the pension beaurepas-第6章

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Aurora；　that　we　could　give　him　our　point　of　view？〃

〃Yes；　mamma；〃　said　Aurora。

〃We　consider　ourselves　very　fortunate　in　our　point　of　view；　don't　we；
dearest？〃　mamma　demanded。

〃Very　fortunate；　indeed；　mamma。〃

〃You　see　we　have　acquired　an　insight　into　European　life；〃　the　elder
lady　pursued。　　〃We　have　our　place　at　many　a　European　fireside。　　We
find　so　much　to　esteemso　much　to　enjoy。　　Do　we　not；　my　daughter？〃

〃So　very　much；　mamma；〃　the　young　girl　went　on；　with　a　sort　of
inscrutable　submissiveness。　　I　wondered　at　it；　it　offered　so　strange
a　contrast　to　the　mocking　freedom　of　her　tone　the　night　before；　but
while　I　wondered　I　was　careful　not　to　let　my　perplexity　take
precedence　of　my　good　manners。

〃I　don't　know　what　you　ladies　may　have　found　at　European　firesides；〃
I　said；　〃but　there　can　be　very　little　doubt　what　you　have　left
there。〃

Mrs。　Church　got　up；　to　acknowledge　my　compliment。　　〃We　have　spent
some　charming　hours。　　And　that　reminds　me　that　we　have　just　now　such
an　occasion　in　prospect。　　We　are　to　call　upon　some　Genevese　friends
the　family　of　the　Pasteur　Galopin。　　They　are　to　go　with　us　to　the　old
library　at　the　Hotel　de　Ville；　where　there　are　some　very　interesting
documents　of　the　period　of　the　Reformation；　we　are　promised　a　glimpse
of　some　manuscripts　of　poor　Servetus；　the　antagonist　and　victim；　you
know；　of　Calvin。　　Here；　of　course；　one　can　only　speak　of　Calvin　under
one's　breath；　but　some　day；　when　we　are　more　private；〃　and　Mrs。
Church　looked　round　the　room；　〃I　will　give　you　my　view　of　him。　　I
think　it　has　a　touch　of　originality。　　Aurora　is　familiar　with；　are
you　not；　my　daughter；　familiar　with　my　view　of　Calvin？〃

〃Yes；　mamma；〃　said　Aurora；　with　docility；　while　the　two　ladies　went
to　prepare　for　their　visit　to　the　Pasteur　Galopin。



CHAPTER　VI。



〃She　has　demanded　a　new　lamp；　I　told　you　she　would！〃　　This
communication　was　made　me　by　Madame　Beaurepas　a　couple　of　days　later。
〃And　she　has　asked　for　a　new　tapis　de　lit；　and　she　has　requested　me
to　provide　Celestine　with　a　pair　of　light　shoes。　　I　told　her　that；　as
a　general　thing；　cooks　are　not　shod　with　satin。　　That　poor
Celestine！〃

〃Mrs。　Church　may　be　exacting；〃　I　said；　〃but　she　is　a　clever　little
woman。〃

〃A　lady　who　pays　but　five　francs　and　a　half　shouldn't　be　too　clever。
C'est　deplace。　　I　don't　like　the　type。〃

〃What　type　do　you　call　Mrs。　Church's？〃

〃Mon　Dieu；〃　said　Madame　Beaurepas；　〃c'est　une　de　ces　mamans　comme
vous　en　avez；　qui　promenent　leur　fille。〃

〃She　is　trying　to　marry　her　daughter？　　I　don't　think　she's　of　that
sort。〃

But　Madame　Beaurepas　shrewdly　held　to　her　idea。　　〃She　is　trying　it　in
her　own　way；　she　does　it　very　quietly。　　She　doesn't　want　an　American；
she　wants　a　foreigner。　　And　she　wants　a　mari　serieux。　　But　she　is
travelling　over　Europe　in　search　of　one。　　She　would　like　a
magistrate。〃

〃A　magistrate？〃

〃A　gros　bonnet　of　some　kind；　a　professor　or　a　deputy。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　for　the　poor　girl；〃　I　said；　laughing。

〃You　needn't　pity　her　too　much；　she's　a　sly　thing。〃

〃Ah；　for　that；　no！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃She's　a　charming　girl。〃

Madame　Beaurepas　gave　an　elderly　grin。　　〃She　has　hooked　you；　eh？　　But
the　mother　won't　have　you。〃

I　developed　my　idea；　without　heeding　this　insinuation。　　〃She's　a
charming　girl；　but　she　is　a　little　odd。　　It's　a　necessity　of　her
position。　　She　is　less　submissive　to　her　mother　than　she　has　to
pretend　to　be。　　That's　in　self…defence；　it's　to　make　her　life
possible。〃

〃She　wishes　to　get　away　from　her　mother；〃　continued　Madame　Beaurepas。
〃She　wishes　to　courir　les　champs。〃

〃She　wishes　to　go　to　America；　her　native　country。〃

〃Precisely。　　And　she　will　certainly　go。〃

〃I　hope　so！〃　I　rejoined。

〃Some　fine　morningor　eveningshe　will　go　off　with　a　young　man；
probably　with　a　young　American。〃

〃Allons　donc！〃　said　I；　with　disgust。

〃That　will　be　quite　America　enough；〃　pursued　my　cynical　hostess。　　〃I
have　kept　a　boarding…house　for　forty　years。　　I　have　seen　that　type。〃

〃Have　such　things　as　that　happened　chez　vous？〃　I　asked。

〃Everything　has　happened　chez　moi。　　But　nothing　has　happened　more
than　once。　　Therefore　this　won't　happen　here。　　It　will　be　at　the　next
place　they　go　to；　or　the　next。　　Besides；　here　there　is　no　young
American　pour　la　partienone　except　you；　Monsieur。　　You　are
susceptible；　but　you　are　too　reasonable。〃

〃It's　lucky　for　you　I　am　reasonable；〃　I　answered。　　〃It's　thanks　to
that　fact　that　you　escape　a　scolding！〃

One　morning；　about　this　time；　instead　of　coming　back　to　breakfast　at
the　pension；　after　my　lectures　at　the　Academy；　I　went　to　partake　of
this　meal　with　a　fellow…student；　at　an　ancient　eating…house　in　the
collegiate　quarter。　　On　separating　from　my　friend；　I　took　my　way
along　that　charming　public　walk　known　in　Geneva　as　the　Treille；　a
shady　terrace；　of　immense　elevation；　overhanging　a　portion　of　the
lower　town。　　There　are　spreading　trees　and　well…worn　benches；　and
over　the　tiles　and　chimneys　of　the　ville　basse　there　is　a　view　of　the
snow…crested　Alps。　　On　the　other　side；　as　you　turn　your　back　to　the
view；　the　promenade　is　overlooked　by　a　row　of　tall；　sober…faced
hotels；　the　dwellings　of　the　local　aristocracy。　　I　was　very　fond　of
the　place；　and　often　resorted　to　it　to　stimulate　my　sense　of　the
picturesque。　　Presently；　as　I　lingered　there　on　this　occasion；　I
became　aware　that　a　gentleman　was　seated　not　far　from　where　I　stood；
with　his　back　to　the　Alpine　chain；　which　this　morning　was　brilliant
and　distinct；　and　a　newspaper；　unfolded；　in　his　lap。　　He　was　not
reading；　however；　he　was　staring　before　him　in　gloomy　contemplation。
I　don't　know　whether　I　recognised　first　the　newspaper　or　its
proprietor；　one；　in　either　case；　would　have　helped　me　to　identify　the
other。　　One　was　the　New　York　Herald；　the　other；　of　course；　was　Mr。
Ruck。　　As　I　drew　nearer；　he　transferred　his　eyes　from　the　stony；
high…featured　masks　of　the　gray　old　houses　on　the　other　side　of　the
terrace；　and　I　knew　by　the　expression　of　his　face　just　how　he　had
been　feeling　about　these　distinguished　abodes。　　He　had　made　up　his
mind　that　their　proprietors　were　a　dusky；　narrow…minded；　unsociable
company；　plunging　their　roots　into　a　superfluous　past。　　I
endeavoured；　therefore；　as　I　sat　down　beside　him；　to　suggest
something　more　impersonal。

〃That's　a　beautiful　view　of　the　Alps；〃　I　observed。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Ruck；　without　moving；　〃I've　examined　it。　　Fine　thing；
in　its　wayfine　thing。　　Beauties　of　naturethat　sort　of　thing。　　We
came　up　on　purpose　to　look　at　it。〃

〃Your　ladies；　then；　have　been　with　you？〃

〃Yes；　they　are　just　walking　round。　　They're　awfully　restless。　　They
keep　saying　I'm　restless；　but　I'm　as　quiet　as　a　sleeping　child　to
them。　　It　takes；〃　he　added　in　a　moment；　drily；　〃the　form　of
shopping。〃

〃Are　they　shopping　now？〃

〃Well；　if　they　ain't；　they're　trying　to。　　They　told　me　to　sit　here　a
while；　and　they'd　just　walk　round。　　I　generally　know　what　that　means。
But　that's　the　principal　interest　for　ladies；〃　he　added；　retracting
his　irony。　　〃We　thought　we'd　come　up　here　and　see　the　cathedral；　Mrs。
Church　seemed　to　think　it　a　dead　loss　that　we　shouldn't　see　the
cathedral；　especially　as　we　hadn't　seen　many　yet。　　And　I　had　to　come
up　to　the　banker's　any　way。　　Well；　we　certainly　saw　the　cathedral。　　I
don't　know　as　we　are　any　the　better　for　it；　and　I　don't　know　as　I
should　know　it　again。　　But　we　saw　it；　any　way。　　I　don't　know　as　I
should　want　to　go　there　regularly；　but　I　suppose　it　will　give　us；　in
conversation；　a　kind　of　hold　on　Mrs。　Church；　eh？　　I　guess　we　want
something　of　that　kind。　　Well；〃　Mr。　Ruck　continued；　〃I　stepped　in　at
the　banker's　to　see　if　there　wasn't　something；　and　they　handed　me　out
a　Herald。〃

〃I　hope　the　Herald　is　full　of　good　news；〃　I　said。

〃Can't　say　it　is。　　D…d　bad　news。〃

〃Political；〃　I　inquired；　〃or　commercial？〃

〃Oh；　hang　politics！　　It's　business；　sir。　　There　ain't　any　business。
It's　all　gone　to；〃and　Mr。　Ruck　became　profane。　　〃Nine　failures　in
one　day。　　What　do　you　say…to　that？〃

〃I　hope　they　haven't　injured　you；〃　I　said。

〃Well；　they　haven't　helped　me　much。　　So　many　houses　on　fire；　that's
all。　　If　they　happen　to　take　place　in　your　own　street；　they　don't
increase　the　value　of　your　property。　　When　mine　catches；　I　suppose
they'll　write　and　tell　meone　of　these　days；　when　they've　got
nothing　else　to　do。　　I　didn't　get　a　blessed　letter　this　morning；　I
suppose　they　think　I'm　having　such　a　good　time　over　here　it's　a　pity
to　disturb　me。　　If　I　could　attend　to　business　for　about　half　an　hour；
I'd　find　out　something。　　But　I　can't；　and　it's　no　use　talking。　　The
state　of　my　health　was　never　so　unsatisfactory　as　it　was　about　five
o'clock　this　morning。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　to　hear　that；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　recommend　you　strongly
not　to　think　of　business。〃

〃I　don't；〃　Mr。　Ruck　replied。　　〃I'm　thinking　of　cathedrals；　I'm
thinking　of　the　beauties　of　nature。　　Come；〃　he　went　on；　turning　round
on　the　bench　and　leaning　his　elbow　on　the　parapet；　〃I'll　think　of
those　mountains　over　there；　they　ARE　pretty；　certainly。　　Can't　you
get　over　there？〃

〃Over　where？〃

〃Over　to　those　hills。　　Don't　they　run　a　train　right　up？〃

〃You　can　go　to　Chamouni；〃　I　said。　　〃You　can　go　to　Grindelwald　and
Zermatt　and　fifty　other　places。　　You　can't　go　by　rail；　but　you　can
drive。〃

〃All　right；　we'll　driveand　not　in　a　one…horse　concern；　either。
Yes；　Chamouni　is　one　of　the　places　we　put　down。　　I　hope　there　are　a
few　nice　shops　in　Chamouni。〃　　Mr。　Ruck　spoke　with　a　certain　quickened
emphasis；　and　in　a　tone　more　explicitly　humorous　than　he　commonly
employed。　　I　thought　he　was　excited；　and　yet　he　had　not　the
appearance　of　excitement。　　He　looked　like　a　man　who　has　simply　taken；
in　the　face　of　disaster；　a　sudden；　somewhat　imaginative；　resolution
not　to　〃worry。〃　　He　presently　twisted　himself　about　on　his　bench
again　and　began　to　watch　for　his　companions。　　〃Well；　they　ARE　walking
round；〃　he　resumed；　〃I　guess　they've　hit　on　something；　somewhere。
And　they've　got　a　carriage　waiting　outside　of　that　archway　too。　　They
seem　to　do　a　big　business　in　archways　here；　don't　they。　　They　like　to
have　a　carriage　to　carry　home　the　thingsthose　ladies　of　mine。　　Then
they're　sure　they've　got　them。〃　　The　ladies；　after　this；　to　do　them
justice；　were　not　very　long　in　appearing。　　They　came　toward　us；　from
under　the　archway　to　which　Mr。　Ruck　had　somewhat　invidiously　alluded；
slowly　and　with　a　rather　exhausted　step　and　expression。　　My　companion
looked　at　them　a　moment；　as　they　advanced。　　〃They're　tired；〃　he　said
softly。　　〃When　they're　tired；　like　that；　it's　very　expensive。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck；　〃I'm　glad　you've　had　some　company。〃　　Her
husband　looked　at　her；　in　silence；　through　narrowed　eyelids；　and　I
suspected　that　this　gracious　observation　on　the　lady's　part　was
prompted　by　a　restless　conscience。

Miss　Sophy　glanced　at　me　with　her　little　straightforward　air　of
defiance。　　〃It　would　have　been　more　proper　if　WE　had　had　the　company。
Why　didn't　you　come　after　us；　instead　of　sitting　there？〃　she　asked　of
Mr。　Ruck's　companion。

〃I　was　told　by　your　father；〃　I　explained；　〃that　you　were　engaged　in
sacred　rites。〃　　Miss　Ruck　was　not　gracious；　though　I　doubt　whether　it
was　because　her　conscience　was　better　than　her　mother's。

〃We