the pension beaurepas-第10章

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me？〃

〃Ruined　you？〃

〃She　has　so　perverted　my　mind；　that　when　I　try　to　be　natural　I　am
necessarily　immodest。〃

〃That　again　is　a　false　note；〃　I　said；　laughing。

She　turned　away。　　〃I　think　you　are　cruel。〃

〃By　no　means；〃　I　declared；　〃because；　for　my　own　taste；　I　prefer　you
asas〃

I　hesitated；　and　she　turned　back。　　〃As　what？〃

〃As　you　are。〃

She　looked　at　me　a　while　again；　and　then　she　said；　in　a　little
reasoning　voice　that　reminded　me　of　her　mother's；　only　that　it　was
conscious　and　studied；　〃I　was　not　aware　that　I　am　under　any
particular　obligation　to　please　you！〃　　And　then　she　gave　a　clear
laugh；　quite　at　variance　with　her　voice。

〃Oh；　there　is　no　obligation；〃　I　said；　〃but　one　has　preferences。　　I　am
very　sorry　you　are　going　away。〃

〃What　does　it　matter　to　you？　　You　are　going　yourself。〃

〃As　I　am　going　in　a　different　direction　that　makes　all　the　greater
separation。〃

She　answered　nothing；　she　stood　looking　through　the　bars　of　the　tall
gate　at　the　empty；　dusky　street。　　〃This　grille　is　like　a　cage；〃　she
said；　at　last。

〃Fortunately；　it　is　a　cage　that　will　open。〃　　And　I　laid　my　hand　on
the　lock。

〃Don't　open　it；〃　and　she　pressed　the　gate　back。　　〃If　you　should　open
it　I　would　go　outand　never　return。〃

〃Where　should　you　go？〃

〃To　America。〃

〃Straight　away？〃

〃Somehow　or　other。　　I　would　go　to　the　American　consul。　　I　would　beg
him　to　give　me　moneyto　help　me。〃

I　received　this　assertion　without　a　smile；　I　was　not　in　a　smiling
humour。　　On　the　contrary；　I　felt　singularly　excited；　and　I　kept　my
hand　on　the　lock　of　the　gate。　　I　believed　（or　I　thought　I　believed）
what　my　companion　said；　and　I　hadabsurd　as　it　may　appearan
irritated　vision　of　her　throwing　herself　upon　consular　sympathy。　　It
seemed　to　me；　for　a　moment；　that　to　pass　out　of　that　gate　with　this
yearning；　straining；　young　creature；　would　be　to　pass　into　some
mysterious　felicity。　　If　I　were　only　a　hero　of　romance；　I　would
offer；　myself；　to　take　her　to　America。

In　a　moment　more；　perhaps；　I　should　have　persuaded　myself　that　I　was
one；　but　at　this　juncture　I　heard　a　sound　that　was　not　romantic。　　It
proved　to　be　the　very　realistic　tread　of　Celestine；　the　cook；　who
stood　grinning　at　us　as　we　turned　about　from　our　colloquy。

〃I　ask　bien　pardon；〃　said　Celestine。　　〃The　mother　of　Mademoiselle
desires　that　Mademoiselle　should　come　in　immediately。　　M。　le　Pasteur
Galopin　has　come　to　make　his　adieux　to　ces　dames。〃

Aurora　gave　me　only　one　glance；　but　it　was　a　touching　one。　　Then　she
slowly　departed　with　Celestine。

The　next　morning；　on　coming　into　the　garden；　I　found　that　Mrs。　Church
and　her　daughter　had　departed。　　I　was　informed　of　this　fact　by　old　M。
Pigeonneau；　who　sat　there　under　a　tree；　having　his　coffee　at　a　little
green　table。

〃I　have　nothing　to　envy　you；〃　he　said；　〃I　had　the　last　glimpse　of
that　charming　Miss　Aurora。〃

〃I　had　a　very　late　glimpse；〃　I　answered；　〃and　it　was　all　I　could
possibly　desire。〃

〃I　have　always　noticed；〃　rejoined　M。　Pigeonneau；　〃That　your　desires
are　more　moderate　than　mine。　　Que　voulez…vous？　　I　am　of　the　old
school。　　Je　crois　que　la　race　se　perd。　　I　regret　the　departure　of
that　young　girl：　　she　had　an　enchanting　smile。　　Ce　sera　une　femme
d'esprit。　　For　the　mother；　I　can　console　myself。　　I　am　not　sure　that
SHE　was　a　femme　d'esprit；　though　she　wished　to　pass　for　one。　　Round；
rosy；　potelee；　she　yet　had　not　the　temperament　of　her　appearance；　she
was　a　femme　austere。　　I　have　often　noticed　that　contradiction　in
American　ladies。　　You　see　a　plump　little　woman；　with　a　speaking　eye；
and　the　contour　and　complexion　of　a　ripe　peach；　and　if　you　venture　to
conduct　yourself　in　the　smallest　degree　in　accordance　with　these
indices；　you　discover　a　species　of　Methodistof　what　do　you　call
it？of　Quakeress。　　On　the　other　hand；　you　encounter　a　tall；　lean；
angular　person；　without　colour；　without　grace；　all　elbows　and　knees；
and　you　find　it's　a　nature　of　the　tropics！　The　women　of　duty　look
like　coquettes；　and　the　others　look　like　alpenstocks！　However；　we
have　still　the　handsome　Madame　Rucka　real　femme　de　Rubens；　celle…
la。　　It　is　very　true　that　to　talk　to　her　one　must　know　the　Flemish
tongue！〃

I　had　determined；　in　accordance　with　my　brother's　telegram；　to　go
away　in　the　afternoon；　so　that；　having　various　duties　to　perform；　I
left　M。　Pigeonneau　to　his　international　comparisons。　　Among　other
things；　I　went　in　the　course　of　the　morning　to　the　banker's；　to　draw
money　for　my　journey；　and　there　I　found　Mr。　Ruck；　with　a　pile　of
crumpled　letters　in　his　lap；　his　chair　tipped　back；　and　his　eyes
gloomily　fixed　on　the　fringe　of　the　green　plush　table…cloth。　　I
timidly　expressed　the　hope　that　he　had　got　better　news　from　home；
whereupon　he　gave　me　a　look　in　which；　considering　his　provocation；
the　absence　of　irritation　was　conspicuous。

He　took　up　his　letters　in　his　large　hand；　and　crushing　them　together；
held　it　out　to　me。　　〃That　epistolary　matter；〃　he　said；　〃is　worth
about　five　cents。　　But　I　guess；〃　he　added；　rising；　〃I　have　taken　it
in　by　this　time。〃　　When　I　had　drawn　my　money　I　asked　him　to　come　and
breakfast　with　me　at　the　little　brasserie；　much　favoured　by　students；
to　which　I　used　to　resort　in　the　old　town。　　〃I　couldn't　eat；　sir；〃　he
said；　〃Icouldn't　eat。　　Bad　news　takes　away　the　appetite。　　But　I
guess　I'll　go　with　you；　so　that　I　needn't　go　to　table　down　there　at
the　pension。　　The　old　woman　down　there　is　always　accusing　me　of
turning　up　my　nose　at　her　food。　　Well；　I　guess　I　shan't　turn　up　my
nose　at　anything　now。〃

We　went　to　the　little　brasserie；　where　poor　Mr。　Ruck　made　the
lightest　possible　breakfast。　　But　if　he　ate　very　little；　he　talked　a
great　deal；　he　talked　about　business；　going　into　a　hundred　details　in
which　I　was　quite　unable　to　follow　him。　　His　talk　was　not　angry　nor
bitter；　it　was　a　long；　meditative；　melancholy　monologue；　if　it　had
been　a　trifle　less　incoherent　I　should　almost　have　called　it
philosophic。　　I　was　very　sorry　for　him；　I　wanted　to　do　something　for
him；　but　the　only　thing　I　could　do　was；　when　we　had　breakfasted；　to
see　him　safely　back　to　the　Pension　Beaurepas。　　We　went　across　the
Treille　and　down　the　Corraterie；　out　of　which　we　turned　into　the　Rue
du　Rhone。　　In　this　latter　street；　as　all　the　world　knows；　are　many　of
those　brilliant　jewellers'　shops　for　which　Geneva　is　famous。　　I
always　admired　their　glittering　windows；　and　never　passed　them
without　a　lingering　glance。　　Even　on　this　occasion；　pre…occupied　as　I
was　with　my　impending　departure；　and　with　my　companion's　troubles；　I
suffered　my　eyes　to　wander　along　the　precious　tiers　that　flashed　and
twinkled　behind　the　huge　clear　plates　of　glass。　　Thanks　to　this
inveterate　habit；　I　made　a　discovery。　　In　the　largest　and　most
brilliant　of　these　establishments　I　perceived　two　ladies；　seated
before　the　counter　with　an　air　of　absorption；　which　sufficiently
proclaimed　their　identity。　　I　hoped　my　companion　would　not　see　them；
but　as　we　came　abreast　of　the　door；　a　little　beyond；　we　found　it　open
to　the　warm　summer　air。　　Mr。　Ruck　happened　to　glance　in；　and　he
immediately　recognised　his　wife　and　daughter。　　He　slowly　stopped；
looking　at　them；　I　wondered　what　he　would　do。　　The　salesman　was
holding　up　a　bracelet　before　them；　on　its　velvet　cushion；　and
flashing　it　about　in　an　irresistible　manner。

Mr。　Ruck　said　nothing；　but　he　presently　went　in；　and　I　did　the　same。

〃It　will　be　an　opportunity；〃　I　remarked；　as　cheerfully　as　possible；
〃for　me　to　bid　good…bye　to　the　ladies。〃

They　turned　round　when　Mr。　Ruck　came　in；　and　looked　at　him　without
confusion。　　〃Well；　you　had　better　go　home　to　breakfast；〃　remarked　his
wife。　　Miss　Sophy　made　no　remark；　but　she　took　the　bracelet　from　the
attendant　and　gazed　at　it　very　fixedly。　　Mr。　Ruck　seated　himself　on
an　empty　stool　and　looked　round　the　shop。

〃Well；　you　have　been　here　before；〃　said　his　wife；　〃you　were　here　the
first　day　we　came。〃

Miss　Ruck　extended　the　precious　object　in　her　hands　towards　me。
〃Don't　you　think　that　sweet？〃　she　inquired。

I　looked　at　it　a　moment。　　〃No；　I　think　it's　ugly。〃

She　glanced　at　me　a　moment；　incredulous。　　〃Well；　I　don't　believe　you
have　any　taste。〃

〃Why；　sir；　it's　just　lovely；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck。

〃You'll　see　it　some　day　on　me；　any　way；〃　her　daughter　declared。

〃No；　he　won't；〃　said　Mr。　Ruck；　quietly。

〃It　will　be　his　own　fault；　then；〃　Miss　Sophy　observed。

〃Well；　if　we　are　going　to　Chamouni　we　want　to　get　something　here；〃
said　Mrs。　Ruck。　　〃We　may　not　have　another　chance。〃

Mr。　Ruck　was　still　looking　round　the　shop；　whistling　in　a　very　low
tone。　　〃We　ain't　going　to　Chamouni。　　We　are　going　to　New　York　city；
straight。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　to　hear　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck。　　〃Don't　you　suppose　we
want　to　take　something　home？〃

〃If　we　are　going　straight　back　I　must　have　that　bracelet；〃　her
daughter　declared；　〃Only　I　don't　want　a　velvet　case；　I　want　a　satin
case。〃

〃I　must　bid　you　good…bye；〃　I　said　to　the　ladies。　　〃I　am　leaving
Geneva　in　an　hour　or　two。〃

〃Take　a　good　look　at　that　bracelet；　so　you'll　know　it　when　you　see
it；〃　said　Miss　Sophy。

〃She's　bound　to　have　something；〃　remarked　her　mother；　almost　proudly。

Mr。　Ruck　was　still　vaguely　inspecting　the　shop；　he　was　still
whistling　a　little。　　〃I　am　afraid　he　is　not　at　all　well；〃　I　said；
softly；　to　his　wife。

She　twisted　her　head　a　little；　and　glanced　at　him。

〃Well；　I　wish　he'd　improve！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃A　satin　case；　and　a　nice　one！〃　said　Miss　Ruck　to　the　shopman。

I　bade　Mr。　Ruck　good…bye。　　〃Don't　wait　for　me；〃　he　said；　sitting
there　on　his　stool；　and　not　meeting　my　eye。　　〃I've　got　to　see　this
thing　through。〃

I　went　back　to　the　Pension　Beaurepas；　and　when；　an　hour　later；　I　left
it　with　my　luggage；　the　family　had　not　returned。







End