The Lily of the Valley eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 363 pages of information about The Lily of the Valley.

The Lily of the Valley eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 363 pages of information about The Lily of the Valley.
just arrived from Tours, and who, seeing how the boy held the reins, shouted to him, “Bravo, monsieur le vicomte!”—­all this was too much for the poor mother, and she burst into tears; she, so calm in her griefs, was too weak to bear the joy of admiring her boy as he bounded over the gravel, where so often she had led him in the sunshine inwardly weeping his expected death.  She leaned upon my arm unreservedly, and said:  “I think I have never suffered.  Do not leave us to-day.”

The lesson over, Jacques jumped into his mother’s arms; she caught him and held him tightly to her, kissing him passionately.  I went with Madeleine to arrange two magnificent bouquets for the dinner-table in honor of the young equestrian.  When we returned to the salon the countess said:  “The fifteenth of October is certainly a great day with me.  Jacques has taken his first riding lesson, and I have just set the last stitch in my furniture cover.”

“Then, Blanche,” said the count, laughing, “I must pay you for it.”

He offered her his arm and took her to the first courtyard, where stood an open carriage which her father had sent her, and for which the count had purchased two English horses.  The old huntsman had prepared the surprise while Jacques was taking his lesson.  We got into the carriage, and went to see where the new avenue entered the main road towards Chinon.  As we returned, the countess said to me in an anxious tone, “I am too happy; to me happiness is like an illness,—­it overwhelms me; I fear it may vanish like a dream.”

I loved her too passionately not to feel jealous,—­I who could give her nothing!  In my rage against myself I longed for some means of dying for her.  She asked me to tell her the thoughts that filled my eyes, and I told her honestly.  She was more touched than by all her presents; then taking me to the portico, she poured comfort into my heart.  “Love me as my aunt loved me,” she said, “and that will be giving me your life; and if I take it, must I not ever be grateful to you?

“It was time I finished my tapestry,” she added as we re-entered the salon, where I kissed her hand as if to renew my vows.  “Perhaps you do not know, Felix, why I began so formidable a piece of work.  Men find the occupations of life a great resource against troubles; the management of affairs distracts their mind; but we poor women have no support within ourselves against our sorrows.  To be able to smile before my children and my husband when my heart was heavy I felt the need of controlling my inward sufferings by some physical exercise.  In this way I escaped the depression which is apt to follow a great strain upon the moral strength, and likewise all outbursts of excitement.  The mere action of lifting my arm regularly as I drew the stitches rocked my thoughts and gave to my spirit when the tempest raged a monotonous ebb and flow which seemed to regulate its emotions.  To every stitch I confided my secrets,—­you understand me, do you not?  Well, while doing my last chair I have thought much, too much, of you, dear friend.  What you have put into your bouquets I have said in my embroidery.”

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Project Gutenberg
The Lily of the Valley from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.