white lies-第21节

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At　last；　one　fine　day；　her　torments　were　relieved　without　any　further　exertion　on　her　part。　　Jacintha　bounced　into　the　drawing…　room　with　a　notice　that　the　commandant　wanted　to　speak　to　Josephine　a　minute　out　in　the　Pleasaunce。

〃How　droll　he　is；〃　said　Rose；　〃fancy　sending　in　for　a　young　lady　like　that。　　Don't　go；　Josephine；　how；　he　would　stare。〃

〃My　dear；　I　no　more　dare　disobey　him　than　if　I　was　one　of　his　soldiers。〃　　And　she　laid　down　her　work；　and　rose　quietly　to　do　what　she　was　bid。

〃Well；〃　said　Rose；　superciliously；　〃go　to　your　commanding　officer。　And；　O　Josephine；　if　you　are　worth　anything　at　all；　do　get　out　of　him　what　that　Edouard　has　settled。〃

Josephine　kissed　her；　and　promised　to　try。　　After　the　first　salutation；　there　was　a　certain　hesitation　about　Raynal　which　Josephine　had　never　seen　a　trace　of　in　him　before；　so；　to　put　him　at　his　ease；　and　at　the　same　time　keep　her　promise　to　Rose；　she　asked　timidly　if　their　mutual　friend　had　been　able　to　suggest　anything。

〃What！　don't　you　know　that　I　have　been　acting　all　along　upon　his　instructions？〃　answered　Raynal。

〃No；　indeed！　and　you　have　not　told　us　what　he　advised。〃

〃Told　you？　why；　of　course　not；　they　were　secret　instructions。　　I　have　obeyed　one　set；　and　now　I　come　to　the　other；　and　there　is　the　difficulty；　being　a　kind　of　warfare　I　know　nothing　about。〃

〃It　must　be　savage　warfare；　then；〃　suggested　the　lady　politely。

〃Not　a　bit　of　it。　　Now；　who　would　have　thought　I　was　such　a　coward？〃

Josephine　was　mystified；　however；　she　made　a　shrewd　guess。　　〃Do　you　fear　a　repulse　from　any　one　of　us？　　Then；　I　suppose；　you　meditate　some　extravagant　act　of　generosity。〃

〃Not　I。〃

〃Of　delicacy；　then。〃

〃Just　the　reverse。　　Confound　the　young　dog！　why　is　he　not　here　to　help　me？〃

〃But；　after　all；〃　suggested　Josephine；　〃you　have　only　to　carry　out　his　instructions。〃

〃That　is　true！　that　is　true！　but　when　a　fellow　is　a　coward；　a　poltroon；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing。〃

This　repeated　assertion　of　cowardice　on　the　part　of　the　living　Damascus　blade　that　stood　bolt…upright　before　her；　struck　Josephine　as　so　funny　that　she　laughed　merrily；　and　bade　him　fancy　it　was　only　a　fort　he　was　attacking　instead　of　the　terrible　Josephine；　whom　none　but　heroes　feared；　she　assured　him。

This　encouragement；　uttered　in　jest；　was　taken　in　earnest。　　The　soldier　thanked　her；　and　rallied　visibly　at　the　comparison。　　〃All　right；〃　said　he；　〃as　you　say；　it　is　only　a　fortsomademoiselle！〃

〃Monsieur！〃

〃Hum！　will　you　lend　me　your　hand　for　a　moment？〃

〃My　hand！　what　for？　there；〃　and　she　put　it　out　an　inch　a　minute。　　He　took　it；　and　inspected　it　closely。

〃A　charming　hand；　the　hand　of　a　virtuous　woman？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Josephine　as　cool　as　a　cucumber；　too　sublimely　and　absurdly　innocent　even　to　blush。

〃Is　it　your　own？〃

〃Sir！〃　　She　blushed　at　that；　I　can　tell　you。

〃Because　if　it　was；　I　would　ask　you　to　give　it　me。　　（I've　fired　the　first　shot　anyway。）〃

Josephine　whipped　her　hand　off　his　palm；　where　it　lay　like　cream　spilt　on　a　trencher。

〃Ah！　I　see；　you　are　not　free：　you　have　a　lover。〃

〃No；　no！〃　cried　Josephine　in　distress；　〃I　love　nobody　but　my　mother　and　sister：　I　never　shall。〃

〃Your　mother；〃　cried　Raynal；　〃that　reminds　me；　he　told　me　to　ask　her；　by　Jove；　I　think　he　told　me　to　ask　her　first；〃　and　Raynal　up　with　his　scabbard　and　was　making　off。

Josephine　begged　him　to　do　nothing　of　the　kind。

〃I　can　save　you　the　trouble；〃　said　she。

〃Ah；　but　my　instructions！　my　instructions！〃　cried　the　military　pedant；　and　ran　off　into　the　house；　and　left　Josephine　〃planted　there；〃　as　they　say　in　France。

Raynal　demanded　a　private　interview　of　the　baroness　so　significantly　and　unceremoniously　that　Rose　had　no　alternative　but　to　retire；　but　not　without　a　glance　of　defiance　at　the　bear。　　She　ran　straight；　without　her　bonnet；　into　the　Pleasaunce　to　slake　her　curiosity　at　Josephine。　　That　young　lady　was　walking　pensively；　but　turned　at　sight　of　Rose；　and　the　sisters　came　together　with　a　clash　of　tongues。

〃O　Rose！　he　has〃

〃Oh！〃

So　nimbly　does　the　female　mind　run　on　its　little　beaten　tracks；　that　it　took　no　more　than　those　syllables　for　even　these　innocent　young　women　to　communicate　that　Raynal　had　popped。

Josephine　apologized　for　this　weakness　in　a　hero。　　〃It　wasn't　his　fault；〃　said　she。　　〃It　is　your　Edouard　who　set　him　to　do　it。〃

〃My　Edouard？　　Don't　talk　in　that　horrid　way：　I　have　no　Edouard。　　You　said　'no'　of　course。〃

〃Something　of　the　kind。〃

〃What；　did　you　not　say　'no'　plump？〃

〃I　did　not　say　it　brutally；　dear。〃

〃Josephine；　you　frighten　me。　　I　know　you　can't　say　'no'　to　any　one；　and　if　you　don't　say　'no'　plump　to　such　a　man　as　this；　you　might　as　well　say　'yes。'〃

〃Well；　love；〃　said　Josephine；　〃you　know　our　mother　will　relieve　me　of　this；　what　a　comfort　to　have　a　mother！〃

They　waited　for　Raynal's　departure；　to　go　to　the　baroness。　　They　had　to　wait　a　long　time。　　Moreover；　when　he　did　leave　the　chateau　he　came　straight　into　the　Pleasaunce。　　At　sight　of　him　Rose　seized　Josephine　tight　and　bade　her　hold　her　tongue；　as　she　could　not　say　〃no〃　plump　to　any　one。　　Josephine　was　far　from　raising　any　objection　to　the　arrangement。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　Rose；　before　he　could　get　a　word　out；　〃even　if　she　had　not　declined；　I　could　not　consent。〃

Raynal　tapped　his　forehead　reflectively；　and　drew　forth　from　memory　that　he　had　no　instructions　whatever　to　ask　HER　consent。

She　colored　high；　but　returned　to　the　charge。

〃Is　her　own　consent　to　be　dispensed　with　too？　　She　declined　the　honor；　did　she　not？〃

〃Of　course　she　did；　but　this　was　anticipated　in　my　instructions。　　I　am　to　be　sure　and　not　take　the　first　two　or　three　refusals。〃

〃O　Josephine；　look　at　that　insolent　boy：　he　has　found　you　out。〃

〃Insolent　boy！〃　cried　Raynal；　〃why；　it　is　the　referee　of　your　own　choosing；　and　as　well　behaved　a　lad　as　ever　I　saw；　and　a　zealous　officer。〃

〃My　kind　friends；〃　put　in　Josephine　with　a　sweet　languor；　〃I　cannot　let　you　quarrel　about　a　straw。〃

〃It　is　not　about　a　straw；〃　said　Raynal；　〃it　is　about　you。〃

〃The　distinction　involves　a　compliment；　sir；〃　said　Josephine；　then　she　turned　to　Rose；　〃Is　it　possible　you　do　not　see　Monsieur　Raynal's　strange　proposal　in　its　true　light？　and　you　so　shrewd　in　general。　He　has　no　personal　feeling　whatever　in　this　eccentric　proceeding：　he　wants　to　make　us　all　happy；　especially　my　mother；　without　seeming　to　lay　us　under　too　great　an　obligation。　　Surely　good…nature　was　never　carried　so　far　before；　ha；　ha！　Monsieur；　I　will　encumber　you　with　my　friendship　forever；　if　you　permit　me；　but　farther　than　that　I　will　not　abuse　your　generosity。〃

〃Now　look　here；　mademoiselle；〃　began　Raynal　bluntly；　〃I　did　start　with　a　good　motive　at　first；　that　there's　no　denying。　　But；　since　I　have　been　every　day　in　your　company；　and　seen　how　good　and　kind　you　are　to　all　about　you；　I　have　turned　selfish；　and　I　say　to　myself；　what　a　comfort　such　a　wife　as　you　would　be　to　a　soldier！　　Why；　only　to　have　you　to　write　letters　home　to；　would　be　worth　half　a　fellow's　pay。　　Do　you　know　sometimes　when　I　see　the　fellows　writing　their　letters　it　gives　me　a　knock　here　to　think　I　have　no　one　at　all　to　write　to。〃

Josephine　sighed。

〃So　you　see　I　am　not　so　mighty　disinterested。　　Now；　mademoiselle；　you　speak　so　charmingly；　I　can't　tell　what　you　mean：　can't　tell　whether　you　say　'no'　because　you　could　never　like　me；　or　whether　it　is　out　of　delicacy；　and　you　only　want　pressing。　　So　I　say　no　more　at　present：　it　is　a　standing　offer。　　Take　a　day　to　consider。　　Take　two　if　you　like。　　I　must　go　to　the　barracks；　good…day。〃

〃Oh！　this　must　be　put　an　end　to　at　once；〃　said　Rose。

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　replied　Josephine；　〃but　how？〃

〃Come　to　our　mother；　and　settle　that；〃　said　the　impetuous　sister；　and　nearly　dragged　the　languid　one　into　the　drawing…room。

To　their　surprise　they　found　the　baroness　walking　up　and　down　the　room　with　unusual　alacrity　for　a　person　of　her　years。　　She　no　sooner　caught　sight　of　Josephine　than　she　threw　her　arms　open　to　her　with　joyful　vivacity；　and　kissed　her　warmly。　　〃My　love；　you　have　saved　us。　　I　am　a　happy　old　woman。　　If　I　had　all　France　to　pick　from　I　could　not　have　found　a　man　so　worthy　of　my　Josephine。　　He　is　brave；　he　is　handsome；　he　is　young；　he　is　a　rising　man；　he　is　a　good　son；　and　good　sons　make　good　husbandsandI　shall　die　at　Beaurepaire；　shall　I　not；　Madame　the　Commandante？〃

Josephine　held　her　mother　round　the　neck；　but　never　spoke。　　After　a　silence　she　held　her　tighter；　and　cried　a　little。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　the　baroness　confidentially　of　Rose；　but　without　showing　any　very　profound　concern。

〃Mamma！　mamma！　she　does　not　love　him。〃

〃Love　him？　　She　would　be　no　daughter　of　mine　if　she　loved　a　man　at　sight。　　A　modest　woman　loves　her　husband　only。〃

〃But　she　scarcely　knows　Monsieur　Raynal。〃

〃She　knows　more　of　him　than　I　knew　of　your　father　when　I　married　him。　　She　knows　his　virtues　and　appreciates　them。　　I　have　heard　her；　have　I　not；　love？　　Esteem　soon　ripens　into　love　when　they　are　once　fairly　married。〃

〃Mother；　does　her　silence　then　tell　you　nothing？　　Her　tearsare　they　nothing　to　you？〃

〃Silly　child！　　These　are　tears　that　do　not　scald。　　The　sweet　soul　weeps　because　she　now　for　the　first　time　sees　she　will　have　to　leave　her