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！
ental charm with that wonderful coloring； there was a certain grandeur about her； a majestic firmness； a profound sentiment which impresses itself upon the coarsest nature。 Her long； thick hair； falling in large curls about her queenly throat； gave an added idea of power to the proud face。 The consciousness of that power shone out from every movement； every line of Helene's form。 The rose…tinted nostrils were dilated slightly with the joy of triumph； the serene happiness of her life had left its plain tokens in the full development of her beauty。 A certain indefinable virginal grace met in her with the pride of a woman who is loved。 This was a slave and a queen； a queen who would fain obey that she might reign。
Her dress was magnificent and elegant in its richness； India muslin was the sole material； but her sofa and cushions were of cashmere。 A Persian carpet covered the floor in the large cabin； and her four children playing at her feet were building castles of gems and pearl necklaces and jewels of price。 The air was full of the scent of rare flowers in Sevres porcelain vases painted by Madame Jacotot； tiny South American birds； like living rubies； sapphires； and gold； hovered among the Mexican jessamines and camellias。 A pianoforte had been fitted into the room； and here and there on the paneled walls； covered with red silk； hung small pictures by great paintersa /Sunset/ by Hippolyte Schinner beside a Terburg； one of Raphael's Madonnas scarcely yielded in charm to a sketch by Gericault； while a Gerard Dow eclipsed the painters of the Empire。 On a lacquered table stood a golden plate full of delicious fruit。 Indeed； Helene might have been the sovereign lady of some great country； and this cabin of hers a boudoir in which her crowned lover had brought together all earth's treasure to please his consort。 The children gazed with bright； keen eyes at their grandfather。 Accustomed as they were to a life of battle； storm； and tumult； they recalled the Roman children in David's /Brutus/； watching the fighting and bloodshed with curious interest。
〃What！ is it possible？〃 cried Helene； catching her father's arm as if to assure herself that this was no vision。
〃Helene！〃
〃Father！〃
They fell into each other's arms； and the old man's embrace was not so close and warm as Helene's。
〃Were you on board that vessel？〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered sadly； and looking at the little ones； who gathered about him and gazed with wide open eyes。
〃I was about to perish； but〃
〃But for my husband；〃 she broke in。 〃I see how it was。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried the General； 〃why must I find you again like this； Helene？ After all the many tears that I have shed； must I still groan for your fate？〃
〃And why？〃 she asked； smiling。 〃Why should you be sorry to learn that I am the happiest woman under the sun？〃
〃/Happy/？〃 he cried with a start of surprise。
〃Yes； happy； my kind father；〃 and she caught his hands in hers and covered them with kisses； and pressed them to her throbbing heart。 Her caresses； and a something in the carriage of her head； were interpreted yet more plainly by the joy sparkling in her eyes。
〃And how is this？〃 he asked； wondering at his daughter's life； forgetful now of everything but the bright glowing face before him。
〃Listen； father； I have for lover； husband； servant； and master one whose soul is as great as the boundless sea； as infinite in his kindness as heaven； a god on earth！ Never during these seven years has a chance look； or word； or gesture jarred in the divine harmony of his talk； his love； his caresses。 His eyes have never met mine without a gleam of happiness in them； there has always been a bright smile on his lips for me。 On deck； his voice rises above the thunder of storms and the tumult of battle； but here below it is soft and melodious as Rossini's musicfor he has Rossini's music sent for me。 I have everything that woman's caprice can imagine。 My wishes are more than fulfilled。 In short； I am a queen on the seas； I am obeyed here as perhaps a queen may be obeyed。Ah！〃 she cried； interrupting herself； 〃/happy/ did I say？ Happiness is no word to express such bliss as mine。 All the happiness that should have fallen to all the women in the world has been my share。 Knowing one's own great love and self… devotion； to find in /his/ heart an infinite love in which a woman's soul is lost； and lost for evertell me； is this happiness？ I have lived through a thousand lives even now。 Here； I am alone； here； I command。 No other woman has set foot on this noble vessel； and Victor is never more than a few paces distant from me；he cannot wander further from me than from stern to prow；〃 she added； with a shade of mischief in her manner。 〃Seven years！ A love that outlasts seven years of continual joy； that endures all the tests brought by all the moments that make up seven yearsis this love？ Oh； no； no！ it is something better than all that I know of life 。 。 。 human language fails to express the bliss of heaven。〃
A sudden torrent of tears fell from her burning eyes。 The four little ones raised a piteous cry at this； and flocked like chickens about their mother。 The oldest boy struck the General with a threatening look。
〃Abel； darling；〃 said Helene； 〃I am crying for joy。〃
Helene took him on her knee； and the child fondled her； putting his arms about her queenly neck； as a lion's whelp might play with the lioness。
〃Do you never weary of your life？〃 asked the General； bewildered by his daughter's enthusiastic language。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃sometimes； when we are on land； yet even then I have never parted from my husband。〃
〃But you need to be fond of music and balls and fetes。〃
〃His voice is music for me； and for fetes； I devise new toilettes for him to see。 When he likes my dress； it is as if all the world admired me。 Simply for that reason I keep the diamonds and jewels； the precious things； the flowers and masterpieces of art that he heaps upon me； saying； 'Helene； as you live out of the world； I will have the world come to you。' But for that I would fling them all overboard。〃
〃But there are others on board； wild； reckless men whose passions〃
〃I understand； father；〃 she said smiling。 〃Do not fear for me。 Never was empress encompassed with more observance than I。 The men are very superstitious； they look upon me as a sort of tutelary genius； the luck of the vessel。 But /he/ is their god； they worship him。 Once； and once only； one of the crew showed disrespect； mere words；〃 she added； laughing； 〃but before Victor knew of it； the others flung the offender overboard； although I forgave him。 They love me as their good angel； I nurse them when they are ill； several times I have been so fortunate as to save a life； by constant care such as a woman can give。 Poor fellows； they are giants； but they are children at the same time。〃
〃And when there is fighting overhead？〃
〃I am used to it now； I quaked for fear during the first engagement； but never since。I am used to such peril； andI am your daughter；〃 she said； 〃I love it。〃
〃But how if he should fall？〃
〃I should die with him。〃
〃And your children？〃
〃They are children of the sea and of danger； they share the life of their parents。 We have but one life； and we do not flinch from it。 We have but one life； our names are written on the same page of the book of Fate； one skiff bears us and our fortunes； and we know it。〃
〃Do you so love him that he is more to you than all beside？〃
〃All beside？〃 echoed she。 〃Let us leave that mystery alone。 Yet stay！ there is this dear little onewell； this too is /he/；〃 and straining Abel to her in a tight clasp； she set eager kisses on his cheeks and hair。
〃But I can never forget that he has just drowned nine men！〃 exclaimed the General。
〃There was no help for it； doubtless；〃 she said； 〃for he is generous and humane。 He sheds as little blood as may be； and only in the interests of the little world which he defends； and the sacred cause for which he is fighting。 Talk to him about anything that seems to you to be wrong； and he will convince you； you will see。〃
〃There was that crime of his；〃 muttered the General to himself。
〃But how if that crime was a virtue？〃 she asked； with cold dignity。 〃How if man's justice had failed to avenge a great wrong？〃
〃But a private revenge！〃 exclaimed her father。
〃But what is hell；〃 she cried； 〃but a revenge through all eternity for the wrong done in a little day？〃
〃Ah！ you are lost！ He has bewitched and perverted you。 You are talking wildly。〃
〃Stay with us one day； father； and if you will but listen to him； and see him； you will love him。〃
〃Helene； France lies only a few leagues away；〃 he said gravely。
Helene trembled； then she went to the porthole and pointed to the savannas of green water spreading far and wide。
〃There lies my country；〃 she said； tapping the carpet with her foot。
〃But are you not coming with me to see your mother and your sister and brothers？〃
〃Oh！ yes；〃 she cried； with tears in her voice； 〃if /he/ is willing； if he will come with me。〃
〃So；〃 the General said sternly； 〃you have neither country nor kin now； Helene？〃
〃I am his wife；〃 she answered proudly； and there was something very noble in her tone。 〃This is the first happiness in