the egoist-第98部分

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〃Some　one　must！〃　Mrs。　Mountstuart　groaned　over　her　dull　dinner…party。

Lady　Busshe　consoled　her。　〃At　any　rate；　the　loss　of　a　scholar　is
no　loss　to　the　county。〃

〃They　are　well　enough　in　towns；〃　Lady　Culmer　said。

〃And　then　I　am　sure　you　must　have　them　by　themselves。〃

〃We　have　nothing　to　regret。〃

〃My　opinion。〃

The　voice　of　Dr。　Middleton　in　colloquy　with　Mr。　Dale　swelled　on　a
melodious　thunder：　〃For　whom　else　should　I　plead　as　the　passionate
advocate　I　proclaimed　myself　to　you；　sir？　There　is　but　one　man
known　to　me　who　would　move　me　to　back　him　upon　such　an　adventure。
Willoughby；　join　me。　I　am　informing　Mr。　Dale　。　。　。〃

Willoughby　stretched　his　hands　out　to　Mr。　Dale　to　support　him　on
his　legs；　though　he　had　shown　no　sign　of　a　wish　to　rise。

〃You　are　feeling　unwell；　Mr。　Dale。〃

〃Do　I　look　very　ill；　Sir　Willoughby？〃

〃It　will　pass。　Laetitia　will　be　with　us　in　twenty　minutes。〃　Mr。
Dale　struck　his　hands　in　a　clasp。　He　looked　alarmingly　ill；　and
satisfactorily　revealed　to　his　host　how　he　could　be　made　to　look
so。

〃I　was　informing　Mr。　Dale　that　the　petitioner　enjoys　our
concurrent　good　wishes：　and　mine　in　no　degree　less　than　yours；
Willoughby；〃　observed　Dr。　Middleton；　whose　billows　grew　the　bigger
for　a　check。　He　supposed　himself　speaking　confidentially。　〃Ladies
have　the　trick；　they　have；　I　may　say；　the　natural　disposition　for
playing　enigma　now　and　again。　Pressure　is　often　a　sovereign
specific。　Let　it　be　tried　upon　her　all　round　from　every　radiating
line　of　the　circle。　You　she　refuses。　Then　I　venture　to　propose
myself　to　appeal　to　her。　My　daughter　has　assuredly　an　esteem　for
the　applicant　that　will　animate　a　woman's　tongue　in　such　a　case。
The　ladies　of　the　house　will　not　be　backward。　Lastly；　if
necessary；　we　trust　the　lady's　father　to　add　his　instances。　My
prescription　is；　to　fatigue　her　negatives；　and　where　no　rooted
objection　exists；　I　maintain　it　to　be　the　unfailing　receipt　for
the　conduct　of　the　siege。　No　woman　can　say　No　forever。　The
defence　has　not　such　resources　against　even　a　single　assailant；
and　we　shall　have　solved　the　problem　of　continuous　motion　before
she　will　have　learned　to　deny　in　perpetuity。　That　I　stand　on。〃

Willoughby　glanced　at　Mrs。　Mountstuart。

〃What　is　that？〃　she　said。　〃Treason　to　our　sex；　Dr。　Middleton？〃

〃I　think　I　heard　that　no　woman　can　say　No　forever！〃　remarked　Lady
Busshe。

〃To　a　loyal　gentleman；　ma'am：　assuming　the　field　of　the　recurring
request　to　be　not　unholy　ground；　consecrated　to　affirmatives
rather。〃

Dr　Middleton　was　attacked　by　three　angry　bees。　They　made　him　say
yes　and　no　alternately　so　many　times　that　he　had　to　admit　in　men　a
shiftier　yieldingness　than　women　were　charged　with。

Willoughby　gesticulated　as　mute　chorus　on　the　side　of　the　ladies；
and　a　little　show　of　party　spirit　like　that；　coming　upon　their
excitement　under　the　topic；　inclined　them　to　him　genially。　He
drew　Mr。　Dale　away　while　the　conflict　subsided　in　sharp　snaps　of
rifles　and　an　interval　rejoinder　of　a　cannon。　Mr。　Dale　had　shown
by　signs　that　he　was　growing　fretfully　restive　under　his　burden
of　doubt。

〃Sir　Willoughby；　I　have　a　question。　I　beg　you　to　lead　me　where　I
may　ask　it。　I　know　my　head　is　weak。〃

〃Mr。　Dale；　it　is　answered　when　I　say　that　my　house　is　your　home；
and　that　Laetitia　will　soon　be　with　us。〃

〃Then　this　report　is　true？〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　reports。　You　are　answered。〃

〃Can　my　daughter　be　accused　of　any　shadow　of　falseness；
dishonourable　dealing？〃

〃As　little　as　I。〃

Mr。　Dale　scanned　his　face。　He　saw　no　shadow。

〃For　I　should　go　to　my　grave　bankrupt　if　that　could　be　said　of
her；　and　I　have　never　yet　felt　poor；　though　you　know　the　extent　of
a　pensioner's　income。　Then　this　tale　of　a　refusal　。。。　？〃

〃Is　nonsense。〃

〃She　has　accepted？〃

〃There　are　situations；　Mr。　Dale；　too　delicate　to　be　clothed　in
positive　definitions。〃

〃Ah；　Sir　Willoughby；　but　it　becomes　a　father　to　see　that　his
daughter　is　not　forced　into　delicate　situations。　I　hope　all　is
well。　I　am　confused。　It　may　be　my　head。　She　puzzles　me。　You　are
not　。。。　Can　I　ask　it　here？　You　are　quite　。。。　？　Will　you　moderate
my　anxiety？　My　infirmities　must　excuse　me。〃

Sir　Willoughby　conveyed　by　a　shake　of　the　head　and　a　pressure　of
Mr。　Dale's　hand；　that　he　was　not；　and　that　he　was　quite。

〃Dr　Middleton？〃　said　Mr。　Dale。

〃He　leaves　us　to…morrow。〃

〃Really！〃　The　invalid　wore　a　look　as　if　wine　had　been　poured　into
him。　He　routed　his　host's　calculations　by　calling　to　the　Rev。
Doctor。　〃We　are　to　lose　you；　sir？〃

Willoughby　attempted　an　interposition；　but　Dr。　Middleton　crashed
through　it　like　the　lordly　organ　swallowing　a　flute。

〃Not　before　I　score　my　victory；　Mr。　Dale；　and　establish　my　friend
upon　his　rightful　throne。〃

〃You　do　not　leave　to…morrow；　sir？〃

〃Have　you　heard；　sir；　that　I　leave　to…morrow？〃

Mr。　Dale　turned　to　Sir　Willoughby。

The　latter　said：　〃Clara　named　to…day。　To…morrow　I　thought
preferable。〃

〃Ah！〃　Dr。　Middleton　towered　on　the　swelling　exclamation；　but　with
no　dark　light。　He　radiated　splendidly。　〃Yes；　then；　to…morrow。　That
is；　if　we　subdue　the　lady。〃

He　advanced　to　Willoughby；　seized　his　hand；　squeezed　it；　thanked
him；　praised　him。　He　spoke　under　his　breath；　for　a　wonder；　but：
〃We　are　in　your　debt　lastingly；　my　friend〃；　was　heard；　and　he　was
impressive；　he　seemed　subdued；　and　saying　aloud：　〃Though　I　should
wish　to　aid　in　the　reduction　of　that　fortress〃；　he　let　it　be　seen
that　his　mind　was　rid　of　a　load。　

Dr。　Middleton　partly　stupefied　Willoughby　by　his　way　of　taking　it；
but　his　conduct　was　too　serviceable　to　allow　of　speculation　on　his
readiness　to　break　the　match。　It　was　the　turning…point　of　the
engagement。

Lady　Busshe　made　a　stir。

〃I　cannot　keep　my　horses　waiting　any　longer；〃　she　said；　and
beckoned。　Sir　Willoughby　was　beside　her　immediately。

〃You　are　admirable！　perfect！　Don't　ask　me　to　hold　my　tongue。　I
retract；　I　recant。　It　is　a　fatality。　I　have　resolved　upon　that
view。　You　could　stand　the　shot　of　beauty；　not　of　brains。　That　is
our　report。　There！　And　it's　delicious　to　feel　that　the　county　wins
you。　No　tea。　I　cannot　possibly　wait。　And；　oh！　here　she　is。　I　must
have　a　look　at　her。　My　dear　Laetitia　Dale！〃

Willoughby　hurried　to　Mr。　Dale。

〃You　are　not　to　be　excited；　sir：　compose　yourself。　You　will
recover　and　be　strong　to…morrow：　you　are　at　home；　you　are　in　your
own　house；　you　are　in　Laetitia's　drawing…room。　All　will　be　clear
to…morrow。　Till　to…morrow　we　talk　riddles　by　consent。　Sit；　I　beg。
You　stay　with　us。〃

He　met　Laetitia　and　rescued　her　from　Lady　Busshe；　murmuring；　with
the　air　of　a　lover　who　says；　〃my　love！　my　sweet！〃　that　she　had
done　rightly　to　come　and　come　at　once。　Her　father　had　been　thrown
into　the　proper　condition　of　clammy　nervousness　to　create　the
impression。　Laetitia's　anxiety　sat　prettily　on　her　long　eyelashes
as　she　bent　over　him　in　his　chair。

Hereupon　Dr。　Corney　appeared；　and　his　name　had　a　bracing　effect　on
Mr。　Dale。　〃Corney　has　come　to　drive　me　to　the　cottage；〃　he　said。
〃I　am　ashamed　of　this　public　exhibition　of　myself；　my　dear。　Let
us　go。　My　head　is　a　poor　one。〃

Dr。　Corney　had　been　intercepted。　He　broke　from　Sir　Willoughby　with
a　dozen　little　nods　of　accurate　understanding　of　him；　even　to
beyond　the　mark　of　the　communications。　He　touched　his　patient's
pulse　lightly；　briefly　sighed　with　professional　composure；　and
pronounced：　〃Rest。　Must　not　be　moved。　No；　no；　nothing　serious；〃　he
quieted　Laetitia's　fears；　〃but　rest；　rest。　A　change　of　residence
for　a　night　will　tone　him。　　I　will　bring　him　a　draught　in　the
course　of　the　evening。　Yes；　yes；　I'll　fetch　everything　wanted　from
the　cottage　for　you　and　for　him。　　Repose　on　Corney's　forethought。〃

〃You　are　sure；　Dr。　Corney？〃　said　Laetitia；　frightened　on　her
father's　account　and　on　her　own。

〃Which　aspect　will　be　the　best　for　Mr。　Dale's　bedroom？〃
the　hospitable　ladies　Eleanor　and　Isabel　inquired。

〃Southeast；　decidedly：　let　him　have　the　morning　sun：　a　warm　air；
a　vigorous　air；　and　a　bright　air；　and　the　patient　wakes　and　sings
in　his　bed。〃

Still　doubtful　whether　she　was　in　a　trap；　Laetitia　whispered　to
her　father　of　the　privacy　and　comforts　of　his　home。　He　replied　to
her　that　he　thought　he　would　rather　be　in　his　own　home。

Dr　Corney　positively　pronounced　No　to　it。

Laetitia　breathed　again　of　home；　but　with　the　sigh　of　one
overborne。

The　ladies　Eleanor　and　Isabel　took　the　word　from　Willoughby；　and
said：　〃But　you　are　at　home；　my　dear。　This　is　your　home。　Your
father　will　be　at　least　as　well　attended　here　as　at　the　cottage。〃

She　raised　her　eyelids　on　them　mournfully；　and　by　chance　diverted
her　look　to　Dr。　Middleton；　quite　by　chance。

It　spoke　eloquently　to　the　assembly　of　all　that　Willoughby　desired
to　be　imagined。

〃But　there　is　Crossjay；〃　she　cried。　〃My　cousin　has　gone；　and　the
boy　is　left　alone。　I　cannot　have　him　left　alone。　If　we；　if；　Dr。
Corney；　you　are　sure　it　is　unsafe　for　papa　to　be　moved　to…day；
Crossjay　must　。。。　he　cannot　be　left。〃

〃Bring　him　with　you；　Corney；〃　said　Sir　Willoughby；　and　the　little
doctor　heartily　promised　that　he　would；　in　the　event　of　his
finding　Crossjay　at　the　cottage；　which　he　thought　a　distant　
probability。

〃He　gave　me　his　word　he　would　not　go　out　till　my　return；〃　said
Laetitia。

〃And　if　Crossjay　gave　you　his　word；〃　the　accents　of　a　new　voice
vibrated　close　by；　〃be　certain　that　he　will　not　come　back　with　Dr。
Corney　unless　he　has　authority　in　your　handwriting。〃

Clara　Middleton　stepped　gently　to　Laetitia；　and　with　a　manner　
that　was　an　embrace；　as　much　as　kissed　her　for　what　she　was　doing
on　behalf　of　Crossjay。　She　put　her　lips　in　a　pouting　form　to
simulate　saying：　〃Press　it。〃

〃He　is　to　come；〃　said　Laetitia。

〃Then　write　him　his　permit。〃

There　was　a　chatter　about　Crossjay　and　the　sentinel　true　to　his
post　that　he　could　be；　during　which　Laetitia　distressfully
scribbled　a　line　for　Dr。　Corney　to　deliver　to　him。　Clara　stood
near。　She　had　rebuked　herself　for　want　of　reserve　in　the　presence　
of　Lady　Busshe　and　Lady　Culmer；　and　she　was　guilty　of　a　slightly
excessive　containment　when　she　next　addressed　Laetitia。　It　was；
like　Laetitia's　look　at　Dr。　Middleton；　opportune：　enough　to　make　a
man　who　watched　as　Willoughby　did　a　fatalist　fo