第2章

\"Iamthewidowofaprovincialdoctor，withanincomeofjusttwohundredandthirtypoundsperannum，\"sheargued。\"Thesensiblethingformetodoistomakethebestofit，andtoworrymyselfaboutthesehighandmightyrelationsofmineaslittleastheyhaveeverworriedthemselvesaboutme。\" Thestrangerappearedunabletothinkofanythingworthsaying。 \"Ihaveotherconnections，\"rememberedSirWilliam’scousin；\"thoseofmypoorhusband，towhominsteadofbeingthe’poorrelation’Icouldbethefairygod—mama。Theyaremypeople——orwouldbe，\"addedSirWilliam’scousintartly，\"ifIwasn’tavulgarsnob。\" Sheflushedtheinstantshehadsaidthewordsand，rising，commencedpreparationsforahurrieddeparture。 \"NowitseemsIamdrivingyouaway，\"sighedthestranger。 \"Havingbeencalleda’vulgarsnob，’\"retortedtheladywithsomeheat，\"IthinkitabouttimeIwent。\" \"Thewordswereyourown，\"thestrangerremindedher。 \"WhateverImayhavethought，\"remarkedtheindignantdame，\"nolady——leastofallinthepresenceofatotalstranger——wouldhavecalledherself——\"Thepoordamepaused，bewildered。\"Thereissomethingverycuriousthematterwithmethisevening，thatIcannotunderstand，\"sheexplained，\"Iseemquiteunabletoavoidinsultingmyself。\" Stillsurroundedbybewilderment，shewishedthestrangergood—night，hopingthatwhennexttheymetshewouldbemoreherself。Thestranger，hopingsoalso，openedthedoorandcloseditagainbehindher。 \"Tellme，\"laughedMissDevine，whobysheerforceoftalentwascontrivingtowringharmonyfromthereluctantpiano，\"howdidyoumanagetodoit？Ishouldliketoknow。\" \"HowdidIdowhat？\"inquiredthestranger。 \"Contrivetogetridsoquicklyofthosetwooldfrumps？\" \"Howwellyouplay！\"observedthestranger。\"IknewyouhadgeniusformusicthemomentIsawyou。\" \"Howcouldyoutell？\" \"Itiswrittensoclearlyinyourface。\" Thegirllaughed，wellpleased。\"Youseemtohavelostnotimeinstudyingmyface。\" \"Itisabeautifulandinterestingface，\"observedthestranger。 Sheswungroundsharplyonthestoolandtheireyesmet。 \"Youcanreadfaces？\" \"Yes。\" \"Tellme，whatelsedoyoureadinmine？\" \"Frankness，courage——\" \"Ah，yes，allthevirtues。Perhaps。Wewilltakethemforgranted。\" Itwasoddhowseriousthegirlhadsuddenlybecome。\"Tellmethereverseside。\" \"Iseenoreverseside，\"repliedthestranger。\"Iseebutafairgirl，burstingintonoblewomanhood。\" \"Andnothingelse？Youreadnotraceofgreed，ofvanity，ofsordidness，of——\"Anangrylaughescapedherlips。\"Andyouareareaderoffaces！\" \"Areaderoffaces。\"Thestrangersmiled。\"Doyouknowwhatiswrittenuponyoursatthisverymoment？Aloveoftruththatisalmostfierce，scornoflies，scornofhypocrisy，thedesireforallthingspure，contemptofallthingsthatarecontemptible——especiallyofsuchthingsasarecontemptibleinwoman。Tellme，doInotreadaright？\" Iwonder，thoughtthegirl，isthatwhythosetwoothersbothhurriedfromtheroom？Doeseveryonefeelashamedofthelittlenessthatisinthemwhenlookedatbythoseclear，believingeyesofyours？ Theideaoccurredtoher：\"Papaseemedtohaveagooddealtosaytoyouduringdinner。Tellme，whatwereyoutalkingabout？\" \"Themilitarylookinggentlemanuponmyleft？Wetalkedaboutyourmotherprincipally。\" \"Iamsorry，\"returnedthegirl，wishfulnowshehadnotaskedthequestion。\"Iwashopinghemighthavechosenanothertopicforthefirstevening！\" \"Hedidtryoneortwo，\"admittedthestranger；\"butIhavebeenabouttheworldsolittle，Iwasgladwhenhetalkedtomeabouthimself。I feelweshallbefriends。Hespokesonicely，too，aboutMrs。 Devine。\" \"Indeed，\"commentedthegirl。 \"Hetoldmehehadbeenmarriedfortwentyyearsandhadneverregretteditbutonce！\" Herblackeyesflasheduponhim，butmeetinghis，thesuspiciondiedfromthem。Sheturnedasidetohidehersmile。 \"Soheregrettedit——once。\" \"Onlyonce，\"explainedthestranger，\"inapassingirritablemood。Itwassofrankofhimtoadmitit。Hetoldme——Ithinkhehastakenalikingtome。Indeedhehintedasmuch。Hesaidhedidnotoftengetanopportnnityoftalkingtoamanlikemyself——hetoldmethatheandyourmother，whentheytraveltogether，arealwaysmistakenforahoneymooncouple。Someoftheexperiencesherelatedtomewerereallyquiteamusing。\"Thestrangerlaughedatrecollectionofthem——\"thatevenhere，inthisplace，theyaregenerallyreferredtoas’DarbyandJoan。’\" \"Yes，\"saidthegirl，\"thatistrue。Mr。Longcordgavethemthatname，thesecondeveningafterourarrival。Itwasconsideredclever——butratherobviousIthoughtmyself。\" \"Nothing——soitseemstome，\"saidthestranger，\"ismorebeautifulthanthelovethathasweatheredthestormsoflife。Thesweet，tenderblossomthatflowersintheheartoftheyoung——inheartssuchasyours——that，too，isbeautiful。Theloveoftheyoungfortheyoung，thatisthebeginningoflife。Buttheloveoftheoldfortheold，thatisthebeginningof——ofthingslonger。\" \"Youseemtofindallthingsbeautiful，\"thegirlgrumbled。 \"Butarenotallthingsbeautiful？\"demandedthestranger。 TheColonelhadfinishedhispaper。\"Youtwoareengagedinaveryabsorbingconversation，\"observedtheColonel，approachingthem。 \"WewerediscussingDarbiesandJoans，\"explainedhisdaughter。\"Howbeautifulisthelovethathasweatheredthestormsoflife！\" \"Ah！\"smiledtheColonel，\"thatishardlyfair。Myfriendhasbeenrepeatingtocynicalyouththeconfessionsofanamoroushusband’saffectionforhismiddle—agedandsomewhat——\"TheColonelinplayfulmoodlaidhishanduponthestranger’sshoulder，anactionthatnecessitatedhislookingstraightintothestranger’seyes。TheColoneldrewhimselfupstifflyandturnedscarlet。 SomebodywascallingtheColonelacad。Notonlythat，butwasexplainingquiteclearly，sothattheColonelcouldseeitforhimself，whyhewasacad。 \"Thatyouandyourwifeleadacatanddogexistenceisadisgracetobothofyou。Atleastyoumighthavethedecencytotryandhideitfromtheworld——notmakeajestofyourshametoeverypassingstranger。Youareacad，sir，acad！\" Whowasdaringtosaythesethings？Notthestranger，hislipshadnotmoved。Besides，itwasnothisvoice。IndeeditsoundedmuchmorelikethevoiceoftheColonelhimself。TheColonellookedfromthestrangertohisdaughter，fromhisdaughterbacktothestranger。 Clearlytheyhadnotheardthevoice——amerehallucination。TheColonelbreathedagain。 Yettheimpressionremainingwasnottobeshakenoff。Undoubtedlyitwasbadtastetohavejokedtothestrangeruponsuchasubject。Nogentlemanwouldhavedoneso。 Butthennogentlemanwouldhavepermittedsuchajesttobepossible。 Nogentlemanwouldbeforeverwranglingwithhiswife——certainlyneverinpublic。Howeverirritatingthewoman，agentlemanwouldhaveexercisedself—control。 Mrs。Devinehadrisen，wascomingslowlyacrosstheroom。FearlaidholdoftheColonel。Shewasgoingtoaddresssomeaggravatingremarktohim——hecouldseeitinhereye——whichwouldirritatehimintosavageretort。 Eventhisprizeidiotofastrangerwouldunderstandwhyboarding—housewitshaddubbedthem\"DarbyandJoan，\"wouldgraspthefactthatthegallantColonelhadthoughtitamusing，inconversationwithatableacquaintance，toholdhisownwifeuptoridicule。 \"Mydear，\"criedtheColonel，hurryingtospeakfirst，\"doesnotthisroomstrikeyouascold？Letmefetchyouashawl。\" Itwasuseless：theColonelfeltit。Ithadbeentoolongthecustomofbothofthemtoprefacewithpolitenesstheirdeadliestinsultstoeachother。Shecameon，thinkingofasuitablereply：suitablefromherpointofview，thatis。Inanothermomentthetruthwouldbeout。 Awild，fantasticpossibilityflashedthroughtheColonel’sbrain：Iftohim，whynottoher？ \"Letitia，\"criedtheColonel，andthetoneofhisvoicesurprisedherintosilence，\"Iwantyoutolookcloselyatourfriend。Doeshenotremindyouofsomeone？\" Mrs。Devine，sourged，lookedatthestrangerlongandhard。\"Yes，\" shemurmured，turningtoherhusband，\"hedoes，whoisit？\" \"Icannotfixit，\"repliedtheColonel；\"Ithoughtthatmaybeyouwouldremember。\" \"Itwillcometome，\"musedMrs。Devine。\"Itissomeone——yearsago，whenIwasagirl——inDevonshire。Thankyou，ifitisn’ttroublingyou，Harry。Ileftitinthedining—room。\" Itwas，asMr。AugustusLongcordexplainedtohispartnerIsidore，thecolossalfoolishnessofthestrangerthatwasthecauseofallthetrouble。\"Givemeaman，whocantakecareofhimself——orthinkshecan，\"declaredAugustusLongcord，\"andIampreparedtogiveagoodaccountofmyself。Butwhenahelplessbabyrefuseseventolookatwhatyoucallyourfigures，tellsyouthatyourmerewordissufficientforhim，andhandsyouoverhischeque—booktofillupforyourself——well，itisn’tplayingthegame。\" \"Auguthuth，\"wasthecurtcommentofhispartner，\"you’reafool。\" \"Allright，myboy，youtry，\"suggestedAugustus。 \"JuthtwhatImeantodo，\"assertedhispartner。 \"Well，\"demandedAugustusoneeveninglater，meetingIsidoreascendingthestairsafteralongtalkwiththestrangerinthedining—roomwiththedoorshut。 \"Oh，don’tarthme，\"retortedIsidore，\"thillyath，thathwhatheith。\" \"Whatdidhesay？\" \"Whatdidhethay！talkedabouttheJewth：whatagrandrathetheywere——howpeoplemithjudgedthem：allthatthortofrot。 \"ThaidthomeofthemoththonorablemenhehadevermethadbeenJewth。ThoughtIwathoneof’em！\" \"Well，didyougetanythingoutofhim？\" \"Getanythingoutofhim。Ofcourthenot。Couldn’tverywellthellthewholerathe，athitwere，foracoupleofhundredpoundth，afterthat。Didn’ttheemworthit。\" ThereweremanythingsForty—eightBloomsburySquarecamegraduallytotheconclusionwerenotworththedoing：——Snatchingatthegravy； pouncingoutofone’sturnuponthevegetablesandhelpingoneselftomorethanone’sfairshare；manoeuveringfortheeasy—chair；sittingontheeveningpaperwhilepretendingnottohaveseenit——allsuch—liketiresomebitsofbusiness。Forthelittleonemadeoutofit，reallyitwasnotworththebother。Grumblingeverlastinglyatone’sfood；grumblingeverlastinglyatmostthings；abusingPennycherrybehindherback；abusing，forachange，one’sfellow—boarders；squabblingwithone’sfellow—boardersaboutnothinginparticular；sneeringatone’sfellow—boarders；talkingscandalofone’sfellow—boarders；makingsenselessjokesaboutone’sfellow—boarders；talkingbigaboutoneself，nobodybelievingone——allsuch—likevulgarities。Otherboarding—housesmightindulgeinthem： Forty—eightBloomsburySquarehaditsdignitytoconsider。 Thetruthis，Forty—eightBloomsburySquarewascomingtoaverygoodopinionofitself：forthewhichnotBloomsburySquaresomuchasthestrangermustbeblamed。ThestrangerhadarrivedatForty—eightBloomsburySquarewiththepreconceivedidea——whereobtainedfromHeavenknows——thatitsseeminglycommonplace，mean—minded，coarse—fibredoccupantswereinrealityladiesandgentlemenofthefirstwater；andtimeandobservationhadapparentlyonlystrengthenedthisabsurdidea。Thenaturalresultwas，Forty—eightBloomsburySquarewascomingroundtothestranger’sopinionofitself。 Mrs。Pennycherry，thestrangerwouldpersistinregardingasaladybornandbred，compelledbycircumstancesoverwhichshehadnocontroltofillanarduousbuthonorablepositionofmiddle—classsociety——asortoffoster—mother，towhomwereduethethanksandgratitudeofherpromiscuousfamily；andthisviewofherselfMrs。 Pennycherrynowclungtowithobstinateconviction。Thereweredisadvantagesattaching，buttheseMrs。Pennycherryappearedpreparedtosuffercheerfully。Aladybornandbredcannotchargeotherladiesandgentlemenforcoalsandcandlestheyhaveneverburnt；afoster—mothercannotpalmoffuponherchildrenNewZealandmuttonforSouthdown。Amerelodging—house—keepercanplaythesetricks，andpockettheprofits。Butaladyfeelsshecannot：Mrs。Pennycherryfeltshenolongercould。 TothestrangerMissKitewasawittyanddelightfulconversationalistofmostattractivepersonality。MissKitehadonefailing：itwaslackofvanity。Shewasunawareofherowndelicateandrefinedbeauty。IfMissKitecouldonlyseeherselfwithhis，thestranger’seyes，themodestythatrenderedherdistrustfulofhernaturalcharmswouldfallfromher。ThestrangerwassosureofitMissKitedeterminedtoputittothetest。Oneevening，anhourbeforedinner，thereenteredthedrawing—room，whenthestrangeronlywasthereandbeforethegaswaslighted，apleasant，good—lookinglady，somewhatpale，withneatly—arrangedbrownhair，whodemandedofthestrangerifheknewher。Allherbodywastrembling，andhervoiceseemedinclinedtorunawayfromherandbecomeasob。Butwhenthestranger，lookingstraightintohereyes，toldherthatfromthelikenesshethoughtshemustbeMissKite’syoungersister，butmuchprettier，itbecamealaughinstead：andthateveningthegolden—hairedMissKitedisappearednevertoshowherhigh—colouredfaceagain；andwhatperhaps，morethanallelse，mighthaveimpressedsomeformerhabitueofForty—eightBloomsburySquarewithawe，itwasthatnooneinthehousemadeevenapassinginquiryconcerningher。 SirWilliam’scousinthestrangerthoughtanacquisitiontoanyboarding—house。Aladyofhigh—classfamily！Therewasnothingoutwardorvisibleperhapstotellyouthatshewasofhigh—classfamily。Sheherself，naturally，wouldnotmentionthefact，yetsomehowyoufeltit。Unconsciouslyshesetahigh—classtone，diffusedanatmosphereofgentlemanners。Notthatthestrangerhadsaidthisinsomanywords；SirWilliam’scousingatheredthathethoughtit，andfeltherselfinagreementwithhim。 ForMr。Longcordandhispartner，asrepresentativesofthebesttypeofbusinessmen，thestrangerhadagreatrespect。Withwhatunfortunateresultstothemselveshasbeennoted。ThecuriousthingisthattheFirmappearedcontentwiththepricetheyhadpaidforthestranger’sgoodopinion——hadeven，itwasrumoured，acquiredatasteforhonestmen’srespect——thatinthelongrunwaslikelytocostthemdear。Butweallhaveourpetextravagance。 TheColonelandMrs。Devinebothsufferedagooddealatfirstfromthenecessityimposeduponthemoflearning，somewhatlateinlife，newtricks。Intheprivacyoftheirownapartmenttheycondoledwithoneanother。 \"Tomfoolnonsense，\"grumbledtheColonel，\"youandIstartingbillingandcooingatourage！\" \"WhatIobjectto，\"saidMrs。Devine，\"isthefeelingthatsomehowI ambeingmadetodoit。\" \"Theideathatamanandhiswifecannothavetheirlittlejoketogetherforfearofwhatsomeimpertinentjackanapesmaythinkofthem！it’sdamnridiculous，\"theColonelexploded。 \"Evenwhenheisn’tthere，\"saidMrs。Devine，\"Iseemtoseehimlookingatmewiththosevexingeyesofhis。Reallythemanquitehauntsme。\" \"Ihavemethimsomewhere，\"musedtheColonel，\"I’llswearI’vemethimsomewhere。Iwishtogoodnesshewouldgo。\" AhundredthingsadaytheColonelwantedtosaytoMrs。Devine，ahundredthingsadayMrs。DevinewouldhavelikedtoobservetotheColonel。Butbythetimetheopportunityoccurred——whennobodyelsewasbytohear——allinterestinsayingthemwasgone。 \"Womenwillbewomen，\"wasthesentimentwithwhichtheColonelconsoledhimself。\"Amanmustbearwiththem——mustneverforgetthatheisagentleman。\" \"Oh，well，Isupposethey’reallalike，\"laughedMrs。Devinetoherself，havingarrivedatthatstageofdespairwhenoneseeksrefugeincheerfulness。\"What’stheuseofputtingoneselfout——itdoesnogood，andonlyupsetsone。\"Thereisacertainsatisfactioninfeelingyouarebearingwithheroicresignationtheirritatingfolliesofothers。ColonelandMrs。Devinecametoenjoytheluxuryofmuchself—approbation。 Butthepersonseriouslyannoyedbythestranger’sbigotedbeliefintheinnategoodnessofeveryonehecameacrosswasthelanguid，handsomeMissDevine。ThestrangerwouldhaveitthatMissDevinewasanoble—souled，high—mindedyoungwoman，somethingmidwaybetweenaFloraMacdonaldandaJoanofArc。MissDevine，onthecontrary，knewherselftobeasleek，luxury—lovinganimal，quitewillingtosellherselftothebidderwhocouldofferherthefinestclothes，therichestfoods，themostsumptuoussurroundings。Suchabidderwastohandinthepersonofaretiredbookmaker，asomewhatgreasyoldgentleman，butexceedinglyrichandundoubtedlyfondofher。 MissDevine，havingmadeuphermindthatthethinghadgottobedone，wasanxiousthatitshouldbedonequickly。Andhereitwasthatthestranger’sridiculousopinionofhernotonlyirritatedbutinconveniencedher。Undertheveryeyesofaperson——howeverfoolish——convincedthatyouarepossessedofallthehighestattributesofyoursex，itisdifficulttobehaveasthoughactuatedbyonlythebasestmotives。AdozentimeshadMissDevinedeterminedtoendthematterbyformalacceptanceofherelderlyadmirer’slargeandflabbyhand，andadozentimes——thevisioninterveningofthestranger’sgrave，believingeyes——hadMissDevinerefuseddecidedanswer。Thestrangerwouldonedaydepart。Indeed，hehadtoldherhimself，hewasbutapassingtraveller。Whenhewasgoneitwouldbeeasier。Soshethoughtatthetime。 Oneafternoonthestrangerenteredtheroomwhereshewasstandingbythewindow，lookingoutuponthebarebranchesofthetreesinBloomsburySquare。Sherememberedafterwards，itwasjustsuchanotherfoggyafternoonastheafternoonofthestranger’sarrivalthreemonthsbefore。Nooneelsewasintheroom。Thestrangerclosedthedoor，andcametowardsherwiththatcurious，quick—leapingstepofhis。Hislongcoatwastightlybuttoned，andinhishandshecarriedhisoldfelthatandthemassiveknottedstickthatwasalmostastaff。 \"Ihavecometosaygood—bye，\"explainedthestranger。\"Iamgoing。\" \"Ishallnotseeyouagain？\"askedthegirl。 \"Icannotsay，\"repliedthestranger。\"Butyouwillthinkofme？\" \"Yes，\"sheansweredwithasmile，\"Icanpromisethat。\" \"AndIshallalwaysrememberyou，\"promisedthestranger，\"andIwishyoueveryjoy——thejoyoflove，thejoyofahappymarriage。\" Thegirlwinced。\"Loveandmarriagearenotalwaysthesamething，\" shesaid。 \"Notalways，\"agreedthestranger，\"butinyourcasetheywillbeone。\" Shelookedathim。 \"DoyouthinkIhavenotnoticed？\"smiledthestranger，\"agallant，handsomelad，andclever。Youlovehimandhelovesyou。Icouldnothavegoneawaywithoutknowingitwaswellwithyou。\" Hergazewanderedtowardsthefadinglight。 \"Ah，yes，Ilovehim，\"sheansweredpetulantly。\"Youreyescanseeclearlyenough，whentheywantto。Butonedoesnotliveonlove，inourworld。IwilltellyouthemanIamgoingtomarryifyoucaretoknow。\"Shewouldnotmeethiseyes。Shekepthergazestillfixeduponthedingytrees，themistbeyond，andspokerapidlyandvehemently：\"Themanwhocangivemeallmysoul’sdesire——moneyandthethingsthatmoneycanbuy。Youthinkmeawoman，I’monlyapig。 Heismoist，andbreatheslikeaporpoise；withcunninginplaceofabrain，andtherestofhimmerestomach。Butheisgoodenoughforme。\" Shehopedthiswouldshockthestrangerandthatnow，perhaps，hewouldgo。Itirritatedhertohearhimonlylaugh。 \"No，\"hesaid，\"youwillnotmarryhim。\" \"Whowillstopme？\"shecriedangrily。 \"YourBetterSelf。\" Hisvoicehadastrangeringofauthority，compellinghertoturnandlookuponhisface。Yes，itwastrue，thefancythatfromtheveryfirsthadhauntedher。Shehadmethim，talkedtohim——insilentcountryroads，incrowdedcitystreets，wherewasit？Andalwaysintalkingwithhimherspirithadbeenliftedup：shehadbeen——whathehadalwaysthoughther。 \"Therearethose，\"continuedthestranger（andforthefirsttimeshesawthathewasofanoblepresence，thathisgentle，child—likeeyescouldalsocommand），\"whoseBetterSelfliesslainbytheirownhandandtroublesthemnomore。Butyours，mychild，youhaveletgrowtoostrong；itwilleverbeyourmaster。Youmustobey。Fleefromitanditwillfollowyou；youcannotescapeit。Insultitanditwillchastiseyouwithburningshame，withstingingself—reproachfromdaytoday。\"Thesternnessfadedfromthebeautifulface，thetendernesscreptback。Helaidhishandupontheyounggirl’sshoulder。\"Youwillmarryyourlover，\"hesmiled。\"Withhimyouwillwalkthewayofsunlightandofshadow。\" Andthegirl，lookingupintothestrong，calmface，knewthatitwouldbeso，thatthepowerofresistingherBetterSelfhadpassedawayfromherforever。 \"Now，\"saidthestranger，\"cometothedoorwithme。Leave—takingsarebutwastedsadness。Letmepassoutquietly。Closethedoorsoftlybehindme。\" Shethoughtthatperhapshewouldturnhisfaceagain，butshesawnomoreofhimthantheoddroundnessofhisbackunderthetightlybuttonedcoat，beforehefadedintothegatheringfog。 Thensoftlysheclosedthedoor。