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第9章

the vicar of tours-第9章

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between the border of her cap and the black string with which this

semi…wig (always badly curled) was fastened to her head。 Her gown;

silk in summer; merino in winter; and always brown in color; was

invariably rather tight for her angular figure and thin arms。 Her

collar; limp and bent; exposed too much the red skin of a neck which

was ribbed like an oak…leaf in winter seen in the light。 Her origin

explains to some extent the defects of her conformation。 She was the

daughter of a wood…merchant; a peasant; who had risen from the ranks。

She might have been plump at eighteen; but no trace remained of the

fair complexion and pretty color of which she was wont to boast。 The

tones of her flesh had taken the pallid tints so often seen in

〃devotes。〃 Her aquiline nose was the feature that chiefly proclaimed

the despotism of her nature; and the flat shape of her forehead the

narrowness of her mind。 Her movements had an odd abruptness which

precluded all grace; the mere motion with which she twitched her

handkerchief from her bag and blew her nose with a loud noise would

have shown her character and habits to a keen observer。 Being rather

tall; she held herself very erect; and justified the remark of a

naturalist who once explained the peculiar gait of old maids by

declaring that their joints were consolidating。 When she walked her

movements were not equally distributed over her whole person; as they

are in other women; producing those graceful undulations which are so

attractive。 She moved; so to speak; in a single block; seeming to

advance at each step like the statue of the Commendatore。 When she

felt in good humour she was apt; like other old maids; to tell of the

chances she had had to marry; and of her fortunate discovery in time

of the want of means of her lovers;proving; unconsciously; that her

worldly judgment was better than her heart。



This typical figure of the genus Old Maid was well framed by the

grotesque designs; representing Turkish landscapes; on a varnished

paper which decorated the walls of the dining…room。 Mademoiselle

Gamard usually sat in this room; which boasted of two pier tables and

a barometer。 Before the chair of each abbe was a little cushion

covered with worsted work; the colors of which were faded。 The salon

in which she received company was worthy of its mistress。 It will be

visible to the eye at once when we state that it went by the name of

the 〃yellow salon。〃 The curtains were yellow; the furniture and walls

yellow; on the mantelpiece; surmounted by a mirror in a gilt frame;

the candlesticks and a clock all of crystal struck the eye with sharp

brilliancy。 As to the private apartment of Mademoiselle Gamard; no one

had ever been permitted to look into it。 Conjecture alone suggested

that it was full of odds and ends; worn…out furniture; and bits of

stuff and pieces dear to the hearts of all old maids。



Such was the woman destined to exert a vast influence on the last

years of the Abbe Birotteau。



For want of exercising in nature's own way the activity bestowed upon

women; and yet impelled to spend it in some way or other; Mademoiselle

Gamard had acquired the habit of using it in petty intrigues;

provincial cabals; and those self…seeking schemes which occupy; sooner

or later; the lives of all old maids。 Birotteau; unhappily; had

developed in Sophie Gamard the only sentiments which it was possible

for that poor creature to feel;those of hatred; a passion hitherto

latent under the calmness and monotony of provincial life; but which

was now to become the more intense because it was spent on petty

things and in the midst of a narrow sphere。 Birotteau was one of those

beings who are predestined to suffer because; being unable to see

things; they cannot avoid them; to them the worst happens。



〃Yes; it will be a fine day;〃 replied the canon; after a pause;

apparently issuing from a revery and wishing to conform to the rules

of politeness。



Birotteau; frightened at the length of time which had elapsed between

the question and the answer;for he had; for the first time in his

life; taken his coffee without uttering a word;now left the dining…

room where his heart was squeezed as if in a vise。 Feeling that the

coffee lay heavy on his stomach; he went to walk in a sad mood among

the narrow; box…edged garden paths which outlined a star in the little

garden。 As he turned after making the first round; he saw Mademoiselle

Gamard and the Abbe Troubert standing stock…still and silent on the

threshold of the door;he with his arms folded and motionless like a

statue on a tomb; she leaning against the blind door。 Both seemed to

be gazing at him and counting his steps。 Nothing is so embarrassing to

a creature naturally timid as to feel itself the object of a close

examination; and if that is made by the eyes of hatred; the sort of

suffering it causes is changed into intolerable martyrdom。



Presently Birotteau fancied he was preventing Mademoiselle Gamard and

the abbe from walking in the narrow path。 That idea; inspired equally

by fear and kindness; became so strong that he left the garden and

went to the church; thinking no longer of his canonry; so absorbed was

he by the disheartening tyranny of the old maid。 Luckily for him he

happened to find much to do at Saint…Gatien;several funerals; a

marriage; and two baptisms。 Thus employed he forgot his griefs。 When

his stomach told him that dinner was ready he drew out his watch and

saw; not without alarm; that it was some minutes after four。 Being

well aware of Mademoiselle Gamard's punctuality; he hurried back to

the house。



He saw at once on passing the kitchen door that the first course had

been removed。 When he reached the dining…room the old maid said; with

a tone of voice in which were mingled sour rebuke and joy at being

able to blame him:



〃It is half…past four; Monsieur Birotteau。 You know we are not to wait

for you。〃



The vicar looked at the clock in the dining…room; and saw at once; by

the way the gauze which protected it from dust had been moved; that

his landlady had opened the face of the dial and set the hands in

advance of the clock of the cathedral。 He could make no remark。 Had he

uttered his suspicion it would only have caused and apparently

justified one of those fierce and eloquent expositions to which

Mademoiselle Gamard; like other women of her class; knew very well how

to give vent in particular cases。 The thousand and one annoyances

which a servant will sometimes make her master bear; or a woman her

husband; were instinctively divined by Mademoiselle Gamard and used

upon Birotteau。 The way in which she delighted in plotting against the

poor vicar's domestic comfort bore all the marks of what we must call

a profoundly malignant genius。 Yet she so managed that she was never;

so far as eye could see; in the wrong。





III



Eight days after the date on which this history began; the new

arrangements of the household and the relations which grew up between

the Abbe Birotteau and Mademoiselle Gamard revealed to the former the

existence of a plot which had been hatching for the last six months。



As long as the old maid exercised her vengeance in an underhand way;

and the vicar was able to shut his eyes to it and refuse to believe in

her malevolent intentions; the moral effect upon him was slight。 But

since the affair of the candlestick and the altered clock; Birotteau

would doubt no longer that he was under an eye of hatred turned fully

upon him。 From that moment he fell into despair; seeing everywhere the

skinny; clawlike fingers of Mademoiselle Gamard ready to hook into his

heart。 The old maid; happy in a sentiment as fruitful of emotions as

that of vengeance; enjoyed circling and swooping above the vicar as a

bird of prey hovers and swoops above a field…mouse before pouncing

down upon it and devouring it。 She had long since laid a plan which

the poor dumbfounded priest was quite

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