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！
desire to see her picturesque home； telegraphed an invitation to pass the
day with her； naming the train she could meet； which would allow for the
long drive to her chateau before luncheon。 It is needless to say the
invitation was accepted。 As my train drew up at the little station； Madame
Calve； in her trap； was the first person I saw； and no time was lost in
getting EN ROUTE。
During the hour passed on the poplar…bordered road that leads straight
and white across the country I had time to appreciate the transformation in
the woman at my side。 Was this gray… clad； nunlike figure the passionate；
sensuous Carmen of Bizet's masterpiece？ Could that calm； pale face；
crossed by innumerable lines of suffering； as a spider's web lies on a
flower； blaze and pant with Sappho's guilty love？
Something of these thoughts must have appeared on my face； for
turning with a smile； she asked； 〃You find me changed？ It's the air of my
village。 Here I'm myself。 Everywhere else I'm different。 On the stage I am
any part I may be playing； but am never really happy away from my hill
there。〃 As she spoke； a sun…baked hamlet came in sight； huddled around
the base of two tall towers that rose cool and gray in the noonday heat。
〃All that wing；〃 she added； 〃is arranged for the convalescent girls
whom I have sent down to me from the Paris hospitals for a cure of fresh
air and simple food。 Six years ago； just after I had bought this place； a
series of operations became necessary which left me prostrated and
anaemic。 No tonics were of benefit。 I grew weaker day by day； until the
doctors began to despair of my life。 Finally； at the advice of an old woman
here who passes for being something of a curer； I tried the experiment or
lying five or six hours a day motionless in the sunlight。 It wasn't long
before I felt life creeping back to my poor feeble body。 The hot sun of our
magic south was a more subtle tonic than any drug。 When the cure was
50
… Page 51…
THE WAYS OF MEN
complete； I made up my mind that each summer the same chance should
be offered to as many of my suffering sisters as this old place could be
made to accommodate。〃
The bells on the shaggy Tarbes ponies she was driving along the
Languedoc road drew； on nearing her residence； a number of peasant
children from their play。
As the ruddy urchins ran shouting around our carriage wheels and
scrambled in the dust for the sous we threw them； my hostess pointed
laughing to a scrubby little girl with tomato… colored cheeks and tousled
dark hair； remarking； 〃I looked like that twenty years ago and performed
just those antics on this very road。 No punishment would keep me off the
highway。 Those pennies； if I'm not mistaken； will all be spent at the village
pastry cook's within an hour。〃
This was said with such a tender glance at the children that one
realized the great artist was at home here； surrounded by the people she
loved and understood。 True to the 〃homing〃 instinct of the French peasant；
Madame Calve； when fortune came to her； bought and partially restored
the rambling chateau which at sunset casts its shadow across the village of
her birth。 Since that day every moment of freedom from professional labor
and every penny of her large income are spent at Cabrieres； building；
planning； even farming； when her health permits。
〃I think；〃 she continued； as we approached the chateau； 〃that the
happiest day of my life … and I have； as you know； passed some hours
worth living； both on and off the stage … was when； that wing completed； a
Paris train brought the first occupants for my twenty little bedrooms； no
words can tell the delight it gives me now to see the color coming back to
my patients' pale lips and hear them laughing and singing about the place。
As I am always short of funds； the idea of abandoning this work is the
only fear the future holds for me。〃
With the vivacity peculiar to her character； my companion then
whipped up her cobs and turned the conversation into gayer channels。 Five
minutes later we clattered over a drawbridge and drew up in a roomy
courtyard； half blinding sunlight and half blue shadow； where a score of
girls were occupied with books and sewing。
51
… Page 52…
THE WAYS OF MEN
The luncheon bell was ringing as we ascended the terrace steps。 After
a hurried five minutes for brushing and washing； we took our places at a
long table set in the cool stone hall； guests stopping in the chateau
occupying one end around the chatelaine； the convalescents filling the
other seats。
Those who have only seen the capricious diva on the stage or in
Parisian salons can form little idea of the proprietress of Cabrieres。 No
shade of coquetry blurs the clear picture of her home life。 The capped and
saboted peasant women who waited on us were not more simple in their
ways。 Several times during the meal she left her seat to inquire after the
comfort of some invalid girl or inspect the cooking in the adjacent kitchen。
These wanderings were not； however； allowed to disturb the conversation；
which flowed on after the mellow French fashion； enlivened by much wit
and gay badinage。 One of our hostess's anecdotes at her own expense was
especially amusing。
〃When in Venice；〃 she told us； 〃most prima donnas are carried to and
from the opera in sedan chairs to avoid the risk of colds from the draughty
gondolas。 The last night of my initial season there； I was informed； as the
curtain fell； that a number of Venetian nobles were planning to carry me in
triumph to the hotel。 When I descended from my dressing…room the
courtyard of the theatre was filled with men in dress clothes； bearing
lanterns； who caught up the chair as soon as I was seated and carried it
noisily across the city to the hotel。 Much moved by this unusual honor； I
mounted to the balcony of my room； from which elevation I bowed my
thanks； and threw all the flowers at hand to my escort。
〃Next morning the hotel proprietor appeared with my coffee； and after
hesitating a moment； remarked： ‘Well； we