So it was that Monseigneur the Duke de Berry, visited the departments
of the East. Every word he uttered was taken up and repeated again and
again. Some praised his exceeding graciousness, and others kept
silence. From that time I suspected that all these emigres and
officers on half-pay, these preachers with their processions and their
expiations, would overturn everything again, and about the beginning of
winter we heard that not only with us, but all over Alsace affairs were
growing worse and worse in just the same way.
One morning between eleven and twelve Father Goulden and I were both at
work, each one thinking after his own fashion, and Catherine was laying
the cloth. I started to go out to wash my hands at the pump, as I
always did before dinner, when I saw an old woman wiping her feet on
the straw mat at the foot of the stairs and shaking her skirts which
were covered with mud. She had a stout staff, and a large rosary hung
from her neck. As I looked at her from the top of the stairs, she
began to come up and I recognized her immediately by the folds about
her eyes and the innumerable wrinkles round her little mouth, as
Anna-Marie, the pilgrim of St. Witt. The poor old woman often brought
us watches to mend, from pious people who had confidence in her, and
Mr. Goulden was always delighted to see her.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, "it is Anne-Marie! now we shall have the news. And
how is Mr. Such-an-one, the priest? How is the Vicar So-and-So? Does
he still look as well as ever? and Mr. Jacob, of such a place. And the
old sexton, Niclausse, does he still ring the bells at Dann, and at
Hirschland, and Saint Jean? He must begin to look old?"
"Ah! Mr. Goulden, thanks for Mr. Jacob, you know that he lost
Mademoiselle Christine last week."
"What! Mademoiselle Christine?"
"Yes, indeed?"
"What a misfortune! but we must remember that we are all mortal!"
"Yes, Mr. Goulden, and when one is so fortunate as to receive the holy
consolations of the Church."
"Certainly--certainly, that is the principal thing."
So they talked on, Father Goulden laughing in his sleeve. She knew
everything that happened within six leagues round the city. He looked
mischievously at me from time to time. This same thing had happened a
hundred times during my apprenticeship, but you will understand how
much more curious he was now to learn all that was going on in the
country.
"Ah! it is really Anna-Marie!" said he rising, "it is a long time since
we have seen you."
"Three months, Mr. Goulden, three long months. I have made pilgrimages
to Saint Witt, to Saint Odille, to Marienthal, to Hazlach, and I have
vows for all the saints in Alsace, in Lorraine, and in the Vosges. But
now I have nearly finished, only Saint Quirin remains."
"Ah! so much the better, your affairs go on well, and that gives me
pleasure. Sit down, Anna-Marie, sit down and rest yourself."
I saw in his eyes how happy he was to have her unroll her budget of
news. But it appeared she had other matters to attend to.
"Oh! Mr. Goulden," said she. "I cannot today. Others are before me,
Mother Evig, Gaspard Rosenkranz, and Jacob Heilig. I must go to Saint
Quirin, to-night. I only just came in to tell you that the clock at
Dosenheim is out of order, and that they are expecting you to repair
it."
"Pshaw! pshaw! stay a moment."
"No, I cannot, I am very sorry, Mr. Goulden, but I must finish my
round."
She had already taken up her bundle, and Mr. Goulden seemed greatly
disappointed; when Catherine put a great dish of cabbage on the table,
and said, "What! are you going, Anna-Marie? you cannot think of it!
here is your plate!"
She turned her head and saw the smoking soup and the cabbage, which
exhaled a most delicious odor.
"I am in a great hurry," said she.
"Oh! pshaw! you have very good legs," said Catherine, glancing at Mr.
Goulden.
"Yes, thank God, they are very good still."
"Well, sit down then and refresh yourself. It is hard work to be
always walking."
"Yes, indeed, Madame Bertha, one earns the thirty sous that one gets."