the brotherhood of consolation-第7部分
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sweetness of her voice； which possessed； let us say it here； an
apostolic unction。 The sick soul contemplated with admiration the
truly extraordinary phenomenon presented by this woman； whose face was
now resplendent。 Rosy tints were spreading on the waxen cheeks； her
eyes shone； the youthfulness of her soul changed the light wrinkles
into gracious lines； and all about her solicited affection。 Godefroid
in that one moment measured the gulf that separated this woman from
common sentiments。 He saw her inaccessible on a peak to which religion
had led her； and he was still too worldly not to be keenly piqued； and
to long to plunge through the gulf and up to the summit on which she
stood； and stand beside her。 Giving himself up to this desire； he
related to her all the mistakes of his life； and much that he could
not tell at Mongenod's； where his confidences had been confined to his
actual situation。
〃Poor child！〃
That exclamation； falling now and then from Madame de la Chanterie's
lips as he went on； dropped like balm upon the heart of the sufferer。
〃What can I substitute for so many hopes betrayed； so much affection
wasted？〃 he asked； looking at his hostess； who had now grown
thoughtful。 〃I came here；〃 he resumed； 〃to reflect and choose a course
of action。 I have lost my mother； will you replace her？〃
〃Will you；〃 she said； 〃show a son's obedience？〃
〃Yes； if you will have the tenderness that commands it。〃
〃I will try；〃 she said。
Godefroid put out his hand to take that of his hostess； who gave it to
him； guessing his intentions。 He carried it respectfully to his lips。
Madame de la Chanterie's hand was exquisitely beautiful；without a
wrinkle； neither fat nor thin； white enough to be the envy of all
young women； and shapely enough for the model of a sculptor。 Godefroid
had already admired those hands； conscious of their harmony with the
spell of her voice； and the celestial blue of her glance。
〃Wait a moment；〃 said Madame de la Chanterie； rising and going into
her own room。
Godefroid was keenly excited； he did not know to what class of ideas
her movement was to be attributed。 His perplexity did not last long；
for she presently returned with a book in her hand。
〃Here； my dear child；〃 she said； 〃are the prescriptions of a great
physician of souls。 When the things of ordinary life have not given us
the happiness we expected of them； we must seek for happiness in a
higher life。 Here is the key of a new world。 Read night and morning a
chapter of this book； but bring your full attention to bear upon what
you read； study the words as you would a foreign language。 At the end
of a month you will be another man。 It is now twenty years that I have
read a chapter every day； and my three friends； Messieurs Nicolas；
Alain； and Joseph； would no more fail in that practice than they would
fail in getting up and going to bed。 Do as they do for love of God；
for love of me；〃 she said； with a divine serenity； an august
confidence。
Godefroid turned over the book and read upon its back in gilt letters；
IMITATION OF JESUS CHRIST。 The simplicity of this old woman； her
youthful candor； her certainty of doing a good deed； confounded the
ex…dandy。 Madame de la Chanterie's face wore a rapturous expression；
and her attitude was that of a woman who was offering a hundred
thousand francs to a merchant on the verge of bankruptcy。
〃I have used that volume；〃 she said； 〃for twenty…six years。 God grant
its touch may be contagious。 Go now and buy me another copy； for this
is the hour when persons come here who must not be seen。〃
Godefroid bowed and went to his room； where he flung the book upon the
table； exclaiming；
〃Poor； good woman！ Well； so be it！〃
V
THE INFLUENCE OF BOOKS
The book； like all books frequently read； opened in a particular
place。 Godefroid sat down as if to put his ideas in order； for he had
gone through more emotion during this one morning than he had often
done in the agitated months of his life； but above all； his curiosity
was keenly excited。 Letting his eyes fall by chance； as people will
when their souls are launched in meditation； they rested mechanically
on the two open pages of the book； almost unconsciously he read the
following heading：
CHAPTER XII。
THE ROYAL WAY OF THE HOLY CROSS
He took up the book； a sentence of that noble chapter caught his eye
like a flash of light：
〃He has walked before thee； bearing his cross； he died for thee；
that thou mightest bear thy cross； and be glad to die upon it。
〃Go where thou wilt； seek what thou wilt； never canst thou find a
nobler； surer path than the royal way of the holy cross。
〃Dispose and order all things according to thy desires and thine
own judgment and still thou shalt find trials to suffer； whether
thou wilt or no； and so the cross is there； be it pain of body or
pain of mind。
〃Sometimes God will seem to leave thee； sometimes men will harass
thee。 But； far worse； thou wilt find thyself a burden to thyself；
and no remedy will deliver thee； no consolation comfort thee：
until it pleases God to end thy trouble thou must bear it； for it
is God's will that we suffer without consolation； that we may go
to him without one backward look； humble through tribulation。〃
〃What a strange book！〃 thought Godefroid； turning over the leaves。
Then his eyes lighted on the following words：
〃When thou hast reached the height of finding all afflictions
sweet； since they have made thee love the love of Jesus Christ；
then know thyself happy； for thou hast found thy paradise in this
world。〃
Annoyed by this simplicity （the characteristic of strength）； angry at
being foiled by a book； he closed the volume； but even then he saw； in
letters of gold on the green morocco cover； the words：
SEEK THAT WHICH IS ETERNAL； AND THAT ONLY。
〃Have they found it here？〃 he asked himself。
He went out to buy the handsomest copy he could find of the 〃Imitation
of Jesus Christ〃 thinking that Madame de la Chanterie would wish to
read her chapter that night。 When he reached the street he stood a
moment near the door； uncertain which way to take and debating in what
direction he was likely to find a bookseller。 As he stood there he
heard the heavy sound of the massive porte…cochere closing。
Two men were leaving the hotel de la Chanterie。 If the reader has
fully understood the character of this old house he will know that it
was one of the ancient mansions of the olden time。 Manon； herself；
when she called Godefroid that morning； had asked him； smiling； how he
had slept in the hotel de la Chanterie。
Godefroid followed the two men without the slightest intention of
watching them； they took him for an accidental passer； and spoke in
tones which enabled him to hear distinctly in those lonely streets。
The two men passed along the rue Massillon beside the church and
crossed the open space in front of it。
〃Well； you see； old man； it is easy enough to catch their sous。 Say
what they want you to say； that's all。〃
〃But we owe money。〃
〃To whom？〃
〃To that lady〃
〃I'd like to see that old body try to get it； I'd〃
〃You'd pay her。〃
〃Well； you're right； for if I paid her I'd get more another time。〃
〃Wouldn't it be better to do as they advise； and build up a good
business？〃
〃Pooh！〃
〃But she said she would get some one to lend us the money。〃
〃Then we should have to give up the life of〃
〃Well； I'd rather； I'm sick of it； it isn't being a man at all to be
drunk half one's time。〃
〃Yes； but you know the abbe turned his back on old Marin the other
day； he refused him everything。〃
〃Because old Marin tried to swindle； and nobody can succeed in that
but millionnaires。〃
Just then the two men； whose dress seemed to show that they were
foremen in some workshop； turned abruptly round towards the place
Maubert by the bridge of the Hotel…Dieu。 Godefroid stepped aside to
let them pass。 Seeing him so close behind them they looked rather
anxiously at each other； and their faces expressed a regret for having
spoken。
Godefroid was the more interested by this conversation because it
reminded him of the scene between the Abbe de Veze and the workman the
day of his first visit。
Thinking over this circumstance； he went as far as a bookseller's in
the rue Saint…Jacques； whence he returned with a very handsome copy of
the finest edition published in France of the 〃Imitation of Jesus
Christ。〃 Walking slowly back； in order that he might arrive exactly at
the dinner hour； he recalled his own sensations during this morning
and he was conscious of a new impulse in his soul。 He was seized by a
sudden and deep curiosity； but his curiosity paled before an
inexplicable desire。 He was drawn to Madame de la Chanterie； he felt
the keenest desire to attach himself to her； to devote himself to her；
to please her； to deserve her praise： in short； he felt the first
emotions of platonic love； he saw glimpses of the untold grandeur of
that soul； and he longed to know it in its entirety。 He grew impatient
to enter the inner lives of these pure Catholics。 In that small
company of faithful souls； the majesty of practical religion was so
thoroughly blended with all that is most majestic in a French woman
that Godefroid resolved to leave no stone unturned to make himself
accepted as a true member of the little body。 These feelings would
have been unnaturally sudden in a busy Parisian eagerly occupied with
life； but Godefroid was； as we have seen； in the position of a
drowning man who catches at every floating branch thinking it a solid
stay； and his soul； ploughed and furrowed with trial； was ready to
receive all seed。
He found the four friends in the salon； and he presented the book to
Madame de la Chanterie； saying：
〃I did not like to deprive you of it to…night。〃
〃God grant；〃 she said； smiling； as she looked at the magnificent
volume； 〃that this may be your last excess of elegance。〃
Looking at the clothes of the four men present and observing how in
every particular they were reduced to mere utility and neatness； and
seeing； too； how rigorously the same principle was applied to all the
details of the house； G
