the egoist-第16部分

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sentiment　for　a　man　that　would　not　flatter　and　could　not　be
flattered　by　her　sex：　he　appeared　superior　almost　to　awfulness。
She　was　young；　but　she　had　received　much　flattery　in　her　ears；　and
by　it　she　had　been　snared；　and　he；　disdaining　to　practise　the
fowler's　arts　or　to　cast　a　thought　on　small　fowls；　appeared　to　her
to　have　a　pride　founded　on　natural　loftiness。

They　had　not　spoken　for　awhile；　when　Vernon　said　abruptly；　〃The
boy's　future　rather　depends　on　you；　Miss　Middleton。　I　mean　to
leave　as　soon　as　possible；　and　I　do　not　like　his　being　here
without　me；　though　you　will　look　after　him；　I　have　no　doubt。　But
you　may　not　at　first　see　where　the　spoiling　hurts　him。　He　should
be　packed　off　at　once　to　the　crammer；　before　you　are　Lady
Patterne。　Use　your　influence。　Willoughby　will　support　the　lad　at
your　request。　The　cost　cannot　be　great。　There　are　strong　grounds
against　my　having　him　in　London；　even　if　I　could　manage　it。　May　I
count　on　you？〃

〃I　will　mention　it：　I　will　do　my　best；〃　said　Miss　Middleton；
strangely　dejected。

They　were　now　on　the　lawn；　where　Sir　Willoughby　was　walking　with
the　ladies　Eleanor　and　Isabel；　his　maiden　aunts。

〃You　seem　to　have　coursed　the　hare　and　captured　the　hart。〃　he　said
to　his　bride。

〃Started　the　truant　and　run　down　the　paedagogue；〃　said　Vernon。

〃Ay；　you　won't　listen　to　me　about　the　management　of　that　boy；〃　Sir
Willoughby　retorted。

The　ladies　embraced　Miss　Middleton。　One　offered　up　an　ejaculation
in　eulogy　of　her　looks；　the　other　of　her　healthfulness：　then　both
remarked　that　with　indulgence　young　Crossjay　could　be　induced　to
do　anything。　Clara　wondered　whether　inclination　or　Sir　Willoughby
had　disciplined　their　individuality　out　of　them　and　made　them　his
shadows；　his　echoes。　She　gazed　from　them　to　him；　and　feared　him。
But　as　yet　she　had　not　experienced　the　power　in　him　which　could
threaten　and　wrestle　to　subject　the　members　of　his　household　to
the　state　of　satellites。　Though　she　had　in　fact　been　giving　battle
to　it　for　several　months；　she　had　held　her　own　too　well　to
perceive　definitely　the　character　of　the　spirit　opposing　her。

She　said　to　the　ladies；　〃Ah；　no！　Mr。　Whitford　has　chosen　the　only
method　for　teaching　a　boy　like　Crossjay。〃

〃I　propose　to　make　a　man　of　him；〃　said　Sir　Willoughby。

〃What　is　to　become　of　him　if　he　learns　nothing？〃

〃If　he　pleases　me；　he　will　be　provided　for。　I　have　never　abandoned
a　dependent。〃

Clara　let　her　eyes　rest　on　his　and；　without　turning　or　dropping；　
shut　them。

The　effect　was　discomforting　to　him。　He　was　very　sensitive　to　the
intentions　of　eyes　and　tones；　which　was　one　secret　of　his　rigid
grasp　of　the　dwellers　in　his　household。　They　were　taught　that　they
had　to　render　agreement　under　sharp　scrutiny。　Studious　eyes；
devoid　of　warmth；　devoid　of　the　shyness　of　sex；　that　suddenly
closed　on　their　look；　signified　a　want　of　comprehension　of　some
kind；　it　might　be　hostility　of　understanding。　Was　it　possible　he
did　not　possess　her　utterly？　He　frowned　up。

Clara　saw　the　lift　of　his　brows；　and　thought；　〃My　mind　is　my　own；
married　or　not。〃

It　was　the　point　in　dispute。


CHAPTER　IX

Clara　and　Laetitia　Meet：　They　Are　Compared

An　hour　before　the　time　for　lessons　next　morning　young　Crossjay
was　on　the　lawn　with　a　big　bunch　of　wild　flowers。　He　left　them　at
the　hall　door　for　Miss　Middleton；　and　vanished　into　bushes。

These　vulgar　weeds　were　about　to　be　dismissed　to　the　dustheap　by
the　great　officials　of　the　household；　but　as　it　happened　that　Miss
Middleton　had　seen　them　from　the　window　in　Crossjay's　hands；　the
discovery　was　made　that　they　were　indeed　his　presentation…bouquet；
and　a　footman　received　orders　to　place　them　before　her。　She　was
very　pleased。　The　arrangement　of　the　flowers　bore　witness　to
fairer　fingers　than　the　boy's　own　in　the　disposition　of　the　rings
of　colour；　red　campion　and　anemone；　cowslip　and　speedwell；
primroses　and　wood…hyacinths；　and　rising　out　of　the　blue　was　a
branch　bearing　thick　white　blossom；　so　thick；　and　of　so　pure　a
whiteness；　that　Miss　Middleton；　while　praising　Crossjay　for
soliciting　the　aid　of　Miss　Dale；　was　at　a　loss　to　name　the　tree。

〃It　is　a　gardener's　improvement　on　the　Vestal　of　the　forest；　the
wild　cherry；〃　said　Dr。　Middleton；　〃and　in　this　case　we　may　admit
the　gardener's　claim　to　be　valid；　though　I　believe　that；　with　his
gift　of　double　blossom；　he　has　improved　away　the　fruit。　Call　this
the　Vestal　of　civilization；　then；　he　has　at　least　done　something
to　vindicate　the　beauty　of　the　office　as　well　as　the　justness　of
the　title。〃

〃It　is　Vernon's　Holy　Tree　the　young　rascal　has　been　despoiling；〃　
said　Sir　Willoughby　merrily。

Miss　Middleton　was　informed　that　this　double…blossom　wild
cherry…tree　was　worshipped　by　Mr。　Whitford。

Sir　Willoughby　promised　he　would　conduct　her　to　it。

〃You；〃　he　said　to　her；　〃can　bear　the　trial；　few　complexions　can；
it　is　to　most　ladies　a　crueller　test　than　snow。　Miss　Dale；　for
example；　becomes　old　lace　within　a　dozen　yards　of　it。　I　should
like　to　place　her　under　the　tree　beside　you。〃

〃Dear　me；　though；　but　that　is　investing　the　hamadryad　with　novel
and　terrible　functions；〃　exclaimed　Dr。　Middleton。

Clara　said：　〃Miss　Dale　could　drag　me　into　a　superior　Court　to　show
me　fading　beside　her　in　gifts　more　valuable　than　a　complexion。〃

〃She　has　a　fine　ability；〃　said　Vernon。

All　the　world　knew；　so　Clara　knew　of　Miss　Dales　romantic　admiration
of　Sir　Willoughby；　she　was　curious　to　see　Miss　Dale　and　study　the
nature　of　a　devotion　that　might　be；　within　reason；　imitablefor
a　man　who　could　speak　with　such　steely　coldness　of　the　poor　lady
he　had　fascinated？　Well；　perhaps　it　was　good　for　the　hearts　of
women　to　be　beneath　a　frost；　to　be　schooled；　restrained；　turned
inward　on　their　dreams。　Yes；　then；　his　coldness　was　desireable；　it
encouraged　an　ideal　of　him。　It　suggested　and　seemed　to　propose　to
Clara's　mind　the　divineness　of　separation　instead　of　the　deadly
accuracy　of　an　intimate　perusal。　She　tried　to　look　on　him　as　Miss
Dale　might　look；　and　while　partly　despising　her　for　the　dupery　she
envied；　and　more　than　criticizing　him　for　the　inhuman　numbness　of
sentiment　which　offered　up　his　worshipper　to　point　a　complimentary
comparison；　she　was　able　to　imagine　a　distance　whence　it　would　be
possible　to　observe　him　uncritically；　kindly；　admiringly；　as　the
moon　a　handsome　mortal；　for　example。

In　the　midst　of　her　thoughts；　she　surprised　herself　by　saying：　〃I
certainly　was　difficult　to　instruct。　I　might　see　things　clearer　if
I　had　a　fine　ability。　I　never　remember　to　have　been　perfectly
pleased　with　my　immediate　lesson　。　。　。〃

She　stopped；　wondering　whither　her　tongue　was　leading　her；　then
added；　to　save　herself；　〃And　that　may　be　why　I　feel　for　poor
Crossjay。〃

Mr。　Whitford　apparently　did　not　think　it　remarkable　that　she
should　have　been　set　off　gabbling　of　〃a　fine　ability〃；　though　the
eulogistic　phrase　had　been　pronounced　by　him　with　an
impressiveness　to　make　his　ear　aware　of　an　echo。

Sir　Willoughby　dispersed　her　vapourish　confusion。　〃Exactly；〃　he
said。　〃I　have　insisted　with　Vernon；　I　don't　know　how　often；　that
you　must　have　the　lad　by　his　affections。　He　won't　bear　driving。　It
had　no　effect　on　me。　Boys　of　spirit　kick　at　it。　I　think　I　know
boys；　Clara。〃

He　found　himself　addressing　eyes　that　regarded　him　as　though　he
were　a　small　speck；　a　pin's　head；　in　the　circle　of　their　remote
contemplation。　They　were　wide；　they　closed。

She　opened　them　to　gaze　elsewhere。

He　was　very　sensitive。

Even　then；　when　knowingly　wounding　him；　or　because　of　it；　she　was
trying　to　climb　back　to　that　altitude　of　the　thin　division　of
neutral　ground；　from　which　we　see　a　lover's　faults　and　are　above
them；　pure　surveyors。　She　climbed　unsuccessfully；　it　is　true；　soon
despairing　and　using　the　effort　as　a　pretext　to　fall　back　lower。

Dr。　Middleton　withdrew　Sir　Willoughby's　attention　from　the
imperceptible　annoyance。　〃No；　sir；　no：　the　birch！　the　birch！　Boys
of　spirit　commonly　turn　into　solid　men；　and　the　solider　the　men
the　more　surely　do　they　vote　for　Busby。　For　me；　I　pray　he　may　be
immortal　in　Great　Britain。　Sea…air　nor　mountain…air　is　half　so
bracing。　I　venture　to　say　that　the　power　to　take　a　licking　is
better　worth　having　than　the　power　to　administer　one。　Horse　him
and　birch　him　if　Crossjay　runs　from　his　books。〃

〃It　is　your　opinion；　sir？〃　his　host　bowed　to　him　affably；　shocked
on　behalf　of　the　ladies。

〃So　positively　so；　sir；　that　I　will　undertake；　without　knowledge　
of　their　antecedents；　to　lay　my　finger　on　the　men　in　public　life
who　have　not　had　early　Busby。　They　are　ill…balanced　men。　Their　seat
of　reason　is　not　a　concrete。　They　won't　take　rough　and　smooth　as
they　come。　They　make　bad　blood；　can't　forgive；　sniff　right　and
left　for　approbation；　and　are　excited　to　anger　if　an　East　wind
does　not　flatter　them。　Why；　sir；　when　they　have　grown　to　be
seniors；　you　find　these　men　mixed　up　with　the　nonsense　of　their
youth；　you　see　they　are　unthrashed。　We　English　beat　the　world
because　we　take　a　licking　well。　I　hold　it　for　a　surety　of　a　proper
sweetness　of　blood。〃

The　smile　of　Sir　Willoughby　waxed　ever　softer　as　the　shakes　of　his
head　increased　in　contradictoriness。　〃And　yet；〃　said　he；　with　the
air　of　conceding　a　little　after　having　answered　the　Rev。　Doctor
and　convicted　him　of　error；　〃Jack　requires　it　to　keep　him　in
order。　On　board　ship　your　argument　may　apply。　Not；　I　suspect；
among　gentlemen。　No。〃

〃Good…night　to　you；　gentlemen！〃　said　Dr。　Middleton。

Clara　heard　Miss　Eleanor　and　Miss　Isabel　interchange　remarks：

〃Willoughby　would　not　have　suffered　it！〃

〃It　would　entirely　have　altered　him！〃

She　sighed　and　put　a　tooth　on　her　under…lip。　The　gift　of　humourous
fancy　is　in　women　fenced　round　with　forbidding　placards；　they　have
to　choke　it；　if　they　perceive　a　piece　of　humour；　for　instance；　the
young　Willoughby　grasped　by　his　master；and　his　horrified
relatives　rigid　at　the　sight　of　preparations　for　the　seed　of
sacrilege；　they　have　to　blindfold　the　mind's　eye。　They　are
society's　hard…drilled　soldiery。　Prussians　that　must　both　march
and　think　in　step。　It　is　for　the　advantage　of　the　civilized　world；
if　you　like；　since　men　have　decreed　it；　or　matrons　have　so　read
the　decree；　but　here　and