the egoist-第30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！


all。　The　Rev。　Doctor　had　fascinated　Miss　Dale；　so　that；　both
within　and　without；　Sir　Willoughby　was　uncomforted。　His　themes　in
public　were　those　of　an　English　gentleman；　horses；　dogs；　game；
sport；　intrigue；　scandal；　politics；　wines；　the　manly　themes；　with
a　condescension　to　ladies〃　tattle；　and　approbation　of　a　racy
anecdote。　What　interest　could　he　possibly　take　in　the　Athenian
Theatre　and　the　girl　whose　flute…playing　behind　the　scenes；
imitating　the　nightingale；　enraptured　a　Greek　audience！　He　would
have　suspected　a　motive　in　Miss　Dale's　eager　attentiveness；　if　the
motive　could　have　been　conceived。　Besides；　the　ancients　were　not
decorous；　they　did　not；　as　we　make　our　moderns　do；　write　for
ladies。　He　ventured　at　the　dinner…table　to　interrupt　Dr。　Middleton
once：

〃Miss　Dale　will　do　wisely；　I　think；　sir；　by　confining　herself　to
your　present　edition　of　the　classics。〃

〃That；〃　replied　Dr。　Middleton；　〃is　the　observation　of　a　student　of
the　dictionary　of　classical　mythology　in　the　English　tongue。〃

〃The　Theatre　is　a　matter　of　climate；　sir。　You　will　grant　me　that。〃

〃If　quick　wits　come　of　climate；　it　is　as　you　say；　sir。〃

〃With　us　it　seems　a　matter　of　painful　fostering；　or　the　need　of
it；〃　said　Miss　Dale；　with　a　question　to　Dr。　Middleton；　excluding　
Sir　Willoughby；　as　though　he　had　been　a　temporary　disturbance　of
the　flow　of　their　dialogue。

The　ladies　Eleanor　and　Isabel；　previously　excellent　listeners　to
the　learned　talk；　saw　the　necessity　of　coming　to　his　rescue；　but
you　cannot　converse　with　your　aunts；　inmates　of　your　house；　on
general　subjects　at　table；　the　attempt　increased　his　discomposure；
he　considered　that　he　had　ill…chosen　his　father…in…law；　that
scholars　are　an　impolite　race；　that　young　or　youngish　women　are
devotees　of　power　in　any　form；　and　will　be　absorbed　by　a　scholar
for　a　variation　of　a　man；　concluding　that　he　must　have　a　round　of
dinner…parties　to　friends；　especially　ladies；　appreciating　him；
during　the　Doctor's　visit。　Clara's　headache　above；　and　Dr。
Middleton's　unmannerliness　below；　affected　his　instincts　in　a　way
to　make　him　apprehend　that　a　stroke　of　misfortune　was　impending；
thunder　was　in　the　air。　Still　he　learned　something；　by　which　he
was　to　profit　subsequently。　The　topic　of　wine　withdrew　the　doctor
from　his　classics；　it　was　magical　on　him。　A　strong　fraternity　of
taste　was　discovered　in　the　sentiments　of　host　and　guest　upon
particular　wines　and　vintages；　they　kindled　one　another　by　naming
great　years　of　the　grape；　and　if　Sir　Willoughby　had　to　sacrifice
the　ladies　to　the　topic；　he　much　regretted　a　condition　of　things
that　compelled　him　to　sin　against　his　habit；　for　the　sake　of　being
in　the　conversation　and　probing　an　elderly　gentleman's　foible。

Late　at　night　he　heard　the　house…bell；　and　meeting　Vernon　in　the
hall；　invited　him　to　enter　the　laboratory　and　tell　him　Dr。　Corney's
last。　Vernon　was　brief；　Corney　had　not　let　fly　a　single　anecdote；
he　said；　and　lighted　his　candle。

〃By　the　way；　Vernon；　you　had　a　talk　with　Miss　Middleton？〃

〃She　will　speak　to　you　to…morrow　at　twelve。〃

〃To…morrow　at　twelve？〃

〃It　gives　her　four…and…twenty　hours。〃

Sir　Willoughby　determined　that　his　perplexity　should　be　seen；　but
Vernon　said　good…night　to　him；　and　was　shooting　up　the　stairs
before　the　dramatic　exhibition　of　surprise　had　yielded　to　speech。

Thunder　was　in　the　air　and　a　blow　coming。　Sir　Willoughby's
instincts　were　awake　to　the　many　signs；　nor；　though　silenced；　were
they　hushed　by　his　harping　on　the　frantic　excesses　to　which　women
are　driven　by　the　passion　of　jealousy。　He　believed　in
Clara's　jealousy　because　he　really　had　intended　to　rouse　it；　under
the　form　of　emulation；　feebly。　He　could　not　suppose　she　had　spoken
of　it　to　Vernon。　And　as　for　the　seriousness　of　her　desire　to　be
released　from　her　engagement；　that　was　little　credible。　Still　the
fixing　of　an　hour　for　her　to　speak　to　him　after　an　interval　of
four…and…twenty　hours；　left　an　opening　for　the　incredible　to　add
its　weight　to　the　suspicious　mass；　and　who　would　have　fancied
Clara　Middleton　so　wild　a　victim　of　the　intemperate　passion！　He
muttered　to　himself　several　assuaging　observations　to　excuse　a
young　lady　half　demented；　and　rejected　them　in　a　lump　for　their
nonsensical　inapplicability　to　Clara。　In　order　to　obtain　some
sleep；　he　consented　to　blame　himself　slightly；　in　the　style　of　the
enamoured　historian　of　erring　beauties　alluding　to　their
peccadilloes。　He　had　done　it　to　edify　her。　Sleep；　however；　failed
him。　That　an　inordinate　jealousy　argued　an　overpowering　love；
solved　his　problem　until　he　tried　to　fit　the　proposition　to
Clara's　character。　He　had　discerned　nothing　southern　in　her。
Latterly；　with　the　blushing　Day　in　prospect；　she　had　contracted
and　frozen。　There　was　no　reading　either　of　her　or　of　the　mystery。

In　the　morning；　at　the　breakfast…table；　a　confession　of
sleeplessness　was　general。　Excepting　Miss　Dale　and　Dr。　Middleton；
none　had　slept　a　wink。　〃I；　sir；〃　the　Doctor　replied　to　Sir
Willoughby；　〃slept　like　a　lexicon　in　your　library　when　Mr。
Whitford　and　I　are　out　of　it。〃

Vernon　incidentally　mentioned　that　he　had　been　writing　through　the
night。

〃You　fellows　kill　yourselves；〃　Sir　Willoughby　reproved　him。　〃For
my　part；　I　make　it　a　principle　to　get　through　my　work　without
self…slaughter。〃

Clara　watched　her　father　for　a　symptom　of　ridicule。　He　gazed
mildly　on　the　systematic　worker。　She　was　unable　to　guess　whether
she　would　have　in　him　an　ally　or　a　judge。　The　latter；　she　feared。
Now　that　she　had　embraced　the　strife；　she　saw　the　division　of　the
line　where　she　stood　from　that　one　where　the　world　places　girls
who　are　affianced　wives；　her　father　could　hardly　be　with　her；　it
had　gone　too　far。　He　loved　her；　but　he　would　certainly　take　her　to
be　moved　by　a　maddish　whim；　he　would　not　try　to　understand　her
case。　The　scholar's　detestation　of　a　disarrangement　of　human
affairs　that　had　been　by　miracle　contrived　to　run　smoothly；　would
of　itself　rank　him　against　her；　and　with　the　world　to　back　his
view　of　her；　he　might　behave　like　a　despotic　father。　How　could　she
defend　herself　before　him？　At　one　thought　of　Sir　Willoughby；　her
tongue　made　ready；　and　feminine　craft　was　alert　to　prompt　it；　but
to　her　father　she　could　imagine　herself　opposing　only　dumbness　and
obstinacy。

〃It　is　not　exactly　the　same　kind　of　work；〃　she　said。

Dr　Middleton　rewarded　her　with　a　bushy　eyebrow's　beam　of　his
revolting　humour　at　the　baronet's　notion　of　work。

So　little　was　needed　to　quicken　her　that　she　sunned　herself　in　the
beam；　coaxing　her　father's　eyes　to　stay　with　hers　as　long　as　she
could；　and　beginning　to　hope　he　might　be　won　to　her　side；　if　she
confessed　she　had　been　more　in　the　wrong　than　she　felt；　owned　to
him；　that　is；　her　error　in　not　earlier　disturbing　his　peace。

〃I　do　not　say　it　is　the　same；〃　observed　Sir　Willoughby；　bowing　to
their　alliance　of　opinion。　〃My　poor　work　is　for　the　day；　and
Vernon's；　no　doubt；　for　the　day　to　come。　I　contend；　nevertheless；
for　the　preservation　of　health　as　the　chief　implement　of　work。〃

〃Of　continued　work；　there　I　agree　with　you；〃　said　Dr。　Middleton；
cordially。

Clara's　heart　sunk；　so　little　was　needed　to　deaden　her。

Accuse　her　of　an　overweening　antagonism　to　her　betrothed；　yet
remember　that　though　the　words　had　not　been　uttered　to　give　her
good　reason　for　it；　nature　reads　nature；　captives　may　be　stript　of
everything　save　that　power　to　read　their　tyrant；　remember　also
that　she　was　not；　as　she　well　knew；　blameless；　her　rage　at　him　was
partly　against　herself

The　rising　from　table　left　her　to　Sir　Willoughby。　She　swam　away
after　Miss　Dale；　exclaiming：　〃The　laboratory！　Will　you　have　me
for　a　companion　on　your　walk　to　see　your　father？　One　breathes
earth　and　heaven　to…day　out　of　doors。　Isn't　it　Summer　with　a
Spring　Breeze？　I　will　wander　about　your　garden　and　not　hurry　your
visit；　I　promise。〃

〃I　shall　be　very　happy　indeed。　But　I　am　going　immediately；〃　said
Laetitia；　seeing　Sir　Willoughby　hovering　to　snap　up　his　bride。

〃Yes；　and　a　garden…hat　and　I　am　on　the　march。〃

〃I　will　wait　for　you　on　the　terrace。〃

〃You　will　not　have　to　wait。〃

〃Five　minutes　at　the　most；〃　Sir　Willoughby　said　to　Laetitia；　and
she　passed　out；　leaving　them　alone　together。

〃Well；　and　my　love！〃　he　addressed　his　bride　almost　huggingly；　〃and
what　is　the　story？　and　how　did　you　succeed　with　old　Vernon
yesterday？　He　will　and　he　won't？　He's　a　very　woman　in　these
affairs。　I　can't　forgive　him　for　giving　you　a　headache。　You　were
found　weeping。〃

〃Yes；　I　cried；〃　said　Clara。

〃And　now　tell　me　about　it。　You　know；　my　dear　girl；　whether　he　does
or　doesn't；　our　keeping　him　somewhere　in　the　neighbourhood
perhaps　not　in　the　housethat　is　the　material　point。　It　can
hardly　be　necessary　in　these　days　to　urge　marriages　on。　I'm　sure
the　country　is　over　。。。　Most　marriages　ought　to　be　celebrated　with
the　funeral　knell！〃

〃I　think　so；〃　said　Clara。

〃It　will　come　to　this；　that　marriages　of　consequence；　and　none　but
those；　will　be　hailed　with　joyful　peals。〃

〃Do　not　say　such　things　in　public；　Willoughby。〃

〃Only　to　you；　to　you！　Don't　think　me　likely　to　expose　myself　to
the　world。　Well；　and　I　sounded　Miss　Dale；　and　there　will　be　no
violent　obstacle。　And　now　about　Vernon？〃

〃I　will　speak　to　you；　Willoughby；　when　I　return　from　my　walk　with
Miss　Dale；　soon　after　twelve。〃

〃Twelve！〃　said　he

〃I　name　an　hour。　It　seems　childish。　I　can　explain　it。　But　it　is
named；　I　cannot　deny；　because　I　am　a　rather　childish　person
perhaps；　and　have　it　prescribed　to　me　to　delay　my　speaking　for　a
certain　length　of　time。　I　may　tell　you　at　once　that　Mr。　Whitford
is　not　to　be　persuaded　by　me；　and　the　breaking　of　our　engagement
would　not　induce　him　to　remain。〃

〃Vernon　used　those　words？〃

〃It　was　I。〃

〃'The　breaking　of　our　engagement！'　Come　into　the　laboratory；　my
love。〃

〃I　shall　not　have　time。〃

〃Time　shall　stop　rather　than　interfere　with　our　conversation！　'The
breaking　。。。'！　But　it's　a　sort　of　sacrilege　to　speak　of　it。〃

〃That　I　feel；　yet　it　has　to　be　spoken　of〃

〃Sometimes？　Why？　I　can't　conceive　the　occasion。　You　know；　to　me；
Clara；　plighted　faith；　the　affiancing　of　two　lovers；　is　a　piece　of
religion。　I　rank　it　as　holy　as　marriage；　nay；　to　me　i