white lies-第17节

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her？　　I　love　my　mother。〃

Muttering　thus　wildly　she　made　for　the　pond　in　the　Pleasaunce。　　She　had　no　sooner　turned　the　angle　of　the　chateau　than　she　started　back　with　a　convulsive　cry；　and　her　momentary　feebleness　left　her　directly；　she　crouched　against　the　wall　and　griped　the　ancient　corner…stone　with　her　tender　hand　till　it　powdered；　and　she　spied　with　dilating　eye　into　the　Pleasaunce；　Rose　and　Jacintha　panting　behind　her。　　Two　men　stood　with　their　backs　turned　to　her　looking　at　the　oak…tree；　one　an　officer　in　full　uniform；　the　other　the　human　snake　Perrin。　　Though　the　soldier's　back　was　turned；　his　off…handed；　peremptory　manner　told　her　he　was　inspecting　the　place　as　its　master。

〃The　baroness！　the　baroness！〃　cried　Jacintha；　with　horror。　　They　looked　round；　and　the　baroness　was　at　their　very　backs。

〃What　is　it？〃　cried　she；　gayly。

〃Nothing；　mamma。〃

〃Let　me　see　this　nothing。〃

They　glanced　at　one　another；　and；　idle　as　the　attempt　was；　the　habit　of　sparing　her　prevailed；　and　they　flung　themselves　between　her　and　the　blow。

〃Josephine　is　not　well；〃　said　Rose。　　〃She　wants　to　go　in。〃　　Both　girls　faced　the　baroness。

〃Jacintha；〃　said　the　baroness；　〃fetch　Dr。　Aubertin。　　There；　I　have　sent　her　away。　　So　now　tell　me；　why　do　you　drive　me　back　so？　Something　has　happened；〃　and　she　looked　keenly　from　one　to　the　other。

〃O　mamma！　do　not　go　that　way：　there　are　strangers　in　the　Pleasaunce。〃

〃Let　me　see。　　So　there　are。　　Call　Jacintha　back　that　I　may　order　these　people　out　of　my　premises。〃　　Josephine　implored　her　to　be　calm。

〃Be　calm　when　impertinent　intruders　come　into　my　garden？〃

〃Mother；　they　are　not　intruders。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃They　have　a　right　to　be　in　our　Pleasaunce。　　They　have　bought　the　chateau。〃

〃It　is　impossible。　　HE　was　to　buy　it　for　usthere　is　some　mistake　what　man　would　kill　a　poor　old　woman　like　me？　　I　will　speak　to　this　gentleman：　he　wears　a　sword。　　Soldiers　do　not　trample　on　women。　　Ah！　that　man。〃

The　notary；　attracted　by　her　voice；　was　coming　towards　her；　a　paper　in　his　hand。

Raynal　coolly　inspected　the　tree；　and　tapped　it　with　his　scabbard；　and　left　Perrin　to　do　the　dirty　work。　　The　notary　took　off　his　hat；　and；　with　a　malignant　affectation　of　respect；　presented　the　baroness　with　a　paper。

The　poor　old　thing　took　it　with　a　courtesy；　the　effect　of　habit；　and　read　it　to　her　daughters　as　well　as　her　emotion　permitted；　and　the　language；　which　was　as　new　to　her　as　the　dialect　of　Cat　Island　to　Columbus。


〃Jean　Raynal；　domiciled　by　right；　and　lodging　in　fact　at　the　Chateau　of　Beaurepaire；　acting　by　the　pursuit　and　diligence　of　Master　Perrin；　notary；　I；　Guillaume　Le　Gras；　bailiff；　give　notice　to　Josephine　Aglae　St。　Croix　de　Beaurepaire；　commonly　called　the　Baroness　de　Beaurepaire；　having　no　known　place　of　abode〃


〃Oh！〃


〃but　lodging　wrongfully　at　the　said　Chateau　of　Beaurepaire；　that　she　is　warned　to　decamp　within　twenty…four　hours〃


〃To　decamp！〃


〃failing　which　that　she　will　be　thereto　enforced　in　the　manner　for　that　case　made　and　provided　with　the　aid　of　all　the　officers　and　agents　of　the　public　force。〃


〃Ah！　no；　messieurs；　pray　do　not　use　force。　　I　am　frightened　enough　already。　　I　did　not　know　I　was　doing　anything　wrong。　　I　have　been　here　thirty　years。　　But；　since　Beaurepaire　is　sold；　I　comprehend　perfectly　that　I　must　go。　　It　is　just。　　As　you　say；　I　am　not　in　my　own　house。　　I　will　go；　gentlemen；　I　will　go。　　Whither　shall　I　go；　my　children？　　The　house　where　you　were　born　to　me　is　ours　no　longer。　Excuse　me；　gentlementhis　is　nothing　to　you。　　Ah！　sir；　you　have　revenged　yourself　on　two　weak　womenmay　Heaven　forgive　you！〃

The　notary　turned　on　his　heel。　　The　poor　baroness；　all　whose　pride　the　iron　law；　with　its　iron　gripe；　had　crushed　into　dismay　and　terror；　appealed　to　him。　　〃O　sir！　send　me　from　the　house；　but　not　from　the　soil　where　my　Henri　is　laid！　is　there　not　in　all　this　domain　a　corner　where　she　who　was　its　mistress　may　lie　down　and　die？　Where　is　the　NEW　BARON；　that　I　may　ask　this　favor　of　him　on　my　knees？〃

She　turned　towards　Raynal　and　seemed　to　be　going　towards　him　with　outstretched　arms。　　But　Rose　checked　her　with　fervor。　　〃Mamma！　do　not　lower　yourself。　　Ask　nothing　of　these　wretches。　　Let　us　lose　all；　but　not　forget　ourselves。〃

The　baroness　had　not　her　daughter's　spirit。　　Her　very　person　tottered　under　this　blow。　　Josephine　supported　her；　and　the　next　moment　Aubertin　came　out　and　hastened　to　her　side。　　Her　head　fell　back；　what　little　strength　she　had　failed　her；　she　was　half　lifted；　half　led；　into　the　house。

Commandant　Raynal　was　amazed　at　all　this；　and　asked　what　the　deuce　was　the　matter。

〃Oh！〃　said　the　notary；　〃we　are　used　to　these　little　scenes　in　our　business。〃

〃But　I　am　not；〃　replied　the　soldier。　　〃You　never　told　me　there　was　to　be　all　this　fuss。〃

He　then　dismissed　his　friend　rather　abruptly　and　strode　up　and　down　the　Pleasaunce。　　He　twisted　his　mustaches；　muttered；　and　〃pested；〃　and　was　ill　at　ease。　　Accustomed　to　march　gayly　into　a　town；　and　see　the　regiment；　that　was　there　before；　marching　gayly　out；　or　vice　versa；　and　to　strike　tents　twice　a　quarter　at　least；　he　was　little　prepared　for　such　a　scene　as　this。　　True；　he　did　not　hear　all　the　baroness's　words；　but　more　than　one　tone　of　sharp　distress　reached　him　where　he　stood；　and　the　action　of　the　whole　scene　was　so　expressive；　there　was　little　need　of　words。　　He　saw　the　notice　given；　the　dismay　it　caused；　and　the　old　lady　turn　imploringly　towards　him　with　a　speaking　gesture；　and　above　all　he　saw　her　carried　away；　half　fainting；　her　hands　clasped；　her　reverend　face　pale。　　He　was　not　a　man　of　quick　sensibilities。　　He　did　not　thoroughly　take　the　scene　in　at　first：　it　grew　upon　him　afterwards。

〃Confound　it；〃　thought　he；　〃I　am　the　proprietor。　　They　all　say　so。　Instead　of　which　I　feel　like　a　thief。　　Fancy　her　getting　so　fond　of　a　PLACE　as　all　this。〃

Presently　it　occurred　to　him　that　the　shortness　of　the　notice　might　have　much　to　do　with　her　distress。　　〃These　notaries；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃understand　nothing　save　law：　women　have　piles　of　baggage；　and　can't　strike　tents　directly　the　order　comes；　as　we　can。　　Perhaps　if　I　were　to　give　them　twenty…four　days　instead　of　hours？hum！〃

With　this　the　commandant　fell　into　a　brown　study。　　Now　each　of　us　has　his　attitude　of　brown　study。　　One　runs　about　the　room　like　hyena　in　his　den；　another　stands　stately　with　folded　arms　（this　one　seldom　thinks　to　the　purpose）；　another　sits　cross…legged；　brows　lowered：　another　must　put　his　head　into　his　hand；　and　so　keep　it　up　to　thinking　mark：　another　must　twiddle　a　bit　of　string；　or　a　key；　grant　him　this；　he　can　hatch　an　epic。　　This　commandant　must　draw　himself　up　very　straight；　and　walk　six　paces　and　back　very　slowly；　till　the　problem　was　solved：　I　suspect　he　had　done　a　good　bit　of　sentinel　work　in　his　time。

Now　whilst　he　was　guarding　the　old　oak…tree；　for　all　the　world　as　if　it　had　been　the　gate　of　the　Tuileries　or　the　barracks；　Josephine　de　Beaurepaire　came　suddenly　out　from　the　house　and　crossed　the　Pleasaunce：　her　hair　was　in　disorder；　her　manner　wild：　she　passed　swiftly　into　the　park。

Raynal　recognized　her　as　one　of　the　family；　and　after　a　moment's　reflection　followed　her　into　the　park　with　the　good…natured　intention　of　offering　her　a　month　to　clear　out　instead　of　a　day。

But　it　was　not　so　easy　to　catch　her：　she　flew。　　He　had　to　take　his　scabbard　in　his　left　hand　and　fairly　run　after　her。　　Before　he　could　catch　her；　she　entered　the　little　chapel。　　He　came　up　and　had　his　foot　on　the　very　step　to　go　in；　when　he　was　arrested　by　that　he　heard　within。

Josephine　had　thrown　herself　on　her　knees　and　was　praying　aloud：　praying　to　the　Virgin　with　sighs　and　sobs　and　all　her　soul：　wrestling　so　in　prayer　with　a　dead　saint　as　by　a　strange　perversity　men　cannot　or　will　not　wrestle　with　Him；　who　alone　can　hear　a　million　prayers　at　once　from　a　million　different　places；can　realize　and　be　touched　with　a　sense　of　all　man's　infirmities　in　a　way　no　single　saint　with　his　partial　experience　of　them　can　realize　and　be　touched　by　them；　who　unasked　suspended　the　laws　of　nature　that　had　taken　a　stranger's　only　son；　and　she　a　widow；　and　wept　at　another　great　human　sorrow；　while　the　eyes　of　all　the　great　saints　that　stood　around　it　and　Him　were　dry。

Well；　the　soldier　stood；　his　right　foot　on　the　step　and　his　sword　in　his　left　hand；　transfixed：　listening　gravely　to　the　agony　of　prayer　the　innocent　young　creature　poured　forth　within：

〃O　Madonna！　hear　me：　it　is　for　my　mother's　life。　　She　will　dieshe　will　die。　　You　know　she　cannot　live　if　she　is　taken　away　from　her　house　and　from　this　holy　place　where　she　prays　to　you　this　many　years。　　O　Queen　of　Heaven！　put　out　your　hand　to　us　unfortunates！　Virgin；　hear　a　virgin：　mother；　listen　to　a　child　who　prays　for　her　mother's　life！　　The　doctor　says　she　will　not　live　away　from　here。　She　is　too　old　to　wander　over　the　world。　　Let　them　drive　us　forth：　we　are　young；　but　not　her；　mother；　oh；　not　her！　　Forgive　the　cruel　men　that　do　this　thing！they　are　like　those　who　crucified　your　Son　they　know　not　what　they　are　doing。　　But　you；　Queen　of　Heaven；　you　know　all；　and；　sweet　mother；　if　you　have　kind　sentiments　towards　me；　poor　Josephine；　ah！　show　them　now：　for　you　know　that　it　was　I　who　insu