white lies-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Thank　you；　I'm　not　so　stupid。　　You　will　step　indoors　directly。〃

〃Do　you　doubt　my　word；　sir？〃　asked　she　haughtily。

He　had　learned　to　obey　all　her　caprices；　so　he　went　and　placed　himself　on　the　west　side　of　the　oak　and　took　out　his　sketch…book；　and　worked　zealously　and　rapidly。　　He　had　done　the　outlines　of　the　tree　and　was　finishing　in　detail　a　part　of　the　huge　trunk；　when　his　eyes　were　suddenly　dazzled：　in　the　middle　of　the　rugged　bark；　deformed　here　and　there　with　great　wart…like　bosses；　and　wrinkled；　seamed；　and　ploughed　all　over　with　age；　burst　a　bit　of　variegated　color；　bright　as　a　poppy　on　a　dungeon　wall；　it　glowed　and　glittered　out　through　a　large　hole　in　the　brown　bark；　it　was　Rose's　face　peeping。　　To　our　young　lover's　eye　how　divine　it　shone！　　None　of　the　half　tints　of　common　flesh　were　there；　but　a　thing　all　rose；　lily；　sapphire；　and　soul。　　His　pencil　dropped；　his　mouth　opened；　he　was　downright　dazzled　by　the　glowing；　bewitching　face；　sparkling　with　fun；　in　the　gaunt　tree。　　Tell　me；　ladies；　did　she　know；　even　at　that　age；　the　value　of　that　sombre　frame　to　her　brightness？　　The　moment　she　found　herself　detected；　the　gaunt　old　tree　rang　musical　with　a　crystal　laugh；　and　out　came　the　arch…dryad。　　〃I　have　been　there　all　the　time。　　How　solemn　you　looked！　　Now　for　the　result　of　such　profound　study。〃　　He　showed　her　his　work；　she　altered　her　tone。　〃Oh；　how　clever！〃　she　cried；　〃and　how　rapid！　　What　a　facility　you　have！　　Monsieur　is　an　artist；〃　said　she　gravely；　〃I　will　be　more　respectful；〃　and　she　dropped　him　a　low　courtesy。　　〃Mind　you　promised　it　me；〃　she　added　sharply。

〃You　will　accept　it；　then？〃

〃That　I　will；　now　it　is　worth　having：　dear　me；　I　never　reckoned　on　that。　　Finish　it　directly；〃　cried　this　peremptory　young　person。

〃First　I　must　trouble　you　to　stand　out　there　near　the　tree。〃

〃Me？　what　for？〃

〃Because　art　loves　contrasts。　　The　tree　is　a　picture　of　age　and　gradual　decay；　by　its　side　then　I　must　place　a　personification　of　youth　and　growing　loveliness。〃

She　did　not　answer；　but　made　a　sort　of　defiant　pirouette；　and　went　where　she　was　bid；　and　stood　there　with　her　back　to　the　artist。　〃That　will　never　do；〃　said　he；　〃you　really　must　be　so　good　as　to　turn　round。〃

〃Oh；　very　well。〃　　And　when　she　came　round；　behold　her　color　had　risen　mightily。　　Flattery　is　sweet。

This　child　of　nature　was　delighted；　and　ashamed　it　should　be　seen　that　she　was。

And　so　he　drew　her；　and　kept　looking　off　the　paper　at　her；　and　had　a　right　in　his　character　of　artist　to　look　her　full　in　the　face；　and　he　did　so　with　long　lingering　glances。　　To　be　sure；　they　all　began　severe　and　businesslike　with　half…closed　eyes；　and　the　peculiar　hostile　expression　art　puts　on；　but　then　they　always　ended　open…　eyed；　and　so　full　and　tender；　that　she；　poor　girl；　who　was　all　real　gold；　though　sham　brass；　blushed　and　blushed；　and　did　not　know　which　way　to　look　not　to　be　scorched　up　by　his　eye　like　a　tender　flower；　or　blandly　absorbed　like　the　pearly　dew。　　Ah；　happy　hour！　ah；　happy　days　of　youth　and　innocence　and　first　love！

Trouble　loves　to　intrude　on　these　halcyon　days。

The　usually　quiet　Josephine　came　flying　from　the　house；　pale　and　agitated；　and　clung　despairingly　to　Rose；　and　then　fell　to　sobbing　and　lamenting　piteously。

I　shall　take　leave　to　relate　in　my　own　words　what　had　just　occurred　to　agitate　her　so。　　When　she　entered　her　mother's　room；　she　found　the　baroness　and　Perrin　the　notary　seated　watching　for　her。　　She　sat　down　after　the　usual　civilities；　and　Perrin　entered　upon　the　subject　that　had　brought　him。

He　began　by　confessing　to　them　that　he　had　not　overcome　the　refractory　creditor　without　much　trouble；　and　that　he　had　since　learned　there　was　another；　a　larger　creditor；　likely　to　press　for　payment　or　for　sale　of　the　estate。　　The　baroness　was　greatly　troubled　by　this　communication：　the　notary　remained　cool　as　a　cucumber；　and　keenly　observant。　　After　a　pause　he　went　on　to　say　all　this　had　caused　him　grave　reflections。　　〃It　seems；〃　said　he　with　cool　candor；　〃a　sad　pity　the　estate　should　pass　from　a　family　that　has　held　it　since　the　days　of　Charlemagne。〃

〃Now　God　forbid！〃　cried　the　baroness；　lifting　her　eyes　and　her　quivering　hands　to　heaven。

The　notary　held　the　republican　creed　in　all　its　branches。　〃Providence；　madame；　does　not　interferein　matters　of　business；〃　said　he。　　〃Nothing　but　money　can　save　the　estate。　　Let　us　then　be　practical。　　Has　any　means　occurred　to　you　of　raising　money　to　pay　off　these　incumbrances？〃

〃No。　　What　means　can　there　be？　　The　estate　is　mortgaged　to　its　full　value：　so　they　say；　at　least。〃

〃And　they　say　true；〃　put　in　the　notary　quickly。　　〃But　do　not　distress　yourself；　madame：　confide　in　me。〃

〃Ah；　my　good　friend；　may　Heaven　reward　you。〃

〃Madame；　up　to　the　present　time　I　have　no　complaint　to　make　of　Heaven。　　I　am　on　the　rise：　here；　mademoiselle；　is　a　gimcrack　they　have　given　me；〃　and　he　unbuttoned　his　overcoat；　and　showed　them　a　piece　of　tricolored　ribbon　and　a　clasp。　　〃As　for　me；　I　look　to　'the　solid；'　I　care　little　for　these　things；〃　said　he；　swelling　visibly；　〃but　the　world　is　dazzled　by　them。　　However；　I　can　show　you　something　better。〃　　He　took　out　a　letter。　　〃This　is　from　the　Minister　of　the　Interior　to　a　client　of　mine：　a　promise　I　shall　be　the　next　prefect；　and　the　present　prefectI　am　happy　to　sayis　on　his　death…bed。　　Thus；　madame；　your　humble　servant　in　a　few　short　months　will　be　notary　no　longer；　but　prefect；　I　shall　then　sell　my　office　of　notary：　and　I　flatter　myself　when　I　am　a　prefect　you　will　not　blush　to　own　me。〃

〃Then；　as　now；　monsieur；〃　said　the　baroness　politely；　〃we　shall　recognize　your　merit。　　But〃

〃I　understand；　madame：　like　me　you　look　to　'the　solid。'　　Thus　then　it　is；　I　have　money。〃

〃Ah！　all　the　better　for　you。〃

〃I　have　a　good　deal　of　money。　　But　it　is　dispersed　in　a　great　many　small　but　profitable　investments：　to　call　it　in　suddenly　would　entail　some　loss。　　Nevertheless；　if　you　and　my　young　lady　there　have　ever　so　little　of　that　friendly　feeling　towards　me　of　which　I　have　so　much　towards　you；　all　my　investments　shall　be　called　in；　and　two…　thirds　of　your　creditors　shall　be　paid　off　at　once。　　A　single　client　of　mine；　no　less　a　man　than　the　Commandant　Raynal；　will；　I　am　sure；　advance　me　the　remaining　third　at　an　hour's　notice；　and　so　Beaurepaire　chateau；　park；　estate；　and　grounds；　down　to　the　old　oak…　tree；　shall　be　saved；　and　no　power　shall　alienate　them　from　you；　mademoiselle；　and　from　the　heirs　of　your　body。〃

The　baroness　clasped　her　hands　in　ecstasy。

〃But　what　are　we　to　do　for　this？〃　inquired　Josephine　calmly；　〃for　it　seems　to　me　that　it　can　only　be　effected　by　a　sacrifice　on　your　part。〃

〃I　thank　you；　mademoiselle；　for　your　penetration　in　seeing　that　I　must　make　sacrifices。　　I　would　never　have　told　you；　but　you　have　seen　it；　and　I　do　not　regret　that　you　have　seen　it。　　Madame　mademoisellethose　sacrifices　appear　little　to　me；　will　seem　nothing；　will　never　be　mentioned；　or　even　alluded　to　after　this　day；　if　you；　on　your　part；　will　lay　me　under　a　far　heavier　obligation；　if　in　short〃here　the　contemner　of　things　unsubstantial　reopened　his　coat；　and　brought　his　ribbon　to　light　again〃if　you；　madame；　will　accept　me　for　your　son…in…lawif　you；　mademoiselle；　will　take　me　for　your　husband。〃

The　baroness　and　her　daughter　looked　at　one　another　in　silence。

〃Is　it　a　jest？〃　inquired　the　former　of　the　latter。

〃Can　you　think　so？　　Answer　Monsieur　Perrin。　　He　has　just　done　us　a　kind　office；　mother。〃

〃I　shall　remember　it。　　Monsieur；　permit　me　to　regret　that　having　lately　won　our　gratitude　and　esteem；　you　have　taken　this　way　of　modifying　those　feelings。　　But　after　all；〃　she　added　with　gentle　courtesy；　〃we　may　well　put　your　good　deeds　against　thisthis　error　in　judgment。　　The　balance　is　in　your　favor　still；　provided　you　never　return　to　this　topic。　　Come；　is　it　agreed？〃　　The　baroness's　manner　was　full　of　tact；　and　the　latter　sentences　were　said　with　an　open　kindliness　of　manner。　　There　was　nothing　to　prevent　Perrin　from　dropping　the　subject；　and　remaining　good　friends。　　A　gentleman　or　a　lover　would　have　so　done。　　Monsieur　Perrin　was　neither。　　He　said　bitterly；　〃You　refuse　me；　then。〃

The　tone　and　the　words　were　each　singly　too　much　for　the　baroness's　pride。