a woman of thirty-第1部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！





A　Woman　of　Thirty

by　Honore　de　Balzac

Translated　by　Ellen　Marriage





DEDICATION

To　Louis　Boulanger；　Painter。





A　WOMAN　OF　THIRTY



I。

EARLY　MISTAKES

It　was　a　Sunday　morning　in　the　beginning　of　April　1813；　a　morning　which　gave　promise　of　one　of　those　bright　days　when　Parisians；　for　the　first　time　in　the　year；　behold　dry　pavements　underfoot　and　a　cloudless　sky　overhead。　It　was　not　yet　noon　when　a　luxurious　cabriolet；　drawn　by　two　spirited　horses；　turned　out　of　the　Rue　de　Castiglione　into　the　Rue　de　Rivoli；　and　drew　up　behind　a　row　of　carriages　standing　before　the　newly　opened　barrier　half…way　down　the　Terrasse　de　Feuillants。　The　owner　of　the　carriage　looked　anxious　and　out　of　health；　the　thin　hair　on　his　sallow　temples；　turning　gray　already；　gave　a　look　of　premature　age　to　his　face。　He　flung　the　reins　to　a　servant　who　followed　on　horseback；　and　alighted　to　take　in　his　arms　a　young　girl　whose　dainty　beauty　had　already　attracted　the　eyes　of　loungers　on　the　Terrasse。　The　little　lady；　standing　upon　the　carriage　step；　graciously　submitted　to　be　taken　by　the　waist；　putting　an　arm　round　the　neck　of　her　guide；　who　set　her　down　upon　the　pavement　without　so　much　as　ruffling　the　trimming　of　her　green　rep　dress。　No　lover　would　have　been　so　careful。　The　stranger　could　only　be　the　father　of　the　young　girl；　who　took　his　arm　familiarly　without　a　word　of　thanks；　and　hurried　him　into　the　Garden　of　the　Tuileries。

The　old　father　noted　the　wondering　stare　which　some　of　the　young　men　gave　the　couple；　and　the　sad　expression　left　his　face　for　a　moment。　Although　he　had　long　since　reached　the　time　of　life　when　a　man　is　fain　to　be　content　with　such　illusory　delights　as　vanity　bestows；　he　began　to　smile。

〃They　think　you　are　my　wife；〃　he　said　in　the　young　lady's　ear；　and　he　held　himself　erect　and　walked　with　slow　steps；　which　filled　his　daughter　with　despair。

He　seemed　to　take　up　the　coquette's　part　for　her；　perhaps　of　the　two；　he　was　the　more　gratified　by　the　curious　glances　directed　at　those　little　feet；　shod　with　plum…colored　prunella；　at　the　dainty　figure　outlined　by　a　low…cut　bodice；　filled　in　with　an　embroidered　chemisette；　which　only　partially　concealed　the　girlish　throat。　Her　dress　was　lifted　by　her　movements　as　she　walked；　giving　glimpses　higher　than　the　shoes　of　delicately　moulded　outlines　beneath　open…work　silk　stockings。　More　than　one　of　the　idlers　turned　and　passed　the　pair　again；　to　admire　or　to　catch　a　second　glimpse　of　the　young　face；　about　which　the　brown　tresses　played；　there　was　a　glow　in　its　white　and　red；　partly　reflected　from　the　rose…colored　satin　lining　of　her　fashionable　bonnet；　partly　due　to　the　eagerness　and　impatience　which　sparkled　in　every　feature。　A　mischievous　sweetness　lighted　up　the　beautiful；　almond…shaped　dark　eyes；　bathed　in　liquid　brightness；　shaded　by　the　long　lashes　and　curving　arch　of　eyebrow。　Life　and　youth　displayed　their　treasures　in　the　petulant　face　and　in　the　gracious　outlines　of　the　bust　unspoiled　even　by　the　fashion　of　the　day；　which　brought　the　girdle　under　the　breast。

The　young　lady　herself　appeared　to　be　insensible　to　admiration。　Her　eyes　were　fixed　in　a　sort　of　anxiety　on　the　Palace　of　the　Tuileries；　the　goal；　doubtless；　of　her　petulant　promenade。　It　wanted　but　fifteen　minutes　of　noon；　yet　even　at　that　early　hour　several　women　in　gala　dress　were　coming　away　from　the　Tuileries；　not　without　backward　glances　at　the　gates　and　pouting　looks　of　discontent；　as　if　they　regretted　the　lateness　of　the　arrival　which　had　cheated　them　of　a　longed…for　spectacle。　Chance　carried　a　few　words　let　fall　by　one　of　these　disappointed　fair　ones　to　the　ears　of　the　charming　stranger；　and　put　her　in　a　more　than　common　uneasiness。　The　elderly　man　watched　the　signs　of　impatience　and　apprehension　which　flitted　across　his　companion's　pretty　face　with　interest；　rather　than　amusement；　in　his　eyes；　observing　her　with　a　close　and　careful　attention；　which　perhaps　could　only　be　prompted　by　some　after…thought　in　the　depths　of　a　father's　mind。



It　was　the　thirteenth　Sunday　of　the　year　1813。　In　two　days'　time　Napoleon　was　to　set　out　upon　the　disastrous　campaign　in　which　he　was　to　lose　first　Bessieres；　and　then　Duroc；　he　was　to　win　the　memorable　battles　of　Lutzen　and　Bautzen；　to　see　himself　treacherously　deserted　by　Austria；　Saxony；　Bavaria；　and　Bernadotte；　and　to　dispute　the　dreadful　field　of　Leipsic。　The　magnificent　review　commanded　for　that　day　by　the　Emperor　was　to　be　the　last　of　so　many　which　had　long　drawn　forth　the　admiration　of　Paris　and　of　foreign　visitors。　For　the　last　time　the　Old　Guard　would　execute　their　scientific　military　manoeuvres　with　the　pomp　and　precision　which　sometimes　amazed　the　Giant　himself。　Napoleon　was　nearly　ready　for　his　duel　with　Europe。　It　was　a　sad　sentiment　which　brought　a　brilliant　and　curious　throng　to　the　Tuileries。　Each　mind　seemed　to　foresee　the　future；　perhaps　too　in　every　mind　another　thought　was　dimly　present；　how　that　in　the　future；　when　the　heroic　age　of　France　should　have　taken　the　half…fabulous　color　with　which　it　is　tinged　for　us　to…day；　men's　imaginations　would　more　than　once　seek　to　retrace　the　picture　of　the　pageant　which　they　were　assembled　to　behold。

〃Do　let　us　go　more　quickly；　father；　I　can　hear　the　drums；〃　the　young　girl　said；　and　in　a　half…teasing；　half…coaxing　manner　she　urged　her　companion　forward。

〃The　troops　are　marching　into　the　Tuileries；〃　said　he。

〃Or　marching　out　of　iteverybody　is　coming　away；〃　she　answered　in　childish　vexation；　which　drew　a　smile　from　her　father。

〃The　review　only　begins　at　half…past　twelve；〃　he　said；　he　had　fallen　half　behind　his　impetuous　daughter。

It　might　have　been　supposed　that　she　meant　to　hasten　their　progress　by　a　movement　of　her　right　arm；　for　it　swung　like　an　oar　blade　through　the　water。　In　her　impatience　she　had　crushed　her　handkerchief　into　a　ball　in　her　tiny；　well…gloved　fingers。　Now　and　then　the　old　man　smiled；　but　the　smiles　were　succeeded　by　an　anxious　look　which　crossed　his　withered　face　and　saddened　it。　In　his　love　for　the　fair　young　girl　by　his　side；　he　was　as　fain　to　exalt　the　present　moment　as　to　dread　the　future。　〃She　is　happy　to…day；　will　her　happiness　last？〃　he　seemed　to　ask　himself；　for　the　old　are　somewhat　prone　to　foresee　their　own　sorrows　in　the　future　of　the　young。

Father　and　daughter　reached　the　peristyle　under　the　tower　where　the　tricolor　flag　was　still　waving；　but　as　they　passed　under　the　arch　by　which　people　came　and　went　between　the　Gardens　of　the　Tuileries　and　the　Place　du　Carrousel；　the　sentries　on　guard　called　out　sternly：

〃No　admittance　this　way。〃

By　standing　on　tiptoe　the　young　girl　contrived　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　a　crowd　of　well…dressed　women；　thronging　either　side　of　the　old　marble　arcade　along　which　the　Emperor　was　to　pass。

〃We　were　too　late　in　starting；　father；　you　can　see　that　quite　well。〃　A　little　piteous　pout　revealed　the　immense　importance　which　she　attached　to　the　sight　of　this　particular　review。

〃Very　well；　Julielet　us　go　away。　You　dislike　a　crush。〃

〃Do　let　us　stay；　father。　Even　here　I　may　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　Emperor；　he　might　die　during　this　campaign；　and　then　I　should　never　have　seen　him。〃

Her　father　shuddered　at　the　selfi