the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第31部分
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〃Mind the step！〃 cried Edna。
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〃Don't neglect me；〃 entreated Madame Ratignolle； 〃and don't mind
what I said about Arobin； or having some one to stay with you。
〃Of course not；〃 Edna laughed。 〃You may say anything you like to
me。〃 They kissed each other good…by。 Madame Ratignolle had not far to
go； and Edna stood on the porch a while watching her walk down the
street。
Then in the afternoon Mrs。 Merriman and Mrs。 Highcamp had made
their 〃party call。〃 Edna felt that they might have dispensed with the
formality。 They had also come to invite her to play vingt…et…un one
evening at Mrs。 Merriman's。 She was asked to go early； to dinner； and
Mr。 Merriman or Mr。 Arobin would take her home。 Edna accepted in a
half…hearted way。 She sometimes felt very tired of Mrs。 Highcamp and
Mrs。 Merriman。
Late in the afternoon she sought refuge with Mademoiselle Reisz； and
stayed there alone； waiting for her； feeling a kind of repose invade her
with the very atmosphere of the shabby； unpretentious little room。
Edna sat at the window； which looked out over the house…tops and
across the river。 The window frame was filled with pots of flowers； and
she sat and picked the dry leaves from a rose geranium。 The day was
warm； and the breeze which blew from the river was very pleasant。 She
removed her hat and laid it on the piano。 She went on picking the leaves
and digging around the plants with her hat pin。 Once she thought she
heard Mademoiselle Reisz approaching。 But it was a young black girl；
who came in； bringing a small bundle of laundry； which she deposited in
the adjoining room； and went away。
Edna seated herself at the piano； and softly picked out with one hand
the bars of a piece of music which lay open before her。 A half…hour went
by。 There was the occasional sound of people going and coming in the
lower hall。 She was growing interested in her occupation of picking out
the aria； when there was a second rap at the door。 She vaguely wondered
what these people did when they found Mademoiselle's door locked。
〃Come in；〃 she called； turning her face toward the door。 And this
time it was Robert Lebrun who presented himself。 She attempted to rise；
she could not have done so without betraying the agitation which mastered
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her at sight of him； so she fell back upon the stool； only exclaiming； 〃Why；
Robert！〃
He came and clasped her hand； seemingly without knowing what he
was saying or doing。
〃Mrs。 Pontellier！ How do you happenoh！ how well you look！ Is
Mademoiselle Reisz not here？ I never expected to see you。〃
〃When did you come back？〃 asked Edna in an unsteady voice； wiping
her face with her handkerchief。 She seemed ill at ease on the piano stool；
and he begged her to take the chair by the window。
She did so； mechanically； while he seated himself on the stool。
〃I returned day before yesterday；〃 he answered； while he leaned his
arm on the keys； bringing forth a crash of discordant sound。
〃Day before yesterday！〃 she repeated； aloud； and went on thinking to
herself； 〃day before yesterday；〃 in a sort of an uncomprehending way。
She had pictured him seeking her at the very first hour； and he had lived
under the same sky since day before yesterday； while only by accident had
he stumbled upon her。 Mademoiselle must have lied when she said； 〃Poor
fool； he loves you。〃
〃Day before yesterday；〃 she repeated； breaking off a spray of
Mademoiselle's geranium； 〃then if you had not met me here to…day you
wouldn'twhenthat is； didn't you mean to come and see me？〃
〃Of course； I should have gone to see you。 There have been so many
things〃 he turned the leaves of Mademoiselle's music nervously。 〃I
started in at once yesterday with the old firm。 After all there is as much
chance for me here as there was therethat is； I might find it profitable
some day。 The Mexicans were not very congenial。〃
So he had come back because the Mexicans were not congenial；
because business was as profitable here as there； because of any reason；
and not because he cared to be near her。 She remembered the day she sat
on the floor； turning the pages of his letter； seeking the reason which was
left untold。
She had not noticed how he lookedonly feeling his presence； but she
turned deliberately and observed him。 After all； he had been absent but a
few months； and was not changed。 His hairthe color of herswaved
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back from his temples in the same way as before。 His skin was not more
burned than it had been at Grand Isle。 She found in his eyes； when he
looked at her for one silent moment； the same tender caress； with an added
warmth and entreaty which had not been there before the same glance
which had penetrated to the sleeping places of her soul and awakened
them。
A hundred times Edna had pictured Robert's return； and imagined their
first meeting。 It was usually at her home； whither he had sought her out
at once。 She always fancied him expressing or betraying in some way his
love for her。 And here； the reality was that they sat ten feet apart； she at
the window； crushing geranium leaves in her hand and smelling them； he
twirling around on the piano stool； saying：
〃I was very much surprised to hear of Mr。 Pontellier's absence； it's a
wonder Mademoiselle Reisz did not tell me； and your movingmother
told me yesterday。 I should think you would have gone to New York
with him； or to Iberville with the children； rather than be bothered here
with housekeeping。 And you are going abroad； too； I hear。 We shan't
have you at Grand Isle next summer； it won't seemdo you see much of
Mademoiselle Reisz？ She often spoke of you in the few letters she
wrote。〃
〃Do you remember that you promised to write to me when you went
away？〃 A flush overspread his whole face。
〃I couldn't believe that my letters would be of any interest to you。〃
〃That is an excuse； it isn't the truth。〃 Edna reached for her hat on the
piano。 She adjusted it； sticking the hat pin through the heavy coil of hair
with some deliberation。
〃Are you not going to wait for Mademoiselle Reisz？〃 asked Robert。
〃No； I have found when she is absent this long； she is liable not to
come back till late。〃 She drew on her gloves； and Robert picked up his hat。
〃Won't you wait for her？〃 asked Edna。
〃Not if you think she will not be back till late；〃 adding； as if suddenly
aware of some discourtesy in his speech； 〃and I should miss the pleasure
of walking home with you。〃 Edna locked the door and put the key back in
its hiding…place。
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They went together； picking their way across muddy streets and
sidewalks encumbered with the cheap display of small tradesmen。 Part of
the distance they rode in the car； and after disembarking； passed the
Pontellier mansion； which looked broken and half torn asunder。 Robert
had never known the house； and looked at it with interest。
〃I never knew you in your home；〃 he remarked。
〃I am glad you did not。〃
〃Why？〃 She did not answer。 They went on around the corner； and it
seemed as if her dreams were coming true after all； when he followed her
into the little house。
〃You must stay and dine with me； Robert。 You see I am all alone；
and it is so long since I have seen you。 There is so much I want to ask
you。〃
She took off her hat and gloves。 He stood irresolute； making some
excuse about his mother who expected him； he even muttered something
about an engagement。 She struck a match and lit the lamp on the table； it
was growing dusk。 When he saw her face in the lamp…light； looking
pained； with all the soft lines gone out of it； he threw his hat aside and
seated himself。
〃Oh！ you know I want to stay if you will let me！〃 he exclaimed。 All
the softness came back。 She laughed； and went and put her hand on his
shoulder。
〃This is the first moment you have seemed like the old Robert。 I'll go
tell Celestine。〃 She hurried away to tell Celestine to set an extra place。
She even sent her off in search of some added delicacy which she had not
thought of for herself。 And she recommended great care in
