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H e must, however, let himself be seen at Verrieres.As he left the church, the first person he met was, by a happy chance, Mr. Valenod, whom he hastened to inform of the increase in his salary.
On his return to Vergy, Julien did not go down to the garden until night had set in. When he did go, Julien was ready to listen with interest to the thoughts of the fair cousins. They awaited his coming with impatience. He took his accustomed seat by Madame de Renal's side. The darkness soon became intense. He attempted to clasp a white hand which for some time he had seen close beside him, resting on the back of a chair.There was some hesitation shown, but finally the hand was withdrawn from him in a manner which showed displeasure.Julien was prepared to regard this as final, and to continue the conversation in a light tone, when he heard Mr. de Renal approach.
The rude words of the morning still rang in Julien's ears.“Would it not,” he said to himself, “be a good way of getting even with this creature to take possession of his wife's hand under his very eyes? Yes, I will do it.”
Mr. de Renal talked politics in an angry tone: two or three manufacturers at Verrieres were becoming decidedly richer than himself, and wished to oppose him at the elections. Julien, irritated by this talk, moved his chair nearer to Madame de Renal's. The darkness hid every movement. He ventured to place his hand close to the pretty arm which her gown left bare.Troubled, no longer conscious of what he was doing, he moved his cheek in the direction of this pretty arm, and made bold to press his lips to it.
Madame de Renal shuddered . Her husband was a few feet away, she hastened to give Julien her hand, at the same time thrusting him slightly from her. Julien covered the hand which had been left in his with passionate kisses, or so at least they seemed to Madame de Renal.
That evening was delightful for them all, except for the Mayor of Verrieres, who could not forget the growing wealth of his competitors. Julien no longer thought of his dark ambition,nor of his plans that would be so difficult of execution.
On returning to his room, however, he thought of one happiness only, that of going on with his favourite book; at twenty, the thought of the world and of the impression one is going to make on it prevails over everything else.
Presently, however, he put down the book, thinking. “Yes,I have won a battle,” he told himself, “but I must follow it up, I must crush the arrogance of this proud gentleman while he is still retreating. I must ask him for three days holiday, to go and see my friend Fouque. If he refuses, I again offer to break the agreement; but he will give way.”
Madame de Renal, meanwhile, could not close an eye. She felt that she had never lived until that moment. She could not tear her mind from the happiness of feeling Julien cover her hand with burning kisses.
Suddenly the horrid word “cheat” occurred to her. All the most disgusting implications that can be imparted to the idea of sensual love came crowding into her imagination. The future portrayed itself in terrible colours. She saw herself an object of scorn. She had no conception of such sufferings; they began to affect her reason. The thought occurred to her for a moment of confessing to her husband that she was afraid of falling in love with Julien.
Next morning, at five o'clock, before Madame de Renal was visible, Julien had obtained from her husband three days leave of absence. Contrary to his expectation, Julien found himself longing to see her again, and could think of nothing but that shapely hand. He went down to the garden; Madame de Renal was long in coming. At length, she decided to show herself in the garden. Julien was astonished by the icy coldness that was shown him.
The smile of pleasure faded from his lips; he remembered the rank that he occupied in society, especially in the eyes of a noble and wealthy heiress. He felt a violent disgust at having been so foolish as to postpone his departure by more than an hour, only to receive so humiliating a greeting.
Julien, whose judgment was not disturbed by any passion,soon found a way of letting Madame de Renal see how little he regarded himself as being on terms of friendship with her;he said nothing to her of the little expedition on which he was starting, bowed to her, and set off.
As she watched him go, her eldest son, came running up from the other end of the garden, saying, “We have a holiday,Mr. Julien is going on a journey.”
At these words, Madame de Renal felt herself frozen by a deadly chill; she was unhappy in her virtue, and more unhappy still in her weakness. This latest development now occupied the whole of her imagination. It was a question no longer of resisting this charming lover, but of losing him forever.
decidedly /dɪˈsaɪdɪdlɪ/ adv. 显然；断然地
irritate /ˈɪrɪteɪt/ vt. 激怒，使急躁
shudder /ˈʃʌdə/ vi. 战栗，发抖
passionate /ˈpæʃənət/ adj. 充满热情的
delightful /dɪˈlaɪtfʊl/ adj. 令人高兴的，使人愉快的
arrogance /ˈærəɡəns/ n. 傲慢态度，自大
horrid /ˈhɒrɪd/ adj. 恐怖的，令人讨厌的，可怕的
impart /ɪmˈpɑ:t/ vt. 给予；传授；告知；透露
sensual /ˈsenʃʊəl/ adj. 肉欲的；色情的；世俗的；感觉的
conception /kənˈsepʃən/ n. 概念
shapely /ˈʃeɪplɪ/ adj. 样子好看的，匀称的
humiliating /ˈhju:mɪlɪeɪtɪŋ/ adj. 羞辱性的