a woman of thirty-第13节
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d to have existed since the day when they first walked together。 One will swayed them both； they stopped as their senses received the same impression； every word and every glance told of the same thought in either mind。 They had climbed up through the vineyards； and now they turned to sit on one of the long white stones； quarried out of the caves in the hillside； but Julie stood awhile gazing out over the landscape。
〃What a beautiful country！〃 she cried。 〃Let us put up a tent and live here。 Victor； Victor； do come up here！〃
M。 d'Aiglemont answered by a halloo from below。 He did not； however； hurry himself； merely giving his wife a glance from time to time when the windings of the path gave him a glimpse of her。 Julie breathed the air with delight。 She looked up at Arthur； giving him one of those subtle glances in which a clever woman can put the whole of her thought。
〃Ah； I should like to live here always；〃 she said。 〃Would it be possible to tire of this beautiful valley？What is the picturesque river called； do you know？〃
〃That is the Cise。〃
〃The Cise；〃 she repeated。 〃And all this country below； before us？〃
〃Those are the low hills above the Cher。〃
〃And away to the right？ Ah； that is Tours。 Only see how fine the cathedral towers look in the distance。〃
She was silent； and let fall the hand which she had stretched out towards the view upon Arthur's。 Both admired the wide landscape made up of so much blended beauty。 Neither of them spoke。 The murmuring voice of the river； the pure air； and the cloudless heaven were all in tune with their thronging thoughts and their youth and the love in their hearts。
〃Oh！ /mon Dieu/； how I love this country！〃 Julie continued； with growing and ingenuous enthusiasm。 〃You lived here for a long while； did you not？〃 she added after a pause。
A thrill ran through Lord Grenville at her words。
〃It was down there；〃 he said； in a melancholy voice； indicating as he spoke a cluster of walnut trees by the roadside； 〃that I； a prisoner； saw you for the first time。〃
〃Yes； but even at that time I felt very sad。 This country looked wild to me then； but now〃 She broke off； and Lord Grenville did not dare to look at her。
〃All this pleasure I owe to you；〃 Julie began at last； after a long silence。 〃Only the living can feel the joy of life； and until now have I not been dead to it all？ You have given me more than health； you have made me feel all its worth〃
Women have an inimitable talent for giving utterance to strong feelings in colorless words； a woman's eloquence lies in tone and gesture； manner and glance。 Lord Grenville hid his face in his hands； for his tears filled his eyes。 This was Julie's first word of thanks since they left Paris a year ago。
For a whole year he had watched over the Marquise； putting his whole self into the task。 D'Aiglemont seconding him； he had taken her first to Aix； then to la Rochelle； to be near the sea。 From moment to moment he had watched the changes worked in Julie's shattered constitution by his wise and simple prescriptions。 He had cultivated her health as an enthusiastic gardener might cultivate a rare flower。 Yet； to all appearance； the Marquise had quietly accepted Arthur's skill and care with the egoism of a spoiled Parisienne； or like a courtesan who has no idea of the cost of things； nor of the worth of a man； and judges of both by their comparative usefulness to her。
The influence of places upon us is a fact worth remarking。 If melancholy comes over us by the margin of a great water； another indelible law of our nature so orders it that the mountains exercise a purifying influence upon our feelings； and among the hills passion gains in depth by all that it apparently loses in vivacity。 Perhaps it was the light of the wide country by the Loire； the height of the fair sloping hillside on which the lovers sat； that induced the calm bliss of the moment when the whole extent of the passion that lies beneath a few insignificant…sounding words is divined for the first time with a delicious sense of happiness。
Julie had scarcely spoken the words which had moved Lord Grenville so deeply； when a caressing breeze ruffled the treetops and filled the air with coolness from the river； a few clouds crossed the sky； and the soft cloud…shadows brought out all the beauty of the fair land below。
Julie turned away her head； lest Arthur should see the tears which she succeeded in repressing； his emotion had spread at once to her。 She dried her eyes； but she dared not raise them lest he should read the excess of joy in a glance。 Her woman's instinct told her that during this hour of danger she must hide her love in the depths of her heart。 Yet silence might prove equally dangerous； and Julie saw that Lord Grenville was unable to utter a word。 She went on； therefore； in a gentle voice：
〃You are touched by what I have said。 Perhaps such a quick outburst of feeling is the way in which a gracious and kind nature like yours reverses a mistaken judgment。 You must have thought me ungrateful when I was cold and reserved； or cynical and hard； all through the journey which； fortunately； is very near its end。 I should not have been worthy of your care if I had been unable to appreciate it。 I have forgotten nothing。 Alas！ I shall forget nothing； not the anxious way in which you watched over me as a mother watches over her child； nor； and above all else； the noble confidence of our life as brother and sister； the delicacy of your conductwinning charms； against which we women are defenceless。 My lord； it is out of my power to make you a return〃
At these words Julie hastily moved further away； and Lord Grenville made no attempt to detain her。 She went to a rock not far away； and there sat motionless。 What either felt remained a secret known to each alone； doubtless they wept in silence。 The singing of the birds about them； so blithe； so overflowing with tenderness at sunset time； could only increase the storm of passion which had driven them apart。 Nature took up their story for them； and found a language for the love of which they did not dare to speak。
〃And now； my lord；〃 said Julie； and she came and stood before Arthur with a great dignity； which allowed her to take his hand in hers。 〃I am going to ask you to hallow and purify the life which you have given back to me。 Here； we will part。 I know；〃 she added； as she saw how white his face grew； 〃I know that I am repaying you for your devotion by requiring of you a sacrifice even greater than any which you have hitherto made for me； sacrifices so great that they should receive some better recompense than this。 。 。 。 But it must be。 。 。 You must not stay in France。 By laying this command upon you； do I not give you rights which shall be held sacred？〃 she added； holding his hand against her beating heart。
〃Yes；〃 said Arthur； and he rose。
He looked in the direction of d'Aiglemont； who appeared on the opposite side of one of the hollow walks with the child in his arms。 He had scrambled up on the balustrade by the chateau that little Helene might jump down。
〃Julie； I will not say a word of my love； we understand each other too well。 Deeply and carefully though I have hidden the pleasures of my heart； you have shared them all； I feel it； I know it； I see it。 And now； at this moment； as I receive this delicious proof of the constant sympathy of our hearts； I must go。 。 。 。 Cunning schemes for getting rid of him have crossed my mind too often； the temptation might be irresistible if I stayed with you。〃
〃I had the same thought；〃 she said； a look of pained surprise in her troubled face。
Yet in her tone and involuntary shudder there was such virtue； such certainty of herself； won in many a hard…fought battle with a love that spoke in Julie's tones and involuntary gestures； that Lord Grenville stood thrilled with admiration of her。 The mere shadow of a crime had been dispelled from that clear conscience。 The religious sentiment enthroned on the fair forehead could not but drive away the evil thoughts that arise unbidden； engendered by our imperfect nature； thoughts which make us aware of the grandeur and the perils of human destiny。
〃And then；〃 she said； 〃I should have drawn down your scorn upon me； andI should have been saved；〃 she added； and her eyes fell。 〃To be lowered in your eyes； what is that but death？〃
For a moment the two heroic lovers were silent； choking down their sorrow。 Good or ill； it seemed that their thoughts were loyally one； and the joys in the depths of their heart were no more experiences apart than the pain which they strove most anxiously to hide。
〃I have no right to complain；〃 she said after a while； 〃my misery is of my own making；〃 and she raised her tear…filled eyes to the sky。
〃Perhaps you don't remember it； but that is the place where we met each other for the first time；〃 shouted the General from below； and he waved his hand towards the distance。 〃There； down yonder； near those poplars！〃
The Englishman nodded abruptly by way of answer。
〃So I was bound to die young and to know no happiness；〃 Julie continued。 〃Yes； do not think that I live。 Sorrow is just as fatal as the dreadful disease which you have cured。 I do not think that I am to blame。 No。 My love is s
