white lies-第23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！


　whose　eager　fire　shone　even　at　that　distance；　rose　above　the　palings。　　Josephine　crouched　behind　Rose；　and　gasped　out；　〃Something　terrible　is　coming；　terrible！　terrible！〃

〃Say　something　hateful；〃　said　Rose；　trembling　in　her　turn；　but　only　with　anger。　　〃The　heartless　selfish　traitor！　　He　never　notices　you　till　you　are　married　to　the　noblest　of　mankind；　and　then　he　comes　here　directly　to　ruin　your　peace。　　No；　I　have　altered　my　mind。　　He　shall　not　see　you；　of　course；　but　YOU　shall　hear　HIM。　　I'll　soon　make　you　know　the　wretch　and　loathe　him　as　I　do。　　There；　now　he　has　turned　the　corner；　hide　in　the　oak　while　he　is　out　of　sight。　　Hide；　quick；　quick。〃　　Josephine　obeyed　mechanically；　and　presently；　through　that　very　aperture　whence　her　sister　had　smiled　on　her　lover　she　hissed　out；　in　a　tone　of　which　one　would　not　have　thought　her　capable；　〃Be　wise；　be　shrewd；　find　out　who　is　the　woman　that　has　seduced　him　from　me；　and　has　brought　two　wretches　to　this。　　I　tell　you　it　is　some　wicked　woman's　doing。　　He　loved　me　once。〃

〃Not　so　loud！one　word：　you　are　a　wife。　　Swear　to　me　you　will　not　let　him　see　you；　come　what　may。〃

〃Oh！　never！　never！〃　cried　Josephine　with　terror。　　〃I　would　rather　die。　　When　you　have　heard　what　he　has　to　say；　then　tell　him　I　am　dead。　　No；　tell　him　I　adore　my　husband；　and　went　to　Egypt　this　day　with　him。　　Ah！　would　to　God　I　had！〃

〃Sh！　sh！〃

〃Sh！〃

Camille　was　at　the　little　gate。

Rose　stood　still；　and　nerved　herself　in　silence。　　Josephine　panted　in　her　hiding…place。

Rose's　only　thought　now　was　to　expose　the　traitor　to　her　sister；　and　restore　her　peace。　　She　pretended　not　to　see　Camille　till　he　was　near　her。　　He　came　eagerly　towards　her；　his　pale　face　flushing　with　great　joy；　and　his　eyes　like　diamonds。

〃Josephine！　　It　is　not　Josephine；　after　all；〃　said　he。　　〃Why；　this　must　be　Rose；　little　Rose；　grown　up　to　a　fine　lady；　a　beautiful　lady。〃

〃What　do　you　come　here　for；　sir？〃　asked　Rose　in　a　tone　of　icy　indifference。

〃What　do　I　come　here　for？　is　that　the　way　to　speak　to　me？　but　I　am　too　happy　to　mind。　　Dear　Beaurepaire！　do　I　see　you　once　again！〃

〃And　madame？〃

〃What　madame？〃

〃Madame　Dujardin　that　is　or　was　to　be。〃

〃This　is　the　first　I　have　ever　heard　of　her；〃　said　Camille；　gayly。

〃This　is　odd；　for　we　have　heard　all　about　it。〃

〃Are　you　jesting？〃

〃No。〃

〃If　I　understand　you　right；　you　imply　that　I　have　broken　faith　with　Josephine？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃Then　you　lie；　Mademoiselle　Rose　de　Beaurepaire。〃

〃Insolent！〃

〃No。　　It　is　you　who　have　insulted　your　sister　as　well　as　me。　　She　was　not　made　to　be　deserted　for　meaner　women。　　Come；　mademoiselle；　affront　me；　and　me　alone；　and　you　shall　find　me　more　patient。　　Oh！　who　would　have　thought　Beaurepaire　would　receive　me　thus？〃

〃It　is　your　own　fault。　　You　never　sent　her　a　line　for　all　these　years。〃

〃Why；　how　could　I？〃

〃Well；　sir；　the　information　you　did　not　supply　others　did。　　We　know　that　you　were　seen　in　a　Spanish　village　drinking　between　two　guerillas。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Camille。

〃An　honest　French　soldier　fired　at　you。　　Why；　he　told　us　so　himself。〃

〃He　told　you　true；〃　said　Camille；　sullenly。　　〃The　bullet　grazed　my　hand；　see；　here　is　the　mark。　　Look！〃　　She　did　look；　and　gave　a　little　scream；　but　recovering　herself；　said　she　wished　it　had　gone　through　his　heart。　　〃Why　prolong　this　painful　interview？〃　said　she；　〃the　soldier　told　us　all。〃

〃I　doubt　that；〃　said　Camille。　　〃Did　he　tell　you　that　under　the　table　I　was　chained　tight　down　to　the　chair　I　sat　in？　　Did　he　tell　you　that　my　hand　was　fastened　to　a　drinking…horn；　and　my　elbow　to　the　table；　and　two　fellows　sitting　opposite　me　with　pistols　quietly　covering　me；　ready　to　draw　the　trigger　if　I　should　utter　a　cry？　　Did　he　tell　you　that　I　would　have　uttered　that　cry　and　died　at　that　table　but　for　one　thing；　I　had　promised　her　to　live？〃

〃Not　he；　he　told　me　nothing　so　incredible。　　Besides；　what　became　of　you　all　these　years？　　You　are　a　double　traitor；　to　your　country　and　to　her。〃

Camille　literally　gasped　for　breath。　　〃You　are　a　most　cruel　young　lady　to　insult　me　so；〃　said　he；　and　scalding　tears　forced　themselves　from　his　eyes。

Rose　eyed　him　with　merciless　scorn。

He　fought　manfully　against　this　weakness；　with　which　his　wound　and　his　fatigue　had　something　to　do；　as　well　as　Rose's　bitter　words；　and　after　a　gallant　struggle　he　returned　her　her　haughty　stare；　and　addressed　her　thus：　〃Mademoiselle；　I　feel　myself　blush；　but　it　is　for　you　I　blush；　not　for　myself。　　This　is　what　BECAME　of　me。　　I　went　out　alone　to　explore；　I　fell　into　an　ambuscade；　I　shot　one　of　the　enemy；　and　pinked　another；　but　my　arm　being　broken　by　a　bullet；　and　my　horse　killed　under　me；　the　rascals　got　me。　　They　took　me　about；　tried　to　make　a　decoy　of　me　as　I　have　told　you；　and　ended　by　throwing　me　into　a　dungeon。　　They　loaded　me　with　chains；　too；　though　the　walls　were　ten　feet　thick；　and　the　door　iron；　and　bolted　and　double…bolted　outside。　　And　there　for　months　and　years；　in　spite　of　wounds；　hunger；　thirst；　and　all　the　tortures　those　cowards　made　me　suffer；　I　lived；　because；　Rose；　I　had　promised　some　one　at　that　gate　there　（and　he　turned　suddenly　and　pointed　to　it）　that　I　would　come　back　alive。　　At　last；　one　night；　my　jailer　came　to　my　cell　drunk。　　I　seized　him　by　the　throat　and　throttled　him　till　he　was　insensible；　his　keys　unlocked　my　fetters；　and　locked　him　in　the　cell；　and　I　got　safely　outside。　　But　there　a　sentinel　saw　me；　and　fired　at　me。　　He　missed　me　but　ran　after　me；　and　caught　me。　　You　see　I　was　stiff；　confined　so　long。　　He　gave　me　a　thrust　of　his　bayonet；　I　flung　my　heavy　keys　fiercely　in　his　face；　he　staggered；　I　wrested　his　piece　from　him；　and　disabled　him。〃

〃Ah！〃

〃I　crossed　the　frontier　in　the　night；　and　got　to　Bayonne；　and　thence；　day　and　night；　to　Paris。　　There　I　met　a　reward　for　all　my　anguish。　　They　gave　me　the　epaulets　of　a　colonel。　　See；　here　they　are。　　France　does　not　give　these　to　traitors；　young　lady。〃　　He　held　them　out　to　her　in　both　hands。　　She　eyed　them　half　stupidly；　all　her　thoughts　were　on　the　oak…tree　hard　by。　　She　began　to　shudder。　Camille　was　telling　the　truth。　　She　felt　that；　she　saw　it；　and　Josephine　was　hearing　it。　　〃Ay！　look　at　them；　you　naughty　girl；〃　said　Camille；　trying　to　be　jocose　over　it　all　with　his　poor　trembling　lip。　　He　went　on　to　say　that　from　the　moment　he　had　left　dark　Spain；　and　entered　fair　France　everybody　was　so　kind；　so　sympathizing。　　〃They　felt　for　the　poor　worn　soldier　coming　back　to　his　love。　　All　but　you；　Rose。　　You　told　me　I　was　a　traitor　to　her　and　to　France。〃

〃I　was　told　so；〃　said　Rose；　faintly。　　She　was　almost　at　her　wits'　end　what　to　say　or　do。

〃Well；　are　you　sorry　or　not　sorry　for　saying　such　a　cruel　thing　to　a　poor　fellow？〃

〃Sorry；　very　sorry；〃　whispered　Rose。　　She　could　not　persist　in　injustice；　yet　she　did　not　want　Josephine　to　hear。

〃Then　say　no　more　about　it；　there's　my　hand。　　You　are　not　a　soldier；　and　did　not　know　what　you　were　talking　about。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　I　spoke　so　harshly　to　you。　　But　you　understand。　How　you　look；　how　you　pant。〃

〃There；　I　will　show　you　I　forgive　you。　　These　epaulets；　dear；　I　have　never　put　them　on。　　I　said；　no；　Josephine　shall　put　them　on　for　me。　I　will　take　honor　as　well　as　happiness　from　her　dear　hand。　　But　you　are　her　sister；　and　what　are　epaulets　compared　with　what　she　will　give　me？　　You　shall　put　them　on；　dear。　　Come；　then　you　will　be　sure　I　bear　no　malice。〃

Rose；　faint　at　heart；　consented　in　silence；　and　fastened　on　the　epaulets。　　〃Yes；　Camille！〃　she　cried；　with　sudden　terror；　〃think　of　glory；　now；　nothing　but　glory。〃

〃No　one　thinks　of　it　more。　　But　to…day　how　can　I　think　of　it；　how　can　I　give　her　a　rival？　　To…day　I　am　all　love。　　Rose；　no　man　ever　loved　a　human　creature　as　I　love　Josephine。　　Your　mother　is　well；　dear？　　All　are　well　at　Beaurepaire？　　Oh；　where　is　she　all　this　time？　in　the　house？〃　　He　was　moving　quickly　towards　the　house；　but　Rose　instinctively　put　out　her　hand　to　stop　him。　　He　recoiled　a　little　and　winced。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　cried　she。

〃Nothing；　dear　girl；　you　put　your　hand　on　my　wound；　that　is　all。　What　is　that　noise　in　the　tree？　　Anybody　listening　to　us？〃

〃I'll　see；〃　said　Rose；　with　all　a　woman's　wit；　and　whipped　hastily　round　to　hinder　Camille　from　going。　　She　found　Josephine　white　as　death；　apparently　fainting；　and　clutching　at　the　tree　convulsively　with　her　nails。　　Such　was　the　intensity　of　the　situation　that　she　left　her　beloved　sister　in　that　piteous　state；　and　even　hoped　she　would　faint　dead　away；　and　so　hear　no　more。　　She　came　back　white；　and　told　Camille　it　was　only　a　bird　got　into　the　tree。　　〃And　to　think　you　should　be　wounded；〃　said　she；　to　divert　his　attention　from　the　tree。

〃Yes；〃　said　he；　〃and　it　is　rather　inflamed；　and　has　worried　me　all　the　way。　　You　need　not　go　telling　Josephine；　though。　　They　wanted　me　to　stop　and　lay　up　at　Bayonne。　　How　could　I？　　And　again　at　Paris。　How　could　I？　　They　said；　'You　will　die。''Not　before　I　get　to　Beaurepaire；'　said　I。　　I　could　bear　the　motion　of　a　horse　no　longer；　so　at　the　nearest　town　I　asked　for　a　carriage。　　Would　you　believe　it？　both　his　carriages　were　OUT　AT　A　WEDDING。　　I　could　not　wait　till　they　came　back。　　I　had　waited　an　eternity。　　I　came　on　foot。　　I　dragged　my　self　along；　the　body　was　weak；　but　the　heart　was　strong。　A　little　way　from　here　my　wound　seemed　inclined　to　open。　　I　pressed　it　together　tight　with　my　hand；　you　see　I　could　not　afford　to　lose　any　more　blood；　and　so　struggled　on。　　'Die？'　said　I；　'not　before　Beaurepaire。'　　And；　O　Rose！　now　I　could　be　content　to　dieat　her　feet；　for　I　am　happy。　　Oh！　I　am　happy　beyond　words　to　utter。　　What　I　have　gone　through！　　But　I　kept　my　word；　and　this　is　Beaurepaire。　Hurrah！〃　and　his　pale　cheek　flushed；　and　his　eye　gleamed；　and　he　waved　his　hat　feebly　over　his　head；　〃hurrah！　hurrah！　hurrah！〃

〃Oh；　don't！don't！don't！〃　cried　Rose　wild　with　pity　and　dismay。

〃How　can　I　help？I　am　mad　with　joyhurrah！　hurrah！　hurrah！〃

〃No！　no！　no！　no！　no！〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃

〃And　must　I　stab　you　worse　than　all　your　enemies　have　stabbed　you？〃　sighed　Rose；　and　tears　of　womanly　pity　now　streamed　down　her　cheeks。

Camille's　mind　began　to　misgive　him。　　What　was　become　of　Josephine？　she　did　not　appear。　　He　faltered　out；　〃Your　mother　is　well；　all　are　well　I　hope。　　Oh；　where　is　she？〃　and　receiving　no　reply；　began　to　tremble　visibly　with　the　fear　of　some　terrible　calamity。

Rose；　with　a　sister　fainting　close　by；　and　this　poor　lover　trembling　before　her；　lost　all　self…command；　and　began　to　wring　her　hands　and　cry　wildly。　　〃Camille；〃　she　almost　screamed；　〃there　is　but　one　thing　for　you　to　do；　leave　Beaurepaire　on　the　instant：　fly　from　it；　it　is　no　place　for　you。〃

〃She　is　dead；〃　said　Camille；　very　quietly。

When　he　said　that；　with　an　unnatural　and　monotonous　calm　such　as　precedes　deliberate　suicide；　it　flashed　in　one　moment　across　Rose　that　it　was　much　best　he　should　think　so。

She　did　not　reply；　but　she　drooped　her　head　and　let　him　think　it。

〃She　would　have　come　to　me　ere　this　if　she　was　alive；〃　said　he。　〃You　are　all　in　white：　they　mourn　in　white　for　angels　like　her；　that　go　to　heaven；　virgins。　　Oh！　I　was　blind。　　You　might　have　told　me　at　once；　you　see　I　can　bear　it。　　What　does　it　matter　to　one　who　loves　as　I　love？　　It　is　only　to　give　her　one　more　proof　I　lived