an inland voyage-第6章

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ssed　than　either　　of　the　parents。　　We　were　informed　he　was　already　at　a　boarding…　school；　but　the　holidays　having　just　commenced；　he　was　off　to　spend　　them　with　his　parents　on　a　cruise。　　An　enchanting　holiday　　occupation；　was　it　not？　to　travel　all　day　with　father　and　mother　in　　the　tilt　cart　full　of　countless　treasures；　the　green　country　　rattling　by　on　either　side；　and　the　children　in　all　the　villages　　contemplating　him　with　envy　and　wonder？　　It　is　better　fun；　during　　the　holidays；　to　be　the　son　of　a　travelling　merchant；　than　son　and　　heir　to　the　greatest　cotton…spinner　in　creation。　　And　as　for　being　　a　reigning　prince　…　indeed　I　never　saw　one　if　it　was　not　Master　　Gilliard！

While　M。　Hector　and　the　son　of　the　house　were　putting　up　the　　donkey；　and　getting　all　the　valuables　under　lock　and　key；　the　　landlady　warmed　up　the　remains　of　our　beefsteak；　and　fried　the　cold　　potatoes　in　slices；　and　Madame　Gilliard　set　herself　to　waken　the　　boy；　who　had　come　far　that　day；　and　was　peevish　and　dazzled　by　the　　light。　　He　was　no　sooner　awake　than　he　began　to　prepare　himself　for　　supper　by　eating　galette；　unripe　pears；　and　cold　potatoes　…　with；　　so　far　as　I　could　judge；　positive　benefit　to　his　appetite。

The　landlady；　fired　with　motherly　emulation；　awoke　her　own　little　　girl；　and　the　two　children　were　confronted。　　Master　Gilliard　looked　　at　her　for　a　moment；　very　much　as　a　dog　looks　at　his　own　reflection　　in　a　mirror　before　he　turns　away。　　He　was　at　that　time　absorbed　in　　the　galette。　　His　mother　seemed　crestfallen　that　he　should　display　　so　little　inclination　towards　the　other　sex；　and　expressed　her　　disappointment　with　some　candour　and　a　very　proper　reference　to　the　　influence　of　years。

Sure　enough　a　time　will　come　when　he　will　pay　more　attention　to　the　　girls；　and　think　a　great　deal　less　of　his　mother：　　let　us　hope　she　　will　like　it　as　well　as　she　seemed　to　fancy。　　But　it　is　odd　enough；　　the　very　women　who　profess　most　contempt　for　mankind　as　a　sex；　seem　　to　find　even　its　ugliest　particulars　rather　lively　and　high…minded　　in　their　own　sons。

The　little　girl　looked　longer　and　with　more　interest；　probably　　because　she　was　in　her　own　house；　while　he　was　a　traveller　and　　accustomed　to　strange　sights。　　And　besides　there　was　no　galette　in　　the　case　with　her。

All　the　time　of　supper；　there　was　nothing　spoken　of　but　my　young　　lord。　　The　two　parents　were　both　absurdly　fond　of　their　child。　　　Monsieur　kept　insisting　on　his　sagacity：　　how　he　knew　all　the　　children　at　school　by　name；　and　when　this　utterly　failed　on　trial；　　how　he　was　cautious　and　exact　to　a　strange　degree；　and　if　asked　　anything；　he　would　sit　and　think　…　and　think；　and　if　he　did　not　　know　it；　'my　faith；　he　wouldn't　tell　you　at　all　…　FOI；　IL　NE　VOUS　　LE　DIRA　PAS'：　　which　is　certainly　a　very　high　degree　of　caution。　　　At　intervals；　M。　Hector　would　appeal　to　his　wife；　with　his　mouth　　full　of　beefsteak；　as　to　the　little　fellow's　age　at　such　or　such　a　　time　when　he　had　said　or　done　something　memorable；　and　I　noticed　　that　Madame　usually　pooh…poohed　these　inquiries。　　She　herself　was　　not　boastful　in　her　vein；　but　she　never　had　her　fill　of　caressing　　the　child；　and　she　seemed　to　take　a　gentle　pleasure　in　recalling　　all　that　was　fortunate　in　his　little　existence。　　No　schoolboy　could　　have　talked　more　of　the　holidays　which　were　just　beginning　and　less　　of　the　black　school…time　which　must　inevitably　follow　after。　　She　　showed；　with　a　pride　perhaps　partly　mercantile　in　origin；　his　　pockets　preposterously　swollen　with　tops　and　whistles　and　string。　　　When　she　called　at　a　house　in　the　way　of　business；　it　appeared　he　　kept　her　company；　and　whenever　a　sale　was　made；　received　a　sou　out　　of　the　profit。　　Indeed　they　spoiled　him　vastly；　these　two　good　　people。　　But　they　had　an　eye　to　his　manners　for　all　that；　and　　reproved　him　for　some　little　faults　in　breeding；　which　occurred　　from　time　to　time　during　supper。

On　the　whole；　I　was　not　much　hurt　at　being　taken　for　a　pedlar。　　I　　might　think　that　I　ate　with　greater　delicacy；　or　that　my　mistakes　　in　French　belonged　to　a　different　order；　but　it　was　plain　that　　these　distinctions　would　be　thrown　away　upon　the　landlady　and　the　　two　labourers。　　In　all　essential　things　we　and　the　Gilliards　cut　　very　much　the　same　figure　in　the　ale…house　kitchen。　　M。　Hector　was　　more　at　home；　indeed；　and　took　a　higher　tone　with　the　world；　but　　that　was　explicable　on　the　ground　of　his　driving　a　donkey…cart；　　while　we　poor　bodies　tramped　afoot。　　I　daresay；　the　rest　of　the　　company　thought　us　dying　with　envy；　though　in　no　ill　sense；　to　be　　as　far　up　in　the　profession　as　the　new　arrival。

And　of　one　thing　I　am　sure：　　that　every　one　thawed　and　became　more　　humanised　and　conversible　as　soon　as　these　innocent　people　appeared　　upon　the　scene。　　I　would　not　very　readily　trust　the　travelling　　merchant　with　any　extravagant　sum　of　money；　but　I　am　sure　his　heart　　was　in　the　right　place。　　In　this　mixed　world；　if　you　can　find　one　　or　two　sensible　places　in　a　man　…　above　all；　if　you　should　find　a　　whole　family　living　together　on　such　pleasant　terms　…　you　may　　surely　be　satisfied；　and　take　the　rest　for　granted；　or；　what　is　a　　great　deal　better；　boldly　make　up　your　mind　that　you　can　do　　perfectly　well　without　the　rest；　and　that　ten　thousand　bad　traits　　cannot　make　a　single　good　one　any　the　less　good。

It　was　getting　late。　　M。　Hector　lit　a　stable　lantern　and　went　off　　to　his　cart　for　some　arrangements；　and　my　young　gentleman　proceeded　　to　divest　himself　of　the　better　part　of　his　raiment；　and　play　　gymnastics　on　his　mother's　lap；　and　thence　on　to　the　floor；　with　　accompaniment　of　laughter。

'Are　you　going　to　sleep　alone？'　asked　the　servant　lass。

'There's　little　fear　of　that；'　says　Master　Gilliard。

'You　sleep　alone　at　school；'　objected　his　mother。　　'Come；　come；　you　　must　be　a　man。'

But　he　protested　that　school　was　a　different　matter　from　the　　holidays；　that　there　were　dormitories　at　school；　and　silenced　the　　discussion　with　kisses：　　his　mother　smiling；　no　one　better　pleased　　than　she。

There　certainly　was；　as　he　phrased　it；　very　little　fear　that　he　　should　sleep　alone；　for　there　was　but　one　bed　for　the　trio。　　We；　on　　our　part；　had　firmly　protested　against　one　man's　accommodation　for　　two；　and　we　had　a　double…bedded　pen　in　the　loft　of　the　house；　　furnished；　beside　the　beds；　with　exactly　three　hat…pegs　and　one　　table。　　There　was　not　so　much　as　a　glass　of　water。　　But　the　window　　would　open；　by　good　fortune。

Some　time　before　I　fell　asleep　the　loft　was　full　of　the　sound　of　　mighty　snoring：　　the　Gilliards；　and　the　labourers；　and　the　people　　of　the　inn；　all　at　it；　I　suppose；　with　one　consent。　　The　young　moon　　outside　shone　very　clearly　over　Pont…sur…Sambre；　and　down　upon　the　　ale…house　where　all　we　pedlars　were　abed。



ON　THE　SAMBRE　CANALISED



TO　LANDRECIES


IN　the　morning；　when　we　came　downstairs；　the　landlady　pointed　out　　to　us　two　pails　of　water　behind　the　street…door。　　'VOILA　DE　L'EAU　　POUR　VOUS　DEBARBOUILLER；'　says　she。　　And　so　there　we　made　a　shift　　to　wash　ourselves；　while　Madame　Gilliard　brushed　the　family　boots　　on　the　outer　doorstep；　and　M。　Hector；　whistling　cheerily；　arranged　　some　small　goods　for　the　day's　campaign　in　a　portable　chest　of　　drawers；　which　formed　a　part　of　his　baggage。　　Meanwhile　the　child　　was　letting　off　Waterloo　crackers　all　over　the　floor。

I　wonder；　by…the…bye；　what　they　call　Waterloo　crackers　in　France；　　perhaps　Austerlitz　crackers。　　There　is　a　great　deal　in　the　point　of　　view。　　Do　you　remember　the　Frenchman　who；　travelling　by　way　of　　Southampton；　was　put　down　in　Waterloo　Station；　and　had　to　drive　　across　Waterloo　Bridge？　　He　had　a　mind　to　go　home　again；　it　seems。

Pont　itself　is　on　the　river；　but　whereas　it　is　ten　minutes'　walk　　from　Quartes　by　dry　land；　it　is　six　weary　kilometres　by　water。　　We　　left　our　bags　at　the　inn；　and　walked　to　our　canoes　through　the　wet　　orchards　unencumbered。　　Some　of　the　children　were　there　to　see　us　　off；　but　we　were　no　longer　the　mysterious　beings　of　the　night　　before。　　A　departure　is　much　less　romantic　than　an　unexplained　　arrival　in　the　golden　evening。　　Although　we　might　be　greatly　taken　　at　a　ghost's　first　appearance；　we　should　behold　him　vanish　with　　comparative　equanimity。

The　good　folk　of　the　inn　at　Pont；　when　we　called　there　for　the　　bags；　were　overcome　with　marvelling。　　At　sight　of　these　two　dainty　　little　boats；　with　a　fluttering　Union　Jack　on　each；　and　all　the　　varnish　shining　from　the　sponge；　they　began　to　perceive　that　they　　had　entertained　angels　unawares。　　The　landlady　stood　upon　the　　bridge；　probably　lamenting　she　had　charged　so　little；　the　son　ran　　to　and　fro；　and　called　out　the　neighbours　to　enjoy　the　sight；　and　　we　paddled　away　from　quite　a　crowd　of　wrapt　observers。　　These　　gentlemen　pedlars；　indeed！　　Now　you　see　their　quality　too　late。

The　whole　day　was　showery；　with　occasional　drenching　plumps。　　We　　were　soaked　to　the　skin；　then　partially　dried　in　the　sun；　then　　soaked　once　more。　　But　there　were　some　calm　intervals；　and　one　　notably；　when　we　were　skirting　the　forest　of　Mormal；　a　sinister　　name　to　the　ear；　but　a　place　most　gratifying　to　sight　and　smell。　　　It　looked　solemn　along　the　river…side；　drooping　its　boughs　into　the　　water；　and　piling　them　up　aloft　into　a　wall　of　leaves。　　What　is　a　　forest　but　a　city　of　nature's　own；　full　of　hardy　and　innocuous　　living　things；　where　there　is　nothing　dead　and　nothing　made　with　　the　hands；　but　the　citizens　themselves　are　the　houses　and　public　　monuments？　　There　is　nothing　so　much　alive；　and　yet　so　quiet；　as　a　　woodland；　and　a　pair　of　people；　swinging　past　in　canoes；　feel　very　　small　and　bustling　by　comparison。

And　surely　of　all　smells　in　the　world；　the　smell　of　many　trees　is　　the　sweetest　and　most　fortifying。　　The　sea　has　a　rude；　pistolling　　sort　of　odour；　that　takes　you　in　the　nostrils　like　snuff；　and　　carries　with　it　a　fine　sentiment　of　open　water　and　tall　ships；　but　　the　smell　of　a　forest；　which　comes　nearest　to　this　in　tonic　　quality；　surpasses　it　by　many　degrees　in　the　quality　of　softness。　　　Again；　the　smell　of　the　sea　has　little　variety；　but　the　smell　of　a　　forest　is　infinitely　changeful；　it　varies　with　the　hour　of　the　day；　　not　in　strength　merely；　but　in　character；　and　the　different　sorts　　of　trees；　as　you　go　from　one　zone　of　the　wood　to　another；　seem　to　　live　among　different　kinds　of　atmosphere。　　Usually　the　resin　of　the　　fir　predominates。　　But　some　woods　are　more　coquettish　in　their　　habits；　and　the　breath　of　the　forest　of　Mormal；　as　it　came　aboard　　upon　us　that　showery　afternoon；　was　perfumed　with　nothing　less　　delicate　than　sweetbrier。

I　wish　our　way　had　always　lain　among　woods。　　Trees　are　the　most　　civil　society。　　An　old　oak　that　has　been　growing　where　he　stands　　since　before　the　Reformation；　taller　than　many　spires；　more　stately　　than　the　greater　part　of　mountains；　and　yet　a　living　thing；　liable　　to　sicknesses　and　death；　like　you　and　me：　　is　not　that　in　itself　a　　speaking　lesson　in　history？　　But　acres　on　acres　full　of　such　　patriarchs　contiguously　rooted；　their　green　tops　billowing　in　the　　wind；　their　stalwart　younglings　pushing　up　about　their　knees：　　a　　whole　forest；　healthy　and　beautiful；　giving　colour　to　the　light；　　giving　perfume　to　the　air：　　what　is　this　but　the　most　imposing　　piece　in　nature's　repertory？　　Heine　wished　to　lie　like