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！
willows。 Beyond； distinct in the sunlight； rise little white houses； with red
roofs； and manufactories； which； at that distance； put an admirable finish
to the landscape。 Beyond that； Paris in the mist！ As Prudence had told us；
it was the real country； and； I must add； it was a real lunch。
It is not only out of gratitude for the happiness I owe it； but Bougival；
in spite of its horrible name； is one of the prettiest places that it is possible
to imagine。 I have travelled a good deal； and seen much grander things；
but none more charming than this little village gaily seated at the foot of
the hill which protects it。
111
… Page 112…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
Mme。 Arnould asked us if we would take a boat； and Marguerite and
Prudence accepted joyously。
People have always associated the country with love； and they have
done well； nothing affords so fine a frame for the woman whom one loves
as the blue sky； the odours； the flowers； the breeze； the shining solitude of
fields； or woods。 However much one loves a woman； whatever confidence
one may have in her； whatever certainty her past may offer us as to her
future； one is always more or less jealous。 If you have been in love； you
must have felt the need of isolating from this world the being in whom you
would live wholly。 It seems as if； however indifferent she may be to her
surroundings； the woman whom one loves loses something of her perfume
and of her unity at the contact of men and things。 As for me； I experienced
that more than most。 Mine was not an ordinary love； I was as much in love
as an ordinary creature could be； but with Marguerite Gautier； that is to
say； that at Paris； at every step； I might elbow the man who had already
been her lover or who was about to； while in the country； surrounded by
people whom we had never seen and who had no concern with us； alone
with nature in the spring…time of the year； that annual pardon； and shut off
from the noise of the city； I could hide my love； and love without shame or
fear。
The courtesan disappeared little by little。 I had by me a young and
beautiful woman； whom I loved； and who loved me； and who was called
Marguerite； the past had no more reality and the future no more clouds。
The sun shone upon my mistress as it might have shone upon the purest
bride。 We walked together in those charming spots which seemed to have
been made on purpose to recall the verses of Lamartine or to sing the
melodies of Scudo。 Marguerite was dressed in white； she leaned on my
arm； saying over to me again under the starry sky the words she had said
to me the day before； and far off the world went on its way； without
darkening with its shadow the radiant picture of our youth and love。
That was the dream that the hot sun brought to me that day through the
leaves of the trees； as； lying on the grass of the island on which we had
landed； I let my thought wander； free from the human links that had bound
it； gathering to itself every hope that came in its way。
112
… Page 113…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
Add to this that from the place where I was I could see on the shore a
charming little house of two stories； with a semicircular railing； through
the railing； in front of the house； a green lawn； smooth as velvet； and
behind the house a little wood full of mysterious retreats； where the moss
must efface each morning the pathway that had been made the day before。
Climbing flowers clung about the doorway of this uninhabited house；
mounting as high as the first story。
I looked at the house so long that I began by thinking of it as mine； so
perfectly did it embody the dream that I was dreaming； I saw Marguerite
and myself there； by day in the little wood that covered the hillside； in the
evening seated on the grass； and I asked myself if earthly creatures had
ever been so happy as we should be。
〃What a pretty house！〃 Marguerite said to me； as she followed the
direction of my gaze and perhaps of my thought。
〃Where？〃 asked Prudence。
〃Yonder；〃 and Marguerite pointed to the house in question。
〃Ah； delicious！〃 replied Prudence。 〃Do you like it？〃
〃Very much。〃
〃Well； tell the duke to take it for you； he would do so； I am sure。 I'll
see about it if you like。〃
Marguerite looked at me； as if to ask me what I thought。 My dream
vanished at the last words of Prudence； and brought me back to reality so
brutally that I was still stunned with the fall。
〃Yes； yes； an excellent idea；〃 I stammered； not knowing what I was
saying。
〃Well； I will arrange that；〃 said Marguerite； freeing my hand； and
interpreting my words according to her own desire。 〃Let us go and see if it
is to let。〃
The house was empty； and to let for two thousand francs。
〃Would you be happy here？〃 she said to me。
〃Am I sure of coming here？〃
〃And for whom else should I bury myself here； if not for you？〃
〃Well； then； Marguerite； let me take it myself。〃
〃You are mad； not only is it unnecessary； but it would be dangerous。
113
… Page 114…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
You know perfectly well that I have no right to accept it save from one
man。 Let me alone； big baby； and say nothing。〃
〃That means；〃 said Prudence； 〃that when I have two days free I will
come and spend them with you。〃
We left the house； and started on our return to Paris； talking over the
new plan。 I held Marguerite in my arms； and as I got down from the
carriage； I had already begun to look upon her arrangement with less
critical eyes。
114
… Page 115…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
CHAPTER 17
Next day Marguerite sent me away very early； saying that the duke
was coming at an early hour； and promising to write to me the moment he
went； and to make an appointment for the evening。 In the course of the day
I received this note：
〃I am going to Bougival with the duke； be at Prudence's to…night at
eight。〃
At the appointed hour Marguerite came to me at Mme。 Duvernoy's。
〃Well； it is all settled；〃 she said； as she entered。 〃The house is taken？〃
asked Prudence。