按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
have made the fame of many a superior man； with a gentle modesty such
as Pontorno has painted in the sublime face of his 〃Christian Chastity
caressing the Celestial Unicorn。〃 The mistress of the manor； whose
silence was respected by her companions when they saw that her eyes
were roving over those vast plains； once arid； and now fertile by her
will； walked on； her arms folded； with a distant look； as if to some
far horizon； on her face。
XX
THE LAST STRUGGLE
Suddenly she stopped； a few feet from her mother； who looked at her as
the mother of Christ must have looked at her son upon the cross。 She
raised her hand； and pointing to the spot where the road to Montegnac
branched from the highway； she said； smiling：
〃See that carriage with the post…horses； Monsieur Roubaud is returning
to us。 We shall now know how many hours I have to live。〃
〃Hours？〃 said Gerard。
〃Did I not tell you I was taking my last walk？〃 she replied。 〃I have
come here to see for the last time this glorious scene in all its
splendor！〃 She pointed first to the village where the whole population
seemed to be collected in the church square； and then to the beautiful
meadows glowing in the last rays of the setting sun。 〃Ah！〃 she said；
〃let me see the benediction of God in the strange atmospheric
condition to which we owe the safety of our harvest。 Around us； on all
sides； tempests； hail； lightning； have struck incessantly and
pitilessly。 The common people think thus； why not I？ I do so need to
see in this a happy augury for what awaits me after death！〃
The child stood up and took his mother's hand and laid it on his head。
Veronique； deeply affected by the action； so full of eloquence； took
up her son with supernatural strength； seating him on her left arm as
though he were still an infant at her breast； saying； as she kissed
him：
〃Do you see that land； my son？ When you are a man； continue there your
mother's work。〃
〃Madame；〃 said the rector； in a grave voice； 〃a few strong and
privileged beings are able to contemplate their coming death face to
face； to fight； as it were； a duel with it； and to display a courage
and an ability which challenge admiration。 You show us this terrible
spectacle； but perhaps you have too little pity for us； leave us at
least the hope that you may be mistaken； and that God will allow you
to finish that which you have begun。〃
〃All I have done is through you； my friends；〃 she said。 〃I have been
useful； I can be so no longer。 All is fruitful around us now； nothing
is barren and desolated here except my heart。 You well know； my dear
rector； that I can only find peace and pardon /there/。〃
She stretched her hand toward the cemetery。 Never had she said as much
since the day of her arrival； when she was taken with sudden illness
at the same spot。 The rector looked attentively at his penitent； and
the habit of penetration he had long acquired made him see that in
those simple words he had won another triumph。 Veronique must have
made a mighty effort over herself to break her twelve years' silence
with a speech that said so much。 The rector clasped his hands with a
fervent gesture that was natural to him as he looked with deep emotion
at the members of this family whose secrets had passed into his heart。
Gerard； to whom the words 〃peace and pardon〃 must have seemed strange；
was bewildered。 Monsieur Ruffin； with his eyes fixed on Veronique； was
stupefied。 At this instant the carriage came rapidly up the avenue。
〃There are five of them！〃 cried the rector； who could see and count
the travellers。
〃Five！〃 exclaimed Gerard。 〃Can five know more than two？〃
〃Ah；〃 cried Madame Graslin suddenly； grasping the rector's arm； 〃the
/procureur…general/ is among them！ What is he doing here？〃
〃And papa Grossetete； too！〃 cried Francis。
〃Madame；〃 said the rector； supporting Veronique； and leading her apart
a few steps； 〃show courage； be worthy of yourself。〃
〃But what can he want？〃 she replied； leaning on the balustrade。
〃Mother！〃 （the old woman ran to her daughter with an activity that
belied her years。） 〃I shall see him again；〃 she said。
〃As he comes with Monsieur Grossetete；〃 said the rector； 〃he can have
none but good intentions。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur； my child will die！〃 cried Madame Sauviat； seeing the
effect of the rector's words on her daughter's face。 〃How can her
heart survive such emotions？ Monsieur Grossetete has always hitherto
prevented that man from seeing Veronique。〃
Madame Graslin's face was on fire。
〃Do you hate him so much？〃 said the Abbe Bonnet。
〃She left Limoges to escape the sight of him； and to escape letting
the whole town into her secrets；〃 said Madame Sauviat； terrified at
the change she saw on Madame Graslin's features。
〃Do you not see that he will poison my few remaining hours？ When I
ought to be thinking of heaven he will nail me to earth；〃 cried
Veronique。
The rector took her arm and constrained her to walk aside with him。
When they were alone he stopped and gave her one of those angelic
looks with which he was able to calm the violent convulsions of the
soul。
〃If it is really so；〃 he said； 〃as your confessor； I order you to
receive him； to be kind and affectionate to him； to quit that garment
of wrath； and forgive him as God will forgive you。 Can there still be
the remains of passion of a soul I believed to be purified。 Burn this
last incense on the altar of your penitence； or else your repentance
is a lie。〃
〃There was still that effort to makeand it is made；〃 she answered；
wiping her eyes。 〃The devil lurked in that last fold of my heart； and
God； no doubt； put into Monsieur de Grandville's mind the thought that
brings him here。 Ah！ how many times must God strike me？〃 she cried。
She stopped； as if to say a mental prayer； then she returned to Madame
Sauviat and said in a low voice：
〃My dear mother； be kind and gentle to Monsieur de Grandville。〃
The old woman clasped her hands with a feverish shudder。
〃There is no longer any hope；〃 she said； seizing the rector's hand。
The carriage； announced by the postilion's whip； was now coming up the
last slope； the gates were opened； it entered the courtyard； and the
travellers came at once to the terrace。 They were the illustrious
Archbishop Dutheil； who was on his way to consecrate Monseigneur
Gabriel de Rastignac； the /procureur…general/； Monsieur de Grandville；
Monsieur Grossetete； Monsieur Roubaud； and one of the most celebrated
physicians in Paris； Horace Bianchon。
〃You are very welcome；〃 said Veronique； advancing toward them；〃you
particularly；〃 she added； offering her hand to Monsieur de Grandville；
who took it and pressed it。
〃I counted on the intervention of Monseigneur and on that of my friend
Monsieur Grossetete to obtain for me a favorable reception；〃 said the
/procureur…general/。 〃It would have been a life…long regret to me if I
did not see you again。〃
〃I thank those who brought you here；〃 replied Veronique； looking at
the Comte de Grandville for the first time in fifteen years。 〃I have
felt averse to you for a very long time； but I now recognize the
injustice of my feelings； and you shall know why； if you can stay