Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

77777 rnilTKAIT 7.V MY I'XCLE'f* DI\IM'!-H< KIM.
f tlio o'oVv then touched their hats, but them wero few
't. Notwithstanding
tin- privileges of the nobility, the seat of
. nor still existed in the old parish church.
autit'ul piece of onken wood-work, with a very high
buck, surmounted by a canopy. The panels were elaborately
1. mid each compartment bore the- shield of the Malpeirea,
mill their haughty motto, the Proveneal words, Fuero un d> u>ni,
' Xo one except one. '
As I went up the nave I observed against
one of the pillars a picture worked in tapestry. It was an ex
ri'/n. Imperfect as was the execution, it was easy enough to
nize the scene it was intended to represent. A funeral
-siou was halting at the Pass of Malpeire; a coffin stood
on the ledge of a rock, and a priest, with his hands upraised,
iziug on the young girl who had just lifted up her shroud.
ne de Malpeire saw that I was looking at that simple
rial, and with a sudden burst of feeling she said, glancing
at her daughter, '
They were actually going to bury her alive !'
' And God restored her to you in a miraculous manner,' I re-
spread over the stone floor. We thus formed a separate group
between the sanctuary and the nave, which was filled with the
villagers and strangers. Our arrival had occasioned a little
agitation amongst the crowd. When the Baronne had walked
up the aisle, smiling in a condescending manner, her feathers
waving to and fro, and her high-heeled shoes resounding on
the pavement, every face had been turned towards her with a
open character. Notwithstanding the sanctity of the place,
murmurs rose amongst the congregation. At this unexpected
demonstration, Madame de Malpeire, who was quietly reading
Lu her prayer-book, looked up surprised, and said to her daugh-
ter, ' What do they want, I wonder ?'
' That everybody should
pray to God without distinction of rank,' Mile, de Malpeire
answered in an excited tone. The Baron was looking very pale,
aud scanned the crowd with a haughty and frowning counte-
nance. Fortunately, the priest with his acolytes appeared at
that moment, and when he went up to the altar the the lower end of the church knelt down in silence.
people at
About a
dozen young men, however, advanced towards the chancel,
genuflected as they passed before the altar, and then stood together
side by side opposite the Baron's seat. He whispered
'They have a right to stand there. From time inrnaenion;;l
the Abbat, that is, the prince of the young men, and his
companions occupy the place on St. Lazarus' day.'
" These youths had all green sprigs in their hats, and a sort
.mage, and I could hardly conceal the agitation with
which I awnited the accomplishment of that formality.
Madame de Malpeire seemed to have no misgivings, though
she hud not chosen to inform her daughter of what was about
.1: place. She looked at me from time to time with a
. as if to congratulate me on my happiness. At last the
!, with a paper in his hand, read in a lord voice from the
in the midst of a profound silence : 'There is a promise
of marriage between the very excellent and illustrious lord
Mnximin de Monville, Count of Clinmpnubrrt, :nid the very
excellent and illustrious lady, Madeleine Marie de Malpeire.'
murmurs rose in the body of the church, provoked this
time by the sound of those titles and high-sounding appellations.
I looked anxiously at, Mile, de Malpeire. Her countenance
betrayed no agitation. She only looked very- pale,
and her hands trembled a little, though she tried to repress it.
' Do not agitate yourself, my love, '
whispered ;
plied, touched by her involuntary emotion.
'
I suppose you
had that picture made as a thanks-offering ?'
'
I worked it my-
'
'
self, she answered. It took me a year to finish it. '
" The Baron seated himself in his usual place, his wife on
one side of him and his daughter on the other. Pointing to a
vacant seat by the side of the latter, he invited me to take it. daughter's ears.
The household knelt a little lower down on a carpet which was she coldly replied.
her mother affectionately
'
there is no occasion to be surprised, and still less
distressed.' 'I am perfectly calm,' she answered, with a
faltering voice, nnd turning away her head.
"
I saw nothing, I remarked nothing more, and yet I am
sure that something must have passed there which ought to
Lave opened my eyes and showed me I had a rival. As soon as
'
Mass was over the Baron made way for me and said. .NOW
that the announcement of your marriage has been public y
made, Monsieur le Comte, lead the way and give your hand to
your betrothed. '
"I did so with a beating heart. Mile de Malpeire suffered
me to lead her down 1
the church. The crowd had a
streamed out, and was waiting for us outside. The little band
of peasants, at the head of which was the Abbat, came forward.
He took off his hat and addressed the Baron in Proveneal.
' What does he say ?' whispered Madame de Malpeire in her
' He invites us to be present at the games,'
' At a distance, well and good, '
the Baroime
'
I have ordered seats to be placed along the parapet ;
rejoined.
we can see from there everything that goes on as well as be-
low. But we must invite that big fellow and his friends to
come up to the castle to drink a glass of wine, and receive the
scarf you have taken the trouble to embroider. It is of no use
for me to speak to them in French. You had better explain the
matter to them, my darling.' 'It is already done,' she an-
malevolent expression. As soon as we had taken our places in
anorial seat, these feelings of '
swered. My
hostility assumed a more
father has just told him that you expect them
'
this evening.' Then let us quickly get out of this mob,' ex-
claimed the Baronne, stepping into her chair ;
' we shall be
suffocated if we stay here.' We were, in fact, inconveniently
Still
thronged, the mob pressing upon us somewhat insolently.
there was no absolute rudeness, no threatening expressions.
'
'
I will go on first,' the Baron said ; I leave you to take care
of my daughter. '
I took Mile, de Malpeire 's arm undermine
to lead her through the crowd, but she abruptly disengaged
it, and turning towards the Abbat, as if to place herself under
his protection, the said to him, ' Go before us, Pinatel,' The
colossus obeyed. He forced his way through the mob, jostling
and thrusting everybody aside, and tlms clearing a passage for
us. As soon as we were out of the place.he turned round, and
without saying a word went back to his companions.
" We walked on in silence towards the castle, Mile, de Malpeire
some way in advance of us, the Baron at my side with a
gloomy, disturbed countenance. At last he said, ' You have
seen the disposition of these people ; they have all but insulted
us. Who knows how far this will go ? If the King does not
:
of scurf tied across the thick waistcoat which so much offended
rouue's tastes. Most of them were robust peasants, with
f-iiuburut faces and athletic frames. The Abbat especially
furnished a magnificent type of physical strength. His stature
/lossal, and his regular features reminded me of the head
c.f an ancient gladiator. This man's dress was somewhat
ut from that of the other peasants. Instead of worsted
ngs he wore yellow leather gaiters, and in lieu of the
frieze waistcoat, a jacket of striped linen. I noticed
all this in a vague, cursory manner. My anxiety was ining
as the moment approached for the provide
publication of the banns
a remedy, his nobles will be exposed to a conflict with
the peasantry. In the meantime, I must take measures for our
own security. WT '
'
e shall not go any more into the village. I
am quite of your opinion,' cried the Baronne, putting her head
'
out of the sedan-chair. We shall remain at home, and our
daughter shall be married in the chapel of the castle. Do you
know Boinet heard them saying behind her that in all the
other parishes
the seats of the lords of the manor had been
pulled down. You will be obliged, perhaps, to remove yours.'
'
' Never !' exclaimed the Baron. I gave up without hesitation
all pecuniary privileges; toll rents, field rents, fees, weighings,
fines on sales, and the like, all have been abolished, but never
as long as I live will I renounce my honorary rights. Of these
nothing but violence shall deprive me. '
" As we entered the castle I tried to speak to Mile, de Mal-
peire, but with determined ingenuity she contrived to avoid it.
In the afternoon, however, I succeeded in detaining her on tho
steps as we down into the garden, and said i
with great emotion. '(!, mademoiselle, cannot you forgive me
my happiness ? What can I do to soiten your feelings towurUa