white lies-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


duced　to　so　subtle　a　system。　　This　done；　she　went　carelessly　out：　and　Josephine　in　due　course　followed　her；　and　found　her　at　the　door。

〃What　is　it？〃　said　Josephine；　earnestly。

〃Have　you　courage？〃　was　Rose's　reply。

〃He　is　dead？〃　said　Josephine；　turning　pale　as　ashes。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Rose　hastily；　〃he　is　alive。　　But　you　will　need　all　your　courage。〃

〃Since　he　lives　I　fear　nothing；〃　said　Josephine；　and　stood　there　and　quivered　from　head　to　foot。　　Rose；　with　pitying　looks；　took　her　by　the　hand　and　drew　her　in　silence　towards　the　kitchen。

Josephine　yielded　a　mute　submission　at　first；　but　at　the　very　door　hung　back　and　faltered；　〃He　loves　another；　he　is　married：　let　me　go。〃　　Rose　made　no　reply；　but　left　her　there　and　went　into　the　kitchen　and　found　two　dragoons　seated　round　a　bottle　of　wine。　　They　rose　and　saluted　her。

〃Be　seated；　my　brave　men；〃　said　she；　〃only　please　tell　me　what　you　told　Jacintha　about　Captain　Dujardin。〃

〃Don't　stain　your　mouth　with　the　captain；　my　little　lady。　　He　is　a　traitor。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃Marcellus！　mademoiselle　asks　us　how　we　know　Captain　Dujardin　to　be　a　traitor。　　Speak。〃

Marcellus；　thus　appealed　to；　told　Rose　after　his　own　fashion　that　he　knew　the　captain　well：　that　one　day　the　captain　rode　out　of　the　camp　and　never　returned：　that　at　first　great　anxiety　was　felt　on　his　behalf；　for　the　captain　was　a　great　favorite；　and　passed　for　the　smartest　soldier　in　the　division：　that　after　awhile　anxiety　gave　place　to　some　very　awkward　suspicions；　and　these　suspicions　it　was　his　lot　and　his　comrade's　here　to　confirm。　　About　a　month　later　he　and　the　said　comrade　and　two　more　were　sent；　well　mounted；　to　reconnoitre　a　Spanish　village。　　At　the　door　of　a　little　inn　they　caught　sight　of　a　French　uniform。　　This　so　excited　their　curiosity　that　he　went　forward　nearer　than　prudent；　and　distinctly　recognized　Captain　Dujardin　seated　at　a　table　drinking　between　two　guerillas；　then　he　rode　back　and　told　the　others；　who　then　came　up　and　satisfied　themselves　it　was　so：　that　if　any　of　the　party　had　entertained　a　doubt；　it　was　removed　in　an　unpleasant　way；　he；　Marcellus；　disgusted　at　the　sight　of　a　French　uniform　drinking　among　Spaniards；　took　down　his　carabine　and　fired　at　the　group　as　carefully　as　a　somewhat　restive　horse　permitted：　at　this；　as　if　by　magic；　a　score　or　so　of　guerillas　poured　out　from　Heaven　knows　where；　musket　in　hand；　and　delivered　a　volley；　the　officer　in　command　of　the　party　fell　dead；　Jean　Jacques　here　got　a　broken　arm；　and　his　own　horse　was　wounded　in　two　places；　and　fell　from　loss　of　blood　a　few　furlongs　from　the　French　camp；　to　the　neighborhood　of　which　the　vagabonds　pursued　them；　hallooing　and　shouting　and　firing　like　barbarous　banditti　as　they　were。

〃However；　here　I　am；〃　concluded　Marcellus；　〃invalided　for　awhile；　my　lady；　but　not　expended　yet：　we　will　soon　dash　in　among　them　again　for　death　or　glory。　　Meantime；〃　concluded　he；　filling　both　glasses；　〃let　us　drink　to　the　eyes　of　beauty　（military　salute）；　and　to　the　renown　of　France；　and　double　damnation　to　all　her　traitors；　like　that　Captain　Dujardin；　whose　neck　may　the　devil　twist。〃

Ere　they　could　drink　to　this　energetic　toast；　a　low　wail　at　the　door；　like　a　dying　hare's；　arrested　the　glasses　on　their　road；　and　the　rough　soldiers　stood　transfixed；　and　looked　at　one　another　in　some　dismay。　　Rose　flew　to　the　door　with　a　face　full　of　concern。

Josephine　was　gone。

Then　Rose　had　the　tact　and　resolution　to　say　a　few　kind；　encouraging　words　to　the　soldiers；　and　bid　Jacintha　be　hospitable　to　them。　　This　done　she　darted　up…stairs　after　Josephine；　she　reached　the　main　corridor　just　in　time　to　see　her　creep　along　it　with　the　air　and　carriage　of　a　woman　of　fifty；　and　enter　her　own　room。

Rose　followed　softly　with　wet　eyes；　and　turned　the　handle　gently。　But　the　door　was　locked。

〃Josephine！　　Josephine！〃

No　answer。

〃I　want　to　speak　to　you。　　I　am　frightened。　　Oh；　do　not　be　alone。〃

A　choking　voice　answered；　〃Give　me　a　little　while　to　draw　my　breath。〃　　Rose　sank　down　at　the　door；　and　sat　close　to　it；　with　her　head　against　it；　sobbing　bitterly。　　She　was　hurt　at　not　being　let　in；　such　a　friend　as　she　had　proved　herself。　　But　this　personal　feeling　was　only　a　fraction　of　her　grief　and　anxiety。

A　good　half　hour　elapsed　ere　Josephine；　pale　and　stern　as　no　one　had　ever　seen　her　till　that　hour；　suddenly　opened　the　door。　　She　started　at　sight　of　Rose　couched　sorrowful　on　the　threshold；　her　stern　look　relaxed　into　tender　love　and　pity；　she　sank；　blushing；　on　her　knees；　and　took　her　sister's　head　quickly　to　her　bosom。　　〃Oh；　my　little　love；　have　you　been　here　all　this　time？〃〃Oh！　oh！　oh！〃　was　all　the　little　love　could　reply。　　Then　the　deserted　one；　still　kneeling；　took　Rose　in　her　lap；　and　caressed　and　comforted　her；　and　poured　words　of　gratitude　and　affection　over　her　like　a　warm　shower。

They　rose　hand　in　hand。

Then　Rose　suddenly　seized　Josephine；　and　looked　long　and　anxiously　down　into　her　eyes。　　They　flashed　fire　under　the　scrutiny。　　〃Yes；　it　is　all　over；　I　could　not　despise　and　love。　　I　am　dead　to　him；　as　he　is　dead　to　France。〃

This　was　joyful　news　to　Rose。　　〃I　hoped　it　would　be　so；〃　said　she；　〃but　you　frightened　me。　　My　noble　sister；　were　I　ever　to　lose　your　esteem；　I　should　die。　　Oh；　how　awful　yet　how　beautiful　is　your　scorn。　　For　worlds　I　would　not　be　that　Cam〃　　Josephine　laid　her　hand　imperiously　on　Rose's　mouth。　　〃To　mention　his　name　to　me　will　be　to　insult　me；　De　Beaurepaire　I　am；　and　a　Frenchwoman。　　Come；　dear；　let　us　go　down　and　comfort　our　mother。〃

They　went　down；　and　this　patient　sufferer；　and　high　minded　conqueror；　of　her　own　accord　took　up　a　commonplace　book；　and　read　aloud　for　two　mortal　hours　to　her　mother　and　Aubertin。　　Her　voice　only　wavered　twice。

To　feel　that　life　is　ended；　to　wish　existence；　too；　had　ceased；　and　so　to　sit　down；　an　aching　hollow；　and　take　a　part　and　sham　an　interest　in　twaddle　to　please　others；　such　are　woman's　feats。　　How　like　nothing　at　all　they　look！

A　man　would　rather　sit　on　the　buffer　of　a　steam…engine　and　ride　at　the　Great　Redan。

Rose　sat　at　her　elbow；　a　little　behind　her；　and　turned　the　leaves；　and　on　one　pretence　or　other　held　Josephine's　hand　nearly　all　the　rest　of　the　day。　　Its　delicate　fibres　remained　tense；　like　a　greyhound's　sinews　after　a　race；　and　the　blue　veins　rose　to　sight　in　it；　though　her　voice　and　eyes　were　mastered。

So　keen　was　the　strife；　so　matched　the　antagonists；　so　hard　the　victory。

For　ire　and　scorn　are　mighty。　　And　noble　blood　in　a　noble　heart　is　heroic。　　And　Love　is　a　giant。


CHAPTER　II。


The　French　provinces　were　now　organized　upon　a　half　military　plan；　by　which　all　the　local　authorities　radiated　towards　a　centre　of　government。　　By…the…by；　this　feature　has　survived　subsequent　revolutions　and　political　changes。

In　days　of　change；　youth　is　at　a　premium；　because；　though　experience　is　valuable；　the　experience　of　one　order　of　things　unfits　ordinary　men　for　another　order　of　things。　　So　a　good　many　old　fogies　in　office　were　shown　the　door；　and　a　good　deal　of　youth　and　energy　infused　into　the　veins　of　provincial　government。　　For　instance；　Edouard　Riviere；　who　had　but　just　completed　his　education　with　singular　eclat　at　a　military　school；　was　one　fine　day　ordered　into　Brittany　to　fill　a　responsible　post　under　Commandant　Raynal；　a　blunt；　rough　soldier；　that　had　risen　from　the　ranks；　and　bore　a　much　higher　character　for　zeal　and　moral　integrity　than　for　affability。

This　officer　was　the　son　of　a　widow　that　kept　a　grocer's　shop　in　Paris。　　She　intended　him　for　spice；　but　he　thirsted　for　glory；　and　vexed　her。　　So　she　yielded；　as　mothers　will。

In　the　armies　of　the　republic　a　good　soldier　rose　with　unparalleled　certainty；　and　rapidity；　too；　for　when　soldiers　are　being　mowed　down　like　oats；　it　is　a　glorious　time　for　such　of　them　as　keep　their　feet。　　Raynal　mounted　fast；　and　used　to　write　to　his　mother；　and　joke　her　about　the　army　being　such　a　bad　profession；　and；　as　he　was　all　for　glory；　not　money；　he　lived　with　Spartan　frugality；　and　saved　half　his　pay　and　all　his　prize　money　for　the　old　lady　in　Paris。

But　this　prosperous　man　had　to　endure　a　deep　disappointment；　on　the　very　day　he　was　made　commandant　and　one　of　the　general's　aides…de…　camp；　came　a　letter　into　the　camp。　　His　mother　was　dead　after　a　short　illness。　　This　was　a　terrible　blow　to　the　simple；　rugged　soldier；　who　had　never　had　much　time　nor　inclination　to　flirt　with　a　lot　of　girls；　and　toughen　his　heart。　　He　came　back　to　Paris　honored　and　rich；　but　downcast。　　The　old　home；　empty　of　his　mother；　seemed　to　him　not　to　have　the　old　look。　　It　made　him　sadder。　　To　cheer　him　up　they　brought　him　much　money。　　The　widow's　trade　had　taken　a　wonderful　start　the　last　few　years；　and　she　had　been　playing　the　same　game　as　he　had；　living　on　ten…pence　a　day；　and　saving　all　for　him。　　This　made　him　sadder；　if　anything。

〃What；〃　said　he；　〃have　we　both　been　scraping　all　this　dross　together　for？　　I　would　give　it　all　to　sit　one　hour　by　the　fire；　with　her　hand　in　mine；　and　hear　her　say；　'Scamp；　you　made　me　unhappy　when　you　were　young；　but　I　have　lived　to　be　proud　of　you。'〃

He　applied　for　active　service；　no　matter　what：　obtained　at　once　this　post　in　Brittany；　and　threw　himself　into　it　with　that　honest　zeal　and　activity；　which　are　the　best　earthly　medicine　for　all　our　griefs。　　He　was　busy　writing；　when　young　Riviere　first　presented　himself。　　He　looked　up　for　a　moment；　and　eyed　him；　to　take　his　measure；　then　put　into　his　hand　a　report　by　young　Nicole；　a　subordinate　filling　a　post　of　the　same　nature　as　Riviere's；　and　bade　him　analyze　that　report　on　the　spot：　with　this　he　instantly　resumed　his　own　work。

Edouard　Riviere　was　an　adept　at　this　sort　of　task；　and　soon　handed　him　a　neat　analysis。　　Raynal　ran　his　eye　over　it；　nodded　cold　approval；　and　told　him　to　take　this　for　the　present　as　a　guide　as　to　his　own　duties。　　He　then　pointed　to　a　map　on　which　Riviere's　district　was　marked　in　blue　ink；　and　bade　him　find　the　centre　of　it。　Edouard　took　a　pair　of　compasses　off　the　table；　and　soon　discovered　that　the　village　of　Beaurepaire　was　his　centre。　　〃Then　quarter　yourself　at　Beaurepaire；　and　good…day；〃　said　Raynal。

The　chateau　was　in　sight　from　Riviere's　quarters；　and　he　soon　learned　that　it　belonged　to　a　royalist　widow　and　her　daughters；　who　all　three　held　themselves　quite　aloof　from　the　rest　of　the　world。　〃Ah；〃　said　the　young　citizen；　〃I　see。　　If　these　rococo　citizens　play　that　game　with　me；　I　shall　have　to　take　them　down。〃　　Thus　a　fresh　peril　menaced　this　family；　on　whose　hearts　and　fortunes　such　heavy　blows　had　fallen。

One　evening　our　young　official；　after　a　day　spent　in　the　service　of　the　country；　deigned　to　take　a　little　stroll　to　relieve　the　cares　of　administration。　　He　imprinted　on　his　beardless　face　the　expression　of　a　wearied　statesman；　and　strolled　through　an　admiring　village。　The　men　pretended　veneration　from　policy；　the　women；　whose　views　of　this　great　man　were　shallower　but　more　sincere；　smiled　approval　of　his　airs；　and　the　young　puppy　affected　to　take　no　notice　of　either　sex。

Outside　the　village；　Publicola　suddenly　encountered　two　young　ladies；　who　resembled　nothing　he　had　hitherto　met　with　in　his　district；　they　were　dressed　in　black；　and　with　extreme　simplicity；　but　their　easy　grace　and　composure；　a