white lies-第55章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃

Rose　kissed　her　with　many　sighs；　but　Josephine　smiled。　　Rose　eyed　her　with　suspicion。　　That　deep　smile；　what　did　it　mean？　　She　had　formed　some　resolution。　　〃She　is　going　to　deceive　me　somehow；〃　thought　Rose。

From　that　day　she　watched　Josephine　like　a　spy。　　Confidence　was　gone　between　them。　　Suspicion　took　its　place。

Rose　was　right　in　her　misgivings。　　The　moment　Josephine　saw　that　Edouard's　happiness　and　Rose's　were　to　be　sacrificed　for　her　whom　nothing　could　make　happy；　the　poor　thing　said　to　herself；　〃I　CAN　DIE。〃

And　that　was　the　happy　thought　that　made　her　smile。

The　doctor　gave　her　laudanum：　he　found　she　could　not　sleep：　and　he　thought　it　all…important　that　she　should　sleep。

Josephine；　instead　of　taking　these　small　doses；　saved　them　all　up；　secreted　them　in　a　phial；　and　so；　from　the　sleep　of　a　dozen　nights；　collected　the　sleep　of　death：　and　now　she　was　tranquil。　　This　young　creature　that　could　not　bear　to　give　pain　to　any　one　else；　prepared　her　own　death　with　a　calm　resolution　the　heroes　of　our　sex　have　not　often　equalled。　　It　was　so　little　a　thing　to　her　to　strike　Josephine。　　Death　would　save　her　honor；　would　spare　her　the　frightful　alternative　of　deceiving　her　husband；　or　of　telling　him　she　was　another's。　　〃Poor　Raynal；〃　said　she　to　herself；　〃it　is　so　cruel　to　tie　him　to　a　woman　who　can　never　be　to　him　what　he　deserves。　　Rose　would　then　prove　her　innocence　to　Edouard。　　A　few　tears　for　a　weak；　loving　soul；　and　they　would　all　be　happy　and　forget　her。〃


One　day　the　baroness；　finding　herself　alone　with　Rose　and　Dr。　Aubertin；　asked　the　latter　what　he　thought　of　Josephine's　state。

〃Oh；　she　was　better：　had　slept　last　night　without　her　usual　narcotic。〃

The　baroness　laid　down　her　knitting　and　said；　with　much　meaning；　〃And　I　tell　you；　you　will　never　cure　her　body　till　you　can　cure　her　mind。　　My　poor　child　has　some　secret　sorrow。〃

〃Sorrow！〃　said　Aubertin；　stoutly　concealing　the　uneasiness　these　words　created；　〃what　sorrow？〃

〃Oh；　she　has　some　deep　sorrow。　　And　so　have　you；　Rose。〃

〃Me；　mamma！　what　DO　you　mean？〃

The　baroness's　pale　cheek　flushed　a　little。　　〃I　mean；〃　said　she；　〃that　my　patience　is　worn　out　at　last；　I　cannot　live　surrounded　by　secrets。　　Raynal's　gloomy　looks　when　he　left　us；　after　staying　but　one　hour；　Josephine　ill　from　that　day；　and　bursting　into　tears　at　every　word；　yourself　pale　and　changed；　hiding　an　unaccountable　sadness　under　forced　smiles　　Now；　don't　interrupt　me。　　Edouard；　who　was　almost　like　a　son；　gone　off；　without　a　word；　and　never　comes　near　us　now。〃

〃Really　you　are　ingenious　in　tormenting　yourself。　　Josephine　is　ill！　Well；　is　it　so　very　strange？　　Have　you　never　been　ill？　　Rose　is　pale！　you　ARE　pale；　my　dear；　but　she　has　nursed　her　sister　for　a　month；　is　it　a　wonder　she　has　lost　color？　　Edouard　is　gone　a　journey；　to　inherit　his　uncle's　property：　a　million　francs。　　But　don't　you　go　and　fall　ill；　like　Josephine；　turn　pale；　like　Rose；　and　make　journeys　in　the　region　of　fancy；　after　Edouard　Riviere；　who　is　tramping　along　on　the　vulgar　high　road。〃

This　tirade　came　from　Aubertin；　and　very　clever　he　thought　himself。　But　he　had　to　do　with　a　shrewd　old　lady；　whose　suspicions　had　long　smouldered；　and　now　burst　out。　　She　said　quietly；　〃Oh；　then　Edouard　is　not　in　this　part　of　the　world。　　That　alters　the　case：　where　IS　he？〃

〃In　Normandy；　probably；〃　said　Rose；　blushing。

The　baroness　looked　inquiringly　towards　Aubertin。　　He　put　on　an　innocent　face　and　said　nothing。

〃Very　good；〃　said　the　baroness。　　〃It's　plain　I　am　to　learn　nothing　from　you　two。　　But　I　know　somebody　who　will　be　more　communicative。　Yes：　this　uncomfortable　smiling；　and　unreasonable　crying；　and　interminable　whispering；　these　appearances　of　the　absent；　and　disappearances　of　the　present；　I　shall　know　this　very　day　what　they　all　mean。〃

〃Really；　I　do　not　understand　you。〃

〃Oh；　never　mind；　I　am　an　old　woman；　and　I　am　in　my　dotage。　　For　all　that；　perhaps　you　will　allow　me　two　words　alone　with　my　daughter。〃

〃I　retire；　madame；〃　and　he　disappeared　with　a　bow　to　her；　and　an　anxious　look　at　Rose。　　She　did　not　need　this；　she　clenched　her　teeth；　and　braced　herself　up　to　stand　a　severe　interrogatory。

Mother　and　daughter　looked　at　one　another；　as　if　to　measure　forces；　and　then；　instead　of　questioning　her　as　she　had　intended；　the　baroness　sank　back　in　her　chair　and　wept　aloud。　　Rose　was　all　unprepared　for　this。　　She　almost　screamed　in　a　voice　of　agony；　〃O　mamma！　mamma！　　O　God！　kill　me　where　I　stand　for　making　my　mother　weep！〃

〃My　girl；〃　said　the　baroness　in　a　broken　voice；　and　with　the　most　touching　dignity；　〃may　you　never　know　what　a　mother　feels　who　finds　herself　shut　out　from　her　daughters'　hearts。　　Sometimes　I　think　it　is　my　fault；　I　was　born　in　a　severer　age。　　A　mother　nowadays　seems　to　be　a　sort　of　elder　sister。　　In　my　day　she　was　something　more。　Yet　I　loved　my　mother　as　well；　or　better　than　I　did　my　sisters。　　But　it　is　not　so　with　those　I　have　borne　in　my　bosom；　and　nursed　upon　my　knee。〃

At　this　Rose　flung　herself；　sobbing　and　screaming；　at　her　mother's　knees。　　The　baroness　was　alarmed。　　〃Come；　dearest；　don't　cry　like　that。　　It　is　not　too　late　to　take　your　poor　old　mother　into　your　confidence。　　What　is　this　mystery？　and　why　this　sorrow？　　How　comes　it　I　intercept　at　every　instant　glances　that　were　not　intended　for　me？　　Why　is　the　very　air　loaded　with　signals　and　secrecy？　　（Rose　replied　only　by　sobs。）　　Is　some　deceit　going　on？　　（Rose　sobbed。）　　Am　I　to　have　no　reply　but　these　sullen　sobs？　will　you　really　tell　me　nothing？〃

〃I've　nothing　to　tell；〃　sobbed　Rose。

〃Well；　then；　will　you　do　something　for　me？〃

Such　a　proposal　was　not　only　a　relief；　but　a　delight　to　the　deceiving　but　loving　daughter。　　She　started　up　crying；　〃Oh；　yes；　mamma；　anything；　everything。　　Oh；　thank　you！〃　　In　the　ardor　of　her　gratitude；　she　wanted　to　kiss　her　mother；　but　the　baroness　declined　the　embrace　politely；　and　said；　coldly　and　bitterly；　〃I　shall　not　ask　much；　I　should　not　venture　now　to　draw　largely　on　your　affection；　it's　only　to　write　a　few　lines　for　me。〃

Rose　got　paper　and　ink　with　great　alacrity；　and　sat　down　all　beaming；　pen　in　hand。

The　baroness　dictated　the　letter　slowly；　with　an　eye　gimleting　her　daughter　all　the　time。

〃DearMonsieurRiviere。〃

The　pen　fell　from　Rose's　hand；　and　she　turned　red　and　then　pale。

〃What！　write　to　him？〃

〃Not　in　your　own　name；　in　mine。　　But　perhaps　you　prefer　to　give　me　the　trouble。〃

〃Cruel！　cruel！〃　sighed　Rose；　and　wrote　the　words　as　requested。

The　baroness　dictated　again；

〃Oblige　me　by　coming　here　at　your　very　earliest　convenience。〃

〃But；　mamma；　if　he　is　in　Normandy；〃　remonstrated　Rose；　fighting　every　inch　of　the　ground。

〃Never　you　mind　where　he　is；〃　said　the　baroness。　　〃Write　as　I　request。〃

〃Yes；　mamma；〃　said　Rose　with　sudden　alacrity；　for　she　had　recovered　her　ready　wit；　and　was　prepared　to　write　anything；　being　now　fully　resolved　the　letter　should　never　go。

〃Now　sign　my　name。〃　　Rose　complied。　　〃There；　now　fold　it；　and　address　it　to　his　lodgings。〃　　Rose　did　so；　and；　rising　with　a　cheerful　air；　said　she　would　send　Jacintha　with　it　directly。

She　was　half　across　the　room　when　her　mother　called　her　quietly　back。

〃No；　mademoiselle；〃　said　she　sternly。　　〃You　will　give　me　the　letter。　I　can　trust　neither　the　friend　of　twenty　years；　nor　the　servant　that　stayed　by　me　in　adversity；　nor　the　daughter　I　suffered　for　and　nursed。　　And　why　don't　I　trust　you？　　Because　YOU　HAVE　TOLD　ME　A　LIE。〃

At　this　word；　which　in　its　coarsest　form　she　had　never　heard　from　those　high…born　lips　till　then；　Rose　cowered　like　a　hare。

〃Ay；　A　LIE；〃　said　the　baroness。　　〃I　saw　Edouard　Riviere　in　the　park　but　yesterday。　　I　saw　him。　　My　old　eyes　are　feeble；　but　they　are　not　deceitful。　　I　saw　him。　　Send　my　breakfast　to　my　own　room。　　I　come　of　an　ancient　race：　I　could　not　sit　with　liars；　I　should　forget　courtesy；　you　would　see　in　my　face　how　thoroughly　I　scorn　you　all。〃　And　she　went　haughtily　out　with　the　letter　in　her　hand。

Rose　for　the　first　time；　was　prostrated。　　Vain　had　been　all　this　deceit；　her　mother　was　not　happy；　was　not　blinded。　　Edouard　might　come　and　tell　her　his　story。　　Then　no　power　could　keep　Josephine　silent。　　The　plot　was　thickening；　the　fatal　net　was　drawing　closer　and　closer。

She　sank　with　a　groan　into　a　chair；　and　body　and　spirit　alike　succumbed。　　But　that　was　only　for　a　little　while。　　To　this　prostration　succeeded　a　feverish　excitement。　　She　could　not；　would　not；　look　Edouard　in　the　face。　　She　would　implore　Josephine　to　be　silent；　and　she　herself　would　fly　from　the　chateau。　　But；　if　Josephine　would　not　be　silent？　　Why；　then　she　would　go　herself　to　Edouard；　and　throw　herself　upon　his　honor；　and　tell　him　the　truth。　With　this；　she　ran　wildly　up　the　stairs；　and　burst　into　Josephine's　room　so　suddenly；　that　she　caught　her；　pale　as　death；　on　her　knees；　with　a　letter　in　one　hand　and　a　phial　of　laudanum　in　the　other。


CHAPTER　XXIV。


Josephine　conveyed　the　phial　into　her　bosom　with　wonderful　rapidity　and　dexterity；　and　rose　to　her　feet。　　But　Rose　just　saw　her　conceal　something；　and　resolved　to　find　out　quietly　what　it　was。　　So　she　said　nothing　about　it；　but　asked　Josephine　what　on　earth　she　was　doing。

〃I　was　praying。〃

〃And　what　is　that　letter？〃

〃A　letter　I　have　just　received　from　Colonel　Raynal。〃

Rose　took　the　letter　and　read　it。　　Raynal　had　written　from　Paris。　He　was　coming　to　Beaurepaire　to　stay　a　month；　and　was　to　arrive　that　very　day。

Then　Rose　forgot　all　about　herself；　and　even　what　she　had　come　for。　She　clung　about　her　sister's　neck；　and　implored　her；　for　her　sake；　to　try　and　love　Raynal。

Josephine　shuddered；　and　clung　weeping　to　her　sister　in　turn。　　For　in　Rose's　arms　she　realized　more　powerfully　what　that　sister　would　suffer　if　she　were　to　die。　　Now；　while　they　clung　together；　Rose　felt　something　hard；　and　contrived　just　to　feel　it　with　her　cheek。　It　was　the　phial。

A　chill　suspicion　crossed　the　poor　girl。　　The　attitude　in　which　she　had　found　Josephine；　the　letter；　the　look　of　despair；　and　now　this　little　bottle；　which　she　had　hidden。　　WHY　HIDE　IT？　　She　resolved　not　to　let　Josephine　out　of　her　sight；　at　all　events；　until　she　had　seen　this　little　bottle；　and　got　it　away　from　her。

She　helped　her　to　dress；　and　breakfasted　with　her　in　the　tapestried　room；　and　dissembled；　and　put　on　gayety；　and　made　light　of　everything　but　Josephine's　health。

Her　efforts　were　not　quite　in　vain。　　Josephine　became　more　composed；　and　Rose　even　drew　from　her　a　half　promise　that　she　would　give　Raynal　and　time　a　fair　trial。

And　now　Rose　was　relieved　of　her　immediate　apprehensions　for　Josephine；　but　the　danger　of　another　kind；　from　Edouard；　remained。　So　she　ran　into　her　bedroom　for　her　bonnet　and　shawl；　determined　to　take　the　strong　measure　of　visiting　Edouard　at　once；　or　intercepting　him。　　While　she　was　making　her　little　toilet；　she　heard　her　mother's　voice　in　the　room。　　This　was　unlucky；　she　must　pass　through　that　room　to　go　out。　　She　sat　down　and　fretted　at　this　delay。　　And　then；　as　the　baroness　appeared　to　be　very　animated；　Rose　went　to　the　keyhole；　and　listened。　　Their　mother　was　telling　Josephine　how　she　had　questioned　Rose；　and　how　Rose　had　told　her　an　untruth；　and　how　she　had　made　that　young　lady　write　to　Edouard；　etc。；　in　short；　the　very　thing　Rose　wanted　to