white lies-第15部分

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　of　Martha；　his　uncle's　old　servant；　and　his　nurse；　the　old　boy　had　come　round。　　They　might　look　on　the　affair　as　all　but　settled。

The　contents　of　this　letter　were　conveyed　to　the　baroness。　　The　house　brightened　under　it：　the　more　so　that　there　was　some　hope　of　their　successful　champion　returning　in　person　next　day。　　Meantime　Perrin　had　applied　to　Raynal　for　the　immediate　loan　of　a　large　sum　of　money　on　excellent　security。　　Raynal　refused　plump。　　Perrin　rode　away　disconsolate。

But　the　next　day　he　returned　to　the　charge　with　another　proposal：　and　the　nature　of　this　second　proposal　we　shall　learn　from　events。

The　day　Edouard　was　expected　opened　deliciously。　　It　was　a　balmy　morning；　and　tempted　the　sisters　out　before　breakfast。　　They　strolled　on　the　south　terrace　with　their　arms　round　each　other's　waists；　talking　about　Edouard；　and　wondering　whether　they　should　really　see　him　before　night。　　Rose　owned　she　had　missed　him；　and　confessed　for　the　first　time　she　was　a　proud　and　happy　girl。

〃May　I　tell　him　so？〃　asked　Josephine。

〃Not　for　all　the　world。　　Would　you　dare？〃

Further　discussion　of　that　nice　point　was　stopped　by　the　baroness　coming　out；　leaning　on　Dr。　Aubertin。

Thenhow　we　young　people　of　an　unceremonious　age　should　have　staredthe　demoiselles　de　Beaurepaire；　inasmuch　as　this　was　their　mother's　first　appearance；　lowered　their　fair　heads　at　the　same　time　like　young　poplars　bowing　to　the　wind；　and　so　waited　reverently　till　she　had　slightly　lifted　her　hands；　and　said；　〃God　bless　you；　my　children！〃

It　was　done　in　a　moment　on　both　sides；　but　full　of　grace　and　piety；　and　the　charm　of　ancient　manners。

〃How　did　our　dear　mother　sleep？〃　inquired　Josephine。　　Aubertin　interposed　with　a　theory　that　she　slept　very　well　indeed　if　she　took　what　he　gave　her。

〃Ay；　IF；〃　suggested　Rose；　saucily。

〃I　slept；〃　said　the　baroness；　〃and　I　wish　I　had　not　for　I　dreamed　an　ugly　dream。〃　　They　all　gathered　round　her；　and　she　told　her　dream。

〃I　thought　I　was　with　you　all　in　this　garden。　　I　was　admiring　the　flowers　and　the　trees；　and　the　birds　were　singing　with　all　their　might。　　Suddenly　a　dark　cloud　came；　it　cleared　almost　directly；　but　flowers；　trees；　sky；　and　birds　were　gone　now；　and　I　could　see　the　chateau　itself　no　more。　　It　means　that　I　was　dead。　　An　ugly　dream；　my　children；　an　ugly　dream。〃

〃But　only　a　dream；　dear　mother；〃　said　Rose：　then　with　a　sweet；　consoling　smile；　〃See；　here　is　your　terrace　and　your　chateau。〃

〃And　here　are　your　daughters；〃　said　Josephine；　and　they　both　came　and　kissed　her　to　put　their　existence　out　of　doubt。　　〃And　here　is　your　Aesculapius；〃　said　Aubertin。　　〃And　here　is　your　Jacintha。〃

〃Breakfast；　madame；〃　said　Jacintha。　　〃Breakfast；　mesdemoiselles。　Breakfast；　monsieur：〃　dropping　each　a　distinct　courtesy　in　turn。

〃She　has　turned　the　conversation　very　agreeably；〃　said　the　baroness；　and　went　in　leaning　on　her　old　friend。

But　the　sisters　lagged　behind　and　took　several　turns　in　silence。　Rose　was　the　first　to　speak。　　〃How　superstitious　of　you！〃

〃I　said　nothing。〃

〃No；　but　you　looked　volumes　at　me　while　mamma　was　telling　her　dream。　For　my　part　I　feel　sure　love　is　stronger　than　hate；　and　we　shall　stay　all　our　days　in　this　sweet　place：　and　O　Josey！　am　I　not　a　happy　girl　that　it's　all　owing　to　HIM！〃

At　this　moment　Jacintha　came　running　towards　them。　　They　took　it　for　a　summons　to　breakfast；　and　moved　to　meet　her。　　But　they　soon　saw　she　was　almost　as　white　as　her　apron；　and　she　came　open…mouthed　and　wringing　her　hands。　　〃What　shall　I　do？　what　shall　I　do？　　Oh；　don't　let　my　poor　mistress　know！〃

They　soon　got　from　her　that　Dard　had　just　come　from　the　town；　and　learned　the　chateau　was　sold；　and　the　proprietor　coming　to　take　possession　this　very　day。　　The　poor　girls　were　stupefied　by　the　blow。

If　anything；　Josephine　felt　it　worst。　　〃It　is　my　doing；〃　she　gasped；　and　tottered　fainting。　　Rose　supported　her：　she　shook　it　off　by　a　violent　effort。　　〃This　is　no　time　for　weakness；〃　she　cried；　wildly；　〃come　to　the　Pleasaunce；　there　is　water　there。　　I　love　my　mother。　What　will　I　not　do　for　her？　　I　love　my　mother。〃

Muttering　thus　wildly　she　made　for　the　pond　in　the　Pleasaunce。　　She　had　no　sooner　turned　the　angle　of　the　chateau　than　she　started　back　with　a　convulsive　cry；　and　her　momentary　feebleness　left　her　directly；　she　crouched　against　the　wall　and　griped　the　ancient　corner…stone　with　her　tender　hand　till　it　powdered；　and　she　spied　with　dilating　eye　into　the　Pleasaunce；　Rose　and　Jacintha　panting　behind　her。　　Two　men　stood　with　their　backs　turned　to　her　looking　at　the　oak…tree；　one　an　officer　in　full　uniform；　the　other　the　human　snake　Perrin。　　Though　the　soldier's　back　was　turned；　his　off…handed；　peremptory　manner　told　her　he　was　inspecting　the　place　as　its　master。

〃The　baroness！　the　baroness！〃　cried　Jacintha；　with　horror。　　They　looked　round；　and　the　baroness　was　at　their　very　backs。

〃What　is　it？〃　cried　she；　gayly。

〃Nothing；　mamma。〃

〃Let　me　see　this　nothing。〃

They　glanced　at　one　another；　and；　idle　as　the　attempt　was；　the　habit　of　sparing　her　prevailed；　and　they　flung　themselves　between　her　and　the　blow。

〃Josephine　is　not　well；〃　said　Rose。　　〃She　wants　to　go　in。〃　　Both　girls　faced　the　baroness。

〃Jacintha；〃　said　the　baroness；　〃fetch　Dr。　Aubertin。　　There；　I　have　sent　her　away。　　So　now　tell　me；　why　do　you　drive　me　back　so？　Something　has　happened；〃　and　she　looked　keenly　from　one　to　the　other。

〃O　mamma！　do　not　go　that　way：　there　are　strangers　in　the　Pleasaunce。〃

〃Let　me　see。　　So　there　are。　　Call　Jacintha　back　that　I　may　order　these　people　out　of　my　premises。〃　　Josephine　implored　her　to　be　calm。

〃Be　calm　when　impertinent　intruders　come　into　my　garden？〃

〃Mother；　they　are　not　intruders。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃They　have　a　right　to　be　in　our　Pleasaunce。　　They　have　bought　the　chateau。〃

〃It　is　impossible。　　HE　was　to　buy　it　for　usthere　is　some　mistake　what　man　would　kill　a　poor　old　woman　like　me？　　I　will　speak　to　this　gentleman：　he　wears　a　sword。　　Soldiers　do　not　trample　on　women。　　Ah！　that　man。〃

The　notary；　attracted　by　her　voice；　was　coming　towards　her；　a　paper　in　his　hand。

Raynal　coolly　inspected　the　tree；　and　tapped　it　with　his　scabbard；　and　left　Perrin　to　do　the　dirty　work。　　The　notary　took　off　his　hat；　and；　with　a　malignant　affectation　of　respect；　presented　the　baroness　with　a　paper。

The　poor　old　thing　took　it　with　a　courtesy；　the　effect　of　habit；　and　read　it　to　her　daughters　as　well　as　her　emotion　permitted；　and　the　language；　which　was　as　new　to　her　as　the　dialect　of　Cat　Island　to　Columbus。


〃Jean　Raynal；　domiciled　by　right；　and　lodging　in　fact　at　the　Chateau　of　Beaurepaire；　acting　by　the　pursuit　and　diligence　of　Master　Perrin；　notary；　I；　Guillaume　Le　Gras；　bailiff；　give　notice　to　Josephine　Aglae　St。　Croix　de　Beaurepaire；　commonly　called　the　Baroness　de　Beaurepaire；　having　no　known　place　of　abode〃


〃Oh！〃


〃but　lodging　wrongfully　at　the　said　Chateau　of　Beaurepaire；　that　she　is　warned　to　decamp　within　twenty…four　hours〃


〃To　decamp！〃


〃failing　which　that　she　will　be　thereto　enforced　in　the　manner　for　that　case　made　and　provided　with　the　aid　of　all　the　officers　and　agents　of　the　public　force。〃


〃Ah！　no；　messieurs；　pray　do　not　use　force。　　I　am　frightened　enough　already。　　I　did　not　know　I　was　doing　anything　wrong。　　I　have　been　here　thirty　years。　　But；　since　Beaurepaire　is　sold；　I　comprehend　perfectly　that　I　must　go。　　It　is　just。　　As　you　say；　I　am　not　in　my　own　house。　　I　will　go；　gentlemen；　I　will　go。　　Whither　shall　I　go；　my　children？　　The　house　where　you　were　born　to　me　is　ours　no　longer。　Excuse　me；　gentlementhis　is　nothing　to　you。　　Ah！　sir；　you　have　revenged　yourself　on　two　weak　womenmay　Heaven　forgive　you！〃

The　notary　turned　on　his　heel。　　The　poor　baroness；　all　whose　pride　the　iron　law；　with　its　iron　gripe；　had　crushed　into　dismay　and　terror；　appealed　to　him。　　〃O　sir！　send　me　from　the　house；　but　not　from　the　soil　where　my　Henri　is　laid！　is　there　not　in　all　this　domain　a　corner　where　she　who　was　its　mistress　may　lie　down　and　die？　Where　is　the　NEW　BARON；　that　I　may　ask　this　favor　of　him　on　my　knees？〃

She　turned　towards　Raynal　and　seemed　to　be　going　towards　him　with　outstretched　arms。　　But　Rose　checked　her　with　fervor。　　〃Mamma！　do　not　lower　yourself。　　Ask　nothing　of　these　wretches。　　Let　us　lose　all；　but　not　forget　ourselves。〃

The　baroness　had　not　her　daughter's　spirit。　　Her　very　person　tottered　under　this　blow。　　Josephine　supported　her；　and　the　next　moment　Aubertin　came　out　and　hastened　to　her　side。　　Her　head　fell　back；　what　little　strength　she　had　failed　her；　she　was　half　lifted；　half　led；　into　the　house。

Commandant　Raynal　was　amazed　at　all　this；　and　asked　what　the　deuce　was　the　matter。

〃Oh！〃　said　the　notary；　〃we　are　used　to　these　little　scenes　in　our　business。〃

〃But　I　am　not；〃　replied　the　soldier。　　〃You　never　told　me　there　was　to　be　all　this　fuss。〃

He　then　dismissed　his　friend　rather　abruptly　and　strode　up　and　down　the　Pleasaunce。　　He　twisted　his　mustaches；　muttered；　and　〃pested；〃　and　was　ill　at　ease。　　Accustomed　to　march　gayly　into　a　town；　and　see　the　regiment；　that　was　there　before；　marching　gayly　out；　or　vice　versa；　and　to　strike　tents　twice　a　quarter　at　least；　he　was　little　prepared　for　such　a　scene　as　this。　　True；　he　did　not　hear　all　the　baroness's　words；　but　more　than　one　tone　of　sharp　distress　reached　him　where　he　stood；　and　the　action　of　the　whole　scene　was　so　expressive；　there　was　little　need　of　words。　　He　saw　the　notice　given；　the　dismay　it　caused；　and　the　old　lady　turn　imploringly　towards　him　with　a　speaking　gesture；　and　above　all　he　saw　her　carried　away；　half　fainting；　her　hands　clasped；　her　reverend　face　pale。　　He　was　not　a　man　of　quick　sensibilities。　　He　did　not　thoroughly　take　the　scene　in　at　first：　it　grew　upon　him　afterwards。

〃Confound　it；〃　thought　he；　〃I　am　the　proprietor。　　They　all　say　so。　Instead　of　which　I　feel　like　a　thief。　　Fancy　her　getting　so　fond　of　a　PLACE　as　all　this。〃

Presently　it　occurred　to　him　that　the　shortness　of　the　notice　might　have　much　to　do　with　her　distress。　　〃These　notaries；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃understand　nothing　save　law：　women　have　piles　of　baggage；　and　can't　strike　tents　directly　the　order　comes；　as　we　can。　　Perhaps　if　I　were　to　give　them　twenty…four　days　instead　of　hours？hum