confidence-第15章

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〃Of　course；〃　Mrs。　Vivian　added；　〃I　know　it　's　all　on　his　account；　but　that　makes　me　wish　to　thank　you　all　the　more。　　Let　me　express　my　gratitude；　in　advance；　for　the　rest　of　the　time；　till　he　comes　back。　That　's　more　responsibility　than　you　bargained　for；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　nervous　laugh。

〃Yes；　it　's　more　than　I　bargained　for。　　I　am　thinking　of　going　away。〃

Mrs。　Vivian　almost　gave　a　little　jump；　and　then　she　paused　on　the　Baden　cobble…stones；　looking　up　at　him。

〃If　you　must　go；　Mr。　Longuevilledon't　sacrifice　yourself！〃

The　exclamation　fell　upon　Bernard's　ear　with　a　certain　softly　mocking　cadence　which　was　sufficient；　however；　to　make　this　organ　tingle。

〃Oh；　after　all；　you　know；〃　he　said；　as　they　walked　on〃after　all；　you　know；　I　am　not　like　WrightI　have　no　business。〃

He　walked　with　the　ladies　to　the　door　of　their　lodging。　Angela　kept　always　in　front。　　She　stood　there；　however；　at　the　little　confectioner's　window　until　the　others　came　up。　She　let　her　mother　pass　in；　and　then　she　said　to　Bernard；　looking　at　him

〃Shall　I　see　you　again？〃

〃Some　time；　I　hope。〃

〃I　meanare　you　going　away？〃

Bernard　looked　for　a　moment　at　a　little　pink　sugar　cherub　a　species　of　Cupid；　with　a　gilded　bowwhich　figured　among　the　pastry…cook's　enticements。　　Then　he　said

〃I　will　come　and　tell　you　this　evening。〃

And　in　the　evening　he　went　to　tell　her；　she　had　mentioned　during　the　walk　in　the　garden　of　the　Schloss　that　they　should　not　go　out。　As　he　approached　Mrs。　Vivian's　door　he　saw　a　figure　in　a　light　dress　standing　in　the　little　balcony。　　He　stopped　and　looked　up；　and　then　the　person　in　the　light　dress；　leaning　her　hands　on　the　railing；　with　her　shoulders　a　little　raised；　bent　over　and　looked　down　at　him。　It　was　very　dark；　but　even　through　the　thick　dusk　he　thought　he　perceived　the　finest　brilliancy　of　Angela　Vivian's　smile。

〃I　shall　not　go　away；〃　he　said；　lifting　his　voice　a　little。

She　made　no　answer；　she　only　stood　looking　down　at　him　through　the　warm　dusk　and　smiling。　　He　went　into　the　house；　and　he　remained　at　Baden…Baden　till　Gordon　came　back。






CHAPTER　XIV

Gordon　asked　him　no　questions　for　twenty…four　hours　after　his　return；　then　suddenly　he　began：

〃Well；　have　n't　you　something　to　say　to　me？〃

It　was　at　the　hotel；　in　Gordon's　apartment；　late　in　the　afternoon。　A　heavy　thunder…storm　had　broken　over　the　place　an　hour　before；　and　Bernard　had　been　standing　at　one　of　his　friend's　windows；　rather　idly；　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　watching　the　rain…torrents　dance　upon　the　empty　pavements。　　At　last　the　deluge　abated；　the　clouds　began　to　breakthere　was　a　promise　of　a　fine　evening。　Gordon　Wright；　while　the　storm　was　at　its　climax；　sat　down　to　write　letters；　and　wrote　half　a　dozen。　　It　was　after　he　had　sealed；　directed　and　affixed　a　postage…stamp　to　the　last　of　the　series　that　he　addressed　to　his　companion　the　question　I　have　just　quoted。

〃Do　you　mean　about　Miss　Vivian？〃　　Bernard　asked；　without　turning　round　from　the　window。

〃About　Miss　Vivian；　of　course。〃　　Bernard　said　nothing　and　his　companion　went　on。　　〃Have　you　nothing　to　tell　me　about　Miss　Vivian？〃

Bernard　presently　turned　round　looking　at　Gordon　and　smiling　a　little。

〃She　's　a　delightful　creature！〃

〃That　won't　doyou　have　tried　that　before；〃　said　Gordon。　〃No；〃　he　added　in　a　moment；　〃that　won't　do。〃　　Bernard　turned　back　to　the　window；　and　Gordon　continued；　as　he　remained　silent。　〃I　shall　have　a　right　to　consider　your　saying　nothing　a　proof　of　an　unfavorable　judgment。　　You　don't　like　her！〃

Bernard　faced　quickly　about　again；　and　for　an　instant　the　two　men　looked　at　each　other。

〃Ah；　my　dear　Gordon；〃　Longueville　murmured。

〃Do　you　like　her　then？〃　asked　Wright；　getting　up。

〃No！〃　said　Longueville。

〃That　's　just　what　I　wanted　to　know；　and　I　am　much　obliged　to　you　for　telling　me。〃

〃I　am　not　obliged　to　you　for　asking　me。　　I　was　in　hopes　you　would　n't。〃

〃You　dislike　her　very　much　then？〃　　Gordon　exclaimed；　gravely。

〃Won't　disliking　her；　simply；　do？〃　said　Bernard。

〃It　will　do　very　well。　　But　it　will　do　a　little　better　if　you　will　tell　me　why。　　Give　me　a　reason　or　two。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Bernard；　〃I　tried　to　make　love　to　her　and　she　boxed　my　ears。〃

〃The　devil！〃　cried　Gordon。

〃I　mean　morally；　you　know。〃

Gordon　stared；　he　seemed　a　little　puzzled。

〃You　tried　to　make　love　to　her　morally？〃

〃She　boxed　my　ears　morally；〃　said　Bernard；　laughing　out。

〃Why　did　you　try　to　make　love　to　her？〃

This　inquiry　was　made　in　a　tone　so　expressive　of　an　unbiassed　truth…seeking　habit　that　Bernard's　mirth　was　not　immediately　quenched。　Nevertheless；　he　replied　with　sufficient　gravity

〃To　test　her　fidelity　to　you。　　Could　you　have　expected　anything　else？　You　told　me　you　were　afraid　she　was　a　latent　coquette。　　You　gave　me　a　chance；　and　I　tried　to　ascertain。〃

〃And　you　found　she　was　not。　　Is　that　what　you　mean？〃

〃She　's　as　firm　as　a　rock。　　My　dear　Gordon；　Miss　Vivian　is　as　firm　as　the　firmest　of　your　geological　formations。〃

Gordon　shook　his　head　with　a　strange　positive　persistence。

〃You　are　talking　nonsense。　　You　are　not　serious。　　You　are　not　telling　me　the　truth。　　I　don't　believe　that　you　attempted　to　make　love　to　her。　You　would　n't　have　played　such　a　game　as　that。　　It　would　n't　have　been　honorable。〃

Bernard　flushed　a　little；　he　was　irritated。

〃Oh　come；　don't　make　too　much　of　a　point　of　that！　　Did　n't　you　tell　me　before　that　it　was　a　great　opportunity？〃

〃An　opportunity　to　be　wisenot　to　be　foolish！〃

〃Ah；　there　is　only　one　sort　of　opportunity；〃　cried　Bernard。　〃You　exaggerate　the　reach　of　human　wisdom。〃

〃Suppose　she　had　let　you　make　love　to　her；〃　said　Gordon。　〃That　would　have　been　a　beautiful　result　of　your　experiment。〃

〃I　should　have　seemed　to　you　a　rascal；　perhaps；　but　I　should　have　saved　you　from　a　latent　coquette。　　You　would　owe　some　thanks　for　that。〃

〃And　now　you　have　n't　saved　me；〃　said　Gordon；　with　a　simple　air　of　noting　a　fact。

〃You　assumein　spite　of　what　I　saythat　she　is　a　coquette！〃

〃I　assume　something　because　you　evidently　conceal　something。　I　want　the　whole　truth。〃

Bernard　turned　back　to　the　window　with　increasing　irritation。

〃If　he　wants　the　whole　truth　he　shall　have　it；〃　he　said　to　himself。

He　stood　a　moment　in　thought　and　then　he　looked　at　his　companion　again。

〃I　think　she　would　marry　youbut　I　don't　think　she　cares　for　you。〃

Gordon　turned　a　little　pale；　but　he　clapped　his　hands　together。

〃Very　good；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃That　's　exactly　how　I　want　you　to　speak。〃

〃Her　mother　has　taken　a　great　fancy　to　your　fortune　and　it　has　rubbed　off　on　the　girl；　who　has　made　up　her　mind　that　it　would　be　a　pleasant　thing　to　have　thirty　thousand　a　year；　and　that　her　not　caring　for　you　is　an　unimportant　detail。〃

〃I　seeI　see；〃　said　Gordon；　looking　at　his　friend　with　an　air　of　admiration　for　his　frank　and　lucid　way　of　putting　things。

Now　that　he　had　begun　to　be　frank　and　lucid；　Bernard　found　a　charm　in　it；　and　the　impulse　under　which　he　had　spoken　urged　him　almost　violently　forward。

〃The　mother　and　daughter　have　agreed　together　to　bag　you；　and　Angela；　I　am　sure；　has　made　a　vow　to　be　as　nice　to　you　after　marriage　as　possible。　Mrs。　Vivian　has　insisted　upon　the　importance　of　that；　Mrs。　Vivian　is　a　great　moralist。〃

Gordon　kept　gazing　at　his　friend；　he　seemed　positively　fascinated。

〃Yes；　I　have　noticed　that　in　Mrs。　Vivian；〃　he　said。

〃Ah；　she　's　a　very　nice　woman！〃

〃It　's　not　true；　then；〃　said　Gordon；　〃that　you　tried　to　make　love　to　Angela？〃

Bernard　hesitated　a　single　instant。



〃No；　it　is　n't　true。　　I　calumniated　myself；　to　save　her　reputation。　You　insisted　on　my　giving　you　a　reason　for　my　not　liking　her　I　gave　you　that　one。〃

〃And　your　real　reason〃

〃My　real　reason　is　that　I　believe　she　would　do　you　what　I　can't　help　regarding　as　an　injury。〃

〃Of　course！〃　and　Gordon；　dropping　his　interested　eyes；　stared　for　some　moments　at　the　carpet。　　〃But　it　is　n't　true；　then；　that　you　discovered　her　to　be　a　coquette？〃

〃Ah；　that　's　another　matter。〃

〃You　did　discover　it　all　the　same？〃

〃Since　you　want　the　whole　truthI　did！〃

〃How　did　you　discover　it？〃　　Gordon　asked；　clinging　to　his　right　of　interrogation。

Bernard　hesitated。

〃You　must　remember　that　I　saw　a　great　deal　of　her。〃

〃You　mean　that　she　encouraged　you？〃

〃If　I　had　not　been　a　very　faithful　friend　I　might　have　thought　so。〃

Gordon　laid　his　hand　appreciatively；　gratefully；　on　Bernard's　shoulder。

〃And　even　that　did　n't　make　you　like　her？〃

〃Confound　it；　you　make　me　blush！〃　cried　Bernard；　blushing　a　little　in　fact。　〃I　have　said　quite　enough；　excuse　me　from　drawing　the　portrait　of　too　insensible　a　man。　　It　was　my　point　of　view；　I　kept　thinking　of　you。〃

Gordon；　with　his　hand　still　on　his　friend's　arm；　patted　it　an　instant　in　response　to　this　declaration；　then　he　turned　away。

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you。　　That　's　my　notion　of　friendship。　You　have　spoken　out　like　a　man。〃

〃Like　a　man；　yes。　　Remember　that。　　Not　in　the　least　like　an　oracle。〃

〃I　prefer　an　honest　man　to　all　the　oracles；〃　said　Gordon。

〃An　honest　man　has　his　impressions！　　I　have　given　you　mine　they　pretend　to　be　nothing　more。　　I　hope　they　have　n't　offended　you。〃

〃Not　in　the　least。〃

〃Nor　distressed；　nor　depressed；　nor　in　any　way　discomposed　you？〃



〃For　what　do　you　take　me？　　I　asked　you　a　favora　service；　I　imposed　it　on　you。　　You　have　done　the　thing；　and　my　part　is　simple　gratitude。〃

〃Thank　you　for　nothing；〃　said　Bernard；　smiling。　　〃You　have　asked　me　a　great　many　questions；　there　is　one　that　in　turn　I　have　a　right　to　ask　you。　What　do　you　propose　to　do　in　consequence　of　what　I　have　told　you？〃

〃I　propose　to　do　nothing。〃

This　declaration　closed　the　colloquy；　and　the　young　men　separated。　Bernard　saw　Gordon　no　more　that　evening；　he　took　for　granted　he　had　gone　to　Mrs。　Vivian's。　The　burden　of　Longueville's　confidences　was　a　heavy　load　to　carry　there；　but　Bernard　ventured　to　hope　that　he　would　deposit　it　at　the　door。　He　had　given　Gordon　his　impressions；　and　the　latter　might　do　with　them　what　he　chosetoss　them　out　of　the　window；　or　let　them　grow　stale　with　heedless　keeping。　　So　Bernard　meditated；　as　he　wandered　about　alone　for　the　rest　of　the　evening。　It　was　useless　to　look　for　Mrs。　Vivian's　little　circle；　on　the　terrace　of　the　Conversation…house；　for　the　storm　in　the　afternoon　had　made　the　place　so　damp　that　it　was　almost　forsaken　of　its　frequenters。　　Bernard　spent　the　evening　in　the　gaming…rooms；　in　the　thick　of　the　crowd　that　pressed　about　the　tables；　and　by　way　of　a　changehe　had　hitherto　been　almost　nothing　of　a　gamblerhe　laid　down　a　couple　of　pieces　at　roulette。　He　had　played　but　two　or　three　times；　without　winning　a　penny；　but　now　he　had　the　agreeable　sensation　of　drawing　in　a　small　handful　of　gold。　　He　continued　to　play；　and　he　continued　to　win。　His　luck　surprised　and　excited　himso　much　so　that　after　it　had　repeated　itself　half　a　dozen　times　he　left　the　place　and　walked　about　for　half　an　hour　in　the　outer　darkness。　He　felt　amused　and　exhilarated；　but　the　feeling　amounted　almost　to　agitation。　　He；　nevertheless；　returned　to　the　tables；　where　he　again　found　success　awaiting　him。　Again　and　again　he　put　his　money　on　a　happy　number；　and　so　steady　a　run　of　luck　began　at　last　to　attract　attention。　The　rumor　of　it　spread