下载辰思小说免费APP
Ah!dear，Ididnotknowwhatlovecouldbe，unitedtoyouth，talent，andbeauty。Gastonhasnoaffectations，hemoveswithaninstinctiveandunstudiedgrace。Whenwewalkalonetogetherinthewoods，hisarmroundmywaist，minerestingonhisshoulder，bodyfittingtobody，andheadtouchinghead，ourstepissoeven，uniform，andgentle，thatthosewhoseeuspassbynighttakethevisionforasinglefigureglidingoverthegraveledwalks，likeoneofHomer’simmortals。Alikeharmonyexistsinourdesires，ourthoughts，ourwords。Morethanonceonsomeeveningwhenapassingshowerhaslefttheleavesglisteningandthemoistgrassbrightwithamorevividgreen，ithaschancedthatweendedourwalkwithoututteringaword，aswelistenedtothepatteroffallingdropsandfeastedoureyesonthescarletsunset，flaringonthehilltopsordyeingwithawarmertonethegrayofthetreetrunks。
BeyondadoubtourthoughtsthenrosetoHeaveninsilentprayer，pleadingasitwere，forourhappiness。Attimesacrywouldescapeusatthemomentwhensomesuddenbendonthepathopenedupfreshbeauties。Whatwordscantellhowhoney-sweet，howfullofmeaning，isakisshalf-timidlyexchangedwithinthesanctuaryofnature——itisasthoughGodhadcreatedustoworshipinthisfashion。
Andwereturnhome，eachmoredeeplyinlovethanever。
AlovesopassionatebetweenoldmarriedpeoplewouldbeanoutrageonsocietyinParis；onlyintheheartofthewoods，likelovers，canwegivescopetoit。
Tocometoparticulars，Gastonisofmiddleheight——theheightpropertoallmenofpurpose。Neitherstoutnorthin，hisfigureisadmirablymade，withamplefulnessintheproportions，whileeverymotionisagile；heleapsaditchwiththeeasygraceofawildanimal。Whateverhisattitude，heseemstohaveaninstinctivesenseofbalance，andthisisveryrareinmenwhoaregiventothought。Thoughadarkman，hehasanextraordinarilyfaircomplexion；hisjet-blackhaircontrastsfinelywiththelustrelesstintsoftheneckandforehead。
HehasthetragicheadofLouisXIII。Hismoustacheandtufthavebeenallowedtogrow，butImadehimshavethewhiskersandbeard，whichweregettingtoocommon。Anhonorablepovertyhasbeenhissafeguard，andhandedhimovertome，unsoiledbythelooselifewhichruinssomanyyoungmen。Histeetharemagnificent，andhehasaconstitutionofiron。Hiskeenblueeyes，formefulloftenderness，willflashlikelightningatanyrousingthought。
Likeallmenofstrongcharacterandpowerfulmind，hehasanadmirabletemper；itsevennesswouldsurpriseyou，asitdidme。I
havelistenedtothetaleofmanyawoman’shometroubles；Ihaveheardofthemoodsanddepressionofmendissatisfiedwiththemselves，whoeitherwon’tgetoldorageungracefully，menwhocarryaboutthroughlifetheranklingmemoryofsomeyouthfulexcess，whoseveinsrunpoisonandwhoseeyesareneverfranklyhappy，menwhocloaksuspicionunderbadtemper，andmaketheirwomenpayforanhour’speacebyamorningofannoyance，whotakevengeanceonusforabeautywhichishatefultothembecausetheyhaveceasedthemselvestobeattractive，——allthesearehorrorsunknowntoyouth。Theyarethepenaltyofunequalunions。Oh!mydear，whateveryoudo，don’tmarryAthenaistoanoldman!
Buthissmile——howIfeastonit!Asmilewhichisalwaysthere，yetalwaysfreshthroughtheplayofsubtlefancy，aspeakingsmilewhichmakesofthelipsastorehouseforthoughtsofloveandunspokengratitude，asmilewhichlinkspresentjoystopast。Fornothingisallowedtodropoutofourcommonlife。Thesmallestworksofnaturehavebecomepartandparcelofourjoy。Inthesedelightfulwoodseverythingisaliveandeloquentofourselves。Anoldmoss-grownoak，nearthewoodsman’shouseontheroadside，remindsushowwesatthere，wearied，underitsshade，whileGastontaughtmeaboutthemossesatourfeetandtoldmetheirstory，till，graduallyascendingfromsciencetoscience，wetouchedtheveryconfinesofcreation。
Thereissomethingsokindredinourmindsthattheyseemtomeliketwoeditionsofthesamebook。YouseewhataliterarytendencyIhavedeveloped!Webothhavethehabit，orthegift，oflookingateverysubjectbroadly，oftakinginallitspointsofview，andtheproofweareconstantlygivingourselvesofthesinglenessofourinwardvisionisanever-newpleasure。Wehaveactuallycometolookonthiscommunityofmindasapledgeoflove；andifiteverfailedus，itwouldmeanasmuchtousaswouldabreachoffidelityi
后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节
