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

1C THE NOTARY'S DAl'f'.UTEll.
provoked arcmment for the sake of hearing her speak in that
iHisical voice which was one of her attractions, and
pic nt expression of her dark eyes. And then
:nh. so like the ripple of a stream, or a child's laugh, was
wonderfully refreshing to the old man, who had lived so long
ill. in.' with his gentle but saddened wife, whose gaiety be had
crushed lung ago and then unconsciously missed it, and his two
sons, who for different reasons were not happy in their home.
Jle was the. most openiy devoted ot the three to Mdlle. de la
Pinede. lie walked with her up and down the terrace during
the short moments she could be induced to leave the Countess'
sick room and after dinner detained her a little while in the
drawing room and made her sing to him Le fil de la Vierge.
Jacques rapidly feh m love with Denise. and at the end of a
made up his mind to propose to her as soon as her stay at
La I'inedc. came to an end. He did not much doubt that she
would accept him nor did it cross his mind that the dissimilarity
of their ideas and feelings would prove an obstacle. He was
under the impression which at that time was prevalent in
France that religion though superfluous tor a man, was a sort
gregate and men of letters flock. She had read a great deal, she
was eloquent she, had wealthy relatives and distinguished con-
nede. who sat
comfort him.
down on the steps and took him on her knees to
"
\S"hat are you afraid of, little one?" she said, stroking his
black hair with her soft white hand
"
I am afraid of the/ase de Vedelles, who would make a great sensation in grief
Paris and do the honors of a salon where statesmen would con-
with regard to her son, though it did not efface it; but
Denise whose character was stronger, whose zeal was more ar-
dent, whose love of God was a deep, engrossing, supreme affec-
tion, could not look unmoved 'on what she felt to be such a
nections. She could not imagine a more perfectly suitable parti
for one who, like himself, had the desire and the ability to play
a part in political and social life.
Denise was very amiable in her manner to him. She was naturally
kind to every being that approached her there was not a
dog or a cat about the place to whom she did not say a good
word as she passed by the kennel or the sunny wall on which
puss was often seated. As to the children of the gardener and
the shepherd, they watched for hours together in hopes that the
beautiful lady who was staying at the chateau might stop before
their parents' cottages, pat them on the cheek, and give them
bon-bons, that necessity of life to French children.
One very bold urchin made his way one day to the terrace, and
was looking up in hopes of seeing the bestower of pralines and
Sucre de pommc appear at a window. But instead of the face
which he expected to see, a very pale and, it seemed to the child,
:ern one looked down upon him, on which he began to great calamity,
cry
and ran away. At the bottom of the stairs leading down from
the terrace, he suddenly came face to face with Mdlle. de la Pi-
could not converse without emotion on subjects
which related to the existence or the absence in a soul of that
faith which was the mainspring of her whole being. So when
she talked to Jacques of anything relating to it, when she
watched the effect of her earnest words upon him, and like all
earnest words they sometimes did affect him, there was an expression
in her countenance and a thrill in her voice which
poor vain man he ascribed to a personal feeling of interest in
him. Jacques de Vedelles, not to the intense solicitude which
one who has at heart the glory of God aud the salvation of souls
feels in every creature who is severed from the source of life and
light, and the ardent desire to bring it back to a sense of its
high destiny. He could not have conceived that the look of joy
which beamed in her speaking eyes one day when he had uttered
words which implied that he meant to think and act differently
with regard to religion than he had hitherto done, could proceed
from a disinterested anxiety for his salvation.
He would have believed it, perhaps, if he had ever followed
Denise in the hospitals or in the homes of the poor. He would
then have seen her beautiful face lighted up with the same ex-
ulting gratitude when some poor wretch, who had been cursing
aud blaspheming, perhaps, during the long course of a sinful
and miserable life, with softened heart and tearful eyes, for tli
first time prayed or kissed the crucifix she held to his lips, or
when a poor girl on the brink of sin and slianie, saved by her
tender energy, turned from the tempter and followed her to a
place of safety.
It was natural he should cherish hopes founded on a mistake
and indulge in anticipations which reconciled him to her departure,
for he felt that it was not during her stay at La Pinede that
he could propose to Denise; and that being the case, he almost
longed for the day when she would return to Toulon, and lie
would feel at liberty to oiTer her his band, which, to say the truth,
he did not much doubt she would accept.
Madame de Vedelles bail unconsciously contrived to excite in
Denise a strong interest in both her sons: in Jacques by spoil-
ing of him, by dwelling on his good qualities, and his talents.
which had already begun to display themselves at the bar. and
then of that absence of faith and that sceptical spirit which en-
listed against religion and the Church capabilities which, rightly
directed. might have made him, the poor mother fondly thought,
a Montalembert, an Ozanam, or a Bcr
As to George, she had been profoundly silent: but who! with
her compassionate tone when she spoke to him, his fath-