"Oh! there's no time for that," said Raynal. And as the baronesslooked horrified2 and amazed, Picard explained: "The state marriesits citizens now, with reason: since marriage is a civil contract.""Marriage a civil contract!" repeated the baroness1. "What, is itthen no longer one of the holy sacraments? What horrible impietyshall we come to next? Unhappy France! Such a contract would neverbe a marriage in my eyes: and what would become of an union theChurch had not blessed?""Madame," said Picard, "the Church can bless it still; but it isonly the mayor here that can DO it."All this time Josephine was blushing scarlet3, and looking this wayand that, with a sort of instinctive4 desire to fly and hide, nomatter where, for a week or so.
"Haw! haw! haw!" roared Raynal; "here is a pretty mother. Wants herdaughter to be unlawfully married in a church, instead of lawfullyin a house. Give me the will!""Look here, mother-in-law: I have left Beaurepaire to my lawfulwife.""Otherwise," put in Picard, "in case of death, it would pass to hisheir-at-law.""And HE would turn you all out, and that does not suit me. Nowthere stands the only man who can make mademoiselle my LAWFUL5 wife.
So quick march, monsieur the mayor, for time and Bonaparte wait forno man.""Stay a minute, young people," said the mayor. "We should sootherespectable prejudices, not crush them. Madam, I am at least as oldas you, and have seen many changes. I perfectly6 understand yourfeelings.""Ah, monsieur! oh!""Calm yourself, dear madam; the case is not so bad as you think. Itis perfectly true that in republican France the civil magistratealone can bind7 French citizens in lawful wedlock8. But this does notannihilate the religious ceremony. You can ask the Church'sblessing on my work; and be assured you are not the only one whoretains that natural prejudice. Out of every ten couples that Imarry, four or five go to church afterwards and perform the ancientceremonies. And they do well. For there before the altar thepriest tells them what it is not my business to dilate9 upon--thegrave moral and religious duties they have undertaken along withthis civil contract. The state binds10, but the Church still blesses,and piously11 assents13 to that"--"From which she has no power to dissent14.""Monsieur Picard, do you consider it polite to interrupt the chiefmagistrate of the place while he is explaining the law to acitizen?"(This closed Picard.)"I married a daughter last year," continued the worthy15 mayor.
"What, after this fashion?""I married her myself, as I will marry yours, if you will trust mewith her. And after I have made them one, there is nothing toprevent them adjourning16 to the church.""I beg your pardon," cried Raynal, "there are two things to preventit: a couple that wait for no man: Time and Bonaparte. Come, sir;marry us, and have done with it."The mayor assented17. He invited Josephine to stand before him. Shetrembled and wept a little: Rose clung to her and wept, and the goodmayor married the parties off hand.
"Is that all?" asked the baroness; "it is terribly soon done.""It is done effectively, madam," said the mayor, with a smile.
"Permit me to tell you that his Holiness the Pope cannot undo18 mywork."Picard grinned slyly, and whispered something into Raynal's ear.
"Oh! indeed," said Raynal aloud and carelessly. "Come, MadameRaynal, to breakfast: follow us, the rest of you."They paired, and followed the bride and bridegroom into thebreakfast-room.
The light words Picard whispered were five in number.
Now if the mayor had not snubbed Picard just before, he would haveuttered those jocose19 but true words aloud. There was no particularreason why he should not. And if he had,--The threads of the web oflife, how subtle they are! The finest cotton of Manchester, thefiner meshes20 of the spider, seem three-inch cables by comparisonwith those moral gossamers which vulgar eyes cannot see at all, the"somethings, nothings," on which great fates have hung.
It was a cheerful breakfast, thanks to Raynal, who would be in highspirits, and would not allow a word of regret from any one. MadameRaynal sat by his side, looking up at him every now and then withinnocent admiration21. A merry wedding breakfast.
But if men and women could see through the walls of houses!
Two doors off sat the wounded colonel alone, recruiting the smallremnant of his sore tried strength, that he might struggle on toBeaurepaire, and lose in one moment years of separation, pain,prison, anguish22, martyrdom, in one great gush23 of joy withoutcompare.
The wedding breakfast was ended. The time was drawing near to part.
There was a silence. It was broken by Madame Raynal. She askedRaynal very timidly if he had reflected. "On what?" said he.
"About taking me to Egypt.""No: I have not given it a thought since I said 'no.'""Yet permit me to say that it is my duty to be by your side, myhusband." And she colored at this word, being the first time shehad ever used it. Raynal was silent. She murmured on, "I would notbe an encumbrance24 to you, sir: I should not be useless. Gentlemen,I could add more to his comfort than he gives me credit for."Warm assent12 of the mayor and notary25 to this hint.
"I give you credit for being an angel," said Raynal warmly.
He hesitated. Rose was trembling, her fork shaking in her poorlittle hand.
She cast a piteous glance at him. He saw it.
"You shall go with me next time," said he. "Let us speak of it nomore."Josephine bowed her head. "At least give me something to do for youwhile you are away. Tell me what I can do for my absent friend toshow my gratitude26, my regard, my esteem27.""Well, let me think. I saw a plain gray dress at Beaurepaire.""Yes, monsieur. My gray silk, Rose.""I like that dress.""Do you? Then the moment I reach home after losing you I shall putit on, and it shall be my constant wear. I see; you are right; graybecomes a wife whose husband is not dead, but is absent, and alas28!
in hourly danger.""Now look at that!" cried Raynal to the company. "That is her allover: she can see six meanings where another would see but one. Inever thought of that, I swear. I like modest colors, that is all.
My mother used to be all for modest wives wearing modest colors.""I am of her mind, sir. Is there nothing more difficult you will beso good as give me to do?""No; there is only one order more, and that will be easier still tosuch a woman as you. I commit to your care the name of Raynal. Itis not so high a name as yours, but it is as honest. I am proud ofit: I am jealous of it. I shall guard it for you in Egypt: youguard it in France for me.""With my life," cried Josephine, lifting her eyes and her hand toheaven.
Soon after this Raynal ordered his charger.
The baroness began to cry. "The young people may hope to see youagain," said she; "but there are two chances against your poor oldmother.""Courage, mother!" cried the stout29 soldier. "No, no; you won't playme such a trick: once is enough for that game.""Brother!" cried Rose, "do not go without kissing your littlesister, who loves you and thanks you." He kissed her. "Bravo,generous soul!" she cried, with her arms round his neck. "Godprotect you, and send you back safe to us!""Amen!" cried all present by one impulse, even the cold notary.
Raynal's mustache quivered. He kissed Josephine hastily on thebrow, the baroness on both cheeks; shook the men's hands warmly buthastily, and strode out without looking behind him. He was movedfor once.
They all followed him to the door of the house. He was tighteninghis horse's girths. He flung himself with all the resolution of hissteel nature into the saddle, and, with one grand wave of his cockedhat to the tearful group, he spurred away for Egypt.
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baroness
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| n.男爵夫人，女男爵 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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wedlock
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| n.婚姻，已婚状态 | |
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dilate
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| vt.使膨胀，使扩大 | |
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binds
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| v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕 | |
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piously
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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assents
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| 同意，赞同( assent的名词复数 ) | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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adjourning
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的现在分词 ) | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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jocose
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| adj.开玩笑的，滑稽的 | |
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meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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encumbrance
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| n.妨碍物，累赘 | |
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notary
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| n.公证人，公证员 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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