the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第5部分
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Adele Ratignolle。 The excessive physical charm of the Creole had first
attracted her； for Edna had a sensuous susceptibility to beauty。 Then the
candor of the woman's whole existence； which every one might read； and
which formed so striking a contrast to her own habitual reservethis might
have furnished a link。 Who can tell what metals the gods use in forging
the subtle bond which we call sympathy； which we might as well call love。
The two women went away one morning to the beach together； arm in
arm； under the huge white sunshade。 Edna had prevailed upon Madame
Ratignolle to leave the children behind； though she could not induce her to
relinquish a diminutive roll of needlework； which Adele begged to be
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allowed to slip into the depths of her pocket。 In some unaccountable way
they had escaped from Robert。
The walk to the beach was no inconsiderable one； consisting as it did
of a long； sandy path； upon which a sporadic and tangled growth that
bordered it on either side made frequent and unexpected inroads。 There
were acres of yellow camomile reaching out on either hand。 Further away
still； vegetable gardens abounded； with frequent small plantations of
orange or lemon trees intervening。 The dark green clusters glistened from
afar in the sun。
The women were both of goodly height； Madame Ratignolle
possessing the more feminine and matronly figure。 The charm of Edna
Pontellier's physique stole insensibly upon you。 The lines of her body
were long； clean and symmetrical； it was a body which occasionally fell
into splendid poses； there was no suggestion of the trim； stereotyped
fashion…plate about it。 A casual and indiscriminating observer； in passing；
might not cast a second glance upon the figure。 But with more feeling
and discernment he would have recognized the noble beauty of its
modeling； and the graceful severity of poise and movement； which made
Edna Pontellier different from the crowd。
She wore a cool muslin that morningwhite； with a waving vertical
line of brown running through it； also a white linen collar and the big
straw hat which she had taken from the peg outside the door。 The hat
rested any way on her yellow…brown hair； that waved a little； was heavy；
and clung close to her head。
Madame Ratignolle； more careful of her complexion； had twined a
gauze veil about her head。 She wore dogskin gloves； with gauntlets that
protected her wrists。 She was dressed in pure white； with a fluffiness of
ruffles that became her。 The draperies and fluttering things which she
wore suited her rich； luxuriant beauty as a greater severity of line could
not have done。
There were a number of bath…houses along the beach； of rough but
solid construction； built with small； protecting galleries facing the water。
Each house consisted of two compartments； and each family at Lebrun's
possessed a compartment for itself； fitted out with all the essential
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paraphernalia of the bath and whatever other conveniences the owners
might desire。 The two women had no intention of bathing； they had just
strolled down to the beach for a walk and to be alone and near the water。
The Pontellier and Ratignolle compartments adjoined one another under
the same roof。
Mrs。 Pontellier had brought down her key through force of habit。
Unlocking the door of her bath…room she went inside； and soon emerged；
bringing a rug； which she spread upon the floor of the gallery； and two
huge hair pillows covered with crash； which she placed against the front of
the building。
The two seated themselves there in the shade of the porch； side by side；
with their backs against the pillows and their feet extended。 Madame
Ratignolle removed her veil； wiped her face with a rather delicate
handkerchief； and fanned herself with the fan which she always carried
suspended somewhere about her person by a long； narrow ribbon。 Edna
removed her collar and opened her dress at the throat。 She took the fan
from Madame Ratignolle and began to fan both herself and her companion。
It was very warm； and for a while they did nothing but exchange remarks
about the heat； the sun； the glare。 But there was a breeze blowing； a
choppy； stiff wind that whipped the water into froth。 It fluttered the skirts
of the two women and kept them for a while engaged in adjusting；
readjusting； tucking in； securing hair…pins and hat…pins。 A few persons
were sporting some distance away in the water。 The beach was very still
of human sound at that hour。 The lady in black was reading her morning
devotions on the porch of a neighboring bathhouse。 Two young lovers
were exchanging their hearts' yearnings beneath the children's tent； which
they had found unoccupied。
Edna Pontellier； casting her eyes about； had finally kept them at rest
upon the sea。 The day was clear and carried the gaze out as far as the
blue sky went； there were a few white clouds suspended idly over the
horizon。 A lateen sail was visible in the direction of Cat Island； and
others to the south seemed almost motionless in the far distance。
〃Of whomof what are you thinking？〃 asked Adele of her companion；
whose countenance she had been watching with a little amused attention；
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arrested by the absorbed expression which seemed to have seized and
fixed every feature into a statuesque repose。
〃Nothing；〃 returned Mrs。 Pontellier； with a start； adding at once： 〃How
stupid！ But it seems to me it is the reply we make instinctively to such a
question。 Let me see；〃 she went on； throwing back her head and
narrowing her fine eyes till they shone like two vivid points of light。
〃Let me see。 I was really not conscious of thinking of anything； but
perhaps I can retrace my thoughts。〃
〃Oh！ never mind！〃 laughed Madame Ratignolle。 〃I am not quite so
exacting。 I will let you off this time。 It is really too hot to think；
especially to think about thinking。〃
〃But for the fun of it；〃 persisted Edna。 〃First of all； the sight of the
water stretching so far away； those motionless sails against the blue sky；
made a delicious picture that I just wanted to sit and look at。 The hot
wind beating in my face made me thinkwithout any connection that I can
trace of a summer day in Kentucky； of a meadow that seemed as big as the
ocean to the very little girl walking through the grass； which was higher
than her waist。 She threw out her arms as if swimming when she walked；
beating the tall grass as one strikes out in the water。 Oh； I see the
connection now！〃
〃Where were you going that day in Kentucky； walking through the
grass？〃
〃I don't remember now。 I was just walking diagonally across a big
field。 My sun…bonnet obstructed the view。 I could see only the stretch
of green before me； and I felt as if I must walk on forever； without coming
to the end of it。 I don't remember whether I was frightened or pleased。 I
must have been entertained。
〃Likely as not it was Sunday；〃 she laughed； 〃and I was running away
from prayers； from the Presbyterian service； read in a spirit of gloom by
my father that chills me yet to think of。〃
〃And have you been running away from prayers ever since； ma
chere？〃 asked Madame Ratignolle； amused。
〃No！ oh； no！〃 Edna hastened to say。 〃I was a little unthinking child
in those days； just following a misleading impulse without question。 On
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the contrary； during one period of my life religion took a firm hold upon
me； after I was twelve and until…untilwhy； I suppose until now； though I
never thought much about itjust driven along by habit。 But do you
know；〃 she broke off； turning her quick eyes upon Madame Ratignolle and
leaning forward a little so as to bring her face quite close to that of her
companion； 〃sometimes I feel this summer as if I were walking through
the green meadow again； idly； aimlessly； unthinking and unguided。〃
Madame Ratignolle laid her hand over that of Mrs。 Pontellier； which
was near her。 Seeing that the hand was not withdrawn； she clasped it
firmly and warmly。 She even
