white lies-第37节

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〃Not　I。　　I　decline　the　intrusion；　you　are　engaged　with　me；　and　I　have　things　to　say　to　you　that　are　not　fit　for　that　puppy　to　hear。　So　choose　between　me　and　him；　and　choose　forever。〃

Rose　colored。　　〃I　should　be　very　sorry　to　choose　either　of　you　forever；　but　for　this　afternoon　I　choose　you。〃

〃Oh；　thank　youmy　whole　life　shall　prove　my　gratitude　for　this　preference。〃

Rose　beckoned　Jacintha；　and　sent　her　with　an　excuse　to　Colonel　Dujardin。　　She　then　turned　with　an　air　of　mock　submission　to　Edouard。　　〃I　am　at　monsieur's　ORDERS。〃

Then　this　unhappy　novice；　being　naturally　good…natured；　thanked　her　again　and　again　for　her　condescension　in　setting　his　heart　at　rest。　He　proposed　a　walk；　since　his　interference　had　lost　her　one。　　She　yielded　a　cold　assent。　　This　vexed　him；　but　he　took　it　for　granted　it　would　wear　off　before　the　end　of　the　walk。　　Edouard's　heart　bounded；　but　he　loved　her　too　sincerely　to　be　happy　unless　he　could　see　her　happy　too；　the　malicious　thing　saw　this；　or　perhaps　knew　it　by　instinct；　and　by　means　of　this　good　feeling　of　his　she　revenged　herself　for　his　tyranny。　　She　tortured　him　as　only　a　woman　can　torture；　and　as　even　she　can　torture　only　a　worthy　man；　and　one　who　loves　her。　　In　the　course　of　that　short　walk　this　inexperienced　girl；　strong　in　the　instincts　and　inborn　arts　of　her　sex；　drove　pins　and　needles；　needles　and　pins；　of　all　sorts　and　sizes；　through　her　lover's　heart。

She　was　everything　by　turns；　except　kind；　and　nothing　for　long　together。　　She　was　peevish；　she　was　ostentatiously　patient　and　submissive；　she　was　inattentive　to　her　companion　and　seemingly　wrapped　up　in　contemplation　of　absent　things　and　persons；　the　colonel　to　wit；　she　was　dogged；　repulsive；　and　cold；　and　she　never　was　herself　a　single　moment。　　They　returned　to　the　gate　of　the　Pleasaunce。　　〃Well；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Riviere　very　sadly；　〃that　interloper　might　as　well　have　been　with　us。〃

〃Of　course　he　might；　and　you　would　have　lost　nothing　by　permitting　me　to　be　courteous　to　a　guest　and　an　invalid。　　If　you　had　not　played　the　tyrant；　and　taken　the　matter　into　your　own　hands；　I　should　have　found　means　to　soothe　your　jealI　mean　your　vanity；　but　you　preferred　to　have　your　own　way。　　Well；　you　have　had　it。〃

〃Yes；　mademoiselle；　you　have　given　me　a　lesson；　you　have　shown　me　how　idle　it　is　to　attempt　to　force　a　young　lady's　inclinations　in　anything。〃

He　bade　her　good…day；　and　went　away　sorrowful。

She　cut　Camille　dead　for　the　rest　of　the　day。

Next　morning；　early；　Edouard　called　expressly　to　see　her。　〃Mademoiselle　Rose；〃　said　he；　humbly；　〃I　called　to　apologize　for　the　ungentlemanly　tone　of　my　remonstrances　yesterday。〃

〃Fiddle…dee；〃　said　Rose。　　〃Don't　do　it　again；　that　is　the　best　apology。〃

〃I　am　not　likely　to　offend　so　again；〃　said　he　sadly。　　〃I　am　going　away。　　I　am　sorry　to　say　I　am　promoted；　my　new　post　is　ten　leagues。　HE　WILL　HAVE　IT　ALL　HIS　OWN　WAY　NOW。　　But　perhaps　it　is　best。　　Were　I　to　stay　here；　I　foresee　you　would　soon　lose　whatever　friendly　feeling　you　have　for　me。〃

〃Am　I　so　changeable？　　I　am　not　considered　so；〃　remonstrated　Rose；　gently。

Riviere　explained；　〃I　am　not　vain；〃　said　he；　with　that　self…　knowledge　which　is　so　general　an　attribute　of　human　beings；　〃no　man　less　so；　nor　am　I　jealous；　but　I　respect　myself；　and　I　could　never　be　content　to　share　your　time　and　your　regard　with　Colonel　Dujardin；　nor　with　a　much　better　man。　　See　now；　he　has　made　me　arrogant。　　Was　I　ever　so　before？〃

〃No！　no！　no！　and　I　forgive　you　now；　my　poor　Edouard。〃

〃He　has　made　you　cold　as　ice　to　me。〃

〃No！　that　was　my　own　wickedness　and　spitefulness。〃

〃Wickedness；　spitefulness！　they　are　not　in　your　nature。　　It　is　all　that　wretch's　doing。〃

Rose　sighed；　but　she　said　nothing；　for　she　saw　that　to　excuse　Camille　would　only　make　the　jealous　one　more　bitter　against　him。

〃Will　you　deign　to　write　to　me　at　my　new　post？　once　a　month？　in　answer　to　my　letters？〃

〃Yes；　dear。　　But　you　will　ride　over　sometimes　to　see　us。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　but　for　some　little　time　I　shall　not　be　able。　　The　duties　of　a　new　post。〃

〃Perhaps　in　a　montha　fortnight？〃

〃Sooner　perhaps；　the　moment　I　hear　that　man　is　out　of　the　house。〃

Edouard　went　away；　dogged　and　sad；　Rose　shut　herself　up　in　her　room　and　had　a　good　cry。　　In　the　afternoon　Josephine　came　and　remonstrated　with　her。　　〃You　have　not　walked　with　him　at　all　to…day。〃

〃No；　you　must　pet　him　yourself　for　once。　　I　hate　the　sight　of　him；　it　has　made　mischief　between　Edouard　and　me；　my　being　so　attentive　to　him。　　Edouard　is　jealous；　and　I　cannot　wonder。　　After　all；　what　right　have　I　to　mystify　him　who　honors　me　with　his　affection？〃

Then；　being　pressed　with　questions　by　Josephine；　she　related　to　her　all　that　had　passed　between　Edouard　and　her；　word　for　word。

〃Poor　Camille！〃　sighed　Josephine　the　just。

〃Oh；　dear；　yes！　poor　Camille！　who　has　the　power　to　make　us　all　miserable；　and　who　does　it；　and　will　go　on　doing　it　until　he　is　happy　himself。〃

〃Ah！　would　to　Heaven　I　could　make　him　as　happy　as　he　deserves　to　be。〃

〃You　could　easily　make　him　much　happier　than　that。　　And　why　not　do　it？〃

〃O　Rose；〃　said　Josephine；　shocked；　〃how　can　you　advise　me　so？〃

She　then　asked　her　if　she　thought　it　possible　that　Camille　could　be　ignorant　of　her　heart。

〃Josephine；〃　replied　Rose；　angrily；　〃these　men　are　absurd：　they　believe　only　what　they　see。　　I　have　done　what　I　can　for　you　and　Camille；　but　it　is　useless。　　Would　you　have　him　believe　you　love　him；　you　must　yourself　be　kind　to　him；　and　it　would　be　a　charitable　action：　you　would　make　four　unhappy　people　happy；　or；　at　least；　put　them　on　the　road；　NOW　they　are　off　the　road；　and；　by　what　I　have　seen　to…day；　I　think；　if　we　go　on　so　much　longer；　it　will　be　too　late　to　try　to　return。　　Come；　Josephine；　for　my　sake！　　Let　me　go　and　tell　him　you　will　consentto　all　our　happinesses。　　There；　the　crime　is　mine。〃　　And　she　ran　off　in　spite　of　Josephine's　faint　and　hypocritical　entreaties。　　She　returns　the　next　minute　looking　all　aghast。　　〃It　is　too　late；〃　said　she。　　〃He　is　going　away。　　I　am　sure　he　is；　for　he　is　packing　up　his　things　to　go。　　I　spied　through　the　old　place　and　saw　him。　　He　was　sighing　like　a　furnace　as　he　strapped　his　portmanteau。　　I　hate　him；　of　course；　but　I　was　sorry　for　him。　　I　could　not　help　being。　　He　sighed　so　all　the　time；　piteously。〃

Josephine　turned　pale；　and　lifted　her　hands　in　surprise　and　dismay。

〃Depend　on　it；　Josephine；　we　are　wrong；〃　said　Rose；　firmly：　〃these　wretches　will　not　stand　our　nonsense　above　a　certain　time：　they　are　not　such　fools。　　We　are　mismanaging：　one　gone；　the　other　going；　both　losing　faith　in　us。〃

Josephine's　color　returned　to　her　cheek；　and　then　mounted　high。　Presently　she　smiled；　a　smile　full　of　conscious　power　and　furtive　complacency；　and　said　quietly；　〃He　will　not　go。〃

Rose　was　pleased；　but　not　surprised；　to　hear　her　sister　speak　so　confidently；　for　she　knew　her　power　over　Camille。　　〃That　is　right；〃　said　she；　〃go　to　him；　and　say　two　honest　words：　'I　bid　you　stay。'〃

〃O　Rose！　no！〃

〃Poltroon！　　You　know　he　would　go　down　on　his　knees；　and　stay　directly。〃

〃No：　I　should　blush　all　my　life　before　you　and　him。　　I　COULD　not。　　I　should　let　him　go　sooner；　almost。　　Oh；　no！　　I　will　never　ask　a　man　to　stay　who　wishes　to　leave　me。　　But　just　you　go　to　him；　and　say　Madame　Raynal　is　going　to　take　a　little　walk：　will　he　do　her　the　honor　to　be　her　companion？　　Not　a　word　more；　if　you　love　me。〃

〃I'll　go。　　Hypocrite！〃


Josephine　received　Camille　with　a　bright　smile。　　She　seemed　in　unusually　good　spirits；　and　overflowing　with　kindness　and　innocent　affection。　　On　this　his　high　gloomy　brow　relaxed；　and　all　his　prospects　brightened　as　by　magic。　　Then　she　communicated　to　him　a　number　of　little　plans　for　next　week　and　the　week　after。　　Among　the　rest　he　was　to　go　with　her　and　Rose　to　Frejus。　　〃Such　a　sweet　place：　I　want　to　show　it　you。　　You　will　come？〃

He　hesitated　a　single　moment：　a　moment　of　intense　anxiety　to　the　smiling　Josephine。

〃Yes！　he　would　come：　it　was　a　great　temptation；　he　saw　so　little　of　her。〃

〃Well；　you　will　see　more　of　me　now。〃

〃Shall　I　see　you　every　dayalone；　I　mean？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　if　you　wish　it；〃　replied　Josephine；　in　an　off…hand；　indifferent　way。

He　seized　her　hand　and　devoured　it　with　kisses。　　〃Foolish　thing！〃　murmured　she；　looking　down　on　him　with　ineffable　tenderness。　〃Should　I　not　be　always　with　you　if　I　consulted　my　inclination？let　me　go。〃

〃No！　consult　your　inclination　a　little　longer。〃

〃Must　I？〃

〃Yes；　that　shall　be　your　punishment。〃

〃For　what？　　What　have　I　done？〃　asked　she　with　an　air　of　great　innocence。

〃You　have　made　me　happy；　me　who　adore　you；〃　was　the　evasive　reply。

Josephine　came　in　from　her　walk　with　a　high　color　and　beaming　eyes；　and　screamed；　〃Run；　Rose！〃

On　this　concise；　and　to　us　not　very　clear　instruction；　Rose　slipped　up　the　secret　stair。　　She　saw　Camille　come　in　and　gravely　unpack　his　little　portmanteau；　and　dispose　his　things　in　the　drawers　with　soldier…like　neatness；　and　hum　an　agreeable　march。　　She　came　and　told　Josephine。

〃Ah！〃　said　Josephine　with　a　little　sigh　of　pleasure；　and　a　gentle　triumph　in　her　eyes。

She　had　not　only　got　her　desire；　but　had　arrived　at　it　her　way；　woman's　way；　round　about。

This　adroit　benevolence　led　to　more　than　she