贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the magic skin >

第67章

the magic skin-第67章

小说: the magic skin 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




hillsides; and he will just go up there along with him。〃



Valentin made up his mind immediately。 He would live between this

child and old man; breathe the same air; eat their bread; drink the

same water; sleep with them; make the blood in his veins like theirs。

It was a dying man's fancy。 For him the prime model; after which the

customary existence of the individual should be shaped; the real

formula for the life of a human being; the only true and possible

life; the life…ideal; was to become one of the oysters adhering to

this rock; to save his shell a day or two longer by paralyzing the

power of death。 One profoundly selfish thought took possession of him;

and the whole universe was swallowed up and lost in it。 For him the

universe existed no longer; the whole world had come to be within

himself。 For the sick; the world begins at their pillow and ends at

the foot of the bed; and this countryside was Raphael's sick…bed。



Who has not; at some time or other in his life; watched the comings

and goings of an ant; slipped straws into a yellow slug's one

breathing…hole; studied the vagaries of a slender dragon…fly; pondered

admiringly over the countless veins in an oak…leaf; that bring the

colors of a rose window in some Gothic cathedral into contrast with

the reddish background? Who has not looked long in delight at the

effects of sun and rain on a roof of brown tiles; at the dewdrops; or

at the variously shaped petals of the flower…cups? Who has not sunk

into these idle; absorbing meditations on things without; that have no

conscious end; yet lead to some definite thought at last。 Who; in

short; has not led a lazy life; the life of childhood; the life of the

savage without his labor? This life without a care or a wish Raphael

led for some days' space。 He felt a distinct improvement in his

condition; a wonderful sense of ease; that quieted his apprehensions

and soothed his sufferings。



He would climb the crags; and then find a seat high up on some peak

whence he could see a vast expanse of distant country at a glance; and

he would spend whole days in this way; like a plant in the sun; or a

hare in its form。 And at last; growing familiar with the appearances

of the plant…life about him; and of the changes in the sky; he

minutely noted the progress of everything working around him in the

water; on the earth; or in the air。 He tried to share the secret

impulses of nature; sought by passive obedience to become a part of

it; and to lie within the conservative and despotic jurisdiction that

regulates instinctive existence。 He no longer wished to steer his own

course。



Just as criminals in olden times were safe from the pursuit of

justice; if they took refuge under the shadow of the altar; so Raphael

made an effort to slip into the sanctuary of life。 He succeeded in

becoming an integral part of the great and mighty fruit…producing

organization; he had adapted himself to the inclemency of the air; and

had dwelt in every cave among the rocks。 He had learned the ways and

habits of growth of every plant; had studied the laws of the

watercourses and their beds; and had come to know the animals; he was

at last so perfectly at one with this teeming earth; that he had in

some sort discerned its mysteries and caught the spirit of it。



The infinitely varied forms of every natural kingdom were; to his

thinking; only developments of one and the same substance; different

combinations brought about by the same impulse; endless emanations

from a measureless Being which was acting; thinking; moving; and

growing; and in harmony with which he longed to grow; to move; to

think; and act。 He had fancifully blended his life with the life of

the crags; he had deliberately planted himself there。 During the

earliest days of his sojourn in these pleasant surroundings; Valentin

tasted all the pleasures of childhood again; thanks to the strange

hallucination of apparent convalescence; which is not unlike the

pauses of delirium that nature mercifully provides for those in pain。

He went about making trifling discoveries; setting to work on endless

things; and finishing none of them; the evening's plans were quite

forgotten in the morning; he had no cares; he was happy; he thought

himself saved。



One morning he had lain in bed till noon; deep in the dreams between

sleep and waking; which give to realities a fantastic appearance; and

make the wildest fancies seem solid facts; while he was still

uncertain that he was not dreaming yet; he suddenly heard his hostess

giving a report of his health to Jonathan; for the first time。

Jonathan came to inquire after him daily; and the Auvergnate; thinking

no doubt that Valentin was still asleep; had not lowered the tones of

a voice developed in mountain air。



〃No better and no worse;〃 she said。 〃He coughed all last night again

fit to kill himself。 Poor gentleman; he coughs and spits till it is

piteous。 My husband and I often wonder to each other where he gets the

strength from to cough like that。 It goes to your heart。 What a cursed

complaint it is! He has no strength at all。 I am always afraid I shall

find him dead in his bed some morning。 He is every bit as pale as a

waxen Christ。 DAME! I watch him while he dresses; his poor body is as

thin as a nail。 And he does not feel well now; but no matter。 It's all

the same; he wears himself out with running about as if he had health

and to spare。 All the same; he is very brave; for he never complains

at all。 But really he would be better under the earth than on it; for

he is enduring the agonies of Christ。 I don't wish that myself; sir;

it is quite in our interests; but even if he didn't pay us what he

does; I should be just as fond of him; it is not our own interest that

is our motive。



〃Ah; mon Dieu!〃 she continued; 〃Parisians are the people for these

dogs' diseases。 Where did he catch it; now? Poor young man! And he is

so sure that he is going to get well! That fever just gnaws him; you

know; it eats him away; it will be the death of him。 He has no notion

whatever of that; he does not know it; sir; he sees nothingYou

mustn't cry about him; M。 Jonathan; you must remember that he will be

happy; and will not suffer any more。 You ought to make a neuvaine for

him; I have seen wonderful cures come of the nine days' prayer; and I

would gladly pay for a wax taper to save such a gentle creature; so

good he is; a paschal lamb〃



As Raphael's voice had grown too weak to allow him to make himself

heard; he was compelled to listen to this horrible loquacity。 His

irritation; however; drove him out of bed at length; and he appeared

upon the threshold。



〃Old scoundrel!〃 he shouted to Jonathan; 〃do you mean to put me to

death?〃



The peasant woman took him for a ghost; and fled。



〃I forbid you to have any anxiety whatever about my health;〃 Raphael

went on。



〃Yes; my Lord Marquis;〃 said the old servant; wiping away his tears。



〃And for the future you had very much better not come here without my

orders。〃



Jonathan meant to be obedient; but in the look full of pity and

devotion that he gave the Marquis before he went; Raphael read his own

death…warrant。 Utterly disheartened; brought all at once to a sense of

his real position; Valentin sat down on the threshold; locked his arms

across his chest; and bowed his head。 Jonathan turned to his master in

alarm; with 〃My Lord〃



〃Go away; go away;〃 cried the invalid。



In the hours of the next morning; Raphael climbed the crags; and sat

down in a mossy cleft in the rocks; whence he could see the narrow

path along which the water for the dwelling was carried。 At the base

of the hill he saw Jonathan in conversation with the Auvergnate。 Some

malicious power interpreted for him all the woman's forebodings; and

filled the breeze and the silence with her ominous words。 Thrilled

with horror; he took refuge among the highest summits of the

mountains; and stayed t

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的