irrigating channels like those of La Marche and Berry indicated the
flow of water around the village by the green fringe of verdure about
them； Montegnac seemed tossed in their midst like a vessel at sea。
When a house； an estate； a village； a region； passes from the wretched
condition to a prosperous one； without becoming either rich or
splendid； life seems so easy； so natural to living beings； that the
spectator may not at once suspect the enormous labor； infinite in
petty detail； grand in persistency like the toil buried in a
foundation wall； in short； the forgotten labor on which the whole
structure rests。
Consequently the scene that lay before him told nothing extraordinary
to the young Abbe Gabriel as his eye took in the charming landscape。
He knew nothing of the state of the region before the arrival of the
rector； Monsieur Bonnet。 The young man now went on a few steps and
again saw； several hundred feet above the gardens of the upper
village； the church and the parsonage； which he had already seen from
a distance confusedly mingled with the imposing ruins clothed with
creepers of the old castle of Montegnac； one of the residences of the
Navarreins family in the twelfth century。
The parsonage； a house originally built no doubt for the bailiff or
game…keeper； was noticeable for a long raised terrace planted with
lindens from which a fine view extended over the country。 The steps
leading to this terrace and the walls which supported it showed their
great age by the ravages of time。 The flat moss which clings to stones
had laid its dragon…green carpet on each surface。 The numerous
families of the pellitories； the chamomiles； the mesembryanthemums；
pushed their varied and abundant tufts through the loop…holes in the
walls； cracked and fissured in spite of their thickness。 Botany had
lavished there its most elegant drapery of ferns of all kinds； snap…
dragons with their violet mouths and golden pistils； the blue anchusa；
the brown lichens； so that the old worn stones seemed mere accessories
peeping out at intervals from this fresh growth。 Along the terrace a
box hedge； cut into geometric figures； enclosed a pleasure garden
surrounding the parsonage； above which the rock rose like a white wall
surmounted by slender trees that drooped and swayed above it like
plumes。
The ruins of the castle looked down upon the house and church。 The
house； built of pebbles and mortar； had but one story surmounted by an
enormous sloping roof with gable ends； in which were attics； no doubt
empty； considering the dilapidation of their windows。 The ground…floor
had two rooms parted by a corridor； at the farther end of which was a
wooden staircase leading to the second floor； which also had two
rooms。 A little kitchen was at the back of the building in a yard；
where were the stable and coach…house； both unused； deserted； and
worthless。 The kitchen garden lay between the church and the house； a
ruined gallery led from the parsonage to the sacristy。
When the young abbe saw the four windows with their leaded panes； the
brown and mossy walls； the door in common pine slit like a bundle of
matches； far from being attracted by the adorable naivete of these
details； the grace of the vegetations which draped the roof and the
dilapidated wooden frames of the windows； the wealth of the clambering
plants escaping from every cranny； and the clasping tendrils of the
grape…vine which looked into every window as if to bring smiling ideas
to those within； he congratulated himself heartily on being a bishop
in perspective instead of a village rector。
This house； apparently always open； seemed to belong to everybody。 The
Abbe Gabriel entered a room communicating with the kitchen； which was
poorly furnished with an oak table on four stout legs； a tapestried
armchair； a number of chairs all of wood； and an old chest by way of
buffet。 No one was in the kitchen except a cat which revealed the
presence of a woman about the house。 The other room served as a salon。
Casting a glance about it the young priest noticed armchairs in
natural wood covered with tapestry； the woodwork and the rafters of
the ceiling were of chestnut which had turned as black as ebony。 A
tall clock in a green case painted with flowers； a table with a faded
green cloth； several chairs； two candlesticks on the chimney…piece；
between which was an Infant Jesus in wax under a glass case； completed
the furniture of the room。 The chimney…piece of wood with common
mouldings was filled by a fire…board covered by a painting
representing the Good Shepherd with a lamb over his shoulder； which
was probably the gift of some young girl；the mayor's daughter； or
the judge's daughter；in return for the pastor's care of her
education。
The forlorn condition of the house was distressing to behold； the
walls； once whitewashed； were now discolored； and stained to a man's
height by constant friction。 The staircase with its heavy baluster and
wooden steps； though very clean； looked as if it might easily give way
under the feet。 On the other side of the house； opposite to the
entrance door； another door opening upon the kitchen garden enabled
the Abbe de Rastignac to judge of the narrowness of that garden； which
was closed at the back by a wall cut in the white and friable stone
side of the mountain； against which espaliers were fastened； covered
with grape…vines and fruit…trees so ill taken care of that their
leaves were discolored with blight。
The abbe returned upon his steps and walked along the paths of the
first garden； from which he could see； in the distance beyond the
village； the magnificent stretch of valley； a true oasis at the edge
of the vast plains； which now； veiled by the light mists of morning；
lay along the horizon like a tranquil ocean。 Behind him could be seen；
on one side； for a foil； the dark masses of the bronze…green forest；
on the other； the church and the ruins of the castle perched on the
rock and vividly detached upon the blue of the ether。 The Abbe
Gabriel； his feet creaking on the gravelly paths cut in stars and
rounds and lozenges； looked down upon the village； where some of the
inhabitants were already gazing up at him； and then at the fresh； cool
valley； with its tangled paths； its river bordered with willows in
delightful contrast to the endless plain； and he was suddenly seized
with sensations which changed the nature of his thoughts； he admired
the sweet tranquillity of the place； he felt the influence of that
pure air； he was conscious of the peace inspired by the revelation of
a life brought back to Biblical simplicity； he saw； confusedly； the
beauties of this old parsonage； which he now re…entered to examine its
details with greater interest。
A little girl； employed； no doubt； to watch the house； though she was
picking and eating fruit in the garden； heard the steps of a man with
creaking shoes on the great square flags of the ground…floor rooms。
She ran in to see who it was。 Confused at being caught by a priest
with a fruit in one hand and another in her mouth； she made no answer
to the questions of the handsome young abbe。 She had never imagined
such an abbe；dapper and spruce as hands could make him； in dazzling
linen and fine black cloth without spot or wrinkle。
〃Monsieur Bonnet？〃 she said at last。 〃Monsieur Bonnet is saying mass；
and Mademoiselle Ursule is at church。〃
The Abbe Gabriel did not notice a covered way from the house to the
church； he went back to the road which led to the front portal； a
species of porch with a sloping roof that faced the village。 It was
reached by a series of disjointed stone steps； at the side of which
lay a ravine washed out by the mountain torrents and covered with
noble elms planted by Sully the Protestant。 This church； one of the
poorest in France where there are so many poor churches； was like one
of those enormous barns with projecting doors covered by roofs
supported on brick or wooden pillars。 Built； like the parsonage； of
cobblestones and mortar； flanked by a face of solid rock； and roofed
by the commonest round tiles； this church was decorated on the outside
with the richest creations of sculpture； rich in light and shade and
lavishly massed and colored by Nature； who understands such art as
well as any Michael Angelo。 Ivy clasped the walls with its nervous
tendrils； showing stems amid its foliage like the veins in a lay
figure。 This mantle； flung by Time to cover the wounds he made； was
starred by autumn flowers drooping from the crevices； which also gave
shelter to numerous singing birds。 The rose…window above the
projecting porch was adorned with blue campanula； like the first page
of an illuminated missal。 The side which communicated with the
parsonage； toward the north； was not less decorated； the wall was gray
and red with moss and lichen； but the other side and the apse； around
which lay the cemetery； was covered with a wealth of varied blooms。 A
few trees； among others an almond…treeone of the emblems of hope
had taken root in the broken wall； two enormous pines standing close
against the apsis served as lightning…rods。 The cemetery； enclosed by
a low； half…ruined wall； had for ornament an iron cross； mounted on a
pedestal and hung with box； blessed at Easter；one of those affecting
Christian thoughts forgotten in cities。 The village rector is the only
priest who； in these days； thinks to go among his dead and say to them
each Easter morn； 〃Thou shalt live again！〃 Here and there a few rotten
wooden crosses stood up from the grassy mounds。
The interior of the church harmonized perfectly with the poetic tangle
of the humble exterior； the luxury and art of which was bestowed by
Time； for once in a way charitable。 Within； the eye first went to the
roof； lined with chestnut； to which age had given the richest tints of
the oldest woods of Europe。 This roof was supported at equal distances
by strong shafts resting on transversal beams。 The four white…washed
walls had no ornament whatever。 Poverty had made the parish
iconoclastic； whether it would or not。 The church； paved and furnished
with benches； was lighted by four arched windows with leaded panes。
The altar； shaped like a tomb； was ad