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Equilibrium Statistical Physics 3rd Edition Michael
Plischke Digital Instant Download
Author(s): Michael Plischke, Birger Bergersen
ISBN(s): 9789812560483, 9812560483
Edition: 3
File Details: PDF, 21.64 MB
Year: 2006
Language: english
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Michael
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World Scientific
EQUILIBRIUM
STATISTICAL
PHYSICS
3rd Edition
This page is intentionally left blank
 EQUILIBRIUM
STATISTICAL

3rd Edition

Michael Plischke
Simon Fraser University, Canada

Birger Bergersen
University of British Columbia, Canada

YJ? World Scientific

NEW JERSEY • LONDON • S I N G A P O R E • BEIJING • S H A N G H A I • H O N G K O N G • TAIPEI • CHENNAI
Published by
World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224
USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Haekensack, NJ 07601
UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Plischke, Michael.
Equilibrium statistical physics / Michael Plischke, Birger Bergersen.-3rd ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 9812560483 (alk. paper) - ISBN 9812561552 (pbk.: alk. paper)
1. Statistical physics-Textbooks. 2. Critical phenomena (Physics)-Textbooks. I.
Bergersen, Birger. II. Title.

QC174.8 .P55 2005

530.13-dc22 2004056775

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Copyright © 2006 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval
system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the Publisher.

For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright
Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to
photocopy is not required from the publisher.

Printed in Singapore by B & JO Enterprise

Contents

Preface to the First Edition xi

Preface to the Second Edition xiv

Preface to the Third Edition xv

1 Review of Thermodynamics 1
1.1 State Variables and Equations of State 1
1.2 Laws of Thermodynamics 3
1.2.1 First law 3
1.2.2 Second law 5
1.3 Thermodynamic Potentials 9
1.4 Gibbs-Duhem and Maxwell Relations 12
1.5 Response Functions 14
1.6 Conditions for Equilibrium and Stability 16
1.7 Magnetic Work 18
1.8 Thermodynamics of Phase Transitions 20
1.9 Problems 24

2 Statistical Ensembles 29
2.1 Isolated Systems: Microcanonical Ensemble 30
2.2 Systems at Fixed Temperature: Canonical Ensemble 35
2.3 Grand Canonical Ensemble 40
2.4 Quantum Statistics 43
2.4.1 Harmonic oscillator 44
2.4.2 Noninteracting fermions 44
2.4.3 Noninteracting bosons 45
2.4.4 Density matrix 46

v
vi Contents

2.5 Maximum Entropy Principle 48

2.6 Thermodynamic Variational Principles 53
2.6.1 Schottky defects in a crystal 53
2.7 Problems 54

3 Mean Field and Landau Theory 63

3.1 Mean Field Theory of the Ising Model 64
3.2 Bragg-Williams Approximation 67
3.3 A Word of Warning 69
3.4 Bethe Approximation 71
3.5 Critical Behavior of Mean Field Theories 74
3.6 Ising Chain: Exact Solution 77
3.7 Landau Theory of Phase Transitions 83
3.8 Symmetry Considerations 86
3.8.1 Potts model 87
3.9 Landau Theory of Tricritical Points 90
3.10 Landau-Ginzburg Theory for Fluctuations 94
3.11 Multicomponent Order Parameters: n-Vector Model 98
3.12 Problems 100

4 Applications of Mean Field Theory 109

4.1 Order-Disorder Transition 110
4.2 Maier-Saupe Model 114
4.3 Blume-Emery-Griffiths Model 120
4.4 Mean Field Theory of Fluids: van der Waals Approach 123
4.5 Spruce Budworm Model 129
4.6 A Non-Equilibrium System: Two Species Asymmetric Exclusion
Model 132
4.7 Problems 137

5 Dense Gases and Liquids 143

5.1 Virial Expansion 145
5.2 Distribution Functions 151
5.2.1 Pair correlation function 151
5.2.2 BBGKY hierarchy 157
5.2.3 Ornstein-Zernike equation 158
5.3 Perturbation Theory 161
5.4 Inhomogeneous Liquids 163
5.4.1 Liquid-vapor interface 164
Contents vii

5.4.2 Capillary waves 169

5.5 Density-Functional Theory 171
5.5.1 Functional differentiation 171
5.5.2 Free-energy functional and correlation functions . . . . 174
5.5.3 Applications 179
5.6 Problems 181

6 Critical Phenomena I 183

6.1 Ising Model in Two Dimensions 184
6.1.1 Transfer matrix 184
6.1.2 Transformation to an interacting fermion problem . . . 188
6.1.3 Calculation of eigenvalues 191
6.1.4 Thermodynamic functions 194
6.1.5 Concluding remarks 199
6.2 Series Expansions 199
6.2.1 High-temperature expansions 200
6.2.2 Low-temperature expansions 206
6.2.3 Analysis of series 206
6.3 Scaling 211
6.3.1 Thermodynamic considerations 211
6.3.2 Scaling hypothesis 212
6.3.3 Kadanoff block spins 215
6.4 Finite-Size Scaling 218
6.5 Universality 223
6.6 Kosterlitz-Thouless Transition 226
6.7 Problems 233

7 Critical Phenomena II: The Renormalization Group 237

7.1 The Ising Chain Revisited 238
7.2 Fixed Points 242
7.3 An Exactly Solvable Model: Ising Spins on a Diamond Fractal 248
7.4 Position Space Renormalization: Cumulant Method 258
7.4.1 First-order approximation 262
7.4.2 Second-order approximation 264
7.5 Other Position Space Renormalization
Group Methods 267
7.5.1 Finite lattice methods 267
7.5.2 Adsorbed monolayers: Ising antiferromagnet 268
7.5.3 Monte Carlo renormalization 272
viii Contents

7.6 Phenomenological Renormalization Group 275

7.7 The e-Expansion 279
7.7.1 The Gaussian model 281
7.7.2 The S4 model 284
7.7.3 Conclusion 290
Appendix: Second Order Cumulant Expansion 292
7.8 Problems 295

8 Stochastic Processes 303

8.1 Markov Processes and the Master Equation 304
8.2 Birth and Death Processes 306
8.3 Branching Processes 309
8.4 Fokker-Planck Equation 313
8.5 Fokker-Planck Equation with Several Variables: SIR Model . . 316
8.6 Jump Moments for Continuous Variables 321
8.6.1 Brownian motion 323
8.6.2 Rayleigh and Kramers equations 326
8.7 Diffusion, First Passage and Escape 328
8.7.1 Natural boundaries: The Kimura-Weiss model for
genetic drift 329
8.7.2 Artificial boundaries 331
8.7.3 First passage time and escape probability 332
8.7.4 Kramers escape rate 337
8.8 Transformations of the Fokker-Planck Equation 340
8.8.1 Heterogeneous diffusion 340
8.8.2 Transformation to the Schrodinger equation 343
8.9 Problems 345

9 Simulations 349
9.1 Molecular Dynamics 350
9.1.1 Conservative molecular dynamics 351
9.1.2 Brownian dynamics 353
9.1.3 Data analysis 355
9.2 Monte Carlo Method 357
9.2.1 Discrete time Markov processes 358
9.2.2 Detailed balance and the Metropolis algorithm 359
9.2.3 Histogram methods 363
9.3 Data Analysis 365
9.3.1 Fluctuations 365
Contents ix

9.3.2 Error estimates 367

9.3.3 Extrapolation to the thermodynamic limit 368
9.4 The Hopfield Model of Neural Nets 371
9.5 Simulated Quenching and Annealing 376
9.6 Problems 379

10 Polymers and Membranes 383

10.1 Linear Polymers 384
10.1.1 The freely jointed chain 386
10.1.2 The Gaussian chain 389
10.2 Excluded Volume Effects: Flory Theory 391
10.3 Polymers and the n-Vector Model 395
10.4 Dense Polymer Solutions 400
10.5 Membranes 405
10.5.1 Phantom membranes 406
10.5.2 Self-avoiding membranes 409
10.5.3 Liquid membranes 415
10.6 Problems 418

11 Quantum Fluids 421

11.1 Bose Condensation 422
11.2 Superfluidity 430
11.2.1 Qualitative features of superfluidity 430
11.2.2 Bogoliubov theory of the 4 He excitation spectrum . . . 439
11.3 Superconductivity 442
11.3.1 Cooper problem 443
11.3.2 BCS ground state 445
11.3.3 Finite-temperature BCS theory 449
11.3.4 Landau-Ginzburg theory of superconductivity 453
11.4 Problems 456

12 Linear Response Theory 461

12.1 Exact Results 462
12.1.1 Generalized susceptibility and the structure factor . . . 462
12.1.2 Thermodynamic properties 469
12.1.3 Sum rules and inequalities 470
12.2 Mean Field Response 472
12.2.1 Dielectric function of the electron gas 473
12.2.2 Weakly interacting Bose gas 475
x Contents

12.2.3 Excitations of the Heisenberg ferromagnet 477

12.2.4 Screening and plasmons 480
12.2.5 Exchange and correlation energy 486
12.2.6 Phonons in metals 487
12.3 Entropy Production, the Kubo Formula, and the Onsager Rela-
tions for Transport Coefficients 490
12.3.1 Kubo formula 490
12.3.2 Entropy production and generalized currents and forces 492
12.3.3 Microscopic reversibility: Onsager relations 494
12.4 The Boltzmann Equation 498
12.4.1 Fields, drift and collisions 498
12.4.2 DC conductivity of a metal 500
12.4.3 Thermal conductivity and thermoelectric effects . . . . 503
12.5 Problems 507

13 Disordered Systems 513

13.1 Single-Particle States in Disordered Systems 515
13.1.1 Electron states in one dimension 516
13.1.2 Transfer matrix 517
13.1.3 Localization in three dimensions 523
13.1.4 Density of states 525
13.2 Percolation 530
13.2.1 Scaling theory of percolation 533
13.2.2 Series expansions and renormalization group 536
13.2.3 Rigidity percolation 540
13.2.4 Conclusion 542
13.3 Phase Transitions in Disordered Materials 542
13.3.1 Statistical formalism and the replica trick 544
13.3.2 Nature of phase transitions 546
13.4 Strongly Disordered Systems 551
13.4.1 Molecular glasses 552
13.4.2 Spin glasses 554
13.4.3 Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model 558
13.5 Problems 565

A Occupation Number Representation 569

Bibliography 583

Index 603
Preface to the First Edition
During the last decade each of the authors has regularly taught a graduate or
senior undergraduate course in statistical mechanics. During this same period,
the renormalization group approach to critical phenomena, pioneered by K. G.
Wilson, greatly altered our approach to condensed matter physics. Since its
introduction in the context of phase transitions, the method has found appli-
cation in many other areas of physics, such as many-body theory, chaos, the
conductivity of disordered materials, and fractal structures. So pervasive is its
influence that we feel that it now essential that graduate students be intro-
duced at an early stage in their career to the concepts of scaling, universality,
fixed points, and renormalization transformations, which were developed in
the context of critical phenomena, but are relevant in many other situations.
In this book we describe both the traditional methods of statistical mechan-
ics and the newer techniques of the last two decades. Most graduate students
are exposed to only one course in statistical physics. We believe that this
course should provide a bridge from the typical under-graduate course (usu-
ally concerned primarily with noninteracting systems such as ideal gases and
paramagnets) to the sophisticated concepts necessary to a researcher.
We begin with a short chapter on thermodynamics and continue, in Chap-
ter 2, with a review of the basics of statistical mechanics. We assume that the
student has been exposed previously to the material of these two chapters and
thus our treatment is rather concise. We have, however, included a substantial
number of exercises that complement the review.
In Chapter 3 we begin our discussion of strongly interacting systems with a
lengthy exposition of mean field theory. A number of examples are worked out
in detail. The more general Landau theory of phase transitions is developed
and used to discuss critical points, tricritical points, and first-order phase tran-
sitions. The limitations of mean field and Landau theory are described and
the role of fluctuations is explored in the framework of the Landau-Ginzburg
model.

xi
Xll Preface

Chapter 4 is concerned with the theory of dense gases and liquids. Many
of the techniques commonly used in the theory of liquids have a long history
and are well described in other texts. Nevertheless, we feel that they are
sufficiently important that we could not omit them. The traditional method
of viral expansions is presented and we emphasize the important role played
in both theory and experiment by the pair correlation function. We briefly
describe some of the useful and still popular integral equation methods based
on the Ornstein-Zernike equation used to calculate this function as well as the
modern perturbation theories of liquids. Simulation methods (Monte Carlo
and molecular dynamics) are introduced. In the final section of the chapter
we present an interesting application of mean field theory, namely the van der
Waals theory of the liquid-vapor interface and a simple model of roughening
of this interface due to capillary waves.
Chapters 5 and 6 are devoted to continuous phase transitions and crit-
ical phenomena. In Chapter 5 we review the Onsager solution of the two-
dimensional Ising model on the square lattice and continue with a description
of the series expansion methods, which were historically very important in the
theory of critical phenomena. We formulate the scaling theory of phase tran-
sitions following the ideas of Kadanoff, introduce the concept of universality
of critical behavior, and conclude with a mainly qualitative discussion of the
Kosterlitz-Thouless theory of phase transitions in two-dimensional systems
with continuous symmetry.
Chapter 6 is entirely concerned with the renormalization group approach to
phase transitions. The ideas are introduced by means of technically straight-
forward calculations for the one- and two-dimensional Ising models. We discuss
the role of the fixed points of renormalization transformations and show how
the theory leads to universal critical behavior. The original e-expansion of
Wilson and Fisher is also discussed. This section is rather detailed, as we have
attempted to make it accessible to students without a background in field
theory.
In Chapter 7 we turn to quantum fluids and discuss the ideal Bose gas,
the weakly interacting Bose gas, the BCS theory of superconductivity, and the
phenomenological Landau-Ginzburg theory of superconductivity. Our treat-
ment of these topics (except for the ideal Bose gas) is very much in the spirit of
mean field theory and provides more challenging applications of the formalism
developed in Chapter 3.
Chapter 8 is devoted to linear response theory. The fluctuation-dissipation
theorem, the Kubo formalism, and the Onsager relations for transport coef-
ficients are discussed. This chapter is consistent with our emphasis on equi-
librium phenomena — in the linear response approximation the central role is
Preface xni

played by equilibrium correlation functions. A number of applications of the

formalism, such as the dielectric response of an electron gas, the elementary
excitations of a Heisenberg ferromagnet, and the excitation spectrum of an
interacting Bose fluid, are discussed in detail. The complementary approach
to transport via the linearized Boltzmann equation is also presented.
Chapter 9 provides an introduction to the physics of disordered materials.
We discuss the effect of disorder on the quantum states of a system and in-
troduce (as an example) the notion of localization of electronic states by an
explicit calculation for a one-dimensional model. Percolation theory is intro-
duced and its analogy to thermal phase transitions is elucidated. The nature
of phase transitions in disordered materials is discussed and we conclude with
a very brief and qualitative description of the glass and spin-glass transitions.
These subjects are all very much at the forefront of current research and we
do not claim to be at all comprehensive in our treatment. In compensation,
we have provided a more extensive list of references to recent articles on these
topics than elsewhere in the book.
We have found the material presented here suitable for an introductory
graduate course, or with some selectivity, for a senior undergraduate course.
A student with a previous course in statistical mechanics, some background
in quantum mechanics, and preferably, some exposure to solid state physics
should be adequately prepared. The notation of second quantization is used
extensively in the latter part of the book and the formalism is developed in de-
tail in the Appendix. The instructor should be forewarned that although some
of the problems, particularly in the early chapters, are quite straightforward,
those toward the end of the book can be rather challenging.
Much of this book deals with topics on which there is a great deal of recent
research. For this reason we have found it necessary to give a large number of
references to journal articles. Whenever possible, we have referred to recent
review articles rather than to the original sources.
The writing of this book has been an ongoing (frequently interrupted) pro-
cess for a number of years. We have benefited from discussion with, and critical
comments from, a number of our colleagues. In particular, Ian Affleck, Leslie
Ballentine, Robert Barrie, John Berlinsky, Peter Holdsworth, Zoltan Racz, and
Bill Unruh have been most helpful. Our students Dan Ciarniello, Victor Fin-
berg and Barbara Frisken have also helped to decrease the number of errors,
ambiguities, and obscurities. The responsibility for the remaining faults rests
entirely with the authors.
MICHAEL PLISCHKE
BIRGER BERGERSEN
Preface to the Second Edition
During the five years that have passed since the first edition of this book
was published, we have received numerous helpful suggestions from friends
and colleagues both at our own institutions and at others. As well, the field of
statistical mechanics had continued to evolve. In composing this second edition
we have attempted to take all of this into account. The purpose of the book
remains the same: to provide an introduction to state-of-the-art techniques in
statistical physics for graduate students in physics, chemistry and materials
science.
While the general structure of the second edition is very similar to that of
the first edition, there are a number of important additions. The rather ab-
breviated treatment of computer simulations has been expanded considerably
and now forms a separate Chapter 7. We have included an introduction to
density-functional methods in the chapter on classical liquids. We have added
an entirely new Chapter 8 on polymers and membranes. In the discussion
of critical phenomena, we have corrected an important omission of the first
edition and have added sections on finite-size scaling and phenomenological
renormalization group. Finally, we have considerably expanded the discussion
of spin-glasses and have also added a number of new problems. We have also
compiled a solution manual which is available from the publisher.
It goes without saying that we have corrected those errors of the first edition
that we are aware of. In this task we have been greatly helped by a number
of individuals. In particular, we are grateful to Vinay Ambegaokar, Leslie
Ballentine, David Boal, Bill Dalby, Zoltan Racz, Byron Southern and Philip
Stamp.

Michael Plischke
Birger Bergersen
Vancouver, Canada

xiv
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 V

Durante el almuerzo, Meg se mantuvo en silencio, melancólica y

como fatigada. Sus ojos, verde-remanso, yacían misteriosamente en
la sombra violácea de las ojeras, y miraban, sin parpadear, con larga
caricia á Alberto, el cual, aun cuando estaba muy determinado en
hacerse el indiferente y muy seguro de sí propio, concluyó por
entregarse á la fascinación de las acuosas pupilas, respondiendo á la
asiduidad de sus miradas con otras, de su parte, no menos
amorosas, y un sí es no es acarneradas. Entre tanto se decía:
«¿acaso los pensamientos de esta mañana no eran sino sofismas
sentimentales, provocados por la certidumbre de que Meg amaba á
Ettore? ¿Es posible que no fueran sino ridículos y engañosos lenitivos
que á mí mismo me aplicaba?» Bajo el hechizo de los ojos verdes
Alberto no sabía qué pensar, pero estaba resuelto á romper con
Meg, en la primera conversación que tuvieran.
Después de almorzar, así que Bob se adormeció en su
acostumbrado butacón, Alberto descendió al bosquecillo de
araucarias. Meg, tendida en la hamaca, leía. Alberto se adelantó con
pie lento; su espíritu temblaba en un filo de enorme incertidumbre,
como si la balanza de su porvenir estuviera en el fiel y en inminencia
de doblarse para siempre: en un platillo, la liberación; en el otro, el
amor delirante, fatídico, eterno por aquella mujer. De ella —un
gesto, un ademán, una sonrisa, una palabra— quizá dependiese
todo. Aquellos instantes ligeros, volando entre la penumbra
perfumada del bosque, eran la conjunción suprema del pasado y el
futuro.
 —¿Por qué no te acercas á besarme? —preguntó Meg, con voz
lenta y suplicante.
—Porque no he venido á besarte, sino á hablar contigo de
asuntos serios —respondió Alberto severamente. Meg compuso una
muequecita tan desolada, tan zalamera, tan inocente, que Alberto
perdió la serenidad. Adelantóse un paso, y mordiendo las palabras,
murmuró—: ¡No tienes vergüenza!
Meg no respondió; pero sus ojos se iluminaron de sutil alegría;
por dominar la sonrisa, sus mejillas temblaban. Alberto, que lo
advertía claramente, repitió:
—¡No tienes vergüenza! ¿Lo has oído?
Meg inclinó la cabeza en señal de asentimiento. Una lengüecilla
de oro bajó desde la frente á besarle, trémula, los ojos. Con la mano
blanquísima, que azuleaba en la penumbra, redujo el rizo á su lugar
correspondiente, y como éste se obstinara en insubordinarse, Meg
hizo un gesto de contrariedad como si el tocado fuera lo único que le
preocupase en tales circunstancias. Domeñado el díscolo mechón,
Meg se puso á mirar á Alberto con infantil insolencia. El hombre,
cada vez con mayor desvarío, continuó:
—Pero ¿tú creías que á mí se me engañaba como á un pipi?
Meg sacó lindamente el hociquito, como diciendo: ¡Jesús, qué
palabra!
Alberto, exasperándose progresivamente, no apartaba los ojos del
rostro de la niña, descifrando su lenguaje mímico. Pero la respiración
de Meg, rápida y anhelante, y el agitado movimiento del frágil torso
eran cosas que no existían para él. El gesto de reprobación irónica
con que Meg recibió la palabra pipi, aprendida por Alberto en las
noches orgiásticas de la vida libertina madrileña, y pronunciada
ahora involuntariamente, le enfureció más aún en su interior. Sin
freno ya, refirió descaradamente su espionaje y el hallazgo de las
cartas. En este punto de su discurso, hubiera sido un gran alivio para
él, y así lo deseaba con toda vehemencia, que Meg replicara
ofendida, echándole en cara la bajeza de su conducta. Pero Meg no
desplegó los labios; sus ojos seguían bañados de alegría misteriosa y
la piel de los pómulos estremecida. Entonces Alberto la oprimió un
brazo, con bárbara violencia, á tiempo que, acuñando las sílabas,
pronunciaba una palabra soez. Retrocedió, espantado de sí mismo,
llevándose las manos al rostro. Meg rompió á llorar. Y lloraba de
alegría. Entre las lágrimas suspiraba:
—¡Cómo me quieres! ¡Cómo te quiero!
—¿Eh? —interrogó Alberto, atónito, dejando caer las manos á los
lados del cuerpo.
—¡Cómo me quieres! ¡Cómo te quiero!
Arrebatadamente, Alberto fué sobre Meg, la tomó por las sienes y
aproximándose hasta casi unir las frentes, buceó en los ojos
verdiclaros hasta desentrañar los últimos limbos de aquella profunda
alma femenina.
—¿Te quiero? —preguntó Meg con desmayado soplo.
—Sí.
Oyóse la voz de Nancy:
—Meg; ven un momento.
Alberto quedó á solas. Su sér, convulso y descompuesto poco
antes, había sufrido nueva trasmutación. Disipáronse, como por arte
de encantamiento, la lumbrarada y humareda que le habían
abrasado y desvanecido los últimos días. La balanza se había
rendido del lado de la liberación. Había llegado prematuramente á
una convicción, cuando su ímpetu sensual y su desconcierto
espiritual no habían cuajado aún en sentimiento de raíces duraderas.
Muerta la incertidumbre, muerta la zozobra, muerta la ansiedad,
muerta la esperanza, muertas todas las potencias misteriosas que
presiden al nacimiento del genuino amor. Ahora, sólo sentía por Meg
un á manera de interés ético ó afecto maternal. La alegría de
sentirse otra vez en imperio de sí propio, se acibaraba con la
compasión que le inspiraba Meg. Accidentalmente, tomó el libro que
la niña había dejado sobre la hamaca y lo hojeó al azar. Era una
antología de poetas norteamericanos. Sus ojos fueron á posarse en
un poema de J. G. Whittier[2]; Telling the Bees.

Here is the place; right over the hill

Runs the path I took;
You can see the gap in the old wall still,
And the stepping-stones in the shallow brook.

There is the house, with the gate red-barred,

And the poplars tall;
And the barn’s brown length, and the cattle-yard,
And the white horns tossing above the wall.

There are the beehives ranged in the sun;

And down by the brink
Of the brook are her poor flowers, weed —o’errun—,
Pansy and daffodil, rose and pink.

¿No era la casa de Fina en Villaclara? En aquellos mismos

instantes ¿no estaría Fina esperándole, cantando, por alimentar la
confianza, á la vera de la ringla de colmenas? ¿No era Fina el escudo
contra el peligro de toda loca pasión futura, y corona de rosas para
una frente serena? ¿No le unía aún á Fina un amor hecho amistad
estrecha, incorruptible como un diamante?
Formulaba Alberto en su pensamiento estas que no eran
preguntas sino en la forma retórica, que en sustancia eran
afirmaciones, cuando retornó Meg. Se agazapó al flanco de Alberto,
como buscando protección para su alma quebradiza y caprichosa.
Era en aquel punto una criatura toda humildad, solicitud y
renunciamiento. Dijo:
 —Lo que tú sabes mejor que yo, no tengo para qué contártelo. Yo
me hubiera alegrado de que nunca lo hubieras sabido, pero me doy
por satisfecha al ver que de un mal puede venir un bien tan grande
como el que ahora siento. Es verdad que fuí una loca, que fuí muy
mala, muy mala. Yo quiero ser siempre buena, pero no sé cómo, á
veces hay una fuerza extraña que no sé de dónde viene, y me obliga
á hacer maldades. ¡Si supieras cuánto he llorado, desesperada de no
ser nunca dueña de mí misma! Llegué á atribuirlo á la influencia de
mi casa, á esa desesperación sorda y continua que hay siempre en
mi casa; á esa tristeza que no es una tristeza tranquila como otras
tristezas, sino una tristeza agria que le envenena á una. Y entonces,
fuera como fuera, aun cometiendo una falta para toda la vida, decidí
escaparme de casa, y estaba segura de que en huyendo iba á llegar
á ser buena. Yo no sé si me explico, ó si tú me entiendes. Te juro
que digo la verdad. Lo de Ettore... ¡Yo qué sé! Quiero llorar... ¿Ves?
Una de tantas cosas como hago sin saber cómo, arrastrada,
sufriendo. Pero ahora me parece que comienza una nueva vida.
Nunca me he sentido tan buena como hoy, ni tan segura, y es que
me parece que me apoyo en tu corazón. (Una pausa.) Ahora te digo;
puedes pedir mi mano á papá.
—Meg, niñita mía, ¿eres realmente buena?
Meg levantó sus ojos con dulce desolación infantil, como
preguntando: ¿es posible que lo dudes?
—Vamos á probarlo ahora. Si estás segura de ti misma como
dices, y sientes que comienza una nueva vida, prepárate á oirme con
entereza. No puedo pedir tu mano á tu padre, porque sería una
locura. Olvida todo lo pasado. Yo no puedo ser tu novio, menos aún
tu marido. Te quiero, sí, como un hermano mayor, quizá como un
padre.
 Meg atribuyó estas frases á un deseo de chancear, pero al ver el
rostro de Alberto y su severidad noble, comprendió que todo se
había perdido para ella.
—¿Por qué me has engañado?
—No te he engañado, Meg. Yo era el engañado, no porque tú me
engañases, que yo á mí mismo me engañaba.
—Sí, sí, lo comprendo. He llegado á quererte demasiado, y
demasiado pronto. Lo comprendo.
—Quizá sí.
—¿Y qué piensas hacer?
—Marcharme mañana mismo en el vapor de las siete.
—¿Y sabes que tu marcha puede ser la muerte de papá... y la
mía?
—La muerte, para tu padre, será una solución. ¿La tuya? ¿No me
acabas de asegurar que te consideras fuerte y tranquila?
—Creo que te he escuchado y respondido con perfecta
tranquilidad.
—Pues yo te digo que la vida es buena, siempre que sepamos
nosotros conducirla bien. Y yo te digo, además, que debes ser feliz y
que serás feliz.
—¡Feliz...! No sé cómo.
—Meg, niñita mía —la besó en la frente—; espera y confía.
—¿Qué vas á decir á papá?
—Nada. Marcharé sin que él lo sospeche.
—¿Quieres que baje á despedirte al jardín, mañana?
—Lo quisiera, pero creo que es mejor que no bajes. Adiós.
—¿No me das otro beso?
Alberto quiso besarla en la frente, pero Meg echó la cabeza hacia
atrás y recibió el beso en la boca.
 —Adiós, Alberto, y mira si soy fuerte que no lloro —pero cada
palabra se desprendía de sus labios temblando como una lágrima.
 VI
Aún hay sol en las bardas.
Don Quijote.

He aquí la casa, y el sendero que desciende de la colina, y la

pasadera de piedras sobre el arroyo, y los altos álamos emboscando
la vivienda, y el portón de rojos barrotes, y el muro, bajo y viejo.
Alberto, en tres días de viaje había olvidado tres años de vida y
soldado el instante presente con aquel otro de la despedida de la
estación de Pilares, cuando su ideal era la casita modesta, entre el
bosque y el mar. Camino de Villaclara se decía: aún hay sol en las
bardas.
Apoyándose sobre la tapia y con el pulso agitado, tendió una
ojeada sobre el jardín. El arroyo lo atravesaba, y siguiendo el
compás danzarín del agua, margaritas y narcisos, rosas y claveles,
corrían á lo largo de las márgenes. Allí estaban las colmenas de Fina,
y yaciendo en lo verde una masa negra que se enderezó de pronto.
Un rostro consumido, atormentado é iracundo, como el de una sibila
decrépita, se encaró con Alberto, y unas manos, de dedos
epilépticos y luengas uñas, comenzaron á conjurar maleficios sobre
él. De la lóbrega y desdentada boca volaron roncas palabras.
—¡Que el mexo del sapo te emponzoñe la lengua; esa lengua de
falsedad. Que las anxiguas fediondas te coman la cara; esa cara
traidora en el afalagar. Que las llocas aviésporas te saquen los ojos;
esos ojos de criminal. Que en el cucho de tu corazón maldito haga
su nido el alacrán. Que en por los siglos de los siglos te queme el
alma Satanás![3].
Era tita Anastasia. Alberto apenas tuvo fuerzas para interrogar:
—¿Fina?
—Pregúntaslo y tú la mataste. ¡Arreniego!

Florencia-Noviembre-1911.
 ADVERTENCIA

Los antecedentes de algunos personajes de esta novela han sido

narrados en dos novelas anteriores, Tinieblas en las cumbres y A. M.
D. G.
La Pata de la Raposa está estrechamente ligada, y de ellas
recibirá luz en ciertos puntos oscuros, con otras dos novelas, Las
Mellizas y Troteras y Danzaderas, que aparecerán muy pronto.
 ÍNDICE

Páginas.

Parte primera.—La noche. 7

Parte segunda. 201

Parte tercera.—La tarde. 321

 NOTAS
[1] ¿Qué es el hombre? ¿De dónde viene? ¿Adónde va?

[2] Lo que dicen las abejas.

Aquí es. Colina arriba, va el sendero que yo tomé. Aún está aquí el trozo
derrumbado de la vieja tapia, y la pasadera de piedra en el agua.
He allí la casa, con el portón de barrotes rojos, y los altos álamos, y la
caperuza parda del henil, y el establo. Y los blancos cuernos que
balanceándose asoman por el muro.
He allí las colmenas, alineadas al sol. Y en las márgenes del arroyo, las
flores humildes, pródigas de simiente, margaritas y narcisos, rosas y
claveles.

[3] Mexo = orina. Anxiguas = viruelas. Fediondas = hediondas. Afalagar

= halagar. Aviésporas = avispas. Cucho = estiércol.
 Nota de transcripción

Los errores de imprenta han sido corregidos sin avisar. Para detectarlos se ha
consultado una edición posterior de esta obra.
La ortografía del original ha sido normalizada a la grafía de mayor frecuencia.
De un modo global, se ha substituido «por que» por «porque», cuando es
conjunción causal, y «con que» por «conque», cuando es conjunción ilativa.
Se ha corregido la ortografía de nombres propios, citas y expresiones en lenguas
distintas del castellano.
Se han añadido tildes a las mayúsculas que las necesitan y se han espaciado las
rayas —o guiones largos—.
Las páginas en blanco han sido eliminadas.
Las notas a pie de página se han renumerado y colocado al final del libro.
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LA PATA DE LA
RAPOSA (NOVELA) ***

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