the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第41部分
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It was no wonder； when she stood one day against the stone pillar in
whose shadow she had lain asleep； eighteen years before； that Armand
Aubigny riding by and seeing her there； had fallen in love with her。 That
was the way all the Aubignys fell in love； as if struck by a pistol shot。
The wonder was that he had not loved her before； for he had known her
since his father brought him home from Paris； a boy of eight； after his
mother died there。 The passion that awoke in him that day； when he saw
her at the gate； swept along like an avalanche； or like a prairie fire； or like
anything that drives headlong over all obstacles。
Monsieur Valmonde grew practical and wanted things well considered：
that is； the girl's obscure origin。 Armand looked into her eyes and did not
care。 He was reminded that she was nameless。 What did it matter about a
name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana？
He ordered the corbeille from Paris； and contained himself with what
patience he could until it arrived； then they were married。
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Madame Valmonde had not seen Desiree and the baby for four weeks。
When she reached L'Abri she shuddered at the first sight of it； as she
always did。 It was a sad looking place； which for many years had not
known the gentle presence of a mistress； old Monsieur Aubigny having
married and buried his wife in France； and she having loved her own land
too well ever to leave it。 The roof came down steep and black like a
cowl； reaching out beyond the wide galleries that encircled the yellow
stuccoed house。 Big； solemn oaks grew close to it； and their thick…leaved；
far…reaching branches shadowed it like a pall。 Young Aubigny's rule was
a strict one； too； and under it his negroes had forgotten how to be gay； as
they had been during the old master's easy…going and indulgent lifetime。
The young mother was recovering slowly； and lay full length； in her
soft white muslins and laces； upon a couch。 The baby was beside her；
upon her arm； where he had fallen asleep； at her breast。 The yellow
nurse woman sat beside a window fanning herself。
Madame Valmonde bent her portly figure over Desiree and kissed her；
holding her an instant tenderly in her arms。 Then she turned to the child。
〃This is not the baby！〃 she exclaimed； in startled tones。 French was the
language spoken at Valmonde in those days。
〃I knew you would be astonished；〃 laughed Desiree； 〃at the way he
has grown。 The little cochon de lait！ Look at his legs； mamma； and his
hands and fingernails；real finger…nails。 Zandrine had to cut them this
morning。 Isn't it true； Zandrine？〃
The woman bowed her turbaned head majestically； 〃Mais si；
Madame。〃
〃And the way he cries；〃 went on Desiree； 〃is deafening。 Armand heard
him the other day as far away as La Blanche's cabin。〃
Madame Valmonde had never removed her eyes from the child。 She
lifted it and walked with it over to the window that was lightest。 She
scanned the baby narrowly； then looked as searchingly at Zandrine； whose
face was turned to gaze across the fields。
〃Yes； the child has grown； has changed；〃 said Madame Valmonde；
slowly； as she replaced it beside its mother。 〃What does Armand say？〃
Desiree's face became suffused with a glow that was happiness itself。
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〃Oh； Armand is the proudest father in the parish； I believe； chiefly
because it is a boy； to bear his name； though he says not；that he would
have loved a girl as well。 But I know it isn't true。 I know he says that to
please me。 And mamma；〃 she added； drawing Madame Valmonde's head
down to her； and speaking in a whisper； 〃he hasn't punished one of them
not one of themsince baby is born。 Even Negrillon； who pretended to
have burnt his leg that he might rest from workhe only laughed； and said
Negrillon was a great scamp。 oh； mamma； I'm so happy； it frightens me。〃
What Desiree said was true。 Marriage； and later the birth of his son
had softened Armand Aubigny's imperious and exacting nature greatly。
This was what made the gentle Desiree so happy； for she loved him
desperately。 When he frowned she trembled； but loved him。 When he
smiled； she asked no greater blessing of God。 But Armand's dark；
handsome face had not often been disfigured by frowns since the day he
fell in love with her。
When the baby was about three months old； Desiree awoke one day to
the conviction that there was something in the air menacing her peace。 It
was at first too subtle to grasp。 It had only been a disquieting suggestion；
an air of mystery among the blacks； unexpected visits from far…off
neighbors who could hardly account for their coming。 Then a strange； an
awful change in her husband's manner； which she dared not ask him to
explain。 When he spoke to her； it was with averted eyes； from which the
old love…light seemed to have gone out。 He absented himself from home；
and when there； avoided her presence and that of her child； without excuse。
And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his
dealings with the slaves。 Desiree was miserable enough to die。
She sat in her room； one hot afternoon； in her peignoir； listlessly
drawing through her fingers the strands of her long； silky brown hair that
hung about her shoulders。 The baby； half naked； lay asleep upon her own
great mahogany bed； that was like a sumptuous throne； with its satin…lined
half…canopy。 One of La Blanche's little quadroon boyshalf naked too
stood fanning the child slowly with a fan of peacock feathers。 Desiree's
eyes had been fixed absently and sadly upon the baby； while she was
striving to penetrate the threatening mist that she felt closing about her。
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She looked from her child to the boy who stood beside him； and back
again； over and over。 〃Ah！〃 It was a cry that she could not help； which
she was not conscious of having uttered。 The blood turned like ice in her
veins； and a clammy moisture gathered upon her face。
She tried to speak to the little quadroon boy； but no sound would come；
at first。 When he heard his name uttered； he looked up； and his mistress
was pointing to the door。 He laid aside the great； soft fan； and obediently
stole away； over the polished floor； on his bare tiptoes。
She stayed motionless； with gaze riveted upon her child； and her face
the picture of fright。
Presently her husband entered the room； and without noticing her；
went to a table and began to search among some papers which covered it。
〃Armand；〃 she called to him； in a voice which must have stabbed him；
if he was human。 But he did not notice。 〃Armand；〃 she said again。
Then she rose and tottered towards him。 〃Armand；〃 she panted once
more； clutching his arm； 〃look at our child。 What does it mean？ tell me。〃
He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from about his arm and
thrust the hand away from him。 〃Tell me what it means！〃 she cried
despairingly。
〃It means；〃 he answered lightly； 〃that the child is not white； it means
that you are not white。〃
A quick conception of all that this accusation meant for her nerved her
with unwonted courage to deny it。 〃It is a lie； it is not true； I am white！
Look at my hair； it is brown； and my eyes are gray； Armand； you know
they are gray。 And my skin is fair；〃 seizing his wrist。 〃Look at my hand；
whiter than yours； Armand；〃 she laughed hysterically。
〃As white as La Blanche's；〃 he returned cruelly； and went away
leaving her alone with their child。
When she could hold a pen in her hand； she sent a despairing letter to
Madame Valmonde。
〃My mother； they tell me I am not white。 Armand has told me I am
not white。 For God's sake tell them it is not true。 You must know it is
not true。 I shall die。 I must die。 I cannot be so unhappy； and live。〃
The answer that came was brief：
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〃My own Desiree： Come home to Valmonde； back to your mother who
loves you。 Come with your child。〃
When the letter reached Desiree she went with it to her husband's
study； and laid it open upon the desk before which he sat。 She was like a
stone image： silent； white； mot
