white lies-第26节

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uty　on　her　cheek；　that　instead　of　scolding　her；　he　actually　blurted　out；　〃Well！　by　St。　Denis　it　was　worth　waiting　half　an　hour　for。〃

He　recovered　a　quarter　of　an　hour　by　making　the　driver　gallop。　　Then　occasional　shrieks　issued　from　the　carriage　that　held　the　baroness。　That　ancient　lady　feared　annihilation：　she　had　not　come　down　from　a　galloping　age。

They　drove　into　the　town；　drew　up　at　the　mayor's　house；　were　received　with　great　ceremony　by　that　functionary　and　Picard；　and　entered　the　house。

When　their　carriages　rattled　into　the　street　from　the　north　side；　Colonel　Dujardin　had　already　entered　it　from　the　south；　and　was　riding　at　a　foot's　pace　along　the　principal　street。　　The　motion　of　his　horse　now　shook　him　past　endurance。　　He　dismounted　at　an　inn　a　few　doors　from　the　mayor's　house；　and　determined　to　do　the　rest　of　the　short　journey　on　foot。　　The　landlord　bustled　about　him　obsequiously。　　〃You　are　faint；　colonel；　you　have　travelled　too　far。　Let　me　order　you　an　excellent　breakfast。〃

〃No。　　I　want　a　carriage；　have　you　one？〃

〃I　have　two；　but；　unluckily；　they　are　both　engaged　for　the　day；　and　by　people　of　distinction。　　Commandant　Raynal　is　married　to…day。〃

〃Ah！　I　wish　him　joy；〃　said　Camille；　heartily。　　He　then　asked　the　landlord　to　open　the　window；　as　he　felt　rather　faint。　　The　landlord　insisted　on　breakfast；　and　Camille　sat　down　to　an　omelet　and　a　bottle　of　red　wine。　　Then　he　lay　awhile　near　the　window；　revived　by　the　air；　and　watched　the　dear　little　street　he　had　not　seen　for　years。　　He　felt　languid；　but　happy；　celestially　happy。

She　was　a　few　doors　from　him；　and　neither　knew　it。

A　pen　was　put　into　her　white　hand；　and　in　another　moment　she　had　signed　a　marriage　contract。

〃Now　to　the　church；〃　cried　the　baroness；　gayly。　　To　get　to　the　church；　they　must　pass　by　the　window　Camille　reclined　at。


CHAPTER　VIII。


〃Oh！　there's　no　time　for　that；〃　said　Raynal。　　And　as　the　baroness　looked　horrified　and　amazed；　Picard　explained：　〃The　state　marries　its　citizens　now；　with　reason：　since　marriage　is　a　civil　contract。〃

〃Marriage　a　civil　contract！〃　repeated　the　baroness。　　〃What；　is　it　then　no　longer　one　of　the　holy　sacraments？　　What　horrible　impiety　shall　we　come　to　next？　　Unhappy　France！　　Such　a　contract　would　never　be　a　marriage　in　my　eyes：　and　what　would　become　of　an　union　the　Church　had　not　blessed？〃

〃Madame；〃　said　Picard；　〃the　Church　can　bless　it　still；　but　it　is　only　the　mayor　here　that　can　DO　it。〃

All　this　time　Josephine　was　blushing　scarlet；　and　looking　this　way　and　that；　with　a　sort　of　instinctive　desire　to　fly　and　hide；　no　matter　where；　for　a　week　or　so。

〃Haw！　haw！　haw！〃　roared　Raynal；　〃here　is　a　pretty　mother。　　Wants　her　daughter　to　be　unlawfully　married　in　a　church；　instead　of　lawfully　in　a　house。　　Give　me　the　will！〃

〃Look　here；　mother…in…law：　I　have　left　Beaurepaire　to　my　lawful　wife。〃

〃Otherwise；〃　put　in　Picard；　〃in　case　of　death；　it　would　pass　to　his　heir…at…law。〃

〃And　HE　would　turn　you　all　out；　and　that　does　not　suit　me。　　Now　there　stands　the　only　man　who　can　make　mademoiselle　my　LAWFUL　wife。　So　quick　march；　monsieur　the　mayor；　for　time　and　Bonaparte　wait　for　no　man。〃

〃Stay　a　minute；　young　people；〃　said　the　mayor。　　〃We　should　soothe　respectable　prejudices；　not　crush　them。　　Madam；　I　am　at　least　as　old　as　you；　and　have　seen　many　changes。　　I　perfectly　understand　your　feelings。〃

〃Ah；　monsieur！　oh！〃

〃Calm　yourself；　dear　madam；　the　case　is　not　so　bad　as　you　think。　　It　is　perfectly　true　that　in　republican　France　the　civil　magistrate　alone　can　bind　French　citizens　in　lawful　wedlock。　　But　this　does　not　annihilate　the　religious　ceremony。　　You　can　ask　the　Church's　blessing　on　my　work；　and　be　assured　you　are　not　the　only　one　who　retains　that　natural　prejudice。　　Out　of　every　ten　couples　that　I　marry；　four　or　five　go　to　church　afterwards　and　perform　the　ancient　ceremonies。　　And　they　do　well。　　For　there　before　the　altar　the　priest　tells　them　what　it　is　not　my　business　to　dilate　uponthe　grave　moral　and　religious　duties　they　have　undertaken　along　with　this　civil　contract。　　The　state　binds；　but　the　Church　still　blesses；　and　piously　assents　to　that〃

〃From　which　she　has　no　power　to　dissent。〃

〃Monsieur　Picard；　do　you　consider　it　polite　to　interrupt　the　chief　magistrate　of　the　place　while　he　is　explaining　the　law　to　a　citizen？〃

（This　closed　Picard。）

〃I　married　a　daughter　last　year；〃　continued　the　worthy　mayor。

〃What；　after　this　fashion？〃

〃I　married　her　myself；　as　I　will　marry　yours；　if　you　will　trust　me　with　her。　　And　after　I　have　made　them　one；　there　is　nothing　to　prevent　them　adjourning　to　the　church。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　cried　Raynal；　〃there　are　two　things　to　prevent　it：　a　couple　that　wait　for　no　man：　Time　and　Bonaparte。　　Come；　sir；　marry　us；　and　have　done　with　it。〃

The　mayor　assented。　　He　invited　Josephine　to　stand　before　him。　　She　trembled　and　wept　a　little：　Rose　clung　to　her　and　wept；　and　the　good　mayor　married　the　parties　off　hand。

〃Is　that　all？〃　asked　the　baroness；　〃it　is　terribly　soon　done。〃

〃It　is　done　effectively；　madam；〃　said　the　mayor；　with　a　smile。　〃Permit　me　to　tell　you　that　his　Holiness　the　Pope　cannot　undo　my　work。〃

Picard　grinned　slyly；　and　whispered　something　into　Raynal's　ear。

〃Oh！　indeed；〃　said　Raynal　aloud　and　carelessly。　　〃Come；　Madame　Raynal；　to　breakfast：　follow　us；　the　rest　of　you。〃

They　paired；　and　followed　the　bride　and　bridegroom　into　the　breakfast…room。


The　light　words　Picard　whispered　were　five　in　number。

Now　if　the　mayor　had　not　snubbed　Picard　just　before；　he　would　have　uttered　those　jocose　but　true　words　aloud。　　There　was　no　particular　reason　why　he　should　not。　　And　if　he　had；The　threads　of　the　web　of　life；　how　subtle　they　are！　　The　finest　cotton　of　Manchester；　the　finer　meshes　of　the　spider；　seem　three…inch　cables　by　comparison　with　those　moral　gossamers　which　vulgar　eyes　cannot　see　at　all；　the　〃somethings；　nothings；〃　on　which　great　fates　have　hung。

It　was　a　cheerful　breakfast；　thanks　to　Raynal；　who　would　be　in　high　spirits；　and　would　not　allow　a　word　of　regret　from　any　one。　　Madame　Raynal　sat　by　his　side；　looking　up　at　him　every　now　and　then　with　innocent　admiration。　　A　merry　wedding　breakfast。

But　if　men　and　women　could　see　through　the　walls　of　houses！

Two　doors　off　sat　the　wounded　colonel　alone；　recruiting　the　small　remnant　of　his　sore　tried　strength；　that　he　might　struggle　on　to　Beaurepaire；　and　lose　in　one　moment　years　of　separation；　pain；　prison；　anguish；　martyrdom；　in　one　great　gush　of　joy　without　compare。


The　wedding　breakfast　was　ended。　　The　time　was　drawing　near　to　part。　There　was　a　silence。　　It　was　broken　by　Madame　Raynal。　　She　asked　Raynal　very　timidly　if　he　had　reflected。　　〃On　what？〃　said　he。

〃About　taking　me　to　Egypt。〃

〃No：　I　have　not　given　it　a　thought　since　I　said　'no。'〃

〃Yet　permit　me　to　say　that　it　is　my　duty　to　be　by　your　side；　my　husband。〃　　And　she　colored　at　this　word；　being　the　first　time　she　had　ever　used　it。　　Raynal　was　silent。　　She　murmured　on；　〃I　would　not　be　an　encumbrance　to　you；　sir：　I　should　not　be　useless。　　Gentlemen；　I　could　add　more　to　his　comfort　than　he　gives　me　credit　for。〃

Warm　assent　of　the　mayor　and　notary　to　this　hint。

〃I　give　you　credit　for　being　an　angel；〃　said　Raynal　warmly。

He　hesitated。　　Rose　was　trembling；　her　fork　shaking　in　her　poor　little　hand。

She　cast　a　piteous　glance　at　him。　　He　saw　it。

〃You　shall　go　with　me　next　time；〃　said　he。　　〃Let　us　speak　of　it　no　more。〃

Josephine　bowed　her　head。　　〃At　least　give　me　something　to　do　for　you　while　you　are　away。　　Tell　me　what　I　can　do　for　my　absent　friend　to　show　my　gratitude；　my　regard；　my　esteem。〃

〃Well；　let　me　think。　　I　saw　a　plain　gray　dress　at　Beaurepaire。〃

〃Yes；　monsieur。　　My　gray　silk；　Rose。〃

〃I　like　that　dress。〃

〃Do　you？　　Then　the　moment　I　reach　home　after　losing　you　I　shall　put　it　on；　and　it　shall　be　my　constant　wear。　　I　see；　you　are　right；　gray　becomes　a　wife　whose　husband　is　not　dead；　but　is　absent；　and　alas！　in　hourly　danger。〃

〃Now　look　at　that！〃　cried　Raynal　to　the　company。　　〃That　is　her　all　over：　she　can　see　six　meanings　where　another　would　see　but　one。　　I　never　thought　of　that；　I　swear。　　I　like　modest　colors；　that　is　all。　My　mother　used　to　be　all　for　modest　wives　wearing　modest　colors。〃

〃I　am　of　her　mind；　sir。　　Is　there　nothing　more　difficult　you　will　be　so　good　as　give　me　to　do？〃

〃No；　there　is　only　one　order　more；　and　that　will　be　easier　still　to　such　a　woman　as　you。　　I　commit　to　your　care　the　name　of　Raynal。　　It　is　not　so　high　a　name　as　yours；　but　it　is　as　honest。　　I　am　proud　of　it：　I　am　jealous　of　it。　　I　shall　guard　it　for　you　in　Egypt：　you　guard　it　in　France　for　me。〃

〃With　my　life；〃　cried　Josephine；　lifting　her　eyes　and　her　hand　to　heaven。

Soon　after　this　Raynal　ordered　his　charger。

The　baroness　began　to　cry。　　〃The　young　people　may　hope　to　see　you　again；〃　said　she；　〃but　there　are　two　chances　against　your　poor　old　mother。〃

〃Courage；　mother！〃　cried　the　stout　soldier。　　〃No；　no；　you　won't　play　me　such　a　trick：　once　is　enough　for　that　game。〃

〃Brother！〃　cried　Rose；　〃do　not　go　without　kissing　your　little　sister；　who　loves　you　and　thanks　you。〃　　He　kissed　her。　　〃Bravo；　generous　soul！〃　she　cried；　with　her　arms　round　his　neck。　　〃God　protect　you；　and　se