brideshead+revisited-第50部分
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pt them mounted on boards； card…indexed； yearly occupying a larger and larger space in his small house in Westminster。 At first he was bashful about the notoriety which the newspaper caused； but later greatly pleased； for he found it the means of his getting into touch with other collectors in all parts of the world with whom he now corresponded and swapped duplicates。 Other than this he was not known to have any interests。 He remained joint Master of the Marchmain and hunted with them dutifully on their two days a week when he was at home； he never hunted with the neighbouring pack； who had the better country。 He had no real zest for sport； and had not been out a dozen times that season； he had few friends； he visited his aunts； he went to public dinners held in the Catholic interest。 At Brideshead he performed all unavoidable local duties； bringing with him to platform and f阾e and mittee room his own thin mist of clumsiness and … aloofness。
'There was a girl found strangled with a piece of barbed wire at Wandsworth last week；' I said； reviving an old fantasy。
'That must be Bridey。 He is naughty。'
When we had been a quarter of an hour at the table； he joined us； ing ponderously into the room in the bottle…green velvet smoking suit which he kept at Brideshead and always wore when he was there。 At thirty…eight he had grown heavy and bald； and might have been taken for forty…five。
'Well；' he said； 'well； only you two； I hoped to find Rex here。'
I often wondered what he made of me and of my continual presence； he seemed to accept me； without curiosity； as one of the household。 Twice in the past two years he had surprised me by what seemed to be acts of friendship； that Christmas he had sent me a photograph of himself in the robes of a Knight of Malta； and shortly afterwards asked me to go with him to a dining club。 Both acts had an explanation： he had had more copies of his portrait printed than he knew what to do with； he was proud of his club。 It was a surprising association of men quite eminent in their professions who met once a month for an evening of ceremonious buffoonery； each had his sobriquet Bridey was called 'Brother Grandee' … and a specially designed jewel worn like an order of chivalry； symbolizing it； they had club buttons for their waistcoats and an elaborate ritual for the introduction of guests； after dinner a paper was read and facetious speeches were made。 There was plainly some petition to bring guests of distinction and since Bridey had few friends； and since I was tolerably well known； I was invited。 Even on that convivial evening I could feel my host emanating little magnetic waves of social uneasiness； creating； rather； a pool of general embarrassment about himself in which； he floated with log…like calm。
He sat down opposite me and bowed his sparse； pink head over his plate。
'Well； Bridey。 What's the news？'
'As a matter of fact；' he said； 'I have some news。 But it can wait。'
'Tell us now。'
He made a grimace which I took to mean 'not in front of the servants'； and said； 'How is the painting； Charles？'
'Which painting？'
'Whatever you have on the stocks。'
'I began a sketch of Julia； but the light was tricky all today。'
'Julia？ I thought you'd done her before。 I suppose it's a change from architecture； and much more difficult。'
His conversation abounded in long pauses during which his mind seemed to remain motionless； he always brought one back with a start to the exact point where he had stopped。 Now after more than a minute he said： 'The world is full of different subjects。'
'Very true； Bridey。'
'If I were a painter；' he said； 'I should choose an entirely different subject every time； subjects with plenty of action in them like。。。' Another pause。 What； I wondered was ing？ The Flying Scotsman？ The Charge of the Light Brigade？ Henley Regatta？ Then surprisingly he said： '。。。like Macbeth。' There was something supremely preposterous in the idea of Bridey as a painter of action pictures； he was usually preposterous yet somehow achieved a certain dignity by his remoteness and agelessness； he was still half…child； already half…veteran； there seemed no spark of contemporary life in him； he had a kind of massive rectitude and impermeability； an indifference to the world； which pelled respect。 Though we often laughed at him； he was never wholly ridiculous； at times he was even formidable。
We talked of the news from central Europe until； suddenly cutting across this barren topic； Bridey asked： 'Where are mummy's jewels？'
'This was hers；' said Julia； 'and this。 Cordelia and I had all her own things。 The family jewels went to the bank。'
'It's so long since I've seen them … I don't know that I ever saw them all。 What is there？ Aren't there some rather famous rubies； someone was telling me？'
'Yes； a necklace。 Mummy used often to wear it； don't you remember？ And there are the pearls … she always had those out。 But most of it stayed in the bank year after year。 There are some hideous diamond fenders； I remember； and a Victorian diamond collar no one could wear now。 There's a mass of good stones。 Why？'
'I'd like to have a took at them some day。'
'I say； papa isn't going to pop them； is he？ He hasn't got into debt again？'
'No； no； nothing like that。'
Bridey was a slow and copious eater。 Julia and I watched him between the candles。 Presently he said： 'If I was Rex' … his mind seemed full of such suppositions： 'If I was Archbishop of Westminster'； 'If I was head of the Great Western Railway'； 'If I was an actress'； as though it were a mere trick of fate that he was none of these things； and he might awake any morning to find the matter adjusted … 'if I was Rex I should want to live in my constituency。'
'Rex says it saves four days' work a week not to。'
'I'm so he's not here。 I have a little announcement to make。'
'Bridey； don't be so mysterious。 Out with it。'
He made the grimace which seemed to mean 'not before the servants。'
Later when port was on the table and we three were alone Julia said： 'I'm not going till I hear the announcement。'
'Well；' said Bridey； sitting back in his chair and gazing fixedly at his glass。 'You have only to wait until Monday to see it in black and white in the newspapers。 I am engaged to be married。 I hope you are pleased。'
'Bridey。 How。。。how very exciting！ Who to？'
'Oh； no one you know。'
'Is she pretty？'
'I don't think you would exactly call her pretty； 〃ely〃 is the word I think of in her connection。 She is a big woman。'
'Fat？'
'No； big。 She is called Mrs Muspratt； her Christian name is Beryl。 I have known her for a long time； but until last year she had a husband； now she is a widow。 Why do you laugh？'
'I'm sorry。 It isn't the least funny。 It's just so unexpected。 Is she。。。is she about your own age？'
'Just about； I believe。 She has three children； the eldest boy has just gone to Ampleforth。 She is not at all well off。'
'But； Bridey； where did you find her？'
'Her late husband； Admiral Muspratt； collected matchboxes he said with plete gravity。
Julia trembled on the verge of laughter； recovered her self…possession； and asked： 'You're not marrying her for her matchboxes？'
'No； no； the whole collection was left to the Falmouth Town Library。 I have a great affection for her。 In spite of all her difficulties she is a very cheerful woman； very fond of acting。 She is connected with the Catholic Players' Guild。'
'Does papa know？'
'I had a letter from him this morning giving me his approval。 He has been urging me to marry for some time。'
It occurred both to Julia and myself simultaneously that we were allowing curiosity and surprise to predominate； now we congratulated him in gentler tones from which mockery was almost excluded。
'Thank you；' he said； 'thank you。 I think I am very fortunate。'
'But when are we going to meet her？ I do think you might have brought her down with you。'
He said nothing； sipped and gazed。
'Bridey；' said Julia。 'You sly； smug old brute； why haven't you brought her here？'
'Oh； I couldn't do that； you know。'
'Why couldn't you？ I'm dying to meet her。 Let's ring her up now and invite her。 She'll think us most peculiar leaving her alone at a time like this。'
'She has the children；' said Brideshead。 'Besides； you are peculiar； aren't you？'
'What can you mean？'
Brideshead raised his head and looked solemnly at his sister； and continued in the same simple way； as though he were saying nothing particularly different from what had gone before； 'I couldn't ask her here； as things are。 It wouldn't be suitable。 After all； I am a lodger here。 This is Rex's house at the moment； so far as it's anybody's。 What goes on here is his business。 But I couldn't bring Beryl here。'
'I simply don't understand；' said Julia rather sharply。 I looked at her。 All the gentle mockery had gone； she was alert； almost scared； it seemed。 'Of course； Rex and I want her to e。'
'Oh； yes； I don't doubt that。 The difficulty is quite otherwise。'
He finished his port； refilled his glass； and pushed the decanter towards me。 'You must understand that Beryl is a woman of strict Catholic principle fortified by the prejudices of the middle class。 I couldn't possibly bring her here。 It is a matter of indifference whether you choose to live in sin with Rex or Charles or both … I have always avoided inquiry into the details of your m閚age … but in no case would Beryl consent to be your guest。'
Julia rose。 'Why； you pompous ass。。。 ' she said； stopped； and turned towards the door。
At first I thought she was overe by laughter； then； as I opened the door to her； I saw with consternation that she was in tears。 I hesitated。 She slipped past me without a glance。
'I may have given the impression that this was a marriage of convenience' Brideshead continued placidly。 I cannot speak for Beryl； no doubt the security of my position has some influence on her。 Indeed； she has said as much。 But for myself； let me emphasize； I am ardently attracted。'
'Bridey； what a bloody offensive thing to say to Julia！'
'There was nothing she should object to。 I was merel
