the lily of the valley-第8章

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right；　and　beneath　them　in　fact。　The　carelessness　of　country　life　had

made　him　neglect　his　external　appearance。　His　dress　was　that　of　a

country…man　whom　peasants　and　neighbors　no　longer　considered　except

for　his　territorial　worth。　His　brown　and　wiry　hands　showed　that　he

wore　no　gloves　unless　he　mounted　a　horse；　or　went　to　church；　and　his

shoes　were　thick　and　common。



Though　ten　years　of　emigration　and　ten　years　more　of　farm…life　had

changed　his　physical　condition；　he　still　retained　certain　vestiges　of

nobility。　The　bitterest　liberal　（a　term　not　then　in　circulation）　would

readily　have　admitted　his　chivalric　loyalty　and　the　imperishable

convictions　of　one　who　puts　his　faith　to　the　〃Quotidienne〃；　he　would

have　felt　respect　for　the　man　religiously　devoted　to　a　cause；　honest

in　his　political　antipathies；　incapable　of　serving　his　party　but　very

capable　of　injuring　it；　and　without　the　slightest　real　knowledge　of

the　affairs　of　France。　The　count　was　in　fact　one　of　those　upright　men

who　are　available　for　nothing；　but　stand　obstinately　in　the　way　of

all；　ready　to　die　under　arms　at　the　post　assigned　to　them；　but

preferring　to　give　their　life　rather　than　to　give　their　money。



During　dinner　I　detected；　in　the　hanging　of　his　flaccid　cheeks　and　the

covert　glances　he　cast　now　and　then　upon　his　children；　the　traces　of

some　wearing　thought　which　showed　for　a　moment　upon　the　surface。

Watching　him；　who　could　fail　to　understand　him？　Who　would　not　have

seen　that　he　had　fatally　transmitted　to　his　children　those　weakly

bodies　in　which　the　principle　of　life　was　lacking。　But　if　he　blamed

himself　he　denied　to　others　the　right　to　judge　him。　Harsh　as　one　who

knows　himself　in　fault；　yet　without　greatness　of　soul　or　charm　to

compensate　for　the　weight　of　misery　he　had　thrown　into　the　balance；

his　private　life　was　no　doubt　the　scene　of　irascibilities　that　were

plainly　revealed　in　his　angular　features　and　by　the　incessant

restlessness　of　his　eye。　When　his　wife　returned；　followed　by　the

children　who　seemed　fastened　to　her　side；　I　felt　the　presence　of

unhappiness；　just　as　in　walking　over　the　roof　of　a　vault　the　feet

become　in　some　way　conscious　of　the　depths　below。　Seeing　these　four

human　beings　together；　holding　them　all　as　it　were　in　one　glance；

letting　my　eye　pass　from　one　to　the　other；　studying　their　countenances

and　their　respective　attitudes；　thoughts　steeped　in　sadness　fell　upon

my　heart　as　a　fine　gray　rain　dims　a　charming　landscape　after　the　sun

has　risen　clear。



When　the　immediate　subject　of　conversation　was　exhausted　the　count

told　his　wife　who　I　was；　and　related　certain　circumstances　connected

with　my　family　that　were　wholly　unknown　to　me。　He　asked　me　my　age。

When　I　told　it；　the　countess　echoed　my　own　exclamation　of　surprise　at

her　daughter's　age。　Perhaps　she　had　thought　me　fifteen。　Later　on；　I

discovered　that　this　was　still　another　tie　which　bound　her　strongly　to

me。　Even　then　I　read　her　soul。　Her　motherhood　quivered　with　a　tardy

ray　of　hope。　Seeing　me　at　over　twenty　years　of　age　so　slight　and

delicate　and　yet　so　nervously　strong；　a　voice　cried　to　her；　〃They　too

will　live！〃　She　looked　at　me　searchingly；　and　in　that　moment　I　felt

the　barriers　of　ice　melting　between　us。　She　seemed　to　have　many

questions　to　ask；　but　uttered　none。



〃If　study　has　made　you　ill；〃　she　said；　〃the　air　of　our　valley　will

soon　restore　you。〃



〃Modern　education　is　fatal　to　children；〃　remarked　the　count。　〃We　stuff

them　with　mathematics　and　ruin　their　health　with　sciences；　and　make

them　old　before　their　time。　You　must　stay　and　rest　here；〃　he　added；

turning　to　me。　〃You　are　crushed　by　the　avalanche　of　ideas　that　have

rolled　down　upon　you。　What　sort　of　future　will　this　universal

education　bring　upon　us　unless　we　prevent　its　evils　by　replacing

public　education　in　the　hands　of　the　religious　bodies？〃



These　words　were　in　harmony　with　a　speech　he　afterwards　made　at　the

elections　when　he　refused　his　support　to　a　man　whose　gifts　would　have

done　good　service　to　the　royalist　cause。　〃I　shall　always　distrust　men

of　talent；〃　he　said。



Presently　the　count　proposed　that　we　should　make　the　tour　of　the

gardens。



〃Monsieur〃　said　his　wife。



〃Well；　what；　my　dear？〃　he　said；　turning　to　her　with　an　arrogant

harshness　which　showed　plainly　enough　how　absolute　he　chose　to　be　in

his　own　home。



〃Monsieur　de　Vandenesse　walked　from　Tours　this　morning　and　Monsieur　de

Chessel；　not　aware　of　it；　has　already　taken　him　on　foot　over

Frapesle。〃



〃Very　imprudent　of　you；〃　the　count　said；　turning　to　me；　〃but　at　your

age〃　and　he　shook　his　head　in　sign　of　regret。



The　conversation　was　resumed。　I　soon　saw　how　intractable　his　royalism

was；　and　how　much　care　was　needed　to　swim　safely　in　his　waters。　The

man…servant；　who　had　now　put　on　his　livery；　announced　dinner。　Monsieur

de　Chessel　gave　his　arm　to　Madame　de　Mortsauf；　and　the　count　gaily

seized　mine　to　lead　me　into　the　dining…room；　which　was　on　the　ground…

floor　facing　the　salon。



This　room；　floored　with　white　tiles　made　in　Touraine；　and　wainscoted

to　the　height　of　three　feet；　was　hung　with　a　varnished　paper　divided

into　wide　panels　by　wreaths　of　flowers　and　fruit；　the　windows　had

cambric　curtains　trimmed　with　red；　the　buffets　were　old　pieces　by

Boulle　himself；　and　the　woodwork　of　the　chairs；　which　were　covered　by

hand…made　tapestry；　was　carved　oak。　The　dinner；　plentifully　supplied；

was　not　luxurious；　family　silver　without　uniformity；　Dresden　china

which　was　not　then　in　fashion；　octagonal　decanters；　knives　with　agate

handles；　and　lacquered　trays　beneath　the　wine…bottles；　were　the　chief

features　of　the　table；　but　flowers　adorned　the　porcelain　vases　and

overhung　the　gilding　of　their　fluted　edges。　I　delighted　in　these

quaint　old　things。　I　thought　the　Reveillon　paper　with　its　flowery

garlands　beautiful。　The　sweet　content　that　filled　my　sails　hindered　me

from　perceiving　the　obstacles　which　a　life　so　uniform；　so　unvarying　in

solitude　of　the　country　placed　between　her　and　me。　I　was　near　her；

sitting　at　her　right　hand；　serving　her　with　wine。　Yes；　unhoped…for

joy！　I　touched　her　dress；　I　ate　her　bread。　At　the　end　of　three　hours

my　life　had　mingled　with　her　life！　That　terrible　kiss　had　bound　us　to

each　other　in　a　secret　which　inspired　us　with　mutual　shame。　A　glorious

self…abasement　took　possession　of　me。　I　studied　to　please　the　count；　I

fondled　the　dogs；　I　would　gladly　have　gratified　every　desire　of　the

children；　I　would　have　brought　them　hoops　and　marbles　and　played　horse

with　them；　I　was　even　provoked　that　they　did　not　already　fasten　upon

me　as　a　thing　of　their　own。　Love　has　intuitions　like　those　of　genius；

and　I　dimly　perceived　that　gloom；　discontent；　hostility　would　destroy

my　footing　in　that　household。



The　dinner　passed　with　inward　happiness　on　my　part。　Feeling　that　I　was

there；　under　her　roof；　I　gave　no　heed　to　her　obvious　coldness；　nor　to

the　count's　indifference　masked　by　his　politeness。　Love；　like　life；

has　an　adolescence　during　which　period　it　suffices　unto　itself。　I　made

several　stupid　replies　induced　by　the　tumults　of　passion；　but　no　one

perceived　their　cause；　not　even　SHE；　who　knew　nothing　of　love。　The

rest　of　my　visit　was　a　dream；　a　dream　which　did　not　cease　until　by

moonlight　on　that　warm　and　balmy　night　I　recrossed　the　Indre；　watching

the　white　visions　that　embellished　meadows；　shores；　and　hills；　and

listening　to　the　clear　song；　the　matchless　note；　full　of　deep

melancholy　and　uttered　only　in　still　weather；　of　a　tree…frog　whose

scientific　name　is　unknown　to　me。　Since　that　solemn　evening　I　have

never　heard　it　without　infinite　delight。　A　sense　came　to　me　then　of

the　marble　wall　against　which　my　feelings　had　hitherto　dashed

themselves。　Would　it　be　always　so？　I　fancied　myself　under　some　fatal

spell；　the　unhappy　events　of　my　past　life　rose　up　and　struggled　with

the　purely　personal　pleasure　I　had　just　enjoyed。　Before　reaching

Frapesle　I　turned　to　look　at　Clochegourde　and　saw　beneath　its　windows

a　little　boat；　called　in　Touraine　a　punt；　fastened　to　an　ash…tree　and

swaying　on　the　water。　This　punt　belonged　to　Monsieur　de　Mortsauf；　who

used　it　for　fishing。



〃Well；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Chessel；　when　we　were　out　of　ear…shot。　〃I

needn't　ask　if　you　found　those　shoulders；　I　must；　however；

congratulate　you　on　the　reception　Monsieur　de　Mortsauf　gave　you。　The

devil！　you　stepped　into　his　heart　at　once。〃



These　words　followed　by　those　I　have　already　quoted　to　you　raised　my

spirits。　I　had　not　as　yet　said　a　word；　and　Monsieur　de　Chessel　may

have　attributed　my　silence　to　happiness。



〃How　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked。



〃He　never；　to　my　knowledge；　received　any　one　so　well。〃



〃I　will　admit　that　I　am　rather　surprised　myself；〃　I　said；　conscious　of

a　certain　bitterness　underlying　my　companion's　speech。



Though　I　was　too　inexpert　in　social　matters　to　understand　its　cause；　I

was　much　struck　by　the　feeling　Monsieur　de　Chessel　betrayed。　His　real

name　was　Durand；　but　he　had　had　the　weakness　to　discard　the　name　of　a

worthy　father；　a　merchant　who　had　made　a　large　fortune　under　the

Revolution。　His　wife　was　sole　heiress　of　the　Chessels；　an　old

parliamentary　family　under　Henry　IV。；　belonging　to　the　middle　classes；

as　did　most　of　the　Parisian　magistrates。　Ambitious　of　higher　flights

Monsieur　de　Chessel　endeavored　to　smother　the　original　Durand。　He

first　called　himself　Durand　de　Chessel；　then　D。　de　Chessel；　and　that

made　him　Monsieur　de　Chessel。　Under　the　Restoration　he　entailed　an

estate　with　the　title　of　count　in　virtue　of　letters…patent　from　Louis

XVIII。　His　children　reaped　the　fruits　of　his　audacity　without　knowing

what　it　cost　him　in　sarcastic　comments。　Parvenus　are　like　monkeys；

whose　cleverness　they　possess；　we　watch　them　climbing；　we　admire　their

agility；　but　once　at　the　summit　we　see　only　their　absurd　and

contemptible　parts。　The　reverse　side　of　my　host's　character　was　made

up　of　pettiness　with　the　addition　of　envy。　The　peerage　and　he　were　on

diverging　lines。　To　have　an　ambition　and　gratify　it　shows　merely　the

insolence　of　strength；　but　to　live　below　one's　avowed　ambition　is　a

constant　source　of　ridicule　to　petty　minds。　Monsieur　de　Chessel　did

not　advance　with　the　straightforward　step　of　a　strong　man。　Twice

elected　deputy；　twice　defeated；　yesterday　director…general；　to…day

nothing　at　all；　not　even　prefect；　his　successes　and　his　defeats　had

injured　his　nature；　and　given　him　the　sourness　of　invalided　ambition。

Though　a　brave　man　and　a　witty　one　and　capable　of　great　things；　envy；

which　is　the　root　of　existence　in　Touraine；　the　inhabitants　of　which

employ　their　native　genius　in　jealousy　of　all　things；　injured　him　in

upper　social　circles；　where　a　dissatisfied　man；　frowning　at　the

success　of　others；　slow　at　compliments　and　ready　at　epigram；　seldom

succeeds。　Had　he　sought　less　he　might　perhaps　have　obtained　more；　but

unhappily　he　had　enough　genuine　superiority　to　make　him　wish　to

adva