the chaperon-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


uncovering；　and　Captain　Jay　stood　saluting　her　in　the　Italian
sunshine。　　〃Oh；　good…morning！〃　she　said；　and　walked　on；　pursuing　her
course；　her　mother　was　a　little　in　front。　　She　overtook　her　in　a
moment；　with　an　unreasonable　sense；　like　a　gust　of　cold　air；　that　men
were　worse　than　ever；　for　Captain　Jay　had　apparently　moved　into　the
church。　　Her　mother　turned　as　they　met；　and　suddenly；　as　she　looked
back；　an　expression　of　peculiar　sweetness　came　into　this　lady's　eyes。
It　made　Rose's　take　the　same　direction　and　rest　a　second　time　on
Captain　Jay；　who　was　planted　just　where　he　had　stood　a　minute　before。
He　immediately　came　forward；　asking　Rose　with　great　gravity　if　he
might　speak　to　her　a　moment；　while　Mrs。　Tramore　went　her　way　again。
He　had　the　expression　of　a　man　who　wished　to　say　something　very
important；　yet　his　next　words　were　simple　enough　and　consisted　of　the
remark　that　he　had　not　seen　her　for　a　year。

〃Is　it　really　so　much　as　that？〃　asked　Rose。

〃Very　nearly。　　I　would　have　looked　you　up；　but　in　the　first　place　I
have　been　very　little　in　London；　and　in　the　second　I　believed　it
wouldn't　have　done　any　good。〃

〃You　should　have　put　that　first；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃It　wouldn't　have
done　any　good。〃

He　was　silent　over　this　a　moment；　in　his　customary　deciphering　way；
but　the　view　he　took　of　it　did　not　prevent　him　from　inquiring；　as　she
slowly　followed　her　mother；　if　he　mightn't　walk　with　her　now。　　She
answered　with　a　laugh　that　it　wouldn't　do　any　good　but　that　he　might
do　as　he　liked。　　He　replied　without　the　slightest　manifestation　of
levity　that　it　would　do　more　good　than　if　he　didn't；　and　they
strolled　together；　with　Mrs。　Tramore　well　before　them；　across　the
big；　amusing　piazza；　where　the　front　of　the　cathedral　makes　a　sort　of
builded　light。　　He　asked　a　question　or　two　and　he　explained　his　own
presence：　　having　a　month's　holiday；　the　first　clear　time　for　several
years；　he　had　just　popped　over　the　Alps。　　He　inquired　if　Rose　had
recent　news　of　the　old　lady　in　Hill　Street；　and　it　was　the　only
tortuous　thing　she　had　ever　heard　him　say。

〃I　have　had　no　communication　of　any　kind　from　her　since　I　parted　with
you　under　her　roof。　　Hasn't　she　mentioned　that？〃　said　Rose。

〃I　haven't　seen　her。〃

〃I　thought　you　were　such　great　friends。〃

Bertram　Jay　hesitated　a　moment。　　〃Well；　not　so　much　now。〃

〃What　has　she　done　to　you？〃　Rose　demanded。

He　fidgeted　a　little；　as　if　he　were　thinking　of　something　that　made
him　unconscious　of　her　question；　then；　with　mild　violence；　he　brought
out　the　inquiry：　　〃Miss　Tramore；　are　you　happy？〃

She　was　startled　by　the　words；　for　she　on　her　side　had　been
reflectingreflecting　that　he　had　broken　with　her　grandmother　and
that　this　pointed　to　a　reason。　　It　suggested　at　least　that　he
wouldn't　now　be　so　much　like　a　mouthpiece　for　that　cold　ancestral
tone。　　She　turned　off　his　questionsaid　it　never　was　a　fair　one；　as
you　gave　yourself　away　however　you　answered　it。　　When　he　repeated
〃You　give　yourself　away？〃　as　if　he　didn't　understand；　she　remembered
that　he　had　not　read　the　funny　American　books。　　This　brought　them　to
a　silence；　for　she　had　enlightened　him　only　by　another　laugh；　and　he
was　evidently　preparing　another　question；　which　he　wished　carefully
to　disconnect　from　the　former。　　Presently；　just　as　they　were　coming
near　Mrs。　Tramore；　it　arrived　in　the　words　〃Is　this　lady　your
mother？〃　　On　Rose's　assenting；　with　the　addition　that　she　was
travelling　with　her；　he　said：　　〃Will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　introduce
me　to　her？〃　　They　were　so　close　to　Mrs。　Tramore　that　she　probably
heard；　but　she　floated　away　with　a　single　stroke　of　her　paddle　and　an
inattentive　poise　of　her　head。　　It　was　a　striking　exhibition　of　the
famous　tact；　for　Rose　delayed　to　answer；　which　was　exactly　what　might
have　made　her　mother　wish　to　turn；　and　indeed　when　at　last　the　girl
spoke　she　only　said　to　her　companion：　　〃Why　do　you　ask　me　that？〃

〃Because　I　desire　the　pleasure　of　making　her　acquaintance。〃

Rose　had　stopped；　and　in　the　middle　of　the　square　they　stood　looking
at　each　other。　　〃Do　you　remember　what　you　said　to　me　the　last　time　I
saw　you？〃

〃Oh；　don't　speak　of　that！〃

〃It's　better　to　speak　of　it　now　than　to　speak　of　it　later。〃

Bertram　Jay　looked　round　him；　as　if　to　see　whether　any　one　would
hear；　but　the　bright　foreignness　gave　him　a　sense　of　safety；　and　he
unexpectedly　exclaimed：　　〃Miss　Tramore；　I　love　you　more　than　ever！〃

〃Then　you　ought　to　have　come　to　see　us；〃　declared　the　girl；　quickly
walking　on。

〃You　treated　me　the　last　time　as　if　I　were　positively　offensive　to
you。〃

〃So　I　did；　but　you　know　my　reason。〃

〃Because　I　protested　against　the　course　you　were　taking？　　I　did；　I
did！〃　the　young　man　rang　out；　as　if　he　still；　a　little；　stuck　to
that。

His　tone　made　Rose　say　gaily：　　〃Perhaps　you　do　so　yet？〃

〃I　can't　tell　till　I've　seen　more　of　your　circumstances；〃　he　replied
with　eminent　honesty。

The　girl　stared；　her　light　laugh　filled　the　air。　　〃And　it's　in　order
to　see　more　of　them　and　judge　that　you　wish　to　make　my　mother's
acquaintance？〃

He　coloured　at　this　and　he　evaded；　then　he　broke　out　with　a　confused
〃Miss　Tramore；　let　me　stay　with　you　a　little！〃　which　made　her　stop
again。

〃Your　company　will　do　us　great　honour；　but　there　must　be　a　rigid
condition　attached　to　our　acceptance　of　it。〃

〃Kindly　mention　it；〃　said　Captain　Jay；　staring　at　the　facade　of　the
cathedral。

〃You　don't　take　us　on　trial。〃

〃On　trial？〃

〃You　don't　make　an　observation　to　menot　a　single　one；　ever；　ever！
on　the　matter　that；　in　Hill　Street；　we　had　our　last　words　about。〃

Captain　Jay　appeared　to　be　counting　the　thousand　pinnacles　of　the
church。　　〃I　think　you　really　must　be　right；〃　he　remarked　at　last。

〃There　you　are！〃　cried　Rose　Tramore；　and　walked　rapidly　away。

He　caught　up　with　her；　he　laid　his　hand　upon　her　arm　to　stay　her。
〃If　you're　going　to　Venice；　let　me　go　to　Venice　with　you！〃

〃You　don't　even　understand　my　condition。〃

〃I'm　sure　you're　right；　then：　　you　must　be　right　about　everything。〃

〃That's　not　in　the　least　true；　and　I　don't　care　a　fig　whether　you're
sure　or　not。　　Please　let　me　go。〃

He　had　barred　her　way；　he　kept　her　longer。　　〃I'll　go　and　speak　to
your　mother　myself！〃

Even　in　the　midst　of　another　emotion　she　was　amused　at　the　air　of
audacity　accompanying　this　declaration。　　Poor　Captain　Jay　might　have
been　on　the　point　of　marching　up　to　a　battery。　　She　looked　at　him　a
moment；　then　she　said：　　〃You'll　be　disappointed！〃

〃Disappointed？〃

〃She's　much　more　proper　than　grandmamma；　because　she's　much　more
amiable。〃

〃Dear　Miss　Tramoredear　Miss　Tramore！〃　the　young　man　murmured
helplessly。

〃You'll　see　for　yourself。　　Only　there's　another　condition；〃　Rose　went
on。

〃Another？〃　he　cried；　with　discouragement　and　alarm。

〃You　must　understand　thoroughly；　before　you　throw　in　your　lot　with　us
even　for　a　few　days；　what　our　position　really　is。〃

〃Is　it　very　bad？〃　asked　Bertram　Jay　artlessly。

〃No　one　has　anything　to　do　with　us；　no　one　speaks　to　us；　no　one　looks
at　us。〃

〃Really？〃　stared　the　young　man。

〃We've　no　social　existence；　we're　utterly　despised。〃

〃Oh；　Miss　Tramore！〃　Captain　Jay　interposed。　　He　added　quickly；
vaguely；　and　with　a　want　of　presence　of　mind　of　which　he　as　quickly
felt　ashamed：　　〃Do　none　of　your　family？〃　　The　question　collapsed；
the　brilliant　girl　was　looking　at　him。

〃We're　extraordinarily　happy；〃　she　threw　out。

〃Now　that's　all　I　wanted　to　know！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　a　kind　of
exaggerated　cheery　reproach；　walking　on　with　her　briskly　to　overtake
her　mother。

He　was　not　dining　at　their　inn；　but　he　insisted　on　coming　that
evening　to　their　table　d'hote。　　He　sat　next　Mrs。　Tramore；　and　in　the
evening　he　accompanied　them　gallantly　to　the　opera；　at　a　third…rate
theatre　where　they　were　almost　the　only　ladies　in　the　boxes。　　The
next　day　they　went　together　by　rail　to　the　Charterhouse　of　Pavia；　and
while　he　strolled　with　the　girl；　as　they　waited　for　the　homeward
train；　he　said　to　her　candidly：　　〃Your　mother's　remarkably　pretty。〃
She　remembered　the　words　and　the　feeling　they　gave　her：　　they　were
the　first　note　of　new　era。　　The　feeling　was　somewhat　that　of　an
anxious；　gratified　matron　who　has　〃presented〃　her　child　and　is
thinking　of　the　matrimonial　market。　　Men　might　be　of　no　use；　as　Mrs。
Tramore　said；　yet　it　was　from　this　moment　Rose　dated　the　rosy　dawn　of
her　confidence　that　her　protegee　would　go　off；　and　when　later；　in
crowded　assemblies；　the　phrase；　or　something　like　it　behind　a　hat　or
a　fan；　fell　repeatedly　on　her　anxious　ear；　〃Your　mother　IS　in
beauty！〃　or　〃I've　never　seen　her　look　better！〃　she　had　a　faint　vision
of　the　yellow　sunshine　and　the　afternoon　shadows　on　the　dusty　Italian
platform。

Mrs。　Tramore's　behaviour　at　this　period　was　a　revelation　of　her
native　understanding　of　delicate　situations。　　She　needed　no　account
of　this　one　from　her　daughterit　was　one　of　the　things　for　which　she
had　a　scent；　and　there　was　a　kind　of　loyalty　to　the　rules　of　a　game
in　the　silent　sweetness　with　which　she　smoothed　the　path　of　Bertram
Jay。　　It　was　clear　that　she　was　in　her　element　in　fostering　the
exercise　of　the　affections；　and　if　she　ever　spoke　without　thinking
twice　it　is　probable　that　she　would　have　exclaimed；　with　some　gaiety；
〃Oh；　I　know　all　about　LOVE！〃　　Rose　could　see　that　she　thought　their
companion　would　be　a　help；　in　spite　of　his　being　no　dispenser　of
patronage。　　The　key　to　the　gates　of　fashion　had　not　been　placed　in
his　hand；　and　no　one　had　ever　heard　of　the　ladies　of　his　family；　who
lived　in　some　vague　hollow　of　the　Yorkshire　moors；　but　none　the　less
he　might　administer　a　muscular　push。　　Yes　indeed；　men　in　general　were
broken　reeds；　but　Captain　Jay　was　peculiarly　representative。
Respectability　was　the　woman's　maximum；　as　honour　was　the　man's；　but
this　distinguished　young　soldier　inspired　more　than　one　kind　of
confidence。　　Rose　had　a　great　deal　of　attention　for　the　use　to　which
his　respectability　was　put；　and　there　mingled　with　this　attention
some　amusement　and　much　compassion。　　She　saw　that　after　a　couple　of
days　he　decidedly　liked　her　mother；　and　that　he　was　yet　not　in　the
least　aware　of　it。　　He　took　for　granted　that　he　believed　in　her　but
little；　notwithstanding　which　he　would　have　trusted　her　with　anything
except　Rose　herself。　　His　trusting　her　with　Rose　would　come　very
soon。　　He　never　spoke　to　her　daughter　about　her　qualities　of
character；　but　two　or　three　of　them　（and　indeed　these　were　all　the
poor　lady　had；　and　they　made　the　best　show）　were　what　he　had　in　mind
in　praising　her　appearance。　　When　he　remarked：　　〃What　attention　Mrs。
Tramore　seems　to　attract　everywhere！〃　he　meant：　　〃What　a　beautifully
simple　nature　it　is！〃　and　when　he　said：　　〃There's　something
extraordinarily　harmonious　in　the　colours　she　wears；〃　it　signified：
〃Upon　my　word；　I　never　saw　such　a　sweet　temper　in　my　life！〃　　She　lost
one　of　her　boxes　at　Verona；　and　made　the　prettiest　joke　of　it　to
Captain　Jay。　　When　Rose　saw　this　she　said　to　herself；　〃Next　season　we
shall　have　only　to　choose。〃　　Rose　knew　what　was　in　the　box。

By　the　time　they　reached　Venice　（they　had　stopped　at　half　a　dozen
little　old　romantic　cities　in　the　most　frolicsome　aesthetic　way）　she
liked　their　companion　better　than