beatrix-第37部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Croisic；　with　the　sandy　dunes；　which　injure　cultivation；　and　stretch
as　far　as　Batz。　A　few　old　men　declare　that　in　days　long　past　a
fortress　occupied　the　spot。　The　sardine…fishers　have　given　the　rock；
which　can　be　seen　far　out　at　sea；　a　name；　but　it　is　useless　to　write
it　here；　its　Breton　consonants　being　as　difficult　to　pronounce　as　to
remember。

Calyste　led　Beatrix　to　this　point；　whence　the　view　is　magnificent；　and
where　the　natural　sculpture　of　the　granite　is　even　more　imposing　to
the　spectator　than　the　mass　of　the　huge　breastwork　when　seen　from　the
sandy　road　which　skirts　the　shore。

Is　it　necessary　to　explain　why　Camille　had　rushed　away　alone？　Like
some　wounded　wild　animal；　she　longed　for　solitude；　and　went　on　and　on；
threading　her　way　among　the　fissures　and　caves　and　little　peaks　of
nature's　fortress。　Not　to　be　hampered　in　climbing　by　women's　clothing；
she　wore　trousers　with　frilled　edges；　a　short　blouse；　a　peaked　cap；
and；　by　way　of　staff；　she　carried　a　riding…whip；　for　Camille　has
always　had　a　certain　vanity　in　her　strength　and　her　agility。　Thus
arrayed；　she　looked　far　handsomer　than　Beatrix。　She　wore　also　a　little
shawl　of　crimson　China　crape；　crossed　on　her　bosom　and　tied　behind；　as
they　dress　a　child。　For　some　time　Beatrix　and　Calyste　saw　her　flitting
before　them　over　the　peaks　and　chasms　like　a　ghost　or　vision；　she　was
trying　to　still　her　inward　sufferings　by　confronting　some　imaginary
peril。

She　was　the　first　to　reach　the　rock　in　which　the　box…bush　grew。　There
she　sat　down　in　the　shade　of　a　granite　projection；　and　was　lost　in
thought。　What　could　a　woman　like　herself　do　with　old　age；　having
already　drunk　the　cup　of　fame　which　all　great　talents；　too　eager　to
sip　slowly　the　stupid　pleasures　of　vanity；　quaff　at　a　single　draught？
She　has　since　admitted　that　it　was　hereat　this　moment；　and　on　this
spotthat　one　of　those　singular　reflections　suggested　by　a　mere
nothing；　by　one　of　those　chance　accidents　that　seem　nonsense　to　common
minds；　but　which；　to　noble　souls；　do　sometimes　open　vast　depths　of
thought；　decided　her　to　take　the　extraordinary　step　by　which　she　was
to　part　forever　from　social　life。

She　drew　from　her　pocket　a　little　box；　in　which　she　had　put；　in　case
of　thirst；　some　strawberry　lozenges；　she　now　ate　several；　and　as　she
did　so；　the　thought　crossed　her　mind　that　the　strawberries；　which
existed　no　longer；　lived　nevertheless　in　their　qualities。　Was　it　not
so　with　ourselves？　The　ocean　before　her　was　an　image　of　the　infinite。
No　great　spirit　can　face　the　infinite；　admitting　the　immortality　of
the　soul；　without　the　conviction　of　a　future　of　holiness。　The　thought
filled　her　mind。　How　petty　then　seemed　the　part　that　she　was　playing！
there　was　no　real　greatness　in　giving　Beatrix　to　Calyste！　So　thinking；
she　felt　the　earthly　woman　die　within　her；　and　the　true　woman；　the
noble　and　angelic　being；　veiled　until　now　by　flesh；　arose　in　her
place。　Her　great　mind；　her　knowledge；　her　attainments；　her　false　loves
had　brought　her　face　to　face　with　what？　Ah！　who　would　have　thought　it？
with　the　bounteous　mother；　the　comforter　of　troubled　spirits；　with
the　Roman　Church；　ever　kind　to　repentance；　poetic　to　poets；　childlike
with　children；　and　yet　so　profound；　so　full　of　mystery　to　anxious；
restless　minds　that　they　can　burrow　there　and　satisfy　all　longings；
all　questionings；　all　hopes。　She　cast　her　eyes；　as　it　were；　upon　the
strangely　devious　waylike　the　tortuous　rocky　path　before　herover
which　her　love　for　Calyste　had　led　her。　Ah！　Calyste　was　indeed　a
messenger　from　heaven；　her　divine　conductor！　She　had　stifled　earthly
love；　and　a　divine　love　had　come　from　it。

After　walking　for　some　distance　in　silence；　Calyste　could　not　refrain；
on　a　remark　of　Beatrix　about　the　grandeur　of　the　ocean；　so　unlike　the
smiling　beauty　of　the　Mediterranean；　from　comparing　in　depth；　purity；
extent；　unchanging　and　eternal　duration；　that　ocean　with　his　love。

〃It　is　met　by　a　rock！〃　said　Beatrix；　laughing。

〃When　you　speak　thus；〃　he　answered；　with　a　sublime　look；　〃I　hear　you；
I　see　you；　and　I　can　summon　to　my　aid　the　patience　of　the　angels；　but
when　I　am　alone；　you　would　pity　me　if　you　could　see　me　then。　My　mother
weeps　for　my　suffering。〃

〃Listen　to　me；　Calyste；　we　must　put　an　end　to　all　this；〃　said　the
marquise；　gazing　down　upon　the　sandy　road。　〃Perhaps　we　have　now
reached　the　only　propitious　place　to　say　these　things；　for　never　in　my
life　did　I　see　nature　more　in　keeping　with　my　thoughts。　I　have　seen
Italy；　where　all　things　tell　of　love；　I　have　seen　Switzerland；　where
all　is　cool　and　fresh；　and　tells　of　happiness；the　happiness　of
labor；　where　the　verdure；　the　tranquil　waters；　the　smiling　slopes；　are
oppressed　by　the　snow…topped　Alps；　but　I　have　never　seen　anything　that
so　depicts　the　burning　barrenness　of　my　life　as　that　little　arid　plain
down　there；　dried　by　the　salt　sea　winds；　corroded　by　the　spray；　where
a　fruitless　agriculture　tries　to　struggle　against　the　will　of　that
great　ocean。　There；　Calyste；　you　have　an　image　of　this　Beatrix。　Don't
cling　to　it。　I　love　you；　but　I　will　never　be　yours　in　any　way
whatever；　for　I　have　the　sense　of　my　inward　desolation。　Ah！　you　do　not
know　how　cruel　I　am　to　myself　in　speaking　thus　to　you。　No；　you　shall
never　see　your　idol　diminished；　she　shall　never　fall　from　the　height
at　which　you　have　placed　her。　I　now　have　a　horror　of　any　love　which
disregards　the　world　and　religion。　I　shall　remain　in　my　present　bonds；
I　shall　be　that　sandy　plain　we　see　before　us；　without　fruit　or　flowers
or　verdure。〃

〃But　if　you　are　abandoned？〃　said　Calyste。

〃Then　I　should　beg　my　pardon　of　the　man　I　have　offended。　I　will　never
run　the　risk　of　taking　a　happiness　I　know　would　quickly　end。〃

〃End！〃　cried　Calyste。

The　marquise　stopped　the　passionate　speech　into　which　her　lover　was
about　to　launch；　by　repeating　the　word　〃End！〃　in　a　tone　that　silenced
him。

This　opposition　roused　in　the　young　man　one　of　those　mute　inward
furies　known　only　to　those　who　love　without　hope。　They　walked　on
several　hundred　steps　in　total　silence；　looking　neither　at　the　sea；
nor　the　rocks；　nor　the　plain　of　Croisic。

〃I　would　make　you　happy；〃　said　Calyste。

〃All　men　begin　by　promising　that；〃　she　answered；　〃and　they　end　by
abandonment　and　disgust。　I　have　no　reproach　to　cast　on　him　to　whom　I
shall　be　faithful。　He　made　me　no　promises；　I　went　to　him；　but　my　only
means　of　lessening　my　fault　is　to　make　it　eternal。〃

〃Say　rather；　madame；　that　you　feel　no　love　for　me。　I；　who　love　you；　I
know　that　love　cannot　argue；　it　is　itself；　it　sees　nothing　else。　There
is　no　sacrifice　I　will　not　make　to　you；　command　it；　and　I　will　do　the
impossible。　He　who　despised　his　mistress　for　flinging　her　glove　among
the　lions；　and　ordering　him　to　bring　it　back　to　her；　did　not　/love！/
He　denied　your　right　to　test　our　hearts；　and　to　yield　yourselves　only
to　our　utmost　devotion。　I　will　sacrifice　to　you　my　family；　my　name；　my
future。〃

〃But　what　an　insult　in　that　word　'sacrifice'！〃　she　said；　in
reproachful　tones；　which　made　poor　Calyste　feel　the　folly　of　his
speech。

None　but　women　who　truly　love；　or　inborn　coquettes；　know　how　to　use　a
word　as　a　point　from　which　to　make　a　spring。

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Calyste；　letting　fall　a　tear；　〃that　word　can
only　be　said　of　the　cruel　struggles　which　you　ask　of　me。〃

〃Hush！〃　said　Beatrix；　struck　by　an　answer　in　which；　for　the　first
time；　Calyste　had　really　made　her　feel　his　love。　〃I　have　done　wrong
enough；　tempt　me　no　more。〃

At　this　moment　they　had　reached　the　base　of　the　rock　on　which　grew　the
plant　of　box。　Calyste　felt　a　thrill　of　delight　as　he　helped　the
marquise　to　climb　the　steep　ascent　to　the　summit；　which　she　wished　to
reach。　To　the　poor　lad　it　was　a　precious　privilege　to　hold　her　up；　to
make　her　lean　upon　him；　to　feel　her　tremble；　she　had　need　of　him。　This
unlooked…for　pleasure　turned　his　head；　he　saw　nought　else　but　Beatrix；
and　he　clasped　her　round　the　waist。

〃What！〃　she　said；　with　an　imposing　air。

〃Will　you　never　be　mine？〃　he　demanded；　in　a　voice　that　was　choked　by
the　tumult　of　his　blood。

〃Never；　my　friend；〃　she　replied。　〃I　can　only　be　to　you　a　Beatrix；a
dream。　But　is　not　that　a　sweet　and　tender　thing？　We　shall　have　no
bitterness；　no　grief；　no　repentance。〃

〃Will　you　return　to　Conti？〃

〃I　must。〃

〃You　shall　never　belong　to　any　man！〃　cried　Calyste；　pushing　her　from
him　with　frenzied　violence。

He　listened　for　her　fall；　intending　to　spring　after　her；　but　he　heard
only　a　muffled　sound；　the　tearing　of　some　stuff；　and　then　the　thud　of
a　body　falling　on　the　ground。　Instead　of　being　flung　head　foremost
down　the　precipice；　Beatrix　had　only　slipped　some　eight　or　ten　feet
into　the　cavity　where　the　box…bush　grew；　but　she　might　from　there　have
rolled　down　into　the　sea　if　her　gown　had　not　caught　upon　a　point　of
rock；　and　by　tearing　slowly　lowered　the　weight　of　her　body　upon　the
bush。

Mademoiselle　des　Touches；　who　saw　the　scene；　was　unable　in　her　horror
to　cry　out；　but　she　signed　to　Gasselin　to　come。　Calyste　was　leaning
forward　with　an　expression　of　savage　curiosity；　he　saw　the　position　in
which　Beatrix　lay；　and　he　shuddered。　Her　lips　moved；she　seemed　to　be
praying；　in　fact；　she　thought　she　was　about　to　die；　for　she　felt　the
bush　beginning　to　give　way。　With　the　agility　which　danger　gives　to
youth；　Calyste　slid　down　to　the　ledge　below　the　bush；　where　he　was
able　to　grasp　the　marquise　and　hold　her；　although　at　the　risk　of　their
both　sliding　down　into　the　sea。　As　he　held　her；　he　saw　that　she　had
fainted；　but　in　that　aerial　spot　he　could　fancy　her　all　his；　and　his
first　emotion　was　that　of　pleasure。

〃Open　your　eyes；〃　he　said；　〃and　forgive　me；　we　will　die　together。〃

〃Die？〃　she　said；　opening　her　eyes　and　unclosing　her　pallid　lips。

Calyste　welcomed　that　word　with　a　kiss；　and　felt　the　marquise　tremble
under　it　convulsively；　with　passionate　joy。　At　that　instant　Gasselin's
hob…nailed　shoes　sounded　on　the　rock　above　them。　The　old　Breton　was
followed　by　Camille；　and　together　they　sought　for　some　means　of　saving
the　lovers。

〃There's　but　one　way；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Gasselin。　〃I　must　slide　down
there；　and　they　can　climb　on　my　shoulders；　and　you　must　pull　them　up。〃

〃And　you？〃　said　Camille。

The　man