第7章

hadtakenrootinthebrokenwall;twoenormouspinesstandingcloseagainsttheapsisservedaslightning—rods。Thecemetery，enclosedbyalow，half—ruinedwall，hadforornamentanironcross，mountedonapedestalandhungwithbox，blessedatEaster，——oneofthoseaffectingChristianthoughtsforgottenincities。Thevillagerectoristheonlypriestwho，inthesedays，thinkstogoamonghisdeadandsaytothemeachEastermorn，"Thoushaltliveagain！"Hereandthereafewrottenwoodencrossesstoodupfromthegrassymounds。

Theinteriorofthechurchharmonizedperfectlywiththepoetictangleofthehumbleexterior，theluxuryandartofwhichwasbestowedbyTime，foronceinawaycharitable。Within，theeyefirstwenttotheroof，linedwithchestnut，towhichagehadgiventherichesttintsoftheoldestwoodsofEurope。Thisroofwassupportedatequaldistancesbystrongshaftsrestingontransversalbeams。Thefourwhite—washedwallshadnoornamentwhatever。Povertyhadmadetheparishiconoclastic，whetheritwouldornot。Thechurch，pavedandfurnishedwithbenches，waslightedbyfourarchedwindowswithleadedpanes。

Thealtar，shapedlikeatomb，wasadornedbyalargecrucifixplacedaboveatabernacleinwalnutwithafewgiltmouldings，keptcleanandshining，eightcandlestickseconomicallymadeofwoodpaintedwhite，andtwochinavasesfilledwithartificialflowerssuchasthedrudgeofamoney—changerwouldhavedespised，butwithwhichGodwassatisfied。

Thesanctuarylampwasanight—wickplacedinanoldholy—waterbasinofplatedcopperhangingbysilkencords，thespoilofsomedemolishedchateau。Thebaptismalfontswereofwood;sowerethepulpitandasortofcageprovidedforthechurch—wardens，thepatriciansofthevillage。AnaltartotheVirginpresentedtopublicadmirationtwocoloredlithographsinsmallgiltframes。Thealtarwaspaintedwhite，adornedwithartificialflowersingildedwoodenvases，andcoveredbyaclothedgedwithshabbyanddiscoloredlace。

Atthefartherendofthechurchalongwindowentirelycoveredbyaredcalicocurtainproducedamagicaleffect。Thiscrimsonmantlecastarosytintuponthewhitewashedwalls;athoughtdivineseemedtoglowuponthealtarandclaspthepoornaveasiftowarmit。Thepassagewhichledtothesacristyexhibitedononeofitswallsthepatronsaintofthevillage，alargeSaintJohntheBaptistwithhissheep，carvedinwoodandhorriblypainted。

Butinspiteofallthispovertythechurchwasnotwithoutsometenderharmoniesdelightfultochoicesouls，andsetincharmingreliefbytheirowncolors。Therichdarktonesofthewoodrelievedthewhiteofthewallsandblendedwiththetriumphalcrimsoncastonthechancel。ThistrinityofcolorwasareminderofthegrandCatholicdoctrine。

IfsurprisewasthefirstemotionrousedbythispitifulhouseoftheLord，surprisewasfollowedspeedilybyadmirationmingledwithpity。

Diditnottrulyexpressthepovertyofthatpoorregion？Wasitnotinharmonywiththenaivesimplicityoftheparsonage？Thebuildingwasperfectlycleanandwell—kept。Thefragranceofcountryvirtuesexhaledwithinit;nothingshowedneglectorabandonment。Thoughrusticandpoorandsimple，prayerdweltthere;thoseprecinctshadasoul，——asoulwhichwasfelt，thoughwemightnotfullyexplaintoourownsoulshowwefeltit。

VIII

THERECTOROFMONTEGNAC

TheAbbeGabrielglidedsoftlythroughthechurchsoasnottodisturbthedevotionsoftwogroupsofpersonsonthebenchesnearthehighaltar，whichwasseparatedfromthenaveattheplacewherethelampwashungbyarathercommonbalustrade，alsoofchestnutwood，andcoveredwithaclothintendedforthecommunion。Oneithersideofthenaveascoreofpeasants，menandwomen，absorbedinferventprayer，paidnoattentiontothestrangerwhenhepassedupthenarrowpassagebetweenthetworowsofseats。

Whentheyoungabbestoodbeneaththelamp，whencehecouldseethetwolittletranseptswhichformedacross，oneofwhichledtothesacristy，theothertothecemetery，henoticedonthecemeterysideafamilyclothedinblackkneelingonthepavement，thetranseptshavingnobenches。Theyoungpriestkneltdownonthestepofthebalustradewhichseparatedthechoirfromthenaveandbegantopray，castingobliqueglancesatascenewhichwassoonexplainedtohim。Thegospelhadbeenread。Therector，havingremovedhischasuble，camedownfromthealtarandstoodbeforetherailing;theyoungabbe，whoforesawthismovement，leanedbackagainstthewall，sothatMonsieurBonnetdidnotseehim。Teno’clockwasstriking。

"Brethren，"saidtherector，inavoiceofemotion，"atthisverymomentachildofthisparishispayinghisdebttohumanjusticebyenduringitslastpenalty，whileweareofferingthesacrificeofthemassforthepeaceofhissoul。LetusuniteinprayertoGod，imploringHimnottoturnHisfacefromthatchildinthesehislastmoments，andtogranttohisrepentancethepardoninheavenwhichisdeniedtohimherebelow。Thesinofthisunhappyman，oneofthoseonwhomwemostreliedforgoodexamples，canonlybeexplainedbyhisdisregardofreligiousprinciples。"

Heretherectorwasinterruptedbysobsfromthekneelinggroupinmourninggarments，whomtheAbbeGabrielrecognized，bythisshowofaffection，astheTascheronfamily，althoughhedidnotknowthem。

Firstamongthemwasanoldcouple（septuagenarians）standingbythewall，theirfacesseamedwithdeep—cut，rigidwrinkles，andbronzedlikeaFlorentinemedal。Thesepersons，stoicallyerectlikestatues，intheirolddarnedclothes，weredoubtlessthegrandfatherandthegrandmotherofthecriminal。Theirglazedandreddenedeyesseemedtoweepblood，theirarmstrembledsothatthesticksonwhichtheyleanedtappedlightlyonthepavement。Next，thefatherandthemother，theirfacesintheirhandkerchiefs，sobbedaloud。Aroundthesefourheadsofthefamilykneltthetwomarriedsistersaccompaniedbytheirhusbands，andthreesons，stupefiedwithgrief。Fivelittlechildrenontheirknees，theoldestnotsevenyearsold，unable，nodoubt，tounderstandwhatwashappening，gazedandlistenedwiththetorpidcuriositythatcharacterizesthepeasantry，andisreallytheobservationofphysicalthingspushedtoitshighestlimit。Lastly，thepoorunmarriedsister，imprisonedintheinterestsofjustice，nowreleased，amartyrtofraternalaffection，DeniseTascheron，waslisteningtothepriest’swordswithalookthatwaspartlybewilderedandpartlyincredulous。Forher，herbrothercouldnotdie。ShewellrepresentedthatoneoftheThreeMaryswhodidnotbelieveinthedeathofChrist，thoughshewaspresentatthelastagony。Pale，withdryeyes，likeallthosewhohavegonewithoutsleep，herfreshcomplexionwasalreadyfaded，lessbytoilandfieldlaborthanbygrief;nevertheless，shehadmanyofthebeautiesofacountrymaiden，——aplump，fullfigure，finelyshapedarms，roundedcheeks，andclear，pureeyes，lightedatthisinstantwithflashesofdespair。Belowthethroat，afirm，fairskin，nottannedbythesun，betrayedthepresenceofawhiteandrosyfleshwheretheformwashidden。

Themarrieddaughterswept;theirhusbands，patientfarmers，weregraveandserious。Thethreebrothers，profoundlysad，didnotraisetheireyesfromtheground。Inthemidstofthisdreadfulpictureofdumbdespairanddesolation，Deniseandhermotheraloneshowedsymptomsofrevolt。

TheotherinhabitantsofthevillageunitedintheafflictionofthisrespectablefamilywithasincereandChristianpitywhichgavethesameexpressiontothefacesofall，——anexpressionamountingtohorrorwhentherector’swordsannouncedthattheknifewasthenfallingontheneckofayoungmanwhomtheyallknewwellfromhisverybirth，andwhomtheyhaddoubtlessthoughtincapableofcrime。

Thesobswhichinterruptedtheshortandsimpleallocutionwhichthepastormadetohisflockovercamehimsomuchthathestoppedandsaidnomore，excepttoinviteallpresenttoferventprayer。

Thoughthisscenewasnotofanaturetosurpriseapriest，GabrieldeRastignacwastooyoungnottobeprofoundlytouchedbyit。Asyethehadneverexercisedthepriestlyvirtues;heknewhimselfcalledtootherfunctions;hewasnotforcedtoenterthesocialbreacheswheretheheartbleedsatthesightofwoes:hismissionwasthatofthehigherclergy，whomaintainthespiritofdevotion，representthehighestintellectoftheChurch，andoneminentoccasionsdisplaythepriestlyvirtuesonalargerstage，——liketheillustriousbishopsofMarseilleandMeaux，andthearchbishopsofArlesandCambrai。

Thislittleassemblageofcountrypeopleweepingandprayingforhimwho，astheysupposed，wasthenbeingexecutedonapublicsquare，amongacrowdofpersonscomefromallpartstoswelltheshameofsuchadeath，——thisfeeblecounterpoiseofprayerandpity，opposedtotheferociouscuriosityandjustmaledictionsofamultitude，wasenoughtomoveanysoul，especiallywhenseeninthatpoorchurch。TheAbbeGabrielwastemptedtogouptotheTascheronsandsay，——

"Yoursonandbrotherisreprieved。"

Buthedidnotliketodisturbthemass;and，moreover，heknewthatareprievewasonlyadelayofexecution。Insteadoffollowingtheservice，hewasirresistiblydrawntoastudyofthepastorfromwhomtheclergyinLimogesexpectedtheconversionofthecriminal。

Judgingbytheparsonage，GabrieldeRastignachadmadehimselfaportraitofMonsieurBonnetasastout，shortmanwithastrongandredface，framedfortoil，halfapeasant，andtannedbythesun。Sofarfromthat，theyoungabbemethisequal。Slightanddelicateinappearance，MonsieurBonnet’sfacestrucktheeyesatonceasthetypicalfaceofpassiongiventotheApostles。Itwasalmosttriangular，beginningwithabroadbrowfurrowedbywrinkles，andcarrieddownfromthetemplestothechinintwosharplineswhichdefinedhishollowcheeks。Inthisface，sallowedbytonesasyellowasthoseofachurchtaper，shonetwoblueeyesthatwereluminouswithfaith，burningwitheagerhope。Itwasdividedintotwoequalpartsbyalongnose，thinandstraight，withwell—cutnostrils，beneathwhichspoke，evenwhenclosedandvoiceless，alargemouth，withstronglymarkedlips，fromwhichissued，wheneverhespokealoud，oneofthosevoiceswhichgostraighttotheheart。Thechestnuthair，whichwasthinandfine，andlayflatuponthehead，showedapoorconstitutionmaintainedbyafrugaldiet。WILLmadethepowerofthisman。

Suchwerehispersonaldistinctions。Hisshorthandsmighthaveindicatedinanothermanatendencytocoarsepleasures，andperhapshehad，likeSocrates，conqueredhistemptations。Histhinnesswasungraceful，hisshouldersweretooprominent，hiskneesknockedtogether。Thebody，toomuchdevelopedfortheextremities，gavehimthelookofahump—backedmanwithoutahump。Inshort，hisappearancewasnotpleasing。Nonebutthosetowhomthemiraclesofthought，faith，artareknowncouldadorethatflaminggazeofthemartyr，thatpallorofconstancy，thatvoiceoflove，——distinctivecharacteristicsofthisvillagerector。

Thisman，worthyoftheprimitiveChurch，whichexistsnolongerexceptinthepicturesofthesixteenthcenturyandinthepagesofMartyrology，wasstampedwiththedieofthehumangreatnesswhichmostnearlyapproachesthedivinegreatnessthroughConviction，——thatindefinablesomethingwhichembellishesthecommonestform，gildswithglowingtintsthefacesofmenvowedtoanyworship，nomatterwhat，andbringsintothefaceofawomanglorifiedbyanobleloveasortoflight。CONVICTIONishumanwillattainingtoitshighestreach。Atoncebothcauseandeffect，itimpressesthecoldestnatures;itisaspeciesofmuteeloquencewhichholdsthemasses。

ComingdownfromthealtartherectorcaughttheeyeoftheAbbeGabrielandrecognizedhim;sothatwhenthebishop’ssecretaryreachedthesacristyUrsule，towhomhermasterhadalreadygivenorders，waswaitingforhimwitharequestthathewouldfollowher。

"Monsieur，"saidUrsule，awomanofcanonicalage，conductingtheAbbedeRastignacbythegallerythroughthegarden，"MonsieurBonnettoldmetoaskifyouhadbreakfasted。YoumusthaveleftLimogesveryearlytogetherebyteno’clock。Iwillsoonhavebreakfastreadyforyou。Monsieurl’abbewillnotfindatablelikethatofMonseigneurthebishopinthispoorvillage，butwewilldothebestwecan。

MonsieurBonnetwillsoonbein;hehasgonetocomfortthosepoorpeople，theTascherons。Theirsonhasmetwithaterribleendto—day。"

"But，"saidtheAbbeGabriel，whenhecouldgetinaword，"whereisthehouseofthoseworthypersons？ImusttakeMonsieurBonnetatoncetoLimogesbyorderofthebishop。Thatunfortunatemanwillnotbeexecutedto—day;Monseigneurhasobtainedareprieveforhim。"

"Ah！"exclaimedUrsule，whosetongueitchedtospreadthenewsaboutthevillage，"monsieurhasplentyoftimetocarrythemthatcomfortwhileIgetbreakfastready。TheTascherons’houseisbeyondthevillage;followthepathbelowthatterraceanditwilltakeyouthere。"

AssoonasUrsulelostsightoftheabbeshewentdownintothevillagetodisseminatethenews，andalsotobuythethingsneededforthebreakfast。

Therectorhadbeeninformed，whileinchurch，ofadesperateresolutiontakenbytheTascheronsassoonastheyheardthatJean—

Francois’sappealwasrejectedandthathehadtodie。Theseworthysoulsintendedtoleavethecountry，andtheirworldlygoodsweretobesoldthatverymorning。Delaysandformalitiesunexpectedbythemhadhithertopostponedthesale。Theyhadbeenforcedtoremainintheirhomeuntiltheexecution，anddrinkeachdaythecupofshame。

Thisdeterminationhadnotbeenmadepublicuntiltheeveningbeforethedayappointedfortheexecution。TheTascheronshadexpectedtoleavebeforethatfatalday;buttheproposedpurchaseroftheirpropertywasastrangerinthoseparts，andwaspreventedfromclinchingthebargainbyadelayinobtainingthemoney。Thusthehaplessfamilywereforcedtobeartheirtroubletoitsend。Thefeelingwhichpromptedthisexpatriationwassoviolentinthesesimplesouls，littleaccustomedtocompromisewiththeirconsciences，thatthegrandfatherandgrandmother，thefatherandthemother，thedaughtersandtheirhusbandsandthesons，inshort，allwhoboreandhadbornethenameofTascheronorwerecloselyalliedtoitmadereadytoleavethecountry。

Thisemigrationgrievedthewholecommunity。Themayorentreatedtherectortodohisbesttoretaintheseworthypeople。AccordingtothenewCodethefatherwasnotresponsiblefortheson，andthecrimeofthefatherwasnodisgracetothechildren。Togetherwithotheremancipationswhichhaveweakenedpaternalpower，thissystemhasledtothetriumphofindividualism，whichisnowpermeatingthewholeofmodernsociety。Hewhothinksonthethingsofthefutureseesthespiritoffamilydestroyed，wherethemakersofthenewCodehaveintroducedfreedomofwillandequality。TheFamilymustalwaysbethebasisofsociety。Necessarilytemporary，incessantlydivided，recomposedtodissolveagain，withouttiesbetweenthefutureandthepast，itcannotfulfilthatmission;theFamilyoftheoldentimenolongerexistsinFrance。Thosewhohaveproceededtodemolishtheancientedificehavebeenlogicalindividingequallythefamilyproperty，indiminishingtheauthorityofthefather，insuppressinggreatresponsibilities;butisthereconstructedsocialstateassolid，withitsyounglawsstilluntried，asitwasunderamonarchy，inspiteoftheoldabuses？Inlosingthesolidarityoffamilies，societyhaslostthatfundamentalforcewhichMontesquieudiscoveredandnamedHONOR。Ithasisolatedinterestsinordertosubjugatethem;

ithassunderedalltoenfeebleall。Societyreignsoverunits，oversinglefiguresagglomeratedlikegrainsofcorninaheap。CanthegeneralinterestsofalltaketheplaceofFamily？Timealonecananswerthatquestion。

Nevertheless，theoldlawstillexists;itsrootshavestrucksodeepthatyouwillfinditstillliving，aswefindperennialsinpolarregions。Remoteplacesarestilltobefoundintheprovinceswherewhatarenowcalledprejudicesexist，wherethefamilysuffersinthecrimeofachildorafather。

ThissentimentmadetheplaceuninhabitableanylongertotheTascherons。Theirdeepreligiousfeelingtookthemtochurchthatmorning;forhowcouldtheyletthemassbeofferedtoGodaskingHimtoinspiretheirsonwithrepentancethatalonecouldrestoretohimlifeeternal，andnotshareinit？Besides，theywishedtobidfarewelltothevillagealtar。Buttheirmindsweremadeupandtheirplansalreadycarriedout。Whentherectorwhofollowedthemfromchurchreachedtheprincipalhousehefoundtheirbagsandbundlesreadyforthejourney。Thepurchaserofthepropertywastherewiththemoney。Thenotaryhaddrawnupthepapers。Intheyardbehindthehousewasacarriolereadyharnessedtocarryawaytheoldercouplewiththemoney，andthemotherofJean—Francois。Theremainderofthefamilyweretogoonfootbynight。

AtthemomentwhentheyoungabbeenteredthelowroominwhichthefamilywereassembledtherectorofMontegnachadexhaustedalltheresourcesofhiseloquence。Theoldpair，nowinsensibletotheviolenceofgrief，werecrouchinginacornerontheirbagsandlookingroundontheiroldhereditaryhome，itsfurniture，andthenewpurchaser，andthenuponeachotherasiftosay:——

"Didweeverthinkthisthingcouldhappen？"

Theseoldpeople，whohadlongresignedtheirauthoritytotheirson，thefatherofthecriminal，were，likekingsontheirabdication，reducedtothepassiveroleofsubjectsandchildren。Tascheron，thefather，wasstandingup;helistenedtothepastor，andrepliedtohiminalowvoiceandbymonosyllables。Thisman，whowasaboutforty—

eightyearsofage，hadthenoblefacewhichTitianhasgiventosomanyofhisApostles，——acountenancefulloffaith，ofgraveandreflectiveintegrity，asternprofile，anosecutinastraightandprojectingline，blueeyes，anoblebrow，regularfeatures，black，crisp，wiryhair，plantedonhisheadwiththatsymmetrywhichgivesacharmtothesebrownfaces，bronzedbytoilintheopenair。Itwaseasytoseethattherector’sappealswerepowerlessagainstthatinflexiblewill。

Denisewasleaningagainstthebread—box，lookingatthenotary，whowasusingthatreceptacleasawriting—table，seatedbeforeitinthegrandmother’sarmchair。Thepurchaserwassittingonastoolbesidehim。Themarriedsisterswerelayingaclothuponthetable，andservingthelastmealthefamilyweretotakeinitsownhousebeforeexpatriatingitselftootherlandsandotherskies。Thesonswerehalf—seatedonthegreensergebed。Themother，busybesidethefire，wasbeatinganomelet。Thegrandchildrencrowdedthedoorway，beforewhichstoodtheincomingfamilyofthepurchaser。

Theoldsmokyroomwithitsblackenedrafters，throughthewindowofwhichwasvisibleawell—keptgardenplantedbythetwooldpeople，seemedinharmonywiththepent—upanguishwhichcouldbereadonalltheirfacesindiverseexpressions。Themealwaschieflypreparedforthenotary，thepurchaser，themenkind，andthechildren。Thefatherandmother，Deniseandhersisters，weretoounhappytoeat。Therewasalofty，sternresignationintheaccomplishmentoftheselastdutiesofrustichospitality。TheTascherons，menoftheoldentime，endedtheirdaysinthathouseastheyhadbegunthem，bydoingitshonors。

Thisscene，withoutpretension，thoughfullofsolemnity，mettheeyesofthebishop’ssecretarywhenheapproachedthevillagerectortofulfiltheprelate’serrand。

"Thesonofthesegoodpeoplestilllives，"saidGabriel。

Atthesewords，heardbyallinthedeepsilence，thetwooldpeoplerosetotheirfeetasifthelasttrumphadsounded。Themotherdroppedherpanuponthefire;Denisegaveacryofjoy;alltheothersstoodbyinpetrifiedastonishment。

"Jean—Francoisispardoned！"criedthewholevillage，nowrushingtowardthehouse，havingheardthenewsfromUrsule。"Monseigneurthebishop——"

"Iknewhewasinnocent！"criedthemother。

"Willithinderthepurchase？"saidthepurchasertothenotary，whoansweredwithasatisfyinggesture。

TheAbbeGabrielwasnowthecentreofalleyes;hissadnessraisedasuspicionofmistake。Toavoidcorrectingithimself，heleftthehouse，followedbytherector，andsaidtothecrowdoutsidethattheexecutionwasonlypostponedforsomedays。Theuproarsubsidedinstantlyintodreadfulsilence。WhentheAbbeGabrielandtherectorreturned，theexpressiononthefacesofthefamilywasfullofanguish;thesilenceofthecrowdwasunderstood。

"Myfriends，Jean—Francoisisnotpardoned，"saidtheyoungabbe，seeingthattheblowhadfallen;"butthestateofhissoulhassodistressedMonseigneurthathehasobtainedadelayinordertosaveyoursonineternity。"

"Buthelives！"criedDenise。

Theyoungabbetooktherectorasidetoexplaintohimtheinjurioussituationinwhichtheimpenitenceofhisparishionerplacedreligion，andthedutythebishopimposeduponhim。

"Monseigneurexactsmydeath，"repliedtherector。"Ihavealreadyrefusedtheentreatiesofthefamilytovisittheirunhappyson。Suchaconferenceandthesightofhisdeathwouldshattermelikeglass。

Everymanmustworkashecan。Theweaknessofmyorgans，orrather，thetoogreatexcitabilityofmynervousorganization，preventsmefromexercisingthesefunctionsofourministry。IhaveremainedasimplerectorexpresslytobeusefultomykindinasphereinwhichI

canreallyaccomplishmyChristianduty。IhavecarefullyconsideredhowfarIcouldsatisfythisvirtuousfamilyanddomypastoraldutytothispoorson;buttheveryideaofmountingthescaffoldwithhim，themerethoughtofassistinginthosefatalpreparations，sendsashudderasofdeaththroughmyveins。Itwouldnotbeaskedofamother;andremember，monsieur，hewasborninthebosomofmypoorchurch。"

"So，"saidtheAbbeGabriel，"yourefusetoobeyMonseigneur？"

"Monseigneurisignorantofthestateofmyhealth;hedoesnotknowthatinaconstitutionlikeminenaturerefuses——"saidMonsieurBonnet，lookingattheyoungerpriest。

"Therearetimeswhenweought，likeBelzunceatMarseille，toriskcertaindeath，"repliedtheAbbeGabriel，interruptinghim。

Atthismomenttherectorfeltahandpullingathiscassock;heheardsobs，andturningroundhesawthewholefamilykneelingbeforehim。

Youngandold，smallandgreat，allwerestretchingtheirsupplicatinghandstohim。Onesolecryrosefromtheirlipsasheturnedhisfaceuponthem:——

"Savehissoul，atleast！"

Theoldgrandmotheritwaswhohadpulledhiscassockandwaswettingitwithhertears。

"Ishallobey，monsieur。"

Thatsaid，therectorwasforcedtositdown，forhislegstrembledunderhim。Theyoungsecretaryexplainedthefrenziedstateofthecriminal’smind。

"Doyouthink，"hesaid，asheendedhisaccount，"thatthesightofhisyoungsisterwouldshakehisdetermination？"

"Yes，Ido，"repliedtherector。"Denise，youmustgowithus。"

"AndI，too，"saidthemother。

"No！"criedthefather;"thatchildnolongerexistsforus，andyouknowit。Noneofusshallseehim。"

"Donotopposewhatmaybeforhissalvation，"saidtheyoungabbe。

"Youwillberesponsibleforhissoulifyourefuseusthemeansofsofteningit。Hisdeathmaypossiblydomoreinjurythanhislifehasdone。"

"Shemaygo，"saidthefather;"itshallbeherpunishmentforopposingallthedisciplineIeverwishedtogiveherson。"

TheAbbeGabrielandMonsieurBonnetreturnedtotheparsonage，whereDeniseandhermotherwererequestedtocomeintimetostartforLimogeswiththetwoecclesiastics。

AstheyoungermanwalkedalongthepathwhichfollowedtheoutskirtsofupperMontegnachewasabletoexaminethevillagepriestsowarmlycommendedbythevicar—generallesssuperficiallythanhedidinchurch。Hefeltatonceinclinedinhisfavor，bythesimplemanners，thevoicefullofmagicpower，andthewordsinharmonywiththevoiceofthevillagerector。Thelatterhadonlyvisitedthebishop’spalaceoncesincetheprelatehadtakenGabrieldeRastignacassecretary。Hehadhardlyseenthisfavorite，destinedfortheepiscopate，thoughheknewhowgreathisinfluencewas。Nevertheless，hebehavedwithadignifiedcourtesythatplainlyshowedthesovereignindependencewhichtheChurchbestowsonrectorsintheirparishes。Butthefeelingsoftheyoungabbe，farfromanimatinghisface，gaveitasternexpression;itwasmorethancold，itwasicy。Amancapableofchangingthemoralconditionofawholepopulationmustsurelypossesssomepowersofobservation，andbemoreorlessofaphysiognomist;

andeveniftherectorhadnoothersciencethanthatofgoodness，hehadjustgivenproofofraresensibility。Hewasthereforestruckbythecoldnesswithwhichthebishop’ssecretarymethiscourteousadvances。Compelledtoattributethismannertosomesecretannoyance，therectorsoughtinhisownmindtodiscoverifhehadwoundedhisguest，orinwhatwayhisconductcouldseemblameworthyintheeyesofhissuperiors。

Anawkwardsilenceensued，whichtheAbbedeRastignacbrokebyaspeechthatwasfullofaristocraticassumption。

"Youhaveaverypoorchurch，monsieur，"hesaid。

"Itistoosmall，"repliedMonsieurBonnet。"Onthegreatfete—daystheoldmenbringbenchestotheporch，andtheyoungmenstandoutsideinacircle;butthesilenceissogreatthatallcanhearmyvoice。"

Gabrielwassilentforsomemoments。

"Iftheinhabitantsaresoreligioushowcanyouletthebuildingremaininsuchastateofnudity？"hesaidatlast。

"Alas，monsieur，Ihavenotthecouragetospendthemoneywhichisneededforthepoorondecoratingthechurch，——thepoorarethechurch。IassureIshouldnotbeashamedofmychurchifMonseigneurshouldvisititontheFete—Dieu。Thepoorreturnonthatdaywhattheyhavereceived。Didyounoticethenailswhichareplacedatcertaindistancesonthewalls？Theyareusedtoholdasortoftrellisofironwireonwhichthewomenfastenbouquets;thechurchisfairlyclothedwithflowers，andtheykeepfreshallday。Mypoorchurch，whichyouthinksobare，isdeckedlikeabride;itisfilledwithfragrance;eventhefloorisstrewnwithleaves，inthemidstofwhichtheymakeapathofscatteredrosesforthepassageoftheholysacrament。That’sadayonwhichIdonotfearcomparisonwiththepompsofSaint—PeteratRome;theHolyFatherhashisgold，andImyflowers，——toeachhisownmiracle。Ah！monsieur，thevillageofMontegnacispoor，butitisCatholic。Informertimestheinhabitantsrobbedtravellers;nowtravellersmayleaveasackfullofmoneywheretheypleaseandtheywillfinditinmyhouse。"

"Thatresultistoyourglory，"saidGabriel。

"Itisnotaquestionofmyself，"repliedtherector，coloringatthislaboredcompliment，"butofGod’sword，oftheblessedbread——"

"Brownbread，"remarkedtheabbe，smiling。

"Whitebreadonlysuitsthestomachsoftherich，"repliedtherector，modestly。

Theyoungabbetookthehandsoftheolderpriestandpressedthemcordially。

"Forgiveme，monsieur，"hesaid，suddenlymakingamendswithalookinhisbeautifulblueeyeswhichwenttothedepthsoftherector’ssoul。

"Monseigneurtoldmetotestyourpatienceandyourmodesty，butI

can’tgoanyfurther;Iseealreadyhowmuchinjusticethepraisesoftheliberalshavedoneyou。"

Breakfastwasready;fresheggs，butter，honey，fruits，cream，andcoffeewereservedbyUrsuleinthemidstofflowers，onawhiteclothlaidupontheantiquetableinthatolddining—room。Thewindowwhichlookedupontheterracewasopen;clematis，withitswhitestarsrelievedinthecentrebytheyellowbunchoftheircrispedstamens，claspedtherailing。Ajasmineranuponeside，nasturtiumsclamberedovertheother。Above，thereddeningfoliageofavinemadearichborderthatnosculptorcouldhaverendered，soexquisitewasthetraceryofitslace—workagainstthelight。