the pension beaurepas-第7章

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was　because　her　conscience　was　better　than　her　mother's。

〃Well；　for　a　gentleman　there　is　nothing　so　sacred　as　ladies'
society；〃　replied　Miss　Ruck；　in　the　manner　of　a　person　accustomed　to
giving　neat　retorts。

〃I　suppose　you　refer　to　the　Cathedral；〃　said　her　mother。　　〃Well；　I
must　say；　we　didn't　go　back　there。　　I　don't　know　what　it　may　be　of　a
Sunday；　but　it　gave　me　a　chill。〃

〃We　discovered　the　loveliest　little　lace…shop；〃　observed　the　young
girl；　with　a　serenity　that　was　superior　to　bravado。

Her　father　looked　at　her　a　while；　then　turned　about　again；　leaning　on
the　parapet；　and　gazed　away　at　the　〃hills。〃

〃Well；　it　was　certainly　cheap；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck；　also　contemplating
the　Alps。

〃We　are　going　to　Chamouni；〃　said　her　husband。　　〃You　haven't　any
occasion　for　lace　at　Chamouni。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　to　hear　you　have　decided　to　go　somewhere；〃　rejoined
his　wife。　　〃I　don't　want　to　be　a　fixture　at　a　boarding…house。〃

〃You　can　wear　lace　anywhere；〃　said　Miss　Ruck；　〃if　you　pat　it　on
right。　　That's　the　great　thing；　with　lace。　　I　don't　think　they　know
how　to　wear　lace　in　Europe。　　I　know　how　I　mean　to　wear　mine；　but　I
mean　to　keep　it　till　I　get　home。〃

Her　father　transferred　his　melancholy　gaze　to　her　elaborately…
appointed　little　person；　there　was　a　great　deal　of　very　new…looking
detail　in　Miss　Ruck's　appearance。　　Then；　in　a　tone　of　voice　quite　out
of　consonance　with　his　facial　despondency；　〃Have　you　purchased　a
great　deal？〃　he　inquired。

〃I　have　purchased　enough　for　you　to　make　a　fuss　about。〃

〃He　can't　make　a　fuss　about　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck。

〃Well；　you'll　see！〃　declared　the　young　girl　with　a　little　sharp
laugh。

But　her　father　went　on；　in　the　same　tone：　　〃Have　you　got　it　in　your
pocket？　　Why　don't　you　put　it　onwhy　don't　you　hang　it　round　you？〃

〃I'll　hang　it　round　YOU；　if　you　don't　look　out！〃　cried　Miss　Sophy。

〃Don't　you　want　to　show　it　to　this　gentleman？〃　Mr。　Ruck　continued。

〃Mercy；　how　you　do　talk　about　that　lace！〃　said　his　wife。

〃Well；　I　want　to　be　lively。　　There's　every　reason　for　it；　we're　going
to　Chamouni。〃

〃You're　restless；　that's　what's　the　matter　with　you。〃　　And　Mrs。　Ruck
got　up。

〃No；　I　ain't；〃　said　her　husband。　　〃I　never　felt　so　quiet；　I　feel　as
peaceful　as　a　little　child。〃

Mrs。　Ruck；　who　had　no　sense　whatever　of　humour；　looked　at　her
daughter　and　at　me。　　〃Well；　I　hope　you'll　improve；〃　she　said。

〃Send　in　the　bills；〃　Mr。　Ruck　went　on；　rising　to　his　feet。　　〃Don't
hesitate；　Sophy。　　I　don't　care　what　you　do　now。　　In　for　a　penny；　in
for　a　pound。〃

Miss　Ruck　joined　her　mother；　with　a　little　toss　of　her　head；　and　we
followed　the　ladies　to　the　carriage。　　〃In　your　place；〃　said　Miss
Sophy　to　her　father；　〃I　wouldn't　talk　so　much　about　pennies　and
pounds　before　strangers。〃

Poor　Mr。　Ruck　appeared　to　feel　the　force　of　this　observation；　which；
in　the　consciousness　of　a　man　who　had　never　been　〃mean；〃　could　hardly
fail　to　strike　a　responsive　chord。　　He　coloured　a　little；　and　he　was
silent；　his　companions　got　into　their　vehicle；　the　front　seat　of
which　was　adorned　with　a　large　parcel。　　Mr。　Ruck　gave　the　parcel　a
little　poke　with　his　umbrella；　and　then；　turning　to　me　with　a　rather
grimly　penitential　smile；　〃After　all；〃　he　said；　〃for　the　ladies
that's　the　principal　interest。〃



CHAPTER　VII。



Old　M。　Pigeonneau　had　more　than　once　proposed　to　me　to　take　a　walk；
but　I　had　hitherto　been　unable　to　respond　to　so　alluring　an
invitation。　　It　befell；　however；　one　afternoon；　that　I　perceived　him
going　forth　upon　a　desultory　stroll；　with　a　certain　lonesomeness　of
demeanour　that　attracted　my　sympathy。　　I　hastily　overtook　him；　and
passed　my　hand　into　his　venerable　arm；　a　proceeding　which　produced　in
the　good　old　man　so　jovial　a　sense　of　comradeship　that　he　ardently
proposed　we　should　bend　our　steps　to　the　English　Garden；　no　locality
less　festive　was　worthy　of　the　occasion。　　To　the　English　Garden；
accordingly；　we　went；　it　lay　beyond　the　bridge；　beside　the　lake。　　It
was　very　pretty　and　very　animated；　there　was　a　band　playing　in　the
middle；　and　a　considerable　number　of　persons　sitting　under　the　small
trees；　on　benches　and　little　chairs；　or　strolling　beside　the　blue
water。　　We　joined　the　strollers；　we　observed　our　companions；　and
conversed　on　obvious　topics。　　Some　of　these　last；　of　course；　were　the
pretty　women　who　embellished　the　scene；　and　who；　in　the　light　of　M。
Pigeonneau's　comprehensive　criticism；　appeared　surprisingly　numerous。
He　seemed　bent　upon　our　making　up　our　minds　as　to　which　was　the
prettiest；　and　as　this　was　an　innocent　game　I　consented　to　play　at
it。

Suddenly　M。　Pigeonneau　stopped；　pressing　my　arm　with　the　liveliest
emotion。　　〃La　voila；　la　voila；　the　prettiest！〃　he　quickly　murmured；
〃coming　toward　us；　in　a　blue　dress；　with　the　other。〃　　It　was　at　the
other　I　was　looking；　for　the　other；　to　my　surprise；　was　our
interesting　fellow…pensioner；　the　daughter　of　a　vigilant　mother。　　M。
Pigeonneau；　meanwhile；　had　redoubled　his　exclamations；　he　had
recognised　Miss　Sophy　Ruck。　　〃Oh；　la　belle　rencontre；　nos　aimables
convives；　the　prettiest　girl　in　the　world；　in　effect！〃

We　immediately　greeted　and　joined　the　young　ladies；　who；　like
ourselves；　were　walking　arm　in　arm　and　enjoying　the　scene。

〃I　was　citing　you　with　admiration　to　my　friend　even　before　I　had
recognised　you；〃　said　M。　Pigeonneau　to　Miss　Ruck。

〃I　don't　believe　in　French　compliments；〃　remarked　this　young　lady；
presenting　her　back　to　the　smiling　old　man。

〃Are　you　and　Miss　Ruck　walking　alone？〃　I　asked　of　her　companion。
〃You　had　better　accept　of　M。　Pigeonneau's　gallant　protection；　and　of
mine。〃

Aurora　Church　had　taken　her　hand　out　of　Miss　Ruck's　arm；　she　looked
at　me；　smiling；　with　her　head　a　little　inclined；　while；　upon　her
shoulder；　she　made　her　open　parasol　revolve。　　〃Which　is　most
improperto　walk　alone　or　to　walk　with　gentlemen？　　I　wish　to　do　what
is　most　improper。〃

〃What　mysterious　logic　governs　your　conduct？〃　I　inquired。

〃He　thinks　you　can't　understand　him　when　he　talks　like　that；〃　said
Miss　Ruck。　　〃But　I　do　understand　you；　always！〃

〃So　I　have　always　ventured　to　hope；　my　dear　Miss　Ruck。〃

〃Well；　if　I　didn't；　it　wouldn't　be　much　loss；〃　rejoined　this　young
lady。

〃Allons；　en　marche！〃　cried　M。　Pigeonneau；　smiling　still；　and
undiscouraged　by　her　inhumanity。　　〃Let　as　make　together　the　tour　of
the　garden。〃　　And　he　imposed　his　society　upon　Miss　Ruck　with　a
respectful；　elderly　grace　which　was　evidently　unable　to　see　anything
in　her　reluctance　but　modesty；　and　was　sublimely　conscious　of　a
mission　to　place　modesty　at　its　ease。　　This　ill…assorted　couple
walked　in　front；　while　Aurora　Church　and　I　strolled　along　together。

〃I　am　sure　this　is　more　improper；〃　said　my　companion；　〃this　is
delightfully　improper。　　I　don't　say　that　as　a　compliment　to　you；〃　she
added。　　〃I　would　say　it　to　any　man；　no　matter　how　stupid。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　very　stupid；〃　I　answered；　〃but　this　doesn't　seem　to　me
wrong。〃

〃Not　for　you；　no；　only　for　me。　　There　is　nothing　that　a　man　can　do
that　is　wrong；　is　there？　　En　morale；　you　know；　I　mean。　　Ah；　yes；　he
can　steal；　but　I　think　there　is　nothing　else；　is　there？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　One　doesn't　know　those　things　until　after　one　has
done　them。　　Then　one　is　enlightened。〃

〃And　you　mean　that　you　have　never　been　enlightened？　　You　make
yourself　out　very　good。〃

〃That　is　better　than　making　one's　self　out　bad；　as　you　do。〃

The　young　girl　glanced　at　me　a　moment；　and　then；　with　her　charming
smile；　〃That's　one　of　the　consequences　of　a　false　position。〃

〃Is　your　position　false？〃　I　inquired；　smiling　too　at　this　large
formula。

〃Distinctly　so。〃

〃In　what　way？〃

〃Oh；　in　every　way。　　For　instance；　I　have　to　pretend　to　be　a　jeune
fille。　　I　am　not　a　jeune　fille；　no　American　girl　is　a　jeune　fille；　an
American　girl　is　an　intelligent；　responsible　creature。　　I　have　to
pretend　to　be　very　innocent；　but　I　am　not　very　innocent。〃

〃You　don't　pretend　to　be　very　innocent；　you　pretend　to　bewhat　shall
I　call　it？very　wise。〃

〃That's　no　pretence。　　I　am　wise。〃

〃You　are　not　an　American　girl；〃　I　ventured　to　observe。

My　companion　almost　stopped；　looking　at　me；　there　was　a　little　flush
in　her　cheek。　　〃Voila！〃　she　said。　　〃There's　my　false　position。　　I
want　to　be　an　American　girl；　and　I'm　not。〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to　tell　you？〃　I　went　on。　　〃An　American　girl　wouldn't
talk　as　you　are　talking　now。〃

〃Please　tell　me；〃　said　Aurora　Church；　with　expressive　eagerness。
〃How　would　she　talk？〃

〃I　can't　tell　you　all　the　things　an　American　girl　would　say；　but　I
think　I　can　tell　you　the　things　she　wouldn't　say。　　She　wouldn't
reason　out　her　conduct；　as　you　seem　to　me　to　do。〃

Aurora　gave　me　the　most　flattering　attention。　　〃I　see。　　She　would　be
simpler。　　To　do　very　simple　things　that　are　not　at　all　simplethat
is　the　American　girl！〃

I　permitted　myself　a　small　explosion　of　hilarity。　　〃I　don't　know
whether　you　are　a　French　girl；　or　what　you　are；〃　I　said；　〃but　you　are
very　witty。〃

〃Ah；　you　mean　that　I　strike　false　notes！〃　cried　Aurora　Church；　sadly。
〃That's　just　what　I　want　to　avoid。　　I　wish　you　would　always　tell　me。〃

The　conversational　union　between　Miss　Ruck　and　her　neighbour；　in
front　of　us；　had　evidently　not　become　a　close　one。　　The　young　lady
suddenly　turned　round　to　us　with　a　question：　　〃Don't　you　want　some
ice…cream？〃

〃SHE　doesn't　strike　false　notes；〃　I　murmured。

There　was　a　kind　of　pavilion　or　kiosk；　which　served　as　a　cafe；　and　at
which　the　delicacies　procurable　at　such　an　establishment　were
dispensed。　　Miss　Ruck　pointed　to　the　little　green　tables　and　chairs
which　were　set　out　on　the　gravel；　M。　Pigeonneau；　fluttering　with　a
sense　of　dissipation；　seconded　the　proposal；　and　we　presently　sat
down　and　gave　our　order　to　a　nimble　attendant。　　I　managed　again　to
place　myself　next　to　Aurora　Church；　our　companions　were　on　the　other
side　of　the　table。

My　neighbour　was　delighted　with　our　situation。　　〃This　is　best　of
all；〃　she　said。　　〃I　never　believed　I　should　come　to　a　cafe　with　two
strange　men！　Now；　you　can't　persuade　me　this　isn't　wrong。〃

〃To　make　it　wrong　we　ought　to　see　your　mother　coming　down　that　path。〃

〃Ah；　my　mother　makes　everything　wrong；〃　said　the　young　girl；
attacking　with　a　little　spoon　in　the　shape　of　a　spade　the　apex　of　a
pink　ice。　　And　then　she　returned　to　her　idea　of　a　moment　before：
〃You　must　promise　to　tell　meto　warn　me　in　some　waywhenever　I
strike　a　false　note。　　You　must　give　a　little　cough；　like　thatahem！〃

〃You　will　keep　me　very　busy；　and　people　will　think　I　am　in　a
consumption。〃

〃Voyons；〃　she　continued；　〃why　have　you　never　talked　to　me　more？　　Is
that　a　false　note？　　Why　haven't　you　been　'attentive？'　　That's　what
American　girls　call　it；　that's　what　Miss　Ruck　calls　it。〃

I　assured　myself　that　our　companions　were　out　of　earshot；　and　that
Miss　Ruck　was　much　occupied　with　a　large　vanilla　cream。　　〃Because　you
are　always　entwined　with　that　young　lady。　　There　is　no　getting　near
you。〃

Aurora　looked　at　her　friend　while　the　latter　devoted　herself　to　her
ice。　　〃You　wonder　why　I　like　her　so　much；　I　suppose。　　So　does　mamma；
elle　s'y　perd。　　I　don't　like　her　particularly；　je　n'en　suis　pas
folle。　　But　she　gives　me　information；　she　tells　me　about　America。
Mamma　has　always　tried　to　prevent　my　knowin