the brotherhood of consolation-第31章

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twelve　days　have　entirely　disappeared。　You　can　fancy　how　grateful　I　am
to　you。〃

〃And　I；　too；〃　said　the　invalid　in　her　caressing　tones；　drooping　her
head　with　a　motion　full　of　coquetry。　〃Monsieur　is　to　me　a　deputy　from
the　world。　Since　I　was　twenty　years　old；　monsieur；　I　have　not　seen　a
salon；　or　a　party；　or　a　ball。　And　I　must　tell　you　that　I　love　dancing；
and　adore　the　theatre；　especially　the　opera。　I　imagine　everything　by
thought！　I　read　a　great　deal；　and　then　my　father；　who　goes　into
society；　tells　me　about　social　events。〃

Godefroid　made　an　involuntary　movement　as　if　to　kneel　at　the　old　man's
feet。

〃Yes；　when　he　goes　to　the　opera；　and　he　often　goes；　he　describes　to　me
the　singing　and　tells　me　about　the　dresses　of　the　ladies。　Oh！　I　would
I　were　cured　for　the　sake　of　my　father；　who　lives　solely　for　me　as　I
live　by　him　and　for　him；　and　then　for　my　son；　to　whom　I　would　fain　be
a　real　mother。　Ah！　monsieur；　what　blessed　beings　my　old　father　and　my
good　son　are！　I　should　also　like　to　recover　so　as　to　hear　Lablache；
Rubini；　Tamburini；　Grisi；　and　'I　Puritani。'　But〃

〃Come；　come；　my　child；　be　calm！　If　we　talk　music　we　are　lost！〃　said
the　old　man；　smiling。

That　smile；　which　rejuvenated　his　face；　was　evidently　a　perpetual
deception　to　the　sick　woman。

〃Yes；　yes；　I'll　be　good；〃　said　Vanda；　with　a　petulant　little　air；　〃but
when　will　you　give　me　an　accordion？〃

The　portable　instrument　then　called　by　that　name　had　just　been
invented。　It　could；　if　desired；　be　placed　at　the　edge　of　a　bedstead；
and　only　needed　the　pressure　of　a　foot　to　give　out　the　sounds　of　an
organ。　This　instrument；　in　its　highest　development；　was　equal　to　a
piano；　but　the　cost　of　it　was　three　hundred　francs。　Vanda；　who　read
the　newspapers　and　reviews；　knew　of　the　existence　of　the　instrument；
and　had　wished　for　one　for　the　last　two　months。

〃Yes；　madame；　you　shall　have　one；〃　said　Godefroid；　after　exchanging　a
look　with　the　old　man。　〃A　friend　of　mine　who　is　just　starting　for
Algiers　has　a　fine　instrument　and　I　will　borrow　it　of　him。　Before
buying；　you　had　better　try　one。　It　is　possible　that　the　powerful；
vibrating　tones　may　be　too　much　for　you。〃

〃Can　I　have　it　to…morrow？〃　she　said；　with　the　wilfulness　of　a　creole。

〃To…morrow？〃　said　Monsieur　Bernard；　〃that　is　soon；　besides；　to…morrow
is　Sunday。〃

〃Ah〃　she　exclaimed；　looking　at　Godefroid；　who　fancied　he　could　see　a
soul　hovering　in　the　air　as　he　admired　the　ubiquity　of　Vanda's
glances。

Until　then；　Godefroid　had　never　known　the　power　of　voice　and　eyes　when
the　whole　of　life　is　put　into　them。　The　glance　was　no　longer　a　glance；
a　look；　it　was　a　flame；　or　rather；　a　divine　incandescence；　a　radiance；
communicating　life　and　mind；it　was　thought　made　visible。　The　voice；
with　its　thousand　intonations；　took　the　place　of　motions；　gestures；
attitudes。　The　variations　of　the　complexion；　changing　color　like　the
famous　chameleon；　made　the　illusion；　perhaps　we　should　say　the　mirage；
complete。　That　suffering　head　lying　on　the　white　pillow　edged　with
laces　was　a　whole　person　in　itself。

Never　in　his　life　had　Godefroid　seen　so　wonderful　a　sight；　he　could
scarcely　control　his　emotions。　Another　wonder；　for　all　was　wondrous　in
this　scene；　so　full　of　horror　and　yet　of　poesy；　was　that　in　those　who
saw　it　soul　alone　existed。　This　atmosphere；　filled　with　mental
emotions　only；　had　a　celestial　influence。　Those　present　felt　their
bodies　as　little　as　the　sick　woman　felt　hers。　They　were　all　mind。　As
Godefroid　contemplated　that　frail　fragment　of　woman　he　forgot　the
surrounding　elegancies　of　the　room；　and　fancied　himself　beneath　the
open　heavens。　It　was　not　until　half　an　hour　had　passed　that　he　came
back　to　his　sense　of　things　about　him；　he　then　noticed　a　fine　picture；
which　the　invalid　asked　him　to　examine；　saying　it　was　by　Gericault。

〃Gericault；〃　she　told　him；　〃came　from　Rouen；　his　family　were　under
certain　obligations　to　my　father；　who　was　president　of　the　court；　and
he　showed　his　gratitude　by　painting　that　portrait　of　me　when　I　was　a
girl　of　sixteen。〃

〃It　is　a　beautiful　picture；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃and　quite　unknown　to
those　who　are　in　search　of　the　rare　works　of　that　master。〃

〃To　me　it　is　merely　an　object　of　affection；〃　replied　Vanda；　〃I　live　in
my　heart　only；and　it　is　a　beautiful　life；〃　she　added；　casting　a　look
at　her　father　in　which　she　seemed　to　put　her　very　soul。　〃Ah！　monsieur；
if　you　only　knew　what　my　father　really　is！　Who　would　believe　that　the
stern　and　lofty　magistrate　to　whom　the　Emperor　was　under　such
obligations　that　he　gave　him　that　snuff…box；　and　on　whom　Charles　X。
bestowed　as　a　reward　that　Sevres　tea…set　which　you　see　behind　you；　who
would　suppose　that　that　rigid　supporter　of　power　and　law；　that　learned
jurist；　should　have　within　his　heart　of　rock　the　heart　of　a　mother；
too？　Oh！　papa；　papa！　kiss　me；　kiss　me！　come！〃

The　old　man　rose；　leaned　over　the　bed　and　kissed　the　broad　poetic
forehead　of　his　daughter；　whose　passionate　excitements　did　not　always
take　the　turn　of　this　tempest　of　affection。　Then　he　walked　about　the
room；　his　slippers；　embroidered　by　his　daughter；　making　no　noise。

〃What　are　your　occupations？〃　said　Vanda　to　Godefroid；　after　a　pause。

〃Madame；　I　am　employed　by　pious　persons　to　help　the　unfortunate。〃

〃Ah！　what　a　noble　mission；　monsieur！〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　know　the
thought　of　devoting　myself　to　that　very　work　has　often　come　to　me？　but
ah！　what　ideas　do　not　come　to　me？〃　she　added；　with　a　motion　of　her
head。　〃Suffering　is　like　a　torch　which　lights　up　life。　If　I　were　ever
to　recover　health〃

〃You　should　amuse　yourself；　my　child；〃　said　her　father。

〃Oh　yes！〃　she　said；　〃I　have　the　desire；　but　should　I　then　have　the
faculty？　My　son　will　be；　I　hope　a　magistrate；　worthy　of　his　two
grandfathers；　and　he　will　leave　me。　What　should　I　do　then？　If　God
restores　me　to　life　I　will　dedicate　that　life　to　Himoh！　after　giving
you　all　you　need　of　it；〃　she　cried；　looking　tenderly　at　her　father　and
son。　〃There　are　moments；　my　dear　father；　when　the　ideas　of　Monsieur　de
Maistre　work　within　me　powerfully；　and　I　fancy　that　I　am　expiating
something。〃

〃See　what　it　is　to　read　too　much！〃　said　the　old　man；　evidently
troubled。

〃That　brave　Polish　general；　my　great　grandfather；　took　part；　though
very　innocently；　in　the　partition　of　Poland。〃

〃Well；　well！　now　it　is　Poland！〃　said　Monsieur　Bernard。

〃How　can　I　help　it；　papa？　my　sufferings　are　infernal；　they　give　me　a
horror　of　life；　they　disgust　me　with　myself。　Well；　I　ask　you；　have　I
done　anything　to　deserve　them？　Such　diseases　are　not　a　mere
derangement　of　health；　they　are　caused　by　a　perverted　organization
and〃

〃Sing　that　national　air　your　poor　mother　used　to　sing；　Monsieur
Godefroid　wants　to　hear　it；　I　have　told　him　about　your　voice；〃　said
the　old　man；　endeavoring　to　distract　her　mind　from　the　current　of　such
thoughts。

Vanda　began；　in　a　low　and　tender　voice；　to　sing　a　Polish　song　which
held　Godefroid　dumb　with　admiration　and　also　with　sadness。　This
melody；　which　greatly　resembles　the　long　drawn　out　melancholy　airs　of
Brittany；　is　one　of　those　poems　which　vibrate　in　the　heart　long　after
the　ear　has　heard　them。　As　he　listened；　Godefroid　looked　at　Vanda；　but
he　could　not　endure　the　ecstatic　glance　of　that　fragment　of　a　woman；
partially　insane；　and　his　eyes　wandered　to　two　cords　which　hung　one　on
each　side　of　the　canopy　of　the　bed。

〃Ah　ha！〃　laughed　Vanda；　noticing　his　look；　〃do　you　want　to　know　what
those　cords　are　for？〃

〃Vanda！〃　said　her　father；　hastily；　〃calm　yourself；　my　daughter。　See！
here　comes　tea。　That；　monsieur；〃　he　continued；　turning　to　Godefroid；
〃is　rather　a　costly　affair。　My　daughter　cannot　rise；　and　therefore　it
is　difficult　to　change　her　sheets。　Those　cords　are　fastened　to
pulleys；　by　slipping　a　square　of　leather　beneath　her　and　drawing　it　up
by　the　four　corners　with　these　pulleys；　we　are　able　to　make　her　bed
without　fatigue　to　her　or　to　ourselves。〃

〃They　swing　me！〃　cried　Vanda；　gaily。

Happily；　Auguste　now　came　in　with　a　teapot；　which　he　placed　on　a
table；　together　with　the　Sevres　tea…set；　then　he　brought　cakes　and
sandwiches　and　cream。　This　sight　diverted　his　mother's　mind　from　the
nervous　crisis　which　seemed　to　threaten　her。

〃See；　Vanda；　here　is　Nathan's　new　novel。　If　you　wake　in　the　night　you
will　have　something　to　read。〃

〃Oh！　delightful！　'La　Perle　de　Dol；'　it　must　be　a　love…story；Auguste；
I　have　something　to　tell　you！　I'm　to　have　an　accordion！〃

Auguste　looked　up　suddenly　with　a　strange　glance　at　his　grandfather。

〃See　how　he　loves　his　mother！〃　cried　Vanda。　〃Come　and　kiss　me；　my
kitten。　No；　it　is　not　your　grandfather　you　are　to　thank；　but　monsieur；
who　is　good　enough　to　lend　me　one。　I　am　to　have　it　to…morrow。　How　are
they　made；　monsieur？〃

Godefroid；　at　a　sign　from　the　old　man；　explained　an　accordion　at
length；　while　sipping　the　tea　which　Auguste　brought　him　and　which　was
in　truth；　exquisite。

About　half…past　ten　o'clock　he　retired；　weary　of　beholding　the
desperate　struggle　of　the　son　and　father；　admiring　their　heroism；　and
the　daily；　hourly　patience　with　which　they　played　their　double　parts；
each　equally　exhausting。

〃Well；〃　said　Monsieur　Bernard；　who　followed　him　home；　〃you　now　see；
monsieur；　the　life　I　live。　I　am　like　a　thief；　on　the　watch　all　the
time。　A　word；　a　gesture　might　kill　my　daughter；　a　mere　gewgaw　less
than　she　is　accustomed　to　seeing　about　her　would　reveal　all　to　that
mind　that　can　penetrate　everything。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　replied　Godefroid；　〃on　Monday　next　Halpersohn　shall
pronounce　upon　your　daughter。　He　has　returned。　I　myself　doubt　the
possibility　of　any　science　being　able　to　revive　that　body。〃

〃Oh！　I　don't　expect　that；〃　cried　the　father；　〃all　I　ask　is　that　her
life　be　made　supportable。　I　felt　sure；　monsieur；　of　your　sympathy；　and
I　see　that　you　have　indeed　comprehended　everythingAh！　there's　the
attack　coming　on！〃　he　exclaimed；　as　the　sound　of　a　cry　came　through
the　partition；　〃she　went　beyond　her　strength。〃

Pressing　Godefroid's　hand；　the　old　man　hurriedly　returned　to　his　own
rooms。

At　eight　o'clock　the　next　morning　Godefroid　knocked　at　the　door　of　the
celebrated　Polish　doctor。　He　was　shown　by　a　footman　to　the　first　floor
of　a　little　house　Godefroid　had　been　examining　while　the　porter　was
seeking　and　informing　the　footman。

Happily；　Godefroid's　early　arrival　saved　him　the　annoyance　of　being
kept　waiting。　He　was；　he　supposed；　the　first　comer。　From　a　very　plain
and　simple　antechamber　he　passed　into　a　large　study；　where　he　saw　an
old　man　in　a　dressing…gown　smoking　a　long　pipe。　The　dressing…gown；　of
black　bombazine；　shiny　with　use；　dated　from　the　period　of　the　Polish
emigration。

〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　said　the　Jewish　doctor；　〃for　I　see　you　are
not　ill。〃　And　he　fixed　on　his　visitor　a　look　which　had　the
inquisitive；　piercing　expression　of　the　eyes　of　a　Polish　Jew；　eyes
which　seem　to　have　ears　of　their　own。

Halpersohn　was；　to　Godefroid's　great　astonishment；　a　man　of　fifty…six
years　of　age；　with　small　bow…legs；　and　a　broad；　powerful　chest　and
shoulders。　There　was　something　oriental　about　the　man；　and　his　face　in
its　youth　must　have　been　very　handsome。　The　nose　was　Hebraic；　long　and
curved　like　a　Damascus　blade。　The　forehead；　truly　Polish；　broad　and
noble；　but　cre