white lies-第79章

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d。

〃There；　my　poor　soul！〃

Even　as　their　hands　met；　Rose　threw　herself　on　the　cup；　and　snatched　it　with　fury　from　them　both。　　She　was　white　as　ashes；　and　her　eyes；　supernaturally　large；　glared　on　Raynal　with　terror。　　〃Madman！〃　she　cried；　〃would　you　kill　her？〃

He　glared　back　on　her：　what　did　this　mean？　　Their　eyes　were　fixed　on　each　other　like　combatants　for　life　and　death；　they　did　not　see　that　the　room　was　filling　with　people；　that　the　doctor　was　only　on　the　other　side　of　the　table；　and　that　the　baroness　and　Edouard　were　at　the　door；　and　all　looking　wonderstruck　at　this　strange　sight　Josephine　on　her　knees；　and　those　two　facing　each　other；　white；　with　dilating　eyes；　the　glass　between　them。

But　what　was　that　to　the　horror；　when　the　next　moment　the　patient　Josephine　started　to　her　feet；　and；　standing　in　the　midst；　tore　her　hair　by　handfuls；　out　of　her　head。

〃Ah；　you　snatch　the　kind　poison　from　me！〃

〃Poison！〃

〃Poison！〃

〃Poison！〃　cried　the　others；　horror…stricken。

〃Ah！　you　won't　let　me　die。　　Curse　you　all！　curse　you！　　I　never　had　my　own　way　in　anything。　　I　was　always　a　slave　and　a　fool。　　I　have　murdered　the　man　I　loveI　love。　　Yes；　my　husband；　do　you　hear？　the　man　I　love。〃

〃Hush！　daughter；　respect　my　gray　hairs。〃

〃Your　gray　hairs！　　You　are　not　so　old　in　years　as　I　am　in　agony。　　So　this　is　your　love；　Rose！　　Ah；　you　won't　let　me　diewon't　you？　　THEN　I'LL　DO　WORSEI'LL　TELL。〃

〃He　who　is　dead；　you　have　murdered　him　amongst　you；　and　I'll　follow　him　in　spite　of　you　allhe　was　my　betrothed。　　He　struggled　wounded；　bleeding；　to　my　feet。　　He　found　me　married。　　News　came　of　my　husband's　death；　I　married　my　betrothed。〃

〃Married　him！〃　exclaimed　the　baroness。

〃Ah；　my　poor　mother。　　And　she　kissed　me　so　kindly　just　nowshe　will　kiss　me　no　more。　　Oh；　I　am　not　ashamed　of　marrying　him。　　I　am　only　ashamed　of　the　cowardice　that　dared　not　do　it　in　face　of　all　the　world。　　We　had　scarce　been　happy　a　fortnight；　when　a　letter　came　from　Colonel　Raynal。　　He　was　alive。　　I　drove　my　true　husband　away；　wretch　that　I　was。　　None　but　bad　women　have　an　atom　of　sense。　　I　tried　to　do　my　duty　to　my　legal　husband。　　He　was　my　benefactor。　　I　thought　it　was　my　duty。　　Was　it？　　I　don't　know：　I　have　lost　the　sense　of　right　and　wrong。　　I　turned　from　a　living　creature　to　a　lie。　He　who　had　scattered　benefits　on　me　and　all　this　house；　he　whom　it　was　too　little　to　love；　he　ought　to　have　been　adored：　this　man　came　here　one　night　to　wife　proud；　joyous；　and　warm…hearted。　　He　found　a　cradle；　and　two　women　watching　it。　　Now　Edouard；　now　MONSIEUR；　do　you　see　that　life　is　IMPOSSIBLE　to　me？　　One　bravely　accused　herself：　she　was　innocent。　　One　swooned　away　like　a　guilty　coward。〃

Edouard　uttered　an　exclamation。

〃Yes；　Edouard；　you　shall　not　be　miserable　like　me；　she　was　guilty。　You　do　not　understand　me　yet；　my　poor　motherand　she　was　so　happy　this　morningI　was　the　liar；　the　coward；　the　double…faced　wife；　the　miserable　mother　that　denied　her　child。　　Now　will　you　let　me　die？　Now　do　you　see　that　I　can't　and　won't　live　upon　shame　and　despair？　Ah；　Monsieur　Raynal；　my　dear　friend；　you　were　always　generous：　you　will　pity　and　kill　me。　　I　have　dishonored　the　name　you　gave　me　to　keep：　I　am　neither　Beaurepaire　nor　Raynal。　　Do　pray　kill　me；　monsieurJean；　do　pray　release　me　from　my　life！〃

And　she　crawled　to　his　knees　and　embraced　them；　and　kissed　his　hand；　and　pleaded　more　piteously　for　death；　than　others　have　begged　for　life。

Raynal　stood　like　a　rock：　he　was　pale；　and　drew　his　breath　audibly；　but　not　a　word。　　Then　came　a　sight　scarce　less　terrible　than　Josephine's　despair。　　The　baroness；　looking　and　moving　twenty　years　older　than　an　hour　before；　tottered　across　the　room　to　Raynal。

〃Sir；　you　whom　I　have　called　my　son；　but　whom　I　will　never　presume　so　to　call　again；　I　thought　I　had　lived　long　enough　never　to　have　to　blush　again。　　I　loved　you；　monsieur。　　I　prayed　every　day　for　you。　But　she　who　WAS　my　daughter　was　not　of　my　mind。　　Monsieur；　I　have　never　knelt　but　to　God　and　to　my　king；　and　I　kneel　to　you：　forgive　us；　sir；　forgive　us！〃

She　tried　to　go　down　on　her　knees。　　He　raised　her　with　his　strong　arm；　but　he　could　not　speak。　　She　turned　on　the　others。

〃So　this　is　the　secret　you　were　hiding　from　me！　　This　secret　has　not　killed　you　all。　　Oh！　I　shall　not　live　under　its　shame　so　long　as　you　have。　　Chateau　of　Beaurepairenest　of　treason；　ingratitude；　and　immodestyI　loathe　you　as　much　as　once　I　loved　you。　　I　will　go　and　hide　my　head；　and　die　elsewhere。〃

〃Stay；　madame！〃　said　he；　in　a　voice　whose　depth　and　dignity　was　such　that　it　seemed　impossible　to　disobey　it。　　〃It　was　suddenI　was　shakenbut　I　am　myself　again。〃

〃Oh；　show　some　pity！〃　cried　Rose。

〃I　shall　try　to　be　just。〃

There　was　a　long；　trembling　silence；　and　during　that　silence　and　terrible　agitation；　one　figure　stood　firm　among　those　quaking；　beating　hearts；　like　a　rock　with　the　waves　breaking　round　itthe　MAN　OF　PRINCIPLE　among　the　creatures　of　impulse。

He　raised　Josephine　from　her　knees；　and　placed　her　all　limp　and　powerless　in　an　arm…chair。　　To　her　frenzy　had　now　succeeded　a　sickness　and　feebleness　like　unto　death。

〃Widow　Dujardin；〃　said　he；　in　a　broken　voice；　〃listen　to　me。〃

She　moaned　a　sort　of　assent。

〃Your　mistake　has　been　not　trusting　me。　　I　was　your　friend；　and　not　a　selfish　friend。　　I　was　not　enough　in　love　with　you　to　destroy　your　happiness。　　Besides；　I　despise　that　sort　of　love。　　If　you　had　told　me　all；　I　would　have　spared　you　this　misery。　　By　the　present　law；　civil　contracts　of　marriage　can　be　dissolved　by　mutual　consent。〃

At　this　the　baroness　uttered　some　sign　of　surprise。

〃Ah！〃　continued　Raynal；　sadly；　〃you　are　aristocrats；　and　cannot　keep　pace　with　the　times。　　This　very　day　our　mere　contract　shall　be　formally　dissolved。　　Indeed；　it　ceases　to　exist　since　both　parties　are　resolved　to　withdraw　from　it。　　So；　if　you　married　Dujardin　in　a　church；　you　are　Madame　Dujardin　at　this　moment；　and　his　child　is　legitimate。　　What　does　she　say？〃

This　question　was　to　Rose；　for　what　Josephine　uttered　sounded　like　a　mere　articulate　moan。　　But　Rose's　quick　ear　had　caught　words；　and　she　replied；　all　in　tears；　〃My　poor　sister　is　blessing　you；　sir。　　We　all　bless　you。〃

〃She　does　not　understand　my　position；〃　said　Raynal。　　He　then　walked　up　to　Josephine；　and　leaning　over　her　arm；　and　speaking　rather　loud；　under　the　impression　that　her　senses　were　blunted　by　grief；　he　said；　〃Look　here：　Colonel　Dujardin；　your　husband；　deliberately；　and　with　his　eyes　open；　sacrificed　his　life　for　me；　and　for　his　own　heroic　sense　of　honor。　　Now；　it　is　my　turn。　　If　that　hero　stood　here；　and　asked　me　for　all　the　blood　in　my　body；　I　would　give　it　him。　　He　is　gone；　but；　dying　for　me；　he　has　left　me　his　widow　and　his　child；　they　remain　under　my　wing。　　To　protect　them　is　my　pride；　and　my　only　consolation。　　I　am　going　to　the　mayor　to　annul　our　unlucky　contract　in　due　form；　and　make　us　brother　and　sister　instead。　　But；〃　turning　to　the　baroness；　〃don't　you　think　to　escape　me　as　your　daughter　has　done：　no；　no；　old　lady；　once　a　mother；　always　a　mother。　　Stir　from　your　son's　home　if　you　dare！〃

And　with　these　words；　in　speaking　which　his　voice　had　recovered　its　iron　firmness；　he　strode　out　at　the　door；　superb　in　manhood　and　principle；　and　every　eye　turned　with　wonder　and　admiration　after　him。　　Even　when　he　was　gone　they　gazed　at　the　door　by　which　a　creature　so　strangely　noble　had　disappeared。

The　baroness　was　about　to　follow　him　without　taking　any　notice　of　Josephine。　　But　Rose　caught　her　by　the　gown。　　〃O　mother；　speak　to　poor　Josephine：　bid　her　live。〃

The　baroness　only　made　a　gesture　of　horror　and　disgust；　and　turned　her　back　on　them　both。

Josephine；　who　had　tottered　up　from　her　seat　at　Rose's　words；　sank　heavily　down　again；　and　murmured；　〃Ah！　the　grave　holds　all　that　love　me　now。〃

Rose　ran　to　her　side。　　〃Cruel　Josephine！　what；　do　not　I　love　you？　Mother；　will　you　not　help　me　persuade　her　to　live？　　Oh！　if　she　dies；　I　will　die　too；　you　will　kill　both　your　children。〃

Stern　and　indignant　as　the　baroness　was；　yet　these　words　pierced　her　heart。　　She　turned　with　a　piteous；　half　apologetic　air　to　Edouard　and　Aubertin。　　〃Gentlemen；〃　said　she；　〃she　has　been　foolish；　not　guilty。　　Heaven　pardons　the　best　of　us。