If this last act of self-sacrifice were required
of him, Perrine would be left unprotected, unless her affianced
husband performed his promise to her, and assumed, without delay,
the position of her lawful guardian. "Let me know that you will
do this," concluded the old man; "I shall be resigned to all that
may be required of me, if I can only know that I shall not die
leaving Perrine unprotected." Gabriel gave the promise--gave it
with his whole heart. As he took leave of Pere Bonan, the old man
said to him:
"Come here to-morrow; I shall know more then than I know now--I
shall be able to fix with certainty the day for the fulfillment
of your engagement with Perrine."
Why did Gabriel hesitate at the farmhouse door, looking back on
Pere Bonan as though he would fain say something, and yet not
speaking a word? Why, after he had gone out and had walked onward
several paces, did he suddenly stop, return quickly to the
farmhouse, stand irresolute before the gate, and then retrace his
steps, sighing heavily as he went, but never pausing again on his
homeward way? Because the torment of his horrible secret had
grown harder to bear than ever, since he had given the promise
that had been required of him. Because, while a strong impulse
moved him frankly to lay bare his hidden dread and doubt to the
father whose beloved daughter was soon to be his wife, there was
a yet stronger passive influence which paralyzed on his lips the
terrible confession that he knew not whether he was the son of an
honest man, or the son of an assassin, and a robber.
Pages:
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361