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for a time； expecting Jean…Jacques to go on with what he was saying；
but she finally left him without knowing what to think of such
obstinate silence。 Whatever teaching the Rabouilleuse may have
received from the doctor； it was many a long day before she finally
understood the character of Jean…Jacques； whose history we now present
in a few words。
At the death of his father； Jacques； then thirty…seven； was as timid
and submissive to paternal discipline as a child of twelve years old。
That timidity ought to explain his childhood； youth； and after…life to
those who are reluctant to admit the existence of such characters； or
such facts as this history relates；though proofs of them are； alas；
common everywhere； even among princes； for Sophie Dawes was taken by
the last of the Condes under worse circumstances than the
Rabouilleuse。 There are two species of timidity；the timidity of the
mind； and the timidity of the nerves； a physical timidity； and a moral
timidity。 The one is independent of the other。 The body may fear and
tremble； while the mind is calm and courageous； or vice versa。 This is
the key to many moral eccentricities。 When the two are united in one
man； that man will be a cipher all his life； such double…sided
timidity makes him what we call 〃an imbecile。〃 Often fine suppressed
qualities are hidden within that imbecile。 To this double infirmity we
may； perhaps； owe the lives of certain monks who lived in ecstasy； for
this unfortunate moral and physical disposition is produced quite as
much by the perfection of the soul and of the organs； as by defects
which are still unstudied。
The timidity of Jean…Jacques came from a certain torpor of his
faculties； which a great teacher or a great surgeon； like Despleins；
would have roused。 In him； as in the cretins； the sense of love had
inherited a strength and vigor which were lacking to his mental
qualities； though he had mind enough to guide him in ordinary affairs。
The violence of passion； stripped of the ideal in which most young men
expend it； only increased his timidity。 He had never brought himself
to court； as the saying is； any woman in Issoudun。 Certainly no young
girl or matron would make advances to a young man of mean stature；
awkward and shame…faced in attitude； whose vulgar face； with its
flattened features and pallid skin； making him look old before his
time； was rendered still more hideous by a pair of large and prominent
light…green eyes。 The presence of a woman stultified the poor fellow；
who was driven by passion on the one hand as violently as the lack of
ideas； resulting from his education； held him back on the other。
Paralyzed between these opposing forces； he had not a word to say； and
feared to be spoken to； so much did he dread the obligation of
replying。 Desire； which usually sets free the tongue； only petrified
his powers of speech。 Thus it happened that Jean…Jacques Rouget was
solitary and sought solitude because there alone he was at his ease。
The doctor had seen； too late for remedy； the havoc wrought in his
son's life by a temperament and a character of this kind。 He would
have been glad to get him married； but to do that； he must deliver him
over to an influence that was certain to become tyrannical； and the
doctor hesitated。 Was it not practically giving the whole management
of the property into the hands of a stranger； some unknown girl？ The
doctor knew how difficult it was to gain true indications of the moral
character of a woman from any study of a young girl。 So； while he
continued to search for a daughter…in…law whose sentiments and
education offered some guarantees for the future； he endeavored to
push his son into the ways of avarice； meaning to give the poor fool a
sort of instinct that might eventually take the place of intelligence。
He trained him； in the first place； to mechanical habits of life； and
instilled into him fixed ideas as to the investment of his revenues：
and he spared him the chief difficulties of the management of a
fortune； by leaving his estates all in good order； and leased for long
periods。 Nevertheless； a fact which was destined to be of paramount
importance in the life of the poor creature escaped the notice of the
wily old doctor。 Timidity is a good deal like dissimulation； and is
equally secretive。 Jean…Jacques was passionately in love with the
Rabouilleuse。 Nothing； of course； could be more natural。 Flore was the
only woman who lived in the bachelor's presence； the only one he could
see at his ease； and at all hours he secretly contemplated her and
watched her。 To him； she was the light of his paternal home； she gave
him； unknown to herself； the only pleasures that brightened his youth。
Far from being jealous of his father； he rejoiced in the education the
old man was giving to Flore： would it not make her all he wanted； a
woman easy to win； and to whom； therefore； he need pay no court？ The
passion； observe； which is able to reflect； gives even to ninnies；
fools； and imbeciles a species of intelligence； especially in youth。
In the lowest human creature we find an animal instinct whose
persistency resembles thought。
The next day； Flore； who had been reflecting on her master's silence；
waited in expectation of some momentous communication； but although he
kept near her； and looked at her on the sly with passionate glances；
Jean…Jacques still found nothing to say。 At last； when the dessert was
on the table； he recommenced the scene of the night before。
〃You like your life here？〃 he said to Flore。
〃Yes； Monsieur Jean。〃
〃Well； stay here then。〃
〃Thank you； Monsieur Jean。〃
This strange situation lasted three weeks。 One night； when no sound
broke the stillness of the house； Flore； who chanced to wake up； heard
the regular breathing of human lungs outside her door； and was
frightened to discover Jean…Jacques； crouched like a dog on the
landing。
〃He loves me；〃 she thought； 〃but he will get the rheumatism if he
keeps up that sort of thing。〃
The next day Flore looked at her master with a certain expression。
This mute almost instinctive love had touched her； she no longer
thought the poor ninny so ugly； though his forehead was crowned with
pimples resembling ulcers； the signs of a vitiated blood。
〃You don't want to go back and live in the fields； do you？〃 said Jean…
Jacques when they were alone。
〃Why do you ask me that？〃 she said； looking at him。
〃To know〃 replied Rouget； turning the color of a boiled lobster。
〃Do you wish to send me back？〃 she asked。
〃No； mademoiselle。〃
〃Well； what is it you want to know？ You have some reason〃
〃Yes； I want to know〃
〃What？〃 said Flore。
〃You won't tell me？〃 exclaimed Rouget。
〃Yes I will； on my honor〃
〃Ah！ that's it；〃 returned Rouget； with a frightened air。 〃Are you an
honest girl？〃
〃I'll take my oath〃
〃Are you； truly？〃
〃Don't you hear me tell you so？〃
〃Come；