frances waldeaux-第21章

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away　for　a　moment；　and　then　turning；　said；　〃You　called　my　mother　a　vile　woman　once。　　But　SHE　would　not　have　done　that　thing！

〃No；〃　said　Frances；　not　raising　her　head。　　〃No。〃

Lisa　stood　looking　at　her　as　she　crouched　against　the　wall。　　The　fierce　scorn　slowly　died　out　of　her　eyes。　　She　was　a　coarse；　but　a　good…natured；　woman。　　An　awful　presence；　too；　walked　with　her　always　now；　step　by　step；　and　in　that　dread　shadow　she　saw　the　things　of　life　more　justly　than　we　do。　She　took　Frances　by　the　hand　at　last。　　〃You　were　not　quite　yourself；　I　think；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃I　have　pushed　you　too　hard。　　George　has　told　me　so　much　about　you！　　If　we　could　be　together　for　a　while；　perhaps　we　should　love　each　other　a　little。　　But　there　is　no　time　now〃　　She　turned　hastily；　and　threw　herself　down　before　a　crucifix。

After　a　long　time　she　went　out　to　the　vestibule；　where　she　found　Frances；　and　said；　with　an　effort　to　be　cheerful　and　matter…of…fact；　〃Come；　now；　let　us　talk　like　reasonable　people。　　A　thing　is　coming　to　me　which　comes　to　every…body。　　I'm　not　one　to　whine。　　But　it's　the　childI　don't　think　any　baby　ever　was　as　much　to　a　woman　as　Jacques　is　to　me。　　I　suppose　God　does　not　think　I　am　fit　to　bring　him　up。　　Sit　down　and　let　me　tell　you　all　about　it。〃

They　sat　on　the　steps；　talking　in　a　low　tone。　　Frances　cried；　but　Lisa's　eyes　were　quite　dry　and　bright。　　She　rose　at　last。

〃You　see；　there　will　be　no　woman　to　care　for　him；　if　you　do　not。　　There　he　is　with　Colette。〃　　She　ran　down；　took　the　baby　from　the　bonne；　and　laid　him　in　Frances's　arms。

Mrs。　Waldeaux　looked　down　at　him。　　〃George's　son；〃　she　whispered；　〃George's　boy！〃

〃He　is　very　like　George　and　you；〃　Lisa　answered。　　〃He　is　a　Waldeaux。〃

〃Yes；　I　see。〃

She　held　him　close　to　her　breast　as　they　drove　back　to　Vannes。　　George　whistled　and　sang　on　the　box。　　He　was　very　light　of　heart　to　have　her　with　him　again。

He　looked　impatiently　at　an　ancient　village　through　which　they　passed；　with　its　towers；　and　peasants　in　strange　garbs；　like　the　pictures　in　some　crusading　tale。

〃Now　that　we　have　mother；　Lisa；〃　he　said；　〃we'll　go　straight　back　home。　　I　am　tired　of　mediaeval　times。　　I　must　get　to　work　for　this　youngster。〃

Lisa　did　not　speak　for　a　moment。　　〃I　should　like　to　stay　in　Vannes　a　little　longer；〃　she　said。　　〃I　did　not　tell　you；　butmy　mother　is　buried　there。　　That　was　why　I　came；　I　should　like　to　be　with　her。〃

〃Why；　of　course；　dear。　　As　long　as　you　like；〃　he　said　affectionately。　〃I　will　not　detain　you　long。　　Perhaps　only　a　week　or　two；〃　she　said。

He　nodded；　and　began　to　whistle　cheerfully　again。　　Frances　looked　at　Lisa；　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　　It　was　a　pitiful　tragedy！

But　the　poor　girl　was　quite　right　not　to　worry　George　until　the　last　moment。　　She　was　blocking　his　wayruining　his　life；　and　God　was　taking　her　away　so　that　she　could　no　longer　harm　him。

And　yetpoor　Lisa！

They　drove　on。　　The　sun　warmed　the　crimson　fields；　and　the　birds　chirped；　and　this　was　George's　child　creeping　close　to　her　breast。　　It　stirred　there　a　keen　pang　of　joy。

Surely　He　had　forgiven　her。

A　month　later　a　group　of　passengers　in　deep　mourning　stood　apart　on　the　deck　of　the　Paris　as　she　left　the　dock　at　Liverpool。　　It　was　George　Waldeaux；　his　mother；　and　little　Jacques　with　his　nurse。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　was　looking　at　Clara　and　her　girls；　who　were　watching　her　from　the　dock。　　They　had　come　to　Vannes　when　Lisa　died；　and　had　taken　care　of　her　and　the　baby　until　now。　　Frances　had　cried　at　leaving　them；　but　George　stood　with　his　back　to　them　moodily；　looking　down　into　the　black　water。

〃It　seems　but　a　few　days　since　we　sailed　from　New　York　on　the　Kaiser　Wilhelm；〃　he　said；　〃and　yet　I　have　lived　out　all　my　life　in　that　time。〃

〃All？　　Is　there　nothing　left；　George？〃　his　mother　said　gently。

〃Oh；　of　course；　you　are　always　a　good　companion；　and　there　is　the　child〃　　He　paused。　　The　fierce　passions；　the　storms　of　delight　and　pain　of　his　life　with　Lisa　rushed　back　on　him。　　〃I　will　work　for　others；　and　wear　out　the　days　as　I　can；〃　he　said。　　〃But　life　is　over　for　me。　　The　story　is　told。　　There　are　only　blank　pages　now　to　the　end。〃

He　turned　his　dim　eyes　toward　the　French　coast。　　She　knew　that　they　saw　the　little　bare　grave　on　the　hill　in　Vannes。　　〃I　wish　I　could　have　seen　something　green　growing　on　it　before　I　left　her　there　alone！〃　he　muttered。

〃Her　mother's　grave　was　covered　with　roses〃　Frances　answered　quickly。　　〃They　will　creep　over　to　her。　She　is　not　alone；　George。　　I　am　glad　she　was　laid　by　her　mother。　　She　loved　her　dearly。〃

〃Yes。　　Better　than　any　thing　on　earth；〃　he　responded　gloomily。

A　few　moments　later　the　ship　swung　heavily　around。

〃We　are　going！　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　cried；　waving　her　hand。　　〃Won't　you　look　at　Clara　and　Lucy；　George？　　They　have　been　so　good　to　us。　　If　Lucy　had　been　my　own　child；　she　could　not　have　been　kinder　to　me。〃

Mr。　Waldeaux　turned　and　raised　his　crepe…bound　hat；　looking　at　Lucy　in　her　soft　gray　gown　vaguely；　as　he　might　at　a　white　gull　dropped　on　the　shore。

〃I　suppose　I　never　shall　see　her　again；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃Clara　tells　me　she　is　besieged　by　lovers。　　She　is　going　to　marry　a　German　prince；　probably。〃

〃That　would　be　a　pity；〃　George　said；　with　a　startled　glance　back　at　the　girl。

〃Good…by；　my　dear！〃　Mrs。　Waldeaux　leaned　over　the　bulwark。　　〃She　is　beautiful　as　an　angel！　　Good…by；　Lucy！　　God　bless　you！　she　sobbed；　kissing　her　hand。

Mr。　Waldeaux　looked　steadily　at　Lucy。　　〃How　clean　she　is！〃　he　said。

When　the　shore　was　gone　he　walked　down　the　deck；　conscious　of　a　sudden　change　in　himself。　　He　was　wakening　out　of　an　ugly　dream。　　The　sight　of　the　healthy　little　girl；　with　her　dewy　freshness　and　blue　eyes；　full　of　affection　and　common　sense；　cheered　and　heartened　him。　　He　did　not　know　what　was　doing　it；　but　he　threw　up　his　head　and　walked　vigorously。　　The　sun　shone　and　the　cold　wind　swept　him　out　into　a　dim　future　to　begin　a　new　life。



CHAPTER　XVI

George　Waldeaux　took　his　mother　and　boy　back　to　the　old　homestead　in　Delaware。　　They　arrived　at　night；　and　early　the　next　morning　he　rowed　away　in　his　bateau　to　some　of　his　old　haunts　in　the　woods　on　the　bay；　and　was　seen　no　more　that　day。

〃He　is　inconsolable！〃　his　mother　told　some　of　her　old　neighbors　who　crowded　to　welcome　her。　　〃His　heart　is　in　that　grave　in　Vannes。〃　The　women　listened　in　surprise；　for　Frances　was　not　in　the　habit　of　exploiting　her　emotions　in　words。

〃We　understood；〃　said　one　of　them；　with　a　sympathetic　shake　of　the　head；　〃that　it　was　a　pure　love　match。　　Mrs。　George　Waldeaux；　we　heard；　was　a　French　artist　of　remarkable　beauty？〃

Frances　moved　uneasily。　　〃I　never　thought　herbut　I　can't　discuss　Lisa！〃　　She　was　silent　a　moment。　　〃But　as　for　her　social　position〃she　drew　herself　up　stiffly；　fixing　cold　defiant　eyes　on　her　questioner〃as　for　her　social　position；〃　she　went　on　resolutely；　〃she　was　descended　on　one　side　from　an　excellent　American　family；　and　on　the　other　from　one　of　the　noblest　houses　in　Europe。〃

When　they　were　gone　she　hugged　little　Jacques　passionately　as　he　lay　on　her　lap。　　〃That　is　settled　for　you！〃　she　said。

When　George　came　back　in　the　evening；　he　found　her　walking　with　the　boy　in　her　arms　on　the　broad　piazzas。

〃I　really　think　he　knows　that　he　has　come　home；　George！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃See　how　he　laughs！　　And　he　liked　the　dogs　and　horses　just　as　Lisa　thought　he　would。　　I　am　glad　it　is　such　a　beautiful　home　for　him。　　Look　at　that　slope　to　the　bay！　　There　is　no　nobler　park　in　England！　　And　the　house　is　as　big　as　most　of　their　palaces；　and　much　more　comfortable！〃

〃Give　the　child　to　Colette；　mother；　and　listen　to　me。　　Now　that　I　have　settled　you　and　him　here；　I　must　go　and　earn　your　living。〃

〃Yes。〃

She　followed　him　into　the　hall。

〃I　leave　you　to…morrow。　　There　is　no　time　to　be　lost。〃

〃You　are　going　back　to　art；　George？〃

〃No！　　Never！〃

Frances　grew　pale。　　She　thought　she　had　torn　open　his　gaping　wound。

〃I　did　not　mean　to　remind　you　ofof〃

〃No；　it　isn't　that！〃

He　scowled　at　the　fire。　　Art　meant　for　him　his　own　countless　daubs；　and　the　sickening　smell　of　oily　paints　and　musk；　and　soiled　silk　tea　gowns；　and　the　whole　slovenly；　disreputable　scramble　of　Bohemian　life　in　Paris。

〃I　loathe　art！〃　he　said；　wit