按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was infinitely older than the Husband。
However； in spite of her unwillingness； Marguerite began to
prepare the supper； while the Wood…man conversed gaily on
different subjects。 The Postillion； who had been furnished with
a bottle of spirits； was now ready to set out for Strasbourg； and
enquired； whether I had any further commands。
'For Strasbourg？' interrupted Baptiste； 'You are not going
thither tonight？'
'I beg your pardon： If I do not fetch Workmen to mend the
Chaise； How is Monsieur to proceed tomorrow？'
'That is true； as you say； I had forgotten the Chaise。 Well； but
Claude； You may at least eat your supper here？ That can make you
lose very little time； and Monsieur looks too kind…hearted to
send you out with an empty stomach on such a bitter cold night as
this is。'
To this I readily assented； telling the Postillion that my
reaching Strasbourg the next day an hour or two later would be
perfectly immaterial。 He thanked me； and then leaving the
Cottage with Stephano； put up his Horses in the Wood…man's
Stable。 Baptiste followed them to the door； and looked out with
anxiety。
' 'Tis a sharp biting wind！' said He； 'I wonder； what detains my
Boys so long！ Monsieur； I shall show you two of the finest Lads；
that ever stept in shoe of leather。 The eldest is three and
twenty； the second a year younger： Their Equals for sense；
courage； and activity； are not to be found within fifty miles of
Strasbourg。 Would They were back again！ I begin to feel uneasy
about them。'
Marguerite was at this time employed in laying the cloth。
'And are you equally anxious for the return of your Sons？' said I
to her。
'Not I！' She replied peevishly； 'They are no children of mine。'
'Come！ Come； Marguerite！' said the Husband； 'Do not be out of
humour with the Gentleman for asking a simple question。 Had you
not looked so cross； He would never have thought you old enough
to have a Son of three and twenty： But you see how many years
ill…temper adds to you！Excuse my Wife's rudeness； Monsieur。 A
little thing puts her out； and She is somewhat displeased at
your not thinking her to be under thirty。 That is the truth； is
it not； Marguerite？ You know； Monsieur； that Age is always a
ticklish subject with a Woman。 Come！ come！ Marguerite； clear up
a little。 If you have not Sons as old； you will some twenty
years hence； and I hope； that we shall live to see them just such
Lads as Jacques and Robert。'
Marguerite clasped her hands together passionately。
'God forbid！' said She； 'God forbid！ If I thought it； I would
strangle them with my own hands！'
She quitted the room hastily； and went up stairs。
I could not help expressing to the Wood…man how much I pitied
him for being chained for life to a Partner of such ill…humour。
'Ah！ Lord！ Monsieur； Every one has his share of grievances； and
Marguerite has fallen to mine。 Besides； after all She is only
cross； and not malicious。 The worst is； that her affection for
two children by a former Husband makes her play the Step…mother
with my two Sons。 She cannot bear the sight of them； and by her
good…will they would never set a foot within my door。 But on
this point I always stand firm； and never will consent to abandon
the poor Lads to the world's mercy； as She has often solicited me
to do。 In every thing else I let her have her own way； and truly
She manages a family rarely； that I must say for her。'
We were conversing in this manner； when our discourse was
interrupted by a loud halloo； which rang through the Forest。
'My Sons； I hope！' exclaimed the Wood…man； and ran to open the
door。
The halloo was repeated： We now distinguished the trampling of
Horses； and soon after a Carriage； attended by several Cavaliers
stopped at the Cottage door。 One of the Horsemen enquired how
far they were still from Strasbourg。 As He addressed himself to
me； I answered in the number of miles which Claude had told me；
Upon which a volley of curses was vented against the Drivers for
having lost their way。 The Persons in the Coach were now
informed of the distance of Strasbourg； and also that the Horses
were so fatigued as to be incapable of proceeding further。 A
Lady； who appeared to be the principal； expressed much chagrin at
this intelligence； But as there was no remedy； one of the
Attendants asked the Wood…man； whether He could furnish them with
lodging for the night。
He seemed much embarrassed； and replied in the negative； Adding
that a Spanish Gentleman and his Servant were already in
possession of the only spare apartments in his House。 On hearing
this； the gallantry of my nation would not permit me to retain
those accommodations； of which a Female was in want。 I instantly
signified to the Wood…man； that I transferred my right to the
Lady； He made some objections； But I overruled them； and
hastening to the Carriage； opened the door； and assisted the Lady
to descend。 I immediately recognized her for the same person
whom I had seen at the Inn at Luneville。 I took an opportunity
of asking one of her Attendants； what was her name？
'The Baroness Lindenberg；' was the answer。
I could not but remark how different a reception our Host had
given these newcomers and myself。 His reluctance to admit them
was visibly expressed on his countenance； and He prevailed on
himself with difficulty to tell the Lady that She was welcome。
I conducted her into the House； and placed her in the
armed…chair； which I had just quitted。 She thanked me very
graciously； and made a thousand apologies for putting me to an
inconvenience。 Suddenly the Wood…man's countenance cleared up。
'At last I have arranged it！' said He； interrupting her excuses；
'I can lodge you and your suite； Madam； and you will not be under
the necessity of making this Gentleman suffer for his politeness。
We have two spare chambers； one for the Lady； the other；
Monsieur； for you： My Wife shall give up hers to the two
Waiting…women； As for the Men…servants； they must content
themselves with passing the night in a large Barn； which stands
at a few yards distance from the House。 There they shall have a
blazing fire； and as good a supper as we can make shift to give
them。'
After several expressions of gratitude on the Lady's part； and
opposition on mine to Marguerite's giving up her bed； this
arrangement was agreed to。 As the Room was small； the Baroness
immediately dismissed her Male Domestics： Baptiste was on the
point of conducting them to the Barn which He had mentioned when
two young Men appeared at the door of the Cottage。
'Hell and Furies！' exclaimed the first starting back； 'Robert；
the House is filled with Strangers！'
'Ha！ There are my Sons！' cried our Host。 'Why； Jacques！ Robert！
whither are you running； Boys？ There is room enough still for
you。'
Upon this assurance the Youths returned。 The Father presented
them to the Baroness and myself： After which He withdrew with
our Domestics； while at the request of the two Waiting…women；
Marguerite conducted them to the room designed for their
Mistress。
The two new…comers were tall； stout； well…made young Men；
hard…featured； and very much sun…burnt。 They paid their
compliments to us in few words； and acknowledged Claude； who now
entered the room； as an old acquaintance。 They then threw aside
their cloaks in which they were wrapped up； took off a leathern
belt to which a large Cutlass was suspended； and each drawing a
brace of pistols from his girdle laid them upon a shelf。
'You travel well…armed；' said I。
'True； Monsieur；' replied Robert。 'We left Strasbourg late this
Evening； and 'tis necessary to take precautions at passing
through this Forest after dark。 It does not bear a good repute；
I promise you。'
'How？' said the Baroness； 'Are there Robbers hereabout？'
'So it is said； Madame； For my own part； I have travelled through
the wood at all hours； and never met with one of them。'
Here Marguerite returned。 Her Stepsons drew her to the other
end of the room； and whispered her for some minutes。 By the
looks which they cast towards us at intervals； I conjectured them
to be enquiring our business in the Cottage。
In the mea