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！
transforming into jewels； to observe the meaning of the notary's
words。
〃What good do they do you？〃 continued Pierquin； addressing Balthazar；
〃you ought to sell them。〃
〃Bah！ am I in want of money？〃 replied Claes； in the tone of a man to
whom forty thousand francs was a matter of no consequence。
There was a moment's silence； during which the children made many
exclamations。
〃See this one； mamma！〃
〃Oh！ here's a beauty！〃
〃Tell me the name of that one！〃
〃What a gulf for human reason to sound！〃 cried Balthazar； raising his
hands and clasping them with a gesture of despair。 〃A compound of
hydrogen and oxygen gives off； according to their relative
proportions； under the same conditions and by the same principle；
these manifold colors； each of which constitutes a distinct result。〃
His wife heard the words of his proposition； but it was uttered so
rapidly that she did not seize its exact meaning； and Balthazar； as if
remembering that she had studied his favorite science； made her a
mysterious sign； saying；
〃You do not yet understand me； but you will。〃
Then he apparently fell back into the absorbed meditation now habitual
to him。
〃No； I am sure you do not understand him；〃 said Pierquin； taking his
coffee from Marguerite's hand。 〃The Ethiopian can't change his skin；
nor the leopard his spots；〃 he whispered to Madame Claes。 〃Have the
goodness to remonstrate with him later； the devil himself couldn't
draw him out of his cogitation now； he is in it for to…day； at any
rate。〃
So saying； he bade good…bye to Claes； who pretended not to hear him；
kissed little Jean in his mother's arms； and retired with a low bow。
When the street…door clanged behind him； Balthazar caught his wife
round the waist； and put an end to the uneasiness his feigned reverie
was causing her by whispering in her ear；
〃I knew how to get rid of him。〃
Madame Claes turned her face to her husband； not ashamed to let him
see the tears of happiness that filled her eyes： then she rested her
forehead against his shoulder and let little Jean slide to the floor。
〃Let us go back into the parlor；〃 she said； after a pause。
Balthazar was exuberantly gay throughout the evening。 He invented
games for the children； and played with such zest himself that he did
not notice two or three short absences made by his wife。 About half…
past nine； when Jean had gone to bed； Marguerite returned to the
parlor after helping her sister Felicie to undress； and found her
mother seated in the deep armchair； and her father holding his wife's
hand as he talked to her。 The young girl feared to disturb them； and
was about to retire without speaking； when Madame Claes caught sight
of her； and said：
〃Come in； Marguerite； come here； dear child。〃 She drew her down；
kissed her tenderly on the forehead； and said； 〃Carry your book into
your own room； but do not sit up too late。〃
〃Good…night； my darling daughter；〃 said Balthazar。
Marguerite kissed her father and mother and went away。 Husband and
wife remained alone for some minutes without speaking； watching the
last glimmer of the twilight as it faded from the trees in the garden；
whose outlines were scarcely discernible through the gathering
darkness。 When night had almost fallen； Balthazar said to his wife in
a voice of emotion；
〃Let us go upstairs。〃
Long before English manners and customs had consecrated the wife's
chamber as a sacred spot； that of a Flemish woman was impenetrable。
The good housewives of the Low Countries did not make it a symbol of
virtue。 It was to them a habit contracted from childhood； a domestic
superstition； rendering the bedroom a delightful sanctuary of tender
feelings； where simplicity blended with all that was most sweet and
sacred in social life。 Any woman in Madame Claes's position would have
wished to gather about her the elegances of life； but Josephine had
done so with exquisite taste； knowing well how great an influence the
aspect of our surroundings exerts upon the feelings of others。 To a
pretty creature it would have been mere luxury； to her it was a
necessity。 No one better understood the meaning of the saying； 〃A
pretty woman is self…created；〃a maxim which guided every action of
Napoleon's first wife； and often made her false； whereas Madame Claes
was ever natural and true。
Though Balthazar knew his wife's chamber well； his forgetfulness of
material things had lately been so complete that he felt a thrill of
soft emotion when he entered it； as though he saw it for the first
time。 The proud gaiety of a triumphant woman glowed in the splendid
colors of the tulips which rose from the long throats of Chinese vases
judiciously placed about the room； and sparkled in the profusion of
lights whose effect can only be compared to a joyous burst of martial
music。 The gleam of the wax candles cast a mellow sheen on the
coverings of pearl…gray silk； whose monotony was relieved by touches
of gold； soberly distributed here and there on a few ornaments； and by
the varied colors of the tulips； which were like sheaves of precious
stones。 The secret of this choice arrangementit was he； ever he！
Josephine could not tell him in words more eloquent that he was now
and ever the mainspring of her joys and woes。
The aspect of that chamber put the soul deliciously at ease； cast out
sad thoughts； and left a sense of pure and equable happiness。 The
silken coverings； brought from China； gave forth a soothing perfume
that penetrated the system without fatiguing it。 The curtains；
carefully drawn； betrayed a desire for solitude； a jealous intention
of guarding the sound of every word； of hiding every look of the
reconquered husband。 Madame Claes； wearing a dressing…robe of muslin；
which was trimmed by a long pelerine with falls of lace that came
about her throat； and adorned with her beautiful black hair； which was
exquisitely glossy and fell on either side of her forehead like a
raven's wing； went to draw the tapestry portiere that hung before the
door and allowed no sound to penetrate the chamber from without。
CHAPTER VI
At the doorway Josephine turned； and threw to her husband； who was
sitting near the chimney； one of those gay smiles with which a
sensitive woman whose soul comes at moments into her face； rendering
it beautiful； gives expression to irresistible hopes。 Woman's greatest
charm lies in her constant appeal to the generosity of man by the
admission of a weakness which stirs his pride and wakens him to the
nobler sentiments。 Is not such an avowal of weakness full of magical
seduction？ When the rings of the portiere had slipped with a muffled
sound along the wooden rod； she turned towards Claes； and made as
though she would hide her physical defects by resting her hand upon a
chair and drawing herself gracefully forward。 It was calling him to
help her。 Balthazar； sunk for a moment in contemplation of the oliv