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！
own town。 People should wash their dirty linen at home； as Napoleon
said。 I thank you for your kindness。〃
Grandet scratched his ear； and there was a moment's silence。
〃My dear uncle；〃 resumed Charles； looking at him with an uneasy air；
as if he feared to wound his feelings； 〃my aunt and cousin have been
kind enough to accept a trifling remembrance of me。 Will you allow me
to give you these sleeve…buttons； which are useless to me now？ They
will remind you of a poor fellow who； far away； will always think of
those who are henceforth all his family。〃
〃My lad； my lad； you mustn't rob yourself this way！ Let me see； wife；
what have you got？〃 he added； turning eagerly to her。 〃Ah！ a gold
thimble。 And you； little girl？ What！ diamond buttons？ Yes； I'll accept
your present； nephew；〃 he answered； shaking Charles by the hand。 〃But
you must let mepayyouryes； your passage to the Indies。 Yes； I
wish to pay your passage becaused'ye see； my boy？in valuing your
jewels I estimated only the weight of the gold； very likely the
workmanship is worth something。 So let us settle it that I am to give
you fifteen hundred francsin /livres/； Cruchot will lend them to me。
I haven't got a copper farthing here；unless Perrotet； who is
behindhand with his rent； should pay up。 By the bye； I'll go and see
him。〃
He took his hat； put on his gloves； and went out。
〃Then you are really going？〃 said Eugenie to her cousin； with a sad
look； mingled with admiration。
〃I must；〃 he said； bowing his head。
For some days past； Charles's whole bearing； manners； and speech had
become those of a man who； in spite of his profound affliction； feels
the weight of immense obligations and has the strength to gather
courage from misfortune。 He no longer repined； he became a man。
Eugenie never augured better of her cousin's character than when she
saw him come down in the plain black clothes which suited well with
his pale face and sombre countenance。 On that day the two women put on
their own mourning； and all three assisted at a Requiem celebrated in
the parish church for the soul of the late Guillaume Grandet。
At the second breakfast Charles received letters from Paris and began
to read them。
〃Well； cousin； are you satisfied with the management of your affairs？〃
said Eugenie in a low voice。
〃Never ask such questions； my daughter；〃 said Grandet。 〃What the
devil！ do I tell you my affairs？ Why do you poke your nose into your
cousin's？ Let the lad alone！〃
〃Oh！ I haven't any secrets；〃 said Charles。
〃Ta； ta； ta； ta； nephew； you'll soon find out that you must hold your
tongue in business。〃
When the two lovers were alone in the garden； Charles said to Eugenie；
drawing her down on the old bench beneath the walnut…tree；
〃I did right to trust Alphonse； he has done famously。 He has managed
my affairs with prudence and good faith。 I now owe nothing in Paris。
All my things have been sold； and he tells me that he has taken the
advice of an old sea…captain and spent three thousand francs on a
commercial outfit of European curiosities which will be sure to be in
demand in the Indies。 He has sent my trunks to Nantes； where a ship is
loading for San Domingo。 In five days； Eugenie； we must bid each other
farewellperhaps forever； at least for years。 My outfit and ten
thousand francs； which two of my friends send me； are a very small
beginning。 I cannot look to return for many years。 My dear cousin； do
not weight your life in the scales with mine； I may perish； some good
marriage may be offered to you〃
〃Do you love me？〃 she said。
〃Oh； yes！ indeed； yes！〃 he answered； with a depth of tone that
revealed an equal depth of feeling。
〃I shall wait； CharlesGood heavens！ there is my father at his
window；〃 she said； repulsing her cousin； who leaned forward to kiss
her。
She ran quickly under the archway。 Charles followed her。 When she saw
him； she retreated to the foot of the staircase and opened the swing…
door； then； scarcely knowing where she was going； Eugenie reached the
corner near Nanon's den； in the darkest end of the passage。 There
Charles caught her hand and drew her to his heart。 Passing his arm
about her waist； he made her lean gently upon him。 Eugenie no longer
resisted； she received and gave the purest； the sweetest； and yet；
withal； the most unreserved of kisses。
〃Dear Eugenie； a cousin is better than a brother； for he can marry
you；〃 said Charles。
〃So be it！〃 cried Nanon； opening the door of her lair。
The two lovers； alarmed； fled into the hall； where Eugenie took up her
work and Charles began to read the litanies of the Virgin in Madame
Grandet's prayer…book。
〃Mercy！〃 cried Nanon； 〃now they're saying their prayers。〃
As soon as Charles announced his immediate departure； Grandet
bestirred himself to testify much interest in his nephew。 He became
very liberal of all that cost him nothing； took pains to find a
packer； declared the man asked too much for his cases； insisted on
making them himself out of old planks； got up early in the morning to
fit and plane and nail together the strips； out of which he made； to
his own satisfaction； some strong cases； in which he packed all
Charles's effects； he also took upon himself to send them by boat down
the Loire； to insure them； and get them to Nantes in proper time。
After the kiss taken in the passage； the hours fled for Eugenie with
frightful rapidity。 Sometimes she thought of following her cousin。
Those who have known that most endearing of all passions；the one
whose duration is each day shortened by time； by age； by mortal
illness； by human chances and fatalities；they will understand the
poor girl's tortures。 She wept as she walked in the garden； now so
narrow to her； as indeed the court； the house； the town all seemed。
She launched in thought upon the wide expanse of the ocean he was
about to traverse。 At last the eve of his departure came。 That
morning； in the absence of Grandet and of Nanon； the precious case
which contained the two portraits was solemnly installed in the only
drawer of the old cabinet which could be locked； where the now empty
velvet purse was lying。 This deposit was not made without a goodly
number of tears and kisses。 When Eugenie placed the key within her
bosom she had no courage to forbid the kiss with which Charles sealed
the act。
〃It shall never leave that place； my friend；〃 she said。
〃Then my heart will be always there。〃
〃Ah！ Charles； it is not right；〃 she said； as though she blamed him。
〃Are we not married？〃 he said。 〃I have thy promise；then take mine。〃
〃Thine； I am thine forever！〃 they each said； repeating the words twice
over。
No promise made upon this earth was ever purer。 The innocent sincerity
of Eugenie had sanctified for a moment the young man's love。
On the morrow the breakfast was sad。 Nanon herself； in spite of the
gold…embroidered robe and the Jeannette cross bestowed by Charles； had
tears in her eyes。
〃The poor dear monsieur who is going on the seasoh； may God guide
him！〃
At half…past ten the whole family started to escort Charles to the
diligence for Nantes。 Nanon let loose the dog； locked the door； and
insisted on carrying the young man's carpet…bag。 All the tradesmen in
the tortuous old street were o