Sweetloveisnotforher！ThedreadedsorcererHathsaidshe’sfore-soldforaprice——amurderer！
Withheartofdev’lishwrath，whichwhosodarestobraveToliewithheronenight，thereinshallfindhisgrave。
She，toseePascalperishatherside！”OhGod！havepityonmenow！”shecried。
So，rentwithcruelagonies，Andweepingverysore，Fellthepoorchilduponherknees，Herlittleshrinebefore。”Oh，HolyVirgin！”——sighing——”ontheealonerelying，Icome；I’mallastray！FatherandmothertooAredeadlangsyne，andIaccursed！AlltonguesarecryingThishideoustale！Yetsavemeif’tbetrue；
Iftheyhavefalselysworn，beitontheirsoulsborneWhenIshallbringmytaperonthefete-daymorn[6]
Oh！blessedMother，letmeseeThatIamnotdeniedofthee！”
Briefprayer，Though’tissincere，ToHeavenmountsquickly，Suretohavewonagraciousear；
Themaidherpurposeholds，andpondersmomently，Andoftentimesgrowssick，andcannotspeakforfear，Butsometimestakethheart，andsuddenhopeandstrongShinesinhersoul，asbrightestmeteorgleamstheskyalong。
FOURTHPART。
TheFeteatNotreDame——OfferingtotheVirgin——ThunderstrokeandTaperExtinguished——TheStormatRoquefort——
FireatEstanquet——TriumphofPascal——FuryofMarcel——
PowerofaMother——BadHeadandGoodHeart——Conclusion。
Atlast，beholdthedayshelongedfor，yetsofearfully，Butlo！thesunrosecheerfully；
Andlong，longlinesofwhite-robedvillagegirlsFromallthecountryround，walkedtow’rdsthetinklingbells，Andsoon，proudNotreDameappearedinsight，As’midstacloudofperfume！
’TwasifthethirtyhamletsintheirmightWerepiledtogetherintoone。
Whatpriests！Whatcandles！Crucifixes！Garlands！
WhatAngels，[7]andwhatbanners！
YouseethereArtigues，Puymiral，Astafort，Saint-Cirq，Cardonnet，Lusignan，Brax，Roquefort，Butthisyear，Roquefortfirst，o’erleapethall。
Whatcrowdsthereareofcuriouspeople，TowatchthegirlsoldtotheDevil！
Thenewshastravelledeverywhere；
Theyknowthatshe，insilentprayer，ImplorestheVirgintoprotectherthere！
Herneighboursscoff，andhermenace，Butsaddenedfriendsgrieveathersoredisgrace，Love，throughtheirheart，infervourrills，Eachonerespectsthisplaintivestofgirls；
Andmanyapityingsoulaprayersaid，ThatsomegreatmiraclemightyetbemadeInfavourofthispoorandsuppliantmaid。
Shesaw，rejoiced，morehopewithherabode；
ThoughvoiceofpeopleisthevoiceofGod！
Oh！howherheartbeatasthechurchsheneared，’TwasfortheVirgin’sindulgenceshecared。
Motherswithheartaches；youngunfortunates；
Theorphangirls；thewomenwithoutmates；
Allkneltbefore，withtaperswaxen，TheimageoftheVirgin；
Andtheretheagedpriest，insurplicedressed，Placedthecrossesattheirlips，andafterwardsthemblessed。
Nosignofsorrowdidonanysuppliantfall，Butwiththeirhappyhearts，theirwayswentoneandall，SoFranconnettegrewhappytoo，AndmostbecausePascalprayedferventinherview；
Shedaredt’raisehereyestotheholyfather’sface，Itseemedtoherthatlove，hymns，lights，andtheincenseUnited，criedout，”Grace！””Grace，gracedivine，”shesighed，”andlove！Letthembemine！”
Thenstretchingouthertaperlit，andfollowedtotheshrine，Bearingagarlandinherhand；andallaboutherstroveTogiveaplacetoher，andbadeherforwardmove。
Theyfixedtheireyesuponthesacredpriestandher，Andscarceabreathwasdrawn，andnotasouldidstir；
Butwhenthepriest，holdingtheimageofredeeminglove，Hadlaiditontheorphan’slips；beforeherkisswasgiven，Burstaterrificthunderpeal，asif’twouldrendtheheaven，Blowinghertaperout，andallthealtarlightsabove。
Oh，whatisthis?Thecrashingthunder！
Herprayerdenied，thelightsputout！
GoodGod！she’ssoldindeed！All，allistrue，nodoubt，Soalongmurmurroseofhorrorandofwonder；
ForwhilethemaidenbreathlesslyCoweringlikesomelostsoul，theirshudderingglancesunder，Suddencreptforth，allshrunkaway，andletherpassthemby。
Howbeit，thatgreatpealwastheopeningblowOfawildstormandterrible，ThatstraightwayuponRoquefortfell，ThespireofSaintPierre[8]layinruinslow，And，smittenbythesharpscourgeofthehail，Inalltheregionround，mencouldbutweepandwail。
TheangelbandswhowalkedthatdayInfairprocession，hymnstosing，Turnedsorrowing，allsaveone，away，Orapronobischaunting。
Yet，inthoseearlytimes，thoughnotasnow，Theangrywavestoclear；
TootherjealoustownscouldAgenshowGreatbridgesthree，asshearoyalcitywere；
Thenshehadonlybargestwo，bypolespropelledslow，Thatwaitedfortheminstrels，tobearthemtoRoquefort，Whosevillagersheardrumoursofthewidespreadwoe；
Erelanding，theywererangedforsingingontheshore。
Atfirstthetalebuthalftheyheed，Butsoontheyseeinverydeed，Vineyardsandhappyfieldswithhopelessruinsmit；
Theneachletfallhisbannerfair，AndlamentationsinfiniteBentonallsidestheeveningair，Tillo’ertheswellingthrongrosedeadlyclearthecry，”AndstillwesparethisFranconnette！”Thensuddenly，Asmatchtopowderlaid，thewords”Setheronfire！ThatdaughteroftheHuguenot，Let’sburnherup，andletherashesrot。”
Thenviolentcrieswereheard。
Howlsof”Ay！Ay！thewretch！Nowlethermeetherfate！
Sheisthecauseofall，’tisplain！
Onceshehasmadeusdesolate，Butsheshallnevercurseagain！”
Andnowthecrowdgrewangrier，wildertoo。”Huntherofffaceofearth！”oneshoutsanew；”Hunthertodeath！’Tismeet，”athousandtonguesrepeat，Thetempestintheskiescannotwiththiscompete。
Oh，then，toseethemastheycame，Withclenchedfistsandeyesaflame，Helldidindeeditsdemonsallunchain。
Andwhilethestormrecedes，thenightisgrowingclear，ButpoisonshootsthrougheveryveinOfthepossess’dmadmenthere。
Thusgoadedtheythemselvestocrime；butwherewasshe，UnhappyFranconnette?Toherowncottagedriven——
Worshippingheronerelic，sadanddreamily，AndwhisperedtothewitheredflowersPascalhadlovinggiven：”Dearnosegay，whenIsawtheefirst，Methoughtthysweetnesswasdivine，AndIdiddrinkit，heartathirst；
Butnowthouartnotsweetaserst，BecausethosewickedthoughtsofmineHaveblightedallthybeautyrare；
I’msoldtopowersofill，forHeav’nhathspurnedmyprayer；
Myloveisdeadlylove！NohopeonearthhaveI！
So，treasureofmyheart，flowersofthemeadowfair，BecauseIblessthehandthatgatheredthee，good-bye！
PascalmustnotlovesuchasI！
Hemustth’accursedmaidforswear，WhoyettoGodforhimdothcry！
Inwantonmerrimentlastyear，EvenatlovelaughedFranconnette；
Nowismycondemnationclear，NowwhomIlove，Imustforget；
Soldtothedemonatmybirth！
MyGod，howcanitbe?HaveInotfaithinThee?
Oh！blessedblossomsoftheearth；
Letmedrivewithmycrosstheevilonefromme！
Andthou，mymother，inthestar-litskiesabove，Andthou，myguardian，oh！motherofourGod，Pityme：ForIblessPascal，butpartfromhimIlove！
Pitythemaidaccursed，bytherodSoresmitten，totheearthdown-trod，Helpme，thyHeartDivinetomove！””Franconnette，littleone，whatmeansthyplaintivemoan?”
Sospakethehoarydame。”DidstthounotsmilingsayOurLadydidreceivethyofferingto-day?
Butsure，nohappyheartshouldmakesosadagroan。
Thouhastdeceivedme?Somenewill，”shesaid，Hathfall’nuponus！””Nay，notso；becomforted。
I——I’mquitehappy！””Somysweetestdeary，Godgrantthatsomegoodrespitewemayhave，Foryoursadsorrowdiggethupmygrave；
Andthishathbeenalonesome，fearsomeday，andweary；
ThatcrueldreamoffireIhadsometimeago，Howe’erIstrove，didalwayshauntmeso！
Andthen，thouknow’stthestorm；oh，Iwasterrified，Sothat，to-night，mydear，Ishudderinmyfright！”