original short stories-8-第14章

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offer　his　arm　to　my　mother；　decked　out　and　beribboned　like　a　ship　on　a
holiday。　　My　sisters；　who　were　always　ready　first；　would　await　the　signal
for　leaving；　but　at　the　last　minute　some　one　always　found　a　spot　on　my
father's　frock　coat；　and　it　had　to　be　wiped　away　quickly　with　a　rag
moistened　with　benzine。

〃My　father；　in　his　shirt　sleeves；　his　silk　hat　on　his　head；　would　await
the　completion　of　the　operation；　while　my　mother；　putting　on　her
spectacles；　and　taking　off　her　gloves　in　order　not　to　spoil　them；　would
make　haste。

〃Then　we　set　out　ceremoniously。　　My　sisters　marched　on　ahead；　arm　in　arm。
They　were　of　marriageable　age　and　had　to　be　displayed。　　I　walked　on　the
left　of　my　mother　and　my　father　on　her　right。　　I　remember　the　pompous　air
of　my　poor　parents　in　these　Sunday　walks；　their　stern　expression；　their
stiff　walk。　　They　moved　slowly；　with　a　serious　expression；　their　bodies
straight；　their　legs　stiff；　as　if　something　of　extreme　importance
depended　upon　their　appearance。

〃Every　Sunday；　when　the　big　steamers　were　returning　from　unknown　and
distant　countries；　my　father　would　invariably　utter　the　same　words：

〃'What　a　surprise　it　would　be　if　Jules　were　on　that　one！　　Eh？'

〃My　Uncle　Jules；　my　father's　brother；　was　the　only　hope　of　the　family；
after　being　its　only　fear。　　I　had　heard　about　him　since　childhood；　and　it
seemed　to　me　that　I　should　recognize　him　immediately；　knowing　as　much
about　him　as　I　did。　　I　knew　every　detail　of　his　life　up　to　the　day　of　his
departure　for　America；　although　this　period　of　his　life　was　spoken　of
only　in　hushed　tones。

〃It　seems　that　he　had　led　a　bad　life；　that　is　to　say；　he　had　squandered　a
little　money；　which　action；　in　a　poor　family；　is　one　of　the　greatest
crimes。　　With　rich　people　a　man　who　amuses　himself　only　sows　his　wild
oats。　　He　is　what　is　generally　called　a　sport。　　But　among　needy　families
a　boy　who　forces　his　parents　to　break　into　the　capital　becomes　a　good…
for…nothing；　a　rascal；　a　scamp。　　And　this　distinction　is　just；　although
the　action　be　the　same；　for　consequences　alone　determine　the　seriousness
of　the　act。

〃Well；　Uncle　Jules　had　visibly　diminished　the　inheritance　on　which　my
father　had　counted；　after　he　had　swallowed　his　own　to　the　last　penny。
Then；　according　to　the　custom　of　the　times；　he　had　been　shipped　off　to
America　on　a　freighter　going　from　Havre　to　New　York。

〃Once　there；　my　uncle　began　to　sell　something　or　other；　and　he　soon　wrote
that　he　was　making　a　little　money　and　that　he　soon　hoped　to　be　able　to
indemnify　my　father　for　the　harm　he　had　done　him。　　This　letter　caused　a
profound　emotion　in　the　family。　　Jules；　who　up　to　that　time　had　not　been
worth　his　salt；　suddenly　became　a　good　man；　a　kind…hearted　fellow；　true
and　honest　like　all　the　Davranches。

〃One　of　the　captains　told　us　that　he　had　rented　a　large　shop　and　was
doing　an　important　business。

〃Two　years　later　a　second　letter　came；　saying：　'My　dear　Philippe；　I　am
writing　to　tell　you　not　to　worry　about　my　health；　which　is　excellent。
Business　is　good。　　I　leave　to…morrow　for　a　long　trip　to　South　America。
I　may　be　away　for　several　years　without　sending　you　any　news。　　If　I
shouldn't　write；　don't　worry。　　When　my　fortune　is　made　I　shall　return　to
Havre。　　I　hope　that　it　will　not　be　too　long　and　that　we　shall　all　live
happily　together　。　　。　　。　　。'

〃This　letter　became　the　gospel　of　the　family。　　It　was　read　on　the
slightest　provocation；　and　it　was　shown　to　everybody。

〃For　ten　years　nothing　was　heard　from　Uncle　Jules；　but　as　time　went　on　my
father's　hope　grew；　and　my　mother；　also；　often　said：

〃'When　that　good　Jules　is　here；　our　position　will　be　different。　　There　is
one　who　knew　how　to　get　along！'

〃And　every　Sunday；　while　watching　the　big　steamers　approaching　from　the
horizon；　pouring　out　a　stream　of　smoke；　my　father　would　repeat　his
eternal　question：

〃'What　a　surprise　it　would　be　if　Jules　were　on　that　one！　　Eh？'

〃We　almost　expected　to　see　him　waving　his　handkerchief　and　crying：

〃'Hey！　　Philippe！'

〃Thousands　of　schemes　had　been　planned　on　the　strength　of　this　expected
return；　we　were　even　to　buy　a　little　house　with　my　uncle's　money
a　little　place　in　the　country　near　Ingouville。　　In　fact；　I　wouldn't
swear　that　my　father　had　not　already　begun　negotiations。

〃The　elder　of　my　sisters　was　then　twenty…eight；　the　other　twenty…six。
They　were　not　yet　married；　and　that　was　a　great　grief　to　every　one。

〃At　last　a　suitor　presented　himself　for　the　younger　one。　　He　was　a　clerk；
not　rich；　but　honorable。　　I　have　always　been　morally　certain　that　Uncle
Jules'　letter；　which　was　shown　him　one　evening；　had　swept　away　the　young
man's　hesitation　and　definitely　decided　him。

〃He　was　accepted　eagerly；　and　it　was　decided　that　after　the　wedding　the
whole　family　should　take　a　trip　to　Jersey。

〃Jersey　is　the　ideal　trip　for　poor　people。　　It　is　not　far；　one　crosses　a
strip　of　sea　in　a　steamer　and　lands　on　foreign　soil；　as　this　little
island　belongs　to　England。　　Thus；　a　Frenchman；　with　a　two　hours'　sail；
can　observe　a　neighboring　people　at　home　and　study　their　customs。

〃This　trip　to　Jersey　completely　absorbed　our　ideas；　was　our　sole
anticipation；　the　constant　thought　of　our　minds。

〃At　last　we　left。　　I　see　it　as　plainly　as　if　it　had　happened　yesterday。
The　boat　was　getting　up　steam　against　the　quay　at　Granville；　my　father；
bewildered；　was　superintending　the　loading　of　our　three　pieces　of
baggage；　my　mother；　nervous；　had　taken　the　arm　of　my　unmarried　sister；
who　seemed　lost　since　the　departure　of　the　other　one；　like　the　last
chicken　of　a　brood；　behind　us　came　the　bride　and　groom；　who　always　stayed
behind；　a　thing　that　often　made　me　turn　round。

〃The　whistle　sounded。　　We　got　on　board；　and　the　vessel；　leaving　the
breakwater；　forged　ahead　through　a　sea　as　flat　as　a　marble　table。　　We
watched　the　coast　disappear　in　the　distance；　happy　and　proud；　like　all
who　do　not　travel　much。

〃My　father　was　swelling　out　his　chest　in　the　breeze；　beneath　his　frock
coat；　which　had　that　morning　been　very　carefully　cleaned；　and　he　spread
around　him　that　odor　of　benzine　which　always　made　me　recognize　Sunday。
Suddenly　he　noticed　two　elegantly　dressed　ladies　to　whom　two　gentlemen
were　offering　oysters。　　An　old；　ragged　sailor　was　opening　them　with　his
knife　and　passing　them　to　the　gentlemen；　who　would　then　offer　them　to　the
ladies。　　They　ate　them　in　a　dainty　manner；　holding　the　shell　on　a　fine
handkerchief　and　advancing　their　mouths　a　little　in　order　not　to　spot
their　dresses。　　Then　they　would　drink　the　liquid　with　a　rapid　little
motion　and　throw　the　shell　overboard。

〃My　father　was　probably　pleased　with　this　delicate　manner　of　eating
oysters　on　a　moving　ship。　　He　considered　it　good　form；　refined；　and；
going　up　to　my　mother　and　sisters；　he　asked：

〃'Would　you　like　me　to　offer　you　some　oysters？'

〃My　mother　hesitated　on　account　of　the　expense；　but　my　two　sisters
immediately　accepted。　　My　mother　said　in　a　provoked　manner：

〃'I　am　afraid　that　they　will　hurt　my　stomach。　　Offer　the　children　some；
but　not　too　much；　it　would　make　them　sick。'　　Then；　turning　toward　me；　she
added：

〃'As　for　Joseph；　he　doesn't　need　any。　　Boys　shouldn't　be　spoiled。'

〃However；　I　remained　beside　my　mother；　finding　this　discrimination
unjust。　　I　watched　my　father　as　he　pompously　conducted　my　two　sisters　and
his　son…in…law　toward　the　ragged　old　sailor。

〃The　two　ladies　had　just　left；　and　my　father　showed　my　sisters　how　to　eat
them　without　spilling　the　liquor。　　He　even　tried　to　give　them　an　example；
and　seized　an　oyster。　　He　attempted　to　imitate　the　ladies；　and
immediately　spilled　all　the　liquid　over　his　coat。　　I　heard　my　mother
mutter：

〃'He　would　do　far　better　to　keep　quiet。'

〃But；　suddenly；　my　father　appeared　to　be　worried；　he　retreated　a　few
steps；　stared　at　his　family　gathered　around　the　old　shell　opener；　and
quickly　came　toward　us。　　He　seemed　very　pale；　with　a　peculiar　look。　　In　a
low　voice　he　said　to　my　mother：

〃'It's　extraordinary　how　that　man　opening　the　oysters　looks　like　Jules。'

〃Astonished；　my　mother　asked：

〃'What　Jules？'

〃My　father　continued：

〃'Why；　my　brother。　　If　I　did　not　know　that　he　was　well　off　in　America；　I
should　think　it　was