was not pleasing。 None but those to whom the miracles of thought；
faith； art are known could adore that flaming gaze of the martyr； that
pallor of constancy； that voice of love；distinctive characteristics
of this village rector。
This man； worthy of the primitive Church； which exists no longer
except in the pictures of the sixteenth century and in the pages of
Martyrology； was stamped with the die of the human greatness which
most nearly approaches the divine greatness through Conviction；that
indefinable something which embellishes the commonest form； gilds with
glowing tints the faces of men vowed to any worship； no matter what；
and brings into the face of a woman glorified by a noble love a sort
of light。 CONVICTION is human will attaining to its highest reach。 At
once both cause and effect； it impresses the coldest natures； it is a
species of mute eloquence which holds the masses。
Coming down from the altar the rector caught the eye of the Abbe
Gabriel and recognized him； so that when the bishop's secretary
reached the sacristy Ursule； to whom her master had already given
orders； was waiting for him with a request that he would follow her。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Ursule； a woman of canonical age； conducting the Abbe
de Rastignac by the gallery through the garden； 〃Monsieur Bonnet told
me to ask if you had breakfasted。 You must have left Limoges very
early to get here by ten o'clock。 I will soon have breakfast ready for
you。 Monsieur l'abbe will not find a table like that of Monseigneur
the bishop in this poor village； but we will do the best we can。
Monsieur Bonnet will soon be in； he has gone to comfort those poor
people； the Tascherons。 Their son has met with a terrible end to…day。〃
〃But；〃 said the Abbe Gabriel； when he could get in a word； 〃where is
the house of those worthy persons？ I must take Monsieur Bonnet at once
to Limoges by order of the bishop。 That unfortunate man will not be
executed to…day； Monseigneur has obtained a reprieve for him。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Ursule； whose tongue itched to spread the news about
the village； 〃monsieur has plenty of time to carry them that comfort
while I get breakfast ready。 The Tascherons' house is beyond the
village； follow the path below that terrace and it will take you
there。〃
As soon as Ursule lost sight of the abbe she went down into the
village to disseminate the news； and also to buy the things needed for
the breakfast。
The rector had been informed； while in church； of a desperate
resolution taken by the Tascherons as soon as they heard that Jean…
Francois's appeal was rejected and that he had to die。 These worthy
souls intended to leave the country； and their worldly goods were to
be sold that very morning。 Delays and formalities unexpected by them
had hitherto postponed the sale。 They had been forced to remain in
their home until the execution； and drink each day the cup of shame。
This determination had not been made public until the evening before
the day appointed for the execution。 The Tascherons had expected to
leave before that fatal day； but the proposed purchaser of their
property was a stranger in those parts； and was prevented from
clinching the bargain by a delay in obtaining the money。 Thus the
hapless family were forced to bear their trouble to its end。 The
feeling which prompted this expatriation was so violent in these
simple souls； little accustomed to compromise with their consciences；
that the grandfather and grandmother； the father and the mother； the
daughters and their husbands and the sons； in short； all who bore and
had borne the name of Tascheron or were closely allied to it made
ready to leave the country。
This emigration grieved the whole community。 The mayor entreated the
rector to do his best to retain these worthy people。 According to the
new Code the father was not responsible for the son； and the crime of
the father was no disgrace to the children。 Together with other
emancipations which have weakened paternal power； this system has led
to the triumph of individualism； which is now permeating the whole of
modern society。 He who thinks on the things of the future sees the
spirit of family destroyed； where the makers of the new Code have
introduced freedom of will and equality。 The Family must always be the
basis of society。 Necessarily temporary； incessantly divided；
recomposed to dissolve again； without ties between the future and the
past； it cannot fulfil that mission； the Family of the olden time no
longer exists in France。 Those who have proceeded to demolish the
ancient edifice have been logical in dividing equally the family
property； in diminishing the authority of the father； in suppressing
great responsibilities； but is the reconstructed social state as
solid； with its young laws still untried； as it was under a monarchy；
in spite of the old abuses？ In losing the solidarity of families；
society has lost that fundamental force which Montesquieu discovered
and named HONOR。 It has isolated interests in order to subjugate them；
it has sundered all to enfeeble all。 Society reigns over units； over
single figures agglomerated like grains of corn in a heap。 Can the
general interests of all take the place of Family？ Time alone can
answer that question。
Nevertheless； the old law still exists； its roots have struck so deep
that you will find it still living； as we find perennials in polar
regions。 Remote places are still to be found in the provinces where
what are now called prejudices exist； where the family suffers in the
crime of a child or a father。
This sentiment made the place uninhabitable any longer to the
Tascherons。 Their deep religious feeling took them to church that
morning； for how could they let the mass be offered to God asking Him
to inspire their son with repentance that alone could restore to him
life eternal； and not share in it？ Besides； they wished to bid
farewell to the village altar。 But their minds were made up and their
plans already carried out。 When the rector who followed them from
church reached the principal house he found their bags and bundles
ready for the journey。 The purchaser of the property was there with
the money。 The notary had drawn up the papers。 In the yard behind the
house was a carriole ready harnessed to carry away the older couple
with the money； and the mother of Jean…Francois。 The remainder of the
family were to go on foot by night。
At the moment when the young abbe entered the low room in which the
family were assembled the rector of Montegnac had exhausted all the
resources of his eloquence。 The old pair； now insensible to the
violence of grief； were crouching in a corner on their bags and
looking round on their old hereditary home； its furniture； and the new
purchaser； and then upon each other as if to say：
〃Did we ever think this thing could happen？〃
These old people； who had long resigned their authority to their son；
the father of the criminal； were； like kings on their abdication；
reduced to the passive role of subjects and children。 Tascheron； the
father； was standing up； he listened to the pastor； and replied to him
in a low voice and by monosyllables。 This man； who was about forty…
eight years of age； had the noble face which Titian has given to so
many of his Apostles；a countenance full of faith； of grave and
reflective integrity； a stern profile； a nose cut in a straight and
projecting line； blue eyes； a noble brow； regular features； black；
crisp； wiry hair； planted on his head with that symmetry which gives a
charm to these brown faces； bronzed by toil in the open air。 It was
easy to see that the rector's appeals were powerless against that
inflexible will。
Denise was leaning against the bread…box； looking at the notary； who
was using that receptacle as a writing…table； seated before it in the
grandmother's armchair。 The purchaser was sitting on a stool beside
him。 The married sisters were laying a cloth upon the table； and
serving the last meal the family were to take in its own house before
expatriating itself to other lands and other skies。 The sons were
half…seated on the green serge bed。 The mother； busy beside the fire；
was beating an omelet。 The grandchildren crowded the doorway； before
which stood the incoming family of the purchaser。
The old smoky room with its blackened rafters； through the window of
which was visible a well…kept garden planted by the two old people；
seemed in harmony with the pent…up anguish which could be read on all
their faces in diverse expressions。 The meal was chiefly prepared for
the notary； the purchaser； the menkind； and the children。 The father
and mother； Denise and her sisters； were too unhappy to eat。 There was
a lofty； stern resignation in the accomplishment of these last duties
of rustic hospitality。 The Tascherons； men of the olden time； ended
their days in that house as they had begun them； by doing its honors。
This scene； without pretension； though full of solemnity； met the eyes
of the bishop's secretary when he approached the village rector to
fulfil the prelate's errand。
〃The son of these good people still lives；〃 said Gabriel。
At these words； heard by all in the deep silence； the two old people
rose to their feet as if the last trump had sounded。 The mother
dropped her pan upon the fire； Denise gave a cry of joy； all the
others stood by in petrified astonishment。
〃Jean…Francois is pardoned！〃 cried the whole village； now rushing
toward the house； having heard the news from Ursule。 〃Monseigneur the
bishop〃
〃I knew he was innocent！〃 cried the mother。
〃Will it hinder the purchase？〃 said the purchaser to the notary； who
answered with a satisfying gesture。
The Abbe Gabriel was now the centre of all eyes； his sadness raised a
suspicion of mistake。 To avoid correcting it himself； he left the
house； followed by the rector； and said to the crowd outside that the
execution was only postponed for some days。 The uproar subsided
instantly into dreadful silence。 When the Abbe Gabriel and the rector
returned； the expression on the faces of the family was full of
anguish； the silence of the crowd was understood。
〃My friends； Jean…Francois is not pardoned；〃 said the young abbe；