the egoist-第35部分

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any　truth　in　me！〃　Flitch　implored　succour　of　Mrs　Mountstuart。

〃Drive　straight；〃　she　said；　and　braced　him。

His　narrative　was　then　direct。

Near　Piper's　mill；　where　the　Wicker　brook　crossed　the　Rebdon　
road；　one　of　Hoppner's　wagons；　overloaded　as　usual；　was　forcing
the　horses　uphill；　when　Flitch　drove　down　at　an　easy　pace；　and　saw
himself　between　Hoppner's　cart　come　to　a　stand　and　a　young　lady
advancing：　and　just　then　the　carter　smacks　his　whip；　the　horses
pull　half　mad。　The　young　lady　starts　behind　the　cart；　and　up　jumps
the　colonel；　and；　to　save　the　young　lady；　Flitch　dashed　ahead　and
did　save　her；　he　thanked　Heaven　for　it；　and　more　when　he　came　to
see　who　the　young　lady　was。

〃She　was　alone？〃　said　Sir　Willoughby　in　tragic　amazement；　staring
at　Flitch。

〃Very　well；　you　saved　her；　and　you　upset　the　fly；〃　Mountstuart
jogged　him　on。

〃Bardett；　our　old　head…keeper；　was　a　witness；　my　lady；　had　to
drive　half　up　the　bank；　and　it's　trueover　the　fly　did　go；　and
the　vaws　it　shoots　out　against　the　twelfth　mile…stone；　just　as
though　there　was　the　chance　for　it！　for　nobody　else　was　injured；
and　knocked　against　anything　else；　it　never　would　have　flown　all
to　pieces；　so　that　it　took　Bardett　and　me　ten　minutes　to　collect
every　one；　down　to　the　smallest　piece　there　was；　and　he　said；　and
I　can't　help　thinking　myself；　there　was　a　Providence　in　it；　for　we
all　come　together　so　as　you　might　say　we　was　made　to　do　as　we
did。〃

〃So　then　Horace　adopted　the　prudent　course　of　walking　on　with　the
ladies　instead　of　trusting　his　limbs　again　to　this　capsizing　fly；〃
Sir　Willoughby　said　to　Mrs。　Mountstuart；　and　she　rejoined：　〃Lucky
that　no　one　was　hurt。〃

Both　of　them　eyed　the　nose　of　poor　Flitch；　and　simultaneously　they
delivered　a　verdict　in　〃Humph！〃

Mrs。　Mountstuart　handed　the　wretch　a　half…crown　from　her　purse。
Sir　Willoughby　directed　the　footman　in　attendance　to　unload　the
fly　and　gather　up　the　fragments　of　porcelain　carefully；　bidding
Flitch　be　quick　in　his　departing。

〃The　colonel's　wedding…present！　I　shall　call　to…morrow。〃　Mrs。
Mountstuart　waved　her　adieu。

〃Come　every　day！Yes；　I　suppose　we　may　guess　the　destination　of
the　vase。〃　He　bowed　her　off；　and　she　cried：

〃Well；　now；　the　gift　can　he　shared；　if　you're　either　of　you　for　a
division。〃　In　the　crash　of　the　carriage…wheels　he　heard；　〃At　any
rate　there　was　a　rogue　in　that　porcelain。〃

These　are　the　slaps　we　get　from　a　heedless　world。

As　for　the　vase；　it　was　Horace　De　Craye's　loss。　Wedding…present　he
would　have　to　produce；　and　decidedly　not　in　chips。　It　had　the　look
of　a　costly　vase；　but　that　was　no　question　for　the　moment：What
was　meant　by　Clara　being　seen　walking　on　the　high…road　alone？
What　snare；　traceable　ad　inferas；　had　ever　induced　Willoughby
Patterne　to　make　her　the　repository　and　fortress　of　his　honour！



CHAPTER　XVIII

Colonel　De　Craye

Clara　came　along　chatting　and　laughing　with　Colonel　De　Craye；
young　Crossjay's　hand　under　one　of　her　arms；　and　her　parasol
flashing；　a　dazzling　offender；　as　if　she　wished　to　compel　the
spectator　to　recognize　the　dainty　rogue　in　porcelain；　really
insufferably　fair：　perfect　in　height　and　grace　of　movement；　
exquisitely　tressed；　red…lipped；　the　colour　striking　out　to　a
distance　from　her　ivory　skin；　a　sight　to　set　the　woodland　dancing；
and　turn　the　heads　of　the　town；　though　beautiful；　a　jury　of　art
critics　might　pronounce　her　not　to　be。　Irregular　features　are
condemned　in　beauty。　Beautiful　figure；　they　could　say。　A
description　of　her　figure　and　her　walking　would　have　won　her　any
praises：　and　she　wore　a　dress　cunning　to　embrace　the　shape　and
flutter　loose　about　it；　in　the　spirit　of　a　Summer's　day。
Calypso…clad；　Dr。　Middleton　would　have　called　her。　See　the　silver
birch　in　a　breeze：　here　it　swells；　there　it　scatters；　and　it　is
puffed　to　a　round　and　it　streams　like　a　pennon；　and　now　gives　the
glimpse　and　shine　of　the　white　stem's　line　within；　now　hurries
over　it；　denying　that　it　was　visible；　with　a　chatter　along　the
sweeping　folds；　while　still　the　white　peeps　through。　She　had　the
wonderful　art　of　dressing　to　suit　the　season　and　the　sky。　To…day
the　art　was　ravishingly　companionable　with　her　sweet…lighted　face：
too　sweet；　too　vividly　meaningful　for　pretty；　if　not　of　the　strict
severity　for　beautiful。　Millinery　would　tell　us　that　she　wore　a
fichu　of　thin　white　muslin　crossed　in　front　on　a　dress　of　the　same
light　stuff；　trimmed　with　deep　rose。　She　carried　a　grey…silk
parasol；　traced　at　the　borders　with　green　creepers；　and　across　the
arm　devoted　to　Crossjay　a　length　of　trailing　ivy；　and　in　that　hand
a　bunch　of　the　first　long　grasses。　These　hues　of　red　rose　and　pale
green　ruffled　and　pouted　in　the　billowy　white　of　the　dress
ballooning　and　valleying　softly；　like　a　yacht　before　the　sail
bends　low；　but　she　walked　not　like　one　blown　against；　resembling
rather　the　day　of　the　South…west　driving　the　clouds；　gallantly
firm　in　commotion；　interfusing　colour　and　varying　in　her　features
from　laugh　to　smile　and　look　of　settled　pleasure；　like　the　heavens
above　the　breeze。

Sir　Willoughby；　as　he　frequently　had　occasion　to　protest　to　Clara；
was　no　poet：　he　was　a　more　than　commonly　candid　English　gentleman
in　his　avowed　dislike　of　the　poet's　nonsense；　verbiage；　verse；　not
one　of　those　latterly　terrorized　by　the　noise　made　about　the
fellow　into　silent　contempt；　a　sentiment　that　may　sleep；　and　has
not　to　be　defended。　He　loathed　the　fellow；　fought　the　fellow。　But
he　was　one　with　the　poet　upon　that　prevailing　theme　of　verse；　the
charms　of　women。　He　was；　to　his　ill…luck；　intensely　susceptible；
and　where　he　led　men　after　him　to　admire；　his　admiration　became　a
fury。　He　could　see　at　a　glance　that　Horace　De　Craye　admired　Miss
Middleton。　Horace　was　a　man　of　taste；　could　hardly；　could　not；
do　other　than　admire；　but　how　curious　that　in　the　setting　forth　of
Clara　and　Miss　Dale；　to　his　own　contemplation　and　comparison　of
them；　Sir　Willoughby　had　given　but　a　nodding　approbation　of　his
bride's　appearance！　He　had　not　attached　weight　to　it　recently。

Her　conduct；　and　foremost；　if　not　chiefly；　her　having　been
discovered；　positively　met　by　his　friend　Horace；　walking　on　the
high…road　without　companion　or　attendant；　increased　a　sense　of
pain　so　very　unusual　with　him　that　he　had　cause　to　be　indignant。
Coming　on　this　condition；　his　admiration　of　the　girl　who　wounded
him　was　as　bitter　a　thing　as　a　man　could　feel。　Resentment；　fed
from　the　main　springs　of　his　nature；　turned　it　to　wormwood；　and
not　a　whit　the　less　was　it　admiration　when　he　resolved　to　chastise
her　with　a　formal　indication　of　his　disdain。　Her　present　gaiety
sounded　to　him　like　laughter　heard　in　the　shadow　of　the　pulpit。

〃You　have　escaped！〃　he　said　to　her；　while　shaking　the　hand　of　his
friend　Horace　and　cordially　welcoming　him。　〃My　dear　fellow！　and；
by　the　way；　you　had　a　squeak　for　it；　I　hear　from　Flitch。〃

〃I；　Willoughby？　not　a　bit；〃　said　the　colonel；　〃we　get　into　a　fly
to　get；　out　of　it；　and　Flitch　helped　me　out　as　well　as　in；　good
fellow；　just　dusting　my　coat　as　he　did　it。　The　only　bit　of　bad
management　was　that　Miss　Middleton　had　to　step　aside　a　trifle
hurriedly。〃

〃You　knew　Miss　Middleton　at　once？〃

〃Flitch　did　me　the　favour　to　introduce　me。　He　first　precipitated　
me　at　Miss　Middleton's　feet；　and　then　he　introduced　me；　in　old
oriental　fashion；　to　my　sovereign。〃

Sir　Willoughby's　countenance　was　enough　for　his　friend　Horace。
Quarter…wheeling　to　Clara；　he　said：　〃　'Tis　the　place　I'm　to　occupy
for　life；　Miss　Middleton；　though　one　is　not　always　fortunate　to
have　a　bright　excuse　for　taking　it　at　the　commencement。〃

Clara　said：　〃Happily　you　were　not　hurt；　Colonel　De　Craye。〃

〃I　was　in　the　hands　of　the　Loves。　Not　the　Graces；　I'm　afraid；　I've
an　image　of　myself。　Dear；　no！　My　dear　Willoughby；　you　never　made
such　a　headlong　declaration　as　that。　It　would　have　looked　like　a
magnificent　impulse；　if　the　posture　had　only　been　choicer。　And
Miss　Middleton　didn't　laugh。　At　least　I　saw　nothing　but　pity。〃

〃You　did　not　write；〃　said　Willoughby。

〃Because　it　was　a　toss…up　of　a　run　to　Ireland　or　here；　and　I　came
here　not　to　go　there；　and；　by　the　way；　fetched　a　jug　with　me　to
offer　up　to　the　gods　of　ill…luck；　and　they　accepted　the
propitiation。〃

〃Wasn't　it　packed　in　a　box？〃

〃No；　it　was　wrapped　in　paper；　to　show　its　elegant　form。　I　caught
sight　of　it　in　the　shop　yesterday　and　carried　it　off　this　morning；
and　presented　it　to　Miss　Middleton　at　noon；　without　any　form　at
all。〃

Willoughby　knew　his　friend　Horace's　mood　when　the　Irish　tongue　in
him　threatened　to　wag。

〃You　see　what　may　happen；〃　he　said　to　Clara。

〃As　far　as　I　am　in　fault　I　regret　it；〃　she　answered。

〃Flitch　says　the　accident　occurred　through　his　driving　up　the　bank
to　save　you　from　the　wheels。〃

〃Flitch　may　go　and　whisper　that　down　the　neck　of　his　empty
whisky…flask；〃　said　Horace　De　Craye。　〃And　then　let　him　cork　it。〃

〃The　consequence　is　that　we　have　a　porcelain　vase　broken。　You
should　not　walk　on　the　road　alone；　Clara。　You　ought　to　have　a
companion；　always。　It　is　the　rule　here。〃

〃I　had　left　Miss　Dale　at　the　cottage。〃

〃You　ought　to　have　had　the　dogs。〃

〃Would　they　have　been　any　protection　to　the　vase？〃

Horace　De　Craye　crowed　cordially。

〃I'm　afraid　not；　Miss　Middleton。　One　must　go　to　the　witches　for
protection　to　vases；　and　they're　all　in　the　air　now；　having　their
own　way　with　us。　which　accounts　for　the　confusion　in　politics　and
society；　and　the　rise　in　the　price　of　broomsticks；　to　prove　it
true；　as　they　tell　us；　that　every　nook　and　corner　wants　a　mighty
sweeping。　Miss　Dale　looks　beaming；〃　said　De　Craye；　wishing　to
divert　Willoughby　from　his　anger　with　sense　as　well　as　nonsense。

〃You　have　not　been　visiting　Ireland　recently？〃　said　Sir
Willoughby。

〃No；　nor　making　acquaintance　with　an　actor　in　an　Irish　part　in　a
drama　cast　in　the　Green　Island。　〃'Tis　Flitch；　my　dear　Willoughby；　
has　been　and　stirred　the　native　in　me；　and　we'll　present　him　to
you　for　the　like　good　office　when　we　hear　after　a　number　of　years
that　you've　not　wrinkled　your　forehead　once　at　your　liege　lady。
Take　the　poor　old　dog　back　home；　will　you？　He's　crazed　to　be　at
the　Hall。　I　say；　Willoughby；　it　would　be　a　good　bit　of　work　to
take　him　ba