the egoist-第100部分

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〃You　forget　that　it　may　not　wear　that　appearance　to　him。〃

〃He　spoke　not　one　word　of　himself？〃

〃No。〃

〃Ah！　the　poor　old　fellow　was　taught　to　see　it　was　hopeless
chilled。　May　I　plead？　Will　you　step　into　the　laboratory　for　a
minute？　We　are　two　sensible　persons　。　。　。〃

〃Pardon　me；　I　must　go　to　papa。〃

〃Vernon's　personal　history；　perhaps　。。。〃

〃I　think　it　honourable　to　him。〃

〃Honourable！'hem！〃

〃By　comparison。〃

〃Comparison　with　what？〃

〃With　others。〃

He　drew　up　to　relieve　himself　of　a　critical　and　condemnatory　
expiration　of　a　certain　length。　This　young　lady　knew　too　much。　
But　how　physically　exquisite　she　was！

〃Could　you；　Clara；　could　you　promise　meI　hold　to　it。　I　must
have　it；　I　know　his　shy　trickspromise　me　to　give　him
ultimately　another　chance？　Is　the　idea　repulsive　to　you？〃

〃It　is　one　not　to　be　thought　of。〃

〃It　is　not　repulsive？〃

〃Nothing　could　be　repulsive　in　Mr。　Whitford。〃

〃I　have　no　wish　to　annoy　you；　Clara。〃

〃I　feel　bound　to　listen　to　you；　Willoughby。　Whatever　I　can　do　to
please　you；　I　will。　It　is　my　life…long　duty。〃

〃Could　you；　Clara；　could　you　conceive　it；　could　you　simply
conceive　itgive　him　your　hand？〃

〃As　a　friend。　Oh；　yes。〃

〃In　marriage。〃

She　paused。　She；　so　penetrative　of　him　when　he　opposed　her；　was
hoodwinked　when　he　softened　her　feelings：　for　the　heart；　though
the　clearest；　is　not　the　most　constant　instructor　of　the　head；　the
heart；　unlike　the　often　obtuser　head；　works　for　itself　and　not　for
the　commonwealth。

〃You　are　so　kind　。。。　I　would　do　much　。　。　。〃　she　said。

〃Would　you　accept　himmarry　him？　He　is　poor。〃

〃I　am　not　ambitious　of　wealth。〃

〃Would　you　marry　him？〃

〃Marriage　is　not　in　my　thoughts。〃

〃But　could　you　marry　him？〃

Willoughby　expected　no。　In　his　expectation　of　it　he　hung　inflated。

She　said　these　words：　〃I　could　engage　to　marry　no　one　else。〃　His
amazement　breathed　without　a　syllable。

He　flapped　his　arms；　resembling　for　the　moment　those　birds　of
enormous　body　which　attempt　a　rise　upon　their　wings　and　achieve　a
hop。

〃Would　you　engage　it？〃　he　said；　content　to　see　himself　stepped　on
as　an　insect　if　he　could　but　feel　the　agony　of　his　false　friend
Horacetheir　common　pretensions　to　win　her　were　now　of　that
comparative　size。

〃Oh！　there　can　be　no　necessity。　And　an　oathno！〃　said　Clara；
inwardly　shivering　at　a　recollection。

〃But　you　could？〃

〃My　wish　is　to　please　you。〃

〃You　could？〃

〃I　said　so。〃

It　has　been　known　to　the　patriotic　mountaineer　of　a　hoary　pile　of
winters；　with　little　life　remaining　in　him；　but　that　little　on
fire　for　his　country；　that　by　the　brink　of　the　precipice　he　has
flung　himself　on　a　young　and　lusty　invader；　dedicating　himself
exultingly　to　death　if　only　he　may　score　a　point　for　his　country
by　extinguishing　in　his　country's　enemy　the　stronger　man。　So
likewise　did　Willoughby；　in　the　blow　that　deprived　him　of　hope；
exult　in　the　toppling　over　of　Horace　De　Craye。　They　perished
together；　but　which　one　sublimely　relished　the　headlong　descent？
And　Vernon　taken　by　Clara　would　be　Vernon　simply　tolerated。　And
Clara　taken　by　Vernon　would　be　Clara　previously　touched；　smirched。
Altogether　he　could　enjoy　his　fall。

It　was　at　least　upon　a　comfortable　bed；　where　his　pride　would　be
dressed　daily　and　would　never　be　disagreeably　treated。

He　was　henceforth　Laetitia's　own。　The　bell　telling　of　Dr。　Corney's
return　was　a　welcome　sound　to　Willoughby；　and　he　said
good…humouredly：　〃Wait；　Clara；　you　will　see　your　hero　Crossjay。〃

Crossjay　and　Dr。　Corney　tumbled　into　the　hall。　Willoughby　caught
Crossjay　under　the　arms　to　give　him　a　lift　in　the　old　fashion
pleasing　to　Clara　to　see。　The　boy　was　heavy　as　lead。　

〃I　had　work　to　hook　him　and　worse　to　net　him；〃　said　Dr。　Corney。　〃I
had　to　make　him　believe　he　was　to　nurse　every　soul　in　the　house；
you　among　them；　Miss　Middleton。〃

Willoughby　pulled　the　boy　aside。

Crossjay　came　back　to　Clara　heavier　in　looks　than　his　limbs　had
been。　She　dropped　her　letter　in　the　hall…box；　and　took　his　hand　to
have　a　private　hug　of　him。　When　they　were　alone；　she　said：
〃Crossjay；　my　dear；　my　dear！　you　look　unhappy。〃

〃Yes；　and　who　wouldn't　be；　and　you're　not　to　marry　Sir
Willoughby！〃　his　voice　threatened　a　cry。　〃I　know　you're　not；　for
Dr。　Corney　says　you　are　going　to　leave。〃

〃Did　you　so　very　much　wish　it；　Crossjay？〃

〃I　should　have　seen　a　lot　of　you；　and　I　sha'n't　see　you　at　all；
and　I'm　sure　if　I'd　known　I　wouldn't　haveAnd　he　has　been　and
tipped　me　this。〃

Crossjay　opened　his　fist　in　which　lay　three　gold　pieces。

〃That　was　very　kind　of　him；〃　said　Clara。

〃Yes；　but　how　can　I　keep　it？〃

〃By　handing　it　to　Mr。　Whitford　to　keep　for　you。〃

〃Yes；　but；　Miss　Middleton；　oughtn't　I　to　tell　him？　I　mean　Sir
Willoughby。〃

〃What？〃

〃Why；　that　I〃Crossjay　got　close　to　her〃why；　that　I；　that　I
you　know　what　you　used　to　say。　I　wouldn't　tell　a　lie；　but　oughtn't
I；　without　his　asking　。。。　and　this　money！　I　don't　mind　being
turned　out　again。〃

〃Consult　Mr。　Whitford；〃　said　Clara。

〃I　know　what　you　think；　though。〃

〃Perhaps　you　had　better　not　say　anything　at　present；　dear　boy。〃

〃But　what　am　I　to　do　with　this　money？〃

Crossjay　held　the　gold　pieces　out　as　things　that　had　not　yet
mingled　with　his　ideas　of　possession。

〃I　listened；　and　I　told　of　him；〃　he　said。　〃I　couldn't　help
listening；　but　I　went　and　told；　and　I　don't　like　being　here；　and
his　money；　and　he　not　knowing　what　I　did。　Haven't　you　heard？　I'm
certain　I　know　what　you　think；　and　so　do　I；　and　I　must　take　my
luck。　I'm　always　in　mischief；　getting　into　a　mess　or　getting　out
of　it。　I　don't　mind；　I　really　don't；　Miss　Middleton；　I　can　sleep
in　a　tree　quite　comfortably。　If　you're　not　going　to　be　here；　I'd
just　as　soon　be　anywhere。　I　must　try　to　earn　my　living　some　day。
And　why　not　a　cabin…boy？　Sir　Cloudesley　Shovel　was　no　better。　And
I　don't　mind　his　being　wrecked　at　last；　if　you're　drowned　an
admiral。　So　I　shall　go　and　ask　him　to　take　his　money　back；　and　if
he　asks　me　I　shall　tell　him；　and　there。　　You　know　what　it　is：　I
guessed　that　from　what　Dr。　Corney　said。　I'm　sure　I　know　you're
thinking　what's　manly。　Fancy　me　keeping　his　money；　and　you　not
marrying　him！　I　wouldn't　mind　driving　a　plough。　I　shouldn't　make　a
bad　gamekeeper。　Of　course　I　love　boats　best；　but　you　can't　have
everything。〃

〃Speak　to　Mr。　Whitford　first；〃　said　Clara；　too　proud　of　the　boy
for　growing　as　she　had　trained　him；　to　advise　a　course　of　conduct
opposed　to　his　notions　of　manliness；　though　now　that　her　battle
was　over　she　would　gladly　have　acquiesced　in　little　casuistic
compromises　for　the　sake　of　the　general　peace。

Some　time　later　Vernon　and　Dr。　Corney　were　arguing　upon　the
question。　Corney　was　dead　against　the　sentimental　view　of　the
morality　of　the　case　propounded　by　Vernon　as　coming　from　Miss
Middleton　and　partly　shared　by　him。　〃If　it's　on　the　boy's　mind；〃
Vernon　said；　〃I　can't　prohibit　his　going　to　Willoughby　and　making
a　clean　breast　of　it；　especially　as　it　involves　me；　and　sooner　or
later　I　should　have　to　tell　him　myself。〃

Dr。　Corney　said　no　at　all　points。　〃Now　hear　me；〃　he　said；　finally。
〃This　is　between　ourselves；　and　no　breach　of　confidence；　which　I'd
not　be　guilty　of　for　forty　friends；　though　I'd　give　my　hand　from
the　wrist…joint　for　onemy　left；　that's　to　say。　Sir　Willoughby
puts　me　one　or　two　searching　interrogations　on　a　point　of　interest
to　him；　his　house　and　name。　Very　well；　and　good　night　to　that；　and
I　wish　Miss　Dale　had　been　ten　years　younger；　or　had　passed　the
ten　with　no　heartrisings　and　sinkings　wearing　to　the　tissues　of
the　frame　and　the　moral　fibre　to　boot。　She'll　have　a　fairish
health；　with　a　little　occasional　doctoring；　taking　her　rank　and
wealth　in　right　earnest；　and　shying　her　pen　back　to　Mother　Goose。
She'll　do。　And；　by　the　way；　I　think　it's　to　the　credit　of　my
sagacity　that　I　fetched　Mr。　Dale　here　fully　primed；　and　roused　the
neighbourhood；　which　I　did；　and　so　fixed　our　gentleman；　neat　as　a
prodded　eel　on　a　pair　of　prongsnamely；　the　positive　fact　and　the
general　knowledge　of　it。　But；　mark　me；　my　friend。　We　understand
one　another　at　a　nod。　This　boy；　young　Squire　Crossjay；　is　a　good
stiff　hearty　kind　of　a　Saxon　boy；　out　of　whom　you　may　cut　as
gallant　a　fellow　as　ever　wore　epaulettes。　I　like　him；　you　like
him；　Miss　Dale　and　Miss　Middleton　like　him；　and　Sir　Willoughby
Patterne；　of　Patterne　Hall　and　other　places；　won't　be　indisposed
to　like　him　mightily　in　the　event　of　the　sun　being　seen　to　shine
upon　him　with　a　particular　determination　to　make　him　appear　a
prominent　object；　because　a　solitary；　and　a　Patterne。〃　Dr。　Corney
lifted　his　chest　and　his　finger：　〃Now　mark　me；　and　verbum　sap：
Crossjay　must　not　offend　Sir　Willoughby。　I　say　no　more。　Look
ahead。　Miracles　happen；　but　it's　best　to　reckon　that　they　won't。
Well；　now；　and　Miss　Dale。　She'll　not　be　cruel。〃

〃It　appears　as　if　she　would；〃　said　Vernon；　meditating　on　the
cloudy　sketch　Dr。　Corney　had　drawn。

〃She　can't；　my　friend。　Her　position's　precarious；　her　father　has
little　besides　a　pension。　And　her　writing　damages　her　health。　She
can't。　And　she　likes　the　baronet。　Oh；　it's　only　a　little　fit　of
proud　blood。　She's　the　woman　for　him。　She'll　manage　himgive　him
an　idea　he's　got　a　lot　of　ideas。　It'd　kill　her　father　if　she　were
obstinate。　He　talked　to　me；　when　I　told　him　of　the　business；　about
his　dream　fulfilled；　and　if　the　dream　turns　to　vapour；　he'll　be
another　example　that　we　hang　more　upon　dreams　than　realities　for
nourishment；　and　medicine　too。　Last　week　I　couldn't　have　got　him
out　of　his　house　with　all　my　art　and　science。　Oh；　she'll　come　round。
Her　father　prophesied　this；　and　I'll　prophesy　that。　She's　fond　of
him。〃

〃She　was。〃

〃She　sees　through　him？〃

〃Without　quite　doing　justice　to　him　now；〃　said　Vernon。　〃He　can
be　generousin　his　way。〃

〃How？〃　Corney　inquired；　and　was　informed　that　he　should　hear　in
time　to　come。

Meanwhile　Colonel　De　Craye；　after　hovering　over　the　park　and　about
the　cottage　for　the　opportunity　of　pouncing　on　Miss　Middleton
alone；　had　returned　crest…fallen　for　once；　and　plumped　into
Willoughby's　hands。

〃My　dear　Horace；〃　Willoughby　said；　〃I've　been　looking　for　you　all
the　afternoon。　The　fact　isI　fancy　you'll　think　yourself　lured
down　here　on　false