eugenie grandet-第17章

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same　atmosphere。

〃My　poor　child！〃　said　Madame　Grandet；　taking　Eugenie's　head　and　laying
it　upon　her　bosom。

At　these　words　the　young　girl　raised　her　head；　questioned　her　mother
by　a　look；　and　seemed　to　search　out　her　inmost　thought。

〃Why　send　him　to　the　Indies？〃　she　said。　〃If　he　is　unhappy；　ought　he
not　to　stay　with　us？　Is　he　not　our　nearest　relation？〃

〃Yes；　my　child；　it　seems　natural；　but　your　father　has　his　reasons：　we
must　respect　them。〃

The　mother　and　daughter　sat　down　in　silence；　the　former　upon　her
raised　seat；　the　latter　in　her　little　armchair；　and　both　took　up　their
work。　Swelling　with　gratitude　for　the　full　heart…understanding　her
mother　had　given　her；　Eugenie　kissed　the　dear　hand；　saying；

〃How　good　you　are；　my　kind　mamma！〃

The　words　sent　a　glow　of　light　into　the　motherly　face；　worn　and
blighted　as　it　was　by　many　sorrows。

〃You　like　him？〃　asked　Eugenie。

Madame　Grandet　only　smiled　in　reply。　Then；　after　a　moment's　silence；
she　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃Do　you　love　him　already？　That　is　wrong。〃

〃Wrong？〃　said　Eugenie。　〃Why　is　it　wrong？　You　are　pleased　with　him；
Nanon　is　pleased　with　him；　why　should　he　not　please　me？　Come；　mamma；
let　us　set　the　table　for　his　breakfast。〃

She　threw　down　her　work；　and　her　mother　did　the　same；　saying；　〃Foolish
child！〃　But　she　sanctioned　the　child's　folly　by　sharing　it。　Eugenie
called　Nanon。

〃What　do　you　want　now；　mademoiselle？〃

〃Nanon；　can　we　have　cream　by　midday？〃

〃Ah！　midday；　to　be　sure　you　can；〃　answered　the　old　servant。

〃Well；　let　him　have　his　coffee　very　strong；　I　heard　Monsieur　des
Grassins　say　that　they　make　the　coffee　very　strong　in　Paris。　Put　in　a
great　deal。〃

〃Where　am　I　to　get　it？〃

〃Buy　some。〃

〃Suppose　monsieur　meets　me？〃

〃He　has　gone　to　his　fields。〃

〃I'll　run；　then。　But　Monsieur　Fessard　asked　me　yesterday　if　the　Magi
had　come　to　stay　with　us　when　I　bought　the　wax　candle。　All　the　town
will　know　our　goings…on。〃

〃If　your　father　finds　it　out；〃　said　Madame　Grandet；　〃he　is　capable　of
beating　us。〃

〃Well；　let　him　beat　us；　we　will　take　his　blows　on　our　knees。〃

Madame　Grandet　for　all　answer　raised　her　eyes　to　heaven。　Nanon　put　on
her　hood　and　went　off。　Eugenie　got　out　some　clean　table…linen；　and
went　to　fetch　a　few　bunches　of　grapes　which　she　had　amused　herself　by
hanging　on　a　string　across　the　attic；　she　walked　softly　along　the
corridor；　so　as　not　to　waken　her　cousin；　and　she　could　not　help
listening　at　the　door　to　his　quiet　breathing。

〃Sorrow　is　watching　while　he　sleeps；〃　she　thought。

She　took　the　freshest　vine…leaves　and　arranged　her　dish　of　grapes　as
coquettishly　as　a　practised　house…keeper　might　have　done；　and　placed
it　triumphantly　on　the　table。　She　laid　hands　on　the　pears　counted　out
by　her　father；　and　piled　them　in　a　pyramid　mixed　with　leaves。　She　went
and　came；　and　skipped　and　ran。　She　would　have　liked　to　lay　under
contribution　everything　in　her　father's　house；　but　the　keys　were　in
his　pocket。　Nanon　came　back　with　two　fresh　eggs。　At　sight　of　them
Eugenie　almost　hugged　her　round　the　neck。

〃The　farmer　from　Lande　had　them　in　his　basket。　I　asked　him　for　them；
and　he　gave　them　to　me；　the　darling；　for　nothing；　as　an　attention！〃



V

After　two　hours'　thought　and　care；　during　which　Eugenie　jumped　up
twenty　times　from　her　work　to　see　if　the　coffee　were　boiling；　or　to　go
and　listen　to　the　noise　her　cousin　made　in　dressing；　she　succeeded　in
preparing　a　simple　little　breakfast；　very　inexpensive；　but　which；
nevertheless；　departed　alarmingly　from　the　inveterate　customs　of　the
house。　The　midday　breakfast　was　always　taken　standing。　Each　took　a
slice　of　bread；　a　little　fruit　or　some　butter；　and　a　glass　of　wine。　As
Eugenie　looked　at　the　table　drawn　up　near　the　fire　with　an　arm…chair
placed　before　her　cousin's　plate；　at　the　two　dishes　of　fruit；　the　egg…
cup；　the　bottle　of　white　wine；　the　bread；　and　the　sugar　heaped　up　in　a
saucer；　she　trembled　in　all　her　limbs　at　the　mere　thought　of　the　look
her　father　would　give　her　if　he　should　come　in　at　that　moment。　She
glanced　often　at　the　clock　to　see　if　her　cousin　could　breakfast　before
the　master's　return。

〃Don't　be　troubled；　Eugenie；　if　your　father　comes　in；　I　will　take　it
all　upon　myself；〃　said　Madame　Grandet。

Eugenie　could　not　repress　a　tear。

〃Oh；　my　good　mother！〃　she　cried；　〃I　have　never　loved　you　enough。〃

Charles；　who　had　been　tramping　about　his　room　for　some　time；　singing
to　himself；　now　came　down。　Happily；　it　was　only　eleven　o'clock。　The
true　Parisian！　he　had　put　as　much　dandyism　into　his　dress　as　if　he
were　in　the　chateau　of　the　noble　lady　then　travelling　in　Scotland。　He
came　into　the　room　with　the　smiling；　courteous　manner　so　becoming　to
youth；　which　made　Eugenie's　heart　beat　with　mournful　joy。　He　had　taken
the　destruction　of　his　castles　in　Anjou　as　a　joke；　and　came　up　to　his
aunt　gaily。

〃Have　you　slept　well；　dear　aunt？　and　you；　too；　my　cousin？〃

〃Very　well；　monsieur；　did　you？〃　said　Madame　Grandet。

〃I？　perfectly。〃

〃You　must　be　hungry；　cousin；〃　said　Eugenie；　〃will　you　take　your　seat？〃

〃I　never　breakfast　before　midday；　I　never　get　up　till　then。　However；　I
fared　so　badly　on　the　journey　that　I　am　glad　to　eat　something　at　once。
Besides〃　here　he　pulled　out　the　prettiest　watch　Breguet　ever　made。
〃Dear　me！　I　am　early；　it　is　only　eleven　o'clock！〃

〃Early？〃　said　Madame　Grandet。

〃Yes；　but　I　wanted　to　put　my　things　in　order。　Well；　I　shall　be　glad　to
have　anything　to　eat；anything；　it　doesn't　matter　what；　a　chicken；　a
partridge。〃

〃Holy　Virgin！〃　exclaimed　Nanon；　overhearing　the　words。

〃A　partridge！〃　whispered　Eugenie　to　herself；　she　would　gladly　have
given　the　whole　of　her　little　hoard　for　a　partridge。

〃Come　and　sit　down；〃　said　his　aunt。

The　young　dandy　let　himself　drop　into　an　easy…chair；　just　as　a　pretty
woman　falls　gracefully　upon　a　sofa。　Eugenie　and　her　mother　took
ordinary　chairs　and　sat　beside　him；　near　the　fire。

〃Do　you　always　live　here？〃　said　Charles；　thinking　the　room　uglier　by
daylight　than　it　had　seemed　the　night　before。

〃Always；〃　answered　Eugenie；　looking　at　him；　〃except　during　the
vintage。　Then　we　go　and　help　Nanon；　and　live　at　the　Abbaye　des
Noyers。〃

〃Don't　you　ever　take　walks？〃

〃Sometimes　on　Sunday　after　vespers；　when　the　weather　is　fine；〃　said
Madame　Grandet；　〃we　walk　on　the　bridge；　or　we　go　and　watch　the
haymakers。〃

〃Have　you　a　theatre？〃

〃Go　to　the　theatre！〃　exclaimed　Madame　Grandet；　〃see　a　play！　Why；
monsieur；　don't　you　know　it　is　a　mortal　sin？〃

〃See　here；　monsieur；〃　said　Nanon；　bringing　in　the　eggs；　〃here　are　your
chickens；in　the　shell。〃

〃Oh！　fresh　eggs；〃　said　Charles；　who；　like　all　people　accustomed　to
luxury；　had　already　forgotten　about　his　partridge；　〃that　is　delicious：
now；　if　you　will　give　me　the　butter；　my　good　girl。〃

〃Butter！　then　you　can't　have　the　/galette/。〃

〃Nanon；　bring　the　butter；〃　cried　Eugenie。

The　young　girl　watched　her　cousin　as　he　cut　his　sippets；　with　as　much
pleasure　as　a　grisette　takes　in　a　melodrama　where　innocence　and　virtue
triumph。　Charles；　brought　up　by　a　charming　mother；　improved；　and
trained　by　a　woman　of　fashion；　had　the　elegant；　dainty；　foppish
movements　of　a　coxcomb。　The　compassionate　sympathy　and　tenderness　of　a
young　girl　possess　a　power　that　is　actually　magnetic；　so　that　Charles；
finding　himself　the　object　of　the　attentions　of　his　aunt　and　cousin；
could　not　escape　the　influence　of　feelings　which　flowed　towards　him；
as　it　were；　and　inundated　him。　He　gave　Eugenie　a　bright；　caressing
look　full　of　kindness；a　look　which　seemed　itself　a　smile。　He
perceived；　as　his　eyes　lingered　upon　her；　the　exquisite　harmony　of
features　in　the　pure　face；　the　grace　of　her　innocent　attitude；　the
magic　clearness　of　the　eyes；　where　young　love　sparkled　and　desire
shone　unconsciously。

〃Ah！　my　dear　cousin；　if　you　were　in　full　dress　at　the　Opera；　I　assure
you　my　aunt's　words　would　come　true；you　would　make　the　men　commit
the　mortal　sin　of　envy；　and　the　women　the　sin　of　jealousy。〃

The　compliment　went　to　Eugenie's　heart　and　set　it　beating；　though　she
did　not　understand　its　meaning。

〃Oh！　cousin；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　laughing　at　a　poor　little　country
girl。〃

〃If　you　knew　me；　my　cousin；　you　would　know　that　I　abh