a woman of thirty-第8节
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g words； assured her of a happy future； lulled her with promises of love； and put her to bed as if she had been not a niece； but a daughter； a much…beloved daughter whose hopes and cares she had made her own。 Perhaps the old Marquise had found her own youth and inexperience and beauty again in this nephew's wife。 And the Countess fell asleep； happy to have found a friend； nay a mother； to whom she could tell everything freely。
Next morning； when the two women kissed each other with heartfelt kindness； and that look of intelligence which marks a real advance in friendship； a closer intimacy between two souls； they heard the sound of horsehoofs； and； turning both together； saw the young Englishman ride slowly past the window； after his wont。 Apparently he had made a certain study of the life led by the two lonely women； for he never failed to ride by as they sat at breakfast； and again at dinner。 His horse slackened pace of its own accord； and for the space of time required to pass the two windows in the room； its rider turned a melancholy look upon the Countess； who seldom deigned to take the slightest notion of him。 Not so the Marquise。 Minds not necessarily little find it difficult to resist the little curiosity which fastens upon the most trifling event that enlivens provincial life； and the Englishman's mute way of expressing his timid； earnest love tickled Mme。 de Listomere。 For her the periodically recurrent glance became a part of the day's routine； hailed daily with new jests。 As the two women sat down to table； both of them looked out at the same moment。 This time Julie's eyes met Arthur's with such a precision of sympathy that the color rose to her face。 The stranger immediately urged his horse into a gallop and went。
〃What is to be done； madame？〃 asked Julie。 〃People see this Englishman go past the house； and they will take it for granted that I〃
〃Yes；〃 interrupted her aunt。
〃Well； then； could I not tell him to discontinue his promenades？〃
〃Would not that be a way of telling him that he was dangerous？ You might put that notion into his head。 And besides； can you prevent a man from coming and going as he pleases？ Our meals shall be served in another room to…morrow； and when this young gentleman sees us no longer； there will be an end of making love to you through the window。 There； dear child； that is how a woman of the world does。〃
But the measure of Julie's misfortune was to be filled up。 The two women had scarcely risen from table when Victor's man arrived in hot haste from Bourges with a letter for the Countess from her husband。 The servant had ridden by unfrequented ways。
Victor sent his wife news of the downfall of the Empire and the capitulation of Paris。 He himself had gone over to the Bourbons； and all France was welcoming them back with transports of enthusiasm。 He could not go so far as Tours； but he begged her to come at once to join him at Orleans； where he hoped to be in readiness with passports for her。 His servant； an old soldier； would be her escort so far as Orleans； he （Victor） believed that the road was still open。
〃You have not a moment to lose； madame；〃 said the man。 〃The Prussians； Austrians； and English are about to effect a junction either at Blois or at Orleans。〃
A few hours later； Julie's preparations were made； and she started out upon her journey in an old traveling carriage lent by her aunt。
〃Why should you not come with us to Paris？〃 she asked； as she put her arms about the Marquise。 〃Now that the Bourbons have come back you would be〃
〃Even if there had not been this unhoped…for return； I should still have gone to Paris； my poor child； for my advice is only too necessary to both you and Victor。 So I shall make all my preparations for rejoining you there。〃
Julie set out。 She took her maid with her； and the old soldier galloped beside the carriage as escort。 At nightfall； as they changed horses for the last stage before Blois； Julie grew uneasy。 All the way from Amboise she had heard the sound of wheels behind them； a carriage following hers had kept at the same distance。 She stood on the step and looked out to see who her traveling companions might be； and in the moonlight saw Arthur standing three paces away； gazing fixedly at the chaise which contained her。 Again their eyes met。 The Countess hastily flung herself back in her seat； but a feeling of dread set her pulses throbbing。 It seemed to her； as to most innocent and inexperienced young wives； that she was herself to blame for this love which she had all unwittingly inspired。 With this thought came an instinctive terror； perhaps a sense of her own helplessness before aggressive audacity。 One of a man's strongest weapons is the terrible power of compelling a woman to think of him when her naturally lively imagination takes alarm or offence at the thought that she is followed。
The Countess bethought herself of her aunt's advice； and made up her mind that she would not stir from her place during the rest of the journey； but every time the horses were changed she heard the Englishman pacing round the two carriages； and again upon the road heard the importunate sound of the wheels of his caleche。 Julie soon began to think that； when once reunited to her husband； Victor would know how to defend her against this singular persecution。
〃Yet suppose that in spite of everything； this young man does not love me？〃 This was the thought that came last of all。
No sooner did she reach Orleans than the Prussians stopped the chaise。 It was wheeled into an inn…yard and put under a guard of soldiers。 Resistance was out of the question。 The foreign soldiers made the three travelers understand by signs that they were obeying orders； and that no one could be allowed to leave the carriage。 For about two hours the Countess sat in tears； a prisoner surrounded by the guard； who smoked； laughed； and occasionally stared at her with insolent curiosity。 At last； however； she saw her captors fall away from the carriage with a sort of respect； and heard at the same time the sound of horses entering the yard。 Another moment； and a little group of foreign officers； with an Austrian general at their head； gathered about the door of the traveling carriage。
〃Madame；〃 said the General； 〃pray accept our apologies。 A mistake has been made。 You may continue your journey without fear； and here is a passport which will spare you all further annoyance of any kind。〃
Trembling the Countess took the paper； and faltered out some vague words of thanks。 She saw Arthur； now wearing an English uniform； standing beside the General； and could not doubt that this prompt deliverance was due to him。 The young Englishman himself looked half glad； half melancholy； his face was turned away； and he only dared to steal an occasional glance at Julie's face。
Thanks to the passport； Mme。 d'Aiglemont reached Paris without further misadventure； and there she found her husband。 Victor d'Aiglemont； released from his oath of allegiance to the Emperor； had met with a most flattering reception from the Comte d'Artois； recently appointed Lieutenant…General of the kingdom by his brother Louis XVIII。 D'Aiglemont received a commission in the Life Guards； equivalent to the rank of general。 But amid the rejoicings over the return of the Bourbons； fate dealt poor Julie a terrible blow。 The death of the Marquise de Listomere…Landon was an irreparable loss。 The old lady died of joy and of an accession of gout to the heart when the Duc d'Angouleme came back to Tours； and the one living being entitled by her age to enlighten Victor； the woman who； by discreet counsels； might have brought about perfect unanimity of husband and wife； was dead； and Julie felt the full extent of her loss。 Henceforward she must stand alone between herself and her husband。 But she was young and timid； there could be no doubt of the result； or that from the first she would elect to bear her lot in silence。 The very perfections of her character forbade her to venture to swerve from her duties； or to attempt to inquire into the cause of her sufferings； for to put an end to them would have been to venture on delicate ground； and Julie's girlish modesty shrank from the thought。
A word as to M。 d'Aiglemont's destinies under the Restoration。
How many men are there whose utter incapacity is a secret kept from most of their acquaintance。 For such as these high rank； high office； illustrious birth； a certain veneer of politeness； and considerable reserve of manner； or the /prestige/ of great fortunes； are but so many sentinels to turn back critics who would penetrate to the presence of the real man。 Such men are like kings； in that their real figure； character； and life can never be known nor justly appreciated； because they are always seen from too near or too far。 Factitious merit has a way of asking questions and saying little； and understands the art of putting others forward to save the necessity of posing before them； then； with a happy knack of its own； it draws and attaches others by the thread of the ruling passion of self…interest； keeping men of far greater abilities to play like puppets； and despising those whom it has brought down to its own level。 The petty fixed idea naturally prevails；
