the ball at sceaux-第11节
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that Mademoiselle de Fontaine was almost envious； and called her 〃the
Siren。〃 Though Emilie had intended to make Clara talk； it was Clara；
in fact； who questioned Emilie； she had meant to judge her； and she
was judged by her； she was constantly provoked to find that she had
betrayed her own character in some reply which Clara had extracted
from her； while her modest and candid manner prohibited any suspicion
of perfidy。 There was a moment when Mademoiselle de Fontaine seemed
sorry for an ill…judged sally against the commonalty to which Clara
had led her。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said the sweet child； 〃I have heard so much of you
from Maximilien that I had the keenest desire to know you； out of
affection for him； but is not a wish to know you a wish to love you？〃
〃My dear Clara； I feared I might have displeased you by speaking thus
of people who are not of noble birth。〃
〃Oh； be quite easy。 That sort of discussion is pointless in these
days。 As for me； it does not affect me。 I am beside the question。〃
Ambitious as the answer might seem； it filled Mademoiselle de Fontaine
with the deepest joy； for； like all infatuated people； she explained
it； as oracles are explained； in the sense that harmonized with her
wishes； she began dancing again in higher spirits than ever； as she
watched Longueville； whose figure and grace almost surpassed those of
her imaginary ideal。 She felt added satisfaction in believing him to
be well born； her black eyes sparkled； and she danced with all the
pleasure that comes of dancing in the presence of the being we love。
The couple had never understood each other as well as at this moment；
more than once they felt their finger tips thrill and tremble as they
were married in the figures of the dance。
The early autumn had come to the handsome pair； in the midst of
country festivities and pleasures； they had abandoned themselves
softly to the tide of the sweetest sentiment in life； strengthening it
by a thousand little incidents which any one can imagine； for love is
in some respects always the same。 They studied each other through it
all； as much as lovers can。
〃Well； well； a flirtation never turned so quickly into a love match；〃
said the old uncle； who kept an eye on the two young people as a
naturalist watches an insect in the microscope。
The speech alarmed Monsieur and Madame Fontaine。 The old Vendeen had
ceased to be so indifferent to his daughter's prospects as he had
promised to be。 He went to Paris to seek information； and found none。
Uneasy at this mystery； and not yet knowing what might be the outcome
of the inquiry which he had begged a Paris friend to institute with
reference to the family of Longueville； he thought it his duty to warn
his daughter to behave prudently。 The fatherly admonition was received
with mock submission spiced with irony。
〃At least； my dear Emilie； if you love him； do not own it to him。〃
〃My dear father； I certainly do love him； but I will await your
permission before I tell him so。〃
〃But remember； Emilie； you know nothing of his family or his
pursuits。〃
〃I may be ignorant； but I am content to be。 But； father； you wished to
see me married； you left me at liberty to make my choice； my choice is
irrevocably madewhat more is needful？〃
〃It is needful to ascertain； my dear； whether the man of your choice
is the son of a peer of France；〃 the venerable gentleman retorted
sarcastically。
Emilie was silent for a moment。 She presently raised her head； looked
at her father； and said somewhat anxiously； 〃Are not the
Longuevilles？〃
〃They became extinct in the person of the old Duc de Rostein…Limbourg；
who perished on the scaffold in 1793。 He was the last representative
of the last and younger branch。〃
〃But； papa； there are some very good families descended from bastards。
The history of France swarms with princes bearing the bar sinister on
their shields。〃
〃Your ideas are much changed；〃 said the old man； with a smile。
The following day was the last that the Fontaine family were to spend
at the Pavillon Planat。 Emilie； greatly disturbed by her father's
warning； awaited with extreme impatience the hour at which young
Longueville was in the habit of coming； to wring some explanation from
him。 She went out after dinner； and walked alone across the shrubbery
towards an arbor fit for lovers； where she knew that the eager youth
would seek her； and as she hastened thither she considered of the best
way to discover so important a matter without compromising herselfa
rather difficult thing！ Hitherto no direct avowal had sanctioned the
feelings which bound her to this stranger。 Like Maximilien； she had
secretly enjoyed the sweetness of first love； but both were equally
proud； and each feared to confess that love。
Maximilien Longueville； to whom Clara had communicated her not
unfounded suspicions as to Emilie's character； was by turns carried
away by the violence of a young man's passion； and held back by a wish
to know and test the woman to whom he would be entrusting his
happiness。 His love had not hindered him from perceiving in Emilie the
prejudices which marred her young nature； but before attempting to
counteract them； he wished to be sure that she loved him； for he would
no sooner risk the fate of his love than of his life。 He had；
therefore； persistently kept a silence to which his looks； his
behavior； and his smallest actions gave the lie。
On her side； the self…respect natural to a young girl； augmented in
Mademoiselle de Fontaine by the monstrous vanity founded on her birth
and beauty； kept her from meeting the declaration half…way； which her
growing passion sometimes urged her to invite。 Thus the lovers had
instinctively understood the situation without explaining to each
other their secret motives。 There are times in life when such
vagueness pleases youthful minds。 Just because each had postponed
speaking too long； they seemed to be playing a cruel game of suspense。
He was trying to discover whether he was beloved； by the effort any
confession would cost his haughty mistress； she every minute hoped
that he would break a too respectful silence。
Emilie； seated on a rustic bench； was reflecting on all that had
happened in these three months full of enchantment。 Her father's
suspicions were the last that could appeal to her； she even disposed
of them at once by two or three of those reflections natural to an
inexperienced girl； which； to her； seemed conclusive。 Above all； she
was convinced that it was impossible that she should deceive herself。
All the summer through she had not been able to detect in Maximilien a
single gesture； or a single word； which could indicate a vulgar origin
or vulgar occupations； nay more； his manner of discussing things
revealed a man devoted to the highest interests of the nation。
〃Besides；〃 she reflected； 〃an office clerk； a banker； or a merchant；
would not be at leisure to spend a whole season in paying his
addresses to me in the midst of woods and fields； wasting his time as
freely as a nobleman who has life before him free of all care。〃
She had given herself up to meditations far more interesting to her
than these preliminary thoughts； when a slight rustling in the leaves
announced to her than Maximilien had been watching her for a minute；
not probably without admiration。
〃Do you know that it is very wrong to take a young girl thus
unawares？〃 she asked him； smiling。
〃Especially when they are busy with their secrets；〃 replied Maximilien
archly。
〃Why should I not have my secrets？ You certainly have yours。〃
〃Then you really were thinking of your secrets？〃 he went on； laughing。
〃No； I was thinking of yours。 My own； I know。〃
〃But perhaps my secrets are yours； and yours mine；〃 cried the young
man； softly seizing Mademoiselle de Fontaine's hand and drawing it
through his arm。
After walking a few steps they found themselves under a clump of trees
which the hues of the sinking sun wrapped in a haze of red and brown。
This touch of natural magic lent a certain solemnity to the moment。
The young man's free and eager action； and； above all； the throbbing
of his surging heart； whose hurried beating spoke to Emilie's arm；
stirred her to an emotion that was all the more disturbing because it
was produced by the simplest and most innocent circumstances。 The
restraint under which the young girls of the upper class live gives
incredible force to any explosion of feeling； and to meet an
impassioned lover is one of the greatest dangers they can encounter。
Never had Emilie and Maximilien allowed their eyes to say so much that
they dared never speak。 Carried a way by this intoxication； they
easily forgot the petty stipulations of pride； and the cold
hesitancies of suspicion。 At first； indeed； they could only express
themselves by a pressure of hands which interpreted their happy
