the nabob-第61章
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had been extensively toasted； he came； with some of his guests； to show himself； to see himself also； to enjoy all his new glory。
The first person whom he saw as he arrived was Felicia Ruys； standing； leaning on the pedestal of a statue； surrounded by compliments and tributes of admiration； to which he made haste to add his own。 She was simply dressed； clad in a black costume embroidered and trimmed with jet； tempering the severity of her attire with a glittering of reflected lights； and with a delightful little hat all made of downy plumes； the play of colour in which her hair； curled delicately on her forehead and drawn back to the neck in great waves； seemed to continue and to soften。
A crowd of artists and fashionable people were assiduous in their attentions to so great a genius allied to so much beauty； and Jenkins； bareheaded； and puffing with warm effusiveness； was going from one to the other； stimulating their enthusiasm but widening the circle around this young fame of which he constituted himself at once the guardian and the trumpeter。 His wife during this time was talking to the young girl。 Poor Mme。 Jenkins！ She had heard that savage voice； which she alone knew； say to her； 〃You must go and greet Felicia。〃 And she had gone to do so； controlling her emotion； for she knew now what it was that hid itself at the bottom of that paternal affection； although she avoided all discussion of it with the doctor； as if she had been fearful of the issue。
After Mme。 Jenkins； it is the turn of the Nabob to rush up； and taking the artist's two long； delicately…gloved hands between his fat paws； he expresses his gratitude with a cordiality which brings the tears to his own eyes。
〃It is a great honour that you have done me； mademoiselle； to associate my name with yours； my humble person with your triumph； and to prove to all this vermin gnawing at my heels that you do not believe the calumnies which have been spread with regard to me。 Yes； truly； I shall never forget it。 In vain I may cover this magnificent bust with gold and diamonds； I shall still be your debtor。〃
Fortunately for the good Nabob； with more feeling than eloquence； he is obliged to make way for all the others attracted by a dazzling talent； the personality in view； extravagant enthusiasms which； for want of words to express themselves； disappear as they come； the conventional admirations of society； moved by good…will； by a lively desire to please； but of which each word is a douche of cold water； and then the hearty hand…shakes of rivals； of comrades； some very frank； others that communicate to you the weakness of their grasp； the pretentious great booby； at whose idiotic eulogy you must appear to be transported with gladness； and who； lest he should spoil you too much； accompanies it with 〃a few little reserves；〃 and the other； who； while overwhelming you with compliments； demonstrates to you that you have not learned the first word of your profession； and the excellent busy fellow； who stops just long enough to whisper in your ear 〃that so… and…so； the famous critic； does not look very pleased。〃 Felicia listened to it all with the greatest calm； raised by her success above the littleness of envy； and quite proud when a glorious veteran； some old comrade of her father； threw to her a 〃You've done very well； little one！〃 which took her back to the past； to the little corner reserved for her in the old days in her father's studio； when she was beginning to carve out a little glory for herself under the protection of the renown of the great Ruys。 But； taken altogether； the congratulations left her rather cold； because there lacked one which she desired more than any other； and which she was surprised not to have yet received。 Decidedly he was more often in her thoughts than any other man had ever been。 Was it love at last； the great love which is so rare in an artist's soul； incapable as that is of giving itself entirely up to the sway of sentiment； or was it perhaps simply a dream of honest /bourgeoise/ life； well sheltered against /ennui/； that spiritless /ennui/； the precursor of storms； which she had so much reason to dread？ In any case； she was herself taken in by it； and had been living for some days past in a state of delicious trouble； for love is so strong； so beautiful a thing； that its semblances； its mirages； allure and can move us as deeply as itself。
Has it ever happened to you in the street； when you have been preoccupied with thoughts of some one dear to you； to be warned of his approach by meeting persons with a vague resemblance to him； preparatory images； sketches of the type to appear directly afterward； which stand out for you from the crowd like successive appeals to your overexcited attention？ Such presentiments are magnetic and nervous impressions at which one should not be too disposed to smile； since they constitute a faculty of suffering。 Already； in the moving and constantly renewed stream of visitors； Felicia had several times thought to recognise the curly head of Paul de Gery； when suddenly she uttered a cry of joy。 It was not he； however； this time again； but some one who resembled him closely； whose regular and peaceful physiognomy was always now connected in her mind with that of her friend Paul through the effect of a likeness more moral than physical； and the gentle authority which both exercised over her thoughts。
〃Aline！〃
〃Felicia！〃
If nothing is more open to suspicion than the friendship of two fashionable ladies sharing the prerogatives of drawing…room royalty and lavishing on each other epithets； and the trivial graces of feminine fondness； the friendships of childhood keep in the grown woman a frankness of manner which distinguishes them； and makes them recognisable among all others； bonds woven naively and firm as the needlework of little girls in which an experienced hand had been prodigal of thread and big knots； plants reared in fresh soil； in flower； but with strong roots； full of vitality and new shoots。 And what a joy； hand in handyou glad dances of boarding…school days； where are you？to retrace some steps of one's way with somebody who has an equal acquaintance with it and its least incidents； and the same laugh of tender retrospection。 A little apart； the two girls； for whom it has been sufficient to find themselves once more face to face to forget five years of separation； carry on a rapid exchange of recollections； while the little /pere/ Joyeuse； his ruddy face brightened by a new cravat； straightens himself in pride to see his daughter thus warmly welcomed by such an illustrious person。 Proud certainly he had reason to be； for the little Parisian； even in the neighbourhood of her brilliant friend； holds her own in grace； youth； fair candour； beneath her twenty smooth and golden years； which the gladness of this meeting brings to fresh bloom。
〃How happy you must be！ For my part； I have seen nothing yet； but I hear everybody saying it is so beautiful。〃
〃Happy above all to see you again； little Aline。 It is so long〃
〃I should think so； you naughty girl！ Whose the fault？〃
And from the saddest corner of her memory； Felicia recalls the date of the breaking off of their relations； coinciding for her with another date on which her youth came to its end in an unforgettable scene。
〃And what have you been doing； darling； all this time？〃
〃Oh； I； always the same thingor； nothing to speak of。〃
〃Yes； yes； we know what you call doing nothing； you brave little thing！ Giving your life to other people； isn't it？〃
But Aline was no longer listening。 She was smiling affectionately to some one straight in front of her； and Felicia； turning round to see who it was； perceived Paul de Gery replying to the shy and tender greeting of Mlle。 Joyeuse。
〃You know each other； then？〃
〃Do I know M。 Paul！ I should think so； indeed。 We talk of you very often。 He has never told you； then？〃
〃Never。 He must be a terribly sly fellow。〃
She stopped short； her mind enlightened by a flash； and quickly without heed to de Gery； who was coming up to congratulate her on her triumph； she leaned over towards Aline and spoke to her in a low voice。 That young lady blushed； protested with smiles and words under h
