beatrix-第27部分

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〃Monsieur　le　chevalier；〃　she　said　to　Camille　and　Beatrix；　pointing　to
Calyste；　who　was　mournfully　following　with　Charlotte；　〃has　conveyed　to
me　your　friendly　proposal；　but　we　fearmy　sister；　my　daughter；　and
myselfto　inconvenience　you。〃

〃Sister；　I　shall　not　put　these　ladies　to　inconvenience；〃　said
Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel；　sharply；　〃I　can　very　well　find　a　horse　in
Saint…Nazaire　to　take　me　home。〃

Camille　and　Beatrix　exchanged　an　oblique　glance；　which　Calyste
intercepted；　and　that　glance　sufficed　to　annihilate　all　the　memories
of　his　childhood；　all　his　beliefs　in　the　Kergarouets　and　Pen…Hoels；
and　to　put　an　end　forever　to　the　projects　of　the　three　families。

〃We　can　very　well　put　five　in　the　carriage；〃　replied　Mademoiselle　des
Touches；　on　whom　Jacqueline　turned　her　back；　〃even　if　we　were
inconvenienced；　which　cannot　be　the　case；　with　your　slender　figures。
Besides；　I　should　enjoy　the　pleasure　of　doing　a　little　service　to
Calyste's　friends。　Your　maid；　madame；　will　find　a　seat　by　the
coachman；　and　your　luggage；　if　you　have　any；　can　go　behind　the
carriage；　I　have　no　footman　with　me。〃

The　viscountess　was　overwhelming　in　thanks；　and　complained　that　her
sister　Jacqueline　had　been　in　such　a　hurry　to　see　her　niece　that　she
would　not　give　her　time　to　come　properly　in　her　own　carriage　with
post…horses；　though；　to　be　sure；　the　post…road　was　not　only　longer；
but　more　expensive；　she　herself　was　obliged　to　return　almost
immediately　to　Nantes；　where　she　had　left　three　other　little　kittens；
who　were　anxiously　awaiting　her。　Here　she　put　her　arm　round
Charlotte's　neck。　Charlotte；　in　reply；　raised　her　eyes　to　her　mother
with　the　air　of　a　little　victim；　which　gave　an　impression　to　onlookers
that　the　viscountess　bored　her　four　daughters　prodigiously　by　dragging
them　on　the　scene　very　much　as　Corporal　Trim　produces　his　cap　in
〃Tristram　Shandy。〃

〃You　are　a　fortunate　mother　and〃　began　Camille；　stopping　short　as
she　remembered　that　Beatrix　must　have　parted　from　her　son　when　she
left　her　husband's　house。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　said　the　viscountess；　〃if　I　have　the　misfortune　of　spending
my　life　in　the　country；　and；　above　all；　at　Nantes；　I　have　at　least　the
consolation　of　being　adored　by　my　children。　Have　you　children？〃　she
said　to　Camille。

〃I　am　Mademoiselle　des　Touches；〃　replied　Camille。　〃Madame　is　the
Marquise　de　Rochefide。〃

〃Then　I　must　pity　you　for　not　knowing　the　greatest　happiness　that
there　is　for　us　poor；　simple　womenis　not　that　so；　madame？〃　said　the
viscountess；　turning　to　Beatrix。　〃But　you；　mademoiselle；　have　so　many
compensations。〃

The　tears　came　into　Madame　de　Rochefide's　eyes；　and　she　turned　away
toward　the　parapet　to　hide　them。　Calyste　followed　her。

〃Madame；〃　said　Camille；　in　a　low　voice　to　the　viscountess；　〃are　you
not　aware　that　the　marquise　is　separated　from　her　husband？　She　has　not
seen　her　son　for　two　years；　and　does　not　know　when　she　will　see　him。〃

〃You　don't　say　so！〃　said　Madame　de　Kergarouet。　〃Poor　lady！　is　she
legally　separated？〃

〃No；　by　mutual　consent；〃　replied　Camille。

〃Ah；　well！　I　understand　that；〃　said　the　viscountess　boldly。

Old　Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel；　furious　at　being　thus　dragged　into　the
enemy's　camp；　had　retreated　to　a　short　distance　with　her　dear
Charlotte。　Calyste；　after　looking　about　him　to　make　sure　that　no　one
could　see　him；　seized　the　hand　of　the　marquise；　kissed　it；　and　left　a
tear　upon　it。　Beatrix　turned　round；　her　tears　dried　by　anger；　she　was
about　to　utter　some　terrible　word；　but　it　died　upon　her　lips　as　she
saw　the　grief　on　the　angelic　face　of　the　youth；　as　deeply　touched　by
her　present　sorrow　as　she　was　herself。

〃Good　heavens；　Calyste！〃　said　Camille　in　his　ear；　as　he　returned　with
Madame　de　Rochefide；　〃are　you　to　have　/that/　for　a　mother…in…law；　and
the　little　one　for　a　wife？〃

〃Because　her　aunt　is　rich；〃　replied　Calyste；　sarcastically。

The　whole　party　now　moved　toward　the　inn；　and　the　viscountess　felt
herself　obliged　to　make　Camille　a　speech　on　the　savages　of　Saint…
Nazaire。

〃I　love　Brittany；　madame；〃　replied　Camille；　gravely。　〃I　was　born　at
Guerande。〃

Calyste　could　not　help　admiring　Mademoiselle　des　Touches；　who；　by　the
tone　of　her　voice；　the　tranquillity　of　her　look；　and　her　quiet　manner；
put　him　at　his　ease；　in　spite　of　the　terrible　declarations　of　the
preceding　night。　She　seemed；　however；　a　little　fatigued；　her　eyes　were
enlarged　by　dark　circles　round　them；　showing　that　he　had　not　slept；
but　the　brow　dominated　the　inward　storm　with　cold　placidity。

〃What　queens！〃　he　said　to　Charlotte；　calling　her　attention　to　the
marquise　and　Camille　as　he　gave　the　girl　his　arm；　to　Mademoiselle　de
Pen…Hoel's　great　satisfaction。

〃What　an　idea　your　mother　has　had；〃　said　the　old　maid；　taking　her
niece's　other　arm；　〃to　put　herself　in　the　company　of　that　reprobate
woman！〃

〃Oh；　aunt；　a　woman　who　is　the　glory　of　Brittany！〃

〃The　shame；　my　dear。　Mind　that　you　don't　fawn　upon　her　in　that　way。〃

〃Mademoiselle　Charlotte　is　right；〃　said　Calyste；　〃you　are　not　just。〃

〃Oh；　you！〃　replied　Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel；　〃she　has　bewitched　you。〃

〃I　regard　her；〃　said　Calyste；　〃with　the　same　friendship　that　I　feel
for　you。〃

〃Since　when　have　the　du　Guenics　taken　to　telling　lies？〃　asked　the　old
maid。

〃Since　the　Pen…Hoels　have　grown　deaf；〃　replied　Calyste。

〃Are　you　not　in　love　with　her？〃　demanded　the　old　maid。

〃I　have　been；　but　I　am　so　no　longer；〃　he　said。

〃Bad　boy！　then　why　have　you　given　us　such　anxiety？　I　know　very　well
that　love　is　only　foolishness；　there　is　nothing　solid　but　marriage；〃
she　remarked；　looking　at　Charlotte。

Charlotte；　somewhat　reassured；　hoped　to　recover　her　advantages　by
recalling　the　memories　of　childhood。　She　leaned　affectionately　on
Calyste's　arm；　who　resolved　in　his　own　mind　to　have　a　clear
explanation　with　the　little　heiress。

〃Ah！　what　fun　we　shall　have　at　/mouche/；　Calyste！〃　she　said；　〃what
good　laughs　we　used　to　have　over　it！〃

The　horses　were　now　put　in；　Camille　placed　Madame　de　Kergarouet　and
Charlotte　on　the　back　seat。　Jacqueline　having　disappeared；　she
herself；　with　the　marquise；　sat　forward。　Calyste　was；　of　course；
obliged　to　relinquish　the　pleasure　on　which　he　had　counted；　of　driving
back　with　Camille　and　Beatrix；　but　he　rode　beside　the　carriage　all　the
way；　the　horses；　being　tired　with　the　journey；　went　slowly　enough　to
allow　him　to　keep　his　eyes　on　Beatrix。

History　must　lose　the　curious　conversations　that　went　on　between　these
four　persons　whom　accident　had　so　strangely　united　in　this　carriage；
for　it　is　impossible　to　report　the　hundred　and　more　versions　which
went　the　round　of　Nantes　on　the　remarks；　replies；　and　witticisms　which
the　viscountess　heard　from　the　lips　of　the　celebrated　Camille　Maupin
/herself/。　She　was；　however；　very　careful　not　to　repeat；　not　even　to
comprehend；　the　actual　replies　made　by　Mademoiselle　des　Touches　to　her
absurd　questions　about　Camille's　authorship；a　penance　to　which　all
authors　are　subjected；　and　which　often　make　them　expiate　the　few　and
rare　pleasures　that　they　win。

〃How　do　you　write　your　books？〃　she　began。

〃Much　as　you　do　your　worsted…work　or　knitting；〃　replied　Camille。

〃But　where　do　you　find　those　deep　reflections；　those　seductive
pictures？〃

〃Where　you　find　the　witty　things　you　say；　madame；　there　is　nothing　so
easy　as　to　write　books；　provided　you　will〃

〃Ah！　does　it　depend　wholly　on　the　will？　I　shouldn't　have　thought　it。
Which　of　your　compositions　do　you　prefer？〃

〃I　find　it　difficult　to　prefer　any　of　my　little　kittens。〃

〃I　see　you　are　/blasee/　on　compliments；　there　is　really　nothing　new
that　one　can　say。〃

〃I　assure　you；　madame；　that　I　am　very　sensible　to　the　form　which　you
give　to　yours。〃

The　viscountess；　anxious　not　to　seem　to　neglect　the　marquise；
remarked；　looking　at　Beatrix　with　a　meaning　air；

〃I　shall　never　forget　this　journey　made　between　Wit　and　Beauty。〃

〃You　flatter　me；　madame；〃　said　the　marquise；　laughing。　〃I　assure　you
that　my　wit　is　but　a　small　matter；　not　to　be　mentioned　by　the　side　of
genius；　besides；　I　think　I　have　not　said　much　as　yet。〃

Charlotte；　who　keenly　felt　her　mother's　absurdity；　looked　at　her；
endeavoring　to　stop　its　course；　but　Madame　de　Kergarouet　went　bravely
on　in　her　tilt　with　the　satirical　Parisians。

Calyste；　who　was　trotting　slowly　beside　the　carriage；　could　only　see
the　faces　of　the　two　ladies　on　the　front　seat；　and　his　eyes　expressed；
from　time　to　time；　rather　painful　thoughts。　Forced；　by　her　position；
to　let　herself　be　looked　at；　Beatrix　constantly　avoided　meeting　the
young　man's　eyes；　and　practised　a　manoeuvre　most　exasperating　to
lovers；　she　held　her　shawl　crossed　and　her　hands　crossed　over　it；
apparently　plunged　in　the　deepest　meditation。

At　a　part　of　the　road　which　is　shaded；　dewy；　and　verdant　as　a　forest
glade；　where　the　wheels　of　the　carriage　scarcely　sounded；　and　the
breeze　brought　down　balsamic　odors　and　waved　the　branches　above　their
heads；　Camille　called　Madame　de　Rochefide's　attention　to　the　harmonies
of　the　place；　and　pressed　her　knee　to　make　her　look　at　Calyste。

〃How　well　he　rides！〃　she　said。

〃Oh！　Calyste　does　everything　well；〃　said　Charlotte。

〃He　rides　like　an　Englishman；〃　said　the　marquise；　indifferently。

〃His　mother　is　Irish；an　O'Brien；〃　continued　Charlotte；　who　thought
herself　insulted　by　such　indifference。

Camille　and　the　marquise　drove　through　Guerande　with　the　viscountess
and　her　daughter；　to　the　great　astonishment　of　the　inhabitants　of　the
town。　They　left　the　mother　and　daughter　at　the　end　of　the　lane　leading
to　the　Guenic　mansion；　where　a　crowd　came　near　gathering；　attracted　by
so　unusual　a　sight。　Calyste　had　ridden　on　to　announce　the　arrival　of
the　company　to　his　mother　and　aunt；　who　expected　them　to　dinner；　that
meal　having　been　postponed　till　four　o'clock。　Then　he　returned　to　the
gate　to　give　his　arm　to　the　two　ladies；　and　bid　Camille　and　Beatrix
adieu。

He　kissed　the　hand　of　Felicite；　hoping　thereby　to　be　able　to　do　the
same　to　that　of　the　marquise；　but　she　still　kept　her　arms　crossed
resolutely；　and　he　cast　moist　glances　of　entreaty　at　her　uselessly。

〃You　little　ninny！〃　whispered　Camille；　lightly　touching　his　ear　with　a
kiss　that　was　full　of　friendship。

〃Quite　true；〃　thought　Cal