第3章
加入书架 A- A+
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  \"Whilealltheworldissleeping,heisawake——likeGod!\"thoughtshe。

  Theeducationofgirlsbringswithitsuchseriousproblems——forthefutureofanationisinthemother——thattheUniversityofFrancelongsincesetitselfthetaskofhavingnothingtodowithit。Hereisoneoftheseproblems:Oughtgirlstobeinformedonallpoints?

  Oughttheirmindstobeunderrestraint?Itneednotbesaidthatthereligioussystemisoneofrestraint。Ifyouenlightenthem,youmakethemdemonsbeforetheirtime;ifyoukeepthemfromthinking,youendinthesuddenexplosionsowellshownbyMoliereinthecharacterofAgnes,andyouleavethissuppressedmind,sofreshandclear-seeing,asswiftandaslogicalasthatofasavage,atthemercyofanaccident。ThisinevitablecrisiswasbroughtoninMademoiselledeWattevillebytheportraitwhichoneofthemostprudentAbbesoftheChapterofBesanconimprudentlyallowedhimselftosketchatadinnerparty。

  Nextmorning,MademoiselledeWatteville,whiledressing,necessarilylookedoutatAlbertSavaronwalkinginthegardenadjoiningthatoftheHoteldeRupt。

  \"Whatwouldhavebecomeofme,\"thoughtshe,\"ifhehadlivedanywhereelse?HereIcan,atanyrate,seehim——Whatishethinkingabout?\"

  Havingseenthisextraordinaryman,thoughatadistance,theonlymanwhosecountenancestoodforthincontrastwithcrowdsofBesanconfacesshehadhithertometwith,Rosalieatoncejumpedattheideaofgettingintohishouse,ofascertainingthereasonofsomuchmystery,ofhearingthateloquentvoice,ofwinningaglancefromthosefineeyes。Allthisshesetherhearton,buthowcouldsheachieveit?

  Allthatdayshedrewherneedlethroughherembroiderywiththeobtuseconcentrationofagirlwho,likeAgnes,seemstobethinkingofnothing,butwhoisreflectingonthingsingeneralsodeeply,thatherartificeisunfailing。Asaresultofthisprofoundmeditation,Rosaliethoughtshewouldgotoconfession。Nextmorning,afterMass,shehadabriefinterviewwiththeAbbeGiroudatSaint-Pierre,andmanagedsoingeniouslythatthehourofherconfessionwasfixedforSundaymorningathalf-pastseven,beforetheeighto\'clockMass。Shecommittedherselftoadozenfibsinordertofindherself,justforonce,inthechurchatthehourwhenthelawyercametoMass。Thenshewasseizedwithanimpulseofextremeaffectionforherfather;shewenttoseehiminhisworkroom,andaskedhimforallsortsofinformationontheartofturning,endingbyadvisinghimtoturnlargerpieces,columns。Afterpersuadingherfathertosettoworkonsometwistedpillars,oneofthedifficultiesoftheturner\'sart,shesuggestedthatheshouldmakeuseofalargeheapofstonesthatlayinthemiddleofthegardentoconstructasortofgrottoonwhichhemighterectalittletempleorBelvedereinwhichhistwistedpillarscouldbeusedandshownofftoalltheworld。

  Attheclimaxofthepleasurethepoorunoccupiedmanderivedfromthisscheme,Rosaliesaid,asshekissedhim,\"Aboveall,donottellmammawhogaveyouthenotion;shewouldscoldme。\"

  \"Donotbeafraid!\"repliedMonsieurdeWatteville,whogroanedasbitterlyashisdaughterunderthetyrannyoftheterribledescendantoftheRupts。

  SoRosaliehadacertainprospectofseeingerelongacharmingobservatorybuilt,whencehereyewouldcommandthelawyer\'sprivateroom。Andtherearemenforwhosesakeyounggirlscancarryoutsuchmasterstrokesofdiplomacy,while,forthemostpart,likeAlbertSavaron,theyknowitnot。

  TheSundaysoimpatientlylookedforarrived,andRosaliedressedwithsuchcarefulnessasmadeMariette,theladies\'-maid,smile。

  \"ItisthefirsttimeIeverknewmademoiselletobesofidgety,\"saidMariette。

  \"Itstrikesme,\"saidRosalie,withaglanceatMariette,whichbroughtpoppiestohercheeks,\"thatyoutooaremoreparticularonsomedaysthanonothers。\"

  Asshewentdownthesteps,acrossthecourtyard,andthroughthegates,Rosalie\'sheartbeat,aseverybody\'sdoesinanticipationofagreatevent。Hitherto,shehadneverknownwhatitwastowalkinthestreets;foramomentshehadfeltasthoughhermothermustreadherschemesonherbrow,andforbidhergoingtoconfession,andshenowfeltnewbloodinherfeet,sheliftedthemasthoughshetrodonfire。Shehad,ofcourse,arrangedtobewithherconfessorataquarter-pasteight,tellinghermothereight,soastohaveaboutaquarterofanhournearAlbert。ShegottochurchbeforeMass,andafterashortprayer,wenttoseeiftheAbbeGiroudwereinhisconfessional,simplytopassthetime;andshethusplacedherselfinsuchawayastoseeAlbertashecameintochurch。

  ThemanmusthavebeenatrociouslyuglywhodidnotseemhandsometoMademoiselledeWattevilleintheframeofmindproducedbyhercuriosity。AndAlbertSavaron,whowasreallyverystriking,madeallthemoreimpressiononRosaliebecausehismien,hiswalk,hiscarriage,everythingdowntohisclothing,hadtheindescribablestampwhichcanonlybeexpressedbythewordMystery。

  Hecamein。Thechurch,tillnowgloomy,seemedtoRosalietobeilluminated。Thegirlwasfascinatedbyhisslowandsolemndemeanor,asofamanwhobearsaworldonhisshouldersandwhosedeepgaze,whoseverygestures,combinetoexpressadevastatingorabsorbingthought。RosalienowunderstoodtheVicar-General\'swordsintheirfullestextent。Yes,thoseeyesoftawnybrown,shotwithgoldenlights,coveredardorwhichrevealeditselfinsuddenflashes。

  Rosalie,witharecklessnesswhichMariettenoted,stoodinthelawyer\'sway,soastoexchangeglanceswithhim;andthisglanceturnedherblood,foritseethedandboiledasthoughitswarmthweredoubled。

  AssoonasAlberthadtakenaseat,MademoiselledeWattevillequicklyfoundaplacewhenceshecouldseehimperfectlyduringallthetimetheAbbemightleaveher。WhenMariettesaid,\"HereisMonsieurGiroud,\"itseemedtoRosaliethattheinterviewhadlastednomorethanafewminutes。Bythetimeshecameoutfromtheconfessional,Masswasover。Alberthadleftthechurch。

  \"TheVicar-Generalwasright,\"thoughtshe。\"/He/isunhappy。Whyshouldthiseagle——forhehastheeyesofaneagle——swoopdownonBesancon?Oh,Imustknoweverything!Buthow?\"

  UnderthesmartofthisnewdesireRosaliesetthestitchesofherworsted-workwithexquisiteprecision,andhidhermeditationsunderalittleinnocentair,whichshammedsimplicitytodeceiveMadamedeWatteville。

  FromthatSunday,whenMademoiselledeWattevillehadmetthatlook,or,ifyouplease,receivedthisbaptismoffire——afineexpressionofNapoleon\'swhichmaybewellappliedtolove——sheeagerlypromotedtheplanfortheBelvedere。

  \"Mamma,\"saidsheonedaywhentwocolumnswereturned,\"myfatherhastakenasingularideaintohishead;heisturningcolumnsforaBelvedereheintendstoerectontheheapofstonesinthemiddleofthegarden。Doyouapproveofit?Itseemstome——\"

  \"Iapproveofeverythingyourfatherdoes,\"saidMadamedeWattevilledrily,\"anditisawife\'sdutytosubmittoherhusbandevenifshedoesnotapproveofhisideas。WhyshouldIobjecttoathingwhichisofnoimportanceinitself,ifonlyitamusesMonsieurdeWatteville?\"

  \"Well,becausefromthenceweshallseeintoMonsieurdeSoulas\'

  rooms,andMonsieurdeSoulaswillseeuswhenwearethere。Perhapsremarksmaybemade——\"

  \"Doyoupresume,Rosalie,toguideyourparents,andthinkyouknowmorethantheydooflifeandtheproprieties?\"

  \"Isaynomore,mamma。Besides,myfathersaidthattherewouldbearoominthegrotto,whereitwouldbecool,andwherewecantakecoffee。\"

  \"Yourfatherhashadanexcellentidea,\"saidMadamedeWatteville,whoforthwithwenttolookatthecolumns。

  ShegaveherentireapprobationtotheBarondeWatteville\'sdesign,whilechoosingfortheerectionofthismonumentaspotatthebottomofthegarden,whichcouldnotbeseenfromMonsieurdeSoulas\'

  windows,butwhencetheycouldperfectlyseeintoAlbertSavaron\'srooms。Abuilderwassentfor,whoundertooktoconstructagrotto,ofwhichthetopshouldbereachedbyapaththreefeetwidethroughtherock-work,whereperiwinkleswouldgrow,iris,clematis,ivy,honeysuckle,andVirginiacreeper。TheBaronessdesiredthattheinsideshouldbelinedwithrusticwood-work,suchaswasthenthefashionforflower-stands,withalooking-glassagainstthewall,anottomanformingabox,andatableofinlaidbark。MonsieurdeSoulasproposedthatthefloorshouldbeofasphalt。Rosaliesuggestedahangingchandelierofrusticwood。

  \"TheWattevillesarehavingsomethingcharmingdoneintheirgarden,\"

  wasrumoredinBesancon。

  \"Theyarerich,andcanaffordathousandcrownsforawhim——\"

  \"Athousandcrowns!\"exclaimedMadamedeChavoncourt。

  \"Yes,athousandcrowns,\"criedyoungMonsieurdeSoulas。\"AmanhasbeensentforfromParistorusticatetheinteriorbutitwillbeverypretty。MonsieurdeWattevillehimselfismakingthechandelier,andhasbeguntocarvethewood。\"

  \"Berquetistomakeacellarunderit,\"saidanAbbe。

  \"No,\"repliedyoungMonsieurdeSoulas,\"heisraisingthekioskonaconcretefoundation,thatitmaynotbedamp。\"

  \"Youknowtheveryleastthingsthataredoneinthathouse,\"saidMadamedeChavoncourtsourly,asshelookedatoneofhergreatgirlswaitingtobemarriedforayearpast。

  MademoiselledeWatteville,withalittleflushofprideinthinkingofthesuccessofherBelvedere,discernedinherselfavastsuperiorityovereveryoneabouther。Nooneguessedthatalittlegirl,supposedtobeawitlessgoose,hadsimplymadeuphermindtogetacloserviewofthelawyerSavaron\'sprivatestudy。

  AlbertSavaron\'sbrilliantdefenceoftheCathedralChapterwasallthesoonerforgottenbecausetheenvyoftheotherlawyerswasaroused。Also,Savaron,faithfultohisseclusion,wentnowhere。

  Havingnofriendstocryhimup,andseeingnoone,heincreasedthechancesofbeingforgottenwhicharecommontostrangersinBesancon。

  Nevertheless,hepleadedthreetimesattheCommercialTribunalinthreeknottycaseswhichhadtobecarriedtothesuperiorCourt。Hethusgainedasclientsfourofthechiefmerchantsoftheplace,whodiscernedinhimsomuchgoodsenseandsoundlegalpurviewthattheyplacedtheirclaimsinhishands。

  OnthedaywhentheWattevillefamilyinauguratedtheBelvedere,Savaronalsowasfoundingamonument。ThankstotheconnectionshehadobscurelyformedamongtheupperclassofmerchantsinBesancon,hewasstartingafortnightlypaper,calledthe/EasternReview/,withthehelpoffortysharesoffivehundredfrancseach,takenupbyhisfirsttenclients,onwhomhehadimpressedthenecessityforpromotingtheinterestsofBesancon,thetownwherethetrafficshouldmeetbetweenMulhouseandLyons,andthechiefcentrebetweenMulhouseandRhone。

  TocompetewithStrasbourg,wasitnotneedfulthatBesanconshouldbecomeafocusofenlightenmentaswellasoftrade?TheleadingquestionsrelatingtotheinterestsofEasternFrancecouldonlybedealtwithinareview。WhataglorioustasktorobStrasbourgandDijonoftheirliteraryimportance,tobringlighttotheEastofFrance,andcompetewiththecentralizinginfluenceofParis!Thesereflections,putforwardbyAlbert,wererepeatedbythetenmerchants,whobelievedthemtobetheirown。

  MonsieurSavarondidnotcommittheblunderofputtinghisnameinfront;heleftthefinanceoftheconcerntohischiefclient,MonsieurBoucher,connectedbymarriagewithoneofthegreatpublishersofimportantecclesiasticalworks;buthekepttheeditorship,withashareoftheprofitsasfounder。ThecommercialinterestappealedtoDole,toDijon,toSalins,toNeufchatel,totheJura,Bourg,Nantua,Lous-le-Saulnier。TheconcurrencewasinvitedofthelearningandenergyofeveryscientificstudentinthedistrictsofleBugey,laBresse,andFrancheComte。Bytheinfluenceofcommercialinterestsandcommonfeeling,fivehundredsubscriberswerebookedinconsiderationofthelowprice;the/Review/costeightfrancsaquarter。

  Toavoidhurtingtheconceitoftheprovincialsbyrefusingtheirarticles,thelawyerhitonthegoodideaofsuggestingadesirefortheliterarymanagementofthis/Review/toMonsieurBoucher\'seldestson,ayoungmanoftwo-and-twenty,veryeagerforfame,towhomthesnaresandwoesofliteraryresponsibilitieswereutterlyunknown。

  AlbertquietlykepttheupperhandandmadeAlfredBoucherhisdevotedadherent。AlfredwastheonlymaninBesanconwithwhomthekingofthebarwasonfamiliarterms。AlfredcameinthemorningtodiscussthearticlesforthenextnumberwithAlbertinthegarden。Itisneedlesstosaythatthetrialnumbercontaineda\"Meditation\"byAlfred,whichSavaronapproved。InhisconversationswithAlfred,Albertwouldletdropsomegreatideas,subjectsforarticlesofwhichAlfredavailedhimself。Andthusthemerchant\'ssonfanciedhewasmakingcapitaloutofthegreatman。ToAlfred,Albertwasamanofgenius,ofprofoundpolitics。Thecommercialworld,enchantedatthesuccessofthe/Review/,hadtopayuponlythree-tenthsoftheirshares。Twohundredmoresubscribers,andtheperiodicalwouldpayadividendtotheshare-holdersoffivepercent,theeditorremainingunpaid。Thisediting,indeed,wasbeyondprice。

  Afterthethirdnumberthe/Review/wasrecognizedforexchangebyallthepaperspublishedinFrance,whichAlberthenceforthreadathome。

  Thisthirdnumberincludedatalesigned\"A。S。,\"andattributedtothefamouslawyer。InspiteofthesmallattentionpaidbythehighercircleofBesancontothe/Review/whichwasaccusedofLiberalviews,this,thefirstnovelproducedinthecounty,cameunderdiscussionthatmid-winteratMadamedeChavoncourt\'s。

  \"Papa,\"saidRosalie,\"a/Review/ispublishedinBesancon;yououghttotakeitin;andkeepitinyourroom,formammawouldnotletmereadit,butyouwilllendittome。\"

  MonsieurdeWatteville,eagertoobeyhisdearRosalie,whoforthelastfivemonthshadgivenhimsomanyproofsoffilialaffection,——

  MonsieurdeWattevillewentinpersontosubscribeforayeartothe/EasternReview/,andlentthefournumbersalreadyouttohisdaughter。InthecourseofthenightRosaliedevouredthetale——thefirstshehadeverreadinherlife——butshehadonlyknownlifefortwomonthspast。Hencetheeffectproducedonherbythisworkmustnotbejudgedbyordinaryrules。WithoutprejudiceofanykindastothegreaterorlessmeritofthiscompositionfromthepenofaParisianwhohadthusimportedintotheprovincethemanner,thebrilliancy,ifyouwill,ofthenewliteraryschool,itcouldnotfailtobeamasterpiecetoayounggirlabandoningallherintelligenceandherinnocenthearttoherfirstreadingofthiskind。

  Also,fromwhatshehadheardsaid,Rosaliehadbyintuitionconceivedanotionofitwhichstrangelyenhancedtheinterestofthisnovel。

  Shehopedtofindinitthesentiments,andperhapssomethingofthelifeofAlbert。Fromthefirstpagesthisopiniontooksostrongaholdonher,thatafterreadingthefragmenttotheendshewascertainthatitwasnomistake。Here,then,isthisconfession,inwhich,accordingtothecriticsofMadamedeChavoncourt\'sdrawing-

  room,Alberthadimitatedsomemodernwriterswho,forlackofinventiveness,relatetheirprivatejoys,theirprivategriefs,orthemysteriouseventsoftheirownlife。

  *****

  AMBITIONFORLOVE\'SSAKE

  In1823twoyoungmen,havingagreedasaplanforaholidaytomakeatourthroughSwitzerland,setoutfromLucerneonefinemorninginthemonthofJulyinaboatpulledbythreeoarsmen。TheystartedforFluelen,intendingtostopateverynotablespotonthelakeoftheFourCantons。TheviewswhichshutinthewatersonthewayfromLucernetoFluelenoffereverycombinationthatthemostexactingfancycandemandofmountainsandrivers,lakesandrocks,brooksandpastures,treesandtorrents。Hereareausteresolitudesandcharmingheadlands,smilingandtrimlykeptmeadows,forestscrowningperpendiculargranitecliffs,likeplumes,desertedbutverdantreachesopeningout,andvalleyswhosebeautyseemsthelovelierinthedreamydistance。

  AstheypassedtheprettyhamletofGersau,oneofthefriendslookedforalongtimeatawoodenhousewhichseemedtohavebeenrecentlybuilt,enclosedbyapaling,andstandingonapromontory,almostbathedbythewaters。Astheboatrowedpast,awoman\'sheadwasraisedagainstthebackgroundoftheroomontheupperstoryofthishouse,toadmiretheeffectoftheboatonthelake。Oneoftheyoungmenmettheglancethusindifferentlygivenbytheunknownfair。

  \"Letusstophere,\"saidhetohisfriend。\"WemeanttomakeLucerneourheadquartersforseeingSwitzerland;youwillnottakeitamiss,Leopold,ifIchangemymindandstayheretotakechargeofourpossessions。Thenyoucangowhereyouplease;myjourneyisended。

  Pulltoland,men,andputusoutatthisvillage;wewillbreakfasthere。IwillgobacktoLucernetofetchallourluggage,andbeforeyouleaveyouwillknowinwhichhouseItakealodging,whereyouwillfindmeonyourreturn。\"

  \"HereoratLucerne,\"repliedLeopold,\"thedifferenceisnotsogreatthatIneedhinderyoufromfollowingyourwhim。\"

  Thesetwoyouthswerefriendsinthetruestsenseoftheword。Theywereofthesameage;theyhadlearnedatthesameschool;andafterstudyingthelaw,theywerespendingtheirholidayintheclassicaltourinSwitzerland。Leopold,byhisfather\'sdetermination,wasalreadypledgedtoaplaceinanotary\'sofficeinParis。Hisspiritofrectitude,hisgentleness,andthecoolnessofhissensesandhisbrain,guaranteedhimtobeadocilepupil。LeopoldcouldseehimselfanotaryinParis;hislifelaybeforehimlikeoneofthehighroadsthatcrosstheplainsofFrance,andhelookedalongitswholelengthwithphilosophicalresignation。

  Thecharacterofhiscompanion,whomwewillcallRodolphe,presentedastrongcontrastwithLeopold\'s,andtheirantagonismhadnodoubthadtheresultoftighteningthebondthatunitedthem。Rodolphewasthenaturalsonofamanofrank,whowascarriedoffbyaprematuredeathbeforehecouldmakeanyarrangementsforsecuringthemeansofexistencetoawomanhefondlylovedandtoRodolphe。Thuscheatedbyastrokeoffate,Rodolphe\'smotherhadrecoursetoaheroicmeasure。

  Shesoldeverythingsheowedtothemunificenceofherchild\'sfatherforasumofmorethanahundredthousandfrancs,boughtwithitalifeannuityforherselfatahighrate,andthusacquiredanincomeofaboutfifteenthousandfrancs,resolvingtodevotethewholeofittotheeducationofherson,soastogivehimallthepersonaladvantagesthatmighthelptomakehisfortune,whilesaving,bystricteconomy,asmallcapitaltobehiswhenhecameofage。Itwasbold;itwascountingonherownlife;butwithoutthisboldnessthegoodmotherwouldcertainlyhavefounditimpossibletoliveandtobringherchildupsuitably,andhewasheronlyhope,herfuture,thespringofallherjoys。

  Rodolphe,thesonofamostcharmingParisianwoman,andamanofmark,anoblemanofBrabant,wascursedwithextremesensitiveness。

  Fromhisinfancyhehadineverythingshownamostardentnature。Inhimmeredesirebecameaguidingforceandthemotivepowerofhiswholebeing,thestimulustohisimagination,thereasonofhisactions。Notwithstandingthepainstakenbyaclevermother,whowasalarmedwhenshedetectedthispredisposition,Rodolphewishedforthingsasapoetimagines,asamathematiciancalculates,asapaintersketches,asamusiciancreatesmelodies。Tender-hearted,likehismother,hedashedwithinconceivableviolenceandimpetusofthoughtaftertheobjectofhisdesires;heannihilatedtime。Whiledreamingofthefulfilmentofhisschemes,healwaysoverlookedthemeansofattainment。\"Whenmysonhaschildren,\"saidhisother,\"hewillwantthemborngrownup。\"

  Thisfinefrenzy,carefullydirected,enabledRodolphetoachievehisstudieswithbrilliantresults,andtobecomewhattheEnglishcallanaccomplishedgentleman。Hismotherwasthenproudofhim,thoughstillfearingacatastropheifeverapassionshouldpossessaheartatoncesotenderandsosusceptible,sovehementandsokind。Therefore,thejudiciousmotherhadencouragedthefriendshipwhichboundLeopoldtoRodolpheandRodolphetoLeopold,sinceshesawinthecoldandfaithfulyoungnotary,aguardian,acomrade,whomighttoacertainextenttakeherplaceifbysomemisfortunesheshouldbelosttoherson。Rodolphe\'smother,stillhandsomeatthree-and-forty,hadinspiredLeopoldwithanardentpassion。Thiscircumstancemadethetwoyoungmenevenmoreintimate。

  SoLeopold,knowingRodolphewell,wasnotsurprisedtofindhimstoppingatavillageandgivinguptheprojectedjourneytoSaint-

  Gothard,onthestrengthofasingleglanceattheupperwindowofahouse。WhilebreakfastwaspreparedforthemattheSwanInn,thefriendswalkedroundthehamletandcametotheneighborhoodoftheprettynewhouse;here,whilegazingabouthimandtalkingtotheinhabitants,Rodolphediscoveredtheresidenceofsomedecentfolk,whowerewillingtotakehimasaboarder,averyfrequentcustominSwitzerland。Theyofferedhimabedroomlookingoverthelakeandthemountains,andfromwhencehehadaviewofoneofthoseimmensesweepingreacheswhich,inthislake,aretheadmirationofeverytraveler。Thishousewasdividedbyaroadwayandalittlecreekfromthenewhouse,whereRodolphehadcaughtsightoftheunknownfairone\'sface。

  ForahundredfrancsamonthRodolphewasrelievedofallthoughtforthenecessariesoflife。But,inconsiderationoftheoutlaytheStopfercoupleexpectedtomake,theybargainedforthreemonths\'

  residenceandamonth\'spaymentinadvance。RubaSwisseversolittle,andyoufindtheusurer。Afterbreakfast,RodolpheatoncemadehimselfathomebydepositinginhisroomsuchpropertyashehadbroughtwithhimforthejourneytotheSaint-Gothard,andhewatchedLeopoldashesetout,movedbythespiritofroutine,tocarryouttheexcursionforhimselfandhisfriend。WhenRodolphe,sittingonafallenrockontheshore,couldnolongerseeLeopold\'sboat,heturnedtoexaminethenewhousewithstolenglances,hopingtoseethefairunknown。Alas!hewentinwithoutitshavinggivenasignoflife。Duringdinner,inthecompanyofMonsieurandMadameStopfer,retiredcoopersfromNeufchatel,hequestionedthemastotheneighborhood,andendedbylearningallhewantedtoknowaboutthelady,thankstohishosts\'loquacity;fortheywerereadytopourouttheirbudgetofgossipwithoutanypressing。

点击下载App,搜索"Albert Savarus",免费读到尾