CHAPTER XIIIONE OF THE NOBILITY
Onthe next block, above little Gex’s fruit stall, was a small cottage set close to the sidewalk, with two narrow windows covered with batten shutters that no one remembered to have ever seen opened. On one side was a high green fence, in which was a small door, and above this fence some flowering trees were visible. A pink crape-myrtle shed its transparent petals on the sidewalk below. A white oleander and a Cape jasmine made the air fragrant, while a “Gold of Ophir” rose, entwined with a beautiful “Reine Henriette,” crept along the top of the fence, and hung in riotous profusion above the heads of the passers.
Every day, in rain or shine, when Lady Jane visited little Gex, she continued her walk to the green fence, and stood looking wistfully at the clustering roses that bloomed securely beyond the reach of pilfering fingers, vainly wishing that some of themwould fall at her feet, or that the gate might accidentally open, so that she could get a peep within.
And Lady Jane was not more curious than most of the older residents of Good Children Street. For many years it had been the desire of the neighborhood to see what was going on behind that impenetrable green fence. Those who were lucky enough to get a glimpse, when the gate was opened for a moment to take the nickel of milk, or loaf of bread, saw a beautiful little garden, carefully tended and filled with exquisite flowers; but Lady Jane was never fortunate enough to be present on one of those rare occasions, as they always happened very early, and when her little yellow head was resting on its pillow; but sometimes, while she lingered on the sidewalk, near the gate, or under the tightly closed shutters, she would hear the melodious song of a bird, or the tinkling, liquid sound of an ancient piano, thin and clear as a trickling rivulet, and with it she would hear sometimes a high, sweet, tremulous voice singing an aria from some old-fashioned opera. Lady Jane didn’t know that it was an old-fashioned opera, but she thought it very odd and beautiful, all the same; and she loved to linger and listen to the correct but feeble rendering of certain passages thattouched her deeply: for the child had an inborn love of music and one of the most exquisite little voices ever heard.
Pepsie used to close her eyes in silent ecstasy when Lady Jane sang the few simple airs and lullabies she had learned from her mother, and when her tender little voice warbled
“Sleep, baby, sleep,The white moon is the shepherdess,The little stars the sheep,”
“Sleep, baby, sleep,The white moon is the shepherdess,The little stars the sheep,”
“Sleep, baby, sleep,The white moon is the shepherdess,The little stars the sheep,”
“Sleep, baby, sleep,
The white moon is the shepherdess,
The little stars the sheep,”
Pepsie would cover her face, and cry silently. No one ever heard her sing but Pepsie. She was very shy about it, and if even Tite Souris came into the room she would stop instantly.
Therefore, little Gex was very much surprised one day, when he went out on thebanquette, to see his small favorite before the closed shutters with Tony in her arms, his long legs almost touching the sidewalk, so carelessly was he held, while his enraptured little mistress was standing with her serious eyes fixed steadily on the window, her face pale and illumined with a sort of spiritual light, her lips parted, and a ripple of the purest, sweetest, most liquid melody issuing from between them that Gexhad ever heard, even in those old days when he used to haunt the French Opera.
He softly drew near to listen; she was keeping perfect time with the tinkling piano and the faded voice of the singer within who with many a quaver and break was singing a beautiful old French song; and the bird-like voice of the child went up and down, in and out through the difficult passages with wonderful passion and precision.
Gex slipped away silently, and stole almost guiltily into his little den. He had discovered one of the child’s secret pleasures, as well as one of her rare gifts, and he felt that he had no right to possess such wonderful knowledge.
“Ma foi!” he thought, wiping way a fugitive tear, for the music had awakened slumbering memories, “some one ought to know of that voice. I wish Mam’selle d’Hautreve wasn’t so unapproachable; I’d speak to her, and perhaps she’d teach the child.”
Presently Lady Jane entered, carrying Tony languidly; she said good-morning as politely as usual, and smiled her charming smile, but she seemed preoccupied, and unusually serious. With a tired sigh she dropped Tony on the floor, and climbed up to herchair, where she sat for some time in deep thought. At length she said in an intensely earnest voice: “Oh, Mr. Gex, I wish I could get inside that gate some way. I wish I could see who it is that sings.”
“Vhy, my leetle lady, it’s Mam’selle Diane vhat sings so fine.”
“Who is Mam’selle Diane?”
“Mam’selle Diane is the daughter of Madame d’Hautreve vhat live all alone in the leetle shut-up house. Madame and Mam’selle Diane, they arenoblesse, of the nobility. Vell, you don’t know vhat is that.Attendez, I vill try to make you understand.”
“Is it rich?” asked Lady Jane, anxious to help simplify the situation.
“Oh no, no, they are vairy, vairy poor;noblesseis vhat you’re born vith.”
“Like the spine in the back,” suggested Lady Jane eagerly. “Pepsie says you’re born with that.”
“No, it’s not that,” and Gex smiled a grim, puzzled smile, and pushing his spectacles on the top of his head, he wiped his forehead thoughtfully. “You’ve heard of the king, my leetle lady, now haven’t you.”
“Oh, yes, yes,” returned Lady Jane brightly.
“They wear crowns and sit on thrones, and Pepsie says there is a king of the carnival, King Rex.”
“Yes, that’s it,” said Gex, rubbing his hands with satisfaction, “and the king is vay up high over everybody, and all the peoples must honor the king. Vell, thenoblesseis something like the king, my leetle lady, only not quite so high up. Vell, Mam’selle’sgrandpèrevas a noble. One of the Frenchnoblesse. Does my leetle lady understand?”
“I think I do,” returned Lady Jane doubtfully. “Does she sit on a throne and wear a crown?”
“Oh, no, no, no, they are poor, vairy poor,” said Gex humbly, “and then, my leetle lady must know that thecomteis naiver so high up as the king, and then they have lost all their money and are poor, vairy poor. Once, long ago, they vas rich, oh, vairy rich, and they had one big, grand house, and the carriage, and the fine horses, and many, many servant; now there’s only them two vhat lives all alone in the leetle house. Thegrandpère, and thepère, all are dead long ago, and Madame d’Hautreve and Mam’selle Diane only are left to live in the leetle house, shut up behind that high fence, alone, alvay alone. And, my leetle lady, no one remembers them, I don’t believe, for it is ten year I’ve been right in this Ruedes Bons Enfants, and I naiver have seen no one entair that gate, and no one comes out of it vairy often. Mam’selle Diane must clean herbanquettein the dark of the night, for I’ve naiver seen her do it. I’ve vatched, but I have seen her, naiver. Sometime, when it is vairy early, Mam’selle Diane comes to my leetle shop for one dime of orange for Madam d’Hautreve, she is vairy old and so poor. Ah, but she is one of thenoblesse, the genuine Frenchnoblesse, and Mam’selle Diane is so polite vhen she come to my leetle shop.”
“If I should go there early, very early,” asked Lady Jane with increasing interest, “and wait there all day, don’t you think I might see her come out? You might, my leetle lady, and you might not. About once in the month, Mam’selle Diane comes out all in the black dress and veil, and one little black basket on her arm, and she goes up toward Rue Royale. Vhen she goes out the basket it is heavy, vhen she comes back it is light.”
“What does she carry in it, Mr. Gex?” asked Lady Jane, her eyes large and her voice awe-stricken over the mysterious contents of the basket.
“Ah, I know not, my leetle lady. It is one mystery,” returned Gex solemnly. “Mam’selle is soproud and so shut up that no one can’t find out anything. Poor lady, and vhen does she do her market, and vhat do they eat, for all I evair see her buy is one nickel of bread, and one nickel of milk.”
“But she’s got flowers and birds, and she plays on the piano and sings,” said Lady Jane reflectively. “Perhaps she isn’t hungry and doesn’t want anything to eat.”
“That may be so, my leetle lady,” replied Gex with smiling approval, “I naiver thought of it, but it may be so—it may be so. Perhaps thenoblessedon’t have the big appetite, and don’t want so much to eat as the common people.”
“Oh, I nearly forgot, Mr. Gex, Pepsie wants a nickel of cabbage,” and Lady Jane suddenly returned to earth and earthly things did her errand, took herlagniappe, and went away.