第4章

Thefairstranger"snamewasFannyLovelace。Thisname(pronounced/Loveless/)isthatofanoldEnglishfamily，butRichardsonhasgivenittoacreationwhosefameeclipsesallothers!MissLovelacehadcometosettlebythelakeforherfather"shealth，thephysicianshavingrecommendedhimtheairofLucerne。ThesetwoEnglishpeoplehadarrivedwithnootherservantthanalittlegirloffourteen，adumbchild，muchattachedtoMissFanny，onwhomshewaitedveryintelligently，andhadsettled，twowinterssince，withmonsieurandMadameBergmann，theretiredhead-gardenersofHisExcellencyCountBorromeoofIsolaBellaandIsolaMadreintheLagoMaggoire。TheseSwiss，whowerepossessedofanincomeofaboutathousandcrownsayear，hadletthetopstoryoftheirhousetotheLovelacesforthreeyears，atarentoftwohundredfrancsayear。OldLovelace，amanofninety，andmuchbroken，wastoopoortoallowhimselfanygratifications，andveryrarelywentout；hisdaughterworkedtomaintainhim，translatingEnglishbooks，andwritingsomeherself，itwassaid。TheLovelacescouldnotaffordtohireboatstorowonthelake，orhorsesandguidestoexploretheneighborhood。

PovertydemandingsuchprivationasthisexcitesallthegreatercompassionamongtheSwiss，becauseitdeprivesthemofachanceofprofit。ThecookoftheestablishmentfedthethreeEnglishboardersforahundredfrancsamonthinclusive。InGersauitwasgenerallybelieved，however，thatthegardenerandhiswife，inspiteoftheirpretensions，usedthecook"snameasascreentonetthelittleprofitsofthisbargain。TheBergmannshadmadebeautifulgardensroundtheirhouse，andhadbuiltahothouse。Theflowers，thefruit，andthebotanicalraritiesofthisspotwerewhathadinducedtheyoungladytosettleonitasshepassedthroughGersau。MissFannywassaidtobenineteenyearsold；shewastheoldman"syoungestchild，andtheobjectofhisadulation。AbouttwomonthsagoshehadhiredapianofromLucerne，forsheseemedtobecrazyaboutmusic。

"Shelovesflowersandmusic，andsheisunmarried!"thoughtRodolphe；

"whatgoodluck!"

ThenextdayRodolphewenttoaskleavetovisitthehothousesandgardens，whichwerebeginningtobesomewhatfamous。Thepermissionwasnotimmediatelygranted。Theretiredgardenersasked，strangelyenough，toseeRodolphe"spassport；itwassenttothematonce。Thepaperwasnotreturnedtohimtillnextmorning，bythehandsofthecook，whoexpressedhermaster"spleasureinshowinghimtheirplace。

RodolphewenttotheBergmanns"，notwithoutacertaintrepidation，knownonlytopersonsofstrongfeelings，whogothroughasmuchpassioninamomentassomemenexperienceinawholelifetime。

AfterdressinghimselfcarefullytogratifytheoldgardenersoftheBorromeanIslands，whomheregardedasthewardersofhistreasure，hewentalloverthegrounds，lookingatthehousenowandagain，butwithmuchcaution；theoldcoupletreatedhimwithevidentdistrust。

ButhisattentionwassoonattractedbythelittleEnglishdeaf-mute，inwhomhisdiscernment，thoughyoungasyet，enabledhimtorecognizeagirlofAfrican，oratleastofSicilian，origin。Thechildhadthegolden-browncolorofaHavanacigar，eyesoffire，Armenianeyelidswithlashesofveryun-Britishlength，hairblackerthanblack；andunderthisalmostoliveskin，sinewsofextraordinarystrengthandfeverishalertness。ShelookedatRodolphewithamazingcuriosityandeffrontery，watchinghiseverymovement。

"TowhomdoesthatlittleMorescobelong？"heaskedworthyMadameBergmann。

"TotheEnglish，"MonsieurBergmannreplied。

"ButsheneverwasborninEngland!"

"TheymayhavebroughtherfromtheIndies，"saidMadameBergmann。

"IhavebeentoldthatMissLovelaceisfondofmusic。Ishouldbedelightedif，duringmyresidencebythelaketowhichIamcondemnedbymydoctor"sorders，shewouldallowmetojoinher。"

"Theyreceivenoone，andwillnotseeanybody，"saidtheoldgardener。

Rodolphebithislipsandwentaway，withouthavingbeeninvitedintothehouse，ortakenintothepartofthegardenthatlaybetweenthefrontofthehouseandtheshoreofthelittlepromontory。Onthatsidethehousehadabalconyabovethefirstfloor，madeofwood，andcoveredbytheroof，whichprojecteddeeplyliketheroofofachaletonallfoursidesofthebuilding，intheSwissfashion。Rodolphehadloudlypraisedtheeleganceofthisarrangement，andtalkedoftheviewfromthatbalcony，butallinvain。WhenhehadtakenleaveoftheBergmannsitstruckhimthathewasasimpleton，likeanymanofspiritandimaginationdisappointedoftheresultsofaplanwhichhehadbelievedwouldsucceed。

Intheeveninghe，ofcourse，wentoutinaboatonthelake，roundandaboutthespitofland，toBrunnenandtoSchwytz，andcameinatnightfall。Fromafarhesawthewindowopenandbrightlylighted；heheardthesoundofapianoandthetonesofanexquisitevoice。Hemadetheboatmanstop，andgavehimselfuptothepleasureoflisteningtoanItalianairdelightfullysung。Whenthesingingceased，Rodolphelandedandsentawaytheboatandrowers。Atthecostofwettinghisfeet，hewenttositdownunderthewater-worngraniteshelfcrownedbyathickhedgeofthornyacacia，bythesideofwhichranalonglimeavenueintheBergmanns"garden。Bytheendofanhourheheardstepsandvoicesjustabovehim，butthewordsthatreachedhisearswereallItalian，andspokenbytwowomen。

Hetookadvantageofthemomentwhenthetwospeakerswereatoneendofthewalktoslipnoiselesslytotheother。Afterhalfanhourofstrugglinghegottotheendoftheavenue，andtheretookupapositionwhence，withoutbeingseenorheard，hecouldwatchthetwowomenwithoutbeingobservedbythemastheycametowardshim。WhatwasRodolphe"samazementonrecognizingthedeaf-muteasoneofthem；

shewastalkingtoMissLovelaceinItalian。

Itwasnoweleveno"clockatnight。Thestillnesswassoperfectonthelakeandaroundthedwelling，thatthetwowomenmusthavethoughtthemselvessafe；inallGersautherecouldbenoeyesopenbuttheirs。

Rodolphesupposedthatthegirl"sdumbnessmustbeanecessarydeception。FromthewayinwhichtheybothspokeItalian，Rodolphesuspectedthatitwasthemothertongueofbothgirls，andconcludedthatthenameofEnglishalsohidsomedisguise。

"TheyareItalianrefugees，"saidhetohimself，"outlawsinfearoftheAustrianorSardinianpolice。Theyoungladywaitstillitisdarktowalkandtalkinsecurity。"

Helaydownbythesideofthehedge，andcrawledlikeasnaketofindawaybetweentwoacaciashrubs。Attheriskofleavinghiscoatbehindhim，ortearingdeepscratchesinhisback，hegotthroughthehedgewhentheso-calledMissFannyandherpretendeddeaf-and-dumbmaidwereattheotherendofthepath；then，whentheyhadcomewithintwentyyardsofhimwithoutseeinghim，forhewasintheshadowofthehedge，andthemoonwasshiningbrightly，hesuddenlyrose。

"Fearnothing，"saidheinFrenchtotheItaliangirl，"Iamnotaspy。Youarerefugees，Ihaveguessedthat。IamaFrenchmanwhomonelookfromyouhasfixedatGersau。"

Rodolphe，startledbytheacutepaincausedbysomesteelinstrumentpiercinghisside，felllikealog。

"/Nellagoconpietra/!"saidtheterribledumbgirl。

"Oh，Gina!"exclaimedtheItalian。

"Shehasmissedme，"saidRodolphe，pullingfromhiswoundastiletto，whichhadbeenturnedbyoneofthefalseribs。"Butalittlehigherupitwouldhavebeendeepinmyheart——Iwaswrong，Francesca，"hewenton，rememberingthenamehehadheardlittleGinarepeatseveraltimes；"Iowehernogrudge，donotscoldher。Thehappinessofspeakingtoyouiswellworththeprickofastiletto。Onlyshowmethewayout；ImustgetbacktotheStopfer"shouse。Beeasy；Ishalltellnothing。"

Francesca，recoveringfromherastonishment，helpedRodolphetorise，andsaidafewwordstoGina，whoseeyesfilledwithtears。Thetwogirlsmadehimsitdownonabenchandtakeoffhiscoat，hiswaistcoatandcravat。ThenGinaopenedhisshirtandsuckedthewoundstrongly。Francesca，whohadleftthem，returnedwithalargepieceofsticking-plaster，whichsheappliedtothewound。

"Youcannowwalkasfarasyourhouse，"shesaid。

Eachtookanarm，andRodolphewasconductedtoasidegate，ofwhichthekeywasinFrancesca"sapronpocket。

"DoesGinaspeakFrench？"saidRodolphetoFrancesca。

"No。Butdonotexciteyourself，"repliedFrancescawithsomeimpatience。

"Letmelookatyou，"saidRodolphepathetically，"foritmaybelongbeforeIamabletocomeagain——"

Heleanedagainstoneofthegate-postscontemplatingthebeautifulItalian，whoallowedhimtogazeatherforamomentunderthesweetestsilenceandthesweetestnightwhichever，perhaps，shoneonthislake，thekingofSwisslakes。

FrancescawasquiteoftheItaliantype，andsuchasimaginationsupposesorpictures，or，ifyouwill，dreams，thatItalianwomenare。

WhatfirststruckRodolphewasthegraceandeleganceofafigureevidentlypowerful，thoughsoslenderastoappearfragile。Anamberpalenessoverspreadherface，betrayingsuddeninterest，butitdidnotdimthevoluptuousglanceofherliquideyesofvelvetyblackness。

ApairofhandsasbeautifulaseveraGreeksculptoraddedtothepolishedarmsofastatuegraspedRodolphe"sarm，andtheirwhitenessgleamedagainsthisblackcoat。TherashFrenchmancouldbutjustdiscernthelong，ovalshapeofherface，andamelancholymouthshowingbrilliantteethbetweenthepartedlips，full，fresh，andbrightlyred。TheexquisitelinesofthisfaceguaranteedtoFrancescapermanentbeauty；butwhatmoststruckRodolphewastheadorablefreedom，theItalianfranknessofthiswoman，whollyabsorbedasshewasinherpityforhim。

FrancescasaidawordtoGina，whogaveRodolpheherarmasfarastheStopfers"door，andfledlikeaswallowassoonasshehadrung。

"Thesepatriotsdonotplayatkilling!"saidRodolphetohimselfashefelthissufferingswhenhefoundhimselfinhisbed。""/Nellago!"Ginawouldhavepitchedmeintothelakewithastonetiedtomyneck。"

NextdayhesenttoLucerneforthebestsurgeonthere，andwhenhecame，enjoinedonhimabsolutesecrecy，givinghimtounderstandthathishonordependedonit。

Leopoldreturnedfromhisexcursiononthedaywhenhisfriendfirstgotoutofbed。Rodolphemadeupastory，andbeggedhimtogotoLucernetofetchtheirluggageandletters。Leopoldbroughtbackthemostfatal，themostdreadfulnews:Rodolphe"smotherwasdead。WhilethetwofriendswereontheirwayfromBaletoLucerne，thefatalletter，writtenbyLeopold"sfather，hadreachedLucernethedaytheyleftforFluelen。

InspiteofLeopold"sutmostprecautions，Rodolphefellillofanervousfever。AssoonasLeopoldsawhisfriendoutofdanger，hesetoutforFrancewithapowerofattorney，andRodolphecouldthusremainatGersau，theonlyplaceintheworldwherehisgriefcouldgrowcalmer。TheyoungFrenchman"sposition，hisdespair，thecircumstanceswhichmadesuchalossworseforhimthanforanyotherman，wereknown，andsecuredhimthepityandinterestofeveryoneinGersau。Everymorningthepretendeddumbgirlcametoseehimandbringhimnewsofhermistress。

AssoonasRodolphecouldgoouthewenttotheBergmanns"house，tothankMissFannyLovelaceandherfatherfortheinteresttheyhadtakeninhissorrowandhisillness。ForthefirsttimesincehehadlodgedwiththeBergmannstheoldItalianadmittedastrangertohisroom，whereRodolphewasreceivedwiththecordialityduetohismisfortunesandtohisbeingaFrenchman，whichexcludedalldistrustofhim。Francescalookedsolovelybycandle-lightthatfirsteveningthatsheshedarayofbrightnessonhisgrievingheart。Hersmilesflungtherosesofhopeonhiswoe。Shesang，notindeedgaysongs，butgraveandsolemnmelodiessuitedtothestateofRodolphe"sheart，andheobservedthistouchingcare。

Atabouteighto"clocktheoldmanlefttheyoungpeoplewithoutanysignofuneasiness，andwenttohisroom。WhenFrancescawastiredofsinging，sheledRodolpheontothebalcony，whencetheyperceivedthesublimesceneryofthelake，andsignedtohimtobeseatedbyheronarusticwoodenbench。

"AmIveryindiscreetinaskinghowoldyouare，caraFrancesca？"saidRodolphe。

"Nineteen，"saidshe，"wellpast。"

"Ifanythingintheworldcouldsoothemysorrow，"hewenton，"itwouldbethehopeofwinningyoufromyourfather，whateveryourfortunemaybe。Sobeautifulasyouare，youseemtobericherthanaprince"sdaughter。AndItrembleasIconfesstoyouthefeelingswithwhichyouhaveinspiredme；buttheyaredeep——theyareeternal。"

"/Zitto/!"saidFrancesca，layingafingerofherrighthandonherlips。"Saynomore；Iamnotfree。Ihavebeenmarriedthesethreeyears。"

Forafewminutesuttersilencereigned。WhentheItaliangirl，alarmedatRodolphe"sstillness，wentclosetohim，shefoundthathehadfainted。

"/Povero/!"shesaidtoherself。"AndIthoughthimcold。"

Shefetchedhimsomesalts，andrevivedRodolphebymakinghimsmellatthem。

"Married!"saidRodolphe，lookingatFrancesca。Andthenhistearsflowedfreely。

"Child!"saidshe。"Butthereisstillhope。Myhusbandis——"

"Eighty？"Rodolpheputin。

"No，"saidshewithasmile，"butsixty-five。Hehasdisguisedhimselfasmucholdertomisleadthepolice。"

"Dearest，"saidRodolphe，"afewmoreshocksofthiskindandIshalldie。Onlywhenyouhaveknownmetwentyyearswillyouunderstandthestrengthandpowerofmyheart，andthenatureofitsaspirationsforhappiness。Thisplant，"hewenton，pointingtotheyellowjasminewhichcoveredthebalustrade，"doesnotclimbmoreeagerlytospreaditselfinthesunbeamsthanIhaveclungtoyouforthismonthpast。I

loveyouwithuniquepassion。Thatlovewillbethesecretfountofmylife——Imaypossiblydieofit。"

"Oh!Frenchman，Frenchman!"saidshe，emphasizingherexclamationwithalittleincredulousgrimace。

"ShallInotbeforcedtowait，toacceptyouatthehandsoftime？"

saidhegravely。"Butknowthis:ifyouareinearnestinwhatyouhaveallowedtoescapeyou，Iwillwaitforyoufaithfully，withoutsufferinganyotherattachmenttogrowupinmyheart。"

Shelookedathimdoubtfully。

"None，"saidhe，"notevenapassingfancy。Ihavemyfortunetomake；

youmusthaveasplendidone，naturecreatedyouaprincess——"

AtthiswordFrancescacouldnotrepressafaintsmile，whichgaveherfacethemostbewilderingexpression，somethingsubtle，likewhatthegreatLeonardohassowelldepictedinthe/Gioconda/。ThissmilemadeRodolphepause。"Ahyes!"hewenton，"youmustsuffermuchfromthedestitutiontowhichexilehasbroughtyou。Oh，ifyouwouldmakemehappyaboveallmen，andconsecratemylove，youwouldtreatmeasafriend。OughtInottobeyourfriend？——Mypoormotherhasleftsixtythousandfrancsofsavings；takehalf。"

Francescalookedsteadilyathim。ThispiercinggazewenttothebottomofRodolphe"ssoul。

"Wewantnothing；myworkamplysuppliesourluxuries，"sherepliedinagravevoice。

"AndcanIendurethataFrancescashouldwork？"criedhe。"Onedayyouwillreturntoyourcountryandfindallyouleftthere。"AgaintheItaliangirllookedatRodolphe。"Andyouwillthenrepaymewhatyoumayhavecondescendedtoborrow，"headded，withanexpressionfullofdelicatefeeling。