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kled there slowly； thought by thought； for； in a character； as in a rock； there may exist apertures made by drops of water。 These hollows are uneffaceable； these formations are indestructible。
In 1815； as we think we have already said； he reached his seventy…fifth birthday； but he did not appear to be more than sixty。
He was not tall； he was rather plump； and； in order to bat this tendency； he was fond of taking long strolls on foot； his step was firm； and his form was but slightly bent； a detail from which we do not pretend to draw any conclusion。
Gregory XVI。； at the age of eighty； held himself erect and smiling； which did not prevent him from being a bad bishop。
Monseigneur Wele had what the people term a 〃fine head；〃 but so amiable was he that they forgot that it was fine。
When he conversed with that infantile gayety which was one of his charms； and of which we have already spoken； people felt at their ease with him； and joy seemed to radiate from his whole person。
His fresh and ruddy plexion； his very white teeth； all of which he had preserved； and which were displayed by his smile； gave him that open and easy air which cause the remark to be made of a man； 〃He's a good fellow〃； and of an old man； 〃He is a fine man。〃
That； it will be recalled； was the effect which he produced upon Napoleon。
On the first encounter； and to one who saw him for the first time； he was nothing； in fact； but a fine man。
But if one remained near him for a few hours； and beheld him in the least degree pensive； the fine man became gradually transfigured； and took on some imposing quality； I know not what； his broad and serious brow； rendered august by his white locks； became august also by virtue of meditation； majesty radiated from his goodness； though his goodness ceased not to be radiant； one experienced something of the emotion which one would feel on beholding a smiling angel slowly unfold his wings； without ceasing to smile。
Respect； an unutterable respect； penetrated you by degrees and mounted to your heart； and one felt that one had before him one of those strong； thoroughly tried； and indulgent souls where thought is so grand that it can no longer be anything but gentle。
As we have seen； prayer； the celebration of the offices of religion； alms…giving； the consolation of the afflicted； the cultivation of a bit of land； fraternity； frugality； hospitality； renunciation； confidence； study； work； filled every day of his life。
Filled is exactly the word； certainly the Bishop's day was quite full to the brim； of good words and good deeds。
Nevertheless； it was not plete if cold or rainy weather prevented his passing an hour or two in his garden before going to bed； and after the two women had retired。 It seemed to be a sort of rite with him； to prepare himself for slumber by meditation in the presence of the grand spectacles of the nocturnal heavens。
Sometimes； if the two old women were not asleep； they heard him pacing slowly along the walks at a very advanced hour of the night。
He was there alone； muning with himself； peaceful； adoring； paring the serenity of his heart with the serenity of the ether； moved amid the darkness by the visible splendor of the constellations and the invisible splendor of God； opening his heart to the thoughts which fall from the Unknown。 At such moments； while he offered his heart at the hour when nocturnal flowers offer their perfume； illuminated like a lamp amid the starry night； as he poured himself out in ecstasy in the midst of the universal radiance of creation； he could not have told himself； probably； what was passing in his spirit； he felt something take its flight from him； and something descend into him。
Mysterious exchange of the abysses of the soul with the abysses of the universe！
He thought of the grandeur and presence of God； of the future eternity； that strange mystery； of the eternity past； a mystery still more strange； of all the infinities； which pierced their way into all his senses； beneath his eyes； and； without seeking to prehend the inprehensible； he gazed upon it。
He did not study God； he was dazzled by him。
He considered those magnificent conjunctions of atoms； which municate aspects to matter； reveal forces by verifying them； create individualities in unity； proportions in extent； the innumerable in the infinite； and； through light； produce beauty。 These conjunctions are formed and dissolved incessantly； hence life and death。
He seated himself on a wooden bench； with his back against a decrepit vine； he gazed at the stars； past the puny and stunted silhouettes of his fruit…trees。 This quarter of an acre； so poorly planted； so encumbered with mean buildings and sheds； was dear to him； and satisfied his wants。
What more was needed by this old man； who divided the leisure of his life； where there was so little leisure； between gardening in the daytime and contemplation at night？
Was not this narrow enclosure； with the heavens for a ceiling； sufficient to enable him to adore God in his most divine works； in turn？
Does not this prehend all； in fact？ and what is there left to desire beyond it？ A little garden in which to walk； and immensity in which to dream。 At one's feet that which can be cultivated and plucked； over head that which one can study and meditate upon：
some flowers on earth； and all the stars in the sky。
BOOK FIRSTA JUST MAN
CHAPTER XIV
WHAT HE THOUGHT
One last word。
Since this sort of details might； particularly at the present moment； and to use an expression now in fashion； give to the Bishop of D a certain 〃pantheistical〃 physiognomy； and induce the belief； either to his credit or discredit； that he entertained one of those personal philosophies which are peculiar to our century； which sometimes spring up in solitary spirits； and there take on a form and grow until they usurp the place of religion； we insist upon it； that not one of those persons who knew Monseigneur Wele would have thought himself authorized to think anything of the sort。 That which enlightened this man was his heart。
His wisdom was made of the light which es from t