a woman of thirty-第19节
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pily for so long。 His three sons were in the army； and each of the lads had risen in proportion to his time of service。 During the Hundred Days； the oldest went into the Guard with a colonel's commission； the second was a major in the artillery； the youngest a major in a regiment of dragoons。 Madame； those three boys loved their father as much as he loved them。 If you but knew how careless young fellows grow of home ties when they are carried away by the current of their own lives； you would realize from this one little thing how warmly they loved the lonely old father； who only lived in and for themnever a week passed without a letter from one of the boys。 But then he on his side had never been weakly indulgent； to lessen their respect for him； nor unjustly severe； to thwart their affection； or apt to grudge sacrifices； the thing that estranges children's hearts。 He had been more than a father； he had been a brother to them； and their friend。
〃At last he went to Paris to bid them good…bye before they set out for Belgium； he wished to see that they had good horses and all that they needed。 And so they went； and the father returned to his home again。 Then the war began。 He had letters from Fleurus； and again from Ligny。 All went well。 Then came the battle of Waterloo； and you know the rest。 France was plunged into mourning； every family waited in intense anxiety for news。 You may imagine； madame； how the old man waited for tidings； in anxiety that knew no peace nor rest。 He used to read the gazettes； he went to the coach office every day。 One evening he was told that the colonel's servant had come。 The man was riding his master's horsewhat need was there to ask any questions？the colonel was dead； cut in two by a shell。 Before the evening was out the youngest son's servant arrivedthe youngest had died on the eve of the battle。 At midnight came a gunner with tidings of the death of the last； upon whom； in those few hours； the poor father had centered all his life。 Madame； they all had fallen。〃
After a pause the good man controlled his feelings； and added gently：
〃And their father is still living； madame。 He realized that if God had left him on earth； he was bound to live on and suffer on earth； but he took refuge in the sanctuary。 What could he be？〃
The Marquise looked up and saw the cure's face； grown sublime in its sorrow and resignation； and waited for him to speak。 When the words came； tears broke from her。
〃A priest； madame； consecrated by his own tears previously shed at the foot of the altar。〃
Silence prevailed for a little。 The Marquise and the cure looked out at the foggy landscape； as if they could see the figures of those who were no more。
〃Not a priest in a city； but a simple country cure；〃 added he。
〃At Saint…Lange；〃 she said； drying her eyes。
〃Yes； madame。〃
Never had the majesty of grief seemed so great to Julie。 The two words sank straight into her heart with the weight of infinite sorrow。 The gentle； sonorous tones troubled her heart。 Ah！ that full； deep voice； charged with plangent vibration； was the voice of one who had suffered indeed。
〃And if I do not die； monsieur； what will become of me？〃 The Marquise spoke almost reverently。
〃Have you not a child； madame？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said stiffly。
The cure gave her such a glance as a doctor gives a patient whose life is in danger。 Then he determined to do all that in him lay to combat the evil spirit into whose clutches she had fallen。
〃We must live on with our sorrowsyou see it yourself； madame； and religion alone offers us real consolation。 Will you permit me to come again？to speak to you as a man who can sympathize with every trouble； a man about whom there is nothing very alarming； I think？〃
〃Yes； monsieur； come back again。 Thank you for your thought of me。〃
〃Very well； madame； then I shall return very shortly。〃
This visit relaxed the tension of soul； as it were； the heavy strain of grief and loneliness had been almost too much for the Marquise's strength。 The priest's visit had left a soothing balm in her heart； his words thrilled through her with healing influence。 She began to feel something of a prisoner's satisfaction； when； after he has had time to feel his utter loneliness and the weight of his chains； he hears a neighbor knocking on the wall； and welcomes the sound which brings a sense of human friendship。 Here was an unhoped…for confidant。 But this feeling did not last for long。 Soon she sank back into the old bitterness of spirit； saying to herself； as the prisoner might say； that a companion in misfortune could neither lighten her own bondage nor her future。
In the first visit the cure had feared to alarm the susceptibilities of self…absorbed grief； in a second interview he hoped to make some progress towards religion。 He came back again two days later； and from the Marquise's welcome it was plain that she had looked forward to the visit。
〃Well； Mme。 la Marquise； have you given a little thought to the great mass of human suffering？ Have you raised your eyes above our earth and seen the immensity of the universe？the worlds beyond worlds which crush our vanity into insignificance； and with our vanity reduce our sorrows？〃
〃No； monsieur；〃 she said； 〃I cannot rise to such heights； our social laws lie too heavily upon me； and rend my heart with a too poignant anguish。 And laws perhaps are less cruel than the usages of the world。 Ah！ the world！〃
〃Madame； we must obey both。 Law is the doctrine； and custom the practice of society。〃
〃Obey society？〃 cried the Marquise； with an involuntary shudder。 〃Eh！ monsieur； it is the source of all our woes。 God laid down no law to make us miserable； but mankind； uniting together in social life； have perverted God's work。 Civilization deals harder measure to us women than nature does。 Nature imposes upon us physical suffering which you have not alleviated； civilization has developed in us thoughts and feelings which you cheat continually。 Nature exterminates the weak； you condemn them to live； and by so doing； consign them to a life of misery。 The whole weight of the burden of marriage； an institution on which society is based； falls upon us； for the man liberty； duties for the woman。 We must give up our whole lives to you； you are only bound to give us a few moments of yours。 A man； in fact； makes a choice； while we blindly submit。 Oh； monsieur； to you I can speak freely。 Marriage； in these days； seems to me to be legalized prostitution。 This is the cause of my wretchedness。 But among so many miserable creatures so unhappily yoked； I alone am bound to be silent； I alone am to blame for my misery。 My marriage was my own doing。〃
She stopped short； and bitter tears fell in the silence。
〃In the depths of my wretchedness； in the midst of this sea of distress；〃 she went on； 〃I found some sands on which to set foot and suffer at leisure。 A great tempest swept everything away。 And here am I； helpless and alone； too weak to cope with storms。〃
〃We are never weak while God is with us；〃 said the priest。 〃And if your cravings for affection cannot be satisfied here on earth； have you no duties to perform？〃
〃Duties continually！〃 she exclaimed； with something of impatience in her tone。 〃But where for me are the sentiments which give us strength to perform them？ Nothing from nothing； nothing for nothing；this； monsieur； is one of the most inexorable laws of nature； physical or spiritual。 Would you have these trees break into leaf without the sap which swells the buds？ It is the same with our human nature； and in me the sap is dried up at its source。〃
〃I am not going to speak to you of religious sentiments of which resignation is born；〃 said the cure； 〃but of motherhood； madame； surely〃
〃Stop； monsieur！〃 said the Marquise； 〃with you I will be sincere。 Alas！ in future I can be sincere with no one； I am condemned to falsehood。 The world requires continual grimaces； and we are bidden to obey its conventions if we would escape reproach。 There are two kinds of motherhood； monsieur； once I knew nothing of such distinctions； but I know them now。 Only half of me has become a mother； it were better for me if I had not been a mother at all。 Helene is not /his/ child！ Oh！ do not start。 At Saint…Lange there are volcanic depths whence come lurid gleams of light and earthquake shocks to shake the fragile edifices of laws not based on nature。 I have borne a child； that is enough； I am a mother in the eyes of the law。 But you； monsieur； with your delicately compassionate soul； can perhaps understand this cry from an unhappy woman who has suffered no lying illusions to enter her heart。 God will judge me； but surely I have only obeyed His laws by giving way to the affections which He Himself set in me； and this I have learned from my own soul。What is a child； monsieur； but the image of two beings； the fruit of two sentiments spontaneously blended？ Unless it is owned by every fibre of the body； as by every chord of tenderness in the heart； unless it recalls the bliss of love； the hours； the places where two creatures were happy； their words that overflowed with the music of humanity； and their sweet imaginings； that child is an incomplete creation。 Yes； those two should find the poetic dreams of
