wife。 The old couple had an apartment in the hotel Graslin and always
dined once or twice a week with their daughter； who； as often； made
their house in the country the object of her walks。
This enforced rest almost killed old Sauviat。 Happily； Graslin found a
means of occupying his father…in…law。 In 1823 the banker was forced to
take possession of a porcelain manufactory； to the proprietors of
which he had advanced large sums； which they found themselves unable
to repay except by the sale of their factory； which they made to him。
By the help of his business connections and by investing a large
amount of property in the concern； Graslin made it one of the finest
manufactories of Limoges ware in the town。 Afterwards he resold it at
a fine profit； meantime he placed it under the superintendence of his
father…in…law； who； in spite of his seventy…two years； counted for
much in the return of prosperity to the establishment； who himself
renewed his youth in the employment。 Graslin was then able to attend
to his legitimate business of banking without anxiety as to the
manufactory。
Sauviat died in 1827 from an accident。 While taking account of stock
he fell into a /charasse/；a sort of crate with an open grating in
which the china was packed； his leg was slightly injured； so slightly
that he paid no attention to it； gangrene set in； he would not consent
to amputation； and therefore died。 The widow gave up about two hundred
and fifty thousand francs which came to her from Sauviat's estate；
reserving only a stipend of two hundred francs a month； which amply
sufficed for her wants。 Graslin bound himself to pay her that sum
duly。 She kept her little house in the country； and lived there alone
without a servant and against the remonstrances of her daughter； who
could not induce her to alter this determination； to which she clung
with the obstinacy peculiar to old persons。 Madame Sauviat came nearly
every day into Limoges to see her daughter； and the latter still
continued to make her mother's house； from which was a charming view
of the river； the object of her walks。 From the road leading to it
could be seen that island long loved by Veronique and called by her
the Ile de France。
In order not to complicate our history of the Graslin household with
the foregoing incidents； we have thought it best to end that of the
Sauviats by anticipating events； which are moreover useful as
explaining the private and hidden life which Madame Graslin now led。
The old mother； noticing that Graslin's miserliness； which returned
upon him； might hamper her daughter； was for some time unwilling to
resign the property left to her by her husband。 But Veronique； unable
to imagine a case in which a woman might desire the use of her own
property； urged it upon her mother with reasons of great generosity；
and out of gratitude to Graslin for restoring to her the liberty and
freedom of a young girl。 But this is anticipating。
The unusual splendor which accompanied Graslin's marriage had
disturbed all his habits and constantly annoyed him。 The mind of the
great financier was a very small one。 Veronique had had no means of
judging the man with whom she was to pass her life。 During his fifty…
five visits he had let her see nothing but the business man； the
indefatigable worker； who conceived and sustained great enterprises；
and analyzed public affairs； bringing them always to the crucial test
of the Bank。 Fascinated by the million offered to him by Sauviat； he
showed himself generous by calculation。 Carried away by the interests
of his marriage and by what he called his 〃folly；〃 namely； the house
which still goes by the name of the hotel Graslin； he did things on a
large scale。 Having bought horses； a caleche； and a coupe； he
naturally used them to return the wedding visits and go to those
dinners and balls； called the 〃retours de noces；〃 which the heads of
the administration and the rich families of Limoges gave to the newly
married pair。 Under this impulsion； which carried him entirely out of
his natural sphere； Graslin sent to Paris for a man…cook and took a
reception day。 For a year he kept the pace of a man who possesses a
fortune of sixteen hundred thousand francs； and he became of course
the most noted personage in Limoges。 During this year he generously
put into his wife's purse every month twenty…five gold pieces of
twenty francs each。
Society concerned itself much about Veronique from the day of her
marriage； for she was a boon to its curiosity； which has little to
feed on in the provinces。 Veronique was all the more studied because
she had appeared in the social world like a phenomenon； but once
there； she remained always simple and modest； in the attitude of a
person who is observing habits； customs； manners； things unknown to
her； and endeavoring to conform to them。 Already voted ugly but well…
shaped； she was now declared kindly but stupid。 She was learning so
many things； she had so much to hear and to see that her looks and
speech did certainly give some reason for this judgment。 She showed a
sort of torpor which resembled lack of mind。 Marriage； that hard
calling； as she said； for which the Church； the Code； and her mother
exhorted her to resignation and obedience； under pain of transgressing
all human laws and causing irreparable evil； threw her into a dazed
and dizzy condition； which amounted sometimes to a species of inward
delirium。
Silent and self…contained； she listened as much to herself as she did
to others。 Feeling within her the most violent 〃difficulty of
existing；〃 to use an expression of Fontenelle's； which was constantly
increasing； she became terrified at herself。 Nature resisted the
commands of the mind； the body denied the will。 The poor creature；
caught in the net； wept on the breast of that great Mother of the poor
and the afflicted；she went for comfort to the Church； her piety
redoubled； she confided the assaults of the demon to her confessor；
she prayed to heaven for succor。 Never； at any period of her life； did
she fulfil her religious duties with such fervor。 The despair of not
loving her husband flung her violently at the foot of the altar； where
divine and consolatory voices urged her to patience。 She was patient；
she was gentle； and she continued to live on； hoping always for the
happiness of maternity。
〃Did you notice Madame Graslin this morning？〃 the women would say to
each other。 〃Marriage doesn't agree with her； she is actually green。〃
〃Yes；〃 some of them would reply； 〃but would you give your daughter to
a man like Graslin？ No woman could marry him with impunity。〃
Now that Graslin was married； all the mothers who had courted him for
ten years past pursued him with sarcasms。
Veronique grew visibly thinner and really ugly； her eyes looked weary；
her features coarsened； her manner was shy and awkward； she acquired
that air of cold and melancholy rigidity for which the ultra…pious are
so often blamed。 Her skin took on a grayish tone； she dragged herself
languidly about during this first year of married life； ordinarily so
brilliant for a young wife。 She tried to divert her mind by reading；
profiting by the liberty of married women to read what they please。
She read the novels of Walter Scott； the poems of Lord Byron； the
works of Schiller and of Goethe； and much else of modern and also
ancient literature。 She learned to ride a horse； and to dance and to
draw。 She painted water…colors and made sepia sketches； turning
ardently to all those resources which women employ to bear the
weariness of their solitude。 She gave herself that second education
which most women derive from a man； but which she derived from herself
only。
The natural superiority of a free； sincere spirit； brought up； as it
were in a desert and strengthened by religion； had given her a sort of
untrammelled grandeur and certain needs； to which the provincial world
she lived in offered no sustenance。 All books pictured Love to her；
and she sought for the evidence of its existence； but nowhere could
she see the passion of which she read。 Love was in her heart； like
seeds in the earth； awaiting the action of the sun。 Her deep
melancholy； caused by constant meditation on herself； brought her back
by hidden by…ways to the brilliant dreams of her girlish days。 Many a
time she must have lived again that old romantic poem； making herself
both the actor and the subject of it。 Again she saw that island bathed
in light； flowery； fragrant； caressing to her soul。 Often her pallid
eyes wandered around a salon with piercing curiosity。 The men were all
like Graslin。 She studied them； and then she seemed to question their
wives； but nothing on the faces of those women revealed an inward
anguish like to hers； and she returned home sad and gloomy and
distressed about herself。 The authors she had read in the morning
answered to the feelings in her soul； their thoughts pleased her； but
at night she heard only empty words； not even presented in a lively
way；dull； empty； foolish conversations in petty local matters； or
personalities of no interest to her。 She was often surprised at the
heat displayed in discussions which concerned no feeling or sentiment
to her the essence of existence； the soul of life。
Often she was seen with fixed eyes； mentally absorbed； thinking no
doubt of the days of her youthful ignorance spent in that chamber full
of harmonies now forever passed away。 She felt a horrible repugnance
against dropping into the gulf of pettiness in which the women among
whom she lived were floundering。 This repugnance； stamped on her
forehead； on her lips； and ill…disguised； was taken for the insolence
of a parvenue。 Madame Graslin began to observe on all faces a certain
coldness； she felt in all remarks an acrimony； the causes of which
were unknown to her； for she had no intimate friend to enlighten or
advise her。 Injustice； which angers little minds； brings loftier souls
to question themselves； and communicates a species of humility to
them。 Veronique condemned herself； endeavoring to see her own faults。
She tried to be affable； they called her false。 She grew more gentle
still； they said she was a hypocrite； and her pious d