we two-第49章

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Lady　Caroline　knew　absolutely　nothing　about　Erica；　but　uttered　the　last　sentence；　with　its　vague；　far…reaching；　and　most　damaging　hint；　without　even　a　pricking　of　conscience。

〃You　will　try　to　rescue　the　M。P。？〃　asked　Mr。　Cuthbert。

〃For　the　sake　of　his　position；　yes；〃　said　Lady　Caroline；　entering　the　conservatory。

〃Oh！　　Mr。　Farrant；〃　she　said；　with　her　most　gracious　smile；　〃I　came　to　see　whether　you　couldn't　induce　your　wife　to　sing　to　us。　　Now；　is　it　true　that　she　has　given　up　her　music？　　I　assure　you　she　and　I　have　been　battling　the　point　ever　since　you　came　up。　　Can't　you　persuade　her　to　give　us　just　one　song？　　I　am　really　in　despair　for　some　music。〃

〃I　am　afraid　my　wife　is　quite　out　of　voice；〃　said　Donovan。　　〃Are　there　no　other　musical　people？〃

〃Not　one。　　It　is　really　most　astonishing。　　I　was　counting　on　Miss　Fane…Smith；　but　she　has　disappointed　me；　and　there　is　not　another　creature　who　will　play　or　sing　a　note。　　Greyshot　is　a　terrible　unmusical　place。〃

〃You　do　not　belong　to　Greyshot；　so　perhaps　you　may　be　able　to　come　to　the　rescue；〃　said　Donovan　to　Erica。　　〃Scotch　people　can；　at　any　rate；　always　play　or　sing　their　own　national　airs　as　no　one　else　can。〃

Lady　Caroline　did　not　really　in　the　least　care　whether　there　were　music　or　not；　but　she　had　expressed　herself　very　strongly；　and　that　tiresome　Mr。　Farrant　had　taken　her　at　her　word；　and　was　trying　to　beat　up　recruits　recruits　that　she　did　not　want。　　He　had　now；　whether　intentionally　or　not；　put　her　in　such　a　position　that；　unless　she　were　positively　rude；　she　must　ask　Erica　to　play　or　sing。

〃Have　you　brought　any　music；　Miss　Raeburn？〃　she　asked；　turning　to　Erica　with　a　chilling　look；　as　though　she　had　just　become　aware　of　her　presence。

〃I　have　none　to　bring；〃　said　Erica。　　〃I　do　not　profess　to　sing；　I　only　sing　our　own　Scotch　airs。〃

〃Exactly　what　I　said！〃　exclaimed　Donovan。　　〃And　Scotch　singing　of　Scotch　airs　is　like　nothing　else　in　the　world。〃

Whether　he　mesmerized　them　both；　or　whether　his　stronger　will　and　higher　purpose　prevailed；　it　would　be　hard　to　say。　　Certainly　Erica　was　quite　as　unwilling　to　sing　as　Lady　Caroline　was　to　favor　her　with　a　request。　　Both　had　to　yield；　however；　and　Erica；　whether　she　would　or　not；　had　to　serve　her　roomful　of　enemies　and　a　great　deal　of　good　it　did　her。

Out　of　the　quiet　conservatory　they　came　into　the　heat　and　glare　and　babel　of　voices；　Lady　Caroline　feeling　as　if　she　had　been　caught　in　her　own　trap；　Erica　wavering　between　resentful　defiance　and　the　desire　to　substitute　Donovan's　〃How　can　I　serve？〃　for　〃What　do　they　think？〃

She　sat　down　to　the　piano；　which　was　in　a　far…away　corner；　and　soon　she　had　forgotten　her　audience　altogether。　　Although　she　had　had　little　time　or　opportunity　for　a　thorough　musical　education；　she　had　great　taste；　and　was　musical　by　nature；　she　sang　her　national　airs；　as　very　few　could　have　sung　them；　and　so　wild　and　pathetic　was　the　air　she　had　chosen；　〃The　Flowers　of　the　Forest；〃　that　the　roar　of　conversation　at　once　ceased。　　She　knew　nothing　whatever　about　the　listeners；　the　air　had　taken　her　back　to　her　father's　recovery　at　Codrington　the　year　before。　　She　was　singing　to　him　once　more。

The　old　gentleman　who　had　sat　on　her　right　hand　at　dinner　came　up　now　with　his　first　remark。

〃Thank　you；　that　was　a　real　treat；　and　a　very　rare　treat。　　I　wonder　whether　you　would　sing　an　old　favorite　of　mine　'Oh；　why　did　ye　gang；　lassie？'〃

Erica　at　once　complied；　and　there　was　such　pathos　in　her　low；　clear　voice；　that　tears　stood　in　the　eyes　of　more　than　one　listener。　　She　had　never　dared　to　sing　that　song　at　home　since　one　evening　some　weeks　before；　when　her　father　had　just　walked　out　of　the　room；　unable　to　bear　the　mournful　refrain　〃I　never；　never　thought　ye　wad　leave　me！〃　　The　song　was　closely　associated　with　the　story　of　that　summer；　and　she　sang　it　to　perfection。

Donovan　Farrant　came　toward　her　again　at　the　close。

〃I　want　to　introduce　my　wife　to　you；〃　he　said。

And　Erica　found　that　the　young　married　lady　in　the　pale…blue　silk；　whom　she　had　singled　out　as　the　one　approachable　lady　in　the　room；　was　Mrs。　Farrant。　　She　was　very　bright；　and　sunshiny；　and　talkative。　　Erica　liked　her；　and　would　have　liked　her　still　better　had　not　the　last　week　shown　her　so　much　of　the　unreality　and　insincerity　of　society　that　she　half　doubted　whether　any　one　she　met　in　Greyshot　could　be　quite　true。　　Mrs。　Farrant's　manner　was　charming；　but　charming　manners　had　often　turned　out　to　be　exceedingly　artificial；　and　Erica；　who　was　in　rather　a　hard　mood；　would　not　let　herself　be　won　over；　but　held　her　judgment　in　suspension；　responding　brightly　enough　to　her　companion's　talk；　but　keeping　the　best　part　of　herself　in　reserve。

At　length　the　evening　ended；　and　the　guests　gradually　dispersed。　　Mr。　Cuthbert　walked　across　the　road　to　his　vicarage；　still　chuckling　to　himself　as　he　thought　of　the　general　discomfiture　caused　by　his　question。　　The　musical　old　gentleman　returned　to　his　home　revolving　a　startling　new　idea；　after　all；　might　not　the　Raeburns　and　such　people　be　very　much　like　the　rest　of　the　world？　　Were　they　not　probably　as　susceptible　to　pain　and　pleasure；　to　comfort　and　discomfort；　to　rudeness　and　civility？　　He　regretted　very　much　that　he　had　not　broken　the　miserably　uncomfortable　silence　at　dinner。

Donovan　Farrant　and　his　wife　were　already　far　from　Greyshot；　driving　along　the　quiet　country　road　to　Oakdene　Manor。

〃A　lovely　girl；〃　Mrs。　Farrant　was　saying。　　〃I　should　like　to　know　her　better。　　Tonight　I　had　the　feeling　somehow　that　she　was　purposely　keeping　on　the　surface　of　things；　one　came　every　now　and　then　to　a　sort　of　wall；　a　kind　of　hard　reserve。〃

〃Who　can　wonder！〃　exclaimed　Donovan。　　〃I　am　afraid；　Gladys；　the　old　proverb　will　have　a　very　fair　chance　of　being　fulfilled。　　That　child　has　come　out　seeking　wool；　and　as　likely　as　not　she'll　go　home　shorn。〃

〃Society　can　be　very　cruel！〃　signed　Gladys。　　〃I　did　so　long　to　get　to　her　after　dinner；　but　Lady　Caroline　kept　me；　I　do　believe；　purposely。〃

〃Lady　Caroline　and　Mr。　Cuthbert　will　little　dream　of　the　harm　they　have　done；〃　said　Donovan。　　〃I　think　I　understand　as　I　never　understood　before　the　burning　indignation　of　that　rebuke　to　the　Pharisees　'Full　well　ye　reject　the　commandment　of　god　that　ye　may　keep　your　own　traditions。'〃

In　the　meantime　there　was　dead　silence　in　the　Fane…Smiths'　carriage；　an　ominous　silence。　　There　was　an　unmistakable　cloud　on　Mr。　Fane…Smith's　face；　he　had　been　exceedingly　annoyed　at　what　had　taken　place；　and　with　native　perversity；　attributed　it　all　to　Erica。　　His　wife　was　miserable。　　She　felt　that　her　intended　kindness　had　proved　a　complete　failure；　she　was　afraid　of　her　husband's　clouded　brow；　still　more　afraid　of　her　niece's　firmly　closed　mouth；　most　afraid　of　all　at　the　thought　of　Lady　Caroline's　displeasure。　　Nervous　and　overwrought；　anxious　to　conciliate　all　parties；　and　afraid　of　making　matters　worse；　she　timidly　went　into　Erica's　room；　and　after　beating　about　the　bush　for　a　minute　or　two；　plunged　rashly　into　the　sore　subject。

〃I　am　so　sorry；　dear；　about　tonight；〃　she　said。　　I　wish　it　could　have　been　prevented。〃

Erica；　standing　up　straight　and　tall　in　her　velveteen　dress；　with　a　white　shawl　half　thrown　back　from　her　shoulders；　looked　to　her　aunt　terribly　dignified　and　uncompromising。

〃I　can't　say　that　I　thought　them　courteous；〃　she　replied。

〃It　was　altogether　unfortunate；〃　said　Mrs。　Fane…Smith；　hurriedly。　　〃I　hoped　your　name　would　not　transpire；　I　ought　to　have　suggested　the　change　to　you　before；　but〃

〃What　change？〃　asked　Erica；　her　forehead　contracting　a　little。

〃We　thought　we　hoped　that　perhaps；　if　you　adopted　our　name；　it　might　prevent　unpleasantness。　　Such　things　are　done；　you　know；　and　then；　too；　we　might　make　some　arrangement　about　your　grandfather's　money；　a　part　of　which　I　feel　is　now　yours　by　right。　　Even　now　the　change　would　show　people　the　truth；　would　save　many　disagreeables。〃

During　this　speech　Erica's　face　had　been　a　study；　an　angry　glow　of　color　rushed　to　her　cheeks；　her　eyes　flashed　dangerously。　　She　was　a　young　girl；　but　there　was　a　good　deal　of　the　lion　about　her　at　that　minute；　and　her　aunt　trembled　listening　perforce　to　the　indignant　outburst。

〃What　truth　would　it　show？〃　she　cried。　〃I　don't　believe　there　is　such　a　thing　as　truth　among　all　these　wretched　shams！　　I　will　never　change　my　name　to　escape　from　prejudice　and　bigotry；　or　to　win　a　share　in　my　grandfather's　property！　　What！　　Give　up　my　father's　name　to　gain　the　money　which　might　have　kept　him　from　pain　and　ruin　and　semi…starvation？　　Take　the　money　that　might　have　brought　comfort　to　my　mother　that　might　have　kept　me　with　her　to　the　end。　　I　couldn't　take　it。　　I　would　rather　die　than　touch　one　penny　of　it。　　It　is　too　late　now。　　If　you　thought　I　would　consent　if　that　is　the　reason　you　asked　me　here；　I　can　go　at　once。　　I　would　not　willingly　have　brought　shame　upon　you；　but　neither　will　I　dishonor　myself　nor　insult　my　father　by　changing　my　name。　　Why；　to　do　so　would　be　to　proclaim　that　I　judged　him　as　those　Pharisees　did　tonight。　　The　hypocrites！　　Which　of　them　can　show　one　grain　of　love　for　the　race；　to　set　against　my　father's　life　of　absolute　devotion？　　They　sit　over　their　champagne　and　slander　atheists；　and　then　have　the　face　to　call　themselves　Christians。〃

〃My　dear！〃　said　Mrs。　Fane…Smith；　nervously。　　〃Our　only　wish　is　to　do　what　is　best　for　you；　but　you　are　too　tired　and　excited　to　discuss　this　now。　　I　will　wish　you　good　night。〃

〃I　never　wish　to　discuss　it　again；　thank　you；〃　said　Erica；　submitting　to　a　particularly　warm　embrace。

Mrs。　Fane…Smith　was　right　in　one　way。　　Erica　was　intensely　excited。　　When　people　have　been　riding　rough…shod　over　one's　heart；　one　is　apt　to　be　excited；　and　Luke　Raeburn's　daughter　had　inherited　that　burning　sense　of　indignation　which　was　so　strongly　marked　a　characteristic　in　Raeburn　himself。　Violins　can　be　more　sweet　and　delicate　in　tone　than　any　other　instrument；　but　they　can　also　wail　with　greater　pathos；　and　produce　a　more　fearful　storm　of　passion。

Declining　any　assistance　from　Gemma；　Erica　locked　her　door；　caught　up　some　sheets　of　foolscap；　snatched　up　her　pen；　and　began　to　write　rapidly。　　She　knew　well　enough　that　she　ought　not　to　have　written。　　But　when　the　heart　is　hot　with　indignation；　when　the　brain　produces　scathing　sentences；　when　the　subject　seems　to　have　taken　possession　of　the　whole　being；　to　deny　its　utterance　is　quite　the　hardest　thing　in　the　world。

Erica　struggled　to　resist；　but　at　length　yielded；　and　out　rushed　sarcasms；　denunciations；　return　blows　innumerable！　　The　relief　was　great。　　However；　her　enjoyment　was　but　short　for　by　the　time　her　article　was　rolled　up　for　the　post；　stamped　and　directed；　her　physical　powers　gave　way；　such　blank　exhaustion　ensuing　that　all　she　could　do　was　to　drag　herself　across　the　room；　throw　herself；　half　dressed；　on　the　bed；　draw　the　rezai　over　her；　and　yield　to　the　heavy；　overpowering　slumber　of　great　weariness。

It　seemed　to　her　that　she　slept　about　five　minutes；　and　was　then　roused　by　a　knocking　at　her　door。　　She　started　up；　and　found　that　it　was　morning。　　Then　she　recollected　bolting　her　door；　and　sprung　out　of　bed　to　undo　it；　but　was　reminded　at　once　that　she　had　a　spine。　　She　had　quite　recovered　from　the　effects　of　her　illness；