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Text A Desirees Baby（第1页）

TextADesiree’sBaby

Kate

[1]Asthedayleasant，MadameValmooL’AbritoseeDesireeandthebaby。

[2]Itmadeherlaughtothihababy。Why，itseemedbutyesterdaythatDesireewaslittlemorethanababyherself;whenMonsieurinridingthroughthegatewayofValmondehadfasleepintheshadowofthebigstonepillar。

[3]Thelittleoneawokeinhisarmsaocryfor“Dada”。Thatwasasmuchasshecoulddoorsay。Somepeoplethoughtshemighthavestrayedthereofherownaccord，forshewasofthetoddliheprevailihatshehadbeebyapartyofTexans，whosevascoheday，hadcrossedtheferrythataiskept，justbelowtheplantation。IntimeMadameValmondeabandonedeveryspebuttheoDesireehadbeeoherbyabeProvidehechildofheraffe，seeingthatshewaswithoutchildoftheflesh。FrewtobebeautifulaionateaheidolofValmonde。

[4]ItheoodonedayagaionepillarinwhoseshadowshehadlaieehatArmandAubignyridingbyahere，hadfallehher。ThatwasthewayalltheAubignysfellinlove，asifstruckbyapistolshot。Thewohathehadnotlovedherbefore;forhehadknownhersiherbroughthimhomefromParis，aboyofeight，afterhismotherdiedthere。Thepassionthatawokeinhimthatday，whenhesawheratthegate，sweptalonglikeanavalanche，orlikeaprairiefire，orlikeanythingthatdrivesheadlongoverallobstacles。

[5]MonsieurValmoidwahingswellsidered:thatis，thegirl’sin。Armaohereyesanddidnotcare。HewasremishewasdiditmatteraboutanamewhenhecouldgiveheroainLouisiana?HeorderedthecorbeillefromParis，andedhimselfatiencehetilitarrived;thenthey>

[6]MadameValmoseehebabyforfourweeks。WhenshereachedL’Abrisheshudderedatthefirstsightofit，asshealwaysdid。Itwasasadlookingplace，whianyyearshadnotklepresenistress，oldMnyhavingmarriedandburiedhiswifeinFrandshehavinglovedherownlaoleaveit。Theroofsteepandblacklikeacoutbeyondthewidegalleriesthateheyellowstuccoedhouse。Big，solemoit，ahick-leaved，far-reachesshadoweditlikeapall。YoungAubigrie，too，ahisnegroeshadfottenhowtobegay，astheyhadbeendurier’seasy-goingaime。

[7]Theyoungmotherwasregslowly，andlayfulllength，iwhitemuslinsandlaacouch。Thebabywasbesideher，uponherarm，wherehehadfalleherbreast。Theyellownursewomansatbesideawindowfanningherself。

[8]MadameValmoherpureoverDesireeandkissedher，holdianttenderlyiheothechild。

[9]“Thisisnotthebaby!”sheexclaimed，iohelanguagespokenatValmohosedays。

[10]“Iknewyouwouldbeastonished，”laughedDesiree，“atthewayhehasgrowledelait!Lookathislegs，mamma，andhishandsandfingernails，—realfinger-nails。Zaocutthemthism。Isn’tittrue，Zandrine?”

[11]Thewomaurbaically，“Maissi，Madame。”

[12]“Andthewayhecries，”wentonDesiree，“isdeafening。ArmaheotherdayasfarawayasLaBlanche’s。”

[13]MadameValmondehadneverremovedhereyesfromthechild。Shelifteditaovertotheaslightest。Shesedthebabynarrowly，thenlookedassearglyatZandrine，whosefacewasturogazeacrossthefields。

[14]“Yes，thechildhasgrown，hasged，”saidMadameValmonde，slolaceditbesideitsmother。“WhatdoesArmandsay?”

[15]Desiree’sfacebecamesuffusedwithagloiself。

[16]“Oh，Armafatherintheparish，Ibelieve，chieflybecauseitisaboy，tobearhishoughhesaysnot，—thathewouldhavelovedagirlaswell。ButIknowitisn’ttrue。Ikhattopleaseme。Andmamma，”sheadded，drawingMadameValmooher，andspeakinginawhisper，“hehasn’tpuhem—hem—sincebabyisborn。EvenNegrilloohaveburhemightrestfromwork—heonlylaughed，andsaidNegrillon。Oh，mamma，I’msohappy;itfrightensme。”

[17]WhatDesireesaidwastrue。Marriage，ahebirthofhissonhadsoftenedArmandAubigny’simperiousaily。ThiswaswhatmadethegentleDesireesohappy，forshelovedhimdesperately。Whenhefrowrembled，butlovedhim。Whenhesmiled，sheaskederblessingofGod。ButArmand’sdark，handsomefaotoftenbeendisfiguredbyfrowhedayhefellihher。

[18]Whenthebabywasaboutthreemonthsold，Desireeawokeohethattherewassomethingintheairmenagherpeace。Itwasatfirsttoosubtletograsp。Ithadonlybeenadisquietiion;anairtheblaexpectedvisitsfrhborswhocouldhardlyatf。Thenastrange，anawfulherhusband’smanner，whichshedarednotaskhimtoexplaioher，itwaswithavertedeyes，fromwhichtheoldlove-lightseemedtohavegoedhimselffromhome;ahere，avoidedherpreseofherchild，withoutexdtheveryspiritofSatanseemedsuddenlytotakeholdofhiminhisdealingswiththeslaves。Desireewasmiserableenoughtodie。

[19]Shesatinherroom，oernonoir，listlesslydrawingthrersthestrands，silkybrownhairthathungabouthershoulders。Thebaby，halfnaked，layasleepupreatmahogatuousthrossatin-linedhalf-eofLaBlalequadroonboys—halfoodfanningthechildsloeacockfeathers。Desiree’seyeshadbeelyandsadlyuponthebaby，whileshewasstrivihethreateningmistthatshefeltgabouther。Shelookedfromherchildtotheboywhostoodbesidehim，andba;overandover。“Ah!”Itwasacrythatsheothelp;whichshewasnotsciousofhavihebloodturnedlikeiherveins，andaclammymathereduponherface。

[20]Shetriedtospeaktothelittlequadroonboy;butnosoundwoulde，atfirst。Whenheheardhisered，helookedup，andhismistressointingtothedoor。Helaidasidethegreat，softfalystoleaway，overthepolishedfloor，ooes。

[21]Shestayedmotiohgazeriveteduponherdherfacethepictureht。

[22]Presentlyherhusbaheroom，andwithoutnotigher，wenttoatableasomepaperswhichcoveredit。

[23]“Armaohim，inavoicewhichmusthavestabbedhim，ifhewashumanotid，”shesaidagain。Theeredtowardshim。“Armaedoghisarm，“lookatourchild。Whatdoesitmean?tellme。”

[24]Hecoldlybutgentlyloersfromabouthisarmandthrustthehandawayfromhim。“Tellmewhatitmeans!”shecrieddespairingly。