white lies-第14章

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ould　fancy？　　Jacintha　should　make　it　and　bring　it；　if　it　was　within　their　means。　　A　prince　could　not　have　had　more　solicitous　attendants；　nor　a　fairy　king　lovelier　and　less　earthly　ones。

He　looked　in　heavy　amazement　from　one　to　the　other。　　Rose　bent；　and　was　by　some　supple　process　on　one　knee；　taking　the　measure　of　the　wounded　foot。　　When　she　first　approached　it　he　winced：　but　the　next　moment　he　smiled。　　He　had　never　been　touched　like　thisit　was　contact　and　no　contactshe　treated　his　foot　as　the　zephyr　the　violetsshe　handled　it　as　if　it　had　been　some　sacred　thing。　　By　the　help　of　his　eye　he　could　just　know　she　was　touching　him。　　Presently　she　informed　him　he　was　measured　for　a　list　shoe：　and　she　would　run　home　for　the　materials。　　During　her　absence　came　a　timid　tap　to　the　door；　and　Edouard　Riviere　entered。　　He　was　delighted　to　see　Josephine；　and　made　sure　Rose　was　not　far　off。　　It　was　Dard　who　let　out　that　she　was　gone　to　Beaurepaire　for　some　cloth　to　make　him　a　shoe。　　This　information　set　Edouard　fidgeting　on　his　chair。　　He　saw　such　a　chance　as　was　not　likely　to　occur　again。　　He　rose　with　feigned　nonchalance；　and　saying；　〃I　leave　you　in　good　hands；　angel　visitors　are　best　enjoyed　alone；〃　slowly　retired；　with　a　deep　obeisance。　　Once　outside　the　door；　dignity　vanished　in　alacrity；　he　flew　off　into　the　park；　and　ran　as　hard　as　he　could　towards　the　chateau。　　He　was　within　fifty　yards　of　the　little　gate；　when　sure　enough　Rose　emerged。　　They　met；　his　heart　beat　violently。　〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　faltered。

〃Ah！　it　is　Monsieur　Riviere；　I　declare；〃　said　Rose；　coolly；　all　over　blushes　though。

〃Yes；　mademoiselle；　and　I　am　so　out　of　breath。　　Mademoiselle　Josephine　awaits　you　at　Dard's　house。〃

〃She　sent　you　for　me？〃　inquired　Rose；　demurely。

〃Not　positively。　　But　I　could　see　I　should　please　her　by　coming　for　you；　there　is；　I　believe；　a　bull　or　so　about。〃

〃A　bull　or　two！　don't　talk　in　that　reckless　way　about　such　things。　She　has　done　well　to　send　you；　let　us　make　haste。〃

〃But　I　am　a　little　out　of　breath。〃

〃Oh；　never　mind　that！　　I　abhor　bulls。〃

〃But；　mademoiselle；　we　are　not　come　to　them　yet；　and　the　faster　we　go　now　the　sooner　we　shall。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　always　like　to　get　a　disagreeable　thing　over　as　soon　as　possible；〃　said　Rose；　slyly。

〃Ah；〃　replied　Edouard；　mournfully；　〃in　that　case　let　us　make　haste。〃

After　a　little　spurt；　mademoiselle　relaxed　the　pace　of　her　own　accord；　and　even　went　slower　than　before。　　There　was　an　awkward　silence。　　Edouard　eyed　the　park　boundary；　and　thought；　〃Now　what　I　have　to　say　I　must　say　before　we　get　to　you；〃　and　being　thus　impressed　with　the　necessity　of　immediate　action；　he　turned　to　lead。

Rose　eyed　him　and　the　ground；　alternately；　from　under　her　long　lashes。

At　last　he　began　to　color　and　flutter。　　She　saw　something　was　coming；　and　all　the　woman　donned　defensive　armor。

〃Mademoiselle。〃

〃Monsieur。〃

〃Is　it　quite　decided　that　your　family　refuse　my　acquaintance；　my　services；　which　I　stillforgive　mepress　on　you？　　Ah！　Mademoiselle　Rose；　am　I　never　to　have　the　happiness　ofofeven　speaking　to　you？〃

〃It　seems　so；〃　said　Rose；　ironically。

〃Have　you　then　decided　against　me　too？〃

〃I？〃　asked　Rose。　　〃What　have　I　to　do　with　questions　of　etiquette？　　I　am　only　a　child：　so　considered　at　least。〃

〃You　a　childan　angel　like　you？〃

〃Ask　any　of　them；　they　will　tell　you　I　am　a　child；　and　it　is　to　that　I　owe　this　conversation；　no　doubt；　if　you　did　not　look　on　me　as　a　child；　you　would　not　take　this　liberty　with　me；〃　said　the　young　cat；　scratching　without　a　moment's　notice。

〃Mademoiselle；　do　not　be　angry。　　I　was　wrong。〃

〃Oh！　never　mind。　　Children　are　little　creatures　without　reserve；　and　treated　accordingly；　and　to　notice　them　is　to　honor　them。〃

〃Adieu　then；　mademoiselle。　　Try　to　believe　no　one　respects　you　more　than　I　do。〃

〃Yes；　let　us　part；　for　there　is　Dard's　house；　and　I　begin　to　suspect　that　Josephine　never　sent　you。〃

〃I　confess　it。〃

〃There；　he　confesses　it。　　I　thought　so　all　along；　WHAT　A　DUPE　I　HAVE　BEEN！〃

〃I　will　offend　no　more；〃　said　poor　silly　Edouard。　　〃Adieu；　mademoiselle。　　May　you　find　friends　as　sincere　as　I　am；　and　more　to　your　taste！〃

〃Heaven　hear　your　prayers！〃　replied　the　malicious　thing；　casting　up　her　eyes　with　a　mock　tragic　air。

Edouard　sighed；　a　chill　conviction　that　she　was　both　heartless　and　empty　fell　on　him。　　He　turned　away　without　another　word。　　She　called　to　him　with　a　sudden　airy　cheerfulness　that　made　him　start。　　〃Stay；　monsieur；　I　forgotI　have　a　favor　to　ask　you。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　believe　that：〃　and　his　eyes　brightened。

Rose　stopped；　and　began　to　play　with　her　parasol。　　〃You　seem；〃　said　she　softly；　〃to　be　pretty　generous　in　bestowing　your　acquaintance　on　strangers。　　I　should　be　glad　if　I　might　secure　you　for　a　dear　friend　of　mine；　Dr。　Aubertin。　　He　will　not　discredit　my　recommendation；　and　he　will　not　make　so　many　difficulties　as　we　do；　shall　I　tell　you　why？　　Because　he　is　really　worth　knowing。　　In　short；　believe　me；　it　will　be　a　valuable　acquaintance　for　youand　for　him；〃　added　she　with　all　the　grace　of　the　De　Beaurepaires。

Many　a　man；　inferior　in　a　general　way　to　Edouard　Riviere；　would　have　made　a　sensible　reply　to　this。　　Such　as；　〃Oh；　any　friend　of　yours；　mademoiselle；　must　be　welcome　to　me；〃　or　the　like。　　But　the　proposal　caught　Edouard　on　his　foible；　his　vanity；　to　wit；　and　our　foibles　are　our　manias。　　He　was　mortified　to　the　heart's　core。　　〃She　refuses　to　know　me　herself；〃　thought　he；　〃but　she　will　use　my　love　to　make　me　amuse　that　old　man。〃　　His　heart　swelled　against　her　injustice　and　ingratitude；　and　his　crushed　vanity　turned　to　strychnine。　〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　he；　bitterly　and　doggedly；　but　sadly；　〃were　I　so　happy　as　to　have　your　esteem；　my　heart　would　overflow；　not　only　on　the　doctor　but　on　every　honest　person　around。　　But　if　I　must　not　have　the　acquaintance　I　value　more　than　life；　suffer　me　to　be　alone　in　the　world；　and　never　to　say　a　word　either　to　Dr。　Aubertin；　or　to　any　human　creature　if　I　can　help　it。〃

The　imperious　young　beauty　drew　herself　up　directly。　　〃So　be　it；　monsieur；　you　teach　me　how　a　child　should　be　answered　that　forgets　herself；　and　asks　a　favor　of　a　strangera　perfect　stranger；〃　added　she；　maliciously。

Could　one　of　the　dog…days　change　to　mid…winter　in　a　second；　it　would　hardly　seem　so　cold　and　cross　as　Rose　de　Beaurepaire　turned　from　the　smiling；　saucy　fairy　of　the　moment　before。　　Edouard　felt　as　it　were　a　portcullis　of　ice　come　down　between　her　and　him。　　She　courtesied　and　glided　away。　　He　bowed　and　stood　frozen　to　the　spot。

He　felt　so　lonely　and　so　bitter；　he　must　go　to　Jacintha　for　comfort。

He　took　advantage　of　the　ladies　being　with　Dard；　and　marched　boldly　into　the　kitchen　of　Beaurepaire。

〃Well；　I　never；〃　cried　Jacintha。　　〃But；　after　all；　why　not？〃

He　hurled　himself　on　the　kitchen　table　（clean　as　china）；　and　told　her　it　was　all　over。　　〃She　hates　me　now；　but　it　is　not　my　fault；〃　and　so　poured　forth　his　tale；　and　feeling　sure　of　sympathy；　asked　Jacintha　whether　it　was　not　bitterly　unjust　of　Rose　to　refuse　him　her　own　acquaintance；　yet　ask　him　to　amuse　that　old　fogy。

Jacintha　stood　with　her　great　arms　akimbo；　taking　it　all　in；　and　looking　at　him　with　a　droll　expression　of　satirical　wonder。

〃Now　you　listen　to　a　parable；〃　said　she。　　〃Once　there　was　a　little　boy　madly　in　love　with　raspberry　jam。〃

〃A　thing　I　hate。〃

〃Don't　tell　me！　　Who　hates　raspberry　jam？　　He　came　to　the　store　closet；　where　he　knew　there　were　jars　of　it；　andoh！　miserythe　door　was　locked。　　He　kicked　the　door；　and　wept　bitterly。　　His　mamma　came　and　said；　'Here　is　the　key；'　and　gave　him　the　key。　　And　what　did　he　do？　　Why；　he　fell　to　crying　and　roaring；　and　kicking　the　door。　　'I　don't　wa…wa…wa…wa…nt　the　key…ey…ey。　　I　wa…a…ant　the　jam　oh！　oh！　oh！　oh！'〃　and　Jacintha　mimicked；　after　her　fashion；　the　mingled　grief　and　ire　of　infancy　debarred　its　jam。　　Edouard　wore　a　puzzled　air；　but　it　was　only　for　a　moment；　the　next　he　hid　his　face　in　his　hands；　and　cried；　〃Fool！〃

〃I　shall　not　contradict　you；〃　said　his　Mentor。

〃She　was　my　best　friend。　　Once　acquainted　with　the　doctor；　I　could　visit　at　Beaurepaire。〃

〃Parbleu！〃

〃She　had　thought　of　a　way　to　reconcile　my　wishes　with　this　terrible　etiquette　that　reigns　here。