第 5 节
作者:
津鸿一瞥 更新:2021-03-08 19:41 字数:9322
character that is not common in France; but which; when it does exist; is
nowhere surpassed。 She was slight and delicate in person; of fair hair
and complexion; and with the meekest and most dove…like blue eyes I
ever saw in a female face。 Her smile; too; was of so winning and gentle
a nature; as to announce a disposition pregnant with all the affections。
Still it was well understood that Adrienne was not likely to marry; her
birth raising her above all intentions of connecting her ancient name with
mere gold; while her poverty placed an almost insuperable barrier
between her and most of the impoverished young men of rank whom
she occasionally saw。 Even the power of the dauphine was not sufficient
to provide Adrienne de la Rocheaimard with a suitable husband。 But of
this the charming girl never thought; she lived more for her grandmother
than for herself; and so long as that venerated relative; almost the only
one that remained to her on earth; did not suffer or repine; she herself
could be comparatively happy。
〃Dans le bon vieux temps;〃 said the vicomtesse; examining me through
her spectacles; and addressing Georges; who stood; hat in hand; to
hearken to her wisdom; 〃dans le bon vieux temps; mon ami; the ladies
of the chateau did not want for these things。 There were six dozen in my
corbeille; that were almost as fine as this; as for the trousseau; I believe
it had twice the number; but very little inferior。〃
{dans de bon vieux temps = in the good old days; corbeille = wedding
presents from a bridegroom; trousseau = wedding outfit}
〃I remember that madame;〃 Georges always gave his old mistress this
title of honor; 〃kept many of the beautiful garments of her trousseau
untouched; down to the melancholy period of the revolution。〃
〃It has been a mine of wealth to me; Georges; in behalf of that dear
child。 You may remember that this trousseau was kept in the old
armoire; on the right hand side of the little door of my dressing…room〃
{armoire = cupboard or closet }
〃Madame la Vicomtesse will have the goodness to pardon meit was
on the LEFT hand side of the roomMonsieur's medals were kept in
the opposite armoire。〃
〃Our good Georges is right; Adrienne!he has a memory! Your
grandfather insisted on keeping his medals in my dressing…room; as he
says。 Well; Monsieur Georges; left or right; THERE I left the remains of
my trousseau when I fled from France; and there I found it untouched
on my return。 The manufactory had saved the chateau; and the
manufacturers had spared my wardrobe。 Its sale; and its materials; have
done much toward rendering that dear child respectable and well clad;
since our return。〃
I thought the slight color which usually adorned the fair oval cheeks of
Adrienne deepened a little at this remark; and I certainly felt a little
tremor in the hand which held me; but it could not have been shame; as
the sweet girl often alluded to her poverty in a way so simple and
natural; as to prove that she had no false feelings on that subject。 And
why should she? Poverty ordinarily causes no such sensations to those
who are conscious of possessing advantages of an order superior to
wealth; and surely a well…educated; well…born; virtuous girl need not
have blushed because estates were torn from her parents by a political
convulsion that had overturned an ancient and powerful throne。
CHAPTER IV。
》From this time; the charming Adrienne frequently visited the bleaching
grounds; always accompanied by her grandmother。 The presence of
Georges was an excuse; but to watch the improvement in our
appearance was the reason。 Never before had Adrienne seen a fabric
as beautiful as our own; and; as I afterwards discovered; she was laying
by a few francs with the intention of purchasing the piece; and of
working and ornamenting the handkerchiefs; in order to present them to
her benefactress; the dauphine。 Mad。 de la Rocheaimard was pleased
with this project; it was becoming in a de la Rocheaimard; and they
soon began to speak of it openly in their visits。 Fifteen or twenty
napoleons might do it; and the remains of the recovered trousseau
would still produce that sum。 It is probable this intention would have
been carried out; but for a severe illness that attacked the dear girl;
during which her life was even despaired of。 I had the happiness of
hearing of her gradual recovery; however; before we commenced our
journey; though no more was said of the purchase。 Perhaps it was as
well。 as it was; for; by this time; such a feeling existed in our extreme
cote gauche; that it may be questioned if the handkerchiefs of that end
of the piece would have behaved themselves in the wardrobe of the
dauphine with the discretion and prudence that are expected from every
thing around the person of a princess of her exalted rank and excellent
character。 It is true; none of us understood the questions at issue; but
that only made the matter worse; the violence of all dissensions being
very generally in proportion to the ignorance and consequent confidence
of the disputants。
{napoleon = French gold coin worth twenty francs}
I could not but remember Adrienne; as the commissionaire laid us down
before the eyes of the wife of the head of the firm; in the rue de
。 We were carefully examined; and pronounced 〃parfaits;〃 still it was not
in the sweet tones; and with the sweeter smiles of the polished and
gentle girl we had left in Picardie。 There was a sentiment in HER
admiration that touched all our hearts; even to the most exaggerated
republican among us; for she seemed to go deeper in her examination of
merits than the mere texture and price。 She saw her offering in our
beauty; the benevolence of the dauphine in our softness; her own
gratitude in our exquisite fineness; and princely munificence in our
delicacy。 In a word; she could enter into the sentiment of a pocket…
handkerchief。 Alas! how different was the estimation in which we were
held by Desiree and her employers。 With them; it was purely a question
of francs; and we had not been in the magazin five minutes; when there
was a lively dispute whether we were to be put at a certain number of
napoleons; or one napoleon more。 A good deal was said about Mad。 la
Duchesse; and I found that it was expected that a certain lady of that
rank; one who had enjoyed the extraordinary luck of retaining her
fortune; being of an old and historical family; and who was at the head
of fashion in the faubourg; would become the purchaser。 At all events; it
was determined no one should see us until this lady returned to town;
she being at the moment at Rosny; with madame; whence she was
expected to accompany that princess to Dieppe; to come back to her
hotel; in the rue de Bourbon; about the last of October。 Here; then;
were we doomed to three months of total seclusion in the heart of the
gayest capital of Europe。 It was useless to repine; and we determined
among ourselves to exercise patience in the best manner we could。
{faubourg = neighborhood ; Rosny = Chateau of Rosny; country estate
of the Dukes of Berry at Rosny…sur…Seine; Madame = title of Princess
Marie Therese Charlotte; wife of the Dauphin Louis Antoine; heir to
Charles X}
Accordingly; we were safely deposited in a particular drawer; along
with a few other favorite articles; that; like our family; were reserved for
the eyes of certain distinguished but absent customers。 These specialites
in trade are of frequent occurrence in Paris; and form a pleasant bond
of union between the buyer and seller; which gives a particular zest to
this sort of commerce; and not unfrequently a particular value to goods。
To see that which no one else has seen; and to own that which no one
else can own; are equally agreeable; and delightfully exclusive。 All minds
that do not possess the natural sources of exclusion; are fond of creating
them by means of a subordinate and more artificial character。
{specialites = specialties }
On the whole; I think we enjoyed our new situation; rather than
otherwise。 The drawer was never opened; it is true; but that next it was
in constant use; and certain crevices beneath the counter enabled us to
see a little; and to hear more; of what passed in the magazin。 We were
in a part of the shop most frequented by ladies; and we overheard a few
tete…a…tetes that were not without amusement。 These generally related
to cancans。 Paris is a town in which cancans do not usually flourish;
their proper theatre being provincial and trading places; beyond a
question; still there ARE cancans at Paris; for all sorts of persons
frequent that centre of civilization。 The only difference is; that in the
social pictures offered by what are called cities; the cancans are in the
strongest light; and in the most conspicuous of the grouping; whereas in
Paris they are kept in shadow; and in the background。 Still there are
cancans at Paris; and cancans we overheard; and precisely in the
manner I have related。 Did pretty ladies remember that pocket…
handkerchiefs have ears; they might possibly have more reserve in the
indulgence of this extraordinary propensity。
{cancans = scandals (French slang)}
We had been near a month in the drawer;