white lies-第40章

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But　his　wrongs　rankled　in　him。　　He　vented　antique　phrases　such　as；　〃I　want　a　change；〃　　〃This　village　is　the　last　place　the　Almighty　made；〃　etc。

Then　he　was　attacked　with　a　moral　disease：　affected　the　company　of　soldiers。　　He　spent　his　weekly　salary　carousing　with　the　military；　a　class　of　men　so　brilliant　that　they　are　not　expected　to　pay　for　their　share　of　the　drink；　they　contribute　the　anecdotes　and　the　familiar　appeals　to　Heaven：　and　is　not　that　enough？

Present　at　many　recitals；　the　heroes　of　which　lost　nothing　by　being　their　own　historians；　Dard　imbibed　a　taste　for　military　adventure。　His　very　talk；　which　used　to　be　so　homely；　began　now　to　be　tinselled　with　big　swelling　words　of　vanity　imported　from　the　army。　　I　need　hardly　say　these　bombastical　phrases　did　not　elevate　his　general　dialect：　they　lay　fearfully　distinct　upon　the　surface；　〃like　lumps　of　marl　upon　a　barren　soil；　encumbering　the　ground　they　could　not　fertilize。〃

Jacintha　took　leave　to　remind　him　of　an　incident　connected　with　warfarewounds。

〃Do　you　remember　how　you　were　down　upon　your　luck　when　you　did　but　cut　your　foot？　　Why；　that　is　nothing　in　the　army。　　They　never　go　out　to　fight　but　some　come　back　with　arms　off；　and　some　with　legs　off　and　some　with　heads；　and　the　rest　don't　come　back　at　all：　and　how　would　you　like　that？〃

This　intrusion　of　statistics　into　warfare　at　first　cooled　Dard's　impatience　for　the　field。　　But　presently　the　fighting　half　of　his　heart　received　an　ally　in　one　Sergeant　La　Croix　（not　a　bad　name　for　a　military　aspirant）。　　This　sergeant　was　at　the　village　waiting　to　march　with　the　new　recruits　to　the　Rhine。　　Sergeant　La　Croix　was　a　man　who；　by　force　of　eloquence；　could　make　soldiering　appear　the　most　delightful　as　well　as　glorious　of　human　pursuits。　　His　tongue　fired　the　inexperienced　soul　with　a　love　of　arms；　as　do　the　drums　and　trumpets　and　tramp　of　soldiers；　and　their　bayonets　glittering　in　the　sun。　　He　would　have　been　worth　his　weight　in　fustian　here；　where　we　recruit　by　that　and　jargon；　he　was　superfluous　in　France；　where　they　recruited　by　force：　but　he　was　ornamental：　and　he　set　Dard　and　one　or　two　more　on　fire。　　Indeed；　so　absorbing　was　his　sense　of　military　glory；　that　there　was　no　room　left　in　him　for　that　mere　verbal　honor　civilians　call　veracity。

To　speak　plainly；　the　sergeant　was　a　fluent；　fertile；　interesting；　sonorous；　prompt；　audacious　liar：　and　such　was　his　success；　that　Dard　and　one　or　two　more　became　mere　human　fiction　pipesof　comparatively　small　diameterirrigating　a　rural　district　with　false　views　of　military　life；　derived　from　that　inexhaustible　reservoir；　La　Croix。

At　last　the　long…threatened　conscription　was　levied：　every　person　fit　to　bear　arms；　and　not　coming　under　the　allowed　exceptions；　drew　a　number：　and　at　a　certain　hour　the　numbers　corresponding　to　these　were　deposited　in　an　urn；　and　one…third　of　them　were　drawn　in　presence　of　the　authorities。　　Those　men　whose　numbers　were　drawn　had　to　go　for　soldiers。　　Jacintha　awaited　the　result　in　great　anxiety。　She　could　not　sit　at　home　for　it；　so　she　went　down　the　road　to　meet　Dard；　who　had　promised　to　come　and　tell　her　the　result　as　soon　as　known。　　At　last　she　saw　him　approaching　in　a　disconsolate　way。　　〃O　Dard！　speak！　are　we　undone？　are　you　a　dead　man？〃　cried　she。　　〃Have　they　made　a　soldier　of　you？〃

〃No　such　luck：　I　shall　die　a　man　of　all　work；〃　grunted　Dard。

〃And　you　are　sorry？　you　unnatural　little　monster！　you　have　no　feeling　for　me；　then。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　have；　but　glory　is　No。　1　with　me　now。〃

〃How　loud　the　bantams　crow！　　You　leave　glory　to　fools　that　be　six　feet　high。〃

〃General　Bonaparte　isn't　much　higher　than　I　am；　and　glory　sits　upon　his　brow。　　Why　shouldn't　glory　sit　upon　my　brow？〃

〃Because　it　would　weigh　you　down；　and　smother　you；　you　little　fool。〃　She　added；　〃And　think　of　me；　that　couldn't　bear　you　to　be　killed　at　any　price；　glory　or　no　glory。〃

Then；　to　appease　her　fears；　Dard　showed　her　his　number；　99；　and　assured　her　he　had　seen　the　last　number　in　the　functionary's　hand　before　he　came　away；　and　it　was　sixty　something。

This　ocular　demonstration　satisfied　Jacintha；　and　she　ordered　Dard　to　help　her　draw　the　water。

〃All　right；〃　said　he；　〃there　is　no　immortal　glory　to　be　picked　up　to…day；　so　I'll　go　in　for　odd　jobs。〃

While　they　were　at　this　job　a　voice　was　heard　hallooing。　　Dard　looked　up；　and　there　was　a　rigid　military　figure；　with　a　tremendous　mustache；　peering　about。　　Dard　was　overjoyed。　　It　was　his　friend；　his　boon…companion。　　〃Come　here；　old　fellow；〃　cried　he；　〃ain't　I　glad　to　see　you；　that　is　all？〃　　La　Croix　marched　towards　the　pair。　〃What　are　you　skulking　here　for；　recruit　ninety…nine？〃　said　he；　sternly；　dropping　the　boon…companion　in　the　sergeant；　〃the　rest　are　on　the　road。〃

〃The　rest；　old　fellow！　what　do　you　mean？　why；　I　was　not　drawn。〃

〃Yes；　you　were。〃

〃No；　I　wasn't。〃

〃Thunder　of　war；　but　I　say　you　were。　　Yours　was　the　last　number。〃

〃That　is　an　unlucky　guess　of　yours；　for　I　saw　the　last　number。　　Look　here；〃　and　he　fumbled　in　his　pocket；　and　produced　his　number。

La　Croix　instantly　fished　out　a　corresponding　number。

〃Well；　and　here　you　are；　this　was　the　last　number　drawn。〃

Dard　burst　out　laughing。

〃You　goose！〃　said　he；　〃that　is　sixty…sixlook　at　it。〃

〃Sixty…six！〃　roared　the　sergeant；　〃no　more　than　yours　isthey　are　both　sixty…sixes　when　you　play　tricks　with　them；　and　turn　them　up　like　that；　but　they　are　both　ninety…nines　when　you　look　at　them　fair。〃

Dard　scratched　his　head。

〃Come；〃　said　the　corporal；　briskly；　〃make　up　his　bundle；　girl；　and　let　us　be　off；　we　have　got　our　marching　orders；　going　to　the　Rhine。〃

〃And　do　you　think　that　I　will　let　him　go？〃　screamed　Jacintha。　　〃No！　I　will　say　one　word　to　Madame　Raynal；　and　she　will　buy　him　a　substitute　directly。〃

Dard　stopped　her　sullenly。　　〃No！　I　have　told　all　in　the　village　that　I　would　go　the　first　chance：　it　is　come；　and　I'll　go。　　I　won't　stay　to　be　laughed　at　about　this　too。　　If　I　was　sure　to　be　cut　in　pieces；　I'd　go。　　Give　over　blubbering；　girl；　and　get　us　a　bottle　of　the　best　wine；　and　while　we　are　drinking　it；　the　sergeant　and　I；　you　make　up　my　bundle。　　I　shall　never　do　any　good　here。〃

Jacintha　knew　the　obstinate　toad。　　She　did　as　she　was　bid；　and　soon　the　little　bundle　was　ready；　and　the　two　men　faced　the　wine；　La　Croix；　radiant　and　bellicose；　Dard；　crestfallen　but　dogged　（for　there　was　a　little　bit　of　good　stuff　at　the　bottom　of　the　creature）；　and　Jacintha　rocking　herself；　with　her　apron　over　her　head。

〃I'll　give　you　a　toast；〃　said　La　Croix。　　〃Here's　gunpowder。〃

Jacintha　promptly　honored　the　toast　with　a　flood　of　tears。

〃Drop　that；　Jacintha；〃　said　Dard；　angrily；　〃do　you　think　that　is　encouraging？　　Sergeant；　I　told　this　poor　girl　all　about　glory　before　you　came；　but　she　was　not　ripe　for　it：　say　something　to　cheer　her　up；　for　I　can't。〃

〃I　can；〃　cried　this　trumpet　of　battle；　emptying　its　glass。　〃Attention；　young　woman。〃

〃Oh；　dear！　oh；　dear！　yes；　sir。〃

〃A　French　soldier　is　a　man　who　carries　France　in　his　heart〃

〃But　if　the　cruel　foreign　soldiers　kill　him？　　Oh！〃

〃Why；　in　that　case；　he　does　not　care　a　straw。　　Every　man　must　die；　horses　likewise；　and　dogs；　and　donkeys；　when　they　come　to　the　end　of　their　troubles；　but　dogs　and　donkeys　and　chaps　in　blouses　can't　die　gloriously；　as　Dard　may；　if　he　has　any　luck　at　all：　so；　from　this　hour；　if　there　was　twice　as　little　of　him；　be　proud　of　him；　for　from　this　time　he　is　a　part　of　France　and　her　renown。　　Come；　recruit　ninety…nine；　shoulder　your　traps　at　duty's　call；　and　let　us　go　forth　in　form。　　Attention！　　Quickmarch！　　Halt！　is　that　the　way　I　showed　you　to　march？　　Didn't　I　tell　you　to　start　from　the　left？　　Now　try　again。　　QUICKmarch！　leftrightleftrightleftrightNOW　you'veGOT　itDRAT　ye；KEEP　itleftrightleftrightleft　right。〃　　And　with　no　more　ado　the　sergeant　marched　the　little　odd…　job　man　to　the　wars。

VIVE　LA　FRANCE！


CHAPTER　XVIII。


Edouard；　the　moment　his　temper　cooled；　became　very　sad。　　He　longed　to　be　friends　again　with　Rose；　but　did　not　know　how。　　His　own　pride　held　him　back；　and　so　did　his　fear　that　he　had　gone　too　far；　and　that　his　offended　mistress　would　not　listen　to　an　offer　of　reconciliation　from　him。　　He　sat　down　alone　now　to　all　his　little　meals。　　No　sweet；　mellow　voices　in　his　ear　after　the　fatigues　of　the　day。　　It　was　a　dismal　change　in　his　life。

At　last；　one　day；　he　received　three　lines　from　Josephine；　requesting　him　to　come　and　speak　to　her。　　He　went　over　directly；　full　of　vague　hopes。　　He　found　her　seated　pale　and　languid　in　a　small　room　on　the　ground　floor。

〃What　has　she　been　doing　to　you；　dear？〃　began　she　kindly。

〃Has　she　not　told　you；　Madame　Raynal？〃

〃No；　she　is　refractory。　　She　will　tell　me　nothing；　and　that　makes　me　fear　she　is　the　one　in　fault。〃

〃Oh！　if　she　does　not　accuse　me；　I　am　sure　I　will　not　accuse　her。　　I　dare　say　I　am　to　blame；　it　is　not　her　fault　that　I　cannot　make　her　love　me。〃

〃But　you　can。　　She　does。〃

〃Yes；　but　she　loves　others　better；　and　she　holds　me　out　no　hope　it　will　ever　be　otherwise。　　On　this　one　point　how　can　I　hope　for　your　sympathy；　unfortunately　for　me　you　are　one　of　my　rivals。　　She　told　me　plainly　she　never　could　love　me　as　she　loves　you。〃

〃And　you　believed　her？〃

〃I　had　good　reason　to　believe　her。〃

Josephine　smiled　sadly。　　〃Dear　Edouard；〃　said　she；　〃you　must　not　attach　so　much　importance　to　every　word　we　say。　　Does　Rose　at　her　age　know　everything？　　Is　she　a　prophet？　　Perhaps　she　really　fancies　she　will　always　love　her　sister　as　she　does　now；　but　you　are　a　man　of　sense；　you　ought　to　smile　and　let　her　talk。　　When　you　marry　her　you　will　take　her　to　your　own　house；　she　will　only　see　me　now　and　then；　she　will　have　you　and　your　affection　always　present。　　Each　day　some　new　tie　between　you　and　her。　　You　two　will　share　every　joy；　every　sorrow。　　Your　children　playing　at　your　feet；　and　reflecting　the　features　of　both　parents；　will　make　you　one。　　Your　hearts　will　melt　together　in　that　blessed　union　which　raises　earth　so　near　to　heaven；　and　then　you　will　wonder　you　could　ever　be　jealous　of　poor　Josephine；　who　must　never　hopeah；　me！〃

Edouard；　wrapped　up　in　himself；　mistook　Josephine's　emotion　at　the　picture　she　had　drawn　of　conjugal　love。　　He　soothed　her；　and　vowed　upon　his　honor　he　never　would　separate　Rose　from　her。

〃Madame　Raynal；〃　said　he；　〃you　are　an　angel；　and　I　am　a　fiend。　Jealousy　must　be　the　meanest　of　all　sentiments。　　I　never　will　be　jealous　again；　above　all；　of　you；　sweet　angel。　　Why；　you　are　my　sister　as　well　as　hers；　and　she　has　a　right　to　love　you；　for　I　love　you　myself。〃

〃You　make　me　very　happy　when　you　talk　so；〃　sighed　Josephine。　　〃Peace　is　made？〃

〃Never　again　to　be　broken。　　I　will　go　and　ask　her　pardon。　　What　is　the　matter　now？〃

For　Jacintha　was　cackling　very　loud；　and　dismissing　with　ignominy　two　beggars；　male　and　female。

She　was　industry　personified；　and　had　no　sympathy　with　mendicity。　In　vain　the　couple　protested；　Heaven　knows　with　what　truth；　that　they　were　not　beggars；　but　mechanics　out　of　work。　　〃March！　tramp！〃　was　Jacintha's　least　word。　　She　added；　giving　the　rein　to　her　imagination；　〃I'll　loose　the　dog。〃　　The　man　moved　away；　the　woman　turned　appealingly　to　Edouard。　　He　and　Josephine　came　towards　the　group。　　She　had　got　a　sort　of　large　hood；　and　in　that　hood　she　carri