the pension beaurepas-第3章

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wife；　and　I　saw　only　his　back　and　his　stooping；　patient…looking
shoulders；　whose　air　of　acute　resignation　was　thrown　into　relief　by
the　voluminous　tranquillity　of　Mrs。　Ruck。　　〃He　will　have　to　take　us
back　in　September；　any　way；〃　the　young　girl　pursued；　〃he　will　have　to
take　us　back　to　get　some　things　we　have　ordered。〃

〃Have　you　ordered　a　great　many　things？〃　I　asked　jocosely。

〃Well；　I　guess　we　have　ordered　SOME。　　Of　course　we　wanted　to　take
advantage　of　being　in　Parisladies　always　do。　　We　have　left　the
principal　things　till　we　go　back。　　Of　course　that　is　the　principal
interest；　for　ladies。　　Mother　said　she　should　feel　so　shabby　if　she
just　passed　through。　　We　have　promised　all　the　people　to　be　back　in
September；　and　I　never　broke　a　promise　yet。　　So　Mr。　Ruck　has　got　to
make　his　plans　accordingly。〃

〃And　what　are　his　plans？〃

〃I　don't　know；　he　doesn't　seem　able　to　make　any。　　His　great　idea　was
to　get　to　Geneva；　but　now　that　he　has　got　here　he　doesn't　seem　to
care。　　It's　the　effect　of　ill　health。　　He　used　to　be　so　bright；　but
now　he　is　quite　subdued。　　It's　about　time　he　should　improve；　any　way。
We　went　out　last　night　to　look　at　the　jewellers'　windowsin　that
street　behind　the　hotel。　　I　had　always　heard　of　those　jewellers'
windows。　　We　saw　some　lovely　things；　but　it　didn't　seem　to　rouse
father。　　He'll　get　tired　of　Geneva　sooner　than　he　did　of　Paris。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　I；　〃there　are　finer　things　here　than　the　jewellers'
windows。　　We　are　very　near　some　of　the　most　beautiful　scenery　in
Europe。〃

〃I　suppose　you　mean　the　mountains。　　Well；　we　have　seen　plenty　of
mountains　at　home。　　We　used　to　go　to　the　mountains　every　summer。　　We
are　familiar　enough　with　the　mountains。　　Aren't　we；　mother？〃　the
young　lady　demanded；　appealing　to　Mrs。　Ruck；　who；　with　her　husband；
had　drawn　near　again。

〃Aren't　we　what？〃　inquired　the　elder　lady。

〃Aren't　we　familiar　with　the　mountains？〃

〃Well；　I　hope　so；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck。

Mr。　Ruck；　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　gave　me　a　sociable　wink。
〃There's　nothing　much　you　can　tell　them！〃　he　said。

The　two　ladies　stood　face　to　face　a　few　moments；　surveying　each
other's　garments。　　〃Don't　you　want　to　go　out？〃　the　young　girl　at　last
inquired　of　her　mother。

〃Well；　I　think　we　had　better；　we　have　got　to　go　up　to　that　place。〃

〃To　what　place？〃　asked　Mr。　Ruck。

〃To　that　jeweller'sto　that　big　one。〃

〃They　all　seemed　big　enough；　they　were　too　big！〃　　And　Mr。　Ruck　gave
me　another　wink。

〃That　one　where　we　saw　the　blue　cross；〃　said　his　daughter。

〃Oh；　come；　what　do　you　want　of　that　blue　cross？〃　poor　Mr。　Ruck
demanded。

〃She　wants　to　hang　it　on　a　black　velvet　ribbon　and　tie　it　round　her
neck；〃　said　his　wife。

〃A　black　velvet　ribbon？　　No；　I　thank　you！〃　cried　the　young　lady。　　〃Do
you　suppose　I　would　wear　that　cross　on　a　black　velvet　ribbon？　　On　a
nice　little　gold　chain；　if　you　pleasea　little　narrow　gold　chain；
like　an　old…fashioned　watch…chain。　　That's　the　proper　thing　for　that
blue　cross。　　I　know　the　sort　of　chain　I　mean；　I'm　going　to　look　for
one。　　When　I　want　a　thing；〃　said　Miss　Ruck；　with　decision；　〃I　can
generally　find　it。〃

〃Look　here；　Sophy；〃　her　father　urged；　〃you　don't　want　that　blue
cross。〃

〃I　do　want　itI　happen　to　want　it。〃　　And　Sophy　glanced　at　me　with　a
little　laugh。

Her　laugh；　which　in　itself　was　pretty；　suggested　that　there　were
various　relations　in　which　one　might　stand　to　Miss　Ruck；　but　I　think
I　was　conscious　of　a　certain　satisfaction　in　not　occupying　the
paternal　one。　　〃Don't　worry　the　poor　child；〃　said　her　mother。

〃Come　on；　mother；〃　said　Miss　Ruck。

〃We　are　going　to　look　about　a　little；〃　explained　the　elder　lady　to
me；　by　way　of　taking　leave。

〃I　know　what　that　means；〃　remarked　Mr。　Ruck；　as　his　companions　moved
away。　　He　stood　looking　at　them　a　moment；　while　he　raised　his　hand　to
his　head；　behind；　and　stood　rubbing　it　a　little；　with　a　movement　that
displaced　his　hat。　　（I　may　remark　in　parenthesis　that　I　never　saw　a
hat　more　easily　displaced　than　Mr。　Ruck's。）　　I　supposed　he　was　going
to　say　something　querulous；　but　I　was　mistaken。　　Mr。　Ruck　was
unhappy；　but　he　was　very　good…natured。　　〃Well；　they　want　to　pick　up
something；〃　he　said。　　〃That's　the　principal　interest；　for　ladies。〃



CHAPTER　IV。



Mr。　Ruck　distinguished　me；　as　the　French　say。　　He　honoured　me　with
his　esteem；　and；　as　the　days　elapsed；　with　a　large　portion　of　his
confidence。　　Sometimes　he　bored　me　a　little；　for　the　tone　of　his
conversation　was　not　cheerful；　tending　as　it　did　almost　exclusively
to　a　melancholy　dirge　over　the　financial　prostration　of　our　common
country。　　〃No；　sir；　business　in　the　United　States　is　not　what　it　once
was；〃　he　found　occasion　to　remark　several　times　a　day。　　〃There's　not
the　same　springthere's　not　the　same　hopeful　feeling。　　You　can　see
it　in　all　departments。〃　　He　used　to　sit　by　the　hour　in　the　little
garden　of　the　pension；　with　a　roll　of　American　newspapers　in　his　lap
and　his　high　hat　pushed　back；　swinging　one　of　his　long　legs　and
reading　the　New　York　Herald。　　He　paid　a　daily　visit　to　the　American
banker's；　on　the　other　side　of　the　Rhone；　and　remained　there　a　long
time；　turning　over　the　old　papers　on　the　green　velvet　table　in　the
middle　of　the　Salon　des　Etrangers；　and　fraternising　with　chance
compatriots。　　But　in　spite　of　these　diversions　his　time　hung　heavily
upon　his　hands。　　I　used　sometimes　to　propose　to　him　to　take　a　walk；
but　he　had　a　mortal　horror　of　pedestrianism；　and　regarded　my　own
taste　for　it　as'　a　morbid　form　of　activity。　　〃You'll　kill　yourself；
if　you　don't　look　out；〃　he　said；　〃walking　all　over　the　country。　　I
don't　want　to　walk　round　that　way；　I　ain't　a　postman！〃　　Briefly
speaking；　Mr。　Ruck　had　few　resources。　　His　wife　and　daughter；　on　the
other　hand；　it　was　to　be　supposed；　were　possessed　of　a　good　many　that
could　not　be　apparent　to　an　unobtrusive　young　man。　　They　also　sat　a
great　deal　in　the　garden　or　in　the　salon；　side　by　side；　with　folded
hands；　contemplating　material　objects；　and　were　remarkably
independent　of　most　of　the　usual　feminine　aids　to　idlenesslight
literature；　tapestry；　the　use　of　the　piano。　　They　were；　however；　much
fonder　of　locomotion　than　their　companion；　and　I　often　met　them　in
the　Rue　du　Rhone　and　on　the　quays；　loitering　in　front　of　the
jewellers'　windows。　　They　might　have　had　a　cavalier　in　the　person　of
old　M。　Pigeonneau；　who　possessed　a　high　appreciation　of　their　charms；
but　who；　owing　to　the　absence　of　a　common　idiom；　was　deprived　of　the
pleasures　of　intimacy。　　He　knew　no　English；　and　Mrs。　Ruck　and　her
daughter　had；　as　it　seemed；　an　incurable　mistrust　of　the　beautiful
tongue　which；　as　the　old　man　endeavoured　to　impress　upon　them；　was
pre…eminently　the　language　of　conversation。

〃They　have　a　tournure　de　princessea　distinction　supreme；〃　he　said
to　me。　　〃One　is　surprised　to　find　them　in　a　little　pension；　at　seven
francs　a　day。〃

〃Oh；　they　don't　come　for　economy；〃　I　answered。　　〃They　must　be　rich。〃

〃They　don't　come　for　my　beaux　yeuxfor　mine；〃　said　M。　Pigeonneau；
sadly。　　〃Perhaps　it's　for　yours；　young　man。　　Je　vous　recommande　la
mere。〃

I　reflected　a　moment。　　〃They　came　on　account　of　Mr。　Ruckbecause　at
hotels　he's　so　restless。〃

M。　Pigeonneau　gave　me　a　knowing　nod。　　〃Of　course　he　is；　with　such　a
wife　as　thata　femme　superbe。　　Madame　Ruck　is　preserved　in
perfectiona　miraculous　fraicheur。　　I　like　those　large；　fair；　quiet
women；　they　are　often；　dans　l'intimite；　the　most　agreeable。　　I'll
warrant　you　that　at　heart　Madame　Ruck　is　a　finished　coquette。〃

〃I　rather　doubt　it；〃　I　said。

〃You　suppose　her　cold？　　Ne　vous　y　fiez　pas！〃

〃It　is　a　matter　in　which　I　have　nothing　at　stake。〃

〃You　young　Americans　are　droll；〃　said　M。　Pigeonneau；　〃you　never　have
anything　at　stake！　But　the　little　one；　for　example；　I'll　warrant　you
she's　not　cold。　　She　is　admirably　made。〃

〃She　is　very　pretty。〃

〃'She　is　very　pretty！'　　Vous　dites　cela　d'un　ton！　　When　you　pay
compliments　to　Mademoiselle　Ruck；　I　hope　that's　not　the　way　you　do
it。〃

〃I　don't　pay　compliments　to　Mademoiselle　Ruck。〃

〃Ah；　decidedly；〃　said　M。　Pigeonneau；　〃you　young　Americans　are　droll！〃

I　should　have　suspected　that　these　two　ladies　would　not　especially
commend　themselves　to　Madame　Beaurepas；　that　as　a　maitresse　de　salon；
which　she　in　some　degree　aspired　to　be；　she　would　have　found　them
wanting　in　a　certain　flexibility　of　deportment。　　But　I　should　have
gone　quite　wrong；　Madame　Beaurepas　had　no　fault　at　all　to　find　with
her　new　pensionnaires。　　〃I　have　no　observation　whatever　to　make　about
them；〃　she　said　to　me　one　evening。　　〃I　see　nothing　in　those　ladies
which　is　at　all　deplace。　　They　don't　complain　of　anything；　they　don't
meddle；　they　take　what's　given　them；　they　leave　me　tranquil。　　The
Americans　are　often　like　that。　　Often；　but　not　always；〃　Madame
Beaurepas　pursued。　　〃We　are　to　have　a　specimen　to…morrow　of　a　very
different　sort。〃

〃An　American？〃　I　inquired。

〃Two　Americainesa　mother　and　a　daughter。　　There　are　Americans　and
Americans：　　when　you　are　difficiles；　you　are　more　so　than　any　one；
and　when　you　have　pretensionsah；　per　exemple；　it's　serious。　　I
foresee　that　with　this　little　lady　everything　will　be　serious；
beginning　with　her　cafe　au　lait。　　She　has　been　staying　at　the　Pension
Chamoussetmy　concurrent；　you　know；　farther　up　the　street；　but　she
is　coming　away　because　the　coffee　is　bad。　　She　holds　to　her　coffee；
it　appears。　　I　don't　know　what　liquid　Madame　Chamousset　may　have
invented；　but　we　will　do　the　best　we　can　for　her。　　Only；　I　know　she
will　make　me　des　histoires　about　something　else。　　She　will　demand　a
new　lamp　for　the　salon；　vous　alles　voir　cela。　　She　wishes　to　pay　but
eleven　francs　a　day　for　herself　and　her　daughter；　tout　compris；　and
for　their　eleven　francs　they　expect　to　be　lodged　like　princesses。
But　she　is　very　'ladylike'isn't　that　what　you　call　it　in　English？
Oh；　pour　cela；　she　is　ladylike！〃

I　caught　a　glimpse　on　the　morrow　of　this　ladylike　person；　who　was
arriving　at　her　new　residence　as　I　came　in　from　a　walk。　　She　had　come
in　a　cab；　with　her　daughter　and　her　luggage；　and；　with　an　air　of
perfect　softness　and　serenity；　she　was　disputing　the　fare　as　she
stood　among　her　boxes；　on　the　steps。　　She　addressed　her　cabman　in　a
very　English　accent；　but　with　extreme　precision　and　correctness。　　〃I
wish　to　be　perfectly　reasonable；　but　I　don't　wish　to　encourage　you　in
exorbitant　demands。　　With　a　franc　and　a　half　you　are　sufficiently
paid。　　It　is　not　the　custom　at　Geneva　to　give　a　pour…boire　for　so
short　a　drive。　　I　have　made　inquiries；　and　I　find　it　is　not　the
custom；　even　in　the　best　families。　　I　am　a　stranger；　yes；　but　I
always　adopt　the　custom　of　the　native　families。　　I　think　it　my　duty
toward　the　natives。〃

〃But　I　am　a　native；　too；　moi！〃　said　the　cabman；　with　an　angry　laugh。

〃You　seem　to　me　to　speak　with　a　German　accent；〃　continued　the　lady。
〃You　are　probably　from　Basel。　　A　franc　and　a　half　is　sufficient。　　I
see　you　have　left　behind　the　little　red　bag　which　I　asked　you　to　hold
between　your　knees；　you　will　please　to　go　back　to　the　other　house　and
get　it。　　Very　well；　if　you　are　impolite　I　will　make　a　complaint　of
you　to…morrow　at　the　administration。　　Aurora；　you　will　find　a　pencil
in　the　outer　pocket　of　my　embroidered　satchel；　please　to　write　dow