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"Yes, indeed, Reine Vincart," repeated Claudet, somewhat vexed at the startled manner of his reverence; "are you surprised at my choice?" "Excuse me-and-is it all settled?" stammered the Abbe, with bewilderment, "and and do you really love each other?" "Certainly; we agree on that point; and I have come here to arrange with you about having the banns published."
While one of the assistants was carefully unrolling the big loaves of white bread, the enormous meat pastry, and the bottles encased in straw, Reine Vincart appeared suddenly on the scene, accompanied by one of the farm-hands, who was also tottering under the weight of a huge basket, from the corners of which peeped the ends of bottles, and the brown knuckle of a smoked ham.
They speak of your having sprained your ankle while in the company of Reine Vincart; of your return home in her wagon; of your frequent visits to La Thuiliere, and I don't know what besides. And as mankind, especially the female portion, is more disposed to discover evil than good, they say you are compromising this young person. Now, Reine is living, as one may say, alone and unprotected.
He never went out, fearing to meet Reine Vincart. He fancied that the sight of her might aggravate the malady from which he suffered and for which he eagerly sought a remedy. But, notwithstanding the cloistered retirement to which he had condemned himself, his wound remained open. Instead of solitude having a healing effect, it seemed to make his sufferings greater.
Do I know her?" "Of course you do, Monsieur le Cure; there are few you know so well. It is Mademoiselle Vincart." "Reine?" The Abbe flung away the pruning-knife and branch that he was cutting, and gazed at Claudet with a stupefied air. At the same time, his jovial face became shadowed, and his mouth assumed an expression of consternation.
Although more than ever fascinated by the unusual beauty of Mademoiselle Vincart, he was astonished, and occasionally shocked, by the audacity and openness of her action toward him. Once more the spirit of doubt took possession of him, and he questioned whether this freedom of manners was to be attributed to innocence or effrontery.
He felt at loose ends and discouraged, and had no longer the courage to arrange his clothes in the open wardrobes, which stood open, emitting a strong odor of decaying mold. The slight breath of joyous and renewed life which had animated him on leaving the Vincart farm, had suddenly evaporated.
"You have thought favorably of me then, Mademoiselle Vincart," he ventured, with a timid smile. "Yes; but my opinion is of little importance. You must be pleased with yourself that is more essential. I am sure that it must be pleasanter now for you to live at Vivey?" "Hm! more bearable, certainly." The conversation languished again.
His hands were twitching nervously, his lips compressed, and his dilated pupils were blazing with anger, instead of triumph, as before. "Yes; a stranger, a clerk in the iron-works at Grancey, I think." "You think! you think!" cried Julien, fiercely, "why don't you have more definite information before you accuse Mademoiselle Vincart of such treachery?"
As to your little installments, with the interest, why, there's no end to 'em; one gets quite muddled over 'em. I'll have nothing more to do with it." She wept; she even called him "her good Monsieur Lheureux." But he always fell back upon "that rascal Vincart."
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