la mere bauche-第4部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


almost　as　black。　　Marie　also　was　up；　but　nobody　had　seen　her。　　She
was　up　and　had　been　out　about　the　place　before　any　of　them　were
stirring；　but　now　that　the　world　was　on　the　move　she　lay　hidden　like
a　hare　in　its　form。

And　then　the　old　char…a…banc　clattered　up　to　the　door；　and　Adolphe
jumped　out　of　it　into　his　mother's　arms。　　He　was　fatter　and　fairer
than　she　had　last　seen　him；　had　a　larger　beard；　was　more　fashionably
clothed；　and　certainly　looked　more　like　a　man。　　Marie　also　saw　him
out　of　her　little　window；　and　she　thought　that　he　looked　like　a　god。
Was　it　probable；　she　said　to　herself；　that　one　so　godlike　would　still
care　for　her？

The　mother　was　delighted　with　her　son；　who　rattled　away　quite　at　his
ease。　　He　shook　hands　very　cordially　with　the　capitaineof　whose
intended　alliance　with　his　own　sweetheart　he　had　been　informed；　and
then　as　he　entered　the　house　with　his　hand　under　his　mother's　arm；　he
asked　one　question　about　her。　　〃And　where　is　Marie？〃　said　he。
〃Marie！　oh　upstairs；　you　shall　see　her　after　breakfast；〃　said　La　Mere
Bauche。　　And　so　they　entered　the　house；　and　went　in　to　breakfast
among　the　guests。　　Everybody　had　heard　something　of　the　story；　and
they　were　all　on　the　alert　to　see　the　young　man　whose　love　or　want　of
love　was　considered　to　be　of　so　much　importance。

〃You　will　see　that　it　will　be　all　right；〃　said　the　capitaine；
carrying　his　head　very　high。

〃I　think　so；　I　think　so；〃　said　La　Mere　Bauche；　who；　now　that　the
capitaine　was　right；　no　longer　desired　to　contradict　him。

〃I　know　that　it　will　be　all　right；〃　said　the　capitaine。　　〃I　told　you
that　Adolphe　would　return　a　man；　and　he　is　a　man。　　Look　at　him；　he
does　not　care　this　for　Marie　Clavert；〃　and　the　capitaine；　with　much
eloquence　in　his　motion；　pitched　over　a　neighbouring　wall　a　small
stone　which　he　held　in　his　hand。

And　then　they　all　went　to　breakfast　with　many　signs　of　outward　joy。
And　not　without　some　inward　joy；　for　Madame　Bauche　thought　she　saw
that　her　son　was　cured　of　his　love。　　In　the　mean　time　Marie　sat　up
stairs　still　afraid　to　show　herself。

〃He　has　come；〃　said　a　young　girl；　a　servant　in　the　house；　running　up
to　the　door　of　Marie's　room。

〃Yes；〃　said　Marie；　〃I　could　see　that　he　has　come。〃

〃And；　oh；　how　beautiful　he　is！〃　said　the　girl；　putting　her　hands
together　and　looking　up　to　the　ceiling。　　Marie　in　her　heart　of　hearts
wished　that　he　was　not　half　so　beautiful；　as　then　her　chance　of
having　him　might　be　greater。

〃And　the　company　are　all　talking　to　him　as　though　he　were　the
prefet；〃　said　the　girl。

〃Never　mind　who　is　talking　to　him；〃　said　Marie；　〃go　away；　and　leave
meyou　are　wanted　for　your　work。〃　　Why　before　this　was　he　not
talking　to　her？　　Why　not；　if　he　were　really　true　to　her？　　Alas；　it
began　to　fall　upon　her　mind　that　he　would　be　false！　　And　what　then？
What　should　she　do　then？　　She　sat　still　gloomily；　thinking　of　that
other　spouse　that　had　been　promised　to　her。

As　speedily　after　breakfast　as　was　possible　Adolphe　was　invited　to　a
conference　in　his　mother's　private　room。　　She　had　much　debated　in　her
own　mind　whether　the　capitaine　should　be　invited　to　this　conference
or　no。　　For　many　reasons　she　would　have　wished　to　exclude　him。　　She
did　not　like　to　teach　her　son　that　she　was　unable　to　manage　her　own
affairs；　and　she　would　have　been　well　pleased　to　make　the　capitaine
understand　that　his　assistance　was　not　absolutely　necessary　to　her。
But　then　she　had　an　inward　fear　that　her　green　spectacles　would　not
now　be　as　efficacious　on　Adolphe；　as　they　had　once　been；　in　old　days；
before　he　had　seen　the　world　and　become　a　man。　　It　might　be　necessary
that　her　son；　being　a　man；　should　be　opposed　by　a　man。　　So　the
capitaine　was　invited　to　the　conference。

What　took　place　there　need　not　be　described　at　length。　　The　three
were　closeted　for　two　hours；　at　the　end　of　which　time　they　came　forth
together。　　The　countenance　of　Madame　Bauche　was　serene　and
comfortable；　her　hopes　of　ultimate　success　ran　higher　than　ever。　　The
face　of　the　capitaine　was　masked；　as　are　always　the　faces　of　great
diplomatists；　he　walked　placid　and　upright；　raising　his　wooden　leg
with　an　ease　and　skill　that　was　absolutely　marvellous。　　But　poor
Adolphe's　brow　was　clouded。　　Yes；　poor　Adolphe！　for　he　was　poor　in
spirit；　he　had　pledged　himself　to　give　up　Marie；　and　to　accept　the
liberal　allowance　which　his　mother　tendered　him；　but　it　remained　for
him　now　to　communicate　these　tidings　to　Marie　herself。

〃Could　not　you　tell　her？〃　he　had　said　to　his　mother；　with　very　little
of　that　manliness　in　his　face　on　which　his　mother　now　so　prided
herself。　　But　La　Mere　Bauche　explained　to　him　that　it　was　a　part　of
the　general　agreement　that　Marie　was　to　hear　his　decision　from　his
own　mouth。

〃But　you　need　not　regard　it；〃　said　the　capitaine；　with　the　most
indifferent　air　in　the　world。　　〃The　girl　expects　it。　　Only　she　has
some　childish　idea　that　she　is　bound　till　you　yourself　release　her。
I　don't　think　she　will　be　troublesome。〃　　Adolphe　at　that　moment　did
feel　that　he　should　have　liked　to　kick　the　capitaine　out　of　his
mother's　house。

And　where　should　the　meeting　take　place？　　In　the　hall　of　the　bath…
house；　suggested　Madame　Bauche；　because；　as　she　observed；　they　could
walk　round　and　round；　and　nobody　ever　went　there　at　that　time　of　day。
But　to　this　Adolphe　objected；　it　would　be　so　cold　and　dismal　and
melancholy。

The　capitaine　thought　that　Mere　Bauche's　little　parlour　was　the
place；　but　La　Mere　herself　did　not　like　this。　　They　might　be
overheard；　as　she　well　knew；　and　she　guessed　that　the　meeting　would
not　conclude　without　some　sobs　that　would　certainly　be　bitter　and
might　perhaps　be　loud。

〃Send　her　up　to　the　grotto；　and　I　will　follow　her；〃　said　Adolphe。　　On
this　therefore　they　agreed。　　Now　the　grotto　was　a　natural　excavation
in　a　high　rock；　which　stood　precipitously　upright　over　the
establishment　of　the　baths。　　A　steep　zigzag　path　with　almost　never…
ending　steps　had　been　made　along　the　face　of　the　rock　from　a　little
flower　garden　attached　to　the　house　which　lay　immediately　under　the
mountain。　　Close　along　the　front　of　the　hotel　ran　a　little　brawling
river；　leaving　barely　room　for　a　road　between　it　and　the　door；　over
this　there　was　a　wooden　bridge　leading　to　the　garden；　and　some　two　or
three　hundred　yards　from　the　bridge　began　the　steps　by　which　the
ascent　was　made　to　the　grotto。

When　the　season　was　full　and　the　weather　perfectly　warm　the　place　was
much　frequented。　　There　was　a　green　table　in　it；　and　four　or　five
deal　chairs；　a　green　garden　seat　also　was　there；　which　however　had
been　removed　into　the　innermost　back　corner　of　the　excavation；　as　its
hinder　legs　were　somewhat　at　fault。　　A　wall　about　two　feet　high　ran
along　the　face　of　it；　guarding　its　occupants　from　the　precipice。　　In
fact　it　was　no　grotto；　but　a　little　chasm　in　the　rock；　such　as　we
often　see　up　above　our　heads　in　rocky　valleys；　and　which　by　means　of
these　steep　steps　had　been　turned　into　a　source　of　exercise　and
amusement　for　the　visitors　at　the　hotel。

Standing　at　the　wall　one　could　look　down　into　the　garden；　and　down
also　upon　the　shining　slate　roof　of　Madame　Bauche's　house；　and　to　the
left　might　be　seen　the　sombre；　silent；　snow…capped　top　of　stern　old
Canigou；　king　of　mountains　among　those　Eastern　Pyrenees。

And　so　Madame　Bauche　undertook　to　send　Marie　up　to　the　grotto；　and
Adolphe　undertook　to　follow　her　thither。　　It　was　now　spring；　and
though　the　winds　had　fallen　and　the　snow　was　no　longer　lying　on　the
lower　peaks；　still　the　air　was　fresh　and　cold；　and　there　was　no
danger　that　any　of　the　few　guests　at　the　establishment　would　visit
the　place。

〃Make　her　put　on　her　cloak；　Mere　Bauche；〃　said　the　capitaine；　who　did
not　wish　that　his　bride　should　have　a　cold　in　her　head　on　their
wedding…day。　　La　Mere　Bauche　pished　and　pshawed；　as　though　she　were
not　minded　to　pay　any　attention　to　recommendations　on　such　subjects
from　the　capitaine。　　But　nevertheless　when　Marie　was　seen　slowly　to
creep　across　the　little　bridge　about　fifteen　minutes　after　this　time；
she　had　a　handkerchief　on　her　head；　and　was　closely　wrapped　in　a　dark
brown　cloak。

Poor　Marie　herself　little　heeded　the　cold　fresh　air；　but　she　was　glad
to　avail　herself　of　any　means　by　which　she　might　hide　her　face。　　When
Madame　Bauche　sought　her　out　in　her　own　little　room；　and　with　a
smiling　face　and　kind　kiss　bade　her　go　to　the　grotto；　she　knew；　or
fancied　that　she　knew　that　it　was　all　over。

〃He　will　tell　you　all　the　truth；how　it　all　is；〃　said　La　Mere。　　〃We
will　do　all　we　can；　you　know；　to　make　you　happy；　Marie。　　But　you　must
remember　what　Monsieur　le　Cure　told　us　the　other　day。　　In　this　vale
of　tears　we　cannot　have　everything；　as　we　shall　have　some　day；　when
our　poor　wicked　souls　have　been　purged　of　all　their　wickedness。　　Now
go；　dear；　and　take　your　cloak。〃

〃Yes；　maman。〃

〃And　Adolphe　will　come　to　you。　　And　try　and　behave　well；　like　a
sensible　girl。〃

〃Yes；　maman；〃and　so　she　went；　bearing　on　her　brow　another
sacrificial　kissand　bearing　in　her　heart　such　an　unutterable　load
of　woe！

Adolphe　had　gone　out　of　the　house　before　her；　but　standing　in　the
stable　yard；　well　within　the　gate　so　that　she　should　not　see　him；　he
watched　her　slowly　crossing　the　bridge　and　mounting　the　first　flight
of　the　steps。　　He　had　often　seen　her　tripping　up　those　stairs；　and
had；　almost　as　often；　followed　her　with　his　quicker　feet。　　And　she；
when　she　would　hear　him；　would　run；　and　then　he　would　catch　her
breathless　at　the　top；　and　steal　kisses　from　her　when　all　power　of
refusing　them　had　been　robbed　from　her　by　her　efforts　at　escape。
There　was　no　such　running　now；　no　such　following；　no　thought　of　such
kisses。

As　for　him；　he　would　fain　have　skulked　off　and　shirked　the　interview
had　he　dared。　　But　he　did　not　dare；　so　he　waited　there；　out　of　heart；
for　some　ten　minutes；　speaking　a　word　now　and　then　to　the　bath…man；
who　was　standing　by；　just　to　show　that　he　was　at　his　ease。　　But　the
bath…man　knew　that　he　was　not　at　his　ease。　　Such　would…be　lies　as
those　rarely　achieve　deception；are　rarely　believed。　　And　then；　at
the　end　of　the　ten　minutes；　with　steps　as　slow　as　Marie's　had　been；
he　also　ascended　to　the　grotto。

Marie　had　watched　him　from　the　top