selected writings-第39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！
leaps and caught the flies on the surface。 He stopped crying in
order to watch them； for their feeding interested him vastly。
But； at intervals； as in the lulls of a tempest； when tremendous
gusts of wind snap off trees and then die away； this thought
would return to him with intense pain：
〃I am about to drown myself because I have no papa。〃
It was very warm and fine weather。 The pleasant sunshine warmed
the grass； the water shone like a mirror； and Simon enjoyed for
some minutes the happiness of that languor which follows weeping；
desirous even of falling asleep there upon the grass in the
warmth of noon。
A little green frog leaped from under his feet。 He endeavored to
catch it。 It escaped him。 He pursued it and lost it three times
following。 At last he caught it by one of its hind legs and began
to laugh as he saw the efforts the creature made to escape。 It
gathered itself up on its large legs and then with a violent
spring suddenly stretched them out as stiff as two bars。
Its eyes stared wide open in their round； golden circle； and it
beat the air with its front limbs； using them as though they were
hands。 It reminded him of a toy made with straight slips of wood
nailed zig…zag one on the other； which by a similar movement
regulated the exercise of the little soldiers fastened thereon。
Then he thought of his home and of his mother； and overcome by
great sorrow he again began to weep。 His limbs trembled； and he
placed himself on his knees and said his prayers as before going
to bed。 But he was unable to finish them； for such hurried and
violent sobs overtook him that he was completely overwhelmed。 He
thought no more； he no longer heeded anything around him but was
wholly given up to tears。
Suddenly a heavy hand was placed upon his shoulder； and a rough
voice asked him：
〃What is it that causes you so much grief； my fine fellow？〃
Simon turned round。 A tall workman； with a black beard and hair
all curled； was staring at him good…naturedly。 He answered with
his eyes and throat full of tears：
〃They have beaten me becauseII have no papano papa。 〃
〃What！〃 said the man smiling； 〃why； everybody has one。〃
The child answered painfully amid his spasms of grief：
〃But III have none。〃
Then the workman became serious。 He had recognized La
Blanchotte's son； and although a recent arrival to the
neighborhood he had a vague idea of her history。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃console yourself； my boy； and come with me home
to your mother。 She will give you a papa。〃
And so they started on the way； the big one holding the little
one by the hand。 The man smiled afresh； for he was not sorry to
see this Blanchotte； who by popular report was one of the
prettiest girls in the country…sideand； perhaps； he said to
himself； at the bottom of his heart； that a lass who had erred
once might very well err again。
They arrived in front of a very neat little white house。
〃There it is；〃 exclaimed the child； and he cried： 〃Mamma。〃
A woman appeared； and the workman instantly left off smiling； for
he at once perceived that there was no more fooling to be done
with the tall pale girl； who stood austerely at her door as
though to defend from one man the threshold of that house where she
had already been betrayed by another。 Intimidated； his cap in his
hand； he stammered out：
〃See； Madame； I have brought you back your little boy； who had
lost himself near the river。〃
But Simon flung his arms about his mother's neck and told her； as
he again began to cry：
〃No； mamma； I wished to drown myself； because the others had
beaten mehad beaten mebecause I have no papa。〃
A burning redness covered the young woman's cheeks； and； hurt to
the quick； she embraced her child passionately； while the tears
coursed down her face。 The man； much moved； stood there； not
knowing how to get away。 But Simon suddenly ran to him and said：
〃Will you be my papa？〃
A deep silence ensued。 La Blanchotte； dumb and tortured with
shame； leaned against the wall； her hands upon her heart。 The
child； seeing that no answer was made him； replied：
〃If you do not wish it； I shall return to drown myself。〃
The workman took the matter as a jest and answered laughing：
〃Why； yes； I wish it certainly。〃
〃What is your name； then；〃 went on the child； 〃so that I may tell
the others when they wish to know your name？〃
〃Philip；〃 answered the man。
Simon was silent a moment so that he might get the name well into
his memory； then he stretched out his arms； quite consoled； and
said：
〃Well； then； Philip； you are my papa。〃
The workman； lifting him from the ground； kissed him hastily on
both cheeks； and then strode away quickly。
When the child returned to school next day he was received with a
spiteful laugh； and at the end of school； when the lads were on
the point of recommencing； Simon threw these words at their heads
as he would have done a stone： 〃He is named Philip； my papa。〃
Yells of delight burst out from all sides。
〃Philip who？ Philip what？ What on earth is Philip？ Where did you
pick up your Philip？〃
Simon answered nothing； and immovable in faith he defied them
with his eye； ready to be martyred rather than fly before them。
The schoolmaster came to his rescue and he returned home to his
mother。
For a space of three months； the tall workman； Philip； frequently
passed by La Blanchotte's house； and sometimes made bold to speak
to her when he saw her sewing near the window。 She answered him
civilly； always sedately； never joking with him； nor permitting
him to enter her house。 Notwithstanding this； being； like all
men； a bit of a coxcomb； he imagined that she was often rosier
than usual when she chatted with him。
But a fallen reputation is so difficult to recover； and always
remains so fragile that； in spite of the shy reserve La
Blanchotte maintained； they already gossiped in the neighborhood。
As for Simon； he loved his new papa much； and walked with him
nearly every evening when the day's work was done。 He went
regularly to school and mixed in a dignified way with his
schoolfellows without ever answering them back。
One day； however； the lad who had first attacked him said to him：
〃You have lied。 You have not a papa named Philip。〃
〃Why do you say that？〃 demanded Simon； much disturbed。
The youth rubbed his hands。 He replied：
〃Because if you had one he would be your mamma's husband。〃
Simon was confused by the truth of this reasoning； nevertheless
he retorted：
〃He is my papa all the same。〃
〃That can very well be；〃 exclaimed the urchin with a sneer； 〃but
that is not being your papa altogether。〃
La Blanchotte's little one bowed his head and went off dreaming
in the direction of the forge belonging to old Loizon； where
Philip worked。
This forge was entombed in trees。 It was very dark there； the red
glare of a formidable furnace alone lit up with great flashes
five blacksmiths； who hammered upon their anvils with a terrible
din。 Standing enveloped in flame； they worked like demons； their
eyes fixed on the red…hot iron they were pounding； and their dull
ideas rising and falling with their hammers。
Simon entered without being noticed and quietly plucked his
friend by the sleeve。 Philip turned round。 All at once the work
came to a standstill and the men looked on very attentively。
Then； in the midst of this unaccustomed silence； rose the little
slender pipe of Simon：
〃Philip； explain to me what the lad at La Michande has just told
me； that you are not altogether my papa。〃
〃And why that？〃 asked the smith。
The child replied in all innocence：
〃Because you are not my mamma's husband。〃
No one laughed。 Philip remained standing； leaning his forehead
upon the back of his great hands； which held the handle of his
hammer upright upon the anvil。 He mused。 His four companions
watched him； and； like a tiny mite among these giants； Simon
anxiously waited。 Suddenly； one of the smiths； voicing the
sentiment of all； said to Philip：
〃All the same La Blanchotte is a good and honest girl； stalwart
and steady in spite of her misfortune； and one who would make a
worthy wife for an honest man。〃
〃That is true；〃 remarked the three others。 The smith continued：
〃Is it the girl's fault if she has fallen？ She had been promised
marriage； and I know more than one who is much respected to…day
and has sinned every bit as much。〃
〃That is true；〃 responded the three men in chorus。
He resumed：
〃How hard she has toiled； poor thing； to educate her lad all
alone； and how much she has wept since she no longer goes out；
save to church； God only knows。〃
〃That also is true；〃 said the others。
Then no more was heard save the roar of the bellows which fanned
the fire of the furnace。 Philip hastil
