vendetta-第16节
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beloved； who held her round the waist； and； together； in deep silence；
they gazed upward at the sky； which the dawn was slowly brightening。
Clouds of a grayish hue were moving rapidly； the East was growing
luminous。
〃See！〃 said Ginevra。 〃It is an omen。 We shall be happy。〃
〃Yes； in heaven；〃 replied Luigi； with a bitter smile。 〃Oh； Ginevra！
you who deserved all the treasures upon earth〃
〃I have your heart；〃 she said； in tones of joy。
〃Ah！ I complain no more！〃 he answered； straining her tightly to him；
and covering with kisses the delicate face； which was losing the
freshness of youth； though its expression was still so soft； so tender
that he could not look at it and not be comforted。
〃What silence！〃 said Ginevra； presently。 〃Dear friend； I take great
pleasure in sitting up。 The majesty of Night is so contagious； it
awes； it inspires。 There is I know not what great power in the
thought： all sleep； I wake。〃
〃Oh； my Ginevra；〃 he cried； 〃it is not to…night alone I feel how
delicately moulded is your soul。 But see； the dawn is shining；come
and sleep。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Ginevra； 〃if I do not sleep alone。 I suffered too much
that night I first discovered that you were waking while I slept。〃
The courage with which these two young people fought with misery
received for a while its due reward； but an event which usually crowns
the happiness of a household to them proved fatal。 Ginevra had a son；
who was； to use the popular expression； 〃as beautiful as the day。〃 The
sense of motherhood doubled the strength of the young wife。 Luigi
borrowed money to meet the expenses of Ginevra's confinement。 At first
she did not feel the fresh burden of their situation； and the pair
gave themselves wholly up to the joy of possessing a child。 It was
their last happiness。
Like two swimmers uniting their efforts to breast a current； these two
Corsican souls struggled courageously； but sometimes they gave way to
an apathy which resembled the sleep that precedes death。 Soon they
were obliged to sell their jewels。 Poverty appeared to them suddenly；
not hideous； but plainly clothed； almost easy to endure； its voice
had nothing terrifying； with it came neither spectres； nor despair；
nor rags； but it made them lose the memory and the habits of comfort；
it dried the springs of pride。 Then； before they knew it； came want；
want in all its horror； indifferent to its rags； treading underfoot
all human sentiments。
Seven or eight months after the birth of the little Bartolomeo； it
would have been hard to see in the mother who suckled her sickly babe
the original of the beautiful portrait； the sole remaining ornament of
the squalid home。 Without fire through a hard winter； the graceful
outlines of Ginevra's figure were slowly destroyed； her cheeks grew
white as porcelain； and her eyes dulled as though the springs of life
were drying up within her。 Watching her shrunken； discolored child；
she felt no suffering but for that young misery； and Luigi had no
courage to smile upon his son。
〃I have wandered over Paris；〃 he said； one day。 〃I know no one； can I
ask help of strangers？ Vergniaud； my old sergeant； is concerned in a
conspiracy； and they have put him in prison； besides； he has already
lent me all he could spare。 As for our landlord； it is over a year
since he asked me for any rent。〃
〃But we are not in want；〃 replied Ginevra； gently； affecting calmness。
〃Every hour brings some new difficulty；〃 continued Luigi； in a tone of
terror。
Another day Luigi took Ginevra's pictures； her portrait； and the few
articles of furniture which they could still exist without； and sold
them for a miserable sum； which prolonged the agony of the hapless
household for a time。 During these days of wretchedness Ginevra showed
the sublimity of her nature and the extent of her resignation。
Stoically she bore the strokes of misery； her strong soul held her up
against all woes； she worked with unfaltering hand beside her dying
son； performed her household duties with marvellous activity； and
sufficed for all。 She was even happy； still； when she saw on Luigi's
lips a smile of surprise at the cleanliness she produced in the one
poor room where they had taken refuge。
〃Dear； I kept this bit of bread for you；〃 she said； one evening； when
he returned； worn…out。
〃And you？〃
〃I？ I have dined； dear Luigi； I want nothing more。〃
And the tender look on her beseeching face urged him more than her
words to take the food of which she had deprived herself。
Luigi kissed her； with one of those kisses of despair that were given
in 1793 between friends as they mounted the scaffold。 In such supreme
moments two beings see each other； heart to heart。 The hapless Luigi；
comprehending suddenly that his wife was starving； was seized with the
fever which consumed her。 He shuddered； and went out； pretending that
some business called him； for he would rather have drunk the deadliest
poison than escape death by eating that last morsel of bread that was
left in his home。
He wandered wildly about Paris； amid the gorgeous equipages； in the
bosom of that flaunting luxury that displays itself everywhere； he
hurried past the windows of the money…changers where gold was
glittering； and at last he resolved to sell himself to be a substitute
for military service； hoping that this sacrifice would save Ginevra；
and that her father； during his absence； would take her home。
He went to one of those agents who manage these transactions； and felt
a sort of happiness in recognizing an old officer of the Imperial
guard。
〃It is two days since I have eaten anything；〃 he said to him in a
slow； weak voice。 〃My wife is dying of hunger； and has never uttered
one word of complaint； she will die smiling； I think。 For God's sake；
comrade；〃 he added； bitterly； 〃buy me in advance； I am robust； I am no
longer in the service； and I〃
The officer gave Luigi a sum on account of that which he promised to
procure for him。 The wretched man laughed convulsively as he grasped
the gold； and ran with all his might； breathless； to his home； crying
out at times：
〃Ginevra！ Oh； my Ginevra！〃
It was almost night when he reached his wretched room。 He entered very
softly； fearing to cause too strong an emotion to his wife； whom he
had left so weak。 The last rays of the sun； entering through the
garret window； were fading from Ginevra's face as she sat sleeping in
her chair； and holding her child upon her breast。
〃Wake； my dear one；〃 he said； not observing the infant； which shone；
at that moment； with supernatural light。
Hearing that voice； the poor mother opened her eyes； met Luigi's look；
and smiled； but Luigi himself gave a cry of horror； he scarcely
recognized his wife； now half mad。 With a gesture of savage energy he
showed her the gold。 Ginevra began to laugh mechanically； but suddenly
she cried； in a dreadful voice：
〃The child； Luigi； he is cold！〃
She looked at her son and swooned。 The little Bartolomeo was dead。
Luigi took his wife in his arms； without removing the child； which she
clasped with inconceivable force； and after laying her on the bed he
went out to seek help。
〃Oh！ my God！〃 he said； as he met his landlord on the stairs。 〃I have
gold； gold； and my child has died of hunger； and his mother is dying；
too！ Help me！〃
He returned like one distraught to his wife； leaving the worthy mason；
and also the neighbors who heard him to gather a few things for the
needs of so terrible a want； hitherto unknown； for the two Corsicans
had carefully hidden it from a feeling of pride。
Luigi had cast his gold upon the floor and was kneeling by the bed on
which lay his wife。
〃Father！ take care of my son； who bears your name；〃 she was saying in
her delirium。
〃Oh； my angel！ be calm；〃 said Luigi； kissing her； 〃our good days are
coming back to us。〃
〃My Luigi；〃 she said； looking at him with extraordinary attention；
〃listen to me。 I feel that I am dying。 My death is natural； I suffered
too much； besides； a happiness so great as mine has to be paid for。
Yes； my Luigi； be comforted。 I have been so happy that if I were to
live again I would again accept our fate。 I am a bad mother； I regret
you more than I regret my child My child！〃 she added； in a hollow
voice。
Two tears escaped her dying eyes； and suddenly she pressed the little
body she had no power to warm。
〃Give my hair to my father； in memory of his Ginevra；〃 she said。 〃Tell
him I have never blamed him。〃
Her head fell upon her husband's arm。
〃No； you cannot die！〃 cried Luigi。 〃The doctor is coming。 We have
food。 Your father will take you home。 Prosperity is here。 Stay with
us； angel！〃
But the faithful heart； so full of love； was growing cold。 Ginevra
turned her eyes instinctively to him she loved； though she was
conscious of nought else。 Confused images
