frances waldeaux-第17章

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〃The　frocks　they　made　themselves；　and　the　emeralds　are　heirlooms；〃　Jean　muttered　to　Clara；　without　lifting　her　timid　eyes。

〃Miss　Dunbar　is　not　coming？〃　exclaimed　the　prince。

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Vance。

〃The　Fraulein　is　ill？〃　demanded　one　of　his　sisters。

〃No；〃　Clara　said；　again　smiling。　〃WE　expected　to　meet　her；〃　the　younger　princess　said。　　〃It　is　most　singular〃

〃She　has　sent　her　apology　to　the　countess；〃　said　Clara　gently；　and　passed　on。

But　her　little　triumph　was　short　lived。

A　famous　professional　soprano　appeared　in　a　white…ribboned　enclosure　at　the　end　of　the　salon；　and　the　guests　were　rapidly　arranged　according　to　their　rank　to　listen。　　Clara　and　Jean　stood　until　every　man　and　woman　were　comfortably　seated；　when　they　were　placed　in　the　back　row。

When　the　music　was　over　supper　was　announced；　and　the　same　ceremony　was　observed。　　The　Highnessess；　the　hochwohlgeboren　privy　councillors；　the　hochgeboren　secretaries；　even　the　untitled　Herren　who　held　some　petty　office；　were　ushered　with　profound　deference　to　their　seats　at　the　long　table；　while　Clara　stood　waiting。　　Jean's　eyes　still　drooped　meekly；　but　even　her　lips　were　pale。

〃How　can　you　look　so　placid？〃　she　whispered。　　〃It　is　a　deliberate　insult　to　your　gray　hairs。〃

〃No。　It　is　the　custom　of　the　country。　　It　does　not　hurt　me。〃

They　were　led　at　the　moment　to　the　lowest　seats。　　Jean　shot　one　vindictive　glance　around　the　table。

〃You　have　more　wit　and　breeding　than　any　of　them！〃　she　said。　　〃And　as　for　me；　this　lace　I　wear　would　buy　any　of　their　rickety　old　palaces。〃

〃They　have　something　which　we　cannot　buy；〃　said　Miss　Vance　gravely。　　〃I　never　understood　before　how　actual　a　thing　rank　is　here。〃


〃Cannot　it　be　bought？　　I　am　going　to　look　into　that　when　this　huge　feed　is　over；〃　Miss　Hassard　said　to　herself。

Late　in　the　evening　she　danced　with　Count　Odo；　and　prattled　to　him　in　a　childish；　frank　fashion　which　he　found　very　charming。

〃Your　rules　of　precedence　are　very　disagreeable！〃　she　pouted。　　〃Especially　when　one　sits　at　the　foot　of　the　table　and　is　served　last。〃

〃They　must　seem　queer　to　you；〃　he　said；　laughing；　〃but　they　are　inflexible　as　iron。〃

〃But　they　will　bend　for　Miss　Dunbar；　if　she　makes　up　her　mind　to　marry　your　cousin？〃she　asked；　looking　up　into　his　face　like　an　innocent　child。

〃No。　　Hugo　makes　a　serious　sacrifice　in　marrying　a　woman　of　no　birth；〃　he　said。　　〃He　must　give　up　his　place　and　title　as　head　of　the　family。　　She　will　not　be　received　at　court　nor　in　certain　houses；　she　must　always　remain　out…　side　of　much　of　his　social　life。〃

He　led　her　back　to　Miss　Vance。　　She　seemed　to　be　struck　dumb；　and　even　forgot　to　smile　when　he　bowed　low　and　thanked　her　for　the　dance。

〃Let　us　go　home；〃　she　whispered　to　Clara。　　〃The　American　girl　is　a　fool　who　marries　one　of　these　men！〃

When　Miss　Vance's　carriage　reached　her　hotel；　she　found　Prince　Hugo's　coupe　before　the　door。

〃He　has　come　to　see　Lucy；　alone！〃　she　said　indignantly；　as　she　hurried　up　the　steps。　　〃He　has　no　right　to　annoy　her！〃

She　met　him　coming　out　of　the　long　salle。　　The　little　man　walked　nervously；　fingering　his　sword　hilt。　　He　could　not　control　his　voice　when　he　tried　to　speak　naturally。

〃Yes；　gracious　lady；　I　am　guilty。　　It　was　unpardonable　to　come　when　I　knew　the　chaperone　was　gone。　　Butach！　　I　could　not　wait！〃　throwing　out　both　hands　to　her。　　〃I　have　waited　so　long！　　I　knew　when　she　did　not　come　to　meet　my　sisters　to…night　she　had　resolved　against　me；　but　I　could　not　sleep　uncertain。　　So　I　break　all　the　laws；　and　come！〃

〃You　have　seen　her；　then？　　She　has　told　you？〃

He　nodded　without　speaking。　　His　round　face　was　red；　and　something　like　tears　stood　in　his　eyes。

He　waited　irresolute　a　moment；　and　then　threw　up　his　head。

〃Soh！　　It　is　over！　　I　shall　not　whine！　　You　have　been　very　good　to　me；〃　he　said　earnestly；　taking　Clara's　hand。　　〃This　is　the　first　great　trouble　in　my　life。　　I　have　loved　her　very　dearly。　　I　decided　to　make　great　sacrifices　for　her。　　But　I　am　not　to　have　hernever。〃

〃I　am　so　sorry　for　you；　prince。〃　Clara　squeezed　his　hand　energetically。　〃Nor　her　dot。　　That　would　have　been　so　comfortable　for　me；〃　he　said　simply。

Clara　hid　a　smile；　and　bade　him　an　affectionate　good…night。

As　he　passed　into　the　outer　salle　a　childish　figure　in　creamy　lace　rose　before　him；　and　a　soft　hand　was　held　out。　　〃I　know　what　has　happened！〃　she　whispered　passionately。　　〃She　has　treated　you　scandalously！　　She　cannot　appreciate　YOU！〃

Prince　Hugo　stuttered　and　coughed　and　almost　kissed　the　little　hand　which　lay　so　trustingly　in　his。　　He　found　himself　safely　outside　at　last；　and　drove　away；　wretched　to　the　soul。

But　below　his　wretchedness　something　whispered：　　〃SHE　appreciates　me；　and　her　dot　is　quite　as　large。〃


CHAPTER　XIII

George　Waldeaux　hummed　a　tune　gayly　as　he　climbed　the　winding　maze　of　streets　in　Vannes；　one　cloudy　afternoon；　with　Lisa。

〃It　is　impertinent　to　be　modern　Americans　in　this　old　town；〃　he　said。　　〃We　might　play　that　we　were　jongleurs；　and　that　it　was　still　mediaeval　times。　　I　am　sure　the　gray　walls　yonder　and　the　fortress　houses　in　this　street　have　not　changed　in　ages。〃

〃Neither　have　the　smells；　apparently；〃　said　Lisa　grimly。　　〃Wrap　this　scarf　about　your　throat；　George。　　You　coughed　last　night。〃

George　tied　up　his　throat。　　〃Coughed；　did　I？〃　he　said　anxiously。　　He　had　had　a　cold　last　winter；　and　his　wife　with　her　poultices　and　fright　had　convinced　him　that　he　was　a　confirmed　invalid。　　The　coming　of　her　baby　had　given　to　the　woman　a　motherly　feeling　toward　all　of　the　world；　even　to　her　husband。

〃Look　at　these　women；〃　he　said；　going　on　with　his　fancy　presently。　　〃I　am　sure　that　they　were　here　wearing　these　black　gowns　and　huge　red　aprons　in　the　twelfth　century。　　What　is　this？〃　he　said；　stopping　abruptly；　to　a　boy　of　six　who　was　digging　mud　at　the　foot　of　an　ancient　ivy…covered　tower。

〃C'est　le　tour　du　Connetable；〃　the　child　lisped。　　〃Et　v'la；　monsieur！〃　pointing　to　a　filthy　pen　with　a　gate　of　black　oak；　〃v'la　le　donjon　de　Clisson！〃　〃Who　was　Clisson？〃　said　Lisa　impatiently。

〃A　live　man　to　Froissartand　to　this　boy；〃　said　George；　laughing。　　〃I　told　you　that　we　had　gone　back　seven　centuries。　　This　fog　comes　in　from　the　Morbihan　sea　where　Arthur　and　his　knights　went　sailing　to　find　the　Holy　Greal。　　They　have　not　come　back。　　And　south　yonder　is　the　country　of　the　Druids。　　I　will　take　you　to…morrow　and　show　you　twenty　thousand　of　their　menhirs；　and　then　we　will　sail　away　to　an　island　where　there　is　an　altar　that　the　serpent　worshippers　built　ages　before　Christ。〃


Lisa　laughed。　　He　was　not　often　in　this　playful　mood。　　She　panted　as　she　toiled　up　the　dark　little　street；　a　step　behind　him；　but　he　did　not　think　of　giving　her　his　arm。　　He　had　grown　accustomed　to　regard　himself　as　the　invalid　now；　and　the　one　who　needed　care。

〃I　am　going　for　letters；〃　he　called　back；　diving　into　a　dingy　alley。　　The　baby　and　its　bonne　were　near　Lisa。　　The　child　never　was　out　of　her　sight　for；　a　moment。　　She　waited；　standing　a　little　apart　from　Colette　to　watch　whether　the　passers…by　would　notice　the　baby。　　When　one　or　two　of　the　gloomy　and　stolid　women　who　hurried　past　in　their　wooden　sabots　clicked　their　fingers　to　it；　she　could　not　help　smiling　gayly　and　bidding　them　good…day。

The　fog　was　stifling。　　As　she　waited　she　gave　a　tired　gasp。　　Colette　ran　to　her。　〃Madame　is　going　to　be　ill！〃

〃No；　no！　　Don't　frighten　monsieur。〃

George　came　out　of　the　gate　at　the　moment。

〃Going　to　faint　again；　Lisa？〃　he　said；　with　an　annoyed　glance　around　the　street。　　〃Your　attacks　do　choose　the　most　malapropos　times〃

〃Oh；　dear　no；　George！　　I　am　quite　well　quite。〃　　She　walked　beside　him　with　an　airy　step；　laughing　gayly　now　and　then；　but　George's　frown　deepened。

〃I　don't　understand　these　seizures　at　all；〃　he　said。　　〃You　seem　to　be　in　sound　physical　condition。〃

〃Oh；　all　women　have　queer　turns；　George。〃

〃Did　you　consult　D'Abri；　as　I　told　you　to　do；　in　Paris？〃

〃Yes；　yes！　　Now　let　us　talk　no　more　about　it。　　I　have　had　thesesymptoms　since　I　was　a　child。〃

〃You　never　told　me　of　them　before　we　were　married；〃　he　muttered。

Lisa　scowled　darkly　at　him；　but　she　glanced　at　the　baby　and　her　mouth　closed。　　Little　Jacques　should　never　hear