A Woodland Queen ('Reine des Bois') - Volume 3

y of the harpy tribe; she emb

vy and hatred that the possession of these little squares of ground brought forth among their rapacious owners. The prolific exuberance of forest vegetation was an exemplification of the fierce and destructive activity of the blind forces of Nature. All the earth was a hateful theatre for the continual enactment of bloody and monotonous dramas; the worm consuming the plant; the bird mangling the insect, the deer fighting among themselves, and man, in his turn, pursuing all kinds of game. He identified nature with woman, both possessing in his eyes an equally deceiving appearance, the same beguiling beau

ed that the sight of her might aggravate the malady from w

had once, although involuntarily, played the degrading part of a spy! What satisfaction could he derive from such a course? Would he be much benefited when he returned home with rage in his heart and senses, after watching a love-scene between the young pair? This consideration kept him in his seat, but his imagination ran riot instead; it went galloping at the heels of Claudet, and accompanied him down the winding paths, moistened by the evening dew. As the moon rose above the trees, illuminating the foliage with her mild bluish rays, he pictured to himself the meeting of the two lovers on the flowe

nticing cherry lips. Even the odor of the honeysuckle arising from the garden assisted the reality of the vision, by recalling the sprig of the same flower which Reine was twisting round her fingers at their last interview. This sweet breath of flower

energy and will-power, could she ever have loved a being so weak and unstable as myself? No, indeed; she needs a lover full of life and

ly concealed his feelings. And yet, while inwardly blaming him for this want of frankness, he did not realize

same table; to all appearance their intimacy was as great as ever, but, in reality, there was no mutual exchange of feeling. Julien's continued ill-humor was a source of anxiety to Claudet, who turned his brai

, and that possibly this coolness was a roundabout way of manifesting his change of feeling. This seemed to be the only plausible

nded in his turn at the mute reproach which he imagined he could read in his cousin's troubled countenance. This misconcep

essert, and whistling to his dog to accompany him in his habitual promenade, the 'grand chasserot' remained seated, poured out a small glass of brandy, and slowly filled his pipe. Surprised to see that he was remaining at home, Julien rose and began to pace the floor, wondering what could be the reason of this unexpected change. As suspicious

ot going o

ll permit me, I will stay and kee

t wish you to inconvenience yourself on my account. I am not afraid of being alon

that?" cried Claudet,

your fancied obligation of keeping me company ought not to pre

ugh, "so you think, when I go out after supper, I go to se

city here of girls inclined to be good-natured, and you have only the trouble of choosing among them. I sup

h those creatures to whom you refer? Mademoiselle Vincart," added he, "has nothing in commo

such a degree that he did not notice that Julien, as

resented the insinuation increase

scornfully, "Reine Vincart i

e is good and virtuous, and

One can see that you

at she has no need of any one standing up for her-her good name is sufficient to

skily, "confess that yo

det, angrily, "yes, I love her!

less affected by so open an avowal thrust at him, as it were.

you not tell me before? Why w

sh-trees, threw its bright reflections on his blazing eyeballs and convulsed features. His interlocutor, leaning against the opposite corner

l the same, I should have told you had you asked me sooner. I am not reserved; but, you must excuse my saying it, you are walled in like a subterranean passage. One can not get at the color

s to screen his eyes, and bit his lips as if a painful struggle was going on within him. The splendors of the setting sun had merged into the dusky twilight, and t

ly raised his head, and addressing Claudet in a low and measur

know that yo

e myself squarely. But girls are very quick, Reine especially. They soon begin to suspect

her oft

when you meet, you talk but little, making the most of your time. Still, you must not suppose, as I think you did, that we have rendezvous in the evening. Reine respects herself

you?" said Julien, with a mo

ave ventured to ask her whether she feels anything more than friendship for me. Look here, now. I have good reasons for keeping back; she

hope that she will not say no-you ackno

nce and bitterness of tone of

pleasing to you. Will you let me tell you frankly an idea that has already entered my head several times these last two or three da

respect to let his preferred rival know of his unfortunate passion. He waited a moment to swallow somet

y return it with interest. But, at all events, I am not foolish enough to exp

k his head i

t to you. You can not declare your wishes because Reine is r

ed Claudet, bewildered at the stran

erted Julien, with a gesture of

nd determined to employ a heroic remedy to arrest its further ravages. This was nothing less than killing his love, by immediately getting Claudet married to Reine Vincart. Sacrifices like this are easier to souls that have been subjected since their infancy to Christian discipline, and accustomed to consider th

two brothers. But now that a miserable question of money alone prevents you from marrying the woman you love, it is important that you should be legally provided for. We will go to-morrow to Monsieur Arbillot, and ask him to draw up the deed, making over to you

otion was so great that it prevented him from speaking. In the obscurity of the r

re others by myself. Well! can you forgive me? If I do not express myself well, I feel deeply, and all I can say is that you have made me very happy!" He sighed heavily. "The question is now," continued he, "whether Reine will have me! You may n

n, sadly, "she knows that you love her.

ne know what is passing in her mind, and with these young girls, I tell yo

res, with a visible effort, "would you

e. It would be adding one more kindness to those I have alr

fterward the young men adjourned to breakfast at the inn. The meal was brief and silent. Neither seemed to have any appetite. As soon as they had drunk their coffee, they

hall go across the fields to La Thuiliere. I shall return as soon as I ha

e," sighed Claudet; "I shall not know ho

the window of my room, and you will catch first sight of me coming along in the

ded the newly mown meadow, along which he walked under the

feelings to so severe a trial. The thought of beholding Reine again, and of sounding her feelings, gave him a certain amount of cruel enjoyment. He would speak to her of love-love for another, certainly-but he would throw into the declaration he was making, in behalf of another, some of his own tenderness; he would have the supreme and torturing satisfaction of watching her countenance, of anticipating her blushes, of gathering the faltering avowal from her l

ture might have in store for him. The odor of the wild mint and meadow-sweet, dotting the banks of the stream, again awoke vague, happy anticipations. Longing to reach Reine Vincart's presence, he hastened his steps, then stopp

to La Thuiliere, and just beyond, across a waving mass of oats and rye, the shining tops of the

nourishment at the same time, scattered screaming in every direction, heads down, feet sprawling, until by unanimous consent they made a beeline for a half-open door, leading to the orchard. Through this manoeuvre, the young man's attention was brought to the fact that through this opening he could reach the rear facade of the building. He therefore entered a grassy lane, winding

r. The sound of approaching steps on the grassy soil caused her to raise her head, but she did not stir. In his intense emotion, Julien thought the alley never would come to an end. He would fain have cleared it with a single bound, so as to be at once in the presence of Mademoiselle Vincart, whose immovable attitude rendered h

rom her neck, invariably brought the flush of shame to her brow. But, although she was very indignant at the fiery nature of his caress, as implying a want of respect little in harmony with Julien's habitual reserve, she was astonished at herself for not being still more angry. At first, the affront put upon her had roused a feeling of indignation, but now, when she thought of it, she felt only a gentle embarrassment, and a soft beating of the heart. She began to reflect that to have thus broken loose from all restraint before her, this timid youth must have been carried away by an irresistible burst of passion, and any woman, however high-minded she may be, will forgive such violent homage rendered to the sovereign power of her b

had produced upon Reine Vincart. As soon as he found himself within a few steps of the young girl, he saluted her awkwardly, and she returned his bow wi

y, "that after what has happened, my visit mu

the unwise allusion that had escaped the lips of her visitor. She rose, pushed away wit

ction to enter La Thuiliere. Besides, I suppose that the m

r skirt down, and without any aff

most serious and respectable motive that causes me to

o speak with me, it is unnecessary for you to r

ess of his reception; a few minutes later she reappeared, bringing a chai

as before, leaning her back agains

o listen to y

he had imagined it would be; he experienced a singular amount of embarrassment in unfolding his subj

he best I can hope for is that he may remain in that condition. But," continued she, with a slight inflection of irony;

ou about is a very delicate matter. You will excuse me, therefore, if I am som

why he made so many preambles before beginning. And

ong while on the best way to prepare the young girl for the communication

ine, do you not

gazed at him with

ough and I am not in a hurry." Then, dr

e who loves you and who wo

the empty pods, twisted it nervousl

eighborhood?" she faltered,

, I believe, sterling qualities sufficient to make a good husband, and means enough to do

igid, but the nervous twitching of her fingers as she bent

e replied at last, in an

a certain amount of secret satisfaction; "you can not tell whom I mean?

is that

ard his, and they shone wit

" replied Julien, very gen

e as rigid as before; but Julien did not notice anything. The words he had just uttered had cost him too much agony, a

at case, why did not Claudet com

ed him at the las

astic bitterness of tone, "you too

udet has loved you for a long time. He is good-hearted, and a fine fellow to look at. And as to worldly advantages, his position is

ilence that followed his last question seemed to him unbearable, and the contrasting chirping of the nois

hat this same M. de Buxieres, who had made so audacious a display of his tender feeling in the hut, could now come forward as Claudet's advocate, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to do? In that case, his astonishing behavior at the fete, which had caused her so much pain, and which she had endeavored to excuse in her own mind as the untutored outbreak of his pentup love, that fiery caress, was only the insulting manifestation of a brutal caprice? The transgressor thought so little of her, she was o

eavoring to conceal the suffering which was devouri

which had become as dark as waters reflecting a sto

ou advise

was a very poor speller. He imagined that Reine was only asking him as a matter of form, and that it was from a feeling of maidenly reserve that she adopted this pass

"that Claudet will make a good husban

l more the fervid lustre of her eyes. The two little brown moles st

laudet that I consent, and that he

d sadly before Reine, who remained standing and m

ame to, lost his way twice and finally reached the courtyar

ly away in the distance, when nothing could be heard save the monotonous trill of the grasshoppers basking in the sun, she threw he

re disgusted with himself and with all else than he ever had been before. Ashamed of the wretched part he had just been enacting, he felt almost childish repugnance to returning to Vivey, and tried to pick out the paths that would take him there by the longest way. But he was not sufficiently accustomed to laying out a route

h effort, waved it three times above his head. At this signal, the forerunner of good news, Claudet replied by a triumphant shout, and disappeared from the window.

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