the wandering jew, volume 10-第7部分

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〃What；　dearest　puss；　have　you　shut　yourself　in？　　Are　you　praying　Saint…
Flambard　for　the　return　of　Philly？〃　（short　for　Philemon。）

Adrienne；　not　coshing　to　increase；　by　prolonging　it；　the　awkwardness　of
this　ridiculous　situation；　went　straight　to　the　door　and　opened　it；　to
the　great　surprise　of　Philemon；　who　recoiled　two　or　three　steps。
Notwithstanding　the　annoyance　of　this　incident；　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville
could　not　help　smiling　at　sight　of　Rose…Pompon's　lover；　and　of　the
articles　he　carried　in　his　hand　or　under　his　arm。

Philemon　was　a　tall　fellow；　with　dark　hair　and　a　very　fresh　color；　and；
being　just　arrived　from　a　journey；　he　wore　a　white　cap；　his　thick；　black
beard　flowed　down　on　his　sky…blue　waistcoat；　and　a　short　olive…colored
velvet　shooting…coat；　with　extravagantly　large　plaid　trousers；　completed
his　costume。　　As　for　the　accessories　which　had　provoked　a　smile　from
Adrienne；　they　consisted：　first；　of　a　portmanteau　tucked　under　his　arm；
with　the　head　and　neck　of　a　goose　protruding　from　it；　secondly；　of　a　cage
held　in　his　hand；　with　an　enormous　white　rabbit　all　alive　within　it。

〃Oh！　the　darling　white　rabbit！　what　pretty　red　eyes！〃　　Such；　it　must　be
confessed；　was　the　first　exclamation　of　Rose…Pompon；　though　Philemon；　to
whom　it　was　not　addressed；　had　returned　after　a　long　absence；　but　the
student　far　from　being　shocked　at　seeing　himself　thus　sacrificed　to　his
long…earned　companion；　smiled　complacently；　rejoicing　at　the　success　of
his　attempt　to　please　his　mistress。

All　this　passed　very　rapidly。　　While　Rose…Pompon；　kneeling　before　the
cage；　was　still　occupied　with　her　admiration　of　the　rabbit；　Philemon；
struck　with　the　lofty　air　of　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　raised　his　hand　to　his
cap；　and　bowed　respectfully　as　he　made　way　for　her　to　pass。　　Adrienne
returned　his　salutation　with　politeness；　full　of　grace　and　dignity；　and；
lightly　descending　the　stairs；　soon　disappeared。　　Dazzled　by　her　beauty；
as　well　as　impressed　with　her　noble　and　lofty　bearing；　and　curious　to
know　how　in　the　world　Rose…Pompon　had　fallen　in　with　such　an
acquaintance；　Philemon　said　to　her；　in　his　amorous　jargon：　〃Dearest　puss！
tell　her　Philly　who　is　that　fine　lady？〃

〃One　of　my　school…fellows；　you　great　satyr！〃　said　Rose…Pompon；　still
playing　with　the　rabbit。

Then；　glancing　at　a　box；　which　Philemon　deposited　close　to　the　cage　and
the　portmanteau；　she　added：　〃I'll　wager　anything　you　have　brought　me　some
more　preserves！〃

〃Philly　has　brought　something　better　to　his　dear　puss；〃　said　the　student；
imprinting　two　vigorous　kisses　on　the　rosy　cheeks　of　Rose…Pompon；　who　had
at　length；　consented　to　stand　up；　〃Philly　has　brought　her　his　heart。〃

〃Fudge！〃　said　the　grisette；　delicately　placing　the　thumb　of　her　left　hand
on　the　tip　of　her　nose；　and　opening　the　fingers；　which　she　slightly　moved
to　and　fro。　　Philemon　answered　this　provocation　by　putting　his　arm　around
her　waist；　and　then　the　happy　pair　shut　their　door。




CHAPTER　XXXVII。

SOOTHING　WORDS。

During　the　interview　of　Adrienne　with　Rose…Pompon　a　touching　scene　took
place　between　Agricola　and　Mother　Bunch；　who　had　been　much　surprised　at
Mdlle。　de　Cardoville's　condescension　with　regard　to　the　grisette。
Immediately　after　the　departure　of　Adrienne；　Agricola　had　knelt　down
beside　Mother　Bunch；　and　said　to　her；　with　profound　emotion：　〃We　are
alone；　and　I　can　at　length　tell　you　what　weighs　upon　my　heart。　　This　act
is　too　cruelto　die　of　misery　and　despair；　and　not　to　send　to　me　for
assistance。〃

〃Listen　to　me；　Agricola〃

〃No；　there　is　no　excuse　for　this。　　What！　we　called　each　other　by　the
names　of　brother　and　sister；　and　for　fifteen　years　gave　every　proof　of
sincere　affectionand；　when　the　day　of　misfortune　comes；　you　quit　life
without　caring　for　those　you　must　leave　behindwithout　considering　that
to　kill　yourself　is　to　tell　them　they　are　indifferent　to　you！〃

〃Forgive　me；　Agricola！　it　is　true。　　I　had　never　thought　of　that；〃　said
the　workgirl；　casting　down　her　eyes；　〃but　povertywant　of　work〃

〃Misery！　want　of　work！　and　was　I　not　here？〃

〃And　despair！〃

〃But　why　despair？　　This　generous　young　lady　had　received　you　in　her
house；　she　knew　your　worth；　and　treated　you　as　her　friendand　just　at
the　moment　when　you　had　every　chance　of　happiness；　you　leave　the　house
abruptly；　and　we　remain　in　the　most　horrible　anxiety　on　your　account。〃

〃I　fearedto　beto　be　a　burden　to　my　benefactress；〃　stammered　she。

〃You　a　burden　to　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville；　that　is　so　rich　and　good！〃

〃I　feared　to　be　indiscreet；〃　said　the　sewing…girl；　more　and　more
embarrassed。

Instead　of　answering　his　adopted　sister；　Agricola　remained　silent；　and
contemplated　her　for　some　moments　with　an　undefinable　expression；　then　he
exclaimed　suddenly；　as　if　replying　to　a　question　put　by　himself：　〃She
will　forgive　me　for　disobeying　her。I　am　sure　of　it。〃

He　next　turned　towards　Mother　Bunch；　who　was　looking　at　him　in
astonishment；　and　said　to　her　in　a　voice　of　emotion：　〃I　am　too　frank　to
keep　up　this　deception。　　I　am　reproaching　youblaming　youand　my
thoughts　are　quite　different。〃

〃How　so；　Agricola？〃

〃My　heart　aches；　when　I　think　of　the　evil　I　have　done　you。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you；　my　friend；　you　have　never　done　me　any　evil。〃

〃What！　never？　even　in　little　things？　when；　for　instance；　yielding　to　a
detestable　habit；　I；　who　loved　and　respected　you　as　my　sister；　insulted
you　a　hundred　times　a　day？〃

〃Insulted　me！〃

〃Yeswhen　I　gave　you　an　odious　and　ridiculous　nickname；　instead　of
calling　you　properly。〃

At　these　words；　Mother　Bunch　looked　at　the　smith　in　the　utmost　alarm；
trembling　lest　he　had　discovered　her　painful　secret；　notwithstanding　the
assurance　she　had　received　from　Mdlle。　de　Cardoville。　　Yet　she　calmed
herself　a　little　when　she　reflected；　that　Agricola　might　of　himself　have
thought　of　the　humiliation　inflicted　on　her　by　calling　her　Mother　Bunch；
and　she　answered　him　with　a　forced　smile。　　〃Can　you　be　grieved　at　so
small　a　thing？　　It　was　a　habit；　Agricola；　from　childhood。　　When　did　your
good　and　affectionate　mother；　who　nevertheless　loved　me　as　her　daughter；
ever　call　me　anything　else？〃

〃And　did　my　mother　consult　you　about　my　marriage；　speak　to　you　of　the
rare　beauty　of　my　bride；　beg　you　to　come　and　see　her；　and　study　her
character；　in　the　hope　that　the　instinct　of　your　affection　for　me　would
warn　youif　I　made　a　bad　choice？　　Did　my　mother　have　this　cruelty？No；
it　was　I；　who　thus　pierced　your　heart！〃

The　fears　of　the　hearer　were　again　aroused；　there　could　be　but　little
doubt　that　Agricola　knew　her　secret。　　She　felt　herself　sinking　with
confusion；　yet；　making　a　last　effort　not　to　believe　the　discovery；　she
murmured　in　a　feeble　voice：　〃True；　Agricola！　　It　was　not　your　mother；　but
yourself；　who　made　me　that　requestand　I　was　grateful　to　you　for　such　a
mark　of　confidence。〃

〃Grateful；　my　poor　girl！〃　cried　the　smith；　whilst　his　eyes　filled　with
tears；　〃no；　it　is　not　true。　　I　pained　you　fearfullyI　was　merciless
heaven　knows；　without　being　aware　of　it！〃

〃But；〃　said　the　other；　in　a　voice　now　almost　unintelligible；　〃what　makes
you　think　so？〃

〃Your　love　for　me！〃　cried　the　smith；　trembling　with　emotion；　as　he
clasped　Mother　Bunch　in　a　brotherly　embrace。

〃Oh　heaven！〃　murmured　the　unfortunate　creature；　as　she　covered　her　face
with　her　hands；　〃he　knows　all。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　all；〃　resumed　Agricola；　with　an　expression　of　ineffable
tenderness　and　respect：　〃yes；　I　know　all；　and　I　will　not　have　you　blush
for　a　sentiment；　which　honors　me；　and　of　which　I　feel　so　justly　proud。
Yes；　I　know　all；　and　I　say　to　myself　with　joy　and　pride；　that　the　best；
the　most　noble　heart　in　the　world　is　minewill　be　mine　always。　　Come；
Magdalen；　let　us　leave　shame　to　evil　passions。　　Raise　your　eyes；　and　look
at　me！　　You　know；　if　my　countenance　was　ever　falseif　it　ever　reflected
a　feigned　emotion。　　Then　look　and　tell　me；　if　you　cannot　read　in　my
features；　how　proud　I　am；　Magdalen；　how　justly　proud　of　your　love！〃

Overwhelmed　with　grief　and　confusion；　Mother　Bunch　had　not　dared　to　look
on　Agricola；　but　his　words　expressed　so　deep　a　conviction；　the　tones　of
his　voice　revealed　so　tender　an　emotion；　that　the　poor　creature　felt　her
shame　gradually　diminish；　particularly　when　Agricola　added；　with　rising
animation：　〃Be　satisfied；　my　sweet；　my　noble　Magdalen；　I　will　be　worthy
of　this　love。　　Believe　me；　it　shall　yet　cause　you　as　much　happiness　as　it
has　occasioned　tears。　　Why　should　this　love　be　a　motive　for　estrangement；
confusion；　fear？　　For　what　is　love；　in　the　sense　in　which　it　is　held　by
your　generous　heart？　　Is　it　not　a　continual　exchange　of　devotion；
tenderness；　esteem；　of　mutual　and　blind　confidence？Why；　Magdalen！　we
may　have　all　this　for　one　anotherdevotion；　tenderness；　confidenceeven
more　than　in　times　past；　for；　on　a　thousand　occasions；　your　secret
inspired　you　with　fear　and　suspicionwhile；　for　the　future；　on　the
contrary；　you　will　see　me　take　such　delight　in　the　place　I　fill　in　your
good　and　valiant　heart；　that　you　will　be　happy　in　the　happiness　you
bestow。　　What　I　have　just　said　may　seem　very　selfish　and　conceited；　so
much　the　worse！　　I　do　not　know　how　to　lie。〃

The　longer　the　smith　spoke；　the　less　troubled　became　Mother　Bunch。　　What
she　had　above　all　feared　in　the　discovery　of　her　secret　was　to　see　it
received　with　raillery；　contempt；　or　humiliating　compassion；　far　from
this；　joy　and　happiness　were　distinctly　visible　on　the　manly　and　honest
face　of　Agricola。　　The　hunchback　knew　him　incapable　of　deception；
therefore　she　exclaimed；　this　time　without　shame　or　confusion；　but　rather
with　a　sort　of　pride。

〃Every　sincere　and　pure　passion　is　so　far　good　and　con　soling　as　to　end
by　deserving　interest　and　sympathy；　when　it　has　triumphed　over　its　first
excess！　It　is　alike　honorable　to　the　heart　which　feels　and　that　which
inspires　it！Thanks　to　you；　Agricolathanks　to　the　kind　words；　which
have　raised　me　in　my　own　esteemI　feel　that；　instead　of　blushing；　I
ought　to　be　proud　of　this　love。　　My　benefactress　is　rightyou　are　right：
why　should　I　be　ashamed　of　it？　　Is　it　not　a　true　and　sacred　love？　　To　be
near　you；　to　love　you；　to　tell　you　so；　to　prove　it　by　constant　devotion；
what　did　I　ever　desire　more？　　And　yet　shame　and　fear；　joined　with　that