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第6节

the marriage contract-第6节

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therefore committed himself in his own mind all the more because he

saw no effort on Madame Evangelista's part to bind him。 She fairly

seduced him one evening by remarking that to superior women as well as

men there came a period of life when ambition superseded all the

earlier emotions of life。



〃That woman is fitted;〃 thought Paul; as he left her; 〃to advance me

in diplomacy before I am even made a deputy。〃



If; in all the circumstances of life a man does not turn over and over

both things and ideas in order to examine them thoroughly under their

different aspects before taking action; that man is weak and

incomplete and in danger of fatal failure。 At this moment Paul was an

optimist; he saw everything to advantage; and did not tell himself

than an ambitious mother…in…law might prove a tyrant。 So; every

evening as he left the house; he fancied himself a married man;

allured his mind with its own thought; and slipped on the slippers of

wedlock cheerfully。 In the first place; he had enjoyed his freedom too

long to regret the loss of it; he was tired of a bachelor's life;

which offered him nothing new; he now saw only its annoyances; whereas

if he thought at times of the difficulties of marriage; its pleasures;

in which lay novelty; came far more prominently before his mind。



〃Marriage;〃 he said to himself; 〃is disagreeable for people without

means; but half its troubles disappear before wealth。〃



Every day some favorable consideration swelled the advantages which he

now saw in this particular alliance。



〃No matter to what position I attain; Natalie will always be on the

level of her part;〃 thought he; 〃and that is no small merit in a

woman。 How many of the Empire men I've seen who suffered horribly

through their wives! It is a great condition of happiness not to feel

one's pride or one's vanity wounded by the companion we have chosen。 A

man can never be really unhappy with a well…bred wife; she will never

make him ridiculous; such a woman is certain to be useful to him。

Natalie will receive in her own house admirably。〃



So thinking; he taxed his memory as to the most distinguished women of

the faubourg Saint…Germain; in order to convince himself that Natalie

could; if not eclipse them; at any rate stand among them on a footing

of perfect equality。 All comparisons were to her advantage; for they

rested on his own imagination; which followed his desires。 Paris would

have shown him daily other natures; young girls of other styles of

beauty and charm; and the multiplicity of impressions would have

balanced his mind; whereas in Bordeaux Natalie had no rivals; she was

the solitary flower; moreover; she appeared to him at a moment when

Paul was under the tyranny of an idea to which most men succumb at his

age。



Thus these reasons of propinquity; joined to reasons of self…love and

a real passion which had no means of satisfaction except by marriage;

led Paul on to an irrational love; which he had; however; the good

sense to keep to himself。 He even endeavored to study Mademoiselle

Evangelista as a man should who desires not to compromise his future

life; for the words of his friend de Marsay did sometimes rumble in

his ears like a warning。 But; in the first place; persons accustomed

to luxury have a certain indifference to it which misleads them。 They

despise it; they use it; it is an instrument; and not the object of

their existence。 Paul never imagined; as he observed the habits of

life of the two ladies; that they covered a gulf of ruin。 Then; though

there may exist some general rules to soften the asperities of

marriage; there are none by which they can be accurately foreseen and

evaded。 When trouble arises between two persons who have undertaken to

render life agreeable and easy to each other; it comes from the

contact of continual intimacy; which; of course; does not exist

between young people before they marry; and will never exist so long

as our present social laws and customs prevail in France。 All is more

or less deception between the two young persons about to take each

other for life;an innocent and involuntary deception; it is true。

Each endeavors to appear in a favorable light; both take a tone and

attitude conveying a more favorable idea of their nature than they are

able to maintain in after years。 Real life; like the weather; is made

up of gray and cloudy days alternating with those when the sun shines

and the fields are gay。 Young people; however; exhibit fine weather

and no clouds。 Later they attribute to marriage the evils inherent in

life itself; for there is in man a disposition to lay the blame of his

own misery on the persons and things that surround him。



To discover in the demeanor; or the countenance; or the words; or the

gestures of Mademoiselle Evangelista any indication that revealed the

imperfections of her character; Paul must have possessed not only the

knowledge of Lavater and Gall; but also a science in which there

exists no formula of doctrine;the individual and personal science of

an observer; which; for its perfection; requires an almost universal

knowledge。 Natalie's face; like that of most young girls; was

impenetrable。 The deep; serene peace given by sculptors to the virgin

faces of Justice and Innocence; divinities aloof from all earthly

agitations; is the greatest charm of a young girl; the sign of her

purity。 Nothing; as yet; has stirred her; no shattered passion; no

hope betrayed has clouded the placid expression of that pure face。 Is

that expression assumed? If so; there is no young girl behind it。



Natalie; closely held to the heart of her mother; had received; like

other Spanish women; an education that was solely religious; together

with a few instructions from her mother as to the part in life she was

called upon to play。 Consequently; the calm; untroubled expression of

her face was natural。 And yet it formed a casing in which the woman

was wrapped as the moth in its cocoon。 Nevertheless; any man clever at

handling the scalpel of analysis might have detected in Natalie

certain indications of the difficulties her character would present

when brought into contact with conjugal or social life。 Her beauty;

which was really marvellous; came from extreme regularity of feature

harmonizing with the proportions of the head and the body。 This

species of perfection augurs ill for the mind; and there are few

exceptions to the rule。 All superior nature is found to have certain

slight imperfections of form which become irresistible attractions;

luminous points from which shine vivid sentiments; and on which the

eye rests gladly。 Perfect harmony expresses usually the coldness of a

mixed organization。



Natalie's waist was round;a sign of strength; but also the

infallible indication of a will which becomes obstinacy in persons

whose mind is neither keen nor broad。 Her hands; like those of a Greek

statue; confirmed the predictions of face and figure by revealing an

inclination for illogical domination; of willing for will's sake only。

Her eyebrows met;a sign; according to some observers; which

indicates jealousy。 The jealousy of superior minds becomes emulation

and leads to great things; that of small minds turns to hatred。 The

〃hate and wait〃 of her mother was in her nature; without disguise。 Her

eyes were black apparently; though really brown with orange streaks;

contrasting with her hair; of the ruddy tint so prized by the Romans;

called auburn in England; a color which often appears in the offspring

of persons of jet black hair; like that of Monsieur and Madame

Evangelista。 The whiteness and delicacy of Natalie's complexion gave

to the contrast of color in her eyes and hair an inexpressible charm;

and yet it was a charm that was purely external; for whenever the

lines of a face are lacking in a certain soft roundness; whatever may

be the finish and grace of the details; the beauty therein expressed

is not of the soul。 These roses of deceptive youth will drop their

leaves; and you will be surprised in a few years to see hardness and

dryness where you once admired what seemed to be the beauty of noble

qualities。



Though the outlines of Natalie's face had something august about them;

her chin was slightly 〃empate;〃a painter's expression which will

serve to show the existence of sentiments the violence of which would 

only become manifest in after life。 Her mouth; a trifle drawn in;

expressed a haughty pride in keeping with her hand; her chin; her

brows; and her beautiful figure。 Andas a last diagnostic to guide

the judgment of a connoisseurNatalie's pure voice; a most seductive

voice; had certain metallic tones。 Softly as that brassy ring was

managed; and in spite of the grace with which its sounds ran through

the compass of the voice; that organ revealed the character of the

Duke of Alba; from whom the Casa…Reales were collaterally descended。

These indications were those of violent pa

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