white lies-第35章

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hour　ago　there　was　not　one　in　the　sky。〃

They　went；　with　hesitating　steps　and　guilty　looks；　to　the　saloon。　Their　mother　was　not　there。　　Here　was　a　reprieve。

Rose　had　an　idea。　　She　would　take　her　to　the　chapel；　and　show　her　the　monument；　and　that　would　please　her　with　poor　Camille。　　〃After　that；〃　said　Rose；　〃I　will　begin　by　telling　her　all　the　misery　you　have　both　gone　through；　and；　when　she　pities　you；　then　I　will　show　her　it　was　all　my　fault　your　misery　ended　in　a　secret　marriage。〃

The　confederates　sat　there　in　a　chilly　state；　waiting　for　the　baroness。　　At　last；　as　she　did　not　come；　Rose　got　up　to　go　to　her。　〃When　the　mind　is　made　up；　it　is　no　use　being　cowardly；　and　putting　off；〃　said　she；　firmly。　　For　all　that；　her　cheek　had　but　little　color　left　in　it；　when　she　left　her　chair　with　this　resolve。

Now　as　Rose　went　down　the　long　saloon　to　carry　out　their　united　resolve；　Jacintha　looked　in；　and；　after　a　hasty　glance　to　see　who　was　present；　she　waited　till　Rose　came　up　to　her；　and　then　whipped　a　letter　from　under　her　apron　and　gave　it　her。

〃For　my　mistress；〃　said　she；　with　an　air　of　mystery。

〃Why　not　take　it　to　her；　then？〃　inquired　Rose。

〃I　thought　you　might　like　to　see　it　first；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Jacintha；　with　quiet　meaning。

〃Is　it　from　the　dear　doctor？〃　asked　Josephine。

〃La；　no；　mademoiselle；　don't　you　know　the　doctor　is　come　home？　　Why；　he　has　been　in　the　house　near　an　hour。　　He　is　with　my　lady。〃

The　doctor　proved　Jacintha　correct　by　entering　the　room　in　person　soon　after；　on　this　Rose　threw　down　the　letter；　and　she　and　the　whole　party　were　instantly　occupied　in　greeting　him。

When　the　ladies　had　embraced　him　and　Camille　shaken　hands　with　him；　they　plied　him　with　a　thousand　questions。　　Indeed；　he　had　not　half　satisfied　their　curiosity；　when　Rose　happened　to　catch　sight　of　the　letter　again；　and　took　it　up　to　carry　to　the　baroness。　　She　now；　for　the　first　time；　eyed　it　attentively；　and　the　consequence　was　she　uttered　an　exclamation；　and　took　the　first　opportunity　to　beckon　Aubertin。

He　came　to　her；　and　she　put　the　letter　into　his　hand。

He　put　up　his　glasses；　and　eyed　it。　　〃Yes！〃　whispered　he；　〃it　is　from　HIM。〃

Josephine　and　Camille　saw　something　was　going　on；　they　joined　the　other　two；　with　curiosity　in　their　faces。

Rose　put　her　hand　on　a　small　table　near　her；　and　leaned　a　moment。　She　turned　half　sick　at　a　letter　coming　from　the　dead。　　Josephine　now　came　towards　her　with　a　face　of　concern；　and　asked　what　was　the　matter。

The　reply　came　from　Aubertin。　　〃My　poor　friends；〃　said　he；　solemnly；　〃this　is　one　of　those　fearful　things　that　you　have　not　seen　in　your　short　lives；　but　it　has　been　more　than　once　my　lot　to　witness　it。　The　ships　that　carry　letters　from　distant　countries　vary　greatly　in　speed；　and　are　subject　to　detaining　accidents。　　Yes；　this　is　the　third　time　I　have　seen　a　letter　come　written　by　a　hand　known　to　be　cold。　　The　baroness　is　a　little　excited　to…day；　I　don't　know　from　what　cause。　　With　your　approbation；　Madame　Raynal；　I　will　read　this　letter　before　I　let　her　see　it。〃

〃Read　it；　if　you　please。〃

〃Shall　I　read　it　out？〃

〃Certainly。　　There　may　be　some　wish　expressed　in　it；　oh；　I　hope　there　is！〃

Camille；　from　delicacy；　retired　to　some　little　distance；　and　the　doctor　read　the　letter　in　a　low　and　solemn　voice。


〃MY　DEAR　MOTHER；I　hope　all　are　well　at　Beaurepaire；　as　I　am；　or　I　hope　soon　to　be。　　I　received　a　wound　in　our　last　skirmish；　not　a　very　severe　one；　but　it　put　an　end　to　my　writing　for　some　time。〃


〃Poor　fellow！　it　was　his　death　wound。　　Why；　when　was　this　written？　why；〃　and　the　doctor　paused；　and　seemed　stupefied：　〃why；　my　dears；　has　my　memory　gone；　or〃and　again　he　looked　eagerly　at　the　letter　〃what　was　the　date　of　the　battle　in　which　he　was　killed？　for　this　letter　is　dated　the　15th　of　May。　　Is　it　a　dream？　no！　this　was　written　since　the　date　of　his　death。〃

〃No；　doctor；〃　said　Rose；　〃you　deceive　yourself。〃

〃Why；　what　was　the　date　of　the　Moniteur；　then？〃　asked　Aubertin；　in　great　agitation。

〃Considerably　later　than　this；〃　said　Camille。

〃I　don't　think　so；　the　journal！　where　is　it？〃

〃My　mother　has　it　locked　up。　　I'll　run。〃

〃No；　Rose；　no　one　but　me。　　Now；　Josephine；　do　not　you　go　and　give　way　to　hopes　that　may　be　delusive。　　I　must　see　that　journal　directly。　　I　will　go　to　the　baroness。　　I　shall　excuse　her　less　than　you　would。〃

He　was　scarcely　gone　when　a　cry　of　horror　filled　the　room；　a　cry　as　of　madness　falling　like　a　thunderbolt　on　a　human　mind。　　It　was　Josephine；　who　up　to　this　had　not　uttered　one　word。　　But　now　she　stood；　white　as　a　corpse；　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　wrung　her　hands。　　〃What　have　I　done？　　What　shall　I　do？　　It　was　the　3d　of　May。　I　see　it　before　me　in　letters　of　fire；　the　3d　of　May！　the　3d　of　May！and　he　writes　the　15th。〃

〃No！　no！〃　cried　Camille　wildly。　　〃It　was　long；　long　after　time　3d。〃

〃It　was　the　3d　of　May；〃　repeated　Josephine　in　a　hoarse　voice　that　none　would　have　known　for　hers。

Camille　ran　to　her　with　words　of　comfort　and　hope；　he　did　not　share　her　fears。　　He　remembered　about　when　the　Moniteur　came；　though　not　the　very　day。　　He　threw　his　arm　lovingly　round　her　as　if　to　protect　her　against　these　shadowy　terrors。　　Her　dilating　eyes　seemed　fixed　on　something　distant　in　space　or　time；　at　some　horrible　thing　coming　slowly　towards　her。　　She　did　not　see　Camille　approach　her；　but　the　moment　she　felt　him　she　turned　upon　him　swiftly。

〃Do　you　love　me？〃　still　in　the　hoarse　voice　that　had　so　little　in　it　of　Josephine。　　〃I　mean；　does　one　grain　of　respect　or　virtue　mingle　in　your　love　for　me？〃

〃What　words　are　these；　my　wife？〃

〃Then　leave　Raynal's　house　upon　the　instant。　　You　wonder　I　can　be　so　cruel？　　I　wonder　too；　and　that　I　can　see　my　duty　so　clear　in　one　short　moment。　　But　I　have　lived　twenty　years　since　that　letter　came。　Oh！　my　brain　has　whirled　through　a　thousand　agonies。　　And　I　have　come　back　a　thousand　times　to　the　same　thing；　you　and　I　must　see　each　other's　face　no　more。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Rose；　〃is　there　no　way　but　this？〃

〃Take　care；〃　she　screamed；　wildly；　to　her　and　Camille；　〃I　am　on　the　verge　of　madness；　is　it　for　you　two　to　thrust　me　over　the　precipice？　Come；　now；　if　you　are　a　man　of　honor；　if　you　have　a　spark　of　gratitude　towards　the　poor　woman　who　has　given　you　all　except　her　fair　namethat　she　will　take　to　the　grave　in　spite　of　you　all　promise　that　you　will　leave　Raynal's　house　this　minute　if　he　is　alive；　and　let　me　die　in　honor　as　I　have　lived。〃

〃No；　no！〃　cried　Camille；　terror…stricken；　〃it　cannot　be。　　Heaven　is　merciful；　and　Heaven　sees　how　happy　we　are。　　Be　calm！　these　are　idle　fears；　be　calm！　I　say。　　For　if　it　is　so　I　will　obey　you。　　I　will　stay；　I　will　go；　I　will　die；　I　will　live；　I　will　obey　you。〃

〃Swear　this　to　me　by　the　thing　you　hold　most　sacred；〃　she　almost　shrieked。

〃I　swear　by　my　love　for　you；〃　was　his　touching　reply。

Ere　they　had　recovered　a　miserable　composure　after　this　passionate　outburst；　all　the　more　terrible　as　coming　from　a　creature　so　tender　as　Josephine；　agitated　voices　were　heard　at　the　door；　and　the　baroness　tottered　in；　followed　by　the　doctor；　who　was　trying　in　vain　to　put　some　bounds　to　her　emotion　and　her　hopes。

〃Oh；　my　children！　my　children！〃　cried　she；　trembling　violently。　〃Here；　Rose；　my　hands　shake　so；　take　this　key；　open　the　cabinet；　there　is　the　Moniteur。　　What　is　the　date？〃

The　journal　was　found；　and　rapidly　examined。　　The　date　was　the　20th　of　May。

〃There！〃　cried　Camille。　　〃I　told　you！〃

The　baroness　uttered　a　feeble　moan。　　Her　hopes　died　as　suddenly　as　they　had　been　born；　and　she　sank　drooping　into　a　chair；　with　a　bitter　sigh。

Camille　stole　a　joyful　look　at　Josephine。　　She　was　in　the　same　attitude　looking　straight　before　her　as　at　a　coming　horror。　Presently　Rose　uttered　a　faint　cry；　〃The　battle　was　BEFORE。〃

〃To　be　sure；〃　cried　the　doctor。　　〃You　forget；　it　is　not　the　date　of　the　paper　we　want；　but　of　the　battle　it　records。　　For　Heaven's　sake；　when　was　the　battle？〃

〃The　3d　of　May；〃　said　Josephine；　in　a　voice　that　seemed　to　come　from　the　tomb。

Rose's　hands　that　held　the　journal　fell　like　a　dead　weight　upon　her　knees；　journal　and　all。　　She　whispered；　〃It　was　the　3d　of　May。〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　the　baroness；　starting　up；　〃he　may　yet　be　alive。　　He　must　be　alive。　　Heaven　is　merciful！　　Heaven　would　not　take　my　son　from　me；　a　poor　old　woman　who　has　not　long　to　live。　　There　was　a　letter；　where　is　the　letter？〃

〃Are　we　mad；　not　to　read　the　letter？〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃I　had　it；　it　has　dropped　from　my　old　fingers　when　I　went　for　the　journal。〃

A　short　examination　of　the　room　showed　the　letter　lying　crumpled　up　near　the　door。　　Camille　gave　it　to　the　baroness。　　She　tried　to　read　it；　but　could　not。

〃I　am　old；〃　said　she；　〃my　hand　shakes　and　my　eyes　are　troubled。　This　young　gentleman　will　read　it　to　us。　　His　eyes　are　not　dim　and　troubled。　　Something　tells　me　that　when　I　hear　this　letter；　I　shall　find　out　whether　my　son　lives。　　Why　do　you　not　read　it　to　me；　Camille？〃　cried　she；　almost　fiercely。

Camille；　thus　pressed；　obeyed　mechanically；　and　began　to　read　Raynal's　letter　aloud；　scarce　knowing　what　he　did；　but　urged　and　driven　by　the　baroness。


〃MY　DEAR　MOTHER；I　hope　all　are　well　at　Beaurepaire；　as　I　am；　or　I　hope　soon　to　be。　　I　received　a　wound　in　our　last　skirmish；　not　a　very　severe　one；　but　it　put　an　end　to　my　writing　for　some　time。〃


〃Go　on；　dear　Camille！　go　on。〃

〃The　page　ends　there；　madame；〃

The　paper　was　thin；　and　Camille；　whose　hand　trembled；　had　some　difficulty　in　detaching　the　leaves　from　one　another。　　He　succeeded；　however；　at　last；　and　went　on　reading　and　writhing。


〃By　the　way；　you　must　address　your　next　letter　to　me　as　Colonel　Raynal。　　I　was　promoted　just　before　this　last　affair；　but　had　not　time　to　tell　you；　and　my　wound　stopped　my　writing　till　now。〃


〃There；　there！〃　cried　the　baroness。　　〃He　was　Colonel　Raynal；　and　Colonel　Raynal　was　not　killed。〃

The　doctor　implored　her　not　to　interrupt。

〃Go　on；　Camille。　　Why　do　you　hesitate？　what　is　the　matter？　　Do　for　pity's　sake　go　on；　sir。〃

Camille　cast　a　look　of　agony　around；　and　put　his　hand　to　his　brow；　on　which　large　drops　of　cold　perspiration；　like　a　death　dew；　were　gathering；　but　driven　to　the　stake　on　all　sides；　he　gasped　on　rather　than　read；　for　his　eye　had　gone　down　the　page。


〃A　namesake　of　mine；　Commandant　Raynal；〃


〃Ah！〃


〃has　not　beenso　fortunate。　　He〃


〃Go　on！　go　on！〃

The　wretched　man　could　now　scarcely　utter　Raynal's　words；　they　came　from　him　in　a　choking　groan。


〃he　was　killed；　poor　fellow！　while　heading　a　gallant　charge　upon　the　enemy's　flank。〃


He　ground　the　letter　convulsively　in　his　hand；　then　it　fell　all　crumpled　on　the　floor。

〃Bless　you；　Camille！〃　cried　the　baroness；　〃bless　you！　bless　you！　　I　have　a　son　still。〃

She　stooped　with　difficulty；　took　up　the　letter；　and；　kissing　it　again　and　again；　fell　on　her　knees；　and　thanked　Heaven　aloud　before　them　all。　　Then　she　rose　and　went　hastily　out；　and　her　voice　was　heard　crying　very　loud；　〃Jacintha！　Jacintha！〃

The　doctor　followed　in　considerable　anxiety　for　the　effects　of　this　violent　joy　on　so　aged　a　person。　　Three　remained　behind；　panting　and　pale　like　those　to　whom　dead　Lazarus　burst　the　tomb；　and　came　forth　in　a　moment；　at　a　word。　　Then　Camille　half　kneeled；　half　fell；　at　Jose