the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第4部分
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adore her。 It was ‘Robert； come； go； stand up； sit down； do this； do that；
see if the baby sleeps； my thimble； please； that I left God knows where。
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Come and read Daudet to me while I sew。'〃
〃Par exemple！ I never had to ask。 You were always there under my
feet； like a troublesome cat。〃
〃You mean like an adoring dog。 And just as soon as Ratignolle
appeared on the scene； then it WAS like a dog。 ‘Passez！ Adieu！ Allez
vous…en！'〃
〃Perhaps I feared to make Alphonse jealous；〃 she interjoined； with
excessive naivete。 That made them all laugh。 The right hand jealous of
the left！ The heart jealous of the soul！ But for that matter； the Creole
husband is never jealous； with him the gangrene passion is one which has
become dwarfed by disuse。
Meanwhile Robert； addressing Mrs Pontellier； continued to tell of his
one time hopeless passion for Madame Ratignolle； of sleepless nights； of
consuming flames till the very sea sizzled when he took his daily plunge。
While the lady at the needle kept up a little running； contemptuous
comment：
〃Blagueurfarceurgros bete； va！〃
He never assumed this seriocomic tone when alone with Mrs。
Pontellier。 She never knew precisely what to make of it； at that moment
it was impossible for her to guess how much of it was jest and what
proportion was earnest。 It was understood that he had often spoken
words of love to Madame Ratignolle； without any thought of being taken
seriously。 Mrs。 Pontellier was glad he had not assumed a similar role
toward herself。 It would have been unacceptable and annoying。
Mrs。 Pontellier had brought her sketching materials； which she
sometimes dabbled with in an unprofessional way。 She liked the
dabbling。 She felt in it satisfaction of a kind which no other employment
afforded her。
She had long wished to try herself on Madame Ratignolle。 Never had
that lady seemed a more tempting subject than at that moment； seated
there like some sensuous Madonna； with the gleam of the fading day
enriching her splendid color。
Robert crossed over and seated himself upon the step below Mrs。
Pontellier； that he might watch her work。 She handled her brushes with a
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certain ease and freedom which came； not from long and close
acquaintance with them； but from a natural aptitude。 Robert followed her
work with close attention； giving forth little ejaculatory expressions of
appreciation in French； which he addressed to Madame Ratignolle。
〃Mais ce n'est pas mal！ Elle s'y connait； elle a de la force； oui。〃
During his oblivious attention he once quietly rested his head against
Mrs。 Pontellier's arm。 As gently she repulsed him。 Once again he
repeated the offense。 She could not but believe it to be thoughtlessness
on his part； yet that was no reason she should submit to it。 She did not
remonstrate； except again to repulse him quietly but firmly。 He offered
no apology。 The picture completed bore no resemblance to Madame
Ratignolle。 She was greatly disappointed to find that it did not look like
her。 But it was a fair enough piece of work； and in many respects
satisfying。
Mrs。 Pontellier evidently did not think so。 After surveying the sketch
critically she drew a broad smudge of paint across its surface； and
crumpled the paper between her hands。
The youngsters came tumbling up the steps； the quadroon following at
the respectful distance which they required her to observe。 Mrs。
Pontellier made them carry her paints and things into the house。 She
sought to detain them for a little talk and some pleasantry。 But they were
greatly in earnest。 They had only come to investigate the contents of the
bonbon box。 They accepted without murmuring what she chose to give
them； each holding out two chubby hands scoop…like； in the vain hope that
they might be filled； and then away they went。
The sun was low in the west； and the breeze soft and languorous that
came up from the south； charged with the seductive odor of the sea。
Children freshly befurbelowed； were gathering for their games under the
oaks。 Their voices were high and penetrating。
Madame Ratignolle folded her sewing； placing thimble； scissors； and
thread all neatly together in the roll； which she pinned securely。 She
complained of faintness。 Mrs。 Pontellier flew for the cologne water and a
fan。 She bathed Madame Ratignolle's face with cologne； while Robert
plied the fan with unnecessary vigor。
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The spell was soon over； and Mrs。 Pontellier could not help wondering
if there were not a little imagination responsible for its origin； for the rose
tint had never faded from her friend's face。
She stood watching the fair woman walk down the long line of
galleries with the grace and majesty which queens are sometimes
supposed to possess。 Her little ones ran to meet her。 Two of them clung
about her white skirts； the third she took from its nurse and with a
thousand endearments bore it along in her own fond； encircling arms。
Though； as everybody well knew； the doctor had forbidden her to lift so
much as a pin！
〃Are you going bathing？〃 asked Robert of Mrs。 Pontellier。 It was not
so much a question as a reminder。
〃Oh； no；〃 she answered； with a tone of indecision。 〃I'm tired； I think
not。〃 Her glance wandered from his face away toward the Gulf； whose
sonorous murmur reached her like a loving but imperative entreaty。
〃Oh； come！〃 he insisted。 〃You mustn't miss your bath。 Come on。
The water must be delicious； it will not hurt you。 Come。〃
He reached up for her big； rough straw hat that hung on a peg outside
the door； and put it on her head。 They descended the steps； and walked
away together toward the beach。 The sun was low in the west and the
breeze was soft and warm。
VI
Edna Pontellier could not have told why； wishing to go to the beach
with Robert； she should in the first place have declined； and in the second
place have followed in obedience to one of the two contradictory impulses
which impelled her。
A certain light was beginning to dawn dimly within her；the light
which； showing the way； forbids it。
At that early period it served but to bewilder her。 It moved her to
dreams； to thoughtfulness； to the shadowy anguish which had overcome
her the midnight when she had abandoned herself to tears。
In short； Mrs。 Pontellier was beginning to realize her position in the
universe as a human being； and to recognize her relations as an individual
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to the world within and about her。 This may seem like a ponderous
weight of wisdom to descend upon the soul of a young woman of twenty…
eightperhaps more wisdom than the Holy Ghost is usually pleased to
vouchsafe to any woman。
But the beginning of things； of a world especially； is necessarily vague；
tangled； chaotic； and exceedingly disturbing。 How few of us ever emerge
from such beginning！ How many souls perish in its tumult！
The voice of the sea is seductive； never ceasing； whispering；
clamoring； murmuring； inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of
solitude； to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation。
The voice of the sea speaks to the soul。 The touch of the sea is
sensuous； enfolding the body in its soft； close embrace。
VII
Mrs。 Pontellier was not a woman given to confidences； a characteristic
hitherto contrary to her nature。 Even as a child she had lived her own
small life all within herself。 At a very early period she had apprehended
instinctively the dual lifethat outward existence which conforms； the
inward life which questions。
That summer at Grand Isle she began to loosen a little the mantle of
reserve that had always enveloped her。 There may have beenthere must
have beeninfluences； both subtle and apparent； working in their several
ways to induce her to do this； but the most obvious was the influence of
Adele Ratignolle。 The excessive physical charm of the Creole had first
attracted her； for Edna had a sensuous susceptibilit
