They formed a congenial group sitting there that summer afternoon-Madame Ratignolle sewing away, often stopping to relate a story or incident with much expressive2 gesture of her perfect hands; Robert and Mrs. Pontellier sitting idle, exchanging occasional words, glances or smiles which indicated a certain advanced stage of intimacy3 and camaraderie4.
He had lived in her shadow during the past month. No one thought anything of it. Many had predicted that Robert would devote himself to Mrs. Pontellier when he arrived. Since the age of fifteen, which was eleven years before, Robert each summer at Grand Isle5 had constituted himself the devoted6 attendant of some fair dame1 or damsel. Sometimes it was a young girl, again a widow; but as often as not it was some interesting married woman.
For two consecutive7 seasons he lived in the sunlight of Mademoiselle Duvigne’s presence. But she died between summers; then Robert posed as an inconsolable, prostrating8 himself at the feet of Madame Ratignolle for whatever crumbs9 of sympathy and comfort she might be pleased to vouchsafe10.
Mrs. Pontellier liked to sit and gaze at her fair companion as she might look upon a faultless Madonna.
“Could any one fathom11 the cruelty beneath that fair exterior12?” murmured Robert. “She knew that I adored her once, and she let me adore her. It was ‘Robert, come; go; stand up; sit down; do this; do that; see if the baby sleeps; my thimble, please, that I left God knows where. Come and read Daudet to me while I sew.’”
“Par exemple! I never had to ask. You were always there under my feet, like a troublesome cat.”
“You mean like an adoring dog. And just as soon as Ratignolle appeared on the scene, then it WAS like a dog. ‘Passez! Adieu! Allez vous-en!’”
“Perhaps I feared to make Alphonse jealous,” she interjoined, with excessive naivete. That made them all laugh. The right hand jealous of the left! The heart jealous of the soul! But for that matter, the Creole husband is never jealous; with him the gangrene passion is one which has become dwarfed14 by disuse.
Meanwhile Robert, addressing Mrs Pontellier, continued to tell of his one time hopeless passion for Madame Ratignolle; of sleepless15 nights, of consuming flames till the very sea sizzled when he took his daily plunge16. While the lady at the needle kept up a little running, contemptuous comment:
“Blagueur-farceur-gros bete, va!”
He never assumed this seriocomic tone when alone with Mrs. Pontellier. She never knew precisely17 what to make of it; at that moment it was impossible for her to guess how much of it was jest and what proportion was earnest. It was understood that he had often spoken words of love to Madame Ratignolle, without any thought of being taken seriously. Mrs. Pontellier was glad he had not assumed a similar role toward herself. It would have been unacceptable and annoying.
Mrs. Pontellier had brought her sketching19 materials, which she sometimes dabbled20 with in an unprofessional way. She liked the dabbling21. She felt in it satisfaction of a kind which no other employment afforded her.
She had long wished to try herself on Madame Ratignolle. Never had that lady seemed a more tempting22 subject than at that moment, seated there like some sensuous23 Madonna, with the gleam of the fading day enriching her splendid color.
Robert crossed over and seated himself upon the step below Mrs. Pontellier, that he might watch her work. She handled her brushes with a certain ease and freedom which came, not from long and close acquaintance with them, but from a natural aptitude24. Robert followed her work with close attention, giving forth25 little ejaculatory expressions of appreciation26 in French, which he addressed to Madame Ratignolle.
“Mais ce n’est pas mal! Elle s’y connait, elle a de la force, oui.”
During his oblivious27 attention he once quietly rested his head against Mrs. Pontellier’s arm. As gently she repulsed28 him. Once again he repeated the offense30. She could not but believe it to be thoughtlessness on his part; yet that was no reason she should submit to it. She did not remonstrate31, except again to repulse29 him quietly but firmly. He offered no apology. The picture completed bore no resemblance to Madame Ratignolle. She was greatly disappointed to find that it did not look like her. But it was a fair enough piece of work, and in many respects satisfying.
Mrs. Pontellier evidently did not think so. After surveying the sketch18 critically she drew a broad smudge of paint across its surface, and crumpled32 the paper between her hands.
The youngsters came tumbling up the steps, the quadroon following at the respectful distance which they required her to observe. Mrs. Pontellier made them carry her paints and things into the house. She sought to detain them for a little talk and some pleasantry. But they were greatly in earnest. They had only come to investigate the contents of the bonbon33 box. They accepted without murmuring what she chose to give them, each holding out two chubby34 hands scoop-like, in the vain hope that they might be filled; and then away they went.
The sun was low in the west, and the breeze soft and languorous35 that came up from the south, charged with the seductive odor of the sea. Children freshly befurbelowed, were gathering36 for their games under the oaks. Their voices were high and penetrating37.
Madame Ratignolle folded her sewing, placing thimble, scissors, and thread all neatly38 together in the roll, which she pinned securely. She complained of faintness. Mrs. Pontellier flew for the cologne water and a fan. She bathed Madame Ratignolle’s face with cologne, while Robert plied39 the fan with unnecessary vigor40.
The spell was soon over, and Mrs. Pontellier could not help wondering if there were not a little imagination responsible for its origin, for the rose tint41 had never faded from her friend’s face.
She stood watching the fair woman walk down the long line of galleries with the grace and majesty42 which queens are sometimes supposed to possess. Her little ones ran to meet her. Two of them clung about her white skirts, the third she took from its nurse and with a thousand endearments43 bore it along in her own fond, encircling arms. Though, as everybody well knew, the doctor had forbidden her to lift so much as a pin!
“Are you going bathing?” asked Robert of Mrs. Pontellier. It was not so much a question as a reminder44.
“Oh, no,” she answered, with a tone of indecision. “I’m tired; I think not.” Her glance wandered from his face away toward the Gulf45, whose sonorous46 murmur13 reached her like a loving but imperative47 entreaty48.
“Oh, come!” he insisted. “You mustn’t miss your bath. Come on. The water must be delicious; it will not hurt you. Come.”
He reached up for her big, rough straw hat that hung on a peg49 outside the door, and put it on her head. They descended50 the steps, and walked away together toward the beach. The sun was low in the west and the breeze was soft and warm.
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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camaraderie
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| n.同志之爱，友情 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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consecutive
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| adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的 | |
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prostrating
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的现在分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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vouchsafe
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| v.惠予，准许 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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dwarfed
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| vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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sketching
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| n.草图 | |
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dabbled
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| v.涉猎( dabble的过去式和过去分词 )；涉足；浅尝；少量投资 | |
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dabbling
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| v.涉猎( dabble的现在分词 )；涉足；浅尝；少量投资 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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sensuous
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| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
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aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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remonstrate
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| v.抗议，规劝 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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bonbon
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| n.棒棒糖；夹心糖 | |
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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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languorous
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| adj.怠惰的，没精打采的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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endearments
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| n.表示爱慕的话语，亲热的表示( endearment的名词复数 ) | |
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reminder
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| n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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