the lily of the valley(幽谷百合)-第22部分

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a　cousin　of　Manette's；　who　wanted　a　large　farm　on　the　route。　His
family　was　numerous；　the　eldest　son　would　drive　the　carts；　the　second
could　attend　to　the　business；　the　father　living　half…way　along　the
road；　at　Rabelaye；　one　of　the　farms　then　to　let；　would　look　after　the
relays　and　enrich　his　land　with　the　manure　of　the　stables。　As　to　the
other　farm；　la　Baude；　the　nearest　to　Clochegourde；　one　of　their　own
people；　a　worthy；　intelligent；　and　industrious　man；　who　saw　the
advantages　of　the　new　system　of　agriculture；　was　ready　to　take　a　lease
on　it。　The　Cassine　and　the　Rhetoriere　need　give　no　anxiety；　their　soil
was　the　very　best　in　the　neighborhood；　the　farm…houses　once　built；　and
the　ground　brought　into　cultivation；　it　would　be　quite　enough　to
advertise　them　at　Tours；　tenants　would　soon　apply　for　them。　In　two
years'　time　Clochegourde　would　be　worth　at　least　twenty…four　thousand
francs　a　year。　Gravelotte；　the　farm　in　Maine；　which　Monsieur　de
Mortsauf　had　recovered　after　the　emigration；　was　rented　for　seven
thousand　francs　a　year　for　nine　years；　his　pension　was　four　thousand。
This　income　might　not　be　a　fortune；　but　it　was　certainly　a　competence。
Later；　other　additions　to　it　might　enable　her　to　go　to　Paris　and
attend　to　Jacques'　education；　in　two　years；　she　thought；　his　health
would　be　established。

With　what　feeling　she　uttered　the　word　〃Paris！〃　I　knew　her　thought；
she　wished　to　be　as　little　separated　as　possible　from　her　friend。　On
that　I　broke　forth；　I　told　her　that　she　did　not　know　me；　that　without
talking　of　it；　I　had　resolved　to　finish　my　education　by　working　day
and　night　so　as　to　fit　myself　to　be　Jacques'　tutor。　She　looked　grave。

〃No；　Felix；〃　she　said；　〃that　cannot　be；　any　more　than　your　priesthood。
I　thank　you　from　my　heart　as　a　mother；　but　as　a　woman　who　loves　you
sincerely　I　can　never　allow　you　to　be　the　victim　of　your　attachment　to
me。　Such　a　position　would　be　a　social　discredit　to　you；　and　I　could
not　allow　it。　No！　I　cannot　be　an　injury　to　you　in　any　way。　You；
Vicomte　de　Vandenesse；　a　tutor！　You；　whose　motto　is　'Ne　se　vend！'　Were
you　Richelieu　himself　it　would　bar　your　way　in　life；　it　would　give　the
utmost　pain　to　your　family。　My　friend；　you　do　not　know　what　insult
women　of　the　world；　like　my　mother；　can　put　into　a　patronizing　glance；
what　degradation　into　a　word；　what　contempt　into　a　bow。〃

〃But　if　you　love　me；　what　is　the　world　to　me？〃

She　pretended　not　to　hear；　and　went　on：

〃Though　my　father　is　most　kind　and　desirous　of　doing　all　I　ask；　he
would　never　forgive　your　taking　so　humble　a　position；　he　would　refuse
you　his　protection。　I　could　not　consent　to　your　becoming　tutor　to　the
Dauphin　even。　You　must　accept　society　as　it　is；　never　commit　the　fault
of　flying　in　the　face　of　it。　My　friend；　this　rash　proposal　of〃

〃Love；〃　I　whispered。

〃No；　charity；〃　she　said；　controlling　her　tears；　〃this　wild　idea
enlightens　me　as　to　your　character；　your　heart　will　be　your　bane。　I
shall　claim　from　this　moment　the　right　to　teach　you　certain　things。
Let　my　woman's　eye　see　for　you　sometimes。　Yes；　from　the　solitudes　of
Clochegourde　I　mean　to　share；　silently；　contentedly；　in　your
successes。　As　to　a　tutor；　do　not　fear；　we　shall　find　some　good　old
abbe；　some　learned　Jesuit；　and　my　father　will　gladly　devote　a　handsome
sum　to　the　education　of　the　boy　who　is　to　bear　his　name。　Jacques　is　my
pride。　He　is；　however；　eleven　years　old；〃　she　added　after　a　pause。
〃But　it　is　with　him　as　with　you；　when　I　first　saw　you　I　took　you　to　be
about　thirteen。〃

We　now　reached　the　Cassine；　where　Jacques；　Madeleine；　and　I　followed
her　about　as　children　follow　a　mother；　but　we　were　in　her　way；　I　left
her　presently　and　went　into　the　orchard　where　Martineau　the　elder；
keeper　of　the　place；　was　discussing　with　Martineau　the　younger；　the
bailiff；　whether　certain　trees　ought　or　ought　not　to　be　taken　down；
they　were　arguing　the　matter　as　if　it　concerned　their　own　property。　I
then　saw　how　much　the　countess　was　beloved。　I　spoke　of　it　to　a　poor
laborer；　who；　with　one　foot　on　his　spade　and　an　elbow　on　its　handle；
stood　listening　to　the　two　doctors　of　pomology。

〃Ah；　yes；　monsieur；〃　he　answered；　〃she　is　a　good　woman；　and　not
haughty　like　those　hussies　at　Azay；　who　would　see　us　die　like　dogs
sooner　than　yield　us　one　penny　of　the　price　of　a　grave！　The　day　when
that　woman　leaves　these　parts　the　Blessed　Virgin　will　weep；　and　we
too。　She　knows　what　is　due　to　her；　but　she　knows　our　hardships；　too；
and　she　puts　them　into　the　account。〃

With　what　pleasure　I　gave　that　man　all　the　money　I　had。

A　few　days　later　a　pony　arrived　for　Jacques；　his　father；　an　excellent
horseman；　wishing　to　accustom　the　child　by　degrees　to　the　fatigues　of
such　exercise。　The　boy　had　a　pretty　riding…dress；　bought　with　the
product　of　the　nuts。　The　morning　when　he　took　his　first　lesson
accompanied　by　his　father　and　by　Madeleine；　who　jumped　and　shouted
about　the　lawn　round　which　Jacques　was　riding；　was　a　great　maternal
festival　for　the　countess。　The　boy　wore　a　blue　collar　embroidered　by
her；　a　little　sky…blue　overcoat　fastened　by　a　polished　leather　belt；　a
pair　of　white　trousers　pleated　at　the　waist；　and　a　Scotch　cap；　from
which　his　fair　hair　flowed　in　heavy　locks。　He　was　charming　to　behold。
All　the　servants　clustered　round　to　share　the　domestic　joy。　The　little
heir　smiled　at　his　mother　as　he　passed　her；　sitting　erect；　and　quite
fearless。　This　first　manly　act　of　a　child　to　whom　death　had　often
seemed　so　near；　the　promise　of　a　sound　future　warranted　by　this　ride
which　showed　him　so　handsome；　so　fresh；　so　rosy；what　a　reward　for
all　her　cares！　Then　too　the　joy　of　the　father；　who　seemed　to　renew　his
youth；　and　who　smiled　for　the　first　time　in　many　long　months；　the
pleasure　shown　on　all　faces；　the　shout　of　an　old　huntsman　of　the
Lenoncourts；　who　had　just　arrived　from　Tours；　and　who；　seeing　how　the
boy　held　the　reins；　shouted　to　him；　〃Bravo；　monsieur　le　vicomte！〃all
this　was　too　much　for　the　poor　mother；　and　she　burst　into　tears；　she；
so　calm　in　her　griefs；　was　too　weak　to　bear　the　joy　of　admiring　her
boy　as　he　bounded　over　the　gravel；　where　so　often　she　had　led　him　in
the　sunshine　inwardly　weeping　his　expected　death。　She　leaned　upon　my
arm　unreservedly；　and　said：　〃I　think　I　have　never　suffered。　Do　not
leave　us　to…day。〃

The　lesson　over；　Jacques　jumped　into　his　mother's　arms；　she　caught　him
and　held　him　tightly　to　her；　kissing　him　passionately。　I　went　with
Madeleine　to　arrange　two　magnificent　bouquets　for　the　dinner…table　in
honor　of　the　young　equestrian。　When　we　returned　to　the　salon　the
countess　said：　〃The　fifteenth　of　October　is　certainly　a　great　day　with
me。　Jacques　has　taken　his　first　riding　lesson；　and　I　have　just　set　the
last　stitch　in　my　furniture　cover。〃

〃Then；　Blanche；〃　said　the　count；　laughing；　〃I　must　pay　you　for　it。〃

He　offered　her　his　arm　and　took　her　to　the　first　courtyard；　where
stood　an　open　carriage　which　her　father　had　sent　her；　and　for　which
the　count　had　purchased　two　English　horses。　The　old　huntsman　had
prepared　the　surprise　while　Jacques　was　taking　his　lesson。　We　got　into
the　carriage；　and　went　to　see　where　the　new　avenue　entered　the　main
road　towards　Chinon。　As　we　returned；　the　countess　said　to　me　in　an
anxious　tone；　〃I　am　too　happy；　to　me　happiness　is　like　an　illness；it
overwhelms　me；　I　fear　it　may　vanish　like　a　dream。〃

I　loved　her　too　passionately　not　to　feel　jealous；I　who　could　give
her　nothing！　In　my　rage　against　myself　I　longed　for　some　means　of
dying　for　her。　She　asked　me　to　tell　her　the　thoughts　that　filled　my
eyes；　and　I　told　her　honestly。　She　was　more　touched　than　by　all　her
presents；　then　taking　me　to　the　portico；　she　poured　comfort　into　my
heart。　〃Love　me　as　my　aunt　loved　me；〃　she　said；　〃and　that　will　be
giving　me　your　life；　and　if　I　take　it；　must　I　not　ever　be　grateful　to
you？

〃It　was　time　I　finished　my　tapestry；〃　she　added　as　we　re…entered　the
salon；　where　I　kissed　her　hand　as　if　to　renew　my　vows。　〃Perhaps　you　do
not　know；　Felix；　why　I　began　so　formidable　a　piece　of　work。　Men　find
the　occupations　of　life　a　great　resource　against　troubles；　the
management　of　affairs　distracts　their　mind；　but　we　poor　women　have　no
support　within　ourselves　against　our　sorrows。　To　be　able　to　smile
before　my　children　and　my　husband　when　my　heart　was　heavy　I　felt　the
need　of　controlling　my　inward　sufferings　by　some　physical　exercise。　In
this　way　I　escaped　the　depression　which　is　apt　to　follow　a　great
strain　upon　the　moral　strength；　and　likewise　all　outbursts　of
excitement。　The　mere　action　of　lifting　my　arm　regularly　as　I　drew　the
stitches　rocked　my　thoughts　and　gave　to　my　spirit　when　the　tempest
raged　a　monotonous　ebb　and　flow　which　seemed　to　regulate　its　emotions。
To　every　stitch　I　confided　my　secrets；you　understand　me；　do　you　not？
Well；　while　doing　my　last　chair　I　have　thought　much；　too　much；　of　you；
dear　friend。　What　you　have　put　into　your　bouquets　I　have　said　in　my
embroidery。〃

The　dinner　was　lovely。　Jacques；　like　all　children　when　you　take　notice
of　them；　jumped　into　my　arms　when　he　saw　the　flowers　I　had　arranged
for　him　as　a　garland。　His　mother　pretended　to　be　jealous；　ah；　Natalie；
you　should　have　seen　the　charming　grace　with　which　the　dear　child
offered　them　to　her。　In　the　afternoon　we　played　a　game　of　backgammon；
I　alone　against　Monsieur　and　Madame　de　Mortsauf；　and　the　count　was
charming。　They　accompanied　me　along　the　road　to　Frapesle　in　the
twilight　of　a　tranquil　evening；　one　of　those　harmonious　evenings　when
our　feelings　gain　in　depth　what　they　lose　in　vivacity。　It　was　a　day　of
days　in　this　poor　woman's　life；　a　spot　of　brightness　which　often
comforted　her　thoughts　in　painful　hours。

Soon；　however；　the　riding　lessons　became　a　subject　of　contention。　The
countess　justly　feared　the　count's　harsh　reprimands　to　his　son。
Jacques　grew　thin；　dark　circles　surrounded　his　sweet　blue　eyes；　rather
than　trouble　his　mother；　he　suffered　in　silence。　I　advised　him　to　tell
his　father　he　was　tired　when　the　count's　temper　was　violent；　but　that
expedient　proved　unavailing；　and　it　became　necessary　to　substitute　the
old　huntsman　as　a　teacher　in　place　of　the　father；　who　could　with
difficulty　be　induced　to　resign　his　pupil。　Angry　reproaches　and
contentions　began　onc