The Span o' Life: A Tale of Louisbourg & Quebec
CHAPTER XXI
I AWAKE FROM MY DREAM
It was a scene that would have done credit to a much larger centrethan Quebec. It is true the walls were bare of any fitting decoration,the windows too small to break them with any effect, the chandeliersmean in size, and the sconces but makeshifts; still, the room wasimposing in its proportions and the company brilliant.
I recognised the Intendant without difficulty. He was a small man,delicately formed, and wore his dark red hair with but littlepowder. He was most handsomely dressed, his carriage was dignifiedand easy, and the charm of which Angelique had spoken was at onceapparent; I quite understood how one might forget the plain, sicklyface, marked by the traces of excess, for it was frank and open,and one could not but acknowledge its strength.
I saw, too, M. Poulariez, looking very handsome in his new whiteuniform of the Royal Rouissillon; the Major Joannes, and otherswhom Angelique had described, or we had seen from our windows ontheir way to one or other of the three divinities of the rue duParloir. They were all there, vying with each other, Mme. deLanaudiere, Mme. de Beaubassin, and Mme. Pean, and though theirdresses were doubtless far behind the mode, they were all threenoticeable women, and dressed with discretion.
At the opposite end were the musicians, whose efforts weresurprisingly good; and in a long gallery down one side stood theonlookers, crowding it to its utmost capacity. Angelique sate thecentre of an animated group at no great distance from where I washidden, and her evident delight in the merry trifling that went onabout her made a charming picture; but he whom I sought was notone of the little court before her, and I scanned the room eagerly.For the first time I realised that he might be changed; that I hadchanged much myself--for ten years is a long time out of one'slife--and with a pang I thought of Angelique's girlish freshness,and wished I could have remained eighteen for his sake.
At last! My heart leaped within me, and my eyes swam so I couldhardly see, for there was Hugh, the one and only love of my life!"Oh, Hugh! Hugh! my darling!" I murmured, forgetful of all, savethat my dreamings had come true, and my eyes had been granted theirdesire.
He was coming slowly down the room, making his way gracefullythrough the crowd, bowing and occasionally speaking to other guestsas he passed. It pained me to see how thin and worn his face hadgrown; but, if anything, it was handsomer than ever, though, likethat of most of the officers, it was too brown from constantexposure. How could Angelique call him old? For his figure was aslight and graceful as I ever pictured it, and his bearing as perfectas of yore. He was not in uniform, but was fittingly dressed in apuce-coloured coat, relieved with narrow silver braid, and hiswhite satin waistcoat and small-clothes were ornamented in the samemanner.
He came directly up to where Angelique sate, and, bowing low,answered her lively greeting with his winning smile, and I couldalmost catch the soft tones of his voice where I stood.
"And bowing low, answered her lively greeting."]
Presently she rose, and dismissing her court with a laughing bow,they moved down the room together, and as they did so my lovefollowed them, sweeping all doubts aside, and I fell to defendinghim against myself with all my soul. I had never read that letteraright. Should I not have remembered that such a man could neverhurt a woman? It was an impossibility for him to have written medirect; and had he not, through the very hands of my enemy, sentme effective warning not to intrust myself to his treacherousguidance?--"Keep the lady claiming to be my wife at such, a distancethat I may never set eyes on her again." Could anything be plaineror better conceived? If he had denied being married, his lettercould have carried no message for me, and would have placed me ineven a worse position. It was through my own pride and stupiditythat I had blundered into denying the marriage, and so had thrownmyself into the power of Sarennes.
"Good-evening, mademoiselle," whispered a voice; and I faced about,trembling with sudden terror, to find M. de Sarennes close behind me.
"Good-evening, mademoiselle," he repeated, smiling at my dismay."You did not expect to see me?"
"I did not know you were in Quebec," I gasped, trying hard torecover my self-control.
"Nor did any one else, save your friend M. de Montcalm; I arrivedan hour ago."
"How did you know I was here?" I asked, to gain time.
"I guessed whither you had been drawn when I did not find you atthe house, and a crown to the right lackey brought me here. Andnow, with your permission, we will finish that conversation yourfriend the Jesuit interrupted more than six months ago. No, youdare not cry out; and see, I have the key. You are more alone withme here than in the woods at Beaulieu," and he smiled with an airof triumph that made me desperate.
"It is useless to attempt to frighten me, monsieur," I said, boldly."I am among friends."
"Indeed? And you count this Chevalier de Maxwell among them?"
"I do; for now I understand the letter he sent."
"May I ask in what way?"
"In the way of a warning not to trust myself to a man in whom hehad no confidence."
"Ah! He has explained this to you himself?"
"No, monsieur; it was my own fault I did not see it at the time."
"Will you answer me one question truthfully? Have you seen M. deMaxwell? You will not answer? Then your silence speaks for you.Now if this letter had been sent with the meaning you pretend toput upon it, do you not think M. de Maxwell would have sought youout in a little place like Quebec, where he has no other occupationon his hands than to win enough at pharaon to dress himself forsuch duties as these?" he said, contemptuously, as he waved hishand towards the ball-room; and with the sneering words my defenceof a few moments before was in the dust. "You have seen him here,"he went on, when he marked the effect of his words. "Does he looklike a man who is eating his heart out; or like one who is free ofa burthen and trying to enjoy the present? Marguerite, listen tome! For your sake I have braved disgrace and perhaps ruin; for yoursake I would go through it again--"
"How dare you speak to me thus, monsieur!" I interrupted. "Youinsult me beyond endurance when you dare to say I ever inspiredany man to be a traitor and a coward."
"By God!" he muttered, "have a care lest I strike you! There aresome things I cannot stand, even from you."
"Strike! I would rather that than anything else from you."
He glared at me fiercely for a moment, then suddenly changing, hewhispered, entreatingly: "Marguerite, do not tempt me thus. Do notbring out all that is worst in me. You know I love you."
"I will not have your love; it is hateful to me."
"Why should my love be hateful? It is not different from that ofother men! It is as strong--so strong that I cannot master it. Itis as tender, if you will but answer it. It is not to be despised,for I have never offered it to another; and as for myself, God mademe as I am."
"I will not have your love, M. de Sarennes. I will not answer it,and you degrade it when you would force it on me. Go, and leave mein peace!"
"Marguerite, you know nothing of my love. It counts neither insultnor rejection. If you will have it in no other way, let me at leastserve you. Let me take up your quarrel."
"What do you mean?"
"This Maxwell. Say so, and I will hunt him down, and never leavehim until you are revenged."
"Are you mad, monsieur?"
"No, mademoiselle, I am not mad! But are you shameless?"
Trembling with indignation, I drew my cloak about me, and sweepingaside the curtain, I stepped out on the floor of the lightedball-room. As I passed, the curtain caught my hood, and, to myannoyance, it fell back from my head. The full glare of the lightwas dazzling, and I was bewildered and confused, but I kept my eyesfixed on the doorway and walked swiftly towards it. No one spaketo me, or uttered any exclamation of surprise. Two gentlemenstepped apart as I advanced to allow me free passage, and I hadjust gained the entrance when I came face to face with the Marquisde Montcalm.
Without the slightest hesitation he bowed, and at once stepped backinto the corrid
or with me.
"Ah, madame, you should have been on the floor, and not in thegallery. This ball promises to be amusing, and you are running awaybefore it has fairly begun." Seeing I was too embarrassed to reply,he continued with perfect savoir-faire a conversation made up ofnothings, leading me down the long corridor away from curious eyesas he did so, until I was able to say, with decency:
"Monsieur, a thousand thanks for your timely attention, but I mustreturn. I have been over-long already."
At this moment M. de Sarennes approached from the opposite direction,and bowing, as if he had met me for the first time that evening,said, after saluting the Marquis, "My mother grows anxious at yourstay, madame, and has deputed me to be your escort."
But he counted too far on my cowardice, and had no knowledge ofhow far a woman will trust an honourable man. The Marquis, neverdoubting his good faith, had already fallen back a step, when Iturned to him and said, quietly,
"Monsieur, it is quite impossible for me to accept this gentleman'soffer, but I shall be grateful if you will provide me with adifferent escort."
"There is not the slightest difficulty in that. M. de Sarennes, Imust ask you to remain in attendance here, as I will not haveanother opportunity of seeing you before you start for Montreal inthe morning. I will join you within presently;" and he dismissedthe angry man with a formal little bow, as if unconscious of anythingunusual. Beckoning to a servant, he ordered him to find M. Joannes,and bid him meet us at the entrance.
"I am heartily glad, madame," he said, when we were alone, "thatyou had the confidence to appeal to me. I shall take means to keepM. de Sarennes so busily employed that he will have no furtheropportunity of annoying you."
"I am very grateful, monsieur, and would never have troubled youcould I have seen any other way of escape."
"'Tutto e bene che riesce bene,' which is the extent of my Italian,madame; but here is M. Joannes. M. Joannes," he continued, to themerry little officer, "you have already had the pleasure of meetingMme. de St. Just; you now can render her a service."
"I am sure madame has confidence in me; she saw how I had providedthe wine when it was essential we should wish her bon voyage offCap Tourmente."
"Good! The present service only differs in kind. Will you ordermy cariole, and see her safely to Mme. de Sarennes's?"
"With all the pleasure in the world, mon general," and he bowedand hurried off to order the sleigh. In a few moments we whirledout of the court-yard and were driving rapidly up Palace Hill.
M. Joannes chattered incessantly, which was the very spur I mostneeded. His open friendliness and my sure confidence in the protectionof M. de Montcalm gave me a feeling of safety against any attempton the part of M. de Sarennes that was perfectly reassuring, andI slept that night without a fear, in spite of what I had gonethrough, until awakened by Angelique as the day was breaking.
"Oh, Marguerite, for shame! To think of your being at the ball andnever letting me know!" she cried, to my consternation; but added,immediately: "I'm glad you went, though. Didn't we all look fine?"
"Very fine, and I admired you most of all the women, cherie."
"Flatterer! You made a fine stir yourself when you crossed thefloor. I wish I had seen you, and I would have captured you, thenand there! Did you not know you could have gone round by thepassage?"
"That is the way I came; but when I wished to go, the door waslocked," I answered, boldly, as I saw she suspected nothing.
"I guessed who it was the moment they spoke of your hair; but Itold no one, not even M. de Maxwell. Did you see him? He wore abrown coat laced with silver, and we were at your end of the room,I suppose, while you were there."
"Yes, cherie, I saw him when he first came to you."
"And am I not right? Has he not le bel air?"
"He certainly has."
"But who else in the world do you think was there? You will neverguess. Charles! He was on his way to Montreal, and came to the ballonly to see me in my finery, he said. Not every brother would dothat, let me tell you! and he is off the first thing this morningwithout ever coming to the house. Now I must be off to bed; Icouldn't help waking you to tell you my news;" and she kissed meand went to dream of her pleasures.
The following afternoon we went to the Jesuits for benediction--tome the sweetest service of the day. It was already growing dark aswe entered. Within, the narrow windows broke the blackness of thewalls with their slits of dull gray, and the worshippers sate orknelt in the twilight, a shadowy throng, over which the twinklingflood of light from countless tapers on the altar broke in yellowsoftness.
The peaceful, tender service was in perfect harmony with the quietof the evening, and I felt my heart filled with a great comfort;when suddenly from the loft behind us, where the musicians stood,floated out the familiar words,
Tantum ergo sacramentum Veneremur cernui...
and I sank trembling to my knees, for the voice to me was as thevoice of an angel--it was Hugh's! I covered my face with my handsand wept silent, blessed tears of joy, while the beautiful hymnthrilled through my very soul.
"Tantum ergo sacramentum Veneremur cernui..."]
"It is M. de Maxwell," whispered Angelique; but I could make noanswer.
As I walked home with Angelique, her enthusiastic praise of Hughstirred in me no spark of resentment, much less of jealousy; hersatisfaction that I should have seen and admired was so honest andopen, and the glimpse I had caught of his bearing towards her wasso reassuring, that I was undisturbed. In spite of the truculentsuggestions of M. de Sarennes, and even in the face of my own doubtsand fears and pride, I was so won back to the old dreamings, soreawakened to the old longings, that I felt nothing less than hisown words could ever satisfy me that I had been mistaken. Afterall, I could not see that I ran any serious risk in meeting him;in such a place as Quebec it was likely to happen at any moment;and surely it were better to take place when I was prepared. Atthe worst, my position as Mme. de St. Just would still serve tostand between us, and I felt assured I could rely on his forbearance.
However, I was not suffered to come to any conclusion, for Mme. deSarennes met us as we entered, with tidings that drove everythingelse out of my head for the moment.
"Marguerite, I have news for you. La mere de Ste. Helene sendsword, saying an Englishwoman has been brought to the Hotel-Dieu,and from the description I believe her to be Lucie. Do you both goat once and ascertain."
We hurried off in great excitement, and an interview with theSuperior satisfied us that the patient was indeed my poor Lucy.She had been found that very morning, wandering in a benumbed anddazed condition on the road by the St. Charles, by a habitant comingwith his load to early market, and as he had business at theHotel-Dieu, he had carried her there and given her in charge ofthe nuns. She was much exhausted by cold and fasting, but sleepand food had restored her to consciousness, and, on finding shewas English, they had at once sent us word.
"If you wish, you may see her now, madame," said the Superior. "Andif we are right, it will serve to reassure her, for she is muchtroubled at being detained here."
Thanking her, I took my way in charge of a sister, and quietlyentered the sick-room. The first glance at the frail face on thepillow told me our search had ended, and there was instant recognitionin the eyes that met mine. I was by her bedside in a moment.
"Oh, my dear mistress!" she sobbed. "It was wicked of me to desertyou, but I did not understand where you had gone."
"No, no, Lucy; I am the one to be forgiven. I should never haveleft you; but now we are together again, and when you are wellnothing shall part us."
"Will you stay with me now? I am afraid here! It is all so strange,and I am not well," she ended, pitifully.
"Yes, Lucy, I will stay. But first I must ask permission, and sendword to Mme. de Sarennes."
"Will you say to her that I am sorry?"
"Yes, dear; but no one is blaming you."
"You are all good," she said, with a sigh of content; and I ranoff to obtain a
ready approval of my stay from both the Superiorand Angelique, who promised to return on the morrow.
My presence was all that was needed to quiet Lucy, and she passeda restful night, to awaken so greatly improved that she readilytalked of her wanderings. It was much as I had suspected; M. deSarennes had wilfully encouraged and deceived her, feeding herdelusion at every opportunity, even giving her directions for herroad, in the evident intent of getting her out of the way, to havea freer hand in his designs. It was a relief to find that everyone had treated her with kindness, and that she had found a shelterin St. Roch, with a widow, who was thankful for the trifle she paidfor her lodging. Once she reached Quebec she was quite content,for she had only to wait until Christopher might appear. She gaveno reason why she was wandering out by the St. Charles, and I didnot question her; but no doubt she had really been ill for days,and was not fully conscious of her action.
Mme. de Sarennes came with Angelique in the morning, and it wastouching to see how lively an interest this quiet Lucy had awakenedin both their hearts.
"You are in good hands, my dear," said the old lady, graciously."Show your gratitude by getting well and coming back to us."
"I will do my best, madame. God has been very good to me," sheanswered, in halting French; whereupon Mme. de Sarennes patted hercheek, and left to speak with her friend the Superior.
As she was going, Angelique beckoned me into the corridor, andwhispered: "I was thinking last night that we might ask M. deMaxwell to come and give her news of her boy when he was inLouisbourg. You know Charles told us he was much with him there,and I am sure my mother can obtain leave from the Superior. Whatdo you think?"
"I think it would do her more good than anything else in the world,We will ask her."
"Lucie," asked Angelique, "would you like me to bring a gentlemanwho was in Louisbourg, and who can give you news of Christophe whenhe was there?"
"Oh yes, mademoiselle; I should love it above all things," sheanswered, with a flush of joy over her pale face.
"Very well; we will come to-morrow."
There was every reason, for Lucy's sake, why Hugh should come, andin my heart I longed to see him again before I determined on myown course of action. It was a pleasing thought, too, that I shouldsee him comforting one to whom it would mean so much.
The morrow was a long day for both of us, and at four o'clock, justas it was growing dusk, I sate by her bed, listening anxiously toevery footfall in the corridor, until at last I caught Angelique'slight step, followed by a firmer tread, which I recognised at once.
It would be hard to tell whether Lucy or I was the more excited.
"Be calm, Lucy," I whispered, laying a trembling hand on hers; andI drew my chair up to the head of the bed, so that I was completelyhidden by its white curtain.
"Lucie," said Angelique, on entering, "I have brought my friend.Shall he come in?"
"Yes, mademoiselle," answered Lucy, in an expectant voice.
I heard Angelique go towards the door, and then heard Hugh enter.I caught the arms of my chair tightly as he approached the bed,when, to my amazement, I felt that Lucy had raised herself, andthe next instant she cried, in a voice strained in agony:
"Hugh Maxwell! What have you done with our son?"