the monk(僧侣)-第19节

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My　hopes；　however　were　frustrated　by　the　breaking　down　of　my
Chaise。　　The　accident　happened　in　the　middle　of　a　thick　Forest；
and　I　was　not　a　little　embarrassed　as　to　the　means　of　proceeding。

It　was　the　depth　of　winter：　　The　night　was　already　closing　round
us；　and　Strasbourg；　which　was　the　nearest　Town；　was　still　distant
from　us　several　leagues。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　my　only
alternative　to　passing　the　night　in　the　Forest；　was　to　take　my
Servant's　Horse　and　ride　on　to　Strasbourg；　an　undertaking　at
that　season　very　far　from　agreeable。　　However；　seeing　no　other
resource；　I　was　obliged　to　make　up　my　mind　to　it。　　Accordingly　I
communicated　my　design　to　the　Postillion；　telling　him　that　I
would　send　People　to　assist　him　as　soon　as　I　reached　Strasbourg。　
I　had　not　much　confidence　in　his　honesty；　But　Stephano　being
well…armed；　and　the　Driver　to　all　appearance　considerably
advanced　in　years；　I　believed　I　ran　no　danger　of　losing　my
Baggage。

Luckily；　as　I　then　thought；　an　opportunity　presented　itself　of
passing　the　night　more　agreeably　than　I　expected。　　On　mentioning
my　design　of　proceeding　by　myself　to　Strasbourg；　the　Postillion
shook　his　head　in　disapprobation。

'It　is　a　long　way；'　said　He；　'You　will　find　it　a　difficult　matter
to　arrive　there　without　a　Guide。　　Besides；　Monsieur　seems
unaccustomed　to　the　season's　severity；　and　'tis　possible　that
unable　to　sustain　the　excessive　cold。　。　。　。'

'What　use　is　there　to　present　me　with　all　these　objections？'　said
I；　impatiently　interrupting　him；　'I　have　no　other　resource：　　I
run　still　greater　risque　of　perishing　with　cold　by　passing　the
night　in　the　Forest。'

'Passing　the　night　in　the　Forest？'　He　replied；　'Oh！　by　St。　Denis！
We　are　not　in　quite　so　bad　a　plight　as　that　comes　to　yet。　　If　I
am　not　mistaken；　we　are　scarcely　five　minutes　walk　from　the
Cottage　of　my　old　Friend；　Baptiste。　　He　is　a　Wood…cutter；　and　a
very　honest　Fellow。　I　doubt　not　but　He　will　shelter　you　for　the
night　with　pleasure。　　In　the　meantime　I　can　take　the
saddle…Horse；　ride　to　Strasbourg；　and　be　back　with　proper　people
to　mend　your　Carriage　by　break　of　day。'

'And　in　the　name　of　God；'　said　I；　'How　could　you　leave　me　so　long
in　suspense？　　Why　did　you　not　tell　me　of　this　Cottage　sooner？　
What　excessive　stupidity！'

'I　thought　that　perhaps　Monsieur　would　not　deign　to　accept。　。　。
。'

'Absurd！　Come；　come！　　Say　no　more；　but　conduct　us　without　delay
to　the　Wood…man's　Cottage。'

He　obeyed；　and　we　moved　onwards：　　The　Horses　contrived　with　some
difficulty　to　drag　the　shattered　vehicle　after　us。　　My　Servant
was　become　almost　speechless；　and　I　began　to　feel　the　effects　of
the　cold　myself；　before　we　reached　the　wished…for　Cottage。　　It
was　a　small　but　neat　Building：　　As　we　drew　near　it；　I　rejoiced　at
observing　through　the　window　the　blaze　of　a　comfortable　fire。　
Our　Conductor　knocked　at　the　door：　　It　was　some　time　before　any
one　answered；　The　People　within　seemed　in　doubt　whether　we　should
be　admitted。

'Come！　　Come；　Friend　Baptiste！'　cried　the　Driver　with　impatience；
'What　are　you　about？　　Are　you　asleep？　　Or　will　you　refuse　a
night's　lodging　to　a　Gentleman；　whose　Chaise　has　just　broken　down
in　the　Forest？'

'Ah！　is　it　you；　honest　Claude？'　replied　a　Man's　voice　from
within；　'Wait　a　moment；　and　the　door　shall　be　opened。'

Soon　after　the　bolts　were　drawn　back。　　The　door　was　unclosed；　and
a　Man　presented　himself　to　us　with　a　Lamp　in　his　hand。　　He　gave
the　Guide　an　hearty　reception；　and　then　addressed　himself　to　me。

'Walk　in；　Monsieur；　Walk　in；　and　welcome！　　Excuse　me　for　not
admitting　you　at　first：　　But　there　are　so　many　Rogues　about　this
place；　that　saving　your　presence；　I　suspected　you　to　be　one。'

Thus　saying；　He　ushered　me　into　the　room；　where　I　had　observed
the　fire：　　I　was　immediately　placed　in　an　Easy　Chair；　which　stood
close　to　the　Hearth。　　A　Female；　whom　I　supposed　to　be　the　Wife　of
my　Host；　rose　from　her　seat　upon　my　entrance；　and　received　me
with　a　slight　and　distant　reverence。　　She　made　no　answer　to　my
compliment；　but　immediately　re…seating　herself；　continued　the
work　on　which　She　had　been　employed。　　Her　Husband's　manners　were
as　friendly　as　hers　were　harsh　and　repulsive。

'I　wish；　I　could　lodge　you　more　conveniently；　Monsieur；'　said　He；
'But　we　cannot　boast　of　much　spare　room　in　this　hovel。　　However；
a　chamber　for　yourself；　and　another　for　your　Servant；　I　think；　we
can　make　shift　to　supply。　　You　must　content　yourself　with　sorry
fare；　But　to　what　we　have；　believe　me；　you　are　heartily　welcome。'
Then　turning　to　his　wife'Why；　how　you　sit　there；
Marguerite；　with　as　much　tranquillity　as　if　you　had　nothing
better　to　do！　　Stir　about；　Dame！　　Stir　about！　Get　some　supper；
Look　out　some　sheets；　Here；　here；　throw　some　logs　upon　the　fire；
for　the　Gentleman　seems　perished　with　cold。'

The　Wife　threw　her　work　hastily　upon　the　Table；　and　proceeded　to
execute　his　commands　with　every　mark　of　unwillingness。　　Her
countenance　had　displeased　me　on　the　first　moment　of　my　examining
it。　　Yet　upon　the　whole　her　features　were　handsome
unquestionably；　But　her　skin　was　sallow；　and　her　person　thin　and
meagre；　A　louring　gloom　over…spread　her　countenance；　and　it　bore
such　visible　marks　of　rancour　and　ill…will；　as　could　not　escape
being　noticed　by　the　most　inattentive　Observer。　　Her　every　look
and　action　expressed　discontent　and　impatience；　and　the　answers
which　She　gave　Baptiste；　when　He　reproached　her　good…humouredly
for　her　dissatisfied　air；　were　tart；　short；　and　cutting。　　In
fine；　I　conceived　at　first　sight　equal　disgust　for　her；　and
prepossession　in　favour　of　her　Husband；　whose　appearance　was
calculated　to　inspire　esteem　and　confidence。　　His　countenance　was
open；　sincere；　and　friendly；　his　manners　had　all　the　Peasant's
honesty　unaccompanied　by　his　rudeness；　His　cheeks　were　broad；
full；　and　ruddy；　and　in　the　solidity　of　his　person　He　seemed　to
offer　an　ample　apology　for　the　leanness　of　his　Wife's。　　From　the
wrinkles　on　his　brow　I　judged　him　to　be　turned　of　sixty；　But　He
bore　his　years　well；　and　seemed　still　hearty　and　strong：　The　Wife
could　not　be　more　than　thirty；　but　in　spirits　and　vivacity　She
was　infinitely　older　than　the　Husband。

However；　in　spite　of　her　unwillingness；　Marguerite　began　to
prepare　the　supper；　while　the　Wood…man　conversed　gaily　on
different　subjects。　　The　Postillion；　who　had　been　furnished　with
a　bottle　of　spirits；　was　now　ready　to　set　out　for　Strasbourg；　and
enquired；　whether　I　had　any　further　commands。

'For　Strasbourg？'　interrupted　Baptiste；　'You　are　not　going
thither　tonight？'

'I　beg　your　pardon：　　If　I　do　not　fetch　Workmen　to　mend　the
Chaise；　How　is　Monsieur　to　proceed　tomorrow？'

'That　is　true；　as　you　say；　I　had　forgotten　the　Chaise。　　Well；　but
Claude；　You　may　at　least　eat　your　supper　here？　　That　can　make　you
lose　very　little　time；　and　Monsieur　looks　too　kind…hearted　to
send　you　out　with　an　empty　stomach　on　such　a　bitter　cold　night　as
this　is。'

To　this　I　readily　assented；　telling　the　Postillion　that　my
reaching　Strasbourg　the　next　day　an　hour　or　two　later　would　be
perfectly　immaterial。　　He　thanked　me；　and　then　leaving　the
Cottage　with　Stephano；　put　up　his　Horses　in　the　Wood…man's
Stable。　　Baptiste　followed　them　to　the　door；　and　looked　out　with
anxiety。

'　'Tis　a　sharp　biting　wind！'　said　He；　'I　wonder；　what　detains　my
Boys　so　long！　　Monsieur；　I　shall　show　you　two　of　the　finest　Lads；
that　ever　stept　in　shoe　of　leather。　The　eldest　is　three　and
twenty；　the　second　a　year　younger：　　Their　Equals　for　sense；
courage；　and　activity；　are　not　to　be　found　within　fifty　miles　of
Strasbourg。　　Would　They　were　back　again！　　I　begin　to　feel　uneasy
about　them。'

Marguerite　was　at　this　time　employed　in　laying　the　cloth。

'And　are　you　equally　anxious　for　the　return　of　your　Sons？'　said　I
to　her。

'Not　I！'　She　replied　peevishly；　'They　are　no　children　of　mine。'

'Come！　　Come；　Marguerite！'　said　the　Husband；　'Do　not　be　out　of
humour　with　the　Gentleman　for　asking　a　simple　question。　　Had　you
not　looked　so　cross；　He　would　never　have　thought　you　old　enough
to　have　a　Son　of　three　and　twenty：　　But　you　see　how　many　years
ill…temper　adds　to　you！Excuse　my　Wife's　rudeness；　Monsieur。　　A
little　thing　puts　her　out；　and　She　is　somewhat　displeased　at
your　not　thinking　her　to　be　under　thirty。　　That　is　the　truth；　is
it　not；　Marguerite？　　You　know；　Monsieur；　that　Age　is　always　a
ticklish　subject　with　a　Woman。　　Come！　come！　　Marguerite；　clear　up
a　little。　　If　you　have　not　Sons　as　old；　you　will　some　twenty
years　hence；　and　I　hope；　that　we　shall　live　to　see　them　just　such
Lads　as　Jacques　and　Robert。'

Marguerite　clasped　her　hands　together　passionately。

'God　forbid！'　said　She；　'God　forbid！　If　I　thought　it；　I　would
strangle　them　with　my　own　hands！'

She　quitted　the　room　hastily；　and　went　up　stairs。

I　could　not　help　expressing　to　the　Wood…man　how　much　I　pitied
him　for　being　chained　for　life　to　a　Partner　of　such　ill…humour。

'Ah！　　Lord！　　Monsieur；　Every　one　has　his　share　of　grievances；　and
Marguerite　has　fallen　to　mine。　　Besides；　after　all　She　is　only
cross；　and　not　malicious。　　The　worst　is；　that　her　affection　for
two　children　by　a　former　Husband　makes　her　play　the　Step…mother
with　my　two　Sons。　　She　cannot　bear