the egoist-第95部分

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right　and　the　lesson…books　were　wrong。　But　it　is　really；　it　is
really　very　demoralizing。　An　invalidand　I　am　one；　and　no
momentary　exhilaration　will　be　taken　for　the　contraryclings　to
the　idea　of　stability；　order。　The　slightest　disturbance　of　the
wonted　course　of　things　unsettles　him。　Why；　for　years　I　have　been
prophesying　it！　and　for　years　I　have　had　everything　against　me；
and　now　when　it　is　confirmed；　I　am　wondering　that　I　must　not　call
myself　a　fool！〃

〃And　for　years；　dear　Mr。　Dale；　this　union；　in　spite　of
counter…currents　and　human　arrangements；　has　been　our　Willoughby's
constant　preoccupation；〃　said　Miss　Eleanor。

〃His　most　cherished　aim；〃　said　Miss　Isabel。

〃The　name　was　not　spoken　by　me；〃　said　Dr。　Middleton。

〃But　it　is　out；　and　perhaps　better　out；　if　we　would　avoid　the
chance　of　mystifications。　I　do　not　suppose　we　are　seriously
committing　a　breach　of　confidence；　though　he　might　have　wished　to
mention　it　to　you　first　himself。　I　have　it　from　Willoughby　that
last　night　he　appealed　to　your　daughter；　Mr。　Dalenot　for　the
first　time；　if　I　apprehend　him　correctly；　and　unsuccessfully。　He
despairs。　I　do　not：　supposing；　that　is；　your　assistance　vouchsafed
to　us。　And　I　do　not　despair；　because　the　gentleman　is　a　gentleman
of　worth；　of　acknowledged　worth。　You　know　him　well　enough　to
grant　me　that。　I　will　bring　you　my　daughter　to　help　me　in　sounding
his　praises。〃

Dr　Middleton　stepped　through　the　window　to　the　lawn　on　an　elastic
foot；　beaming　with　the　happiness　he　felt　charged　to　confer　on　his
friend　Mr。　Whitford。

〃Ladies！　it　passes　all　wonders；〃　Mr。　Dale　gasped。

〃Willoughby's　generosity　does　pass　all　wonders；〃　they　said　in
chorus。

The　door　opened；　Lady　Busshe　and　Lady　Culmer　were　announced。


CHAPTER　XLV

The　Patterne　Ladies：　Mr。　Dale：　Lady　Busshe　and　Lady　Culmer：　with
Mrs。　Mountstuart　Jenkinson

Lady　Busshe　and　Lady　Culmer　entered　spying　to　right　and　left。　At
the　sight　of　Mr。　Dale　in　the　room　Lady　Busshe　murmured　to　her
friend：　〃Confirmation！〃

Lady　Culmer　murmured：　〃Corney　is　quite　reliable。〃

〃The　man　is　his　own　best　tonic。〃

〃He　is　invaluable　for　the　country。〃

Miss　Eleanor　and　Miss　Isabel　greeted　them。

The　amiability　of　the　Patterne　ladies　combined　with　their　total
eclipse　behind　their　illustrious　nephew　invited　enterprising　women
of　the　world　to　take　liberties；　and　they　were　not　backward。

Lady　Busshe　said：　〃Well？　the　news！　we　have　the　outlines。　Don't　be
astonished：　we　know　the　points：　we　have　heard　the　gun。　I　could
have　told　you　as　much　yesterday。　I　saw　it。　And　I　guessed　it　the
day　before。　Oh；　I　do　believe　in　fatalities　now。　Lady　Culmer　and　I
agree　to　take　that　view：　it　is　the　simplest。　Well；　and　are　you
satisfied；　my　dears？〃

The　ladies　grimaced　interrogatively：　〃With　what？〃

〃With　it？　with　all！　with　her！　with　him！〃

〃Our　Willoughby？〃

〃Can　it　be　possible　that　they　require　a　dose　of　Corney？〃　Lady
Busshe　remarked　to　Lady　Culmer。

〃They　play　discretion　to　perfection；〃　said　Lady　Culmer。　〃But；　my
dears；　we　are　in　the　secret。〃

〃How　did　she　behave？〃　whispered　Lady　Busshe。　〃No　high　flights　and
flutters；　I　do　hope。　She　was　well…connected；　they　say；　though　I
don't　comprehend　what　they　mean　by　a　line　of　scholarsone　thinks
of　a　row　of　pinafores：　and　she　was　pretty。

〃That　is　well　enough　at　the　start。　It　never　will　stand　against
brains。　He　had　the　two　in　the　house　to　contrast　them；　and　。。。　the
result！　A　young　woman　with　brainsin　a　housebeats　all　your
beauties。　Lady　Culmer　and　I　have　determined　on　that　view。　He
thought　her　a　delightful　partner　for　a　dance；　and　found　her　rather
tiresome　at　the　end　of　the　gallopade。　I　saw　it　yesterday；　clear　as
daylight。　She　did　not　understand　him；　and　he　did　understand　her。
That　will　be　our　report。〃

〃She　is　young：　she　will　learn；〃　said　the　ladies　uneasily；　but　in
total　ignorance　of　her　meaning。

〃And　you　are　charitable；　and　always　were。　I　remember　you　had　a
good　word　for　that　girl　Durham。〃

Lady　Busshe　crossed　the　room　to　Mr。　Dale；　who　was　turning　over
leaves　of　a　grand　book　of　the　heraldic　devices　of　our　great
Families。

〃Study　it；〃　she　said；　〃study　it；　my　dear　Mr。　Dale；　you　are　in　it；
by　right　of　possessing　a　clever　and　accomplished　daughter。
At　page　300　you　will　find　the　Patterne　crest。　And　mark　me；　she
will　drag　you　into　the　peerage　before　she　has　donerelatively；　
you　know。　Sir　Willoughby　and　wife　will　not　be　contented　to　sit
down　and　manage　the　estates。　Has　not　Laetitia　immense　ambition？
And　very　creditable；　I　say。〃

Mr。　Dale　tried　to　protest　something。　He　shut　the　book；　examining
the　binding；　flapped　the　cover　with　a　finger；　hoped　her　ladyship
was　in　good　health；　alluded　to　his　own　and　the　strangeness　of　the
bird　out　of　the　cage。

〃You　will　probably　take　up　your　residence　here；　in　a　larger　and
handsomer　cage。　Mr。　Dale。〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃Do　I　apprehend　。　。　。〃　he　said。

〃I　know；〃　said　she。

〃Dear　me；　can　it　be？〃

Mr。　Dale　gazed　upward；　with　the　feelings　of　one　awakened　late　to
see　a　world　alive　in　broad　daylight。

Lady　Busshe　dropped　her　voice。　She　took　the　liberty　permitted　to
her　with　an　inferior　in　station；　while　treating　him　to　a　tone　of
familiarity　in　acknowledgment　of　his　expected　rise；　which　is　high
breeding；　or　the　exact　measurement　of　social　dues。

〃Laetitia　will　be　happy；　you　may　be　sure。　I　love　to　see　a　long　and
faithful　attachment　rewardedlove　it！　Her　tale　is　the　triumph　of
patience。　Far　above　Grizzel！　No　woman　will　be　ashamed　of　pointing
to　Lady　Patterne。　You　are　uncertain？　You　are　in　doubt？　Let　me
hearas　low　as　you　like。　But　there　is　no　doubt　of　the　new
shifting　of　the　scene？no　doubt　of　the　proposal？　Dear　Mr。　Dale！
a　very　little　louder。　You　are　here　because？　of　course　you　wish
to　see　Sir　Willoughby。　She？　I　did　not　catch　you　quite。　She？　。。。　it
seems；　you　say。。　？　

Lady　Culmer　said　to　the　Patterne　ladies：

〃You　must　have　had　a　distressing　time。　These　affairs　always　mount
up　to　a　climax；　unless　people　are　very　well　bred。　We　saw　it　coming。
Naturally　we　did　not　expect　such　a　transformation　of　brides：　who
could？　If　I　had　laid　myself　down　on　my　back　to　think；　I　should
have　had　it。　I　am　unerring　when　I　set　to　speculating　on　my　back。
One　is　cooler：　ideas　come；　they　have　not　to　be　forced。　That　is　why
I　am　brighter　on　a　dull　winter　afternoon；　on　the　sofa；　beside　my
tea…service；　than　at　any　other　season。　However；　your　trouble　is
over。　When　did　the　Middletons　leave？〃

〃The　Middletons　leave？〃　said　the　ladies。

〃Dr。　Middleton　and　his　daughter。〃

〃They　have　not　left　us。〃

〃The　Middletons　are　here？〃

〃They　are　here；　yes。　Why　should　they　have　left　Patterne？〃　

〃Why？〃

〃Yes。　They　are　likely　to　stay　some　days　longer。〃

〃Goodness！〃

〃There　is　no　ground　for　any　report　to　the　contrary；　Lady　Culmer。〃

〃No　ground！〃

Lady　Culmer　called　out　to　Lady　Busshe。

A　cry　came　back　from　that　startled　dame。

〃She　has　refused　him！〃

〃Who？〃

〃She　has。〃

〃She？Sir　Willoughby？〃

〃Refused！declines　the　honour。〃

〃Oh；　never！　No；　that　carries　the　incredible　beyond　romance。　But　is
he　perfectly　at　。　。　。〃

〃Quite；　it　seems。　And　she　was　asked　in　due　form　and　refused。〃

〃No；　and　no　again！〃

〃My　dear；　I　have　it　from　Mr。　Dale。〃

〃Mr。　Dale；　what　can　be　the　signification　of　her　conduct？〃　

〃Indeed；　Lady　Culmer；〃　said　Mr。　Dale；　not　unpleasantly　agitated　by
the　interest　he　excited；　in　spite　of　his　astonishment　at　a　public
discussion　of　the　matter　in　this　house；　〃I　am　in　the　dark。　Her
father　should　know；　but　I　do　not。　Her　door　is　locked　to　me；　I　have
not　seen　her。　I　am　absolutely　in　the　dark。　I　am　a　recluse。　I　have
forgotten　the　ways　of　the　world。　I　should　have　supposed　her　father
would　first　have　been　addressed。〃

〃Tut…tut。　Modern　gentlemen　are　not　so　formal；　they　are　creatures
of　impulse　and　take　a　pride　in　it。　He　spoke。　We　settle　that。　But
where　did　you　get　this　tale　of　a　refusal？〃

〃I　have　it　from　Dr。　Middleton。〃

〃From　Dr。　Middleton？〃　shouted　Lady　Busshe。

〃The　Middletons　are　here；〃　said　Lady　Culmer。

〃What　whirl　are　we　in？〃　Lady　Busshe　got　up；　ran　two　or　three　steps
and　seated　herself　in　another　chair。　〃Oh！　do　let　us　proceed　upon
system。　If　not　we　shall　presently　be　rageing；　we　shall　be
dangerous。　The　Middletons　are　here；　and　Dr。　Middleton　himself
communicates　to　Mr。　Dale　that　Laetitia　Dale　has　refused　the　hand
of　Sir　Willoughby；　who　is　ostensibly　engaged　to　his　own　daughter！
And　pray；　Mr。　Dale；　how　did　Dr。　Middleton　speak　of　it？　Compose
yourself；　there　is　no　violent　hurry；　though　our　sympathy　with　you
and　our　interest　in　all　the　parties　does　perhaps　agitate　us　a
little。　Quite　at　your　leisurespeak！〃

〃Madam　。。。　Lady　Busshe。〃　Mr。　Dale　gulped　a　ball　in　his　throat。　〃I
see　no　reason　why　I　should　not　speak。　I　do　not　see　how　I　can　have
been　deluded。　The　Miss　Patternes　heard　him。　Dr。　Middleton　began
upon　it；　not　I。　I　was　unaware；　when　I　came；　that　it　was　a　refusal。
I　had　been　informed　that　there　was　a　proposal。　My　authority　for
the　tale　was　positive。　The　object　of　my　visit　was　to　assure　myself
of　the　integrity　of　my　daughter's　conduct。　She　had　always　the
highest　sense　of　honour。　But　passion　is　known　to　mislead；　and
there　was　this　most　strange　report。　I　feared　that　our　humblest
apologies　were　due　to　Dr。　Middleton　and　his　daughter。　I　know　the
charm　Laetitia　can　exercise。　Madam；　in　the　plainest　language；
without　a　possibility　of　my　misapprehending　him；　Dr。　Middleton
spoke　of　himself　as　the　advocate　of　the　suitor　for　my　daughter's
hand。　I　have　a　poor　head。　I　supposed　at　once　an　amicable　rupture
between　Sir　Willoughby　and　Miss　Middleton；　or　that　the　version
which　had　reached　me　of　their　engagement　was　not　strictly
accurate。　My　head　is　weak。　Dr。　Middleton's　language　is　trying　to　a
head　like　mine；　but　I　can　speak　positively　on　the　essential　
points：　he　spoke　of　himself　as　ready　to　be　the　impassioned
advocate　of　the　suitor　for　my　daughter's　hand。　Those　were　his
words。　I　understood　him　to　entreat　me　to　intercede　with　her。　Nay；
the　name　was　mentioned。　There　was　no　concealment。　I　am　certain
there　could　not　be　a　misapprehension。　And　my　feelings　were　touched
by　his　anxiety　for　Sir　Willoughby's　happiness。　I　attributed　it　to
a　sentiment　upon　which　I　need　not　dwell。　Impassioned　advocate；　he
said。〃

〃We　are　in　a　per