frances waldeaux-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　Sail　with　her　to　Gavr'　Inis；〃　he　said　to　Selo；　〃and　bring　her　back　at　her　pleasure。　　Somebody　can　drive　her　back　to　Vannes；　and　don't　overcharge　her；　you　robbers！〃

〃Gavr'　Inis？〃　Frances　repeated。

〃It　is　an　island　in　the　sea　yonder；　madame。　　A　quiet　place　of　trees。　　When　there　was　not　a　man　in　the　world；　evil　spirits　built　there　an　altar　for　the　worship　of　the　devil。　　No　men　could　have　built　it。　　There　are　huge　stones　carried　there　from　the　mountains　far　inland；　that　no　engine　could　lift。　　It　is　a　great　mystery。〃

〃It　is　the　one　place　in　the　world；　people　say；〃　interrupted　Selo；　lowering　his　voice；　〃where　God　never　has　been。　　A　dreadful　place；　madame！〃

Frances　laughed。　　〃That　is　the　place　for　me；〃　she　said　to　Selo。　　〃Take　me　there。〃

The　old　man　looked　at　her　with　shrewd；　friendly　eyes；　and　then　beckoned　Bauzy　aside。

〃Who　is　she？　　She　has　the　bearing　of　a　great　lady；　but　her　face　hurts　me。　　What　harm　has　come　to　her？〃

〃How　do　I　know？〃　said　Bauzy。　　〃Go　for　your　boat。　　The　sea　is　rising。〃


Late　in　the　afternoon　M。　Selo　landed　his　strange　passenger　upon　the　pebbly　beach　of　the　accursed　island。　　He　led　her　up　on　the　rocks；　talking；　and　pointing　across　the　sea。

〃Beyond　is　the　Atlantic；　and　on　yonder　headland　are　the　great　menhirs　of　Carnacthirty　thousand　of　them；　brought　there　before　Christ　was　born。　　But　the　Evil　One　loves　this　island　best　of　all　places。　　It　has　in　it　the　mystery　of　the　world。　　Come；〃　he　said；　in　an　awed　voice。　　〃It　is　here。〃

He　crossed　to　the　hill；　stooped；　and　entered　a　dark　cave　about　forty　feet　long；　which　was　wholly　lined　with　huge　flat　rocks　carved　with　countless　writhing　serpents。　　As　Frances　passed　they　seemed　to　stir　and　breathe　beside　her；　at　her　feet；　overhead。　　The　cave　opened　into　a　sacrificial　chamber。　　The　reptiles　grew　gigantic　here；　and　crowded　closer。　　Through　some　rift　a　beam　of　melancholy　light　crept　in；　a　smell　of　death　hung　in　the　thick；　unclean　air。

Selo　pointed　to　a　stone　altar。　　〃It　was　there　they　killed　their　victims；〃　he　whispered；　and　began　to　pray　anxiously；　half…aloud。　　When　he　had　finished；　he　hurried　back；　beckoning　to　her　to　come　out。

〃Go；〃　she　said。　　〃I　will　stay　here。〃

〃Then　I　will　wait　outside。　　This　is　no　place　for　Christian　souls。　　But　we　must　return　soon；　madame。　　My　little　girl　will　be　watching　now　for　me。〃

When　he　was　gone　she　stood　by　the　altar。　　This　island　of　Gavr'　Inis　was　one　of　the　places　to　which　she　and　George　had　long　ago　planned　to　come。　　She　remembered　the　very　day　on　which　they　had　read　the　legend　that　on　this　altar　men　before　the　Flood　had　sacrificed　to　the　god　of　Murder。

〃I　am　the　murderer　now；　and　George　knows　it；〃　she　said　quietly。　　But　she　was　cold　and　faint；　and　presently　began　to　tremble　weakly。

She　went　out　of　the　cave　and　stood　on　the　beach。　　〃I　want　to　go　home；　George；〃　she　said　aloud。　　〃I　want　to　be　Frances　Waldeaux　again。　　I'm　sure　I　didn't　know　it　was　in　me　to　do　that　thing。〃

There　was　no　answer。　　She　was　alone　in　the　great　space　of　sky　and　sea。　　The　world　was　so　big　and　empty；　and　she　alone　and　degraded　in　it！

〃I　never　shall　see　George　again。　　He　will　think　of　me　only　as　the　woman　who　killed　his　wife；〃　she　thought。

She　went　on　blindly　toward　the　water；　and　stood　there　a　long　time。

Then；　in　the　strait　of　her　agony；　there　came　to　Frances　Waldeaux；　for　the　first　time　in　her　life；　a　perception　that　there　was　help　for　her　in　the　world；　outside　of　her　own　strength。　　Her　poor　tortured　wits　discerned　One；　more　real　than　her　crime；　or　George；　or　the　woman　that　she　had　killed。　　It　was　an　old；　hackneyed　story；　that　He　knew　every　man　and　woman　in　the　world；　that　He　could　help　them。　　She　had　heard　it　often。

Was　there　any　thing　in　it？　　Could　He　help　her？

Slowly；　the　nervous　twitching　of　her　body　quieted；　her　dulled　eyes　cleared　as　if　a　new　power　of　sight　were　coming　to　them。

After　a　long　time　she　heard　steps；　and　Selo　calling。　　She　rose。

The　murder　was　known。　　They　were　coming　to　arrest　her。

What　did　it　matter？　　She　had　found　help。

Selo　came　up　excitedly。

〃It　is　another　boat；　English　folk　also；　that　comes　to　arrive。〃

She　turned　and　waited。

And　then；　coming　up　the　hill；　she　saw　George；　and　with　himLisa！　　Lisa；　smiling　as　she　talked。

They　ran　to　meet　her　with　cries　of　amazement。　　She　staggered　back　on　the　rock。

〃You　are　not　dead？　　Lisa〃

〃Dead？　　Poor　lady！〃　catching　her　in　her　arms。　　〃Some　water；　George！　　It　is　her　head。　　She　has　been　too　much　alone。〃

When　Frances　opened　her　eyes　she　was　lying　on　the　grass；　her　children　kneeling　beside　her。　　She　caught　Lisa's　arm　in　both　hands　and　felt　it：　then　she　sat　up。

〃I　must　tell　you　what　I　didbefore　you　speak　to　me。〃

〃Not　now；〃　said　Lisa。　　〃You　are　not　well。　　I　am　going　to　be　your　nurse。　　The　baby　has　made　me　a　very　good　nurse；〃　and　she　stooped　again　over　Frances；　with　kind；　smiling　eyes。

Selo　came　to　wile　George　up　to　the　mysterious　cave；　but　Lisa　impatiently　hurried　them　to　the　beach。　　〃Caves　and　serpent　worshippers　truly！〃　she　cried。　　〃Why；　she　has　not　seen　Jacques！〃　and　when；　in　the　boat；　George；　who　was　greatly　alarmed；　tried　to　rouse　his　mother　from　her　silent　stupor；　Lisa　said　gayly；　〃She　will　be　herself　again　as　soon　as　she　sees　HIM。〃

When　they　reached　Larmor　Baden；　she　despatched　George　in　search　of　Colette　and　the　child；　and　she　went　into　the　church。　　It　was　late；　and　the　village　women　sat　on　the　steps　gossipping　in　the　slanting　sunlight。　　There　is　nothing　in　their　lives　but　work　and　the　church；　and　when；　each　day；　they　have　finished　with　one　they　go　to　the　other。

Frances　followed　her。　　The　sombre　little　church　was　vacant。　　She　touched　Lisa　on　the　shoulder。

〃There　is　something　I　must　tell　you；〃　she　said。　　〃You　would　not　let　me　touch　the　child；　if　you　knew　it。〃

She　stooped　and　spoke　a　few　sentences　in　a　vehement　whisper；　and　then　leaned　back；　exhausted；　against　the　wall。

Lisa　drew　back。　　Her　lips　were　white　with　sudden　fright；　but　she　scanned　Mrs。　Waldeaux's　face　keenly。

〃You　were　in　Vannes　last　night？　　You　tried　　My　God；　I　remember！　　The　tisane　tasted　queerly；　and　I　threw　it　out。〃　　She　walked　away　for　a　moment；　and　then　turning；　said；　〃You　called　my　mother　a　vile　woman　once。　　But　SHE　would　not　have　done　that　thing！

〃No；〃　said　Frances；　not　raising　her　head。　　〃No。〃

Lisa　stood　looking　at　her　as　she　crouched　against　the　wall。　　The　fierce　scorn　slowly　died　out　of　her　eyes。　　She　was　a　coarse；　but　a　good…natured；　woman。　　An　awful　presence；　too；　walked　with　her　always　now；　step　by　step；　and　in　that　dread　shadow　she　saw　the　things　of　life　more　justly　than　we　do。　She　took　Frances　by　the　hand　at　last。　　〃You　were　not　quite　yourself；　I　think；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃I　have　pushed　you　too　hard。　　George　has　told　me　so　much　about　you！　　If　we　could　be　together　for　a　while；　perhaps　we　should　love　each　other　a　little。　　But　there　is　no　time　now〃　　She　turned　hastily；　and　threw　herself　down　before　a　crucifix。

After　a　long　time　she　went　out　to　the　vestibule；　where　she　found　Frances；　and　said；　with　an　effort　to　be　cheerful　and　matter…of…fact；　〃Come；　now；　let　us　talk　like　reasonable　people。　　A　thing　is　coming　to　me　which　comes　to　every…body。　　I'm　not　one　to　whine。　　But　it's　the　childI　don't　think　any　baby　ever　was　as　much　to　a　woman　as　Jacques　is　to　me。　　I　suppose　God　does　not　think　I　am　fit　to　bring　him　up。　　Sit　down　and　let　me　tell　you　all　about　it。〃

They　sat　on　the　steps；　talking　in　a　low　tone。　　Frances　cried；　but　Lisa's　eyes　were　quite　dry　and　bright。　　She　rose　at　last。

〃You　see；　there　will　be　no　woman　to　care　for　him；　if　you　do　not。　　There　he　is　with　Colette。〃　　She　ran　down；　took　the　baby　from　the　bonne；　and　laid　him　in　Frances's　arms。

Mrs。　Waldeaux　looked　down　at　him。　　〃George's　son；〃　she　whispered；　〃George's　boy！〃

〃He　is　very　like　George　and　you；〃　Lisa　answered。　　〃He　is　a　Waldeaux。〃

〃Yes；　I　see。〃

She　held　him　close　to　her　breast　as　they　drove　back　to　Vannes。　　George　whistled　and　sang　on　the　box。　　He　was　very　light　of　heart　to　have　her　with　him　again。

He　looked　impatiently　at　an　ancient　village　through　which　they　passed；　with　its　towers；　and　peasants　in　strange　garbs；　like　the　pictures　in　some　crusading　tale。

〃Now　that　we　have　mother；　Lisa；〃　he　said；　〃we'll　go　straight　back　home。　　I　am　tired　of　mediaeval　times。　　I　must　get　to　work　for　this　youngster。〃

Lisa　did　not　speak　for　a　moment。　　〃I　should　like　to　stay　in　Vannes　a　little　longer；〃　she　said。　　〃I　did　not　tell　you；　butmy　mother　is　buried　there。　　That　was　why　I　came；　I　should　like　to　be　with　her。〃

〃Why；　of　course；　dear。　　As　long　as　you　like；〃　he　said　affectionately。　〃I　will　not　detain　you　long。　　Perhaps　only　a　week　or　two；〃　she　said。

He　nodded；　and　began　to　whistle　cheerfully　again。　　Frances　looked　at　Lisa；　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　　It　was　a　pitiful　tragedy！

But　the　poor　girl　was　quite　right　not　to　worry　George　until　the　last　moment。　　She　was　blocking　his　wayruining　his　life；　and　God　was　taking　her　away　so　that　she　could　no　longer　harm　him。

And　yetpoor　Lisa！

They　drove　on。　　The　sun　warmed　the　crimson　fields；　and　the　birds　chirped；　and　this　was　George's　child　creeping　close　to　her　breast。　　It　stirred　there　a　keen　pang　of　joy。

Surely　He　had　forgiven　her。

A　month　later　a　group　of　passengers　in　deep　mourning　stood　apart　on　the　deck　of　the　Paris　as　she　left　the　dock　at　Liverpool。　　It　was　George　Waldeaux；　his　mother；　and　little　Jacques　with　his　nurse。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　was　looking　at　Clara　and　her　girls；　who　were　watching　her　from　the　dock。　　They　had　come　to　Vannes　when　Lisa　died；　and　had　taken　care　of　her　and　the　baby　until　now。　　Frances　had　cried　at　leaving　them；　but　George　stood　with　his　back　to　them　moodily；　looking　down　into　the　black　water。

〃It　seems　but　a　few　days　since　we　sailed　from　New　York　on　the　Kaiser　Wilhelm；〃　he　said；　〃and　yet　I　have　lived　out　all　my　life　in　that　time。〃

〃All？　　Is　there　nothing　left；　George？〃　his　mother　said　gently。

〃Oh；　of　course；　you　are　always　a　good　companion；　and　there　is　the　child〃　　He　paused。　　The　fierce　passions；　the　storms　of　delight　and　pain　of　his　life　with　Lisa　rushed　back　on　him。　　〃I　will　work　for　others；　and　wear　out　the　days　as　I　can；〃　he　said。　　〃But　life　is　over　for　me。　　The　story　is　told。　　There　are　only　blank　pages　now　to　the　end。〃

He　turned　his　dim　eyes　toward　the　French　coast。　　She　knew　that　they　saw　the　little　bare　grave　on　the　hill　in　Vannes。　　〃I　wish　I　could　have　seen　something　green　growing　on　it　before　I　left　her　there　alone！〃　he　muttered。

〃Her　mother's　grave　was　covered　with　roses〃　Frances　answered　quickly。　　〃They　will　creep　over　to　her。　She　is　not　alone；　George。　　I　am　glad　she　was　laid　by　her　mother。　　She　loved　her　dearly。〃

〃Yes。　　Better　than　any　thing　on　earth；〃　he　responded　gloomily。

A　few　moments　later　the　ship　swung　heavily　around。

〃We　are　going！　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　cried；　waving　her　hand。　　〃Won't　you　look　at　Clara　and　Lucy；　George？　　They　have　been　so　good　to　us。　　If　Lucy　had　been　my　own　child；　she　could　not　have　been　kinder　to　me。〃

Mr。　Waldeaux　turned　and　raised　his　crepe…bound　hat；　looking　at　Lucy　in　her　soft　gray　gown　vaguely；　as　he　might　at　a　white　gull　dropped　on　the　shore。

〃I　suppose　I　never　shall　see　her　again；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃Clara　tells　me　she　is　besieged　by　lovers。　　She　is　going　to　marry　a　German　prince；　probably。〃

〃That　would