CHAPTER XLV
THE NECESSITIES OF CONDITION
All through the long illness of Cyrene, which followed the revolt atEaux Tranquilles, and especially after her first grief for the misguidedmen who had fallen in the corridor, her heart dwelt with great intensityon the destruction of her hope of a home. She recurred to it again andagain in her conversations with him, until he ventured to mention to herthe offer once made to him by Liancourt of the position of Commandant ofthe cadet school on his estates.
"Could you retire thither," said he, looking into her eyes with emotion,"away for ever from your friends, away from your rank, from the Court,and all that is so brilliant and belongs to you, to live your life alongwith a man of humble birth wholly unworthy of you? You speak of a quiethearth and of abandonment of the world, but could you make a sacrificeso great as this?"
"Germain, love, do you not know me yet?" she answered, returning him alook of affection which profoundly troubled him. He knelt and kissed herhand in silence. "Is not love life itself?" she said, rising withdifficulty from her arm-chair. "Let us go without delay and obtainpermission," and, taking his hand, led him with steps slow and pitiablyuncertain into the presence of the Marechale.
Madame was seated alone, mumbling to the count of her rosary, but ontheir appearance dropped it in her lap and resumed her usual bearing ofdignity.
"Grand-aunt," began the Baroness, "we have a great boon to ask of you."
"What is it, Baroness?" she said.
"Grand-aunt," Cyrene repeated falteringly, "have you ever known what itis to love?"
The question astonished Madame l'Etiquette. For a moment it seemed as ifa slight mounting of the blood to her wrinkled cheeks was visible. Inthe next her features resumed their stiffness, and she answered, "Tush!that is the business of citizenesses."
"You too have had your dream; I have heard of it," Cyrene persisted."Women are women, whatever their sphere."
"Say illusion, perhaps, not dream; but the subject must cease. What doyou want of me after this very _malapropos_ preface?"
"I ask you to consent to our immediate marriage," Cyrene said withdesperate directness, and tremblingly taking the chair which Germainproffered, sat down with white face, watching Madame de Noaillesanxiously.
The latter did not reply.
"Grand-aunt," pled the young woman, "you have felt like us in your day,the longing for a home, a sweet refuge from the wretchedness of life.You had a lover to make you feel how sweet it might have been."
"Get these silly ideas out of your head," responded Madame l'Etiquette,ignoring Lecour, but speaking in a not unkindly manner. "Your rankdemands an _establishment_, not a home. Monsieur understands that hisposition and yours are very different, and that two things at least arenecessary in order to make your marriage possible--his standing as aBodyguard, and a complete establishment. The riotous condition of hisprovince makes the latter very dubious. You understand this, Monsieur deLincy?"
"It must be admitted, Madame la Marechale," Lecour said sorrowfully.
"You have some sense, I observe."
"But I can live without an establishment. A position is open to Germainin the provinces as Commandant of a school," Cyrene exclaimed.
Madame uttered an exclamation so energetic, and she rose so fiercelyfrom her chair that Cyrene stopped in dismay.
"Saints of heaven!" went on the Marechale, "is the family on the brinkof a catastrophe? Can the Noailles, the Court, and the Crown afford toallow a Montmorency to annihilate herself? How dare you, forgetful ofyour relatives, your position, your descent from a hundred kings,advance such a proposal to the Chief Lady of Honour. I am something,Madame, and I intend to be considered, and to see that your family shallbe considered. A pretty idea this, of rustic innocence and ruralretirement, of straw bonnets and shepherding, of the new school to whichyou belong and who are the enemies of everything permanent. You aredestroying customs to make way for theories, manners for booncomradeship, chivalry for finance, elegance for vulgarity, religion foratheism, and character for sentiment. You are to blame for all thepresent disorders, and such as you have brought about the burning ofyour own chateau. No, Madame, I will not permit the marriage. How dareyou propose it to her, sir?"
Lecour said nothing. He could not.
Cyrene continued bravely.
"The matter is of the deepest concern--of infinite importance to us."
"I have decided it. I am the guardian of your future, and I intend toremain so."
"You are the lady head of the family and guardian of my future under thewill of my father, but let me say without disrespect that I am a widow,and legally control my own right to dispose of my hand."
"You think you could disobey me? I could easily see to that. The Kingwould refuse to sign the contract of marriage, and there my power wouldonly begin."
"You cannot prevent us from at least marrying. The humblest Frenchpeasants have a right to that without any royal signature."
"Yes I can, and I will show you the power of the old school!" cried thedame, straightening herself with an inconceivable triumph and shakingout the folds of her brocade. "Monsieur de Lincy here knows well that Iam right in preventing you from sacrificing your position. I call upon_his honour as a noble_ not to allow this disgrace to fall upon you. Icall upon it to sustain the head of your house. I call upon it toreverence the wish of the dead and the will of the King. You admit meright and just, Monsieur de Lincy? I call upon your honour as a noble.Answer me."
"There is but one way of replying," he returned slowly; and Cyrene inher very anguish showed her pride in his response to the fatal appeal tohis honour.
"Well, then," Madame cried, partaking in that pride and changing hermanner to one of much kindliness, "you have done well and are goodchildren. Believe that my strictness shall endure no longer than isnecessary. It is true that in the name of order I forbid your marriage,but I consent to your remaining affianced until these troubles of ourcountry pass away or Monsieur obtains some establishment, no matter howsmall, if sufficient, and even though that should take as long as yourlives may last. Kneel and receive an old woman's blessing."
With what disappointed and mingled feelings they knelt before her andbowed to the conquest of nature by the Old _Regime_.