sons of the soil-第59章

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took　it；　and　showed　an　embroidered　petticoat。



〃Oh！　are　you　there？〃　she　said。



〃Yes。〃



〃What　are　you　looking　at？〃



〃A　pretty　question！　You　have　torn　me　from　the　contemplation　of　Nature。

Tell　me；　countess；　will　you　go　for　a　walk　in　the　woods　this　morning

before　breakfast？〃



〃What　an　idea！　You　know　I　have　a　horror　of　walking。〃



〃We　will　only　walk　a　little　way；　I'll　drive　you　in　the　tilbury　and

take　Joseph　to　hold　the　horses。　You　have　never　once　set　foot　in　your

forest；　and　I　have　just　noticed　something　very　curious；　a　phenomenon；

there　are　spots　where　the　tree…tops　are　the　color　of　Florentine

bronze；　the　leaves　are　dried〃



〃Well；　I'll　dress。〃



〃Oh；　if　you　do；　we　can't　get　off　for　two　hours。　Take　a　shawl；　put　on　a

bonnet；　and　boots；　that's　all　you　want。　I　shall　tell　them　to　harness。〃



〃You　always　make　me　do　what　you　want；　I'll　be　ready　in　a　minute。〃



〃General；〃　said　Blondet；　waking　the　count；　who　grumbled　and　turned

over；　like　a　man　who　wants　his　morning　sleep。　〃We　are　going　for　a

drive；　won't　you　come？〃



A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　the　tilbury　was　slowly　rolling　along　the

park　avenue；　followed　by　a　liveried　groom　on　horseback。



The　morning　was　a　September　morning。　The　dark　blue　of　the　sky　burst

forth　here　and　there　from　the　gray　of　the　clouds；　which　seemed　the　sky

itself；　the　ether　seeming　to　be　the　accessory；　long　lines　of

ultramarine　lay　upon　the　horizon；　but　in　strata；　which　alternated　with

other　lines　like　sand…bars；　these　tones　changed　and　grew　green　at　the

level　of　the　forests。　The　earth　beneath　this　overhanging　mantle　was

moistly　warm；　like　a　woman　when　she　rises；　it　exhaled　sweet；　luscious

odors；　which　yet　were　wild；　not　civilized；the　scent　of　cultivation

was　added　to　the　scents　of　the　woods。　Just　then　the　Angelus　was

ringing　at　Blangy；　and　the　sounds　of　the　bell；　mingling　with　the　wild

concert　of　the　forest；　gave　harmony　to　the　silence。　Here　and　there

were　rising　vapors；　white；　diaphanous。



Seeing　these　lovely　preparations　of　Nature；　the　fancy　had　seized

Olympe　Michaud　to　accompany　her　husband；　who　had　to　give　an　order　to　a

keeper　whose　house　was　not　far　off。　The　Soulanges　doctor　advised　her

to　walk　as　long　as　she　could　do　so　without　fatigue；　she　was　afraid　of

the　midday　heat　and　went　out　only　in　the　early　morning　or　evening。

Michaud　now　took　her　with　him；　and　they　were　followed　by　the　dog　he

loved　best；a　handsome　greyhound；　mouse…colored　with　white　spots；

greedy；　like　all　greyhounds；　and　as　full　of　vices　as　most　animals　who

know　they　are　loved　and　petted。



So；　then　the　tilbury　reached　the　pavilion　of　the　Rendezvous；　the

countess；　who　stopped　to　ask　how　Madame　Michaud　felt；　was　told　she　had

gone　into　the　forest　with　her　husband。



〃Such　weather　inspires　everybody；〃　said　Blondet；　turning　his　horse　at

hazard　into　one　of　the　six　avenues　of　the　forest；　〃Joseph；　you　know

the　woods；　don't　you？〃



〃Yes；　monsieur。〃



And　away　they　went。　The　avenue　they　took　happened　to　be　one　of　the

most　delightful　in　the　forest；　it　soon　turned　and　grew　narrower；　and

presently　became　a　winding　way；　on　which　the　sunshine　flickered

through　rifts　in　the　leafy　roof；　and　where　the　breeze　brought　odors　of

lavender；　and　thyme；　and　the　wild　mint；　and　that　of　falling　leaves；

which　sighed　as　they　fell。　Dew…drops　on　the　trees　and　on　the　grass

were　scattered　like　seeds　by　the　passing　of　the　light　carriage；　the

occupants　as　they　rolled　along　caught　glimpses　of　the　mysterious

visions　of　the　woods；those　cool　depths；　where　the　verdure　is　moist

and　dark；　where　the　light　softens　as　it　fades；　those　white…birch

glades　o'ertopped　by　some　centennial　tree；　the　Hercules　of　the　forest；

those　glorious　assemblages　of　knotted；　mossy　trunks；　whitened　and

furrowed；　and　the　banks　of　delicate　wild　plants　and　fragile　flowers

which　grow　between　a　woodland　road　and　the　forest。　The　brooks　sang。

Truly　there　is　a　nameless　pleasure　in　driving　a　woman　along　the　ups

and　downs　of　a　slippery　way　carpeted　with　moss；　where　she　pretends　to

be　afraid　or　really　is　so；　and　you　are　conscious　that　she　is　drawing

closer　to　you；　letting　you　feel；　voluntarily　or　involuntarily；　the

cool　moisture　of　her　arm；　the　weight　of　her　round；　white　shoulder；

though　she　merely　smiles　when　told　that　she　hinders　you　in　driving。

The　horse　seems　to　know　the　secret　of　these　interruptions；　and　he

looks　about　him　from　right　to　left。



It　was　a　new　sight　to　the　countess；　this　nature　so　vigorous　in　its

effects；　so　little　seen　and　yet　so　grand；　threw　her　into　a　languid

revery；　she　leaned　back　in　the　tilbury　and　yielded　herself　up　to　the

pleasure　of　being　there　with　Emile；　her　eyes　were　charmed；　her　heart

spoke；　she　answered　to　the　inward　voice　that　harmonized　with　hers。　He；

too；　glanced　at　her　furtively；　he　enjoyed　that　dreamy　meditation；

while　the　ribbons　of　the　bonnet　floated　on　the　morning　breeze　with　the

silky　curls　of　the　golden　hair。　In　consequence　of　going　they　knew　not

where；　they　presently　came　to　a　locked　gate；　of　which　they　had　not　the

key。　Joseph　was　called　up；　but　neither　had　he　a　key。



〃Never　mind；　let　us　walk；　Joseph　can　take　care　of　the　tilbury；　we

shall　easily　find　it　again。〃



Emile　and　the　countess　plunged　into　the　forest；　and　soon　reached　a

small　interior　cleared　space；　such　as　is　often　met　with　in　the　woods。

Twenty　years　earlier　the　charcoal…burners　had　made　it　their　kiln；　and

the　place　still　remained　open；　quite　a　large　circumference　having　been

burned　over。　But　during　those　twenty　years　Nature　had　made　herself　a

garden　of　flowers；　a　blooming　〃parterre〃　for　her　own　enjoyment；　just

as　an　artist　gives　himself　the　delight　of　painting　a　picture　for　his

own　happiness。　The　enchanting　spot　was　surrounded　by　fine　trees；　whose

tops　hung　over　like　vast　fringes　and　made　a　dais　above　this　flowery

couch　where　slept　the　goddess。　The　charcoal…burners　had　followed　a

path　to　a　pond；　always　full　of　water。　The　path　is　there　still；　it

invites　you　to　step　into　it　by　a　turn　full　of　mystery；　then　suddenly

it　stops　short　and　you　come　upon　a　bank　where　a　thousand　roots　run

down　to　the　water　and　make　a　sort　of　canvas　in　the　air。　This　hidden

pond　has　a　narrow　grassy　edge；　where　a　few　willows　and　poplars　lend

their　fickle　shade　to　a　bank　of　turf　which　some　lazy　or　pensive

charcoal…burner　must　have　made　for　his　enjoyment。　The　frogs　hop　about；

the　teal　bathe　in　the　pond；　the　water…fowl　come　and　go；　a　hare　starts；

you　are　the　master　of　this　delicious　bath；　decorated　with　iris　and

bulrushes。　Above　your　head　the　trees　take　many　attitudes；　here　the

trunks　twine　down　like　boa…constrictors；　there　the　beeches　stand　erect

as　a　Greek　column。　The　snails　and　the　slugs　move　peacefully　about。　A

tench　shows　its　gills；　a　squirrel　looks　at　you；　and　at　last；　after

Emile　and　the　countess；　tired　with　her　walk；　were　seated；　a　bird；　but

I　know　not　what　bird　it　was；　sang　its　autumn　song；　its　farewell　song；

to　which　the　other　songsters　listened；a　song　welcome　to　love；　and

heard　by　every　organ　of　the　being。



〃What　silence！〃　said　the　countess；　with　emotion　and　in　a　whisper；　as

if　not　to　trouble　this　deep　peace。



They　looked　at　the　green　patches　on　the　water；worlds　where　life　was

organizing；　they　pointed　to　the　lizard　playing　in　the　sun　and　escaping

at　their　approach；behavior　which　has　won　him　the　title　of　〃the

friend　of　man。〃　〃Proving；　too；　how　well　he　knows　him；〃　said　Emile。

They　watched　the　frogs；　who；　less　distrustful；　returned　to　the　surface

of　the　pond；　winking　their　carbuncle　eyes　as　they　sat　upon　the　water…

cresses。　The　sweet　and　simple　poetry　of　Nature　permeated　these　two

souls　surfeited　with　the　conventional　things　of　life；　and　filled　them

with　contemplative　emotion。　Suddenly　Blondet　shuddered。　Turning　to　the

countess　he　said；



〃Did　you　hear　that？〃



〃What？〃　she　asked。



〃A　curious　noise。〃



〃Ah；　you　literary　men　who　live　in　your　studies　and　know　nothing　of　the

country！　that　is　only　a　woodpecker　tapping　a　tree。　I　dare　say　you

don't　even　know　the　most　curious　fact　in　the　history　of　that　bird。　As

soon　as　he　has　given　his　tap；　and　he　gives　millions　to　pierce　an　oak；

he　flies　behind　the　tree　to　see　if　he　is　yet　through　it；　and　he　does

this　every　instant。〃



〃The　noise　I　heard；　dear　instructress　of　natural　history；　was　not　a

noise　made　by　an　animal；　there　was　evidence　of　mind　in　it；　and　that

proclaims　a　man。〃



The　countess　was　seized　with　panic；　and　she　darted　back　through　the

wild　flower…garden；　seeking　the　path　by　which　to　leave　the　forest。



〃What　is　the　matter？〃　cried　Blondet；　rushing　after　her。



〃I　thought　I　saw　eyes；〃　she　said；　when　they　regained　the　path　through

which　they　had　reached　the　charcoal…burner's　open。



Just　then　they　heard　the　low　death…rattle　of　a　creature　whose　throat

was　suddenly　cut；　and　the　countess；　with　her　fears　redoubled；　fled　so

quickly　that　Blondet　could　scarcely　follow　her。　She　ran　like　a　will…

o'…the…wisp；　and　did　not　listen　to　Blondet　who　called　to　her；　〃You　are

mistaken。〃　On　she　ran；　and　Emile　with　her；　till　they　suddenly　came

upon　Michaud　and　his　wife；　who　were　walking　along　arm…in…arm。　Emile

was　panting　and　the　countess　out　of　breath；　and　it　was　some　time

before　they　could　speak；　then　they　explained。　Michaud　joined　Blondet

in　laughing　at　the　countess's　terror；　then　the　bailiff　showed　the　two

wanderers　the　way　to　find　the　tilbury。　When　they　reached　the　gate

Madame　Michaud　called；　〃Prince！〃



〃Prince！　Prince！〃　called　the　bailiff；　then　he　whistled；but　no


greyhound。



Emile　mentioned　the　curious　noise　that　began　their　adventure。



〃My　wife　heard　that　noise；〃　said　Michaud；　〃and　I　laughed　at　her。〃



〃They　have　killed　Prince！〃　exclaimed　the　countess。　〃I　am　sure　of　it；

they　killed　him　by　cutting　his　throat　at　one　blow。　What　I　heard　was

the　groan　of　a　dying　animal。〃



〃The　devil！〃　cried　Michaud；　〃the　matter　must　be　cleared　up。〃



Emile　and　the　bailiff　left　the　two　ladies　with　Joseph　and　the　horses；

and　returned　to　the　wild　garden　of　the　open。　They　went　down　the　bank

to　the　pond；　looked　everywhere　along　the　slope；　but　found　no　clue。

Blondet　jumped　back　first；　and　as　he　did　so　he　saw；　in　a　thicket　which

stood　on　higher　ground；　one　of　those　trees　he　had　noticed　in　the

morning　with　withered　heads。　He　showed　it　to　Michaud；　and　proposed　to

go　to　it。　The　two　sprang　forward　in　a　straight　line　across　the　forest；

avoiding　the　trunks　and　going　round　the　matted　tangles　of　brier　and

holly　until　they　found　the　tree。



〃It　is　a　fine　elm；〃　said　Michaud；　〃but　there's　a　worm　in　it；a　worm

which　gnaws　round　the　bark　close　to　the　roots。〃



He　stopped　and　took　up　a　bit　of　the　bark；　saying：　〃See　how　they　work。〃



〃You　have　a　great　many　worms　in　this　forest；〃　said　Blondet。



Just　then　Michaud　noticed　a　red　spot；　a　moment　more　and　he　saw　the

head　of　his　greyhound。　He　sighed。



〃The　scoundrels！〃　he　said。　〃Madame　was　right。〃



Michaud　and　Blondet