第7章

类别:其他 作者:E. P. Roe字数:8360更新时间:18/12/13 14:44:18
\"IhavenoteventhoughtofMissBurton,\"protestedVanBerg,atthesametimeconscious,nowthathernamehadbeenrecalledtohismemory,thatshewouldhaveactedamuchbetterpart.\"Iamonlysincerelygladthatourneckswerenotbroken,andIhopethatyouhavenotsufferedanyseverebruises.Astomydespisingyou,ifyouwillhonormewithyouracquaintanceyoumaydiscoverthatyouaregreatlyinerror.\" \"Thenyoutrulythinkthatwehavebeenindanger?\"sheasked,wipinghereyes. \"Mostassuredly.Whenyoucometothinkthematterovercalmly,youwillrealizethatwewereinverygreatdanger.Ithinktheaffairhasendedmosthappilyratherthanabsurdly.\" \"Really,sir,whenIrememberhowthe\'affair,\'asyoutermit,actuallydidend,IfeelasifIneverwishedtoseeyouagain.\" \"MissMayhew,Iappealtoyourgenerosity.WasItoblameforthatwhichwassodisagreeabletoyou?SurelyyouwillnotbesounfairastopunishmeforwhatneitheryounorIcouldhelp.I thinkfatemeansweshallbefriends,andhasemployedthisunexpectedepisodetobreaktheicebetweenus.IfyouarenowsufficientlycomposedIwillassistyoutoalight,inorderthatthedriver,whoisapproaching,mayberelievedofallfearsonouraccount.\" \"Oh,certainly.Asitis,Isupposehewillhavearidiculousstorytotell.\" \"Thereisnothingthathe,ortheotherswhoarefollowinghimcantell,savethatthehorsesranawayandthatwemostfortunatelyescapedallinjury.Ah!Iseethatyouarealittlelame.Pleasetakemyarm;thehotelisbutaquarterofamileaway.OrperhapsyouwouldpreferthatIshouldsendthedriverforacarriage.Youcouldwaitinyondercottage,orhere,intheshadeofthetrees.\" \"Iamnotverylame,andifIwereIwouldnotmindit.Mywishisthatthehorridaffairmayoccasionaslittleremarkaspossible. Icanreachmyroombyasideentrance,andsocomequietlydowntodinner.IsupposethatImusttakeyourarmsinceIcannotwalkverywellwithoutit.\" Theythereforeturnedtheirbacksonthebreathlessdriverandhiseagerquestions,andproceededslowlytowardsthehotel.Afterabriefexaminationoftheshatteredstage,themanranpantingpasttheminsearchofhishorses;andtheywereagainleftalone. ChapterX.PhrasestooSuggestive. ForafewmomentsMissMayhewandVanBergwalkedoninsilence,eachverydoubtfuloftheother.Atlasttheartistbegan: \"Iamwellaware,MissMayhew,thatthisunexpectedepisodeandthisenforcedcompanionshipgivemenorightswhatever.Idonotproposetoannoyyou,afterseeingyousafelytothehotel,byassumingthatweareacquainted,nordoIintendtosubjectmyselftothemortificationofbeinginformedpublicly,byyourmanner,thatwearenotonspeakingterms.Iwouldbegladtohavethisquestionsettlednow.IaskyourpardonforanythingthatImayhavesaidordonetohurtyourfeelings,andhavingthusgonemorethanhalf-wayitwouldbeungenerousonyourpartnottorespondinlikespirit.\" \"Youapologize,then?\" \"No;Iaskyourpardonforanythingthatmayhavehurtyourfeelings.\" \"Youhavesaidverydisagreeablethingsaboutme,Mr.VanBerg.\" \"Ididnotknowyouthen.\" \"Idonotthinkyouhavechangedyouropinionofmeintheleast.\" \"Ievidentlyhaveamuchhigheropinionofyouthanyouofme,andIamseekingyouracquaintancewithapersistencesuchasInevermanifestedinthecaseofanyotherlady.Thustheoddsareallinyourfavor.Havingbeensounexpectedlythrowntogether——\" \"\'Throwntogether,\'indeed——Mr.VanBerg,youAREmockingme,\"andhereyesagainfilledwithtearsofvexation. \"IassureyouIamnot,\"saidVanBergearnestly.\"Icouldnotbesomeanastotwityouwithanaccidentwhichyoucouldnothelp,andwithanactwhichwaswhollyinvoluntaryonyourpart.Canwenotbothletby-gonesbyby-gonesandcommenceanew?\" MissMayhewbitherlipandhesitatedafewmoments. \"Ithinkthatwillbethebetterway,\"shesaid.\"Wewillbothletby-gones,especiallythisridiculousepisodeinthestage.I\'llputyouonyourgoodbehavior.\" \"Thankyou,MissMayhew.Iwouldtakeourlaterisktwentytimesforsucharesult.\" \"Iwouldnottakeitagainonanyaccountwhatever.Pleaserefertoitnomore.Ideclare,therecomesCousinIkandMr.Burleightomeetus.Wasone\'sfortuneeversoexasperating!Ikwillteazemeoutofallcomfortforweekstocome.\" \"Saylittleandleavealltomydiscretion,\"saidVanBerg,reassuringly; \"and,bytheway,youmightlimpalittlemoredecidedly,\"whichsheimmediatelydid. \"MydearMissMayhew,Itrustyouarenotseriouslyhurt,\"beganMr.Burleighwhilestillseveralyardsoff. Stanton\'sfacewasastudyasheapproached.Indeedheseemedhalfreadytoexplodewithsuppressedmerriment,butbeforehecouldspeakawarningglancefromVanBergcheckedhim. \"MissMayhewmighthavebeenseriouslyandpossiblyfatallyinjured,\" saidtheartistgravely,\"haditnotbeenforherself-control. Althoughitseemedthatthestagewouldbedashedtopieceseverymoment,Itoldherthatinmyjudgementitwouldbesafertoremainwithinitthantospringoutuponthehardandstonyroad,andI amverygladthatthefinaleventconfirmedmyopinion.\" Astheywerebythistimeneartothehotel,otherswhohadbeenalarmedbyseeingthehorsestearinguptothestabledoor,nowhastilyjoinedthem;andlast,butnotleast,Mrs.Mayhewcamepantinguponthescene.VanBergfeltthehandoftheyoungladytremblinginnervousapprehensionuponhisarm,fromwhich,inherembarrassment,sheforgottoremoveit.Buttheartistdidnotfailher,andinanswertoMr.Burleigh\'seagerquestionsastothecauseoftheaccident,explainedallsoplausibly,andinsuchamatter-of-factmannerasleftlittlemoreeventobesurmised. Hisbriefandprosaichistoryoftheaffairconcludedwiththefollowingimpliedtributetohiscompanion,whichstillfurtherrelievedherfromfearofridicule: \"MissMayhew,\"hesaid,\"insteadofjumpingout,afterthefranticterror-blindedmannerofmostpeople,remainedinthestageandsohasescaped,Itrust,withnothingworsethanaslightlamenesscausedbytheviolentmotionofthevehicle.Iwillnowresignhertoyourcare,Mr.Stanton,andIamgladtobelievethattheoccasionwillrequiretheservicesofthewheelwrightandharness-makeronly,andnotthoseofasurgeon,\"andliftinghishattoMrs.Mayhewandherdaughterhebowedhimselfoffthescene. Ida,leaningonthearmofhercousin,limpedappropriatelytoherroom,whithershehadherdinnersenttoher,moreforthepurposeofgainingtimetocomposehernervesthanforanyotherreason. Theimpressionthatshehadbehavedcourageouslyinperilwasrapidlyincreasedasthestorywasrepeatedbyoneandanother,andshereceivedseveralcongratulatoryvisitsintheafternoonfromherladyacquaintances;andwhenshecamedowntosuppershefoundthatshewasevenagreaterheroinethanMissBurtonhadbeen.Inanswertomanysympatheticinquiries,shesaidthatshe\"feltaswellasever,\"andshetriedtoproveitbyhergayetyandcarefultoilet. Butshewasdecidedlyillatease.Heroldself-complacencywasebbingawayfasterthanever.Fromthetimethatithadfirstbeendisturbedbytheartist\'sfrownintheconcertgarden,shehadbeenconsciousofasecretandgrowingself-dissatisfaction. Itseemedtobethisstranger\'smissiontobreakthespellvanityandflatteryhadwovenabouther.Thecongratulationsshewasnowreceivingweresecuredbyafraudulentimpression,ifnotbyactualfalsehood,andshepermittedthisimpressiontoremainandgrow. Theone,whoaboveallothersshemostfearedanddisliked,knewthis.Insmilinglyacceptingthecomplimentsshowereduponherfromallsidesshefeltthatshemustappeartohimasifreceivingstolengoods,andshebelievedthatinhishearthedespisedhermorethoroughlythanever. Tothedegreethathecausedherdisquietudeandsecrethumiliation,herdesiretoretaliateincreased,andsheresolved,beforethedayclosed,touseherbeautyasaweapontoinflictuponhimtheseverestwoundpossible.Ifitwerewithinthepowerofherartshewouldbringhimtoherfeetandkeephimthereuntilshecould,inthemostdecidedandpublicmanner,spurnhisabjecthomage. Shewouldhavenoscrupleindoingthisinanycase,but,inthisinstance,successwouldgiveherthekeenestsatisfaction. Hisverydesireforheracquaintance,assheunderstoodit,washumiliating,and,inacertainsense,demoralizing.Herothersuitorshadimaginedthatshehadgoodtraitsbackofherbeauty,andhithertoshehadbeencarelesslycontenttobelievethatshecoulddisplaysuchtraitsinabundanceshouldtheoccasionrequirethem.Herewasone,however,who,whiledespisingthewoman,wasapparentlyseekingherforthesakeofherbeautymerely;andherwoman\'ssoul,warpedanddwarfedasitwas,resentedanhomagethatwasseeminglysensuousandsuperficial,andwould,ofnecessity,betransient.InherignoranceofVanBerg\'smotives,andintheutterimpossibilityofsurmisingthem,shecouldscarcelycometoanyotherconclusion;andshedeterminedtopunishhimtotheutmostextentofherability. ThusitcametopassthatMissMayhewhaddesignsagainstVanBergthatwerenotquiteasamiableasthoseoftheartistinregardtoherself. Stanton,inalowtone,remarkedtoheratthesuppertable,\"NowthatfatehasthrowyouandVanBergtogetherinsucharemarkablemanner\"(theyoungladycoloreddeeplyatthisunfortunateexpressionandlookedathimkeenly),\"Itrustthatyouwillyieldgracefullytodestinyandtreathimwithordinarycourtesywhenyoumeet. Otherwiseyoumayoccasionsurmisesthatwillnotbeagreeabletoyou.\" \"Hashebeentellingyouanythingaboutthismorning?\"sheaskedquickly. \"Nothingmorethanhesaidinyourpresence.Why,wasthereanythingmoretotell?\" \"Certainlynot,buthemadeill-naturedremarksaboutmeonce——thatis,yousaidhedid——andwhyshouldhenotagain?\" \"Well,hehasnot.Ithinkhespokeveryhandsomelyofyouthismorning.Ihopehedidn\'texaggerateyourgoodbehavior.\" \"Ifyouprefertobelieveillofmeyouarewelcometodoso.Formypart,IbelieveyouexaggeratewhatMr.VanBergsaidattheconcert,andthathenevermeanttobesorude.AsfarasIcanjudge,hehasshownnosuchunmannerlydispositionsincecominghere.\" \"Indeed,youareright.Ithinkhisdispositionhascomparedfavorablywithyourown.\" \"Well,\"shereplied,withapeculiarsmile,\"weareonspeakingtermsforthepresent.\" \"Thatsmilebodesnogood-willtowardsmyfriend,butforonceyouwillfindamanwhowillnotfallhelplesslyinlovewithyourmerebeauty.\" \"IfyouwillglanceatyondertableyoucanseethatMissBurtonhasalreadysoabsorbedhimthathehaseyesfornooneelse.\" \"Theyhavejollygoodtimesatthattable.Iwishwewerethere.\" \"Indeed!areyoubewitchedalso?Ican\'tseewhatitisthatpeoplefindsoattractiveinthatplain-lookinggirl.\" \"Well,foronething,shehasamind.Beautywithoutmindislikesaladwithoutdressing.\" \"AnddoyoumeantosaythatIhavenomind?\"Idaasked,withasuddenflush. \"MydearCoz,wewerespeakingsolelyofMissBurton.Indeed,I thinkyouhaveaverydecidedwillofyourown.\" \"Iunderstandyou.Well,inwhatotherrespectsisMissBurtonmysuperior?\" \"IdoubtifMissBurtoneverthinksofherselfassuperiortoanyone,andthat\'sanotherveryamiabletraitinher.\" \"Canyounotsumupherperfectionsalittlemorerapidly?Lifeisshort,\"remarkedIda,acidly. \"Come,Coz,letmegetyousomesweet-oilbeforeyoufinishyoursupper.YouknowyouarethehandsomestgirlintheState,andthat\'sdistinctionenoughforonewoman.Toyou,MissBurtonisonlyaplainschool-teacher.Whyshouldyouenvyher?\" \"Idonotenvyher,norcanIseewhypeoplearesocarriedawaywithher.\" \"ItISremarkabletoseewhatanimpressionshehasmadeintwobriefdays.Ofcoursehercourageinsavingthechildservedasageneralandfavorableintroduction,butitdoesnotbyanymeansexplainhergrowingpopularity.Forsomereasonorotherthoseaboutheralwaysseemtobehavingagoodtime.Seehowanimatedandpleasedistheexpressionofallthefacesathertableyonder. Itwasthesameonthecroquet-groundthismorning.Sheeffervescedlikechampagne,andbeforeweknewitwewereallinastateofexhilarationandthemorninghadgone.\" \"Ihatethesebold,forwardwomenwhoarequicktobecomeacquaintedwitheveryone.Amanofthistypeisbadenough,butawomanisunendurable.\" \"Iagreewithyouintheabstractmostheartily;buttheonlyboldthingthatIhaveseenMissBurtondowastorununderthefeetofmyhorses.Youmightaswellcallarayofsunshineboldandforward;andpeoplelikesunshinewhenitisasnicelytemperedashermanneris.IconfessthatwhenIfirstlearnedwhoshewas,andbeforeIhadmetherpersonally,Iwasgreatlyprejudicedagainsther,butonewouldhavetobeachurlindeedtoremainproofagainsthergenialgood-nature.FormypartIintendtoenjoyit,asIdoalltheothergoodthingsthegodsthrowinmyway.\" \"Thegodswouldindeedbecarelesstoleaveanygoodthingswithinyourreach,unlesstheyweremeantforyou,\"snappedIda. \"Goodforyou,Coz;yourridewithVanBerghasalreadybrightenedyouup.Thereisnotellingwhatyoumightnotbecomeifyouwouldonlyassociatewithmenwhohadsufficientbrainsnottogrowspooneyoveryourprettyface.\" AsIdaandhermotherpassedoutonthepiazza,VanBergjoinedthemandsaid: \"Iamgladtoseethatyouhavesofullyrecovered,MissMayhew. Youproveagainthatyoupossessgoodstrongnerves.\" \"Thankyou,\"saidtheyounglady,laconically,andwithasuddenaccessionofcolor. \"Mr.VanBerg,\"beganMrs.Mayhewwithgreatanimation,\"I\'mexcessivelythankfulthatyouhappenedtobeontheroad,andthatthestageovertookyouthismorning.ItwassofortunatethatIalmostthinkitprovidential.HowdreadfulitwouldhavebeenifIdahadbeenaloneinsuchfrightfulperil!IcannottellyoualsohowdelightedIamthatmydaughterbehavedsobeautifully. Indeed,ImustconfessthatIamagreeablysurprised,forIdawasneverfamousforhercourage.Yourownmannermusthaveinspiredconfidenceinher;andnowthatyouhavebeensofortunatelyTHROWN TOGETHER,Itrustyoumaybebetterfriendsinthefuture.\" MissMayhew\'srisingcolordeepenedintoanintensescarlet,and,assheturnedawaytohideherconfusion,shecouldnotforbearshootingawrathfulglanceattheartist.Hehadsufficientself-controlnottochangeamuscle,ortoappearintheslightestdegreeawareoftheembarrassmentcausedbyhermother\'swords,andespeciallytheuseofthephrase——growntobemosthatefulfromitsassociations——thatsovividlyrecalledtotheincensedmaidentheanomalouspositioninwhichshefoundherselfattheendofherperilousmorningride. \"Youladiesdifferfavorablyfromusmen,\"saidVanBerg,quietly. \"Yourisetomeetanemergencybyaninnatequalityofyoursex,whereas,inourcase,ifournativestrengthisnotequaltotheoccasionwefallbelowitasamatterofcourse.\" \"Oh,thataccountsforIda\'scomingoffwithsuchflyingcolors——sherosetomeettheemergency.Ihope,however,shewillEMBRACE nomoresuchopportunitiesofshowinghercourage——why!Ida,whatISthematter?whathaveIsaid?\"buttheyounglady,withfaceinflamed,vanishedinthedirectionofherroom. \"Well,thisISstrange,\"remarkedtheladywithasharpglanceofinquiryattheartist,whostillmanagedtomaintainanexpressionoflamb-likeinnocence.\"Idobelievethepoorchildisill,and,nowIthinkofit,shehasnotactedlikeherselfforseveraldays;\" andshesoughtherdaughterwithhastysteps. Buttheyoungladydidnotgotoherroom,beingwellawarethathermotherwouldsoonfollowfortheexplanationwhichshecouldnotgive.Therefore,takingasidecorridor,shejoinedsomeacquaintancesonanotherpiazza. ChapterXI.A\"TableauVivant.\" \"MissMayhew,willyoupleasestephere?\"saidaveryfashionablydressedlady. Turning,Idasawnearherthemotherofthechildthathadbeenrescuedthepreviousday.She,withherhusband,hadbeentalkingveryearnestlytoMr.Burleigh,theproprietorofthehouse,whoseemedinratheradubiousstateofmindoversomepropositionoftheirs. \"MissMayhew,wewantyouropinioninregardtoacertainmatter,\" begantheladyvolubly.\"OfcourseIandmyhusbandfeelverygratefultotheyoungwomanwhosavedourchildfromyourcousin\'shorsesyesterday.Indeed,myhusbandfeelssodeeplyindebtedthathewishestomakesomereturnandIhavesuggestedthathepresentherwithacheckforfivehundreddollars.IlearnfromMr.Burleighthatsheisateacher,andtherefore,ofcourse,shemustbepoor. Now,inmyview,ifmyhusbandorsomeothergentlemanshouldpresentthischeckintheparlor,withanappropriatelittlespeech,itwouldbeaniceacknowledgmentofheract.Don\'tyouthinkso?\" \"IdonotthinkIamqualifiedtogiveanopinion,\"saidIda,\"asIhavenoacquaintancewiththeladywhatever.\" \"I\'msureitwillbejustthethingtodo,\"saidthelady,becomingmoreinfatuatedwithherprojecteverymoment.\"Doyouthinkyourcousinwouldbewillingtomakethespeech?\" AtthissuggestionIdalaughedoutright.\"Theidea,\"shesaid,\"ofmycousinmakingaspeechofanykind,orinanycircumstances!\" \"NowIthinkofit,\"persistedthelady,\"MissBurtonandMr.VanBergsitatthesametable,andheseemsbetteracquaintedwithherthananyofthegentlemen.He\'stheonetomakethespeech,onlyIdonotfeelthatIknowhimwellenoughtoaskhim.Doyou,MissMayhew?\" \"IndeedIdonot,\"saidtheyounglady,decisively;\"IamthelastoneinthehousetoaskanyfavorsofMr.VanBerg.\" \"Well,then,Mr.Burleighcanexplaineverythingandaskhim.\" \"Reallynow,Mrs.Chints\"——forsuchwasthelady\'sname——\"Idon\'tquitebelievethatMr.VanBergwouldapproveofgivingMissBurtonmoneyinpublic,andbeforeanythingfurtherisdoneIwouldliketoaskhisjudgement.Itallmaybeeminentlyproper,asyousay,andIwouldnotliketostandinthewayoftheyounglady\'sreceivingsohandsomeapresent,andwouldnotfortheworldifI thoughtitwouldbeagreeabletoher;butthereissomethingaboutherthat——\" \"Ihaveit,\"interruptedthepositive-mindedlady,unheedingandscarcelyhearingMr.Burleigh\'sdubiouscircumlocution,andsheputherfingertoherforeheadforamomentinanaffectedstage-likemanner,asifherideasofthe\"eternalfitnessofthings\"hadbeenobtainedfromthesensationaldrama.\"Ihaveit:thechildhimselfshallhandherthegiftfromhisownlittlehand,andyou,Mr.Chints,cansayallthatneedbesaid.Itwillbeaprettyscene,a\'tableauvivant.\'Mr.Chints,comewithmebeforetheyoungwomanleavesherpresentfavorablepositionneartheparlordoor.Mr.Burleigh,yourscruplesaresentimentalandgroundless. Ofcoursetheyoungwomanwillbedelightedtoreceiveinoneeveningasmuch,andperhapsmore,thanherwholeyear\'ssalaryamountsto.Come,Mr.Chints,Mr.Burleigh,ifyouwish,youmaygroupsomeofyourfriendsnear;\"andawaysherustled,sweepingthefloorwithhersilkentrain. Mr.Chintslumberedafterherwithaperplexedandmartyr-likeexpression.HewasamightymaninWashingtonMarket,butinamatterlikethishewasashelplessasastrandedwhale.Thegiftoffivehundreddollarsdidnottroublehimintheleast;hecouldsoonmakethatup;buttakingpartina\"tableauvivant\"undertheauspicesofhisdramaticwifewaslikebeingimpaled. \"Well,\"saidMr.Burleigh,shakinghishead,\"Iwashmyhandsofthewholematter.Fivehundreddollarsisasnugsum,butIdoubtifthatlittlewomantakesit.I\'mmoreafraidshe\'llbeoffendedandhurt.Whatdoyouthink,MissMayhew?\" \"I\'venoopiniontooffer,Mr.Burleigh.Thesepeopleareallcomparativestrangerstome.Mrs.Chintsisdeterminedtohaveherownway,andnothingthatyouorIcansaywouldmakeanydifference.Myruleistoletpeoplealone,andiftheygetintoscrapesitsometimesdoesthemgood;\"andshelefthimthatshemightwitnesstheChints\'tableau. \"That\'sjustthedifferencebetweenyouandMissBurton,\"mutteredMr.Burleigh,noddinghisheadsignificantlyafterher.\"She\'dhelpafellowoutofascrapeandyou\'dhelphimintoone.Well,iftheoldsaying\'strue,\'Handsomeisthathandsomedoes,\'thelittleschool-teacherwouldbethegirlformewereIlookingformymate.\" Onherwaytotheentranceofthemainparlor,IdastoppedamomentatanopenwindownearthecornerwhereStantonandVanBergweresmoking. \"CousinIk,\"shesaid,\'sottovoce.\' Heroseandjoinedher. \"Ifyouwishtoseearichscene,hoverneartheentranceofthemainparlor.\" \"Whatdoyoumean?\" \"I\'velearnedthatMr.andMrs.Chints,andpossiblyyourfavoritenewperformer,MissBurton,aregoingtoactalittlecomedytogether:comeandsee;\"andshevanished.