I am certain
it looked much better in its original wildness. It has lost its
characteristic features--and what a frightful shop they have stuck there,
on the left!"
However, he now experienced sudden remorse for his thoughtlessness.
Whilst he was chatting away, might not the Blessed Virgin be noticing one
of his neighbours, more fervent, more sedate than himself? Feeling
anxious on the point, he reverted to his customary modesty and patience,
and with dull, expressionless eyes again began waiting for the good
pleasure of Heaven.
Moreover, the sound of a fresh voice helped to bring him back to this
annihilation, in which nothing was left of the cultured reasoner that he
had formerly been. It was another preacher who had just entered the
pulpit, a Capuchin this time, whose guttural call, persistently repeated,
sent a tremor through the crowd.
"Holy Virgin of virgins, be blessed!"
"Holy Virgin of virgins, be blessed!"
"Holy Virgin of virgins, turn not thy face from thy children!"
"Holy Virgin of virgins, turn not thy face from thy children!"
"Holy Virgin of virgins, breathe upon our sores, and our sores shall
heal!"
"Holy Virgin of virgins, breathe upon our sores, and our sores shall
heal!"
At the end of the first bench, skirting the central path, which was
becoming crowded, the Vigneron family had succeeded in finding room for
themselves.
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