Edna and her father had a warm, and almost violent dispute upon the subject of her refusal to attend her sister’s wedding. Mr. Pontellier declined to interfere1, to interpose either his influence or his authority. He was following Doctor Mandelet’s advice, and letting her do as she liked. The Colonel reproached his daughter for her lack of filial kindness and respect, her want of sisterly affection and womanly consideration. His arguments were labored2 and unconvincing. He doubted if Janet would accept any excuse-forgetting that Edna had offered none. He doubted if Janet would ever speak to her again, and he was sure Margaret would not.
Edna was glad to be rid of her father when he finally took himself off with his wedding garments and his bridal gifts, with his padded shoulders, his Bible reading, his “toddies” and ponderous3 oaths.
Mr. Pontellier followed him closely. He meant to stop at the wedding on his way to New York and endeavor by every means which money and love could devise to atone4 somewhat for Edna’s incomprehensible action.
“You are too lenient5, too lenient by far, Leonce,” asserted the Colonel. “Authority, coercion6 are what is needed. Put your foot down good and hard; the only way to manage a wife. Take my word for it.”
The Colonel was perhaps unaware7 that he had coerced8 his own wife into her grave. Mr. Pontellier had a vague suspicion of it which he thought it needless to mention at that late day.
Edna was not so consciously gratified at her husband’s leaving home as she had been over the departure of her father. As the day approached when he was to leave her for a comparatively long stay, she grew melting and affectionate, remembering his many acts of consideration and his repeated expressions of an ardent9 attachment10. She was solicitous11 about his health and his welfare. She bustled12 around, looking after his clothing, thinking about heavy underwear, quite as Madame Ratignolle would have done under similar circumstances. She cried when he went away, calling him her dear, good friend, and she was quite certain she would grow lonely before very long and go to join him in New York.
But after all, a radiant peace settled upon her when she at last found herself alone. Even the children were gone. Old Madame Pontellier had come herself and carried them off to Iberville with their quadroon. The old madame did not venture to say she was afraid they would be neglected during Leonce’s absence; she hardly ventured to think so. She was hungry for them-even a little fierce in her attachment. She did not want them to be wholly “children of the pavement,” she always said when begging to have them for a space. She wished them to know the country, with its streams, its fields, its woods, its freedom, so delicious to the young. She wished them to taste something of the life their father had lived and known and loved when he, too, was a little child.
When Edna was at last alone, she breathed a big, genuine sigh of relief. A feeling that was unfamiliar13 but very delicious came over her. She walked all through the house, from one room to another, as if inspecting it for the first time. She tried the various chairs and lounges, as if she had never sat and reclined upon them before. And she perambulated around the outside of the house, investigating, looking to see if windows and shutters14 were secure and in order. The flowers were like new acquaintances; she approached them in a familiar spirit, and made herself at home among them. The garden walks were damp, and Edna called to the maid to bring out her rubber sandals. And there she stayed, and stooped, digging around the plants, trimming, picking dead, dry leaves. The children’s little dog came out, interfering15, getting in her way. She scolded him, laughed at him, played with him. The garden smelled so good and looked so pretty in the afternoon sunlight. Edna plucked all the bright flowers she could find, and went into the house with them, she and the little dog.
Even the kitchen assumed a sudden interesting character which she had never before perceived. She went in to give directions to the cook, to say that the butcher would have to bring much less meat, that they would require only half their usual quantity of bread, of milk and groceries. She told the cook that she herself would be greatly occupied during Mr. Pontellier’s absence, and she begged her to take all thought and responsibility of the larder16 upon her own shoulders.
That night Edna dined alone. The candelabra, with a few candies in the center of the table, gave all the light she needed. Outside the circle of light in which she sat, the large dining-room looked solemn and shadowy. The cook, placed upon her mettle17, served a delicious repast-a luscious18 tenderloin broiled19 a point. The wine tasted good; the marron glace seemed to be just what she wanted. It was so pleasant, too, to dine in a comfortable peignoir.
She thought a little sentimentally20 about Leonce and the children, and wondered what they were doing. As she gave a dainty scrap21 or two to the doggie, she talked intimately to him about Etienne and Raoul. He was beside himself with astonishment22 and delight over these companionable advances, and showed his appreciation23 by his little quick, snappy barks and a lively agitation24.
Then Edna sat in the library after dinner and read Emerson until she grew sleepy. She realized that she had neglected her reading, and determined25 to start anew upon a course of improving studies, now that her time was completely her own to do with as she liked.
After a refreshing26 bath, Edna went to bed. And as she snuggled comfortably beneath the eiderdown a sense of restfulness invaded her, such as she had not known before.
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1
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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coercion
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| n.强制，高压统治 | |
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7
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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8
coerced
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| v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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broiled
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| a.烤过的 | |
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sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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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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24
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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