The Broken Cup | Page 3

Whether he smiled or not, it was all the same to her. As to his roguish
glance, why she would never hear it mentioned; and therein too she was
perfectly right. When he told a tale (and he knew thousands) and
everybody listened, she nudged her neighbor, or perhaps threw tufts of

grass at Peter or Paul, and laughed and chattered, and did not listen to
Colin at all. This behavior quite provoked the proud fellow, so that he
would break off in the middle of his story and stalk sullenly away.
Revenge is sweet. The daughter of Mother Manon well knew how to
triumph. Yet Marietta was a right good child and quite too
tenderhearted. If Colin was silent, it gave her pain. If he was downcast,
she laughed no more. If he went away, she did not stay long behind: but
hurried to her home, and wept tears of repentance, more beautiful than
those of the Magdalen, although she had not sinned like the Magdalen.
Father Jerome, the pastor of Napoule, was an old man of seventy, who
possessed all the virtues of a saint, and only one failing; which was,
that by reason of his advanced years, he was hard of hearing. But, on
that very account, his homilies were more acceptable to the children of
his baptism and blessing. True, he preached only of two subjects, as if
they comprehended the whole of religion. It was either "Little children,
love one another," or it was "Mysterious are the ways of Providence."
And truly there is so much Faith, Love, and Hope in these that one
might at a pinch be saved by them. The little children loved one another
most obediently, and trusted in the ways of Providence. Only Colin,
with his flinty heart, would know nothing of either: for even when he
professed to be friendly, he entertained the deepest malice.
The Napoulese went to the annual market or fair of the city of Vence. It
was truly a joyful time, and though they had but little gold to buy with,
there were many goods to look at. Now Marietta and Mother Manon
went to the fair with the rest, and Colin was also there. He bought a
great many curiosities and trifles for his friends--but he would not
spend a farthing for Marietta. And yet he was always at her elbow,
though he did not speak to her, nor she to him. It was easy to see that
he was brooding over some scheme of wickedness.
Mother Manon stood gazing before a shop, when she suddenly
exclaimed:
"Oh! Marietta, see that beautiful cup! A queen would not be ashamed
to raise it to her lips. Only see: the edge is of dazzling gold, and the

flowers upon it could not bloom more beautifully in the garden,
although they are only painted. And in the midst of this Paradise! pray
see, Marietta, how the apples are smiling on the trees. They are verily
tempting. And Adam cannot withstand it, as the enchanting Eve offers
him one for food! And do see how prettily the little frisking lamb skips
around the old tiger, and the snow-white dove with her golden throat
stands there before the vulture, as if she would caress him."
Marietta could not satisfy herself with looking. "Had I such a cup,
mother!" said she, "it is far too beautiful to drink out of: I would place
my flowers in it and constantly peep into Paradise. We are at the fair in
Vence, but when I look on the picture I feel as if I were in Paradise."
So spoke Marietta, and called her companions to the spot, to share her
admiration of the cup: but the young men soon joined the maidens,
until at length almost half the inhabitants of Napoule were assembled
before the wonderfully beautiful cup. But miraculously beautiful was it
mainly from its inestimable, translucent porcelain, with gilded handles
and glowing colors. They asked the merchant timidly: "Sir, what is the
price of it?" And he answered: "Among friends, it is worth a hundred
livres." Then they all became silent, and went away in despair. When
the Napoulese were all gone from the front of the shop, Colin came
there by stealth, threw the merchant a hundred livres upon the counter,
had the cup put in a box well packed with cotton, and then carried it off.
What evil plans he had in view no one would have surmised.
Near Napoule, on his way home, it being already dusk, he met old
Jacques, the Justice's servant, returning from the fields. Jacques was a
very good man, but excessively stupid.
"I will give thee money enough to get something to drink, Jacques,"
said Colin, "if thou wilt bear this box to Manon's house,