the trampling of the lilies-第2章
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！
The audacious words being spoken； his courage oozed away and
anti…climax； followed。 He paled and trembled； yet he knelt on until
she should bid him rise； and furtively he watched her face。 He saw
it darken； he saw the brows knit； he noted the quickening breath；
and in all these signs he read his doom before she uttered it。
〃Monsieur； monsieur；〃 she answered him； and sad was her tone； 〃to
what lengths do you urge this springtime folly？ Have you forgotten
so your station … yes； and mine … that because I talk with you and
laugh with you； and am kind to you； you must presume to speak to me
in this fashion？ What answer shall I make you； Monsieur … for I am
not so cruel that I can answer you as you deserve。〃
An odd thing indeed was La Boulaye's courage。 An instant ago he had
felt a very coward； and had quivered； appalled by the audacity of
his own words。 Now that she assailed him thus； and taxed him with
that same audacity； the blood of anger rushed to his face … anger of
the quality that has its source in shame。 In a second he was on his
feet before her； towering to the full of his lean height。 The words
came from him in a hot stream； which for reckless passion by far
outvied his erstwhile amatory address。
〃My station？〃 he cried； throwing wide his arms。 〃What fault lies
in my station？ I am a secretary； a scholar； and so； by academic
right； a gentleman。 Nay； Mademoiselle； never laugh； do not mock me
yet。 In what do you find me less a man than any of the vapid
caperers that fill your father's salon？ Is not my shape as good？
Are not my arms as strong； my hands as deft； my wits as keen； and
my soul as true？ Aye；〃 he pursued with another wild wave of his
long arms； 〃my attributes have all these virtues； and yet you scorn
me … you scorn me because of my station； so you say！〃
How she had angered him！ All the pent…up gall of years against the
supercilia of the class from which she sprang surged in that moment
to his lips。 He bethought him now of the thousand humiliations his
proud spirit had suffered at their hands when he noted the disdain
with which they addressed him； speaking to him … because he was
compelled to carve his living with a quill … as though he were less
than mire。 It was not so much against her scorn of him that he
voiced his bitter grievance； but against the entire noblesse of
France； which denied him the right to carry a high head because he
had not been born of Madame la Duchesse； Madame la Marquise； or
Madame la Comtesse。 All the great thoughts of a wondrous
transformation； which had been sown in him by the revolutionary
philosophers he had devoured with such appreciation； welled up now；
and such scraps of that infinity of thought as could find utterance
he cast before the woman who had scorned him for his station。
Presumptuous he had accounted himself … but only until she had found
him so。 By that the presumption； it seemed； had been lifted from
him； and he held that what he had said to her of the love he bore
her was no more than by virtue of his manhood he had the right to
say。
She drew back before him； and shrank in some measure of fear； for
he looked very fierce。 Moreover； he had said things which professed
him a revolutionist； and the revolutionists； whilst being a class
which she had been taught to despise and scorn； dealt； she knew； in
a violence which it might be ill to excite。
〃Monsieur；〃 she faltered； and with her hand she clutched at her
riding…habit of green velvet； as if preparing to depart； 〃you are
not yourself。 I am beyond measure desolated that you should have
so spoken to me。 We have been good friends； M。 La Boulaye。 Let
us forget this scene。 Shall we？〃 Her tones grew seductively
conciliatory。
La Boulaye half turned from her； and his smouldering eye fell upon
〃The Discourses〃 lying on the grass。 He stooped and picked up the
volume。 The act might have seemed symbolical。 For a moment he had
cast aside his creed to woo a woman； and now that she had denied
him he returned to Rousseau； and gathered up the tome almost in
penitence at his momentary defection。
〃I am quite myself； Mademoiselle；〃 he answered quietly。 His cheeks
were flushed； but beyond that； his excitement seemed to have withered。
〃It is you who yesternight； for one brief moment and again to…day …
were not yourself； and to that you owe it that I have spoken to you
as I have done。〃
Between these two it would seem as the humour of the one waned； that
of the other waxed。 Her glance kindled anew at his last words。
〃I？〃 she echoed。 〃I was not myself？ What are you saying； Monsieur
the Secretary？〃
〃 Last night； and again just now； you were so kind； you … you smiled
so sweetly … 〃
〃Mon Dieu！〃 she exclaimed； angrily interrupting him。 〃See what you
are for all your high…sounding vaunts of yourself and your attributes！
A woman may not smile upon you； may not say one kind word to you； but
you must imagine you have made a conquest。 Ma foi； you and yours do
not deserve to be treated as anything but vassals。 When we show you
a kindness； see how you abuse it。 We extend to you our little finger
and you instantly lay claim to the whole arm。 Because last night I
permitted myself to exchange a jest with you； because I chance to be
kind to you again to…day； you repay me with insults！〃
〃Stop！〃 he cried； rousing himself once more。 〃That is too much to
say； Mademoiselle。 To tell a woman that you love her is never to
insult her。 To be loved is never to be slighted。 Upon the meanest
of His creatures it is enjoined to love the same God whom the King
loves； and there is no insult to God in professing love for Him。
Would you make a woman more than that？〃
〃Monsieur； you put questions I have no mind to answer； you suggest
a discussion I have no inclination to pursue。 For you and me let
it suffice that I account myself affronted by your words； your tone；
and your manner。 You drive me to say these things； by your
insistence you compel me to be harsh。 We will end this matter here
and now； Monsieur； and I will ask you to understand that I never
wish it reopened； else shall I be forced to seek protection at the
hands of my father or my brother。〃
〃You may seek it now； Suzanne；〃 quoth a voice from the thicket at
her back； a voice which came to startle both of them though in
different ways。 Before they had recovered from their surprise the
Marquis de Bellecour stood before them。 He was a tall man of some
fifty years of age； but so powerful of frame and so scrupulous in
dress that he might have conveyed an impression of more youth。 His
face； though handsome in a high…bred way； was puffed and of an
unhealthy yellow。 But the eyes were as keen as the mouth was
voluptuous； and in his carefully dressed black hair there were few
strands of grey。
He came slowly forward； and his lowering glance wandered from his
daughter to his secretary in inquiry。 At last …
〃Well？〃 he demanded。 〃What is the matter？〃
〃It is nothing； Monsieur；〃 his daughter answered him。 〃A trifling
affair 'twixt M。 la Boulaye and me； with which I will not trouble
you。〃
〃It is not nothing； my lord；〃 cried La Boulaye； his voice vibrating
oddly。 〃It is that I love your daughter and that I have told her
of it。〃 He was in a very daring mood that morning。
The Marquis glanced at him in dull amazement。 Then a flush crept
into his sallow cheeks and mounted to his brow。 An inarticulate
grunt came from his thick lips。
〃Canaille！〃 he exclaimed； through set teeth。 〃Can you have presumed
so far？〃
He carried a riding…switch； and he seemed to grasp it now in a manner
peculiarly menacing。 But La Boulaye was nothing daunted。 Lost he
already accounted himself； and on the strength of the logic that if
a man must hang； a sheep as well as a lamb may be the cause of it；
he took what chances the time afforded him to pile up his debt。
〃There is neither insolence nor presumption in what I have done；〃
he answered； giving back the Marquis look for look and scowl for
scowl。 〃You deem it so because I am the secretary to the Marquis
de Bellecour and she is the daughter of that same Marquis。 But
these are no more than the fortuito
