the magic skin-第48章

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frowning　ravines；　great　blocks　of　lava　hung　suspended　from　them；　while

the　action　of　rain　slowly　prepared　their　impending　fall；　a　few　stunted

trees　tormented　by　the　wind；　often　crowned　their　summits；　and　here　and

there　in　some　sheltered　angle　of　their　ramparts　a　clump　of　chestnut…

trees　grew　tall　as　cedars；　or　some　cavern　in　the　yellowish　rocks

showed　the　dark　entrance　into　its　depths；　set　about　by　flowers　and

brambles；　decked　by　a　little　strip　of　green　turf。



At　the　bottom　of　this　cup；　which　perhaps　had　been　the　crater　of　an

old…world　volcano；　lay　a　pool　of　water　as　pure　and　bright　as　a

diamond。　Granite　boulders　lay　around　the　deep　basin；　and　willows；

mountain…ash　trees；　yellow…flag　lilies；　and　numberless　aromatic　plants

bloomed　about　it；　in　a　realm　of　meadow　as　fresh　as　an　English　bowling…

green。　The　fine　soft　grass　was　watered　by　the　streams　that　trickled

through　the　fissures　in　the　cliffs；　the　soil　was　continually　enriched

by　the　deposits　of　loam　which　storms　washed　down　from　the　heights

above。　The　pool　might　be　some　three　acres　in　extent；　its　shape　was

irregular；　and　the　edges　were　scalloped　like　the　hem　of　a　dress；　the

meadow　might　be　an　acre　or　two　acres　in　extent。　The　cliffs　and　the

water　approached　and　receded　from　each　other；　here　and　there；　there

was　scarcely　width　enough　for　the　cows　to　pass　between　them。



After　a　certain　height　the　plant　life　ceased。　Aloft　in　air　the　granite

took　upon　itself　the　most　fantastic　shapes；　and　assumed　those　misty

tints　that　give　to　high　mountains　a　dim　resemblance　to　clouds　in　the

sky。　The　bare；　bleak　cliffs；　with　the　fearful　rents　in　their　sides；

pictures　of　wild　and　barren　desolation；　contrasted　strongly　with　the

pretty　view　of　the　valley；　and　so　strange　were　the　shapes　they

assumed；　that　one　of　the　cliffs　had　been　called　〃The　Capuchin；〃

because　it　was　so　like　a　monk。　Sometimes　these　sharp…pointed　peaks；

these　mighty　masses　of　rock；　and　airy　caverns　were　lighted　up　one　by

one；　according　to　the　direction　of　the　sun　or　the　caprices　of　the

atmosphere；　they　caught　gleams　of　gold；　dyed　themselves　in　purple；

took　a　tint　of　glowing　rose…color；　or　turned　dull　and　gray。　Upon　the

heights　a　drama　of　color　was　always　to　be　seen；　a　play　of　ever…

shifting　iridescent　hues　like　those　on　a　pigeon's　breast。



Oftentimes　at　sunrise　or　at　sunset　a　ray　of　bright　sunlight　would

penetrate　between　two　sheer　surfaces　of　lava；　that　might　have　been

split　apart　by　a　hatchet；　to　the　very　depths　of　that　pleasant　little

garden；　where　it　would　play　in　the　waters　of　the　pool；　like　a　beam　of

golden　light　which　gleams　through　the　chinks　of　a　shutter　into　a　room

in　Spain；　that　has　been　carefully　darkened　for　a　siesta。　When　the　sun

rose　above　the　old　crater　that　some　antediluvian　revolution　had　filled

with　water；　its　rocky　sides　took　warmer　tones；　the　extinct　volcano

glowed　again；　and　its　sudden　heat　quickened　the　sprouting　seeds　and

vegetation；　gave　color　to　the　flowers；　and　ripened　the　fruits　of　this

forgotten　corner　of　the　earth。



As　Raphael　reached　it；　he　noticed　several　cows　grazing　in　the　pasture…

land；　and　when　he　had　taken　a　few　steps　towards　the　water；　he　saw　a

little　house　built　of　granite　and　roofed　with　shingle　in　the　spot

where　the　meadowland　was　at　its　widest。　The　roof　of　this　little

cottage　harmonized　with　everything　about　it；　for　it　had　long　been

overgrown　with　ivy；　moss；　and　flowers　of　no　recent　date。　A　thin　smoke；

that　did　not　scare　the　birds　away；　went　up　from　the　dilapidated

chimney。　There　was　a　great　bench　at　the　door　between　two　huge　honey…

suckle　bushes；　that　were　pink　with　blossom　and　full　of　scent。　The

walls　could　scarcely　be　seen　for　branches　of　vine　and　sprays　of　rose

and　jessamine　that　interlaced　and　grew　entirely　as　chance　and　their

own　will　bade　them；　for　the　inmates　of　the　cottage　seemed　to　pay　no

attention　to　the　growth　which　adorned　their　house；　and　to　take　no　care

of　it；　leaving　to　it　the　fresh　capricious　charm　of　nature。



Some　clothes　spread　out　on　the　gooseberry　bushes　were　drying　in　the

sun。　A　cat　was　sitting　on　a　machine　for　stripping　hemp；　beneath　it　lay

a　newly　scoured　brass　caldron；　among　a　quantity　of　potato…parings。　On

the　other　side　of　the　house　Raphael　saw　a　sort　of　barricade　of　dead

thorn…bushes；　meant　no　doubt　to　keep　the　poultry　from　scratching　up

the　vegetables　and　pot…herbs。　It　seemed　like　the　end　of　the　earth。　The

dwelling　was　like　some　bird's…nest　ingeniously　set　in　a　cranny　of　the

rocks；　a　clever　and　at　the　same　time　a　careless　bit　of　workmanship。　A

simple　and　kindly　nature　lay　round　about　it；　its　rusticity　was

genuine；　but　there　was　a　charm　like　that　of　poetry　in　it；　for　it　grew

and　throve　at　a　thousand　miles'　distance　from　our　elaborate　and

conventional　poetry。　It　was　like　none　of　our　conceptions；　it　was　a

spontaneous　growth；　a　masterpiece　due　to　chance。



As　Raphael　reached　the　place；　the　sunlight　fell　across　it　from　right

to　left；　bringing　out　all　the　colors　of　its　plants　and　trees；　the

yellowish　or　gray　bases　of　the　crags；　the　different　shades　of　the

green　leaves；　the　masses　of　flowers；　pink；　blue；　or　white；　the

climbing　plants　with　their　bell…like　blossoms；　and　the　shot　velvet　of

the　mosses；　the　purple…tinted　blooms　of　the　heather；everything　was

either　brought　into　relief　or　made　fairer　yet　by　the　enchantment　of

the　light　or　by　the　contrasting　shadows；　and　this　was　the　case　most　of

all　with　the　sheet　of　water；　wherein　the　house；　the　trees；　the　granite

peaks；　and　the　sky　were　all　faithfully　reflected。　Everything　had　a

radiance　of　its　own　in　this　delightful　picture；　from　the　sparkling

mica…stone　to　the　bleached　tuft　of　grass　hidden　away　in　the　soft

shadows；　the　spotted　cow　with　its　glossy　hide；　the　delicate　water…

plants　that　hung　down　over　the　pool　like　fringes　in　a　nook　where　blue

or　emerald　colored　insects　were　buzzing　about；　the　roots　of　trees　like

a　sand…besprinkled　shock　of　hair　above　grotesque　faces　in　the　flinty

rock　surface；all　these　things　made　a　harmony　for　the　eye。



The　odor　of　the　tepid　water；　the　scent　of　the　flowers；　and　the　breath

of　the　caverns　which　filled　the　lonely　place　gave　Raphael　a　sensation

that　was　almost　enjoyment。　Silence　reigned　in　majesty　over　these

woods；　which　possibly　are　unknown　to　the　tax…collector；　but　the

barking　of　a　couple　of　dogs　broke　the　stillness　all　at　once；　the　cows

turned　their　heads　towards　the　entrance　of　the　valley；　showing　their

moist　noses　to　Raphael；　stared　stupidly　at　him；　and　then　fell　to

browsing　again。　A　goat　and　her　kid；　that　seemed　to　hang　on　the　side　of

the　crags　in　some　magical　fashion；　capered　and　leapt　to　a　slab　of

granite　near　to　Raphael；　and　stayed　there　a　moment；　as　if　to　seek　to

know　who　he　was。　The　yapping　of　the　dogs　brought　out　a　plump　child；

who　stood　agape；　and　next　came　a　white…haired　old　man　of　middle

height。　Both　of　these　two　beings　were　in　keeping　with　the

surroundings；　the　air；　the　flowers；　and　the　dwelling。　Health　appeared

to　overflow　in　this　fertile　region；　old　age　and　childhood　thrived

there。　There　seemed　to　be；　about　all　these　types　of　existence；　the

freedom　and　carelessness　of　the　life　of　primitive　times；　a　happiness

of　use　and　wont　that　gave　the　lie　to　our　philosophical　platitudes；　and

wrought　a　cure　of　all　its　swelling　passions　in　the　heart。



The　old　man　belonged　to　the　type　of　model　dear　to　the　masculine　brush

of　Schnetz。　The　countless　wrinkles　upon　his　brown　face　looked　as　if

they　would　be　hard　to　the　touch；　the　straight　nose；　the　prominent

cheek…bones；　streaked　with　red　veins　like　a　vine…leaf　in　autumn；　the

angular　features；　all　were　characteristics　of　strength；　even　where

strength　existed　no　longer。　The　hard　hands；　now　that　they　toiled　no

longer；　had　preserved　their　scanty　white　hair；　his　bearing　was　that　of

an　absolutely　free　man；　it　suggested　the　thought　that；　had　he　been　an

Italian；　he　would　have　perhaps　turned　brigand；　for　the　love　of　the

liberty　so　dear　to　him。　The　child　was　a　regular　mountaineer；　with　the

black　eyes　that　can　face　the　sun　without　flinching；　a　deeply　tanned

complexion；　and　rough　brown　hair。　His　movements　were　like　a　bird's

swift；　decided；　and　unconstrained；　his　clothing　was　ragged；　the　white；

fair　skin　showed　through　the　rents　in　his　garments。　There　they　both

stood　in　silence；　side　by　side；　both　obeying　the　same　impulse；　in　both


faces　were　clear　tokens　of　an　absolutely　identical　and　idle　life。　The

old　man　had　adopted　the　child's　amusements；　and　the　child　had　fallen

in　with　the　old　man's　humor；　there　was　a　sort　of　tacit　agreement

between　two　kinds　of　feebleness；　between　failing　powers　well…nigh

spent　and　powers　just　about　to　unfold　themselves。



Very　soon　a　woman　who　seemed　to　be　about　thirty　years　old　appeared　on

the　threshold　of　the　door；　spinning　as　she　came。　She　was　an

Auvergnate；　a　high…colored；　comfortable…looking；　straightforward　sort

of　person；　with　white　teeth；　her　cap　and　dress；　the　face；　full　figure；

and　general　appearance；　were　of　the　Auvergne　peasant　stamp。　So　was　her

dialect；　she　was　a　thorough　embodiment　of　her　district；　its

hardworking　ways；　its　thrift；　ignorance；　and　heartiness　all　met　in

her。



She　greeted　Raphael；　and　they　began　to　talk。　The　dogs　quieted　down；

the　old　man　went　and　sat　on　a　bench　in　the　sun；　the　child　followed　his

mother　about　wherever　she　went；　listening　without　saying　a　word；　and

staring　at　the　stranger。



〃You　are　not　afraid　to　live　here；　good　woman？〃



〃What　should　we　be　afraid　of；　sir？　When　we　bolt　the　door；　who　ever

could　get　inside？　Oh；　no；　we　aren't　afraid　at　all。　And　besides；〃　she

said；　as　she　brought　the　Marquis　into　the　principal　room　in　the　house；

〃what　should　thieves　come　to　take　from　us　here？〃



She　designated　the　room　as　she　spoke；　the　smoke…blackened　walls；　with

some　brilliant　pictures　in　blue；　red；　and　green；　an　〃End　of　Credit；〃　a

Crucifixion；　and　the　〃Grenadiers　of　the　Imperial　Guard〃　for　their　sole

ornament；　the　furniture　here　and　there；　the　old　wooden　four…post

bedstead；　the　table　with　crooked　legs；　a　few　stools；　the　chest　that

held　the　bread；　the　flitch　that　hung　from　the　ceiling；　a　jar　of　salt；

a　stove；　and　on　the　mantleshelf　a　few　discolored　yellow　plaster

figures。　As　he　went　out　again　Raphael　noticed　a　man　half…way　up　the

crags；　leaning　on　a　hoe；　and　watching　the　house　with　interest。



〃That's　my　man；　sir；〃　said　the　Auvergnate；　unconsciously　smiling　in

peasant　fashion；　〃he　is　at　work　up　there。〃



〃And　that　old　man　is　your　father？〃



〃Asking　your　pardon；　sir；　he　is　my　man's　grandfather。　Such　as　you　see

him；　he　is　a　hundred　and　two；　and　yet　quite　lately　he　walked　over　to

Clermont　with　our　little　chap！　Oh；　he　has　been　a　strong　man　in　his

time；　but　he　does　nothing　now　but　sleep　and　eat　and　drink。　He　amuses

himself　with　the　little　fellow。　Sometimes　the　child　trails　him　up　the

hillsides；　and　he　will　just　go　up　there　along　with　him。〃



Valentin　made　up　his　mind　immediately。　He　would　live　between　this

c