the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第23章

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e　vivid　and　wholesome　only　in　proportion　as　the　mind　is　contented　and　happy。　　Those　acquirements　crammed　by　force　into　the　minds　of　children　simply　clog　and　stifle　intelligence。　In　order　that　knowledge　be　properly　digested；　it　must　have　been　swallowed　with　a　good　appetite。　　I　know　Jeanne！　　If　that　child　were　intrusted　to　my　care；　I　should　make　of　hernot　a　learned　woman；　for　I　would　look　to　her　future　happiness　onlybut　a　child　full　of　bright　intelligence　and　full　of　life；　in　whom　everything　beautiful　in　art　or　nature　would　awaken　some　gentle　responsive　thrill。　　I　would　teach　her　to　live　in　sympathy　with　all　that　is　beautifulcomely　landscapes；　the　ideal　scenes　of　poetry　and　history；　the　emotional　charm　of　noble　music。　　I　would　make　lovable　to　her　everything　I　would　wish　her　to　love。　　Even　her　needlework　I　would　make　pleasurable　to　her；　by　a　proper　choice　of　fabrics；　the　style　of　embroideries；　the　designs　of　lace。　　I　would　give　her　a　beautiful　dog；　and　a　pony　to　teach　her　how　to　manage　animals；　I　would　give　her　birds　to　take　care　of；　so　that　she　could　learn　the　value　of　even　a　drop　of　water　and　a　crumb　of　bread。　　And　in　order　that　she　should　have　a　still　higher　pleasure；　I　would　train　her　to　find　delight　in　exercising　charity。　And　inasmuch　as　none　of　us　may　escape　pain；　I　should　teach　her　that　Christian　wisdom　which　elevates　us　above　all　suffering；　and　gives　a　beauty　even　to　grief　itself。　　That　is　my　idea　of　the　right　way　to　educate　a　young　girl。〃

〃I　yield；　Monsieur；〃　replied　Maitre　Mouche；　joining　his　black…gloved　hands　together。

And　he　rose。

〃Of　course　you　understand；〃　I　remarked；　as　I　went　to　the　door　with　him；　〃that　I　do　not　pretend　for　a　moment　to　impose　my　educational　system　upon　Mademoiselle　Prefere；　it　is　necessarily　a　private　one；　and　quite　incompatible　with　the　organisation　of　even　the　best…managed　boarding　schools。　　I　only　ask　you　to　persuade　her　to　give　Jeanne　less　work　and　more　play；　and　not　to　punish　her　except　in　case　of　absolute　necessity；　and　to　let　her　have　as　much　freedom　of　mind　and　body　as　the　regulations　of　the　institution　permit。〃

It　was　with　a　pale　and　mysterious　smile　that　Maitre　Mouche　informed　me　that　my　observations　would　be　taken　in　good　part；　and　should　receive　all　possible　consideration。

Therewith　he　made　me　a　little　bow；　and　took　his　departure；　leaving　me　with　a　peculiar　feeling　of　discomfort　and　uneasiness。　　I　have　met　a　great　many　strange　characters　in　my　time；　but　never　any　at　all　resembling　either　this　notary　or　this　schoolmistress。


July　6。


Maitre　Mouche　has　so　much　delayed　me　by　his　visit　that　I　gave　up　going　to　see　Jeanne　that　day。　　Professional　duties　kept　me　very　busy　for　the　rest　of　the　week。　　Although　at　the　age　when　most　men　retire　altogether　from　active　life；　I　am　still　attached　by　a　thousand　ties　to　the　society　in　which　I　have　lived。　　I　have　to　reside　at　meetings　of　academies；　scientific　congresses；　assemblies　of　various　learned　bodies。　　I　am　overburdened　with　honorary　functions；　I　have　seven　of　these　in　one　governmental　department　alone。　　The　bureaux　would　be　very　glad　to　get　rid　of　them。　　But　habit　is　stronger　than　both　of　us　together；　and　I　continue　to　hobble　up　the　stairs　of　various　government　buildings。　　Old　clerks　point　me　out　to　each　other　as　I　go　by　like　a　ghost　wandering　through　the　corridors。　　When　one　has　become　very　old　one　finds　it　extremely　difficult　to　disappear。　　Nevertheless；　it　is　time；　as　the　old　song　says；　'de　prendre　ma　retraite　et　de　songer　a　faire　un　fin〃to　retire　on　my　pension　and　prepare　myself　to　die　a　good　death。

An　old　marchioness；　who　used　to　be　a　friend　of　Hevetius　in　her　youth；　and　whom　I　once　met　at　my　father's　house　when　a　very　old　woman；　was　visited　during　her　last　sickness　by　the　priest　of　her　parish；　who　wanted　to　prepare　her　to　die。

〃Is　that　really　necessary？〃　she　asked。　　〃I　see　everybody　else　manage　it　perfectly　well　the　first　time。〃

My　father　went　to　see　her　very　soon　afterwards　and　found　her　extremely　ill。

〃Good…evening；　my　friend！〃　she　said；　pressing　his　hand。　　〃I　am　going　to　see　whether　God　improves　upon　acquaintance。〃

So　were　wont　to　die　the　belles　amies　of　the　philosophers。　　Such　an　end　is　certainly　not　vulgar　nor　impertinent；　and　such　levities　are　not　of　the　sort　that　emanate　from　dull　minds。　　Nevertheless；　they　shock　me。　　Neither　my　fears　nor　my　hopes　could　accommodate　themselves　to　such　a　mode　of　departure。　　I　would　like　to　make　mine　with　a　perfectly　collected　mind；　and　that　is　why　I　must　begin　to　think；　in　a　year　or　two；　about　some　way　of　belonging　to　myself；　otherwise；　I　should　certainly　risk。。。。　　But；　hush！　let　Him　not　hear　His　name　and　turn　to　look　as　He　passes　by！　　I　can　still　lift　my　fagot　without　His　aid。

。。。I　found　Jeanne　very　happy　indeed。　　She　told　me　that；　on　the　Thursday　previous；　after　the　visit　of　her　guardian；　Mademoiselle　Prefere　had　set　her　free　from　the　ordinary　regulations　and　lightened　her　tasks　in　several　ways。　　Since　that　lucky　Thursday　she　could　walk　in　the　gardenwhich　only　lacked　leaves　and　flowersas　much　as　she　liked；　and　she　had　been　given　facilities　to　work　at　her　unfortunate　little　figure　of　Saint…George。

She　said　to　me；　with　a　smile；

〃I　know　very　well　that　I　owe　all　of　this　to　you。〃

I　tried　to　talk　with　her　about　other　matters；　but　I　remarked　that　she　could　not　attend　to　what　I　was　saying；　in　spite　of　her　effort　to　do　so。

〃I　see　you　are　thinking　about　something　else；〃　I　said。　　〃Well；　tell　me　what　it　is；　for；　if　you　do　not；　we　shall　not　be　able　to　talk　to　each　other　at　all；　which　would　be　very　unworthy　of　both　of　us。〃

She　answered；

〃Oh！　I　was　really　listening　to　you；　Monsieur；　but　it　is　true　that　I　was　thinking　about　something　else。　　You　will　excuse　me；　won't　you？　I　could　not　help　thinking　that　Mademoiselle　Prefere　must　like　you　very；　very　much　indeed；　to　have　become　so　good　to　me　all　of　a　sudden。〃

Then　she　looked　at　me　in　an　odd；　smiling；　frightened　way；　which　made　me　laugh。

〃Does　that　surprise　you？〃　I　asked。

〃Very　much；〃　she　replied。

〃Please　tell　me　why？〃

〃Because　I　can　see　no　reason；　no　reason　at　all。。。but　there！。。。no　reason　at　all　why　you　should　please　Mademoiselle　Prefere　so　much。〃

〃So；　then；　you　think　I　am　very　displeasing；　Jeanne？〃

She　bit　her　lips；　as　if　to　punish　them　for　having　made　a　mistake；　and　then；　in　a　coaxing　way；　looking　at　me　with　great　soft　eyes；　gentle　and　beautiful　as　a　spaniel's；　she　said；

〃I　know　I　said　a　foolish　think；　but；　still；　I　do　not　see　any　reason　why　you　should　be　so　pleasing　to　Mademoiselle　Prefere。　　And；　nevertheless；　you　seem　to　please　her　a　great　deala　very　great　deal。　She　called　me　one　day；　and　asked　me　all　sorts　of　questions　about　you。〃

〃Really？〃

〃Yes；　she　wanted　to　find　out　all　about　your　house。　　Just　think！　she　even　asked　me　how　old　your　servant　was！〃

And　Jeanne　burst　out　laughing。

〃Well；　what　do　you　think　about　it？〃　I　asked。

She　remained　a　long　while　with　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　worn…out　cloth　of　her　shoes；　and　seemed　to　be　thinking　very　deeply。　　Finally；　looking　up　again；　she　answered；

〃I　am　distrustful。　　Isn't　it　very　natural　to　feel　uneasy　about　what　one　cannot　understand；　I　know　I　am　foolish；　but　you　won't　be　offended　with　me；　will　you？〃

〃Why；　certainly　not；　Jeanne。　　I　am　not　a　bit　offended　with　you。〃

I　must　acknowledge　that　I　was　beginning　to　share　her　surprise；　and　I　began　to　turn　over　in　my　old　head　the　singular　thought　of　this　young　girl〃One　is　uneasy　about　what　one　cannot　understand。〃

But；　with　a　fresh　burst　of　merriment；　she　cried　out；

〃She　asked　me。。。guess！　　I　will　give　you　a　hundred　guessesa　thousand　guesses。　　You　give　it　up？。。。　　She　asked　me　if　you　liked　good　eating。〃

〃And　how　did　you　receive　this　shower　of　interrogations；　Jeanne？〃

〃I　replied；　'I　don't　know；　Mademoiselle。'　And　Mademoiselle　then　said　to　me；　'You　are　a　little　fool。　　The　least　details　of　the　life　of　an　eminent　man　ought　to　be　observed。　　Please　to　know；　Mademoiselle；　that　Monsieur　Sylvestre　Bonnard　is　one　of　the　glories　of　France！'〃

〃Stuff！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃And　what　did　YOU　think　about　it；　Mademoiselle？〃

〃I　thought　that　Mademoiselle　Prefere　was　right。　　But　I　don't　care　at　all。。。（I　know　it　is　naughty　what　I　am　going　to　say）。。。I　don't　care　a　bit；　not　a　bit；　whether　Mademoiselle　Prefere　is　or　is　not　right　about　anything。〃

〃Well；　then；　content　yourself；　Jeanne；　Mademoiselle　Prefere　was　not　right。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　she　was　quite　right　that　time；　but　I　wanted　to　love　everybody　who　loved　youeverybody　without　exceptionand　I　cannot　do　it；　because　it　would　never　be　possible　for　me　to　love　Mademoiselle　Prefere。〃

〃Listen；　Jeanne；〃　I　answered；　very　seriously；　〃Mademoiselle　Prefere　has　become　good　to　you；　try　now　to　be　good　to　her。〃

She　answered　sharply；

〃It　is　very　easy　for　Mademoiselle　Prefere　to　be　good　to　me；　and　it　would　be　very　difficult　indeed　for　me　to　be　good　to　her。〃

I　then　said；　in　a　still　more　serious　tone：

〃My　child；　the　authority　of　a　teacher　is　sacred。　　You　must　consider　your　schoolmistress　as　occupying　the　place　to　you　of　the　mother　whom　you　lost。〃

I　had　scarcely　uttered　this　solemn　stupidity　when　I　bitterly　regretted　it。　　The　child　turned　pale；　and　the　tears　sprang　to　her　eyes。

〃Oh；　Monsieur！〃　she　cried；　〃how　could　you　say　such　a　thingYOU？　You　never　knew　mamma！〃

Ay；　just　Heaven！　　I　did　know　her　mamma。　　And　how　indeed　could　I　have　been　foolish　enough　to　have　said　what　I　did？

She　repeated；　as　if　to　herself：

〃Mamma！　my　dear　mamma！　my　poor　mamma！〃

A　lucky　chance　prevented　me　from　playing　the　fool　any　further。　　I　do　not　know　how　it　happened　at　that　moment　I　looked　as　if　I　was　going　to　cry。　　At　my　age　one　does　not　cry。　　It　must　have　been　a　bad　cough　which　brought　the　tears　into　my　eyes。　　But；　anyhow；　appearances　were　in　my　favour。　　Jeanne　was　deceived　by　them。　　Oh！　what　a　pure　and　radiant　smile　suddenly　shone　out　under　her　beautiful　wet　eyelashes　like　sunshine　among　branches　after　a　summer　shower！　　We　took　each　other　by　the　hand　and　sat　a　long　while　without　saying　a　word　absolutely　happy。　　Those　celestial　harmonies　which　I　once　thought　I　heard　thrilling　through　my　soul　while　I　knelt　before　that　tomb　to　which　a　saintly　woman　had　guided　me；　suddenly　awoke　again　in　my　heart；　slow…swelling　through　the　blissful　moments　with　infinite　softness。　　Doubtless　the　child　whose　hand　pressed　my　own　also　heard　them；　and　then；　elevated　by　their　enchantment　above　the　material　world；　the　poor　old　man　and　the　artless　young　girl　both　knew　that　a　tender　ghostly　Presence　was　making　sweetness　all　about　them。

〃My　child；〃　I　said　at　last；　〃I　am　very　old；　and　many　secrets　of　life；　which　you　will　only　learn　little　by　little；　have　been　revealed　to　me。　Believe　me；　the　future　is　shaped　out　of　the　past。　　Whatever　you　can　do　to　live　contentedly　here；　without　impatience　and　without　fretting；　will　help　you　live　some　future　day　in　peace　and　joy　in　your　own　home。　Be　gentle；　and　learn　how　to　suffer。　　When　one　suffers　patiently　one　suffers　less。　　If　you　should　be　badly　treated；　Madame　de　Gabry　and　I　would　both　consider　ourselves　badly　treated　in　your　person。〃。。。

〃Is　your　health　very　good　indeed；　dear　Monsieur？〃

It　was　Mademoiselle　Prefere；　approaching　stealthily　behind　us；　who　had　asked　the　question　with　a　peculiar　smile。　　My　first　idea　was　to　tell　her　to　go　to　the　devil；　my　second；　that　her　mo