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！
〃To please me！〃 cried her father； with a start of surprise。 〃To please /me/； child？ when you will not hear the voice that upbraids you so tenderly very much longer！ But I have always heard children impute personal motives for the sacrifices that their parents make for them。 Marry Victor； my Julie！ Some day you will bitterly deplore his ineptitude； his thriftless ways； his selfishness； his lack of delicacy； his inability to understand love； and countless troubles arising through him。 Then； remember； that here under these trees your old father's prophetic voice sounded in your ears in vain。〃
He said no more； he had detected a rebellious shake of the head on his daughter's part。 Both made several paces towards the carriage which was waiting for them at the grating。 During that interval of silence； the young girl stole a glance at her father's face； and little by little her sullen brow cleared。 The intense pain visible on his bowed forehead made a lively impression upon her。
〃Father；〃 she began in gentle tremulous tones； 〃I promise to say no more about Victor until you have overcome your prejudices against him。〃
The old man looked at her in amazement。 Two tears which filled his eyes overflowed down his withered cheeks。 He could not take Julie in his arms in that crowded place； but he pressed her hand tenderly。 A few minutes later when they had taken their places in the cabriolet； all the anxious thought which had gathered about his brow had completely disappeared。 Julie's pensive attitude gave him far less concern than the innocent joy which had betrayed her secret during the review。
Nearly a year had passed since the Emperor's last review。 In early March 1814 a caleche was rolling along the highroad from Amboise to Tours。 As the carriage came out from beneath the green…roofed aisle of walnut trees by the post…house of la Frilliere； the horses dashed forward with such speed that in a moment they gained the bridge built across the Cise at the point of its confluence with the Loire。 There； however； they come to a sudden stand。 One of the traces had given way in consequence of the furious pace at which the post…boy； obedient to his orders； had urged on four horses； the most vigorous of their breed。 Chance； therefore； gave the two recently awakened occupants of the carriage an opportunity of seeing one of the most lovely landscapes along the enchanting banks of the Loire； and that at their full leisure。
At a glance the travelers could see to the right the whole winding course of the Cise meandering like a silver snake among the meadows； where the grass had taken the deep； bright green of early spring。 To the left lay the Loire in all its glory。 A chill morning breeze； ruffling the surface of the stately river； had fretted the broad sheets of water far and wide into a network of ripples； which caught the gleams of the sun； so that the green islets here and there in its course shone like gems set in a gold necklace。 On the opposite bank the fair rich meadows of Touraine stretched away as far as the eye could see； the low hills of the Cher； the only limits to the view； lay on the far horizon； a luminous line against the clear blue sky。 Tours itself； framed by the trees on the islands in a setting of spring leaves； seemed to rise like Venice out of the waters； and her old cathedral towers soaring in air were blended with the pale fantastic cloud shapes in the sky。
Over the side of the bridge； where the carriage had come to a stand； the traveler looks along a line of cliffs stretching as far as Tours。 Nature in some freakish mood must have raised these barriers of rock； undermined incessantly by the rippling Loire at their feet； for a perpetual wonder for spectators。 The village of Vouvray nestles； as it were； among the clefts and crannies of the crags； which begin to describe a bend at the junction of the Loire and Cise。 A whole population of vine…dressers lives； in fact； in appalling insecurity in holes in their jagged sides for the whole way between Vouvray and Tours。 In some places there are three tiers of dwellings hollowed out； one above the other； in the rock； each row communicating with the next by dizzy staircases cut likewise in the face of the cliff。 A little girl in a short red petticoat runs out into her garden on the roof of another dwelling； you can watch a wreath of hearth…smoke curling up among the shoots and trails of the vines。 Men are at work in their almost perpendicular patches of ground； an old woman sits tranquilly spinning under a blossoming almond tree on a crumbling mass of rock； and smiles down on the dismay of the travelers far below her feet。 The cracks in the ground trouble her as little as the precarious state of the old wall； a pendant mass of loose stones； only kept in position by the crooked stems of its ivy mantle。 The sound of coopers' mallets rings through the skyey caves； for here； where Nature stints human industry of soil； the soil is everywhere tilled； and everywhere fertile。
No view along the whole course of the Loire can compare with the rich landscape of Touraine； here outspread beneath the traveler's eyes。 The triple picture； thus barely sketched in outline； is one of those scenes which the imagination engraves for ever upon the memory； let a poet fall under its charm； and he shall be haunted by visions which shall reproduce its romantic loveliness out of the vague substance of dreams。
As the carriage stopped on the bridge over the Cise； white sails came out here and there from among the islands in the Loire to add new grace to the perfect view。 The subtle scent of the willows by the water's edge was mingled with the damp odor of the breeze from the river。 The monotonous chant of a goat…herd added a plaintive note to the sound of birds' songs in a chorus which never ends； the cries of the boatmen brought tidings of distant busy life。 Here was Touraine in all its glory； and the very height of the splendor of spring。 Here was the one peaceful district in France in those troublous days； for it was so unlikely that a foreign army should trouble its quiet that Touraine might be said to defy invasion。
As soon as the caleche stopped； a head covered with a foraging cap was put out of the window； and soon afterwards an impatient military man flung open the carriage door and sprang down into the road to pick a quarrel with the postilion； but the skill with which the Tourangeau was repairing the trace restored Colonel d'Aiglemont's equanimity。 He went back to the carriage； stretched himself to relieve his benumbed muscles； yawned； looked about him； and finally laid a hand on the arm of a young woman warmly wrapped up in a furred pelisse。
〃Come； Julie；〃 he said hoarsely； 〃just wake up and take a look at this country。 It is magnificent。〃
Julie put her head out of the window。 She wore a traveling cap of sable fur。 Nothing could be seen of her but her face； for the whole of her person was completely concealed by the folds of her fur pelisse。 The young girl who tripped to the review at the Tuileries with light footsteps and joy and gladness in her heart was scarcely recognizable in Julie d'Aiglemont。 Her face； delicate as ever； had lost the rose… color which once gave it so rich a glow。 A few straggling locks of black hair； straightened out by the damp night air； enhanced its dead whiteness； and all its life and sparkle seemed to be torpid。 Yet her eyes glittered with preternatural brightness in spite of the violet shadows under the lashes upon her wan cheeks。
She looked out with indifferent eyes over the fields towards the Cher； at the islands in the river； at the line of the crags of Vouvray stretching along the Loire towards Tours； then she sank back as soon as possible into her seat in the caleche。 She did not care to give a glance to the enchanting valley of the Cise。
〃Yes； it is wonderful；〃 she said； and out in the open air her voice sounded weak and faint to the last degree。 Evidently she had had her way with her father； to her misfortune。
〃Would you not like to live here； Julie？〃
〃Yes； here or anywhere；〃 she answered listlessly。
〃Do you feel ill？〃 asked Colonel d'Aiglemont。
〃No； not at all；〃 she answered with momentary energy； and； smiling at her husband； she added； 〃I should like to go to sleep。〃
Suddenly there came a sound of a horse galloping towards them。 Victor d'Aiglemont dropped his wife's hand and turned to watch the bend in the road。 No sooner had he taken his eyes from Julie's pale face than all the assumed gaiety died out of it； it was as if a light had been extinguished。 She felt no wish to look at the landscape； no curiosity to see the horseman who was galloping towards them at such a furious pace； and； ensconcing herself in her corner； stared out before her at the hindquarters of the post…horses； looking as blank as any Breton peasant listening to his /recteur's/ sermon。
Suddenly a young man riding a valuable horse came out from behind the clump of poplars and flowering briar…rose。
〃It is an Englishman；〃 remarked the Colonel。
〃Lord bless you； yes； General；〃 said the post…boy； 〃he belongs to the race of fellows who have a mind to gobble up France； they say。〃
The stranger was one of the foreigners traveling in France at the time wh