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yesterday； in this house； an ecclesiastic； as admirable for his
talents as for his virtues； after making a magnificent eulogy of my
son； expressed the desire to know him。〃
〃Parbleu！ yes； to convert him；〃 said Brigitte。 〃But as for this
marriage； I am sorry to tell you that the mustard is made too late for
the dinner； Thuillier will never renounce his la Peyrade。〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said Phellion； rising； 〃I feel no humiliation for the
useless step I have this day taken； I do not even ask you to keep it
secret； for I shall myself mention it to our friends and
acquaintances。〃
〃Tell it to whom you like； my good man；〃 replied Brigitte；
acrimoniously。 〃Because your son has discovered a star；if； indeed；
he did discover it； and not that old fool the government decorateddo
you expect him to marry a daughter of the King of the French？〃
〃Enough；〃 said Phellion； 〃we will say no more。 I might answer that；
without depreciating the Thuilliers； the Orleans family seems to me
more distinguished； but I do not like to introduce acerbity into the
conversation； and therefore； begging you to receive the assurance of
my humble respects； I retire。〃
So saying； he made his exit majestically； and left Brigitte with the
arrow of his comparison； discharged after the manner of the Parthian
〃in extremis；〃 sticking in her mind； and she herself in a temper all
the more savage because already； the evening before； Madame Thuillier；
after the guests were gone； had the incredible audacity to say
something in favor of Felix。 Needless to relate that the poor helot
was roughly put down and told to mind her own business。 But this
attempt at a will of her own in her sister…in…law had already put the
old maid in a vile humor； and Phellion； coming to reopen the subject；
exasperated her。 Josephine； the cook； and the 〃male domestic；〃
received the after…clap of the scene which had just taken place。
Brigitte found that in her absence everything had been done wrong； and
putting her own hand to the work； she hoisted herself on a chair； at
the risk of her neck； to reach the upper shelves of the closet； where
her choicest china； for gala days； was carefully kept under lock and
key。
This day； which for Brigitte began so ill； was； beyond all gainsaying；
one of the stormiest and most portentous of this narrative。
CHAPTER XIV
A STORMY DAY
As an exact historian； we must go back and begin the day at six in the
morning； when we can see Madame Thuillier going to the Madeleine to
hear the mass that the Abbe Gondrin was in the habit of saying at that
hour； and afterwards approaching the holy table；a viaticum which
pious souls never fail to give themselves when it is in their minds to
accomplish some great resolution。
About mid…day the abbe received a visit in his own home from Madame
Thuillier and Celeste。 The poor child wanted a little development of
the words by which the priest had given security； the evening before；
in Brigitte's salon； for the eternal welfare of Felix Phellion。 It
seemed strange to the mind of this girl…theologian that； without
practising religion； a soul could be received into grace by the divine
justice； for surely the anathema is clear： Out of the Church there is
no salvation。
〃My dear child；〃 said the Abbe Gondrin； 〃learn to understand that
saying which seems to you so inexplicable。 It is more a saying of
thanksgiving for those who have the happiness to live within the pale
of our holy mother the Church than a malediction upon those who have
the misfortune to live apart from her。 God sees to the depths of all
hearts； He knows His elect； and so great is the treasure of His
goodness that to none is it given to limit its riches and its
munificence。 Who shall dare to say to God： Thou wilt be generous and
munificent so far and no farther。 Jesus Christ forgave the woman in
adultery； and on the cross He promised heaven to a thief； in order to
prove to us that He deals with men； not according to human sentiments；
but according to HIS wisdom and HIS mercy。 He who thinks himself a
Christian may be in the eyes of God an idolator； and another who is
thought a pagan may； by his feelings and his actions be； without his
own knowledge； a Christian。 Our holy religion has this that is divine
about it； all grandeur； all heroism are but the practice of its
precepts。 I was saying yesterday to Monsieur de la Peyrade that pure
souls must be； in course of time； its inevitable conquest。 It is all…
important to give them their just credit； that is a confidence which
returns great dividends； and； besides； charity commands it。〃
〃Ah！ my God！〃 cried Celeste； 〃to learn that too late！ I； who could
have chosen between Felix and Monsieur de la Peyrade； and did not dare
to follow the ideas of my heart！ Oh！ Monsieur l'abbe； couldn't you
speak to my mother？ Your advice is always listened to。〃
〃Impossible； my dear child；〃 replied the vicar。 〃If I had the
direction of Madame Colleville's conscience I might perhaps say a
word； but we are so often accused of meddling imprudently in family
matters！ Be sure that my intervention here； without authority or
right； would do you more harm than good。 It is for you and for those
who love you；〃 he added； giving a look to Madame Thuillier； 〃to see if
these arrangements； already so far advanced； could be changed in the
direction of your wishes。〃
It was written that the poor child was to drink to the dregs the cup
she had herself prepared by her intolerance。 As the abbe finished
speaking； his housekeeper came in to ask if he would receive Monsieur
Felix Phellion。 Thus； like the Charter of 1830； Madame de Godollo's
officious falsehood was turned into truth。
〃Go this way；〃 he said hastily； showing his two penitents out by a
private corridor。
Life has such strange encounters that it does sometimes happen that
the same form of proceeding must be used by courtesans and by the men
of God。
〃Monsieur l'abbe；〃 said Felix to the young vicar as soon as they met；
〃I have heard of the kind manner in which you were so very good as to
speak of me in Monsieur Thuillier's salon last night； and I should
have hastened to express my gratitude if another interest had not
drawn me to you。〃
The Abbe Gondrin passed hastily over the compliments； eager to know in
what way he could be useful to his fellow…man。
〃With an intention that I wish to think kindly；〃 replied Felix； 〃you
were spoken to yesterday about the state of my soul。 Those who read it
so fluently know more than I do about my inner being； for； during the
last few days I have felt strange； inexplicable feelings within me。
Never have I doubted God； but； in contact with that infinitude where
he has permitted my thought to follow the traces of his work I seem to
have gathered a sense of him less vague； more immediate； and this has
led me to ask myself whether an honest and upright life is the only
homage which his omnipotence expects of me。 Nevertheless； there are
numberless objections rising in my mind against the worship of which
you are the minister； while sensible of the beauty of its external
form in many of its precepts and practices； I find myself deterred by
my reason。 I shall have paid dearly； perhaps by the happiness of my
whole life； for the slowness and want of vigor which I have shown in
seeking the solution of my doubts。 I have now decided to search to the
bottom of them。 No one so well as you； Monsieur l'abbe； can help me to
solve them。 I have come with confidence to lay them before you； to ask
you to listen to me； to answer me； and to tell me by what studies I
can pursue the search for light。 It is a cruelly afflicted soul that
appeals to you。 Is not that a good ground for the seed of your word？〃
The Abbe Gondrin eagerly protested the joy with which； notwithstanding
his own insufficiency； he would undertake to reply to the scruples of
conscience in the young savant。 After asking him for a place in his
friendship； and telling him to come at certain hours for conversation；
he asked him to read； as a first step； the 〃Thoughts〃 of Pascal。 A
natural affinity； on the side of science； would； he believed； be
established between the spirit of Pascal and that of the young
mathematician。
While this scene was passing； a scene to which the greatness of the
interests in question and the moral and intellectual elevation of the
personages concerned in it gave a character of grandeur which； like
all reposeful； tranquil aspects； is easier far to comprehend than to
reproduce； another scene； of sharp and bitter discord； that chronic
malady of bourgeois households； where the pettiness of minds and
passions gives open way to it； was taking place in the Thuillier home。
Mounted upon her chair； her hair in disorder and her face and fingers
dirty； Brigitte； duster in hand； was cleaning the shelves of the
closet； where she was replacing her library of plates； dishes； and
sauce…boats； when Flavie came in and accosted her。
〃Brigitte；〃 she said； 〃when you have finished what you are about you
had better come down to our apartment； or else I'll send Celeste to
you； she seems to me to be inclined to make trouble。〃
〃In what way？〃 asked Brigitte； continuing to dust。
〃I t