a second home-第3部分

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　which　made　them　as　much　enemies　as　friends；　at　once　indifferent　and　attached；　drawn　to　each　other　by　impulse；　and　severed　by　circumstance。　Each　perhaps　hoped　to　preserve　a　cherished　illusion。　It　might　almost　have　been　thought　that　the　stranger　feared　lest　he　should　hear　some　vulgar　word　from　those　lips　as　fresh　and　pure　as　a　flower；　and　that　Caroline　felt　herself　unworthy　of　the　mysterious　personage　who　was　evidently　possessed　of　power　and　wealth。

As　to　Madame　Crochard；　that　tender　mother；　almost　angry　at　her　daughter's　persistent　lack　of　decisiveness；　now　showed　a　sulky　face　to　the　〃Black　Gentleman；〃　on　whom　she　had　hitherto　smiled　with　a　sort　of　benevolent　servility。　Never　before　had　she　complained　so　bitterly　of　being　compelled；　at　her　age；　to　do　the　cooking；　never　had　her　catarrh　and　her　rheumatism　wrung　so　many　groans　from　her；　finally；　she　could　not；　this　winter；　promise　so　many　ells　of　net　as　Caroline　had　hitherto　been　able　to　count　on。

Under　these　circumstances；　and　towards　the　end　of　December；　at　the　time　when　bread　was　dearest；　and　that　dearth　of　corn　was　beginning　to　be　felt　which　made　the　year　1816　so　hard　on　the　poor；　the　stranger　observed　on　the　features　of　the　girl　whose　name　was　still　unknown　to　him；　the　painful　traces　of　a　secret　sorrow　which　his　kindest　smiles　could　not　dispel。　Before　long　he　saw　in　Caroline's　eyes　the　dimness　attributed　to　long　hours　at　night。　One　night；　towards　the　end　of　the　month；　the　Gentleman　in　Black　passed　down　the　Rue　du　Tourniquet　at　the　quite　unwonted　hour　of　one　in　the　morning。　The　perfect　silence　allowed　of　his　hearing　before　passing　the　house　the　lachrymose　voice　of　the　old　mother；　and　Caroline's　even　sadder　tones；　mingling　with　the　swish　of　a　shower　of　sleet。　He　crept　along　as　slowly　as　he　could；　and　then；　at　the　risk　of　being　taken　up　by　the　police；　he　stood　still　below　the　window　to　hear　the　mother　and　daughter；　while　watching　them　through　the　largest　of　the　holes　in　the　yellow　muslin　curtains；　which　were　eaten　away　by　wear　as　a　cabbage　leaf　is　riddled　by　caterpillars。　The　inquisitive　stranger　saw　a　sheet　of　paper　on　the　table　that　stood　between　the　two　work…frames；　and　on　which　stood　the　lamp　and　the　globes　filled　with　water。　He　at　once　identified　it　as　a　writ。　Madame　Crochard　was　weeping；　and　Caroline's　voice　was　thick；　and　had　lost　its　sweet；　caressing　tone。

〃Why　be　so　heartbroken；　mother？　Monsieur　Molineux　will　not　sell　us　up　or　turn　us　out　before　I　have　finished　this　dress；　only　two　nights　more　and　I　shall　take　it　home　to　Madame　Roguin。〃

〃And　supposing　she　keeps　you　waiting　as　usual？And　will　the　money　for　the　gown　pay　the　baker　too？〃

The　spectator　of　this　scene　had　long　practice　in　reading　faces；　he　fancied　he　could　discern　that　the　mother's　grief　was　as　false　as　the　daughter's　was　genuine；　he　turned　away；　and　presently　came　back。　When　he　next　peeped　through　the　hole　in　the　curtain；　Madame　Crochard　was　in　bed。　The　young　needlewoman；　bending　over　her　frame；　was　embroidering　with　indefatigable　diligence；　on　the　table；　with　the　writ　lay　a　triangular　hunch　of　bread；　placed　there；　no　doubt；　to　sustain　her　in　the　night　and　to　remind　her　of　the　reward　of　her　industry。　The　stranger　was　tremulous　with　pity　and　sympathy；　he　threw　his　purse　in　through　a　cracked　pane　so　that　it　should　fall　at　the　girl's　feet；　and　then；　without　waiting　to　enjoy　her　surprise；　he　escaped；　his　cheeks　tingling。

Next　morning　the　shy　and　melancholy　stranger　went　past　with　a　look　of　deep　preoccupation；　but　he　could　not　escape　Caroline's　gratitude；　she　had　opened　her　window　and　affected　to　be　digging　in　the　square　window…　box　buried　in　snow；　a　pretext　of　which　the　clumsy　ingenuity　plainly　told　her　benefactor　that　she　had　been　resolved　not　to　see　him　only　through　the　pane。　Her　eyes　were　full　of　tears　as　she　bowed　her　head；　as　much　as　to　say　to　her　benefactor；　〃I　can　only　repay　you　from　my　heart。〃

But　the　Gentleman　in　Black　affected　not　to　understand　the　meaning　of　this　sincere　gratitude。　In　the　evening；　as　he　came　by；　Caroline　was　busy　mending　the　window　with　a　sheet　of　paper；　and　she　smiled　at　him；　showing　her　row　of　pearly　teeth　like　a　promise。　Thenceforth　the　Stranger　went　another　way；　and　was　no　more　seen　in　the　Rue　due　Tourniquet。



It　was　one　day　early　in　the　following　May　that；　as　Caroline　was　giving　the　roots　of　the　honeysuckle　a　glass　of　water；　one　Saturday　morning；　she　caught　sight　of　a　narrow　strip　of　cloudless　blue　between　the　black　lines　of　houses；　and　said　to　her　mother：

〃Mamma；　we　must　go　to…morrow　for　a　trip　to　Montmorency！〃

She　had　scarcely　uttered　the　words；　in　a　tone　of　glee；　when　the　Gentleman　in　Black　came　by；　sadder　and　more　dejected　than　ever。　Caroline's　innocent　and　ingratiating　glance　might　have　been　taken　for　an　invitation。　And；　in　fact；　on　the　following　day；　when　Madame　Crochard；　dressed　in　a　pelisse　of　claret…colored　merinos；　a　silk　bonnet；　and　striped　shawl　of　an　imitation　Indian　pattern；　came　out　to　choose　seats　in　a　chaise　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue　du　Faubourg　Saint…　Denis　and　the　Rue　d'Enghien；　there　she　found　her　Unknown　standing　like　a　man　waiting　for　his　wife。　A　smile　of　pleasure　lighted　up　the　Stranger's　face　when　his　eye　fell　on　Caroline；　her　neat　feet　shod　in　plum…colored　prunella　gaiters；　and　her　white　dress　tossed　by　a　breeze　that　would　have　been　fatal　to　an　ill…made　woman；　but　which　displayed　her　graceful　form。　Her　face；　shaded　by　a　rice…straw　bonnet　lined　with　pink　silk；　seemed　to　beam　with　a　reflection　from　heaven；　her　broad；　plum…colored　belt　set　off　a　waist　he　could　have　spanned；　her　hair；　parted　in　two　brown　bands　over　a　forehead　as　white　as　snow；　gave　her　an　expression　of　innocence　which　no　other　feature　contradicted。　Enjoyment　seemed　to　have　made　Caroline　as　light　as　the　straw　of　her　hat；　but　when　she　saw　the　Gentleman　in　Black；　radiant　hope　suddenly　eclipsed　her　bright　dress　and　her　beauty。　The　Stranger；　who　appeared　to　be　in　doubt；　had　not　perhaps　made　up　his　mind　to　be　the　girl's　escort　for　the　day　till　this　revelation　of　the　delight　she　felt　on　seeing　him。　He　at　once　hired　a　vehicle　with　a　fairly　good　horse；　to　drive　to　Saint…Leu…Taverny；　and　he　offered　Madame　Crochard　and　her　daughter　seats　by　his　side。　The　mother　accepted　without　ado；　but　presently；　when　they　were　already　on　the　way　to　Saint…Denis；　she　was　by　way　of　having　scruples；　and　made　a　few　civil　speeches　as　to　the　possible　inconvenience　two　women　might　cause　their　companion。

〃Perhaps；　monsieur；　you　wished　to　drive　alone　to　Saint…Leu…Taverny；〃　said　she；　with　affected　simplicity。

Before　long　she　complained　of　the　heat；　and　especially　of　her　cough；　which；　she　said；　had　hindered　her　from　closing　her　eyes　all　night；　and　by　the　time　the　carriage　had　reached　Saint…Denis；　Madame　Crochard　seemed　to　be　fast　asleep。　Her　snores；　indeed；　seemed；　to　the　Gentleman　in　Black；　rather　doubtfully　genuine；　and　he　frowned　as　he　looked　at　the　old　woman　with　a　very　suspicious　eye。

〃Oh；　she　is　fast　asleep；〃　said　Caroline　quilelessly；　〃she　never　ceased　coughing　all　night。　She　must　be　very　tired。〃

Her　companion　made　no　reply；　but　he　looked　at　the　girl　with　a　smile　that　seemed　to　say：

〃Poor　child；　you　little　know　your　mother！〃

However；　in　spite　of　his　distrust；　as　the　chaise　made　its　way　down　the　long　avenue　of　poplars　leading　to　Eaubonne；　the　Stranger　thought　that　Madame　Crochard　was　really　asleep；　perhaps　he　did　not　care　to　inquire　how　far　her　slumbers　were　genuine　or　feigned。　Whether　it　were　that　the　brilliant　sky；　the　pure　country　air；　and　the　heady　fragrance　of　the　first　green　shoots　of　the　poplars；　the　catkins　of　willow；　and　the　flowers　of　the　blackthorn　had　inclined　his　heart　to　open　like　all　the　nature　around　him；　or　that　any　long　restraint　was　too　oppressive　while　Caroline's　sparkling　eyes　responded　to　his　own；　the　Gentleman　in　Black　entered　on　a　conversation　with　his　young　companion；　as　aimless　as　the　swaying　of　the　branches　in　the　wind；　as　devious　as　the　flitting　of　the　butterflies　in　the　azure　air；　as　illogical　as　the　melodious　murmur　of　the　fields；　and；　like　it；　full　of　mysterious　love。　At　that　season　is　not　the　rural　country　as　tremulous　as　a　bride　that　has　donned　her　marriage　robe；　does　it　not　invite　the　coldest　soul　to　be　happy？　What　heart　could　remain　unthawed；　and　what　lips　could　keep　its　secret；　on　leaving　the　gloomy　streets　of　the　Marais　for　the　first　time　since　the　previous　autumn；　and　entering　the　smiling　and　picturesque　valley　of　Montmorency；　on　seeing　it　in　the　morning　light；　its　endless　horizons　receding　from　view；　and　then　lifting　a　charmed　gaze　to　eyes　which　expressed　no　less　infinitude　mingled　with　love？

The　Stranger　discovered　that　Caroline　was　sprightly　rather　than　witty；　affectionate；　but　ill　educated；　but　while　her　laugh　was　giddy；　her　words　promised　genuine　feeling。　When；　in　response　to　her　companion's　shrewd　questioning；　the　girl　spoke　with　the　heartfelt　effusiveness　of　which　the　lower　classes　are　lavish；　not　guarding　it　with　reticence　like　people　of　the　world；　the　Black　Gentleman's　face　brightened；　and　seemed　to　renew　its　youth。　His　countenance　by　degrees　lost　the　sadness　that　lent　sternness　to　his　features；　and　little　by　little　they　gained　a　look　of　handsome　youthfulness　which　made　Caroline　proud　and　happy。　The　pretty　needlewoman　guessed　that　her　new　friend　had　been　long　weaned　from　tenderness　and　love；　and　no　longer　believed　in　the　devotion　of　woman。　Finally；　some　unexpected　sally　in　Caroline's　light　prattle　lifted　the　last　veil　that　concealed　the　real　youth　and　genuine　character　of　the　Stranger's　physiognomy；　he　seemed　to　bid　farewell　to　the　ideas　that　haunted　him；　and　showed　the　natural　liveliness　that　lay　beneath　the　solemnity　of　his　expression。

Their　conversation　had　insensibly　become　so　intimate；　that　by　the　time　when　the　carriage　stopped　at　the　first　houses　of　the　straggling　village　of　Saint…Leu；　Caroline　was　calling　the　gentleman　Monsieur　Roger。　Then　for　the　first　time　the　old　mother　awoke。

〃Caroline；　she　has　heard　everything！〃　said　Roger　suspiciously　in　the　girl's　ear。

Caroline's　reply　was　an　exquisite　smile　of　disbelief；　which　dissipated　the　dark　cloud　that　his　fear　of　some　plot　on　the　old　woman's　part　had　brought　to　this　suspicious　mortal's　brow。　Madame　Crochard　was　amazed　at　nothing；　approved　of　everything；　followed　her　daughter　and