white lies-第21章

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ng　live　the　five…franc　pieces！　　And　they　pretend　money　cannot　make　a　fellow　happy。　　They　lie；　it　is　because　they　do　not　know　how　to　spend　it。〃

Meantime　at　the　chateau；　as　still　befalls　in　emergencies　and　trials；　the　master　spirit　came　out　and　took　its　real　place。　　Rose　was　now　the　mistress　of　Beaurepaire；　she　set　Jacintha；　and　Dard；　and　the　doctor；　to　pack　up　everything　of　value　in　the　house。　　〃Do　it　this　moment！〃　she　cried；　〃once　that　notary　gets　possession　of　the　house；　it　may　be　too　late。　　Enough　of　folly　and　helplessness。　　We　have　fooled　away　house　and　lands；　our　movables　shall　not　follow　them。〃

The　moment　she　had　set　the　others　to　work；　she　wrote　a　single　line　to　Riviere　to　tell　him　the　chateau　and　lands　were　sold；　and　would　he　come　to　Beaurepaire　at　once？　　She　ran　with　it　herself　to　Bigot's　auberge；　the　nearest　post…office；　and　then　back　to　comfort　her　mother。

The　baroness　was　seated　in　her　arm…chair；　moaning　and　wringing　her　hands；　and　Rose　was　nursing　and　soothing　her；　and　bathing　her　temples　with　her　last　drop　of　eau　de　Cologne；　and　trying　in　vain　to　put　some　of　her　own　courage　into　her；　when　in　came　Josephine　radiant　with　happiness；　crying　〃Joy！　joy！　joy！〃　and　told　her　strange　tale；　with　this　difference；　that　she　related　her　own　share　in　it　briefly　and　coldly；　and　was　more　eloquent　than　I　about　the　strange　soldier's　goodness；　and　the　interest　her　mother　had　awakened　in　his　heart。　And　she　told　about　the　old　woman　in　the　Rue　Quincampoix；　her　rugged　phrases；　and　her　noble；　tender　heart。　　The　baroness；　deaf　to　Rose's　consolations；　brightened　up　directly　at　Josephine's　news；　and　at　her　glowing　face；　as　she　knelt　pouring　the　good　news；　and　hope；　and　comfort；　point　blank　into　her。　　But　Rose　chilled　them　both。

〃It　is　a　generous　offer；〃　said；　she；　〃but　one　we　cannot　accept。　　We　cannot　live　under　so　great　an　obligation。　　Is　all　the　generosity　to　be　on　the　side　of　this　Bonapartist？　　Are　we　noble　in　name　only？　What　would　our　father　have　said　to　such　a　proposal？〃

Josephine　hung　her　head。　　The　baroness　groaned。

〃No；　mother；〃　continued　Rose；　〃let　house　and　land　go；　but　honor　and　true　nobility　remain。〃

〃What　shall　I　do？　you　are　cruel　to　me；　Rose。〃

〃Mamma；〃　cried　the　enthusiastic　girl；　〃we　need　depend　on　no　one。　Josephine　and　I　have　youth　and　spirit。〃

〃But　no　money。〃

〃We　have　plenty　of　jewels；　and　pictures；　and　movables。　　We　can　take　a　farm。〃

〃A　farm！〃　shrieked　the　baroness。

〃Why；　his　uncle　has　a　farm；　and　we　have　had　recourse　to　him　for　help：　better　a　farmhouse　than　an　almshouse；　though　that　almshouse　were　a　palace　instead　of　a　chateau。〃

Josephine　winced　and　held　up　her　hand　deprecatingly。　　The　baroness　paled：　it　was　a　terrible　stroke　of　language　to　come　from　her　daughter。　　She　said　sternly；　〃There　is　no　answer　to　that。　　We　were　born　nobles；　let　us　die　farmers：　only　permit　me　to　die　first。〃

〃Forgive　me；　mother；〃　said　Rose；　kneeling。　　〃I　was　wrong；　it　is　for　me　to　obey　you；　not　to　dictate。　　I　speak　no　more。〃　　And；　after　kissing　her　mother　and　Josephine；　she　crept　away；　but　she　left　her　words　sticking　in　both　their　consciences。

〃HIS　uncle；〃　said　the　shrewd　old　lady。　　〃She　is　no　longer　a　child；　and　she　says　his　uncle。　　This　makes　me　half　suspect　it　is　her　that　dear　boyJosephine；　tell　me　the　truth；　which　of　you　is　it？〃

〃Dear　mother；　who　should　it　be？　they　are　nearly　of　an　age：　and　what　man　would　not　love　our　sweet　Rose；　that　had　eyes　or　a　heart？〃

The　baroness　sighed　deeply；　and　was　silent。　　After　awhile　she　said；　〃The　moment　they　have　a　lover；　he　detaches　their　hearts　from　their　poor　old　mother。　　She　is　no　longer　what　my　Josephine　is　to　me。〃

〃Mamma；　she　is　my　superior。　　I　see　it　more　and　more　every　day。　　She　is　proud：　she　is　just；　she　looks　at　both　sides。　　As　for　me；　I　am　too　apt　to　see　only　what　will　please　those　I　love。〃

〃And　that　is　the　daughter　for　me；〃　cried　the　poor　baroness；　opening　her　arms　wide　to　her。

The　next　morning　when　they　were　at　breakfast；　in　came　Jacintha　to　say　the　officer　was　in　the　dining…room　and　wanted　to　speak　with　the　young　lady　he　talked　to　yesterday。　　Josephine　rose　and　went　to　him。　〃Well；　mademoiselle；〃　said　he　gayly；　〃the　old　woman　was　right。　　Here　I　have　just　got　my　orders　to　march：　to　leave　France　in　a　month。　　A　pretty　business　it　would　have　been　if　I　had　turned　your　mother　out。　So　you　see　there　is　nothing　to　hinder　you　from　living　here。〃

〃In　your　house；　sir？〃

〃Why　not；　pray？〃

〃Forgive　us。　　But　we　feel　that　would　be　unjust　to　you；　humiliating　to　us：　the　poor　are　sometimes　proud。〃

〃Of　course　they　are；〃　said　Raynal：　〃and　I　don't　want　to　offend　your　pride。　　Confound　the　house：　why　did　I　go　and　buy　it？　　It　is　no　use　to　me　except　to　give　pain　to　worthy　people。〃　　He　then；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　asked　her　if　the　matter　could　not　be　arranged　by　some　third　party；　a　mutual　friend。　　〃Then　again；〃　said　he；　〃I　don't　know　any　friend　of　yours。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Josephine；　〃we　have　one　friend；　who　knows　you；　and　esteems　you　highly。〃

She　wanted　to　name　Edouard；　but　she　hesitated；　and　asked　her　conscience　if　it　was　fair　to　name　him：　and　while　she　blushed　and　hesitated；　lo　and　behold　a　rival　referee　hove　in　sight。　　Raynal　saw　him；　suddenly　opened　a　window；　and　shouted；　〃Hallo　come　in　here：　you　are　wanted。〃

Perrin　had　ridden　up　to　complete　the　exodus　of　the　De　Beaurepaires；　and　was　strolling　about　inspecting　the　premises　he　had　expelled　them　from。

Here　was　a　pretty　referee！

Josephine　almost　screamed〃What　are　you　doing？　that　is　our　enemy；　our　bitterest　enemy。　　He　has　only　sold　you　the　estate　to　spite　us；　not　for　the　love　of　you。　　I　hadwe　hadwe　mortified　his　vanity。　It　was　not　our　fault：　he　is　a　viper。　　Sir；　pray；　pray；　pray　be　on　your　guard　against　his　counsels。〃

These　words　spoken　with　rare　fire　and　earnestness　carried　conviction：　but　it　was　too　late　to　recall　the　invitation。　　The　notary　entered　the　room；　and　was　going　to　bow　obsequiously　to　Raynal；　when　he　caught　sight　of　Josephine；　and　almost　started。　Raynal；　after　Josephine's　warning；　was　a　little　at　a　loss　how　to　make　him　available；　and　even　that　short　delay　gave　the　notary's　one　foible　time　to　lead　him　into　temptation。　　〃Our　foibles　are　our　manias。〃

〃So；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　taken　possession；　commandant。　　These　military　men　are　prompt；　are　they　not；　mademoiselle？〃

〃Do　not　address　yourself　to　me；　sir；　I　beg；〃　said　Josephine　quietly。

Perrin　kept　his　self…command。　　〃It　is　only　as　Commandant　Raynal's　agent　I　presume　to　address　so　distinguished　a　lady：　in　that　character　I　must　inform　you　that　whatever　movables　you　have　removed　are　yours：　those　we　find　in　the　house　on　entering　we　keep。〃

〃Come；　come；　not　so　fast；〃　cried　Raynal；　〃bother　the　chairs　and　tables！　that　is　not　the　point。〃

〃Commandant；〃　said　the　notary　with　dignity；　〃have　I　done　anything　to　merit　this？　have　I　served　your　interests　so　ill　that　you　withdraw　your　confidence　from　me？〃

〃No；　no；　my　good　fellow；　but　you　exceed　your　powers。　　Just　now　I　want　you　to　take　orders；　not　give　them。〃

〃That　is　only　just；〃　said　Perrin；　〃and　I　recall　my　hasty　remark：　excuse　the　susceptibility　of　a　professional　man；　who　is　honored　with　the　esteem　of　his　clients；　and　favor　me　with　your　wishes。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Raynal　heartily。　　〃Well；　thenI　want　mademoiselle　and　her　family　to　stay　here　while　I　go　to　Egypt　with　the　First　Consul。　　Mademoiselle　makes　difficulties；　it　offends　her　delicacy。〃

〃Comedy！〃　said　the　notary　contemptuously。

〃Though　her　mother's　life　depends　on　her　staying　here。〃

〃Comedy！〃　said　Perrin。　　Raynal　frowned。

〃Her　pride　（begging　her　pardon）　is　greater　than　her　affection。〃

〃Farce！〃

〃I　have　pitched　upon　you　to　reconcile　the　two。〃

〃Then　you　have　pitched　upon　the　wrong　man；〃　said　Perrin　bluntly。　　He　added　obsequiously；　〃I　am　too　much　your　friend。　　She　has　been　talking　you　over；　no　doubt；　but　you　have　a　friend；　an　Ulysses；　who　is　deaf　to　the　siren's　voice。　　I　will　be　no　party　to　such　a　transaction。　　I　will　not　co…operate　to　humbug　my　friend　and　rob　him　of　his　rights。〃

If　Josephine　was　inferior　to　the　notary　in　petty　sharpness；　she　was　his　superior　in　the　higher　kinds　of　sagacity；　and　particularly　in　instinctive　perception　of　character。　　Her　eye　flashed　with　delight　at　the　line　Perrin　was　now　takin