the legacy of cain-第22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！


prospect。〃

Well；　away　we　went　together；　it　was　just　what　I　wanted；　it　gave
me　an　opportunity　of　saying　something　to　Philip；　between
ourselves。

I　could　now　beg　of　him；　in　his　interests　and　mine；　to　make　the
best　of　himself　when　he　came　to　dinner。　Clever　people；　I　told
him；　were　people　whom　papa　liked　and　admired。　I　said：　〃Let　him
see；　dear；　how　clever　_you_　are；　and　how　many　things　you
knowand　you　can't　imagine　what　a　high　place　you　will　have　in
his　opinion。　I　hope　you　don't　think　I　am　taking　too　much　on
myself　in　telling　you　how　to　behave。〃

He　relieved　that　doubt　in　a　manner　which　I　despair　of　describing。
His　eyes　rested　on　me　with　such　a　look　of　exquisite　sweetness　and
love　that　I　was　obliged　to　hold　by　his　arm；　I　trembled　so　with
the　pleasure　of　feeling　it。

〃I　do　sincerely　believe；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　are　the　most
innocent　girl；　the　sweetest；　truest　girl　that　ever　lived。　I　wish
I　was　a　better　man；　Eunice；　I　wish　I　was　good　enough　to　be　worthy
of　you！〃

To　hear　him　speak　of　himself　in　that　way　jarred　on　me。　If　such
words　had　fallen　from　any　other　man's　lips；　I　should　have　been
afraid　that　he　had　done　something；　or　thought　something；　of　which
he　had　reason　to　feel　ashamed。　With　Philip　this　was　impossible。

He　was　eager　to　walk　on　rapidly；　and　to　turn　a　corner　in　the
path；　before　we　could　be　seen。　〃I　want　to　be　alone　with　you；〃　he
said。

I　looked　back。　We　were　too　late；　Helena　and　Miss　Jillgall　had
nearly　overtaken　us。　My　sister　was　on　the　point　of　speaking　to
Philip；　when　she　seemed　to　change　her　mind；　and　only　looked　at
him。　Instead　of　looking　at　her　in　return；　he　kept　his　eyes　cast
down　and　drew　figures　on　the　pathway　with　his　stick。　I　think
Helena　was　out　of　temper；　she　suddenly　turned　my　way。　〃Why　didn't
you　wait　for　me？〃　she　asked。

Philip　took　her　up　sharply。　〃If　Eunice　likes　seeing　the　river
better　than　waiting　in　the　street；〃　he　said；　〃isn't　she　free　to
do　as　she　pleases？〃

Helena　said　nothing　more；　Philip　walked　on　slowly　by　himself。　Not
knowing　what　to　make　of　it；　I　turned　to　Miss　Jillgall。

〃Surely　Phi　lip　can't　have　quarreled　with　Helena？〃　I　said。

Miss　Jillgall　answered　in　an　odd　off…hand　manner：　〃Not　he！　He　is
a　great　deal　more　likely　to　have　quarreled　with　himself。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Suppose　you　ask　him　why？〃

It　was　not　to　be　thought　of；　it　would　have　looked　like　prying
into　his　thoughts。　〃Selina！〃　I　said；　〃there　is　something　odd
about　you　to…day。　What　is　the　matter？　I　don't　understand　you。〃

〃My　poor　dear；　you　will　find　yourself　understanding　me　before
long。〃　I　thought　I　saw　something　like　pity　in　her　face　when　she
said　that。

〃My　poor　dear？〃　I　repeated。　〃What　makes　you　speak　to　me　in　that
way？〃

〃I　don't　knowI'm　tired；　I'm　an　old　fool　I'll　go　back　to　the
house。〃

Without　another　word；　she　left　me。　I　turned　to　look　for　Philip；
and　saw　that　my　sister　had　joined　him　while　I　had　been　speaking
to　Miss　Jillgall。　It　pleased　me　to　find　that　they　were　talking　in
a　friendly　way　when　I　joined　them。　A　quarrel　between　Helena　and
my　husband　that　is　to　beno；　my　husband　that　_shall_　bewould
have　been　too　distressing；　too　unnatural　I　might　almost　call　it。

Philip　looked　along　the　backward　path；　and　asked　what　had　become
of　Miss　Jillgall。　〃Have　you　any　objection　to　follow　her　example？〃
he　said　to　me；　when　I　told　him　that　Selina　had　returned　to　the
town。　〃I　don't　care　for　the　banks　of　this　river。〃

Helena；　who　used　to　like　the　river　at　other　times；　was　as　ready
as　Philip　to　leave　it　now。　I　fancy　they　had　both　been　kindly
waiting　to　change　our　walk；　till　I　came　to　them；　and　they　could
study　my　wishes　too。　Of　course　I　was　ready　to　go　where　they
pleased。　I　asked　Philip　if　there　was　anything　he　would　like　to
see；　when　we　got　into　the　streets　again。

Clever　Helena　suggested　what　seemed　to　be　a　strange　amusement　to
offer　to　Philip。　〃Let's　take　him　to　the　Girls'　School；〃　she　said。

It　appeared　to　be　a　matter　of　perfect　indifference　to　him；　he
was；　what　they　call；　ironical。　〃Oh；　yes；　of　course。　Deeply
interesting！　deeply　interesting！〃　He　suddenly　broke　into　the
wildest　good　spirits；　and　tucked　my　hand　under　his　arm　with　a
gayety　which　it　was　impossible　to　resist。　〃What　a　boy　you　are！〃
Helena　said；　enjoying　his　delightful　hilarity　as　I　did。


CHAPTER　XXIV。

EUNICE'S　DIARY。


ON　entering　the　schoolroom　we　lost　our　gayety；　all　in　a　moment。
Something　unpleasant　had　evidently　happened。

Two　of　the　eldest　girls　were　sitting　together　in　a　corner；
separated　from　the　rest；　and　looking　most　wickedly　sulky。　The
teachers　were　at　the　other　end　of　the　room；　appearing　to　be　ill
at　ease。　And　there；　standing　in　the　midst　of　them；　with　his　face
flushed　and　his　eyes　angrythere　was　papa；　sadly　unlike　his
gentle　self　in　the　days　of　his　health　and　happiness。　On　former
occasions；　when　the　exercise　of　his　authority　was　required　in　the
school；　his　forbearing　temper　always　set　things　right。　When　I　saw
him　now；　I　thought　of　what　the　doctor　had　said　of　his　health；　on
my　way　home　from　the　station。

Papa　advanced　to　us　the　moment　we　showed　ourselves　at　the　door。

He　shook　handscordially　shook　handswith　Philip。　It　was
delightful　to　see　him；　delightful　to　hear　him　say：　〃Pray　don't
suppose；　Mr。　Dunboyne；　that　you　are　intruding；　remain　with　us　by
all　means　if　you　like。〃　Then　he　spoke　to　Helena　and　to　me；　still
excited；　still　not　like　himself：　〃You　couldn't　have　come　here；　my
dears；　at　a　time　when　your　presence　was　more　urgently　needed。〃　He
turned　to　the　teachers。　〃Tell　my　daughters　what　has　happened；
tell　them　why　they　see　me　hereshocked　and　distressed；　I　don't
deny　it。〃

We　now　heard　that　the　two　girls　in　disgrace　had　broken　the　rules；
and　in　such　a　manner　as　to　deserve　severe　punishment。

One　of　them　had　been　discovered　hiding　a　novel　in　her　desk。　The
other　had　misbehaved　herself　more　seriously　stillshe　had　gone
to　the　theater。　Instead　of　expressing　any　regret；　they　had
actually　dared　to　complain　of　having　to　learn　papa's　improved
catechism。　They　had　even　accused　him　of　treating　them　with
severity；　because　they　were　poor　girls　brought　up　on　charity。　〃If
we　had　been　young　ladies；〃　they　were　audacious　enough　to　say；
〃more　indulgence　would　have　been　shown　to　us；　we　should　have　been
allowed　to　read　stories　and　to　see　plays。〃

All　this　time　I　had　been　asking　myself　what　papa　meant；　when　he
told　us　we　could　not　have　come　to　the　schoolroom　at　a　better
time。　His　meaning　now　appeared。　When　he　spoke　to　the　offending
girls；　he　pointed　to　Helena　and　to　me。

〃Here　are　my　daughters；〃　he　said。　〃You　will　not　deny　that　they
are　young　ladies。　Now　listen。　They　shall　tell　you　themselves
whether　my　rules　make　any　difference　between　them　and　you。
Helena！　Eunice！　do　I　allow　you　to　read　novels？　do　I　allow　you　to
go　to　the　play？〃

We　said；　〃No〃and　hoped　it　was　over。　But　he　had　not　done　yet。　He
turned　to　Helena。

〃Answer　some　of　the　questions；〃　he　went　on；　〃from　my　Manual　of
Christian　Obligation；　which　the　girls　call　my　catechism。〃　He
asked　one　of　the　questions：　〃If　you　are　told　to　do　unto　others　as
you　would　they　should　do　unto　you；　and　if　you　find　a　difficulty
in　obeying　that　Divine　Precept；　what　does　your　duty　require？〃

It　is　my　belief　that　Helena　has　the　materials　in　her　for　making
another　Joan　of　Arc。　She　rose；　and　answered　without　the　slightest
sign　of　timidity：　〃My　duty　requires　me　to　go　to　the　minister；　and
to　seek　for　advice　and　encouragement。〃

〃And　if　these　fail？〃

〃Then　I　am　to　remember　that　my　pastor　is　my　friend。　He　claims　no
priestly　authority　or　priestly　infallibility。　He　is　my
fellow…Christian　who　loves　me。　He　will　tell　me　how　he　has　himself
failed；　how　he　has　struggled　against　himself；　and　what　a　blessed
reward　has　followed　his　victorya　purified　heart；　a　peaceful
mind。〃

Then　papa　released　my　sister；　after　she　had　only　repeated　two　out
of　all　the　answers　in　Christian　Obligation；　which　we　first　began
to　learn　when　we　were　children。　He　then　addressed　himself　again
to　the　girls。

〃Is　what　you　have　just　heard　a　part　of　my　catechism？　Has　my
daughter　been　excused　from　repeating　it　because　she　is　a　young
lady？　Where　is　the　difference　between　the　religious　education
which　is　given　to　my　own　child；　and　that　given　to　you？〃

The　wretched　girls　still　sat　silent　and　obstinate；　with　their
heads　down。　I　tremble　again　as　I　write　of　what　happened　next。
Papa　fixed　his　eyes　on　me。　He　said；　out　loud：　〃Eunice！〃and
waited　for　me　to　rise　and　answer；　as　my　sister　had　done。

It　was　entirely　beyond　my　power　to　get　on　my　feet。

Philip　had　（innocently；　I　am　sure）　discouraged　me；　I　saw
displeasure；　I　saw　contempt　in　his　face。　There　was　a　dead　silence
in　the　room。　Everybody　looked　at　me。　My　heart　beat　furiously；　my
hands　turned　cold；　the　questions　and　answers　in　Christian
Obligation　all　left　my　memory　together。　I　looked　imploringly　at
papa。

For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　he　was　hard　on　me。　His　eyes　were
as　angry　as　ever；　they　showed　me　no　mercy。　Oh；　what　had　come　to
me？　what　evil　spirit　possessed　me？　I　felt　resentment；　horrid；
undutiful　resentment；　at　being　treated　in　this　cruel　way。　My
fists　clinched　themselves　in　my　lap；　my　face　felt　as　hot　as　fire。
Instead　of　asking　my　father　to　excuse　me；　I　said：　〃I　can't　do
it。〃　He　was　astounded；　as　well　he　might　be。　I　went　on　from　bad　to
worse。　I　said：　〃I　won't　do　it。〃

He　stooped　over　me；　he　whispered：　〃I　am　going　to　ask　you
something；　I　insist　on　your　answering；　Yes　or　No。〃　He　raised　his
voice；　and　drew　himself　back　so　that　they　could　all　see　me。

〃Have　you　been　taught　like　your　sister？〃　he　asked。　〃Has　the
catechism　that　has　been　her　religious　lesson；　for　all　her　life；
been　your　religious　lesson；　for　all　your　life；　too？〃

I　said：　〃Yes〃and　I　was　in　such　a　rage　that　I　said　it　out　loud。
If　Philip　had　handed　me　his　cane；　and　had　advised　me　to　give　the
young　hussies　who　were　answerable　for　this　dreadful　state　of
things　a　good　beating；　I　believe　I　should　have　done　it。　Papa
turned　his　back　on　me　and　offered　the　girls　a　last　chance：　〃Do
you　feel　sorry　for　what　you　have　done？　Do　you　ask　to　be
forgiven？〃

Neither　the　one　nor　the　other　answered　him。　He　called　across　the
room　to　the　teachers：　〃Those　two　pupils　are　expelled　the　school。〃

Both　the　women　looked　horrif