frances waldeaux-第13章

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〃I　am　so　sorry　for　you；　prince。〃　Clara　squeezed　his　hand　energetically。　〃Nor　her　dot。　　That　would　have　been　so　comfortable　for　me；〃　he　said　simply。

Clara　hid　a　smile；　and　bade　him　an　affectionate　good…night。

As　he　passed　into　the　outer　salle　a　childish　figure　in　creamy　lace　rose　before　him；　and　a　soft　hand　was　held　out。　　〃I　know　what　has　happened！〃　she　whispered　passionately。　　〃She　has　treated　you　scandalously！　　She　cannot　appreciate　YOU！〃

Prince　Hugo　stuttered　and　coughed　and　almost　kissed　the　little　hand　which　lay　so　trustingly　in　his。　　He　found　himself　safely　outside　at　last；　and　drove　away；　wretched　to　the　soul。

But　below　his　wretchedness　something　whispered：　　〃SHE　appreciates　me；　and　her　dot　is　quite　as　large。〃


CHAPTER　XIII

George　Waldeaux　hummed　a　tune　gayly　as　he　climbed　the　winding　maze　of　streets　in　Vannes；　one　cloudy　afternoon；　with　Lisa。

〃It　is　impertinent　to　be　modern　Americans　in　this　old　town；〃　he　said。　　〃We　might　play　that　we　were　jongleurs；　and　that　it　was　still　mediaeval　times。　　I　am　sure　the　gray　walls　yonder　and　the　fortress　houses　in　this　street　have　not　changed　in　ages。〃

〃Neither　have　the　smells；　apparently；〃　said　Lisa　grimly。　　〃Wrap　this　scarf　about　your　throat；　George。　　You　coughed　last　night。〃

George　tied　up　his　throat。　　〃Coughed；　did　I？〃　he　said　anxiously。　　He　had　had　a　cold　last　winter；　and　his　wife　with　her　poultices　and　fright　had　convinced　him　that　he　was　a　confirmed　invalid。　　The　coming　of　her　baby　had　given　to　the　woman　a　motherly　feeling　toward　all　of　the　world；　even　to　her　husband。

〃Look　at　these　women；〃　he　said；　going　on　with　his　fancy　presently。　　〃I　am　sure　that　they　were　here　wearing　these　black　gowns　and　huge　red　aprons　in　the　twelfth　century。　　What　is　this？〃　he　said；　stopping　abruptly；　to　a　boy　of　six　who　was　digging　mud　at　the　foot　of　an　ancient　ivy…covered　tower。

〃C'est　le　tour　du　Connetable；〃　the　child　lisped。　　〃Et　v'la；　monsieur！〃　pointing　to　a　filthy　pen　with　a　gate　of　black　oak；　〃v'la　le　donjon　de　Clisson！〃　〃Who　was　Clisson？〃　said　Lisa　impatiently。

〃A　live　man　to　Froissartand　to　this　boy；〃　said　George；　laughing。　　〃I　told　you　that　we　had　gone　back　seven　centuries。　　This　fog　comes　in　from　the　Morbihan　sea　where　Arthur　and　his　knights　went　sailing　to　find　the　Holy　Greal。　　They　have　not　come　back。　　And　south　yonder　is　the　country　of　the　Druids。　　I　will　take　you　to…morrow　and　show　you　twenty　thousand　of　their　menhirs；　and　then　we　will　sail　away　to　an　island　where　there　is　an　altar　that　the　serpent　worshippers　built　ages　before　Christ。〃


Lisa　laughed。　　He　was　not　often　in　this　playful　mood。　　She　panted　as　she　toiled　up　the　dark　little　street；　a　step　behind　him；　but　he　did　not　think　of　giving　her　his　arm。　　He　had　grown　accustomed　to　regard　himself　as　the　invalid　now；　and　the　one　who　needed　care。

〃I　am　going　for　letters；〃　he　called　back；　diving　into　a　dingy　alley。　　The　baby　and　its　bonne　were　near　Lisa。　　The　child　never　was　out　of　her　sight　for；　a　moment。　　She　waited；　standing　a　little　apart　from　Colette　to　watch　whether　the　passers…by　would　notice　the　baby。　　When　one　or　two　of　the　gloomy　and　stolid　women　who　hurried　past　in　their　wooden　sabots　clicked　their　fingers　to　it；　she　could　not　help　smiling　gayly　and　bidding　them　good…day。

The　fog　was　stifling。　　As　she　waited　she　gave　a　tired　gasp。　　Colette　ran　to　her。　〃Madame　is　going　to　be　ill！〃

〃No；　no！　　Don't　frighten　monsieur。〃

George　came　out　of　the　gate　at　the　moment。

〃Going　to　faint　again；　Lisa？〃　he　said；　with　an　annoyed　glance　around　the　street。　　〃Your　attacks　do　choose　the　most　malapropos　times〃

〃Oh；　dear　no；　George！　　I　am　quite　well　quite。〃　　She　walked　beside　him　with　an　airy　step；　laughing　gayly　now　and　then；　but　George's　frown　deepened。

〃I　don't　understand　these　seizures　at　all；〃　he　said。　　〃You　seem　to　be　in　sound　physical　condition。〃

〃Oh；　all　women　have　queer　turns；　George。〃

〃Did　you　consult　D'Abri；　as　I　told　you　to　do；　in　Paris？〃

〃Yes；　yes！　　Now　let　us　talk　no　more　about　it。　　I　have　had　thesesymptoms　since　I　was　a　child。〃

〃You　never　told　me　of　them　before　we　were　married；〃　he　muttered。

Lisa　scowled　darkly　at　him；　but　she　glanced　at　the　baby　and　her　mouth　closed。　　Little　Jacques　should　never　hear　her　rage　nor　swear。

From　an　overhanging　gable　at　the　street　corner　looked　down　a　roughly　hewn　stone　Madonna。　　The　arms　of　the　Holy　Child　were　outstretched　to　bless。　　Lisa　paused　before　it；　crossing　herself。　　A　strange　joy　filled　her　heart。

〃I　too　am　a　mother！　　I　too！〃　she　said。　　She　hurried　after　George　and　clung　to　his　arm　as　they　went　home。

〃Was　there　any　letter？〃　she　asked。

〃Only　one　from　MunichMiss　Vance。　　I　haven't　opened　it。〃

〃I　thought　your　mother　would　write。　　She　must　have　heard　about　the　boy！〃

George's　face　grew　dark。　　〃No；　she'll　not　write。　　Nor　come。〃

〃You　wish　for　her　every　day；　George？〃　　She　looked　at　him　wistfully。

〃Yes；　I　do。　　She　and　I　were　comrades　to　a　queer　degree。　　I　long　for　something　hearty　and　homelike　again。　　See　here；　Lisa。　　I'm　going　home　before　my　boy　begins　to　talk。　　I　mean　he　shall　grow　up　under　wholesome　American　influencesnot　foreign。〃

〃Not　foreign；〃　she　repeated　gravely。　　She　was　silent　a　while。　　〃I　have　thought　much　of　it　all　lately；〃　she　said　at　last。　　〃It　will　be　wholesome　for　Jacques　on　your　farm。　　Horsesdogs　　Your　mother　will　love　him。　　She　can't　help　it。　　SheI　acted　like　a　beast　to　that　woman；　George。　　I'll　say　that。　　She　hit　me　hard。　　But　she　has　good　traits。　　She　is　not　unlike　my　own　mother。〃

George　said　nothing。　　God　forbid　that　he　should　tell　her；　even　by　a　look；　that　she　and　her　mother　were　of　a　caste　different　from　his　own。

But　he　was　bored　to　the　soul　by　the　difference；　he　was　tired　of　her　ignorances；　which　she　showed　every　minute；　of　her　ghastly；　unclean　knowledgeswhich　she　never　showed。

They　came　into　the　courtyard　of　the　Chateau　de　la　Motte；　the　ancient　castle　of　the　Breton　dukes；　which　is　now　an　inn。　　The　red　sunset　flamed　up　behind　the　sad　little　town　and　its　gray　old　houses　and　spires　massed　on　the　hill；　and　the　black　river　creeping　by。　　George's　eyes　kindled　at　the　sombre　picture。

〃In　this　very　court；〃　he　said；　〃Constance　stood　when　she　summoned　the　States　of　Brittany　to　save　her　boy　Arthur　from　King　John。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　you　have　read　of　it　to　me　in　your　Shakespeare。　　It　is　one　of　his　unpleasant　stories。　　Come；　Bebe。　　It　grows　damp。〃

As　she　climbed　the　stone　stairway　with　the　child；　Colette　lingered　to　gossip　with　the　portier。　　〃Poor　lady！　　You　will　adore　her！　　She　is　one　of　us。　　But　she　makes　of　that　bete　Anglais　and　the　ugly　child；　saints　and　gods！〃

When　George　presently　came　up　to　their　bare　little　room；　Lisa　was　singing　softly；　as　she　rocked　Jacques　to　sleep。

〃Can't　you　sing　the　boy　something　a　bit　more　cheerful？〃　he　said。　　〃You　used　to　know　some　jolly　catches　from　the　music　halls。〃

〃Catches　for　HIM？〃　with　a　frightened　look　at　the　child's　shut　eyes。

〃The　‘Adeste　Fideles'　is　moral；　but　it　is　not　a　merry　air。　　You　sing　it　morning；　noon；　and　night；〃　he　grumbled。

〃Yes；〃　she　whispered；　laying　the　child　in　its　crib。　　〃One　never　knows　how　much　HE　understands；　and　he　may　remember；　I　thought。　　Some　day　when　he　is　a　great　boy；　he　may　hear　it　and　he'll　think；　‘My　mother　sang　that　hymn。　　She　must　have　been　a　good　woman！'〃

〃Nonsense；　Lisa；〃　said　George　kindly。　　〃You'll　teach　him　every　day；　while　he　is　growing　to　be　a　great　boy；　that　you　are　a　good　woman。〃

She　said　nothing；　but　stood　on　the　other　side　of　the　crib　looking　at　him。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　said　George　uneasily。　〃You　look　at　me　as　if　somebody　were　dragging　you　away　from　me。〃

She　laughed。　　〃What　ridiculous　fancies　you　have！〃　　She　came　behind　him　and；　drawing　his　head　back；　kissed　him　on　the　forehead。　　〃Oh；　you　poor；　foolish　boy！〃　she　said。

Lisa　sat　down　to　her　work；　which　was　the　making　of　garments　for　Jacques　out　of　her　own　gowns。　　She　was　an　expert　needlewoman；　and　had　already　a　pile　of　fantastic　kilts　of　cloth　and　velvet。

〃Enough　to　last　until　he　is　ten　years　old；〃　George　said　contemptuously。　　〃And　you　will　not　leave　a　gown　for　yourself。〃

〃There　will　be　all　I　shall　need；〃　she　said。

He　turned　up　the　lamp　and　opened　Clara's　letter。

Lisa's　needle　flew　through　the　red　and　yellow　silk。　　It　was　pleasant　work；　she　was　doing　it　skilfully。　　The　fire　warmed　her　thin　blood。　　She　could　hear　the　baby's　regular；　soft　breathing　as　it　slept。　　A　pleasure　that　was　almost　like　health　stole　through　her　lean　body。　　She　leaned　back　in　her　chair　looking　at　Jacques。　　In　three　years　he　could　wear　the　velvet　suit　with　the　cap　and　pompon。　　His　hair　would　be　yellow　and　curly；　like　his　father's。　　But　his　eyes　would　be　like　her　mother's。　　She　pressed　her　hands　together；　laughing；　the　hot　tears　rushing　to　her　eyes。　　〃Ah；　maman！〃　she　said。　　〃Do　you　　know　that　your　little　girl　has　a　baby？　　Can　you　see　him？〃

What　a　superb　〃great　boy〃　he　would　be！　　He　should　go　to　a　military　school。　　Yes！　　She　lay　back　in　her　chair；　watching　him。

George　suddenly　started　up　with　a　cry　of　amazement。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　said　indifferently。

He　did　not　answer；　but　turned　the　letter　and　read　it　over　again。　　Then　he　folded　it　with　shaking　fingers。

〃I　have　news　here。　　Miss　Vance　thinks　it　time　that　I　was　told；　and　I　agree　with　her。　　It　appears　that　I　am　a　pauper；　and　always　have　been。　　My　father　died　penniless。〃

〃Then　Jacques　will　be　poor？〃

〃Jacques！　　You　think　of　nothing　but　that　mewling；　senseless　thing！　　It　is　mothershe　always　has　supported　me。　　We　are　living　now　on　the　money　that　she　earns　from　week　to　week；　while　I　play　that　I　am　an　artist！〃

Lisa　listened　attentively。　　〃It　does　not　seem　strange　that　a　mother　should　work　for　her　son；〃　she　said　slowly。　　〃But　she　has　never　told　us！　　That　is　fine！　　I　like　that！　　I　told　you　she　had　very　good　traits。〃

George　stared　at　her。　〃Butme！　　Don't　you　see　what　a　cad　I　am？〃

He　paced　up　and　down；　muttering；　and　then　throwing　on　his　hat　went　out　into　the　night　to　be　alone。

Lisa　sank　back　again　and　watched　Jacques。　　At　military　school；　yes；　and　after　he　had　left　school　he　would　be　a　soldier；　perhaps。　　Such　a　gallant　young　fellow！

She　leaned　over　the　cradle；　holding　out　her　hands。　　Ah；　God！　if　she　could　but　live　to　see　it！　　Surely　it　might　be？　　There　was　no　pain　now。　　Doctors　were　not　infallibleeven　D'Abri　might　be　mistaken；　after　all。

George；　coming　in　an　hour　later；　found　her　sitting　with　her　hands　covering　her　face。

〃Are　you　asleep；　Lisa？〃

〃No。〃

〃There　is　a　telegram　from　Clara。　　My　mother　has　left　Munich　for　Vannes。　　She　will　be　here　in　two　days。〃

She　rose　with　an　effort。　　〃I　am　glad　for　you；　George。〃

〃You　are　ill；　Lisa！〃

〃A　little　tired；　only。　　Colette　will　give　me　my　powder；　and　I　shall　be　quite　well　in　the　morning。　　Will　you　send　her　to　me　now？〃

After　George　was　gone　the　rumbling　of　a　diligence　was　heard　in　the　courtyard；　and　presently　a　woman　was　brought　up　to　the　opposite　chamber。

The　hall　was　dark。　　Looking　across　it；　Frances　Waldeaux　saw　in　the　lighted　room　Lisa　and　her　child。



CHAPTER　XIV

Before　we　come　to　the　dark　story　of　that　night　in　the　inn；　it　is　but　fair　to　Frances　to　say　that　she　came　there　with　no　definite　evil　purpose。　　She　had　been　cheerful　on　her　journey　from　Munich。　　There　was　one　clear　fact　in　her　brain：　　She　was　on　her　way　to　Georg