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'EsgrignonrepresentedtheupperaristocracythereturningTroisvillesattachedthemselvestoit；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!"