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death the Republic appears to me more than ever under the form of a
horrible destruction of the Home。〃
〃You must pardon your niece；〃 said the Chevalier de Valois。
〃Republican ideas are the first error of youth which seeks for
liberty； later it finds it the worst of despotisms；that of an
impotent canaille。 Your poor niece is punished where she sinned。〃
〃What will become of me in a house where naked women are painted on
the walls？〃 said the poor abbe。 〃Where shall I find other lindens
beneath which to read my breviary？〃
Like Kant； who was unable to collect his thoughts after the fir…tree
at which he was accustomed to gaze while meditating was cut down； so
the poor abbe could never attain the ardor of his former prayers while
walking up and down the shadeless paths。 Du Bousquier had planted an
English garden。
〃It was best；〃 said Madame du Bousquier； without thinking so； but the
Abbe Couterier had authorized her to commit many wrongs to please her
husband。
These restorations destroyed all the venerable dignity； cordiality；
and patriarchal air of the old house。 Like the Chevalier de Valois；
whose personal neglect might be called an abdication； the bourgeois
dignity of the Cormon salon no longer existed when it was turned to
white and gold； with mahogany ottomans covered in blue satin。 The
dining…room； adorned in modern taste； was colder in tone than it used
to be； and the dinners were eaten with less appetite than formerly。
Monsieur du Coudrai declared that he felt his puns stick in his throat
as he glanced at the figures painted on the walls； which looked him
out of countenance。 Externally； the house was still provincial； but
internally everything revealed the purveyor of the Directory and the
bad taste of the money…changer；for instance； columns in stucco；
glass doors； Greek mouldings； meaningless outlines； all styles
conglomerated； magnificence out of place and out of season。
The town of Alencon gabbled for two weeks over this luxury； which
seemed unparalleled； but a few months later the community was proud of
it； and several rich manufacturers restored their houses and set up
fine salons。 Modern furniture came into the town； and astral lamps
were seen！
The Abbe de Sponde was among the first to perceive the secret
unhappiness this marriage now brought to the private life of his
beloved niece。 The character of noble simplicity which had hitherto
ruled their lives was lost during the first winter； when du Bousquier
gave two balls every month。 Oh； to hear violins and profane music at
these worldly entertainments in the sacred old house！ The abbe prayed
on his knees while the revels lasted。 Next the political system of the
sober salon was slowly perverted。 The abbe fathomed du Bousquier； he
shuddered at his imperious tone； he saw the tears in his niece's eyes
when she felt herself losing all control over her own property； for
her husband now left nothing in her hands but the management of the
linen； the table； and things of a kind which are the lot of women。
Rose had no longer any orders to give。 Monsieur's will was alone
regarded by Jacquelin； now become coachman； by Rene； the groom； and by
the chef； who came from Paris； Mariette being reduced to kitchen maid。
Madame du Bousquier had no one to rule but Josette。 Who knows what it
costs to relinquish the delights of power？ If the triumph of the will
is one of the intoxicating pleasures in the lives of great men； it is
the ALL of life to narrow minds。 One must needs have been a minister
dismissed from power to comprehend the bitter pain which came upon
Madame du Bousquier when she found herself reduced to this absolute
servitude。 She often got into the carriage against her will； she saw
herself surrounded by servants who were distasteful to her； she no
longer had the handling of her dear money；she who had known herself
free to spend money； and did not spend it。
All imposed limits make the human being desire to go beyond them。 The
keenest sufferings come from the thwarting of self…will。 The beginning
of this state of things was； however； rose…colored。 Every concession
made to marital authority was an effect of the love which the poor
woman felt for her husband。 Du Bousquier behaved； in the first
instance； admirably to his wife： he was wise； he was excellent； he
gave her the best of reasons for each new encroachment。 So for the
first two years of her marriage Madame du Bousquier appeared to be
satisfied。 She had that deliberate； demure little air which
distinguishes young women who have married for love。 The rush of blood
to her head no longer tormented her。 This appearance of satisfaction
routed the scoffers； contradicted certain rumors about du Bousquier；
and puzzled all observers of the human heart。 Rose…Marie…Victoire was
so afraid that if she displeased her husband or opposed him； she would
lose his affection and be deprived of his company； that she would
willingly have sacrificed all to him； even her uncle。 Her silly little
forms of pleasure deceived even the poor abbe for a time； who endured
his own trials all the better for thinking that his niece was happy；
after all。
Alencon at first thought the same。 But there was one man more
difficult to deceive than the whole town put together。 The Chevalier
de Valois； who had taken refuge on the Sacred Mount of the upper
aristocracy； now passed his life at the d'Esgrignons。 He listened to
the gossip and the gabble； and he thought day and night upon his
vengeance。 He meant to strike du Bousquier to the heart。
The poor abbe fully understood the baseness of this first and last
love of his niece； he shuddered as； little by little； he perceived the
hypocritical nature of his nephew and his treacherous manoeuvres。
Though du Bousquier restrained himself； as he thought of the abbe's
property； and wished not to cause him vexation； it was his hand that
dealt the blow that sent the old priest to his grave。 If you will
interpret the word INTOLERANCE as FIRMNESS OF PRINCIPLE； if you do not
wish to condemn in the catholic soul of the Abbe de Sponde the
stoicism which Walter Scott has made you admire in the puritan soul of
Jeanie Deans' father； if you are willing to recognize in the Roman
Church the Potius mori quam foedari that you admire in republican
tenets；you will understand the sorrow of the Abbe de Sponde when he
saw in his niece's salon the apostate priest； the renegade； the
pervert； the heretic； that enemy of the Church； the guilty taker of
the Constitutional oath。 Du Bousquier； whose secret ambition was to
lay down the law to the town； wished； as a first proof of his power；
to reconcile the minister of Saint…Leonard with the rector of the
parish； and he succeeded。 His wife thought he had accomplished a work
of peace where the immovable abbe saw only treachery。 The bishop came
to visit du Bousquier； and seemed glad of the cessation of
hostilities。 The virtues of the Abbe Francois had conquered pr