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reflected in her face through the long downcast lashes。 Merely by
lifting her delicate eyelids； Honorine could cast a spell； there was
so much feeling； dignity； terror； or contempt in her way of raising or
dropping those veils of the soul。 She could freeze or give life by a
look。 Her light…brown hair； carelessly knotted on her head； outlined a
poet's brow； high； powerful； and dreamy。 The mouth was wholly
voluptuous。 And to crown all by a grace； rare in France； though common
in Italy； all the lines and forms of the head had a stamp of nobleness
which would defy the outrages of time。
〃Though slight； Honorine was not thin； and her figure struck me as
being one that might revive love when it believed itself exhausted。
She perfectly represented the idea conveyed by the word /mignonne/；
for she was one of those pliant little women who allow themselves to
be taken up； petted； set down； and taken up again like a kitten。 Her
small feet； as I heard them on the gravel； made a light sound
essentially their own； that harmonized with the rustle of her dress；
producing a feminine music which stamped itself on the heart； and
remained distinct from the footfall of a thousand other women。 Her
gait bore all the quarterings of her race with so much pride； that； in
the street； the least respectful working man would have made way for
her。 Gay and tender； haughty and imposing； it was impossible to
understand her； excepting as gifted with these apparently incompatible
qualities； which； nevertheless； had left her still a child。 But it was
a child who might be as strong as an angel； and； like the angel； once
hurt in her nature； she would be implacable。
〃Coldness on that face must no doubt be death to those on whom her
eyes had smiled； for whom her set lips had parted； for those whose
soul had drunk in the melody of that voice； lending to her words the
poetry of song by its peculiar intonation。 Inhaling the perfume of
violets that accompanied her； I understood how the memory of this wife
had arrested the Count on the threshold of debauchery； and how
impossible it would be ever to forget a creature who really was a
flower to the touch； a flower to the eye； a flower of fragrance； a
heavenly flower to the soul。 。 。 。 Honorine inspired devotion；
chivalrous devotion； regardless of reward。 A man on seeing her must
say to himself：
〃 'Think； and I will divine your thought； speak； and I will obey。 If
my life； sacrificed in torments； can procure you one day's happiness；
take my life； I will smile like a martyr at the stake； for I shall
offer that day to God； as a token to which a father responds on
recognizing a gift to his child。' Many women study their expression；
and succeed in producing effects similar to those which would have
struck you at first sight of the Countess； only； in her； it was all
the outcome of a delightful nature； that inimitable nature went at
once to the heart。 If I tell you all this； it is because her soul； her
thoughts； the exquisiteness of her heart； are all we are concerned
with； and you would have blamed me if I had not sketched them for you。
〃I was very near forgetting my part as a half…crazy lout； clumsy； and
by no means chivalrous。
〃 'I am told； madame； that you are fond of flowers？'
〃 'I am an artificial flower…maker；' said she。 'After growing flowers；
I imitate them； like a mother who is artist enough to have the
pleasure of painting her children。 。 。 。 That is enough to tell you
that I am poor and unable to pay for the concession I am anxious to
obtain from you？'
〃 'But how；' said I； as grave as a judge； 'can a lady of such rank as
yours would seem to be； ply so humble a calling？ Have you； like me；
good reasons for employing your fingers so as to keep your brains from
working？'
〃 'Let us stick to the question of the wall；' said she； with a smile。
〃 'Why； we have begun at the foundations；' said I。 'Must not I know
which of us ought to yield to the other in behalf of our suffering；
or； if you choose； of our mania？Oh！ what a charming clump of
narcissus！ They are as fresh as this spring morning！'
〃I assure you； she had made for herself a perfect museum of flowers
and shrubs； which none might see but the sun； and of which the
arrangement had been prompted by the genius of an artist； the most
heartless of landlords must have treated it with respect。 The masses
of plants； arranged according to their height； or in single clumps；
were really a joy to the soul。 This retired and solitary garden
breathed comforting scents； and suggested none but sweet thoughts and
graceful； nay； voluptuous pictures。 On it was set that inscrutable
sign…manual； which our true character stamps on everything； as soon as
nothing compels us to obey the various hypocrisies； necessary as they
are； which Society insists on。 I looked alternately at the mass of
narcissus and at the Countess； affecting to be far more in love with
the flowers than with her； to carry out my part。
〃 'So you are very fond of flowers？' said she。
〃 'They are；' I replied； 'the only beings that never disappoint our
cares and affection。' And I went on to deliver such a diatribe while
comparing botany and the world； that we ended miles away from the
dividing wall； and the Countess must have supposed me to be a wretched
and wounded sufferer worthy of her pity。 However； at the end of half
an hour my neighbor naturally brought me back to the point； for women；
when they are not in love； have all the cold blood of an experienced
attorney。
〃 'If you insist on my leaving the paling；' said I； 'you will learn
all the secrets of gardening that I want to hide； I am seeking to grow
a blue dahlia； a blue rose； I am crazy for blue flowers。 Is not blue
the favorite color of superior souls？ We are neither of us really at
home； we might as well make a little door of open railings to unite
our gardens。 。 。 。 You； too； are fond of flowers； you will see mine； I
shall see yours。 If you receive no visitors at all； I； for my part；
have none but my uncle； the Cure of the White Friars。'
〃 'No；' said she； 'I will give you the right to come into my garden；
my premises at any hour。 Come and welcome； you will always be admitted
as a neighbor with whom I hope to keep on good terms。 But I like my
solitude too well to burden it with any loss of independence。'
〃 'As you please；' said I； and with one leap I was over the paling。
〃 'Now； of what use would a door be？' said I； from my own domain；
turning round to the Countess； and mocking her with a madman's gesture
and grimace。
〃For a fortnight I seemed to take no heed of my neighbor。 Towards the
end of May； one lovely evening； we happened both to be out on opposite
sides of the paling； both walking slowly。 Having reached the end； we
could not help exchanging a few civil words； she found me in such deep
dejection； lost in such painful meditations； that she spoke to me of
hopefulness； in brief sentences that sounded like the songs with which
nurses lull their babies。 I then leaped the fence； and found myself
for the second time at her side。 The Countess led me into the house；
wishing to subdue my sadness。 So at last I had penetrated the
sanctuary where everything was in harmony with the woman I have tried
to describe to you。
〃Exquisite simplicity reigned there。 The interior of the little house
was just such a dainty box as the art of the eighteenth century
devised for the pretty profligacy of a fine gentleman。 The dining…
room； on the ground floor； was painted in fresco； with garlands of
flowers； admirably and marvelously executed。 The staircase was
charmingly decorated in monochrome。 The little drawing…room； opposite
the dining…room； was very much faded； but the Countess had hung it
with panels of tapestry of fanciful designs； taken off old screens。 A
bath…room came next。 Upstairs there was but one bedroom； with a
dressing…room； and a library which she used as her workroom。 The
kitchen was beneath in the basement on which the house was raised； for
there was a flight of several steps outside。 The balustrade of a
balcony in garlands a la Pompadour concealed the roof； only the lead
cornices were visible。 In this retreat one was a hundr