the egoist-第53部分

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unoccupied。　Vernon　had　his　own　notions　of　a　mechanical　service
and　a　precious　profit　he　derived　from　them！　but　the　other　two
seats　returned　the　stare　Willoughby　cast　at　their　backs　with　an
impudence　that　reminded　him　of　his　friend　Horace's　calling　for
a　book　of　the　trains；　when　a　minute　afterward　he　admitted　he　was
going　to　stay　at　the　Hall　another　two　days；　or　three。　The　man
possessed　by　jealousy　is　never　in　need　of　matter　for　it：　he
magnifies；　grass　is　jungle；　hillocks　are　mountains。　Willoughby's
legs　crossing　and　uncrossing　audibly；　and　his　tight…folded　arms
and　clearing　of　the　throat；　were　faint　indications　of　his　condition。

〃Are　you　in　fair　health　this　morning；　Willoughby？〃　Dr。　Middleton
said　to　him　after　he　had　closed　his　volumes。

〃The　thing　is　not　much　questioned　by　those　who　know　me
intimately；〃　he　replied。

〃Willoughby　unwell！〃　and；　〃He　is　health　incarnate！〃　exclaimed　the
ladies　Eleanor　and　Isabel。

Laetitia　grieved　for　him。　Sun…rays　on　a　pest…stricken　city；　she
thought；　were　like　the　smile　of　his　face。　She　believed　that　he
deeply　loved　Clara；　and　had　learned　more　of　her　alienation。

He　went　into　the　ball　to　look　into　the　well　for　the　pair　of
malefactors；　on　fire　with　what　he　could　not　reveal　to　a　soul。

De　Craye　was　in　the　housekeeper's　room；　talking　to　young　Crossjay；
and　Mrs。　Montague　just　come　up　to　breakfast。　He　had　heard　the　boy
chattering；　and　as　the　door　was　ajar　he　peeped　in；　and　was　invited
to　enter。　Mrs。　Montague　was　very　fond　of　hearing　him　talk：　he　paid
her　the　familiar　respect　which　a　lady　of　fallen　fortunes；　at　a
certain　period　after　the　fall；　enjoys　as　a　befittingly　sad
souvenir；　and　the　respectfulness　of　the　lord　of　the　house　was　more
chilling。

She　bewailed　the　boy's　trying　his　constitution　with　long　walks
before　he　had　anything　in　him　to　walk　on。

〃And　where　did　you　go　this　morning；　my　lad？〃　said　De　Craye。

〃Ah；　you　know　the　ground；　colonel；〃　said　Crossjay。　〃I　am　hungry！　I
shall　eat　three　eggs　and　some　bacon；　and　buttered　cakes；　and　jam；
then　begin　again；　on　my　second　cup　of　coffee。〃

〃It's　not　braggadocio；〃　remarked　Mrs。　Montague。　〃He　waits　empty
from　five　in　the　morning　till　nine；　and　then　he　comes　famished　to
my　table；　and　cats　too　much。〃

〃Oh！　Mrs。　Montague；　that　is　what　the　country　people　call
roemancing。　For；　Colonel　De　Craye；　I　had　a　bun　at　seven　o'clock。
Miss　Middleton　forced　me　to　go　and　buy　it〃

〃A　stale　bun；　my　boy？〃

〃Yesterday's：　there　wasn't　much　of　a　stopper　to　you　in　it；　like　a
new　bun。〃

〃And　where　did　you　leave　Miss　Middleton　when　you　went　to　buy　the
bun？　You　should　never　leave　a　lady；　and　the　street　of　a　country
town　is　lonely　at　that　early　hour。　Crossjay；　you　surprise　me。〃

〃She　forced　me　to　go；　colonel。　Indeed　she　did。　What　do　I　care　for
a　bun！　And　she　was　quite　safe。　We　could　hear　the　people　stirring　in
the　post…office；　and　I　met　our　postman　going　for　his　letter…bag。　I
didn't　want　to　go：　bother　the　bun！but　you　can't　disobey　Miss
Middleton。　I　never　want　to；　and　wouldn't。〃

〃There　we're　of　the　same　mind；〃　said　the　colonel；　and　Crossjay
shouted；　for　the　lady　whom　they　exalted　was　at　the　door。

〃You　will　be　too　tired　for　a　ride　this　morning；〃　De　Craye　said　to
her；　descending　the　stairs。

She　swung　a　bonnet　by　the　ribands。　〃I　don't　think　of　riding
to…day。〃

〃Why　did　you　not　depute　your　mission　to　me？〃

〃I　like　to　bear　my　own　burdens；　as　far　as　I　can。〃

〃Miss　Darleton　is　well？〃

〃I　presume　so。〃

〃Will　you　try　her　recollection　for　me？〃

〃It　will　probably　be　quite　as　lively　as　yours　was。〃

〃Shall　you　see　her　soon？〃

〃I　hope　so。〃

Sir　Willoughby　met　her　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　but　refrained　
from　giving　her　a　hand　that　shook。

〃We　shall　have　the　day　together；〃　he　said。

Clara　bowed。

At　the　breakfast…table　she　faced　a　clock。

De　Craye　took　out　his　watch。　〃You　are　five　and　a　half　minutes　too
slow　by　that　clock；　Willoughby。〃

〃The　man　omitted　to　come　from　Rendon　to　set　it　last　week；　Horace。
He　will　find　the　hour　too　late　here　for　him　when　he　does　come。〃

One　of　the　ladies　compared　the　time　of　her　watch　with　De　Craye's；
and　Clara　looked　at　hers　and　gratefully　noted　that　she　was　four
minutes　in　arrear。

She　left　the　breakfast…room　at　a　quarter　to　ten；　after　kissing　her
father。　Willoughby　was　behind　her。　He　had　been　soothed　by　thinking
of　his　personal　advantages　over　De　Craye；　and　he　felt　assured　that
if　he　could　be　solitary　with　his　eccentric　bride　and　fold　her　in
himself；　he　would；　cutting　temper　adrift；　be　the　man　he　had　been
to　her　not　so　many　days　back。　Considering　how　few　days　back；　his
temper　was　roused；　but　he　controlled　it。

They　were　slightly　dissenting　as　De　Craye　stepped　into　the　hall。

〃A　present　worth　examining；〃　Willoughby　said　to　her：　〃and　I　do　not
dwell　on　the　costliness。　Come　presently；　then。　I　am　at　your
disposal　all　day。　I　will　drive　you　in　the　afternoon　to　call　on
Lady　Busshe　to　offer　your　thanks：　but　you　must　see　it　first。　It　is
laid　out　in　the　laboratory。〃

〃There　is　time　before　the　afternoon；〃　said　Clara。

〃Wedding　presents？〃　interposed　De　Craye。

〃A　porcelain　service　from　Lady　Busshe；　Horace。〃

〃Not　in　fragments？　Let　me　have　a　look　at　it。　I'm　haunted　by　an
idea　that　porcelain　always　goes　to　pieces。　I'll　have　a　look　and
take　a　hint。　We're　in　the　laboratory；　Miss　Middleton。〃

He　put　his　arm　under　Willoughby's。　The　resistance　to　him　was
momentary：　Willoughby　had　the　satisfaction　of　the　thought　that　De
Craye　being　with　him　was　not　with　Clara；　and　seeing　her　giving
orders　to　her　maid　Barclay；　he　deferred　his　claim　on　her　company
for　some　short　period。

De　Craye　detained　him　in　the　laboratory；　first　over　the　China　cups
and　saucers；　and　then　with　the　latest　of　Londontales　of
youngest　Cupid　upon　subterranean　adventures；　having　high　titles　to
light　him。　Willoughby　liked　the　tale　thus　illuminated；　for　without
the　title　there　was　no　special　savour　in　such　affairs；　and　it
pulled　down　his　betters　in　rank。　He　was　of　a　morality　to　reprobate
the　erring　dame　while　he　enjoyed　the　incidents。　He　could　not　help
interrupting　De　Craye　to　point　at　Vernon　through　the　window；
striding　this　way　and　that；　evidently　on　the　hunt　for　young
Crossjay。　〃No　one　here　knows　how　to　manage　the　boy　except　myself
But　go　on；　Horace；〃　he　said；　checking　his　contemptuous　laugh；　and
Vernon　did　look　ridiculous；　out　there　half…drenched　already　in　a
white　rain；　again　shuffled　off　by　the　little　rascal。　It　seemed
that　he　was　determined　to　have　his　runaway：　he　struck　up　the
avenue　at　full　pedestrian　racing　pace。

〃A　man　looks　a　fool　cutting　after　a　cricket…ball；　but；　putting　on
steam　in　a　storm　of　rain　to　catch　a　young　villain　out　of　sight；
beats　anything　I've　witnessed；〃　Willoughby　resumed；　in　his
amusement。

〃Aiha！〃　said　De　Craye；　waving　a　hand　to　accompany　the　melodious
accent；　〃there　are　things　to　beat　that　for　fun。〃

He　had　smoked　in　the　laboratory；　so　Willoughby　directed　a　servant
to　transfer　the　porcelain　service　to　one　of　the　sitting…rooms　for
Clara's　inspection　of　it。

〃You're　a　bold　man；〃　De　Craye　remarked。　〃The　luck　may　be　with　you；
though。　I　wouldn't　handle　the　fragile　treasure　for　a　trifle。〃

〃I　believe　in　my　luck；〃　said　Willoughby。

Clara　was　now　sought　for。　The　lord　of　the　house　desired　her
presence　impatiently；　and　had　to　wait。　She　was　in　none　of　the
lower　rooms。　Barclay；　her　maid；　upon　interrogation；　declared　she
was　in　none　of　the　upper。　Willoughby　turned　sharp　on　De　Craye：　he
was　there。

The　ladies　Eleanor　and　Isabel　and　Miss　Dale　were　consulted。　They
had　nothing　to　say　about　Clara's　movements；　more　than　that　they
could　not　understand　her　exceeding　restlessness。　The　idea　of　her
being　out　of　doors　grew　serious；　heaven　was　black；　hard　thunder
rolled；　and　lightning　flushed　the　battering　rain。　Men　bearing
umbrellas；　shawls；　and　cloaks　were　dispatched　on　a　circuit　of　the
park。　De　Craye　said：　〃I'll　be　one。〃

〃No；〃　cried　Willoughby；　starting　to　interrupt　him；　〃I　can't　allow
it。〃

〃I've　the　scent　of　a　hound；　Willoughby；　I'll　soon　be　on　the
track。〃

〃My　dear　Horace；　I　won't　let　you　go。〃

〃Adieu；　dear　boy！　and　if　the　lady's　discoverable；　I'm　the　one　to
find　her。〃

He　stepped　to　the　umbrella…stand。　There　was　then　a　general
question　whether　Clara　had　taken　her　umbrella。　Barclay　said　she
had。　The　fact　indicated　a　wider　stroll　than　round　inside　the　park：
Crossjay　was　likewise　absent。　De　Craye　nodded　to　himself。

Willoughby　struck　a　rattling　blow　on　the　barometer。

〃Where's　Pollington？〃　he　called；　and　sent　word　for　his　man
Pollington　to　bring　big　fishing…boots　and　waterproof　wrappers。

An　urgent　debate　within　him　was　in　progress。

Should　he　go　forth　alone　on　his　chance　of　discovering　Clara　and
forgiving　her　under　his　umbrella　and　cloak？　or　should　he　prevent
De　Craye　from　going　forth　alone　on　the　chance　he　vaunted　so
impudently？

〃You　will　offend　me；　Horace；　if　you　insist；〃　he　said。

〃Regard　me　as　an　instrument　of　destiny；　Willoughby；〃　replied　De
Craye。

〃Then　we　go　in　company。〃

〃But　that's　an　addition　of　one　that　cancels　the　other　by
conjunction；　and's　worse　than　simple　division：　for　I　can't　trust
my　wits　unless　I　rely　on　them　alone；　you　see。〃

〃Upon　my　word；　you　talk　at　times　most　unintelligible　stuff；　to　be
frank　with　you；　Horace。　Give　it　in　English。〃

〃'Tis　not　suited；　perhaps；　to　the　genius　of　the　language；　for　I
thought　I　talked　English。〃

〃Oh；　there's　English　gibberish　as　well　as　Irish；　we　know！〃

〃And　a　deal　foolisher　when　they　do　go　at　it；　for　it　won't　bear
squeezing；　we　think；　like　Irish。〃

〃Where！〃　exclaimed　the　ladies；　〃where　can　she　be！　The　storm　is
terrible。〃

Laetitia　suggested　the　boathouse。

〃For　Crossjay　hadn't　a　swim　this　morning！〃　said　De　Craye。

No　one　reflected　on　the　absurdity　that　Clara　should　think　of
taking　Crossjay　for　a　swim　in　the　lake；　and　immediately　after　his
breakfast：　it　was　accepted　as　a　suggestion　at　least　that　she　and
Crossjay　had　gone　to　the　lake　for　a　row。

In　the　hopefulness　of　the　idea；　Willoughby　suffered　De　Craye　to　go
on　his　chance　unaccompanied。　He　was　near　chuckling。　He　projected　a
plan　for　dismissing　Crossjay　and　remaining　in　the　boathouse　with
Clara；　luxuriating　in　the　prestige　which　would　attach　to　him　for
seeking　and　findin