white lies-第77章

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〃If　he　is　a　gentleman！〃　cried　Rose；　〃O　mamma；　do　not　you　affront　a　gentleman；　who　never；　never　gave　you　nor　me　any　ground　of　offence。　Why　affront　the　friends　and　benefactors　we　have　lost　by　our　own　fault？〃

〃Oh；　then；　it　is　all　your　fault；〃　said　the　baroness。　　〃I　feared　as　much。〃

〃All　my　fault；　all；〃　said　Rose；　then　putting　her　pretty　palms　together；　and　casting　a　look　of　abject　supplication　on　Edouard；　she　murmured；　〃my　temper！〃

〃Do　not　you　put　words　into　his　mouth；〃　said　the　shrewd　old　lady。　〃Come；　Monsieur　Riviere；　be　a　man；　and　tell　me　the　truth。　　What　has　she　said　to　you？　　What　has　she　done？〃

By　this　time　the　abject　state　of　terror　the　high…spirited　Rose　was　in；　and　her　piteous　glances；　had　so　disarmed　Edouard；　that　he　had　not　the　heart　to　expose　her　to　her　mother。

〃Madame；〃　said　he；　stiffly；　taking　Rose's　hint；　〃my　temper　and　mademoiselle's　could　not　accord。〃

〃Why；　her　temper　is　charming：　it　is　joyous；　equal；　and　gentle。〃

〃You　misunderstand　me；　madame；　I　do　not　reproach　Mademoiselle　Rose。　It　is　I　who　am　to　blame。〃

〃For　what？〃　inquired　the　baroness　dryly。

〃For　not　being　able　to　make　her　love　me。〃

〃Oh！　that　is　it！　　She　did　not　love　you？〃

〃Ask　herself；　madame；〃　said　Edouard；　bitterly。

〃Rose；〃　said　the　baroness；　her　eye　now　beginning　to　twinkle；　〃were　you　really　guilty　of　such　a　want　of　discrimination？　　Didn't　you　love　monsieur？〃

Rose　flung　her　arms　round　her　mother's　neck；　and　said；　〃No；　mamma；　I　did　not　love　Monsieur　Edouard；〃　in　an　exquisite　tone　of　love；　that　to　a　female　ear　conveyed　the　exact　opposite　of　the　words。

But　Edouard　had　not　that　nice　discriminating　ear。　　He　sighed　deeply；　and　the　baroness　smiled。　　〃You　tell　me　that？〃　said　she；　〃and　you　are　crying！〃

〃She　is　crying；　madame？〃　said　Edouard；　inquiringly；　and　taking　a　step　towards　them。

〃Why；　you　see　she　is；　you　foolish　boy。　　Come；　I　must　put　an　end　to　this；〃　and　she　rose　coolly　from　her　seat；　and　begging　Edouard　to　forgive　her　for　leaving　him　a　moment　with　his　deadly　enemy；　went　off　with　knowing　little　nods　into　Josephine's　room；　only；　before　she　entered　it；　she　turned；　and　with　a　maternal　smile　discharged　this　word　at　the　pair。

〃Babies！〃

But　between　the　alienated　lovers　was　a　long　distressing　silence。　Neither　knew　what　to　say；　and　their　situation　was　intolerable。　　At　last　Rose　ventured　in　a　timorous　voice　to　say；　〃I　thank　you　for　your　generosity。　　But　I　knew　that　you　would　not　betray　me。〃

〃Your　secret　is　safe　for　me；〃　sighed　Edouard。　　〃Is　there　anything　else　I　can　do　for　you？〃

Rose　shook　her　head　sadly。

Edouard　moved　to　the　door。

Rose　bowed　her　head　with　a　despairing　moan。　　It　took　him　by　the　heart　and　held　him。　　He　hesitated；　then　came　towards　her。

〃I　see　you　are　sorry　for　what　you　have　done　to　me　who　loved　you　so；　and　you　loved　me。　　Oh！　yes；　do　not　deny　it；　Rose；　there　was　a　time　you　loved　me。　　And　that　makes　it　worse：　to　have　given　me　such　sweet　hopes；　only　to　crush　both　them　and　me。　　And　is　not　this　cruel　of　you　to　weep　so　and　let　me　see　your　penitencewhen　it　is　too　late？〃

〃Alas！　how　can　I　help　my　regrets？　　I　have　insulted　so　good　a　friend。〃

There　was　a　sad　silence。　　Then　as　he　looked　at　her；　her　looks　belied　the　charge　her　own　lips　had　made　against　herself。

A　light　seemed　to　burst　on　Edouard　from　that　high…minded；　sorrow…　stricken　face。

〃Tell　me　it　is　false！〃　he　cried。

She　hid　her　face　in　her　handswoman's　instinct　to　avoid　being　read。

〃Tell　me　you　were　misled　then；　fascinated；　perverted；　but　that　your　heart　returned　to　me。　　Clear　yourself　of　deliberate　deceit；　and　I　will　believe　and　thank　you　on　my　knees。〃

〃Heaven　have　pity　on　us　both！〃　cried　poor　Rose。

〃On　us！　　Thank　you　for　saying　on　us。　　See　now；　you　have　not　gained　happiness　by　destroying　mine。　　One　worddo　you　love　that　man？that　Dujardin？〃

〃You　know　I　do　not。〃

〃I　am　glad　of　that；　since　his　life　is　forfeited；　if　he　escapes　my　friend　Raynal；　he　shall　not　escape　me。〃

Rose　uttered　a　cry　of　terror。　　〃Hush！　not　so　loud。　　The　life　of　Camille！　　Oh！　if　he　were　to　die；　what　would　become　ofoh；　pray　do　not　speak　so　loud。〃

〃Own　then　that　you　DO　love　him；〃　yelled　Edouard；　〃give　me　truth；　if　you　have　no　love　to　give。　　Own　that　you　love　him；　and　he　shall　be　safe。　　It　is　myself　I　will　kill；　for　being　such　a　slave　as　to　love　you　still。〃

Rose's　fortitude　gave　way。

〃I　cannot　bear　it；〃　she　cried　despairingly；　〃it　is　beyond　my　strength；　Edouard；　swear　to　me　you　will　keep　what　I　tell　you　secret　as　the　grave！〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　Edouard；　all　radiant　with　hope；　〃I　swear。〃

〃Then　you　are　under　a　delirium。　　I　have　deceived；　but　never　wronged　you；　that　unhappy　child　is　not　　Hush！　　HERE　SHE　COMES。〃

The　baroness　came　smiling　out；　and　Josephine's　wan；　anxious　face　was　seen　behind　her。

〃Well；〃　said　the　baroness；　〃is　the　war　at　an　end？　　What；　are　we　still　silent？　　Let　me　try　then　what　I　can　do。　　Edouard；　lend　me　your　hand。〃

While　Edouard　hesitated；　Josephine　clasped　her　hands　and　mutely　supplicated　him　to　consent。　　Her　sad　face；　and　the　thought　of　how　often　she　had　stood　his　friend；　shook　his　resolution。　　He　held　out　his　hand；　but　slowly　and　reluctantly。

〃There　is　my　hand；〃　he　groaned。

〃And　here　is　mine；　mamma；〃　said　Rose；　smiling　to　please　her　mother。

Oh！　the　mixture　of　feeling；　when　her　soft　warm　palm　pressed　his。　How　the　delicious　sense　baffled　and　mystified　the　cold　judgment。

Josephine　raised　her　eyes　thankfully　to　heaven。

While　the　young　lovers　yet　thrilled　at　each　other's　touch；　yet　could　not　look　one　another　in　the　face；　a　clatter　of　horses'　feet　was　heard。

〃That　is　Colonel　Raynal；〃　said　Josephine；　with　unnatural　calmness。　〃I　expected　him　to…day。〃

The　baroness　was　at　the　side　window　in　a　moment。

〃It　is　he！it　is　he！〃

She　hurried　down　to　embrace　her　son。

Josephine　went　without　a　word　to　her　own　room。　　Rose　followed　her　the　next　minute。　　But　in　that　one　minute　she　worked　magic。

She　glided　up　to　Edouard；　and　looked　him　full　in　the　face：　not　the　sad；　depressed；　guilty…looking　humble　Rose　of　a　moment　before；　but　the　old　high…spirited；　and　some　what　imperious　girl。

〃You　have　shown　yourself　noble　this　day。　　I　am　going　to　trust　you　as　only　the　noble　are　trusted。　　Stay　in　the　house　till　I　can　speak　to　you。〃

She　was　gone；　and　something　leaped　within　Edouard's　bosom；　and　a　flood　of　light　seemed　to　burst　in　on　him。　　Yet　he　saw　no　object　clearly：　but　he　saw　light。

Rose　ran　into　Josephine's　room；　and　once　more　surprised　her　on　her　knees；　and　in　the　very　act　of　hiding　something　in　her　bosom。

〃What　are　you　doing；　Josephine；　on　your　knees？〃　said　she；　sternly。

〃I　have　a　great　trial　to　go　through；〃　was　the　hesitating　answer。

Rose　said　nothing。　　She　turned　paler。　　She　is　deceiving　me；　thought　she；　and　she　sat　down　full　of　bitterness　and　terror；　and；　affecting　not　to　watch　Josephine；　watched　her。

〃Go　and　tell　them　I　am　coming；　Rose。〃

〃No；　Josephine；　I　will　not　leave　you　till　this　terrible　meeting　is　over。　　We　will　encounter　him　hand　in　hand；　as　we　used　to　go　when　our　hearts　were　one；　and　we　deceived　others；　but　never　each　other。〃

At　this　tender　reproach　Josephine　fell　upon　her　neck　and　wept。

〃I　will　not　deceive　you；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　worse　than　the　poor　doctor　thinks　me。　　My　life　is　but　a　little　candle　that　a　breath　may　put　out　any　day。〃

Rose　said　nothing；　but　trembled　and　watched　her　keenly。

〃My　little　Henri；〃　said　Josephine　imploringly；　〃what　would　you　do　with　himif　anything　should　happen　to　me？〃

〃What　would　I　do　with　him？　　He　is　mine。　　I　should　be　his　mother。　Oh！　what　words　are　these：　my　heart！　my　heart！〃

〃No；　dearest；　some　day　you　will　be　married；　and　owe　all　the　mother　to　your　children；　and　Henri　is　not　ours　only：　he　belongs　to　some　one　I　have　seemed　unkind　to。　　Perhaps　he　thinks　me　heartless。　　For　I　am　a　foolish　woman；　I　don't　know　how　to　be　virtuous；　yet　show　a　man　my　heart。　　But　THEN　he　will　understand　me　and　forgive　me。　　Rose；　love；　you　will　write　to　him。　　He　will　come　to　you。　　You　will　go　together　to　the　place　where　I　shall　be　sleeping。　　You　will　show　him　my　heart。　You　will　tell　him　all　my　long　love　that　lasted　to　the　end。　　YOU　need　not　blush　to　tell　him　all。　　I　have　no　right。　　Then　you　will　give　him　his　poor　Josephine's　boy；　and　you　will　say　to　him；　'She　nev