Beauregard de Farniente - The Adventures of Father Silas

Although he told me all this in the coarse language of his village, I was delighted with his candor and simplicity.-“Very good, my dear friend.” said I; “and how have you enjoyed it?”-“Oh, by Jupiter, so much that I am ready to begin again, if you are willing.”-“No, not now,” said I; “perhaps we may be discovered; but as you have the key to the church, you can come again tomorrow night; leave the door open, and I will join you. Do you understand?”-“Yes, perfectly; and then we will amuse ourselves to our heart's content, without any fear of being interrupted at that hour.”-I assured him that I would be there. Reflection made me oppose my own inclination and the entreaties of Martin, who was very anxious to have another little go before were separated. My refusal would have sadly grieved him, had it not been for the hopes of the morrow. After we had embraced each other, I entered the convent, and succeeded in reaching my chamber without being perceived.

You will readily suppose that I was impatient to examine myself to see what effects the violent assaults of Martin had produced; as I felt a sharp pricking sensation, and could not walk without difficulty. I procured a light, and drew the curtains very carefully to prevent my being seen; then sitting down in a chair, I placed one foot on the bed and the other on the floor, and began my scrutiny. What was my surprise on discovering that the lips, which before were so firm and plump, had become soft and wrinkled. The hair which covered them, though not yet quite dry, was in a thousand little curls. The inside was of a bright red, inflamed, and excessively tender. It itched, but when I touched it with my finger, the pain compelled me to desist. I rubbed myself against the arms of my chair, and covered them with the proofs of Martin's vigor. Pleasure contested with fatigue, but my eyes became gradually heavier till I was obliged to undress and lie down; when I soon fell into a sound sleep accompanied with agreeable dreams, in which I retasted the pleasures of the evening.

The next day, no remark was made on my absence, which was thought to proceed from a remnant of resentment at the treatment of the previous day, and my bold air confirmed that opinion. I attended mass like the others, but did not communicate, though they did; for, to speak truth, I was above being ashamed of not following their example. Love had dispelled all my prejudices, and the presence of my lover, whom I could see lounging about the church, compensated for all. Many of my companions would have gladly quitted the spiritual food for a like alternative. My eyes threw more glances of love on my Martin than of devotion on the altar. In the eyes of a woman of the world, he would have appeared but a clown, in mine he was a very Cupid, with all his youth and graces. His secret worth made me pass lightly over the meanness of his outward appearance. I could perceive, however, that he had trimmed himself up that day, and assumed an air of greater importance. I was gratified by this change, which I attributed rather to a desire to please me than to honor the saint whose feast it was that day. I saw him look at the boarders with an endeavor to distinguish me; I did not wish him to succeed in so doing, so I took care to hide my face; but I should have been vexed if he had not made the attempt. I was now over head and ears in love, and awaited the night with the utmost impatience, in order to redeem the word I had pledged.

That night, so ardently desired, at last came. It struck twelve! Oh! In what agitation I was! I trembled as I passed along the corridor, and though everybody was asleep, I felt as if they were all looking at me. I had no other light to guide me than that of love; and, as I walked in the darkness, I thought that, if Martin failed in being at the rendezvous, I should expire with vexation. However he was there, as amorous and impatient as I was punctual. I had but few clothes on, for I found the evening before that petticoats, stays, collars, etc. were only so many hindrances to love. As soon as I found the door open, a transport of joy made me abruptly finish my reverie; and I called Martin in a low voice. He heard me, rushed into my arms, caressed, and kissed me. We were some time closely locked in a mutual embrace, but when the first joy of meeting was past, we set about finding another greater and more solid. I carried my hand to the source of my pleasures, and he did not delay putting his where I so very much wanted it. He was soon in a condition to satisfy me, and undressing himself, made a bed for me of his clothes, on which I laid down. Our pleasures succeeded each other for two hours with such rapidity and force, that it seemed almost as if we had not yet tasted them, or were enjoying them for the first time. In the heat of passion, we think little of husbanding our strength, and the ardor of my lover no longer equalled mine; so it became necessary to force ourselves from each other's arms and retire to our respective dormitories.

Our happiness lasted only a month, including the period that repose was absolutely necessary; during those three or four days, the thought of Martin supplied the place of his personal presence. How happily passed the nights when I was in his embrace! Alas, I have had many a long and disagreeable one since I lost him.

But I had reason to tremble at the consequence of our pleasures, for I perceived that my courses did not appear at the proper time. I was at first surprised at the circumstance, having often heard say that it was a sign of breeding. I often had pains in my stomach, and fits of weakness. “Oh!” cried I, “what an unhappy wretch I am-it is indeed true that I am pregnant!” And a torrent of tears followed my exclamation.

One night, after receiving from Martin the usual testimonial of his unabating love for me, he perceived that I sighed sorrowfully, and that the hand which he held trembled; for when my passion was satisfied, uneasiness took the place in my heart that love had before occupied. He asked me eagerly the cause of my agitation, and gently remonstrated with me for making a mystery of my troubles.-“Alas! Martin,” I said to him, “you have ruined me! Do not suppose that my love for you is not the same; I have within me a distressing proof of it-I am pregnant.”-This news was altogether unexpected by him. But his surprise was followed by a profound reverie, which I knew not what to make of. Martin was my only hope in this dreadful crisis, and as he seemed to hesitate, what could I think!-“Perhaps,” thought I, quite depressed by his silence, “perhaps he intends to run away, and abandon me to my despair.” My tears began to flow, and he perceived them. Kind and faithful, as I feared he might be unfeeling and perfidious, while I was supposing him occupied with the thought of deserting me, he was in reality devising means to dry up my tears by removing their cause. He embraced me, and said that he knew a way of relieving me from my embarrassment. I was less delighted to hear this than to ascertain that my suspicions of his love were groundless. His assurance of affording me assistance restored my spirits, and I was curious to know what must be done to deliver me of my burden.

He Said he would give me something to take which was in his master's closet, and of which mother Angelica had made experience before me. I wanted to know what particular connection Father Jerome had with her; as I hated her mortally, because she appeared the most violent against me in the affair with Verland. She was so exceedingly rigid in her external conduct, for the purpose of more securely veiling the vices and corruptions of her privacy, as she had a regular intrigue with Father Jerome. Martin told me all about it, and said that he had found among his master's papers a letter of hers, in which she communicated to him the fact of her being in precisely the same condition as myself; and from another he learned that the Father had sent her a bottle of the liquor I was to use, which had done wonders in removing the inconvenience under which she labored.-“My dear Martin,” said I, “pray bring me some of this liquor tomorrow, and you will save me a world of troubles.” And, looking still farther, I thought that by means of these letters, I might take vengeance on Mother Angelica; so I asked Martin to bring them. He, not knowing what such imprudence was to cost us, promised to bring them with the phial of medicine.