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Page 48
They discussed in the family circle, during the whole evening, the
complications which might arise from that marriage project, and the means
of avoiding them. Monsieur de Lucan entered into all these details with
the utmost good grace, and declared that he would lend himself heartily,
for his own part, to all the arrangements which his daughter-in-law might
wish. That precaution was not destined to be useless.
Early the next morning, Clotilde returned to the convent. Julia, after
listening with slightly ironical nonchalance to the account which her
mother gave her of the transports and the joy of her intended, assumed a
more serious air.
"And your husband," she said, "what does he think of it?"
"He is delighted, as we all are."
"I am going to ask you a single question: does he expect to be present at
our wedding?"
"That will be just as you like."
"Listen, good little mother, and don't grieve in advance. I know very well
that sooner or later, this marriage must be the means of bringing us all
together; but let me have a little time to become accustomed to the idea.
Grant me a few months so that the old Julia may be forgotten, and I may
forget her myself--you will; say, won't you?"
"Anything you please," said Clotilde, with a sigh.
"I beg of you. Tell him that I beg of him, too."
"I'll tell him; but do you know that Pierre is here?"
"Ah! _mon Dieu!_ and where did you leave him?"
"I left him in the garden."
"In the garden! how imprudent, mother! why, the ladies are going to tear
him to pieces--like Orpheus, for you may well believe that he is not in
the odor of sanctity here."
Monsieur de Moras was sent for at once, and he came up in all haste. Julia
began laughing as he appeared at the door, which facilitated his entree.
She had several times, during their interview, fits of that nervous
laughter which is so useful to women in trying circumstances. Deprived of
that resource, Monsieur de Moras contented himself with kissing the
beautiful hands of his cousin, and was otherwise generally wanting in
eloquence; but his handsome and manly features were resplendent, and his
large blue eyes were moist with gratified affection. He appeared to leave
a favorable impression.
"I had never considered him in that light," said Julia to her mother; "he
is very handsome--he will make a splendid-looking husband."
The marriage took place three months later, privately and without any
display. The Count de Moras and his youthful bride left for Italy the same
evening.
Monsieur de Lucan had left Paris two or three weeks before, and had taken
up his quarters in an old family residence at the very extremity of
Normandy, where Clotilde hastened to join him immediately after Julia's
departure.
CHAPTER IV.
A GREWSOME ABODE.
Vastville, the patrimonial domain of the Lucan family, is situated a short
distance from the sea, on the west coast of the Norman Finisterre. It is a
manor with high roof and wrought-iron balconies, which dates from the time
of Louis XIII., and which has taken the place of the old castle, a few
ruins of which still serve to ornament the park. It is concealed in a
thickly shaded depression of the soil, and a long avenue of antique elms
precedes it. The aspect of it is singularly retired and melancholy, owing
to the dense woods that surround it on all sides. This wooded thicket
marks, on this point of the peninsula, the last effort of the vigorous
vegetation of Normandy. As soon as its edge has been crossed, the view
extends suddenly and without obstacle over the vast moors which form the
triangular plateau of the Cape La Hague; fields of furze and heather,
stone fences without cement, here and there a cross of granite, on the
right and on the left the distant undulations of the ocean--such is the
severe but grand landscape that is suddenly unfolded to the eyes beneath
the unobstructed light of the heavens.
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