the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第16部分
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〃Oh！ he thrashed him well enough a year or two ago；〃 said
Mademoiselle。 〃It was about a Spanish girl； whom Victor considered
that he had some sort of claim upon。 He met Robert one day talking to
the girl； or walking with her； or bathing with her； or carrying her basketI
don't remember what；and he became so insulting and abusive that Robert
gave him a thrashing on the spot that has kept him comparatively in order
for a good while。 It's about time he was getting another。〃
〃Was her name Mariequita？〃 asked Edna。
〃Mariequitayes； that was it； Mariequita。 I had forgotten。 Oh； she's a
sly one； and a bad one； that Mariequita！〃
Edna looked down at Mademoiselle Reisz and wondered how she
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could have listened to her venom so long。 For some reason she felt
depressed； almost unhappy。 She had not intended to go into the water；
but she donned her bathing suit； and left Mademoiselle alone； seated under
the shade of the children's tent。 The water was growing cooler as the
season advanced。 Edna plunged and swam about with an abandon that
thrilled and invigorated her。 She remained a long time in the water； half
hoping that Mademoiselle Reisz would not wait for her。
But Mademoiselle waited。 She was very amiable during the walk
back； and raved much over Edna's appearance in her bathing suit。 She
talked about music。 She hoped that Edna would go to see her in the city；
and wrote her address with the stub of a pencil on a piece of card which
she found in her pocket。
〃When do you leave？〃 asked Edna。
〃Next Monday； and you？〃
〃The following week；〃 answered Edna； adding； 〃It has been a pleasant
summer； hasn't it； Mademoiselle？〃
〃Well；〃 agreed Mademoiselle Reisz； with a shrug； 〃rather pleasant； if it
hadn't been for the mosquitoes and the Farival twins。〃
XVII
The Pontelliers possessed a very charming home on Esplanade Street
in New Orleans。 It was a large； double cottage； with a broad front
veranda； whose round； fluted columns supported the sloping roof。 The
house was painted a dazzling white； the outside shutters； or jalousies； were
green。 In the yard； which was kept scrupulously neat； were flowers and
plants of every description which flourishes in South Louisiana。 Within
doors the appointments were perfect after the conventional type。 The
softest carpets and rugs covered the floors； rich and tasteful draperies hung
at doors and windows。 There were paintings； selected with judgment and
discrimination； upon the walls。 The cut glass； the silver； the heavy
damask which daily appeared upon the table were the envy of many
women whose husbands were less generous than Mr。 Pontellier。
Mr。 Pontellier was very fond of walking about his house examining its
various appointments and details； to see that nothing was amiss。 He
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greatly valued his possessions； chiefly because they were his； and derived
genuine pleasure from contemplating a painting； a statuette； a rare lace
curtainno matter whatafter he had bought it and placed it among his
household gods。
On Tuesday afternoonsTuesday being Mrs。 Pontellier's reception
daythere was a constant stream of callerswomen who came in carriages
or in the street cars； or walked when the air was soft and distance
permitted。 A light…colored mulatto boy； in dress coat and bearing a
diminutive silver tray for the reception of cards； admitted them。 A maid；
in white fluted cap； offered the callers liqueur； coffee； or chocolate； as they
might desire。 Mrs。 Pontellier； attired in a handsome reception gown；
remained in the drawing…room the entire afternoon receiving her visitors。
Men sometimes called in the evening with their wives。
This had been the programme which Mrs。 Pontellier had religiously
followed since her marriage； six years before。 Certain evenings during
the week she and her husband attended the opera or sometimes the play。
Mr。 Pontellier left his home in the mornings between nine and ten
o'clock； and rarely returned before half…past six or seven in the evening
dinner being served at half…past seven。
He and his wife seated themselves at table one Tuesday evening； a few
weeks after their return from Grand Isle。 They were alone together。
The boys were being put to bed； the patter of their bare； escaping feet
could be heard occasionally； as well as the pursuing voice of the quadroon；
lifted in mild protest and entreaty。 Mrs。 Pontellier did not wear her usual
Tuesday reception gown； she was in ordinary house dress。 Mr。 Pontellier；
who was observant about such things； noticed it； as he served the soup and
handed it to the boy in waiting。
〃Tired out； Edna？ Whom did you have？ Many callers？〃 he asked。
He tasted his soup and began to season it with pepper； salt； vinegar；
mustardeverything within reach。
〃There were a good many；〃 replied Edna； who was eating her soup
with evident satisfaction。 〃I found their cards when I got home； I was
out。〃
〃Out！〃 exclaimed her husband； with something like genuine
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consternation in his voice as he laid down the vinegar cruet and looked at
her through his glasses。 〃Why； what could have taken you out on
Tuesday？ What did you have to do？〃
〃Nothing。 I simply felt like going out； and I went out。〃
〃Well； I hope you left some suitable excuse；〃 said her husband；
somewhat appeased； as he added a dash of cayenne pepper to the soup。
〃No； I left no excuse。 I told Joe to say I was out； that was all。〃
〃Why； my dear； I should think you'd understand by this time that
people don't do such things； we've got to observe les convenances if we
ever expect to get on and keep up with the procession。 If you felt that
you had to leave home this afternoon； you should have left some suitable
explanation for your absence。
〃This soup is really impossible； it's strange that woman hasn't learned
yet to make a decent soup。 Any free…lunch stand in town serves a better
one。 Was Mrs。 Belthrop here？〃
〃Bring the tray with the cards； Joe。 I don't remember who was here。〃
The boy retired and returned after a moment； bringing the tiny silver
tray； which was covered with ladies' visiting cards。 He handed it to Mrs。
Pontellier。
〃Give it to Mr。 Pontellier；〃 she said。
Joe offered the tray to Mr。 Pontellier； and removed the soup。
Mr。 Pontellier scanned the names of his wife's callers； reading some of
them aloud； with comments as he read。
〃‘The Misses Delasidas。' I worked a big deal in futures for their father
this morning； nice girls； it's time they were getting married。 ‘Mrs。
Belthrop。' I tell you what it is； Edna； you can't afford to snub Mrs。
Belthrop。 Why； Belthrop could buy and sell us ten times over。 His
business is worth a good； round sum to me。 You'd better write her a note。
‘Mrs。 James Highcamp。' Hugh！ the less you have to do with Mrs。
Highcamp； the better。 ‘Madame Laforce。' Came all the way from
Carrolton； too； poor old soul。 'Miss Wiggs；' ‘Mrs。 Eleanor Boltons。'〃 He
pushed the cards aside。
〃Mercy！〃 exclaimed Edna； who had been fuming。 〃Why are you
taking the thing so seriously and making such a fuss over it？〃
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〃I'm not making any fuss over it。 But it's just such seeming trifles
that we've got to take seriously； such things count。〃
The fish was scorched。 Mr。 Pontellier would not touch it。 Edna said
she did not mind a little scorched taste。 The roast was in some way not
to his fancy； and he did not like the manner in which the vegetables were
served。
〃It seems to me；〃 he said； 〃we spend money enough in this house to
procure at least one meal a day which a man could eat and retain his self…
respect。〃
〃You used to think the cook was a treasure；〃 returned Edna；
indifferently。
〃Perhaps she was when she first came； but cooks are only human。
They need looking after； like any other class of persons that you employ。
Suppose I didn't look after the clerks in my office； just let them run things
their own w
