第11章

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\'Esgrignonrepresentedtheupperaristocracy(thereturningTroisvillesattachedthemselvestoit)；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!\"