a hero of our time-第12章

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〃Well；　what　then？　Tell　me；　though；　has　the　mistress　of　the　place　put　in　an　appear…　ance？〃

〃During　your　absence　to…day；　an　old　woman　and　her　daughter　arrived。〃

〃What　daughter？　She　has　no　daughter！〃

〃Goodness　knows　who　it　can　be　if　it　isn't　her　daughter；　but　the　old　woman　is　sitting　over　there　in　the　hut　now。〃

I　entered　the　hovel。　A　blazing　fire　was　burning　in　the　stove；　and　they　were　cooking　a　dinner　which　struck　me　as　being　a　rather　luxurious　one　for　poor　people。　To　all　my　questions　the　old　woman　replied　that　she　was　deaf　and　could　not　hear　me。　There　was　nothing　to　be　got　out　of　her。　I　turned　to　the　blind　boy　who　was　sitting　in　front　of　the　stove；　putting　twigs　into　the　fire。

〃Now；　then；　you　little　blind　devil；〃　I　said；　taking　him　by　the　ear。　〃Tell　me；　where　were　you　roaming　with　the　bundle　last　night；　eh？〃

The　blind　boy　suddenly　burst　out　weeping；　shrieking　and　wailing。

〃Where　did　I　go？　I　did　not　go　anywhere。　。　。　With　the　bundle？。　。　。　What　bundle？〃

This　time　the　old　woman　heard；　and　she　began　to　mutter：

〃Hark　at　them　plotting；　and　against　a　poor　boy　too！　What　are　you　touching　him　for？　What　has　he　done　to　you？〃

I　had　enough　of　it；　and　went　out；　firmly　resolved　to　find　the　key　to　the　riddle。

I　wrapped　myself　up　in　my　felt　cloak　and；　sitting　down　on　a　rock　by　the　fence；　gazed　into　the　distance。　Before　me　stretched　the　sea；　agitated　by　the　storm　of　the　previous　night；　and　its　monotonous　roar；　like　the　murmur　of　a　town　over　which　slumber　is　beginning　to　creep；　recalled　bygone　years　to　my　mind；　and　trans…　ported　my　thoughts　northward　to　our　cold　Capital。　Agitated　by　my　recollections；　I　became　oblivious　of　my　surroundings。

About　an　hour　passed　thus；　perhaps　even　longer。　Suddenly　something　resembling　a　song　struck　upon　my　ear。　It　was　a　song；　and　the　voice　was　a　woman's；　young　and　fresh　　but；　where　was　it　coming　from？。　。　。　I　listened；　it　was　a　harmonious　melody　　now　long…drawn…　out　and　plaintive；　now　swift　and　lively。　I　looked　around　me　　there　was　nobody　to　be　seen。　I　listened　again　　the　sounds　seemed　to　be　falling　from　the　sky。　I　raised　my　eyes。　On　the　roof　of　my　cabin　was　standing　a　young　girl　in　a　striped　dress　and　with　her　hair　hanging　loose　　a　regular　water…nymph。　Shading　her　eyes　from　the　sun's　rays　with　the　palm　of　her　hand；　she　was　gazing　intently　into　the　distance。　At　one　time；　she　would　laugh　and　talk　to　herself；　at　another；　she　would　strike　up　her　song　anew。

I　have　retained　that　song　in　my　memory；　word　for　word：


　　　　　At　their　own　free　will

　　　　　They　seem　to　wander

　　　　　O'er　the　green　sea　yonder；

　　　　　Those　ships；　as　still

　　　　　They　are　onward　going；

　　　　　With　white　sails　flowing。


　　　　　And　among　those　ships

　　　　　My　eye　can　mark

　　　　　My　own　dear　barque：

　　　　　By　two　oars　guided

　　　　　（All　unprovided

　　　　　With　sails）　it　slips。


　　　　　The　storm…wind　raves：

　　　　　And　the　old　ships　　see！

　　　　　With　wings　spread　free；

　　　　　Over　the　waves

　　　　　They　scatter　and　flee！


　　　　　The　sea　I　will　hail

　　　　　With　obeisance　deep：

　　　　　〃Thou　base　one；　hark！

　　　　　Thou　must　not　fail

　　　　　My　little　barque

　　　　　From　harm　to　keep！〃


　　　　　For　lo！　'tis　bearing

　　　　　Most　precious　gear；

　　　　　And　brave　and　daring

　　　　　The　arms　that　steer

　　　　　Within　the　dark

　　　　　My　little　barque。


Involuntarily　the　thought　occurred　to　me　that　I　had　heard　the　same　voice　the　night　before。　I　reflected　for　a　moment；　and　when　I　looked　up　at　the　roof　again　there　was　no　girl　to　be　seen。　Suddenly　she　darted　past　me；　with　another　song　on　her　lips；　and；　snapping　her　fingers；　she　ran　up　to　the　old　woman。　Thereupon　a　quarrel　arose　between　them。　The　old　woman　grew　angry；　and　the　girl　laughed　loudly。　And　then　I　saw　my　Undine　running　and　gambolling　again。　She　came　up　to　where　I　was；　stopped；　and　gazed　fixedly　into　my　face　as　if　surprised　at　my　presence。　Then　she　turned　carelessly　away　and　went　quietly　towards　the　harbour。　But　this　was　not　all。　The　whole　day　she　kept　hovering　around　my　lodging；　singing　and　gambolling　without　a　moment's　interruption。　Strange　creature！　There　was　not　the　slightest　sign　of　insanity　in　her　face；　on　the　contrary；　her　eyes；　which　were　continually　resting　upon　me；　were　bright　and　piercing。　Moreover；　they　seemed　to　be　endowed　with　a　certain　magnetic　power；　and　each　time　they　looked　at　me　they　appeared　to　be　expecting　a　question。　But　I　had　only　to　open　my　lips　to　speak；　and　away　she　would　run；　with　a　sly　smile。

Certainly　never　before　had　I　seen　a　woman　like　her。　She　was　by　no　means　beautiful；　but；　as　in　other　matters；　I　have　my　own　prepossessions　on　the　subject　of　beauty。　There　was　a　good　deal　of　breeding　in　her。　。　。　Breeding　in　women；　as　in　horses；　is　a　great　thing：　a　discovery；　the　credit　of　which　belongs　to　young　France。　It　　that　is　to　say；　breeding；　not　young　France　　is　chiefly　to　be　detected　in　the　gait；　in　the　hands　and　feet；　the　nose；　in　particular；　is　of　the　greatest　significance。　In　Russia　a　straight　nose　is　rarer　than　a　small　foot。

My　songstress　appeared　to　be　not　more　than　eighteen　years　of　age。　The　unusual　suppleness　of　her　figure；　the　characteristic　and　original　way　she　had　of　inclining　her　head；　her　long；　light…brown　hair；　the　golden　sheen　of　her　slightly　sunburnt　neck　and　shoulders；　and　especially　her　straight　nose　　all　these　held　me　fascinated。　Although　in　her　sidelong　glances　I　could　read　a　certain　wildness　and　disdain；　although　in　her　smile　there　was　a　certain　vagueness；　yet　　such　is　the　force　of　predilections　　that　straight　nose　of　hers　drove　me　crazy。　I　fancied　that　I　had　found　Goethe's　Mignon　　that　queer　creature　of　his　German　imagination。　And；　indeed；　there　was　a　good　deal　of　similarity　between　them；　the　same　rapid　transitions　from　the　utmost　restlessness　to　complete　immobility；　the　same　enigmatical　speeches；　the　same　gambols；　the　same　strange　songs。

Towards　evening　I　stopped　her　at　the　door　and　entered　into　the　following　conversation　with　her。

〃Tell　me；　my　beauty；〃　I　asked；　〃what　were　you　doing　on　the　roof　to…day？〃

〃I　was　looking　to　see　from　what　direction　the　wind　was　blowing。〃

〃What　did　you　want　to　know　for？〃

〃Whence　the　wind　blows　comes　happiness。〃

〃Well？　Were　you　invoking　happiness　with　your　song？〃

〃Where　there　is　singing　there　is　also　happi…　ness。〃

〃But　what　if　your　song　were　to　bring　you　sorrow？〃

〃Well；　what　then？　Where　things　won't　be　better；　they　will　be　worse；　and　from　bad　to　good　again　is　not　far。〃

〃And　who　taught　you　that　song？〃

〃Nobody　taught　me；　it　comes　into　my　head　and　I　sing；　whoever　is　to　hear　it；　he　will　hear　it；　and　whoever　ought　not　to　hear　it；　he　will　not　understand　it。〃

〃What　is　your　name；　my　songstress？〃

〃He　who　baptized　me　knows。〃

〃And　who　baptized　you？〃

〃How　should　I　know？〃

〃What　a　secretive　girl　you　are！　But　look　here；　I　have　learned　something　about　you〃　　she　neither　changed　countenance　nor　moved　her　lips；　as　though　my　discovery　was　of　no　concern　to　her　　〃I　have　learned　that　you　went　to　the　shore　last　night。〃

And；　thereupon；　I　very　gravely　retailed　to　her　all　that　I　had　seen；　thinking　that　I　should　embarrass　her。　Not　a　bit　of　it！　She　burst　out　laughing　heartily。

〃You　have　seen　much；　but　know　little；　and　what　you　do　know；　see　that　you　keep　it　under　lock　and　key。〃

〃But　supposing；　now；　I　was　to　take　it　into　my　head　to　inform　the　Commandant？〃　and　here　I　assumed　a　very　serious；　not　to　say　stern；　de…　meanour。

She　gave　a　sudden　spring；　began　to　sing；　and　hid　herself　like　a　bird　frightened　out　of　a　thicket。　My　last　words　were　altogether　out　of　place。　I　had　no　suspicion　then　how　momentous　they　were；　but　afterwards　I　had　occasion　to　rue　them。

As　soon　as　the　dusk　of　evening　fell；　I　ordered　the　Cossack　to　heat　the　teapot；　campaign　fashion。　I　lighted　a　candle　and　sat　down　by　the　table；　smoking　my　travelling…pipe。　I　was　just　about　to　finish　my　second　tumbler　of　tea　when　suddenly　the　door　creaked　and　I　heard　behind　me　the　sound　of　footsteps　and　the　light　rustle　of　a　dress。　I　started　and　turned　round。

It　was　she　　my　Undine。　Softly　and　without　saying　a　word　she　sat　down　opposite　to　me　and　fixed　her　eyes　upon　me。　Her　glance　seemed　wondrously　tender；　I　know　not　why；　it　re…　minded　me　of　one　of　those　glances　which；　in　years　gone　by；　so　despotically　played　with　my　life。　She　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　a　question；　but　I　kept　silence；　filled　with　an　inexplicable　sense　of　embarrassment。　Mental　agitation　was　evinced　by　the　dull　pallor　which　overspread　her　countenance；　her　hand；　which　I　noticed　was　trembling　slightly；　moved　aimlessly　about　the　table。　At　one　time　her　breast　heaved；　and　at　another　she　seemed　to　be　holding　her　breath。　This　little　comedy　was　beginning　to　pall　upon　me；　and　I　was　about　to　break　the　silence　in　a　most　prosaic　manner；　that　is；　by　offering　her　a　glass　of　tea；　when　suddenly；　springing　up；　she　threw　her　arms　around　my　neck；　and　I　felt　her　moist；　fiery　lips　pressed　upon　mine。　Darkness　came　before　my　eyes；　my　head　began　to　swim。　I　embraced　her　with　the　whole　strength　of　youthful　passion。　But；　like　a　snake；　she　glided　from　between　my　arms；　whispering　in　my　ear　as　she　did　so：

〃To…night；　when　everyone　is　asleep；　go　out　to　the　shore。〃

Like　an　arrow　she　sprang　from　the　room。

In　the　hall　she　upset　the　teapot　and　a　candle　which　was　standing　on　the　floor。

〃Little　devil！〃　cried　the　Cossack；　who　had　taken　up　his　position　on　the　straw　and　had　contemplated　warming　himself　with　the　remains　of　the　tea。

It　was　only　then　that　I　recovered　my　senses。

In　about　two　hours'　time；　when　all　had　grown　silent　in　the　harbour；　I　awakened　my　Cossack。

〃If　I　fire　a　pistol；〃　I　said；　〃run　to　the　shore。〃

He　stared　open…eyed　and　answered　mechanic…　ally：

〃Very　well；　sir。〃

I　stuffed　a　pistol　in　my　belt　and　went　out。　She　was　waiting　for　me　at　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　Her　attire　was　more　than　light；　and　a　small　kerchief　girded　her　supple　waist。

〃Follow　me！〃　she　said；　taking　me　by　the　hand；　and　we　began　to　descend。

I　cannot　understand　how　it　was　that　I　did　not　break　my　neck。　Down　below　we　turned　to　the　right　and　proceeded　to　take　the　path　along　which　I　had　followed　the　blind　boy　the　evening　before。　The　moon　had　not　yet　risen；　and　only　two　little　stars；　like　two　guardian　lighthouses；　were　twink…　ling　in　the　dark…blue　vault　of　heaven。　The　heavy　waves；　with　measured　and　even　motion；　rolled　one　after　the　other；　scarcely　lifting　the　solitary　boat　which　was　moored　to　the　shore。

〃Let　us　get　into　the　boat；〃　said　my　com…　panion。

I　hesitated。　I　am　no　lover　of　sentimental　trips　on　the　sea；　but　this　was　not　the　time　to　draw　back。　She　leaped　into　the　boat；　and　I　after　her；　and　I　had　not　time　to　recover　my　wits　before　I　observed　that　we　were　adrift。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　I　said　angrily。

〃It　means；〃　she　answered；　seating　me　on　the　bench　and　throwing　her　arms　around　my　waist；　〃it　means　that　I　love　you！〃　。　。　。

Her　cheek　was　pressed　close　to　mine。　and　I　felt　her　burning　breath　upon　my　face。　Suddenly　something　fell　noisily　into　the　water。　I　clutched　at　my　belt　　my　pistol　was　gone！　Ah；　now　a　terrible　suspicion　crept　into　my　soul；　and　the　blood　rushed　to　my　head！　I　looked　round。　We　were　about　fifty　fathoms　from　the　shore；　and　I　could　not　swim　a　stroke！　I　tried　to　thrust　her　away　from　me；　but　she　clung　like　a　cat　to　my　clothes；　and　suddenly　a　vio