"Messieurs，"exclaimedthebishop，"religionmustnotbeoversetinthisway。Themorepublicattentionisattractedtothematter，themoreIamdeterminedtoobtainanotabletriumph。TheChurchisnowinpresenceofagreatdifficulty。Wearecalledupontodomiraclesinthismanufacturingtown，wherethespiritofseditionagainstreligiousandmonarchicalprincipleshassuchdeeproot，wherethesystemofinquirybornofprotestantism（whichinthesedayscallsitselfliberalism，preparedatanymomenttotakeanothername）
　　extendsintoeverything。GoatoncetoMonsieurdeGrandville;heiswhollyonourside，andsaytohimfrommethatwebegforafewdays’
　　reprieve。Iwillgomyselfandseethatunhappyman。"
　　"You，Monseigneur！"saidtheAbbedeRastignac。"Ifyoushouldfail，wouldn’tthatcomplicatematters？Yououghtnottogounlessyouarecertainofsuccess。"
　　"IfMonseigneurwillpermitmetoexpressmyopinion，"saidtheAbbeDutheil，"IthinkIcansuggestameanswhichmaybringvictorytoreligioninthissadcase。"
　　Theprelateansweredwithasignofassent，socoldlygivenastoshowhowlittlecredithegavetohisvicar—general。
　　"IfanyonecaninfluencethatrebellioussoulandbringitbacktoGod，"continuedtheAbbeDutheil，"itistherectorofthevillageinwhichhewasborn，MonsieurBonnet。"
　　"Oneofyourproteges，"remarkedthebishop。
　　"Monseigneur，MonsieurBonnetisoneofthosemenwhoprotectthemselves，bothbytheiractivevirtuesandtheirgospelwork。"
　　ThissimpleandmodestreplywasreceivedinasilencewhichwouldhaveembarrassedanyothermanthantheAbbeDutheil。Thethreepriestschosetoseeinitoneofthosehiddenandunanswerablesarcasmswhicharecharacteristicofecclesiastics，whocontrivetoexpresswhattheywanttosaywhileobservingthestrictestdecorum。
　　Inthiscasetherewasnothingofthekind。TheAbbeDutheilneverthoughtofhimselfandhadnodoublemeaning。
　　"IhaveheardofSaintAristidesforsometime，"saidthebishop，smiling。"IfIhavelefthislightunderabushelImayhavebeenunjustorprejudiced。YourliberalsarealwayscryingupMonsieurBonnetasthoughhebelongedtotheirparty。Ishouldliketojudgeformyselfofthisruralapostle。Goatonce，messieurs，toMonsieurdeGrandville，andaskforthereprieve;IwillawaithisanswerbeforesendingourdearAbbeGabrieltoMontegnactofetchthesaintlyman。WewillgivehisBlessednessachancetodomiracles。"
　　AshelistenedtothesewordsoftheprelatetheAbbeDutheilreddened;buthewouldnotallowhimselftotakenoticeoftheincivilitiesofthespeech。Thetwograndvicarsbowedinsilenceandwithdrew，leavingtheprelatealonewithhissecretary。
　　"Thesecretsoftheconfessionwearesoanxioustoobtainfromtheunhappymanhimselfarenodoubtburiedthere，"saidthebishoptohisyoungabbe，pointingtotheshadowofthepoplarswhereitfellonalonelyhousebetweentheislandandSaint—Etienne。
　　"Ihavealwaysthoughtso，"repliedGabriel。"IamnotajudgeandI
　　willnotbeaninformer;butifIwereamagistrateIshouldhaveknownthenameofthatwomanwhotremblesateverysound，ateveryword，whileforcedtokeepherfeaturescalmandsereneunderpainofgoingtothescaffoldwithherlover。Shehasnothingtofear，however。Ihaveseentheman;hewillcarrythesecretofthatpassionatelovetothegravewithhim。"
　　"Ah！youslyfellow！"saidthebishop，twistingtheearofhissecretaryashemotionedtothespacebetweentheislandandthesuburbofSaint—Etiennewhichthelastgleamsofthesettingsunwereilluminating，andonwhichtheyoungabbe’seyeswerefixed。"Thatistheplacewherejusticeshouldhavesearched;don’tyouthinkso？"
　　"Iwenttoseethecriminaltotrytheeffectofmysuspicionsuponhim，"repliedtheyoungman。"Icouldnotspeakthemout，forfearofcompromisingthewomanforwhosesakehedies。"
　　"Yes，"saidthebishop，"wewillholdourtongues;wearenottheservantsofhumanjustice。Oneheadisenough。Besides，soonerorlater，thesecretwillbegiventotheChurch。"
　　Theperspicacitywhichthehabitofmeditationgivestopriestsisfarsuperiortothatoflawyersorthepolice。Bydintofcontemplatingfromthoseterracesthesceneofthecrime，theprelateandhissecretaryhadendedbyperceivingcircumstancesunseenbyothers，inspiteofalltheinvestigationsbeforeandduringthetrialofthecase。
　　MonsieurdeGrandvillewasplayingwhistatMadameGraslin’shouse;itwasnecessarytoawaithisreturn;thebishopdidnotthereforereceivehisanswertillnearlymidnight。TheAbbeGabriel，towhomtheprelatelenthiscarriage，startedattwointhemorningforMontegnac。Thisregion，whichbeginsabouttwenty—fivemilesfromthetown，issituatedinthatpartoftheLimousinwhichliesatthebaseofthemountainsoftheCorrezeandfollowsthelineoftheCreuze。
　　TheyoungabbeleftLimogesallheavingwithexpectationofthespectacleonthemorrow，andstillunawarethatitwouldnottakeplace。
　　VII
　　MONTEGNAC
　　Priestsandreligiousdevoteeshaveatendencyinthematterofpaymentstokeepstrictlytotheletterofthelaw。Isthisfrompoverty，orfromtheselfishnesstowhichtheirisolationcondemnsthem，thusencouragingthenaturalinclinationofallmentoavarice;
　　orisitfromaconscientiousparsimonywhichsavesallitcanfordeedsofcharity？Eachnaturewillgiveadifferentanswertothisquestion。Thedifficultyofputtingthehandintothepocket，sometimesconcealedbyagraciouskindliness，oftenerunreservedlyexhibited，ismoreparticularlynoticeableintravelling。GabrieldeRastignac，theprettiestyouthwhohadservedbeforethealtarformanyalongday，gaveonlyathirty—sous/pour—boire/tothepostilion。Consequentlyhetravelledslowly。Postilionsdrivebishopsandotherclergywiththeutmostcarewhentheymerelydoublethelegalwage，andtheyrunnoriskofdamagingtheepiscopalcarriageforanysuchsum，fearing，theymightsay，togetthemselvesintotrouble。TheAbbeGabriel，whowastravellingaloneforthefirsttime，said，ateachrelay，inhisdulcetvoice:——
　　"Praygofaster，postilion。"
　　"Weplythewhip，"repliedanoldpostilion，"accordingtohowthetravellerplieshisfingerandthumb。"
　　Theyoungabbeflunghimselfbackintoacornerofthecarriageunabletocomprehendthatanswer。Tooccupythetimehebegantostudythecountrythroughwhichhewaspassing，makingseveralmentalexcursionsonfootamongthehillsthroughwhichtheroadwindsbetweenBordeauxandLyon。
　　AboutfifteenmilesfromLimogesthelandscape，losingthegracefulflowoftheViennethroughtheundulatingmeadowsoftheLimousin，whichincertainplacesremindoneofSwitzerland，especiallyaboutSaint—Leonard，takesonaharshandmelancholyaspect。Herewecomeuponvasttractsofuncultivatedland，sandyplainswithoutherbage，hemmedinonthehorizonbythesummitsoftheCorreze。ThesemountainshaveneithertheabruptriseoftheAlpinerangesnortheirsplendidridges;neitherthewarmgorgesanddesolatepeaksoftheAppenines，northepicturesquegrandeurofthePyrenees。Theirundulatingslopes，duetotheactionofwater，provethesubsidenceofsomegreatnaturalcatastropheinwhichthefloodsretiredslowly。
　　Thischaracteristic，commontomostoftheearthconvulsionsinFrance，hasperhapscontributed，togetherwiththeclimate，totheepitaphof/douce/bestowedbyallEuropeonoursunnyFrance。
　　ThoughthisabrupttransitionfromthesmilinglandscapesoftheLimousintothesterneraspectsofLaMarcheandAuvergnemayoffertothethinkerandthepoet，ashepassesthemonhisway，animageoftheInfinite，thatterrorofcertainminds;thoughitincitestorevelrythewomanoftheworld，boredasshetravelsluxuriouslyinhercarriage，——totheinhabitantsofthisregionNatureiscruel，savage，andwithoutresources。Thesoilofthesegreatgrayplainsisthankless。ThevicinityofacapitaltowncouldalonereproducethemiracleworkedinBrieduringthelasttwocenturies。Here，however，notonlyisatownlacking，butalsothegreatresidenceswhichsometimesgivelifetothesehopelessdeserts，wherecivilizationlanguishes，wheretheagriculturistseesonlybarrenness，andthetravellerfindsnotasingleinn，northatwhich，perchance，heistheretoseek，——thepicturesque。
　　Greatminds，however，donotdislikethesebarrenwastes，necessaryshadowsinNature’svastpicture。QuiterecentlyFenimoreCooperhasmagnificentlydevelopedwithhismelancholygeniusthepoesyofsuchsolitudes，inhis"Prairie。"Theseregions，unknowntobotanists，coveredbymineralrefuse，roundpebbles，andasterilesoil，castdefiancetocivilization。Franceshouldadopttheonlysolutiontothesedifficulties，astheBritishhavedoneinScotland，wherepatient，heroicagriculturehaschangedthearidwastesintofertilefarms。Leftintheirsavageandprimitivestatetheseuncultivatedsocialandnaturalwastesgivebirthtodiscouragement，laziness，weaknessresultingfrompoorfood，andcrimewhenneedsbecomeimportunate。
　　ThesefewwordspresentthepasthistoryofMontegnac。Whatcouldbedoneinthatgreattractofbarrenland，neglectedbythegovernment，abandonedbythenobility，uselesstoindustry，——whatbutwaragainstsocietywhichdisregardeditsduty？Consequently，theinhabitantsofMontegnaclivedtoarecentperiod，astheHighlandsofScotlandlivedinformertimes，bymurderandrapine。Fromthemereaspectofthisregionathinkingmanwouldunderstandhow，twentyyearsearlier，theinhabitantswereatwarwithsociety。Thegreatuplandplain，flankedononesidebythevalleyoftheVienne，ontheotherbythecharmingvalleysofLaMarche，thenbyAuvergne，andboundedbythemountainsoftheCorreze，islike（agricultureapart）theplateauofLaBeauce，whichseparatesthebasinoftheLoirefromthatoftheSeine，alsolikethoseofTouraineandBerry，andmanyotherofthegreatuplandplainswhicharecutlikefacetsonthesurfaceofFranceandarenumerousenoughtoclaimtheattentionofthewisestadministrators。
　　Itisamazingthatwhilecomplaintismadeoftheinfluxofpopulationtothesocialcentres，thegovernmentdoesnotemploythenaturalremedyofredeemingaregionwhere，asstatisticsshow，therearemanymillionacresofwasteland，certainpartsofwhich，especiallyinBerry，haveasoilfromseventoeightfeetdeep。
　　Manyoftheseplainswhichmightbecoveredbyvillagesandmadesplendidlyproductivebelongtoobstinatecommunes，theauthoritiesofwhichrefusetoselltothosewhowoulddevelopthem，merelytokeeptherighttopasturecowsuponthem！Onalltheseuseless，unproductivelandsiswrittentheword"Incapacity。"Allsoilshavesomespecialfertilityoftheirown。Armsandwillsareready;thethinglackingisasenseofdutycombinedwithtalentonthepartofthegovernment。InFrance，uptothepresenttime，theseuplandplainshavebeensacrificedtothevalleys;thegovernmenthaschosentogiveallitshelptothoseregionsofcountrywhichcantakecareofthemselves。
　　Mostoftheselucklessuplandsarewithoutwater，thefirstessentialforproduction。Themistswhichoughttofertilizethegray，deadsoilbydischargingoxygenuponit，sweepacrossitrapidly，drivenbythewind，forwantoftreeswhichmightarrestthemandsoobtaintheirnourishment。Merelytoplanttreesinsucharegionwouldbecarryingagospeltoit。Separatedfromthenearesttownorcitybyadistanceasinsurmountabletopoorfolkasthoughadesertlaybetweenthem，withnomeansofreachingamarketfortheirproducts（iftheyproducedanything），closetoanunexploredforestwhichsuppliedthemwithwoodandtheuncertainlivelihoodofpoaching，theinhabitantsoftensufferedfromhungerduringthewinters。Thesoilnotbeingsuitableforwheat，andtheunfortunatepeasantryhavingneithercattleofanykindnorfarmingimplements，theylivedforthemostpartonchestnuts。
　　Anyonewhohasstudiedzoologicalproductionsinamuseum，orbecomepersonallyawareoftheindescribabledepressioncausedbythebrowntonesofallEuropeanproducts，willunderstandhowtheconstantsightofthesegray，aridplainsmusthaveaffectedthemoralnatureoftheinhabitants，throughthedesolatesenseofutterbarrennesswhichtheypresenttotheeye。There，inthosedismalregions，isneithercoolnessnorbrightness，norshadenorcontrast，——noneofallthoseideasandspectaclesofNaturewhichawakenandrejoicetheheart;
　　evenastuntedapple—treewouldbehailedasafriend。
　　Acountryroad，recentlymade，runsthroughthecentreofthisgreatplain，andmeetsthehigh—road。Uponit，atadistanceofsomefifteenmilesfromthehigh—road，standsMontegnac，atthefootofahill，asitsnamedesignates，thechieftownofacantonordistrictintheHaute—Vienne。ThehillispartofMontegnac，whichthusunitesamountainousscenerywiththatoftheplains。ThisdistrictisaminiatureScotland，withitslowlandsandhighlands。Behindthehill，atthefootofwhichliesthevillage，rises，atadistanceofaboutthreemiles，thefirstpeakoftheCorrezemountains。ThespacebetweeniscoveredbythegreatforestofMontegnac，whichclothesthehill，extendsoverthevalley，andalongtheslopesofthemountain（thoughthesearebareinsomeplaces），continuingasfarasthehighwaytoAubusson，whereitdiminishestoapointnearasteepembankmentonthatroad。Thisembankmentcommandsaravinethroughwhichthepost—roadbetweenBordeauxandLyonpasses。Travellers，eitherafootorincarriages，wereoftenstoppedinthedepthsofthisdangerousgorgebyhighwaymen，whosedeedsofviolencewentunpunished，forthesitefavoredthem;theycouldinstantlydisappear，bywaysknowntothemalone，intotheinaccessiblepartsoftheforest。
　　Sucharegionwasnaturallyoutofreachoflaw。Noonenowtravelledthroughit。Withoutcirculation，neithercommerce，industry，exchangeofideas，noranyofthemeanstowealth，canexist;thematerialtriumphsofcivilizationarealwaystheresultoftheapplicationofprimitiveideas。Thoughtisinvariablythepointofdepartureandthegoalofallsocialexistence。ThehistoryofMontegnacisaproofofthataxiomofsocialscience。Whenatlasttheadministrationwasabletoconcernitselfwiththeneedsandthematerialprosperityofthisregionofcountry，itcutdownthisstripofforest，andstationedadetachmentofgendarmerieneartheravine，whichescortedthemail—
　　coachesbetweenthetworelays;but，totheshameofthegendarmeriebeitsaid，itwasthegospel，andnotthesword，therectorMonsieurBonnet，andnotCorporalChervin，whowonacivilvictorybychangingthemoralsofapopulation。Thispriest，filledwithChristiantendernessforthepoor，haplessregion，attemptedtoregenerateit，andsucceededintheattempt。
　　Aftertravellingforaboutanhourovertheseplains，alternatelystonyanddusty，wherethepartridgesflockedintranquilcoveys，theirwingswhirringwithadull，heavysoundasthecarriagecametowardthem，theAbbeGabriel，likeallothertravellersonthesameroad，sawwithsatisfactiontheroofsofMontegnacinthedistance。Attheentranceofthevillagewasoneofthosecuriouspost—relayswhichareseenonlyintheremotepartsofFrance。Itssignwasanoakboardonwhichsomepretentiouspostilionhadcarvedthewords，/Pausteochevos/，blackeningtheletterswithink，andthennailingtheboardbyitsfourcornersabovethedoorofawretchedstableinwhichtherewerenohorses。Thedoor，whichwasnearlyalwaysopen，hadaplanklaidonthesoilforitsthreshold，toprotectthestablefloor，whichwaslowerthantheroad，frominundationwhenitrained。Thediscouragedtravellercouldseewithinworn—out，mildewed，andmendedharnesses，certaintobreakataplungeofthehorses。Thehorsesthemselveswerehardatworkinthefields，oranywherebutinthestable。Ifbyanychancetheyhappentobeintheirstalls，theyareeating;iftheyhavefinishedeating，thepostilionhasgonetoseehisauntorhiscousin，orisgettinginthehay，orelseheisasleep;noonecansaywhereheis;thetravellerhastowaittillheisfound，andhenevercomestillhehasfinishedwhatheisabout。
　　Whenhedoescomehelosesanimmenseamountoftimelookingforhisjacketandhiswhip，orputtingthecollarsonhishorses。Nearby，atthedoorofthepost—house，aworthywomanisfumingevenmorethanthetraveller，inordertopreventthelatterfromcomplainingloudly。
　　Thisissuretobethewifeofthepost—master，whosehusbandisawayinthefields。
　　Thebishop’ssecretarylefthiscarriagebeforeapost—houseofthiskind，thewallsofwhichresembledageographicalmap，whilethethatchedroof，bloominglikeaflower—garden，seemedtobegivingwaybeneaththeweightofstone—crop。Afterbeggingthepost—mistresstohaveeverythinginreadinessforhisdepartureinanhour’stime，theabbeaskedthewaytotheparsonage。Thegoodwomanshowedhimalanewhichledtothechurch，tellinghimtherectorywasclosebesideit。
　　Whiletheyoungabbefollowedthislane，whichwasfullofstonesandclosedoneithersidebyhedges，thepost—mistressquestionedthepostilion。SincestartingfromLimogeseachpostilionhadinformedhissuccessoroftheconjecturesoftheLimogespostilionastothemissionofthebishop’smessenger。Whiletheinhabitantsofthetownweregettingoutofbedandtalkingofthecomingexecution，arumorspreadamongthecountrypeoplethatthebishophadobtainedthepardonoftheinnocentman;andmuchwassaidaboutthemistakestowhichhumanjusticewasliable。IfJean—Francoiswasexecutedlater，itwascertainthathewasregardedinthecountryregionsasamartyr。
　　Aftertakingafewstepsalongthelane，reddenedbytheautumnleaves，andblackwithmulberriesanddamsons，theAbbeGabrielturnedroundwiththeinstinctiveimpulsewhichleadsusalltomakeacquaintancewitharegionwhichweseeforthefirsttime，——asortofinstinctivephysicalcuriositysharedbydogsandhorses。
　　ThepositionofMontegnacwasexplainedtohimashiseyesrestedonvariouslittlestreamsflowingdownthehillsidesandonalittleriver，alongthebankofwhichrunsthecountryroadwhichconnectsthechieftownofthearrondissementwiththeprefecture。Likeallthevillagesofthisuplandplain，Montegnacisbuiltofearthbakedinthesunandmouldedintosquareblocks。Afterafireahouselooksasifithadbeenbuiltofbrick。Theroofsareofthatch。Povertyiseverywherevisible。
　　Beforethevillagelayseveralfieldsofpotatoes，radishes，andrye，redeemedfromthebarrenplain。Ontheslopeofthehillwereirrigatedmeadowswheretheinhabitantsraisedhorses，thefamousLimousinbreed，whichissaidtobealegacyoftheArabswhentheydescendedbythePyreneesintoFranceandwerecuttopiecesbythebattle—axesoftheFranksunderCharlesMartel。Theheightsarebarren。Ahot，baked，reddishsoilshowsaregionwherechestnutsflourish。Thesprings，carefullyappliedtoirrigation，waterthemeadowsonly，nourishingthesweet，crispgrass，sofineandchoice，whichproducesthisraceofdelicateandhigh—strunghorses，——notover—strongtobearfatigue，butshowy，excellentforthecountryoftheirbirth，thoughsubjecttochangesiftransplanted。Afewmulberrytreeslatelyimportedshowedanintentionofcultivatingsilk—worms。
　　LikemostofthevillagesinthisworldMontegnachadbutonestreet，throughwhichthehighroadpassed。NeverthelesstherewasanupperandalowerMontegnac，reachedbylanesgoinguporgoingdownfromthemainstreet。Alineofhousesstandingalongthebrowofthehillpresentedthecheerfulsightofterracedgardens，whichwereenteredbyflightsofstepsfromthemainstreet。Somehadtheirstepsofearth，othersofpebbles;hereandthereoldwomenweresittingonthem，knittingorwatchingchildren，andkeepingupaconversationfromtheuppertothelowertownacrosstheusuallypeacefulstreetofthelittlevillage;thusrumorsspreadeasilyandrapidlyinMontegnac。Allthegardens，whichwerefulloffruit—trees，cabbages，onions，andothervegetables，hadbee—hivesalongtheirterraces。
　　Anotherlineofhouses，runningdownfromthemainstreettotheriver，thecourseofwhichwasoutlinedbythrivinglittlefieldsofhempandthesortsoffruittreeswhichlikemoisture，layparallelwiththeuppertown;someofthehouses，thatofthepost—house，forinstance，wereinahollow，andwerewell—situatedforcertainkindsofwork，suchasweaving。Nearlyallofthemweresharedbywalnut—
　　trees，thetree/parexcellence/ofstrongsoils。
　　Onthissideofthemainstreetattheendfarthestfromthegreatplainwasadwelling—house，verymuchlargerandbettercaredforthanthoseinotherpartsofthevillage;arounditwereotherhousesequallywellkept。Thislittlehamlet，separatedfromthevillagebyitsgardens，wasalreadycalledLesTascherons，anameitkeepstothepresentday。
　　Thevillageitselfmountedtoverylittle，butthirtyormoreoutlyingfarmsbelongedtoit。Inthevalley，leadingdowntotheriver，irrigatingchannelslikethoseofLaMarcheandBerryindicatedtheflowofwateraroundthevillagebythegreenfringeofverdureaboutthem;Montegnacseemedtossedintheirmidstlikeavesselatsea。
　　Whenahouse，anestate，avillage，aregion，passesfromthewretchedconditiontoaprosperousone，withoutbecomingeitherrichorsplendid，lifeseemssoeasy，sonaturaltolivingbeings，thatthespectatormaynotatoncesuspecttheenormouslabor，infiniteinpettydetail，grandinpersistencylikethetoilburiedinafoundationwall，inshort，theforgottenlaboronwhichthewholestructurerests。
　　ConsequentlythescenethatlaybeforehimtoldnothingextraordinarytotheyoungAbbeGabrielashiseyetookinthecharminglandscape。
　　Heknewnothingofthestateoftheregionbeforethearrivaloftherector，MonsieurBonnet。Theyoungmannowwentonafewstepsandagainsaw，severalhundredfeetabovethegardensoftheuppervillage，thechurchandtheparsonage，whichhehadalreadyseenfromadistanceconfusedlymingledwiththeimposingruinsclothedwithcreepersoftheoldcastleofMontegnac，oneoftheresidencesoftheNavarreinsfamilyinthetwelfthcentury。
　　Theparsonage，ahouseoriginallybuiltnodoubtforthebailifforgame—keeper，wasnoticeableforalongraisedterraceplantedwithlindensfromwhichafineviewextendedoverthecountry。Thestepsleadingtothisterraceandthewallswhichsupporteditshowedtheirgreatagebytheravagesoftime。Theflatmosswhichclingstostoneshadlaiditsdragon—greencarpetoneachsurface。Thenumerousfamiliesofthepellitories，thechamomiles，themesembryanthemums，pushedtheirvariedandabundanttuftsthroughtheloop—holesinthewalls，crackedandfissuredinspiteoftheirthickness。Botanyhadlavishedthereitsmostelegantdraperyoffernsofallkinds，snap—
　　dragonswiththeirvioletmouthsandgoldenpistils，theblueanchusa，thebrownlichens，sothattheoldwornstonesseemedmereaccessoriespeepingoutatintervalsfromthisfreshgrowth。Alongtheterraceaboxhedge，cutintogeometricfigures，enclosedapleasuregardensurroundingtheparsonage，abovewhichtherockroselikeawhitewallsurmountedbyslendertreesthatdroopedandswayedaboveitlikeplumes。
　　Theruinsofthecastlelookeddownuponthehouseandchurch。Thehouse，builtofpebblesandmortar，hadbutonestorysurmountedbyanenormousslopingroofwithgableends，inwhichwereattics，nodoubtempty，consideringthedilapidationoftheirwindows。Theground—floorhadtworoomspartedbyacorridor，atthefartherendofwhichwasawoodenstaircaseleadingtothesecondfloor，whichalsohadtworooms。Alittlekitchenwasatthebackofthebuildinginayard，wherewerethestableandcoach—house，bothunused，deserted，andworthless。Thekitchengardenlaybetweenthechurchandthehouse;aruinedgalleryledfromtheparsonagetothesacristy。
　　Whentheyoungabbesawthefourwindowswiththeirleadedpanes，thebrownandmossywalls，thedoorincommonpineslitlikeabundleofmatches，farfrombeingattractedbytheadorablenaiveteofthesedetails，thegraceofthevegetationswhichdrapedtheroofandthedilapidatedwoodenframesofthewindows，thewealthoftheclamberingplantsescapingfromeverycranny，andtheclaspingtendrilsofthegrape—vinewhichlookedintoeverywindowasiftobringsmilingideastothosewithin，hecongratulatedhimselfheartilyonbeingabishopinperspectiveinsteadofavillagerector。
　　Thishouse，apparentlyalwaysopen，seemedtobelongtoeverybody。TheAbbeGabrielenteredaroomcommunicatingwiththekitchen，whichwaspoorlyfurnishedwithanoaktableonfourstoutlegs，atapestriedarmchair，anumberofchairsallofwood，andanoldchestbywayofbuffet。Noonewasinthekitchenexceptacatwhichrevealedthepresenceofawomanaboutthehouse。Theotherroomservedasasalon。
　　Castingaglanceaboutittheyoungpriestnoticedarmchairsinnaturalwoodcoveredwithtapestry;thewoodworkandtheraftersoftheceilingwereofchestnutwhichhadturnedasblackasebony。A
　　tallclockinagreencasepaintedwithflowers，atablewithafadedgreencloth，severalchairs，twocandlesticksonthechimney—piece，betweenwhichwasanInfantJesusinwaxunderaglasscase，completedthefurnitureoftheroom。Thechimney—pieceofwoodwithcommonmouldingswasfilledbyafire—boardcoveredbyapaintingrepresentingtheGoodShepherdwithalamboverhisshoulder，whichwasprobablythegiftofsomeyounggirl，——themayor’sdaughter，orthejudge’sdaughter，——inreturnforthepastor’scareofhereducation。
　　Theforlornconditionofthehousewasdistressingtobehold;thewalls，oncewhitewashed，werenowdiscolored，andstainedtoaman’sheightbyconstantfriction。Thestaircasewithitsheavybalusterandwoodensteps，thoughveryclean，lookedasifitmighteasilygivewayunderthefeet。Ontheothersideofthehouse，oppositetotheentrancedoor，anotherdooropeninguponthekitchengardenenabledtheAbbedeRastignactojudgeofthenarrownessofthatgarden，whichwasclosedatthebackbyawallcutinthewhiteandfriablestonesideofthemountain，againstwhichespalierswerefastened，coveredwithgrape—vinesandfruit—treessoilltakencareofthattheirleaveswerediscoloredwithblight。
　　Theabbereturneduponhisstepsandwalkedalongthepathsofthefirstgarden，fromwhichhecouldsee，inthedistancebeyondthevillage，themagnificentstretchofvalley，atrueoasisattheedgeofthevastplains，whichnow，veiledbythelightmistsofmorning，layalongthehorizonlikeatranquilocean。Behindhimcouldbeseen，ononeside，forafoil，thedarkmassesofthebronze—greenforest;
　　ontheother，thechurchandtheruinsofthecastleperchedontherockandvividlydetachedupontheblueoftheether。TheAbbeGabriel，hisfeetcreakingonthegravellypathscutinstarsandroundsandlozenges，lookeddownuponthevillage，wheresomeoftheinhabitantswerealreadygazingupathim，andthenatthefresh，coolvalley，withitstangledpaths，itsriverborderedwithwillowsindelightfulcontrasttotheendlessplain，andhewassuddenlyseizedwithsensationswhichchangedthenatureofhisthoughts;headmiredthesweettranquillityoftheplace;hefelttheinfluenceofthatpureair;hewasconsciousofthepeaceinspiredbytherevelationofalifebroughtbacktoBiblicalsimplicity;hesaw，confusedly，thebeautiesofthisoldparsonage，whichhenowre—enteredtoexamineitsdetailswithgreaterinterest。
　　Alittlegirl，employed，nodoubt，towatchthehouse，thoughshewaspickingandeatingfruitinthegarden，heardthestepsofamanwithcreakingshoesonthegreatsquareflagsoftheground—floorrooms。
　　Sheranintoseewhoitwas。Confusedatbeingcaughtbyapriestwithafruitinonehandandanotherinhermouth，shemadenoanswertothequestionsofthehandsomeyoungabbe。Shehadneverimaginedsuchanabbe，——dapperandspruceashandscouldmakehim，indazzlinglinenandfineblackclothwithoutspotorwrinkle。
　　"MonsieurBonnet？"shesaidatlast。"MonsieurBonnetissayingmass，andMademoiselleUrsuleisatchurch。"
　　TheAbbeGabrieldidnotnoticeacoveredwayfromthehousetothechurch;hewentbacktotheroadwhichledtothefrontportal，aspeciesofporchwithaslopingroofthatfacedthevillage。Itwasreachedbyaseriesofdisjointedstonesteps，atthesideofwhichlayaravinewashedoutbythemountaintorrentsandcoveredwithnobleelmsplantedbySullytheProtestant。Thischurch，oneofthepoorestinFrancewheretherearesomanypoorchurches，waslikeoneofthoseenormousbarnswithprojectingdoorscoveredbyroofssupportedonbrickorwoodenpillars。Built，liketheparsonage，ofcobblestonesandmortar，flankedbyafaceofsolidrock，androofedbythecommonestroundtiles，thischurchwasdecoratedontheoutsidewiththerichestcreationsofsculpture，richinlightandshadeandlavishlymassedandcoloredbyNature，whounderstandssuchartaswellasanyMichaelAngelo。Ivyclaspedthewallswithitsnervoustendrils，showingstemsamiditsfoliageliketheveinsinalayfigure。Thismantle，flungbyTimetocoverthewoundshemade，wasstarredbyautumnflowersdroopingfromthecrevices，whichalsogavesheltertonumeroussingingbirds。Therose—windowabovetheprojectingporchwasadornedwithbluecampanula，likethefirstpageofanilluminatedmissal。Thesidewhichcommunicatedwiththeparsonage，towardthenorth，wasnotlessdecorated;thewallwasgrayandredwithmossandlichen;buttheothersideandtheapse，aroundwhichlaythecemetery，wascoveredwithawealthofvariedblooms。A
　　fewtrees，amongothersanalmond—tree——oneoftheemblemsofhope——