The philosopher drew his daughter on his knee.
"Very well. We will not mention music to your lover."
The word had slipped out but it stung the young girl, however, she would not let her resentment appear.
"So," she thought, "they all accept the courting of Albert Styvens. My father himself is part of the conspiracy against me."
She led Genevieve outside and confided to her her apprehensions. Her young friend did not deny that the coming of Count Styvens had the appearance to all of an approaching proposal of marriage.
"My G.o.d," said Esperance, pressing her friend"s arm, "it seems to me that I shall never be able to say "Yes." I am so happy as I am."
The two girls were sitting on a little mound. The moon was reflected in a sea as quiet as the sky.
"See," said Esperance, "that is the image of my life. At this moment I am calm, happy, and my art is like that bright star. It brightens everything for me without troubling me.... I do not love Count Styvens. Oh!" she went on in answer to a movement from Genevieve, "I like him as a friend, but I do not love him. I know he is a gallant gentleman, a fine musician, and a splendid athlete; I recognize that he is very generous and that he is entirely unselfish--for these I greatly respect him, but these qualities alone have nothing to do with love."
"He is a very good-looking man," said Genevieve.
"His arms are too long and he has not any decided colour. His face, his hair, his eyes are all of a neutral tint which you cannot define."
"But handsome men are very rare!"
Esperance did not answer.
"There is the Duke de Morlay-La-Branche, too. Do you like him any better?"
The moon shone full on Esperance"s face.
"Great Heavens, dearie," exclaimed Genevieve quickly, "you are not in love with that man, I hope."
"Don"t speak so loud," said Esperance, frightened. "No, I am not in love with the Duke, but he bothers me, I confess. He is continually in my mind, and the thought of him makes the blood rush to my heart. When he is present I can struggle against him, but I have no strength against the picture of him I so often conjure up. That dominates me more than he can do himself. That seems innocent enough, but I know very well all the same, that I find every excuse for dwelling on the thought of him. No, I do not love him ... but still...." she murmured very low.
Genevieve took her friend in her arms.
"Esperance, darling, save yourself! Think of the downfall of your mother"s happiness, think of the fearful remorse of your father. Think of your G.o.dfather"s iniquitous triumph. Ah! I beg of you, accept the Count"s love, become his wife, you will be constrained by your loyalty to save your father"s honour. But the Duke...."
"My father"s honour is precious to me, and you see, I am defending it badly," said Esperance. She wept quietly. Genevieve drew her head down on her shoulder. Esperance kissed her.
"Come, we must go back, it is getting late. I thank you, Genevieve, and I love you."
A letter arrived the next morning which announced that the Count would pay them his visit on Thursday.
There were just three days before his coming. Esperance had made up her mind, after her talk with Genevieve, to accede to her parents"
wishes. She and Genevieve went to inspect the room that had been prepared for the Count. It was a little square apartment very nicely arranged. On the floor was a mat with red and white squares. The windows looked out on the rocky coast. The young people decided to hang some small variegated laurels from the ceiling to decorate it. On the mantel they put some flower vases on either side of a plaque representing the golden wedding of a Breton couple. Mme. Darbois opened for them what Esperance called her "reliquary," and they found there flowers and ribbons. They chose wisteria, and lavender and white ribbons, then went to work on their wreath. A large crown of pretty bunches was hung from satin ribbons. When it was ready the four young people went with ladder and tools to hang the wreaths, Maurice standing high up on the ladder drove in the peg intended to hold the crown.
"As reward for this service, you know," he said, "I must be allowed to put the wreath on your pretty head, the day that you are married."
Esperance blushed and sighed sadly.
The room was charming in its decoration, though when it was finished it seemed more fit for a young girl than for a big, broad-shouldered man.
M. and Mme. Darbois went to meet Count Styvens at Palais. Francois had taken his gla.s.ses and pointed out the boat to his wife.
"There is the Count," said Mme. Darbois. "I recognize his tall figure."
In truth, Albert Styvens was stepping ash.o.r.e, holding in his arms a child of two or three years. He put it down carefully, and held out his hand to a poor, bent old woman, who tried to straighten up to thank the kind gentleman.
Francois and Germaine came up to the young man, who pressed the philosopher"s hand and presented his respects to Mme. Darbois: and seeing them look with some curiosity at the old woman, he said, "Here, Madame, are some good people deserving of your kindness. Mme. Borderie is this little chap"s grandmother. Her widowed son died five months ago of tuberculosis, and as the child was coughing she gave everything she had to take him to a specialist in Nantes. The rough sea to-day made the poor little fellow ill, bringing on a horrible coughing attack. The poor woman was too weak to hold him during his convulsions, and he rolled away from her, and she was so frightened when he did not move, that she was going to throw herself overboard. I rushed with the other pa.s.sengers to stop her, we calmed her finally, and after some little time I was able to resuscitate the child, who had gone off in a fit."
The poor woman wept as he talked, and showed a banknote he had slipped into her hand when he said good-bye.
"You must put that away. You will need it," said the young Count, smiling.
"Where do you live?" enquired Germaine.
"At Pont-Herlin."
"That is some distance away?"
The old woman shook her head and feebly shrugged her thin shoulders.
"I must go there."
"Well, Mme. Borderie, we will take you there."
Without further parley, Albert picked the old woman up lightly and set her down in the brake. The baby was deposited on her knees where he promptly fell asleep. The Count"s little trunk found place beside the farmer on the front seat. A basket of osier, which the young man had handled very carefully, was also placed in the brake, and then they set off for Pont-Herlin.
They were growing anxious at the farm of Penhouet, at the non-appearance of M. and Mme. Darbois, Pont-Herlin lies some way from the Point des Poulains and the roads are not in very good condition, especially for a two horse brake. But soon the wind brought the sound of horse"s hoofs and shortly after the brake drew up before the farm. Albert went white at sight of Esperance. She had come forward first, fearful on account of the delay. Mme. Darbois explained the cause, and spoke of the Count"s great kindness, to the old woman and her boy.
Esperance raised her pretty eyes, damp with emotion; she looked at Albert, wishing she could admire his person as much as she did his mind. And, somehow, as she looked she was agreeably surprised.
"After all, he is not ugly, if he is not handsome," she thought, "and he is so genuinely good."
In this state of mind she left her hand an instant in his and he trembled.
The young people were anxious to lead Styvens to his room. Francois, however, was not allowed to accompany them. They marched two ahead, two behind, with the Count between, like a prisoner. Never before had Albert seen Esperance so naturally gay, never had he found her more fascinating. He was almost delirious with happiness. Life seemed to him only possible with this lovely creature for his wife! His wife!
Such an accession of blood gushed into his heart at the thought that he stopped giddily.
Jean and Genevieve, who closed the order of march, b.u.mped against him, for he stopped so suddenly that they thought something must be wrong.
"Good Heavens! are you ill?" asked Genevieve.
The Count smiled. "Excuse me, I am sorry. It was my mistake."
As they went on again Maurice whispered to his cousin, "You know, Esperance, you have it in your power to make that man happy for ever.
I can see it. Why it seems to be almost a duty. It will be like offending Providence to refuse the wonderful future that lies open before you."
Esperance was very thoughtful, but her gay spirits returned when they arrived at the "Five Divisions of the World." The little cortege climbed the narrow staircase, crossed the little ante-chamber which opened on the opposite side on a court cut out of the rock. Each room had a door on this natural court. Stopping before the last door, on which was written "Oceania," the young people bowed before the Count.
"Behold the prison of your Highness!"