the egoist-第19部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


in　perfect　harmony　with　him　through　the　series　of　responsive
movements　to　his　own；　informed　him　of　a　something　in　her　character
that　might　have　suggested　to　Mrs　Mountstuart　Jenkinson　her
indefensible；　absurd　〃rogue　in　porcelain〃。　Idea　there　was　none　in
that　phrase；　yet；　if　you　looked　on　Clara　as　a　delicately
inimitable　porcelain　beauty；　the　suspicion　of　a　delicately
inimitable　ripple　over　her　features　touched　a　thought　of　innocent
roguery；　wildwood　roguery；　the　likeness　to　the　costly　and　lovely
substance　appeared　to　admit　a　fitness　in　the　dubious　epithet。　He
detested　but　was　haunted　by　the　phrase。

She　certainly　had　at　times　the　look　of　the　nymph　that　has　gazed
too　long　on　the　faun；　and　has　unwittingly　copied　his　lurking　lip
and　long　sliding　eye。　Her　play　with　young　Crossjay　resembled　a
return　of　the　lady　to　the　cat；　she　flung　herself　into　it　as　if　her
real　vitality　had　been　in　suspense　till　she　saw　the　boy。　Sir
Willoughby　by　no　means　disapproved　of　a　physical　liveliness　that
promised　him　health　in　his　mate；　but　he　began　to　feel　in　their
conversations　that　she　did　not　sufficiently　think　of　making
herself　a　nest　for　him。　Steely　points　were　opposed　to　him　when　he；
figuratively；　bared　his　bosom　to　be　taken　to　the　softest　and
fairest。　She　reasoned：　in　other　words；　armed　her　ignorance。　She
reasoned　against　him　publicly；　and　lured　Vernon　to　support　her。
Influence　is　to　be　counted　for　power；　and　her　influence　over
Vernon　was　displayed　in　her　persuading　him　to　dance　one　evening　at
Lady　Culmer's；　after　his　melancholy　exhibitions　of　himself　in　the
art；　and　not　only　did　she　persuade　him　to　stand　up　fronting　her；
she　manoeuvred　him　through　the　dance　like　a　clever　boy　cajoling　a
top　to　come　to　him　without　reeling；　both　to　Vernon's　contentment
and　to　Sir　Willoughby's；　for　he　was　the　last　man　to　object　to　a
manifestation　of　power　in　his　bride。　Considering　her　influence
with　Vernon；　he　renewed　the　discourse　upon　young　Crossjay；　and；　as
he　was　addicted　to　system；　he　took　her　into　his　confidence；　that
she　might　be　taught　to　look　to　him　and　act　for　him。

〃Old　Vernon　has　not　spoken　to　you　again　of　that　lad？〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Whitford　has　asked　me。〃

〃He　does　not　ask　me；　my　dear！〃

〃He　may　fancy　me　of　greater　aid　than　I　am。〃

〃You　see；　my　love；　if　he　puts　Crossjay　on　me；　he　will　be　off。　He
has　this　craze　for　'enlisting'　his　pen　in　London；　as　he　calls　it；
and　I　am　accustomed　to　him；　I　don't　like　to　think　of　him　as　a
hack　scribe；　writing　nonsense　from　dictation　to　earn　a　pitiful
subsistence；　I　want　him　here；　and；　supposing　he　goes；　he　offends
me；　he　loses　a　friend；　and　it　will　not　he　the　first　time　that　a
friend　has　tried　me　too　far；　but　if　he　offends　me；　he　is　extinct。〃

〃Is　what？〃　cried　Clara；　with　a　look　of　fright。

〃He　becomes　to　me　at　once　as　if　he　had　never　been。　He　is　extinct。〃

〃In　spite　of　your　affection？〃

〃On　account　of　it；　I　might　say。　Our　nature　is　mysterious；　and　mine
as　much　so　as　any。　Whatever　my　regrets；　he　goes　out。　This　is　not　a
language　I　talk　to　the　world。　I　do　the　man　no　harm；　I　am　not　to　be
named　unchristian。　But　。。。　！〃

Sir　Willoughby　mildly　shrugged；　and　indicated　a　spreading　out　of
the　arms。

〃But　do；　do　talk　to　me　as　you　talk　to　the　world；　Willoughby；　give
me　some　relief！〃

〃My　own　Clara；　we　are　one。　You　should　know　me　at　my　worst；　we　will
say；　if　you　like；　as　well　as　at　my　best。〃

〃Should　I　speak　too？〃

〃What　could　you　have　to　confess？〃

She　hung　silent；　the　wave　of　an　insane　resolution　swelled　in　her
bosom　and　subsided　before　she　said；　〃Cowardice；　incapacity　to
speak。〃

〃Women！〃　said　he。

We　do　not　expect　so　much　of　women；　the　heroic　virtues　as　little　as
the　vices。　They　have　not　to　unfold　the　scroll　of　character。

He　resumed；　and　by　his　tone　she　understood　that　she　was　now　in　the
inner　temple　of　him：　〃I　tell　you　these　things；　I　quite　acknowledge
they　do　not　elevate　me。　They　help　to　constitute　my　character。　I
tell　you　most　humbly　that　I　have　in　me　muchtoo　much　of　the
fallen　archangel's　pride。〃

Clara　bowed　her　head　over　a　sustained　in…drawn　breath。

〃It　must　be　pride；〃　he　said；　in　a　reverie　superinduced　by　her
thoughtfulness　over　the　revelation；　and　glorying　in　the　black
flames　demoniacal　wherewith　he　crowned　himself。

〃Can　you　not　correct　it？〃　said　she。

He　replied；　profoundly　vexed　by　disappointment：　〃I　am　what　I　am。
It　might　be　demonstrated　to　you　mathematically　that　it　is
corrected　by　equivalents　or　substitutions　in　my　character。　If　it
be　a　failingassuming　that。〃

〃It　seems　one　to　me：　so　cruelly　to　punish　Mr。　Whitford　for　seeking
to　improve　his　fortunes。〃

〃He　reflects　on　my　share　in　his　fortunes。　He　has　had　but　to　apply
to　me　for　his　honorarium　to　be　doubled。〃

〃He　wishes　for　independence。〃

〃Independence　of　me！〃

〃Liberty！〃

〃At　my　expense！〃

〃Oh；　Willoughby！〃

〃Ay；　but　this　is　the　world；　and　I　know　it；　my　love；　and　beautiful
as　your　incredulity　may　be；　you　will　find　it　more　comforting　to
confide　in　my　knowledge　of　the　selfishness　of　the　world。　My
sweetest；　you　will？you　do！　For　a　breath　of　difference　between
us　is　intolerable。　Do　you　not　feel　how　it　breaks　our　magic　ring？
One　small　fissure；　and　we　have　the　world　with　its　muddy　deluge！
But　my　subject　was　old　Vernon。　Yes；　I　pay　for　Crossjay；　if　Vernon
consents　to　stay。　I　waive　my　own　scheme　for　the　lad；　though　I
think　it　the　better　one。　Now；　then；　to　induce　Vernon　to　stay。　He
has　his　ideas　about　staying　under　a　mistress　of　the　household；　and
therefore；　not　to　contest　ithe　is　a　man　of　no　argument；　a　sort
of　lunatic　determination　takes　the　place　of　it　with　old　Vernon！
let　him　settle　close　by　me；　in　one　of　my　cottages；　very　well；
and　to　settle　him　we　must　marry　him。〃

〃Who　is　there？〃　said　Clara；　beating　for　the　lady　in　her　mind。　

〃Women；〃　said　Willoughby；　〃are　born　match…makers；　and　the　most
persuasive　is　a　young　bride。　With　a　manand　a　man　like　old　Vernon！
she　is　irresistible。　It　is　my　wish；　and　that　arms　you。　It　is　your
wish；　that　subjugates　him。　If　he　goes；　he　goes　for　good。　If　he
stays；　he　is　my　friend。　I　deal　simply　with　him；　as　with　every　one。
It　is　the　secret　of　authority。　Now　Miss　Dale　will　soon　lose　her
father。　He　exists　on　a　pension；　she　has　the　prospect　of　having　to
leave　the　neighbourhood　of　the　Hall；　unless　she　is　established
near　us。　Her　whole　heart　is　in　this　region；　it　is　the　poor　soul's
passion。　Count　on　her　agreeing。　But　she　will　require　a　little
wooing：　and　old　Vernon　wooing！　Picture　the　scene　to　yourself；　my
love。　His　notion　of　wooing。　I　suspect；　will　be　to　treat　the　lady
like　a　lexicon；　and　turn　over　the　leaves　for　the　word；　and　fly
through　the　leaves　for　another　word；　and　so　get　a　sentence。　Don't
frown　at　the　poor　old　fellow；　my　Clara；　some　have　the　language　on
their　tongues；　and　some　have　not。　Some　are　very　dry　sticks；　manly
men；　honest　fellows；　but　so　cut　away；　so　polished　away　from　the
sex；　that　they　are　in　absolute　want　of　outsiders　to　supply　the
silken　filaments　to　attach　them。　Actually！〃　Sir　Willoughby　laughed
in　Clara's　face　to　relax　the　dreamy　stoniness　of　her　look。　〃But　I
can　assure　you；　my　dearest；　I　have　seen　it。　Vernon　does　not　know
how　to　speakas　we　speak。　He　has；　or　he　had；　what　is　called　a
sneaking　affection　for　Miss　Dale。　It　was　the　most　amusing　thing
possible；　his　courtship！the　air　of　a　dog　with　an　uneasy
conscience；　trying　to　reconcile　himself　with　his　master！　We　were
all　in　fits　of　laughter。　Of　course　it　came　to　nothing。〃

〃Will　Mr。　Whitford；〃　said　Clara；　〃offend　you　to　extinction　if　he
declines？〃

Willoughby　breathed　an　affectionate　〃Tush！〃　to　her　silliness。

〃We　bring　them　together；　as　we　best　can。　You　see；　Clara；　I　desire；
and　I　will　make　some　sacrifices　to　detain　him。〃

〃But　what　do　you　sacrifice？a　cottage？〃　said　Clara；　combative　at
all　points。

〃An　ideal；　perhaps。　I　lay　no　stress　on　sacrifice。　I　strongly
object　to　separations。　And　therefore；　you　will　say；　I　prepare　the
ground　for　unions？　Put　your　influence　to　good　service；　my　love。　I
believe　you　could　persuade　him　to　give　us　the　Highland　fling　on
the　drawing…room　table。〃

〃There　is　nothing　to　say　to　him　of　Crossjay？〃

〃We　hold　Crossjay　in　reserve。〃

〃It　is　urgent。〃

〃Trust　me。　I　have　my　ideas。　I　am　not　idle。　That　boy　bids　fair　for
a　capital　horseman。　Eventualities　might　。　。　。〃　Sir　Willoughby　
murmured　to　himself；　and　addressing　his　bride；　〃The　cavalry？　If　we
put　him　into　the　cavalry；　we　might　make　a　gentleman　of　himnot
be　ashamed　of　him。　Or；　under　certain　eventualities；　the　Guards。
Think　it　over；　my　love。　De　Craye；　who　will；　I　suppose；　act　best
man　for　me；　supposing　old　Vernon　to　pull　at　the　collar；　is　a
Lieutenant…Colonel　in　the　Guards；　a　thorough　gentlemanof　the
brainless　class；　if　you　like；　but　an　elegant　fellow；　an　Irishman；
you　will　see　him；　and　I　should　like　to　set　a　naval　lieutenant
beside　him　in　a　drawingroom；　for　you　to　compare　them　and　consider
the　model　you　would　choose　for　a　boy　you　are　interested　in。　Horace
is　grace　and　gallantry　incarnate；　fatuous；　probably：　I　have　always
been　too　friendly　with　him　to　examine　closely。　He　made　himself　
one　of　my　dogs；　though　my　elder；　and　seemed　to　like　to　be　at　my
heels。　One　of　the　few　men's　faces　I　can　call　admirably　handsome；
with　nothing　behind　it；　perhaps。　As　Vernon　says；　'a　nothing
picked　by　the　vultures　and　bleached　by　the　desert'。　Not　a　bad
talker；　if　you　are　satisfied　with　keeping　up　the　ball。　He　will
amuse　you。　Old　Horace　does　not　know　how　amusing　he　is！〃

〃Did　Mr。　Whitford　say　that　of　Colonel　De　Craye？〃

〃I　forget　the　person　of　whom　he　said　it。　So　you　have　noticed　old
Vernon's　foible？　Quote　him　one　of　his　epigrams；　and　he　is　in
motion　head　and　heels！　It　is　an　infallible　receipt　for　tuning　him。
If　I　want　to　have　him　in　good　temper；　I　have　only　to　remark；　'as
you　said'。　I　straighten　his　back　instantly。〃

〃I；〃　said　Clara；　〃have　noticed　chiefly　his　anxiety　concerning　the
boy；　for　which　I　admire　him。〃

〃Creditable；　if　not　particularly　far…sighted　and　sagacious。　well；
then；　my　dear；　attack　him　at　once；　lead　him　to　the　subject　of　our
fair　neighbour。　She　is　to　be　our　guest　for　a　week　or　so；　and　the
whole　affair　might　be　concluded　far　enough　to　fix　him　before　she
leaves。　She　is　at　present　awaiting　the　arrival　of　a　cousin　t