the egoist-第71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！


With　one　motion　of　a　finger　she　set　the　man　rounding。

Flitch　halted；　he　was　very　regretful　of　the　termination　of　his
feast　of　pathos；　and　he　wished　to　relate　the　finding　of　the　purse；
but　he　could　not　encounter　Mrs。　Mountstuart's　look；　he　slouched
away　in　very　close　resemblance　to　the　ejected　Adam　of　illustrated
books。

〃It's　my　belief　that　naturalness　among　the　common　people　has　died
out　of　the　kingdom；〃　she　said。

Willoughby　charitably　apologized　for　him。　〃He　has　been　fuddling
himself。〃

Her　vigilant　considerateness　had　dealt　the　sensitive　gentleman　a
shock；　plainly　telling　him　she　had　her　ideas　of　his　actual
posture。　Nor　was　he　unhurt　by　her　superior　acuteness　and　her
display　of　authority　on　his　grounds。

He　said；　boldly；　as　he　weighed　the　purse；　half　tossing　it：　〃It's
not　unlike　Clara's。〃

He　feared　that　his　lips　and　cheeks　were　twitching；　and　as　he　grew
aware　of　a　glassiness　of　aspect　that　would　reflect　any　suspicion
of　a　keen…eyed　woman；　he　became　bolder　still！

〃Laetitia's；　I　know　it　is　not。　Hers　is　an　ancient　purse。〃

〃A　present　from　you！〃

〃How　do　you　hit　on　that；　my　dear　lady？〃

〃Deductively。〃

〃Well；　the　purse　looks　as　good　as　new　in　quality；　like　the　owner。

〃The　poor　dear　has　not　much　occasion　for　using　it。〃

〃You　are　mistaken：　she　uses　it　daily。〃

〃If　it　were　better　filled；　Sir　Willoughby；　your　old　scheme　might
be　arranged。　The　parties　do　not　appear　so　unwilling。　Professor
Crooklyn　and　I　came　on　them　just　now　rather　by　surprise；　and　I
assure　you　their　heads　were　close；　faces　meeting；　eyes　musing。〃

〃Impossible。〃

〃Because　when　they　approach　the　point；　you　won't　allow　it！
Selfish！〃

〃Now；〃　said　Willoughby；　very　animatedly；　〃question　Clara。　Now；
do；　my　dear　Mrs。　Mountstuart；　do　speak　to　Clara　on　that　head；　she
will　convince　you　I　have　striven　quite　recently　against　myself；　if
you　like。　I　have　instructed　her　to　aid　me；　given　her　the　fullest
instructions；　carte　blanche。　She　cannot　possibly　have　a　doubt。　I
may　look　to　her　to　remove　any　you　may　entertain　from　your　mind　on
the　subject。　I　have　proposed；　seconded；　and　chorussed　it；　and　it
will　not　be　arranged。　If　you　expect　me　to　deplore　that　fact；　I
can　only　answer　that　my　actions　are　under　my　control；　my　feelings
are　not。　I　will　do　everything　consistent　with　the　duties　of　a　man
of　honour　perpetually　running　into　fatal　errors　because　he　did　not
properly　consult　the　dictates　of　those　feelings　at　the　right
season。　I　can　violate　them：　but　I　can　no　more　command　them　than　I
can　my　destiny。　They　were　crushed　of　old；　and　so　let　them　be　now。
Sentiments　we　won't　discuss；　though　you　know　that　sentiments　have
a　bearing　on　social　life：　are　factors；　as　they　say　in　their
later　jargon。　I　never　speak　of　mine。　To　you　I　could。　It　is　not
necessary。　If　old　Vernon；　instead　of　flattening　his　chest　at　a
desk；　had　any　manly　ambition　to　take　part　in　public　affairs；　she
would　be　the　woman　for　him。　I　have　called　her　my　Egeria。　She　would
be　his　Cornelia。　One　could　swear　of　her　that　she　would　have　noble
offspring！But　old　Vernon　has　had　his　disappointment；　and　will
moan　over　it　up　to　the　end。　And　she？　So　it　appears。　I　have　tried；
yes；　personally：　without　effect。　In　other　matters　I　may　have
influence　with　her：　not　in　that　one。　She　declines。　She　will　live
and　die　Laetitia　Dale。　We　are　alone：　I　confess　to　you；　I　love　the
name。　It's　an　old　song　in　my　ears。　Do　not　be　too　ready　with　a　name
for　me。　Believe　meI　speak　from　my　experience　hithertothere
is　a　fatality　in　these　things。　I　cannot　conceal　from　my　poor　girl
that　this　fatality　exists　。　。　。〃

〃Which　is　the　poor　girl　at　present？〃　said　Mrs。　Mountstuart；　cool
in　a　mystification。

〃And　though　she　will　tell　you　that　I　have　authorized　and　Clara　
Middletondone　as　much　as　man　can　to　institute　the　union　you
suggest；　she　will　own　that　she　is　conscious　of　the　presence　of
thisfatality；　I　call　it　for　want　of　a　better　title　between　us。
It　drives　her　in　one　direction；　me　in　anotheror　would；　if　I
submitted　to　the　pressure。　She　is　not　the　first　who　has　been
conscious　of　it。〃

〃Are　we　laying　hold　of　a　third　poor　girl？〃　said　Mrs。　Mountstuart。　
〃Ah！　I　remember。　And　I　remember　we　used　to　call　it　playing　fast
and　loose　in　those　days；　not　fatality。　It　is　very　strange。　It　may
be　that　you　were　unblushingly　courted　in　those　days；　and
excusable；　and　we　all　supposed　。。。　but　away　you　went　for　your
tour。〃

〃My　mother's　medical　receipt　for　me。　Partially　it　succeeded。　She
was　for　grand　marriages：　not　I。　I　could　make；　I　could　not　be；　a
sacrifice。　And　then　I　went　in　due　time　to　Dr。　Cupid　on　my　own
account。　She　has　the　kind　of　attraction。　。　。　But　one　changes！　On
revient　toujours。　First　we　begin　with　a　liking；　then　we　give
ourselves　up　to　the　passion　of　beauty：　then　comes　the　serious
question　of　suitableness　of　the　mate　to　match　us；　and　perhaps　we
discover　that　we　were　wiser　in　early　youth　than　somewhat　later。
However；　she　has　beauty。　Now；　Mrs　Mountstuart；　you　do　admire　her。
Chase　the　idea　of　the　'dainty　rogue'　out　of　your　view　of　her：　you
admire　her：　she　is　captivating；　she　has　a　particular　charm　of　her
own；　nay；　she　has　real　beauty。〃

Mrs。　Mountstuart　fronted　him　to　say：　〃Upon　my　word；　my　dear　Sir
Willoughby；　I　think　she　has　it　to　such　a　degree　that　I　don't　know
the　man　who　could　hold　out　against　her　if　she　took　the　field。　She
is　one　of　the　women　who　are　dead　shots　with　men。　Whether　it's　in
their　tongues　or　their　eyes；　or　it's　an　effusion　and　an　atmosphere
whatever　it　is；　it's　a　spell；　another　fatality　for　you！〃

〃Animal；　not　spiritual！〃

〃Oh；　she　hasn't　the　head　of　Letty　Dale。〃

Sir　Willoughby　allowed　Mrs。　Mountstuart　to　pause　and　follow　her
thoughts。

〃Dear　me！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　noticed　a　change　in　Letty　Dale　last
night；　and　to…day。　She　looked　fresher　and　younger；　extremely
well：　which　is　not　what　I　can　say　for　you；　my　friend。　Fatalizing
is　not　good　for　the　complexion。〃

〃Don't　take　away　my　health；　pray；〃　cried　Willoughby；　with　a
snapping　laugh。

〃Be　careful；〃　said　Mrs。　Mountstuart。　〃You　have　got　a　sentimental　
tone。　You　talk　of　'feelings　crushed　of　old'。　It　is　to　a　woman；　not
to　a　man　that　you　speak；　but　that　sort　of　talk　is　a　way　of　making
the　ground　slippery。　I　listen　in　vain　for　a　natural　tongue；　and
when　I　don't　hear　it；　I　suspect　plotting　in　men。　You　show　your
under…teeth　too　at　times　when　you　draw　in　a　breath；　like　a
condemned　high…caste　Hindoo　my　husband　took　me　to　see　in　a　jail　in
Calcutta；　to　give　me　some　excitement　when　I　was　pining　for
England。　The　creature　did　it　regularly　as　he　breathed；　you　did　it
last　night；　and　you　have　been　doing　it　to…day；　as　if　the　air　cut
you　to　the　quick。　You　have　been　spoilt。　You　have　been　too　much
anointed。　What　I've　just　mentioned　is　a　sign　with　me　of　a　settled
something　on　the　brain　of　a　man。〃

〃The　brain？〃　said　Sir　Willoughby；　frowning。

〃Yes；　you　laugh　sourly；　to　look　at；〃　said　she。　〃Mountstuart　told
me　that　the　muscles　of　the　mouth　betray　men　sooner　than　the　eyes；
when　they　have　cause　to　be　uneasy　in　their　minds。〃

〃But；　ma'am；　I　shall　not　break　my　word；　I　shall　not；　not；　I
intend；　I　have　resolved　to　keep　it。　I　do　not　fatalize；　let　my
complexion　be　black　or　white。　Despite　my　resemblance　to　a
high…caste　malefactor　of　the　Calcutta　prison…wards　。。。〃

〃Friend！　friend！　you　know　how　I　chatter。〃

He　saluted　her　finger…ends。　〃Despite　the　extraordinary　display　of
teeth；　you　will　find　me　go　to　execution　with　perfect　calmness；
with　a　resignation　as　good　as　happiness。〃

〃Like　a　Jacobite　lord　under　the　Georges。〃

〃You　have　told　me　that　you　wept　to　read　of　one：　like　him；　then。　My
principles　have　not　changed；　if　I　have。　When　I　was　younger；　I　had
an　idea　of　a　wife　who　would　be　with　me　in　my　thoughts　as　well　as
aims：　a　woman　with　a　spirit　of　romance；　and　a　brain　of　solid
sense。　I　shall　sooner　or　later　dedicate　myself　to　a　public　life；
and　shall；　I　suppose；　want　the　counsellor　or　comforter　who　ought
always　to　be　found　at　home。　It　may　be　unfortunate　that　I　have　the
ideal　in　my　head。　But　I　would　never　make　rigorous　demands　for
specific　qualities。　The　cruellest　thing　in　the　world　is　to　set　up
a　living　model　before　a　wife；　and　compel　her　to　copy　it。　In　any
case；　here　we　are　upon　the　road：　the　die　is　cast。　I　shall　not
reprieve　myself。　I　cannot　release　her。　Marriage　represents　facts；
courtship　fancies。　She　will　be　cured　by…and…by　of　that　coveting　of
everything　that　I　do；　feel；　think；　dream；　imagine　。　。　。
ta…ta…ta…ta　ad　infinitum。　Laetitia　was　invited　here　to　show　her
the　example　of　a　fixed　charactersolid　as　any　concrete　substance
you　would　choose　to　build　on；　and　not　a　whit　the　less　feminine。〃

〃Ta…ta…ta…ta　ad　infinitum。　You　need　not　tell　me　you　have　a　design
in　all　that　you　do；　Willoughby　Patterne。〃

〃You　smell　the　autocrat？　Yes；　he　can　mould　and　govern　the
creatures　about　him。　His　toughest　rebel　is　himself！　If　you　see
Clara　。。。　You　wish　to　see　her；　I　think　you　said？〃

〃Her　behaviour　to　Lady　Busshe　last　night　was　queer。〃

〃If　you　will。　She　makes　a　mouth　at　porcelain。　Toujours　la
porcelaine！　For　me；　her　pettishness　is　one　of　her　charms；　I
confess　it。　Ten　years　younger；　I　could　not　have　compared　them。〃

〃Whom？〃

〃Laetitia　and　Clara。〃

〃Sir　Willoughby；　in　any　case；　to　quote　you；　here　we　are　all　upon
the　road；　and　we　must　act　as　if　events　were　going　to　happen；　and　I
must　ask　her　to　help　me　on　the　subject　of　my　wedding…present；　for
I　don't　want　to　have　her　making　mouths　at　mine；　however　pretty
and　she　does　it　prettily。〃

〃'Another　dedicatory　offering　to　the　rogue　in　me！'　she　says　of
porcelain。〃

〃Then　porcelain　it　shall　not　be。　I　mean　to　consult　her；　I　have
come　determined　upon　a　chat　with　her。　I　think　I　understand。　But
she　produces　false　impressions　on　those　who　don't　know　you　both。
'I　shall　have　that　porcelain　back；'　says　Lady　Busshe　to　me；　when
we　were　shaking　hands　last　night：　'I　think；'　says　she；　'it　should
have　been　the　Willow　Pattern。'　And　she　really　said：　'He's　in　for
being　jilted　a　second　time！'〃

Sir　Willoughby　restrained　a　bound　of　his　body　that　would　have　sent
him　up　some　feet　into　the　air。　He　felt　his　skull　thundered　at
within。

〃Rather　than　that　it　should　fan　upon　her！〃　ejaculated　he；
correcting　his　resemblance　to　the　high…caste　culprit　as　soon　as