第88章

Othermuleshadarrivednotlongbefore，somewithpeasantridersandsomewithgoods，andhadtroddenthesnowaboutthedoorintoapoolofmud。Riding-saddlesandbridles，pack-saddlesandstringsofbells，mulesandmen，lanterns，torches，sacks，provender，barrels，cheeses，kegsofhoneyandbutter，strawbundlesandpackagesofmanyshapes，werecrowdedconfusedlytogetherinthisthawedquagmireandaboutthesteps。Uphereintheclouds，everythingwasseenthroughcloud，andseemeddissolvingintocloud。Thebreathofthemenwascloud，thebreathofthemuleswascloud，thelightswereencircledbycloud，speakerscloseathandwerenotseenforcloud，thoughtheirvoicesandallothersoundsweresurprisinglyclear。Ofthecloudylineofmuleshastilytiedtoringsinthewall，onewouldbiteanother，orkickanother，andthenthewholemistwouldbedisturbed：withmendivingintoit，andcriesofmenandbeastscomingoutofit，andnobystanderdiscerningwhatwaswrong。Inthemidstofthis，thegreatstableoftheconvent，occupyingthebasementstoryandenteredbythebasementdoor，outsidewhichallthedisorderwas，pouredforthitscontributionofcloud，asifthewholeruggededificewerefilledwithnothingelse，andwouldcollapseassoonasithademptieditself，leavingthesnowtofalluponthebaremountainsummit。

Whileallthisnoiseandhurrywererifeamongthelivingtravellers，there，too，silentlyassembledinagratedhousehalf-

a-dozenpacesremoved，withthesamecloudenfoldingthemandthesamesnowflakesdriftinginuponthem，werethedeadtravellersfounduponthemountain。Themother，storm-belatedmanywintersago，stillstandinginthecornerwithherbabyatherbreast；themanwhohadfrozenwithhisarmraisedtohismouthinfearorhunger，stillpressingitwithhisdrylipsafteryearsandyears。

Anawfulcompany，mysteriouslycometogether!Awilddestinyforthatmothertohaveforeseen!’SurroundedbysomanyandsuchcompanionsuponwhomIneverlooked，andnevershalllook，Iandmychildwilldwelltogetherinseparable，ontheGreatSaintBernard，outlastinggenerationswhowillcometoseeus，andwillneverknowourname，oronewordofourstorybuttheend。’

Thelivingtravellersthoughtlittleornothingofthedeadjustthen。Theythoughtmuchmoreofalightingattheconventdoor，andwarmingthemselvesattheconventfire。Disengagedfromtheturmoil，whichwasalreadycalmingdownasthecrowdofmulesbegantobebestowedinthestable，theyhurriedshiveringupthestepsandintothebuilding。Therewasasmellwithin，comingupfromthefloor，oftetheredbeasts，likethesmellofamenagerieofwildanimals。Therewerestrongarchedgallerieswithin，hugestonepiers，greatstaircases，andthickwallspiercedwithsmallsunkenwindows——fortificationsagainstthemountainstorms，asiftheyhadbeenhumanenemies。Thereweregloomyvaultedsleeping-

roomswithin，intenselycold，butcleanandhospitablypreparedforguests。Finally，therewasaparlourforgueststositinandsupin，whereatablewasalreadylaid，andwhereablazingfireshoneredandhigh。

Inthisroom，afterhavinghadtheirquartersforthenightallottedtothembytwoyoungFathers，thetravellerspresentlydrewroundthehearth。Theywereinthreeparties；ofwhomthefirst，asthemostnumerousandimportant，wastheslowest，andhadbeenovertakenbyoneoftheothersonthewayup。Itconsistedofanelderlylady，twogrey-hairedgentlemen，twoyoungladies，andtheirbrother。Thesewereattended(nottomentionfourguides)，byacourier，twofootmen，andtwowaiting-maids：whichstrongbodyofinconveniencewasaccommodatedelsewhereunderthesameroof。

Thepartythathadovertakenthem，andfollowedintheirtrain，consistedofonlythreemembers：oneladyandtwogentlemen。Thethirdparty，whichhadascendedfromthevalleyontheItaliansideofthePass，andhadarrivedfirst，werefourinnumber：aplethoric，hungry，andsilentGermantutorinspectacles，onatourwiththreeyoungmen，hispupils，allplethoric，hungry，andsilent，andalli