the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第22部分
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assumes the nature of a problemwere of inestimable value to his father…in…
law。 But for the past few days the old gentleman had been upon Edna's
hands； and in his society she was becoming acquainted with a new set of
sensations。 He had been a colonel in the Confederate army； and still
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maintained； with the title； the military bearing which had always
accompanied it。 His hair and mustache were white and silky； emphasizing
the rugged bronze of his face。 He was tall and thin； and wore his coats
padded； which gave a fictitious breadth and depth to his shoulders and
chest。 Edna and her father looked very distinguished together； and
excited a good deal of notice during their perambulations。 Upon his
arrival she began by introducing him to her atelier and making a sketch of
him。 He took the whole matter very seriously。 If her talent had been
ten…fold greater than it was； it would not have surprised him； convinced as
he was that he had bequeathed to all of his daughters the germs of a
masterful capability； which only depended upon their own efforts to be
directed toward successful achievement。
Before her pencil he sat rigid and unflinching； as he had faced the
cannon's mouth in days gone by。 He resented the intrusion of the
children； who gaped with wondering eyes at him； sitting so stiff up there
in their mother's bright atelier。 When they drew near he motioned them
away with an expressive action of the foot； loath to disturb the fixed lines
of his countenance； his arms； or his rigid shoulders。
Edna； anxious to entertain him； invited Mademoiselle Reisz to meet
him； having promised him a treat in her piano playing； but Mademoiselle
declined the invitation。 So together they attended a soiree musicale at the
Ratignolles'。 Monsieur and Madame Ratignolle made much of the
Colonel； installing him as the guest of honor and engaging him at once to
dine with them the following Sunday； or any day which he might select。
Madame coquetted with him in the most captivating and naive manner；
with eyes； gestures； and a profusion of compliments； till the Colonel's old
head felt thirty years younger on his padded shoulders。 Edna marveled；
not comprehending。 She herself was almost devoid of coquetry。
There were one or two men whom she observed at the soiree musicale；
but she would never have felt moved to any kittenish display to attract
their noticeto any feline or feminine wiles to express herself toward them。
Their personality attracted her in an agreeable way。 Her fancy selected
them； and she was glad when a lull in the music gave them an opportunity
to meet her and talk with her。 Often on the street the glance of strange
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eyes had lingered in her memory； and sometimes had disturbed her。
Mr。 Pontellier did not attend these soirees musicales。 He considered
them bourgeois； and found more diversion at the club。 To Madame
Ratignolle he said the music dispensed at her soirees was too 〃heavy；〃 too
far beyond his untrained comprehension。 His excuse flattered her。 But
she disapproved of Mr。 Pontellier's club； and she was frank enough to tell
Edna so。
〃It's a pity Mr。 Pontellier doesn't stay home more in the evenings。 I
think you would be morewell； if you don't mind my saying itmore
united； if he did。〃
〃Oh！ dear no！〃 said Edna； with a blank look in her eyes。 〃What should
I do if he stayed home？ We wouldn't have anything to say to each other。〃
She had not much of anything to say to her father； for that matter； but
he did not antagonize her。 She discovered that he interested her； though
she realized that he might not interest her long； and for the first time in her
life she felt as if she were thoroughly acquainted with him。 He kept her
busy serving him and ministering to his wants。 It amused her to do so。
She would not permit a servant or one of the children to do anything for
him which she might do herself。 Her husband noticed； and thought it
was the expression of a deep filial attachment which he had never
suspected。
The Colonel drank numerous 〃toddies〃 during the course of the day；
which left him； however； imperturbed。 He was an expert at concocting
strong drinks。 He had even invented some； to which he had given
fantastic names； and for whose manufacture he required diverse
ingredients that it devolved upon Edna to procure for him。
When Doctor Mandelet dined with the Pontelliers on Thursday he
could discern in Mrs。 Pontellier no trace of that morbid condition which
her husband had reported to him。 She was excited and in a manner
radiant。 She and her father had been to the race course； and their
thoughts when they seated themselves at table were still occupied with the
events of the afternoon； and their talk was still of the track。 The Doctor
had not kept pace with turf affairs。 He had certain recollections of racing
in what he called 〃the good old times〃 when the Lecompte stables
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flourished； and he drew upon this fund of memories so that he might not
be left out and seem wholly devoid of the modern spirit。 But he failed to
impose upon the Colonel； and was even far from impressing him with this
trumped…up knowledge of bygone days。 Edna had staked her father on
his last venture； with the most gratifying results to both of them。 Besides；
they had met some very charming people； according to the Colonel's
impressions。 Mrs。 Mortimer Merriman and Mrs。 James Highcamp； who
were there with Alcee Arobin； had joined them and had enlivened the
hours in a fashion that warmed him to think of。
Mr。 Pontellier himself had no particular leaning toward horseracing；
and was even rather inclined to discourage it as a pastime； especially when
he considered the fate of that blue…grass farm in Kentucky。 He
endeavored； in a general way； to express a particular disapproval； and only
succeeded in arousing the ire and opposition of his father…in…law。 A
pretty dispute followed； in which Edna warmly espoused her father's cause
and the Doctor remained neutral。
He observed his hostess attentively from under his shaggy brows； and
noted a subtle change which had transformed her from the listless woman
he had known into a being who； for the moment； seemed palpitant with the
forces of life。 Her speech was warm and energetic。 There was no
repression in her glance or gesture。 She reminded him of some beautiful；
sleek animal waking up in the sun。
The dinner was excellent。 The claret was warm and the champagne
was cold； and under their beneficent influence the threatened
unpleasantness melted and vanished with the fumes of the wine。
Mr。 Pontellier warmed up and grew reminiscent。 He told some
amusing plantation experiences； recollections of old Iberville and his
youth； when he hunted ‘possum in company with some friendly darky；
thrashed the pecan trees； shot the grosbec； and roamed the woods and
fields in mischievous idleness。
The Colonel； with little sense of humor and of the fitness of things；
related a somber episode of those dark and bitter days； in which he had
acted a conspicuous part and always formed a central figure。 Nor was
the Doctor happier in his selection； when he told the old； ever new and
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curious story of the waning of a woman's love； seeking strange； new
channels； only to return to its legitimate source after days of fierce unrest。
It was one of the many little human documents which had been unfolded
to him during his long career as a physician。 The story did not seem
especially to impress Edna。 She had one of her own to tell； of a woman
who paddled away with her lover one night in a pirogue and never came
back。 They were lost amid the Baratarian Islands； and no one ever heard
of them or found trace of them from that day to this。 It was a pure
invention。 She said that Madame Antoine had related it to her。 That； also；
was an invention。 Perhaps it was a dream she had had。 But every
glowing word seemed real to those who li
