmouldedintosquareblocks。Afterafireahouselooksasifithadbeenbuiltofbrick。Theroofsareofthatch。Povertyiseverywherevisible。
Beforethevillagelayseveralfieldsofpotatoes，radishes，andrye，redeemedfromthebarrenplain。Ontheslopeofthehillwereirrigatedmeadowswheretheinhabitantsraisedhorses，thefamousLimousinbreed，whichissaidtobealegacyoftheArabswhentheydescendedbythePyreneesintoFranceandwerecuttopiecesbythebattle—axesoftheFranksunderCharlesMartel。Theheightsarebarren。Ahot，baked，reddishsoilshowsaregionwherechestnutsflourish。Thesprings，carefullyappliedtoirrigation，waterthemeadowsonly，nourishingthesweet，crispgrass，sofineandchoice，whichproducesthisraceofdelicateandhigh—strunghorses，——notover—strongtobearfatigue，butshowy，excellentforthecountryoftheirbirth，thoughsubjecttochangesiftransplanted。Afewmulberrytreeslatelyimportedshowedanintentionofcultivatingsilk—worms。
LikemostofthevillagesinthisworldMontegnachadbutonestreet，throughwhichthehighroadpassed。NeverthelesstherewasanupperandalowerMontegnac，reachedbylanesgoinguporgoingdownfromthemainstreet。Alineofhousesstandingalongthebrowofthehillpresentedthecheerfulsightofterracedgardens，whichwereenteredbyflightsofstepsfromthemainstreet。Somehadtheirstepsofearth，othersofpebbles;hereandthereoldwomenweresittingonthem，knittingorwatchingchildren，andkeepingupaconversationfromtheuppertothelowertownacrosstheusuallypeacefulstreetofthelittlevillage;thusrumorsspreadeasilyandrapidlyinMontegnac。Allthegardens，whichwerefulloffruit—trees，cabbages，onions，andothervegetables，hadbee—hivesalongtheirterraces。
Anotherlineofhouses，runningdownfromthemainstreettotheriver，thecourseofwhichwasoutlinedbythrivinglittlefieldsofhempandthesortsoffruittreeswhichlikemoisture，layparallelwiththeuppertown;someofthehouses，thatofthepost—house，forinstance，wereinahollow，andwerewell—situatedforcertainkindsofwork，suchasweaving。Nearlyallofthemweresharedbywalnut—
trees，thetree/parexcellence/ofstrongsoils。
Onthissideofthemainstreetattheendfarthestfromthegreatplainwasadwelling—house，verymuchlargerandbettercaredforthanthoseinotherpartsofthevillage;arounditwereotherhousesequallywellkept。Thislittlehamlet，separatedfromthevillagebyitsgardens，wasalreadycalledLesTascherons，anameitkeepstothepresentday。
Thevillageitselfmountedtoverylittle，butthirtyormoreoutlyingfarmsbelongedtoit。Inthevalley，leadingdowntotheriver，irrigatingchannelslikethoseofLaMarcheandBerryindicatedtheflowofwateraroundthevillagebythegreenfringeofverdureaboutthem;Montegnacseemedtossedintheirmidstlikeavesselatsea。
Whenahouse，anestate，avillage，aregion，passesfromthewretchedconditiontoaprosperousone，withoutbecomingeitherrichorsplendid，lifeseemssoeasy，sonaturaltolivingbeings，thatthespectatormaynotatoncesuspecttheenormouslabor，infiniteinpettydetail，grandinpersistencylikethetoilburiedinafoundationwall，inshort，theforgottenlaboronwhichthewholestructurerests。
ConsequentlythescenethatlaybeforehimtoldnothingextraordinarytotheyoungAbbeGabrielashiseyetookinthecharminglandscape。
Heknewnothingofthestateoftheregionbeforethearrivaloftherector，MonsieurBonnet。Theyoungmannowwentonafewstepsandagainsaw，severalhundredfeetabovethegardensoftheuppervillage，thechurchandtheparsonage，whichhehadalreadyseenfromadistanceconfusedlymingledwiththeimposingruinsclothedwithcreepersoftheoldcastleofMontegnac，oneoftheresidencesoftheNavarreinsfamilyinthetwelfthcentury。
Theparsonage，ahouseoriginallybuiltnodoubtforthebailifforgame—keeper，wasnoticeableforalongraisedterraceplantedwithlindensfromwhichafineviewextendedoverthecountry。Thestepsleadingtothisterraceandthewallswhichsupporteditshowedtheirgreatagebytheravagesoftime。Theflatmosswhichclingstostoneshadlaiditsdragon—greencarpetoneachsurface。Thenumerousfamiliesofthepellitories，thechamomiles，themesembryanthemums，pushedtheirvariedandabundanttuftsthroughtheloop—holesinthewalls，crackedandfissuredinspiteoftheirthickness。Botanyhadlavishedthereitsmostelegantdraperyoffernsofallkinds，snap—
dragonswiththeirvioletmouthsandgoldenpistils，theblueanchusa，thebrownlichens，sothattheoldwornstonesseemedmereaccessoriespeepingoutatintervalsfromthisfreshgrowth。Alongtheterraceaboxhedge，cutintogeometricfigures，enclosedapleasuregardensurroundingtheparsonage，abovewhichtherockroselikeawhitewallsurmountedbyslendertreesthatdroopedandswayedaboveitlikeplumes。
Theruinsofthecastlelookeddownuponthehouseandchurch。Thehouse，builtofpebblesandmortar，hadbutonestorysurmountedbyanenormousslopingroofwithgableends，inwhichwereattics，nodoubtempty，consideringthedilapidationoftheirwindows。Theground—floorhadtworoomspartedbyacorridor，atthefartherendofwhichwasawoodenstaircaseleadingtothesecondfloor，whichalsohadtworooms。Alittlekitchenwasatthebackofthebuildinginayard，wherewerethestableandcoach—house，bothunused，deserted，andworthless。Thekitchengardenlaybetweenthechurchandthehouse;aruinedgalleryledfromtheparsonagetothesacristy。
Whentheyoungabbesawthefourwindowswiththeirleadedpanes，thebrownandmossywalls，thedoorincommonpineslitlikeabundleofmatches，farfrombeingattractedbytheadorablenaiveteofthesedetails，thegraceofthevegetationswhichdrapedtheroofandthedilapidatedwoodenframesofthewindows，thewealthoftheclamberingplantsescapingfromeverycranny，andtheclaspingtendrilsofthegrape—vinewhichlookedintoeverywindowasiftobringsmilingideastothosewithin，hecongratulatedhimselfheartilyonbeingabishopinperspectiveinsteadofavillagerector。
Thishouse，apparentlyalwaysopen，seemedtobelongtoeverybody。TheAbbeGabrielenteredaroomcommunicatingwiththekitchen，whichwaspoorlyfurnishedwithanoaktableonfourstoutlegs，atapestriedarmchair，anumberofchairsallofwood，andanoldchestbywayofbuffet。Noonewasinthekitchenexceptacatwhichrevealedthepresenceofawomanaboutthehouse。Theotherroomservedasasalon。
Castingaglanceaboutittheyoungpriestnoticedarmchairsinnaturalwoodcoveredwithtapestry;thewoodworkandtheraftersoftheceilingwereofchestnutwhichhadturnedasblackasebony。A
tallclockinagreencasepaintedwithflowers，atablewithafadedgreencloth，severalchairs，twocandlesticksonthechimney—piece，betweenwhichwasanInfantJesusinwaxunderaglasscase，completedthefurnitureoftheroom。Thechimney—pieceofwoodwithcommonmouldingswasfilledbyafire—boardcoveredbyapaintingrepresentingtheGoodShepherdwithalamboverhisshoulder，whichwasprobablythegiftofsomeyounggirl，——themayor’sdaughter，orthejudge’sdaughter，——inreturnforthepastor’scareofhereducation。
Theforlornconditionofthehousewasdistressingtobehold;thewalls，oncewhitewashed，werenowdiscolored，andstainedtoaman’sheightbyconstantfriction。Thestaircasewithitsheavybalusterandwoodensteps，thoughveryclean，lookedasifitmighteasilygivewayunderthefeet。Ontheothersideofthehouse，oppositetotheentrancedoor，anotherdooropeninguponthekitchengardenenabledtheAbbedeRastignactojudgeofthenarrownessofthatgarden，whichwasclosedatthebackbyawallcutinthewhiteandfriablestonesideofthemountain，againstwhichespalierswerefastened，coveredwithgrape—vinesandfruit—treessoilltakencareofthattheirleaveswerediscoloredwithblight。
Theabbereturneduponhisstepsandwalkedalongthepathsofthefirstgarden，fromwhichhecouldsee，inthedistancebeyondthevillage，themagnificentstretchofvalley，atrueoasisattheedgeofthevastplains，whichnow，veiledbythelightmistsofmorning，layalongthehorizonlikeatranquilocean。Behindhimcouldbeseen，ononeside，forafoil，thedarkmassesofthebronze—greenforest;
ontheother，thechurchandtheruinsofthecastleperchedontherockandvividlydetachedupontheblueoftheether。TheAbbeGabriel，hisfeetcreakingonthegravellypathscutinstarsandroundsandlozenges，lookeddownuponthevillage，wheresomeoftheinhabitantswerealreadygazingupathim，andthenatthefresh，coolvalley，withitstangledpaths，itsriverborderedwithwillowsindelightfulcontrasttotheendlessplain，andhewassuddenlyseizedwithsensationswhichchangedthenatureofhisthoughts;headmiredthesweettranquillityoftheplace;hefelttheinfluenceofthatpureair;hewasconsciousofthepeaceinspiredbytherevelationofalifebroughtbacktoBiblicalsimplicity;hesaw，confusedly，thebeautiesofthisoldparsonage，whichhenowre—enteredtoexamineitsdetailswithgreaterinterest。
Alittlegirl，employed，nodoubt，towatchthehouse，thoughshewaspickingandeatingfruitinthegarden，heardthestepsofamanwithcreakingshoesonthegreatsquareflagsoftheground—floorrooms。
Sheranintoseewhoitwas。Confusedatbeingcaughtbyapriestwithafruitinonehandandanotherinhermouth，shemadenoanswertothequestionsofthehandsomeyoungabbe。Shehadneverimaginedsuchanabbe，——dapperandspruceashandscouldmakehim，indazzlinglinenandfineblackclothwithoutspotorwrinkle。
\"MonsieurBonnet？\"shesaidatlast。\"MonsieurBonnetissayingmass，andMademoiselleUrsuleisatchurch。\"
TheAbbeGabrieldidnotnoticeacoveredwayfromthehousetothechurch;hewentbacktotheroadwhichledtothefrontportal，aspeciesofporchwithaslopingroofthatfacedthevillage。Itwasreachedbyaseriesofdisjointedstonesteps，atthesideofwhichlayaravinewashedoutbythemountaintorrentsandcoveredwithnobleelmsplantedbySullytheProtestant。Thischurch，oneofthepoorestinFrancewheretherearesomanypoorchurches，waslikeoneofthoseenormousbarnswithprojectingdoorscoveredbyroofssupportedonbrickorwoodenpillars。Built，liketheparsonage，ofcobblestonesandmortar，flankedbyafaceofsolidrock，androofedbythecommonestroundtiles，thischurchwasdecoratedontheoutsidewiththerichestcreationsofsculpture，richinlightandshadeandlavishlymassedandcoloredbyNature，whounderstandssuchartaswellasanyMichaelAngelo。Ivyclaspedthewallswithitsnervoustendrils，showingstemsamiditsfoliageliketheveinsinalayfigure。Thismantle，flungbyTimetocoverthewoundshemade，wasstarredbyautumnflowersdroopingfromthecrevices，whichalsogavesheltertonumeroussingingbirds。Therose—windowabovetheprojectingporchwasadornedwithbluecampanula，likethefirstpageofanilluminatedmissal。Thesidewhichcommunicatedwiththeparsonage，towardthenorth，wasnotlessdecorated;thewallwasgrayandredwithmossandlichen;buttheothersideandtheapse，aroundwhichlaythecemetery，wascoveredwithawealthofvariedblooms。A
fewtrees，amongothersanalmond—tree——oneoftheemblemsofhope——