white lies-第13章

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　from　her　home；　and　she　will　die：　murdered　by　her　own　daughter。　　After　all；　why　did　I　refuse　him？　　What　should　I　have　sacrificed　by　marrying　him？　　Rose；　write　to　him；　and　saysayI　was　taken　by　surprise；　II〃a　violent　flood　of　tears　interrupted　the　sentence。

Rose　flung　her　arms　round　her　neck。　　〃My　beautiful　Josephine　marry　that　creature？　　Let　house　and　lands　go　a　thousand　times　sooner。　　I　love　my　sister　a　thousand　times　better　than　the　walls　of　this　or　any　other　house。〃

〃Come；　come；〃　cried　Edouard；　〃you　are　forgetting　ME　all　this　time。　Do　you　really　think　I　am　the　sort　of　man　to　stand　by　with　my　hands　in　my　pockets；　and　let　her　marry　that　cur；　or　you　be　driven　out　of　Beaurepaire？　　Neither；　while　I　live。〃

〃Alas！　dear　boy；〃　sighed　Josephine；　〃what　can　you　do？〃

〃I'll　soon　show　you。　　From　this　hour　forth　it　is　a　duel　between　that　Perrin　and　me。　　Now；　JosephineRosedon't　you　cry　and　fret　like　that：　but　just　look　quietly　on；　and　enjoy　the　fight；　both　of　you。〃

Josephine　shook　her　head　with　a　sad　smile：　but　Rose　delivered　herself　thus；　after　a　sob；　〃La；　yes；　I　forgot：　we　have　got　a　gentleman　now；　that's　one　comfort。〃

Edouard　rose　to　the　situation：　he　saw　that　Perrin　would　lose　no　time；　and　that　every　day；　or　even　hour；　might　be　precious。　　He　told　them　that　the　first　thing　he　must　do　for　them　was　to　leave　the　company　he　loved　best　on　earth；　and　run　down　to　the　town　to　consult　Picard　the　rival　notary：　he　would　be　back　by　supper…time；　when　he　hoped　they　would　do　him　the　honor；　in　a　matter　of　such　importance；　to　admit　him　to　a　family　council。

Josephine　assented　with　perfect　simplicity；　Rose　with　a　deep　blush；　for　she　was　too　quick　not　to　see　all　the　consequences　of　admitting　so　brisk　a　wooer　into　a　family　council。


It　was　a　wet　evening；　and　a　sad　and　silent　party　sat　round　a　wood　fire　in　the　great　dining…hall。　　The　baroness　was　almost　prostrated　by　the　scene　with　Perrin；　and　a　sombre　melancholy　and　foreboding　weighed　on　all　their　spirits；　when　presently　Edouard　Riviere　entered　briskly；　and　saluted　them　all　profoundly；　and　opened　the　proceedings　with　a　little　favorite　pomposity。　　〃Madame　the　baroness；　and　you　Monsieur　Aubertin；　who　honor　me　with　your　esteem；　and　you　Mademoiselle　de　Beaurepaire；　whom　I　adore；　and　you　Mademoiselle　Rose；　whom　I　hoped　to　be　permittedyou　have　this　day　done　me　the　honor　to　admit　me　as　your　adviser。　　I　am　here　to　lay　my　plans　before　you。　　I　believe；　madame；　I　have　already　convinced　you　that　your　farms　are　under…let；　and　your　property　lowered　in　value　by　general　mismanagement；　this　was　doubtless　known　to　Perrin；　and　set　him　scheming。　　Well；　I　rely　on　the　same　circumstance　to　defeat　him。　　I　have　consulted　Picard　and　shown　him　the　rent…roll　and　balance…sheet　I　had　already　shown　you。　　He　has　confessed　that　the　estate　is　worth　more　than　its　debts；　so　capitalists　can　safely　advance　the　money。　To…morrow　morning；　then；　I　ride　to　Commandant　Raynal　for　a　week's　leave　of　absence；　then；　armed　with　Picard's　certificate；　shall　proceed　to　my　uncle　and　ask　him　to　lend　the　money。　　His　estate　is　very　small　compared　with　Beaurepaire；　but　he　has　always　farmed　it　himself。　　'I'll　have　no　go…between；'　says　he；　'to　impoverish　both　self　and　soil。'　　He　is　also　a　bit　of　a　misanthrope；　and　has　made　me　one。　　I　have　a　very　poor　opinion　of　my　fellow…creatures；　very。〃

〃Well；　but；〃　said　Rose；　〃if　he　is　all　that；　he　will　not　sympathize　with　us；　who　have　so　mismanaged　Beaurepaire。　　Will　he　not　despise　us？〃

Edouard　was　a　little　staggered；　but　Aubertin　came　to　his　aid。

〃Permit　me；　Josephine；〃　said　he。　　〃Natural　history　steps　in　here；　and　teaches　by　me；　its　mouth…piece。　　A　misanthrope　hates　all　mankind；　but　is　kind　to　every　individual；　generally　too　kind。　　A　philanthrope　loves　the　whole　human　race；　but　dislikes　his　wife；　his　mother；　his　brother；　and　his　friends　and　acquaintances。　　Misanthrope　is　the　potato：　rough　and　repulsive　outside；　but　good　to　the　core。　Philanthrope　is　a　peach：　his　manner　all　velvet　and　bloom；　his　words　sweet　juice；　his　heart　of　hearts　a　stone。　　Let　me　read　Philanthrope's　book；　and　fall　into　the　hands　of　Misanthrope。〃

Edouard　admitted　the　shrewdness　of　this　remark。

〃And　so；〃　said　he；　〃my　misanthrope　will　say　plenty　of　biting　words；　which；　by…the…by；　will　not　hurt　you；　who　will　not　hear　them；　only　me；and　then　he'll　lend　us　the　money；　and　Beaurepaire　will　be　free；　and　I　shall　have　had　a　hand　in　it。　　Hurrah！〃

Then　came　a　delicious　hour　to　Edouard　Riviere。　　Young　and　old　poured　out　their　glowing　thanks　and　praises　upon　him　till　his　checks　burned　like　fire。

The　baroness　was　especially　grateful；　and　expressed　a　gentle　regret　that　she　could　see　no　way　of　showing　her　gratitude　except　in　words。　〃What　can　we　do　for　this　little　angel？〃　said　she；　turning　to　Josephine。

〃Leave　that　to　me；　mamma；〃　replied　Josephine；　turning　her　lovely　eyes　full　on　Edouard；　with　a　look　the　baroness　misunderstood　directly。

She　sat　and　watched　Josephine　and　Edouard　with　comical　severity　all　the　rest　of　the　time　she　was　there；　and；　when　she　retired；　she　kissed　Rose　affectionately；　but　whispered　her　eldest　daughter；　〃I　hope　you　are　not　serious。　　A　mere　boy　compared　with　you。〃

〃But　such　a　sweet　one；〃　suggested　Josephine；　apologetically。

〃What　will　the　world　come　to？〃　said　the　baroness　out　loud；　and　retreated　with　a　sour　glance　at　all　of　themexcept　Rose。

She　had　not　been　gone　five　minutes　when　a　letter　came　by　messenger　to　Edouard。　　It　was　from　Picard。　　He　read　it　out。


〃Perrin　has　been　with　me；　to　raise　money。　　He　wants　it　in　forty…　eight　hours。　　Promises　good　legal　security。　　I　have　agreed　to　try　and　arrange　the　matter　for　him。〃


They　were　all　astonished　at　this。

〃The　double…faced　traitor！〃　cried　Edouard。　　〃Stay；　wait　a　minute。　Let　us　read　it　to　an　end。〃


〃This　promise　is；　of　course；　merely　to　prevent　his　going　elsewhere。　At　the　end　of　the　forty…eight　hours　I　shall　begin　to　make　difficulties。　　Meantime；　as　Perrin　is　no　fool；　you　had　better　profit　to　the　full　by　this　temporary　delay。〃


〃Well　done；　Picard！〃　shouted　Edouard。　　〃Notary　cut　notary。　　I　won't　lose　an　hour。　　I'll　start　at　five；　Commandant　Raynal　is　an　early　riser　himself。〃

Accordingly；　at　five　he　was　on　the　road；　Raynal's　quarters　lay　in　the　direct　line　to　his　uncle's　place。　　He　found　the　commandant　at　home；　and　was　well　received。　　Raynal　had　observed　his　zeal；　and　liked　his　manners。　　He　gave　him　the　week's　leave；　and　kept　him　to　breakfast；　and　had　his　horse　well　fed。　　At　eight　o'clock　Edouard　rode　out　of　the　premises　in　high　spirits。　　At　the　very　gate　he　met　a　gaunt　figure　riding　in　on　a　squab　pony。　　It　was　Perrin　the　notary　coming　in　hot　haste　to　his　friend　and　employer；　Commandant　Raynal。


CHAPTER　V。


After　Edouard's　departure；　Josephine　de　Beaurepaire　was　sad；　and　weighed　down　with　presentiments。　　She　felt　as　soldiers　sometimes　feel　who　know　the　enemy　is　undermining　them；　no　danger　on　the　surface；　nothing　that　can　be　seen；　met；　baffled；　attacked；　or　evaded；　in　daily　peril；　all　the　more　horrible　that　it　imitates　perfect　serenity；　they　await　the　fatal　match。　　She　imparted　her　misgivings　to　Aubertin；　but　he　assured　her　she　exaggerated　the　danger。

〃We　have　a　friend　still　more　zealous　and　active　than　our　enemy；　believe　me；　your　depression　is　really　caused　by　his　absence；　we　all　miss　the　contact　of　that　young　heroic　spirit；　we　are　a　body；　and　he　its　soul。〃

Josephine　was　silent；　for　she　said　to　herself；　〃Why　should　I　dash　their　spirits？　they　are　so　happy　and　confident。〃

Edouard　had　animated　Rose　and　Aubertin　with　his　own　courage；　and　had　even　revived　the　baroness。

It　had　been　agreed　between　him　and　Picard　that　the　latter　should　communicate　with　Dr。　Aubertin　direct；　should　anything　fresh　occur。　And　on　the　third　day　after　Edouard's　departure；　Picard　sent　up　a　private　message：　〃Perrin　has　just　sent　me　a　line　to　say　he　will　not　trouble　us；　as　he　is　offered　the　money　in　another　quarter。〃

This　was　a　heavy　blow；　and　sent　them　all　to　bed　more　or　less　despondent。

The　next　day　brought　a　long　letter　from　Edouard　to　Rose；　telling　her　he　had　found　his　uncle　crusty　at　first；　but　at　last　with　a　little　patience；　and　the　co…operation　of　Martha；　his　uncle's　old　servant；　and　his　nurse；　the　old　boy　had　come　round。　　They　might　look　on　the　affair　as　all　but　settled。

The　contents　of　this　letter　were　conveyed　to　the　baroness。　　The　house　brightened　under　it：　the　more　so　that　there　was　some　hope　of　their　successful　champion　returning　in　person　next　day。　　Meantime　Perrin　had　applied　to　Raynal　for　the　immediate　loan　of　a　large　sum　of　money　on　excellent　security。　　Raynal　refused　plump。　　Perrin　rode　away　disconsolate。

But　the　next　day　he　returned　to　the　charge　with　another　proposal：　and　the　nature　of　this　second　proposal　we　shall　learn　from　events。

The　day　Edouard　was　expected　opened　deliciously。　　It　was　a　balmy　morning；　and　tempted　the　sisters　out　before　breakfast。　　They　strolled　on　the　south　terrace　with　their　arms　round　each　other's　waists；　talking　about　Edouard；　and　wondering　whether　they　should　really　see　him　before　night。　　Rose　owned　she　had　missed　him；　and　confessed　for　the　first　time　she　was　a　proud　and　happy　girl。

〃May　I　tell　him　so？〃　asked　Josephine。

〃Not　for　all　the　world。　　Would　you　dare？〃

Further　discussion　of　that　nice　point　was　stopped　by　the　baroness　coming　out；　leaning　on　Dr。　Aubertin。

Thenhow　we　young　people　of　an　unceremonious　age　should　have　staredthe　demoiselles　de　Beaurepaire；　inasmuch　as　this　was　their　mother's　first　appearance；　lowered　their　fair　heads　at　the　same　time　like　young　poplars　bowing　to　the　wind；　and　so　waited　reverently　till　she　had　slightly　lifted　her　hands；　and　said；　〃God　bless　you；　my　children！〃

It　was　done　in　a　moment　on　both　sides；　but　full　of　grace　and　piety；　and　the　charm　of　ancient　manners。

〃How　did　our　dear　mother　sleep？〃　inquired　Josephine。　　Aubertin　interposed　with　a　theory　that　she　slept　very　well　indeed　if　she　took　what　he　gave　her。

〃Ay；　IF；〃　suggested　Rose；　saucily。

〃I　slept；〃　said　the　baroness；　〃and　I　wish　I　had　not　for　I　dreamed　an　ugly　dream。〃　　They　all　gathered　round　her；　and　she　told　her　dream。

〃I　thought　I　was　with　you　all　in　this　garden。　　I　was　admiring　the　flowers　and　the　trees；　and　the　birds　were　singing　with　all　their　might。　　Suddenly　a　dark　cloud　came；　it　cleared　almost　directly；　but　flowers；　trees；　sky；　and　birds　were　gone　now；　and　I　could　see　the　chateau　itself　no　more。　　It　means　that　I　was　dead。　　An　ugly　dream；　my　children；　an　ugly　dream。〃

〃But　only　a　dream；　dear　mother；〃　said　Rose：　then　with　a　sweet；　consoling　smile；　〃See；　here　is　your　terrace　and　your　chateau。〃

〃And　here　are　your　daughters；〃　said　Josephine；　and　they　both　came　and　kissed　her　to　put　their　existence　out　of　doubt。　　〃And　here　is　your　Aesculapius；〃　said　Aubertin。　　〃And　here　is　your　Jacintha。〃

〃Breakfast；　madame；〃　said　Jacintha。　　〃Breakfast；　mesdemoiselles。　Breakfast；　monsieur：〃　dropping　each　a　distinct　courtesy　in　turn。

〃She　has　turned　the　conversation　very　agreeably；〃　said　the　baroness；　and　went　in　leaning　on　her　old　friend。

But　the　sisters　lagged　behind　and　took　several　turns　in　silence。　Rose　was　the　first　to　speak。　　〃How　superstitious　of　you！〃

〃I　said　nothing。〃

〃No；　but　you　looked　volumes　at　me　while　mamma　was　telling　her　dream。　For　my　part　I　feel　sure　love　is　stronger　th