sons of the soil-第81章
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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