white lies-第30章
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s me credit for。〃
Warm assent of the mayor and notary to this hint。
〃I give you credit for being an angel；〃 said Raynal warmly。
He hesitated。 Rose was trembling； her fork shaking in her poor little hand。
She cast a piteous glance at him。 He saw it。
〃You shall go with me next time；〃 said he。 〃Let us speak of it no more。〃
Josephine bowed her head。 〃At least give me something to do for you while you are away。 Tell me what I can do for my absent friend to show my gratitude； my regard； my esteem。〃
〃Well； let me think。 I saw a plain gray dress at Beaurepaire。〃
〃Yes； monsieur。 My gray silk； Rose。〃
〃I like that dress。〃
〃Do you？ Then the moment I reach home after losing you I shall put it on； and it shall be my constant wear。 I see； you are right； gray becomes a wife whose husband is not dead； but is absent； and alas！ in hourly danger。〃
〃Now look at that！〃 cried Raynal to the company。 〃That is her all over： she can see six meanings where another would see but one。 I never thought of that； I swear。 I like modest colors； that is all。 My mother used to be all for modest wives wearing modest colors。〃
〃I am of her mind； sir。 Is there nothing more difficult you will be so good as give me to do？〃
〃No； there is only one order more； and that will be easier still to such a woman as you。 I commit to your care the name of Raynal。 It is not so high a name as yours； but it is as honest。 I am proud of it： I am jealous of it。 I shall guard it for you in Egypt： you guard it in France for me。〃
〃With my life；〃 cried Josephine； lifting her eyes and her hand to heaven。
Soon after this Raynal ordered his charger。
The baroness began to cry。 〃The young people may hope to see you again；〃 said she； 〃but there are two chances against your poor old mother。〃
〃Courage； mother！〃 cried the stout soldier。 〃No； no； you won't play me such a trick： once is enough for that game。〃
〃Brother！〃 cried Rose； 〃do not go without kissing your little sister； who loves you and thanks you。〃 He kissed her。 〃Bravo； generous soul！〃 she cried； with her arms round his neck。 〃God protect you； and send you back safe to us！〃
〃Amen！〃 cried all present by one impulse； even the cold notary。
Raynal's mustache quivered。 He kissed Josephine hastily on the brow； the baroness on both cheeks； shook the men's hands warmly but hastily； and strode out without looking behind him。 He was moved for once。
They all followed him to the door of the house。 He was tightening his horse's girths。 He flung himself with all the resolution of his steel nature into the saddle； and； with one grand wave of his cocked hat to the tearful group； he spurred away for Egypt。
CHAPTER IX。
The baroness took the doctor a…shopping； she must buy Rose a gray silk。 In doing this she saw many other tempting things。 I say no more。
But the young ladies went up to Beaurepaire in the other carriage； for Josephine wished to avoid the gaze of the town； and get home and be quiet。 The driver went very fast。 He had drunk the bride's health at the mayor's； item the bridegroom's； the bridesmaid's； the mayor's； etc。； and 〃a spur in the head is worth two in the heel；〃 says the proverb。 The sisters leaned back on the soft cushions； and enjoyed the smooth and rapid motion once so familiar to them； so rare of late。
Then Rose took her sister gently to task for having offered to go to Egypt。 She had forgotten her poor sister。
〃No； love；〃 replied Josephine； 〃did you not see I dared not look towards you？ I love you better than all the world； but this was my duty。 I was his wife： I had no longer a feeble inclination and a feeble disinclination to decide between； but right on one side； wrong on the other。〃
〃Oh！ I know where your ladyship's strength lies： my force isinmy inclinations。〃
〃Yes； Rose；〃 continued Josephine thoughtfully； 〃duty is a great comfort： it is so tangible； it is something to lay hold of for life or death； a strong tower for the weak but well disposed。〃
Rose assented； and they were silent a minute； and when she spoke again it was to own she loved a carriage。 〃How fast we glide！ Now lean back with me； and take my hand； and as we glide shut your eyes and think： whisper me all your feelings； every one of them。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Josephine； half closing her eyes； 〃in the first place I feel a great calm； a heavenly calm。 My fate is decided。 No more suspense。 My duties are clear。 I have a husband I am proud of。 There is no perfidy with him； no deceit； no disingenuousness； no shade。 He is a human sun。 He will make me a better； truer woman； and I him a happier man。 Yes； is it not nice to think that great and strong as he is I can teach him a happiness he knows not as yet？〃 And she smiled with the sense of her delicate power； but said no more； for she was not the one to talk much about herself。 But Rose pressed her。 〃Yes； go on； dear；〃 she said； 〃I seem to see your pretty little thoughts rising out of your heart like a bubbling fountain： go on。〃
Thus encouraged； Josephine thought on aloud； 〃And then； gratitude！〃 said she。 〃I have heard it said； or read it somewhere； that gratitude is a burden： I cannot understand that sentiment； why； to me gratitude is a delight； gratitude is a passion。 It is the warmest of all the tender feelings I have for dear Monsieur Raynal。 I feel it glow here； in my bosom。 I think I shall love him as I ought long before he comes back。〃
〃BEFORE？〃
〃Yes；〃 murmured Josephine； her eyes still half closed。 〃His virtues will always be present to me。 His little faults of manner will not be in sight。 Good Raynal！ The image of those great qualities I revere so； perhaps because I fail in them myself； will be before my mind； and ere he comes home I shall love him dearly。 I'll tell you one reason why I wished to go home at once wasnoyou must guess。〃
〃Guess？〃 said Rose； contemptuously。 〃As if I did not see it was to put on your gray silk。〃
Josephine smiled assent； and said almost with fervor； 〃Good Raynal！ I feel prouder of his honest name than of our noble one。 And I am so calm； dear； thanks to you； so tranquil； so pleased that my mother's mind is at rest； so convinced all is for the best； so contented with my own lot； so happy。〃
A gentle tear stole from beneath her long lashes。 Rose looked at her wistfully： then laid her cheek to hers。 They leaned back hand in hand； placid and silent。
The carriage glided fast。 Beaurepaire was almost in sight。
Suddenly Josephine's hand tightened on Rose's； and she sat up in the carriage like a person awakened from a strange dream。
〃What is it？〃 asked Rose。
〃Some one in uniform。〃
〃Oh； is that all？ Ah！ you thought it was a message from Raynal。〃
〃Oh！ no！ on footwalking very slowly。 Coming this way； too。 Coming this way！〃 and she became singularly restless； and looked round in the carriage。 It was one of those old chariots with no side windows； but a peep hole at the back。 This aperture； however； had a flap over it。 Josephine undid the flap with nimble though agitated fingers； and sawnothing。 The road had taken a turn。 〃Oh；〃 said Rose； carelessly； 〃for that matter the roads are full of soldiers just now。〃
〃Ay； but not of officers on foot。〃
Rose gave her such a look； and for the first time this many a day spoke sternly to her； and asked her what on earth she had to do with uniforms or officers except one； the noblest in the world； her husband。
A month ago that word was almost indifferent to Josephine； or rather she uttered it with a sort of mild complacency。 Now she started at it； and it struck chill upon her。 She did not reply； however； and the carriage rolled on。
〃He seemed to be dragging himself along。〃 This was the first word Josephine had spoken for some time。 〃Oh； did he？〃 replied Rose carelessly； 〃well； let him。 Here we are； at home。〃
〃I am glad of it；〃 said Josephine； 〃very glad。〃
On reaching Beaurepaire she wanted to go up…stairs at once and put on her gray gown。 But the day was so delightful that Rose begged her to stroll in the Pleasaunce for half an hour and watch for their mother's return。 She consented in an absent way； and presently began to walk very fast； unconscious of her companion
