登陆注册
5154600000018

第18章

Nothing like a bed could be found, and he had ceased to enquire for one, when Emily joined him, who observed the languor of her father's countenance, and lamented, that he had taken a road so ill provided with the comforts necessary for an invalid.Other cottages, which they examined, seemed somewhat less savage than the former, consisting of two rooms, if such they could be called; the first of these occupied by mules and pigs, the second by the family, which generally consisted of six or eight children, with their parents, who slept on beds of skins and dried beech leaves, spread upon a mud floor.Here, light was admitted, and smoke discharged, through an aperture in the roof; and here the scent of spirits (for the travelling smugglers, who haunted the Pyrenees, had made this rude people familiar with the use of liquors) was generally perceptible enough.Emily turned from such scenes, and looked at her father with anxious tenderness, which the young stranger seemed to observe; for, drawing St.Aubert aside, he made him an offer of his own bed.'It is a decent one,' said he, 'when compared with what we have just seen, yet such as in other circumstances I should be ashamed to offer you.' St.Aubert acknowledged how much he felt himself obliged by this kindness, but refused to accept it, till the young stranger would take no denial.'Do not give me the pain of knowing, sir,'

said he, 'that an invalid, like you, lies on hard skins, while Isleep in a bed.Besides, sir, your refusal wounds my pride; I must believe you think my offer unworthy your acceptance.Let me shew you the way.I have no doubt my landlady can accommodate this young lady also.'

St.Aubert at length consented, that, if this could be done, he would accept his kindness, though he felt rather surprised, that the stranger had proved himself so deficient in gallantry, as to administer to the repose of an infirm man, rather than to that of a very lovely young woman, for he had not once offered the room for Emily.But she thought not of herself, and the animated smile she gave him, told how much she felt herself obliged for the preference of her father.

On their way, the stranger, whose name was Valancourt, stepped on first to speak to his hostess, and she came out to welcome St.Aubert into a cottage, much superior to any he had seen.This good woman seemed very willing to accommodate the strangers, who were soon compelled to accept the only two beds in the place.Eggs and milk were the only food the cottage afforded; but against scarcity of provisions St.Aubert had provided, and he requested Valancourt to stay, and partake with him of less homely fare; an invitation, which was readily accepted, and they passed an hour in intelligent conversation.St.Aubert was much pleased with the manly frankness, simplicity, and keen susceptibility to the grandeur of nature, which his new acquaintance discovered; and, indeed, he had often been heard to say, that, without a certain simplicity of heart, this taste could not exist in any strong degree.

The conversation was interrupted by a violent uproar without, in which the voice of the muleteer was heard above every other sound.

Valancourt started from his seat, and went to enquire the occasion;but the dispute continued so long afterwards, that St.Aubert went himself, and found Michael quarrelling with the hostess, because she had refused to let his mules lie in a little room where he and three of her sons were to pass the night.The place was wretched enough, but there was no other for these people to sleep in; and, with somewhat more of delicacy than was usual among the inhabitants of this wild tract of country, she persisted in refusing to let the animals have the same BED-CHAMBER with her children.This was a tender point with the muleteer; his honour was wounded when his mules were treated with disrespect, and he would have received a blow, perhaps, with more meekness.He declared that his beasts were as honest beasts, and as good beasts, as any in the whole province; and that they had a right to be well treated wherever they went.'They are as harmless as lambs,' said he, 'if people don't affront them.Inever knew them behave themselves amiss above once or twice in my life, and then they had good reason for doing so.Once, indeed, they kicked at a boy's leg that lay asleep in the stable, and broke it;but I told them they were out there, and by St.Anthony! I believe they understood me, for they never did so again.'

He concluded this eloquent harangue with protesting, that they should share with him, go where he would.

The dispute was at length settled by Valancourt, who drew the hostess aside, and desired she would let the muleteer and his beasts have the place in question to themselves, while her sons should have the bed of skins designed for him, for that he would wrap himself in his cloak, and sleep on the bench by the cottage door.But this she thought it her duty to oppose, and she felt it to be her inclination to disappoint the muleteer.Valancourt, however, was positive, and the tedious affair was at length settled.

It was late when St.Aubert and Emily retired to their rooms, and Valancourt to his station at the door, which, at this mild season, he preferred to a close cabin and a bed of skins.St.Aubert was somewhat surprised to find in his room volumes of Homer, Horace, and Petrarch; but the name of Valancourt, written in them, told him to whom they belonged.

同类推荐
  • On Horsemanship

    On Horsemanship

    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。
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame

    The Hunchback of Notre Dame

    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。
  • 尊贤

    尊贤

    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。
  • 混元圣记

    混元圣记

    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。
  • The Jolly Corner

    The Jolly Corner

    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
  • 这么慢,那么美

    这么慢,那么美

    一个在北欧生活了10年的MM分享幸福指数NO.1的生活本质,用毕淑敏式的细腻、三毛式的浪漫讲述理想国的生活。生活断舍离,如果不能慢下来体会生活,又何必拼命活着。慢悠悠却有效率,简约而不简单,闲适又不空虚的生活究竟是怎样的?许多人将全球幸福指数第一归结于北欧制度、福利、资源等因素,但真的仅仅是这样吗?幸福是什么?物质很重要,但仅仅是“够用”就可以了。北欧人的幸福感,更多来源于简约、自然、宁静的心态,以及家庭的温暖、个人努力,而这是我们可以学会,可以身体力行的,也是我们自古传统一直倡导的。幸福是一种选择,我们不必去远方适应别人的生活,不必为了他人的价值观而将自己累得喘不过气,跟着罗敷,一个在北欧生活了10年的MM,体会那些真正能获得幸福的自信心态、简约的生活方式、生生不息的自强精神和温馨治愈的家庭观念。
  • 囚凤

    囚凤

    虐文+女强文!!!原名《三夜强宠》,不得已改名,亲们见谅!到底谁虐谁,看了才知道!女主虽然穿越后失忆,但是坚韧聪明,然后慢慢恢复记忆,逐渐强大,美男N多,个个N赞,结局一对一,偶有天雷,不能承受者,入坑慎重!当然,如果你相信颜,那么,你就会发现,颜的文,会很不同,(*^__^*)嘻嘻……简介:如果,不曾遇见,是不是,一切就不会上演?如果,不是这样的容颜,幸福,是不是,不会像泡沫,轻轻一吹,就破灭?可惜,人生没有如果…*新婚之夜,等来的,是爱人的背叛,是魔鬼的凌虐,三天三夜非人的折磨,那如花儿一般灿烂芬芳的青鸾,被折断了羽翼,成了魔鬼的禁脔。*“好好看着,占有你的人是我,在你身上烙下印记的也是我,你要是敢背叛我,我就让你生不如死!”那一瞬间,痛得不仅是身,更是心,是整个灵魂!*“我怎么舍得你死,我的鸾儿。我活着,你逃不掉,就算我死,也要带着你,人间地狱,生生世世,你都是我的,别想着离开我,永远不可能!”冰冷的手指带着透骨的凉意,抚上沾血的唇,温柔的呢喃,是宣誓,更是警告。*“你背叛我,那么,只要是你在乎的人,统统都要死!”猩红的血,如同怒放的彼岸花,大片大片妖艳的红,灼痛了眼,碾碎了心,从此,深植心底。*拨开迷雾,尘封的记忆渐渐复苏,原来,我是我,我也是她。“欠我的,化作厉鬼,我也要千万倍的讨回来!”纵身一跃,万丈悬崖上,飘荡的,是无尽的、刻骨的恨。*红颜倾城倾国倾天下花容花红花飞花漫天凤凰涅磐浴火重生策马跃沧漠谈笑睨王侯明月照天涯爱就爱的轰轰烈烈,恨就恨得毁天灭地,苍天负我,我宁成魔!===========才女作家诸葛云清为本文填的词,大爱,与亲亲们分享:《西江月-鸾凤合鸣》锦瑟年华虚度,浮生半世迷途。多情自是枉孤独,几许殇情怎顾?旧念残情日暮,星辰月落云舒。江山万里剑如初,执手天涯共渡。==========另:本文不是悲剧,颜不写悲剧,嘎嘎!如今推荐机会很少,亲们如果喜欢这个文,就收藏下,省得找不到,不是会员的亲,请花一分钟注册收藏,谢谢!Ps:投票,留言,收藏,这就是更文动力!===========推荐自己的文:《掠心女王爷》(完结)《穿越之绝色妖妃》(已完结)《小受总裁的野蛮女佣》(已完结)《玩转异世之尝遍美草》(已完结)《神界公主的美男后宫》
  • 弃妇翻身记

    弃妇翻身记

    自老天开眼,落崖捡回一命之后,洛笙便失了争夺的心思,整日梦想着过安稳的日子。可偏偏老天在开了一次眼之后,又再次闭上了,大事小事纷至沓来。搞得她不胜其烦,“争什么?抢什么?护什么?若是没了命,即便是争上了,抢到了,护住了,那又如何?”女子满不在乎的扁扁嘴,哼哼的说道。对面的男子微微一笑,看着女子的眸中带着几分宠溺,“洛洛,你只需负责安稳,这些我来便好”。
  • 听心理学大师讲故事

    听心理学大师讲故事

    走进本书,您会邂逅一个个生动活泼的小故事,它们通俗易懂、韵味悠长,让您不知不觉间沉醉其中,心情得以舒缓,心灵得以洗礼。帮助您更好地了解并走进自己的心灵世界,达到自我认识、自我完善,自我发展的目的。
  • 万界邪皇系统

    万界邪皇系统

    新书《万界之大佬降临》火热连载中,一天两更,欢迎观看!得到邪皇系统,成为新一代邪皇,为了变强,他走上一条“不归之路”!功夫世界,他为一帮之主,掌握他人生死……不良人世界,他为玄冥教邪皇,不服管教,自由自在……铠甲勇士世界,他夺帝皇铠甲,吞噬暗影五大护法,无法无天……侠岚世界,他抢夺神坠,吞噬穷奇…………
  • 新材料:你不知道的秘密(青少年科学探索·求知·发现丛书)

    新材料:你不知道的秘密(青少年科学探索·求知·发现丛书)

    《新材料:你不知道的秘密》用深入浅出的语言,形式活泼的艺术表现手法,将新材料“王国”的有关知识展示给读者,向公众描绘了一幅纵贯古今的新材料全景画,带你领略精彩纷呈的材料风采,探秘奥妙神奇的材料世界。本书由李英丽编著。
  • 重生云顶之奕

    重生云顶之奕

    符文大世界在经历终极恐怖后逐渐衰败走向了毁灭之路,幸存者们带着传承流浪,最终来到了云顶大世界并与之相融!传奇的英雄们化作了不灭英灵守护着云顶之下人们!这里有符文之路,剑士之道,奥法之路,狂野之路,无双斗士,帝国之崛起,无尽虚空.....更有揭示原符文世界诸多辉煌,一人破国驾驭英灵的奕者!而我们来到了这里,这是我们的时代!我们将伫立与云顶之上!
  • 海啸防范与自救

    海啸防范与自救

    自然灾害无处不在,无时不在,迄今为止.人类还没有能力阻止它的发生和带来的损害。大多数人在突然遭遇自然灾难时会彻底崩溃,他们或哭泣、或尖叫.却不知此时是需要迅速行动的最关键时刻。只有少数人能保持冷静。利用自己所学的灾害自救知识,并迅速采取行动脱离险境、减小损害。因此,如果幸运的你还没有亲身经历过自然灾难,请千万不要掉以轻心,因为我们谁也无法预料自己会在何时遇到何种灾难。
  • 赢在追求卓越

    赢在追求卓越

    同样的精彩,不同的传奇。《赢在追求卓越》中12个不同的领域,12名成功企业家,他们的起伏经历、人生态度、经营方略、成功经验、失败教训帮你点亮管理智慧,重振创业梦想,让你的人生告别平凡。
  • 忏悔录(上)

    忏悔录(上)

    《忏悔录》是一部复杂多义的著作。“忏悔录”一词,其古典拉丁文原义为“承认、认罪”,在教会文学中转义为承认神的伟大,有歌颂的含义。奥古斯丁此书着重后一种意义,即历述一生所蒙受的天主恩泽,从而发出对天主的歌颂。但世人一般都注重其第一种意义,将其视为奥古斯丁的自传和个人忏悔,“忏悔录”遂成为“自传”的别名。奥古斯丁的哲学分为两大部分,即纯粹神学和从属于神学的哲学,前者是关于创世主上帝的论述,后者则讨论上帝创造万物、创造宇宙的问题。这两部分内容在《忏悔录》中都得到了充分的阐述。罗素的看法有所不同,他对奥古斯丁评价甚高,认为奥古斯丁虽然并不专心致力于纯粹哲学,却很好地表述了它,并显示出了非常卓越的才能,《忏悔录》就是最好的纯粹哲学作品。