stories by english authors in france(旅法英国作家的故事)-第7章
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young man had imbibed from nature and the teachings of Reine Allix。
〃Look at home and mind thy word；〃 she had said always to him。 〃It is
labour enough for a man to keep his own life clean and his own hands
honest。 Be not thou at any time as they are who are for ever telling the
good God how He might have made the world on a better plan； while the
rats gnaw at their hay…stacks and the children cry over an empty platter。〃
And he had taken heed to her words； so that in all the country…side
there was not any lad truer； gentler； braver； or more patient at labour than
was Bernadou； and though some thought him mild even to foolishness；
and meek even to stupidity； he was no fool； and he had a certain rough
skill at music； and a rare gift at the culture of plants； and made his little
home bright within the winter…time with melody； and in the summer gay
without as a king's parterre。
At any rate； Reine Allix and he had been happy together for a quarter
of a century under the old gray thatch of the wayside cottage； where it
stood at the foot of the village street； with its great sycamores spread
above it。 Nor were they less happy when in mid…April； in the six and
twentieth year of his age； Bernadou had come in with a bunch of
primroses in his hand； and had bent down to her and saluted her with a
respectful tenderness； and said softly and a little shyly； 〃/Gran'mere/；
would it suit you if I were everto marry？〃
Reine Allix was silent a minute and more； cherishing the primroses
and placing them in a little brown cupful of water。 Then she looked at him
steadily with her clear； dark eyes。 〃Who is it； my child？〃 He was always a
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child to her； this last…born of the numerous brood that had once dwelt with
her under the spreading branches of the sycamores； and had now all
perished off the face of the earth； leaving himself and her alone。
Bernadou's eyes met hers frankly。 〃It is Margot Dal。 Does that please you；
/gran'mere/； or no？〃
〃It pleases me well；〃 she said； simply。 But there was a little quiver
about her firm…set mouth； and her aged head was bent over the primroses。
She had foreseen it； she was glad of it； and yet for the instant it was a pang
to her。
〃I am very thankful；〃 said Bernadou； with a flash of joy on his face。
He was independent of his grandmother； he could make enough to marry
upon by his daily toil； and he had a little store of gold and silver in his
bank in the thatch； put by for a rainy day； but he would have no more
thought of going against her will than he would have thought of lifting his
hand against her。 In the primitive homesteads of the Berceau de Dieu filial
reverence was still accounted the first of virtues； yet the simplest and the
most imperative。
〃I will go see Margot this evening；〃 said Reine Allix； after a little
pause。 〃She is a good girl and a brave； and of pure heart and fair name。
You have chosen well； my grandson。〃
Bernadou stooped his tall； fair； curly head； and she laid her hands on
him and blessed him。
That evening； as the sun set； Reine Allix kept her word； and went to
the young maiden who had allured the eyes and heart of Bernadou。 Margot
was an orphan； she had not a penny to her dower； she had been brought up
on charity； and she dwelt now in the family of the largest landowner of the
place； a miller with numerous offspring； and several head of cattle； and
many stretches of pasture and of orchard。 Margot worked for a hard master；
living indeed as one of the family； but sharply driven all day long at all
manner of housework and field work。 Reine Allix had kept her glance on
her； through some instinctive sense of the way that Bernadou's thoughts
were turning； and she had seen much to praise； nothing to chide； in the
young girl's modest； industrious； cheerful； uncomplaining life。 Margot was
very pretty； too； with the brown oval face and the great black soft eyes and
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the beautiful form of the Southern blood that had run in the veins of her
father； who had been a sailor of Marseilles； while her mother had been a
native of the Provencal country。 Altogether； Reine Allix knew that her
beloved one could not have done better or more wisely； if choose at all he
must。 〃Some people； indeed；〃 she said to herself as she climbed the street
whose sharp…set flints had been trodden by her wooden shoes for ninety
years〃Some people would mourn and scold because there is no store of
linen； no piece of silver plate； no little round sum in money with the poor
child。 But what does it matter？ We have enough for three。 It is wicked
indeed for parents to live so that they leave their daughter portionless； but
it is no fault of the child's。 Let them say what they like； it is a reason the
more that she should want a roof over her head and a husband to care for
her good。〃
So she climbed the steep way and the slanting road round the hill； and
went in by the door of the mill…house； and found Margot busy in washing
some spring lettuces and other green things in a bowl of bright water。
Reine Allix； in the fashion of her country and her breeding； was about to
confer with the master and mistress ere saying a word to the girl； but there
was that in Margot's face and in her timid greeting that lured speech out of
her。 She looked long and keenly into the child's downcast countenance；
then touched her with a tender smile。 〃Petite Margot； the birds told me a
little secret to…day。 Canst guess what it is？ Say？〃
Margot coloured and then grew pale。 True； Bernadou had never really
spoken to her； but still； when one is seventeen； and has danced a few times
with the same person； and has plucked the leaves of a daisy away to learn
one's fortune； spoken words are not very much wanted。
At sight of her the eyes of the old woman moistened and grew dimmer
than age had made them； she smiled still； but the smile had the sweetness
of a blessing in it； and no longer the kindly banter of humour。 〃You love
him； my little one？〃 she said； in a soft； hushed voice。
〃Ah； madame！〃 Margot could not say more。 She covered her face with
her hands； and turned to the wall； and wept with a passion of joy。
Down in the Berceau there were gossips who would have said； with
wise shakes of their heads； 〃Tut； tut！ how easy it is to make believe in a
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little love when one is a serving…maid； and has not a sou； nor a roof； nor a
friend in the world； and a comely youth well…to…do is willing to marry us！〃
But Reine Allix knew better。 She had not lived ninety years in the
world not to be able to discern between true feeling and counterfeit。 She
was touched； and drew the trembling frame of Margot into her arms； and
kissed her twice on the closed； blue…veined lids of her black eyes。 〃Make
him happy； only make him happy；〃 she murmured； 〃for I am very old；
Margot； and he is alone； all alone。〃
And the child crept to her； sobbing for very rapture that she； friendless；
homeless； and penniless； should be thus elected for so fair a fate； and
whispered through her tears； 〃I will。〃
Reine Allix spoke in all form to the miller and his wife； and with as
much earnestness in her demand as though she had been seeking the hand
of rich Yacobe； the tavern…keeper's only daughter。 The people assented；
they had no pretext to oppose； and Reine Allix wrapped her cloak about
her and descended the hill and the street just as the twilight closed in and
the little lights began to glimmer through the lattices and the shutters and
the green mantle of the boughs； while the red fires of the smithy forge
glowed brightly in the gloom； and a white horse waited to be shod； a boy
in a blue blouse seated on its back and switching away with a branch of
budding hazel the first gray gnats of the early year。
〃It is well done； it is well done；〃 she said to herself； looking at the low
rosy clouds and the pale gold of the waning sky。 〃A year or two； and I
shall be in my grave。 I shall leave him easier if I know he has some
creature to care for him； and I shall be quiet in my coffin； knowing that his
children's children will live on and on and on in the Berceau； and
sometimes perhaps think a little of me when the nights are long and they
sit round the fire。〃
She went in out of the dewy air； into the little low； square room of her
cottage； and went up to Bernadou and laid her hands on his shoulders。
〃Be it well with thee； my grandson； and with thy sons' sons after thee；〃
she said solemnly。 〃Margot will be thy wife。 May thy days and hers be
long in thy birthplace！〃
A month later they were married。 It was then May。 The green nest of
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the Berceau seemed to overflow with the singing of birds and the
blossoming of flowers。 The corn…lands promised a rare harvest； and the
apple orchards were weighed down with their red and white blossoms。 The
little brown streams in the woods brimmed over in the grass； and the air
was full of sweet mellow sunlight； a cool fragrant breeze； a continual
music of humming bees and soaring larks and mule…bells ringing on the
roads； and childish laughter echoing from the fields。
In this glad springtime Bernadou and Margot were wedded； going with
their friends one sunny morning up the winding hill…path to the little gray
chapel whose walls were hidden in ivy； and whose sorrowful Christ looked
down through the open porch across the blue and hazy width of the river。
Georges； th
