a second home-第10节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ce was entirely concealed by a large white bonnet； concluded that the voice was hers。 He fancied that he recognized Angelique in spite of a brown merino pelisse that wrapped her； and he nudged his father's elbow。
〃Yes； there she is；〃 said the Count； after looking where his son pointed； and then； by an expressive glance； he directed his attention to the pale face of an elderly woman who had already detected the strangers； though her false eyes； deep set in dark circles； did not seem to have strayed from the prayer…book she held。
Angelique raised her face； gazing at the altar as if to inhale the heavy scent of the incense that came wafted in clouds over the two women。 And then； in the doubtful light that the tapers shed down the nave； with that of a central lamp and of some lights round the pillars； the young man beheld a face which shook his determination。 A white watered…silk bonnet closely framed features of perfect regularity； the oval being completed by the satin ribbon tie that fastened it under her dimpled chin。 Over her forehead； very sweet though low； hair of a pale gold color parted in two bands and fell over her cheeks； like the shadow of leaves on a flower。 The arches of her eyebrows were drawn with the accuracy we admire in the best Chinese paintings。 Her nose； almost aquiline in profile； was exceptionally firmly cut； and her lips were like two rose lines lovingly traced with a delicate brush。 Her eyes； of a light blue； were expressive of innocence。
Though Granville discerned a sort of rigid reserve in this girlish face； he could ascribe it to the devotion in which Angelique was rapt。 The solemn words of prayer； visible in the cold； came from between rows of pearls； like a fragrant mist； as it were。 The young man involuntarily bent over her a little to breathe this diviner air。 This movement attracted the girl's notice； her gaze； raised to the altar； was diverted to Granville； whom she could see but dimly in the gloom； but she recognized him as the companion of her youth； and a memory more vivid than prayer brought a supernatural glow to her face； she blushed。 The young lawyer was thrilled with joy at seeing the hopes of another life overpowered by those of love； and the glory of the sanctuary eclipsed by earthly reminiscences； but his triumph was brief。 Angelique dropped her veil； assumed a calm demeanor； and went on singing without letting her voice betray the least emotion。
Granville was a prey to one single wish； and every thought of prudence vanished。 By the time the service was ended； his impatience was so great that he could not leave the ladies to go home alone； but came at once to make his bow to 〃his little wife。〃 They bashfully greeted each other in the Cathedral porch in the presence of the congregation。 Madame Bontems was tremulous with pride as she took the Comte de Granville's arm； though he； forced to offer it in the presence of all the world was vexed enough with his son for his ill…advised impatience。
For about a fortnight； between the official announcement of the intended marriage of the Vicomte de Granville to Mademoiselle Bontems and the solemn day of the wedding； he came assiduously to visit his lady…love in the dismal drawing…room； to which he became accustomed。 His long calls were devoted to watching Angelique's character； for his prudence； happily； had made itself heard again in the day after their first meeting。 He always found her seated at a little table of some West Indian wood； and engaged in marking the linen of her trousseau。 Angelique never spoke first on the subject of religion。 If the young lawyer amused himself with fingering the handsome rosary that she kept in a little green velvet bag； if he laughed as he looked at a relic such as usually is attached to this means of grace； Angelique would gently take the rosary out of his hands and replace it in the bag without a word； putting it away at once。 When； now and then； Granville was so bold as to make mischievous remarks as to certain religious practices； the pretty girl listened to him with the obstinate smile of assurance。
〃You must either believe nothing； or believe everything the Church teaches；〃 she would say。 〃Would you wish to have a woman without a religion as the mother of your children？No。What man may dare judge as between disbelievers and God？ And how can I then blame what the Church allows？〃
Angelique appeared to be animated by such fervent charity； the young man saw her look at him with such perfect conviction； that he sometimes felt tempted to embrace her religious views； her firm belief that she was in the only right road aroused doubts in his mind； which she tried to turn to account。
But then Granville committed the fatal blunder of mistaking the enchantment of desire for that of love。 Angelique was so happy in reconciling the voice of her heart with that of duty； by giving way to a liking that had grown up with her from childhood； that the deluded man could not discern which of the two spoke the louder。 Are not all young men ready to trust the promise of a pretty face and to infer beauty of soul from beauty of feature？ An indefinable impulse leads them to believe that moral perfection must co…exist with physical perfection。 If Angelique had not been at liberty to give vent to her sentiments； they would soon have dried up in her heart like a plant watered with some deadly acid。 How should a lover be aware of bigotry so well hidden？
This was the course of young Granville's feelings during that fortnight； devoured by him like a book of which the end is absorbing。 Angelique； carefully watched by him； seemed the gentlest of creatures； and he even caught himself feeling grateful to Madame Bontems； who； by implanting so deeply the principles of religion； had in some degree inured her to meet the troubles of life。
On the day named for signing the inevitable contract； Madame Bontems made her son…in…law pledge himself solemnly to respect her daughter's religious practices； to allow her entire liberty of conscience； to permit her to go to communion； to church； to confession as often as she pleased； and never to control her choice of priestly advisers。 At this critical moment Angelique looked at her future husband with such pure and innocent eyes； that Granville did not hesitate to give his word。 A smile puckered the lips of the Abbe Fontanon； a pale man； who directed the consciences of this household。 Mademoiselle Bontems； by a slight nod； seemed to promise that she would never take an unfair advantage of this freedom。 As to the old Count； he gently whistled the tune of an old song； /Va…t…en…voir s'ils viennent/ （〃Go and see if they are coming on！〃）
A few days after the wedding festivities of which so much is thought in the provinces； Granville and his wife went to Paris； whither the young man was recalled by his appointment as public prosecutor to the Supreme Court of the Seine circuit。
When the young couple set out to find a residence； Angelique used the influence that the honeymoon gives to every wife in persuading her husband to take a large apartment in the ground…floor of a house at the corner of the Vieille Rue du Temple and the Rue Nueve Saint… Francois。 Her chief reason for this choice was that the house was close to the Rue d'Orleans； where there was a church； and not far from a small chapel in the Rue Saint…Louis。
〃A good housewife provides for everything；〃 said her husband； laughing。
Angelique pointed out to him that this part of Paris； known as the Marais； was within easy reach of the Palais de Justice； and that the lawyers they knew lived in the neighborhood。 A fairly large garden made the apartment particularly advantageous to a young couple； the childrenif Heaven should send them anycould play in the open air； the courtyard was spacious； and there were good stables。
The lawyer wished to live in the Chaussee d'Antin； where everything is fresh and bright； where the fashions may be seen while still new； where a well…dressed crowd throngs the Boulevards； and the distance is less to the theatres or places of amusement； but he was obliged to give way to the coaxing ways of a young wife； who asked this as his first favor； so； to please her； he settled in the Marais。 Granville's duties required him to work hardall the more； because they were new to himso he devoted himself in the first place to furnishing his private study and arranging his books。 He was soon established in a room crammed with papers； and left the decoration of the house to his wife。 He was all the better pleased to plunge Angelique into the bustle of buying furniture and fittings； the source of so much pleasure and of so many associations to most young women； because he was rather ashamed of depriving her of his company more often than the usages of early married life require。 As soon as his work was fairly under way； he gladly allowed his wife to tempt him out of his study to consider the effect of furniture or hangings； which he had before only seen piecemeal or unfinished。
If the old adage is true that says a woman may be judged of from her front door； her rooms must express her mind with even greater fidelity。 Madame de Granville had perhaps stamped the various things she had ordered with the seal of her own
