a woman of thirty-第38部分

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〃Why；　dear　me！　the　veriest　noodle　is　careful　to　hide　a　thing　of　that　kind；　and　do　you　suppose　that　an　ambassador　will　tell　you　about　it？　Really；　Crottat；　I　have　never　known　you　so　utterly　devoid　of　common…　sense。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　dear。〃



V。

TWO　MEETINGS

One　of　Napoleon's　orderly　staff…officers；　who　shall　be　known　in　this　history　only　as　the　General　or　the　Marquis；　had　come　to　spend　the　spring　at　Versailles。　He　made　a　large　fortune　under　the　Restoration；　and　as　his　place　at　Court　would　not　allow　him　to　go　very　far　from　Paris；　he　had　taken　a　country　house　between　the　church　and　the　barrier　of　Montreuil；　on　the　road　that　leads　to　the　Avenue　de　Saint…Cloud。

The　house　had　been　built　originally　as　a　retreat　for　the　short…lived　loves　of　some　/grand　seigneur/。　The　grounds　were　very　large；　the　gardens　on　either　side　extending　from　the　first　houses　of　Montreuil　to　the　thatched　cottages　near　the　barrier；　so　that　the　owner　could　enjoy　all　the　pleasures　of　solitude　with　the　city　almost　at　his　gates。　By　an　odd　piece　of　contradiction；　the　whole　front　of　the　house　itself；　with　the　principal　entrance；　gave　directly　upon　the　street。　Perhaps　in　time　past　it　was　a　tolerably　lonely　road；　and　indeed　this　theory　looks　all　the　more　probable　when　one　comes　to　think　of　it；　for　not　so　very　far　away；　on　this　same　road；　Louis　Quinze　built　a　delicious　summer　villa　for　Mlle。　de　Romans；　and　the　curious　in　such　things　will　discover　that　the　wayside　/casinos/　are　adorned　in　a　style　that　recalls　traditions　of　the　ingenious　taste　displayed　in　debauchery　by　our　ancestors　who；　with　all　the　license　paid　to　their　charge；　sought　to　invest　it　with　secrecy　and　mystery。

One　winter　evening　the　family　were　by　themselves　in　the　lonely　house。　The　servants　had　received　permission　to　go　to　Versailles　to　celebrate　the　wedding　of　one　of　their　number。　It　was　Christmas　time；　and　the　holiday　makers；　presuming　upon　the　double　festival；　did　not　scruple　to　outstay　their　leave　of　absence；　yet；　as　the　General　was　well　known　to　be　a　man　of　his　word；　the　culprits　felt　some　twinges　of　conscience　as　they　danced　on　after　the　hour　of　return。　The　clocks　struck　eleven；　and　still　there　was　no　sign　of　the　servants。

A　deep　silence　prevailed　over　the　country…side；　broken　only　by　the　sound　of　the　northeast　wind　whistling　through　the　black　branches；　wailing　about　the　house；　dying　in　gusts　along　the　corridors。　The　hard　frost　had　purified　the　air；　and　held　the　earth　in　its　grip；　the　roads　gave　back　every　sound　with　the　hard　metallic　ring　which　always　strikes　us　with　a　new　surprise；　the　heavy　footsteps　of　some　belated　reveler；　or　a　cab　returning　to　Paris；　could　be　heard　for　a　long　distance　with　unwonted　distinctness。　Out　in　the　courtyard　a　few　dead　leaves　set　a…　dancing　by　some　eddying　gust　found　a　voice　for　the　night　which　fain　had　been　silent。　It　was；　in　fact；　one　of　those　sharp；　frosty　evenings　that　wring　barren　expressions　of　pity　from　our　selfish　ease　for　wayfarers　and　the　poor；　and　fills　us　with　a　luxurious　sense　of　the　comfort　of　the　fireside。

But　the　family　party　in　the　salon　at　that　hour　gave　not　a　thought　to　absent　servants　nor　houseless　folk；　nor　to　the　gracious　charm　with　which　a　winter　evening　sparkles。　No　one　played　the　philosopher　out　of　season。　Secure　in　the　protection　of　an　old　soldier；　women　and　children　gave　themselves　up　to　the　joys　of　home　life；　so　delicious　when　there　is　no　restraint　upon　feeling；　and　talk　and　play　and　glances　are　bright　with　frankness　and　affection。

The　General　sat；　or　more　properly　speaking；　lay　buried；　in　the　depths　of　a　huge；　high…back　armchair　by　the　hearth。　The　heaped…up　fire　burned　scorching　clear　with　the　excessive　cold　of　the　night。　The　good　father　leaned　his　head　slightly　to　one　side　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　in　the　indolence　of　perfect　serenity　and　a　glow　of　happiness。　The　languid；　half…sleepy　droop　of　his　outstretched　arms　seemed　to　complete　his　expression　of　placid　content。　He　was　watching　his　youngest；　a　boy　of　five　or　thereabouts；　who；　half　clad　as　he　was；　declined　to　allow　his　mother　to　undress　him。　The　little　one　fled　from　the　night…gown　and　cap　with　which　he　was　threatened　now　and　again；　and　stoutly　declined　to　part　with　his　embroidered　collar；　laughing　when　his　mother　called　to　him；　for　he　saw　that　she　too　was　laughing　at　this　declaration　of　infant　independence。　The　next　step　was　to　go　back　to　a　game　of　romps　with　his　sister。　She　was　as　much　a　child　as　he；　but　more　mischievous；　and　she　was　older　by　two　years；　and　could　speak　distinctly　already；　whereas　his　inarticulate　words　and　confused　ideas　were　a　puzzle　even　to　his　parents。　Little　Moina's　playfulness；　somewhat　coquettish　already；　provoked　inextinguishable　laughter；　explosions　of　merriment　which　went　off　like　fireworks　for　no　apparent　cause。　As　they　tumbled　about　before　the　fire；　unconcernedly　displaying　little　plump　bodies　and　delicate　white　contours；　as　the　dark　and　golden　curls　mingled　in　a　collision　of　rosy　cheeks　dimpled　with　childish　glee；　a　father　surely；　a　mother　most　certainly；　must　have　understood　those　little　souls；　and　seen　the　character　and　power　of　passion　already　developed　for　their　eyes。　As　the　cherubs　frolicked　about；　struggling；　rolling；　and　tumbling　without　fear　of　hurt　on　the　soft　carpet；　its　flowers　looked　pale　beside　the　glowing　white　and　red　of　their　cheeks　and　the　brilliant　color　of　their　shining　eyes。

On　the　sofa　by　the　fire；　opposite　the　great　armchair；　the　children's　mother　sat　among　a　heap　of　scattered　garments；　with　a　little　scarlet　shoe　in　her　hand。　She　seemed　to　have　given　herself　up　completely　to　the　enjoyment　of　the　moment；　wavering　discipline　had　relaxed　into　a　sweet　smile　engraved　upon　her　lips。　At　the　age　of　six…and…thirty；　or　thereabouts；　she　was　a　beautiful　woman　still；　by　reason　of　the　rare　perfection　of　the　outlines　of　her　face；　and　at　this　moment　light　and　warmth　and　happiness　filled　it　with　preternatural　brightness。

Again　and　again　her　eyes　wandered　from　her　children；　and　their　tender　gaze　was　turned　upon　her　husband's　grave　face；　and　now　and　again　the　eyes　of　husband　and　wife　met　with　a　silent　exchange　of　happiness　and　thoughts　from　some　inner　depth。

The　General's　face　was　deeply　bronzed；　a　stray　lock　of　gray　hair　scored　shadows　on　his　forehead。　The　reckless　courage　of　the　battlefield　could　be　read　in　the　lines　carved　in　his　hollow　cheeks；　and　gleams　of　rugged　strength　in　the　blue　eyes；　clearly　the　bit　of　red　ribbon　flaunting　at　his　button…hole　had　been　paid　for　by　hardship　and　toil。　An　inexpressible　kindliness　and　frankness　shone　out　of　the　strong；　resolute　face　which　reflected　his　children's　merriment；　the　gray…haired　captain　found　it　not　so　very　hard　to　become　a　child　again。　Is　there　not　always　a　little　love　of　children　in　the　heart　of　a　soldier　who　has　seen　enough　of　the　seamy　side　of　life　to　know　something　of　the　piteous　limitations　of　strength　and　the　privileges　of　weakness？

At　a　round　table　rather　further　away；　in　a　circle　of　bright　lamplight　that　dimmed　the　feebler　illumination　of　the　wax　candles　on　the　chimney…piece；　sat　a　boy　of　thirteen；　rapidly　turning　the　pages　of　a　thick　volume　which　he　was　reading；　undisturbed　by　the　shouts　of　the　children。　There　was　a　boy's　curiosity　in　his　face。　From　his　/l