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He was partly reassured, but some points had still to be cleared up. "But still," said he, "you are lamenting his loss." A melancholy smile flitted for an instant over Reine's pure, rosy lips. "Are you jealous of my tears?" said she, softly. "Oh, yes!" he exclaimed, with sudden exultation, "I love you so entirely that I can not help envying Claudet his share in your affections!
But the mistrust he had of himself, and his incurable bashfulness, invariably prevented these heroic resolutions from being carried out. He had so long cultivated a habit of minute, fatiguing criticism upon every inward emotion that he had almost incapacitated himself for vigorous action. He was in this condition when Claudet came in upon him.
"Well, my friend, I will go over to-morrow and see your fiancee, and we will talk matters over. I shall act for the best, in the interests of both of you, be assured of that. In the meantime, you will both be united this evening in my prayers; but, for to-day, we shall have to stop where we are. Good-evening, Claudet! I will see you again."
Everything is going round and round in my head like a millwheel. The first thing to do is to see about my mother, who is lamenting down there at the house I must find her a comfortable place to live." The young girl had become very thoughtful. "Claudet," replied she, "I know you are very proud, very sensitive, and could not wish to hurt your feelings.
"There is no hurry," she replied, "our affairs are not in order, our harvests are not housed, and it would be better to wait till the dull season." In his first moments of joy and effervescence, Claudet had evinced the desire to announce immediately the betrothal throughout the village.
It was a profound enigma, which Claudet, who had plenty of good common sense, but not much insight, was unable to solve. But grief has, among its other advantages, the power of rendering our perceptions more acute; and by dint of revolving the question in his mind, Claudet at last became enlightened. Had not Reine simply followed the impulse of her wounded feelings?
'Manette, said he, not more than two weeks ago; 'I do not intend you shall be worried, neither you nor Claudet, when I am no longer here. All shall be arranged to your satisfaction. Oh! he certainly must have put down his last wishes on paper. Look well around, gentlemen; you will find a will in some drawer or other."
One thing struck Claudet: the pastures and the woods bore exactly the same aspect, presented the same play of light and shade as on that afternoon of the preceding year, when he had met Reine in the Ronces woods, a few days before the arrival of Julien.
As they approached the confines of the farm they heard distant barking, and then the voices of human beings. Finally two gunshots broke on the air. "Ha, ha!" exclaimed Reine, listening, "the Auberive Society is following the hounds, and Claudet must be one of the party. How is it you were not with them?"
The close relationship that united Claudet with the deceased was a secret to no one; Reine, as well as all the country people, knew and admitted the fact, however irregular, as one sanctioned by time and continuity. Therefore, in speaking to the young man, her voice had that tone of affectionate interest usual in conversing with a bereaved friend on a death that concerns him.
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