the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第10部分
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She had been walking alone with her arms hanging limp； letting her white
skirts trail along the dewy path。 She took his arm； but she did not lean
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upon it。 She let her hand lie listlessly； as though her thoughts were
elsewheresomewhere in advance of her body； and she was striving to
overtake them。
Robert assisted her into the hammock which swung from the post
before her door out to the trunk of a tree。
〃Will you stay out here and wait for Mr。 Pontellier？〃 he asked。
〃I'll stay out here。 Good…night。〃
〃Shall I get you a pillow？〃
〃There's one here；〃 she said； feeling about； for they were in the
shadow。
〃It must be soiled； the children have been tumbling it about。〃
〃No matter。〃 And having discovered the pillow； she adjusted it beneath
her head。 She extended herself in the hammock with a deep breath of
relief。 She was not a supercilious or an over…dainty woman。 She was
not much given to reclining in the hammock； and when she did so it was
with no cat…like suggestion of voluptuous ease； but with a beneficent
repose which seemed to invade her whole body。
〃Shall I stay with you till Mr。 Pontellier comes？〃 asked Robert； seating
himself on the outer edge of one of the steps and taking hold of the
hammock rope which was fastened to the post。
〃If you wish。 Don't swing the hammock。 Will you get my white
shawl which I left on the window…sill over at the house？〃
〃Are you chilly？〃
〃No； but I shall be presently。〃
〃Presently？〃 he laughed。 〃Do you know what time it is？ How long
are you going to stay out here？〃
〃I don't know。 Will you get the shawl？〃 〃Of course I will；〃 he said；
rising。 He went over to the house； walking along the grass。 She
watched his figure pass in and out of the strips of moonlight。 It was past
midnight。 It was very quiet。
When he returned with the shawl she took it and kept it in her hand。
She did not put it around her。
〃Did you say I should stay till Mr。 Pontellier came back？〃
〃I said you might if you wished to。〃
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He seated himself again and rolled a cigarette； which he smoked in
silence。 Neither did Mrs。 Pontellier speak。 No multitude of words could
have been more significant than those moments of silence； or more
pregnant with the first…felt throbbings of desire。
When the voices of the bathers were heard approaching； Robert said
good…night。 She did not answer him。 He thought she was asleep。
Again she watched his figure pass in and out of the strips of moonlight as
he walked away。
XI
〃What are you doing out here； Edna？ I thought I should find you in
bed；〃 said her husband； when he discovered her lying there。 He had
walked up with Madame Lebrun and left her at the house。 His wife did
not reply。
〃Are you asleep？〃 he asked； bending down close to look at her。
〃No。〃 Her eyes gleamed bright and intense； with no sleepy shadows； as
they looked into his。
〃Do you know it is past one o'clock？ Come on；〃 and he mounted the
steps and went into their room。
〃Edna！〃 called Mr。 Pontellier from within； after a few moments had
gone by。
〃Don't wait for me；〃 she answered。 He thrust his head through the
door。
〃You will take cold out there；〃 he said； irritably。 〃What folly is this？
Why don't you come in？〃
〃It isn't cold； I have my shawl。〃
〃The mosquitoes will devour you。〃
〃There are no mosquitoes。〃
She heard him moving about the room； every sound indicating
impatience and irritation。 Another time she would have gone in at his
request。 She would； through habit； have yielded to his desire； not with
any sense of submission or obedience to his compelling wishes； but
unthinkingly； as we walk； move； sit； stand； go through the daily treadmill
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of the life which has been portioned out to us。
〃Edna； dear； are you not coming in soon？〃 he asked again； this time
fondly； with a note of entreaty。
〃No； I am going to stay out here。〃
〃This is more than folly；〃 he blurted out。 〃I can't permit you to stay
out there all night。 You must come in the house instantly。〃
With a writhing motion she settled herself more securely in the
hammock。 She perceived that her will had blazed up； stubborn and
resistant。 She could not at that moment have done other than denied and
resisted。 She wondered if her husband had ever spoken to her like that
before； and if she had submitted to his command。 Of course she had； she
remembered that she had。 But she could not realize why or how she
should have yielded； feeling as she then did。
〃Leonce； go to bed； 〃 she said I mean to stay out here。 I don't wish
to go in； and I don't intend to。 Don't speak to me like that again； I shall
not answer you。〃
Mr。 Pontellier had prepared for bed； but he slipped on an extra garment。
He opened a bottle of wine； of which he kept a small and select supply in a
buffet of his own。 He drank a glass of the wine and went out on the
gallery and offered a glass to his wife。 She did not wish any。 He drew
up the rocker； hoisted his slippered feet on the rail； and proceeded to
smoke a cigar。 He smoked two cigars； then he went inside and drank
another glass of wine。 Mrs。 Pontellier again declined to accept a glass
when it was offered to her。 Mr。 Pontellier once more seated himself with
elevated feet； and after a reasonable interval of time smoked some more
cigars。
Edna began to feel like one who awakens gradually out of a dream； a
delicious； grotesque； impossible dream； to feel again the realities pressing
into her soul。 The physical need for sleep began to overtake her； the
exuberance which had sustained and exalted her spirit left her helpless and
yielding to the conditions which crowded her in。
The stillest hour of the night had come； the hour before dawn； when
the world seems to hold its breath。 The moon hung low； and had turned
from silver to copper in the sleeping sky。 The old owl no longer hooted；
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and the water…oaks had ceased to moan as they bent their heads。
Edna arose； cramped from lying so long and still in the hammock。
She tottered up the steps； clutching feebly at the post before passing into
the house。
〃Are you coming in； Leonce？〃 she asked； turning her face toward her
husband。
〃Yes； dear；〃 he answered； with a glance following a misty puff of
smoke。 〃Just as soon as I have finished my cigar。
XII
She slept but a few hours。 They were troubled and feverish hours；
disturbed with dreams that were intangible； that eluded her； leaving only
an impression upon her half…awakened senses of something unattainable。
She was up and dressed in the cool of the early morning。 The air was
invigorating and steadied somewhat her faculties。 However； she was not
seeking refreshment or help from any source； either external or from
within。 She was blindly following whatever impulse moved her； as if she
had placed herself in alien hands for direction； and freed her soul of
responsibility。
Most of the people at that early hour were still in bed and asleep。 A
few； who intended to go over to the Cheniere for mass； were moving about。
The lovers； who had laid their plans the night before； were already
strolling toward the wharf。 The lady in black； with her Sunday prayer…
book； velvet and gold…clasped； and her Sunday silver beads； was following
them at no great distance。 Old Monsieur Farival was up； and was more
than half inclined to do anything that suggested itself。 He put on his big
straw hat； and taking his umbrella from the stand in the hall； followed the
lady in black； never overtaking her。
The little negro girl who worked Madame Lebrun's sewing…machine
was sweeping the galleries with long； absent…minded strokes of the broom。
Edna sent her up into the house to awaken Robert。
〃Tell him I am going to the Cheniere。 The boat is ready； tell him to
hurry。〃
He had soon joined her。 She had never sent for him before。 She had
