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第81章

sons of the soil-第81章

小说: sons of the soil 字数: 每页4000字

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were rising vapors; white; diaphanous。



Seeing these lovely preparations of Nature; the fancy had seized

Olympe Michaud to accompany her husband; who had to give an order to a

keeper whose house was not far off。 The Soulanges doctor advised her

to walk as long as she could do so without fatigue; she was afraid of

the midday heat and went out only in the early morning or evening。

Michaud now took her with him; and they were followed by the dog he

loved best;a handsome greyhound; mouse…colored with white spots;

greedy; like all greyhounds; and as full of vices as most animals who

know they are loved and petted。



So; then the tilbury reached the pavilion of the Rendezvous; the

countess; who stopped to ask how Madame Michaud felt; was told she had

gone into the forest with her husband。



〃Such weather inspires everybody;〃 said Blondet; turning his horse at

hazard into one of the six avenues of the forest; 〃Joseph; you know

the woods; don't you?〃



〃Yes; monsieur。〃



And away they went。 The avenue they took happened to be one of the

most delightful in the forest; it soon turned and grew narrower; and

presently became a winding way; on which the sunshine flickered

through rifts in the leafy roof; and where the breeze brought odors of

lavender; and thyme; and the wild mint; and that of falling leaves;

which sighed as they fell。 Dew…drops on the trees and on the grass

were scattered like seeds by the passing of the light carriage; the

occupants as they rolled along caught glimpses of the mysterious

visions of the woods;those cool depths; where the verdure is moist

and dark; where the light softens as it fades; those white…birch

glades o'ertopped by some centennial tree; the Hercules of the forest;

those glorious assemblages of knotted; mossy trunks; whitened and

furrowed; and the banks of delicate wild plants and fragile flowers

which grow between a woodland road and the forest。 The brooks sang。

Truly there is a nameless pleasure in driving a woman along the ups

and downs of a slippery way carpeted with moss; where she pretends to

be afraid or really is so; and you are conscious that she is drawing

closer to you; letting you feel; voluntarily or involuntarily; the

cool moisture of her arm; the weight of her round; white shoulder;

though she merely smiles when told that she hinders you in driving。

The horse seems to know the secret of these interruptions; and he

looks about him from right to left。



It was a new sight to the countess; this nature so vigorous in its

effects; so little seen and yet so grand; threw her into a languid

revery; she leaned back in the tilbury and yielded herself up to the

pleasure of being there with Emile; her eyes were charmed; her heart

spoke; she answered to the inward voice that harmonized with hers。 He;

too; glanced at her furtively; he enjoyed that dreamy meditation;

while the ribbons of the bonnet floated on the morning breeze with the

silky curls of the golden hair。 In consequence of going they knew not

where; they presently came to a locked gate; of which they had not the

key。 Joseph was called up; but neither had he a key。



〃Never mind; let us walk; Joseph can take care of the tilbury; we

shall easily find it again。〃



Emile and the countess plunged into the forest; and soon reached a

small interior cleared space; such as is often met with in the woods。

Twenty years earlier the charcoal…burners had made it their kiln; and

the place still remained open; quite a large circumference having been

burned over。 But during those twenty years Nature had made herself a

garden of flowers; a blooming 〃parterre〃 for her own enjoyment; just

as an artist gives himself the delight of painting a picture for his

own happiness。 The enchanting spot was surrounded by fine trees; whose

tops hung over like vast fringes and made a dais above this flowery

couch where slept the goddess。 The charcoal…burners had followed a

path to a pond; always full of water。 The path is there still; it

invites you to step into it by a turn full of mystery; then suddenly

it stops short and you come upon a bank where a thousand roots run

down to the water and make a sort of canvas in the air。 This hidden

pond has a narrow grassy edge; where a few willows and poplars lend

their fickle shade to a bank of turf which some lazy or pensive

charcoal…burner must have made for his enjoyment。 The frogs hop about;

the teal bathe in the pond; the water…fowl come and go; a hare starts;

you are the master of this delicious bath; decorated with iris and

bulrushes。 Above your head the trees take many attitudes; here the

trunks twine down like boa…constrictors; there the beeches stand erect

as a Greek column。 The snails and the slugs move peacefully about。 A

tench shows its gills; a squirrel looks at you; and at last; after

Emile and the countess; tired with her walk; were seated; a bird; but

I know not what bird it was; sang its autumn song; its farewell song;

to which the other songsters listened;a song welcome to love; and

heard by every organ of the being。



〃What silence!〃 said the countess; with emotion and in a whisper; as

if not to trouble this deep peace。



They looked at the green patches on the water;worlds where life was

organizing; they pointed to the lizard playing in the sun and escaping

at their approach;behavior which has won him the title of 〃the

friend of man。〃 〃Proving; too; how well he knows him;〃 said Emile。

They watched the frogs; who; less distrustful; returned to the surface

of the pond; winking their carbuncle eyes as they sat upon the water…

cresses。 The sweet and simple poetry of Nature permeated these two

souls surfeited with the conventional things of life; and filled them

with contemplative emotion。 Suddenly Blondet shuddered。 Turning to the

countess he said;



〃Did you hear that?〃



〃What?〃 she asked。



〃A curious noise。〃



〃Ah; you literary men who live in your studies and know nothing of the

country! that is only a woodpecker tapping a tree。 I dare say you

don't even know the most curious fact in the history of that bird。 As

soon as he has given his tap; and he gives millions to pierce an oak;

he flies behind the tree to see if he is yet through it; and he does

this every instant。〃



〃The noise I heard; dear instructress of natural history; was not a

noise made by an animal; there was evidence of mind in it; and that

proclaims a man。〃



The countess was seized with panic; and she darted back through the

wild flower…garden; seeking the path by which to leave the forest。



〃What is the matter?〃 cried Blondet; rushing after her。



〃I thought I saw eyes;〃 she said; when they regained the path through

which they had reached the charcoal…burner's open。



Just then they heard the low death…rattle of a creature whose throat

was suddenly cut; and the countess; with her fears redoubled; fled so

quickly that Blondet could scarcely follow her。 She ran like a will…

o'…the…wisp; and did not listen to Blondet who called to her; 〃You are

mistaken。〃 On she ran; and Emile with her; till they suddenly came

upon Michaud and his wife; who were walking along arm…in…arm。 Emile

was panting and the countess out of breath; and it was some time

before they could speak; then they explained。 Michaud joined Blondet

in laughing at the countess's terror; then the bailiff showed the two

wanderers the way to find the tilbury。 When they reached the gate

Madame Michaud called; 〃Prince!〃



〃Prince! Prince!〃 called the bailiff; then he whistled;but no


greyhound。



Emile mentioned the curious noise that began their adventure。



〃My wife heard that noise;〃 said Michaud; 〃and I laughed at her。〃



〃They have killed Prince!〃 exclaimed the countess。 〃I am sure of it;

they killed him by cutting his throat at one blow。 What I heard was

the groan of a dying animal。〃



〃The devil!〃 cried Michaud; 〃the matter must be cleared up。〃



Emile and the bailiff 

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