the egoist-第26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！


even　adequate　to　the　ordinary　requirements　of　conversation。　She
had　no　courage；　no　wit；　no　diligence；　nothing　that　she　could
distinguish　save　discontentment　like　a　corroding　acid；　and　she　went
so　far　in　sincerity　as　with　a　curious　shift　of　feeling　to　pity　the
man　plighted　to　her。　If　it　suited　her　purpose　to　pity　Sir
Willoughby；　she　was　not　moved　by　policy；　be　assured；　her　needs
were　her　nature；　her　moods　her　mind；　she　had　the　capacity　to　make
anything　serve　her　by　passing　into　it　with　the　glance　which
discerned　its　usefulness；　and　this　is　how　it　is　that　the　young；
when　they　are　in　trouble；　without　approaching　the　elevation　of
scientific　hypocrites；　can　teach　that　able　class　lessons　in
hypocrisy。

〃Why　should　not　Willoughby　be　happy？〃　she　said；　and　the
exclamation　was　pushed　forth　by　the　second　thought：　〃Then　I　shall
be　free！〃　Still　that　thought　came　second。

The　desire　for　the　happiness　of　Willoughby　was　fervent　on　his
behalf　and　wafted　her　far　from　friends　and　letters　to　a　narrow
Tyrolean　valley；　where　a　shallow　river　ran；　with　the　indentations
of　a　remotely　seen　army　of　winding　ranks　in　column；　topaz　over　the
pebbles　to　hollows　of　ravishing　emerald。　There　sat　Liberty；　after
her　fearful　leap　over　the　prison…wall；　at　peace　to　watch　the　water
and　the　falls　of　sunshine　on　the　mountain　above；　between
descending　pine…stem　shadows。　Clara's　wish　for　his　happiness；　as
soon　as　she　had　housed　herself　in　the　imagination　of　her　freedom；
was　of　a　purity　that　made　it　seem　exceedingly　easy　for　her　to
speak　to　him。

The　opportunity　was　offered　by　Sir　Willoughby。　Every　morning　after
breakfast　Miss　Dale　walked　across　the　park　to　see　her　father；　and
on　this　occasion　Sir　Willoughby　and　Miss　Middleton　went　with　her
as　far　as　the　lake；　all　three　discoursing　of　the　beauty　of　various
trees；　birches；　aspens；　poplars；　beeches；　then　in　their　new　green。
Miss　Dale　loved　the　aspen；　Miss　Middleton　the　beech；　Sir
Willoughby　the　birch；　and　pretty　things　were　said　by　each　in
praise　of　the　favoured　object；　particularly　by　Miss　Dale。　So　much
so　that　when　she　had　gone　on　he　recalled　one　of　her　remarks；　and
said：　〃I　believe；　if　the　whole　place　were　swept　away　to…morrow；
Laetitia　Dale　could　reconstruct　it　and　put　those　aspens　on　the
north　of　the　lake　in　number　and　situation　correctly　where　you　have
them　now。　I　would　guarantee　her　description　of　it　in　absence
correct。〃

〃Why　should　she　be　absent？〃　said　Clara；　palpitating。

〃Well；　why！〃　returned　Sir　Willoughby。　〃As　you　say；　there　is　no
reason　why。　The　art　of　life；　and　mine　will　be　principally　a
country　lifetown　is　not　life；　but　a　tornado　whirling　atoms
the　art　is　to　associate　a　group　of　sympathetic　friends　in　our
neighbourhood；　and　it　is　a　fact　worth　noting　that　if　ever　I　feel
tired　of　the　place；　a　short　talk　with　Laetitia　Dale　refreshes　it
more　than　a　month　or　two　on　the　Continent。　She　has　the　well　of
enthusiasm。　And　there　is　a　great　advantage　in　having　a　cultivated　
person　at　command；　with　whom　one　can　chat　of　any　topic　under　the
sun。　I　repeat；　you　have　no　need　of　town　if　you　have　friends　like
Laetitia　Dale　within　call。　My　mother　esteemed　her　highly。〃

〃Willoughby；　she　is　not　obliged　to　go。〃

〃I　hope　not。　And；　my　love；　I　rejoice　that　you　have　taken　to　her。
Her　father's　health　is　poor。　She　would　be　a　young　spinster　to　live
alone　in　a　country　cottage。〃

〃What　of　your　scheme？〃

〃Old　Vernon　is　a　very　foolish　fellow。〃

〃He　has　declined？〃

〃Not　a　word　on　the　subject！　I　have　only　to　propose　it　to　be
snubbed；　I　know。〃

〃You　may　not　be　aware　how　you　throw　him　into　the　shade　with　her。〃

〃Nothing　seems　to　teach　him　the　art　of　dialogue　with　ladies。〃

〃Are　not　gentlemen　shy　when　they　see　themselves　outshone？〃

〃He　hasn't　it；　my　love：　Vernon　is　deficient　in　the　lady's　tongue。〃

〃I　respect　him　for　that。〃

〃Outshone。　you　say？　I　do　not　know　of　any　shiningsave　to　one；　who
lights　me；　path　and　person！〃

The　identity　of　the　one　was　conveyed　to　her　in　a　bow　and　a　soft
pressure。

〃Not　only　has　he　not　the　lady's　tongue；　which　I　hold　to　be　a　man's
proper　accomplishment；〃　continued　Sir　Willoughby；　〃he　cannot　turn
his　advantages　to　account。　Here　has　Miss　Dale　been　with　him　now
four　days　in　the　house。　They　are　exactly　on　the　same　footing　as
when　she　entered　it。　You　ask？　I　will　tell　you。　It　is　this：　it　is
want　of　warmth。　Old　Vernon　is　a　scholarand　a　fish。　Well；
perhaps　he　has　cause　to　be　shy　of　matrimony；　but　he　is　a　fish。〃

〃You　are　reconciled　to　his　leaving　you？〃

〃False　alarm！　The　resolution　to　do　anything　unaccustomed　is　quite
beyond　old　Vernon。〃

〃But　if　Mr。　OxfordWhitford　。。。　your　swans　coming　sailing　up　the
lake；　how　beautiful　they　look　when　they　are　indignant！　I　was　going
to　ask　you；　surely　men　witnessing　a　marked　admiration　for　some　one
else　will　naturally　be　discouraged？〃

Sir　Willoughby　stiffened　with　sudden　enlightenment。

Though　the　word　jealousy　had　not　been　spoken；　the　drift　of　her
observations　was　clear。　Smiling　inwardly；　he　said；　and　the
sentences　were　not　enigmas　to　her：　〃Surely；　too；　young　ladies　。。。
a　little？Too　far？　But　an　old　friendship！　About　the　same　as　the
fitting　of　an　old　glove　to　a　hand。　Hand　and　glove　have　only　to
meet。　Where　there　is　natural　harmony　you　would　not　have　discord。
Ay；　but　you　have　it　if　you　check　the　harmony。　My　dear　girl！　You
child！〃

He　had　actually；　in　this　parabolic；　and　commendable；　obscureness；　
for　which　she　thanked　him　in　her　soul；　struck　the　very　point　she
had　not　named　and　did　not　wish　to　hear　named；　but　wished　him　to
strike；　he　was　anything　but　obtuse。　His　exultation；　of　the
compressed　sort；　was　extreme；　on　hearing　her　cry　out：

〃Young　ladies　may　be。　Oh！　not　I；　not　I。　I　can　convince　you。　Not
that。　Believe　me；　Willoughby。　I　do　not　know　what　it　is　to　feel
that；　or　anything　like　it。　I　cannot　conceive　a　claim　on　any　one's
lifeas　a　claim：　or　the　continuation　of　an　engagement　not
founded　on　perfect；　perfect　sympathy。　How　should　I　feel　it；　then？
It　is；　as　you　say　of　Mr。　OxWhitford；　beyond　me。〃

Sir　Willoughby　caught　up　the　OxWhitford。

Bursting　with　laughter　in　his　joyful　pride；　he　called　it　a
portrait　of　old　Vernon　in　society。　For　she　thought　a　trifle　too
highly　of　Vernon；　as　here　and　there　a　raw　young　lady　does　think　of
the　friends　of　her　plighted　man。　which　is　waste　of　substance
properly　belonging　to　him；　as　it　were；　in　the　loftier　sense；　an
expenditure　in　genuflexions　to　wayside　idols　of　the　reverence
she　should　bring　intact　to　the　temple。　Derision　instructs　her。

Of　the　other　subjecther　jealousyhe　had　no　desire　to　hear
more。　She　had　winced：　the　woman　had　been　touched　to　smarting　in
the　girl：　enough。　She　attempted　the　subject　once；　but　faintly；　and
his　careless　parrying　threw　her　out。　Clara　could　have　bitten　her
tongue　for　that　reiterated　stupid　slip　on　the　name　of　Whitford；
and　because　she　was　innocent　at　heart　she　persisted　in　asking
herself　how　she　could　be　guilty　of　it。

〃You　both　know　the　botanic　titles　of　these　wild　flowers；〃　she
said。

〃Who？〃　he　inquired。

〃You　and　Miss　Dale。〃

Sir　Willoughby　shrugged。　He　was　amused。

〃No　woman　on　earth　will　grace　a　barouche　so　exquisitely　as　my
Clara。〃

〃Where？〃　said　she。

〃During　our　annual　two　months　in　London。　I　drive　a　barouche　there；
and　venture　to　prophesy　that　my　equipage　will　create　the　greatest
excitement　of　any　in　London。　I　see　old　Horace　De　Craye　gazing！〃

She　sighed。　She　could　not　drag　him　to　the　word；　or　a　hint　of　it
necessary　to　her　subject。

But　there　it　was；　she　saw　it。　She　had　nearly　let　it　go；　and
blushed　at　being　obliged　to　name　it。

〃Jealousy；　do　you　mean。　Willoughby？　the　people　in　London　would　be
jealous？Colonel　De　Craye？　How　strange！　That　is　a　sentiment　I
cannot　understand。〃

Sir　Willoughby　gesticulated　the　〃Of　course　not〃　of　an　established　
assurance　to　the　contrary。

〃Indeed；　Willoughby；　I　do　not。〃

〃Certainly　not。〃

He　was　now　in　her　trap。　And　he　was　imagining　himself　to　he
anatomizing　her　feminine　nature。

〃Can　I　give　you　a　proof；　Willoughby？　I　am　so　utterly　incapable　of
it　thatlisten　to　mewere　you　to　come　to　me　to　tell　me；　as　you
might；　how　much　better　suited　to　you　Miss　Dale　has　appeared　than　I
amand　I　fear　I　am　not；　it　should　be　spoken　plainly；　unsuited
altogether；　perhapsI　would；　I　beseech　you　to　believeyou　must
believe　megive　you　。。。　give　you　your　freedom　instantly；　most
truly；　and　engage　to　speak　of　you　as　I　should　think　of　you。
Willoughby；　you　would　have　no　one　to　praise　you　in　public　and　in
private　as　I　should；　for　you　would　be　to　me　the　most　honest；
truthful；　chivalrous　gentleman　alive。　And　in　that　case　I　would
undertake　to　declare　that　she　would　not　admire　you　more　than　I；
Miss　Dale　would　not；　she　would　not　admire　you　more　than　I；　not
even　Miss　Dale。〃

This；　her　first　direct　leap　for　liberty；　set　Clara　panting；　and　so
much　had　she　to　say　that　the　nervous　and　the　intellectual　halves
of　her　dashed　like　cymbals；　dazing　and　stunning　her　with　the
appositeness　of　things　to　be　said；　and　dividing　her　in　indecision
as　to　the　cunningest　to　move　him　of　the　many　pressing。

The　condition　of　feminine　jealousy　stood　revealed。

He　had　driven　her　farther　than　he　intended。

〃Come；　let　me　allay　these　。　。　。〃　he　soothed　her　with　hand　and
voice；　while　seeking　for　his　phrase；　〃these　magnified　pinpoints。　
Now；　my　Clara！　on　my　honour！　and　when　I　put　it　forward　in
attestation；　my　honour　has　the　most　serious　meaning　speech　can
have；　ordinarily　my　word　has　to　suffice　for　bonds；　promises；　or
asseverations；　on　my　honour！　not　merely　is　there；　my　poor　child！
no　ground　of　suspicion；　I　assure　you；　I　declare　to　you；　the　fact
of　the　case　is　the　very　reverse。　Now；　mark　me；　of　her　sentiments　I
cannot　pretend　to　speak；　I　did　not；　to　my　knowledge；　originate；　I
am　not　responsible　for　them；　and　I　am；　before　the　law；　as　we　will
say；　ignorant　of　them；　that　is；　I　have　never　heard　a　declaration
of　them；　and　I；　am；　therefore；　under　pain　of　the　stigma　of
excessive　fatuity；　bound　to　be　non…cognizant。　But　as　to　myself　I
can　speak　for　myself　and；　on　my　honour！　Clarato　be　as　direct　as
possible。　　even　to　baldness；　and　you　know　I　loathe　itI　could
not；　I　repeat；　I　could　not　marry　Laetitia　Dale！　Let　me　impress　it
on　you。　　No　flatterieswe　are　all　susceptible　more　o