Monsieur, Madame, and Bebe -- C

aced to indigestion. My friend, Dr. Jac

riday, I had committed the mistake of eating b

ngular dream which ensued may inspir

his was my dream, in

could be more ridiculous! I was, moreover, respectably stout, possessed a head decked with silver locks, well-shaped hands

at the same time unfastening the cords of my alb, the r

, "you hear confessions t

ell this morning? I had a

ng, put my alb into the wardrobe, and, off

breaking the

, it wants five minutes to t

rm in arm by the little side door, for ni

ged on the seat the air-cushion which is indispensable to me on the evenings preceding great church festivals, the sittings at that season being always prolonged. I slipped t

in, touched me infinitely by the absolute confidence she placed in me, though I was not of her sex. In five minutes she found the opportunity to speak to me of her sister-in-law, her brother, an uncle who was on the point of death whose heiress she was, her neph

ell you about them, and we will confine ourselves, with your permission, to

, fresh. Despite her expression of deep thoughtfulness, she spoke very quickly

"I have one thing th

ou know that a conf

r-but I real

hearts that require to be encourage

edly, "will not abstain during Le

y persu

o not let him have any meat. Oh! I suffer terribly from that.

ttered like pearls when she opened her mouth to relate her pious inquietudes; she shed around, besides, a perfume almost as sweet as that of our altars, although of a different kind, and I breathed this perfume with an uneasiness full of scruples, which for

, and on the other your duty as a Christian." She gave a sigh from her very heart.

es, fa

r child, to convince your husband, who in his heart-" In addition, her lashes, very long and somewhat curled, were underlined, I might almost say, by a dark stre

kness in this candid heart only increased

igious observance, it is also a salutary custom. 'Non solum lex De

ther, ev

my child; I m

ave tried sweetnes

f that this husban

l, "not to risk his salvation and my own. Once or twice I even told him th

, say that you have done wrong. You have not, have you, been guilty toward your husband of any of those excusable acts of violence which may escape a Christian soul when

perhaps too many,"

do you

rs which I ought to have refused him. I may be wrong,

depends upon degrees, and it is necessary in

sing his impiety-that I laugh in spite of myself when I ought to weep. It seems to me that a cloud comes between myself and my duties, and my scruples ev

h the Church shuns it as far as she is concerned, looking upon it as a worldly ornament; but it may become dangerous, it may be reckoned a veritable pest when it tends to weaken f

ed me for a moment, I soon repent of it.

very

is overcoat." This was said more bol

ou noticed

er, but as regards abstinence he is still

f Lent. Make use of pious subterfuges, prepare him

e day before yesterday I gave him one of

I know th

mon, but he had a cut

seem to me. "Patience, my child, offer up to Heaven the sufferings which your husband's impiety ca

fat

, then. I will gi

ed as she joined h

w from the pocket of my cassock my good old watch, and found that it was earlier than I thought. The darkness of the chapel had deceived me, and my stomach had shared my error. I was hungry. I banished t

the penitent on my left, addressing a lady of whom

e knelt down, piously folded her two ungloved hands, plump, perfumed, rosy, laden with rings-but let that pass. I seemed to recognize the hands of the

h whom she was acquainted, but with perfect propriety; she seemed to be saying, "Good-day, my dear Abbe, I do not ask how y

in a very low tone, giving her, too, to understand by the expression of my face tha

er voice had resumed an angelic tone

for a passion what was really o

do to alar

t been torn from top to bottom; and really it is strange that one

ect yourself," and assuming a serious l

de a serious examination of my conscience, however," she added. "Not ten minutes ago as I was getting out of my carriage I counted up three sins; there was one above all I wished to mention. How these little things escape me! I must have left them in the carriage." And she could not help smiling to herself at the idea of these three little sins lost among the cushions. "And the poor Abbe waiting for me in his box. How hot it must be in there! he is quite re

ling together at once in the Countess's brain, so that I tho

fingers. "Come, my dear Madame, and speak fearlessly; have you nothing to reproach yourself with

a that I should n

bonnet strings, "sometimes; but I have alway

e from salvation. I know that there are certain social exigencies-society. Yes, yes, but after all one can even in those pleasures which the Church tolerates-I say tolerates-b

able to resist certain

which are not in themselves serious sins-oh! no, I know it-but, after all, these constant solicitations prove a persistent attachment-displeasing to Him-to the fugi

s last mont

between meals,"

always a glass of Capri

r it. Well, let that

ce wines was becoming a source of straying thoughts on m

all?" I asked, passin

er; I do not recoll

and for those which you may have forgotten; commune with yourself, humble yourself in the pr

courtesy, and, resuming her ordinary voice, sa

ut felt rather embarrassed on