frances waldeaux-第9章

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ou！〃　　He　caught　her　fiercely　by　the　shoulder。

Lucy　drew　back　and　threw　out　her　hands。　　〃Let　me　have　time　to　think！〃

〃Time？　　You've　had　a　year！〃

〃One　more　day。　　Come　again　this　evening〃

〃This　evening？　　I've　come　so　often！〃　staring　breathlessly　into　her　face。　　〃It　will　be　no　use；　I　can　see　that。　　Well；　as　you　please。　　I'll　come　once　more。〃

The　young　fellow　in　his　jaunty　new　clothes　shook　as　if　he　had　the　ague。　　He　had　touched　her。　　For　one　minute　she　had　been　his！

He　turned　and　walked　quickly　across　the　Platz。

Lucy；　left　alone；　was　full　of　remorse。　　She　looked　down　into　her　heart；　she　had　forgotten　to　do　it　before。　　No；　not　a　spark　for　him　to　blow　into　a　flame；　not　a　single　warm　thought　of　him！

The　girl　was　ashamed　of　herself。　　He　might　be　a　cad；　but　he　was　real；　his　honest　love　possessed　him　body　and　soul。　　It　was　a　matter　of　expediency　to　her；　a　thing　to　debate　with　herself；　to　dally　over；　with　paltry　pros　and　cons。

Miss　Vance　came　hurriedly　up　the　street；　an　open　letter　in　her　hand。　　Lucy　ran　to　meet　her。

〃What　is　it？　　You　have　heard　bad　news？〃

〃I　suppose　we　ought　not　to　call　it　that。　　It　is　from　George　Waldeaux。　　They　have　a　son；　two　months　old。　　He　tells　it　as　a　matter　for　rejoicing。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Lucy　feebly。

〃They　are　at　Vannesin　Brittany。　　He　has　a　cough。　　He　seems　to　know　nobodyto　have　no　friends；　and；　I　suspect；　not　much　money。　　He　is　terribly　depressed。〃　　Clara　folded　the　letter　thoughtfully。　　〃He　asks　me　to　tell　his　mother　that　the　baby　has　come。〃

〃Where　is　his　mother？〃

〃In　Switzerland。〃

〃Why　is　she　not　with　him？〃　demanded　Lucy　angrily。　　〃Wandering　about　gathering　edelweiss；　while　he　is　alone　and　wretched！〃

〃He　has　his　wife。　　You　probably　do　not　understand　the　case　fully；〃　said　Clara　coldly。　　〃I　am　going　to　wire　to　his　mother　now。〃　　She　turned　away　and　Lucy　stood　irresolute；　her　hand　clutching　the　shaggy　head　of　the　stone　beast　beside　her。

〃I　can　give　him　money。　　I'll　go　to　him。　　He　needs　me！〃　she　said　aloud。　　Then　her　whole　body　burned　with　shame。　　SheLucy　Dunbar；　good　proper　Lucy；　whose　conscience　hurt　her　if　she　laid　her　handkerchiefs　away　awry　in　her　drawer；　nursing　a　criminal　passion　for　a　married　man！

She　went　slowly　back　to　the　inn。　　〃He　has　his　wife；〃　she　told　herself。　　〃I　am　nothing　to　him。　　I　doubt　if　he　would　know　me　if　he　met　me　on　the　street。〃　　She　tried　to　go　back　to　her　easy…going　mannerly　little　thoughts；　but　there　was　something　strange　and　fierce　behind　them　that　would　not　down。

Jean　came　presently　to　the　salle。　　〃I　have　had　a　letter　too；〃　she　said。　　〃The　girl　who　writes　came　from　Pond　City。　　She　was　in　the　same　atelier　in　Paris　with　George。　　She　says：　　‘Your　friends　the　Waldeaux　have　come　to　grief　by　a　short　cut。　　They　flung　money　about　for　a　few　months　as　if　they　were　backed　by　the　Barings。　　The　Barings　might　have　given　their　suppers。　　As　for　their　studiothere　was　no　untidier　jumble　of　old　armor　and　brasses　and　Spanish　leather　in　Paris；　and　Mme。　George　posing　in　the　middle　in　soiled　tea…gowns！　　But　the　suppers　suddenly　stopped；　and　the　leather　and　Persian　hangings　went　to　the　Jews。　　I　met　Lisa　one　day　coming　out　of　the　Vendome；　where　she　had　been　trying　to　peddle　a　roll　of　George's　sketches　to　the　rich　Americans。　　I　asked　her　what　was　wrong；　and　she　laughed　and　said；　〃We　were　trying　to　make　thirty　francs　do　the　work　of　thirty　thousand。　　And　we　have　made　up　our　minds　that　we　know　no　more　of　art　than　house　painters。　　We　are　in　a　blind　alley！〃　　Soon　after　that　the　baby　was　born。　　They　went　down　to　Brittany。　　I　hear　that　Lisa；　since　the　child　came；　has　been　ill。　　I　tell　all　this　dreary　stuff　to　you　thinking　that　you　may　pass　it　on　to　their　folks。　　Somebody　ought　to　go　to　their　relief。'〃

〃Relief！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Vance。　　〃And　the　money　that　they　were　flinging　into　the　gutter　was　earned　day　by　day　by　his　old　mother！　　Every　dollar　of　it！　　I　know　that　during　the　last　year　she　has　done　without　proper　clothes　and　food　to　send　their　allowance　to　them。〃　〃You　forget；〃　said　Lucy；　〃that　George　Waldeaux　was　doing　noble　work　in　the　world。　　It　was　a　small　thing　for　his　mother　to　help　him。〃

〃Noble　work？　　His　pictures　or　his　sermons；　Lucy？〃　demanded　Miss　Vance；　with　a　contemptuous　shrug。

Lucy　without　reply　walked　out　to　the　inn　garden　and　seated　herself　in　a　shady　corner。　　There　Mr。　Perry　found　her　just　as　the　first　stroke　of　the　angelus　sounded　on　the　air。　　Her　book　lay　unopened　on　her　lap。

He　walked　slowly　up　to　her　and　stopped；　breathing　hard；　as　if　he　had　been　running。　　〃It　is　evening　now。　　I　have　come　for　my　answer；　Miss　Dunbar；〃　he　said；　forcing　a　smile。

〃Answer？〃　　Lucy　looked　up　bewildered。

〃You　have　forgotten！〃

The　blood　rushed　to　her　face。　　She　held　out　her　hands。　　〃Oh；　forgive　me！　　I　heard　bad　news。　　I　have　been　so　troubled〃

〃You　forgot　that　I　had　asked　you　to　be　my　wife！〃

〃Mr。　　Perry〃

〃No；　don't　say　another　word；　Miss　Dunbar。　　I　have　had　my　answer。　　I　knew　you　didn't　love　me；　but　I　did　not　think　I　was　so　paltry　that　you　would　forget　that　I　had　offered　to　marry　you。〃

Lucy　pressed　her　hands　together；　looking　up　at　him　miserably　without　a　word。　　He　walked　down　the　path　and　leaned　on　the　wall　with　his　back　to　her。　　His　very　back　was　indignant。

Presently　he　turned。　　〃I　will　bid　you　goodby；〃　he　said；　with　an　effort　at　lofty　courtesy；　〃and　I　will　leave　my　adieux　for　your　friends　with　you。〃

〃Are　you　goingback　to　the　States？〃　stammered　Lucy。

〃Yes；　I　am　going　back　to　the　States；〃　he　replied　sternly。　　〃A　man　of　merit　there　has　his　place；　regardless　of　rank。　　Jem　Perry　can　hold　his　head　there　as　high　as　any　beggarly　prince。　　Farewell；　Miss　Dunbar。〃

He　strode　down　the　path　and　disappeared。　　Lucy　shook　her　head　and　cried　from　sheer　wretchedness。　　She　felt　that　she　had　been　beaten　to…day　with　many　stripes。

Suddenly　the　bushes　beside　her　rustled。　　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　　　She　looked　up　and　saw　his　red　honest　eyes。　　〃I　behaved　like　a　brute。　　Good…by；　Lucy！　　I　never　loved　any　woman　but　you；　and　I　never　will。〃

〃Stay；　stay！〃　she　cried。

He　heard　her；　but　he　did　not　come　back。



CHAPTER　VIII

Lucy　was　silent　and　dejected　for　a　day　or　two；　being　filled　with　pity　for　Mr。　Perry's　ruined　life。　　But　when　she　saw　his　name　in　a　list　of　outgoing　passengers　on　the　Paris　her　heart　gave　a　bound　of　relief。　　Nothing　more　could　now　be　done。　　That　chapter　was　closed。　　There　had　been　no　other　chapter　of　moment　in　her　life；　she　told　herself　sternly。　　Now；　all　the　clouds　had　cleared　away。　　It　was　a　new　day。　　She　would　begin　again。

So　she　put　on　new　clothes；　none　of　which　she　had　ever　worn　before；　and　tied　back　her　curly　hair　with　a　fresh　white　ribbon；　and　came　down　to　breakfast　singing　gayly。

Miss　Vance　gave　her　her　roll　and　milk　in　silence；　and　frowning　importantly；　drew　out　a　letter。

〃Lucy；　I　have　just　received　a　communication　from　Prince　Wolfburgh。　　He　is　in　Bozen。〃

〃Here！〃　Lucy　started　up；　glancing　around　like　a　chased　hare。

Then　she　sat　down　again　and　waited。　　There　was　no　other　chapter；　and　the　book　was　so　blank！

〃His　coming　is　very　opportune；〃　she　said　presently；　gently。

〃Oh！　do　YOU　think　so；　my　dear？　　Really！　　Well；　I　always　have　liked　the　young　man。　　So　simple。　　So　secure　of　his　social　position。　　The　Wolfburghs；　I　find；　go　back　to　the　eleventh　century。　　Mr。　Perry　had　noble　traits；　but　one　never　felt　quite　safe　as　to　his　nails　or　his　grammar。〃

〃But　the　princethe　prince？〃　cried　Jean。

〃Oh；　yes。　　Well；　he　writesmost　deferentially。　　He　begs　for　the　honor　of　an　interview　with　me　this　afternoon　upon　a　subject　of　the　most　vital　importance。　　He　says；　‘regarding　you；　as　I　do；　in　loco　parentis　to　the　hochgeboren　Fraulein　Dunbar。'〃　〃Hochgeboren！〃　said　Lucy。　　〃My　grandfather　was　a　saddler。　　Tell　him　so；　Miss　Vance。　　Tell　him　the　exact　facts。　　I　want　no　disclosures　after〃

〃After　marriage？〃　said　Jean；　rising　suddenly。　　〃Then　you　have　decided？〃

〃I　have　not　said　that　I　had　decided；〃　replied　Lucy　calmly。

Jean　laughed。　　〃He　will　not　be　scared　by　the　saddler。　　Europeans　of　his　order　take　no　account　of　our　American　class　distinctions。　　They　look　upon　us　as　low…born　parvenues；　all　alike。　　They　weigh　and　value　us　by　other　standards　than　birth。〃

〃I　have　money；　if　you　mean　that；　Jean；〃　said　Lucy　cheerfully。

〃I　think　you　had　better　go　away；　girls；　if　you　have　finished　your　dejeuner。　　He　may　be　here　at　any　moment　now；〃　said　Clara；　looking　anxiously　at　her　watch。

Lucy　went　to　her　little　chamber　and　sat　down　to　work　at　a　monstrous　caricature　which　she　was　painting　of　the　church。　　Jean　paced　up　and　down　the　stone　corridor；　looking　out　of　the　window　into　the　Platz。

〃He　has　come；〃　she　said　excitedly；　appearing　at　Lucy's　door。　　〃He　went　into　the　church　first；　to　say　an　ave　for　help；　poor　little　man！　　His　fat　face　is　quite　pale　and　stern。　　It　is　a　matter　of　life　and　death　to　him。　　And　it's　no　more　to　you　than　the　choosing　of　a　new　coat。〃

Lucy　smiled　and　sketched　in　a　priest　on　the　church　steps。　　Her　hand　shook；　but　Jean　could　not　see　that。　　She　went　to　the　window　again　with　something　like　an　inward　oath　at　the　dolts　of　commonplace　women　who　had　all　the　best　chances；　but　was　back　in　a　moment；　laughing　nervously。

〃Do　you　know　he　has　on　that　old　brown　suit？〃　　She　leaned　against　the　jamb　of　the　door。　　〃If　I　were　a　prince；　and　came　a…wooing；　I　would　have　troops　of　my　Jagers；　and　trumpets　and　banners　with　the　arms　of　my　House；　and　I'd　wear　all　my　decorations。　　Of　course　we　Americans　are　bound　to　say　that　rank　and　royalty　are　dead　things。　　But　if　I　had　them；　I'd　galvanize　the　corpses！　　If　they　are　useful　as　shows；　I'd　make　the　show　worth　seeing。　　I'd　cover　myself　with　jewels　like　the　old　Romanoffs。　　You　would　never　see　Queen　Jean　in　a　slouchy　alpaca　and　pork…pie　hat　like　Victoria。〃　　While　her　tongue　chattered；　her　eyes　watched　Lucy　keenly。　　〃You　don't　hear　me！　　You　are　deciding　what　to　do。　　Why　on　earth　should　you　hesitate？　　He　is　a　gentlemanhe　loves　you！〃　and　then　to　Lucy's　relief　she　suddenly　threw　on　her　hat　and　rushed　off　for　a　walk。

Miss　Dunbar　painted　the　priest's　robe　yellow；　in　her　agitation。　　But　the　agitation　was　not　deep。　　There　really　seemed　no　reason　why　she　should　hesitate。　　He　would　be　kind；　he　was　well…bred　and　agreeable。　　A　princess？　　She　had　a　vague　idea　of　a　glorified　region　of　ancestral　castles　and　palaces　in　which　dukes　and　royalties　dwelt　apart　and　discoursed　of　high　matters。　　She　would　be　one　of　them。

The　other　day　there　seemed　to　be　no　reason　why　she　should　not　marry　Mr。　Perry。　　In　marriage　then　one　must　only　consider　the　suitability　of　the　man？　　There　was　nothing　else　to　consider


With　a　queer；　hunted　look　in　her　soft　eyes　she　worked　on；　daubing　on　paint　liberally。

Meanwhile；　in　the　little　salle　below；　Miss　Vance　sat　stiffly　erect；　while　the　prince　talked　in　his　shrill　falsetto。　　Although　he　set　forth　his　affection　for　the　engelreine　Madchen　as　simply　as　the　little　German　baker　in　Weir　（whom　he　certainly　did　resemble）　might　have　done；　she　could　find；　in　her　agitation；　no　fitting　words　in　which　to　answer　him。　　That　she；　Clara　Vance；　should　be　the　arbiter　in　a　princely　alliance！　　At　last　she　managed　to　ask　whether　Miss　Dunbar　had　given　him　any　encouragement　on　which　to　found　his　claim。

〃Ah；　Fraulein　Vance！〃　he　cried；　laughing。　　〃The　hare　does　not　call　to　the　hounds！　　But　I　hav