an unsocial socialist-第22章

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plum…pudding　in　the　van。　But　he　repressed　it；　got　into　a　hansom；
and　was　driven　to　his　father…in…law's　house　in　Belsize　Avenue；
studying　in　a　gloomily　critical　mood　the　anxiety　that　surged　upon
him　and　made　his　heart　beat　like　a　boy's　as　he　drew　near　his
destination。　There　were　two　carriages　at　the　door　when　he
alighted。　The　reticent　expression　of　the　coachmen　sent　a　tremor
through　him。

The　door　opened　before　he　rang。　〃If　you　please；　sir；〃　said　the
maid　in　a　low　voice；　〃will　you　step　into　the　library；　and　the
doctor　will　see　you　immediately。〃

On　the　first　landing　of　the　staircase　two　gentlemen　were　speaking
to　Mr。　Jansenius；　who　hastily　moved　out　of　sight；　not　before　a
glimpse　of　his　air　of　grief　174　and　discomfiture　had　given
Trefusis　a　strange　twinge；　succeeded　by　a　sensation　of　having
been　twenty　years　a　widower。　He　smiled　unconcernedly　as　he
followed　the　girl　into　the　library；　and　asked　her　how　she　did。
She　murmured　some　reply　and　hurried　away；　thinking　that　the　poor
young　man　would　alter　his　tone　presently。

He　was　joined　at　once　by　a　gray　whiskered　gentleman；　scrupulously
dressed　and　mannered。　Trefusis　introduced　himself；　and　the
physician　looked　at　him　with　some　interest。　Then　he　said：

〃You　have　arrived　too　late；　Mr。　Trefusis。　All　is　over；　I　am　sorry
to　say。〃

〃Was　the　long　railway　journey　she　took　in　this　cold　weather　the
cause　of　her　death？〃

Some　bitter　words　that　the　physician　had　heard　upstairs　made　him
aware　that　this　was　a　delicate　question。　But　he　said　quietly：
〃The　proximate　cause；　doubtless。　The　proximate　cause。〃

〃She　received　some　unwelcome　and　quite　unlooked…for　intelligence
before　she　started。　Had　that　anything　to　do　with　her　death；　do
you　think？〃

〃It　may　have　produced　an　unfavorable　effect；〃　said　the　physician；
growing　restive　and　taking　up　his　gloves。　〃The　habit　of　referring
such　events　to　such　causes　is　carried　too　far；　as　a　rule。〃

〃No　doubt。　I　am　curious　because　the　event　is　novel　in　my
experience。　I　suppose　it　is　a　commonplace　in　yours。　Pardon　me。


175　The　loss　of　a　lady　so　young　and　so　　favorably　circumstanced
is　not　a　commonplace　either　in　my　experience　or　in　my　opinion。〃
The　physician　held　up　his　head　as　he　spoke；　in　protest　against
any　assumption　that　his　sympathies　had　been　blunted　by　his
profession。

〃Did　she　suffer？〃

〃For　some　hours；　yes。　We　were　able　to　do　a　little　to　alleviate
her　painpoor　thing！〃　He　almost　forgot　Trefusis　as　he　added　the
apostrophe。

〃Hours　of　pain！　Can　you　conceive　any　good　purpose　that　those
hours　may　have　served？〃

The　physician　shook　his　head；　leaving　it　doubtful　whether　he
meant　to　reply　in　the　negative　or　to　deplore　considerations　of
that　nature。　He　also　made　a　movement　to　depart；　being　uneasy　in
conversation　with　Trefusis；　who　would；　he　felt　sure；　presently
ask　questions　or　make　remarks　with　which　he　could　hardly　deal
without　committing　himself　in　some　direction。　His　conscience　was
not　quite　at　rest。　Henrietta's　pain　had　not；　he　thought；　served
any　good　purpose；　but　he　did　not　want　to　say　so；　lest　he　should
acquire　a　reputation　for　impiety　and　lose　his　practice。　He
believed　that　the　general　practitioner　who　attended　the　family；
and　had　called　him　in　when　the　case　grew　serious；　had　treated
Henrietta　unskilfully；　but　professional　etiquette　bound　him　so
strongly　that；　sooner　than　betray　his　colleague's　inefficiency；
he　would　have　allowed　him　to　decimate　London。

〃One　word　more；〃　said　Trefusis。　〃Did　she　know　that　she　was
dying？〃

〃No。　I　considered　it　best　that　she　should　not　be　informed　of　her
danger。　She　passed　away　without　any　apprehension。〃

〃Then　one　can　think　of　it　with　equanimity。　She　dreaded　death；
poor　child。　The　wonder　is　that　there　was　not　enough　folly　in　the
household　to　prevail　against　your　good　sense。〃

The　physician　bowed　and　took　his　leave；　esteeming　himself
somewhat　fortunate　in　escaping　without　being　reproached　for　his
humanity　in　having　allowed　Henrietta　to　die　unawares。

A　moment　later　the　general　practitioner　entered。　Trefusis；　having
accompanied　the　consulting　physician　to　the　door；　detected　the
family　doctor　in　the　act　of　pulling　a　long　face　just　outside　it。
Restraining　a　desire　to　seize　him　by　the　throat；　he　seated
himself　on　the　edge　of　the　table　and　said　cheerfully：

〃Well；　doctor；　how　has　the　world　used　you　since　we　last　met？〃

The　doctor　was　taken　aback；　but　the　solemn　disposition　of　his
features　did　not　relax　as　he　almost　intoned：　〃Has　Sir　Francis
told　you　the　sad　news；　Mr。　Trefusis？〃

〃Yes。　Frightful；　isn't　it？　Lord　bless　me；　we're　here　to…day　and
gone　to…morrow。〃

〃True；　very　true！〃

〃Sir　Francis　has　a　high　opinion　of　you。〃

The　doctor　looked　a　little　foolish。　〃Everything　was　done　that
could　be　done；　Mr。　Trefusis；　but　Mrs。　Jansenius　was　very　anxious
that　no　stone　should　be　left　unturned。　She　was　good　enough　to　say
that　her　sole　reason　for　wishing　me　to　call　in　Sir　Francis　was
that　you　should　have　no　cause　to　complain。〃

〃Indeed！〃

〃An　excellent　mother！　A　sad　event　for　her！　Ah；　yes；　yes！　Dear　me！
A　very　sad　event！〃

〃Most　disagreeable。　Such　a　cold　day　too。　Pleasanter　to　be　in
heaven　than　here　in　such　weather；　possibly。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　doctor；　as　if　much　sound　comfort　lay　in　that。　〃I
hope　so；　I　hope　so；　I　do　not　doubt　it。　Sir　Francis　did　not　permit
us　to　tell　her；　and　I；　of　course；　deferred　to　him。　Perhaps　it　was
for　the　best。〃

〃You　would　have　told　her；　then；　if　Sir　Francis　had　not　objected？〃

〃Well；　there　are；　you　see；　considerations　which　we　must　not
ignore　in　our　profession。　Death　is　a　serious　thing；　as　I　am　sure
I　need　not　remind　you；　Mr。　Trefusis。　We　have　sometimes　higher
duties　than　indulgence　to　the　natural　feelings　of　our　patients。〃

〃Quite　so。　The　possibility　of　eternal　bliss　and　the　probability
of　eternal　torment　are　consolations　not　to　be　lightly　withheld
from　a　dying　girl；　eh？　However；　what's　past　cannot　be　mended。　I
have　much　to　be　thankful　for；　after　all。　I　am　a　young　man；　and
shall　not　cut　a　bad　figure　as　a　widower。　And　now　tell　me；　doctor；
am　I　not　in　very　bad　repute　upstairs？〃

〃Mr。　Trefusis！　Sir！　I　cannot　meddle　in　family　matters。　I
understand　my　duties　and　never　over　step　them。〃　The　doctor；
shocked　at　last；　spoke　as　loftily　as　he　could。

〃Then　I　will　go　and　see　Mr。　Jansenius；〃　said　Trefusis；　getting
off　the　table。

〃Stay；　sir！　One　moment。　I　have　not　finished。　Mrs。　Jansenius　has
asked　me　to　askI　was　about　to　say　that　I　am　not　speaking　now　as
the　medical　adviser　of　this　family；　but　although　an　old
friendandahem！　Mrs。　Jansenius　has　asked　me　to　askto　request
you　to　excuse　Mr。　Jansenius；　as　he　is　prostrated　by　grief；　and
is；　as　I　canas　a　medical　manassure　you；　unable　to　see　anyone。
She　will　speak　to　you　herself　as　soon　as　she　feels　able　to　do
soat　some　time　this　evening。　Meanwhile；　of　course；　any　orders
you　may　giveyou　must　be　fatigued　by　your　journey；　and　I　always
recommend　people　not　to　fast　too　long；　it　produces　an　acute　form
of　indigestionany　orders　you　may　wish　to　give　will；　of　course；
be　attended　to　at　once。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Trefusis；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　〃I　will
order　a　hansom。〃

〃There　is　no　ill…feeling；〃　said　the　doctor；　who；　as　a　slow　man；
was　usually　alarmed　by　prompt　decisions；　even　when　they　seemed
wise　to　him；　as　this　one　did。　〃I　hope　you　have　not　gathered　from
anything　I　have　said〃

〃Not　at　all；　you　have　displayed　the　utmost　tact。　But　I　think　I
had　better　go。　Jansenius　can　bear　death　and　misery　with　perfect
fortitude　when　it　is　on　a　large　scale　and　hidden　in　a　back　slum。
But　when　it　breaks　into　his　own　house；　and　attacks　his
propertyhis　daughter　was　his　property　until　very　recently　he
is　just　the　man　to　lose　his　head　and　quarrel　with　me　for　keeping
mine。〃

The　doctor　was　unable　to　cope　with　this　speech；　which　conveyed
vaguely　monstrous　ideas　to　him。　Seeing　Trefusis　about　to　leave；
he　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃Will　you　go　upstairs？〃

〃Upstairs！　Why？〃

〃II　thought　you　might　wish　to　see〃　He　did　not　finish　the
sentence；　but　Trefusis　flinched；　the　blank　had　expressed　what　was
meant。

〃To　see　something　that　was　Henrietta；　and　that　is　a　thing　we　must
cast　out　and　hide；　with　a　little　superstitious　mumming　to　save
appearances。　Why　did　you　remind　me　of　it？〃

〃But；　sir；　whatever　your　views　may　be；　will　you　not；　as　a　matter
of　form；　in　deference　to　the　feelings　of　the　family〃

〃Let　them　spare　their　feelings　for　the　living；　on　whose　behalf　I
have　often　appealed　to　them　in　vain；〃　cried　Trefusis；　losing
patience。　〃Damn　their　feelings！〃　And；　turning　to　the　door；　he
found　it　open；　and　Mrs。　Jansenius　there　listening。

Trefusis　was　confounded。　He　knew　what　the　effect　of　his　speech
must　be；　and　felt　that　it　would　be　folly　to　attempt　excuse　or
explanation。　He　put　his　hands　into　his　pockets；　leaned　against
the　table；　and　looked　at　her；　mutely　wondering　what　would　follow
on　her　part。

The　doctor　broke　the　silence　by　saying　tremulously；　〃I　have
communicated　the　melancholy　intelligence　to　Mr。　Trefusis。〃

〃I　hope　you　told　him　also；〃　she　said　sternly；　〃that；　however
deficient　we　may　be　in　feeling；　we　did　everything　that　lay　in　our
power　for　our　child。〃

〃I　am　quite　satisfied；〃　said　Trefusis。

〃No　doubt　you　arewith　the　result；〃　said　Mrs。　Jansenius；　hardly。
〃I　wish　to　know　whether　you　have　anything　to　complain　of。〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃Please　do　not　imply　that　anything　has　happened　through　our
neglect。〃

〃What　have　I　to　complain　of？　She　had　a　warm　room　and　a　luxurious
bed　to　die　in；　with　the　best　medical　advice　in　the　world。　Plenty
of　people　are　starving　and　freezing　to…day　that　we　may　have　the
means　to　die　fashionably；　ask　THEM　if　they　have　any　cause　for
complaint。　Do　you　think　I　will　wrangle　over　her　body　about　the
amount　of　money　spent　on　her　illness？　What　measure　is　that　of　the
cause　she　had　for　complaint？　I　never　grudged　money　to　herhow
could　I；　seeing　that　more　than　I　can　waste　is　given　to　me　for
nothing？　Or　how　could　you？　Yet　she　had　great　reason　to　complain
of　me。　You　will　allow　that　to　be　so。〃

〃It　is　perfectly　true。〃

〃Well；　when　I　am　in　the　humor　for　it；　I　will　reproach　myself　and
not　you。〃　He　paused；　and　then　turned　forcibly　on　her；　saying；
〃Why　do　you　select　this　time；　of　all　others；　to　speak　so　bitterly
to　me？〃

〃I　am　not　aware　that　I　have　said　anything　to　call　for　such　a
remark。　Did　YOU；〃　（appealing　to　the　doctor）　〃hear　me　say
anything？〃

〃Mr。　Trefusis　does　not　mean　to　say　that　you　did；　I　am　sure。　Oh；
no。　Mr。　Trefusis's　feelings　are　naturallyare　harrowed。　That　is
all。〃

〃My　feelings！〃　cried　Trefusis　impatiently。　〃Do　you　suppose　my
feelings　are　a　trumpery　set　of　social　observances；　to　be　harrowed
to　order　and　exhibited　at　funerals？　She　has　gone　as　we　three
shall　go　soon　enough。　If　we　were　immortal；　we　might　reasonably
pity　the　dead。　As　we　are　not；　we　had　better　save　our　energies　to
minimize　the　harm　we　are　likely　to　do　before　we　follow　her。〃

The　doctor　was　deeply　offended　by　this　speech；　for　the　statement
that　he　should　one　day　die　seemed　to　him　a　reflection　upon　his
professional　mastery　over　death。　Mrs。　Jansenius　was　glad　to　see
Trefusis　confirming　her　bad　opinion　and　report　of　him　by　his
conduct　and　language　in　the　doctor's　presence。　There　was　a　brief
pause；　and　then　Trefusis；　too　fa