confidence-第33章

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uch；　I　had　been　thinking　about　it　all　day；　and　I　am　so　fond　of　a　visit　like　this　in　the　evening；　without　being　invited。　　Then　I　thought　perhaps　you　had　a　salon　does　n't　every　one　in　Paris　have　a　salon？　　I　tried　to　have　a　salon　in　New　York；　only　Gordon　said　it　would　n't　do。　　He　said　it　was　n't　in　our　manners。　　Is　this　a　salon　to…night；　Mrs。　Vivian？　　Oh；　do　say　it　is；　I　should　like　so　much　to　see　Captain　Lovelock　in　a　salon！　By　good　fortune　he　happened　to　have　been　dining　with　us；　so　I　told　him　he　must　bring　me　here。　　I　told　you　I　would　explain；　Captain　Lovelock；〃　she　added；　〃and　I　hope　you　think　I　have　made　it　clear。〃

The　Captain　had　turned　very　red　during　this　wandering　discourse。　He　sat　pulling　his　beard　and　shifting　the　position　which；　with　his　stalwart　person；　he　had　taken　up　on　a　little　gilded　chaira　piece　of　furniture　which　every　now　and　then　gave　a　delicate　creak。

〃I　always　understand　you　well　enough　till　you　begin　to　explain；〃　he　rejoined；　with　a　candid；　even　if　embarrassed；　laugh。　　〃Then；　by　Jove；　I　'm　quite　in　the　woods。　　You　see　such　a　lot　more　in　things　than　most　people。　Does　n't　she；　Miss　Vivian？〃

〃Blanche　has　a　fine　imagination；〃　said　Angela；　smiling　frankly　at　the　charming　visitor。

When　Blanche　was　fairly　adrift　upon　the　current　of　her　articulate　reflections；　it　was　the　habit　of　her　companionsindeed；　it　was　a　sort　of　tacit　agreement　among　themsimply　to　make　a　circle　and　admire。　　They　sat　about　and　looked　at　heryawning；　perhaps；　a　little　at　times；　but　on　the　whole　very　well　entertained；　and　often　exchanging　a　smiling　commentary　with　each　other。　She　looked　at　them；　smiled　at　them　each；　in　succession。　Every　one　had　his　turn；　and　this　always　helped　to　give　Blanche　an　audience。　　Incoherent　and　aimless　as　much　of　her　talk　was；　she　never　looked　prettier　than　in　the　attitude　of　improvisation　or　rather；　I　should　say；　than　in　the　hundred　attitudes　which　she　assumed　at　such　a　time。　　Perpetually　moving；　she　was　yet　constantly　graceful；　and　while　she　twisted　her　body　and　turned　her　head；　with　charming　hands　that　never　ceased　to　gesticulate；　and　little；　conscious；　brilliant　eyes　that　looked　everywhere　at　onceeyes　that　seemed　to　chatter　even　faster　than　her　lips　she　made　you　forget　the　nonsense　she　poured　forth；　or　think　of　it　only　as　a　part　of　her　personal　picturesqueness。　The　thing　was　a　regular　performance；　the　practice　of　unlimited　chatter　had　made　her　perfect。　　She　rested　upon　her　audience　and　held　it　together；　and　the　sight　of　half　a　dozen　pairs　of　amused　and　fascinated　faces　led　her　from　one　piece　of　folly　to　another。　　On　this　occasion；　her　audience　was　far　from　failing　her；　for　they　were　all　greatly　interested。　Captain　Lovelock's　interest；　as　we　know；　was　chronic；　and　our　three　other　friends　were　much　occupied　with　a　matter　with　which　Blanche　was　intimately　connected。　　Bernard；　as　he　listened　to　her；　smiling　mechanically；　was　not　encouraged。　He　remembered　what　Mrs。　Vivian　had　said　shortly　before　she　came　in；　and　it　was　not　pleasant　to　him　to　think　that　Gordon　had　been　occupied　half　the　day　in　contrasting　the　finest　girl　in　the　world　with　this　magnified　butterfly。　　The　contrast　was　sufficiently　striking　as　Angela　sat　there　near　her；　very　still；　bending　her　handsome　head　a　little；　with　her　hands　crossed　in　her　lap；　and　on　her　lips　a　kind　but　inscrutable　smile。　Mrs。　Vivian　was　on　the　sofa　next　to　Blanche；　one　of　whose　hands；　when　it　was　not　otherwise　occupied；　she　occasionally　took　into　her　own。

〃Dear　little　Blanche！〃　she　softly　murmured；　at　intervals。

These　few　remarks　represent　a　longer　pause　than　Mrs。　Gordon　often　suffered　to　occur。　　She　continued　to　deliver　herself　upon　a　hundred　topics；　and　it　hardly　matters　where　we　take　her　up。

〃I　have　n't　the　least　idea　what　we　are　going　to　do。　I　have　nothing　to　say　about　it　whatever。　　Gordon　tells　me　every　day　I　must　decide；　and　then　I　ask　Captain　Lovelock　what　he　thinks；　because；　you　see；　he　always　thinks　a　great　deal。　Captain　Lovelock　says　he　does　n't　care　a　figthat　he　will　go　wherever　I　go。　　So　you　see　that　does　n't　carry　us　very　far。　I　want　to　settle　on　some　place　where　Captain　Lovelock　won't　go；　but　he　won't　help　me　at　all。　　I　think　it　will　look　better　for　him　not　to　follow　us；　don't　you　think　it　will　look　better；　Mrs。　Vivian？　　Not　that　I　care　in　the　least　where　we　go　or　whether　Captain　Lovelock　follows　us；　either。　　I　don't　take　any　interest　in　anything；　Mrs。　Vivian；　don't　you　think　that　is　very　sad？　　Gordon　may　go　anywhere　he　likesto　St。　Petersburg；　or　to　Bombay。〃

〃You　might　go　to　a　worse　place　than　Bombay；〃　said　Captain　Lovelock；　speaking　with　the　authority　of　an　Anglo…Indian　rich　in　reminiscences。

Blanche　gave　him　a　little　stare。

〃Ah　well；　that　's　knocked　on　the　head！　　From　the　way　you　speak　of　it；　I　think　you　would　come　after　us；　and　the　more　I　think　of　that；　the　more　I　see　it　would　n't　do。　　But　we　have　got　to　go　to　some　southern　place；　because　I　am　very　unwell。　I　have　n't　the　least　idea　what　's　the　matter　with　me；　and　neither　has　any　one　else；　but　that　does　n't　make　any　difference。　It　's　settled　that　I　am　out　of　health。　　One　might　as　well　be　out　of　it　as　in　it；　for　all　the　advantage　it　is。　If　you　are　out　of　health；　at　any　rate　you　can　come　abroad。　It　was　Gordon's　discoveryhe　's　always　making　discoveries。　You　see　it　's　because　I　'm　so　silly；　he　can　always　put　it　down　to　my　being　an　invalid。　　What　I　should　like　to　do；　Mrs。　Vivian；　would　be　to　spend　the　winter　with　you　just　sitting　on　the　sofa　beside　you　and　holding　your　hand。　It　would　be　rather　tiresome　for　you；　but　I　really　think　it　would　be　better　for　me　than　anything　else。　　I　have　never　forgotten　how　kind　you　were　to　me　before　my　marriagethat　summer　at　Baden。　You　were　everything　to　meyou　and　Captain　Lovelock。　　I　am　sure　I　should　be　happy　if　I　never　went　out　of　this　lovely　room。　You　have　got　it　so　beautifully　arrangedI　mean　to　do　my　own　room　just　like　it　when　I　go　home。　　And　you　have　got　such　lovely　clothes。　　You　never　used　to　say　anything　about　it；　but　you　and　Angela　always　had　better　clothes　than　I。　Are　you　always　so　quiet　and　seriousnever　talking　about　chiffons　always　reading　some　wonderful　book？　　I　wish　you　would　let　me　come　and　stay　with　you。　　If　you　only　ask　me；　Gordon　would　be　too　delighted。　　He　would　n't　have　to　trouble　about　me　any　more。　He　could　go　and　live　over　in　the　Latin　Quarterthat　's　the　desire　of　his　heartand　think　of　nothing　but　old　bottles。　I　know　it　is　n't　very　good　manners　to　beg　for　an　invitation；〃　Blanche　went　on；　smiling　with　a　gentler　radiance；　〃but　when　it　's　a　question　of　one's　health。　　One　wants　to　keep　one's　self　alive　does　n't　one？　　One　wants　to　keep　one's　self　going。　　It　would　be　so　good　for　me；　Mrs。　Vivian；　it　would　really　be　very　good　for　me！〃

She　had　turned　round　more　and　more　to　her　hostess　as　she　talked；　and　at　last　she　had　given　both　her　hands　to　Mrs。　Vivian；　and　sat　looking　at　her　with　a　singular　mixture　of　earnestness　and　jocosity。　It　was　hard　to　know　whether　Blanche　were　expressing　a　real　desire　or　a　momentary　caprice；　and　whether　this　abrupt　little　petition　were　to　be　taken　seriously；　or　treated　merely　as　a　dramatic　pose　in　a　series　of　more　or　less　effective　attitudes。　　Her　smile　had　become　almost　a　grimace；　she　was　flushed；　she　showed　her　pretty　teeth；　but　there　was　a　little　passionate　quiver　in　her　voice。

〃My　dear　child；〃　said　Mrs。　Vivian；　〃we　should　be　delighted　to　have　you　pay　us　a　visit；　and　we　should　be　so　happy　if　we　could　do　you　any　good。　But　I　am　afraid　you　would　very　soon　get　tired　of　us；　and　I　ought　to　tell　you；　frankly；　that　our　little　home　is　to　bea　broken　up。　You　know　there　is　to　be　aa　change；〃　the　good　lady　continued；　with　a　hesitation　which　apparently　came　from　a　sense　of　walking　on　uncertain　ground；　while　she　glanced　with　a　smile　at　Bernard　and　Angela。

Blanche　sat　there　with　her　little　excited；　yet　innocent　too　innocentstare；　her　eyes　followed　Mrs。　Vivian's。　They　met　Bernard's　for　an　instant；　and　for　some　reason；　at　this　moment；　Bernard　flushed。

He　rose　quickly　and　walked　away　to　the　window　where　he　stood　looking　out　into　the　darkness。　　〃The　devilthe　devil！〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃she　does　n't　even　know　we　are　to　be　married　Gordon　has　n't　been　able　to　trust　himself　to　tell　her！〃　And　this　fact　seemed　pregnant　with　evidence　as　to　Gordon's　state　of　mind；　it　did　not　appear　to　simplify　the　situation。　After　a　moment；　while　Bernard　stood　there　with　his　back　turned　he　felt　rather　awkward　and　foolishhe　heard　Blanche　begin　with　her　little　surprised　voice。

〃Ah；　you　are　going　away？　　You　are　going　to　travel？　　But　that　's　charming；　we　can　travel　together。　　You　are　not　going　to　travel？　What　then　are　you　going　to　do？　　You　are　going　back　to　America？　Ah；　but　you　must　n't　do　that；　as　soon　as　I　come　abroad；　that　's　not　nice　or　friendly；　Mrs。　Vivian；　to　your　poor　little　old　Blanche。　You　are　not　going　back　to　America？　　Ah；　then；　I　give　it　up！　What　's　the　great　mystery？　　Is　it　something　about　Angela？　There　was　always　a　mystery　about　Angela。　　I　hope　you　won't　mind　my　saying　it；　my　dear；　but　I　was　always　afraid　of　you。　My　husbandhe　admires　you　so　much；　you　knowhas　often　tried　to　explain　you　to　me；　but　I　have　never　understood。　What　are　you　going　to　do　now？　　Are　you　going　into　a　convent？　Are　you　going　to　beA…a…h！〃

And；　suddenly；　quickly；　interrupting　herself；　Mrs。　Gordon　gave　a　long；　wondering　cry。　　Bernard　heard　her　spring　to　her　feet；　and　the　two　other　ladies　rise　from　their　seats。　　Captain　Lovelock　got　up　as　well；　Bernard　heard　him　knock　over　his　little　gilded　chair。　There　was　a　pause；　during　which　Blanche　went　through　a　little　mute　exhibition　of　amazement　and　pleasure。　　Bernard　turned　round；　to　receive　half　a　dozen　quick　questions。

〃What　are　you　hiding　away　for？　　What　are　you　blushing　for？　I　never　saw　you　do　anything　like　that　before！　　Why　do　you　look　so　strange；　and　what　are　you　making　me　say？　　Angela；　is　it　true　is　there　something　like　that？〃　　Without　waiting　for　the　answer　to　this　last　question；　Blanche　threw　herself　upon　Mrs。　Vivian。　〃My　own　Mrs。　Vivian；〃　she　cried；　〃is　she　married？〃

〃My　dear　Blanche；〃　said　Bernard；　coming　forward；　〃has　not　Gordon　told　you？　Angela　and　I　are　not　married；　but　we　hope　to　be　before　long。　　Gordon　only　knew　it　this　morning；　we　ourselves　have　only　known　it　a　short　time。　　There　is　no　mystery　about　it；　and　we　only　want　your　congratulations。〃

〃Well；　I　must　say　you　have　been　very　quiet　about　it！〃　cried　Blanche。　〃When　I　was　engaged；　I　wrote　you　all　a　letter。〃

〃By　Jove；　she　wrote　to　me！〃　observed　Captain　Lovelock。

Angela　went　to　her　and　kissed　her。

〃Your　husband　does　n't　seem　to　have　explained　me　very　successfully！〃

Mrs。　Gordon　held　Bernard's　intended　for　a　moment　at　arm's　length；　with　both　her　hands；　looking　at　her　with　eyes　of　real　excitement　and　wonder。　Then　she　folded　her　in　a　prolonged；　an　exaggerated；　embrace。

〃Why　did　n't　he　tell　mewhy　did　n't　he　tell　me？〃　she　presently　began。　　〃He　has　had　all　day　to　tell　me；　and　it　was　very　cruel　of　him　to　let　me　come　here　without　knowing　it。　Could　anything　be　more　absurdmore　awkward？　　You　don't　think　it　's　awkwardyou　don't　mind　it？　　Ah　well；　you　are　very　good！　But　I　like　it；　AngelaI　like　it　extremely；　immensely。　　I　think　it　's　delightful；　and　I　wonder　it　never　occurred　to　me。　Has　it　been　going　on　long？　　Ah；　of　course；　it　has　been　going　on！　Did　n't　it　begin　at　Baden；