confidence-第19章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


tals。　On　presenting　himself　at　Gordon's　door；　Bernard　was　told　that　the　master　of　the　house　was　not　at　home；　he　went　in；　however；　to　see　the　mistress。　She　was　in　her　drawing…room；　alone；　she　had　on　her　bonnet；　as　if　she　had　been　going　out。　　She　gave　him　a　joyous；　demonstrative　little　welcome；　she　was　evidently　very　glad　to　see　him。　　Bernard　had　thought　it　possible　she　had　〃improved；〃　and　she　was　certainly　prettier　than　ever。　He　instantly　perceived　that　she　was　still　a　chatterbox；　it　remained　to　be　seen　whether　the　quality　of　her　discourse　were　finer。

〃Well；　Mr。　Longueville；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃where　in　the　world　did　you　drop　from；　and　how　long　did　it　take　you　to　cross　the　Atlantic？　Three　days；　eh？　　It　could　n't　have　taken　you　many　more；　for　it　was　only　the　other　day　that　Gordon　told　me　you　were　not　to　sail　till　the　20th。　　You　changed　your　mind；　eh？　　I　did　n't　know　you　ever　changed　your　mind。　　Gordon　never　changes　his。　That　's　not　a　reason；　eh；　because　you　are　not　a　bit　like　Gordon。　Well；　I　never　thought　you　were；　except　that　you　are　a　man。　Now　what　are　you　laughing　at？　　What　should　you　like　me　call　you？　　You　are　a　man；　I　suppose；　you　are　not　a　god。　That　's　what　you　would　like　me　to　call　you；　I　have　no　doubt。　I　must　keep　that　for　Gordon？　　I　shall　certainly　keep　it　a　good　while。　I　know　a　good　deal　more　about　gentlemen　than　I　did　when　I　last　saw　you；　and　I　assure　you　I　don't　think　they　are　a　bit　god…like。　I　suppose　that　's　why　you　always　drop　down　from　the　skyyou　think　it　's　more　divine。　　I　remember　that　's　the　way　you　arrived　at　Baden　when　we　were　there　together；　the　first　thing　we　knew；　you　were　standing　in　the　midst　of　us。　Do　you　remember　that　evening　when　you　presented　yourself？　　You　came　up　and　touched　Gordon　on　the　shoulder；　and　he　gave　a　little　jump。　He　will　give　another　little　jump　when　he　sees　you　to…day。　He　gives　a　great　many　little　jumps；　I　keep　him　skipping　about！　I　remember　perfectly　the　way　we　were　sitting　that　evening　at　Baden；　and　the　way　you　looked　at　me　when　you　came　up。　I　saw　you　before　GordonI　see　a　good　many　things　before　Gordon。　What　did　you　look　at　me　that　way　for？　　I　always　meant　to　ask　you。　I　was　dying　to　know。〃

〃For　the　simplest　reason　in　the　world；〃　said　Bernard。　〃Because　you　were　so　pretty。〃

〃Ah　no；　it　was　n't　that！　　I　know　all　about　that　look。　It　was　something　elseas　if　you　knew　something　about　me。　I　don't　know　what　you　can　have　known。　　There　was　very　little　to　know　about　me；　except　that　I　was　intensely　silly。　　Really；　I　was　awfully　silly　that　summer　at　Badenyou　would　n't　believe　how　silly　I　was。　　But　I　don't　see　how　you　could　have　known　that　before　you　had　spoken　to　me。　　It　came　out　in　my　conversation　it　came　out　awfully。　　My　mother　was　a　good　deal　disappointed　in　Mrs。　Vivian's　influence；　she　had　expected　so　much　from　it。　But　it　was　not　poor　Mrs。　Vivian's　fault；　it　was　some　one's　else。　Have　you　ever　seen　the　Vivians　again？　　They　are　always　in　Europe；　they　have　gone　to　live　in　Paris。　　That　evening　when　you　came　up　and　spoke　to　Gordon；　I　never　thought　that　three　years　afterward　I　should　be　married　to　him；　and　I　don't　suppose　you　did　either。　　Is　that　what　you　meant　by　looking　at　me？　Perhaps　you　can　tell　the　future。　　I　wish　you　would　tell　my　future！〃

〃Oh；　I　can　tell　that　easily；〃　said　Bernard。

〃What　will　happen　to　me？〃

〃Nothing　particular；　it　will　be　a　little　dullthe　perfect　happiness　of　a　charming　woman　married　to　the　best　fellow　in　the　world。〃

〃Ah；　what　a　horrid　future！〃　cried　Blanche；　with　a　little　petulant　cry。　〃I　want　to　be　happy；　but　I　certainly　don't　want　to　be　dull。　If　you　say　that　again　you　will　make　me　repent　of　having　married　the　best　fellow　in　the　world。　　I　mean　to　be　happy；　but　I　certainly　shall　not　be　dull　if　I　can　help　it。〃

〃I　was　wrong　to　say　that；〃　said　Bernard；　〃because；　after　all；　my　dear　young　lady；　there　must　be　an　excitement　in　having　so　kind　a　husband　as　you　have　got。　　Gordon's　devotion　is　quite　capable　of　taking　a　new　formof　inventing　a　new　kindness　every　day　in　the　year。〃

Blanche　looked　at　him　an　instant；　with　less　than　her　usual　consciousness　of　her　momentary　pose。

〃My　husband　is　very　kind；〃　she　said　gently。

She　had　hardly　spoken　the　words　when　Gordon　came　in。　He　stopped　a　moment　on　seeing　Bernard；　glanced　at　his　wife；　blushed；　flushed；　and　with　a　loud；　frank　exclamation　of　pleasure；　grasped　his　friend　by　both　hands。　　It　was　so　long　since　he　had　seen　Bernard　that　he　seemed　a　good　deal　moved；　he　stood　there　smiling；　clasping　his　hands；　looking　him　in　the　eyes；　unable　for　some　moments　to　speak。　　Bernard；　on　his　side；　was　greatly　pleased；　it　was　delightful　to　him　to　look　into　Gordon's　honest　face　again　and　to　return　his　manly　grasp。　　And　he　looked　well　he　looked　happy；　to　see　that　was　more　delightful　yet。　During　these　few　instants；　while　they　exchanged　a　silent　pledge　of　renewed　friendship；　Bernard's　elastic　perception　embraced　several　things　besides　the　consciousness　of　his　own　pleasure。　He　saw　that　Gordon　looked　well　and　happy；　but　that　he　looked　older；　too；　and　more　serious；　more　marked　by　life。　He　looked　as　if　something　had　happened　to　himas；　in　fact；　something　had。　　Bernard　saw　a　latent　spark　in　his　friend's　eye　that　seemed　to　question　his　own　for　an　impression　of　Blanche　to　question　it　eagerly；　and　yet　to　deprecate　judgment。　He　saw；　toowith　the　fact　made　more　vivid　by　Gordon's　standing　there　beside　her　in　his　manly　sincerity　and　throwing　it　into　contrastthat　Blanche　was　the　same　little　posturing　coquette　of　a　Blanche　whom；　at　Baden；　he　would　have　treated　it　as　a　broad　joke　that　Gordon　Wright　should　dream　of　marrying。　He　saw；　in　a　word；　that　it　was　what　it　had　first　struck　him　as　being　an　incongruous　union。　　All　this　was　a　good　deal　for　Bernard　to　see　in　the　course　of　half　a　minute；　especially　through　the　rather　opaque　medium　of　a　feeling　of　irreflective　joy；　and　his　impressions　at　this　moment　have　a　value　only　in　so　far　as　they　were　destined　to　be　confirmed　by　larger　opportunity。

〃You　have　come　a　little　sooner　than　we　expected；〃　said　Gordon；　〃but　you　are　all　the　more　welcome。〃

〃It　was　rather　a　risk；〃　Blanche　observed。　　〃One　should　be　notified；　when　one　wishes　to　make　a　good　impression。〃

〃Ah；　my　dear　lady；〃　said　Bernard；　〃you　made　your　impression　as　far　as　I　am　concerneda　long　time　ago；　and　I　doubt　whether　it　would　have　gained　anything　to…day　by　your　having　prepared　an　effect。〃

They　were　standing　before　the　fire…place；　on　the　great　hearth…rug；　and　Blanche；　while　she　listened　to　this　speech；　was　feeling；　with　uplifted　arm；　for　a　curl　that　had　strayed　from　her　chignon。

〃She　prepares　her　effects　very　quickly；〃　said　Gordon；　laughing　gently。　〃They　follow　each　other　very　fast！〃

Blanche　kept　her　hand　behind　her　head；　which　was　bent　slightly　forward；　her　bare　arm　emerged　from　her　hanging　sleeve；　and；　with　her　eyes　glancing　upward　from　under　her　lowered　brows；　she　smiled　at　her　two　spectators。　Her　husband　laid　his　hand　on　Bernard's　arm。

〃Is　n't　she　pretty？〃　he　cried；　and　he　spoke　with　a　sort　of　tender　delight　in　being　sure　at　least　of　this　point。

〃Tremendously　pretty！〃　said　Bernard。　　〃I　told　her　so　half　an　hour　before　you　came　in。〃

〃Ah；　it　was　time　I　should　arrive！〃　　Gordon　exclaimed。

Blanche　was　manifestly　not　in　the　least　discomposed　by　this　frank　discussion　of　her　charms；　for　the　air　of　distinguished　esteem　adopted　by　both　of　her　companions　diminished　the　crudity　of　their　remarks。　　But　she　gave　a　little　pout　of　irritated　modesty　it　was　more　becoming　than　anything　she　had　done　yetand　declared　that　if　they　wished　to　talk　her　over；　they　were　very　welcome；　but　she　should　prefer　their　waiting　till　she　got　out　of　the　room。　So　she　left　them；　reminding　Bernard　that　he　was　to　send　for　his　luggage　and　remain；　and　promising　to　give　immediate　orders　for　the　preparation　of　his　apartment。　　Bernard　opened　the　door　for　her　to　pass　out；　she　gave　him　a　charming　nod　as　he　stood　there；　and　he　turned　back　to　Gordon　with　the　reflection　of　her　smile　in　his　face。　Gordon　was　watching　him；　Gordon　was　dying　to　know　what　he　thought　of　her。　　It　was　a　curious　mania　of　Gordon's；　this　wanting　to　know　what　one　thought　of　the　women　he　loved；　but　Bernard　just　now　felt　abundantly　able　to　humor　it。　　He　was　so　pleased　at　seeing　him　tightly　married。

〃She　's　a　delightful　creature；〃　Bernard　said；　with　cordial　vagueness；　shaking　hands　with　his　friend　again。

Gordon　glanced　at　him　a　moment；　and　then；　coloring　a　little；　looked　straight　out　of　the　window；　whereupon　Bernard　remembered　that　these　were　just　the　terms　in　which；　at　Baden；　after　his　companion's　absence；　he　had　attempted　to　qualify　Angela　Vivian。　Gordon　was　conscioushe　was　conscious　of　the　oddity　of　his　situation。

〃Of　course　it　surprised　you；〃　he　said；　in　a　moment；　still　looking　out　of　the　window。

〃What；　my　dear　fellow？〃

〃My　marriage。〃

〃Well；　you　know；〃　said　Bernard；　〃everything　surprises　me。　I　am　of　a　very　conjectural　habit　of　mind。　　All　sorts　of　ideas　come　into　my　head；　and　yet　when　the　simplest　things　happen　I　am　always　rather　startled。　　I　live　in　a　reverie；　and　I　am　perpetually　waked　up　by　people　doing　things。〃

Gordon　transferred　his　eyes　from　the　window　to　Bernard's　face　to　his　whole　person。

〃You　are　waked　up？　　But　you　fall　asleep　again！〃

〃I　fall　asleep　very　easily；〃　said　Bernard。

Gordon　looked　at　him　from　head　to　foot；　smiling　and　shaking　his　head。

〃You　are　not　changed；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　travelled　in　unknown　lands；　you　have　had；　I　suppose；　all　sorts　of　adventures；　but　you　are　the　same　man　I　used　to　know。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　that！〃

〃You　have　the　same　way　of　representingof　misrepresenting；　yourself。〃

〃Well；　if　I　am　not　changed；〃　said　Bernard；　〃I　can　ill　afford　to　lose　so　valuable　an　art。〃

〃Taking　you　altogether；　I　am　glad　you　are　the　same；〃　Gordon　answered；　simply；　〃but　you　must　come　into　my　part　of　the　house。〃






CHAPTER　XVII

Yes；　he　was　conscioushe　was　very　conscious；　so　Bernard　reflected　during　the　two　or　three　first　days　of　his　visit　to　his　friend。　Gordon　knew　it　must　seem　strange　to　so　irreverent　a　critic　that　a　man　who　had　once　aspired　to　the　hand　of　so　intelligent　a　girlputting　other　things　asideas　Angela　Vivian　should；　as　the　Ghost　in　〃Hamlet〃　says；　have　〃declined　upon〃　a　young　lady　who；　in　force　of　understanding；　was　so　very　much　Miss　Vivian's　inferior；　and　this　knowledge　kept　him　ill　at　his　ease　and　gave　him　a　certain　pitiable　awkwardness。　Bernard's　sense　of　the　anomaly　grew　rapidly　less　acute；　he　made　various　observations　which　helped　it　to　seem　natural。　Blanche　was　wonderfully　pretty；　she　was　very　graceful；　innocent；　amusing。　　Since　Gordon　had　determined　to　marry　a　little　goose；　he　had　chosen　the　animal　with　extreme　discernment。　It　had　quite　the　plumage　of　a　swan；　and　it　sailed　along　the　stream　of　life　with　an　extraordinary　lightness　of　motion。　He　asked　himself　indeed　at　times　whether　Blanche　were　really　so　silly　as　she　seemed；　he　doubted　whether　any　woman　could　be　so　silly　as　Blanche　seemed。　　He　had　a　suspicion　at　times　that；　for　ends　of　her　own；　she　was　playing　a　partthe　suspicion　arising　from　the　fact　that；　as　usually　happens　in　such　cases；　she　over…played　it。　　Her　empty　chatter；　her　futility；　her　childish　coquetry　and　frivolitysuch　light　wares　could　hardly　be　the　whole　substance　of　any　woman's　being；　there　was　something　beneath　them　which　Blanche　was　k