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Paris were their theatre。 Their education in their mother's house had
been as rigorous as it would have been in a convent。 From infancy they
had slept in a room adjoining that of the Comtesse de Granville； the
door of which stood always open。 The time not occupied by the care of
their persons； their religious duties and the studies considered
necessary for well…bred young ladies； was spent in needlework done for
the poor； or in walks like those an Englishwoman allows herself on
Sunday； saying； apparently； 〃Not so fast； or we shall seem to be
amusing ourselves。〃
Their education did not go beyond the limits imposed by confessors；
who were chosen by their mother from the strictest and least tolerant
of the Jansenist priests。 Never were girls delivered over to their
husbands more absolutely pure and virgin than they； their mother
seemed to consider that point； essential as indeed it is； the
accomplishment of all her duties toward earth and heaven。 These two
poor creatures had never； before their marriage； read a tale； or heard
of a romance； their very drawings were of figures whose anatomy would
have been masterpieces of the impossible to Cuvier； designed to
feminize the Farnese Hercules himself。 An old maid taught them
drawing。 A worthy priest instructed them in grammar； the French
language； history； geography； and the very little arithmetic it was
thought necessary in their rank for women to know。 Their reading；
selected from authorized books； such as the 〃Lettres Edifiantes；〃 and
Noel's 〃Lecons de Litterature；〃 was done aloud in the evening； but
always in presence of their mother's confessor； for even in those
books there did sometimes occur passages which； without wise comments；
might have roused their imagination。 Fenelon's 〃Telemaque〃 was thought
dangerous。
The Comtesse de Granville loved her daughters sufficiently to wish to
make them angels after the pattern of Marie Alacoque； but the poor
girls themselves would have preferred a less virtuous and more amiable
mother。 This education bore its natural fruits。 Religion； imposed as a
yoke and presented under its sternest aspect； wearied with formal
practice these innocent young hearts； treated as sinful。 It repressed
their feelings； and was never precious to them； although it struck its
roots deep down into their natures。 Under such training the two Maries
would either have become mere imbeciles； or they must necessarily have
longed for independence。 Thus it came to pass that they looked to
marriage as soon as they saw anything of life and were able to compare
a few ideas。 Of their own tender graces and their personal value they
were absolutely ignorant。 They were ignorant； too； of their own
innocence； how； then； could they know life？ Without weapons to meet
misfortune； without experience to appreciate happiness； they found no
comfort in the maternal jail； all their joys were in each other。 Their
tender confidences at night in whispers； or a few short sentences
exchanged if their mother left them for a moment； contained more ideas
than the words themselves expressed。 Often a glance； concealed from
other eyes； by which they conveyed to each other their emotions； was
like a poem of bitter melancholy。 The sight of a cloudless sky； the
fragrance of flowers； a turn in the garden； arm in arm；these were
their joys。 The finishing of a piece of embroidery was to them a
source of enjoyment。
Their mother's social circle； far from opening resources to their
hearts or stimulating their minds； only darkened their ideas and
depressed them； it was made up of rigid old women； withered and
graceless； whose conversation turned on the differences which
distinguished various preachers and confessors； on their own petty
indispositions； on religious events insignificant even to the
〃Quotidienne〃 or 〃l'Ami de la Religion。〃 As for the men who appeared
in the Comtesse de Granville's salon； they extinguished any possible
torch of love； so cold and sadly resigned were their faces。 They were
all of an age when mankind is sulky and fretful； and natural
sensibilities are chiefly exercised at table and on the things
relating to personal comfort。 Religious egotism had long dried up
those hearts devoted to narrow duties and entrenched behind pious
practices。 Silent games of cards occupied the whole evening； and the
two young girls under the ban of that Sanhedrim enforced by maternal
severity； came to hate the dispiriting personages about them with
their hollow eyes and scowling faces。
On the gloom of this life one sole figure of a man； that of a music…
master； stood vigorously forth。 The confessors had decided that music
was a Christian art； born of the Catholic Church and developed within
her。 The two Maries were therefore permitted to study music。 A
spinster in spectacles； who taught singing and the piano in a
neighboring convent； wearied them with exercises； but when the eldest
girl was ten years old； the Comte de Granville insisted on the
importance of giving her a master。 Madame de Granville gave all the
value of conjugal obedience to this needed concession；it is part of
a devote's character to make a merit of doing her duty。
The master was a Catholic German； one of those men born old； who seem
all their lives fifty years of age； even at eighty。 And yet； his
brown； sunken； wrinkled face still kept something infantile and
artless in its dark creases。 The blue of innocence was in his eyes；
and a gay smile of springtide abode upon his lips。 His iron…gray hair；
falling naturally like that of the Christ in art； added to his
ecstatic air a certain solemnity which was absolutely deceptive as to
his real nature； for he was capable of committing any silliness with
the most exemplary gravity。 His clothes were a necessary envelope； to
which he paid not the slightest attention； for his eyes looked too
high among the clouds to concern themselves with such materialities。
This great unknown artist belonged to the kindly class of the self…
forgetting； who give their time and their soul to others； just as they
leave their gloves on every table and their umbrella at all doors。 His
hands were of the kind that are dirty as soon as washed。 In short； his
old body； badly poised on its knotted old legs； proving to what degree
a man can make it the mere accessory of his soul； belonged to those
strange creations which have been properly depicted only by a German；
by Hoffman； the poet of that which seems not to exist but yet has
life。
Such was Schmucke； formerly chapel…master to the Margrave of Anspach；
a musical genius； who was now examined by a council of devotes； and
asked if he kept the fasts。 The master was much inclined to answer；
〃Look at me！〃 but how could he venture to joke with pious dowagers and
Jansenist confessors？ This apocryphal old fellow held such a place in
the lives of the two Maries； they felt such friendship for the grand
and simple…minded artist； who was happy and contented in the