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

that he had been wofully mistaken. As soon as he had informed the grand chasserot of the success of his undertaking, he became aware that his own burden was considerably h

liding playfully around her shoulders, the clear, honest look of her limpid eyes, the expressive smile of her enchanting lips, and with a sudden revulsion of feeling he reflected that perhaps before a month was over, all these charms would belong to Claudet. Then, almost at the same moment, like a swallow, which, with one rapid turn of its wing, changes its course, his thoughts went in the opposite direction, and he began to imagine what would have happened if, instead of replying in the affirmative, Reine had objected to marrying Claudet. He could picture himself kneeling bef

fly in the day. Up to the age of twenty-seven years, he had known neither love nor friendship; his time had been given entirely to earning his daily bread, and to the cultivation of religious exercises, which consoled him in some measure for his apparently useless way of living. Latterly, it is true, Fortune had seemed to smile upon him, by giving him a little more money and liberty, but this smile was a mere mockery, and a snare more hurtful than the pettinesses and privations of his past life. The fickle goddess, continuing her part of mystifier, had opened to his enraptured sight a magic window through which she had

vating influence of a more prosperous atmosphere had weakened his courage, and cooled the ardor of his piety, his faith began to totter like an old wall. His religious beliefs seemed to have been wrec

e mists of the distant valleys. The least fluttering of the leaves heralded her fancied approach. At times the hallucination was so complete that he could see, in the interlacing of the branches, the undulations of her supple form, and the graceful outlines of her profile. Then he would be seized by an insane desire to reach the fugitive and speak to her once more, and would go tearing along the brushwood for that purpose. Now and then, in the half light formed by the hanging boughs, he would see rays of golden light, coming straight down to the ground, and resting there lightly like diaphanous apparitions. Sometimes the rustling of birds taking flight, would sound in his ears like the timid frou-frou of a skirt, and Julien, fascinated by the mysterious charm of these in

ng the loving interview. His curiosity was nearly always baffled; for Claudet seemed to have left all his gayety and conversational powers at La Thuiliere. During their tete-a-tete meals, he hardly spoke at all, maintaining a reserved attitude and a taciturn countenance. Julien, provoked at this unexp

o La Thuiliere, he had certainly been cordially received by Reine, but, nevertheless, he had noticed with surprise an absent and dreamy look in her eyes, which did not agree with his idea of a first interview of lover

he order, "and let

e charge and triumph over her bashful scruples. In fact, he began again the very next day, and his impetuous ardor encountered the sa

lied the young girl, laconically, "should I

, and realizing that she was perhaps treating

a girl whose mother is with her. So you must not be offended if I do not behave exactly as others mi

espondently to Vivey: "I can't help thinking that a

ty under the mask of careless indifference. Moreover, a certain primitive instinct of prudence made him circumspect. In his innermost soul, he still entertained doubts of Julien's sincerity. Sometimes he doubted whether his cousin's conduct had not been dictated by the bitterness of rejected love, rather than a generous impulse of affection, and he

e not in order, our harvests are not housed, and

had opposed; she thought they should avoid awakening public curiosity so long beforehand, and she extracted from Claudet a promise to say nothing until

s irritation, amounting almost to obsession. He would have wished the affair hurried up, and the sacrifice consummated without hindrance. He believed that when once the newly-married pair had taken up

home, more out of humor and silent t

getting along? Wh

et," replied Claudet,

eres, sarcastically; "you have co

d the tone pr

ot of my making

me into his eyes, as if Claudet's assertion had kindled a spark of hope in his breast. The latter

better to postpone the weddi

prolonged love-making, these daily visits to the farm-all that

ith a degree of fierceness and

t we ought to rush matters, and

oubt

as he stood in the orchard, watching Reine spread

I think we shall have to decid

which she was wetting the linen, an

until the later season. Why do yo

ng. Besides, they know nothing, around the village, of our intentions, and my coming here every day might cause gossip and make it

lien, Reine frown

it is he who has b

ner we are married, t

She stood a moment in thought, absently pushing forward the roll of linen with her foot. Then, s

let it be so! I authorize you to go to Mon

imed Claudet, rapturously;

e could not help remarking that the young girl was trembling in his grasp. He

ce to the cure's house, which stood near

ry. He found the Abbe Pernot seated on a stone bench, sheltered by a trellised vin

know! The birds will begin their migrations, and I should be greatly provoked if I were not equipped in time for the opportune moment. And how is Monsieur de Buxieres? I trust he will not be less good-natured than his deceased cousin, and that he wi

e guessed rightly. It is a very happy circum

ul news. It is not good for man to be alone, and I am glad to know you must give up the per

ure; there are few you know so w

ei

d gazed at Claudet with a stupefied air. At the same time, his jovial fa

t, somewhat vexed at the startled manner of h

mmered the Abbe, with bewilderment, "a

nd I have come here to arrange with y

hurry to go to work. The union of the man and the woman-ahem-is a serious matter, which ought not to be undertaken without du

my mind is quite made up. Once more, I ask you, Monsieur le Cure, are you displ

thing. Reine is an ex

l, t

e best, in the interests of both of you, be assured of that. In the meantime, you will both be united this evening

young lover, who returned to the chateau, v

, through an unusual tension of ideas forced upon him. He had hurriedly caught his skullcap from his head, as if he feared the heat of his meditation might cause a rush of blood to the head. He quickened his steps, then stopped suddenly, folded

the bird season, too! But I can say nothing to Claudet. It is a secret

umbled his prayers, and shut himself up in the room he used as a study and workshop. He remained there until the night was far advanced, searching through his scanty library to find two dusty volumes treating of "cases of conscience," which he looked eagerly over by the feeble light of his study lamp. During this laborious search he emitted frequent sighs, and only left off reading occasionally in order to dose himself plentifully with snuff. At last, as he felt that his eyes were becoming inflamed, his ideas conflicting in his brain, and as his lamp was getting low, he decided to go to bed.

r. There she lost sight of him-the underwood was too thick. But, after a few minutes, the gaze of the inquisitive woman was rewarded by the appearance of a dark object emerging from the co

uestion embarrassed his conscience. The case was a grave one, and moreover, so urgent that the Abbe was quite at a loss how to proceed. How was it that he never had foreseen that such a combination of circumstances might occur? A priest of a more fervent spirit, who had the salvation of his flock more at heart, could not have been taken so unprepared. Yes; that wa

branches of their favorite trees; whole flights of yellowhammers burst forth from the hedges red with ha

rm, and how he should begin. Sometimes he addressed himself, thus: "Have I the right to speak? What a revelatio

of La Thuiliere rose before him; he could hear the crowing of the cocks and the lowing of the cows in the stable.

id he, in a choking voice; "

elle is up. She was on foot before any of us, and now s

w the way, and I will g

surrounding trees would give him ideas. He walked across the kitchen, descended the steps leading from the ground floor to the gar

e had looked upon this project of marriage, which she had entertained in a moment of anger and injured feeling, as a vague thing, a vaporous eventuality of which the realization was doubtful; now, all was arranged, settled, cruelly certain; there was no way of escaping from a promise which Claudet, alas! was bound to consider a serious one. Thes

you come up this hill to find me. Let us go back t

hand that she should stay where she was, "no, thank

and we shall be less lia

take the other, opposite to him. There they were, under the thick, verdant branches, h

evertheless the young girl and the priest sat motionless; both agitated and embarrassed a

Claudet, Mons

lied the Abbe,

ntinued the young girl, in a quave

anted to see you first, and converse w

his soutane, raised his shoulders like a man

before God, is one of the most solemn and serious acts of life. The Church has constituted it a sacrament, which she administers only on certain formal conditions. Before entering into this bond, one ought, as we are taught by Holy

r perplexities and scruples. She raised her full, glistenin

ffection for Claude

ess the matter-has the engagement you have made with him been determined simply by co

iment of friendship, joined to a firm determination to prove a faithful and devot

n of Claudet's happiness, but of yours also. Come now! let me ask you: is your affection for young Sejournant so powerf

stion, Monsieur le Cure! If it were broken off without my having to repro

ke the word love in the sense understood by people of the worl

Monsieur l

the Abbe, drawing a long breath, while Rei

nd you," faltered

e marriage can

not?

n the eyes of the Church

ked at him with in

t has happened? What reasons hi

reveal them to you, but you must know that I am not speaking with

ful, her brows knit, h

idence in you, Mon

obedience on which he had reckoned. "You must know, nevertheless, that your pastor has no interest in deceiving

can not be annulled without sufficient cause. I have given my word to Claudet, and I

find som

"your words have entered my soul, they are troubling me now, and it will be worse when I begin to think this matter over again. I can not bear uncertainty. I must see my way

n telling you that I am not authorized to satisfy your unwise curios

y marriage has nothing to do with discussing the truths of our holy religion.

Abby Pernot, inquiringly,

my word respectably, an

g openly warned by me, you dare not burden your soul with such a terrible responsibility. Come, my

onscience, Monsieur le Cure, do you think it is act

rd?" inquired the Abb

moved both by a feeling of self-respect, and

reveal this secret! Well, have your way! I will tell you. May the harm which may result from it fa

ns in the oratory: "O Lord, thou knowest I would have spared her this bitter cup, but, between two evils, I have avoided the greater. If I fo

s before his eyes, and began, in a hollow voice

you are, I believe, already a woman in heart and understanding, and you will hear resignedly what I have to tell you, however much the recital may trouble you.

ine, pale and trembli

det's sister, not having the same mother, but

mistaken! tha

od. She confessed her sin, not to the priest, but to a friend, a few days before her death. In justice to her memory, I ought to add that, like most of the unfortunates seduced by this untamabl

res's coarse, sprawling hand, doubtless in reply to a reproachful appeal from his mistress, he endeavored to offer some kind of honorable amends for the vi

Abbe, picking up the letter which Reine had thrown down

flushing of her cheeks, and sat motionless, altogether crushed beneath the shame

the reason for my stupefaction, and I should have been thankful if you could have understood so that I could have spared you this cruel mortification, b

y," murmured Reine, sadly, "and

se me to dismiss Cl

omise

words of consolation; but she evaded, with a stern gesture, t

ight, the magpie was hopping about, uttering short, piercing cries. In the recess of the niche containing the colored prints, sat the old man Vincart, dozing, in his usual supine attitude, his hands spread out, his eye

es before him, sobbing bitterly, and covered his hands with kisses. Her cares

"I loved you always, I shall love y