the pension beaurepas-第2章

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eat　two　breakfasts。　　But　a　man's　glad　to　do　anything　over　here。〃

〃For　myself；〃　I　observed；　〃I　find　plenty　to　do。〃

He　turned　his　head　and　glanced　at　me　with　a　dry；　deliberate；　kind…
looking　eye。　　〃You're　getting　used　to　the　life；　are　you？〃

〃I　like　the　life　very　much；〃　I　answered；　laughing。

〃How　long　have　you　tried　it？〃

〃Do　you　mean　in　this　place？〃

〃Well；　I　mean　anywhere。　　It　seems　to　me　pretty　much　the　same　all
over。〃

〃I　have　been　in　this　house　only　a　fortnight；〃　I　said。

〃Well；　what　should　you　say；　from　what　you　have　seen？〃　my　companion
asked。

〃Oh；〃　said　I；　〃you　can　see　all　there　is　immediately。　　It's　very
simple。〃

〃Sweet　simplicity；　eh？　　I'm　afraid　my　two　ladies　will　find　it　too
simple。〃

〃Everything　is　very　good；〃　I　went　on。　　〃And　Madame　Beaurepas　is　a
charming　old　woman。　　And　then　it's　very　cheap。〃

〃Cheap；　is　it？〃　my　friend　repeated　meditatively。

〃Doesn't　it　strike　you　so？〃　I　asked。　　I　thought　it　very　possible　he
had　not　inquired　the　terms。　　But　he　appeared　not　to　have　heard　me；　he
sat　there；　clasping　his　knee　and　blinking；　in　a　contemplative　manner；
at　the　sunshine。

〃Are　you　from　the　United　States；　sir？〃　he　presently　demanded；　turning
his　head　again。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　replied；　and　I　mentioned　the　place　of　my　nativity。

〃I　presumed；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　were　American　or　English。　　I'm　from
the　United　States　myself；　from　New　York　city。　　Many　of　our　people
here？〃

〃Not　so　many　as；　I　believe；　there　have　sometimes　been。　　There　are　two
or　three　ladies。〃

〃Well；〃　my　interlocutor　declared；　〃I　am　very　fond　of　ladies'　society。
I　think　when　it's　superior　there's　nothing　comes　up　to　it。　　I've　got
two　ladies　here　myself；　I　must　make　you　acquainted　with　them。〃

I　rejoined　that　I　should　be　delighted；　and　I　inquired　of　my　friend
whether　he　had　been　long　in　Europe。

〃Well；　it　seems　precious　long；〃　he　said；　〃but　my　time's　not　up　yet。
We　have　been　here　fourteen　weeks　and　a　half。〃

〃Are　you　travelling　for　pleasure？〃　I　asked。

My　companion　turned　his　head　again　and　looked　at　melooked　at　me　so
long　in　silence　that　I　at　last　also　turned　and　met　his　eyes。

〃No；　sir；〃　he　said　presently。　　〃No；　sir；〃　he　repeated；　after　a
considerable　interval。

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　I；　for　there　was　something　so　solemn　in　his　tone
that　I　feared　I　had　been　indiscreet。

He　took　no　notice　of　my　ejaculation；　he　simply　continued　to　look　at
me。　　〃I'm　travelling；〃　he　said；　at　last；　〃to　please　the　doctors。
They　seemed　to　think　they　would　like　it。〃

〃Ah；　they　sent　you　abroad　for　your　health？〃

〃They　sent　me　abroad　because　they　were　so　confoundedly　muddled　they
didn't　know　what　else　to　do。〃

〃That's　often　the　best　thing；〃　I　ventured　to　remark。

〃It　was　a　confession　of　weakness；　they　wanted　me　to　stop　plaguing
them。　　They　didn't　know　enough　to　cure　me；　and　that's　the　way　they
thought　they　would　get　round　it。　　I　wanted　to　be　curedI　didn't　want
to　be　transported。　　I　hadn't　done　any　harm。〃

I　assented　to　the　general　proposition　of　the　inefficiency　of　doctors；
and　asked　my　companion　if　he　had　been　seriously　ill。

〃I　didn't　sleep；〃　he　said；　after　some　delay。

〃Ah；　that's　very　annoying。　　I　suppose　you　were　overworked。〃

〃I　didn't　eat；　I　took　no　interest　in　my　food。〃

〃Well；　I　hope　you　both　eat　and　sleep　now；〃　I　said。

〃I　couldn't　hold　a　pen；〃　my　neighbour　went　on。　　〃I　couldn't　sit
still。　　I　couldn't　walk　from　my　house　to　the　carsand　it's　only　a
little　way。　　I　lost　my　interest　in　business。〃

〃You　needed　a　holiday；〃　I　observed。

〃That's　what　the　doctors　said。　　It　wasn't　so　very　smart　of　them。　　I
had　been　paying　strict　attention　to　business　for　twenty…three　years。〃

〃In　all　that　time　you　have　never　had　a　holiday？〃　I　exclaimed　with
horror。

My　companion　waited　a　little。　　〃Sundays；〃　he　said　at　last。

〃No　wonder；　then；　you　were　out　of　sorts。〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　my　friend；　〃I　shouldn't　have　been　where　I　was　three
years　ago　if　I　had　spent　my　time　travelling　round　Europe。　　I　was　in　a
very　advantageous　position。　　I　did　a　very　large　business。　　I　was
considerably　interested　in　lumber。〃　　He　paused；　turned　his　head；　and
looked　at　me　a　moment。　　〃Have　you　any　business　interests　yourself？〃
I　answered　that　I　had　none；　and　he　went　on　again；　slowly；　softly；
deliberately。　　〃Well；　sir；　perhaps　you　are　not　aware　that　business　in
the　United　States　is　not　what　it　was　a　short　time　since。　　Business
interests　are　very　insecure。　　There　seems　to　be　a　general　falling…
off。　　Different　parties　offer　different　explanations　of　the　fact；　but
so　far　as　I　am　aware　none　of　their　observations　have　set　things　going
again。〃　　I　ingeniously　intimated　that　if　business　was　dull；　the　time
was　good　for　coming　away；　whereupon　my　neighbour　threw　back　his　head
and　stretched　his　legs　a　while。　　〃Well；　sir；　that's　one　view　of　the
matter　certainly。　　There's　something　to　be　said　for　that。　　These
things　should　be　looked　at　all　round。　　That's　the　ground　my　wife
took。　　That's　the　ground；〃　he　added　in　a　moment；　〃that　a　lady　would
naturally　take；〃　and　he　gave　a　little　dry　laugh。

〃You　think　it's　slightly　illogical；〃　I　remarked。

〃Well；　sir；　the　ground　I　took　was；　that　the　worse　a　man's　business
is；　the　more　it　requires　looking　after。　　I　shouldn't　want　to　go　out
to　take　a　walknot　even　to　go　to　churchif　my　house　was　on　fire。
My　firm　is　not　doing　the　business　it　was；　it's　like　a　sick　child；　it
requires　nursing。　　What　I　wanted　the　doctors　to　do　was　to　fix　me　up；
so　that　I　could　go　on　at　home。　　I'd　have　taken　anything　they'd　have
given　me；　and　as　many　times　a　day。　　I　wanted　to　be　right　there；　I　had
my　reasons；　I　have　them　still。　　But　I　came　off　all　the　same；〃　said　my
friend；　with　a　melancholy　smile。

I　was　a　great　deal　younger　than　he；　but　there　was　something　so　simple
and　communicative　in　his　tone；　so　expressive　of　a　desire　to
fraternise；　and　so　exempt　from　any　theory　of　human　differences；　that
I　quite　forgot　his　seniority；　and　found　myself　offering　him　paternal
I　advice。　　〃Don't　think　about　all　that；〃　said　I。　　〃Simply　enjoy
yourself；　amuse　yourself；　get　well。　　Travel　about　and　see　Europe。　　At
the　end　of　a　year；　by　the　time　you　are　ready　to　go　home；　things　will
have　improved　over　there；　and　you　will　be　quite　well　and　happy。〃

My　friend　laid　his　hand　on　my　knee；　he　looked　at　me　for　some　moments；
and　I　thought　he　was　going　to　say；　〃You　are　very　young！〃　But　he　said
presently；　〃YOU　have　got　used　to　Europe　any　way！〃



CHAPTER　III。



At　breakfast　I　encountered　his　ladieshis　wife　and　daughter。　　They
were　placed；　however；　at　a　distance　from　me；　and　it　was　not　until　the
pensionnaires　had　dispersed；　and　some　of　them；　according　to　custom；
had　come　out　into　the　garden；　that　he　had　an　opportunity　of　making　me
acquainted　with　them。

〃Will　you　allow　me　to　introduce　you　to　my　daughter？〃　he　said；　moved
apparently　by　a　paternal　inclination　to　provide　this　young　lady　with
social　diversion。　　She　was　standing　with　her　mother；　in　one　of　the
paths；　looking　about　with　no　great　complacency；　as　I　imagined；　at　the
homely　characteristics　of　the　place；　and　old　M。　Pigeonneau　was
hovering　near；　hesitating　apparently　between　the　desire　to　be　urbane
and　the　absence　of　a　pretext。　　〃Mrs。　RuckMiss　Sophy　Ruck；〃　said　my
friend；　leading　me　up。

Mrs。　Ruck　was　a　large；　plump；　light…coloured　person；　with　a　smooth
fair　face；　a　somnolent　eye；　and　an　elaborate　coiffure。　　Miss　Sophy
was　a　girl　of　one…and…twenty；　very　small　and　very　prettywhat　I
suppose　would　have　been　called　a　lively　brunette。　　Both　of　these
ladies　were　attired　in　black　silk　dresses；　very　much　trimmed；　they
had　an　air　of　the　highest　elegance。

〃Do　you　think　highly　of　this　pension？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Ruck；　after　a
few　preliminaries。

〃It's　a　little　rough；　but　it　seems　to　me　comfortable；〃　I　answered。

〃Does　it　take　a　high　rank　in　Geneva？〃　Mrs。　Ruck　pursued。

〃I　imagine　it　enjoys　a　very　fair　fame；〃　I　said；　smiling。

〃I　should　never　dream　of　comparing　it　to　a　New　York　boarding…house；〃
said　Mrs。　Ruck。

〃It's　quite　a　different　style；〃　her　daughter　observed。

Miss　Ruck　had　folded　her　arms；　she　was　holding　her　elbows　with　a　pair
of　white　little　hands；　and　she　was　tapping　the　ground　with　a　pretty
little　foot。

〃We　hardly　expected　to　come　to　a　pension；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck。　　〃But　we
thought　we　would　try；　we　had　heard　so　much　about　Swiss　pensions。　　I
was　saying　to　Mr。　Ruck　that　I　wondered　whether　this　was　a　favourable
specimen。　　I　was　afraid　we　might　have　made　a　mistake。〃

〃We　knew　some　people　who　had　been　here；　they　thought　everything　of
Madame　Beaurepas；〃　said　Miss　Sophy。　　〃They　said　she　was　a　real
friend。〃

〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Parkerperhaps　you　have　heard　her　speak　of　them；〃　Mrs。
Ruck　pursued。

〃Madame　Beaurepas　has　had　a　great　many　Americans；　she　is　very　fond　of
Americans；〃　I　replied。

〃Well；　I　must　say　I　should　think　she　would　be；　if　she　compares　them
with　some　others。〃

〃Mother　is　always　comparing；〃　observed　Miss　Ruck。

〃Of　course　I　am　always　comparing；〃　rejoined　the　elder　lady。　　〃I　never
had　a　chance　till　now；　I　never　knew　my　privileges。　　Give　me　an
American！〃　　And　Mrs。　Ruck　indulged　in　a　little　laugh。

〃Well；　I　must　say　there　are　some　things　I　like　over　here；〃　said　Miss
Sophy；　with　courage。　　And　indeed　I　could　see　that　she　was　a　young
woman　of　great　decision。

〃You　like　the　shopsthat's　what　you　like；〃　her　father　affirmed。

The　young　lady　addressed　herself　to　me；　without　heeding　this　remark。
〃I　suppose　you　feel　quite　at　home　here。〃

〃Oh；　he　likes　it；　he　has　got　used　to　the　life！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Ruck。

〃I　wish　you'd　teach　Mr。　Ruck；〃　said　his　wife。　　〃It　seems　as　if　he
couldn't　get　used　to　anything。〃

〃I'm　used　to　you；　my　dear；〃　the　husband　retorted；　giving　me　a
humorous　look。

〃He's　intensely　restless；〃　continued　Mrs。　Ruck。

〃That's　what　made　me　want　to　come　to　a　pension。　　I　thought　he　would
settle　down　more。〃

〃I　don't　think　I　AM　used　to　you；　after　all；〃　said　her　husband。

In　view　of　a　possible　exchange　of　conjugal　repartee　I　took　refuge　in
conversation　with　Miss　Ruck；　who　seemed　perfectly　able　to　play　her
part　in　any　colloquy。　　I　learned　from　this　young　lady　that；　with　her
parents；　after　visiting　the　British　Islands；　she　had　been　spending　a
month　in　Paris；　and　that　she　thought　she　should　have　died　when　she
left　that　city。　　〃I　hung　out　of　the　carriage；　when　we　left　the
hotel；〃　said　Miss　Ruck；　〃I　assure　you　I　did。　　And　mother　did；　too。〃

〃Out　of　the　other　window；　I　hope；〃　said　I。

〃Yes；　one　out　of　each　window；〃　she　replied　promptly。　　〃Father　had
hard　work；　I　can　tell　you。　　We　hadn't　half　finished；　there　were　ever
so　many　places　we　wanted　to　go　to。〃

〃Your　father　insisted　on　coming　away？〃

〃Yes；　after　we　had　been　there　about　a　month　he　said　he　had　enough。
He's　fearfully　restless；　he's　very　much　out　of　health。　　Mother　and　I
said　to　him　that　if　he　was　restless　in　Paris　he　needn't　hope　for
peace　anywhere。　　We　don't　mean　to　leave　him　alone　till　he　takes　us
back。〃　　There　was　an　air　of　keen　resolution　in　Miss　Ruck's　pretty
face；　of　lucid　apprehension　of　desirable　ends；　which　made　me；　as　she
pronounced　these　words；　direct　a　glance　of　covert　compassion　toward
her　poor　recalcitrant　father。　　He　had　walked　away　a　little　with　his
wife；　and　I　saw　only　his　back　and　his　stooping；　patient…looking
shoulders；