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！
。 She spoke in a persuasive voice； as she saw that the doctor came no further； 〃Will you not do me the honor of coming inside and resting for a moment； M。 Benassis？〃
〃Certainly we will。 Come this way； captain。〃
〃The gentleman must be very hot！ Will you take a little milk or some wine？ M。 Benassis； please try a little of the wine that my husband has been so kind as to buy for my confinement。 You will tell me if it is good。〃
〃You have a good man for your husband。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 she turned and spoke in quiet tones； 〃I am very well off。〃
〃We will not take anything； Mme。 Vigneau； I only came round this way to see that nothing troublesome had happened。〃
〃Nothing；〃 she said。 〃I was busy out in the garden； as you saw； turning the soil over for the sake of something to do。〃
Then the two old mothers came out to speak to Benassis； and the young wagoner planted himself in the middle of the yard； in a spot from whence he could have a good view of the doctor。
〃Let us see； let me have your hand；〃 said Benassis； addressing Mme。 Vigneau； and as he carefully felt her pulse； he stood in silence； absorbed in thought。 The three women； meanwhile； scrutinized the commandant with the undisguised curiosity that country people do not scruple to express。
〃Nothing could be better！〃 cried the doctor cheerily。
〃Will she be confined soon？〃 both the mothers asked together。
〃This week beyond a doubt。 Is Vigneau away from home？〃 he asked； after a pause。
〃Yes； sir；〃 the young wife answered； 〃he is hurrying about settling his business affairs； so as to be able to stay at home during my confinement； the dear man！〃
〃Well； my children； go on and prosper； continue to increase your wealth and to add to your family。〃
The cleanliness of the almost ruinous dwelling filled Genestas with admiration。
Benassis saw the officer's astonishment； and said； 〃There is no one like Mme。 Vigneau for keeping a house clean and tidy like this。 I wish that several people in the town would come here to take a lesson。〃
The tile…maker's wife blushed and turned her head away； but the faces of the two old mothers beamed with pleasure at the doctor's words； and the three women walked with them to the spot where the horses were waiting。
〃Well； now；〃 the doctor said to the two old women； 〃here is happiness for you both！ Were you not longing to be grandmothers？〃
〃Oh； do not talk about it；〃 said the young wife； 〃they will drive me crazy among them。 My two mothers wish for a boy； and my husband would like to have a little girl。 It will be very difficult to please them all； I think。〃
〃But you yourself；〃 asked Benassis； 〃what is your wish？〃
〃Ah； sir； I wish for a child of my own。〃
〃There！ She is a mother already； you see；〃 said the doctor to the officer； as he laid his hand on the bridle of his horse。
〃Good…bye； M。 Benassis； my husband will be sadly disappointed to learn that you have been here when he was not at home to see you。〃
〃He has not forgotten to send the thousand tiles to the Grange…aux… Belles for me？〃
〃You know quite well； sir； that he would keep all the orders in the canton waiting to serve you。 Why； taking your money is the thing that troubles him most； but I always tell him that your crowns bring luck with them； and so they do。〃
〃Good…bye；〃 said Benassis。
A little group gathered about the bars across the entrance to the tile…works。 The three women； the young wagoner； and two workmen who had left off work to greet the doctor； lingered there to have the pleasure of being with him until the last moment； as we are wont to linger with those we love。 The promptings of men's hearts must everywhere be the same； and in every land friendship expresses itself in the same gracious ways。
Benassis looked at the height of the sun and spoke to his companion：
〃There are still two hours of daylight left； and if you are not too hungry； we will go to see some one with whom I nearly always spend the interval between the last of my visits and the hour for dinner。 She is a charming girl whom every one here calls my 'good friend。' That is the name that they usually give to an affianced bride； but you must not imagine that there is the slightest imputation of any kind implied or intended by the use of the word in this case。 Poor child； the care that I have taken of her has； as may be imagined； made her an object of jealousy； but the general opinion entertained as to my character has prevented any spiteful gossip。 If no one understands the apparent caprice that has led me to make an allowance to La Fosseuse； so that she can live without being compelled to work； nobody has any doubts as to her character。 I have watched over her with friendly care； and every one knows that I should never hesitate to marry her if my affection for her exceeded the limits of friendship。 But no woman exists for me here in the canton or anywhere else；〃 said the doctor； forcing a smile。 〃Some natures feel a tyrannous need to attach themselves to some one thing or being which they single out from among the beings and things around them； this need is felt most keenly by a man of quick sympathies； and all the more pressingly if his life has been made desolate。 So； trust me； it is a favorable sign if a man is strongly attached to his dog or his horse！ Among the suffering flock which chance has given into my care； this poor little sufferer has come to be for me like the pet lamb that the shepherd lasses deck with ribbons in my own sunny land of Languedoc； they talk to it and allow it to find pasture by the side of the cornfields； and its leisurely pace is never hurried by the shepherd's dog。〃
Benassis stood with his hand on his horse's mane as he spoke； ready to spring into the saddle； but making no effort to do so； as though the thoughts that stirred in him were but little in keeping with rapid movements。
〃Let us go；〃 he said at last； 〃come with me and pay her a visit。 I am taking you to see her； does not that tell you that I treat her as a sister？〃
As they rode on their way again； Genestas said to the doctor； 〃Will you regard it as inquisitiveness on my part if I ask to hear more of La Fosseuse？ I have come to know the story of many lives through you； and hers cannot be less interesting than some of these。〃
Benassis stopped his horse as he answered。 〃Perhaps you will not share in the feelings of interest awakened in me by La Fosseuse。 Her fate is like my own； we have both alike missed our vocation； it is the similarity of our lots that occasions my sympathy for her and the feelings that I experience at the sight of her。 You either followed your natural bent when you entered upon a military career； or you took a liking for your calling after you had adopted it； otherwise you would not have borne the heavy yoke of military discipline till now； you； therefore； cannot understand the sorrows of a soul that must always feel renewed within it the stir of longings that can never be realized； nor the pining existence of a creature forced to live in an alien sphere。 Such sufferings as these are known only to these natures and to God who sends their afflictions； for they alone can know how deeply the events of life affect them。 You yourself have seen the miseri