Introduction：The Storm is plotted as a sequel of Chopin’s another story“The Cadian Ball”in which Calixta and Alcee had a flirtation several years before this story takes place，but each made a more suitable marriage to someone else and they have not seen each other since。During a storm，Alcee happens to step into Calixta’s house for a shelter from rain。Will the appearance of Alcee change Calixta’s life？
1.The leaves were so still that even Bibi thought it was going to rain。Bobint，who was accustomed to converse on terms of perfect equality with his little son，called the child’s attention to certain sombre clouds that were rolling withsinister intention from the west，accompanied by a sullen，threatening roar。They were at Friedheimer’s store and decided to remain there till the storm had passed。They sat within the door on two empty kegs。Bibi was four years old and looked very wise。
2.“Mama’ll be’fraid，yes，”he suggested with blinking eyes。
3.“She’ll shut the house。Maybe she got Sylvie helpin’her this evenin’。”Bobint responded reassuringly。
4.“No she ent got Sylvie。Sylvie was help in‘her yistiday，’”piped Bibi。
评注：肖邦是美国南方乡土作家。对“乡土”语言的真实再现是她创作的风格之一。在上下文的对话中，读者会发现一些残缺的词或非正常拼写的词，这正是南方人下层人的语言风格。
5.Bobint arose and going across to the counter purchased a canof shrimps，of which Calixtawas very fond。Then he returned to his perch on the keg and sat stolidly holdingthe can of shrimps while the storm burst。It shook the wooden store and seemed to be ripping great furrows in the distant field。Bibi laid his little hand on his father’s knee and was not afraid。
be accustomed to：习惯于
converse：v。交谈，对话，交流
sombre：adj。昏暗的
sinister：adj。险恶的
accompany：v。伴奏
sullen：adj。（天气等）阴沉的
keg：n。小桶
pipe：v。用尖嗓子说
purchase：v。买，购买
stolidly：adv。迟钝地
6.Calixta，at home，felt no uneasiness for their safety。She sat at a side window sewing furiously on a sewing machine。She was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm。But she felt very warm and often stopped to mop her face on which the perspiration gathered in beads。She unfastened her white sacque at the throat。It began to grow dark，and suddenly realizing the situation shegot up hurriedly and went about closing windows and doors。
评注：“天气状况”在小说中起到了特殊重要的作用。从风暴前的闷热，到狂风暴雨，到雨过天晴，天气变化成了贯穿情节发展的一条复线，与故事情节的跌宕起伏紧密呼应。此外，天气变化同时也是主人公内心世界的外投，请读者注意本部分中风暴对推动情节的作用和它的象征意义。
7.Out on the small front gallery she had hung Bobint’s Sundayclothes to dry and she hastened out to gather them before the rain fell。As she stepped outside，Alcée Laballière rode in at the gate。She had not seen him very often since her marriage，and never alone。She stood there with Bobint’s coat in her hands，and the big rain drops began to fall。Alcée rode his horse under the shelter ofa side projection where the chickens had huddled and there were plows and a harrow piled up in the corner。
8.“May I come and wait on your gallery till the storm is over，Calixta？”he asked。
9.“Come‘long in，M’sieur Alcée。”
10.His voice and her own startled her as if from a trance，and she seized Bobint’s vest。Alcée，mounting to the porch，grabbed the trousers and snatched Bibi’s braided jacket that was about to be carried away by a sudden gust of wind。Heexpressed an intention to remain outside，but it was soon apparent that he might as well have been out in the open：the water beat in upon the boards in driving sheets，and he went inside，closing the door after him。It was even necessary to put something beneath the door to keep the water out。
11.“My！what a rain！It’s good two years sence it rain’like that，”exclaimed Calixta as she rolled up a piece of bagging and Alcée helped her to thrust it beneath the crack。
uneasiness：n。不安
approaching：adj。临近的
perspiration：n。流汗
bead：n。汗珠
sacque：n。宽大衣
hasten：v。赶紧，匆忙
shelter：n。遮蔽处
projection：n。突出部分
huddle：v。拥挤，蜷缩
startle：v。使震惊
vest：n。汗衫
mount：v。登上
apparent：adj。明显的
might as well：最好
exclaim：v。惊叫
bagging：n。制造袋子的布
thrust：v。塞入，插入
crack：n。裂纹
12.She was a little fuller of figure than five years before when she married but she had lost nothing of her vivacity。Her blue eyes still retained their melting quality and her yellow hair，disheveled by the wind and rain，kinked more stubbornly than ever about her ears and temples。
13.The rain beat upon the low，shingled roof with a force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance and deluge them there。They were in the dining room—the sitting room—the general utility room。Adjoining was her bed room，with Bibi’s couch along side her own。The door stood open，and the room with its white，monumental bed，its closed shutters，looked dim and mysterious。
14.Alcée flung himself into a rocker and Calixta nervously began to gather up from the floor the lengths of a cotton sheet which she had been sewing。
15.“If this keeps up，Dieu sait if the levees goin’to stanit！”she exclaimed。
vivacity：n。活泼
dishevel：v。使头发凌乱
stubbornly：adv。倔强地，顽固地
temples：n。太阳穴
clatter：n。哗啦声
deluge：v。淹，浸
adjoining：adj。隔壁的
shutter：n。百叶窗
dim：adj。昏暗的
fling：v。猛然掷出
levees：n。防洪提16“What have you got to do with the levees？”
17.“I got enough to do！An’there’s Bobint with Bibi out in that storm—if heonly didn’left Friedheimer’s！”
18.“Let us hope，Calixta，that Bobint’s got sense enough to come in out of a cyclone。”
19.She went and stood at the window with a greatly disturbed look on her face。She wiped the frame that was clouded with moisture。It was stiflingly hot。Alcée got up and joined her at the window，looking over her shoulder。The rain was coming down in sheets obscuring the view of far-off cabins and enveloping the distant wood in a gray mist。The playing of the lightning was incessant。A bolt struck a tall chinaberry tree at the edge of the field。It filled all visible spacewith a blinding glare and the crash seemed to invade the very boards they stood upon。
20.Calixta put her hands to her eyes，and with a cry，staggeredbackward。Alcée’s arm encircled her，and for an instant he drew her close andspasmodically to him。
cyclone：n。旋风，飓风
disturbed：adj。困惑的
moisture：n。潮湿
stiflingly：adv。令人窒息地
obscure：v。使模糊
incessant：adj。不断的，不停的
bolt：n。闪电
invade：v。拥入 挤满
stagger：v。摇晃，蹒跚
encircle：vt。环抱
21.“Bonté！”she cried，releasing herself from his encircling arm and retreating from the window，“the house’ll go next！If I only knew w’ere Bibi was！”She would not compose herself she would not be seated。Alcée clasped her shoulders and looked into her face。The contact of her warm，palpitating body when he had unthinkingly drawn her into his arms，had aroused all the old-time infatuation and desire for her flesh。
22.“Calixta，”he said，“don’t be frightened。Nothing can happen。The house is too low to be struck，with so many tall trees standing about。There！aren’t you going to be quiet？say，aren’t you？”He pushed her hair back from her face thatwas warm and steaming。Her lips were as red and moist as pomegranate seed。Her white neck and a glimpse of her full，firm bosom disturbed him powerfully。As she glanced up at him the fear in her liquid blue eyes had given place to a drowsy gleam that unconsciously betrayed a sensuous desire。He looked down into her eyesand there was nothing for him to do but to gather her lips in a kiss。It reminded him of Assumption。
release oneself from：使自己从……中解脱
compose：v。使平静
palpitating：adj。跳动的，悸动的
arouse：v。激起
infatuation：n。迷恋
glimpse：n。一瞥
unconsciously：adv。不知不觉地
sensuous：adj。感官的
Assumption：n。阿桑着森教区23“Do you remember—in Assumption，Calixta？”he asked in a lowvoice broken bypassion。Oh！she remembered for in Assumption he had kissed her and kissed andkissed her until his senses would well nigh fail，and to save her he would resort to a desperate flight。If she was not an immaculate dove in those days，she was still inviolate a passionate creature whose very defenselessness had made her defense，against which his honor forbade him to prevail。Now—well，now—her lips seemed in a manner free to be tasted，as well as her round，white throat and her whiter breasts。
24.They did not heed the crashing torrents，and the roar of theelements made her laugh as she lay in his arms。She was a revelation in that dim，mysterious chamber as white as the couch she lay upon。Her firm，elastic flesh that was knowing for the first time its birthright，was like a creamy lily that the sun invites to contribute its breath and perfume to the undying life of the world。
25.The generous abundance of her passion，without guile or trickery，was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in depths of his own sensuous nature that had never yet been reached。
26.When he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy，inviting his lips。Her mouth was a fountain of delight。And when he possessed her，they seemed to swoon together at the very borderland of life’s mystery。
passion：n。激情
nigh：adv。几乎，接近
resort to：诉诸于，求助于
inviolate：adj。无污点的，未受侵犯的
heed：v。注意
torrent：n。激流，洪流
revelation：n。意外
elastic：adj。弹性的
birthright：n。与生俱来的权利
contribute……to：把……贡献给
perfume：n。香水
abundance：n。丰富
guile：n。诡计
trickery：n。欺骗
penetrate：v。穿透
quivering：adj。颤抖的
ecstasy：n。迷醉
27.He stayed cushioned upon her，breathless，dazed，enervated，with his heart beating like a hammer upon her。With one hand she clasped his head，her lips lightly touching his forehead。The other hand stroked with a soothing rhythm his muscular shoulders。
28.The growl of the thunder was distant and passing away。The rain beat softly upon the shingles，inviting them to drowsiness and sleep。But they dared not yield。
评注：第二部分是小说的高潮部分，阿尔塞为避雨而躲进了卡利科斯塔的家，旧情人不期而遇，好戏上演。肖邦在小说中大胆地再现了一段充满了情欲和性爱场面的婚外插曲，这在以“美德”和“忠贞”的道德观来压制女性欲望的男权制社会里是具有进步意义的。肖邦笔下的女性角色比男权社会的理想女性形象，“屋子里的天使”，更真实，更自我，更具反叛精神，因此肖邦也被誉为美国女性主义作家的先驱。
29.The rain was over，and the sun was turning the glistening green world into apalace of gems。Calixta，on the gallery，watched Alcée ride away。He turned and smiled at her with a beaming face and she lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud。
30.Bobint and Bibi，trudging home，stopped at the cistern to make themselves presentable。
31.“My！Bibi，w’at will yo‘mama say！You ought to be ashame’。You oughta put on those good pants。Look at‘em！An’that mud on yo‘collar！How you got that mud on yo’collar，Bibi？I never saw such a boy！”Bibi was the picture of pathetic resignation。Bobint was the embodiment of serious solicitude as he strove toremove from his own person and his son’s the signs of their tramp over heavy roads and through wet fields。He scraped the mud off Bibi’s bare legs and feet witha stick and carefully removed all traces from his heavy brogans。Then，preparedfor the worst—the meeting with an over-scrupulous housewife，they entered cautiously at the back door。
32.Calixta was preparing supper。She had set the table and was dripping coffee at the hearth。She sprang up as they came in。
33.“Oh，Bobint！You back！My！but I was uneasy。W’ere you been during the rain？An’Bibi？he ain’t wet？he ain’t hurt？”She had clasped Bibi and was kissing him effusively。Bobint’s explanations and apologies which he had been composingall along the way，died on his lips as Calixta felt him to see if he were dry，and seemed to express nothing but satisfaction at their safe return。
34.“I brought you some shrimps，Calixta。”offered Bobint，hauling the can fromhis ample side pocket and laying it on the table。
35.“Shrimps！Oh，Bobint！you too good fo’anything！”and she gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek that resounded，“J’vous réponds，we’ll have a feas’to-night！umph-umph！”
cushioned：adj。像垫子一样的
dazed：adj。头昏沉沉的
enervated：adj。无力的
stroke：v。抚摸
soothingly：adv。安慰地
rhythm：n。节奏
muscular：adj。强健的
yield：v。屈服
gem：n。宝石
trudge：v。跋涉
cistern：n。水池
presentable：adj。体面的
pathetic：adj。可怜的，悲惨的
resignation：n。顺从
embodiment：n。化身
solicitude：n。关怀
over-scrupulous：adj。过于仔细的
haul：v。拖，拉
ample：adj。饱满的
smacking：adj。发出响声的
resound：v。回响
36.Bobint and Bibi began to relax and enjoy themselves，and when the three seated themselves at table they laughed much and so loud that anyone might have heard them as far away as Laballière’s。
37.Alcée Laballière wrote to his wife，Clarisse，that night。It was a loving letter，full of tender solicitude。He told her not to hurry back，but if she andthe babies liked it at Biloxi，to stay a month longer。He was getting on nicely and though he missed them，he was willing to bear the separation a while longer—realizing that their health and pleasure were the first things to be considered。
38.As for Clarisse，she was charmed upon receiving her husband’s letter。She and the babies were doing well。The society was agreeable many ofher old friendsand acquaintances were at the bay。And the first free breath since her marriageseemed to restore the pleasant liberty of her maiden days。Devoted as she was to her husband，their intimate conjugal life was something which she was more than willing to forego for a while。
tender：adj。温柔的
charm：v。使陶醉
agreeable：adj。惬意的
acquaintance：n。相识，熟人
intimate：adj。亲密的
conjugal adj。夫妇间的
forego：v。领先
39.So the storm passed and every one was happy。
评注：暴风雨过后，一切恢复平静。卡利科斯塔和阿尔塞重新恢复了他们在家庭中的角色。卡利科斯塔和阿尔塞之间的一段插曲也仅仅是“插曲”而已，然而，它却暴露个人对激情的自然欲望。肖邦所讨论的问题是当时社会不被公开讨论的问题，即性欲的问题。个人的性欲是要从属社会常规还是尊重本我？即使在今天，这个问题也是社会讨论的一个焦点。
Comprehension Exercises
1.What is the significance of the story’s title？
2.Do you think that Calixta and Alcée are satisfied with their marriage？Why？Or why not？
凯特·肖邦（1851—1904）：19世纪美国最重要的女作家。其代表作品《觉醒》（Awakening）因忠实地处理女性婚姻和性问题曾被列为“禁书”，而此恶名恰恰反映了男权社会对女性追求平等自由声音的压制。直到20世纪60年代，肖邦的作品才在女权主义的呼喊声中走出了历史的阴霾。其作品深刻发掘女性意识的觉醒过程，有力批判男权社会婚姻道德对女性追求自由愿望的桎梏，受到了评论界的高度评价。鲜明的女性主题和带有南方地方色彩的书写，使她当之无愧地成为美国第一代女性作家中的一朵奇葩。《一小时的故事》，《暴风雨》是她短篇小说的代表作。这两部作品都真实地反映了男权社会里女性在婚姻生活中所受到的束缚和压抑。
暴风雨
凯特·肖邦
1.树叶纹丝不动，连毕比都觉得天要下雨了。博比诺向来是以绝对平等的身份跟年幼的儿子讲话的。他提醒小毕比，乌云正从西面滚滚涌来，加上闷雷迭起，显然不是好兆头。父子俩此时正在弗里德海姆的商店里买东西，看样子只好等雨过去再回家了。两人坐在店门内的两只空桶上。毕比四岁，一脸灵气。
2.“妈妈自己呆在家里会害怕的，对不对？”他眨巴着眼睛提醒父亲。
3.“妈妈会把房门关好。说不定她今晚会找西尔维来家帮忙。”博比诺安慰着儿子。
4.“不会，西尔维不会来。她昨天刚刚来过。”毕比尖声说。
5.博比诺站起身，走到柜台前，买了一听妻子卡利科斯塔喜欢吃的虾米。然后走回门口，迟钝地坐在空桶上，手里拿着刚买的虾米。暴雨如注，商店的木房子在雨中颤抖，远处的田野被雨水冲成了沟沟洼洼。毕比把一只小手放在父亲的膝盖上，并不感到害怕。
6.卡利科斯塔在家里，没有为父子俩担心。她此刻正坐在一扇侧窗旁边，忙着在缝纫机上做针线活。她专心致志，竟没有注意到暴风雨即将来临。但她觉得很闷热，不时停下手中的活去擦脸上的汗珠，还随手解开了白色宽松服的领扣。天渐渐暗下来，卡利科斯塔突然意识到天要变了，急忙起身去关门窗。
7.她想起博比诺最好的一身衣服还晾在房前的小门廊里，就赶忙出去，想赶在下雨之前把衣服收进来。刚迈出房门，正巧看见阿尔塞·拉巴利埃骑马走进大门。结婚之后，卡利科斯塔很少见到他，也从来没有和他单独在一起待过。她手中刚拿起博比诺的上衣，就一下子呆站在那里了。正在此时，大雨点子开始落下来。阿尔塞牵马走到侧房檐下避雨。屋檐底下有一群鸡挤成一团，靠墙角的地方堆放着犁耙等农具。
8.“卡利科斯塔，我可以在你家门廊上避雨吗？”阿尔塞问。
9.“阿尔塞先生，请进来吧。”
10.阿尔塞问话的声音，还有自己答话的声音，把卡利科斯塔从恍惚呆滞中惊醒。她赶紧去收博比诺的背心。阿尔塞走上门廊的台阶，伸手收起裤子，又一把抓住了几乎被突如其来的狂风吹跑的毕比的镶边上衣。看阿尔塞的神情，似乎是想在房子外面的屋檐下避雨。不过，这显然跟站在露天里没有什么两样。阿尔塞只好走进屋里，回手把门关上。雨下得太大，贴地的门缝直往里灌水，必须找东西堵住才行。
11.“哦，好大的雨！两年没下过这么大的雨了。”卡利科斯塔一面尖叫，一面卷起一条麻袋，阿尔塞帮她把麻袋塞进门缝里。
12.卡利科斯塔比五年前刚结婚时略显丰满，人仍像从前一样充满活力。蓝汪汪的眼睛一水柔情，金黄色的头发叫风雨吹打得散散乱乱，左拧右缠地紧贴在脸上、耳边。
13.雨点使劲地敲打着低矮的木屋顶，发出噼噼啪啪的响声，似乎要击穿房顶，把两人淹没在屋里一般。他们站在餐厅里，这间餐厅同时又是客厅，还放了些零零星星的东西。卡利科斯塔的卧室紧挨着餐厅，里面并排放着毕比的小床和她的大床。卧室门开着，她的床很大，是白颜色的。百叶窗关得很紧，整个卧室显得幽暗神秘。
14.阿尔塞一屁股坐在一张摇椅上，卡利科斯塔有些紧张，伸手拾起一节她刚刚缝制的棉布床单。
15.“雨要是这样下个不停，真不知道会不会把河堤冲垮！”卡利科斯塔大声地说。
16.“你怎么这么关心河堤？”
17.“当然关心了。博比诺和毕比都还没有回家，说不定赶上这场暴风雨。但愿他们知道在弗里德海姆的商店里避避雨！”
18.“卡利科斯塔，你放心，博比诺是个精明人，他能随机应变，肯定不会淋雨的。”
19.卡利科斯塔走到窗前，一脸的惊恐不安。她擦去窗棂上的雾气。屋里十分闷热，阿尔塞站起身，走到她身旁，从她的身后向窗外望去。瓢泼大雨把人看不见的远处的小木屋、远方的树林也笼罩在灰蒙蒙的雾气之中。雷电闪闪，一团火球击中了田边的一棵高大的栋树，所见之处，电光眩目，大树哗啦一声倒了下来，似乎要震碎他们脚下的木地板。
20.卡利科斯塔双手捂住眼睛，惊叫一声，向后跌倒下去。阿尔塞伸手抱住了她。刹那间，他一阵冲动，就势把卡利科斯塔搂到怀里。
21.“天啊！”“卡利科斯塔叫了起来，她从阿尔塞的胳膊里挣脱，离开了窗户，“巨雷会把房子劈碎的。我的毕比现在在哪里啊！”她实在无法控制自己，坐也坐不住。阿尔塞搂住她的肩头，凝视着她的面孔。当他未加思索地把她搂在怀里的那一瞬间，他接触到了卡利科斯塔温暖和颤抖的身体。一时间，旧日的恋情萌动了，他渴望得到卡利科斯塔的肉体。
22.“卡利科斯塔，”他说道，“别怕，不会出事的。房子很矮，周围又有许多很高的树，不会被雷电击中。卡利科斯塔，你听着，你要安静下来。听见了吗，安静下来。”他把卡利科斯塔的头发从脸上抹开。她的脸热乎乎的，满是汗水。她的双唇红红的，湿湿的，像石榴籽。她的脖颈是那么白皙，胸脯是那么丰满挺突，不禁激起阿尔塞一阵阵心的剧烈跳动。卡利科斯塔抬头看着阿尔塞，水汪汪的蓝眼睛里的恐惧消失了，取而代之的是一丝沉迷的光，闪出了对性爱的渴望。阿尔塞低下头，凝视着她的双眼，他现在惟一能做的事就是吻住她的双唇。这一吻使他想起了阿桑普森教区的时光。
23.“卡利科斯塔，你还记得……记得在阿桑普森的日子吗？”他悄声问道，声音里充满了柔情。啊！她当然记得。在阿桑普森的时候，阿尔塞一遍又一遍地吻她，吻到快要失去理智的时候，就绝望地逃开，以这种方法保全卡利科斯塔的贞洁。当时，她虽说已经不是一只天真无邪的小鸽子，但毕竟还是一个洁身纯情的少女。她充满激情，不存戒心。正是她这种毫不抵御的样子帮她筑起一道长城。阿尔塞的荣誉感不容他侵犯姑娘。可是，现在——现在阿尔塞正无拘无束地尽情品尝着她的双唇、她白皙的脖颈和更为白皙的乳房。
24.他们忘记了窗外的倾盆大雨。卡利科斯塔躺在阿尔塞的怀里，在雷鸣电闪中笑了起来。她就是那间神秘卧房里的灵光。她躺在那里，身体像小床一样洁白如玉，结实而富有弹性的肌肤第一次享受了天赋的权利。她的胴体宛如一束奶白色的百合花，在阳光照耀下把自己的生气和芬芳吐向这个不朽的世界。
25.她的感情世界充沛，无遮无掩，像一团白炽的火，烧进了阿尔塞灵魂的最深处，激起了他从未有过的欲火。两团烈火融合在一起。
26.她的乳房在阿尔塞的抚摸下兴奋地颤抖着，渴望得到他的双唇的吮吸。她的嘴湿润得像一汪幸福的甘泉。当他拥有她的一瞬间，两人似乎是在生命神秘的边界上，沉醉在幸福的欢乐之中。
27.阿尔塞懒懒地靠在卡利科斯塔身上，气喘吁吁，神色茫然，浑身乏力。他的心急促地跳动着，像一把榔头敲打着卡利科斯塔的身体。她用一只手揽过阿尔塞的头，双唇轻轻地吻了一下他的前额，另一只手缓缓地、有节奏地抚摸着他坚实的肩膀。
28.炸雷的吼声渐渐远了，消失了。雨点轻轻地敲打着房顶，听起来叫人感到疲乏困倦。但两人却不敢就势沉入梦乡。
29.雨停了。太阳把水珠闪闪的绿色世界变成了光彩斑斓的宫廷圣殿。卡利克斯塔站在门廊上，目送着骑马离去的阿尔塞。阿尔塞转回头，对她笑笑，满脸的喜悦。卡利科斯塔扬起漂亮的下巴，对着天空大笑起来。
30.博比诺和毕比疲惫不堪地走回家。两人在门外的水槽旁边停下，打算把身上收拾一下，叫人看上去不至于如此狼狈。
31.“天啊！毕比，妈妈会怎么说你呢？你这副样子真是丢人现眼。你不该穿这么好的裤子。看看你的裤子都成了什么样子！还有领子上的泥，你怎么会把泥弄到领子上去？毕比，我还没有见过你这么脏的孩子呢。”博比诺一边说，一边极力地把那些穿过泥泞小路和田地时溅上的泥巴从自己和儿子身上洗净。此时，毕比一下子成了叫人万般可怜的对象，而博比诺倒是俨然成为了真切同情的化身。父亲先是用一根小棍抹去毕比双腿上的泥巴。然后两人蹑手蹑脚地从后门溜进屋里，提心吊胆地揣测着百般挑剔的主妇会怎样处置他们父子俩。
32.卡利科斯塔忙着准备晚饭。她已摆好了桌子，此时正在壁炉前滤咖啡。看见父子俩进来，她一下子跳了起来。
33.“啊？博比诺，你可回来了！天啊，我担心死了。下大雨时你在什么地方？还有毕比，他没淋着雨，没伤着吧？”她紧紧地抱住毕比，忘情地吻着儿子。随后，她又去摸博比诺的衣服，看他是不是淋雨了。她的神情似乎在说，只要父子俩平安回来，她就心满意足了。博比诺一路上都在盘算着怎样向妻子解释道歉。可眼下，到了嘴边的话全部都消失得无影无踪了。
34.“卡利科斯塔，我给你买了点虾米，”博比诺把那听虾米从大口袋里掏出来，放在桌子上。
35.“虾米？啊，博比诺，你事事都做得让人喜欢！”她有声有响地吻了一下丈夫的面颊。“大家听着，我们今晚要好好吃一顿，怎么样？”
36.博比诺和毕比心中一块石头落了地，两人都挺高兴。一家三口在饭桌前坐下，开怀大笑，笑声是那么响，就连住得很远的拉巴利埃一家都会听到。
37.同一天晚上，阿尔塞·拉巴利埃给妻子克拉丽丝写了一封信。信中充满了爱恋和关切。他告诉妻子不必忙着回家，只要她和孩子们喜欢比洛克西，就可以在那里再住上一个月。他自己过得不错，虽然十分想念他们，但自己宁愿再忍受一段分离的痛苦，因为妻子和孩子的健康和幸福比什么都重要。
38.克拉丽丝收到丈夫的信后十分感动。她和孩子们都很好。周围的人友好可亲。她的许多老朋友老相识都聚在海滨。婚后第一次自由自在的呼吸似乎把她带回到了幸福欢快、无拘无束的少女时代。虽然她对丈夫忠贞不二，但她现在更愿意暂时摆脱那种如胶似漆的夫妻恩爱。
39.暴风雨过去了，大家都很快活。
