white lies-第43节

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〃Considerably　later　than　this；〃　said　Camille。

〃I　don't　think　so；　the　journal！　where　is　it？〃

〃My　mother　has　it　locked　up。　　I'll　run。〃

〃No；　Rose；　no　one　but　me。　　Now；　Josephine；　do　not　you　go　and　give　way　to　hopes　that　may　be　delusive。　　I　must　see　that　journal　directly。　　I　will　go　to　the　baroness。　　I　shall　excuse　her　less　than　you　would。〃

He　was　scarcely　gone　when　a　cry　of　horror　filled　the　room；　a　cry　as　of　madness　falling　like　a　thunderbolt　on　a　human　mind。　　It　was　Josephine；　who　up　to　this　had　not　uttered　one　word。　　But　now　she　stood；　white　as　a　corpse；　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　wrung　her　hands。　　〃What　have　I　done？　　What　shall　I　do？　　It　was　the　3d　of　May。　I　see　it　before　me　in　letters　of　fire；　the　3d　of　May！　the　3d　of　May！and　he　writes　the　15th。〃

〃No！　no！〃　cried　Camille　wildly。　　〃It　was　long；　long　after　time　3d。〃

〃It　was　the　3d　of　May；〃　repeated　Josephine　in　a　hoarse　voice　that　none　would　have　known　for　hers。

Camille　ran　to　her　with　words　of　comfort　and　hope；　he　did　not　share　her　fears。　　He　remembered　about　when　the　Moniteur　came；　though　not　the　very　day。　　He　threw　his　arm　lovingly　round　her　as　if　to　protect　her　against　these　shadowy　terrors。　　Her　dilating　eyes　seemed　fixed　on　something　distant　in　space　or　time；　at　some　horrible　thing　coming　slowly　towards　her。　　She　did　not　see　Camille　approach　her；　but　the　moment　she　felt　him　she　turned　upon　him　swiftly。

〃Do　you　love　me？〃　still　in　the　hoarse　voice　that　had　so　little　in　it　of　Josephine。　　〃I　mean；　does　one　grain　of　respect　or　virtue　mingle　in　your　love　for　me？〃

〃What　words　are　these；　my　wife？〃

〃Then　leave　Raynal's　house　upon　the　instant。　　You　wonder　I　can　be　so　cruel？　　I　wonder　too；　and　that　I　can　see　my　duty　so　clear　in　one　short　moment。　　But　I　have　lived　twenty　years　since　that　letter　came。　Oh！　my　brain　has　whirled　through　a　thousand　agonies。　　And　I　have　come　back　a　thousand　times　to　the　same　thing；　you　and　I　must　see　each　other's　face　no　more。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Rose；　〃is　there　no　way　but　this？〃

〃Take　care；〃　she　screamed；　wildly；　to　her　and　Camille；　〃I　am　on　the　verge　of　madness；　is　it　for　you　two　to　thrust　me　over　the　precipice？　Come；　now；　if　you　are　a　man　of　honor；　if　you　have　a　spark　of　gratitude　towards　the　poor　woman　who　has　given　you　all　except　her　fair　namethat　she　will　take　to　the　grave　in　spite　of　you　all　promise　that　you　will　leave　Raynal's　house　this　minute　if　he　is　alive；　and　let　me　die　in　honor　as　I　have　lived。〃

〃No；　no！〃　cried　Camille；　terror…stricken；　〃it　cannot　be。　　Heaven　is　merciful；　and　Heaven　sees　how　happy　we　are。　　Be　calm！　these　are　idle　fears；　be　calm！　I　say。　　For　if　it　is　so　I　will　obey　you。　　I　will　stay；　I　will　go；　I　will　die；　I　will　live；　I　will　obey　you。〃

〃Swear　this　to　me　by　the　thing　you　hold　most　sacred；〃　she　almost　shrieked。

〃I　swear　by　my　love　for　you；〃　was　his　touching　reply。

Ere　they　had　recovered　a　miserable　composure　after　this　passionate　outburst；　all　the　more　terrible　as　coming　from　a　creature　so　tender　as　Josephine；　agitated　voices　were　heard　at　the　door；　and　the　baroness　tottered　in；　followed　by　the　doctor；　who　was　trying　in　vain　to　put　some　bounds　to　her　emotion　and　her　hopes。

〃Oh；　my　children！　my　children！〃　cried　she；　trembling　violently。　〃Here；　Rose；　my　hands　shake　so；　take　this　key；　open　the　cabinet；　there　is　the　Moniteur。　　What　is　the　date？〃

The　journal　was　found；　and　rapidly　examined。　　The　date　was　the　20th　of　May。

〃There！〃　cried　Camille。　　〃I　told　you！〃

The　baroness　uttered　a　feeble　moan。　　Her　hopes　died　as　suddenly　as　they　had　been　born；　and　she　sank　drooping　into　a　chair；　with　a　bitter　sigh。

Camille　stole　a　joyful　look　at　Josephine。　　She　was　in　the　same　attitude　looking　straight　before　her　as　at　a　coming　horror。　Presently　Rose　uttered　a　faint　cry；　〃The　battle　was　BEFORE。〃

〃To　be　sure；〃　cried　the　doctor。　　〃You　forget；　it　is　not　the　date　of　the　paper　we　want；　but　of　the　battle　it　records。　　For　Heaven's　sake；　when　was　the　battle？〃

〃The　3d　of　May；〃　said　Josephine；　in　a　voice　that　seemed　to　come　from　the　tomb。

Rose's　hands　that　held　the　journal　fell　like　a　dead　weight　upon　her　knees；　journal　and　all。　　She　whispered；　〃It　was　the　3d　of　May。〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　the　baroness；　starting　up；　〃he　may　yet　be　alive。　　He　must　be　alive。　　Heaven　is　merciful！　　Heaven　would　not　take　my　son　from　me；　a　poor　old　woman　who　has　not　long　to　live。　　There　was　a　letter；　where　is　the　letter？〃

〃Are　we　mad；　not　to　read　the　letter？〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃I　had　it；　it　has　dropped　from　my　old　fingers　when　I　went　for　the　journal。〃

A　short　examination　of　the　room　showed　the　letter　lying　crumpled　up　near　the　door。　　Camille　gave　it　to　the　baroness。　　She　tried　to　read　it；　but　could　not。

〃I　am　old；〃　said　she；　〃my　hand　shakes　and　my　eyes　are　troubled。　This　young　gentleman　will　read　it　to　us。　　His　eyes　are　not　dim　and　troubled。　　Something　tells　me　that　when　I　hear　this　letter；　I　shall　find　out　whether　my　son　lives。　　Why　do　you　not　read　it　to　me；　Camille？〃　cried　she；　almost　fiercely。

Camille；　thus　pressed；　obeyed　mechanically；　and　began　to　read　Raynal's　letter　aloud；　scarce　knowing　what　he　did；　but　urged　and　driven　by　the　baroness。


〃MY　DEAR　MOTHER；I　hope　all　are　well　at　Beaurepaire；　as　I　am；　or　I　hope　soon　to　be。　　I　received　a　wound　in　our　last　skirmish；　not　a　very　severe　one；　but　it　put　an　end　to　my　writing　for　some　time。〃


〃Go　on；　dear　Camille！　go　on。〃

〃The　page　ends　there；　madame；〃

The　paper　was　thin；　and　Camille；　whose　hand　trembled；　had　some　difficulty　in　detaching　the　leaves　from　one　another。　　He　succeeded；　however；　at　last；　and　went　on　reading　and　writhing。


〃By　the　way；　you　must　address　your　next　letter　to　me　as　Colonel　Raynal。　　I　was　promoted　just　before　this　last　affair；　but　had　not　time　to　tell　you；　and　my　wound　stopped　my　writing　till　now。〃


〃There；　there！〃　cried　the　baroness。　　〃He　was　Colonel　Raynal；　and　Colonel　Raynal　was　not　killed。〃

The　doctor　implored　her　not　to　interrupt。

〃Go　on；　Camille。　　Why　do　you　hesitate？　what　is　the　matter？　　Do　for　pity's　sake　go　on；　sir。〃

Camille　cast　a　look　of　agony　around；　and　put　his　hand　to　his　brow；　on　which　large　drops　of　cold　perspiration；　like　a　death　dew；　were　gathering；　but　driven　to　the　stake　on　all　sides；　he　gasped　on　rather　than　read；　for　his　eye　had　gone　down　the　page。


〃A　namesake　of　mine；　Commandant　Raynal；〃


〃Ah！〃


〃has　not　beenso　fortunate。　　He〃


〃Go　on！　go　on！〃

The　wretched　man　could　now　scarcely　utter　Raynal's　words；　they　came　from　him　in　a　choking　groan。


〃he　was　killed；　poor　fellow！　while　heading　a　gallant　charge　upon　the　enemy's　flank。〃


He　ground　the　letter　convulsively　in　his　hand；　then　it　fell　all　crumpled　on　the　floor。

〃Bless　you；　Camille！〃　cried　the　baroness；　〃bless　you！　bless　you！　　I　have　a　son　still。〃

She　stooped　with　difficulty；　took　up　the　letter；　and；　kissing　it　again　and　again；　fell　on　her　knees；　and　thanked　Heaven　aloud　before　them　all。　　Then　she　rose　and　went　hastily　out；　and　her　voice　was　heard　crying　very　loud；　〃Jacintha！　Jacintha！〃

The　doctor　followed　in　considerable　anxiety　for　the　effects　of　this　violent　joy　on　so　aged　a　person。　　Three　remained　behind；　panting　and　pale　like　those　to　whom　dead　Lazarus　burst　the　tomb；　and　came　forth　in　a　moment；　at　a　word。　　Then　Camille　half　kneeled；　half　fell；　at　Josephine's　feet；　and；　in　a　voice　choked　with　sobs；　bade　her　dispose　of　him。

She　turned　her　head　away。　　〃Do　not　speak　to　me；　do　not　look　at　me；　if　we　look　at　one　another；　we　are　lost。　　Go！　die　at　your　post；　and　I　at　mine。〃

He　bowed　his　head；　and　kissed　her　dress；　then　rose　calm　as　despair；　and　white　as　death；　and；　with　his　knees　knocking　under　him；　tottered　away　like　a　corpse　set　moving。

He　disappeared　from　the　house。

The　baroness　soon　came　back；　triumphant　and　gay。

〃I　have　sent　her　to　bid　them　ring　the　bells　in　the　village。　　The　poor　shall　be　feasted；　all　shall　share　our　joy：　my　son　was　dead；　and　lives。　　Oh；　joy！　joy！　joy！〃

〃Mother！〃　shrieked　Josephine。

〃Mad　woman　that　I　am；　I　am　too　boisterous。　　Help　me；　Rose！　she　is　going　to　faint；　her　lips　are　white。〃

Dr。　Aubertin　and　Rose　brought　a　chair。　　They　forced　Josephine　into　it。　　She　was　not　the　least　faint；　yet　her　body　obeyed　their　hands　just　like　a　dead　body。　　The　baroness　melted　into　tears；　tears　streamed　from　Rose's　eyes。　　Josephine's　were　dry　and　stony；　and　fixed　on　coming　horror。　　The　baroness　looked　at　her　with　anxiety。　〃Thoughtless　old　woman！　　It　was　too　sudden；　it　is　too　much　for　my　dear　child；　too　much　for　me；〃　and　she　kneeled；　and　laid　her　aged　head　on　her　daughter's　bosom；　saying　feebly　through　her　tears；　〃too　much　joy；　too　much　joy！〃

Josephine　took　no　notice　of　her。　　She　sat　like　one　turned　to　stone　looking　far　away　over　her　mother's　head　with　rigid　eyes　fixed　on　the　air　and　on　coming　horrors。

Rose　felt　her　arm　seized。　　It　was　Aubertin。　　He　too　was　pale　now；　though　not　before。　　He　spoke　in　a　terrible　whisper　to　Rose；　his　eye　fixed　on　the　woman　of　stone　that　sat　there。

〃IS　THIS　JOY？〃

Rose；　by　a　mighty　effort；　raised　her　eyes　and　confronted　his　full。　〃What　else　should　it　be？〃　said　she。

And　with　these　words　this　Spartan　girl　was　her　sister's　champion　once　more　against　all　comers；　friend　or　foe。


CHAPTER　XVI。


Dr。　Aubertin　received　one　day　a　note　from　a　publishing