a woman of thirty-第23节
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king of the eternal theme in France and all the world overlove； sentiment； and women。
〃We are bond…slaves。〃
〃You are queens。〃
This was the gist and substance of all the more or less ingenious discourse between Charles and the Marquise； as of all such discourses past； present； and to come。 Allow a certain space of time； and the two formulas shall begin to mean 〃Love me；〃 and 〃I will love you。〃
〃Madame；〃 Charles de Vandenesse exclaimed under his breath； 〃you have made me bitterly regret that I am leaving Paris。 In Italy I certainly shall not pass hours in intellectual enjoyment such as this has been。〃
〃Perhaps； monsieur； you will find happiness； and happiness is worth more than all the brilliant things； true and false； that are said every evening in Paris。〃
Before Charles took leave； he asked permission to pay a farewell call on the Marquise d'Aiglemont； and very lucky did he feel himself when the form of words in which he expressed himself for once was used in all sincerity； and that night； and all day long on the morrow； he could not put the thought of the Marquise out of his mind。
At times he wondered why she had singled him out； what she had meant when she asked him to come to see her； and thought supplied an inexhaustible commentary。 Again it seemed to him that he had discovered the motives of her curiosity； and he grew intoxicated with hope or frigidly sober with each new construction put upon that piece of commonplace civility。 Sometimes it meant everything； sometimes nothing。 He made up his mind at last that he would not yield to this inclination； andwent to call on Mme。 d'Aiglemont。
There are thoughts which determine our conduct； while we do not so much as suspect their existence。 If at first sight this assertion appears to be less a truth than a paradox； let any candid inquirer look into his own life and he shall find abundant confirmation therein。 Charles went to Mme。 d'Aiglemont； and so obeyed one of these latent； pre…existent germs of thought； of which our experience and our intellectual gains and achievements are but later and tangible developments。
For a young man a woman of thirty has irresistible attractions。 There is nothing more natural； nothing better established； no human tie of stouter tissue than the heart…deep attachment between such a woman as the Marquise d'Aiglemont and such a man as Charles de Vandenesse。 You can see examples of it every day in the world。 A girl； as a matter of fact； has too many young illusions； she is too inexperienced； the instinct of sex counts for too much in her love for a young man to feel flattered by it。 A woman of thirty knows all that is involved in the self…surrender to be made。 Among the impulses of the first； put curiosity and other motives than love； the second acts with integrity of sentiment。 The first yields； the second makes deliberate choice。 Is not that choice in itself an immense flattery？ A woman armed with experience； forewarned by knowledge； almost always dearly bought； seems to give more than herself； while the inexperienced and credulous girl； unable to draw comparisons for lack of knowledge； can appreciate nothing at its just worth。 She accepts love and ponders it。 A woman is a counselor and a guide at an age when we love to be guided and obedience is delight； while a girl would fain learn all things； meeting us with a girl's /naivete/ instead of a woman's tenderness。 She affords a single triumph； with a woman there is resistance upon resistance to overcome； she has but joy and tears； a woman has rapture and remorse。
A girl cannot play the part of a mistress unless she is so corrupt that we turn from her with loathing； a woman has a thousand ways of preserving her power and her dignity； she has risked so much for love； that she must bid him pass through his myriad transformations； while her too submissive rival gives a sense of too serene security which palls。 If the one sacrifices her maidenly pride； the other immolates the honor of a whole family。 A girl's coquetry is of the simplest； she thinks that all is said when the veil is laid aside； a woman's coquetry is endless； she shrouds herself in veil after veil； she satisfies every demand of man's vanity； the novice responds but to one。
And there are terrors； fears； and hesitationstrouble and storm in the love of a woman of thirty years； never to be found in a young girl's love。 At thirty years a woman asks her lover to give her back the esteem she has forfeited for his sake； she lives only for him； her thoughts are full of his future； he must have a great career； she bids him make it glorious； she can obey； entreat； command； humble herself； or rise in pride； times without number she brings comfort when a young girl can only make moan。 And with all the advantages of her position； the woman of thirty can be a girl again； for she can play all parts； assume a girl's bashfulness； and grow the fairer even for a mischance。
Between these two feminine types lies the immeasurable difference which separates the foreseen from the unforeseen； strength from weakness。 The woman of thirty satisfies every requirement； the young girl must satisfy none； under penalty of ceasing to be a young girl。 Such ideas as these； developing in a young man's mind； help to strengthen the strongest of all passions； a passion in which all spontaneous and natural feeling is blended with the artificial sentiment created by conventional manners。
The most important and decisive step in a woman's life is the very one that she invariably regards as the most insignificant。 After her marriage she is no longer her own mistress； she is the queen and the bond…slave of the domestic hearth。 The sanctity of womanhood is incompatible with social liberty and social claims； and for a woman emancipation means corruption。 If you give a stranger the right of entry into the sanctuary of home； do you not put yourself at his mercy？ How then if she herself bids him enter it？ Is not this an offence； or； to speak more accurately； a first step towards an offence？ You must either accept this theory with all its consequences； or absolve illicit passion。 French society hitherto has chosen the third and middle course of looking on and laughing when offences come； apparently upon the Spartan principle of condoning the theft and punishing clumsiness。 And this system； it may be； is a very wise one。 'Tis a most appalling punishment to have all your neighbors pointing the finger of scorn at you； a punishment that a woman feels in her very heart。 Women are tenacious； and all of them should be tenacious of respect； without esteem they cannot exist； esteem is the first demand that they make of love。 The most corrupt among them feels that she must； in the first place； pledge the future to buy absolution for the past； and strives to make her lover understand that only for irresistible bliss can she barter the respect which the world henceforth will refuse to her。
Some such reflections cross the mind of any woman who for the first time and alone receives a visit from a young man； and this especially when； like Charles de Vandenesse； the visitor is handsome or clever。 And similarly there are not many young men who would fail to base some secret wish on one of the thousand and one ideas which justify the instinct that attracts them to a beautiful； witty； and unhappy woman like the Marquise d'Aiglemont。
Mme。 d'Aiglemont； therefore； felt troubled when M。 de Vandenesse was announced； and as for him； he was almost confused in spite of the assurance which is like a matter of costume for a diplomatist。 But not for long。 The Marquise took refuge at once in the friendliness of manner which women use as a defence against the misinterpretations of fatuity； a manner which admits of no afterthought； while it paves the way to sentiment （to make use of a figure of speech）； tempering the transition through the ordinary forms of politeness。 In this ambiguous position； where the four roads leading respectively to Indifference； Respect； Wonder； and Passion meet； a woman may stay as long as she pleases； but only at thirty years does she understand all the possibilities of the situation。 Laughter； tenderness； and jest are all permitted to her at the crossing of the ways； she has acquired the tact by which she finds all the responsive chords in a man's nature； and skill in judging the sounds which she draws forth。 Her silence is as dangerous as her speech。 You will never read her at that age； nor discover if she is frank or false； nor how far she is serious in her admissions or merely laughing at you。 She gives you the right to engage in a game of fence with her； and suddenly by a glance； a gesture of proved potency； she closes the combat and turns from you with your secret in her keeping； free to offer you up in a jest； free to interest herself in you； safe alike in her weakness and your strength。
Although the Marquise d'Aiglemont took up her position upon this neutral ground during the first interview； she knew how to preserve a high womanly dignity。 The sorrows of which she never spoke seemed to hang over her assumed gaiety like a light cloud obscuring the sun。 When Vandenesse went out； after a conversation which he had enjoyed more than he had thought possible； he
