Part 72 (1/2)
”What? what do you mean?”
”That I know all.--Oh! forgive me for questioning that woman, but I could not resist my curiosity. Your confusion at the sight of her seemed so strange!”
”That woman! Have you talked with Lucile?”
”Yes, and I know now that, far from being guilty toward your wife, you were shamefully deceived by her.”
”Oh! hus.h.!.+ hus.h.!.+”
”Never again, I give you my word, will I remind you of a thing that has caused you such pain. Now I can understand why you would not go back to her--why you fled from her. I blamed you; I thought that I was an obstacle to your reconciliation, and that is why I tried to go away from you. But, since things are as they are, why should I doom myself to everlasting misery? why should I not abandon myself to the sentiment which you have inspired in me?”
”What are you saying, Caroline? If my wife were guilty, am I the more free for that?”
”Free? no, I am well aware that I cannot be your wife. But what do I care for that t.i.tle? it is your love alone that I want; as you know, I worry very little about the world and the proprieties. I am my own mistress; why should I not dare to love you? Because you are bound to somebody who has made your life wretched, must you drag out your whole existence in bitterness and solitude?--No! on the contrary, I propose, by my love, to make you forget your sorrows. It will be so sweet to me to be your only friend--to have all your thoughts, every moment of your life!--But you do not answer? Great G.o.d! have I made a mistake? Can it be that you do not love me? Oh! then there is nothing left in life for me--I can only die!--Henri! Henri!--He does not answer!”
She had placed her head on my breast. I cannot describe what took place within me. How could I spurn, how fly from a woman whom I loved? I had not the strength. I raised that lovely head. As I sought to comfort her, my face touched hers; our cheeks were burning, our lips met. We forgot the whole world, we existed only for each other.
I do not know how long we stayed there on that turf, the scene of our transports. I was happy, and yet something oppressed and saddened me. I was afraid to reflect. Caroline had thrown her arms about my neck; she was engrossed by her love. I looked about and listened; there was no sound to be heard.
”It is very late. I think that I must go home,” said Caroline; ”you will go with me, won't you, dear?”
”Of course.”
”Where are we?”
”I don't know; but I should think that we were not far from Ernest's garden. Yes--that wall----”
”True--and I think that I see a summer-house too.”
”A summer-house? Oh! let us go at once.”
”You will come to-morrow, won't you, dear?--However, I shall see you every day now.”
”Yes, I will see you to-morrow--I will talk with you.”
”How strangely you say that! What is the matter?”
”Nothing. But come--let us go away from here.”
Caroline put her arm about me; mine was about her waist, and in that position we walked away from the spot that had heard our oaths. It was very dark, we had not taken ten steps when our feet tripped over something. Caroline stooped and exclaimed with a shriek of terror:
”O my G.o.d! it is a woman, my dear!”