登陆注册
15697000000026

第26章 DEDICATION(26)

David was a student leading a solitary life; and the love that gained even greater force in solitude, as he dwelt upon the difficulties in the way, was timid, and looked for encouragement; for David stood more in awe of Eve than a simple clerk of some high-born lady. He was awkward and ill at ease in the presence of his idol, and as eager to hurry away as he had been to come. He repressed his passion, and was silent. Often of an evening, on some pretext of consulting Lucien, he would leave the Place du Murier and go down through the Palet Gate as far as L'Houmeau, but at the sight of the green iron railings his heart failed. Perhaps he had come too late, Eve might think him a nuisance; she would be in bed by this time no doubt; and so he turned back. But though his great love had only appeared in trifles, Eve read it clearly; she was proud, without a touch of vanity in her pride, of the deep reverence in David's looks and words and manner towards her, but it was the young printer's enthusiastic belief in Lucien that drew her to him most of all. He had divined the way to win Eve. The mute delights of this love of theirs differed from the transports of stormy passion, as wildflowers in the fields from the brilliant flowers in garden beds. Interchange of glances, delicate and sweet as blue water-flowers on the surface of the stream; a look in either face, vanishing as swiftly as the scent of briar-rose; melancholy, tender as the velvet of moss--these were the blossoms of two rare natures, springing up out of a rich and fruitful soil on foundations of rock. Many a time Eve had seen revelations of the strength that lay below the appearance of weakness, and made such full allowance for all that David left undone, that the slightest word now might bring about a closer union of soul and soul.

Eve opened the door, and Lucien sat down without a word at the little table on an X-shaped trestle. There was no tablecloth; the poor little household boasted but three silver spoons and forks, and Eve had laid them all for the dearly loved brother.

"What have you there?" she asked, when she had set a dish on the table, and put the extinguisher on the portable stove, where it had been kept hot for him.

Lucien did not answer. Eve took up a little plate, daintily garnished with vine-leaves, and set it on the table with a jug full of cream.

"There, Lucien, I have had strawberries for you."

But Lucien was so absorbed in his letter that he did not hear a word.

Eve came to sit beside him without a murmur; for in a sister's love for a brother it is an element of great pleasure to be treated without ceremony.

"Oh! what is it?" she cried as she saw tears shining in her brother's eyes.

"Nothing, nothing, Eve," he said, and putting his arm about her waist, he drew her towards him and kissed her forehead, her hair, her throat, with warmth that surprised her.

"You are keeping something from me."

"Well, then--she loves me."

"I knew very well that you kissed me for somebody else," the poor sister pouted, flushing red.

"We shall all be happy," cried Lucien, swallowing great spoonfuls of soup.

"WE?" echoed Eve. The same presentiment that had crossed David's mind prompted her to add, "You will not care so much about us now."

"How can you think that, if you know me?"

Eve put out her hand and grasped his tightly; then she carried off the empty plate and the brown earthen soup-tureen, and brought the dish that she had made for him. But instead of eating his dinner, Lucien read his letter over again; and Eve, discreet maiden, did not ask another question, respecting her brother's silence. If he wished to tell her about it, she could wait; if he did not, how could she ask him to tell her? She waited. Here is the letter:--"MY FRIEND,--Why should I refuse to your brother in science the help that I have lent you? All merits have equal rights in my eyes; but you do not know the prejudices of those among whom I live. We shall never make an aristocracy of ignorance understand that intellect ennobles. If I have not sufficient influence to compel them to accept M. David Sechard, I am quite willing to sacrifice the worthless creatures to you. It would be a perfect hecatomb in the antique manner. But, dear friend, you would not, of course, ask me to leave them all in exchange for the society of a person whose character and manner might not please me. I know from your flatteries how easily friendship can be blinded. Will you think the worse of me if I attach a condition to my consent?

In the interests of your future I should like to see your friend, and know and decide for myself whether you are not mistaken. What is this but the mother's anxious care of my dear poet, which I am in duty bound to take?

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 追随本心:回荡世纪的剑桥哲思

    追随本心:回荡世纪的剑桥哲思

    本书是剑桥大学莫德林学院院长亚瑟·克里斯托弗·本森的代表作之一,都是经典的对人生进行思考的作品,在西方被誉为剑桥大学留给人间的精神瑰宝。本森教授本来就是个冷人生观的作家和学者,治学严谨,学术建树颇多,这本书是继其作品《仰望星空》和《丰富人生》后的又一部全新思考人生和内心自省类的深刻反思作品。
  • 墨之道

    墨之道

    他是被墨村少女们围观一遍又一遍的清秀少年。他是被三道墨子追着要收为弟子的入学新生。他是被兵家列为首杀目标的全能墨者。他是春秋第一凶兽墨麒麟见了都瑟瑟发抖的谪仙一族。他叫白明,目前单身……
  • 血祭芒泪不落

    血祭芒泪不落

    面对未来,她是选择权利还是爱情?“涵宇,你不要死!你不要丢下我好不好,我放弃!王者之位。”一瞬间,天崩地裂,下起了豆大的血雨,李妖狐的身体不断的再被血祭芒吞噬……
  • 轰天圣帝

    轰天圣帝

    以逆天之力,换魂保命。在地球生活了十八年后的丁林回到圣界,才知道,自己有多弱~~
  • 撼全伐

    撼全伐

    本人的第一本书,不知道会取得什么样的成就,如果人气能过1000这辈子就值了……本书之前用的第一人称视角……后来有人提到说:主角名字记不住。然后,我改变了写法。1:本文有些设定比较另类,请不要和其他人的作品比较。2:主人公的性格比较恶劣,爱好比较独特,对本书的描述手法引起不适者请停止阅读。3:本文人类以外的生物会很多,女主也不是人类,算上人类一共有20个种族,请悉知。4:书名没有任何意义,跟作品内容也无关,也算是讽刺自己的作品没有任何意义(笑)。5:书封面是我一个朋友的手绘,再此提出感谢~~
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 台湾纪事

    台湾纪事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 腹黑傻妻:邪尊大人请入瓮

    腹黑傻妻:邪尊大人请入瓮

    她,最优秀的特工,因执行任务而死;她,战神府的傻女,被寄养在雨花城白家。,受尽欺凌、受尽折磨。当她变成她,再睁眼时,锋芒毕露,惊才艳绝,世间万物皆为她臣服!他,神秘莫测的邪尊,身份无数,行踪诡异,却独宠她入骨:“只要你心上有我,举世皆敌又如何!”前有护国战神祖父撑腰,后有邪尊大人护驾,神挡杀神佛挡杀佛,颤抖吧,渣渣们!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 中世纪笔记

    中世纪笔记

    中世纪,黑暗的代名词。没有美丽的公主,没有美味的食物与酒,也没有优雅的骑士。那么请我来结束它。人们将过上衣食无忧的生活,行走在光明中。在这之前,请握紧手中的剑盾。这是一本笔记......
  • 玉精

    玉精

    这是一所特殊的学校,研究人类未知的领域.....我们生命的那端是什么......