the black robe-第60部分
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London; for the sole purpose of seeing her; by the first train。
London; February 12。I found mother and daughter together in the
drawing…room。 It was one of Mrs。 Eyrecourt's days of depression。
Her little twinkling eyes tried to cast on me a look of tragic
reproach; she shook her dyed head and said; 〃Oh。 Winterfield; I
didn't think you would have done this!Stella; fetch me my
smelling bottle。
But Stella refused to take the hint。 She almost brought the tears
into my eyes; she received me so kindly。 If her mother had not
been in the roombut her mother _was_ in the room; I had no
other choice than to enter on my business; as if I had been the
family lawyer
Mrs。 Eyrecourt began by reproving Stella for asking my advice;
and then assured me that she had no intention of leaving London。
〃How am I to get rid of my house?〃 she asked; irritably enough。 I
knew that 〃her house〃 (as she called it) was the furnished upper
part of a house belonging to another person; and that she could
leave it at a short notice。 But I said nothing。 I addressed
myself to Stella。
〃I have been thinking of two or three places which you might
like;〃 I went on。 〃The nearest place belongs to an old French
gentleman and his wife。 They have no children; and they don't let
lodgings; but I believe they would be glad to receive friends of
mine; if their spare rooms are not already occupied。 They live at
St。 Germainclose to Paris。〃
I looked at Mrs。 Eyrecourt as I said those last wordsI was as
sly as Father Benwell himself。 Paris justified my confidence: the
temptation was too much for her。 She not only gave way; but
actually mentioned the amount of rent which she could afford to
pay。 Stella whispered her thanks to me as I went out。 〃My name is
not mentioned; but my misfortune is alluded to in the
newspapers;〃 she said。 〃Well…meaning friends are calling and
condoling with me already。 I shall die; if you don't help me to
get away among strangers!〃
I start for Paris by the mail train; to…night。
Paris; February 13。It is evening。 I have just returned from St。
Germain。 Everything is settledwith more slyness on my part。 I
begin to think I am a born Jesuit; there must have been some
detestable sympathy between Father Benwell and me。
My good friends; Monsieur and Madame Villeray; will be only too
glad to receive English ladies; known to me for many years。 The
spacious and handsome first floor of their house (inherited from
once wealthy ancestors by Madame Villeray) can be got ready to
receive Mrs。 Eyrecourt and her daughter in a week's time。 Our one
difficulty related to the question of money。 Monsieur Villeray;
living on a Government pension; was modestly unwilling to ask
terms; and I was too absolutely ignorant of the subject to be of
the slightest assistance to him。 It ended in our appealing to a
house…agent at St。 Germain。 His estimate appeared to me to be
quite reasonable。 But it exceeded the pecuniary limit mentioned
by Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 I had known the Villerays long enough to be in
no danger of offending them by proposing a secret arrangement
which permitted me to pay the difference。 So that difficulty was
got over in due course of time。
We went into the large garden at the back of the house; and there
I committed another act of duplicity。
In a nice sheltered corner I discovered one of those essentially
French buildings called a 〃pavilion;〃 a delightful little toy
house of three rooms。 Another private arrangement made me the
tenant of this place。 Madame Villeray smiled。 〃I bet you;〃 she
said to me in her very best English; 〃one of these ladies is in
her fascinating first youth。〃 The good lady little knows what a
hopeless love affair mine is。 I must see Stella sometimesI ask;
and hope for; no more。 Never have I felt how lonely my life is;
as I feel it now。
Third Extract。
London; March 1。Stella and her mother have set forth on their
journey to St。 Germain this morning; without allowing me; as I
had hoped and planned; to be their escort。
Mrs。 Eyrecourt set up the old objection of the claims of
propriety。 If that were the only obstacle in my way; I should
have set it aside by following them to France。 Where is the
impropriety of my seeing Stella; as her friend and
brotherespecially when I don't live in the same house with her;
and when she has her mother; on one side; and Madame Villeray; on
the other; to take care of her?
No! the influence that keeps me away from St。 Germain is the
influence of Stella herself。
〃I will write to you often;〃 she said; 〃but I beg you; for my
sake; not to accompany us to France。〃 Her look and tone reduced
me to obedience。 Stupid as I am I think (after what passed
between me and her mother) I can guess what she meant。
〃Am I never to see you again?〃 I asked。
〃Do you think I am hard and ungrateful?〃 she answered。 〃Do you
doubt that I shall be glad; more than glad; to see you; when?〃
She turned away from me and said no more。
It was time to take leave。 We were under her mother's
superintendence; we shook hands and that was all。
Matilda (Mrs。 Eyrecourt's maid) followed me downstairs to open
the door。 I suppose I looked; as I felt; wretchedly enough。 The
good creature tried to cheer me。 〃Don't be anxious about them;〃
she said; 〃I am used to traveling; sirand I'll take care of
them。〃 She is a woman to be thoroughly depended on; a faithful
and attached servant。 I made her a little present at parting; and
I asked her if she would write to me from time to time。
Some people might consider this to be rather an undignified
proceeding on my part。 I can only say it came naturally to me。 I
am not a dignified man; and; when a person means kindly toward
me; I don't ask myself whether that person is higher or lower;
richer or poorer; than I am。 We are; to my mind; on the same
level when the same sympathy unites us。 Matilda was sufficiently
acquainted with all that had passed to foresee; as I did; that
there would be certain reservations in Stella's letters to me。
〃You shall have the whole truth from Me; sir; don't doubt it;〃
she whispered。 I believed her。 When my heart is sore; give me a
woman for my friend。 Whether she is lady or lady's…maid; she is
equally precious to me。
Cowes; March 2。I am in treaty with an agent for the hire of a
yacht。
I must do something; and go somewhere。 Returning to Beaupark is
out of the question。 People with tranquil minds can find pleasure
in the society of their country neighbors。 I am a miserable
creature; with a mind in a state of incessant disturbance。
Excellent fathers of families talking politics to me; exemplary
mothers of families offering me matrimonial opportunities with
their daughtersthat is what society means; if I go back to
Devonshire。 No。 I will go for a cruise in the Mediterranean; and
I will take one friend with me whose company I never weary ofmy
dog。
The vessel is discovereda fine schooner of three hundred tons;
just returned from a cruise to Madeira。 The sailing…master and
crew only ask for a few days on shore。 In that time the surveyor
will have examined the vessel; and the stores will be on board。
March 3。I have written to Stella; with a list of addresses at
which letters will reach me; and I have sent another list to my
faithful ally the maid。 When we leave Gibraltar; our course will
be to Naplesthence to Civita Vecchia; Leghorn; Genoa;
Marseilles。 From any of those places; I am within easy traveling
distance of St。 Germain。
March 7。 At Sea。It is half…past six in the evening。 We have
just passed the Eddystone Lighthouse; with the wind abeam。 The
log registers ten knots an hour。
Fourth Extract。
_Naples; May_ 10。The fair promise at the beginning of my voyage
has not been fulfilled。 Owing to contrary winds; storms; and
delays at Cadiz in repairing damages; we have only arrived at
Naples this evening。 Under trying circumstances of all sorts; the
yacht has behaved admirably。 A stouter and finer sea…boat never
was built。
We are too late to find the post…office open。 I shall send ashore
for letters the first thing tomorrow morning。 My next movements
will depend entirely on the news I get from St。 Germain。 If I
remain for any length of time in these regions; I shall give my
crew the holiday they have well earned at Civita Vecchia。 I am
never weary of Romebut I always did; and always shall; dislike
Naples。
May 11。 My plans are completely changed。 I am annoyed and
angry; the further I get away from France; the better I shall be
pleased。
I have heard from Stella; and heard from the maid。 Both letters
inform me that the child is born; and that it is a boy。 Do they
expect me to feel any interest in the boy? He is my worst enemy
before he is out of his long…clothes。
Stella writes kindly enough。 Not a line in her letter; however;
invites me; or holds out the prospect of inviting me; to St。
Germain。 She refers to her mother very briefly; merely informing
me that Mrs。 Eyrecourt is well; and is already enjoying the
gayeties of Paris。 Three…fourths of the letter are occupied with
the baby。 When I wrote to her