original short stories-3-第2部分

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almost　imperceptible；　movement　of　the　head　and　an　English　word；　murmured
so　low　that　I　did　not　understand　it；　were　her　only　acknowledgments。

〃I　ceased　occupying　myself　with　her；　although　she　had　disturbed　my
thoughts。

〃At　the　end　of　three　days　I　knew　as　much　about　her　as　did　Madame
Lecacheur　herself。

〃She　was　called　Miss　Harriet。　　Seeking　out　a　secluded　village　in　which　to
pass　the　summer；　she　had　been　attracted　to　Benouville　some　six　months
before　and　did　not　seem　disposed　to　leave　it。　　She　never　spoke　at　table；
ate　rapidly；　reading　all　the　while　a　small　book　of　the　Protestant
propaganda。　　She　gave　a　copy　of　it　to　everybody。　　The　cure　himself　had
received　no　less　than　four　copies；　conveyed　by　an　urchin　to　whom　she　had
paid　two　sous　commission。　　She　said　sometimes　to　our　hostess　abruptly；
without　preparing　her　in　the　least　for　the　declaration：

〃'I　love　the　Saviour　more　than　all。　　I　admire　him　in　all　creation；
I　adore　him　in　all　nature；　I　carry　him　always　in　my　heart。'

〃And　she　would　immediately　present　the　old　woman　with　one　of　her　tracts
which　were　destined　to　convert　the　universe。

〃In；　the　village　she　was　not　liked。　　In　fact；　the　schoolmaster　having
pronounced　her　an　atheist；　a　kind　of　stigma　attached　to　her。　　The　cure；
who　had　been　consulted　by　Madame　Lecacheur；　responded：

〃'She　is　a　heretic；　but　God　does　not　wish　the　death　of　the　sinner；　and　I
believe　her　to　be　a　person　of　pure　morals。'

〃These　words；　'atheist；'　'heretic；'　words　which　no　one　can　precisely
define；　threw　doubts　into　some　minds。　　It　was　asserted；　however；　that
this　English　woman　was　rich　and　that　she　had　passed　her　life　in
travelling　through　every　country　in　the　world　because　her　family　had　cast
her　off。　　Why　had　her　family　cast　her　off？　　Because　of　her　impiety；　of
course！

〃She　was；　in　fact；　one　of　those　people　of　exalted　principles；　one　of
those　opinionated　puritans；　of　which　England　produces　so　many；　one　of
those　good　and　insupportable　old　maids　who　haunt　the　tables　d'hote　of
every　hotel　in　Europe；　who　spoil　Italy；　poison　Switzerland；　render　the
charming　cities　of　the　Mediterranean　uninhabitable；　carry　everywhere
their　fantastic　manias　their　manners　of　petrified　vestals；　their
indescribable　toilets　and　a　certain　odor　of　india…rubber　which　makes　one
believe　that　at　night　they　are　slipped　into　a　rubber　casing。

〃Whenever　I　caught　sight　of　one　of　these　individuals　in　a　hotel　I　fled
like　the　birds　who　see　a　scarecrow　in　a　field。

〃This　woman；　however；　appeared　so　very　singular　that　she　did　not
displease　me。

〃Madame　Lecacheur；　hostile　by　instinct　to　everything　that　was　not　rustic；
felt　in　her　narrow　soul　a　kind　of　hatred　for　the　ecstatic　declarations　of
the　old　maid。　　She　had　found　a　phrase　by　which　to　describe　her；　a　term　of
contempt　that　rose　to　her　lips；　called　forth　by　I　know　not　what　confused
and　mysterious　mental　ratiocination。　　She　said：　'That　woman　is　a
demoniac。'　　This　epithet；　applied　to　that　austere　and　sentimental
creature；　seemed　to　me　irresistibly　droll。　　I　myself　never　called　her
anything　now　but　'the　demoniac；'　experiencing　a　singular　pleasure　in
pronouncing　aloud　this　word　on　perceiving　her。

〃One　day　I　asked　Mother　Lecacheur　：　'Well；　what　is　our　demoniac　about　to…
day？'

〃To　which　my　rustic　friend　replied　with　a　shocked　air：

〃'What　do　you　think；　sir？　　She　picked　up　a　toad　which　had　had　its　paw
crushed　and　carried　it　to　her　room　and　has　put　it　in　her　washbasin　and
bandaged　it　as　if　it　were　a　man。　　If　that　is　not　profanation　I　should
like　to　know　what　is！'

〃On　another　occasion；　when　walking　along　the　shore　she　bought　a　large
fish　which　had　just　been　caught；　simply　to　throw　it　back　into　the　sea
again。　　The　sailor　from　whom　she　had　bought　it；　although　she　paid　him
handsomely；　now　began　to　swear；　more　exasperated；　indeed；　than　if　she　had
put　her　hand　into　his　pocket　and　taken　his　money。　　For　more　than　a　month
he　could　not　speak　of　the　circumstance　without　becoming　furious　and
denouncing　it　as　an　outrage。　　Oh；　yes！　　She　was　indeed　a　demoniac；　this
Miss　Harriet；　and　Mother　Lecacheur　must　have　had　an　inspiration　in　thus
christening　her。

〃The　stable　boy；　who　was　called　Sapeur；　because　he　had　served　in　Africa
in　his　youth；　entertained　other　opinions。　　He　said　with　a　roguish　air：
'She　is　an　old　hag　who　has　seen　life。'

〃If　the　poor　woman　had　but　known！

〃The　little　kind…hearted　Celeste　did　not　wait　upon　her　willingly；　but　I
was　never　able　to　understand　why。　　Probably　her　only　reason　was　that　she
was　a　stranger；　of　another　race；　of　a　different　tongue　and　of　another
religion。　　She　was；　in　fact；　a　demoniac！

〃She　passed　her　time　wandering　about　the　country；　adoring　and　seeking　God
in　nature。　　I　found　her　one　evening　on　her　knees　in　a　cluster　of　bushes。
Having　discovered　something　red　through　the　leaves；　I　brushed　aside　the
branches；　and　Miss　Harriet　at　once　rose　to　her　feet；　confused　at　having
been　found　thus；　fixing　on　me　terrified　eyes　like　those　of　an　owl
surprised　in　open　day。

〃Sometimes；　when　I　was　working　among　the　rocks；　I　would　suddenly　descry
her　on　the　edge　of　the　cliff　like　a　lighthouse　signal。　　She　would　be
gazing　in　rapture　at　the　vast　sea　glittering　in　the　sunlight　and　the
boundless　sky　with　its　golden　tints。　　Sometimes　I　would　distinguish　her
at　the　end　of　the　valley；　walking　quickly　with　her　elastic　English　step；
and　I　would　go　toward　her；　attracted　by　I　know　not　what；　simply　to　see
her　illuminated　visage；　her　dried…up；　ineffable　features；　which　seemed　to
glow　with　inward　and　profound　happiness。

〃I　would　often　encounter　her　also　in　the　corner　of　a　field；　sitting　on
the　grass　under　the　shadow　of　an　apple　tree；　with　her　little　religious
booklet　lying　open　on　her　knee　while　she　gazed　out　at　the　distance。

〃I　could　not　tear　myself　away　from　that　quiet　country　neighborhood；　to
which　I　was　attached　by　a　thousand　links　of　love　for　its　wide　and
peaceful　landscape。　　I　was　happy　in　this　sequestered　farm；　far　removed
from　everything；　but　in　touch　with　the　earth；　the　good；　beautiful；　green
earth。　　Andmust　I　avow　it？there　was；　besides；　a　little　curiosity
which　retained　me　at　the　residence　of　Mother　Lecacheur。　　I　wished　to
become　acquainted　a　little　with　this　strange　Miss　Harriet　and　to　know
what　transpires　in　the　solitary　souls　of　those　wandering　old　English
women。

〃We　became　acquainted　in　a　rather　singular　manner。　　I　had　just　finished　a
study　which　appeared　to　me　to　be　worth　something；　and　so　it　was；　as　it
sold　for　ten　thousand　francs　fifteen　years　later。　　It　was　as　simple；
however；　as　two　and　two　make　four　and　was　not　according　to　academic
rules。　　The　whole　right　side　of　my　canvas　represented　a　rock；　an　enormous
rock；　covered　with　sea…wrack；　brown；　yellow　and　red；　across　which　the　sun
poured　like　a　stream　of　oil。　　The　light　fell　upon　the　rock　as　though　it
were　aflame　without　the　sun；　which　was　at　my　back；　being　visible。　　That
was　all。　　A　first　bewildering　study　of　blazing；　gorgeous　light。

〃On　the　left　was　the　sea；　not　the　blue　sea；　the　slate…colored　sea；　but　a
sea　of　jade；　greenish；　milky　and　solid　beneath　the　deep…colored　sky。

〃I　was　so　pleased　with　my　work　that　I　danced　from　sheer　delight　as　I
carried　it　back　to　the　inn。　　I　would　have　liked　the　whole　world　to　see　it
at　once。　　I　can　remember　that　I　showed　it　to　a　cow　that　was　browsing　by
the　wayside；　exclaiming　as　I　did　so：　'Look　at　that；　my　old　beauty；　you
will　not　often　see　its　like　again。'

〃When　I　had　reached　the　house　I　immediately　called　out　to　Mother
Lecacheur；　shouting　with　all　my　might：

〃'Hullo；　there！　　Mrs。　Landlady；　come　here　and　look　at　this。'

〃The　rustic　approached　and　looked　at　my　work　with　her　stupid　eyes　which
distinguished　nothing　and　could　not　even　tell　whether　the　picture
represented　an　ox　or　a　house。

〃Miss　Harriet　just　then　came　home；　and　she　passed　behind　me　just　as　I　was
holding　out　my　canvas　at　arm's　length；　exhibiting　it　to　our　landlady。
The　demoniac　could　not　help　but　see　it；　for　I　took　care　to　exhibit　the
thing　in　such　a　way　that　it　could　not　escape　her　notice。　　She　stopped
abruptly　and　stood　motionless；　astonished。　　It　was　her　rock　which　was
depicted；　the　one　which　she　climbed　to　dream　away　her　time　undisturbed。

〃She　uttered　a　British　'Aoh；'　which　was　at　once　so　accentuated　and　so
flattering　that　I　turned　round　to　her；　smiling；　and　said：

〃'This　is　my　latest　study；　mademoiselle。'

〃She　murmured　rapturously；　comically　and　tenderly：

〃'Oh！　　monsieur；　you　understand　nature　as　a　living　thing。'

〃I　colored　and　was　more　touched　by　that　compliment　than　if　it　had　come
from　a　queen。　　I　was　captured；　conquered；　vanquished。　　I　could　have
embraced　her；　upon　my　honor。

〃I　took　my　seat　at　table　beside　her　as　usual。　　For　the　first　time　she
spoke；　thinking　aloud：

〃'Oh！　　I　do　love　nature。'

〃I　passed　her　some　bread；　some　water；　some　wine。　　She　now　accepted　these
with　a　little　smile　of　a　mummy。　　I　then　began　to　talk　about　the　scenery。

〃After　the　meal　we　rose　from　the　table　together　and　walked　leisurely
across　the　courtyard；　then；　attracted　doubtless　by　the　fiery　glow　which
the　setting　sun　cast　over　the　surface　of　the　sea；　I　opened　the　gate　which
led　to　the　cliff；　and　we　walked　along　side　by　side；　as　contented　as　two
persons　might　be　who　have　just　learned　to　understand　and　penetrate　each
other's　motives　and　feelings。

〃It　was　one　of　those　warm；　soft　evenings　which　impart　a　sense　of　ease　to
flesh　and　spirit　alike。　　All　is　enjoyment；　everything　charms。　　The　balmy
air；　laden　with　the　perfume　of　grasses　and　the　smell　of　seaweed；　soothes
the　olfactory　sense　with　its　wild　fragrance；　soothes　the　palate　with　its
sea　savor；　soothes　the　mind　with　its　pervading　sweetness。

〃We　were　now　walking　along　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　high　above　the
boundless　sea　which　rolled　its　little　waves　below　us　at　a　distance　of　a
hundred　metres。　　And　we　drank　in　with　open　mouth　and　expanded　chest　that
fresh　breeze；　briny　from　kissing　the　waves；　that　came　from　the　ocean　and
passed　across　our　faces。

〃Wrapped　in　her　plaid　shawl；　with　a　look　of　inspiration　as　she　faced　the
breeze；　the　English　woman　gazed　fixedly　at　the　great　sun　ball　as　it
descended　toward　the　horizon。　　Far　off　in　the　distance　a　three…master　in
full　sail　was