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！
saw once more the mother's faded features； or he felt the touch
of Adelaide's hands。 He remembered some gesture which at first
had not greatly struck him； but whose exquisite grace was thrown
into relief by memory； then an attitude； or the tones of a
melodious voice； enhanced by the distance of remembrance；
suddenly rose before him； as objects plunging to the bottom of
deep waters come back to the surface。
So； on the day when he could resume work； he went early to his
studio； but the visit he undoubtedly had a right to pay to his
neighbors was the true cause of his haste； he had already
forgotten the pictures he had begun。 At the moment when a passion
throws off its swaddling clothes； inexplicable pleasures are
felt； known to those who have loved。 So some readers will
understand why the painter mounted the stairs to the fourth floor
but slowly； and will be in the secret of the throbs that followed
each other so rapidly in his heart at the moment when he saw the
humble brown door of the rooms inhabited by Mademoiselle
Leseigneur。 This girl； whose name was not the same as her
mother's； had aroused the young painter's deepest sympathies； he
chose to fancy some similarity between himself and her as to
their position； and attributed to her misfortunes of birth akin
to his own。 All the time he worked Hippolyte gave himself very
willingly to thoughts of love； and made a great deal of noise to
compel the two ladies to think of him； as he was thinking of
them。 He stayed late at the studio and dined there； then； at
about seven o'clock； he went down to call on his neighbors。
No painter of manners has ventured to initiate usperhaps out of
modestyinto the really curious privacy of certain Parisian
existences； into the secret of the dwellings whence emerge such
fresh and elegant toilets； such brilliant women； who rich on the
surface； allow the signs of very doubtful comfort to peep out in
every part of their home。 If； here； the picture is too boldly
drawn； if you find it tedious in places； do not blame the
description； which is； indeed； part and parcel of my story； for
the appearance of the rooms inhabited by his two neighbors had a
great influence on the feelings and hopes of Hippolyte Schinner。
The house belonged to one of those proprietors in whom there is a
foregone and profound horror of repairs and decoration； one of
the men who regard their position as Paris house…owners as a
business。 In the vast chain of moral species； these people hold a
middle place between the miser and the usurer。 Optimists in their
own interests； they are all faithful to the Austrian status quo。
If you speak of moving a cupboard or a door； of opening the most
indispensable air…hole； their eyes flash； their bile rises； they
rear like a frightened horse。 When the wind blows down a few
chimney…pots they are quite ill； and deprive themselves of an
evening at the Gymnase or the Porte…Saint…Martin Theatre； 〃on
account of repairs。〃 Hippolyte； who had seen the performance
gratis of a comical scene with Monsieur Molineux as concerning
certain decorative repairs in his studio； was not surprised to
see the dark greasy paint； the oily stains； spots； and other
disagreeable accessories that varied the woodwork。 And these
stigmata of poverty are not altogether devoid of poetry in an
artist's eyes。
Mademoiselle Leseigneur herself opened the door。 On recognizing
the young artist she bowed； and at the same time； with Parisian
adroitness； and with the presence of mind that pride can lend；
she turned round to shut the door in a glass partition through
which Hippolyte might have caught sight of some linen hung by
lines over patent ironing stoves； an old camp…bed； some wood…
embers； charcoal； irons； a filter； the household crockery； and
all the utensils familiar to a small household。 Muslin curtains；
fairly white； carefully screened this lumber…rooma capharnaum；
as the French call such a domestic laboratory；which was lighted
by windows looking out on a neighboring yard。
Hippolyte； with the quick eye of an artist； saw the uses； the
furniture； the general effect and condition of this first room；
thus cut in half。 The more honorable half； which served both as
ante…room and dining…room； was hung with an old salmon…rose…
colored paper； with a flock border； the manufacture of Reveillon；
no doubt； the holes and spots had been carefully touched over
with wafers。 Prints representing the battles of Alexander； by
Lebrun； in frames with the gilding rubbed off were symmetrically
arranged on the walls。 In the middle stood a massive mahogany
table； old…fashioned in shape； and worn at the edges。 A small
stove； whose thin straight pipe was scarcely visible； stood in
front of the chimney…place； but the hearth was occupied by a
cupboard。 By a strange contrast the chairs showed some remains of
former splendor； they were of carved mahogany； but the red
morocco seats； the gilt nails and reeded backs； showed as many
scars as an old sergeant of the Imperial Guard。
This room did duty as a museum of certain objects； such as are
never seen but in this kind of amphibious household； nameless
objects with the stamp at once of luxury and penury。 Among other
curiosities Hippolyte noticed a splendidly finished telescope；
hanging over the small discolored glass that decorated the
chimney。 To harmonize with this strange collection of furniture；
there was； between the chimney and the partition； a wretched
sideboard of painted wood； pretending to be mahogany； of all
woods the most impossible to imitate。 But the slippery red
quarries； the shabby little rugs in front of the chairs； and all
the furniture； shone with the hard rubbing cleanliness which
lends a treacherous lustre to old things by making their defects；
their age； and their long service still more conspicuous。 An
indescribable odor pervaded the room； a mingled smell of the
exhalations from the lumber room； and the vapors of the dining…
room； with those from the stairs； though the window was partly
open。 The air from the street fluttered the dusty curtains； which
were carefully drawn so as to hide the window bay； where former
tenants had testified to their presence by various ornamental
additionsa sort of domestic fresco。
Adelaide hastened to open the door of the inner room； where she
announced the painter with evident pleasure。 Hippolyte； who； of
yore； had seen the same signs of poverty in his mother's home；
noted them with the singular vividness of impression which
characterizes the earliest acquisitions of memory； and entered
into the details of this existence better than any one else would
have done。 As he recognized the facts of his life as a child； the
kind young fellow felt neither scorn for disguised misfortune nor
pride in the luxury he had lately conquered for his mother。
〃Well； monsieur； I hope you no longer feel the effects of your
fall；〃 said the old lady； rising from an antique armchair th