confidence-第26章

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er；　but　there　is　one　with　whom　Bernard　deemed　Mrs。　Vivian　most　likely　to　have　dealings。　He　found　he　had　reckoned　rightly；　and　he　had　no　difficulty　in　procuring　her　address。　　Having　done　so；　however；　he　by　no　means　went　immediately　to　see　her；　he　waited　a　couple　of　days　perhaps　to　give　those　obliterated　scruples　I　have　spoken　of　a　chance　to　revive。　　They　kept　very　quiet；　and　it　must　be　confessed　that　Bernard　took　no　great　pains　to　recall　them　to　life。　After　he　had　been　in　Paris　three　days；　he　knocked　at　Mrs。　Vivian's　door。






CHAPTER　XXII

It　was　opened　by　the　little　waiting…maid　whom　he　had　seen　at　Blanquais；　and　who　looked　at　him　very　hard　before　she　answered　his　inquiry。

〃You　see　I　have　found　Mrs。　Vivian's　dwelling；　though　you　would　n't　give　me　the　address；〃　Bernard　said　to　her；　smiling。

〃Monsieur　has　put　some　time　to　it！〃　the　young　woman　answered　dryly。　And　she　informed　him　that　Madame　was　at　home；　though　Mademoiselle；　for　whom　he　had　not　asked；　was　not。

Mrs。　Vivian　occupied　a　diminutive　apartment　at　the　summit　of　one　of　the　tall　white　houses　which　ornament　the　neighborhood　of　the　Arc　de　Triomphe。　　The　early　days　of　September　had　arrived；　but　Paris　was　still　a　city　of　absentees。　　The　weather　was　warm　and　charming；　and　a　certain　savour　of　early　autumn　in　the　air　was　in　accord　with　the　somewhat　melancholy　aspect　of　the　empty　streets　and　closed　shutters　of　this　honorable　quarter；　where　the　end　of　the　monumental　vistas　seemed　to　be　curtained　with　a　hazy　emanation　from　the　Seine。　It　was　late　in　the　afternoon　when　Bernard　was　ushered　into　Mrs。　Vivian's　little　high…nestling　drawing…room；　and　a　patch　of　sunset　tints；　faintly　red；　rested　softly　upon　the　gilded　wall。　Bernard　had　seen　these　ladies　only　in　borrowed　and　provisional　abodes；　but　here　was　a　place　where　they　were　really　living　and　which　was　stamped　with　their　tastes；　their　habits；　their　charm。　　The　little　salon　was　very　elegant；　it　contained　a　multitude　of　pretty　things；　and　it　appeared　to　Bernard　to　be　arranged　in　perfection。　The　long　windowsthe　ceiling　being　low；　they　were　really　very　short　opened　upon　one　of　those　solid　balconies；　occupying　the　width　of　the　apartment；　which　are　often　in　Paris　a　compensation　for　living　up　five　flights　of　stairs；　and　this　balcony　was　filled　with　flowers　and　cushions。　　Bernard　stepped　out　upon　it　to　await　the　coming　of　Mrs。　Vivian；　and；　as　she　was　not　quick　to　appear；　he　had　time　to　see　that　his　friends　enjoyed　a　magnificent　view。　They　looked　up　at　the　triumphal　Arch；　which　presented　itself　at　a　picturesque　angle；　and　near　the　green　tree…tops　of　the　Champs　Elysees；　beyond　which　they　caught　a　broad　gleam　of　the　Seine　and　a　glimpse；　blue　in　the　distance；　of　the　great　towers　of　Notre　Dame。　The　whole　vast　city　lay　before　them　and　beneath　them；　with　its　ordered　brilliancy　and　its　mingled　aspect　of　compression　and　expansion；　and　yet　the　huge　Parisian　murmur　died　away　before　it　reached　Mrs。　Vivian's　sky…parlor；　which　seemed　to　Bernard　the　brightest　and　quietest　little　habitation　he　had　ever　known。

His　hostess　came　rustling　in　at　last；　she　seemed　agitated；　she　knocked　over　with　the　skirt　of　her　dress　a　little　gilded　chair　which　was　reflected　in　the　polished　parquet　as　in　a　sheet　of　looking…glass。　Mrs。　Vivian　had　a　fixed　smileshe　hardly　knew　what　to　say。

〃I　found　your　address　at　the　banker's；〃　said　Bernard。　　〃Your　maid；　at　Blanquais；　refused　to　give　it　to　me。〃

Mrs。　Vivian　gave　him　a　little　lookthere　was　always　more　or　less　of　it　in　her　facewhich　seemed　equivalent　to　an　entreaty　that　her　interlocutor　should　spare　her。

〃Maids　are　so　strange；〃　she　murmured；　〃especially　the　French！〃

It　pleased　Bernard　for　the　moment　not　to　spare　her；　though　he　felt　a　sort　of　delight　of　kindness　for　her。

〃Your　going　off　from　Blanquais　so　suddenly；　without　leaving　me　any　explanation；　any　clue；　any　message　of　any　sortmade　me　feel　at　first　as　if　you　did　n't　wish　that　I　should　look　you　up。　It　reminded　me　of　the　way　you　left　Badendo　you　remember？　three　years　ago。〃

〃Baden　was　so　charmingbut　one　could　n't　stay　forever；〃　said　Mrs。　Vivian。

〃I　had　a　sort　of　theory　one　could。　　Our　life　was　so　pleasant　that　it　seemed　a　shame　to　break　the　spell；　and　if　no　one　had　moved　I　am　sure　we　might　be　sitting　there　now。〃

Mrs。　Vivian　stared；　still　with　her　little　fixed　smile。

〃I　think　we　should　have　had　bad　weather。〃

〃Very　likely；〃　said　Bernard；　laughing。　　〃Nature　would　have　grown　jealous　of　our　good…humorof　our　tranquil　happiness。　And　after　all；　here　we　are　together　againthat　is；　some　of　us。　But　I　have　only　my　own　audacity　to　thank　for　it。　　I　was　quite　free　to　believe　that　you　were　not　at　all　pleased　to　see　me　re…appear　and　it　is　only　because　I　am　not　easy　to　discourageam　indeed　probably　a　rather　impudent　fellowthat　I　have　ventured　to　come　here　to…day。〃

〃I　am　very　glad　to　see　you　re…appear；　Mr。　Longueville；〃　Mrs。　Vivian　declared　with　the　accent　of　veracity。

〃It　was　your　daughter's　idea；　then；　running　away　from　Blanquais？〃

Mrs。　Vivian　lowered　her　eyes。

〃We　were　obliged　to　go　to　Fontainebleau。　　We　have　but　just　come　back。　I　thought　of　writing　to　you；〃　she　softly　added。

〃Ah；　what　pleasure　that　would　have　given　me！〃

〃I　mean；　to　tell　you　where　we　were；　and　that　we　should　have　been　so　happy　to　see　you。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　the　intention。　　I　suppose　your　daughter　would　n't　let　you　carry　it　out。〃

〃Angela　is　so　peculiar；〃　Mrs。　Vivian　said；　simply。

〃You　told　me　that　the　first　time　I　saw　you。〃

〃Yes；　at　Siena；〃　said　Mrs。　Vivian。

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　you　speak　frankly　of　that　place！〃

〃Perhaps　it　's　better；〃　Mrs。　Vivian　murmured。　　She　got　up　and　went　to　the　window；　then　stepping　upon　the　balcony；　she　looked　down　a　moment　into　the　street。　　〃She　will　come　back　in　a　moment；〃　she　said；　coming　into　the　room　again。　〃She　has　gone　to　see　a　friend　who　lives　just　beside　us。　We　don't　mind　about　Siena　now；〃　she　added；　softly。

Bernard　understood　herunderstood　this　to　be　a　retraction　of　the　request　she　had　made　of　him　at　Baden。

〃Dear　little　woman；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃she　wants　to　marry　her　daughter　stillonly　now　she　wants　to　marry　her　to　me！〃

He　wished　to　show　her　that　he　understood　her；　and　he　was　on　the　point　of　seizing　her　hand；　to　do　he　did　n't　know　what　to　hold　it；　to　press　it；　to　kiss　itwhen　he　heard　the　sharp　twang　of　the　bell　at　the　door　of　the　little　apartment。

Mrs。　Vivian　fluttered　away。

〃It　's　Angela；〃　she　cried；　and　she　stood　there　waiting　and　listening；　smiling　at　Bernard；　with　her　handkerchief　pressed　to　her　lips。

In　a　moment　the　girl　came　into　the　drawing…room；　but　on　seeing　Bernard　she　stopped；　with　her　hand　on　the　door…knob。　Her　mother　went　to　her　and　kissed　her。

〃It　's　Mr。　Longueville；　dearesthe　has　found　us　out。〃

〃Found　us　out？〃　repeated　Angela；　with　a　little　laugh。　〃What　a　singular　expression！〃

She　was　blushing　as　she　had　blushed　when　she　first　saw　him　at　Blanquais。　She　seemed　to　Bernard　now　to　have　a　great　and　peculiar　brightness　something　she　had　never　had　before。

〃I　certainly　have　been　looking　for　you；〃　he　said。　　〃I　was　greatly　disappointed　when　I　found　you　had　taken　flight　from　Blanquais。〃

〃Taken　flight？〃　　She　repeated　his　words　as　she　had　repeated　her　mother's。　〃That　is　also　a　strange　way　of　speaking！〃

〃I　don't　care　what　I　say；〃　said　Bernard；　〃so　long　as　I　make　you　understand　that　I　have　wanted　very　much　to　see　you　again；　and　that　I　have　wondered　every　day　whether　I　might　venture〃

〃I　don't　know　why　you　should　n't　venture！〃　she　interrupted；　giving　her　little　laugh　again。　　〃We　are　not　so　terrible；　are　we；　mamma？that　is；　when　once　you　have　climbed　our　five　flights　of　stairs。〃

〃I　came　up　very　fast；〃　said　Bernard；　〃and　I　find　your　apartment　magnificent。〃

〃Mr。　Longueville　must　come　again；　must　he　not；　dear？〃　asked　mamma。

〃I　shall　come　very　often；　with　your　leave；〃　Bernard　declared。

〃It　will　be　immensely　kind；〃　said　Angela；　looking　away。

〃I　am　not　sure　that　you　will　think　it　that。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　trying　to　prove；〃　said　Angela；　〃first　that　we　ran　away　from　you；　and　then　that　we　are　not　nice　to　our　visitors。〃

〃Oh　no；　not　that！〃　　Bernard　exclaimed；　〃for　I　assure　you　I　shall　not　care　how　cold　you　are　with　me。〃

She　walked　away　toward　another　door；　which　was　masked　with　a　curtain　that　she　lifted。

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　that；　for　it　gives　me　courage　to　say　that　I　am　very　tired；　and　that　I　beg　you　will　excuse　me。〃

She　glanced　at　him　a　moment　over　her　shoulder；　then　she　passed　out；　dropping　the　curtain。

Bernard　stood　there　face　to　face　with　Mrs。　Vivian；　whose　eyes　seemed　to　plead　with　him　more　than　ever。　　In　his　own　there　was　an　excited　smile。

〃Please　don't　mind　that；〃　she　murmured。　　〃I　know　it　's　true　that　she　is　tired。〃

〃Mind　it；　dear　lady？〃　cried　the　young　man。　　〃I　delight　in　it。　It　's　just　what　I　like。〃

〃Ah；　she　's　very　peculiar！〃　sighed　Mrs。　Vivian。

〃She　is　strangeyes。　　But　I　think　I　understand　her　a　little。〃

〃You　must　come　back　to…morrow；　then。〃

〃I　hope　to　have　many　to…morrows！〃　cried　Bernard　as　he　took　his　departure。






CHAPTER　XXIII

And　he　had　them　in　fact。　　He　called　the　next　day　at　the　same　hour；　and　he　found　the　mother　and　the　daughter　together　in　their　pretty　salon。　Angela　was　very　gentle　and　gracious；　he　suspected　Mrs。　Vivian　had　given　her　a　tender　little　lecture　upon　the　manner　in　which　she　had　received　him　the　day　before。　　After　he　had　been　there　five　minutes；　Mrs。　Vivian　took　a　decanter　of　water　that　was　standing　upon　a　table　and　went　out　on　the　balcony　to　irrigate　her　flowers。　　Bernard　watched　her　a　while　from　his　place　in　the　room；　then　she　moved　along　the　balcony　and　out　of　sight。　Some　ten　minutes　elapsed　without　her　re…appearing；　and　then　Bernard　stepped　to　the　threshold　of　the　window　and　looked　for　her。　　She　was　not　there；　and　as　he　came　and　took　his　seat　near　Angela　again；　he　announced；　rather　formally；　that　Mrs。　Vivian　had　passed　back　into　one　of　the　other　windows。

Angela　was　silent　a　momentthen　she　said

〃Should　you　like　me　to　call　her？〃

She　was　very　peculiarthat　was　very　true；　yet　Bernard　held　to　his　declaration　of　the　day　before　that　he　now　understood　her　a　little。

〃No；　I　don't　desire　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　wish　to　see　you　alone；　I　have　something　particular　to　say　to　you。〃

She　turned　her　face　toward　him；　and　there　was　something　in　its　expression　that　showed　him　that　he　looked　to　her　more　serious　than　he　had　ever　looked。　He　sat　down　again；　for　some　moments　he　hesitated　to　go　on。

〃You　frighten　me；〃　she　said　laughing；　and　in　spite　of　her　laugh　this　was　obviously　true。

〃I　assure　you　my　state　of　mind　is　anything　but　formidable。　I　am　afraid　of　you；　on　the　contrary；　I　am　humble　and　apologetic。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　that；〃　said　Angela。　　〃I　particularly　dislike　receiving　apologies；　even　when　I　know　what　they　are　for。　What　yours　are　for；　I　can't　imagine。〃

〃You　don't　dislike　meyou　don't　hate　me？〃　　Bernard　suddenly　broke　out。

〃You　don't　ask　me　that　humbly。　　Excuse　me　therefore　if　I　say　I　have　other；　and　more　practical；　things　to　do。〃

〃You　despise　me；〃　said　Bernard。

〃That　is　not　humble　either；　for　you　seem　to　insist　upon　it。〃

〃It　would　be　after　all　a　way　of　thinking　of　me；　and　I　have　a　reason　for　wishing　you　to　do　that。〃

〃I　remember　very　well　that　you　used　to　have　a　reason　for　everything。　It　was