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第14章

an inland voyage-第14章

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ase? But then  no disgrace is attached in France to saying a thing neatly; whereas  in England; to talk like a book is to give in one's resignation to  society。

The old gentleman in the blouse stole into the coach…house; and  somewhat irrelevantly informed the CIGARETTE that he was the father  of the three girls and four more:  quite an exploit for a  Frenchman。

'You are very fortunate;' answered the CIGARETTE politely。

And the old gentleman; having apparently gained his point; stole  away again。

We all got very friendly together。  The girls proposed to start  with us on the morrow; if you please!  And; jesting apart; every  one was anxious to know the hour of our departure。  Now; when you  are going to crawl into your canoe from a bad launch; a crowd;  however friendly; is undesirable; and so we told them not before  twelve; and mentally determined to be off by ten at latest。

Towards evening; we went abroad again to post some letters。  It was  cool and pleasant; the long village was quite empty; except for one  or two urchins who followed us as they might have followed a  menagerie; the hills and the tree…tops looked in from all sides  through the clear air; and the bells were chiming for yet another  service。

Suddenly we sighted the three girls standing; with a fourth sister;  in front of a shop on the wide selvage of the roadway。  We had been  very merry with them a little while ago; to be sure。  But what was  the etiquette of Origny?  Had it been a country road; of course we  should have spoken to them; but here; under the eyes of all the  gossips; ought we to do even as much as bow?  I consulted the  CIGARETTE。

'Look;' said he。

I looked。  There were the four girls on the same spot; but now four  backs were turned to us; very upright and conscious。  Corporal  Modesty had given the word of command; and the well…disciplined  picket had gone right…about…face like a single person。  They  maintained this formation all the while we were in sight; but we  heard them tittering among themselves; and the girl whom we had not  met laughed with open mouth; and even looked over her shoulder at  the enemy。  I wonder was it altogether modesty after all? or in  part a sort of country provocation?

As we were returning to the inn; we beheld something floating in  the ample field of golden evening sky; above the chalk cliffs and  the trees that grow along their summit。  It was too high up; too  large; and too steady for a kite; and as it was dark; it could not  be a star。  For although a star were as black as ink and as rugged  as a walnut; so amply does the sun bathe heaven with radiance; that  it would sparkle like a point of light for us。  The village was  dotted with people with their heads in air; and the children were  in a bustle all along the street and far up the straight road that  climbs the hill; where we could still see them running in loose  knots。  It was a balloon; we learned; which had left Saint Quentin  at half…past five that evening。  Mighty composedly the majority of  the grown people took it。  But we were English; and were soon  running up the hill with the best。  Being travellers ourselves in a  small way; we would fain have seen these other travellers alight。

The spectacle was over by the time we gained the top of the hill。   All the gold had withered out of the sky; and the balloon had  disappeared。  Whither? I ask myself; caught up into the seventh  heaven? or come safely to land somewhere in that blue uneven  distance; into which the roadway dipped and melted before our eyes?   Probably the aeronauts were already warming themselves at a farm  chimney; for they say it is cold in these unhomely regions of the  air。  The night fell swiftly。  Roadside trees and disappointed  sightseers; returning through the meadows; stood out in black  against a margin of low red sunset。  It was cheerfuller to face the  other way; and so down the hill we went; with a full moon; the  colour of a melon; swinging high above the wooded valley; and the  white cliffs behind us faintly reddened by the fire of the chalk  kilns。

The lamps were lighted; and the salads were being made in Origny  Sainte…Benoite by the river。



ORIGNY SAINTE…BENOITE



THE COMPANY AT TABLE


ALTHOUGH we came late for dinner; the company at table treated us  to sparkling wine。  'That is how we are in France;' said one。   'Those who sit down with us are our friends。' And the rest  applauded。

They were three altogether; and an odd trio to pass the Sunday  with。

Two of them were guests like ourselves; both men of the north。  One  ruddy; and of a full habit of body; with copious black hair and  beard; the intrepid hunter of France; who thought nothing so small;  not even a lark or a minnow; but he might vindicate his prowess by  its capture。  For such a great; healthy man; his hair flourishing  like Samson's; his arteries running buckets of red blood; to boast  of these infinitesimal exploits; produced a feeling of  disproportion in the world; as when a steam…hammer is set to  cracking nuts。  The other was a quiet; subdued person; blond and  lymphatic and sad; with something the look of a Dane:  'TRISTES  TETES DE DANOIS!' as Gaston Lafenestre used to say。

I must not let that name go by without a word for the best of all  good fellows now gone down into the dust。  We shall never again see  Gaston in his forest costume … he was Gaston with all the world; in  affection; not in disrespect … nor hear him wake the echoes of  Fontainebleau with the woodland horn。  Never again shall his kind  smile put peace among all races of artistic men; and make the  Englishman at home in France。  Never more shall the sheep; who were  not more innocent at heart than he; sit all unconsciously for his  industrious pencil。  He died too early; at the very moment when he  was beginning to put forth fresh sprouts; and blossom into  something worthy of himself; and yet none who knew him will think  he lived in vain。  I never knew a man so little; for whom yet I had  so much affection; and I find it a good test of others; how much  they had learned to understand and value him。  His was indeed a  good influence in life while he was still among us; he had a fresh  laugh; it did you good to see him; and however sad he may have been  at heart; he always bore a bold and cheerful countenance; and took  fortune's worst as it were the showers of spring。  But now his  mother sits alone by the side of Fontainebleau woods; where he  gathered mushrooms in his hardy and penurious youth。

Many of his pictures found their way across the Channel:  besides  those which were stolen; when a dastardly Yankee left him alone in  London with two English pence; and perhaps twice as many words of  English。  If any one who reads these lines should have a scene of  sheep; in the manner of Jacques; with this fine creature's  signature; let him tell himself that one of the kindest and bravest  of men has lent a hand to decorate his lodging。  There may be  better pictures in the National Gallery; but not a painter among  the generations had a better heart。  Precious in the sight of the  Lord of humanity; the Psalms tell us; is the death of his saints。   It had need to be precious; for it is very costly; when by the  stroke; a mother is left desolate; and the peace…maker; and PEACE… LOOKER; of a whole society is laid in the ground with Caesar and  the Twelve Apostles。

There is something lacking among the oaks of Fontainebleau; and  when the dessert comes in at Barbizon; people look to the door for  a figure that is gone。

The third of our companions at Origny was no less a person than the  landlady's husband:  not properly the landlord; since he worked  himself in a factory during the day; and came to his own house at  evening as a guest:  a man worn to skin and bone by perpetual  excitement; with baldish head; sharp features; and swift; shining  eyes。  On Saturday; describing some paltry adventure at a duck… hunt; he broke a plate into a score of fragments。  Whenever he made  a remark; he would look all round the table with his chin raised;  and a spark of green light in either eye; seeking approval。  His  wife appeared now and again in the doorway of the room; where she  w

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