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one of those good and insupportable old women who haunt the
tables d'hote of every hotel in Europe； who spoil Italy； poison
Switzerland； render the charming cities of the Mediterranean
uninhabitable； carry everywhere their fantastic manias； their
petrified vestal manners； their indescribable toilettes； and a
certain odor of india…rubber； which makes one believe that at
night they slip themselves into a case of that material。 When I
meet one of these people in a hotel； I act like birds which see a
manikin in a field。
〃This woman； however； appeared so singular that she did not
displease me。
〃Madame Lecacheur； hostile by instinct to everything that was not
rustic； felt in her narrow soul a kind of hatred for the ecstatic
extravagances of the old girl。 She had found a phrase by which to
describe her； I know not how； but a phrase assuredly
contemptuous； which had sprung to her lips； invented probably by
some confused and mysterious travail of soul。 She said： 'That
woman is a demoniac。' This phrase； as uttered by that austere and
sentimental creature； seemed to me irresistibly comic。 I； myself；
never called her now anything else but 'the demoniac。' feeling a
singular pleasure in pronouncing this word on seeing her。
〃I would ask Mother Lecacheur： 'Well； what is our demoniac about
to…day？' To which my rustic friend would respond； with an air of
having been scandalized：
〃 'What do you think； sir？ She has picked up a toad which has had
its leg battered； and carried it to her room； and has put it in
her washstand； and dressed it up like a man。 If that is not
profanation； I should like to know what is！'
〃On another occasion； when walking along the Falaise； she had
bought a large fish which had just been caught； simply to throw
it back into the sea again。 The sailor； from whom she had bought
it； though paid handsomely； was greatly provoked at this
actmore exasperated； indeed； than if she had put her hand into
his pocket and taken his money。 For a whole month he could not
speak of the circumstance without getting into a fury and
denouncing it as an outrage。 Oh yes！ She was indeed a demoniac；
this Miss Harriet； and Mother Lecacheur must have had an
inspiration of genius in thus christening her。
〃The stable…boy； who was called Sapeur； because he had served in
Africa in his youth； entertained other aversions。 He said； with a
roguish air： 'She is an old hag who has lived her days。' If the
poor woman had but known！
〃Little kind…hearted Celeste did not wait upon her willingly； but
I was never able to understand why。 Probably her only reason was
that she was a stranger； of another race； of a different tongue；
and of another religion。 She was in good truth a demoniac！
〃She passed her time wandering about the country； adoring and
searching for God in nature。 I found her one evening on her knees
in a cluster of bushes。 Having discovered something red through
the leaves； I brushed aside the branches； and Miss Harriet at
once rose to her feet； confused at having been found thus；
looking at me with eyes as terrible as those of a wild cat
surprised in open day。
〃Sometimes； when I was working among the rocks； I would suddenly
descry her on the banks of the Falaise standing like a semaphore
signal。 She gazed passionately at the vast sea； glittering in the
sunlight； and the boundless sky empurpled with fire。 Sometimes I
would distinguish her at the bottom of a valley； walking quickly；
with her elastic English step； and I would go toward her；
attracted by I know not what； simply to see her illuminated
visage； her dried…up features； which seemed to glow with an
ineffable； inward； and profound happiness。
〃Often I would encounter her in the corner of a field sitting on
the grass； under the shadow of an apple…tree； with her little
Bible lying open on her knee； while she looked meditatively into
the distance。
〃I could no longer tear myself away from that quiet country
neighborhood； bound to it as I was by a thousand links of love
for its soft and sweeping landscapes。 At this farm I was out of
the world； far removed from everything； but in close proximity to
the soil； the good； healthy； beautiful green soil。 And； must I
avow it； there was something besides curiosity which retained me
at the residence of Mother Lecacheur。 I wished to become
acquainted a little with this strange Miss Harriet； and to learn
what passes in the solitary souls of those wandering old； English
dames。
II。
〃We became acquainted in a rather singular manner。 I had just
finished a study which appeared to me to display genius and
power； as it must have； since it was sold for ten thousand
francs； fifteen years later。 It was as simple； however； as that
two and two make four； and had nothing to do with academic rules。
The whole of the right side of my canvas represented a rock； an
enormous rock； covered with sea…wrack； brown； yellow； and red；
across which the sun poured like a stream of oil。 The light；
without which one could see the stars concealed in the
background； fell upon the stone； and gilded it as if with fire。
That was all。 A first stupid attempt at dealing with light； with
burning rays； with the sublime。
〃On the left was the sea； not the blue sea； the slate…colored
sea； but a sea of jade； as greenish； milky； and thick as the
overcast sky。
〃I was so pleased with my work that I danced from sheer delight
as I carried it back to the inn。 I wished that the whole world
could have seen it at one and the same moment。 I can remember
that I showed it to a cow； which was browsing by the wayside；
exclaiming； at the same time： 'Look at that； my old beauty； you
will not often see its like again。'
〃When I had reached the front of the house； I immediately called
out to Mother Lecacheur； shouting with all my might：
〃 'Ohe！ Ohe！ my mistress； come here and look at this。'
〃The rustic advanced and looked at my work with stupid eyes；
which distinguished nothing； and did not even recognize whether
the picture was the representation of an ox or a house。
〃Miss Harriet came into the house； and passed in rear of me just
at the moment when； holding out my canvas at arm's length； I was
exhibiting it to the female innkeeper。 The 'demoniac' could not
help but see it； for I took care to exhibit the thing in such a
way that it could not escape her notice。 She stopped abruptly and
stood motionless； stupefied。 It was her rock which was depicted；
the one which she usually climbed to dream away her time
undisturbed。
〃She uttered a British 'Oh；' which was at once so accentuated and
so flattering； that I turned round to her； smiling； and said：
〃This is my last work； Mademoiselle。'
〃She murmured ecstatically； comically； and tenderly：
〃 'Oh！ Monsieur； you must understand what it is to have a
palpitation。'
〃I colored up； of course； and was more excited by that compliment
than if it had come from a queen。 I was seduced； conquered；
vanquished。 I could have embraced herupon my honor。
〃I took my seat at the table beside her； as I had always done。
For the first time； she spoke； drawling out in a loud voice：
〃 'Oh！ I love nature so much。'
〃I offered her some bread；