reaching up to the side of the church.

Curiosity drove them to the spot. It was the midnight mass. These lights
came from shepherds' lanterns. Some of them were shaking their cloaks
under the porch.

The serpent snorted; the incense smoked. Glasses suspended along the
nave represented three crowns of many-coloured flames; and, at the end
of the perspective at the two sides of the tabernacle, immense wax
tapers were pointed with red flames. Above the heads of the crowd and
the broad-brimmed hats of the women, beyond the chanters, the priest
could be distinguished in his chasuble of gold. To his sharp voice
responded the strong voices of the men who filled up the gallery, and
the wooden vault quivered above its stone arches. The walls were
decorated with the stations of the Cross. In the midst of the choir,
before the altar, a lamb was lying down, with its feet under its belly
and its ears erect.

The warm temperature imparted to them both a strange feeling of comfort,
and their thoughts, which had been so tempestuous only a short time
before, became peaceful, like waves when they are calmed.

They listened to the Gospel and the _Credo_, and watched the movements
of the priest. Meanwhile, the old, the young, the beggar women in rags,
the mothers in high caps, the strong young fellows with tufts of fair
down on their faces, were all praying, absorbed in the same deep joy,
and saw the body of the Infant Christ shining, like a sun, upon the
straw of a stable. This faith on the part of others touched Bouvard in
spite of his reason, and Pecuchet in spite of the hardness of his heart.

There was a silence; every back was bent, and, at the tinkling of a
bell, the little lamb bleated.

The host was displayed by the priest, as high as possible between his
two hands. Then burst forth a strain of gladness inviting the whole
world to the feet of the King of Angels. Bouvard and Pecuchet
involuntarily joined in it, and they felt, as it were, a new dawn rising
in their souls.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Roughly speaking, about 93 acres.--TRANSLATOR.

[2] _Cuscute_--dodder.

[3] One hectare contains 2 acres 1 rood 38 perches.--TRANSLATOR.

[4] The [Text missing in original.--_Transcriber._]

[5] Raspail, the author of the work here referred to, was called in to
attend Gustave Flaubert's sister Caroline before her death in
1846.--TRANSLATOR.

[6] A decalitre contains over two gallons.--TRANSLATOR.

[7] A myriametre is over six mi