the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第27部分
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The Awakening and Selected Short Stories
〃I'm not thinking of any extraordinary flights。 I only half
comprehend her。〃
〃I've heard she's partially demented；〃 said Arobin。
〃She seems to me wonderfully sane；〃 Edna replied。
〃I'm told she's extremely disagreeable and unpleasant。 Why have you
introduced her at a moment when I desired to talk of you？〃
〃Oh！ talk of me if you like；〃 cried Edna； clasping her hands beneath
her head； 〃but let me think of something else while you do。〃
〃I'm jealous of your thoughts tonight。 They're making you a little
kinder than usual； but some way I feel as if they were wandering； as if
they were not here with me。〃 She only looked at him and smiled。 His
eyes were very near。 He leaned upon the lounge with an arm extended
across her； while the other hand still rested upon her hair。 They
continued silently to look into each other's eyes。 When he leaned
forward and kissed her； she clasped his head； holding his lips to hers。
It was the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded。
It was a flaming torch that kindled desire。
XXVIII
Edna cried a little that night after Arobin left her。 It was only one
phase of the multitudinous emotions which had assailed her。 There was
with her an overwhelming feeling of irresponsibility。 There was the
shock of the unexpected and the unaccustomed。 There was her husband's
reproach looking at her from the external things around her which he had
provided for her external existence。 There was Robert's reproach making
itself felt by a quicker； fiercer； more overpowering love； which had
awakened within her toward him。 Above all； there was understanding。
She felt as if a mist had been lifted from her eyes； enabling her to took
upon and comprehend the significance of life； that monster made up of
beauty and brutality。 But among the conflicting sensations which
assailed her； there was neither shame nor remorse。 There was a dull pang
of regret because it was not the kiss of love which had inflamed her；
because it was not love which had held this cup of life to her lips。
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XXIX
Without even waiting for an answer from her husband regarding his
opinion or wishes in the matter； Edna hastened her preparations for
quitting her home on Esplanade Street and moving into the little house
around the block。 A feverish anxiety attended her every action in that
direction。 There was no moment of deliberation； no interval of repose
between the thought and its fulfillment。 Early upon the morning
following those hours passed in Arobin's society； Edna set about securing
her new abode and hurrying her arrangements for occupying it。 Within the
precincts of her home she felt like one who has entered and lingered
within the portals of some forbidden temple in which a thousand muffled
voices bade her begone。
Whatever was her own in the house； everything which she had
acquired aside from her husband's bounty； she caused to be transported to
the other house； supplying simple and meager deficiencies from her own
resources。
Arobin found her with rolled sleeves； working in company with the
house…maid when he looked in during the afternoon。 She was splendid
and robust； and had never appeared handsomer than in the old blue gown；
with a red silk handkerchief knotted at random around her head to protect
her hair from the dust。 She was mounted upon a high stepladder；
unhooking a picture from the wall when he entered。 He had found the
front door open； and had followed his ring by walking in
unceremoniously。
〃Come down！〃 he said。 〃Do you want to kill yourself？〃 She greeted
him with affected carelessness； and appeared absorbed in her occupation。
If he had expected to find her languishing； reproachful； or indulging in
sentimental tears； he must have been greatly surprised。
He was no doubt prepared for any emergency； ready for any one of the
foregoing attitudes； just as he bent himself easily and naturally to the
situation which confronted him。
〃Please come down；〃 he insisted； holding the ladder and looking up at
her。
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃Ellen is afraid to mount the ladder。 Joe is
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working over at the ‘pigeon house'that's the name Ellen gives it； because
it's so small and looks like a pigeon houseand some one has to do this。〃
Arobin pulled off his coat； and expressed himself ready and willing to
tempt fate in her place。 Ellen brought him one of her dust…caps； and went
into contortions of mirth； which she found it impossible to control； when
she saw him put it on before the mirror as grotesquely as he could。 Edna
herself could not refrain from smiling when she fastened it at his request。
So it was he who in turn mounted the ladder； unhooking pictures and
curtains； and dislodging ornaments as Edna directed。 When he had
finished he took off his dust…cap and went out to wash his hands。
Edna was sitting on the tabouret； idly brushing the tips of a feather
duster along the carpet when he came in again。
〃Is there anything more you will let me do？〃 he asked。
〃That is all；〃 she answered。 〃Ellen can manage the rest。〃 She kept the
young woman occupied in the drawing…room； unwilling to be left alone
with Arobin。
〃What about the dinner？〃 he asked； 〃the grand event； the coup d'etat？〃
〃It will be day after to…morrow。 Why do you call it the ‘coup d'etat？'
Oh！ it will be very fine； all my best of everythingcrystal； silver and gold；
Sevres； flowers； music； and champagne to swim in。 I'll let Leonce pay
the bills。 I wonder what he'll say when he sees the bills。
〃And you ask me why I call it a coup d'etat？〃 Arobin had put on his
coat； and he stood before her and asked if his cravat was plumb。 She told
him it was； looking no higher than the tip of his collar。
〃When do you go to the ‘pigeon house？'with all due
acknowledgment to Ellen。〃
〃Day after to…morrow； after the dinner。 I shall sleep there。〃
〃Ellen； will you very kindly get me a glass of water？〃 asked Arobin。
〃The dust in the curtains； if you will pardon me for hinting such a thing；
has parched my throat to a crisp。〃
〃While Ellen gets the water；〃 said Edna； rising； 〃I will say good…by
and let you go。 I must get rid of this grime； and I have a million things to
do and think of。〃
〃When shall I see you？〃 asked Arobin； seeking to detain her； the maid
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having left the room。
〃At the dinner； of course。 You are invited。〃
〃Not before？not to…night or to…morrow morning or tomorrow noon or
night？ or the day after morning or noon？ Can't you see yourself； without
my telling you； what an eternity it is？〃
He had followed her into the hall and to the foot of the stairway；
looking up at her as she mounted with her face half turned to him。
〃Not an instant sooner；〃 she said。 But she laughed and looked at him
with eyes that at once gave him courage to wait and made it torture to
wait。
XXX
Though Edna had spoken of the dinner as a very grand affair； it was in
truth a very small affair and very select； in so much as the guests invited
were few and were selected with discrimination。 She had counted upon an
even dozen seating themselves at her round mahogany board； forgetting
for the moment that Madame Ratignolle was to the last degree souffrante
and unpresentable； and not foreseeing that Madame Lebrun would send a
thousand regrets at the last moment。 So there were only ten； after all；
which made a cozy； comfortable number。
There were Mr。 and Mrs。 Merriman； a pretty； vivacious little woman in
the thirties； her husband； a jovial fellow； something of a shallow…pate； who
laughed a good deal at other people's witticisms； and had thereby made
himself extremely popular。 Mrs。 Highcamp had accompanied them。 Of
course； there was Alcee Arobin； and Mademoiselle Reisz had consented to
come。 Edna had sent her a fresh bunch of violets with black lace
trimmings for her hair。 Monsieur Ratignolle brought himself and his
