la mere bauche-第5章
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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。
〃Yes；〃 said Marie； 〃I could see that he has come。〃
〃And； oh； how beautiful he is！〃 said the girl； putting her hands
together and looking up to the ceiling。 Marie in her heart of hearts
wished that he was not half so beautiful； as then her chance of
having him might be greater。
〃And the company are all talking to him as though he were the
prefet；〃 said the girl。
〃Never mind who is talking to him；〃 said Marie； 〃go away； and leave
meyou are wanted for your work。〃 Why before this was he not
talking to her？ Why not； if he were really true to her？ Alas； it
began to fall upon her mind that he would be false！ And what then？
What should she do then？ She sat still gloomily； thinking of that
other spouse that had been promised to her。
As speedily after breakfast as was possible Adolphe was invited to a
conference in his mother's private room。 She had much debated in her
own mind whether the capitaine should be invited to this conference
or no。 For many reasons she would have wished to exclude him。 She
did not like to teach her son that she was unable to manage her own
affairs； and she would have been well pleased to make the capitaine
understand that his assistance was not absolutely necessary to her。
But then she had an inward fear that her green spectacles would not
now be as efficacious on Adolphe； as they had once been； in old days；
before he had seen the world and become a man。 It might be necessary
that her son； being a man； should be opposed by a man。 So the
capitaine was invited to the conference。
What took place there need not be described at length。 The three
were closeted for two hours； at the end of which time they came forth
together。 The countenance of Madame Bauche was serene and
comfortable； her hopes of ultimate success ran higher than ever。 The
face of the capitaine was masked； as are always the faces of great
diplomatists； he walked placid and upright； raising his wooden leg
with an ease and skill that was absolutely marvellous。 But poor
Adolphe's brow was clouded。 Yes； poor Adolphe！ for he was poor in
spirit； he had pledged himself to give up Marie； and to accept the
liberal allowance which his mother tendered him； but it remained for
him now to communicate these tidings to Marie herself。
〃Could not you tell her？〃 he had said to his mother； with very little
of that manliness in his face on which his mother now so prided
herself。 But La Mere Bauche explained to him that it was a part of
the general agreement that Marie was to hear his decision from his
own mouth。
〃But you need not regard it；〃 said the capitaine； with the most
indifferent air in the world。 〃The girl expects it。 Only she has
some childish idea that she is bound till you yourself release her。
I don't think she will be troublesome。〃 Adolphe at that moment did
feel that he should have liked to kick the capitaine out of his
mother's house。
And where should the meeting take place？ In the hall of the bath…
house； suggested Madame Bauche； because； as she observed； they could
walk round and round； and nobody ever went there at that time of day。
But to this Adolphe objected； it would be so cold and dismal and
melancholy。
The capitaine thought that Mere Bauche's little parlour was the
place； but La Mere herself did not like this。 They might be
overheard； as she well knew； and she guessed that the meeting would
not conclude without some sobs that would certainly be bitter and
might perhaps be loud。
〃Send her up to the grotto； and I will follow her；〃 said Adolphe。 On
this therefore they agreed。 Now the grotto was a natural excavation
in a high rock； which stood precipitously upright over the
establishment of the baths。 A steep zigzag path with almost never…
ending steps had been made along the face of the rock from a little
flower garden attached to the house which lay immediately under the
mountain。 Close along the front of the hotel ran a little brawling
river； leaving barely room for a road between it and the door； over
this there was a wooden bridge leading to the garden； and some two or
three hundred yards from the bridge began the steps by which the
ascent was made to the grotto。
When the season was full and the weather perfectly warm the place was
much frequented。 There was a green table in it； and four or five
deal chairs； a green garden seat also was there； which however had
been removed into the innermost back corner of the excavation； as its
hinder legs were somewhat at fault。 A wall about two feet high ran
along the face of it； guarding its occupants from the precipice。 In
fact it was no grotto； but a little chasm in the rock； such as we
often see up above our heads in rocky valleys； and which by means of
these steep steps had been turned into a source of exercise and
amusement for the visitors at the hotel。
Standing at the wall one could look down into the garden； and down
also upon the shining slate roof of Madame Bauche's house； and to the
left might be seen the sombre； silent； snow…capped top of stern old
Canigou； king of mountains among those Eastern Pyrenees。
And so Madame Bauche undertook to send Marie up to the grotto； and
Adolphe undertook to follow her thither。 It was now spring； and
though the winds had fallen and the snow was no longer lying on the
lower peaks； still the air was fresh and cold； and there was no
danger that any of the few guests at the establishment would visit
the place。
〃Make her put on her cloak； Mere Bauche；〃 said the capitaine； who did
not wish that his bride should have a cold in her head on their
wedding…day。 La Mere Bauche pished and pshawed； as though she were
not minded to pay any attention to recommendations on such subjects
from the capitaine。 But nevertheless when Marie was seen slowly to
creep across the little bridge about fifteen minutes after this time；
she had a handkerchief on her head； and was closely wrapped in a dark
brown cloak。
Poor Marie herself little heeded the cold fresh air； but she was glad
to avail herself of any means by which she might hide her face。 When
Madame Bauche sought her out in her own little room； and with a
smiling face and kind kiss bade her go to the grotto； she knew； or
fancied that she knew that it was all over。
〃He will tell you all the truth；how it all is；〃 said La Mere。 〃We
will do all we can； you know； to make you happy； Marie。 But you must
remember what Monsieur le Cure told us the other day。 In this vale
of tears we cannot have everything； as we shall have some day； when
our poor wicked souls have been purged of all their wickedness。 Now
go； dear； and take your cloak。〃
〃Yes； maman。〃
〃And Adolphe will come to you。 And try and behave well； like a
sensible girl。〃
〃Yes； maman；〃and so she went； bearing on her brow another
sacrificial kissand bearing in her heart such an unutterable load
of woe！
Adolphe had gone out of the house before her； but standing in the
stable yard； well within the gate so that she should not see him； he
watched her slowly crossing the bridge and mounting the first flight
of the steps。 He had often seen her tripping up those stairs； and
had； almost as often； followed her with his quicker feet。 And she；
when she would hear him； would run； and then he would catch her
breathless at the top； and steal kisses from her when all power of
refusing them had been robbed from her by her efforts at escape。
There was no such running now； no such following； no thought of such
kisses。
As for him； he would fain have skulked off and shirked the interview
had he dared。 But he did not dare； so he waited there； out of heart；
for some ten minutes； speaking a word now and then to the bath…man；
who was standing by； just to show that he was at his ease。 But the
bath…man knew that he was not at his ease。 Such would…be lies as
those rarely achieve deception；are rarely believed。 And then； at
the end of the ten minutes； with steps as slow as Marie's had been；
he also ascended to the grotto。
Marie had watched him from the top； but so that
