confidence-第29章

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〃They　are　not　like　methey　are　not　very　fresh；〃　laughed　Bernard。

〃It　's　no　great　matterwe　have　not　got　to　eat　them；〃　growled　Captain　Lovelock。

〃I　should　think　you　would　expect　towith　the　luncheon　you　usually　make！〃　rejoined　Blanche。　　〃Since　you　are　here；　though　I　did　n't　ask　you；　you　might　as　well　make　yourself　useful。　　Will　you　be　so　good　as　to　ring　the　bell？　If　Gordon　expects　that　we　are　going　to　wait　another　quarter　of　an　hour　for　him　he　exaggerates　the　patience　of　a　long…suffering　wife。　　If　you　are　very　curious　to　know　what　he　is　about；　he　is　writing　letters；　by　way　of　a　change。　He　writes　about　eighty　a　day；　his　correspondents　must　be　strong　people！　It　's　a　lucky　thing　for　me　that　I　am　married　to　Gordon；　if　I　were　not　he　might　write　to　meto　me；　to　whom　it　's　a　misery　to　have　to　answer　even　an　invitation　to　dinner！　　To　begin　with；　I　don't　know　how　to　spell。　If　Captain　Lovelock　ever　boasts　that　he　has　had　letters　from　me；　you　may　know　it　's　an　invention。　　He　has　never　had　anything　but　telegrams　three　telegramsthat　I　sent　him　in　America　about　a　pair　of　slippers　that　he　had　left　at　our　house　and　that　I　did　n't　know　what　to　do　with。　Captain　Lovelock's　slippers　are　no　trifle　to　have　on　one's　hands　on　one's　feet；　I　suppose　I　ought　to　say。　　For　telegrams　the　spelling　does　n't　matter；　the　people　at　the　office　correct　itor　if　they　don't　you　can　put　it　off　on　them。　　I　never　see　anything　nowadays　but　Gordon's　back；〃　she　went　on；　as　they　took　their　places　at　table〃his　noble　broad　back；　as　he　sits　writing　his　letters。　　That　's　my　principal　view　of　my　husband。　I　think　that　now　we　are　in　Paris　I　ought　to　have　a　portrait　of　it　by　one　of　the　great　artists。　　It　would　be　such　a　characteristic　pose。　I　have　quite　forgotten　his　face　and　I　don't　think　I　should　know　it。〃

Gordon's　face；　however；　presented　itself　just　at　this　moment；　he　came　in　quickly；　with　his　countenance　flushed　with　the　pleasure　of　meeting　his　old　friend　again。　　He　had　the　sun…scorched　look　of　a　traveller　who　has　just　crossed　the　Atlantic；　and　he　smiled　at　Bernard　with　his　honest　eyes。

〃Don't　think　me　a　great　brute　for　not　being　here　to　receive　you；〃　he　said；　as　he　clasped　his　hand。　　〃I　was　writing　an　important　letter　and　I　put　it　to　myself　in　this　way：　　'If　I　interrupt　my　letter　I　shall　have　to　come　back　and　finish　it；　whereas　if　I　finish　it　now；　I　can　have　all　the　rest　of　the　day　to　spend　with　him。'　So　I　stuck　to　it　to　the　end；　and　now　we　can　be　inseparable。〃

〃You　may　be　sure　Gordon　reasoned　it　out；〃　said　Blanche；　while　her　husband　offered　his　hand　in　silence　to　Captain　Lovelock。

〃Gordon's　reasoning　is　as　fine　as　other　people's　feeling！〃　declared　Bernard；　who　was　conscious　of　a　desire　to　say　something　very　pleasant　to　Gordon；　and　who　did　not　at　all　approve　of　Blanche's　little　ironical　tone　about　her　husband。

〃And　Bernard's　compliments　are　better　than　either；〃　said　Gordon；　laughing　and　taking　his　seat　at　table。

〃I　have　been　paying　him　compliments；〃　Blanche　went　on。　〃I　have　been　telling　him　he　looks　so　brilliant；　so　blooming　as　if　something　had　happened　to　him；　as　if　he　had　inherited　a　fortune。　　He　must　have　been　doing　something　very　wicked；　and　he　ought　to　tell　us　all　about　it；　to　amuse　us。　I　am　sure　you　are　a　dreadful　Parisian；　Mr。　Longueville。　Remember　that　we　are　three　dull；　virtuous　people；　exceedingly　bored　with　each　other's　society；　and　wanting　to　hear　something　strange　and　exciting。　　If　it　's　a　little　improper；　that　won't　spoil　it。〃

〃You　certainly　are　looking　uncommonly　well；〃　said　Gordon；　still　smiling；　across　the　table；　at　his　friend。　　〃I　see　what　Blanche　means〃

〃My　dear　Gordon；　that　's　a　great　event；〃　his　wife　interposed。

〃It　's　a　good　deal　to　pretend；　certainly；〃　he　went　on；　smiling　always；　with　his　red　face　and　his　blue　eyes。　　〃But　this　is　no　great　credit　to　me；　because　Bernard's　superb　condition　would　strike　any　one。　You　look　as　if　you　were　going　to　marry　the　Lord　Mayor's　daughter！〃

If　Bernard　was　blooming；　his　bloom　at　this　juncture　must　have　deepened；　and　in　so　doing　indeed　have　contributed　an　even　brighter　tint　to　his　expression　of　salubrious　happiness。　　It　was　one　of　the　rare　occasions　of　his　life　when　he　was　at　a　loss　for　a　verbal　expedient。

〃It　's　a　great　match；〃　he　nevertheless　murmured；　jestingly。　〃You　must　excuse　my　inflated　appearance。〃

〃It　has　absorbed　you　so　much　that　you　have　had　no　time　to　write　to　me；〃　said　Gordon。　　〃I　expected　to　hear　from　you　after　you　arrived。〃

〃I　wrote　to　you　a　fortnight　agojust　before　receiving　your　own　letter。　You　left　New　York　before　my　letter　reached　it。〃

〃Ah；　it　will　have　crossed　us；〃　said　Gordon。　　〃But　now　that　we　have　your　society　I　don't　care。　　Your　letters；　of　course；　are　delightful；　but　that　is　still　better。〃

In　spite　of　this　sympathetic　statement　Bernard　cannot　be　said　to　have　enjoyed　his　lunch；　he　was　thinking　of　something　else　that　lay　before　him　and　that　was　not　agreeable。　　He　was　like　a　man　who　has　an　acrobatic　feat　to　perform　a　wide　ditch　to　leap；　a　high　pole　to　climband　who　has　a　presentiment　of　fractures　and　bruises。　　Fortunately　he　was　not　obliged　to　talk　much；　as　Mrs。　Gordon　displayed　even　more　than　her　usual　vivacity；　rendering　her　companions　the　graceful　service　of　lifting　the　burden　of　conversation　from　their　shoulders。

〃I　suppose　you　were　surprised　to　see　us　rushing　out　here　so　suddenly；〃　she　observed　in　the　course　of　the　repast。　〃We　had　said　nothing　about　it　when　you　last　saw　us；　and　I　believe　we　are　supposed　to　tell　you　everything；　ain't　we？　　I　certainly　have　told　you　a　great　many　things；　and　there　are　some　of　them　I　hope　you　have　n't　repeated。　I　have　no　doubt　you　have　told　them　all　over　Paris；　but　I　don't　care　what　you　tell　in　ParisParis　is　n't　so　easily　shocked。　Captain　Lovelock　does　n't　repeat　what　I　tell　him；　I　set　him　up　as　a　model　of　discretion。　　I　have　told　him　some　pretty　bad　things；　and　he　has　liked　them　so　much　he　has　kept　them　all　to　himself。　I　say　my　bad　things　to　Captain　Lovelock；　and　my　good　things　to　other　people；　he　does　n't　know　the　difference　and　he　is　perfectly　content。〃

〃Other　people　as　well　often　don't　know　the　difference；〃　said　Gordon；　gravely。　　〃You　ought　always　to　tell　us　which　are　which。〃

Blanche　gave　her　husband　a　little　impertinent　stare。

〃When　I　am　not　appreciated；〃　she　said；　with　an　attempt　at　superior　dryness；　〃I　am　too　proud　to　point　it　out。　I　don't　know　whether　you　know　that　I　'm　proud；〃　she　went　on；　turning　to　Gordon　and　glancing　at　Captain　Lovelock；　〃it　's　a　good　thing　to　know。　　I　suppose　Gordon　will　say　that　I　ought　to　be　too　proud　to　point　that　out；　but　what　are　you　to　do　when　no　one　has　any　imagination？　　You　have　a　grain　or　two；　Mr。　Longueville；　but　Captain　Lovelock　has　n't　a　speck。　As　for　Gordon；　je　n'en　parle　pas！　　But　even　you；　Mr。　Longueville；　would　never　imagine　that　I　am　an　interesting　invalid　that　we　are　travelling　for　my　delicate　health。　　The　doctors　have　n't　given　me　up；　but　I　have　given　them　up。　　I　know　I　don't　look　as　if　I　were　out　of　health；　but　that　's　because　I　always　try　to　look　my　best。　　My　appearance　proves　nothing　absolutely　nothing。　　Do　you　think　my　appearance　proves　anything；　Captain　Lovelock？〃

Captain　Lovelock　scrutinized　Blanche's　appearance　with　a　fixed　and　solemn　eye；　and　then　he　replied

〃It　proves　you　are　very　lovely。〃

Blanche　kissed　her　finger…tips　to　him　in　return　for　this　compliment。

〃You　only　need　to　give　Captain　Lovelock　a　chance；〃　she　rattled　on；　〃and　he　is　as　clever　as　any　one。　　That　's　what　I　like　to　do　to　my　friendsI　like　to　make　chances　for　them。　Captain　Lovelock　is　like　my　dear　little　blue　terrier　that　I　left　at　home。　　If　I　hold　out　a　stick　he　will　jump　over　it。　He　won't　jump　without　the　stick；　but　as　soon　as　I　produce　it　he　knows　what　he　has　to　do。　　He　looks　at　it　a　moment　and　then　he　gives　his　little　hop。　　He　knows　he　will　have　a　lump　of　sugar；　and　Captain　Lovelock　expects　one　as　well。　　Dear　Captain　Lovelock；　shall　I　ring　for　a　lump？　　Would　n't　it　be　touching？　Gar；alcon；　un　morceau　de　sucre　pour　Monsieur　le　Capitaine！　But　what　I　give　Monsieur　le　Capitaine　is　moral　sugar！　　I　usually　administer　it　in　private；　and　he　shall　have　a　good　big　morsel　when　you　go　away。〃

Gordon　got　up；　turning　to　Bernard　and　looking　at　his　watch。

〃Let　us　go　away；　in　that　case；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃and　leave　Captain　Lovelock　to　receive　his　reward。　　We　will　go　and　take　a　walk；　we　will　go　up　the　Champs　Elysees。　　Good　morning；　Monsieur　le　Capitaine。〃

Neither　Blanche　nor　the　Captain　offered　any　opposition　to　this　proposal；　and　Bernard　took　leave　of　his　hostess　and　joined　Gordon；　who　had　already　passed　into　the　antechamber。






CHAPTER　XXV

Gordon　took　his　arm　and　they　gained　the　street；　they　strolled　in　the　direction　of　the　Champs　Elysees。

〃For　a　little　exercise　and　a　good　deal　of　talk；　it　's　the　pleasantest　place；〃　said　Gordon。　　〃I　have　a　good　deal　to　say；　I　have　a　good　deal　to　ask　you。〃

Bernard　felt　the　familiar　pressure　of　his　friend's　hand；　as　it　rested　on　his　arm；　and　it　seemed　to　him　never　to　have　lain　there　with　so　heavy　a　weight。　　It　held　him　fastit　held　him　to　account；　it　seemed　a　physical　symbol　of　responsibility。　　Bernard　was　not　re…assured　by　hearing　that　Gordon　had　a　great　deal　to　say；　and　he　expected　a　sudden　explosion　of　bitterness　on　the　subject　of　Blanche's　irremediable　triviality。　　The　afternoon　was　a　lovely　one　the　day　was　a　perfect　example　of　the　mellowest　mood　of　autumn。　The　air　was　warm　and　filled　with　a　golden　haze；　which　seemed　to　hang　about　the　bare　Parisian　trees；　as　if　with　a　tender　impulse　to　drape　their　nakedness。　　A　fine　day　in　Paris　brings　out　a　wonderfully　bright　and　appreciative　multitude　of　strollers　and　loungers；　and　the　liberal　spaces　of　the　Champs　Elysees　were　on　this　occasion　filled　with　those　placid　votaries　of　inexpensive　entertainment　who　abound　in　the　French　capital。　　The　benches　and　chairs　on　the　edge　of　the　great　avenue　exhibited　a　dense　fraternity　of　gazers；　and　up　and　down　the　broad　walk　passed　the　slow…moving　and　easily　pleased　pedestrians。　　Gordon；　in　spite　of　his　announcement　that　he　had　a　good　deal　to　say；　confined　himself　at　first　to　superficial　allusions；　and　Bernard　after　a　while　had　the　satisfaction　of　perceiving　that　he　was　not　likely；　for　the　moment；　to　strike　the　note　of　conjugal　discord。　He　appeared；　indeed；　to　feel　no　desire　to　speak　of　Blanche　in　any　manner　whatever。　　He　fell　into　the　humor　of　the　hour　and　the　scene；　looked　at　the　crowd；　talked　about　trifles。　　He　remarked　that　Paris　was　a　wonderful　place　after　all；　and　that　a　little　glimpse　of　the　Parisian　picture　was　a　capital　thing　as　a　change；　said　he　was　very　glad　they　had　come；　and　that　for　his　part　he　was　willing　to　stay　three　months。

〃And　what　have　you　been　doing　with　yourself？〃　he　asked。　〃How　have　you　been　occupied；　and　what　are　you　meaning　to　do？〃

Bernard　said　nothing　for　a　moment；　and　Gordon　presently　glanced　at　his　face　to　see　why　he　was　silent。　　Bernard；　looking　askance；　met　his　companion's　eyes；　and　then；　resting　his　own　upon　them；　he　stopped　short。　　His　heart　was　beating；　it　was　a　question　of　saying　to　Gordon　outright；　〃I　have　been　occupied　in　becoming　engaged　to　Angela　Vivian。〃　　But　he　could　n't　say　it；　and　yet　he　must　say　something。　　He　tried　to　invent　something；　but　he　could　think　of　nothing；　and　still　Gordon　was　looking　at　him。

〃I　am　so　glad　to　se