按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
represent the family in those exalted spheres。 His own interests
from earliest years had been centred in his woods and pastures。 He
hunted； and he cultivated his acres； and superficially he appeared
to be little better than any of his rustic metayers。 He kept no
state； or at least no state commensurate with his position or with
the tastes of his niece Aline de Kercadiou。 Aline； having spent
some two years in the court atmosphere of Versailles under the aegis
of her uncle Etienne； had ideas very different from those of her
uncle Quintin of what was befitting seigneurial dignity。 But though
this only child of a third Kercadiou had exercised； ever since she
was left an orphan at the early age of four； a tyrannical rule over
the Lord of Gavrillac； who had been father and mother to her； she
had never yet succeeded in beating down his stubbornness on that
score。 She did not yet despair … persistence being a dominant note
in her character … although she had been assiduously and fruitlessly
at work since her return from the great world of Versailles some
three months ago。
She was walking on the terrace when Andre…Louis and M。 de Vilmorin
arrived。 Her slight body was wrapped against the chill air in a
white pelisse； her head was encased in a close…fitting bonnet； edged
with white fur。 It was caught tight in a knot of pale…blue ribbon
on the right of her chin； on the left a long ringlet of corn…coloured
hair had been permitted to escape。 The keen air had whipped so much
of her cheeks as was presented to it； and seemed to have added
sparkle to eyes that were of darkest blue。
Andre…Louis and M。 de Vilmorin had been known to her from childhood。
The three had been playmates once； and Andre…Louis … in view of his
spiritual relationship with her uncle … she called her cousin。 The
cousinly relations had persisted between these two long after
Philippe de Vilmorin had outgrown the earlier intimacy； and had
become to her Monsieur de Vilmorin。
She waved her hand to them in greeting as they advanced； and stood
… an entrancing picture； and fully conscious of it … to await them
at the end of the terrace nearest the short avenue by which they
approached。
〃If you come to see monsieur my uncle； you come inopportunely；
messieurs；〃 she told them； a certain feverishness in her air。 〃He
is closely … oh； so very closely … engaged。〃
〃We will wait； mademoiselle；〃 said M。 de Vilmorin； bowing gallantly
over the hand she extended to him。 〃Indeed； who would haste to the
uncle that may tarry a moment with the niece？〃
〃M。 l'abbe；〃 she teased him； 〃when you are in orders I shall take
you for my confessor。 You have so ready and sympathetic an
understanding。〃
〃But no curiosity；〃 said Andre…Louis。 〃You haven't thought of that。〃
〃I wonder what you mean； Cousin Andre。〃
〃Well you may；〃 laughed Philippe。 〃For no one ever knows。〃 And
then； his glance straying across the terrace settled upon a carriage
that was drawn up before the door of the chateau。 It was a vehicle
such as was often to be seen in the streets of a great city； but
rarely in the country。 It was a beautifully sprung two…horse
cabriolet of walnut； with a varnish upon it like a sheet of glass
and little pastoral scenes exquisitely painted on the panels of the
door。 It was built to carry two persons； with a box in front for
the coachman； and a stand behind for the footman。 This stand was
empty； but the footman paced before the door； and as he emerged now
from behind the vehicle into the range of M。 de Vilmorin's vision；
he displayed the resplendent blue…and…gold livery of the Marquis de
La Tour d'Azyr。
〃Why！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Is it M。 de La Tour d'Azyr who is with your
uncle？〃
〃It is； monsieur；〃 said she； a world of mystery in voice and eyes；
of which M。 de Vilmorin observed nothing。
〃Ah； pardon！〃 he bowed low； hat in hand。 〃Serviteur； mademoiselle；〃
and he turned to depart towards the house。
〃Shall I come with you； Philippe？〃 Andre…Louis called after him。
〃It would be ungallant to assume that you would prefer it；〃 said M。
de Vilmorin； with a glance at mademoiselle。 〃Nor do I think it
would serve。 If you will wait。。。 〃
M。 de Vilmorin strode off。 Mademoiselle； after a moment's blank
pause； laughed ripplingly。 〃Now where is he going in such a hurry？〃
〃To see M。 de La Tour d'Azyr as well as your uncle； I should say。〃
〃But he cannot。 They cannot see him。 Did I not say that they are
very closely engaged？ You don't ask me why； Andre〃 There was an
arch mysteriousness about her； a latent something that may have
been elation or amusement； or perhaps both。 Andre…Louis could not
determine it。
〃Since obviously you are all eagerness to tell； why should I ask？〃
quoth he。
〃If you are caustic I shall not tell you even if you ask。 Oh； yes；
I will。 It will teach you to treat me with the respect that is my
due。〃
〃I hope I shall never fail in that。〃
〃Less than ever when you learn that I am very closely concerned in
the visit of M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。 I am the object of this visit。〃
And she looked at him with sparkling eyes and lips parted in
laughter。
〃The rest； you would seem to imply； is obvious。 But I am a dolt；
if you please； for it is not obvious to me。〃
〃Why； stupid； he comes to ask my hand in marriage。〃
〃Good God！〃 said Andre…Louis； and stared at her； chapfallen。
She drew back from him a little with a frown and an upward tilt of
her chin。 〃It surprises you？〃
〃It disgusts me；〃 said he； bluntly。 〃In fact； I don't believe it。
You are amusing yourself with me。〃
For a moment she put aside her visible annoyance to remove his
doubts。 〃I am quite serious； monsieur。 There came a formal letter
to my uncle this morning from M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； announcing the
visit and its object。 I will not say that it did not surprise us
a little。。
〃Oh； I see；〃 cried Andre…Louis； in relief。 〃I understand。 For a
moment I had almost feared。。。 〃 He broke off； looked at her； and
shrugged。
〃Why do you stop？ You had almost feared that Versailles had been
wasted upon me。 That I should permit the court…ship of me to be
conducted like that of any village wench。 It was stupid of you。 I
am being sought in proper form； at my uncle's hands。〃
〃Is his consent； then； all that matters； according to Versailles？〃
〃What else？〃
〃There is your own。〃
She laughed。 〃I am a dutiful niece。。。 when it suits me。〃
〃And will it suit you to be dutiful if your uncle accepts this
monstrous proposal？〃
〃Monstrous！〃 She bridled。 〃And why monstrous； if you please？〃
〃For a score of reasons；〃 he answered irritably。
〃Give me one；〃 she challenged him。
〃He is twice your age。〃
〃Hardly so much；〃 said she。
〃He is forty…five； at least。〃
〃But he looks no more than thirty。 He is very handsome … so much
you will admit； nor will you deny that he is very wealthy and very
powerful； the greatest nobleman in Brittany。 He will make me a
great lady。〃
〃God made you that； Aline。〃
〃Come； that's better。 Sometimes you can almost be polite。〃 And she
moved along the terrace； Andre…Louis pacing beside her。
〃I can be more than that to show reason why you should