white lies-第37章

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but　not　complete　success。

Disguising　the　uneasiness　this　discovery　gave　her；　she　looked　her　visitor　full　in　the　face；　and　said　mildly；　but　a　little　coldly；　〃Well；　Jacintha？〃

Jacintha　lowered　her　eyes　and　muttered　slowly；

〃The　doctorcomesto…day；〃　then　raised　her　eyes　all　in　a　moment　to　take　Josephine　off　her　guard；　but　the　calm　face　was　impenetrable。　So　then　Jacintha　added；　〃to　our　misfortune；〃　throwing　in　still　more　meaning。

〃To　our　misfortune？　　A　dear　old　friendlike　him？〃

Jacintha　explained。　　〃That　old　man　makes　me　shake。　　You　are　never　safe　with　him。　　So　long　as　his　head　is　in　the　clouds；　you　might　take　his　shoes　off；　and　on　he'd　walk　and　never　know　it；　but　every　now　and　then　he　comes　out　of　the　clouds　all　in　one　moment；　without　a　word　of　warning；　and　when　he　does　his　eye　is　on　everything；　like　a　bird's。　Then　he　is　so　old：　he　has　seen　a　heap。　　Take　my　word　for　it；　the　old　are　more　knowing　than　the　young；　let　them　be　as　sharp　as　you　like：　the　old　have　seen　everything。　　WE　have　only　heard　talk　of　the　most　part；　with　here　and　there　a　glimpse。　　To　know　life　to　the　bottom　you　must　live　it　out；　from　the　soup　to　the　dessert；　and　that　is　what　the　doctor　has　done；　and　now　he　is　coming　here。　　And　Mademoiselle　Rose　will　go　telling　him　everything；　and　if　she　tells　him　half　what　she　has　seen；　your　secret　will　be　no　secret　to　that　old　man。〃

〃My　secret！〃　gasped　Josephine；　turning　pale。

〃Don't　look　so；　madame：　don't　be　frightened　at　poor　Jacintha。　Sooner　or　later　you　MUST　trust　somebody　besides　Mademoiselle　Rose。〃

Josephine　looked　at　her　with　inquiring；　frightened　eyes。

Jacintha　drew　nearer　to　her。

〃Mademoiselle；I　beg　pardon；　madame；I　carried　you　in　my　arms　when　I　was　a　child。　　When　I　was　a　girl　you　toddled　at　my　side；　and　held　my　gown；　and　lisped　my　name；　and　used　to　put　your　little　arms　round　my　neck；　and　kissed　me；　you　would；　and　if　ever　I　had　the　least　pain　or　sickness　your　dear　little　face　would　turn　as　sorrowful；　and　all　the　pretty　color　leave　it　for　Jacintha；　and　now　you　are　in　trouble；　in　sore　trouble；　yet　you　turn　away　from　me；　you　dare　not　trust　me；　that　would　be　cut　in　pieces　ere　　I　would　betray　you。　　Ah；　mademoiselle；　you　are　wrong。　　The　poor　can　feel：　they　have　all　seen　trouble；　and　a　servant　is　the　best　of　friends　where　she　has　the　heart　to　love　her　mistress；　and　do　not　I　love　you？　　Pray　do　not　turn　from　her　who　has　carried　you　in　her　arms；　and　laid　you　to　sleep　upon　her　bosom；　many's　and　many's　the　time。〃

Josephine　panted　audibly。　　She　held　out　her　hand　eloquently　to　Jacintha；　but　she　turned　her　head　away　and　trembled。

Jacintha　cast　a　hasty　glance　round　the　room。　　Then　she　trembled　too　at　what　she　was　going　to　say；　and　the　effect　it　might　have　on　the　young　lady。　　As　for　Josephine；　terrible　as　the　conversation　had　become；　she　made　no　attempt　to　evade　it：　she　remained　perfectly　passive。　　It　was　the　best　way　to　learn　how　far　Jacintha　had　penetrated　her　secret；　if　at　all。

Jacintha　looked　fearfully　round　and　whispered　in　Josephine's　ear；　〃When　the　news　of　Colonel　Raynal's　death　came；　you　wept；　but　the　color　came　back　to　your　cheek。　　When　the　news　of　his　life　came；　you　turned　to　stone。　　Ah！　my　poor　young　lady；　there　has　been　more　between　you　and　THAT　MAN　than　should　be。　　Ever　since　one　day　you　all　went　to　Frejus　together；　you　were　a　changed　woman。　　I　have　seen　you　look　at　him　asas　a　wife　looks　at　her　man。　　I　have　seen　HIM〃

〃Hush；　Jacintha！　　Do　not　tell　me　what　you　have　seen：　oh！　do　not　remind　me　of　joys　I　pray　God　to　help　me　forget。　　He　was　my　husband；　then！oh；　cruel　Jacintha；　to　remind　me　of　what　I　have　been；　of　what　I　am！　　Ah　me！　ah　me！　ah　me！〃

〃Your　husband！〃　cried　Jacintha　in　utter　amazement。

Then　Josephine　drooped　her　head　on　this　faithful　creature's　shoulder；　and　told　her　with　many　sobs　the　story　I　have　told　you。　She　told　it　very　briefly；　for　it　was　to　a　woman　who；　though　little　educated；　was　full　of　feeling　and　shrewdness；　and　needed　but　the　bare　facts：　she　could　add　the　rest　from　her　own　heart　and　experience：　could　tell　the　storm　of　feelings　through　which　these　two　unhappy　lovers　must　have　passed。　　Her　frequent　sighs　of　pity　and　sympathy　drew　Josephine　on　to　pour　out　all　her　griefs。　　When　the　tale　was　ended　she　gave　a　sigh　of　relief。

〃It　might　have　been　worse：　I　thought　it　was　worse　the　more　fool　I。　I　deserve　to　have　my　head　cut　off。〃　　This　was　Jacintha's　only　comment　at　that　time。

It　was　Josephine's　turn　to　be　amazed。　　〃It　could　have　been　worse？〃　said　she。　　〃How？　tell　me；〃　added　she　bitterly。　　〃It　would　be　a　consolation　to　me；　could　I　see　that。〃

Jacintha　colored　and　evaded　this　question；　and　begged　her　to　go　on；　to　keep　nothing　back　from　her。　　Josephine　assured　her　she　had　revealed　all。　　Jacintha　looked　at　her　a　moment　in　silence。

〃It　is　then　as　I　half　suspected。　　You　do　not　know　all　that　is　before　you。　　You　do　not　see　why　I　am　afraid　of　that　old　man。〃

〃No；　not　of　him　in　particular。〃

〃Nor　why　I　want　to　keep　Mademoiselle　Rose　from　prattling　to　him？〃

〃No。　　I　assure　you　Rose　is　to　be　trusted；　she　is　wisewiser　than　I　am。〃

〃You　are　neither　of　you　wise。　　You　neither　of　you　know　anything。　　My　poor　young　mistress；　you　are　but　a　child　still。　　You　have　a　deep　water　to　wade　through；〃　said　Jacintha；　so　solemnly　that　Josephine　trembled。　　〃A　deep　water；　and　do　not　see　it　even。　　You　have　told　me　what　is　past；　now　I　must　tell　you　what　is　coming。　　Heaven　help　me！　But　is　it　possible　you　have　no　misgiving？　　Tell　the　truth；　now。〃

〃Alas！　I　am　full　of　them；　at　your　words；　at　your　manner；　they　fly　around　me　in　crowds。〃

〃Have　you　no　ONE？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　turn　your　head　from　me　a　bit；　my　sweet　young　lady；　I　am　an　honest　woman；　though　I　am　not　so　innocent　as　you；　and　I　am　forced　against　my　will　to　speak　my　mind　plainer　than　I　am　used　to。〃

Then　followed　a　conversation；　to　detail　which　might　anticipate　our　story；　suffice　it　to　say；　that　Rose；　coming　into　the　room　rather　suddenly；　found　her　sister　weeping　on　Jacintha's　bosom；　and　Jacintha　crying　and　sobbing　over　her。

She　stood　and　stared　in　utter　amazement。


Dr。　Aubertin；　on　his　arrival；　was　agreeably　surprised　at　Madame　Raynal's　appearance。　　He　inquired　after　her　appetite。

〃Oh；　as　to　her　appetite；〃　cried　the　baroness；　〃that　is　immense。〃

〃Indeed！〃

〃It　was；〃　explained　Josephine；　〃just　when　I　began　to　get　better；　but　now　it　is　as　much　as　usual。〃　　This　answer　had　been　arranged　beforehand　by　Jacintha。　　She　added；　〃The　fact　is；　we　wanted　to　see　you；　doctor；　and　my　ridiculous　ailments　were　a　good　excuse　for　tearing　you　from　Paris。〃〃And　now　we　have　succeeded；〃　said　Rose；　〃let　us　throw　off　the　mask；　and　talk　of　other　things；　above　all；　of　Paris；　and　your　eclat。〃

〃For　all　that；〃　persisted　the　baroness；　〃she　was　ill；　when　I　first　wrote；　and　very　ill　too。〃

〃Madame　Raynal；〃　said　the　doctor　solemnly；　〃your　conduct　has　been　irregular；　once　ill；　and　your　illness　announced　to　your　medical　adviser；　etiquette　forbade　you　to　get　well　but　by　his　prescriptions。　Since；　then；　you　have　shown　yourself　unfit　to　conduct　a　malady；　it　becomes　my　painful　duty　to　forbid　you　henceforth　ever　to　be　ill　at　all；　without　my　permission　first　obtained　in　writing。〃

This　badinage　was　greatly　relished　by　Rose；　but　not　at　all　by　the　baroness；　who　was　as　humorless　as　a　swan。

He　stayed　a　month　at　Beaurepaire；　then　off　to　Paris　again：　and　being　now　a　rich　man；　and　not　too　old　to　enjoy　innocent　pleasures；　he　got　a　habit　of　running　backwards　and　forwards　between　the　two　places；　spending　a　month　or　so　at　each　alternately。　　So　the　days　rolled　on。　Josephine　fell　into　a　state　that　almost　defies　description；　her　heart　was　full　of　deadly　wounds；　yet　it　seemed；　by　some　mysterious；　half…healing　balm；　to　throb　and　ache；　but　bleed　no　more。　　Beams　of　strange；　unreasonable　complacency　would　shoot　across　her；　the　next　moment　reflection　would　come；　she　would　droop　her　head；　and　sigh　piteously。　　Then　all　would　merge　in　a　wild　terror　of　detection。　　She　seemed　on　the　borders　of　a　river　of　bliss；　new；　divine；　and　inexhaustible：　and　on　the　other　bank　mocking　malignant　fiends　dared　her　to　enter　that　heavenly　stream。　　The　past　to　her　was　full　of　regrets；　the　future　full　of　terrors；　and　empty　of　hope。　　Yet　she　did　not；　could　not　succumb。　　Instead　of　the　listlessness　and　languor　of　a　few　months　back；　she　had　now　more　energy　than　ever；　at　times　it　mounted　to　irritation。　　An　activity　possessed　her：　it　broke　out　in　many　feminine　ways。　　Among　the　rest　she　was　seized　with　what　we　men　call　a　cacoethes　of　the　needle：　〃a　raging　desire〃　for　work。　　Her　fingers　itched　for　work。　　She　was　at　it　all　day。　　As　devotees　retire　to　pray；　so　she　to　stitch。　　On　a　wet　day　she　would　often　slip　into　the　kitchen；　and　ply　the　needle　beside　Jacintha：　on　a　dry　day　she　would　hide　in　the　old　oak…tree；　and　sit　like　a　mouse；　and　ply　the　tools　of　her　craft；　and　make　things　of　no　mortal　use　to　man　or　woman；　and　she　tried　little　fringes　of　muslin　upon　her　white　hand；　and　held　it　up　in　front　of　her；　and　smiled；　and　then　moaned。　　It　was　winter；　and　Rose　used　sometimes　to　bring　her　out　a　thick　shawl；　as　she　sat　in　the　old　oak…tree　stitching；　but　Josephine　nearly　always　declined　it。　　SHE　WAS　NEARLY　IMPERVIOUS　TO　COLD。

Then；　her　purse　being　better　filled　than　formerly；　she　visited　the　poor　more　than　ever；　and　above　all　the　young　couples；　and　took　a　warm　interest　in　their　household　matters；　and　gave　them　muslin　articles　of　her　own　making；　and　sometimes　sniffed　the　soup　in　a　young　housewife's　pot；　and　took　a　fancy　to　it；　and；　if　invited　to　taste　it；　paid　her　the　compliment　of　eating　a　good　plateful　of　it；　and　said　it　was　much　better　soup　than　the　chateau　produced；　and；　what　is　stranger；　thought　so：　and；　whenever　some　peevish　little　brat　set　up　a　yell　in　its　cradle　and　the　father　naturally　enough　shook　his　fist　at　the　destroyer　of　his　peace；　Madame　Raynal's　lovely　face　filled　with　concern　not　for　the　sufferer　but　the　pest；　and　she　flew　to　it　and　rocked　it　and　coaxed　it　and　consoled　it；　till　the　young　housewife　smiled　and　stopped　its　mouth　by　other　means。　　And；　besides　the　five…franc　pieces　she　gave　the　infants　to　hold；　these　visits　of　Madame　Raynal　were　always　followed　by　one　from　Jacintha　with　a　basket　of　provisions　on　her　stalwart　arm；　and　honest　Sir　John　Burgoyne　peeping　out　at　the　corner。　　Kind　and　beneficent　as　she　was；　her　temper　deteriorated　considerably；　for　it　came　down　from　angelic　to　human。　　Rose　and　Jacintha　were　struck　with　the　change；　assented　to　everything　she　said；　and　encouraged　her　in　everything　it　pleased　her　caprice　to　do。　　Meantime　the　baroness　lived　on　her　son　Raynal's　letters　（they　came　regularly　twice　a　month）。　　Rose　too　had　a　correspondence；　a　constant　source　of　delight　to　her。　　Edouard　Riviere　was　posted　at　a　distance；　and　could　not　visit　her；　but　their　love　advanced　rapidly。　　Every　day　he　wrote　down　for　his　Rose　the　acts　of　the　day；　and　twice　a　week　sent　the　budget　to　his　sweetheart；　and　told　her　at　the　same　time　every　feeling　of　his　heart。　　She　was　less　fortunate　than　he；　she　had　to　carry　a　heavy　secret；　but　still　she　found　plenty　to　tell　him；　and　tender　feelings　too　to　vent　on　him　in　her　own　arch；　shy；　fitful　way。　　Letters　can　enchain　hearts；　it　was　by　letters　that　these　two　found　themselves　imperceptibly　betrothed。　　Their　union　was　looked　forward　to　as　certain；　and　not　very　distant。　　Rose　wa