confidence-第2章

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nly　glanced；　whereas　there　was　observation　in　the　eye　that　she　bent　upon　Longueville。　He　never　knew　whether　she　had　blushed；　he　afterward　thought　she　might　have　been　frightened。　　Nevertheless；　it　was　not　exactly　terror　that　appeared　to　dictate　her　answer　to　Longueville's　speech。

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you。　　Don't　you　think　you　have　looked　at　me　enough？〃

〃By　no　means。　　I　should　like　so　much　to　finish　my　drawing。〃

〃I　am　not　a　professional　model；〃　said　the　young　lady。

〃No。　That　's　my　difficulty；〃　Longueville　answered；　laughing。　〃I　can't　propose　to　remunerate　you。〃

The　young　lady　seemed　to　think　this　joke　in　indifferent　taste。　She　turned　away　in　silence；　but　something　in　her　expression；　in　his　feeling　at　the　time；　in　the　situation；　incited　Longueville　to　higher　play。　　He　felt　a　lively　need　of　carrying　his　point。

〃You　see　it　will　be　pure　kindness；〃　he　went　on；〃a　simple　act　of　charity。　Five　minutes　will　be　enough。　　Treat　me　as　an　Italian　beggar。〃

She　had　laid　down　his　sketch　and　had　stepped　forward。　He　stood　there；　obsequious；　clasping　his　hands　and　smiling。

His　interruptress　stopped　and　looked　at　him　again；　as　if　she　thought　him　a　very　odd　person；　but　she　seemed　amused。　　Now；　at　any　rate；　she　was　not　frightened。　　She　seemed　even　disposed　to　provoke　him　a　little。

〃I　wish　to　go　to　my　mother；〃　she　said。

〃Where　is　your　mother？〃　the　young　man　asked。

〃In　the　church；　of　course。　　I　did　n't　come　here　alone！〃

〃Of　course　not；　but　you　may　be　sure　that　your　mother　is　very　contented。　I　have　been　in　that　little　church。　　It　is　charming。　　She　is　just　resting　there；　she　is　probably　tired。　　If　you　will　kindly　give　me　five　minutes　more；　she　will　come　out　to　you。〃

〃Five　minutes？〃　the　young　girl　asked。

〃Five　minutes　will　do。　　I　shall　be　eternally　grateful。〃　Longueville　was　amused　at　himself　as　he　said　this。　　He　cared　infinitely　less　for　his　sketch　than　the　words　appeared　to　imply；　but；　somehow；　he　cared　greatly　that　this　graceful　stranger　should　do　what　he　had　proposed。

The　graceful　stranger　dropped　an　eye　on　the　sketch　again。

〃Is　your　picture　so　good　as　that？〃　she　asked。

〃I　have　a　great　deal　of　talent；〃　he　answered；　laughing。　　〃You　shall　see　for　yourself；　when　it　is　finished。〃

She　turned　slowly　toward　the　terrace　again。

〃You　certainly　have　a　great　deal　of　talent；　to　induce　me　to　do　what　you　ask。〃　And　she　walked　to　where　she　had　stood　before。　　Longueville　made　a　movement　to　go　with　her；　as　if　to　show　her　the　attitude　he　meant；　but；　pointing　with　decision　to　his　easel；　she　said

〃You　have　only　five　minutes。〃　　He　immediately　went　back　to　his　work；　and　she　made　a　vague　attempt　to　take　up　her　position。　　〃You　must　tell　me　if　this　will　do；〃　she　added；　in　a　moment。

〃It　will　do　beautifully；〃　Longueville　answered；　in　a　happy　tone；　looking　at　her　and　plying　his　brush。　　〃It　is　immensely　good　of　you　to　take　so　much　trouble。〃

For　a　moment　she　made　no　rejoinder；　but　presently　she　said

〃Of　course　if　I　pose　at　all　I　wish　to　pose　well。〃

〃You　pose　admirably；〃　said　Longueville。

After　this　she　said　nothing；　and　for　several　minutes　he　painted　rapidly　and　in　silence。　　He　felt　a　certain　excitement；　and　the　movement　of　his　thoughts　kept　pace　with　that　of　his　brush。　It　was　very　true　that　she　posed　admirably；　she　was　a　fine　creature　to　paint。　　Her　prettiness　inspired　him；　and　also　her　audacity；　as　he　was　content　to　regard　it　for　the　moment。　　He　wondered　about　her　who　she　was；　and　what　she　wasperceiving　that　the　so…called　audacity　was　not　vulgar　boldness；　but　the　play　of　an　original　and　probably　interesting　character。　　It　was　obvious　that　she　was　a　perfect　lady；　but　it　was　equally　obvious　that　she　was　irregularly　clever。　Longueville's　little　figure　was　a　successa　charming　success；　he　thought；　as　he　put　on　the　last　touches。　　While　he　was　doing　this；　his　model's　companion　came　into　view。　　She　came　out　of　the　church；　pausing　a　moment　as　she　looked　from　her　daughter　to　the　young　man　in　the　corner　of　the　terrace；　then　she　walked　straight　over　to　the　young　girl。　　She　was　a　delicate　little　gentlewoman；　with　a　light；　quick　step。

Longueville's　five　minutes　were　up；　so；　leaving　his　place；　he　approached　the　two　ladies；　sketch　in　hand。　　The　elder　one；　who　had　passed　her　hand　into　her　daughter's　arm；　looked　up　at　him　with　clear；　surprised　eyes；　she　was　a　charming　old　woman。　Her　eyes　were　very　pretty；　and　on　either　side　of　them；　above　a　pair　of　fine　dark　brows；　was　a　band　of　silvery　hair；　rather　coquettishly　arranged。

〃It　is　my　portrait；〃　said　her　daughter；　as　Longueville　drew　near。　〃This　gentleman　has　been　sketching　me。〃

〃Sketching　you；　dearest？〃　murmured　her　mother。　　〃Was　n't　it　rather　sudden？〃

〃Very　suddenvery　abrupt！〃　exclaimed　the　young　girl　with　a　laugh。

〃Considering　all　that；　it　's　very　good；〃　said　Longueville；　offering　his　picture　to　the　elder　lady；　who　took　it　and　began　to　examine　it。　　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　much　I　thank　you；〃　he　said　to　his　model。

〃It　's　very　well　for　you　to　thank　me　now；〃　she　replied。　〃You　really　had　no　right　to　begin。〃

〃The　temptation　was　so　great。〃

〃We　should　resist　temptation。　　And　you　should　have　asked　my　leave。〃

〃I　was　afraid　you　would　refuse　it；　and　you　stood　there；　just　in　my　line　of　vision。〃

〃You　should　have　asked　me　to　get　out　of　it。〃

〃I　should　have　been　very　sorry。　　Besides；　it　would　have　been　extremely　rude。〃

The　young　girl　looked　at　him　a　moment。

〃Yes；　I　think　it　would。　　But　what　you　have　done　is　ruder。〃

〃It　is　a　hard　case！〃　said　Longueville。　　〃What　could　I　have　done；　then；　decently？〃

〃It　's　a　beautiful　drawing；〃　murmured　the　elder　lady；　handing　the　thing　back　to　Longueville。　　Her　daughter；　meanwhile；　had　not　even　glanced　at　it。

〃You　might　have　waited　till　I　should　go　away；〃　this　argumentative　young　person　continued。

Longueville　shook　his　head。

〃I　never　lose　opportunities！〃

〃You　might　have　sketched　me　afterwards；　from　memory。〃

Longueville　looked　at　her；　smiling。

〃Judge　how　much　better　my　memory　will　be　now！〃

She　also　smiled　a　little；　but　instantly　became　serious。

〃For　myself；　it　's　an　episode　I　shall　try　to　forget。　I　don't　like　the　part　I　have　played　in　it。〃

〃May　you　never　play　a　less　becoming　one！〃　cried　Longueville。　　〃I　hope　that　your　mother；　at　least；　will　accept　a　memento　of　the　occasion。〃　And　he　turned　again　with　his　sketch　to　her　companion；　who　had　been　listening　to　the　girl's　conversation　with　this　enterprising　stranger；　and　looking　from　one　to　the　other　with　an　air　of　earnest　confusion。　〃Won't　you　do　me　the　honor　of　keeping　my　sketch？〃　he　said。　　〃I　think　it　really　looks　like　your　daughter。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　thank　you；　I　hardly　dare；〃　murmured　the　lady；　with　a　deprecating　gesture。

〃It　will　serve　as　a　kind　of　amends　for　the　liberty　I　have　taken；〃　Longueville　added；　and　he　began　to　remove　the　drawing　from　its　paper　block。

〃It　makes　it　worse　for　you　to　give　it　to　us；〃　said　the　young　girl。

〃Oh；　my　dear；　I　am　sure　it　's　lovely！〃　exclaimed　her　mother。　〃It　's　wonderfully　like　you。〃

〃I　think　that　also　makes　it　worse！〃

Longueville　was　at　last　nettled。　　The　young　lady's　perversity　was　perhaps　not　exactly　malignant；　but　it　was　certainly　ungracious。　She　seemed　to　desire　to　present　herself　as　a　beautiful　tormentress。

〃How　does　it　make　it　worse？〃　he　asked；　with　a　frown。

He　believed　she　was　clever；　and　she　was　certainly　ready。　Now；　however；　she　reflected　a　moment　before　answering。

〃That　you　should　give　us　your　sketch；〃　she　said　at　last。

〃It　was　to　your　mother　I　offered　it；〃　Longueville　observed。

But　this　observation；　the　fruit　of　his　irritation；　appeared　to　have　no　effect　upon　the　young　girl。

〃Is　n't　it　what　painters　call　a　study？〃　she　went　on。　〃A　study　is　of　use　to　the　painter　himself。　　Your　justification　would　be　that　you　should　keep　your　sketch；　and　that　it　might　be　of　use　to　you。〃

〃My　daughter　is　a　study；　sir；　you　will　say；〃　said　the　elder　lady　in　a　little；　light；　conciliating　voice；　and　graciously　accepting　the　drawing　again。

〃I　will　admit；〃　said　Longueville；　〃that　I　am　very　inconsistent。　Set　it　down　to　my　esteem；　madam；〃　he　added；　looking　at　the　mother。

〃That　's　for　you；　mamma；〃　said　his　model；　disengaging　her　arm　from　her　mother's　hand　and　turning　away。

The　mamma　stood　looking　at　the　sketch　with　a　smile　which　seemed　to　express　a　tender　desire　to　reconcile　all　accidents。

〃It　's　extremely　beautiful；〃　she　murmured；　〃and　if　you　insist　on　my　taking　it〃

〃I　shall　regard　it　as　a　great　honor。〃

〃Very　well；　then；　with　many　thanks；　I　will　keep　it。〃　　She　looked　at　the　young　man　a　moment；　while　her　daughter　walked　away。　Longueville　thought　her　a　delightful　little　person；　she　struck　him　as　a　sort　of　transfigured　Quakeressa　mystic　with　a　practical　side。　　〃I　am　sure　you　think　she　's　a　strange　girl；〃　she　said。

〃She　is　extremely　pretty。〃

〃She　is　very　clever；〃　said　the　mother。

〃She　is　wonderfully　graceful。〃

〃Ah；　but　she　's　good！〃　cried　the　old　lady。

〃I　am　sure　she　comes　honestly　by　that；〃　said　Longueville；　expressively；　while　his　companion；　returning　his　salutation　with　a　certain　scrupulous　grace　of　her　own；　hurried　after　her　daughter。

Longueville　remained　there　staring　at　the　view　but　not　especially　seeing　it。　He　felt　as　if　he　had　at　once　enjoyed　and　lost　an　opportunity。　After　a　while　he　tried　to　make　a　sketch　of　the　old　beggar…woman　who　sat　there　in　a　sort　of　palsied　immobility；　like　a　rickety　statue　at　a　church…door。　But　his　attempt　to　reproduce　her　features　was　not　gratifying；　and　he　suddenly　laid　down　his　brush。　　She　was　not　pretty　enough　she　had　a　bad　profile。







CHAPTER　II

Two　months　later　Bernard　Longueville　was　at　Venice；　still　under　the　impression　that　he　was　leaving　Italy。　He　was　not　a　man　who　made　plans　and　held　to　them。　He　made　them；　indeedfew　men　made　morebut　he　made　them　as　a　basis　for　variation。　　He　had　gone　to　Venice　to　spend　a　fortnight；　and　his　fortnight　had　taken　the　form　of　eight　enchanting　weeks。　He　had　still　a　sort　of　conviction　that　he　was　carrying　out　his　plans；　for　it　must　be　confessed　that　where　his　pleasure　was　concerned　he　had　considerable　skill　in　accommodating　his　theory　to　his　practice。　　His　enjoyment　of　Venice　was　extreme；　but　he　was　roused　from　it　by　a　summons　he　was　indisposed　to　resist。　This　consisted　of　a　letter　from　an　intimate　friend　who　was　living　in　Germanya　friend　whose　name　was　Gordon　Wright。　He　had　been　spending　the　winter　in　Dresden；　but　his　letter　bore　the　date　of　Baden…Baden。　As　it　was　not　long；　I　may　give　it　entire。

〃I　wish　very　much　that　you　would　come　to　this　place。　　I　think　you　have　been　here　before；　so　that　you　know　how　pretty　it　is；　and　how　amusing。　　I　shall　probably　be　here　the　rest　of　the　summer。　There　are　some　people　I　know　and　whom　I　want　you　to　know。　Be　so　good　as　to　arrive。　　Then　I　will　thank　you　properly　for　your　various　Italian　rhapsodies。　　I　can't　reply　on　the　same　scale　I　have　n't　the　time。　　Do　you　know　what　I　am　doing？　I　am　making　love。　　I　find　it　a　most　absorbing　occupation。　That　is　literally　why　I　have　not　written　to　you　before。　I　have　been　making　love　ever　since　the　last　of　May。　It　takes　an　immense　amount　of　time；　and　everything　else　has　got　terribly　behindhand。　　I　don't　mean　to　say　that　the　experiment　itself　has　gone　on　very　fast；　but　I　am　trying　to　push　it　forward。　　I　have　n't　yet　had　time　to　te