still； they said she was a hypocrite； and her pious devotion helped on
the calumny。 She spent money； gave dinners and balls； and they taxed
her with pride。
Unsuccessful in all these attempts； unjustly judged； rebuffed by the
petty and tormenting pride which characterizes provincial society；
where each individual is armed with pretensions and their attendant
uneasiness； Madame Graslin fell back into utter solitude。 She returned
with eagerness to the arms of the Church。 Her great soul； clothed with
so weak a flesh； showed her the multiplied commandments of Catholicism
as so many stones placed for protection along the precipices of life；
so many props brought by charitable hands to sustain human weakness on
its weary way； and she followed； with greater rigor than ever； even
the smallest religious practices。
On this the liberals of the town classed Madame Graslin among the
/devotes/； the ultras。 To the different animosities Veronique had
innocently acquired； the virulence of party feeling now added its
periodical exasperation。 But as this ostracism took nothing really
from her； she quietly left society and lived in books which offered
her such infinite resources。 She meditated on what she read； she
compared systems； she widened immeasurably the horizons of her
intellect and the extent of her education； in this way she opened the
gates of her soul to curiosity。
During this period of resolute study； in which religion supported and
maintained her mind； she obtained the friendship of Monsieur
Grossetete； one of those old men whose mental superiority grows rusty
in provincial life； but who； when they come in contact with an eager
mind； recover something of their former brilliancy。 The good man took
an earnest interest in Veronique； who； to reward him for the
flattering warmth of heart which old men show to those they like；
displayed before him； and for the first time in her life； the
treasures of her soul and the acquirements of her mind； cultivated so
secretly； and now full of blossom。 An extract from a letter written by
her about this time to Monsieur Grossetete will show the condition of
the mind of a woman who was later to give signal proofs of a firm and
lofty nature：
〃The flowers you sent me for the ball were charming； but they
suggested harsh reflections。 Those pretty creatures gathered by
you； and doomed to wilt upon my bosom to adorn a fete； made me
think of others that live and die unseen in the depths of your
woods； their fragrance never inhaled by any one。 I asked myself
why I was dancing there； why I was decked with flowers； just as I
ask God why he has placed me to live in this world。
〃You see； my friend； all is a snare to the unhappy； the smallest
matter brings the sick mind back to its woes； but the greatest
evil of certain woes is the persistency which makes them a fixed
idea pervading our lives。 A constant sorrow ought rather to be a
divine inspiration。 You love flowers for themselves； whereas I
love them as I love to listen to fine music。 So； as I was saying；
the secret of a mass of things escapes me。 You； my old friend； you
have a passion；that of the horticulturist。 When you return to
town inspire me with that taste； so that I may rush to my
greenhouse with eager feet； as you go to yours to watch the
development of your plants； to bud and bloom with them； to admire
what you create；the new colors； the unexpected varieties； which
expand and grow beneath your eyes by the virtue of your care。
〃My greenhouse； the one I watch； is filled with suffering souls。
The miseries I try to lessen sadden my heart； and when I take them
upon myself； when； after finding some young woman without clothing
for her babe； some old man wanting bread； I have supplied their
needs； the emotions their distress and its relief have caused me
do not suffice my soul。 Ah； friend； I feel within me untold powers
for evil； possibly；which nothing can lower； which the sternest
commands of our religion are unable to abase！ Sometimes； when I go
to see my mother； walking alone among the fields； I want to cry
aloud； and I do so。 It seems to me that my body is a prison in
which some evil genius is holding a shuddering creature while
awaiting the mysterious words which are to burst its obstructive
form。
〃But that comparison is not a just one。 In me it seems to be the
body that seeks escape； if I may say so。 Religion fills my soul；
books and their riches occupy my mind。 Why； then； do I desire some
anguish which shall destroy the enervating peace of my existence？
〃Oh； if some sentiment； some mania that I could cultivate； does
not come into my life； I feel I shall sink at last into the gulf
where all ideas are dulled； where character deteriorates； motives
slacken； virtues lose their backbone； and all the forces of the
soul are scattered；a gulf in which I shall no longer be the
being Nature meant me to be！
〃This is what my bitter complainings mean。 But do not let them
hinder you from sending me those flowers。 Your friendship is so
soothing and so full of loving kindness that it has for the last
few months almost reconciled me to myself。 Yes； it makes me happy
to have you cast a glance upon my soul； at once so barren and so
full of bloom； and I am thankful for every gentle word you say to
one who rides the phantom steed of dreams； and returns worn…out。〃
At the end of the third year of his married life； Graslin； observing
that his wife no longer used her horses； and finding a good market for
them； sold them。 He also sold the carriages； sent away the coachman；
let the bishop have his man…cook； and contented himself with a woman。
He no longer gave the monthly sum to his wife； telling her that he
would pay all bills。 He thought himself the most fortunate of husbands
in meeting no opposition whatever to these proceedings from the woman
who had brought him a million of francs as a dowry。 Madame Graslin；
brought up from childhood without ever seeing money； or being made to
feel that it was an indispensable element in life； deserved no praise
whatever for this apparent generosity。 Graslin even noticed in a
corner of the secretary all the sums he had ever given her； less the
money she had bestowed in charity or spent upon her dress； the cost of
which was much lessened by the profusion of her wedding trousseau。
Graslin boasted of Veronique to all Limoges as being a model wife。 He
next regretted the money spent on the house； and he ordered the
furniture to be all packed away or covered up。 His wife's bedroom；
dressing…room； and boudoir were alone spared from these protective
measures； which protect nothing； for furniture is injured just as much
by being covered up as by being left uncovered。 Graslin himself lived
almost entirely on the ground…floor of the house； where he had his
office； and resumed his old business habits with avidity。 He thought
himself an excellent husband because he went upstairs to breakfast and
dined with his wife； but his unpunctuality was so great that it was
not more than ten times a month that he began a meal with he； he had
exacted； out of courtesy； that she should never wait for him。
Veronique did； however； always remain in the room while her husband
took his meals； serving him herself； that she might at least perform
voluntarily some of the visible obligations of a wife。
The banker； to whom the things of marriage were very indifferent； and
who had seen nothing in his wife but seven hundred and fifty thousand
francs； had never once perceived Veronique's repugnance to him。 Little
by little he now abandoned Madame Graslin for his business。 When he
wished to put a bed in the room adjoining his office on the ground…
floor； Veronique hastened to comply with the request。 So that three
years after their marriage these two ill…assorted beings returned to
their original estate； each equally pleased and happy to do so。 The
moneyed man； possessing eighteen hundred thousand francs； returned
with all the more eagerness to his old avaricious habits because he
had momentarily quitted them。 His two clerks and the office…boy were
better lodged and rather better fed； and that was the only difference
between the present and the past。 His wife had a cook and maid （two
indispensable servants）； but except for the actual necessities of
life； not a penny left his coffers for his household。
Happy in the turn which things were now taking； Veronique saw in the
evident satisfaction of the banker the absolution for this separation
which she would never have asked for herself。 She had no conception
that she was as disagreeable to Graslin as Graslin was repulsive to
her。 This secret divorce made her both sad and joyful。 She had always
looked to motherhood for an interest in life； but up to this time
（1828） the couple had had no prospect of a family。
IV
THE HISTORY OF MANY MARRIED WOMEN IN THE PROVINCES
So now； in her magnificent house and envied for her wealth by all the
town； Madame Graslin recovered the solitude of her early years in her
father's house； less the glow of hope and the youthful joys of
ignorance。 She lived among the ruins of her castles in the air；
enlightened by sad experience； sustained by religious faith； occupied
by the care of the poor； whom she loaded with benefits。 She made
clothes for the babies； gave mattresses and sheets to those who slept
on straw； she went among the poor herself； followed by her maid； a
girl from Auvergne whom her mother procured for her； and who attached
herself body and soul to her mistress。 Veronique made an honorable spy
of her； sending her to discover the places where suffering could be
stilled； poverty softened。
This active benevolence； carried on with strict attention to religious
duties； was hidden in the deepest secrecy and directed by the various
rectors in the town； with whom Veronique had a full understanding in
all her charitable deeds； so as not to suffer the money so needed for
unmerited misfortunes to fall into the hands of vice。 It was during
this period of her life that she won a friendship quite as strong and
quite as precious as that of old Gr