the village rector-第26章
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anguish； the silence of the crowd was understood。
〃My friends； Jean…Francois is not pardoned；〃 said the young abbe；
seeing that the blow had fallen； 〃but the state of his soul has so
distressed Monseigneur that he has obtained a delay in order to save
your son in eternity。〃
〃But he lives！〃 cried Denise。
The young abbe took the rector aside to explain to him the injurious
situation in which the impenitence of his parishioner placed religion；
and the duty the bishop imposed upon him。
〃Monseigneur exacts my death；〃 replied the rector。 〃I have already
refused the entreaties of the family to visit their unhappy son。 Such
a conference and the sight of his death would shatter me like glass。
Every man must work as he can。 The weakness of my organs； or rather；
the too great excitability of my nervous organization； prevents me
from exercising these functions of our ministry。 I have remained a
simple rector expressly to be useful to my kind in a sphere in which I
can really accomplish my Christian duty。 I have carefully considered
how far I could satisfy this virtuous family and do my pastoral duty
to this poor son； but the very idea of mounting the scaffold with him；
the mere thought of assisting in those fatal preparations； sends a
shudder as of death through my veins。 It would not be asked of a
mother； and remember； monsieur； he was born in the bosom of my poor
church。〃
〃So；〃 said the Abbe Gabriel； 〃you refuse to obey Monseigneur？〃
〃Monseigneur is ignorant of the state of my health； he does not know
that in a constitution like mine nature refuses〃 said Monsieur
Bonnet； looking at the younger priest。
〃There are times when we ought； like Belzunce at Marseille； to risk
certain death；〃 replied the Abbe Gabriel； interrupting him。
At this moment the rector felt a hand pulling at his cassock； he heard
sobs； and turning round he saw the whole family kneeling before him。
Young and old； small and great； all were stretching their supplicating
hands to him。 One sole cry rose from their lips as he turned his face
upon them：
〃Save his soul； at least！〃
The old grandmother it was who had pulled his cassock and was wetting
it with her tears。
〃I shall obey； monsieur。〃
That said； the rector was forced to sit down； for his legs trembled
under him。 The young secretary explained the frenzied state of the
criminal's mind。
〃Do you think；〃 he said； as he ended his account； 〃that the sight of
his young sister would shake his determination？〃
〃Yes； I do；〃 replied the rector。 〃Denise； you must go with us。〃
〃And I； too；〃 said the mother。
〃No！〃 cried the father； 〃that child no longer exists for us； and you
know it。 None of us shall see him。〃
〃Do not oppose what may be for his salvation；〃 said the young abbe。
〃You will be responsible for his soul if you refuse us the means of
softening it。 His death may possibly do more injury than his life has
done。〃
〃She may go；〃 said the father； 〃it shall be her punishment for
opposing all the discipline I ever wished to give her son。〃
The Abbe Gabriel and Monsieur Bonnet returned to the parsonage； where
Denise and her mother were requested to come in time to start for
Limoges with the two ecclesiastics。
As the younger man walked along the path which followed the outskirts
of upper Montegnac he was able to examine the village priest so warmly
commended by the vicar…general less superficially than he did in
church。 He felt at once inclined in his favor； by the simple manners；
the voice full of magic power； and the words in harmony with the voice
of the village rector。 The latter had only visited the bishop's palace
once since the prelate had taken Gabriel de Rastignac as secretary。 He
had hardly seen this favorite； destined for the episcopate； though he
knew how great his influence was。 Nevertheless； he behaved with a
dignified courtesy that plainly showed the sovereign independence
which the Church bestows on rectors in their parishes。 But the
feelings of the young abbe； far from animating his face； gave it a
stern expression； it was more than cold； it was icy。 A man capable of
changing the moral condition of a whole population must surely possess
some powers of observation； and be more or less of a physiognomist；
and even if the rector had no other science than that of goodness； he
had just given proof of rare sensibility。 He was therefore struck by
the coldness with which the bishop's secretary met his courteous
advances。 Compelled to attribute this manner to some secret annoyance；
the rector sought in his own mind to discover if he had wounded his
guest； or in what way his conduct could seem blameworthy in the eyes
of his superiors。
An awkward silence ensued； which the Abbe de Rastignac broke by a
speech that was full of aristocratic assumption。
〃You have a very poor church； monsieur；〃 he said。
〃It is too small；〃 replied Monsieur Bonnet。 〃On the great fete…days
the old men bring benches to the porch； and the young men stand
outside in a circle； but the silence is so great that all can hear my
voice。〃
Gabriel was silent for some moments。
〃If the inhabitants are so religious how can you let the building
remain in such a state of nudity？〃 he said at last。
〃Alas； monsieur； I have not the courage to spend the money which is
needed for the poor on decorating the church；the poor are the
church。 I assure I should not be ashamed of my church if Monseigneur
should visit it on the Fete…Dieu。 The poor return on that day what
they have received。 Did you notice the nails which are placed at
certain distances on the walls？ They are used to hold a sort of
trellis of iron wire on which the women fasten bouquets； the church is
fairly clothed with flowers； and they keep fresh all day。 My poor
church； which you think so bare； is decked like a bride； it is filled
with fragrance； even the floor is strewn with leaves； in the midst of
which they make a path of scattered roses for the passage of the holy
sacrament。 That's a day on which I do not fear comparison with the
pomps of Saint…Peter at Rome； the Holy Father has his gold； and I my
flowers；to each his own miracle。 Ah！ monsieur； the village of
Montegnac is poor； but it is Catholic。 In former times the inhabitants
robbed travellers； now travellers may leave a sack full of money where
they please and they will find it in my house。〃
〃That result is to your glory；〃 said Gabriel。
〃It is not a question of myself；〃 replied the rector； coloring at this
labored compliment； 〃but of God's word； of the blessed bread〃
〃Brown bread；〃 remarked the abbe； smiling。
〃White bread only suits the stomachs of the rich；〃 replied the rector；
modestly。
The young abbe took the hands of the older priest and pressed them
cordially。
〃Forgive me； monsieur；〃 he said； suddenly making amends with a look in
his beautiful blue eyes which went to the depths of the rector's soul。
〃Monseigneur told me to test your patience and your modesty； but I
can't go any further； I see already how much injustice the praises of
the liberals have done you。〃
Breakfast was ready； fresh eggs； butter； honey； fruits； cream； and
coffee were served by Ursule in the midst of flowers； on a white cloth
laid upon the antique table in that old dining…room。 The window which
looked upon the terrace was open； clematis； with its white stars
relieved in the centre by the yellow bunch of their crisped stamens；
clasped the railing。 A jasmine ran up one side； nasturtiums clambered
over the other。 Above； the reddening foliage of a vine made a rich
border that no sculptor could have rendered； so exquisite was the
tracery of its lace…work against the light。
〃Life is here reduced； you see； to its simplest expression；〃 said the
rector； smiling； though his face did not lose the look which the
sadness of his heart conveyed to it。 〃If we had known of your arrival
（but who could have foreseen your errand？） Ursule would have had some
mountain trout for you； there's a brook in the forest where they are
excellent。 I forget； however； that this is August and the Gabou is
dry。 My head is confused with all these troubles。〃
〃Then you like your life here？〃 said the young abbe。
〃Yes； monsieu
