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diff --git a/39383-h/39383-h.htm b/39383-h/39383-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d7bf2f --- /dev/null +++ b/39383-h/39383-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10422 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Mademoiselle Blanche, by John D. Barry. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + +h1 { + margin-top: 7%; + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +h2 { + margin-top: 4%; + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +/* paragraphs */ + +p { + margin-top: 3%; + margin-bottom: 3%; + text-align: justify; +} /* general paragraph */ + +p.h2a { + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: bold; +} /* h2 type without top margin */ + +p.cnobmargin { + text-align: center; + margin-bottom: .0%; +} /* centered no bottom margin */ + +p.cnomargins { + text-align: center; + margin-bottom: .0%; + margin-top: .0%; +} /* centered no bottom or top margin */ + +p.cnotmargin { + text-align: center; + margin-top: .0%; +} /* centered no top margin */ + +p.indent { + text-indent: 4%; +} /* indented paragraph */ + +/* horizontal rules */ + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 8%; + margin-bottom: 8%; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.hr2 +{ + width: 90%; + max-width: 90%; + color: #CCCCCC; + background-color: #FFFFFF; + border: none; + border-bottom: 6px double black; + margin: 8% auto; +} /* horizontal rule for chapter divisions */ + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.center { + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Links attributes */ + +a:link { color:#000000; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px dashed #808080;} + +a:visited { color:#25383C; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px dashed #808080;} + +a:hover { color:#008000; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px dashed #808080;} + +a:active { color:#000000; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px dashed #808080;} + +ins {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px dashed #dcdcdc;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + padding: 6px; +} /* without border */ + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +div.tnote { + background-color: #CCCCFF; + border-style: dotted; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + padding: 1%; + font-style: normal; + font-size: 90%; + text-align: justify; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mademoiselle Blanche, by John David Barry + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mademoiselle Blanche + A Novel + +Author: John David Barry + +Release Date: April 5, 2012 [EBook #39383] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADEMOISELLE BLANCHE *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Ernest Schaal, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>Mademoiselle Blanche</h1> + +<p class="cnobmargin"><i>A Novel</i></p> +<p class="cnomargins">BY</p> +<p class="cnotmargin">JOHN D. BARRY</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> <img src="images/titlepagelogo.png" width="100" height="140" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p class="cnobmargin">NEW YORK</p> +<p class="cnomargins">STONE AND KIMBALL</p> +<p class="cnotmargin">MDCCCXCVI</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p class="cnobmargin">COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY</p> +<p class="cnotmargin">STONE AND KIMBALL</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page1" id="page1"></a>[pg 1]</span></p> + +<h2>Mademoiselle Blanche</h2> + +<h2>I</h2> + +<p class="indent">"André!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, monsieur."</p> + +<p class="indent">The little waiter, with anxiety in his +smooth, blond face, hurried to the table.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Bring me the <i>Soir</i>."</p> + +<p class="indent">André shot away, and presently returned, +paper in hand.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What is there good at the theatres, +André?"</p> + +<p class="indent">André wiped his hands in his soiled apron, +and looked thoughtful.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's the <i>Folies Bergères</i>, monsieur. +Dumont sings to-night."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, she tires me. Her voice is cracked."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's Madame Judic at the <i>Variétés</i>," +André suggested, tentatively.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page2" id="page2"></a>[pg 2]</span> +"I saw her in the last piece."</p> + +<p class="indent">André scratched his head, and stared at +the figure at the table.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Monsieur likes the <i>Cirque</i>, does he +not?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Monsieur did not look up from the paper. +"What's at the <i>Cirque</i> now, André?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"At the <i>Cirque Parisien</i>? There's Mademoiselle +Blanche, the acrobat. They say she's +a marvel, monsieur,—and beautiful,—the +most beautiful woman in Paris. She dives +from the top of the building backwards—hundreds +of feet."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So you think it's really good, André?"</p> + +<p class="indent">André nodded. Monsieur dropped the +paper, paid his bill, left a little fee for the +<i>garçon</i>, and took himself off. At the entrance +he stopped and surveyed the surging +crowd in the <i>Boulevard Montmartre</i>. He +had just finished an excellent dinner with +a glass of <i>chartreuse verte</i>; so he felt particularly +complacent. As he prodded his teeth +with the easy grace of the Frenchman who +knows no shame of the toothpick, he tried +to think out a plan for the evening. Nothing +better occurred to him than André's suggestion. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page3" id="page3"></a>[pg 3]</span> +He was not in the mood for the +<i>Casino de Paris</i>, nor for any of the other +concert halls, nor even for the theatres. +Yes, he would go to the Circus. He hadn't +been there for ten days.</p> + +<p class="indent">For years Jules Le Baron had attended +the <i>Cirque Parisien</i> at least once a fortnight; +his friends used to chaff him for his +fondness for it. Those who had known him +from a boy liked to remind him of his first +great ambition—to be a performer on the +trapeze. Though this amused him now, he +had never lost his love for feats of daring +and skill. Whenever he felt particularly +tired from his work at the wool-house, he +would go to the Circus; it refreshed him, +and he fancied that it made him sleep +well afterwards. His first love had been +a beautiful Roumanian, who jumped through +hoops of fire, landing on her velvet-caparisoned +horse, without even singeing her +long, blond hair. He was fifteen then, and +he discovered that the lady was forty-five, +though he could have sworn there was +not a difference of more than three years +in their ages. Since that time he had become +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page4" id="page4"></a>[pg 4]</span> +enamoured of many of the glittering +amazons of the arena, who shot through +the air, or through hoops, or out of the +mouths of cannons, or crossed dizzy heights +on the tight-rope, or juggled with long, +villainous-looking knives falling in showers +into their hands.</p> + +<p class="indent">Those episodes, however, brightened Jules +Le Baron's life long before he was twenty-five. +He had since had many similar experiences +in the larger arena of the world. +Indeed, he gloried in his susceptibility; +he used to give people to understand that, +though fairly successful in business, he had +a very keen appreciation of the sentiments, +and of all the refinements of life. To a +foreigner he would have expressed this complication +by saying that he was Parisian to +his finger-tips. In America, where, at the +age of twenty-six, he passed three wretched +months, he had been appalled by the lack +of sentiment among the people. Of course, +as he represented there the wool-house with +which he had been connected since his +sixteenth year, he met chiefly business men; +but even these ought to have displayed an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page5" id="page5"></a>[pg 5]</span> +interest in something outside their commercial +routine.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was those three months in America +that gave Jules Le Baron his zest for Paris. +Of course, he had always loved it; but +till he left it, his love had not become +self-conscious. America taught him what +he had only dimly known before, that for +him Paris was the only city in the world +worth living in. He knew that people born +away from Paris liked other cities; secretly, +however, this amused him. He believed +that no one, after living in Paris, could find +any other place habitable. Indeed, any +places, any people, any customs foreign to +Paris seemed to him so droll that at the +thought of some of them he often laughed +aloud. America had given him things to +laugh at for the rest of his life.</p> + +<p class="indent">Of course, Jules was proud of having +visited America; it gave him a delightful +feeling of superiority to his friends and +acquaintances at home. He always felt +pleased when the English and Americans +that he met in business complimented him +on his English; it enabled him to say carelessly: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page6" id="page6"></a>[pg 6]</span> +"Oh, I just picked it up when I was +in America." He really had learned very +little English there; nearly all he knew had +been taught him by his father, a professor +of chemistry in a small school in Paris, +who had spent six months in England +during the siege. He had acquired there, +however, a smattering of American slang; +on his lips it sounded delicious. His friends +in Paris thought he spoke English beautifully, +and frequently referred to his talent +for languages. He had given them glowing +accounts of his adventures in America, +and said nothing of his desolate loneliness +there; so they looked upon him as a born +traveller,—as, altogether, a man of remarkable +qualities. But for his English and his travels, +they would merely have shrugged their shoulders +at the mention of his name, and dismissed +him with a "<i>Bon garçon!</i>"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules Le Baron knew that he was much +more than a <i>bon garçon</i>. His attitude +toward the world expressed this; he always +acted as if he felt the world had been made +exclusively for him. After losing his father +at fourteen, he promptly proceeded to link +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page7" id="page7"></a>[pg 7]</span> +his mother in the closest bonds of slavery. +Yet he was kind to her, too, and, in his +way, he loved her, for she was made to +obey, just as he had been born to command. +When she died and left him alone at the +age of twenty with a small property, he +took a miniature apartment in the <i>rue de +Lisbonne</i>, and adjusted himself to his new +life. His salary at the wool-house, where +his English helped to make him valuable, +together with the property, gave him an +income of ten thousand francs a year. He +considered himself rich, a personage, one +who ought to marry well.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules had thought so much about marriage +that, at thirty, it was surprising he should +have remained unwedded. Every young +woman he met he regarded as a candidate +for his hand, and he spent a large part of +his leisure in rejecting these innocent suitors. +Even now, as he slowly made his way up +the <i>Boulevard</i>, he fancied that the girls he +passed were looking at him admiringly and +enviously. He often smiled back at them, +for he was rarely unkind and he never gratuitously +wounded any one's feelings. With +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page8" id="page8"></a>[pg 8]</span> +his mother, it is true, he had been occasionally +severe, but merely to discipline her, +to make her see things as he saw them. +At this moment he felt particularly amiable. +He was in Paris, on the <i>Boulevard</i> that he +loved, surrounded by the people that he +loved, in the atmosphere which, as he had +discovered in America, was as the very +breath to his being. The spectacle was +all for him! Paris, had been created that +he might enjoy it!</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page9" id="page9"></a>[pg 9]</span></p> + +<h2>II</h2> + +<p class="indent">Saturday was the fashionable night at +the <i>Cirque Parisien</i>, and the night +when Jules usually attended it. This was +Tuesday, however, and Jules decided not to +be fashionable, but simply to amuse himself. +As he approached the letters of light that +flashed the name of the <i>Cirque</i> into the eyes +of the <i>boulevardiers</i>, he suddenly remembered +that he had promised to meet two of +his comrades of the wool-house in the evening. +He turned into the <i>rue Taitbout</i>, and as he +was walking slowly through the long passageway +leading into one of the large apartment-houses +there, he felt himself suddenly seized +in the darkness by two pairs of hands. He +looked quickly around, and dimly recognized +Dufresne and Leroux, who had come up from +behind him. They were both types, short +and swarthy, with oily faces, thick black +moustaches, and pointed beards.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page10" id="page10"></a>[pg 10]</span> +"Why didn't you come before?" and "We've +been waiting an hour," they cried together.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He's been up to some adventure, I'll +wager," said Leroux.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Answer! The truth! No lies!" Dufresne +exclaimed, shaking him by one shoulder.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules pulled away with an effort.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought you were going to rob me!" +he laughed.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You see, he doesn't answer," said Dufresne. +"I told you he was up to some +adventure."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Up to some adventure!" Jules repeated. +"I've just been taking dinner, and I forgot +I'd promised to meet you to-night. Where +are you going?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"We're going to the <i>Folies Bergères</i>, and +then to a masked ball in Montmartre," +Leroux answered, resuming his grip. "Come +along."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules pulled away with a laugh.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Thanks. Not to-night. I don't feel like +it. Besides, I'm not dressed."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But <i>we're</i> not dressed," they cried together, +throwing open their coats. "You +won't have to dress. Come on."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page11" id="page11"></a>[pg 11]</span> +Jules shook his head decidedly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No," he insisted, "it's all very well for +you young bucks. I'm too old. It tires +me out for the next day; can't do my work. +I think I'll look in at the Circus. Come +along with me."</p> + +<p class="indent">They scoffed at the idea of going to the +Circus, and tried to persuade him to accompany +them, since he had kept them waiting +so long. But he resisted, and, as he turned +away from them, they clutched at him again, +but he escaped, laughing, into the street, and +he saw them shaking their fists after him. +Those two "boys," as he called them, were +always trying to drag him into their escapades. +They looked so much alike that at +the office they were called "the twins," and +they were always getting into scrapes and +into debt together.</p> + +<p class="indent">Before buying his ticket for the Circus, +Jules looked carefully over the program on +the posters in the long entrance. Some of +the performers he had already seen and the +names of a few of them were unfamiliar to him. +One name was printed in larger letters than +the others—Mademoiselle Blanche. Jules +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page12" id="page12"></a>[pg 12]</span> +read the paragraph printed below, announcing +Mademoiselle Blanche as the most marvellous +acrobat in the world, and proclaiming +that, in addition to giving her act on the +trapeze, she would plunge backward from +the top of the theatre, a height of more than +seventy-five feet, into a net below. Jules +smiled, and felt a thrill of his old boyish +excitement at the prospect of seeing the +feat performed.</p> + +<p class="indent">When he turned to buy his ticket, he +noticed a large photograph on an easel, +standing near the box-office. The name of +Mademoiselle Blanche, printed under it, attracted +him. The acrobat, her long sinuous +limbs encased in white tights, was suspended +in mid-air, one arm bent at the elbow, clinging +to a trapeze. The tense muscles of the +arm made a curious contrast with the expression +of the face, which was marked by +unusual simplicity and gentleness. The profile +was clear, the curving eyelashes were +delicately outlined, and the eyes were large +and dark. Something about the lines of the +small mouth attracted Jules. He studied +the picture carefully to discover what it was. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page13" id="page13"></a>[pg 13]</span> +The whole expression of the face seemed to +him to be concentrated in the mouth; he felt +sure that the teeth were small and very white, +and the woman's voice was soft and musical. +The face differed from the ordinary types of +performers he had seen; it reminded him +of the faces of some of the girls in the convent +of Beauvais, where his mother had once +taken him to visit his cousin. The woman +must be clever to make herself up so attractively. +He wondered if the appearance of +youth that she presented was also due to her +cleverness. She might easily pass for twenty. +Her figure looked marvellously supple; she +had probably been trained for the circus from +infancy, and she might be fifty years old.</p> + +<p class="indent">He decided not to buy a seat, but to go +into the balcony where he could walk about +and look down at the performance. If it +bored him, he could rest on one of the velvet-cushioned +seats till a new "turn" began. +He found more people in the balcony than +he had ever seen there before; as a rule +they made only a thin fringe around the +railing; now they were five and six deep. +He established himself beside a post where +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page14" id="page14"></a>[pg 14]</span> +he could catch glimpses of the arena and +get a support, and there he remained for +half an hour.</p> + +<p class="indent">To-night, however, the antics of the clown, +the phenomenal intelligence of the performing +dogs, even the agility of the Schaeffer +family of acrobats, did not interest him. He +was impatient to see Mademoiselle Blanche. +Her name stood last on the program; she +was probably reserved for a crowning attraction. +Jules dropped on one of the velvet +cushions, and rested there for another half-hour. +Then some knife-throwing attracted +him, and he slowly worked his way through +the crowd to a place where he could look +down at the performers. The knife-throwing +was followed by an exhibition of trick-riding, +which preceded the acrobat's appearance.</p> + +<p class="indent">Before this appearance took place, however, +there was a long wait caused by the +preparations made for the great plunge. A +thick rope was suspended from one of the +beams that supported the roof of the building, +and under it a net was spread. Then the +half-dozen trapezes that had been tied to +the walls, were loosened, and as they swung +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page15" id="page15"></a>[pg 15]</span> +in the air and the band played, Mademoiselle +Blanche, in white silk tights, with two long +strips of white satin ribbon dangling from +her throat, ran into the ring, and bowed in +response to the applause of the crowd.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules Le Baron drew a long breath. The +long supple limbs, the firm white arms and +throat, the pale oval face, framed in dark +hair that curled around the forehead, created +a kind of beauty that seemed almost ethereal. +The glamour of youth was over her, too; she +could not be, at most, more than twenty. +As she ran up the little rope ladder to the net +and climbed hand over hand along the rope +to one of the trapezes, Jules thought he had +never seen such grace, such exquisite sureness +of movement and agility. After reaching +the trapeze, she sat there for a moment, +smiling and rubbing her hands. Then she +began to swing gently, and a moment later +she shot through the air to another trapeze +several feet away, and from that she passed +on to the others with a bewildering swiftness.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules had never seen a woman perform +alone on the trapeze before, and this exhibition +of skill and resource fascinated him. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page16" id="page16"></a>[pg 16]</span> +The feats were nearly all new, and some of +them of unusual difficulty. When the girl +had finished her performance on the trapeze +she returned to the rope, and began to pose +on it, twisting it around her waist, and hanging +suspended with her arms in the air. In +this way she rolled gently down to the net.</p> + +<p class="indent">The event of the evening was yet to come, +however. After resting for a moment, Mademoiselle +Blanche seized the rope again, +and, hand over hand, she climbed to the top +of the building; there she sat on a beam, so +far from the audience that she seemed much +smaller than she really was. The ring-master, +a greasy-looking Frenchman in evening +dress, appeared in the arena and commanded +silence.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mademoiselle Blanche must have perfect +quiet," he cried, "in order to perform her +great feat. The least noise might disturb +her, and cause her death."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules smiled at this speech; it was very +clever, he thought. Of course, it was made +merely to impress the audience. He wondered +how Mademoiselle Blanche felt at that +moment, perched up there so quietly, ready +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page17" id="page17"></a>[pg 17]</span> +to hurl herself into the air. He did not +have time to think much about this, for as +he strained his eyes toward her, the signal +for the fall was given, the white figure +plunged backward, spun to earth, landed +with a tremendous thump in the padded net, +bounded into the air again, and Mademoiselle +Blanche was bowing and kissing her fingers.</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment not a sound was heard. +Then the audience burst into applause, and +Jules Le Baron breathed. He felt as if his +heart had stopped beating. He had never +seen such a thrilling exhibition before. +All his old delight in the circus had come +back to him. As he walked out with the +crowd, he congratulated himself on not having +gone with Dufresne and Leroux. He +would not have missed his evening for a +dozen balls in Montmartre!</p> + +<p class="indent">At the door he met Roger Durand, dramatic +critic of the <i>Jour</i>. He had known +Durand as a boy, and they had continued +on a footing of half-hostile friendship.</p> + +<p class="indent">"So you've come to see the new sensation?" +said the journalist, as they shook +hands.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page18" id="page18"></a>[pg 18]</span> +"Just by chance," Jules replied. "I've +never been more surprised in my life. Who +is she?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That's just what I haven't been able to +find out. I've been talking about her tonight +with old Réju—he's the man who +makes the engagements—but he didn't +seem to know much more about her than I +did. He said he first heard of her in Bucharest. +She made a hit there, too, some time +last year."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But she's French, isn't she? Parisian?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"She's French, but Réju says she isn't +Parisian—comes from the provinces somewhere. +There's a woman goes about with +her, her mother, I suppose. Réju says +mamma keeps her down here," the journalist +added with a smile, making a significant +gesture with his thumb. "Mamma gets all +the money, and Mademoiselle does all the +work."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules shrugged his shoulders. "Going to +your office?" he said. "You have to turn +night into day, haven't you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"My dear fellow, night is the best part of +life. Days were made for sleep. We've +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page19" id="page19"></a>[pg 19]</span> +got mixed up, that's all, and only a few of +us are clever enough to find it out. Come +and have a glass of absinthe with me before +I go back."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules shook his head.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Some other time. A glass of absinthe +would spoil me for to-morrow. <i>Au revoir.</i>"</p> + +<p class="indent">He was glad to be alone again so that he +might think over the evening. The beautiful +figure whirling through the air still haunted +him. "Mademoiselle Blanche!" The name +seemed to sing in his mind. He wondered +what her real name was. So she had a +mother who kept her under her thumb! +Then he wondered what she was like out of +the circus—ignorant and vulgar, probably, +like the rest of them. Yet in her looks she +was certainly different from the rest. At any +rate, he must go and see her performance +again. He would go several times.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page20" id="page20"></a>[pg 20]</span></p> + +<h2>III</h2> + +<p class="indent">When Jules arrived home he found +supper on the table of his little +dining-room. Madeleine, the old woman +who had served his mother for years and remained +with him after his mother's death, always +left something for him at night. Now +he turned away from it in disgust. His face +was burning; he felt nervous, excited. After +going to bed, he was unable to sleep. He +kept seeing Mademoiselle Blanche tumbling +through the air! He could not think of +her except as in motion. He tried to recall +her as she stood in the net, just before +climbing the rope to the trapeze, but her +figure was vague and shadowy. Then he +tried to think out her features as he had +observed them, and he found that he had quite +forgotten her face; all that remained was an +impression of sweetness, of a ravishing smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">When, finally, he fell asleep, he dreamed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page21" id="page21"></a>[pg 21]</span> +of her, still flashing through the air, striking +with a thud the padded net, and bouncing +to her feet again. He woke several times +and felt impatient with himself for not being +able to drive the thought away; yet when +he sank again into sleep, the dream came +back persistently.</p> + +<p class="indent">At half-past seven he rose, tired from his +broken rest. He went at once to the long +mirror that covered the door of his wardrobe, +expecting to be confronted with the +face of an invalid. His gray eyes were +slightly inflamed and his cheeks had more +than their usual color; otherwise his appearance +was normal. For several moments he +surveyed himself. As a rule he did not +think much about his looks; he knew that +he was considered handsome, and this gave +him a half-unconscious gratification. When +he wanted to please a woman he seldom +failed. Now he had a distinct pleasure at +the sight of the aristocratic curve of his nose, +the strong outline of his chin, the full red +lips under his thick brown moustache. Jules +wished that he could keep from growing fat; +but after all, he reflected philosophically, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page22" id="page22"></a>[pg 22]</span> +there was a difference in fatness; some men +it made gross and vulgar; his own complexion, +however, was so fair that he could +never look gross. Even now there was a +suggestion about him of the sleekness of a +well-kept pigeon.</p> + +<p class="indent">When he went out to breakfast he found +Madeleine looking doleful. Madeleine had +known Jules from birth and considered herself +a second mother to him. She was short +and stout, with a mouthful of very bad teeth, +some of which rattled when she spoke, as if +they were about to fall out.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Monsieur Jules did not eat last night," +she said as she poured his coffee and pushed +his rolls into the centre of the little table.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, Madeleine, I wasn't hungry." Jules +took up the <i>Figaro</i> that was lying on the +table and began to look for a reference to +Mademoiselle Blanche.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The coffee will grow cold, Monsieur Jules."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules did not hear her. When preoccupied, +he had a habit of ignoring Madeleine. +Yet, in his way, he liked her; he +often wondered what he would do without +her; she was docile and attentive to his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page23" id="page23"></a>[pg 23]</span> +wants as his mother had been, and she was +very inexpensive. For five minutes he read; +then, when he found no reference to the +acrobat, he threw down the paper with an +exclamation of impatience, and seized his +cup and sipped his coffee.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's cold!" he cried.</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine's look of distress deepened.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Let me take that away," she said. "I'll +get another cup."</p> + +<p class="indent">When she brought the cup and poured +some of the hot coffee into it, Jules drained it, +and pushed his chair away from the table.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you have eaten nothing, Monsieur +Jules!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm not hungry this morning."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And you didn't eat anything last night," +the old woman repeated, following him with +her eyes. "Are you sick?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, no!" Jules replied, impatiently. "I +don't feel like eating, that's all. Give me +my hat and coat, Madeleine; I shall be late +if I don't hurry."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Monsieur Jules doesn't look well," said +Madeleine timidly, as she helped him on +with his coat.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page24" id="page24"></a>[pg 24]</span> +"Oh, don't worry about me." At the +door Jules turned. "I shall be out late +again to-night, Madeleine. You needn't +leave the light burning."</p> + +<p class="indent">The wool-house of Ballou, Mercier & Co., +where Jules worked, was only ten minutes' +walk from the <i>rue de Lisbonne</i>. On his +way there, Jules resolved to say nothing to +the twins about Mademoiselle Blanche. Of +course, Leroux would ask him about the +evening, and he would say simply that he +had been rather bored. He wanted to keep +Mademoiselle Blanche to himself. He even +hoped that her performance would not be +noised abroad, that she would not become +one of those women whom all Paris went +to see and every one talked glibly about. But +she must be well-known already; it was evidently +her performance that had crowded +the Circus.</p> + +<p class="indent">At the office the twins had a great deal +to say about the masked ball of the previous +night, but Jules hardly heard them. He +was still so haunted by the thought of Mademoiselle +Blanche that he made several mistakes +in his letters; since his return from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page25" id="page25"></a>[pg 25]</span> +America he had been placed in charge of +all the English correspondence, and it was +important that he should be exact. The +day had never seemed so long to him, nor +his work, in which he usually took pride, +so dull. He was impatient for the evening. +When six o'clock came, he hurried away +without bidding the twins good-night.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules walked toward the little restaurant +in the <i>Boulevard</i> where he had dined the +night before. He wanted to see André +again, to talk over Mademoiselle Blanche +with him. He felt almost a personal affection +for André now. The little <i>garçon</i> was +bewildered by Jules' affability, and overcome +by the generous tip which he received as +Jules left the place. Indeed, freed from +the labors of the day, Jules felt buoyant +and happy. But when he reached the +Circus, his spirits sank; he had forgotten +that Mademoiselle Blanche did not appear +till nearly eleven. He would have to wait +for her at least three hours!</p> + +<p class="indent">He felt so vexed that he turned away from +the theatre and walked along the <i>Boulevard</i>. +It was late in October, and a light rain +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page26" id="page26"></a>[pg 26]</span> +was falling, mixed with snow. The <i>Boulevard</i> +was crowded with people, hurrying +under umbrellas. Jules turned up the collar +of his overcoat, and shivered. What was +he to do till eleven? He might go to one +of the theatres, but he would not enjoy it. +When he reached the <i>Opéra</i>, he had not +made up his mind what to do, and he +walked on as far as the Madeleine. He +entered a <i>café</i> opposite the church, and +called for a bock and one of the illustrated +papers. For an hour he sat there, sipping +the beer and pretending to read. The jokes, +however, which he usually enjoyed, seemed +to him vulgar. He was thinking of the +figure in white silk tights, shooting through +the air. A score of times he called himself a +fool for not being able to put that thought +out of his mind; yet he felt nervous and +irritable, simply because he was impatient +to see the spectacle again. At last he became +so uneasy that he looked for the +waiter to pay his bill and leave. Then he +felt a slap on the shoulder, and Durand's +smiling face confronted him.</p> + +<p class="indent">There was no reason why Jules should +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page27" id="page27"></a>[pg 27]</span> +have been displeased at seeing Durand; +yet at that moment he felt resentful. The +journalist was small and dapper, with the +ends of his black moustache carefully waxed. +His little black eyes were always sparkling +with humor, and when he smiled he showed +two rows of regular white teeth. Yet, in +spite of the care of himself which he seemed +to take, he never looked quite clean; his +thick black hair was always dusty with dandruff, +which fell on the shoulders of his coat. +He spoke in a high thin voice and with +a patronizing air that exasperated Jules.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought I recognized your back," he +said, when Jules had turned his face toward +him.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules grunted and pointed to a chair at +the little table. He wanted to show by +his manner that he didn't like that familiar +slap. Durand, however, was unruffled.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What are you doing here, anyway? +Why aren't you at the theatre or one of +the <i>cafés chantants</i>?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules took a puff of his cigarette, and then +looked down at the little figure.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I might ask you the same question."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page28" id="page28"></a>[pg 28]</span> +"Oh, I'm working. This is a busy night +for me." Then Durand's face lighted. +"What do you suppose I've got to do +to-night?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules knocked the ashes of his cigarette +against the edge of the table. "Now, do +you mean? I can't imagine. You're always +doing impossible things."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm going to interview the little acrobat."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules came very near jumping. He controlled +himself, however, and carelessly lifted +the cigarette to his lips again.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What little acrobat?" he asked, screwing +his eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The one you saw last night—at the +<i>Cirque</i>—the <i>Cirque Parisien</i>."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, Mademoiselle—Mademoiselle—what's +her name—the one who dives from +the top of the building?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, Mademoiselle Blanche. When I +went back to the office last night, I told +old Bargy about her—cracked her up to +the skies, and he swallowed the bait, and +sent me round to interview her to-night. +Ah, my dear boy, that's one of the advantages +of being a newspaper man. It opens +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page29" id="page29"></a>[pg 29]</span> +every door to you. Whenever I want to +get acquainted with a pretty actress, I simply +go and interview her."</p> + +<p class="indent">He sat back in his seat and smiled and +hummed a popular song, rapping the table +with his fingers. The waiter came up and +asked for his order.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Two bocks!" said Durand, looking at +Jules.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, no more for me. I haven't finished +this yet." When the waiter went +away, Jules glanced sleepily at the journalist. +"You're a very lucky fellow, it seems to +me. I should think it would be rather +agreeable to know the pretty actresses."</p> + +<p class="indent">Durand shrugged his shoulders. "Sometimes, +yes—sometimes, no. Usually it spoils +the illusion."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules stared thoughtfully at his bock. +"Aren't you afraid you'll be disillusioned +by Mademoiselle Blanche?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, probably. They're all alike—when +you come to know them. But there's something +about her that made me think she +might be a little different from the rest. At +any rate, she's dev'lish pretty, isn't she?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page30" id="page30"></a>[pg 30]</span> +"Do you think so?" Jules asked, with a +deprecating lift of the eyebrows.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Think so! I know so! If you don't +think so you must be hard to please."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, I thought she was pretty in her +circus rig. I should like to see her out of +the ring. They make up so, those women. +You can't tell whether they're really pretty +or not."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, come around with me, and I'll +introduce you. Then you can see for yourself."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules nearly jumped again, but his cigarette +helped him to disguise the impulse. "I'm +afraid I shall be in the way," he said, after a +meditative puff.</p> + +<p class="indent">Durand had seized the bock left on the +table by the waiter, and was holding it over +his head. When half the contents had disappeared, +he smacked his lips and wiped them +with his handkerchief. "Not at all. You'll +help me draw her out. They say she does +the shy-young-girl act; so she's hard to talk +with. That seems to be a favorite pose of +actresses nowadays."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules' heart was throbbing. He was afraid +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page31" id="page31"></a>[pg 31]</span> +that Durand would discover his elation. So +he tried to appear indifferent and cynical. +Durand's cynicism amused him; yet in the +journalist's presence he was always trying to +imitate it.</p> + +<p class="indent">When he had drained his bock, Durand +stood up, surveyed with a professional eye +the crowd at the tables, nodded to a few acquaintances, +and made a sign to Jules that he +was ready to go. It had ceased raining, but +the sky was still leaden. The splendid portico +of the Madeleine loomed out of the darkness, +and the lights in the <i>Boulevard des Capucines</i> +were gleaming faintly in the mist. They met +few people as they walked toward the <i>Opéra</i>, +but there was plenty of life around the theatres +in the <i>Boulevard des Italiens</i>. When +they reached the <i>Cirque</i>, Durand had a +whispered consultation with the <i>Control</i> who +sat in self-conscious dignity and evening +dress at the desk near the main door. He +referred the journalist to a short fat man +with a white beard, lounging a few feet away, +and Jules stood apart while the two had an +animated talk. After a few moments, Durand +made a sign to Jules to come up, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page32" id="page32"></a>[pg 32]</span> +Jules found himself presented to Réju as +"my <i>confrère</i>, Monsieur Jules Le Baron, of +the Marseilles <i>Gazette</i>." Réju was very amiable, +and Jules felt angry, though he could +not help being amused by Durand's serene +impudence.</p> + +<p class="indent">They were conducted at once into the +theatre, under the great arch, draped with +French flags, where the performers made +their exits and their entrances. Then they +found themselves in a large bare room, with +several passages radiating from it.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The dressing-rooms are here," Réju explained, +pointing to the passages. "Mademoiselle +Blanche's room is number 5. I don't +know whether she has come yet or not. Her +act doesn't begin till ten minutes of eleven. +Wait here, and I'll see if she can receive +you."</p> + +<p class="indent">Durand smiled at Jules, and as soon as +Réju was out of hearing, he whispered: "I +hope you didn't mind that little fairy-tale +of mine. I had to pass you off as one of +the fraternity. If I hadn't they wouldn't +have let you come in. Now, don't forget +your part, the Marseilles <i>Gazette</i>. It's a good +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page33" id="page33"></a>[pg 33]</span> +republican paper. The editor's a great friend +of mine."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm afraid I sha'n't be a credit to the +profession. I've never seen any one interviewed +in my life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then it'll be an education to you." +Durand laughed. "Look out. Here he +comes!"</p> + +<p class="indent">The fat little manager approached them +with a smiling face; he evidently had in +mind two free advertisements for the theatre.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mademoiselle Blanche," he said impressively, +"arrived five minutes ago, and she +hasn't begun to dress yet. If you'll have +the kindness to follow me, messieurs"—he +concluded with a bow and a wave of the +hand.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules' body was tingling, and his heart beat +violently. Durand, on the contrary, seemed +more debonair than ever; with an air of +importance, he strutted behind the manager, +as if conferring an honor on the performer +by his call. Réju rapped on the door, and +after a moment a shrill voice piped:</p> + +<p class="indent">"<i>Entrez!</i>"</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page34" id="page34"></a>[pg 34]</span></p> + +<h2>IV</h2> + +<p class="indent">Durand made a bold entrance, and +Jules followed sheepishly. The room +was small and uncarpeted; on one side stood +a wardrobe and a table, and on the opposite +wall hung a large mirror that reflected nearly +the whole of the apartment. The rest of the +furniture consisted of two wooden chairs +and a large trunk. Jules did not realize +that he had observed these details till afterward, +for his glance was bent on the face of +Mademoiselle Blanche, who stood beside the +trunk, surveying her callers with apprehension +in her big eyes. On one of the chairs sat +a woman of fifty, tall and thin, with strands +of flesh hanging at her neck, her eyes bright, +her lips aglow with a false bloom, and her +cheeks pallid with powder. Jules recognized +her at once as the acrobat's mother, and he +had a shock of surprise and revulsion.</p> + +<p class="indent">The manager, after presenting the callers +to Madame Perrault, and then to her daughter, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page35" id="page35"></a>[pg 35]</span> +excused himself with a flourish, and left +the room. Madame Perrault was smiling +and chattering at Durand, and Mademoiselle +Blanche was flushed and confused.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I think we must be the first of the +Parisian journalists to interview Mademoiselle," +said Durand to the mother, letting +his eyes turn vaguely to the acrobat for information.</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault gave a little jump, and +glanced hastily at her daughter's face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, you are," she replied. "We did +have—that is, there was a gentleman of the +press who wanted to interview Blanche, but +she—she was a little timid about it. Blanche +is very timid; so we—we put it off. But +interviewers are very——Ah, you will sit +down, will you not?" she said to Jules, who +had remained standing with his eyes fixed +on the girl.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mademoiselle Blanche had taken a seat on +the trunk, and her mother sat beside her so +that Jules might occupy her chair. When +they were all adjusted, Madame Perrault +resumed, turning to Jules, whose embarrassment +she had observed.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page36" id="page36"></a>[pg 36]</span> +"Monsieur Réju told me yesterday interviews +were so important. They make people +interested. They——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"But the people are already interested in +Mademoiselle Blanche," Durand interposed, +gallantly. "That's why my <i>confrère</i> and I +have come here. The Parisians want to +know all about Mademoiselle. She's the +sensation of the hour. Her name is on +everybody's lips."</p> + +<p class="indent">He glanced at Mademoiselle Blanche with +his most languishing smile, and Jules felt a +sudden desire to kick him. The acrobat +tried to look pleased, but she succeeded +only in appearing more confused. Jules +was surprised to see how frail she was. Her +figure, full and vigorous in the ring, seemed +so thin in her plain, tight-fitting gray dress, +that he felt sure she must have been padded +for her performance.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm going to ask Mademoiselle a great +many questions," Durand resumed, still leering +at the acrobat.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I have nothing to tell," she replied, +speaking for the first time.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you must have been born, and grown +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page37" id="page37"></a>[pg 37]</span> +up, and done a great many things besides, +that the rest of us don't do," the journalist +laughed, growing more familiar. Jules' dislike +for him was rapidly developing into +hatred.</p> + +<p class="indent">Durand's familiarity, however, seemed to +please the acrobat's mother.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Blanche is too modest," she said. "She's +had a great many things happen to her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Have you always been in the circus, +Mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, ever since she was a child," her +mother answered. "Her father was an +acrobat."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So it's in the family. And were you in +the circus too, Madame?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault shook her head, and +Jules thought he saw her blush under the +powder. "No, I have never been in public +life. My husband's family lived in Boulogne, +where I lived too. They were all acrobats. +After my marriage I used to travel with the +circus, and when Blanche was born, Monsieur +Perrault wanted her to perform, too. When +she was only five years old, they used to +appear together."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page38" id="page38"></a>[pg 38]</span> +"Then you have travelled a great deal, +Mademoiselle?" Durand turned his fascinating +glance on the girl. She looked at her +mother, and as she was about to reply, Madame +Perrault resumed: "Ah, my daughter +has been over nearly the whole world,—in +England, in Germany, in Russia—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Have you ever been in America?" Jules +asked quickly.</p> + +<p class="indent">The acrobat shook her head.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But she has had such offers—such splendid—such +magnificent offers to go there," +the mother cried, clasping her hands.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I'm afraid," the girl murmured, +glancing at Jules with her big timid eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Afraid of the voyage?" Jules asked. Her +eyes were still fixed upon him, and he felt as +if every nerve in his body were vibrating. +"That's nothing. I have made it twice, +and I wasn't sick a day."</p> + +<p class="indent">This was not true, for on each trip Jules +had been sick for several days; but he made +the remark with such ease, that for the +moment he felt convinced himself of its +truth. Mademoiselle Blanche looked at him +admiringly, and he saw that he had made +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page39" id="page39"></a>[pg 39]</span> +an impression on the mother, too, established +himself in her regard as a travelled +person, a man of importance.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then Monsieur has been in America?" +said Madame Perrault.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, yes," Jules replied, carelessly. "All +over it. It's a wonderful country."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mademoiselle Blanche sighed, and her +mother glanced at her wistfully.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But it's too far," Madame resumed with +a shake of the head. "We could not go +so far from the children."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you have other children?" said +the journalist. "Are they in the circus, +too?"</p> + +<p class="indent">For the first time, the girl's face brightened. +"Oh, no!" she replied, with a suggestion +of horror in her tone.</p> + +<p class="indent">"They are very young," the mother explained. +"Jeanne is only fourteen and +Louise will be eleven next month. They are +with my sister in Boulogne."</p> + +<p class="indent">Durand made a little sign of impatience +which indicated to Jules that he was not +getting the information he wanted. Besides, +he was evidently displeased by the failure +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page40" id="page40"></a>[pg 40]</span> +of his leers to produce any apparent effect +upon the girl; she seemed to be unconscious +of them.</p> + +<p class="indent">"And Monsieur Perrault," he said, "he +is still performing?"</p> + +<p class="indent">An expression of pain appeared in the +mother's face, and Mademoiselle dropped +her eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, he died three years ago," Madame +Perrault replied. "He was killed at Monte +Carlo. He fell from the trapeze."</p> + +<p class="indent">There was silence for a moment, and the +journalist tried to infuse into his insipid +little face a look of sympathy. Just how +much sympathy he felt was shown by his +next remark.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I couldn't help wondering last night," +he said briskly, "when I saw Mademoiselle +perform, how she felt just before she took +that plunge. How do you feel, Mademoiselle? +Aren't you frightened, just a little?"</p> + +<p class="indent">The girl shook her head. "I have done +it for so many years, I don't think of being +afraid. My father taught me never to have +the least fear. He wouldn't have been +killed if the trapeze hadn't broken."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page41" id="page41"></a>[pg 41]</span> +"And we take every precaution," Madame +Perrault quickly explained.</p> + +<p class="indent">Durand began to ask questions about the +various cities Mademoiselle had visited. +Most of the replies came from Madame Perrault, +who seemed to have constituted herself +her daughter's mouthpiece. Which +audiences did she like best to play to? +The Germans! Durand shook his head. +He wouldn't dare to say that in a French +paper. It might make Mademoiselle unpopular +with the Parisians. Ah, but Mademoiselle +liked the Parisians, too. Didn't she +find them very enthusiastic? No? That +was simply because they were thrilled, overcome, +silenced by her performance. Durand +grew excited in extolling the merits of Parisian +audiences. For their favorites they +would do anything, and Mademoiselle was +fast becoming one of the most popular of +their favorites. Of course they had their +peculiarities. When a performer vexed them, +there were no limits to their wrath. Had +Mademoiselle heard of the attack on Sophie +Lenoir at the <i>Ambassadeurs</i>? The audience +had thrown at her everything they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page42" id="page42"></a>[pg 42]</span> +could lay hands on, and she had fainted, or +pretended to faint, on the stage.</p> + +<p class="indent">Indeed, much of the conversation was supplied +by the journalist himself. He had +apparently abandoned hope of making the +acrobat talk; so he addressed most of his +speeches to the mother, whom he drew out by +many artful devices. Mademoiselle Blanche +sat looking on in open-eyed surprise, as if she +did not have a share in the matters under +discussion. Occasionally she would glance +appealingly at Jules; when he looked back, +she would blush and turn her head away.</p> + +<p class="indent">While Durand was in the middle of one +of his stories, Madame Perrault drew a small +gold watch from her pocket. The journalist +jumped from his chair.</p> + +<p class="indent">"We are keeping Mademoiselle from +dressing," he said, as Jules rose, too. "A +thousand pardons. We will go in just a +moment. There's only one more question. +That is about your presents, Mademoiselle, +your gifts."</p> + +<p class="indent">"My gifts?" the acrobat repeated vaguely.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, from the princes, the crowned +heads you've appeared before."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page43" id="page43"></a>[pg 43]</span> +"Ah!" the mother exclaimed, in a long +breath, "Blanche has received so many! +There was the brooch from the Emperor +of Russia, and the ring from the Prince +of Roumania, a costly diamond, monsieur, so +clear and beautiful, and the little gold watch +studded with pearls from the King of +Bavaria, the 'mad King' they call him, you +know—and then—then the bracelet set +with rubies from the Duchess of Merlino, +when Blanche was in Bucharest. Ah, but +we have none of these here. They are all +at home, they—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Here in Paris?" Durand asked, impatiently.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, monsieur, in Boulogne," Madame +Perrault answered, and Jules saw an expression +of wonder and pain cross her daughter's +face.</p> + +<p class="indent">Durand was rubbing his silk hat with his +glove, and regarding it intently.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then," he said, looking up quickly, +"there must have been some adventures—some +admirers, that have followed Mademoiselle, +perhaps, eh?" he added, leering +insinuatingly at the mother.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page44" id="page44"></a>[pg 44]</span> +Madame smiled, and the face of the +acrobat turned pink. Jules wanted to seize +the little journalist by the neck, and throw +him out of the door.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, in Bucharest," cried Madame, "the +young—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mamma!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault shrugged her shoulders, +and smiled suggestively. "Perhaps we'd +better not speak of that. Blanche is a good +girl," she added, patting her daughter on +the back. "She's good to her mother, and +she's good to her sisters. Ah, <i>ma chère</i>!"</p> + +<p class="indent">The girl had turned her head away. +Durand offered her his hand gallantly, and +then beamed on the mother. "I will come +and see you some time, if you will give +me permission," he said condescendingly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Some Sunday," Madame Perrault replied. +"It's the only day when Blanche is free. +And you will bring your friend, perhaps, +if he is still in Paris," she added amiably, +with a quick glance and smile at the journalist +from Marseilles. Then she produced +two cards and passed them to the callers.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules murmured a civil response to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page45" id="page45"></a>[pg 45]</span> +invitation, and, after bowing low to the ladies, +he followed Durand and closed the door +behind him. The expression of languishing +pleasure in the journalist's face had given +place to a look of hilarious merriment.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Did you ever see such a block? She +didn't have a word to say. I don't believe +she has an idea. And she thought she was +impressing me with her modesty! And the +gifts from the crowned heads—wasn't that +droll? Of course, the old lady made up +every one of those stories. She's a sharp +one, with her painted lips and her powdered +cheeks. Her little game is to get a rich +husband for the girl, and I'll wager a week's +salary she'll succeed."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules said nothing. He knew it would be +useless to argue with Durand. If he were +to give his opinion of Mademoiselle Blanche, +the journalist would laugh, and say he didn't +understand women, especially actresses. So, +when Durand suddenly asked him what he +thought of the girl, he merely shrugged his +shoulders.</p> + +<p class="indent">As they passed out they met Réju, who +offered them seats if they cared to remain for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page46" id="page46"></a>[pg 46]</span> +the rest of the performance. Durand explained +that he must return at once to the +office, and urged Jules to accept the invitation. +When Jules found himself alone in +the first row of the orchestra he breathed +with relief. He had never before realized +what an odious little creature Durand was. +For the moment he forgot even to feel gratitude +for the introduction to the acrobat.</p> + +<p class="indent">He was unable to take an interest in the +performance, and he looked at his watch to +see how long he would have to wait for the +appearance of Mademoiselle Blanche. It was +just twenty minutes past ten. Suddenly it +occurred to him that he would have time +to go out and buy some flowers for her. +He left his seat, and hurried to the nearest +shop in the <i>Boulevard</i>. There he bought +the finest bunch of white roses he could +find, went back to the theatre, and sent +them to the acrobat with his card. When +at last Mademoiselle Blanche ran into the +arena, he was thrilled with joy. She wore +his flowers in her belt.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page47" id="page47"></a>[pg 47]</span></p> + +<h2>V</h2> + +<p class="indent">That night Jules Le Baron knew that +for the first time in his life he was +really in love. He had often fancied himself +in love before, and he had enjoyed the +experience; now he discovered his mistake. +Love was not the pure delight he had imagined +it to be. It is true, he had moments +of ecstasy, of sublime self-congratulation, +when he felt with stronger conviction that +the world was made for him and he had been +created to conquer the world; but during the +next few days these were followed by long +periods of depression, of abject despair.</p> + +<p class="indent">At times, too, the grotesqueness of this +infatuation appalled him. To be in love +with an acrobat, a woman who earned her +bread by hurling herself from the top of a +building, who risked her life every day, sometimes +twice a day, that she might live! Then, +at the thought of her amazing courage, Jules +would be overcome, and if alone in his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page48" id="page48"></a>[pg 48]</span> +room at home, he would throw himself on the +bed, bury his head in the pillow and groan. +Indeed, at this period he went through many +strange and violent performances. Madeleine +became alarmed for his health, and +thought of sending for a doctor.</p> + +<p class="indent">He could not apply himself to his work; +he made so many mistakes in his English +correspondence that Monsieur Mercier had +to ask him to be more careful. The twins +noticed his condition and chaffed him, and +insisted on knowing "her name"; in secret +they decided that Jules had been investing +his money badly; he had often boasted to +them about his little property. They tried +to cheer him by urging him to join them in +their nocturnal expeditions, but he always +replied that he was staying at home in the +evening now. As a matter of fact, he spent +every night or a portion of every night at the +<i>Cirque Parisien</i>, and at each appearance of +Mademoiselle Blanche, he was gratified to see +that she wore his nightly offering of roses in +her belt. He never received an acknowledgment +of these tributes, for he did not +dare write his address on the cards he sent +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page49" id="page49"></a>[pg 49]</span> +with them. Once, as she stood in the net, +just before climbing the rope to make her +great plunge, he fancied that his eye caught +hers, and she smiled at him. He decided +afterward that he had been mistaken; but +the thought of that smile prevented him +from sleeping half the night.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules was keeping his courage alive in the +hope of seeing her at her apartment on Sunday. +His only fear was that Durand would +be there. Durand's published interview with +Mademoiselle Blanche was so flippant that it +deepened the hatred Jules had already conceived +for the journalist. He resolved on +Sunday to explain to Madame Perrault that +he was not what Durand had represented +him to be and to appear in his own character; +he was conceited enough to believe that +in his own character he could make quite as +good an impression as in any other. Besides, +had not Mademoiselle Blanche been +impressed by the fact that he had visited +America?</p> + +<p class="indent">On Saturday night he sent his silk hat +to be blocked, and his frock-coat to be +pressed, and he bought a pair of white gloves. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page50" id="page50"></a>[pg 50]</span> +Madeleine found him much more agreeable +on Sunday morning than he had been during +the week; but, though he seemed to be +recovering his spirits, she still felt worried. +In the afternoon he presented himself before +her for inspection, asked if his coat set well, +if she liked the colour of his gloves, what she +thought of the violets that he wore. She +became enraptured over his appearance, told +him that he had never looked so beautiful, +and saw him go away with a radiant face. +Then, as the door closed behind him, she +went into her little chamber and wept. The +truth had flashed upon her! Her Jules was +in love! Some one else was going to take +his mother's place and hers. She felt all the +jealousy and misery that his own mother +might have felt at the moment, combined +with a pathetic consciousness that she had +no right to grieve. Jules was everything in +the world to her, she said to herself, and she +was nothing to him. She was an old broken +woman, and for the rest of her days she +should have to live alone.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules had become her pride and the source +of her happiness. Yet she really saw very +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page51" id="page51"></a>[pg 51]</span> +little of him—the only meal he took at home +was his breakfast—but she really existed for +the pleasure of serving him and looking at +his face in the morning. Now, in spite of +her misery, she knelt before the statue of +the Blessed Virgin that stood on a little table +beside her bed, and prayed that the woman +who was going to take her place might be a +good woman, and worthy of her boy. In +her simple affection for Jules she believed +that he had only to show that he cared for +a woman to have her throw herself into his +arms.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was hardly three o'clock, too early for a +call, Jules thought, as he walked toward the +<i>rue St. Honoré</i>; but he was so impatient +to see Mademoiselle Blanche again that he +could not wait till later in the afternoon. +During the week the sun had hardly appeared, +and the succession of leaden skies +had helped to depress his spirits. To-day, +however, the sky was blue and the sun shone +so brightly that it seemed almost like spring. +He was in one of his buoyant moods, when +he felt sure of his ability to conquer. In +his fine clothes and with his confident manner, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page52" id="page52"></a>[pg 52]</span> +he looked very handsome; several pretty +girls gratified him by staring at him as he +passed. If he impressed people he didn't +know, why couldn't he impress Mademoiselle +Blanche? He planned a great many things +to say to her. He would be particularly +amiable to the mother, too, and tell her all +about America.</p> + +<p class="indent">The number in the <i>rue St. Honoré</i> that +Madame Perrault had given corresponded +with one of the great white stucco apartment +houses abounding in Paris. He passed +under the wide vaulted entrance, and asked +the wife of the <i>concierge</i> if Madame Perrault +lived there. "<i>Au sixième</i>," was the +shrill reply, and he started up the narrow +stairs. When he reached the <i>sixième</i>, the top +floor of the house, he panted and waited for +a moment before ringing, to catch his breath. +Then he carefully arranged his cuffs, touched +with his gloved hand his silk cravat and his +flowers and, with a sigh of anticipation, he +rang the bell.</p> + +<p class="indent">A trim little servant of not more than +fifteen opened the door. When Jules asked +for Madame Perrault, she shook her head.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page53" id="page53"></a>[pg 53]</span> +"She went out an hour ago, monsieur, and +she won't be back till four."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules' heart sank. Of course, mother and +daughter were out together. He was about +to turn away despairingly, but he suddenly +thought of inquiring if Mademoiselle were +at home. The maid nodded.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Shall I say that monsieur wishes to see +her?" she asked, stepping back that he +might enter.</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you please," he replied, as he followed +the girl into the little <i>salon</i>. It was furnished +wholly in Japanese fashion; the walls +were hung with Japanese draperies, and a +large thick rug covered the floor. On the +mantel, prettily draped with a wide piece of +flowered silk, stood a number of photographs, +one of them a duplicate of the portrait of +Mademoiselle Blanche that he had seen in +the entrance of the Circus. As Jules glanced +at this, he heard a light step in the adjoining +room, and when he turned, Mademoiselle +Blanche herself was looking at him out of +her dark eyes. She walked toward him, +flushing a little, and extended her hand.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am sorry mamma is not here," she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page54" id="page54"></a>[pg 54]</span> +said. "She went out only a few minutes +ago, and she'll be back soon. But we—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You didn't expect any one so early. I +ought to apologize, but I was impatient to +come. Then—I—I hoped to find you alone."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So you have," she laughed, pointing to a +chair near the grate-fire. She wore a dress +of dark silk with little white spots in it that +became her wonderfully, Jules thought. +Around her neck was a piece of muslin, +open at the throat, and muslin encircled her +wrists. Once again Jules was impressed by +the delicacy of her appearance; her skin +had an almost transparent whiteness, and +there was no colour in her cheeks, save +when she flushed, which she did at the least +cause.</p> + +<p class="indent">"How pleasantly you are lodged here," +said Jules, looking around the room. The +apartment was as small as his own, which +he had considered one of the smallest in +Paris.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, we were fortunate to get it. And +it seems so odd—it belongs to an actress +who's spending the winter in the South +of France. We have taken it furnished."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page55" id="page55"></a>[pg 55]</span> +"Then you're to be here all the winter?" +said Jules, feasting his eyes on the clear +white forehead, the white neck that he could +see beneath the muslin. How beautiful she +was! His surmise about the teeth had been +correct; they were small and white, with +little bits of red between them.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No," she replied, "I've been engaged +at the <i>Cirque</i> until the first of January. +Then I shall go to Vienna, and appear there +for several months."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah!" For a moment Jules was silent. +"But you will take a rest before you go +to Vienna?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She shook her head.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No. I should like to go home for Christmas +to be with my sisters. But they will +come to Paris instead."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But doesn't it tire you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No. It isn't hard. And I never like +to stop. I must keep in practice."</p> + +<p class="indent">For an instant Jules was touched by a +curious sympathy. There certainly was something +pathetic, even abnormal, in the thought +that this frail woman hurled herself six days +in the week from the top of a building. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page56" id="page56"></a>[pg 56]</span> +Then he was thrilled again by the marvel +of it, by the consciousness that he was sitting +opposite the phenomenon, gazing into her +eyes, hearing her voice, receiving her smiles. +He could think of nothing to say, but he +felt quite happy; he would have liked to +sit there for hours in mute admiration. +Mademoiselle Blanche, however, looked confused; +she seemed to be shaping something +in her mind.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was very kind of you to send the +flowers," she said at last. "I would have +thanked you before if I had known where +you lived. They were very lovely."</p> + +<p class="indent">His face shone with pleasure at the +thought that she had recognized him as the +sender, and he leaned toward her. "You +needn't thank me," he said. "I felt repaid +when I saw them in your belt."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then he told her how he had gone to +the circus every night just to see her; how +he admired her performance, her grace and +skill on the trapeze, her courage in making +the great plunge. As he spoke, her face +kept changing colour. She seemed to him +like a bashful child, and he marvelled at her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page57" id="page57"></a>[pg 57]</span> +ingenuousness, for surely she must be used +to praise. Then he recalled what Durand +had said about her affectation of modesty, +and he wondered if the journalist could have +been right; but when he looked into the +girl's clear eyes he saw nothing but beauty +and truth.</p> + +<p class="indent">When he had finished speaking of her +performance, he began to talk about himself, +his favourite topic with women. He +told her about his visit in the United States, +and he made fun of the Americans for drinking +water instead of wine at table, and for +many other customs that had amused him +because they were so unlike the ways of +Parisians. He also imitated the speech of +some of the Americans he had known, and +he was surprised to find that she understood +what he said. She had learned English +from her father, she explained; he had often +performed in London, and she had been +there with him twice. Then he began to +speak with her in English to display his +accomplishment, and he felt disappointed +on discovering that she could converse quite +as fluently, and with a better accent. So +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page58" id="page58"></a>[pg 58]</span> +he returned to French, and told her about +his life in Paris, his dear old Madeleine who +kept him so comfortable in his little apartment, +his work at the office, and about +Dufresne and Leroux. She showed no surprise +when he revealed Durand's duplicity; +she merely said that she hadn't liked the +journalist, and her mother had been vexed by +the article. She seemed so interested that +he went back to his early days, before the +death of his father and mother, described +his life at the <i>lycée</i>, his love of sport, his +passion for the circus, his boyish adventures +at Montmartre, his happy days in summer +at Compiègne, his mother's goodness and +her foolish pride in him. He was so unconscious +in his egotism that it was touching +to hear him; Mademoiselle Blanche seemed +to be unconscious of it, too, for she listened +with a serious, absorbed attention. While +he was in the midst of an analysis of his +own qualities, the little clock on the mantel +struck four and Mademoiselle Blanche looked +up quickly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mamma will be here very soon now," she +said.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page59" id="page59"></a>[pg 59]</span> +Jules felt a sudden irritation. At that +moment the coming of Madame Perrault +seemed like an intrusion. The reference to +it had the effect of stopping his confidences; +it was as if she had already appeared in +the room. He rose from his seat, and +began to examine the photographs on the +mantel. Then he took up one of them, a +large photograph of a man of more than +fifty, with a white pointed beard, a shock +of iron-grey hair, and laughing eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is this your father, mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She shook her head.</p> + +<p class="indent">"That is my mother's <i>fiancé</i>."</p> + +<p class="indent">He turned to her quickly. "Your mother's +<i>fiancé</i>!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. My mother has been engaged a +long time. She would have been married +a year ago but for me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, then you don't like it—you don't +want her to marry again?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should not care—that is, I should +be glad for Jeanne and Louise. Monsieur +Berthier is very rich, and he has been kind +to the girls. He has offered to give them +a home."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page60" id="page60"></a>[pg 60]</span> +Jules came near laughing. It seemed to +him ridiculous that the old powdered woman +he had seen in the dressing-room of the +Circus should marry again.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then how have you prevented the marriage?" +he asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Because I must work," she replied simply, +"and mamma cannot leave me. If mamma +married Monsieur Berthier, she would have +to stay in Boulogne."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah!" A light broke on Jules. The +mother would not marry until her eldest +daughter was married. So, of course, she +must be anxious to find a husband for Mademoiselle +Blanche. He felt as if Providence +were paving the way toward happiness for +him. For a moment he did not speak again. +Then he said: "But you will marry some +day, and then your mother won't have to +travel with you."</p> + +<p class="indent">She flushed, and made a deprecating gesture. +"I shall always stay in the circus," +she said. "It's my life. I can't think of +any other."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then he gradually drew her out. She +surprised him by telling him of the monotony +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page61" id="page61"></a>[pg 61]</span> +of her life. With most of the other performers +she had merely a slight acquaintance; +the coarseness of the women and the +vulgarity of the men shocked her. Her +only companion in her travels was her +mother. Yes, it was lonely sometimes not +to know other girls of her own age, and it +was very hard to be separated from Jeanne +and Louise. She worried a great deal about +Jeanne, who had shown a fondness for the +circus. She thought if her mother married, +Jeanne would give up all thought of +becoming a performer. Of course, it +was different with herself; she had been +bred to the circus, but she couldn't bear +the thought of Jeanne's being there, too. +Jeanne was very pretty and lively; Aunt +Sophie was obliged to be strict with her. +Louise was so different, so quiet and simple, +and religious, almost a <i>dévote</i>. As she spoke +of her sisters, Mademoiselle Blanche grew +very animated. Jules blamed himself for +the momentary doubt he had felt about her. +If Durand could only hear her now! But +Durand doubted every woman.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was nearly five o'clock when Madame +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page62" id="page62"></a>[pg 62]</span> +Perrault returned. When she saw Jules, she +showed no surprise, but smiled upon him +broadly and extended her hand. Mademoiselle +Blanche lapsed into silence and, +as her mother talked, with a superabundance +of gesture and with tireless vivacity, she +could feel Jules' eyes fixed upon her. She +knew that Jules hardly heard what was being +said, and when he rose to take his departure, +she made no effort to detain him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should like to come again," he said +to the girl.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Some afternoon, perhaps," Madame Perrault +suggested amiably. "Blanche always +rests between three and four, but after that +she could see you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I am at my office till six."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, yes!" Madame Perrault exclaimed +with a smile. "That wicked journalist! You +must tell him we were vexed with his article."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then may I come in the evening? Perhaps +you'll let me take you to the theatre +some night?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault clapped her hands. +"That would be perfect!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Mademoiselle Blanche said nothing, but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page63" id="page63"></a>[pg 63]</span> +it was to her that Jules directed his next +remark.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps to-morrow night; I will come +at eight o'clock."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault displayed her gleaming +teeth patched with gold, and her daughter +merely bowed and said, "Thank you."</p> + +<p class="indent">As Jules was putting on his overcoat in the +little hall, he heard a voice say:</p> + +<p class="indent">"<i>Il est très gentil, ce monsieur</i>," but though +he listened he could not catch the reply. +He was radiantly happy, however. When he +reached the street, he felt like running; with +an effort he controlled himself, and walked +buoyantly home with a smile on his face. +He would take Madeleine out to dinner, as +he used to take his mother when they celebrated +his holidays!</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page64" id="page64"></a>[pg 64]</span></p> + +<h2>VI</h2> + +<p class="indent">The next night, promptly at eight o'clock, +Jules appeared in the little <i>salon</i> in +the <i>rue St. Honoré</i>, bearing his offering of +flowers to Mademoiselle Blanche. Madame +Perrault gave him the quiet reception of an +old friend, and he felt as if he had long been +in the habit of calling at the apartment. Madame +Perrault informed him that she had just +risen from dinner, and asked him to drink +a cup of coffee. Then the three figures sat +in the dimly-lighted room and talked; that +is, Jules and Madame Perrault talked, for +Blanche ventured a remark only when a +question was put to her.</p> + +<p class="indent">A few moments later, Madame Perrault +went into the next room where she was +occupied with the little maid in making a +dress; so Jules was left alone with her +daughter. They had very little to say to +each other, and Jules was content to sit in +silence and rapt adoration. As he looked at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page65" id="page65"></a>[pg 65]</span> +her, her name kept singing in his mind: +Blanche! He wondered if he should ever +dare to address her in this way. How beautiful +she was as she sat there, the soft light +of the fire falling on her face and hands, and +on the folds of her gown! He was glad she +was so quiet; he hated women that talked +all the time. That was the great fault with +Madame Perrault; if she said less, he would +like her, in spite of her powder and paint. +Since hearing that she was engaged, and +wanted to get her daughter married, Jules' +feelings toward her had softened.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was nearly ten o'clock before they left +for the theatre. Jules called a cab, and all +three squeezed into it with a great deal of +laughter on the part of Madame Perrault. +As they rattled over the rough pavement, +the noise was so great that they could not +talk, and Jules gave himself up to contemplating +the serious face of Mademoiselle +Blanche. The thought that he was riding +with her to the scene of her triumphs thrilled +him. He felt as if he were having a share in +her performance, as if her glory were reflected +on him. Ah, if Dufresne and Leroux could +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page66" id="page66"></a>[pg 66]</span> +see him now! How they would be impressed, +and how they would envy him!</p> + +<p class="indent">Before bidding his friends good-night, he +asked if he might not take them home; he +would remain till the end of the performance, +anyway, he said. Instead of entering the +theatre at once, he sauntered along the +<i>Boulevard</i> toward the <i>place de la Bastille</i>. +What were the other performers to him? +Without Mademoiselle Blanche the <i>Cirque +Parisien</i> would not be worth visiting. He +did not return to the theatre till it was nearly +time for her to appear. Réju was standing at +the door, and made a sign for him to pass in +without paying. Jules accepted the invitation +with a twinge of conscience. He wondered +what Réju would think if he discovered +Durand's imposition.</p> + +<p class="indent">After the performance, Jules waited at the +stage-door for half an hour till Mademoiselle +Blanche appeared again. Then he asked +her and her mother to take supper with +him at one of the restaurants in the <i>Boulevard</i>. +Madame Perrault consented amiably, +and they entered a little <i>café</i>, where a half-dozen +young men and girls were sitting round +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page67" id="page67"></a>[pg 67]</span> +a table, playing cards. Jules wanted to order +a bottle of champagne; but Mademoiselle +Blanche objected; he could scarcely keep +from smiling when she said she would much +rather have beer. So he called for three +bocks and some cheese sandwiches, and over +this simple repast they became very gay. +Madame Perrault was the liveliest of the +three, and she amused Jules by a description +of her <i>fiancé</i>, who had been in love with +her, she said, long before her marriage with +Blanche's father. She seemed to think it +was very droll that he should want to marry +her now; she had told him he would do much +better to marry Blanche, or to wait till Jeanne +grew up. Under the warmth of her humor, +Jules' prejudices against her disappeared, +and he found himself growing fond of her. +At that moment he longed to confide in her, +to tell her all about his infatuation for her +daughter, and to ask her advice about the +best way of pleasing the girl.</p> + +<p class="indent">When they had left the <i>café</i>, and Jules +had taken his friends home and dismissed +the cab, he fell again into the depression of +the week before. As he walked to the <i>rue</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page68" id="page68"></a>[pg 68]</span> +<i>de Lisbonne</i> in the damp night, he blamed +Durand for having introduced him to the Perraults. +If he hadn't met Mademoiselle Blanche +he might have gone on living comfortably, +enjoyed his daily work, his little dinners, his +visits to the theatre, his comfortable apartment, +with Madeleine to look after his wants. +Now he was upset, at sea. He hated the +routine of the office; the vulgar stories of +Dufresne and Leroux disgusted him; the +apartment was cold and lonely; Madeleine +was always interfering with him. He resolved +not to go to the <i>Cirque</i> again; he +would try to forget Mademoiselle Blanche +and her mother's chatter. But when he +went to bed it was of her that he thought, +and he dreamed that he saw her again, in +her white silk tights, climbing hand over +hand to the top of the Circus, tumbling +through the air, and bouncing with a thud to +her feet on the padded net.</p> + +<p class="indent">The next morning he felt better, and he +called himself a fool for his misery of the +night before. As he looked back on the +evening, he decided that, of course, if they +hadn't liked him, they would not have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page69" id="page69"></a>[pg 69]</span> +allowed him to take them to the theatre and +back, and to a <i>café</i> for supper. He wondered +what they would think if he called for +them again that night. Perhaps it would be +better to wait for two or three days. But at +the end of the afternoon he felt so impatient +to see Mademoiselle Blanche that he determined +to risk seeming intrusive. So he +bought another bunch of white roses, and at +eight o'clock he reappeared in the apartment. +Madame Perrault greeted him just as +she had done the night before, without a suggestion +of surprise in her manner. This made +him feel so bold that he did not apologize, as +he had intended to do, but took his place by +the fire as if he had a right to be there.</p> + +<p class="indent">In this way, Jules Le Baron's courtship +began. It seemed to him a strange courtship. +It taught him a great many things,—among +others, how little he knew about +women. As he had lived in Paris all of his +thirty years, with the exception of his three +memorable months in America, he thought +he understood women; now he saw his mistake. +He had not led a particularly good +life, though it was so much better than the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page70" id="page70"></a>[pg 70]</span> +lives of most of his acquaintances that he +considered himself a man of rather superior +character. If he had studied his character +more carefully, he would have discovered +that his superiority was not a matter of +morals, but of taste and temperament. Vice +seemed to him vulgar, and it made him uncomfortable; +so in its grosser forms he had +always avoided it. He had, however, the +Parisian's frank, ingenuous, almost innocent +fondness for the humorously indecent, and +his attitude toward life was wholly French. +The mention of virtue made him laugh and +shrug his shoulders. Most women, he thought, +were naturally the inferiors of men; so the +better he understood the character of Mademoiselle +Blanche, the more surprised he +grew. Indeed, there were times when he +felt awed in her presence and ashamed of +himself. She seemed to know the world +and yet to be untainted by it, to turn away +instinctively from its evil phases. If her +innocence had been ignorant, he could not +have respected it; the knowledge that she +had lived in the midst of temptation made +her goodness seem almost sublime.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page71" id="page71"></a>[pg 71]</span> +Jules fell into the habit of calling for the +Perraults in the evening, and he soon became +recognized at the <i>Cirque</i> as their escort. +Réju, who still showed respect for him as a +journalist, admitted him to the theatre every +night without charge, and he was also permitted +to enter the sacred precincts beyond +the stage-door, where, instead of waiting on +the sidewalk, he stood in a cold corridor, +dimly lighted by sputtering lamps. After +the performance, he sometimes took his +friends into the little <i>café</i> for beer and sandwiches, +and occasionally Madame Perrault +would prepare a supper at home.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules' equilibrium became restored again; +he made fewer mistakes at the office and he +even deceived the twins, who had come to +the conclusion that he must be in love. With +Madeleine, in spite of his first confidences, +he had little to say about Mademoiselle +Blanche, and she did not dare ask him +questions. His silence and his improved +appetite, together with his renewed amiability, +made her hope that he had recovered +from his infatuation, and she felt easier in +mind.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page72" id="page72"></a>[pg 72]</span> +On the Saturday evening following his first +call on Mademoiselle Blanche, while Jules +was sitting in the little apartment, he asked +the girl if they might not pass Sunday together. +"We might drive through the <i>Bois</i> +into the country," he suggested.</p> + +<p class="indent">She had been looking into the fire, and +she glanced at him hesitatingly. "We always +go to mass on Sunday morning," she +said.</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment Jules appeared confused. +"But can't you go to early mass?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault, who was in the next +room, called out: "It's no use trying to +persuade her not to go to high mass, +monsieur. She'd think something terrible +was going to happen to her if she didn't go. +Now, I go at eight o'clock; so I have the +rest of the day free."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules looked at Mademoiselle Blanche and +smiled, and she smiled back.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I like to hear the music," she explained +apologetically.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, she's too religious for <i>this</i> world," +Madame Perrault laughed. "I believe she'd +go to mass every morning of her life if she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page73" id="page73"></a>[pg 73]</span> +didn't have to stay up so late at night. +She ought to be in a convent instead of a +circus."</p> + +<p class="indent">"In a convent!" Jules exclaimed, in mock +alarm.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Don't you ever go to church?" the girl +asked, turning to Jules.</p> + +<p class="indent">He looked confused again. "I? Well, no. +To tell the truth, I haven't been in a church +for nearly ten years. Oh, yes I have. I went +to a funeral two years ago at the Trinity."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But weren't you—weren't you brought +up to go to church?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Brought up to go to church? Oh, yes; +my mother went to church every Sunday +of her life. I used to go with her after my +father died."</p> + +<p class="indent">A long silence followed. Mademoiselle +Blanche turned again to the fire, and Jules +had a sensation of extreme unpleasantness. +Like many Parisians, he never thought about +religion. He had been so affected by the +skepticism of his associates that he had no +real belief in any doctrine. He saw now +for the first time that serious complications +might arise from his religious indifference. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page74" id="page74"></a>[pg 74]</span> +It was very disagreeable, he thought, to be +confronted with it in this way. Indeed, the +more he thought about it, the more annoyed +he became. He felt that he must justify +himself in some way. So at last he spoke up: +"I suppose you're shocked because I don't +go to church, aren't you, mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Mademoiselle Blanche looked down at her +hands lying folded in her lap.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm sorry."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Sorry?" he repeated, trying to laugh. +"Why are you sorry? I rather like it. +I never did enjoy going to church."</p> + +<p class="indent">"We don't go to church to enjoy it, do +we?" she asked gently.</p> + +<p class="indent">He sank back in his seat, and looked +at her. "No, I suppose not." Then, after +a moment, he suddenly leaned forward. +"We can't all be good like you, mademoiselle. +Perhaps if I had known you +always, I should go to church. I'd do +anything to please you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you ought not to go to please me. +You ought to go for your own good."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So you think it does good, then—going +to church?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page75" id="page75"></a>[pg 75]</span> +"I'm sure of it," she replied, gazing into +the fire. "Sometimes,—when I feel unhappy +because I haven't seen the girls for +so long, and because I must be separated +from them so much, or when Aunt Sophie +complains about Jeanne, or Jeanne has been +unkind to Louise, or disobedient, then, after +I've been to church, I feel better."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why do you feel better?" he asked, +more to keep her talking than because he +cared for her answer.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Because I feel sure," she went on, holding +her head down, "I feel sure it will all +come out right—if I only have faith. +Jeanne is a good girl; she's never disobedient +or unkind with me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you worry about Jeanne?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes—sometimes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you don't worry so much after +you've been at church?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And that is why you like to go to +church?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That's one reason. But there are others—a +great many others."</p> + +<p class="indent">He felt like laughing at the simplicity of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page76" id="page76"></a>[pg 76]</span> +her reasoning, and yet he was touched. +He had a sudden desire to take her in his +arms and stroke her soft hair and tell her +he loved her. Then he heard her mother's +step in the next room, and this roused +him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should like to go to church with you +sometimes," he said. "May I?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Take him to-morrow, Blanche," cried +Madame Perrault, and at that moment Jules +could have kissed her, too. "There's going +to be a special service at <i>St. Philippe de Roule</i> +at ten o'clock. The music will be good."</p> + +<p class="indent">That was how Jules first happened to go +to church with Mademoiselle Blanche. After +mass they walked up the <i>Champs Élysées</i> and +then along the <i>avenue du Bois de Boulogne</i>, +in the midst of the multitude of promenaders. +A few of the men recognized the girl, and +turned to look after her. She seemed not +to see them, but Jules did, and he felt very +proud to be her escort. She looked very +pretty in her tight-fitting black jacket and +little hat tipped with fur, her cheeks scarlet +with the early frost. She was the last person +in the crowd, Jules thought, who would be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page77" id="page77"></a>[pg 77]</span> +taken for an acrobat. It seemed to him +wonderful that she should appear so unlike +the marvel that she was, and this lack of +resemblance to herself made her the more +attractive to him.</p> + +<p class="indent">After that day, Jules went to church with +Mademoiselle Blanche every Sunday. At first +the sight of the priests in their vestments, +of the altar-boys in their white surplices, of +the white altar gleaming with candles and +plate and enshrouded in incense, and the +reverberation of the organ, mingled with +the voices singing the music of the mass, +all reminded him so strongly of his mother, +that his old affection for her swept over +him, and brought tears to his eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">His own disbelief had made him doubt +even the faith of others. It had also inspired +him with the hatred for priests, so +common even among Parisians of traditions +like his own. Now, as he watched them, +chanting at the altar, they seemed harmless +as other men. He tried, as he went mechanically +through the service, to count the men +he knew who went to church. Nearly all +of his acquaintances, he found, scoffed at it. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page78" id="page78"></a>[pg 78]</span> +Then gradually the service became subtly +mingled with his love for the girl beside him, +and for her sake he loved it. The organ +seemed to sing her praise exultingly. He +would have liked to tell her of this fancy, +but he did not dare; he knew it would +shock her. In a short time, going through +the mass with her grew to mean to him an +expression of his love, a spiritual exaltation +which he offered as a tribute, not to God, +but to her.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page79" id="page79"></a>[pg 79]</span></p> + +<h2>VII</h2> + +<p class="indent">By the month of November, Jules had +identified himself with Madame Perrault +and her daughter. He took his position +as their friend and recognized escort +so quickly and so quietly that he was himself +surprised by it. There were moments when +he had a fear that it was all an illusion, that +some night he should find the stage-door +of the <i>Cirque</i> slammed in his face.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was while watching Mademoiselle Blanche +in the ring that he found it most difficult to +realize his happiness. He actually <i>knew</i> this +wonderful creature in white tights who darted +from trapeze to trapeze, who posed like +a marble statue on the rope, who shot +through the air like a thunderbolt! He saw +her every day; he loved her, and she knew +that he loved her. Sometimes he fancied +that she loved him in return—from an expression +in her face, a glance of her eyes, +a blush, a tremor when his hand touched +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page80" id="page80"></a>[pg 80]</span> +hers. He did not dare speak to her about +his love; he doubted if he should ever dare +to speak; at a word he feared his happiness +might be shattered.</p> + +<p class="indent">Sometimes on Sunday afternoons he drove +with Mademoiselle Blanche and her mother +into the country, and on Sunday nights he +would dine and pass the evening with them +in the little apartment. Occasionally he had +long talks with the mother; in these he told +about his family and about his property, +laying stress on the fact that even if he lost +his place at the office his income was large +enough to support him. She told him, in +return, about her own family and her husband's, +and gave him a humorous account +of her sister-in-law, Blanche's Aunt Sophie.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Blanche is a little like her," she said. +"Sophie takes everything <i>au grand sérieux</i>. +Then she's strict with the children, and +that's a great mistake, for Jeanne hates +restraint, and Louise doesn't need it."</p> + +<p class="indent">She also told him amusing stories about +Monsieur Berthier's devotion to her. He +had offered himself to her while she was +at the convent where she was educated, near +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page81" id="page81"></a>[pg 81]</span> +Boulogne, and she had refused him twice. +Her family had objected to her marriage +with Blanche's father, simply because he +was an acrobat. No, she hadn't fallen in +love with him at the circus. She never saw +him perform till a short time before she +became engaged to him. Ah, it had been +hard for her to be separated from him so +much. Sometimes she travelled with him +in his long journeys; but while the children +were very young, she couldn't. Blanche had +been such a consolation to him. Madame +Perrault believed that husband and wife +ought never to be separated; it was bad +for both of them. If she had her life to +live over again, she would always travel with +her husband, no matter how far he went.</p> + +<p class="indent">Most of Jules' talk with Madame Perrault, +however, consisted of a discussion of the +qualities of her daughter, whose praises she +constantly sang for him. Blanche's ambition, +she said, was to provide dowries for her +sisters; she had already accumulated a few +thousand francs, and these she had set aside +for the girls. She never seemed to think +that she herself needed a <i>dot</i>. Ah, sometimes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page82" id="page82"></a>[pg 82]</span> +Madame was very much worried about +her daughter's future. Blanche could not +marry any of the other performers; they +were not worthy of her, and their coarseness +and roughness shocked her. Of course, +they were good enough in their way, but +their way was not Blanche's way.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then, as Madame became more familiar +with Jules, she also grew more confidential. +Yes, Blanche had had a great many admirers. +The young Prince of Luperto had fallen +desperately in love with her in Bucharest +three years before, and he had followed her +all over Europe. But she had refused to +notice any of his letters,—and oh, <i>mon +Dieu!</i> such letters! Madame had read +every one of them, and she had met the +Prince the night he tried to force himself +into Blanche's dressing-room. He seemed +<i>such</i> a gentleman, and he had the most +beautiful eyes! But Blanche,—she was so +frightened. She cried and cried, and for +weeks she was in terror of her life! Then +there were others,—so many, so many. +One by one, Madame Perrault unfolded their +histories to Jules, and he listened in rapt +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page83" id="page83"></a>[pg 83]</span> +attention, with a growing appreciation of +the daughter's charms and of the mother's +amiability.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules often wondered why he did not hear +more talk about the circus in the little apartment. +The subject was rarely mentioned. +Mademoiselle Blanche displayed no nervousness +before or after her performance. She +practised a little in the morning at home, +she said, to keep her muscles limber; she +had done the same things on the trapeze +so often that they had become easy to her. +Once Jules met in the apartment the oily +little Frenchman who always held the rope +when Mademoiselle Blanche climbed to the +top of the <i>Cirque</i>, and then he learned for +the first time that Monsieur Pelletier was +Mademoiselle's agent. "And he is such +a trial to us," the mother explained when +he was gone. "He makes such bad terms, +and we have to pay him such a high percentage; +and then he sometimes mixes up +our dates, and we don't know what to do. +Ah, if we could only have some one to take +care of our affairs that we could trust. It +is so hard for two unprotected women."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page84" id="page84"></a>[pg 84]</span> +Jules thought of this speech many times. +Indeed, he fairly brooded over it. For +several weeks he had felt that his career +was too limited; he hated the thought of +being tied down to his business all his life. +He was made for something better than that, +for a grander, a more conspicuous <i>rôle</i>.</p> + +<p class="indent">In his youth he had thought of the army, +then of a diplomatic career; for a time, too, +of the stage. But he had been too poor +to enter either of the first two professions, +and for the stage he was unfitted by temperament. +Now, in his imagination a brilliant +career stretched before him, combining both +glory and love. Up to the present he had +not lived; his life was about to begin. The +world seemed to open out to him! He would +travel from one end of the earth to the +other in an unbroken march of triumph. +Even Paris lost attractiveness for him and +seemed uninteresting and petty; he pitied +the poor <i>boulevardiers</i> who were bound to +a wretched routine of existence, who loved +it simply because they knew of no other. +He would not only visit America again—this +time not in a sordid capacity, friendless and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page85" id="page85"></a>[pg 85]</span> +lonely, but surrounded by a retinue—he +would go also to Russia, to India, to Australia, +perhaps to Japan and the other +countries of the remote East. The night +when he was first enchanted by this vision, +he could not sleep for excitement till nearly +four o'clock. Then he saw the vision realized, +only to be shattered by Madeleine's +cracked voice, and her injunction that it +was time for him to get up and go to his +work.</p> + +<p class="indent">In the evening, when he saw his friends +again, he found them very unhappy; they +had just received news from Jeanne that +Aunt Sophie was very ill, threatened with +pneumonia. Madame Perrault was in tears, +and Mademoiselle Blanche's eyes showed +that she, too, had been crying. The next +day, they said, Jeanne had promised to write, +and the next night Jules learned that bad +news had been received. The doctor pronounced +the case pneumonia, and said the +patient was in great danger. Mamma must +come on, Jeanne wrote. But Madame explained +to Jules with sobs that she could +not leave Blanche.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page86" id="page86"></a>[pg 86]</span> +"And my poor Jeanne, what will she do, +a child of fourteen with only the little Louise +to help her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Jules became inspired. His faithful +Madeleine—she would save the situation. +Madame Perrault might go to Boulogne +by the first train, and Madeleine +would take her place, would be a second +mother to Mademoiselle Blanche, accompany +her to the theatre, help her to dress, +come back with her, keep her from being +lonely. Jules wanted to rush off at once, +and bring Madeleine to the <i>rue St. Honoré</i>, +for inspection and approval.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then the girl's quiet wisdom asserted itself. +Jeanne had said there was no immediate +danger; so if Mamma took the train +in the morning, that would be in quite time +enough. After their <i>petit déjeuner</i> they might +call on Madeleine, or Monsieur Jules might +tell them if she would come. Then Jules +burst into a eulogy of Madeleine's qualities: +he had never before realized what a good +soul she was. He would bring her with him, +he said, in the morning, on his way to the +office; he knew she would be glad to come.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page87" id="page87"></a>[pg 87]</span> +On this occasion Jules had a chance to +display his executive ability. After leaving +his friends at the Circus, he drove home +furiously, found Madeleine sound asleep in +the big chair by the fireplace, woke her up, +and explained the situation.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now, my dear Madeleine," he said at +the end, "you are to go to that poor girl +and take her mother's place; she will love +you, and you will love her. So be good to +her for my sake, Madeleine," and he leaned +over, and patted the old woman's wrinkled +hand affectionately. Madeleine was moved, +chiefly, however, by Jules' unwonted tenderness. +She had never known an actress, not +to speak of a performer in a circus, and she +felt alarmed at the thought of meeting one. +But she felt sure that Mademoiselle Blanche +must be good. Hadn't Jules said so? +Jules had not said that he was in love with +Mademoiselle; he trusted Madeleine to find +that out for herself; he also trusted Madeleine +to find out a few other things for him. +Secretly he was blessing the chance that +enabled him to send Madeleine to Mademoiselle; +for the moment he did not even think +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page88" id="page88"></a>[pg 88]</span> +of the personal discomfort it would cause +himself.</p> + +<p class="indent">That night Jules told his friends that +Madeleine had consented to come, and he +promised to bring her with him in the +morning. Madeleine was greatly agitated, +and rose unusually early to make an elaborate +toilette. She rarely went out, save to +the shops and to mass; so she had not kept +up with the fashions, and her best dress was +made in a mode long before discarded. +She was a very grotesque figure as she +walked in her queer little bonnet with long +ribbons flying from it, and her wide skirts. +When they reached the apartment in the +<i>rue St. Honoré</i>, Jules thought he saw an +expression of amusement in Madame Perrault's +face, but Blanche greeted Madeleine +with great kindliness. Then the mother +explained that she had just received a letter +from Jeanne, saying Aunt Sophie was in no +immediate danger, but begging her to come +as soon as possible. Jules saw that both his +friends were pleased with Madeleine, and it +was quickly arranged that she should install +herself in the apartment that day, and at four +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page89" id="page89"></a>[pg 89]</span> +o'clock Madame Perrault would leave for +Boulogne. He departed radiantly happy, +with the promise to return at three to take +Madame to the station. He secured leave of +absence from the office, and on his return to +the apartment he found Madeleine there, +helping Mademoiselle Blanche to make a +new dress.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'll be ready in a minute," Madame Perrault +cried from the adjoining room.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Are you coming with us, mademoiselle?" +Jules asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, I won't let her," her mother replied. +"It's too cold, and it would tire her. You +aren't afraid to ride alone in a cab with me, +are you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules was surprised by her vivacity; he +knew that she was greatly worried about her +sister, yet in the midst of her agitation she +could joke. If he had known her less he +would have supposed that she was a woman +of little feeling. She presently flounced out +of the room, putting on her gloves and +smiling.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madeleine and Blanche have become +great friends," she said. "I'm afraid I shall +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page90" id="page90"></a>[pg 90]</span> +be jealous of her. When I come back there +won't be any place for me." Then she took +her daughter by both hands and Jules saw +the glimmer of tears in her eyes. "Good-bye, +dear," she said, kissing the girl on both +cheeks. "You must write to me every day, +and I'll write to you. In a week, at least, I +shall be back. I have a presentiment that +Sophie will improve as soon as I get +there."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mademoiselle Blanche clung tightly to her +mother, and kissed her again and again.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There, there! Now, my child—there!" +With a parting embrace, Madame Perrault +tore herself away, crying as she passed out of +the door, "Good-bye, Madeleine. Take +care of the little one! And remember +Monsieur Jules is coming back to dinner. +I'm going to invite him."</p> + +<p class="indent">This was the first time she had ever +called Jules by his first name, and on hearing +it he felt a thrill of joy. She hurried before +him down the steep stairs, wiping her eyes. +When they entered the cab, she had controlled +herself again, and was smiling as +usual.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page91" id="page91"></a>[pg 91]</span> +The cab rattled so noisily over the pavement +that during most of the ride to the +station they kept silent. They arrived there +half an hour ahead of time, and this they +spent in walking up and down the platform.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You must be very kind to my Blanche +while I'm away," said Madame Perrault. +"She will be very lonely. She hasn't been +separated from me before since her father +died."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules assured her that he would be a +second mother to her. He would take her +and Madeleine to the <i>Cirque</i> every night, +and in the morning on his way to the office +he would call to ask if he could do her +any service. "She'll be spoiled when you +come back," he concluded with a smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment they walked without speaking. +The station was so cold that their +breaths made vapour in the air. Yet Jules +felt warm enough; his whole being seemed +to glow.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's something I want to tell you."</p> + +<p class="indent">She made a sign with her head that she +was listening.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm in love with Mademoiselle Blanche," +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page92" id="page92"></a>[pg 92]</span> +he said, impressively, finding a delicious +relief in speaking the words.</p> + +<p class="indent">She smiled roguishly into his face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is that all?"</p> + +<p class="indent">They looked into each other's eyes, and +read there a mutual understanding.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you've known all along?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course, from the very first, from the +first night you came into the dressing-room, +and pretended to be a reporter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, I thought you had forgiven that."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So I have—that is, there was nothing +to forgive. You didn't deceive me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you mean that you knew at the time +I wasn't a reporter? And Blanche—she +knew too?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, poor dear, she didn't know. Yet it +was plain as daylight. Ah, my friend, I +haven't lived fifty years for nothing. Don't +you suppose I could tell from your looks and +your manner, and what you said, and what +you <i>didn't</i> say,—don't you suppose I could +tell from all that, what you had come for?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules looked into her face again.</p> + +<p class="indent">"How good you are!" he sighed.</p> + +<p class="indent">She burst out laughing.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page93" id="page93"></a>[pg 93]</span> +"Good? I am not good. Blanche taught +me that years ago. There's nothing like +having a good daughter to take a mother +down. She makes me feel ashamed every +day of my life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That's just the way she makes me feel," +Jules cried, delighted to find that some one +else shared his feeling. "Then she's so +gentle and so kind," he rhapsodized, "and she +thinks so little about herself! Do you—do +you think——Oh, that's what almost drives +me to despair sometimes. I hardly dare go +near her. I hardly dare to speak to her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault took a deep breath.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You almost make me feel young again," +she said, with a smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you think I could make her love +me?" Jules asked, marvelling at his own +humility.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you mean that you want to know +whether I think she's in love with you or +not?" Madame Perrault said briskly. "Ah, +my friend, I can't answer that question. +You must ask her yourself."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you give me permission to ask her? +You are willing? You have no objection?" +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page94" id="page94"></a>[pg 94]</span> +He stopped suddenly, and looked radiantly +at Madame Perrault's face. "How <i>good</i> you +are, madame!" he repeated.</p> + +<p class="indent">She began to laugh again,—a peculiar, +gurgling laugh that came from her throat.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why should I object? You are a good +fellow. You would make Blanche a good +husband. It's time for her to get married. +She needs some one to protect her. I can't +follow her about all the rest of my life. +She is twenty-two. Why shouldn't she +marry?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules' ardor was cooled by this practical reasoning; +it made him practical too. He told +Madame Perrault again of his little property. +He could well afford to marry, he said. He +loved Mademoiselle Blanche with all his +heart; he couldn't live without her; he +would give up everything for her; he would +follow her everywhere. Ah, if he only knew +whether she cared for him or not! She was +so strange, so reserved. It was so hard to +tell with a girl like her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You are right there, my friend. She has +great reserve. With my Jeanne or Louise, I +should know everything. But with Blanche, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page95" id="page95"></a>[pg 95]</span> +<i>non!</i> But I never pry into her secrets; I +have learned better. She has a great deal of +inner life; she thinks a great deal; she is +not like the other flighty women that you see +in the circus. If she had not been born to +the circus, if she had been brought up as +Louise has been, she would be a <i>religieuse</i>."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules would have become rhapsodical again +if the whistle of the train had not sounded, +and he was obliged hurriedly to help Madame +Perrault into her compartment. He shook +the hand that she offered him, received a +few last messages, and he watched the train +as it pulled out of the station. Then, with a +sigh, he turned and walked back to his +office.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page96" id="page96"></a>[pg 96]</span></p> + +<h2>VIII</h2> + +<p class="indent">After the departure of Madeleine, Jules +would have found his apartment cheerless, +if he had not used it merely for sleeping. +As soon as he rose in the morning, he went +to Madame Perrault's, where he breakfasted +with Mademoiselle Blanche. In spite of her +duties elsewhere, Madeleine kept his rooms in +order, and his new domestic arrangements did +not in the least inconvenience him. Indeed, +he liked them, and he almost dreaded the return +of Mademoiselle's mother. This would +probably not take place for several weeks, +however, for the illness of her aunt Sophie +proved to be very tedious, though after the +first ten days she was pronounced out of +danger. Madeleine had speedily won the +affections of Mademoiselle Blanche, and she +secretly confided to Jules that the girl was +an angel.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I knew you'd think so," Jules replied. +"I've thought so ever since I first saw her."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page97" id="page97"></a>[pg 97]</span> +"Ah, but it's wicked that she should have +to do those dreadful things every night!" +Madeleine cried, rolling her eyes, and throwing +up her hands in horror. "It freezes my +blood."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But she likes it," Jules explained.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, it's wicked just the same, the poor +child!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine had speedily adapted herself to +her duties as dresser to Mademoiselle Blanche, +and her nightly trips to the theatre were the +most exciting experiences of her life. After +seeing the plunge from the top of the Circus, +however, she had refused to look at it again. +"It freezes my blood," she would repeat, +whenever Jules referred to it. "It's too +horrible!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"But she makes a lot of money by it," +Jules insisted.</p> + +<p class="indent">"She would do much better to stay poor," +Madeleine replied, with a tartness that was rare +with her and made Jules burst out laughing.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madeleine," he said, confidentially. "Madeleine, +come over here."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine bent her head towards him with +a smile on her face.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page98" id="page98"></a>[pg 98]</span> +"Madeleine, do you think there's any one—any +one that she cares about particularly—any +one you know? Eh?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine's wrinkles deepened, as the +smile spread over her face and lighted her +faded eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, Monsieur Jules, she is very fond of +her sisters. She is always talking about them, +especially about <i>la petite</i> Jeanne. Then she's +very fond of her mamma, too, of course."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madeleine, you're trying to plague me +now. You know I don't mean that. I mean +any—any—?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Any gentleman, Monsieur Jules?" the +old woman asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, Madeleine, any gentleman."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine grew thoughtful.</p> + +<p class="indent">"She often speaks of Monsieur Berthier, +who is going to marry her mother. She +says he's very kind to her sisters."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And is that all, Madeleine? Doesn't +she speak of any one else? Doesn't she ever +speak of—of me?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, yes, Monsieur Jules, she thinks you've +been very good to her and her mother. She +often speaks of that."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page99" id="page99"></a>[pg 99]</span> +This was all the information that Jules +could extract from Madeleine. On several +occasions he tried her again, but though she +seemed amused by his questions, she evaded +them. Once he said to her:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madeleine, how would you like to go +away with me—to travel—a long distance?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine carefully considered the question. +Then she replied simply:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should not like to leave Paris, Monsieur +Jules, but, if you wanted me to go, I would +go."</p> + +<p class="indent">After that, Madeleine was less worried. +She had little to say, and, like most silent +people, she observed and thought a great +deal. For Mademoiselle Blanche she had +conceived a genuine affection, and she looked +forward with regret to the time when she +would have to leave the <i>rue St. Honoré</i> for +Jules' lonely apartment.</p> + +<p class="indent">One Saturday night, on their return from +the Circus, Jules asked Mademoiselle Blanche +if she were going to high mass the next +day as usual. He was surprised when she +replied that she was going at eight o'clock +instead.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page100" id="page100"></a>[pg 100]</span> +"But that is too early," he said. "You +won't have sleep enough."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm going to communion," she explained.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh!"</p> + +<p class="indent">He could not understand why this announcement +should impress him as it did. +He had supposed that of course she went +to communion; she had probably gone to +confession early in the afternoon before the +<i>matinée</i>. Once again he felt awed by her +goodness. How strange it was that she +should be in the confessional at three o'clock, +and two hours later perform in her fleshings +before a crowd of people! The very publicity +of her life seemed to exalt the simplicity +and the purity of her character.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules was so absorbed in thinking of these +things that he did not speak again till the +cab reached the <i>rue St. Honoré</i>. Then, as +he helped Mademoiselle out, he said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'll go to church with you to-morrow, if +you will let me. You won't leave before half-past +seven, will you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She protested that he ought not to get up +so early; he needed a good night's rest +after his hard work of the week. But he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page101" id="page101"></a>[pg 101]</span> +laughed and waved his hand to her in parting, +and told her not to wait for him after +a quarter to eight; now that he didn't have +Madeleine to call him, he might not wake up +in time.</p> + +<p class="indent">He was in time, however, and as he walked +to church in the cold December air with +Mademoiselle by his side, he felt repaid for +his sacrifice. She wore a tight-fitting fur +coat and a black cloth dress, with the little +fur-trimmed hat he had admired when he +first walked with her in the <i>Champs Élysées</i>. +Her face was protected by a thick dotted +veil, but under it he could see her sparkling +eyes and the color in her cheeks.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm paying you a very great compliment," +he said, as they hurried along +towards <i>St. Philippe de Roule</i>. "I haven't +got up so early on a Sunday since I was a +boy."</p> + +<p class="indent">She smiled in reply; it was too cold for +her to speak. He could see her breath +steaming faintly through the veil.</p> + +<p class="indent">He felt a curious desire to hear her voice +again; he did not realize that her devotion +to the Church made her seem more remote +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page102" id="page102"></a>[pg 102]</span> +from him, but he had an unpleasant consciousness +that his own lack of religious +faith created a barrier between them.</p> + +<p class="indent">In the church he kept glancing from the +priest celebrating the mass, to her. She was +absorbed in reading her prayer-book, and +she did not once look up at him. He compared +her as she appeared then with her +appearance in the glamor of the circus ring. +She was the same person, yet different. She +represented to him a kind of miracle. How +humble she was, how sweet and good, as she +knelt there!</p> + +<p class="indent">When the priest began to distribute the +communion and Blanche left her seat and +joined the throng approaching the altar, +Jules was touched with a tenderness he had +never felt before. He buried his face in his +hands, and prayed that he might be made +worthy of her. He did not dare pray for +her love; a certain sense of shame at having +neglected God and church for so many years, +at having lived solely for his own gratification, +kept him from that; but if he had +examined his motives, he would have found +that this was really what he was praying for. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page103" id="page103"></a>[pg 103]</span> +He deceived himself so easily that he instinctively +felt that he might be able to +deceive God too.</p> + +<p class="indent">On leaving the church, Jules proposed +that they go to a restaurant for breakfast. +"We'll make a holiday of it," he said, "and +drink to your Aunt Sophie's health."</p> + +<p class="indent">But Blanche protested that Madeleine +would expect them, and would be worried if +she were not back by half-past nine.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then we'll go out at one o'clock. I'll +take you over to Bertiny's, in the <i>Champs +Élysées</i>. It's very gorgeous; the twins +took me there once to celebrate Dufresne's +luck when he won five hundred francs at the +races."</p> + +<p class="indent">Though the sun was shining, it was still +very cold, and as they hurried to the little +apartment Jules could see that she was +trembling. Madeleine had prepared some +hot coffee for them and some eggs, and over +these they were very gay. Jules was in a +particularly good humor, and Mademoiselle +Blanche laughed at his jokes, though most +of them she had heard before. She had a +very pretty laugh, he thought,—like her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page104" id="page104"></a>[pg 104]</span> +mother's, though not so deep and gurgling. +After breakfast her face flushed from her +walk and she looked even prettier than she +appeared in the church.</p> + +<p class="indent">As Madeleine cleared away the table, +Blanche began to water the flowers by the +window, and Jules opened the copy of the +<i>Petit Journal</i> that he had bought on the way +from the church. He kept glancing up at +Mademoiselle, however, and each time he +looked at her he had a new sensation of +pleasure. How domestic she looked in the +little dress of gray wool that she had put on +after her return from mass! She seemed to +create an atmosphere of home around her. +In her belt were the roses he had given her +the night before, still fresh and sparkling with +drops of water from her fingers. How good +it was, he thought, that he could be with her +like this! How lonely his own apartment +would be to him when Madame Perrault came +back! He almost wished that she would +never return, that she would marry Monsieur +Berthier, and they might go on in this way +forever. He laughed at the thought, and +just then Mademoiselle turned her head.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page105" id="page105"></a>[pg 105]</span> +"Monsieur seems to be amused," she said. +"What is he smiling at?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm smiling because I'm so happy," +Jules replied. "Don't you smile when +you're happy?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She took a seat by the table, where she +rested one hand.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, I don't think I do," she said, apparently +giving the question serious consideration. +"When I am very happy I look +serious. Then mamma sometimes fancies I +feel sad."</p> + +<p class="indent">He took a cigarette-case from his pocket +and began to smoke.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you know," he said at last, "I +shall be sorry when your mother returns?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Sorry?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, because Madeleine will come back +to me then, and I shall have to stay at home. +I can't come any more as I do now."</p> + +<p class="indent">A look of alarm appeared in her face. +"But why can't you come just the same?" +she asked, innocently.</p> + +<p class="indent">He burst out laughing, and he felt a sudden +desire to pat her on the cheek as he +might have done to a child. What a child +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page106" id="page106"></a>[pg 106]</span> +she was, anyway! Yet he would not have +wished her to be different; she seemed to +him just what a young girl should be.</p> + +<p class="indent">"When your mother comes, I can't take +breakfast with you any more, and I can't +come early on Sunday mornings and stay all +day. I shall have to go back to my lonely +apartment."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you have Madeleine," she said, with +a faint smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madeleine, yes, and she is good enough +in her way." Then he suddenly threw his +cigarette into the fireplace, and bent toward +her. "Don't you know," he whispered, +in a voice so low that Madeleine, who was +moving about in the next room, could not +hear him, "can't you see that it's <i>you</i> I +shall miss? Can't you see that you've become +everything in the world to me? Without +you, dear Blanche, I shouldn't care to +live. Before I met you I didn't know what +life really was—I didn't know what love +was. I loved you the first time I saw you, +and the more I've seen you, the better I've +known you, the dearer you've become to +me. I don't think I ever really understood +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page107" id="page107"></a>[pg 107]</span> +what it was to be pure and good till I +knew you. You've made me ashamed of +myself. Sometimes I feel as if I had no +right to go near you. But I do love you, +Blanche, and they say love helps a man to +be good. I haven't dared to tell you this +before; I've been afraid to ask you if you +loved me. But this morning in church, it +all came over me so—so that I must tell +you. Blanche," he went on, taking her +hand, "you aren't offended with me for +saying this, are you? I love you so much—I +can't help loving you. If you'll only love +me a little, dear, I'll be satisfied. Won't +you tell me if you do care for me a little—just +a little?"</p> + +<p class="indent">He knelt by her side, and tried to look +into her face; but she turned her head away, +and he saw that her neck was crimson. Her +bosom kept rising and falling convulsively. +Then he pressed toward her and clasped her +in his arms and kissed her again and again,—on +the face, the forehead, the hair, even on +her ears when she buried her head on his +shoulder. His lips were wet with her tears, +and he felt radiantly, exultantly happy.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page108" id="page108"></a>[pg 108]</span> +"I love you, I love you!" he kept repeating.</p> + +<p class="indent">For the first time he felt sure that his love +was returned; but he was not satisfied. He +wanted to hear her speak out her love. His +lips were on her cheek, and she was lying +motionless in his arms, as he whispered:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Won't you say that you love me, dear? +Just three words. That isn't much, and it +will make me the happiest man that ever +lived."</p> + +<p class="indent">Instead of speaking, she put her arms +on his shoulders, as a child might have +done, and he pressed her close to his +breast again. Then he heard a noise behind +him, and he saw Madeleine standing, +big-eyed, in the doorway; she seemed too +startled to move. He rose quickly to his +feet, and still holding Blanche's hand, he +said:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madeleine, come here!"</p> + +<p class="indent">She came forward timidly, as if afraid she +might be punished for her intrusion.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mademoiselle Blanche is going to be my +wife, Madeleine."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine held out her arms to the girl, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page109" id="page109"></a>[pg 109]</span> +and for a moment they stood clasped in +each other's embrace.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, Monsieur Jules," the old woman +cried, "I pray God your mother can look +down from heaven and see what a good +daughter she's getting!"</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page110" id="page110"></a>[pg 110]</span></p> + +<h2>IX</h2> + +<p class="indent">After confessing his love, Jules experienced, +mingled with his exultation, +a feeling of bewildered amazement at his +own boldness. This was followed by a poignant +regret that he hadn't spoken before. +Now, however, that his weeks of doubt and +of intermittent misery were over, he gave +himself up to his happiness, which manifested +itself in a wild exuberance of spirits.</p> + +<p class="indent">In a short time he was speaking humorously +of those weeks, ridiculing himself as if +he had already become different, almost another +person from what he had been then. +He told Blanche about his tortures, and even +succeeded in extorting a confession from her +that she had been in love with him since the +first Sunday when he had called at the apartment +and acknowledged Durand's duplicity; +she, too, had had her doubts and her fears. +Then they became very confidential, and by +the time the morning was over, and they found +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page111" id="page111"></a>[pg 111]</span> +themselves in the restaurant, they felt as if +they had known each other intimately for +years.</p> + +<p class="indent">In spite of Blanche's protests, Jules ordered +a bottle of champagne and an elaborate +luncheon.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose I ought to have asked Madeleine +to come," he said, "but I wanted to +be alone with you. Some day before your +mother returns, we'll have another <i>fête</i>, and +take Madeleine with us."</p> + +<p class="indent">In the morning, when he spoke about a +definite engagement, and she protested that +her mother must be consulted, he had told +her of his talk with Madame Perrault at the +railway station. Now he went on to make +plans for their marriage. There was no reason, +he argued, why they should wait a long +time; her mother had been engaged to Monsieur +Berthier for three years, but she would +not marry till Blanche had a protector. Jules +liked to talk of himself in this character; it +gave him a feeling of importance. So, altogether, +he went on, the sooner the marriage +took place the better. He would give up +his place in the wool-house, and devote himself +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page112" id="page112"></a>[pg 112]</span> +to his wife's career; for, of course, they +couldn't be separated. They would be very +happy travelling about, from one end of the +world to the other.</p> + +<p class="indent">It never occurred to either of them that +Blanche might retire from the ring after +marriage. She herself seemed to regard +the circus as part of her life; she had been +born in it, and she belonged to it as long as +she was able to perform. As for Jules, he +could not have dissociated her from the +thought of the circus. Even now he felt as +if he had himself become wedded to it, that +he had acquired a kind of proprietary interest +in it. He discussed Blanche's professional +engagements as if they were his own. +Why, he asked, couldn't the marriage take +place during the weeks that intervened between +her engagement at the <i>Cirque Parisien</i> +and her appearance in Vienna? Jeanne and +Louise could come up to Paris for Christmas +and the New Year, and be present at the +ceremony. By that time he would have his +affairs arranged so that he could go with her +to Vienna.</p> + +<p class="indent">Of course, they must dismiss Pelletier after +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page113" id="page113"></a>[pg 113]</span> +their marriage. Jules would take charge of +his wife's affairs; his capacity for business +would enable him to make good terms for +her. He would plan wonderful tours; he +would write to America, perhaps, and secure +engagements for her there; artists were wonderfully +well paid in America, better than in +any other country, and they would enjoy +seeing the new world together.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche listened to his talk with a touching +confidence; she seemed to think it natural +that he should speak as if he had authority +over her. She made no protest against any +of his suggestions, though she repeated that +nothing could be decided till her mother +returned to Paris.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But we'll write to your mother," said +Jules. "We'll write to her this very day—this +afternoon when we go back."</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment her face clouded.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What's the matter? Don't you want +me to write to your mother?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She did not reply at once. When she did +speak, she kept her eyes fixed on her plate.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It will be so hard to be separated from +her."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page114" id="page114"></a>[pg 114]</span> +Jules laughed, and bent toward her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you can't stay with her always," he +said tenderly. "Then we'll take Madeleine +with us. That will be a capital plan. She's +strong and healthy, though she's over sixty, +and she won't mind the travelling. Besides, +we shall be in Vienna three months, and +we'll rent a little apartment. It will be like +being at home."</p> + +<p class="indent">He spoke as if their future were settled, +and his tone of confidence seemed to reassure +her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should like to have Madeleine," she +said simply. "She is so good."</p> + +<p class="indent">On their return to the apartment, they +devoted themselves to writing long letters to +Madame Perrault. Jules' letter was full of +rhapsodies, of promises to be kind to the +girl who had consented to be his wife, and +of his plans for the future. They read their +letters to each other, or rather Jules read +all of his, and Blanche read part of hers, +firmly refusing to allow him to hear the rest. +They spent a very happy afternoon together, +and in the evening Madeleine had a sumptuous +dinner for them, with an enormous +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page115" id="page115"></a>[pg 115]</span> +bunch of fresh roses on the table. In the +evening they went to the <i>Comédie Française</i>, +to finish what Jules declared to be the happiest +day of his life.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules counted that day as the beginning of +his real career. He looked back on himself +during the years he had lived before it almost +with pity. Since leaving the <i>lycée</i>, he had +been merely a drudge, a piece of mechanism +in the odious machinery of business. He +had been content enough, but with the contentment +of ignorance. How lonely and +sordid his existence out of the office had +been! He thought of his solitary dinners +in <i>cafés</i>, surrounded by wretched beings like +himself deprived of the happiness that comes +from home and from an honest love. To +the twins and his other comrades at the +office he said nothing of the change that had +taken place in his life; he was afraid they +would chaff him; of course, when they heard +he was going to marry an acrobat, they would +make foolish jokes and treat him with a +familiar levity. He determined not to tell +them of his marriage until the eve of his +departure from business; he would have to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page116" id="page116"></a>[pg 116]</span> +give the firm at least a fortnight's notice; +but he would merely explain to Monsieur +Mercier that he intended to devote a few +months to travel, and thought of going to +America.</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault replied at once to Jules' +letter. She made no pretence of being surprised +by the news it contained; and she +expressed her pleasure at the engagement, +and gave her consent. But they must not +make any definite plans until her return to +Paris. That would be in about two weeks, +for Aunt Sophie was very much better now +and rapidly gaining strength, though she had +as yet been unable to leave her bed. As +soon as Sophie could go out, she was to be +carried to the house of her cousin, Angélique +Magnard, who would give her the best of +care. Then Madame Perrault would be able +to take Jeanne and Louise to Paris for the +holidays; the girls were wild to see their dear +Blanche again and to meet Jules. Monsieur +Berthier talked of coming with them; he, +too, was eager to make the acquaintance of +Blanche's future husband.</p> + +<p class="indent">After these preliminaries, Madame Perrault +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page117" id="page117"></a>[pg 117]</span> +devoted herself to practical matters. +She felt it her duty to inform Monsieur Jules +that Blanche had no <i>dot</i>; she had earned +a great deal of money, but most of it had +been spent in maintaining the family; since +the death of her father she had been their +sole support. Of course, after marriage, +her daughter's earnings would belong to +Jules; but he must distinctly understand +that he was taking a penniless bride. After +her own marriage, Madame Perrault would +have no fear for the future; Monsieur Berthier +had promised of his own accord to +provide for the girls; indeed, it was chiefly +for their sake that, at the age of fifty-three, +she was willing to marry again. So Blanche +would no longer have her family dependent +on her.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules replied with an impassioned letter. +He didn't care whether Blanche had a <i>dot</i> +or not. He wanted to marry her because +he loved her, because without her his life +would be unendurable: he would marry her +if she were the poorest girl in France. It +took him several pages to say this, and he +read the letter with satisfaction, and then +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page118" id="page118"></a>[pg 118]</span> +aloud to Blanche, who laughed over it, and +gave him a timid little kiss in acknowledgment +of his devotion. He thought he had +done a commendable act, and he felt convinced +that every word he had written was +true.</p> + +<p class="indent">At the office Jules grew reserved, and he +resented haughtily the familiarities of the +twins. Indeed, to all of his companions +in the wool-house he could not help displaying +the superiority he felt. He would be +there only a few weeks longer, and he acted +as if he were conferring a favor on his employer +by staying. The twins spent many +hours in discussing the change in him; but +they could not discover the cause.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You ought to have heard him talk to +old Mercier the other day," said Leroux. +"You'd think he was the President receiving +a deputation."</p> + +<p class="indent">Early in November, Blanche received a +letter from her mother, saying Aunt Sophie +was so much better that they had decided +to move her the next day, and two days +later she would herself leave Boulogne with +the girls and Monsieur Berthier. Jules was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page119" id="page119"></a>[pg 119]</span> +both glad and sorry to hear the news,—sorry +because his long <i>tête-à-têtes</i> with Blanche +would end for a time, and glad because he +would be able to arrange definitely with +her mother for the marriage. Madeleine +grieved at parting with the girl, but was consoled +when Jules explained that she would +probably be needed every night at the circus +after Madame Perrault's return, for, of course, +Monsieur Berthier would want to take his +<i>fiancée</i> to the theatres. In speaking of +Monsieur Berthier, Jules had adopted a +facetious tone, which half-amused and half-pained +Blanche.</p> + +<p class="indent">"How droll it will be," he said one day, +"to have two pairs of lovers billing and cooing +together."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Mamma doesn't bill and coo," the girl +replied, with just a suggestion of resentment +in her tone. "She's too sensible." Then +Jules patted her affectionately on the cheek, +and told her she mustn't take what he said +so seriously.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Monsieur Berthier must be a very good +man, or he wouldn't get such a good wife," +he said lightly. Then, with a comic look +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page120" id="page120"></a>[pg 120]</span> +in his eyes, he added as an afterthought: +"What a very good person I must be!"</p> + +<p class="indent">The next night, when Jules appeared in +the <i>rue St. Honoré</i> for dinner, he found the +little apartment crowded. Madame Perrault +embraced him, and by addressing him as +"my son," seemed to receive him formally +into the family. Then she introduced the +two girls, who were much larger than he +had imagined them to be. Jeanne, rosy-cheeked +and black-eyed, approached him +fearlessly, and offered her hand with a smile; +Louise, fair and slight, with her light brown +hair braided down her back, looked frightened, +and blushed furiously when she received +her salutation. The little fat man +standing in front of the mantel, Jules recognized +at once from his pointed white beard +and laughing eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should have known you in a crowd +on the <i>Boulevard</i>," Jules said, as he extended +his hand. "You're exactly like +your photograph."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And you are even better-looking than +Mathilde said you were," Monsieur Berthier +replied. "Ah, little one," he went on, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page121" id="page121"></a>[pg 121]</span> +turning to Blanche, and giving her a pinch +on the arm, "you're getting a fine, handsome +husband."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules tried to make friends with the girls. +With Jeanne he had no difficulty; she was +quite ready to banter with him, and he found +her pert and quick-witted. Louise, however, +was so shy that he could extract only monosyllables +from her. She seemed to him very +like Blanche, only less pretty. Jeanne had +Blanche's beauty, more highly-colored and +exuberant; her snapping black eyes showed, +too, that she had a will and a temper of +her own. Jules began to chaff her, to make +her show her spirit, but she parried his jests +good-humoredly, and she retaliated very +smartly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't see how you ever dared to fall +in love with Blanche," she said. "Aren't +you afraid of her?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Afraid of her?" Jules laughed. "Why +should I be afraid of her?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, I don't know. I suppose because +she's so good. I'm afraid of her sometimes. +And I'm afraid of Louise when she gets her +pious look on. How did you happen to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page122" id="page122"></a>[pg 122]</span> +fall in love with her? Do tell me. I'll +never tell in the world."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I just saw her, that's all," Jules explained +with mock gravity. "Isn't that +enough?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"In the circus?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules nodded.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you fell in love with her because +she does such wonderful things, and looks +so beautiful in the ring. Now, you wouldn't +have fallen in love if you'd just met her like +any one else."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But it was because she wasn't like anyone +else that I did fall in love with her," +Jules insisted, with the air of carrying on +the joke.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But if she'd never been in the circus—if +you'd just met her here, or anywhere else +except in the circus—do you think you +would have fallen in love with her then?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course I should," Jules replied unhesitatingly, +though he knew he was lying.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jeanne shrugged her shoulders and looked +skeptical.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I wish I could be in the circus," she +said, "and get flowers, and be admired, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page123" id="page123"></a>[pg 123]</span> +earn a lot of money like Blanche. And +isn't it the funniest thing," she went on, +growing more confidential, "Blanche doesn't +care about it at all."</p> + +<p class="indent">"About the flowers, and being admired, +and all that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. And she says the circus isn't a +good place for a young girl. But I say if +it's good enough for her, it's good enough +for me. Anyway, if mamma doesn't let me +do what Blanche does, I'm going on the +stage when I grow up."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules was amused by her talk, and drew her +out by deft questions. While she was animatedly +describing her life in the convent of +Boulogne, where the nuns were always holding +up Louise as a model of good behavior +to her, dinner was announced, and they all +went out into the dining-room, where Jules and +Blanche had passed so many hours together. +This time Jules' place was between Jeanne +and Louise. Jeanne went on with her +chatter, and Louise scarcely spoke, save to +Blanche, with whom she kept exchanging +affectionate smiles.</p> + +<p class="indent">"The girls are vexed with me," said +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page124" id="page124"></a>[pg 124]</span> +Madame Perrault, "because I won't let +them go to the Circus to-night."</p> + +<p class="indent">The pale face of Louise brightened with +eagerness and Jeanne turned to her mother +and cried pleadingly:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, I think it's a shame. The first +time we've been in Paris, too, and we want +to see Blanche perform again so much! +Why can't we go, mamma? Please, please +let us go."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, let the children go," said Monsieur +Berthier good-naturedly. "It would be +cruel to send them to bed early their first +night in Paris."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Jules added his voice in the girls' +behalf, but Madame Perrault shook her head +decidedly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I can't have them up so late. Besides, +they need to rest after their journey. If you +are good, Jeanne, and don't tease me to go +to-night, I'll take you and Louise to the +<i>matinée</i> on Saturday."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, the <i>matinée</i>!" Jeanne pouted, turning +for sympathy to Jules. "Who cares for +the <i>matinée</i>! Isn't it too bad?" she went +on in a low voice, so that her mother +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page125" id="page125"></a>[pg 125]</span> +shouldn't hear her. "When I grow up, +Monsieur Jules, I shall go to the theatre +every night—yes, every night of my life. I +don't care what happens."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jeanne was sullen and Louise looked sad +when they were left alone with Charlotte, the +little maid.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I won't go to bed till twelve o'clock," +Jeanne cried, as her mother, with parting +injunctions, went out, followed by the +others. "I shall sit up and cry all the +evening."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nine o'clock, my dear," said Madame +Perrault serenely. "You know what I said +about Saturday."</p> + +<p class="indent">The door was slammed behind them and, +as they filed downstairs, they heard Jeanne +go stamping back into the <i>salon</i>.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Don't you think you're severe with the +child, Mathilde?" said Berthier.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, Félix, not too severe, if you mean +that. It's the only way to keep her in +check. She has too much spirit. I'm afraid +of it sometimes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That's just the way you used to be at +her age," he laughed.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page126" id="page126"></a>[pg 126]</span> +"And that's just why I mean to keep her +down," she replied, almost sternly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Jeanne has all the spirit of the family," +said Berthier, glancing at Jules.</p> + +<p class="indent">After the performance they returned to the +apartment for supper. Jules was surprised to +find the table steaming with hot dishes, bright +with flowers and with wine-glasses. Madeleine, +who seemed to be in the secret, put on +an apron, and proceeded to assist Charlotte.</p> + +<p class="indent">"We've prepared a little feast for you," +Madame Perrault explained, "in honour of +Blanche's engagement. Félix has provided +the champagne."</p> + +<p class="indent">Berthier rubbed his hands and smiled, +and they took their places at the table. +They were all hungry and in good spirits. +This was the happiest time of the day for +Blanche; though she never consciously +worried about her work, she always felt +relieved when her performance was done, +and she was free to go home and rest. The +little rosy-cheeked Charlotte busied herself +around them, passing dishes and bringing +on fresh ones.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's a shame to keep this poor child up +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page127" id="page127"></a>[pg 127]</span> +so late," said Berthier, when she had left the +room for a moment. "Why not send her +to bed?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'll send her as soon as she brings in the +rest of the things," Madame Perrault replied. +"She and Madeleine can have something to +eat together. I sha'n't have to send Madeleine +home with you to-night, Jules. We've +made a bed for her in Charlotte's room. +She's a good creature, your Madeleine."</p> + +<p class="indent">Charlotte came in with the rest of the +dishes, and Madame Perrault told her to eat +something, and go to bed. "And tell Madeleine +not to wait up for us. You can clear +the things away in the morning. Did Jeanne +go to bed at nine o'clock, Charlotte?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, madame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And without any trouble?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, madame."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What did she do to amuse herself during +the evening?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Charlotte's cheeks took on a deeper red.</p> + +<p class="indent">"She tried to imitate Mademoiselle +Blanche in the circus," she confessed.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, that accounts for the broken chair! +Good night, Charlotte." Then, as the girl +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page128" id="page128"></a>[pg 128]</span> +left the room, Madame Perrault sighed. +"That Jeanne will be the death of me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'll take her in hand when she comes +to me," Berthier laughed. "We'll have to +find a husband for her. That will cure her +of her craze for the circus."</p> + +<p class="indent">"A husband for Jeanne, little Jeanne!" +Madame Perrault exclaimed in horror. +"She's barely fourteen."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And in two years she'll be a woman. +I was in love with you at fifteen. Don't you +remember? We thought of eloping."</p> + +<p class="indent">"<i>Taisez-vous!</i>" cried Madame Perrault, +flushing, and trying not to join in the laughter +that the speech excited from Jules. "You +make me a great fool before my daughter and +my new son."</p> + +<p class="indent">"He isn't your son yet," Berthier insisted, +to tease her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But he will be soon."</p> + +<p class="indent">"That's just what I wanted you to say!" +Jules cried. "The sooner the better. Tomorrow +would suit me."</p> + +<p class="indent">The glasses had been filled with champagne, +and Berthier lifted his glass high in +the air, crying:</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page129" id="page129"></a>[pg 129]</span> +"Let us drink to the <i>fiancés</i>! May their +marriage be long and their engagement short! +Here's health and happiness to them!"</p> + +<p class="indent">They all stood up smiling and drank +together. Then as they sat down again, +Berthier went on:</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, I know the folly of long engagements. +Get married, get married, my children, +as soon as you can, while love is young. +I once knew a young girl—as beautiful as +the morning—more beautiful, a thousand +times more beautiful. Well, this young girl +loved a handsome, yes, I may say a fairly +handsome, at any rate, an honest young fellow, +who fairly worshipped her in return. But the +stern parents of this beautiful young girl——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"<i>Taisez-vous!</i>" Madame Perrault repeated. +"No more nonsense. If your beautiful +young girl hadn't obeyed her parents, +where would Blanche Perrault be at this moment, +I should like to know?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, my friend," said Berthier to Jules, +"it's the women who forget. Only the men +are constant in this world."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault rolled her eyes in mock +horror.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page130" id="page130"></a>[pg 130]</span> +"Constant—the men!" she repeated +scornfully. "They don't know what constancy +is. If it weren't for the constant +women in the world, the men would go +straight to the devil."</p> + +<p class="indent">Berthier burst into hilarious laughter. He +loved nothing better than to be vanquished +in an argument by Madame Perrault. Indeed, +he often argued simply in order to +provoke her. He gave Jules a quick glance +and a nod which plainly said: "Isn't she a +fine woman? Have you ever seen a woman +so clever?"</p> + +<p class="indent">The innocent pleasantries of the old lovers, +however, were lost on Jules. He wanted to +discuss in all seriousness his forthcoming +marriage, and this was certainly a suitable +occasion. So he determined to put the conversation +on another basis.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I am sure Monsieur Berthier is right +about long engagements," he said, "and +there's no reason why our engagement +shouldn't be short. I love Blanche, and +Blanche loves me, and we think we can +make each other happy. I can afford to +marry—I have a little property—and when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page131" id="page131"></a>[pg 131]</span> +she marries me Blanche will have a protector +in her professional career."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Bravo!" cried Berthier. "That was +said like a man!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"And the sooner I'm married, the better +for you," Jules went on, fixing his eyes on +Berthier's white beard. "Then Madame +Perrault won't be tied down to Blanche, and +there's no reason why you shouldn't be +married, too."</p> + +<p class="indent">"We might have a double marriage!" +said the little man jocosely.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, no, <i>no</i>!" Madame exclaimed. +"When I'm married I shall be married +very quietly in Boulogne, without any fuss. +These children shall be married first. Then +some day, Félix, you and I shall walk to the +church and it will be over in five minutes."</p> + +<p class="indent">Berthier breathed a long sigh, and laid +his hand gently on Madame Perrault's arm.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I've waited a great many years for those +five minutes, <i>chérie</i>."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Blanche's engagement at the Circus ends +the last day of the year," Jules resumed, +"and she begins her season in Vienna on +the fifteenth of January. Now, there's no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page132" id="page132"></a>[pg 132]</span> +reason in the world that I can think of to +prevent our being married between the first +of January and the fifteenth."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then, from every point of view, they discussed +the time of the marriage. Madame +Perrault raised the question of dresses for +the bride, of Jules' inability to arrange his +affairs in so short a time, but these and all +other objections were overruled.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche herself had very little to say; +when her mother asked her point-blank if +she wanted the marriage to take place so +early, she replied that she was willing if +Jules and the others decided it was best. She +seemed more like a passive spectator than +one actively interested in the discussion; +her eyes kept roving from Jules to her mother, +and from her mother back to Jules. Berthier +supported Jules valiantly, and at two +o'clock, Madame Perrault was finally won +over, and it was decided that the marriage +should take place during the first week in +January. Jules kissed Blanche on the cheek, +and there was general embracing and laughter. +Then the little party broke up, and Monsieur +Berthier followed Jules down the stairs.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page133" id="page133"></a>[pg 133]</span> +"Ah, my boy," he said, as they stood on +the sidewalk, before saying good-night, "I'd +give all the money I've made for your +youth. Youth is the time for love. In my +youth it came to me, but I lost it. Take +good care of it, my friend," he concluded, +tapping Jules' hand affectionately as they +were about to go their separate ways.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page134" id="page134"></a>[pg 134]</span></p> + +<h2>X</h2> + +<p class="indent">Jules at once began preparations for +his marriage. He gave notice of his +intention to leave the wool-house, and to +move from his apartment. Monsieur Mercier +showed no regret at his departure. +"I've observed that you were no longer +interested in your work," he said coldly.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules turned away with a sense of disappointment +and pain, feeling that he had been +badly treated. Though he said nothing to +the twins about his going, they speedily +heard of it and gibed him for the reason. +He preferred to maintain an air of mystery, +but one morning Leroux came into the office, +shaking a copy of the <i>Triomphe</i> in the air.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Let me congratulate you!" he cried, extending +his hand. "I respect a man that +can make a stroke like that. I've known +you were up to some game all along," he +added insinuatingly.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page135" id="page135"></a>[pg 135]</span> +Jules looked at the paper, and in the column +devoted to news of the theatre he read of the +engagement of Mademoiselle Blanche, of the +<i>Cirque Parisien</i>, to Monsieur Jules Le Baron, +a young business man of wealth. Dufresne +added his congratulations, and one after another +during the day Jules' other comrades +came up to shake his hand. No wonder he +had been putting on airs with them! They +treated him very jocosely, however, teased +him about his reputed wealth, and tortured +him with their coarse jokes, so that he looked +forward with relief to escaping from them.</p> + +<p class="indent">All of Jules' leisure was passed with +Blanche and her family. He made friends +with the girls and with Monsieur Berthier. +The better acquainted he became with +Louise the more he liked her; Jeanne +sometimes vexed him by making fun of +him, though he was careful not to betray +his annoyance. For Monsieur Berthier he +felt a genuine esteem; the little man was +always in good humor, though Jules suspected +that, in spite of his success in business, +his whole life had been clouded by the disappointment +of his youth. As for Madame +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page136" id="page136"></a>[pg 136]</span> +Perrault, notwithstanding the apparent lightness +of her character, which had at first +prejudiced him against her, the effective +way in which she managed her affairs made +him realize that she was a woman to be +respected. Sometimes Jules wondered what +kind of man Blanche's father had been; he +fancied that of the two the mother had been +by far the stronger.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules passed Christmas with his friends +and spent a month's salary on gifts for +Blanche and her sisters. For the girls +Madame had a <i>fête</i> in the morning after +mass, with a Christmas tree laden with +presents, and decorated with candles and +trinkets and <i>bonbons</i>. She chose this time +of day, as both in the afternoon and evening +Blanche gave performances.</p> + +<p class="indent">The next morning Madame Perrault +learned through Pelletier that the circus in +Vienna where Blanche had been engaged +to appear was a little more than ninety +feet high; so the plunge would be fifteen +feet deeper than it was in Paris. This news +created excitement in the family. It made +Madame so nervous that she urged that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page137" id="page137"></a>[pg 137]</span> +engagement be given up and an offer that +had come from Nice be accepted; but Jules +laughed at the idea.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What's a difference of fifteen feet to +Blanche?" he said. "It's just as easy for +her to dive ninety feet as to dive seventy-five. +The only thing for Blanche to do is +to go to Vienna as soon as her engagement +here is over. Then she can practise the +plunge every morning for two weeks. We'll +simply have to get married a little earlier +than we intended."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Perrault saw the force of the +argument, and Monsieur Berthier seconded +Jules. As for Blanche, she declared that +she should not be afraid of the plunge; at +Bucharest she had made a plunge of nearly +eighty-three feet. So it was agreed that the +civil marriage should take place very quietly +on the third of January, and the religious ceremony +the day after. Jules and his bride +could leave Paris by the afternoon train, +accompanied by Madeleine. Madame Perrault +was anxious to keep any notice out of +the papers, if possible; she thought it might +injure Blanche professionally. She had been +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page138" id="page138"></a>[pg 138]</span> +greatly vexed by the paragraph in the <i>Triomphe</i> +and had attributed it to Durand; but +Jules explained that the <i>Triomphe</i> was not +Durand's paper; besides, the journalist had +been sent for the winter to the Riviera as +correspondent.</p> + +<p class="indent">On the last day of the year Jules bade +farewell to his associates at the wool-house. +Most of them regretted his departure, for +before his sudden accession of dignity he +had been well liked among them. The next +morning, on the first day of his emancipation, +when he went to the apartment in the <i>rue +St. Honoré</i>, he found some pieces of silver +there, the gift of his old comrades. He knew +at once that the twins had started a subscription +for him, and he felt ashamed of his treatment +of them during his last weeks among +them. He soon forgot about them, however, +and was absorbed in the preparations for his +new life. He had sold most of his furniture, +save a few pieces that were so intimately +associated with the memory of his mother +that he could not part with them.</p> + +<p class="indent">For Madeleine this was a trying time; she +performed her numerous duties, involving +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page139" id="page139"></a>[pg 139]</span> +several journeys to the <i>rue St. Honoré</i>, with +a look of bewilderment in her face, as if she +could not adjust herself to the change that +was about to take place in her life.</p> + +<p class="indent">Two days before the time chosen for their +civil marriage, Jules was sitting alone with +Blanche, beside the fireplace where he had +passed most of his courtship. They had +been making plans for Vienna, and Jules +felt as if he were already at the head of a +household.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you know," he said, glancing at +the engagement ring on her left hand that +sparkled in the firelight, "I haven't been +able to make up my mind yet what to give +you for a wedding present. I wish you'd +tell me what you'd like. I want to give +you something that will please you very +much."</p> + +<p class="indent">She looked intently into the fireplace, and +did not reply.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Isn't there something that you want especially?" +Then Jules saw her face flush, +and he went on quickly: "Ah, I know there +is, but you're afraid to tell. Now, out with +it. Is it a diamond brooch, or one of those +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page140" id="page140"></a>[pg 140]</span> +queer little gold watches that women carry, +set with jewels, or one of those bracelets +that we saw in the shop in the <i>rue de la Paix</i> +the other day?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She began to laugh, and without turning +her eyes toward him, she said:—</p> + +<p class="indent">"You know I don't care for those things. +But there—there is something—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, out with it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It isn't a—it isn't what you think—a +present or anything like that; but it is something +I should like to have you—something +that would make me very happy."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then tell me what it is," said Jules, impatiently. +"What are you afraid of? Am I +such an ogre?"</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment she did not answer. Then +she said timidly: "I wish you'd go to confession +before we're married."</p> + +<p class="indent">He burst into a laugh that rang through +the apartment.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, is that all? So you're afraid to +marry such a wicked person as I am till the +Church has forgiven him and made him good +again."</p> + +<p class="indent">She shook her head.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page141" id="page141"></a>[pg 141]</span> +"No, it isn't that, Jules. I don't believe +you are wicked. I don't believe you ever +were; but I should be so much happier if +you would go to confession, and then before +we're married in church we could go to +communion together."</p> + +<p class="indent">He threw himself beside her chair, seized +her head in his hands, and kissed her on the +forehead. "I'm not fit to be your husband. +You're too good for me," he said softly.</p> + +<p class="indent">She drew away from him with a smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">"And will it make you very much happier +if I go to confession?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, Jules, very much."</p> + +<p class="indent">For an instant he hesitated, looking into +her eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then I'll go," he said.</p> + +<p class="indent">She turned to him, and threw her arms +around his neck. As he held her closely +to him, his lips pressed against her hair, +he went on:—</p> + +<p class="indent">"But it will be hard for me, Blanche. I +haven't been to confession for more than +twelve years. Think of all the things I shall +have to tell."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It will be over in a few minutes," she said +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page142" id="page142"></a>[pg 142]</span> +reassuringly. "Then you'll be glad you've +done it."</p> + +<p class="indent">He rose to his feet and drew his chair +nearer hers.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I've even forgotten how to make a confession. +I don't even remember the <i>Confiteor</i>."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then I shall have to teach it to you. +It's in my prayer-book, and you can take it +and learn it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I sha'n't know what to do. I shall +appear awkward and foolish."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's easy enough. You begin by examining +your conscience; then you—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Examining my conscience! I shall have +to wake it up first. It's been sound asleep +all these years. Ah, my dear Blanche, you +can't imagine how pleasant it is to have your +conscience asleep."</p> + +<p class="indent">She ignored his jesting, and went on: +"Then you have to be sorry for what you've +done,—for the sins, I mean."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But if you're not sorry. They've been +very pleasant, a good many of them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course, if you aren't sorry you can't +go to confession. That's what people go +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page143" id="page143"></a>[pg 143]</span> +for, because they <i>are</i> sorry, and because they +intend to try to be better."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But all the confessions in the world +wouldn't make me better. It's only you +that can do that. I'm sorry for my sins +simply because, when I think of them, they +take me so far away from you. If I hadn't +met you, I shouldn't have thought they +were so bad. But when I think of you, +Blanche, and when I look at you, you seem +so good—well, I—I feel ashamed, and +then I want to be good too. Why can't +I confess to you?" he went on banteringly. +"You'd do me more good than all the +priests in Christendom. Only I'm afraid +I should shock you. I suppose the priests +hear stories like mine every day; so one +or two more or less wouldn't make any +difference to them."</p> + +<p class="indent">She turned her head away, and he saw +that he had offended her. So he patted her +cheek and smiled into her face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What a little <i>dévote</i> she is, anyway! +She's vexed even when I joke about her +religion. Don't you see that it's all fun, +dear? I'm going to do everything you say, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page144" id="page144"></a>[pg 144]</span> +make a clean breast of it to the priest, tell +him I'm sorry, and promise to be good for the +rest of my life. It won't be hard to promise +that. How can I help being good when I +shall have you with me all the time?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Then for an hour they talked seriously +about the confession. The more he thought +of the ordeal, the more nervous Jules felt. +Sins came back to him, committed during +those first few years after he left the <i>lycée</i>, +when his freedom was novel and delicious. +How could he tell of those things, how could +he put them into the awful baldness of +speech? He knew that no sin could be +concealed in the confessional; but he asked +Blanche if he would have to be particular, +if he couldn't say in a general way that he +had broken this commandment or that. +He was alarmed by her reply that she told +everything, that sometimes the priest asked +probing questions. He couldn't endure the +shame of speaking out those horrors. He +was afraid, however, to acknowledge his +fears to the girl; they might make her suspect +what he had done, and inspire her with +a loathing for him.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page145" id="page145"></a>[pg 145]</span> +Jules had heard that some men told the +women they were going to marry of their +lapses, and he had been greatly amused. +It never occurred to him that he ought to +reveal the dark passages in his life to +Blanche; these would simply shock her, +give her wrong ideas about him, perhaps +make her suspicious and jealous after marriage. +His sins he had always regarded as +follies of youth: they did not in any way +affect his character or his honor as a gentleman. +Now, however, he was looking back +on himself, not from the point of view of the +man of the world, but of a good woman.</p> + +<p class="indent">That night, on leaving Blanche at the +theatre, instead of roaming in the <i>Boulevards</i>, +or reading the papers in the <i>cafés</i>, as he +had of late been doing till half-past ten, +he took a <i>fiacre</i> to the Madeleine, where +he spent one of the most disagreeable hours +of his life. Vespers were being sung, and +the church was nearly full; he sought an +obscure corner, knelt there before a picture +of Christ carrying the Cross of Calvary, repeated +an "Our Father," and a "Hail Mary," +which came back to him like an echo of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page146" id="page146"></a>[pg 146]</span> +his mother's voice, and then gave himself +up to the task of examining his conscience.</p> + +<p class="indent">The whole panorama of his manhood +passed before him, the life of the young +Parisian at the close of the century,—selfish, +cynical, pleasure-loving, sense-gratifying, +animal. He buried his face in his hands. +Oh, what an existence! Yet he dared to +take a pure young girl for his wife, to make +her the mother of his children! He could +not think of himself or of his sins without +reference to her, and the more he thought +of her and of them, the deeper his shame +became, and this shame he mistook for contrition. +This then was what Blanche had +meant by saying that he must be sorry for +what he had done, and must promise to fight +against temptation. From the depth of his +heart he believed he was sorry.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then he took from his pocket the prayer-book +that she had given him, and read +several times the act of contrition and the +<i>Confiteor</i>. The repetition recalled them to +his memory, and he was ready for his confession +to the priest the next day. With +a sigh he rose from his seat, feeling as if +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page147" id="page147"></a>[pg 147]</span> +he had thrown off the burden of his past +life and received a benediction.</p> + +<p class="indent">The next afternoon, when Jules entered +with Blanche the church of <i>St. Philippe de +Roule</i>, he found groups of people kneeling +around the confessional boxes and in front +of the altars. He had resolved to confess to +Father Labiche, who, Blanche had told him, +was the most lenient of all the fathers. The +names of the priests were printed on the +boxes, and the largest crowd was gathered +around the box assigned to Jules' choice.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm afraid you'll have to wait a long +time," Blanche whispered.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Never mind," Jules replied nervously.</p> + +<p class="indent">He felt almost glad that he was to have +a respite. The sight of the confessional +boxes and of the people whispering prayers, +together with the atmosphere of devotion +that pervaded the place, had filled him with +terror. Blanche made a sign to him to go +forward and join the group awaiting Father +Labiche, and she herself stopped near the +group beside it, knelt and made the sign of +the cross. Jules, too, knelt before one of the +hard-wood benches, and prayed that he might +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page148" id="page148"></a>[pg 148]</span> +have the courage and grace to make a good +confession. Then he went over again the +sins that he had to confess, and he repeated +the <i>Confiteor</i> and the act of contrition.</p> + +<p class="indent">All day long these prayers, and the items +of his confession, had been surging in his +mind, and now, as he sat up and waited for +his turn to come in the procession that +passed in and out on either side of the confessional, +they kept repeating themselves. +He looked at the wrinkled women around +him, and wondered if their feelings were +like his; he could see no nervousness, no +fear in their faces; they seemed to be +absorbed, almost exalted in their devotion. +Then he began to grow impatient, and +wished that the people who entered the confessional +would not take so much time. He +could catch glimpses of the dark figure of +the priest, bending his head from one side +to the other, and glancing out at the people. +In his line at least fifteen persons were +waiting their turn before him; it would +take Father Labiche more than two hours, +Jules feared, to hear them and the fifteen +others in the opposite line. His thoughts +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page149" id="page149"></a>[pg 149]</span> +turned to Blanche, and he wondered if she +had been heard yet. He looked around, +and saw her in the crowd behind him, reading +her prayer-book; she kept apart from +the others, and had evidently finished her +confession and was waiting for him.</p> + +<p class="indent">How gentle and good she looked; how +different from her appearance in the ring! +Once again he saw her tumbling through +the air in her silk tights. He tried to drive +this thought from his mind, but again and +again he saw her, climbing hand over hand +to the top of the Circus, hurling herself backward, +spinning through the air, striking the +padded net with a thud, bouncing up again, +and landing, with the pretty gesture of both +hands, on her feet. And in two days she +would be his wife! They would go away +together, and whenever she performed in +public, he would appear with her, hold the +rope while she climbed to the top of the +building, make the dramatic announcement +that would awe the audience into silence, +and then scamper across the net to the platform +before she fell.</p> + +<p class="indent">For more than an hour Jules thought of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page150" id="page150"></a>[pg 150]</span> +this brilliant future; then he suddenly realized +where he was, and he saw that he had +moved up within three places of the confessional. +In a few moments it would be his +turn to go into that dark box, where so +many ghastly secrets were told, where he +would be obliged to reveal all the vileness +and the weakness of his human nature. His +nerves vibrated; he felt as if something +within him were sinking, as if his courage +were leaving him. Then his lips began +again to repeat the <i>Confiteor</i>, and his mind +ran nervously over his self-accusations.</p> + +<p class="indent">The woman before him remained so long +in the confessional that he wondered if she +would ever come out; but when she did +appear he had a sudden access of terror. +He rose mechanically, however, made his +way into the box, and knelt beside the +little closed slide, through which the priest +conferred with the penitents. He could +hear the low murmur of Father Labiche's +voice, and the more faint responses of a +woman confessing on the other side. He +tried not to listen, but he could not help +catching a few words. Suddenly the slide +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page151" id="page151"></a>[pg 151]</span> +was opened, and he confronted the kindly +face of the old priest whose right hand +was raised in blessing.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche had seen Jules enter the confessional, +and she waited for him to appear +again. The woman who had entered before +him on the other side soon came out; so +Jules was now making his peace with God. +She lowered her head, and breathed a +simple prayer of thankfulness. Ten, fifteen +minutes passed; still he did not come. +She wondered why Father Labiche kept him +there so long. When at last he did appear, +his face was white. Poor Jules! she thought. +How hard it must have been for him, and +how good he was to have gone through it +so heroically. He walked forward to the +main altar, and there he knelt for several +moments. When he came back, he found +her waiting.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Come," he said, touching her on the +arm.</p> + +<p class="indent">They did not speak till they were in the +street.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It was pretty tough," he said doggedly. +"I thought he'd never let me out."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page152" id="page152"></a>[pg 152]</span> +She smiled up into his face. "But it's +all over now, Jules."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, it's all over," he repeated grimly. +"But I should hate to go through it again."</p> + +<p class="indent">They hurried on through the nipping +January air.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm afraid we shall be late for dinner, +Jules. It must be after half-past six, and +then we have so many things to do to-night. +My trunks aren't all packed yet."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I would help you if I could," Jules +replied, "but I must go back to the church. +Father Labiche gave me the Stations of +the Cross for penance. He said he thought +it would do me good before I was married to +reflect on the sufferings of Christ," he explained +with a smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you told him you were going to be +married?" she laughed, her breath steaming +in the air.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He asked how I happened to come to +confession after staying away so long; so +I had to acknowledge that I did it to please +you."</p> + +<p class="indent">The little apartment was in commotion +over Blanche's marriage and departure two +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page153" id="page153"></a>[pg 153]</span> +days later; the <i>petit salon</i> was littered with +dresses, and the two girls were greatly +excited over their new frocks. Jules saw +that he was in the way, and soon after +dinner he left his friends, saying that he +would have the carriages ready for them at +half-past seven in the morning; Blanche, +her mother, and Monsieur Berthier would +ride with him in one, and in the other the +girls would go with Madeleine and Pelletier, +who had been invited on account of his long +business association with the family.</p> + +<p class="indent">That night at church Jules did his best to +put himself into a religious frame of mind +and to feel a proper pity for the sufferings of +Christ. As he passed from station to station +in the Way of the Cross, he reflected seriously +on the significance of each, and he said +his prayers devoutly. But his mind was +constantly distracted by the thought of the +girl he loved and of his marriage the next +day. At the most inopportune moments +visions of Blanche would haunt him as she +looked in the ring, climbing the rope and +whirling through the air.</p> + +<p class="indent">When his prayers were said he felt +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page154" id="page154"></a>[pg 154]</span> +radiantly happy. He had done his duty, +and he felt that he deserved to be rewarded. +It was only nine o'clock, but he hurried +home at once to go on with his packing. +When he went to bed that night, he dreamed +that he was making his first appearance in +the circus at Vienna, holding the rope for +his wife, and speaking the thrilling words of +warning to the audience.</p> + +<p class="indent">In the morning Jules and Blanche received +communion at early mass, and later they +went with Madame Perrault and Monsieur +Berthier to the Mayor's office, where the +civil marriage ceremony was performed. +This Jules regarded merely as a formality, +though it made him feel that she was at +last his, his forever! No one could take +her away from him now! The next morning +was clear and cold, and the sun shone as he +looked out of his window in the dismantled +apartment. He smiled as he thought that +his lonely days as a bachelor were over. At +ten o'clock he drove to the <i>rue St. Honoré</i> +with Madeleine, who looked a dozen years +younger in her simple black silk with a piece +of white lace at her throat, the gift of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page155" id="page155"></a>[pg 155]</span> +Madame Perrault. Blanche, in her white +satin dress with the bunch of white roses +he had sent to her in her hand, had never +seemed to him so beautiful. It was after +eleven o'clock when they reached <i>St. Philippe</i>, +and a crowd of idlers hung about the door +and followed them into the church.</p> + +<p class="indent">To Jules the mass that preceded the +marriage ceremony seemed interminable; +he kept glancing at Blanche's flushed face +and downcast eyes, and plucking at his +gloves. Then, when he found himself standing +before the priest, holding Blanche's +hand, and listening to the solemn words of +the service, he came near bursting into tears. +He thought afterward how ridiculous he +would have been if he hadn't been able to +control himself. He was relieved when the +service was ended, and as he walked to the +vestry with his wife on his arm, he could +have laughed aloud for joy.</p> + +<p class="indent">When the register had been signed and +they had shaken hands with the priest, they +drove at once to the <i>café</i> in the <i>avenue de +l'Opéra</i>, where Jules had ordered a sumptuous +breakfast. There they remained till four +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page156" id="page156"></a>[pg 156]</span> +o'clock. Monsieur Berthier was the gayest +of them all, and he was seconded by Jeanne, +who pretended to flirt desperately with Jules +and made pert speeches to Pelletier. Then +they all returned to the <i>rue St. Honoré</i>, where +Blanche changed her wedding finery for a +travelling dress.</p> + +<p class="indent">During the farewell between Blanche and +her family, Jules suffered; he never could +bear the sight of women in tears. He was +greatly relieved when he put his almost +hysterical wife and Madeleine into the carriage, +and slammed the door behind him.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page157" id="page157"></a>[pg 157]</span></p> + +<h2>XI</h2> + +<p class="indent">They went straight to Vienna, arriving +fatigued from their long journey. +After three days, spent at a little French +hotel, Jules found near the <i>Ringstrasse</i> a furnished +apartment that suited him, and they +took possession at the end of the week.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche soon felt at home, but Madeleine, +though she had become deeply attached to +her new mistress, and now had more companionship +than she had known since the +death of Jules' mother, secretly grieved for +her beloved Paris, and looked and acted as +if utterly bewildered.</p> + +<p class="indent">The day of his arrival in Vienna, Jules +proceeded to the Circus and had a long talk +with Herr Prevost, the manager, with regard +to his wife's engagement. He explained the +difference in the plunge Blanche would be +obliged to take there from her usual one, +and persuaded Prevost to make this a feature +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page158" id="page158"></a>[pg 158]</span> +in his advertisements; he also secured permission +for Blanche to practise in the ring +every morning till her engagement began.</p> + +<p class="indent">So he went back to the hotel elated, and +explained to Blanche that, after all, in the +theatrical life good management was half the +battle. Now that she had shaken off that +worthless Pelletier and he himself had taken +charge of her affairs, she would undoubtedly +be recognized in a very few years as the +greatest acrobat in the world.</p> + +<p class="indent">She must sit at once, in costume, for some +new photographs, and he would send them +to the leading managers of Europe and America. +If they could only arrange to go to +America under good auspices, their fortune +would be made. Instead of receiving, as they +were doing in Vienna, five hundred francs a +week, they would be paid as much as twice +that amount in New York, if not more. Indeed, +Jules had so much to say about America, +he seemed to have it on the brain.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche experienced no difficulty in making +her plunge in the new amphitheatre, and +after her first trial there, declared that she +had no fear for the public performances. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page159" id="page159"></a>[pg 159]</span> +Jules, however, insisted on her practising +every morning; she must keep her muscles +limber, he said; besides, if she didn't practise, +she might lose confidence.</p> + +<p class="indent">He found himself treating her as her +mother had done, directing her movements +like those of a child, and she obeyed him +as if she considered his attitude toward her +eminently natural and right. Even Madeleine +adopted a motherly tone with her, +chose the dresses she should wear each day, +and instructed her in a thousand feminine +details.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche, Jules was surprised and secretly +annoyed to discover, could speak German, +and in the mornings she sometimes gave him +lessons. He also picked up a good deal of +German slang in the <i>cafés</i> that he frequented +during the day, where he drank coffee and +read whatever French and English papers he +could find.</p> + +<p class="indent">After his wife's performances began, he +found himself falling into a routine of life. +In spite of his distaste for his duties at the +wool-house, he had expected to miss them at +first; but he quickly became accustomed to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page160" id="page160"></a>[pg 160]</span> +his leisure. He really considered himself a +busy person, for in addition to his nightly +appearance in the arena, momentary but intensely +dramatic, he spent considerable time +in fraternizing with the Viennese journalists, +to secure newspaper puffs for his wife, +in conferring with Prevost, and in corresponding +with managers for future engagements. +After his first month in Vienna, he +felt as if he had been connected with the +circus for years.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche heard constantly from home, from +either her mother or one of the two girls,—more +often from Louise than from Jeanne, +who hated to write letters. Six weeks after +her departure from Paris, her mother became +Madame Berthier, without, as she had said, +"any fuss," and was now installed with the +children in the big house where Félix had +passed so many lonely years as a bachelor. +Jules and Blanche wrote a joint letter of congratulation, +and after that Blanche seemed +even happier than she had been; it was so +good, she said, to think that the girls were +provided for.</p> + +<p class="indent">In the afternoons Jules took walks or +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page161" id="page161"></a>[pg 161]</span> +drives with his wife, and on Sundays he accompanied +her to early mass in the little +church that they had discovered near their +apartment. Blanche would have liked to go +to high mass, but to this Jules strenuously +objected; it was too long, and he couldn't +understand the sermon, and altogether it +made him sleepy. Sometimes on Sundays +they would go to one of the <i>cafés</i> for <i>déjeuner</i> +or dinner, and over this they used to be very +happy, for it recalled the first months of their +love.</p> + +<p class="indent">After a time, however, these walks grew less +frequent. Jules stayed at home more, and +Madeleine became solicitous for Blanche's +health. Jules had long talks with Prevost; +Blanche had been engaged at the Circus for +three months, and Prevost wished to reengage +her for the spring season; but Jules +explained that he had already received several +offers for the spring, and had refused them +all; his wife needed a long rest, and from +Vienna they would go to Boulogne for a few +months, to be with her people.</p> + +<p class="indent">The reference to the engagements was not +exactly true; Jules had one offer only for the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page162" id="page162"></a>[pg 162]</span> +summer; that was from Trouville. For the +autumn he had a fairly generous offer from +South America, and a better one from the +Hippodrome in London, to begin on the +first of December. He had practically decided +to accept the offer from London; but +before giving a definite answer, he resolved +to consult Blanche about it.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It will just fit in with our plans," he said. +"On the first of May we'll take a good +long rest. We'll go to your mother's old +house. It hasn't been let yet, you know, +and no one will want it before then. So you +and Madeleine and I will live there together, +and we'll pass the days out of doors, and +take long walks by the sea, and forget all +about the circus. Then, when you are well +and strong again, we'll go to London, and +astonish the English, who think there's nothing +good in France. What do you say, dear? +Don't you think that's a good plan?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes," she said slowly. "It will be very +nice, Jules, if—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If? If what?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If I'm alive," she answered softly, turning +her head away.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page163" id="page163"></a>[pg 163]</span> +He took her in his arms and pressed his +cheek against hers. "What a foolish little +girl it is to talk like that! Of course you'll +be alive, and you'll be even better and +stronger and happier than you are now. +And then think of all the good times you'll +have this summer with Jeanne and Louise +and your mother and Monsieur Berthier. +We'll have <i>fêtes</i> for the girls at our house, +and every day we'll go to see your mother. +You don't think she'll be too proud to receive +us, do you, now that she's rich and +important? I suppose she's the queen of +Boulogne, with her carriages and her horses +and her servants. She'll soon be getting +a husband for Jeanne, some fine young +fellow with a lot of money. And won't +Jeanne put him through his paces? She's +a high-stepper, that Jeanne, and I should +pity the man who got her and didn't understand +her. Think of trying to keep +Jeanne down!"</p> + +<p class="indent">In her moments of depression he always +spoke to her like that, and for the time it +cheered her; but when the spring came, +she drooped visibly, and Jules became +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page164" id="page164"></a>[pg 164]</span> +alarmed; sometimes she would have attacks +of convulsive weeping, and these would be +followed by hours of profound sadness, during +which she spoke scarcely a word. There were +other days when she would be full of courage +and hope, gayer than she had ever been; +then they would drive into the country and +she would take deep draughts of the fresh +spring air, and her eyes would brighten and +her cheeks flush.</p> + +<p class="indent">In spite of his anxiety, these days were +very happy for Jules; the thought that he +might lose her made her dearer to him. +Sometimes he would take her hand and tell +her that without her he couldn't live; she +had made him realize how wretched his +existence had been before marriage; he +could not go back to that again. Then she +would rest her head on his shoulder and +whisper that she would try to be brave. +Her sufferings seemed to be wholly in her +mind; the doctor Jules consulted said that, +bodily, she was perfectly strong, and could +easily fill her engagement at the circus; her +work in the ring had given her a remarkable +development of the muscles and the chest; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page165" id="page165"></a>[pg 165]</span> +if she stopped the work now, and ceased to +practise, she would suffer from the inaction.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules, however, felt relieved when the fifteenth +of April came, and they were able to +leave Vienna for Paris. There they remained +only a day, for they were eager to reach +Boulogne and the little home that Madame +Berthier had arranged for them, in the house +where Blanche had been born, and had passed +the few weeks in each year when she was not +travelling.</p> + +<p class="indent">When they arrived, early in the afternoon, +Madame Berthier and the girls, together with +Berthier, were at the station to meet them, +and they received a rapturous greeting, the +girls clinging to their sister with frantic embraces.</p> + +<p class="indent">"We had <i>déjeuner</i> prepared for you at +your house," said Madame, when the first +greetings were over. "I knew you'd want +to go there the first thing. Then to-night +you are to come and dine with us. I feel as +if I hadn't seen you for years."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But we've never met Madame Berthier +before," Jules replied, making a feeble attempt +to be gay, for he saw that Blanche's +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page166" id="page166"></a>[pg 166]</span> +meeting with her mother threatened to upset +her.</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame blushed like a young girl, and +turning, led the way to the carriages.</p> + +<p class="indent">"One of these is for you and Jules," she +said. "I don't mean just for now, but for +all the time you are here. Félix chose the +horse for you, dear, and she's so gentle you +can drive her alone if you want to."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm going to put the three girls and +their mother in the big carriage," Berthier +said to Jules, "and you and Madeleine and +I will follow them." The arrival of his stepdaughter +seemed to have given him as much +pleasure as any of the others, and his good-natured +face was radiant. "Jump in, girls," +he cried, holding out his hand to Blanche. +"We'll have to turn those lilies of yours into +roses this summer, my dear. Here, Jeanne, +stop flirting with Jules, or we won't let you +come with us. You wouldn't have known +our little Louise, Blanche, if you hadn't +expected to find her here, would you? +She's grown an inch in four months. It's +the most wonderful thing I've ever known +in my life. And would you believe it?—she's +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page167" id="page167"></a>[pg 167]</span> +become a perfect chatterbox—she's +worse than Jeanne. Sometimes I have to +run out of the room to read my paper in +peace and have a quiet smoke."</p> + +<p class="indent">The whole family seemed to have agreed +to assume toward Blanche the bantering tone +that Jules had adopted. When they reached +the house they continued their gayety, though +Blanche, tired from her journey, sank weakly +on the couch in the <i>salon</i>.</p> + +<p class="indent">She looked around, however, and saw +that the room had been redecorated, probably +by Monsieur Berthier, and when she +felt rested she went all over the house and +observed many new pieces of furniture, and +many touches here and there that made the +place more attractive and homelike. "Ah, +it is so good to be at home," she said to +her mother when they were alone; and then +Madame Berthier took her in her arms and +kissed her on the forehead and told her she +must have courage for Jules' sake.</p> + +<p class="indent">After the excitement of Paris and Vienna, +Jules found it hard to accustom himself to the +dull life at Boulogne. He bought a small +yacht, and found amusement in sailing with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page168" id="page168"></a>[pg 168]</span> +his new acquaintances, and sometimes, when +the weather was fine, he took Blanche and +the girls with him. He also occupied himself +with the little garden around his cottage; +but this soon bored him, and he gave it +over to Monsieur Berthier's gardener, who +came every few days to look after it. In +the afternoons he drove with Blanche far +into the country, and sometimes they stopped +at a little <i>café</i> by the roadside and had an +early dinner, and then hurried home before +the damp night should close around them.</p> + +<p class="indent">On these occasions they had many earnest +talks, and Jules was surprised by the seriousness +and depth of his wife's mind; at any +rate, she impressed him as being wonderfully +profound. The longer he knew her, +the more she awed and puzzled him; there +were moments when she seemed to dwell +in another world, a world that made her +almost a stranger to him.</p> + +<p class="indent">Since her return to Boulogne she had grown +much more cheerful than she had been during +those last weeks in Vienna; but a thousand +little things she said showed him that +beneath the surface of her thought there +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page169" id="page169"></a>[pg 169]</span> +still lurked a strange melancholy, an unchangeable +conviction that life was slipping +away from her. He spoke of this once to +her mother, and she explained mysteriously +that he must expect that; it was very natural +with one of Blanche's temperament. She +had known many cases like it before.</p> + +<p class="indent">As the summer passed, Jules said little to +his wife about the circus; indeed, her work +was scarcely mentioned between them, though +every morning she practised her exercises. +Jules, however, had decided that they should +go to London late in November and, the +first week of the following month, appear at +the Hippodrome, which had been established +with great success the year before, at a short +distance from the Houses of Parliament. +The contract had not been signed, for Jules +had written to Marshall, the manager, that he +could not bind himself to an engagement +until early in the autumn; but he explained +that his word was as good as any contract.</p> + +<p class="indent">When September came, Blanche seemed +much better for her months of rest; her +eyes were brighter, and her cheeks were shot +with color. Sometimes Jules wished that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page170" id="page170"></a>[pg 170]</span> +she were not quite so religious; she went +to early mass every morning now, and rather +than let her go alone, he went with her, for +Madeleine had assumed the duties of the +household. Their evenings, which during +the summer had been spent chiefly on the +porch of Monsieur Berthier's house, were +now passed in their <i>salon</i>, bright with flowers, +sometimes with a wood-fire crackling on the +old-fashioned hearth. Blanche's fingers were +always busy with soft, fleecy garments, which +Jules used sometimes to take in his hands +and rub affectionately against his face. Then +he often noticed a light in her eyes that he +had never seen before; it reminded him of +pictures of the Madonna. Sometimes he was +so touched when he looked at her that he +would take her in his arms and hold her +close for a long while. Their evenings together +became very dear to him; yet they +said little to each other: he was content to +sit and watch her, with the curtains drawn +to shut out the rest of the world.</p> + +<p class="indent">Occasionally Father Dumény would come +in for an hour's chat. He was a large-framed, +heavy man, with deep gray eyes shaded by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page171" id="page171"></a>[pg 171]</span> +enormous eyebrows that moved up and down +as he spoke. He spoke as he walked, slowly +and lumberingly, and he had a quaint humor +that used to delight Blanche and puzzle Jules. +When he appeared, she always brightened, +and she liked to hear his doleful accounts +of his rheumatism. He seemed to find +humor in everything, even in his arduous +duties and his ailments.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, my children," he would say, "why +should any one go to the theatre for pleasure? +This life is nothing but a comedy, if you only +look at it in the right way."</p> + +<p class="indent">From Blanche he derived a great deal of +amusement; that she should perform in a +circus always seemed a joke to him, and +he was continually making fun over it. He +had never been at a circus; so, though he +had baptized Blanche and had met her +during her visits in Boulogne, he had never +seen her perform. Once when Jules showed +him a photograph of Blanche as she appeared +while posing on the rope, he rolled +his eyes and pretended to be much shocked, +and they all laughed together.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose you two people will be leaving +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page172" id="page172"></a>[pg 172]</span> +this nest of yours before winter comes," he +said one night. "You've made your plans +already, haven't you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules looked down at Blanche, but she +avoided his eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"We haven't decided definitely," Jules replied, +"but we think of going to London."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche sighed, and Father Dumény +glanced at her quickly and then smiled up +at Jules.</p> + +<p class="indent">"She has a notion that she isn't going +to live," Jules added, nodding at his wife. +"Ridiculous, isn't it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Father Dumény put his hands to his +sides, and for a moment his great body +shook with laughter.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why, I expect to baptize at least half +a dozen of your children! In a few years +we shall see them trotting around here in +Boulogne and coming to my Sunday-school +to be prepared for their first communion. +We need all the good Catholics we can have, +in these days, to fight against the infidelity +that's ruining the country. Ah, my dear +child," he said, patting Blanche's hand, +"when you're a grandmother with a troop +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page173" id="page173"></a>[pg 173]</span> +of children around you, you'll look back and +smile at these foolish little fears."</p> + +<p class="indent">After that night he came oftener, and +kept Blanche laughing with his gayety.</p> + +<p class="indent">"When you go to London," he said one +evening, "I shall give you letters to some +dear English friends of mine,—Mr. and +Mrs. Tate. I met the Tates when I was +in Paris visiting Father Brémont more than +ten years ago. Mr. Tate represented the +banking-house of Welling Brothers, of London, +there, and now he's in London as a +member of the firm, I believe. You'll like +Mrs. Tate, my dear. She's a good soul, and +she speaks French almost as well as English. +I shall expect to hear that you've become +great friends."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But we aren't sure of going to England +yet," Blanche replied with a weary smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps we shall go to America," Jules +laughed. "I want Blanche to see the country."</p> + +<p class="indent">Toward the end of September Blanche +drooped again, and her mother was with +her nearly every moment of the day, remaining +sometimes till late at night. The girls +had gone back to the convent, but they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page174" id="page174"></a>[pg 174]</span> +were allowed to come home twice a week, +and most of their freedom they devoted +to their sister, whom they treated with a +protecting tenderness that used to afford +Jules secret amusement. Madame Berthier +maintained a cheerful composure in her +daughter's presence, but when alone with +Jules she became so serious that for the first +time he grew nervous. Then as his anxiety +deepened he began to resent it, as he did +any long-continued annoyance. Why should +they be kept in idleness and suspense so +long? How stupid to be buried in a wretched +provincial town when they might be earning +thousands of francs in Vienna, or Bucharest, +or Paris!</p> + +<p class="indent">Then one night he was suddenly aroused +from his sleep, and he felt a sensation of +mingled horror and awe. He dressed himself +quickly, his whole being wrung by the +groans he heard from the next room, and +tore out of the house to Doctor Brutinière's, +five minutes away. After delivering his +message, he ran breathlessly to summon +Madame Berthier. It took her scarcely +five minutes to dress, and then they were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page175" id="page175"></a>[pg 175]</span> +in the street together. Madame Berthier +went at once to Blanche's room, and Jules +paced up and down in the half-lighted <i>salon</i>.</p> + +<p class="indent">That was the ghastliest night of Jules Le +Baron's life. He was overwhelmed by the +knowledge that Blanche was in agony, that +she was battling for life, that at any moment +he might hear she was dead. Why should +the burden of suffering fall on her? Oh, +how cruel Nature was, how pitiless to women! +The poor child, the poor little one, +to be tortured so! Several times he listened +for a sound, and the silence terrified him. +Suddenly he heard a shriek, loud and piercing, +that only the most exquisite pain could +have wrung, and he clenched his hands in +impotent horror and misery.</p> + +<p class="indent">The stillness that followed made him fear +that she was dead, and he could hardly +keep from rushing up the stairs and learning +the truth. After a few moments, as he +stood at the door, he heard another cry, +small, timorous, peevish, that changed to a +wail and then died away. He turned into +the room, clapsed his face in his hands, +and cried, "Thank God, thank God! And +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page176" id="page176"></a>[pg 176]</span> +mercy for her, my God, mercy for my poor +little Blanche!"</p> + +<p class="indent">After what seemed to him a long time, +during which he was tortured with suspense, +a door opened and shut, and he heard a +rustling on the stairs. He stepped out into +the hall and saw Madame Berthier descending. +She stopped, smiled, and put her hand +to her lips; he could see traces of tears +in her eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Come up," she whispered. "It's all +over. It's a girl, and Blanche has her in +her arms."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules bounded up the stairs. "Only a +minute, you know," she said softly, "and +you must be very quiet."</p> + +<p class="indent">When she opened the door he almost +pushed her aside in his eagerness to enter. +The Doctor and Madeleine were standing +beside the bed, where Blanche, white but +bright-eyed and smiling, was lying with the +babe nestling close to her. Jules flung himself +by her side, and kissed her passionately, +murmuring incoherent words of love and +thankfulness.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page177" id="page177"></a>[pg 177]</span></p> + +<h2>XII</h2> + +<p class="indent">The weeks of convalescence that followed +were the happiest Blanche had ever +known. She felt wrapped in the devotion of +her husband and her family, and exalted by her +love for her child. At moments she feared +that she could not live through such happiness. +Sometimes she would fancy that all +her sufferings had been only a dream, and +then she would turn and find with a thrill of +joy the babe lying beside her. Jules would +sit by the bed holding her hand, and making +jokes about their daughter's future. They +had decided that she should be called +Jeanne, and no one but Father Dumény +should baptize her.</p> + +<p class="indent">One morning, when Blanche was sitting up +in bed for the first time, Jules entered the +room with a letter in his hand and in his +face a look of exultation.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's from Marshall," he said, "from the +Hippodrome in London, you know. He +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page178" id="page178"></a>[pg 178]</span> +wants me to make a contract for six months, +from the first of January. I was afraid he +might back out because we held off so long. +But this makes it all right. You'll have +more than a month to get strong again and +to practise in."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules was so excited by the prospect that +he did not notice the look of alarm that had +appeared in his wife's eyes. She lay still, +with one arm extended on the coverlet, her +head leaning to one side, and her dark +hair making a background for her white +face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"'We want you to open on the first,'" +Jules read aloud. "'Let us hear from you +as soon as possible and we will send on the +contract for your signature.' Of course," he +went on, folding the note, "we must jump +at it. What do you say?"</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment she looked at him without +speaking. Then she replied weakly, "Do +what you think best, Jules."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Good!" he said, jumping up. "I'll +write now. We've lost a lot of time, you +know, and we must make up for it when we +get back to work."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page179" id="page179"></a>[pg 179]</span> +"Do you—do you think I'll be strong +enough?" she went on, as if she hadn't heard +him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Strong enough!" he laughed. "Of +course you'll be strong enough in seven +weeks more. You're nearly your old self +now," he added affectionately. "Don't you +worry about that."</p> + +<p class="indent">When he had closed the door and left her +alone, she felt as if her body were sinking +into the bed from weakness. The circus +again! That ghastly plunge! Since the +birth of her child she had hardly thought of +it. Now the thought horrified her! How +could she leave her babe and risk her life +night after night? Perhaps some night—oh! +it was too horrible. She couldn't, she +couldn't! She lifted her hands to her face +as if to shut out the horror of the thought. +Then she turned to the little Jeanne who +was sleeping beside her, and drew her close +to her bosom.</p> + +<p class="indent">She had lost courage! It would never +come back to her. When Jules returned +she would tell him, and she would beg him, +for Jeanne's sake, to give up that engagement +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page180" id="page180"></a>[pg 180]</span> +in London till she felt well again. +Oh, if they could only leave the circus forever! +If she could only do as other women +did, devote her life to her child. The circus +was no place for a mother.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then it suddenly flashed upon her that if +she said these things to Jules he would urge +her to place Jeanne in her mother's care +while they were in England; but to that she +would never consent, never. She would +rather give up performing altogether. Yes, +when Jules came back she would speak of this. +He loved the circus, but for Jeanne's sake he +would give it up, she knew he would.</p> + +<p class="indent">But when Jules did return, he was so +enthusiastic about the engagement in London +that she did not dare oppose it. "Think of +the sensation we'll make there!" he said. +"How those stupid English will open their +eyes! And then we'll surely have big offers +from other places. After a London success +we can make a fortune in America. They +say the Americans are crazy over everything +that makes a hit in London. Oh," he went +on, stretching his arms and yawning, "it will +be a relief to get out of this dull old town. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page181" id="page181"></a>[pg 181]</span> +Think of the months we've wasted here. +I feel rusty already."</p> + +<p class="indent">Something in his tone as well as his words +frightened her, and a feeling of helplessness +came over her when he put his hand on her +forehead and said gently: "You must try to +get strong as soon as possible, dear. Think +of all the practising you'll have to do for +your plunge."</p> + +<p class="indent">She turned her head away, and he observed +nothing strange in her manner. She +wanted to speak of taking Jeanne with them, +but a fear that he might object restrained +her.</p> + +<p class="indent">Two days later, when her mother and +Jules were in the room together, Madame +Berthier, with apparent carelessness, asked +what they were going to do with the little +one while they were travelling. "Of course +you can't carry her about with you. So you'd +better leave her with me. I'll take the best +of care of her."</p> + +<p class="indent">She was startled by the light that flashed +into her daughter's eyes. "No, no!" +Blanche cried. "We shall keep her with us +always. I couldn't bear to leave her here. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page182" id="page182"></a>[pg 182]</span> +I couldn't—I couldn't go away without +her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madame Berthier and Jules exchanged +glances, and Blanche saw that her intuition +was correct. They had been discussing the +project of leaving the child in Boulogne. +She felt as if they were conspiring against her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Don't you think it would be better if +your mother—" Jules began, but Blanche +cut him short.</p> + +<p class="indent">"We shall have Madeleine. She will help +me to take care of Jeanne. I couldn't go +without her," she repeated, with tears in her +voice.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There, there!" said Madame Berthier, +becoming alarmed. "Have your own way. +Perhaps it's better that you should keep the +child with you."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche read annoyance in her husband's +face, but she said nothing. A few moments +later, Madame Berthier left the room and +Jules followed. She knew they had gone to +discuss the little scene that had just taken +place. But she resolved that she would +not give up the child! Rather than do that +she would stay in Boulogne.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page183" id="page183"></a>[pg 183]</span> +The fear of being separated from Jeanne, +made her decide not to refer in any way +to her terror of the plunge. That might +strengthen Jules' belief that the presence +of the child disturbed her, and he might +insist on a separation. Besides, she tried to +convince herself that as she grew stronger +her nervousness would disappear. It must +of course be due solely to her weak condition. +Once restored to health, the plunge +would be, as it always had been, merely part +of her daily routine.</p> + +<p class="indent">But in spite of her rapidly increasing +strength, Blanche found that after three +weeks she was still depressed by the thought +of her season in London. Jules complained +that she was devoting herself too much to +Jeanne; she must drive out more, and walk +with the girls, and give more time to her +exercises. Her mother, too, grew severe +with her. "One would think there never +was another child in the world," she said, +and then Blanche suspected that Jules had +been complaining of her. "The little one is +a dear, and I love her," Madame Berthier +continued, "but you have your work to do, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page184" id="page184"></a>[pg 184]</span> +and you must think of that too. No wonder +Jules is growing impatient."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules had already received the contract for +the engagement at the Hippodrome, and on +signing it at his request, Blanche had had a +horrible fancy that she was putting her signature +to a warrant for her own doom. Once +she thought of confiding her fear to her +mother, but her mother would be sure to +repeat what she said to Jules. At any cost, +she felt she must hide it from him. Then +she determined to tell Father Dumény, but +when the moment came she had not courage +to put her feeling into words, and she was +ashamed of it as a superstition. So she +decided that she would keep the miserable +secret to herself, finding no relief save in gusts +of weeping when she was alone with the child.</p> + +<p class="indent">Once Jules found her with traces of tears +in her eyes. "What's the matter?" he +asked gently, taking her hand.</p> + +<p class="indent">She turned her head away. "I don't +feel well," she said.</p> + +<p class="indent">He looked at her closely. "You'll be +well when you get back to your work. +That's what the matter is. You aren't used +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page185" id="page185"></a>[pg 185]</span> +to being idle. The best thing for us to do +is to leave here the day after Christmas. +That will give you nearly a week for +practice in London, and we'll have time to +look about for rooms there. Since we are +going to have Jeanne with us, we'll want to +take an apartment in some quiet street."</p> + +<p class="indent">When he went away she sat for a long +time without speaking. In a week they +would be far away from this place, among +strangers. She wondered why she had not +suffered so on leaving home before. Until +now she had regarded the circus as part of +her life; she had not hoped for any other +kind of life. How strange it was that Jules +should love it so! Sometimes it seemed——But +it was right that she should go on with +her work, for she must earn money for the +little Jeanne now. Perhaps in a few years +she would make a fortune, and then Jules +could not object to her leaving the circus. +But before a few years passed she would be +obliged to go through her performance more +than a thousand times. At this thought her +heart seemed to stop beating, and then it +thumped against her side.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page186" id="page186"></a>[pg 186]</span> +Their Christmas in Boulogne at Monsieur +Berthier's house reminded them of their <i>fête</i> +in Paris of the year before. Berthier himself +led in the gayety, and the girls were in +the wildest spirits. Blanche sat among them +with the child in her arms, looking, as Jules +said, as if she were posing for a Madonna. +In the evening Father Dumény came to +bid his friends good-bye. He pretended +to pinch the little Jeanne on the cheek, and +he made jokes with Blanche about her terror +before the child's birth. "She's the healthiest +baby I've ever baptized," he said. "You +should have heard her roar when I poured +the water on her head. That's a good sign. +I suppose you'll make a great performer of +her too," he continued, smiling into the face +of the mother, but growing serious when he +saw the effect of the question.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Never!" exclaimed Blanche.</p> + +<p class="indent">"We're going to earn a fortune for her," +said Jules with a smile. "So she won't have +to work at all. We'll settle down in Paris +and make a fine lady of her, and marry her +into the nobility."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche did not speak again for a long +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page187" id="page187"></a>[pg 187]</span> +time. They knew she was depressed at the +thought of leaving home the next day. When +Father Dumény rose, he took a letter from +the pocket of his long black coat.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I almost forgot about this. Here's the +introduction I promised you to my friends +in London. You will like Mrs. Tate, my +dear," he said to Blanche, "and she'll make +a great pet of the little one. She hasn't +any children of her own, poor woman. Be +sure to go to see them," he concluded, "and +present my compliments to them."</p> + +<p class="indent">When he was gone, Jules shrugged his +shoulders and turned to his wife. "What +do we want to meet those people for?" +he said. "What will they care about +us?"</p> + +<p class="indent">The next day they left Boulogne, after +many farewell injunctions from the Berthiers, +and much weeping on the part of Blanche +and her sisters. Blanche stood for a long +time with Madeleine, who held the little +Jeanne in her arms, waving farewell to her kindred +on the wharf, and watching the shores +of France recede from her gaze. When the +last vestige of land disappeared in the wintry +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page188" id="page188"></a>[pg 188]</span> +fog and she found herself shut in by the +shoreless sea, she turned away with a feeling +of hopeless weariness. She had a morbid +presentiment that she was leaving home +forever.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page189" id="page189"></a>[pg 189]</span></p> + +<h2>XIII</h2> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate ran her eyes over the pile +of letters at her plate on the breakfast-table. +She was a large, florid woman of +forty, verging on stoutness, with an abundance +of reddish-brown hair.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What a lot of mail!" she said to her +husband, who was absorbed in reading the +"Daily Telegraph,"—a small man, with black +hair and moustache tinged with gray, and +small black eyes finely wrinkled at the corners. +"Here's a letter from Amy dated at +Cannes. They must have left Paris sooner +than they intended; and here's something +from Fanny Mayo,—an invitation to dinner, +I suppose. Fanny told me she wanted us +to meet the Presbreys next week,—some +people she knew in Bournemouth."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Fanny's always taking up new people," +said Tate from behind his paper, "and dropping +them in a month."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page190" id="page190"></a>[pg 190]</span> +"And here's something else with a French +stamp on it. Let me see. From Boulogne? +It must be from Father Dumény. Yes, I +recognize the handwriting."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Another subscription, I suppose," her +husband grunted.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He hasn't written for nearly a year. I +wonder what started him this time. What +a dear old soul he is! Do you remember +the night we took him out to a restaurant in +Paris and he was so afraid of being seen? I +always laugh when I think of that."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What's he got to say?"</p> + +<p class="indent">With her knife, Mrs. Tate cut one end of +the letter open, and her eye wandered slowly +down the page.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He's been ill, he says, but he's able +to be about now. He came near running +over here last summer, but he couldn't get +away." For a few moments Mrs. Tate was +absorbed in reading; then she exclaimed +with a curious little laugh: "How funny! +Listen to this, will you? He's left what he +really wrote for till the end,—like a woman. +He wants us to look after a <i>protégée</i> of his, +a girl that he baptized, the daughter of an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page191" id="page191"></a>[pg 191]</span> +acrobat. Did you ever hear of such a thing? +She's in the circus herself, and she's going +to appear at the Hippodrome next week. +She performs on the trapeze, and then she +dives backward from the roof of the building—backward, +mind you! Could anything +be more terrible?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I should think she'd be right in your +line," Tate replied without lifting his eyes +from his paper. "She'll be something new. +You can make a lion of her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Don't be impertinent, Percy. This is a +very serious matter. It seems the girl's +married and had a child about two months +ago. She's going to resume her performances. +She doesn't know a soul in London; +so she'll be all alone."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I thought you said she had a husband."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So I did. He's given them a letter to +us, but he doesn't think they'll present it. +I suppose those theatrical people live in a +world of their own. But of course I shall +go to see her. Perhaps I can do something +for her. Anyway, it'll be interesting +to meet an acrobat. I've never known one +in my life."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page192" id="page192"></a>[pg 192]</span> +"As I said," her husband remarked, turning +to his bacon and eggs, "you can introduce +her into society. People must be tired +of meeting artists and actors and musicians. +She'll be a novelty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You're very disagreeable to-day, Percy," +Mrs. Tate responded amiably, after sipping +the coffee that had been steaming beside her +plate. "You are always attributing the meanest +motives to everything I do."</p> + +<p class="indent">He gave a short laugh. "But you must +acknowledge that you do some pretty queer +things, my dear."</p> + +<p class="indent">She ignored the remark, and a moment +later she went on briskly: "I must go and +see this acrobat woman—whoever she is. +If I don't—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"What's her name?" Tate asked, turning +to his paper and searching for the theatrical +columns.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madame Jules Le Baron, Father Dumény +calls her. But I suppose she must +have a stage name. Most of them have."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't see that name in 'Under the +Clock!' The Hippodrome? No, it isn't +there. I wonder if this can be the one: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page193" id="page193"></a>[pg 193]</span> +'On Monday evening next, Mademoiselle +Blanche, the celebrated French acrobat, will +give her remarkable performance on the +trapeze and her great dive from the top of +the Hippodrome.'"</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate sighed.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, it must be. Mademoiselle Blanche! +How stagey it sounds! I wonder what she's +like."</p> + +<p class="indent">"We might go to see her first and then +we could tell whether she's possible or not."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Go to the Hippodrome!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, why not? It's perfectly respectable. +Only it doesn't happen to be fashionable. +In Paris, you know, it's the thing +to attend the circus. Don't you remember +the La Marches took us one night?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, and I remember there was a dreadful +creature—she must have weighed three +hundred pounds—who walked the tight-rope +and nearly frightened me to death. I thought +she'd come down on my head."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then it's understood that we're to go +on Monday? If we go at all we might as +well be there the first night. It'll be more +interesting."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page194" id="page194"></a>[pg 194]</span> +Mrs. Percy Tate was a personage in London. +For several years before her marriage, +at the age of twenty-five, she had been +known as an heiress and a belle. Even then +she had a reputation for independence of +character, and for an indefatigable zeal for +reforming the world. Her name stood at +the head of several charitable societies, and +she was also a member of many clubs for the +improvement of the physical and spiritual +condition of the human race. Since her +marriage she had grown somewhat milder; +her friends used to say that Percy Tate had +"trained" her. They also said that she had +"made" him; without her money he would +never have become a member of the rich +firm of Welling and Company.</p> + +<p class="indent">Percy Tate's business associates, however, +knew the fallacy of this uncharitable opinion. +With his dogged determination and his keen +insight into the intricacies of finance, Tate +was sure of forging ahead in time, with or +without backing. His association with Welling +and Company gave the house even greater +strength than it had had before; for in addition +to his reputation as a financier, he had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page195" id="page195"></a>[pg 195]</span> +made his name a synonym for stanch integrity. +He had passed sixteen happy years +with his wife, wisely directed her charities, +wholesomely ridiculed her enthusiasms, followed +her into the Catholic Church, where +he was quite as sincere if a much less ardent +worshipper; and in all the serious things of +life he treated her, not as an inferior to be +patronized, but as an equal that he respected, +with no display of sentiment, but with sincere +devotion. She, on her part, was amused by +his humor and guided by his advice, though +she often pretended to ignore it; and she +never allowed any of her numerous undertakings +to interfere with her regard for his +comfort or the happiness of her home.</p> + +<p class="indent">The manager of the Hippodrome had extensively +advertised the appearance of Mademoiselle +Blanche, and on Monday night +the amphitheatre was crowded. The Tates +arrived early in order to see the whole performance; +as they had never been at the +Hippodrome before, the evening promised +to be amusing for them. Tate, however, became +so interested in the menagerie through +which they passed before entering the portion +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page196" id="page196"></a>[pg 196]</span> +of the vast building devoted to the exhibitions +in the ring that they remained there more +than an hour. The interval between their +taking seats and the appearance of the acrobat +rather bored them.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I wish they'd hurry up and let her come +out," said Mrs. Tate. "And yet I almost +dread seeing her make that horrible plunge. +This must be the first time she's done it +since the birth of her baby. Isn't it really +shocking?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, I suppose these people are as much +entitled to babies as any other people."</p> + +<p class="indent">She cast a reproachful glance at him, and +did not reply for a moment. Then she said: +"But what must her feelings be now—just +as she's getting ready?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I dare say she's glad to get back to her +work and earn her salary again. Her husband +probably doesn't earn anything. Those +fellows never do."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She must be frightened nearly to death."</p> + +<p class="indent">Tate laughed softly. "You'll die from +worrying about other people."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What are they doing now?" Mrs. Tate +asked, turning her eyes to the ring. "I suppose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page197" id="page197"></a>[pg 197]</span> +that rope they're letting down is for her +to climb up on, and that's the net she'll fall +into. How gracefully that trapeze swings! I +feel quite excited. Every one else is too. +Can't you see it in their faces? There must +be thousands of people here. How strange +they look! Such coarse faces."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's the great British middle class. +This is just the kind of thing they like."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It reminds me of pictures of the Colosseum. +I can almost fancy their turning their +thumbs down. Here she comes. How light +she is on her feet! And isn't she pretty! +But she looks awfully thin and delicate, and +she's as pale as a ghost."</p> + +<p class="indent">"You'll attract all the people round us. +Of course she's pale. She's probably powdered +up to the eyes, like the women we +used to see in Paris."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How lightly she goes up that rope," +Mrs. Tate whispered, "and what wonderful +arms she has! Just like a man's. They +look as if they didn't belong to her body."</p> + +<p class="indent">Silently and dexterously Blanche reached +the main trapeze, and for a moment she sat +there, with her arms crooked against the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page198" id="page198"></a>[pg 198]</span> +rope on either side, and rubbing her hands. +For the first time during her career she +was terrified in the ring. She had hoped +that as soon as she resumed her work +the terror she had felt since Jeanne's birth +would pass away. Now, however, it made +her so weak that she feared she was going +to fall.</p> + +<p class="indent">She was thinking of the child as she had +seen her crowing in the crib. If anything +should happen to her she might never see +Jeanne again. She was vaguely conscious +of the vast mass of people below her, waiting +for her to move. She took a long breath +and nerved herself for the start, before making +her spring to the trapeze below; she +must have courage for the sake of the little +Jeanne, she said to herself. Mechanically +she began to sway forward and backward; +then she shot into the air, and with a sensation +of surprise and delight she continued +her performance.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate watched her with an expression +of mingled fear, interest, and pleasure in her +face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Isn't she the most wonderful creature +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page199" id="page199"></a>[pg 199]</span> +you ever saw, Percy?" she cried, clutching +her husband's arm. "It's horrible, yet I +can't help looking. Suppose she should +fall!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"She'd merely drop into the net. There's +nothing very dangerous about what she's +doing now. Keep still."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I never saw anything more graceful. +She <i>is</i> grace itself, isn't she? See how her +hair flies; I should think it would get into +her eyes and blind her. I shall speak to her +about that when I see her. I shall certainly +<i>go</i> to see her."</p> + +<p class="indent">In a round of applause, Blanche finished +her performance on the trapeze and then +began her posing on the rope, whirling +slowly, with a rhythmic succession of motions +to the net. Then Jules, in evening +dress, with a large diamond gleaming in his +shirt-front, stepped out on the net, and for +an instant they conferred together. Suddenly +she clapped her hands, bounded on the rope +again, and while Jules held it to steady her +motion, she climbed hand over hand to the +top of the building. There she sat, looking +in the distance like a white bird ready to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page200" id="page200"></a>[pg 200]</span> +take flight, her dark hair streaming around +her head.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I feel as if I were going to faint," Mrs. +Tate whispered.</p> + +<p class="indent">Her husband glanced at her quickly. +"Yes, you'd better—in this crowd. A +fine panic you'd create! Want to go +out?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She seemed to pull herself together. "No, +I think I shall be able to bear it. If I can't, +I'll look away. What's that he's saying? +What horrible English he speaks! I can't +understand a word. <i>Oh!</i>" she gasped, clutching +her husband by one arm and holding +him firmly as Blanche dropped backward +and whirled through the air; and this exclamation +she repeated in a tone of horrified +relief when the girl struck the net, bounded +into the air again, and landed on her feet.</p> + +<p class="indent">They rose with the applauding crowd and +started to leave the place. "In my opinion," +said Mrs. Tate, clinging to her husband's +arm and drawing her wrap closely around +her, "in my opinion such exhibitions are +outrageous. There ought to be a law against +them. Think of that poor little creature +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page201" id="page201"></a>[pg 201]</span> +going through that every night. Of course +she'll be killed sometime. I wonder if she's +afraid. I should think she'd expect every +night to be her last."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What nonsense you're talking. Of +course those people don't feel like that. +If they did they'd never go into the business. +It's second nature to them."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But they're <i>human</i> just like the rest +of us, and that woman is a mother," Mrs. +Tate insisted. "Don't you suppose she +thinks of her baby before she makes that +terrible dive? It's a shame that her husband +should allow her to do it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There you are, trying to regulate the +affairs of the world again. Why don't you +let people alone? They'd be a good deal +happier, and so would you. Her husband +probably likes to have her do it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, I shall go to see her anyway," Mrs. +Tate cried with determination. "Then I +can find out all about her for myself."</p> + +<p class="indent">For the next three weeks Mrs. Tate was +absorbed by various duties in connection +with her charitable societies. One morning, +however, she suddenly realized that she had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page202" id="page202"></a>[pg 202]</span> +neglected to comply with Father Dumény's +request, and she resolved to put off her other +engagements for the afternoon and call at +once on the acrobat; if she didn't go then, +there was no knowing when she could go. +At four o'clock she found herself stepping +into a hansom in front of her house in +Cavendish Square.</p> + +<p class="indent">The address that Father Dumény had sent +led her to a little French hotel with a narrow, +dark entrance, dimly lighted by an odorous +lamp. She poked about in the place for +a moment, wondering how she was to find +any one; then a door which she had not +observed was thrown open, and she was confronted +by a little man with a very waxed +moustache, who smiled and asked in broken +English what Madame wanted. She stammered +that she was looking for Madame +Le Baron, and the little man at once called +a <i>garçon</i> in a greasy apron, who led the +way up the narrow stairs. When they had +reached the second landing the boy rapped +on the door, and Mrs. Tate stood panting +behind him. For several moments there +was no answer; then heavy steps could be +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page203" id="page203"></a>[pg 203]</span> +heard approaching, and a moment later +Madeleine's broad figure, silhouetted by the +light from the windows from behind, stood +before them. Mrs. Tate saw at a glance that +she was French, and addressed her in her +own language.</p> + +<p class="indent">"<i>Mais oui</i>," Madeleine replied. "Madame +is at home. Will Madame have the +goodness to enter?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Say that I'm Father Dumény's friend, +please," said Mrs. Tate as she gave Madeleine +a card. Then she glanced at one +corner of the room, where a large cradle, +covered with a lace canopy, had caught her +eye. "Is the baby here?" she asked +quickly, going toward it.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, no—not now. She sometimes +sleeps here in the morning; but she is with +her mother in the other room now."</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine disappeared, and Mrs. Tate's +eyes roved around the room. She recognized +it at once as the typical English lodging-house +drawing-room; she had seen many +rooms just like it before, when she had called +on American friends living for a time in +London. It was large and oblong, facing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page204" id="page204"></a>[pg 204]</span> +the tall houses on the opposite side of the +street that cut off much of the light; the wall +paper was ugly and sombre, and the carpet, +with its large flowery pattern, together with +the lounge and chairs, completed an effect +of utter dreariness.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate wondered how people could +live in such places; she should simply go +mad if she had to stay in a room like this. +Then she wondered why Madame Le Baron +hadn't brightened up the apartment a bit; +the photographs on the mantel, in front of +the large French mirror, together with the +cradle in the corner, were the only signs it +gave of being really inhabited. How vulgar +those prints on the wall were! They and +the mirror were the only French touches +visible, and they contrasted oddly with their +surroundings. While Mrs. Tate was comfortably +meditating on the vast superiority +of England to France, the door leading to +the next room opened and Blanche entered +the room. She looked so domestic in her +simple dress of blue serge that for an instant +her caller did not recognize her.</p> + +<p class="indent">She held out her hand timidly. "Father +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page205" id="page205"></a>[pg 205]</span> +Dumény has spoken to me about you," she +said.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Father Dumény must think I am an extremely +rude person. I meant to come +weeks ago," Mrs. Tate replied, clasping the +hand and looking down steadily into the +pale face. "But I've been busy—so busy, +I've had hardly a minute to myself. However, +I did go to see you perform."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, at the Hippodrome?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, the very first night. Mr. Tate and +I went together. We were both—er—wonderfully +impressed. I don't think I ever +saw anything more wonderful in my life than +that plunge of yours."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate adjusted herself in the chair +near the window, and Blanche took the +opposite seat. "I'm glad you liked it," +she said with a sigh.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Liked it. I can't really say I did like it. +I must confess it rather horrified me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It does some people. My mother never +likes to see me do it—though I've done it +for a great many years now."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But doesn't it—doesn't it make you +nervous sometimes?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page206" id="page206"></a>[pg 206]</span> +"I never used to think of it—before my +baby was born."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, the baby! May I see her? Just +a peep."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She was asleep when I left," Blanche +replied, unconsciously lowering her voice as +if the child in the next room might know +she was being talked about; "but she will +wake up soon. She always wakes about +this time. Madeleine is with her now, and +she'll dress her and bring her in."</p> + +<p class="indent">For a quarter of an hour they talked about +the little Jeanne, and Blanche, inspired by +Mrs. Tate's vivid interest and sympathy, +grew animated in describing the baby's +qualities; when she was born she weighed +nearly nine pounds, and she had not been +sick a day. Then she had grown so! You +could hardly believe it was the same child. +She very rarely cried,—almost never at +night. Mrs. Tate had heard mothers talk +like that before, but Blanche's <i>naïveté</i> lent +a new charm to the narration; she kept in +mind, however, their first topic, and at the +next opportunity she returned to it.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then what do you do with the child at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page207" id="page207"></a>[pg 207]</span> +night?" she asked. "I suppose your servant +goes to the circus with you, doesn't +she? Of course you can't leave the baby +alone."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, no," Blanche replied. "We have a +little girl to stay with her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate was surprised. So these circus +people lived as other people did, with servants +to wait on them, with a nurse for the +child. She had instinctively thought of them +as vagabonds. On discovering that they +were well cared for, she had a sensation +very like disappointment; they seemed to +be in no need of help of any sort. She was +curious to know more of the life of this girl, +who seemed so <i>naïve</i> and had such a curious +look of sadness in her eyes. Mrs. Tate +deftly led Blanche to talk about her husband, +and in a few minutes, by her questions +and her quick intelligence, she fancied that +she understood the condition of this extraordinary +<i>ménage</i>.</p> + +<p class="indent">Percy had been right; the wife supported +the family and the husband was a mere +hanger-on; but it was evident from the way +he was mentioned that the romance still +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page208" id="page208"></a>[pg 208]</span> +lasted. Then Blanche made a reference to +Jules which led her visitor to make inquiries +with regard to him, and these changed her +view of the situation. So, before marriage, +Monsieur had been in business, and he had +probably given it up to follow his wife in her +wanderings. She surmised that they were +not absolutely dependent on the circus for +their daily bread; perhaps this accounted for +their comfortable way of living.</p> + +<p class="indent">While apparently absorbed in conversation +Mrs. Tate continued this train of thought. +She had never known any one connected +with the circus before, she explained with a +smile; people who lived in London all the +time were apt to be so very narrow and ignorant; +but she wanted to hear all about it, +and Madame must tell her. Blanche was +able to tell very little, for she was not used to +discussing her work. By adroit questioning, +however, Mrs. Tate led her on to an account +of her early career from her first appearance +as a child with her father to her development +into a "star" performer.</p> + +<p class="indent">The narrative seemed to her wildly interesting. +How fascinating it would be if she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page209" id="page209"></a>[pg 209]</span> +could persuade the girl to relate her story in +a drawing-room! It would be the sensation +of the winter. But this poor child never +could talk in public, even in her own tongue.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But do tell me," said Mrs. Tate, when +Blanche had described the months her father +had spent in teaching her to make the great +plunge. "Doesn't it hurt your back? I +should think that striking with full force day +after day on that padded net would destroy +the nervous system of a giant."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche smiled and shook her head. "It +never used to hurt. I've only felt it lately, +since the baby was born," she said.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then it does hurt now?" Mrs. Tate cried +eagerly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Sometimes. I feel so tired in the morning +now. I never used to; and sometimes +when I wake up my back aches very much. +But I try not to think of it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But, my dear child, you ought to think +of it. You mustn't allow yourself to be injured—perhaps +for life."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche turned pale. "Do you think it +can be serious?" she asked timidly.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate saw that she had made a false +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page210" id="page210"></a>[pg 210]</span> +step. "Of course not—not <i>serious</i>. It's +probably nothing at all. I haven't a doubt +a physician could stop it easily. Have you +spoken to any one about it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No; not even to my husband. I +shouldn't like to tell him. It would make +him unhappy."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate became thoughtful. "I wonder +if Dr. Broughton couldn't do something for +you. He's our physician, and he's the +kindest soul in the world. I'm always sending +him to people. Suppose I should ask +him to come and call on you some day. +Perhaps he'll tell you there's nothing the +matter, and then you won't be worried any +more." She glanced into the pale face and +was startled by the look she saw there. "Oh, +you needn't be afraid," she laughed. "He +won't hurt you. But, of course, if you don't +want him to come, I won't send him."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche clasped her hands and dropped +her eyes. "I think I should like to have +him come if—if—my husband——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"But he needn't know anything about +it," said Mrs. Tate, with feminine delight at +the prospect of secrecy. "We won't tell +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page211" id="page211"></a>[pg 211]</span> +him anything. If he meets Monsieur Le +Baron here you can just say I sent him to +call on you. Besides, he can come some +time when your husband isn't here," she +added with a smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Jules generally goes out in the afternoon," +Blanche replied, feeling guilty at the +thought of concealing anything from him. +"He likes to read the French papers in a +<i>café</i> in the Strand."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then I'll tell Dr. Broughton to come +some afternoon. He'll be delighted. I +don't believe <i>he's</i> ever known an acrobat +either," she laughed.</p> + +<p class="indent">They talked more of Blanche's symptoms, +and Mrs. Tate speedily discovered that since +the birth of the baby Blanche had not been +free from terror of her work; every night +she feared might be her last. She did not +confess this directly, but Mrs. Tate gathered +it from several intimations and from her own +observations. She felt elated. What an interesting +case! She had never heard of anything +like it before. This poor child was +haunted with a horrible terror! This accounted +for the pitiful look of distress in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page212" id="page212"></a>[pg 212]</span> +her eyes. Then Mrs. Tate's generous heart +fairly yearned with sympathy; but this she +was careful to conceal. She saw that by +displaying it she would do far more harm +than good; so she pretended to be amused +at the possibility of Blanche's injuring herself +in making the plunge.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It must have become second nature to +you," she said, "after all these years. You're +probably a little tired and nervous. Dr. +Broughton will give you a tonic that will +restore your old confidence. Meantime," +she added enthusiastically, "I'm going +to take care of you. I'm coming to see +you very often, and I shall expect you to +come to see me. Let me think; this is +Thursday. On Sunday night you and Monsieur +Le Baron must come and dine with us +at seven o'clock. We'll be all alone. I +sha'n't ask any one. But wait a minute. +Why wouldn't that be a good way for your +husband to meet Dr. Broughton? I'll ask +him to come, too. He often looks in on +Sundays. That will be delightful."</p> + +<p class="indent">She rose to her feet and shook out her +skirts. "I suppose I must go without seeing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page213" id="page213"></a>[pg 213]</span> +the baby. But I shall——" She looked +quickly around at the clicking sound that +seemed to come from the door. Then the +door opened, and Jules, in a heavy fur-trimmed +coat and silk hat, stood before +her. She recognized him at once, and as +he bowed hesitatingly, she extended her +hand and relieved the awkwardness of the +situation. "I won't wait for Madame to +introduce me," she said, just as Blanche was +murmuring her name.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you are the lady Father Dumény +spoke to us about!" Jules said with a +smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes; and your wife and I have become +the best of friends already."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And you've made friends with the +baby too, I hope," Jules replied, removing +his coat and throwing it over a chair. She +liked his face more than she had done +at the Hippodrome; he had a good eye, +and, for a Frenchman, a remarkably clear +complexion.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No; she's asleep," Blanche replied. +"I asked Madeleine to bring her in if she +woke up."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page214" id="page214"></a>[pg 214]</span> +"But you must see her," Jules insisted. +"I'll go and take a peep at her."</p> + +<p class="indent">He went to the door leading to the next +room, opened it softly, and glanced in. +Then he made a sign that the others were +to follow, and he tiptoed toward the bed +where Jeanne lay sleeping, her face rosy +with health, and her little hands tightly +closed. Madeleine, who had been sitting +beside the bed, rose as they approached +and showed her mouthful of teeth.</p> + +<p class="indent">For a few moments they stood around the +child, smiling at one another and without +speaking. Then they tiptoed out of the +room, and closed the door behind them.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I shall come again soon some morning," +Mrs. Tate whispered, as if still afraid of disturbing +the child, "when the baby's awake." +Then she went on in a louder tone: "She's +a dear. I know I shall become very fond +of her. And you're coming to us next +Sunday night," she added, as she bade +Jules good-bye. "Your wife has promised. +I shall expect you both. Perhaps I shall +come before then; I want to get acquainted +with Jeanne."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page215" id="page215"></a>[pg 215]</span> +She kissed Blanche on both cheeks, after +the French fashion. "I sha'n't forget, you +know. We have great secrets together already," +she laughed, turning to Jules as she +passed out of the door.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page216" id="page216"></a>[pg 216]</span></p> + +<h2>XIV</h2> + +<p class="indent">As soon as Percy Tate confronted his +wife at the table that night he saw +that something was on her mind.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You've been to see those circus people," +he said.</p> + +<p class="indent">"How did you know that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, clairvoyance,—my subtle insight +into the workings of your brain!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose Hawkins told you. Well, I +<i>have</i> been to see them."</p> + +<p class="indent">Tate began to pick at the bread beside his +plate. He often became preoccupied when +he knew his wife wanted him to ask questions; +this was his favorite way of teasing +her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's the strangest <i>ménage</i> I ever saw in +my life," Mrs. Tate exclaimed at last, unable +to keep back the news any longer. "And +it's just as I thought it would be. That +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page217" id="page217"></a>[pg 217]</span> +poor little creature simply lives in terror of +being killed."</p> + +<p class="indent">Tate rolled his eyes. "'In the midst of +life we are in death,'" he said solemnly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's altogether too serious a matter to +be made a joke of, Percy. If you could +have heard—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now, my dear, you know what I told +you. You went to see that woman with the +deliberate expectation of finding her a person +to be sympathized with, and I can see +that you've imagined a lot of nonsense +about her. Why in the world don't you +let such people alone? You belong in your +place and she belongs in hers, and the +world is big enough to hold you both without +obliging you to come together. You +can't understand her feelings any more than +she can understand yours. You wonder how +you'd feel if you were in her place; you +can't realize that if you <i>were</i> in her place +you'd be an altogether different person. If +you had to go through her performances, of +course you'd be scared to death; but you +forget she's been brought up to do those +things; it's her business, her life. I knew +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page218" id="page218"></a>[pg 218]</span> +you'd go there and work up a lot of ridiculous +sympathy, and badger that woman for +nothing!"</p> + +<p class="indent">At the beginning of this speech Mrs. Tate +had sat back in her chair with an expression +of patient resignation in her face. When +her husband finished she breathed a long +sigh. "I hope you've said it all, Percy. +You're so tiresome when you make those +long harangues. Besides, you've only succeeded +in showing that you don't understand +the case at all."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then, as they finished their soup, Mrs. +Tate gave an account of her call of the +afternoon, ending with a graphic repetition +of the talk with Blanche about the pains +in her back.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I shall certainly tell Dr. Broughton about +it," she cried. "That poor child—she +really <i>is</i> nothing <i>but</i> a child—she's just +killing herself by inches, and her husband +is worse than a brute to let the thing +go on."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So you want to stop it and take away +their only means of support."</p> + +<p class="indent">"It isn't their only means of support. It +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page219" id="page219"></a>[pg 219]</span> +seems the husband has money. That makes +it all the worse."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now, let me say right here, my dear, I +wash my hands of this affair. If you want to +rush in and upset those people's lives, go +ahead, but I'll have nothing to do with it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I wish you wouldn't scold me so, Percy. +It seems to me I usually bear the consequences +of what I do. And I don't see +what harm there can be in consulting Dr. +Broughton. You're always cracking him +up yourself."</p> + +<p class="indent">Tate burst into a loud laugh. "If that +isn't just like a woman! Turning it onto +poor old Broughton."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, sometimes you're so <i>aggravating</i>, +Percy!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Two days later, in spite of her husband's +opposition, Mrs. Tate consulted Dr. Broughton, +and he promised, as soon as he could, +to call some morning at the little hotel in +Albemarle Street. Before he appeared there +Mrs. Tate ingratiated herself into the affections +of the family. As Blanche grew more +familiar with her, she confided to her many +details of her life, and Mrs. Tate speedily +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page220" id="page220"></a>[pg 220]</span> +possessed the chief facts in connection with +it. These facts did not increase her esteem +for Jules, whose days, in spite of his duties as +his wife's manager, were spent in what she +regarded as wholly unpardonable idleness. +She also suspected that Jules disliked her; +it must have been he who sent word that +they would be unable to accept her invitation +for dinner on Sunday evening. This, however, +did not prevent their being invited for +the following Sunday. Mrs. Tate was determined +to secure her husband's opinion of +her new <i>protégés</i>.</p> + +<p class="indent">Before Sunday came Dr. Broughton unexpectedly +made his appearance in the Tates' +drawing-room one evening.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I've seen your acrobat," he said to the +figure in yellow silk and lace, reading beside +the lamp. "Don't get up. Been out? I +hardly thought I'd find you in; you're such +a pair of worldlings."</p> + +<p class="indent">"We came away early. I had a headache," +said Tate, shading his eyes with one hand +and offering the other to the visitor. "Or, +rather, I pretended I had."</p> + +<p class="indent">The Doctor, a short, stout man of fifty, with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page221" id="page221"></a>[pg 221]</span> +grayish brown hair, and little red whiskers +jutting out from either side of his face, and +with enormous eyebrows shading his keen +eyes, gathered his coat-tails in his hand, and +took a seat on the couch.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's late for a call—must be after ten. +But I knew this lady of yours would want +to hear about her acrobat. Nice little creature, +isn't she? Seems ridiculous she should +belong to a circus."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She doesn't belong there," Mrs. Tate +replied, briskly inserting a paper-knife in her +book and laying the book on the little table +beside her. "I've never seen any one so +utterly misplaced. Did you have a talk with +her?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes—a talk. That was all; but that +was enough. Her husband was out."</p> + +<p class="indent">"O, you conspirators!" Tate exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you've satisfied yourself about +her?" said his wife, ignoring him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes. She has a very common complaint, +a form of meningitis; slumbering meningitis, +it's often called. Many people have it without +knowing it; and she might have had it +even if she hadn't taken to thumping her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page222" id="page222"></a>[pg 222]</span> +spine half a dozen times a week. The +trouble's located in the spine."</p> + +<p class="indent">"There, I told you so!" exclaimed Mrs. +Tate; and "What a lovely habit women have +of never gloating over anything!" her husband +added amiably.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Percy, I wish you'd keep quiet! Do +you really think it's serious, Doctor?"</p> + +<p class="indent">The Doctor held up his hands meditatively, +the ends of the fingers touching, and +slowly lifted his shoulders. "In itself it may +be serious or it may not. Sometimes trouble +of that sort is quiescent for years, and the +patient dies of something else. Sometimes +it resists treatment, and leads to very serious +complications,—physical and mental. I've +had cases where it has affected the brain +and others where it has led to paralysis. In +this case it is likely to be aggravated."</p> + +<p class="indent">"By the diving, you mean?" said Mrs. +Tate.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Exactly. That has probably been the +cause of the trouble lately—if it wasn't the +first cause. It may go on getting worse, or it +may remain as it is for years, or it may disappear +for a time, or possibly, altogether."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page223" id="page223"></a>[pg 223]</span> +Mrs. Tate breathed what sounded like a +sigh of disappointment. "Then it isn't so +bad as I thought," she said.</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment the Doctor hesitated. Then +he replied: "Yes, it's worse. The mere +physical pain that it causes Madame Le +Baron is of comparatively little account. I +think we may be able to stop that. The +peculiarity of the case is the nervousness, +the curious fear that seems to haunt her."</p> + +<p class="indent">In her excitement Mrs. Tate almost bounced +from her seat. "That is <i>exactly</i> what I said. +The poor child hasn't a moment's peace. +It's the most terrible thing I ever heard +of. And to think that that man—her husband——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's always the husband," Tate laughed. +"Broughton, why don't you stand up for +your sex?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Percy wants to turn the whole thing into +ridicule. I think it's a shame. I can't tell +you how it has worried me. I feel so——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"For Heaven's sake, Broughton, I wish +you'd give my wife something to keep her +from feeling for other people. If you don't, +she'll go mad, and I shall too. She wants +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page224" id="page224"></a>[pg 224]</span> +to regulate the whole universe. I have a +horrible fear that she's going to get round +to me soon."</p> + +<p class="indent">The Doctor smiled, and bent his bushy +eyes on the husband and then on the +wife.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's a peculiar case," he repeated +thoughtfully, when they had sat in silence +for several moments. "It couldn't be +treated in the ordinary way."</p> + +<p class="indent">"How in the world did you get so much +out of her?" Mrs. Tate asked. "She's the +shyest little creature."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I had to work on her sympathies. I +got her to crying,—and then, of course, the +whole story came out. As you said, she's +haunted by the fear of being killed."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But that's the baby," said Mrs. Tate +quickly. "She told me she never had the +least fear till her baby was born."</p> + +<p class="indent">The Doctor lifted his eyebrows. "It's +several things," he replied dryly, refusing to +take any but the professional view.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then they discussed the case in all its aspects. +The haunting fear Dr. Broughton regarded +as the worst feature. "She says when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page225" id="page225"></a>[pg 225]</span> +she goes into the ring, that usually leaves her; +but if it came back just before she took her +plunge it would kill her. The least miscalculation +would be likely to make her land +on her head in the net, and that would mean +a broken neck. It's terrible work,—that. +The law ought to put a stop to it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"The law ought to put a stop to a good +many things that it doesn't," Mrs. Tate +snapped. "To think that in this age of +civilization——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"There she goes, reforming the world +again!" her husband interrupted.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But if the law doesn't stop it in this +case," she went on, "<i>I</i> will."</p> + +<p class="indent">For a time they turned from the subject +of Blanche and her ills to other themes; but +when, about midnight, Dr. Broughton rose to +leave, Mrs. Tate went back to it. "We're +going to have the Le Barons here for dinner +next Sunday," she said. "I wish you'd +come in if you can. I want Percy to see +what they're like."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She relies on my judgment after all," +said Tate, following the guest to the door. +As they stood together in the hall, "You +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page226" id="page226"></a>[pg 226]</span> +think the case is serious then?" he asked +quietly.</p> + +<p class="indent">The Doctor whispered something in his +ear, and Tate nodded thoughtfully. "And +how do you think it'll end if she doesn't +stop it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Dr. Broughton tapped his forehead with +his hand. "This is what I'm most afraid +of." He seized his stick and thrust it under +his arm. "But giving up her performance, +I'm afraid, would be like giving up her +life. She was practically born in the circus, +you know, and I suspect from what your +wife has told me that her husband fell +in love with her in the circus. Outside +of that she seems to have no interest in +anything,—except, of course, her family +and her baby. But to take her out of the +circus would be like pulling up a tree by +the roots."</p> + +<p class="indent">Dr. Broughton was so used to making +hurried exits from patients' houses that he +lost no time in getting away from Tate. As +he went down the steps his host stood with +one hand on the knob of the front door, +thinking. The Doctor had unconsciously +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page227" id="page227"></a>[pg 227]</span> +given him a most fascinating suggestion. +Around this his mind played as he walked +back to the drawing-room, where his wife +was yawning, and gathering, some books to +take upstairs. He said nothing to her about +it; before expressing his fancy, he decided +to wait until he saw those curious people.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page228" id="page228"></a>[pg 228]</span></p> + +<h2>XV</h2> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate was right in surmising that +Jules had conceived a dislike for +her. The first day he saw her he decided +that she was a tiresome, interfering Englishwoman, +and he watched with annoyance her +growing intimacy with Blanche, whom he +wished to keep wholly to himself. Of his +wife's success at the Hippodrome he felt as +proud as if it were his own; he loved to +read the notices of it in the papers, and +while Blanche was performing, to walk about +in the audience and hear her praises. He +had come to look upon her as part of himself, +as his property; and this sense of proprietorship +added to the fascination that her +performance had for him.</p> + +<p class="indent">Though his first ardor of devotion had +passed, he was still tender with her; but his +tenderness always had reference more to her +work than to herself. He watched her as +the owner of a performing animal might have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page229" id="page229"></a>[pg 229]</span> +watched his precious charge. Sometimes he +used to lose patience with her for her devotion +to the little Jeanne; if Jeanne cried at +night she would want to leave the bed to +soothe her. In order to prevent this, Jules +had the child's crib moved into Madeleine's +room, to the secret grief of the mother, +who, however, did not think of resisting +his commands. In his way Jules was fond +of Jeanne; but he could not help thinking +that before she came Blanche had given +all her love to him. However, there was +some excuse for that; but there was no +reason why a stranger like Mrs. Tate should +come in and take possession of them, act +like a member of the family, and put a lot +of silly ideas into his wife's head.</p> + +<p class="indent">The mere fact that Mrs. Tate was English +would have been enough to prejudice Jules +against her even if he had not objected to +her personal qualities. He hated the English, +and he hated England, especially London. +Even Blanche, who was blind to his +faults, speedily discovered that his boast of +being a born traveller had no foundation in +fact. On arriving in London he had gone +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page230" id="page230"></a>[pg 230]</span> +straight to a French hotel, where he was +served to French cooking by a <i>garçon</i> +trained in the <i>cafés</i> of the <i>Boulevards</i>. +Since then he had associated only with the +few French people he could find in the city; +if he hadn't been eager to read everything +printed about Blanche, he would never have +looked at any but French papers. At home +he spent a large part of his time in ridiculing +the English, just as on his return from +America he had ridiculed the Americans. +Now, at the thought of being obliged to +dine with a lot of those <i>bêtes d'Anglais</i> he +felt enraged. He had already refused one +invitation. Why wasn't that enough for +them? The second he would have refused +too, if Blanche had not insisted that another +refusal would be a discourtesy to Father +Dumény's friends. Ah, Father Dumény, a +fine box he had got them into, the tiresome +old woman that he was, with his foolish jokes +and his rheumatism!</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules never forgot that dinner. In the +first place, he was awed by the magnificence +of the Tates' house; it surpassed anything +of the kind he had ever seen in France or +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page231" id="page231"></a>[pg 231]</span> +in America; it had never occurred to him +that the English could have such good +taste. Then, too, in spite of the efforts of +his hosts to make him comfortable, he felt +awkward, ill at ease, out of place. As soon +as he entered the drawing-room, Blanche +was taken upstairs by Mrs. Tate, and Jules +was left with the husband and with Dr. +Broughton.</p> + +<p class="indent">A moment later the Doctor disappeared, +and for the next half-hour Jules tried to +maintain a conversation in English. Tate +turned the conversation to life in Paris as +compared with the life of London, but Jules +had so much difficulty in speaking English +that they fell at last into French.</p> + +<p class="indent">Meanwhile, Blanche sat in the library with +Mrs. Tate and Dr. Broughton, whom she +had not seen since the day of his call upon +her. The Doctor had at once won her confidence, +and since her talk with him she had +felt better, and she fancied that the tonic he +gave her had already benefited her. But +she still had that pain in her back, she said, +and that terrible fear; every night when she +kissed the little Jeanne before going to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page232" id="page232"></a>[pg 232]</span> +Hippodrome, she felt as if she should never +see the child again. If she didn't stop feeling +like that, she didn't know what would +happen.</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you could give up the plunge for a +while," the Doctor suggested, "you'd be +very much better for the rest. Then you +might go back to it, you know."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I'm engaged for the season," +Blanche replied in French, which the Doctor +readily understood, but refused to speak. +"I can't break my contract."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps you could make a compromise," +Mrs. Tate suggested. "You could go on +with your trapeze performance,—with everything +except the dive."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I was really engaged for that," said +Blanche, a look of dismay appearing in her +face. "There are many others that perform +on the trapeze."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you might try to make some arrangement," +Mrs. Tate insisted. "Your husband +could talk it over with the managers."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, but he would not like it," Blanche +replied with evident distress. "It would +make him so unhappy if he—if he knew."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page233" id="page233"></a>[pg 233]</span> +"If he knew you were being made ill by +your work!" Mrs. Tate interrupted. "Of +course it would make him unhappy, and it +would be very strange if it didn't. But +it's much better to have him know it than +for you to go on risking your life every +night."</p> + +<p class="indent">Dr. Broughton gave his hostess a glance +that made her quail. A moment later, however, +she gathered herself together.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I didn't mean to say that, dear, but now +that I <i>have</i> said it, there's no use mincing +matters. The Doctor has told me plainly +that if you go on making that plunge every +night in your present state of nervousness it +will certainly result in your death—in one +way or another. So the only thing for you +to do, for the sake of your baby, and your +husband, and for your own sake too,—the +only thing for you to do is to stop it, at +least for a time. If you were to break your +neck it would simply be murder,—yes, +murder," she repeated, glancing at the Doctor, +who was looking at her with an expression +that showed he thought she was going +too far.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page234" id="page234"></a>[pg 234]</span> +Tears had begun to trickle down Blanche's +cheeks, and now they turned to sobs. For +a few moments she lost control of herself, +and her frail figure was shaken with grief. +Dr. Broughton said nothing, and he looked +angry. Mrs. Tate paid no attention to him; +she went over to Blanche, took her in her +arms, and began to soothe her. In a few +moments the sobbing ceased, and Mrs. Tate +went on:—</p> + +<p class="indent">"It's best that you should know this, dear, +though perhaps I've been cruel in telling it +to you so bluntly. We must tell your husband +about it, too. I'm sure he'll be distressed +to hear how much you've suffered, and he'll +be glad to do anything that will help you. +So now we'll send the Doctor away, and +bathe your face with hot water, and go down +to dinner and try to forget about our troubles +for a while."</p> + +<p class="indent">If Jules had not been absorbed in his own +embarrassment at the dinner-table he might +have discovered traces of agitation in his +wife's face. He was secretly execrating the +luck that had brought him among these people, +and he resolved when he returned home to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page235" id="page235"></a>[pg 235]</span> +tell Blanche that he would have nothing more +to do with them. If she was willing to have +that prying Englishwoman about her all the +time, she could, but she mustn't expect him +to be more than civil to her. The conversation +had turned on English politics, and +as Jules had nothing to offer on the subject, +his enforced silence increased his discomfort. +Mrs. Tate was devoting herself to Blanche, +who sat beside her, relating in French stories +of her life in Paris. Jules felt resentful; no +one paid attention to him; when he dined +out in Paris he was always one of the leaders +in the talk. He wanted to justify himself, to +show these people that he was no fool, that +he was worthy of being the husband of a +celebrity.</p> + +<p class="indent">By a fortunate chance, the talk drifted to +American politics, and Jules, seeing his opportunity, +seized it. A few moments later +he was launched on an account of his travels +in the United States. Tate, relieved at having +at last found a topic his guest could discuss, +gave Jules full play, and listened to him +with a light in his eyes that showed his wife +he was secretly amused. Indeed, Jules' criticisms +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page236" id="page236"></a>[pg 236]</span> +of America and his descriptions of +the peculiarities of Americans greatly entertained +them.</p> + +<p class="indent">The dinner closed in animated talk, much +to the relief of Mrs. Tate, who feared it +would be a great failure; it made her realize, +however, that as show people the Le +Barons were quite useless. She was afraid +Blanche had been bored; she had been sitting +almost speechless during the meal, sighing +heavily now and then, as if thinking that +in a few hours her respite would be over, +and she would have to return to her horrible +work.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate was quite ready to make any +sacrifice to rescue Blanche from the terrors +of her circus life; in the enthusiasm of +the moment she said to herself, that rather +than let her continue making that plunge, +she would offer to <i>pay</i> her husband what she +earned, in order to take his wife out of the +ring altogether. At the thought of persuading +him to do this, Mrs. Tate felt that at last +she had a definite task to perform; it was almost +like a mission, and the harder it proved +to be, the more exalted she would feel.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page237" id="page237"></a>[pg 237]</span> +After their return to the drawing-room, +Mrs. Tate, with a delightful feeling that she +was engaged in a conspiracy, made a mysterious +sign to Dr. Broughton to come to her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose Percy's been whispering to +you not to have anything to do with this +scheme of mine, but don't pay any attention +to him. Do you know, I think the best +way would be to take the husband into the +library and have it out there. He must <i>be</i> +told, you know. He hasn't a suspicion of +it,—not a suspicion. You wait a few minutes, +and as soon as I get a chance, I'll ask +him to follow me out."</p> + +<p class="indent">The Doctor smiled and shrugged his +shoulders.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You must take the responsibility," he +said carelessly. "I shall merely do my +professional duty. Mr. Tate has just been +telling me about a curious idea——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Don't pay any attention to his ideas. +Percy thinks everything ought to be left to +regulate itself. A fine world it would be if +every one thought as he does. Now you go +back to him, and follow me when I tell you. +No, I have a better plan. You go into the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page238" id="page238"></a>[pg 238]</span> +library with Percy. I'll come in there in a +few minutes."</p> + +<p class="indent">A quarter of an hour later, when Mrs. Tate +entered the library with Jules, she found her +husband and the Doctor there, half-hidden +in a cloud of smoke.</p> + +<p class="indent">"This poor man, too, has been dying for +another cigar," she said; "but he's too +polite to say so. So while he's smoking we +can have our talk. We'll take our coffee in +here, too. Percy, you go and see that +Madame Le Baron is properly served. I've +had to leave her there alone for a minute, +but I said I'd send you in. Dr. Broughton +and I are going to have a secret conference +with Monsieur Le Baron."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Secret conferences are always dangerous," +Tate replied, rising to leave the room. "Look +out for them!" he added with a smile to +Jules, as he hesitated at the door. When +he had closed the door behind him, he stood +in the hall a moment, thinking.</p> + +<p class="indent">Tate was a man of sense, of "horse-sense," +one of his friends used to say of him, and +not given to forebodings. Now, however, +he had a distinct regret that his wife was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page239" id="page239"></a>[pg 239]</span> +interfering in this matter, and fear of the +consequences. She often did things that he +disapproved, and he made no objection, for +he believed that she had as much right to +independence as himself; but in this case +he would have liked to interfere. He had +spoken to Dr. Broughton about his feeling +in the matter, and the Doctor had merely +laughed. Well, the Doctor knew better than +he did; perhaps, after all, his own theory was +absurd. At any rate, he could not be held +accountable for any trouble that might result +from his wife's meddling. This thought, +however, gave him little consolation. He +usually suffered for her mistakes much more +than she did herself.</p> + +<p class="indent">When he went back to the drawing-room, +he had difficulty in sustaining a conversation +with Blanche; he kept thinking of the conference +in the next room, wondering what +the result would be. He was prepared to +see Jules enter with a pale face and set lips +and with wrath in his eyes.</p> + +<p class="indent">When Jules finally entered between his +hostess and the Doctor, Tate scanned his face +narrowly; it was not white, and the lips +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page240" id="page240"></a>[pg 240]</span> +were not set, but the whole expression had +changed to a look of dogged determination +and ill-concealed rage. He sat near his wife, +staring at her as if he had never seen her +before.</p> + +<p class="indent">For a few moments the conversation was +resumed, but the atmosphere seemed chilled. +Then the Doctor rose to say good-night, explaining +that he had promised to call on a +patient in Curzon Street before going home. +This seemed to be the signal for the breaking-up, +and all of the guests left at the same +moment, Mrs. Tate calling out to Blanche +at the door of the drawing-room that she +would look in on her the next day if she +were not too busy.</p> + +<p class="indent">When the front door had closed, Tate +turned to his wife.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, you had a stormy time of it, didn't +you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She walked toward the centre of the drawing-room +and stood under the chandelier, +keeping her eyes fixed on her husband's face, +which seemed to be much more serious than +usual.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What makes you think so?" she asked, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page241" id="page241"></a>[pg 241]</span> +removing a bracelet from her arm and nervously +twirling it.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I could tell from the expression in his +eyes, and from the way you and the Doctor +acted. He was furious, wasn't he?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Furious? Le Baron? Hardly; though +I could see he didn't believe a word we +said. He was almost too startled to understand +it at first. The little goose hadn't +said a word to him about it."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And what did he say when you told him +she ought to give up her performance? How +did he like that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He didn't like it at all, apparently. But +I didn't expect him to like it. It means +money out of his pocket."</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, it means more than that, if I'm not +mistaken."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What else can it mean?" she said, lifting +her eyebrows questioningly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"It means the end of whatever affection +he has for his wife. Of course he never had +much. A man of his sort doesn't."</p> + +<p class="indent">She looked at him with curiosity in her +face. "What difference does her performing +make in his affection for her?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page242" id="page242"></a>[pg 242]</span> +"Can't you see that he didn't fall in love +with <i>her</i>? He fell in love with her performance."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate put one finger to her lips and +hesitated for a moment. Then she said +slowly:—</p> + +<p class="indent">"How ridiculous you are, Percy! As if +any one ever heard of such a thing!"</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page243" id="page243"></a>[pg 243]</span></p> + +<h2>XVI</h2> + +<p class="indent">On the way home in the hansom that +he had called, Jules scarcely spoke. +Blanche kept glancing at him covertly; she +had never before seen that look in his face, +and it alarmed her; he seemed to be trying +to keep back the anger that showed itself in +his half-closed eyes and his firm-set chin. +When they reached the lodgings, Blanche +found Madeleine sound asleep by the fireplace, +and without waking her, she started +to go into the next room to see if Jeanne +were comfortable. When she reached the +door, Jules said in a low voice:—</p> + +<p class="indent">"Wait here a minute. I have something +to say to you."</p> + +<p class="indent">At the sound of the words, Madeleine's eyes +opened slowly, and she blinked at Jules, who +was glancing angrily at her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"This is a pretty way you take care of +Jeanne. She might have had a dozen convulsions +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page244" id="page244"></a>[pg 244]</span> +without your knowing anything about +them."</p> + +<p class="indent">In spite of Jules' command, the reference +to the convulsions, which had nearly cost +Jeanne her life a few weeks after birth, sent +Blanche agitatedly into the nursery. Madeleine +lumbered behind her, and both were +relieved to find the child sleeping contentedly +in her cradle, her cheeks flushed, and her +chubby hands clenched at her breast. +Blanche would have liked to pass several +moments there in rapt adoration, but Jules +appeared at the door and made a sign to her +to come to him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Madeleine will look out for her," he said, +pointing to the cradle. "Go to bed, +Madeleine."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche tiptoed out of the room, removed +her wraps, and, with the overcoat +Jules had thrown on the couch, hung them +in the little closet beside the big mirror. +Jules, who had taken a seat in front of the +fire-place, watched her impatiently, and +then motioned her to sit in the chair +opposite him.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now perhaps you'll be kind enough to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page245" id="page245"></a>[pg 245]</span> +tell me what all this means. I knew that +Englishwoman would be up to some mischief. +What does it mean?" he said sternly.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche looked timidly into his face; the +expression of anger that she had noticed on +their way home was still there. She did not +know what to say, and tears of misery filled +her eyes and rolled slowly down her cheeks. +Then weakened by her previous outburst, +she covered her face with her hands, and +began to sob, giving expression to all the +torture that had come from the horror of +her performance, from her incessant terror +of being killed and separated from Jeanne. +Jules was at first touched, and then alarmed, +by the unexpected display of grief.</p> + +<p class="indent">He waited, thinking that it would soon expend +itself; then when the sobs continued, +he went over to her, and taking her gently +in his arms, tried to soothe her by stroking +her hair and calling her by the endearing +names he had used during the first weeks of +their marriage, and begging her to control +herself for his sake, it hurt him so. After +this last appeal, Blanche put her arms round +his neck, and buried her head on his breast, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page246" id="page246"></a>[pg 246]</span> +and for a few moments they sat together +without speaking, her body shaken now and +then from the violence of her grief. Then +Jules began to question her quietly, and the +whole story of her sufferings since Jeanne's +birth came out so pathetically that, in spite +of his anger, he was touched, and convinced +that, after all, the Englishwoman had been +right.</p> + +<p class="indent">In his remorse that Blanche had suffered +in silence, and he had not found it out, had +done nothing to help her, he declared he +would have the diving stopped at once, no +matter what the cost might be. Rather than +see her unhappy, he would make her give +up performing altogether, if that were necessary. +At any rate, he would go to Marshall +the next day and see what could be done +about taking her name off the bills. They +would leave this disgusting London, perhaps +for the south of France, where Blanche could +have a long rest, and gather strength for her +visit to America the next year. For a long +time they talked over the plan, and then Jules +made Blanche go to bed.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You'll not be able to do your work tomorrow," +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page247" id="page247"></a>[pg 247]</span> +he said, "if you sit up much longer. +Of course, you can't stop it at once. Marshall +wouldn't listen to that. You're his +best attraction, and he'll have to advertise +your last appearances."</p> + +<p class="indent">For more than an hour after Blanche left +him, Jules walked up and down the little +drawing-room, smoking cigarettes. The +revelation of his wife's trouble had so upset +him that he felt unable to sleep. But it was +of himself, not of her, that he was chiefly +thinking. Dr. Broughton had told him that +a long rest might cure Blanche of her nervous +terror and relieve her of the pains in +the back, but it was probable that she would +be affected again as soon as she resumed her +performance.</p> + +<p class="indent">If this proved true, his own career would be +ruined; there would be no more travelling, +no more triumphs! Blanche would sink into +obscurity, would become a mere nonentity, +devoted to her child and house-keeping, like +scores of other wives and mothers that he +knew and despised in Paris. Out of the +circus, she was utterly commonplace, Jules +said to himself, and the fact came to him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page248" id="page248"></a>[pg 248]</span> +with the force of a revelation! But for that +he would never have married her; the brilliancy +of her talent had dazzled him! And +now, if she had to leave the circus, how beautifully +he would have been tricked! He +would be tied down to her and her child! +The expense of maintaining them would +oblige him to live meanly, in a way that he +had never been used to, that he loathed.</p> + +<p class="indent">What a fine trap he had got himself into! +There was absolutely no escape, unless +Blanche recovered from her ridiculous +cowardice. And all on account of that infant, +who had come into the world without +being wanted, and had spoiled his life! +For the moment Jules hated Jeanne. He +wished she had never been born, or had died +at birth; then all this trouble wouldn't have +occurred. But for Jeanne, Blanche might +have accepted that offer for a summer season +at Trouville. Then he wouldn't have +been bored at Boulogne, and Father Dumény +wouldn't have given him that letter to those +beasts of English.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Jules' wrath turned from Jeanne to +Father Dumény, and on him he poured all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page249" id="page249"></a>[pg 249]</span> +his old bitterness against priests. They were +always interfering, those black-coated, oily-tongued +hypocrites. Oh, if he had Father +Dumény there! He would have liked to +choke him!</p> + +<p class="indent">The more Jules thought, the more convinced +he became that his wife's nervousness +was due to imagination rather than to any +physical cause. Then, too, Blanche had been +homesick after her long stay in Boulogne, +where she saw her mother and her sisters +every day. What a fool he had been to +allow her to go there! He hated the whole +pack of them—Father Dumény, Madame +Berthier, her tiresome old husband, all! +What right did they have to interfere with +Blanche? She was his wife, she belonged to +him alone. When he reached this point +Jules had worked himself into a fine indignation; +but he had exhausted his cigarettes, +and it was now nearly twelve o'clock. Instead +of going to bed, however, he threw +himself on the couch in the corner of the +room, where a few hours later Blanche found +him, sleeping soundly.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules woke in an irritable mood, cross +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page250" id="page250"></a>[pg 250]</span> +with Madeleine, indifferent to Jeanne, with +whom he usually liked to gambol after breakfast, +and silent with his wife. For a time +he said nothing to Blanche about their talk +of the night before, and the expression of +his face prevented her from touching upon +it. Till eleven o'clock he was busily engaged +in writing letters; when he had +finished these, he turned to Blanche, who +was sitting alone by the table, making a +dress for Jeanne.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I've just written to Hicks in New York," +he said, "the man who made me that fine +offer for next September. I told him we +couldn't sign the contract yet. That'll probably +make him offer us more money, and +it'll give you time to find out whether you +can go on with your work again."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I shall surely go on with it," said +Blanche, hardly daring to look into his face. +"I shall be well again after a rest. I know +I shall. The Doctor said—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Never mind what the Doctor said. I +don't believe he knows anything about it. +You're just a little nervous, that's all. You +worry about little things too much, about +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page251" id="page251"></a>[pg 251]</span> +Jeanne especially. Why can't you let Madeleine +take care of Jeanne? She knows a +good deal more about children than you do. +That's what we pay her for. The child +costs us enough, Heaven knows, and if your +salary's going to be cut off, we'll have to be +pretty economical."</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment Blanche said nothing; her +lips quivered, but she controlled herself. +Jules looked at her narrowly, and said to +himself that she was not half so pretty as she +had been; she was growing thinner, and +there were little lines in her face that ought +not to be in the face of one so young as her +mother said she was. How weak, how helpless +she seemed! Once the thought of her +weakness and ingenuousness had given him +pleasure; now it only made him realize his +own superiority.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps," she suggested hesitatingly,—"perhaps +Mr. Marshall might be willing to +make a new contract. Perhaps he would +let me go on with my performance on the +trapeze and the rope—without the dive."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I've thought of that," Jules replied, rising +and going to the closet for his overcoat. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page252" id="page252"></a>[pg 252]</span> +"But it isn't at all likely. He's been advertising +your dive all over London, and it's +been his best feature. He'll be pretty mad +when I tell him you're going to give it up. +He'll probably try to make me pay a forfeit +for breach of contract."</p> + +<p class="indent">"For breach of contract!" she repeated +blankly. "I—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, don't worry about it," said Jules, +with a pang of regret for the pain he had +caused her. "I think I can make that all +right. I suppose that old Doctor would +write a certificate if I asked him."</p> + +<p class="indent">He drew on the fur-lined coat, and as he +took his gloves from his pocket he started +for the door, without kissing Blanche. Then, +at the door, glancing back, and seeing her +standing in the middle of the room with a +look of helpless pain in her face, he turned +and walked towards her, and bent his face +to hers.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There, there, dear, don't worry," he said. +"You'll be all right again in a little while!" +At the door he added: "I shall be back in +an hour or two, and tell you what Marshall +says."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page253" id="page253"></a>[pg 253]</span> +The hour or two proved to be three hours, +and these Blanche passed chiefly in walking +up and down the apartment. She could not +keep still; she felt convinced that something +dreadful was going to happen. She hardly +dared even to talk to Jeanne, as if she +fancied the child might divine her misery. +She feared that she would be unable to +give up her performance, and she feared +she would have to go on with it. If she +did give it up, she had a presentiment that +she would pay dear for the release; if she +did not, she knew it would result in her +death.</p> + +<p class="indent">Ever since coming to London, she had +prepared herself for the catastrophe. No +one, not even kind-hearted Mrs. Tate, +could imagine the agony of mind she had +endured. And it was all for Jeanne! Her +very sufferings had fed her love for the child. +If she and Jules could go away with Jeanne, +far away, where they would never hear or +think of performances again, how happy +they would be! But she must go on with +her work; she ought to fight against her +weakness. Jules had said she would grow +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page254" id="page254"></a>[pg 254]</span> +strong again; she had always believed what +he said, and perhaps he was right now. Perhaps +after a rest she would want to go back +to the ring. But she was afraid, she was +afraid! Poor little Jeanne! Every few moments +she ran into the room where Jeanne +was taking her mid-day sleep. She wanted +to clasp the child to her breast and walk +up and down the room with her. But for +several weeks she had not dared to hold her +in her arms for fear of dropping her from +nervousness.</p> + +<p class="indent">Instead of going directly to the Hippodrome, +Jules turned into Piccadilly, where he +had seen the sign of a French physician. +He had suddenly decided to seek further +medical advice before speaking to Marshall, +and he did not propose to trust Blanche's +case to another Englishman. He was obliged +to wait in Dr. Viaud's outer office for more +than an hour. The Doctor received him +with what seemed to Jules an almost suspicious +courtesy; but this disappeared as +soon as he explained that he was French.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules was gratified by the interest paid to +his repetition of Blanche's confession of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page255" id="page255"></a>[pg 255]</span> +night before. The Doctor did not interrupt +till Jules had mentioned the advice given by +the English physician.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Broughton!" he exclaimed, repeating +the name after Jules. "You couldn't have +consulted a better man. He's at the head +of his profession here in London."</p> + +<p class="indent">When he had questioned Jules about +Blanche's symptoms, he said thoughtfully: +"I cannot add anything to the advice Dr. +Broughton has given,—that is, of course, +with my present knowledge of the case. But +I have absolute confidence in his judgment. +The pains in the back I do not fear so much +as the terrible apprehension that you say +haunts your wife. In itself that is, of course, +great suffering; and the consequences may +be fatal. Your wife's dive requires iron +nerve, and that is being constantly weakened +by her continual worrying. I agree with +Dr. Broughton that she at least needs a rest +as soon as possible. There can't be two +opinions about that. But I should not like +to interfere with Dr. Broughton's—"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules understood at once, and rose from +his seat.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page256" id="page256"></a>[pg 256]</span> +"I merely wanted to see what you thought. +If you had disagreed—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, but Dr. Broughton is very reliable!" +said the Frenchman, with a smile and a shrug, +as if afraid of even a suggestion of professional +discourtesy.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules left him feeling bitterly disappointed. +There was no hope then! He had surmised +that the shrewd-eyed Englishman +knew his business. There was nothing to +do but to go to Marshall and explain the +situation.</p> + +<p class="indent">When he returned from the Hippodrome +to the apartment Blanche met him at the door. +His face was darkened with a scowl.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What did he say?" she asked nervously, +as he entered and threw his overcoat on +a chair. "Was he—was he angry?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Angry? No; he was altogether too +cool. If he'd been angry I shouldn't have +cared. I'd have liked that a good deal +better."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then we sha'n't have to pay a forfeit?" +said Blanche, glancing up into his face.</p> + +<p class="indent">He turned away and threw himself wearily +on the couch. "No, you won't have to pay +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page257" id="page257"></a>[pg 257]</span> +a forfeit, but you'll have to go on with the +engagement."</p> + +<p class="indent">"With the diving?" she said, her face +growing white.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, with the other work—on the trapeze +and the rope. He said you'd have +to elaborate that, and he'd pay you half +what you're getting now till you were ready +to do the diving again. He wants to keep +you on account of your name. He's advertised +you all over the city, and even out +in the country places near London."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But he—he doesn't object to my giving +up the plunge?" Blanche repeated, in a +tone which suggested that her professional +pride was hurt.</p> + +<p class="indent">"He didn't when I told him the Doctor +had forbidden your going on with it for a +while. Besides, he had another reason for +not objecting."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What was that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He showed me a letter he'd just had +from that woman who made such a sensation +in Bucharest while we were in Vienna. +Don't you remember? I showed you some +of her notices. She does a swimming act, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page258" id="page258"></a>[pg 258]</span> +and dives from a platform into a tank. +She's been playing in the English provinces, +and now she wants to come to London."</p> + +<p class="indent">"So he's going to engage her in my +place?" Blanche gasped.</p> + +<p class="indent">"In your place?" Jules repeated irritably. +"How can he engage her in your +place when he's going to keep you? We've +got to live, and it won't hurt you to go on +with your work on the trapeze and the rope. +He knows your name will be an attraction, +and if he engages that Englishwoman, she'll +be another card for him—a big one. He +says she's been drawing crowds in Manchester +for six weeks."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What's her name?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"King—Lottie King—or something like +that."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is she pretty? Did he show you her +pictures?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes; her manager sent him a whole box of +them. She's <i>petite</i>, with wicked little eyes."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Dark?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, blonde."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And what is her dive?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"What?"</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page259" id="page259"></a>[pg 259]</span> +"How high is it?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Fifty feet, Marshall said; but one of the +circus hands told me it wasn't much more, +than forty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh!" There was a suggestion of a +sneer in her tone, and Jules looked up in +surprise.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course, it's nothing compared with +yours," he said, to console her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"When is she going to begin?" she +asked, after a moment.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Going to begin? Do you mean here in +London? Marshall hasn't signed with her +yet. She's engaged in Manchester for three +weeks longer."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then I shall have to go on with my dive +till she comes?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose so," Jules replied coldly.</p> + +<p class="indent">She saw that he did not wish to continue +the conversation; so she went into the +nursery, leaving him lying on the couch, +where he often took an afternoon nap; +since coming to London he had grown very +lazy, and had gained flesh. Blanche found +Jeanne wide awake and crowing in Madeleine's +arms. She sat beside the cradle, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page260" id="page260"></a>[pg 260]</span> +and taking the child in her lap, sent Madeleine +out of the room. Jeanne snatched +at the brooch she wore at her throat, and +laughed into her face. Blanche tried to +smile in reply, but the tears welled into +her eyes again, and fell in big drops on +her cheeks.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page261" id="page261"></a>[pg 261]</span></p> + +<h2>XVII</h2> + +<p class="indent">Three days after Jules' talk with Marshall, +the forthcoming engagement at +the Hippodrome of Miss Lottie King was +announced in the London newspapers. +Blanche signed a new contract, by which +she agreed to perform for several weeks +longer on the trapeze and on the rope at +half the salary she had been receiving. Marshall +said that no mention of the plunge +would be made in the papers; her name +would continue to "draw," and the public +would be satisfied with Miss King's great +dive into the tank. This remark made Jules +very angry, and it also depressed Blanche, +who felt as if she had already been deposed +from her supremacy as the chief attraction +at the Hippodrome. Indeed, as the time +drew near when she was to cease making +the plunge, instead of feeling happier, she +grew more despondent; she had already +elaborated her performance on the trapeze +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page262" id="page262"></a>[pg 262]</span> +by introducing several new feats that she +and Jules had planned together, but with +these she was not satisfied; she felt like an +actor obliged to play small parts after winning +success in leading characters.</p> + +<p class="indent">As for Jules, he did not try to hide his +discontent at the change in his wife's work. +In the first place, it made his brief but dramatic +public appearance unnecessary; in +future he would be obliged to conduct +Blanche to the circus, and live again like +any mere hanger-on to the skirts of a public +performer. The <i>rôle</i> was ignoble, unworthy +of him. Then, too, he chafed at the +thought of his wife's decline in importance +at the Hippodrome; he fancied that when +her inability to go on with the plunge had +become known to the other performers they +would lose respect for her and for himself.</p> + +<p class="indent">He secretly doubted if the public would +accept Blanche merely for her performance +on the trapeze and on the rope. Almost +any one could do that; but in the plunge she +was without a rival. He hoped that, as a +compensation for his vexation, the performance +of Miss King would be a failure. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page263" id="page263"></a>[pg 263]</span> +Forty feet! What did that amount to in +comparison with the magnificent plunge of +more than ninety feet that Blanche had +made at Vienna?</p> + +<p class="indent">Already Jules had begun to think of his +wife in the past tense chiefly, as if she lived +in the triumphs she had made by her nightly +flight through the air. Indeed, she seemed +to him almost another person now. Instead +of looking on her almost with reverence, as +he had done, he felt sorry for her, as if she +were his inferior; and though he continued +to treat her with kindness, there was a suggestion +of pity, almost of contempt, in his +manner toward her. She sought consolation +in her child, who, she thought, grew stronger +and more beautiful every day. For Jeanne's +sake she tried to be glad the time was so +near when she should give up risking her +life; but the nearer it grew, the more depressed +she became, and the more she +thought about that woman who was to take +her place.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate, who had definitely taken +Blanche under her protection, and called +at the little hotel several times each week, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page264" id="page264"></a>[pg 264]</span> +had been delighted at what she considered +the fortunate solution of a shocking difficulty. +Now that Blanche was to stop making +that horrible dive, there was no reason +why she shouldn't be the happiest woman +in the world. With her keen instinct, however, +she observed that Blanche was not +happy; she wondered, too, at the frequent +absence of the husband from this <i>ménage</i>. +Jules couldn't be very devoted, she thought, +for a man who had been married little more +than a year. Perhaps, however, he avoided +her; for, in spite of his French politeness, +he had not been able to conceal his dislike +for her. For this reason she did not ask +him to dinner again. She often took Blanche +and Jeanne to drive in the afternoon, and +pointed out the celebrities that they passed +in the Park.</p> + +<p class="indent">"My husband says I take you to drive +just to show you off," she said jokingly +one day. "He thinks I have a mania for +celebrities."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, but I'm not a celebrity!" Blanche +replied, with a smile that was almost sad.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not a celebrity? Of course you are. I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page265" id="page265"></a>[pg 265]</span> +haven't a doubt that half the people we meet +recognize you. You know, it's been quite +the fashion to go to the Hippodrome this +year."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I sha'n't be a celebrity much longer," +said Blanche, glancing at the bare boughs of +the trees, and wondering if any other place +could be as desolate as London in winter.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Why not? You don't think of retiring +into private life altogether, do you?" Mrs. +Tate laughed.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, but I shall only be an ordinary performer +after this week."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I'd rather be an ordinary performer +and keep my neck whole than be an <i>ex</i>traordinary +one and risk my life every night," +Mrs. Tate retorted sharply. She was vexed +with Blanche for not appreciating her emancipation.</p> + +<p class="indent">They rode on in silence for a few moments. +Then Blanche said,—</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's some one going to take my +place, you know."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Some one that's going to make that +dreadful plunge?" Mrs. Tate cried in horror.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, not that. She jumps into a tank of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page266" id="page266"></a>[pg 266]</span> +water—from a platform—only about forty +feet. My jump is more than seventy-five +feet," Blanche added with a touch of pride.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate rested her hands in her lap and +burst out laughing. "What a ridiculous +thing! I beg your pardon, dear, but I can't +help being amused. Of course it doesn't +seem funny to you. You're used to it; but +it does to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then she questioned Blanche about the +new performer, and Blanche repeated what +Jules had told her and what she had since +heard of the woman at the Hippodrome. +Mrs. Tate was greatly interested, and laughed +immoderately; afterward, however, when she +had returned home and thought over the conversation, +she regarded it more seriously.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What do you think, Percy?" she said at +the dinner table that night. "Those Hippodrome +people have engaged a creature to +dive into a tank of water from a platform. +Of course, that's to take the place of Madame +Le Baron's plunge. Could anything be more +absurd? The worst of it is that the poor +little woman is frightfully jealous already. I +could see that from the way she talked. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page267" id="page267"></a>[pg 267]</span> +What a dreadful world it is, isn't it? They're +all like that, aren't they, even the best of +them? Do you remember that poor Madame +Gardini who sang here one night? She told +me if she had her life to live over again she'd +never dream of going on the stage. She said +opera-singers were the unhappiest people in +the world,—just poisoned with jealousy. +And these circus people are exactly like +them!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"What makes you think she's jealous? +What was it she said?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"It wasn't <i>what</i> she said, it was the <i>way</i> +she talked about the woman. Her husband +says she's a great beauty."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, the husband says so, does he?" Tate +remarked dryly. A moment later he added: +"I wish you hadn't had anything to do with +those people!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"You've said that a dozen times, Percy, +and I wish you'd stop. For my part, I'm +very glad I've met them. If I hadn't, that +poor little creature would be in her grave +before the end of a year."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Perhaps she'll wish that she <i>were</i> in her +grave before the end of the year."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page268" id="page268"></a>[pg 268]</span> +"What do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nothing, dear, nothing. Don't catch +at everything I say. How is she now—any +better? I suppose she's easier in +mind now that she's going to stop that +diving?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That's the strangest thing about it," Mrs. +Tate answered, with a change of tone. "I +thought she would be, too, but she isn't. +I really believe she's sorry she's giving +it up. But perhaps that's because she's +been doing it all her life. She'll miss it +at first—even if it did worry her nearly to +death!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Has Dr. Broughton been to see her +lately?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No; he said it wouldn't be necessary. +He's going to wait to see what effect the rest +from the diving will have on her."</p> + +<p class="indent">For a few moments Tate looked thoughtfully +at his wife. "Upon my word," he said, +"I half suspect that you <i>want</i> something +to happen to that little woman. It would +just be romantic enough to suit you."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Percy, how can you talk so? You're +simply brutal."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page269" id="page269"></a>[pg 269]</span> +"She might at least break a leg to please +you," her husband laughed, "before giving +up that plunge."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche made her last dive without the +accident that Tate had regarded as indispensable +to dramatic effect. Indeed, since +knowing that she was to give it up, she +seemed to have lost much of her terror of +the plunge; she thought of it now chiefly with +regret. That night, as she rode home with +Jules and Madeleine, she seemed depressed; +Jules, too, was even more sullen than he had +been for the past two weeks. When they +had entered the lodgings and were eating +their midnight meal, she said:—</p> + +<p class="indent">"If to-morrow is pleasant we might take +Jeanne for a drive in the country. The air +would do her good."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I can't go," he replied indifferently. "I +have something else to do. Besides, it would +cost too much. We shall have to be economical +now that you're going to be on half-salary."</p> + +<p class="indent">The next morning Jules left the hotel at +eleven o'clock, saying that he shouldn't be +back for luncheon. He did not explain where +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page270" id="page270"></a>[pg 270]</span> +he was going, and Blanche did not question +him. She busied herself with Jeanne, and +this distracted her till Jeanne fell sound +asleep. Then she became a prey to her +old melancholy, and for an hour she walked +up and down the room, to the bewilderment +of Madeleine, who could not understand +what the matter was.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Is Madame suffering with the pain in her +back?" Madeleine asked at last.</p> + +<p class="indent">No, Madame was not suffering. She had +not been troubled by the pain for several +days; she hoped it would leave her for +good now that she had stopped taking the +plunge.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah, God be praised that you do that no +longer!" Madeleine cried, lifting her withered +hands to heaven and rolling her eyes. "It +was too terrible. Since that first night in +Paris, when I went with you and Monsieur +Jules, I never dared to look. It was <i>affreux</i>!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"But Jules loved it," said Blanche, throwing +herself into a chair beside the old woman.</p> + +<p class="indent">Ah, yes, Madeleine acknowledged. He +used to rave about it in the little flat in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page271" id="page271"></a>[pg 271]</span> +<i>rue de Lisbonne</i>. Once Madeleine heard him +talking in his sleep about the circus and the +wonderful dive; he always slept with his door +wide-open, and she often heard him talking +away like one wide-awake. He had told +her that it was the most wonderful thing he +had ever seen, and no other woman in the +world would have dared to do it. Madeleine +was always delighted to have a chance to talk +about Jules, and she babbled on, never suspecting +that her words were making Blanche +suffer.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you think," Blanche said at last, +"do you think he would have loved me if +I hadn't done that—if I hadn't done that +plunge, I mean—in the Circus?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine glanced at her quickly; she +was unable to grasp the significance of the +question. "But he did see you in the Circus," +she replied. "If he hadn't seen you +there, <i>chérie</i>, he wouldn't have seen you +at all."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, yes, that's true." Blanche realized +that it would be useless to try to explain +what she meant. Then, after a moment, +she added, "And now that I've given up the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page272" id="page272"></a>[pg 272]</span> +dive,—perhaps I shall never be able to do +it again; the Doctor said I might not,—now +that I've given it up, do you think he'll +love me just the same?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Madeleine's faded eyes turned to Blanche +and examined her closely. "If he'll love +you just the same?" she repeated. "What +has put such a strange idea into your head, +child? Of course he'll love you just the +same."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Madeleine was launched on a flood +of eulogy. Jules was so good, so faithful, so +affectionate. There was not another like +him. He had always been so tender with +his mother; and oh, how his poor mother +had worshipped him! Madeleine's praises +had the effect of soothing Blanche for a +time; they also made her ashamed of the +half-conscious suspicion which had arisen +in her mind, and which she would not have +dared to formulate even to herself. She only +permitted herself to acknowledge that his +present manner toward her was different +from his old one. She was also disturbed +by his refusal for the past three Sundays to +go to church with her.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page273" id="page273"></a>[pg 273]</span> +The next afternoon Jules came home +in a rage. "I've been down to see Marshall," +he said. "What do you suppose the +old fool's gone and done? He had the +door of your dressing-room opened this +morning and all your things turned out into +Miss Van Pelt's old room,—the little hole +next door, you know. It's hardly big +enough to breathe in. He said you weren't +the star any longer, and he must give the +room to Miss King. It seems she's a kicker +and he's afraid of a row."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche had nothing to say in reply; this +seemed to her only another indignity added +to those she had already suffered. The worst +was to come in the evening, when her rival +would share the applause that used to be hers. +A few moments later she asked,—</p> + +<p class="indent">"Was she there—that woman?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No; she hasn't appeared yet, and Marshall +was a little nervous. She was to come +up from Manchester in a train that got in +during the afternoon."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But suppose she doesn't come."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, she'll come fast enough. Marshall +had a telegram saying she'd started. Her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page274" id="page274"></a>[pg 274]</span> +big iron tub arrived this morning. They +were putting it in the ground and laying the +pipes for the water when I was there. They +keep it covered till her act begins."</p> + +<p class="indent">"What does she do besides her jump?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, Marshall says she goes through a +lot of antics, stays under the water till she +nearly dies of suffocation, and cooks a meal, +and—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Under water?" Blanche gasped.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, of course not, you ninny," Jules +cried impatiently. His wife's simplicity had +long before ceased to amuse him. "She +does it while she's floating. Then one of +the circus boys falls into the tank, and she +shows how she used to rescue people out in +California."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then she's an American."</p> + +<p class="indent">"She's lived in America all her life, but +her father was an Englishman, and she was +born in England. Her father kept a swimming +school out in San Francisco; that's +how she got into the business. They say +she's got a lot of medals for saving lives."</p> + +<p class="indent">As Jules walked into the next room to +change his clothes for the evening, he said +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page275" id="page275"></a>[pg 275]</span> +to himself that his wife was growing very +stupid and tiresome.</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche sat alone for a few moments, feeling +cold and forlorn. She could not keep +from thinking and wondering about that +woman; she was anxious and yet afraid to +see her. She could not account for the dislike +and terror with which the mere thought +of the woman inspired her. She had never +before regarded the other performers in the +circus as her rivals; so, for the first time in +her life, she knew the bitterness of jealousy.</p> + +<p class="indent">Before preparing for the evening she went +into the nursery, and for several moments sat +beside the cradle where Jeanne was peacefully +sleeping, her little face rosy with health. +The poor child, she thought, could never +know the sacrifice she had made for her. +She was glad she had made it; she had +done her duty; but it was hard, it was so +hard! Then she bent over and kissed +Jeanne on the cheek; the child drew her +head away, and buried her face impatiently +in the pillow. Blanche turned her gently in +the crib, adjusted the lace covering, and +stole out of the room.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page276" id="page276"></a>[pg 276]</span> +Jules met her as she was closing the door +softly behind her. "What have you been +doing in there?" he cried petulantly. "Why +can't you let Jeanne alone when she's asleep? +Every time she takes a nap you go in and +wake her up. No wonder—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I haven't waked her," Blanche replied +apologetically. "I only went in to see if she +needed anything, and I sat beside her a +moment."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, you'll spoil her if you keep on. +From the way you act one would imagine +that Jeanne was the only creature in the +world worth thinking about!"</p> + +<p class="indent">They both took their places at the table +which Madeleine had prepared, and proceeded +silently with their dinner. Madeleine, +who hovered about them, wondered +what the matter was; she had never seen +Monsieur Jules like this before; he usually +had a great deal to say. When she had left +the room for a few minutes, Jules looked up +from his plate.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I've been wondering whether we ought +to keep Madeleine or not. She's a great +expense. We could get along just as well +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page277" id="page277"></a>[pg 277]</span> +without her. The <i>garçon</i> could serve our +meals. We have to pay for the service +whether we get it or not."</p> + +<p class="indent">When he had spoken he was startled by +the look in his wife's face. Not keep Madeleine! +The mere thought of parting with +the old woman, whom she had come to +regard almost as a second mother, shocked +her so much that for a moment she could +not formulate a reply.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But we couldn't get along without her!" +she said. "Think of all she does for me +and for Jeanne!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, Jeanne! It's always Jeanne, Jeanne. +I'm sick of hearing her name. If Jeanne +hadn't been born we shouldn't be in the +pretty box we're in now, and you'd be going +on with your work like a sensible woman. +I tell you we must economize. We're under +heavy expenses here, and we're going to lose +a lot of money by this imaginary sickness of +yours."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I can't let Madeleine go," Blanche replied. +"I should die without her. I should +die of loneliness. And she loves you so, as +much as if you were her son, and she loved +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page278" id="page278"></a>[pg 278]</span> +your mother. She has often talked to me +about her. I can't, I can't let her go. I'd +rather—"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Very well, then. Don't say anything +more about it. We'll have to economize +in some other way. Here she comes now. +So keep quiet, or she'll want to find out +what we've been talking about."</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page279" id="page279"></a>[pg 279]</span></p> + +<h2>XVIII</h2> + +<p class="indent">The Hippodrome was crowded on the +night of Miss King's first appearance. +Jules, in evening dress as usual, leaned against +the railing behind the highest tier of seats. +At this moment he felt that he had been +duped by fate, and he wanted to revenge +himself on the crowd that had come to rejoice +over his disappointment; for their presence +seemed like a personal insult to him. +But for the machinations of that crazy Englishwoman, +Blanche would now be going on +with her work; by this time they might have +made arrangements for her visit to America +in the early summer. However, the mischief +was done, and there was no knowing when it +would be undone. Blanche might have recovered +in a few weeks from her terror of +the plunge; but after once yielding to it, she +would probably never get over it.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules believed in presentiments, and he +had a strong presentiment that Blanche had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page280" id="page280"></a>[pg 280]</span> +taken her plunge for the last time. He tried +to console himself, however, with the hope +that Lottie King would make a failure. The +extensive advertising that Marshall had given +her made Jules hate the girl; her name had +been posted in places all over London where +his wife's alone had been. To Jules this +was the most cruel evidence of his own +decadence.</p> + +<p class="indent">Half an hour before it was time for Blanche +to appear Jules sauntered toward her dressing-room. +When he reached the door, he +stopped in surprise; he could hear an unfamiliar +voice speaking English. Some one +must be in there with Blanche and Madeleine. +When he entered, he saw a plump, +pretty young woman, with a shock of yellow +hair and big blue eyes, dressed in a tight-fitting +bathing-suit of blue flannel and in +blue silk stockings. He recognized her at +once from her photographs.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Hello!" she cried, glancing at Jules +familiarly. "Is this him? Introduce me, +won't you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment Blanche, whose face had +been made up and whose figure, dressed in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page281" id="page281"></a>[pg 281]</span> +white silk tights, was covered with the cloak +she threw off as she entered the ring, looked +confused. Then she presented Jules to Miss +King, who beamed upon him with extravagant +pleasure.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Your wife's been telling me about you," +she said. "I've been making friends with +her. I wanted to see what she was like, and +I supposed she'd want to see what I was +like. So we've agreed not to scratch each +other's eyes out. You speak English too, +don't you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">This gave Jules an opportunity to reiterate +his story about having learned English +in America.</p> + +<p class="indent">"So you've been to America!" Miss King +cried, her eyes bigger than ever, and her +open mouth showing her white, square teeth. +"Were you with a troupe there?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules shook his head. "I wasn't married +then."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Ah!" The diver glanced sharply at +Blanche, and then back at Jules, as if making +a rapid calculation of their ages. "Been +married long?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"A little over a year," Blanche replied.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page282" id="page282"></a>[pg 282]</span> +"Too bad your wife had to give her dive +up, ain't it?" the girl said to Jules. "I hear +it was great. But I suppose you'll do it +again, won't you, when you're better?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche flushed. "I don't know," she +said, with a half-frightened look at Jules.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, I would if I was you. It's sensational +things like that that ketches 'em. My +act's kind of sensational, but it ain't in it with +yours for cold nerve an' grit. When you do +it again you'd oughter go to America. You +can make a good deal more there than you +do here. I came over just for the reputation. +It helps you a lot over there if you've +made a hit in Europe."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But you are English, aren't you?" Jules +asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, yes, I s'pose I am, in a sort of way. +I was born over here, but my father took me +to America when I was about six, an' I'm +American to the backbone."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Have you been in the ring long?" +Blanche asked.</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, I only took to giving performances +about five years ago; but I've been in the +swimming business all my life. My Dad +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page283" id="page283"></a>[pg 283]</span> +had a swimming school out in 'Frisco; but +there's more money in this business. But I +guess I'm keeping you folks. It must be +most time for your act. Good-bye. P'raps +I'll see you later. I'm mighty glad you +can speak English," she laughed, with a +glance at Jules. "I travelled with a troupe +once with a lot of Italians in it, and my, +what a time I had tryin' to talk with 'em!"</p> + +<p class="indent">She hurried out, leaving Jules with a vision +of tousled yellow hair, a roguish smile, and +gleaming white teeth, and with the sound of +a rich contralto voice in his ears. As soon +as the door closed, he turned to Blanche.</p> + +<p class="indent">"How did she happen to come in here?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"She wanted me to help her with one of +her slippers that was torn. Madeleine sewed +it up for her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Hasn't she got any maid?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"She left her behind in Manchester. She +was sick. She's coming on when she gets +better."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules merely grunted and walked out of +the room. The sound of the contralto voice +was still in his ears. What a sweet voice it +was! She seemed to him just like an American +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page284" id="page284"></a>[pg 284]</span> +in spite of her birth, and Jules preferred +the Americans to the English. He wondered +what her performance was like, and +he waited impatiently for Blanche to finish +her act on the trapeze and the rope. As +his eyes followed Blanche, he kept seeing +the tousled hair and the broad smile revealing +the white teeth.</p> + +<p class="indent">It took several moments for the tank to +be arranged for the crowning performance. +The audience waited in good-natured patience, +however, and when finally the plump +little figure in blue flannel ran out, there was +a round of applause. Lottie King had added +a touch of rouge to either cheek, and she +looked very pretty as she ran up the flight +of steps leading to the edge of the tank, +poised there for a moment with the fingers +of both hands touching high in the air, and +then dived in a graceful curve into the water. +She speedily reappeared, shaking her head +and laughing, and struck out for the rope +that hung from the platform. This she +climbed hand over hand, the water dripping +from her figure, and glistening on her +face.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page285" id="page285"></a>[pg 285]</span> +Jules, whose eyes had been eagerly following +her, was surprised to see that she was +going to begin her act with the dive, instead +of keeping it for the climax. She seemed to +take it very coolly, he thought, as she stood +on the swaying platform, rubbing her face +with a handkerchief and rearranging one of +the sleeves of her costume. Then she steadied +the platform, and, an instant later, she +was cutting, feet foremost, through the air, +her arms by her side and her body rigid. +When she reached the water, there was very +little splashing, and she speedily reappeared, +shaking her head again and displaying her +white teeth.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules had watched the dive breathlessly, +Just as he had watched Blanche's on the night +when he first saw her in the <i>Cirque Parisien</i>, +and now he followed her feats of skill and +strength with wonder and fascination. When +she remained beneath the surface for more +than three minutes he felt as if he himself +were stifling, and when she reappeared, +calm and smiling, he took a long breath.</p> + +<p class="indent">He supposed that the rescue of one of the +circus hands who fell opportunely into the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page286" id="page286"></a>[pg 286]</span> +tank would end the performance; but instead +of leaving the ring, Lottie King climbed +again to the platform. Surely, Jules thought, +she would make a mistake if she repeated +that plunge. Instead, however, she swung +on the edge, leaped backward into the air, +and after several swift turns, fell with a +crash into the water. As she swam to the +ladder, the band burst into triumphant music, +and the audience cheered, and began to +climb down from the circular seats and to +rush to the spot where she was to make +her exit.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then Jules roused himself. He felt as if +he had been in a dream. He had difficulty +in reaching Blanche's dressing-room, for the +crowd had gathered at the entrance to the +ring in order to catch another glimpse of the +dripping figure of the diver. When finally +he succeeded in making his way there, he +found Blanche sitting motionless, her arms +resting on the table. He at once divined +the cause of her dejection.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You see what you've brought on yourself," +he said. "A lot you'll amount to now! +You might as well give up the business."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page287" id="page287"></a>[pg 287]</span> +Madeleine looked at him with mild reproach +in her eyes. He paid no attention +to her, however. He walked back to the +door, and turning, he added: "But you +can't stay here all night. I thought you'd +be dressed by this time. I'll wait out here +for you."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules looked anxiously up and down the +corridor, but he saw no one. He could hear +the noise of the crowd slowly wending out of +the Hippodrome, and from the dressing-rooms +on either side the buzz of voices. +Miss King must have succeeded in making +her escape to her room.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page288" id="page288"></a>[pg 288]</span></p> + +<h2>XIX</h2> + +<p class="indent">If Jules had tried, he would have been +unable to explain the fascination that +Lottie King's performance had for him. In +daring it was greatly inferior to his wife's +plunge; but the fact that Blanche had lost +courage lent her rival's serene indifference +to danger an added attractiveness for him.</p> + +<p class="indent">Every night he watched her with more +delight. Besides being plucky and skilful, +she was so pretty and so amusing! Jules +liked to talk with her in the evening before +she made her appearance, and she used to +convulse him with laughter by her sallies. +She soon fell into the habit of running +into Blanche's room to ask Madeleine to +do services for her, and toward Blanche she +adopted a manner of half-amused patronage. +By the end of the first week, Blanche had +conceived a great dislike for her. This +might have been at least partly due to her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page289" id="page289"></a>[pg 289]</span> +discovery of the pleasure which Jules took in +the diver's society.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate had expected that, after ceasing +to make her plunge, Blanche would improve +in health; but she speedily saw that she was +mistaken. One afternoon she called at the +hotel in Albemarle Street and found Blanche +alone with the little Jeanne; Madeleine had +just gone out to do some errands. They had +a long talk, during which Blanche was obliged +to confess that the pain in her back troubled +her just as much as ever, and that she was +very unhappy. When Mrs. Tate tried to +find out why she was unhappy, she could +elicit no satisfactory explanation. As soon +as she arrived home that night, she repeated +the conversation to her husband.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you suppose the little creature can +be mercenary, Percy?" she said. "Do you +think she can be sorry she isn't risking her +neck every day? I wanted to tell her this +morning she ought to be ashamed of herself—she +ought to think of her child. Suppose +she had been killed! What would have become +of the child, <i>I'd</i> like to know!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"That other person has made a hit, I see. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page290" id="page290"></a>[pg 290]</span> +They're booming her in the papers. Did +she speak of her?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Not a word!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"H'm!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"What do you mean by that, Percy?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, nothing."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose you think she's jealous of her."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Jealous?" Tate repeated, lifting his +eyes. "You told me yourself that she was +jealous before she even saw the other +performer."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Yes, and now she's jealous of her +success."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, <i>professional</i> jealousy," he said, +throwing back his head. A moment later +he added: "There are worse kinds of +jealousy than that in the world."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate looked at him closely, but his +eyes were fixed on his plate. For a few +moments they did not speak; she was pondering +his last remark. They understood +each other so well that they often divined +each other's thoughts. Now she saw that he +did not care to discuss the subject, and she +let it drop. She continued to think about it +so much, however, that she determined to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page291" id="page291"></a>[pg 291]</span> +go to the Hippodrome alone some day, to a +<i>matinée</i>, and see for herself what Blanche's +successor as a star performer was like.</p> + +<p class="indent">She returned home with a sickly feeling of +regret and torturing anticipation; she had +not only seen Lottie King, but she had also +studied the face of Jules Le Baron, who, +unconscious of her gaze, stood within a few +yards of her seat. What she had observed +in his expression, however, she did not communicate +to her husband.</p> + +<p class="indent">Her visit at the Hippodrome made her +resolve to be even kinder to Blanche than +she had been; she would take her and the +child to drive in the Park two or three times +a week,—oftener if she could. Mrs. Tate +tried to shake off her forebodings, but for +the rest of the day they clung to her, and +the next morning she woke with them fresh +in mind. So she resolved to drive at once +to Albemarle Street. The weather was too +dull to take the child out, and she would +pass the morning with Blanche and try to +cheer her up.</p> + +<p class="indent">When she reached the hotel she felt +relieved to find Blanche in a much better +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page292" id="page292"></a>[pg 292]</span> +frame of mind than she had been on the +occasion of her last call. The pain had left +her for a few days, Blanche explained, and +she had been greatly encouraged; even Jules +had spoken of her improvement; he had +been so patient with her, and now she felt +ashamed of having been so dispirited. Mrs. +Tate went away with a feeling that she +had been a fool, that her forebodings were +ridiculous.</p> + +<p class="indent">One night at the end of the week, Tate +returned home with the announcement that +he was to start for Berlin the next day, to +confer with the heads of a banking-house +there with regard to the floating of a great +loan. He gave her the choice of staying +at home or of starting with him after only +a few hours of preparation. She chose to +start, and for two months she did not see +London again; for, once away from the +routine of his work, Tate took advantage of +the opportunity to run for a holiday from +Berlin down to Dresden, and thence over +to Paris. During this time Mrs. Tate forgot +her self-imposed cares, and gave herself up +to the pleasures of travelling.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page293" id="page293"></a>[pg 293]</span> +When she returned home, she was surprised +to hear that Madame Le Baron had +called several times, and had left word that +she was anxious to see her as soon as she +came back. This news sent her with a +throbbing heart to Albemarle Street; she +felt sure that something terrible had happened, +something she might have prevented +by staying in London. She was always assuming +responsibilities and then dropping +them! How often her husband had told +her that! She had been more than culpable, +she kept saying to herself, in going away +without even bidding Blanche good-bye, +without even leaving an address.</p> + +<p class="indent">When she arrived at the hotel, at the +close of a cold, foggy afternoon, she was surprised +to be told by the <i>garçon</i> that Madame +Le Baron had left, and had gone to an +apartment in Upper Bedford Place. "It +was too expensive for them here," the <i>garçon</i> +explained with a contemptuous grin. +"So they went to a private house."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate drove at once to the number +the boy gave her, and a few moments later +she was climbing the stairs to Blanche's +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page294" id="page294"></a>[pg 294]</span> +apartment. She was out of breath when she +rapped on the door, and still breathing hard +when Madeleine admitted her into the shabby +drawing-room. A moment later, as Blanche +appeared from the next room, she uttered an +exclamation.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Good Heavens, child, what has happened +to you! You're whiter than ever, and so +<i>thin</i>! What have you been doing to yourself? +Have you had an illness?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche shook her head. "No, I haven't +been ill," she replied, but her looks and +her manner seemed to belie her words. +The gray cloth dress which had once +fitted her tightly now hung loosely about +her; her face was drawn and of a chalklike +pallor, and under the eyes were two +black lines betraying weeks of suffering and +sleeplessness.</p> + +<p class="indent">"You were thin enough before I went +away," said Mrs. Tate, "but now you're a +perfect spectre."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then she went on to explain how she had +happened to desert her friends for so long a +time. "I know you have something to tell +me," she said, starting from her seat, "but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page295" id="page295"></a>[pg 295]</span> +before you begin I want to see Jeanne. How +is she? But first tell me how you happened +to come way up here. Isn't it a long distance +for you to climb after your performance +every night?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Jules chose these rooms because they +were so much cheaper than the hotel," +Blanche replied simply. "We prepare our +own meals, too, and we save in that way. +You know my salary is so much smaller than +it used to be."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate made no comment, and they +went into the other room, where Jeanne was +sleeping in the crib.</p> + +<p class="indent">"She sleeps nearly all the time," said +Blanche, with a faint smile that seemed to +exaggerate the expression of pain and weariness +in her face.</p> + +<p class="indent">"How big she's growing!" Mrs. Tate +whispered. "There's certainly nothing the +matter with <i>her</i>, the dear little thing, with +her fat rosy cheeks. I'd just like to take +her in my arms and hug her."</p> + +<p class="indent">For several minutes they stood talking +about the child; then they left her with +Madeleine and went back to the drawing-room, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page296" id="page296"></a>[pg 296]</span> +which Mrs. Tate's keen eyes discovered +was used also as a bedroom. "They +must be economizing with a vengeance," +she thought. Blanche closed the door, and +took a seat behind her visitor on the couch.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Now I want to hear all about it," Mrs. +Tate cried. "Something has happened. +What is it?" She took both of Blanche's +hands and looked into her eyes. "What is +it?" she repeated.</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment they sat looking at each +other. Then Blanche bent forward, buried +her head on Mrs. Tate's lap, and burst into +tears. Mrs. Tate said nothing, and allowed +the paroxysm to spend itself. Then, gradually, +the story came out.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules didn't love her any more, Blanche +moaned. He had been cruel to her, oh, so +cruel; he had said such dreadful things! +And then there had been days and days +when he scarcely spoke to her or to the little +Jeanne or to Madeleine, and he had +grown so strict with them all; he hardly +allowed Madeleine enough to buy the things +they needed. And once, he had said such +dreadful things about Jeanne. He didn't +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page297" id="page297"></a>[pg 297]</span> +love even Jeanne any more,—poor little +Jeanne! He said they would have been +better off if she had never been born. Oh, +that had nearly killed her, that he should +have spoken so about Jeanne. She didn't +care so much about herself, though sometimes +she wanted to die. One night she +had prayed that God would take her and +Jeanne together. Jules had always been so +good to her until—until that woman came, +that woman who had taken her place in the +circus. It was that woman who had come +between them, with her white teeth and +her mocking laugh. She was making a fool +of Jules; she did not care for him, but she +pretended that she did, just to amuse herself. +Jules followed her about everywhere; +he even talked of going to America, because +she was to go in a few weeks, when her engagement +at the Hippodrome was over. But +Blanche would die; she would throw herself +into the river with Jeanne in her arms rather +than go there now. Ah, it had been so hard +for her, alone in a strange country, with no +one but Madeleine to confide in. Madeleine +had been so good; but she, too, had grown +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page298" id="page298"></a>[pg 298]</span> +afraid of Jules in these last weeks. They +scarcely dared to speak when he was at +home, now.</p> + +<p class="indent">From broken utterances, Mrs. Tate pieced +together the whole miserable story. For the +moment, her pity was lost in admiration for +her husband's perspicacity. He had foreseen +this! Now, for the first time, she realized +what she had vaguely surmised before, +the full meaning of his mysterious remark +about Blanche and Jules. Then she turned +her attention to the prostrate figure before +her, offering sympathy and counsel. She +knew that she was speaking in platitudes, +but they were all she could offer then; and, +after all, it was Blanche's own outburst that +would do the poor pent-up creature the +most good, the consciousness that she had +some one to confide in.</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate stayed in the little apartment a +long time, and when she went away, Blanche +seemed to feel more hopeful. "Act as if +he were just as kind to you as ever," was +her parting injunction, "and I know everything +will come out all right. He'll find +out that that dreadful woman is only making +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page299" id="page299"></a>[pg 299]</span> +a fool of him, and then he'll care more for +you than ever."</p> + +<p class="indent">In her heart, however, Mrs. Tate knew +that what she said was not true. Jules had +probably grown tired of his wife. The more +she thought of the case, the more she pitied +Blanche,—the more she realized what a +tragedy in the poor little woman's life it +meant. And she really had been to blame, +she kept saying to herself. But for her interference, +Blanche would have gone on with +her diving, that other performer would not +have come to the Hippodrome, and all of +Blanche's agony of jealousy and neglect +would have been avoided.</p> + +<p class="indent">Oh, what a lesson it taught her! Never, +<i>never</i> would she interfere in a family again! +She would have done much better to let +Blanche go to her death, rather than to +drive her to despair, perhaps to a worse +form of death by her meddling.</p> + +<p class="indent">On reaching home, she was in a fever of +remorse and sympathy, and she passed a +miserable hour waiting for her husband to +return. When at last he did appear, she +met him in the hall.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page300" id="page300"></a>[pg 300]</span> +"Percy," she cried dramatically, "you're +a prophet!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Am I, indeed?" he said, putting his +umbrella in the rack. "Do you mean to +say this is the first time you've found it +out?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'll never doubt your word again, Percy," +she went on, stifling a sob. Her appeal to +her husband for sympathy threatened to +make her hysterical, but she controlled herself +and gasped out: "Don't you remember +what you said about that man, Le Baron,—you +know, the night he dined here, about +his falling in love with his wife's performance! +Well, that's just what he did do. +He didn't fall in love with <i>her</i>; he's never +<i>been</i> in love with her, poor thing. Fortunately +she doesn't know that. It's only her +<i>performance</i>, that horrible plunge she used +to make, that he's been in love with all +along."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't see anything very prophetic +about that," he said, walking into the drawing-room, +where she followed him, clutching +at the lace handkerchief in her hand. "It +was as plain as daylight to any one that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page301" id="page301"></a>[pg 301]</span> +heard him talk and saw what kind of man +he was."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't mean your seeing merely that. +I could tell from what you said that you +saw a great deal more. Don't you remember +what you said about <i>professional</i> jealousy +not being the worst kind of jealousy in the +world? That was the first thing that opened +my eyes. I went to the next <i>matinée</i> to see for +myself if it could be true, and if I hadn't +been an idiot I should have realized it all +then. But the next day, just before we left +for Berlin, I called on that poor woman, and +she seemed so much easier in mind, I thought +I must have misunderstood what you meant +and been mistaken about that look."</p> + +<p class="indent">"My dear, I don't quite follow you. Aren't +you just a little bit illogical?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"No, I'm not. I'm perfectly logical. +I never was more logical in my life."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I suppose you mean that the fellow has +got tired of his wife, now that she's given +up her dive, and he's fallen in love with +the other woman."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate rose tragically from her chair +and made a sweeping gesture with her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page302" id="page302"></a>[pg 302]</span> +right hand. "With the other woman's +<i>performance</i>."</p> + +<p class="indent">Tate looked at her for a moment, with +smiling incredulity. "How ridiculous!" he +said.</p> + +<p class="indent">"That's exactly what I said when you +told me he had fallen in love with his <i>wife's</i> +performance. I said it was the most ridiculous +thing I'd ever heard in my <i>life</i>. I +couldn't have believed it if I hadn't observed +it with my own eyes. But that afternoon +I saw him—he stood near me, leaning +against the railing—and I wish you could +have seen the expression in his face while +that woman was exhibiting herself, especially +when she made her horrible dives."</p> + +<p class="indent">For a moment Tate stood without speaking. +Then he said:—</p> + +<p class="indent">"I'm afraid you're putting a romantic +interpretation on a very simple sequence of +events. That fellow probably did fall in +love with his wife's performance, and incidentally +he liked the money that went with +it. When she stopped her diving and became +an ordinary performer, like thousands +of others, she ceased to interest him. Then +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page303" id="page303"></a>[pg 303]</span> +he looked around for some one else to be +interested in, and when the other acrobatic +person appeared he was just in the condition +to be caught."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't believe it. It's a——"</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's one way, of course, of proving +whether you're right or not," Tate interrupted, +with a quizzical smile.</p> + +<p class="indent">"What's that?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If your theory is correct, the only thing +for Madame Le Baron to do is to go back +to her performance. Then she'll meet her +rival on her own ground. From what I've +read about that other performer, Madame +Le Baron's dive must be twice as difficult +and twice as thrilling as hers."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate turned to her husband with +a look of admiration, her breath coming and +going in quick gasps. "Percy, that's the +wisest thing you've ever said in your life." +A moment later she added, with a change +of tone: "But isn't the whole thing <i>too</i> +absurd?"</p> + +<p class="indent">He started to go upstairs. "You know +we're due at the Bigelows in an hour?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Wait a minute," said Mrs. Tate. "I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page304" id="page304"></a>[pg 304]</span> +want to think over what you said. You +can't imagine how this thing has worried +me. It's all due to my meddling. Oh, I +know that; you needn't say anything to +me about it. But I'm determined to help +that poor woman if I can. Oh, if I had +only followed your advice, and let them +alone!" she moaned.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's no use worrying now. The mischief's +done. He would probably have got +tired of her anyway."</p> + +<p class="indent">"If something isn't done to bring him +back to her," she went on without heeding +his remark, "it will kill her. I'm sure of that. +If you could only see her. She looks like +a ghost, and her hands tremble so! I don't +believe she's slept a wink for weeks. I +don't see how she gets through her performances. +A clinging creature like her +just <i>lives</i> on affection. Before she was married +she always had her mother to take care +of her. To think that that man should treat +her so! Oh, it's a shame, it's a shame!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Tate was standing at the door. "If she's +going to kill herself over that fellow, she +might as well have gone on with her diving +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page305" id="page305"></a>[pg 305]</span> +and killed herself that way. You ask her if +she doesn't want to go back to it," he +added, with the quizzical smile, "and see if +she won't jump at the chance."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Do you suppose that she can suspect +for an instant that her husband fell in love +with her performance?" she said, her eyes +following her husband up the stairs.</p> + +<p class="indent">"She probably hasn't reasoned it out, but +I haven't a doubt she feels it intuitively," +he replied, continuing his ascent. "You just +ask her if she doesn't want to make the +plunge again and see what she'll say," he +concluded, smiling down at her from the +floor above.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page306" id="page306"></a>[pg 306]</span></p> + +<h2>XX</h2> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate tried, by an almost impassioned +kindness, to atone for her +neglect of Blanche during her absence from +London. She sent her flowers from her +conservatory, she bought gifts for the little +Jeanne, she called at the apartment in Upper +Bedford Place nearly every morning. During +these visits she did not once meet +Jules; Blanche told her that he always went +away soon after breakfast, and seldom returned +before dinner. Sometimes he did +not accompany her to the Hippodrome, but +he never failed to appear there during the +evening. The management had offered to +reëngage Miss King as soon as her contract +expired, and the diver thought of postponing +her return to America; but they had +not as yet come to terms, as the girl wanted +a much larger salary than she had been +receiving.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page307" id="page307"></a>[pg 307]</span> +It was this information that reminded Mrs. +Tate to ask Blanche if she were sorry she +had given up her plunge and if she ever +wished to resume it. Though she had at +first been impressed by the solution of +Blanche's troubles suggested by her husband, +she had on sober second thought dismissed +it as ridiculously romantic; such +things might happen in novels, but they +never could occur in real life. Her belief +was shaken, however, when she saw the pale +face light up at her question.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Oh, yes," Blanche cried, "I have thought +of it. Sometimes—sometimes I think it +would be better if I hadn't given it up. +Then—then that woman wouldn't have +come." Her eyes filled with tears, but she +controlled herself and, a moment later, she +went on:—</p> + +<p class="indent">"But I—I thought it was wrong for me +to risk my life, and it made me so unhappy +for Jeanne's sake. But sometimes I think I +might have stopped being afraid. Before +Jeanne was born I never had the least +thought of fear, even after father was +killed, because I knew that was because +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page308" id="page308"></a>[pg 308]</span> +the trapeze was weak. Oh, I'm sure," she +went on piteously,—"I'm <i>sure</i> I shouldn't +be afraid any more!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"But Dr. Broughton, you remember what +he said, don't you?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"He said that when I stopped making +the plunge I should be better," Blanche replied +simply. "But I'm not better; I feel +worse,—oh, so much worse! I know I +should be better if I tried it again. And I +sha'n't be afraid any more," she repeated,—"even +for Jeanne. It would be so much +better for us all!"</p> + +<p class="indent">This speech made Mrs. Tate wonder if, +as her husband had suggested, Blanche had +divined that Jules had cared for her performance +rather than for herself, and fancied +she could win him back by resuming it. Her +interest increased when she learned that +Jules and Miss King had not spoken to each +other for two evenings. Miss King's maid, +who had at last come from Manchester, and +who knew a little Canadian French, had +told Madeleine about it. Jules had urged +Miss King to accept Marshall's terms, and +was vexed with her because she refused and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page309" id="page309"></a>[pg 309]</span> +threatened to go back to America. This +had made him even more disagreeable at +home than he had been before; for the past +few days he had not spoken one pleasant +word to them, and he had not even noticed +Jeanne.</p> + +<p class="indent">It was this information that rang in Mrs. +Tate's consciousness when she had left the +apartment. Jules and that woman had quarrelled! +Of course, they would make it up +again,—perhaps in a few days, perhaps +that very day; but if they did not, the +quarrel might be one of the means of winning +him back to his wife. At any rate, +she would speak to her husband about it. +When, on her return home, she did speak, +he burst out laughing.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't see how you can find anything +funny in that!" she said resentfully. "It's +a very serious matter."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But it threatens to spoil my beautiful +little romance!"</p> + +<p class="indent">"Your beautiful romance? What do you +mean?"</p> + +<p class="indent">"If you had persuaded her to go back to +her diving, and if she drove the other woman +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page310" id="page310"></a>[pg 310]</span> +out of the field in that way, it would be a +proof of my theory that he's fallen in love +with the <i>performance</i> and not with the <i>performer</i>. +But if his wife gets him back again +now, it will be merely because the other +woman has broken with him. There's nothing +for him to do <i>except</i> to go back to his +wife and be forgiven."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, I don't care what the reason is—if +she only <i>gets</i> him back. She'll certainly die +of jealousy and misery if she doesn't,—that's +plain enough. In my opinion, Dr. +Broughton was entirely wrong in his diagnosis +of the case. She says herself that she +misses her diving and she wants to take it up +again. Her rest hasn't done her a particle +of good. Anyway, I'll speak to the Doctor +about it to-morrow. I'll write a note, and +ask him to come in for tea if he can."</p> + +<p class="indent">"And hold another council of war," her +husband suggested.</p> + +<p class="indent">"A council of <i>peace</i>," she retorted smartly. +"Oh, I know what you're thinking of! But +I'm determined to undo the harm I've +done. There's no time to be lost. If I +can get that poor little woman to resume her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page311" id="page311"></a>[pg 311]</span> +plunge while the husband's still quarrelling +with the other performer, I feel sure everything +will come out all right. He'll be interested +in her again. Don't you remember +how he used to brag about her? I suppose +you don't, but he did; and I could tell that +he was as proud of her as if she were the +most wonderful creature in the world."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I don't see what she wants him for," +Tate said carelessly.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Well, you're not a woman, and you can't +understand how women feel about men. I +sometimes think the worse men are, the more +their wives adore them."</p> + +<p class="indent">Tate smiled, but he made no reply; he +was much more interested in the case than +he would allow himself to appear to be. +Indeed, he was so interested that he left +his office the next day earlier than usual, +in order to take part in the conference. He +found his wife in earnest talk with the +Doctor. Before coming to the house, Dr. +Broughton, at Mrs. Tate's suggestion, had +made a call on Madame Le Baron, and he +expressed his alarm at having found her so +thin and weak.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page312" id="page312"></a>[pg 312]</span> +"Do you remember what I said the night +we had our first talk about her?" he asked, +glancing at Tate. "I was afraid then that if +she gave up her work it might upset her, +though I didn't see how she could go on +with the diving and keep whatever health +she had. Now she's a great deal worse off +than she was when I last saw her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then they discussed the case in all its +aspects. The Doctor laughed when Mrs. +Tate declared she believed the poor woman's +happiness depended on her resuming her +plunge. "Oh, it may seem absurd to you!" +she cried, growing more earnest under ridicule; +"but Percy believes it, though he may +pretend to you that he doesn't. He was the +one who first suggested it to me."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I really think the diving wouldn't hurt +her health so much as her worrying about +her husband does," the Doctor admitted. +"Besides, she believes she won't be afraid +of it any more. She says her rest from it +has taken all her fear away."</p> + +<p class="indent">"Then you think the best thing for her to +do would be to resume the plunge?" said +Mrs. Tate.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page313" id="page313"></a>[pg 313]</span> +For a moment the Doctor stroked his +chin. "Under the circumstances I should +say it might," he replied slowly. "At any +rate, it would be worth trying. Of course, if +that haunting fear returned she'd have to +stop it again."</p> + +<p class="indent">A look of triumph flashed from the face of +Mrs. Tate; and when she glanced at her +husband she saw that he was trying to dissemble +his interest in the decision. "I shall +tell her that to-morrow!" she cried. "It'll +be the best news the poor thing has had +for a long time. She's crazy to begin that +plunge again."</p> + +<p class="indent">"I hope you are ready to take the consequences +of your interference in this business," +said Tate, dryly.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page314" id="page314"></a>[pg 314]</span></p> + +<h2>XXI</h2> + +<p class="indent">The next morning, in a long and secret +talk, Mrs. Tate communicated the +Doctor's judgment to Blanche. She learned +that Jules was still sullen and depressed. +That, of course, was a sign that his quarrel +with the diver had not as yet been made up. +Blanche said that she would speak to him at +once about resuming the plunge; so far as +she knew, no one had as yet been engaged +to take Miss King's place, and perhaps Mr. +Marshall would make a new contract with +her on the old terms. Mrs. Tate hurried +away in a state of feverish excitement, dreading, +yet hoping, that she might meet Jules +on the stairs, in order to reveal the great +news. She would have liked to return to +the apartment that very afternoon, to learn +the effect of the announcement upon him; +but she controlled her impatience.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page315" id="page315"></a>[pg 315]</span> +Jules did not return till late in the afternoon. +From his manner Blanche saw at once +that he was in a surly mood. He flung his +coat and hat on a chair and threw himself on +the couch. For a long time she did not dare +to speak to him. She thought he was going +to sleep, but she suddenly saw him staring at +her with a look that frightened her.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Jules!" she said.</p> + +<p class="indent">He had closed his eyes again, and he +seemed not to hear.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Jules."</p> + +<p class="indent">He opened his eyes, and once more she +met that look. "What is it?" he grunted. +Her plaintive manner vexed him; it seemed +like a reflection on himself.</p> + +<p class="indent">"There's something I want to say to +you," she went on apologetically, and with +a suggestion of tearfulness in her voice, as if +she felt disappointed at his manner of receiving +her news.</p> + +<p class="indent">As he did not reply, she said: "It's +about—about my plunge. I have been +thinking that I'm—I'm so much better +now—I mean I'm not so nervous—perhaps +I can begin it again."</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page316" id="page316"></a>[pg 316]</span> +He sat up on the couch, a light coming +into his eyes. For a moment he was too +surprised to speak. Then he said: "Well, +I'm glad you're coming to your senses!"</p> + +<p class="indent">Encouraged by the change in his manner, +she repeated what Dr. Broughton had said +to Mrs. Tate. At the mention of the names, +Jules' face darkened; since that night at the +Tates' he had felt a personal resentment +against the Doctor, almost as strong as his +hatred of the Englishwoman.</p> + +<p class="indent">"So that woman's been here again today, +has she?" he said bitterly. After a +brief silence, he added more gently: "If +you feel able to do the plunge again, the +sooner you begin the better. I know that +Marshall will be glad enough to renew the +old contract. It will just fit in with his +plans," he continued, with a grim thought +of the diver's discomfiture on being superseded +by Blanche. "I'll speak to him this +very night."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche tried to smile, but the effort ended +in a sigh. She had thought that Jules would +show more enthusiasm.</p> + +<p class="indent">"But we can't have any more nonsense," he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page317" id="page317"></a>[pg 317]</span> +said, glancing at her again,—this time, however, +without the bitterness she had before +observed in his face. "If you allow yourself +to be afraid of the plunge again, it will simply +ruin you as an attraction. It'll make the +managers think you're unreliable, and they +won't engage you."</p> + +<p class="indent">In spite of his apparent indifference, Jules +was secretly delighted at the thought of his +wife's resuming her great dive. For the past +few days he had never felt so keenly the +humiliation of his own position. A petulant +remark of Lottie King's the day of their +quarrel had kept ringing in his ears: "What +do <i>you</i> amount to anyway?" Now he +thought triumphantly of the restoration of +his own dignity. With Blanche as the star +attraction of the Hippodrome, earning a +large salary, and with a choice of offers +from all over the world, he would become +a personage again! But he must guard her +more carefully. He must in future keep her +out of the way of interfering foreigners like +Mrs. Tate, who would put a lot of nonsense +into her head!</p> + +<p class="indent">That night, when Jules consulted Marshall, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page318" id="page318"></a>[pg 318]</span> +he learned what he had already surmised, +that the manager was much upset by Miss +King's refusal to extend her engagement on +any but exorbitant terms, and though it +would be completed in two weeks, he had +not as yet found a sufficiently strong attraction +to take her place; so he was not only +willing, but glad, to renew with Blanche the +contract she had at first made with him. +Jules felt the more elated on being told that +Miss King had not been nearly so good an +attraction as his wife while giving the sensational +plunge. He was in high spirits when +he entered Blanche's dressing-room and told +her the news. Blanche flushed with pleasure, +not merely at the news, but at his affectionate +manner as well; Madeleine, however, though +she said nothing, seemed depressed. She +had hoped that the poor child would never +make that horrible dive again.</p> + +<p class="indent">After that night Blanche was so happy +that she seemed like another creature from +the thin, white-faced little woman of the past +few weeks. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks +flushed. Jules had been so different with her, +she said to Mrs. Tate, since she had told him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page319" id="page319"></a>[pg 319]</span> +she would go on with the plunge. The night +before he had taken her to the Hippodrome, +and after the performance they had gone +with Madeleine to a <i>café</i>; it reminded them +of the days of their courtship in Paris.</p> + +<p class="indent">The two weeks that followed were the +happiest Blanche had known since those first +days after the birth of her child. Jules' +devotion extended not only to her, but to +little Jeanne and to Madeleine as well. For +several days the gloom that had wrapped the +city during most of the winter lifted; the +sun shone, and the feeling of spring was +in the air. In the afternoons Blanche took +walks with Jules in the park, and on Sunday +they went to mass together and then drove +out to Richmond and dined there. They +agreed to pretend that they were still in +their days of courtship, and Jules delighted +Blanche by repeating some of the foolish +speeches he had made to her in the first +weeks of their love.</p> + +<p class="indent">Then, too, they made great plans for +the future. The negotiations with Hicks in +New York had been broken off, but Jules +had heard of an Australian manager who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page320" id="page320"></a>[pg 320]</span> +was in London looking for performers to +appear during the following winter in Melbourne. +How fine it would be if they +could go out there and give performances +in the chief Australian cities! Blanche, however, +showed so little enthusiasm for this +plan that Jules abandoned it for a time. +Besides, he himself liked better the plan +she suggested of returning to the <i>Cirque +Parisien</i>. They might make an engagement +there that would enable them to pass +the winter in Paris. How good it would +be to be back there again! Perhaps they +could secure the little apartment in the +<i>rue de Lisbonne</i>. Jules became so enthusiastic +that he wrote to the manager in Paris, +proposing terms. After a winter there they +might think of going to Australia, where +they would be much better paid than in +Paris.</p> + +<p class="indent">The thought of returning to France added +to Blanche's happiness. Oh, to see her +mother and Jeanne and Louise again! How +good it would be! There had been times +during the past few weeks when she felt as if +she could not bear to be separated from them +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page321" id="page321"></a>[pg 321]</span> +any longer. But in Paris they could come +to see her; perhaps Monsieur Berthier would +let her mother and the girls pass a few weeks +with her. Of course, she would be with +them in Boulogne for the summer. When +she spoke of this to Jules, however, he said +nothing. He had in mind other plans, a +possible engagement at one of the French +watering places; but he thought it best not +to refer to this at present. He realized the +importance of making as much money as +possible and as quickly as possible. There +was no knowing how long his wife's nerve +would last. If she only held out for a few +years longer, they could make a fortune in +Australia and America. Then they could +retire, and live comfortably in Paris for the +rest of their lives. He expected to earn a +great deal of money in America; but he had +reasons for not speaking of that country at +all for the present.</p> + +<p class="indent">The two weeks during which Blanche was +enjoying her new happiness were an exciting +time for Mrs. Tate, who felt as if she were +responsible for the success of her <i>protégée's</i> +return to her former place in the Hippodrome. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page322" id="page322"></a>[pg 322]</span> +Every day she repaired to Upper +Bedford Place and held long conferences +with Blanche. Everything promised well, +she thought. Jules showed no signs of +returning to the thraldom of Lottie King. +How providential, Mrs. Tate thought, the +quarrel between them had been! She did +not know that, even before his break with +her, Jules had begun to tire of the diver's +domineering manner and of her habit of +ridiculing him; moreover, he had at last +perceived that she was only playing with +him. This had helped to prejudice him +against her performance, and as the novelty +of the performance wore off, he saw that it +was far inferior in daring and skill to his +wife's magnificent plunge. This had never +lost its fascination for him, and now, as he +assisted Blanche in her daily exercises he +felt the old thrill at its brilliancy and his +own sense of importance in having a part +in it.</p> + +<p class="indent">On the afternoon of the day when her +plunge was to be resumed, Blanche took a +long rest. She was awakened by the crowing +of Jeanne in the next room. She raised +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page323" id="page323"></a>[pg 323]</span> +her hands to her head; at the thought of the +ordeal of the evening, a sudden dizziness +came upon her. It was more than three +months since she had made the dive, and she +wondered if she should be equal to it. How +horrible if at the last moment she should lose +her nerve! She arose quickly, hardly daring +to allow herself to think, and she hurried to +the child. How strong and beautiful Jeanne +was! Blanche took her in her arms and +pressed her closely. When Madeleine turned +and lumbered out of the room, leaving them +alone together, Blanche began to kiss the +child passionately, and tears welled over on +her cheeks. Then she bathed her face, for +fear that Jules would see that she had been +crying.</p> + +<p class="indent">That night at dinner, Jules was in high +spirits. "Marshall expects a big house," +he said. "He's spent a lot of money +advertising your dive. He thinks of getting +a big poster made of you flying through +the air."</p> + +<p class="indent">During the whole of the meal Blanche +was very quiet. Madeleine noticed that her +eyes were shining. When it was time to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page324" id="page324"></a>[pg 324]</span> +go to the Hippodrome, Jules, wrapping his +wife in her cloak, put his arms around +her, and kissed her on the ear, as he had +often done in the days of their engagement. +She drew away and started for Jeanne's +room.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Where are you going?" he said.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I want to kiss the little one good-night."</p> + +<p class="indent">"But she's asleep!" he cried impatiently. +"You mustn't wake her up."</p> + +<p class="indent">In spite of his protest, she silently made +her way into the room where the child +lay, closing the door behind her. Jules +listened, thinking that Jeanne would cry on +being disturbed; but there was no sound. +Then he knew that she was praying by the +crib, and this angered him. It was about +time to put a stop to her notions, he said to +himself. When, a moment later, she came +out, her face was covered with a thick veil, +and, after glancing at her sharply, he said +nothing.</p> + +<p class="indent">On arriving at the Hippodrome, they +found Mrs. Tate in the star dressing-room, +which had been assigned to Blanche again.</p> + +<p class="indent">"I have been waiting for you," Mrs. Tate +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page325" id="page325"></a>[pg 325]</span> +said nervously. "I suppose I have no right +to be here, but I felt that I <i>must</i> see you, +and I made my husband bring me. Are +you quite well?"</p> + +<p class="indent">She had observed the look of disgust +given her by Jules, but this did not disturb +her nearly so much as the white face that +Blanche presented. Moreover, she did not +feel reassured when Blanche smiled and said +she felt perfectly well.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Of course everything will be splendid. +There's a tremendous crowd," Mrs. Tate +added. "You'll have a great success."</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules, after bowing coldly, had turned from +the room. As soon as the door closed behind +him, Mrs. Tate seized Blanche by both +hands and kissed her affectionately. "I +mustn't keep you from dressing," she said +with a smile. "Perhaps I'll come in and +congratulate you when it's all over."</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche grew a shade paler, and Mrs. +Tate hesitated at the door. "What is it?" +she said.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Nothing."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate walked toward her. "Nothing?"</p> + +<p class="indent">Blanche turned her head away. "If anything +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page326" id="page326"></a>[pg 326]</span> +should happen," she said quietly, "the—the +little one—I should like my mother +to take her."</p> + +<p class="indent">Mrs. Tate began to breathe hard; but +she burst out laughing. "You silly child! +Of course; I shall look after Jeanne anyway. +Don't you worry about <i>her</i>. Now I +must hurry out to that husband of mine. +He'll be furious with me for keeping him +waiting so long."</p> + +<p class="indent">A few moments before Blanche appeared +in the ring, Jules returned to the dressing-room, +resplendent in his evening clothes, +with three diamonds gleaming on his shirt-front, +and carrying a bouquet of white roses.</p> + +<p class="indent">"These are just like the roses I bought +for you the night I met you. I selected +them this afternoon, and they've just come. +You must wear them in your belt, as you +did then," he said, as she flushed with pleasure +and thanked him. "I remember how +tickled I was when I saw them; and oh, +how I hated Pelletier when you took them +out and gave them to him to hold, while you +were going through your act."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then, as she adjusted the flowers in her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page327" id="page327"></a>[pg 327]</span> +belt, he went on: "It's the biggest house +of the season! Marshall says you're the best +attraction he ever had. Ready?" he asked, +surveying Blanche as she stood in her white +silk tights. "You look just as you did when +I first saw you," he added, putting one hand +on her cheek and kissing her lightly on the +other. "Come along."</p> + +<p class="indent">Then he threw over her the robe she +always wore on her way to the ring, and they +hurried from the room. As Blanche ran out +on the net and heard the applause of the vast +audience, she felt a thrill of joy and an intoxicating +sense of her own power. All fear +seemed to leave her, and she laughed as +she climbed hand over hand to the trapeze. +From trapeze to trapeze she shot with delight; +she had never felt so sure of herself, +so exultant. When she returned to the net, +Jules, who had taken his place at the rope, +whispered to her: "You're in great form +to-night. Keep it up."</p> + +<p class="indent">She was smiling as she started on her long +climb to the top of the building. But when +she had taken her place on the beam from +which she was to make her plunge and looked +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page328" id="page328"></a>[pg 328]</span> +down at the black mass in the distance, her +strength seemed suddenly to leave her. Her +fingers tightened on the beam, as if she felt +afraid of losing her balance. Then she heard +her husband's voice ring through the place, +crying the familiar warning. She knew the +moment had come for making the plunge; +but she continued motionless. She felt as if +her will had become suddenly paralyzed, and +a moment later, as if her body were frozen.</p> + +<p class="indent">The black mass below seemed to dance +before her, then to beckon to her, and in her +ears she kept hearing the voice of little Jeanne +and the sound of her laughter. Oh, she had +known that this moment would come some +time; she had known it ever since Jeanne was +born. But she could not sit there forever; +the crowd below was waiting to see her fall. +If she did not make an effort she should lose +her self-control and go plunging into the +blackness. She must lift her hands and +gather herself together, and hurl herself out +as she had always done. But she had no +strength; she could only lift her arms weakly. +Then she tried to give her body the necessary +impetus, and she plunged wildly into the air.</p> + +<p class="indent"><span class="pagenum"><a name="page329" id="page329"></a>[pg 329]</span> +There was a cry of horror from the crowd, +and a moment later the white figure lay +motionless in the net. The people rose +from their seats and rushed toward the ring. +The police tried to drive them back as Jules +leaped into the net and seized the prostrate +body in his arms.</p> + +<p class="indent">"Keep them back," he cried frantically, +not realizing that he was speaking French. +"She must have air." Then, turning, he +said: "Blanche! Blanche! Can't you +speak? Open your eyes so I may know +you aren't dead."</p> + +<p class="indent">He was terrified by the way her head fell +back from her shoulders. "We must get +her out of this," he said desperately, to two +of the circus men who had followed him on +the net, as he glanced down at the struggling +mass beneath him. "Bring her to her +dressing-room. Make those people get out +of the way."</p> + +<p class="indent">With difficulty they bore her through the +crowd. Some one threw her cloak over her +as she passed. She gave no sign of life, but +the expression in Jules' face showed that he +still hoped. When they reached her room, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="page330" id="page330"></a>[pg 330]</span> +they placed her on the floor, and Jules +closed the door to keep out the crowd. +Madeleine, who had been ringing her hands +and moaning, quickly loosened the tight bodice. +Then the door was forced open again, +and Marshall entered with a physician, who +quickly bent over the prostrate figure and +listened for the heart-beat.</p> + +<p class="indent">"She's dead," he said quietly.</p> + +<p class="indent">Jules threw himself on the body in a +paroxysm of despair.</p> + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p class="cnobmargin">PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS,</p> +<p class="cnomargins">IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS,</p> +<p class="cnomargins">FOR STONE AND KIMBALL, PUBLISHERS,</p> +<p class="cnotmargin">NEW YORK, M DCCC XCVI</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<div class="tnote"> + +<p class="h2a">Transcriber's Notes:</p> + +<p class="indent">Throughout the dialogues, there were words used to mimic accents of +the speakers. Those words were retained as-is.</p> + +<p class="indent">Errors in punctuations and inconsistent hyphenation were not corrected +unless otherwise noted.</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 18, "were" was replaced with "was".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 103, "Champs Élyseés" was replaced with "Champs Élysées".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 118, "wool house" was replaced with "wool-house".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 192, "aimably" was replaced with "amiably".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 222, "is" was replaced with "it".</p> + +<p class="indent">On page 294, "palor" was replaced with "pallor".</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Mademoiselle Blanche, by John David Barry + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADEMOISELLE BLANCHE *** + +***** This file should be named 39383-h.htm or 39383-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/3/8/39383/ + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Ernest Schaal, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(This file was produced from images generously made +available by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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