white lies-第33章

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　after　the　ceremony。

At　last；　to　their　astonishment；　they　were　married。　　Then；　with　a　promise　to　return　and　dine　with　the　mayor；　they　went　to　the　cure。　Lo　and　behold！　he　was　gone　to　visit　a　sick　person。　　〃He　had　waited　a　long　time　for　them；〃　said　the　servant。

Josephine　was　much　disconcerted；　and　showed　a　disposition　to　cry　again。　　The　servant；　a　good…natured　girl；　nosed　a　wedding；　and　offered　to　run　and　bring　his　reverence　in　a　minute。

Presently　there　came　an　old　silvery…haired　man；　who　addressed　them　all　as　his　children。　　He　took　them　to　the　church；　and　blessed　their　union；　and　for　the　first　time　Josephine　felt　as　if　Heaven　consented。　They　took　a　gentle　farewell　of　him；　and　went　back　to　the　mayor's　to　dine；　and　at　this　stage　of　the　business　Rose　and　Josephine　at　last　effected　a　downright　simultaneous　cry；　apropos　of　nothing　that　was　then　occurring。

This　refreshed　them　mightily；　and　they　glowed　at　the　mayor's　table　like　roses　washed　with　dew。

But　oh！　how　glad　at　heart　they　all　were　to　find　themselves　in　the　carriage　once　more　going　home　to　Beaurepaire。

Rose　and　Josephine　sat　intertwined　on　the　back　seat；　Camille；　the　reins　in　his　right　hand；　nearly　turned　his　back　on　the　horse；　and　leaned　back　over　to　them　and　purred　to　Rose　and　his　wife　with　ineffable　triumph　and　tenderness。

The　lovers　were　in　Elysium；　and　Rose　was　not　a　little　proud　of　her　good　management　in　ending　all　their　troubles。　　Their　mother　received　them　back　with　great；　and　as　they　fancied；　with　singular；　affection。　She　was　beginning　to　be　anxious　about　them；　she　said。　　Then　her　kindness　gave　these　happy　souls　a　pang　it　never　gave　them　before。

Since　the　above　events　scarce　a　fortnight　had　elapsed；　but　such　a　change！　　Camille　sunburnt　and　healthy；　and　full　of　animation　and　confidence；　Josephine　beaming　with　suppressed　happiness；　and　more　beautiful　than　Rose　could　ever　remember　to　have　seen　her。　　For　a　soft　halo　of　love　and　happiness　shone　around　her　head；　a　new　and　indefinable　attraction　bloomed　on　her　face。　　She　was　a　wife。　　Her　eye；　that　used　to　glance　furtively　on　Camille；　now　dwelt　demurely　on　him；　dwelt　with　a　sort　of　gentle　wonder　and　admiration　as　well　as　affection；　and；　when　he　came　or　passed　very　near　her；　a　keen　observer　might　have　seen　her　thrill。

She　kept　a　good　deal　out　of　her　mother's　way；　for　she　felt　within　that　her　face　must　be　too　happy。　　She　feared　to　shock　her　mother's　grief　with　her　radiance。　　She　was　ashamed　of　feeling　unmixed　heaven。　But　the　flood　of　secret　bliss　she　floated　in　bore　all　misgivings　away。　　The　pair　were　forever　stealing　away　together　for　hours；　and　on　these　occasions　Rose　used　to　keep　out　of　her　mother's　sight；　until　they　should　return。　　So　then　the　new…married　couple　could　wander　hand　in　hand　through　the　thick　woods　of　Beaurepaire；　whose　fresh　green　leaves　were　now　just　out；　and　hear　the　distant　cuckoo；　and　sit　on　mossy　banks；　and　pour　love　into　one　another's　eyes；　and　plan　ages　of　happiness；　and　murmur　their　deep　passion　and　their　bliss　almost　more　than　mortal；　could　do　all　this　and　more；　without　shocking　propriety。　　These　sweet　duets　passed　for　trios：　for　on　their　return　Rose　would　be　out　looking　for　them；　or　would　go　and　meet　them　at　some　distance；　and　all　three　would　go　up　together　to　the　baroness；　as　from　a　joint　excursion。　　And　when　they　went　up　to　their　bedrooms；　Josephine　would　throw　her　arms　round　her　sister's　neck；　and　sigh；　〃It　is　not　happiness；　it　is　beatitude！〃

Meantime；　the　baroness　mourned　for　Raynal。　　Her　grief　showed　no　decrease。　　Rose　even　fancied　at　times　she　wore　a　gloomy　and　discontented　look　as　well；　but　on　reflection　she　attributed　that　to　her　own　fancy；　or　to　the　contrast　that　had　now　sprung　up　in　her　sister's　beaming　complacency。

Rose；　when　she　found　herself　left　day　after　day　alone　for　hours；　was　sad　and　thought　of　Edouard。　　And　this　feeling　gained　on　her　day　by　day。

At　last；　one　afternoon；　she　locked　herself　in　her　own　room；　and；　after　a　long　contest　with　her　pride；　which；　if　not　indomitable；　was　next　door　to　it；　she　sat　down　to　write　him　a　little　letter。　　Now；　in　this　letter；　in　the　place　devoted　by　men　to　their　after…thoughts；　by　women　to　their　pretended　after…thoughts；　i。　e。；　to　what　they　have　been　thinking　of　all　through　the　letter；　she　dropped　a　careless　hint　that　all　the　party　missed　him　very　much；　〃even　the　obnoxious　colonel；　who；　by…the…by；　has　transferred　his　services　elsewhere。　　I　have　forgiven　him　that；　because　he　has　said　civil　things　about　you。〃

Rose　was　reading　her　letter　over　again；　to　make　sure　that　all　the　principal　expressions　were　indistinct；　and　that　the　composition　generally；　except　the　postscript；　resembled　a　Delphic　oracle；　when　there　was　a　hasty　footstep；　and　a　tap　at　her　door；　and　in　came　Jacintha；　excited。

〃He　is　come；　mademoiselle；〃　cried　she；　and　nodded　her　head　like　a　mandarin；　only　more　knowingly；　then　she　added；　〃So　you　may　burn　that。〃　　For　her　quick　eye　had　glanced　at　the　table。

〃Who　is　come？〃　inquired　Rose；　eagerly。

〃Why；　your　one？〃

〃My　one？〃　asked　the　young　lady；　reddening；　〃my　what？〃

〃The　little　oneEdouardMonsieur　Riviere。〃

〃Oh；　Monsieur　Riviere；〃　said　Rose；　acting　nonchalance。　　〃Why　could　you　not　say　so？　you　use　such　phrases；　who　can　conjecture　what　you　mean？　　I　will　come　to　Monsieur　Riviere　directly；　mamma　will　be　so　glad。〃

Jacintha　gone；　Rose　tore　up　the　letter　and　locked　up　the　pieces；　then　ran　to　the　glass。　　Etc。

Edouard　had　been　so　profoundly　miserable　he　could　stand　it　no　longer；　in　spite　of　his　determination　not　to　visit　Beaurepaire　while　it　contained　a　rival；　he　rode　over　to　see　whether　he　had　not　tormented　himself　idly：　above　all；　to　see　the　beloved　face。

Jacintha　put　him　into　the　salle　a　manger。　　〃By　that　you　will　see　her　alone；〃　said　the　knowing　Jacintha。　　He　sat　down；　hat　and　whip　in　hand；　and　wondered　how　he　should　be　receivedif　at　all。

In　glides　Rose　all　sprightliness　and　good…humor；　and　puts　out　her　hand　to　him；　the　which　he　kisses。

〃How　could　I　keep　away　so　long？〃　asked　he　vaguely；　and　self…　astonished。

〃How　indeed；　and　we　missing　you　so　all　the　time！〃

〃Have　YOU　missed　me？〃　was　the　eager　inquiry。

〃Oh；　no！〃　was　the　cheerful　reply；　〃but　all　the　rest　have。〃

Presently　the　malicious　thing　gave　a　sudden　start。

〃Oh！　such　a　piece　of　news；　you　remember　Colonel　Dujardin；　the　obnoxious　colonel？〃

No　answer。

〃Transferred　his　attentions。　　Fancy！〃

〃Who　to？〃

〃To　Josephine　and　mamma。　　But　such　are　the　military。　　He　only　wanted　to　get　rid　of　you：　this　done　（through　your　want　of　spirit）；　he　scorns　the　rich　prize；　so　now　I　scorn　HIM。　　Will　you　come　for　a　walk？〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃

〃We　will　go　and　look　for　my　deserter。　　I　say；　tell　me　now；　cannot　I　write　to　the　commander…in…chief　about　this？　a　soldier　has　no　right　to　be　a　deserter；　has　he？　tell　me；　you　are　a　public　man；　and　know　everything　except　my　heart。〃

〃Is　it　not　too　bad　to　tease　me　to…day？〃

〃Yes！　but　please！　I　have　had　few　amusements　of　late。　　I　find　it　so　dull　without　you　to　tease。〃

Formal　permission　to　tease　being　conceded；　she　went　that　instant　on　the　opposite　tack；　and　began　to　tell　him　how　she　had　missed　him；　and　how　sorry　she　had　been　anything　should　have　occurred　to　vex　their　kind　good　friend。　　In　short；　Edouard　spent　a　delightful　day；　for　Rose　took　him　one　way　to　meet　Josephine；　who；　she　knew；　was　coming　another。　　At　night　the　last　embers　of　jealousy　got　quenched；　for　Josephine　was　a　wife　now；　and　had　already　begun　to　tell　Camille　all　her　little　innocent　secrets；　and　she　told　him　all　about　Edouard　and　Rose；　and　gave　him　his　orders；　so　he　treated　Rose　with　great　respect　before　Edouard；　but　paid　her　no　marked　attention；　also　he　was　affable　to　Riviere；　who；　having　ceased　to　suspect；　began　to　like　him。

In　the　course　of　the　evening；　the　colonel　also　informed　the　baroness　that　he　expected　every　day　an　order　to　join　the　army　of　the　Rhine。

Edouard　pricked　his　ears。

The　baroness　said　no　more　than　politeness　dictated。　　She　did　not　press　him　to　stay；　but　treated　his　departure　as　a　matter　of　course。　Riviere　rode　home　late　in　the　evening　in　high　spirits。

The　next　day　Rose　varied　her　late　deportment；　she　sang　snatches　of　melody；　going　about　the　house；　it　was　for　all　the　world　like　a　bird　chirping。　　In　the　middle　of　one　chirp　Jacintha　interfered。　　〃Hush；　mademoiselle；　your　mamma！　she　is　at　the　bottom　of　the　corridor。〃

〃What　was　I　thinking　of？〃　said　Rose。

〃Oh！　I　dare　say　you　know；　mademoiselle；〃　replied　the　privileged　domestic。

A　letter　of　good　news　came　from　Aubertin。　　That　summons　to　his　nephew's　funeral　was　an　era　in　his　harmless　life。

The　said　nephew　was　a　rich　man　and　an　oddity；　one　of　those　who　love　to　surprise　folk。　　Moreover；　he　had　no　children；　and　detected　his　nephews　and　nieces　being　unnaturally　civil　to　him。　　〃Waiting　to　cut　me　up；〃　was　his　generous　reading　of　them。　　So　with　this　he　made　a　will；　and　there　defied；　as　far　as　in　him　lay；　the　laws　of　nature；　for　he　set　his　wealth　a…flowing　backwards　instead　of　forwards；　he　handed　his　property　up　to　an　ancestor；　instead　of　down　to　posterity。

All　this　the　doctor's　pen　set　down　with　some　humor；　and　in　the　calm　spirit　with　which　a　genuine　philosopher　receives　prosperity　as　well　as　adversity。　　Yet　one　natural　regret　escaped　him；　that　all　this　wealth；　since　it　was　to　come；　had　not　come　a　year　or　two　sooner。

All　at　Beaurepaire　knew　what　their　dear　old　friend　meant。

His　other　news　to　them　was　that　they　might　expect　him　any　moment。

So　here　was　another　cause　of　rejoicing。

〃I　am　so　glad；〃　said　Josephine。　　〃Now；　perhaps；　he　will　be　able　to　publish　his　poor　dear　entomology；　that　the　booksellers　were　all　so　unkind；　so　unfeeling　about。〃

I　linger　on　the　brink　of　painful　scenes　to　observe　that　a　sweet　and　loving　friendship；　such　as　this　was　between　the　good　doctor　and　three　persons　of　another　sex；　is　one　of　the　best　treasures　of　the　human　heart。　　Poverty　had　strengthened　it；　yet　now　wealth　could　not　weaken　it。　　With　no　tie　of　blood　it　yet　was　filial；　sisterly；　brotherly；　national；　chivalrous；　happy；　unalloyed　sentiment；　free　from　ups　and　downs；　from　heats　and　chills；　from　rivalry；　from　caprice；　and；　indeed；　from　all　mortal　accidents　but　oneand　why　say　one？　methinks　death　itself　does　but　suspend　these　gentle；　rare；　unselfish　amities　a　moment；　then　waft　them　upward　to　their　abiding　home。


CHAPTER　XV。


It　was　a　fair　morning　in　June：　the　sky　was　a　bright；　deep；　lovely；　speckless　blue：　the　flowers　and　bushes　poured　perfume；　and　sprinkled　song　upon　the　balmy　air。　　On　such　a　day；　so　calm；　so　warm；　so　bright；　so　scented；　so　tuneful；　to　live　and　to　be　young　is　to　be　happy。　　With　gentle　hand　it　wipes　all　other　days　out　of　the　memory；　it　smiles；　it　smells；　it　sings；　and　clouds　and　rain　and　biting　wind　seem　as　far　off　and　impossible　as　grief　and　trouble。

Camille　and　Josephine　had　stolen　out；　and　strolled　lazily　up　and　down　close　under　the　house；　drinking　the　sweet　air；　fragrant　with　perfume　and　melody；　the　blue　sky；　and　love。

Rose　was　in　the　house。　　She　had　missed　them；　but　she　thought　they　must　be　near；　for　they　seldom　took　long　walks　early　in　the　day。　Meeting　Jacintha　on　the　landing　of　the　great　staircase；　she　asked　her　where　her　sister　was。

〃Madame　Raynal　is　gone　for　a　walk。　　She　has　taken　the　colonel　with　her。　　You　know　she　always　takes　the　colonel