the twins of table mountain-第15部分

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gravely　as　if　witnessing　a　last　will　and　testament；　respectfully
paused　before　the　entrance　of　the　drawing…room。　　The　sound　of
measured　and　rhetorical　speech；　through　which　the　occasional
catarrhal　cough　of　the　New…England　coast　struggled；　as　the　only
effort　of　nature　not　wholly　repressed；　came　from　its　heavily…
curtained　recesses；　for　the　occasion　of　the　evening　had　been　the
reception　and　entertainment　of　various　distinguished　persons；　and；
as　had　been　epigrammatically　expressed　by　one　of　the　guests；　〃the
history　of　the　country〃　was　taking　its　leave　in　phrases　more　or
less　memorable　and　characteristic。　　Some　of　these　valedictory
axioms　were　clever；　some　witty；　a　few　profound；　but　always　left　as
a　genteel　contribution　to　the　entertainer。　　Some　had　been　already
prepared；　and；　like　a　card；　had　served　and　identified　the　guest　at
other　mansions。

The　last　guest　departed；　the　last　carriage　rolled　away；　when　the
servant　ventured　to　indicate　the　existence　of　the　despatch　to　his
master；　who　was　standing　on　the　hearth…rug　in　an　attitude　of
wearied　self…righteousness。　　He　took　it；　opened　it；　read　it；　re…
read　it；　and　said；

〃There　must　be　some　mistake！　　It　is　not　for　me。　　Call　the　boy；
Waters。〃

Waters；　who　was　perfectly　aware　that　the　boy　had　left；　nevertheless
obediently　walked　towards　the　hall…door；　but　was　recalled　by　his
master。

〃No　matterat　present！〃

〃It's　nothing　serious；　William？〃　asked　Mrs。　Rightbody；　with　languid
wifely　concern。

〃No；　nothing。　　Is　there　a　light　in　my　study？〃

〃Yes。　　But；　before　you　go；　can　you　give　me　a　moment　or　two？〃

Mr。　Rightbody　turned　a　little　impatiently　towards　his　wife。　　She
had　thrown　herself　languidly　on　the　sofa；　her　hair　was　slightly
disarranged；　and　part　of　a　slippered　foot　was　visible。　　She　might
have　been　a　finely…formed　woman；　but　even　her　careless　deshabille
left　the　general　impression　that　she　was　severely　flannelled
throughout；　and　that　any　ostentation　of　womanly　charm　was　under
vigorous　sanitary　SURVEILLANCE。

〃Mrs。　Marvin　told　me　to…night　that　her　son　made　no　secret　of　his
serious　attachment　for　our　Alice；　and　that；　if　I　was　satisfied；　Mr。
Marvin　would　be　glad　to　confer　with　you　at　once。〃

The　information　did　not　seem　to　absorb　Mr。　Rightbody's　wandering
attention；　but　rather　increased　his　impatience。　　He　said　hastily；
that　he　would　speak　of　that　to…morrow；　and　partly　by　way　of
reprisal；　and　partly　to　dismiss　the　subject；　added

〃Positively　James　must　pay　some　attention　to　the　register　and　the
thermometer。　　It　was　over　70　degrees　to…night；　and　the　ventilating
draught　was　closed　in　the　drawing…room。〃

〃That　was　because　Professor　Ammon　sat　near　it；　and　the　old
gentleman's　tonsils　are　so　sensitive。〃

〃He　ought　to　know　from　Dr。　Dyer　Doit　that　systematic　and　regular
exposure　to　draughts　stimulates　the　mucous　membrane；　while　fixed
air　over　60　degrees　invariably〃

〃I　am　afraid；　William；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Rightbody；　with　feminine
adroitness；　adopting　her　husband's　topic　with　a　view　of　thereby
directing　him　from　it；〃I'm　afraid　that　people　do　not　yet
appreciate　the　substitution　of　bouillon　for　punch　and　ices。　　I
observed　that　Mr。　Spondee　declined　it；　and；　I　fancied；　looked
disappointed。　　The　fibrine　and　wheat　in　liqueur…glasses　passed
quite　unnoticed　too。〃

〃And　yet　each　half…drachm　contained　the　half…digested　substance　of
a　pound　of　beef。　　I'm　surprised　at　Spondee！〃　continued　Mr。
Rightbody　aggrievedly。　　〃Exhausting　his　brain　and　nerve　force　by
the　highest　creative　efforts　of　the　Muse；　he　prefers　perfumed　and
diluted　alcohol　flavored　with　carbonic　acid　gas。　　Even　Mrs。
Faringway　admitted　to　me　that　the　sudden　lowering　of　the
temperature　of　the　stomach　by　the　introduction　of　ice〃

〃Yes；　but　she　took　a　lemon　ice　at　the　last　Dorothea　Reception；　and
asked　me　if　I　had　observed　that　the　lower　animals　refused　their
food　at　a　temperature　over　60　degrees。〃

Mr。　Rightbody　again　moved　impatiently　towards　the　door。　　Mrs。
Rightbody　eyed　him　curiously。

〃You　will　not　write；　I　hope？　　Dr。　Keppler　told　me　to…night　that
your　cerebral　symptoms　interdicted　any　prolonged　mental　strain。〃

〃I　must　consult　a　few　papers；〃　responded　Mr。　Rightbody　curtly；　as
he　entered　his　library。

It　was　a　richly…furnished　apartment；　morbidly　severe　in　its
decorations；　which　were　symptomatic　of　a　gloomy　dyspepsia　of　art；
then　quite　prevalent。　　A　few　curios；　very　ugly；　but　providentially
equally　rare；　were　scattered　about。　　There　were　various　bronzes；
marbles；　and　casts；　all　requiring　explanation；　and　so　fulfilling
their　purpose　of　promoting　conversation；　and　exhibiting　the
erudition　of　their　owner。　　There　were　souvenirs　of　travel　with　a
history；　old　bric…a…brac　with　a　pedigree；　but　little　or　nothing
that　challenged　attention　for　itself　alone。　　In　all　cases　the
superiority　of　the　owner　to　his　possessions　was　admitted。　　As　a
natural　result；　nobody　ever　lingered　there；　the　servants　avoided
the　room；　and　no　child　was　ever　known　to　play　in　it。

Mr。　Rightbody　turned　up　the　gas；　and　from　a　cabinet　of　drawers；
precisely　labelled；　drew　a　package　of　letters。　　These　he　carefully
examined。　　All　were　discolored；　and　made　dignified　by　age；　but
some；　in　their　original　freshness；　must　have　appeared　trifling；　and
inconsistent　with　any　correspondent　of　Mr。　Rightbody。　　Nevertheless；
that　gentleman　spent　some　moments　in　carefully　perusing　them；
occasionally　referring　to　the　telegram　in　his　hand。　Suddenly
there　was　a　knock　at　the　door。　　Mr。　Rightbody　started；　made　a
half…unconscious　movement　to　return　the　letters　to　the　drawer；
turned　the　telegram　face　downwards；　and　then；　somewhat　harshly；
stammered；

〃Eh？　　Who's　there？　　Come　in。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　papa；〃　said　a　very　pretty　girl；　entering；
without；　however；　the　slightest　trace　of　apology　or　awe　in　her
manner；　and　taking　a　chair　with　the　self…possession　and　familiarity
of　an　habitue　of　the　room；　〃but　I　knew　it　was　not　your　habit　to
write　late；　so　I　supposed　you　were　not　busy。　　I　am　on　my　way　to
bed。〃

She　was　so　very　pretty；　and　withal　so　utterly　unconscious　of　it；　or
perhaps　so　consciously　superior　to　it；　that　one　was　provoked　into　a
more　critical　examination　of　her　face。　　But　this　only　resulted　in　a
reiteration　of　her　beauty；　and　perhaps　the　added　facts　that　her
dark　eyes　were　very　womanly；　her　rich　complexion　eloquent；　and　her
chiselled　lips　fell　enough　to　be　passionate　or　capricious；
notwithstanding　that　their　general　effect　suggested　neither
caprice；　womanly　weakness；　nor　passion。

With　the　instinct　of　an　embarrassed　man；　Mr。　Rightbody　touched　the
topic　he　would　have　preferred　to　avoid。

〃I　suppose　we　must　talk　over　to…morrow；〃　he　hesitated；　〃this　matter
of　yours　and　Mr。　Marvin's？　　Mrs。　Marvin　has　formally　spoken　to　your
mother。〃

Miss　Alice　lifted　her　bright　eyes　intelligently；　but　not　joyfully；
and　the　color　of　action；　rather　than　embarrasament；　rose　to　her
round　cheeks。

〃Yes；　HE　said　she　would；〃　she　answered　simply。

〃At　present；〃　continued　Mr。　Rightbody　still　awkwardly；　〃I　see　no
objection　to　the　proposed　arrangement。〃

Miss　Alice　opened　her　round　eyes　at　this。

〃Why；　papa；　I　thought　it　had　been　all　settled　long　ago！　　Mamma　knew
it；　you　knew　it。　　Last　July；　mamma　and　you　talked　it　over。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　returned　her　father；　fumbling　his　papers；　〃that　is
well；　we　will　talk　of　it　to…morrow。〃　　In　fact；　Mr。　Rightbody　HAD
intended　to　give　the　affair　a　proper　attitude　of　seriousness　and
solemnity　by　due　precision　of　speech；　and　some　apposite　reflections；
when　he　should　impart　the　news　to　his　daughter；　but　felt　himself
unable　to　do　it　now。　　〃I　am　glad；　Alice；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃that　you
have　quite　forgotten　your　previous　whims　and　fancies。　　You　see　WE
are　right。〃

〃Oh！　I　dare　say；　papa；　if　I'm　to　be　married　at　all；　that　Mr。　Marvin
is　in　every　way　suitable。〃

Mr。　Rightbody　looked　at　his　daughter　narrowly。　　There　was　not　the
slightest　impatience　nor　bitterness　in　her　manner：　it　was　as　well
regulated　as　the　sentiment　she　expressed。

〃Mr。　Marvin　is〃　he　began。

〃I　know　what　Mr。　Marvin　IS；〃　interrupted　Miss　Alice；　〃and　he　has
promised　me　that　I　shall　be　allowed　to　go　on　with　my　studies　the
same　as　before。　　I　shall　graduate　with　my　class；　and；　if　I　prefer
to　practise　my　profession；　I　can　do　so　in　two　years　after　our
marriage。〃

〃In　two　years？〃　queried　Mr。　Rightbody　curiously。

〃Yes。　　You　see；　in　case　we　should　have　a　child；　that　would　give　me
time　enough　to　wean　it。〃

Mr。　Rightbody　looked　at　this　flesh　of　his　flesh；　pretty　and
palpable　flesh　as　it　was；　but；　being　confronted　as　equally　with　the
brain　of　his　brain；　all　he　could　do　was　to　say　meekly；

〃Yes；　certainly。　　We　will　see　about　all　that　to…morrow。〃

Miss　Alice　rose。　　Something　in　the　free；　unfettered　swing　of　her
arms　as　she　rested　them　lightly；　after　a　half　yawn；　on　her　lithe
hips；　suggested　his　next　speech；　although　still　distrait　and
impatient。

〃You　continue　your　exercise　with　the　health…lift　yet；　I　see。〃

〃Yes；　papa；　but　I　had　to　give　up　the　flannels。　　I　don't　see　how
mamma　could　wear　them。　　But　my　dresses　are　high…necked；　and　by
bathing　I　toughen　my　skin。　　See！〃　she　added；　as；　with　a　child…like
unconsciousness；　she　unfastened　two　or　three　buttons　of　her　gown；
and　exposed　the　white　surface　of　her　throat　and　neck　to　her　father；
〃I　can　defy　a　chill。〃

Mr。　Rightbody；　with　something　akin　to　a　genuine　playful；　paternal
laugh；　leaned　forward　and　kissed　her　forehead。

〃It's　getting　late；　Ally；〃　he　said　parentally；　but　not　dictatorially。
〃Go　to　bed。〃

〃I　took　a　nap　of　three　hours　this　afternoon；〃　said　Miss　Alice；　with
a　dazzling　smile；　〃to　anticipate　this　dissipation。　　Good…night；
papa。　　To…morrow；　then。〃

〃To…morrow；〃　repeated　Mr。　Rightbody；　with　his　eyes　still　fixed　upon
the　girl　vaguely。　　〃Good…night。〃

Miss　Alice　tripped　from　the　room；　possibly　a　trifle　the　more　light…
heartedly　that　she　had　parted　from　her　father　in　one　of　his　rare
moments　of　illogical　human　weakness。　　And　perhaps　it　was　well　for
the　poor　girl　that　she　kept　this　single　remembrance　of　him；　when；　I
fear；　in　after…years；　his　methods；　his　reasoning；　and　indeed　all　he
had　tried　to　impress　upon　her　childhood；　had　faded　from　her　memory。

For；　when　she　had　left；　Mr。　Rightbody　fell　again　to