white lies-第58章

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h；　Monsieur　Raynal；　my　dear　friend；　you　were　always　generous：　you　will　pity　and　kill　me。　　I　have　dishonored　the　name　you　gave　me　to　keep：　I　am　neither　Beaurepaire　nor　Raynal。　　Do　pray　kill　me；　monsieurJean；　do　pray　release　me　from　my　life！〃

And　she　crawled　to　his　knees　and　embraced　them；　and　kissed　his　hand；　and　pleaded　more　piteously　for　death；　than　others　have　begged　for　life。

Raynal　stood　like　a　rock：　he　was　pale；　and　drew　his　breath　audibly；　but　not　a　word。　　Then　came　a　sight　scarce　less　terrible　than　Josephine's　despair。　　The　baroness；　looking　and　moving　twenty　years　older　than　an　hour　before；　tottered　across　the　room　to　Raynal。

〃Sir；　you　whom　I　have　called　my　son；　but　whom　I　will　never　presume　so　to　call　again；　I　thought　I　had　lived　long　enough　never　to　have　to　blush　again。　　I　loved　you；　monsieur。　　I　prayed　every　day　for　you。　But　she　who　WAS　my　daughter　was　not　of　my　mind。　　Monsieur；　I　have　never　knelt　but　to　God　and　to　my　king；　and　I　kneel　to　you：　forgive　us；　sir；　forgive　us！〃

She　tried　to　go　down　on　her　knees。　　He　raised　her　with　his　strong　arm；　but　he　could　not　speak。　　She　turned　on　the　others。

〃So　this　is　the　secret　you　were　hiding　from　me！　　This　secret　has　not　killed　you　all。　　Oh！　I　shall　not　live　under　its　shame　so　long　as　you　have。　　Chateau　of　Beaurepairenest　of　treason；　ingratitude；　and　immodestyI　loathe　you　as　much　as　once　I　loved　you。　　I　will　go　and　hide　my　head；　and　die　elsewhere。〃

〃Stay；　madame！〃　said　he；　in　a　voice　whose　depth　and　dignity　was　such　that　it　seemed　impossible　to　disobey　it。　　〃It　was　suddenI　was　shakenbut　I　am　myself　again。〃

〃Oh；　show　some　pity！〃　cried　Rose。

〃I　shall　try　to　be　just。〃

There　was　a　long；　trembling　silence；　and　during　that　silence　and　terrible　agitation；　one　figure　stood　firm　among　those　quaking；　beating　hearts；　like　a　rock　with　the　waves　breaking　round　itthe　MAN　OF　PRINCIPLE　among　the　creatures　of　impulse。

He　raised　Josephine　from　her　knees；　and　placed　her　all　limp　and　powerless　in　an　arm…chair。　　To　her　frenzy　had　now　succeeded　a　sickness　and　feebleness　like　unto　death。

〃Widow　Dujardin；〃　said　he；　in　a　broken　voice；　〃listen　to　me。〃

She　moaned　a　sort　of　assent。

〃Your　mistake　has　been　not　trusting　me。　　I　was　your　friend；　and　not　a　selfish　friend。　　I　was　not　enough　in　love　with　you　to　destroy　your　happiness。　　Besides；　I　despise　that　sort　of　love。　　If　you　had　told　me　all；　I　would　have　spared　you　this　misery。　　By　the　present　law；　civil　contracts　of　marriage　can　be　dissolved　by　mutual　consent。〃

At　this　the　baroness　uttered　some　sign　of　surprise。

〃Ah！〃　continued　Raynal；　sadly；　〃you　are　aristocrats；　and　cannot　keep　pace　with　the　times。　　This　very　day　our　mere　contract　shall　be　formally　dissolved。　　Indeed；　it　ceases　to　exist　since　both　parties　are　resolved　to　withdraw　from　it。　　So；　if　you　married　Dujardin　in　a　church；　you　are　Madame　Dujardin　at　this　moment；　and　his　child　is　legitimate。　　What　does　she　say？〃

This　question　was　to　Rose；　for　what　Josephine　uttered　sounded　like　a　mere　articulate　moan。　　But　Rose's　quick　ear　had　caught　words；　and　she　replied；　all　in　tears；　〃My　poor　sister　is　blessing　you；　sir。　　We　all　bless　you。〃

〃She　does　not　understand　my　position；〃　said　Raynal。　　He　then　walked　up　to　Josephine；　and　leaning　over　her　arm；　and　speaking　rather　loud；　under　the　impression　that　her　senses　were　blunted　by　grief；　he　said；　〃Look　here：　Colonel　Dujardin；　your　husband；　deliberately；　and　with　his　eyes　open；　sacrificed　his　life　for　me；　and　for　his　own　heroic　sense　of　honor。　　Now；　it　is　my　turn。　　If　that　hero　stood　here；　and　asked　me　for　all　the　blood　in　my　body；　I　would　give　it　him。　　He　is　gone；　but；　dying　for　me；　he　has　left　me　his　widow　and　his　child；　they　remain　under　my　wing。　　To　protect　them　is　my　pride；　and　my　only　consolation。　　I　am　going　to　the　mayor　to　annul　our　unlucky　contract　in　due　form；　and　make　us　brother　and　sister　instead。　　But；〃　turning　to　the　baroness；　〃don't　you　think　to　escape　me　as　your　daughter　has　done：　no；　no；　old　lady；　once　a　mother；　always　a　mother。　　Stir　from　your　son's　home　if　you　dare！〃

And　with　these　words；　in　speaking　which　his　voice　had　recovered　its　iron　firmness；　he　strode　out　at　the　door；　superb　in　manhood　and　principle；　and　every　eye　turned　with　wonder　and　admiration　after　him。　　Even　when　he　was　gone　they　gazed　at　the　door　by　which　a　creature　so　strangely　noble　had　disappeared。

The　baroness　was　about　to　follow　him　without　taking　any　notice　of　Josephine。　　But　Rose　caught　her　by　the　gown。　　〃O　mother；　speak　to　poor　Josephine：　bid　her　live。〃

The　baroness　only　made　a　gesture　of　horror　and　disgust；　and　turned　her　back　on　them　both。

Josephine；　who　had　tottered　up　from　her　seat　at　Rose's　words；　sank　heavily　down　again；　and　murmured；　〃Ah！　the　grave　holds　all　that　love　me　now。〃

Rose　ran　to　her　side。　　〃Cruel　Josephine！　what；　do　not　I　love　you？　Mother；　will　you　not　help　me　persuade　her　to　live？　　Oh！　if　she　dies；　I　will　die　too；　you　will　kill　both　your　children。〃

Stern　and　indignant　as　the　baroness　was；　yet　these　words　pierced　her　heart。　　She　turned　with　a　piteous；　half　apologetic　air　to　Edouard　and　Aubertin。　　〃Gentlemen；〃　said　she；　〃she　has　been　foolish；　not　guilty。　　Heaven　pardons　the　best　of　us。　　Surely　a　mother　may　forgive　her　child。〃　　And　with　this　nature　conquered　utterly；　and　she　held　out　her　arms；　wide；　wide；　as　is　a　mother's　heart。　　Her　two　erring　children　rushed　sobbing　violently　into　them；　and　there　was　not　a　dry　eye　in　the　room　for　a　long　time。

After　this；　Josephine's　heart　almost　ceased　to　beat。　　Fear　and　misgivings；　and　the　heavy　sense　of　deceit　gnawing　an　honorable　heart；　were　gone。　　Grief　reigned　alone　in　the　pale；　listless；　bereaved　widow。

The　marriage　was　annulled　before　the　mayor；　and；　three　days　afterwards；　Raynal；　by　his　influence；　got　the　consummated　marriage　formally　allowed　in　Paris。

With　a　delicacy　for　which　one　would　hardly　have　given　him　credit；　he　never　came　near　Beaurepaire　till　all　this　was　settled；　but　he　brought　the　document　from　Paris　that　made　Josephine　the　widow　Dujardin；　and　her　boy　the　heir　of　Beaurepaire；　and　the　moment　she　was　really　Madame　Dujardin　he　avoided　her　no　longer；　and　he　became　a　comfort　to　her　instead　of　a　terror。

The　dissolution　of　the　marriage　was　a　great　tie　between　them。　　So　much　that；　seeing　how　much　she　looked　up　to　Raynal；　the　doctor　said　one　day　to　the　baroness；　〃If　I　know　anything　of　human　nature；　they　will　marry　again；　provided　none　of　you　give　her　a　hint　which　way　her　heart　is　turning。〃

They；　who　have　habituated　themselves　to　live　for　others；　can　suffer　as　well　as　do　great　things。　　Josephine　kept　alive。　　A　passion　such　as　hers；　in　a　selfish　nature；　must　have　killed　her。

Even　as　it　was；　she　often　said；　〃It　is　hard　to　live。〃

Then　they　used　to　talk　to　her　of　her　boy。　　Would　she　leave　him　Camille's　boywithout　a　mother？　　And　these　words　were　never　spoken　to　her　quite　in　vain。

Her　mother　forgave　her　entirely；　and　loved　her　as　before。　　Who　could　be　angry　with　her　long？　　The　air　was　no　longer　heavy　with　lies。　Wretched　as　she　was；　she　breathed　lighter。　　Joy　and　hope　were　gone。　Sorrowful　peace　was　coming。　　When　the　heart　comes　to　this；　nothing　but　Time　can　cure；　but　what　will　not　Time　do？　　What　wounds　have　I　seen　him　heal！　　His　cures　are　incredible。


The　little　party　sat　one　day；　peaceful；　but　silent　and　sad；　in　the　Pleasaunce；　under　the　great　oak。

Two　soldiers　came　to　the　gate。　　They　walked　feebly；　for　one　was　lame；　and　leaned　upon　the　other；　who　was　pale　and　weak；　and　leaned　upon　a　stick。

〃Soldiers；〃　said　Raynal；　〃and　invalided。〃

〃Give　them　food　and　wine；〃　said　Josephine。

Rose　went　towards　them；　but　she　had　scarcely　taken　three　steps　ere　she　cried　out；

〃It　is　Dard！　it　is　poor　Dard！　　Come　in；　Dard；　come　in。〃

Dard　limped　towards　them；　leaning　upon　Sergeant　La　Croix。　　A　bit　of　Dard's　heel　had　been　shot　away；　and　of　La　Croix's　head。

Rose　ran　to　the　kitchen。

〃Jacintha；　bring　out　a　table　into　the　Pleasaunce；　and　something　for　two　guests　to　eat。〃

The　soldiers　came　slowly　to　the　Pleasaunce；　and　were　welcomed；　and　invited　to　sit　down；　and　received　with　respect；　for　France　even　in　that　day　honored　the　humblest　of　her　brave。

Soon　Jacintha　came　out　with　a　little　round　table　in　her　hands；　and　affected　a　composure　which　was　belied　by　her　shaking　hands　and　her　glowing　cheek。

After　a　few　words　of　homely　welcomenot　eloquent；　but　very　sincere　she　went　off　again　with　her　apron　to　her　eyes。　　She　reappeared　with　the　good　cheer；　and　served　the　poor　fellows　with　radiant　zeal。

〃What　regiment？〃　asked　Raynal。

Dard　was　about　to　answer；　but　his　superior　stopped　him　severely；　then；　rising　with　his　hand　to　his　forehead；　he　replied；　with　pride；　〃Twenty…fourth　brigade；　second　company。　　We　were　cut　up　at　Philipsburg；　and　incorporated　with　the　12th。〃

Raynal　instantly　regretted　his　question；　for　Josephine's　eye　fixed　on　Sergeant　La　Croix　with　an　expression　words　cannot　paint。　　Yet　she　showed　more　composure；　real　or　forced；　than　he　expected。

〃Heaven　sends　him；〃　said　she。　　〃My　friend；　tell　me；　were　youah！〃

Colonel　Raynal　interfered　hastily。　　〃Think　what　you　do。　　He　can　tell　you　nothing　but　what　we　know；　not　so　much；　in　fact；　as　we　know；　for；　now　I　look　at　him；　I　think　this　is　the　very　sergeant　we　found　lying　insensible　under　the　bastion。　　He　must　have　been　struck　before　the　bastion　was　taken　even。〃

〃I　was；　colonel；　I　was。　　I　remember　nothing　but　losing　my　senses；　and　feeling　the　colors　go　out　of　my　hand。〃

〃There；　you　see；　he　knows　nothing；〃　said　Raynal。

〃It　was　hot　work；　colonel；　under　that　bastion；　but　it　was　hotter　to　the　poor　fellows　that　got　in。　　I　heard　all　about　it　from　Private　Dard　here。〃

〃So；　then；　it　was　you　who　carried　the　colors？〃

〃Yes；　I　was　struck　down　with　the　colors　of　the　brigade　in　my　hand；〃　cried　La　Croix。

〃See　how　people　blunder　about；　everything；　they　told　me　the　colonel　carried　the　colors。〃

〃Why；　of　course　he　did。　　You　don't　think　our　colonel；　the　fighting　colonel；　would　let　me　hold　the　colors　of　the　brigade　so　long　as　he　was　alive。　　No；　he　was　struck　by　a　Prussian　bullet；　and　he　had　just　time　to　hand　the　colors　to　me；　and　point　with　his　sword　to　the　bastion；　and　down　he　went。　　It　was　hot　work；　I　can　tell　you。　　I　did　not　hold　them　long；　not　thirty　seconds；　and　if　we　could　know　their　history；　they　passed　through　more　hands　than　that　before　they　got　to　the　Prussian　flag…staff。〃

Raynal　suddenly　rose；　and　walked　rapidly　to　and　fro；　with　his　hands　behind　him。

〃Poor　colonel！〃　continued　La　Croix。　　〃Well；　I　love　to　think　he　died　like　a　soldier；　and　not　like　some　of　my　poor　comrades；　hashed　to　atoms；　and　not　a　volley　fired　over　him。　　I　hope　they　put　a　stone　over　him；　for　he　was　the　best　soldier　and　the　best　general　in　the　army。〃

〃O　sir！〃　cried　Josephine；　〃there　is　no　stone　even　to　mark　the　spot　where　he　fell；〃　and　she　sobbed　despairingly。

〃Why；　how　is　this；　Private　Dard？〃　inquired　La　Croix；　sternly。

Dard　apologized　for　his　comrade；　and　touching　his　own　head　significantly　told　them　that　since　his　wound　the　sergeant's　memory　was　defective。

〃Now；　sergeant；　didn't　I　tell　you　the　colonel　must　have　got　the　better　of　his　wound；　and　got　into　the　battery？〃

〃It's　false；　Private　Dard；　don't　I　know　our　colonel　better　than　that？　　Would　ever　he　have　let　those　colors　out　of　his　hand；　if　there　h