the lily of the valley(幽谷百合)-第27章
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two large farm…houses and buildings； in order that the property might
bring in a better rent after the ground had been cultivated for a year
or two。 These ideas； so simple in themselves； but complicated with the
thirty odd thousand francs it was necessary to expend upon them； were
just now the topic of many discussions between herself and the count；
sometimes amounting to bitter quarrels； in which she was sustained by
the thought of her children's interests。 The fear； 〃If I die to…morrow
what will become of them？〃 made her heart beat。 The gentle； peaceful
hearts to whom anger is an impossibility； and whose sole desire is to
shed on those about them their own inward peace； alone know what
strength is needed for such struggles； what demands upon the spirit
must be made before beginning the contest； what weariness ensues when
the fight is over and nothing has been won。 At this moment； just as
her children seemed less anemic； less frail； more active （for the
fruit season had had its effect on them）； and her moist eyes followed
them as they played about her with a sense of contentment which
renewed her strength and refreshed her heart； the poor woman was
called upon to bear the sharp sarcasms and attacks of an angry
opposition。 The count； alarmed at the plans she proposed； denied with
stolid obstinacy the advantages of all she had done and the
possibility of doing more。 He replied to conclusive reasoning with the
folly of a child who denies the influence of the sun in summer。 The
countess； however； carried the day。 The victory of commonsense over
insanity so healed her wounds that she forgot the battle。 That day we
all went to the Cassine and the Rhetoriere； to decide upon the
buildings。 The count walked alone in front； the children went next；
and we ourselves followed slowly； for she was speaking in a low；
gentle tone； which made her words like the murmur of the sea as it
ripples on a smooth beach。
She was； she said； certain of success。 A new line of communication
between Tours and Chinon was to be opened by an active man； a carrier；
a cousin of Manette's； who wanted a large farm on the route。 His
family was numerous； the eldest son would drive the carts； the second
could attend to the business； the father living half…way along the
road； at Rabelaye； one of the farms then to let； would look after the
relays and enrich his land with the manure of the stables。 As to the
other farm； la Baude； the nearest to Clochegourde； one of their own
people； a worthy； intelligent； and industrious man； who saw the
advantages of the new system of agriculture； was ready to take a lease
on it。 The Cassine and the Rhetoriere need give no anxiety； their soil
was the very best in the neighborhood； the farm…houses once built； and
the ground brought into cultivation； it would be quite enough to
advertise them at Tours； tenants would soon apply for them。 In two
years' time Clochegourde would be worth at least twenty…four thousand
francs a year。 Gravelotte； the farm in Maine； which Monsieur de
Mortsauf had recovered after the emigration； was rented for seven
thousand francs a year for nine years； his pension was four thousand。
This income might not be a fortune； but it was certainly a competence。
Later； other additions to it might enable her to go to Paris and
attend to Jacques' education； in two years； she thought； his health
would be established。
With what feeling she uttered the word 〃Paris！〃 I knew her thought；
she wished to be as little separated as possible from her friend。 On
that I broke forth； I told her that she did not know me； that without
talking of it； I had resolved to finish my education by working day
and night so as to fit myself to be Jacques' tutor。 She looked grave。
〃No； Felix；〃 she said； 〃that cannot be； any more than your priesthood。
I thank you from my heart as a mother； but as a woman who loves you
sincerely I can never allow you to be the victim of your attachment to
me。 Such a position would be a social discredit to you； and I could
not allow it。 No！ I cannot be an injury to you in any way。 You；
Vicomte de Vandenesse； a tutor！ You； whose motto is 'Ne se vend！' Were
you Richelieu himself it would bar your way in life； it would give the
utmost pain to your family。 My friend； you do not know what insult
women of the world； like my mother； can put into a patronizing glance；
what degradation into a word； what contempt into a bow。〃
〃But if you love me； what is the world to me？〃
She pretended not to hear； and went on：
〃Though my father is most kind and desirous of doing all I ask； he
would never forgive your taking so humble a position； he would refuse
you his protection。 I could not consent to your becoming tutor to the
Dauphin even。 You must accept society as it is； never commit the fault
of flying in the face of it。 My friend； this rash proposal of〃
〃Love；〃 I whispered。
〃No； charity；〃 she said； controlling her tears； 〃this wild idea
enlightens me as to your character； your heart will be your bane。 I
shall claim from this moment the right to teach you certain things。
Let my woman's eye see for you sometimes。 Yes； from the solitudes of
Clochegourde I mean to share； silently； contentedly； in your
successes。 As to a tutor； do not fear； we shall find some good old
abbe； some learned Jesuit； and my father will gladly devote a handsome
sum to the education of the boy who is to bear his name。 Jacques is my
pride。 He is； however； eleven years old；〃 she added after a pause。
〃But it is with him as with you； when I first saw you I took you to be
about thirteen。〃
We now reached the Cassine； where Jacques； Madeleine； and I followed
her about as children follow a mother； but we were in her way； I left
her presently and went into the orchard where Martineau the elder；
keeper of the place； was discussing with Martineau the younger； the
bailiff； whether certain trees ought or ought not to be taken down；
they were arguing the matter as if it concerned their own property。 I
then saw how much the countess was beloved。 I spoke of it to a poor
laborer； who； with one foot on his spade and an elbow on its handle；
stood listening to the two doctors of pomology。
〃Ah； yes； monsieur；〃 he answered； 〃she is a good woman； and not
haughty like those hussies at Azay； who would see us die like dogs
sooner than yield us one penny of the price of a grave！ The day when
that woman leaves these parts the Blessed Virgin will weep； and we
too。 She knows what is due to her； but she knows our hardships； too；
and she puts them into the account。〃
With what pleasure I gave that man all the money I had。
A few days later a pony arrived for Jacques； his father； an excellent
horseman； wishing to accustom the child by degrees to the fatigues of
such exercise。 The boy had a pretty riding…dress； bought with the
product of the nuts。 The morning when he took his first lesson
accompanied by his father and by Madeleine； who jumped and shouted
about the lawn round which Jacques was riding； was a great maternal
festival for the countess。 The boy wore a blue collar embroidered by
her； a little sky…blue overcoat fastened by a polished leather belt； a
pair of white trousers pleated at the waist； and a Scotch cap； from
which his fair hair flowed in heavy locks。 He was charming to behold。
All the servants clustered round to share the domestic joy。 The little
heir smiled at his mother as he passed her； sitting erect； and quite
fearless。 This first manly act of a child to whom death had often
seemed so near； the promise of a sound future warranted by this ride
which showed him so handsome； so fresh； so rosy；what a reward for
all her cares！ Then too the joy of the father； who seemed to renew his
youth； and who smiled for the first time in many long months； the
pleasure shown on all faces； the shout of an old huntsman of the
Lenoncourts； who had just arrived from Tours； and who； seeing how the
boy held the reins； shouted to him； 〃Bravo； monsieur le vicomte！〃all
this was too much for the poor mother； and she burst into tears； she；
so calm in her griefs； was too weak to bear the joy of admiring her
boy as he bounded over the gravel； where so often she had led him in
