frances waldeaux-第14节

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〃The　prince　himselfthe　Joneses　told　me；　there　can　be　no　doubtthe　prince　makes　soap　for　a　living！　　No　wonder　you　turn　pale；　Miss　Vance。　　Soap！　　He　is　the　silent　partner　in　the　firm　of　Woertz　und　Zimmer；　and　it　is　not　a　paying　business　either。〃

Jean　did　not　wait　for　an　answer；　but　walked　up　and　down　the　room；　laughing　angrily　to　herself。　　〃Yes；　soap！　　He　cannot　sneer　at　Lucy's　ancestral　saddles；　now。　　Nor　my　father's　saws！　　His　rank　is　the　only　thing　he　has　to　give　for　Lucy's　millions；　and　now　she　knows　what　it　is　worth！〃

Lucy　rose　and；　picking　up　her　work　basket；　walked　quietly　out　of　the　room。　　Jean　flashed　an　indignant　glance　after　her。

〃She　might　have　told　me　that　he　gave　himself！　　Surely　the　man　counts　for　something！　　Anyhow；　rank　like　his　is　not　smirched　by　poverty　or　trade。　　Bismarck　himself　brews　beer。〃

〃Your　temper　is　contradictory　to…day；〃　said　Clara　coldly。　　〃Did　you　know；〃　she　said　presently；　〃that　the　princesses　will　be　at　the　Countess　von　Amte's　to…morrow？〃

〃Then　we　shall　meet　them！〃　cried　Jean。　　〃Then　something　will　be　settled。〃

Lucy　locked　the　door　of　her　chamber　after　her。　She　found　much　comfort　in　the　tiny　bare　room　with　its　white　walls　and　blue　stove；　and　the　table　where　lay　her　worn　Bible　and　a　picture　of　her　old　home。　　The　room　seemed　a　warm　home　to　her　now。　　Above　the　wall　she　had　hung　photographs　of　the　great　Madonnas；　and　lately　she　had　placed　one　of　Frances　Waldeaux　among　them。　　That　was　the　face　on　which　she　looked　last　at　night。　　When　Clara　had　noticed　it；　Lucy　had　said；　〃I　am　as　fond　of　the　dear　lady　as　if　she　were　my　own　mother。〃

She　sat　down　before　it　now；　and　taking　out　her　sewing　began　to　work；　glancing　up　at　it；　half　smiling　as　to　a　friend　who　talked　to　her。　　She　thought　of　Furst　Hugo　boiling　soap；　with　a　gentle　pity；　and　of　Jean　with　hot　disdain。　　What　had　Jean　to　do　with　it？　　The　prince　was　her　own　lover；　as　her　gloves　were　her　own。

But　indeed；　the　prince　and　love　were　but　shadows　on　the　far　sky　line　to　the　little　girl；　the　real　things　were　her　work　and　her　Bible；　and　George's　mother　talking　to　her。　　She　often　traced　remembered　expressions　on　Mrs。　Waldeaux's　face；　the　gayety；　the　sympathy；　a　strange　foreboding　in　the　eyes。　　Finer　meanings；　surely；　than　any　in　the　features　of　these　immortal　insipid　Madonnas！

Sometimes　Lucy　could　not　decide　whether　she　had　seen　these　meanings　on　Frances　Waldeaux's　face；　or　on　her　son's。

She　sewed　until　late　in　the　afternoon。　　There　came　a　tap　at　the　door。　　She　opened　it；　and　there　stood　Mrs。　Waldeaux；　wrapped　in　a　heavy　cloak。　　Lucy　jumped　at　her；　trembling；　and　hugged　her。

〃Oh；　come　in！　　Come　in！〃　she　cried　shrilly。　　〃I　have　just　been　thinking　of　you　and　talking　to　you！〃

Frances　laughed；　bewildered。　　〃Oh；　it　is　Miss　Dunbar？　　The　man　sent　me　here　by　mistake　to　wait。　　Miss　Vance　is　out；　he　said。〃

〃Yes；　I　suppose　so。　　But　II　am　here。〃　　Lucy　threw　her　arms　around　her　again；　laying　her　head　down　on　her　shoulder。　　She　felt　as　if　something　that　she　had　waited　for　a　long　time　was　coming　to　her。　　〃Sit　by　the　stove。　　Your　hands　are　like　ice；〃　she　said。

〃Yes；　I　am　usually　cold　now；　I　don't　know　why。〃

Lucy　then　saw　a　curious　change　in　her　face。　　The　fine　meanings　were　not　in　it　now。　　It　was　fattercoarser；　the　hair　was　dead；　the　eyes　moved　sluggishly；　like　the　glass　eyes　of　a　doll。

〃You　are　always　cold？　　Your　blood　is　thin；　perhaps。　　You　are　overtired；　dear。　　Have　you　travelled　much？〃

〃Oh；　yes！　all　of　the　time。　　I　have　seen　whole　tracts　of　pictures；　and　no　end　of　palaces　and　hotelshotelshotels！〃　Frances　said；　awakening　to　the　necessity　of　being　talkative　and　vivacious　with　the　young　girl。　　She　threw　off　her　cloak。　　There　was　a　rip　in　the　fur；　and　the　dirty　lining　hung　out。　　Lucy　shuddered。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux's　blood　must　have　turned　to　water；　or　she　would　never　have　permitted　that！

〃You　must　rest　now。　　I　will　take　care　of　you；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　nod　of　authority。　　Frances　looked　at　her　perplexed。　　Why　should　this　pretty　creature　mother　her　with　such　tenderness？

Oh！　　It　was　the　girl　that　George　should　have　married！

She　glanced　at　the　white　room　with　its　dainty　bibelots；　the　Bible；　the　Madonnas；　watching；　benign。　　Poor　little　nun；　waiting　for　the　love　that　never　could　come　to　her！

〃I　am　glad　you　are　here；　my　child。　　You　can　tell　me　what　I　want　to　know。　　I　have　not　an　hour　to　spare。　　I　am　going　to　my　sonto　George。　　Do　you　know　where　he　is？〃

〃At　Vannes；　in　Brittany。〃

〃Brittanythat　is　a　long　way。〃　　Frances　rose　uncertainly。　　〃I　hoped　he　was　near。　　I　was　in　a　Russian　village；　and　Clara's　letter　was　long　in　finding　me。　　When　I　got　it；　I　travelled　night　and　day。　　I　somehow　thought　I　should　meet　him　on　the　way。　　I　fancied　he　would　come　to　meet　me。〃

Lucy's　blue　eyes　watched　her　keenly　a　moment。　　Then　she　rang　the　bell。

〃You　must　eat；　first　of　all；〃　she　said。

〃No；　I　am　not　hungry。　　Vannes；　you　said？　　I　must　go　now。　　I　haven't　an　hour。〃

〃You　have　two；　exactly。　　You'll　take　the　express　at　eight。　　Oh；　I'm　never　mistaken　about　a　train。　　Here　is　the　coffee。　　Now；　I'll　make　you　a　nice　sandwich。〃

Frances　was　faint　with　hunger。　　As　she　ate；　she　watched　the　pretty　matter…of…fact　little　girl；　and　laughed　with　delight。　　When　had　she　found　any　thing　so　wholesome？　　It　was　a　year；　too；　since　she　had　seen　any　one　who　knew　George。　　Naturally；　she　began　to　empty　her　heart；　which　was　full　of　him；　to　Lucy。

〃I　have　not　spoken　English　for　months；〃　she　said；　smiling　over　her　coffee。　　〃It　is　a　relief！　　And　you　are　a　friend　of　my　son's；　too？〃

〃No。　　A　mere　acquaintance；〃　said　Lucy；　with　reserve。

〃No　one　could　even　see　George　and　not　understand　how　different　he　is　from　other　men。〃

〃Oh！　altogether　different！〃　said　Lucy。　　〃Yes；　you　understand。　　And　there　was　that　future　before　himwhen　his　trouble　came。　　Oh；　I've　thought　of　it；　and　thought　of　it；　until　my　head　is　tired！　　He　fell　under　that　woman's　influence；　you　see。　　It　was　like　mesmerism；　or　the　voodoo　curse　that　the　negroes　talk　of。　　It　came　on　me　too。　　Why；　there　was　a　time　when　I　despised　him。　　George！〃　　Her　eyes　grew　full　of　horror。　　〃I　left　him；　to　live　my　own　life。　　He　has　staggered　under　his　burden　alone；　and　I　could　have　rid　him　of　it。　　Now　there　are　two　of　them。〃

〃Two　of　them？　〃　said　Lucy　curiously。

〃There　is　a　babyPauline　Felix's　grandson。　　I　beg　your　pardon；　my　child；　I　ought　not　to　have　named　her。　　She　is　not　a　person　whom　you　should　ever　hear　of。　　He　has　them　both；George。　　He　has　that　weight　to　carry。〃　　She　stood　up。　　〃That　is　why　I　am　going　to　him。　　It　must　be　taken　from　him。〃

〃You　meana　divorce？〃

〃I　don't　knowI　can't　think　clearly。　　But　God　does　such　queer　things！　　There　are　millions　of　men　in　the　world；　and　this　curse　falls　onGeorge！〃

Lucy　put　her　hands　on　the　older　woman's　arms　and　seated　her。　　〃Mrs。　Waldeaux；〃　she　said；　with　decision；　〃you　need　sleep；　or　you　would　not　talk　in　that　way。　　Lisa　is　not　a　curse。　　Nor　a　voodoo　witch。　She　came　to　your　son　instead　of　to　any　other　manbecause　he　chose　her　out　from　all　other　women。　　He　had　seen　them。〃　　She　held　her　curly　head　erect。　　〃As　he　did　choose　her；　he　should　make　the　best　of　her。〃

Frances　looked　at　her　as　one　awakened　out　of　a　dream。　　〃You　talk　sensibly；　child。　　Perhaps　you　are　right。　　But　I　must　go。　　Ring　for　a　cab；　please。　　No；　I　will　wait　in　the　station。　　Clara　would　argue　and　lecture。　　I　could　not　stand　that　to…night；〃　with　her　old　comical　shrug。

Lucy's　entreaties　were　vain。

But　as　the　train　rushed　through　the　valley　of　the　Isar　that　night；　Frances　looked　forward　into　the　darkness　with　a　nameless　terror。　　〃That　child　was　so　healthy　and　sane；〃　she　said；　〃I　wish　I　had　stayed　with　her　longer。〃



CHAPTER　XII

Prince　Hugo　had　made　no　secret　of　his　intentions　with　regard　to　Miss　Dunbar；　so　that　when　it　was　known　that　his　sisters　and　the　rich　American　Mees　would　at　last　meet　at　the　Countess　von　Amte's　there　was　a　flutter　of　curiosity　in　the　exclusive　circle　of　Munich。　　The　countess　herself　called　twice　on　Clara　that　day；　so　great　was　her　triumph　that　this　social　event　would　occur　at　her　house。

She　asked　boldly　〃Which　of　Miss　Dunbar's　marvellous　Parisian　confections　will　she　wear？　　It　is　so　important　for　her　future　happiness　that　the　princesses　should　be　favorably　impressed！　　Aber；　lieber　Gott！〃　she　shrieked；　〃don't　let　her　speak　French！　　Not　a　word！　　That　would　be　ruin！　　They　are　all　patriotism！〃　　She　hurried　away；　and　ran　back　to　say　that　the　sun　was　shining　as　it　had　not　done　for　days。

〃She　thinks　nature　itself　is　agog　to　see　how　the　princesses　receive　Lucy；〃　said　Miss　Vance　indignantly。　　〃One　would　suppose　that　the　child　was　on　trial。〃

〃So　she　is。　　Me；　too；〃　said　Jean；　wistfully　regarding　the　bebe　waist　of　the　gown　which　Doucet　had　just　sent　her。　　〃I　must　go　as　an　ingenue。　　I　don't　play　the　part　well！〃

〃No；　you　do　not；〃　said　Clara。

Miss　Vance　tapped　at　Lucy's　door　as　she　went　down；　and　found　her　working　at　her　embroidery。　　〃You　must　lie　down　for　an　hour；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃and　be　fresh　and　rosy　for　this　evening。〃

〃I　am　not　going。　　I　must　finish　these　pinks。　　I　have　just　sent　a　note　of　apology　to　the　countess。〃

〃Not　going！〃　Clara　gasped；　dismayed。　　Then　she　laughed　with　triumph。　　〃The　princesses　and　all　the　Herrschaft　of　Munich　will　be　there　to　pass　judgment