Part 29 (1/2)

”She loves Monsieur d'Argy.”

”Well, if that is so, we are all right. The great misfortune with many of these poor girls is that they have never learned to love anything; they know nothing but agitations, excitements, curiosities, and fancies.

All that sort of thing runs through their heads.”

”You are speaking of a Jacqueline before the duel. I can a.s.sure you that ever since yesterday, if not before, she has loved Monsieur d'Argy, who on his part for a long time--a very long time--has been in love with her.”

Giselle spoke eagerly, as if she forced herself to say the words that cost her pain. Her cheeks were flushed under her veil. The Abbe, who was keen-sighted, observed these signs.

”But,” continued Giselle, ”if he is forced to forget her he may try to expend elsewhere the affection he feels for her; he may trouble the peace of others, while deceiving himself. He might make in the world one of those attachments--Do not fail to represent all these dangers to Madame d'Argy when you plead the cause of Jacqueline.”

”Humph! You are evidently much attached, Madame, to Mademoiselle de Nailles.”

”Very much, indeed,” she answered, bravely, ”very much attached to her, and still more to him; therefore you understand that this marriage must--absolutely must take place.”

She had risen and was folding her cloak round her, looking straight into the Abbe's eyes. Small as she was, their height was almost the same; she wanted him to understand thoroughly why this marriage must take place.

He bowed. Up to that time he had not been quite sure that he had not to do with one of those wolves dressed in fleece whose appearance is as misleading as that of sheep disguised as wolves: now his opinion was settled.

”Mon Dieu! Madame,” he said, ”your reasons seem to me excellent--a duel to be prevented, a son to be kept by the side of his sick mother, two young people who love each other to be married, the saving, possibly, of two souls--”

”Say three souls, Monsieur l'Abbe!”

He did not ask whose was the third, nor even why she had insisted that this delicate commission must be executed that same day. He only bowed when she said again: ”At four o'clock: Madame d'Argy will be prepared to see you. Thank you, Monsieur l'Abbe.” And then, as she descended the staircase, he bestowed upon her silently his most earnest benediction, before returning to the cold cutlet that was on his breakfast table.

Giselle did not breakfast much better than he. In truth, M. de Talbrun being absent, she sat looking at her son, who was eating with a good appet.i.te, while she drank only a cup of tea; after which, she dressed herself, with more than usual care, hiding by rice-powder the trace of recent tears on her complexion, and arranging her fair hair in the way that was most becoming to her, under a charming little bonnet covered with gold net-work which corresponded with the embroidery on an entirely new costume.

When she went into the dining-room Enguerrand, who was there with his nurse finis.h.i.+ng his dessert, cried out: ”Oh! mamma, how pretty you are!”

which went to her heart. She kissed him two or three times--one kiss after another.

”I try to be pretty for your sake, my darling.”

”Will you take me with you?”

”No, but I will come back for you, and take you out.”

She walked a few steps, and then turned to give him such a kiss as astonished him, for he said:

”Is it really going to be long?”

”What?”

”Before you come back? You kiss me as if you were going for a long time, far away.”

”I kissed you to give myself courage.”

Enguerrand, who, when he had a hard lesson to learn, always did the same thing, appeared to understand her.

”You are going to do some thing you don't like.”