百年孤独(英文版)-第35部分

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uth　he　knowingly　fell　into　a　trap　of　nostalgia　and　relived　that　prodigious　afternoon　Of　the　gypsies　when　his　father　took　him　to　see　ice。　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　dropped　what　she　was　doing　in　the　kitchen　and　ran　to　the　door。
　　　“It’s　the　circus；？she　shouted。
　　　Instead　of　going　to　the　chestnut　tree；　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　also　went　to　the　street　door　and　mingled　with　the　bystanders　who；　were　watching　the　parade。　He　saw　a　woman　dressed　in　gold　sitting　on　the　head　of　an　elephant。　He　saw　a　sad　dromedary。　He　saw　a　bear　dressed　like　a　Dutch　girl　keeping　time　to　the　music　with　a　soup　spoon　and　a　pan。　He　saw　the　clowns　doing　cartwheels　at　the　end　of　the　parade　and　once　more　he　saw　the　face　of　his　miserable　solitude　when　everything　had　passed　by　and　there　was　nothing　but　the　bright　expanse　of　the　street　and　the　air　full　of　flying　ants　with　a　few　onlookers　peering　into　the　precipice　of　uncertainty。　Then　he　went　to　the　chestnut　tree；　thinking　about　the　circus；　and　while　he　urinated　he　tried　to　keep　on　thinking　about　the　circus；　but　he　could　no　longer　find　the　memory。　He　pulled　his　head　in　between　his　shoulders　like　a　baby　chick　and　remained　motionless　with　his　forehead　against　the　trunk　of　the　chestnut　tree。　The　family　did　not　find　him　until　the　following　day　at　eleven　o’clock　in　the　morning　when　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　went　to　throw　out　the　garbage　in　back　and　her　attention　was　attracted　by　the　descending　vultures。

Chapter　14
MEME’S　LAST　VACATIONS　coincided　with　the　period　of　mourning　for　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía。　The　shuttered　house　was　no　place　for　parties。　They　spoke　in　whispers；　ate　in　silence；　recited　the　rosary　three　times　a　day；　and　even　clavichord　practice　during　the　heat　of　siesta　time　had　a　funereal　echo。　In　spite　of　her　secret　hostility　toward　the　colonel；　it　was　Fernanda　who　imposed　the　rigor　of　that　mourning；　impressed　by　the　solemnity　with　which　the　government　exalted　the　memory　of　its　dead　enemy。　Aureliano　Segundo；　as　was　his　custom　came　back　to　sleep　in　the　house　during　his　daughter’s　vacation　and　Fernanda　must　have　done　some。　thing　to　regain　her　privileges　as　his　legitimate　wife　because　the　following　year　Meme　found　a　newborn　little　sister　who　against　the　wishes　of　her　mother　had　been　baptized　with　the　name　Amaranta　？rsula。
　　　Meme　had　finished　her　course　of　study。　The　diploma　that　certified　her　as　a　concert　clavichordist　was　ratified　by　the　virtuosity　with　which　she　executed　popular　melodies　of　the　seventeenth　century　at　the　gathering　anized　to　celebrate　the　pletion　of　her　studies　and　with　which　the　period　of　mourning　came　to　in　end。　More　than　her　art；　the　guests　admired　her　duality。　Her　frivolous　and　even　slightly　infantile　character　did　not　seem　up　to　any　serious　activity；　but　when　she　sat　down　at　the　clavichord　she　became　a　different　girl；　one　whose　unforeseen　maturity　gave　her　the　air　of　an　adult。　That　was　how　she　had　always　been。　She　really　did　am　have　any　definite　vocation；　but　she　had　earned　the　highest　grades　by　means　of　inflexible　discipline　simply　in　order　not　to　annoy　her　mother。　They　could　have　imposed　on　her　an　apprenticeship　in　any　other　field　and　the　results　would　have　been　the　same。　Since　she　had　been　very　small　she　had　been　troubled　by　Fernanda’s　strictness；　her　custom　of　deciding　in　favor　of　extremes；　and　she　would　have　been　capable　of　a　much　more　difficult　sacrifice　than　the　clavichord　lessons　merely　not　to　run　up　against　her　intransigence。　During　the　graduation　ceremonies　she　had　the　impression　that　the　parchment　with　Gothic　letters　and　illuminated　capitals　was　freeing　her　from　a　promise　that　she　had　accepted　not　so　much　out　of　obedience　as　out　of　convenience；　and　she　thought　that　from　then　on　not　even　the　insistent　Fernanda　would　worry　any　more　about　an　instrument　that　even　the　nuns　looked　upon　as　a　museum　fossil。　During　the　first　years　she　thought　that　her　calculations　were　mistaken　because　after　she　had　put　half　the　town　to　sleep；　not　only　in　the　parlor　but　also　at　all　charitable　functions；　school　ceremonies；　and　patriotic　celebrations　that　took　place　in　Macondo；　her　mother　still　invited　to　the　house　every　newer　whom　she　thought　capable　of　appreciating　her　daughter’s　virtues。　Only　after　the　death　of　Amaranta；　when　the　family　shut　itself　up　again　in　a　period　of　mourning；　was　Meme　able　to　lock　the　clavichord　and　fet　the　key　in　some　dresser　drawer　without　Fernanda’s　being　annoyed　on　finding　out　when　and　through　whose　fault　it　had　been　lost。　Meme　bore　up　under　the　exhibitions　with　the　same　stoicism　that　she　had　dedicated　to　her　apprenticeship。　It　was　the　price　of　her　freedom。　Fernanda　was　so　pleased　with　her　docility　and　so　proud　of　the　admiration　that　her　art　inspired　that　she　was　never　against　the　house　being　fall　of　girl　friends；　her　spending　the　afternoon　in　the　groves；　and　going　to　the　movies　with　Aureliano　Segundo　or　some　muted　lady　as　long　as　the　film　was　approved　by　Father　Antonio　Isabel　from　the　pulpit。　During　those　moments　of　relaxation　Meme’s　real　tastes　were　revealed。　Her　happiness　lay　at　the　other　extreme　from　discipline；　in　noisy　parties；　in　gossip　about　lovers；　in　prolonged　sessions　with　her　girl　friends；　where　they　learned　to　smoke　and　talked　about　male　business；　and　where　they　once　got　their　hands　on　some　cane　liquor　and　ended　up　naked；　measuring　and　paring　the　parts　of　their　bodies。　Meme　would　never　fet　that　night　when　she　arrived　home　chewing　licorice　lozenges；　and　without　noticing　their　consternation；　sat　down　at　the　table　where　Fernanda　and　Amaranta　were　eating　dinner　without　saying　a　word　to　each　other。　She　had　spent　two　tremendous　hours　in　the　bedroom　of　a　girl　friend；　weeping　with　laughter　and　fear；　and　beyond　an　crises　she　had　found　the　rare　feeling　of。　bravery　that　she　needed　in　order　to　run　away　from　school　and　tell　her　mother　in　one　way　or　another　that　she　could　use　the　clavichord　as　an　enema。　Sitting　at　the　head　of　the　table；　drinking　a　chicken　broth　that　landed　in　her　stomach　like　an　elixir　of　resurrection；　Meme　then　saw　Fernanda　and　Amaranta　wrapped　in　an　accusatory　halo　of　reality。　She　had　to　make　a　great　effort　not　to　throw　at　them　their　prissiness；　their　poverty　of　spirit　their　delusions　of　grandeur。　From　the　time　of　her　second　vacation　she　had　known　that　her　father　was　living　at　home　only　in　order　to　keep　up　appearances；　and　knowing　Fernanda　as　she　did　and　having　arranged　later　to　meet　Petra　Cotes；　she　thought　that　her　father　was　right。　She　also　would　have　preferred　being　the　daughter　of　the　concubine。　In　the　haziness　of　the　alcohol　Meme　thought　with　pleasure　about　the　scandal　that　would　have　taken　place　if　she　were　to　express　her　thoughts　at　that　moment；　and　the　intimate　satisfaction　of　her　roguishness　was　so　intense　that　Fernanda　noticed　it。
　　　“What’s　the　matter？？she　asked。
　　　“Nothing；？Meme　answered。　“I　was　only　now　discovering　how　much　I　loved　you　both。？
　　　Amaranta　was　startled　by　the　obvious　burden　of　hate　that　the　declaration　carried。　But　Fernanda　felt　so　moved　that　she　thought　she　would　go　mad　when　Meme　awoke　at　midnight　with　her　head　splitting　with　pain　and　drowning　in　vomited　gall。　She　gave　her　a　vial　of　castor　oil；　put　presses　on　her　stomach　and　ice　cubes　on　her　head；　and　she　made　her　stay　in　bed　for　five　days　and　follow　the　diet　ordered　by　the　new　and　outlandish　French　doctor；　who　after　examining　her　for　more　than　two　hours　reached　the　foggy　conclusion　that　she　had　an　ailment　peculiar　to　women。　Having　lost　her　courage；　in　a　miserable　state　of　demoralization；　Meme　had　no　other　recourse　but　to　bear　up　under　it。　？rsula；　pletely　blind　by　then　but　still　active　and　lucid；　was　the　only　one　who　guessed　the　exact　diagnosis。　“As　far　as　I　can　see；？she　thought；　“that’s　the　same　thing　that　happens　to　drunken　people。？But　she　not　only　rejected　the　idea；　she　reproached　herself　for　the　frivolity　of　her　thought。　Aureliano　Segundo　felt　a　twinge　of　conscience　when　he　saw　Meme’s　state　of　prostration　and　he　promised　himself　to　take　better　care　of　her　in　the　future。　That　was　how　the　relationship　of　jolly　radeship　was　born　between　father　and　daughter；　which　freed　him　for　a　time　from　the　bitter　solitude　of　his　revels　and　freed　her　from　Fernanda’s　watchful　eye　without　necessity　of　provoking　the　domestic　crisis　that　seemed　inevitable　by　then。　At　that　time　Aureliano　Segundo　postponed　any　appointments　in　order　to　be　with　Meme；　to　take　her　to　the　movies　or　the　circus；　and　he　spent　the　greater　part　of　his　idle　time　with　her。　In　recent　times　his　annoyance　with　the　absurd　obesity　that　prevented　him　from　tying　his　shoes　and　his　abusive　satisfaction　with　all　manner　of　appetites　had　began　to　sour　his　character。　The　discovery　of　his　daughter　restored　his　former　joviality　and　the　pleasure　of　being　with　her　was　slowly　leading　him　away　from　dissipation。　Meme　was　entering　a　fruitful　age。　She　was　not　beautiful；　as　Amaranta　had　never　been；　but　on　the　other　hand　she　was　pleasant；　unplicated；　and　she　had　the　virtue　of　making　a　good　impression　on　people　from　the　first　moment。　She　had　a　modem　spirit　that　wounded　the　antiquated　sobriety　and　poorly　disguised　miserly　heart　of　Fernanda；　and　that；　on　the　other　hand；　Aureliano　Segundo　took　pleasure　in　developing。　It　was　he　who　resolved　to　take　her　out　of　the　bedroom　she　had　occupied　since　childhood；　where　the　fearful　eyes　of　the　saints　still　fed　her　adolescent　terrors；　and　he　furnished　for　her　a　room　with　a　royal　bed；　a　large　dressing　table；　and　velvet　curtains；　not　realizing　that　he　was　producing　a　second　version　of　Petra　Cotes’s　room。　He　was　so　lavish　with　Meme　that　he　did　not　even　know　how　much　money　he　gave　her　because　she　herself　would　take　it　out　of　his　pockets；　and　he　kept　abreast　of　every　kind　of　new　beauty　aid　that　arrived　in　the　missary　of　the　banana　pany。　Meme’s　room　became　filled　with　pumicestone　cushions　to　polish　her　nails　with；　hair　curlers；　toothbrushes；　drops　to　make　her　eyes　languid；　and　so　many　and　such　new　cosmetics　and　artifacts　of　beauty　that　every　time　Fernanda　went　into　the　room　she　was　scandalized　by　the　idea　that　her　daughter’s　dressing　table　must　have　been　the　same　as　those　of　the　French　matrons。　Nevertheless　Fernanda　divided　her　time　in　those　days　between　little　Amaranta　？rsula；　who　was　mischievous　and　sickly；　and　a　touching　correspondence　with　the　invisible　physicians。　So　that　when　she　noticed　the　plicity　between　father　and　daughter　the　only　promise　she　extracted　from　Aureliano　Segundo　was　that　he　would　never　take　Meme　to　Petra　Cotes’s　house。　It　was　a　meaningless　demand　because　the　concubine　was　so　annoyed　with　the　radeship　between　her　lover　and　his　daughter　that　she　did　not　want　anything　to　do　with　her。　Petra　was　tormented　by　an　unknown　fear；　as　if　instinct　were　telling　her　that　Meme；　by　just　wanting　it；　could　succeed　in　what　Fernanda　had　been　unable　to　do：　deprive　her　of　a　love　that　by　then　she　considered　assured　until　death。　For　the　first　time　Aureliano　Segundo　had　to　tolerate　the　harsh　expressions　and　the　violent　tirades　of　his　concubine；　and　he　was　even　afraid　that　his　wandering　trunks　would　make　the　return　journey　to　his　wife’s　house。　That　did　not　happen。　No　one　knew　a　man　better　than　Petra　Cotes　knew　her　lover　and　she　knew　that　the　trunks　would　remain　where　they　had　been　sent　because　if　Aureliano　Segundo　detested　anything　it　was　plicating　his　life　with　modifications　and　changes。　So　the　trunks　stayed　where　they　were　and　Petra　Cotes　set　about　reconquering　the　husband　by　sharpening　the　only　weapons　that　his　daughter　could　not　use　on　him。　It　too　was　an　unnecessary　effort　because　Meme　had　no　desire　to　intervene　in　her　father’s　affairs　and　if　she　had；　it　would　certainly　have　been　in　favor　of　the　concubine。　She　had　no　time　to　bother　anybody。　She　herself　swept　her　room　and　made　her　bed；　as　the　nuns　had　taught　her。　In　the　morning　she　took　care　of　her　clothes；　sewing　on　the　porch　or　using　Amaranta’s　old　pedal　machine。　While　the　others　were　taking　their　siestas　she　would　practice　the　clavichord　for　two　hours；　knowing　that　the　daily　sacrifice　would　keep　Fernanda　calm。　For　the　same　reason　she　continued　giving　concerts　at　church　fairs　and　school　parties；　even　though　the　requests　were　less　and　less　frequent。　At　nightfall　she　would　fix　herself　up；　put　on　one　of　her　simple　dresses　and　her　stiff　high　shoes；　and　if　she　had　nothing　to　do　with　her　father　she　would　go　to　the　homes　of　her　girl　friends；　where　she　would　stay　until　dinnertime。　It　was　rare　that　Aureliano　Segundo　would　not　call　for　her　then　to　take　her　to　the　movies。
　　　Among　Meme’s　friends　there　were　three　young　American　girls　who　broke　through　the　electrified　chicken　fence　barrier　and　made　friends　with　girls　from　Macondo。　One　of　them　was　Patricia　Brown。　Grateful　for　the　hospitality　of　Aureliano　Segundo；　Mr。　Brown　opened　the　doors　of　his　house　to　Meme　and　invited　her　to　the　Saturday　dances；　which　were　the　only　ones　where　gringos　and　natives　mingled。　When　Fernanda　found　out　about　it　she　fot　about　Amaranta　？rsula　and　the　invisible　doctors　for　a　moment　and　became　very　melodramatic。　“Just　think；？she　said　to　Meme；　“what　the　colonel　must　be　thinking　in　his　grave。？She　sought；　of　course；　the　backing　of　？rsula。　But　the　blind　old　woman；　contrary　to　what　everyone　expected；　saw　nothing　reproachable　in　Meme’s　going　to　the　dances　and　making　friends　with　American　girls　her　own　age　as　long　as　she　kept　her　strict　habits　and　was　not　converted　to　the　Protestant　religion。　Meme　sensed　the　thought　of　her　greatgreatgrandmother　very　well　and　the　day　after　the　dances　she　would　get　up　earlier　than　usual　to　go　to　mass。　Fernanda’s　opposition　lasted　until　the　day　when　Meme　broke　down　her　resistance　with　the　news　that　the　Americans　wanted　to　hear　her　play　the　clavichord。　The　instrument　was　taken　out　of　the　house　again　and　carried　to　Mr。　Brown’s；　where　the　young　concert　artist　really　did　receive　very　sincere　applause　and　the　most　enthusiastic　congratulations。　From　then　on　she　was　invited　not　only　to　the　dances　but　also　to　the　Sunday　swim　parties　in　the　pool　and　to　lunch　once　a　week。　Meme　learned　to　swim　like　a　professional；　to　play　tennis；　and　to　eat　Virginia　ham　with　slices　of　pineapple。　Among　dances；　swimming；　and　tennis　she　soon　found　herself　getting　involved　in　the　English　language。　Aureliano　Segundo　was　so　enthusiastic　over　the　progress　of　his　daughter　that　from　a　traveling　salesman　he　bought　a　sixvolume　English　encyclopedia　with　many　color　prints　which　Meme　read　in　her　spare　time。　The　reading　occupied　the　attention　that　she　had　formerly　given　to　gossip　about　sweethearts　and　the　experimental　retreats　that　she　would　go　through　with　her　girl　friends；　not　because　it　was　imposed　as　discipline　but　because　she　had　lost　all　interest　by　then　in　talking　about　mysteries　that　were　in　the　public　domain。　She　looked　back　on　the　drunken　episode　as　an　infantile　adventure　and　it　seemed　so　funny　to　her　that　she　told　Aureliano　Segundo　about　it　and　he　thought　it　was　more　amusing　than　she　did。　“If　your　mother　only　knew；？he　told　her；　doubling　up　with　laughter；　as　he　always　said　when　he　told　her　something　in　confidence。　He　had　made　her　promise　that　she　would　let　him　know　about　her　first　love　affair　with　the　same　confidence；　and　Meme　told　him　that　she　liked　a　redheaded　American　boy　who　had　e　to　spend　his　vacation　with　his　parents。　“What　do　you　know；？Aureliano　Segundo　said；　laughing。　“If　your　mother　only　knew。？But　Meme　also　told　him　that　the　boy　had　gone　back　to　his　country　and　had　disappeared　from　sight。　The　m