A Woodland Queen ('Reine des Bois') - Complete

took the straight line toward the pa

but which led them without other difficulty to the bottom of a woody dell, where they were able to ford the stream. As soon as they had, with difficulty, ascended t

shall be at Vivey. This devil of a fog cuts into one's skin like a bunch of needles. With your pe

n the good-will of his fare by showing himself as loquacious as he had before been cross and sulky. But Julien de Buxieres, too much occupied in observing the details of

mnal trappings. The pleasant remembrance of Reine Vincart's hospitality doubtless predisposed him to enjoy the charm of this sunshiny morning, for he became, perhaps for the first time in his life, suddenly alive to the beauty of this woodland scenery. By degrees, toward the left, the brushwood became less dense, and several gray

, "and here is your prope

was also somewhat shadowed by a dim perspective of the technical details incumbent on his taking possession. No doubt he should be obliged, in the beginning, to make himself personally recognized, to show the workmen and servants of the chateau that the new owner was equal to the situation. Now, Julien was not, by nature, a man of action, and the delicately ex

ey don't seem to be expecti

on the chain attached to the bell. At the sound of the rusty clamor, a furious barking was hea

hman, giving another pull, and stealing a furtive

o the avenue, the dogs all the while continuing their uproar. Just as they reach

, in a slow, drawling voice, "is it

ty and cunning, increased still more Julien's embarrassment. He advance

. I have come to install myself in the chateau, and I had sent word of my int

a mingling of curiosity and scornful surprise which completed the young man's discomfiture. "Monsieur Ar

ably, being desirous from the beginning to evince charitable

six years, and can truly say I served him with devotion! But now I am only staying here in charge of th

und-I should be obliged if you would have our carriage brought into the yard. And then, if you will kindly show us the wa

f you will walk this way, gentlemen, I will take you into the only roo

he smoky room, where a small servant was making coffee over a clear charcoal fire. As the travellers ente

specially for his benefit, "here is Monsieur de Bux

nt salutation, and then the young me

ind of surprised and pitying compassion which was very hard for Julien to bear. He turned uneasily away, making a lame excuse of ordering some wine for his coachman; and while

nlike any of the Buxieres of the elder branch that it seemed quite excusable to hesitate about the relationship. Claudet

de Buxieres?" asked he, surveying

an impostor?" excl

not carry your name written on your face, and, by Jove! as guardian of

presence of the coachman who had brought him from La

papers?" he inquired, in a h

ce, hastened to interpose, in h

asking him to prove his right, that is not our business-it belongs to the justice and the notary. You

who had been sent to open th

e, "and Monsieur's boxes are in the hall.

to the young boy, with an expressi

y the room of our deceased master, where the seals have been r

y luggage carried up there, and give ord

sign, and the boy and t

you right, I can no longer reckon upon your services to take care

a day or two more or less! I am not so very particular, and I don't mind attendin

onded Julien, quickly, anxious to conciliat

inished his bottle, the

osed, Manette and her son

laudet. "He looks like a s

," returned Manette, s

ickly, effeminate being. In the mouth of Madame Sejournant, this pic

hands angrily in his bushy hair, "that such a

ghting-cock airs, he hasn't two farthings' worth of spunk-it would be easy enough to lead him by the nose. Do you see, Claudet, if we were to manage properly, instead of t

mean by pol

s a young bird that has fallen from its nest. What we have to do is to help him to get control of himself, and

f the man who has cheated me out of my inh

a man who is up to his neck in devotion. When he once feels we are necessary to his comfort, and that some reliable person, like the curate, for example, were to whisper to him that

this gentleman of my relationship to Claude de Buxieres. I refused, and forbade the notary to open his mouth on the subject. What! should I play the part of a c

bread at strangers' doors!" replied Ma

and the inclination to use them, one has no need to beg one's bread. En

n to open his boxes and valises. The chimney, which had not been used since the preceding winter, smoked unpleasantly, and the damp logs only blackened instead of burning. The boxes lay wide open, and the room of the deceased Claude de Buxieres had the uncomfortable aspect of a place long uninhabited

ame day! The recollection of the cheerful and hospitable interior of La Thuiliere contrasted painfully with his cold, bare Vivey mansion, tenanted solely by hostile domestics. Who were these people-this Manette Sejournant with her treacherous smile, and this fellow Claudet, who had, at the very first, subjected him to such offensive questioning? Why did they seem so ill-disposed toward him? He felt as if he were completely enveloped in an atmosph

his cousin de Buxieres. He had hardly finished when Zelie made her appearance with some plates and a tablecloth,

e, "so the woo

ew, and it was at least a minute before he

tinued, "I'll go and

n straightening the logs: she piled these up on the andirons, and then, applying her mouth vigorously to a lo

contempt for the "city Monsieur" who did not even know how to

cause she had been cautioned beforehand, or because she did not very well comprehend M. de Buxieres's somewhat literary style of French, would answer only in monosyllables, or else speak only

er culinary art, barely tasted the roast partridge, and to Zelie's great

girl, as he folded his napkin, "that I am not a grea

ntered through the moldy shutters showed a few scattered benches of oak, and the painted wooden altar. He knelt down and endeavored to collect his thoughts, but the rude surroundings of this rustic sanctuary did not tend to comfort his troubled spirit, and he became conscious of a sudden withering of all religious fervor. He turned and left the place, taking a path that led through the forest. It did not interest him more than the village; the woods spoke no language which his heart could understand; he could not distinguish an ash from an oak, and all the diff

uments proving his identity, begging him to proceed without delay to the legal breaking of the seals. They accordingly began operations, and went through all the house without interruption, accompanied by Claudet, who stood stiff and sullen behind the justice, taking advantage of every little opportunity to testify his dislike and ill-feeling toward the legal heir of Claude de Buxieres. Toward eleven o'clock, the proceedings came to an end, the

e idea that her son, who had always sat at table with the late Claude de Buxieres, should be consigned to the kitchen in presence of these distinguished visitors from Auberive, and had deliberately laid a place for him at the master's table, hoping that the latter would not dare put

asted." So saying, he turned his back on M. de Buxie

their hunting adventures. Their conversation was very trying to Julien's nerves. Nevertheless, he endeavored to fulfil his duties as master of the house, throwing in a word now and then, so as to appear interested in their gossip, but he ate hardly a mouthful. His features had a pinched expression, and every now and then he caught himself trying to smother a yawn. His companions at the table could not understand a young man of twe

matters of your inheritance. You had better keep them under lock and key, and study them at your leisure. You will find them very interesting. I need hardly say," he added, "that I am at your service for any necessary advice or explanation. But, in resp

ith an imperious gesture, an

to show a kindly feeling toward Monsieur Claudet, but I have been only here twenty-four hours, an

had it on the tip of his tongue to inform Julien of the facts concerning the parentage of Claudet de Buxieres; but, however much he wished to render Claudet a service, he wa

r de Buxieres," replied he,

and the three comrades wended their way to Auberive through the woods, discussi

tourbet, "does not at all resem

o families kept apart from each ot

om the wine had rendered tender-hearted; "he wil

ood costs nothing could find ample room to blaze and crackle. It took the young man several days to make the necessary changes, and during that time he enjoyed a respite from the petty annoyances worked by the steady hostility of Manette Sejournant and her son. To the great indignation of the inhabitants of the chateau, he packed off the massive billiard-table, on which Claude de Buxieres had so often played in company with his chosen friends, to the garre

terms, unintelligible to any but the original writer. Julien became completely bewildered among these various documents, the explanations in which were harder to understand than conundrums. Although greatly averse to following the notary's advice as to seeking Claudet's assistance, he found himself compelled to do so, but was met by such laconic and surly answers that he concluded it would be more dignified on his part to dispense with the services of one who was so badly disposed toward him. He therefore resolved to have recourse to the debtors themselves, whose names he found, after much difficulty, in the books. These consisted mostly of peasants of the neighborhood,

uld like to intimidate and send about his business. Manette Sejournant, who was always talking about going, still remained in the chateau, and was evidently exerting her influence to keep her son also with her. The fawning duplicity of this woman was unbearable to Julien; he had not the energy necessary either

back to Nancy, to his little room in the Rue Stanislaus, where, at any rate, he could read, meditate, or make plans for the future without being every moment tormented by miserable, petty annoyances. His temper was becoming soured, his nerves were unstrung, and his mind was so disturbed that he fanci

sound of a door opening and shutting made him start; he turned quickly around, saw

ll in rebellious curls from under the border of her cap, of which the only decoration was a bow of black ribbon; the end floating gracefully over

ar, pleasantly modulated voice; "I think you may remember

exclaimed Julien. "Why,

oked the one pleasant remembrance in his mind since his arrival in Vivey. It shot, like a ray of sunlight, across the heav

pon you before now, to thank you for your kind hospitality, but I have

e, but, it is easy to see you have been worried! Your features are drawn and y

eed," sighed he, "I do not think I agree any better with them. But I need not annoy other persons merely becaus

late Monsieur de Buxieres, during the sale of the Ronces forest." She drew from under her cloak a little bag of gray linen, containing gold, five-franc pieces and bank-notes. "Will

h notes jotted down on various slips of paper, until at last, in an impatient fit of v

among themselves to leave me under a wrong impression, or even to make my uncertainties still greater! Ah! Mademoiselle Reine, you were right! I do not understand the ways of y

y down, she picked up the scattered papers, and while putting them in ord

easily to new influences. The beginning is always difficult for them. I know something about it myself. When I returned from Dijon to take charge of the affairs at La Thuiliere, I had no

arrassment to hear himself lectured by this young peasant gi

elle Vincart," remarked he, admi

s; and you, Mons

oon be twe

en us; still, you are the older, an

ove of action. I have a love o

you allow me to speak frankly to you? If you wish people to come to you, you must first get out of yourself and go to seek

with two persons around here,"

h per

d to be pleasant with Claudet, and recei

excusable. You can not expect he will be very gracious

?-I do not

hink it is better to put you in possession of the facts: Your deceased cousin never was married, but he had a child all the same-Claudet is hi

de de Buxieres?" ejaculat

e young girl, coloring, "don't tell Claudet I have spoken to you about it. I have been talking here to

shown herself so sensible, so resolute, and so sincere. He bent his head, colle

are the first person who has been frank w

Monsieur d

n awkward attempt to follow her. She turned tow

ge!" she added, a

tion enabled him to view the matter from a different standpoint, he found Claudet's attitude toward him both intelligible and excusable. In fact, the lad was acting in accordance with a very legitimate feeling of mingled pride and anger. After all, he really was Claude de Buxieres's son-a natural son, certainly, but one who had been implicitly acknowledged both in private and in public by his father. If the latter had had time to draw u

ndemnify Claudet for the wrong caused to him by the carelessness of Claude de Buxieres. Reine had simply told him the facts without attempting to give him any advice, but it was evident that, according to her loyal and energetic way of thinking, there was injustice to be repaired. Julien was con

" said he. "I wish

ked inquiri

esn't want to stay any longer at other peoples' expense. And, by the way, Monsieur de Buxieres, have

lly occupied in putting together the sides of a packing-case. Although the latter saw the heir of the de

"can you spare me a few minutes

moment, then, throwing away his hammer

t your

ntered an avenue of leafy lime-trees,

of the walk, "excuse me if I venture on a delica

you know?" demande

cousin de Buxieres," replied the

asserot' knit

en too long, or else that blind magpie of a notary

tranger, and I know also that you would be master here if Claude de Buxieres had taken the precaution to

he muttered between his teeth: "You o

you openly as his son; if he had done what he ought, made a legal acknowledgment, you would have the right, even i

yes with amazement. The proposal seemed so incredible that h

e half the inherit

you a certified deed of relin

him with a violent s

e condition,"

ed Claudet, still

to live here, with me, a

ng feeling of doubt and a kind of innate pride prevented him from

ou have not thought much about it, and later you might regret

rnestly. Then, becoming more confidential as his conscience was relieved of its burden, he continued, pleasantly: "You see I am

t his hand seized, and affectionate

accept-thanks-but, what have I to give you in exchange?-nothing but my f

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