confidence-第36章

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nd　I　shall　do　something。　　Blanche　is　silly；　yes；　very　silly；　but　she　is　not　so　bad　as　her　husband　accused　her　of　being；　in　those　dreadful　words　which　he　will　live　to　repent　of。　She　is　wise　enough　to　care　for　him；　greatly；　at　bottom；　and　to　feel　her　little　heart　filled　with　rage　and　shame　that　he　does　n't　appear　to　care　for　her。　　If　he　would　take　her　a　little　more　seriouslyit　's　an　immense　pity　he　married　her　because　she　was　silly！she　would　be　flattered　by　it；　and　she　would　try　and　deserve　it。　　No；　no；　no！　she　does　n't；　in　reality；　care　a　straw　for　Captain　Lovelock；　I　assure　you；　I　promise　you　she　does　n't。　A　woman　can　tell。　　She　is　in　danger；　possibly；　and　if　her　present　situation；　as　regards　her　husband；　lasts；　she　might　do　something　as　horrid　as　he　said。　But　she　would　do　it　out　of　spitenot　out　of　affection　for　the　Captain；　who　must　be　got　immediately　out　of　the　way。　She　only　keeps　him　to　torment　her　husband　and　make　Gordon　come　back　to　her。　　She　would　drop　him　forever　to…morrow。〃　Angela　paused　a　moment；　reflecting；　with　a　kindled　eye。　　〃And　she　shall！〃

Bernard　looked　incredulous。

〃How　will　that　be；　Miss　Solomon？〃

〃You　shall　see　when　you　come　back。〃

〃When　I　come　back？　　Pray；　where　am　I　going？〃

〃You　will　leave　Paris　for　a　fortnightas　I　promised　our　poor　friend。〃

Bernard　gave　an　irate　laugh。

〃My　dear　girl；　you　are　ridiculous！　　Your　promising　it　was　almost　as　childish　as　his　asking　it。〃

〃To　play　with　a　child　you　must　be　childish。　　Just　see　the　effect　of　this　abominable　passion　of　love；　which　you　have　been　crying　up　to　me　so！　By　its　operation　Gordon　Wright；　the　most　sensible　man　of　our　acquaintance；　is　reduced　to　the　level　of　infancy！　　If　you　will　only　go　away；　I　will　manage　him。〃

〃You　certainly　manage　me！　　Pray；　where　shall　I　go？〃

〃Wherever　you　choose。　　I　will　write　to　you　every　day。〃

〃That　will　be　an　inducement；〃　said　Bernard。　　〃You　know　I　have　never　received　a　letter　from　you。〃

〃I　write　the　most　delightful　ones！〃　　Angela　exclaimed；　and　she　succeeded　in　making　him　promise　to　start　that　night　for　London。

She　had　just　done　so　when　Mrs。　Vivian　presented　herself；　and　the　good　lady　was　not　a　little　astonished　at　being　informed　of　his　intention。

〃You　surely　are　not　going　to　give　up　my　daughter　to　oblige　Mr。　Wright？〃　she　observed。

〃Upon　my　word；　I　feel　as　if　I　were！〃　said　Bernard。

〃I　will　explain　it；　dear　mamma；〃　said　Angela。　　〃It　is　very　interesting。　Mr。　Wright　has　made　a　most　fearful　scene；　the　state　of　things　between　him　and　Blanche　is　dreadful。〃

Mrs。　Vivian　opened　her　clear　eyes。

〃You　really　speak　as　if　you　liked　it！〃

〃She　does　like　itshe　told　Gordon　so；〃　said　Bernard。　　〃I　don't　know　what　she　is　up　to！　　Gordon　has　taken　leave　of　his　wits；　he　wishes　to　put　away　his　wife。〃

〃To　put　her　away？〃

〃To　repudiate　her；　as　the　historians　say！〃

〃To　repudiate　little　Blanche！〃　murmured　Mrs。　Vivian；　as　if　she　were　struck　with　the　incongruity　of　the　operation。

〃I　mean　to　keep　them　together；〃　said　Angela；　with　a　firm　decision。

Her　mother　looked　at　her　with　admiration。

〃My　dear　daughter；　I　will　assist　you。〃

The　two　ladies　had　such　an　air　of　mysterious　competence　to　the　task　they　had　undertaken　that　it　seemed　to　Bernard　that　nothing　was　left　to　him　but　to　retire　into　temporary　exile。　He　accordingly　betook　himself　to　London；　where　he　had　social　resources　which　would；　perhaps；　make　exile　endurable。　He　found　himself；　however；　little　disposed　to　avail　himself　of　these　resources；　and　he　treated　himself　to　no　pleasures　but　those　of　memory　and　expectation。　　He　ached　with　a　sense　of　his　absence　from　Mrs。　Vivian's　deeply　familiar　sky…parlor；　which　seemed　to　him　for　the　time　the　most　sacred　spot　on　earth　if　on　earth　it　could　be　calledand　he　consigned　to　those　generous　postal　receptacles　which　ornament　with　their　brilliant　hue　the　London　street…corners；　an　inordinate　number　of　the　most　voluminous　epistles　that　had　ever　been　dropped　into　them。　He　took　long　walks；　alone；　and　thought　all　the　way　of　Angela；　to　whom；　it　seemed　to　him；　that　the　character　of　ministering　angel　was　extremely　becoming。　　She　was　faithful　to　her　promise　of　writing　to　him　every　day；　and　she　was　an　angel　who　wielded　so　at　least　Bernard　thought；　and　he　was　particular　about　letters　a　very　ingenious　pen。　　Of　course　she　had　only　one　topic　the　success　of　her　operations　with　regard　to　Gordon。　〃Mamma　has　undertaken　Blanche；〃　she　wrote；　〃and　I　am　devoting　myself　to　Mr。　W。　It　is　really　very　interesting。〃　　She　told　Bernard　all　about　it　in　detail；　and　he　also　found　it　interesting；　doubly　so；　indeed；　for　it　must　be　confessed　that　the　charming　figure　of　the　mistress　of　his　affections　attempting　to　heal　a　great　social　breach　with　her　light　and　delicate　hands；　divided　his　attention　pretty　equally　with　the　distracted；　the　distorted；　the　almost　ludicrous；　image　of　his　old　friend。

Angela　wrote　that　Gordon　had　come　back　to　see　her　the　day　after　his　first　visit；　and　had　seemed　greatly　troubled　on　learning　that　Bernard　had　taken　himself　off。　〃It　was　because　you　insisted　on　it；　of　course；〃　he　said；　〃it　was　not　from　feeling　the　justice　of　it　himself。〃　　〃I　told　him；〃　said　Angela；　in　her　letter；　〃that　I　had　made　a　point　of　it；　but　that　we　certainly　ought　to　give　you　a　little　credit　for　it。　But　I　could　n't　insist　upon　this；　for　fear　of　sounding　a　wrong　note　and　exciting　afresh　what　I　suppose　he　would　be　pleased　to　term　his　jealousy。　　He　asked　me　where　you　had　gone；　and　when　I　told　him'Ah；　how　he　must　hate　me！'　he　exclaimed。　'There　you　are　quite　wrong；'　I　answered。　　'He　feels　as　kindly　to　you　asas　I　do。'　　He　looked　as　if　he　by　no　means　believed　this；　but；　indeed；　he　looks　as　if　he　believed　nothing　at　all。　He　is　quite　upset　and　demoralized。　　He　stayed　half　an　hour　and　paid　me　his　visittrying　hard　to　'please'　me　again！　Poor　man；　he　is　in　a　charming　state　to　please　the　fair　sex！　But　if　he　does　n't　please　me；　he　interests　me　more　and　more；　I　make　bold　to　say　that　to　you。　　You　would　have　said　it　would　be　very　awkward；　but；　strangely　enough；　I　found　it　very　easy。　I　suppose　it　is　because　I　am　so　interested。　　Very　likely　it　was　awkward　for　him；　poor　fellow；　for　I　can　certify　that　he　was　not　a　whit　happier　at　the　end　of　his　half…hour；　in　spite　of　the　privilege　he　had　enjoyed。　　He　said　nothing　more　about　you；　and　we　talked　of　Paris　and　New　York；　of　Baden　and　Rome。　Imagine　the　situation！　　I　shall　make　no　resistance　whatever　to　it；　I　shall　simply　let　him　perceive　that　conversing　with　me　on　these　topics　does　not　make　him　feel　a　bit　more　comfortable；　and　that　he　must　look　elsewhere　for　a　remedy。　　I　said　not　a　word　about　Blanche。〃

She　spoke　of　Blanche；　however；　the　next　time。　　〃He　came　again　this　afternoon；〃　she　said　in　her　second　letter；　〃and　he　wore　exactly　the　same　face　as　yesterdaynamely；　a　very　unhappy　one。　If　I　were　not　entirely　too　wise　to　believe　his　account　of　himself；　I　might　suppose　that　he　was　unhappy　because　Blanche　shows　symptoms　of　not　taking　flight。　　She　has　been　with　us　a　great　dealshe　has　no　idea　what　is　going　on　and　I　can't　honestly　say　that　she　chatters　any　less　than　usual。　But　she　is　greatly　interested　in　certain　shops　that　she　is　buying　out；　and　especially　in　her　visits　to　her　tailor。　Mamma　has　proposed　to　herin　view　of　your　absenceto　come　and　stay　with　us；　and　she　does　n't　seem　afraid　of　the　idea。　I　told　her　husband　to…day　that　we　had　asked　her；　and　that　we　hoped　he　had　no　objection。　　'None　whatever；　but　she　won't　come。'　　'On　the　contrary；　she　says　she　will。'　'She　will　pretend　to；　up　to　the　last　minute；　and　then　she　will　find　a　pretext　for　backing　out。'　　'Decidedly；　you　think　very　ill　of　her；'　I　said。　　'She　hates　me；'　he　answered；　looking　at　me　strangely。　　'You　say　that　of　every　one；'　I　said。　'Yesterday　you　said　it　of　Bernard。'　　'Ah；　for　him　there　would　be　more　reason！'　he　exclaimed。　　'I　won't　attempt　to　answer　for　Bernard；'　I　went　on；　'but　I　will　answer　for　Blanche。　Your　idea　of　her　hating　you　is　a　miserable　delusion。　She　cares　for　you　more　than　for　any　one　in　the　world。　You　only　misunderstand　each　other；　and　with　a　little　good　will　on　both　sides　you　can　easily　get　out　of　your　tangle。'　But　he　would　n't　listen　to　me；　he　stopped　me　short。　I　saw　I　should　excite　him　if　I　insisted；　so　I　dropped　the　subject。　　But　it　is　not　for　long；　he　shall　listen　to　me。〃

Later　she　wrote　that　Blanche　had　in　fact　〃backed　out；〃　and　would　not　come　to　stay　with　them；　having　given　as　an　excuse　that　she　was　perpetually　trying　on　dresses；　and　that　at　Mrs。　Vivian's　she　should　be　at　an　inconvenient　distance　from　the　temple　of　these　sacred　rites；　and　the　high　priest　who　conducted　the　worship。　〃But　we　see　her　every　day；〃　said　Angela；　〃and　mamma　is　constantly　with　her。　　She　likes　mamma　better　than　me。　Mamma　listens　to　her　a　great　deal　and　talks　to　her　a　little　I　can't　do　either　when　we　are　alone。　　I　don't　know　what　she　says　I　mean　what　mamma　says；　what　Blanche　says　I　know　as　well　as　if　I　heard　it。　　We　see　nothing　of　Captain　Lovelock；　and　mamma　tells　me　she　has　not　spoken　of　him　for　two　days。　She　thinks　this　is　a　better　symptom；　but　I　am　not　so　sure。　Poor　Mr。　Wright　treats　it　as　a　great　triumph　that　Blanche　should　behave　as　he　foretold。　　He　is　welcome　to　the　comfort　he　can　get　out　of　this；　for　he　certainly　gets　none　from　anything　else。　The　society　of　your　correspondent　is　not　that　balm　to　his　spirit　which　he　appeared　to　expect；　and　this　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　I　have　been　as　gentle　and　kind　with　him　as　I　know　how　to　be。　　He　is　very　silenthe　sometimes　sits　for　ten　minutes　without　speaking；　I　assure　you　it　is　n't　amusing。　Sometimes　he　looks　at　me　as　if　he　were　going　to　break　out　with　that　crazy　idea　to　which　he　treated　me　the　other　day。　But　he　says　nothing；　and　then　I　see　that　he　is　not　thinking　of　me　he　is　simply　thinking　of　Blanche。　　The　more　he　thinks　of　her　the　better。〃

〃My　dear　Bernard；〃　she　began　on　another　occasion；　〃I　hope　you　are　not　dying　of　ennui；　etc。　　Over　here　things　are　going　so…so。　He　asked　me　yesterday　to　go　with　him　to　the　Louvre；　and　we　walked　about　among　the　pictures　for　half　an　hour。　Mamma　thinks　it　a　very　strange　sort　of　thing　for　me　to　be　doing；　and　though　she　delights；　of　all　things；　in　a　good　cause；　she　is　not　sure　that　this　cause　is　good　enough　to　justify　the　means。　I　admit　that　the　means　are　very　singular；　and；　as　far　as　the　Louvre　is　concerned；　they　were　not　successful。　We　sat　and　looked　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　at　the　great　Venus　who　has　lost　her　arms；　and　he　said　never　a　word。　I　think　he　does　n't　know　what　to　say。　　Before　we　separated　he　asked　me　if　I　heard　from　you。　　'Oh；　yes；'　I　said；　'every　day。'　　'And　does　he　speak　of　me？'　　'Never！'　　I　answered；　and　I　think　he　looked　disappointed。〃　　Bernard　had；　in　fact；　in　writing　to　Angela；　scarcely　mentioned　his　name。　　〃He　had　not　been　here　for　two　days；〃　she　continued；　at　the　end　of　a　week；　〃but　last　evening；　very　latetoo　late　for　a　visitorhe　came　in。　Mamma　had　left　the　drawing…room；　and　I　was　sitting　alone；　I　immediately　saw　that　we　had　reached　a　crisis。　　I　thought　at　first　he　was　going　to　tell　me　that　Blanche　had　carried　out　his　prediction；　but　I　presently　saw　that　this　was　not　where　the　shoe　pinched；　and；　besides；　I　knew　that　mamma　was　watching　her　too　closely。　'How　can　I　have　ever　been　such　a　dull…souled　idiot？'　he　broke　out；　as　soon　as　he　had　got　into　the　room。　'I　like　to　hear　you　say　that；'　I　said；