confidence-第7章

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〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Angela　Vivian；　〃we　were　in　the　far　south；　we　were　five　months　at　Sorrento。〃

〃And　nowhere　else？〃

〃We　spent　a　few　days　in　Rome。　　We　usually　prefer　the　quiet　places；　that　is　my　mother's　taste。〃

〃It　was　not　your　mother's　taste；　then；〃　said　Bernard；　〃that　brought　you　to　Baden？〃

She　looked　at　him　a　moment。

〃You　mean　that　Baden　is　not　quiet？〃

Longueville　glanced　about　at　the　moving；　murmuring　crowd；　at　the　lighted　windows　of　the　Conversation…house；　at　the　great　orchestra　perched　up　in　its　pagoda。

〃This　is　not　my　idea　of　absolute　tranquillity。〃

〃Nor　mine；　either；〃　said　Miss　Vivian。　　〃I　am　not　fond　of　absolute　tranquillity。〃

〃How　do　you　arrange　it；　then；　with　your　mother？〃

Again　she　looked　at　him　a　moment；　with　her　clever；　slightly　mocking　smile。

〃As　you　see。　　By　making　her　come　where　I　wish。〃

〃You　have　a　strong　will；〃　said　Bernard。　　〃I　see　that。〃

〃No。　I　have　simply　a　weak　mother。　　But　I　make　sacrifices　too；　sometimes。〃

〃What　do　you　call　sacrifices？〃

〃Well；　spending　the　winter　at　Sorrento。〃

Bernard　began　to　laugh；　and　then　he　told　her　she　must　have　had　a　very　happy　life〃to　call　a　winter　at　Sorrento　a　sacrifice。〃

〃It　depends　upon　what　one　gives　up；〃　said　Miss　Vivian。

〃What　did　you　give　up？〃

She　touched　him　with　her　mocking　smile　again。

〃That　is　not　a　very　civil　question；　asked　in　that　way。〃

〃You　mean　that　I　seem　to　doubt　your　abnegation？〃

〃You　seem　to　insinuate　that　I　had　nothing　to　renounce。　　I　gave　up　I　gave　up〃　and　she　looked　about　her；　considering　a　little〃I　gave　up　society。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　remember　what　it　was；〃　said　Bernard。　〃If　I　have　seemed　uncivil；　let　me　make　it　up。　　When　a　woman　speaks　of　giving　up　society；　what　she　means　is　giving　up　admiration。　You　can　never　have　given　up　thatyou　can　never　have　escaped　from　it。　You　must　have　found　it　even　at　Sorrento。〃

〃It　may　have　been　there；　but　I　never　found　it。　　It　was　very　respectful　it　never　expressed　itself。〃

〃That　is　the　deepest　kind；〃　said　Bernard。

〃I　prefer　the　shallower　varieties；〃　the　young　girl　answered。

〃Well；〃　said　Bernard；　〃you　must　remember　that　although　shallow　admiration　expresses　itself；　all　the　admiration　that　expresses　itself　is　not　shallow。〃

Miss　Vivian　hesitated　a　moment。

〃Some　of　it　is　impertinent；〃　she　said；　looking　straight　at　him；　rather　gravely。

Bernard　hesitated　about　as　long。

〃When　it　is　impertinent　it　is　shallow。　　That　comes　to　the　same　thing。〃

The　young　girl　frowned　a　little。

〃I　am　not　sure　that　I　understandI　am　rather　stupid。　But　you　see　how　right　I　am　in　my　taste　for　such　places　as　this。　I　have　to　come　here　to　hear　such　ingenious　remarks。〃

〃You　should　add　that　my　coming；　as　well；　has　something　to　do　with　it。〃

〃Everything！〃　said　Miss　Vivian。

〃Everything？　　Does　no　one　else　make　ingenious　remarks？　Does　n't　my　friend　Wright？〃

〃Mr。　Wright　says　excellent　things；　but　I　should　not　exactly　call　them　ingenious　remarks。〃

〃It　is　not　what　Wright　says；　it　's　what　he　does。　　That　's　the　charm！〃　said　Bernard。

His　companion　was　silent　for　a　moment。　　〃That　's　not　usually　a　charm；　good　conduct　is　not　thought　pleasing。〃

〃It　surely　is　not　thought　the　reverse！〃　　Bernard　exclaimed。

〃It　does　n't　rankin　the　opinion　of　most　peopleamong　the　things　that　make　men　agreeable。〃

〃It　depends　upon　what　you　call　agreeable。〃

〃Exactly　so；〃　said　Miss　Vivian。　　〃It　all　depends　on　that。〃

〃But　the　agreeable；〃　Bernard　went　on〃it　is　n't　after　all；　fortunately；　such　a　subtle　idea！　　The　world　certainly　is　agreed　to　think　that　virtue　is　a　beautiful　thing。〃

Miss　Vivian　dropped　her　eyes　a　moment；　and　then；　looking　up；

〃Is　it　a　charm？〃　she　asked。

〃For　me　there　is　no　charm　without　it；〃　Bernard　declared。

〃I　am　afraid　that　for　me　there　is；〃　said　the　young　girl。

Bernard　was　puzzledhe　who　was　not　often　puzzled。　His　companion　struck　him　as　altogether　too　clever　to　be　likely　to　indulge　in　a　silly　affectation　of　cynicism。　And　yet；　without　this；　how　could　one　account　for　her　sneering　at　virtue？

〃You　talk　as　if　you　had　sounded　the　depths　of　vice！〃　he　said；　laughing。　〃What　do　you　know　about　other　than　virtuous　charms？〃

〃I　know；　of　course；　nothing　about　vice；　but　I　have　known　virtue　when　it　was　very　tiresome。〃

〃Ah；　then　it　was　a　poor　affair。　　It　was　poor　virtue。　The　best　virtue　is　never　tiresome。〃

Miss　Vivian　looked　at　him　a　little；　with　her　fine　discriminating　eye。

〃What　a　dreadful　thing　to　have　to　think　any　virtue　poor！〃

This　was　a　touching　reflection；　and　it　might　have　gone　further　had　not　the　conversation　been　interrupted　by　Mrs。　Vivian's　appealing　to　her　daughter　to　aid　a　defective　recollection　of　a　story　about　a　Spanish　family　they　had　met　at　Biarritz；　with　which　she　had　undertaken　to　entertain　Gordon　Wright。　After　this；　the　little　circle　was　joined　by　a　party　of　American　friends　who　were　spending　a　week　at　Baden；　and　the　conversation　became　general。






CHAPTER　VII

But　on　the　following　evening；　Bernard　again　found　himself　seated　in　friendly　colloquy　with　this　interesting　girl；　while　Gordon　Wright　discoursed　with　her　mother　on　one　side；　and　little　Blanche　Evers　chattered　to　the　admiring　eyes　of　Captain　Lovelock　on　the　other。

〃You　and　your　mother　are　very　kind　to　that　little　girl；〃　our　hero　said；　〃you　must　be　a　great　advantage　to　her。〃

Angela　Vivian　directed　her　eyes　to　her　neighbors；　and　let　them　rest　a　while　on　the　young　girl's　little　fidgeting　figure　and　her　fresh；　coquettish　face。　　For　some　moments　she　said　nothing；　and　to　Longueville；　turning　over　several　things　in　his　mind；　and　watching　her；　it　seemed　that　her　glance　was　one　of　disfavor。　　He　divined；　he　scarcely　knew　how；　that　her　esteem　for　her　pretty　companion　was　small。

〃I　don't　know　that　I　am　very　kind；〃　said　Miss　Vivian。　〃I　have　done　nothing　in　particular　for　her。〃

〃Mr。　Wright　tells　me　you　came　to　this　place　mainly　on　her　account。〃

〃I　came　for　myself；〃　said　Miss　Vivian。　　〃The　consideration　you　speak　of　perhaps　had　weight　with　my　mother。〃

〃You　are　not　an　easy　person　to　say　appreciative　things　to；〃　Bernard　rejoined。　　〃One　is　tempted　to　say　them；　but　you　don't　take　them。〃

The　young　girl　colored　as　she　listened　to　this　observation。

〃I　don't　think　you　know；〃　she　murmured；　looking　away。　　Then；　〃Set　it　down　to　modesty；〃　she　added。

〃That；　of　course；　is　what　I　have　done。　　To　what　else　could　one　possibly　attribute　an　indifference　to　compliments？〃

〃There　is　something　else。　　One　might　be　proud。〃

〃There　you　are　again！〃　　Bernard　exclaimed。　　〃You　won't　even　let　me　praise　your　modesty。〃

〃I　would　rather　you　should　rebuke　my　pride。〃

〃That　is　so　humble　a　speech　that　it　leaves　no　room　for　rebuke。〃

For　a　moment　Miss　Vivian　said　nothing。

〃Men　are　singularly　base；〃　she　declared　presently；　with　a　little　smile。　〃They　don't　care　in　the　least　to　say　things　that　might　help　a　person。　They　only　care　to　say　things　that　may　seem　effective　and　agreeable。〃

〃I　see：　　you　think　that　to　say　agreeable　things　is　a　great　misdemeanor。　〃

〃It　comes　from　their　vanity；〃　Miss　Vivian　went　on；　as　if　she　had　not　heard　him。　　〃They　wish　to　appear　agreeable　and　get　credit　for　cleverness　and　tendresse；　no　matter　how　silly　it　would　be　for　another　person　to　believe　them。〃

Bernard　was　a　good　deal　amused；　and　a　little　nettled。

〃Women；　then；〃　he　said；　〃have　rather　a　fondness　for　producing　a　bad　impressionthey　like　to　appear　disagreeable？〃

His　companion　bent　her　eyes　upon　her　fan　for　a　moment　as　she　opened　and　closed　it。

〃They　are　capable　of　resigning　themselves　to　itfor　a　purpose。〃

Bernard　was　moved　to　extreme　merriment。

〃For　what　purpose？〃

〃I　don't　know　that　I　mean　for　a　purpose；〃　said　Miss　Vivian；　〃but　for　a　necessity。〃

〃Ah；　what　an　odious　necessity！〃

〃Necessities　usually　are　odious。　　But　women　meet　them。　Men　evade　them　and　shirk　them。〃

〃I　contest　your　proposition。　　Women　are　themselves　necessities；　but　they　are　not　odious　ones！〃　　And　Bernard　added；　in　a　moment；　〃One　could　n't　evade　them；　if　they　were！〃

〃I　object　to　being　called　a　necessity；〃　said　Angela　Vivian。　〃It　diminishes　one's　merit。〃

〃Ah；　but　it　enhances　the　charm　of　life！〃

〃For　men；　doubtless！〃

〃The　charm　of　life　is　very　great；〃　Bernard　went　on；　looking　up　at　the　dusky　hills　and　the　summer　stars；　seen　through　a　sort　of　mist　of　music　and　talk；　and　of　powdery　light　projected　from　the　softly　lurid　windows　of　the　gaming…rooms。　〃The　charm　of　life　is　extreme。　I　am　unacquainted　with　odious　necessities。　　I　object　to　nothing！〃

Angela　Vivian　looked　about　her　as　he　had　donelooked　perhaps　a　moment　longer　at　the　summer　stars；　and　if　she　had　not　already　proved　herself　a　young　lady　of　a　contradictory　turn；　it　might　have　been　supposed　she　was　just　then　tacitly　admitting　the　charm　of　life　to　be　considerable。

〃Do　you　suppose　Miss　Evers　often　resigns　herself　to　being　disagreeable　for　a　purpose？〃　asked　Longueville；　who　had　glanced　at　Captain　Lovelock's　companion　again。

〃She　can't　be　disagreeable；　she　is　too　gentle；　too　soft。〃

〃Do　you　mean　too　silly？〃

〃I　don't　know　that　I　call　her　silly。　　She　is　not　very　wise；　but　she　has　no　pretensionsabsolutely　noneso　that　one　is　not　struck　with　anything　incongruous。〃

〃What　a　terrible　description！　　I　suppose　one　ought　to　have　a　few　pretensions。〃

〃You　see　one　comes　off　more　easily　without　them；〃　said　Miss　Vivian。

〃Do　you　call　that　coming　off　easily？〃

She　looked　at　him　a　moment　gravely。

〃I　am　very　fond　of　Blanche；〃　she　said。

〃Captain　Lovelock　is　rather　fond　of　her；〃　Bernard　went　on。

The　girl　assented。

〃He　is　completely　fascinatedhe　is　very　much　in　love　with　her。〃

〃And　do　they　mean　to　make　an　international　match？〃

〃I　hope　not；　my　mother　and　I　are　greatly　troubled。〃

〃Is　n't　he　a　good　fellow？〃

〃He　is　a　good　fellow；　but　he　is　a　mere　trifler。　　He　has　n't　a　penny；　I　believe；　and　he　has　very　expensive　habits。　　He　gambles　a　great　deal。　We　don't　know　what　to　do。〃

〃You　should　send　for　the　young　lady's　mother。〃

〃We　have　written　to　her　pressingly。　　She　answers　that　Blanche　can　take　care　of　herself；　and　that　she　must　stay　at　Marienbad　to　finish　her　cure。　She　has　just　begun　a　new　one。〃

〃Ah　well；〃　said　Bernard；　〃doubtless　Blanche　can　take　care　of　herself。〃

For　a　moment　his　companion　said　nothing；　then　she　exclaimed

〃It　's　what　a　girl　ought　to　be　able　to　do！〃

〃I　am　sure　you　are！〃　said　Bernard。

She　met　his　eyes；　and　she　was　going　to　make　some　rejoinder；　but　before　she　had　time　to　speak；　her　mother's　little；　clear；　conciliatory　voice　interposed。　Mrs。　Vivian　appealed　to　her　daughter；　as　she　had　done　the　night　before。

〃Dear　Angela；　what　was　the　name　of　the　gentleman　who　delivered　that　delightful　course　of　lectures　that　we　heard　in　Geneva；　on　what　was　the　title？'The　Redeeming　Features　of　the　Pagan　Morality。'　〃

Angela　flushed　a　little。

〃I　have　quite　forgotten　his　name；　mamma；〃　she　said；　without　looking　round。

〃Come　and　sit　by　me；　my　dear；　and　we　will　talk　them　over。　I　wish　Mr。　Wright　to　hear　about　them；〃　Mrs。　Vivian　went　on。

〃Do　you　wish　to　convert　him　to　paganism？〃　　Bernard　asked。

〃The　lectures　were　very　dull；　they　had　no　redeeming　features；〃　said　Angela；　getting　up；　but　turning　away　from　her　mother。　She　stood　looking　at　Bernard　Longueville；　he　saw　she　was　annoyed　at　her　mother's　interference。　　〃Every　now　and