white lies-第21章

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〃What；　monsieur？〃　asked　Josephine；　timidly；　〃did　you　ride　all　that　way；　and　leave　your　duties　MERELY　TO　MARRY　ME？〃　and　she　looked　a　little　pleased。

〃You　are　worth　a　great　deal　more　trouble　than　that；〃　said　Raynal　simply。　　〃Besides；　I　had　passed　my　word；　and　I　always　keep　my　word。〃

〃So　do　I；〃　said　Josephine；　a　little　proudly。　　〃I　will　not　go　from　it　now；　if　you　insist；　but　I　confess　to　you；　that　such　a　proposal　staggers　me；　so　suddenno　preliminariesno　time　to　reflect；　in　short；　there　are　so　many　difficulties　that　I　must　request　you　to　reconsider　the　matter。〃

〃Difficulties；〃　shouted　Raynal　with　merry　disdain；　〃there　are　none；　unless　you　sit　down　and　make　them；　we　do　more　difficult　things　than　this　every　day　of　our　lives：　we　passed　the　bridge　of　Arcola　in　thirteen　minutes；　and　we　had　not　the　consent　of　the　enemy；　as　we　have　yourshave　we　not？〃

Her　only　reply　was　a　look　at　her　mother；　to　which　the　baroness　replied　by　a　nod；　then　turning　to　Raynal；　〃This　empressement　is　very　flattering；　but　I　see　no　possibility：　there　is　an　etiquette　we　cannot　altogether　defy：　there　are　preliminaries　before　a　daughter　of　Beaurepaire　can　become　a　wife。〃

〃There　used　to　be　all　that；　madam；〃　laughed　Raynal；　putting　her　down　good…humoredly；　〃but　it　was　in　the　days　when　armies　came　out　and　touched　their　caps　to　one　another；　and　went　back　into　winter　quarters。　　Then　the　struggle　was　who　could　go　slowest；　now　the　fight　is　who　can　go　fastest。　　Time　and　Bonaparte　wait　for　nobody；　and　ladies　and　other　strong　places　are　taken　by　storm；　not　undermined　a　foot　a　month　as　under　Noah　Quartorze：　let　me　cut　this　short；　as　time　is　short。〃

He　then　drew　a　little　plan　of　a　wedding　campaign。　　〃The　carriages　will　be　here　at　9　A。M。；〃　said　he；　〃they　will　whisk　us　down　to　the　mayor's　house　by　a　quarter　to　ten：　Picard；　the　notary；　meets　us　there　with　the　marriage　contract；　to　save　time；　the　contract　signed；　the　mayor　will　do　the　marriage　at　quick　step　out　of　respect　for　me　half　an　hourquarter　past　ten；　breakfast　in　the　same　house　an　hour　and　a　quarter：we　mustn't　hurry　a　wedding　breakfastthen　ten　minutes　or　so　for　the　old　fogies　to　waste　in　making　speeches　about　our　virtuesmy　watch　will　come　outmy　charger　will　come　roundI　rise　from　the　tableembrace　my　dear　old　motherkiss　my　wife's　handinto　the　saddlecanter　to　Parisroll　to　Toulonsail　to　Egypt。　　But　I　shall　leave　a　wife　and　a　mother　behind　me：　they　will　both　send　me　a　kind　word　now　and　then；　and　I　will　write　letters　to　you　all　from　Egypt；　and　when　I　come　home；　my　wife　and　I　will　make　acquaintance；　and　we　will　all　be　happy　together：　and　if　I　am　killed　out　there；　don't　you　go　and　fret　your　poor　little　hearts　about　it；　it　is　a　soldier's　lot　sooner　or　later。　　Besides；　you　will　find　I　have　taken　care　of　you；　nobody　shall　come　and　turn　you　out　of　your　quarters；　even　though　Jean　Raynal　should　be　dead；　I　have　got　to　meet　Picard　at　Riviere's　on　that　very　businessI　am　off。〃

He　was　gone　as　brusquely　as　he　came。

〃Mother！　sister！〃　cried　Josephine；　〃help　me　to　love　this　man。〃

〃You　need　no　help；〃　cried　the　baroness；　with　enthusiasm；　〃not　love　him；　we　should　all　be　monsters。〃

Raynal　came　to　supper　looking　bright　and　cheerful。　　〃No　more　work　to…day。　　I　have　nothing　to　do　but　talk；　fancy　that。〃

This　evening　Josephine　de　Beaurepaire；　who　had　been　silent　and　thoughtful；　took　a　quiet　opportunity；　and　purred　in　his　ear；　〃Monsieur！〃

〃Mademoiselle！〃　rang　the　trombone。

〃Am　I　not　to　go　to　Egypt？〃

〃No。〃

Josephine　drew　back　at　this　brusque　reply　like　a　sensitive　plant。　But　she　returned　to　the　attack。

〃But　is　it　not　a　wife's　duty　to　be　by　her　husband's　side　to　look　after　his　comfortto　console　him　when　others　vex　himto　soothe　him　when　he　is　harassed？〃

〃Her　first　duty　is　to　obey　him。〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃Well；　when　I　am　your　husband；　I　shall　bid　you　stay　with　your　mother　and　sister　while　I　go　to　Egypt。〃

〃I　shall　obey　you。〃

He　told　her　bluntly　he　thought　none　the　worse　of　her　for　making　the　offer；　but　should　not　accept　it。


Camille　Dujardin　slept　that　night　at　a　roadside　inn　about　twelve　miles　from　Beaurepaire；　and　not　more　than　six　from　the　town　where　the　wedding　was　to　take　place　next　day。

It　was　a　close　race。

And　the　racers　all　unconscious　of　each　other；　yet　spurred　impartially　by　events　that　were　now　hurrying　to　a　climax。


CHAPTER　VII。


The　next　day　at　sharp　nine　two　carriages　were　at　the　door。

But　the　ladies　were　not　ready。　　Thus　early　in　the　campaign　did　they　throw　all　into　disorder。　　For　so　nicely　had　Raynal　timed　the　several　events　that　this　threw　him　all　into　confusion。　　He　stamped　backwards　and　forwards；　and　twisted　his　mustaches；　and　swore。　　This　enforced　unpunctuality　was　a　new　torture　to　him。　　Jacintha　told　them　he　was　angry；　and　that　made　them　nervous　and　flurried；　and　their　fingers　strayed　wildly　among　hooks　and　eyes；　and　all　sorts　of　fastenings；　they　were　not　ready　till　half…past　nine。　　Conscious　they　deserved　a　scolding；　they　sent　Josephine　down　first　to　mollify。　　She　dawned　upon　the　honest　soldier　so　radiant；　so　dazzling　in　her　snowy　dress；　with　her　coronet　of　pearls　（an　heirloom）；　and　her　bridal　veil　parted；　and　the　flush　of　conscious　beauty　on　her　cheek；　that　instead　of　scolding　her；　he　actually　blurted　out；　〃Well！　by　St。　Denis　it　was　worth　waiting　half　an　hour　for。〃

He　recovered　a　quarter　of　an　hour　by　making　the　driver　gallop。　　Then　occasional　shrieks　issued　from　the　carriage　that　held　the　baroness。　That　ancient　lady　feared　annihilation：　she　had　not　come　down　from　a　galloping　age。

They　drove　into　the　town；　drew　up　at　the　mayor's　house；　were　received　with　great　ceremony　by　that　functionary　and　Picard；　and　entered　the　house。

When　their　carriages　rattled　into　the　street　from　the　north　side；　Colonel　Dujardin　had　already　entered　it　from　the　south；　and　was　riding　at　a　foot's　pace　along　the　principal　street。　　The　motion　of　his　horse　now　shook　him　past　endurance。　　He　dismounted　at　an　inn　a　few　doors　from　the　mayor's　house；　and　determined　to　do　the　rest　of　the　short　journey　on　foot。　　The　landlord　bustled　about　him　obsequiously。　　〃You　are　faint；　colonel；　you　have　travelled　too　far。　Let　me　order　you　an　excellent　breakfast。〃

〃No。　　I　want　a　carriage；　have　you　one？〃

〃I　have　two；　but；　unluckily；　they　are　both　engaged　for　the　day；　and　by　people　of　distinction。　　Commandant　Raynal　is　married　to…day。〃

〃Ah！　I　wish　him　joy；〃　said　Camille；　heartily。　　He　then　asked　the　landlord　to　open　the　window；　as　he　felt　rather　faint。　　The　landlord　insisted　on　breakfast；　and　Camille　sat　down　to　an　omelet　and　a　bottle　of　red　wine。　　Then　he　lay　awhile　near　the　window；　revived　by　the　air；　and　watched　the　dear　little　street　he　had　not　seen　for　years。　　He　felt　languid；　but　happy；　celestially　happy。

She　was　a　few　doors　from　him；　and　neither　knew　it。

A　pen　was　put　into　her　white　hand；　and　in　another　moment　she　had　signed　a　marriage　contract。

〃Now　to　the　church；〃　cried　the　baroness；　gayly。　　To　get　to　the　church；　they　must　pass　by　the　window　Camille　reclined　at。


CHAPTER　VIII。


〃Oh！　there's　no　time　for　that；〃　said　Raynal。　　And　as　the　baroness　looked　horrified　and　amazed；　Picard　explained：　〃The　state　marries　its　citizens　now；　with　reason：　since　marriage　is　a　civil　contract。〃

〃Marriage　a　civil　contract！〃　repeated　the　baroness。　　〃What；　is　it　then　no　longer　one　of　the　holy　sacraments？　　What　horrible　impiety　shall　we　come　to　next？　　Unhappy　France！　　Such　a　contract　would　never　be　a　marriage　in　my　eyes：　and　what　would　become　of　an　union　the　Church　had　not　blessed？〃

〃Madame；〃　said　Picard；　〃the　Church　can　bless　it　still；　but　it　is　only　the　mayor　here　that　can　DO　it。〃

All　this　time　Josephine　was　blushing　scarlet；　and　looking　this　way　and　that；　with　a　sort　of　instinctive　desire　to　fly　and　hide；　no　matter　where；　for　a　week　or　so。

〃Haw！　haw！　haw！〃　roared　Raynal；　〃here　is　a　pretty　mother。　　Wants　her　daughter　to　be　unlawfully　married　in　a　church；　instead　of　lawfully　in　a　house。　　Give　me　the　will！〃

〃Look　here；　mother…in…law：　I　have　left　Beaurepaire　to　my　lawful　wife。〃

〃Otherwise；〃　put　in　Picard；　〃in　case　of　death；　it　would　pass　to　his　heir…at…law。〃

〃And　HE　would　turn　you　all　out；　and　that　does　not　suit　me。　　Now　there　stands　the　only　man　who　can　make　mademoiselle　my　LAWFUL　wife。　So　quick　march；　monsieur　the　mayor；　for　time　and　Bonaparte　wait　for　no　man。〃

〃Stay　a　minute；　young　people；〃　said　the　mayor。　　〃We　should　soothe　respectable　prejudices；　not　crush　them。　　Madam；　I　am　at　least　as　old　as　you；　and　have　seen　many　changes。　　I　perfectly　understand　your　feelings。〃

〃Ah；　monsieur！　oh！〃

〃Calm　yourself；　dear　madam；　the　case　is　not　so　bad　as　you　think。　　It　is　perfectly　true　that　in　republican　France　the　civil　magistrate　alone　can　bind　French　citizens　in　lawful　wedlock。　　But　this　does　not　annihilate　the　religious　ceremony。　　You　can　ask　the　Church's　blessing　on　my　work；　and　be　assured　you　are　not　the　only　one　who　retains　that　natural　prejudice。　　Out　of　every　ten　couples　that　I　marry；　four　or　five　go　to　church　afterwards　and　perform　the　ancient　ceremonies。　　And　they　do　well。　　For　there　before　the　altar　the　priest　tells　them　what　it　is　not　my　business　to　dilate　uponthe　grave　moral　and　religious　duties　they　have　undertaken　along　with　this　civil　contract。　　The　state　binds；　but　the　Church　still　blesses；　and　piously　assents　to　that〃

〃From　which　she　has　no　power　to　dissent。〃

〃Monsieur　Picard；　do　you　consider　it　polite　to　interrupt　the　chief　magistrate　of　the　place　while　he　is　explaining　the　law　to　a　citizen？〃

（This　closed　Picard。）

〃I　married　a　daughter　last　year；〃　continued　the　worthy　mayor。

〃What；　after　this　fashion？〃

〃I　married　her　myself；　as　I　will　marry　yours；　if　you　will　trust　me　with　her。　　And　after　I　have　made　them　one；　there　is　nothing　to　prevent　them　adjourning　to　the　church。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　cried　Raynal；　〃there　are　two　things　to　prevent　it：　a　couple　that　wait　for　no　man：　Time　and　Bonaparte。　　Come；　sir；　marry　us；　and　have　done　with　it。〃

The　mayor　assented。　　He　invited　Josephine　to　stand　before　him。　　She　trembled　and　wept　a　little：　Rose　clung　to　her　and　wept；　and　the　good　mayor　married　the　parties　off　hand。

〃Is　that　all？〃　asked　the　baroness；　〃it　is　terribly　soon　done。〃

〃It　is　done　effectively；　madam；〃　said　the　mayor；　with　a　smile。　〃Permit　me　to　tell　you　that　his　Holiness　the　Pope　cannot　undo　my　work。〃

Picard　grinned　slyly；　and　whispered　something　into　Raynal's　ear。

〃Oh！　indeed；〃　said　Raynal　aloud　and　carelessly。　　〃Come；　Madame　Raynal；　to　breakfast：　follow　us；　the　rest　of　you。〃

They　paired；　and　followed　the　bride　and　bridegroom　into　the　breakfast…room。


The　light　words　Picard　whispered　were　five　in　number。

Now　if　the　mayor　had　not　snubbed　Picard　just　before；　he　would　have　uttered　those　jocose　but　true　words　aloud。　　There　was　no　particular　reason　why　he　should　not。　　And　if　he　had；The　threads　of　the　web　of　life；　how　subtle　they　are！　　The　finest　cotton　of　Manchester；　the　finer　meshes　of　the　spider；　seem　three…inch　cables　by　comparison　with　those　moral　gossamers　which　vulgar　eyes　cannot　see　at　all；　the　〃somethings；　nothings；〃　on　which　great　fates　have　hung。

It　was　a　cheerful　breakfast；　thanks　to　Raynal；　who　would　be　in　high　spirits；　and　would　not　allow　a　word　of　regret　from　any　one。　　Madame　Raynal　sat　by　his　side；　looking　up　at　him　every