the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第43部分
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handing her a filmy； white scarf with which she sometimes enveloped her
head and shoulders。 She accepted the scarf from him with a murmur of
thanks； and let it lie in her lap。
He made some commonplace observation upon the baneful effect of
the night air at the season。 Then as his gaze reached out into the darkness；
he murmured； half to himself：
〃‘Night of south windsnight of the large few stars！
Still nodding night'〃
She made no reply to this apostrophe to the night； which； indeed； was
not addressed to her。
Gouvernail was in no sense a diffident man； for he was not a self…
conscious one。 His periods of reserve were not constitutional； but the
result of moods。 Sitting there beside Mrs。 Baroda； his silence melted for
the time。
He talked freely and intimately in a low； hesitating drawl that was not
unpleasant to hear。 He talked of the old college days when he and
Gaston had been a good deal to each other； of the days of keen and blind
ambitions and large intentions。 Now there was left with him； at least； a
philosophic acquiescence to the existing orderonly a desire to be
permitted to exist； with now and then a little whiff of genuine life； such as
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he was breathing now。
Her mind only vaguely grasped what he was saying。 Her physical
being was for the moment predominant。 She was not thinking of his
words； only drinking in the tones of his voice。 She wanted to reach out her
hand in the darkness and touch him with the sensitive tips of her fingers
upon the face or the lips。 She wanted to draw close to him and whisper
against his cheekshe did not care whatas she might have done if she
had not been a respectable woman。
The stronger the impulse grew to bring herself near him； the further； in
fact； did she draw away from him。 As soon as she could do so without an
appearance of too great rudeness； she rose and left him there alone。
Before she reached the house； Gouvernail had lighted a fresh cigar and
ended his apostrophe to the night。
Mrs。 Baroda was greatly tempted that night to tell her husbandwho
was also her friendof this folly that had seized her。 But she did not
yield to the temptation。 Beside being a respectable woman she was a
very sensible one； and she knew there are some battles in life which a
human being must fight alone。
When Gaston arose in the morning； his wife had already departed。
She had taken an early morning train to the city。 She did not return till
Gouvernail was gone from under her roof。 There was some talk of
having him back during the summer that followed。 That is； Gaston
greatly desired it； but this desire yielded to his wife's strenuous opposition。
However； before the year ended； she proposed； wholly from herself； to
have Gouvernail visit them again。 Her husband was surprised and
delighted with the suggestion coming from her。
〃I am glad； chere amie； to know that you have finally overcome your
dislike for him； truly he did not deserve it。〃
〃Oh；〃 she told him； laughingly； after pressing a long； tender kiss upon
his lips； 〃I have overcome everything！ you will see。 This time I shall be
very nice to him。〃
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The Kiss
It was still quite light out of doors； but inside with the curtains drawn
and the smouldering fire sending out a dim； uncertain glow； the room was
full of deep shadows。
Brantain sat in one of these shadows； it had overtaken him and he did
not mind。 The obscurity lent him courage to keep his eves fastened as
ardently as he liked upon the girl who sat in the firelight。
She was very handsome； with a certain fine； rich coloring that belongs
to the healthy brune type。 She was quite composed； as she idly stroked
the satiny coat of the cat that lay curled in her lap； and she occasionally
sent a slow glance into the shadow where her companion sat。 They were
talking low； of indifferent things which plainly were not the things that
occupied their thoughts。 She knew that he loved hera frank； blustering
fellow without guile enough to conceal his feelings； and no desire to do so。
For two weeks past he had sought her society eagerly and persistently。
She was confidently waiting for him to declare himself and she meant to
accept him。 The rather insignificant and unattractive Brantain was
enormously rich； and she liked and required the entourage which wealth
could give her。
During one of the pauses between their talk of the last tea and the next
reception the door opened and a young man entered whom Brantain knew
quite well。 The girl turned her face toward him。 A stride or two
brought him to her side； and bending over her chairbefore she could
suspect his intention； for she did not realize that he had not seen her
visitorhe pressed an ardent； lingering kiss upon her lips。
Brantain slowly arose； so did the girl arise； but quickly； and the
newcomer stood between them； a little amusement and some defiance
struggling with the confusion in his face。
〃I believe；〃 stammered Brantain； 〃I see that I have stayed too long。 II
had no ideathat is； I must wish you good…by。〃 He was clutching his hat
with both hands； and probably did not perceive that she was extending her
hand to him； her presence of mind had not completely deserted her； but
she could not have trusted herself to speak。
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〃Hang me if I saw him sitting there； Nattie！ I know it's deuced
awkward for you。 But I hope you'll forgive me this oncethis very first
break。 Why； what's the matter？〃
〃Don't touch me； don't come near me；〃 she returned angrily。 〃What do
you mean by entering the house without ringing？〃
〃I came in with your brother； as I often do；〃 he answered coldly； in
self…justification。 〃We came in the side way。 He went upstairs and I
came in here hoping to find you。 The explanation is simple enough and
ought to satisfy you that the misadventure was unavoidable。 But do say
that you forgive me； Nathalie；〃 he entreated； softening。
〃Forgive you！ You don't know what you are talking about。 Let me
pass。 It depends upona good deal whether I ever forgive you。〃
At that next reception which she and Brantain had been talking about
she approached the young man with a delicious frankness of manner when
she saw him there。
〃Will you let me speak to you a moment or two； Mr。 Brantain？〃 she
asked with an engaging but perturbed smile。 He seemed extremely
unhappy； but when she took his arm and walked away with him； seeking a
retired corner； a ray of hope mingled with the almost comical misery of his
expression。 She was apparently very outspoken。
〃Perhaps I should not have sought this interview； Mr。 Brantain； but
but； oh； I have been very uncomfortable； almost miserable since that little
encounter the other afternoon。 When I thought how you might have
misinterpreted it； and believed things〃 hope was plainly gaining the
ascendancy over misery in Brantain's round； guileless face〃Of course； I
know it is nothing to you； but for my own sake I do want you to
understand that Mr。 Harvy is an intimate friend of long standing。 Why；
we have always been like cousinslike brother and sister； I may say。 He
is my brother's most intimate associate and often fancies that he is entitled
to the same privileges as the family。 Oh； I know it is absurd； uncalled for；
to tell you this； undignified even；〃 she was almost weeping； 〃but it makes
so much difference to me what you think ofof me。〃 Her voice had grown
very low and agitated。 The misery had all disappeared from Brantain's
face。
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〃Then you do really care what I think； Miss Nathalie？ May I call you
Miss Nathalie？〃 They turned into a long； dim corridor that was lined on
either side with tall； graceful plants。 They walked slowly to the very end
of it。 When they turned to retrace their steps Brantain's face was radiant
and hers was triumphant。
Harvy was among the guests at the wedding； and he sought her out in
a rare moment when she stood alone。
〃Your husband；〃 he said； smiling； 〃has sent me over to kiss you。 〃
A quick blush suffused her face and round polished throat。 〃I
suppose it's natural for a man to feel and act generously on an occasion of
this kind。 He tell
