the law and the lady-第10章

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under　the　charm　of　your　voice。　Dear　Mrs。　Woodville；　bear　with　an
old　fellow　who　is　under　the　charm！　Don't　grudge　me　my　innocent
little　pleasures。　Lend　meI　wish　I　could　say　_give_　methis
pretty　hand。　I　am　such　an　admirer　of　pretty　hands！　I　can　listen
so　much　better　with　a　pretty　hand　in　mine。　The　ladies　indulge　my
weakness。　Please　indulge　me　too。　Yes？　And　what　were　you　going　to
say？〃

〃I　was　going　to　say；　Major；　that　I　felt　particularly　sensible　of
your　kind　welcome　because；　as　it　happens；　I　have　a　favor　to　ask
of　you。〃

I　was　conscious；　while　I　spoke；　that　I　was　approaching　the　object
of　my　visit　a　little　too　abruptly。　But　Major　Fitz…David's
admiration　rose　from　one　climax　to　another　with　such　alarming
rapidity　that　I　felt　the　importance　of　administering　a　practical
check　to　it。　I　trusted　to　those　ominous　words；　〃a　favor　to　ask　of
you；〃　to　administer　the　check；　and　I　did　not　trust　in　vain。　My
aged　admirer　gently　dropped　my　hand；　and；　with　all　possible
politeness；　changed　the　subject。

〃The　favor　is　granted；　of　course！〃　he　said。　〃And　now；　tell　me；
how　is　our　dear　Eustace？〃

〃Anxious　and　out　of　spirits。〃　I　answered。

〃Anxious　and　out　of　spirits！〃　repeated　the　Major。　〃The　enviable
man　who　is　married　to　You　anxious　and　out　of　spirits？　Monstrous！
Eustace　fairly　disgusts　me。　I　shall　take　him　off　the　list　of　my
friends。〃

〃In　that　case；　take　me　off　the　list　with　him；　Major。　I　am　in
wretched　spirits　too。　You　are　my　husband's　old　friend。　I　may
acknowledge　to　_you_　that　our　married　life　is　just　now　not　quite
a　happy　one。〃

Major　Fitz…David　lifted　his　eyebrows　（dyed　to　match　his　whiskers）
in　polite　surprise。

〃Already！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃What　can　Eustace　be　made　of？　Has　he　no
appreciation　of　beauty　and　grace？　Is　he　the　most　insensible　of
living　beings？〃

〃He　is　the　best　and　dearest　of　men；〃　I　answered。　〃But　there　is
some　dreadful　mystery　in　his　past　life〃

I　could　get　no　further；　Major　Fitz…David　deliberately　stopped　me。
He　did　it　with　the　smoothest　politeness；　on　the　surface。　But　I
saw　a　look　in　his　bright　little　eyes　which　said；　plainly；　〃If　you
_will_　venture　on　delicate　ground；　madam；　don't　ask　me　to
accompany　you。〃

〃My　charming　friend！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃May　I　call　you　my　charming
friend？　You　haveamong　a　thousand　other　delightful　qualities
which　I　can　see　alreadya　vivid　imagination。　Don't　let　it　get
the　upper　hand。　Take　an　old　fellow's　advice；　don't　let　it　get　the
upper　hand！　What　can　I　offer　you；　dear　Mrs。　Woodville？　A　cup　of
tea？〃

〃Call　me　by　my　right　name；　sir；〃　I　answered；　boldly。　〃I　have　made
a　discovery。　I　know　as　well　as　you　do　that　my　name　is　Macallan。〃

The　Major　started；　and　looked　at　me　very　attentively。　His　manner
became　grave；　his　tone　changed　completely；　when　he　spoke　next。

〃May　I　ask；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　have　communicated　to　your　husband
the　discovery　which　you　have　just　mentioned　to　me？〃

〃Certainly！〃　I　answered。　〃I　consider　that　my　husband　owes　me　an
explanation。　I　have　asked　him　to　tell　me　what　his　extraordinary
conduct　meansand　he　has　refused；　in　language　that　frightens　me。
I　have　appealed　to　his　motherand　_she_　has　refused　to　explain；
in　language　that　humiliates　me。　Dear　Major　Fitz…David；　I　have　no
friends　to　take　my　part：　I　have　nobody　to　come　to　but　you！　Do　me
the　greatest　of　all　favorstell　me　why　your　friend　Eustace　has
married　me　under　a　false　name！〃

〃Do　_me_　the　greatest　of　all　favors；〃　answered　the　Major。　〃Don't
ask　me　to　say　a　word　about　it。〃

He　looked；　in　spite　of　his　unsatisfactory　reply；　as　if　he　really
felt　for　me。　I　determined　to　try　my　utmost　powers　of　persuasion；
I　resolved　not　to　be　beaten　at　the　first　repulse。

〃I　_must_　ask　you；〃　I　said。　〃Think　of　my　position。　How　can　I
live；　knowing　what　I　knowand　knowing　no　more？　I　would　rather
hear　the　most　horrible　thing　you　can　tell　me　than　be　condemned
（as　I　am　now）　to　perpetual　misgiving　and　perpetual　suspense。　I
love　my　husband　with　all　my　heart；　but　I　cannot　live　with　him　on
these　terms：　the　misery　of　it　would　drive　me　mad。　I　am　only　a
woman；　Major。　I　can　only　throw　myself　on　your　kindness。
Don'tpray；　pray　don't　keep　me　in　the　dark！〃

I　could　say　no　more。　In　the　reckless　impulse　of　the　moment　I
snatched　up　his　hand　and　raised　it　to　my　lips。　The　gallant　old
gentleman　started　as　if　I　had　given　him　an　electric　shock。

〃My　dear；　dear　lady！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　I　feel
for　you！　You　charm　me；　you　overwhelm　me；　you　touch　me　to　the
heart。　What　can　I　say？　What　can　I　do？　I　can　only　imitate　your
admirable　frankness；　your　fearless　candor。　You　have　told　me　what
your　position　is。　Let　me　tell　you；　in　my　turn；　how　I　am　placed。
Compose　yourselfpray　compose　yourself！　I　have　a　smelling…bottle
here　at　the　service　of　the　ladies。　Permit　me　to　offer　it。〃

He　brought　me　the　smelling…bottle；　he　put　a　little　stool　under　my
feet；　he　entreated　me　to　take　time　enough　to　compose　myself。
〃Infernal　fool！〃　I　heard　him　say　to　himself；　as　he　considerately
turned　away　from　me　for　a　few　moments。　〃If　_I_　had　been　her
husband；　come　what　might　of　it；　I　would　have　told　her　the　truth！〃

Was　he　referring　to　Eustace？　And　was　he　going　to　do　what　he　would
have　done　in　my　husband's　place？was　he　really　going　to　tell　me
the　truth？

The　idea　had　barely　crossed　my　mind　when　I　was　startled　by　a　loud
and　peremptory　knocking　at　the　street　door。　The　Major　stopped　and
listened　attentively。　In　a　few　moments　the　door　was　opened；　and
the　rustling　of　a　woman's　dress　was　plainly　audible　in　the　hall。
The　Major　hurried　to　the　door　of　the　room　with　the　activity　of　a
young　man。　He　was　too　late。　The　door　was　violently　opened　from
the　outer　side；　just　as　he　got　to　it。　The　lady　of　the　rustling
dress　burst　into　the　room。



CHAPTER　IX。

THE　DEFEAT　OF　THE　MAJOR。

　MAJOR　FITZ…DAVID'S　visitor　proved　to　be　a　plump；　round…eyed
overdressed　girl；　with　a　florid　complexion　and　straw　colored
hair。　After　first　fixing　on　me　a　broad　stare　of　astonishment；　she
pointedly　addressed　her　apologies　for　intruding　on　us　to　the
Major　alone。　The　creature　evidently　believed　me　to　be　the　last
new　object　of　the　old　gentleman's　idolatry；　and　she　took　no　pains
to　disguise　her　jealous　resentment　on　discovering　us　together。
Major　Fitz…David　set　matters　right　in　his　own　irresistible　way。
He　kissed　the　hand　of　the　overdressed　girl　as　devotedly　as　he　had
kissed　mine；　he　told　her　she　was　looking　charmingly。　Then　he　led
her；　with　his　happy　mixture　of　admiration　and　respect；　back　to
the　door　by　which　she　had　entereda　second　door　communicating
directly　with　the　hall。

〃No　apology　is　necessary；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　〃This　lady　is　with
me　on　a　matter　of　business。　You　will　find　your　singing…master
waiting　for　you　upstairs。　Begin　your　lesson；　and　I　will　join　you
in　a　few　minutes。　_Au　revoir_；　my　charming　pupil_au　revoir。_〃

The　young　lady　answered　this　polite　little　speech　in　a
whisperwith　her　round　eyes　fixed　distrustfully　on　me　while　she
spoke。　The　door　closed　on　her。　Major　Fitz…David　was　a　t　liberty
to　set　matters　right　with　me；　in　my　turn。

〃I　call　that　young　person　one　of　my　happy　discoveries；〃　said　the
old　gentleman；　complacently。　〃She　possesses；　I　don't　hesitate　to
say；　the　finest　soprano　voice　in　Europe。　Would　you　believe　it；　I
met　with　her　at　the　railway　station。　She　was　behind　the　counter
in　a　refreshment…room；　poor　innocent；　rinsing　wine…glasses；　and
singing　over　her　work。　Good　Heavens；　such　singing！　Her　upper
notes　electrified　me。　I　said　to　myself；　'Here　is　a　born　prima
donnaI　will　bring　her　out！'　She　is　the　third　I　have　brought　out
in　my　time。　I　shall　take　her　to　Italy　when　her　education　is
sufficiently　advanced；　and　perfect　her　at　Milan。　In　that
unsophisticated　girl；　my　dear　lady；　you　see　one　of　the　future
Queens　of　Song。　Listen！　She　is　beginning　her　scales。　What　a
voice！　Brava！　Brava！　Bravissima！〃

The　high　soprano　notes　of　the　future　Queen　of　Song　rang　through
the　house　as　he　spoke。　Of　the　loudness　of　the　young　lady's　voice
there　could　be　no　sort　of　doubt。　The　sweetness　and　the　purity　of
it　admitted；　in　my　opinion；　of　considerable　dispute。

Having　said　the　polite　words　which　the　occasion　rendered
necessary；　I　ventured　to　recall　Major　Fitz…David　to　the　subject
in　discussion　between　us　when　his　visitor　had　entered　the　room。
The　Major　was　very　unwilling　to　return　to　the　perilous　topic　on
which　we　had　just　touched　when　the　interruption　occurred。　He　beat
time　with　his　forefinger　to　the　singing　upstairs；　he　asked　me
about　_my_　voice；　and　whether　I　sang；　he　remarked　that　life　would
be　intolerable　to　him　without　Love　and　Art。　A　man　in　my　place
would　have　lost　all　patience；　and　would　have　given　up　the
struggle　in　disgust。　Being　a　woman；　and　having　my　end　in　view；　my
resolution　was　invincible。　I　fairly　wore　out　the　Major's
resistance；　and　compelled　him　to　surrender　at　discretion。　It　is
only　justice　to　add　that；　when　he　did　make　up　his　mind　to　speak
to　me　again　of　Eustace；　he　spoke　frankly；　and　spoke　to　the　point。

〃I　have　known　your　husband；〃　he　began；　〃since　the　time　when　he
was　a　boy。　At　a　certain　period　of　his　past　life　a　terrible
misfortune　fell　upon　him。　The　secret　of　that　misfortune　is　known
to　his　friends；　and　is　religiously　kept　by　his　friends。　It　is　the
secret　that　he　is　keeping　from　You。　He　will　never　tell　it　to　you
as　long　as　he　lives。　And　he　has　bound　_me_　not　to　tell　it；　under
a　promise　given　on　my　word　of　honor。　You　wished；　dear　Mrs。
Woodville；　to　be　made　acquainted　with　my　position　toward　Eustace。
There　it　is！〃

〃You　persist　in　calling　me　Mrs。　Woodville；〃　I　said。

〃Your　husband　wishes　me　to　persist；〃　the　Major　answered。　〃He
assumed　the　name　of　Woodville；　fearing　to　give　his　own　name；　when
he　first　called　at　your　uncle's　house。　He　will　now　acknowledge　no
other。　Remonstrance　is　useless。　You　must　do　what　we　doyou　must
give　way　to　an　unreasonable　man。　The　best　fellow　in　the　world　in
other　respects：　in　this　one　matter　as　obstinate　and　self…willed
as　he　can　be。　If　you　ask　me　my　opinion；　I　tell　you　honestly　that
I　think　he　was　wrong　in　courting　and　marrying　you　under　his　false
name。　He　trusted　his　honor　and　his　happiness　to　your　keeping　in
making　you　hiswife。　Why　should　he　not　trust　the　story　of　his
troubles　to　you　as　well？　His　mother　quite　shares　my　opinion　in
this　matter。　You　must　not　blame　her　for　refusing　to　admit　you
into　her　confidence　after　your　marriage：　it　was　then　too　late。
Before　your　marriage　she　did　all　she　could　dowithout　betraying
secrets　which；　as　a　good　mother；　she　was　bound　to　respectto
induce　her　son　to　act　justly　toward　you。　I　commit　no　indiscretion
when　I　tell　you　that　she　refused　to　sanction　your　marriage　mainly
for　the　reason　that　Eustace　refused　to　follow　her　advice；　and　to
tell　you　what　his　position　really　was。　On　my　part　I　did　all　I
could　to　support　Mrs。　Macallan　in　the　course　that　she　took。　When
Eustace　wrote　to　tell　me　that　he　had　engaged　himself　to　marry　a
niece　of　my　good　friend　Doctor　Starkweather；　and　that　he　had
mentioned　me　as　his　reference；　I　wrote　back　to　warn　him　that　I
would　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　affair　unless　he　revealed　the
whole　truth　about　himself　to　his　future　wife。　He　refused　to
listen　to　me；　as　he　had　refused　to　listen　to　his　mother；　and　he
held　me　at　the　same　time　to　my　promise　to　keep