athénaïse could not have held out through the month had it not been for gouvernail. with the need of caution and secrecy always uppermost in her mind, she made no new acquaintances, and she did not seek out persons already known to her; however, she knew so few, it required little effort to keep out of their way. as for sylvie, almost every moment of her time was occupied in looking after her house; 91and, moreover, her deferential attitude towards her lodgers forbade anything like the gossipy chats in which athénaïse might have condescended sometimes to indulge with her landlady. the transient lodgers, who came and went, she never had occasion to meet. hence she was entirely dependent upon gouvernail for company.
he appreciated the situation fully; and every moment that he could spare from his work he devoted to her entertainment. she liked to be out of doors, and they strolled together in the summer twilight through the mazes of the old french quarter. they went again to the lake end, and stayed for hours on the water; returning so late that the streets through which they passed were silent and deserted. on sunday morning he arose at an unconscionable hour to take her to the french market, knowing that the sights and sounds there would interest her. and he did not join the intellectual coterie in the afternoon, as he usually did, but placed himself all day at the disposition and service of athénaïse.
notwithstanding all, his manner toward her was tactful, and evinced intelligence and a deep 92knowledge of her character, surprising upon so brief an acquaintance. for the time he was everything to her that she would have him; he replaced home and friends. sometimes she wondered if he had ever loved a woman. she could not fancy him loving any one passionately, rudely, offensively, as cazeau loved her. once she was so naïve as to ask him outright if he had ever been in love, and he assured her promptly that he had not. she thought it an admirable trait in his character, and esteemed him greatly therefor.
he found her crying one night, not openly or violently. she was leaning over the gallery rail, watching the toads that hopped about in the moonlight, down on the damp flagstones of the courtyard. there was an oppressively sweet odor rising from the cape jessamine. pousette was down there, mumbling and quarreling with some one, and seeming to be having it all her own way,—as well she might, when her companion was only a black cat that had come in from a neighboring yard to keep her company.
athénaïse did admit feeling heart-sick, body-sick, when he questioned her; she supposed it 93was nothing but homesick. a letter from montéclin had stirred her all up. she longed for her mother, for montéclin; she was sick for a sight of the cotton-fields, the scent of the ploughed earth, for the dim, mysterious charm of the woods, and the old tumble-down home on the bon dieu.
as gouvernail listened to her, a wave of pity and tenderness swept through him. he took her hands and pressed them against him. he wondered what would happen if he were to put his arms around her.
he was hardly prepared for what happened, but he stood it courageously. she twined her arms around his neck and wept outright on his shoulder; the hot tears scalding his cheek and neck, and her whole body shaken in his arms. the impulse was powerful to strain her to him; the temptation was fierce to seek her lips; but he did neither.
he understood a thousand times better than she herself understood it that he was acting as substitute for montéclin. bitter as the conviction was, he accepted it. he was patient; he could wait. he hoped some day to hold 94her with a lover’s arms. that she was married made no particle of difference to gouvernail. he could not conceive or dream of it making a difference. when the time came that she wanted him,—as he hoped and believed it would come,—he felt he would have a right to her. so long as she did not want him, he had no right to her,—no more than her husband had. it was very hard to feel her warm breath and tears upon his cheek, and her struggling bosom pressed against him and her soft arms clinging to him and his whole body and soul aching for her, and yet to make no sign.
he tried to think what montéclin would have said and done, and to act accordingly. he stroked her hair, and held her in a gentle embrace, until the tears dried and the sobs ended. before releasing herself she kissed him against the neck; she had to love somebody in her own way! even that he endured like a stoic. but it was well he left her, to plunge into the thick of rapid, breathless, exacting work till nearly dawn.
athénaïse was greatly soothed, and slept well. the touch of friendly hands and caressing 95arms had been very grateful. henceforward she would not be lonely and unhappy, with gouvernail there to comfort her.
