the village rector-第20节

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a　distance　confusedly　mingled　with　the　imposing　ruins　clothed　with
creepers　of　the　old　castle　of　Montegnac；　one　of　the　residences　of　the
Navarreins　family　in　the　twelfth　century。

The　parsonage；　a　house　originally　built　no　doubt　for　the　bailiff　or
game…keeper；　was　noticeable　for　a　long　raised　terrace　planted　with
lindens　from　which　a　fine　view　extended　over　the　country。　The　steps
leading　to　this　terrace　and　the　walls　which　supported　it　showed　their
great　age　by　the　ravages　of　time。　The　flat　moss　which　clings　to　stones
had　laid　its　dragon…green　carpet　on　each　surface。　The　numerous
families　of　the　pellitories；　the　chamomiles；　the　mesembryanthemums；
pushed　their　varied　and　abundant　tufts　through　the　loop…holes　in　the
walls；　cracked　and　fissured　in　spite　of　their　thickness。　Botany　had
lavished　there　its　most　elegant　drapery　of　ferns　of　all　kinds；　snap…
dragons　with　their　violet　mouths　and　golden　pistils；　the　blue　anchusa；
the　brown　lichens；　so　that　the　old　worn　stones　seemed　mere　accessories
peeping　out　at　intervals　from　this　fresh　growth。　Along　the　terrace　a
box　hedge；　cut　into　geometric　figures；　enclosed　a　pleasure　garden
surrounding　the　parsonage；　above　which　the　rock　rose　like　a　white　wall
surmounted　by　slender　trees　that　drooped　and　swayed　above　it　like
plumes。

The　ruins　of　the　castle　looked　down　upon　the　house　and　church。　The
house；　built　of　pebbles　and　mortar；　had　but　one　story　surmounted　by　an
enormous　sloping　roof　with　gable　ends；　in　which　were　attics；　no　doubt
empty；　considering　the　dilapidation　of　their　windows。　The　ground…floor
had　two　rooms　parted　by　a　corridor；　at　the　farther　end　of　which　was　a
wooden　staircase　leading　to　the　second　floor；　which　also　had　two
rooms。　A　little　kitchen　was　at　the　back　of　the　building　in　a　yard；
where　were　the　stable　and　coach…house；　both　unused；　deserted；　and
worthless。　The　kitchen　garden　lay　between　the　church　and　the　house；　a
ruined　gallery　led　from　the　parsonage　to　the　sacristy。

When　the　young　abbe　saw　the　four　windows　with　their　leaded　panes；　the
brown　and　mossy　walls；　the　door　in　common　pine　slit　like　a　bundle　of
matches；　far　from　being　attracted　by　the　adorable　naivete　of　these
details；　the　grace　of　the　vegetations　which　draped　the　roof　and　the
dilapidated　wooden　frames　of　the　windows；　the　wealth　of　the　clambering
plants　escaping　from　every　cranny；　and　the　clasping　tendrils　of　the
grape…vine　which　looked　into　every　window　as　if　to　bring　smiling　ideas
to　those　within；　he　congratulated　himself　heartily　on　being　a　bishop
in　perspective　instead　of　a　village　rector。

This　house；　apparently　always　open；　seemed　to　belong　to　everybody。　The
Abbe　Gabriel　entered　a　room　communicating　with　the　kitchen；　which　was
poorly　furnished　with　an　oak　table　on　four　stout　legs；　a　tapestried
armchair；　a　number　of　chairs　all　of　wood；　and　an　old　chest　by　way　of
buffet。　No　one　was　in　the　kitchen　except　a　cat　which　revealed　the
presence　of　a　woman　about　the　house。　The　other　room　served　as　a　salon。
Casting　a　glance　about　it　the　young　priest　noticed　armchairs　in
natural　wood　covered　with　tapestry；　the　woodwork　and　the　rafters　of
the　ceiling　were　of　chestnut　which　had　turned　as　black　as　ebony。　A
tall　clock　in　a　green　case　painted　with　flowers；　a　table　with　a　faded
green　cloth；　several　chairs；　two　candlesticks　on　the　chimney…piece；
between　which　was　an　Infant　Jesus　in　wax　under　a　glass　case；　completed
the　furniture　of　the　room。　The　chimney…piece　of　wood　with　common
mouldings　was　filled　by　a　fire…board　covered　by　a　painting
representing　the　Good　Shepherd　with　a　lamb　over　his　shoulder；　which
was　probably　the　gift　of　some　young　girl；the　mayor's　daughter；　or
the　judge's　daughter；in　return　for　the　pastor's　care　of　her
education。

The　forlorn　condition　of　the　house　was　distressing　to　behold；　the
walls；　once　whitewashed；　were　now　discolored；　and　stained　to　a　man's
height　by　constant　friction。　The　staircase　with　its　heavy　baluster　and
wooden　steps；　though　very　clean；　looked　as　if　it　might　easily　give　way
under　the　feet。　On　the　other　side　of　the　house；　opposite　to　the
entrance　door；　another　door　opening　upon　the　kitchen　garden　enabled
the　Abbe　de　Rastignac　to　judge　of　the　narrowness　of　that　garden；　which
was　closed　at　the　back　by　a　wall　cut　in　the　white　and　friable　stone
side　of　the　mountain；　against　which　espaliers　were　fastened；　covered
with　grape…vines　and　fruit…trees　so　ill　taken　care　of　that　their
leaves　were　discolored　with　blight。

The　abbe　returned　upon　his　steps　and　walked　along　the　paths　of　the
first　garden；　from　which　he　could　see；　in　the　distance　beyond　the
village；　the　magnificent　stretch　of　valley；　a　true　oasis　at　the　edge
of　the　vast　plains；　which　now；　veiled　by　the　light　mists　of　morning；
lay　along　the　horizon　like　a　tranquil　ocean。　Behind　him　could　be　seen；
on　one　side；　for　a　foil；　the　dark　masses　of　the　bronze…green　forest；
on　the　other；　the　church　and　the　ruins　of　the　castle　perched　on　the
rock　and　vividly　detached　upon　the　blue　of　the　ether。　The　Abbe
Gabriel；　his　feet　creaking　on　the　gravelly　paths　cut　in　stars　and
rounds　and　lozenges；　looked　down　upon　the　village；　where　some　of　the
inhabitants　were　already　gazing　up　at　him；　and　then　at　the　fresh；　cool
valley；　with　its　tangled　paths；　its　river　bordered　with　willows　in
delightful　contrast　to　the　endless　plain；　and　he　was　suddenly　seized
with　sensations　which　changed　the　nature　of　his　thoughts；　he　admired
the　sweet　tranquillity　of　the　place；　he　felt　the　influence　of　that
pure　air；　he　was　conscious　of　the　peace　inspired　by　the　revelation　of
a　life　brought　back　to　Biblical　simplicity；　he　saw；　confusedly；　the
beauties　of　this　old　parsonage；　which　he　now　re…entered　to　examine　its
details　with　greater　interest。

A　little　girl；　employed；　no　doubt；　to　watch　the　house；　though　she　was
picking　and　eating　fruit　in　the　garden；　heard　the　steps　of　a　man　with
creaking　shoes　on　the　great　square　flags　of　the　ground…floor　rooms。
She　ran　in　to　see　who　it　was。　Confused　at　being　caught　by　a　priest
with　a　fruit　in　one　hand　and　another　in　her　mouth；　she　made　no　answer
to　the　questions　of　the　handsome　young　abbe。　She　had　never　imagined
such　an　abbe；dapper　and　spruce　as　hands　could　make　him；　in　dazzling
linen　and　fine　black　cloth　without　spot　or　wrinkle。

〃Monsieur　Bonnet？〃　she　said　at　last。　〃Monsieur　Bonnet　is　saying　mass；
and　Mademoiselle　Ursule　is　at　church。〃

The　Abbe　Gabriel　did　not　notice　a　covered　way　from　the　house　to　the
church；　he　went　back　to　the　road　which　led　to　the　front　portal；　a
species　of　porch　with　a　sloping　roof　that　faced　the　village。　It　was
reached　by　a　series　of　disjointed　stone　steps；　at　the　side　of　which
lay　a　ravine　washed　out　by　the　mountain　torrents　and　covered　with
noble　elms　planted　by　Sully　the　Protestant。　This　church；　one　of　the
poorest　in　France　where　there　are　so　many　poor　churches；　was　like　one
of　those　enormous　barns　with　projecting　doors　covered　by　roofs
supported　on　brick　or　wooden　pillars。　Built；　like　the　parsonage；　of
cobblestones　and　mortar；　flanked　by　a　face　of　solid　rock；　and　roofed
by　the　commonest　round　tiles；　this　church　was　decorated　on　the　outside
with　the　richest　creations　of　sculpture；　rich　in　light　and　shade　and
lavishly　massed　and　colored　by　Nature；　who　understands　such　art　as
well　as　any　Michael　Angelo。　Ivy　clasped　the　walls　with　its　nervous
tendrils；　showing　stems　amid　its　foliage　like　the　veins　in　a　lay
figure。　This　mantle；　flung　by　Time　to　cover　the　wounds　he　made；　was
starred　by　autumn　flowers　drooping　from　the　crevices；　which　also　gave
shelter　to　numerous　singing　birds。　The　rose…window　above　the
projecting　porch　was　adorned　with　blue　campanula；　like　the　first　page
of　an　illuminated　missal。　The　side　which　communicated　with　the
parsonage；　toward　the　north；　was　not　less　decorated；　the　wall　was　gray
and　red　with　moss　and　lichen；　but　the　other　side　and　the　apse；　around
which　lay　the　cemetery；　was　covered　with　a　wealth　of　varied　blooms。　A
few　trees；　among　others　an　almond…treeone　of　the　emblems　of　hope
had　taken　root　in　the　broken　wall；　two　enormous　pines　standing　close
against　the　apsis　served　as　lightning…rods。　The　cemetery；　enclosed　by
a　low；　half…ruined　wall；　had　for　ornament　an　iron　cross；　mounted　on　a
pedestal　and　hung　with　box；　blessed　at　Easter；one　of　those　affecting
Christian　thoughts　forgotten　in　cities。　The　village　rector　is　the　only
priest　who；　in　these　days；　thinks　to　go　among　his　dead　and　say　to　them
each　Easter　morn；　〃Thou　shalt　live　again！〃　Here　and　there　a　few　rotten
wooden　crosses　stood　up　from　the　grassy　mounds。

The　interior　of　the　church　harmonized　perfectly　with　the　poetic　tangle
of　the　humble　exterior；　the　luxury　and　art　of　which　was　bestowed　by
Time；　for　once　in　a　way　charitable。　Within；　the　eye　first　went　to　the
roof；　lined　with　chestnut；　to　which　age　had　given　the　richest　tints　of
the　oldest　woods　of　Europe。　This　roof　was　supported　at　equal　distances
by　strong　shafts　resting　on　transversal　beams。　The　four　white…washed
walls　had　no　ornament　whatever。　Poverty　had　made　the　parish
iconoclastic；　whether　it　would　or　not。　The　church；　paved　and　furnished
with　benches；　was　lighted　by　four　arched　windows　with　leaded　panes。
The　altar；　shaped　like　a　tomb；　was　adorned　by　a　large　cr