an unsocial socialist-第27章

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are　getting　frightened　at　what　they　have　done；　and　they　would　be
glad　to　escape　the　consequences　by　apologizing；　most　likely。　But
they　shan't。　I　am　not　such　a　fool　as　they　think。〃

〃They　don't　think　so。　You　have　proved　the　contrary。〃

〃Jane；〃　said　Sir　Charles　pettishly；　〃do　you　know　this　gentleman？〃

〃I　should　think　I　do；〃　said　Lady　Brandon　emphatically。

Trefusis　bowed　as　if　he　had　just　been　formally　introduced　to　the
baronet；　who；　against　his　will；　returned　the　salutation　stiffly；
unable　to　ignore　an　older；　firmer；　and　quicker　man　under　the
circumstances。

〃This　seems　an　unneighborly　business；　Sir　Charles；〃　said
Trefusis；　quite　at　his　ease；　〃　but　as　it　is　a　public　question；　it
need　not　prejudice　our　private　relations。　At　least　I　hope　not。〃

Sir　Charles　bowed　again；　more　stiffly　than　before。

〃I　am；　like　you；　a　capitalist　and　landlord。〃

〃Which　it　seems　to　me　you　have　no　right　to　be；　if　you　are　in
earnest；〃　struck　in　Chester；　who　had　been　watching　the　scene　in
silence　by　Sir　Charles's　side。

〃Which；　as　you　say；　I　have　undoubtedly　no　right　to　be；〃　said
Trefusis；　surveying　him　with　interest；　〃　but　which　I　nevertheless
cannot　help　being。　Have　I　the　pleasure　of　speaking　to　Mr。
Chichester　Erskine；　author　of　a　tragedy　entitled　'The　Patriot
Martyrs；'　dedicated　with　enthusiastic　devotion　to　the　Spirit　of
Liberty　and　half　a　dozen　famous　upholders　of　that　principle；　and
denouncing　in　forcible　language　the　tyranny　of　the　late　Tsar　of
Russia；　Bomba　of　Naples；　and　Napoleon　the　Third？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Erskine；　reddening；　for　he　felt　that　this
description　might　make　his　drama　seem　ridiculous　to　those　present
who　had　not　read　it。

〃Then；〃　said　Trefusis；　extending　his　handErskine　at　first
thought　for　a　hearty　shake〃give　me　half…a…crown　towards　the
cost　of　our　expedition　here　to…day　to　assert　the　right　of　the
people　to　tread　the　soil　we　are　standing　upon。〃

〃You　shall　do　nothing　of　the　sort；　Chester；〃　cried　Lady　Brandon。
〃I　never　heard　of　such　a　thing　in　my　life！　Do　you　pay　us　for　the
wall　and　fence　your　people　have　broken；　Mr。　Smilash；　that　would
be　more　to　the　purpose。〃

〃If　I　could　find　a　thousand　men　as　practical　as　you；　Lady
Brandon；　I　might　accomplish　the　next　great　revolution　before　the
end　of　this　season。〃　He　looked　at　her　for　a　moment　curiously；　as
if　trying　to　remember；　and　then　added　inconsequently：　〃How　are
your　friends？　There　was　a　MissMissI　am　afraid　I　have
forgotten　all　the　names　except　your　own。〃

〃Gertrude　Lindsay　is　staying　with　us。　Do　you　remember　her？〃

〃I　thinkno；　I　am　afraid　I　do　not。　Let　me　see。　Was　she　a　haughty
young　lady？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Lady　Brandon　eagerly；　forgetting　the　wall　and　fence。
〃But　who　do　you　think　is　coming　next　Thursday？　I　met　her
accidentally　the　last　time　I　was　in　town。　She's　not　a　bit
changed。　You　can't　forget　her；　so　don't　pretend　to　be　puzzled。〃

〃You　have　not　told　me　who　she　is　yet。　And　I　shall　probably　not
remember　her。　You　must　not　expect　me　to　recognize　everyone
instantaneously；　as　I　recognized　you。〃

〃What　stuff！　You　will　know　Agatha　fast　enough。〃

〃Agatha　Wylie！〃　he　said；　with　sudden　gravity。

〃Yes。　She　is　coming　on　Thursday。　Are　you　glad？〃

〃I　fear　I　shall　have　no　opportunity　of　seeing　her。〃

〃Oh；　of　course　you　must　see　her。　It　will　be　so　jolly　for　us　all
to　meet　again　just　as　we　used。　Why　can't　you　come　to　luncheon　on
Thursday？〃

〃I　shall　be　delighted；　if　you　will　really　allow　me　to　come　after
my　conduct　here。〃

〃The　lawyers　will　settle　that。　Now　that　you　have　found　out　who　we
are　you　will　stop　pulling　down　our　walls；　of　course。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Trefusis；　smiling；　as　he　took　out　a　pocket
diary　and　entered　the　engagement。　〃I　must　hurry　away　to　the
crossroads。　They　have　probably　voted　me　into　the　chair　by　this
time；　and　are　waiting　for　me　to　open　their　meeting。　Good…bye。　You
have　made　this　place；　which　I　was　growing　tired　of；　unexpectedly
interesting　to　me。〃

They　exchanged　glances　of　the　old　college　pattern。　Then　he　nodded
to　Sir　Charles；　waved　his　hand　familiarly　to　Erskine；　and
followed　the　procession；　which　was　by　this　time　out　of　sight。

Sir　Charles；　who；　waiting　to　speak；　had　been　repeatedly　baffled
by　the　hasty　speeches　of　his　wife　and　the　unhesitating　replies　of
Trefusis；　now　turned　angrily　upon　her；　saying：

〃What　do　you　mean　by　inviting　that　fellow　to　my　house　？〃

〃Your　house；　indeed！　I　will　invite　whom　I　please。　You　are　getting
into　one　of　your　tempers。〃

Sir　Charles　looked　about　him。　Erskine　had　discreetly　slipped
away；　and　was　in　the　road；　tightening　a　screw　in　his　bicycle。　The
few　persons　who　remained　were　out　of　earshot。

〃Who　and　what　the　devil　is　he；　and　how　do　you　come　to　know　him？〃
he　demanded。　He　never　swore　in　the　presence　of　any　lady　except
his　wife；　and　then　only　when　they　were　alone。

〃He　is　a　gentleman；　which　is　more　than　you　are；〃　she　retorted；
and；　with　a　cut　of　her　whip　that　narrowly　missed　her　husband's
shoulder；　sent　the　bay　plunging　through　the　gap。

〃Come　along；〃　she　said　to　Erskine。　〃We　shall　be　late　for
luncheon。〃

〃Had　we　not　better　wait　for　Sir　Charles？〃　he　asked　injudiciously。

〃Never　mind　Sir　Charles；　he　is　in　the　sulks；〃　she　said；　without
abating　her　voice。　〃Come　along。〃　And　she　went　off　at　a　canter；
Erskine　following　her　with　a　misgiving　that　his　visit　was
unfortunately　timed。　unworthy　of　yourself；　and　that　a　net　is
closing　round　you？〃

〃No。　Nothing　of　the　sort！〃

〃Then　why　are　you　so　anxious　to　get　away？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Agatha；　affecting　to　laugh　as　he　looked
sceptically　at　her　from　beneath　his　lowered　eyelids。　〃Perhaps　I
do　feel　a　little　like　that；　but　not　so　much　as　you　say。〃

〃I　will　explain　the　emotion　to　you；〃　he　said；　with　a　subdued
ardor　that　affected　Agatha　strangely。　〃But　first　tell　me　whether
it　is　new　to　you　or　not。〃

〃It　is　not　an　emotion　at　all。　I　did　not　say　that　it　was。〃

〃Do　not　be　afraid　of　it。　It　is　only　being　alone　with　a　man　whom
you　have　bewitched。　You　would　be　mistress　of　the　situation　if　you
only　knew　how　to　manage　a　lover。　It　is　far　easier　than　managing　a
horse；　or　skating；　or　playing　the　piano；　or　half　a　dozen　other
feats　of　which　you　think　nothing。〃

Agatha　colored　and　raised　her　head。

〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said；　interrupting　the　action。　〃I　am　trying　to
offend　you　in　order　to　save　myself　from　falling　in　love　with　you；
and　I　have　not　the　heart　to　let　myself　succeed。　On　your　life；　do
not　listen　to　me　or　believe　me。　I　have　no　right　to　say　these
things　to　you。　Some　fiend　enters　into　me　when　I　am　at　your　side。
You　should　wear　a　veil；　Agatha。〃

She　blushed；　and　stood　burning　and　tingling；　her　presence　of　mind
gone；　and　her　chief　sensation　one　of　relief　to　hearfor　she　did
not　dare　to　seethat　he　was　departing。　Her　consciousness　was　in
a　delicious　confusion；　with　the　one　definite　thought　in　it　that
she　had　won　her　lover　at　last。　The　tone　of　Trefusis's　voice；　rich
with　truth　and　earnestness；　his　quick　insight；　and　his　passionate
warning　to　her　not　to　heed　him；　convinced　her　that　she　had
entered　into　a　relation　destined　to　influence　her　whole　life。

〃And　yet；〃　she　said　remorsefully；　〃I　cannot　love　him　as　he　loves
me。　I　am　selfish；　cold；　calculating；　worldly；　and　have　doubted
until　now　whether　such　a　thing　as　love　really　existed。　If　I　could
only　love　him　recklessly　and　wholly；　as　he　loves　me！〃

Smilash　was　also　soliloquizing　as　he　went　on　his　way。

〃Now　I　have　made　the　poor　childwho　was　so　anxious　that　I　should
not　mistake　her　for　a　supernaturally　gifted　and　lovely　womanas
happy　as　an　angel；　and　so　is　that　fine　girl　whom　they　call　Jane
Carpenter。　I　hope　they　won't　exchange　confidences　on　the
subject。〃

　　　　

CHAPTER　XII

On　the　following　Thursday　Gertrude；　Agatha；　and　Jane　met　for　the
first　time　since　they　had　parted　at　Alton　College。　Agatha　was　the
shyest　of　the　three；　and　externally　the　least　changed。　She
fancied　herself　very　different　from　the　Agatha　of　Alton；　but　it
was　her　opinion　of　herself　that　had　altered；　not　her　person。
Expecting　to　find　a　corresponding　alteration　in　her　friends；　she
had　looked　forward　to　the　meeting　with　much　doubt　and　little　hope
of　its　proving　pleasant。

She　was　more　anxious　about　Gertrude　than　about　Jane；　concerning
whom；　at　a　brief　interview　in　London；　she　had　already　discovered
that　Lady　Brandon's　manner；　mind；　and　speech　were　just　what　Miss
Carpenter's　had　been。　But；　even　from　Agatha；　Jane　commanded　more
respect　than　before；　having　changed　from　an　overgrown　girl　into　a
fine　woman；　and　made　a　brilliant　match　in　her　first　season；
whilst　many　of　her　pretty；　proud；　and　clever　contemporaries；　whom
she　had　envied　at　school；　were　still　unmarried；　and　were　having
their　homes　made　uncomfortable　by　parents　anxious　to　get　rid　of
the　burthen　of　supporting　them；　and　to　profit　in　purse　or
position　by　their　marriages。

This　was　Gertrude's　case。　Like　Agatha；　she　had　thrown　away　her
matrimonial　opportunities。　Proud　of　her　rank　and　exclusiveness；
she　had　resolved　to　have　as　little　as　possible　to　do　with　persons
who　did　not　share　both　with　her。　She　began　by　repulsing　the
proffered　acquaintance　of　many　families　of　great　wealth　and
fashion；　who　either　did　not　know　their　grandparents　or　were
ashamed　of　them。　Having　shut　herself　out　of　their　circle；　she　was
presented　at　court；　and　thenceforth　accepted　the　invitations　of
those　only　who　had；　in　her　opinion；　a　right　to　the　same　honor。
And　she　was　far　stricter　on　that　point　than　the　Lord　Chamberlain；
who　had；　she　held；　betrayed　his　trust　by　practically　turning
Leveller。　She　was　well　educated；　refined　in　her　manners　and
habits；　skilled　in　etiquette　to　an　extent　irritating　to　the
ignorant；　and　gifted　with　a　delicate　complexion；　pearly　teeth；
and　a　face　that　would　have　been　Grecian　but　for　a　slight　upward
tilt　of　the　nose　and　traces　of　a　square；　heavy　type　in　the　jaw。
Her　father　was　a　retired　admiral；　with　sufficient　influence　to
have　had　a　sinecure　made　by　a　Conservative　government　expressly
for　the　maintenance　of　his　son　pending　alliance　with　some
heiress。　Yet　Gertrude　remained　single；　and　the　admiral；　who　had
formerly　spent　more　money　than　he　could　comfortably　afford　on　her
education；　and　was　still　doing　so　upon　her　state　and　personal
adornment；　was　complaining　so　unpleasantly　of　her　failure　to　get
taken　off　his　hands；　that　she　could　hardly　bear　to　live　at　home；
and　was　ready　to　marry　any　thoroughbred　gentleman；　however
unsuitable　his　age　or　character；　who　would　relieve　her　from　her
humiliating　dependence。　She　was　prepared　to　sacrifice　her　natural
desire　for　youth；　beauty；　and　virtue　in　a　husband　if　she　could
escape　from　her　parents　on　no　easier　terms；　but　she　was　resolved
to　die　an　old　maid　sooner　than　marry　an　upstart。

The　difficulty　in　her　way　was　pecuniary。　The　admiral　was　poor。　He
had　not　quite　six　thousand　a　year；　and　though　he　practiced　the
utmost　economy　in　order　to　keep　up　the　most　expensive　habits；　he
could　not　afford　to　give　his　daughter　a　dowry。　Now　the　well　born
bachelors　of　her　set；　having　more　blue　bood；　but　much　less
wealth；　than　they　needed；　admired　her；　paid　her　compliments；
danced　with　her；　but　could　not　afford　to　marry　her。　Some　of　them
even　told　her　so；　married　rich　daughters　of　tea　merchants；　iron
founders；　or　successful　stocktrok