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of an old chateau the gorgeous bed of a fine lady； upholstered in red
silk damask； with curtains and chairs of the same rich stuff。 He
furnished her two rooms with antique articles； of the true value of
which he was wholly ignorant。 He bought mignonette and put the pots on
the ledge outside her window； and he returned from many of his trips
with rose trees； or pansies； or any kind of flower which gardeners or
tavern…keepers would give him。
If Veronique could have made comparisons and known the character； past
habits； and ignorance of her parents she would have seen how much
there was of affection in these little things； but as it was； she
simply loved them from her own sweet nature and without reflection。
The girl wore the finest linen her mother could find in the shops。
Madame Sauviat left her daughter at liberty to buy what materials she
liked for her gowns and other garments； and the father and mother were
proud of her choice； which was never extravagant。 Veronique was
satisfied with a blue silk gown for Sundays and fete…days； and on
working…days she wore merino in winter and striped cotton dresses in
summer。 On Sundays she went to church with her father and mother； and
took a walk after vespers along the banks of the Vienne or about the
environs。 On other days she stayed at home； busy in filling worsted…
work patterns； the payment for which she gave to the poor；a life of
simple； chaste； and exemplary principles and habits。 She did some
reading together with her tapestry； but never in any books except
those lent to her by the vicar of Saint…Etienne； a priest whom Soeur
Marthe had first made known to her parents。
All the rules of the Sauviat's domestic economy were suspended in
favor of Veronique。 Her mother delighted in giving her dainty things
to eat； and cooked her food separately。 The father and mother still
ate their nuts and dry bread； their herrings and parched peas
fricasseed in salt butter； while for Veronique nothing was thought too
choice and good。
〃Veronique must cost you a pretty penny；〃 said a hatmaker who lived
opposite to the Sauviats and had designs on their daughter for his
son； estimating the fortune of the old…iron dealer at a hundred
thousand francs。
〃Yes； neighbor； yes；〃 Pere Sauviat would say； 〃if she asked me for ten
crowns I'd let her have them。 She has all she wants； but she never
asks for anything； she is as gentle as a lamb。〃
Veronique was； as a matter of fact； absolutely ignorant of the value
of things。 She had never wanted for anything； she never saw a piece of
gold till the day of her marriage； she had no money of her own； her
mother bought and gave her everything she needed and wished for； so
that even when she wanted to give alms to a beggar； the girl felt in
her mother's pocket for the coin。
〃If that's so；〃 remarked the hatmaker； 〃she can't cost you much。〃
〃So you think； do you？〃 replied Sauviat。 〃You wouldn't get off under
forty crowns a year； I can tell you that。 Why； her room； she has at
least a hundred crowns' worth of furniture in it！ But when a man has
but one child； he doesn't mind。 The little we own will all go to her。〃
〃The little！ Why； you must be rich； pere Sauviat！ It is pretty nigh
forty years that you have been doing a business in which there are no
losses。〃
〃Ha！ I sha'n't go to the poorhouse for want of a thousand francs or
so！〃 replied the old…iron dealer。
From the day when Veronique lost the soft beauty which made her
girlish face the admiration of all who saw it； Pere Sauviat redoubled
in activity。 His business became so prosperous that he now went to
Paris several times a year。 Every one felt that he wanted to
compensate his daughter by force of money for what he called her 〃loss
of profit。〃 When Veronique was fifteen years old a change was made in
the internal manners and customs of the household。 The father and
mother went upstairs in the evenings to their daughter's apartment；
where Veronique would read to them； by the light of a lamp placed
behind a glass globe full of water； the 〃Vie des Saints；〃 the 〃Lettres
Edifiantes；〃 and other books lent by the vicar。 Madame Sauviat knitted
stockings； feeling that she thus recouped herself for the cost of oil。
The neighbors could see through the window the old couple seated
motionless in their armchairs； like Chinese images； listening to their
daughter； and admiring her with all the powers of their contracted
minds； obtuse to everything that was not business or religious faith。
II
VERONIQUE
There are； no doubt； many young girls in the world as pure as
Veronique； but none purer or more modest。 Her confessions might have
surprised the angels and rejoiced the Blessed Virgin。
At sixteen years of age she was fully developed； and appeared the
woman she was eventually to become。 She was of medium height； neither
her father nor her mother being tall； but her figure was charming in
its graceful suppleness； and in the serpentine curves laboriously
sought by painters and sculptors；curves which Nature herself draws
so delicately with her lissom outlines； revealed to the eye of artists
in spite of swathing linen and thick clothes； which mould themselves；
inevitably； upon the nude。 Sincere； simple； and natural； Veronique set
these beauties of her form into relief by movements that were wholly
free from affectation。 She brought out her 〃full and complete effect；〃
if we may borrow that strong term from legal phraseology。 She had the
plump arms of the Auvergnat women； the red and dimpled hand of a
barmaid； and her strong but well…shaped feet were in keeping with the
rest of her figure。
At times there seemed to pass within her a marvellous and delightful
phenomenon which promised to Love a woman concealed thus far from
every eye。 This phenomenon was perhaps one cause of the admiration her
father and mother felt for her beauty； which they often declared to be
divine；to the great astonishment of their neighbors。 The first to
remark it were the priests of the cathedral and the worshippers with
her at the same altar。 When a strong emotion took possession of
Veronique；and the religious exaltation to which she yielded herself
on receiving the communion must be counted among the strongest
emotions of so pure and candid a young creature；an inward light
seemed to efface for the moment all traces of the small…pox。 The pure
and radiant face of her childhood reappeared in its pristine beauty。
Though slightly veiled by the thickened surface disease had laid
there； it shone with the mysterious brilliancy of a flower blooming
beneath the water of the sea when the sun is penetrating it。 Veronique
was changed for a few moments； the Little Virgin reappeared and then
disappeared again； like a celestial vision。 The pupils of her eyes；
gifted with the power of great expansion； widened until they covered
the whole surface of the blue iris except for a tiny circle。 Thus the
metamorphose of the eye； which became as keen and vivid as that of an
eagle； completed the extraordinary change in the face。 Was it the
storm of restrained passions； was it some power coming from the depths
of the soul； which enlarged the pupils in full daylig