the egoist-第94部分

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〃Or　more！〃

〃He　would　still　be　tender〃

〃But　he　might　grow　outwardly　hard！〃

Both　ladies　looked　up　at　Dr。　Middleton；　as　they　revealed　the
dreadful　prospect。

〃It　is　the　story　told　of　corns！〃　he　said；　sad　as　they。

The　three　stood　drooping：　the　ladies　with　an　attempt　to　digest　his
remark；　the　Rev。　Doctor　in　dejection　lest　his　gallantry　should　no
longer　continue　to　wrestle　with　his　good　sense。　

He　was　rescued。

The　door　opened　and　a　footman　announced：

〃Mr。　Dale。〃

Miss　Eleanor　and　Miss　Isabel　made　a　sign　to　one　another　of
raising　their　hands。

They　advanced　to　him；　and　welcomed　him。

〃Pray　be　seated；　Mr。　Dale。　You　have　not　brought　us　bad　news　of　our
Laetitia？〃

〃So　rare　is　the　pleasure　of　welcoming　you　here；　Mr。　Dale；　that　we
are　in　some　alarm；　when；　as　we　trust；　it　should　be　matter　for
unmixed　congratulation。〃

〃Has　Doctor　Corney　been　doing　wonders？〃

〃I　am　indebted　to　him　for　the　drive　to　your　house；　ladies；〃　said
Mr。　Dale；　a　spare；　close…buttoned　gentleman；　with　an　Indian
complexion　deadened　in　the　sick…chamber。　〃It　is　unusual　for　me　to
stir　from　my　precincts。〃

〃The　Rev。　Dr。　Middleton。〃

Mr。　Dale　bowed。　He　seemed　surprised。

〃You　live　in　a　splendid　air；　sir；〃　observed　the　Rev。　Doctor。　

〃I　can　profit　little　by　it；　sir；〃　replied　Mr。　Dale。　He　asked　the
ladies：　〃Will　Sir　Willoughby　be　disengaged？〃

They　consulted。　〃He　is　with　Vernon。　We　will　send　to　him。〃

The　bell　was　rung。

〃I　have　had　the　gratification　of　making　the　acquaintance　of　your
daughter；　Mr。　Dale；　a　most　estimable　lady；〃　said　Dr。　Middleton。

Mr。　Dale　bowed。　〃She　is　honoured　by　your　praises；　sir。　To　the　best
of　my　beliefI　speak　as　a　fathershe　merits　them。　Hitherto　I
have　had　no　doubts。〃

〃Of　Laetitia？〃　exclaimed　the　ladies；　and　spoke　of　her　as
gentleness　and　goodness　incarnate。

〃Hitherto　I　have　devoutly　thought　so；〃　said　Mr。　Dale。

〃Surely　she　is　the　very　sweetest　nurse；　the　most　devoted　of
daughters。〃

〃As　far　as　concerns　her　duty　to　her　father；　I　can　say　she　is　that；
ladies。〃

〃In　all　her　relations；　Mr。　Dale！〃

〃It　is　my　prayer；〃　he　said。

The　footman　appeared。　He　announced　that　Sir　Willoughby　was　in　the
laboratory　with　Mr。　Whitford；　and　the　door　locked。

〃Domestic　business；〃　the　ladies　remarked。　〃You　know　Willoughby's　
diligent　attention　to　affairs；　Mr。　Dale。〃

〃He　is　well？〃　Mr。　Dale　inquired。

〃In　excellent　health。〃

〃Body　and　mind？〃

〃But；　dear　Mr。　Dale；　he　is　never　ill。〃

〃Ah！　for　one　to　hear　that　who　is　never　well！　And　Mr。　Whitford　is
quite　sound？〃

〃Sound？　The　question　alarms　me　for　myself；〃　said　Dr。　Middleton。
〃Sound　as　our　Constitution；　the　Credit　of　the　country；　the
reputation　of　our　Prince　of　poets。　I　pray　you　to　have　no　fears　for
him。〃

Mr。　Dale　gave　the　mild　little　sniff　of　a　man　thrown　deeper　into
perplexity。

He　said：　〃Mr。　Whitford　works　his　head；　he　is　a　hard　student；　he
may　not　be　always；　if　I　may　so　put　it；　at　home　on　worldly
affairs。〃

〃Dismiss　that　defamatory　legend　of　the　student；　Mr。　Dale；　and　take
my　word　for　it；　that　he　who　persistently　works　his　head　has　the
strongest　for　all　affairs。〃

〃Ah！　Your　daughter；　sir；　is　here？〃

〃My　daughter　is　here；　sir；　and　will　be　most　happy　to　present　her
respects　to　the　father　of　her　friend；　Miss　Dale。〃

〃They　are　friends？〃

〃Very　cordial　friends。〃

Mr。　Dale　administered　another　feebly　pacifying　sniff　to　himself。

〃Laetitia！〃　he　sighed；　in　apostrophe；　and　swept　his　forehead　with
a　hand　seen　to　shake。

The　ladies　asked　him　anxiously　whether　he　felt　the　heat　of　the
room；　and　one　offered　him　a　smelling…bottle。

He　thanked　them。　〃I　can　hold　out　until　Sir　Willoughby　comes。〃

〃We　fear　to　disturb　him　when　his　door　is　locked；　Mr。　Dale；　but；　if
you　wish　it；　we　will　venture　on　a　message。　You　have　really　no　bad
news　of　our　Laetitia？　She　left　us　hurriedly　this　morning；　without
any　leave…taking；　except　a　word　to　one　of　the　maids；　that　your
condition　required　her　immediate　presence。〃

〃My　condition！　And　now　her　door　is　locked　to　me！　We　have　spoken
through　the　door；　and　that　is　all。　I　stand　sick　and　stupefied
between　two　locked　doors；　neither　of　which　will　open；　it　appears；
to　give　me　the　enlightenment　I　need　more　than　medicine。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　cried　Dr。　Middleton；　〃I　am　struck　by　your　description　
of　your　position；　Mr。　Dale。　It　would　aptly　apply　to　our　humanity
of　the　present　generation；　and　were　these　the　days　when　I
sermonized；　I　could　propose　that　it　should　afford　me　an
illustration　for　the　pulpit。　For　my　part；　when　doors　are　closed　I
try　not　their　locks；　and　I　attribute　my　perfect　equanimity；　health
even；　to　an　uninquiring　acceptation　of　the　fact　that　they　are
closed　to　me。　I　read　my　page　by　the　light　I　have。　On　the　contrary；
the　world　of　this　day；　if　I　may　presume　to　quote　you　for　my
purpose；　is　heard　knocking　at　those　two　locked　doors　of　the　secret
of　things　on　each　side　of　us；　and　is　beheld　standing　sick　and
stupefied　because　it　has　got　no　response　to　its　knocking。　Why；
sir；　let　the　world　compare　the　diverse　fortunes　of　the　beggar　and
the　postman：　knock　to　give；　and　it　is　opened　unto　you：　knock　to
crave；　and　it　continues　shut。　I　say；　carry　a　letter　to　your　locked
door；　and　you　shall　have　a　good　reception：　but　there　is　none　that
is　handed　out。　For　which　reason　。　。　。〃

Mr。　Dale　swept　a　perspiring　forehead；　and　extended　his　hand　in
supplication。　〃I　am　an　invalid；　Dr。　Middleton；〃　he　said。　〃I　am
unable　to　cope　with　analogies。　I　have　but　strength　for　the　slow
digestion　of　facts。〃

〃For　facts；　we　are　bradypeptics　to　a　man；　sir。　We　know　not　yet　if
nature　be　a　fact　or　an　effort　to　master　one。　The　world　has　not　yet
assimilated　the　first　fact　it　stepped　on。　We　are　still　in　the
endeavour　to　make　good　blood　of　the　fact　of　our　being。〃　Pressing
his　hands　at　his　temples；　Mr。　Dale　moaned：　〃My　head　twirls；　I　did
unwisely　to　come　out。　I　came　on　an　impulse；　I　trust；　honourable。　I
am　unfitI　cannot　follow　you；　Dr。　Middleton。　Pardon　me。〃

〃Nay；　sir；　let　me　say；　from　my　experience　of　my　countrymen；　that
if　you　do　not　follow　me　and　can　abstain　from　abusing　me　in
consequence；　you　are　magnanimous；〃　the　Rev。　　Doctor　replied；
hardly　consenting　to　let　go　the　man　he　had　found　to　indemnify　him
for　his　gallant　service　of　acquiescing　as　a　mute　to　the　ladies；
though　he　knew　his　breathing　robustfulness　to　be　as　an　East　wind
to　weak　nerves；　and　himself　an　engine　of　punishment　when　he　had
been　torn　for　a　day　from　his　books。

Miss　Eleanor　said：　〃The　enlightenment　you　need；　Mr。　Dale？　Can　we
enlighten　you？〃

〃I　think　not；〃　he　answered；　faintly。　〃I　think　I　will　wait　for　Sir
Willoughby　。。。　or　Mr。　Whitford。　If　I　can　keep　my　strength。　Or
could　I　exchangeI　fear　to　break　downtwo　words　with　the　young
lady　who　is；　was　。　。　。　〃

〃Miss　Middleton；　my　daughter；　sir？　She　shall　be　at　your
disposition；　I　will　bring　her　to　you。〃　Dr。　Middleton　stopped　at　the
window。　〃She；　it　is　true；　may　better　know　the　mind　of　Miss　Dale
than　I。　But　I　flatter　myself　I　know　the　gentleman　better。　I
think；　Mr。　Dale；　addressing　you　as　the　lady's　father；　you　will
find　me　a　persuasive；　I　could　be　an　impassioned；　advocate　in　his
interests。〃

Mr。　Dale　was　confounded；　the　weakly　sapling　caught　in　a　gust　falls
back　as　he　did。

〃Advocate？〃　he　said。　He　had　little　breath。

〃His　impassioned　advocate；　I　repeat；　for　I　have　the　highest
opinion　of　him。　You　see；　sir；　I　am　acquainted　with　the
circumstances。　I　believe；〃　Dr。　Middleton　half　turned　to　the　ladies；
〃we　must；　until　your　potent　inducements；　Mr。　Dale；　have　been
joined　to　my　instances；　and　we　overcome　what　feminine　scruples
there　may　be；　treat　the　circumstances　as　not　generally　public。　Our
Strephon　may　be　chargeable　with　shyness。　But　if　for　the　present　it
is　incumbent　on　us；　in　proper　consideration　for　the　parties；　not
to　be　nominally　precise；　it　is　hardly　requisite　in　this　household
that　we　should　be。　He　is　now　for　protesting　indifference　to　the
state。　I　fancy　we　understand　that　phase　of　amatory　frigidity。
Frankly；　Mr。　Dale；　I　was　once　in　my　life　myself　refused　by　a　lady；
and　I　was　not　indignant；　merely　indifferent　to　the　marriage…tie。〃

〃My　daughter　has　refused　him；　sir？〃

〃Temporarily　it　would　appear　that　she　has　declined　the　proposal。〃

〃He　was　at　liberty？　。　。　。　he　could　honourably？。　。　。〃

〃His　best　friend　and　nearest　relative　is　your　guarantee。〃

〃I　know　it；　I　hear　so；　I　am　informed　of　that：　I　have　heard　of　the
proposal；　and　that　he　could　honourably　make　it。　Still；　I　am
helpless；　I　cannot　move；　until　I　am　assured　that　my　daughter's
reasons　are　such　as　a　father　need　not　underline。〃

〃Does　the　lady；　perchance；　equivocate？〃

〃I　have　not　seen　her　this　morning；　I　rise　late。　I　hear　an
astounding　account　of　the　cause　for　her　departure　from　Patterne；　
and　I　find　her　door　locked　to　meno　answer。〃

〃It　is　that　she　had　no　reasons　to　give；　and　she　feared　the　demand
for　them。〃

〃Ladies！〃　dolorously　exclaimed　Mr。　Dale。

〃We　guess　the　secret；　we　guess　it！〃　they　exclaimed　in　reply；　and
they　looked　smilingly。　as　Dr。　Middleton　looked。

〃She　had　no　reasons　to　give？〃　Mr。　Dale　spelled　these　words　to　his
understanding。　〃Then；　sir；　she　knew　you　not　adverse？〃

〃Undoubtedly；　by　my　high　esteem　for　the　gentleman；　she　must　have
known　me　not　adverse。　But　she　would　not　consider　me　a　principal。
She　could　hardly　have　conceived　me　an　obstacle。　I　am　simply　the
gentleman's　friend。　A　zealous　friend；　let　me　add。〃

Mr。　Dale　put　out　an　imploring　hand；　it　was　too　much　for　him。

〃Pardon　me；　I　have　a　poor　head。　And　your　daughter　the　same；　sir？〃

〃We　will　not　measure　it　too　closely；　but　I　may　say；　my　daughter
the　same；　sir。　And　likewisemay　I　not　addthese　ladies。〃

Mr。　Dale　made　sign　that　he　was　overfilled。　〃Where　am　I！　And
Laetitia　refused　him？〃

〃Temporarily；　let　us　assume。　Will　it　not　partly　depend　on　you；　Mr。
Dale？〃

〃But　what　strange　things　have　been　happening　during　my　daughter's
absence　from　the　cottage！〃　cried　Mr。　Dale；　betraying　an　elixir　in
his　veins。　〃I　feel　that　I　could　laugh　if　I　did　not　dread　to　be
thought　insane。　She　refused　his　hand；　and　he　was　at　liberty　to
offer　it？　My　girl！　We　are　all　on　our　heads。　The　fairy…tales　were
right　and　the　lesson…books　were　wrong。　But　it　is　really；　it　is
really　very　demoralizing。　An　invalidand　I　am　o