the wandering jew, volume 10-第28节

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he　sought　in　vain　for　the　cause　of　what　he　termed　their　indifference。
Now　reproaching　himself　bitterly　for　not　concealing　from　them　his　grief
at　the　death　of　their　mother；　he　feared　he　might　have　given　them　to
understand　that　they　would　be　unable　to　console　him；　now　supposing　that
he　had　not　shown　himself　sufficiently　tender；　and　that　had　chilled　them
with　his　military　sternness；　and　now　repeating　with　bitter　regret；　that；
having　always　lived　away　from　them；　he　must　be　always　a　stranger　to　them。
In　a　word；　the　most　unlikely　suppositions　presented　themselves　by　turns
to　his　mind；　and　whenever　such　seeds　of　doubt；　suspicion；　or　fear；　are
blended　with　a　warm　affection；　they　will　sooner　or　later　develop
themselves　with　fatal　effect。　　Yet；　notwithstanding　this　fancied
coldness；　from　which　he　suffered　so　much；　the　affection　of　the　marshal
for　his　daughters　was　so　true　and　deep；　that　the　thought　of　again
quitting　them　caused　the　hesitations　which　were　the　torment　of　his　life；
and　provoked　an　incessant　struggle　between　his　paternal　love　and　the　duty
he　held　most　sacred。

The　injurious　calumnies；　which　had　been　so　skillfully　propagated；　that
men　of　honor；　like　his　old　brothers　in　arms；　were　found　to　attach　some
credit　to　them；　had　been　spread　with　frightful　pertinacity　by　the　friends
of　the　Princess　de　Saint…Dizier。　　We　shall　describe　hereafter　the　meaning
and　object　of　these　odious　reports；　which；　joined　with　so　many　other
fatal　injuries；　had　filled　up　the　measure　of　the　marshal's　indignation。
Inflamed　with　anger；　excited　almost　to　madness　by　this　incessant
〃stabbing　with　pins〃　（as　he　had　himself　called　it）；　and　offended　at　some
of　Dagobert's　words；　he　had　spoken　harshly　to　him。　　But；　after　the
soldier's　departure；　when　left　to　reflect　in　silence；　the　marshal
remembered　the　warm　and　earnest　expressions　of　the　defender　of　his
children；　and　doubt　crossed　his　mind；　as　to　the　reality　of　the　coldness
of　which　he　accused　them。　　Therefore；　having　taken　a　terrible　resolution
in　case　a　new　trial　should　confirm　his　desponding　doubts；　he　entered；　as
we　before　said；　his；　daughters'　chamber。　　The　discussion　with　Dagobert
had　been　so　loud；　that　the　sound　of　the　voices　had　confusedly　reached　the
ears　of　the　two　sisters；　even　after　they　had　taken　refuge　in　their
bedroom。　　So　that；　on　the　arrival　of　their　father；　their　pale　faces
betrayed　their　fear　and　anxiety。　　At　sight　of　the　marshal；　whose
countenance　was　also　much　agitated；　the　girls　rose　respectfully；　but
remained　close　together；　trembling　in　each　other's　arms。　　And　yet　there
was　neither　anger　nor　severity　on　their　father's　faceonly　a　deep；
almost　supplicating　grief；　which　seemed　to　say：　〃My　children；　I　sufferI
have　come　to　youconsole　me；　love　me！　or　I　shall　die！〃

The　marshal's　countenance　was　at　this　moment　so　expressive；　that；　the
first　impulse　of　fear　once　surmounted；　the　sisters　were　about　to　throw
themselves　into　his　arms；　but　remembering　the　recommendations　of　the
anonymous　letter；　which　told　them　how　painful　any　effusion　of　their
tenderness　was　to　their　father；　they　exchanged　a　rapid　glance；　and
remained　motionless。　　By　a　cruel　fatality；　the　marshal　at　this　moment
burned　to　open　his　arms　to　his　children。　　He　looked　at　them　with　love；　he
even　made　a　slight　movement　as　if　to　call　them　to　him；　but　he　would　not
attempt　more；　for　fear　of　meeting　with　no　response。　　Still　the　poor
children；　paralyzed　by　perfidious　counsels；　remained　mute；　motionless；
trembling！

〃It　is　all　over；〃　thought　he；　as　he　gazed　upon　them。　　〃No　chord　of
sympathy　stirs　in　their　bosom。　　Whether　I　go…whether　I　remainmatters
not　to　them。　　No；　I　am　nothing　to　these　childrensince；　at　this　awful
moment；　when　they　see　me　perhaps　for　the　last　time；　no　filial　instinct
tells　them　that　their　affection　might　save　me　still！〃

During　these　terrible　reflections；　the　marshal　had　not　taken　his　eyes　off
his　children；　and　his　manly　countenance　assumed　an　expression　at　once　so
touching　and　mournfulhis　look　revealed　so　painfully　the　tortures　of　his
despairing　soulthat　Rose　and　Blanche；　confused；　alarmed；　but　yielding
together　to　a　spontaneous　movement；　threw　themselves　on　their　father's
neck；　and　covered　him　with　tears　and　caresses。　　Marshal　Simon　had　not
spoken　a　word；　his　daughters　had　not　uttered　a　sound；　and　yet　all　three
had　at　length　understood　one　another。　　A　sympathetic　shock　had
electrified　and　mingled　those　three　hearts。　　Vain　fears；　false　doubts；
lying　counsel；　all　had　yielded　to　the　irresistible　emotion。　　which　had
brought　the　daughters　to　their　father's　arms。　　A　sudden　revelation　gave
them　faith；　at　the　fatal　moment　when　incurable　suspicion　was　about　to
separate　them　forever。

In　a　second；　the　marshal　felt　all　this；　but　words　failed　him。　　Pale；
bewildered；　kissing　the　brows；　the　hair；　the　hands　of　his　daughters；
weeping；　sighing；　smiling　all　in　turn；　he　was　wild；　delirious；　drunk　with
happiness。　　At　length；　he　exclaimed：　〃I　have　found　themor　rather；　I
have　never　lost　them。　　They　loved　me；　and　did　not　dare　to　tell　me　so。　　I
overawed　them。　　And　I　thought　it　was　my　fault。　　Heavens！　what　good　that
does！　what　strength；　what　heart；　what　hope！Ha！　ha！〃　cried　he；　laughing
and　weeping　at　the　same　time；　whilst　he　covered　his　children　with
caresses；　〃they　may　despise　me　now；　they　may　harass　me　nowI　defy　them
all。　　My　own　blue　eyes！　my　sweet　blue　eyes！　look　at　me　well；　and　inspire
me　with　new　life。〃

〃Oh；　father！　you　love　us　then　as　much　as　we　love　you？〃　cried　Rose；　with
enchanting　simplicity。

〃And　we　may　often；　very　often；　perhaps　every　day；　throw　ourselves　on　your
neck；　embrace　you；　and　prove　how　glad　we　are　to　be　with　you？〃

〃Show　you；　dear　father；　all　the　store　of　love　we　were　heaping　up　in　our
heartsso　sad；　alas！　that　we　could　not　spend　it　upon　you？〃

〃Tell　you　aloud　all　that　we　think　in　secret？〃

〃Yesyou　may　do　soyou　may　do　so；〃　said　Marshal　；Simon；　faltering　with
joy；　〃what　prevented　you；　my　children？　　But　no；　do　not　answer；　enough　of
the　past！I　know　all；　I　understand　all。　　You　misinterpreted　my　gloom；
and　it　made　you　sad；　I；　in　my　turn；　misinterpreted　your　sadness。　　But
never　mind；　I　scarcely　know　what　I　am　saying　to　you。　　I　only　think　of
looking　at　youand　it　dazzles　meit　confuses　meit　is　the　dizziness　of
joy！〃

〃Oh；　look　at　us；　father！　look　into　our　eyes；　into　our　hearts；〃　cried
Rose；　with　rapture。

〃And　you　will　read　there；　happiness　for　us；　and　love　for　you；　sir！〃　added
Blanche。

〃Sir；　sir！〃　said　the　marshal；　in　a　tone　of　affectionate　reproach；　〃what
does　that　mean？　　Will　you　call　me　father；　if　you　please？〃

〃Dear　father；　your　hand！〃　said　Blanche；　as　she　took　it；　and　placed　it　on
her　heart。

〃Dear　father；　your　hand！〃　said　Rose；　as　she　took　the　other　hand　of　the
marshal。　　〃Do　you　believe　now　in　our　love　and　happiness？〃　she　continued。

It　is　impossible　to　describe　the　charming　expression　of　filial　pride　in
the　divine　faces　of　the　girls；　as　their　father；　slightly　pressing　their
virgin　bosoms；　seemed　to　count　with　delight　the　joyous　pulsations　of
their　hearts。

〃Oh；　yes！　happiness　and　affection　can　alone　make　the　heart　beat　thus！〃
cried　the　marshal。

A　hoarse　sob；　heard　in　the　direction　of　the　open　door；　made　the　three
turn　round；　and　there　they　saw　the　tall　figure　of　Dagobert；　with　the
black　nose　of　Spoil…sport　reaching　to　his　master's　knee。　　The　soldier；
drying　his　eyes　and　moustache　with　his　little　blue　cotton　handkerchief；
remained　motionless　as　the　god　Terminus。　　When　he　could　speak；　he
addressed　himself　to　the　marshal；　and；　shaking　his　head；　muttered；　in　a
hoarse　voice；　for　the　good　man　was　swallowing　his　tears：　〃Did　I　not　tell
you　so？〃

〃Silence！〃　said　the　marshal；　with　a　sign　of　intelligence。　　〃You　were　a
better　father　than　myself；　my　old　friend。　　Come　and　kiss　them！　I　shall
not　be　jealous。〃

The　marshal　stretched　out　his　hand　to　the　soldier；　who　pressed　it
cordially；　whilst　the　two　sisters　threw　themselves　on　his　neck；　and
Spoil…sport；　according　to　custom　wishing　to　have　his　share　in　the　general
joy；　raised　himself　on　his　hind　legs；　and　rested　his　fore…paws　against
his　master's　back。　　There　was　a　moment　of　profound　silence。　　The
celestial　felicity　enjoyed　during　that　moment；　by　the　marshal；　his
daughters；　and　the　soldier；　was　interrupted　by　the　barking　of　Spoil…sort；
who　suddenly　quitted　the　attitude　of　a　biped。　　The　happy　group　separated；
looked　round；　and　saw　Loony's　stupid　face。　　He　looked　even　duller　than
usual；　as　he　stood　quite　still　in　the　doorway；　staring　with　wide…
stretched　eyes；　and　holding　a　feather…broom　under　his　arm；　and　in　his
hand　the　ever…present　basket　of　wood。

Nothing　makes　one　so　gay　as　happiness；　and；　though　this　grotesque　figure
appeared　at　a　very　unseasonable　moment；　it　was　received　with　frank
laughter　from　the　blooming　lips　of　Rose　and　Blanche。　　Having　made　the
marshal's　daughters　laugh；　after　their　long　sadness；　Loony　at　once
acquired　a　claim　to　the　indulgence　of　the　marshal；　who　said　to　him；　good…
humoredly：　〃What　do　you　want；　my　lad？〃

〃It's　not　me；　my　lord　duke！〃　answered　Loony；　laying　his　hand　on　his
breast；　as　if　it　were　taking　a　vow；　so　that　his　feather…brush　fell　down
from　under　his　arm。　　The　laughter　of　the　girls　redoubled。

〃It　is　not　you？