original short stories-6-第6部分

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and　understanding　it　all　very　imperfectly；　and　at　last　lie　said：　〃I
believe　you；　for　I　feel　at　this　moment　that　you　are　not　lying；　and　before
I　really　thought　that　you　were。〃

She　put　out　her　hand　to　him：　〃We　are　friends　then？〃

He　took　her　hand　and　kissed　it　and　replied：　〃We　are　friends。　　Thank　you；
Gabrielle。〃

Then　he　went　out；　still　looking　at　her；　and　surprised　that　she　was　still
so　beautiful　and　feeling　a　strange　emotion　arising　in　him。






THE　FATHER

I

He　was　a　clerk　in　the　Bureau　of　Public　Education　and　lived　at
Batignolles。　　He　took　the　omnibus　to　Paris　every　morning　and　always　sat
opposite　a　girl；　with　whom　he　fell　in　love。

She　was　employed　in　a　shop　and　went　in　at　the　same　time　every　day。　　She
was　a　little　brunette；　one　of　those　girls　whose　eyes　are　so　dark　that
they　look　like　black　spots；　on　a　complexion　like　ivory。　　He　always　saw
her　coming　at　the　corner　of　the　same　street；　and　she　generally　had　to　run
to　catch　the　heavy　vehicle；　and　sprang　upon　the　steps　before　the　horses
had　quite　stopped。　　Then　she　got　inside；　out　of　breath；　and；　sitting
down；　looked　round　her。

The　first　time　that　he　saw　her；　Francois　Tessier　liked　the　face。　　One
sometimes　meets　a　woman　whom　one　longs　to　clasp　in　one's　arms　without
even　knowing　her。　　That　girl　seemed　to　respond　to　some　chord　in　his
being；　to　that　sort　of　ideal　of　love　which　one　cherishes　in　the　depths　of
the　heart；　without　knowing　it。

He　looked　at　her　intently；　not　meaning　to　be　rude；　and　she　became
embarrassed　and　blushed。　　He　noticed　it；　and　tried　to　turn　away　his　eyes；
but　he　involuntarily　fixed　them　upon　her　again　every　moment；　although　he
tried　to　look　in　another　direction；　and；　in　a　few　days；　they　seemed　to
know　each　other　without　having　spoken。　　He　gave　up　his　place　to　her　when
the　omnibus　was　full；　and　got　outside；　though　he　was　very　sorry　to　do　it。
By　this　time　she　had　got　so　far　as　to　greet　him　with　a　little　smile；　and；
although　she　always　dropped　her　eyes　under　his　looks；　which　she　felt　were
too　ardent；　yet　she　did　not　appear　offended　at　being　looked　at　in　such　a
manner。

They　ended　by　speaking。　　A　kind　of　rapid　friendship　had　become
established　between　them；　a　daily　freemasonry　of　half　an　hour；　and　that
was　certainly　one　of　the　most　charming　half　hours　in　his　life　to　him。
He　thought　of　her　all　the　rest　of　the　day；　saw　her　image　continually
during　the　long　office　hours。　　He　was　haunted　and　bewitched　by　that
floating　and　yet　tenacious　recollection　which　the　form　of　a　beloved　woman
leaves　in　us；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　if　he　could　win　that　little
person　it　would　be　maddening　happiness　to　him；　almost　above　human
realization。

Every　morning　she　now　shook　hands　with　him；　and　he　preserved　the　sense　of
that　touch　and　the　recollection　of　the　gentle　pressure　of　her　little
fingers　until　the　next　day；　and　he　almost　fancied　that　he　preserved　the
imprint　on　his　palm。　　He　anxiously　waited　for　this　short　omnibus　ride；
while　Sundays　seemed　to　him　heartbreaking　days。　　However；　there　was　no
doubt　that　she　loved　him；　for　one　Saturday；　in　spring；　she　promised　to　go
and　lunch　with　him　at　Maisons…Laffitte　the　next　day。


II

She　was　at　the　railway　station　first；　which　surprised　him；　but　she　said：
〃Before　going；　I　want　to　speak　to　you。　　We　have　twenty　minutes；　and　that
is　more　than　I　shall　take　for　what　I　have　to　say。〃

She　trembled　as　she　hung　on　his　arm；　and　looked　down；　her　cheeks　pale；　as
she　continued：　〃I　do　not　want　you　to　be　deceived　in　me；　and　I　shall　not
go　there　with　you；　unless　you　promise；　unless　you　swearnot　to　donot
to　do　anythingthat　is　at　all　improper。〃

She　had　suddenly　become　as　red　as　a　poppy；　and　said　no　more。　　He　did　not
know　what　to　reply；　for　he　was　happy　and　disappointed　at　the　same　time。
He　should　love　her　less；　certainly；　if　he　knew　that　her　conduct　was
light；　but　then　it　would　be　so　charming；　so　delicious　to　have　a　little
flirtation。

As　he　did　not　say　anything；　she　began　to　speak　again　in　an　agitated　voice
and　with　tears　in　her　eyes。　　〃If　you　do　not　promise　to　respect　me
altogether；　I　shall　return　home。〃　　And　so　he　squeezed　her　arm　tenderly
and　replied：　〃I　promise；　you　shall　only　do　what　you　like。〃　　She　appeared
relieved　in　mind；　and　asked；　with　a　smile：　〃Do　you　really　mean　it？〃　　And
he　looked　into　her　eyes　and　replied：　〃I　swear　it〃　〃Now　you　may　take　the
tickets；〃　she　said。

During　the　journey　they　could　hardly　speak；　as　the　carriage　was　full；　and
when　they　reached　Maisons…Laffite　they　went　toward　the　Seine。　　The　sun；
which　shone　full　on　the　river；　on　the　leaves　and　the　grass；　seemed　to　be
reflected　in　their　hearts；　and　they　went；　hand　in　hand；　along　the　bank；
looking　at　the　shoals　of　little　fish　swimming　near　the　bank；　and　they
walked　on；　brimming　over　with　happiness；　as　if　they　were　walking　on　air。

At　last　she　said：　〃How　foolish　you　must　think　me！〃

〃Why？〃　he　asked。　　〃To　come　out　like　this；　all　alone　with　you。〃

〃Certainly　not；　it　is　quite　natural。〃　　〃No；　no；　it　is　not　natural　for　me
because　I　do　not　wish　to　commit　a　fault；　and　yet　this　is　how　girls
fall。　　But　if　you　only　knew　how　wretched　it　is；　every　day　the　same　thing；
every　day　in　the　month　and　every　month　in　the　year。　　I　live　quite　alone
with　mamma；　and　as　she　has　had　a　great　deal　of　trouble；　she　is　not　very
cheerful。　　I　do　the　best　I　can；　and　try　to　laugh　in　spite　of　everything；
but　I　do　not　always　succeed。　　But；　all　the　same；　it　was　wrong　in　me　to
come；　though　you；　at　any　rate；　will　not　be　sorry。〃

By　way　of　an　answer；　he　kissed　her　ardently　on　the　ear　that　was　nearest
him；　but　she　moved　from　him　with　an　abrupt　movement；　and；　getting
suddenly　angry；　exclaimed：　〃Oh！　Monsieur　Francois；　after　what　you　swore
to　me！〃　　And　they　went　back　to　Maisons…Laffitte。

They　had　lunch　at　the　Petit…Havre；　a　low　house；　buried　under　four
enormous　poplar　trees；　by　the　side　of　the　river。　　The　air；　the　heat；　the
weak　white　wine　and　the　sensation　of　being　so　close　together　made　them
silent；　their　faces　were　flushed　and　they　had　a　feeling　of　oppression；
but；　after　the　coffee；　they　regained　their　high　spirits；　and；　having
crossed　the　Seine；　started　off　along　the　bank；　toward　the　village　of　La
Frette。　　Suddenly　he　asked：　〃What…is　your　name？〃

〃Louise。〃

〃Louise；〃　he　repeated　and　said　nothing　more。

The　girl　picked　daisies　and　made　them　into　a　great　bunch；　while　he　sang
vigorously；　as　unrestrained　as　a　colt　that　has　been　turned　into　a　meadow。
On　their　left　a　vine…covered　slope　followed　the　river。　　Francois　stopped
motionless　with　astonishment：　〃Oh；　look　there！〃　he　said。

The　vines　had　come　to　an　end；　and　the　whole　slope　was　covered　with　lilac
bushes　in　flower。　　It　was　a　purple　wood！　　A　kind　of　great　carpet　of
flowers　stretched　over　the　earth；　reaching　as　far　as　the　village；　more
than　two　miles　off。　　She　also　stood；　surprised　and　delighted；　and
murmured：　〃Oh！　　how　pretty！〃　　And；　crossing　a　meadow；　they　ran　toward
that　curious　low　hill；　which；　every　year；　furnishes　all　the　lilac　that　is
drawn　through　Paris　on　the　carts　of　the　flower　venders。

There　was　a　narrow　path　beneath　the　trees；　so　they　took　it；　and　when　they
came　to　a　small　clearing；　sat　down。

Swarms　of　flies　were　buzzing　around　them　and　making　a　continuous；　gentle
sound；　and　the　sun；　the　bright　sun　of　a　perfectly　still　day；　shone　over
the　bright　slopes　and　from　that　forest　of　blossoms　a　powerful　fragrance
was　borne　toward　them；　a　breath　of　perfume；　the　breath　of　the　flowers。

A　church　clock　struck　in　the　distance；　and　they　embraced　gently；　then；
without　the　knowledge　of　anything　but　that　kiss；　lay　down　on　the　grass。
But　she　soon　came　to　herself　with　the　feeling　of　a　great　misfortune；　and
began　to　cry　and　sob　with　grief；　with　her　face　buried　in　her　hands。

He　tried　to　console　her；　but　she　wanted　to　start　to　return　and　to　go　home
immediately；　and　she　kept　saying；　as　she　walked　along　quickly：　〃Good
heavens！　　good　heavens！〃

He　said　to　her：　〃Louise！　　Louise！　　Please　let　us　stop　here。〃　　But　now　her
cheeks　were　red　and　her　eyes　hollow；　and；　as　soon　as　they　got　to　the
railway　station　in　Paris；　she　left　him　without　even　saying　good…by。


III

When　he　met　her　in　the　omnibus；　next　day；　she　appeared　to　him　to　be
changed　and　thinner；　and　she　said　to　him：　〃I　want　to　speak　to　you；　we
will　get　down　at　the　Boulevard。〃

As　soon　as　they　were　on　the　pavement；　she　said：

〃We　must　bid　each　other　good…by；　I　cannot　meet　you　again。〃　　〃But　why？〃　he
asked。　　〃Because　I　cannot；　I　have　been　culpable；　and　I　will　not　be　so
again。〃

Then　he　implored　her；　tortured　by　his　love；　but　she　replied　firmly：　〃No；
I　cannot；　I　cannot。〃　　He；　however；　only　grew　all　the　more　excited　and
promised　to　marry　her；　but　she　said　again：　〃No；〃　and　left　him。

For　a　week　he　did　not　see　her。　　He　could　not　manage　to　meet　her；　and；　as
he　did　not　know　her　address；　he　thought　that　he　had　lost　her　altogether。
On　the　ninth　day；　however；　there　was　a　ring　at　his　bell；　and　when　he
opened　the　door；　she　was　there。　　She　threw　herself　into　his　arms　and　did
not　resist　any　longer；　and　for　three　months　they　were　close　friends。
He　was　beginning　to　grow　tired　of　her；　when　she　whispered　something　to
him；　and　then　he　had　one　idea　and　wish：　to　break　with　her　at　any　price。
As；　however；　he　could　not　do　that；　not　knowing　how　to　begin；　or　what　to
say；　full　of　anxiety　through　fear　of　the　consequences　of　his　rash
indiscretion；　he　took　a　decisive　step：　one　night　he　changed　his　lodgings
and　disappeared。

The　blow　was　so　heavy　that　she　did　not　look；　for　the　man　who　had
abandoned　her；　but　threw　herself　at　her　mother's　knees　and　confessed　her
misfortune；　and；　some　months　after；　gave　birth　to　a　boy。


IV

Years　passed；　and　Francois　Tessier　grew　old；　without　there　having　been
any　alteration　in　his　life。　　He　led　the　dull；　monotonous　life　of　an
office　clerk；　without　hope　and　without　expectation。　　Every　day　he　got　up
at　the　same　time；　went　through　the　same　streets；　went　through　the　same
door；　past　the　same　porter；　went　into　the　same　office；　sat　in　the　same
chair；　and　did　the　same　work。　　He　was　alone　in　the　world；　alone　during
the　day　in　the　midst　of　his　different　colleagues；　and　alone　at　night　in
his　bachelor's　lodgings；　and　he　laid　by　a　hundred　francs　a　month　against