第6章
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  \"YoucannottellmewhetherwithinaweekorsoabooksellerfromMilanhascomewithhiswife——namedLamporani,oneoftheleadersofthelastrevolution?\"

  \"IcouldeasilyfindoutbygoingtotheForeigners\'Club,\"saidthejeweler。

  Rodolphe\'sfirstwalkwasverynaturallytotheVillaDiodati,theresidenceofLordByron,whoserecentdeathaddedtoitsattractiveness:forisnotdeaththeconsecrationofgenius?

  TheroadtoEaux-Vivesfollowstheshoreofthelake,and,likealltheroadsinSwitzerland,isverynarrow;insomespots,inconsequenceoftheconfigurationofthehillyground,thereisscarcelyspacefortwocarriagestopasseachother。

  AtafewyardsfromtheJeanrenauds\'house,whichhewasapproachingwithoutknowingit,Rodolpheheardthesoundofacarriagebehindhim,and,findinghimselfinasunkroad,heclimbedtothetopofarocktoleavetheroadfree。Ofcoursehelookedattheapproachingcarriage——anelegantEnglishphaeton,withasplendidpairofEnglishhorses。HefeltquitedizzyashebeheldinthiscarriageFrancesca,beautifullydressed,bythesideofanoldladyashardasacameo。A

  servantblazingwithgoldlacestoodbehind。FrancescarecognizedRodolphe,andsmiledatseeinghimlikeastatueonapedestal。Thecarriage,whichtheloverfollowedwithhiseyesasheclimbedthehill,turnedinatthegateofacountryhouse,towardswhichheran。

  \"Wholiveshere?\"heaskedthegardener。

  \"PrinceandPrincessColonna,andPrinceandPrincessGandolphini。\"

  \"Havetheynotjustdrivenin?\"

  \"Yes,sir。\"

  InthatinstantaveilfellfromRodolphe\'seyes;hesawclearlythemeaningofthepast。

  \"Ifonlythisisherlastpieceoftrickery!\"thoughtthethunder-

  strucklovertohimself。

  Hetrembledlestheshouldhavebeentheplaythingofawhim,forhehadheardwhata/capriccio/mightmeaninanItalian。Butwhatacrimehadhecommittedintheeyesofawoman——inacceptingabornprincessasacitizen\'swife!inbelievingthatadaughterofoneofthemostillustrioushousesoftheMiddleAgeswasthewifeofabookseller!TheconsciousnessofhisblundersincreasedRodolphe\'sdesiretoknowwhetherhewouldbeignoredandrepelled。HeaskedforPrinceGandolphini,sendinginhiscard,andwasimmediatelyreceivedbythefalseLamparini,whocameforwardtomeethim,welcomedhimwiththebestpossiblegrace,andtookhimtowalkonaterracewhencetherewasaviewofGeneva,theJura,thehillscoveredwithvillas,andbelowthemawideexpanseofthelake。

  \"Mywifeisfaithfultothelakes,yousee,\"heremarked,afterpointingoutthedetailstohisvisitor。\"Wehaveasortofconcertthisevening,\"headded,astheyreturnedtothesplendidVillaJeanrenaud。\"IhopeyouwilldomeandthePrincessthepleasureofseeingyou。Twomonthsofpovertyenduredinintimacyareequaltoyearsoffriendship。\"

  Thoughhewasconsumedbycuriosity,RodolphedarednotasktoseethePrincess;heslowlymadehiswaybacktoEaux-Vives,lookingforwardtotheevening。Inafewhourshispassion,greatasithadalreadybeen,wasaugmentedbyhisanxietyandbysuspenseastofutureevents。Henowunderstoodthenecessityformakinghimselffamous,thathemightsomedayfindhimself,sociallyspeaking,onalevelwithhisidol。InhiseyesFrancescawasmadereallygreatbythesimplicityandeaseofherconductatGersau。PrincessColonna\'shaughtiness,soevidentlynaturaltoher,alarmedRodolphe,whowouldfindenemiesinFrancesca\'sfatherandmother——atleastsohemightexpect;andthesecrecywhichPrincessGandolphinihadsostrictlyenjoinedonhimnowstruckhimasawonderfulproofofaffection。Bynotchoosingtocompromisethefuture,hadshenotconfessedthatshelovedhim?

  Atlastnineo\'clockstruck;Rodolphecouldgetintoacarriageandsaywithanemotionthatisveryintelligible,\"TotheVillaJeanrenaud——toPrinceGandolphini\'s。\"

  AtlasthesawFrancesca,butwithoutbeingseenbyher。ThePrincesswasstandingquitenearthepiano。Herbeautifulhair,sothickandlong,wasboundwithagoldenfillet。Herface,inthelightofwaxcandles,hadthebrilliantpallorpeculiartoItalians,andwhichlooksitsbestonlybyartificiallight。Shewasinfulleveningdress,showingherfascinatingshoulders,thefigureofagirlandthearmsofanantiquestatue。Hersublimebeautywasbeyondallpossiblerivalry,thoughthereweresomecharmingwomenofGeneva,andotherItalians,amongthemthedazzlingandillustriousPrincessVarese,andthefamoussingerTinti,whowasatthatmomentsinging。

  Rodolphe,leaningagainstthedoor-post,lookedatthePrincess,turningonherthefixed,tenacious,attractinggaze,chargedwiththefull,insistentwillwhichisconcentratedinthefeelingcalleddesire,andthusassumesthenatureofavehementcommand。DidtheflameofthatgazereachFrancesca?WasFrancescaexpectingeachinstanttoseeRodolphe?Inafewminutesshestoleaglanceatthedoor,asthoughmagnetizedbythiscurrentoflove,andhereyes,withoutreserve,lookeddeepintoRodolphe\'s。Aslightthrillquiveredthroughthatsuperbfaceandbeautifulbody;theshocktoherspiritreacted:Francescablushed!Rodolphefeltawholelifeinthisexchangeoflooks,soswiftthatitcanonlybecomparedtoalightningflash。Buttowhatcouldhishappinesscompare?Hewasloved。TheloftyPrincess,inthemidstofherworld,inthishandsomevilla,keptthepledgegivenbythedisguisedexile,thecapriciousbeautyofBergmanns\'lodgings。Theintoxicationofsuchamomentenslavesamanforlife!Afaintsmile,refinedandsubtle,candidandtriumphant,curledPrincessGandolphini\'slips,andatamomentwhenshedidnotfeelherselfobservedshelookedatRodolphewithanexpressionwhichseemedtoaskhispardonforhavingdeceivedhimastoherrank。

  WhenthesongwasendedRodolphecouldmakehiswaytothePrince,whograciouslyledhimtohiswife。RodolphewentthroughtheceremonialofaformalintroductiontoPrincessandPrinceColonna,andtoFrancesca。Whenthiswasover,thePrincesshadtotakepartinthefamousquartette,/Mimancalavoce/,whichwassungbyherwithTinti,withthefamoustenorGenovese,andwithawell-knownItalianPrincetheninexile,whosevoice,ifhehadnotbeenaPrince,wouldhavemadehimoneofthePrincesofArt。

  \"Takethatseat,\"saidFrancescatoRodolphe,pointingtoherownchair。\"/Oime/!Ithinkthereissomemistakeinmyname;IhaveforthelastminutebeenPrincessRodolphini。\"

  Itwassaidwiththeartlessgracewhichrevived,inthisavowalhiddenbeneathajest,thehappydaysatGersau。Rodolphereveledintheexquisitesensationoflisteningtothevoiceofthewomanheadored,whilesittingsoclosetoherthatonecheekwasalmosttouchedbythestuffofherdressandthegauzeofherscarf。Butwhen,atsuchamoment,/Mimancalavoce/isbeingsung,andbythefinestvoicesinItaly,itiseasytounderstandwhatitwasthatbroughtthetearstoRodolphe\'seyes。

  Inlove,asperhapsinallelse,therearecertaincircumstances,trivialinthemselves,buttheoutcomeofathousandlittlepreviousincidents,ofwhichtheimportanceisimmense,asanepitomeofthepastandasalinkwiththefuture。Ahundredtimesalreadywehavefeltthepreciousnessoftheonewelove;butatrifle——theperfecttouchoftwosoulsunitedduringawalkperhapsbyasingleword,bysomeunlooked-forproofofaffection,willcarrythefeelingtoitssupremestpitch。Inshort,toexpressthistruthbyanimagewhichhasbeenpre-eminentlysuccessfulfromtheearliestagesoftheworld,thereareinalongchainpointsofattachmentneededwherethecohesionisstrongerthanintheintermediateloopsofrings。ThisrecognitionbetweenRodolpheandFrancesca,atthisparty,inthefaceoftheworld,wasoneofthoseintensemomentswhichjointhefuturetothepast,andrivetarealattachmentmoredeeplyintheheart。ItwasperhapsoftheseincidentalrivetsthatBossuetspokewhenhecomparedtothemtherarityofhappymomentsinourlives——hewhohadsuchalivingandsecretexperienceoflove。

  Nexttothepleasureofadmiringthewomanwelove,comesthatofseeingheradmiredbyeveryoneelse。Rodolphewasenjoyingbothatonce。Loveisatreasuryofmemories,andthoughRodolphe\'swasalreadyfull,headdedtoitpearlsofgreatprice;smilesshedasideforhimalone,stolenglances,tonesinhersingingwhichFrancescaaddressedtohimalone,butwhichmadeTintipalewithjealousy,theyweresomuchapplauded。Allhisstrengthofdesire,thespecialexpressionofhissoul,wasthrownoverthebeautifulRoman,whobecameunchangeablythebeginningandtheendofallhisthoughtsandactions。Rodolphelovedaseverywomanmaydreamofbeingloved,withaforce,aconstancy,atenacity,whichmadeFrancescatheverysubstanceofhisheart;hefeltherminglingwithhisbloodaspurerblood,withhissoulasamoreperfectsoul;shewouldhenceforthunderlietheleasteffortsofhislifeasthegoldensandoftheMediterraneanliesbeneaththewaves。Inshort,Rodolphe\'slightestaspirationwasnowalivinghope。

  Attheendofafewdays,Francescaunderstoodthisboundlesslove;

  butitwassonatural,andsoperfectlysharedbyher,thatitdidnotsurpriseher。Shewasworthyofit。

  \"Whatistherethatisstrange?\"saidshetoRodolphe,astheywalkedonthegardenterrace,whenhehadbeenbetrayedintooneofthoseoutburstsofconceitwhichcomesonaturallytoFrenchmenintheexpressionoftheirfeelings——\"whatisextraordinaryinthefactofyourlovingayoungandbeautifulwoman,artistenoughtobeabletoearnherlivinglikeTinti,andofgivingyousomeofthepleasuresofvanity?WhatloutbutwouldthenbecomeanAmadis?Thisisnotinquestionbetweenyouandme。Whatisneededisthatwebothlovefaithfully,persistently;atadistancefromeachotherforyears,withnosatisfactionbutthatofknowingthatweareloved。\"

  \"Alas!\"saidRodolphe,\"willyounotconsidermyfidelityasdevoidofallmeritwhenyouseemeabsorbedintheeffortsofdevouringambition?DoyouimaginethatIcanwishtoseeyouonedayexchangethefinenameofGandolphiniforthatofamanwhoisanobody?Iwanttobecomeoneofthemostremarkablemenofmycountry,toberich,great——thatyoumaybeasproudofmynameasofyourownnameofColonna。\"

  \"Ishouldbegrievedtoseeyouwithoutsuchsentimentsinyourheart,\"shereplied,withabewitchingsmile。\"Butdonotwearyourselfouttoosooninyourambitiouslabors。Remainyoung。Theysaythatpoliticssoonmakeamanold。\"

  Oneoftherarestgiftsinwomenisacertaingaietywhichdoesnotdetractfromtenderness。ThiscombinationofdeepfeelingwiththelightnessofyouthaddedanenchantinggraceatthismomenttoFrancesca\'scharms。Thisisthekeytohercharacter;shelaughsandsheistouched;shebecomesenthusiastic,andreturnstoarchraillerywithareadiness,afacility,whichmakesherthecharmingandexquisitecreaturesheis,andforwhichherreputationisknownoutsideItaly。Underthegracesofawomansheconcealsvastlearning,thankstotheexcessivelymonotonousandalmostmonasticlifesheledinthecastleoftheoldColonnas。

  Thisrichheiresswasatfirstintendedforthecloister,beingthefourthchildofPrinceandPrincessColonna;butthedeathofhertwobrothers,andofhereldersister,suddenlybroughtheroutofherretirement,andmadeheroneofthemostbrilliantmatchesinthePapalStates。HereldersisterhadbeenbetrothedtoPrinceGandolphini,oneoftherichestlandownersinSicily;andFrancescawasmarriedtohiminstead,sothatnothingmightbechangedinthepositionofthefamily。TheColonnasandGandolphinishadalwaysintermarried。

  Fromtheageofninetillshewassixteen,Francesca,underthedirectionofaCardinalofthefamily,hadreadallthroughthelibraryoftheColonnas,tomakeweightagainstherardentimaginationbystudyingscience,art,andletters。Butinthesestudiessheacquiredthetasteforindependenceandliberalideas,whichthrewher,withherhusband,intotheranksoftherevolution。Rodolphehadnotyetlearnedthat,besidesfivelivinglanguages,FrancescaknewGreek,Latin,andHebrew。Thecharmingcreatureperfectlyunderstoodthat,forawoman,thefirstconditionofbeinglearnedistokeepitdeeplyhidden。

  RodolphespentthewholewinteratGeneva。Thiswinterpassedlikeaday。Whenspringreturned,notwithstandingtheinfinitedelightsofthesocietyofacleverwoman,wonderfullywellinformed,youngandlovely,theloverwentthroughcruelsufferings,enduredindeedwithcourage,butwhichweresometimeslegibleinhiscountenance,andbetrayedthemselvesinhismannersorspeech,perhapsbecausehebelievedthatFrancescasharedthem。Nowandagainitannoyedhimtoadmirehercalmness。LikeanEnglishwoman,sheseemedtoprideherselfonexpressingnothinginherface;itsserenitydefiedlove;helongedtoseeheragitated;heaccusedherofhavingnofeeling,forhebelievedinthetraditionwhichascribestoItalianwomenafeverishexcitability。

  \"IamaRoman!\"FrancescagravelyrepliedonedaywhenshetookquiteseriouslysomebanteronthissubjectfromRodolphe。

  Therewasadepthoftoneinherreplywhichgaveittheappearanceofscathingirony,andwhichsetRodolphe\'spulsesthrobbing。ThemonthofMayspreadbeforethemthetreasuresofherfreshverdure;thesunwassometimesaspowerfulasatmidsummer。Thetwolovershappenedtobeatapartoftheterracewheretherockarisesabruptlyfromthelake,andwereleaningoverthestoneparapetthatcrownsthewallaboveaflightofstepsleadingdowntoalanding-stage。Fromtheneighboringvilla,wherethereisasimilarstairway,aboatpresentlyshotoutlikeaswan,itsflagflaming,itscrimsonawningspreadoveralovelywomancomfortablyrecliningonredcushions,herhairwreathedwithrealflowers;theboatmanwasayoungmandressedlikeasailor,androwingwithallthemoregracebecausehewasunderthelady\'seye。

  \"Theyarehappy!\"exclaimedRodolphe,withbitteremphasis。\"ClairedeBourgogne,thelastsurvivoroftheonlyhousewhichcaneverviewiththeroyalfamilyofFrance——\"

  \"Oh!ofabastardbranch,andthatafemaleline。\"

  \"Atanyrate,sheisVicomtessedeBeauseant;andshedidnot——\"

  \"Didnothesitate,youwouldsay,toburyherselfherewithMonsieurGastondeNueil,youwouldsay,\"repliedthedaughteroftheColonnas。

  \"SheisonlyaFrenchwoman;IamanItalian,mydearsir!\"

  Francescaturnedawayfromtheparapet,leavingRodolphe,andwenttothefurtherendoftheterrace,whencethereisawideprospectofthelake。Watchingherassheslowlywalkedaway,Rodolphesuspectedthathehadwoundedhersoul,atoncesosimpleandsowise,soproudandsohumble。Itturnedhimcold;hefollowedFrancesca,whosignedtohimtoleavehertoherself。Buthedidnotheedthewarning,anddetectedherwipingawayhertears。Tears!insostronganature。

  \"Francesca,\"saidhe,takingherhand,\"isthereasingleregretinyourheart?\"

  Shewassilent,disengagedherhandwhichheldherembroideredhandkerchief,andagaindriedhereyes。

  \"Forgiveme!\"hesaid。Andwitharush,hekissedhereyestowipeawaythetears。

  Francescadidnotseemawareofhispassionateimpulse,shewassoviolentlyagitated。Rodolphe,thinkingsheconsented,grewbolder;heputhisarmroundher,claspedhertohisheart,andsnatchedakiss。

  Butshefreedherselfbyadignifiedmovementofoffendedmodesty,and,standingayardoff,shelookedathimwithoutanger,butwithfirmdetermination。

  \"Gothisevening,\"shesaid。\"WemeetnomoretillwemeetatNaples。\"

  Thisorderwasstern,butitwasobeyed,foritwasFrancesca\'swill。

  OnhisreturntoParisRodolphefoundinhisroomsaportraitofPrincessGandolphinipaintedbySchinner,asSchinnercanpaint。TheartisthadpassedthroughGenevaonhiswaytoItaly。Ashehadpositivelyrefusedtopainttheportraitsofseveralwomen,RodolphedidnotbelievethatthePrince,anxiousashewasforaportraitofhiswife,wouldbeabletoconquerthegreatpainter\'sobjections;butFrancesca,nodoubt,hadbewitchedhim,andobtainedfromhim——whichwasalmostamiracle——anoriginalportraitforRodolphe,andaduplicateforEmilio。Shetoldhimthisinacharminganddelightfulletter,inwhichthemindindemnifieditselfforthereserverequiredbytheworshipoftheproprieties。Theloverreplied。Thusbegan,nevertocease,aregularcorrespondencebetweenRodolpheandFrancesca,theonlyindulgencetheyallowedthemselves。

  Rodolphe,possessedbyanambitionsanctifiedbyhislove,settowork。Firsthelongedtomakehisfortune,andriskedhisallinanundertakingtowhichhedevotedallhisfacultiesaswellashiscapital;buthe,aninexperiencedyouth,hadtocontendagainstduplicity,whichwontheday。Thusthreeyearswerelostinavastenterprise,threeyearsofstrugglingandcourage。

  TheVilleleministryfelljustwhenRodolphewasruined。Thevaliantloverthoughthewouldseekinpoliticswhatcommercialindustryhadrefusedhim;butbeforebravingthestormsofthiscareer,hewent,allwoundedandsickatheart,tohavehisbruiseshealedandhiscouragerevivedatNaples,wherethePrinceandPrincesshadbeenreinstatedintheirplaceandrightsontheKing\'saccession。This,inthemidstofhiswarfare,wasarespitefullofdelights;hespentthreemonthsattheVillaGandolphini,rockedinhope。

  Rodolphethenbeganagaintoconstructhisfortune。Histalentswerealreadyknown;hewasabouttoattainthedesiresofhisambition;ahighpositionwaspromisedhimastherewardofhiszeal,hisdevotion,andhispastservices,whenthestormofJuly1830broke,andagainhisbarkwasswamped。

  She,andGod!Thesearetheonlywitnessesofthebraveefforts,thedaringattemptsofayoungmangiftedwithfinequalities,buttowhom,sofar,theprotectionofluck——thegodoffools——hasbeendenied。Andthisindefatigablewrestler,upheldbylove,comesbacktofreshstruggles,lightedonhiswaybyanalwaysfriendlyeye,aneverfaithfulheart。

  Lovers!Prayforhim!

  *****

  Asshefinishedthisnarrative,MademoiselledeWatteville\'scheekswereonfire;therewasafeverinherblood。Shewascrying——butwithrage。Thislittlenovel,inspiredbytheliterarystyletheninfashion,wasthefirstreadingofthekindthatRosaliehadeverhadthechanceofdevouring。Lovewasdepictedinit,ifnotbyamaster-

  hand,atanyratebyamanwhoseemedtogivehisownimpressions;andtruth,evenifunskilled,couldnotfailtotouchavirginsoul。HerelaythesecretofRosalie\'sterribleagitation,ofherfeverandhertears;shewasjealousofFrancescaColonna。

  Sheneverforaninstantdoubtedthesincerityofthispoeticalflight;Alberthadtakenpleasureintellingthestoryofhispassion,whilechangingthenamesofpersonsandperhapsofplaces。Rosaliewaspossessedbyinfernalcuriosity。Whatwomanbutwould,likeher,havewantedtoknowherrival\'sname——forshetooloved!Asshereadthesepages,toherreallycontagious,shehadsaidsolemnlytoherself,\"I

  lovehim!\"——ShelovedAlbert,andfeltinherheartagnawingdesiretofightforhim,tosnatchhimfromthisunknownrival。Shereflectedthatsheknewnothingofmusic,andthatshewasnotbeautiful。

  \"Hewillneverloveme!\"thoughtshe。

  Thisconclusionaggravatedheranxietytoknowwhethershemightnotbemistaken,whetherAlbertreallylovedanItalianPrincess,andwaslovedbyher。Inthecourseofthisfatefulnight,thepowerofswiftdecision,whichhadcharacterizedthefamousWatteville,wasfullydevelopedinhisdescendant。Shedevisedthosewhimsicalschemes,roundwhichhoverstheimaginationofmostyounggirlswhen,inthesolitudetowhichsomeinjudiciousmothersconfinethem,theyarerousedbysometremendouseventwhichthesystemofrepressiontowhichtheyaresubjectedcouldneitherforeseenorprevent。ShedreamedofdescendingbyaladderfromthekioskintothegardenofthehouseoccupiedbyAlbert;oftakingadvantageofthelawyer\'sbeingasleeptolookthroughthewindowintohisprivateroom。Shethoughtofwritingtohim,orofburstingthefettersofBesanconsocietybyintroducingAlberttothedrawing-roomoftheHoteldeRupt。Thisenterprise,whichtotheAbbedeGranceyevenwouldhaveseemedtheclimaxoftheimpossible,wasamerepassingthought。

  \"Ah!\"saidshetoherself,\"myfatherhasadisputependingastohislandatlesRouxey。Iwillgothere!Ifthereisnolawsuit,Iwillmanagetomakeone,and/he/shallcomeintoourdrawing-room!\"shecried,asshesprangoutofbedandtothewindowtolookatthefascinatinggleamwhichshonethroughAlbert\'snights。Theclockstruckone;hewasstillasleep。

  \"Ishallseehimwhenhegetsup;perhapshewillcometohiswindow。\"

  AtthisinstantMademoiselledeWattevillewaswitnesstoanincidentwhichpromisedtoplaceinherpowerthemeansofknowingAlbert\'ssecrets。BythelightofthemoonshesawapairofarmsstretchedoutfromthekiosktohelpJerome,Albert\'sservant,togetacrossthecopingofthewallandstepintothelittlebuilding。InJerome\'saccompliceRosalieatoncerecognizedMariettethelady\'s-maid。

  \"MarietteandJerome!\"saidshetoherself。\"Mariette,suchanuglygirl!Certainlytheymustbeashamedofthemselves。\"

  ThoughMariettewashorriblyuglyandsix-and-thirty,shehadinheritedseveralplotsofland。ShehadbeenseventeenyearswithMadamedeWatteville,whovaluedherhighlyforherbigotry,herhonesty,andlongservice,andshehadnodoubtsavedmoneyandinvestedherwagesandperquisites。Hence,earningabouttenlouisayear,sheprobablyhadbythistime,includingcompoundinterestandherlittleinheritance,notlessthantenthousandfrancs。

  InJerome\'seyestenthousandfrancscouldalterthelawsofoptics;

  hesawinMarietteaneatfigure;hedidnotperceivethepitsandseamswhichvirulentsmallpoxhadleftonherflat,parchedface;tohimthecrookedmouthwasstraight;andeversinceSavaron,bytakinghimintohisservice,hadbroughthimsoneartotheWattevilles\'

  house,hehadlaidsiegesystematicallytothemaid,whowasasprimandsanctimoniousashermistress,andwho,likeeveryuglyoldmaid,wasfarmoreexactingthanthehandsomest。

  Ifthenight-sceneinthekioskisthusfullyaccountedfortoallperspicaciousreaders,itwasnotsotoRosalie,thoughshederivedfromitthemostdangerouslessonthatcanbegiven,thatofabadexample。Amotherbringsherdaughterupstrictly,keepsherunderherwingforseventeenyears,andthen,inonehour,aservantgirldestroysthelongandpainfulwork,sometimesbyaword,oftenindeedbyagesture!Rosaliegotintobedagain,notwithoutconsideringhowshemighttakeadvantageofherdiscovery。

  Nextmorning,asshewenttoMassaccompaniedbyMariette——hermotherwasnotwell——Rosalietookthemaid\'sarm,whichsurprisedthecountrywenchnotalittle。

  \"Mariette,\"saidshe,\"isJeromeinhismaster\'sconfidence?\"

  \"Idonotknow,mademoiselle。\"

  \"Donotplaytheinnocentwithme,\"saidMademoiselledeWattevilledrily。\"Youlethimkissyoulastnightunderthekiosk;Inolongerwonderthatyousowarmlyapprovedofmymother\'sideasfortheimprovementssheplanned。\"

  RosaliecouldfeelhowMariettewastremblingbytheshakingofherarm。

  \"Iwishyounoill,\"Rosaliewenton。\"Bequiteeasy;Ishallnotsayawordtomymother,andyoucanmeetJeromeasoftenasyouplease。\"

  \"But,mademoiselle,\"saidMariette,\"itisperfectlyrespectable;

  Jeromehonestlymeanstomarryme——\"

  \"Butthen,\"saidRosalie,\"whymeetatnight?\"

  Mariettewasdumfounded,andcouldmakenoreply。

  \"Listen,Mariette;Iaminlovetoo!Insecretandwithoutanyreturn。

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