white lies-第18节

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e　kind　sentiments　towards　me；　poor　Josephine；　ah！　show　them　now：　for　you　know　that　it　was　I　who　insulted　that　wicked　notary；　and　it　is　out　of　hatred　to　me　he　has　sold　our　beloved　house　to　a　hard　stranger。　　Look　down　on　me；　a　child　who　loves　her　mother；　yet　will　destroy　her　unless　you　pity　me　and　help　me。　　Oh！　what　shall　I　say？what　shall　I　do？　mercy！　mercy！　for　my　poor　mother；　for　me！〃

Here　her　utterance　was　broken　by　sobs。

The　soldier　withdrew　his　foot　quietly。　　Her　words　had　knocked　against　his　very　breast…bone。　　He　marched　slowly　to　and　fro　before　the　chapel；　upright　as　a　dart；　and　stiff　as　a　ramrod；　and　actually　pale：　for　even　our　nerves　have　their　habits；　a　woman's　passionate　grief　shook　him　as　a　cannon　fired　over　his　head　could　not。

Josephine　little　thought　who　was　her　sentinel。　　She　came　to　the　door　at　last；　and　there　he　was　marching　backwards　and　forwards；　upright　and　stiff。　　She　gave　a　faint　scream　and　drew　back　with　a　shudder　at　the　sight　of　their　persecutor。　　She　even　felt　faintish　at　him；　as　women　will　in　such　cases。

Not　being　very　quick　at　interpreting　emotion；　Raynal　noticed　her　alarm；　but　not　her　repugnance；　he　saluted　her　with　military　precision　by　touching　his　cap　as　only　a　soldier　can；　and　said　rather　gently　for　him；　〃A　word　with　you；　mademoiselle。〃

She　replied　only　by　trembling。

〃Don't　be　frightened；〃　said　Raynal；　in　a　tone　not　very　reassuring。　〃I　propose　an　armistice。〃

〃I　am　at　your　disposal；　sir；〃　said　Josephine；　now　assuming　a　calmness　that　was　belied　by　the　long　swell　of　her　heaving　bosom。

〃Of　course　you　look　on　me　as　an　enemy。〃

〃How　can　I　do　otherwise；　sir？　yet　perhaps　I　ought　not。　　You　did　not　know　us。　　You　just　wanted　an　estate；　I　supposeandoh！〃

〃Well；　don't　cry；　and　let　us　come　to　the　point；　since　I　am　a　man　of　few　words。〃

〃If　you　please；　sir。　　My　mother　may　miss　me。〃

〃Well；　I　was　in　position　on　your　flank　when　the　notary　delivered　his　fire。　　And　I　saw　the　old　woman's　distress。〃

〃Ah；　sir！〃

〃When　you　came　flying　out　I　followed　to　say　a　good　word　to　you。　　I　could　not　catch　you。　　I　listened　while　you　prayed　to　the　Virgin。　That　was　not　a　soldier…like　trick；　you　will　say。　　I　confess　it。〃

〃It　matters　little；　sir；　and　you　heard　nothing　I　blush　for。〃

〃No！　by　St。　Denis；　quite　the　contrary。　　Well；　to　the　point。　　Young　lady；　you　love　your　mother。〃

〃What　has　she　on　earth　now　but　her　children's　love？〃

〃Now　look　here；　young　lady；　I　had　a　mother；　I　loved　her　in　my　humdrum　way　very　dearly。　　She　promised　me　faithfully　not　to　die　till　I　should　be　a　colonel；　and　she　went　and　died　before　I　was　a　commandant；　even；　just　before；　too。〃

〃Then　I　pity　you；〃　murmured　Josephine；　and　her　soft　purple　eye　began　to　dwell　on　him　with　less　repugnance。

〃Thank　you　for　that　word；　my　good　young　lady；〃　said　Raynal。　　〃Now；　I　declare；　you　are　the　first　that　has　said　that　word　to　me　about　my　losing　the　true　friend；　that　nursed　me　on　her　knee；　and　pinched　and　pinched　to　make　a　man　of　me。　　I　should　like　to　tell　you　about　her　and　me。〃

〃I　shall　feel　honored；〃　said　Josephine；　politely；　but　with　considerable　restraint。

Then　he　told　her　all　about　how　he　had　vexed　her　when　he　was　a　boy；　and　gone　for　a　soldier；　though　she　was　all　for　trade；　and　how　he　had　been　the　more　anxious　to　see　her　enjoy　his　honors　and　success。　〃And；　mademoiselle；〃　said　he；　appealingly；　〃the　day　this　epaulet　was　put　on　my　shoulder　in　Italy；　she　died　in　Paris。　　Ah！　how　could　you　have　the　heart　to　do　that；　my　old　woman？〃

The　soldier's　mustache　quivered；　and　he　turned　away　brusquely；　and　took　several　steps。　　Then　he　came　back　to　Josephine；　and　to　his　infinite　surprise　saw　that　her　purple　eyes　were　thick　with　tears。　〃What？　you　are　within　an　inch　of　crying　for　my　mother；　you　who　have　your　own　trouble　at　this　hour。〃

〃Monsieur；　our　situations　are　so　alike；　I　may　well　spare　some　little　sympathy　for　your　misfortune。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　good　young　lady。　　Well；　then；　to　business；　while　you　were　praying　to　the　Virgin；　I　was　saying　a　word　or　two　for　my　part　to　her　who　is　no　more。〃

〃Sir！〃

〃Oh！　it　was　nothing　beautiful　like　the　things　you　said　to　the　other。　Can　I　turn　phrases？　　I　saw　her　behind　her　little　counter　in　the　Rue　Quincampoix；　for　she　is　a　woman　of　the　people；　is　my　mother。　　I　saw　myself　come　to　the　other　side　of　the　counter；　and　I　said；　'Look　here；　mother；　here　is　the　devil　to　pay　about　this　new　house。　　The　old　woman　talks　of　dying　if　we　take　her　from　her　home；　and　the　young　one　weeps　and　prays　to　all　the　saints　in　paradise；　what　shall　we　do；　eh？'　　Then　I　thought　my　old　woman　said　to　me；　'Jean；　you　are　a　soldier；　a　sort　of　vagabond；　what　do　you　want　with　a　house　in　France？　you　who　are　always　in　a　tent　in　Italy　or　Austria；　or　who　knows　where。　　Have　you　the　courage　to　give　honest　folk　so　much　pain　for　a　caprice？　　Come　now；'　says　she；　'the　lady　is　of　my　age；　say　you；　and　I　can't　keep　your　fine　house；　because　God　has　willed　it　otherwise；　so　give　her　my　place；　so　then　you　can　fancy　it　is　me　you　have　set　down　at　your　hearth：　that　will　warm　your　heart　up　a　bit；　you　little　scamp；'　said　my　old　woman　in　her　rough　way。　　She　was　not　well…bred　like　you；　mademoiselle。　　A　woman　of　the　people；　nothing　more。〃

〃She　was　a　woman　of　God's　own　making；　if　she　was　like　that；〃　cried　Josephine；　the　tears　now　running　down　her　cheeks。

〃Ah；　that　she　was；　she　was。　　So　between　her　and　me　it　is　settled　what　are　you　crying　for　NOW？　why；　you　have　won　the　day；　the　field　is　yours；　your　mother　and　you　remain；　I　decamp。〃　　He　whipped　his　scabbard　up　with　his　left　hand；　and　was　going　off　without　another　word；　if　Josephine　had　not　stopped　him。

〃But；　sir；　what　am　I　to　think？　what　am　I　to　hope？　it　is　impossible　that　in　this　short　interviewand　we　must　not　forget　what　is　due　to　you。　　You　have　bought　the　estate。〃

〃True；　well；　we　will　talk　over　that；　to…morrow；　but　being　turned　out　of　the　house；　that　was　the　bayonet　thrust　to　the　old　lady。　　So　you　run　in　and　put　her　heart　at　rest　about　it。　　Tell　her　that　she　may　live　and　die　in　this　house　for　Jean　Raynal；　and　tell　her　about　the　old　woman　in　the　Rue　Quincampoix。〃

〃God　bless　you；　Jean　Raynal！〃　cried　Josephine；　clasping　her　hands。

〃Are　you　going？〃　said　he；　peremptorily。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　and　she　darted　towards　the　chateau。

But　when　she　had　taken　three　steps　she　paused；　and　seemed　irresolute。　She　turned；　and　in　a　moment　she　had　glided　to　Raynal　again　and　had　taken　his　hand　before　he　could　hinder　her；　and　pressed　two　velvet　lips　on　it；　and　was　away　again；　her　cheeks　scarlet　at　what　she　had　done；　and　her　wet　eyes　beaming　with　joy。　　She　skimmed　the　grass　like　a　lapwing；　you　would　have　taken　her　at　this　minute　for　Rose；　or　for　Virgil's　Camilla；　at　the　gate　she　turned　an　instant　and　clasped　her　hands　together；　with　such　a　look；　to　show　Raynal　she　blessed　him　again；　then　darted　into　the　house。

〃Aha；　my　lady；〃　said　he；　as　he　watched　her　fly；　〃behold　you　changed　a　little　since　you　came　out。〃　　He　was　soon　on　the　high　road　marching　down　to　the　town　at　a　great　rate；　his　sword　clanking；　and　thus　ran　his　thoughts：　〃This　does　one　good；　you　are　right；　my　old　woman。　Your　son's　bosom　feels　as　warm　as　toast。　　Long　live　the　five…franc　pieces！　　And　they　pretend　money　cannot　make　a　fellow　happy。　　They　lie；　it　is　because　they　do　not　know　how　to　spend　it。〃

Meantime　at　the　chateau；　as　still　befalls　in　emergencies　and　trials；　the　master　spirit　came　out　and　took　its　real　place。　　Rose　was　now　the　mistress　of　Beaurepaire；　she　set　Jacintha；　and　Dard；　and　the　doctor；　to　pack　up　everything　of　value　in　the　house。　　〃Do　it　this　moment！〃　she　cried；　〃once　that　notary　gets　possession　of　the　house；　it　may　be　too　late。　　Enough　of　folly　and　helplessness。　　We　have　fooled　away　house　and　lands；　our　movables　shall　not　follow　them。〃

The　moment　she　had　set　the　others　to　work；　she　wrote　a　single　line　to　Riviere　to　tell　him　the　chateau　and　lands　were　sold；　and　would　he　come　to　Beaurepaire　at　once？　　She　ran　with　it　herself　to　Bigot's　auberge；　the　nearest　post…office；　and　then　back　to　comfort　her　mother。

The　baroness　was　seated　in　her　arm…chair；　moaning　and　wringing　her　hands；　and　Rose　was　nursing　and　soothing　her；　and　bathing　her　temples　with　her　last　drop　of　eau　de　Cologne；　and　trying　in　vain　to　put　some　of　her　own　courage　into　her；　when　in　came　Josephine　radiant　with　happiness；　crying　〃Joy！　joy！　joy！〃　and　told　her　strange　tale；　with　this　difference；　that　she　related　her　own　share　in　it　briefly　and　coldly；　and　was　more　eloquent　than　I　about　the　strange　soldier's　goodness；　and　the　interest　her　mother　had　awakened　in　his　heart。　And　she　told　about　the　old　woman　in　the　Rue　Quincampoix；　her　rugged　phrases；　and　her　noble；　tender　heart。　　The　baroness；　deaf　to　Rose's　consolations；　brightened　up　directly　at　Josephine's　news；　and　at　her　glowing　face；　as　she　knelt　pouring　the　good　news；　and　hope；　and　comfort；　point　blank　into　her。　　But　Rose　chilled　them　both。

〃It　is　a　generous　offer；〃　said；　she；　〃but　one　we　cannot　accept。　　We　cannot　live　under　so　great　an　obligation。　　Is　all　the　generosity　to　be　on　the　side　of　this　Bonapartist？　　Are　we　noble　in　name　only？　What　would　our　father　have　said　to　such　a　proposal？〃

Josephine　hung　her　head。　　The　baroness　groaned。

〃No；　mother；〃　continued　Rose；　〃let　house　and　land　go；　but　honor　and　true　nobility　remai