Three men who had not paid dues were caught and summoned. A fourth was scented9, followed, outflanked, his retreat towards the door cut off, and finally captured behind the stove. About that time, the revolution assuming an acute form, howls rose for "Jules!"
Jules came, umpired two fights with a sad resignation in his big brown eyes, shook hands with everybody and melted away in the throng10, leaving an atmosphere of peace and good-will. The lions sat down with the lambs, the massiers marked the best places for themselves and friends, and, mounting the model stands, opened the roll-calls.
The word was passed, "They begin with C this week."
They did.
"Clisson!"
Clisson jumped like a flash and marked his name on the floor in chalk before a front seat.
"Caron!"
Caron galloped11 away to secure his place. Bang! went an easel. "Nom de Dieu!" in French,—"Where in h—l are you goin'!" in English. Crash! a paintbox fell with brushes and all on board. "Dieu de Dieu de—" spat12! A blow, a short rush, a clinch13 and scuffle, and the voice of the massier, stern and reproachful:
"Cochon!"
Then the roll-call was resumed.
"Clifford!"
"Clifford!"
Clifford was not there. He was about three miles away in a direct line and every instant increased the distance. Not that he was walking fast,—on the contrary, he was strolling with that leisurely15 gait peculiar16 to himself. Elliott was beside him and two bulldogs covered the rear. Elliott was reading the "Gil Blas," from which he seemed to extract amusement, but deeming boisterous17 mirth unsuitable to Clifford's state of mind, subdued18 his amusement to a series of discreet19 smiles. The latter, moodily20 aware of this, said nothing, but leading the way into the Luxembourg Gardens installed himself upon a bench by the northern terrace and surveyed the landscape with disfavour. Elliott, according to the Luxembourg regulations, tied the two dogs and then, with an interrogative glance toward his friend, resumed the "Gil Blas" and the discreet smiles.
The day was perfect. The sun hung over Notre Dame21, setting the city in a glitter. The tender foliage22 of the chestnuts23 cast a shadow over the terrace and flecked the paths and walks with tracery so blue that Clifford might here have found encouragement for his violent "impressions" had he but looked; but as usual in this period of his career, his thoughts were anywhere except in his profession. Around about, the sparrows quarrelled and chattered24 their courtship songs, the big rosy25 pigeons sailed from tree to tree, the flies whirled in the sunbeams and the flowers exhaled26 a thousand perfumes which stirred Clifford with languorous27 wistfulness. Under this influence he spoke28.
"Elliott, you are a true friend—"
"You make me ill," replied the latter, folding his paper. "It's just as I thought,—you are tagging after some new petticoat again. And," he continued wrathfully, "if this is what you've kept me away from Julian's for,—if it's to fill me up with the perfections of some little idiot—"
"Not idiot," remonstrated30 Clifford gently.
"See here," cried Elliott, "have you the nerve to try to tell me that you are in love again?"
"Again?"
"Yes, again and again and again and—by George have you?"
"This," observed Clifford sadly, "is serious."
For a moment Elliott would have laid hands on him, then he laughed from sheer helplessness. "Oh, go on, go on; let's see, there's Clémence and Marie Tellec and Cosette and Fifine, Colette, Marie Verdier—"
"All of whom are charming, most charming, but I never was serious—"
"So help me, Moses," said Elliott, solemnly, "each and every one of those named have separately and in turn torn your heart with anguish31 and have also made me lose my place at Julian's in this same manner; each and every one, separately and in turn. Do you deny it?"
"What you say may be founded on facts—in a way—but give me the credit of being faithful to one at a time—"
"Until the next came along."
"But this,—this is really very different. Elliott, believe me, I am all broken up."
Then there being nothing else to do, Elliott gnashed his teeth and listened.
"Well," observed Elliott, with scorn, "if you are moping and moaning over that girl,—the girl who has given you and myself every reason to wish that the ground would open and engulf32 us,—well, go on!"
"I'm going on,—I don't care; timidity has fled—"
"Yes, your native timidity."
"I'm desperate, Elliott. Am I in love? Never, never did I feel so d—n miserable33. I can't sleep; honestly, I'm incapable34 of eating properly."
"Same symptoms noticed in the case of Colette."
"Listen, will you?"
"Hold on a moment, I know the rest by heart. Now let me ask you something. Is it your belief that Rue Barrée is a pure girl?"
"Yes," said Clifford, turning red.
"Do you love her,—not as you dangle35 and tiptoe after every pretty inanity—I mean, do you honestly love her?"
"Hold on a moment; would you marry her?"
"Pleasant news for your family," growled38 Elliott in suppressed fury. "'Dear father, I have just married a charming grisette whom I'm sure you'll welcome with open arms, in company with her mother, a most estimable and cleanly washlady.' Good heavens! This seems to have gone a little further than the rest. Thank your stars, young man, that my head is level enough for us both. Still, in this case, I have no fear. Rue Barrée sat on your aspirations39 in a manner unmistakably final."
"Rue Barrée," began Clifford, drawing himself up, but he suddenly ceased, for there where the dappled sunlight glowed in spots of gold, along the sun-flecked path, tripped Rue Barrée. Her gown was spotless, and her big straw hat, tipped a little from the white forehead, threw a shadow across her eyes.
Elliott stood up and bowed. Clifford removed his head-covering with an air so plaintive40, so appealing, so utterly41 humble42 that Rue Barrée smiled.
The smile was delicious and when Clifford, incapable of sustaining himself on his legs from sheer astonishment43, toppled slightly, she smiled again in spite of herself. A few moments later she took a chair on the terrace and drawing a book from her music-roll, turned the pages, found the place, and then placing it open downwards44 in her lap, sighed a little, smiled a little, and looked out over the city. She had entirely45 forgotten Foxhall Clifford.
After a while she took up her book again, but instead of reading began to adjust a rose in her corsage. The rose was big and red. It glowed like fire there over her heart, and like fire it warmed her heart, now fluttering under the silken petals46. Rue Barrée sighed again. She was very happy. The sky was so blue, the air so soft and perfumed, the sunshine so caressing48, and her heart sang within her, sang to the rose in her breast. This is what it sang: "Out of the throng of passers-by, out of the world of yesterday, out of the millions passing, one has turned aside to me."
So her heart sang under his rose on her breast. Then two big mouse-coloured pigeons came whistling by and alighted on the terrace, where they bowed and strutted49 and bobbed and turned until Rue Barrée laughed in delight, and looking up beheld50 Clifford before her. His hat was in his hand and his face was wreathed in a series of appealing smiles which would have touched the heart of a Bengal tiger.
For an instant Rue Barrée frowned, then she looked curiously51 at Clifford, then when she saw the resemblance between his bows and the bobbing pigeons, in spite of herself, her lips parted in the most bewitching laugh. Was this Rue Barrée? So changed, so changed that she did not know herself; but oh! that song in her heart which drowned all else, which trembled on her lips, struggling for utterance52, which rippled53 forth54 in a laugh at nothing,—at a strutting55 pigeon,—and Mr. Clifford.
"And you think, because I return the salute56 of the students in the Quarter, that you may be received in particular as a friend? I do not know you, Monsieur, but vanity is man's other name;—be content, Monsieur Vanity, I shall be punctilious57—oh, most punctilious in returning your salute."
"Oh dear; I don't care for homage."
"Let me only be permitted to speak to you now and then,—occasionally—very occasionally."
"And if you, why not another?"
"Not at all,—I will be discretion60 itself."
"Discretion—why?"
Her eyes were very clear, and Clifford winced61 for a moment, but only for a moment. Then the devil of recklessness seizing him, he sat down and offered himself, soul and body, goods and chattels62. And all the time he knew he was a fool and that infatuation is not love, and that each word he uttered bound him in honour from which there was no escape. And all the time Elliott was scowling63 down on the fountain plaza64 and savagely65 checking both bulldogs from their desire to rush to Clifford's rescue,—for even they felt there was something wrong, as Elliott stormed within himself and growled maledictions.
When Clifford finished, he finished in a glow of excitement, but Rue Barrée's response was long in coming and his ardour cooled while the situation slowly assumed its just proportions. Then regret began to creep in, but he put that aside and broke out again in protestations. At the first word Rue Barrée checked him.
"I thank you," she said, speaking very gravely. "No man has ever before offered me marriage." She turned and looked out over the city. After a while she spoke again. "You offer me a great deal. I am alone, I have nothing, I am nothing." She turned again and looked at Paris, brilliant, fair, in the sunshine of a perfect day. He followed her eyes.
"Oh," she murmured, "it is hard,—hard to work always—always alone with never a friend you can have in honour, and the love that is offered means the streets, the boulevard—when passion is dead. I know it,—we know it,—we others who have nothing,—have no one, and who give ourselves, unquestioning—when we love,—yes, unquestioning—heart and soul, knowing the end."
She touched the rose at her breast. For a moment she seemed to forget him, then quietly—"I thank you, I am very grateful." She opened the book and, plucking a petal47 from the rose, dropped it between the leaves. Then looking up she said gently, "I cannot accept."
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1
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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2
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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3
portfolios
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| n.投资组合( portfolio的名词复数 )；（保险）业务量；（公司或机构提供的）系列产品；纸夹 | |
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4
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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7
hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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9
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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10
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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11
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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12
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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13
clinch
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| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
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14
ledger
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| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
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15
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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16
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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17
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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18
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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19
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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20
moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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21
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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22
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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23
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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24
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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25
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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26
exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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27
languorous
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| adj.怠惰的，没精打采的 | |
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28
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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29
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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30
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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31
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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32
engulf
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| vt.吞没，吞食 | |
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33
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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34
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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35
dangle
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| v.(使)悬荡，(使)悬垂 | |
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36
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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37
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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38
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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39
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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40
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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41
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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42
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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43
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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44
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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45
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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46
petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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47
petal
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| n.花瓣 | |
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48
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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49
strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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51
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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52
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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53
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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54
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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55
strutting
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| 加固，支撑物 | |
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56
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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57
punctilious
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| adj.谨慎的，谨小慎微的 | |
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58
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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59
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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60
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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61
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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63
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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64
plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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65
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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