eugenie grandet(欧也妮·葛朗台)-第32章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　one　you　expected？〃
The　words　rang　as　loudly　in　the　heart　of　Eugenie　as　they　echoed　in
sound　from　wall　to　wall　of　the　court　and　garden。
〃Parisfrom　himhe　has　returned！〃
Eugenie　turned　pale　and　held　the　letter　for　a　moment。　She　trembled　so
violently　that　she　could　not　break　the　seal。　La　Grande　Nanon　stood
before　her；　both　hands　on　her　hips；　her　joy　puffing　as　it　were　like
smoke　through　the　cracks　of　her　brown　face。
〃Read　it；　mademoiselle！〃
〃Ah；　Nanon；　why　did　he　return　to　Paris？　He　went　from　Saumur。〃
〃Read　it；　and　you'll　find　out。〃
Eugenie　opened　the　letter　with　trembling　fingers。　A　cheque　on　the
house　of　〃Madame　des　Grassins　and　Coret；　of　Saumur；〃　fluttered　down。
Nanon　picked　it　up。
　　My　dear　Cousin；
〃No　longer　'Eugenie；'〃　she　thought；　and　her　heart　quailed。
　　You
〃He　once　said　'thou。'〃　She　folded　her　arms　and　dared　not　read　another
word；　great　tears　gathered　in　her　eyes。
〃Is　he　dead？〃　asked　Nanon。
〃If　he　were；　he　could　not　write；〃　said　Eugenie。
She　then　read　the　whole　letter；　which　was　as　follows：
　　My　dear　Cousin；You　will；　I　am　sure；　hear　with　pleasure　of　the
　　success　of　my　enterprise。　You　brought　me　luck；　I　have　come　back
　　rich；　and　I　have　followed　the　advice　of　my　uncle；　whose　death；
　　together　with　that　of　my　aunt；　I　have　just　learned　from　Monsieur
　　des　Grassins。　The　death　of　parents　is　in　the　course　of　nature；　and
　　we　must　succeed　them。　I　trust　you　are　by　this　time　consoled。
　　Nothing　can　resist　time；　as　I　am　well　aware。　Yes；　my　dear　cousin；
　　the　day　of　illusions　is；　unfortunately；　gone　for　me。　How　could　it
　　be　otherwise？　Travelling　through　many　lands；　I　have　reflected　upon
　　life。　I　was　a　child　when　I　went　away；I　have　come　back　a　man。
　　To…day；　I　think　of　many　I　did　not　dream　of　then。　You　are　free；　my
　　dear　cousin；　and　I　am　free　still。　Nothing　apparently　hinders　the
　　realization　of　our　early　hopes；　but　my　nature　is　too　loyal　to　hide
　　from　you　the　situation　in　which　I　find　myself。　I　have　not
　　forgotten　our　relations；　I　have　always　remembered；　throughout　my
　　long　wanderings；　the　little　wooden　seat
Eugenie　rose　as　if　she　were　sitting　on　live　coals；　and　went　away　and
sat　down　on　the　stone　steps　of　the　court。
　　the　little　wooden　seat　where　we　vowed　to　love　each　other
　　forever；　the　passage；　the　gray　hall；　my　attic　chamber；　and　the
　　night　when；　by　your　delicate　kindness；　you　made　my　future　easier
　　to　me。　Yes；　these　recollections　sustained　my　courage；　I　said　in　my
　　heart　that　you　were　thinking　of　me　at　the　hour　we　had　agreed　upon。
　　Have　you　always　looked　at　the　clouds　at　nine　o'clock？　Yes；　I　am
　　sure　of　it。　I　cannot　betray　so　true　a　friendship；no；　I　must　not
　　deceive　you。　An　alliance　has　been　proposed　to　me　which　satisfies
　　all　my　ideas　of　matrimony。　Love　in　marriage　is　a　delusion。　My
　　present　experience　warns　me　that　in　marrying　we　are　bound　to　obey
　　all　social　laws　and　meet　the　conventional　demands　of　the　world。
　　Now；　between　you　and　me　there　are　differences　which　might　affect
　　your　future；　my　dear　cousin；　even　more　than　they　would　mine。　I
　　will　not　here　speak　of　your　customs　and　inclinations；　your
　　education；　nor　yet　of　your　habits；　none　of　which　are　in　keeping
　　with　Parisian　life；　or　with　the　future　which　I　have　marked　out　for
　　myself。　My　intention　is　to　keep　my　household　on　a　stately　footing；
　　to　receive　much　company；in　short；　to　live　in　the　world；　and　I
　　think　I　remember　that　you　love　a　quiet　and　tranquil　life。　I　will
　　be　frank；　and　make　you　the　judge　of　my　situation；　you　have　the
　　right　to　understand　it　and　to　judge　it。
　　I　possess　at　the　present　moment　an　income　of　eighty　thousand
　　francs。　This　fortune　enables　me　to　marry　into　the　family　of
　　Aubrion；　whose　heiress；　a　young　girl　nineteen　years　of　age；　brings
　　me　a　title；　a　place　of　gentleman…of…the…bed…chamber　to　His
　　Majesty；　and　a　very　brilliant　position。　I　will　admit　to　you；　my
　　dear　cousin；　that　I　do　not　love　Mademoiselle　d'Aubrion；　but　in
　　marrying　her　I　secure　to　my　children　a　social　rank　whose
　　advantages　will　one　day　be　incalculable：　monarchical　principles
　　are　daily　coming　more　and　more　into　favor。　Thus　in　course　of　time
　　my　son；　when　he　becomes　Marquis　d'Aubrion；　having；　as　he　then　will
　　have；　an　entailed　estate　with　a　rental　of　forty　thousand　francs　a
　　year；　can　obtain　any　position　in　the　State　which　he　may　think
　　proper　to　select。　We　owe　ourselves　to　our　children。
　　You　see；　my　cousin；　with　what　good　faith　I　lay　the　state　of　my
　　heart；　my　hopes；　and　my　fortune　before　you。　Possibly；　after　seven
　　years'　separation；　you　have　yourself　forgotten　our　youthful　loves；
　　but　I　have　never　forgotten　either　your　kindness　or　my　own　words。　I
　　remember　all；　even　words　that　were　lightly　uttered；words　by
　　which　a　man　less　conscientious　than　I；　with　a　heart　less　youthful
　　and　less　upright；　would　scarcely　feel　himself　bound。　In　telling
　　you　that　the　marriage　I　propose　to　make　is　solely　one　of
　　convenience；　that　I　still　remember　our　childish　love；　am　I　not
　　putting　myself　entirely　in　your　hands　and　making　you　the　mistress
　　of　my　fate？　am　I　not　telling　you　that　if　I　must　renounce　my　social
　　ambitions；　I　shall　willingly　content　myself　with　the　pure　and
　　simple　happiness　of　which　you　have　shown　me　so　sweet　an　image？
〃Tan；　ta；　tatan；　ta；　ti；〃　sang　Charles　Grandet　to　the　air　of　/Non
piu　andrai/；　as　he　signed　himself；
Your　devoted　cousin；
Charles。

〃Thunder！　that's　doing　it　handsomely！〃　he　said；　as　he　looked　about　him
for　the　cheque；　having　found　it；　he　added　the　words：
　　P。S。I　enclose　a　cheque　on　the　des　Grassins　bank　for　eight
　　thousand　francs　to　your　order；　payable　in　gold；　which　includes　the
　　capital　and　interest　of　the　sum　you　were　kind　enough　to　lend　me。　I
　　am　expecting　a　case　from　Bordeaux　which　contains　a　few　things
　　which　you　must　allow　me　to　offer　you　as　a　mark　of　my　unceasing
　　gratitude。　You　can　send　my　dressing…case　by　the　diligence　to　the
　　hotel　d'Aubrion；　rue　Hillerin…Bertin。
〃By　the　diligence！〃　said　Eugenie。　〃A　thing　for　which　I　would　have　laid
down　my　life！〃
Terrible　and　utter　disaster！　The　ship　went　down；　leaving　not　a　spar；
not　a　plank；　on　a　vast　ocean　of　hope！　Some　women　when　they　see
themselves　abandoned　will　try　to　tear　their　lover　from　the　arms　of　a
rival；　they　will　kill　her；　and　rush　to　the　ends　of　the　earth；to　the
scaffold；　to　their　tomb。　That；　no　doubt；　is　fine；　the　motive　of　the
crime　is　a　great　passion；　which　awes　even　human　justice。　Other　women
bow　their　heads　and　suffer　in　silence；　they　go　their　way　dying；
resigned；　weeping；　forgiving；　praying；　and　recollecting；　till　they
draw　their　last　breath。　This　is　love；true　love；　the　love　of　angels；
the　proud　love　which　lives　upon　its　anguish　and　dies　of　it。　Such　was
Eugenie's　love　after　she　had　read　that　dreadful　letter。　She　raised　her
eyes　to　heaven；　thinking　of　the　last　words　uttered　by　her　dying
mother；　who；　with　the　prescience　of　death；　had　looked　into　the　future
with　clear　and　penetrating　eyes：　Eugenie；　remembering　that　prophetic
death；　that　prophetic　life；　measured　with　one　glance　her　own　destiny。
Nothing　was　left　for　her；　she　could　only　unfold　her　wings；　stretch
upward　to　the　skies；　and　live　in　prayer　until　the　day　of　her
deliverance。
〃My　mother　was　right；〃　she　said；　weeping。　〃Sufferand　die！〃

XIV
Eugenie　came　slowly　back　from　the　garden　to　the　house；　and　avoided
passing；　as　was　her　custom；　through　the　corridor。　But　the　memory　of
her　cousin　was　in　the　gray　old　hall　and　on　the　chimney…piece；　where
stood　a　certain　saucer　and　the　old　Sevres　sugar…bowl　which　she　used
every　morning　at　her　breakfast。
This　day　was　destined　to　be　solemn　throughout　and　full　of　events。
Nanon　announced　the　cure　of　the　parish　church。　He　was　related　to　the
Cruchots；　and　therefore　in　the　interests　of　Monsieur　de　Bonfons。　For
some　time　past　the　old　abbe　had　urged　him　to　speak　to　Mademoiselle
Grandet；　from　a　purely　religious　point　of　view；　about　the　duty　of
marriage　for　a　woman　in　her　position。　When　she　saw　her　pastor；　Eugenie
supposed　he　had　come　for　the　thousand　francs　which　she　gave　monthly　to
the　poor；　and　she　told　Nanon　to　go　and　fetch　them；　but　the　cure　only
smiled。
〃To…day；　mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　come　to　speak　to　you　about　a
poor　girl　in　whom　the　whole　town　of　Saumur　takes　an　interest；　who；
through　lack　of　charity　to　herself；　neglects　her　Christian　duties。〃
〃Monsieur　le　cure；　you　have　come　to　me　at　a　moment　when　I　cannot　think
of　my　neighbor；　I　am　filled　with　thoughts　of　myself。　I　am　very
unhappy；　my　only　refuge　is　in　the　Church；　her　bosom　is　large　enough　to
hold　all　human　woe；　her　love　so　full　that　we　may　draw　from　its　depths
and　never　drain　it　dry。〃
〃Mademoiselle；　in　speaking　of　this　young　girl　we　shall　speak　of　you。
Listen！　If　you　wish　to　insure　your　salvation　you　have　only　two　paths
to　take；either　leave　the　world　or　obey　its　laws。　Obey　either　your
earthly　destiny　or　your　heavenly　destiny。〃
〃Ah！　your　voice　speaks　to　me　when　I　need　to　hear　a　voice。　Yes；　God　has
sent　you　to　me；　I　will　bid　farewell　to　the　world　and　live　for　God
alone；　in　silence　and　seclusion。〃
〃My　daughter；　you　must　think　long　before　you　take　so　violent　a　step。
Marriage　is　life；　the　veil　is　death。〃
〃Yes；　death；a　quick　death！〃　she　said；　with　dreadful　eagerness。
〃Death？　but　you　have　great　obligations　to　fulfil　to　society；
mademoiselle。　Are　you　not　the　mother　of　the　poor；　to　whom　you　give
clothes　and　wood　in　winter　and　work　in　summer？　Your　great　fortune　is　a
loan　which　you　must　return；　and　you　have　sacredly　accepted　it　as　such。
To　bury　yourself　in　a　convent　would　be　selfishness；　to　remain　an　old
maid　is　to　fail　in　duty。　In　the　first　place；　can　you　manage　your　vast
property　alone？　May　you　not　lose　it？　You　will　have　law…suits；　you　will
find　yourself　surrounded　by　inextricable　difficulties。　Believe　your
pastor：　a　husband　is　useful；　you　are　bound　to　preserve　what　God　has
bestowed　upon　you。　I　speak　to　you　as　a　precious　lamb　of　my　flock。　You
love　God　too　truly　not　to　find　your　salvation　in　the　midst　of　his
world；　of　which　you　are　noble　ornament　and　to　which　you　owe　your
example。〃
At　this　moment　Madame　des　Grassins　was　announced。　She　came　incited　by
vengeance　and　the　sense　of　a　great　despair。
〃Mademoiselle；〃　she　said〃Ah！　here　is　monsieur　le　cure；　I　am　silent。
I　came　to　speak　to　you　on　business；　but　I　see　that　you　are　conferring
with〃
〃Madame；〃　said　the　cure；　〃I　leave　the　field　to　you。〃
〃Oh！　monsieur　le　cure；〃　said　Eugenie；　〃come　back　later；　your　support
is　very　necessary　to　me　just　now。〃
〃Ah；　yes；　indeed；　my　poor　child！〃　said　Madame　des　Grassins。
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Eugenie　and　the　cure　together。
〃Don't　I　know　about　your　cousin's　return；　and　his　marriage　with
Mademoiselle　d'Aubrion？　A　woman　doesn't　carry　her　wits　in　her　pocket。〃
Eugenie　blushed；　and　remained　silent　for　a　moment。　From　this　day　forth
she　assumed　the　impassible　countenance　for　which　her　father　had　been
so　remarkable。
〃Well；　madame；〃　she　presently　said；　ironically；　〃no　doubt　I　carry　my
wits　in　my　pocket；　for　I　do　not　understand　you。　Speak；　say　what　you
mean；　before　monsieur　le　cure；　you　know　he　is　my　director。〃
〃Well；　then；　mademoiselle；　here　is　what　des　Grassins　writes　me。　Read
it。〃
Eugenie　read　the　following　letter：
　　My　dear　Wife；Charles　Grandet　has　returned　from　the　I