eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第22章

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rid　of　the　dandy　without　having　to　pay　more　than　his　journey　to
Nantes；　made　him　nearly　indifferent　to　his　presence　in　the　house。　He
left　the　two　children；　as　he　called　Charles　and　Eugenie；　free　to
conduct　themselves　as　they　pleased；　under　the　eye　of　Madame　Grandet；
in　whom　he　had　implicit　confidence　as　to　all　that　concerned　public　and
religious　morality。　He　busied　himself　in　straightening　the　boundaries
of　his　fields　and　ditches　along　the　high…road；　in　his　poplar…
plantations　beside　the　Loire；　in　the　winter　work　of　his　vineyards；　and
at　Froidfond。　All　these　things　occupied　his　whole　time。
For　Eugenie　the　springtime　of　love　had　come。　Since　the　scene　at　night
when　she　gave　her　little　treasure　to　her　cousin；　her　heart　had
followed　the　treasure。　Confederates　in　the　same　secret；　they　looked　at
each　other　with　a　mutual　intelligence　which　sank　to　the　depth　of　their
consciousness；　giving　a　closer　communion；　a　more　intimate　relation　to
their　feelings；　and　putting　them；　so　to　speak；　beyond　the　pale　of
ordinary　life。　Did　not　their　near　relationship　warrant　the　gentleness
in　their　tones；　the　tenderness　in　their　glances？　Eugenie　took　delight
in　lulling　her　cousin's　pain　with　the　pretty　childish　joys　of　a　new…
born　love。　Are　there　no　sweet　similitudes　between　the　birth　of　love
and　the　birth　of　life？　Do　we　not　rock　the　babe　with　gentle　songs　and
softest　glances？　Do　we　not　tell　it　marvellous　tales　of　the　golden
future？　Hope　herself；　does　she　not　spread　her　radiant　wings　above　its
head？　Does　it　not　shed；　with　infant　fickleness；　its　tears　of　sorrow
and　its　tears　of　joy？　Does　it　not　fret　for　trifles；　cry　for　the　pretty
pebbles　with　which　to　build　its　shifting　palaces；　for　the　flowers
forgotten　as　soon　as　plucked？　Is　it　not　eager　to　grasp　the　coming
time；　to　spring　forward　into　life？　Love　is　our　second　transformation。
Childhood　and　love　were　one　and　the　same　thing　to　Eugenie　and　to
Charles；　it　was　a　first　passion；　with　all　its　child…like　play；the
more　caressing　to　their　hearts　because　they　now　were　wrapped　in
sadness。　Struggling　at　birth　against　the　gloom　of　mourning；　their　love
was　only　the　more　in　harmony　with　the　provincial　plainness　of　that
gray　and　ruined　house。　As　they　exchanged　a　few　words　beside　the　well
in　the　silent　court；　or　lingered　in　the　garden　for　the　sunset　hour；
sitting　on　a　mossy　seat　saying　to　each　other　the　infinite　nothings　of
love；　or　mused　in　the　silent　calm　which　reigned　between　the　house　and
the　ramparts　like　that　beneath　the　arches　of　a　church；　Charles
comprehended　the　sanctity　of　love；　for　his　great　lady；　his　dear
Annette；　had　taught　him　only　its　stormy　troubles。　At　this　moment　he
left　the　worldly　passion；　coquettish；　vain；　and　showy　as　it　was；　and
turned　to　the　true；　pure　love。　He　loved　even　the　house；　whose　customs
no　longer　seemed　to　him　ridiculous。　He　got　up　early　in　the　mornings
that　he　might　talk　with　Eugenie　for　a　moment　before　her　father　came　to
dole　out　the　provisions；　when　the　steps　of　the　old　man　sounded　on　the
staircase　he　escaped　into　the　garden。　The　small　criminality　of　this
morning　/tete…a…tete/　which　Nanon　pretended　not　to　see；　gave　to　their
innocent　love　the　lively　charm　of　a　forbidden　joy。
After　breakfast；　when　Grandet　had　gone　to　his　fields　and　his　other
occupations；　Charles　remained　with　the　mother　and　daughter；　finding　an
unknown　pleasure　in　holding　their　skeins；　in　watching　them　at　work；　in
listening　to　their　quiet　prattle。　The　simplicity　of　this　half…monastic
life；　which　revealed　to　him　the　beauty　of　these　souls；　unknown　and
unknowing　of　the　world；　touched　him　keenly。　He　had　believed　such
morals　impossible　in　France；　and　admitted　their　existence　nowhere　but
in　Germany；　even　so；　they　seemed　to　him　fabulous；　only　real　in　the
novels　of　Auguste　Lafontaine。　Soon　Eugenie　became　to　him　the　Margaret
of　Goethebefore　her　fall。　Day　by　day　his　words；　his　looks　enraptured
the　poor　girl；　who　yielded　herself　up　with　delicious　non…resistance　to
the　current　of　love；　she　caught　her　happiness　as　a　swimmer　seizes　the
overhanging　branch　of　a　willow　to　draw　himself　from　the　river　and　lie
at　rest　upon　its　shore。　Did　no　dread　of　a　coming　absence　sadden　the
happy　hours　of　those　fleeting　days？　Daily　some　little　circumstance
reminded　them　of　the　parting　that　was　at　hand。
Three　days　after　the　departure　of　des　Grassins；　Grandet　took　his
nephew　to　the　Civil　courts；　with　the　solemnity　which　country　people
attach　to　all　legal　acts；　that　he　might　sign　a　deed　surrendering　his
rights　in　his　father's　estate。　Terrible　renunciation！　species　of
domestic　apostasy！　Charles　also　went　before　Maitre　Cruchot　to　make　two
powers　of　attorney；one　for　des　Grassins；　the　other　for　the　friend
whom　he　had　charged　with　the　sale　of　his　belongings。　After　that　he
attended　to　all　the　formalities　necessary　to　obtain　a　passport　for
foreign　countries；　and　finally；　when　he　received　his　simple　mourning
clothes　from　Paris；　he　sent　for　the　tailor　of　Saumur　and　sold　to　him
his　useless　wardrobe。　This　last　act　pleased　Grandet　exceedingly。
〃Ah！　now　you　look　like　a　man　prepared　to　embark　and　make　your
fortune；〃　he　said；　when　Charles　appeared　in　a　surtout　of　plain　black
cloth。　〃Good！　very　good！〃
〃I　hope　you　will　believe；　monsieur；〃　answered　his　nephew；　〃that　I
shall　always　try　to　conform　to　my　situation。〃
〃What's　that？〃　said　his　uncle；　his　eyes　lighting　up　at　a　handful　of
gold　which　Charles　was　carrying。
〃Monsieur；　I　have　collected　all　my　buttons　and　rings　and　other
superfluities　which　may　have　some　value；　but　not　knowing　any　one　in
Saumur；　I　wanted　to　ask　you　to〃
〃To　buy　them？〃　said　Grandet；　interrupting　him。
〃No；　uncle；　only　to　tell　me　of　an　honest　man　who〃
〃Give　me　those　things；　I　will　go　upstairs　and　estimate　their　value；　I
will　come　back　and　tell　you　what　it　is　to　a　fraction。　Jeweller's
gold；〃　examining　a　long　chain；　〃eighteen　or　nineteen　carats。〃
The　goodman　held　out　his　huge　hand　and　received　the　mass　of　gold；
which　he　carried　away。
〃Cousin；〃　said　Grandet；　〃may　I　offer　you　these　two　buttons？　They　can
fasten　ribbons　round　your　wrists；　that　sort　of　bracelet　is　much　the
fashion　just　now。〃
〃I　accept　without　hesitation；〃　she　answered；　giving　him　an
understanding　look。
〃Aunt；　here　is　my　mother's　thimble；　I　have　always　kept　it　carefully　in
my　dressing…case；〃　said　Charles；　presenting　a　pretty　gold　thimble　to
Madame　Grandet；　who　for　many　years　had　longed　for　one。
〃I　cannot　thank　you；　no　words　are　possible；　my　nephew；〃　said　the　poor
mother；　whose　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃Night　and　morning　in　my　prayers
I　shall　add　one　for　you；　the　most　earnest　of　allfor　those　who
travel。　If　I　die；　Eugenie　will　keep　this　treasure　for　you。〃
〃They　are　worth　nine　hundred　and　eighty…nine　francs；　seventy…five
centimes；〃　said　Grandet；　opening　the　door。　〃To　save　you　the　pain　of
selling　them；　I　will　advance　the　moneyin　/livres/。〃
The　word　/livres/　on　the　littoral　of　the　Loire　signifies　that　crown
prices　of　six　/livres/　are　to　be　accepted　as　six　francs　without
deduction。
〃I　dared　not　propose　it　to　you；〃　answered　Charles；　〃but　it　was　most
repugnant　to　me　to　sell　my　jewels　to　some　second…hand　dealer　in　your
own　town。　People　should　wash　their　dirty　linen　at　home；　as　Napoleon
said。　I　thank　you　for　your　kindness。〃
Grandet　scratched　his　ear；　and　there　was　a　moment's　silence。
〃My　dear　uncle；〃　resumed　Charles；　looking　at　him　with　an　uneasy　air；
as　if　he　feared　to　wound　his　feelings；　〃my　aunt　and　cousin　have　been
kind　enough　to　accept　a　trifling　remembrance　of　me。　Will　you　allow　me
to　give　you　these　sleeve…buttons；　which　are　useless　to　me　now？　They
will　remind　you　of　a　poor　fellow　who；　far　away；　will　always　think　of
those　who　are　henceforth　all　his　family。〃
〃My　lad；　my　lad；　you　mustn't　rob　yourself　this　way！　Let　me　see；　wife；
what　have　you　got？〃　he　added；　turning　eagerly　to　her。　〃Ah！　a　gold
thimble。　And　you；　little　girl？　What！　diamond　buttons？　Yes；　I'll　accept
your　present；　nephew；〃　he　answered；　shaking　Charles　by　the　hand。　〃But
you　must　let　mepayyouryes；　your　passage　to　the　Indies。　Yes；　I
wish　to　pay　your　passage　becaused'ye　see；　my　boy？in　valuing　your
jewels　I　estimated　only　the　weight　of　the　gold；　very　likely　the
workmanship　is　worth　something。　So　let　us　settle　it　that　I　am　to　give
you　fifteen　hundred　francsin　/livres/；　Cruchot　will　lend　them　to　me。
I　haven't　got　a　copper　farthing　here；unless　Perrotet；　who　is
behindhand　with　his　rent；　should　pay　up。　By　the　bye；　I'll　go　and　see
him。〃
He　took　his　hat；　put　on　his　gloves；　and　went　out。
〃Then　you　are　really　going？〃　said　Eugenie　to　her　cousin；　with　a　sad
look；　mingled　with　admiration。
〃I　must；〃　he　said；　bowing　his　head。
For　some　days　past；　Charles's　whole　bearing；　manners；　and　speech　had
become　those　of　a　man　who；　in　spite　of　his　profound　affliction；　feels
the　weight　of　immense　obligations　and　has　the　strength　to　gather
courage　from　misfortune。　He　no　longer　repined；　he　became　a　man。
Eugenie　never　augured　better　of　her　cousin's　character　than　when　she
saw　him　come　down　in　the　plain　black　clothes　which　suited　well　with
his　pale　face　and　sombre　countenance。　On　that　day　the　two　women　put　on
their　own　mourning；　and　all　three　assisted　at　a　Requiem　celebrated　in
the　parish　church　for　the　soul　of　the　late　Guillaume　Grandet。
At　the　second　breakfast　Charles　received　letters　from　Paris　and　began
to　read　them。
〃Well；　cousin；　are　you　satisfied　with　the　management　of　your　affairs？〃
said　Eugenie　in　a　low　voice。
〃Never　ask　such　questions；　my　daughter；〃　said　Grandet。　〃What　the
devil！　do　I　tell　you　my　affairs？　Why　do　you　poke　your　nose　into　your
cousin's？　Let　the　lad　alone！〃
〃Oh！　I　haven't　any　secrets；〃　said　Charles。
〃Ta；　ta；　ta；　ta；　nephew；　you'll　soon　find　out　that　you　must　hold　your
tongue　in　business。〃
When　the　two　lovers　were　alone　in　the　garden；　Charles　said　to　Eugenie；
drawing　her　down　on　the　old　bench　beneath　the　walnut…tree；
〃I　did　right　to　trust　Alphonse；　he　has　done　famously。　He　has　managed
my　affairs　with　prudence　and　good　faith。　I　now　owe　nothing　in　Paris。
All　my　things　have　been　sold；　and　he　tells　me　that　he　has　taken　the
advice　of　an　old　sea…captain　and　spent　three　thousand　francs　on　a
commercial　outfit　of　European　curiosities　which　will　be　sure　to　be　in
demand　in　the　Indies。　He　has　sent　my　trunks　to　Nantes；　where　a　ship　is
loading　for　San　Domingo。　In　five　days；　Eugenie；　we　must　bid　each　other
farewellperhaps　forever；　at　least　for　years。　My　outfit　and　ten
thousand　francs；　which　two　of　my　friends　send　me；　are　a　very　small
beginning。　I　cannot　look　to　return　for　many　years。　My　dear　cousin；　do
not　weight　your　life　in　the　scales　with　mine；　I　may　perish；　some　good
marriage　may　be　offered　to　you〃
〃Do　you　love　me？〃　she　said。
〃Oh；　yes！　indeed；　yes！〃　he　answered；　with　a　depth　of　tone　that
revealed　an　equal　depth　of　feeling。
〃I　shall　wait；　CharlesGood　heavens！　there　is　my　father　at　his
window；〃　she　said；　repulsing　her　cousin；　who　leaned　forward　to　kiss
her。
She　ran　quickly　under　the　archway。　Charles　followed　her。　When　she　saw
him；　she　retreated　to　the　foot　of　the　staircase　and　opened　the　swing…
door；　then；　scarcely　knowing　where　she　was　going；　Eugenie　reached　the
corner　near　Nanon's　den；　in　the　darkest　end　of　the　passage。　There
Charles　caught　her　hand　and　drew　her　to　his　heart。　Passing　his　arm
about　her　waist；　he　m