the pension beaurepas-第8节

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all。　　If　they　happen　to　take　place　in　your　own　street；　they　don't
increase　the　value　of　your　property。　　When　mine　catches；　I　suppose
they'll　write　and　tell　meone　of　these　days；　when　they've　got
nothing　else　to　do。　　I　didn't　get　a　blessed　letter　this　morning；　I
suppose　they　think　I'm　having　such　a　good　time　over　here　it's　a　pity
to　disturb　me。　　If　I　could　attend　to　business　for　about　half　an　hour；
I'd　find　out　something。　　But　I　can't；　and　it's　no　use　talking。　　The
state　of　my　health　was　never　so　unsatisfactory　as　it　was　about　five
o'clock　this　morning。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　to　hear　that；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　recommend　you　strongly
not　to　think　of　business。〃

〃I　don't；〃　Mr。　Ruck　replied。　　〃I'm　thinking　of　cathedrals；　I'm
thinking　of　the　beauties　of　nature。　　Come；〃　he　went　on；　turning　round
on　the　bench　and　leaning　his　elbow　on　the　parapet；　〃I'll　think　of
those　mountains　over　there；　they　ARE　pretty；　certainly。　　Can't　you
get　over　there？〃

〃Over　where？〃

〃Over　to　those　hills。　　Don't　they　run　a　train　right　up？〃

〃You　can　go　to　Chamouni；〃　I　said。　　〃You　can　go　to　Grindelwald　and
Zermatt　and　fifty　other　places。　　You　can't　go　by　rail；　but　you　can
drive。〃

〃All　right；　we'll　driveand　not　in　a　one…horse　concern；　either。
Yes；　Chamouni　is　one　of　the　places　we　put　down。　　I　hope　there　are　a
few　nice　shops　in　Chamouni。〃　　Mr。　Ruck　spoke　with　a　certain　quickened
emphasis；　and　in　a　tone　more　explicitly　humorous　than　he　commonly
employed。　　I　thought　he　was　excited；　and　yet　he　had　not　the
appearance　of　excitement。　　He　looked　like　a　man　who　has　simply　taken；
in　the　face　of　disaster；　a　sudden；　somewhat　imaginative；　resolution
not　to　〃worry。〃　　He　presently　twisted　himself　about　on　his　bench
again　and　began　to　watch　for　his　companions。　　〃Well；　they　ARE　walking
round；〃　he　resumed；　〃I　guess　they've　hit　on　something；　somewhere。
And　they've　got　a　carriage　waiting　outside　of　that　archway　too。　　They
seem　to　do　a　big　business　in　archways　here；　don't　they。　　They　like　to
have　a　carriage　to　carry　home　the　thingsthose　ladies　of　mine。　　Then
they're　sure　they've　got　them。〃　　The　ladies；　after　this；　to　do　them
justice；　were　not　very　long　in　appearing。　　They　came　toward　us；　from
under　the　archway　to　which　Mr。　Ruck　had　somewhat　invidiously　alluded；
slowly　and　with　a　rather　exhausted　step　and　expression。　　My　companion
looked　at　them　a　moment；　as　they　advanced。　　〃They're　tired；〃　he　said
softly。　　〃When　they're　tired；　like　that；　it's　very　expensive。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck；　〃I'm　glad　you've　had　some　company。〃　　Her
husband　looked　at　her；　in　silence；　through　narrowed　eyelids；　and　I
suspected　that　this　gracious　observation　on　the　lady's　part　was
prompted　by　a　restless　conscience。

Miss　Sophy　glanced　at　me　with　her　little　straightforward　air　of
defiance。　　〃It　would　have　been　more　proper　if　WE　had　had　the　company。
Why　didn't　you　come　after　us；　instead　of　sitting　there？〃　she　asked　of
Mr。　Ruck's　companion。

〃I　was　told　by　your　father；〃　I　explained；　〃that　you　were　engaged　in
sacred　rites。〃　　Miss　Ruck　was　not　gracious；　though　I　doubt　whether　it
was　because　her　conscience　was　better　than　her　mother's。

〃Well；　for　a　gentleman　there　is　nothing　so　sacred　as　ladies'
society；〃　replied　Miss　Ruck；　in　the　manner　of　a　person　accustomed　to
giving　neat　retorts。

〃I　suppose　you　refer　to　the　Cathedral；〃　said　her　mother。　　〃Well；　I
must　say；　we　didn't　go　back　there。　　I　don't　know　what　it　may　be　of　a
Sunday；　but　it　gave　me　a　chill。〃

〃We　discovered　the　loveliest　little　lace…shop；〃　observed　the　young
girl；　with　a　serenity　that　was　superior　to　bravado。

Her　father　looked　at　her　a　while；　then　turned　about　again；　leaning　on
the　parapet；　and　gazed　away　at　the　〃hills。〃

〃Well；　it　was　certainly　cheap；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck；　also　contemplating
the　Alps。

〃We　are　going　to　Chamouni；〃　said　her　husband。　　〃You　haven't　any
occasion　for　lace　at　Chamouni。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　to　hear　you　have　decided　to　go　somewhere；〃　rejoined
his　wife。　　〃I　don't　want　to　be　a　fixture　at　a　boarding…house。〃

〃You　can　wear　lace　anywhere；〃　said　Miss　Ruck；　〃if　you　pat　it　on
right。　　That's　the　great　thing；　with　lace。　　I　don't　think　they　know
how　to　wear　lace　in　Europe。　　I　know　how　I　mean　to　wear　mine；　but　I
mean　to　keep　it　till　I　get　home。〃

Her　father　transferred　his　melancholy　gaze　to　her　elaborately…
appointed　little　person；　there　was　a　great　deal　of　very　new…looking
detail　in　Miss　Ruck's　appearance。　　Then；　in　a　tone　of　voice　quite　out
of　consonance　with　his　facial　despondency；　〃Have　you　purchased　a
great　deal？〃　he　inquired。

〃I　have　purchased　enough　for　you　to　make　a　fuss　about。〃

〃He　can't　make　a　fuss　about　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck。

〃Well；　you'll　see！〃　declared　the　young　girl　with　a　little　sharp
laugh。

But　her　father　went　on；　in　the　same　tone：　　〃Have　you　got　it　in　your
pocket？　　Why　don't　you　put　it　onwhy　don't　you　hang　it　round　you？〃

〃I'll　hang　it　round　YOU；　if　you　don't　look　out！〃　cried　Miss　Sophy。

〃Don't　you　want　to　show　it　to　this　gentleman？〃　Mr。　Ruck　continued。

〃Mercy；　how　you　do　talk　about　that　lace！〃　said　his　wife。

〃Well；　I　want　to　be　lively。　　There's　every　reason　for　it；　we're　going
to　Chamouni。〃

〃You're　restless；　that's　what's　the　matter　with　you。〃　　And　Mrs。　Ruck
got　up。

〃No；　I　ain't；〃　said　her　husband。　　〃I　never　felt　so　quiet；　I　feel　as
peaceful　as　a　little　child。〃

Mrs。　Ruck；　who　had　no　sense　whatever　of　humour；　looked　at　her
daughter　and　at　me。　　〃Well；　I　hope　you'll　improve；〃　she　said。

〃Send　in　the　bills；〃　Mr。　Ruck　went　on；　rising　to　his　feet。　　〃Don't
hesitate；　Sophy。　　I　don't　care　what　you　do　now。　　In　for　a　penny；　in
for　a　pound。〃

Miss　Ruck　joined　her　mother；　with　a　little　toss　of　her　head；　and　we
followed　the　ladies　to　the　carriage。　　〃In　your　place；〃　said　Miss
Sophy　to　her　father；　〃I　wouldn't　talk　so　much　about　pennies　and
pounds　before　strangers。〃

Poor　Mr。　Ruck　appeared　to　feel　the　force　of　this　observation；　which；
in　the　consciousness　of　a　man　who　had　never　been　〃mean；〃　could　hardly
fail　to　strike　a　responsive　chord。　　He　coloured　a　little；　and　he　was
silent；　his　companions　got　into　their　vehicle；　the　front　seat　of
which　was　adorned　with　a　large　parcel。　　Mr。　Ruck　gave　the　parcel　a
little　poke　with　his　umbrella；　and　then；　turning　to　me　with　a　rather
grimly　penitential　smile；　〃After　all；〃　he　said；　〃for　the　ladies
that's　the　principal　interest。〃



CHAPTER　VII。



Old　M。　Pigeonneau　had　more　than　once　proposed　to　me　to　take　a　walk；
but　I　had　hitherto　been　unable　to　respond　to　so　alluring　an
invitation。　　It　befell；　however；　one　afternoon；　that　I　perceived　him
going　forth　upon　a　desultory　stroll；　with　a　certain　lonesomeness　of
demeanour　that　attracted　my　sympathy。　　I　hastily　overtook　him；　and
passed　my　hand　into　his　venerable　arm；　a　proceeding　which　produced　in
the　good　old　man　so　jovial　a　sense　of　comradeship　that　he　ardently
proposed　we　should　bend　our　steps　to　the　English　Garden；　no　locality
less　festive　was　worthy　of　the　occasion。　　To　the　English　Garden；
accordingly；　we　went；　it　lay　beyond　the　bridge；　beside　the　lake。　　It
was　very　pretty　and　very　animated；　there　was　a　band　playing　in　the
middle；　and　a　considerable　number　of　persons　sitting　under　the　small
trees；　on　benches　and　little　chairs；　or　strolling　beside　the　blue
water。　　We　joined　the　strollers；　we　observed　our　companions；　and
conversed　on　obvious　topics。　　Some　of　these　last；　of　course；　were　the
pretty　women　who　embellished　the　scene；　and　who；　in　the　light　of　M。
Pigeonneau's　comprehensive　criticism；　appeared　surprisingly　numerous。
He　seemed　bent　upon　our　making　up　our　minds　as　to　which　was　the
prettiest；　and　as　this　was　an　innocent　game　I　consented　to　play　at
it。

Suddenly　M。　Pigeonneau　stopped；　pressing　my　arm　with　the　liveliest
emotion。　　〃La　voila；　la　voila；　the　prettiest！〃　he　quickly　murmured；
〃coming　toward　us；　in　a　blue　dress；　with　the　other。〃　　It　was　at　the
other　I　was　looking；　for　the　other；　to　my　surprise；　was　our
interesting　fellow…pensioner；　the　daughter　of　a　vigilant　mother。　　M。
Pigeonneau；　meanwhile；　had　redoubled　his　exclamations；　he　had
recognised　Miss　Sophy　Ruck。　　〃Oh；　la　belle　rencontre；　nos　aimables
convives；　the　prettiest　girl　in　the　world；　in　effect！〃

We　immediately　greeted　and　joined　the　young　ladies；　who；　like
ourselves；　were　walking　arm　in　arm　and　enjoying　the　scene。

〃I　was　citing　you　with　admiration　to　my　friend　even　before　I　had
recognised　you；〃　said　M。　Pigeonneau　to　Miss　Ruck。

〃I　don't　believe　in　French　compliments；〃　remarked　this　young　lady；
presenting　her　back　to　the　smiling　old　man。

〃Are　you　and　Miss　Ruck　walking　alone？〃　I　asked　of　her　companion。
〃You　had　better　accept　of　M。　Pigeonneau's　gallant　protection；　and　of
mine。〃

Aurora　Church　had　taken　her　hand　out　of　Miss　Ruck's　arm；　she　looked
at　me；　smiling；　with　her　head　a　little　inclined；　while；　upon　her
shoulder；　she　made　her　open　parasol　revolve。　　〃Which　is　most
improperto　walk　alone　or　to　walk　with　gentlemen？　　I　wish　to　do　what
is　most　improper。〃

〃What　mysterious　logic　governs　your　conduct？〃　I　inquired。

〃He　thinks　you　can't　understand　him　when　he　talks　like　that；〃　said
Miss　Ruck。　　〃But　I　do　understand　you；　always！〃

〃So　I　have　always　ventured　to　hope；　my　dear　Miss　Ruck。〃

〃Well；　if　I　didn't；　it　woul