AssoonasitwasdarkVeronique,leaningonhermother’sarm,walkedslowlythroughtheparktothechalet。Themoonwasshiningwithallitsbrilliancy,theairwassoft,andthetwowomen,visiblyaffected,foundencouragement,ofasort,inthethingsofnature。Themotherstoppednowandthen,torestherdaughter,whosesufferingswerepoignant,sothatitwaswell—nighmidnightbeforetheyreachedthepaththatgoesdownfromthewoodstotheslopingmeadowwherethesilveryroofofthechaletshone。Themoonlightgavetothesurfaceofthequietwater,thetintofpearls。Thelittlenoisesofthenight,echoinginthesilence,madesoftestharmony。Veroniquesatdownonthebenchofthechalet,amidthisbeauteoussceneofthestarrynight。Themurmuroftwovoicesandthefootfalloftwopersonsstillatadistanceonthesandyshorewerebroughtbythewater,whichsometimes,whenallisstill,reproducessoundsasfaithfullyasitreflectsobjectsonthesurface。Veroniquerecognizedatoncetheexquisitevoiceoftherector,andtherustleofhiscassock,alsothemovementofsomesilkenstuffthatwasprobablythematerialofawoman’sgown。
\"Letusgoin,\"shesaidtohermother。
MadameSauviatandherdaughtersatdownonacribinthelowerroom,whichwasintendedforastable。
\"Mychild,\"theyheardtherectorsaying,\"Idonotblameyou,——youarequiteexcusable;butyourreturnmaybethecauseofirreparableevil;sheisthesoulofthisregion。\"
\"Ah!monsieur,thenIhadbettergoawayto—night,\"repliedthestranger。\"Though——Imusttellyou——toleavemycountryoncemoreisdeathtome。IfIhadstayedadaylongerinthathorribleNewYork,wherethereisneitherhope,norfaith,norcharity,Ishouldhavediedwithoutbeingill。TheairIbreathedoppressedmychest,fooddidnotnourishme,Iwasdyingwhilefulloflifeandvigor。MysufferingsceasedthemomentIsetfootuponthevesseltoreturn。I
seemedtobealreadyinFrance。Oh!monsieur,Isawmymotherandoneofmysisters—in—lawdieofgrief。MygrandfatherandgrandmotherTascheronaredead;dead,mydearMonsieurBonnet,inspiteoftheprosperityofTascheronville,——formyfatherfoundedavillageinOhioandgaveitthatname。Thatvillageisnowalmostatown,andathirdofallthelandiscultivatedbymembersofourfamily,whomGodhasconstantlyprotected。Ourtillagesucceeded,ourcropshavebeenenormous,andwearerich。ThetownisCatholic,andwehavemanagedtobuildaCatholicchurch;wedonotallowanyotherformofworship,andwehopetoconvertbyourexamplethemanysectswhichsurroundus。Truereligionisinaminorityinthatlandofmoneyandselfishinterests,wherethesouliscold。Nevertheless,Iwillreturntodiethere,soonerthandoharmorcausedistresstothemotherofourFrancis。Only,MonsieurBonnet,takemeto—nighttotheparsonagethatImayprayupon/his/tomb,thethoughtofwhichhasbroughtmehere;
thenearerIhavecometowhere/he/is,themoreIfeltmyselfanotherbeing。No,IneverexpectedtofeelsohappyagainasIdohere。\"
\"Well,then,\"saidtherector,\"comewithmenow。Ifthereshouldcomeatimewhenyoumightreturnwithoutdoinginjury,Iwillwritetoyou,Denise;butperhapsthisvisittoyourbirthplacewillstopthehomesickness,andenableyoutoliveovertherewithoutsuffering——\"
\"Oh!toleavethiscountry,nowsobeautiful!WhatwondersMadameGraslinhasdoneforit!\"sheexclaimed,pointingtothelakeasitlayinthemoonlight。\"AllthisfinedomainwillbelongtoourdearFrancis。\"
\"Youshallnotgoaway,Denise,\"saidMadameGraslin,whowasstandingatthestabledoor。
Jean—FrancoisTascheron’ssisterclaspedherhandsonseeingthespectrewhichaddressedher。AtthatmomentthepaleVeronique,standinginthemoonlight,waslikeashadedefineduponthedarknessoftheopendoor—way。Hereyesaloneshonelikestars。
\"No,mychild,youshallnotleavethecountryyouhavecomesofartoseeagain;youshallbehappyhere,orGodwillrefusetohelpme;itisHe,nodoubt,whohasbroughtyouback。\"
ShetooktheastonishedDenisebythehand,andledherawaybyapathtowardtheothershoreofthelake,leavinghermotherandtherector,whoseatedthemselvesonthebench。
\"Letherdoasshewishes,\"saidMadameSauviat。
AfewmomentslaterVeroniquereturnedalone,andwastakenbacktothechateaubyhermotherandMonsieurBonnet。Doubtlessshehadformedsomeplanwhichrequiredsecrecy,fornooneintheneighborhoodeithersawDeniseorheardanymentionofher。
MadameGraslintooktoherbedthatdayandneverbutonceleftitagain;shewentfrombadtoworsedaily,andseemedannoyedandthwartedthatshecouldnotrise,——tryingtodosoonseveraloccasions,andexpressingadesiretowalkoutintothepark。Afewdays,however,afterthescenewehavejustrelated,aboutthebeginningofJune,shemadeaviolenteffort,rose,dressedasifforagaladay,andbeggedGerardtogiveherhisarm,declaringthatshewasresolvedtotakeawalk。Shegatheredupallherstrengthandexpendeditonthisexpedition,accomplishingherintentioninaparoxysmofwillwhichhad,necessarily,afatalreaction。
\"Takemetothechalet,andalone,\"shesaidtoGerardinasoftvoice,lookingathimwithasortofcoquetry。\"Thisismylastexcursion;Idreamedlastnightthedoctorsarrivedandcapturedme。\"
\"Doyouwanttoseeyourwoods?\"askedGerard。
\"Forthelasttime,yes,\"sheanswered。\"ButwhatIreallywant,\"sheadded,inacoaxingvoice,\"istomakeyouasingularproposition。\"
SheaskedGerardtoembarkwithherinoneoftheboatsonthesecondlake,towhichshewentonfoot。Whentheyoungman,surprisedatherintention,begantomovetheoars,shepointedtothehermitageastheobjectofhercoming。
\"Myfriend,\"shesaid,afteralongpause,duringwhichshehadbeencontemplatingtheskyandwater,thehillsandshores,\"Ihaveastrangerequesttomakeofyou;butIthinkyouareamanwhowouldobeymywishes——\"
\"Inallthings,surethatyoucanwishonlywhatisgood。\"
\"Iwishtomarryyou,\"sheanswered;\"ifyouconsentyouwillaccomplishthewishofadyingwoman,whichiscertaintosecureyourhappiness。\"
\"Iamtoougly,\"saidtheengineer。
\"ThepersontowhomIreferispretty;sheisyoung,andwishestoliveatMontegnac。Ifyouwillmarryheryouwillhelptosoftenmylasthours。Iwillnotdwelluponhervirtuesnow;Ionlysayhernatureisarareone;inthematterofgraceandyouthandbeauty,onelookwillsuffice;youarenowabouttoseeheratthehermitage。Aswereturnhomeyoumustgivemeaseriousyesorno。\"
Hearingthisconfidence,Gerardunconsciouslyquickenedhisoars,whichmadeMadameGraslinsmile。Denise,whowaslivingalone,awayfromalleyes,atthehermitage,recognizedMadameGraslinandimmediatelyopenedthedoor。VeroniqueandGerardentered。Thepoorgirlcouldnothelpablushasshemettheeyesoftheyoungman,whowasgreatlysurprisedatherbeauty。
\"IhopeMadameFarrabeschehasnotletyouwantforanything?\"saidVeronique。
\"Ohno!madame,see!\"andshepointedtoherbreakfast。
\"ThisisMonsieurGerard,ofwhomIspoketoyou,\"wentonVeronique。
\"Heistobemyson’sguardian,andaftermydeathyoushalllivetogetheratthechateauuntilhismajority。\"
\"Oh!madame,donottalkinthatway!\"
\"Mydearchild,lookatme!\"repliedVeronique,addressingDenise,inwhoseeyesthetearsroseinstantly。\"ShehasjustarrivedfromNewYork,\"sheadded,bywayofintroductiontoGerard。
Theengineerputseveralquestionsaboutthenewworldtotheyoungwoman,whileVeronique,leavingthemalone,wenttolookatthethirdandmoredistantlakeoftheGabou。Itwassixo’clockasVeroniqueandGerardreturnedintheboattowardthechalet。
\"Well?\"shesaid,lookingathim。
\"Youhavemypromise。\"
\"Thoughyouare,Iknow,withoutprejudices,\"shewenton,\"Imustnotleaveyouignorantofthereasonwhythatpoorgirl,broughtbackherebyhomesickness,lefttheplaceoriginally。\"
\"Afalsestep?\"
\"Oh,no!\"saidVeronique。\"ShouldIofferhertoyouifthatwereso?
Sheisthesisterofaworkmanwhodiedonthescaffold——\"
\"Ah!Tascheron,\"hesaid,\"themurdererofoldPingret。\"
\"Yes,sheisthesisterofamurderer,\"saidMadameGraslin,inabittertone;\"youareatlibertytotakebackyourpromiseand——\"
Shedidnotfinish,andGerardwasobligedtocarryhertothebenchbeforethechalet,wheresheremainedunconsciousforsomelittletime。WhensheopenedhereyesGerardwasonhiskneesbeforeherandhesaidinstantly:——
\"IwillmarryDenise。\"
MadameGraslintookhisheadinbothhandsandkissedhimontheforehead;then,seeinghissurpriseatsomuchgratitude,shepressedhishandandsaid:
\"Beforelongyouwillknowthesecretofallthis。Letusgobacktotheterrace,foritislate;Iamverytired,butImustlookmylastonthatdearplain。\"
Thoughthedayhadbeeninsupportablyhot,thestormswhichduringthisyeardevastatedpartsofEuropeandofFrancebutrespectedtheLimousin,hadruntheircourseinthebasinoftheLoire,andtheatmospherewassingularlyclear。Theskywassopurethattheeyecouldseizetheslightestdetailsonthehorizon。Whatlanguagecanrenderthedelightfulconcertofbusysoundsproducedinthevillagebythereturnoftheworkersfromthefields?Suchascene,toberightlygiven,needsagreatlandscapeartistandalsoagreatpainterofthehumanface。Istherenot,bythebye,inthelassitudeofNatureandthatofmanacuriousaffinitywhichisdifficulttograsp?
Thedepressingheatofadog—dayandtherarificationoftheairgivetotheleastsoundmadebyhumanbeingsallitssignification。Thewomenseatedontheirdoorstepsandwaitingfortheirhusbands(whooftenbringbackthechildren)gossipwitheachotherwhilestillatwork。Theroofsarecastingupthelinesofsmokewhichtelloftheeveningmeal,thegayestamongthepeasantry;afterwhich,theysleep。
Allactionsexpressthetranquilcheerfulthoughtsofthosewhoseday’sworkisover。Songsareheardverydifferentincharacterfromthoseofthemorning;inthisthepeasantsimitatethebirds,whosewarblingatnightistotallyunliketheirnotesatdawn。Allnaturesingsahymntorest,asitsangahymnofjoytothecomingsun。Theslightestmovementsoflivingbeingsseemtintedthenwiththesoft,harmoniouscolorsofthesunsetcastuponthelandscapeandlendingeventothedustyroadwaysaplacidair。Ifanydareddenytheinfluenceofthishour,theloveliestoftheday,theflowerswouldprotestandintoxicatehissenseswiththeirpenetratingperfumes,whichthenexhaleandminglewiththetenderhumofinsectsandtheamorousnoteofbirds。
Thebrookswhichthreadedtheplainbeyondthevillagewereveiledinfleecyvapor。Inthegreatmeadowsthroughwhichthehigh—roadran,——
borderedwithpoplars,acacias,andailanthus,wiselyintermingledandalreadygivingshade,——enormousandjustlycelebratedherdsofcattlewerescatteredhereandthere,somestillgrazing,othersruminating。
Men,women,andchildrenwereendingtheirday’sworkinthehay—
field,themostpicturesqueofallthecountrytoils。Thenightair,freshenedbydistantstorms,broughtonitswingsthesatisfyingodorsofthenewlycutgrassorthefinishedhay。Everyfeatureofthisbeautifulpanoramacouldbeseenperfectly;thosewhofearedacomingstormwerefinishinginhastethehay—stacks,whileothersfollowedwiththeirpitchforkstofillthecartsastheyweredrivenalongtherows。Othersinthedistancewerestillmowing,orturningthelonglinesoffallengrasstodryit,orhasteningtopileitintococks。
Thejoyouslaughofthemerryworkersminglingwiththeshoutsofthechildrentumblingeachotherinthehay,roseontheair。Theeyecoulddistinguishthepink,red,orbluepetticoats,thekerchiefs,andthebarelegsandarmsofthewomen,allwearingbroad—brimmedhatsofacoarsestraw,andtheshirtsandtrousersofthemen,thelatteralmostinvariablywhite。Thelastraysofthesunwerefilteringthroughthelonglinesofpoplarsplantedbesidethetrencheswhichdividedtheplainintomeadowsofunequalsize,andcaressingthegroupsofhorsesandcarts,men,women,children,andcattle。Thecattlemenandtheshepherd—girlswerebeginningtocollecttheirflockstothesoundofrustichorns。
Thescenewasnoisy,yetsilent,——aparadoxicalstatement,whichwillsurpriseonlythosetowhomthecharacterofcountrylifeisstillunknown。Fromallsidescamethecarts,ladenwithfragrantfodder。
Therewassomething,Iknownotwhat,oftorporinthescene。
VeroniquewalkedslowlyandsilentlybetweenGerardandtherector,whohadjoinedherontheterrace。
ThroughtheopeningsmadebytherurallanesrunningdownbelowtheterracetothemainstreetofMontegnacGerardandMonsieurBonnetcouldseethefacesofmen,women,andchildrenturnedtowardthem;
watchingmoreparticularly,nodoubt,forMadameGraslin。Howmuchoftendernessandgratitudewasexpressedonthosefaces!HowmanybenedictionsfollowedVeronique’sfootsteps!Withwhatreverentattentionwerethethreebenefactorsofawholecommunityregarded!
Manwasaddingahymnofgratitudetotheotherchantsofevening。
WhileMadameGraslinwalkedonwithhereyesfastenedonthelong,magnificentgreenpastures,hermostcherishedcreation,thepriestandthemayordidnottaketheireyesfromthegroupsbelow,whoseexpressionitwasimpossibletomisinterpret;pain,sadness,andregret,mingledwithhope,wereplainlyonallthosefaces。NooneinMontegnacoritsneighborhoodwasignorantthatMonsieurRoubaudhadgonetoParistobringthebestphysicianscienceafforded,orthatthebenefactressofthewholedistrictwasinthelaststagesofafatalillness。InallthemarketsthroughacircumferenceofthirtymilesthepeasantsaskedthoseofMontegnac,——
\"Howisyourgoodwomannow?\"
Thegreatvisionofdeathhoveredovertheland,anddominatedthatruralpicture。Afar,inthefields,morethanonereapersharpeninghisscythe,morethanoneyounggirl,herarmsrestingonherfork,morethanonefarmerstackinghishay,seeingMadameGraslin,stoodmuteandthoughtful,examiningthatnoblewoman,theblessingoftheCorreze,seekingsomefavorablesignormerelylookingtoadmireher,impelledbyafeelingthatarrestedtheirwork。
\"Sheisoutwalking;thereforeshemustbebetter。\"
Thesesimplewordswereoneverylip。
MadameGraslin’smother,seatedontheironbenchwhichVeroniquehadformerlyplacedattheendoftheterrace,studiedeverymovementofherdaughter;shewatchedherstepinwalking,andafewtearsrolledfromhereyes。Awareofthesecreteffortsofthatsuperhumancourage,sheknewthatVeroniqueatthatmomentwassufferingthetorturesofahorribleagony,andonlymaintainedherselferectbytheexerciseofherheroicwill。Thetears——theyseemedalmostred——whichforcedtheirwayfromthoseagedeyes,andfurrowedthatwrinkledface,theparchmentofwhichseemedincapableofsofteningunderanyemotion,excitedthoseofyoungGraslin,whomMonsieurRuffinhadbetweenhisknees。
\"Whatisthematter,myboy?\"saidthetutor,anxiously。
\"Mygrandmotheriscrying,\"heanswered。
MonsieurRuffin,whoseeyeswereonMadameGraslinasshecametowardthem,nowlookedatMadameSauviat,andwaspowerfullystruckbytheaspectofthatoldhead,likethatofaRomanmatron,petrifiedwithgriefandmoistenedwithtears。
\"Madame,whydidyounotpreventherfromcomingout?\"saidthetutortotheoldmother,augustandsacredinhersilentgrief。
AsVeroniqueadvancedmajesticallywithhernaturallyfineandgracefulstep,MadameSauviat,drivenbydespairatthethoughtofsurvivingherdaughter,allowedthesecretofmanythingsthatawakenedcuriositytoescapeher。
\"Howcanshewalklikethat,\"shecried,\"wearingahorriblehorsehairshirt,whichpricksintoherskinperpetually?\"
Thewordshorrifiedtheyoungman,whowasnotinsensibletotheexquisitegraceofVeronique’smovements;heshudderedashethoughtoftheconstantandterrificstruggleofthesoultomaintainitsempirethusoverthebody。
\"Shehaswornitthirteenyears,——eversincesheceasedtonursetheboy,\"saidtheoldwoman。\"Shehasdonemiracleshere,butifherwholelifewereknowntheyoughttocanonizeher。SinceshecametoMontegnacnoonehaseverseenhereat,anddoyouknowwhy?Alineservesherthreetimesadayapieceofdrybread,andvegetablesboiledinwater,withoutsalt,onacommonplateofredearthlikethosetheyfeedthedogson。Yes,that’showthewomanliveswhohasgivennewlifetothiswholecanton。Shekneelstosayherprayersontheedgeofthathair—shirt。Shesaysshecouldnothavethatsmilingairyouknowshealwayshasunlessshepractisedtheseausterities。I
tellyouthis,\"addedtheoldwoman,sinkinghervoice,\"sothatyoumayrepeatittothedoctorthatMonsieurRoubaudhasgonetofetch。
Iftheycouldpreventmydaughterfromcontinuingthesepenances,perhapstheymightstillsaveher,thoughdeathhaslaiditshanduponherhead。Seeforyourself!Ah!Imustbestrongindeedtohavebornesomanythingsthesefifteenyears。\"
Theoldwomantookhergrandson’shandandpasseditoverherforeheadandcheeksasifthechild’stouchshedahealingbalmthere;thenshekisseditwithanaffectionthesecretofwhichbelongstograndmothersasmuchasitbelongstomothers。
Veroniquewasnowonlyafewfeetfromthebench,incompanywithClousier,therector,andGerard。Illuminatedbytheglowofthesettingsun,sheshonewithadreadfulbeauty。Heryellowforehead,furrowedwithlongwrinklesmassedoneabovetheotherlikelayersofclouds,revealedafixedthoughtinthemidstofinwardtroubles。Herface,devoidofallcolor,entirelywhitewiththedead,greenishwhitenessofplantswithoutlight,wasthin,thoughnotwithered,andborethesignsofterriblephysicalsufferingsproducedbymentalanguish。Shefoughthersoulwithherbody,and/viceversa/。Shewassocompletelydestroyedthatshenomoreresembledherselfthananoldwomanresemblesherportraitasagirl。Theardentexpressionofhereyesdeclaredthedespoticempireexercisedbyadevoutwilloverabodyreducedtowhatreligionrequiresittobe。InthiswomanthesouldraggedthefleshastheAchillesofprofanestorydraggedHector;forfifteenyearsshedraggeditvictoriouslyalongthestonypathsoflifearoundthecelestialJerusalemshehopedtoenter,notbyaviledeception,butwithacclamation。NosolitarythateverlivedinthedryandariddesertsofAfricawasevermoremasterofhissensesthanwasVeroniqueinhermagnificentchateau,amongthesoft,voluptuoussceneryofthatopulentland,beneaththeprotectingmantleofthatrichforest,whencescience,theheirofMoses’wand,hadcalledforthplenty,prosperity,andhappinessforawholeregion。Shecontemplatedtheresultsoftwelveyears’patience,aworkwhichmighthavemadethefameofmanyasuperiorman,withagentlemodestysuchasPontornohaspaintedinthesublimefaceofhis\"ChristianChastitycaressingtheCelestialUnicorn。\"Themistressofthemanor,whosesilencewasrespectedbyhercompanionswhentheysawthathereyeswererovingoverthosevastplains,oncearid,andnowfertilebyherwill,walkedon,herarmsfolded,withadistantlook,asiftosomefarhorizon,onherface。
XX
THELASTSTRUGGLE
Suddenlyshestopped,afewfeetfromhermother,wholookedatherasthemotherofChristmusthavelookedathersonuponthecross。Sheraisedherhand,andpointingtothespotwheretheroadtoMontegnacbranchedfromthehighway,shesaid,smiling:——
\"Seethatcarriagewiththepost—horses;MonsieurRoubaudisreturningtous。WeshallnowknowhowmanyhoursIhavetolive。\"
\"Hours?\"saidGerard。
\"DidInottellyouIwastakingmylastwalk?\"shereplied。\"Ihavecomeheretoseeforthelasttimethisglorioussceneinallitssplendor!\"Shepointedfirsttothevillagewherethewholepopulationseemedtobecollectedinthechurchsquare,andthentothebeautifulmeadowsglowinginthelastraysofthesettingsun。\"Ah!\"shesaid,\"letmeseethebenedictionofGodinthestrangeatmosphericconditiontowhichweowethesafetyofourharvest。Aroundus,onallsides,tempests,hail,lightning,havestruckincessantlyandpitilessly。Thecommonpeoplethinkthus,whynotI?Idosoneedtoseeinthisahappyauguryforwhatawaitsmeafterdeath!\"
Thechildstoodupandtookhismother’shandandlaiditonhishead。
Veronique,deeplyaffectedbytheaction,sofullofeloquence,tookuphersonwithsupernaturalstrength,seatinghimonherleftarmasthoughhewerestillaninfantatherbreast,saying,asshekissedhim:——
\"Doyouseethatland,myson?Whenyouareaman,continuethereyourmother’swork。\"
\"Madame,\"saidtherector,inagravevoice,\"afewstrongandprivilegedbeingsareabletocontemplatetheircomingdeathfacetoface,tofight,asitwere,aduelwithit,andtodisplayacourageandanabilitywhichchallengeadmiration。Youshowusthisterriblespectacle;butperhapsyouhavetoolittlepityforus;leaveusatleastthehopethatyoumaybemistaken,andthatGodwillallowyoutofinishthatwhichyouhavebegun。\"
\"AllIhavedoneisthroughyou,myfriends,\"shesaid。\"Ihavebeenuseful,Icanbesonolonger。Allisfruitfularoundusnow;nothingisbarrenanddesolatedhereexceptmyheart。Youwellknow,mydearrector,thatIcanonlyfindpeaceandpardon/there/。\"
Shestretchedherhandtowardthecemetery。Neverhadshesaidasmuchsincethedayofherarrival,whenshewastakenwithsuddenillnessatthesamespot。Therectorlookedattentivelyathispenitent,andthehabitofpenetrationhehadlongacquiredmadehimseethatinthosesimplewordshehadwonanothertriumph。Veroniquemusthavemadeamightyeffortoverherselftobreakhertwelveyears’silencewithaspeechthatsaidsomuch。Therectorclaspedhishandswithaferventgesturethatwasnaturaltohimashelookedwithdeepemotionatthemembersofthisfamilywhosesecretshadpassedintohisheart。
Gerard,towhomthewords\"peaceandpardon\"musthaveseemedstrange,wasbewildered。MonsieurRuffin,withhiseyesfixedonVeronique,wasstupefied。Atthisinstantthecarriagecamerapidlyuptheavenue。
\"Therearefiveofthem!\"criedtherector,whocouldseeandcountthetravellers。
\"Five!\"exclaimedGerard。\"Canfiveknowmorethantwo?\"
\"Ah,\"criedMadameGraslinsuddenly,graspingtherector’sarm,\"the/procureur—general/isamongthem!Whatishedoinghere?\"
\"AndpapaGrossetete,too!\"criedFrancis。
\"Madame,\"saidtherector,supportingVeronique,andleadingherapartafewsteps,\"showcourage;beworthyofyourself。\"
\"Butwhatcanhewant?\"shereplied,leaningonthebalustrade。
\"Mother!\"(theoldwomanrantoherdaughterwithanactivitythatbeliedheryears。)\"Ishallseehimagain,\"shesaid。
\"AshecomeswithMonsieurGrossetete,\"saidtherector,\"hecanhavenonebutgoodintentions。\"
\"Ah!monsieur,mychildwilldie!\"criedMadameSauviat,seeingtheeffectoftherector’swordsonherdaughter’sface。\"Howcanherheartsurvivesuchemotions?MonsieurGrossetetehasalwayshithertopreventedthatmanfromseeingVeronique。\"
MadameGraslin’sfacewasonfire。
\"Doyouhatehimsomuch?\"saidtheAbbeBonnet。
\"SheleftLimogestoescapethesightofhim,andtoescapelettingthewholetownintohersecrets,\"saidMadameSauviat,terrifiedatthechangeshesawonMadameGraslin’sfeatures。
\"Doyounotseethathewillpoisonmyfewremaininghours?WhenI
oughttobethinkingofheavenhewillnailmetoearth,\"criedVeronique。
Therectortookherarmandconstrainedhertowalkasidewithhim。
Whentheywerealonehestoppedandgaveheroneofthoseangeliclookswithwhichhewasabletocalmtheviolentconvulsionsofthesoul。
\"Ifitisreallyso,\"hesaid,\"asyourconfessor,Iorderyoutoreceivehim,tobekindandaffectionatetohim,toquitthatgarmentofwrath,andforgivehimasGodwillforgiveyou。CantherestillbetheremainsofpassionofasoulIbelievedtobepurified。Burnthislastincenseonthealtarofyourpenitence,orelseyourrepentanceisalie。\"
\"Therewasstillthatefforttomake——anditismade,\"sheanswered,wipinghereyes。\"Thedevillurkedinthatlastfoldofmyheart,andGod,nodoubt,putintoMonsieurdeGrandville’smindthethoughtthatbringshimhere。Ah!howmanytimesmustGodstrikeme?\"shecried。
Shestopped,asiftosayamentalprayer;thenshereturnedtoMadameSauviatandsaidinalowvoice:
\"Mydearmother,bekindandgentletoMonsieurdeGrandville。\"
Theoldwomanclaspedherhandswithafeverishshudder。
\"Thereisnolongeranyhope,\"shesaid,seizingtherector’shand。
Thecarriage,announcedbythepostilion’swhip,wasnowcomingupthelastslope;thegateswereopened,itenteredthecourtyard,andthetravellerscameatoncetotheterrace。TheyweretheillustriousArchbishopDutheil,whowasonhiswaytoconsecrateMonseigneurGabrieldeRastignac,the/procureur—general/,MonsieurdeGrandville,MonsieurGrossetete,MonsieurRoubaud,andoneofthemostcelebratedphysiciansinParis,HoraceBianchon。
\"Youareverywelcome,\"saidVeronique,advancingtowardthem,——\"youparticularly,\"sheadded,offeringherhandtoMonsieurdeGrandville,whotookitandpressedit。
\"IcountedontheinterventionofMonseigneurandonthatofmyfriendMonsieurGrossetetetoobtainformeafavorablereception,\"saidthe/procureur—general/。\"Itwouldhavebeenalife—longregrettomeifI
didnotseeyouagain。\"
\"Ithankthosewhobroughtyouhere,\"repliedVeronique,lookingattheComtedeGrandvilleforthefirsttimeinfifteenyears。\"Ihavefeltaversetoyouforaverylongtime,butInowrecognizetheinjusticeofmyfeelings;andyoushallknowwhy,ifyoucanstaytillthedayafterto—morrowatMontegnac。\"ThenturningtoHoraceBianchonandbowingtohim,sheadded:\"Monsieurwillnodoubtconfirmmyapprehensions。Godmusthavesentyou,Monseigneur,\"shesaid,turningtothearchbishop。\"Inmemoryofouroldfriendshipyouwillnotrefusetoassistmeinmylastmoments。BywhosemercyisitthatI
haveaboutmeallthebeingswhohavelovedandsupportedmeinlife?\"
Asshesaidtheword/loved/sheturnedwithagraciouslooktoMonsieurdeGrandville,whowastouchedtotearsbythismarkoffeeling。Silencefellforafewmomentsoneveryone。Thedoctorswonderedbywhatoccultpowerthiswomancouldstillkeepherfeet,sufferingasshemusthavesuffered。Theotherthreemenweresoshockedattheravagesdiseasehadsuddenlymadeinherthattheycommunicatedtheirthoughtsbytheireyesonly。
\"Allowme,\"shesaid,withheraccustomedgrace,\"toleaveyounowwiththesegentlemen;thematterisurgent。\"
Shebowedtoherguests,gaveanarmtoeachofthedoctors,andwalkedtowardthechateaufeeblyandslowly,withadifficultywhichtoldonlytooplainlyofthecomingcatastrophe。