登陆注册
5154600000012

第12章

At this melancholy period St.Aubert was likewise visited by Madame Cheron, his only surviving sister, who had been some years a widow, and now resided on her own estate near Tholouse.The intercourse between them had not been very frequent.In her condolements, words were not wanting; she understood not the magic of the look that speaks at once to the soul, or the voice that sinks like balm to the heart: but she assured St.Aubert that she sincerely sympathized with him, praised the virtues of his late wife, and then offered what she considered to be consolation.Emily wept unceasingly while she spoke; St.Aubert was tranquil, listened to what she said in silence, and then turned the discourse upon another subject.

At parting she pressed him and her niece to make her an early visit.

'Change of place will amuse you,' said she, 'and it is wrong to give way to grief.' St.Aubert acknowledged the truth of these words of course; but, at the same time, felt more reluctant than ever to quit the spot which his past happiness had consecrated.The presence of his wife had sanctified every surrounding scene, and, each day, as it gradually softened the acuteness of his suffering, assisted the tender enchantment that bound him to home.

But there were calls which must be complied with, and of this kind was the visit he paid to his brother-in-law M.Quesnel.An affair of an interesting nature made it necessary that he should delay this visit no longer, and, wishing to rouse Emily from her dejection, he took her with him to Epourville.

As the carriage entered upon the forest that adjoined his paternal domain, his eyes once more caught, between the chesnut avenue, the turreted corners of the chateau.He sighed to think of what had passed since he was last there, and that it was now the property of a man who neither revered nor valued it.At length he entered the avenue, whose lofty trees had so often delighted him when a boy, and whose melancholy shade was now so congenial with the tone of his spirits.Every feature of the edifice, distinguished by an air of heavy grandeur, appeared successively between the branches of the trees--the broad turret, the arched gate-way that led into the courts, the drawbridge, and the dry fosse which surrounded the whole.

The sound of carriage wheels brought a troop of servants to the great gate, where St.Aubert alighted, and from which he led Emily into the gothic hall, now no longer hung with the arms and ancient banners of the family.These were displaced, and the oak wainscotting, and beams that crossed the roof, were painted white.The large table, too, that used to stretch along the upper end of the hall, where the master of the mansion loved to display his hospitality, and whence the peal of laughter, and the song of conviviality, had so often resounded, was now removed; even the benches that had surrounded the hall were no longer there.The heavy walls were hung with frivolous ornaments, and every thing that appeared denoted the false taste and corrupted sentiments of the present owner.

St.Aubert followed a gay Parisian servant to a parlour, where sat Mons.and Madame Quesnel, who received him with a stately politeness, and, after a few formal words of condolement, seemed to have forgotten that they ever had a sister.

Emily felt tears swell into her eyes, and then resentment checked them.St.Aubert, calm and deliberate, preserved his dignity without assuming importance, and Quesnel was depressed by his presence without exactly knowing wherefore.

After some general conversation, St.Aubert requested to speak with him alone; and Emily, being left with Madame Quesnel, soon learned that a large party was invited to dine at the chateau, and was compelled to hear that nothing which was past and irremediable ought to prevent the festivity of the present hour.

St.Aubert, when he was told that company were expected, felt a mixed emotion of disgust and indignation against the insensibility of Quesnel, which prompted him to return home immediately.But he was informed, that Madame Cheron had been asked to meet him; and, when he looked at Emily, and considered that a time might come when the enmity of her uncle would be prejudicial to her, he determined not to incur it himself, by conduct which would be resented as indecorous, by the very persons who now showed so little sense of decorum.

Among the visitors assembled at dinner were two Italian gentlemen, of whom one was named Montoni, a distant relation of Madame Quesnel, a man about forty, of an uncommonly handsome person, with features manly and expressive, but whose countenance exhibited, upon the whole, more of the haughtiness of command, and the quickness of discernment, than of any other character.

Signor Cavigni, his friend, appeared to be about thirty--inferior in dignity, but equal to him in penetration of countenance, and superior in insinuation of manner.

Emily was shocked by the salutation with which Madame Cheron met her father--'Dear brother,' said she, 'I am concerned to see you look so very ill; do, pray, have advice!' St.Aubert answered, with a melancholy smile, that he felt himself much as usual; but Emily's fears made her now fancy that her father looked worse than he really did.

同类推荐
  • 慧林宗本禅师别录

    慧林宗本禅师别录

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 和白乐天

    和白乐天

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 内绍种禅师语录

    内绍种禅师语录

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • ARTICLES ON CHINA

    ARTICLES ON CHINA

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 庄子内篇订正

    庄子内篇订正

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 教你学组词造句(下)(学生语言文字写作学习手册)

    教你学组词造句(下)(学生语言文字写作学习手册)

    语言文字的简称就是语文。语文是人文社会科学的一门重要学科,是人们相互交流思想的工具。它既是语言文字规范的实用工具,又是文化艺术,同时也是用来积累和开拓精神财富的一门学问。
  • 鲜妻有点甜:大亨的私宠

    鲜妻有点甜:大亨的私宠

    一场艳照门,她从云端跌入泥沼,男友背叛,母亲病死,她更被舅舅亲手送到陌生男人床上;那一夜,她以为人生从此崩塌,却阴差阳错地睡了以纨绔闻名海城的景二少,且一次就中标;未婚先孕,她低调闪婚!婆婆刁难,兄嫂蔑视,为了肚子里的孩子她一一忍下,谁知一朝变故,有孕是假,她从人人欣羡的少夫人变成了骗婚骗财的恶女人!“景邵梵,麻烦签个字。”一纸离婚协议书,她与这个男人,再无干系。直到那天,她为别的男人披上嫁衣,他忽然闯入婚礼现场……时君兮才明白,有些人,注定天涯海角都躲不掉。
  • 重生都市之天下无双

    重生都市之天下无双

    修行千年的道君,在探寻上古仙墓的途中,被人围攻陷害,自爆元神同归于尽,却没想到重生到了现代都市,且看一代道君都市纵横,从一个家教老师开始,一步一步重返巅峰!
  • 球童

    球童

    莫洋,你为什么要装作不会打篮球?这句话是在大一第六个礼拜的体育课上,陈磊在莫洋的耳边轻轻说的。莫洋和陈磊选的都是羽毛球班,当时的莫洋一如往常,在老师宣布自由练习之后便一屁股坐在了场边,而陈磊则走到他的边上蹲了下来。莫洋直视着陈磊的小平头脑袋,说你见过我打篮球么?陈磊摇摇头说没有。莫洋说那你干嘛说我会打球?我不会。陈磊说,不可能,那天我亲眼看见了,你从二号场地的羽毛球网上跳了过去,这么好的弹跳,很少是天生的,要我说,你肯定是经过了严格的训练。
  • 阿弥陀佛说咒

    阿弥陀佛说咒

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 习道中人

    习道中人

    他活在世界的意义是什么……
  • 近代社会变革中的伦理探索:从戊戌到五四

    近代社会变革中的伦理探索:从戊戌到五四

    在近代伦理道德变革史上,从戊戌到五四是一个关键性的阶段。19世纪末20世纪初中国政治舞台上激进的革命家,对人的现代化这一近代重大的历史课题极为关注。他们在近代社会伦理思想变迁中的守旧与创新,为我们考察中国近代伦理思想的沿革提供了独特的视角。《近代社会变革中的伦理探索:从戊戌到五四》选取了从戊戌变法到五四运动期间在近代伦理思想变革过程中做出积极探索的六位思想家,试图对他们的伦理思想进行梳理,以管窥时代典型人物身上近代中国伦理思想变迁的坷坎不平的历史道路,以及近代中国在人的现代化历程中的多舛命运。
  • 罗织经

    罗织经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 走向珠穆朗玛

    走向珠穆朗玛

    《走向珠穆朗玛》二十余万字,小说以青藏铁路通车前后为故事背景,不仅刻画了旅途中人若即若离的友情和爱情,以及更加私密的情感和心灵故事,还书写了青藏铁路给青藏高原带来的勃勃生机,和现代文明给原生态的人们及脆弱的心灵带来的变化和撞击。作者以女性特有的细腻,以神采飞扬的文笔,勾画出了一幅大气磅礴的青藏高原风情画卷,以及江南的婉约,云贵高原的艳丽,祁连山的险峻,柴达木盆地的荒凉,拉萨的圣洁,珠穆朗玛峰的神圣、尊贵和险象环生。这是一部以一个旅行者的眼光,全方位书写青藏高原的长篇小说。整部小说惊心动魄,峰回路转,是“中国目前第一部从情感、旅游、汉藏友谊及尊严,全方位书写青藏高原的长篇小说”。
  • 夺命的邮票

    夺命的邮票

    话说在上海法租界的霞飞路南端,有一条东西走向、闹中取静的马路,被法国人起名为:“拉都路”。路东头有一爿与众不同的熟面店,何谓“与众不同”?只为面店掌柜居然不顾天高地厚,当众挂出一块醒目地黑底黄字的招牌,上书:“天下第一面”。如此大言不惭,倒使得过往客人谁都想领教领教。及至大家尝过店里的各式面膳,方知果然名不虚传。当下便有好事者向伙计问起这“天下第一面”的来历,谁知不问犹罢,一问,竟使得众面客无不张口咋舌了。