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！
two months past。 Hence the effect produced on her by this work must
not be judged by ordinary rules。 Without prejudice of any kind as to
the greater or less merit of this composition from the pen of a
Parisian who had thus imported into the province the manner； the
brilliancy； if you will； of the new literary school； it could not fail
to be a masterpiece to a young girl abandoning all her intelligence
and her innocent heart to her first reading of this kind。
Also； from what she had heard said； Rosalie had by intuition conceived
a notion of it which strangely enhanced the interest of this novel。
She hoped to find in it the sentiments； and perhaps something of the
life of Albert。 From the first pages this opinion took so strong a
hold on her； that after reading the fragment to the end she was
certain that it was no mistake。 Here； then； is this confession； in
which； according to the critics of Madame de Chavoncourt's drawing…
room； Albert had imitated some modern writers who； for lack of
inventiveness； relate their private joys； their private griefs； or the
mysterious events of their own life。
*****
AMBITION FOR LOVE'S SAKE
In 1823 two young men； having agreed as a plan for a holiday to make a
tour through Switzerland； set out from Lucerne one fine morning in the
month of July in a boat pulled by three oarsmen。 They started for
Fluelen； intending to stop at every notable spot on the lake of the
Four Cantons。 The views which shut in the waters on the way from
Lucerne to Fluelen offer every combination that the most exacting
fancy can demand of mountains and rivers； lakes and rocks； brooks and
pastures； trees and torrents。 Here are austere solitudes and charming
headlands； smiling and trimly kept meadows； forests crowning
perpendicular granite cliffs； like plumes； deserted but verdant
reaches opening out； and valleys whose beauty seems the lovelier in
the dreamy distance。
As they passed the pretty hamlet of Gersau； one of the friends looked
for a long time at a wooden house which seemed to have been recently
built； enclosed by a paling； and standing on a promontory； almost
bathed by the waters。 As the boat rowed past； a woman's head was
raised against the background of the room on the upper story of this
house； to admire the effect of the boat on the lake。 One of the young
men met the glance thus indifferently given by the unknown fair。
〃Let us stop here；〃 said he to his friend。 〃We meant to make Lucerne
our headquarters for seeing Switzerland； you will not take it amiss；
Leopold； if I change my mind and stay here to take charge of our
possessions。 Then you can go where you please； my journey is ended。
Pull to land； men； and put us out at this village； we will breakfast
here。 I will go back to Lucerne to fetch all our luggage； and before
you leave you will know in which house I take a lodging； where you
will find me on your return。〃
〃Here or at Lucerne；〃 replied Leopold； 〃the difference is not so great
that I need hinder you from following your whim。〃
These two youths were friends in the truest sense of the word。 They
were of the same age； they had learned at the same school； and after
studying the law； they were spending their holiday in the classical
tour in Switzerland。 Leopold； by his father's determination； was
already pledged to a place in a notary's office in Paris。 His spirit
of rectitude； his gentleness； and the coolness of his senses and his
brain； guaranteed him to be a docile pupil。 Leopold could see himself
a notary in Paris； his life lay before him like one of the highroads
that cross the plains of France； and he looked along its whole length
with philosophical resignation。
The character of his companion； whom we will call Rodolphe； presented
a strong contrast with Leopold's； and their antagonism had no doubt
had the result of tightening the bond that united them。 Rodolphe was
the natural son of a man of rank； who was carried off by a premature
death before he could make any arrangements for securing the means of
existence to a woman he fondly loved and to Rodolphe。 Thus cheated by
a stroke of fate； Rodolphe's mother had recourse to a heroic measure。
She sold everything she owed to the munificence of her child's father
for a sum of more than a hundred thousand francs； bought with it a
life annuity for herself at a high rate； and thus acquired an income
of about fifteen thousand francs； resolving to devote the whole of it
to the education of her son； so as to give him all the personal
advantages that might help to make his fortune； while saving； by
strict economy； a small capital to be his when he came of age。 It was
bold； it was counting on her own life； but without this boldness the
good mother would certainly have found it impossible to live and to
bring her child up suitably； and he was her only hope； her future； the
spring of all her joys。
Rodolphe； the son of a most charming Parisian woman； and a man of
mark； a nobleman of Brabant； was cursed with extreme sensitiveness。
From his infancy he had in everything shown a most ardent nature。 In
him mere desire became a guiding force and the motive power of his
whole being； the stimulus to his imagination； the reason of his
actions。 Notwithstanding the pains taken by a clever mother； who was
alarmed when she detected this predisposition； Rodolphe wished for
things as a poet imagines； as a mathematician calculates； as a painter
sketches； as a musician creates melodies。 Tender…hearted； like his
mother； he dashed with inconceivable violence and impetus of thought
after the object of his desires； he annihilated time。 While dreaming
of the fulfilment of his schemes； he always overlooked the means of
attainment。 〃When my son has children；〃 said his other； 〃he will want
them born grown up。〃
This fine frenzy； carefully directed； enabled Rodolphe to achieve his
studies with brilliant results； and to become what the English call an
accomplished gentleman。 His mother was then proud of him； though still
fearing a catastrophe if ever a passion should possess a heart at once
so tender and so susceptible； so vehement and so kind。 Therefore； the
judicious mother had encouraged the friendship which bound Leopold to
Rodolphe and Rodolphe to Leopold； since she saw in the cold and
faithful young notary； a guardian； a comrade； who might to a certain
extent take her place if by some misfortune she should be lost to her
son。 Rodolphe's mother； still handsome at three…and…forty； had
inspired Leopold with an ardent passion。 This circumstance made the
two young men even more intimate。
So Leopold； knowing Rodolphe well； was not surprised to find him
stopping at a village and giving up the projected journey to Saint…
Gothard； on the strength of a single glance at the upper window of a
house。 While breakfast was prepared for them at the Swan Inn； the
friends walked round the hamlet and came to the neighborhood of the
pretty new house； here； while gazing about him and talking to the
inhabitants； Rodolphe discovered the residence of some decent folk；
who were willing to take him as a boarder； a very frequent custom in
Switzerland。 They offered him a bedroom looking over the