雨果 悲惨世界 英文版1-第54部分

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　　All　at　once　she　began　to　sing　in　a　voice　as　feeble　as　a　breath。
　　The　nun　listened。　This　is　what　Fantine　was　singing：〃Lovely　things　we　will　buy　
　　As　we　stroll　the　faubourgs　through。　
　　Roses　are　pink；　corn…flowers　are　blue；　
　　I　love　my　love；　corn…flowers　are　blue。
　　〃Yestere'en　the　Virgin　Mary　came　near　my　stove；　in　a　broidered　mantle　clad；　and　said　to　me；　‘Here；　hide　'neath　my　veil　the　child　whom　you　one　day　begged　from　me。
　　Haste　to　the　city；　buy　linen；　buy　a　needle；　buy　thread。'
　　〃Lovely　things　we　will　buy　
　　As　we　stroll　the　faubourgs　through。
　　〃Dear　Holy　Virgin；　beside　my　stove　I　have　set　a　cradle　with　ribbons　decked。
　　God　may　give　me　his　loveliest　star；　I　prefer　the　child　thou　hast　granted　me。
　　‘Madame；　what　shall　I　do　with　this　linen　fine？'‘Make　of　it　clothes　for　thy　new…born　babe。'
　　〃Roses　are　pink　and　corn…flowers　are　blue；　
　　I　love　my　love；　and　corn…flowers　are　blue。
　　〃‘Wash　this　linen。'‘Where？'‘In　the　stream。
　　Make　of　it；　soiling　not；　spoiling　not；　a　petticoat　fair　with　its　bodice　fine；　which　I　will　embroider　and　fill　with　flowers。'‘Madame；　the　child　is　no　longer　here；　what　is　to　be　done？'‘Then　make　of　it　a　winding…sheet　in　which　to　bury　me。'
　　〃Lovely　things　we　will　buy　
　　As　we　stroll　the　faubourgs　through；　
　　Roses　are　pink；　corn…flowers　are　blue；　
　　I　love　my　love；　corn…flowers　are　blue。〃
　　This　song　was　an　old　cradle　romance　with　which　she　had；　in　former　days；　lulled　her　little　Cosette　to　sleep；　and　which　had　never　recurred　to　her　mind　in　all　the　five　years　during　which　she　had　been　parted　from　her　child。
　　She　sang　it　in　so　sad　a　voice；　and　to　so　sweet　an　air；　that　it　was　enough　to　make　any　one；　even　a　nun；　weep。
　　The　sister；　accustomed　as　she　was　to　austerities；　felt　a　tear　spring　to　her　eyes。
　　The　clock　struck　six。
　　Fantine　did　not　seem　to　hear　it。
　　She　no　longer　seemed　to　pay　attention　to　anything　about　her。
　　Sister　Simplice　sent　a　serving…maid　to　inquire　of　the　portress　of　the　factory；　whether　the　mayor　had　returned；　and　if　he　would　not　e　to　the　infirmary　soon。
　　The　girl　returned　in　a　few　minutes。
　　Fantine　was　still　motionless　and　seemed　absorbed　in　her　own　thoughts。
　　The　servant　informed　Sister　Simplice　in　a　very　low　tone；　that　the　mayor　had　set　out　that　morning　before　six　o'clock；　in　a　little　tilbury　harnessed　to　a　white　horse；　cold　as　the　weather　was；　that　he　had　gone　alone；　without　even　a　driver；　that　no　one　knew　what　road　he　had　taken；　that　people　said　he　had　been　seen　to　turn　into　the　road　to　Arras；　that　others　asserted　that　they　had　met　him　on　the　road　to　Paris。　That　when　he　went　away　he　had　been　very　gentle；　as　usual；　and　that　he　had　merely　told　the　portress　not　to　expect　him　that　night。
　　While　the　two　women　were　whispering　together；　with　their　backs　turned　to　Fantine's　bed；　the　sister　interrogating；　the　servant　conjecturing；　Fantine；　with　the　feverish　vivacity　of　certain　organic　maladies；　which　unite　the　free　movements　of　health　with　the　frightful　emaciation　of　death；　had　raised　herself　to　her　knees　in　bed；　with　her　shrivelled　hands　resting　on　the　bolster；　and　her　head　thrust　through　the　opening　of　the　curtains；　and　was　listening。　All　at　once　she　cried：
　　〃You　are　speaking　of　M。　Madeleine！
　　Why　are　you　talking　so　low？　What　is　he　doing？
　　Why　does　he　not　e？〃
　　Her　voice　was　so　abrupt　and　hoarse　that　the　two　women　thought　they　heard　the　voice　of　a　man；　they　wheeled　round　in　affright。
　　〃Answer　me！〃　cried　Fantine。
　　The　servant　stammered：
　　〃The　portress　told　me　that　he　could　not　e　to…day。〃
　　〃Be　calm；　my　child；〃　said　the　sister；　〃lie　down　again。〃
　　Fantine；　without　changing　her　attitude；　continued　in　a　loud　voice；　and　with　an　accent　that　was　both　imperious　and　heart…rending：
　　〃He　cannot　e？
　　Why　not？
　　You　know　the　reason。
　　You　are　whispering　it　to　each　other　there。
　　I　want　to　know　it。〃
　　The　servant…maid　hastened　to　say　in　the　nun's　ear；　〃Say　that　he　is　busy　with　the　city　council。〃
　　Sister　Simplice　blushed　faintly；　for　it　was　a　lie　that　the　maid　had　proposed　to　her。
　　On　the　other　hand；　it　seemed　to　her　that　the　mere　munication　of　the　truth　to　the　invalid　would；　without　doubt；　deal　her　a　terrible　blow；　and　that　this　was　a　serious　matter　in　Fantine's　present　state。　Her　flush　did　not　last　long；　the　sister　raised　her　calm；　sad　eyes　to　Fantine；　and　said；　〃Monsieur　le　Maire　has　gone　away。〃
　　Fantine　raised　herself　and　crouched　on　her　heels　in　the　bed：　her　eyes　sparkled；　indescribable　joy　beamed　from　that　melancholy　face。
　　〃Gone！〃　she　cried；　〃he　has　gone　to　get　Cosette。〃
　　Then　she　raised　her　arms　to　heaven；　and　her　white　face　became　ineffable；　her　lips　moved；　she　was　praying　in　a　low　voice。
　　When　her　prayer　was　finished；　〃Sister；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　willing　to　lie　down　again；　I　will　do　anything　you　wish；　I　was　naughty　just　now；　I　beg　your　pardon　for　having　spoken　so　loud；　it　is　very　wrong　to　talk　loudly；　I　know　that　well；　my　good　sister；　but；　you　see；　I　am　very　happy：
　　the　good　God　is　good；　M。　Madeleine　is　good；　just　think！　he　has　gone　to　Montfermeil　to　get　my　little　Cosette。〃
　　She　lay　down　again；　with　the　nun's　assistance；　helped　the　nun　to　arrange　her　pillow；　and　kissed　the　little　silver　cross　which　she　wore　on　her　neck；　and　which　Sister　Simplice　had　given　her。
　　〃My　child；〃　said　the　sister；　〃try　to　rest　now；　and　do　not　talk　any　more。〃
　　Fantine　took　the　sister's　hand　in　her　moist　hands；　and　the　latter　was　pained　to　feel　that　perspiration。
　　〃He　set　out　this　morning　for　Paris；　in　fact；　he　need　not　even　go　through　Paris；　Montfermeil　is　a　little　to　the　left　as　you　e　thence。　Do　you　remember　how　he　said　to　me　yesterday；　when　I　spoke　to　him　of　Cosette；　Soon；　soon？
　　He　wants　to　give　me　a　surprise；　you　know！　he　made　me　sign　a　letter　so　that　she　could　be　taken　from　the　Thenardiers；　they　cannot　say　anything；　can　they？　they　will　give　back　Cosette；　for　they　have　been　paid；　the　authorities　will　not　allow　them　to　keep　the　child　since　they　have　received　their　pay。　Do　not　make　signs　to　me　that　I　must　not　talk；　sister！
　　I　am　extremely　happy；　I　am　doing　well；　I　am　not　ill　at　all　any　more；　I　am　going　to　see　Cosette　again；　I　am　even　quite　hungry；　it　is　nearly　five　years　since　I　saw　her　last；　you　cannot　imagine　how　much　attached　one　gets　to　children；　and　then；　she　will　be　so　pretty；　you　will　see！
　　If　you　only　knew　what　pretty　little　rosy　fingers　she　had！
　　In　the　first　place；　she　will　have　very　beautiful　hands；　she　had　ridiculous　hands　when　she　was　only　a　year　old；　like　this！　she　must　be　a　big　girl　now；　she　is　seven　years　old；　she　is　quite　a　young　lady；　I　call　her　Cosette；　but　her　name　is　really　Euphrasie。　Stop！　this　morning　I　was　looking　at　the　dust　on　the　chimney…piece；　and　I　had　a　sort　of　idea　e　across　me；　like　that；　that　I　should　see　Cosette　again　soon。
　　Mon　Dieu！　how　wrong　it　is　not　to　see　one's　children　for　years！
　　One　ought　to　reflect　that　life　is　not　eternal。　Oh；　how　good　M。　le　Maire　is　to　go！　it　is　very　cold！　it　is　true；　he　had　on　his　cloak；　at　least？　he　will　be　here　to…morrow；　will　he　not？　to…morrow　will　be　a　festival　day；　to…morrow　morning；　sister；　you　must　remind　me　to　put　on　my　little　cap　that　has　lace　on　it。　What　a　place　that　Montfermeil　is！
　　I　took　that　journey　on　foot　once；　it　was　very　long　for　me；　but　the　diligences　go　very　quickly！　he　will　be　here　to…morrow　with　Cosette：
　　how　far　is　it　from　here　to　Montfermeil？〃
　　The　sister；　who　had　no　idea　of　distances；　replied；　〃Oh；　I　think　that　be　will　be　here　to…morrow。〃
　　〃To…morrow！　to…morrow！〃　said　Fantine；　〃I　shall　see　Cosette　to…morrow！　you　see；　good　sister　of　the　good　God；　that　I　am　no　longer　ill；　I　am　mad；　I　could　dance　if　any　one　wished　it。〃
　　A　person　who　had　seen　her　a　quarter　of　an　hour　previously　would　not　have　understood　the　change；　she　was　all　rosy　now；　she　spoke　in　a　lively　and　natural　voice；　her　whole　face　was　one　smile；　now　and　then　she　talked；　she　laughed　softly；　the　joy　of　a　mother　is　almost　infantile。
　　〃Well；〃　resumed　the　nun；　〃now　that　you　are　happy；　mind　me；　and　do　not　talk　any　more。〃
　　Fantine　laid　her　head　on　her　pillow　and　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃Yes；　lie　down　again；　be　good；　for　you　are　going　to　have　your　child；　Sister　Simplice　is　right；　every　one　here　is　right。〃
　　And　then；　without　stirring；　without　even　moving　her　head；　she　began　to　stare　all　about　her　with　wide…open　eyes　and　a　joyous　air；　and　she　said　nothing　more。
　　The　sister　drew　the　curtains　together　again；　hoping　that　she　would　fall　into　a　doze。
　　Between　seven　and　eight　o'clock　the　doctor　came；　not　hearing　any　sound；　he　thought　Fantine　was　asleep；　entered　softly；　and　approached　the　bed　on　tiptoe；　he　opened　the　curtains　a　little；　and；　by　the　light　of　the　taper；　he　saw　Fantine's　big　eyes　gazing　at　him。
　　She　said　to　him；　〃She　will　be　allowed　to　sleep　beside　me　in　a　little　bed；　will　she　not；　sir？〃
　　The　doctor　thought　that　she　was　delirious。
　　She　added：
　　〃See！　there　is　just　room。〃
　　The　doctor　took　Sister　Simplice　aside；　and　she　explained　matters　to　him；　that　M。　Madeleine　was　absent　for　a　day　or　two；　and　that　in　their　doubt　they　had　not　thought　it　well　to　undeceive　the　invalid；　who　believed　that　the　mayor　had　gone　to　Montfermeil；　that　it　was　possible；　after　all；　that　her　guess　was　correct：　the　doctor　approved。
　　He　returned　to　Fantine's　bed；　and　she　went　on：
　　〃You　see；　when　she　wakes　up　in　the　morning；　I　shall　be　able　to　say　good　morning　to　her；　poor　kitten；　and　when　I　cannot　sleep　at　night；　I　can　hear　her　asleep；　her　little　gentle　breathing　will　do　me　good。〃
　　〃Give　me　your　hand；〃　said　the　doctor。
　　She　stretched　out　her　arm；　and　exclaimed　with　a　laugh：
　　〃Ah；　hold！　in　truth；　you　did　not　know　it；　I　am　cured；　Cosette　will　arrive　to…morrow。〃
　　The　doctor　was　surprised；　she　was　better；　the　pressure　on　her　chest　had　decreased；　her　pulse　had　regained　its　strength；　a　sort　of　life　had　suddenly　supervened　and　reanimated　this　poor；　worn…out　creature。
　　〃Doctor；〃　she　went　on；　〃did　the　sister　tell　you　that　M。　le　Maire　has　gone　to　get　that　mite　of　a　child？〃
　　The　doctor　remended　silence；　and　that　all　painful　emotions　should　be　avoided；　he　prescribed　an　infusion　of　pure　chinchona；　and；　in　case　the　fever　should　increase　again　during　the　night；　a　calming　potion。　As　he　took　his　departure；　he　said　to　the　sister：
　　〃She　is　doing　better；　if　good　luck　willed　that　the　mayor　should　actually　arrive　to…morrow　with　the　child；　who　knows？　there　are　crises　so　astounding；　great　joy　has　been　known　to　arrest　maladies；　I　know　well　that　this　is　an　organic　disease；　and　in　an　advanced　state；　but　all　those　things　are　such　mysteries：
　　we　may　be　able　to　save　her。〃


BOOK　SEVENTH。THE　CHAMPMATHIEU　AFFAIR
CHAPTER　VII　
　　THE　TRAVELLER　ON　HIS　ARRIVAL　TAKES　PRECAUTIONS　FOR　DEPARTURE
　　It　was　nearly　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening　when　the　cart；　which　we　left　on　the　road；　entered　the　porte…cochere　of　the　Hotel　de　la　Poste　in　Arras；　the　man　whom　we　have　been　following　up　to　this　moment　alighted　from　it；　responded　with　an　abstracted　air　to　the　attentions　of　the　people　of　the　inn；　sent　back　the　extra　horse；　and　with　his　own　hands　led　the　little　white　horse　to　the　stable；　then　he　opened　the　door　of　a　billiard…room　which　was　situated　on　the　ground　f