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Authors: André Laurie
Tags: 978-1-61824-998-2
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deceived, or his dream had taken the vividness of reality. He struck his forehead, and asked himself if he were mad; and the movement brought his ring into view. No! he was not dreaming! No! he was not mad, since the ring was still on his finger. And, at the idea that this ring linked him to the marvellous Undine, that by this link he was forced to seek her and to find her, he felt capable of daring anything.
Ah! he knew now why Ulysses had sealed the ears of his companions, when passing near the Cape of the Sirens. He had experienced a like charm, and he who had once heard the magic singing must and would hear it again, if it cost him his life!
CHAPTER VII
THE JOURNAL OF A DIVER.
E VERY time there was an opportunity, that is to say whenever a steamer passed the Cinderella, René availed himself of it to send word to “The Poplars” that he was in full health of mind and body. All his letters were finished off by the one word: Hope. Hélène knew its meaning and thrilled in sympathy with him. Madame Caoudal and Doctor Patrice each interpreted the words according to their respective hopes and fears, and followed up the wrong scent, ingenious, as usual, in creating numberless proofs in confirmation of their illusion. The good lady had chosen Stephen as the confidant of the projects which had previously been discouraged by the attitude of Helene and René; and now that she thought she saw the realization of her wishes, she felt triumphant, and could not refrain from speaking of her hopes, ten times a day at least, to the unfortunate doctor.
“Have you not remarked, doctor, how Helene has improved in appearance these last few weeks ?”
“It seems to me, madame, that she had nothing to gain in that respect,” declared Stephen, who had not waited till then to discover that she was the loveliest girl in the world.
“Yes, yes! But have n’t you noticed ? It dates from René’s terrible adventure. Really one might call it quite a providential accident.” “Rather a violent providence!”
“Ah, how should any one know that better than I ? But, however, now that all danger is over, one cannot but rejoice at the turn things have taken. The children were made for one another, any one can see that. It would be a sin to divide their property, too. Just think of it! Forty thousand acres held by one sole tenant! I have always considered that the property ought not to be divided. During the long minority of my two wards, I natter myself that I have managed it as well as most guardians.”
“Every one is agreed, madame, in recognizing the superiority of your administration.”
“Well, you know, Stephen, how cruelly disappointed I should be if my little Helene, brought up under my roof, whom I have cherished absolutely as if she were my daughter, were to leave; and that a stranger should take the first place in her affections.”
“Is not that the common lot ?”
“The common lot! It is very easy for you to say so t I should like to see you, when you have a daughter of your own! How would you like any one to have the audacity to ask you to give her up? Ah, I have had plenty of applications for her hand! But to come back to what we were talking about, it is all happily arranged now, and I am relieved!”
“You consider that René and Hélène have come to an understanding?”
“Have n’t you seen it? All the time my son was here they were inseparable. They always had something to say to each other; the most indifferent remarked it. Come, doctor, you must have perceived it like the rest?”
“A blind person might have seen it. They were, as you say, inseparable, but have they not always been so?”
“Ah! but it was much more so this time. And you, who are so observant, and have known them so long, it could not have escaped you. You have been here every time we have had news from René; well, each time she was radiant; that is the word, simply radiant!”
“So she was when her fiance went away,” said the
Ah! he knew now why Ulysses had sealed the ears of his companions, when passing near the Cape of the Sirens. He had experienced a like charm, and he who had once heard the magic singing must and would hear it again, if it cost him his life!
CHAPTER VII
THE JOURNAL OF A DIVER.
E VERY time there was an opportunity, that is to say whenever a steamer passed the Cinderella, René availed himself of it to send word to “The Poplars” that he was in full health of mind and body. All his letters were finished off by the one word: Hope. Hélène knew its meaning and thrilled in sympathy with him. Madame Caoudal and Doctor Patrice each interpreted the words according to their respective hopes and fears, and followed up the wrong scent, ingenious, as usual, in creating numberless proofs in confirmation of their illusion. The good lady had chosen Stephen as the confidant of the projects which had previously been discouraged by the attitude of Helene and René; and now that she thought she saw the realization of her wishes, she felt triumphant, and could not refrain from speaking of her hopes, ten times a day at least, to the unfortunate doctor.
“Have you not remarked, doctor, how Helene has improved in appearance these last few weeks ?”
“It seems to me, madame, that she had nothing to gain in that respect,” declared Stephen, who had not waited till then to discover that she was the loveliest girl in the world.
“Yes, yes! But have n’t you noticed ? It dates from René’s terrible adventure. Really one might call it quite a providential accident.” “Rather a violent providence!”
“Ah, how should any one know that better than I ? But, however, now that all danger is over, one cannot but rejoice at the turn things have taken. The children were made for one another, any one can see that. It would be a sin to divide their property, too. Just think of it! Forty thousand acres held by one sole tenant! I have always considered that the property ought not to be divided. During the long minority of my two wards, I natter myself that I have managed it as well as most guardians.”
“Every one is agreed, madame, in recognizing the superiority of your administration.”
“Well, you know, Stephen, how cruelly disappointed I should be if my little Helene, brought up under my roof, whom I have cherished absolutely as if she were my daughter, were to leave; and that a stranger should take the first place in her affections.”
“Is not that the common lot ?”
“The common lot! It is very easy for you to say so t I should like to see you, when you have a daughter of your own! How would you like any one to have the audacity to ask you to give her up? Ah, I have had plenty of applications for her hand! But to come back to what we were talking about, it is all happily arranged now, and I am relieved!”
“You consider that René and Hélène have come to an understanding?”
“Have n’t you seen it? All the time my son was here they were inseparable. They always had something to say to each other; the most indifferent remarked it. Come, doctor, you must have perceived it like the rest?”
“A blind person might have seen it. They were, as you say, inseparable, but have they not always been so?”
“Ah! but it was much more so this time. And you, who are so observant, and have known them so long, it could not have escaped you. You have been here every time we have had news from René; well, each time she was radiant; that is the word, simply radiant!”
“So she was when her fiance went away,” said the
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