按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
t Maitre Mouche） shall read to her a certain paper which I signed a little while ago。
I do not wish that any one except myself should provide for her； and give her her dowry。 I am not； however； very rich； and the paternal inheritance did not gain bulk in my hands。 One does not accumulate money by poring over old texts。 But my booksat the price which such noble merchandise fetches to…dayare worth something。 Why； on that shelf there are some poets of the sixteenth century for which bankers would bid against princes！ And I think that those 〃Heures〃 of Simon Vostre would not be readily overlooked at the Hotel Sylvestre any more than would those Preces Piae compiled for the use of Queen Claude。 I have taken great pains to collect and to preserve all those rare and curious editions which people the City of Books； and for a long time I used to believe that they were as necessary to my life as air and light。 I have loved them well； and even now I cannot prevent myself from smiling at them and caressing them。 Those morocco bindings are so delightful to the eye！ These old vellums are so soft to the touch！ There is not a single one among those books which is not worthy； by reason of some special merit； to command the respect of an honourable man。 What other owner would ever know how to dip into hem in the proper way？ Can I be even sure that another owner would not leave them to decay in neglect； or mutilate them at the prompting of some ignorant whim？ Into whose hands will fall that incomparable copy of the 〃Histoire de l'Abbaye de Saint…Germain…des…Pres；〃 on the margins of which the author himself； in the person of Jacques Bouillard； made such substantial notes in his own handwriting？。。。 Master Bonnard； you are an old fool！ Your housekeeperpoor soul！is nailed down upon her bed with a merciless attack of rheumatism。 Jeanne is to come with her chaperon； and； instead of thinking how you are going to receive them； you are thinking about a thousand stupidities。 Sylvestre Bonnard； you will never succeed at anything in this world； and it is I myself who tell you so！
And at this very moment I catch sight of them from my window； as they get out of the omnibus。 Jeanne leaps down lie a kitten； but Mademoiselle Prefere intrusts herself to the strong arm of the conductor； with the shy grace of a Virginia recovering after the shipwreck； and this time quite resigned to being saved。 Jeanne looks up； sees me； laughs； and Mademoiselle Prefere has to prevent her from waving her umbrella at me as a friendly signal。 There is a certain stage of cvilisation to which Mademoiselle Jeanne never can be brought。 You can teach her all the arts if you like （it is not exactly to Mademoiselle Prefere that I am now speaking）； but you will never be able to teach her perfect manners。 As a charming child she makes the mistake of being charming only in her own way。 Only an old fool like myself could forgive her pranks。 As for young foolsand there are several of them still to be foundI do not know what they would think about it； and what they might think is none of my business。 Just look at her running along the pavement； wrapped in her cloak； with her hat tilted back on her head； and her feather fluttering in the wind； like a schooner in full rig！ And really she has a grace of poise and motion which suggests a fine sailing…vessel so much so； indeed； that she makes me remember seeing one day； when I was at Havre。。。。 But； Bonnard； my friend； how many times is it necessary to tell you that your housekeeper is in bed； and that you must go and open the door yourself？
Open； Old Man Winter！ 'tis Spring who rings the bell。
It is Jeanne herselfJeanne is all flushed like a rose。 Mademoiselle Prefere； indignant and out of breath； has still another whole flight to climb before reaching our lobby。
I explained the condition of my housekeeper； and proposed that we should dine at a restaurant。 But Thereseall…powerful still； even upon her sick…beddecided that we should dine at home； whether we wanted to or no。 Respectable people； in her opinion； never dined at restaurants。 Moreover； she had made all necessary arrangements the dinner had been bought； the concierge would cook it。
The audacious Jeanne insisted upon going to see whether the old woman wanted anything。 As you might suppose； she was sent back to the parlour with short shrift； but not so harshly as I had feared。
〃If I want anybody to do anything for me； which； thank God； I do not；〃 Therese had replied； 〃I would get somebody less delicate and dainty than you are。 What I want is rest。 That is a merchandise which is not sold at fairs under the sign of 'Motus with finger on lip。' Go and have your fun； and don't stay herefor old age might be catching。〃
Jeanne； after telling us what she had said； added that she liked very much to hear old Therese talk。 Whereupon Mademoiselle Prefere reproached her for expressing such unladylike tastes。
I tried to excuse her by citing the example of Moliere。 Just at that moment it came to pass that； while climbing the ladder to get a book； she upset a whole shelf…row。 There was a heavy crash； and Mademoiselle Prefere； being； of course； a very delicate person； almost fainted。 Jeanne quickly followed the books to the foot of the ladder。 she made one think of a kitten suddenly transformed into a woman； catching mice which had been transformed into old books。 While picking them up； she found one which happened to interest her； and she began to read it； squatting down upon her heels。 It was the 〃Prince Grenouille；〃 she told us。 Mademoiselle Prefere took occasion to complain that Jeanne had so little taste for poetry。 It was impossible to get her to recite Casimir Delavigne's poem on the death of Joan of Arc without mistakes。 It was the very most she could do to learn 〃Le Petit Savoyard。〃 The schoolmistress did not think that any one should read the 〃Prince Grenouille〃 before learning by heart the stanzas to Duperrier； and； carried away by her enthusiasm； she began to recite them in a voice sweeter than the bleating of a sheep：
〃 Ta douleur； Duperrier； sera donc eternelle； Et les tristes discours Que te met en l'esprit l'amitie paternelle L'augmenteront toujours；
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
〃 Je sais de quels appas son enfance etait pleine； Et n'ai pas entrepris； Injurieux ami； de consoler ta peine Avecque son mepris。〃
Then in ecstacy； she exclaimed；
〃How beautiful that is！ What harmony！ How is it possible for any one not to admire such exquisite； such touching verses！ But why did Malherbe call that poor Monsieur Duperrier his injurieux ami at a time when he had been so severely tied by the death of his daughter？ Injurieux amiyou must acknowledge that the term is very harsh。〃
I explained to this poetical person that the phrase 〃Injurieux ami；〃 which shocked her so much； was in apposition； etc。 etc。 What I said； however； had so little effect towards clearing her head that she was seized with a severe and prolonged fit of sneezing。 Meanwhile it was evident that the history of 〃Prince Grenouille〃 had proved extremely funny； for it was all that Jeanne could do； as she crouched down there on the carpet； to keep herself from bursting into a wild fit of laughter。 But when she had finished with the prince and princess of the story； and the multitude of their children； she assumed a very suppliant expression； and begged me as a great favour to allow her to put on a white apron and go to the kitchen to help in getting the dinner ready。
〃Jeanne；〃 I replied； with the gravity of a master； 〃I think that if it is a question of breaking plates； knocking off the edges of dishes； denting all the pans； and smashing all the skimmers； the person whom Therese has set to work in the kitchen already will be able to perform her task without assistance； for it seems to me at this very moment I can hear disastrous noises in that kitchen。 But anyhow； Jeanne； I will charge you with the duty of preparing the dessert。 So go and get your white apron； I will tie it on for you。〃
Accordingly； I solemnly knotted the linen apron about her waist； and she rushed into the kitchen； where she proceeded at once