She was everything by turns, except kind, and nothing for long together.She was peevish, she was ostentatiously patient and submissive, she was inattentive to her companion and seemingly wrapped up in contemplation of absent things and persons, the colonel to wit; she was dogged, repulsive, and cold; and she never was herself a single moment.They returned to the gate of the Pleasaunce."Well, mademoiselle," said Riviere very sadly, "that interloper might as well have been with us.""Of course he might, and you would have lost nothing by permitting me to be courteous to a guest and an invalid.If you had not played the tyrant, and taken the matter into your own hands, I should have found means to soothe your jeal--I mean your vanity; but you preferred to have your own way.Well, you have had it.""Yes, mademoiselle, you have given me a lesson; you have shown me how idle it is to attempt to force a young lady's inclinations in anything."He bade her good-day, and went away sorrowful.
She cut Camille dead for the rest of the day.
Next morning, early, Edouard called expressly to see her.
"Mademoiselle Rose," said he, humbly, "I called to apologize for the ungentlemanly tone of my remonstrances yesterday.""Fiddle-dee," said Rose."Don't do it again; that is the best apology.""I am not likely to offend so again," said he sadly."I am going away.I am sorry to say I am promoted; my new post is ten leagues.
HE WILL HAVE IT ALL HIS OWN WAY NOW.But perhaps it is best.Were I to stay here, I foresee you would soon lose whatever friendly feeling you have for me.""Am I so changeable? I am not considered so," remonstrated Rose, gently.
Riviere explained; "I am not vain," said he, with that self-knowledge which is so general an attribute of human beings; "no man less so, nor am I jealous; but I respect myself, and I could never be content to share your time and your regard with Colonel Dujardin, nor with a much better man.See now; he has made me arrogant.Was I ever so before?""No! no! no! and I forgive you now, my poor Edouard.""He has made you cold as ice to me."
"No! that was my own wickedness and spitefulness.""Wickedness, spitefulness! they are not in your nature.It is all that wretch's doing."Rose sighed, but she said nothing; for she saw that to excuse Camille would only make the jealous one more bitter against him.
"Will you deign to write to me at my new post? once a month? in answer to my letters?""Yes, dear.But you will ride over sometimes to see us.""Oh, yes; but for some little time I shall not be able.The duties of a new post.""Perhaps in a month--a fortnight?"
"Sooner perhaps; the moment I hear that man is out of the house."Edouard went away, dogged and sad; Rose shut herself up in her room and had a good cry.In the afternoon Josephine came and remonstrated with her."You have not walked with him at all to-day.""No; you must pet him yourself for once.I hate the sight of him;it has made mischief between Edouard and me, my being so attentive to him.Edouard is jealous, and I cannot wonder.After all, what right have I to mystify him who honors me with his affection?"Then, being pressed with questions by Josephine, she related to her all that had passed between Edouard and her, word for word.
"Poor Camille!" sighed Josephine the just.
"Oh, dear, yes! poor Camille! who has the power to make us all miserable, and who does it, and will go on doing it until he is happy himself.""Ah! would to Heaven I could make him as happy as he deserves to be.""You could easily make him much happier than that.And why not do it?""O Rose," said Josephine, shocked, "how can you advise me so?"She then asked her if she thought it possible that Camille could be ignorant of her heart.
"Josephine," replied Rose, angrily, "these men are absurd: they believe only what they see.I have done what I can for you and Camille, but it is useless.Would you have him believe you love him, you must yourself be kind to him; and it would be a charitable action: you would make four unhappy people happy, or, at least, put them on the road; NOW they are off the road, and, by what I have seen to-day, I think, if we go on so much longer, it will be too late to try to return.Come, Josephine, for my sake! Let me go and tell him you will consent--to all our happinesses.There, the crime is mine." And she ran off in spite of Josephine's faint and hypocritical entreaties.She returns the next minute looking all aghast."It is too late," said she."He is going away.I am sure he is, for he is packing up his things to go.I spied through the old place and saw him.He was sighing like a furnace as he strapped his portmanteau.I hate him, of course, but I was sorry for him.Icould not help being.He sighed so all the time, piteously."Josephine turned pale, and lifted her hands in surprise and dismay.
"Depend on it, Josephine, we are wrong," said Rose, firmly: "these wretches will not stand our nonsense above a certain time: they are not such fools.We are mismanaging: one gone, the other going; both losing faith in us."Josephine's color returned to her cheek, and then mounted high.
Presently she smiled, a smile full of conscious power and furtive complacency, and said quietly, "He will not go."Rose was pleased, but not surprised, to hear her sister speak so confidently, for she knew her power over Camille."That is right,"said she, "go to him, and say two honest words: 'I bid you stay.'""O Rose! no!"
"Poltroon! You know he would go down on his knees, and stay directly.""No: I should blush all my life before you and him.I COULD not.Ishould let him go sooner, almost.Oh, no! I will never ask a man to stay who wishes to leave me.But just you go to him, and say Madame Raynal is going to take a little walk: will he do her the honor to be her companion? Not a word more, if you love me.""I'll go.Hypocrite!"
