a woman of thirty-第30部分

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rn。　The　clocks　struck　eleven；　and　still　there　was　no　sign　of　the　servants。

A　deep　silence　prevailed　over　the　country…side；　broken　only　by　the　sound　of　the　northeast　wind　whistling　through　the　black　branches；　wailing　about　the　house；　dying　in　gusts　along　the　corridors。　The　hard　frost　had　purified　the　air；　and　held　the　earth　in　its　grip；　the　roads　gave　back　every　sound　with　the　hard　metallic　ring　which　always　strikes　us　with　a　new　surprise；　the　heavy　footsteps　of　some　belated　reveler；　or　a　cab　returning　to　Paris；　could　be　heard　for　a　long　distance　with　unwonted　distinctness。　Out　in　the　courtyard　a　few　dead　leaves　set　a…　dancing　by　some　eddying　gust　found　a　voice　for　the　night　which　fain　had　been　silent。　It　was；　in　fact；　one　of　those　sharp；　frosty　evenings　that　wring　barren　expressions　of　pity　from　our　selfish　ease　for　wayfarers　and　the　poor；　and　fills　us　with　a　luxurious　sense　of　the　comfort　of　the　fireside。

But　the　family　party　in　the　salon　at　that　hour　gave　not　a　thought　to　absent　servants　nor　houseless　folk；　nor　to　the　gracious　charm　with　which　a　winter　evening　sparkles。　No　one　played　the　philosopher　out　of　season。　Secure　in　the　protection　of　an　old　soldier；　women　and　children　gave　themselves　up　to　the　joys　of　home　life；　so　delicious　when　there　is　no　restraint　upon　feeling；　and　talk　and　play　and　glances　are　bright　with　frankness　and　affection。

The　General　sat；　or　more　properly　speaking；　lay　buried；　in　the　depths　of　a　huge；　high…back　armchair　by　the　hearth。　The　heaped…up　fire　burned　scorching　clear　with　the　excessive　cold　of　the　night。　The　good　father　leaned　his　head　slightly　to　one　side　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　in　the　indolence　of　perfect　serenity　and　a　glow　of　happiness。　The　languid；　half…sleepy　droop　of　his　outstretched　arms　seemed　to　complete　his　expression　of　placid　content。　He　was　watching　his　youngest；　a　boy　of　five　or　thereabouts；　who；　half　clad　as　he　was；　declined　to　allow　his　mother　to　undress　him。　The　little　one　fled　from　the　night…gown　and　cap　with　which　he　was　threatened　now　and　again；　and　stoutly　declined　to　part　with　his　embroidered　collar；　laughing　when　his　mother　called　to　him；　for　he　saw　that　she　too　was　laughing　at　this　declaration　of　infant　independence。　The　next　step　was　to　go　back　to　a　game　of　romps　with　his　sister。　She　was　as　much　a　child　as　he；　but　more　mischievous；　and　she　was　older　by　two　years；　and　could　speak　distinctly　already；　whereas　his　inarticulate　words　and　confused　ideas　were　a　puzzle　even　to　his　parents。　Little　Moina's　playfulness；　somewhat　coquettish　already；　provoked　inextinguishable　laughter；　explosions　of　merriment　which　went　off　like　fireworks　for　no　apparent　cause。　As　they　tumbled　about　before　the　fire；　unconcernedly　displaying　little　plump　bodies　and　delicate　white　contours；　as　the　dark　and　golden　curls　mingled　in　a　collision　of　rosy　cheeks　dimpled　with　childish　glee；　a　father　surely；　a　mother　most　certainly；　must　have　understood　those　little　souls；　and　seen　the　character　and　power　of　passion　already　developed　for　their　eyes。　As　the　cherubs　frolicked　about；　struggling；　rolling；　and　tumbling　without　fear　of　hurt　on　the　soft　carpet；　its　flowers　looked　pale　beside　the　glowing　white　and　red　of　their　cheeks　and　the　brilliant　color　of　their　shining　eyes。

On　the　sofa　by　the　fire；　opposite　the　great　armchair；　the　children's　mother　sat　among　a　heap　of　scattered　garments；　with　a　little　scarlet　shoe　in　her　hand。　She　seemed　to　have　given　herself　up　completely　to　the　enjoyment　of　the　moment；　wavering　discipline　had　relaxed　into　a　sweet　smile　engraved　upon　her　lips。　At　the　age　of　six…and…thirty；　or　thereabouts；　she　was　a　beautiful　woman　still；　by　reason　of　the　rare　perfection　of　the　outlines　of　her　face；　and　at　this　moment　light　and　warmth　and　happiness　filled　it　with　preternatural　brightness。

Again　and　again　her　eyes　wandered　from　her　children；　and　their　tender　gaze　was　turned　upon　her　husband's　grave　face；　and　now　and　again　the　eyes　of　husband　and　wife　met　with　a　silent　exchange　of　happiness　and　thoughts　from　some　inner　depth。

The　General's　face　was　deeply　bronzed；　a　stray　lock　of　gray　hair　scored　shadows　on　his　forehead。　The　reckless　courage　of　the　battlefield　could　be　read　in　the　lines　carved　in　his　hollow　cheeks；　and　gleams　of　rugged　strength　in　the　blue　eyes；　clearly　the　bit　of　red　ribbon　flaunting　at　his　button…hole　had　been　paid　for　by　hardship　and　toil。　An　inexpressible　kindliness　and　frankness　shone　out　of　the　strong；　resolute　face　which　reflected　his　children's　merriment；　the　gray…haired　captain　found　it　not　so　very　hard　to　become　a　child　again。　Is　there　not　always　a　little　love　of　children　in　the　heart　of　a　soldier　who　has　seen　enough　of　the　seamy　side　of　life　to　know　something　of　the　piteous　limitations　of　strength　and　the　privileges　of　weakness？

At　a　round　table　rather　further　away；　in　a　circle　of　bright　lamplight　that　dimmed　the　feebler　illumination　of　the　wax　candles　on　the　chimney…piece；　sat　a　boy　of　thirteen；　rapidly　turning　the　pages　of　a　thick　volume　which　he　was　reading；　undisturbed　by　the　shouts　of　the　children。　There　was　a　boy's　curiosity　in　his　face。　From　his　/lyceens/　uniform　he　was　evidently　a　schoolboy；　and　the　book　he　was　reading　was　the　/Arabian　Nights/。　Small　wonder　that　he　was　deeply　absorbed。　He　sat　perfectly　still　in　a　meditative　attitude；　with　his　elbow　on　the　table；　and　his　hand　propping　his　headthe　white　fingers　contrasting　strongly　with　the　brown　hair　into　which　they　were　thrust。　As　he　sat；　with　the　light　turned　full　upon　his　face；　and　the　rest　of　his　body　in　shadow；　he　looked　like　one　of　Raphael's　dark　portraits　of　himselfa　bent　head　and　intent　eyes　filled　with　visions　of　the　future。

Between　the　table　and　the　Marquise　a　tall；　beautiful　girl　sat　at　her　tapestry　frame；　sometimes　she　drew　back　from　her　work；　sometimes　she　bent　over　it；　and　her　hair；　picturesque　in　its　ebony　smoothness　and　darkness；　caught　the　light　of　the　lamp。　Helene　was　a　picture　in　herself。　In　her　beauty　there　was　a　rare　distinctive　character　of　power　and　refinement。　Though　her　hair　was　gathered　up　and　drawn　back　from　her　face；　so　as　to　trace　a　clearly　marked　line　about　her　head；　so　thick　and　abundant　was　it；　so　recalcitrant　to　the　comb；　that　it　sprang　back　in　curl…tendrils　to　the　nape　of　her　neck。　The　bountiful　line　of　eyebrows　was　evenly　marked　out　in　dark　contrasting　outline　upon　her　pure　forehead。　On　her　upper　lip；　beneath　the　Grecian　nose　with　its　sensitively　perfect　curve　of　nostril；　there　lay　a　faint；　swarthy　shadow；　the　sign…manual　of　courage；　but　the　enchanting　roundness　of　contour；　the　frankly　innocent　expression　of　her　other　features；　the　transparence　of　the　delicate　carnations；　the　voluptuous　softness　of　the　lips；　the　flawless　oval　of　the　outline　of　the　face；　and　with　these；　and　more　than　all　these；　the　saintlike　expression　in　the　girlish　eyes；　gave　to　her　vigorous　loveliness　the　distinctive　touch　of　feminine　grace；　that　enchanting　modesty　which　we　look　for　in　these　angels　of　peace　and　love。　Yet　there　was　no　suggestion　of　fragility　about　her；　and；　surely；　with　so　grand　a　woman's　frame；　so　attractive　a　face；　she　must　possess　a　corresponding　warmth　of　heart　and　strength　of　soul。

She　was　as　silent　as　her　schoolboy　brother。　Seemingly　a　prey　to　the　fateful　maiden　meditations　which　baffle　a　father's　penetration　and　even　a　mother's　sagacity；　it　was　impossible　to　be　certain　whether　it　was　the　lamplight　that　cast　those　shadows　that　flitted　over　her　face　like　thin　clouds　over　a　bright　sky；　or　whether　they　were　passing　shades　of　secret　and　painful　thoughts。

Husband　and　wife　had　quite　forgotten　the　two　older　children　at　that　moment；　though　now　and　again　the　General's　questioning　glance　traveled　to　that　second　mute　picture；　a　larger　growth；　a　gracious　realization；　as　it　were；　of　the　hopes　embodied　in　the　baby　forms　rioting　in　the　foreground。　Their　faces　made　up　a　kind　of　living　poem；　illustrating　life's　various　phases。　The　luxurious　background　of　the　salon；　the　different　attitudes；　the　strong　contrasts　of　coloring　in　the　faces；　differing　with　the　character　of　differing　ages；　the　modeling　of　the　forms　brought　into　high　relief　by　the　lightaltogether　it　was　a　page　of　human　life；　richly　illuminated　beyond　the　art　of　painter；　sculptor；　or　poet。　Silence；　solitude；　night　and　winter　lent　a　final　touch　of　majesty　to　complete　the　simplicity　and　sublimity　of　this　exquisite　effect　of　nature's　contriving。　Married　life　is　full　of　these　sacred　hours；　which　perhaps　owe　their　indefinable　charm　to　some　vague　memory　of　a　better　world。　A　divine　radiance　surely　shines　upon　them；　the　destined　compensation　for　some　portion　of　earth's　sorrows；　the　solace　which　enables　man　to　accept　life。　We　seem　to　behold　a　vision　of　an　enchanted　universe；　the　great　conception　of　its　system　widens　out　before　our　eyes；　and　social　life　pleads　for　its　laws　by　bidding　us　look　to　the　future。

Yet　in　spite　of　the　tender　glances　that　Helene　gave　Abel　and　Moina　after　a　fresh　outburst　of　merriment；　in　spite　of　the　look　of　gladness　in　her　transparent　face　whenever　she　stole　a　glance　at　her　father；　a　deep　melancholy　pervaded　her　gestures；　her　attitude；　and　more　than　all；　her　eyes　veiled　by　their　long　lashes。　Those　white；　strong　hands；　through　which　the　light　passed；　tinting　them　with　a　diaphanous；　almost　fluid　redthose　h