white lies-第42节

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〃My　own　Josephine！〃

〃I　made　but　one　condition：　that　you　would　not　rob　me　of　my　mother's　respect：　to　her　our　hasty　marriage　would　appear　monstrous；　heartless。　　You　consented　to　be　secretly　happy　for　six　months。　　One　fortnight　has　passed；　and　you　are　discontented　again。〃

〃Oh；　no！　do　not　think　so。　　It　is　every　word　true。　　I　am　an　ungrateful　villain。〃

〃How　dare　you　say　so？　and　to　me！　　No！　but　you　are　a　man。〃

〃So　I　have　been　told；　but　my　conduct　to　you；　sweet　one；　has　not　been　that　of　a　man　from　first　to　last。　　Yet　I　could　die　for　you；　with　a　smile　on　my　lips。　　But　when　I　think　that　once　I　lifted　this　sacrilegious　hand　against　your　lifeoh！〃

〃Do　not　be　silly；　Camille。　　I　love　you　all　the　better　for　loving　me　well　enough　to　kill　me。　　What　woman　would　not？　　I　tell　you；　you　foolish　thing；　you　are　a　man：　monseigneur　is　one　of　the　lordly　sex；　that　is　accustomed　to　have　everything　its　own　way。　　My　love；　in　a　world　that　is　full　of　misery；　here　are　two　that　are　condemned　to　be　secretly　happy　a　few　months　longer：　a　hard　fate　for　one　of　your　sex；　it　seems：　but　it　is　so　much　sweeter　than　the　usual　lot　of　mine；　that　really　I　cannot　share　your　misery；〃　and　she　smiled　joyously。

〃Then　share　my　happiness；　my　dear　wife。〃

〃I　do；　only　mine　is　deep；　not　loud。〃

〃Why；　Dard　is　gone；　and　we　are　out　of　doors；　will　the　little　birds　betray　us？〃

〃The　lower　windows　are　open；　and　I　saw　Jacintha　in　one　of　the　rooms。〃

〃Jacintha？　we　are　in　awe　of　the　very　servants。　　Well；　if　I　must　not　say　it　loud　I　will　say　it　often；〃　and　putting　his　mouth　to　her　ear；　he　poured　a　burning　whisper　of　love　into　it〃My　love！　my　angel！　my　wife！　my　wife！　my　wife！〃

She　turned　her　swimming　eyes　on　him。

〃My　husband！〃　she　whispered　in　return。

Rose　came　out；　and　found　them　billing　and　cooing。　　〃You　MUST　not　be　so　happy；　you　two；〃　said　she　authoritatively。

〃How　can　we　help　it？〃　asked　Camille。

〃You　must　and　shall　help　it；　somehow；〃　retorted　this　little　tyrant。　〃Mamma　suspects。　　She　has　given　me　such　a　cross…examination；　my　blood　runs　cold。　　No；　on　second　thoughts；　kiss　her　again；　and　you　may　both　be　as　happy　as　you　like；　for　I　am　going　to　tell　mamma　all；　and　no　power　on　earth　shall　hinder　me。〃

〃Rose；〃　said　Camille；　〃you　are　a　sensible　girl；　and　I　always　said　so。〃

But　Josephine　was　horrified。　　〃What！　tell　my　mother　that　within　a　month　of　my　husband's　death？〃

〃Don't　say　your　husband；〃　put　in　Camille　wincing；　〃the　priest　never　confirmed　that　union；　words　spoken　before　a　magistrate　do　not　make　a　marriage　in　the　sight　of　Heaven。〃

Josephine　cut　him　short。　　〃Amongst　honorable　men　and　women　all　oaths　are　alike　sacred：　and　Heaven's　eye　is　in　a　magistrate's　room　as　in　a　church。　　A　daughter　of　Beaurepaire　gave　her　hand　to　him；　and　called　herself　his　wife。　　Therefore；　she　was　his　wife：　and　is　his　widow。　She　owes　him　everything；　the　house　you　are　all　living　in　among　the　rest。　　She　ought　to　be　proud　of　her　brief　connection　with　that　pure；　heroic　spirit；　and；　when　she　is　so　little　noble　as　to　disown　him；　then　say　that　gratitude　and　justice　have　no　longer　a　place　among　mankind。〃

〃Come　into　the　chapel；〃　said　Camille；　with　a　voice　that　showed　he　was　hurt。

They　entered　the　chapel；　and　there　they　saw　something　that　thoroughly　surprised　them：　a　marble　monument　to　the　memory　of　Raynal。　　It　leaned　at　present　against　the　wall　below　the　place　prepared　to　receive　it。　　The　inscription；　short；　but　emphatic；　and　full　of　feeling；　told　of　the　battles　he　had　fought　in；　including　the　last　fatal　skirmish；　and　his　marriage　with　the　heiress　of　Beaurepaire；　and；　in　a　few　soldier…like　words；　the　uprightness；　simplicity；　and　generosity　of　his　character。

They　were　so　touched　by　this　unexpected　trait　in　Camille　that　they　both　threw　their　arms　round　his　neck　by　one　impulse。　　〃Am　I　wrong　to　be　proud　of　him？〃　said　Josephine；　triumphantly。

〃Well；　don't　say　too　much　to　me；〃　said　Camille；　looking　down　confused。　　〃One　tries　to　be　good；　but　it　is　very　hardto　some　of　usnot　to　you；　Josephine；　and；　after　all；　it　is　only　the　truth　that　we　have　written　on　that　stone。　　Poor　Raynal！　he　was　my　old　comrade；　he　saved　me　from　death；　and　not　a　soldier's　deathdrowning；　and　he　was　a　better　man　than　I　am；　or　ever　shall　be。　　Now　he　is　dead；　I　can　say　these　things。　　If　I　had　said　them　when　he　was　alive；　it　would　have　been　more　to　my　credit。〃

They　all　three　went　back　towards　the　house；　and　on　the　way　Rose　told　them　all　that　had　passed　between　the　baroness　and　her。　　When　she　came　to　the　actual　details　of　that　conversation；　to　the　words；　and　looks；　and　tones；　Josephine's　uneasiness　rose　to　an　overpowering　height；　she　even　admitted　that　further　concealment　would　be　very　difficult。

〃Better　tell　her　than　let　her　find　out；〃　said　Rose。　　〃We　must　tell　her　some　day。〃

At　last；　after　a　long　and　agitated　discussion；　Josephine　consented；　but　Rose　must　be　the　one　to　tell。　　〃So　then；　you　at　least　will　make　your　peace　with　mamma；〃　argued　Josephine；　〃and　let　us　go　in　and　do　this　before　our　courage　fails；　besides；　it　is　going　to　rain；　and　it　has　turned　cold。　　Where　have　all　these　clouds　come　from？　　An　hour　ago　there　was　not　one　in　the　sky。〃

They　went；　with　hesitating　steps　and　guilty　looks；　to　the　saloon。　Their　mother　was　not　there。　　Here　was　a　reprieve。

Rose　had　an　idea。　　She　would　take　her　to　the　chapel；　and　show　her　the　monument；　and　that　would　please　her　with　poor　Camille。　　〃After　that；〃　said　Rose；　〃I　will　begin　by　telling　her　all　the　misery　you　have　both　gone　through；　and；　when　she　pities　you；　then　I　will　show　her　it　was　all　my　fault　your　misery　ended　in　a　secret　marriage。〃

The　confederates　sat　there　in　a　chilly　state；　waiting　for　the　baroness。　　At　last；　as　she　did　not　come；　Rose　got　up　to　go　to　her。　〃When　the　mind　is　made　up；　it　is　no　use　being　cowardly；　and　putting　off；〃　said　she；　firmly。　　For　all　that；　her　cheek　had　but　little　color　left　in　it；　when　she　left　her　chair　with　this　resolve。

Now　as　Rose　went　down　the　long　saloon　to　carry　out　their　united　resolve；　Jacintha　looked　in；　and；　after　a　hasty　glance　to　see　who　was　present；　she　waited　till　Rose　came　up　to　her；　and　then　whipped　a　letter　from　under　her　apron　and　gave　it　her。

〃For　my　mistress；〃　said　she；　with　an　air　of　mystery。

〃Why　not　take　it　to　her；　then？〃　inquired　Rose。

〃I　thought　you　might　like　to　see　it　first；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Jacintha；　with　quiet　meaning。

〃Is　it　from　the　dear　doctor？〃　asked　Josephine。

〃La；　no；　mademoiselle；　don't　you　know　the　doctor　is　come　home？　　Why；　he　has　been　in　the　house　near　an　hour。　　He　is　with　my　lady。〃

The　doctor　proved　Jacintha　correct　by　entering　the　room　in　person　soon　after；　on　this　Rose　threw　down　the　letter；　and　she　and　the　whole　party　were　instantly　occupied　in　greeting　him。

When　the　ladies　had　embraced　him　and　Camille　shaken　hands　with　him；　they　plied　him　with　a　thousand　questions。　　Indeed；　he　had　not　half　satisfied　their　curiosity；　when　Rose　happened　to　catch　sight　of　the　letter　again；　and　took　it　up　to　carry　to　the　baroness。　　She　now；　for　the　first　time；　eyed　it　attentively；　and　the　consequence　was　she　uttered　an　exclamation；　and　took　the　first　opportunity　to　beckon　Aubertin。

He　came　to　her；　and　she　put　the　letter　into　his　hand。

He　put　up　his　glasses；　and　eyed　it。　　〃Yes！〃　whispered　he；　〃it　is　from　HIM。〃

Josephine　and　Camille　saw　something　was　going　on；　they　joined　the　other　two；　with　curiosity　in　their　faces。

Rose　put　her　hand　on　a　small　table　near　her；　and　leaned　a　moment。　She　turned　half　sick　at　a　letter　coming　from　the　dead。　　Josephine　now　came　towards　her　with　a　face　of　concern；　and　asked　what　was　the　matter。

The　reply　came　from　Aubertin。　　〃My　poor　friends；〃　said　he；　solemnly；　〃this　is　one　of　those　fearful　things　that　you　have　not　seen　in　your　short　lives；　but　it　has　been　more　than　once　my　lot　to　witness　it。　The　ships　that　carry　letters　from　distant　countries　vary　greatly　in　speed；　and　are　subject　to　detaining　accidents。　　Yes；　this　is　the　third　time　I　have　seen　a　letter　come　written　by　a　hand　known　to　be　cold。　　The　baroness　is　a　little　excited　to…day；　I　don't　know　from　what　cause。　　With　your　approbation；　Madame　Raynal；　I　will　read　this　letter　before　I　let　her　see　it。〃

〃Read　it；　if　you　please。〃

〃Shall　I　read　it　out？〃

〃Certainly。　　There　may　be　some　wish　expressed　in　it；　oh；　I　hope　there　is！〃

Camille；　from　delicacy；　retired　to　some　little　distance；　and　the　doctor　read　the　letter　in　a　low　and　solemn　voice。


〃MY　DEAR　MOTHER；I　hope　all　are　well　at　Beaurepaire；　as　I　am；　or　I　hope　soon　to　be。　　I　received　a　wound　in　our　last　skirmish；　not　a　very　severe　one；　but　it　put　an　end　to　my　writing　for　some　time。〃


〃Poor　fellow！　it　was　his　death　wound。　　Why；　when　was　this　written？　why；〃　and　the　doctor　paused；　and　seemed　stupefied：　〃why；　my　dears；　has　my　memory　gone；　or〃and　again　he　looked　eagerly　at　the　letter　〃what　was　the　date　of　the　battle　in　which　he　was　killed？　for　this　letter　is　dated　the　15th　of　May。　　Is　it　a　dream？　no！　this　was　written　since　the　date　of　his　death。〃

〃No；　doctor；〃　said　Rose；　〃you　deceive　yourself。〃

〃Why；　what　was　the　date　of　the　Moniteur；　then？〃　asked　Aubertin；　in　great　agitation。

〃Considerably　later　than　this；〃　said　Camille。

〃I　don't　think　so；　the　journal！　where　is　it？〃

〃My　mother　has　it　locked　up。　　I'll　run。〃

〃No