ThosewholookedupfromtheirlowerlevelastheypassedalongtheruedelaCitemighthaveseen，onallfinedays，thedaughteroftheSauviatssittingatheropenwindow，sewing，embroidering，orprickingtheneedlethroughthecanvasofherworsted—work，withalookthatwasoftendreamy。Herheadwasvividlydefinedamongtheflowerswhichpoetizedthebrownandcrumblingsillsofhercasementwindowswiththeirleadedpanes。Sometimesthereflectionofthereddamaskwindow—
curtainsaddedtotheeffectofthathead，alreadysohighlycolored;
likeacrimsonflowersheglowedintheaerialgardensocarefullytraineduponherwindow—sill。
Thequaintoldhousepossessedthereforesomethingmorequaintthanitself，——theportraitofayounggirlworthyofMieris，orVanOstade，orTerburg，orGerardDouw，framedinoneofthoseold，defaced，halfruinedwindowsthebrushesoftheoldDutchpainterslovedsowell。
Whensomestranger，surprisedorinterestedbythebuilding，stoppedbeforeitandgazedatthesecondstory，oldSauviatwouldpokehisheadbeyondtheoverhangingprojection，certainthatheshouldseehisdaughteratherwindow。ThenhewouldretreatintotheshoprubbinghishandsandsayingtohiswifeintheAuvergnevernacular:——
"Hey！oldwoman;they’readmiringyourdaughter！"
In1820anincidentoccurredinthesimpleuneventfullifethegirlwasleading，whichmighthavehadnoimportanceinthelifeofanyotheryoungwoman，butwhich，inpointoffact，didnodoubtexerciseoverVeronique’sfutureaterribleinfluence。
Ononeofthesuppressedchurchfete—days，whenmanypersonswentabouttheirdailylabor，thoughtheSauviatsscrupulouslyclosedtheirshop，attendedmass，andtookawalk，Veroniquepassed，ontheirwaytothefields，abookseller’sstallonwhichlayacopyof"PaulandVirginia。"Shehadafancytobuyitforthesakeoftheengraving，andherfatherpaidahundredsousforthefatalvolume，whichheputintothepocketofhiscoat。
"Wouldn’titbewelltoshowthatbooktoMonsieurlevicairebeforeyoureadit？"saidhermother，towhomallprintedbookswereasealedmystery。
"Ithoughtofit，"answeredVeronique。
Thegirlpassedthewholenightreadingthestory，——oneofthemosttouchingbitsofwritingintheFrenchlanguage。Thepictureofmutuallove，halfBiblicalandworthyoftheearlieragesoftheworld，ravagedherheart。Ahand——wasitdivineordevilish？——raisedtheveilwhich，tillthen，hadhiddennaturefromher。TheLittleVirginstillexistinginthebeautifulyounggirlthoughtonthemorrowthatherflowershadneverbeensobeautiful;sheheardtheirsymboliclanguage，shelookedintothedepthsoftheazureskywithafixednessthatwasalmostecstasy，andtearswithoutacauserolleddownhercheeks。
Inthelifeofallwomentherecomesamomentwhentheycomprehendtheirdestiny，——whentheirhithertomuteorganizationspeaksperemptorily。Itisnotalwaysaman，chosenbysomefurtiveinvoluntaryglance，whoawakenstheirslumberingsixthsense;ofteneritissomeunexpectedsight，theaspectofscenery，the/coupd’oeil/
ofreligiouspomp，theharmonyofnature’sperfumes，arosydawnveiledinslightmists，thewinningnotesofsomedivinestmusic，orindeedanyunexpectedmotionwithinthesoulorwithinthebody。Tothislonelygirl，buriedinthatoldhouse，broughtupbysimple，halfrusticparents，whohadneverheardanunfitword，whosepureunsulliedmindhadneverknowntheslightestevilthought，——totheangelicpupilofSoeurMartheandthevicarofSaint—Etiennetherevelationoflove，thelifeofwomanhood，camefromthehandofgeniusthroughonesweetbook。Toanyothermindthebookwouldhaveofferednodanger;toheritwasworseinitseffectsthananobscenetale。Corruptionisrelative。Therearechasteandvirginnatureswhichasinglethoughtcorrupts，doingallthemoreharmbecausenothoughtofthedutyofresistancehasoccurred。
ThenextdayVeroniqueshowedthebooktothegoodpriest，whoapprovedthepurchase;forwhatcouldbemorechildlikeandinnocentandpurethanthehistoryofPaulandVirginia？Butthewarmthofthetropics，thebeautyofthescenery，thealmostpuerileinnocenceofalovethatseemedsosacredhaddonetheirworkonVeronique。ShewasledbythesweetandnobleachievementofitsauthortotheworshipoftheIdeal，thatfatalhumanreligion！ShedreamedofaloverlikePaul。Herthoughtscaressedthevoluptuousimageofthatbalmyisle。
Childlike，shenamedanislandintheVienne，belowLimogesandnearlyoppositetotheFaubourgSaint—Martial，theIledeFrance。Hermindlivedthereintheworldoffancyallyounggirlsconstruct，——aworldtheyenrichwiththeirownperfections。Shespentlonghoursatherwindow，lookingattheartisansorthemechanicswhopassedit，theonlymenwhomthemodestpositionofherparentsallowedhertothinkof。Accustomed，ofcourse，totheideaofeventuallymarryingamanofthepeople，shenowbecameawareofinstinctswithinherselfwhichrevolvedfromallcoarseness。
Insuchasituationshenaturallymademanyaromancesuchasyounggirlsarefondofweaving。Sheclaspedtheidea——perhapswiththenaturalardorofanobleandvirginimagination——ofennoblingoneofthosemen，andofraisinghimtotheheightwhereherowndreamsledher。ShemayhavemadeaPaulofsomeyoungmanwhocaughthereye，merelytofastenherwildideasonanactualbeing，asthemistsofadampatmosphere，touchedbyfrost，crystallizeonthebranchesofatreebythewayside。Shemusthaveflungherselfdeepintotheabyssesofherdream，forthoughsheoftenreturnedbearingonherbrow，asiffromvastheights，someluminousreflections，oftenersheseemedtocarryinherhandtheflowersthatgrewbesideatorrentshehadfolloweddownaprecipice。
OnthewarmsummereveningsshewouldaskherfathertotakeheronhisarmtothebanksoftheVienne，whereshewentintoecstasiesoverthebeautiesoftheskyandfields，thegloriesofthesettingsun，ortheinfinitesweetnessofthedewyevening。Hersoulexhaleditselfthenceforthinafragranceofnaturalpoesy。Herhair，untilthensimplywoundaboutherhead，shenowcurledandbraided。Herdressshowedsomeresearch。Thevinewhichwasrunningwildandnaturallyamongthebranchesoftheoldelm，wastransplanted，cutandtrainedoveragreenandprettytrellis。
AfterthereturnofoldSauviat（thenseventyyearsofage）fromatriptoParisinDecember，1822，thevicarcametoseehimoneevening，andafterafewinsignificantremarkshesaidsuddenly:——
"Youhadbetterthinkofmarryingyourdaughter，Sauviat。Atyourageyououghtnottoputofftheaccomplishmentofsoimportantaduty。"
"ButisVeroniquewillingtobemarried？"askedtheoldman，startled。
"Asyouplease，father，"shesaid，loweringhereyes。
"Yes，we’llmarryher！"criedstoutMadameSauviat，smiling。
"Whydidn’tyouspeaktomeaboutitbeforeIwenttoParis，mother？"
saidSauviat。"Ishallhavetogobackthere。"
Jerome—BaptisteSauviat，amaninwhoseeyesmoneyseemedtoconstitutethewholeofhappiness，whoknewnothingoflove，andhadneverseeninmarriageanythingbutthemeansoftransmittingpropertytoanotherself，hadlongsworntomarryVeroniquetosomerichbourgeois，——solong，infact，thattheideahadassumedinhisbrainthecharacteristicsofahobby。Hisneighbor，thehat—maker，whopossessedabouttwothousandfrancsayear，hadalreadyasked，onbehalfofhisson，towhomheproposedtogiveuphishat—makingestablishment，thehandofagirlsowellknownintheneighborhoodforherexemplaryconductandChristianprinciples。Sauviathadpolitelyrefused，withoutsayinganythingtoVeronique。Thedayafterthevicar——averyimportantpersonageintheeyesoftheSauviathousehold——hadmentionedthenecessaryofmarryingVeronique，whoseconfessorhewas，theoldmanshavedanddressedhimselfasforafete—day，andwentoutwithoutsayingawordtohiswifeordaughter;
bothknewverywell，however，thatthefatherwasinsearchofason—
in—law。OldSauviatwenttoMonsieurGraslin。
MonsieurGraslin，arichbankerinLimoges，had，likeSauviathimself，startedfromAuvergnewithoutapenny;hecametoLimogestobeaporter，foundaplaceasanoffice—boyinafinancialhouse，andthere，likemanyotherfinanciers，hemadehiswaybydintofeconomy，andalsothroughfortunatecircumstances。Cashierattwenty—fiveyearsofage，partnertenyearslater，inthefirmofPerretandGrossetete，heendedbyfindinghimselftheheadofthehouse，afterbuyingouttheseniorpartners，bothofwhomretiredintothecountry，leavinghimtheirfundstomanageinthebusinessatalowinterest。
PierreGraslin，thenforty—sevenyearsofage，wassupposedtopossessaboutsixhundredthousandfrancs。Theestimateofhisfortunehadlatelyincreasedthroughoutthedepartment，inconsequenceofhisoutlayinhavingbuilt，inanewquarterofthetowncalledtheplaced’Arbres（thusassistingtogiveLimogesanimprovedaspect），afinehouse，thefrontofitbeingonalinewithapublicbuildingwiththefacadeofwhichitcorresponded。Thishousehadnowbeenfinishedsixmonths，butPierreGraslindelayedfurnishingit;ithadcosthimsomuchthatheshrankfromthefurtherexpenseoflivinginit。Hisvanityhadledhimtotransgressthewiselawsbywhichhegovernedhislife。Hefelt，withthegoodsenseofabusinessman，thattheinteriorofthehouseoughttocorrespondwiththecharacteroftheoutside。Thefurniture，silver—ware，andotherneedfulaccessoriestothelifehewouldhavetoleadinhisnewmansionwould，heestimated，costhimnearlyasmuchastheoriginalbuilding。Inspite，therefore，ofthegossipoftonguesandthecharitablesuppositionsofhisneighbors，hecontinuedtoliveoninthedamp，old，anddirtyground—
floorapartmentintherueMontantmanignewherehisfortunehadbeenmade。Thepubliccarped，butGraslinhadtheapprovalofhisformerpartners，whopraisedaresolutionthatwassomewhatuncommon。
AfortuneandapositionlikethoseofPierreGraslinnaturallyexcitedthegreedofnotafewinasmallprovincialcity。DuringthelasttenyearsmorethanonepropositionofmarriagehadbeenintimatedtoMonsieurGraslin。Butthebachelorstatewassowellsuitedtoamanwhowasbusyfrommorningtillnight，overrunwithwork，eagerinthepursuitofmoneyasahunterforgame，andalwaystiredoutwithhisday’slabor，thatGraslinfellintononeofthetrapslaidforhimbyambitiousmotherswhocovetedsobrilliantapositionfortheirdaughters。
Graslin，anotherSauviatinanuppersphere，didnotspendmorethanfortysousaday，andclothedhimselfnobetterthanhisunder—clerk。
Twoclerksandanoffice—boysufficedhimtocarryonhisbusiness，whichwasimmensethroughthemultiplicityofitsdetails。Oneclerkattendedtothecorrespondence;theotherhadchargeoftheaccounts;
butPierreGraslinwashimselfthesoul，andbodytoo，ofthewholeconcern。Hisclerks，chosenfromhisownrelations，weresafemen，intelligentandaswell—trainedintheworkashimself。Asfortheoffice—boy，heledthelifeofatruckhorse，——upatfiveinthemorningatallseasons，andnevergettingtobedbeforeelevenatnight。
Graslinemployedacharwomanbytheday，anoldpeasantfromAuvergne，whodidhiscooking。Thebrownearthenwareoffwhichheate，andthestoutcoarselinenwhichheused，wereinkeepingwiththecharacterofhisfood。Theoldwomanhadstrictordersnevertospendmorethanthreefrancsdailyforthetotalexpensesofthehousehold。Theoffice—boywasalsoman—of—all—work。Theclerkstookcareoftheirownrooms。Thetablesofblackenedwood，thestrawchairshalfunseated，thewretchedbeds，thecountersanddesks，inshort，thewholefurnitureofhouseandofficewasnotworthmorethanathousandfrancs，includingacolossalironsafe，builtintothewall，beforewhichslepttheman—of—all—workwithtwodogsathisfeet。
Graslindidnotoftengointosociety，which，however，discussedhimconstantly。Twoorthreetimesayearhedinedwiththereceiver—
general，withwhomhisbusinessbroughthimintooccasionalintercourse。Healsooccasionallytookamealattheprefecture;forhehadbeenappointed，muchtohisregret，amemberoftheCouncil—
generalofthedepartment——"awasteoftime，"heremarked。Sometimeshisbrotherbankerswithwhomhehaddealingskepthimtobreakfastordinner;andhewasforcedalsotovisithisformerpartners，whospenttheirwintersinLimoges。Hecaredsolittletokeepuphisrelationstosocietythatintwenty—fiveyearsGraslinhadnotofferedsomuchasaglassofwatertoanyone。Whenhepassedalongthestreetpersonswouldnudgeeachotherandsay:"That’sMonsieurGraslin";
meaning，"There’samanwhocametoLimogeswithoutapennyandhasnowacquiredanenormousfortune。"TheAuvergnatbankerwasamodelwhichmorethanonefatherpointedouttohisson，andwiveshadbeenknowntoflinghiminthefacesoftheirhusbands。
WecannowunderstandthereasonsthatledamanwhohadbecomethepivotofthefinancialmachineofLimogestorepulsethevariouspropositionsofmarriagewhichparentsneverceasedtomaketohim。
Thedaughtersofhispartners，Messrs。PerretandGrossetete，weremarriedbeforeGraslinwasinapositiontotakeawife;butaseachoftheseladieshadyoungdaughters，thewiseheadsofthecommunityfinallyconcludedthatoldPerretoroldGrossetetehadmadeanarrangementwithGraslintowaitforoneofhisgranddaughters，andthenceforththeylefthimalone。
Sauviathadwatchedtheascendingcareerofhiscompatriotmoreattentivelyandseriouslythananyoneelse。HehadknownhimfromthetimehefirstcametoLimoges;buttheirrespectivepositionshadchangedsomuch，atleastapparently，thattheirfriendship，nowbecomemerelysuperficial，wasseldomfreshened。Still，inhisrelationascompatriot，GraslinneverdisdainedtotalkwithSauviatwhentheychancedtomeet。Bothcontinuedtokeepuptheirearly/tutoiement/，butonlyintheirnativedialect。Whenthereceiver—
generalofBourges，theyoungestofthebrothersGrossetete，marriedhisdaughterin1823totheyoungestsonofComteFontaine，SauviatfeltsurethattheGrosseteteswouldneverallowGraslintoentertheirfamily。
Afterhisconferencewiththebanker，PereSauviatreturnedhomejoyously。Hedinedthatnightinhisdaughter’sroom，andafterdinnerhesaidtohiswomenkind:——
"VeroniquewillbeMadameGraslin。"
"MadameGraslin！"exclaimedMereSauviat，astounded。
"Isitpossible？"saidVeronique，towhomGraslinwaspersonallyunknown，andwhoseimaginationregardedhimverymuchasaParisiangrisettewouldregardaRothschild。
"Yes，itissettled，"saidoldSauviatsolemnly。"Graslinwillfurnishhishousemagnificently;heistogiveourdaughterafineParisiancarriageandthebesthorsestobefoundintheLimousin;hewillbuyanestateworthfivehundredthousandfrancs，andsettlethatandhistown—houseuponher。VeroniquewillbethefirstladyinLimoges，therichestinthedepartment，andshecandowhatshepleaseswithGraslin。"
Veronique’seducation，herreligiousideas，andherboundlessaffectionforherparents，preventedherfrommakingasingleobjection;itdidnotevencrosshermindtothinkthatshehadbeendisposedofwithoutreferencetoherownwill。OnthemorrowSauviatwenttoParis，andwasabsentfornearlyaweek。
PierreGraslinwas，ascanreadilybeimagined，notmuchofatalker;
hewentstraightandrapidlytodeeds。Athingdecidedonwasathingdone。InFebruary，1822，astrangepieceofnewsburstlikeathunderboltonthetownofLimoges。ThehotelGraslinwasbeinghandsomelyfurnished;carriers’cartscamedayafterdayfromParis，andtheircontentswereunpackedinthecourtyard。Rumorsflewaboutthetownastothebeautyandgoodtasteofthemodernortheantiquefurnitureasitwasseentoarrive。ThegreatfirmofOdiotandCompanysentdownamagnificentserviceofplatebythemail—coach。
Threecarriages，acaleche，acoupe，andacabrioletarrived，wrappedinstrawwithasmuchcareasiftheywerejewels。
"MonsieurGraslinisgoingtobemarried！"
ThesewordsweresaidbyeverypairoflipsinLimogesinthecourseofasingleevening，——inthesalonsoftheupperclasses，inthekitchens，intheshops，inthestreets，inthesuburbs，andbeforelongthroughoutthewholesurroundingcountry。Buttowhom？Noonecouldanswer。Limogeshadamystery。
III
MARRIAGE
OnthereturnofoldSauviatGraslinpaidhisfirsteveningvisitathalf—pastnineo’clock。Veroniquewasexpectinghim，dressedinherbluesilkgownandmuslinguimpe，overwhichfellacollaretmadeoflawnwithadeephem。Herhairwassimplywornintwosmoothbandeaus，gatheredintoaGrecianknotatthebackofherhead。Shewasseatedonatapestriedchairbesidehermother，whooccupiedafinearmchairwithacarvedback，coveredwithredvelvet（evidentlytherelicofsomeoldchateau），whichstoodbesidethefireplace。Abrightfireblazedonthehearth。Onthechimney—piece，ateithersideofanantiqueclock，thevalueofwhichwaswhollyunknowntotheSauviats，sixwaxcandlesintwobrasssconcestwistedlikevine—shoots，lightedthedarkroomandVeroniqueinallherbuddingprime。Theoldmotherwaswearingherbestgown。
Fromthesilentstreet，atthattranquilhour，throughthesoftshadowsoftheancientstairway，Graslinappearedtothemodest，artlessVeronique，hermindstilldwellingonthesweetideaswhichBernadindeSaint—Pierrehadgivenheroflove。
Graslin，whowasshortandthin，hadthickblackhairlikethebristlesofabrush，whichbroughtintovigorousreliefafaceasredasthatofadrunkardemeritus，andcoveredwithsuppuratingpimples，eitherbleedingorabouttoburst。Withoutbeingcausedbyeczemaorscrofula，thesesignsofabloodoverheatedbycontinualtoil，anxiety，andthelustofbusiness，bywakefulnights，poorfood，andasoberlife，seemedtopartakeofboththesediseases。Inspiteoftheadviceofhispartners，hisclerks，andhisphysician，thebankerwouldnevercompelhimselftotakethehealthfulprecautionswhichmighthaveprevented，orwouldatleastmodify，thismalady，whichwasslightatfirst，buthadgreatlyincreasedfromyeartoyear。Hewantedtocureit，andwouldsometimestakebathsordrinksomeprescribedpotion;but，hurriedalongonthecurrentofhisbusiness，hesoonneglectedthecareofhisperson。Sometimeshethoughtofsuspendingworkforatime，travellingabout，andvisitingthenotedbathsforsuchdiseases;butwhereisthehunteraftermillionswhoiswillingtostopshort？
Inthatblazingfurnaceshonetwograyeyesrayedwithgreenlinesstartingfromthepupils，andspeckledwithbrownspots，——twoimplacableeyes，fullofresolution，rectitude，andshrewdcalculation。Graslin’snosewasshortandturnedup;hehadamouthwiththicklips，aprominentforehead，andhighcheek—bones，coarseearswithlargeedgesdiscoloredbytheconditionofhisblood，——inshort，hewasanancientsatyrinablacksatinwaistcoat，brownfrock—coat，andwhitecravat。Hisstrongandvigorousshoulders，whichbeganlifebybearingheavyburdens，werenowratherbent;andbeneaththistorso，undulydeveloped，cameapairofweaklegs，ratherbadlyaffixedtotheshortthighs。Histhinandhairyhandshadthecrookedfingersofthosewhosebusinessitistohandlemoney。Thehabitofquickdecisioncouldbeseeninthewaytheeyebrowsroseintoapointovereacharchoftheeye。Thoughthemouthwasgraveandpinched，itsexpressionwasthatofinwardkindliness;ittoldofanexcellentnature，sunkinbusiness，smotheredpossibly，thoughitmightrevivebycontactwithawoman。
AtthisapparitionVeronique’sheartwasviolentlyagitated;blacknesscamebeforehereyes;shethoughtshecriedaloud;butshereallysattheremute，withfixedandstaringgaze。
"Veronique，thisisMonsieurGraslin，"saidoldSauviat。
Veroniquerose，curtsied，droppedbackintoherchair，andlookedathermother，whowassmilingatthemillionaire，seeming，asherfatherdid，sohappy，——sohappythatthepoorgirlfoundstrengthtohidehersurpriseandherviolentrepulsion。DuringtheconversationwhichthentookplacesomethingwassaidofGraslin’shealth。Thebankerlookednaivelyintothemirror，withbevellededgesinanebonyframe。
"Mademoiselle，"hesaid，"Iamnotgood—looking。"
Thereuponheproceededtoexplaintheblotchesonhisfaceastheresultofhisoverworkedlife。Herelatedhowhehadconstantlydisobeyedhisphysician’sadvice;andremarkedthathehopedtochangehisappearancealtogetherwhenhehadawifetorulehishousehold，andtakebettercareofhimthanhetookofhimself。
"Isamanmarriedforhisface，compatriot？"saidSauviat，givingtheotheraheartyslaponthethigh。
Graslin’sspeechwentstraighttothosenaturalfeelingswhich，moreorless，filltheheartofeverywoman。ThethoughtcameintoVeronique’smindthatherface，too，hadbeendestroyedbyahorribledisease，andherChristianmodestyrebukedherfirstimpression。
Hearingawhistleinthestreet，Graslinwentdownstairs，followedbySauviat。Theyspeedilyreturned。Theoffice—boyhadbroughtthefirstbouquet，whichwasalittlelateincoming。Whenthebankerexhibitedthismoundofexoticflowers，thefragranceofwhichcompletelyfilledtheroom，andofferedittohisfuturewife，Veroniquefeltarushofconflictingemotions;shewassuddenlyplungedintotheidealandfantasticworldoftropicalnature。Neverbeforehadsheseenwhitecamelias，neverhadshesmeltthefragranceoftheAlpinecistus，theCapejessamine，thecedronella，thevolcameria，themoss—rose，oranyofthedivineperfumeswhichwootolove，andsingtothehearttheirhymnsoffragrance。GraslinleftVeroniquethatnightinthegraspofsuchemotions。
Fromthistimeforth，assoonasallLimogeswassleeping，thebankerwouldslipalongthewallstotheSauviats’house。Therehewouldtapgentlyonthewindow—shutter;thedogdidnotbark;oldSauviatcamedownandlethimin，andGraslinwouldthenspendanhourortwowithVeroniqueinthebrownroom，whereMadameSauviatalwaysservedhimatrueAuvergnatsupper。Neverdidthissingularloverarrivewithoutabouquetmadeoftherarestflowersfromthegreenhouseofhisoldpartner，MonsieurGrossetete，theonlypersonwhoasyetknewoftheapproachingmarriage。Theman—of—all—workwenteveryeveningtofetchthebunch，whichMonsieurGrossetetemadehimself。
Graslinmadeaboutfiftysuchvisitsintwomonths;eachtime，besidestheflowers，hebroughtwithhimsomerichpresent，——rings，awatch，agoldchain，awork—box，etc。Theseinconceivableextravagancesmustbeexplained，andawordsuffices。Veronique’sdowry，promisedbyherfather，consistedofnearlythewholeofoldSauviat’sproperty，namely，sevenhundredandfiftythousandfrancs。TheoldmanretainedanincomeofeightthousandfrancsderivedfromtheFunds，boughtforhimoriginallyforsixtythousandfrancsinassignatsbyhiscorrespondentBrezac，towhom，atthetimeofhisimprisonment，hehadconfidedthatsum，andwhokeptitforhimsafely。ThesesixtythousandfrancsinassignatswerethehalfofSauviat’sfortuneatthetimehecamesonearbeingguillotined。Brezacwasalso，atthesametime，thefaithfulrepositoryoftherest，namely，sevenhundredlouisd’or（anenormoussumatthattimeingold），withwhicholdSauviatbeganhisbusinessoncemoreassoonasherecoveredhisliberty。Inthirtyyearseachofthoselouisd’orhadbeentransformedintoabank—noteforathousandfrancs，bymeansoftheincomefromtheFunds，ofMadameSauviat’sinheritancefromherfather，oldChampagnac，andoftheprofitsaccruingfromthebusinessandtheaccumulatedinterestthereoninthehandsoftheBrezacfirm。BrezachimselfhadaloyalandhonestfriendshipforSauviat，——suchasallAuvergnatsareapttofeelforoneanother。
So，wheneverSauviatpassedthefrontoftheGraslinmansionhehadsaidtohimself，"Veroniqueshallliveinthatfinepalace。"Heknewverywellthatnogirlinallthedepartmentwouldhavesevenhundredandfiftythousandfrancsasamarriageportion，besidestheexpectationoftwohundredandfiftythousandmore。Graslin，hischosenson—in—law，wouldthereforeinfalliblymarryVeronique;andso，aswehaveseen，itcameabout。
EveryeveningVeroniquehadherfreshbunchofflowers，whichonthemorrowdeckedherlittlesalonandwascarefullyconcealedfromtheneighbors。Sheadmiredthebeautifuljewels，thepearlsanddiamonds，thebracelets，therubies，giftswhichassuredlygratifyallthedaughtersofEve。Shethoughtherselflessplainwhensheworethem。
Shesawhermotherhappyinthemarriage，andshehadnootherpointofviewfromwhichtomakecomparisons。Shewas，moreover，totallyignorantofthedutiesorthepurposeofmarriage。SheheardthesolemnvoiceofthevicarofSaint—EtiennepraisingGraslintoherasamanofhonor，withwhomshewouldleadanhonorablelife。ThusitwasthatVeroniqueconsentedtoreceiveMonsieurGraslinasherfuturehusband。
Whenithappensthatinalifesowithdrawnfromtheworld，sosolitaryasthatofVeronique，asinglepersonentersiteveryday，thatpersoncannotlongremainindifferent;eitherheishated，andtheaversion，justifiedbyadeepeningknowledgeofhischaracter，rendershimintolerable，orthehabitofseeingbodilydefectsdimstheeyetothem。Themindlooksaboutforcompensations;hiscountenanceawakenscuriosity;itsfeaturesbrighten;fleetingbeautiesappearinit。Atlasttheinner，hiddenbeneaththeouter，showsitself。Then，whenthefirstimpressionsarefairlyovercome，theattachmentfeltisallthestronger，becausethesoulclingstoitasitsowncreation。Thatislove。Andhereliesthereasonofthosepassionsconceivedbybeautifulthingsforotherbeingsapparentlyugly。Theoutwardaspect，forgottenbyaffection，isnolongerseeninacreaturewhosesoulisdeeplyvalued。Besidesthis，beauty，sonecessarytoawoman，takesmanystrangeaspectsinman;andthereisasmuchdiversityoffeelingamongwomenaboutthebeautyofmenasthereisamongmenaboutthebeautyofwomen。So，afterdeepreflectionandmuchdebatingwithherself，Veroniquegaveherconsenttothepublicationofthebanns。
FromthatmomentallLimogesrangwiththisinexplicableaffair，——
inexplicablebecausenooneknewthesecretofit，namely，theimmensityofthedowry。HadthatdowrybeenknownVeroniquecouldhavechosenahusbandwhereshepleased;butevenso，shemighthavemadeamistake。
Graslinwasthoughttobemuchinlove。UpholstererscamefromParistofitupthehouse。NothingwastalkedofinLimogesbuttheprofuseexpendituresofthebanker。Thevalueofthechandelierswascalculated;thegildingofthewalls，thefiguresontheclocks，allwerediscussed;thejardinieres，thecaloriferes，theobjectsofluxuryandnovelty，nothingwasleftunnoticed。InthegardenofthehotelGraslin，abovetheicehouse，wasanaviary，andalltheinhabitantsofthetownwerepresentlysurprisedbythesightofrarebirds，——Chinesepheasants，mysteriousbreedsofducks。Everyoneflockedtoseethem。MonsieurandMadameGrossetete，anoldcouplewhowerehighlyrespectedinLimoges，madeseveralvisitstotheSauviats，accompaniedbyGraslin。MadameGrossetete，amostexcellentwoman，congratulatedVeroniqueonherhappymarriage。ThustheChurch，thefamily，society，andallmaterialthingsdowntothemosttrivial，madethemselvesaccomplicestobringaboutthismarriage。
InthemonthofApriltheformalinvitationstotheweddingwereissuedtoallGraslin’sfriendsandacquaintance。Onafinespringmorningacalecheandacoupe，drawnbyLimousinhorseschosenbyMonsieurGrossetete，drewupateleveno’clockbeforetheshopoftheiron—dealer，bringing，tothegreatexcitementoftheneighborhood，theformerpartnersofthebridegroomandthelatter’stwoclerks。Thestreetwaslinedwithspectators，allanxioustoseetheSauviats’
daughter，onwhosebeautifulhairthemostrenownedhairdresserinLimogeshadplacedthebridalwreathandacostlyveilofEnglishlace。Veroniqueworeagownofsimplewhitemuslin。Aratherimposingassemblageofthemostdistinguishedwomeninthesocietyofthetownattendedtheweddinginthecathedral，wherethebishop，knowingthereligiousfervoroftheSauviats，deignedtomarryVeroniquehimself。
Thebridewasverygenerallyvotedplain。