the brotherhood of consolation-第36章

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portress；　who　thus；　all　unconsciously；　represented　the　bourgeoisie。　As
he　went　to　bed　in　the　horrible　room；　floored　with　bricks　that　were　not
even　colored；　and　hung　with　a　paper　at　seven　sous　a　roll；　Godefroid
not　only　regretted　his　little　rooms　in　the　rue　Chanoinesse；　but　also
the　society　of　Madame　de　la　Chanterie。　He　felt　a　void　in　his　soul。　He
had　already　acquired　habits　of　mind；　and　could　not　remember　to　have　so
keenly　regretted　anything　in　all　his　former　life　as　this　break　in　his
new　existence。　These　thoughts；　as　they　pressed　upon　him；　had　a　great
effect　upon　his　soul；　he　felt　that　no　life　could　compare　in　value　with
the　one　he　sought　to　embrace；　and　his　resolution　to　emulate　the　good
old　Alain　became　unshakable。　Without　having　any　vocation　for　the　work；
he　had　the　will　to　do　it。

The　next　day　Godefroid；　already　habituated　by　his　new　life　to　rising
early；　saw　from　his　window　a　young　man　about　seventeen　years　of　age；
dressed　in　a　blouse；　who　was　coming　back；　no　doubt　from　the　public
fountain；　bringing　a　crock　full　of　water　in　each　hand。　The　face　of
this　lad；　who　was　not　aware　that　he　was　seen；　revealed　his　feelings；
and　never　had　Godefroid　observed　one　so　artless　and　so　melancholy。　The
graces　of　youth　were　all　repressed　by　poverty；　by　study；　by　great
physical　fatigue。　Monsieur　Bernard's　grandson　was　remarkable　for　a
complexion　of　extreme　whiteness；　which　the　contrast　with　his　dark　hair
seemed　to　make　still　whiter。　He　made　three　trips；　when　he　returned
from　the　last　he　saw　some　men　unloading　a　cord　of　wood　which　Godefroid
had　ordered　the　night　before；　for　the　long…delayed　winter　of　1838　was
beginning　to　be　felt；　snow　had　fallen　slightly　during　the　night。

Nepomucene；　who　had　begun　his　day　by　going　for　the　wood　（on　which
Madame　Vauthier　levied　a　handsome　tribute）；　spoke　to　the　young　lad
while　waiting　until　the　woodman　had　sawed　enough　for　him　to　carry
upstairs。　It　was　easy　to　see　that　the　sudden　cold　was　causing　anxiety
to　Monsieur　Bernard's　grandson；　and　that　the　sight　of　the　wood；　as
well　as　that　of　the　threatening　sky；　warned　him　that　they　ought　to　be
making　their　own　provision　for　wintry　weather。　Suddenly；　however；　as
if　reproaching　himself　for　lost　time；　he　seized　his　crocks　and　hastily
entered　the　house。　It　was；　in　fact；　half…past　seven　o'clock；　the　hour
was　just　ringing　from　the　belfry　of　the　convent　of　the　Visitation；　and
he　was　due　at　the　college　of　Louis…le…Grand　by　half…past　eight。

As　the　young　lad　entered　the　house；　Godefroid　went　to　his　door　to
admit　Madame　Vauthier　who　brought　her　new　lodger　the　wherewithal　to
make　a　fire；　and　he　thus　became　the　witness　of　a　scene　which　took
place　on　the　landing。

A　neighboring　gardener；　who　had　rung　several　times　at　Monsieur
Bernard's　door　without　making　any　one　hear　（for　the　bell　was　wrapped
in　paper）；　had　a　rather　rough　dispute　with　the　young　lad　who　now　came
up　with　the　water；　demanding　to　be　paid　for　the　flowers　he　had
supplied。　As　the　man　raised　his　voice　angrily　Monsieur　Bernard
appeared。　〃Auguste；〃　he　said　to　his　grandson；　〃dress　yourself；　it　is
time　for　school。〃

He　himself　took　the　two　crocks　of　water；　carried　them　into　the　first
of　his　rooms；　in　which　were　many　pots　of　flowers；　and　returned　to
speak　to　the　gardener；　carefully　closing　the　door　behind　him。
Godefroid's　door　was　open；　for　Nepomucene　had　begun　his　trips；　and　was
stacking　the　wood　in　the　front　room。　The　gardener　was　silent　in
presence　of　Monsieur　Bernard；　whose　tall　figure；　robed　in　a　violet
silk　dressing…gown；　buttoned　to　the　throat；　gave　him　an　imposing　air。

〃You　might　ask　for　what　is　owing　to　you　without　such　noise；〃　said
Monsieur　Bernard。

〃Be　fair；　my　dear　monsieur；〃　said　the　gardener。　〃You　agreed　to　pay　me
every　week；　and　it　now　three　months；　ten　weeks；　since　I　have　had　a
penny；　you　owe　me　a　hundred　and　twenty　francs。　We　let　out　our　plants
to　rich　people　who　pay　us　when　we　ask　for　the　money；　but　this　is　the
fifth　time　I　have　come　to　you　for　it。　I　have　my　rent　to　pay　and　the
wages　of　my　men；　I　am　not　a　bit　richer　than　you。　My　wife；　who　supplied
you　with　eggs　and　milk；　will　not　come　here　any　more；　you　owe　her
thirty　francs。　She　does　not　like　to　dun　you；　for　she　is　kind…hearted；
that　she　is！　If　I　listened　to　her；　I　couldn't　do　business　at　all。　And
so　I；　who　am　not　so　softyou　understand？〃

Just　then　Auguste　came　out　dressed　in　a　shabby　little　green　coat　with
cloth　trousers　of　the　same　color；　a　black　cravat；　and　worn…out　boots。
These　clothes；　though　carefully　brushed；　showed　the　lowest　degree　of
poverty；　they　were　all　too　short　and　too　narrow；　so　that　the　lad
seemed　likely　to　crack　them　at　every　motion。　The　seams　were　white；　the
edges　curled；　the　buttonholes　torn　in　spite　of　many　mendings；　the
whole　presenting　to　the　most　unobservant　eyes　the　heart…breaking
stigmas　of　honest　penury。　This　livery　contrasted　sadly　with　the　youth
of　the　lad；　who　now　disappeared　munching　a　crust　of　stale　bread　with
his　strong　and　handsome　teeth。　He　breakfasted　thus　on　his　way　to　the
rue　Saint…Jacques；　carrying　his　books　and　papers　under　his　arm；　and
wearing　a　little　cap　much　too　small　for　his　head；　from　which　stuck　out
a　mass　of　magnificent　black　hair。

In　passing　before　his　grandfather　the　lad　had　given　him　rapidly　a　look
of　deep　distress；　for　he　knew　him　to　be　in　an　almost　hopeless
difficulty；　the　consequences　of　which　might　be　terrible。　To　leave　room
for　the　boy　to　pass；　the　gardener　had　stepped　back　to　the　sill　of
Godefroid's　door；　and　as　at　that　moment　Nepomucene　arrived　with　a
quantity　of　wood；　the　creditor　was　forced　to　retreat　into　the　room。

〃Monsieur　Bernard！〃　cried　the　widow　Vauthier；　〃do　you　think　Monsieur
Godefroid　hired　his　rooms　to　have　you　hold　your　meetings　in　them？〃

〃Excuse　me；　madame；〃　said　the　gardener；　〃but　there　was　no　room　on　the
landing。〃

〃I　didn't　say　that　for　you；　Monsieur　Cartier；〃　said　the　widow。

〃Remain　where　you　are！〃　cried　Godefroid；　addressing　the　gardener；　〃and
you；　my　dear　neighbor；〃　he　added；　looking　at　Monsieur　Bernard；　who
seemed　insensible　to　the　cruel　insult；　〃if　it　is　convenient　to　you　to
have　an　explanation　with　your　gardener　in　my　room；　come　in。〃

The　old　man；　half　stupefied　with　his　troubles；　cast　a　look　of
gratitude　on　Godefroid。

〃As　for　you；　my　dear　Madame　Vauthier；〃　continued　Godefroid；　〃don't　be
so　rough　with　monsieur；　who　is　in　the　first　place　an　old　man；　and　one
to　whom　you　owe　the　obligation　of　my　lodging　here。〃

〃Oh；　pooh！〃　said　the　widow。

〃Besides；　if　poor　people　do　not　help　each　other；　who　will　help　them？
Leave　us；　Madame　Vauthier；　I'll　blow　the　fire　myself。　Have　the　rest　of
my　wood　put　in　your　cellar；　I　am　sure　you　will　take　good　care　of　it。〃

Madame　Vauthier　disappeared；　for　Godefroid　in　telling　her　to　take　care
of　his　wood　had　given　an　opportunity　to　her　greed。

〃Come　in　this　way；〃　said　Godefroid；　offering　chairs　to　both　debtor　and
creditor。

The　old　man　conversed　standing；　but　the　gardener　sat　down。

〃My　good　Monsieur　Cartier；〃　went　on　Godefroid；　〃rich　people　do　not　pay
as　regularly　as　you　say　they　do；　and　you　ought　not　to　dun　a　worthy　man
for　a　few　louis。　Monsieur　draws　his　pension　every　six　months；　and　he
could　not　make　you　an　assignment　of　it　for　such　a　paltry　sum。　I　am
willing　to　advance　the　money；　if　you　absolutely　insist　on　having　it。〃

〃Monsieur　Bernard　drew　his　pension　two　weeks　ago；　and　has　not　paid　me。
I　am　sorry　to　trouble　him；　of　course。〃

〃Have　you　furnished　him　with　plants　all　along？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur；　for　six　years；　and　he　has　always　paid　me。〃

Monsieur　Bernard；　who　was　listening　to　some　sound　in　his　own　rooms　and
paying　no　attention　to　what　was　being　said；　now　heard　a　cry　through
the　partitions　and　hurried　away　without　a　word。

〃Come；　come；　my　good　man；〃　said　Godefroid；　taking　advantage　of　the　old
man's　absence；　〃bring　some　nice　flowers；　your　best　flowers；　this　very
morning；　and　tell　your　wife　to　send　the　eggs　and　milk　as　usual；　I　will
pay　you　this　evening。〃

Cartier　looked　oddly　at　Godefroid。

〃Then　you　must　know　more　than　Madame　Vauthier　does；　she　sent　me　word
to　hurry　if　I　hoped　to　be　paid；〃　he　said。　〃Neither　she　nor　I　can　make
out　why　folks　who　eat　nothing　but　bread　and　the　odds　and　ends　of
vegetable