frances waldeaux-第3章

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I　am　surprised　at　you；　Miss　Vance。　　You　do　not　often　slip　in　your　judgment。〃

〃Don't　make　yourself　unpleasant；　George；〃　said　his　mother　gently。　　Miss　Vance　smiled　icily；　and　as　the　girls　came　near　again；　stopped　them　and　stood　talking　to　Mlle。　　Arpent　with　an　aggressive　show　of　familiarity。

〃Why　do　you　worry　Clara？〃　said　Mrs。　Waldeaux。　　〃She　knows　she　has　made　a　mistake。　　What　do　you　think　of　that　little　blonde　girl？〃　she　asked　presently；　watching　him　anxiously。　　〃She　has　remarkable　beauty；　certainly；　but　there　is　something　finicalprecise〃

〃Take　care。　　She　will　hear　you；〃　said　George。　　〃Beauty；　eh？　　Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　indifferently。　　〃She　is　passably　pretty。　　I　have　never　seen　a　woman　yet　whose　beauty　satisfied　ME。〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux　leaned　back　with　a　comfortable　little　laugh。　　〃But　you　must　not　be　so　hard　to　please；　my　son。　　You　must　bring　me　my　daughter　soon；〃　she　said。

〃Not　very　soon。　　I　have　some　thing　else　to　think　of　than　marriage　for　the　next　ten　years。〃

Just　then　Dr。　Watts　came　up　and　asked　leave　to　present　his　friend　Perry。　　The　doctor；　like　all　young　men　who　knew　Mrs。　Waldeaux；　had　succumbed　to　her　peculiar　charm；　which　was　only　that　of　a　woman　past　her　youth　who　had　strong　personal　magnetism　and　not　a　spark　of　coquetry。　　George's　friends　all　were　sure　that　they　would　fall　in　love　with　a　woman　just　like　herbut　not　a　man　of　them　ever　thought　of　falling　in　love　with　her。

Young　Perry；　in　twenty　minutes；　decided　that　she　was　the　most　brilliant　and　agreeable　of　companions。　　He　had　talked；　and　she　had　spoken　only　with　her　listening；　sympathetic　eyes。　　He　was　always　apt　to　be　voluble。　　On　this　occasion　he　was　too　voluble。　〃You　are　from　Weir；　I　think；　in　Delaware；　Mrs。　Waldeaux？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　must　have　seen　the　name　of　the　town　with　yours　on　the　list　of　passengers；　for　the　story　of　a　woman　who　once　lived　there　has　been　haunting　me　all　day。　　I　have　not　seen　nor　thought　of　her　for　years；　and　I　could　not　account　for　my　sudden　remembrance　of　her。〃

〃Who　was　she？〃　asked　George；　trying　to　save　his　mother　from　Perry；　who　threatened　to　be　a　bore。

〃Her　name　was　Pauline　Felix。　　You　have　heard　her　story；　Mrs。　Waldeaux？〃

〃Yes〃　said　Frances　coldly。　　〃I　have　heard　her　story。　　Can　you　find　my　shawl；　George？〃

But　Perry　was　conscious　of　no　rebuff；　and　turned　cheerfully　to　George。　　〃It　was　one　of　those　dramas　of　real　life；　too　unlikely　to　put　into　a　novel。　　She　was　the　daughter　of　a　poor　clergyman　in　Weir；　a　devout；　good　man；　I　believe。　　She　had　marvellous　beauty　and　a　devilish　disposition。　　She　ran　away；　lived　a　wild　life　in　Paris；　and　became　the　mistress　of　a　Russian　Grand　Duke。　　Her　death〃

He　could　not　have　told　why　he　stopped。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　still　watched　him；　attentive；　but　the　sympathetic　smile　had　frozen　into　icy　civility。　　She　had　the　old…fashioned　modesty　of　her　generation。　　What　right　had　this　young　man　to　speak　of　〃mistresses〃　to　her？　　Clara's　girls　within　hearing　too！　　She　rose　when　he　paused；　bowed；　and　hurried　to　them；　like　a　hen　fluttering　to　protect　her　chicks。

〃He　was　talking　to　me　of　a　woman；〃　she　said　excitedly　to　Clara；　〃who　is　never　mentioned　by　decent　people。〃

〃Yes；　I　heard　him；〃　said　Miss　Vance。　　〃Poor　Pauline！　　Her　career　was　always　a　mystery　to　me。　I　was　at　school　with　her；　and　she　was　the　most　generous；　lovable　girl！　　Yet　she　came　to　a　wretched　end；〃　turning　to　her　flock；　her　tone　growing　didactic。　〃One　is　never　safe；　you　see。　　One　must　always　be　on　guard。〃

〃Oh；　my　dear！〃　cried　Frances　impatiently。　　〃You　surely　don't　mean　to　class　these　girls　and　me　with　Pauline　Felix！　　Come；　come！〃

〃None　of　us　is　safe；〃　repeated　Clara　stiffly。　　〃Somebody　says　there　is　a　possible　vice　in　the　purest　soul；　and　it　may　lie　perdu　there　until　old　age。　　But　it　will　break　out　some　day。〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux　looked；　laughing；　at　the　eager；　blushing　faces　around　her。　　〃It　is　not　likely　to　break　out　in　us；　girls；　eh！　　Really；　Clara；〃　she　said；　in　a　lower　tone；　〃that　seems　to　me　like　wasted　morality。　　Women　of　our　class　are　in　no　more　danger　of　temptation　to　commit　great　crimes　than　they　are　of　finding　tigers　in　their　drawing…rooms。　　Pauline　Felix　was　born　vicious。　　No　woman　could　fall　as　she　did；　who　was　not　rotten　to　the　core。〃

A　sudden　shrill　laugh　burst　from　the　French　woman；　who　had　been　looking　at　Mrs。　Waldeaux　with　insolent；　bold　eyes。　　But　as　she　laughed；　her　head　fell　forward　and　she　swung　from　side　to　side。

〃It　is　nothing；〃　she　cried；　〃I　am　only　a　little　faint。　　I　must　go　below。〃

The　ship　was　now　crossing　short；　choppy　waves。　　The　passengers　scattered　rapidly。　　George　took　his　mother　to　her　stateroom；　and　there　she　stayed　until　land　was　sighted　on　the　Irish　coast。　　Clara　and　her　companions　also　were　forced　to　keep　to　their　berths。

During　the　speechless　misery　of　the　first　days　Mrs。　Waldeaux　was　conscious　that　George　was　hanging　over　her；　tender　as　a　mother　with　a　baby。　　She　commanded　him　to　stay　on　deck；　for　each　day　she　saw　that　he；　too；　grew　more　haggard。　　〃Let　me　fight　it　out　alone；〃　she　would　beg　of　him。　　〃My　worst　trouble　is　that　I　cannot　take　care　of　you。〃

He　obeyed　her　at　last；　and　would　come　down　but　once　during　the　day；　and　then　for　only　a　few　hurried　minutes。　　His　mother　was　alarmed　at　the　ghastliness　of　his　face　and　the　expression　of　anxious　wretchedness　new　to　it。　　〃His　eye　avoids　mine　craftily；　like　that　of　an　insane　man；〃　she　told　herself；　and　when　the　doctor　came；　she　asked　him　whether　sea…sickness　affected　the　brain。

On　the　last　day　of　the　voyage　the　breeze　was　from　land；　and　with　the　first　breath　of　it　Frances　found　her　vigor　suddenly　return。　　She　rose　and　dressed　herself。　　George　had　not　been　near　her　that　day。　　〃He　must　be　very　ill；〃　she　thought；　and　hurried　out。　　〃Is　Mr。　Waldeaux　in　his　stateroom？〃　she　asked　the　steward。

〃No；　madam。　　He　is　on　deck。　　All　the　passengers　are　on　deck；〃　the　man　added；　smiling。　　Land　is　in　sight。〃

Land！　　And　George　had　not　come　to　tell　her！　　He　must　be　desperately　ill！

She　groped　up　the　steps；　holding　by　the　brass　rail。　　〃I　will　give　him　a　fine　surprise！〃　she　said　to　herself。　　〃I　can　take　care　of　him；　now。　　To…night　we　shall　be　on　shore　and　this　misery　all　over。　　And　then　the　great　joy　will　begin！〃

She　came　out　on　deck。　　The　sunshine　and　cold　pure　wind　met　her。　　She　looked　along　the　crowded　deck　for　her　invalid。　　Every…body　was　in　holiday　clothes；　every…body　was　smiling　and　talking　at　once。　　Ah！　there　he　was！

He　was　leaning　over　Frances'　steamer　chair；　on　which　a　woman　lay　indolently。　　He　was　in　rude　health；　laughing；　his　face　flushed；　his　eyes　sparkling。

Looking　up；　he　saw　his　mother　and　came　hastily　to　meet　her。　　The　laugh　was　gone。　　〃So　you　came　up？〃　he　said　impatiently。　　〃I　would　have　called　you　in　time。　　I　　Mother！〃　　He　caught　her　by　the　arm。　　〃Wait；　I　must　see　you　alone　for　a　minute。〃　　Urged　by　the　amazed　fright　in　her　face；　he　went　on　desperately；　〃I　have　something　to　tell　you。　　I　intended　to　break　it　to　you。　　I　don't　want　to　hurt　you；　God　knows。　　But　I　have　not　been　idle　in　these　days。　　I　have　found　your　daughter。　　She　is　here。〃

He　led　her　up　to　the　chair。　　The　girl's　head　was　wrapped　in　a　veil　and　turned　from　her。

Mrs。　Waldeaux　held　out　her　hands。　　〃Lucy！　　Lucy　Dunbar！〃　she　heard　herself　say。

〃Mais　non！　　Cest　moi！〃　said　a　shrill　voice；　and　Mlle。　　Arpent；　turning　her　head　lazily；　looked　at　her；　smiling。



CHAPTER　II

Clara　Vance　had　her　faults；　but　nobody　could　deny　that；　in　this　crisis；　she　acted　with　feeling　and　tact。　　She　ignored　mademoiselle　and　her　lover；　whose　bliss　was　in　evidence　on　deck　all　day；　and　took　possession　of　Mrs。　Waldeaux；　caring　for　her　as　tenderly　as　if　she　had　been　some　poor　wretch　sentenced　to　death。　　〃She　has　no　intellect　left　except　her　ideas　about　George；〃　she　told　herself；　〃and　if　he　turns　his　back　on　her　for　life　in　this　way　　She　never　was　too　sane！〃　shaking　her　head　ominously。

She　thought　it　best　to　talk　frankly　of　the　matter　to　little　Lucy　Dunbar；　and　was　relieved　to　find　her　ready　to　joke　and　laugh　at　it。　　〃No　bruise　in　that　tender　heart！〃　thought　Clara；　who　was　anxious　as　a　mother　for　her　girls。

〃We　all　worshipped　Mr。　George；〃　said　Lucy　saucily。　　〃I；　most　of　all。　　He　is　so　cold；　so　exalted　and　ahh；　so　good…looking！　　Like　a　Greek　god。　　But　he　never　gave　a　look　to　poor　little　me！　　The　fraulein　came　on　deck　as　soon　as　we　all　went　down　with　sea…sickness；　and　bewitched　him　with　her　eyes。　　It　must　have　been　her　eyes；　they　are　yellowwitch's　eyes。　　Or　maybe　that　cheap　smell　about　her　is　a　love…philter！　　Or　was　it　just　soul　calling　to　soul？　　I　should　have　said　the　fraulein　had　the　soul　of　a　milliner。　　She　put　great　ideas　into　the　hat　that　she　altered　for　me；〃　Lucy　added；　with　an　unsteady　laugh。

〃I　care　nothing　for　them　or　their　souls；〃　said　Miss　Vance　crossly。　　〃It　is　his　mother　that　I　think　of。〃

〃But　really；〃　said　Lucy；　〃mademoiselle　is　quite　raw　material。　　No　ideasno　manners　whatever。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　may　mould　her　into　something　good　and　fine。〃

〃She　will　not　try。　　She　will　never　accept　that　creature　as　a　daughter。〃

〃She　seems　to　me　to　be　indifferent；〃　said　Lucy。　　〃She　does　not　see　how　terrible　it　is。　　She　was　leaning　over　the　bulwark　just　now；　laughing　at　the　queer　gossoons　selling　their　shillalahs。〃

〃Oh；　she　will　laugh　at　Death　himself　when　he　comes　to　fetch　her；　and　see　something　‘queer'in　him；〃　said　Clara。

But　her　little　confidence　with　Lucy　had　relieved　her。　　The　child　cared　nothing　for　George；　that　was　plain。

Mademoiselle；　watching　Mrs。　Waldeaux　closely　all　day；　was　not　deceived　by　her　laugh。　　〃The　old　lady；　your　mother；〃　she　said　to　George；　〃is　what　you　men　call　‘game。'　　She　has　blood　and　breeding。　　More　than　you；　monsieur。　　That　keeps　her　up。　　I　did　not　count　on　that；〃　said　the　young　woman　thoughtfully。

George　took　off　his　glasses　and　rubbed　them　nervously　as　he　talked。　　〃I　don't　understand　my　mother　at　all！　　She　has　always　been　very　considerate　and　kind。　　I　never　thought　that　she　would　receive　my　wife；　when　I　brought　her　to　her；　with　calm　civility。　　Not　a　kiss　nor　a　blessing！〃

〃A　kiss？　　A　blessing　for　me？〃　　Lisa　laughed　and　nodded　meaningly　to　the　sea　and　world　at　large。　　〃She　could　hardly　have　blessed　a　woman　lolling　full　length　in　her　chair；〃　she　thought。　　〃It　IS　her　　chair。　　And　I　have　unseated　her　for　life　curling　herself　up　in　the　rugs。

Yet　she　had　a　twinge　of　pity　for　the　old　lady。　　Even　the　wild　boar　has　its　affections　and　moments　of　gentleness。　　A　week　ago　Lisa　could　have　trampled　the　life　out　of　this　woman　who　had　slandered　her　dead　mother；　with　the　fury　of　any　wild　beast。　For　she　was　Pauline　Felix's　daughter。　　It　was　her　mother's　name　that　Mrs。　Waldeaux　had　said　could　not　be　spoken　by　any　decent　woman。　　Lisa　had　been　but　a　child；　but　she　had　held　her　mother's　head　close　to　her　stout　little　heart　as　she　lay　dyingthat　awful　mysterious　death　of　which　the　young　man　had　tried　to　make　a　telling　story。　　The　girl　crossed　herself　now　and　closed　her　tired　eyes　as　she　thought　of　it。　　She　had　been　a　wicked　child　and　a　wicked　woman；　but　she　knew　certainly　that　the　Virgin　and　her　Son　had　come　near　to　her　that　day；　and　had　helped　her。

George；　who　was　poring　fondly　on　her　face；　exclaimed：　　〃Your　eyes　are　wet。　　You　are　in　trouble！〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　my　mother；〃　she　said　gently；　holding　out　her　hand　to　him。

He　took　it　and　said　presently；　〃Wi