white lies-第19节

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Josephine　hung　her　head。　　The　baroness　groaned。

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

〃What　shall　I　do？　you　are　cruel　to　me；　Rose。〃

〃Mamma；〃　cried　the　enthusiastic　girl；　〃we　need　depend　on　no　one。　Josephine　and　I　have　youth　and　spirit。〃

〃But　no　money。〃

〃We　have　plenty　of　jewels；　and　pictures；　and　movables。　　We　can　take　a　farm。〃

〃A　farm！〃　shrieked　the　baroness。

〃Why；　his　uncle　has　a　farm；　and　we　have　had　recourse　to　him　for　help：　better　a　farmhouse　than　an　almshouse；　though　that　almshouse　were　a　palace　instead　of　a　chateau。〃

Josephine　winced　and　held　up　her　hand　deprecatingly。　　The　baroness　paled：　it　was　a　terrible　stroke　of　language　to　come　from　her　daughter。　　She　said　sternly；　〃There　is　no　answer　to　that。　　We　were　born　nobles；　let　us　die　farmers：　only　permit　me　to　die　first。〃

〃Forgive　me；　mother；〃　said　Rose；　kneeling。　　〃I　was　wrong；　it　is　for　me　to　obey　you；　not　to　dictate。　　I　speak　no　more。〃　　And；　after　kissing　her　mother　and　Josephine；　she　crept　away；　but　she　left　her　words　sticking　in　both　their　consciences。

〃HIS　uncle；〃　said　the　shrewd　old　lady。　　〃She　is　no　longer　a　child；　and　she　says　his　uncle。　　This　makes　me　half　suspect　it　is　her　that　dear　boyJosephine；　tell　me　the　truth；　which　of　you　is　it？〃

〃Dear　mother；　who　should　it　be？　they　are　nearly　of　an　age：　and　what　man　would　not　love　our　sweet　Rose；　that　had　eyes　or　a　heart？〃

The　baroness　sighed　deeply；　and　was　silent。　　After　awhile　she　said；　〃The　moment　they　have　a　lover；　he　detaches　their　hearts　from　their　poor　old　mother。　　She　is　no　longer　what　my　Josephine　is　to　me。〃

〃Mamma；　she　is　my　superior。　　I　see　it　more　and　more　every　day。　　She　is　proud：　she　is　just；　she　looks　at　both　sides。　　As　for　me；　I　am　too　apt　to　see　only　what　will　please　those　I　love。〃

〃And　that　is　the　daughter　for　me；〃　cried　the　poor　baroness；　opening　her　arms　wide　to　her。

The　next　morning　when　they　were　at　breakfast；　in　came　Jacintha　to　say　the　officer　was　in　the　dining…room　and　wanted　to　speak　with　the　young　lady　he　talked　to　yesterday。　　Josephine　rose　and　went　to　him。　〃Well；　mademoiselle；〃　said　he　gayly；　〃the　old　woman　was　right。　　Here　I　have　just　got　my　orders　to　march：　to　leave　France　in　a　month。　　A　pretty　business　it　would　have　been　if　I　had　turned　your　mother　out。　So　you　see　there　is　nothing　to　hinder　you　from　living　here。〃

〃In　your　house；　sir？〃

〃Why　not；　pray？〃

〃Forgive　us。　　But　we　feel　that　would　be　unjust　to　you；　humiliating　to　us：　the　poor　are　sometimes　proud。〃

〃Of　course　they　are；〃　said　Raynal：　〃and　I　don't　want　to　offend　your　pride。　　Confound　the　house：　why　did　I　go　and　buy　it？　　It　is　no　use　to　me　except　to　give　pain　to　worthy　people。〃　　He　then；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　asked　her　if　the　matter　could　not　be　arranged　by　some　third　party；　a　mutual　friend。　　〃Then　again；〃　said　he；　〃I　don't　know　any　friend　of　yours。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Josephine；　〃we　have　one　friend；　who　knows　you；　and　esteems　you　highly。〃

She　wanted　to　name　Edouard；　but　she　hesitated；　and　asked　her　conscience　if　it　was　fair　to　name　him：　and　while　she　blushed　and　hesitated；　lo　and　behold　a　rival　referee　hove　in　sight。　　Raynal　saw　him；　suddenly　opened　a　window；　and　shouted；　〃Hallo　come　in　here：　you　are　wanted。〃

Perrin　had　ridden　up　to　complete　the　exodus　of　the　De　Beaurepaires；　and　was　strolling　about　inspecting　the　premises　he　had　expelled　them　from。

Here　was　a　pretty　referee！

Josephine　almost　screamed〃What　are　you　doing？　that　is　our　enemy；　our　bitterest　enemy。　　He　has　only　sold　you　the　estate　to　spite　us；　not　for　the　love　of　you。　　I　hadwe　hadwe　mortified　his　vanity。　It　was　not　our　fault：　he　is　a　viper。　　Sir；　pray；　pray；　pray　be　on　your　guard　against　his　counsels。〃

These　words　spoken　with　rare　fire　and　earnestness　carried　conviction：　but　it　was　too　late　to　recall　the　invitation。　　The　notary　entered　the　room；　and　was　going　to　bow　obsequiously　to　Raynal；　when　he　caught　sight　of　Josephine；　and　almost　started。　Raynal；　after　Josephine's　warning；　was　a　little　at　a　loss　how　to　make　him　available；　and　even　that　short　delay　gave　the　notary's　one　foible　time　to　lead　him　into　temptation。　　〃Our　foibles　are　our　manias。〃

〃So；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　taken　possession；　commandant。　　These　military　men　are　prompt；　are　they　not；　mademoiselle？〃

〃Do　not　address　yourself　to　me；　sir；　I　beg；〃　said　Josephine　quietly。

Perrin　kept　his　self…command。　　〃It　is　only　as　Commandant　Raynal's　agent　I　presume　to　address　so　distinguished　a　lady：　in　that　character　I　must　inform　you　that　whatever　movables　you　have　removed　are　yours：　those　we　find　in　the　house　on　entering　we　keep。〃

〃Come；　come；　not　so　fast；〃　cried　Raynal；　〃bother　the　chairs　and　tables！　that　is　not　the　point。〃

〃Commandant；〃　said　the　notary　with　dignity；　〃have　I　done　anything　to　merit　this？　have　I　served　your　interests　so　ill　that　you　withdraw　your　confidence　from　me？〃

〃No；　no；　my　good　fellow；　but　you　exceed　your　powers。　　Just　now　I　want　you　to　take　orders；　not　give　them。〃

〃That　is　only　just；〃　said　Perrin；　〃and　I　recall　my　hasty　remark：　excuse　the　susceptibility　of　a　professional　man；　who　is　honored　with　the　esteem　of　his　clients；　and　favor　me　with　your　wishes。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Raynal　heartily。　　〃Well；　thenI　want　mademoiselle　and　her　family　to　stay　here　while　I　go　to　Egypt　with　the　First　Consul。　　Mademoiselle　makes　difficulties；　it　offends　her　delicacy。〃

〃Comedy！〃　said　the　notary　contemptuously。

〃Though　her　mother's　life　depends　on　her　staying　here。〃

〃Comedy！〃　said　Perrin。　　Raynal　frowned。

〃Her　pride　（begging　her　pardon）　is　greater　than　her　affection。〃

〃Farce！〃

〃I　have　pitched　upon　you　to　reconcile　the　two。〃

〃Then　you　have　pitched　upon　the　wrong　man；〃　said　Perrin　bluntly。　　He　added　obsequiously；　〃I　am　too　much　your　friend。　　She　has　been　talking　you　over；　no　doubt；　but　you　have　a　friend；　an　Ulysses；　who　is　deaf　to　the　siren's　voice。　　I　will　be　no　party　to　such　a　transaction。　　I　will　not　co…operate　to　humbug　my　friend　and　rob　him　of　his　rights。〃

If　Josephine　was　inferior　to　the　notary　in　petty　sharpness；　she　was　his　superior　in　the　higher　kinds　of　sagacity；　and　particularly　in　instinctive　perception　of　character。　　Her　eye　flashed　with　delight　at　the　line　Perrin　was　now　taking　with　Raynal。　　The　latter　speedily　justified　her　expectations：　he　just　told　Perrin　to　be　off；　and　send　him　a　more　accommodating　notary。

〃A　more　accommodating　notary！〃　screamed　Perrin；　stung　to　madness　by　this　reproach。　　〃There　is　not　a　more　accommodating　notary　in　Europe。　Ungrateful　man！　is　this　the　return　for　all　my　zeal；　my　integrity；　my　unselfishness？　　Is　there　another　agent　in　the　world　who　would　have　let　such　a　bargain　as　Beaurepaire　fall　into　your　hands？　　It　serves　me　right　for　deviating　from　the　rules　of　business。　　Send　me　another　agentoh！〃

The　honest　soldier　was　confused。　　The　lawyer's　eloquence　overpowered　him。　　He　felt　guilty。　　Josephine　saw　his　simplicity；　and　made　a　cut　with　a　woman's　two…edged　sword。　　〃Sir；〃　said　she　coolly；　〃do　you　not　see　it　is　an　affair　of　money？　　This　is　his　way　of　saying；　Pay　me　handsomely　for　so　unusual　a　commission。〃

〃And　I'll　pay　him　double；〃　cried　Raynal；　catching　the　idea；　〃don't　be　alarmed；　I'll　pay　you　for　it。〃

〃And　my　zeal；　my　devotion？〃

〃Put　'em　in　figures。〃

〃And　my　prob？〃

〃Add　it　up。〃

〃And　my　integ？〃

〃Add　them　together：　and　don't　bother　me。〃

〃I　see！　I　see！　my　poor　soldier。　　You　are　no　match　for　a　woman's　tongue。〃

〃Nor；　for　a　notary's。　　Go　to　h…；　and　send　in　your　bill！〃　roared　the　soldier　in　a　fury。　　〃Well；　will　you　go？〃　and　he　marched　at　him。

The　notary　scuttled　out；　with　something　between　a　snarl　and　a　squeak。

Josephine　hid　her　face　in　her　hands。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　inquired　Raynal。　　〃Not　crying　again；　surely！〃

〃Me！　　I　never　cryhardly。　I　hid　my　face　because　I　could　not　help　laughing。　　You　frightened　me；　sir；〃　said　she：　then　very　demurely；　〃I　was　afraid　you　were　going　to　beat　him。〃

〃No；　no；　a　good　soldier　never　leathers　a　civilian　if　he　can　possibly　help　it；　it　looks　so　bad；　and　before　a　lady！〃

〃Oh；　I　would　have　forgiven　you；　monsieur；〃　said　Josephine　benignly；　and　something　like　a　little　sun　danced　in　her　eye。

〃Now；　mademoiselle；　since　my　referee　has　proved　a　pig；　it　is　your　turn。　　Choose　you　a　mutual　friend。〃

Josephine　hesitated。　　〃Ours　is　so　young。　　You　know　him　very　well。　You　are　doubtless　the　commandant　of　whom　I　once　heard　him　speak　with　such　admiration：　his　name　is　Riviere；　Edouard　Riviere。〃

〃Know　him？　he　is　my　best　officer；　out　and　out。〃　　And　without　a　moment's　hesitation　he　took　Edouard's　present　address；　and　accepted　that　youthful　Daniel　as　their　referee；　then　looked　at　his　watch　and　marched　off　to　his　public　duties　with　sabre　clanking　at　his　heels。

The　notary　went　home　gnashing　his　teeth。　　His　sweet　revenge　was　turned　to　wormwood　this　day。　　Raynal's　parting　commissions　rang　in　his　ear；　in　his　bitter　mood　the　want　of　logical　sequence　in　the　two　orders　disgusted　him。

So　he　inverted　them。

He　sent　in　a　thundering　bill　the　very　next　morning；　but　postponed　the　other　commission　till　his　dying　day。

As　for　Josephine；　she　came　into　the　drawing…room　beaming　with　love　and　happiness；　and　after　kissing　both　her　mother　and　Rose　with　gentle　violence；　she　l