Laurent resumed calling of an evening, every two or three days, remaining in the shop talking to Madame Raquin for half an hour. Then he went off without looking Therese in the face. The old mercer regarded him as the rescuer of her niece, as a noble-hearted young man who had done his utmost to restore her son to her, and she welcomed him with tender kindness.
One Thursday evening, when Laurent happened to be there, old Michaud and Grivet entered. Eight o'clock was striking. The clerk and the former commissary of police had both thought, independently of one another, that they could resume their dear custom, without appearing importunate1, and they arrived at the same moment, as if urged by the same impulse. Behind them, came Olivier and Suzanne.
Everyone went upstairs to the dining-room. Madame Raquin who expected nobody, hastened to light the lamp, and prepare the tea. When all were seated round the table, each before a cup, when the box of dominoes had been emptied on the board, the old mother, with the past suddenly brought back to her, looked at her guests, and burst into sobs2. There was a vacant place, that of her son.
This despair cast a chill upon the company and annoyed them. Every countenance3 wore an air of egotistic beatitude. These people fell ill at ease, having no longer the slightest recollection of Camille alive in their hearts.
"Come, my dear lady," exclaimed old Michaud, slightly impatiently, "you must not give way to despair like that. You will make yourself ill."
"We are all mortal," affirmed Grivet.
"Your tears will not restore your son to you," sententiously observed Olivier.
"Do not cause us pain, I beg you," murmured Suzanne.
"Come, come, have a little courage. You know we come here to give you some distraction5. Then do not let us feel sad. Let us try to forget. We are playing two sous a game. Eh! What do you say?"
The mercer stifled6 her sobs with a violent effort. Perhaps she was conscious of the happy egotism of her guests. She dried her tears, but was still quite upset. The dominoes trembled in her poor hands, and the moisture in her eyes prevented her seeing.
The game began.
Laurent and Therese had witnessed this brief scene in a grave and impassive manner. The young man was delighted to see these Thursday evenings resumed. He ardently7 desired them to be continued, aware that he would have need of these gatherings8 to attain9 his end. Besides, without asking himself the reason, he felt more at ease among these few persons whom he knew, and it gave him courage to look Therese in the face.
The young woman, attired10 in black, pale and meditative11, seemed to him to possess a beauty that he had hitherto ignored. He was happy to meet her eyes, and to see them rest upon his own with courageous12 fixedness13. Therese still belonged to him, heart and soul.
点击收听单词发音
1 importunate | |
adj.强求的;纠缠不休的 | |
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2 sobs | |
啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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3 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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4 sobbed | |
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说 | |
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5 distraction | |
n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐 | |
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6 stifled | |
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵 | |
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7 ardently | |
adv.热心地,热烈地 | |
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8 gatherings | |
聚集( gathering的名词复数 ); 收集; 采集; 搜集 | |
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9 attain | |
vt.达到,获得,完成 | |
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10 attired | |
adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服,使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11 meditative | |
adj.沉思的,冥想的 | |
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12 courageous | |
adj.勇敢的,有胆量的 | |
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13 fixedness | |
n.固定;稳定;稳固 | |
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