the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第36节
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is in life； one has learned only too well how much one loses by living a
long time in this world； and one feels that one can no longer trust any
except the young。
August 12。
I waited for them。 In fact； I waited for them very impatiently。 I
exerted all my powers of insinuation and of coaxing to induce Therese to
receive them kindly； but my powers in this direction are very limited。
They came。 Jeanne was neater and prettier than I had ever expected to see
her。 She has not； it is true； anything approaching the charm of her mother。
But to…day； for the first time； I observed that she has a pleasing face； and a
pleasing face is of great advantage to a woman in this world。 I think that
her hat was a little on one side； but she smiled； and the City of Books was
all illuminated by that smile。
I watched Therese to see whether the rigid manners of the old
housekeeper would soften a little at the sight of the young girl。 I saw her
turning her lustreless eyes upon Jeanne； I saw her long wrinkled face； her
toothless mouth； and that pointed chin of hers like the chin of some
puissant old fairy。 And that was all I could see。
Mademoiselle Prefere made her appearance all in blueadvanced；
retreated； skipped； tripped； cried out； sighed； cast her eyes down； rolled
her eyes up； bewildered herself with excusessaid she dared not； and
nevertheless daredsaid she would never dare again； and nevertheless
dared againmade courtesies innumerablemade； in short； all the fuss she
could。
〃What a lot of books！〃 she screamed。 〃And have you really read them
all； Monsieur Bonnard？〃
〃Alas！ I have；〃 I replied； 〃and that is just the reason that I do not know
anything； for there is not a single one of those books which does not
contradict some other book； so that by the time one has read them all one
does not know what to think about anything。 That is just my condition；
Madame。〃
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Thereupon she called Jeanne for the purpose of communicating her
impressions。 But Jeanne was looking out of the window。
〃How beautiful it is！〃 she said to us。 〃How I love to see the river
flowing！ It makes you think about all kinds of things。〃
Mademoiselle Prefere having removed her hat and exhibited a
forehead tricked out with blonde curls； my housekeeper sturdily snatched
up the hat at once； with the observation that she did not like to see people's
clothes scattered over the furniture。 Then she approached Jeanne and
asked her for her 〃things；〃 calling her 〃my little lady！〃 Where…upon the
little lady； giving up her cloak and hat； exposed to view a very graceful
neck and a lithe figure； whose outlines were beautifully relieved against
the great glow of the open window； and I could have wished that some one
else might have seen her at that momentsome one very different from an
aged housekeeper； a schoolmistress frizzled like a sheep； and this old
humbug of an archivist and paleographer。
〃So you are looking at the Seine；〃 I said to her。 〃See how it sparkles in
the sun！〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied； leaning over the windowbar； 〃it looks like a flowing
of fire。 But see how nice and cool it looks on the other side over there
under the shadow of the willows！ That little spot there pleases me better
than all the rest。〃
〃Good！〃 I answered。 〃I see that the river has a charm for you。 How
would you like； with Mademoiselle Prefere's permission； to make a trip to
Saint…Cloud？ We should certainly be in time to catch the steamboat just
below the Pont…Royal。〃
Jeanne was delighted with my suggestion； and Mademoiselle Prefere
willing to make any sacrifice。 But my housekeeper was not at all willing to
let us go off so unconcernedly。 She summoned me into the dining…room；
whither I followed her in fear and trembling。
〃Monsieur；〃 she said to me as soon as we found ourselves alone； 〃you
never think about anything； and it is always I who have to think about
everything。 Luckily for you I have a good memory。〃
I did not think that it was a favourable moment for any attempt to
dispel this wild illusion。 She continued：
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〃So you were going off without saying a word to me about what this
little lady likes to eat？ At her age one does not know anything； one does
not care about anything in particular； one eats like a bird。 You yourself；
Monsieur； are very difficult to please； but at least you know what is good：
it is very different with these young peoplethey do not know anything
about cooking。 It is often the very best thing which they think the worst；
and what is bad seems to them good； because their stomachs are not quite
formed yetso that one never knows just what to do for them。 Tell me if
the little lady would like a pigeon cooked with green peas； and whether
she is fond of vanilla ice…cream。〃
〃My good Therese；〃 I answered； 〃just do whatever you think best； and
whatever that may be I am sure it will be very nice。 Those ladies will be
quite contented with our humble ordinary fare。〃
Therese replied； very dryly；
〃Monsieur； I am asking you about the little lady： she must not leave
this house without having enjoyed herself a little。 As for that old frizzle…
headed thing； if she doesn't like my dinner she can suck her thumbs。 I
don't care what she likes！〃
My mind being thus set at rest； I returned to the City of Books； where
Mademoiselle Prefere was crocheting as calmly as if she were at home。 I
almost felt inclined myself to think she was。 She did not take up much
room； it is true； in the angle of the window。 But she had chosen her chair
and her footstool so well that those articles of furniture seemed to have
been made expressly for her。
Jeanne； on the other hand； devoted her attention to the books and
picturesgazing at them in a kindly； expressive； half…sad way； as if she
were bidding them an affectionate farewell。
〃Here；〃 I said to her； 〃amuse yourself with this book； which I am sure
you cannot help liking； because it is full of beautiful engravings。〃 And I
threw open before her Vecellio's collection of costume…designsnot the
commonplace edition； by your leave； so meagrely reproduced by modern
artists； but in truth a magnificent and venerable copy of that editio
princeps which is noble as those noble dames who figure upon its
yellowed leaves； made beautiful by time。
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While turning over the engravings with artless curiousity； Jeanne said
to me；
〃We were talking about taking a walk； but this is a great journey you
are making me take。 And I would like to travel very； very far away！〃
〃In that case； Mademoiselle；〃 I said to her； 〃you must arrange yourself
as comfortably as possible for travelling。 But you are now sitting on one
corner of your chair； so that the chair is standing upon only one leg； and
that Vecellio must tire your knees。 Sit down comfortably； put your chair
on its four feet； and put your book on the table。〃
She obeyed me with a laugh。
I watched her。 She cried out suddenly；
〃Oh； come look at this beautiful costume！〃 （It was that of the wife of a
Doge of Venice。） 〃How noble it is！ What magnificent ideas it gives one of
that life！ Oh； I must tell youI adore luxury！〃
〃You must not express such thoughts as those； Mademoiselle；〃 said the
schoolmistress； lifting up her little shapeless nose from her work。
〃Nevertheless； it was a very innocent utterance；〃 I replied。 〃There are
splendid souls in whom the love of splendid things is natural and inborn。〃
The little shapeless nose went down again。
〃Mademoiselle Prefere likes luxury too；〃 said Jeanne； 〃she cuts out
paper trimmings and shades for the lamps。 It is eco
