la mere bauche-第6章

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can　hardly　tell。　　But　in　five　minutes　from　the　time　of　this　last　kiss
they　were　divided。　　La　Mere　Bauche　had　patted　Marie；　and　smiled　on
her；　and　called　her　her　dear　good　little　Madame　Campan；　her　young
little　Mistress　of　the　Hotel　Bauche；　and　had　then　got　herself　into
her　own　room；　satisfied　with　her　own　victory。

Nor　must　my　readers　be　too　severe　on　Madame　Bauche。　　She　had　already
done　much　for　Marie　Clavert；　and　when　she　found　herself　once　more　by
her　own　bedside；　she　prayed　to　be　forgiven　for　the　cruelty　which　she
felt　that　she　had　shown　to　the　orphan。　　But　in　making　this　prayer；
with　her　favourite　crucifix　in　her　hand　and　the　little　image　of　the
Virgin　before　her；　she　pleaded　her　duty　to　her　son。　　Was　it　not
right；　she　asked　the　Virgin；　that　she　should　save　her　son　from　a　bad
marriage？　　And　then　she　promised　ever　so　much　of　recompense；　both　to
the　Virgin　and　to　Marie；　a　new　trousseau　for　each；　with　candles　to
the　Virgin；　with　a　gold　watch　and　chain　for　Marie；　as　soon　as　she
should　be　Marie　Campan。　　She　had　been　cruel；　she　acknowledged　it。
But　at　such　a　crisis　was　it　not　defensible？　　And　then　the　recompense
should　be　so　full！

But　there　was　one　other　meeting　that　night；　very　short　indeed；　but
not　the　less　significant。　　Not　long　after　they　had　all　separated；
just　so　long　as　to　allow　of　the　house　being　quiet；　Adolphe；　still
sitting　in　his　room；　meditating　on　what　the　day　had　done　for　him；
heard　a　low　tap　at　his　door。　　〃Come　in；〃　he　said；　as　men　always　do
say；　and　Marie　opening　the　door；　stood　just　within　the　verge　of　his
chamber。　　She　had　on　her　countenance　neither　the　soft　look　of
entreating　love　which　she　had　worn　up　there　in　the　grotto；　nor　did
she　appear　crushed　and　subdued　as　she　had　done　before　his　mother。
She　carried　her　head　somewhat　more　erect　than　usual；　and　looked
boldly　out　at　him　from　under　her　soft　eyelashes。　　There　might　still
be　love　there；　but　it　was　love　proudly　resolving　to　quell　itself。
Adolphe；　as　he　looked　at　her；　felt　that　he　was　afraid　of　her。

〃It　is　all　over　then　between　us；　M。　Adolphe？〃　she　said。

〃Well；　yes。　　Don't　you　think　it　had　better　be　so；　eh；　Marie？〃

〃And　this　is　the　meaning　of　oaths　and　vows；　sworn　to　each　other　so
sacredly？〃

〃But；　Marie；　you　heard　what　my　mother　said。〃

〃Oh；　sir！　　I　have　not　come　to　ask　you　again　to　love　me。　　Oh　no！　　I　am
not　thinking　of　that。　　But　this；　this　would　be　a　lie　if　I　kept　it
now；　it　would　choke　me　if　I　wore　it　as　that　man's　wife。　　Take　it
back；〃　and　she　tendered　to　him　the　little　charm　which　she　had　always
worn　round　her　neck　since　he　had　given　it　to　her。　　He　took　it
abstractedly；　without　thinking　what　he　did；　and　placed　it　on　his
dressing…table。

〃And　you；〃　she　continued；　〃can　you　still　keep　that　cross？　　Oh；　no！
you　must　give　me　back　that。　　It　would　remind　you　too　often　of　vows
that　were　untrue。〃

〃Marie；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　be　so　harsh　to　me。〃

〃Harsh！〃　said　she；　〃no；　there　has　been　enough　of　harshness。　　I　would
not　be　harsh　to　you；　Adolphe。　　But　give　me　the　cross；　it　would　prove
a　curse　to　you　if　you　kept　it。〃

He　then　opened　a　little　box　which　stood　upon　the　table；　and　taking
out　the　cross　gave　it　to　her。

〃And　now　good…bye；〃　she　said。　　〃We　shall　have　but　little　more　to　say
to　each　other。　　I　know　this　now；　that　I　was　wrong　ever　to　have　loved
you。　　I　should　have　been　to　you　as　one　of　the　other　poor　girls　in　the
house。　　But；　oh！　how　was　I　to　help　it？〃　　To　this　he　made　no　answer；
and　she；　closing　the　door　softly；　went　back　to　her　chamber。　　And　thus
ended　the　first　day　of　Adolphe　Bauche's　return　to　his　own　house。

On　the　next　morning　the　capitaine　and　Marie　were　formally　betrothed。
This　was　done　with　some　little　ceremony；　in　the　presence　of　all　the
guests　who　were　staying　at　the　establishment；　and　with　all　manner　of
gracious　acknowledgments　of　Marie's　virtues。　　It　seemed　as　though　La
Mere　Bauche　could　not　be　courteous　enough　to　her。　　There　was　no　more
talk　of　her　being　a　child　of　charity；　no　more　allusion　now　to　the
gutter。　　La　Mere　Bauche　with　her　own　hand　brought　her　cake　with　a
glass　of　wine　after　her　betrothal　was　over；　and　patted　her　on　the
cheek；　and　called　her　her　dear　little　Marie　Campan。　　And　then　the
capitaine　was　made　up　of　infinite　politeness；　and　the　guests　all
wished　her　joy；　and　the　servants　of　the　house　began　to　perceive　that
she　was　a　person　entitled　to　respect。　　How　different　was　all　this
from　that　harsh　attack　that　was　made　on　her　the　preceding　evening！
Only　Adolphe；he　alone　kept　aloof。　　Though　he　was　present　there　he
said　nothing。　　He；　and　he　only；　offered　no　congratulations。

In　the　midst　of　all　these　gala　doings　Marie　herself　said　little　or
nothing。　　La　Mere　Bauche　perceived　this；　but　she　forgave　it。　　Angrily
as　she　had　expressed　herself　at　the　idea　of　Marie's　daring　to　love
her　son；　she　had　still　acknowledged　within　her　own　heart　that　such
love　had　been　natural。　　She　could　feel　no　pity　for　Marie　as　long　as
Adolphe　was　in　danger；　but　now　she　knew　how　to　pity　her。　　So　Marie
was　still　petted　and　still　encouraged；　though　she　went　through　the
day's　work　sullenly　and　in　silence。

As　to　the　capitaine　it　was　all　one　to　him。　　He　was　a　man　of　the
world。　　He　did　not　expect　that　he　should　really　be　preferred；　con
amore；　to　a　young　fellow　like　Adolphe。　　But　he　did　expect　that　Marie；
like　other　girls；　would　do　as　she　was　bid；　and　that　in　a　few　days　she
would　regain　her　temper　and　be　reconciled　to　her　life。

And　then　the　marriage　was　fixed　for　a　very　early　day；　for　as　La　Mere
said；　〃What　was　the　use　of　waiting？　　All　their　minds　were　made　up
now；　and　therefore　the　sooner　the　two　were　married　the　better。　　Did
not　the　capitaine　think　so？〃

The　capitaine　said　that　he　did　think　so。

And　then　Marie　was　asked。　　It　was　all　one　to　her；　she　said。　　Whatever
Maman　Bauche　liked；　that　she　would　do；　only　she　would　not　name　a　day
herself。　　Indeed　she　would　neither　do　nor　say　anything　herself　which
tended　in　any　way　to　a　furtherance　of　these　matrimonials。　　But　then
she　acquiesced；　quietly　enough　if　not　readily；　in　what　other　people
did　and　said；　and　so　the　marriage　was　fixed　for　the　day　week　after
Adolphe's　return。

The　whole　of　that　week　passed　much　in　the　same　way。　　The　servants
about　the　place　spoke　among　themselves　of　Marie's　perverseness；
obstinacy；　and　ingratitude；　because　she　would　not　look　pleased；　or
answer　Madame　Bauche's　courtesies　with　gratitude；　but　La　Mere　herself
showed　no　signs　of　anger。　　Marie　had　yielded　to　her；　and　she　required
no　more。　　And　she　remembered　also　the　harsh　words　she　had　used　to
gain　her　purpose；　and　she　reflected　on　all　that　Marie　had　lost。　　On
these　accounts　she　was　forbearing　and　exacted　nothingnothing　but
that　one　sacrifice　which　was　to　be　made　in　accordance　to　her　wishes。

And　it　was　made。　　They　were　married　in　the　great　salon；　the　dining…
room；　immediately　after　breakfast。　　Madame　Bauche　was　dressed　in　a
new　puce　silk　dress；　and　looked　very　magnificent　on　the　occasion。
She　simpered　and　smiled；　and　looked　gay　even　in　spite　of　her
spectacles；　and　as　the　ceremony　was　being　performed；　she　held　fast
clutched　in　her　hand　the　gold　watch　and　chain　which　were　intended　for
Marie　as　soon　as　ever　the　marriage　should　be　completed。

The　capitaine　was　dressed　exactly　as　usual；　only　that　all　his　clothes
were　new。　　Madame　Bauche　had　endeavoured　to　persuade　him　to　wear　a
blue　coat；　but　he　answered　that　such　a　change　would　not；　he　was　sure；
be　to　Marie's　taste。　　To　tell　the　truth；　Marie　would　hardly　have
known　the　difference　had　he　presented　himself　in　scarlet　vestments。

Adolphe；　however；　was　dressed　very　finely；　but　he　did　not　make
himself　prominent　on　the　occasion。　　Marie　watched　him　closely；　though
none　saw　that　she　did　so；　and　of　his　garments　she　could　have　given　an
account　with　much　accuracyof　his　garments；　ay！　and　of　every　look。
〃Is　he　a　man；〃　she　said　at　last　to　herself；　〃that　he　can　stand　by　and
see　all　this？〃

She　too　was　dressed　in　silk。　　They　had　put　on　her　what　they　pleased；
and　she　bore　the　burden　of　her　wedding　finery　without　complaint　and
without　pride。　　There　was　no　blush　on　her　face　as　she　walked　up　to
the　table　at　which　the　priest　stood；　nor　hesitation　in　her　low　voice
as　she　made　the　necessary　answers。　　She　put　her　hand　into　that　of　the
capitaine　when　required　to　do　so；　and　when　the　ring　was　put　on　her
finger　she　shuddered；　but　ever　so　slightly。　　No　one　observed　it　but
La　Mere　Bauche。　　〃In　one　week　she　will　be　used　to　it；　and　then　we
shall　all　be　happy；〃　said　La　Mere　to　herself。　　〃And　I；I　will　be　so
kind　to　her！〃

And　so　the　marriage　was　completed；　and　the　watch　was　at　once　given　to
Marie。　　〃Thank　you；　maman；〃　said　she；　as　the　trinket　was　fastened　to
her　girdle。　　Had　it　been　a　pincushion　that　had　cost　three　sous；　it
would　have　affected　her　as　much。

And　then　there　was　cake　and　wine　and　sweetmeats；　and　after　a　few
minutes　Marie　disappeared。　　For　an　hour　or　so　the　capitaine　was　taken
up　with　the　congratulating　of　his　friends；　and　with　the　efforts
necessary　to　the　wearing　of　his　new　honours　with　an　air　of　ease；　but
after　that　time　he　began　to　be　uneasy　because　his　wife　did　not　come
to　him。　　At　two　or　three　in　the　afternoon　he　went　to　La　Mere　Bauche
to　complain。　　〃This　lackadaisical　nonsense　is　no　good；〃　he　said。　　〃At
any　rate　it　is　too　late　now。　　Marie　had　better　come　down　among　us　and
show　herself　satisfied　with　her　husband。〃

But　Madame　Bauche　took　Marie's　part。　　〃You　must　not　be　too　hard　on
Marie；〃　she　said。　　〃She　has　gone　through　a　good　deal　this　week　past；
and　is　very　young；　whereas；　capitaine；　you　are　not　very　young。〃

The　capitaine　merely　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　In　the　mean　time　Mere
Bauche　went　up　to　visit　her　protegee　in　her　own　room；　and　came　down
with　a　report　that　she　was　suffering　from　a　headache。　　She　could　not
appear　at　dinner；　Madame　Bauche　said；　but　would　make　one　at　the
little　party　which　was　to　be　given　in　the　evening。　　With　this　the
capitaine　was　forced　to　be　content。

The　dinner　therefore　went　on　quietly　without　her；　much　as　it　did　on
other　ordinary　days。　　And　then　there　was　a　little　time　for　vacancy；
during　which　the　gentlemen　drank　their　coffee　and　smoked　their　cigars
at　the　cafe；　talking　over　the　event　that　had　taken　place　that
morning；　and　the　ladies　brushed　their　hair　and　added　some　ribbon　or
some　brooch　to　their　usual　apparel。　　Twice　during　this　time　did
Madame　Bauche　go　up　to　Marie's　room　with　offers　to　assist　her。　　〃Not
yet；　maman；　not　quite　yet；〃　said　Marie　piteously　through　her　tears；
and　then　twice　did　the　green　spectacles　leave　the　room；　covering　eyes
which　also　were　not　dry。　　Ah！　what　had　she　done？　　What　had　she　dared
to　take　upon　herself　to　do？　　She　could　not　undo　it　now。

And　then　it　became　quite　dark　in　the　passages　and　out　of　doors；　and
the　guests　assembled　in　the　salon。　　La　Mere　came　in　and　out　three　or
four　times；　uneasy　in　her　gait　and　unpleasant　in　her　aspect；　and
everybody　began　to　see　that　things　were　wrong。　　〃She　is　ill；　I　am
afraid；〃　said　one。　　〃The　excitement　has　been　too　much；〃　said　a
second；　〃and　he　is　so　old；〃　whispered　a　third。　　And　the　capitaine
stalked　about　erect　on　his　wooden　leg；　taking　snuff；　and　striving　to
look　indifferent；　but　he　also　was　uneasy　in　his　mind。

Presently　La　Mere　came　in　again