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！
and then； taking her in his arms； set her on to the ground； as if
she had been some enormous bundle。 She shook the dust out of the
silk dress； and then looked round； to see in what sort of a place
she was。
She was a stout woman； of about thirty…six； full…blown and
delightful to look at。 She could hardly breathe； as she was laced
too tightly； which forced the heaving mass of her superabundant
bosom up to her double chin。 Next； the girl put her hand on to
her father's shoulder； and jumped lightly down。 The youth with
the yellow hair had got down by stepping on the wheel； and he
helped Monsieur Dufour to get the grandmother out。 Then they
unharnessed the horse； which they tied up to a tree； and the
carriage fell back； with both shafts in the air。 The man and boy
took off their coats； washed their hands in a pail of water； and
then joined the ladies； who had already taken possession of the
swings。
Mademoiselle Dufour was trying to swing herself standing up； but
she could not succeed in getting a start。 She was a pretty girl
of about eighteen； one of those women who suddenly excite your
desire when you meet them in the street； and who leave you with a
vague feeling of uneasiness and of excited senses。 She was tall；
had a small waist and large hips； with a dark skin； very large
eyes； and very black hair。 Her dress clearly marked the outlines
of her firm； full figure； which was accentuated by the motion of
her hips as she tried to swing herself higher。 Her arms were
stretched over her head to hold the rope； so that her bosom rose
at every movement she made。 Her hat； which a gust of wind had
blown off； was hanging behind her； and as the swing gradually
rose higher and higher； she showed her delicate limbs up to the
knees each time； and the wind from the perfumed petticoats； more
heady than the fumes of wine； blew into the faces of her father
and friend； who were looking at her in admiration。
Sitting in the other swing； Madame Dufour kept saying in a
monotonous voice：
〃Cyprian； come and swing me； do come and swing me； Cyprian！〃
At last he complied； and turning up his shirt…sleeves；
as if he intended to work very hard； with much difficulty he set
his wife in motion。 She clutched the two ropes； and held her legs
out straight； so as not to touch the ground。 She enjoyed feeling
giddy from the motion of the swing； and her whole figure shook
like a jelly on a dish； but as she went higher and higher； she
grew too giddy and got frightened。 Every time she was coming
back； she uttered a shriek； which made all the little urchins
come round； and； down below； beneath the garden hedge； she
vaguely saw a row of mischievous heads； making various grimaces
as they laughed。
When a servant girl came out； they ordered lunch。
〃Some fried fish； a stewed rabbit； salad； and dessert；〃 Madame
Dufour said； with an important air。
〃Bring two quarts of beer and a bottle of claret；〃 her husband
said。
〃We will have lunch on the grass；〃 the girl added。
The grandmother； who had an affection for cats； had been petting
one that belonged to the house； and had been bestowing the most
affectionate words on it； for the last ten minutes。 The animal；
no doubt secretly pleased by her attentions； kept close to the
good woman； but just out of reach of her hand； and quietly walked
round the trees； against which she rubbed herself； with her tail
up； purring with pleasure。
〃Hallo！〃 exclaimed the youth with the yellow hair； who was
ferreting about； 〃here are two swell boats！〃 They all went to
look at them； and saw two beautiful skiffs in a wooden boathouse；
which were as beautifully finished as if they had been objects of
luxury。 They were moored side by side； like two tall； slender
girls； in their narrow shining length； and aroused in one a wish
to float in them on warm summer mornings and evenings； along
flower…covered banks of the river； where the trees dip their
branches into the water； where the rushes are continually
rustling in the breeze； and where the swift kingfishers dart
about like flashes of blue lightning。
The whole family looked at them with great respect。
〃They are indeed two swell boats；〃 Monsieur Dufour repeated
gravely； and he examined them closely； commenting on them like a
connoisseur。 He had been in the habit of rowing in his younger
days； he said； and when he had that in his handsand he went
through the action of pulling the oarshe did not care a fig for
anybody。 He had beaten more than one Englishman formerly at the
Joinville regattas。 He grew quite excited at last； and offered to
make a bet that in a boat like that he could row six miles an
hour； without exerting himself。
〃Lunch is ready；〃 said the waitress； appearing at the entrance to
the boathouse。 They all hurried off； but two young men were
already lunching at the best place； which Madame Dufour had
chosen in her mind as her seat。 No doubt they were the owners of
the skiffs； for they were dressed in boating costume。 They were
stretched out； almost lying on chairs； and were sunburned； and
had on flannel trousers and thin cotton jerseys； with short
sleeves； which showed their bare arms； which were as strong as
blacksmiths'。 They were two strong young fellows； who thought a
great deal of their vigor； and who showed in all their movements
that elasticity and grace of limb which can only be acquired by
exercise； and which is so different to the awkwardness with which
the same continual work stamps the mechanic。
They exchanged a rapid smile when they saw the mother； and then a
look on seeing the daughter。
〃Let us give up our place；〃 one of them said； 〃it will make us
acquainted with them。〃
The other got up immediately； and holding his black and red
boating…cap in his hand； he politely offered the ladies the only
shady place in the garden。 With many excuses they accepted； and
so that it might be more rural； they sat on the grass； without
either tables or chairs。
The two young men took their plates； knives； forks； etc。； to a
table a little way off； and began to eat again。 Their bare arms；
which they showed continually； rather embarrassed the young girl；
who even pretended to turn her head aside； and not to see them。
But Madame Dufour； who was rather bolder； tempted by feminine
curiosity； looked at them every moment； and no doubt compared
them with the secret unsightliness of her husband。 She had
squatted herself on the ground with her legs tucked under her；
after the manner of tailors； and kept wriggling about
continually； under the pretext that ants were crawling about her
somewhere。 Monsieur Dufour； whom the politeness of the strangers
had put into rather a bad temper； was trying to find a
comfortable position； which he did not； however； succeed in
doing； while the youth with the yellow hair was eating as
silently as an ogre。
〃It is lovely weather； Monsieur；〃 the stout lady said to one of
the boating…men。 She wished to be friendly； because they had
given up their place。
〃It is； indeed； Madame；〃 he replied； 〃do you often go into the
country？〃
〃Oh！ Only once or twice a year； to get a little fresh air； and
you； Monsieur？〃
〃I come and sleep here every n