奇书网

第3章 The Necklace（第1页）

第3章TheNecklace

GuydeMaupassant

Shewasohoseprettyandggirlsborn，asthoughfatehadbluoafamilyofartisans。Shehadneportioions，nomeaingkood，loved，andweddedbyamahanddistindsheletherselfbemarriedofftoalittletheMinistryofEdu。

&esweresimplebecauseshehadoaffordasheyasthoughshehadmarriedbehher;forwomeeorclass，theirbeauty，gradcharmservingthemforbirthorfamily。Theirheirinstiheir，aretheironlymarkofrank，andputtheslumgirlohehighestladyintheland。

Shesufferedendlessly，feelingherselfbornforeverydelidluxury。Shesufferedfromthepoornessofherhouse，fromitsmeanwalls，wlys。Allthesethings，ofwhienofherclasswouldnoteveormentedahesightofthelittleBretongirlwhocametodotheworkilehousearousedheart-brretsandhopelessdreamsinhermind。Sheimagiechambers，heavywithorieries，litbytorloftybrowofallfootmeninknee-breechessleepinginlargearm-ebytheheavywarmthofthestove。Sheimagisaloonshungwithantiquesilks，exquisitepiecesoffuringprients，andsmall，g，perfumedrooms，createdjustforlittlepartiesofintimatefriends，menwhowerefamousandsoughtafter，whosehomagerousedeveryotheros;senviouslongings。

&downfordiheroundtablecoveredwithathree-day-oldcloth，oppositeherhusband，whotookthecoveroffthesoup-tureen，exgdelightedly，"Aha!Scotchbroth!Whatcouldbebetter?"sheimagiemeals，gleamiriespeoplingthewallswithfolkofapastageandstrangebirdsis;sheimagiefoodservedinmarvellousdishes，murmuredgallaehaninscrutablesmileasoherosyfleshoftrsus。

Shehadnoojewels，nothiheonlythingssheloved;shefeltthatshewasmadeforthem。Shehadloocharm，tobedesired，tobewildlyattradsoughtafter。

Shehadarid，anoldschoolfriendwhomsherefusedtovisit，becauseshesufferedsokeeurnedhome。Sheholedays，withgrief，regret，despair，andmisery。

Oneeveningherhusbahaair，holdingalargeenvelopeinhishand。

"Here'ssomethingforyou。"hesaid。

Swiftlyshetorethepaperaaprintedwhichwerethesewords:

&erofEduadameRampohepleasureoftheonsieurandMadameLoiselattheMinistryontheeveningofMonday，Jah。

Insteadofbeied，asherhusbandhoped，shefluiolyacrossthetable，murmuring:

"Whatdoyouwaodowiththis?"

&qu，Ithoughtyou'dbepleased。Yoout，andthisisagreato。Ihadtremendoustroubletogetit。Everyoso'sveryseledveryfewgotothep;apos;llseeallthereallybigpeoplethere。"

Shelookedathimoutoffuriouseyes，andsaidimpatiently:"AndwhatdoyousupposeIamtowearatsuaffair?"

&thoughtaboutit;hestammered:

"Why，thedressyougotothetheatrein。Itlooksvery;

&opped，stupefiedaalosswhehiswifewasbeginningtocry。Twetearsranslowlydownfromtheersofhereyestowardstheouth。

"os;sthematterwithyou?os;sthematterwithyou?"hefaltered。

Butwithaviolesheovercamehergriefandrepliedinacalmvoigherwetcheeks:

"Nothing。OnlyIhaven'tadressandsoI'tgotiveyourinvitationtosomefriendofyoursillbeturhanIshall。"

Hewasheart-broken。

"Lookhere，Mathilde，"hepersisted。"Whatwouldbethecostofasuitabledress，whichyoucoulduseonotherosaswell，somethingverysimple?"

&forseveralseds，reguppridalsfeasumshecouldaskwithuponherselfaerefusalaionofhorrorfromthecareful-mindedclerk。

Atlastsherepliedwithsomehesitation:

"Idon'tkly，butIthinkIcoulddoitonfourhundredfrancs。"

Hegrewslightlypale，forthiswasexactlytheamounthehadbeensavingfuogetalittleshootisummerontheplaihsomefrielark-shootingthereonSundays。

&helesshesaid，"Veryos;llgiveyoufourhundredfrancs。Buttryaareallyhemo;

&hepartydrewnear，andMadameLoiselseemedsad，uneasyandanxious。Herdresswasready，however。Oneeveningherhusbandsaidtoher:

"os;sthematterwithyou?You'vebeenveryoddforthelastthreedays。"

"I'mutterlymiserableatnothaviasiowear，"shereplied。"Ishalllookabsolutelynoone。Iwouldalmototheparty。"

"Wearflowers，"hesaid。"They'reverysmartatthistimeoftheyear。Fortenfrancsyoucouldgettweousroses。"

&ced。

"No。。。there'snothingsohumiliatingaslookingpoorinthemiddleofalotofrien。"

"Howstupidyouare!"exclaimedherhusband，"GoandseeMadameForestieraolendyousomejewels。Youkewellenoughforthat。"

&eredacryofdelight。"That'strue。Iofit。"

&dayshewenttoseeherfriendarouble。