cousin betty-第47章

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〃You　would　have　very　little　to　do；　my　dear；〃　said　she；　holding　Hulot's
hand　and　trembling　so　violently　that　it　was　as　though　she　had　a　palsy；
〃very　little　to　set　things　in　order〃

She　dared　not　proceed；　she　felt　that　every　word　would　be　a　reproof；
and　she　did　not　wish　to　mar　the　happiness　with　which　this　meeting　was
inundating　her　soul。

〃It　is　Hortense　who　has　brought　me　here；〃　said　Hulot。　〃That　child　may
do　us　far　more　harm　by　her　hasty　proceeding　than　my　absurd　passion　for
Valerie　has　ever　done。　But　we　will　discuss　all　this　to…morrow　morning。
Hortense　is　asleep；　Mariette　tells　me；　we　will　not　disturb　her。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Madame　Hulot；　suddenly　plunged　into　the　depths　of　grief。

She　understood　that　the　Baron's　return　was　prompted　not　so　much　by　the
wish　to　see　his　family　as　by　some　ulterior　interest。

〃Leave　her　in　peace　till　to…morrow；〃　said　the　mother。　〃The　poor　child
is　in　a　deplorable　condition；　she　has　been　crying　all　day。〃



At　nine　the　next　morning；　the　Baron；　awaiting　his　daughter；　whom　he
had　sent　for；　was　pacing　the　large；　deserted　drawing…room；　trying　to
find　arguments　by　which　to　conquer　the　most　difficult　form　of
obstinacy　there　is　to　deal　withthat　of　a　young　wife；　offended　and
implacable；　as　blameless　youth　ever　is；　in　its　ignorance　of　the
disgraceful　compromises　of　the　world；　of　its　passions　and　interests。

〃Here　I　am；　papa；〃　said　Hortense　in　a　tremulous　voice；　and　looking
pale　from　her　miseries。

Hulot；　sitting　down；　took　his　daughter　round　the　waist；　and　drew　her
down　to　sit　on　his　knee。

〃Well；　my　child；〃　said　he；　kissing　her　forehead；　〃so　there　are
troubles　at　home；　and　you　have　been　hasty　and　headstrong？　That　is　not
like　a　well…bred　child。　My　Hortense　ought　not　to　have　taken　such　a
decisive　step　as　that　of　leaving　her　house　and　deserting　her　husband
on　her　own　account；　and　without　consulting　her　parents。　If　my　darling
girl　had　come　to　see　her　kind　and　admirable　mother；　she　would　not　have
given　me　this　cruel　pain　I　feel！You　do　not　know　the　world；　it　is
malignantly　spiteful。　People　will　perhaps　say　that　your　husband　sent
you　back　to　your　parents。　Children　brought　up　as　you　were；　on　your
mother's　lap；　remain　artless；　maidenly　passion　like　yours　for
Wenceslas；　unfortunately；　makes　no　allowances；　it　acts　on　every
impulse。　The　little　heart　is　moved；　the　head　follows　suit。　You　would
burn　down　Paris　to　be　revenged；　with　no　thought　of　the　courts　of
justice！

〃When　your　old　father　tells　you　that　you　have　outraged　the
proprieties；　you　may　take　his　word　for　it。I　say　nothing　of　the　cruel
pain　you　have　given　me。　It　is　bitter；　I　assure　you；　for　you　throw　all
the　blame　on　a　woman　of　whose　heart　you　know　nothing；　and　whose
hostility　may　become　disastrous。　And　you；　alas！　so　full　of　guileless
innocence　and　purity；　can　have　no　suspicions；　but　you　may　be　vilified
and　slandered。Besides；　my　darling　pet；　you　have　taken　a　foolish　jest
too　seriously。　I　can　assure　you；　on　my　honor；　that　your　husband　is
blameless。　Madame　Marneffe〃

So　far　the　Baron；　artistically　diplomatic；　had　formulated　his
remonstrances　very　judiciously。　He　had；　as　may　be　observed；　worked　up
to　the　mention　of　this　name　with　superior　skill；　and　yet　Hortense；　as
she　heard　it；　winced　as　if　stung　to　the　quick。

〃Listen　to　me；　I　have　had　great　experience；　and　I　have　seen　much；〃　he
went　on；　stopping　his　daughter's　attempt　to　speak。　〃That　lady　is　very
cold　to　your　husband。　Yes；　you　have　been　made　the　victim　of　a
practical　joke；　and　I　will　prove　it　to　you。　Yesterday　Wenceslas　was
dining　with　her〃

〃Dining　with　her！〃　cried　the　young　wife；　starting　to　her　feet；　and
looking　at　her　father　with　horror　in　every　feature。　〃Yesterday！　After
having　had　my　letter！　Oh；　great　God！Why　did　I　not　take　the　veil
rather　than　marry？　But　now　my　life　is　not　my　own！　I　have　the　child！〃
and　she　sobbed。

Her　weeping　went　to　Madame　Hulot's　heart。　She　came　out　of　her　room　and
ran　to　her　daughter；　taking　her　in　her　arms；　and　asking　her　those
questions；　stupid　with　grief；　which　first　rose　to　her　lips。

〃Now　we　have　tears；〃　said　the　Baron　to　himself；　〃and　all　was　going　so
well！　What　is　to　be　done　with　women　who　cry？〃

〃My　child；〃　said　the　Baroness；　〃listen　to　your　father！　He　loves　us　all
come；　come〃

〃Come；　Hortense；　my　dear　little　girl；　cry　no　more；　you　make　yourself
too　ugly！〃　said　the　Baron；　〃Now；　be　a　little　reasonable。　Go　sensibly
home；　and　I　promise　you　that　Wenceslas　shall　never　set　foot　in　that
woman's　house。　I　ask　you　to　make　the　sacrifice；　if　it　is　a　sacrifice
to　forgive　the　husband　you　love　so　small　a　fault。　I　ask　youfor　the
sake　of　my　gray　hairs；　and　of　the　love　you　owe　your　mother。　You　do　not
want　to　blight　my　later　years　with　bitterness　and　regret？〃

Hortense　fell　at　her　father's　feet　like　a　crazed　thing；　with　the
vehemence　of　despair；　her　hair；　loosely　pinned　up；　fell　about　her；　and
she　held　out　her　hands　with　an　expression　that　painted　her　misery。

〃Father；〃　she　said；　〃ask　my　life！　Take　it　if　you　will；　but　at　least
take　it　pure　and　spotless；　and　I　will　yield　it　up　gladly。　Do　not　ask
me　to　die　in　dishonor　and　crime。　I　am　not　at　all　like　my　husband；　I
cannot　swallow　an　outrage。　If　I　went　back　under　my　husband's　roof；　I
should　be　capable　of　smothering　him　in　a　fit　of　jealousyor　of　doing
worse！　Do　no　exact　from　me　a　thing　that　is　beyond　my　powers。　Do　not
have　to　mourn　for　me　still　living；　for　the　least　that　can　befall　me　is
to　go　mad。　I　feel　madness　close　upon　me！

〃Yesterday；　yesterday；　he　could　dine　with　that　woman；　after　having
read　my　letter？Are　other　men　made　so？　My　life　I　give　you；　but　do　not
let　my　death　be　ignominious！His　fault？A　small　one！　When　he　has　a
child　by　that　woman！〃

〃A　child！〃　cried　Hulot；　starting　back　a　step　or　two。　〃Come。　This　is
really　some　fooling。〃

At　this　juncture　Victorin　and　Lisbeth　arrived；　and　stood　dumfounded　at
the　scene。　The　daughter　was　prostrate　at　her　father's　feet。　The
Baroness；　speechless　between　her　maternal　feelings　and　her　conjugal
duty；　showed　a　harassed　face　bathed　in　tears。

〃Lisbeth；〃　said　the　Baron；　seizing　his　cousin　by　the　hand　and　pointing
to　Hortense；　〃you　can　help　me　here。　My　poor　child's　brain　is　turned；
she　believes　that　her　Wenceslas　is　Madame　Marneffe's　lover；　while　all
that　Valerie　wanted　was　to　have　a　group　by　him。〃

〃/Delilah/！〃　cried　the　young　wife。　〃The　only　thing　he　has　done　since
our　marriage。　The　man　would　not　work　for　me　or　for　his　son；　and　he　has
worked　with　frenzy　for　that　good…for…nothing　creature。Oh；　father；
kill　me　outright；　for　every　word　stabs　like　a　knife！〃

Lisbeth　turned　to　the　Baroness　and　Victorin；　pointing　with　a　pitying
shrug　to　the　Baron；　who　could　not　see　her。

〃Listen　to　me；〃　said　she　to　him。　〃I　had　no　ideawhen　you　asked　me　to
go　to　lodge　over　Madame　Marneffe　and　keep　house　for　herI　had　no　idea
of　what　she　was；　but　many　things　may　be　learned　in　three　years。　That
creature　is　a　prostitute；　and　one　whose　depravity　can　only　be　compared
with　that　of　her　infamous　and　horrible　husband。　You　are　the　dupe；　my
lord　pot…boiler；　of　those　people；　you　will　be　led　further　by　them　than
you　dream　of！　I　speak　plainly；　for　you　are　at　the　bottom　of　a　pit。〃

The　Baroness　and　her　daughter；　hearing　Lisbeth　speak　in　this　style；
cast　adoring　looks　at　her；　such　as　the　devout　cast　at　a　Madonna　for
having　saved　their　life。

〃That　horrible　woman　was　bent　on　destroying　your　son…in…law's　home。　To
what　end？I　know　not。　My　brain　is　not　equal　to　seeing　clearly　into
these　dark　intriguesperverse；　ignoble；　infamous！　Your　Madame
Marneffe　does　not　love　your　son…in…law；　but　she　will　have　him　at　her
feet　out　of　revenge。　I　have　just　spoken　to　the　wretched　woman　as　she
deserves。　She　is　a　shameless　courtesan；　I　have　told　her　that　I　am
leaving　her　house；　that　I　would　not　have　my　honor　smirched　in　that
muck…heap。I　owe　myself　to　my　family　before　all　else。

〃I　knew　that　Hortense　had　left　her　husband；　so　here　I　am。　Your
Valerie；　whom　you　believe　to　be　a　saint；　is　the　cause　of　this
miserable　separation；　can　I　remain　with　such　a　woman？　Our　poor　little
Hortense；〃　said　she；　touching　the　Baron's　arm；　with　peculiar　meaning；
〃is　perhaps　the　dupe　of　a　wish　of　such　women　as　these；　who；　to　possess
a　toy；　would　sacrifice　a　family。

〃I　do　not　think　Wenceslas　guilty；　but　I　think　him　weak；　and　I　cannot
promise　that　he　will　not　yield　to　her　refinements　of　temptation。My
mind　is　made　up。　The　woman　is　fatal　to　you；　she　will　bring　you　all　to
utter　ruin。　I　will　not　even　seem　to　be　concerned　in　the　destruction　of
my　own　family；　after　living　there　for　three　years　solely　to　hinder　it。

〃You　are　cheated；　Baron；　say　very　positively　that　you　will　have
nothing　to　say　to　the　promotion　of　that　dreadful　Marneffe；　and　you
will　see　then！　There　is　a　fine　rod　in　pickle　for　you　in　that　case。〃

Lisbeth　lifted　up　Hortense　and　kissed　her　enthusiastically。

〃My　dear　Hortense；　stand　firm；〃　she　whispered。

The　Baroness　embraced　Lisbeth　with　the　vehemence　of　a　woman　who　sees
herself　avenged。　The　whole　family　stood　in　perfect　silence　round　the
father；　who　had　wit　enough　to　know　what　that　silence　implied。　A　storm
of　fury　swept　across　his　brow　and　face　with　evident　signs；　the　veins
swelled；　his　eyes　were　bloodshot；　his　flesh　showed　patches　of　color。
Adeline　fell　on　her　knees　before　him　and　seized　his　hands。

〃My　dear；　forgive；　my　dear！〃

〃You　loathe　me！〃　cried　the　Baronthe　cry　of　his　conscience。

For　we　all　know　the　secret　of　our　own　wrong…doing。　We　almost　always
ascribe　to　our　victims　the　hateful　feelings　which　must　fill　them　with
the　hope　of　revenge；　and　in　spite　of　every　effort　of　hypocrisy；　our
tongue　or　our　face　makes　confession　under　the　rack　of　some　unexpected
anguish；　as　the　criminal　of　old　confessed　under　the　hands　of　the
torturer。

〃Our　children；〃　he　went　on；　to　retract　the　avowal；　〃turn　at　last　to　be
our　enemies〃

〃Father！〃　Victorin　began。

〃You　dare　to　interrupt　your　father！〃　said　the　Baron　in　a　voice　of
thunder；　glaring　at　his　son。

〃Father；　listen　to　me；〃　Victorin　went　on　in　a　clear；　firm　voice；　the
voice　of　a　puritanical　deputy。　〃I　know　the　respect　I　owe　you　too　well
ever　to　fail　in　it；　and　you　will　always　find　me　the　most　respectful
and　submissive　of　sons。〃

Those　who　are　in　the　habit　of　attending　the　sittings　of　the　Chamber
will　recognize　the　tactics　of　parliamentary　warfare　in　these　fine…
drawn　phrases；　used　to　calm　the　factions　while　gaining　time。

〃We　are　far　from　being　your　enemies；〃　his　son　went　on。　〃I　have
quarreled　with　my　father…in…law；　Monsieur　Crevel；　for　having　rescued
your　notes　of　hand　for　sixty　thousand　francs　from　Vauvinet；　and　that
money　is；　beyond　doubt；　in　Madame　Marneffe's　pocket。I　am　not　finding
fault　with　you；　father；〃　said　he；　in　reply　to　an　impatient　gesture　of
the　Baron's；　〃I　simply　wish　to　add　my　protest　to　my　cousin　Lisbeth's；
and　to　point　out　to　you　that　though　my　devotion　to　you　as　a　father　is
blind　and　unlimited；　my　dear　father；　our　pecuniary　resources；
unfortunately；　are　very　limited。〃

〃Money！〃　cried　the　excitable　old　man；　dropping　on　to　a　chair；　quite
crushed　by　this　argument。　〃From　my　son！You　shall　be　repaid　your
money；　sir；〃　said　he；　rising；　and　he　went　to　the　door。

〃Hector！〃

At　this　cry　the　Baron　turned　round；　suddenly　showing　his　wife　a　face
b