Love Eternal

  The Pasteur was right when he said that Madame Riennes would not ceasefrom attempts to do evil to Godfrey, and therefore wrong when he addedthat the trouble she had caused was finished. Of this, that young manwas made painfully aware, when a fortnight or so later another letterfrom his father reached him. It informed him that Mr. Knight hadreceived an anonymous communication which stated that he, Godfrey, wasleading an evil life in Lucerne, also that he was being entrapped intoa marriage with Mademoiselle Boiset, whom he had been seen embracingbehind some rocks. The letter ended:

  "Lacking proof, I do not accept these stories as facts, although, as there is no smoke without fire, I think it probable that there is something in them and that you are drifting into undesirable companionships. At any rate I am sure that the time has come for you to return home and to commence your studies for the Church. I have to request, therefore, that you will do this at once as I am entering your name at my own college for the next term and have so informed the trustees under Miss Ogilvy's will, who will no doubt meet the expense and give you a suitable allowance. I am writing to the Pasteur Boiset to the same effect. Looking forward to seeing you, when we can discuss all these matters in more detail, --I am, your affectionate father,"Richard Knight."

  In dismay Godfrey took this letter to the Pasteur. For the last thingGodfrey wished to do was to leave Kleindorf and the house in which hewas so welcome and so well treated, in order to return to the stonybosom of Monk's Acre Abbey.

  "I have also received a letter," said Monsieur Boiset; "it seems thatyou and I always receive disagreeable letters together. The last werefrom the witch-woman Riennes, and these are from your father. He has anunpleasant way of writing, this father of yours, although he is a goodman, for here he suggests that I am trying to trap you for ason-in-law, wherein I see the fat finger of that witch Riennes, who hasso great a passion for the anonymous epistle. Well, if he had said thatI wished to trap you for a son, he would have shot nearer to thebulls'-eye, but for a son-in-law, as you know, it is not so. Still, youmust go; indeed, it is time that you went, now that you talk French sowell, and have, I hope, learnt other things also, you to whom the bigworld opens. But see, your father talks of your entering the Church.Tell me, is this so? If so, of course, I shall be happy."

  "No," said Godfrey, shaking his head.

  "Then," replied the Pasteur, "I may say that I am equally happy. It isnot everyone that has a call for this vocation, and there are more waysof doing good in the world than from the floor of a pulpit. Myself, Ihave wondered sometimes--but let that be; it is the lot of certain ofus, who think in our vanity that we could have done great things, to beobliged to do the small things, because God has so decreed. To one Hegives the ten talents, to the other only one talent, or even but afranc. Whatever it be, of it we must make the best, and so long as wedo not bury it, we have done well. I can only say that I have tried touse my franc, or my fifty centimes, to such advantage as I could, andhope that in some other place and time I may be entrusted with a largersum. Oh! my boy, we are all of us drawn by the horses of Circumstance,but, as I believe, those horses have a driver who knows whither he isguiding us."

  A few days later Godfrey went. His last midday meal at the MaisonBlanche, before he departed to catch the night train for Paris, wasrather a melancholy function. Madame, who had grown fond of him in hersomewhat frivolous way, openly dropped tears into her soup. Juliettelooked sad and _distraite_, though inwardly supported by the knowledgethat her distant cousin, the notary Jules, was arriving on the morrowto spend his vacation at the Maison Blanche, so that Godfrey's roomwould not be without an occupant. Indeed, in her pretty little head shewas already planning certain alterations in the arrangement of thefurniture, to make it more comfortable to the very different tastes ofthe new comer.

  Still, she was truly sorry to lose her friend the _Hibou_, although shehad not been able to fulfil her mother's wish, and make him fall inlove with her, or even to fall in love with him herself. As sheexplained to Madame Boiset, it was of no use to try, since betweentheir natures there were fixed not only a great gulf, but several wholeranges of the Alps, and whereas the _Hibou_ sat gazing at the starsfrom their topmost peak, she was picking flowers in the plain andsinging as she picked them.

  The Pasteur did not make matters better by the extremely forced gaietyof his demeanour. He told stories and cracked bad jokes in theintervals of congratulating Godfrey at his release from so dull a placeas Kleindorf. Godfrey said little or nothing, but reflected to himselfthat the Pasteur did not know Monk's Acre.

  At last the moment came, and he departed with a heavy heart, for he hadlearned to love these simple, kindly folk, especially the Pasteur. Howglad he was when it was over and he had lost sight of the handkerchiefsthat were being waved at him from the gate as the hired vehicle rolledaway. Not that it was quite over, for the Pasteur accompanied him tothe station, in order, as he said, to take his last instructions aboutthe Villa Ogilvy, although, in truth, Godfrey had none to give.

  "Please do what you think best," was all that he could say. Also, whenseveral miles further on, they came to a turn in the road, there,panting on a rock, stood Juliette, who had reached the place, runningat full speed, by a short cut through the woods. They had no time tostop, because the Pasteur thought that they were late for the train,which, as a matter of fact, did not leave for half-an-hour after theyreached the station. So they could only make mutual signals ofrecognition and farewell. Juliette, who looked as though she werecrying, kissed her hand to him, calling out:

  "Adieu, adieu! _cher ami_," while he sought refuge in the Englishman'susual expedient of taking off his hat.

  "It is nothing, nothing," said the Pasteur, who had also notedJuliette's tear-swollen eyes, "to-morrow she will have Jules to consoleher, a most worthy young man, though me he bores."

  Here, it may be added, that Jules consoled her so well, that within ayear they were married, and most happily.

  Yet Godfrey was destined never to see that graceful figure and gaylittle face again, since long before he revisited Lucerne Juliette diedon the birth of her third child. And soon, who thought of Julietteexcept perhaps Godfrey, for her husband married again very shortly, asa worthy and domestic person of the sort would do. Her children weretoo young to remember her, and her mother, not long afterwards, wascarried off by a sudden illness, pneumonia, to join her in the Shades.Except the Pasteur himself none was left.

  Well, such is the way of this sad world of change and death. ButGodfrey never forgot the picture of her standing breathless on the rockand kissing her slim hand to him. It was one of those incidents which,when they happen to a man in his youth, remain indelibly impressed uponhis mind.

  At the station there were more farewells, for here was the notary, whohad managed Miss Ogilvy's Swiss affairs and now, under the direction ofMonsieur Boiset, attended to those of Godfrey. Also such of theservants were present as had been kept on at the Villa, while amongthose walking about the platform he saw Brother Josiah Smith andProfessor Petersen, who had come evidently to see the last of him, andmake report to a certain quarter.

  The Pasteur talked continually, in his high, thin voice, to cover uphis agitation, but what it was all about Godfrey could never remember.All he recollected of the parting was being taken into those long arms,embraced upon the forehead, and most fervently blessed.

  Then the train steamed off, and he felt glad that all was over.