Nana (Barnes & Noble Classics) - Emile Zola [94]
Nana at once forgot the strawberries. She was all trembling, and full of pity. That poor Ziziam in a pool of water! She dragged him towards the house. She talked of making up a big fire.
“You know,” he murmured, stopping her in the darkness, “I was hiding, because I was afraid of being scolded like at Paris, when I came to see you without being expected.”
She began to laugh without answering, and kissed him on the forehead. Until that day she had treated him like a child, not thinking seriously of his declarations, and amusing herself with him as with a youngster of no consequence. She made a great deal of fuss so that he should be comfortable. She insisted on the fire lighted in her bed-room. They would be more cozy there. The sight of George did not surprise Zoé, used to all sorts of meetings; but the gardener, who brought up some wood, was struck dumb on seeing the gentleman dripping with water, to whom he was certain he had not opened the door. He was sent away, as nothing more was required. A lamp lighted the room, whilst the fire burst into a bright blaze.
“He will never become dry, he will catch cold,” said Nana, seeing George shiver.
And not another pair of trousers in the house! She was on the point of calling the gardener, when an idea struck her. Zoé, who had been unpacking the trunks in the dressing-room, brought madame some clean clothes for her to change—a chemise, some petticoats, and a dressing-gown.
“But that’s capital!” exclaimed the young woman, “Zizi can put on these. Eh! you don’t mind putting on my things? When your own clothes are dry you can put them on again, and then hurry back home, so as not to be scolded by your mamma. Be quick, and I will go and change my things in the dressingroom.”
When, ten minutes later, she reappeared in a dressing-gown, she clasped her hands in rapture.
“Oh, the love! how pretty he looks as a woman!”
He had merely put on a long night-dress, an embroidered pair of drawers, and a cambric dressing-gown trimmed with lace. In those clothes he looked like a girl, with his fair arms uncovered, and his light hair, still wet, hanging down his neck.
“He is really as slim as I am!” said Nana, taking hold of him round the waist. “Zoé, come and see how well they fit him. Eh! don’t they look as though they were made for him? all except the body part, which is too broad. He hasn’t as much as I have, poor Zizi.”
“There certainly is a slight difference,” murmured George, smiling.
All three were highly amused. Nana buttoned the dressing-gown all down the front so that he should look decent. She turned him about like a doll, gave him little taps, and made the skirt swell out behind. And she questioned him, asking him if he was comfortable, and if he was warm enough. Oh, yes! he was all right. Nothing was warmer than a woman’s night-dress; if he had had his way he would always have worn one. He rolled himself about in it, pleased with the soft touch of the linen, with that loose garment that smelt so nice, and which to him seemed slightly impregnated with the warmth of Nana’s body. Zoé had taken his wet clothes down to the kitchen, so as to dry them as quickly as possible before a large wood fire. Then George, stretched out in an easy chair, dared to make an avowal.
“I say, aren’t you going to have anything to eat to-night? I’m famishing. I haven’t had any dinner.”
Nana was very angry. What a great stupid he was to run away from his mamma with an empty stomach, just to go and throw himself into a pool of water! But she also felt rather hungry. Of course they must have something to eat, only they would have to do the best they could. And they improvised the funniest dinner ever heard of, on a little table drawn up before the fire. Zoé ran over to the gardener, who had made some cabbage soup in case madame did not dine at Orleans. Madame had forgotten to mention in her letter what she required to be got ready. Fortunately the cellar was well-stocked. They had, therefore,