white lies-第23节

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incerta；　hard　to　be　the　judge。　　And　she　had　but　a　few　seconds　to　think　in；　for　Raynal　was　at　hand。　　The　last　thing　in　her　mind　before　he　joined　her　was　the　terrible　power　of　that　base　Camille　over　her　sister。　　She　despaired　of　curing　Josephine；　but　a　husband　might。　　There's　such　divinity　doth　hedge　a　husband　in　innocent　girls'　minds。

〃Well；　little　lady；〃　began　Raynal；　〃and　how　are　you；　and　how　is　my　mother…in…law　that　is　to　beor　is　not　to　be；　as　your　sister　pleases；　and　how　is　SHE？　have　I　frightened　her　away？　　There　were　two　petticoats；　and　now　there　is　but　one。〃

〃She　left　me　to　answer　you。〃

〃All　the　worse　for　me：　I　am　not　to　your　taste。〃

〃Do　not　say　that；〃　said　Rose；　almost　hysterically。

〃Oh！　it　is　no　sacrilege。　　Not　one　in　fifty　likes　me。〃

〃But　I　do　like　you；　sir。〃

〃Then　why　won't　you　let　me　have　your　sister？〃

〃I　have　not　quite　decided　that　you　shall　not　have　her；〃　faltered　poor　Rose。　　She　murmured　on；　〃I　dare　say　you　think　me　very　unkind；　very　selfish；　but　put　yourself　in　my　place。　　I　love　my　sister　as　no　man　can　ever　love　her；　I　know：　my　heart　has　been　one　flesh　and　one　soul　with　hers　all　my　life。　　A　stranger　comes　and　takes　her　away　from　me　as　if　she　was　I　don't　know　what；　his　portmanteau；　takes　her　to　Egypt；　oh！　oh！　oh！〃

Raynal　comforted　her。

〃What；　do　you　think　I　am　such　a　brute　as　to　take　that　delicate　creature　about　fighting　with　me？　why；　the　hot　sand　would　choke　her；　to　begin。　　No。　　You　don't　take　my　manoeuvre。　　I　have　no　family；　I　try　for　a　wife　that　will　throw　me　in　a　mother　and　sister。　　You　will　live　all　together　the　same　as　before；　of　course；　only　you　must　let　me　make　one　of　you　when　I　am　at　home。　　And　how　often　will　that　be？　Besides；　I　am　as　likely　to　be　knocked　on　the　head　in　Egypt　as　not；　you　are　worrying　yourself　for　nothing；　little　lady。〃

He　uttered　the　last　topic　of　consolation　in　a　broad；　hearty；　hilarious　tone；　like　a　trombone　impregnated　with　cheerful　views　of　fate。

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　cried　Rose：　〃and　I　will；　for　even　I　shall　pray　for　you　now。　　What　you　will　leave　her　at　home？　forgive　me　for　not　seeing　all　your　worth：　of　course　I　knew　you　were　an　angel；　but　I　had　no　idea　you　were　a　duck。　　You　are　just　the　man　for　my　sister。　　She　likes　to　obey：　you　are　all　for　commanding。　　So　you　see。　　Then　she　never　thinks　of　herself；　any　other　man　but　you　would　impose　on　her　good…nature；　but　you　are　too　generous　to　do　that。　　So　you　see。　　Then　she　esteems　you　so　highly。　　And　one　whom　I　esteem　（between　you　and　me）　has　chosen　you　for　her。〃

〃Then　say　yes；　and　have　done　with　it；〃　suggested　the　straightforward　soldier。

〃Why　should　I　say　'no？'　you　will　make　one　another　happy　some　day：　you　are　both　so　good。　　Any　other　man　but　you　would　tear　her　from　me；　but　you　are　too　just；　too　kind。　　Heaven　will　reward　you。　　No！　I　will。　　I　will　give　you　Josephine：　ah；　my　dear　brother…in…law；　it　is　the　most　precious　thing　I　have　to　give　in　the　world。〃

〃Thank　you；　then。　　So　that　is　settled。　　Hum！　no；　it　is　not　quite；　I　forgot；　I　have　something　for　you　to　read；　an　anonymous　letter。　　I　got　it　this　morning；　it　says　your　sister　has　a　lover。〃

The　letter　ran　to　this　tune：　a　friend　who　had　observed　the　commandant's　frequent　visits　at　Beaurepaire　wrote　to　warn　him　against　traps。　　Both　the　young　ladies　of　Beaurepaire　were　doubtless　at　the　new　proprietor's　service　to　pick　and　choose　from。　　But　for　all　that　each　of　them　had　a　lover；　and　though　these　lovers　had　their　orders　to　keep　out　of　the　way　till　monsieur　should　be　hooked；　he　might　be　sure　that　if　he　married　either；　the　man　of　her　heart　would　come　on　the　scene　soon　after；　perhaps　be　present　at　the　wedding。

In　short；　it　was　one　of　those　poisoned　arrows　a　coarse　vindictive　coward　can　shoot。

It　was　the　first　anonymous　letter　Rose　had　ever　seen。　　It　almost　drove　her　mad　on　the　spot。　　Raynal　was　sorry　he　had　let　her　see　it。

She　turned　red　and　white　by　turns；　and　gasped　for　breath。

〃Why　am　I　not　a　man？why　don't　I　wear　a　sword？　　I　would　pass　it　through　this　caitiff's　heart。　　The　cowardly　slave！the　fiend！　for　who　but　a　fiend　could　slander　an　angel　like　my　Josephine？　　Hooked？　Oh！　she　will　never　marry　you　if　she　sees　this。〃

〃Then　don't　let　her　see　it：　and　why　take　it　to　heart　like　that？　　I　don't　trust　to　the　word　of　a　man　who　owns　that　his　story　is　a　thing　he　dares　not　sign　his　name　to；　at　all　events；　I　shall　not　put　his　word　against　yours。　　But　it　is　best　to　understand　one　another　in　time。　　I　am　a　plain　man；　but　not　a　soft　one。　　I　should　not　be　an　easygoing　husband　like　some　I　see　about：　I'd　have　no　wasps　round　my　honey；　if　my　wife　took　a　lover　I　would　not　lecture　THE　WOMANwhat　is　the　use？I'd　kill　THE　MAN　then　and　there；　in…doors　or　out；　as　I　would　kill　a　snake。　　If　she　took　another；　I'd　send　him　after　the　first；　and　so　on　till　one　killed　me。〃

〃And　serve　the　wretches　right。〃

〃Yes；　but　for　my　own　sake　I　don't　choose　to　marry　a　woman　that　loves　any　other　man。　　So　tell　me　the　plain　truth；　come。〃

Rose　turned　chill　in　her　inside。　　〃I　have　no　lover；〃　she　stammered。　〃I　have　a　young　fool　that　comes　and　teases　me：　but　it　is　no　secret。　He　is　away；　but　why？　he　is　on　a　sickbed；　poor　little　fellow！〃

〃But　your　sister？　　She　could　not　have　a　lover　unknown　to　you。〃

〃I　defy　her。　　No；　sir；　I　have　not　seen　her　speak　three　words　to　any　young　man　except　Monsieur　Riviere　this　three　years　past。〃

〃That　is　enough；〃　and　he　tore　the　letter　quietly　to　atoms。

Then　Rose　saw　she　could　afford　a　little　more　candor。　　〃Understand　me；　I　can't　speak　of　what　happened　when　I　was　a　child。　　But　if　ever　she　had　a　girlish　attachment；　he　has　not　followed　it　up；　or　surely　I　should　have　seen　something　of　him　all　these　years。〃

〃Of　course。　　Oh！　as　for　flirtations；　let　them　pass：　a　lovely　girl　does　not　grow　up　without　one　or　two　whispering　some　nonsense　into　her　ear。　　Why；　I　myself　should　have　flirted　no　doubt；　but　I　never　had　the　time。　　Bonaparte　gives　you　time　to　eat　and　drink；　but　not　to　sleep　or　flirt；　and　that　reminds　me　I　have　fifty　miles　to　ride；　so　good…by；　sister…in…law；　eh？〃

〃Adieu；　brother…in…law。〃

Left　alone；　Rose　had　some　misgivings。　　She　had　equivocated　with　one　whose　upright；　candid　nature　ought　to　have　protected　him：　but　an　enemy　had　accused　Josephine；　and　it　came　so　natural　to　shield　her。　〃Did　he　really　think　I　would　expose　my　own　sister？〃　said　she　to　herself；　angrily。　　Was　not　this　anger　secret　self…discontent？


〃Well；　love；〃　said　Josephine；　demurely；　〃have　you　dismissed　him？〃

〃No。〃

Josephine　smiled　feebly。　　〃It　is　easy　to　say　'say　no；'　but　it　is　not　so　easy　to　say　'no；'　especially　when　you　feel　you　ought　to　say　'yes；'　and　have　no　wish　either　way　except　to　give　pleasure　to　others。〃

〃But　I　am　not　such　skim　milk　as　all　that；〃　replied　Rose：　〃I　have　always　a　strong　wish　where　you　are　concerned；　and　your　happiness。　　I　hesitated　whilst　I　was　in　doubt；　but　I　doubt　no　longer：　I　have　had　a　long　talk　with　him。　　He　has　shown　me　his　whole　heart：　he　is　the　best；　the　noblest　of　creatures：　he　has　no　littleness　or　meanness。　And　then　he　is　a　thorough　man；　I　know　that　by　his　being　the　very　opposite　of　a　woman　in　his　ways。　　Now　you　are　a　thorough　woman；　and　so　you　will　suit　one　another　to　a　T。　　I　have　decided：　so　no　more　doubts；　love；　no　more　tears；　no　more　disputes。　　We　are　all　of　one　mind；　and　I　do　think　I　have　secured　your　happiness。　　It　will　not　come　in　a　day；　perhaps；　but　it　will　come。　　So　then　in　one　little　fortnight　you　marry　Monsieur　Raynal。〃

〃What！〃　said　Josephine；　〃you　have　actually　settled　that？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃But　are　you　sure　I　can　make　him　as　happy　as　he　deserves？〃

〃Positive。〃

〃I　think　so　too；　still〃

〃It　is　settled；　dear；〃　said　Rose　soothingly。

〃Oh；　the　comfort　of　that！　you　relieve　me　of　a　weight；　you　give　me　peace。　　I　shall　have　duties；　I　shall　do　some　good　in　the　world。　They　were　all　for　it　but　you　before；　were　they　not？〃

〃Yes；　and　now　I　am　strongest　for　it　of　them　all。　　Josephine；　it　is　settled。〃

Josephine　looked　at　her　for　a　moment　in　silence；　then　said　eagerly；　〃Bless　you；　dear　Rose；　you　have　saved　your　sister；〃　then；　after　a　moment；　in　a　very　different　voice；　〃O　Camille！　Camille！　why　have　you　deserted　me？〃

And　with　this　she　fell　to　sobbing　terribly。　　Rose　wept　on　her　neck；　but　said　nothing。　　She　too　was　a　woman；　and　felt　that　this　was　the　last　despairing　cry　of　love　giving　up　a　hopeless　struggle。

They　sat　twined　together　in　silence　till　Jacintha　came　to　tell　them　it　was　close　upon　dinner…time；　so　then　they　hastened　to　dry　their　tears　and　wash　their　red　eyes；　for　fear　their　mother　should　see　what　they　had　been　at；　and　worry　herself。


〃Well；　mademoiselle；　these　two　consent；　but　what　do　you　say？　for　after　all；　it　is　you　I　am　courting；　and　not　them。　　Have　you　the　courage　to　venture　on　a　rough　soldier　like　me？〃

This　delicate　question　was　put　point…blank　before　the　three　ladies。

〃Sir；〃　replied　Josephine　timidly；　〃I　will　be　as　frank；　as　straightforward　as　you　are。　　I　thank　you　for　the　honor　you　do　me。〃

Raynal　looked　perplexed。

〃And　does　that　mean　'yes'　or　'no'？〃

〃Which　you　please；〃　said　Josephine；　hanging　her　sweet　head。

The　wedding　was　fixed　for　that　day　fortnight。　　The　next　morning　wardrobes　were　ransacked。　　The　silk；　muslin；　and　lace　of　their　prosperous　days　were　looked　out：　grave　discussions　were　held　over