the egoist-第50部分

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His　fine　unruffled　air；　as　of　a　mountain　in　still　morning　beams；
made　Clara　not　indisposed　to　a　preliminary　scene　with　Willoughby
that　might　save　her　from　distressing　him；　but　she　could　not　stop
Willoughby；　as　little　could　she　look　an　invitation。　He　stood　in
the　Hall；　holding　Vernon　by　the　arm。　She　passed　him；　he　did　not
speak；　and　she　entered　the　library。

〃What　now；　my　dear？　what　is　it？〃　said　Dr。　Middleton；　seeing　that
the　door　was　shut　on　them。

〃Nothing；　papa；〃　she　replied；　calmly。

〃You've　not　locked　the　door；　my　child？　You　turned　something　there：
try　the　handle。〃

〃I　assure　you；　papa；　the　door　is　not　locked。〃

〃Mr。　Whitford　will　be　here　instantly。　We　are　engaged　on　tough
matter。　Women　have　not；　and　opinion　is　universal　that　they　never
will　have；　a　conception　of　the　value　of　time。〃

〃We　are　vain　and　shallow；　my　dear　papa。〃

〃No；　no；　not　you；　Clara。　But　I　suspect　you　to　require　to　learn　by
having　work　in　progress　how　important　is　。。。　is　a　quiet
commencement　of　the　day's　task。　There　is　not　a　scholar　who　will
not　tell　you　so。　We　must　have　a　retreat。　These　invasions！So　you
intend　to　have　another　ride　to…day？　They　do　you　good。　To…morrow　we
dine　with　Mrs。　Mountstuart　Jenkinson；　an　estimable　person　indeed；
though　I　do　not　perfectly　understand　our　accepting。You　have　not
to　accuse　me　of　sitting　over　wine　last　night；　my　Clara！　I　never　do
it；　unless　I　am　appealed　to　for　my　judgement　upon　a　wine。〃

〃I　have　come　to　entreat　you　to　take　me　away；　papa。〃

In　the　midst　of　the　storm　aroused　by　this　renewal　of　perplexity；　
Dr　Middleton　replaced　a　book　his　elbow　had　knocked　over　in　his
haste　to　dash　the　hair　off　his　forehead；　crying：　〃Whither？　To　what
spot？　That　reading　of　guide…books；　and　idle　people's　notes　of
Travel；　and　picturesque　correspondence　in　the　newspapers；
unsettles　man　and　maid。　My　objection　to　the　living　in　hotels　is
known。　I　do　not　hesitate　to　say　that　I　do　cordially　abhor　it。　I
have　had　penitentially　to　submit　to　it　in　your　dear　mother's　time；
＇Greek＇；　up　to　the　full　ten　thousand　times。　But　will　you　not
comprehend　that　to　the　older　man　his　miseries　are　multiplied　by
his　years？　But　is　it　utterly　useless　to　solicit　your　sympathy　with
an　old　man；　Clara？〃

〃General　Darleton　will　take　us　in；　papa。〃

〃His　table　is　detestable。　I　say　nothing　of　that；　but　his　wine　is
poison。　Let　that　passI　should　rather　say；　let　it　not　pass！
but　our　political　views　are　not　in　accord。　True；　we　are　not　under
the　obligation　to　propound　them　in　presence；　but　we　are　destitute
of　an　opinion　in　common。　We　have　no　discourse。　Military　men　have
produced；　or　diverged　in；　noteworthy　epicures；　they　are　often
devout；　they　have　blossomed　in　lettered　men：　they　are　gentlemen；
the　country　rightly　holds　them　in　honour；　but；　in　fine；　I　reject
the　proposal　to　go　to　General　Darleton。Tears？〃

〃No；　papa。〃

〃I　do　hope　not。　Here　we　have　everything　man　can　desire；　without
contest；　an　excellent　host。　You　have　your　transitory　tea…cup
tempests；　which　you　magnify　to　hurricanes；　in　the　approved　
historic　manner　of　the　book　of　Cupid。　And　all　the　better；　I
repeat；　it　is　the　better　that　you　should　have　them　over　in　the
infancy　of　the　alliance。　Come　in！〃　Dr。　Middleton　shouted　cheerily
in　response　to　a　knock　at　the　door。

He　feared　the　door　was　locked：　he　had　a　fear　that　his　daughter
intended　to　keep　it　locked。

〃Clara！〃　he　cried。

She　reluctantly　turned　the　handle；　and　the　ladies　Eleanor　and
Isabel　came　in；　apologizing　with　as　much　coherence　as　Dr。
Middleton　ever　expected　from　their　sex。　They　wished　to　speak　to
Clara；　but　they　declined　to　take　her　away。　In　vain　the　Rev。
Doctor　assured　them　she　was　at　their　service；　they　protested　that
they　had　very　few　words　to　say；　and　would　not　intrude　one　moment
further　than　to　speak　them。

Like　a　shy　deputation　of　young　scholars　before　the　master；　these
very　words　to　come　were　preceded　by　none　at　all；　a　dismal　and
trying　cause；　refreshing　however　to　Dr。　Middleton；　who　joyfully
anticipated　that　the　ladies　could　be　induced　to　take　away　Clara
when　they　had　finished。

〃We　may　appear　to　you　a　little　formal；〃　Miss　Isabel　began；　and
turned　to　her　sister。

〃We　have　no　intention　to　lay　undue　weight　on　our　mission；　if
mission　it　can　be　called；〃　said　Miss　Eleanor。

〃Is　it　entrusted　to　you　by　Willoughby？〃　said　Clara。

〃Dear　child；　that　you　may　know　it　all　the　more　earnest　with　us；
and　our　personal　desire　to　contribute　to　your　happiness：
therefore　does　Willoughby　entrust　the　speaking　of　it　to　us。〃

Hereupon　the　sisters　alternated　in　addressing　Clara；　and　she　gazed
from　one　to　the　other；　piecing　fragments　of　empty　signification
to　get　the　full　meaning　when　she　might。

〃And　in　saying　your　happiness；　dear　Clara；　we　have　our
Willoughby's　in　view；　which　is　dependent　on　yours。〃

〃And　we　never　could　sanction　that　our　own　inclinations　should
stand　in　the　way。〃

〃No。　We　love　the　old　place；　and　if　it　were　only　our　punishment
for　loving　it　too　idolatrously；　we　should　deem　it　ground　enough
for　our　departure。〃

〃Without；　really；　an　idea　of　unkindness；　none；　not　any。〃

〃Young　wives　naturally　prefer　to　be　undisputed　queens　of　their
own　establishment。〃

〃Youth　and　age！〃

〃But　I；〃　said　Clara；　〃have　never　mentioned；　never　had　a　
thought。　。　。〃

〃You　have；　dear　child；　a　lover　who　in　his　solicitude　for　your
happiness　both　sees　what　you　desire　and　what　is　due　to　you。〃

〃And　for　us；　Clara；　to　recognize　what　is　due　to　you　is　to　act　on
it。〃

〃Besides；　dear；　a　sea…side　cottage　has　always　been　one　of　our
dreams。〃

〃We　have　not　to　learn　that　we　are　a　couple　of　old　maids；
incongruous　associates　for　a　young　wife　in　the　government　of　a
great　house。〃

〃With　our　antiquated　notions；　questions　of　domestic　management　
might　arise；　and　with　the　best　will　in　the　world　to　be
harmonious！〃

〃So；　dear　Clara；　consider　it　settled。〃

〃From　time　to　time　gladly　shall　we　be　your　guests。〃

〃Your　guests；　dear；　not　censorious　critics。〃

〃And　you　think　me　such　an　Egoist！dear　ladies！　The　suggestion　
of　so　cruel　a　piece　of　selfishness　wounds　me。　I　would　not　have　had
you　leave　the　Hall。　I　like　your　society；　I　respect　you。　My
complaint；　if　I　had　one；　would　be；　that　you　do　not　sufficiently
assert　yourselves。　I　could　have　wished　you　to　be　here　for　an
example　to　me。　I　would　not　have　allowed　you　to　go。　What　can　he
think　of　me！　Did　Willoughby　speak　of　it　this　morning？〃

It　was　hard　to　distinguish　which　was　the　completer　dupe　of　these
two　echoes　of　one　another　in　worship　of　a　family　idol。

〃Willoughby；〃　Miss　Eleanor　presented　herself　to　be　stamped　with
the　title　hanging　ready　for　the　first　that　should　open　her　lips；
〃our　Willoughby　is　observanthe　is　ever　generousand　he　is　not
less　forethoughtful。　His　arrangement　is　for　our　good　on　all
sides。〃

〃An　index　is　enough；〃　said　Miss　Isabel；　appearing　in　her　turn　the
monster　dupe。

〃You　will　not　have　to　leave；　dear　ladies。　Were　I　mistress　here　I
should　oppose　it。〃

〃Willoughby　blames　himself　for　not　reassuring　you　before。〃

〃Indeed　we　blame　ourselves　for　not　undertaking　to　go。〃

〃Did　he　speak　of　it　first　this　morning？〃　said　Clara；　but　she　could
draw　no　reply　to　that　from　them。　They　resumed　the　duet；　and　she
resigned　herself　to　have　her　cars　boxed　with　nonsense。

〃So；　it　is　understood？〃　said　Miss　Eleanor。

〃I　see　your　kindness；　ladies。〃

〃And　I　am　to　be　Aunt　Eleanor　again？〃

〃And　I　Aunt　Isabel？〃

Clara　could　have　wrung　her　hands　at　the　impediment　which
prohibited　her　delicacy　from　telling　them　why　she　could　not　name
them　so　as　she　had　done　in　the　earlier　days　of　Willoughby's　
courtship。　She　kissed　them　warmly；　ashamed　of　kissing；　though　the
warmth　was　real。

They　retired　with　a　flow　of　excuses　to　Dr。　Middleton　for
disturbing　him。　He　stood　at　the　door　to　bow　them　out；　and　holding
the　door　for　Clara；　to　wind　up　the　procession；　discovered　her　at　a
far　corner　of　the　room。

He　was　debating　upon　the　advisability　of　leaving　her　there；　when
Vernon　Whitford　crossed　the　hall　from　the　laboratory　door；　a
mirror　of　himself　in　his　companion　air　of　discomposure。

That　was　not　important；　so　long　as　Vernon　was　a　check　on　Clara；
but　the　moment　Clara；　thus　baffled；　moved　to　quit　the　library；　Dr。
Middleton　felt　the　horror　of　having　an　uncomfortable　face
opposite。

〃No　botheration；　I　hope？　It's　the　worst　thing　possible　to　work　on。
Where　have　you　been？　I　suspect　your　weak　point　is　not　to　arm
yourself　in　triple　brass　against　bother　and　worry；　and　no　good
work　can　you　do　unless　you　do。　You　have　come　out　of　that
laboratory。〃

〃I　have；　sir。Can　I　get　you　any　book？〃　Vernon　said　to　Clara。

She　thanked　him；　promising　to　depart　immediately。

〃Now　you　are　at　the　section　of　Italian　literature；　my　love；〃　said
Dr　Middleton。　〃Well；　Mr。　Whitford；　the　laboratoryah！where
the　amount　of　labour　done　within　the　space　of　a　year　would　not
stretch　an　electric　current　between　this　Hall　and　the　railway
station：　say；　four　miles；　which　I　presume　the　distance　to　be。
Well；　sir；　and　a　dilettantism　costly　in　time　and　machinery　is　as
ornamental　as　foxes'　tails　and　deers'　horns　to　an　independent
gentleman　whose　fellows　are　contented　with　the　latter　decorations
for　their　civic　wreath。　Willoughby；　let　me　remark；　has　recently
shown　himself　most　considerate　for　my　girl。　As　far　as　I　could
gatherI　have　been　listening　to　a　dialogue　of　ladieshe　is　as
generous　as　he　is　discreet。　There　are　certain　combats　in　which　to
be　the　one　to　succumb　is　to　claim　the　honours；and　that　is　what
women　will　not　learn。　I　doubt　their　seeing　the　glory　of　it。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　it；　I　have　been　with　Willoughby；〃　Vernon　said；
hastily；　to　shield　Clara　from　her　father's　allusive　attacks。　He
wished　to　convey　to　her　that　his　interview　with　Willoughby　had　not
been　profitable　in　her　interests；　and　that　she　had　better　at　once；
having　him　present　to　support　her；　pour　out　her　whole　heart　to　her
father。　But　how　was　it　to　be　conveyed？　She　would　not　meet　his
eyes；　and　he　was　too　poor　an　intriguer　to　be　ready　on　the　instant
to　deal　out　the　verbal　obscurities　which　are　transparencies　to
one。

〃I　shall　regret　it；　if　Willoughby　has　annoyed　you；　for　he　stands
high　in　my　favour；〃　said　Dr。　Middleton。

Clara　dropped　a　book。　Her　father　started　higher　than　the　nervo