the country doctor-第26部分

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　roughly　schooled　by　misfortune　since　then；　but　the　vague　feeling　that　she　is　destined　for　a　higher　lot　has　not　been　effaced　in　her。

〃A　day　came　at　last；　however；　a　fateful　day　for　the　poor　girl；　when　the　young　countess　（who　was　married　by　this　time）　discovered　La　Fosseuse　arrayed　in　one　of　her　ball　dresses；　and　dancing　before　a　mirror。　La　Fosseuse　was　no　longer　anything　but　a　waiting…maid；　and　the　orphan　girl；　then　sixteen　years　of　age；　was　dismissed　without　pity。　Her　idle　ways　plunged　her　once　more　into　poverty；　she　wandered　about　begging　by　the　roadside；　and　working　at　times　as　I　have　told　you。　Sometimes　she　thought　of　drowning　herself；　sometimes　also　of　giving　herself　to　the　first　comer；　she　spent　most　of　her　time　thinking　dark　thoughts；　lying　by　the　side　of　a　wall　in　the　sun；　with　her　face　buried　in　the　grass；　and　passers…by　would　sometimes　throw　a　few　halfpence　to　her；　simply　because　she　asked　them　for　nothing。　One　whole　year　she　spent　in　a　hospital　at　Annecy　after　heavy　toil　in　the　harvest　field；　she　had　only　undertaken　the　work　in　the　hope　that　it　would　kill　her；　and　that　so　she　might　die。　You　should　hear　her　herself　when　she　speaks　of　her　feelings　and　ideas　during　this　time　of　her　life；　her　simple　confidences　are　often　very　curious。

〃She　came　back　to　the　little　town　at　last；　just　about　the　time　when　I　decided　to　take　up　my　abode　in　it。　I　wanted　to　understand　the　minds　of　the　people　beneath　my　rule；　her　character　struck　me；　and　I　made　a　study　of　it；　then　when　I　became　aware　of　her　physical　infirmities；　I　determined　to　watch　over　her。　Perhaps　in　time　she　may　grow　accustomed　to　work　with　her　needle；　but；　whatever　happens；　I　have　secured　her　future。〃

〃She　is　quite　alone　up　there！〃　said　Genestas。

〃No。　One　of　my　herdswomen　sleeps　in　the　house；〃　the　doctor　answered。　〃You　did　not　see　my　farm　buildings　which　lie　behind　the　house。　They　are　hidden　by　the　pine…trees。　Oh！　she　is　quite　safe。　Moreover；　there　are　no　mauvais　sujets　here　in　the　valley；　if　any　come　among　us　by　any　chance；　I　send　them　into　the　army；　where　they　make　excellent　solders。〃

〃Poor　girl！〃　said　Genestas。

〃Oh！　the　folk　round　about　do　not　pity　her　at　all；〃　said　Benassis；　〃on　the　other　hand；　they　think　her　very　lucky；　but　there　is　this　difference　between　her　and　the　other　women：　God　has　given　strength　to　them　and　weakness　to　her；　and　they　do　not　see　that。〃

The　moment　that　the　two　horsemen　came　out　upon　the　road　to　Grenoble；　Benassis　stopped　with　an　air　of　satisfaction；　a　different　view　had　suddenly　opened　out　before　them；　he　foresaw　its　effect　upon　Genestas；　and　wished　to　enjoy　his　surprise。　As　far　as　the　eye　could　see；　two　green　walls　sixty　feet　high　rose　above　a　road　which　was　rounded　like　a　garden　path。　The　trees　had　not　been　cut　or　trimmed；　each　one　preserved　the　magnificent　palm…branch　shape　that　makes　the　Lombard　poplar　one　of　the　grandest　of　trees；　there　they　stood；　a　natural　monument　which　a　man　might　well　be　proud　of　having　reared。　The　shadow　had　already　reached　one　side　of　the　road；　transforming　it　into　a　vast　wall　of　black　leaves；　but　the　setting　sun　shone　full　upon　the　other　side；　which　stood　out　in　contrast；　for　the　young　leaves　at　the　tips　of　every　branch　had　been　dyed　a　bright　golden　hue；　and；　as　the　breeze　stirred　through　the　waving　curtain；　it　gleamed　in　the　light。

〃You　must　be　very　happy　here！〃　cried　Genestas。　〃The　sight　of　this　must　be　all　pleasure　to　you。〃

〃The　love　of　Nature　is　the　only　love　that　does　not　deceive　human　hopes。　There　is　no　disappointment　here；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Those　poplars　are　ten　years　old；　have　you　ever　seen　any　that　are　better　grown　than　these　of　mine？〃

〃God　is　great！〃　said　the　soldier；　coming　to　a　stand　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　of　which　he　saw　neither　beginning　nor　end。

〃You　do　me　good；〃　cried　Benassis。　〃It　was　a　pleasure　to　hear　you　say　over　again　what　I　have　so　often　said　in　the　midst　of　this　avenue。　There　is　something　holy　about　this　place。　Here；　we　are　like　two　mere　specks；　and　the　feeling　of　our　own　littleness　always　brings　us　into　the　presence　of　God。〃

They　rode　on　slowly　and　in　silence；　listening　to　their　horses'　hoof…　beats；　the　sound　echoed　along　the　green　corridor　as　it　might　have　done　beneath　the　vaulted　roof　of　a　cathedral。

〃How　many　things　have　a　power　to　stir　us　which　town…dwellers　do　not　suspect；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃Do　you　not　notice　the　sweet　scent　given　off　by　the　gum　of　the　poplar　buds；　and　the　resin　of　the　larches？　How　delightful　it　is！〃

〃Listen！〃　exclaimed　Genestas。　〃Let　us　wait　a　moment。〃

A　distant　sound　of　singing　came　to　their　ears。

〃Is　it　a　woman　or　a　man；　or　is　it　a　bird？〃　asked　the　commandant　in　a　low　voice。　〃Is　it　the　voice　of　this　wonderful　landscape？〃

〃It　is　something　of　all　these　things；〃　the　doctor　answered；　as　he　dismounted　and　fastened　his　horse　to　a　branch　of　a　poplar　tree。

He　made　a　sign　to　the　officer　to　follow　his　example　and　to　come　with　him。　They　went　slowly　along　a　footpath　between　two　hedges　of　blossoming　hawthorn　which　filled　the　damp　evening　air　with　its　delicate　fragrance。　The　sun　shone　full　into　the　pathway；　the　light　and　warmth　were　very　perceptible　after　the　shade　thrown　by　the　long　wall　of　poplar　trees；　the　still　powerful　rays　poured　a　flood　of　red　light　over　a　cottage　at　the　end　of　the　stony　track。　The　ridge　of　the　cottage　roof　was　usually　a　bright　green　with　its　overgrowth　of　mosses　and　house…leeks；　and　the　thatch　was　brown　as　a　chestnut　shell；　but　just　now　it　seemed　to　be　powdered　with　a　golden　dust。　The　cottage　itself　was　scarcely　visible　through　the　haze　of　light；　the　ruinous　wall；　the　doorway　and　everything　about　it　was　radiant　with　a　fleeting　glory　and　a　beauty　due　to　chance；　such　as　is　sometimes　seen　for　an　instant　in　a　human　face；　beneath　the　influence　of　a　strong　emotion　that　brings　warmth　and　color　into　it。　In　a　life　under　the　open　sky　and　among　the　fields；　the　transient　and　tender　grace　of　such　moments　as　these　draws　from　us　the　wish　of　the　apostle　who　said　to　Jesus　Christ　upon　the　mountain；　〃Let　us　build　a　tabernacle　and　dwell　here。〃

The　wide　landscape　seemed　at　that　moment　to　have　found　a　voice　whose　purity；　and　sweetness　equaled　its　own　sweetness　and　purity；　a　voice　as　mournful　as　the　dying　light　in　the　westfor　a　vague　reminder　of　Death　is　divinely　set　in　the　heavens；　and　the　sun　above　gives　the　same　warning　that　is　given　here　on　earth　by　the　flowers　and　the　bright　insects　of　the　day。　There　is　a　tinge　of　sadness　about　the　radiance　of　sunset；　and　the　melody　was　sad。　It　was　a　song　widely　known　in　the　days　of　yore；　a　ballad　of　love　and　sorrow　that　once　had　served　to　stir　a　national　hatred　of　France　for　England。　Beaumarchais；　in　a　later　day；　had　given　it　back　its　true　poetry　by　adapting　it　for　the　French　theatre　and　putting　it　into　the　mouth　of　a　page；　who　pours　out　his　heart　to　his　stepmother。　Just　now　it　was　simply　the　air　that　rose　and　fell。　There　were　no　words；　the　plaintive　voice　of　the　singer　touched　and　thrilled　the　soul。

〃It　is　the　swan's　song；〃　said　Benassis。　〃That　voice　does　not　sound　twice　in　a　century　for　human　ears。　Let　us　hurry；　we　must　put　a　stop　to　the　singing！　The　child　is　killing　himself；　it　would　be　cruel　to　listen　to　him　any　longer。　Be　quiet；　Jacques！　Come；　come；　be　quiet！〃　cried　the　doctor。

The　music　ceased。　Genestas　stood　motionless　and　overcome　with　astonishment。　A　cloud　had　drifted　across　the　sun；　the　landscape　and　the　voice　were　both　mute。　Shadow；　chillness；　and　silence　had　taken　the　place　of　the　soft　glory　of　the　light；　the　warm　breath　of　the　breeze；　and　the　child's　singing。

〃What　makes　you　disobey　me？〃　asked　Benassis。　〃I　shall　not　bring　you　any　more　rice　pudding　nor　snail　broth！　No　more　fresh　dates　and　white　bread　for　you！　So　you　want　to　die　and　break　your　poor　mother's　heart；　do　you？〃

Genestas　came　into　a　little　yard；　which　was　sufficiently　clean　and　tidily　kept；　and　saw　before　him　a　lad　of　fifteen；　who　looked　as　delicate　as　a　woman。　His　hair　was　fair　but　scanty；　and　the　color　in　his　face　was　so　bright　that　it　seemed　hardly　natural。　He　rose　up　slowly　from　the　bench　where　he　was　sitting；　beneath　a　thick　bush　of　jessamine　and　some　blossoming　lilacs　that　were　running　riot；　so　that　he　was　almost　hidden　among　the　leaves。

〃You　know　very　well；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃that　I　told　you　not　to　talk；　not　to　expose　yourself　to　the　chilly　evening　air；　and　to　go　to　bed　as　soon　as　the　sun　was　set。　What　put　it　into　your　head　to　sing？〃

〃DAME！　M。　Benassis；　it　was　so　very　warm　out　here；　and　it　is　so　nice　to　feel　warm！　I　am　always　cold。　I　felt　so　happy　that　without　thinking　I　began　to　try　over　Malbrouk　s'en　va…t…en　guerre；　just　for　fun；　and　then　I　began　to　listen　to　myself　because　my　voice　was　something　like　the　sound　of　the　flute　your　shepherd　plays。〃

〃Well；　my　poor　Jacques；　this　must　not　happen　again；　do　you　hear？　Let　me　have　your　hand；〃　and　the　doctor　felt　his　pulse。

The　boy's　eyes　had　their　usual　sweet　expression；　but　just　now　they　shone　with　a　feverish　light。

〃It　is　just　as　I　thought；　you　are　covered　with　perspiration；〃　said　Benassis。　〃Your　mother　has　not　come　in　yet？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃Come！　go　in…doors　and　get　into　bed。〃

The　young　invalid　went　back　into　the　cottage；　followed　by　Benassis　and　the　officer。

〃Just　light　a　candle；　Captain　Bluteau；〃　said　the　doctor；　who　was　helping　Jacques　to　take　off　his　rough；　tattered　clothing。

When　Genestas　had　struck　a　light；　and　the　interior　of　the　room　was　visible；　he　was　surprised　by　the　extreme　thinness　of　the　child；　who　seemed　to　be　little　more　than　skin　and　bone。　When　the　little　peasant　had　been　put　to　bed；　Benassis　tapped　the　lad's　chest；　and　listened　to　the　ominous　sounds　made　in　this　way　by　his　fingers；　then；　after　some　deliberation；　he　drew　back　the　coverlet　over　Jacques；　stepped　back　a　few　paces；　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest；　and　closely　scrutinized　his　patient。

〃How　do　you　feel；　my　little　man？〃

〃Quite　comfortable；　sir。〃

A　table；　with　four　spindle　legs；　stood　in　the　room；　the　doctor　drew　it　up　to　the　bed；　found　a　tumbler　and　a　phial　on　the　mantel…shelf；　and　composed　a　draught；　by　carefully　measuring　a　few　drops　of　brown　liquid　from　the　phial　into　some　water；　Genestas　holding　the　light　the　while。

〃Your　mother　is　very　late。〃

〃She　is　coming；　sir；〃　said　the　child；　〃I　can　hear　her　footsteps　on　the　path。〃

The　doctor　and　th