第11章

Haven"tyousaidsoyourself？Formypart，Ilistentoyou；I

understandyouagreatdealmorethanyouthinkIdo，——forIstillbearyouinmybosom，andyoureverythoughtstillstirsmeasyourslightestmotiondidinotherdays。"

"Ishallneversucceedhere，mamma；andIdon"twantyoutowitnessthesightofmystruggles，mymisery，myanguish。Oh，mother，letmeleaveAlencon!Iwanttosufferawayfromyou。"

"AndIwishtobeatyourside，"repliedhismother，proudly。"Sufferwithoutyourmother!——thatpoormotherwhowouldbeyourservantifnecessary；whowilleffaceherselfratherthaninjureyou；yourmother，whowillnevershameyou。No，no，Athanase；wemustnotpart。"

Athanaseclungtohismotherwiththeardorofadyingmanwhoclingstolife。

"ButIwishit，nevertheless。Ifnot，youwillloseme；thisdoublegrief，yoursandmine，iskillingme。YouwouldratherIlivedthandied？"

MadameGransonlookedathersonwithahaggardeye。

"Sothisiswhatyouhavebeenbrooding？"shesaid。"Theytoldmeright。Doyoureallymeantogo？"

"Yes。"

"Youwillnotgowithouttellingme；withoutwarningme？Youmusthaveanoutfitandmoney。Ihavesomelouissewnintomypetticoat；Ishallgivethemtoyou。"

Athanasewept。

"That"sallIwantedtotellyou，"hesaid。"NowI"lltakeyoutotheduRoncerets"。Come。"

Themotherandthesonwentout。Athanaselefthismotheratthedoorofthehousewheresheintendedtopasstheevening。Helookedlongatthelightwhichcamethroughtheshutters；heclungcloselytothewall，andafrenziedjoycameoverhimwhenhepresentlyheardhismothersay，"Hehasgreatindependenceofheart。"

"Poormother!Ihavedeceivedher，"hecried，ashemadehiswaytotheSarthe。

Hereachedthenoblepoplarbeneathwhichhehadmeditatedsomuchforthelastfortydays，andwherehehadplacedtwoheavystonesonwhichhenowsatdown。Hecontemplatedthatbeautifulnaturelightedbythemoon；hereviewedoncemorethegloriousfuturehehadlongedfor；hepassedthroughtownsthatwerestirredbyhisname；heheardtheapplaudingcrowds；hebreathedtheincenseofhisfame；headoredthatlifelongdreamedof；radiant，hesprangtoradianttriumphs；heraisedhisstature；heevokedhisillusionstobidthemfarewellinalastOlympicfeast。Themagichadbeenpotentforamoment；butnowitvanishedforever。Inthatawfulhourheclungtothebeautifultreetowhich，astoafriend，hehadattachedhimself；thenheputthetwostonesintothepocketsofhisovercoat，whichhebuttonedacrosshisbreast。Hehadcomeintentionallywithoutahat。Henowwenttothedeeppoolhehadlongselected，andglidedintoitresolutely，tryingtomakeaslittlenoiseaspossible，and，infact，makingscarcelyany。

When，athalf-pastnineo"clock，MadameGransonreturnedhome，herservantsaidnothingofAthanase，butgaveheraletter。Sheopeneditandreadthesefewwords，——

"Mygoodmother，Ihavedeparted；don"tbeangrywithme。"

"Aprettytrickhehasplayedme!"shethought。"Andhislinen!andthemoney!Well，hewillwritetome，andthenI"llfollowhim。Thesepoorchildrenthinktheyaresomuchclevererthantheirfathersandmothers。"

Andshewenttobedinpeace。

DuringtheprecedingmorningtheSarthehadrisentoaheightforeseenbythefisherman。Thesesuddenrisesofmuddywaterbroughteelsfromtheirvariousrunlets。ItsohappenedthatafishermanhadspreadhisnetattheveryplacewherepoorAthanasehadflunghimself，believingthatnoonewouldeverfindhim。Aboutsixo"clockinthemorningthemandrewinhisnet，andwithittheyoungbody。Thefewfriendsofthepoormothertookeveryprecautioninpreparinghertoreceivethedreadfulremains。Thenewsofthissuicidemade，asmaywellbesupposed，agreatexcitementinAlencon。Thepooryoungmanofgeniushadnoprotectorthenightbefore，butonthemorrowofhisdeathathousandvoicescriedaloud，"Iwouldhavehelpedhim。"Itissoeasyandconvenienttobecharitablegratis!

ThesuicidewasexplainedbytheChevalierdeValois。Herevealed，inaspiritofrevenge，theartless，sincere，andgenuineloveofAthanaseforMademoiselleCormon。MadameGranson，enlightenedbythechevalier，rememberedathousandlittlecircumstanceswhichconfirmedthechevalier"sstatement。Thestorythenbecametouching，andmanywomenweptoverit。MadameGranson"sgriefwassilent，concentrated，andlittleunderstood。Therearetwoformsofmourningformothers。

Oftentheworldcanenterfullyintothenatureoftheirloss:theirson，admired，appreciated，young，perhapshandsome，withanoblepathbeforehim，leadingtofortune，possiblytofame，excitesuniversalregret；societyjoinsinthegrief，andalleviateswhileitmagnifiesit。Butthereisanothersorrowofmotherswhoaloneknowwhattheirchildwasreally；whoalonehavereceivedhissmilesandobservedthetreasuresofalifetoosooncutshort。Thatsorrowhidesitswoe，theblacknessofwhichsurpassesallothermourning；itcannotbedescribed；happilytherearebutfewwomenwhoseheart-stringsarethussevered。

BeforeMadameduBousquierreturnedtotown，MadameduRonceret，oneofhergoodfriends，haddrivenouttoPrebaudettoflingthiscorpseupontherosesofherjoy，toshowhertheloveshehadignored，andsweetlyshedathousanddropsofwormwoodintothehoneyofherbridalmonth。AsMadameduBousquierdrovebacktoAlencon，shechancedtomeetMadameGransonatthecorneroftherueVal-Noble。Theglanceofthemother，dyingofhergrief，strucktotheheartofthepoorwoman。

Athousandmaledictions，athousandflamingreproaches，wereinthatlook:MadameduBousquierwashorror-struck；thatglancepredictedandcalleddowneviluponherhead。

Theeveningafterthecatastrophe，MadameGranson，oneofthepersonsmostopposedtotherectorofthetown，andwhohadhithertosupportedtheministerofSaint-Leonard，begantotrembleasshethoughtoftheinflexibleCatholicdoctrinesprofessedbyherownparty。Afterplacingherson"sbodyinitsshroudwithherownhands，thinkingofthemotheroftheSaviour，shewent，withasoulconvulsedbyanguish，tothehouseofthehatedrector。Thereshefoundthemodestpriestinanouterroom，engagedinputtingawaytheflaxandyarnswithwhichhesuppliedpoorwomen，inorderthattheymightneverbewhollyoutofwork，——aformofcharitywhichsavedmanywhowereincapableofbeggingfromactualpenury。TherectorlefthisyarnsandhastenedtotakeMadameGransonintohisdining-room，wherethewretchedmothernoticed，asshelookedathissupper，thefrugalmethodofhisownliving。

"Monsieurl"abbe，"shesaid，"Ihavecometoimploreyou——"Sheburstintotears，unabletocontinue。

"Iknowwhatbringsyou，"repliedthesaintlyman。"Imusttrusttoyou，madame，andtoyourrelation，MadameduBousquier，topacifyMonseigneurtheBishopatSeez。Yes，Iwillprayforyourunhappychild；yes，Iwillsaythemasses。Butwemustavoidallscandal，andgivenoopportunityforevil-judgingpersonstoassembleinthechurch。Ialone，withoutotherclergy，atnight——"

"Yes，yes，asyouthinkbest；ifonlyhemaylieinconsecratedground，"saidthepoormother，takingthepriest"shandandkissingit。

Towardmidnightacoffinwasclandestinelybornetotheparishchurchbyfouryoungmen，comradeswhomAthanasehadlikedthebest。AfewfriendsofMadameGranson，womendressedinblack，andveiled，werepresent；andhalfadozenotheryoungmenwhohadbeensomewhatintimatewiththislostgenius。Fourtorchesflickeredonthecoffin，whichwascoveredwithcrape。Therector，assistedbyonediscreetchoirboy，saidthemortuarymass。Thenthebodyofthesuicidewasnoiselesslycarriedtoacornerofthecemetery，whereablackwoodencross，withoutinscription，wasallthatindicateditsplacehereaftertothemother。Athanaselivedanddiedinshadow。Novoicewasraisedtoblametherector；thebishopkeptsilence。Thepietyofthemotherredeemedtheimpietyoftheson"slastact。

Somemonthslater，thepoorwoman，halfbesideherselfwithgrief，andmovedbyoneofthoseinexplicablethirstswhichmiseryfeelstosteepitslipsinthebitterchalice，determinedtoseethespotwherehersonwasdrowned。Herinstinctmayhavetoldherthatthoughtsofhiscouldberecoveredbeneaththatpoplar；perhaps，too，shedesiredtoseewhathiseyeshadseenforthelasttime。Somemotherswoulddieofthesight；othersgivethemselvesuptoitinsaintlyadoration。

Patientanatomistsofhumannaturecannottoooftenenunciatethetruthsbeforewhichalleducations，laws，andphilosophicalsystemsmustgiveway。Letusrepeatcontinually:itisabsurdtoforcesentimentsintooneformula:appearingastheydo，ineachindividualman，theycombinewiththeelementsthatformhisnatureandtakehisownphysiognomy。

MadameGranson，asshestoodonthatfatalspot，sawawomanapproachit，whoexclaimed，——

"Wasithere？"

Thatwomanweptasthemotherwept。ItwasSuzanne。ArrivingthatmorningatthehotelduMore，shehadbeentoldofthecatastrophe。IfpoorAthanasehadbeenliving，shemeanttodoasmanynoblesouls，whoaremoneyless，dreamofdoing，andastherichneverthinkofdoing，——shemeanttohavesenthimseveralthousandfrancs，writinguptheenvelopethewords:"Moneyduetoyourfatherfromacomradewhomakesrestitutiontoyou。"ThistenderschemehadbeenarrangedbySuzanneduringherjourney。

ThecourtesancaughtsightofMadameGransonandmovedrapidlyaway，whisperingasshepassedher，"Ilovedhim!"

Suzanne，faithfultohernature，didnotleaveAlencononthisoccasionwithoutchangingtheorange-blossomsofthebridetorue。ShewasthefirsttodeclarethatMadameduBousquierwouldneverbeanythingbutMademoiselleCormon。WithonestabofhertonguesherevengedpoorAthanaseandherdearchevalier。

AlenconnowwitnessedasuicidethatwasslowerandquitedifferentlypitifulfromthatofpoorAthanase，whowasquicklyforgottenbysociety，whichalwaysmakeshastetoforgetitsdead。ThepoorChevalierdeValoisdiedinlife；hissuicidewasadailyoccurrenceforfourteenyears。ThreemonthsaftertheduBousquiermarriagesocietyremarked，notwithoutastonishment，thatthelinenofthechevalierwasfrayedandrusty，thathishairwasirregularlycombedandbrushed。WithafrowsyheadtheChevalierdeValoiscouldnolongerbesaidtoexist!Afewofhisivoryteethdeserted，thoughthekeenestobserversofhumanlifewereunabletodiscovertowhatbodytheyhadhithertobelonged，whethertoaforeignlegionorwhethertheywereindigenous，vegetableoranimal；whetheragehadpulledthemfromthechevalier"smouth，orwhethertheywereleftforgotteninthedrawerofhisdressing-table。Thecravatwascrooked，indifferenttoelegance。Thenegroes"headsgrewpalewithdustandgrease。Thewrinklesofthefacewereblackenedandpuckered；theskinbecameparchment。Thenails，neglected，wereoftenseen，alas!withablackvelvetedging。Thewaistcoatwastrackedandstainedwithdroppingswhichspreaduponitssurfacelikeautumnleaves。Thecottonintheearswasseldomchanged。Sadnessreigneduponthatbrow，andslippeditsyellowingtintsintothedepthsofeachfurrow。Inshort，theruins，hithertosocleverlyhidden，nowshowedthroughthecracksandcrevicesofthatfineedifice，andprovedthepowerofthesouloverthebody；forthefairanddaintyman，thecavalier，theyoungblood，diedwhenhopedesertedhim。Untilthenthenoseofthechevalierwaseverdelicateandnice；neverhadadampblackblotch，noranamberdropfallfromit；butnowthatnose，smearedwithtobaccoaroundthenostrils，degradedbythedribletswhichtookadvantageofthenaturalgutterplacedbetweenitselfandtheupperlip，——thatnose，whichnolongercaredtoseemagreeable，revealedtheinfinitepainswhichthechevalierhadformerlytakenwithhisperson，andmadeobserverscomprehend，bytheextentofitsdegradation，thegreatnessandpersistenceoftheman"sdesignsuponMademoiselleCormon。

Alas，too，theanecdoteswentthewayoftheteeth；thecleversayingsgrewrare。Theappetite，however，remained；theoldnoblemansavednothingbuthisstomachfromthewreckofhishopes；thoughhelanguidlypreparedhispinchesofsnuff，heatealarmingdinners。

PerhapsyouwillmorefullyunderstandthedisasterthatthismarriagewastothemindandheartofthechevalierwhenyoulearnthathisintercoursewiththePrincessGoritzabecamelessfrequent。

OnedayheappearedinMademoiselleArmande"ssalonwiththecalfofhislegontheshin-bone。Thisbankruptcyofthegraceswas，Idoassureyou，terrible，andstruckallAlenconwithhorror。Thelateyoungmanhadbecomeanoldone；thishumanbeing，who，bythebreaking-downofhisspirit，hadpassedatoncefromfiftytoninetyyearsofage，frightenedsociety。Besides，hissecretwasbetrayed；hehadwaitedandwatchedforMademoiselle

Cormon；hehad，likeapatienthunter，adjustedhisaimfortenwholeyears，andfinallyhadmissedthegame!Inshort，theimpotentRepublichadwonthedayfromValiantChivalry，andthat，too，undertheRestoration!Formtriumphed；mindwasvanquishedbymatter，diplomacybyinsurrection。And，Ofinalblow!amortifiedgrisetterevealedthesecretofthechevalier"smornings，andhenowpassedforalibertine。TheliberalscastathisdoorallthefoundlingshithertoattributedtoduBousquier。ButthefaubourgSaint-GermainofAlenconacceptedthemproudly:itevensaid，"Thatpoorchevalier，whatelsecouldhedo？"Thefaubourgpitiedhim，gatheredhimclosertotheircircle，andbroughtbackafewraresmilestohisface；butfrightfulenmitywaspiledupontheheadofduBousquier。ElevenpersonsdesertedtheCormonsalon，andpassedtothatofthed"Esgrignons。

Theoldmaid"smarriagehadasignaleffectindefiningthetwopartiesinAlencon。Thesalond"Esgrignonrepresentedtheupperaristocracy(thereturningTroisvillesattachedthemselvestoit)；theCormonsalonrepresented，underthecleverinfluenceofduBousquier，thatfatalclassofopinionswhich，withoutbeingtrulyliberalorresolutelyroyalist，gavebirthtothe221onthatfamousdaywhenthestruggleopenlybeganbetweenthemostaugust，grandest，andonlytruepower，ROYALTY，andthemostfalse，mostchangeful，mostoppressiveofallpowers，——thepowercalledPARLIAMENTARY，whichelectiveassembliesexercise。ThesalonduRonceret，secretlyalliedtotheCormonsalon，wasboldlyliberal。

TheAbbedeSponde，afterhisreturnfromPrebaudet，boremanyandcontinualsufferings，whichhekeptwithinhisbreast，sayingnowordofthemtohisniece。ButtoMademoiselleArmandeheopenedhisheart，admittingthat，follyforfolly，hewouldmuchhavepreferredtheChevalierdeValoistoMonsieurduBousquier。Neverwouldthedearchevalierhavehadthebadtastetocontradictandopposeapooroldmanwhohadbutafewdaysmoretolive；duBousquierhaddestroyedeverythinginthegoodoldhome。Theabbesaid，withscantytearsmoisteninghisagedeyes，——

"Mademoiselle，Ihaven"teventhelittlegrovewhereIhavewalkedforfiftyyears。Mybelovedlindensareallcutdown!AtthemomentofmydeaththeRepublicappearstomemorethaneverundertheformofahorribledestructionoftheHome。"

"Youmustpardonyourniece，"saidtheChevalierdeValois。

"Republicanideasarethefirsterrorofyouthwhichseeksforliberty；lateritfindsittheworstofdespotisms，——thatofanimpotentcanaille。Yourpoornieceispunishedwhereshesinned。"

"Whatwillbecomeofmeinahousewherenakedwomenarepaintedonthewalls？"saidthepoorabbe。"WhereshallIfindotherlindensbeneathwhichtoreadmybreviary？"

LikeKant，whowasunabletocollecthisthoughtsafterthefir-treeatwhichhewasaccustomedtogazewhilemeditatingwascutdown，sothepoorabbecouldneverattaintheardorofhisformerprayerswhilewalkingupanddowntheshadelesspaths。DuBousquierhadplantedanEnglishgarden。

"Itwasbest，"saidMadameduBousquier，withoutthinkingso；buttheAbbeCouterierhadauthorizedhertocommitmanywrongstopleaseherhusband。

Theserestorationsdestroyedallthevenerabledignity，cordiality，andpatriarchalairoftheoldhouse。LiketheChevalierdeValois，whosepersonalneglectmightbecalledanabdication，thebourgeoisdignityoftheCormonsalonnolongerexistedwhenitwasturnedtowhiteandgold，withmahoganyottomanscoveredinbluesatin。Thedining-room，adornedinmoderntaste，wascolderintonethanitusedtobe，andthedinnerswereeatenwithlessappetitethanformerly。

MonsieurduCoudraideclaredthathefelthispunsstickinhisthroatasheglancedatthefigurespaintedonthewalls，whichlookedhimoutofcountenance。Externally，thehousewasstillprovincial；butinternallyeverythingrevealedthepurveyoroftheDirectoryandthebadtasteofthemoney-changer，——forinstance，columnsinstucco，glassdoors，Greekmouldings，meaninglessoutlines，allstylesconglomerated，magnificenceoutofplaceandoutofseason。

ThetownofAlencongabbledfortwoweeksoverthisluxury，whichseemedunparalleled；butafewmonthslaterthecommunitywasproudofit，andseveralrichmanufacturersrestoredtheirhousesandsetupfinesalons。Modernfurniturecameintothetown，andastrallampswereseen!

TheAbbedeSpondewasamongthefirsttoperceivethesecretunhappinessthismarriagenowbroughttotheprivatelifeofhisbelovedniece。Thecharacterofnoblesimplicitywhichhadhithertoruledtheirliveswaslostduringthefirstwinter，whenduBousquiergavetwoballseverymonth。Oh，tohearviolinsandprofanemusicattheseworldlyentertainmentsinthesacredoldhouse!Theabbeprayedonhiskneeswhiletherevelslasted。Nextthepoliticalsystemofthesobersalonwasslowlyperverted。TheabbefathomedduBousquier；heshudderedathisimperioustone；hesawthetearsinhisniece"seyeswhenshefeltherselflosingallcontroloverherownproperty；forherhusbandnowleftnothinginherhandsbutthemanagementofthelinen，thetable，andthingsofakindwhicharethelotofwomen。

Rosehadnolongeranyorderstogive。Monsieur"swillwasaloneregardedbyJacquelin，nowbecomecoachman，byRene，thegroom，andbythechef，whocamefromParis，Mariettebeingreducedtokitchenmaid。

MadameduBousquierhadnoonetorulebutJosette。Whoknowswhatitcoststorelinquishthedelightsofpower？Ifthetriumphofthewillisoneoftheintoxicatingpleasuresinthelivesofgreatmen，itistheALLoflifetonarrowminds。OnemustneedshavebeenaministerdismissedfrompowertocomprehendthebitterpainwhichcameuponMadameduBousquierwhenshefoundherselfreducedtothisabsoluteservitude。Sheoftengotintothecarriageagainstherwill；shesawherselfsurroundedbyservantswhoweredistastefultoher；shenolongerhadthehandlingofherdearmoney，——shewhohadknownherselffreetospendmoney，anddidnotspendit。

Allimposedlimitsmakethehumanbeingdesiretogobeyondthem。Thekeenestsufferingscomefromthethwartingofself-will。Thebeginningofthisstateofthingswas，however，rose-colored。Everyconcessionmadetomaritalauthoritywasaneffectofthelovewhichthepoorwomanfeltforherhusband。DuBousquierbehaved，inthefirstinstance，admirablytohiswife:hewaswise；hewasexcellent；hegaveherthebestofreasonsforeachnewencroachment。SoforthefirsttwoyearsofhermarriageMadameduBousquierappearedtobesatisfied。Shehadthatdeliberate，demurelittleairwhichdistinguishesyoungwomenwhohavemarriedforlove。Therushofbloodtoherheadnolongertormentedher。Thisappearanceofsatisfactionroutedthescoffers，contradictedcertainrumorsaboutduBousquier，andpuzzledallobserversofthehumanheart。Rose-Marie-Victoirewassoafraidthatifshedispleasedherhusbandoropposedhim，shewouldlosehisaffectionandbedeprivedofhiscompany，thatshewouldwillinglyhavesacrificedalltohim，evenheruncle。Hersillylittleformsofpleasuredeceivedeventhepoorabbeforatime，whoenduredhisowntrialsallthebetterforthinkingthathisniecewashappy，afterall。

Alenconatfirstthoughtthesame。Buttherewasonemanmoredifficulttodeceivethanthewholetownputtogether。TheChevalierdeValois，whohadtakenrefugeontheSacredMountoftheupperaristocracy，nowpassedhislifeatthed"Esgrignons。Helistenedtothegossipandthegabble，andhethoughtdayandnightuponhisvengeance。HemeanttostrikeduBousquiertotheheart。

Thepoorabbefullyunderstoodthebasenessofthisfirstandlastloveofhisniece；heshudderedas，littlebylittle，heperceivedthehypocriticalnatureofhisnephewandhistreacherousmanoeuvres。

ThoughduBousquierrestrainedhimself，ashethoughtoftheabbe"sproperty，andwishednottocausehimvexation，itwashishandthatdealttheblowthatsenttheoldpriesttohisgrave。IfyouwillinterpretthewordINTOLERANCEasFIRMNESSOFPRINCIPLE，ifyoudonotwishtocondemninthecatholicsouloftheAbbedeSpondethestoicismwhichWalterScotthasmadeyouadmireinthepuritansoulofJeanieDeans"father；ifyouarewillingtorecognizeintheRomanChurchthePotiusmoriquamfoedarithatyouadmireinrepublicantenets，——youwillunderstandthesorrowoftheAbbedeSpondewhenhesawinhisniece"ssalontheapostatepriest，therenegade，thepervert，theheretic，thatenemyoftheChurch，theguiltytakeroftheConstitutionaloath。DuBousquier，whosesecretambitionwastolaydownthelawtothetown，wished，asafirstproofofhispower，toreconciletheministerofSaint-Leonardwiththerectoroftheparish，andhesucceeded。Hiswifethoughthehadaccomplishedaworkofpeacewheretheimmovableabbesawonlytreachery。ThebishopcametovisitduBousquier，andseemedgladofthecessationofhostilities。ThevirtuesoftheAbbeFrancoishadconqueredprejudice，exceptthatoftheagedRomanCatholic，whoexclaimedwithCornelle，"Alas!whatvirtuesdoyoumakemehate!"