a second home-第6部分

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on；　abounding　in　words　and　devoid　of　ideas；　which　is　current　in　fashionable　drawing…rooms；　on　the　other　hand；　she　worked　hard　to　gain　the　knowledge　indispensable　to　a　mother　whose　chief　ambition　is　to　bring　up　her　children　well。　Never　to　lose　sight　of　her　boy；　to　give　him　from　the　cradle　that　training　of　every　minute　which　impresses　on　the　young　a　love　of　all　that　is　good　and　beautiful；　to　shelter　him　from　every　evil　influence　and　fulfil　both　the　painful　duties　of　a　nurse　and　the　tender　offices　of　a　mother；these　were　her　chief　pleasures。

The　coy　and　gentle　being　had　from　the　first　day　so　fully　resigned　herself　never　to　step　beyond　the　enchanted　sphere　where　she　found　all　her　happiness；　that；　after　six　years　of　the　tenderest　intimacy；　she　still　knew　her　lover　only　by　the　name　of　Roger。　A　print　of　the　picture　of　the　Psyche　lighting　her　lamp　to　gaze　on　Love　in　spite　of　his　prohibition；　hung　in　her　room；　and　constantly　reminded　her　of　the　conditions　of　her　happiness。　Through　all　these　six　years　her　humble　pleasures　had　never　importuned　Roger　by　a　single　indiscreet　ambition；　and　his　heart　was　a　treasure…house　of　kindness。　Never　had　she　longed　for　diamonds　or　fine　clothes；　and　had　again　and　again　refused　the　luxury　of　a　carriage　which　he　had　offered　her。　To　look　out　from　her　balcony　for　Roger's　cab；　to　go　with　him　to　the　play　or　make　excursions　with　him；　on　fine　days　in　the　environs　of　Paris；　to　long　for　him；　to　see　him；　and　then　to　long　again；these　made　up　the　history　of　her　life；　poor　in　incidents　but　rich　in　happiness。

As　she　rocked　the　infant；　now　a　few　months　old；　on　her　knee；　singing　the　while；　she　allowed　herself　to　recall　the　memories　of　the　past。　She　lingered　more　especially　on　the　months　of　September；　when　Roger　was　accustomed　to　take　her　to　Bellefeuille　and　spend　the　delightful　days　which　seem　to　combine　the　charms　of　every　season。　Nature　is　equally　prodigal　of　flowers　and　fruit；　the　evenings　are　mild；　the　mornings　bright；　and　a　blaze　of　summer　often　returns　after　a　spell　of　autumn　gloom。　During　the　early　days　of　their　love；　Caroline　had　ascribed　the　even　mind　and　gentle　temper；　of　which　Roger　gave　her　so　many　proofs；　to　the　rarity　of　their　always　longed…for　meetings；　and　to　their　mode　of　life；　which　did　not　compel　them　to　be　constantly　together；　as　a　husband　and　wife　must　be。　But　now　she　could　remember　with　rapture　that；　tortured　by　foolish　fears；　she　had　watched　him　with　trembling　during　their　first　stay　on　this　little　estate　in　the　Gatinais。　Vain　suspiciousness　of　love！　Each　of　these　months　of　happiness　had　passed　like　a　dream　in　the　midst　of　joys　which　never　rang　false。　She　had　always　seen　that　kind　creature　with　a　tender　smile　on　his　lips；　a　smile　that　seemed　to　mirror　her　own。

As　she　called　up　these　vivid　pictures；　her　eyes　filled　with　tears；　she　thought　she　could　not　love　him　enough；　and　was　tempted　to　regard　her　ambiguous　position　as　a　sort　of　tax　levied　by　Fate　on　her　love。　Finally；　invincible　curiosity　led　her　to　wonder　for　the　thousandth　time　what　events　they　could　be　that　led　so　tender　a　heart　as　Roger's　to　find　his　pleasure　in　clandestine　and　illicit　happiness。　She　invented　a　thousand　romances　on　purpose　really　to　avoid　recognizing　the　true　reason；　which　she　had　long　suspected　but　tried　not　to　believe　in。　She　rose；　and　carrying　the　baby　in　her　arms；　went　into　the　dining…　room　to　superintend　the　preparations　for　dinner。

It　was　the　6th　of　May　1822；　the　anniversary　of　the　excursion　to　the　Park　of　Saint…Leu；　which　had　been　the　turning…point　of　her　life；　each　year　it　had　been　marked　by　heartfelt　rejoicing。　Caroline　chose　the　linen　to　be　used；　and　arranged　the　dessert。　Having　attended　with　joy　to　these　details；　which　touched　Roger；　she　placed　the　infant　in　her　pretty　cot　and　went　out　on　to　the　balcony；　whence　she　presently　saw　the　carriage　which　her　friend；　as　he　grew　to　riper　years；　now　used　instead　of　the　smart　tilbury　of　his　youth。　After　submitting　to　the　first　fire　of　Caroline's　embraces　and　the　kisses　of　the　little　rogue　who　addressed　him　as　papa；　Roger　went　to　the　cradle；　looked　at　his　little　sleeping　daughter；　kissed　her　forehead；　and　then　took　out　of　his　pocket　a　document　covered　with　black　writing。

〃Caroline；〃　said　he；　〃here　is　the　marriage　portion　of　Mademoiselle　Eugenie　de　Bellefeuille。〃

The　mother　gratefully　took　the　paper；　a　deed　of　gift　of　securities　in　the　State　funds。

〃Buy　why；〃　said　she；　〃have　you　given　Eugenie　three　thousand　francs　a　year；　and　Charles　no　more　than　fifteen　hundred？〃

〃Charles；　my　love；　will　be　a　man；〃　replied　he。　〃Fifteen　hundred　francs　are　enough　for　him。　With　so　much　for　certain；　a　man　of　courage　is　above　poverty。　And　if　by　chance　your　son　should　turn　out　a　nonentity；　I　do　not　wish　him　to　be　able　to　play　the　fool。　If　he　is　ambitious；　this　small　income　will　give　him　a　taste　for　work。Eugenie　is　a　girl；　she　must　have　a　little　fortune。〃

The　father　then　turned　to　play　with　his　boy；　whose　effusive　affection　showed　the　independence　and　freedom　in　which　he　was　brought　up。　No　sort　of　shyness　between　the　father　and　child　interfered　with　the　charm　which　rewards　a　parent　for　his　devotion；　and　the　cheerfulness　of　the　little　family　was　as　sweet　as　it　was　genuine。　In　the　evening　a　magic…　lantern　displayed　its　illusions　and　mysterious　pictures　on　a　white　sheet　to　Charles'　great　surprise；　and　more　than　once　the　innocent　child's　heavenly　rapture　made　Caroline　and　Roger　laugh　heartily。

Later；　when　the　little　boy　was　in　bed；　the　baby　woke　and　craved　its　limpid　nourishment。　By　the　light　of　a　lamp　in　the　chimney　corner；　Roger　enjoyed　the　scene　of　peace　and　comfort；　and　gave　himself　up　to　the　happiness　of　contemplating　the　sweet　picture　of　the　child　clinging　to　Caroline's　white　bosom　as　she　sat；　as　fresh　as　a　newly　opened　lily；　while　her　hair　fell　in　long　brown　curls　that　almost　hid　her　neck。　The　lamplight　enhanced　the　grace　of　the　young　mother；　shedding　over　her；　her　dress；　and　the　infant；　the　picturesque　effects　of　strong　light　and　shadow。

The　calm　and　silent　woman's　face　struck　Roger　as　a　thousand　times　sweeter　than　ever；　and　he　gazed　tenderly　at　the　rosy；　pouting　lips　from　which　no　harsh　word　had　ever　been　heard。　The　very　same　thought　was　legible　in　Caroline's　eyes　as　she　gave　a　sidelong　look　at　Roger；　either　to　enjoy　the　effect　she　was　producing　on　him；　or　to　see　what　the　end　of　the　evening　was　to　be。　He；　understanding　the　meaning　of　this　cunning　glance；　said　with　assumed　regret；　〃I　must　be　going。　I　have　a　serious　case　to　be　finished；　and　I　am　expected　at　home。　Duty　before　all　thingsdon't　you　think　so；　my　darling？〃

Caroline　looked　him　in　the　face　with　an　expression　at　once　sad　and　sweet；　with　the　resignation　which　does　not；　however；　disguise　the　pangs　of　a　sacrifice。

〃Good…bye；　then；〃　said　she。　〃Go；　for　if　you　stay　an　hour　longer　I　cannot　so　lightly　bear　to　set　you　free。〃

〃My　dearest；〃　said　he　with　a　smile；　〃I　have　three　days'　holiday；　and　am　supposed　to　be　twenty　leagues　away　from　Paris。〃



A　few　days　after　this　anniversary　of　the　6th　of　May；　Mademoiselle　de　Bellefeuille　hurried　off　one　morning　to　the　Rue　Saint…Louis；　in　the　Marais；　only　hoping　she　might　not　arrive　too　late　at　a　house　where　she　commonly　went　once　a　week。　An　express　messenger　had　just　come　to　inform　her　that　her　mother；　Madame　Crochard；　was　sinking　under　a　complication　of　disorders　produced　by　constant　catarrh　and　rheumatism。

While　the　hackney　coach…driver　was　flogging　up　his　horses　at　Caroline's　urgent　request；　supported　by　the　promise　of　a　handsome　present；　the　timid　old　women；　who　had　been　Madame　Crochard's　friends　during　her　later　years；　had　brought　a　priest　into　the　neat　and　comfortable　second…floor　rooms　occupied　by　the　old　widow。　Madame　Crochard's　maid　did　not　know　that　the　pretty　lady　at　whose　house　her　mistress　so　often　dined　was　her　daughter；　and　she　was　one　of　the　first　to　suggest　the　services　of　a　confessor；　in　the　hope　that　this　priest　might　be　at　least　as　useful　to　herself　as　to　the　sick　woman。　Between　two　games　of　boston；　or　out　walking　in　the　Jardin　Turc；　the　old　beldames　with　whom　the　widow　gossiped　all　day　had　succeeded　in　rousing　in　their　friend's　stony　heart　some　scruples　as　to　her　former　life；　some　visions　of　the　future；　some　fears　of　hell；　and　some　hopes　of　forgiveness　if　she　should　return　in　sincerity　to　a　religious　life。　So　on　this　solemn　morning　three　ancient　females　had　settled　themselves　in　the　drawing…room　where　Madame　Crochard　was　〃at　home〃　every　Tuesday。　Each　in　turn　left　her　armchair　to　go　to　the　poor　old　woman's　bedside　and　sit　with　her；　giving　her　the　false　hopes　with　which　people　delude　the　dying。

At　the　same　time；　when　the　end　was　drawing　near；　when　the　physician　called　in　the　day　before　would　no　longer　answer　for　her　life；　the　three　dames　took　counsel　together　as　to　whether　it　would　not　be　well　to　send　word　to　Mademoiselle　de　Bellefeuille。　Francoise　having　been　duly　informed；　it　was　decided　that　a　commissionaire　should　go　to　the　Rue　Taitbout　to　inform　the　young　relation　whose　influence　was　so　disquieting　to　the　four　women；　still；　they　hoped　that　the　Auvergnat　would　be　too　late　in　bringing　back　the　person　who　so　certainly　held　the　first　place　in　the　widow　Crochard's　affections。　The　widow；　evidently　in　the　enjoyment　of　a　thousand　crowns　a　year；　would　not　have　been　so　fondly　cherished　by　this　feminine　trio；　but　that　neither　of　them；　nor　Francoise　herself　knew　of　her　having　any　heir。　The　wealth　enjoyed　by　Mademoiselle　de　Bellefeuille；　whom　Madame　Crochard；　in　obedience　to　the　traditions　of　the　older　opera；　never　allowed　herself　to　speak　of　by　the　affectionate　name　of　daughter；　almost　justified　the　four　women　in　their　scheme　of　dividing　among　themselves　the　old　woman's　〃pickings。〃

Presently　the　one　of　these　three　sibyls　who　kept　guard　over　the　sick　woman　came　shaking　her　head　at　the　other　anxious　two；　and　said：

〃It　is　time　we　should　be　sending　for　the　Abbe　Fontanon。　In　another　two　hours　she　will　neither　have　the　wit　nor　the　strength　to　write　a　line。〃

Thereupon　the　toothless　old　cook　went　off；　and　returned　with　a　man　wearing　a　black　gown。　A　low　forehead　showed　a　small　mind　in　this　priest；　whose　features　were　mean；　his　flabby；　fat　cheeks　and　double　chin　betrayed　the　easy…going　egotist；　his　powdered　hair　gave　him　a　pleasant　look；　till　he　raised　his　small；　bro