la mere bauche-第4章
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expressed his gratitude to his mother for the pecuniary advantages
which she had held out to him。 Oh； Adolphe； Adolphe！ But； alas；
alas！ is not such the way of most men's heartsand of the hearts of
some women？
This letter was read to Marie； but it had no more effect upon her
than would have had some dry legal document。 In those days and in
those places men and women did not depend much upon letters； nor when
they were written； was there expressed in them much of heart or of
feeling。 Marie would understand； as she was well aware； the glance
of Adolphe's eye and the tone of Adolphe's voice； she would perceive
at once from them what her lover really meant； what he wished； what
in the innermost corner of his heart he really desired that she
should do。 But from that stiff constrained written document she
could understand nothing。
It was agreed therefore that Adolphe should return； and that she
would accept her fate from his mouth。 The capitaine； who knew more
of human nature than poor Marie； felt tolerably sure of his bride。
Adolphe； who had seen something of the world； would not care very
much for the girl of his own valley。 Money and pleasure； and some
little position in the world； would soon wean him from his love； and
then Marie would accept her destinyas other girls in the same
position had done since the French world began。
And now it was the evening before Adolphe's expected arrival。 La
Mere Bauche was discussing the matter with the capitaine over the
usual cup of coffee。 Madame Bauche had of late become rather nervous
on the matter； thinking that they had been somewhat rash in acceding
so much to Marie。 It seemed to her that it was absolutely now left
to the two young lovers to say whether or no they would have each
other or not。 Now nothing on earth could be further from Madame
Bauche's intention than this。 Her decree and resolve was to heap
down blessings on all persons concernedprovided always that she
could have her own way； but； provided she did not have her own way；
to heap down；anything but blessings。 She had her code of morality
in this matter。 She would do good if possible to everybody around
her。 But she would not on any score be induced to consent that
Adolphe should marry Marie Clavert。 Should that be in the wind she
would rid the house of Marie； of the capitaine； and even of Adolphe
himself。
She had become therefore somewhat querulous； and self…opinionated in
her discussions with her friend。
〃I don't know；〃 she said on the evening in question； 〃I don't know。
It may be all right； but if Adolphe turns against me； what are we to
do then？〃
〃Mere Bauche；〃 said the capitaine； sipping his coffee and puffing out
the smoke of his cigar； 〃Adolphe will not turn against us。〃 It had
been somewhat remarked by many that the capitaine was more at home in
the house； and somewhat freer in his manner of talking with Madame
Bauche； since this matrimonial alliance had been on the tapis than he
had ever been before。 La Mere herself observed it； and did not quite
like it； but how could she prevent it now？ When the capitaine was
once married she would make him know his place； in spite of all her
promises to Marie。
〃But if he says he likes the girl？〃 continued Madame Bauche。
〃My friend； you may be sure that he will say nothing of the kind。 He
has not been away two years without seeing girls as pretty as Marie。
And then you have his letter。〃
〃That is nothing； capitaine； he would eat his letter as quick as you
would eat an omelet aux fines herbes。〃
Now the capitaine was especially quick over an omelet aux fines
herbes。
〃And； Mere Bauche； you also have the purse； he will know that he
cannot eat that； except with your good will。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Madame Bauche； 〃poor lad！ He has not a sous in the
world unless I give it to him。〃 But it did not seem that this
reflection was in itself displeasing to her。
〃Adolphe will now be a man of the world；〃 continued the capitaine。
〃He will know that it does not do to throw away everything for a pair
of red lips。 That is the folly of a boy； and Adolphe will be no
longer a boy。 Believe me； Mere Bauche； things will be right enough。〃
〃And then we shall have Marie sick and ill and half dying on our
hands；〃 said Madame Bauche。
This was not flattering to the capitaine； and so he felt it。
〃Perhaps so； perhaps not；〃 he said。 〃But at any rate she will get
over it。 It is a malady which rarely kills young womenespecially
when another alliance awaits them。〃
〃Bah！〃 said Madame Bauche； and in saying that word she avenged
herself for the too great liberty which the capitaine had lately
taken。 He shrugged his shoulders； took a pinch of snuff and
uninvited helped himself to a teaspoonful of cognac。 Then the
conference ended； and on the next morning before breakfast Adolphe
Bauche arrived。
On that morning poor Marie hardly knew how to bear herself。 A month
or two back； and even up to the last day or two； she had felt a sort
of confidence that Adolphe would be true to her； but the nearer came
that fatal day the less strong was the confidence of the poor girl。
She knew that those two long…headed； aged counsellors were plotting
against her happiness； and she felt that she could hardly dare hope
for success with such terrible foes opposed to her。 On the evening
before the day Madame Bauche had met her in the passages； and kissed
her as she wished her good night。 Marie knew little about
sacrifices； but she felt that it was a sacrificial kiss。
In those days a sort of diligence with the mails for Olette passed
through Prades early in the morning； and a conveyance was sent from
Vernet to bring Adolphe to the baths。 Never was prince or princess
expected with more anxiety。 Madame Bauche was up and dressed long
before the hour； and was heard to say five several times that she was
sure he would not come。 The capitaine was out and on the high road；
moving about with his wooden leg； as perpendicular as a lamp…post and
almost as black。 Marie also was up； but nobody had seen her。 She
was up and had been out about the place before any of them were
stirring； but now that the world was on the move she lay hidden like
a hare in its form。
And then the old char…a…banc clattered up to the door； and Adolphe
jumped out of it into his mother's arms。 He was fatter and fairer
than she had last seen him； had a larger beard； was more fashionably
clothed； and certainly looked more like a man。 Marie also saw him
out of her little window； and she thought that he looked like a god。
Was it probable； she said to herself； that one so godlike would still
care for her？
The mother was delighted with her son； who rattled away quite at his
ease。 He shook hands very cordially with the capitaineof whose
intended alliance with his own sweetheart he had been informed； and
then as he entered the house with his hand under his mother's arm； he
asked one question about her。 〃And where is Marie？〃 said he。
〃Marie！ oh upstairs； you shall see her after breakfast；〃 said La Mere
Bauche。 And so they entered the house； and went in to breakfast
among the guests。 Everybody had heard something of the story； and
they were all on the alert to see the young man whose love or want of
love was considered to be of so much importance。
〃You will see that it will be all right；〃 said the capitaine；
carrying his head very high。
〃I think so； I think so；〃 said La Mere Bauche； who； now that the
capitaine was right； no longer desired to contradict him。
〃I know that it will be all right；〃 said the capitaine。 〃I told you
that Adolphe would return a man； and he is a man。 Look at him； he
does not care this for Marie Clavert；〃 and the capitaine； with much
eloquence in his motion； pitched over a neighbouring wall a small
stone which he held in his hand。
And then they all went to breakfast with many signs of outward joy。
And not without some inward joy； for Madame Bauche thought she saw
that her son was cured of his love。 In the mean time Marie sat up
stairs still afraid to show herself。
〃He has come；〃 said a young girl； a servant in the house； running up
to the door of Marie's room。
〃
