la mere bauche-第5章

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pressed　it　warmly；　oh；　so　warmly。　　〃You　would　have　my　love；〃　said
she；　〃my　deepest；　warmest　best　heart's　love　should　want　nothing　more；
nothing　on　earth；　if　I　could　still　have　yours。〃　　And　she　leaned
against　his　shoulder　and　looked　with　all　her　eyes　into　his　face。

〃But；　Marie；　that's　nonsense；　you　know。〃

〃No；　Adolphe；　it　is　not　nonsense。　　Do　not　let　them　teach　you　so。
What　does　love　mean；　if　it　does　not　mean　that？　　Oh；　Adolphe；　you　do
love　me；　you　do　love　me；　you　do　love　me？〃

〃Yes；I　love　you；〃　he　said　slowly；as　though　he　would　not　have　said
it；　if　he　could　have　helped　it。　　And　then　his　arm　crept　slowly　round
her　waist；　as　though　in　that　also　he　could　not　help　himself。

〃And　do　not　I　love　you？〃　said　the　passionate　girl。　　〃Oh；　I　do；　so
dearly；　with　all　my　heart；　with　all　my　soul。　　Adolphe；　I　so　love　you；
that　I　cannot　give　you　up。　　Have　I　not　sworn　to　be　yours；　sworn；
sworn　a　thousand　times？　　How　can　I　marry　that　man！　　Oh　Adolphe　how
can　you　wish　that　I　should　marry　him？〃　　And　she　clung　to　him；　and
looked　at　him；　and　besought　him　with　her　eyes。

〃I　shouldn't　wish　it；only〃　and　then　he　paused。　　It　was　hard　to
tell　her　that　he　was　willing　to　sacrifice　her　to　the　old　man　because
he　wanted　money　from　his　mother。

　〃Only　what！　　But　Adolphe；　do　not　wish　it　at　all！　　Have　you　not　sworn
that　I　should　be　your　wife？　　Look　here；　look　at　this；〃　and　she
brought　out　from　her　bosom　a　little　charm　that　he　had　given　her　in
return　for　that　cross。　　〃Did　you　not　kiss　that　when　you　swore　before
the　figure　of　the　Virgin　that　I　should　be　your　wife？　　And　do　you　not
remember　that　I　feared　to　swear　too；　because　your　mother　was　so
angry；　and　then　you　made　me？　　After　that；　Adolphe！　　Oh；　Adolphe！
Tell　me　that　I　may　have　some　hope。　　I　will　wait；　oh；　I　will　wait　so
patiently。〃

He　turned　himself　away　from　her　and　walked　backwards　and　forwards
uneasily　through　the　grotto。　　He　did　love　her；love　her　as　such　men
do　love　sweet；　pretty　girls。　　The　warmth　of　her　hand；　the　affection
of　her　touch；　the　pure　bright　passion　of　her　tear…laden　eye　had　re…
awakened　what　power　of　love　there　was　within　him。　　But　what　was　he　to
do？　　Even　if　he　were　willing　to　give　up　the　immediate　golden　hopes
which　his　mother　held　out　to　him；　how　was　he　to　begin；　and　then　how
carry　out　this　work　of　self…devotion？　　Marie　would　be　turned　away；
and　he　would　be　left　a　victim　in　the　hands　of　his　mother；　and　of　that
stiff；　wooden…legged　militaire；a　penniless　victim；　left　to　mope
about　the　place　without　a　grain　of　influence　or　a　morsel　of　pleasure。

〃But　what　can　we　do？〃　he　exclaimed　again；　as　he　once　more　met　Marie's
searching　eye。

〃We　can　be　true　and　honest；　and　we　can　wait；〃　she　said；　coming　close
up　to　him　and　taking　hold　of　his　arm。　　〃I　do　not　fear　it；　and　she　is
not　my　mother；　Adolphe。　　You　need　not　fear　your　own　mother。〃

〃Fear！　no；　of　course　I　don't　fear。　　But　I　don't　see　how　the　very
devil　we　can　manage　it。〃

〃Will　you　let　me　tell　her　that　I　will　not　marry　the　capitaine；　that　I
will　not　give　up　your　promises；　and　then　I　am　ready　to　leave　the
house？〃

〃It　would　do　no　good。〃

〃It　would　do　every　good；　Adolphe；　if　I　had　your　promised　word　once
more；　if　I　could　hear　from　your　own　voice　one　more　tone　of　love。　　Do
you　not　remember　this　place？　　It　was　here　that　you　forced　me　to　say
that　I　loved　you。　　It　is　here　also　that　you　will　tell　me　that　I　have
been　deceived。〃

〃It　is　not　I　that　would　deceive　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　wonder　that　you
should　be　so　hard　upon　me。　　God　knows　that　I　have　trouble　enough。〃

〃Well；　if　I　am　a　trouble　to　you；　be　it　so。　　Be　it　as　you　wish；〃　and
she　leaned　back　against　the　wall　of　the　rock；　and　crossing　her　arms
upon　her　breast　looked　away　from　him　and　fixed　her　eyes　upon　the
sharp　granite　peaks　of　Canigou。

He　again　betook　himself　to　walk　backwards　and　forwards　through　the
cave。　　He　had　quite　enough　of　love　for　her　to　make　him　wish　to　marry
her；　quite　enough　now；　at　this　moment；　to　make　the　idea　of　her
marriage　with　the　capitaine　very　distasteful　to　him；　enough　probably
to　make　him　become　a　decently　good　husband　to　her；　should　fate　enable
him　to　marry　her；　but　not　enough　to　enable　him　to　support　all　the
punishment　which　would　be　the　sure　effects　of　his　mother's
displeasure。　　Besides；　he　had　promised　his　mother　that　he　would　give
up　Marie；had　entirely　given　in　his　adhesion　to　that　plan　of　the
marriage　with　the　capitaine。　　He　had　owned　that　the　path　of　life　as
marked　out　for　him　by　his　mother　was　the　one　which　it　behoved　him；　as
a　man；　to　follow。　　It　was　this　view　of　his　duties　as　a　man　which　had
I　been　specially　urged　on　him　with　all　the　capitaine's　eloquence。
And　old　Campan　had　entirely　succeeded。　　It　is　so　easy　to　get　the
assent　of　such　young　men；　so　weak　in　mind　and　so　weak　in　pocket；　when
the　arguments　are　backed　by　a　promise　of　two　thousand　francs　a　year。

〃I'll　tell　you　what　I'll　do；〃　at　last　he　said。　　〃I'll　get　my　mother
by　herself；　and　will　ask　her　to　let　the　matter　remain　as　it　is　for
the　present。〃

〃Not　if　it　be　a　trouble；　M。　Adolphe；〃　and　the　proud　girl　still　held
her　hands　upon　her　bosom；　and　still　looked　towards　the　mountain。

〃You　know　what　I　mean；　Marie。　　You　can　understand　how　she　and　the
capitaine　are　worrying　me。〃

〃But　tell　me；　Adolphe；　do　you　love　me？〃

〃You　know　I　love　you；　only。〃

〃And　you　will　not　give　me　up？〃

〃I　will　ask　my　mother。　　I　will　try　and　make　her　yield。〃

Marie　could　not　feel　that　she　received　much　confidence　from　her
lover's　promise；　but　still；　even　that；　weak　and　unsteady　as　it　was；
even　that　was　better　than　absolute　fixed　rejection。　　So　she　thanked
him；　promised　him　with　tears　in　her　eyes　that　she　would　always；
always　be　faithful　to　him；　and　then　bade　him　go　down　to　the　house。
She　would　follow；　she　said；　as　soon　as　his　passing　had　ceased　to　be
observed。

Then　she　looked　at　him　as　though　she　expected　some　sign　of　renewed
love。　　But　no　such　sign　was　vouchsafed　to　her。　　Now　that　she　thirsted
for　the　touch　of　his　lip　upon　her　check；　it　was　denied　to　her。　　He
did　as　she　bade　him；　he　went　down；　slowly　loitering；　by　himself；　and
in　about　half　an　hour　she　followed　him；　and　unobserved　crept　to　her
chamber。

Again　we　will　pass　over　what　took　place　between　the　mother　and　the
son；　but　late　in　that　evening；　after　the　guests　had　gone　to　bed；
Marie　received　a　message；　desiring　her　to　wait　on　Madame　Bauche　in　a
small　salon　which　looked　out　from　one　end　of　the　house。　　It　was
intended　as　a　private　sitting…room　should　any　special　stranger　arrive
who　required　such　accommodation；　and　therefore　was　but　seldom　used。
Here　she　found　La　Mere　Bauche　sitting　in　an　arm…chair　behind　a　small
table　on　which　stood　two　candles；　and　on　a　sofa　against　the　wall　sat
Adolphe。　　The　capitaine　was　not　in　the　room。

〃Shut　the　door；　Marie；　and　come　in　and　sit　down；〃　said　Madame　Bauche。
It　was　easy　to　understand　from　the　tone　of　her　voice　that　she　was
angry　and　stern；　in　an　unbending　mood；　and　resolved　to　carry　out　to
the　very　letter　all　the　threats　conveyed　by　those　terrible
spectacles。

Marie　did　as　she　was　bid。　　She　closed　the　door　and　sat　down　on　the
chair　that　was　nearest　to　her。

〃Marie；〃　said　La　Mere　Baucheand　the　voice　sounded　fierce　in　the
poor　girl's　ears；　and　an　angry　fire　glimmered　through　the　green
glasses〃what　is　all　this　about　that　I　hear？　　Do　you　dare　to　say
that　you　hold　my　son　bound　to　marry　you？〃　　And　then　the　august　mother
paused　for　an　answer。

But　Marie　had　no　answer　to　give。　　See　looked　suppliantly　towards　her
lover；　as　though　beseeching　him　to　carry　on　the　fight　for　her。　　But
if　she　could　not　do　battle　for　herself；　certainly　he　could　not　do　it
for　her。　　What　little　amount　of　fighting　he　had　had　in　him；　had　been
thoroughly　vanquished　before　her　arrival。

〃I　will　have　an　answer；　and　that　immediately；〃　said　Madame　Bauche。
〃I　am　not　going　to　be　betrayed　into　ignominy　and　disgrace　by　the
object　of　my　own　charity。　　Who　picked　you　out　of　the　gutter；　miss；
and　brought　you　up　and　fed　you；　when　you　would　otherwise　have　gone　to
the　foundling？　　And　this　is　your　gratitude　for　it　all？　　You　are　not
satisfied　with　being　fed　and　clothed　and　cherished　by　me；　but　you
must　rob　me　of　my　son！　　Know　this　then；　Adolphe　shall　never　marry　a
child　of　charity　such　as　you　are。〃

Marie　sat　still；　stunned　by　the　harshness　of　these　words。　　La　Mere
Bauche　had　often　scolded　her；　indeed；　she　was　given　to　much　scolding；
but　she　had　scolded　her　as　a　mother　may　scold　a　child。　　And　when　this
story　of　Marie's　love　first　reached　her　ears；　she　had　been　very
angry；　but　her　anger　had　never　brought　her　to　such　a　pass　as　this。
Indeed；　Marie　had　not　hitherto　been　taught　to　look　at　the　matter　in
this　light。　　No　one　had　heretofore　twitted　her　with　eating　the　bread
of　charity。　　It　had　not　occurred　to　her　that　on　this　account　she　was
unfit　to　be　Adolphe's　wife。　　There；　in　that　valley；　they　were　all　so
nearly　equal；　that　no　idea　of　her　own　inferiority　had　ever　pressed
itself　upon　her　mind。　　But　now！

When　the　voice　ceased　she　again　looked　at　him；　but　it　was　no　longer　a
beseeching　look。　　Did　he　also　altogether　scorn　her？　　That　was　now　the
inquiry　which　her　eyes　were　called　upon　to　make。　　No；　she　could　not
say　that　he　did。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　his　energies　were　chiefly
occupied　in　pulling　to　pieces　the　tassel　on　the　sofa　cushion。

〃And　now；　miss；　let　me　know　at　once　whether　this　nonsense　is　to　be
over　or　not；〃　continued　La　Mere　Bauche；　〃and　I　will　tell　you　at　once；
I　am　not　going　to　maintain　you　here；　in　my　house；　to　plot　against　our
welfare　and　happiness。　　As　Marie　Clavert　you　shall　not　stay　here。
Capitaine　Campan　is　willing　to　marry　you；　and　as　his　wife　I　will　keep
my　word　to　you；　though　you　little　deserve　it。　　If　you　refuse　to　marry
him；　you　must　go。　　As　to　my　son；　he　is　there；　and　he　will　tell　you
now；　in　my　presence；　that　he　altogether　declines　the　honour　you
propose　for　him。〃

And　then　she　ceased；　waiting　for　an　answer；　drumming　the　table　with　a
wafer　stamp　which　happened　to　be　ready　to　her　hand；　but　Marie　said
nothing。　　Adolphe　had　been　appealed　to；　but　Adolphe　had　not　yet
spoken。

〃Well；　miss？〃　said　La　Mere　Bauche

Then　Marie　rose　from　her　seat；　and　walking　round　she　touched　Adolphe
lightly　on　the　shoulder。　　〃Adolphe；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　for　you　to
speak　now。　　I　will　do　as　you　bid　me。〃

He　gave　a　long　sigh；　looked　first　at　Marie　and　then　at　his　mother；
shook　himself　slightly；　and　then　spoke：　　〃Upon　my　word；　Marie；　I
think　mother　is　right。　　It　would　never　do　for　us　to　marry；　it　would
not　indeed。〃

〃Then　it　is　decided；〃　said　Marie；　returning　to　her　chair。

〃And　you　will　marry　the　capitaine？〃　said　La　Mere　Bauche。

Marie　merely　bowed　her　head　in　token　of　acquiescence。　　〃Then　we　are
friends　again。　　Come　here；　Marie；　and　kiss　me。　　You　must　know　that　it
is　my　duty　to　take　care　of　my　own　son。　　But　I　don't　want　to　be　angry
with　you　if　I　can　help　it；　I　don't　indeed。　　When　once　you　are　Madame
Campan；　you　shall　be　my　own　child；　and　you　shall　have　any　room　in　the
house　you　like　to　choosethere！〃　　And　she　once　more　imprinted　a　kiss
on　Marie's　cold　forehead。

How　they　all　got　out　of　the　room；　and　off　to　their　own　chambers；　I
can　hardly　tell。　　But　in　five　minutes　from　the　time　of　this　last　kiss
they　were　divided。　　La　Me