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I had nothing to forgive that man, I have only had to purify that corner of my heart where Evil lurked. However hard it may have been to win that victory, it is won." Monsieur de Grandville turned a face to Veronique that was bathed in tears. Human justice seemed at that moment to feel remorse.

Veronique began to laugh when she saw her asleep, and I had to do the same, when I saw that she was as still as a corpse. "What a pity!" said Veronique's eyes; but she said it with her eyes alone, while I was waiting for these words to issue from her lips. We were both of us wrong: she for not speaking, and I for waiting for her to speak.

Just then Farrabesche appeared, pulled along by his son. He was pale and speechless in presence of Catherine and Madame Graslin. His heart told him actively benevolent the one had been, and how deeply the other had suffered in his absence. Veronique led away the rector, who, on his side, was anxious to talk with her alone.

It was several days before Madame Graslin recovered from the violent emotion which overcame her on that first evening, and her mother induced her to stay in bed at least during the mornings. At night, Veronique would come out and sit on a bench of the terrace from which her eyes could rest on the church and cemetery.

Denise, who was living alone, away from all eyes, at the hermitage, recognized Madame Graslin and immediately opened the door. Veronique and Gerard entered. The poor girl could not help a blush as she met the eyes of the young man, who was greatly surprised at her beauty. "I hope Madame Farrabesche has not let you want for anything?" said Veronique.

By some strange law all things about a dwelling imitate the one who rules there; the owner's spirit hovers over it. Madame Graslin her mind grasped by the rector's words, her soul struck by conviction, her heart affected in its tenderest emotions by the angelic quality of that pure voice stopped short. The rector raised his arm and pointed to the forest. Veronique looked there.

"I begin to understand how it is that the rector has changed the character of this whole community," said Madame Graslin. "Nothing can resist him," said Farrabesche. "Yes, yes, I know it!" replied Veronique, hastily, making a gesture of farewell to her keeper. Farrabesche withdrew.

Jerome-Baptiste Sauviat, a man in whose eyes money seemed to constitute the whole of happiness, who knew nothing of love, and had never seen in marriage anything but the means of transmitting property to another self, had long sworn to marry Veronique to some rich bourgeois, so long, in fact, that the idea had assumed in his brain the characteristics of a hobby.

This hospital, intended for the indigent old persons of the canton, for the sick, for lying-in women if paupers, and for foundlings, was to be called the Tascheron Hospital. Veronique ordered it to be placed in charge of the Gray Sisters, and fixed the salaries of the surgeon and the physician at four thousand francs for each.

"Yes," said he, "whenever you like and with as many oarsmen as you please; but I hope you will put off your departure for two or three days." "No," I replied, ogling Veronique, "the delay might cost me too dear." The sly puss answered with a smile that shewed she understood my meaning. When we rose from the table I amused myself with Annette, and the marquis with Veronique.