the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第32部分
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thought of for herself。 And she recommended great care in dripping the
coffee and having the omelet done to a proper turn。
When she reentered； Robert was turning over magazines； sketches； and
things that lay upon the table in great disorder。 He picked up a
photograph； and exclaimed：
〃Alcee Arobin！ What on earth is his picture doing here？〃
〃I tried to make a sketch of his head one day；〃 answered Edna； 〃and he
thought the photograph might help me。 It was at the other house。 I
thought it had been left there。 I must have packed it up with my drawing
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materials。〃
〃I should think you would give it back to him if you have finished with
it。〃
〃Oh！ I have a great many such photographs。 I never think of
returning them。 They don't amount to anything。〃 Robert kept on looking at
the picture。
〃It seems to medo you think his head worth drawing？ Is he a friend
of Mr。 Pontellier's？ You never said you knew him。〃
〃He isn't a friend of Mr。 Pontellier's； he's a friend of mine。 I always
knew himthat is； it is only of late that I know him pretty well。 But I'd
rather talk about you； and know what you have been seeing and doing and
feeling out there in Mexico。〃 Robert threw aside the picture。
〃I've been seeing the waves and the white beach of Grand Isle； the
quiet； grassy street of the Cheniere； the old fort at Grande Terre。 I've
been working like a machine； and feeling like a lost soul。 There was
nothing interesting。〃
She leaned her head upon her hand to shade her eyes from the light。
〃And what have you been seeing and doing and feeling all these
days？〃 he asked。
〃I've been seeing the waves and the white beach of Grand Isle； the
quiet； grassy street of the Cheniere Caminada； the old sunny fort at Grande
Terre。 I've been working with a little more comprehension than a
machine； and still feeling like a lost soul。 There was nothing interesting。〃
〃Mrs。 Pontellier； you are cruel；〃 he said； with feeling； closing his
eyes and resting his head back in his chair。 They remained in silence till
old Celestine announced dinner。
XXXIV
The dining…room was very small。 Edna's round mahogany would
have almost filled it。 As it was there was but a step or two from the little
table to the kitchen； to the mantel； the small buffet； and the side door that
opened out on the narrow brick…paved yard。
A certain degree of ceremony settled upon them with the
announcement of dinner。 There was no return to personalities。 Robert
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related incidents of his sojourn in Mexico； and Edna talked of events
likely to interest him； which had occurred during his absence。 The dinner
was of ordinary quality； except for the few delicacies which she had sent
out to purchase。 Old Celestine； with a bandana tignon twisted about her
head； hobbled in and out； taking a personal interest in everything； and she
lingered occasionally to talk patois with Robert； whom she had known as a
boy。
He went out to a neighboring cigar stand to purchase cigarette papers；
and when he came back he found that Celestine had served the black
coffee in the parlor。
〃Perhaps I shouldn't have come back；〃 he said。 〃When you are tired
of me； tell me to go。〃
〃You never tire me。 You must have forgotten the hours and hours at
Grand Isle in which we grew accustomed to each other and used to being
together。〃
〃I have forgotten nothing at Grand Isle；〃 he said； not looking at her；
but rolling a cigarette。 His tobacco pouch； which he laid upon the table；
was a fantastic embroidered silk affair； evidently the handiwork of a
woman。
〃You used to carry your tobacco in a rubber pouch；〃 said Edna；
picking up the pouch and examining the needlework。
〃Yes； it was lost。〃
〃Where did you buy this one？ In Mexico？〃
〃It was given to me by a Vera Cruz girl； they are very generous；〃 he
replied； striking a match and lighting his cigarette。
〃They are very handsome； I suppose； those Mexican women； very
picturesque； with their black eyes and their lace scarfs。〃
〃Some are； others are hideous。 just as you find women everywhere。〃
〃What was she likethe one who gave you the pouch？ You must
have known her very well。〃
〃She was very ordinary。 She wasn't of the slightest importance。 I
knew her well enough。〃
〃Did you visit at her house？ Was it interesting？ I should like to
know and hear about the people you met； and the impressions they made
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on you。〃
〃There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting as the
imprint of an oar upon the water。〃
〃Was she such a one？〃
〃It would be ungenerous for me to admit that she was of that order and
kind。〃 He thrust the pouch back in his pocket； as if to put away the subject
with the trifle which had brought it up。
Arobin dropped in with a message from Mrs。 Merriman； to say that the
card party was postponed on account of the illness of one of her children。
〃How do you do； Arobin？〃 said Robert； rising from the obscurity。
〃Oh！ Lebrun。 To be sure！ I heard yesterday you were back。 How
did they treat you down in Mexique？〃
〃Fairly well。〃
〃But not well enough to keep you there。 Stunning girls； though； in
Mexico。 I thought I should never get away from Vera Cruz when I was
down there a couple of years ago。〃
〃Did they embroider slippers and tobacco pouches and hat…bands and
things for you？〃 asked Edna。
〃Oh！ my！ no！ I didn't get so deep in their regard。 I fear they made
more impression on me than I made on them。〃
〃You were less fortunate than Robert； then。〃
〃I am always less fortunate than Robert。 Has he been imparting
tender confidences？〃 〃I've been imposing myself long enough；〃 said
Robert； rising； and shaking hands with Edna。 〃Please convey my regards
to Mr。 Pontellier when you write。〃
He shook hands with Arobin and went away。
〃Fine fellow； that Lebrun；〃 said Arobin when Robert had gone。 〃I
never heard you speak of him。〃
〃I knew him last summer at Grand Isle；〃 she replied。 〃Here is that
photograph of yours。 Don't you want it？〃
〃What do I want with it？ Throw it away。〃 She threw it back on the
table。
〃I'm not going to Mrs。 Merriman's；〃 she said。 〃If you see her； tell her
so。 But perhaps I had better write。 I think I shall write now； and say
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that I am sorry her child is sick； and tell her not to count on me。〃
〃It would be a good scheme；〃 acquiesced Arobin。 〃I don't blame you；
stupid lot！〃
Edna opened the blotter； and having procured paper and pen； began to
write the note。 Arobin lit a cigar and read the evening paper； which he
had in his pocket。
〃What is the date？〃 she asked。 He told her。
〃Will you mail this for me when you go out？〃
〃Certainly。〃 He read to her little bits out of the newspaper； while she
straightened things on the table。
〃What do you want to do？〃 he asked； throwing aside the paper。 〃Do
you want to go out for a walk or a drive or anything？ It would be a fine
night to drive。〃
〃No； I don't want to do anything but just be quiet。 You go away and
amuse yourself。 Don't stay。〃
〃I'll go away if I must； but I shan't amuse myself。 You know that I
only live when I am near you。〃
He stood up to bid her good night。
〃Is that one of the things you always say to women？〃
〃I have said it before； but I don't think I ever came so near meaning it；〃
he answered with a smile。 There were no warm lights in her eyes； only a
dreamy； absent look。
〃Good night。 I adore you。 Sleep well；〃 he said； and he kissed her
hand and went away。
She stayed alone in a kind of reveriea sort of stupor。 Step by step
she lived over every instant of the time she had been with Robert after he
had entered Mademoiselle Reisz's door。 She recalled his words； his looks。
How few and meager they had been for her hungry heart！ A visiona
transcendently seductive vision of a Mexican girl arose before her。 She
writhed with a jealous pang。 She wondered when he would come back。
He had not said he would come back。 She had been with him； had heard
his voice
