a room with a view-第14部分
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the face； perhaps defeat was particularly mortifying for him。 He
alone had played skilfully； using the whole of his instinct；
while the others had used scraps of their intelligence。 He alone
had divined what things were； and what he wished them to be。 He
alone had interpreted the message that Lucy had received five
days before from the lips of a dying man。 Persephone； who spends
half her life in the graveshe could interpret it also。 Not so
these English。 They gain knowledge slowly； and perhaps too late。
The thoughts of a cab…driver； however just； seldom affect the
lives of his employers。 He was the most competent of Miss
Bartlett's opponents； but infinitely the least dangerous。 Once
back in the town； he and his insight and his knowledge would
trouble English ladies no more。 Of course； it was most
unpleasant； she had seen his black head in the bushes； he might
make a tavern story out of it。 But after all； what have we to do
with taverns？ Real menace belongs to the drawing…room。 It was of
drawing…room people that Miss Bartlett thought as she journeyed
downwards towards the fading sun。 Lucy sat beside her； Mr。 Eager
sat opposite； trying to catch her eye； he was vaguely suspicious。
They spoke of Alessio Baldovinetti。
Rain and darkness came on together。 The two ladies huddled
together under an inadequate parasol。 There was a lightning
flash； and Miss Lavish who was nervous； screamed from the
carriage in front。 At the next flash； Lucy screamed also。 Mr。
Eager addressed her professionally：
〃Courage； Miss Honeychurch； courage and faith。 If I might say so；
there is something almost blasphemous in this horror of the
elements。 Are we seriously to suppose that all these clouds； all
this immense electrical display； is simply called into existence
to extinguish you or me？〃
〃Noof course〃
〃Even from the scientific standpoint the chances against our
being struck are enormous。 The steel knives； the only articles
which might attract the current； are in the other carriage。 And；
in any case； we are infinitely safer than if we were walking。
Couragecourage and faith。〃
Under the rug； Lucy felt the kindly pressure of her cousin's
hand。 At times our need for a sympathetic gesture is so great
that we care not what exactly it signifies or how much we may
have to pay for it afterwards。 Miss Bartlett； by this timely
exercise of her muscles； gained more than she would have got in
hours of preaching or cross examination。
She renewed it when the two carriages stopped； half into
Florence。
〃Mr。 Eager！〃 called Mr。 Beebe。 〃We want your assistance。 Will you
interpret for us？〃
〃George！〃 cried Mr。 Emerson。 〃Ask your driver which way George
went。 The boy may lose his way。 He may be killed。〃
〃Go； Mr。 Eager；〃 said Miss Bartlett。 don't ask our driver； our
driver is no help。 Go and support poor Mr。 Beebe； he is nearly
demented。〃
〃He may be killed！〃 cried the old man。 〃He may be killed！〃
〃Typical behaviour；〃 said the chaplain； as he quitted the
carriage。 〃In the presence of reality that kind of person
invariably breaks down。〃
〃What does he know？〃 whispered Lucy as soon as they were alone。
〃Charlotte； how much does Mr。 Eager know？〃
〃Nothing； dearest； he knows nothing。 But〃 she pointed at the
driver…〃HE knows everything。 Dearest； had we better？ Shall I？〃
She took out her purse。 〃It is dreadful to be entangled with
low…class people。 He saw it all。〃 Tapping Phaethon's back with her
guide…book； she said； 〃Silenzio！〃 and offered him a franc。
〃Va bene；〃 he replied； and accepted it。 As well this ending to
his day as any。 But Lucy； a mortal maid； was disappointed in him。
There was an explosion up the road。 The storm had struck the
overhead wire of the tramline； and one of the great supports had
fallen。 If they had not stopped perhaps they might have been
hurt。 They chose to regard it as a miraculous preservation； and
the floods of love and sincerity； which fructify every hour of
life； burst forth in tumult。 They descended from the carriages；
they embraced each other。 It was as joyful to be forgiven past
unworthinesses as to forgive them。 For a moment they realized
vast possibilities of good。
The older people recovered quickly。 In the very height of their
emotion they knew it to be unmanly or unladylike。 Miss Lavish
calculated that； even if they had continued； they would not have
been caught in the accident。 Mr。 Eager mumbled a temperate
prayer。 But the drivers； through miles of dark squalid road；
poured out their souls to the dryads and the saints； and Lucy
poured out hers to her cousin。
〃Charlotte； dear Charlotte； kiss me。 Kiss me again。 Only you can
understand me。 You warned me to be careful。 And II thought I
was developing。〃
〃Do not cry； dearest。 Take your time。〃
〃I have been obstinate and sillyworse than you know； far worse。
Once by the riverOh； but he isn't killedhe wouldn't be
killed； would he？〃
The thought disturbed her repentance。 As a matter of fact； the
storm was worst along the road； but she had been near danger； and
so she thought it must be near to every one。
〃I trust not。 One would always pray against that。〃
〃He is reallyI think he was taken by surprise； just as I was
before。 But this time I'm not to blame； I want you to believe
that。 I simply slipped into those violets。 No； I want to be
really truthful。 I am a little to blame。 I had silly thoughts。
The sky； you know； was gold； and the ground all blue； and for
a moment he looked like some one in a book。〃
〃In a book？〃
〃Heroesgodsthe nonsense of schoolgirls。〃
〃And then？〃
〃But； Charlotte； you know what happened then。〃
Miss Bartlett was silent。 Indeed； she had little more to learn。
With a certain amount of insight she drew her young cousin
affectionately to her。 All the way back Lucy's body was shaken by
deep sighs； which nothing could repress。
〃I want to be truthful；〃 she whispered。 〃It is so hard to be
absolutely truthful。〃
〃Don't be troubled； dearest。 Wait till you are calmer。 We will
talk it over before bed…time in my room。〃
So they re…entered the city with hands clasped。 It was a shock to
the girl to find how far emotion had ebbed in others。 The storm
had ceased； and Mr。 Emerson was easier about his son。 Mr。 Beebe
had regained good humour； and Mr。 Eager was already snubbing Miss
Lavish。 Charlotte alone she was sure ofCharlotte； whose
exterior concealed so much insight and love。
The luxury of self…exposure kept her almost happy through the
long evening。 She thought not so much of what had happened as of
how she should describe it。 All her sensations； her spasms of
courage； her moments of unreasonable joy； her mysterious
discontent； should be carefully laid before her cousin。 And
together in divine confidence they would disentangle and
interpret them all。
〃At last；〃 thought she； 〃I shall understand myself。 I shan't
again be troubled by things that come out of nothing； and mean I
don't know what。〃
Miss Alan asked her to play。 She refused vehemently。 Music seemed
to her the employment of a child。 She sat close to her cousin；
who； with commendable patience； was listening to a long story
about lost luggage。 When it was over she capped it by a story of
her own。 Lucy became rather hysterical with the delay。 In vain
she tried to check； or at all events to accelerate； the tale。 It
was not till a late hour that Miss Bartlett had recovered her
luggage and could say in her usual tone of gentle reproach：
〃Well； dear； I at all events am ready for Bedfordshire。 Come into
my room； and I will give a good brush to your hair。〃
With some solemnity the door was shut； and a cane chair placed
for the girl。 Then Miss Bartlett said 〃So what is to be done？〃
She was unprepared for the question。 It had not occurred to her
that she would have to do anything。 A detailed exhibition of her
emotions was all that she had counted upon。
〃What is to be done？ A point； dearest； which you alone can
settle。〃
The rain was streaming down the black windows； and the great room
felt damp and chilly； One candle burnt trembling on the chest of
drawers close to Miss Bartlett's toque； which cast monstrous and
fantastic shadows on the bolted door。 A tram roared by in the
dark； and Lucy felt unaccountably sad； though she had long since
dried her eyes。 She lifted them to the ceiling； where the griffins
and bassoons were colourless and vague； the very ghosts of joy。
〃It has been raining for nearly four hours；〃 she said at last。
Miss Bartlett ignored the remark。
〃How do you propose to silence him？〃
〃The driver？〃
〃My dear girl； no； Mr。 George Emerson。〃
Lucy began to pace up and down the room。
〃I don't understand；〃 she said at last。
She understood very well； but she no longer wished to be
absolutely truthful。
〃How are you going to stop him talking about it？〃
〃I have a feeling that talk is a thing he will never do。〃
〃I； too； intend to judge him charitably。 But unfortunately I have
met the type before。 They seldom keep their exploits to
themselves。〃
〃Exploits？〃 cried Lucy； wincing under the horrible plural。
〃My poor dear； did you suppose that this was his first？ Come here
and listen to me。 I am only gathering it from his own remarks。 Do
you remember that day at lunch when he argued with Miss Alan that
liking one person is an extra reason for liking another？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Lucy； whom at the time the argument had pleased。
〃Well； I am no prude。 There is no need to call him a wicked young
man； but obviously he is thoroughly unrefined。 Let us put it down
to his deplorable antecedents and education； if you wish。 But
we are no farther on with our question。 What do you propose to
do？〃
An idea rushed across Lucy's brain； which； had she thought of it
sooner and made it
