the village rector-第58章
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causeway。 As she stepped into the second boat she saw the hermitage
with Grossetete sitting on a bench before it with all his family。
〃Do they wish to make me regret dying？〃 she said to the rector。
〃We wish to prevent you from dying；〃 replied Clousier。
〃You cannot make the dead live；〃 she answered。
Monsieur Bonnet gave her a stern look which recalled her to herself。
〃Let me take care of your health；〃 said Roubaud； in a gentle；
persuasive voice。 〃I am sure I can save to this region its living
glory； and to all our friends their common tie。〃
Veronique bowed her head； and Gerard rowed slowly toward the island in
the middle of the lake； the largest of the three； into which the
overflowing water of the first was rippling with a sound that gave a
voice to that delightful landscape。
〃You have done well to make me bid farewell to this ravishing nature
on such a day；〃 she said； looking at the beauty of the trees； all so
full of foliage that they hid the shore。 The only disapprobation her
friends allowed themselves was to show a gloomy silence； and
Veronique； receiving another glance from Monsieur Bonnet； sprang
lightly ashore； assuming a lively air； which she did not relinquish。
Once more the hostess； she was charming； and the Grossetete family
felt she was again the beautiful Madame Graslin of former days。
〃Indeed； you can still live； if you choose！〃 said her mother in a
whisper。
At this gay festival； amid these glorious creations produced by the
resources of nature only； nothing seemed likely to wound Veronique；
and yet it was here and now that she received her death…blow。
The party were to return about nine o'clock by way of the meadows； the
road through which； as lovely as an English or an Italian road； was
the pride of its engineer。 The abundance of small stones； laid aside
when the plain was cleared； enabled him to keep it in good order； in
fact； for the last five years it was； in a way； macadamized。 Carriages
were awaiting the company at the opening of the last valley toward the
plain； almost at the base of the Roche…Vive。 The horses； raised at
Montegnac； were among the first that were ready for the market。 The
manager of the stud had selected a dozen for the stables of the
chateau； and their present fine appearance was part of the programme
of the fete。 Madame Graslin's own carriage； a gift from Grossetete；
was drawn by four of the finest animals； plainly harnessed。
After dinner the happy party went to take coffee in a little wooden
kiosk； made like those on the Bosphorus； and placed on a point of the
island from which the eye could reach to the farther lake beyond。 From
this spot Madame Graslin thought she saw her son Francis near the
nursery…ground formerly planted by Farrabesche。 She looked again； but
did not see him； and Monsieur Ruffin pointed him out to her； playing
on the bank with Grossetete's children。 Veronique became alarmed lest
he should meet with some accident。 Not listening to remonstrance； she
ran down from the kiosk； and jumping into a boat； began to row toward
her son。 This little incident caused a general departure。 Monsieur
Grossetete proposed that they should all follow her and walk on the
beautiful shore of the lake； along the curves of the mountainous
bluffs。 On landing there Madame Graslin saw her son in the arms of a
woman in deep mourning。 Judging by the shape of her bonnet and the
style of her clothes； the woman was a foreigner。 Veronique was
startled； and called to her son； who presently came toward her。
〃Who is that woman？〃 she asked the children round about her； 〃and why
did Francis leave you to go to her？〃
〃The lady called him by name；〃 said a little girl。
At that instant Madame Sauviat and Gerard； who had outstripped the
rest of the company； came up。
〃Who is that woman； my dear child？〃 asked Madame Graslin as soon as
Francis reached her。
〃I don't know；〃 he answered； 〃but she kissed me as you and grandmamma
kissed meshe cried；〃 whispered Francis in his mother's ear。
〃Shall I go after her？〃 asked Gerard。
〃No！〃 said Madame Graslin； with an abruptness that was not usual in
her。
With a delicacy for which Veronique was grateful； Gerard led away the
children and went back to detain the rest of the party； leaving Madame
Sauviat； Madame Graslin； and Francis alone。
〃What did she say to you？〃 asked Madame Sauviat of her grandson。
〃I don't know； she did not speak French。〃
〃Couldn't you understand anything she said？〃 asked Veronique。
〃No； but she kept saying over and over；and that's why I remember it；
/My dear brother/！〃
Veronique took her mother's arm and led her son by the hand； but she
had scarcely gone a dozen steps before her strength gave way。
〃What is the matter？ what has happened？〃 said the others； who now came
up； to Madame Sauviat。
〃Oh！ my daughter is in danger！〃 said the old woman； in guttural tones。
It was necessary to carry Madame Graslin to her carriage。 She signed
to Aline to get into it with Francis； and also Gerard。
〃You have been in England；〃 she said to the latter as soon as she
recovered herself； 〃and therefore no doubt you speak English； tell me
the meaning of the words； /my dear brother/。〃
On being told； Veronique exchanged a look with Aline and her mother
which made them shudder； but they restrained their feelings。
The shouts and joyous cries of those who were assisting in the
departure of the carriages； the splendor of the setting sun as it lay
upon the meadows； the perfect gait of the beautiful horses； the
laughter of her friends as they followed her on horseback at a gallop；
none of these things roused Madame Graslin from her torpor。 Her
mother ordered the coachman to hasten his horses； and their carriage
reached the chateau some time before the others。 When the company were
again assembled； they were told that Veronique had gone to her rooms
and was unable to see any one。
〃I fear；〃 said Gerard to his friends； 〃that Madame Graslin has had
some fatal shock。〃
〃Where？ how？〃 they asked。
〃To her heart；〃 he answered。
The following day Roubaud started for Paris。 He had seen Madame
Graslin； and found her so seriously ill that he wished for the
assistance and advice of the ablest physician of the day。 But
Veronique had only received Roubaud to put a stop to her mother and
Aline's entreaties that she would do something to benefit her； she
herself knew that death had stricken her。 She refused to see Monsieur
Bonnet； sending word to him that the time had not yet come。 Though all
her friends who had come from Limoges to celebrate her birthday wished
to be with her； she begged them to excuse her from fulfilling the
duties of hospitality； saying that she desired to remain in the
deepest solitude。 After Roubaud's departure the other guests returned
to Limoges； less disappointed than distressed； for all those whom
Grossetete had brought with him adored Veronique。 They were lost in
conjecture as to what might have caused this mysterious disaster。
One evening； two days after the departure of the company； Aline
brought Catherine to Madame Graslin's apartment。 La Farrabesche
stopped short； horrified at the change so suddenly wrought in her
mistress； whose face seemed to her almost distorted。
〃Good God； madame！〃 she cried； 〃what harm that girl has done！ If we
had only foreseen it； Farrabesche and I； we would never have taken her
in。 She has just heard that madame is ill； and sends me to tell Madame
Sauviat she wants to speak to her。〃
〃Here！〃 cried Veronique。 〃Where is she？〃
〃My husband took her to the chalet。〃
〃Very good；〃 said Madame Graslin； 〃tell Farrabesche to go elsewhere。
Inform that lady that my mother will go to her； tell her to expect the
visit。〃
As soon as it was dark Veronique； leaning on her mother's arm； walked
slowly through the park to the chalet。 The moon was shining with all
its brilliancy； the air was soft； and the two women； visibly affected；
found encouragement； of a sort； in the things of nature。 The mother
stopped now and then； to rest her daughter； whose sufferings were
poignant； so that it was well…nigh midnight before they reached the
path that goes down from the woods to the slop
