the lily of the valley(幽谷百合)-第27章

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was　the　great　event　I　was　to　learn；　after　kissing　the　children？for　I
will　not　dwell　on　the　alarm　I　felt　at　seeing　the　countess　pale　and
shrunken；　I　knew　the　injury　I　might　do　by　showing　it　and　was　careful
to　express　only　joy　at　seeing　her。　But　the　great　event　for　us　was　told
in　the　words；　〃You　shall　have　ice　to…day！〃　She　had　often　fretted　the
year　before　that　the　water　was　not　cold　enough　for　me；　who；　never
drinking　anything　else；　liked　it　iced。　God　knows　how　many　entreaties
it　had　cost　her　to　get　an　ice…house　built。　You　know　better　than　any
one　that　a　word；　a　look；　an　inflection　of　the　voice；　a　trifling
attention；　suffices　for　love；　love's　noblest　privilege　is　to　prove
itself　by　love。　Well；　her　words；　her　look；　her　pleasure；　showed　me　her
feelings；　as　I　had　formerly　shown　her　mine　by　that　first　game　of
backgammon。　These　ingenuous　proofs　of　her　affection　were　many；　on　the
seventh　day　after　my　arrival　she　recovered　her　freshness；　she　sparkled
with　health　and　youth　and　happiness；　my　lily　expanded　in　beauty　just
as　the　treasures　of　my　heart　increased。　Only　in　petty　minds　or　in
common　hearts　can　absence　lessen　love　or　efface　the　features　or
diminish　the　beauty　of　our　dear　one。　To　ardent　imaginations；　to　all
beings　through　whose　veins　enthusiasm　passes　like　a　crimson　tide；　and
in　whom　passion　takes　the　form　of　constancy；　absence　has　the　same
effect　as　the　sufferings　of　the　early　Christians；　which　strengthened
their　faith　and　made　God　visible　to　them。　In　hearts　that　abound　in
love　are　there　not　incessant　longings　for　a　desired　object；　to　which
the　glowing　fire　of　our　dreams　gives　higher　value　and　a　deeper　tint？
Are　we　not　conscious　of　instigations　which　give　to　the　beloved
features　the　beauty　of　the　ideal　by　inspiring　them　with　thought？　The
past；　dwelt　on　in　all　its　details　becomes　magnified；　the　future　teems
with　hope。　When　two　hearts　filled　with　these　electric　clouds　meet　each
other；　their　interview　is　like　the　welcome　storm　which　revives　the
earth　and　stimulates　it　with　the　swift　lightnings　of　the　thunderbolt。
How　many　tender　pleasures　came　to　me　when　I　found　these　thoughts　and
these　sensations　reciprocal！　With　what　glad　eyes　I　followed　the
development　of　happiness　in　Henriette！　A　woman　who　renews　her　life
from　that　of　her　beloved　gives；　perhaps；　a　greater　proof　of　feeling
than　she　who　dies　killed　by　a　doubt；　withered　on　her　stock　for　want　of
sap；　I　know　not　which　of　the　two　is　the　more　touching。

The　revival　of　Madame　de　Mortsauf　was　wholly　natural；　like　the　effects
of　the　month　of　May　upon　the　meadows；　or　those　of　the　sun　and　of　the
brook　upon　the　drooping　flowers。　Henriette；　like　our　dear　valley　of
love；　had　had　her　winter；　she　revived　like　the　valley　in　the
springtime。　Before　dinner　we　went　down　to　the　beloved　terrace。　There；
with　one　hand　stroking　the　head　of　her　son；　who　walked　feebly　beside
her；　silent；　as　though　he　were　breeding　an　illness；　she　told　me　of　her
nights　beside　his　pillow。

For　three　months；　she　said；　she　had　lived　wholly　within　herself；
inhabiting；　as　it　were；　a　dark　palace；　afraid　to　enter　sumptuous　rooms
where　the　light　shone；　where　festivals　were　given；　to　her　denied；　at
the　door　of　which　she　stood；　one　glance　turned　upon　her　child；　another
to　a　dim　and　distant　figure；　one　ear　listening　for　moans；　another　for
a　voice。　She　told　me　poems；　born　of　solitude；　such　as　no　poet　ever
sang；　but　all　ingenuously；　without　one　vestige　of　love；　one　trace　of
voluptuous　thought；　one　echo　of　a　poesy　orientally　soothing　as　the
rose　of　Frangistan。　When　the　count　joined　us　she　continued　in　the　same
tone；　like　a　woman　secure　within　herself；　able　to　look　proudly　at　her
husband　and　kiss　the　forehead　of　her　son　without　a　blush。　She　had
prayed　much；　she　had　clasped　her　hands　for　nights　together　over　her
child；　refusing　to　let　him　die。

〃I　went；〃　she　said；　〃to　the　gate　of　the　sanctuary　and　asked　his　life
of　God。〃

She　had　had　visions；　and　she　told　them　to　me；　but　when　she　said；　in
that　angelic　voice　of　hers；　these　exquisite　words；　〃While　I　slept　my
heart　watched；〃　the　count　harshly　interrupted　her。

〃That　is　to　say；　you　were　half　crazy；〃　he　cried。

She　was　silent；　as　deeply　hurt　as　though　it　were　a　first　wound；
forgetting　that　for　thirteen　years　this　man　had　lost　no　chance　to
shoot　his　arrows　into　her　heart。　Like　a　soaring　bird　struck　on　the
wing　by　vulgar　shot；　she　sank　into　a　dull　depression；　then　she　roused
herself。

〃How　is　it；　monsieur；〃　she　said；　〃that　no　word　of　mine　ever　finds
favor　in　your　sight？　Have　you　no　indulgence　for　my　weakness；no
comprehension　of　me　as　a　woman？〃

She　stopped　short。　Already　she　regretted　the　murmur；　and　measured　the
future　by　the　past；　how　could　she　expect　comprehension？　Had　she　not
drawn　upon　herself　some　virulent　attack？　The　blue　veins　of　her　temples
throbbed；　she　shed　no　tears；　but　the　color　of　her　eyes　faded。　Then　she
looked　down；　that　she　might　not　see　her　pain　reflected　on　my　face；　her
feelings　guessed；　her　soul　wooed　by　my　soul；　above　all；　not　see　the
sympathy　of　young　love；　ready　like　a　faithful　dog　to　spring　at　the
throat　of　whoever　threatened　his　mistress；　without　regard　to　the
assailant's　strength　or　quality。　At　such　cruel　moments　the　count's　air
of　superiority　was　supreme。　He　thought　he　had　triumphed　over　his　wife；
and　he　pursued　her　with　a　hail　of　phrases　which　repeated　the　one　idea；
and　were　like　the　blows　of　an　axe　which　fell　with　unvarying　sound。

〃Always　the　same？〃　I　said；　when　the　count　left　us　to　follow　the
huntsman　who　came　to　speak　to　him。

〃Always；〃　answered　Jacques。

〃Always　excellent；　my　son；〃　she　said；　endeavoring　to　withdraw　Monsieur
de　Mortsauf　from　the　judgment　of　his　children。　〃You　see　only　the
present；　you　know　nothing　of　the　past；　therefore　you　cannot　criticise
your　father　without　doing　him　injustice。　But　even　if　you　had　the　pain
of　seeing　that　your　father　was　to　blame；　family　honor　requires　you　to
bury　such　secrets　in　silence。〃

〃How　have　the　changes　at　the　Cassine　and　the　Rhetoriere　answered？〃　I
asked；　to　divert　her　mind　from　bitter　thoughts。

〃Beyond　my　expectations；〃　she　replied。　〃As　soon　as　the　buildings　were
finished　we　found　two　excellent　farmers　ready　to　hire　them；　one　at
four　thousand　five　hundred　francs；　taxes　paid；　the　other　at　five
thousand；　both　leases　for　fifteen　years。　We　have　already　planted　three
thousand　young　trees　on　the　new　farms。　Manette's　cousin　is　delighted
to　get　the　Rabelaye；　Martineau　has　taken　the　Baude。　All　OUR　efforts
have　been　crowned　with　success。　Clochegourde；　without　the　reserved
land　which　we　call　the　home…farm；　and　without　the　timber　and
vineyards；　brings　in　nineteen　thousand　francs　a　year；　and　the
plantations　are　becoming　valuable。　I　am　battling　to　let　the　home…farm
to　Martineau；　the　keeper；　whose　eldest　son　can　now　take　his　place。　He
offers　three　thousand　francs　if　Monsieur　de　Mortsauf　will　build　him　a
farm…house　at　the　Commanderie。　We　might　then　clear　the　approach　to
Clochegourde；　finish　the　proposed　avenue　to　the　main　road；　and　have
only　the　woodland　and　the　vineyards　to　take　care　of　ourselves。　If　the
king　returns；　OUR　pension　will　be　restored；　WE　shall　consent　after
clashing　a　little　with　OUR　wife's　common…sense。　Jacques'　fortune　will
then　be　permanently　secured。　That　result　obtained；　I　shall　leave
monsieur　to　lay　by　as　much　as　he　likes　for　Madeleine；　though　the　king
will　of　course　dower　her；　according　to　custom。　My　conscience　is　easy；
I　have　all　but　accomplished　my　task。　And　you？〃　she　said。

I　explained　to　her　the　mission　on　which　the　king　had　sent　me；　and
showed　her　how　her　wise　counsel　had　borne　fruit。　Was　she　endowed　with
second　sight　thus　to　foretell　events？

〃Did　I　not　write　it　to　you？〃　she　answered。　〃For　you　and　for　my
children　alone　I　possess　a　remarkable　faculty；　of　which　I　have　spoken
only　to　my　confessor；　Monsieur　de　la　Berge；　he　explains　it　by　divine
intervention。　Often；　after　deep　meditation　induced　by　fears　about　the
health　of　my　children；　my　eyes　close　to　the　things　of　earth　and　see
into　another　region；　if　Jacques　and　Madeleine　there　appear　to　me　as
two　luminous　figures　they　are　sure　to　have　good　health　for　a　certain
period　of　time；　if　wrapped　in　mist　they　are　equally　sure　to　fall　ill
soon　after。　As　for　you；　I　not　only　see　you　brilliantly　illuminated；
but　I　hear　a　voice　which　explains　to　me　without　words；　by　some　mental
communication；　what　you　ought　to　do。　Does　any　law　forbid　me　to　use
this　wonderful　gift　for　my　children　and　for　you？〃　she　asked；　falling
into　a　reverie。　Then；　after　a　pause；　she　added；　〃Perhaps　God　wills　to
take　the　place　of　their　father。〃

〃Let　me　believe　that　my　obedience　is　due　to　none　but　you；〃　I　cried。

She　gave　me　one　of　her　exquisitely　gracious　smiles；　which　so　exalted
my　heart　that　I　should　not　have　felt　a　death…blow　if　given　at　that
moment。

〃As　soon　as　the　king　returns　to　Paris；　go　there；　leave　Clochegourde；〃
she　said。　〃It　may　be　degrading　to　beg　for　places　and　favors；　but　it
would　be　ridiculous　to　be　out　of　the　way　of　receiving　them。　Great
changes　will　soon　take　place。　The　king　needs　capable　and　trustworthy
men；　don't　fail　him。　It　is　well　for　you　to　enter　young　into　the
affairs　of　the　nation　and　learn　your　way；　for　statesmen；　like　actors；
have　a　routine　business　to　acquire；　which　genius　does　not　reveal；　it
must　be　learnt。　My　father　heard　the　Duc　de　Choiseul　say　this。　Think　of
me；〃　she　said；　after　a　pause；　〃let　me　enjoy　the　pleasures　of
superiority　in　a　soul　that　is　all　my　own；　for　are　you　not　my　son？〃

〃Your　son？〃　I　said；　sullenly。

〃Yes；　my　son！〃　she　cried；　mocking　me；　〃is　not　that　a　good　place　in　my
heart？〃

The　bell　rang　for　dinner；　she　took　my　arm　and　leaned　contentedly　upon
it。

〃You　have　grown；〃　she　said；　as　we　went　up　the　steps。　When　we　reached
the　portico　she　shook　my　arm　a　little；　as　if　my　looks　were
importunate；　for　though　her　eyes　were　lowered　she　knew　that　I　saw　only
her。　Then　she　said；　with　a　charming　air　of　pretended　impatience；　full
of　grace　and　coquetry；　〃Come；　why　don't　you　look　at　our　dear　valley？〃

She　turned；　held　her　white　silk　sun…shade　over　our　heads　and　drew
Jacques　closely　to　her　side。　The　motion　of　her　head　as　she　looked
towards　the　Indre；　the　punt；　the　meadows；　showed　me　that　in　my　absence
she　had　come　to　many　an　understanding　with　those　misty　horizons　and
their　vaporous　outline。　Nature　was　a　mantle　which　sheltered　her
thoughts。　She　now　knew　what　the　nightingale　was　sighing　the　livelong
night；　what　the　songster　of　the　sedges　hymned　with　his　plaintive　note。

At　eight　o'clock　that　evening　I　was　witness　of　a　scene　which　touched
me　deeply；　and　which　I　had　never　yet　witnessed；　for　in　my　former
visits　I　had　played　backgammon　with　the　count　while　his　wife　took　the
children　into　the　dining…room　before　their　bedtime。　The　bell　rang
twice；　and　all　the　servants　of　the　household　entered　the　room。

〃You　are　now　our　guest　and　must　submit　to　convent　rule；〃　said　the
countess；　leading　me　by　the　hand　with　that　air　of　innocent　gaiety
which　distinguishes　women　who　are　naturally　pious。

The　count　followed。　Masters；　children；　and　servants　knelt　down；　all
taking　their　regular　places。　It　was　Madeleine's　turn　to　read　the
prayers。　The　dear　child　said　them　in　her　childish　voice；　the　ingenuous
tones　of　which　rose　c