white lies-第3章

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rict；　they　were　dressed　in　black；　and　with　extreme　simplicity；　but　their　easy　grace　and　composure；　and　the　refined　sentiment　of　their　gentle　faces；　told　at　a　glance　they　belonged　to　the　high　nobility。　　Publicola　divined　them　at　once；　and　involuntarily　raised　his　hat　to　so　much　beauty　and　dignity；　instead　of　poking　it　with　a　finger　as　usual。　　On　this　the　ladies　instantly　courtesied　to　him　after　the　manner　of　their　party；　with　a　sweep　and　a　majesty；　and　a　precision　of　politeness；　that　the　pup　would　have　laughed　at　if　he　had　heard　of　it；　but　seeing　it　done；　and　well　done；　and　by　lovely　women　of　rank；　he　was　taken　aback　by　it；　and　lifted　his　hat　again；　and　bowed　again　after　he　had　gone　by；　and　was　generally　flustered。　In　short；　instead　of　a　member　of　the　Consular　Government　saluting　private　individuals　of　a　decayed　party　that　existed　only　by　sufferance；　a　handsome；　vain；　good…natured　boy　had　met　two　self…　possessed　young　ladies　of　distinction　and　breeding；　and　had　cut　the　usual　figure。

For　the　next　hundred　yards　his　cheeks　burned　and　his　vanity　cooled。　But　bumptiousness　is　elastic　in　France；　as　in　England；　and　doubtless　among　the　Esquimaux。　　〃Well；　they　are　pretty　girls；〃　says　he　to　himself。　　〃I　never　saw　two　such　pretty　girls　together；　they　will　do　for　me　to　flirt　with　while　I　am　banished　to　this　Arcadia。〃　　Banished　from　school；　I　beg　to　observe。

And　〃awful　beauty〃　being　no　longer　in　sight；　Mr。　Edouard　resolved　he　would　flirt　with　them　to　their　hearts'　content。　　But　there　are　ladies　with　whom　a　certain　preliminary　is　required　before　you　can　flirt　with　them。　　You　must　be　on　speaking　terms。　　How　was　this　to　be　managed？

He　used　to　watch　at　his　window　with　a　telescope；　and　whenever　the　sisters　came　out　of　their　own　grounds；　which　unfortunately　was　not　above　twice　a　week；　he　would　throw　himself　in　their　way　by　the　merest　accident；　and　pay　them　a　dignified　and　courteous　salute；　which　he　had　carefully　got　up　before　a　mirror　in　the　privacy　of　his　own　chamber。

One　day；　as　he　took　off　his　hat　to　the　young　ladies；　there　broke　from　one　of　them　a　smile；　so　sudden；　sweet；　and　vivid；　that　he　seemed　to　feel　it　smite　him　first　on　the　eyes　then　in　the　heart。　　He　could　not　sleep　for　this　smile。

Yet　he　had　seen　many　smilers；　but　to　be　sure　most　of　them　smiled　without　effect；　because　they　smiled　eternally；　they　seemed　cast　with　their　mouths　open；　and　their　pretty　teeth　forever　in　sight；　and　this　has　a　saddening　influence　on　a　man　of　sensewhen　it　has　any。　　But　here　a　fair；　pensive　face　had　brightened　at　sight　of　him；　a　lovely　countenance；　on　which　circumstances；　not　nature；　had　impressed　gravity；　had　sprung　back　to　its　natural　gayety　for　a　moment；　and　had　thrilled　and　bewitched　the　beholder。

The　next　Sunday　he　went　to　churchand　there　worshippedwhom？　Cupid。　　He　smarted　for　his　heathenism；　for　the　young　ladies　went　with　higher　motives；　and　took　no　notice　of　him。　　They　lowered　their　long　silken　lashes　over　one　breviary；　and　scarcely　observed　the　handsome　citizen。　　Meantime　he；　contemplating　their　pious　beauty　with　earthly　eyes；　was　drinking　long　draughts　of　intoxicating　passion。　　And　when　after　the　service　they　each　took　an　arm　of　Dr。　Aubertin；　and　he　with　the　air　of　an　admiral　convoying　two　ships　choke…full　of　specie；　conducted　his　precious　charge　away　home；　our　young　citizen　felt　jealous；　and　all　but　hated　the　worthy　doctor。

This　went　on　till　he　became　listless　and　dejected　on　the　days　he　did　not　see　them。　　Then　he　asked　himself　whether　he　was　not　a　cowardly　fool　to　keep　at　such　a　distance。　　After　all　he　was　a　man　in　authority。　　His　friendship　was　not　to　be　despised；　least　of　all　by　a　family　suspected　of　disaffection　to　the　state。

He　put　on　his　glossy　beaver　with　enormous　brim；　high　curved；　his　blue　coat　with　brass　buttons；　his　white　waistcoat；　gray　breeches；　and　top…boots；　and　marched　up　to　the　chateau　of　Beaurepaire；　and　sent　in　his　card　with　his　name　and　office　inscribed。

Jacintha　took　it；　bestowed　a　glance　of　undisguised　admiration　on　the　young　Adonis；　and　carried　it　to　the　baroness。　　That　lady　sent　her　promptly　down　again　with　a　black…edged　note　to　this　effect。


Highly　flattered　by　Monsieur　de　Riviere's　visit；　the　baroness　must　inform　him　that　she　receives　none　but　old　acquaintances；　in　the　present　grief　of　the　family；　and　of　the　KINGDOM。


Young　Riviere　was　cruelly　mortified　by　this　rebuff。　　He　went　off　hurriedly；　grinding　his　teeth　with　rage。

〃Cursed　aristocrats！　　We　have　done　well　to　pull　you　down；　and　we　will　have　you　lower　still。　　How　I　despise　myself　for　giving　any　one　the　chance　to　affront　me　thus。　　The　haughty　old　fool；　if　she　had　known　her　interest；　she　would　have　been　too　glad　to　make　a　powerful　friend。　　These　royalists　are　in　a　ticklish　position；　I　can　tell　her　that。　　She　calls　me　De　Riviere；　that　implies　nobody　without　a　'De'　to　their　name　would　have　the　presumption　to　visit　her　old　tumble…　down　house。　　Well；　it　is　a　lesson；　I　am　a　republican；　and　the　Commonwealth　trusts　and　honors　me；　yet　I　am　so　ungrateful　as　to　go　out　of　the　way　to　be　civil　to　her　enemies；　to　royalists；　as　if　those　worn…out　creatures　had　hearts；　as　if　they　could　comprehend　the　struggle　that　took　place　in　my　mind　between　duty；　and　generosity　to　the　fallen；　before　I　could　make　the　first　overture　to　their　acquaintance；　as　if　they　could　understand　the　politeness　of　the　heart；　or　anything　nobler　than　curving　and　ducking　and　heartless　etiquette。　　This　is　the　last　notice　I　will　ever　take　of　that　old　woman；　unless　it　is　to　denounce　her。〃

He　walked　home　to　the　town　very　fast；　his　heart　boiling；　and　his　lips　compressed；　and　his　brow　knitted。

To　this　mood　succeeded　a　sullen　and　bitter　one。　　He　was　generous；　but　vain；　and　his　love　had　humiliated　him　so　bitterly；　he　resolved　to　tear　it　out　of　his　heart。　　He　absented　himself　from　church；　he　met　the　young　ladies　no　more。　　He　struggled　fiercely　with　his　passion；　he　went　about　dogged；　silent；　and　sighing。　　Presently　he　devoted　his　leisure　hours　to　shooting　partridges　instead　of　ladies。　And　he　was　right；　partridges　cannot　shoot　back；　whereas　beautiful　women；　like　Cupid；　are　all　archers　more　or　less；　and　often　with　one　arrow　from　eye　or　lip　do　more　execution　than　they　have　suffered　from　several　discharges　of　our　small　shot。

In　these　excursions；　Edouard　was　generally　accompanied　by　a　thick…　set　rustic　called　Dard；　who；　I　believe；　purposes　to　reveal　his　own　character　to　you；　and　so　save　me　that　trouble。

One　fine　afternoon；　about　four　o'clock；　this　pair　burst　remorselessly　through　a　fence；　and　landed　in　the　road　opposite　Bigot's　Auberge；　a　long　low　house；　with　〃ICI　ON　LOGE　A　PIED　ET　A　CHEVAL；〃　written　all　across　it　in　gigantic　letters。　　Riviere　was　for　moving　homeward；　but　Dard　halted　and　complained　dismally　of　〃the　soldier's　gripes。〃　The　statesman　had　never　heard　of　that　complaint；　so　Dard　explained　that　the　VULGAR　name　for　it　was　hunger。　　〃And　only　smell；〃　said　he；　〃the　soup　is　just　fit　to　come　off　the　fire。〃

Riviere　smiled　sadly；　but　consented　to　deign　to　eat　a　morsel　in　the　porch。　　Thereat　Dard　dashed　wildly　into　the　kitchen。

They　dined　at　one　little　round　table；　each　after　his　fashion。　　When　Dard　could　eat　no　more；　he　proceeded　to　drink；　and　to　talk　in　proportion。　　Riviere；　lost　in　his　own　thoughts；　attended　to　him　as　men　of　business　do　to　a　babbling　brook；　until　suddenly　from　the　mass　of　twaddle　broke　forth　a　magic　wordBeaurepaire；　then　the　languid　lover　pricked　up　his　ears　and　found　Mr。　Dard　was　abusing　that　noble　family　right　and　left。　　Young　Riviere　inquired　what　ground　of　offence　they　had　given　HIM。　　〃I'll　tell　you；〃　said　Dard；　〃they　impose　on　Jacintha；　and　so　she　imposes　on　me。〃　　Then　observing　he　had　at　last　gained　his　employer's　ear；　he　became　prodigiously　loquacious；　as　such　people　generally　are　when　once　they　get　upon　their　own　griefs。

〃These　Beaurepaire　aristocrats；〃　said　he；　with　his　hard　peasant　good…sense；　〃are　neither　the　one　thing　nor　the　other；　they　cannot　keep　up　nobility；　they　have　not　the　means；　they　will　not　come　down　off　their　perch；　they　have　not　the　sense。　　No；　for　as　small　as　they　are；　they　must　look　and　talk　as　big　as　ever。　　They　can　only　afford　one　servant；　and　I　don't　believe　they　pay　her；　but　they　must　be　attended　on　just　as　obsequious　as　when　they　had　a　dozen。　　And　this　is　fatal　to　all　us　little　people　that　have　the　misfortune　to　be　connected　with　them。〃

〃Why；　how　are　you　connected　with　them？〃

〃By　the　tie　of　affection。〃

〃I　thought　you　hated　them。〃

〃Of　course　I　do；　but　I　have　the　ill…luck　to　love　Jacintha；　and　she　loves　these　aristocrats；　and　makes　me　do　little　odd　jobs　for　them。〃　And　at　this　Dard's　eyes　suddenly　glared　with　horror。

〃Well；　what　of　that？〃　asked　Riviere。

〃What　of　it；　citizen；　what？　you　do　not　know　the　fatal　meaning　of　those　accursed　words？〃

〃Why；　I　never　heard　of　a　man's　back　being　broken　by　little　odd　jobs。〃

〃Perhaps　not　his　back；　citizen；　but　his　heart？　if　little　odd　jobs　will　not　break　that；　why　nothing　will。　　Torn　from　place　to　place；　and　from　trouble　to　trouble；　as　soon　as　one　tiresome　thing　begins　to　go　a　bit　smooth；　off　to　a　fresh　plague；　in…doors　work　when　it　is　dry；　out…a…doors　when　it　snows；　and　then　all　bustle；　no　taking　one's　work　quietly；　the　only　way　it　agrees　with　a　fellow。　　'Milk　the　cow；　Dard；　but　look　sharp；　the　baroness's　chair　wants　mending。　　Take　these　slops　to　the　pig；　but　you　must　not　wait　to　see　him　enjoy　them：　you　are　wanted　to　chop　billets。'　　Beat　the　mats；　take　down　the　curtains；　walk　to　church　（best　part　of　a　league）；　and　heat　the　pew　cushions；　come　back　and　cut　the　cabbages；　paint　the　door；　and　wheel　the　old　lady　about　the　terrace；　rub　quicksilver　on　the　little　dog's　back；mind　he　don't　bite　you　to　make　hisself　sick；repair　the　ottoman；　roll　the　gravel；　scour　the　kettles；　carry　half　a　ton　of　water　up　twopurostairs；　trim　the　turf；　prune　the　vine；　drag　the　fish…pond；　and　when　you　ARE　there；　go　in　and　gather　water　lilies　for　Mademoiselle　Josephine　while　you　are　drowning　the　puppies；　that　is　little　odd　jobs：　may　Satan　twist　her　neck　who　invented　them！〃

〃Very　sad　all　this；〃　said　young　Riviere。

Dard　took　the　little　sneer　for　sympathy；　and　proceeded　to　〃the　cruellest　wrong　of　all。〃

〃When　I　go　into　their　kitchen　to　court　Jacintha　a　bit；　instead　of　finding　a　good　supper　there；　which　a　man　has　a　right　to；　courting　a　cook；　if　I　don't　take　one　in　my　pocket；　there　is　no　supper；　not　to　say　supper；　for　either　her　or　me。　　I　don't　call　a　salad　and　a　bit　of　cheese…rindSUPPER。　　Beggars　in　silk　and　satin！　　Every　sou　they　have　goes　on　to　their　backs；　instead　of　into　their　bellies。〃

〃I　have　heard　their　income　is　much　reduced；〃　said　Edouard　gently。

〃Income！　　I　would　not　change　with　them　if　they'd　throw　me　in　half　a　pancake　a　day。　　I　tell　you　they　are　the　poorest　family　for　leagues　round；　not　that　they　need　be　quite　so　starved；　if　they　could　swallow　a　little　of　their　pride。　　But　no；　they　must　have　china　and　plate　and　fine　linen　at　dinner；　so　their　fine　plates　are　always　bare；　and　their　silver　trays　empty。　　Ask　the　butcher；　if　you　don't　believe　ME。　Just　you　ask　him　whether　he　does　not　go　three　times　to　the　smallest　shopkeeper；　for　once　he　goes　to　Beaurepaire。　　Their　tenants　send　them　a　little　meal　and　eggs；　and　now　and　then　a　hen；　and　their　great　garden　is　chock　full　of　fruit　and　vegetables；　and　Jacintha　makes　m