a second home-第11节
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Madame de Granville had perhaps stamped the various things she had ordered with the seal of her own character； the young lawyer was certainly startled by the cold； arid solemnity that reigned in these rooms； he found nothing to charm his taste； everything was discordant； nothing gratified the eye。 The rigid mannerism that prevailed in the sitting…room at Bayeux had invaded his home； the broad panels were hollowed in circles； and decorated with those arabesques of which the long； monotonous mouldings are in such bad taste。 Anxious to find excuses for his wife； the young husband began again； looking first at the long and lofty ante…room through which the apartment was entered。 The color of the panels； as ordered by his wife； was too heavy； and the very dark green velvet used to cover the benches added to the gloom of this entrancenot； to be sure； an important room； but giving a first impressionjust as we measure a man's intelligence by his first address。 An ante…room is a kind of preface which announces what is to follow； but promises nothing。
The young husband wondered whether his wife could really have chosen the lamp of an antique pattern； which hung in the centre of this bare hall； the pavement of black and white marble； and the paper in imitation of blocks of stone； with green moss on them in places。 A handsome； but not new； barometer hung on the middle of one of the walls； as if to accentuate the void。 At the sight of it all； he looked round at his wife； he saw her so much pleased by the red braid binding to the cotton curtains； so satisfied with the barometer and the strictly decent statue that ornamented a large Gothic stove； that he had not the barbarous courage to overthrow such deep convictions。 Instead of blaming his wife； Granville blamed himself； accusing himself of having failed in his duty of guiding the first steps in Paris of a girl brought up at Bayeux。
From this specimen； what might not be expected of the other rooms？ What was to be looked for from a woman who took fright at the bare legs of a Caryatid； and who would not look at a chandelier or a candle…stick if she saw on it the nude outlines of an Egyptian bust？ At this date the school of David was at the height of its glory； all the art of France bore the stamp of his correct design and his love of antique types； which indeed gave his pictures the character of colored sculpture。 But none of these devices of Imperial luxury found civic rights under Madame de Granville's roof。 The spacious； square drawing… room remained as it had been left from the time of Louis XV。； in white and tarnished gold； lavishly adorned by the architect with checkered lattice…work and the hideous garlands due to the uninventive designers of the time。 Still； if harmony at least had prevailed； if the furniture of modern mahogany had but assumed the twisted forms of which Boucher's corrupt taste first set the fashion； Angelique's room would only have suggested the fantastic contrast of a young couple in the nineteenth century living as though they were in the eighteenth； but a number of details were in ridiculous discord。 The consoles； the clocks； the candelabra； were decorated with the military trophies which the wars of the Empire commended to the affections of the Parisians； and the Greek helmets； the Roman crossed daggers； and the shields so dear to military enthusiasm that they were introduced on furniture of the most peaceful uses； had no fitness side by side with the delicate and profuse arabesques that delighted Madame de Pompadour。
Bigotry tends to an indescribably tiresome kind of humility which does not exclude pride。 Whether from modesty or by choice； Madame de Granville seemed to have a horror of light and cheerful colors； perhaps； too； she imagined that brown and purple beseemed the dignity of a magistrate。 How could a girl accustomed to an austere life have admitted the luxurious divans that may suggest evil thoughts； the elegant and tempting boudoirs where naughtiness may be imagined？
The poor husband was in despair。 From the tone in which he approved； only seconding the praises she bestowed on herself； Angelique understood that nothing really pleased him； and she expressed so much regret at her want of success； that Granville； who was very much in love； regarded her disappointment as a proof of her affection instead of resentment for an offence to her self…conceit。 After all； could he expect a girl just snatched from the humdrum of country notions； with no experience of the niceties and grace of Paris life； to know or do any better？ Rather would he believe that his wife's choice had been overruled by the tradesmen than allow himself to own the truth。 If he had been less in love； he would have understood that the dealers； always quick to discern their customers' ideas； had blessed Heaven for sending them a tasteless little bigot； who would take their old… fashioned goods off their hands。 So he comforted the pretty provincial。
〃Happiness； dear Angelique； does not depend on a more or less elegant piece of furniture； it depends on the wife's sweetness； gentleness； and love。〃
〃Why； it is my duty to love you；〃 said Angelique mildly； 〃and I can have no more delightful duty to carry out。〃
Nature has implanted in the heart of woman so great a desire to please； so deep a craving for love； that； even in a youthful bigot； the ideas of salvation and a future existence must give way to the happiness of early married life。 And； in fact； from the month of April； when they were married； till the beginning of winter； the husband and wife lived in perfect union。 Love and hard work have the grace of making a man tolerably indifferent to external matters。 Being obliged to spend half the day in court fighting for the gravest interests of men's lives or fortunes； Granville was less alive than another might have been to certain facts in his household。
If； on a Friday； he found none but Lenten fare； and by chance asked for a dish of meat without getting it； his wife； forbidden by the Gospel to tell a lie； could still； by such subterfuges as are permissible in the interests of religion； cloak what was premeditated purpose under some pretext of her own carelessness or the scarcity in the market。 She would often exculpate herself at the expense of the cook； and even go so far as to scold him。 At that time young lawyers did not； as they do now； keep the fasts of the Church； the four rogation seasons； and the vigils of festivals； so Granville was not at first aware of the regular recurrence of these Lenten meals； which his wife took care should be made dainty by the addition of teal； moor… hen； and fish…pies； that their amphibious meat or high seasoning might cheat his palate。 Thus the young man unconsciously lived in strict orthodoxy； and worked out his salvation without knowing it。
On week…days he did not know whether his wife went to Mass or no。 On Sundays； with very natural amiability； he accompanied her to church to make up to her； as it were； for sometimes giving up vespers in favor of his company； he could not at first fully enter into the strictness of his wife's religious views。 The theatres being impossible in summer by reason of the heat； Granville had not even the opportunity of the great success of a piece to give rise to the serious question of play… going。 And； in short； at the early stage of a union to which a man has been led by a young girl's beauty； he can hardly be exacting as to his amusements。 Youth is greedy rather than dainty； and possession has a charm in itself。 How should he be keen to note coldness； dignity； and reserve in the woman to whom he ascribes the excitement he himself feels； and lends the glow of the fire that burns within him？ He must have attained a certain conjugal calm before he discovers that a bigot sits waiting for love with her arms folded。
Granville； therefore； believed himself happy till a fatal event brought its influence to bear on his married life。 In the month of November 1808 the Canon of Bayeux Cathedral who had been the keeper of Madame Bontems' conscience and her daughter's； came to Paris； spurred by the ambition to be at the head of a church in the capitala position which he regarded perhaps as the stepping…stone to a bishopric。 On resuming his former control of this wandering lamb； he was horrified to find her already so much deteriorated by the air of Paris； and strove to reclaim her to his chilly fold。 Frightened by the exhortations of this priest； a man of about eight…and…thirty； who brought with him； into the circle of the enlightened and tolerant Paris clergy； the bitter provincial catholicism and the inflexible bigotry which fetter timid souls with endless exactions； Madame de Granville did penance and returned from her Jansenist errors。
It would be tiresome to describe minutely all the circumstances which insensibly brought disaster on this household； it will be enough to relate the simple facts without giving them in strict order of time。
The first misunderstanding between the young couple was； however； a serious one。
When Granville took his wife into society she never declined solemn functions； such as dinners； concerts； or parties given by the Judges superior to her husband in the legal profession； but f
