white lies-第10章

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〃Oh　yes；　but　I　want　him　to　have　a　surgeon；〃　cried　Josephine。　　〃And　we　have　no　horses　nor　people　to　send　off　as　we　used　to　have。〃

〃But　you　have　me；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Edouard　tenderly。　　〃Me；　who　would　go　to　the　world's　end　for　you。〃　　He　said　this　to　Josephine；　but　his　eye　sought　Rose。　　〃I'm　a　famous　runner；〃　he　added；　a　little　bumptiously；　〃I'll　be　at　the　town　in　half　an　hour；　and　send　a　surgeon　up　full　gallop。〃

〃You　have　a　good　heart；〃　said　Rose　simply。

He　bowed　his　blushing；　delighted　face；　and　wheeled　Dard　to　his　cottage　hard　by　with　almost　more　than　mortal　vigor。　　How　softly；　how　nobly；　that　frolicsome　girl　could　speak！　　Those　sweet　words　rang　in　his　ears　and　ran　warm　round　and　round　his　heart；　as　he　straightened　his　arms　and　his　back　to　the　work。　　When　they　had　gone　about　a　hundred　yards；　a　single　snivel　went　off　in　the　wheelbarrow。　　Five　minutes　after；　Dard　was　at　home　in　charge　of　his　grandmother；　his　shoe　off；　his　foot　in　a　wet　linen　cloth；　and　Edouard；　his　coat　tied　round　the　neck；　squared　his　shoulders；　and　ran　the　two　short　leagues　out。　　He　ran　them　in　forty　minutes；　found　the　surgeon　at　home；　told　the　case；　pooh…poohed　that　worthy's　promise　to　go　to　the　patient　presently；　darted　into　his　stable；　saddled　the　horse；　brought　him　round；　saw　the　surgeon　into　the　saddle；　started　him；　dined　at　the　restaurateur's；　strolled　back；　and　was　in　time　to　get　a　good　look　at　the　chateau　of　Beaurepaire　just　as　the　sun　set　on　it。

Jacintha　came　into　Dard's　cottage　that　evening。

〃So　you　have　been　at　it；　my　man；〃　cried　she　cheerfully　and　rather　roughly；　then　sat　down　and　rocked　herself；　with　her　apron　over　her　head。　　She　explained　this　anomalous　proceeding　to　his　grandmother　privately。　　〃I　thought　I　would　keep　his　heart　up　anyway；　but　you　see　I　was　not　fit。〃

Next　morning；　as　Riviere　sat　writing；　he　received　an　unexpected　visit　from　Jacintha。　　She　came　in　with　her　finger　to　her　lips；　and　said；　〃You　prowl　about　Dard's　cottage。　　They　are　sure　to　go　and　see　him　every　day；　and　him　wounded　in　their　service。〃

〃Oh；　you　good　girl！　you　dear　girl！〃　cried　Edouard。

She　did　not　reply　in　words；　but；　after　going　to　the　door；　returned　and　gave　him　a　great　kiss　without　ceremony。　　〃Dare　say　you　know　what　that's　for；〃　said　she；　and　went　off　with　a　clear　conscience　and　reddish　cheeks。

Dard's　grandmother　had　a　little　house；　a　little　land；　a　little　money；　and　a　little　cow。　　She　could　just　maintain　Dard　and　herself；　and　her　resources　enabled　Dard　to　do　so　many　little　odd　jobs　for　love；　yet　keep　his　main　organ　tolerably　filled。

〃Go　to　bed；　my　little　son；　since　you　have　got　hashed；〃　said　she。　〃Bed　be　hanged；〃　cried　he。　　〃What　good　is　bed？　　That's　a　silly　old　custom　wants　doing　away　with。　　It　weakens　you：　it　turns　you　into　train　oil：　it　is　the　doctor's　friend；　and　the　sick　man's　bane。　　Many　a　one　dies　through　taking　to　bed；　that　could　have　kept　his　life　if　he　had　kept　his　feet　like　a　man。　　If　I　had　cut　myself　in　two　I　would　not　go　to　bed；till　I　go　to　the　bed　with　a　spade　in　it。　　No！　sit　up　like　Julius　Caesar；　and　die　as　you　lived；　in　your　clothes：　don't　strip　yourself：　let　the　old　women　strip　you；　that　is　their　delight　laying　out　a　chap；　that　is　the　time　they　brighten　up；　the　old　sorceresses。〃　　He　concluded　this　amiable　rhapsody；　the　latter　part　of　which　was　levelled　at　a　lugubrious　weakness　of　his　grandmother's　for　the　superfluous　embellishment　of　the　dead；　by　telling　her　it　was　bad　enough　to　be　tied　by　the　foot　like　an　ass；　without　settling　down　on　his　back　like　a　cast　sheep。　　〃Give　me　the　armchair。　　I'll　sit　in　it；　and；　if　I　have　any　friends；　they　will　show　it　now：　they　will　come　and　tell　me　what　is　going　on　in　the　village；　for　I　can't　get　out　to　see　it　and　hear　it；　they　must　know　that。〃

Seated　in　state　in　his　granny's　easy…chair；　the　loss　of　which　after　thirty　years'　use　made　her　miserable；　she　couldn't　tell　why；　le　Sieur　Dard　awaited　his　friends。

They　did　not　come。

The　rain　did；　and　poured　all　the　afternoon。　　Night　succeeded；　and　solitude。　　Dard　boiled　over　with　bitterness。　　〃They　are　a　lot　of　pigs　then；　all　those　fellows　I　have　drunk　with　at　Bigot's　and　Simmet's。　　Down　with　all　fair…weather　friends。〃

The　next　day　the　sun　shone；　the　air　was　clear；　and　the　sky　blue。　〃Ah！　let　us　see　now；〃　cried　Dard。

Alas！　no　fellow…drinkers；　no　fellow…smokers；　came　to　console　their　hurt　fellow。　　And　Dard；　who　had　boiled　with　anger　yesterday；　was　now　sad　and　despondent。　　〃Down　with　egotists；〃　he　groaned。

About　three　in　the　afternoon　came　a　tap　at　the　door。

〃Ah！　at　last；〃　cried　Dard：　〃come　in！〃

The　door　was　slowly　opened；　and　two　lovely　faces　appeared　at　the　threshold。　　The　demoiselles　De　Beaurepaire　wore　a　tender　look　of　interest　and　pity　when　they　caught　sight　of　Dard；　and　on　the　old　woman　courtesying　to　them　they　courtesied　to　her　and　Dard。　　The　next　moment　they　were　close　to　him；　one　a　little　to　his　right；　the　other　to　his　left；　and　two　pair　of　sapphire　eyes　with　the　mild　lustre　of　sympathy　playing　down　incessantly　upon　him。　　How　was　he？　　How　had　he　slept？　　Was　he　in　pain？　　Was　he　in　much　pain？　tell　the　truth　now。　Was　there　anything　to　eat　or　drink　he　could　fancy？　　Jacintha　should　make　it　and　bring　it；　if　it　was　within　their　means。　　A　prince　could　not　have　had　more　solicitous　attendants；　nor　a　fairy　king　lovelier　and　less　earthly　ones。

He　looked　in　heavy　amazement　from　one　to　the　other。　　Rose　bent；　and　was　by　some　supple　process　on　one　knee；　taking　the　measure　of　the　wounded　foot。　　When　she　first　approached　it　he　winced：　but　the　next　moment　he　smiled。　　He　had　never　been　touched　like　thisit　was　contact　and　no　contactshe　treated　his　foot　as　the　zephyr　the　violetsshe　handled　it　as　if　it　had　been　some　sacred　thing。　　By　the　help　of　his　eye　he　could　just　know　she　was　touching　him。　　Presently　she　informed　him　he　was　measured　for　a　list　shoe：　and　she　would　run　home　for　the　materials。　　During　her　absence　came　a　timid　tap　to　the　door；　and　Edouard　Riviere　entered。　　He　was　delighted　to　see　Josephine；　and　made　sure　Rose　was　not　far　off。　　It　was　Dard　who　let　out　that　she　was　gone　to　Beaurepaire　for　some　cloth　to　make　him　a　shoe。　　This　information　set　Edouard　fidgeting　on　his　chair。　　He　saw　such　a　chance　as　was　not　likely　to　occur　again。　　He　rose　with　feigned　nonchalance；　and　saying；　〃I　leave　you　in　good　hands；　angel　visitors　are　best　enjoyed　alone；〃　slowly　retired；　with　a　deep　obeisance。　　Once　outside　the　door；　dignity　vanished　in　alacrity；　he　flew　off　into　the　park；　and　ran　as　hard　as　he　could　towards　the　chateau。　　He　was　within　fifty　yards　of　the　little　gate；　when　sure　enough　Rose　emerged。　　They　met；　his　heart　beat　violently。　〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　faltered。

〃Ah！　it　is　Monsieur　Riviere；　I　declare；〃　said　Rose；　coolly；　all　over　blushes　though。

〃Yes；　mademoiselle；　and　I　am　so　out　of　breath。　　Mademoiselle　Josephine　awaits　you　at　Dard's　house。〃

〃She　sent　you　for　me？〃　inquired　Rose；　demurely。

〃Not　positively。　　But　I　could　see　I　should　please　her　by　coming　for　you；　there　is；　I　believe；　a　bull　or　so　about。〃

〃A　bull　or　two！　don't　talk　in　that　reckless　way　about　such　things。　She　has　done　well　to　send　you；　let　us　make　haste。〃

〃But　I　am　a　little　out　of　breath。〃

〃Oh；　never　mind　that！　　I　abhor　bulls。〃

〃But；　mademoiselle；　we　are　not　come　to　them　yet；　and　the　faster　we　go　now　the　sooner　we　shall。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　always　like　to　get　a　disagreeable　thing　over　as　soon　as　possible；〃　said　Rose；　slyly。

〃Ah；〃　replied　Edouard；　mournfully；　〃in　that　case　let　us　make　haste。〃

After　a　little　spurt；　mademoiselle　relaxed　the　pace　of　her　own　accord；　and　even　went　slower　than　before。　　There　was　an　awkward　silence。　　Edouard　eyed　the　park　boundary；　and　thought；　〃Now　what　I　have　to　say　I　must　say　before　we　get　to　you；〃　and　being　thus　impressed　with　the　necessity　of　immediate　action；　he　turned　to　lead。

Rose　eyed　him　and　the　ground；　alternately；　from　under　her　long　lashes。

At　last　he　began　to　color　and　flutter。　　She　saw　something　was　coming；　and　all　the　woman　donned　defensive　armor。

〃Mademoiselle。〃

〃Monsieur。〃

〃Is　it　quite　decided　that　your　family　refuse　my　acquaintance；　my　services；　which　I　stillforgive　mepress　on　you？　　Ah！　Mademoiselle　Rose；　am　I　never　to　have　the　happiness　ofofeven　speaking　to　you？〃

〃It　seems　so；〃　said　Rose；　ironically。

〃Have　you　then　decided　against　me　too？〃

〃I？〃　asked　Rose。　　〃What　have　I　to　do　with　questions　of　etiquette？　　I　am　only　a　child：　so　considered　at　least。〃

〃You　a　childan　angel　like　you？〃

〃Ask　any　of　them；　they　will　tell　you　I　am　a　child；　and　it　is　to　that　I　owe　this　conversation；　no　doubt；　if　you　did　not　look　on　me　as　a　child；　you　would　not　take　this　liberty　with　me；〃　said　the　young　cat；　scratching　without　a　moment's　notice。

〃Mademoiselle；　do　not　be　angry。　　I　was　wrong。〃

〃Oh！　never　mind。　　Children　are　little　creatures　without　reserve；　and　treated　accordingly；　and　to　notice　them　is　to　honor　them。〃

〃Adieu　then；　mademoiselle。　　Try　to　believe　no　one　respects　you　more　than　I　do。〃

〃Yes；　let　us　part；　for　there　is　Dard's　house；　and　I　begin　to　suspect　that　Josephine　never　sent　you。〃

〃I　confess　it。〃

〃There；　he　confesses　it。　　I　thought　so　all　along；　WHAT　A　DUPE　I　HAVE　BEEN！〃

〃I　will　offend　no　more；〃　said　poor　silly　Edouard。　　〃Adieu；　mademoiselle。　　May　you　find　friends　as　sincere　as　I　am；　and　more　to　your　taste！〃

〃Heaven　hear　your　prayers！〃　replied　the　malicious　thing；　casting　up　her　eyes　with　a　mock　tragic　air。

Edouard　sighed；　a　chill　conviction　that　she　was　both　heartless　and　empty　fell　on　him。　　He　turned　away　without　another　word。　　She　called　to　him　with　a　sudden　airy　cheerfulness　that　made　him　start。　　〃Stay；　monsieur；　I　forgotI　have　a　favor　to　ask　you。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　believe　that：〃　and　his　eyes　brightened。

Rose　stopped；　and　began　to　play　with　her　parasol。　　〃You　seem；〃　said　she　softly；　〃to　be　pretty　generous　in　bestowing　your　acquaintance　on　strangers。　　I　should　be　glad　if　I　might　secure　you　for　a　dear　friend　of　mine；　Dr。　Aubertin。　　He　will　not　discredit　my　recommendation；　and　he　will　not　make　so　many　difficulties　as　we　do；　shall　I　tell　you　why？　　Because　he　is　really　worth　knowing。　　In　short；　believe　me；　it　will　be　a　valuable　acquaintance　for　youand　for　him；〃　added　she　with　all　the　grace　of　the　De　Beaurepaires。

Many　a　man；　inferior　in　a　general　way　to　Edouard　Riviere；　would　have　made　a　sensible　reply　to　this。　　Such　as；　〃Oh；　any　friend　of　yours；　mademoiselle；　must　be　welcome　to　me；〃　or　the　like。　　But　the　proposal　caught　Edouard　on　his　foible；　his　vanity；　to　wit；　and　our　foibles　are　our　manias。　　He　was　mortified　to　the　heart's　core。　　〃She　refuses　to　know　me　herself；〃　thought　he；　〃but　she　will　use　my　love　to　make　me　amuse　that　old　man。〃　　His　heart　swelled　against　her　injustice　and　ingratitude；　and　his　crushed　vanity　turned　to　strychnine。　〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　he；　bitterly　and　doggedly；　but　sadly；　〃were　I　so　happy　as　to　have　your　esteem；　my　heart　would　overflow；　not　only　on　the　doctor　but　on　every　honest　person　around。　　But　if　I　must　not　have　the　acquaintance　I　value　more　than　life；　suffer　me　to　be　alone　in　the　world；　and　never　to　say　a　word　either　to　Dr。　Aubertin；　or　to　any　human　creature　if　I　can　help　it。〃

The　imperious　young　beauty　drew　herself　up　directly。　　〃So　be　it；　monsieur；　you　teach　me　how　a　child　should　be　answered　that　forgets　herself；　and　asks　a　favor　of　a　stra