the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第34部分
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〃I'm spoiling your dinner； Robert； never mind what I say。 You
haven't eaten a morsel。〃
〃I only came in for a cup of coffee。〃 His sensitive face was all
disfigured with excitement。
〃Isn't this a delightful place？〃 she remarked。 〃I am so glad it has
never actually been discovered。 It is so quiet； so sweet； here。 Do you
notice there is scarcely a sound to be heard？ It's so out of the way； and a
good walk from the car。 However； I don't mind walking。 I always feel
so sorry for women who don't like to walk； they miss so muchso many
rare little glimpses of life； and we women learn so little of life on the
whole。
〃Catiche's coffee is always hot。 I don't know how she manages it；
here in the open air。 Celestine's coffee gets cold bringing it from the
kitchen to the dining…room。 Three lumps！ How can you drink it so sweet？
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Take some of the cress with your chop； it's so biting and crisp。 Then
there's the advantage of being able to smoke with your coffee out here。
Now； in the cityaren't you going to smoke？〃
〃After a while；〃 he said； laying a cigar on the table。
〃Who gave it to you？〃 she laughed。
〃I bought it。 I suppose I'm getting reckless； I bought a whole box。〃
She was determined not to be personal again and make him
uncomfortable。
The cat made friends with him； and climbed into his lap when he
smoked his cigar。 He stroked her silky fur； and talked a little about her。
He looked at Edna's book； which he had read； and he told her the end； to
save her the trouble of wading through it； he said。
Again he accompanied her back to her home； and it was after dusk
when they reached the little 〃pigeon…house。〃 She did not ask him to
remain； which he was grateful for； as it permitted him to stay without the
discomfort of blundering through an excuse which he had no intention of
considering。 He helped her to light the lamp； then she went into her
room to take off her hat and to bathe her face and hands。
When she came back Robert was not examining the pictures and
magazines as before； he sat off in the shadow； leaning his head back on the
chair as if in a reverie。 Edna lingered a moment beside the table；
arranging the books there。 Then she went across the room to where he
sat。 She bent over the arm of his chair and called his name。
〃Robert；〃 she said； 〃are you asleep？〃
〃No；〃 he answered； looking up at her。
She leaned over and kissed hima soft； cool； delicate kiss； whose
voluptuous sting penetrated his whole being…then she moved away from
him。 He followed； and took her in his arms； just holding her close to him。
She put her hand up to his face and pressed his cheek against her own。
The action was full of love and tenderness。 He sought her lips again。
Then he drew her down upon the sofa beside him and held her hand in
both of his。
〃Now you know；〃 he said； 〃now you know what I have been fighting
against since last summer at Grand Isle； what drove me away and drove
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me back again。〃
〃Why have you been fighting against it？〃 she asked。 Her face
glowed with soft lights。
〃Why？ Because you were not free； you were Leonce Pontellier's
wife。 I couldn't help loving you if you were ten times his wife； but so
long as I went away from you and kept away I could help telling you so。〃
She put her free hand up to his shoulder； and then against his cheek；
rubbing it softly。 He kissed her again。 His face was warm and flushed。
〃There in Mexico I was thinking of you all the time； and longing for
you。〃
〃But not writing to me；〃 she interrupted。
〃Something put into my head that you cared for me； and I lost my
senses。 I forgot everything but a wild dream of your some way becoming
my wife。〃
〃Your wife！〃
〃Religion； loyalty； everything would give way if only you cared。〃
〃Then you must have forgotten that I was Leonce Pontellier's wife。〃
〃Oh！ I was demented； dreaming of wild； impossible things； recalling
men who had set their wives free； we have heard of such things。〃
〃Yes； we have heard of such things。〃
〃I came back full of vague； mad intentions。 And when I got here〃
〃When you got here you never came near me！〃 She was still
caressing his cheek。
〃I realized what a cur I was to dream of such a thing； even if you had
been willing。〃
She took his face between her hands and looked into it as if she would
never withdraw her eyes more。 She kissed him on the forehead； the eyes；
the cheeks； and the lips。
〃You have been a very； very foolish boy； wasting your time dreaming
of impossible things when you speak of Mr。 Pontellier setting me free！ I
am no longer one of Mr。 Pontellier's possessions to dispose of or not。 I
give myself where I choose。 If he were to say； 'Here； Robert； take her
and be happy； she is yours；' I should laugh at you both。〃
His face grew a little white。 〃What do you mean？〃 he asked。
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There was a knock at the door。 Old Celestine came in to say that
Madame Ratignolle's servant had come around the back way with a
message that Madame had been taken sick and begged Mrs。 Pontellier to
go to her immediately。
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Edna； rising； 〃I promised。 Tell her yesto wait for
me。 I'll go back with her。〃
〃Let me walk over with you；〃 offered Robert。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃I will go with the servant。 She went into her room to
put on her hat； and when she came in again she sat once more upon the
sofa beside him。 He had not stirred。 She put her arms about his neck。
〃Good…by； my sweet Robert。 Tell me good…by。〃 He kissed her with a
degree of passion which had not before entered into his caress； and
strained her to him。
〃I love you；〃 she whispered； 〃only you； no one but you。 It was you
who awoke me last summer out of a life…long； stupid dream。 Oh！ you have
made me so unhappy with your indifference。 Oh！ I have suffered；
suffered！ Now you are here we shall love each other； my Robert。 We
shall be everything to each other。 Nothing else in the world is of any
consequence。 I must go to my friend； but you will wait for me？ No
matter how late； you will wait for me； Robert？〃
〃Don't go； don't go！ Oh！ Edna； stay with me；〃 he pleaded。 〃Why
should you go？ Stay with me； stay with me。〃
〃I shall come back as soon as I can； I shall find you here。〃 She buried
her face in his neck； and said good…by again。 Her seductive voice；
together with his great love for her； had enthralled his senses； had deprived
him of every impulse but the longing to hold her and keep her。
XXXVII
Edna looked in at the drug store。 Monsieur Ratignolle was putting up
a mixture himself； very carefully； dropping a red liquid into a tiny glass。
He was grateful to Edna for having come； her presence would be a
comfort to his wife。 Madame Ratignolle's sister； who had always been
with her at such trying times； had not been able to come up from the
plantation； and Adele had been inconsolable until Mrs。 Pontellier so kindly
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promised to come to her。 The nurse had been with them at night for the
past week； as she lived a great distance away。 And Dr。 Mandelet had
been coming and going all the afternoon。 They were then looking for
him any moment。
Edna hastened upstairs by a private stairway that led from the rear of
the store to the apartments above。 The children were all sleeping in a
back room。 Madame Ratignolle was in the salon； whither she had
strayed in her suffering impatience。 She sat on the sofa； clad in an ample
white peignoir； holding a handkerchief tight in her hand with a nervous
clutch。 Her face was drawn and pinched； her sweet blue eyes haggard
and unnatural。 All her beautiful hair had been drawn back and plaited。
It lay in a long braid on the sofa pillow； coiled like a golden serpent。 The
nurse； a co
