Part 10 (1/2)
The shadowy outline stood forth more clearly.
He recognized his servant.
--Why the shame? she said.
XXII.
THE SERVANT.
”I have already said that dame Jacinthe although little superannuated, had still kept her bloom. It is true that she spared nothing to preserve it: besides taking a clyster every day, she swallowed some excellent jelly during the day and on going to bed.”
LE SAGE (_Gil-Blas_).
She looked at him fixedly with burning, feverish eyes.
She was a l.u.s.ty la.s.s, already arrived at the age of discretion, as Le Sage says, that is to say, she had pa.s.sed her fortieth year, the canonical period for the servants of Cures, but was fair and fresh still, in spite of some wrinkles and her hair growing gray. She possessed that modest and appetizing plumpness, somewhat rare among mature virgins, the sign of a quiet conscience, a good digestion and feelings satisfied.
What pious souls call holiness exuded from every pore: cast-down eyes, chaste deportment, gentle movements. She did not walk, she glided over the ground as if she already felt the wings of seraphim hanging on her shoulders; she did not speak, she murmured unctuous words with a soft, low, mysterious voice like a prayer. When she said: ”Would Monsieur le Cure he pleased to come to breakfast? Perhaps Monsieur le Cure could eat a boiled egg?” or ”Ah! the sermon which Monsieur le Cure has been pleased to give has gone to my heart!” it was in the same tone as she would say: ”_Lamb of G.o.d which takest away the sins of the world_....” and one was tempted to answer: _Kyrie eleison_.
And she wiped her moist eyelid, and cast on her master her veiled, long, silent look.
She said so well: ”my duty,” ”I wish to do my duty,” that one felt filled with admiration for this holy maid.
Oh! divine modesty, perfume of woman, sweet enchantment which gently penetrates the heart of man, ready always to unfold.
Besides, what hearts had unfolded for her! what ravages had been caused by her austere deportment and her substantial charms. More than one buxom village lad had made warm proposals with honourable intentions, and the gallant corporal of gendarmes had tried on several occasions to enter upon this delicate subject with her.
But she had willed to remain a maid and virtuous, and vowed herself body and soul to the service of the Church, to the glory of G.o.d, and the fortune of her pastor.
She approached the hearth with slow steps, blew on the embers, relighted the lamp, and placing it so as to throw the light on her master's face, she said to him anxiously:
--You are in pain, are you not?
--You were there then? said the Cure dissatisfied.
--Yes, she answered him with the affectionate tone of a mother, I was there, pardon me; I was going to bed, and I heard you talking aloud, there was no light; I feared you were ill, and I ventured to come in.
--And you have heard?
--I have heard that you were not happy, that is all.
--No one is happy in this world, Veronica.
--Yes, we are so only in the other, I know that. And yet happiness is so easy.
The Cure put his head between his hands without replying.