white lies-第4章

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w　and　then　a　hen；　and　their　great　garden　is　chock　full　of　fruit　and　vegetables；　and　Jacintha　makes　me　dig　in　it　gratis；　and　so　they　muddle　on。　　But；　bless　your　heart；　coffee！　they　can't　afford　it；　so　they　roast　a　lot　of　horse…beans　that　cost　nothing；　and　grind　them；　and　serve　up　the　liquor　in　a　silver　coffee…pot；　on　a　silver　salver。　　Haw；　haw；　haw！〃

〃Is　it　possible？　reduced　to　this？〃　said　Edouard　gravely。

〃Don't　you　be　so　weak　as　to　pity　them；〃　cried　the　remorseless　plebeian。　　〃Why　don't　they　melt　their　silver　into　soup；　and　cut　down　their　plate　into　rashers　of　bacon？　why　not　sell　the　superfluous；　and　buy　the　needful；　which　it　is　grub？　　And；　above　all；　why　don't　they　let　their　old　tumble…down　palace　to　some　rich　grocer；　and　that　accursed　garden　along　with　it；　where　I　sweat　gratis；　and　live　small　and　comfortable；　and　pay　honest　men　for　their　little　odd　jobs；　and〃

Here　Riviere　interrupted　him；　and　asked　if　it　was　really　true　about　the　beans。

〃True？〃　said　Dard；　〃why；　I　have　seen　Rose　doing　it　for　the　old　woman's　breakfast：　it　was　Rose　invented　the　move。　　A　girl　of　nineteen　beginning　already　to　deceive　the　world！　　But　they　are　all　tarred　with　the　same　stick。　　Down　with　the　aristocrats！〃

〃Dard；〃　said　Riviere；　〃you　are　a　brute。〃

〃Me；　citizen？〃　inquired　Dard　with　every　appearance　of　genuine　surprise。

Edouard　Riviere　rose　from　his　seat　in　great　excitement。　　Dard's　abuse　of　the　family　he　was　lately　so　bitter　against　had　turned　him　right　round。　　He　pitied　the　very　baroness　herself；　and　forgave　her　declining　his　visit。

〃Be　silent；〃　said　he；　〃for　shame！　　There　is　such　a　thing　as　noble　poverty；　and　you　have　described　it。　　I　might　have　disdained　these　people　in　their　prosperity；　but　I　revere　them　in　their　affliction。　And　I'll　tell　you　what；　don't　you　ever　dare　to　speak　slightly　of　them　again　in　my　presence；　or〃

He　did　not　conclude　his　threat；　for　just　then　he　observed　that　a　strapping　girl；　with　a　basket　at　her　feet；　was　standing　against　the　corner　of　the　Auberge；　in　a　mighty　careless　attitude；　but　doing　nothing；　so　most　likely　listening　with　all　her　ears　and　soul。　　Dard；　however；　did　not　see　her；　his　back　being　turned　to　her　as　he　sat；　so　he　replied　at　his　ease；

〃I　consent；〃　said　he　very　coolly：　〃that　is　your　affair；　but　permit　me；〃　and　here　he　clenched　his　teeth　at　remembrance　of　his　wrongs；　〃to　say　that　I　will　no　more　be　a　scullery　man　without　wages　to　these　high…minded　starvelings；　these　illustrious　beggars。〃　　Then　he　heated　himself　red…hot。　　〃I　will　not　even　be　their　galley　slave。　　Next；　I　have　done　my　last　little　odd　job　in　this　world；〃　yelled　the　now　infuriated　factotum；　bouncing　up　to　his　feet　in　brief　fury。　　〃Of　two　things　one：　either　Jacintha　quits　those　aristos；　or　I　leave　Jacin　eh？ah！oh！ahem！　　How'ow　d'ye　do；　Jacintha？〃　　And　his　roar　ended　in　a　whine；　as　when　a　dog　runs　barking　out；　and　receives　in　full　career　a　cut　from　his　master's　whip；　his　generous　rage　turns　to　whimper　with　ludicrous　abruptness。　　〃I　was　just　talking　of　you；　Jacintha；〃　quavered　Dard　in　conclusion。

〃I　heard　you；　Dard；〃　replied　Jacintha　slowly；　softly；　grimly。

Dard　withered。

It　was　a　lusty　young　woman；　with　a　comely　peasant　face　somewhat　freckled；　and　a　pair　of　large　black　eyes　surmounted　by　coal…black　brows。　　She　stood　in　a　bold　attitude；　her　massive　but　well…formed　arms　folded　so　that　the　pressure　of　each　against　the　other　made　them　seem　gigantic；　and　her　cheek　red　with　anger；　and　her　eyes　glistening　like　basilisks　upon　citizen　Dard。　　She　looked　so　grand；　with　her　lowering　black　brows；　that　even　Riviere　felt　a　little　uneasy。　　As　for　Jacintha；　she　was　evidently　brooding　with　more　ire　than　she　chose　to　utter　before　a　stranger。　　She　just　slowly　unclasped　her　arms；　and；　keeping　her　eye　fixed　on　Dard；　pointed　with　a　domineering　gesture　towards　Beaurepaire。　　Then　the　doughty　Dard　seemed　no　longer　master　of　his　limbs：　he　rose　slowly；　with　his　eyes　fastened　to　hers；　and　was　moving　off　like　an　ill…oiled　automaton　in　the　direction　indicated；　but　at　that　a　suppressed　snigger　began　to　shake　Riviere's　whole　body　till　it　bobbed　up　and　down　on　the　seat。　　Dard　turned　to　him　for　sympathy。

〃There；　citizen；〃　he　cried；　〃do　you　see　that　imperious　gesture？　That　means　you　promised　to　dig　in　the　aristocrat's　garden　this　afternoon；　so　march！　　Here；　then；　is　one　that　has　gained　nothing　by　kings　being　put　down；　for　I　am　ruled　with　a　mopstick　of　iron。　　Thank　your　stars；　citizen；　that　you　are　not　in　may　place。〃

〃Dard；〃　retorted　Jacintha；　〃if　you　don't　like　your　place；　I'd　quit　it。　　There　are　two　or　three　young　men　down　in　the　village　will　be　glad　to　take　it。〃

〃I　won't　give　them　the　chance；　the　vile　egotists！〃　cried　Dard。　　And　he　returned　to　the　chateau　and　little　odd　jobs。

Jacintha　hung　behind；　lowered　her　eyes；　put　on　a　very　deferential　manner；　and　thanked　Edouard　for　the　kind　sentiments　he　had　uttered；　but　at　the　same　time　she　took　the　liberty　to　warn　him　against　believing　the　extravagant　stories　Dard　had　been　telling　about　her　mistress's　poverty。　　She　said　the　simple　fact　was　that　the　baron　had　contracted　debts；　and　the　baroness；　being　the　soul　of　honor；　was　living　in　great　economy　to　pay　them　off。　　Then；　as　to　Dard　getting　no　supper　up　at　Beaurepaire；　a　complaint　that　appeared　to　sting　her　particularly；　she　assured　him　she　was　alone　to　blame：　the　baroness　would　be　very　angry　if　she　knew　it。　　〃But；〃　said　she；　〃Dard　is　an　egotist。　　Perhaps　you　may　have　noticed　that　trait　in　him。〃

〃Glimpses　of　it；〃　replied　Riviere；　laughing。

〃Monsieur；　he　is　so　egotistic　that　he　has　not　a　friend　in　the　world　but　me。　　I　forgive　him；　because　I　know　the　reason；　he　has　never　had　a　headache　or　a　heartache　in　his　life。〃

Edouard；　aged　twenty；　and　a　male；　did　not　comprehend　this　piece　of　feminine　logic　one　bit：　and；　while　he　puzzled　over　it　in　silence；　Jacintha　went　on　to　say　that　if　she　were　to　fill　her　egotist's　paunch；　she　should　never　know　whether　he　came　to　Beaurepaire　for　her；　or　himself。　　〃Now；　Dard；〃　she　added；　〃is　no　beauty；　monsieur；　why；　he　is　three　inches　shorter　than　I　am。〃

〃You　are　joking！　he　looks　a　foot；〃　said　Edouard。

〃He　is　no　scholar　neither；　and　I　have　had　to　wipe　up　many　a　sneer　and　many　a　sarcasm　on　his　account；　but　up　to　now　I　have　always　been　able　to　reply　that　this　five　feet　one　of　egotism　loves　me　sincerely；　and　the　moment　I　doubt　this；　I　give　him　the　sack；poor　little　fellow！〃

〃In　a　word；〃　said　Riviere；　a　little　impatiently；　〃the　family　at　Beaurepaire　are　not　in　such　straits　as　he　pretends？〃

〃Monsieur；　do　I　look　like　one　starved？〃

〃By　Jove；　no！　by　Ceres；　I　mean。〃

〃Are　my　young　mistresses　wan；　and　thin？〃

〃Treason！　blasphemy！　ah；　no！　　By　Venus　and　Hebe；　no！〃

Jacintha　smiled　at　this　enthusiastic　denial；　and　also　because　her　sex　is　apt　to　smile　when　words　are　used　they　do　not　understand。

〃Dard　is　a　fool；〃　suggested　Riviere；　by　way　of　general　solution。　　He　added；　〃And　yet；　do　you　know　I　wish　every　word　he　said　had　been　true。〃　　（Jacintha's　eyes　expressed　some　astonishment。）　　〃Because　then　you　and　I　would　have　concerted　means　to　do　them　kindnesses；　secretly；　for　I　see　you　are　no　ordinary　servant；　you　love　your　young　mistresses。　　Do　you　not？〃

These　simple　words　seemed　to　touch　a　grander　chord　in　Jacintha's　nature。

〃Love　them？〃　said　she；　clasping　her　hands；　〃ah；　sir；　do　not　be　offended；　but；　believe　me；　it　is　no　small　thing　to　serve　an　old；　old　family。　　My　grandfather　lived　and　died　with　them；　my　father　was　their　gamekeeper；　and　fed　to　his　last　from　off　the　poor　baron's　plate　（and　now　they　have　killed　him；　poor　man）；　my　mother　died　in　the　house　and　was　buried　in　the　sacred　ground　near　the　family　chapel。　　They　put　an　inscription　on　her　tomb　praising　her　fidelity　and　probity。　　Do　you　think　these　things　do　not　sink　into　the　heart　of　the　poor？praise　on　her　tomb；　and　not　a　word　on　their　own；　but　just　the　name；　and　when　each　was　born　and　died；　you　know。　　Ah！　the　pride　of　the　mean　is　dirt；　but　the　pride　of　the　noble　is　gold。〃

〃For；　look　you；　among　parvenues　I　should　be　a　servant；　and　nothing　more；　in　this　proud　family　I　am　a　humble　friend；　of　course　they　are　not　always　gossiping　with　me　like　vulgar　masters　and　mistresses；　if　they　did；　I　should　neither　respect　nor　love　them；　but　they　all　smile　on　me　whenever　I　come　into　the　room；　even　the　baroness　herself。　　I　belong　to　them；　and　they　belong　to　me；　by　ties　without　number；　by　the　many　kind　words　in　many　troubles；　by　the　one　roof　that　sheltered　us　a　hundred　years；　and　the　grave　where　our　bones　lie　together　till　the　day　of　judgment。〃*


*　The　French　peasant　often　thinks　half　a　sentence；　and　utters　the　other　half　aloud；　and　so　breaks　air　in　the　middle　of　a　thought。　Probably　Jacintha's　whole　thought；　if　we　had　the　means　of　knowing　it；　would　have　run　like　thisBesides；　I　have　another　reason：　I　could　not　be　so　comfortable　myself　elsewherefor；　look　you〃


Jacintha　clasped　her　hands；　and　her　black　eyes　shone　out　warm　through　the　dew。　　Riviere's　glistened　too。

〃That　is　well　said；〃　he　cried；　〃it　is　nobly　said：　yet；　after　all；　these　are　ties　that　owe　their　force　to　the　souls　they　bind。　　How　often　have　such　bonds　round　human　hearts　proved　ropes　of　sand！　　They　grapple　YOU　like　hooks　of　steel；　because　you　are　steel　yourself　to　the　backbone。　　I　admire　you；　Jacintha。　　Such　women　as　you　have　a　great　mission　in　France　just　now。〃

Jacintha　shook　her　head　incredulously。　　〃What　can　we　poor　women　do？〃

〃Bring　forth　heroes；〃　cried　Publicola　with　fervor。　　〃Be　the　mothers　of　great　men；　the　Catos　and　the　Gracchi　of　the　future！〃

Jacintha　smiled。　　She　did　not　know　the　Gracchi　nor　their　politics；　but　the　name　rang　well。　　〃Gracchi！〃　　Aristocrats；　no　doubt。　　〃That　would　be　too　much　honor；〃　replied　she　modestly。　　〃At　present；　I　must　say　adieu！〃　and　she　moved　off　an　inch　at　a　time；　in　an　uncertain　hesitating　manner；　not　very　difficult　to　read；　but　Riviere；　you　must　know；　had　more　than　once　during　this　interview　begged　her　to　sit　down；　and　in　vain；　she　had　always　thanked　him；　but　said　she　had　not　a　moment　to　stay。　　So　he　made　no　effort　to　detain　her　now。　　The　consequence　wasshe　came　slowly　back　of　her　own　accord；　and　sat　down　in　a　corner　of　the　porch；　where　nobody　could　see　her；　and　then　she　sighed　deeply。

〃What　is　the　matter　now？〃　said　Edouard；　opening　his　eyes。

She　looked　at　him　point…blank　for　one　moment；　and　her　scale　turned。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　she　timidly；　〃you　have　a　good　face；　and　a　good　heart。　　All　I　told　you　wasgive　me　your　honor　not　to　betray　us。〃

〃I　swear　it；〃　said　Edouard；　a　little　pompously。

〃ThenDard　was　not　so　far　from　the　truth；　it　was　but　a　guess　of　his；　for　I　never　trusted　my　own　sweetheart　as　I　now　trust　a　stranger。　　But　to　see　what　I　see　every　day；　and　have　no　one　I　dare　breathe　a　word　to；　oh；　it　is　very　hard！　　But　on　what　a　thread　things　turn！　　If　any　one　had　told　me　an　hour　ago　it　was　you　I　should　open　my　heart　to！　　It's　not　economy：　it's　not　stinginess；　they　are　not　paying　off　their　debts。　　They　never　can。　　The　baroness　and　the　Demoiselles　de　Beaurepaireare　paupers。〃

〃Paupers；　Jacintha？〃

〃Ay；　paupers！　their　debts　are　greater　than　their　means。　　They　live　here　by　sufferance。　　They　have　only　their　old　clothes　to　wear。　　They　have　hardly　enough　to　eat。　　Just　now　our　cow　is　in　full　milk；　you　know；　so　that　is　a　great　help：　but；　when　she　goes　dry；　Heaven　knows　wha