a hero of our time-第30节

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！



　　　　　　A　heart　which　bears　the　stamp　of　woe。〃＇1＇

＇1＇　Pushkin：　Eugene　Onyegin。

Women　ought　to　wish　that　all　men　knew　them　as　well　as　I　because　I　have　loved　them　a　hundred　times　better　since　I　have　ceased　to　be　afraid　of　them　and　have　comprehended　their　little　weaknesses。

By　the　way：　the　other　day；　Werner　compared　women　to　the　enchanted　forest　of　which　Tasso　tells　in　his　〃Jerusalem　Delivered。〃＇2＇

〃So　soon　as　you　approach；〃　he　said；　〃from　all　directions　terrors；　such　as　I　pray　Heaven　may　preserve　us　from；　will　take　wing　at　you：　duty；　pride；　decorum；　public　opinion；　ridicule；　con…　tempt。　。　。　　You　must　simply　go　straight　on　without　looking　at　them；　gradually　the　monsters　disappear；　and；　before　you；　opens　a　bright　and　quiet　glade；　in　the　midst　of　which　blooms　the　green　myrtle。　　On　the　other　hand；　woe　to　you　if；　at　the　first　steps；　your　heart　trembles　and　you　turn　back！〃

＇2＇　Canto　XVIII；　10：

　　　　　〃Quinci　al　bosco　t'　invia；　dove　cotanti

　　　　　Son　fantasmi　inganne　vole　e　bugiardi〃　。　。　。



CHAPTER　XV

24th　June。

THIS　evening　has　been　fertile　in　events。　About　three　versts　from　Kislovodsk；　in　the　gorge　through　which　the　Podkumok　flows；　there　is　a　cliff　called　the　Ring。　　It　is　a　naturally　formed　gate；　rising　upon　a　lofty　hill；　and　through　it　the　setting　sun　throws　its　last　flaming　glance　upon　the　world。　　A　numerous　cavalcade　set　off　thither　to　gaze　at　the　sunset　through　the　rock…window。　To　tell　the　truth；　not　one　of　them　was　thinking　about　the　sun。　　I　rode　beside　Princess　Mary。　　On　the　way　home；　we　had　to　ford　the　Podkumok。　Mountain　streams；　even　the　smallest；　are　danger…　ous；　especially　so；　because　the　bottom　is　a　perfect　kaleidoscope：　it　changes　every　day　owing　to　the　pressure　of　the　current；　where　yesterday　there　was　a　rock；　to…day　there　is　a　cavity。　　I　took　Prin…　cess　Mary's　horse　by　the　bridle　and　led　it　into　the　water；　which　came　no　higher　than　its　knees。　　We　began　to　move　slowly　in　a　slanting　direction　against　the　current。　　It　is　a　well…known　fact　that；　in　crossing　rapid　streamlets；　you　should　never　look　at　the　water；　because；　if　you　do；　your　head　begins　to　whirl　directly。　　I　forgot　to　warn　Princess　Mary　of　that。

We　had　reached　the　middle　and　were　right　in　the　vortex；　when　suddenly　she　reeled　in　her　saddle。

〃I　feel　ill！〃　she　said　in　a　faint　voice。

I　bent　over　to　her　rapidly　and　threw　my　arm　around　her　supple　waist。

〃Look　up！〃　I　whispered。　　〃It　is　nothing；　just　be　brave！　　I　am　with　you。〃

She　grew　better；　she　was　about　to　disengage　herself　from　my　arm；　but　I　clasped　her　tender；　soft　figure　in　a　still　closer　embrace；　my　cheek　almost　touched　hers；　from　which　was　wafted　flame。

〃What　are　you　doing　to　me？　。　。　。　　Oh；　Heaven！〃　。　。　。

I　paid　no　attention　to　her　alarm　and　confusion；　and　my　lips　touched　her　tender　cheek。　　She　shud…　dered；　but　said　nothing。　　We　were　riding　behind　the　others：　nobody　saw　us。

When　we　made　our　way　out　on　the　bank；　the　horses　were　all　put　to　the　trot。　　Princess　Mary　kept　hers　back；　I　remained　beside　her。　　It　was　evident　that　my　silence　was　making　her　uneasy；　but　I　swore　to　myself　that　I　would　not　speak　a　single　word　　out　of　curiosity。　　I　wanted　to　see　how　she　would　extricate　herself　from　that　em…　barrassing　position。

〃Either　you　despise　me；　or　you　love　me　very　much！〃　she　said　at　length；　and　there　were　tears　in　her　voice。　　〃Perhaps　you　want　to　laugh　at　me；　to　excite　my　soul　and　then　to　abandon　me。　。　。　That　would　be　so　base；　so　vile；　that　the　mere　supposition　。　。　。　Oh；　no！〃　she　added；　in　a　voice　of　tender　trustfulness；　〃there　is　nothing　in　me　which　would　preclude　respect；　is　it　not　so？　Your　presumptuous　action　。　。　。　I　must；　I　must　forgive　you　for　it；　because　I　permitted　it。　。　。　Answer；　speak；　I　want　to　hear　your　voice！〃　。　。　。

There　was　such　womanly　impatience　in　her　last　words　that；　involuntarily；　I　smiled；　happily　it　was　beginning　to　grow　dusk。　。　。　　I　made　no　answer。

〃You　are　silent！〃　she　continued；　〃you　wish；　perhaps；　that　I　should　be　the　first　to　tell　you　that　I　love　you。〃　。　。　。

I　remained　silent。

〃Is　that　what　you　wish？〃　she　continued；　turning　rapidly　towards　me。　。　。　。　　There　was　something　terrible　in　the　determination　of　her　glance　and　voice。

〃Why？〃　I　answered；　shrugging　my　shoulders。

She　struck　her　horse　with　her　riding…whip　and　set　off　at　full　gallop　along　the　narrow；　dangerous　road。　　It　all　happened　so　quickly　that　I　was　scarcely　able　to　overtake　her；　and　then　only　by　the　time　she　had　joined　the　rest　of　the　company。

All　the　way　home　she　was　continually　talk…　ing　and　laughing。　　There　was　something　feverish　in　her　movements；　not　once　did　she　look　in　my　direction。　　Everybody　observed　her　unusual　gaiety。　　Princess　Ligovski　rejoiced　inwardly　as　she　looked　at　her　daughter。　　However；　the　latter　simply　has　a　fit　of　nerves：　she　will　spend　a　sleep…　less　night；　and　will　weep。

This　thought　affords　me　measureless　delight：　there　are　moments　when　I　understand　the　Vam…　pire。　。　。　　And　yet　I　am　reputed　to　be　a　good　fellow；　and　I　strive　to　earn　that　designation！

On　dismounting；　the　ladies　went　into　Princess　Ligovski's　house。　　I　was　excited；　and　I　galloped　to　the　mountains　in　order　to　dispel　the　thoughts　which　had　thronged　into　my　head。　　The　dewy　evening　breathed　an　intoxicating　coolness。　　The　moon　was　rising　from　behind　the　dark　summits。　Each　step　of　my　unshod　horse　resounded　hollowly　in　the　silence　of　the　gorges。　　I　watered　the　horse　at　the　waterfall；　and　then；　after　greedily　inhaling　once　or　twice　the　fresh　air　of　the　southern　night；

I　set　off　on　my　way　back。　　I　rode　through　the　village。　　The　lights　in　the　windows　were　begin…　ning　to　go　out；　the　sentries　on　the　fortress…　rampart　and　the　Cossacks　in　the　surrounding　pickets　were　calling　out　in　drawling　tones　to　one　another。

In　one　of　the　village　houses；　built　at　the　edge　of　a　ravine；　I　noticed　an　extraordinary　illumina…　tion。　　At　times；　discordant　murmurs　and　shouting　could　be　heard；　proving　that　a　military　carouse　was　in　full　swing。　　I　dismounted　and　crept　up　to　the　window。　　The　shutter　had　not　been　made　fast；　and　I　could　see　the　banqueters　and　catch　what　they　were　saying。　　They　were　talking　about　me。

The　captain　of　dragoons；　flushed　with　wine；　struck　the　table　with　his　fist；　demanding　attention。

〃Gentlemen！〃　he　said；　〃this　won't　do！　Pechorin　must　be　taught　a　lesson！　　These　Peters…　burg　fledglings　always　carry　their　heads　high　until　they　get　a　slap　in　the　face！　　He　thinks　that　be…　cause　he　always　wears　clean　gloves　and　polished　boots　he　is　the　only　one　who　has　ever　lived　in　society。　　And　what　a　haughty　smile！　　All　the　same；　I　am　convinced　that　he　is　a　coward　　yes；　a　coward！〃

〃I　think　so　too；〃　said　Grushnitski。　　〃He　is　fond　of　getting　himself　out　of　trouble　by　pre…　tending　to　be　only　having　a　joke。　　I　once　gave　him　such　a　talking　to　that　anyone　else　in　his　place　would　have　cut　me　to　pieces　on　the　spot。　　But　Pechorin　turned　it　all　to　the　ridiculous　side。　　I；　of　course；　did　not　call　him　out　because　that　was　his　business；　but　he　did　not　care　to　have　anything　more　to　do　with　it。〃

〃Grushnitski　is　angry　with　him　for　having　captured　Princess　Mary　from　him；〃　somebody　said。

〃That's　a　new　idea！　　It　is　true　I　did　run　after　Princess　Mary　a　little；　but　I　left　off　at　once　be…　cause　I　do　not　want　to　get　married；　and　it　is　against　my　rules　to　compromise　a　girl。〃

〃Yes；　I　assure　you　that　he　is　a　coward　of　the　first　water；　I　mean　Pechorin；　not　Grushnitski　　but　Grushnitski　is　a　fine　fellow；　and；　besides；　he　is　my　true　friend！〃　the　captain　of　dragoons　went　on。

〃Gentlemen！　　Nobody　here　stands　up　for　him？　　Nobody？　　So　much　the　better！　　Would　you　like　to　put　his　courage　to　the　test？　　It　would　be　amusing〃　。　。　。

〃We　would；　but　how？〃

〃Listen　here；　then：　Grushnitski　in　particular　is　angry　with　him　　therefore　to　Grushnitski　falls　the　chief　part。　　He　will　pick　a　quarrel　over　some　silly　trifle　or　other；　and　will　challenge　Pechorin　to　a　duel。　。　。　　Wait　a　bit；　here　is　where　the　joke　comes　in。　。　。　　He　will　challenge　him　to　a　duel；　very　well！　　The　whole　proceed…　ing　　challenge；　preparations；　conditions　　will　be　as　solemn　and　awe…inspiring　as　possible　　I　will　see　to　that。　　I　will　be　your　second；　my　poor　friend！　　Very　well！　　Only　here　is　the　rub；　we　will　put　no　bullets　in　the　pistols。　　I　can　answer　for　it　that　Pechorin　will　turn　coward　　I　will　place　them　six　paces　apart；　devil　take　it！　　Are　you　agreed；　gentlemen？〃

〃Splendid　idea！　。　。　。　　Agreed！　。　。　。　　And　why　not？〃　。　。　。　came　from　all　sides。

〃And　you；　Grushnitski？〃

Tremblingly　I　awaited　Grushnitski's　answer。　　I　was　filled　with　cold　rage　at　the　thought　that；　but　for　an　accident；　I　might　have　made　myself　the　laughing…stock　of　those　fools。　　If　Grushnitski　had　not　agreed；　I　should　have　thrown　myself　upon　his　neck；　but；　after　an　interval　of　silence；　he　rose　from　his　place；　extended　his　hand　to　the　captain；　and　said　very　gravely：

〃Very　well；　I　agree！〃

It　would　be　difficult　to　describe　the　enthusiasm　of　that　honourable　company。

I　returned　home；　agitated　by　two　different　feel…　ings。　　The　first　was　sorrow。

〃Why　do　they　all　hate　me？〃　I　thought　　〃why？　　Have　I　affronted　anyone？　　No。　　Can　it　be　that　I　am　one　of　those　men　the　mere　sight　of　whom　is　enough　to　create　animosity？〃

And　I　felt　a　venomous　rage　gradually　filling　my　soul。

〃Have　a　care；　Mr。　Gru