white lies-第69节

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〃Own　then　that　you　DO　love　him；〃　yelled　Edouard；　〃give　me　truth；　if　you　have　no　love　to　give。　　Own　that　you　love　him；　and　he　shall　be　safe。　　It　is　myself　I　will　kill；　for　being　such　a　slave　as　to　love　you　still。〃

Rose's　fortitude　gave　way。

〃I　cannot　bear　it；〃　she　cried　despairingly；　〃it　is　beyond　my　strength；　Edouard；　swear　to　me　you　will　keep　what　I　tell　you　secret　as　the　grave！〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　Edouard；　all　radiant　with　hope；　〃I　swear。〃

〃Then　you　are　under　a　delirium。　　I　have　deceived；　but　never　wronged　you；　that　unhappy　child　is　not　　Hush！　　HERE　SHE　COMES。〃

The　baroness　came　smiling　out；　and　Josephine's　wan；　anxious　face　was　seen　behind　her。

〃Well；〃　said　the　baroness；　〃is　the　war　at　an　end？　　What；　are　we　still　silent？　　Let　me　try　then　what　I　can　do。　　Edouard；　lend　me　your　hand。〃

While　Edouard　hesitated；　Josephine　clasped　her　hands　and　mutely　supplicated　him　to　consent。　　Her　sad　face；　and　the　thought　of　how　often　she　had　stood　his　friend；　shook　his　resolution。　　He　held　out　his　hand；　but　slowly　and　reluctantly。

〃There　is　my　hand；〃　he　groaned。

〃And　here　is　mine；　mamma；〃　said　Rose；　smiling　to　please　her　mother。

Oh！　the　mixture　of　feeling；　when　her　soft　warm　palm　pressed　his。　How　the　delicious　sense　baffled　and　mystified　the　cold　judgment。

Josephine　raised　her　eyes　thankfully　to　heaven。

While　the　young　lovers　yet　thrilled　at　each　other's　touch；　yet　could　not　look　one　another　in　the　face；　a　clatter　of　horses'　feet　was　heard。

〃That　is　Colonel　Raynal；〃　said　Josephine；　with　unnatural　calmness。　〃I　expected　him　to…day。〃

The　baroness　was　at　the　side　window　in　a　moment。

〃It　is　he！it　is　he！〃

She　hurried　down　to　embrace　her　son。

Josephine　went　without　a　word　to　her　own　room。　　Rose　followed　her　the　next　minute。　　But　in　that　one　minute　she　worked　magic。

She　glided　up　to　Edouard；　and　looked　him　full　in　the　face：　not　the　sad；　depressed；　guilty…looking　humble　Rose　of　a　moment　before；　but　the　old　high…spirited；　and　some　what　imperious　girl。

〃You　have　shown　yourself　noble　this　day。　　I　am　going　to　trust　you　as　only　the　noble　are　trusted。　　Stay　in　the　house　till　I　can　speak　to　you。〃

She　was　gone；　and　something　leaped　within　Edouard's　bosom；　and　a　flood　of　light　seemed　to　burst　in　on　him。　　Yet　he　saw　no　object　clearly：　but　he　saw　light。

Rose　ran　into　Josephine's　room；　and　once　more　surprised　her　on　her　knees；　and　in　the　very　act　of　hiding　something　in　her　bosom。

〃What　are　you　doing；　Josephine；　on　your　knees？〃　said　she；　sternly。

〃I　have　a　great　trial　to　go　through；〃　was　the　hesitating　answer。

Rose　said　nothing。　　She　turned　paler。　　She　is　deceiving　me；　thought　she；　and　she　sat　down　full　of　bitterness　and　terror；　and；　affecting　not　to　watch　Josephine；　watched　her。

〃Go　and　tell　them　I　am　coming；　Rose。〃

〃No；　Josephine；　I　will　not　leave　you　till　this　terrible　meeting　is　over。　　We　will　encounter　him　hand　in　hand；　as　we　used　to　go　when　our　hearts　were　one；　and　we　deceived　others；　but　never　each　other。〃

At　this　tender　reproach　Josephine　fell　upon　her　neck　and　wept。

〃I　will　not　deceive　you；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　worse　than　the　poor　doctor　thinks　me。　　My　life　is　but　a　little　candle　that　a　breath　may　put　out　any　day。〃

Rose　said　nothing；　but　trembled　and　watched　her　keenly。

〃My　little　Henri；〃　said　Josephine　imploringly；　〃what　would　you　do　with　himif　anything　should　happen　to　me？〃

〃What　would　I　do　with　him？　　He　is　mine。　　I　should　be　his　mother。　Oh！　what　words　are　these：　my　heart！　my　heart！〃

〃No；　dearest；　some　day　you　will　be　married；　and　owe　all　the　mother　to　your　children；　and　Henri　is　not　ours　only：　he　belongs　to　some　one　I　have　seemed　unkind　to。　　Perhaps　he　thinks　me　heartless。　　For　I　am　a　foolish　woman；　I　don't　know　how　to　be　virtuous；　yet　show　a　man　my　heart。　　But　THEN　he　will　understand　me　and　forgive　me。　　Rose；　love；　you　will　write　to　him。　　He　will　come　to　you。　　You　will　go　together　to　the　place　where　I　shall　be　sleeping。　　You　will　show　him　my　heart。　You　will　tell　him　all　my　long　love　that　lasted　to　the　end。　　YOU　need　not　blush　to　tell　him　all。　　I　have　no　right。　　Then　you　will　give　him　his　poor　Josephine's　boy；　and　you　will　say　to　him；　'She　never　loved　but　you：　she　gives　you　all　that　is　left　of　her；　her　child。　　She　only　prays　you　not　to　give　him　a　bad　mother。'〃

Poor　soul！　this　was　her　one　bit　of　little；　gentle　jealousy；　but　it　made　her　eyes　stream。　　She　would　have　put　out　her　hand　from　the　tomb　to　keep　her　boy's　father　single　all　his　life。

〃Oh！　my　Josephine；　my　darling　sister；〃　cried　Rose；　〃why　do　you　speak　of　death？　　Do　you　meditate　a　crime？〃

〃No；　but　it　was　on　my　heart　to　say　it：　it　has　done　me　good。〃

〃At　least；　take　me　to　your　bosom；　my　well…beloved；　that　I　may　not　SEE　your　tears。〃

〃Theretears？　　No；　you　have　lightened　my　heart。　　Bless　you！　bless　you！〃

The　sisters　twined　their　bosoms　together　in　a　long；　gentle　embrace。　You　might　have　taken　them　for　two　angels　that　flowed　together　in　one　love；　but　for　their　tears。

A　deep　voice　was　now　heard　in　the　sitting…room。

Josephine　and　Rose　postponed　the　inevitable　one　moment　more；　by　arranging　their　hair　in　the　glass：　then　they　opened　the　door；　and　entered　the　tapestried　room。

Raynal　was　sitting　on　the　sofa；　the　baroness's　hand　in　his。　　Edouard　was　not　there。

Colonel　Raynal　had　given　him　a　strange　look；　and　said；　〃What；　you　here？〃　in　a　tone　of　voice　that　was　intolerable。

Raynal　came　to　meet　the　sisters。　　He　saluted　Josephine　on　the　brow。

〃You　are　pale；　wife：　and　how　cold　her　hand　is。〃

〃She　has　been　ill　this　month　past；〃　said　Rose　interposing。

〃You　look　ill；　too；　Mademoiselle　Rose。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　cried　the　baroness　joyously；　〃you　will　revive　them　both。〃

Raynal　made　no　reply　to　that。

〃How　long　do　you　stay　this　time；　a　day？〃

〃A　month；　mother。〃

The　doctor　now　joined　the　party；　and　friendly　greetings　passed　between　him　and　Raynal。

But　ere　long　somehow　all　became　conscious　this　was　not　a　joyful　meeting。　　The　baroness　could　not　alone　sustain　the　spirits　of　the　party；　and　soon　even　she　began　to　notice　that　Raynal's　replies　were　short；　and　that　his　manner　was　distrait　and　gloomy。　　The　sisters　saw　this　too；　and　trembled　for　what　might　be　coming。

At　last　Raynal　said　bluntly；　〃Josephine；　I　want　to　speak　to　you　alone。〃

The　baroness　gave　the　doctor　a　look；　and　made　an　excuse　for　going　down…stairs　to　her　own　room。　　As　she　was　going　Josephine　went　to　her　and　said　calmly；

〃Mother；　you　have　not　kissed　me　to…day。〃

〃There！　　Bless　you；　my　darling！〃

Raynal　looked　at　Rose。　　She　saw　she　must　go；　but　she　lingered；　and　sought　her　sister's　eye：　it　avoided　her。　　At　that　Rose　ran　to　the　doctor；　who　was　just　going　out　of　the　door。

〃Oh！　doctor；〃　she　whispered　trembling；　〃don't　go　beyond　the　door。　　I　found　her　praying。　　My　mind　misgives　me。　　She　is　going　to　tell　him　or　something　worse。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　am　afraid　to　say　all　I　dread。　　She　could　not　be　so　calm　if　she　meant　to　live。　　Be　near！　as　I　shall。　　She　has　a　phial　hid　in　her　bosom。〃

She　left　the　old　man　trembling；　and　went　back。

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　she　to　Raynal；　〃I　only　came　to　ask　Josephine　if　she　wants　anything。〃

〃No！yes！a　glass　of　eau　sucree。〃

Rose　mixed　it　for　her。　　While　doing　this　she　noticed　that　Josephine　shunned　her　eye；　but　Raynal　gazed　gently　and　with　an　air　of　pity　on　her。

She　retired　slowly　into　Josephine's　bedroom；　but　did　not　quite　close　the　door。

Raynal　had　something　to　say　so　painful　that　he　shrank　from　plunging　into　it。　　He　therefore；　like　many　others；　tried　to　creep　into　it；　beginning　with　something　else。

〃Your　health；〃　said　he；　〃alarms　me。　　You　seem　sad；　too。　　I　don't　understand　that。　　You　have　no　news　from　the　Rhine；　have　you？〃

〃Monsieur！〃　said　Josephine　scared。

〃Do　not　call　me　monsieur；　nor　look　so　frightened。　　Call　me　your　friend。　　I　am　your　sincere　friend。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　you　always　were。〃

〃Thank　you。　　You　will　give　me　a　dearer　title　before　we　part　this　time。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Josephine　in　a　low　whisper；　and　shuddered。

〃Have　you　forgiven　me　frightening　you　so　that　night？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃It　was　a　shock　to　me；　too；　I　can　tell　you。　　I　like　the　boy。　　She　professed　to　love　him；　and；　to　own　the　truth；　I　loathe　all　treachery　and　deceit。　　If　I　had　done　a　murder；　I　would　own　it。　　A　lie　doubles　every　crime。　　But　I　took　heart；　we　are　all　selfish；　we　men；　of　the　two　sisters　one　was　all　innocence　and　good　faith；　and　she　was　the　one　I　had　chosen。〃

At　these　words　Josephine　rose；　like　a　statue　moving；　and　took　a　phial　from　her　bosom　and　poured　the　contents　into　the　glass。

But　ere　she　could　drink　it；　if　such　was　her　intention；　Raynal；　with　his　eyes　gloomily　lowered；　said；　in　a　voice　full　of　strange　solemnity；

〃I　went　to　the　army　of　the　Rhine。〃

Josephine　put　down　the　glass　directly；　though　without　removing　her　hand　from　it。

〃I　see　you　understand　me；　and　approve。　　Yes；　I　saw　that　your　sister　would　be　dishonored；　and　I　went　to　the　army　and　saw　her　seducer。〃

〃You　saw　HIM。　　Oh；　I　hope　you　did　not　go　and　speak　to　him　ofof　this？〃

〃Why；　of　course　I　did。〃

Josephine　resolved　to　know　the　worst　at　once。　　〃May　I　ask；〃　said　she；　〃what　you　told　him？〃

〃Why；　I　told　him　all　I　had　discovered；　and　pointed　out　the　course　he　must　take；　he　must　marry　your　sister　at　once。　　He　refused。　　I　ch