AssoonasitwasdarkVeronique，leaningonhermother’sarm，walkedslowlythroughtheparktothechalet。Themoonwasshiningwithallitsbrilliancy，theairwassoft，andthetwowomen，visiblyaffected，foundencouragement，ofasort，inthethingsofnature。Themotherstoppednowandthen，torestherdaughter，whosesufferingswerepoignant，sothatitwaswell—nighmidnightbeforetheyreachedthepaththatgoesdownfromthewoodstotheslopingmeadowwherethesilveryroofofthechaletshone。Themoonlightgavetothesurfaceofthequietwater，thetintofpearls。Thelittlenoisesofthenight，echoinginthesilence，madesoftestharmony。Veroniquesatdownonthebenchofthechalet，amidthisbeauteoussceneofthestarrynight。Themurmuroftwovoicesandthefootfalloftwopersonsstillatadistanceonthesandyshorewerebroughtbythewater，whichsometimes，whenallisstill，reproducessoundsasfaithfullyasitreflectsobjectsonthesurface。Veroniquerecognizedatoncetheexquisitevoiceoftherector，andtherustleofhiscassock，alsothemovementofsomesilkenstuffthatwasprobablythematerialofawoman’sgown。
"Letusgoin，"shesaidtohermother。
MadameSauviatandherdaughtersatdownonacribinthelowerroom，whichwasintendedforastable。
"Mychild，"theyheardtherectorsaying，"Idonotblameyou，——youarequiteexcusable;butyourreturnmaybethecauseofirreparableevil;sheisthesoulofthisregion。"
"Ah！monsieur，thenIhadbettergoawayto—night，"repliedthestranger。"Though——Imusttellyou——toleavemycountryoncemoreisdeathtome。IfIhadstayedadaylongerinthathorribleNewYork，wherethereisneitherhope，norfaith，norcharity，Ishouldhavediedwithoutbeingill。TheairIbreathedoppressedmychest，fooddidnotnourishme，Iwasdyingwhilefulloflifeandvigor。MysufferingsceasedthemomentIsetfootuponthevesseltoreturn。I
seemedtobealreadyinFrance。Oh！monsieur，Isawmymotherandoneofmysisters—in—lawdieofgrief。MygrandfatherandgrandmotherTascheronaredead;dead，mydearMonsieurBonnet，inspiteoftheprosperityofTascheronville，——formyfatherfoundedavillageinOhioandgaveitthatname。Thatvillageisnowalmostatown，andathirdofallthelandiscultivatedbymembersofourfamily，whomGodhasconstantlyprotected。Ourtillagesucceeded，ourcropshavebeenenormous，andwearerich。ThetownisCatholic，andwehavemanagedtobuildaCatholicchurch;wedonotallowanyotherformofworship，andwehopetoconvertbyourexamplethemanysectswhichsurroundus。Truereligionisinaminorityinthatlandofmoneyandselfishinterests，wherethesouliscold。Nevertheless，Iwillreturntodiethere，soonerthandoharmorcausedistresstothemotherofourFrancis。Only，MonsieurBonnet，takemeto—nighttotheparsonagethatImayprayupon/his/tomb，thethoughtofwhichhasbroughtmehere;
thenearerIhavecometowhere/he/is，themoreIfeltmyselfanotherbeing。No，IneverexpectedtofeelsohappyagainasIdohere。"
"Well，then，"saidtherector，"comewithmenow。Ifthereshouldcomeatimewhenyoumightreturnwithoutdoinginjury，Iwillwritetoyou，Denise;butperhapsthisvisittoyourbirthplacewillstopthehomesickness，andenableyoutoliveovertherewithoutsuffering——"
"Oh！toleavethiscountry，nowsobeautiful！WhatwondersMadameGraslinhasdoneforit！"sheexclaimed，pointingtothelakeasitlayinthemoonlight。"AllthisfinedomainwillbelongtoourdearFrancis。"
"Youshallnotgoaway，Denise，"saidMadameGraslin，whowasstandingatthestabledoor。
Jean—FrancoisTascheron’ssisterclaspedherhandsonseeingthespectrewhichaddressedher。AtthatmomentthepaleVeronique，standinginthemoonlight，waslikeashadedefineduponthedarknessoftheopendoor—way。Hereyesaloneshonelikestars。
"No，mychild，youshallnotleavethecountryyouhavecomesofartoseeagain;youshallbehappyhere，orGodwillrefusetohelpme;itisHe，nodoubt，whohasbroughtyouback。"
ShetooktheastonishedDenisebythehand，andledherawaybyapathtowardtheothershoreofthelake，leavinghermotherandtherector，whoseatedthemselvesonthebench。
"Letherdoasshewishes，"saidMadameSauviat。
AfewmomentslaterVeroniquereturnedalone，andwastakenbacktothechateaubyhermotherandMonsieurBonnet。Doubtlessshehadformedsomeplanwhichrequiredsecrecy，fornooneintheneighborhoodeithersawDeniseorheardanymentionofher。
MadameGraslintooktoherbedthatdayandneverbutonceleftitagain;shewentfrombadtoworsedaily，andseemedannoyedandthwartedthatshecouldnotrise，——tryingtodosoonseveraloccasions，andexpressingadesiretowalkoutintothepark。Afewdays，however，afterthescenewehavejustrelated，aboutthebeginningofJune，shemadeaviolenteffort，rose，dressedasifforagaladay，andbeggedGerardtogiveherhisarm，declaringthatshewasresolvedtotakeawalk。Shegatheredupallherstrengthandexpendeditonthisexpedition，accomplishingherintentioninaparoxysmofwillwhichhad，necessarily，afatalreaction。
"Takemetothechalet，andalone，"shesaidtoGerardinasoftvoice，lookingathimwithasortofcoquetry。"Thisismylastexcursion;Idreamedlastnightthedoctorsarrivedandcapturedme。"
"Doyouwanttoseeyourwoods？"askedGerard。
"Forthelasttime，yes，"sheanswered。"ButwhatIreallywant，"sheadded，inacoaxingvoice，"istomakeyouasingularproposition。"
SheaskedGerardtoembarkwithherinoneoftheboatsonthesecondlake，towhichshewentonfoot。Whentheyoungman，surprisedatherintention，begantomovetheoars，shepointedtothehermitageastheobjectofhercoming。
"Myfriend，"shesaid，afteralongpause，duringwhichshehadbeencontemplatingtheskyandwater，thehillsandshores，"Ihaveastrangerequesttomakeofyou;butIthinkyouareamanwhowouldobeymywishes——"
"Inallthings，surethatyoucanwishonlywhatisgood。"
"Iwishtomarryyou，"sheanswered;"ifyouconsentyouwillaccomplishthewishofadyingwoman，whichiscertaintosecureyourhappiness。"
"Iamtoougly，"saidtheengineer。
"ThepersontowhomIreferispretty;sheisyoung，andwishestoliveatMontegnac。Ifyouwillmarryheryouwillhelptosoftenmylasthours。Iwillnotdwelluponhervirtuesnow;Ionlysayhernatureisarareone;inthematterofgraceandyouthandbeauty，onelookwillsuffice;youarenowabouttoseeheratthehermitage。Aswereturnhomeyoumustgivemeaseriousyesorno。"
Hearingthisconfidence，Gerardunconsciouslyquickenedhisoars，whichmadeMadameGraslinsmile。Denise，whowaslivingalone，awayfromalleyes，atthehermitage，recognizedMadameGraslinandimmediatelyopenedthedoor。VeroniqueandGerardentered。Thepoorgirlcouldnothelpablushasshemettheeyesoftheyoungman，whowasgreatlysurprisedatherbeauty。
"IhopeMadameFarrabeschehasnotletyouwantforanything？"saidVeronique。
"Ohno！madame，see！"andshepointedtoherbreakfast。
"ThisisMonsieurGerard，ofwhomIspoketoyou，"wentonVeronique。
"Heistobemyson’sguardian，andaftermydeathyoushalllivetogetheratthechateauuntilhismajority。"
"Oh！madame，donottalkinthatway！"
"Mydearchild，lookatme！"repliedVeronique，addressingDenise，inwhoseeyesthetearsroseinstantly。"ShehasjustarrivedfromNewYork，"sheadded，bywayofintroductiontoGerard。
Theengineerputseveralquestionsaboutthenewworldtotheyoungwoman，whileVeronique，leavingthemalone，wenttolookatthethirdandmoredistantlakeoftheGabou。Itwassixo’clockasVeroniqueandGerardreturnedintheboattowardthechalet。
"Well？"shesaid，lookingathim。
"Youhavemypromise。"
"Thoughyouare，Iknow，withoutprejudices，"shewenton，"Imustnotleaveyouignorantofthereasonwhythatpoorgirl，broughtbackherebyhomesickness，lefttheplaceoriginally。"
"Afalsestep？"
"Oh，no！"saidVeronique。"ShouldIofferhertoyouifthatwereso？
Sheisthesisterofaworkmanwhodiedonthescaffold——"
"Ah！Tascheron，"hesaid，"themurdererofoldPingret。"
"Yes，sheisthesisterofamurderer，"saidMadameGraslin，inabittertone;"youareatlibertytotakebackyourpromiseand——"
Shedidnotfinish，andGerardwasobligedtocarryhertothebenchbeforethechalet，wheresheremainedunconsciousforsomelittletime。WhensheopenedhereyesGerardwasonhiskneesbeforeherandhesaidinstantly:——
"IwillmarryDenise。"
MadameGraslintookhisheadinbothhandsandkissedhimontheforehead;then，seeinghissurpriseatsomuchgratitude，shepressedhishandandsaid:
"Beforelongyouwillknowthesecretofallthis。Letusgobacktotheterrace，foritislate;Iamverytired，butImustlookmylastonthatdearplain。"
Thoughthedayhadbeeninsupportablyhot，thestormswhichduringthisyeardevastatedpartsofEuropeandofFrancebutrespectedtheLimousin，hadruntheircourseinthebasinoftheLoire，andtheatmospherewassingularlyclear。Theskywassopurethattheeyecouldseizetheslightestdetailsonthehorizon。Whatlanguagecanrenderthedelightfulconcertofbusysoundsproducedinthevillagebythereturnoftheworkersfromthefields？Suchascene，toberightlygiven，needsagreatlandscapeartistandalsoagreatpainterofthehumanface。Istherenot，bythebye，inthelassitudeofNatureandthatofmanacuriousaffinitywhichisdifficulttograsp？
Thedepressingheatofadog—dayandtherarificationoftheairgivetotheleastsoundmadebyhumanbeingsallitssignification。Thewomenseatedontheirdoorstepsandwaitingfortheirhusbands（whooftenbringbackthechildren）gossipwitheachotherwhilestillatwork。Theroofsarecastingupthelinesofsmokewhichtelloftheeveningmeal，thegayestamongthepeasantry;afterwhich，theysleep。
Allactionsexpressthetranquilcheerfulthoughtsofthosewhoseday’sworkisover。Songsareheardverydifferentincharacterfromthoseofthemorning;inthisthepeasantsimitatethebirds，whosewarblingatnightistotallyunliketheirnotesatdawn。Allnaturesingsahymntorest，asitsangahymnofjoytothecomingsun。Theslightestmovementsoflivingbeingsseemtintedthenwiththesoft，harmoniouscolorsofthesunsetcastuponthelandscapeandlendingeventothedustyroadwaysaplacidair。Ifanydareddenytheinfluenceofthishour，theloveliestoftheday，theflowerswouldprotestandintoxicatehissenseswiththeirpenetratingperfumes，whichthenexhaleandminglewiththetenderhumofinsectsandtheamorousnoteofbirds。
Thebrookswhichthreadedtheplainbeyondthevillagewereveiledinfleecyvapor。Inthegreatmeadowsthroughwhichthehigh—roadran，——
borderedwithpoplars，acacias，andailanthus，wiselyintermingledandalreadygivingshade，——enormousandjustlycelebratedherdsofcattlewerescatteredhereandthere，somestillgrazing，othersruminating。
Men，women，andchildrenwereendingtheirday’sworkinthehay—
field，themostpicturesqueofallthecountrytoils。Thenightair，freshenedbydistantstorms，broughtonitswingsthesatisfyingodorsofthenewlycutgrassorthefinishedhay。Everyfeatureofthisbeautifulpanoramacouldbeseenperfectly;thosewhofearedacomingstormwerefinishinginhastethehay—stacks，whileothersfollowedwiththeirpitchforkstofillthecartsastheyweredrivenalongtherows。Othersinthedistancewerestillmowing，orturningthelonglinesoffallengrasstodryit，orhasteningtopileitintococks。
Thejoyouslaughofthemerryworkersminglingwiththeshoutsofthechildrentumblingeachotherinthehay，roseontheair。Theeyecoulddistinguishthepink，red，orbluepetticoats，thekerchiefs，andthebarelegsandarmsofthewomen，allwearingbroad—brimmedhatsofacoarsestraw，andtheshirtsandtrousersofthemen，thelatteralmostinvariablywhite。Thelastraysofthesunwerefilteringthroughthelonglinesofpoplarsplantedbesidethetrencheswhichdividedtheplainintomeadowsofunequalsize，andcaressingthegroupsofhorsesandcarts，men，women，children，andcattle。Thecattlemenandtheshepherd—girlswerebeginningtocollecttheirflockstothesoundofrustichorns。
Thescenewasnoisy，yetsilent，——aparadoxicalstatement，whichwillsurpriseonlythosetowhomthecharacterofcountrylifeisstillunknown。Fromallsidescamethecarts，ladenwithfragrantfodder。
Therewassomething，Iknownotwhat，oftorporinthescene。
VeroniquewalkedslowlyandsilentlybetweenGerardandtherector，whohadjoinedherontheterrace。
ThroughtheopeningsmadebytherurallanesrunningdownbelowtheterracetothemainstreetofMontegnacGerardandMonsieurBonnetcouldseethefacesofmen，women，andchildrenturnedtowardthem;
watchingmoreparticularly，nodoubt，forMadameGraslin。Howmuchoftendernessandgratitudewasexpressedonthosefaces！HowmanybenedictionsfollowedVeronique’sfootsteps！Withwhatreverentattentionwerethethreebenefactorsofawholecommunityregarded！
Manwasaddingahymnofgratitudetotheotherchantsofevening。
WhileMadameGraslinwalkedonwithhereyesfastenedonthelong，magnificentgreenpastures，hermostcherishedcreation，thepriestandthemayordidnottaketheireyesfromthegroupsbelow，whoseexpressionitwasimpossibletomisinterpret;pain，sadness，andregret，mingledwithhope，wereplainlyonallthosefaces。NooneinMontegnacoritsneighborhoodwasignorantthatMonsieurRoubaudhadgonetoParistobringthebestphysicianscienceafforded，orthatthebenefactressofthewholedistrictwasinthelaststagesofafatalillness。InallthemarketsthroughacircumferenceofthirtymilesthepeasantsaskedthoseofMontegnac，——
"Howisyourgoodwomannow？"
Thegreatvisionofdeathhoveredovertheland，anddominatedthatruralpicture。Afar，inthefields，morethanonereapersharpeninghisscythe，morethanoneyounggirl，herarmsrestingonherfork，morethanonefarmerstackinghishay，seeingMadameGraslin，stoodmuteandthoughtful，examiningthatnoblewoman，theblessingoftheCorreze，seekingsomefavorablesignormerelylookingtoadmireher，impelledbyafeelingthatarrestedtheirwork。
"Sheisoutwalking;thereforeshemustbebetter。"
Thesesimplewordswereoneverylip。
MadameGraslin’smother，seatedontheironbenchwhichVeroniquehadformerlyplacedattheendoftheterrace，studiedeverymovementofherdaughter;shewatchedherstepinwalking，andafewtearsrolledfromhereyes。Awareofthesecreteffortsofthatsuperhumancourage，sheknewthatVeroniqueatthatmomentwassufferingthetorturesofahorribleagony，andonlymaintainedherselferectbytheexerciseofherheroicwill。Thetears——theyseemedalmostred——whichforcedtheirwayfromthoseagedeyes，andfurrowedthatwrinkledface，theparchmentofwhichseemedincapableofsofteningunderanyemotion，excitedthoseofyoungGraslin，whomMonsieurRuffinhadbetweenhisknees。
"Whatisthematter，myboy？"saidthetutor，anxiously。
"Mygrandmotheriscrying，"heanswered。
MonsieurRuffin，whoseeyeswereonMadameGraslinasshecametowardthem，nowlookedatMadameSauviat，andwaspowerfullystruckbytheaspectofthatoldhead，likethatofaRomanmatron，petrifiedwithgriefandmoistenedwithtears。
"Madame，whydidyounotpreventherfromcomingout？"saidthetutortotheoldmother，augustandsacredinhersilentgrief。
AsVeroniqueadvancedmajesticallywithhernaturallyfineandgracefulstep，MadameSauviat，drivenbydespairatthethoughtofsurvivingherdaughter，allowedthesecretofmanythingsthatawakenedcuriositytoescapeher。
"Howcanshewalklikethat，"shecried，"wearingahorriblehorsehairshirt，whichpricksintoherskinperpetually？"
Thewordshorrifiedtheyoungman，whowasnotinsensibletotheexquisitegraceofVeronique’smovements;heshudderedashethoughtoftheconstantandterrificstruggleofthesoultomaintainitsempirethusoverthebody。
"Shehaswornitthirteenyears，——eversincesheceasedtonursetheboy，"saidtheoldwoman。"Shehasdonemiracleshere，butifherwholelifewereknowntheyoughttocanonizeher。SinceshecametoMontegnacnoonehaseverseenhereat，anddoyouknowwhy？Alineservesherthreetimesadayapieceofdrybread，andvegetablesboiledinwater，withoutsalt，onacommonplateofredearthlikethosetheyfeedthedogson。Yes，that’showthewomanliveswhohasgivennewlifetothiswholecanton。Shekneelstosayherprayersontheedgeofthathair—shirt。Shesaysshecouldnothavethatsmilingairyouknowshealwayshasunlessshepractisedtheseausterities。I
tellyouthis，"addedtheoldwoman，sinkinghervoice，"sothatyoumayrepeatittothedoctorthatMonsieurRoubaudhasgonetofetch。
Iftheycouldpreventmydaughterfromcontinuingthesepenances，perhapstheymightstillsaveher，thoughdeathhaslaiditshanduponherhead。Seeforyourself！Ah！Imustbestrongindeedtohavebornesomanythingsthesefifteenyears。"
Theoldwomantookhergrandson’shandandpasseditoverherforeheadandcheeksasifthechild’stouchshedahealingbalmthere;thenshekisseditwithanaffectionthesecretofwhichbelongstograndmothersasmuchasitbelongstomothers。
Veroniquewasnowonlyafewfeetfromthebench，incompanywithClousier，therector，andGerard。Illuminatedbytheglowofthesettingsun，sheshonewithadreadfulbeauty。Heryellowforehead，furrowedwithlongwrinklesmassedoneabovetheotherlikelayersofclouds，revealedafixedthoughtinthemidstofinwardtroubles。Herface，devoidofallcolor，entirelywhitewiththedead，greenishwhitenessofplantswithoutlight，wasthin，thoughnotwithered，andborethesignsofterriblephysicalsufferingsproducedbymentalanguish。Shefoughthersoulwithherbody，and/viceversa/。Shewassocompletelydestroyedthatshenomoreresembledherselfthananoldwomanresemblesherportraitasagirl。Theardentexpressionofhereyesdeclaredthedespoticempireexercisedbyadevoutwilloverabodyreducedtowhatreligionrequiresittobe。InthiswomanthesouldraggedthefleshastheAchillesofprofanestorydraggedHector;forfifteenyearsshedraggeditvictoriouslyalongthestonypathsoflifearoundthecelestialJerusalemshehopedtoenter，notbyaviledeception，butwithacclamation。NosolitarythateverlivedinthedryandariddesertsofAfricawasevermoremasterofhissensesthanwasVeroniqueinhermagnificentchateau，amongthesoft，voluptuoussceneryofthatopulentland，beneaththeprotectingmantleofthatrichforest，whencescience，theheirofMoses’wand，hadcalledforthplenty，prosperity，andhappinessforawholeregion。Shecontemplatedtheresultsoftwelveyears’patience，aworkwhichmighthavemadethefameofmanyasuperiorman，withagentlemodestysuchasPontornohaspaintedinthesublimefaceofhis"ChristianChastitycaressingtheCelestialUnicorn。"Themistressofthemanor，whosesilencewasrespectedbyhercompanionswhentheysawthathereyeswererovingoverthosevastplains，oncearid，andnowfertilebyherwill，walkedon，herarmsfolded，withadistantlook，asiftosomefarhorizon，onherface。
XX
THELASTSTRUGGLE
Suddenlyshestopped，afewfeetfromhermother，wholookedatherasthemotherofChristmusthavelookedathersonuponthecross。Sheraisedherhand，andpointingtothespotwheretheroadtoMontegnacbranchedfromthehighway，shesaid，smiling:——
"Seethatcarriagewiththepost—horses;MonsieurRoubaudisreturningtous。WeshallnowknowhowmanyhoursIhavetolive。"
"Hours？"saidGerard。
"DidInottellyouIwastakingmylastwalk？"shereplied。"Ihavecomeheretoseeforthelasttimethisglorioussceneinallitssplendor！"Shepointedfirsttothevillagewherethewholepopulationseemedtobecollectedinthechurchsquare，andthentothebeautifulmeadowsglowinginthelastraysofthesettingsun。"Ah！"shesaid，"letmeseethebenedictionofGodinthestrangeatmosphericconditiontowhichweowethesafetyofourharvest。Aroundus，onallsides，tempests，hail，lightning，havestruckincessantlyandpitilessly。Thecommonpeoplethinkthus，whynotI？Idosoneedtoseeinthisahappyauguryforwhatawaitsmeafterdeath！"
Thechildstoodupandtookhismother’shandandlaiditonhishead。
Veronique，deeplyaffectedbytheaction，sofullofeloquence，tookuphersonwithsupernaturalstrength，seatinghimonherleftarmasthoughhewerestillaninfantatherbreast，saying，asshekissedhim:——
"Doyouseethatland，myson？Whenyouareaman，continuethereyourmother’swork。"
"Madame，"saidtherector，inagravevoice，"afewstrongandprivilegedbeingsareabletocontemplatetheircomingdeathfacetoface，tofight，asitwere，aduelwithit，andtodisplayacourageandanabilitywhichchallengeadmiration。Youshowusthisterriblespectacle;butperhapsyouhavetoolittlepityforus;leaveusatleastthehopethatyoumaybemistaken，andthatGodwillallowyoutofinishthatwhichyouhavebegun。"
"AllIhavedoneisthroughyou，myfriends，"shesaid。"Ihavebeenuseful，Icanbesonolonger。Allisfruitfularoundusnow;nothingisbarrenanddesolatedhereexceptmyheart。Youwellknow，mydearrector，thatIcanonlyfindpeaceandpardon/there/。"
Shestretchedherhandtowardthecemetery。Neverhadshesaidasmuchsincethedayofherarrival，whenshewastakenwithsuddenillnessatthesamespot。Therectorlookedattentivelyathispenitent，andthehabitofpenetrationhehadlongacquiredmadehimseethatinthosesimplewordshehadwonanothertriumph。Veroniquemusthavemadeamightyeffortoverherselftobreakhertwelveyears’silencewithaspeechthatsaidsomuch。Therectorclaspedhishandswithaferventgesturethatwasnaturaltohimashelookedwithdeepemotionatthemembersofthisfamilywhosesecretshadpassedintohisheart。
Gerard，towhomthewords"peaceandpardon"musthaveseemedstrange，wasbewildered。MonsieurRuffin，withhiseyesfixedonVeronique，wasstupefied。Atthisinstantthecarriagecamerapidlyuptheavenue。
"Therearefiveofthem！"criedtherector，whocouldseeandcountthetravellers。
"Five！"exclaimedGerard。"Canfiveknowmorethantwo？"
"Ah，"criedMadameGraslinsuddenly，graspingtherector’sarm，"the/procureur—general/isamongthem！Whatishedoinghere？"
"AndpapaGrossetete，too！"criedFrancis。
"Madame，"saidtherector，supportingVeronique，andleadingherapartafewsteps，"showcourage;beworthyofyourself。"
"Butwhatcanhewant？"shereplied，leaningonthebalustrade。
"Mother！"（theoldwomanrantoherdaughterwithanactivitythatbeliedheryears。）"Ishallseehimagain，"shesaid。
"AshecomeswithMonsieurGrossetete，"saidtherector，"hecanhavenonebutgoodintentions。"
"Ah！monsieur，mychildwilldie！"criedMadameSauviat，seeingtheeffectoftherector’swordsonherdaughter’sface。"Howcanherheartsurvivesuchemotions？MonsieurGrossetetehasalwayshithertopreventedthatmanfromseeingVeronique。"
MadameGraslin’sfacewasonfire。
"Doyouhatehimsomuch？"saidtheAbbeBonnet。
"SheleftLimogestoescapethesightofhim，andtoescapelettingthewholetownintohersecrets，"saidMadameSauviat，terrifiedatthechangeshesawonMadameGraslin’sfeatures。
"Doyounotseethathewillpoisonmyfewremaininghours？WhenI
oughttobethinkingofheavenhewillnailmetoearth，"criedVeronique。
Therectortookherarmandconstrainedhertowalkasidewithhim。
Whentheywerealonehestoppedandgaveheroneofthoseangeliclookswithwhichhewasabletocalmtheviolentconvulsionsofthesoul。
"Ifitisreallyso，"hesaid，"asyourconfessor，Iorderyoutoreceivehim，tobekindandaffectionatetohim，toquitthatgarmentofwrath，andforgivehimasGodwillforgiveyou。CantherestillbetheremainsofpassionofasoulIbelievedtobepurified。Burnthislastincenseonthealtarofyourpenitence，orelseyourrepentanceisalie。"
"Therewasstillthatefforttomake——anditismade，"sheanswered，wipinghereyes。"Thedevillurkedinthatlastfoldofmyheart，andGod，nodoubt，putintoMonsieurdeGrandville’smindthethoughtthatbringshimhere。Ah！howmanytimesmustGodstrikeme？"shecried。
Shestopped，asiftosayamentalprayer;thenshereturnedtoMadameSauviatandsaidinalowvoice:
"Mydearmother，bekindandgentletoMonsieurdeGrandville。"
Theoldwomanclaspedherhandswithafeverishshudder。
"Thereisnolongeranyhope，"shesaid，seizingtherector’shand。
Thecarriage，announcedbythepostilion’swhip，wasnowcomingupthelastslope;thegateswereopened，itenteredthecourtyard，andthetravellerscameatoncetotheterrace。TheyweretheillustriousArchbishopDutheil，whowasonhiswaytoconsecrateMonseigneurGabrieldeRastignac，the/procureur—general/，MonsieurdeGrandville，MonsieurGrossetete，MonsieurRoubaud，andoneofthemostcelebratedphysiciansinParis，HoraceBianchon。
"Youareverywelcome，"saidVeronique，advancingtowardthem，——"youparticularly，"sheadded，offeringherhandtoMonsieurdeGrandville，whotookitandpressedit。
"IcountedontheinterventionofMonseigneurandonthatofmyfriendMonsieurGrossetetetoobtainformeafavorablereception，"saidthe/procureur—general/。"Itwouldhavebeenalife—longregrettomeifI
didnotseeyouagain。"
"Ithankthosewhobroughtyouhere，"repliedVeronique，lookingattheComtedeGrandvilleforthefirsttimeinfifteenyears。"Ihavefeltaversetoyouforaverylongtime，butInowrecognizetheinjusticeofmyfeelings;andyoushallknowwhy，ifyoucanstaytillthedayafterto—morrowatMontegnac。"ThenturningtoHoraceBianchonandbowingtohim，sheadded:"Monsieurwillnodoubtconfirmmyapprehensions。Godmusthavesentyou，Monseigneur，"shesaid，turningtothearchbishop。"Inmemoryofouroldfriendshipyouwillnotrefusetoassistmeinmylastmoments。BywhosemercyisitthatI
haveaboutmeallthebeingswhohavelovedandsupportedmeinlife？"
Asshesaidtheword/loved/sheturnedwithagraciouslooktoMonsieurdeGrandville，whowastouchedtotearsbythismarkoffeeling。Silencefellforafewmomentsoneveryone。Thedoctorswonderedbywhatoccultpowerthiswomancouldstillkeepherfeet，sufferingasshemusthavesuffered。Theotherthreemenweresoshockedattheravagesdiseasehadsuddenlymadeinherthattheycommunicatedtheirthoughtsbytheireyesonly。
"Allowme，"shesaid，withheraccustomedgrace，"toleaveyounowwiththesegentlemen;thematterisurgent。"
Shebowedtoherguests，gaveanarmtoeachofthedoctors，andwalkedtowardthechateaufeeblyandslowly，withadifficultywhichtoldonlytooplainlyofthecomingcatastrophe。