the egoist-第97部分

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he　would　then　proceed　to　realize　his　own。　Such　was　the　face　he　put
upon　it。　We　can　wear　what　appearance　we　please　before　the　world
until　we　are　found　out；　nor　is　the　world's　praise　knocking　upon
hollowness　always　hollow　music；　but　Mrs　Mountstuart's　laudation　of
his　kindness　and　simplicity　disturbed　him；　for　though　he　had
recovered　from　his　rebuff　enough　to　imagine　that　Laetitia　could
not　refuse　him　under　reiterated　pressure；　he　had　let　it　be
supposed　that　she　was　a　submissive　handmaiden　throbbing　for　her
elevation；　and　Mrs　Mountstuart's　belief　in　it　afflicted　his　recent
bitter　experience；　his　footing　was　not　perfectly　secure。　Besides；
assuming　it　to　be　so；　he　considered　the　sort　of　prize　he　had　won；
and　a　spasm　of　downright　hatred　of　a　world　for　which　we　make
mighty　sacrifices　to　be　repaid　in　a　worn；　thin；　comparatively
valueless　coin；　troubled　his　counting　of　his　gains。　Laetitia；　it
was　true；　had　not　passed　through　other　hands　in　coming　to　him；　as
Vernon　would　know　it　to　be　Clara's　case：　time　only　had　worn　her：
but　the　comfort　of　the　reflection　was　annoyed　by　the　physical
contrast　of　the　two。　Hence　an　unusual　melancholy　in　his　tone　that
Mrs。　Mountstuart　thought　touching。　It　had　the　scenic　effect　on　her
which　greatly　contributes　to　delude　the　wits。　She　talked　of　him　to
Clara　as　being　a　man　who　had　revealed　an　unsuspected　depth。

Vernon　took　the　communication　curiously。　He　seemed　readier　to　be
in　love　with　his　benevolent　relative　than　with　the　lady。　He　was
confused；　undisguisedly　moved；　said　the　plan　was　impossible；　out
of　the　question；　but　thanked　Willoughby　for　the　best　of
intentions；　thanked　him　warmly。　After　saying　that　the　plan　was
impossible；　the　comical　fellow　allowed　himself　to　be　pushed　forth
on　the　lawn　to　see　how　Miss　Middleton　might　have　come　out　of
her　interview　with　Mrs。　Mountstuart。　Willoughby　observed　Mrs。
Mountstuart　meet　him；　usher　him　to　the　place　she　had　quitted　among
the　shrubs；　and　return　to　the　open　turf…spaces。　He　sprang　to　her。

〃She　will　listen。〃　Mrs。　Mountstuart　said：　〃She　likes　him；　respects
him；　thinks　he　is　a　very　sincere　friend；　clever；　a　scholar；　and　a
good　mountaineer；　and　thinks　you　mean　very　kindly。　So　much　I　have
impressed　on　her；　but　I　have　not　done　much　for　Mr。　Whitford。〃

〃She　consents　to　listen；〃　said　Willoughby；　snatching　at　that　as　the
death…blow　to　his　friend　Horace。

〃She　consents　to　listen；　because　you　have　arranged　it　so　that　if
she　declined　she　would　be　rather　a　savage。〃

〃You　think　it　will　have　no　result？〃

〃None　at　all。〃

〃Her　listening　will　do。〃

〃And　you　must　be　satisfied　with　it。〃

〃We　shall　see。〃

〃'Anything　for　peace'；　she　says：　and　I　don't　say　that　a　gentleman
with　a　tongue　would　not　have　a　chance。　She　wishes　to　please　you。〃

〃Old　Vernon　has　no　tongue　for　women；　poor　fellow！　You　will　have　us
be　spider　or　fly；　and　if　a　man　can't　spin　a　web　all　he　can　hope　is
not　to　be　caught　in　one。　She　knows　his　history；　too；　and　that
won't　be　in　his　favour。　How　did　she　look　when　you　left　them？〃

〃Not　so　bright：　like　a　bit　of　china　that　wants　dusting。　She　looked
a　trifle　gauche；　it　struck　me；　more　like　a　country　girl　with　the
hoyden　taming　in　her　than　the　well…bred　creature　she　is。　I　did　not
suspect　her　to　have　feeling。　You　must　remember；　Sir　Willoughby；
that　she　has　obeyed　your　wishes；　done　her　utmost：　I　do　think　we
may　say　she　has　made　some　amends；　and　if　she　is　to　blame　she
repents；　and　you　will　not　insist　too　far。〃

〃I　do　insist；〃　said　he。

〃Beneficent；　but　a　tyrant！〃

〃Well；　well。〃　He　did　not　dislike　the　character。

They　perceived　Dr。　Middleton　wandering　over　the　lawn；　and
Willoughby　went　to　him　to　put　him　on　the　wrong　track：　Mrs。
Mountstuart　swept　into　the　drawing…room。　Willoughby　quitted　the
Rev。　Doctor；　and　hung　about　the　bower　where　he　supposed　his　pair
of　dupes　had　by　this　time　ceased　to　stutter　mutually：or　what　if
they　had　found　the　word　of　harmony？　He　could　bear　that；　just　bear
it。　He　rounded　the　shrubs；　and；　behold；　both　had　vanished。　The
trellis　decorated　emptiness。　His　idea　was；　that　they　had　soon
discovered　their　inability　to　be　turtles：　and　desiring　not　to　lose
a　moment　while　Clara　was　fretted　by　the　scene；　he　rushed　to　the
drawing…room　with　the　hope　of　lighting　on　her　there；　getting　her
to　himself；　and　finally；　urgently；　passionately　offering　her　the
sole　alternative　of　what　she　had　immediately　rejected。　Why　had　he
not　used　passion　before；　instead　of　limping　crippled　between
temper　and　policy？　He　was　capable　of　it：　as　soon　as　imagination　in
him　conceived　his　personal　feelings　unwounded　and　unimperiled；　the
might　of　it　inspired　him　with　heroical　confidence；　and　Clara
grateful；　Clara　softly　moved；　led　him　to　think　of　Clara　melted。
Thus　anticipating　her　he　burst　into　the　room。

One　step　there　warned　him　that　he　was　in　the　jaws　of　the　world。　We
have　the　phrase；　that　a　man　is　himself　under　certain　trying
circumstances。　There　is　no　need　to　say　it　of　Sir　Willoughby：　he
was　thrice　himself　when　danger　menaced；　himself　inspired　him。　He
could　read　at　a　single　glance　the　Polyphemus　eye　in　the　general
head　of　a　company。　Lady　Busshe；　Lady　Culmer；　Mrs。　Mountstuart；　Mr。
Dale；　had　a　similarity　in　the　variety　of　their　expressions　that
made　up　one　giant　eye　for　him　perfectly；　if　awfully；　legible。　He
discerned　the　fact　that　his　demon　secret　was　abroad；　universal。　He
ascribed　it　to　fate。　He　was　in　the　jaws　of　the　world；　on　the
world's　teeth。　This　time　he　thought　Laetitia　must　have　betrayed
him；　and　bowing　to　Lady　Busshe　and　Lady　Culmer；　gallantly　pressing
their　fingers　and　responding　to　their　becks　and　archnesses；　he
ruminated　on　his　defences　before　he　should　accost　her　father。　He
did　not　want　to　be　alone　with　the　man；　and　he　considered　how　his
presence　might　be　made　useful。

〃I　am　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。　Dale。　Pray；　be　seated。　Is　it　nature
asserting　her　strength？　or　the　efficacy　of　medicine？　I　fancy　it
can't　be　both。　You　have　brought　us　back　your　daughter？〃

Mr。　Dale　sank　into　a　chair；　unable　to　resist　the　hand　forcing　him。

〃No；　Sir　Willoughby；　no。　I　have　not；　I　have　not　seen　her　since　she
came　home　this　morning　from　Patterne。〃

〃Indeed？　She　is　unwell？〃

〃I　cannot　say。　She　secludes　herself。〃　

〃Has　locked　herself　in；〃　said　Lady　Busshe。

Willoughby　threw　her　a　smile。　It　made　them　intimate。

This　was　an　advantage　against　the　world；　but　an　exposure　of
himself　to　the　abominable　woman。

Dr。　Middleton　came　up　to　Mr。　Dale　to　apologize　for　not　presenting
his　daughter　Clara；　whom　he　could　find　neither　in　nor　out　of　the
house。

〃We　have　in　Mr。　Dale；　as　I　suspected；〃　he　said　to　Willoughby；　〃a
stout　ally。〃

〃If　I　may　beg　two　minutes　with　you；　Sir　Willoughby；〃　said　Mr。
Dale。

〃Your　visits　are　too　rare　for　me　to　allow　of　your　numbering　the
minutes；〃　Willoughby　replied。　〃We　cannot　let　Mr。　Dale　escape　us
now　that　we　have　him；　I　think；　Dr。　Middleton。〃

〃Not　without　ransom；〃　said　the　Rev。　Doctor。

Mr。　Dale　shook　his　head。　〃My　strength；　Sir　Willoughby；　will　not
sustain　me　long。〃

〃You　are　at　home；　Mr。　Dale。〃

〃Not　far　from　home；　in　truth；　but　too　far　for　an　invalid　beginning
to　grow　sensible　of　weakness。〃

〃You　will　regard　Patterne　as　your　home；　Mr。　Dale；〃　Willoughby　
repeated　for　the　world　to　hear。

〃Unconditionally？〃　Dr。　Middleton　inquired；　with　a　humourous　air　of
dissenting。

Willoughby　gave　him　a　look　that　was　coldly　courteous；　and　then　he
looked　at　Lady　Busshe。　She　nodded　imperceptibly。　Her　eyebrows
rose；　and　Willoughby　returned　a　similar　nod。　

Translated；　the　signs　ran　thus：

〃Pestered　by　the　Rev。　gentleman：I　see　you　are。　Is　the　story　I
have　heard　correct？Possibly　it　may　err　in　a　few　details。〃　

This　was　fettering　himself　in　loose　manacles。

But　Lady　Busshe　would　not　be　satisfied　with　the　compliment　of　the
intimate　looks　and　nods。　She　thought　she　might　still　be　behind
Mrs。　Mountstuart；　and　she　was　a　bold　woman；　and　anxious　about　him；
half…crazed　by　the　riddle　of　the　pot　she　was　boiling　in；　and
having　very　few　minutes　to　spare。　Not　extremely　reticent　by
nature；　privileged　by　station；　and　made　intimate　with　him　by　his
covert　looks；　she　stood　up　to　him。　〃One　word　to　an　old　friend。
Which　is　the　father　of　the　fortunate　creature？　I　don't　know　how　to
behave　to　them。〃　No　time　was　afforded　him　to　be　disgusted　with　her
vulgarity　and　audacity。

He　replied；　feeling　her　rivet　his　gyves：　〃The　house　will　be　empty
to…morrow。〃

〃I　see。　A　decent　withdrawal；　and　very　well　cloaked。　We　had　a　tale
here　of　her　running　off　to　decline　the　honour；　afraid；　or　on　her
dignity　or　something。〃

How　was　it　that　the　woman　was　ready　to　accept　the　altered　posture
of　affairs　in　his　houseif　she　had　received　a　hint　of　them？　He
forgot　that　he　had　prepared　her　in　self…defence。

〃From　whom　did　you　have　that？〃　he　asked。

〃Her　father。　And　the　lady　aunts　declare　it　was　the　cousin　she
refused！〃　Willoughby's　brain　turned　over。　He　righted　it　for
action；　and　crossed　the　room　to　the　ladies　Eleanor　and　Isabel。　His
ears　tingled。　He　and　his　whole　story　discussed　in　public！　Himself　
unroofed！　And　the　marvel　that　he　of　all　men　should　be　in　such　a
tangle；　naked　and　blown　on；　condemned　to　use　his　cunningest　arts
to　unwind　and　cover　himself；　struck　him　as　though　the　lord　of　his
kind　were　running　the　gauntlet　of　a　legion　of　imps。　He　felt　their
lashes。

The　ladies　were　talking　to　Mrs。　Mountstuart　and　Lady　Culmer　of
Vernon　and　the　suitableness　of　Laetitia　to　a　scholar。　He　made　sign
to　them；　and　both　rose。

〃It　is　the　hour　for　your　drive。　To　the　cottage！　Mr。　Dale　is　in。
She　must　come。　Her　sick　father！　No　delay；　going　or　returning。
Bring　her　here　at　once。〃

〃Poor　man！〃　they　sighed；　and　〃Willoughby；〃　said　one；　and　the　other
said：　〃There　is　a　strange　misconception　you　will　do　well　to
correct。〃

They　were　about　to　murmur　what　it　was。　He　swept　his　hand　round；
and　excusing　themselves　to　their　guests；　obediently　they　retired。

Lady　Busshe　at　his　entreaty　remained；　and　took　a　seat　beside　Lady
Culmer　and　Mrs。　Mountstuart。

She　said　to　the　latter：　〃You　have　tried　scholars。　What　do　you
think？〃

〃Excellent；　but　hard　to　mix；〃　was　the　reply。

〃I　never　make　experiments；〃　said　Lady　Culmer。

〃Some　one　must！〃　Mrs。　Mountstuart　groaned　over　her　dull　dinner…party。

Lady　Bu