a second home-第9部分

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e　hummed　an　air　from　the　opera　of　/Rose　et　Colas/；　and　then　led　the　way　down　the　side　aisles；　stopping　by　each　pillar　to　survey　the　rows　of　heads；　all　in　lines　like　ranks　of　soldiers　on　parade。

The　special　service　of　the　Sacred　Heart　was　about　to　begin。　The　ladies　affiliated　to　that　congregation　were　in　front　near　the　choir；　so　the　Count　and　his　son　made　their　way　to　that　part　of　the　nave；　and　stood　leaning　against　one　of　the　columns　where　there　was　least　light；　whence　they　could　command　a　view　of　this　mass　of　faces；　looking　like　a　meadow　full　of　flowers。　Suddenly；　close　to　young　Granville；　a　voice；　sweeter　than　it　seemed　possible　to　ascribe　to　a　human　being；　broke　into　song；　like　the　first　nightingale　when　winter　is　past。　Though　it　mingled　with　the　voices　of　a　thousand　other　women　and　the　notes　of　the　organ；　that　voice　stirred　his　nerves　as　though　they　vibrated　to　the　too　full　and　too　piercing　sounds　of　a　harmonium。　The　Parisian　turned　round；　and；　seeing　a　young　figure；　though；　the　head　being　bent；　her　face　was　entirely　concealed　by　a　large　white　bonnet；　concluded　that　the　voice　was　hers。　He　fancied　that　he　recognized　Angelique　in　spite　of　a　brown　merino　pelisse　that　wrapped　her；　and　he　nudged　his　father's　elbow。

〃Yes；　there　she　is；〃　said　the　Count；　after　looking　where　his　son　pointed；　and　then；　by　an　expressive　glance；　he　directed　his　attention　to　the　pale　face　of　an　elderly　woman　who　had　already　detected　the　strangers；　though　her　false　eyes；　deep　set　in　dark　circles；　did　not　seem　to　have　strayed　from　the　prayer…book　she　held。

Angelique　raised　her　face；　gazing　at　the　altar　as　if　to　inhale　the　heavy　scent　of　the　incense　that　came　wafted　in　clouds　over　the　two　women。　And　then；　in　the　doubtful　light　that　the　tapers　shed　down　the　nave；　with　that　of　a　central　lamp　and　of　some　lights　round　the　pillars；　the　young　man　beheld　a　face　which　shook　his　determination。　A　white　watered…silk　bonnet　closely　framed　features　of　perfect　regularity；　the　oval　being　completed　by　the　satin　ribbon　tie　that　fastened　it　under　her　dimpled　chin。　Over　her　forehead；　very　sweet　though　low；　hair　of　a　pale　gold　color　parted　in　two　bands　and　fell　over　her　cheeks；　like　the　shadow　of　leaves　on　a　flower。　The　arches　of　her　eyebrows　were　drawn　with　the　accuracy　we　admire　in　the　best　Chinese　paintings。　Her　nose；　almost　aquiline　in　profile；　was　exceptionally　firmly　cut；　and　her　lips　were　like　two　rose　lines　lovingly　traced　with　a　delicate　brush。　Her　eyes；　of　a　light　blue；　were　expressive　of　innocence。

Though　Granville　discerned　a　sort　of　rigid　reserve　in　this　girlish　face；　he　could　ascribe　it　to　the　devotion　in　which　Angelique　was　rapt。　The　solemn　words　of　prayer；　visible　in　the　cold；　came　from　between　rows　of　pearls；　like　a　fragrant　mist；　as　it　were。　The　young　man　involuntarily　bent　over　her　a　little　to　breathe　this　diviner　air。　This　movement　attracted　the　girl's　notice；　her　gaze；　raised　to　the　altar；　was　diverted　to　Granville；　whom　she　could　see　but　dimly　in　the　gloom；　but　she　recognized　him　as　the　companion　of　her　youth；　and　a　memory　more　vivid　than　prayer　brought　a　supernatural　glow　to　her　face；　she　blushed。　The　young　lawyer　was　thrilled　with　joy　at　seeing　the　hopes　of　another　life　overpowered　by　those　of　love；　and　the　glory　of　the　sanctuary　eclipsed　by　earthly　reminiscences；　but　his　triumph　was　brief。　Angelique　dropped　her　veil；　assumed　a　calm　demeanor；　and　went　on　singing　without　letting　her　voice　betray　the　least　emotion。

Granville　was　a　prey　to　one　single　wish；　and　every　thought　of　prudence　vanished。　By　the　time　the　service　was　ended；　his　impatience　was　so　great　that　he　could　not　leave　the　ladies　to　go　home　alone；　but　came　at　once　to　make　his　bow　to　〃his　little　wife。〃　They　bashfully　greeted　each　other　in　the　Cathedral　porch　in　the　presence　of　the　congregation。　Madame　Bontems　was　tremulous　with　pride　as　she　took　the　Comte　de　Granville's　arm；　though　he；　forced　to　offer　it　in　the　presence　of　all　the　world　was　vexed　enough　with　his　son　for　his　ill…advised　impatience。

For　about　a　fortnight；　between　the　official　announcement　of　the　intended　marriage　of　the　Vicomte　de　Granville　to　Mademoiselle　Bontems　and　the　solemn　day　of　the　wedding；　he　came　assiduously　to　visit　his　lady…love　in　the　dismal　drawing…room；　to　which　he　became　accustomed。　His　long　calls　were　devoted　to　watching　Angelique's　character；　for　his　prudence；　happily；　had　made　itself　heard　again　in　the　day　after　their　first　meeting。　He　always　found　her　seated　at　a　little　table　of　some　West　Indian　wood；　and　engaged　in　marking　the　linen　of　her　trousseau。　Angelique　never　spoke　first　on　the　subject　of　religion。　If　the　young　lawyer　amused　himself　with　fingering　the　handsome　rosary　that　she　kept　in　a　little　green　velvet　bag；　if　he　laughed　as　he　looked　at　a　relic　such　as　usually　is　attached　to　this　means　of　grace；　Angelique　would　gently　take　the　rosary　out　of　his　hands　and　replace　it　in　the　bag　without　a　word；　putting　it　away　at　once。　When；　now　and　then；　Granville　was　so　bold　as　to　make　mischievous　remarks　as　to　certain　religious　practices；　the　pretty　girl　listened　to　him　with　the　obstinate　smile　of　assurance。

〃You　must　either　believe　nothing；　or　believe　everything　the　Church　teaches；〃　she　would　say。　〃Would　you　wish　to　have　a　woman　without　a　religion　as　the　mother　of　your　children？No。What　man　may　dare　judge　as　between　disbelievers　and　God？　And　how　can　I　then　blame　what　the　Church　allows？〃

Angelique　appeared　to　be　animated　by　such　fervent　charity；　the　young　man　saw　her　look　at　him　with　such　perfect　conviction；　that　he　sometimes　felt　tempted　to　embrace　her　religious　views；　her　firm　belief　that　she　was　in　the　only　right　road　aroused　doubts　in　his　mind；　which　she　tried　to　turn　to　account。

But　then　Granville　committed　the　fatal　blunder　of　mistaking　the　enchantment　of　desire　for　that　of　love。　Angelique　was　so　happy　in　reconciling　the　voice　of　her　heart　with　that　of　duty；　by　giving　way　to　a　liking　that　had　grown　up　with　her　from　childhood；　that　the　deluded　man　could　not　discern　which　of　the　two　spoke　the　louder。　Are　not　all　young　men　ready　to　trust　the　promise　of　a　pretty　face　and　to　infer　beauty　of　soul　from　beauty　of　feature？　An　indefinable　impulse　leads　them　to　believe　that　moral　perfection　must　co…exist　with　physical　perfection。　If　Angelique　had　not　been　at　liberty　to　give　vent　to　her　sentiments；　they　would　soon　have　dried　up　in　her　heart　like　a　plant　watered　with　some　deadly　acid。　How　should　a　lover　be　aware　of　bigotry　so　well　hidden？

This　was　the　course　of　young　Granville's　feelings　during　that　fortnight；　devoured　by　him　like　a　book　of　which　the　end　is　absorbing。　Angelique；　carefully　watched　by　him；　seemed　the　gentlest　of　creatures；　and　he　even　caught　himself　feeling　grateful　to　Madame　Bontems；　who；　by　implanting　so　deeply　the　principles　of　religion；　had　in　some　degree　inured　her　to　meet　the　troubles　of　life。

On　the　day　named　for　signing　the　inevitable　contract；　Madame　Bontems　made　her　son…in…law　pledge　himself　solemnly　to　respect　her　daughter's　religious　practices；　to　allow　her　entire　liberty　of　conscience；　to　permit　her　to　go　to　communion；　to　church；　to　confession　as　often　as　she　pleased；　and　never　to　control　her　choice　of　priestly　advisers。　At　this　critical　moment　Angelique　looked　at　her　future　husband　with　such　pure　and　innocent　eyes；　that　Granville　did　not　hesitate　to　give　his　word。　A　smile　puckered　the　lips　of　the　Abbe　Fontanon；　a　pale　man；　who　directed　the　consciences　of　this　household。　Mademoiselle　Bontems；　by　a　slight　nod；　seemed　to　promise　that　she　would　never　take　an　unfair　advantage　of　this　freedom。　As　to　the　old　Count；　he　gently　whistled　the　tune　of　an　old　song；　/Va…t…en…voir　s'ils　viennent/　（〃Go　and　see　if　they　are　coming　on！〃）



A　few　days　after　the　wedding　festivities　of　which　so　much　is　thought　in　the　provinces；　Granville　and　his　wife　went　to　Paris；　whither　the　young　man　was　recalled　by　his　appointment　as　public　prosecutor　to　the　Supreme　Court　of　the　Seine　circuit。

When　the　young　couple　set　out　to　find　a　residence；　Angelique　used　the　influence　that　the　honeymoon　gives　to　every　wife　in　persuading　her　husband　to　take　a　large　apartment　in　the　ground…floor　of　a　house　at　the　corner　of　the　Vieille　Rue　du　Temple　and　the　Rue　Nueve　Saint…　Francois。　Her　chief　reason　for　this　choice　was　that　the　house　was　close　to　the　Rue　d'Orleans；　where　there　was　a　church；　and　not　far　from　a　small　chapel　in　the　Rue　Saint…Louis。

〃A　good　housewife　provides　for　everything；〃　said　her　husband；　laughing。

Angelique　pointed　out　to　him　that　this　part　of　Paris；　known　as　the　Marais；　was　within　easy　reach　of　the　Palais　de　Justice；　and　that　the　lawyers　they　knew　lived　in　the　neighborhood。　A　fairly　large　garden　made　the　apartment　particularly　advantageous　to　a　young　couple；　the　childrenif　Heaven　should　send　them　anycould　play　in　the　open　air；　the　courtyard　was　spacious；　and　there　were　good　stables。

The　lawyer　wished　to　live　in　the　Chaussee　d'Antin；　where　everything　is　fresh　and　bright；　where　the　fashions　may　be　seen　while　still　new；　where　a　well…dressed　crowd　throngs　the　Boulevards；　and　the　distance　is　less　to　the　theatres　or　places　of　amusement；　but　he　was　obliged　to　give　way　to　the　coaxing　ways　of　a　young　wife；　who　asked　this　as　his　first　favor；　so；　to　please　her；　he　settled　in　the　Marais。　Granville's　duties　required　him　to　work　hardall　the　more；　because　they　were　new　to　himso　he　devoted　himself　in　the　first　place　to　furnishing　his　private　study　and　arranging　his　books。　He　was　soon　established　in　a　room　crammed　with　papers；　and　left　the　decoration　of　the　house　to　his　wife。　He　was　all　the　better　pleased　to　plunge　Angelique　into　the　bustle　of　buying　furniture　and　fittings；　the　source　of　so　much　pleasure　and　of　so　many　associations　to　most　young　women；　because　he　was　rather　ashamed　of　depriving　her　of　his　company　more　often　than　the　usages　of　early　married　life　require。　As　soon　as　his　work　was　fairly　under　way；　he　gladly　allowed　his　wife　to　tempt　him　out　of　his　study　to　consider　the　effect　of　furniture　or　hangings；　which　he　had　before　only　seen　piecemeal　or　unfinished。

If　the　old　adage　is　true　that　says　a　woman　may　be　judged　of　from　her　front　door；　her　rooms　must　express　her　mind　with　even　greater　fidelity。　Madame　de　Granville　had　perhaps　stamped　the　various　things　she　had　ordered　with　the　seal　of　her　own