a second home-第5节

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and　Caroline　danced　together。　Their　hands　met　with　sympathetic　pressure；　their　hearts　beat　with　the　same　hopes；　and　under　the　blue　sky　and　the　slanting；　rosy　beams　of　sunset；　their　eyes　sparkled　with　fires　which；　to　them；　made　the　glory　of　the　heavens　pale。　How　strange　is　the　power　of　an　idea；　of　a　desire！　To　these　two　nothing　seemed　impossible。　In　such　magic　moments；　when　enjoyment　sheds　its　reflections　on　the　future；　the　soul　foresees　nothing　but　happiness。　This　sweet　day　had　created　memories　for　these　two　to　which　nothing　could　be　compared　in　all　their　past　existence。　Would　the　source　prove　to　be　more　beautiful　than　the　river；　the　desire　more　enchanting　than　its　gratification；　the　thing　hoped　for　more　delightful　than　the　thing　possessed？

〃So　the　day　is　already　at　an　end！〃　On　hearing　this　exclamation　from　her　unknown　friend　when　the　dance　was　over；　Caroline　looked　at　him　compassionately；　as　his　face　assumed　once　more　a　faint　shade　of　sadness。

〃Why　should　you　not　be　as　happy　in　Paris　as　you　are　here？〃　she　asked。　〃Is　happiness　to　be　found　only　at　Saint…Leu？　It　seems　to　me　that　I　can　henceforth　never　be　unhappy　anywhere。〃

Roger　was　struck　by　these　words；　spoken　with　the　glad　unrestraint　that　always　carries　a　woman　further　than　she　intended；　just　as　prudery　often　lends　her　greater　cruelty　than　she　feels。　For　the　first　time　since　that　glance；　which　had；　in　a　way；　been　the　beginning　of　their　friendship；　Caroline　and　Roger　had　the　same　idea；　though　they　did　not　express　it；　they　felt　it　at　the　same　instant；　as　a　result　of　a　common　impression　like　that　of　a　comforting　fire　cheering　both　under　the　frost　of　winter；　then；　as　if　frightened　by　each　other's　silence；　they　made　their　way　to　the　spot　where　the　carriage　was　waiting。　But　before　getting　into　it；　they　playfully　took　hands　and　ran　together　down　the　dark　avenue　in　front　of　Madame　Crochard。　When　they　could　no　longer　see　the　white　net　cap；　which　showed　as　a　speck　through　the　leaves　where　the　old　woman　was〃Caroline！〃　said　Roger　in　a　tremulous　voice；　and　with　a　beating　heart。

The　girl　was　startled；　and　drew　back　a　few　steps；　understanding　the　invitation　this　question　conveyed；　however；　she　held　out　her　hand；　which　was　passionately　kissed；　but　which　she　hastily　withdrew；　for　by　standing　on　tiptoe　she　could　see　her　mother。

Madame　Crochard　affected　blindness；　as　if；　with　a　reminiscence　of　her　old　parts；　she　was　only　required　to　figure　as　a　supernumerary。



The　adventures　of　these　two　young　people　were　not　continued　in　the　Rue　du　Tourniquet。　To　see　Roger　and　Caroline　once　more；　we　must　leap　into　the　heart　of　modern　Paris；　where；　in　some　of　the　newly…built　houses；　there　are　apartments　that　seem　made　on　purpose　for　newly…married　couples　to　spend　their　honeymoon　in。　There　the　paper　and　paint　are　as　fresh　as　the　bride　and　bridegroom；　and　the　decorations　are　in　blossom　like　their　love；　everything　is　in　harmony　with　youthful　notions　and　ardent　wishes。

Half…way　down　the　Rue　Taitbout；　in　a　house　whose　stone　walls　were　still　white；　where　the　columns　of　the　hall　and　the　doorway　were　as　yet　spotless；　and　the　inner　walls　shone　with　the　neat　painting　which　our　recent　intimacy　with　English　ways　had　brought　into　fashion；　there　was；　on　the　second　floor；　a　small　set　of　rooms　fitted　by　the　architect　as　though　he　had　known　what　their　use　would　be。　A　simple　airy　ante…room；　with　a　stucco　dado；　formed　an　entrance　into　a　drawing…room　and　dining…　room。　Out　of　the　drawing…room　opened　a　pretty　bedroom；　with　a　bathroom　beyond。　Every　chimney…shelf　had　over　it　a　fine　mirror　elegantly　framed。　The　doors　were　crowded　with　arabesques　in　good　taste；　and　the　cornices　were　in　the　best　style。　Any　amateur　would　have　discerned　there　the　sense　of　distinction　and　decorative　fitness　which　mark　the　work　of　modern　French　architects。

For　above　a　month　Caroline　had　been　at　home　in　this　apartment；　furnished　by　an　upholsterer　who　submitted　to　an　artist's　guidance。　A　short　description　of　the　principal　room　will　suffice　to　give　us　an　idea　of　the　wonders　it　offered　to　Caroline's　delighted　eyes　when　Roger　installed　her　there。　Hangings　of　gray　stuff　trimmed　with　green　silk　adorned　the　walls　of　her　bedroom；　the　seats；　covered　with　light…　colored　woolen　sateen；　were　of　easy　and　comfortable　shapes；　and　in　the　latest　fashion；　a　chest　of　drawers　of　some　simple　wood；　inlaid　with　lines　of　a　darker　hue；　contained　the　treasures　of　the　toilet；　a　writing…table　to　match　served　for　inditing　love…letters　on　scented　paper；　the　bed；　with　antique　draperies；　could　not　fail　to　suggest　thoughts　of　love　by　its　soft　hangings　of　elegant　muslin；　the　window…　curtains；　of　drab　silk　with　green　fringe；　were　always　half　drawn　to　subdue　the　light；　a　bronze　clock　represented　Love　crowning　Psyche；　and　a　carpet　of　Gothic　design　on　a　red　ground　set　off　the　other　accessories　of　this　delightful　retreat。　There　was　a　small　dressing…　table　in　front　of　a　long　glass；　and　here　the　needlewoman　sat；　out　of　patience　with　Plaisir；　the　famous　hairdresser。

〃Do　you　think　you　will　have　done　to…day？〃　said　she。

〃Your　hair　is　so　long　and　so　thick；　madame；〃　replied　Plaisir。

Caroline　could　not　help　smiling。　The　man's　flattery　had　no　doubt　revived　in　her　mind　the　memory　of　the　passionate　praises　lavished　by　her　lover　on　the　beauty　of　her　hair；　which　he　delighted　in。

The　hairdresser　having　done；　a　waiting…maid　came　and　held　counsel　with　her　as　to　the　dress　in　which　Roger　would　like　best　to　see　her。　It　was　the　beginning　of　September　1816；　and　the　weather　was　cold；　she　chose　a　green　/grenadine/　trimmed　with　chinchilla。　As　soon　as　she　was　dressed；　Caroline　flew　into　the　drawing…room　and　opened　a　window；　out　of　which　she　stepped　on　to　the　elegant　balcony；　that　adorned　the　front　of　the　house；　there　she　stood；　with　her　arms　crossed；　in　a　charming　attitude；　not　to　show　herself　to　the　admiration　of　the　passers…by　and　see　them　turn　to　gaze　at　her；　but　to　be　able　to　look　out　on　the　Boulevard　at　the　bottom　of　the　Rue　Taitbout。　This　side　view；　really　very　comparable　to　the　peephole　made　by　actors　in　the　drop…scene　of　a　theatre；　enabled　her　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　numbers　of　elegant　carriages；　and　a　crowd　of　persons；　swept　past　with　the　rapidity　of　/Ombres　Chinoises/。　Not　knowing　whether　Roger　would　arrive　in　a　carriage　or　on　foot；　the　needlewoman　from　the　Rue　du　Tourniquet　looked　by　turns　at　the　foot…　passengers；　and　at　the　tilburieslight　cabs　introduced　into　Paris　by　the　English。

Expressions　of　refractoriness　and　of　love　passed　by　turns　over　her　youthful　face　when；　after　waiting　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　neither　her　keen　eye　nor　her　heart　had　announced　the　arrival　of　him　whom　she　knew　to　be　due。　What　disdain；　what　indifference　were　shown　in　her　beautiful　features　for　all　the　other　creatures　who　were　bustling　like　ants　below　her　feet。　Her　gray　eyes；　sparkling　with　fun；　now　positively　flamed。　Given　over　to　her　passion；　she　avoided　admiration　with　as　much　care　as　the　proudest　devote　to　encouraging　it　when　they　drive　about　Paris；　certainly　feeling　no　care　as　to　whether　her　fair　countenance　leaning　over　the　balcony；　or　her　little　foot　between　the　bars；　and　the　picture　of　her　bright　eyes　and　delicious　turned…up　nose　would　be　effaced　or　no　from　the　minds　of　the　passers…by　who　admired　them；　she　saw　but　one　face；　and　had　but　one　idea。　When　the　spotted　head　of　a　certain　bay　horse　happened　to　cross　the　narrow　strip　between　the　two　rows　of　houses；　Caroline　gave　a　little　shiver　and　stood　on　tiptoe　in　hope　of　recognizing　the　white　traces　and　the　color　of　the　tilbury。　It　was　he！

Roger　turned　the　corner　of　the　street；　saw　the　balcony；　whipped　the　horse；　which　came　up　at　a　gallop；　and　stopped　at　the　bronze…green　door　that　he　knew　as　well　as　his　master　did。　The　door　of　the　apartment　was　opened　at　once　by　the　maid；　who　had　heard　her　mistress'　exclamation　of　delight。　Roger　rushed　up　to　the　drawing…room；　clasped　Caroline　in　his　arms；　and　embraced　her　with　the　effusive　feeling　natural　when　two　beings　who　love　each　other　rarely　meet。　He　led　her；　or　rather　they　went　by　a　common　impulse；　their　arms　about　each　other；　into　the　quiet　and　fragrant　bedroom；　a　settee　stood　ready　for　them　to　sit　by　the　fire；　and　for　a　moment　they　looked　at　each　other　in　silence；　expressing　their　happiness　only　by　their　clasped　hands；　and　communicating　their　thoughts　in　a　fond　gaze。

〃Yes；　it　is　he！〃　she　said　at　last。　〃Yes；　it　is　you。　Do　you　know；　I　have　not　seen　you　for　three　long　days；　an　age！But　what　is　the　matter？　You　are　unhappy。〃

〃My　poor　Caroline〃

〃There；　you　see！　'poor　Caroline'〃

〃No；　no；　do　not　laugh；　my　darling；　we　cannot　go　to　the　Feydeau　Theatre　together　this　evening。〃

Caroline　put　on　a　little　pout；　but　it　vanished　immediately。

〃How　absurd　I　am！　How　can　I　think　of　going　to　the　play　when　I　see　you？　Is　not　the　sight　of　you　the　only　spectacle　I　care　for？〃　she　cried；　pushing　her　fingers　through　Roger's　hair。

〃I　am　obliged　to　go　to　the　Attorney…General's。　We　have　a　knotty　case　in　hand。　He　met　me　in　the　great　hall　at　the　Palais；　and　as　I　am　to　plead；　he　asked　me　to　dine　with　him。　But；　my　dearest；　you　can　go　to　the　theatre　with　your　mother；　and　I　will　join　you　if　the　meeting　breaks　up　early。〃

〃To　the　theatre　without　you！〃　cried　she　in　a　tone　of　amazement；　〃enjoy　any　pleasure　you　do　not　share！　O　my　Ro