the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第13部分
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Ratignolle said； as she delivered him into the hands of his mother。 He had
been unwilling to go to bed and had made a scene； whereupon she had
taken charge of him and pacified him as well as she could。 Raoul had been
in bed and asleep for two hours。
The youngster was in his long white nightgown； that kept tripping him
up as Madame Ratignolle led him along by the hand。 With the other
chubby fist he rubbed his eyes； which were heavy with sleep and ill humor。
Edna took him in her arms； and seating herself in the rocker； began to
coddle and caress him； calling him all manner of tender names； soothing
him to sleep。
It was not more than nine o'clock。 No one had yet gone to bed but
the children。
Leonce had been very uneasy at first； Madame Ratignolle said； and
had wanted to start at once for the Cheniere。 But Monsieur Farival had
assured him that his wife was only overcome with sleep and fatigue； that
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Tonie would bring her safely back later in the day； and he had thus been
dissuaded from crossing the bay。 He had gone over to Klein's； looking
up some cotton broker whom he wished to see in regard to securities；
exchanges； stocks； bonds； or something of the sort； Madame Ratignolle
did not remember what。 He said he would not remain away late。 She
herself was suffering from heat and oppression； she said。 She carried a
bottle of salts and a large fan。 She would not consent to remain with
Edna； for Monsieur Ratignolle was alone； and he detested above all things
to be left alone。
When Etienne had fallen asleep Edna bore him into the back room；
and Robert went and lifted the mosquito bar that she might lay the child
comfortably in his bed。 The quadroon had vanished。 When they emerged
from the cottage Robert bade Edna good…night。
〃Do you know we have been together the whole livelong day； Robert
since early this morning？〃 she said at parting。
〃All but the hundred years when you were sleeping。 Goodnight。〃
He pressed her hand and went away in the direction of the beach。 He
did not join any of the others； but walked alone toward the Gulf。
Edna stayed outside； awaiting her husband's return。 She had no
desire to sleep or to retire； nor did she feel like going over to sit with the
Ratignolles； or to join Madame Lebrun and a group whose animated
voices reached her as they sat in conversation before the house。 She let
her mind wander back over her stay at Grand Isle； and she tried to
discover wherein this summer had been different from any and every other
summer of her life。 She could only realize that she herselfher present
selfwas in some way different from the other self。 That she was seeing
with different eyes and making the acquaintance of new conditions in
herself that colored and changed her environment； she did not yet suspect。
She wondered why Robert had gone away and left her。 It did not
occur to her to think he might have grown tired of being with her the
livelong day。 She was not tired； and she felt that he was not。 She
regretted that he had gone。 It was so much more natural to have him stay
when he was not absolutely required to leave her。
As Edna waited for her husband she sang low a little song that Robert
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had sung as they crossed the bay。 It began with 〃Ah！ Si tu savais；〃 and
every verse ended with 〃si tu savais。〃
Robert's voice was not pretentious。 It was musical and true。 The
voice； the notes； the whole refrain haunted her memory。
XV
When Edna entered the dining…room one evening a little late； as was
her habit； an unusually animated conversation seemed to be going on。
Several persons were talking at once； and Victor's voice was
predominating； even over that of his mother。 Edna had returned late from
her bath； had dressed in some haste； and her face was flushed。 Her head；
set off by her dainty white gown； suggested a rich； rare blossom。 She
took her seat at table between old Monsieur Farival and Madame
Ratignolle。
As she seated herself and was about to begin to eat her soup； which
had been served when she entered the room； several persons informed her
simultaneously that Robert was going to Mexico。 She laid her spoon down
and looked about her bewildered。 He had been with her； reading to her all
the morning； and had never even mentioned such a place as Mexico。 She
had not seen him during the afternoon； she had heard some one say he was
at the house； upstairs with his mother。 This she had thought nothing of；
though she was surprised when he did not join her later in the afternoon；
when she went down to the beach。
She looked across at him； where he sat beside Madame Lebrun； who
presided。 Edna's face was a blank picture of bewilderment； which she
never thought of disguising。 He lifted his eyebrows with the pretext of a
smile as he returned her glance。 He looked embarrassed and uneasy。
〃When is he going？〃 she asked of everybody in general； as if Robert were
not there to answer for himself。
〃To…night！〃 〃This very evening！〃 〃Did you ever！〃 〃What possesses
him！〃 were some of the replies she gathered； uttered simultaneously in
French and English。
〃Impossible！〃 she exclaimed。 〃How can a person start off from
Grand Isle to Mexico at a moment's notice； as if he were going over to
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Klein's or to the wharf or down to the beach？〃
〃I said all along I was going to Mexico； I've been saying so for years！〃
cried Robert； in an excited and irritable tone； with the air of a man
defending himself against a swarm of stinging insects。
Madame Lebrun knocked on the table with her knife handle。
〃Please let Robert explain why he is going； and why he is going to…
night；〃 she called out。 〃Really； this table is getting to be more and more
like Bedlam every day； with everybody talking at once。 SometimesI
hope God will forgive mebut positively； sometimes I wish Victor would
lose the power of speech。〃
Victor laughed sardonically as he thanked his mother for her holy wish；
of which he failed to see the benefit to anybody； except that it might afford
her a more ample opportunity and license to talk herself。
Monsieur Farival thought that Victor should have been taken out in
mid…ocean in his earliest youth and drowned。 Victor thought there would
be more logic in thus disposing of old people with an established claim for
making themselves universally obnoxious。 Madame Lebrun grew a trifle
hysterical； Robert called his brother some sharp； hard names。
〃There's nothing much to explain； mother；〃 he said； though he
explained； neverthelesslooking chiefly at Ednathat he could only meet
the gentleman whom he intended to join at Vera Cruz by taking such and
such a steamer； which left New Orleans on such a day； that Beaudelet was
going out with his lugger…load of vegetables that night； which gave him an
opportunity of reaching the city and making his vessel in time。
〃But when did you make up your mind to all this？〃 demanded
Monsieur Farival。
〃This afternoon；〃 returned Robert； with a shade of annoyance。
〃At what time this afternoon？〃 persisted the old gentleman； with
nagging determination； as if he were cross…questioning a criminal in a
court of justice。
〃At four o'clock this afternoon； Monsieur Farival；〃 Robert replied； in a
high voice and with a lofty air； which reminded Edna of some gentleman
on the stage。
She had forced herself to eat most of her soup； and now she was
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picking the flaky bits of a court bouillon with her fork。
The lovers were profiting by the general conversation on Mexico to
speak in whispers of matters which they rightly considered were
interesting to no one but themselves。 The lady in black had once
received a pair of prayer…beads of curious workmanship from Mexico；
with very special indulgence attached to them； but she had never been able
to ascertain whether the indulgence extended outside the Mexican border。
Father Fochel of the Cathedral had attempted to explain it； but he had not
done so to her satisfaction。 And she begged that Robert would inter
