white lies-第41节

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The　next　day　Rose　varied　her　late　deportment；　she　sang　snatches　of　melody；　going　about　the　house；　it　was　for　all　the　world　like　a　bird　chirping。　　In　the　middle　of　one　chirp　Jacintha　interfered。　　〃Hush；　mademoiselle；　your　mamma！　she　is　at　the　bottom　of　the　corridor。〃

〃What　was　I　thinking　of？〃　said　Rose。

〃Oh！　I　dare　say　you　know；　mademoiselle；〃　replied　the　privileged　domestic。

A　letter　of　good　news　came　from　Aubertin。　　That　summons　to　his　nephew's　funeral　was　an　era　in　his　harmless　life。

The　said　nephew　was　a　rich　man　and　an　oddity；　one　of　those　who　love　to　surprise　folk。　　Moreover；　he　had　no　children；　and　detected　his　nephews　and　nieces　being　unnaturally　civil　to　him。　　〃Waiting　to　cut　me　up；〃　was　his　generous　reading　of　them。　　So　with　this　he　made　a　will；　and　there　defied；　as　far　as　in　him　lay；　the　laws　of　nature；　for　he　set　his　wealth　a…flowing　backwards　instead　of　forwards；　he　handed　his　property　up　to　an　ancestor；　instead　of　down　to　posterity。

All　this　the　doctor's　pen　set　down　with　some　humor；　and　in　the　calm　spirit　with　which　a　genuine　philosopher　receives　prosperity　as　well　as　adversity。　　Yet　one　natural　regret　escaped　him；　that　all　this　wealth；　since　it　was　to　come；　had　not　come　a　year　or　two　sooner。

All　at　Beaurepaire　knew　what　their　dear　old　friend　meant。

His　other　news　to　them　was　that　they　might　expect　him　any　moment。

So　here　was　another　cause　of　rejoicing。

〃I　am　so　glad；〃　said　Josephine。　　〃Now；　perhaps；　he　will　be　able　to　publish　his　poor　dear　entomology；　that　the　booksellers　were　all　so　unkind；　so　unfeeling　about。〃

I　linger　on　the　brink　of　painful　scenes　to　observe　that　a　sweet　and　loving　friendship；　such　as　this　was　between　the　good　doctor　and　three　persons　of　another　sex；　is　one　of　the　best　treasures　of　the　human　heart。　　Poverty　had　strengthened　it；　yet　now　wealth　could　not　weaken　it。　　With　no　tie　of　blood　it　yet　was　filial；　sisterly；　brotherly；　national；　chivalrous；　happy；　unalloyed　sentiment；　free　from　ups　and　downs；　from　heats　and　chills；　from　rivalry；　from　caprice；　and；　indeed；　from　all　mortal　accidents　but　oneand　why　say　one？　methinks　death　itself　does　but　suspend　these　gentle；　rare；　unselfish　amities　a　moment；　then　waft　them　upward　to　their　abiding　home。


CHAPTER　XV。


It　was　a　fair　morning　in　June：　the　sky　was　a　bright；　deep；　lovely；　speckless　blue：　the　flowers　and　bushes　poured　perfume；　and　sprinkled　song　upon　the　balmy　air。　　On　such　a　day；　so　calm；　so　warm；　so　bright；　so　scented；　so　tuneful；　to　live　and　to　be　young　is　to　be　happy。　　With　gentle　hand　it　wipes　all　other　days　out　of　the　memory；　it　smiles；　it　smells；　it　sings；　and　clouds　and　rain　and　biting　wind　seem　as　far　off　and　impossible　as　grief　and　trouble。

Camille　and　Josephine　had　stolen　out；　and　strolled　lazily　up　and　down　close　under　the　house；　drinking　the　sweet　air；　fragrant　with　perfume　and　melody；　the　blue　sky；　and　love。

Rose　was　in　the　house。　　She　had　missed　them；　but　she　thought　they　must　be　near；　for　they　seldom　took　long　walks　early　in　the　day。　Meeting　Jacintha　on　the　landing　of　the　great　staircase；　she　asked　her　where　her　sister　was。

〃Madame　Raynal　is　gone　for　a　walk。　　She　has　taken　the　colonel　with　her。　　You　know　she　always　takes　the　colonel　out　with　her　now。〃

〃That　will　do。　　You　can　finish　your　work。〃

Jacintha　went　into　Camille's　room。

Rose；　who　had　looked　as　grave　as　a　judge　while　Jacintha　was　present；　bubbled　into　laughter。　　She　even　repeated　Jacintha's　words　aloud；　and　chuckled　over　them。　　〃You　know　she　always　takes　the　colonel　out　with　her　nowha；　ha；　ha！〃

〃Rose！〃　sighed　a　distant　voice。

She　looked　round；　and　saw　the　baroness　at　some　distance　in　the　corridor；　coming　slowly　towards　her；　with　eyes　bent　gloomily　on　the　ground。　　Rose　composed　her　features　into　a　settled　gravity；　and　went　to　meet　her。

〃I　wish　to　speak　with　you；〃　said　the　baroness；　〃let　us　sit　down；　it　is　cool　here。〃

Rose　ran　and　brought　a　seat　without　a　back；　but　well　stuffed；　and　set　it　against　the　wall。　　The　old　lady　sat　down　and　leaned　back；　and　looked　at　Rose　in　silence　a　good　while；　then　she　said；

〃There　is　room　for　you；　sit　down；　for　I　want　to　speak　seriously　to　you。〃

〃Yes；　mamma；　what　is　it？〃

〃Turn　a　little　round；　and　let　me　see　your　face。〃

Rose　complied；　and　began　to　feel　a　little　uneasy。

〃Perhaps　you　can　guess　what　I　am　going　to　say　to　you？〃

〃I　have　no　idea。〃

〃Well；　I　am　going　to　put　a　question　to　you。〃

〃With　all　my　heart；　dear　mamma。〃

〃I　invite　you　to　explain　to　me　the　most　singular；　the　most　unaccountable　thing　that　ever　fell　under　my　notice。　　Will　you　do　this　for　your　mother？〃

〃O　mamma！　of　course　I　will　do　anything　to　please　you　that　I　can；　but；　indeed；　I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃

〃I　am　going　to　tell　you。〃

The　old　lady　paused。　　The　young　one；　naturally　enough；　felt　a　chill　of　vague　anxiety　strike　across　her　frame。

〃Rose；〃　said　the　old　lady；　speaking　very　gently　but　firmly；　and　leaning　in　a　peculiar　way　on　her　words；　while　her　eye　worked　like　an　ice　gimlet　on　her　daughter's　face；　〃a　little　while　ago；　when　my　poor　Raynalour　benefactorwas　aliveand　I　was　happyyou　all　chilled　my　happiness　by　your　gloom：　the　whole　house　seemed　a　house　of　mourningtell　me　now　why　was　this。〃

〃Mamma！〃　said　Rose；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　〃we　could　hardly　be　gay。　　Sickness　in　the　house！　　And　if　Colonel　Raynal　was　alive；　still　he　was　absent；　and　in　danger。〃

〃Oh！　then　it　was　out　of　regard　for　him　we　were　all　dispirited？〃

〃Why；　I　suppose　so；〃　said　Rose；　stoutly；　but　then　colored　high　at　her　own　want　of　candor。　　However；　she　congratulated　herself　that　her　mother's　suspicion　was　confined　to　past　events。

Her　self…congratulation　on　that　score　was　short；　for　the　baroness；　after　eying　her　grimly　for　a　second　or　two　in　silence；　put　her　this　awkward　question　plump。

〃If　so；　tell　me　why　is　it　that　ever　since　that　black　day　when　the　news　of　his　DEATH　reached　us；　the　whole　house　has　gone　into　black；　and　has　gone　out　of　mourning？〃

〃Mamma；〃　stammered　Rose；　〃what　DO　you　mean？〃

〃Even　poor　Camille；　who　was　so　pale　and　wan；　has　recovered　like　magic。〃

〃O　mamma！　is　not　that　fancy？〃　said　Rose；　piteously。　　〃Of　what　do　you　suspect　me？　　Can　you　think　I　am　unfeelingungrateful？　　I　should　not　be　YOUR　daughter。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　the　baroness；　〃to　do　you　justice；　you　attempt　sorrow；　as　you　put　on　black。　　But；　my　poor　child；　you　do　it　with　so　little　skill　that　one　sees　a　horrible　gayety　breaking　through　that　thin　disguise：　you　are　no　true　mourners：　you　are　like　the　mutes　or　the　undertakers　at　a　funeral；　forced　grief　on　the　surface　of　your　faces；　and　frightful　complacency　below。〃

〃Tra　la！　lal！　la！　la！　　Tra　la！　la！　　Tra　la！　la！〃　carolled　Jacintha；　in　the　colonel's　room　hard　by。

The　ladies　looked　at　one　another：　Rose　in　great　confusion。

〃Tra　la！　la！　la！　　Tra　lal！　lal！　la！　la！　la！〃

〃Jacintha！〃　screamed　Rose　angrily。

〃Hush！　not　a　word；〃　said　the　baroness。　　〃Why　remonstrate　with　HER？　Servants　are　but　chameleons：　they　take　the　color　of　those　they　serve。　　Do　not　cry。　　I　wanted　your　confidence；　not　your　tears；　love。　There；　I　will　not　twice　in　one　day　ask　you　for　your　heart：　it　would　be　to　lower　the　mother；　and　give　the　daughter　the　pain　of　refusing　it；　and　the　regret；　sure　to　come　one　day；　of　having　refused　it。　　I　will　discover　the　meaning　of　it　all　by　myself。〃　　She　went　away　with　a　gentle　sigh；　and　Rose　was　cut　to　the　heart　by　her　words；　she　resolved；　whatever　it　might　cost　her　and　Josephine；　to　make　a　clean　breast　this　very　day。　　As　she　was　one　of　those　who　act　promptly；　she　went　instantly　in　search　of　her　sister；　to　gain　her　consent；　if　possible。

Now；　the　said　Josephine　was　in　the　garden　walking　with　Camille；　and　uttering　a　wife's　tender　solicitudes。

〃And　must　you　leave　me？　must　you　risk　your　life　again　so　soon；　the　life　on　which　mine　depends？〃

〃My　dear；　that　letter　I　received　from　headquarters　two　days　ago；　that　inquiry　whether　my　wound　was　cured。　　A　hint；　Josephinea　hint　too　broad　for　any　soldier　not　to　take。〃

〃Camille；　you　are　very　proud；〃　said　Josephine；　with　an　accent　of　reproach；　and　a　look　of　approval。

〃I　am　obliged　to　be。　　I　am　the　husband　of　the　proudest　woman　in　France。〃

〃Hush！　not　so　loud：　there　is　Dard　on　the　grass。〃

〃Dard！〃　muttered　the　soldier　with　a　word　of　meaning。　　〃Josephine；〃　said　he　after　a　pause；　and　a　little　peevishly；　〃how　much　longer　are　we　to　lower　our　voices；　and　turn　away　our　eyes　from　each　other；　and　be　ashamed　of　our　happiness？〃

〃Five　months　longer；　is　it　not？〃　answered　Josephine　quietly。

〃Five　months　longer！〃

Josephine　was　hurt　at　this；　and　for　once　was　betrayed　into　a　serious　and　merited　remonstrance。

〃Is　this　just？〃　said　she。　　〃Think　of　two　months　ago：　yes；　but　two　months　ago；　you　were　dying。　　You　doubted　my　love；　because　it　could　not　overcome　my　virtue　and　my　gratitude：　yet　you　might　have　seen　it　was　destroying　my　life。　　Poor　Raynal；　my　husband；　my　benefactor；　died。　　Then　I　could　do　more　for　you；　if　not　with　delicacy；　at　least　with　honor；　but　no！　words；　and　looks；　and　tender　offices　of　love　were　not　enough；　I　must　give　stronger　proof。　　Dear　Camille；　I　have　been　reared　in　a　strict　school：　and　perhaps　none　of　your　sex　can　know　what　it　cost　me　to　go　to　Frejus　that　day　with　him　I　love。〃

〃My　own　Josephine！〃

〃I　made　but　one