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confinement。 There came a moment when all pretexts failed to explain
her perpetual absence。 Then； though it was impossible to discover by
whom the secret had been betrayed； all the town became aware that ever
since New Year's day Mademoiselle Grandet had been kept in her room
without fire； on bread and water； by her father's orders； and that
Nanon cooked little dainties and took them to her secretly at night。
It was even known that the young woman was not able to see or take
care of her mother； except at certain times when her father was out of
the house。
Grandet's conduct was severely condemned。 The whole town outlawed him；
so to speak； they remembered his treachery； his hard…heartedness； and
they excommunicated him。 When he passed along the streets； people
pointed him out and muttered at him。 When his daughter came down the
winding street； accompanied by Nanon； on her way to Mass or Vespers；
the inhabitants ran to the windows and examined with intense curiosity
the bearing of the rich heiress and her countenance； which bore the
impress of angelic gentleness and melancholy。 Her imprisonment and the
condemnation of her father were as nothing to her。 Had she not a map
of the world； the little bench； the garden； the angle of the wall？ Did
she not taste upon her lips the honey that love's kisses left there？
She was ignorant for a time that the town talked about her； just as
Grandet himself was ignorant of it。 Pious and pure in heart before
God； her conscience and her love helped her to suffer patiently the
wrath and vengeance of her father。
One deep grief silenced all others。 Her mother； that gentle； tender
creature； made beautiful by the light which shone from the inner to
the outer as she approached the tomb；her mother was perishing from
day to day。 Eugenie often reproached herself as the innocent cause of
the slow； cruel malady that was wasting her away。 This remorse； though
her mother soothed it； bound her still closer to her love。 Every
morning； as soon as her father left the house； she went to the bedside
of her mother； and there Nanon brought her breakfast。 The poor girl；
sad； and suffering through the sufferings of her mother； would turn
her face to the old servant with a mute gesture； weeping； and yet not
daring to speak of her cousin。 It was Madame Grandet who first found
courage to say；
〃Where is /he/？ Why does /he/ not write？〃
〃Let us think about him； mother； but not speak of him。 You are ill
you； before all。〃
〃All〃 meant 〃him。〃
〃My child；〃 said Madame Grandet； 〃I do not wish to live。 God protects
me and enables me to look with joy to the end of my misery。〃
Every utterance of this woman was unfalteringly pious and Christian。
Sometimes； during the first months of the year； when her husband came
to breakfast with her and tramped up and down the room； she would say
to him a few religious words； always spoken with angelic sweetness；
yet with the firmness of a woman to whom approaching death lends a
courage she had lacked in life。
〃Monsieur； I thank you for the interest you take in my health；〃 she
would answer when he made some commonplace inquiry； 〃but if you really
desire to render my last moments less bitter and to ease my grief；
take back your daughter： be a Christian； a husband； and a father。〃
When he heard these words； Grandet would sit down by the bed with the
air of a man who sees the rain coming and quietly gets under the
shelter of a gateway till it is over。 When these touching； tender； and
religious supplications had all been made； he would say；
〃You are rather pale to…day； my poor wife。〃
Absolute forgetfulness of his daughter seemed graven on his stony
brow； on his closed lips。 He was unmoved by the tears which flowed
down the white cheeks of his unhappy wife as she listened to his
meaningless answers。
〃May God pardon you；〃 she said； 〃even as I pardon you！ You will some
day stand in need of mercy。〃
Since Madame Grandet's illness he had not dared to make use of his
terrible 〃Ta； ta； ta； ta！〃 Yet； for all that； his despotic nature was
not disarmed by this angel of gentleness； whose ugliness day by day
decreased； driven out by the ineffable expression of moral qualities
which shone upon her face。 She was all soul。 The spirit of prayer
seemed to purify her and refine those homely features and make them
luminous。 Who has not seen the phenomenon of a like transfiguration on
sacred faces where the habits of the soul have triumphed over the
plainest features； giving them that spiritual illumination whose light
comes from the purity and nobility of the inward thought？ The
spectacle of this transformation wrought by the struggle which
consumed the last shreds of the human life of this woman； did somewhat
affect the old cooper； though feebly； for his nature was of iron； if
his language ceased to be contemptuous； an imperturbable silence；
which saved his dignity as master of the household； took its place and
ruled his conduct。
When the faithful Nanon appeared in the market； many quips and quirks
and complaints about the master whistled in her ears； but however
loudly public opinion condemned Monsieur Grandet； the old servant
defended him； for the honor of the family。
〃Well！〃 she would say to his detractors； 〃don't we all get hard as we
grow old？ Why shouldn't he get horny too？ Stop telling lies。
Mademoiselle lives like a queen。 She's alone； that's true； but she
likes it。 Besides； my masters have good reasons。〃
At last； towards the end of spring； Madame Grandet； worn out by grief
even more than by illness； having failed； in spite of her prayers； to
reconcile the father and daughter； confided her secret troubles to the
Cruchots。
〃Keep a girl of twenty…three on bread and water！〃 cried Monsieur de
Bonfons； 〃without any reason； too！ Why； that constitutes wrongful
cruelty； she can contest； as much in as upon〃
〃Come； nephew； spare us your legal jargon；〃 said the notary。 〃Set your
mind at ease； madame； I will put a stop to such treatment to…morrow。〃
Eugenie； hearing herself mentioned； came out of her room。
〃Gentlemen；〃 she said； coming forward with a proud step； 〃I beg you
not to interfere in this matter。 My father is master in his own house。
As long as I live under his roof I am bound to obey him。 His conduct
is not subject to the approbation or the disapprobation of the world；
he is accountable to God only。 I appeal to your friendship to keep
total silence in this affair。 To blame my father is to attack our
family honor。 I am much obliged to you for the interest you have shown
in me； you will do me an additional service if you will put a stop to
the offensive rumors which are current in the town； of which I am
accidentally informed。〃
〃She is right；〃 said Madame Grandet。
〃Mademoiselle； the best way to stop such rumors is to procure your
liberty；〃 answered the old notary respectfully； struck with the beauty
which seclusion； melancholy； and love had stamped upon her face。
〃Well； my daughter； let Monsieur Cruchot manage the matter if he is so
sure of success。 He understands your father； and how to manage him。 If
you wish to see me happy for my few remaining days； you must； at any
cost； be reconciled to your father。〃
On the morrow Grandet； in pursuance of a custom he had begun since
Eugenie's imprisonment； took a certain number of turns up and down the
little garden； he had chosen the hour when Eugenie brushed and
arranged her hair。 When the old man reached the walnut…tree he hid
behind its trunk and remained for a few moments watching his
daughter's movements； hesitating； perhaps； between the course to which
the obstinacy of his character impelled him and his natural desire to
embrace his child。 Sometimes he sat down on the rotten old bench where
Charles and Eugenie had vowed eternal love； and then she； too； looked
at her father secretly in the mirror before which she stood。 If he
rose and continued his walk； she sat down obligingly at the window and
looked at the angle of the wall where the pale flowers hung； where the
Venus…hair grew from the crevices with the bindweed and the sedum；a
white or yellow stone…crop very abundant in the vineyards of Saumur
and at Tours。 Maitre Cruchot came early； and found the old wine…grower
sitting in the fine June weather on the little bench； his back against
the division wall of the garden； engaged in watching his daughter。
〃What may you want； Maitre Cruchot？〃 he said； perceiving the notary。
〃I came to speak to you on business。〃
〃Ah！ ah！ have you brought some gold in exchange for my silver？〃
〃No； no； I have not come about money； it is about your daughter
Eugenie。 All the town is talking of her and you。〃
〃What does the town meddle for？ A man's house is his castle。〃
〃Very true； and a man may kill himself if he likes； or； what is worse；
he may fling his money into the gutter。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Why； your wife is very ill； my friend。 You ought to consult Monsieur
Bergerin； she is likely to die。 If she does die without receiving
proper care； you will not be very easy in mind； I take it。〃
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta！ you know a deal about my wife！ These doctors； if they
once get their foot in your house； will come fiv