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！
very far away； he is at Marsac。〃
〃And why is he not here？〃 asked Mme。 Chardon。
Then the Abbe told the whole story as Lucien had told it to himthe
misery of the journey； the troubles of the last days in Paris。 He
described the poet's agony of mind when he heard of the havoc wrought
at home by his imprudence； and his apprehension as to the reception
awaiting him at Angouleme。
〃He has doubts of us； has it come to this？〃 said Mme。 Chardon。
〃The unhappy young man has come back to you on foot； enduring the most
terrible hardships by the way； he is prepared to enter the humblest
walks in lifeif so he may make reparation。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 Lucien's sister said； 〃in spite of the wrong he has done
us； I love my brother still； as we love the dead body when the soul
has left it； and even so； I love him more than many sisters love their
brothers。 He has made us poor indeed； but let him come to us； he shall
share the last crust of bread； anything indeed that he has left us。
Oh； if he had never left us； monsieur； we should not have lost our
heart's treasure。〃
〃And the woman who took him from us brought him back on her carriage！〃
exclaimed Mme。 Chardon。 〃He went away sitting by Mme。 de Bargeton's
side in her caleche； and he came back behind it。〃
〃Can I do anything for you？〃 asked the good cure； seeking an
opportunity to take leave。
〃A wound in the purse is not fatal； they say； monsieur；〃 said Mme。
Chardon； 〃but the patient must be his own doctor。〃
〃If you have sufficient influence with my father…in…law to induce him
to help his son； you would save a whole family；〃 said Eve。
〃He has no belief in you； and he seemed to me to be very much
exasperated against your husband；〃 answered the old cure。 He retained
an impression； from the ex…pressman's rambling talk； that the
Sechards' affairs were a kind of wasps' nest with which it was
imprudent to meddle； and his mission being fulfilled； he went to dine
with his nephew Postel。 That worthy； like the rest of Angouleme；
maintained that the father was in the right； and soon dissipated any
little benevolence that the old gentleman was disposed to feel towards
the son and his family。
〃With those that squander money something may be done；〃 concluded
little Postel； 〃but those that make experiments are the ruin of you。〃
The cure went home； his curiosity was thoroughly satisfied； and this
is the end and object of the exceeding interest taken in other
people's business in the provinces。 In the course of the evening the
poet was duly informed of all that had passed in the Sechard family；
and the journey was represented as a pilgrimage undertaken from
motives of the purest charity。
〃You have run your brother…in…law and sister into debt to the amount
of ten or twelve thousand francs；〃 said the Abbe as he drew to an end；
〃and nobody hereabouts has that trifling amount to lend a neighbor； my
dear sir。 We are not rich in Angoumois。 When you spoke to me of your
bills； I thought that a much smaller amount was involved。〃
Lucien thanked the old man for his good offices。 〃The promise of
forgiveness which you have brought is for me a priceless gift。〃
Very early the next morning Lucien set out from Marsac； and reached
Angouleme towards nine o'clock。 He carried nothing but his walking…
stick； the short jacket that he wore was considerably the worst for
his journey； his black trousers were whitened with dust； and a pair of
worn boots told sufficiently plainly that their owner belonged to the
hapless tribe of tramps。 He knew well enough that the contrast between
his departure and return was bound to strike his fellow…townsmen； he
did not try to hide the fact from himself。 But just then； with his
heart swelling beneath the oppression of remorse awakened in him by
the old cure's story； he accepted his punishment for the moment； and
made up his mind to brave the eyes of his acquaintances。 Within
himself he said； 〃I am behaving heroically。〃
Poetic temperaments of this stamp begin as their own dupes。 He walked
up through L'Houmeau； shame at the manner of his return struggling
with the charm of old associations as he went。 His heart beat quickly
as he passed Postel's shop； but； very luckily for him； the only
persons inside it were Leonie and her child。 And yet； vanity was still
so strong in him； that he could feel glad that his father's name had
been painted out on the shop…front； for Postel； since his marriage；
had redecorated his abode； and the word 〃Pharmacy〃 now alone appeared
there； in the Paris fashion； in big letters。
When Lucien reached the steps by the Palet Gate； he felt the influence
of his native air； his misfortunes no longer weighed upon him。 〃I
shall see them again！〃 he said to himself； with a thrill of delight。
He reached the Place du Murier； and had not met a soul； a piece of
luck that he scarcely hoped for； he who once had gone about his native
place with a conqueror's air。 Marion and Kolb； on guard at the door；
flew out upon the steps； crying out； 〃Here he is！〃
Lucien saw the familiar workshop and courtyard； and on the staircase
met his mother and sister； and for a moment； while their arms were
about him； all three almost forgot their troubles。 In family life we
almost always compound with our misfortunes； we make a sort of bed to
rest upon； and； if it is hard； hope to make it tolerable。 If Lucien
looked the picture of despair； poetic charm was not wanting to the
picture。 His face had been tanned by the sunlight of the open road；
and the deep sadness visible in his features overshadowed his poet's
brow。 The change in him told so plainly of sufferings endured； his
face was so worn by sharp misery； that no one could help pitying him。
Imagination had fared forth into the world and found sad reality at
the home…coming。 Eve was smiling in the midst of her joy； as the
saints smile upon martyrdom。 The face of a young and very fair woman
grows sublimely beautiful at the touch of grief； Lucien remembered the
innocent girlish face that he saw last before he went to Paris； and
the look of gravity that had come over it spoke so eloquently that he
could not but feel a painful impression。 The first quick； natural
outpouring of affection was followed at once by a reaction on either
side； they were afraid to speak； and when Lucien almost involuntarily
looked round for another who should have been there； Eve burst into
tears； and Lucien did the same； but Mme。 Chardon's haggard face showed
no sign of emotion。 Eve rose to her feet and went downstairs； partly
to spare her brother a word of reproach； partly to speak to Marion。
〃Lucien is so fond of strawberries； child； we must find some
strawberries for him。〃
〃Oh； I was sure that you would want to welcome M。 Lucien； you shall
have a nice little breakfast and a good dinner； too。〃
〃Lucien；〃 said Mme。 Chardon when the mother and son were left alone；
〃you have a great deal to repair here。 You went away that we all might
be proud of you； you have plunged us into want。 You have all but
destroyed your brother's opportunity of making a fortune that he only
cared to win for the sake of his new family。 Nor is this all that you
have destroyed〃 said the