white lies-第36章

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urst　the　tomb；　and　came　forth　in　a　moment；　at　a　word。　　Then　Camille　half　kneeled；　half　fell；　at　Josephine's　feet；　and；　in　a　voice　choked　with　sobs；　bade　her　dispose　of　him。

She　turned　her　head　away。　　〃Do　not　speak　to　me；　do　not　look　at　me；　if　we　look　at　one　another；　we　are　lost。　　Go！　die　at　your　post；　and　I　at　mine。〃

He　bowed　his　head；　and　kissed　her　dress；　then　rose　calm　as　despair；　and　white　as　death；　and；　with　his　knees　knocking　under　him；　tottered　away　like　a　corpse　set　moving。

He　disappeared　from　the　house。

The　baroness　soon　came　back；　triumphant　and　gay。

〃I　have　sent　her　to　bid　them　ring　the　bells　in　the　village。　　The　poor　shall　be　feasted；　all　shall　share　our　joy：　my　son　was　dead；　and　lives。　　Oh；　joy！　joy！　joy！〃

〃Mother！〃　shrieked　Josephine。

〃Mad　woman　that　I　am；　I　am　too　boisterous。　　Help　me；　Rose！　she　is　going　to　faint；　her　lips　are　white。〃

Dr。　Aubertin　and　Rose　brought　a　chair。　　They　forced　Josephine　into　it。　　She　was　not　the　least　faint；　yet　her　body　obeyed　their　hands　just　like　a　dead　body。　　The　baroness　melted　into　tears；　tears　streamed　from　Rose's　eyes。　　Josephine's　were　dry　and　stony；　and　fixed　on　coming　horror。　　The　baroness　looked　at　her　with　anxiety。　〃Thoughtless　old　woman！　　It　was　too　sudden；　it　is　too　much　for　my　dear　child；　too　much　for　me；〃　and　she　kneeled；　and　laid　her　aged　head　on　her　daughter's　bosom；　saying　feebly　through　her　tears；　〃too　much　joy；　too　much　joy！〃

Josephine　took　no　notice　of　her。　　She　sat　like　one　turned　to　stone　looking　far　away　over　her　mother's　head　with　rigid　eyes　fixed　on　the　air　and　on　coming　horrors。

Rose　felt　her　arm　seized。　　It　was　Aubertin。　　He　too　was　pale　now；　though　not　before。　　He　spoke　in　a　terrible　whisper　to　Rose；　his　eye　fixed　on　the　woman　of　stone　that　sat　there。

〃IS　THIS　JOY？〃

Rose；　by　a　mighty　effort；　raised　her　eyes　and　confronted　his　full。　〃What　else　should　it　be？〃　said　she。

And　with　these　words　this　Spartan　girl　was　her　sister's　champion　once　more　against　all　comers；　friend　or　foe。


CHAPTER　XVI。


Dr。　Aubertin　received　one　day　a　note　from　a　publishing　bookseller；　to　inquire　whether　he　still　thought　of　giving　the　world　his　valuable　work　on　insects。　　The　doctor　was　amazed。　　〃My　valuable　work！　　Why；　Rose；　they　all　refused　it；　and　this　person　in　particular　recoiled　from　it　as　if　my　insects　could　sting　on　paper。〃

The　above　led　to　a　correspondence；　in　which　the　convert　to　insects　explained　that　the　work　must　be　published　at　the　author's　expense；　the　publisher　contenting　himself　with　the　profits。　　The　author；　thirsting　for　the　public；　consented。　　Then　the　publisher　wrote　again　to　say　that　the　immortal　treatise　must　be　spiced；　a　little　politics　flung　in：　〃Nothing　goes　down；　else。〃　　The　author　answered　in　some　heat　that　he　would　not　dilute　things　everlasting　with　the　fleeting　topics　of　the　day；　nor　defile　science　with　politics。　　On　this　his　Mentor　smoothed　him　down；　despising　him　secretly　for　not　seeing　that　a　book　is　a　matter　of　trade　and　nothing　else。　　It　ended　in　Aubertin　going　to　Paris　to　hatch　his　Phoenix。　　He　had　not　been　there　a　week；　when　a　small　deputation　called　on　him；　and　informed　him　he　had　been　elected　honorary　member　of　a　certain　scientific　society。　　The　compliment　was　followed　by　others；　till　at　last　certain　ladies；　with　the　pliancy　of　their　sex；　find　out　they　had　always　secretly　cared　for　butterflies。　　Then　the　naturalist　smelt　a　rat；　or；　in　other　words；　began　to　scent　that　entomology；　a　form　of　idiocy　in　a　poor　man；　is　a　graceful　decoration　of　the　intellect　in　a　rich　one。

Philosopher　without　bile；　he　saw　through　this；　and　let　it　amuse；　not　shock　him。　　His　own　species；　a　singularly　interesting　one　in　my　opinion；　had　another　trait　in　reserve　for　him。

He　took　a　world　of　trouble　to　find　out　the　circumstances　of　his　nephew's　nephews　and　nieces：　then　he　made　arrangements　for　distributing　a　large　part　of　his　legacy　among　them。　　His　intentions　and　the　proportions　of　his　generosity　transpired。

Hitherto　they　had　been　silent；　but　now　they　all　fell…to　and　abused　him：　each　looking　only　to　the　amount　of　his　individual　share；　not　at　the　sum　total　the　doctor　was　giving　way　to　an　ungrateful　lot。

The　donor　was　greatly　amused；　and　noted　down　the　incident　and　some　of　the　remarks　in　his　commonplace　book；　under　the　general　head　of　〃Bestiarium；〃　and　the　particular　head　of　〃Homo。〃

Paris　with　its　seductions　netted　the　good　doctor；　and　held　him　two　or　three　months；　would　have　detained　him　longer；　but　for　alarming　accounts　the　baroness　sent　of　Josephine's　health。　　These　determined　him　to　return　to　Beaurepaire；　and；　must　I　own　it；　the　announcement　was　no　longer　hailed　at　Beaurepaire　with　universal　joy　as　heretofore。


Josephine　Raynal；　late　Dujardin；　is　by　this　time　no　stranger　to　my　intelligent　reader。　　I　wish　him　to　bring　his　knowledge　of　her　character　and　her　sensibility　to　my　aid。　　Imagine；　as　the　weary　hours　and　days　and　weeks　roll　over　her　head；　what　this　loving　woman　feels　for　her　lover　whom　she　has　dismissed；　what　this　grateful　wife　feels　for　the　benefactor　she　has　unwittingly　wronged；　but　will　never　wrong　with　her　eyes　open；　what　this　lady　pure　as　snow；　and　proud　as　fire；　feels　at　the　seeming　frailty　into　which　a　cruel　combination　of　circumstances　has　entrapped　her。

Put　down　the　book　a　moment：　shut　your　eyes：　and　imagine　this　strange　and　complicated　form　of　human　suffering。

Her　mental　sufferings　were　terrible；　and　for　some　time　Rose　feared　for　her　reason。　　At　last　her　agonies　subsided　into　a　listlessness　and　apathy　little　less　alarming。　　She　seemed　a　creature　descending　inch　by　inch　into　the　tomb。　　Indeed；　I　fully　believe　she　would　have　died　of　despair：　but　one　of　nature's　greatest　forces　stepped　into　the　arena　and　fought　on　the　side　of　life。　　She　was　affected　with　certain　bilious　symptoms　that　added　to　Rose's　uneasiness；　but　Jacintha　assured　her　it　was　nothing；　and　would　retire　and　leave　the　sufferer　better。　　Jacintha；　indeed；　seemed　now　to　take　a　particular　interest　in　Josephine；　and　was　always　about　her　with　looks　of　pity　and　interest。

〃Good　creature！〃　thought　Rose；　〃she　sees　my　sister　is　unhappy：　and　that　makes　her　more　attentive　and　devoted　to　her　than　ever。〃

One　day　these　three　were　together　in　Josephine's　room。　　Josephine　was　mechanically　combing　her　long　hair；　when　all　of　a　sudden　she　stretched　out　her　hand　and　cried；　〃Rose！〃

Rose　ran　to　her；　and　coming　behind　her　saw　in　the　glass　that　her　lips　were　colorless。　　She　screamed　to　Jacintha；　and　between　them　they　supported　Josephine　to　the　bed。　　She　had　hardly　touched　it　when　she　fainted　dead　away。　　〃Mamma！　mamma！〃　cried　Rose　in　her　terror。

〃Hush！〃　cried　Jacintha　roughly；　〃hold　your　tongue：　it　is　only　a　faint。　　Help　me　loosen　her：　don't　make　any　noise；　whatever。〃　　They　loosened　her　stays；　and　applied　the　usual　remedies；　but　it　was　some　time　before　she　came…to。　　At　last　the　color　came　back　to　her　lips；　then　to　her　cheek；　and　the　light　to　her　eye。　　She　smiled　feebly　on　Jacintha　and　Rose；　and　asked　if　she　had　not　been　insensible。

〃Yes；　love；　and　frightened　usa　littlenot　muchoh；　dear！　oh；　dear！〃

〃Don't　be　alarmed；　sweet　one；　I　am　better。　　And　I　will　never　do　it　again；　since　it　frightens　you。〃　　Then　Josephine　said　to　her　sister　in　a　low　voice；　and　in　the　Italian　language；　〃I　hoped　it　was　death；　my　sister；　but　he　comes　not　to　the　wretched。〃

〃If　you　hoped　that；〃　replied　Rose　in　the　same　language；　〃you　do　not　love　your　poor　sister　who　so　loves　you。〃

While　the　Italian　was　going　on；　Jacintha's　dark　eyes　glanced　suspiciously　on　each　speaker　in　turn。　　But　her　suspicions　were　all　wide　of　the　mark。

〃Now　may　I　go　and　tell　mamma？〃　asked　Rose。

〃No；　mademoiselle；　you　shall　not；〃　said　Jacintha。　　〃Madame　Raynal；　do　take　my　side；　and　forbid　her。〃

〃Why；　what　is　it　to　you？〃　said　Rose；　haughtily。

〃If　it　was　not　something　to　me；　should　I　thwart　my　dear　young　lady？〃

〃No。　　And　you　shall　have　your　own　way；　if　you　will　but　condescend　to　give　me　a　reason。〃

This　to　some　of　us　might　appear　reasonable；　but　not　to　Jacintha：　it　even　hurt　her　feelings。

〃Mademoiselle　Rose；〃　she　said；　〃when　you　were　little　and　used　to　ask　me　for　anything；　did　I　ever　say　to　you；　'Give　me　a　REASON　first'？〃

〃There！　she　is　right；〃　said　Josephine。　　〃We　should　not　make　terms　with　tried　friends。　　Come；　we　will　pay　her　devotion　this　compliment。　It　is　such　a　small　favor。　　For　my　part　I　feel　obliged　to　her　for　asking　it。〃

Josephine's　health　improved　steadily　from　that　day。　　Her　hollow　cheeks　recovered　their　plump　smoothness；　and　her　beauty　its　bloom；　and　her　person　grew　more　noble　and　statue…like　than　ever；　and　within　she　felt　a　sense　of　indomitable　vitality。　　Her　appetite　had　for　some　time　been　excessively　feeble　and　uncertain；　and　her　food　tasteless；　but　of　late；　by　what　she　conceived　to　be　a　reaction　such　as　is　common　after　youth　has　shaken　off　a　long　sickness；　her　appetite　had　been　not　only　healthy　but　eager。　　The　baroness　observed　this；　and　it　relieved　her　of　a　large　portion　of　her　anxiety。　　One　day　at　dinner　her　maternal　heart　was　so　pleased　with　Josephine's　performance　that　she　took　it　as　a　personal　favor；　〃Well　done；　Josephine；〃　said　she；　〃that　gives　your　mother　pleasure　to　see　you　eat　again。　　Soup　and　bouillon：　and　now　twice　you　have　been　to　Rose　for　some　of　that　pate；　which　does　you　so　much　credit；　Jacintha。〃

Josephine　colored　high　at　this　compliment。

〃It　is　true；〃　said　she；　〃I　eat　like　a　pig；〃　and；　with　a　furtive　glance　at　the　said　pate；　she　laid　down　her　knife　and　fork；　and　ate　no　more　of　anything。　　The　baroness　had　now　a　droll　misgiving。

〃The　doctor　will　be　angry　with　me；〃　said　she：　〃he　will　find　her　as　well　as　ever。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　Jacintha　hastily；　〃when　does　the　doctor　come；　if　I　may　make　so　bold；　that　I　may　get　his　room　ready；　you　know？〃

〃Well　thought　of；　Jacintha。　　He　comes　the　day　after　to…morrow；　in　the　afternoon。〃

At　night　when　the　young　ladies　went　up　to　bed；　what　did　they　find　but　a　little　cloth　laid　on　a　little　table　in　Josephine's　room；　and　the　remains　of　the　pate　she　had　liked。　　Rose　burst　out　laughing。　〃Look　at　that　dear　duck　of　a　goose；　Jacintha！　　Our　mother's　flattery　sank　deep：　she　thinks　we　can　eat　her　pates　at　all　hours　of　the　day　and　night。　　Shall　I　send　it　away？〃

〃No；〃　said　Josephine；　〃that　would　hurt　her　culinary　pride；　and　perhaps　her　affection：　only　cover　it　up；　dear；　for　just　now　I　am　not　in　the　humor：　it　rather　turns　me。〃

It　was　covered　up。　　The　sisters　retired　to　rest。　　In　the　morning　Rose　lifted　the　cover　and　found　the　plate　cleared；　polished。　　She　was　astounded。

The　large　tapestried　chamber；　once　occupied　by　Camille　Dujardin；　was　now　turned　into　a　sitting…room；　and　it　was　a　favorite　on　account　of　the　beautiful　view　from　the　windows。

One　day　Josephine　sat　there　alone　with　some　work　in　her　hand；　but　the　needle　often　stopped；　and　the　fair　head　drooped。　　She　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　　To　her　surprise　it　was　echoed　by　a　sigh　that；　like　her　own；　seemed　to　come　from　a　heart　full　of　sighs。

She　turned　hastily　round　and　saw　Jacintha。

Now　Josephine　had　all　a　woman's　eye　for　reading　faces；　and　she　was　instantly　struck　by　a　certain　gravity　in　Jacintha's　gaze；　and　a　flutter　which　the　young　woman　was　suppressing　with　tolerable　but　not　complete　success。

Disguising　the　uneasiness　this　discovery　gave　her；　she　looked　her　visit