Part 72 (1/2)

Frederic had not the courage to reply, or even to look at Constance. But his eye fell upon his son, and he took him in his arms and covered him with kisses; thereupon Constance's heart received a terrible shock, for the whole truth was laid bare before her.

Dubourg appeared upon the scene, followed by Menard; at sight of Frederic, he divined all that had happened, and he instantly ran to the a.s.sistance of Sister Anne, crying:

”Fainted again! an attack of madness, I'll wager! I told you before, this poor creature has times when she loses her reason.”

Constance made no reply; she left Sister Anne to the ministrations of Dubourg and Menard, and returned to her husband, who still held the child in his arms.

”He is lovely--is he not?” she asked, in a trembling voice, with her eyes still fastened on Frederic. He did not speak, whereupon Constance roughly s.n.a.t.c.hed the child from his arms; but soon, repenting of that impulsive movement, which she could not control, she covered the child with kisses, crying in a heart-broken tone:

”Poor child! you are not guilty!”

Dubourg and Menard carried Sister Anne away to the pavilion, leaving Frederic and Constance with the child. Frederic's eyes were fixed on the floor, as if he were afraid to meet those of Constance, who had seated herself a few steps away and had taken little Frederic on her knees. She tried to restrain her tears, but she had not the courage to speak. For some minutes neither of them broke the silence. At last, Frederic raised his eyes and saw his wife caressing Sister Anne's son. At that sight he was on the point of throwing himself at her feet and confessing all, when Dubourg rushed into the room.

”It's all right! I don't think it will amount to anything,” he said, motioning to Frederic not to betray himself. ”That young woman is subject to attacks of insanity; then she thinks that she sees her lover everywhere. I have already advised madame more than once not to keep her in the house.”

”Really,” faltered Frederic, trying to recover his self-possession, ”I am utterly unable to understand what has happened. I was so agitated by that poor creature's condition--that I didn't realize what I was doing.”

Constance said nothing; she simply looked from her husband to Dubourg.

”I'll take her son to her,” said the latter, walking toward Constance to take the child.

”Let him stay,” said Constance; ”Frederic will do that.”

Frederic was thrown into confusion again; he could not support his wife's glance. In vain did Dubourg whisper:

”Come, come, morbleu! have your wits about you. Remember that, for her own happiness, you must deceive her.”

At that moment Menard appeared, in a comical state of dismay.

”She has recovered her senses,” he said to Dubourg, in an undertone; ”but it's impossible to make her stay quietly in her room! She's a perfect devil! She insists on seeing him. She's running about the garden like a madwoman.”

”Why did you leave her?”

And Dubourg hurried from the room.

”What is the matter?” said Constance; ”is she worse?”

”No, madame,” replied Menard, who had no idea what he ought to say or do; ”but, I'm afraid--her head--these women--love--_quid femina possit_.”

”I will go and look after her,” said Constance; ”I will take her her son, and perhaps, when she sees him---- Aren't you coming with me, Frederic; won't you add your efforts to mine to pacify the poor, unhappy creature?”

Frederic hesitated; he did not know what it was best for him to do. He longed to see Sister Anne, whose terrible plight had torn his heart; but he was afraid of betraying himself when he saw her. At that moment, they heard cries in the garden; they looked out and saw Sister Anne running hither and thither, pursued by the servants and Dubourg. The former, when they saw how intensely excited she was, rus.h.i.+ng in all directions, with her hair flying in the wind, had no doubt that she had lost her reason; and Dubourg confirmed them in that idea, which might prevent their guessing the truth.

But Sister Anne spied Frederic at one of the windows on the ground floor; instantly she rushed in that direction, entered the room, and, in the twinkling of an eye, threw herself into Frederic's arms, pus.h.i.+ng away Constance, who stood beside him, and looking at her with a jealous and at the same time anxious expression, as if to say:

”I alone have the right to be here.”

The servants halted in the doorway and gazed at the picture before them.

Constance felt a terrible sinking at the heart when she saw Sister Anne in her husband's arms; but she retained sufficient strength to walk toward the servants and say in a trembling voice:

”Go, my friends; this unhappy woman is not in her right mind, but we shall be able to pacify her.”