a second home-第5部分

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talled　her　there。　Hangings　of　gray　stuff　trimmed　with　green　silk　adorned　the　walls　of　her　bedroom；　the　seats；　covered　with　light…　colored　woolen　sateen；　were　of　easy　and　comfortable　shapes；　and　in　the　latest　fashion；　a　chest　of　drawers　of　some　simple　wood；　inlaid　with　lines　of　a　darker　hue；　contained　the　treasures　of　the　toilet；　a　writing…table　to　match　served　for　inditing　love…letters　on　scented　paper；　the　bed；　with　antique　draperies；　could　not　fail　to　suggest　thoughts　of　love　by　its　soft　hangings　of　elegant　muslin；　the　window…　curtains；　of　drab　silk　with　green　fringe；　were　always　half　drawn　to　subdue　the　light；　a　bronze　clock　represented　Love　crowning　Psyche；　and　a　carpet　of　Gothic　design　on　a　red　ground　set　off　the　other　accessories　of　this　delightful　retreat。　There　was　a　small　dressing…　table　in　front　of　a　long　glass；　and　here　the　needlewoman　sat；　out　of　patience　with　Plaisir；　the　famous　hairdresser。

〃Do　you　think　you　will　have　done　to…day？〃　said　she。

〃Your　hair　is　so　long　and　so　thick；　madame；〃　replied　Plaisir。

Caroline　could　not　help　smiling。　The　man's　flattery　had　no　doubt　revived　in　her　mind　the　memory　of　the　passionate　praises　lavished　by　her　lover　on　the　beauty　of　her　hair；　which　he　delighted　in。

The　hairdresser　having　done；　a　waiting…maid　came　and　held　counsel　with　her　as　to　the　dress　in　which　Roger　would　like　best　to　see　her。　It　was　the　beginning　of　September　1816；　and　the　weather　was　cold；　she　chose　a　green　/grenadine/　trimmed　with　chinchilla。　As　soon　as　she　was　dressed；　Caroline　flew　into　the　drawing…room　and　opened　a　window；　out　of　which　she　stepped　on　to　the　elegant　balcony；　that　adorned　the　front　of　the　house；　there　she　stood；　with　her　arms　crossed；　in　a　charming　attitude；　not　to　show　herself　to　the　admiration　of　the　passers…by　and　see　them　turn　to　gaze　at　her；　but　to　be　able　to　look　out　on　the　Boulevard　at　the　bottom　of　the　Rue　Taitbout。　This　side　view；　really　very　comparable　to　the　peephole　made　by　actors　in　the　drop…scene　of　a　theatre；　enabled　her　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　numbers　of　elegant　carriages；　and　a　crowd　of　persons；　swept　past　with　the　rapidity　of　/Ombres　Chinoises/。　Not　knowing　whether　Roger　would　arrive　in　a　carriage　or　on　foot；　the　needlewoman　from　the　Rue　du　Tourniquet　looked　by　turns　at　the　foot…　passengers；　and　at　the　tilburieslight　cabs　introduced　into　Paris　by　the　English。

Expressions　of　refractoriness　and　of　love　passed　by　turns　over　her　youthful　face　when；　after　waiting　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　neither　her　keen　eye　nor　her　heart　had　announced　the　arrival　of　him　whom　she　knew　to　be　due。　What　disdain；　what　indifference　were　shown　in　her　beautiful　features　for　all　the　other　creatures　who　were　bustling　like　ants　below　her　feet。　Her　gray　eyes；　sparkling　with　fun；　now　positively　flamed。　Given　over　to　her　passion；　she　avoided　admiration　with　as　much　care　as　the　proudest　devote　to　encouraging　it　when　they　drive　about　Paris；　certainly　feeling　no　care　as　to　whether　her　fair　countenance　leaning　over　the　balcony；　or　her　little　foot　between　the　bars；　and　the　picture　of　her　bright　eyes　and　delicious　turned…up　nose　would　be　effaced　or　no　from　the　minds　of　the　passers…by　who　admired　them；　she　saw　but　one　face；　and　had　but　one　idea。　When　the　spotted　head　of　a　certain　bay　horse　happened　to　cross　the　narrow　strip　between　the　two　rows　of　houses；　Caroline　gave　a　little　shiver　and　stood　on　tiptoe　in　hope　of　recognizing　the　white　traces　and　the　color　of　the　tilbury。　It　was　he！

Roger　turned　the　corner　of　the　street；　saw　the　balcony；　whipped　the　horse；　which　came　up　at　a　gallop；　and　stopped　at　the　bronze…green　door　that　he　knew　as　well　as　his　master　did。　The　door　of　the　apartment　was　opened　at　once　by　the　maid；　who　had　heard　her　mistress'　exclamation　of　delight。　Roger　rushed　up　to　the　drawing…room；　clasped　Caroline　in　his　arms；　and　embraced　her　with　the　effusive　feeling　natural　when　two　beings　who　love　each　other　rarely　meet。　He　led　her；　or　rather　they　went　by　a　common　impulse；　their　arms　about　each　other；　into　the　quiet　and　fragrant　bedroom；　a　settee　stood　ready　for　them　to　sit　by　the　fire；　and　for　a　moment　they　looked　at　each　other　in　silence；　expressing　their　happiness　only　by　their　clasped　hands；　and　communicating　their　thoughts　in　a　fond　gaze。

〃Yes；　it　is　he！〃　she　said　at　last。　〃Yes；　it　is　you。　Do　you　know；　I　have　not　seen　you　for　three　long　days；　an　age！But　what　is　the　matter？　You　are　unhappy。〃

〃My　poor　Caroline〃

〃There；　you　see！　'poor　Caroline'〃

〃No；　no；　do　not　laugh；　my　darling；　we　cannot　go　to　the　Feydeau　Theatre　together　this　evening。〃

Caroline　put　on　a　little　pout；　but　it　vanished　immediately。

〃How　absurd　I　am！　How　can　I　think　of　going　to　the　play　when　I　see　you？　Is　not　the　sight　of　you　the　only　spectacle　I　care　for？〃　she　cried；　pushing　her　fingers　through　Roger's　hair。

〃I　am　obliged　to　go　to　the　Attorney…General's。　We　have　a　knotty　case　in　hand。　He　met　me　in　the　great　hall　at　the　Palais；　and　as　I　am　to　plead；　he　asked　me　to　dine　with　him。　But；　my　dearest；　you　can　go　to　the　theatre　with　your　mother；　and　I　will　join　you　if　the　meeting　breaks　up　early。〃

〃To　the　theatre　without　you！〃　cried　she　in　a　tone　of　amazement；　〃enjoy　any　pleasure　you　do　not　share！　O　my　Roger！　you　do　not　deserve　a　kiss；〃　she　added；　throwing　her　arms　round　his　neck　with　an　artless　and　impassioned　impulse。

〃Caroline；　I　must　go　home　and　dress。　The　Marais　is　some　way　off；　and　I　still　have　some　business　to　finish。〃

〃Take　care　what　you　are　saying；　monsieur；〃　said　she；　interrupting　him。　〃My　mother　says　that　when　a　man　begins　to　talk　about　his　business；　he　is　ceasing　to　love。〃

〃Caroline！　Am　I　not　here？　Have　I　not　stolen　this　hour　from　my　pitiless〃

〃Hush！〃　said　she；　laying　a　finger　on　his　mouth。　〃Don't　you　see　that　I　am　in　jest。〃

They　had　now　come　back　to　the　drawing…room；　and　Roger's　eye　fell　on　an　object　brought　home　that　morning　by　the　cabinetmaker。　Caroline's　old　rosewood　embroidery…frame；　by　which　she　and　her　mother　had　earned　their　bread　when　they　lived　in　the　Rue　du　Tourniquet…Saint…Jean；　had　been　refitted　and　polished；　and　a　net　dress；　of　elaborate　design；　was　already　stretched　upon　it。

〃Well；　then；　my　dear；　I　shall　do　some　work　this　evening。　As　I　stitch；　I　shall　fancy　myself　gone　back　to　those　early　days　when　you　used　to　pass　by　me　without　a　word；　but　not　without　a　glance；　the　days　when　the　remembrance　of　your　look　kept　me　awake　all　night。　Oh　my　dear　old　frame　the　best　piece　of　furniture　in　my　room；　though　you　did　not　give　it　me！You　cannot　think；〃　said　she；　seating　herself　on　Roger's　knees；　for　he；　overcome　by　irresistible　feelings；　had　dropped　into　a　chair。　〃Listen。All　I　can　earn　by　my　work　I　mean　to　give　to　the　poor。　You　have　made　me　rich。　How　I　love　that　pretty　home　at　Bellefeuille；　less　because　of　what　it　is　than　because　you　gave　it　me！　But　tell　me；　Roger；　I　should　like　to　call　myself　Caroline　de　Bellefeuillecan　I？　You　must　know：　is　it　legal　or　permissible？〃

As　she　saw　a　little　affirmative　grimacefor　Roger　hated　the　name　of　CrochardCaroline　jumped　for　glee；　and　clapped　her　hands。

〃I　feel；〃　said　she；　〃as　if　I　should　more　especially　belong　to　you。　Usually　a　woman　gives　up　her　own　name　and　takes　her　husband's〃　An　idea　forced　itself　upon　her　and　made　her　blush。　She　took　Roger's　hand　and　led　him　to　the　open　piano。〃Listen；〃　said　she；　〃I　can　play　my　sonata　now　like　an　angel！〃　and　her　fingers　were　already　running　over　the　ivory　keys；　when　she　felt　herself　seized　round　the　waist。

〃Caroline；　I　ought　to　be　far　from　hence！〃

〃You　insist　on　going？　Well；　go；〃　said　she；　with　a　pretty　pout；　but　she　smiled　as　she　looked　at　the　clock　and　exclaimed　joyfully；　〃At　any　rate；　I　have　detained　you　a　quarter　of　an　hour！〃

〃Good…bye；　Mademoiselle　de　Bellefeuille；〃　said　he；　with　the　gentle　irony　of　love。

She　kissed　him　and　saw　her　lover　to　the　door；　when　the　sound　of　his　steps　had　died　away　on　the　stairs　she　ran　out　on　to　the　balcony　to　see　him　get　into　the　tilbury；　to　see　him　gather　up　the　reins；　to　catch　a　parting　look；　hear　the　crack　of　his　whip　and　the　sound　of　his　wheels　on　the　stones；　watch　the　handsome　horse；　the　master's　hat；　the　tiger's　gold　lace；　and　at　last　to　stand　gazing　long　after　the　dark　corner　of　the　street　had　eclipsed　this　vision。



Five　years　after　Mademoiselle　Caroline　de　Bellefeuille　had　taken　up　her　abode　in　the　pretty　house　in　the　Rue　Taitbout；　we　again　look　in　on　one　of　those　home…scenes　which　tighten　the　bonds　of　affection　between　two　persons　who　truly　love。　In　the　middle　of　the　blue　drawing…room；　in　front　of　the　window　opening　to　the　balcony；　a　little　boy　of　four　was　making　a　tremendous　noise　as　he　whipped　the　rocking…horse；　whose　two　curved　supports　for　the　legs　did　not　move　fast　enough　to　please　him；　his　pretty　face；　framed　in　fair　curls　that　fell　over　his　white　collar；　smiled　up　like　a　cherub's　at　his　mother　when　she　said　to　him　from　the　depths　of　an　easy…chair；　〃Not　so　much　noise；　Charles；　you　will　wake　your　little　sister。〃

The　inquisitive　boy　suddenly　got　off　his　horse；　and　treading　on　tiptoe　as　if　he　were　afraid　of　the　sound　of　his　feet　on　the　carpet；　came　up　with　one　finger　between　his　little　teeth；　and　standing　in　one　of　those　childish　attitudes　that　are　so　graceful　because　they　are　so　perfectly　natural；　raised　the　muslin　veil　that　hid　the　rosy　face　of　a　little　girl　sleeping　on　her　mother's　knee。

〃Is　Eugenie　asleep；　then？〃　said　he；　quite　astonished。　〃Why　is　she　asleep　when　we　are　awake？〃　he　added；　looking　up　with　large；　liquid　black　eyes。

〃That　only　God　can　know；〃　replied　Caroline；　with　a　smile。

The　mother　and　boy　gazed　at　the　infant；　only　that　morning　baptized。

Caroline；　now　about　four…and…twenty；　showed　the　ripe　beauty　which　had　expanded　under　the　influence　of　cloudless　happiness　and　constant　enjoyment。　In　her　the　Woman　was　complete。

Delighted　to　obey　her　dear　Roger's　every　wish；　she　had　acquired　the　accomplishments　she　had　lacked；　she　played　the　piano　fairly　well；　and　sang　sweetly。　Ignorant　of　the　customs　of　a　world　that　would　have　treated　her　as　an　outcast；　and　which　she　would　not　have　cared　for　even　if　it　had　welcomed　herfor　a　happy　woman　does　not　care　for　the　world　she　had　not　caught　the　elegance　of　manner　or　learned　the　art　of　conversation；　abounding　in　words　and　devoid　of　ideas；　which　is　current　in　fashionable　drawing…rooms；　on　the　ot