confidence-第12章

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e　not　at　home；　but　whether　they　had　left　Baden　or　notthat　was　beyond　my　finding　out。　　If　they　are　here；　why　the　deuce　don't　they　show？　Fancy　coming　to　Baden…Baden　to　sit　moping　at　a　pastry…cook's！〃

Captain　Lovelock　was　evidently　irritated；　and　it　was　Bernard's　impression　that　the　turn　of　luck　over　yonder　where　the　gold…pieces　were　chinking　had　something　to　do　with　the　state　of　his　temper。　But　more　fortunate　himself；　he　ascertained　from　the　baker's　wife　that　though　Mrs。　Vivian　and　her　daughter　had　gone　out；　their　companion；　〃the　youngest　ladythe　little　young　lady〃　was　above　in　the　sitting…room。

Blanche　Evers　was　sitting　at　the　window　with　a　book；　but　she　relinquished　the　volume　with　an　alacrity　that　showed　it　had　not　been　absorbing；　and　began　to　chatter　with　her　customary　frankness。

〃Well；　I　must　say　I　am　glad　to　see　some　one！〃　cried　the　young　girl；　passing　before　the　mirror　and　giving　a　touch　to　her　charming　tresses。

〃Even　if　it　's　only　me；〃　Bernard　exclaimed；　laughing。

〃I　did　n't　mean　that。　　I　am　sure　I　am　very　glad　to　see　you　I　should　think　you　would　have　found　out　that　by　this　time。　I　mean　I　'm　glad　to　see　any　oneespecially　a　man。　I　suppose　it　's　improper　for　me　to　say　thatespecially　to　you！　Thereyou　see　I　do　think　more　of　you　than　of　some　gentlemen。　Why　especially　to　you？　　Well；　because　you　always　seem　to　me　to　want　to　take　advantage。　　I　did　n't　say　a　base　advantage；　I　did　n't　accuse　you　of　anything　dreadful。　　I　'm　sure　I　want　to　take　advantage；　tooI　take　it　whenever　I　can。　You　see　I　take　advantage　of　your　being　hereI　've　got　so　many　things　to　say。　　I　have　n't　spoken　a　word　in　three　days；　and　I　'm　sure　it　is　a　pleasant　changea　gentleman's　visit。　All　of　a　sudden　we　have　gone　into　mourning；　I　'm　sure　I　don't　know　who　's　dead。　　Is　it　Mr。　Gordon　Wright？　It　's　some　idea　of　Mrs。　Vivian'sI　'm　sure　it　is　n't　mine。　She　thinks　we　have　been　often　enough　to　the　Kursaal。　　I　don't　know　whether　she　thinks　it　's　wicked；　or　what。　　If　it　's　wicked　the　harm　's　already　done；　I　can't　be　any　worse　than　I　am　now。　I　have　seen　all　the　improper　people　and　I　have　learnt　all　their　names；　Captain　Lovelock　has　told　me　their　names；　plenty　of　times。　I　don't　see　what　good　it　does　me　to　be　shut　up　here　with　all　those　names　running　in　my　ears。　　I　must　say　I　do　prefer　society。　We　have　n't　been　to　the　Kursaal　for　four　dayswe　have　only　gone　out　for　a　drive。　　We　have　taken　the　most　interminable　drives。　I　do　believe　we　have　seen　every　old　ruin　in　the　whole　country。　Mrs。　Vivian　and　Angela　are　so　awfully　fond　of　scenerythey　talk　about　it　by　the　half…hour。　They　talk　about　the　mountains　and　trees　as　if　they　were　people　they　knewas　if　they　were　gentlemen！　I　mean　as　if　the　mountains　and　trees　were　gentlemen。　Of　course　scenery　's　lovely；　but　you　can't　walk　about　with　a　tree。　At　any　rate；　that　has　been　all　our　societyfoliage！　Foliage　and　women；　but　I　suppose　women　are　a　sort　of　foliage。　They　are　always　rustling　about　and　dropping　off。　　That　's　why　I　could　n't　make　up　my　mind　to　go　out　with　them　this　afternoon。　They　've　gone　to　see　the　Waterworthsthe　Waterworths　arrived　yesterday　and　are　staying　at　some　hotel。　　Five　daughters　all　unmarried！　　I　don't　know　what　kind　of　foliage　they　are；　some　peculiar　kindthey　don't　drop　off。　　I　thought　I　had　had　about　enough　ladies'　societythree　women　all　sticking　together！　I　don't　think　it　's　good　for　a　young　girl　to　have　nothing　but　ladies'　societyit　's　so　awfully　limited。　　I　suppose　I　ought　to　stand　up　for　my　own　sex　and　tell　you　that　when　we　are　alone　together　we　want　for　nothing。　　But　we　want　for　everything；　as　it　happens！　　Women's　talk　is　limitedevery　one　knows　that。　That　's　just　what　mamma　did　n't　want　when　she　asked　Mrs。　Vivian　to　take　charge　of　me。　　Now；　Mr。　Longueville；　what　are　you　laughing　at？　you　are　always　laughing　at　me。　　She　wanted　me　to　be　unlimited　is　that　what　you　say？　　Well；　she　did　n't　want　me　to　be　narrowed　down；　she　wanted　me　to　have　plenty　of　conversation。　She　wanted　me　to　be　fitted　for　societythat　's　what　mamma　wanted。　She　wanted　me　to　have　ease　of　manner；　she　thinks　that　if　you　don't　acquire　it　when　you　are　young　you　never　have　it　at　all。　She　was　so　happy　to　think　I　should　come　to　Baden；　but　she　would　n't　approve　of　the　life　I　've　been　leading　the　last　four　days。　That　's　no　way　to　acquire　ease　of　mannersitting　all　day　in　a　small　parlor　with　two　persons　of　one's　own　sex！　Of　course　Mrs。　Vivian's　influencethat　's　the　great　thing。　Mamma　said　it　was　like　the　odor　of　a　flower。　　But　you　don't　want　to　keep　smelling　a　flower　all　day；　even　the　sweetest；　that　's　the　shortest　way　to　get　a　headache。　　Apropos　of　flowers；　do　you　happen　to　have　heard　whether　Captain　Lovelock　is　alive　or　dead？　　Do　I　call　him　a　flower？　　No；　I　call　him　a　flower…pot。　He　always　has　some　fine　young　plant　in　his　button…hole。　He　has　n't　been　near　me　these　ten　yearsI　never　heard　of　anything　so　rude！〃

Captain　Lovelock　came　on　the　morrow；　Bernard　finding　him　in　Mrs。　Vivian's　little　sitting…room　on　paying　a　second　visit。　On　this　occasion　the　two　other　ladies　were　at　home　and　Bernard　was　not　exclusively　indebted　to　Miss　Evers　for　entertainment。　It　was　to　this　source　of　hospitality；　however；　that　Lovelock　mainly　appealed；　following　the　young　girl　out　upon　the　little　balcony　that　was　suspended　above　the　confectioner's　window。　Mrs。　Vivian　sat　writing　at　one　of　the　windows　of　the　sitting…room；　and　Bernard　addressed　his　conversation　to　Angela。

〃Wright　requested　me　to　keep　an　eye　on　you；〃　he　said；　〃but　you　seem　very　much　inclined　to　keep　out　of　my　jurisdiction。〃

〃I　supposed　you　had　gone　away；〃　she　answered〃now　that　your　friend　is　gone。〃

〃By　no　means。　　Gordon　is　a　charming　fellow；　but　he　is　by　no　means　the　only　attraction　of　Baden。　　Besides；　I　have　promised　him　to　look　after　you　to　take　care　of　you。〃

The　girl　looked　at　him　a　moment　in　silencea　little　askance。

〃I　thought　you　had　probably　undertaken　something　of　that　sort；〃　she　presently　said。

〃It　was　of　course　a　very　natural　request　for　Gordon　to　make。〃

Angela　got　up　and　turned　away；　she　wandered　about　the　room　and　went　and　stood　at　one　of　the　windows。　　Bernard　found　the　movement　abrupt　and　not　particularly　gracious；　but　the　young　man　was　not　easy　to　snub。　He　followed　her；　and　they　stood　at　the　second　windowthe　long　window　that　opened　upon　the　balcony。　　Miss　Evers　and　Captain　Lovelock　were　leaning　on　the　railing；　looking　into　the　street　and　apparently　amusing　themselves　highly　with　what　they　saw。

〃I　am　not　sure　it　was　a　natural　request　for　him　to　make；〃　said　Angela。

〃What　could　have　been　more　sodevoted　as　he　is　to　you？〃

She　hesitated　a　moment；　then　with　a　little　laugh

〃He　ought　to　have　locked　us　up　and　said　nothing　about　it。〃

〃It　's　not　so　easy　to　lock　you　up；〃　said　Bernard。　　〃I　know　Wright　has　great　influence　with　you；　but　you　are　after　all　independent　beings。〃

〃I　am　not　an　independent　being。　　If　my　mother　and　Mr。　Wright　were　to　agree　together　to　put　me　out　of　harm's　way　they　could　easily　manage　it。〃

〃You　seem　to　have　been　trying　something　of　that　sort；〃　said　Bernard。　〃You　have　been　so　terribly　invisible。〃

〃It　was　because　I　thought　you　had　designs　upon　us；　that　you　were　watching　for　usto　take　care　of　us。〃

〃You　contradict　yourself！　　You　said　just　now　that　you　believed　I　had　left　Baden。〃

〃That　was　an　artificiala　conventional　speech。　　Is　n't　a　lady　always　supposed　to　say　something　of　that　sort　to　a　visitor　by　way　of　pretending　to　have　noticed　that　she　has　not　seen　him？〃

〃You　know　I　would　never　have　left　Baden　without　coming　to　bid　you　good…bye；〃　said　Bernard。

The　girl　made　no　rejoinder；　she　stood　looking　out　at　the　little　sunny；　slanting；　rough…paved　German　street。

〃Are　you　taking　care　of　us　now？〃　she　asked　in　a　moment。　〃Has　the　operation　begun？　　Have　you　heard　the　news；　mamma？〃　she　went　on。　　〃Do　you　know　that　Mr。　Wright　has　made　us　over　to　Mr。　Longueville；　to　be　kept　till　called　for？　Suppose　Mr。　Wright　should　never　call　for　us！〃

Mrs。　Vivian　left　her　writing…table　and　came　toward　Bernard；　smiling　at　him　and　pressing　her　hands　together。

〃There　is　no　fear　of　that；　I　think；〃　she　said。　〃I　am　sure　I　am　very　glad　we　have　a　gentleman　near　us。　I　think　you　will　be　a　very　good　care…taker；　Mr。　Longueville；　and　I　recommend　my　daughter　to　put　great　faith　in　your　judgment。〃　And　Mrs。　Vivian　gave　him　an　intensea　pleading；　almost　affecting　little　smile。

〃I　am　greatly　touched　by　your　confidence　and　I　shall　do　everything　I　can　think　of　to　merit　it；〃　said　the　young　man。

〃Ah；　mamma's　confidence　is　wonderful！〃　　Angela　exclaimed。　〃There　was　never　anything　like　mamma's　confidence。　　I　am　very　different；　I　have　no　confidence。　　And　then　I　don't　like　being　deposited；　like　a　parcel；　or　being　watched；　like　a　curious　animal。　　I　am　too　fond　of　my　liberty。〃

〃That　is　the　second　time　you　have　contradicted　yourself；〃　said　Bernard。　〃You　said　just　now　that　you　were　not　an　independent　being。〃

Angela　turned　toward　him　quickly；　smiling　and　frowning　at　once。

〃You　do　watch　one；　certainly！　　I　see　it　has　already　begun。〃　Mrs。　Vivian　laid　her　hand　upon　her　daughter's　with　a　little　murmur　of　tender　deprecation；　and　the　girl　bent　over　and　kissed　her。　〃Mamma　will　tell　you　it　's　the　effect　of　agitation；〃　she　said〃that　I　am　nervous；　and　don't　know　what　I　say。　I　am　supposed　to　be　agitated　by　Mr。　Wright's　departure；　is　n't　that　it；　mamma？〃

Mrs。　Vivian　turned　away；　with　a　certain　soft　severity。

〃I　don't　know；　my　daughter。　　I　don't　understand　you。〃

A　charming　pink　flush　had　come　into　Angela's　cheek　and　a　noticeable　light　into　her　eye。　　She　looked　admirably　handsome；　and　Bernard　frankly　gazed　at　her。　She　met　his　gaze　an　instant；　and　then　she　went　on。

〃Mr。　Longueville　does　n't　understand　me　either。　　You　must　know　that　I　am　agitated；〃　she　continued。　　〃Every　now　and　then　I　have　moments　of　talking　nonsense。　　It　's　the　air　of　Baden；　I　think；　it　's　too　exciting。　　It　's　only　lately　I　have　been　so。　　When　you　go　away　I　shall　be　horribly　ashamed。〃

〃If　the　air　of　Baden　has　such　an　effect　upon　you；〃　said　Bernard；　〃it　is　only　a　proof　the　more　that　you　need　the　solicitous　attention　of　your　friends。〃

〃That　may　be；　but；　as　I　told　you　just　now；　I　have　no　confidence　none　whatever；　in　any　one　or　anything。　　Therefore；　for　the　present；　I　shall　withdraw　from　the　worldI　shall　seclude　myself。　Let　us　go　on　being　quiet；　mamma。　　Three　or　four　days　of　it　have　been　so　charming。　　Let　the　parcel　lie　till　it　's　called　for。　It　is　much　safer　it　should　n't　be　touched　at　all。　　I　shall　assume　that；　metaphorically　speaking；　Mr。　Wright；　who；　as　you　have　intimated；　is　our　earthly　providence；　has　turned　the　key　upon　us。　　I　am　locked　up。　I　shall　not　go　out；　except　upon　the　balcony！〃　　And　with　this；　Angela　stepped　out　of　the　long　window　and　went　and　stood　beside　Miss　Evers。

Bernard　was　extremely　amused；　but　he　was　also　a　good　deal　puzzled；　and　it　came　over　him　that　it　was　not　a　wonder　that　poor　Wright　should　not　have　found　this　young　lady's　disposition　a　perfectly　decipherable　page。　He　remained　in　the　room　with　Mrs。　Vivianhe　stood　there　looking　at　her　with　his　agreeably　mystified　smile。　　She　had　turned　away；　but　on　perceiving　that　her　daughter　had　gone　outside　she　came　toward　Bernard　again；　with　her　habitual　little　air　of　eagerness　mitigated　by　discretion。　There　instantly　rose　before　his　mind　the　vision　of　that　moment