迪文小说>最后一片叶子朗读 > 第45章 tg lve（第1页）
第45章 tg lve（第1页）
twastheendofthedinnerthatoenedtheshootingseason。TheMarquisdeBertranswithhisguestssataroundabrightlylightedtable，coveredwithfruitandflowers。
Theconversationdriftedtolove。Immediatelytherearoseananimateddiscussion，thesameeternaldiscussionastowhetheritwereossibletolovemorethanonce。Examlesweregivenofersonswhohadlovedonce;thesewereoffsetbythosewhohadlovedviolentlymanytimes。Themenagreedthatassion，likesickness，mayattackthesameersonseveraltimes，unlessitstrikestokill。Thisconclusionseemedquiteincontestable。Thewomen，however，whobasedtheiroiniononoetryratherthanonracticalobservation，maintainedthatlove，thegreatassion，maycomeonlyoncetomortals。Itresembleslightning，theysaid，thislove。Aheartoncetouchedbyitbecomesforeversuchawaste，soruined，soconsumed，thatnootherstrongsentimentcantakerootthere，notevenadream。
Themarquis，whohadindulgedinmanyloveaffairs，disutedthisbelief。
"Itellyouitisossibletoloveseveraltimeswithallone&aos;sheartandsoul。Youquoteexamlesofersonswhohavekilledthemselvesforlove，torovetheimossibilityofasecondassion。Iwagerthatiftheyhadnotfoolishlycommittedsuicide，andsodestroyedtheossibilityofasecondexerience，theywouldhavefoundanewlove，andstillanother，andsoontilldeath。Itiswithloveaswithdrink。Hewhohasonceindulgedisforeveraslave。Itisathingoftemerament。
"
Theychosetheolddoctorasumire。Hethoughtitwasasthemarquishadsaid，athingoftemerament。
"Asforme，
"hesaid，
"Ionceknewofalovewhichlastedfifty-fiveyearswithoutoneday&aos;sresite，andwhichendedonlywithdeath。
"Thewifeofthemarquislclasedherhands。
"Thatisbeautiful!Ah，whatadreamtobelovedinsuchaway!Whatblisstoliveforfifty-fiveyearsenveloedinanintense，unwaveringaffection!Howthishaybeingmusthaveblessedhislifetobesoadored!
"
Thedoctorsmiled。
"Youarenotmistaken，madame，onthisointthelovedonewasaman。Youevenknowhim;itisMonsieurChouquet，thechemist。Astothewoman，youalsoknowher，theoldchair-mender，whocameeveryyeartothechateau。
"
Theenthusiasmofthewomenfell。Someexressedtheircontemtwith
"Pouah!
"forthelovesofcommoneoledidnotinterestthem。
Thedoctorcontinued:
"ThreemonthsagoIwascalledtothedeathbedoftheoldchair-mender。Theriesthadrecededme。Shewishedtomakeustheexecutorsofherwill。Inorderthatwemightunderstandherconduct，shetoldusthestoryofherlife。Itismostsingularandtouching:
"Herfatherandmotherwerebothchair-menders。Shehadneverlivedinahouse。Asalittlechildshewanderedaboutwiththem，dirty，unkemt，hungry。Theyvisitedmanytowns，leavingtheirhorse，wagonanddogjustoutsidethelimits，wherethechildlayedinthegrassaloneuntilherarentshadreairedallthebrokenchairsinthelace。Theyseldomsoke，excettocry，‘Chairs!Chairs!Chair-mender!’Whenthelittleonestrayedtoofaraway，shewouldbecalledbackbytheharsh，angryvoiceofherfather。Sheneverheardawordofaffection。
"Whenshegrewolder，shefetchedandcarriedthebrokenchairs。Thenitwasshemadefriendswiththechildreninthestreet，buttheirarentsalwayscalledthemawayandscoldedthemforseakingtothebarefootedchild。Oftentheboysthrewstonesather。Onceakindwomangaveherafewennies。Shesavedthemmostcarefully。
"Oneday-shewasthenelevenyearsold-asshewaswalkingthroughacountrytownshemet，behindthecemetery，littleChouquet，weeingbitterly，becauseoneofhislaymateshadstolentworeciousliards（mills）。Thetearsofthesmallbourgeois，oneofthosemuch-enviedmortals，who，sheimagined，neverknewtrouble，comletelyusether。Shearoachedhimand，assoonasshelearnedthecauseofhisgrief，sheutintohishandsallhersavings。Hetookthemwithouthesitationanddriedhiseyes。Wildwithjoy，shekissedhim。Hewasbusycountinghismoney，anddidnotobject。Seeingthatshewasnotreulsed，shethrewherarmsroundhimandgavehimahug-thensheranaway。
"Whatwasgoingoninheroorlittlehead?Wasitbecauseshehadsacrificedallherfortunethatshebecamemadlyfondofthisyoungster，orwasitbecauseshehadgivenhimthefirsttenderkiss?Themysteryisalikeforchildrenandforthoseofrieryears。
"Formonthsshedreamedofthatcornernearthecemeteryandofthelittlecha。Shestoleasouhereand，therefromherarentsonthechairmoneyorgroceriesshewassenttobuy。Whenshereturnedtothesotnearthecemeteryshehadtwofrancsinherocket，buthewasnotthere。
Passinghisfather&aos;sdrugstore，shecaughtsightofhimbehindthecounter。Hewassittingbetweenalargeredglobeandablueone。Sheonlylovedhimthemore，quitecarriedawayatthesightofthebrilliant-coloredglobes。Shecherishedtherecollectionofitforeverinherheart。
"Thefollowingyearshemethimneartheschool。layingmarbles。Sherushedutohim，threwherarmsroundhim，andkissedhimsoassionatelythathescreamed，infear。Toquiethim，shegavehimallhermoney。Threefrancsandtwentycentimes!Arealgoldmine，atwhichhegazedwithstaringeyes。
"Afterthisheallowedhertokisshimasmuchasshewished。
"Duringthenextfouryearssheutintohishandsallhersavings，whichheocketedconscientiouslyinexchangeforkisses。Atonetimeitwasthirtysons，atanothertwofrancs。Again，sheonlyhadtwelvesous。Shewetwithgriefandshame，exlainingbrokenlythatithadbeenaooryear。Thenexttimeshebroughtfivefrancs，inonewholeiece，whichmadeherlaughwithjoy。
"Shenolongerthoughtofanyonebuttheboy，andhewatchedforherwithimatience;sometimeshewouldruntomeether。Thismadeherheartthumwithjoy。
"Suddenlyhedisaeared。Hehadgonetoboardingschool。Shefoundthisoutbycarefulinvestigation。Thensheusedgreatdilomacytoersuadeherarentstochangetheirrouteandassbythiswayagainduringvacation。Afterayearofschemingshesucceeded。Shehadnotseenhimfortwoyears，andscarcelyrecognizedhim，hewassochanged，hadgrowntaller，betterlookingandwasimosinginhisuniform，withitsbrassbuttons。Heretendednottoseeher，andassedbywithoutaglance。
"Shewetfortwodaysandfromthattimelovedandsufferedunceasingly。
