第6章

类别:其他 作者:佚名字数:16619更新时间:18/12/14 14:16:49
itbecameasubjectofconversation,asortofcompanyforthem;alllongingtoseeher,strainedtheireyesinvaineffortstopiercethoseimpalpablewhiteshrouds。 Thenthemysteriousconsortwoulddepart,thebellowingofhertrumpetfadingawayinthedistance,andtheywouldremainagaininthedeephush,amidtheinfinityofstagnantvapour。Everythingwasdrenchedwithsaltwater;thecoldbecamemorepenetrating;eachdaythesuntooklongertosinkbelowthehorizon;therewerenowrealnightsoneortwohourslong,andtheirgraygloamingwaschillyandweird。 Everymorningtheyheavedthelead,throughfearthatthe/Marie/ mighthaveruntooneartheIcelandiccoast。Butallthelinesonboard,fastenedendtoend,werepaidoutinvain——thebottomcouldnotbetouched。Sotheyknewthattheywerewelloutinbluewater。 Lifeonboardwasroughandwholesome;thecomfortinthesnugstrongoakencabinbelowwasenhancedbytheimpressionofthepiercingcoldoutside,whentheywentdowntosupperorforrest。 Inthedaytime,thesemen,whowereassecludedasmonks,spokebutlittleamongthemselves。Eachheldhisline,remainingforhoursandhoursinthesameimmovableposition。Theywereseparatedbysomethreeyardsofspace,butitendedinnotevenseeingoneanother。 Thecalmofthefogdulledthemind。Fishingsolonely,theyhummedhomesongs,soasnottoscarethefishaway。Ideascamemoreslowlyandseldom;theyseemedtoexpand,fillinginthespaceoftime,withoutleavinganyvacuum。Theydreamedofincoherentandmysteriousthings,asifinslumber,andthewoofoftheirdreamswasasairyasfogitself。 ThismistymonthofAugustusuallyterminatedtheIcelandseason,inaquiet,mournfulway。Otherwisethefullphysicallifewasthesame,fillingthesailors\'lungswithrustlingairandhardeningtheiralreadystrongmuscles。 Yann\'susualmannerhadreturned,asifhisgreatgriefhadnotcontinued;watchfulandactive,quickathisfishingwork,ahappy-go- luckytemper,likeonewhohadnotroubles;communicativeattimes,butveryrarely——andalwayscarryinghisheaduphigh,withhisoldindifferent,domineeringlook。 Atsupperintheroughretreat,whentheywereallseatedattable,withtheirknivesbusyontheirhotplates,heoccasionallylaughedoutasheusedtodoatdrollremarksofhismates。InhisinnerselfheperhapsthoughtofGaud,towhom,doubtless,Sylvestrehadplightedhiminhislasthours;andshehadbecomeapoorgirlnow,aloneintheworld。Andaboveall,perhaps,themourningforhisbelovedbrotherstillpreyeduponhisheart。Butthisheartofhiswasavirginwilderness,difficulttoexploreandlittleknown,wheremanythingstookplaceunrevealedontheexterior。 CHAPTERXI THESPECTRESHIP Onemorning,goingonthreeo\'clock,whileallweredreamingquietlyundertheirwinding-sheetoffog,theyheardsomethinglikeaclamourofvoices——voiceswhosetonesseemedstrangeandunfamiliar。Thoseondecklookedateachotherquestioningly。 \"Who\'sthattalking?\" Nobody。Nobodyhadsaidanything。Forthatmatter,thesoundshadseemedtocomefromtheoutervoid。Thenthemanwhohadchargeofthefog-horn,buthadbeenneglectinghisdutysinceovernight,rushedforit,andinflatinghislungstotheirutmost,soundedwithallhismightthelongbellowofalarm。Itwasenoughtomakeamanofironstart,insuchasilence。 Asifaspectrehadbeenevokedbythatthrilling,thoughdeep-tonedroar,ahugeunforeseengrayformsuddenlyaroseveryloftilyandtoweredthreateninglyrightbesidethem;masts,spars,rigging,alllikeashipthathadtakensuddenshapeintheairinstantly,justasasinglebeamofelectriclightevokesphantasmagoriaonthescreenofamagiclantern。 Menappeared,almostcloseenoughtotouchthem,leaningoverthebulwarks,staringatthemwitheyesdistendedintheawakeningofsurpriseanddread。 The/Marie\'s/menrushedforoars,spars,boat-hooks,anythingtheycouldlaytheirhandsonforfenders,andheldthemouttoshoveoffthatgrislythinganditsimpendingvisitors。Lo!theseothers,terrifiedalso,putoutlargebeamstorepelthemlikewise。 Buttherecameonlyaveryfaintcreakinginthetopmasts,asbothstandinggearsmomentarilyentangledbecamedisentangledwithouttheleastdamage;theshock,verygentleinsuchacalmhadbeenalmostwhollydeadened;indeed,itwassofeeblethatitreallyseemedasiftheothershiphadnosubstance,thatitwasamerepulp,almostwithoutweight。 Whenthefrightwasover,themenbegantolaugh;theyhadrecognisedeachother。 \"/LaMarie/,ahoy!howareye,lads?\" \"Halloa!Gaos,Laumec,Guermeur!\" Thespectreshipwasthe/Reine-Berthe/,alsoofPaimpol,andsothesailorswerefromneighbouringvillages;thatthick,tallfellowwiththehuge,blackbeard,showinghisteethwhenhelaughed,wasKerjegou,oneofthePloudanielboys,theotherswerefromPlounesorPlounerin。 \"Whydidn\'tyoublowyourfog-horn,andbeblowedtoyou,youherdofsavages?\"challengedLarvoerofthe/Reine-Berthe/。 \"Ifitcomestothat,whydidn\'tyoublowyours,youcrewofpirates—— yourankmessoftoad-fish?\" \"Oh,no!withus,d\'yesee,thesea-lawdiffers。/We\'reforbiddentomakeanynoise!/\" Hemadethisreplywiththeairofgivingadarkhint,andaqueersmile,whichafterwardcamebacktothememoryofthemenofthe/Marie/,andcausedthemagreatdealofthinking。Then,asifhethoughthehadsaidtoomuch,heconcludedwithajoke: \"Ourfog-horn,d\'yesee,wasburstbythisrogueherea-blowingtoohardintoit。\"HepointedtoasailorwithafacelikeaTriton,amanallbull-neckandchest,extravagantlybroad-shouldered,low-setuponhislegs,withsomethingunspeakablygrotesqueandunpleasantinthedeformityofstrength。 Whiletheywerelookingateachother,waitingforbreezeorundercurrenttomoveonevesselfasterthantheotherandseparatethem,ageneralpalaverbegan。Leaningovertheside,butholdingeachotheroffatarespectabledistancewiththeirlongwoodenprops,likebesiegedpikemenrepellinganassault,theybegantochatabouthome,thelastlettersreceived,andsweetheartsandwives。 \"Isay!myoldwoman,\"saidKerjegou,\"tellsmeshe\'shadthelittleboywewerelookingfor;thatmakeshalf-score-twonow!\" Anotherhadfoundhimselfthefatheroftwins;andathirdannouncedthemarriageofprettyJennyCaroff,agirlwellknowntoalltheIcelanders,withsomerichandinfirmoldresidentoftheCommuneofPlourivo。Astheywereeyeingeachotherasifthroughwhitegauze,thisalsoappearedtoalterthesoundofthevoices,whichcameasifmuffledandfromfaraway。 MeanwhileYanncouldnottakehiseyesoffoneofthosebrotherfishermen,alittlegrizzledfellow,whomhewasquitesureheneverhadseenbefore,butwhohad,nevertheless,straightwaysaidtohim,\"Howd\'o,longYann?\"withallthefamiliarityofbosomacquaintance。 Heworetheprovokinguglinessofamonkey,withanapishtwinklingofmischieftooinhispiercingeyes。 \"Asforme,\"saidLarvoer,ofthe/Reine-Berthe/,\"I\'vebeentoldofthedeathofthegrandsonofoldYvonneMoan,ofPloubazlanec——whowasservinghistimeinthenavy,youknow,intheChinesesquadron——averygreatpity。\" Onhearingthis,allthemenof/LaMarie/turnedtowardsYanntolearnifhealreadyknewanythingofthesadnews。 \"Ay,\"heansweredinalowvoice,butwithanindifferentandhaughtyair,\"itwastoldmeinthelastlettermyfathersentme。\"Theystillkeptonlookingathim,curiousatfindingoutthesecretofhisgrief,anditmadehimangry。 Thesequestionsandanswerswererapidlyexchangedthroughthepallidmists,sothemomentsofthispeculiarcolloquyskippedswiftlyby。 \"Mywifewrotemeatthesametime,\"continuedLarvoer,\"thatMonsieurMevel\'sdaughterhasleftthetowntoliveatPloubazlanecandtakecareofheroldgrand-aunt——GrannyMoan。Shegoesouttoneedleworkbythedaynow——toearnherliving。Anyhow,Ialwaysthought,Idid,thatshewasagood,bravegirl,inspiteofherfine-ladyairsandherfurbelows。\" ThenagaintheyallstaredatYann,whichmadehimstillmoreangry;aredflushmountedtohischeeks,undertheirtawnytan。 WithLarvoer\'sexpressionofopinionaboutGaudendedthisparleywiththecrewofthe/Reine-Berthe/,noneofwhomwereeveragaintobeseenbyhumaneyes。Foramomenttheirfacesbecamemoredim,theirvesselbeingalreadyfartheraway;andthen,allatonce,themenofthe/Marie/foundtheyhadnothingtopushagainst,nothingattheendoftheirpoles——allspars,oars,oddsandendsofdeck-lumber,weregropingandquiveringinemptiness,tilltheyfellheavily,oneaftertheother,downintothesea,liketheirownarms,loppedoffandinert。 Theypulledalltheuselessdefencesonboard。The/Reine-Berthe/,meltingawayintothethickfog,haddisappearedassuddenlyasapaintedshipinadissolvingview。Theytriedtohailher,buttheonlyresponsewasasortofmockingclamour——asofmanyvoices——endinginamoan,thatmadethemallstareateachotherinsurprise。 This/Reine-Berthe/didnotcomebackwiththeotherIcelandicfishers;andasthemenofthe/Samuel-Azenide/afterwardpickedupinsomefjordanunmistakablewaif(partofhertaffrailwithabitofherkeel),allceasedtohope;inthemonthofOctoberthenamesofallhercrewwereinscribeduponblackslabsinthechurch。 Fromtheverytimeofthatapparition——thedateofwhichwaswellrememberedbythemenofthe/Marie/——untilthetimeoftheirreturn,therehadbeennoreallydangerousweatherontheIcelandicseas,butagreatstormfromthewesthad,threeweeksbefore,sweptseveralsailorsoverboard,andswalloweduptwovessels。ThemenrememberedLarvoer\'speculiarsmile,andputtingthingstogethermanystrangeconjecturesweremade。Inthedeadofnight,Yann,morethanonce,dreamedthatheagainsawthesailorwhoblinkedlikeanape,andsomeofthemenofthe/Marie/wonderedif,onthatrememberedmorning,theyhadnotbeentalkingwithghosts。 CHAPTERXII THESTRANGECOUPLE Summeradvanced,and,attheendofAugust,withthefirstautumnalmists,theIcelanderscamehome。 ForthelastthreemonthsthetwolonewomenhadlivedtogetheratPloubazlanecintheMoan\'scottage。Gaudfilledadaughter\'splaceinthepoorbirthplaceofsomanydeadsailors。Shehadsenthitherallthatremainedfromthesaleofherfather\'shouse;hergrandbedinthetownfashion,andherfine,differentcoloureddresses。Shehadmadeherselfaplainerblackdress,andlikeoldYvonne,woreamourningcap,ofthickwhitemuslin,adornedmerelywithsimpleplaits。Everydayshewentoutsewingatthehousesoftherichpeopleinthetown,andreturnedeveryeveningwithoutbeingdetainedonherwayhomebyanysweetheart。Shehadremainedasproudasever,andwasstillrespectedasafinelady;andastheladsbadehergood-night,theyalwaysraisedahandtotheircaps。 Throughthesweeteveningtwilight,shewalkedhomefromPaimpol,allalongthecliffroadinhalingthefresh,comfortingseaair。Constantsittingatneedleworkhadnotdeformedherlikemanyothers,whoarealwaysbentintwoovertheirwork——andshedrewupherbeautifulsuppleformperfectlyerectinlookingoverthesea,fairlyacrosstowhereYannwasitseemed。 Thesameroadledtohishome。Hadshewalkedonmuchfarther,towardsawell-knownrockywindsweptnook,shewouldcometothathamletofPors-Even,wherethetrees,coveredwithgraymoss,grewcrampedlybetweenthestones,andareslantedoverlowlybythewesterngales。 Perhapsshemightnevermorereturnthere,althoughitwasonlyaleagueaway;butonceinherlifetimeshehadbeenthere,andthatwasenoughtocastacharmoverthewholeroad;and,besides,Yannwouldcertainlyoftenpassthatway,andshecouldfancyseeinghimuponthebaremoor,steppingbetweenthestumpyreeds。 ShelovedthewholeregionofPloubazlanec,andwasalmosthappythatfatehaddrivenherthere;shenevercouldhavebecomeresignedtoliveinanyotherplace。 TowardsthisendofAugust,asouthernwarmth,diffusinglanguor,risesandspreadstowardsthenorth,withluminousafterglowsandstrayraysfromadistantsun,whichfloatovertheBretonseas。Oftentheairiscalmandpellucid,withoutasinglecloudonhigh。 AtthehourofGaud\'sreturnjourney,allthingshadalreadybeguntofadeinthenightfall,andbecomefusedintoclose,compactgroups。 Hereandthereaclumpofreedsstrovetomakewaybetweenstones,likeabattle-tornflag;inahollow,aclusterofgnarledtreesformedadarkmass,orelsesomestraw-thatchedhamletindentedthemoor。Atthecross-roadstheimagesofChristonthecross,whichwatchoverandprotectthecountry,stretchedouttheirblackarmsontheirsupportslikerealmenintorture;inthedistancetheChannelappearedfairandcalm,onevastgoldenmirror,underthealreadydarkenedskyandshade-ladenhorizon。 Inthiscountryeventhecalmfineweatherwasamelancholything; notwithstanding,avagueuneasinessseemedtohoverabout;apalpabledreademanatingfromtheseatowhichsomanylivesareintrusted,andwhoseeverlastingthreatonlyslumbered。 Gaudsaunteredalongasinadream,andneverfoundthewaylongenough。Thebrinysmelloftheshore,andasweetodouroffloweretsgrowingalongthecliffsamidthornybushes,perfumedtheair。HaditnotbeenforGrannyYvonnewaitingforherathome,shewouldhaveloiteredalongthereed-strewnpaths,likethebeautifulladiesinstories,whodreamawaythesummereveningsintheirfineparks。 Manythoughtsofherearlychildhoodcamebacktoherasshepassedthroughthecountry;buttheyseemedsoeffacedandfarawaynow,eclipsedbyherloveloomingupbetween。 Inspiteofall,shewentonthinkingofYannasengagedinadegree—— arestless,scornfulbetrothed,whomsheneverwouldreallyhave,buttowhomshepersistedinbeingfaithfulinmind,withoutspeakingaboutittoanyone。Forthetime,shewashappytoknowthathewasoffIceland;forthere,atleast,theseawouldkeephimlonelyinherdeepcloisters,andhewouldbelongtonootherwoman。 True,hewouldreturnoneofthesedays,butshelookeduponthatreturnmorecalmlythanbefore。Sheinstinctivelyunderstoodthatherpovertywouldnotbeareasonforhimtodespiseher;forhewasnotasothermen。Moreover,thedeathofpoorSylvestrewoulddrawthemclosertogether。Uponhisreturn,hecouldnotdootherwisethancometoseehisfriend\'soldgranny;andGaudhaddecidedtobepresentatthatvisit;foritdidnotseemtoherthatitwouldbeundignified。 Appearingtoremembernothing,shewouldtalktohimastoalong- knownfriend;shewouldevenspeakwithaffection,aswasduetoSylvestre\'sbrother,andtrytoseemeasyandnatural。Andwhoknows? Perhapsitwouldnotbeimpossibletobeasasistertohim,nowthatshewassolonelyintheworld;torelyuponhisfriendship,eventoaskitasasupport,withenoughpreliminaryexplanationforhimnottoaccuseherofanyafter-thoughtofmarriage。 Shejudgedhimtobeuntamedandstubborninhisindependentideas,yettenderandloyal,andcapableofunderstandingthegoodnessthatcomesstraightfromtheheart。 Howwouldhefeelwhenhemetheragain,inherpoorruinedhome? Very,verypoorshewas——forGrannyMoanwasnotstrongenoughnowtogooutwashing,andonlyhadhersmallwidow\'spensionleft;granted,sheatebutlittle,andthetwocouldstillmanagetolive,notdependentuponothers。 Nightwasalwaysfallenwhenshearrivedhome;beforeshecouldentershehadtogodownalittleoverthewornrocks,forthecottagewasplacedonaninclinetowardsthebeach,belowthelevelofthePloubazlanecroadside。Itwasalmosthiddenunderitsthickbrownstrawthatch,andlookedlikethebackofsomehugebeast,shrunkdownunderitsbristlingfur。Itswallsweresombreandroughliketherocks,butwithtinytuftsofgreenmossandlichensoverthem。Therewerethreeunevenstepsbeforethethreshold,andtheinsidelatchwasopenedbyalengthofrope-yarnrunthroughahole。Uponentering,thefirstthingtobeseenwasthewindow,hollowedoutthroughthewallasinthesubstanceofarampart,andgivingviewofthesea,whenceinflowedadyingyellowlight。Onthehearthburnedbrightlythesweet-scentedbranchesofpineandbeechwoodthatoldYvonneusedtopickupalongtheway,andsheherselfwassittingthere,seeingtotheirbitofsupper;indoorssheworeakerchiefoverherheadtosavehercap。Herstillbeautifulprofilewasoutlinedintheredflameofherfire。ShelookedupatGaud。Hereyes,whichformerlywerebrown,hadtakenafadedlook,andalmostappearedblue;theyseemednolongertosee,andweretroubledanduncertainwitholdage。EachdayshegreetedGaudwiththesamewords: \"Oh,dearme!mygoodlass,howlateyouareto-night!\" \"No,Granny,\"answeredGaud,whowasusedtoit。\"Thisisthesametimeasotherdays。\" \"Eh?Itseemedtome,dear,laterthanusual。\" Theysatdowntosupperattheirtable,whichhadalmostbecomeshapelessfromconstantuse,butwasstillasthickasthegeneroussliceofahugeoak。Thecricketbeganitssilver-tonedmusicagain。 Oneofthesidesofthecottagewasfilledupbyroughlysculptured,worm-eatenwoodwork,whichhadanopeningwhereinweresetthesleepingbunks,wheregenerationsoffishershadbeenborn,andwheretheiragedmothershaddied。 Quaintoldkitchenutensilshungfromtheblackbeams,aswellasbunchesofsweetherbs,woodenspoons,andsmokedbacon;fishing-nets,whichhadbeenlefttheresincetheshipwreckofthelastMoans,theirmeshesnightlybittenbytherats。 Gaud\'sbedstoodinanangleunderitswhitemuslindraperies;itseemedlikeaveryfreshandelegantmoderninventionbroughtintothehutofaCelt。 OnthegranitewallhungaphotographofSylvestreinhissailorclothes。Hisgrandmotherhadfixedhismilitarymedaltoit,withhisownpairofthoseredclothanchorsthatFrenchmen-of-wars-menwearontheirrightsleeve;Gaudhadalsobroughtoneofthosefunerealcrowns,ofblackandwhitebeads,placedroundtheportraitsofthedeadinBrittany。ThisrepresentedSylvestre\'smausoleum,andwasallthatremainedtoconsecratehismemoryinhisownland。 Onsummereveningstheydidnotsituplate,tosavethelights;whentheweatherwasfine,theysatoutawhileonastonebenchbeforethedoor,andlookedatpassers-byintheroad,alittleovertheirheads。 ThenoldYvonnewouldliedownonhercupboardshelf;andGaudonherfinebed,wouldfallasleepprettysoon,beingtiredoutwithherday\'swork,andwalking,anddreamingofthereturnoftheIcelanders。 Likeawise,resolutegirl,shewasnottoogreatlyapprehensive。 CHAPTERXIII RENEWEDDISAPPOINTMENT ButonedayinPaimpol,hearingthat/LaMarie/hadjustgotin,Gaudfeltpossessedwithakindoffever。Allherquietcomposuredisappeared;sheabruptlyfinishedupherwork,withoutquiteknowingwhy,andsetoffhomesoonerthanusual。 Upontheroad,asshehurriedon,sherecognised/him/,atsomedistanceoff,comingtowardsher。Shetrembledandfeltherstrengthgivingway。Hewasnowquiteclose,onlyabouttwentystepsoff,hisheaderectandhishaircurlingoutfrombeneathhisfisher\'scap。Shewassotakenbysurpriseatthismeeting,thatshewasafraidshemightfall,andthenhewouldunderstandall;shewoulddieofveryshameatit。Shethought,too,shewasnotlookingwell,butweariedbythehurriedwork。Shewouldhavedoneanythingtobehiddenawayunderthereedsorinoneoftheferret-holes。 Healsohadtakenabackwardstep,asiftoturninanotherdirection。 Butitwastoolatenow。Bothmetinthenarrowpath。Nottotouchher,hedrewupagainstthebank,withasideswervelikeaskittishhorse,lookingatherinawild,stealthyway。 She,too,foronehalfsecondlookedup,andinspiteofherselfmutelyimploredhim,withanagonizedprayer。Inthatinvoluntarymeetingoftheireyes,swiftasthefiringofagun,thesegraypupilsofhershadappearedtodilateandlightupwithsomegrandnoblethought,whichflashedforthinablueflame,whilethebloodrushedcrimsoneventohertemplesbeneathhergoldentresses。 Ashetouchedhiscaphefaltered。\"Wishyougood-day,MademoiselleGaud。\" \"Good-day,MonsieurYann,\"sheanswered。 Thatwasall。Hepassedon。Shewentonherway,stillquivering,butfeeling,ashedisappeared,thatherbloodwasslowlycirculatingagainandherstrengthreturning。 Athome,shefoundGrannyMoancrouchinginacornerwithherheadheldbetweenherhands,sobbingwithherchildish\"he,he!\"herhairdishevelledandfallingfrombeneathhercaplikethinskeinsofgrayhemp。 \"Oh,mykindGaud!I\'vejustmetyoungGaosdownbyPlouherzelasI camebackfrommywood-gathering;wespokeofourpoorlad,ofcourse。 TheyarrivedthismorningfromIceland,andintheafternoonhecameovertoseemewhileIwasout。Poorlad,hehadtearsinhiseyes,too。Hecamerightuptomydoor,mykindGaud,tocarrymylittlefagot。\" Shelistened,standing,whileherheartseemedalmosttobreak;sothisvisitofYann\'s,uponwhichshehadsomuchreliedforsayingsomanythings,wasalreadyover,andwoulddoubtlessnotoccuragain。Itwasalldone。Herpoorheartseemedmorelonelythanever。Hermiseryharder,andtheworldmoreempty;andshehungherheadwithawilddesiretodie。 CHAPTERXIV THEGRANDAMBREAKINGUP Slowlythewinterdrewnigh,andspreadoveralllikeashroudleisurelydrawn。Graydaysfollowedoneanother,butYannappearednomore,andthetwowomenlivedonintheirloneliness。Withthecold,theirdailyexistencebecameharderandmoreexpensive。 OldYvonnewasdifficulttotend,too;herpoormindwasgoing。Shegotintofitsoftempernow,andspokewicked,insultingspeechesonceortwiceeveryweek;ittookherso,likeachild,aboutmerenothings。 Pooroldgranny!Shewasstillsosweetinherluciddays,thatGauddidnotceasetorespectandcherishher。Tohavealwaysbeensogoodandtoendbybeingbad,andshowtowardsthecloseadepthofmaliceandspitefulnessthathadslumberedduringherwholelife,touseawholevocabularyofcoarsewordsthatshehadhidden;whatmockeryofthesoul!whataderisivemystery!Shebegantosing,too,whichwasstillmorepainfultohearthanherangrywords,forshemixedeverythinguptogether——the/oremus/ofamasswithrefrainsofloosesongsheardintheharbourfromwanderingsailors。Sometimesshesang\"/LesFillettesdePaimpol/\"(TheLassesofPaimpol),or,noddingherheadandbeatingtimewithherfoot,shewouldmutter: \"Monmarivientdepartir; Pourlapeched\'Islande,monmarivientdepartir,Ilm\'alaisseesanslesou,Mais——trala,tralalalou,J\'engagne,j\'engagne。\" (MyhusbandwentoffsailingUpontheIcelandcruise,Butneverleftmemoney,Note\'enacouplesous。 But——ritooloo!ritooralloo! Iknowwhattodo!) Shealwaysstoppedshort,whilehereyesopenedwidewithalifelessexpression,likethosedyingflamesthatsuddenlyflashoutbeforefadingaway。Shehungherheadandremainedspeechlessforagreatlengthoftime,herlowerjawdroppingasinthedead。 Onedayshecouldremembernothingofhergrandson。\"Sylvestre? Sylvestre?\"repeatedshe,wonderingwhomGaudmeant;\"oh!mydear,d\'yesee,I\'vesomanyofthem,thatnowIcan\'tremembertheirnames!\" Sosayingshethrewupherpoorwrinkledhands,withacareless,almostcontemptuoustoss。Butthenextdaysherememberedhimquitewell;mentioningseveralthingshehadsaidordone,andthatwholedaylongshewept。 Oh!thoselongwintereveningswhentherewasnotenoughwoodfortheirfire;toworkinthebittercoldforone\'sdailybread,sewinghardtofinishtheclothesbroughtoverfromPaimpol。 GrannyYvonne,sittingbythehearth,remainedquietenough,herfeetstuckinamongthesmoulderingembers,andherhandsclaspedbeneathherapron。Butatthebeginningoftheevening,Gaudalwayshadtotalktohertocheerheralittle。 \"Whydon\'tyespeaktome,mygoodgirl?InmytimeI\'veknownmanygirlswhohadplentytosayforthemselves。Idon\'tthinkit\'udseemsolonesome,ifye\'donlytalkabit。\" SoGaudwouldtellherchit-chatshehadheardintown,orspokeofthepeopleshehadmetonherwayhome,talkingofthingsthatwerequiteindifferenttoher,asindeedallthingswerenow;andstoppinginthemidstofherstorieswhenshesawthepooroldwomanwasfallingasleep。 Thereseemednothinglivelyoryouthfularoundher,whosefreshyouthyearnedforyouth。Herbeautywouldfadeaway,lonelyandbarren。Thewindfromtheseacameinfromallsides,blowingherlampabout,andtheroarofthewavescouldbeheardasinaship。Listening,theever-presentsadmemoryofYanncametoher,themanwhosedominionwasthesebattlingelements;throughthelongterriblenights,whenallthingswereunbridledandhowlingintheouterdarkness,shethoughtofhimwithagony。 Alwaysaloneasshewas,withthesleepingoldgranny,shesometimesgrewfrightenedandlookedinalldarkcorners,thinkingofthesailors,herancestors,whohadlivedinthesenooks,butperishedintheseaonsuchnightsasthese。Theirspiritsmightpossiblyreturn; andshedidnotfeelassuredagainstthevisitofthedeadbythepresenceofthepooroldwoman,whowasalmostasoneofthemherself。 Suddenlysheshiveredfromheadtofoot,assheheardathin,crackedvoice,asifstifledundertheearth,proceedfromthechimneycorner。 Inachirpingtone,whichchilledherverysoul,thevoicesang: \"Pourlapeched\'Islande,monmarivientdepartir,Ilm\'alaisseesanslesou,Mais——trala,tralalalou!\" Thenshewasseizedwiththatpeculiarterrorthatonehasofmadpeople。 Therainfellwithanunceasing,fountain-likegush,andstreameddownthewallsoutside。Therewereoozingsofwaterfromtheoldmoss-grownroof,whichcontinueddroppingontheself-samespotswithamonotonoussadsplash。Theyevensoakedthroughintothefloorinside,whichwasofhardenedearthstuddedwithpebblesandshells。 Dampnesswasfeltonallsides,wrappingthemupinitschillmasses; anuneven,buffetingdampness,mistyanddark,andseemingtoisolatethescatteredhutsofPloubazlanecstillmore。 ButtheSundayeveningswerethesaddestofall,becauseoftherelativegaietyinotherhomesonthatday,fortherearejoyfuleveningsevenamongthoseforgottenhamletsofthecoast;hereandthere,fromsomeclosed-uphut,beatenaboutbytheinkyrains,ponderoussongsissued。Within,tableswerespreadfordrinkers; sailorssatbeforethesmokingfire,theoldonesdrinkingbrandyandtheyoungonesflirtingwiththegirls;allmoreorlessintoxicatedandsingingtodeadenthought。Closetothem,thegreatsea,theirtombonthemorrow,sangalso,fillingthevacantnightwithitsimmenseprofoundvoice。 OnsomeSundays,partiesofyoungfellowswhocameoutofthetavernsorbackfromPaimpol,passedalongtheroad,nearthedooroftheMoans;theyweresuchaslivedattheland\'sendofPors-Evenway。 Theypassedverylate,caringlittleforthecoldandwet,accustomedastheyweretofrostandtempests。Gaudlenthereartothemedleyoftheirsongsandshouts——soonlostintheuproarofthesquallsorthebreakers——tryingtodistinguishYann\'svoice,andthenfeelingstrangelyperplexedifshethoughtshehadheardit。 ItreallywastoounkindofYannnottohavereturnedtoseethemagain,andtoleadsogayalifesosoonafterthedeathofSylvestre; allthiswasunlikehim。No,shereallycouldnotunderstandhimnow,butinspiteofallshecouldnotforgethimorbelievehimtobewithoutheart。 Thefactwasthatsincehisreturnhehadbeenleadingamostdissipatedlifeindeed。Threeorfourtimes,onthePloubazlanecroad,shehadseenhimcomingtowardsher,butshewasalwaysquickenoughtoshunhim;andhe,too,inthosecases,tooktheoppositedirectionovertheheath。Asifbymutualunderstanding,now,theyfledfromeachother。 CHAPTERXV THENEWSHIP AtPaimpollivesalarge,stoutwomannamedMadameTressoleur。Inoneofthestreetsthatleadtotheharbourshekeepsatavern,wellknowntoalltheIcelanders,wherecaptainsandship-ownerscometoengagetheirsailors,andchoosethestrongestamongthem,menandmastersalldrinkingtogether。 Atonetimeshehadbeenbeautiful,andwasstilljollywiththefishers;shehasamustache,isasbroadbuiltasaDutchman,andasboldandreadyofspeechasaLevantine。Thereisalookofthedaughteroftheregimentabouther,notwithstandingheramplenun-likemuslinheadgear;forallthat,areligioushaloofitssortfloatsaroundher,forthesimplereasonthatsheisaBretonborn。 Thenamesofallthesailorsofthecountryarewritteninherheadasinaregister;sheknowsthemall,goodorbad,andknowsexactly,too,whattheyearnandwhattheyareworth。 OneJanuaryday,Gaud,whohadbeencalledintomakeadress,satdowntoworkinaroombehindthetap-room。 TogointotheabodeofourMadameTressoleur,youenterbyabroad,massive-pillareddoor,whichrecedesintheoldenstyleunderthefirstfloor。Whenyougotoopenthisdoor,thereisalwayssomeobliginggustofwindfromthestreetthatpushesitin,andthenew- comersmakeanabruptentrance,asifcarriedinbyabeachroller。 Thehallisadornedbygiltframes,containingpicturesofshipsandwrecks。InanangleachinastatuetteoftheVirginisplacedonabracket,betweentwobunchesofartificialflowers。 Theseoldenwallsmusthavelistenedtomanypowerfulsongsofsailors,andwitnessedmanywildgayscenes,sincethefirstfar-offdaysofPaimpol——allthroughthelivelytimesoftheprivateers,uptotheseofthepresentIcelanders,soverylittledifferentfromtheirancestors。Manylivesofmenhavebeenangledforandhookedthere,ontheoakentables,betweentwodrunkenbouts。 Whileshewassewingthedress,GaudlenthereartotheconversationgoingonaboutIceland,behindthepartition,betweenMadameTressoleurandtwooldsailors,drinking。Theywerediscussinganewcraftthatwasbeingriggedintheharbour。Sheneverwouldbereadyforthenextseason,sotheysaidofthis/Leopoldine/。 \"Oh,yes,tobesureshewill!\"answeredthehostess。\"Itell\'eethecrewwasallmadeupyesterday——thewholeof\'emoutoftheold/Marie/ofGuermeur\'s,that\'stobesoldforbreakingup;fiveyoungfellowssignedtheirengagementherebeforeme,atthisheretable,andwithmyownpen——soyesee,I\'mright!Andfinefellows,too,I cantell\'ee;Laumec,TugdualCaroff,YvonDuff,youngKeraezfromTreguier,andlongYannGaosfromPors-Even,who\'sworthanythreeon\'em!\" The/Leopoldine/!Thehalf-heardnameoftheshipthatwastocarryYannawaybecamesuddenlyfixedinherbrain,asifithadbeenhammeredintoremainmoreineffaceablythere。 AtnightbackagainatPloubazlanec,andfinishingoffherworkbythelightofherpitifullamp,thatnamecamebacktohermind,anditsverysoundimpressedherasasadthing。Thenamesofvessels,asofthings,haveasignificanceinthemselves——almostaparticularmeaningoftheirown。Thenewandunusualwordhauntedherwithanunnaturalpersistency,likesomeghastlyandclingingwarning。ShehadexpectedtoseeYannstartoffagainonthe/Marie/,whichsheknewsowellandhadformerlyvisited,andwhoseVirginhadsolongprotecteditsdangerousvoyages;andthechangetothe/Leopoldine/increasedheranguish。 Butshetoldherselfthatthatwasnotherconcern,andnothingabouthimoughtevertoaffecther。Afterall,whatcoulditmattertoherwhetherhewerehereorthere,onthisshiporanother,ashoreornot? WouldshefeellessmiserablewithhimbackinIceland,whenthesummerwouldreturnoverthedesertedcottages,andlonelyanxiouswomen——orwhenanewautumncameagain,bringinghomethefishersoncemore?Allthatwasalikeindifferenttoher,equallywithoutjoyorhope。Therewasnolinkbetweenthemnow,nothingevertobringthemtogether,forwashenotforgettingevenpoorlittleSylvestre?So,shehadplainlytounderstandthatthissoledreamofherlifewasoverforever;shehadtoforgetYann,andallthingsappertainingtohisexistence,eventheverynameofIceland,whichstillvibratedinherwithsopainfulacharm——becauseofhimallsuchthoughtsmustbesweptaway。Allwasindeedover,foreverandever。 Shetenderlylookedoveratthepooroldwomanasleep,whostillrequiredallherattention,butwhowouldsoondie。Then,whatwouldbethegoodoflivingandworkingafterthat;ofwhatusewouldshebe? Outofdoors,thewesternwindhadagainrisen;and,notwithstandingitsdeepdistantsoughing,thesoftregularpatteroftheeaves- droppingscouldbeheardastheydrippedfromtheroof。Andsothetearsoftheforsakenonebegantoflow——tearsrunningeventoherlipstoimparttheirbrinytaste,anddroppingsilentlyonherwork,likesummershowersbroughtbynobreeze,butsuddenlyfalling,hurriedandheavy,fromtheover-ladenclouds;asshecouldnolongerseetowork,andshefeltworkedoutanddiscouragedbeforethisgreathollownessofherlife,shefoldeduptheextra-sizedbodyofMadameTressoleurandwenttobed。 Sheshivereduponthatfine,grandbed,for,likeallthingsinthecottage,itseemedalsotobegettingcolderanddamper。Butasshewasveryyoung,althoughshestillcontinuedweeping,itendedbyhergrowingwarmandfallingasleep。 CHAPTERXVI LONEANDLORN Othersadweeksfollowedon,tillitwasearlyFebruary,fine,temperateweather。Yannhadjustcomefromhisshipowner\'swherehehadreceivedhiswagesforthelastsummer\'sfishery,fifteenhundredfrancs,which,accordingtothecustomofthefamily,hecarriedtohismother。Thecatchhadbeenagoodone,andhereturnedwellpleased。 NearingPloubazlanec,hespiedacrowdbythesideoftheroad。Anoldwomanwasgesticulatingwithherstick,whilethestreetboysmockedandlaughedaroundher。ItwasGrannyMoan。ThegoodoldgrannywhomSylvestrehadsotenderlyloved——herdresstornandbedraggled——hadnowbecomeoneofthosepooroldwomen,almostfallenbackinsecondchildhood,whoarefollowedandridiculedalongtheirroads。Thesighthurthimcruelly。 TheboysofPloubazlanechadkilledhercat,andsheangrilyanddespairinglythreatenedthemwithherstick。\"Ah,ifmypoorladhadonlybeenhere!forsure,you\'dneverdareddoit,youyoungrascals!\" Itappearedthatassheranafterthemtobeatthem,shehadfallendown;hercapwasawry,andherdresscoveredwithmud;theycalledoutthatshewastipsy(asoftenhappenstothosepoorold\"grizzling\" peopleinthecountrywhohavemetmisfortune)。 ButYannclearlyknewthatthatwasnottrue,andthatshewasaveryrespectableoldwoman,whoonlydrankwater。 \"Aren\'tyouashamed?\"roaredhetotheboys。 Hewasveryangry,andhisvoiceandtonefrightenedthem,sothatinthetwinklingofaneyetheyalltookflight,frightenedandconfusedbefore\"LongGaos。\" Gaud,whowasjustreturningfromPaimpol,bringinghomeherworkfortheevening,hadseenallthisfromafar,andhadrecognisedGrannyinthegroup。Sheeagerlyrushedforwardtolearnwhatthematterwas,andwhattheyhaddonetoher;seeingthecat,sheunderstooditall。 SheliftedupherfrankeyestoYann,whodidnotlookaside;neitherthoughtofavoidingeachothernow;buttheybothblusheddeeplyandtheygazedratherstartledatbeingsonearoneanother;butwithouthatred,almostwithaffection,unitedastheywereinthiscommonimpulseofpityandprotection。 Theschool-childrenhadowedagrudgetothepoordeadgrimalkinforsometime,becausehehadablack,sataniclook;thoughhewasreallyaverygoodcat,andwhenonelookedcloselyathim,hewassoftandcaress-invitingofcoat。Theyhadstonedhimtodeath,andoneofhiseyeshungout。Thepooroldwomanwentongrumbling,shakingwithemotion,andcarryingherdeadcatbythetail,likeadeadrabbit。 \"Oh,dear,oh,dear!mypoorboy,mypoorlad,ifhewereonlyhere; forsure,they\'dneverdareda-doit。\" Tearswerefallingdowninherpoorwrinkles;andherroughblue- veinedhandstrembled。 Gaudhadputhercapstraightagain,andtriedtocomfortherwithsoothingwords。Yannwasquiteindignanttothinkthatlittlechildrencouldbesocruelastodosuchathingtoapooragedwomanandherpet。Tearsalmostcameintohiseyes,andhisheartachedforthepoorolddameashethoughtofSylvestre,whohadlovedhersodearly,andtheterriblepainitwouldhavebeentohimtoseeherthus,underderisionandinmisery。 Gaudexcusedherselfasifshewereresponsibleforherstate。\"Shemusthavefallendown,\"shesaidinalowvoice;\"\'tistrueherdressisn\'tnew,forwe\'renotveryrich,MonsieurYann;butImendeditagainonlyyesterday,andthismorningwhenIlefthomeI\'msureshewasneatandtidy。\" Helookedathersteadfastly,moredeeplytouchedbythatsimpleexcusethanbycleverphrasesorself-reproachesandtears。SidebysidetheywalkedontotheMoans\'cottage。Healwayshadacknowledgedhertobelovelierthananyothergirl,butitseemedtohimthatshewasevenmorebeautifulnowinherpovertyandmourning。Sheworeagraverlook,andhergrayeyeshadamorereservedexpression,andneverthelessseemedtopenetratetotheinnerdepthofthesoul。Herfigure,too,wasthoroughlyformed。Shewastwenty-threenow,inthefullbloomofherloveliness。Shelookedlikeagenuinefisher\'sdaughter,too,inherplainblackgownandcap;yetonecouldnotpreciselytellwhatgaveherthatunmistakabletokenofthelady;itwasinvoluntaryandconcealedwithinherself,andshecouldnotbeblamedforit;onlyperhapsherbodicewasatriflenicerfittingthantheothers,thoughfromsheerinborntaste,andshowedtoadvantageherroundedbustandperfectarms。But,no!themysterywasrevealedinherquietvoiceandlook。 CHAPTERXVII THEESPOUSAL ItwasmanifestthatYannmeanttoaccompanythem;perhapsallthewayhome。Theywalkedon,allthreetogether,asiffollowingthecat\'sfuneralprocession;itwasalmostcomicaltowatchthempass;andtheoldfolksonthedoorstepsgrinnedatthesight。OldYvonne,inthemiddle,carriedthedeadpet;Gaudwalkedonherright,tremblingandblushing,andtallYannontheleft,graveandhaughty。 Theagedwomanhadbecomequietnow;shehadtidiedherhairupherselfandwalkedsilently,lookingalternatelyatthembothfromthetailofhereyes,whichhadbecomeclearagain。 GaudsaidnothingforfearofgivingYanntheopportunityoftakinghisleave;shewouldhavelikedtofeelhiskind,tendereyeseternallyonher,andtowalkalongwithherownclosedsoastothinkofnothingelse;towanderalongthusbyhissideinthedreamshewasweaving,insteadofarrivingsosoonattheirlonely,darkcottage,whereallmustfadeaway。