selected writings of guy de maupassant(莫伯桑作品选)-第30部分

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When　they　got　near　the　house；　Honore　Bontemps　murmured：　〃Suppose
it　is　all　over？〃　And　the　unconscious　wish　that　it　might　be　so
showed　itself　in　the　sound　of　his　voice。

But　the　old　woman　was　not　dead。　She　was　lying　on　her　back；　on　her
wretched　bed；　her　hands　covered　with　a　pink　cotton　counterpane；
horribly　thin；　knotty　paws；　like　some　strange　animal's；　or　like
crabs'　claws；　hands　closed　by　rheumatism；　fatigue；　and　the　work
of　nearly　a　century　which　she　had　accomplished。

La　Rapet　went　up　to　the　bed　and　looked　at　the　dying　woman；　felt
her　pulse；　tapped　her　on　the　chest；　listened　to　her　breathing；
and　asked　her　questions；　so　as　to　hear　her　speak：　then；　having
looked　at　her　for　some　time　longer；　she　went　out　of　the　room；
followed　by　Honore。　His　decided　opinion　was；　that　the　old　woman
would　not　last　out　the　night；　and　he　asked：　〃Well？〃　And　the
sick…nurse　replied：　〃Well；　she　may　last　two　days；　perhaps　three。
You　will　have　to　give　me　six　francs；　everything　included。〃

〃Six　francs！　six　francs！〃　he　shouted。　〃Are　you　out　of　your　mind？
I　tell　you　that　she　cannot　last　more　than　five　or　six　hours！〃　And
they　disputed　angrily　for　some　time；　but　as　the　nurse　said　she
would　go　home；　as　the　time　was　slipping　away；　and　as　his　wheat
would　not　come　to　the　farmyard　of　its　own　accord；　he　agreed　to
her　terms　at　last：

〃Very　well；　then；　that　is　settled；　six　francs　including
everything；　until　the　corpse　is　taken　out。〃

〃That　is　settled；　six　francs。〃

And　he　went　away；　with　long　strides；　to　his　wheat；　which　was
lying　on　the　ground　under　the　hot　sun　which　ripens　the　grain；
while　the　sick…nurse　returned　to　the　house。

She　had　brought　some　work　with　her；　for　she　worked　without
stopping　by　the　side　of　the　dead　and　dying；　sometimes　for
herself；　sometimes　for　the　family；　who　employed　her　as　seamstress
also；　paying　her　rather　more　in　that　capacity。　Suddenly　she
asked：

〃Have　you　received　the　last　sacrament；　Mother　Bontemps？〃

The　old　peasant　woman　said　〃No〃　with　her　head；　and　La　Rapet；　who
was　very　devout；　got　up　quickly：　〃Good　heavens；　is　it　possible？　I
will　go　and　fetch　the　cure〃；　and　she　rushed　off　to　the　parsonage
so　quickly；　that　the　urchins　in　the　street　thought　some　accident
had　happened；　when　they　saw　her　trotting　off　like　that。

The　priest　came　immediately　in　his　surplice；　preceded　by　a
choir…boy；　who　rang　a　bell　to　announce　the　passage　of　the　Host
through　the　parched　and　quiet　country。　Some　men；　working　at　a
distance；　took　off　their　large　hats　and　remained　motionless　until
the　white　vestment　had　disappeared　behind　some　farm　buildings；
the　women　who　were　making　up　the　sheaves　stood　up　to　make　the
sign　of　the　cross；　the　frightened　black　hens　ran　away　along　the
ditch　until　they　reached　a　well…known　hole　through　which　they
suddenly　disappeared；　while　a　foal；　which　was　tied　up　in　a
meadow；　took　fright　at　the　sight　of　the　surplice　and　began　to
gallop　round　at　the　length　of　its　rope；　kicking　violently。　The
choir…boy；　in　his　red　cassock；　walked　quickly；　and　the　priest；
the　square　biretta　on　his　bowed　head；　followed　him；　muttering
some　prayers。　Last　of　all　came　La　Rapet；　bent　almost　double；　as
if　she　wished　to　prostrate　herself；　she　walked　with　folded　hands；
as　if　she　were　in　church。

Honore　saw　them　pass　in　the　distance；　and　he　asked：　〃Where　is　our
priest　going　to？〃　And　his　man；　who　was　more　acute；　replied：　〃He
is　taking　the　sacrament　to　your　mother；　of　course！〃

The　peasant　was　not　surprised　and　said：　〃That　is　quite　possible；〃
and　went　on　with　his　work。

Mother　Bontemps　confessed；　received　absolution　and　extreme
unction；　and　the　priest　took　his　departure；　leaving　the　two　women
alone　in　the　suffocating　cottage。　La　Rapet　began　to　look　at　the
dying　woman；　and　to　ask　herself　whether　it　could　last　much
longer。

The　day　was　on　the　wane；　and　a　cooler　air　came　in　stronger　puffs；
making　a　view　of　Epinal；　which　was　fastened　to　the　wall　by　two
pins；　flap　up　and　down。　The　scanty　window　curtains；　which　had
formerly　been　white；　but　were　now　yellow　and　covered　with
fly…specks；　looked　as　it　they　were　going　to　fly　off；　and　seemed
to　struggle　to　get　away；　like　the　old　woman's　soul。

Lying　motionless；　with　her　eyes　open；　the　old　mother　seemed　to
await　the　death　which　was　so　near；　and　which　yet　delayed　its
coming；　with　perfect　indifference。　Her　short　breath　whistled　in
her　throat。　It　would　stop　altogether　soon；　and　there　would　be　one
woman　less　in　the　world；　one　whom　nobody　would　regret。

At　nightfall　Honore　returned；　and　when　he　went　up　to　the　bed　and
saw　that　his　mother　was　still　alive　he　asked：　〃How　is　she？〃　just
as　he　had　done　formerly；　when　she　had　been　sick。　Then　he　sent　La
Rapet　away；　saying　to　her：　〃To…morrow　morning　at　five　o'clock；
without　fail。〃　And　she　replied：　〃To…morrow　at　five　o'clock。〃

She　came　at　daybreak；　and　found　Honore　eating　his　soup；　which　he
had　made　himself；　before　going　to　work。

〃Well；　is　your　mother　dead？〃　asked　the　nurse。

〃She　is　rather　better；　on　the　contrary；〃　he　replied；　with　a
malignant　look　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eyes。　Then　he　went　out。

La　Rapet　was　seized　with　anxiety；　and　went　up　to　the　dying　woman；
who　was　in　the　same　state；　lethargic　and　impassive；　her　eyes　open
and　her　hands　clutching　the　counterpane。　The　nurse　perceived　that
this　might　go　on　thus　for　two　days；　four　days；　eight　days；　even；
and　her　avaricious　mind　was　seized　with　fear。　She　was　excited　to
fury　against　the　cunning　fellow　who　had　tricked　her；　and　against
the　woman　who　would　not　die。

Nevertheless；　she　began　to　sew　and　waited　with　her　eyes　fixed　on
the　wrinkled　face　of　Mother　Bontemps。　When　Honore　returned　to
breakfast　he　seemed　quite　satisfied；　and　even　in　a　bantering
humor；　for　he　was　carrying　in　his　wheat　under　very　favorable
circumstances。

La　Rapet　was　getting　exasperated；　every　passing　minute　now　seemed
to　her　so　much　time　and　money　stolen　from　her。　She　felt　a　mad
inclination　to　choke　this　old　ass；　this　headstrong　old　fool；　this
obstinate　old　wretchto　stop　that　short；　rapid　breath；　which　was
robbing　her　of　her　time　and　money；　by　squeezing　her　throat　a
little。　But　then　she　reflected　on　the　danger　of　doing　so；　and
other　thoughts　came　into　her　head；　so　she　went　up　to　the　bed　and
said　to　her：　〃Have　you　ever　seen　the　Devil？〃

Mother　Bontemps　whispered：　〃No。〃

Then　the　sick…nurse　began　to　talk　and　to　tell　her　tales　likely　to
terrify　her　weak　and　dying　mind。　〃Some　minutes　before　one　dies
the　Devil　appears；〃　she　said；　〃to　all。　He　has　a　broom　in　his
hand；　a　saucepan　on　his　head　and　he　utters　loud　cries。　When
anybody　had　seen　him；　all　was　over；　and　that　person　had　only　a
few　moments　longer　to　live〃；　and　she　enumerated　all　those　to　whom
the　Devil　had　appeared　that　year：　Josephine　Loisel；　Eulalie
Ratier；　Sophie　Padagnau；　Seraphine　Grospied。

Mother　Bontemps；　who　was　at　last　most　disturbed　in　mind；　moved
about；　wrung　her　hands；　and　tried　to　turn　her　head　to　look　at　the
other　end　of　the　room。　Suddenly　La　Rapet　disappeared　at　the　foot
of　the　bed。　She　took　a　sheet　out　of　the　cupboard　and　wrapped
herself　up　in　it；　then　she　put　the　iron　pot　on　to　her　head；　so
that　its　three　short　bent　feet　rose　up　like　horns；　took　a　broom
in　her　right　hand　and　a　tin　pail　in　her　left；　which　she　threw　up
suddenly；　so　that　it　might　fall　to　the　ground　noisily。

Certainly　when　it　came　down；　it　made　a　terrible　noise。　Then；
climbing　on　to　a　chair；　the　nurse　showed　herself；　gesticulating
and　uttering　shrill　cries　into　the　pot　which　covered　her　face；
while　she　menaced　the　old　peasant　woman；　who　was　nearly　dead；
with　her　broom。

Terrified；　with　a　mad　look　on　her　face；　the　dying　woman　made　a
superhuman　effort　to　get　up　and　escape；　she　even　got　her
shoulders　and　chest　out　of　bed；　then　she　fell　back　with　a　deep
sigh。　All　was　over；　and　La　Rapet　calmly　put　everything　back　into
its　place；　the　broom　into　the　corner　by　the　cupboard；　the　sheet
inside　it；　the　pot　on　to　the　hearth；　the　pail　on　to　the　floor；
and　the　chair　against　the　wall。　Then　with　a　professional　air；　she
closed　the　dead　woman's　enormous　eyes；　put　a　plate　on　the　bed　and
poured　some　holy　water　into　it；　dipped　the　twig　of　boxwood　into
it；　and　kneeling　down；　she　fervently　repeated　the　prayers　for　the
dead；　which　she　knew　by　heart；　as　a　matter　of　business。

When　Honore　returned　in　the　evening；　he　found　her　praying。　He
calculated　immediately　that　she　had　made　twenty　sous　out　of　him；
for　she　had　only　spent　three　days　and　one　night　there；　which　made
five　francs　altogether；　instead　of　the　six　which　he　owed　her。



EPIPHANY

〃Ah！〃　said　Captain　the　Count　de　Garens；　〃I　should　rather　think
that　I　do　remember　that　Epiphany　supper；　during　the　war！

〃At　the　time　I　was　quarter…master　of　cavalry；　and　for　a　fort
night；　I　had　been　lurking　about　as　a　scout　in　front　of　the　German
advanced　guard。　The　evening　before　we　had　cut　down　a　few　Uhlans
and　had　lost　three　men；　one　of　whom　was　that　poor　little
Raudeville。　You　remember　Joseph　de　Raudeville　well；　of　course。

〃Well；　on　that　day　my　captain　ordered　me　to　take　six　troopers　and
occupy　the　village　of　Porterin；　where　there　had　been　five　fights
in　three　weeks；　and　to　hold　it　all　night。　There　were　not　twenty
houses　left　standing；　nay；　not　a　dozen；　in　that　wasp's　nest。　So　I
took　ten　troopers；　and　set　out　at　about　four　o'clock；　at　five
o'clock；　while　it　was　still　pitch　dark；　we　reached　the　first
houses　of　Porterin。　I　halted　and　ordered　Marchasyou　know　Pierre
de　Marchas；　who　afterward　married　little　Martel…Auvelin；　the
daughter　of　the　Marquis　de　Martel…Auvelinto　go　alone　into　the
village　and　to　report　to　me　what　he　saw。

〃I　had　chosen　nothing　but　volunteers；　and　all　of　good　family。
When　on　service　it　is　pleasant　not　to　be　forced　into　intimacy
with　unpleasant　fellows。　This　Marchas　was　as　sharp　as　possible；
as　cunning　as　a　fox；　and　as　supple　as　a　serpent。　He　could　scent
the　Prussians　as　well　as　a　dog　can　scent　a　hare；　could　find
victuals　where　we　should　have　died　of　hunger　without　him；　and
could　obtain　information　from　everybodyinformation　which　was
always　reliablewith　incredible　cleverness。

〃In　ten　minutes　he　returned。　'All　right；'　he　said；　'there　have
been　no　Prussians　here　for　three　days。　It　is　a　sinister　place；　is
this　village。　I　have　been