the village rector-第59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！
poignant； so that it was well…nigh midnight before they reached the
path that goes down from the woods to the sloping meadow where the
silvery roof of the chalet shone。 The moonlight gave to the surface of
the quiet water； the tint of pearls。 The little noises of the night；
echoing in the silence； made softest harmony。 Veronique sat down on
the bench of the chalet； amid this beauteous scene of the starry
night。 The murmur of two voices and the footfall of two persons still
at a distance on the sandy shore were brought by the water； which
sometimes； when all is still； reproduces sounds as faithfully as it
reflects objects on the surface。 Veronique recognized at once the
exquisite voice of the rector； and the rustle of his cassock； also the
movement of some silken stuff that was probably the material of a
woman's gown。
〃Let us go in；〃 she said to her mother。
Madame Sauviat and her daughter sat down on a crib in the lower room；
which was intended for a stable。
〃My child；〃 they heard the rector saying； 〃I do not blame you；you
are quite excusable； but your return may be the cause of irreparable
evil； she is the soul of this region。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur； then I had better go away to…night；〃 replied the
stranger。 〃ThoughI must tell youto leave my country once more is
death to me。 If I had stayed a day longer in that horrible New York；
where there is neither hope； nor faith； nor charity； I should have
died without being ill。 The air I breathed oppressed my chest； food
did not nourish me； I was dying while full of life and vigor。 My
sufferings ceased the moment I set foot upon the vessel to return。 I
seemed to be already in France。 Oh！ monsieur； I saw my mother and one
of my sisters…in…law die of grief。 My grandfather and grandmother
Tascheron are dead； dead； my dear Monsieur Bonnet； in spite of the
prosperity of Tascheronville；for my father founded a village in Ohio
and gave it that name。 That village is now almost a town； and a third
of all the land is cultivated by members of our family； whom God has
constantly protected。 Our tillage succeeded； our crops have been
enormous； and we are rich。 The town is Catholic； and we have managed
to build a Catholic church； we do not allow any other form of worship；
and we hope to convert by our example the many sects which surround
us。 True religion is in a minority in that land of money and selfish
interests； where the soul is cold。 Nevertheless； I will return to die
there； sooner than do harm or cause distress to the mother of our
Francis。 Only； Monsieur Bonnet； take me to…night to the parsonage that
I may pray upon /his/ tomb； the thought of which has brought me here；
the nearer I have come to where /he/ is； the more I felt myself
another being。 No； I never expected to feel so happy again as I do
here。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the rector； 〃come with me now。 If there should come
a time when you might return without doing injury； I will write to
you； Denise； but perhaps this visit to your birthplace will stop the
homesickness； and enable you to live over there without suffering〃
〃Oh！ to leave this country； now so beautiful！ What wonders Madame
Graslin has done for it！〃 she exclaimed； pointing to the lake as it
lay in the moonlight。 〃All this fine domain will belong to our dear
Francis。〃
〃You shall not go away； Denise；〃 said Madame Graslin； who was standing
at the stable door。
Jean…Francois Tascheron's sister clasped her hands on seeing the
spectre which addressed her。 At that moment the pale Veronique；
standing in the moonlight； was like a shade defined upon the darkness
of the open door…way。 Her eyes alone shone like stars。
〃No； my child； you shall not leave the country you have come so far to
see again； you shall be happy here； or God will refuse to help me； it
is He； no doubt； who has brought you back。〃
She took the astonished Denise by the hand； and led her away by a path
toward the other shore of the lake； leaving her mother and the rector；
who seated themselves on the bench。
〃Let her do as she wishes；〃 said Madame Sauviat。
A few moments later Veronique returned alone； and was taken back to
the chateau by her mother and Monsieur Bonnet。 Doubtless she had
formed some plan which required secrecy； for no one in the
neighborhood either saw Denise or heard any mention of her。
Madame Graslin took to her bed that day and never but once left it
again； she went from bad to worse daily； and seemed annoyed and
thwarted that she could not rise；trying to do so on several
occasions； and expressing a desire to walk out into the park。 A few
days； however； after the scene we have just related； about the
beginning of June； she made a violent effort； rose； dressed as if for
a gala day； and begged Gerard to give her his arm； declaring that she
was resolved to take a walk。 She gathered up all her strength and
expended it on this expedition； accomplishing her intention in a
paroxysm of will which had； necessarily； a fatal reaction。
〃Take me to the chalet； and alone；〃 she said to Gerard in a soft
voice； looking at him with a sort of coquetry。 〃This is my last
excursion； I dreamed last night the doctors arrived and captured me。〃
〃Do you want to see your woods？〃 asked Gerard。
〃For the last time； yes；〃 she answered。 〃But what I really want；〃 she
added； in a coaxing voice； 〃is to make you a singular proposition。〃
She asked Gerard to embark with her in one of the boats on the second
lake； to which she went on foot。 When the young man； surprised at her
intention； began to move the oars； she pointed to the hermitage as the
object of her coming。
〃My friend；〃 she said； after a long pause； during which she had been
contemplating the sky and water； the hills and shores； 〃I have a
strange request to make of you； but I think you are a man who would
obey my wishes〃
〃In all things； sure that you can wish only what is good。〃
〃I wish to marry you；〃 she answered； 〃if you consent you will
accomplish the wish of a dying woman； which is certain to secure your
happiness。〃
〃I am too ugly；〃 said the engineer。
〃The person to whom I refer is pretty； she is young； and wishes to
live at Montegnac。 If you will marry her you will help to soften my
last hours。 I will not dwell upon her virtues now； I only say her
nature is a rare one； in the matter of grace and youth and beauty； one
look will suffice； you are now about to see her at the hermitage。 As
we return home you must give me a serious yes or no。〃
Hearing this confidence； Gerard unconsciously quickened his oars；
which made Madame Graslin smile。 Denise； who was living alone； away
from all eyes； at the hermitage； recognized Madame Graslin and
immediately opened the door。 Veronique and Gerard entered。 The poor
girl could not help a blush as she met the eyes of the young man； who
was greatly surprised at her beauty。
〃I hope Madame Farrabesche has not let you want for anything？〃 said
Veronique。
〃Oh no！ madame； see！〃 and she pointed to her breakfast。
〃This is Monsieur Gerard； of whom I spoke to you；〃 went on Veronique。
〃He is to be my son's guardian； and after my death you shall live
together at the chateau until his majority。〃
〃Oh！ madame； do not talk in that way！〃
〃My dear child； look at me！〃 replied Veronique； addressing Denise； in
whose eyes the tears rose instantly。 〃She has just arrived from New
York；〃 she added； by way of introduction to Gerard。
The engineer put several questions about the new world to the young
woman； while Veronique； leaving them alone； went to look at the third
and more distant lake of the Gabou。 It was six o'clock as Veronique
and Gerard returned in the boat toward the chalet。
〃Well？〃 she said； looking at him。
〃You have my promise。〃
〃Though you are； I know； without prejudices；〃 she went on； 〃I must not
leave you ignorant of the reason why that poor girl； brought back here
by homesickness； left the place originally。〃
〃A false step？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 said Veronique。 〃Should I offer her to you if that were so？
She is the sister of a workman who died on the scaffold〃
〃Ah！ Tascheron；〃 he said； 〃the murderer of old Pingret。〃
〃Yes； she is the sister of a murderer；〃 said Madame Graslin； in a
bitte
