Josephine conveyed the phial into her bosom1 with wonderful rapidityand dexterity2, and rose to her feet. But Rose just saw her concealsomething, and resolved to find out quietly what it was. So shesaid nothing about it, but asked Josephine what on earth she wasdoing.
"I was praying.""And what is that letter?""A letter I have just received from Colonel Raynal."Rose took the letter and read it. Raynal had written from Paris.
He was coming to Beaurepaire to stay a month, and was to arrive thatvery day.
Then Rose forgot all about herself, and even what she had come for.
She clung about her sister's neck, and implored4 her, for her sake,to try and love Raynal.
Josephine shuddered5, and clung weeping to her sister in turn. Forin Rose's arms she realized more powerfully what that sister wouldsuffer if she were to die. Now, while they clung together, Rosefelt something hard, and contrived6 just to feel it with her cheek.
It was the phial.
A chill suspicion crossed the poor girl. The attitude in which shehad found Josephine; the letter, the look of despair, and now thislittle bottle, which she had hidden. WHY HIDE IT? She resolved notto let Josephine out of her sight; at all events, until she had seenthis little bottle, and got it away from her.
She helped her to dress, and breakfasted with her in the tapestriedroom, and dissembled, and put on gayety, and made light ofeverything but Josephine's health.
Her efforts were not quite in vain. Josephine became more composed;and Rose even drew from her a half promise that she would giveRaynal and time a fair trial.
And now Rose was relieved of her immediate8 apprehensions9 forJosephine, but the danger of another kind, from Edouard, remained.
So she ran into her bedroom for her bonnet10 and shawl, determined11 totake the strong measure of visiting Edouard at once, or interceptinghim. While she was making her little toilet, she heard her mother'svoice in the room. This was unlucky; she must pass through thatroom to go out. She sat down and fretted12 at this delay. And then,as the baroness13 appeared to be very animated14, Rose went to thekeyhole, and listened. Their mother was telling Josephine how shehad questioned Rose, and how Rose had told her an untruth, and howshe had made that young lady write to Edouard, etc.; in short, thevery thing Rose wanted to conceal3 from Josephine.
Rose lost all patience, and determined to fly through the room andout before anybody could stop her. She heard Jacintha come in withsome message, and thought that would be a good opportunity to slipout unmolested. So she opened the door softly. Jacintha, itseemed, had been volunteering some remark that was not wellreceived, for the baroness was saying, sharply, "Your opinion is notasked. Go down directly, and bring him up here, to this room."Jacintha cast a look of dismay at Rose, and vanished.
Rose gathered from that look, as much as from the words, who thevisitor was. She made a dart17 after Jacintha. But the room was along one, and the baroness intercepted18 her: "No," said she, gravely,"I cannot spare you."Rose stood pale and panting, but almost defiant19. "Mamma," said she,"if it is Monsieur Riviere, I MUST ask your leave to retire. Andyou have neither love nor pity, nor respect for me, if you detainme.""Mademoiselle!" was the stern reply, "I FORBID you to move. Be goodenough to sit there;" with which the baroness pointed20 imperiously toa sofa at the other side of the room. "Josephine, go to your room."Josephine retired21, casting more than one anxious glance over hershoulder.
Rose looked this way and that in despair and terror; but ended bysinking, more dead than alive, into the seat indicated; and even asshe drooped22, pale and trembling, on that sofa, Edouard Riviere, wornand agitated23, entered the room, and bowed low to them all, without aword.
The baroness looked at him, and then at her daughter, as much as tosay, now I have got you; deceive me now if you can. "Rose, mydear," said this terrible old woman, affecting honeyed accents,"don't you see Monsieur Riviere?"The poor girl at this challenge rose with difficulty, and courtesiedhumbly to Edouard.
He bowed to her, and stealing a rapid glance saw her pallor anddistress; and that showed him she was not so hardened as he hadthought.
"You have not come to see us lately," said the baroness, quietly,"yet you have been in the neighborhood."These words puzzled Edouard. Was the old lady all in the dark,then? As a public man he had already learned to be on his guard; sohe stammered24 out, "That he had been much occupied with publicduties."Madame de Beaurepaire despised this threadbare excuse too much tonotice it at all. She went on as if he had said nothing. "Intimateas you were with us, you must have some reason for deserting us sosuddenly.""I have," said Edouard, gravely.
"What is it?""Excuse me," said Edouard, sullenly26.
"No, monsieur, I cannot. This neglect, succeeding to a somewhatardent pursuit of my daughter, is almost an affront27. You shall, ofcourse, withdraw yourself altogether, if you choose. But notwithout an explanation. This much is due to me; and, if you are agentleman, you will not withhold28 it from me.""If he is a gentleman!" cried Rose; "O mamma, do not you affront agentleman, who never, never gave you nor me any ground of offence.
Why affront the friends and benefactors30 we have lost by our ownfault?""Oh, then, it is all your fault," said the baroness. "I feared asmuch.""All my fault, all," said Rose; then putting her pretty palmstogether, and casting a look of abject31 supplication32 on Edouard, shemurmured, "my temper!""Do not you put words into his mouth," said the shrewd old lady.
"Come, Monsieur Riviere, be a man, and tell me the truth. What hasshe said to you? What has she done?"By this time the abject state of terror the high-spirited Rose wasin, and her piteous glances, had so disarmed33 Edouard, that he hadnot the heart to expose her to her mother.
"Madame," said he, stiffly, taking Rose's hint, "my temper andmademoiselle's could not accord.""Why, her temper is charming: it is joyous34, equal, and gentle.""You misunderstand me, madame; I do not reproach Mademoiselle Rose.
It is I who am to blame.""For what?" inquired the baroness dryly.
"For not being able to make her love me.""Oh! that is it! She did not love you?""Ask herself, madame," said Edouard, bitterly.
"Rose," said the baroness, her eye now beginning to twinkle, "wereyou really guilty of such a want of discrimination? Didn't you lovemonsieur?"Rose flung her arms round her mother's neck, and said, "No, mamma, Idid not love Monsieur Edouard," in an exquisite35 tone of love, thatto a female ear conveyed the exact opposite of the words.
But Edouard had not that nice discriminating36 ear. He sighed deeply,and the baroness smiled. "You tell me that?" said she, "and you arecrying!""She is crying, madame?" said Edouard, inquiringly, and taking astep towards them.
"Why, you see she is, you foolish boy. Come, I must put an end tothis;" and she rose coolly from her seat, and begging Edouard toforgive her for leaving him a moment with his deadly enemy, went offwith knowing little nods into Josephine's room; only, before sheentered it, she turned, and with a maternal37 smile discharged thisword at the pair.
"Babies!"But between the alienated38 lovers was a long distressing39 silence.
Neither knew what to say; and their situation was intolerable. Atlast Rose ventured in a timorous40 voice to say, "I thank you for yourgenerosity. But I knew that you would not betray me.""Your secret is safe for me," sighed Edouard. "Is there anythingelse I can do for you?"Rose shook her head sadly.
Edouard moved to the door.
Rose bowed her head with a despairing moan. It took him by theheart and held him. He hesitated, then came towards her.
"I see you are sorry for what you have done to me who loved you so;and you loved me. Oh! yes, do not deny it, Rose; there was a timeyou loved me. And that makes it worse: to have given me such sweethopes, only to crush both them and me. And is not this cruel of youto weep so and let me see your penitence--when it is too late?""Alas42! how can I help my regrets? I have insulted so good afriend."There was a sad silence. Then as he looked at her, her looks beliedthe charge her own lips had made against herself.
A light seemed to burst on Edouard from that high-minded, sorrow-stricken face.
"Tell me it is false!" he cried.
She hid her face in her hands--woman's instinct to avoid being read.
"Tell me you were misled then, fascinated, perverted44, but that yourheart returned to me. Clear yourself of deliberate deceit, and Iwill believe and thank you on my knees.""Heaven have pity on us both!" cried poor Rose.
"On us! Thank you for saying on us. See now, you have not gainedhappiness by destroying mine. One word--do you love that man?--thatDujardin?""You know I do not.""I am glad of that; since his life is forfeited45; if he escapes myfriend Raynal, he shall not escape me."Rose uttered a cry of terror. "Hush46! not so loud. The life ofCamille! Oh! if he were to die, what would become of--oh, pray donot speak so loud.""Own then that you DO love him," yelled Edouard; "give me truth, ifyou have no love to give. Own that you love him, and he shall besafe. It is myself I will kill, for being such a slave as to loveyou still."Rose's fortitude47 gave way.
"I cannot bear it," she cried despairingly; "it is beyond mystrength; Edouard, swear to me you will keep what I tell you secretas the grave!""Ah!" cried Edouard, all radiant with hope, "I swear.""Then you are under a delirium48. I have deceived, but never wrongedyou; that unhappy child is not-- Hush! HERE SHE COMES."The baroness came smiling out, and Josephine's wan15, anxious face wasseen behind her.
"Well," said the baroness, "is the war at an end? What, are westill silent? Let me try then what I can do. Edouard, lend me yourhand."While Edouard hesitated, Josephine clasped her hands and mutelysupplicated him to consent. Her sad face, and the thought of howoften she had stood his friend, shook his resolution. He held outhis hand, but slowly and reluctantly.
"There is my hand," he groaned49.
"And here is mine, mamma," said Rose, smiling to please her mother.
Oh! the mixture of feeling, when her soft warm palm pressed his.
How the delicious sense baffled and mystified the cold judgment50.
Josephine raised her eyes thankfully to heaven.
While the young lovers yet thrilled at each other's touch, yet couldnot look one another in the face, a clatter51 of horses' feet washeard.
"That is Colonel Raynal," said Josephine, with unnatural52 calmness.
"I expected him to-day."The baroness was at the side window in a moment.
"It is he!--it is he!"She hurried down to embrace her son.
Josephine went without a word to her own room. Rose followed herthe next minute. But in that one minute she worked magic.
She glided53 up to Edouard, and looked him full in the face: not thesad, depressed54, guilty-looking humble55 Rose of a moment before, butthe old high-spirited, and some what imperious girl.
"You have shown yourself noble this day. I am going to trust you asonly the noble are trusted. Stay in the house till I can speak toyou."She was gone, and something leaped within Edouard's bosom, and aflood of light seemed to burst in on him. Yet he saw no objectclearly: but he saw light.
Rose ran into Josephine's room, and once more surprised her on herknees, and in the very act of hiding something in her bosom.
"What are you doing, Josephine, on your knees?" said she, sternly.
"I have a great trial to go through," was the hesitating answer.
Rose said nothing. She turned paler. She is deceiving me, thoughtshe, and she sat down full of bitterness and terror, and, affectingnot to watch Josephine, watched her.
"Go and tell them I am coming, Rose.""No, Josephine, I will not leave you till this terrible meeting isover. We will encounter him hand in hand, as we used to go when ourhearts were one, and we deceived others, but never each other."At this tender reproach Josephine fell upon her neck and wept.
"I will not deceive you," she said. "I am worse than the poordoctor thinks me. My life is but a little candle that a breath mayput out any day."Rose said nothing, but trembled and watched her keenly.
"My little Henri," said Josephine imploringly56, "what would you dowith him--if anything should happen to me?""What would I do with him? He is mine. I should be his mother.
Oh! what words are these: my heart! my heart!""No, dearest; some day you will be married, and owe all the motherto your children; and Henri is not ours only: he belongs to some oneI have seemed unkind to. Perhaps he thinks me heartless. For I ama foolish woman; I don't know how to be virtuous57, yet show a man myheart. But THEN he will understand me and forgive me. Rose, love,you will write to him. He will come to you. You will go togetherto the place where I shall be sleeping. You will show him my heart.
You will tell him all my long love that lasted to the end. YOU neednot blush to tell him all. I have no right. Then you will give himhis poor Josephine's boy, and you will say to him, 'She never lovedbut you: she gives you all that is left of her, her child. She onlyprays you not to give him a bad mother.'"Poor soul! this was her one bit of little, gentle jealousy58; but itmade her eyes stream. She would have put out her hand from the tombto keep her boy's father single all his life.
"Oh! my Josephine, my darling sister," cried Rose, "why do you speakof death? Do you meditate59 a crime?""No; but it was on my heart to say it: it has done me good.""At least, take me to your bosom, my well-beloved, that I may notSEE your tears.""There--tears? No, you have lightened my heart. Bless you! blessyou!"The sisters twined their bosoms60 together in a long, gentle embrace.
You might have taken them for two angels that flowed together in onelove, but for their tears.
A deep voice was now heard in the sitting-room61.
Josephine and Rose postponed62 the inevitable63 one moment more, byarranging their hair in the glass: then they opened the door, andentered the tapestried7 room.
Raynal was sitting on the sofa, the baroness's hand in his. Edouardwas not there.
Colonel Raynal had given him a strange look, and said, "What, youhere?" in a tone of voice that was intolerable.
Raynal came to meet the sisters. He saluted64 Josephine on the brow.
"You are pale, wife: and how cold her hand is.""She has been ill this month past," said Rose interposing.
"You look ill, too, Mademoiselle Rose.""Never mind," cried the baroness joyously65, "you will revive themboth."Raynal made no reply to that.
"How long do you stay this time, a day?""A month, mother."The doctor now joined the party, and friendly greetings passedbetween him and Raynal.
But ere long somehow all became conscious this was not a joyfulmeeting. The baroness could not alone sustain the spirits of theparty, and soon even she began to notice that Raynal's replies wereshort, and that his manner was distrait66 and gloomy. The sisters sawthis too, and trembled for what might be coming.
At last Raynal said bluntly, "Josephine, I want to speak to youalone."The baroness gave the doctor a look, and made an excuse for goingdown-stairs to her own room. As she was going Josephine went to herand said calmly,--"Mother, you have not kissed me to-day.""There! Bless you, my darling!"Raynal looked at Rose. She saw she must go, but she lingered, andsought her sister's eye: it avoided her. At that Rose ran to thedoctor, who was just going out of the door.
"Oh! doctor," she whispered trembling, "don't go beyond the door. Ifound her praying. My mind misgives67 me. She is going to tell him--or something worse.""What do you mean?""I am afraid to say all I dread68. She could not be so calm if shemeant to live. Be near! as I shall. She has a phial hid in herbosom."She left the old man trembling, and went back.
"Excuse me," said she to Raynal, "I only came to ask Josephine ifshe wants anything.""No!--yes!--a glass of eau sucree."Rose mixed it for her. While doing this she noticed that Josephineshunned her eye, but Raynal gazed gently and with an air of pity onher.
She retired slowly into Josephine's bedroom, but did not quite closethe door.
Raynal had something to say so painful that he shrank from plunginginto it. He therefore, like many others, tried to creep into it,beginning with something else.
"Your health," said he, "alarms me. You seem sad, too. I don'tunderstand that. You have no news from the Rhine, have you?""Monsieur!" said Josephine scared.
"Do not call me monsieur, nor look so frightened. Call me yourfriend. I am your sincere friend.""Oh, yes; you always were.""Thank you. You will give me a dearer title before we part thistime.""Yes," said Josephine in a low whisper, and shuddered.
"Have you forgiven me frightening you so that night?""Yes.""It was a shock to me, too, I can tell you. I like the boy. Sheprofessed to love him, and, to own the truth, I loathe69 all treacheryand deceit. If I had done a murder, I would own it. A lie doublesevery crime. But I took heart; we are all selfish, we men; of thetwo sisters one was all innocence70 and good faith; and she was theone I had chosen."At these words Josephine rose, like a statue moving, and took aphial from her bosom and poured the contents into the glass.
But ere she could drink it, if such was her intention, Raynal, withhis eyes gloomily lowered, said, in a voice full of strangesolemnity,--"I went to the army of the Rhine."Josephine put down the glass directly, though without removing herhand from it.
"I see you understand me, and approve. Yes, I saw that your sisterwould be dishonored, and I went to the army and saw her seducer71.""You saw HIM. Oh, I hope you did not go and speak to him of--ofthis?""Why, of course I did."Josephine resolved to know the worst at once. "May I ask," saidshe, "what you told him?""Why, I told him all I had discovered, and pointed out the course hemust take; he must marry your sister at once. He refused. Ichallenged him. But ere we met, I was ordered to lead a forlornhope against a bastion. Then, seeing me go to certain death, thenoble fellow pitied me. I mean this is how I understood it all atthe time; at any rate, he promised to marry Rose if he should live."Josephine put out her hand, and with a horrible smile said, "I thankyou; you have saved the honor of our family;" and with no more ado,she took the glass in her hand to drink the fatal contents.
But Raynal's reply arrested her hand. He said solemnly, "No, I havenot. Have you no inkling of the terrible truth? Do not fiddle72 withthat glass: drink it, or leave it alone; for, indeed, I need allyour attention."He took the glass out of her patient hand, and with a furtive73 lookat the bedroom-door, drew her away to the other end of the room;"and," said he, "I could not tell your mother, for she knows nothingof the girl's folly74; still less Rose, for I see she loves him still,or why is she so pale? Advise me, now, whilst we are alone.
Colonel Dujardin was COMPARATIVELY indifferent to YOU. Will youundertake the task? A rough soldier like me is not the person tobreak the terrible tidings to that poor girl.""What tidings? You confuse, you perplex me. Oh! what does thishorrible preparation mean?""It means he will never marry your sister; he will never see hermore."Then Raynal walked the room in great agitation75, which at oncecommunicated itself to his hearer. But the loving heart isingenious in avoiding its dire16 misgivings77.
"I see," said she; "he told you he would never visit Beaurepaireagain. He was right."Raynal shook his head sorrowfully.
"Ah, Josephine, you are far from the truth. I was to attack thebastion. It was mined by the enemy, and he knew it. He tookadvantage of my back being turned. He led his men out of thetrenches; he assaulted the bastion at the head of his brigade. Hetook it.""Ah, it was noble; it was like him.""The enemy, retiring, blew the bastion into the air, and Dujardin--is dead.""Dead!" said Josephine, in stupefied tones, as if the word conveyedno meaning to her mind, benumbed and stunned78 by the blow.
"Don't speak so loud," said Raynal; "I hear the poor girl at thedoor. Ay, he took my place, and is dead.""Dead!""Swallowed up in smoke and flames, overwhelmed and crushed under theruins."Josephine's whole body gave way, and heaved like a tree fallingunder the axe79. She sank slowly to her knees, and low moans of agonybroke from her at intervals80. "Dead, dead, dead!""Is it not terrible?" he cried.
She did not see him nor hear him, but moaned out wildly, "Dead,dead, dead!" The bedroom-door was opened.
She shrieked81 with sudden violence, "Dead! ah, pity! the glass! thecomposing draught82." She stretched her hands out wildly. Raynal,with a face full of concern, ran to the table, and got the glass.
She crawled on her knees to meet it; he brought it quickly to herhand.
"There, my poor soul!"Even as their hands met, Rose threw herself on the cup, and snatchedit with fury from them both. She was white as ashes, and her eyes,supernaturally large, glared on Raynal with terror. "Madman!" shecried, "would you kill her?"He glared back on her: what did this mean? Their eyes were fixed83 oneach other like combatants for life and death; they did not see thatthe room was filling with people, that the doctor was only on theother side of the table, and that the baroness and Edouard were atthe door, and all looking wonderstruck at this strange sight--Josephine on her knees, and those two facing each other, white, withdilating eyes, the glass between them.
But what was that to the horror, when the next moment the patientJosephine started to her feet, and, standing84 in the midst, tore herhair 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 hadmy own way in anything. I was always a slave and a fool. I havemurdered the man I love--I love. Yes, my husband, do you hear? theman I love.""Hush! daughter, respect my gray hairs.""Your gray hairs! You are not so old in years as I am in agony. Sothis is your love, Rose! Ah, you won't let me die--won't you? THENI'LL DO WORSE--I'LL TELL.""He who is dead; you have murdered him amongst you, and I'll followhim in spite of you all--he was my betrothed85. He struggled wounded,bleeding, to my feet. He found me married. News came of myhusband's death; I married my betrothed.""Married him!" exclaimed the baroness.
"Ah, my poor mother. And she kissed me so kindly86 just now--she willkiss me no more. Oh, I am not ashamed of marrying him. I am onlyashamed of the cowardice87 that dared not do it in face of all theworld. We had scarce been happy a fortnight, when a letter camefrom Colonel Raynal. He was alive. I drove my true husband away,wretch that I was. None but bad women have an atom of sense. Itried to do my duty to my legal husband. He was my benefactor29. Ithought it was my duty. Was it? I don't know: I have lost thesense of right and wrong. I turned from a living creature to a lie.
He who had scattered88 benefits on me and all this house; he whom itwas too little to love; he ought to have been adored: this man camehere one night to wife proud, joyous, and warm-hearted. He found acradle, and two women watching it. Now Edouard, now MONSIEUR, doyou see that life is IMPOSSIBLE to me? One bravely accused herself:
she was innocent. One swooned away like a guilty coward."Edouard uttered an exclamation89.
"Yes, Edouard, you shall not be miserable90 like me; she was guilty.
You do not understand me yet, my poor mother--and she was so happythis morning--I was the liar91, the coward, the double-faced wife, themiserable 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: youwill pity and kill me. I have dishonored the name you gave me tokeep: I am neither Beaurepaire nor Raynal. Do pray kill me,monsieur--Jean, 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 forlife.
Raynal stood like a rock: he was pale, and drew his breath audibly,but not a word. Then came a sight scarce less terrible thanJosephine's despair. The baroness, looking and moving twenty yearsolder than an hour before, tottered92 across the room to Raynal.
"Sir, you whom I have called my son, but whom I will never presumeso to call again, I thought I had lived long enough never to have toblush again. I loved you, monsieur. I prayed every day for you.
But she who WAS my daughter was not of my mind. Monsieur, I havenever knelt but to God and to my king, and I kneel to you: forgiveus, sir, forgive us!"She tried to go down on her knees. He raised her with his strongarm, but he could not speak. She turned on the others.
"So this is the secret you were hiding from me! This secret has notkilled you all. Oh! I shall not live under its shame so long as youhave. Chateau93 of Beaurepaire--nest of treason, ingratitude94, andimmodesty--I loathe you as much as once I loved you. I will go andhide my head, and die elsewhere.""Stay, madame!" said he, in a voice whose depth and dignity was suchthat it seemed impossible to disobey it. "It was sudden--I wasshaken--but 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 andterrible agitation, one figure stood firm among those quaking,beating hearts, like a rock with the waves breaking round it--theMAN OF PRINCIPLE among the creatures of impulse.
He raised Josephine from her knees, and placed her all limp andpowerless in an arm-chair. To her frenzy95 had now succeeded asickness and feebleness like unto death.
"Widow Dujardin," said he, in a broken voice, "listen to me."She moaned a sort of assent96.
"Your mistake has been not trusting me. I was your friend, and nota selfish friend. I was not enough in love with you to destroy yourhappiness. Besides, I despise that sort of love. If you had toldme all, I would have spared you this misery97. By the present law,civil contracts of marriage can be dissolved by mutual98 consent."At this the baroness uttered some sign of surprise.
"Ah!" continued Raynal, sadly, "you are aristocrats99, and cannot keeppace with the times. This very day our mere25 contract shall beformally dissolved. Indeed, it ceases to exist since both partiesare resolved to withdraw from it. So, if you married Dujardin in achurch, you are Madame Dujardin at this moment, and his child islegitimate. What does she say?"This question was to Rose, for what Josephine uttered sounded like amere articulate moan. But Rose's quick ear had caught words, andshe replied, all in tears, "My poor sister is blessing100 you, sir. Weall bless you.""She does not understand my position," said Raynal. He then walkedup 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, deliberately101, and withhis eyes open, sacrificed his life for me, and for his own heroicsense of honor. Now, it is my turn. If that hero stood here, andasked me for all the blood in my body, I would give it him. He isgone; 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 onlyconsolation. I am going to the mayor to annul102 our unlucky contractin due form, and make us brother and sister instead. But," turningto the baroness, "don't you think to escape me as your daughter hasdone: no, no, old lady, once a mother, always a mother. Stir fromyour son's home if you dare!"And with these words, in speaking which his voice had recovered itsiron firmness, he strode out at the door, superb in manhood andprinciple, and every eye turned with wonder and admiration103 afterhim. Even when he was gone they gazed at the door by which acreature so strangely noble had disappeared.
The baroness was about to follow him without taking any notice ofJosephine. But Rose caught her by the gown. "O mother, speak topoor Josephine: bid her live."The baroness only made a gesture of horror and disgust, and turnedher back on them both.
Josephine, who had tottered up from her seat at Rose's words, sankheavily down again, and murmured, "Ah! the grave holds all that loveme 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 herheart. She turned with a piteous, half apologetic air to Edouardand Aubertin. "Gentlemen," said she, "she has been foolish, notguilty. Heaven pardons the best of us. Surely a mother may forgiveher child." And with this nature conquered utterly104; and she heldout her arms, wide, wide, as is a mother's heart. Her two erringchildren rushed sobbing105 violently into them; and there was not a dryeye in the room for a long time.
After this, Josephine's heart almost ceased to beat. Fear andmisgivings, and the heavy sense of deceit gnawing106 an honorableheart, were gone. Grief reigned107 alone in the pale, listless,bereaved widow.
The marriage was annulled108 before the mayor; and, three daysafterwards, Raynal, by his influence, got the consummated109 marriageformally allowed in Paris.
With a delicacy110 for which one would hardly have given him credit, henever came near Beaurepaire till all this was settled; but hebrought the document from Paris that made Josephine the widowDujardin, and her boy the heir of Beaurepaire; and the moment shewas really Madame Dujardin he avoided her no longer; and he became acomfort to her instead of a terror.
The dissolution of the marriage was a great tie between them. Somuch that, seeing how much she looked up to Raynal, the doctor saidone day to the baroness, "If I know anything of human nature, theywill marry again, provided none of you give her a hint which way herheart is turning."They, who have habituated themselves to live for others, can sufferas well as do great things. Josephine kept alive. A passion suchas hers, in a selfish nature, must have killed her.
Even as it was, she often said, "It is hard to live."Then they used to talk to her of her boy. Would she leave him--Camille's boy--without a mother? And these words were never spokento her quite in vain.
Her mother forgave her entirely111, and loved her as before. Who couldbe angry with her long? The air was no longer heavy with lies.
Wretched as she was, she breathed lighter112. Joy and hope were gone.
Sorrowful peace was coming. When the heart comes to this, nothingbut Time can cure; but what will not Time do? What wounds have Iseen him heal! His cures are incredible.
The little party sat one day, peaceful, but silent and sad, in thePleasaunce, under the great oak.
Two soldiers came to the gate. They walked feebly, for one waslame, and leaned upon the other, who was pale and weak, and leanedupon a stick.
"Soldiers," said Raynal, "and invalided113.""Give them food and wine," said Josephine.
Rose went towards them; but she had scarcely taken three steps ereshe cried out,--"It is Dard! it is poor Dard! Come in, Dard, come in."Dard limped towards them, leaning upon Sergeant114 La Croix. A bit ofDard's heel had been shot away, and of La Croix's head.
Rose ran to the kitchen.
"Jacintha, bring out a table into the Pleasaunce, and something fortwo guests to eat."The soldiers came slowly to the Pleasaunce, and were welcomed, andinvited to sit down, and received with respect; for France even inthat day honored the humblest of her brave.
Soon Jacintha came out with a little round table in her hands, andaffected a composure which was belied43 by her shaking hands and herglowing cheek.
After a few words of homely115 welcome--not eloquent116, but very sincere--she went off again with her apron117 to her eyes. She reappeared withthe good cheer, and served the poor fellows with radiant zeal118.
"What regiment119?" asked Raynal.
Dard was about to answer, but his superior stopped him severely;then, rising with his hand to his forehead, he replied, with pride,"Twenty-fourth brigade, second company. We were cut up atPhilipsburg, and incorporated with the 12th."Raynal instantly regretted his question; for Josephine's eye fixedon Sergeant La Croix with an expression words cannot paint. Yet sheshowed more composure, real or forced, than he expected.
"Heaven sends him," said she. "My friend, tell me, were you--ah!"Colonel Raynal interfered120 hastily. "Think what you do. He can tellyou nothing but what we know, not so much, in fact, as we know; for,now I look at him, I think this is the very sergeant we found lyinginsensible under the bastion. He must have been struck before thebastion was taken even.""I was, colonel, I was. I remember nothing but losing my senses,and feeling the colors go out of my hand.""There, you see, he knows nothing," said Raynal.
"It was hot work, colonel, under that bastion, but it was hotter tothe poor fellows that got in. I heard all about it from PrivateDard here.""So, then, it was you who carried the colors?""Yes, I was struck down with the colors of the brigade in my hand,"cried La Croix.
"See how people blunder about, everything; they told me the colonelcarried the colors.""Why, of course he did. You don't think our colonel, the fightingcolonel, would let me hold the colors of the brigade so long as hewas alive. No; he was struck by a Prussian bullet, and he had justtime to hand the colors to me, and point with his sword to thebastion, and down he went. It was hot work, I can tell you. I didnot hold them long, not thirty seconds, and if we could know theirhistory, they passed through more hands than that before they got tothe Prussian flag-staff."Raynal suddenly rose, and walked rapidly to and fro, with his handsbehind him.
"Poor colonel!" continued La Croix. "Well, I love to think he diedlike a soldier, and not like some of my poor comrades, hashed toatoms, and not a volley fired over him. I hope they put a stoneover him, for he was the best soldier and the best general in thearmy.""O sir!" cried Josephine, "there is no stone even to mark the spotwhere he fell," and she sobbed121 despairingly.
"Why, how is this, Private Dard?" inquired La Croix, sternly.
Dard apologized for his comrade, and touching122 his own headsignificantly told them that since his wound the sergeant's memorywas defective123.
"Now, sergeant, didn't I tell you the colonel must have got thebetter of his wound, and got into the battery?""It's false, Private Dard; don't I know our colonel better thanthat? Would ever he have let those colors out of his hand, if therehad been an ounce of life left in him?""He died at the foot of the battery, I tell you.""Then why didn't we find him?"Here Jacintha put in a word with the quiet subdued124 meaning of herclass. "I can't find that anybody ever saw the colonel dead.""They did not find him, because they did not look for him," saidSergeant La Croix.
"God forgive you, sergeant!" said Dard, with some feeling. "Notlook for OUR COLONEL! We turned over every body that lay there,--full thirty there were,--and you were one of them.""Only thirty! Why, we settled more Prussians than that, I'llswear.""Oh! they carried off their dead.""Ay! but I don't see why they should carry our colonel off. Hisepaulets was all the thieves could do any good with. Stop! yet Ido, Private Dard; I have a horrible suspicion. No, I have not; itis a certainty. What! don't you see, ye ninny? Thunder andthousands of devils, here's a disgrace. Dogs of Prussians! theyhave got our colonel, they have taken him prisoner.""O God bless them!" cried Josephine; "O God bless the mouth thattells me so! O sir, I am his wife, his poor heart-broken wife. Youwould not be so cruel as to mock my despair. Say again that he maybe alive, pray, say it again!""His wife! Private Dard, why didn't you tell me? You tell menothing. Yes, my pretty lady, I'll say it again, and I'll prove it.
Here is an enemy in full retreat, would they encumber125 themselveswith the colonel? If he was dead, they'd have whipped off hisepaulets, and left him there. Alive? why not? Look at me: I amalive, and I was worse wounded than he was. They took me for dead,you see. Courage, madame! you will see him again, take an oldsoldier's word for it. Dard, attention! this is the colonel'swife."She gazed on the speaker like one in a trance.
Every eye and every soul had been so bent126 on Sergeant La Croix thatit was only now Raynal was observed to be missing. The next minutehe came riding out of the stable-yard, and went full gallop127 down theroad.
"Ah!" cried Rose, with a burst of hope; "he thinks so too; he hashopes. He is gone somewhere for information. Perhaps to Paris."Josephine's excitement and alternations of hope and fear were nowalarming. Rose held her hand, and implored her to try and be calmtill they could see Raynal.
Just before dark he came riding fiercely home. Josephine flew downthe stairs. Raynal at sight of her forgot all his caution. Hewaved his cocked hat in the air. She fell on her knees and thankedGod. He gasped128 out,--"Prisoner--exchanged for two Prussian lieutenants--sent home--theysay he is in France!"The tears of joy gushed129 in streams from her.
Some days passed in hope and joy inexpressible; but the good doctorwas uneasy for Josephine. She was always listening withsupernatural keenness and starting from her chair, and every fibreof her lovely person seemed to be on the quiver.
Nor was Rose without a serious misgiving76. Would husband and wifeever meet? He evidently looked on her as Madame Raynal, and made ita point of honor to keep away from Beaurepaire.
They had recourse to that ever-soothing influence--her child.
Madame Jouvenel was settled in the village, and Josephine visitedher every day, and came back often with red eyes, but alwayssoothed.
One day Rose and she went to Madame Jouvenel, and, entering thehouse without ceremony, found the nurse out, and no one watching thechild.
"How careless!" said Rose.
Josephine stopped eagerly to kiss him. But instead of kissing him,she uttered a loud cry. There was a locket hanging round his neck.
It was a locket containing some of Josephine's hair and Camille's.
She had given it him in the happy days that followed their marriage.
She stood gasping130 in the middle of the room. Madame Jouvenel camerunning in soon after. Josephine, by a wonderful effort overherself, asked her calmly and cunningly,--"Where is the gentleman who put this locket round my child's neck?
I want to speak with him."Madame Jouvenel stammered and looked confused.
"A soldier--an officer?--come, tell me!""Woman," cried Rose, "why do you hesitate?""What am I to do?" said Madame Jouvenel. "He made me swear never tomention his coming here. He goes away, or hides whenever you come.
And since Madame does not love the poor wounded gentleman, what canhe do better?""Not love him!" cried Rose: "why, she is his wife, his lawful131 weddedwife; he is a fool or a monster to run away for her. She loves himas no woman ever loved before. She pines for him. She dies forhim."The door of a little back room opened at these words of Rose, andthere stood Camille, with his arm in a sling132, pale and astounded,but great joy and wonder working in his face.
Josephine gave a cry of love that made the other two women weep, andin a moment they were sobbing for joy upon each other's neck.
Away went sorrow, doubt, despair, and all they had suffered. Thatone moment paid for all. And in that moment of joy and surprise, sogreat as to be almost terrible, perhaps it was well for Josephinethat Camille, weakened by his wound, was quite overcome, and nearlyfainted. She was herself just going into hysterics; but, seeing himquite overcome, she conquered them directly, and nursed, andsoothed, and pitied, and encouraged him instead.
Then they sat hand in hand. Their happiness stopped their verybreath. They could not speak. So Rose told him all. He neverowned why he had slipped away when he saw them coming. He forgotit. He forgot all his hard thoughts of her. They took him home inthe carriage. His wife would not let him out of her sight. Foryears and years after this she could hardly bear to let him be anhour out of her sight.
The world is wide; there may be a man in it who can paint the suddenbliss that fell on these two much suffering hearts; but I am notthat man; this is beyond me; it was not only heaven, but heavenafter hell.
Leave we the indescribable and the unspeakable for a moment, and goto a lighter theme.
The day Rose's character was so unexpectedly cleared, Edouard had noopportunity of speaking to her, or a reconciliation134 would have takenplace. As it was, he went home intensely happy. But he did notresume his visits to the chateau. When he came to think calmly overit, his vanity was cruelly mortified135. She was innocent of thegreater offence; but how insolently136 she had sacrificed him, hislove, and his respect, to another's interest.
More generous thoughts prevailed by degrees. And one day that herpale face, her tears, and her remorse137 got the better of his offendedpride, he determined to give her a good lecture that should drownher in penitent138 tears; and then end by forgiving her. For one thinghe could not be happy till he had forgiven her.
She walked into the room with a calm, dignified139, stately air, andbefore he could utter one word of his grave remonstrance140, attackedhim thus: "You wish to speak to me, sir. If it is to apologize tome, I will save your vanity the mortification141. I forgive you.""YOU forgive ME!" cried Edouard furiously.
"No violence, if you please," said the lady with cold hauteur142. "Letus be friends, as Josephine and Raynal are. We cannot be anythingmore to one another now. You have wounded me too deeply by yourjealous, suspicious nature."Edouard gasped for breath, and was so far out-generalled that heaccepted the place of defendant143. "Wasn't I to believe your ownlips? Did not Colonel Raynal believe you?""Oh, that's excusable. He did not know me. But you were my lover;you ought to have seen I was forced to deceive poor Raynal. Howdare you believe your eyes; much more your ears, against my truth,against my honor; and then to believe such nonsense?" Then, with agrand assumption of superior knowledge, says she, "You littlesimpleton, how could the child be mine when I wasn't married atall?"At this reproach, Edouard first stared, then grinned. "I forgotthat," said he.
"Yes, and you forgot the moon isn't made of green cheese. However,if I saw you very humble, and very penitent, I might, perhaps,really forgive you--in time.""No, forgive me at once. I don't understand your angelical,diabolical, incomprehensible sex: who on earth can? forgive me.""Oh! oh! oh! oh!"Lo! the tears that could not come at a remonstrance were flowing ina stream at his generosity41.
"What is the matter now?" said he tenderly. She cried away, but atthe same time explained,--"What a f--f--foolish you must be not to see that it is I who amwithout excuse. You were my betrothed. It was to you I owed myduty; not my sister. I am a wicked, unhappy girl. How you musthate me!""I adore you. There, no more forgiving on either side. Let ouronly quarrel be who shall love the other best.""Oh, I know how that will be," said the observant toad144. "You willlove me best till you have got me; and then I shall love you best;oh, ever so much."However, the prospect145 of loving best did not seem disagreeable toher; for with this announcement she deposited her head on hisshoulder, and in that attitude took a little walk with him up anddown the Pleasaunce: sixty times; about eight miles.
These two were a happy pair. This wayward, but generous heart neverforgot her offence, and his forgiveness. She gave herself to himheart and soul, at the altar, and well she redeemed146 her vow147. Herose high in political life: and paid the penalty of that sort ofambition; his heart was often sore. But by his own hearth148 satcomfort and ever ready sympathy. Ay, and patient industry to readblue-books, and a ready hand and brain to write diplomatic notes forhim, off which the mind glided as from a ball of ice.
In thirty years she never once mentioned the servants to him.
"Oh, let eternal honor crown her name!"It was only a little bit of heel that Dard had left in Prussia.
More fortunate than his predecessor149 (Achilles), he got off with aslight but enduring limp. And so the army lost him.
He married Jacintha, and Josephine set them up in Bigot's,(deceased) auberge. Jacintha shone as a landlady150, and custom flowedin. For all that, a hankering after Beaurepaire was observable inher. Her favorite stroll was into the Beaurepaire kitchen, and onall fetes and grand occasions she was prominent in gay attire151 as aretainer of the house. The last specimen152 of her homely sagacity Ishall have the honor to lay before you is a critique upon herhusband, which she vented153 six years after marriage.
"My Dard," said she, "is very good as far as he goes. What he hasfelt himself, that he can feel FOR: nobody better. You come to himwith an empty belly154, or a broken head, or all bleeding with a cut,or black and blue, and you shall find a friend. But if it is a soreheart, or trouble, and sorrow, and no hole in your carcass to showfor it, you had better come to ME; for you might as well tell yourgrief to a stone wall as to my man."The baroness took her son Raynal to Paris, and there, with keen eye,selected him a wife. She proved an excellent one. It would havebeen hard if she had not, for the baroness with the severe sagacityof her age and sex, had set aside as naught155 a score of seemingangels, before she could suit herself with a daughter-in-law. Atfirst the Raynals very properly saw little of the Dujardins; butwhen both had been married some years, the recollection of thatfleeting and nominal156 connection waxed faint, while the memory ofgreat benefits conferred on both sides remained lively as ever inhearts so great, and there was a warm, a sacred friendship betweenthe two houses--a friendship of the ancient Greeks, not of themodern club-house.
Camille and Josephine were blessed almost beyond the lot ofhumanity: none can really appreciate sunshine but those who come outof the cold dark. And so with happiness. For years they couldhardly be said to live like mortals: they basked157 in bliss133. But itwas a near thing; for they but just scraped clear of life-longmisery, and death's cold touch grazed them both as they went.
Yet they had heroic virtues158 to balance White Lies in the greatJudge's eye.
A wholesome159 lesson, therefore, and a warning may be gathered fromthis story: and I know many novelists who would have preached thatlesson at some length in every other chapter, and interrupted thesacred narrative160 to do it. But when I read stories so mutilated, Ithink of a circumstance related by Mr. Joseph Miller161.
"An Englishman sojourning in some part of Scotland was afflictedwith many hairs in the butter, and remonstrated162. He was told, inreply, that the hairs and the butter came from one source--the cow;and that the just and natural proportions hitherto observed, couldnot be deranged163, and bald butter invented--for ONE. 'So be it,'
said the Englishman; 'but let me have the butter in one plate, andthe hairs in another.'"Acting on this hint, I have reserved some admirable remarks,reflections, discourses164, and tirades165, until the story should beended, and the other plate be ready for the subsidiary sermon.
And now that the proper time is come, that love of intruding166 one'sown wisdom in one's own person on the reader, which has marred167 somany works of art, is in my case restrained--first, by pure fatigue;secondly, because the moral of this particular story stands out soclear in the narrative, that he who runs may read it without anysermon at all.
Those who will not take the trouble to gather my moral from theliving tree, would not lift it out of my dead basket: would notunlock their jaw-bones to bite it, were I to thrust it into theirvery mouths.
The End
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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tapestried
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| adj.饰挂绣帷的，织在绣帷上的v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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baroness
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| n.男爵夫人，女男爵 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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benefactors
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| n.捐助者，施主( benefactor的名词复数 )；恩人 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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alienated
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| adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等） | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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perverted
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| adj.不正当的v.滥用( pervert的过去式和过去分词 )；腐蚀；败坏；使堕落 | |
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forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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58
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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59
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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60
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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61
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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62
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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63
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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64
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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65
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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66
distrait
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| adj.心不在焉的 | |
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67
misgives
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| v.使（某人的情绪、精神等）疑虑，担忧，害怕( misgive的第三人称单数 ) | |
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68
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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69
loathe
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| v.厌恶，嫌恶 | |
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70
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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71
seducer
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| n.诱惑者,骗子,玩弄女性的人 | |
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72
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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73
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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74
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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75
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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76
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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77
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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78
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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79
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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80
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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81
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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83
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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84
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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85
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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86
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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87
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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88
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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89
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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90
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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91
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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92
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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93
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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94
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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95
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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96
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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97
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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98
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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99
aristocrats
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| n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 ) | |
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100
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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101
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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102
annul
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| v.宣告…无效，取消，废止 | |
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103
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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104
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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105
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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106
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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107
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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108
annulled
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| v.宣告无效( annul的过去式和过去分词 )；取消；使消失；抹去 | |
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109
consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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110
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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111
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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112
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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113
invalided
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| 使伤残（invalid的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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114
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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115
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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116
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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117
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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118
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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119
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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120
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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121
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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122
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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123
defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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124
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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125
encumber
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| v.阻碍行动，妨碍，堆满 | |
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126
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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127
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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128
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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129
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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130
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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131
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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132
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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133
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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134
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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135
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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136
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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137
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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138
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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139
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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140
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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141
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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142
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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143
defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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144
toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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145
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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146
redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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147
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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148
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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149
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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150
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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151
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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152
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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153
vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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154
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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155
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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156
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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157
basked
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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158
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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159
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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160
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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161
miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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162
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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163
deranged
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| adj.疯狂的 | |
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164
discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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165
tirades
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| 激烈的长篇指责或演说( tirade的名词复数 ) | |
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166
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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167
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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