white lies-第52节

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sit　roused　his　suspicions。　　So　before　you　go　tell　your　mother　all；　for　since　she　is　sure　to　find　it　out；　she　had　better　hear　it　from　you　than　from　another。〃

〃Doctor；　have　pity　on　me；〃　said　Josephine。

〃You　have　no　heart；〃　said　Rose。　　〃She　shall　see　him　though；　in　spite　of　you。〃

〃Oh；　yes！　he　has　a　heart；〃　said　Josephine：　〃he　is　my　best　friend。　He　will　let　me　see　my　boy。〃

All　this；　and　the　tearful　eyes　and　coaxing　yet　trembling　voice；　was　hard　to　resist。　　But　Aubertin　saw　clearly；　and　stood　firm。　　He　put　his　handkerchief　to　his　eyes　a　moment：　then　took　the　pining　young　mother's　hand。　　〃And；　do　you　think；〃　said　he；　〃I　do　not　pity　you　and　love　your　boy？　　Ah！　he　will　never　want　a　father　whilst　I　live；　and　from　this　moment　he　is　under　my　care。　　I　will　go　to　see　him；　I　will　bring　you　news；　and　all　in　good　time；　I　will　place　him　where　you　shall　visit　him　without　imprudence；　but；　for　the　present；　trust　a　wiser　head　than　yours　or　Rose's；　and　give　me　your　sacred　promise　not　to　go　to　Frejus。〃

Weighed　down　by　his　good…sense　and　kindness；　Josephine　resisted　no　longer　in　words。　　She　just　lifted　her　hands　in　despair　and　began　to　cry。　　It　was　so　piteous；　Aubertin　was　ready　to　yield　in　turn；　and　consent　to　any　imprudence；　when　he　met　with　an　unexpected　ally。

〃Promise；〃　said　Rose；　doggedly。

Josephine　looked　at　her　calmly　through　her　tears。

〃Promise；　dear；〃　repeated　Rose；　and　this　time　with　an　intonation　so　fine　that　it　attracted　Josephine's　notice；　but　not　the　doctor's。　　It　was　followed　by　a　glance　equally　subtle。

〃I　promise；〃　said　Josephine；　with　her　eye　fixed　inquiringly　on　her　sister。

For　once　she　could　not　make　the　telegraph　out：　but　she　could　see　it　was　playing；　and　that　was　enough。　　She　did　what　Rose　bid　her；　she　promised　not　to　go　to　Frejus　without　leave。

Finding　her　so　submissive　all　of　a　sudden；　he　went　on　to　suggest　that　she　must　not　go　kissing　every　child　she　saw。　　〃Edouard　tells　me　he　saw　you　kissing　a　beggar's　brat。　　The　young　rogue　was　going　to　quiz　you　about　it　at　the　dinner…table；　luckily；　he　told　me　his　intention；　and　I　would　not　let　him。　　I　said　the　baroness　would　be　annoyed　with　you　for　descending　from　your　dignityand　exposing　a　noble　family　to　fleashush！　here　he　is。〃

〃Tiresome！〃　muttered　Rose；　〃just　when〃

Edouard　came　forward　with　a　half…vexed　face。

However；　he　turned　it　off　into　play。　　〃What　have　you　been　saying　to　her；　monsieur；　to　interest　her　so？　　Give　me　a　leaf　out　of　your　book。　I　need　it。〃

The　doctor　was　taken　aback　for　a　moment；　but　at　last　he　said　slyly；　〃I　have　been　proposing　to　her　to　name　the　day。　　She　says　she　must　consult　you　before　she　decides　that。〃

〃Oh；　you　wicked　doctor！and　consult　HIM　of　all　people！〃

〃So　be　off；　both　of　you；　and　don't　reappear　before　me　till　it　is　settled。〃

Edouard's　eyes　sparkled。　　Rose　went　out　with　a　face　as　red　as　fire。

It　was　a　balmy　evening。　　Edouard　was　to　leave　them　for　a　week　the　next　day。　　They　were　alone：　Rose　was　determined　he　should　go　away　quite　happy。　　Everything　was　in　Edouard's　favor：　he　pleaded　his　cause　warmly：　she　listened　tenderly：　this　happy　evening　her　piquancy　and　archness　seemed　to　dissolve　into　tenderness　as　she　and　Edouard　walked　hand　in　hand　under　the　moon：　a　tenderness　all　the　more　heavenly　to　her　devoted　lover；　that　she　was　not　one　of　those　angels　who　cloy　a　man　by　invariable　sweetness。

For　a　little　while　she　forgot　everything　but　her　companion。　　In　that　soft　hour　he　won　her　to　name　the　day；　after　her　fashion。

〃Josephine　goes　to　Paris　with　the　doctor　in　about　three　weeks；〃　murmured　she。

〃And　you　will　stay　behind；　all　alone？〃

〃Alone？　that　shall　depend　on　you；　monsieur。〃

On　this　Edouard　caught　her　for　the　first　time　in　his　arms。

She　made　a　faint　resistance。

〃Seal　me　that　promise；　sweet　one！〃

〃No！　no！there！〃

He　pressed　a　delicious　first　kiss　upon　two　velvet　lips　that　in　their　innocence　scarcely　shunned　the　sweet　attack。

For　all　that；　the　bond　was　no　sooner　sealed　after　this　fashion；　than　the　lady's　cheek　began　to　burn。

〃Suppose　we　go　in　NOW？〃　said　she；　dryly。

〃Ah；　not　yet。〃

〃It　is　late；　dear　Edouard。〃

And　with　these　words　something　returned　to　her　mind　with　its　full　force：　something　that　Edouard　had　actually　made　her　forget。　　She　wanted　to　get　rid　of　him　now。

〃Edouard；〃　said　she；　〃can　you　get　up　early　in　the　morning？　　If　you　can；　meet　me　here　to…morrow　before　any　of　them　are　up；　then　we　can　talk　without　interruption。〃

Edouard　was　delighted。

〃Eight　o'clock？〃

〃Sooner　if　you　like。　　Mamma　bade　me　come　and　read　to　her　in　her　room　to…night。　　She　will　be　waiting　for　me。　　Is　it　not　tiresome？〃

〃Yes；　it　is。〃

〃Well；　we　must　not　mind　that；　dear；　in　three　weeks'　time　we　are　to　have　too　much　of　one　another；　you　know；　instead　of　too　little。〃

〃Too　much！　I　shall　never　have　enough　of　you。　　I　shall　hate　the　night　which　will　rob　me　of　the　sight　of　you　for　so　many　hours　in　the　twenty…four。〃

〃If　you　can't　see　me；　perhaps　you　may　hear　me；　my　tongue　runs　by　night　as　well　as　by　day。〃

〃Well；　that　is　a　comfort；〃　said　Edouard；　gravely。　　〃Yes；　little　quizzer；　I　would　rather　hear　you　scold　than　an　angel　sing。　　Judge；　then；　what　music　it　is　when　you　say　you　love　me！〃

〃I　love　you；　Edouard。〃

Edouard　kissed　her　hand　warmly；　and　then　looked　irresolutely　at　her　face。

〃No；　no！〃　said　she；　laughing　and　blushing。　　〃How　rude　you　are。　　Next　time　we　meet。〃

〃That　is　a　bargain。　　But　I　won't　go　till　you　say　you　love　me　again。

〃Edouard；　don't　be　silly。　　I　am　ashamed　of　saying　the　same　thing　so　oftenI　won't　say　it　any　more。　　What　is　the　use？　　You　know　I　love　you。　　There；　I　HAVE　said　it：　how　stupid！〃

〃Adieu；　then；　my　wife　that　is　to　be。〃

〃Adieu！　dear　Edouard。〃

〃My　husgo　onmy　hus〃

〃My　huswife　that　shall　be。〃

Then　they　walked　very　slowly　towards　the　house；　and　once　more　Rose　left　quizzing；　and　was　all　tenderness。

〃Will　you　not　come　in；　and　bid　them　'good…night'？〃

〃No；　my　own；　I　am　in　heaven。　　Common　facescommon　voices　would　bring　me　down　to　earth。　　Let　me　be　alone；your　sweet　words　ringing　in　my　ear。　　I　will　dilute　you　with　nothing　meaner　than　the　stars。　See　how　bright　they　shine　in　heaven；　but　not　so　bright　as　you　shine　in　my　heart。〃

〃Dear　Edouard；　you　flatter　me；　you　spoil　me。　　Alas！　why　am　I　not　more　worthy　of　your　love？〃

〃More　worthy！　　How　can　that　be？〃

Rose　sighed。

〃But　I　will　atone　for　all。　　I　will　make　you　a　better（here　she　substituted　a　full　stop　for　a　substantive）than　you　expect。　　You　will　see　else。〃

She　lingered　at　the　door：　a　proof　that　if　Edouard；　at　that　particular　moment；　had　seized　another　kiss；　there　would　have　been　no　very　violent　opposition　or　offence。

But　he　was　not　so　impudent　as　some。　　He　had　been　told　to　wait　till　the　next　meeting　for　that。　　He　prayed　Heaven　to　bless　her；　and　so　the　affianced　lovers　parted　for　the　night。

It　was　about　nine　o'clock。　　Edouard；　instead　of　returning　to　his　lodgings；　started　down　towards　the　town；　to　conclude　a　bargain　with　the　innkeeper　for　an　English　mare　he　was　in　treaty　for。　　He　wanted　her　for　to…morrow's　work；　so　that　decided　him　to　make　the　purchase。　In　purchases；　as　in　other　matters；　a　feather　turns　the　balanced　scale。　　He　sauntered　leisurely　down。　　It　was　a　very　clear　night；　the　full　moon　and　the　stars　shining　silvery　and　vivid。　　Edouard's　heart　swelled　with　joy。　　He　was　loved　after　all；　deeply　loved；　and　in　three　short　weeks　he　was　actually　to　be　Rose's　husband：　her　lord　and　master。　　How　like　a　heavenly　dream　it　all　seemedthe　first　hopeless　courtship；　and　now　the　wedding　fixed！　　But　it　was　no　dream；　he　felt　her　soft　words　still　murmur　music　at　his　heart；　and　the　shadow　of　her　velvet　lips　slept　upon　his　own。

He　had　strolled　about　a　league　when　he　heard　the　ring　of　a　horse's　hoofs　coming　towards　him；　accompanied　by　a　clanking　noise；　it　came　nearer　and　nearer；　till　it　reached　a　hill　that　lay　a　little　ahead　of　Edouard；　then　the　sounds　ceased；　the　cavalier　was　walking　his　horse　up　the　hill。

Presently；　as　if　they　had　started　from　the　earth；　up　popped　between　Edouard　and　the　sky；　first　a　cocked　hat　that　seemed　in　that　light　to　be　cut　with　a　razor　out　of　flint；　then　the　wearer；　phosphorescent　here　and　there；　so　brightly　the　keen　moonlight　played　on　his　epaulets　and　steel　scabbard。　　A　step　or　two　nearer；　and　Edouard　gave　a　great　shout；　it　was　Colonel　Raynal。

After　the　first　warm　greeting；　and　questions　and　answers；　Raynal　told　him　he　was　on　his　way　to　the　Rhine　with　despatches。

〃To　the　Rhine？〃

I　am　allowed　six　days　to　get　there。　　I　made　a　calculation；　and　found　I　could　give　Beaurepaire　half　a　day。　　I　shall　have　to　make　up　for　it　by　hard　riding。　　You　know　me；　always　in　a　hurry。　　It　is　Bonaparte's　fault　this　time。　　He　is　always　in　a　hurry　too。〃

〃Why；　colonel；〃　said　Edouard；　〃let　us　make　haste　then。　　Mind　they　go　early　to　rest　at　the　chateau。〃

〃But　you　are　not　coming　my　way；　youngster？〃

〃Not　coming　your　way？　　Yes；　but　I　am。　　Yours　is　a　face　I　don't　see　every　day；　colonel；　besides　I　would　not　miss　THEIR　faces；　especially　the　baroness's　and　Madame　Raynal's；　at　sight　of　you；　and；　besides；〃　and　the　young　gentleman　chuckled　to　himself；　and　thought　of　Rose's　words；　〃the　next　time　we　meet；〃　well；　this　will　be　the　next　time。　〃May　I　jump　up　behind？〃

Colonel　Raynal　nodded　assent。　　Edoua