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Normandie； were also most alarming。
〃If we bought our own horses；〃 said the Ronceret circle； 〃we couldn't
sell them to those who come to buy。〃
Stupid as it was； this reasoning seemed sound； for surely such a
course would prevent the region from grasping the money of foreigners。
In the eyes of the provinces wealth consisted less in the rapid
turning over of money than in sterile accumulation。 It may be
mentioned here that Penelope succumbed to a pleurisy which she
acquired about six weeks before the marriage； nothing could save her。
Madame Granson； Mariette； Madame du Coudrai； Madame du Ronceret； and
through them the whole town； remarked that Madame du Bousquier entered
the church WITH HER LEFT FOOT；an omen all the more dreadful because
the term Left was beginning to acquire a political meaning。 The priest
whose duty it was to read the opening formula opened his book by
chance at the De Profundis。 Thus the marriage was accompanied by
circumstances so fateful； so alarming； so annihilating that no one
dared to augur well of it。 Matters； in fact； went from bad to worse。
There was no wedding party； the married pair departed immediately for
Prebaudet。 Parisian customs； said the community； were about to triumph
over time…honored provincial ways。
The marriage of Jacquelin and Josette now took place： it was gay； and
they were the only two persons in Alencon who refuted the sinister
prophecies relating to the marriage of their mistress。
Du Bousquier determined to use the proceeds of the sale of his late
residence in restoring and modernizing the hotel Cormon。 He decided to
remain through two seasons at Prebaudet； and took the Abbe de Sponde
with them。 This news spread terror through the town； where every
individual felt that du Bousquier was about to drag the community into
the fatal path of 〃comfort。〃 This fear increased when the inhabitants
of Alencon saw the bridegroom driving in from Prebaudet one morning to
inspect his works； in a fine tilbury drawn by a new horse； having Rene
at his side in livery。 The first act of his administration had been to
place his wife's savings on the Grand…Livre； which was then quoted at
67 fr。 50 cent。 In the space of one year； during which he played
constantly for a rise； he made himself a personal fortune almost as
considerable as that of his wife。
But all these foreboding prophecies； these perturbing innovations；
were superseded and surpassed by an event connected with this marriage
which gave a still more fatal aspect to it。
On the very evening of the ceremony； Athanase and his mother were
sitting； after their dinner； over a little fire of fagots； which the
servant lighted usually at dessert。
〃Well； we will go this evening to the du Roncerets'； inasmuch as we
have lost Mademoiselle Cormon；〃 said Madame Granson。 〃Heavens！ how
shall I ever accustom myself to call her Madame du Bousquier！ that
name burns my lips。〃
Athanase looked at his mother with a constrained and melancholy air；
he could not smile； but he seemed to wish to welcome that naive
sentiment which soothed his wound； though it could not cure his
anguish。
〃Mamma；〃 he said； in the voice of his childhood； so tender was it； and
using the name he had abandoned for several years；〃my dear mamma； do
not let us go out just yet； it is so pleasant here before the fire。〃
The mother heard； without comprehending； that supreme prayer of a
mortal sorrow。
〃Yes； let us stay； my child；〃 she said。 〃I like much better to talk
with you and listen to your projects than to play at boston and lose
my money。〃
〃You are so handsome to…night I love to look at you。 Besides； I am in
a current of ideas which harmonize with this poor little salon where
we have suffered so much。〃
〃And where we shall still suffer； my poor Athanase； until your works
succeed。 For myself； I am trained to poverty； but you； my treasure！ to
see your youth go by without a joy！ nothing but toil for my poor boy
in life！ That thought is like an illness to a mother； it tortures me
at night； it wakes me in the morning。 O God！ what have I done？ for
what crime dost thou punish me thus？〃
She left her sofa； took a little chair； and sat close to Athanase； so
as to lay her head on the bosom of her child。 There is always the
grace of love in true motherhood。 Athanase kissed her on the eyes； on
her gray hair； on her forehead； with the sacred desire of laying his
soul wherever he applied his lips。
〃I shall never succeed；〃 he said； trying to deceive his mother as to
the fatal resolution he was revolving in his mind。
〃Pooh！ don't get discouraged。 As you often say； thought can do all
things。 With ten bottles of ink； ten reams of paper； and his powerful
will； Luther upset all Europe。 Well； you'll make yourself famous； you
will do good things by the same means which he used to do evil things。
Haven't you said so yourself？ For my part； I listen to you； I
understand you a great deal more than you think I do；for I still
bear you in my bosom； and your every thought still stirs me as your
slightest motion did in other days。〃
〃I shall never succeed here； mamma； and I don't want you to witness
the sight of my struggles； my misery； my anguish。 Oh； mother； let me
leave Alencon！ I want to suffer away from you。〃
〃And I wish to be at your side；〃 replied his mother； proudly。 〃Suffer
without your mother！that poor mother who would be your servant if
necessary； who will efface herself rather than injure you； your
mother； who will never shame you。 No； no； Athanase； we must not part。〃
Athanase clung to his mother with the ardor of a dying man who clings
to life。
〃But I wish it； nevertheless。 If not； you will lose me； this double
grief； yours and mine； is killing me。 You would rather I lived than
died？〃
Madame Granson looked at her son with a haggard eye。
〃So this is what you have been brooding？〃 she said。 〃They told me
right。 Do you really mean to go？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You will not go without telling me； without warning me？ You must have
an outfit and money。 I have some louis sewn into my petticoat； I shall
give them to you。〃
Athanase wept。
〃That's all I wanted to tell you；〃 he said。 〃Now I'll take you to the
du Roncerets'。 Come。〃
The mother and the son went out。 Athanase left his mother at the door
of the house where she intended to pass the evening。 He looked long at
the light which came through the shutters； he clung closely to the
wall； and a frenzied joy came over him when he presently heard his
mother say； 〃He has great independence of heart。〃
〃Poor mother！ I have deceived her；〃 he cried； as he made his way to
the Sarthe。
He reached the noble poplar beneath which he had meditated so much for
the last forty days； and where he had placed two heavy stones on which
he now sat down。 He contemplated that beautiful nature lighted by the
moon； he reviewed once more the glorious future he had lo