the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第2部分
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not know any better。 Mrs。 Pontellier talked a little about herself for the
same reason。 Each was interested in what the other said。 Robert spoke
of his intention to go to Mexico in the autumn； where fortune awaited him。
He was always intending to go to Mexico； but some way never got there。
Meanwhile he held on to his modest position in a mercantile house in New
Orleans； where an equal familiarity with English； French and Spanish gave
him no small value as a clerk and correspondent。
He was spending his summer vacation； as he always did； with his
mother at Grand Isle。 In former times； before Robert could remember；
〃the house〃 had been a summer luxury of the Lebruns。 Now； flanked by its
dozen or more cottages； which were always filled with exclusive visitors
from the 〃Quartier Francais；〃 it enabled Madame Lebrun to maintain the
easy and comfortable existence which appeared to be her birthright。
Mrs。 Pontellier talked about her father's Mississippi plantation and her
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girlhood home in the old Kentucky bluegrass country。 She was an
American woman； with a small infusion of French which seemed to have
been lost in dilution。 She read a letter from her sister； who was away in
the East； and who had engaged herself to be married。 Robert was
interested； and wanted to know what manner of girls the sisters were； what
the father was like； and how long the mother had been dead。
When Mrs。 Pontellier folded the letter it was time for her to dress for
the early dinner。
〃I see Leonce isn't coming back；〃 she said； with a glance in the
direction whence her husband had disappeared。 Robert supposed he was
not； as there were a good many New Orleans club men over at Klein's。
When Mrs。 Pontellier left him to enter her room； the young man
descended the steps and strolled over toward the croquet players； where；
during the half…hour before dinner； he amused himself with the little
Pontellier children； who were very fond of him。
III
It was eleven o'clock that night when Mr。 Pontellier returned from
Klein's hotel。 He was in an excellent humor； in high spirits； and very
talkative。 His entrance awoke his wife； who was in bed and fast asleep
when he came in。 He talked to her while he undressed； telling her
anecdotes and bits of news and gossip that he had gathered during the day。
From his trousers pockets he took a fistful of crumpled bank notes and a
good deal of silver coin； which he piled on the bureau indiscriminately
with keys； knife； handkerchief； and whatever else happened to be in his
pockets。 She was overcome with sleep； and answered him with little half
utterances。
He thought it very discouraging that his wife； who was the sole object
of his existence； evinced so little interest in things which concerned him；
and valued so little his conversation。
Mr。 Pontellier had forgotten the bonbons and peanuts for the boys。
Notwithstanding he loved them very much； and went into the adjoining
room where they slept to take a look at them and make sure that they were
resting comfortably。 The result of his investigation was far from
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satisfactory。 He turned and shifted the youngsters about in bed。 One of
them began to kick and talk about a basket full of crabs。
Mr。 Pontellier returned to his wife with the information that Raoul had
a high fever and needed looking after。 Then he lit a cigar and went and
sat near the open door to smoke it。
Mrs。 Pontellier was quite sure Raoul had no fever。 He had gone to
bed perfectly well； she said； and nothing had ailed him all day。 Mr。
Pontellier was too well acquainted with fever symptoms to be mistaken。
He assured her the child was consuming at that moment in the next room。
He reproached his wife with her inattention； her habitual neglect of the
children。 If it was not a mother's place to look after children； whose on
earth was it？ He himself had his hands full with his brokerage business。
He could not be in two places at once； making a living for his family on
the street； and staying at home to see that no harm befell them。 He talked
in a monotonous； insistent way。
Mrs。 Pontellier sprang out of bed and went into the next room。 She
soon came back and sat on the edge of the bed； leaning her head down on
the pillow。 She said nothing； and refused to answer her husband when he
questioned her。 When his cigar was smoked out he went to bed； and in
half a minute he was fast asleep。
Mrs。 Pontellier was by that time thoroughly awake。 She began to cry
a little； and wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her peignoir。 Blowing out the
candle； which her husband had left burning； she slipped her bare feet into
a pair of satin mules at the foot of the bed and went out on the porch；
where she sat down in the wicker chair and began to rock gently to and
fro。
It was then past midnight。 The cottages were all dark。 A single faint
light gleamed out from the hallway of the house。 There was no sound
abroad except the hooting of an old owl in the top of a water…oak； and the
everlasting voice of the sea； that was not uplifted at that soft hour。 It
broke like a mournful lullaby upon the night。
The tears came so fast to Mrs。 Pontellier's eyes that the damp sleeve of
her peignoir no longer served to dry them。 She was holding the back of her
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chair with one hand； her loose sleeve had slipped almost to the shoulder of
her uplifted arm。 Turning； she thrust her face； steaming and wet； into the
bend of her arm； and she went on crying there； not caring any longer to
dry her face； her eyes； her arms。 She could not have told why she was
crying。 Such experiences as the foregoing were not uncommon in her
married life。 They seemed never before to have weighed much against the
abundance of her husband's kindness and a uniform devotion which had
come to be tacit and self…understood。
An indescribable oppression； which seemed to generate in some
unfamiliar part of her consciousness； filled her whole being with a vague
anguish。 It was like a shadow； like a mist passing across her soul's
summer day。 It was strange and unfamiliar； it was a mood。 She did not
sit there inwardly upbraiding her husband； lamenting at Fate； which had
directed her footsteps to the path which they had taken。 She was just
having a good cry all to herself。 The mosquitoes made merry over her；
biting her firm； round arms and nipping at her bare insteps。
The little stinging； buzzing imps succeeded in dispelling a mood which
might have held her there in the darkness half a night longer。
The following morning Mr。 Pontellier was up in good time to take the
rockaway which was to convey him to the steamer at the wharf。 He was
returning to the city to his business； and they would not see him again at
the Island till the coming Saturday。 He had regained his composure；
which seemed to have been somewhat impaired the night before。 He was
eager to be gone； as he looked forward to a lively week in Carondelet
Street。
Mr。 Pontellier gave his wife half of the money which he had brought
away from Klein's hotel the evening before。 She liked money as well as
most women； and； accepted it with no little satisfaction。
〃It will buy a handsome wedding present for Sister Janet！〃 she
exclaimed； smoothing out the bills as she counted them one by one。
〃Oh！ we'll treat Sister Janet better than that； my dear；〃 he laughed； as
he prepared to kiss her good…by。
The boys were tumbling about； clinging to his legs； imploring that
numerous things be brought back to them。 Mr。 Pontellier was a great
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favorite； and ladies； men； children； even nurses； were always on hand to
say goodby to him。 His wife stood smiling and waving； the boys
shouting； as he disappeared in the old rockaway down the sandy road。
A few days later a box arrived for Mrs。 Pontellier from New Orleans。
It was from her husband。 It was filled with friandises； with luscious and
toothsome bitsthe finest of fruits； pates； a rare bottle or two； delicious
syrups； and bonbons in abundance。
Mrs。 Pontellier was always very generous with the contents of such a
box； she was quite used to receiving them when away from home。 The
pates
