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dined with his wife； but his unpunctuality was so great that it was
not more than ten times a month that he began a meal with he； he had
exacted； out of courtesy； that she should never wait for him。
Veronique did； however； always remain in the room while her husband
took his meals； serving him herself； that she might at least perform
voluntarily some of the visible obligations of a wife。
The banker； to whom the things of marriage were very indifferent； and
who had seen nothing in his wife but seven hundred and fifty thousand
francs； had never once perceived Veronique's repugnance to him。 Little
by little he now abandoned Madame Graslin for his business。 When he
wished to put a bed in the room adjoining his office on the ground…
floor； Veronique hastened to comply with the request。 So that three
years after their marriage these two ill…assorted beings returned to
their original estate； each equally pleased and happy to do so。 The
moneyed man； possessing eighteen hundred thousand francs； returned
with all the more eagerness to his old avaricious habits because he
had momentarily quitted them。 His two clerks and the office…boy were
better lodged and rather better fed； and that was the only difference
between the present and the past。 His wife had a cook and maid （two
indispensable servants）； but except for the actual necessities of
life； not a penny left his coffers for his household。
Happy in the turn which things were now taking； Veronique saw in the
evident satisfaction of the banker the absolution for this separation
which she would never have asked for herself。 She had no conception
that she was as disagreeable to Graslin as Graslin was repulsive to
her。 This secret divorce made her both sad and joyful。 She had always
looked to motherhood for an interest in life； but up to this time
（1828） the couple had had no prospect of a family。
IV
THE HISTORY OF MANY MARRIED WOMEN IN THE PROVINCES
So now； in her magnificent house and envied for her wealth by all the
town； Madame Graslin recovered the solitude of her early years in her
father's house； less the glow of hope and the youthful joys of
ignorance。 She lived among the ruins of her castles in the air；
enlightened by sad experience； sustained by religious faith； occupied
by the care of the poor； whom she loaded with benefits。 She made
clothes for the babies； gave mattresses and sheets to those who slept
on straw； she went among the poor herself； followed by her maid； a
girl from Auvergne whom her mother procured for her； and who attached
herself body and soul to her mistress。 Veronique made an honorable spy
of her； sending her to discover the places where suffering could be
stilled； poverty softened。
This active benevolence； carried on with strict attention to religious
duties； was hidden in the deepest secrecy and directed by the various
rectors in the town； with whom Veronique had a full understanding in
all her charitable deeds； so as not to suffer the money so needed for
unmerited misfortunes to fall into the hands of vice。 It was during
this period of her life that she won a friendship quite as strong and
quite as precious as that of old Grossetete。 She became the beloved
lamb of a distinguished priest； who was persecuted for his true
merits； which were wholly misunderstood； one of the two grand…vicars
of the diocese； named the Abbe Dutheil。
This priest belonged to the portion of the French clergy who incline
toward certain concessions； who would be glad to associate the Church
with the people's interests； and so enable it to regain； through the
application of true evangelical doctrine； its former influence over
the masses； which it might then draw to closer relations with the
monarchy。 Whether it was that the Abbe Dutheil recognized the
impossibility of enlightening the court of Rome and the higher clergy
on this point； or that he had consented to sacrifice his own opinions
to those of his superiors； it is certain that he remained within the
limits of the strictest orthodoxy； being very well aware that any
manifestation of his principles at the present time would deprive him
of all chance of the episcopate。
This eminent priest united in himself great Christian modesty and a
noble character。 Without pride or ambition he remained at his post and
did his duty in the midst of perils。 The liberals of the town were
ignorant of the motives of his conduct； they claimed him as being of
their opinions and considered him a patriot；a word which meant
revolutionist in Catholic minds。 Loved by his inferiors； who dared
not； however； proclaim his merits； feared by his equals who kept watch
upon him； he was a source of embarrassment to the bishop。 His virtues
and his knowledge； envied； no doubt； prevented persecution； it was
impossible to complain of him； though he criticized frankly the
political blunders by which both the throne and the clergy mutually
compromised themselves。 He often foretold results； but vainly；like
poor Cassandra； who was equally cursed before and after the disaster
she predicted。 Short of a revolution the Abbe Dutheil was likely to
remain as he was； one of those stones hidden in the foundation wall on
which the edifice rests。 His utility was recognized and they left him
in his place； like many other solid minds whose rise to power is the
terror of mediocrities。 If； like the Abbe de Lamennais； he had taken
up his pen he would doubtless； like him； have been blasted by the
court of Rome。
The Abbe Dutheil was imposing in appearance。 His exterior revealed the
underlying of a profound nature always calm and equable on the
surface。 His tall figure and its thinness did not detract from the
general effect of his lines； which recalled those by which the genius
of Spanish painters delights to represent the great monastic
meditators； and those selected at a later period by Thorwaldsen for
the Apostles。 The long； almost rigid folds of the face； in harmony
with those of his vestment； had the charm which the middle…ages bring
into relief in the mystical statues placed beside the portals of their
churches。 Gravity of thought； word； and accent； harmonized in this man
and became him well。 Seeing his dark eyes hollowed by austerities and
surrounded by a brown circle； seeing； too； his forehead； yellow as
some old stone； his head and hands almost fleshless； men desired to
hear the voice and the instructions which issued from his lips。 This
purely physical grandeur which accords with moral grandeur； gave this
priest a somewhat haughty and disdainful air； which was instantly
counteracted to an observer by his modesty and by his speech； though
it did not predispose others in his favor。 In some more elevated
station these advantages would have obtained that necessary ascendancy
over the masses which the people willingly allow to men who are thus
endowed。 But superiors will not forgive their inferiors for possessing
the externals of greatness； nor for displaying that majesty so prized
by the ancients but so often lacking to the administrators of modern
power。
By one of those strange freaks of circumstance which are never
accounted for； the other vicar…general； the Ab