the village rector-第5章
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ravaged her heart。 A handwas it divine or devilish？raised the veil
which； till then； had hidden nature from her。 The Little Virgin still
existing in the beautiful young girl thought on the morrow that her
flowers had never been so beautiful； she heard their symbolic
language； she looked into the depths of the azure sky with a fixedness
that was almost ecstasy； and tears without a cause rolled down her
cheeks。
In the life of all women there comes a moment when they comprehend
their destiny；when their hitherto mute organization speaks
peremptorily。 It is not always a man； chosen by some furtive
involuntary glance； who awakens their slumbering sixth sense； oftener
it is some unexpected sight； the aspect of scenery； the /coup d'oeil/
of religious pomp； the harmony of nature's perfumes； a rosy dawn
veiled in slight mists； the winning notes of some divinest music； or
indeed any unexpected motion within the soul or within the body。 To
this lonely girl； buried in that old house； brought up by simple； half
rustic parents； who had never heard an unfit word； whose pure
unsullied mind had never known the slightest evil thought；to the
angelic pupil of Soeur Marthe and the vicar of Saint…Etienne the
revelation of love； the life of womanhood； came from the hand of
genius through one sweet book。 To any other mind the book would have
offered no danger； to her it was worse in its effects than an obscene
tale。 Corruption is relative。 There are chaste and virgin natures
which a single thought corrupts； doing all the more harm because no
thought of the duty of resistance has occurred。
The next day Veronique showed the book to the good priest； who
approved the purchase； for what could be more childlike and innocent
and pure than the history of Paul and Virginia？ But the warmth of the
tropics； the beauty of the scenery； the almost puerile innocence of a
love that seemed so sacred had done their work on Veronique。 She was
led by the sweet and noble achievement of its author to the worship of
the Ideal； that fatal human religion！ She dreamed of a lover like
Paul。 Her thoughts caressed the voluptuous image of that balmy isle。
Childlike； she named an island in the Vienne； below Limoges and nearly
opposite to the Faubourg Saint…Martial； the Ile de France。 Her mind
lived there in the world of fancy all young girls construct；a world
they enrich with their own perfections。 She spent long hours at her
window； looking at the artisans or the mechanics who passed it； the
only men whom the modest position of her parents allowed her to think
of。 Accustomed； of course； to the idea of eventually marrying a man of
the people； she now became aware of instincts within herself which
revolved from all coarseness。
In such a situation she naturally made many a romance such as young
girls are fond of weaving。 She clasped the ideaperhaps with the
natural ardor of a noble and virgin imaginationof ennobling one of
those men； and of raising him to the height where her own dreams led
her。 She may have made a Paul of some young man who caught her eye；
merely to fasten her wild ideas on an actual being； as the mists of a
damp atmosphere； touched by frost； crystallize on the branches of a
tree by the wayside。 She must have flung herself deep into the abysses
of her dream； for though she often returned bearing on her brow； as if
from vast heights； some luminous reflections； oftener she seemed to
carry in her hand the flowers that grew beside a torrent she had
followed down a precipice。
On the warm summer evenings she would ask her father to take her on
his arm to the banks of the Vienne； where she went into ecstasies over
the beauties of the sky and fields； the glories of the setting sun； or
the infinite sweetness of the dewy evening。 Her soul exhaled itself
thenceforth in a fragrance of natural poesy。 Her hair； until then
simply wound about her head； she now curled and braided。 Her dress
showed some research。 The vine which was running wild and naturally
among the branches of the old elm； was transplanted； cut and trained
over a green and pretty trellis。
After the return of old Sauviat （then seventy years of age） from a
trip to Paris in December； 1822； the vicar came to see him one
evening； and after a few insignificant remarks he said suddenly：
〃You had better think of marrying your daughter； Sauviat。 At your age
you ought not to put off the accomplishment of so important a duty。〃
〃But is Veronique willing to be married？〃 asked the old man； startled。
〃As you please； father；〃 she said； lowering her eyes。
〃Yes； we'll marry her！〃 cried stout Madame Sauviat； smiling。
〃Why didn't you speak to me about it before I went to Paris； mother？〃
said Sauviat。 〃I shall have to go back there。〃
Jerome…Baptiste Sauviat； a man in whose eyes money seemed to
constitute the whole of happiness； who knew nothing of love； and had
never seen in marriage anything but the means of transmitting property
to another self； had long sworn to marry Veronique to some rich
bourgeois；so long； in fact； that the idea had assumed in his brain
the characteristics of a hobby。 His neighbor； the hat…maker； who
possessed about two thousand francs a year； had already asked； on
behalf of his son； to whom he proposed to give up his hat…making
establishment； the hand of a girl so well known in the neighborhood
for her exemplary conduct and Christian principles。 Sauviat had
politely refused； without saying anything to Veronique。 The day after
the vicara very important personage in the eyes of the Sauviat
householdhad mentioned the necessary of marrying Veronique； whose
confessor he was； the old man shaved and dressed himself as for a
fete…day； and went out without saying a word to his wife or daughter；
both knew very well； however； that the father was in search of a son…
in…law。 Old Sauviat went to Monsieur Graslin。
Monsieur Graslin； a rich banker in Limoges； had； like Sauviat himself；
started from Auvergne without a penny； he came to Limoges to be a
porter； found a place as an office…boy in a financial house； and
there； like many other financiers； he made his way by dint of economy；
and also through fortunate circumstances。 Cashier at twenty…five years
of age； partner ten years later； in the firm of Perret and Grossetete；
he ended by finding himself the head of the house； after buying out
the senior partners； both of whom retired into the country； leaving
him their funds to manage in the business at a low interest。
Pierre Graslin； then forty…seven years of age； was supposed to possess
about six hundred thousand francs。 The estimate of his fortune had
lately increased throughout the department； in consequence of his
outlay in having built； in a new quarter of the town called the place
d'Arbres （thus assisting to give Limoges an improved aspect）； a fine
house； the front of it being on a line with a public building with the
facade of which it corresponded。 This house had now been finished six
months； but Pierre Graslin delayed furnishing it； it had cost him so
much that he shrank from the further expense of living in it。 His
vanity had led him to transgress the wise laws by which he governed
his life。 He felt； with the good sense of a business man； that the
interior of the house ought to correspond with the character of the
outside。 The furniture； silver…ware； and other needful accessories to
the life he would have to lead in his new mansion would； he estimated；
cost him nearly as much as the original building。 In spite； therefore；
of the gossip of tongues and the charitable suppositions of his
neighbors； he continued to live on in the damp； old； and dirty ground…
floor apartment in the rue Montantmanigne where his fortune had been
made。 The public carped； but Graslin had the approval of his former
partners； who praised a resolution that was somewhat uncommon。
A fortune and a position like those of Pierre Graslin naturally
excited the greed of not a few in a small provincial city。 During the
last ten years more than one proposition of marriage had been
intimated to Monsieur Graslin。 But the bachelor state was so well
suited to a man who was busy from morning till night； overrun with
work；
