redgauntlet-第31部分

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tire；　should　I　venture　to　apply　it　now。　For　it　is　a　phrase；　I　must　confess；　which　I　have　useda　romancer　would　say；　profaneda　little　too　often；　considering　how　few　years　have　passed　over　my　head。　　But　seriously；　the　fair　chaplain　of　Brokenburn　has　been　often　in　my　head　when　she　had　no　business　there；　and　if　this　can　give　thee　any　clue　for　explaining　my　motives　in　lingering　about　the　country；　and　assuming　the　character　of　Willie's　companion；　why；　hang　thee；　thou　art　welcome　to　make　use　of　ita　permission　for　which　thou　need'st　not　thank　me　much；　as　thou　wouldst　not　have　failed　to　assume　it　whether　it　were　given　or　no。

Such　being　my　feelings；　conceive　how　they　must　have　been　excited；　when；　like　a　beam　upon　a　cloud；　I　saw　this　uncommonly　beautiful　girl　enter　the　apartment　in　which　they　were　dancing；　not；　however；　with　the　air　of　an　equal；　but　that　of　a　superior；　come　to　grace　with　her　presence　the　festival　of　her　dependants。　　The　old　man　and　woman　attended；　with　looks　as　sinister　as　hers　were　lovely；　like　two　of　the　worst　winter　months　waiting　upon　the　bright…eyed　May。

When　she　enteredwonder　if　thou　wiltshe　wore　A　GREEN　MANTLE；　such　as　thou　hast　described　as　the　garb　of　thy　fair　client；　and　confirmed　what　I　had　partly　guessed　from　thy　personal　description；　that　my　chaplain　and　thy　visitor　were　the　same　person。　　There　was　an　alteration　on　her　brow　the　instant　she　recognized　me。　　She　gave　her　cloak　to　her　female　attendant；　and；　after　a　momentary　hesitation；　as　if　uncertain　whether　to　advance　or　retire；　she　walked　into　the　room　with　dignity　and　composure；　all　making　way；　the　men　unbonneting；　and　the　women　curtsying　respectfully；　as　she　assumed　a　chair　which　was　reverently　placed　for　her　accommodation；　apart　from　others。

There　was　then　a　pause；　until　the　bustling　mistress　of　the　ceremonies；　with　awkward　but　kindly　courtesy；　offered　the　young　lady　a　glass　of　wine；　which　was　at　first　declined；　and　at　length　only　thus　far　accepted；　that；　bowing　round　to　the　festive　company；　the　fair　visitor　wished　them　all　health　and　mirth；　and　just　touching　the　brim　with　her　lip；　replaced　it　on　the　salver。　There　was　another　pause；　and　I　did　not　immediately　recollect；　confused　as　I　was　by　this　unexpected　apparition；　that　it　belonged　to　me　to　break　it。　　At　length　a　murmur　was　heard　around　me；　being　expected　to　exhibit；nay；　to　lead　down　the　dance；in　consequence　of　the　previous　conversation。

'Deil's　in　the　fiddler　lad；'　was　muttered　from　more　quarters　than　one'saw　folk　ever　sic　a　thing　as　a　shame…faced　fiddler　before？'

At　length　a　venerable　Triton；　seconding　his　remonstrances　with　a　hearty　thump　on　my　shoulder；　cried　out；　'To　the　floorto　the　floor；　and　let　us　see　how　ye　can　flingthe　lasses　are　a'　waiting。'

Up　I　jumped；　sprang　from　the　elevated　station　which　constituted　our　orchestra；　and；　arranging　my　ideas　as　rapidly　as　I　could；　advanced　to　the　head　of　the　room；　and；　instead　of　offering　my　hand　to　the　white…footed　Thetis　aforesaid；　I　venturously　made　the　same　proposal　to　her　of　the　Green　Mantle。

The　nymph's　lovely　eyes　seemed　to　open　with　astonishment　at　the　audacity　of　this　offer；　and；　from　the　murmurs　I　heard　around　me；　I　also　understood　that　it　surprised；　and　perhaps　offended；　the　bystanders。　　But　after　the　first　moment's　emotion；　she　wreathed　her　neck；　and　drawing　herself　haughtily　up；　like　one　who　was　willing　to　show　that　she　was　sensible　of　the　full　extent　of　her　own　condescension；　extended　her　hand　towards　me；　like　a　princess　gracing　a　squire　of　low　degree。

There　is　affectation　in　all　this；　thought　I　to　myself；　if　the　Green　Mantle　has　borne　true　evidencefor　young　ladies　do　not　make　visits；　or　write　letters　to　counsel　learned　in　the　law；　to　interfere　in　the　motions　of　those　whom　they　hold　as　cheap　as　this　nymph　seems　to　do　me；　and　if　I　am　cheated　by　a　resemblance　of　cloaks；　still　I　am　interested　to　show　myself；　in　some　degree；　worthy　of　the　favour　she　has　granted　with　so　much　state　and　reserve。　　The　dance　to　be　performed　was　the　old　Scots　Jig；　in　which　you　are　aware　I　used　to　play　no　sorry　figure　at　La　Pique's；　when　thy　clumsy　movements　used　to　be　rebuked　by　raps　over　the　knuckles　with　that　great　professor's　fiddlestick。　　The　choice　of　the　tune　was　left　to　my　comrade　Willie；　who；　having　finished　his　drink；　feloniously　struck　up　the　well…known　and　popular　measure；

　　Merrily　danced　the　Quaker's　wife；　　　And　merrily　danced　the　Quaker。

An　astounding　laugh　arose　at　my　expense；　and　I　should　have　been　annihilated；　but　that　the　smile　which　mantled　on　the　lip　of　my　partner；　had　a　different　expression　from　that　of　ridicule；　and　seemed　to　say；　'Do　not　take　this　to　heart。'　　And　I　did　not；　Alan　my　partner　danced　admirably；　and　I　like　one　who　was　determined；　if　outshone；　which　I　could　not　help；　not　to　be　altogether　thrown　into　the　shade。

I　assure　you　our　performance；　as　well　as　Willie's　music；　deserved　more　polished　spectators　and　auditors；　but　we　could　not　then　have　been　greeted　with　such　enthusiastic　shouts　of　applause　as　attended　while　I　handed　my　partner　to　her　seat；　and　took　my　place　by　her　side；　as　one　who　had　a　right　to　offer　the　attentions　usual　on　such　an　occasion。　　She　was　visibly　embarrassed；　but　I　was　determined　not　to　observe　her　confusion；　and　to　avail　myself　of　the　opportunity　of　learning　whether　this　beautiful　creature's　mind　was　worthy　of　the　casket　in　which　nature　had　lodged　it。

Nevertheless；　however　courageously　I　formed　this　resolution；　you　cannot　but　too　well　guess　the　difficulties　I　must　needs　have　felt　in　carrying　it　into　execution；　since　want　of　habitual　intercourse　with　the　charmers　of　the　other　sex　has　rendered　me　a　sheepish　cur；　only　one　grain　less　awkward　than　thyself。　　Then　she　was　so　very　beautiful；　and　assumed　an　air　of　so　much　dignity；　that　I　was　like　to　fall　under　the　fatal　error　of　supposing　she　should　only　be　addressed　with　something　very　clever；　and　in　the　hasty　raking　which　my　brains　underwent　in　this　persuasion；　not　a　single　idea　occurred　that　common　sense　did　not　reject　as　fustian　on　the　one　hand；　or　weary；　flat；　and　stale　triticism　on　the　other。　　I　felt　as　if　my　understanding　were　no　longer　my　own；　but　was　alternately　under　the　dominion　of　Aldeborontiphoscophornio；　and　that　of　his　facetious　friend　Rigdum…Funnidos。　　How　did　I　envy　at　that　moment　our　friend　Jack　Oliver；　who　produces　with　such　happy　complacence　his　fardel　of　small　talk；　and　who；　as　he　never　doubts　his　own　powers　of　affording　amusement；　passes　them　current　with　every　pretty　woman　he　approaches；　and　fills　up　the　intervals　of　chat　by　his　complete　acquaintance　with　the　exercise　of　the　fan；　the　FLACON；　and　the　other　duties　of　the　CAVALIERE　SERVENTE。　　Some　of　these　I　attempted；　but　I　suppose　it　was　awkwardly；　at　least　the　Lady　Green　Mantle　received　them　as　a　princess　accepts　the　homage　of　a　clown。

Meantime　the　floor　remained　empty；　and　as　the　mirth　of　the　good　meeting　was　somewhat　checked；　I　ventured；　as　a　DERNIER　RESSORT；　to　propose　a　minuet。　　She　thanked　me；　and　told　me　haughtily　enough；　'she　was　here　to　encourage　the　harmless　pleasures　of　these　good　folks；　but　was　not　disposed　to　make　an　exhibition　of　her　own　indifferent　dancing　for　their　amusement。'

She　paused　a　moment；　as　if　she　expected　me　to　suggest　something；　and　as　I　remained　silent　and　rebuked；　she　bowed　her　head　more　graciously；　and　said；　'Not　to　affront　you；　however；　a　country…　dance；　if　you　please。'

What　an　ass　was　I；　Alan；　not　to　have　anticipated　her　wishes！　Should　I　not　have　observed　that　the　ill…favoured　couple；　Mabel　and　Cristal；　had　placed　themselves　on　each　side　of　her　seat；　like　the　supporters　of　the　royal　arms？　　the　man；　thick；　short；　shaggy；　and　hirsute；　as　the　lion；　the　female；　skin…dried；　tight…laced；　long；　lean；　and　hungry…faced；　like　the　unicorn。　　I　ought　to　have　recollected；　that　under　the　close　inspection　of　two　such　watchful　salvages；　our　communication；　while　in　repose；　could　not　have　been　easy；　that　the　period　of　dancing　a　minuet　was　not　the　very　choicest　time　for　conversation；　but　that　the　noise；　the　exercise；　and　the　mazy　confusion　of　a　country…dance；　where　the　inexperienced　performers　were　every　now　and　then　running　against　each　other；　and　compelling　the　other　couples　to　stand　still　for　a　minute　at　a　time；　besides　the　more　regular　repose　afforded　by　the　intervals　of　the　dance　itself；　gave　the　best　possible　openings　for　a　word　or　two　spoken　in　season；　and　without　being　liable　to　observation。

We　had　but　just　led　down；　when　an　opportunity　of　the　kind　occurred；　and　my　partner　said；　with　great　gentleness　and　modesty；　'It　is　not　perhaps　very　proper　in　me　to　acknowledge　an　acquaintance　that　is　not　claimed；　but　I　believe　I　speak　to　Mr。　Darsie　Latimer？'

'Darsie　Latimer　was　indeed　the　person　that　had　now　the　honour　and　happiness'

I　would　have　gone　on　in　the　false　gallop　of　compliment；　but　she　cut　me　short。　　'And　why；'　she　said；　'is　Mr。　Latimer　here；　and　in　disguise；　or　at　least　assuming　an　office　unworthy　of　a　man　of　education？I　beg　pardon；'　she　continued；'I　would　not　give　you　pain；　but　surely　making；　an　associate　of　a　person　of　that　description'

She　looked　towards　my　friend　Willie；　and　was　silent。　　I　felt　heartily　ashamed　of　myself；　and　hastened　to　say　it　was　an　idle　frolic；　which　want　of　occupation　had　suggested；　and　which　I　could　not　regret；　since　it　had　procured　me　the　pleasure　I　at　present　enjoyed。

Without　seeming　to　notice　my　compliment；　she　took　the　next　opportunity　to　say；　'Will　Mr。　Latimer　permit　a　stranger　who　wishes　him　well　to　ask；　whether　it　is　right　that；　at　his　active　age；　he　should　be　in　so　far　void　of　occupation；　as　to　be　ready　to　adopt　low　society　for　the　sake　of　idle　amusement？'

'You　are　severe；　madam；'　I　answered；　'but　I　cannot　think　myself　degraded　by　mixing　with　any　society　where　I　meet'

Here　I　stopped　short；　conscious　that　I　was　giving　my　answer　an　unhandsome　turn。　　The　ARGUMENTUM　AD　HOMINEM；　the　last　to　which　a　polite　man　has　recourse；　may；　however；　be　justified　by　circumstances；　but　seldom　or　never　the　ARGUMENTUM　AD　FOEMINAM。

She　filled　up　the　blank　herself　which　I　had　left。　　'Where　you　meet　ME；　I　suppose　you　would　say？　　But　the　case　is　different。　　I　am；　from　my　unhappy　fate；　obliged　to　move　by　the　will　of　others；　and　to　be　in　places　which　I　would　by　my　own　will　gladly　avoid。　Besides；　I　am；　except　for　these　few　minutes；