a second home-第4节

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Her　companion　made　no　reply；　but　he　looked　at　the　girl　with　a　smile　that　seemed　to　say：

〃Poor　child；　you　little　know　your　mother！〃

However；　in　spite　of　his　distrust；　as　the　chaise　made　its　way　down　the　long　avenue　of　poplars　leading　to　Eaubonne；　the　Stranger　thought　that　Madame　Crochard　was　really　asleep；　perhaps　he　did　not　care　to　inquire　how　far　her　slumbers　were　genuine　or　feigned。　Whether　it　were　that　the　brilliant　sky；　the　pure　country　air；　and　the　heady　fragrance　of　the　first　green　shoots　of　the　poplars；　the　catkins　of　willow；　and　the　flowers　of　the　blackthorn　had　inclined　his　heart　to　open　like　all　the　nature　around　him；　or　that　any　long　restraint　was　too　oppressive　while　Caroline's　sparkling　eyes　responded　to　his　own；　the　Gentleman　in　Black　entered　on　a　conversation　with　his　young　companion；　as　aimless　as　the　swaying　of　the　branches　in　the　wind；　as　devious　as　the　flitting　of　the　butterflies　in　the　azure　air；　as　illogical　as　the　melodious　murmur　of　the　fields；　and；　like　it；　full　of　mysterious　love。　At　that　season　is　not　the　rural　country　as　tremulous　as　a　bride　that　has　donned　her　marriage　robe；　does　it　not　invite　the　coldest　soul　to　be　happy？　What　heart　could　remain　unthawed；　and　what　lips　could　keep　its　secret；　on　leaving　the　gloomy　streets　of　the　Marais　for　the　first　time　since　the　previous　autumn；　and　entering　the　smiling　and　picturesque　valley　of　Montmorency；　on　seeing　it　in　the　morning　light；　its　endless　horizons　receding　from　view；　and　then　lifting　a　charmed　gaze　to　eyes　which　expressed　no　less　infinitude　mingled　with　love？

The　Stranger　discovered　that　Caroline　was　sprightly　rather　than　witty；　affectionate；　but　ill　educated；　but　while　her　laugh　was　giddy；　her　words　promised　genuine　feeling。　When；　in　response　to　her　companion's　shrewd　questioning；　the　girl　spoke　with　the　heartfelt　effusiveness　of　which　the　lower　classes　are　lavish；　not　guarding　it　with　reticence　like　people　of　the　world；　the　Black　Gentleman's　face　brightened；　and　seemed　to　renew　its　youth。　His　countenance　by　degrees　lost　the　sadness　that　lent　sternness　to　his　features；　and　little　by　little　they　gained　a　look　of　handsome　youthfulness　which　made　Caroline　proud　and　happy。　The　pretty　needlewoman　guessed　that　her　new　friend　had　been　long　weaned　from　tenderness　and　love；　and　no　longer　believed　in　the　devotion　of　woman。　Finally；　some　unexpected　sally　in　Caroline's　light　prattle　lifted　the　last　veil　that　concealed　the　real　youth　and　genuine　character　of　the　Stranger's　physiognomy；　he　seemed　to　bid　farewell　to　the　ideas　that　haunted　him；　and　showed　the　natural　liveliness　that　lay　beneath　the　solemnity　of　his　expression。

Their　conversation　had　insensibly　become　so　intimate；　that　by　the　time　when　the　carriage　stopped　at　the　first　houses　of　the　straggling　village　of　Saint…Leu；　Caroline　was　calling　the　gentleman　Monsieur　Roger。　Then　for　the　first　time　the　old　mother　awoke。

〃Caroline；　she　has　heard　everything！〃　said　Roger　suspiciously　in　the　girl's　ear。

Caroline's　reply　was　an　exquisite　smile　of　disbelief；　which　dissipated　the　dark　cloud　that　his　fear　of　some　plot　on　the　old　woman's　part　had　brought　to　this　suspicious　mortal's　brow。　Madame　Crochard　was　amazed　at　nothing；　approved　of　everything；　followed　her　daughter　and　Monsieur　Roger　into　the　park；　where　the　two　young　people　had　agreed　to　wander　through　the　smiling　meadows　and　fragrant　copses　made　famous　by　the　taste　of　Queen　Hortense。

〃Good　heavens！　how　lovely！〃　exclaimed　Caroline　when　standing　on　the　green　ridge　where　the　forest　of　Montmorency　begins；　she　saw　lying　at　her　feet　the　wide　valley　with　its　combes　sheltering　scattered　villages；　its　horizon　of　blue　hills；　its　church　towers；　its　meadows　and　fields；　whence　a　murmur　came　up；　to　die　on　her　ear　like　the　swell　of　the　ocean。　The　three　wanderers　made　their　way　by　the　bank　of　an　artificial　stream　and　came　to　the　Swiss　valley；　where　stands　a　chalet　that　had　more　than　once　given　shelter　to　Hortense　and　Napoleon。　When　Caroline　had　seated　herself　with　pious　reverence　on　the　mossy　wooden　bench　where　kings　and　princesses　and　the　Emperor　had　rested；　Madame　Crochard　expressed　a　wish　to　have　a　nearer　view　of　a　bridge　that　hung　across　between　two　rocks　at　some　little　distance；　and　bent　her　steps　towards　that　rural　curiosity；　leaving　her　daughter　in　Monsieur　Roger's　care；　though　telling　them　that　she　would　not　go　out　of　sight。

〃What；　poor　child！〃　cried　Roger；　〃have　you　never　longed　for　wealth　and　the　pleasures　of　luxury？　Have　you　never　wished　that　you　might　wear　the　beautiful　dresses　you　embroider？〃

〃It　would　not　be　the　truth；　Monsieur　Roger；　if　I　were　to　tell　you　that　I　never　think　how　happy　people　must　be　who　are　rich。　Oh　yes！　I　often　fancy；　especially　when　I　am　going　to　sleep；　how　glad　I　should　be　to　see　my　poor　mother　no　longer　compelled　to　go　out；　whatever　the　weather；　to　buy　our　little　provisions；　at　her　age。　I　should　like　her　to　have　a　servant　who；　every　morning　before　she　was　up；　would　bring　her　up　her　coffee；　nicely　sweetened　with　white　sugar。　And　she　loves　reading　novels；　poor　dear　soul！　Well；　and　I　would　rather　see　her　wearing　out　her　eyes　over　her　favorite　books　than　over　twisting　her　bobbins　from　morning　till　night。　And　again；　she　ought　to　have　a　little　good　wine。　In　short；　I　should　like　to　see　her　comfortableshe　is　so　good。〃

〃Then　she　has　shown　you　great　kindness？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　the　girl；　in　a　tone　of　conviction。　Then；　after　a　short　pause；　during　which　the　two　young　people　stood　watching　Madame　Crochard；　who　had　got　to　the　middle　of　the　rustic　bridge；　and　was　shaking　her　finger　at　them；　Caroline　went　on：

〃Oh　yes；　she　has　been　so　good　to　me。　What　care　she　took　of　me　when　I　was　little！　She　sold　her　last　silver　forks　to　apprentice　me　to　the　old　maid　who　taught　me　to　embroider。And　my　poor　father！　What　did　she　not　go　through　to　make　him　end　his　days　in　happiness！〃　The　girl　shivered　at　the　remembrance；　and　hid　her　face　in　her　hands。〃Well！　come！　let　us　forget　past　sorrows！〃　she　added；　trying　to　rally　her　high　spirits。　She　blushed　as　she　saw　that　Roger　too　was　moved；　but　she　dared　not　look　at　him。

〃What　was　your　father？〃　he　asked。

〃He　was　an　opera…dancer　before　the　Revolution；〃　said　she；　with　an　air　of　perfect　simplicity；　〃and　my　mother　sang　in　the　chorus。　My　father；　who　was　leader　of　the　figures　on　the　stage；　happened　to　be　present　at　the　siege　of　the　Bastille。　He　was　recognized　by　some　of　the　assailants；　who　asked　him　whether　he　could　not　lead　a　real　attack；　since　he　was　used　to　leading　such　enterprises　on　the　boards。　My　father　was　brave；　he　accepted　the　post；　led　the　insurgents；　and　was　rewarded　by　the　nomination　to　the　rank　of　captain　in　the　army　of　Sambre…et…　Meuse；　where　he　distinguished　himself　so　far　as　to　rise　rapidly　to　be　a　colonel。　But　at　Lutzen　he　was　so　badly　wounded　that；　after　a　year's　sufferings；　he　died　in　Paris。The　Bourbons　returned；　my　mother　could　obtain　no　pension；　and　we　fell　into　such　abject　misery　that　we　were　compelled　to　work　for　our　living。　For　some　time　past　she　has　been　ailing；　poor　dear；　and　I　have　never　known　her　so　little　resigned；　she　complains　a　good　deal；　and；　indeed；　I　cannot　wonder；　for　she　has　known　the　pleasures　of　an　easy　life。　For　my　part；　I　cannot　pine　for　delights　I　have　never　known；　I　have　but　one　thing　to　wish　for。〃

〃And　that　is？〃　said　Roger　eagerly；　as　if　roused　from　a　dream。

〃That　women　may　continue　to　wear　embroidered　net　dresses；　so　that　I　may　never　lack　work。〃

The　frankness　of　this　confession　interested　the　young　man；　who　looked　with　less　hostile　eyes　on　Madame　Crochard　as　she　slowly　made　her　way　back　to　them。

〃Well；　children；　have　you　had　a　long　talk？〃　said　she；　with　a　half…　laughing；　half…indulgent　air。　〃When　I　think；　Monsieur　Roger；　that　the　'little　Corporal'　has　sat　where　you　are　sitting；〃　she　went　on　after　a　pause。　〃Poor　man！　how　my　husband　worshiped　him！　Ah！　Crochard　did　well　to　die；　for　he　could　not　have　borne　to　think　of　him　where　/they/　have　sent　him！〃

Roger　put　his　finger　to　his　lips；　and　the　good　woman　went　on　very　gravely；　with　a　shake　of　her　head：

〃All　right；　mouth　shut　and　tongue　still！　But；〃　added　she；　unhooking　a　bit　of　her　bodice；　and　showing　a　ribbon　and　cross　tied　round　her　neck　by　a　piece　of　black　ribbon；　〃they　shall　never　hinder　me　from　wearing　what　/he/　gave　to　my　poor　Crochard；　and　I　will　have　it　buried　with　me。〃

On　hearing　this　speech；　which　at　that　time　was　regarded　as　seditious；　Roger　interrupted　the　old　lady　by　rising　suddenly；　and　they　returned　to　the　village　through　the　park　walks。　The　young　man　left　them　for　a　few　minutes　while　he　went　to　order　a　meal　at　the　best　eating…house　in　Taverny；　then；　returning　to　fetch　them；　he　led　the　way　through　the　alleys　cut　in　the　forest。

The　dinner　was　cheerful。　Roger　was　no　longer　the　melancholy　shade　that　was　wont　to　pass　along　the　Rue　du　Tourniquet；　he　was　not　the　〃Black　Gentleman；〃　but　rather　a　confiding　young　man　ready　to　take　life　as　it　came；　like　the　two　hard…working　women　who；　on　the　morrow；　might　lack　bread；　he　seemed　alive　to　all　the　joys　of　youth；　his　smile　was　quite　affectionate　and　childlike。

When；　at　five　o'clock；　this　happy　meal　was　ended　with　a　few　glasses　of　champagne；　Roger　was　the　first　to　propose　that　they　should　join　the　village　ball　under　the　chestnuts；　where　he　and　Car