A Woodland Queen ('Reine des Bois') - Complete

going, by way of Lyon, to the camp at Lathonay, where his battalion was stationed. Julien was thus left alone at the chateau to recover as best he might from the dazed fee

s, he had Manette on his conscience, thinking he ought to try to soften her grief at her son's unexpected departure. The ancient housekeeper was like Rachel, she refused to be comforted, and her temper was not improved by her recent trials. She filled the air with lamentations, and seemed to consider Julien responsible for her troubles. The latter treated her with wonderful patience and indulgence, and exhausted his ingenuity to make her time pass more pleasantly. This was the first real effort he had made to subdue his dislikes and

nished to find himself less weary, less isolated, and eating with considerable appetite the supper prepared for him by Manette. Since he had been traversing the forest, not as a stranger or a person of leisure, but with the predetermination to accomplish some useful work, he had learned to appreciate its beauties. The charms of nature and

ien from entertaining the possibility of renewing relations that had been so violently sundered. Little by little, however; as he reviewed the situation of affairs, which his cousin's generous sacrifice had engendered, he began to consider how he could benefit thereby. Claudet's departure had left the field free, but Julien felt no more confidence in himself than before. The fact that Reine had so unaccountably refused to marry the grand chasserot did not seem to him sufficient encouragement. Her motive was a secret, and therefore, of doubtful interpretation. Besides, even if she were entirely heart-whole, was that a reason why she should give Julien a favorable reception? Could she forget the cruel insult to which he had subjected her? And immediately after that outrageous behavior of his, he had had the stupidity to make a proposal for Claudet. That was the kind of affront, thought he, that a woman does not easily forgive, and the very idea of presenting himself before her made his heart sink. He had seen her only at a distance, at the Sunday mass, and every time he had en

ble wretch that I am, it was last spring, while we were in that but together, that I should have spoken of my love, instead of terrifying her with my brutal caresses! Now it is too late! I have wounded and humiliated her; I have

d hours. The worst part of winter was over; the March gales had dried up the forests; April was tingeing the woods with i

ain of Anjeures, on the border of the forest of Maigrefontaine. After breakfasting with the farmer,

meaning for him, since he had identified the name with that of Reine, brought vividly before him the beloved image of the young girl. He walked slowly and languidly on, heated by his feverish recollections and desires, tormented by useless self-reproach, and physically intoxicated by the balmy atmosphere and the odor of the flowering shrubs at his feet. Arriving at the edge of a somewhat deep pit, he tried to leap across with a single bound, but, whether he made a false start, or that he was we

ned it badly, and wondered how he could get back to Vivey. Should he have to wait on this lonely road until some woodcutter passed, who would take him home? Montagnard, hi

and, "How are we goi

the copse, and just at the moment he was blessing the lucky chance that had sent some o

try, and gathered them in their season, in order to administer them as required to the people of the farm. When she was within a few feet of Julien, she recognized him, and her brow cloud

ng, Monsieur de Buxiere

he, putting on a careless manner

an anxious expression; then, afte

erstood about bone-setting, and I have been t

sket an empty bottle

s standing astonished at the colloquy, "go qui

suggestions, and uncovered his foot. Reine, without any prudery

last, "that the muscles

r hand high for that purpose. Then, with a soft yet firm touch, she pressed the injured muscles into their places, while Julien bit his lips and did his very utmost to prev

to the muscles. Now you, Zelie, run, fit to break your neck, to the farm, make them

p her basket and

o you think you can walk as far as the

iselle Vincart, "you have relieved me as if by a miracle. I feel much bett

se, and he took a fe

s really bett

thus tenderly supported by Reine,

do not be afraid to lean on me. All you

stammered he, "and

"I have done nothing extraordinary; anyone

s would have rendered me some charitable assistance; but the thought that it is you-you alone-who have helped me, fills me wit

ask for an explanation, but, seeing that

ut what avails my tardy regret in healing the injuries I have inflicted! Ah! if one could only go

replied she, shortly, but in

true sincerity. In proportion as he abased himself, her anger diminished, and she recognized that she loved him just the same, notwithstanding his defects,

be transmitted to each other; a mute understanding was established between them. She lent him the support of her

ine and the driver. When he was stretched on the straw, which had been spread for him on the bottom of the wagon, he leaned forward on the side, and his eyes met those of Reine. For a few moments their gaze see

at last, "will you

d it in his own, Reine turned

ght, Monsieur de Buxieres, send for the doctor as soon as you get in, a

road to La Thuiliere, while the carriag

that the patient had now only to keep perfectly still. Two days later came La Guite from Reine, to inquire after M. de Buxieres's health. She brought a large bunch of

of great mystification to Manette. She suspected some amorous mystery in all these events, commented somewhat uncharitably on every minor detail, and took care to carry her comments all over the village.

g the untoward event that kept him stretched in his invalid-chair. At last, one day, he discovered he could put his foot down and walk a litt

eep. She was reading a newspaper, which she retained in her hand, while rising to receive her visitor. After she had c

egree of embarrassment, "it seems that we are going to have war an

et's name had not been once mentioned in their interview at Maigrefont

from the young girl's lips the moment he entered the house, an

a few days ag

re i

s a part of the first army corps. His

th tears, and she gazed absentl

she, sighing, "what is he

s visage darkening, "per

interspersed with bounteous orchards and hardy vines climbing up to the very tops of the mulberry-trees. His battalion forms the extreme end of the advance guard, and at the approach of night, Claudet is on duty on the

seems imbued with their amorous music. What ecstasy to listen to them! What serenity their liquid

sters begins again. Claudet leans on his gun, and remembers that at this same hour the nightingales in the park at Vivey, and in the garden of La Thuiliere, are pouring forth the same melodies. He recalls the bright vision of Reine: he sees her leaning at her window, listening to the same amorous song issuing fro

r of the artillery, you can distinguish the guttural hurrahs of the Austrians, and the broken oaths of the French troopers. The trenches are piled with dead bodies, the trumpets sound the attack, the survivors, obeying an irresistible impulse, spring to the front. The ridges are crested with human masses swaying to and fro, and the first red uniform is seen in the streets of Montebello, in relief against the chalky facades bristling with Austrian guns, pouring forth their ammunition on the enemy below. The soldiers burst in

neral appears from under the walls of a building already crumbling under the contin

ere forest. The soldiers are falling right and left of him, but he hardly sees them; he continues pressing forward, breathless, excited, scarcely stopping to think. As he is crossing one of the meadows, however, he notices the profusion of scarlet gladiolus and also observes that the rye and barley grow somewhat sturdier here than in his country; these are the only definite ideas that detach themselves clearly from his seething bra

.......

en to Reine, as he entered the garde

e decease of "Germain-Claudet Sejournant, volunteer in the seventeenth batta

nt-roses. At the first words that fell from M. de Bu

?" murmu

most inaudibly, "he fought brave

nt tree, she burst into a passion of tears. The convulsive movement of her shoulders and stifled sobs denoted the violence of her emotion. M. de Buxieres, alarmed at this outbreak, which he thought exaggerated, felt a return of his old misgivings. He was jealous now of the dead man whom she was so openly lamenting. Her continued weeping ann

rumbling of his hopes. As he was nearing the first outlying houses of the village, he c

eur de Buxieres, I was just going over to see y

had received. The Abbe's countenance lengthened, his mouth took on a saddened exp

a fair chance! To have to leave us at twenty-six years of age, and in ful

us commonplaces which he was in the habit of using for the benefit of others: "The Lord is just in all His dealings, and holy in all His works

raised his eye

hear about Claudet, and secondly, to speak to you on a matter-a very delicate matter-which con

red air. The cure pushed open the littl

e; we shall be better abl

erneath the trees,

shioners to wag more than is at all reasonable? Oh!" continued he, replying to a remonstrating gesture of his c

exclaimed Julien, indignantly,

I don't know what besides. And as mankind, especially the female portion, is more disposed to discover evil than good, they say you are compromising this young person. Now, Reine is living, as one may say, alone an

n, with irritation. "I do not un

beings are weak; it is easy to injure a girl's reputation, when y

arry her?" inquired Ju

you would not love her enough to overlook t

obstacles would not come from my side. But, rest easy, Monsieur," continued he, bitterly, "the danger exi

rjected the cu

saw her, melt into tears when I told her of Sejournant's death. She did not even wait until I had turned my back before she broke o

anded the Abbe, slyly, an almost im

oring and drooping his head. "But it is very foolish of me

ng which the curb took a pinch of s

absent, are always in the wrong. But who is to say whether you are not mistaken concerning the nature of R

he shut himself up with her. What he said to her never was divulged outside the small chamber where the interview took place. He must, however, have found words sufficiently eloquent to soften her grief, for when he had gone away the young girl descended to the ga

hunting and social amusements, foresters and wearers of sabots, campers in the woods, inmates of the farms embedded in the forests-none failed to answer the call. The rustic, white-walled nave was too narrow to contain them all, and the surplus flowed into the street. Arbeltier, the village carpenter, had erected a rudimentary catafalque, which was draped in black and bordered with wax tapers, and placed in front of the altar steps. On the pall, embroidered with silver tears, were arranged large bunches of wild flowers, sent from La Thuiliere, and spreading

rained, but those present sympathized more with the quiet though profound sorrow of Reine Vincart. The black dress of the young girl contrasted painfully with the dead pallor of her c

p envying the fate of this deceased, who was mourned in so tender a fashion. Again the mystery of an attachment so evident and so tenacious, followed by so strange a rupture, tormented his uneasy soul. "S

she gazed at him with such friendly sadness, and infused into the clasp of her hand something so cordial and intimate that the young man's ideas were again completely upset. He seemed to feel as if it were an encouragement to spe

ardens, and followed an interior avenue, parallel to the exterior one, from which he was separated only by a curtain of linden and nut trees. He could just distinguish, between the l

g girl appeared more surprised than displeased. After

, gently, "will you allow me to ac

" she repli

ng by the tacit permission, de Buxieres walked beside Reine; the path was so narrow that their garments rustled against each other, yet he did

me. But I have been so accustomed to hide what I think, I know so little how to conduct myself in the varying circumstances of life, and I have so much mistrust of myself, that I never have dared to tell you before now.

ead and half-closed eyes, and h

in the way you suppose

ere lying before them. The grasshoppers were chirping in the bushes, and the skylarks were soaring aloft with their joyous songs. Julien was

he, "you are lam

ted for an instant over

of my tears?" s

not help envying Claudet his share in your affections! If his death causes you such

wise," replied she, almost in a whi

ingly unable to accept

bid and injurious misgivings. She knew he loved her, and she wished him to love her in entire faith and security. She recalled the last injunctions she had received fro

a voice as to be scarcely distinguished from the soft hum

an had manifested his passion with such savage violence. Hardly had the last words of her avowal expired on R

he was not

ITOR'S B

to hide w

ered were either we

with one of the p

tonous regularit

ng du

spoiled by Fo

ace man occupi

tical g

e habit of con

e others

d matters to gi

ons, he took refuge

to discover

indifference t

rfect happi

rs with steady, i

ght in the most o

ie to get a

and dispositio

th which he

n who never have

e outlived th

t-bird that is mad

s to put one foo

ite wine (fo

over him that al

ct contradiction t

are more bit

oms, and not pooh-p

derable patien

d with yourself-th