white lies-第6章

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hand　of　Nature；　and　no　human　hand；　had　thus　flouted　and　dispersed　the　trappings　of　the　mother's　grief；　two　pieces　were　picked　up　and　preserved　among　the　family　relics：　but　the　black　velvet　had　turned　a　rusty　red。

So　the　baroness　did　nothing　new　in　this　family　when　she　hung　her　chaplet　on　the　knights'　bough；　and；　in　fact；　on　the　west　side；　about　eighteen　feet　from　the　ground；　there　still　mouldered　one　corner　of　an　Atchievement　an　heir　of　Beaurepaire　had　nailed　there　two　centuries　before；　when　his　predecessor　died：　〃For；〃　said　he；　〃the　chateau　is　of　yesterday；　but　the　tree　has　seen　us　all　come　and　go。〃　The　inside　of　the　oak　was　hollow　as　a　drum；　and　on　its　east　side　yawned　a　fissure　as　high　as　a　man　and　as　broad　as　a　street…door。　Dard　used　to　wheel　his　wheelbarrow　into　the　tree　at　a　trot；　and　there　leave　it。

Yet　in　spite　of　excavation　and　mutilation　not　life　only　but　vigor　dwelt　in　this　wooden　shell。　　The　extreme　ends　of　the　longer　boughs　were　firewood；　touchwood；　and　the　crown　was　gone　this　many　a　year：　but　narrow　the　circle　a　very　little　to　where　the　indomitable　trunk　could　still　shoot　sap　from　its　cruse　deep　in　earth；　and　there　on　every　side　burst　the　green　foliage　in　its　season　countless　as　the　sand。　　The　leaves　carved　centuries　ago　from　these　very　models；　though　cut　in　stone；　were　most　of　them　mouldered；　blunted；　notched；　deformed：　but　the　delicate　types　came　back　with　every　summer；　perfect　and　lovely　as　when　the　tree　was　but　their　elder　brother：　and　greener　than　ever：　for；　from　what　cause　nature　only　knows；　the　leaves　were　many　shades　richer　than　any　other　tree　could　show　for　a　hundred　miles　round；　a　deep　green；　fiery；　yet　soft；　and　then　their　multitudethe　staircases　of　foliage　as　you　looked　up　the　tree；　and　could　scarce　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　sky。　　An　inverted　abyss　of　color；　a　mound；　a　dome；　of　flake　emeralds　that　quivered　in　the　golden　air。

And　now　the　sun　sets；　the　green　leaves　are　black；　the　moon　rises：　her　cold　light　shoots　across　one　half　that　giant　stem。

How　solemn　and　calm　stands　the　great　round　tower　of　living　wood；　half　ebony；　half　silver；　with　its　mighty　cloud　above　of　flake　jet　leaves　tipped　with　frosty　fire！

Now　is　the　still　hour　to　repeat　in　a　whisper　the　words　of　the　dame　of　Beaurepaire；　〃You　were　here　before　us：　you　will　be　here　when　we　are　gone。〃

We　leave　the　hoary　king　of　trees　standing　in　the　moonlight；　calmly　defying　time；　and　follow　the　creatures　of　a　day；　for；　what　they　were；　we　are。


A　spacious　saloon　panelled；　dead　but　showy　white　picked　out　sparingly　with　gold。　　Festoons　of　fruits　and　flowers　finely　carved　in　wood　on　some　of　the　panels。　　These　also　not　smothered　in　gilding；　but　as　it　were　gold　speckled　here　and　there；　like　tongues　of　flame　winding　among　insoluble　snow。　　Ranged　against　the　walls　were　sofas　and　chairs　covered　with　rich　stuffs　well　worn。　　And　in　one　little　distant　corner　of　the　long　room　a　gray…haired　gentleman　and　two　young　ladies　sat　round　a　small　plain　table；　on　which　burned　a　solitary　candle；　and　a　little　way　apart　in　this　candle's　twilight　an　old　lady　sat　in　an　easy…chair；　thinking　of　the　past；　scarce　daring　to　inquire　the　future。　　Josephine　and　Rose　were　working：　not　fancy…　work　but　needle…work；　Dr。　Aubertin　writing。　　Every　now　and　then　he　put　the　one　candle　nearer　the　girls。　　They　raised　no　objection：　only　a　few　minutes　after　a　white　hand　would　glide　from　one　or　other　of　them　like　a　serpent；　and　smoothly　convey　the　light　nearer　to　the　doctor's　manuscript。

〃Is　it　not　supper…time？〃　he　inquired。　　〃I　have　an　inward　monitor；　and　I　think　our　dinner　was　more　ethereal　than　usual。〃

〃Hush！〃　said　Josephine；　and　looked　uneasily　towards　her　mother。　〃Wax　is　so　dear。〃

〃Wax？ah！pardon　me：〃　and　the　doctor　returned　hastily　to　his　work。　But　Rose　looked　up　and　said；　〃I　wonder　Jacintha　does　not　come；　it　is　certainly　past　the　hour；〃　and　she　pried　into　the　room　as　if　she　expected　to　see　Jacintha　on　the　road。　　But　she　saw　in　fact　very　little　of　anything；　for　the　spacious　room　was　impenetrable　to　her　eye；　midway　from　the　candle　to　the　distant　door　its　twilight　deepened；　and　all　became　shapeless　and　sombre。　　The　prospect　ended　sharp　and　black；　as　in　those　out…o'…door　closets　imagined　and　painted　by　a　certain　great　painter；　whose　Nature　comes　to　a　full　stop　as　soon　as　he　has　no　further　commercial　need　of　her；　instead　of　melting　by　fine　expanse　and　exquisite　gradation　into　genuine　distance；　as　nature　does　in　Claude　and　in　nature。　　To　reverse　the　picture；　if　you　stood　at　the　door　you　looked　across　forty　feet　of　black；　and　the　little　corner　seemed　on　fire；　and　the　fair　heads　about　the　candle　shone　like　the　St。　Cecilias　and　Madonnas　in　an　antique　stained…glass　window。

At　last　the　door　opened；　and　another　candle　fired　Jacintha's　comely　peasant　face　in　the　doorway。　　She　put　down　her　candle　outside　the　door；　and　started　as　crow　flies　for　the　other　light。　　After　glowing　a　moment　in　the　doorway　she　dived　into　the　shadow　and　emerged　into　light　again　close　to　the　table　with　napkins　on　her　arm。　　She　removed　the　work…box　reverentially；　the　doctor's　manuscript　unceremoniously；　and　proceeded　to　lay　a　cloth：　in　which　operation　she　looked　at　Rose　a　point…blank　glance　of　admiration：　then　she　placed　the　napkins；　and　in　this　process　she　again　cast　a　strange　look　of　interest　upon　Rose。　The　young　lady　noticed　it　this　time；　and　looked　inquiringly　at　her　in　return；　half　expecting　some　communication；　but　Jacintha　lowered　her　eyes　and　bustled　about　the　table。　　Then　Rose　spoke　to　her　with　a　sort　of　instinct　of　curiosity；　on　the　chance　of　drawing　her　out。

〃Supper　is　late　to…night；　is　it　not；　Jacintha？〃

〃Yes；　mademoiselle；　I　have　had　more　cooking　than　usual；〃　and　with　this　she　delivered　another　point…blank　look　as　before；　and　dived　into　the　palpable　obscure；　and　came　to　light　in　the　doorway。

Her　return　was　anxiously　expected；　for；　if　the　truth　must　be　told；　they　were　very　hungry。　　So　rigorous　was　the　economy　in　this　decayed　but　honorable　house　that　the　wax　candles　burned　to…day　in　the　oratory　had　scrimped　their　dinner；　unsubstantial　as　it　was　wont　to　be。　　Think　of　that；　you　in　fustian　jackets　who　grumble　after　meat。　The　door　opened；　Jacintha　reappeared　in　the　light　of　her　candle　a　moment　with　a　tray　in　both　hands；　and；　approaching；　was　lost　to　view；　but　a　strange　and　fragrant　smell　heralded　her。　　All　their　eyes　turned　with　curiosity　towards　the　unwonted　odor；　and　Jacintha　dawned　with　three　roast　partridges　on　a　dish。

They　were　wonder…struck；　and　looked　from　the　birds　to　her　in　mute　surprise；　that　was　not　diminished　by　a　certain　cynical　indifference　she　put　on。　　She　avoided　their　eyes；　and　forcibly　excluded　from　her　face　everything　that　could　imply　she　did　not　serve　up　partridges　to　this　family　every　night　of　her　life。

〃The　supper　is　served；　madame；〃　said　she；　with　a　respectful　courtesy　and　a　mechanical　tone；　and；　plunging　into　the　night；　swam　out　at　her　own　candle；　shut　the　door；　and；　unlocking　her　face　that　moment；　burst　out　radiant；　and　so　to　the　kitchen；　and；　with　a　tear　in　her　eye；　set…to　and　polished　all　the　copper　stewpans　with　a　vigor　and　expedition　unknown　to　the　new…fangled　domestic。

〃Partridges；　mamma！　　What　next？〃

〃Pheasants；　I　hope；〃　cried　the　doctor；　gayly。　　〃And　after　them　hares；　to　conclude　with　royal　venison。　　Permit　me；　ladies。〃　　And　he　set　himself　to　carve　with　zeal。

Now　nature　is　nature；　and　two　pair　of　violet　eyes　brightened　and　dwelt　on　the　fragrant　and　delicate　food　with　demure　desire；　for　all　that；　when　Aubertin　offered　Josephine　a　wing；　she　declined　it。　　〃No　partridge？〃　cried　the　savant；　in　utter　amazement。

〃Not　to…day；　dear　friend；　it　is　not　a　feast　day　to…day。〃

〃Ah！　no；　what　was　I　thinking　of？〃

〃But　you　are　not　to　be　deprived；〃　put　in　Josephine；　anxiously。　　〃We　will　not　deny　ourselves　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　eat　some。〃

〃What！〃　remonstrated　Aubertin；　〃am　I　not　one　of　you？〃

The　baroness　had　attended　to　every　word　of　this。　　She　rose　from　her　chair；　and　said　quietly；　〃Both　you　and　he　and　Rose　will　be　so　good　as　to　let　me　see　you　eat。〃

〃But；　mamma；〃　remonstrated　Josephine　and　Rose　in　one　breath。

〃Je　le　veux；〃　was　the　cold　reply。

These　were　words　the　baroness　uttered　so　seldom　that　they　were　little　likely　to　be　disputed。

The　doctor　carved　and　helped　the　young　ladies　and　himself。

When　they　had　all　eaten　a　little；　a　discussion　was　observed　to　be　going　on　between　Rose　and　her　sister。　　At　last　Aubertin　caught　these　words；　〃It　will　be　in　vain；　even　you　have　not　influence　enough　for　that；　Rose。〃

〃We　shall　see；〃　was　the　reply；　and　Rose　put　the　wing　of　a　partridge　on　a　plate　and　rose　calmly　from　her　chair。　　She　took　the　plate　and　put　it　on　a　little　work…table　by　her　mother's　side。　　The　others　pretended　to　be　all　mouths；　but　they　were　all　ears。　　The　baroness　looked　in　Rose's　face　with　an　air　of　wonder　that　was　not　very　encouraging。　　Then；　as　Rose　said　nothing；　she　raised　her　aristocratic　hand　with　a　courteous　but　decided　gesture　of　refusal。

Undaunted　Rose　laid　her　palm　softly　on　the　baroness's　shoulder；　and　said　to　her　as　firmly　as　the　baroness　herself　had　just　spoken；

〃Il　le　veut。〃

The　baroness　was　staggered。　　Then　she　looked　with　moist　eyes　at　the　fair　young　face；　then　she　reflected。　　At　last　she　said；　with　an　exquisite　mixture　of　politeness　and　affection；　〃It　is　his　daughter　who　has　told　me　'Il　le　veut。'　　I　obey。〃

Rose　returning　like　a　victorious　knight　from　the　lists；　saucily　exultant；　and　with　only　one　wet　eyelash；　was　solemnly　kissed　and　petted　by　Josephine　and　the　doctor。

Thus　they　loved　one　another　in　this　great；　old；　falling　house。　Their　familiarity　had　no　coarse　side；　a　form；　not　of　custom　but　affection；　it　went　hand…in…hand　with　courtesy　by　day　and　night。

The　love　of　the　daughters　for　their　mother　had　all　the　tenderness；　subtlety；　and　unselfishness　of　womanly　natures；　together　with　a　certain　characteristic　of　the　female　character。　　And　whither　that　one　defect　led　them；　and　by　what　gradations；　it　may　be　worth　the　reader's　while　to　observe。

The　baroness　retired　to　rest　early；　and　she　was　no　sooner　gone　than　Josephine　leaned　over　to　Rose；　and　told　her　what　their　mother　had　said　to　the　oak…tree。　　Rose　heard　this　with　anxiety；　hitherto　they　had　carefully　concealed　from　their　mother　that　the　government　claimed　the　right　of　selling　the　chateau　to　pay　the　creditors；　etc。；　and　now　both　sisters　feared　the　old　lady　had　discovered　it　somehow；　or　why　that　strange　thing　she　had　said　to　the　oak…tree？　　But　Dr。　Aubertin　caught　their　remarks；　and　laid　down　his　immortal　MS。　on　French　insects；　to　express　his　hope　that　they　were　putting　a　forced　interpretation　on　the　baroness's　words。

〃I　think；〃　said　he；　〃she　merely　meant　how　short…lived　are　we　all　compared　with　this　ancient　oak。　　I　should　be　very　sorry　to　adopt　the　other　interpretation；　for　if　she　knows　she　can　at　any　moment　be　expelled　from　Beaurepaire；　it　will　be　almost　as　bad　for　her　as　the　calamity　itself；　THAT；　I　think；　would　kill　her。〃

〃Why　so？〃　said　Rose；　eagerly。　　〃What　is　this　house　or　that？　　Mamma　will　still　have　her　daughters'　love；　go　where　she　will。〃

Aubertin　replied；　〃It　is　idle　to　deceive　ourselves；　at　her　age　men　and　women　hang　to　life　by　their　habits；　take　her　away　from　her　chateau；　from　the　little　oratory　where　she　prays　every　day　for　the　departed；　from　her　pla