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nursing。
Veronique （that was the infant's name） became the handsomest child in
the Lower town； and every one who saw her stopped to look at her。 The
neighbors then noticed for the first time a trace of feeling in the
old Sauviats； of which they had supposed them devoid。 While the wife
cooked the dinner the husband held the little one； or rocked it to the
tune of an Auvergnat song。 The workmen as they passed sometimes saw
him motionless gazing at Veronique asleep on her mother's knees。 He
softened his harsh voice when he spoke to her； and wiped his hands on
his trousers before taking her up。 When Veronique tried to walk； the
father bent his legs and stood at a little distance holding out his
arms and making little grimaces which contrasted funnily with the
rigid furrows of his stern； hard face。 The man of iron； brass； and
lead became a being of flesh and blood and bones。 If he happened to be
standing with his back against the corner pillar motionless； a cry
from Veronique would agitate him and send him flying over the mounds
of iron fragments to find her； for she spent her childhood playing
with the wreck of ancient castles heaped in the depths of that old
shop。 There were other days on which she went to play in the street or
with the neighboring children； but even then her mother's eye was
always on her。
It is not unimportant to say here that the Sauviats were eminently
religious。 At the very height of the Revolution they observed both
Sunday and fete…days。 Twice Sauviat came near having his head cut off
for hearing mass from an unsworn priest。 He was put in prison； being
justly accused of helping a bishop； whose life he saved； to fly the
country。 Fortunately the old…iron dealer； who knew the ways of bolts
and bars； was able to escape； nevertheless he was condemned to death
by default； and as； by the bye； he never purged himself of that
contempt； he may be said to have died dead。
His wife shared his piety。 The avariciousness of the household yielded
to the demands of religion。 The old…iron dealers gave their alms
punctually at the sacrament and to all the collections in church。 When
the vicar of Saint…Etienne called to ask help for his poor； Sauviat or
his wife fetched at once without reluctance or sour faces the sum they
thought their fair share of the parish duties。 The mutilated Virgin on
their corner pillar never failed （after 1799） to be wreathed with
holly at Easter。 In the summer season she was feted with bouquets kept
fresh in tumblers of blue glass； this was particularly the case after
the birth of Veronique。 On the days of the processions the Sauviats
scrupulously hung their house with sheets covered with flowers； and
contributed money to the erection and adornment of the altar； which
was the pride and glory of the whole square。
Veronique Sauviat was； therefore； brought up in a Christian manner。
From the time she was seven years old she was taught by a Gray sister
from Auvergne to whom the Sauviats had done some kindness in former
times。 Both husband and wife were obliging when the matter did not
affect their pockets or consume their time；like all poor folk who
are cordially ready to be serviceable to others in their own way。 The
Gray sister taught Veronique to read and write； she also taught her
the history of the people of God； the catechism； the Old and the New
Testaments； and a very little arithmetic。 That was all； the worthy
sister thought it enough； it was in fact too much。
At nine years of age Veronique surprised the whole neighborhood with
her beauty。 Every one admired her face； which promised much to the
pencil of artists who are always seeking a noble ideal。 She was called
〃the Little Virgin〃 and showed signs already of a fine figure and
great delicacy of complexion。 Her Madonna…like facefor the popular
voice had well named herwas surrounded by a wealth of fair hair；
which brought out the purity of her features。 Whoever has seen the
sublime Virgin of Titian in his great picture of the 〃Presentation〃 at
Venice； will know that Veronique was in her girlhood；the same
ingenuous candor； the same seraphic astonishment in her eyes； the same
simple yet noble attitude； the same majesty of childhood in her
demeanor。
At eleven years of age she had the small…pox； and owed her life to the
care of Soeur Marthe。 During the two months that their child was in
danger the Sauviats betrayed to the whole community the depth of their
tenderness。 Sauviat no longer went about the country to sales； he
stayed in the shop； going upstairs and down to his daughter's room；
sitting up with her every night in company with his wife。 His silent
anguish seemed so great that no one dared to speak to him； his
neighbors looked at him with compassion； but they only asked news of
Veronique from Soeur Marthe。 During the days when the child's danger
reached a crisis； the neighbors and passers saw； for the first and
only time in Sauviat's life； tears in his eyes and rolling down his
hollow cheeks； he did not wipe them； but stood for hours as if
stupefied； not daring to go upstairs to his daughter's room； gazing
before him and seeing nothing； so oblivious of all things that any one
might have robbed him。
Veronique was saved； but her beauty perished。 Her face； once
exquisitely colored with a tint in which brown and rose were
harmoniously mingled； came out from the disease with a myriad of pits
which thickened the skin； the flesh beneath it being deeply indented。
Even her forehead did not escape the ravages of the scourge； it turned
brown and looked as though it were hammered； like metal。 Nothing can
be more discordant than brick tones of the skin surrounded by golden
hair； they destroy all harmony。 These fissures in the tissues；
capriciously hollowed； injured the purity of the profile and the
delicacy of the lines of the face； especially that of the nose； the
Grecian form of which was lost； and that of the chin； once as
exquisitely rounded as a piece of white porcelain。 The disease left
nothing unharmed except the parts it was unable to reach；the eyes
and the teeth。 She did not； however； lose the elegance and beauty of
her shape；neither the fulness of its lines nor the grace and
suppleness of her waist。 At fifteen Veronique was still a fine girl；
and to the great consolation of her father and mother； a good and
pious girl； busy； industrious； and domestic。
After her convalescence and after she had made her first communion；
her parents gave her the two chambers on the second floor for her own
particular dwelling。 Sauviat； so course in his way of living for
himself and his wife； now had certain perceptions of what comfort
might be； a vague idea came to him of consoling his child for her
great loss； which； as yet； she did not comprehend。 The deprivation of
that beauty which was once the pride and joy of those two beings made
Veronique the more dear and precious to them。 Sauviat came home one
day； bearing a carpet he had chanced upon in some of his rounds； which
he nailed himself on Veronique's floor。 For her he saved from the sale
of an old chateau the gorgeous bed of a fine lady； upholstered in red
silk damask； with curtains and chairs