white lies-第14节

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eases。　　He　brought　these　leases　signed；　and　the　baroness　had　scarcely　done　thanking　him；　when　her　other　secret　friend；　Monsieur　Perrin；　was　announced。　　Edouard　exchanged　civilities　with　him；　and　then　retired　to　the　Pleasaunce。　　There　he　found　both　sisters；　who　were　all　tenderness　and　gratitude　to　him。　　By　this　time　he　had　learned　to　value　Josephine：　she　was　so　lovely　and　so　good；　and　such　a　true　womanly　friend　to　him。　　Even　Rose　could　not　resist　her　influence；　and　was　obliged　to　be　kind　to　him；　when　Josephine　was　by。　　But　let　Josephine　go；　and　instead　of　her　being　more　tender；　as　any　other　girl　would；　left　alone　with　her　lover；　sauciness　resumed　its　empire　till　sweet　Josephine　returned。　　Whereof　cometh　an　example；　for　the　said　Josephine　was　summoned　to　a　final　conference　with　the　baroness　and　Monsieur　Perrin。

〃Don't　be　long；〃　said　Rose；　as　Josephine　glided　away；　and　（taking　the　precaution　to　wait　till　she　was　quite　out　of　hearing）；　〃I　shall　be　so　dull；　dear；　till　you　come　back。〃

〃I　shall　not　though；〃　said　Edouard。

〃I　am　not　so　sure　of　that。　　Now　then。〃

〃Now　then；　what？〃

〃Begin。〃

〃Begin　what？〃

〃Amusing　me。〃　　And　she　made　herself　look　sullen　and　unamusable　all　over。

〃I　will　try；〃　said　Riviere。　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　they　say　of　you：　that　you　are　too　young　to　love。〃

〃So　I　am；　much。〃

〃No；　no；　no！　I　made　a　mistake。　　I　mean　too　young　to　be　loved。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　not　too　young　for　that；　not　a　bit。〃

This　point　settled；　she　suggested　that；　if　he　could　not　amuse　her；　he　had　better　do　THE　NEXT　BEST　THING；　and　that　was；　talk　sense。

〃I　think　I　had　better　not　talk　at　all；〃　said　he；　〃for　I　am　no　match　for　such　a　nimble　tongue。　　And　then　you　are　so　remorseless。　　I'll　hold　my　tongue；　and　make　a　sketch　of　this　magnificent　oak。〃

〃Ay；　do：　draw　it　as　it　appeared　on　a　late　occasion：　with　two　ladies　flying　out　of　it；　and　you　rooted　with　dismay。〃

〃There　is　no　need；　that　scene　is　engraved。〃

〃Where？　in　all　the　shops？〃

〃No；　on　all　our　memories。〃

〃Not　on　mine；　not　on　mine。　　How　terrified　you　wereha；　ha！　and　how　terrified　we　should　have　been　if　you　had　not。　　Listen：　once　upon　a　timedon't　be　alarmed：　it　was　long　after　Noaha　frightened　hare　ran　by　a　pond；　the　frogs　splashed　in　the　water；　smit　with　awe。　　Then　she　said；　'Ah　ha！　there　are　people　in　the　world　I　frighten　in　my　turn；　I　am　the　thunderbolt　of　war。'　　Excuse　my　quoting　La　Fontaine：　I　am　not　in　'Charles　the　Twelfth　of　Sweden'　yet。　　I　am　but　a　child。〃

〃And　it's　a　great　mercy；　for　when　you　grow　up；　you　will　be　too　much　for　me；　that　is　evident。　　Come；　then；　Mademoiselle　the　Quizzer；　come　and　adorn　my　sketch。〃

〃Monsieur；　shall　I　make　you　a　confession？　　You　will　not　be　angry：　I　could　not　support　your　displeasure。　　I　have　a　strange　inclination　to　walk　up　and　down　this　terrace　while　you　go　and　draw　that　tree　in　the　Pleasaunce。〃

〃Resist　that　inclination；　perhaps　it　will　fly　from　you。〃

〃No；　you　fly　from　me；　and　draw。　　I　will　rejoin　you　in　a　few　minutes。〃

〃Thank　you；　I'm　not　so　stupid。　　You　will　step　indoors　directly。〃

〃Do　you　doubt　my　word；　sir？〃　asked　she　haughtily。

He　had　learned　to　obey　all　her　caprices；　so　he　went　and　placed　himself　on　the　west　side　of　the　oak　and　took　out　his　sketch…book；　and　worked　zealously　and　rapidly。　　He　had　done　the　outlines　of　the　tree　and　was　finishing　in　detail　a　part　of　the　huge　trunk；　when　his　eyes　were　suddenly　dazzled：　in　the　middle　of　the　rugged　bark；　deformed　here　and　there　with　great　wart…like　bosses；　and　wrinkled；　seamed；　and　ploughed　all　over　with　age；　burst　a　bit　of　variegated　color；　bright　as　a　poppy　on　a　dungeon　wall；　it　glowed　and　glittered　out　through　a　large　hole　in　the　brown　bark；　it　was　Rose's　face　peeping。　　To　our　young　lover's　eye　how　divine　it　shone！　　None　of　the　half　tints　of　common　flesh　were　there；　but　a　thing　all　rose；　lily；　sapphire；　and　soul。　　His　pencil　dropped；　his　mouth　opened；　he　was　downright　dazzled　by　the　glowing；　bewitching　face；　sparkling　with　fun；　in　the　gaunt　tree。　　Tell　me；　ladies；　did　she　know；　even　at　that　age；　the　value　of　that　sombre　frame　to　her　brightness？　　The　moment　she　found　herself　detected；　the　gaunt　old　tree　rang　musical　with　a　crystal　laugh；　and　out　came　the　arch…dryad。　　〃I　have　been　there　all　the　time。　　How　solemn　you　looked！　　Now　for　the　result　of　such　profound　study。〃　　He　showed　her　his　work；　she　altered　her　tone。　〃Oh；　how　clever！〃　she　cried；　〃and　how　rapid！　　What　a　facility　you　have！　　Monsieur　is　an　artist；〃　said　she　gravely；　〃I　will　be　more　respectful；〃　and　she　dropped　him　a　low　courtesy。　　〃Mind　you　promised　it　me；〃　she　added　sharply。

〃You　will　accept　it；　then？〃

〃That　I　will；　now　it　is　worth　having：　dear　me；　I　never　reckoned　on　that。　　Finish　it　directly；〃　cried　this　peremptory　young　person。

〃First　I　must　trouble　you　to　stand　out　there　near　the　tree。〃

〃Me？　what　for？〃

〃Because　art　loves　contrasts。　　The　tree　is　a　picture　of　age　and　gradual　decay；　by　its　side　then　I　must　place　a　personification　of　youth　and　growing　loveliness。〃

She　did　not　answer；　but　made　a　sort　of　defiant　pirouette；　and　went　where　she　was　bid；　and　stood　there　with　her　back　to　the　artist。　〃That　will　never　do；〃　said　he；　〃you　really　must　be　so　good　as　to　turn　round。〃

〃Oh；　very　well。〃　　And　when　she　came　round；　behold　her　color　had　risen　mightily。　　Flattery　is　sweet。

This　child　of　nature　was　delighted；　and　ashamed　it　should　be　seen　that　she　was。

And　so　he　drew　her；　and　kept　looking　off　the　paper　at　her；　and　had　a　right　in　his　character　of　artist　to　look　her　full　in　the　face；　and　he　did　so　with　long　lingering　glances。　　To　be　sure；　they　all　began　severe　and　businesslike　with　half…closed　eyes；　and　the　peculiar　hostile　expression　art　puts　on；　but　then　they　always　ended　open…　eyed；　and　so　full　and　tender；　that　she；　poor　girl；　who　was　all　real　gold；　though　sham　brass；　blushed　and　blushed；　and　did　not　know　which　way　to　look　not　to　be　scorched　up　by　his　eye　like　a　tender　flower；　or　blandly　absorbed　like　the　pearly　dew。　　Ah；　happy　hour！　ah；　happy　days　of　youth　and　innocence　and　first　love！

Trouble　loves　to　intrude　on　these　halcyon　days。

The　usually　quiet　Josephine　came　flying　from　the　house；　pale　and　agitated；　and　clung　despairingly　to　Rose；　and　then　fell　to　sobbing　and　lamenting　piteously。

I　shall　take　leave　to　relate　in　my　own　words　what　had　just　occurred　to　agitate　her　so。　　When　she　entered　her　mother's　room；　she　found　the　baroness　and　Perrin　the　notary　seated　watching　for　her。　　She　sat　down　after　the　usual　civilities；　and　Perrin　entered　upon　the　subject　that　had　brought　him。

He　began　by　confessing　to　them　that　he　had　not　overcome　the　refractory　creditor　without　much　trouble；　and　that　he　had　since　learned　there　was　another；　a　larger　creditor；　likely　to　press　for　payment　or　for　sale　of　the　estate。　　The　baroness　was　greatly　troubled　by　this　communication：　the　notary　remained　cool　as　a　cucumber；　and　keenly　observant。　　After　a　pause　he　went　on　to　say　all　this　had　caused　him　grave　reflections。　　〃It　seems；〃　said　he　with　cool　candor；　〃a　sad　pity　the　estate　should　pass　from　a　family　that　has　held　it　since　the　days　of　Charlemagne。〃

〃Now　God　forbid！〃　cried　the　baroness；　lifting　her　eyes　and　her　quivering　hands　to　heaven。

The　notary　held　the　republican　creed　in　all　its　branches。　〃Providence；　madame；　does　not　interferein　matters　of　business；〃　said　he。　　〃Nothing　but　money　can　save　the　estate。　　Let　us　then　be　practical。　　Has　any　means　occurred　to　you　of　raising　money　to　pay　off　these　incumbrances？〃

〃No。　　What　means　can　there　be？　　The　estate　is　mortgaged　to　its　full　value：　so　they　say；　at　least。〃

〃And　they　say　true；〃　put　in　the　notary　quickly。　　〃But　do　not　distress　yourself；　madame：　confide　in　me。〃

〃Ah；　my　good　friend；　may　Heaven　reward　you。〃

〃Madame；　up　to　the　present　time　I　have　no　complaint　to　make　of　Heaven。　　I　am　on　the　rise：　here；　mademoiselle；　is　a　gimcrack　they　have　given　me；〃　and　he　unbuttoned　his　overcoat；　and　showed　them　a　piece　of　tricolored　ribbon　and　a　clasp。　　〃As　for　me；　I　look　to　'the　solid；'　I　care　little　for　these　things；〃　said　he；　swelling　visibly；　〃but　the　world　is　dazzled　by　them。　　However；　I　can　show　you　something　better。〃　　He　took　out　a　letter。　　〃This　is　from　the　Minister　of　the　Interior　to　a　client　of　mine：　a　promise　I　shall　be　the　next　prefect；　and　the　present　prefectI　am　happy　to　sayis　on　his　death…bed。　　Thus；　madame；　your　humble　servant　in　a　few　short　months　will　be　notary　no　longer；　but　prefect；　I　shall　then　sell　my　office　of　notary：　and　I　flatter　myself　when　I　am　a　prefect　you　will　not　blush　to　own　me。〃

〃Then；　as　now；　monsieur；〃　said　the　baroness　politely；　〃we　shall　recognize　your　merit。　　But〃

〃I　understand；　madame：　like　me　you　look　to　'the　solid。'　　Thus　then　it　is；　I　have　money。〃

〃Ah！　all　the　better　for　you。〃

〃I　have　a　good　deal　of　money。　　But　it　is　dispersed　in　a　great　many　small　but　profitable　investments：　to　call　it　in　suddenly　would　entail　some　loss。　　Nevertheless；　if　you　and　my　young　lady　there　have　ever　so　little　of　that　friendly　feeling　towards　me　of　which　I　have　so　much　towards　you；　all　my　investments　shall　be　called　in；　and　two…　thirds　of　your　creditors　shall　be　paid　off　at　once。　　A　single　client　of　mine；　no　less　a　man　than　the　Commandant　Raynal；　will；　I　am　sure；　advance　me　the　remaining　third　at　an　hour's　notice；　and　so　Bea