a woman of thirty-第4部分

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　the　low　hills　of　the　Cher；　the　only　limits　to　the　view；　lay　on　the　far　horizon；　a　luminous　line　against　the　clear　blue　sky。　Tours　itself；　framed　by　the　trees　on　the　islands　in　a　setting　of　spring　leaves；　seemed　to　rise　like　Venice　out　of　the　waters；　and　her　old　cathedral　towers　soaring　in　air　were　blended　with　the　pale　fantastic　cloud　shapes　in　the　sky。

Over　the　side　of　the　bridge；　where　the　carriage　had　come　to　a　stand；　the　traveler　looks　along　a　line　of　cliffs　stretching　as　far　as　Tours。　Nature　in　some　freakish　mood　must　have　raised　these　barriers　of　rock；　undermined　incessantly　by　the　rippling　Loire　at　their　feet；　for　a　perpetual　wonder　for　spectators。　The　village　of　Vouvray　nestles；　as　it　were；　among　the　clefts　and　crannies　of　the　crags；　which　begin　to　describe　a　bend　at　the　junction　of　the　Loire　and　Cise。　A　whole　population　of　vine…dressers　lives；　in　fact；　in　appalling　insecurity　in　holes　in　their　jagged　sides　for　the　whole　way　between　Vouvray　and　Tours。　In　some　places　there　are　three　tiers　of　dwellings　hollowed　out；　one　above　the　other；　in　the　rock；　each　row　communicating　with　the　next　by　dizzy　staircases　cut　likewise　in　the　face　of　the　cliff。　A　little　girl　in　a　short　red　petticoat　runs　out　into　her　garden　on　the　roof　of　another　dwelling；　you　can　watch　a　wreath　of　hearth…smoke　curling　up　among　the　shoots　and　trails　of　the　vines。　Men　are　at　work　in　their　almost　perpendicular　patches　of　ground；　an　old　woman　sits　tranquilly　spinning　under　a　blossoming　almond　tree　on　a　crumbling　mass　of　rock；　and　smiles　down　on　the　dismay　of　the　travelers　far　below　her　feet。　The　cracks　in　the　ground　trouble　her　as　little　as　the　precarious　state　of　the　old　wall；　a　pendant　mass　of　loose　stones；　only　kept　in　position　by　the　crooked　stems　of　its　ivy　mantle。　The　sound　of　coopers'　mallets　rings　through　the　skyey　caves；　for　here；　where　Nature　stints　human　industry　of　soil；　the　soil　is　everywhere　tilled；　and　everywhere　fertile。

No　view　along　the　whole　course　of　the　Loire　can　compare　with　the　rich　landscape　of　Touraine；　here　outspread　beneath　the　traveler's　eyes。　The　triple　picture；　thus　barely　sketched　in　outline；　is　one　of　those　scenes　which　the　imagination　engraves　for　ever　upon　the　memory；　let　a　poet　fall　under　its　charm；　and　he　shall　be　haunted　by　visions　which　shall　reproduce　its　romantic　loveliness　out　of　the　vague　substance　of　dreams。

As　the　carriage　stopped　on　the　bridge　over　the　Cise；　white　sails　came　out　here　and　there　from　among　the　islands　in　the　Loire　to　add　new　grace　to　the　perfect　view。　The　subtle　scent　of　the　willows　by　the　water's　edge　was　mingled　with　the　damp　odor　of　the　breeze　from　the　river。　The　monotonous　chant　of　a　goat…herd　added　a　plaintive　note　to　the　sound　of　birds'　songs　in　a　chorus　which　never　ends；　the　cries　of　the　boatmen　brought　tidings　of　distant　busy　life。　Here　was　Touraine　in　all　its　glory；　and　the　very　height　of　the　splendor　of　spring。　Here　was　the　one　peaceful　district　in　France　in　those　troublous　days；　for　it　was　so　unlikely　that　a　foreign　army　should　trouble　its　quiet　that　Touraine　might　be　said　to　defy　invasion。

As　soon　as　the　caleche　stopped；　a　head　covered　with　a　foraging　cap　was　put　out　of　the　window；　and　soon　afterwards　an　impatient　military　man　flung　open　the　carriage　door　and　sprang　down　into　the　road　to　pick　a　quarrel　with　the　postilion；　but　the　skill　with　which　the　Tourangeau　was　repairing　the　trace　restored　Colonel　d'Aiglemont's　equanimity。　He　went　back　to　the　carriage；　stretched　himself　to　relieve　his　benumbed　muscles；　yawned；　looked　about　him；　and　finally　laid　a　hand　on　the　arm　of　a　young　woman　warmly　wrapped　up　in　a　furred　pelisse。

〃Come；　Julie；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　〃just　wake　up　and　take　a　look　at　this　country。　It　is　magnificent。〃

Julie　put　her　head　out　of　the　window。　She　wore　a　traveling　cap　of　sable　fur。　Nothing　could　be　seen　of　her　but　her　face；　for　the　whole　of　her　person　was　completely　concealed　by　the　folds　of　her　fur　pelisse。　The　young　girl　who　tripped　to　the　review　at　the　Tuileries　with　light　footsteps　and　joy　and　gladness　in　her　heart　was　scarcely　recognizable　in　Julie　d'Aiglemont。　Her　face；　delicate　as　ever；　had　lost　the　rose…　color　which　once　gave　it　so　rich　a　glow。　A　few　straggling　locks　of　black　hair；　straightened　out　by　the　damp　night　air；　enhanced　its　dead　whiteness；　and　all　its　life　and　sparkle　seemed　to　be　torpid。　Yet　her　eyes　glittered　with　preternatural　brightness　in　spite　of　the　violet　shadows　under　the　lashes　upon　her　wan　cheeks。

She　looked　out　with　indifferent　eyes　over　the　fields　towards　the　Cher；　at　the　islands　in　the　river；　at　the　line　of　the　crags　of　Vouvray　stretching　along　the　Loire　towards　Tours；　then　she　sank　back　as　soon　as　possible　into　her　seat　in　the　caleche。　She　did　not　care　to　give　a　glance　to　the　enchanting　valley　of　the　Cise。

〃Yes；　it　is　wonderful；〃　she　said；　and　out　in　the　open　air　her　voice　sounded　weak　and　faint　to　the　last　degree。　Evidently　she　had　had　her　way　with　her　father；　to　her　misfortune。

〃Would　you　not　like　to　live　here；　Julie？〃

〃Yes；　here　or　anywhere；〃　she　answered　listlessly。

〃Do　you　feel　ill？〃　asked　Colonel　d'Aiglemont。

〃No；　not　at　all；〃　she　answered　with　momentary　energy；　and；　smiling　at　her　husband；　she　added；　〃I　should　like　to　go　to　sleep。〃

Suddenly　there　came　a　sound　of　a　horse　galloping　towards　them。　Victor　d'Aiglemont　dropped　his　wife's　hand　and　turned　to　watch　the　bend　in　the　road。　No　sooner　had　he　taken　his　eyes　from　Julie's　pale　face　than　all　the　assumed　gaiety　died　out　of　it；　it　was　as　if　a　light　had　been　extinguished。　She　felt　no　wish　to　look　at　the　landscape；　no　curiosity　to　see　the　horseman　who　was　galloping　towards　them　at　such　a　furious　pace；　and；　ensconcing　herself　in　her　corner；　stared　out　before　her　at　the　hindquarters　of　the　post…horses；　looking　as　blank　as　any　Breton　peasant　listening　to　his　/recteur's/　sermon。

Suddenly　a　young　man　riding　a　valuable　horse　came　out　from　behind　the　clump　of　poplars　and　flowering　briar…rose。

〃It　is　an　Englishman；〃　remarked　the　Colonel。

〃Lord　bless　you；　yes；　General；〃　said　the　post…boy；　〃he　belongs　to　the　race　of　fellows　who　have　a　mind　to　gobble　up　France；　they　say。〃

The　stranger　was　one　of　the　foreigners　traveling　in　France　at　the　time　when　Napoleon　detained　all　British　subjects　within　the　limits　of　the　Empire；　by　way　of　reprisals　for　the　violation　of　the　Treaty　of　Amiens；　an　outrage　of　international　law　perpetrated　by　the　Court　of　St。　James。　These　prisoners；　compelled　to　submit　to　the　Emperor's　pleasure；　were　not　all　suffered　to　remain　in　the　houses　where　they　were　arrested；　nor　yet　in　the　places　of　residence　which　at　first　they　were　permitted　to　choose。　Most　of　the　English　colony　in　Touraine　had　been　transplanted　thither　from　different　places　where　their　presence　was　supposed　to　be　inimical　to　the　interests　of　the　Continental　Policy。

The　young　man；　who　was　taking　the　tedium　of　the　early　morning　hours　on　horseback；　was　one　of　these　victims　of　bureaucratic　tyranny。　Two　years　previously；　a　sudden　order　from　the　Foreign　Office　had　dragged　him　from　Montpellier；　whither　he　had　gone　on　account　of　consumptive　tendencies。　He　glanced　at　the　Comte　d'Aiglemont；　saw　that　he　was　a　military　man；　and　deliberately　looked　away；　turning　his　head　somewhat　abruptly　towards　the　meadows　by　the　Cise。

〃The　English　are　all　as　insolent　as　if　the　globe　belonged　to　them；〃　muttered　the　Colonel。　〃Luckily；　Soult　will　give　them　a　thrashing　directly。〃

The　prisoner　gave　a　glance　to　the　caleche　as　he　rode　by。　Brief　though　that　glance　was；　he　had　yet　time　to　notice　the　sad　expression　which　lent　an　indefinable　charm　to　the　Countess'　pensive　face。　Many　men　are　deeply　moved　by　the　mere　semblance　of　suffering　in　a　woman；　they　take　the　look　of　pain　for　a　sign　of　constancy　or　of　love。　Julie　herself　was　so　much　absorbed　in　the　contemplation　of　the　opposite　cushion　that　she　saw　neither　the　horse　nor　the　rider。　The　damaged　trace　meanwhile　had　been　quickly　and　strongly　repaired；　the　Count　stepped　into　his　place　again；　and　the　post…boy；　doing　his　best　to　make　up　for　lost　time；　drove　the　carriage　rapidly　along　the　embankment。　On　they　drove　under　the　overhanging　cliffs；　with　their　picturesque　vine…dressers'　huts　and　stores　of　wine　maturing　in　their　dark　sides；　till　in　the　distance　uprose　the　spire　of　the　famous　Abbey　of　Marmoutiers；　the　retreat　of　St。　Martin。

〃What　can　that　diaphanous　milord　want　with　us？〃　exclaimed　the　Colonel；　turning　to　assure　himself　that　the　horseman　who　had　followed　them　from　the　bridge　was　the　young　Englishman。

After　all；　the　stranger　committed　no　breach　of　good　manners　by　riding　along　on　the　footway；　and　Colonel　d'Aiglemont　was　fain　to　lie　back　in　his　corner　after　sending　a　scowl　in　the　Englishman's　direction。　But　in　spite　of　his　hostile　instincts；　he　could　not　help　noticing　the　beauty　of　the　animal　and　the　graceful　horsemanship　of　the　rider。　The　young　man's　face　was　of　that　pale；　fair…complexioned；　insular　type；　which　is　almost　girlish　in　the　softness　and　delicacy　of　its　color　and　texture。　He　was　tall；　thin；　and　fair…haired；　dressed　with　the　extreme　and　elaborate　neatness　characteristic　of　a　man　of　fashion　in　prudish　England。　Any　one　might　have　thought　that　bashfulness　rather　than　pleasure　at　the　sight　of　the　Countess　had　called　up　that　flush　into　his　face。　Once　only　Julie　raised　her　eyes　and　looked　at　the　stranger；　and　then　only　because　she　was　in　a　manner　compelled　to　do　so；　for　her　husband　called　upon　her　to　admire　the　action　of　the　thoroughbred。　It　so　happened　that　their　glances　clashed；　and　the　shy　Englishman；　instead　of　riding　abreast　of　the　carriage；　fell　behind　on　this；　and　followed　them　at　a　distance　of　a　few　paces。

Yet　the　Countess　had　scarcely　given　him　a　glance；　she　saw　none　of　the　various　perfections；　human　and　equine；　commended　to　her　notice；　and　fell　back　again　in　the　carriage；　with　a　slight　movement　of　the　eyelids　intended　to　express　her　acquiescence　in　her　husband's　views。　The　Colonel　fell　asleep　again；　and　both　husband　and　wife　reached　Tours　without　another　word。　Not　one　of　those　enchanting　views　of　everchanging　landscape　through　which　they　sped　had　drawn　so　much　as　a　glance　from　Julie's　eyes。

Mme。　d'Aiglemont　looked　now　and　again　at　her　sleeping　husband。　While　she　looked；　a　sudden　jolt　shook　something　down　upon　her　knees。　It　was　her　father's　p