thatvastchurch,whichsurroundedheroneveryside,whichguardedher,whichsavedher,wasitselfasovereigntranquillizer.Thesolemnlinesofthatarchitecture,thereligiousattitudeofalltheobjectswhichsurroundedtheyounggirl,thesereneandpiousthoughtswhichemanated,sotospeak,fromalltheporesofthatstone,acteduponherwithoutherbeingawareofit.Theedificehadalsosoundsfraughtwithsuchbenedictionandsuchmajesty,thattheysoothedthisailingsoul.Themonotonouschantingofthecelebrants,theresponsesofthepeopletothepriest,sometimesinarticulate,sometimesthunderous,theharmonioustremblingofthepaintedwindows,theorgan,burstingforthlikeahundredtrumpets,thethreebelfries,humminglikehivesofhugebees,thatwholeorchestraonwhichboundedagiganticscale,ascending,descendingincessantlyfromthevoiceofathrongtothatofonebell,dulledhermemory,herimagination,hergrief.Thebells,inparticular,lulledher.Itwassomethinglikeapowerfulmagnetismwhichthosevastinstrumentsshedoverheringreatwaves.Thuseverysunrisefoundhermorecalm,breathingbetter,lesspale.Inproportionasherinwardwoundsclosed,hergraceandbeautyblossomedoncemoreonhercountenance,butmorethoughtful,morereposeful.Herformercharacteralsoreturnedtoher,somewhatevenofhergayety,herprettypout,herloveforhergoat,herloveforsinging,hermodesty.Shetookcaretodressherselfinthemorninginthecornerofhercellforfearsomeinhabitantsoftheneighboringatticsmightseeherthroughthewindow.Whenthethoughtofphoebuslefthertime,thegypsysometimesthoughtofQuasimodo.Hewasthesolebond,thesoleconnection,thesolecommunicationwhichremainedtoherwithmen,withtheliving.Unfortunategirl!shewasmoreoutsidetheworldthanQuasimodo.Sheunderstoodnotintheleastthestrangefriendwhomchancehadgivenher.Sheoftenreproachedherselffornotfeelingagratitudewhichshouldclosehereyes,butdecidedly,shecouldnotaccustomherselftothepoorbellringer.Hewastoougly.Shehadleftthewhistlewhichhehadgivenherlyingontheground.ThisdidnotpreventQuasimodofrommakinghisappearancefromtimetotimeduringthefirstfewdays.Shedidherbestnottoturnasidewithtoomuchrepugnancewhenhecametobringherherbasketofprovisionsorherjugofwater,buthealwaysperceivedtheslightestmovementofthissort,andthenhewithdrewsadly.
