下载辰思小说免费APP
Suddenly，atthebottomofthebowlappearedalittlebrownspot，nobiggerthanatinyseed.However，itwasmoving.Itwasaflea！Firsttherewerecriesofastonishmentandthenshoutsoflaughter.Aflea！
Well，thatwasagoodjoke，amightygoodone！Caniveauwasslappinghisthigh，CesaireHorlavillesnappedhiswhip，thepriestlaughedlikeabrayingdonkey，theteachercackledasthoughheweresneezing，andthetwowomenweregivinglittlescreamsofjoy，likethecluckingofhens.
Belhommehadseatedhimselfonthetableandhadtakenthebowlbetweenhisknees;hewasobserving，withseriousattentionandavengefulangerinhiseye，theconqueredinsectwhichwastwistingroundinthewater.
Hegrunted，"Yourottenlittlebeast！"andhespatonit.
Thedriver，wildwithjoy，keptrepeating："Aflea，aflea，ah！thereyouare，damnedlittleflea，damnedlittleflea，damnedlittleflea！"Thenhavingcalmeddownalittle，hecried："Well，backtothecoach！We’velostenoughtime."
DISCOVERY
Thesteamerwascrowdedwithpeopleandthecrossingpromisedtobegood.
IwasgoingfromHavretoTrouville.
Theropeswerethrownoff，thewhistleblewforthelasttime，thewholeboatstartedtotremble，andthegreatwheelsbegantorevolve，slowlyatfirst，andthenwithever—increasingrapidity.
Wewereglidingalongthepier，blackwithpeople.Thoseonboardwerewavingtheirhandkerchiefs，asthoughtheywereleavingforAmerica，andtheirfriendsonshorewereansweringinthesamemanner.
ThebigJulysunwasshiningdownontheredparasols，thelightdresses，thejoyousfacesandontheocean，barelystirredbyaripple.Whenwewereoutoftheharbor，thelittlevesselswungroundthebigcurveandpointedhernosetowardthedistantshorewhichwasbarelyvisiblethroughtheearlymorningmist.OnourleftwasthebroadestuaryoftheSeine，hermuddywater，whichnevermingleswiththatoftheocean，makinglargeyellowstreaksclearlyoutlinedagainsttheimmensesheetofthepuregreensea.
AssoonasIamonaboatIfeeltheneedofwalkingtoandfro，likeasailoronwatch.Why？Idonotknow.ThereforeIbegantothreadmywayalongthedeckthroughthecrowdoftravellers.SuddenlyIheardmynamecalled.Iturnedaround.Ibeheldoneofmyoldfriends，HenriSidoine，whomIhadnotseenfortenyears.
Weshookhandsandcontinuedourwalktogether，talkingofonethingoranother.SuddenlySidoine，whohadbeenobservingthecrowdofpassengers，criedoutangrily：
"It’sdisgusting，theboatisfullofEnglishpeople！"
Itwasindeedfullofthem.Themenwerestandingabout，lookingovertheoceanwithanall—importantair，asthoughtosay："WearetheEnglish，thelordsofthesea！Hereweare！"
Theyounggirls，formless，withshoeswhichremindedoneofthenavalconstructionsoftheirfatherland，wrappedinmulti—coloredshawls，weresmilingvacantlyatthemagnificentscenery.Theirsmallheads，plantedatthetopoftheirlongbodies，woreEnglishhatsofthestrangestbuild.
Andtheoldmaids，thinneryet，openingtheircharacteristicjawstothewind，seemedtothreatenonewiththeirlong，yellowteeth.Onpassingthem，onecouldnoticethesmellofrubberandoftoothwash.
Sidoinerepeated，withgrowinganger：
"Disgusting！CanweneverstoptheircomingtoFrance？"
Iasked，smiling：
"Whathaveyougotagainstthem？AsfarasIamconcerned，theydon’tworryme."
Hesnappedout：
"Ofcoursetheydon’tworryyou！ButImarriedoneofthem."
Istoppedandlaughedathim.
"Goaheadandtellmeaboutit.Doesshemakeyouveryunhappy？"
Heshruggedhisshoulders.
"No，notexactly."
"Thenshe——isnottruetoyou？"
"Unfortunately，sheis.Thatwouldbecauseforadivorce，andIcouldgetridofher."
"ThenI’mafraidIdon’tunderstand！"
"Youdon’tunderstand？I’mnotsurprised.Well，shesimplylearnedhowtospeakFrench——that’sall！Listen.
"Ididn’thavetheleastdesireofgettingmarriedwhenIwenttospendthesummeratEtretattwoyearsago.Thereisnothingmoredangerousthanwatering—places.Youhavenoideahowitsuitsyounggirls.Parisistheplaceforwomenandthecountryforyounggirls.
"Donkeyrides，surf—bathing，breakfastonthegrass，allthesethingsaretrapssetforthemarriageableman.And，really，thereisnothingprettierthanachildabouteighteen，runningthroughafieldorpickingflowersalongtheroad.
"ImadetheacquaintanceofanEnglishfamilywhowerestoppingatthesamehotelwhereIwas.Thefatherlookedlikethosemenyouseeoverthere，andthemotherwaslikeallotherEnglishwomen.
"Theyhadtwosons，thekindofboyswhoplayroughgameswithballs，batsorracketsfrommorningtillnight;thencametwodaughters，theelderadry，shrivelled—upEnglishwoman，theyoungeradreamofbeauty，aheavenlyblonde.Whenthosechitsmakeuptheirmindstobepretty，theyaredivine.Thisonehadblueeyes，thekindofbluewhichseemstocontainallthepoetry，allthedreams，allthehopesandhappinessoftheworld！
"Whataninfinityofdreamsiscausedbytwosucheyes！Howwelltheyanswerthedim，eternalquestionofourheart！
"ItmustnotbeforgotteneitherthatweFrenchmenadoreforeignwomen.
AssoonaswemeetaRussian，anItalian，aSwede，aSpaniard，oranEnglishwomanwithaprettyface，weimmediatelyfallinlovewithher.
Weenthuseovereverythingwhichcomesfromoutside——clothes，hats，gloves，gunsand——women.Butwhatablunder！
"Ibelievethatthatwhichpleasesusinforeignwomenistheiraccent.
Assoonasawomanspeaksourlanguagebadlywethinksheischarming，ifsheusesthewrongwordsheisexquisiteandifshejabbersinanentirelyunintelligiblejargon，shebecomesirresistible.
"MylittleEnglishgirl，Kate，spokealanguagetobemarvelledat.
AtthebeginningIcouldunderstandnothing，sheinventedsomanynewwords;thenIfellabsolutelyinlovewiththisqueer，amusingdialect.
Allmaimed，strange，ridiculoustermsbecamedelightfulinhermouth.
Everyevening，ontheterraceoftheCasino，wehadlongconversationswhichresembledspokenenigmas.
"Imarriedher！Ilovedherwildly，asonecanonlyloveinadream.
Fortrueloversonlyloveadreamwhichhastakentheformofawoman.
"Well，mydearfellow，themostfoolishthingIeverdidwastogivemywifeaFrenchteacher.AslongassheslaughteredthedictionaryandtorturedthegrammarIadoredher.Ourconversationsweresimple.Theyrevealedtomehersurprisinggracefulnessandmatchlesselegance;theyshowedhertomeasawonderfulspeakingjewel，alivingdollmadetobekissed，knowing，afterafashion，howtoexpresswhatsheloved.Sheremindedmeoftheprettylittletoyswhichsay’papa’and’mamma’whenyoupullastring.
"Nowshetalks——badly——verybadly.Shemakesasmanymistakesasever——
butIcanunderstandher.
"Ihaveopenedmydolltolookinside——andIhaveseen.AndnowIhavetotalktoher！
"Ah！youdon’tknow，asIdo，theopinions，theideas，thetheoriesofawell—educatedyoungEnglishgirl，whomIcanblameinnothing，andwhorepeatstomefrommorningtillnightsentencesfromaFrenchreaderpreparedinEnglandfortheuseofyoungladies’schools.
"Youhaveseenthosecotillonfavors，thoseprettygiltpapers，whichenclosecandieswithanabominabletaste.Ihaveoneofthem.Itoreitopen.IwishedtoeatwhatwasinsideanditdisgustedmesothatIfeelnauseatedatseeinghercompatriots.
"IhavemarriedaparrottowhomsomeoldEnglishgovernessmighthavetaughtFrench.Doyouunderstand？"
TheharborofTrouvillewasnowshowingitswoodenpierscoveredwithpeople.
Isaid：
"Whereisyourwife？"
Heanswered：
"ItookherbacktoEtretat."
"Andyou，whereareyougoing？"
"I？Oh，IamgoingtorestuphereatTrouville."
Then，afterapause，headded：
"Youhavenoideawhatafoolawomancanbeattimes！"
THEACCURSEDBREAD
DaddyTaillehadthreedaughters：Anna，theeldest，whowasscarcelyevermentionedinthefamily;Rose，thesecondgirl，whowaseighteen，andClara，theyoungest，whowasagirloffifteen.
OldTaillewasawidowerandaforemaninM.Lebrument’sbuttonmanufactory.Hewasaveryuprightman，verywellthoughtof，abstemious;infact，asortofmodelworkman.HelivedatHavre，intheRued’Angouleme.
WhenAnnaranawayfromhometheoldmanflewintoafearfulrage.
Hethreatenedtokilltheheadclerkinalargedraper’sestablishmentinthattown，whomhesuspected.Afteratime，whenhewastoldbyvariouspeoplethatshewasverysteadyandinvestingmoneyingovernmentsecurities，thatshewasnogadabout，butwasagreatfriendofMonsieurDubois，whowasajudgeoftheTribunalofCommerce，thefatherwasappeased.
Heevenshowedsomeanxietyastohowshewasgettingon，andaskedsomeofheroldfriendswhohadbeentoseeher，andwhentoldthatshehadherownfurniture，andthathermantelpiecewascoveredwithvasesandthewallswithpictures，thattherewereclocksandcarpetseverywhere，hegaveabroadcontentedsmile.Hehadbeenworkingforthirtyyearstogettogetherawretchedfiveorsixthousandfrancs.Thisgirlwasevidentlynofool.
OnefinemorningthesonofTouchard，thecooper，attheotherendofthestreet，cameandaskedhimforthehandofRose，thesecondgirl.Theoldman’sheartbegantobeat，fortheTouchardswererichandinagoodposition.Hewasdecidedlyluckywithhisgirls.
Themarriagewasagreedupon，anditwassettledthatitshouldbeagrandaffair，andtheweddingdinnerwastobeheldatSainte—Adresse，atMotherJusa’srestaurant.Itwouldcostalotcertainly，butnevermind，itdidnotmatterjustforonceinaway.
Butonemorning，justastheoldmanwasgoinghometoluncheonwithhistwodaughters，thedooropenedsuddenly，andAnnaappeared.Shewaswelldressedandlookedundeniablyprettyandnice.Shethrewherarmsroundherfather’sneckbeforehecouldsayaword，thenfellintohersisters’
armswithmanytearsandthenaskedforaplate，sothatshemightsharethefamilysoup.Taillewasmovedtotearsinhisturnandsaidseveraltimes：
"Thatisright，dear，thatisright."
Thenshetoldthemaboutherself.ShedidnotwishRose’sweddingtotakeplaceatSainte—Adresse——certainlynot.Itshouldtakeplaceatherhouseandwouldcostherfathernothing.Shehadsettledeverythingandarrangedeverything，soitwas"nogoodtosayanymoreaboutit——there！"
"Verywell，mydear！verywell！"theoldmansaid;"wewillleaveitso."Butthenhefeltsomedoubt.WouldtheTouchardsconsent？ButRose，thebride—elect，wassurprisedandasked："Whyshouldtheyobject，Ishouldliketoknow？Justleavethattome;IwilltalktoPhilipaboutit."
Shementionedittoherlovertheverysameday，andhedeclareditwouldsuithimexactly.FatherandMotherTouchardwerenaturallydelightedattheideaofagooddinnerwhichwouldcostthemnothingandsaid：
"Youmaybequitesurethateverythingwillbeinfirst—ratestyle."
Theyaskedtobeallowedtobringafriend，MadameFlorence，thecookonthefirstfloor，andAnnaagreedtoeverything.
TheweddingwasfixedforthelastTuesdayofthemonth.
AfterthecivilformalitiesandthereligiousceremonytheweddingpartywenttoAnna’shouse.AmongthosewhomtheTailleshadbroughtwasacousinofacertainage，aMonsieurSauvetanin，amangiventophilosophicalreflections，serious，andalwaysveryself—possessed，andMadameLamondois，anoldaunt.
MonsieurSautevaninhadbeentoldofftogiveAnnahisarm，astheywerelookeduponasthetwomostimportantpersonsinthecompany.
AssoonastheyhadarrivedatthedoorofAnna’shousesheletgohercompanion’sarm，andranonahead，saying："Iwillshowyoutheway，"andranupstairswhiletheinvitedguestsfollowedmoreslowly;and，whentheygotupstairs，shestoodononesidetoletthempass，andtheyrolledtheireyesandturnedtheirheadsinalldirectionstoadmirethismysteriousandluxuriousdwelling.
Thetablewaslaidinthedrawing—room，asthedining—roomhadbeenthoughttoosmall.Extraknives，forksandspoonshadbeenhiredfromaneighboringrestaurant，anddecantersstoodfullofwineundertheraysofthesunwhichshoneinthroughthewindow.
Theladieswentintothebedroomtotakeofftheirshawlsandbonnets，andFatherTouchard，whowasstandingatthedoor，madefunnyandsuggestivesignstothemen，withmanyawinkandnod.DaddyTaille，whothoughtagreatdealofhimself，lookedwithfatherlyprideathischild’swell—furnishedroomsandwentfromonetotheother，holdinghishatinhishand，makingamentalinventoryofeverything，andwalkinglikeavergerinachurch.
Annawentbackwardandforward，ranaboutgivingordersandhurryingontheweddingfeast.Soonsheappearedatthedoorofthedining—roomandcried："Comehere，allofyou，foramoment，"andasthetwelveguestsenteredtheroomtheysawtwelveglassesofMadeiraonasmalltable.
Roseandherhusbandhadtheirarmsroundeachother’swaistsandwerekissingeachotherineverycorner.MonsieurSauvetaninnevertookhiseyesoffAnna.
Theysatdown，andtheweddingbreakfastbegan，therelationssittingatoneendofthetableandtheyoungpeopleattheother.MadameTouchard，themother，presidedontherightandthebrideontheleft.Annalookedaftereverybody，sawthattheglasseswerekeptfilledandtheplateswellsupplied.Theguestsevidentlyfeltacertainrespectfulembarrassmentatthesightofallthesumptuousnessoftheroomsandatthelavishmannerinwhichtheyweretreated.Theyallateheartilyofthegoodthingsprovided，buttherewerenojokessuchasareprevalent.
atweddingsofthatsort;itwasalltoogrand，anditmadethemfeeluncomfortable.OldMadameTouchard，whowasfondofabitoffun，triedtoenlivenmattersalittle，andatthebeginningofthedessertsheexclaimed："Isay，Philip，dosingussomething."TheneighborsintheirstreetconsideredthathehadthefinestvoiceinallHavre.
Thebridegroomgotup，smiled，and，turningtohissister—in—law，frompolitenessandgallantry，triedtothinkofsomethingsuitablefortheoccasion，somethingseriousandcorrect，toharmonizewiththeseriousnessoftherepast.
Annahadasatisfiedlookonherface，andleanedbackinherchairtolisten，andallassumedlooksofattention，thoughpreparedtosmileshouldsmileshecalledfor.
Thesingerannounced"TheAccursedBread，"and，extendinghisrightarm，whichmadehiscoatruckupintohisneck，hebegan.
Itwasdecidedlylong，threeversesofeightlineseach，withthelastlineandthelastbutonerepeatedtwice.
Allwentwellforthefirsttwoverses;theyweretheusualcommonplacesaboutbreadgainedbyhonestlaborandbydishonesty.Theauntandthebrideweptoutright.Thecook，whowaspresent，attheendofthefirstverselookedatarollwhichsheheldinherhand，withstreamingeyes，asifitappliedtoher，whileallapplaudedvigorously.Attheendofthesecondversethetwoservants，whowerestandingwiththeirbackstothewall，joinedloudlyinthechorus，andtheauntandthebrideweptoutright.
DaddyTailleblewhisnosewiththenoiseofatrombone，andoldTouchardbrandishedawholeloafhalfoverthetable，andthecookshedsilenttearsonthecrustwhichshewasstillholding.
AmidthegeneralemotionMonsieurSauvetaninsaid：
"Thatistherightsortofsong;verydifferentfromthenasty，riskythingsonegenerallyhearsatweddings."
Anna，whowasvisiblyaffected，kissedherhandtohersisterandpointedtoherhusbandwithanaffectionatenod，asiftocongratulateher.
Intoxicatedbyhissuccess，theyoungmancontinued，andunfortunatelythelastversecontainedwordsaboutthe"breadofdishonor"gainedbyyounggirlswhohadbeenledastray.Noonetookuptherefrainaboutthisbread，supposedtobeeatenwithtears，exceptoldTouchardandthetwoservants.Annahadgrowndeadlypaleandcastdownhereyes，whilethebridegroomlookedfromonetotheotherwithoutunderstandingthereasonforthissuddencoldness，andthecookhastilydroppedthecrustasifitwerepoisoned.
MonsieurSauvetaninsaidsolemnly，inordertosavethesituation："Thatlastcoupletisnotatallnecessary";andDaddyTaille，whohadgotreduptohisears，lookedroundthetablefiercely.
ThenAnna，hereyesswimmingintears，toldtheservantsinthefalteringvoiceofawomantryingtostiflehersobs，tobringthechampagne.
Alltheguestsweresuddenlyseizedwithexuberantjoy，andalltheirfacesbecameradiantagain.AndwhenoldTouchard，whohadseen，feltandunderstoodnothingofwhatwasgoingon，andpointingtotheguestssoastoemphasizehiswords，sangthelastwordsoftherefrain：
"Children，Iwarnyoualltoeatnotofthatbread，"thewholecompany，whentheysawthechampagnebottles，withtheirneckscoveredwithgoldfoil，appear，burstoutsinging，asifelectrifiedbythesight：
"Children，Iwarnyoualltoeatnotofthatbread."
THEDOWRY
ThemarriageofMaitreSimonLebrumentwithMademoiselleJeanneCordierwasasurprisetonoone.MaitreLebrumenthadboughtoutthepracticeofMaitrePapillon;naturally，hehadtohavemoneytopayforit;andMademoiselleJeanneCordierhadthreehundredthousandfrancsclearincurrency，andinbondspayabletobearer.
MaitreLebrumentwasahandsomeman.Hewasstylish，althoughinaprovincialway;but，nevertheless，hewasstylish——ararethingatBoutigny—le—Rebours.
MademoiselleCordierwasgracefulandfresh—looking，althoughatrifleawkward;nevertheless，shewasahandsomegirl，andonetobedesired.
ThemarriageceremonyturnedallBoutignytopsy—turvy.Everybodyadmiredtheyoungcouple，whoquicklyreturnedhometodomesticfelicity，havingdecidedsimplytotakeashorttriptoParis，afterafewdaysofretirement.
Thistete—a—tetewasdelightful，MaitreLebrumenthavingshownjusttheproperamountofdelicacy.Hehadtakenashismotto："Everythingcomestohimwhowaits."Heknewhowtobeatthesametimepatientandenergetic.Hissuccesswasrapidandcomplete.
Afterfourdays，MadameLebrumentadoredherhusband.Shecouldnotgetalongwithouthim.Shewouldsitonhisknees，andtakinghimbytheearsshewouldsay："Openyourmouthandshutyoureyes."Hewouldopenhismouthwideandpartlyclosehiseyes，andhewouldtrytonipherfingersassheslippedsomedaintybetweenhisteeth.Thenshewouldgivehimakiss，sweetandlong，whichwouldmakechillsrunupanddownhisspine.Andthen，inhisturn，hewouldnothaveenoughcaressestopleasehiswifefrommorningtonightandfromnighttomorning.
Whenthefirstweekwasover，hesaidtohisyoungcompanion：
"Ifyouwish，wewillleaveforParisnextTuesday.Wewillbeliketwolovers，wewillgototherestaurants，thetheatres，theconcerthalls，everywhere，everywhere！"
Shewasreadytodanceforjoy.
"Oh！yes，yes.Letusgoassoonaspossible."
Hecontinued：
"Andthen，aswemustforgetnothing，askyourfathertohaveyourdowryready;IshallpayMaitrePapillononthistrip."
Sheanswered：
"Allright：Iwilltellhimto—morrowmorning."
Andhetookherinhisarmsoncemore，torenewthosesweetgamesoflovewhichshehadsoenjoyedforthepastweek.
ThefollowingTuesday，father—in—lawandmother—in—lawwenttothestationwiththeirdaughterandtheirson—in—lawwhowereleavingforthecapital.
Thefather—in—lawsaid：
"Itellyouitisveryimprudenttocarrysomuchmoneyaboutinapocketbook."Andtheyounglawyersmiled.
"Don’tworry;Iamaccustomedtosuchthings.Youunderstandthat，inmyprofession，Isometimeshaveasmuchasamillionaboutme.Inthismanner，atleastweavoidagreatamountofredtapeanddelay.Youneedn’tworry."
Theconductorwascrying：
"AllaboardforParis！"
Theyscrambledintoacar，wheretwooldladieswerealreadyseated.
Lebrumentwhisperedintohiswife’sear：
"Whatabother！Iwon’tbeabletosmoke."
Sheansweredinalowvoice"Itannoysmetoo，butnotanaccountofyourcigar."
Thewhistleblewandthetrainstarted.Thetriplastedaboutanhour，duringwhichtimetheydidnotsayverymuchtoeachother，asthetwooldladiesdidnotgotosleep.
AssoonastheywereinfrontoftheSaint—LazareStation，MaitreLebrumentsaidtohiswife：
"Dearie，letusfirstgoovertotheBoulevardandgetsomethingtoeat;
thenwecanquietlyreturnandgetourtrunkandbringittothehotel."
Sheimmediatelyassented.
"Oh！yes.Let’seatattherestaurant.Isitfar？"
Heanswered：
"Yes，it’squiteadistance，butwewilltaketheomnibus."
Shewassurprised：
"Whydon’twetakeacab？"
Hebegantoscoldhersmilingly：
"Isthatthewayyousavemoney？Acabforafiveminutes’rideatsixcentsaminute！Youwoulddepriveyourselfofnothing."
"That’sso，"shesaid，alittleembarrassed.
Abigomnibuswaspassingby，drawnbythreebighorses，whichweretrottingalong.Lebrumentcalledout：
"Conductor！Conductor！"
Theheavycarriagestopped.Andtheyounglawyer，pushinghiswife，saidtoherquickly：
"Goinside;I’mgoingupontop，sothatImaysmokeatleastonecigarettebeforelunch."
Shehadnotimetoanswer.Theconductor，whohadseizedherbythearmtohelpherupthestep，pushedherinside，andshefellintoaseat，bewildered，lookingthroughthebackwindowatthefeetofherhusbandasheclimbeduptothetopofthevehicle.
Andshesattheremotionless，betweenafatmanwhosmelledofcheaptobaccoandanoldwomanwhosmelledofgarlic.
Alltheotherpassengerswerelinedupinsilence——agrocer’sboy，ayounggirl，asoldier，agentlemanwithgold—rimmedspectaclesandabigsilkhat，twoladieswithaself—satisfiedandcrabbedlook，whichseemedtosay："Weareridinginthisthing，butwedon’thaveto，"twosistersofcharityandanundertaker.Theylookedlikeacollectionofcaricatures.
Thejoltingofthewagonmadethemwagtheirhe
