CHAPTER XI
JULIETTE'S FAREWELL
When Godfrey returned to the Maison Blanche, wearing a handsome goldwatch, which had been presented to him with an effusive letter ofthanks by the gentleman whom he had rescued and his relatives, he foundhimself quite a celebrity. Most of the Pasteur's congregation met himwhen he descended from the diligence, and waved their hats, but as hethanked heaven, did not "jodel."
Leaving the Pasteur to make some acknowledgment, he fled to the house,only to find Madame, Juliette, a number of friends, to say nothing ofJean, the cook and the servant girl, awaiting him there. Madame beamed,and looked as though she were about to kiss him; the fresh and charmingJuliette shook his hand, and murmured into his ear that she had no ideahe was so brave, also that every night she thanked the _Bon Dieu_ forhis escape; while the others said something appropriate--or the reverse.
Once more he fled, this time to his bedroom. There upon hisdressing-table lay two letters, one from his father and one addressedin a curious pointed hand-writing, which he did not know. This heopened at once. It was in French, and ran, as translated:
"Ah! Little Brother,--I know all that has happened to you, nor did your godmother need to wait to read about it in the journals. Indeed, I saw it in my crystal before it happened; you with the man hanging to your arm and the rest. But then a cloud came over the crystal, and I could not see the end. I hoped that he would pull you over the edge, so that in one short minute you became nothing but a red plum-pudding at the bottom of the gulf. For you know that the sweetest-tempered fairy godmother can be made cross by wicked ingratitude and evil treatment. Do not think, little Brother, that I have forgiven you for bringing that old pasteur-fool to insult and threaten me. Not so. I pray the speerits night and day to pay you back in your own coin, you who have insulted them also. Indeed, it was they who arranged this little incident, but they tell me that some other speerit interfered at the last moment and saved you. If so, better luck next time, for do not think you shall escape me and them. Had you been true to us you should have had great good fortune and everything you desire in life, including, perhaps, something that you desire most of all. As it is, you shall have much trouble and lose what you desire most of all. Have you been kissing that pretty Mademoiselle again and trying to make her as bad as her mother? Well, I hope you will, because it will hurt that old fool-pasteur. Wherever you go, remember that eyes follow you, mine and those of the speerits. Hate and bad luck to you, my little Brother, from your dear godmamma, whose good heart you have so outraged. So fare ill till you hear from me again, yes and always. Now you will guess my name, so I need not sign it.
"P.S.--Eleanor also sends you her hate from another sphere."
This precious epistle, filled with malignity, reaching him in the midstof so many congratulations, struck upon Godfrey like a blast of icywind at the zenith of a summer day. To tell the truth also, itfrightened him.
He had tried to forget all about Madame Riennes and now here she wasstabbing him from afar, for the letter bore a Venice postmark. It maybe foolish, but few of us care to be the object of a concentrated,personal hate. Perhaps this is due to the inherited superstitions ofour race, not long emerged from the blackness of barbarism, but atleast we still feel as our forefathers did; as though the will to workevil had the power to bring about the evil desired. It is nonsense,since were it true, none could escape the direst misfortune, as everyone of us is at some time or another the object of the hate or jealousyof other human beings. Moreover, as most of us believe, there is abeing, not human, that hates us individually and collectively, andcertainly would compass our destruction, had he the power, whichhappily he has not, unless we ourselves give it to him.
Godfrey comforted himself with this reflection, also, with another;that in this instance the issue of his peril had been far differentfrom what his enemy desired. Yet, with his nerves still shaken both byhis spiritualistic experiences, and by those of the danger which he hadpassed, the letter undoubtedly did affect him in the way that it wasmeant to do, and the worst of it was that he could not consult hisfriend and guide, the Pasteur, because of the allusion to the scenewith Juliette.
Throwing it down as though it were a venomous snake, which indeed, itwas, he opened that from his father, which was brief. It congratulatedhim coldly on his escape, whereof Mr. Knight said he had heard, not inthe way that he would have expected, from himself, but through thepapers. This, it may be explained, was not strange, since the accountwas telegraphed long before Godfrey had time to write. As a matter offact, however, he had not written, for who cares to indite epistles toan unsympathetic and critical recipient? Most people only composeletters for the benefit of those who like to receive them and, byintuition, read in them a great deal more than the sender records inblack and white. For letter-writing, at its best, is an allusive art,something that suggests rather than describes. It was because Godfreyappreciated this truth in a half unconscious fashion, that he did notcare to undertake an active correspondence with his father. It is theexception also, for young men to care to correspond with their fathers;the respective outlooks, and often, the respective interests, are toodiverse. With mothers it is different, at any rate, sometimes, for intheir case the relationship is more intimate. In the instance of themale parent, throughout the realm of nature, it is apt to have anaccidental aspect or to acquire one as time goes by.
The letter went on to request that he would climb no more Alps, sincehe had been sent to Switzerland, to scale not mountains, but the peaksof knowledge. It added, with that naive selfishness from whichsometimes even the most pious are not exempt, "had you been killed, inaddition to losing your own life, which would not so much havemattered, since I trust that you would have passed to a better, youwould have done a wrong to your family. In that event, as you are notyet of age, I believe the money which your friend left to you recently,would have returned to her estate instead of going to benefit yournatural heirs."
Godfrey pondered over the words "natural heirs," wondering who thesemight be. Coming finally to the conclusion that he had but one, namelyhis father, which accounted for the solicitude expressed so earnestlyin the letter, he uttered an expletive, which should not have passedhis youthful lips, and threw it down upon the top of that of MadameRiennes.
After this he left the room much depressed, and watching hisopportunity, for the merry party in the _salon_ who had gathered togreet him were still there drinking heavy white wine, he slippedthrough the back door to walk in the woods. These woods were lonely,but then they suited his mood. In truth, never had he felt more alonein his life. His father and he were utterly different, and estranged,and he had no other relatives. In friends he was equally lacking. MissOgilvy, whom he had begun to love, was dead, and a friend in heaven issome way off, although he did think he had heard her voice when he wasso near to joining her.
There remained no one save the Pasteur, of whom he was growing trulyfond, so much so, that he wished that the old gentleman had beenappointed to be his father according to the flesh. The rest of theworld was a blank to him, except for Isobel, who had deserted him.
Besides, some new sentiment had entered into his relations with Isobel,whereby these were half spoiled. Of course, although he did notaltogether understand it, this was the eternal complication of sexwhich curses more than it blesses in the world; of sex, the eating firethat is so beautiful but burns. For when that fire has passed over theflowers of friendship, they are changed into some new growth, thathowever gorgeous it may be, yet always smells of flame. Sex being theorigin of life is necessarily also the origin of trouble, since lifeand trouble are inseparable, and devours the gentle joys of friendship,as a kite devours little singing birds. These go to its sustenance, itis true, and both are birds, but the kite is a very different creaturefrom the nightingale or the lark. One of the great advantages ofmatrimony, if it endures long enough, is that when the sex attraction,which was its cause, has faded, or practically died, once more it makesfri
endship possible.
Perhaps the best thing of the little we have been told about heaven, isthat in it there will be no sex. If there were, it is doubtful whetherit could remain heaven, as we define that state, since then must comedesires, and jealousies, and selfishness, and disappointment; alsobirths and deaths, since we cannot conceive sex-love without an object,or a beginning without an end. From all of which troubles we learn thatthe angels are relieved.
Now this wondrous, burning mantle of sex had fallen on Godfrey andIsobel, as he had learned when he saw her with the knight in armour inthe garden, and everything was changed beneath its fiery, smotheringfolds, and for him there was no Isobel. His friend had gone, and he wasleft wandering alone. His distress was deep, and since he was too youngto mask his feelings, as people must learn to do in life, it showeditself upon his face. At supper that night, all of the little partyobserved it, for he who should have been gay, was sad and spoke little.Afterwards, when the Pasteur and Godfrey went to the observatory toresume their astronomical studies, the former looked at him a while,and said:
"What is the matter, Godfrey? Tell me."
"I cannot," he replied, colouring.
"Is it so bad as that then? I thought that perhaps you had onlyreceived a letter, or letters."
"I received two of them. One was from my father, who scolds me becauseI was nearly killed."
"Indeed. He seems fond of scolding, your father. But that is no newthing, and one to which you should be used. How about the other letter?Was it, perchance, from Madame Riennes?"
"It is not signed, but I think so."
"Really. It is odd, but, I too, have had a letter from Madame Riennes,also unsigned, and I think, after reading it, that you may safely showme yours, and then tell me the truth of all these accusations she makesconcerning you and Juliette."
Now Godfrey turned crimson.
"How can I?" he murmured. "For myself I do not care, but it seems likebetraying--someone else."
"It is difficult, my boy, to betray that which is already well known,to me, among others. Had this letter, perchance, something to do withan expedition which you two young people made to search for flowers,and nothing else? Ah! I see it is so. Then you may safely show it tome, since I know all about that expedition."
So Godfrey produced the epistle, for at the moment he forgot that itcontained allusions to Madame also, and holding it gingerly between histhumb and finger, handed it to him. The Pasteur read it through withoutshowing the slightest emotion.
"Ah!" he said, when he had finished, "in her way she is quitemagnificent, that old witch. But, surely, one day, unless she repents,she will be accommodated with some particular hell of her own, sincethere are few worthy to share it with her. You see, my boy, what shesays about Madame. Well, as I think I told her, that dear wife of minemay have had her foolish moments, like most others, if all the truthwere known. But note this--there is a great difference between thosewho have foolish moments, of whatever sort, and those who make it theirbusiness to seek such moments; further, between those who repent oftheir errors and those who glory in, and try to continue them. If youhave any doubt of that study the Bible, and read amongst others, ofDavid, who lived to write the Psalms, and of Mary Magdalene, who becamea saint. Also, although this did not occur to that tiger of a woman, Imay have known of those moments, and even done my best to help my wifeout of them, and been well rewarded"--here his kind old face beamedlike the sun--"oh! yes, most gloriously rewarded. So a fig for the oldwitch and her tales of Madame! And now tell me the truth about yourselfand Juliette, with a mind at ease, for Juliette has told it to mealready, and I wish to compare the stories."
So Godfrey told him everything, and a ridiculous little tale it was.When he had finished the Pasteur burst out laughing.
"You are indeed sinners, you two," he said, "so great, that surely youshould stand dressed in white sheets, one on either side of the altar,with the crushed flower in the middle. Ah! that is what I regret, thisflower, for it is very rare. Only once have I found it in all my life,and then, as there was no lady present, I left it where it grew.Hearken, all this is a pack of nonsense.
"Hearken again, Godfrey. Everybody things me an old fool. How can it behelped with such a face as mine, and these blue spectacles, which Imust wear? But even an old fool sees things sometimes. Thus, I haveseen that Madame, who had once plenty of money to play with, and longs,poor dear, for the fine things of life, is very anxious that herJuliette should make a good marriage. I have seen, too, that she hasthought of you, whom she thinks much richer than you are, as a goodmatch for Juliette, and has done her best to make Juliette think as shedoes, all of which is quite natural in her, and indeed, praiseworthy,especially if she likes and respects the young man. But, my boy, it isthe greatest nonsense. To begin with, you do not, and never will, carefor Juliette, and she does not, and never will, care for you. Yournatures, ah! they are quite different. You have something big in theyou, and Juliette--well, she has not. Marriage with her would be foryou a misery, and for Juliette a misery also, since what have you incommon? Besides, even if it were otherwise, do you think I would allowsuch a thing, with you so young and in my charge? Bah! be good friendswith that pretty girl, and go hunt for flowers with her as much as youlike, for nothing will ever come of it. Only, bet no more in kisses,for they are dangerous, and sparks sometimes set fire to haystacks."
"Indeed, I will not," exclaimed Godfrey with fervour.
"There, then, that trouble is finished." (Here, although he did notknow it, the Pasteur was mistaken.) "And now, as to the rest of thisletter. It is malignant, malignant, and its writer will always seek todo you ill, and perhaps, sometimes succeed. It is the price which youmust pay for having mixed with such a person who mixes with the devil,though that was no fault of yours, my boy. Still, always, always in theworld we are suffering from the faults of others. It is a law, the lawof vicarious sacrifice, which runs through everything, why, we do notknow. Still, be not afraid, for it is you who will win at the last, notshe. For the rest, soon you will go away from here, since the year forwhich you came is almost finished, and you must turn your mind to thebigger life. I pray you when you do, not to forget me, for, my boy, I,who have no son, have learned to love you like a son, better perhaps,than had you been one, since often I have observed that it is notalways fathers and sons that love each other most, frequently the otherway, indeed.
"Also I pray another thing of you--that if you think I have any wisdom,or any little light in the lamp of this ugly, old body of mine, youwill always take me for a counsellor, and write to me concerning yourtroubles, (as indeed, you must do, for remember I am your trustee ofthis property,) and perhaps pay attention to the advice I may give. Andnow let us get to our stars; they are much more amusing than MadameRiennes. It is strange to think that the same God who made the starsalso made Madame Riennes. Truly He is a charitable and tolerant God!"
"Perhaps the devil made her," suggested Godfrey.
"It may be so, it may be so, but is it not said in the Book ofProverbs, I believe, that He makes both good and evil for His owninfinite ends, though what these may be, I, worm that I am, cannotpretend to understand. And now to our stars that are far away and pure,though who knows but that if one were near to them, they would prove asfull of foulness as the earth?"