la mere bauche-第6部分

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in　about　half　an　hour　she　followed　him；　and　unobserved　crept　to　her
chamber。

Again　we　will　pass　over　what　took　place　between　the　mother　and　the
son；　but　late　in　that　evening；　after　the　guests　had　gone　to　bed；
Marie　received　a　message；　desiring　her　to　wait　on　Madame　Bauche　in　a
small　salon　which　looked　out　from　one　end　of　the　house。　　It　was
intended　as　a　private　sitting…room　should　any　special　stranger　arrive
who　required　such　accommodation；　and　therefore　was　but　seldom　used。
Here　she　found　La　Mere　Bauche　sitting　in　an　arm…chair　behind　a　small
table　on　which　stood　two　candles；　and　on　a　sofa　against　the　wall　sat
Adolphe。　　The　capitaine　was　not　in　the　room。

〃Shut　the　door；　Marie；　and　come　in　and　sit　down；〃　said　Madame　Bauche。
It　was　easy　to　understand　from　the　tone　of　her　voice　that　she　was
angry　and　stern；　in　an　unbending　mood；　and　resolved　to　carry　out　to
the　very　letter　all　the　threats　conveyed　by　those　terrible
spectacles。

Marie　did　as　she　was　bid。　　She　closed　the　door　and　sat　down　on　the
chair　that　was　nearest　to　her。

〃Marie；〃　said　La　Mere　Baucheand　the　voice　sounded　fierce　in　the
poor　girl's　ears；　and　an　angry　fire　glimmered　through　the　green
glasses〃what　is　all　this　about　that　I　hear？　　Do　you　dare　to　say
that　you　hold　my　son　bound　to　marry　you？〃　　And　then　the　august　mother
paused　for　an　answer。

But　Marie　had　no　answer　to　give。　　See　looked　suppliantly　towards　her
lover；　as　though　beseeching　him　to　carry　on　the　fight　for　her。　　But
if　she　could　not　do　battle　for　herself；　certainly　he　could　not　do　it
for　her。　　What　little　amount　of　fighting　he　had　had　in　him；　had　been
thoroughly　vanquished　before　her　arrival。

〃I　will　have　an　answer；　and　that　immediately；〃　said　Madame　Bauche。
〃I　am　not　going　to　be　betrayed　into　ignominy　and　disgrace　by　the
object　of　my　own　charity。　　Who　picked　you　out　of　the　gutter；　miss；
and　brought　you　up　and　fed　you；　when　you　would　otherwise　have　gone　to
the　foundling？　　And　this　is　your　gratitude　for　it　all？　　You　are　not
satisfied　with　being　fed　and　clothed　and　cherished　by　me；　but　you
must　rob　me　of　my　son！　　Know　this　then；　Adolphe　shall　never　marry　a
child　of　charity　such　as　you　are。〃

Marie　sat　still；　stunned　by　the　harshness　of　these　words。　　La　Mere
Bauche　had　often　scolded　her；　indeed；　she　was　given　to　much　scolding；
but　she　had　scolded　her　as　a　mother　may　scold　a　child。　　And　when　this
story　of　Marie's　love　first　reached　her　ears；　she　had　been　very
angry；　but　her　anger　had　never　brought　her　to　such　a　pass　as　this。
Indeed；　Marie　had　not　hitherto　been　taught　to　look　at　the　matter　in
this　light。　　No　one　had　heretofore　twitted　her　with　eating　the　bread
of　charity。　　It　had　not　occurred　to　her　that　on　this　account　she　was
unfit　to　be　Adolphe's　wife。　　There；　in　that　valley；　they　were　all　so
nearly　equal；　that　no　idea　of　her　own　inferiority　had　ever　pressed
itself　upon　her　mind。　　But　now！

When　the　voice　ceased　she　again　looked　at　him；　but　it　was　no　longer　a
beseeching　look。　　Did　he　also　altogether　scorn　her？　　That　was　now　the
inquiry　which　her　eyes　were　called　upon　to　make。　　No；　she　could　not
say　that　he　did。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　his　energies　were　chiefly
occupied　in　pulling　to　pieces　the　tassel　on　the　sofa　cushion。

〃And　now；　miss；　let　me　know　at　once　whether　this　nonsense　is　to　be
over　or　not；〃　continued　La　Mere　Bauche；　〃and　I　will　tell　you　at　once；
I　am　not　going　to　maintain　you　here；　in　my　house；　to　plot　against　our
welfare　and　happiness。　　As　Marie　Clavert　you　shall　not　stay　here。
Capitaine　Campan　is　willing　to　marry　you；　and　as　his　wife　I　will　keep
my　word　to　you；　though　you　little　deserve　it。　　If　you　refuse　to　marry
him；　you　must　go。　　As　to　my　son；　he　is　there；　and　he　will　tell　you
now；　in　my　presence；　that　he　altogether　declines　the　honour　you
propose　for　him。〃

And　then　she　ceased；　waiting　for　an　answer；　drumming　the　table　with　a
wafer　stamp　which　happened　to　be　ready　to　her　hand；　but　Marie　said
nothing。　　Adolphe　had　been　appealed　to；　but　Adolphe　had　not　yet
spoken。

〃Well；　miss？〃　said　La　Mere　Bauche

Then　Marie　rose　from　her　seat；　and　walking　round　she　touched　Adolphe
lightly　on　the　shoulder。　　〃Adolphe；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　for　you　to
speak　now。　　I　will　do　as　you　bid　me。〃

He　gave　a　long　sigh；　looked　first　at　Marie　and　then　at　his　mother；
shook　himself　slightly；　and　then　spoke：　　〃Upon　my　word；　Marie；　I
think　mother　is　right。　　It　would　never　do　for　us　to　marry；　it　would
not　indeed。〃

〃Then　it　is　decided；〃　said　Marie；　returning　to　her　chair。

〃And　you　will　marry　the　capitaine？〃　said　La　Mere　Bauche。

Marie　merely　bowed　her　head　in　token　of　acquiescence。　　〃Then　we　are
friends　again。　　Come　here；　Marie；　and　kiss　me。　　You　must　know　that　it
is　my　duty　to　take　care　of　my　own　son。　　But　I　don't　want　to　be　angry
with　you　if　I　can　help　it；　I　don't　indeed。　　When　once　you　are　Madame
Campan；　you　shall　be　my　own　child；　and　you　shall　have　any　room　in　the
house　you　like　to　choosethere！〃　　And　she　once　more　imprinted　a　kiss
on　Marie's　cold　forehead。

How　they　all　got　out　of　the　room；　and　off　to　their　own　chambers；　I
can　hardly　tell。　　But　in　five　minutes　from　the　time　of　this　last　kiss
they　were　divided。　　La　Mere　Bauche　had　patted　Marie；　and　smiled　on
her；　and　called　her　her　dear　good　little　Madame　Campan；　her　young
little　Mistress　of　the　Hotel　Bauche；　and　had　then　got　herself　into
her　own　room；　satisfied　with　her　own　victory。

Nor　must　my　readers　be　too　severe　on　Madame　Bauche。　　She　had　already
done　much　for　Marie　Clavert；　and　when　she　found　herself　once　more　by
her　own　bedside；　she　prayed　to　be　forgiven　for　the　cruelty　which　she
felt　that　she　had　shown　to　the　orphan。　　But　in　making　this　prayer；
with　her　favourite　crucifix　in　her　hand　and　the　little　image　of　the
Virgin　before　her；　she　pleaded　her　duty　to　her　son。　　Was　it　not
right；　she　asked　the　Virgin；　that　she　should　save　her　son　from　a　bad
marriage？　　And　then　she　promised　ever　so　much　of　recompense；　both　to
the　Virgin　and　to　Marie；　a　new　trousseau　for　each；　with　candles　to
the　Virgin；　with　a　gold　watch　and　chain　for　Marie；　as　soon　as　she
should　be　Marie　Campan。　　She　had　been　cruel；　she　acknowledged　it。
But　at　such　a　crisis　was　it　not　defensible？　　And　then　the　recompense
should　be　so　full！

But　there　was　one　other　meeting　that　night；　very　short　indeed；　but
not　the　less　significant。　　Not　long　after　they　had　all　separated；
just　so　long　as　to　allow　of　the　house　being　quiet；　Adolphe；　still
sitting　in　his　room；　meditating　on　what　the　day　had　done　for　him；
heard　a　low　tap　at　his　door。　　〃Come　in；〃　he　said；　as　men　always　do
say；　and　Marie　opening　the　door；　stood　just　within　the　verge　of　his
chamber。　　She　had　on　her　countenance　neither　the　soft　look　of
entreating　love　which　she　had　worn　up　there　in　the　grotto；　nor　did
she　appear　crushed　and　subdued　as　she　had　done　before　his　mother。
She　carried　her　head　somewhat　more　erect　than　usual；　and　looked
boldly　out　at　him　from　under　her　soft　eyelashes。　　There　might　still
be　love　there；　but　it　was　love　proudly　resolving　to　quell　itself。
Adolphe；　as　he　looked　at　her；　felt　that　he　was　afraid　of　her。

〃It　is　all　over　then　between　us；　M。　Adolphe？〃　she　said。

〃Well；　yes。　　Don't　you　think　it　had　better　be　so；　eh；　Marie？〃

〃And　this　is　the　meaning　of　oaths　and　vows；　sworn　to　each　other　so
sacredly？〃

〃But；　Marie；　you　heard　what　my　mother　said。〃

〃Oh；　sir！　　I　have　not　come　to　ask　you　again　to　love　me。　　Oh　no！　　I　am
not　thinking　of　that。　　But　this；　this　would　be　a　lie　if　I　kept　it
now；　it　would　choke　me　if　I　wore　it　as　that　man's　wife。　　Take　it
back；〃　and　she　tendered　to　him　the　little　charm　which　she　had　always
worn　round　her　neck　since　he　had　given　it　to　her。　　He　took　it
abstractedly；　without　thinking　what　he　did；　and　placed　it　on　his
dressing…table。

〃And　you；〃　she　continued；　〃can　you　still　keep　that　cross？　　Oh；　no！
you　must　give　me　back　that。　　It　would　remind　you　too　often　of　vows
that　were　untrue。〃

〃Marie；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　be　so　harsh　to　me。〃

〃Harsh！〃　said　she；　〃no；　there　has　been　enough　of　harshness。　　I　would
not　be　harsh　to　you；　Adolphe。　　But　give　me　the　cross；　it　would　prove
a　curse　to　you　if　you　kept　it。〃

He　then　opened　a　little　box　which　stood　upon　the　table；　and　taking
out　the　cross　gave　it　to　her。

〃And　now　good…bye；〃　she　said。　　〃We　shall　have　but　little　more　to　say
to　each　other。　　I　know　this　now；　that　I　was　wrong　ever　to　have　loved
you。　　I　should　have　been　to　you　as　one　of　the　other　poor　girls　in　the
house。　　But；　oh！　how　was　I　to　help　it？〃　　To　this　he　made　no　answer；
and　she；　closing　the　door　softly；　went　back　to　her　chamber。　　And　thus
ended　the　first　day　of　Adolphe　Bauche's　return　to　his　own　house。

On　the　next　morning　the　capitaine　and　Marie　were　formally　betrothed。
This　was　done　with　some　little　ceremony；　in　the　presence　of　all　the
guests　who　were　staying　at　the　establishment；　and　with　all　manner　of
gracious　acknowledgments　of　Marie's　virtues。　　It　seemed　as　though　La
Mere　Bauche　could　not　be　courteous　enough　to　her。　　There　was　no　more
talk　of　her　being　a　child　of　charity；　no　more　allusion　now　to　the
gutter。　　La　Mere　Bauche　with　her　own　hand　brought　her　cake　with　a
glass　of　wine　after　her　betrothal　was　over；　and　patted　her　on　the
cheek；　and　called　her　her　dear　little　Marie　Campan。　　And　then　the
capitaine　was　made　up　of　infinite　politeness；　and　the　guests　all
wished　her　joy；　and　the　servants　of　the　house　began　to　perceive　that
she　was　a　person　entitled　to　respect。　　How　different　was　all　this
from　that　harsh　attack　that　was　made　on　her　the　preceding　evening！
Only　Adolphe；he　alone　kept　aloof。　　Though　he　was　present　there　he
said　nothing。　　He；　and　he　only；　offered　no　congratulations。

In　the　midst　of　all　these　gala　doings　Marie　herself　said　little　or
nothing。　　La　Mere　Bauche　perceived　this；　but　she　forgave　it。　　Angrily
as　she　had　expressed　herself　at　the　idea　of　Marie's　daring　to　love
her　son；　she　had　still　acknowledged　within　her　own　heart　that　such
love　had　been　natural。　　She　could　feel　no　pity　for　Marie　as　long　as
Adolphe　was　in　danger；　but　now　she　knew　how　to　pity　her。　　So　Marie
was　still　petted　and　still　encouraged；　though　she　went　through　the
day's　work　sullenly　and　in　silence。

As　to　the　capitaine　it　was　all　one　to　him。　　He　was　a　man　of　the
w