按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
reeable and comfortable。 The history of the widow of Ephesus is repeated every day； my friend。 The women wept and were melancholy a long time after the separation from their husbands； but at last they could not close their ears to the sweet； soft words of consolation which were whispered to them； at last they realized that incessant weeping and mourning had its wearisome and monotonous side； that the dreary time flew more swiftly if they sought to amuse themselves and be happy。 They allowed themselves to be comforted； in the absence of their husbands； by their lovers； and they felt no reproach of conscience； for they were convinced that their truant husbands were doing the same thing in their long separationwere making love to 'the lips that were near。'〃
〃Did you think and act thus； Louisa？〃 said Major du Trouffle； in a sad and anxious tone； looking his wife firmly in the eye。
Louisa laughed with calm and unconcern。
〃My friend；〃 said she； 〃would I have told all this to you； if I had committed the faults I charge upon others？ I have been inactive but observant； that has been my amusement； my only distraction； and my observations have filled me with amazement and abhorrence。 I have drawn from these sources profound and philosophic lessons。 I have studied mankind； and with full conviction I can assure you the war is not at an end； and； instead of the palm of peace； the apple of discord will flourish。 Men no longer believe in constancy or honesty； every man suspects his neighbor and holds him guilty； even as he knows himself to be guilty。 Every woman watches the conduct of other women with malicious curiosity； she seems to herself less guilty when she finds that others are no better than herself； and when； unhappily； she does not find that her friend is false or faithless； she will try to make her appear so； if the truth will not serve her purpose； she will； by slander and scandal； draw a veil over her own sins。 Never was there as much treachery and crime as now。 Calumny stands before every door； and will whisper such evil and fearful things in the ears of every returned soldier； that he will become wild with rage； and distrust his wife； no matter how innocent she may be。〃
〃I shall not be guilty of this fault；〃 said Major du Trouffle。 〃If I find slander lying in wait at my door； I will kick it from me and enter my home calmly and smilingly； without having listened to her whispers； or； if I have heard them involuntarily； without believing them；〃
〃Then there will be at least one house in Berlin where peace will reign；〃 said Louise； sweetly； 〃and that house will be ours。 I welcome you in the name of our lares； who have been long joyfully awaiting you。 I have also an agreeable surprise for you。〃
〃What surprise； Louise？〃
〃You often told me that my daughter Camilla disturbed your happiness； that she stood like a dark cloud over my past； which had not belonged to you。〃
〃It is true！ I could not force my heart to love her； her presence reminded me always that you had been loved by another； had belonged to another； and had been made thoroughly wretched。〃
〃Well then； friend； this cloud has been lifted up； and this is the surprise which awaited your return home。 Camilla has been married more than a year。〃
〃Married'〃 cried the major； joyfully； 〃who is the happy man that has undertaken to tame this wilful child； and warm her cold heart？〃
〃Ask rather； who is the unhappy man who was enamoured with this lovely face； and has taken a demon for an angel？〃 sighed Louise。 〃He is a young； distinguished； and wealthy Englishman； Lord Elliot； an attache of the English embassy； who fulfilled the duties of minister during the absence of the ambassador； Lord Mitchel； who was generally at the headquarters of the king。〃
〃And Camilla； did she love him？〃
Louise shrugged her shoulders。
〃When he made his proposals； she declared herself ready to marry him； but； I believe； his presence was less agreeable and interesting to her than the splendid gifts he daily brought her。〃
〃But； Louise； it was her free choice to marry him？ You did not persuade her？ you did not； I hope； in order to humor my weakness； induce her by entreaties and representations to marry against her will？〃
〃My friend；〃 said Louise； with the proud air of an injured mother； 〃however fondly I may have loved you； I would not have sacrificed for you the happiness of an only child。 Camilla asked my consent to her marriage after she had obtained her father's permission； and I gave it。 The marriage took place three days after the engagement； and the young pair made a bridal…trip to England； from which they returned a few months since。〃
〃And where are they now？〃
〃They live in Berlin in an enchanting villa； which Lord Elliot has converted into a palace for his young wife。 You will see them this evening； for they are both here； and〃
Louise ceased to speak； a well…known voice interrupted the silence； and drew nearer and nearer。 〃Ah；〃 whispered she； lightly； 〃the proverb is fulfilled； 'Speak of the wolf； and he appears。' That is Lord Elliot and Camilla speaking with such animation。 Let us listen awhile。〃
The youthful pair had now drawn near； and stood just before the grotto。
〃I find it cruel； very cruel； to deny me every innocent pleasure；〃 said Camilla； with a harsh； displeased voice。 〃I must live like a nun who has taken an eternal vow； I am weary of it。〃
〃Oh； my Camilla； you slander yourself when you say this； you are not well； and you must be prudent。 I know you better than you know yourself； my Camilla。 Your heart； which is clear and transparent as crystal； lies ever unveiled before me； and I listen with devout love to its every pulse。 I am sure that you do not wish to dance to…day； my love。〃
〃I wish to dance； and I will dance； because it gives me pleasure。〃
〃Because you are like a sweet child and like the angels；〃 said Lord Elliot； eagerly； 〃your heart is gay and innocent。 You are like a fluttering Cupid； sleeping in flower…cups and dreaming of stars and golden sunshine； you know nothing of earthly and prosaic thoughts。 I must bind your wings； my beauteous butterfly； and hold you down in the dust of this poor； pitiful world。 Wait； only wait till you are well； when your health is restored； you shall be richly repaid for all your present self…denial。 Every day I will procure you new pleasures； prepare you new _fetes_； you shall dance upon carpets of roses like an elfin queen。〃
〃You promise me that？〃 said Camilla； 〃you promise me that you will not prevent my dancing as much and as gayly as I like？〃
〃I promise you all this； Camilla； if you will only not dance now。〃
〃Well；〃 sighed she； 〃I agree to this； but I fear that my cousin； Count Kindar； will be seriously displeased if I suddenly refuse him the dance I promised him。〃
〃He will excuse you； sweetheart； when I beg him to do so；〃 said Lord Elliot； with a soft smile。 〃I will seek him at once； and make your excuses。 Be kind enough to wait for me here； I will return immediately。〃 He kissed her fondly upon the brow； and hastened off。
Camilla looked after him and sighed deeply； then； drawing back the long leaves of the palm； she entered the grotto； she stepped hastily back when she saw