the nabob-第25节
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s all fortunes； moreover； in these times are built up。 Go to the Bourse between three and five。 But； pardon； mademoiselle； see； through my absurd habit of gesticulating when I speak； I have lost the pose。 Come； is this right？〃
〃It is useless；〃 said Felicia。 A true daughter of an artist； of a genial and dissolute artist； thoroughly in the romantic tradition； as was Sebastien Ruys。 She had never known her mother。 She was the fruit of one of those transient loves which used to enter suddenly into the bachelor life of the sculptor like swallows into a dovecote of which the door is always open； and who leave it again because no nest can be built there。
This time； the lady； ere she flew away； had left to the great artist； then about forty years of age； a beautiful child whom he had brought up； and who became the joy and the passion of his life。 Until she was thirteen； Felicia had lived in her father's house； introducing a childish and tender note into that studio full of idlers； models； and huge greyhounds lying at full length on the couches。 There was a corner reserved for her； for her attempts at sculpture； a whole miniature equipment； a tripod； wax； etc。； and old Ruys would cry to those who entered：
〃Don't go there。 Don't move anything。 That is the little one's corner。〃
So it came about that at ten years old she scarcely knew how to read and could handle the boasting…tool with marvellous skill。 Ruys would have liked to keep always with him this child whom he never felt to be in the way； a member of the great brotherhood from her earliest years。 But it was pitiful to see the little girl amid the free behaviour of the frequenters of the house； the constant going and coming of the models； the discussions of an art； so to speak； entirely physical； and even at the noisy Sunday dinner…parties； sitting among five or six women； to all of whom her father spoke familiarly。 There were actresses； dancers or singers； who； after dinner； would settle themselves down to smoke with their elbows on the table absorbed in the indecent stories so keenly relished by their host。 Fortunately； childhood is protected by a resisting candour； by an enamel over which all impurities glide。 Felicia became noisy； turbulent； ill…behaved； but without being touched by all that passed over her little soul so near to earth。
Every year； in the summer； she used to go to stay for a few days with her godmother； Constance Crenmitz； the elder Crenmitz； whom all Europe had called for so long 〃the famous dancer；〃 and who lived in peaceful retirement at Fontainebleau。
The arrival of the 〃little demon〃 used to bring into the life of the old dancer an element of disturbance from which she had afterward all the year to recover。 The frights which the child caused her by her daring in climbing； in jumping； in riding； all the passionate transports of her wild nature made this visit for her at once delicious and terrible； delicious for she adored Felicia； the one family tie that remained to this poor old salamander in retirement after thirty years of fluttering in the glare of the footlights； terrible； for the demon used to upset without pity the dancer's house； decorated； carefully ordered； perfumed； like her dressing…room at the opera； and adorned with a museum of souvenirs dated from every stage in the world。
Constance Crenmitz was the one feminine element in Felicia's childhood。 Futile； limited in mind； she had at least a coquettish taste； agile fingers that knew how to sew； to embroider； to arrange things； to leave in every corner of the room their dainty and individual trace。 She alone undertook to train up the wild young plant； and to awaken with discretion the woman in this strange being on whom cloaks； furs； everything elegant devised by fashion； seemed to take odd folds or look curiously awkward。
It was the dancer againin what neglect must she not have lived； this little Ruyswho； triumphing over the paternal selfishness； insisted upon a necessary separation； when Felicia was twelve or thirteen years old； and she took also the responsibility of finding a suitable school； a school which she selected of deliberate purpose； very comfortable and very respectable； right at the upper end of an airy road； occupying a roomy； old…world building surrounded by high walls； big trees； a sort of convent without its constraint and contempt of serious studies。
Much work； on the contrary； was done in Mme。 Belin's institution； where the pupils went out only on the principal holidays and had no communication with outside except the visits of relatives on Thursdays； in a little garden planted with flowering shrubs or in the immense parlour with carved and gilded work over its doors。 The first entry of Felicia into this almost monastic house caused indeed a certain sensation； her dresses chosen by the Austrian dancer； her hair curling to her waist； her gait free and easy like a boy's； aroused some hostility； but she was a Parisian and could adapt herself quickly to every situation and to all surroundings。 A few days later； she looked better than any one in the little black apron； to which the more coquettish were wont to hang their watches； the straight skirta severe and hard prescription at that period when fashion expanded women's figures with an infinity of flouncesthe regulation coiffure； two plaits tied rather low； at the neck； after the manner of the Roman peasants。
Strange to say； the regularity of the classes； their calm exactitude； suited Felicia's nature； intelligent and quick； in which the taste for study was relieved by a juvenile expansion at ease in the noisy good… humour of playtime。 She was popular。 Among those daughters of wealthy businessmen； of Parisian lawyers or of gentlemen…farmers； a respectable and rather affectedly serious world； the well…known name of old Ruys； the respect with which at Paris an artist's reputation is surrounded； created for Felicia a greatly envied position； rendered more brilliant still by her successes in the school…work； a genuine talent for drawing； and her beauty； that superiority which asserts its power even among young girls。 In the wholesale atmosphere of the boarding…school； she was conscious of an extreme pleasure as she grew feminized； in resuming her sex； in learning to know order； regularity； otherwise than these were taught by that amiable dancer whose kisses seemed always to keep the taste of paint and her embraces somewhat artificial in the curving of her arms。 Ruys； her father； was enraptured each time that he came to see his daughter； to find her more grown； womanly； knowing how to enter； to walk； and to leave a room with that pretty courtesy which caused all Mme。 Belin's pupils to long for the trailing rustle of a long skirt。
At first he came often； then； as he had not time enough for all his commissions； accepted and undertaken； the advances on which went to pay for the scrapes； the pleasures of his existence； he was seen more seldom in the parlour。 Finally； sickness intervened。 Stricken by an incurable anaemia； he would remain for weeks without leaving his house； without doing any work。 Thereupon he wished to have his daughter with him again； and from the boarding…school； sheltered by so healthy a tranquility； Felicia returned once more to her father's studio； haunted still by the same boon companions； the parasites which swarm around every celebrity； into the midst of which sickness had introduced a new personage； Dr。 Jenkins。
His fine open countenance； the air of candour； of serenity that seemed to dwell about the person of this physician； already famous； who was wont to speak of his art so carelessly and yet seemed to work miraculous cures； the care with which he surrounded her father； these things made a great impression on the young girl。 Jenkins became immediately her friend； confidant； a vigilant and kind guardian。 Occasionally； when； in the studio； somebodyher father most likely of alluttered a risky jest； the Irishman would contract his eyebrows； give a little click of the tongue； or perhaps distract Felicia's attention。
He often used to take her to pass the day with Mme。 Jenkins； endeavouring to prevent her from becoming again the wild young thing she was before going to school； or even something worse； as she threatened to do in the moral neglect； sadder than all other； in which she was left。
But the young girl had as a protection something even better than the irreproachable and worldly example of the handsome Mme。 Jenkins： the art that she adored； the enthusiasm which it implanted in her nature wholly occupied with outside things； the sentiment of beauty； of truth； which； from her thoughtful brain； full of ideas； passed into her fingers with a little quivering of the nerves； a desire of the idea accomplished； of the realized image。 All day long she would work at her sculpture； giving shape to her dreams with that happiness of instinctive youth which lends so much charm to early work； this prevented her from any excessive regret for the austerity of the Belin institution； sheltering and light as the veil of a novice before her vows； and preserved her also from dangerous conversations； unheard amid her unique preoccupation。
Ruys was proud of this talent growing up at his side。 Growing e
