the country doctor-第28章

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！


good　stock　of　wood　here；　and　all　the　raw　material　for　the　season's　work：　for；　as　you　know；　tiles　can　only　be　made　during　a　few　months　in　the　year；　between　June　and　September。　Is　it　not　a　pleasure　to　see　all　this　activity？　My　tile…maker　has　done　his　share　of　the　work　in　every　building　going；　always　busy'the　devourer；'　they　call　him　in　these　parts。〃

Benassis　had　scarcely　finished　speaking　when　the　wicket　gate　which　gave　entrance　to　the　garden　opened；　and　a　nicely…dressed　young　woman　appeared。　She　came　forward　as　quickly　as　her　condition　allowed；　though　the　two　horsemen　hastened　towards　her。　Her　attire　somewhat　recalled　her　former　quality　of　ladies'　maid；　for　she　wore　a　pretty　cap；　a　pink　dress；　a　silk　apron；　and　white　stockings。　Mme。　Vigneau　in　short；　was　a　nice…looking　woman；　sufficiently　plump；　and　if　she　was　somewhat　sunburned；　her　natural　complexion　must　have　been　very　fair。　There　were　a　few　lines　still　left　on　her　forehead；　traced　there　by　the　troubles　of　past　days；　but　she　had　a　bright　and　winsome　face。　She　spoke　in　a　persuasive　voice；　as　she　saw　that　the　doctor　came　no　further；　〃Will　you　not　do　me　the　honor　of　coming　inside　and　resting　for　a　moment；　M。　Benassis？〃

〃Certainly　we　will。　Come　this　way；　captain。〃

〃The　gentleman　must　be　very　hot！　Will　you　take　a　little　milk　or　some　wine？　M。　Benassis；　please　try　a　little　of　the　wine　that　my　husband　has　been　so　kind　as　to　buy　for　my　confinement。　You　will　tell　me　if　it　is　good。〃

〃You　have　a　good　man　for　your　husband。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　she　turned　and　spoke　in　quiet　tones；　〃I　am　very　well　off。〃

〃We　will　not　take　anything；　Mme。　Vigneau；　I　only　came　round　this　way　to　see　that　nothing　troublesome　had　happened。〃

〃Nothing；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　busy　out　in　the　garden；　as　you　saw；　turning　the　soil　over　for　the　sake　of　something　to　do。〃

Then　the　two　old　mothers　came　out　to　speak　to　Benassis；　and　the　young　wagoner　planted　himself　in　the　middle　of　the　yard；　in　a　spot　from　whence　he　could　have　a　good　view　of　the　doctor。

〃Let　us　see；　let　me　have　your　hand；〃　said　Benassis；　addressing　Mme。　Vigneau；　and　as　he　carefully　felt　her　pulse；　he　stood　in　silence；　absorbed　in　thought。　The　three　women；　meanwhile；　scrutinized　the　commandant　with　the　undisguised　curiosity　that　country　people　do　not　scruple　to　express。

〃Nothing　could　be　better！〃　cried　the　doctor　cheerily。

〃Will　she　be　confined　soon？〃　both　the　mothers　asked　together。

〃This　week　beyond　a　doubt。　Is　Vigneau　away　from　home？〃　he　asked；　after　a　pause。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　the　young　wife　answered；　〃he　is　hurrying　about　settling　his　business　affairs；　so　as　to　be　able　to　stay　at　home　during　my　confinement；　the　dear　man！〃

〃Well；　my　children；　go　on　and　prosper；　continue　to　increase　your　wealth　and　to　add　to　your　family。〃

The　cleanliness　of　the　almost　ruinous　dwelling　filled　Genestas　with　admiration。

Benassis　saw　the　officer's　astonishment；　and　said；　〃There　is　no　one　like　Mme。　Vigneau　for　keeping　a　house　clean　and　tidy　like　this。　I　wish　that　several　people　in　the　town　would　come　here　to　take　a　lesson。〃

The　tile…maker's　wife　blushed　and　turned　her　head　away；　but　the　faces　of　the　two　old　mothers　beamed　with　pleasure　at　the　doctor's　words；　and　the　three　women　walked　with　them　to　the　spot　where　the　horses　were　waiting。

〃Well；　now；〃　the　doctor　said　to　the　two　old　women；　〃here　is　happiness　for　you　both！　Were　you　not　longing　to　be　grandmothers？〃

〃Oh；　do　not　talk　about　it；〃　said　the　young　wife；　〃they　will　drive　me　crazy　among　them。　My　two　mothers　wish　for　a　boy；　and　my　husband　would　like　to　have　a　little　girl。　It　will　be　very　difficult　to　please　them　all；　I　think。〃

〃But　you　yourself；〃　asked　Benassis；　〃what　is　your　wish？〃

〃Ah；　sir；　I　wish　for　a　child　of　my　own。〃

〃There！　She　is　a　mother　already；　you　see；〃　said　the　doctor　to　the　officer；　as　he　laid　his　hand　on　the　bridle　of　his　horse。

〃Good…bye；　M。　Benassis；　my　husband　will　be　sadly　disappointed　to　learn　that　you　have　been　here　when　he　was　not　at　home　to　see　you。〃

〃He　has　not　forgotten　to　send　the　thousand　tiles　to　the　Grange…aux…　Belles　for　me？〃

〃You　know　quite　well；　sir；　that　he　would　keep　all　the　orders　in　the　canton　waiting　to　serve　you。　Why；　taking　your　money　is　the　thing　that　troubles　him　most；　but　I　always　tell　him　that　your　crowns　bring　luck　with　them；　and　so　they　do。〃

〃Good…bye；〃　said　Benassis。

A　little　group　gathered　about　the　bars　across　the　entrance　to　the　tile…works。　The　three　women；　the　young　wagoner；　and　two　workmen　who　had　left　off　work　to　greet　the　doctor；　lingered　there　to　have　the　pleasure　of　being　with　him　until　the　last　moment；　as　we　are　wont　to　linger　with　those　we　love。　The　promptings　of　men's　hearts　must　everywhere　be　the　same；　and　in　every　land　friendship　expresses　itself　in　the　same　gracious　ways。

Benassis　looked　at　the　height　of　the　sun　and　spoke　to　his　companion：

〃There　are　still　two　hours　of　daylight　left；　and　if　you　are　not　too　hungry；　we　will　go　to　see　some　one　with　whom　I　nearly　always　spend　the　interval　between　the　last　of　my　visits　and　the　hour　for　dinner。　She　is　a　charming　girl　whom　every　one　here　calls　my　'good　friend。'　That　is　the　name　that　they　usually　give　to　an　affianced　bride；　but　you　must　not　imagine　that　there　is　the　slightest　imputation　of　any　kind　implied　or　intended　by　the　use　of　the　word　in　this　case。　Poor　child；　the　care　that　I　have　taken　of　her　has；　as　may　be　imagined；　made　her　an　object　of　jealousy；　but　the　general　opinion　entertained　as　to　my　character　has　prevented　any　spiteful　gossip。　If　no　one　understands　the　apparent　caprice　that　has　led　me　to　make　an　allowance　to　La　Fosseuse；　so　that　she　can　live　without　being　compelled　to　work；　nobody　has　any　doubts　as　to　her　character。　I　have　watched　over　her　with　friendly　care；　and　every　one　knows　that　I　should　never　hesitate　to　marry　her　if　my　affection　for　her　exceeded　the　limits　of　friendship。　But　no　woman　exists　for　me　here　in　the　canton　or　anywhere　else；〃　said　the　doctor；　forcing　a　smile。　〃Some　natures　feel　a　tyrannous　need　to　attach　themselves　to　some　one　thing　or　being　which　they　single　out　from　among　the　beings　and　things　around　them；　this　need　is　felt　most　keenly　by　a　man　of　quick　sympathies；　and　all　the　more　pressingly　if　his　life　has　been　made　desolate。　So；　trust　me；　it　is　a　favorable　sign　if　a　man　is　strongly　attached　to　his　dog　or　his　horse！　Among　the　suffering　flock　which　chance　has　given　into　my　care；　this　poor　little　sufferer　has　come　to　be　for　me　like　the　pet　lamb　that　the　shepherd　lasses　deck　with　ribbons　in　my　own　sunny　land　of　Languedoc；　they　talk　to　it　and　allow　it　to　find　pasture　by　the　side　of　the　cornfields；　and　its　leisurely　pace　is　never　hurried　by　the　shepherd's　dog。〃

Benassis　stood　with　his　hand　on　his　horse's　mane　as　he　spoke；　ready　to　spring　into　the　saddle；　but　making　no　effort　to　do　so；　as　though　the　thoughts　that　stirred　in　him　were　but　little　in　keeping　with　rapid　movements。

〃Let　us　go；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃come　with　me　and　pay　her　a　visit。　I　am　taking　you　to　see　her；　does　not　that　tell　you　that　I　treat　her　as　a　sister？〃

As　they　rode　on　their　way　again；　Genestas　said　to　the　doctor；　〃Will　you　regard　it　as　inquisitiveness　on　my　part　if　I　ask　to　hear　more　of　La　Fosseuse？　I　have　come　to　know　the　story　of　many　lives　through　you；　and　hers　cannot　be　less　interesting　than　some　of　these。〃

Benassis　stopped　his　horse　as　he　answered。　〃Perhaps　you　will　not　share　in　the　feelings　of　interest　awakened　in　me　by　La　Fosseuse。　Her　fate　is　like　my　own；　we　have　both　alike　missed　our　vocation；　it　is　the　similarity　of　our　lots　that　occasions　my　sympathy　for　her　and　the　feelings　that　I　experience　at　the　sight　of　her。　You　either　followed　your　natural　bent　when　you　entered　upon　a　military　career；　or　you　took　a　liking　for　your　calling　after　you　had　adopted　it；　otherwise　you　would　not　have　borne　the　heavy　yoke　of　military　discipline　till　now；　you；　therefore；　cannot　understand　the　sorrows　of　a　soul　that　must　always　feel　renewed　within　it　the　stir　of　longings　that　can　never　be　realized；　nor　the　pining　existence　of　a　creature　forced　to　live　in　an　alien　sphere。　Such　sufferings　as　these　are　known　only　to　these　natures　and　to　God　who　sends　their　afflictions；　for　they　alone　can　know　how　deeply　the　events　of　life　affect　them。　You　yourself　have　seen　the　miseri