the village rector-第61章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the constant and terrific struggle of the soul to maintain its
empire thus over the body。
〃She has worn it thirteen years；ever since she ceased to nurse the
boy；〃 said the old woman。 〃She has done miracles here； but if her
whole life were known they ought to canonize her。 Since she came to
Montegnac no one has ever seen her eat； and do you know why？ Aline
serves her three times a day a piece of dry bread； and vegetables
boiled in water； without salt； on a common plate of red earth like
those they feed the dogs on。 Yes； that's how the woman lives who has
given new life to this whole canton。 She kneels to say her prayers on
the edge of that hair…shirt。 She says she could not have that smiling
air you know she always has unless she practised these austerities。 I
tell you this；〃 added the old woman； sinking her voice； 〃so that you
may repeat it to the doctor that Monsieur Roubaud has gone to fetch。
If they could prevent my daughter from continuing these penances；
perhaps they might still save her； though death has laid its hand upon
her head。 See for yourself！ Ah！ I must be strong indeed to have borne
so many things these fifteen years。〃
The old woman took her grandson's hand and passed it over her forehead
and cheeks as if the child's touch shed a healing balm there； then she
kissed it with an affection the secret of which belongs to
grandmothers as much as it belongs to mothers。
Veronique was now only a few feet from the bench； in company with
Clousier； the rector； and Gerard。 Illuminated by the glow of the
setting sun； she shone with a dreadful beauty。 Her yellow forehead；
furrowed with long wrinkles massed one above the other like layers of
clouds； revealed a fixed thought in the midst of inward troubles。 Her
face； devoid of all color； entirely white with the dead； greenish
whiteness of plants without light； was thin； though not withered； and
bore the signs of terrible physical sufferings produced by mental
anguish。 She fought her soul with her body； and /vice versa/。 She was
so completely destroyed that she no more resembled herself than an old
woman resembles her portrait as a girl。 The ardent expression of her
eyes declared the despotic empire exercised by a devout will over a
body reduced to what religion requires it to be。 In this woman the
soul dragged the flesh as the Achilles of profane story dragged
Hector； for fifteen years she dragged it victoriously along the stony
paths of life around the celestial Jerusalem she hoped to enter； not
by a vile deception； but with acclamation。 No solitary that ever lived
in the dry and arid deserts of Africa was ever more master of his
senses than was Veronique in her magnificent chateau； among the soft；
voluptuous scenery of that opulent land； beneath the protecting mantle
of that rich forest； whence science； the heir of Moses' wand； had
called forth plenty； prosperity； and happiness for a whole region。 She
contemplated the results of twelve years' patience； a work which might
have made the fame of many a superior man； with a gentle modesty such
as Pontorno has painted in the sublime face of his 〃Christian Chastity
caressing the Celestial Unicorn。〃 The mistress of the manor； whose
silence was respected by her companions when they saw that her eyes
were roving over those vast plains； once arid； and now fertile by her
will； walked on； her arms folded； with a distant look； as if to some
far horizon； on her face。
XX
THE LAST STRUGGLE
Suddenly she stopped； a few feet from her mother； who looked at her as
the mother of Christ must have looked at her son upon the cross。 She
raised her hand； and pointing to the spot where the road to Montegnac
branched from the highway； she said； smiling：
〃See that carriage with the post…horses； Monsieur Roubaud is returning
to us。 We shall now know how many hours I have to live。〃
〃Hours？〃 said Gerard。
〃Did I not tell you I was taking my last walk？〃 she replied。 〃I have
come here to see for the last time this glorious scene in all its
splendor！〃 She pointed first to the village where the whole population
seemed to be collected in the church square； and then to the beautiful
meadows glowing in the last rays of the setting sun。 〃Ah！〃 she said；
〃let me see the benediction of God in the strange atmospheric
condition to which we owe the safety of our harvest。 Around us； on all
sides； tempests； hail； lightning； have struck incessantly and
pitilessly。 The common people think thus； why not I？ I do so need to
see in this a happy augury for what awaits me after death！〃
The child stood up and took his mother's hand and laid it on his head。
Veronique； deeply affected by the action； so full of eloquence； took
up her son with supernatural strength； seating him on her left arm as
though he were still an infant at her breast； saying； as she kissed
him：
〃Do you see that land； my son？ When you are a man； continue there your
mother's work。〃
〃Madame；〃 said the rector； in a grave voice； 〃a few strong and
privileged beings are able to contemplate their coming death face to
face； to fight； as it were； a duel with it； and to display a courage
and an ability which challenge admiration。 You show us this terrible
spectacle； but perhaps you have too little pity for us； leave us at
least the hope that you may be mistaken； and that God will allow you
to finish that which you have begun。〃
〃All I have done is through you； my friends；〃 she said。 〃I have been
useful； I can be so no longer。 All is fruitful around us now； nothing
is barren and desolated here except my heart。 You well know； my dear
rector； that I can only find peace and pardon /there/。〃
She stretched her hand toward the cemetery。 Never had she said as much
since the day of her arrival； when she was taken with sudden illness
at the same spot。 The rector looked attentively at his penitent； and
the habit of penetration he had long acquired made him see that in
those simple words he had won another triumph。 Veronique must have
made a mighty effort over herself to break her twelve years' silence
with a speech that said so much。 The rector clasped his hands with a
fervent gesture that was natural to him as he looked with deep emotion
at the members of this family whose secrets had passed into his heart。
Gerard； to whom the words 〃peace and pardon〃 must have seemed strange；
was bewildered。 Monsieur Ruffin； with his eyes fixed on Veronique； was
stupefied。 At this instant the carriage came rapidly up the avenue。
〃There are five of them！〃 cried the rector； who could see and count
the travellers。
〃Five！〃 exclaimed Gerard。 〃Can five know more than two？〃
〃Ah；〃 cried Madame Graslin suddenly； grasping the rector's arm； 〃the
/procureur…general/ is among them！ What is he doing here？〃
〃And papa Grossetete； too！〃 cried Francis。
〃Madame；〃 said the rector； supporting Veronique； and leading her apart
a few steps； 〃show courage； be worthy of yourself。〃
〃But what can he want？〃 she replied； leaning on the balustrade。
〃Mother！〃 （the old woman ran to her daughter with an activity that
belied her years。） 〃I shall see him again；〃 she said。
〃As he comes with Monsieur Grossetete；〃 said the rector； 〃he can have
none but good intentions。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur； my child will die！〃 cried Madame Sauviat； seeing the
effect of the rector's words on her daughter's face。 〃How can her
heart survive such emotions？ Monsieur Grossetete has always hitherto
prevented that man from seeing Veronique。〃
Madame Graslin's face was on fire。
〃Do you hate him so much？〃 said the Abbe Bonnet。
〃She left Limoges to escape the sight of him； and to escape letting
the whole town into her secrets；〃 said Madame Sauviat； terrified at
the change she saw on Madame Graslin's features。
〃Do you not see that he will poison my few remaining hours？ When I
ought to be thinking of heaven he will nail me to earth；〃 cried
Veronique。
The rector took her arm and constrained her to walk aside with him。
When they were alone he stopped and gave her one of those angelic
looks with which he was able to calm the violent convulsions of the
soul。
〃If it is really so；〃 he said； 〃as your confessor； I order you to
receive him； to be kind
