little novels-第14章

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The　next　event　was　the　appearance　of　an　agent；　instructed　to　sell　the　business　in　consequence　of　the　landlady's　declining　health。　Add　the　death　at　a　later　time　and　there　is　the　beginning　and　the　end　of　the　story。　Fortune　owed　you　a　good　turn；　Cosway　and　Fortune　has　paid　the　debt。　Accept　my　best　congratulations。〃

Arrived　in　London；　Stone　went　on　at　once　to　his　relations　in　the　North。　Cosway　proceeded　to　the　office　of　the　family　lawyer　（Mr。　Atherton）；　who　had　taken　care　of　his　interests　in　his　absence。　His　father　and　Mr。　Atherton　had　been　schoolfellows　and　old　friends。　He　was　affectionately　received；　and　was　invited　to　pay　a　visit　the　next　day　to　the　lawyer's　villa　at　Richmond。

〃You　will　be　near　enough　to　London　to　attend　to　your　business　at　the　Admiralty；〃　said　Mr。　Atherton；　〃and　you　will　meet　a　visitor　at　my　house；　who　is　one　of　the　most　charming　girls　in　Englandthe　only　daughter　of　the　great　Mr。　Restall。　Good　heavens！　have　you　never　heard　of　him？　My　dear　sir；　he's　one　of　the　partners　in　the　famous　firm　of　Benshaw；　Restall；　and　Benshaw。〃

Cosway　was　wise　enough　to　accept　this　last　piece　of　information　as　quite　conclusive。　The　next　day；　Mrs。　Atherton　presented　him　to　the　charming　Miss　Restall；　and　Mrs。　Atherton's　young　married　daughter　（who　had　been　his　playfellow　when　they　were　children）　whispered　to　him；　half　in　jest；　half　in　earnest：　〃Make　the　best　use　of　your　time；　she　isn't　engaged　yet。〃

Cosway　shuddered　inwardly　at　the　bare　idea　of　a　second　marriage。　Was　Miss　Restall　the　sort　of　woman　to　restore　his　confidence？

She　was　small　and　slim　and　darka　graceful；　well…bred；　brightly　intelligent　person；　with　a　voice　exquisitely　sweet　and　winning　in　tone。　Her　ears；　hands；　and　feet　were　objects　to　worship；　and　she　had　an　attraction；　irresistibly　rare　among　the　women　of　the　present　timethe　attraction　of　a　perfectly　natural　smile。　Before　Cosway　had　been　an　hour　in　the　house；　she　discovered　that　his　long　term　of　service　on　foreign　stations　had　furnished　him　with　subjects　of　conversation　which　favorably　contrasted　with　the　commonplace　gossip　addressed　to　her　by　other　men。　Cosway　at　once　became　a　favorite；　as　Othello　became　a　favorite　in　his　day。

The　ladies　of　the　household　all　rejoiced　in　the　young　officer's　success；　with　the　exception　of　Miss　Restall's　companion　（supposed　to　hold　the　place　of　her　lost　mother；　at　a　large　salary）；　one　Mrs。　Margery。

Too　cautious　to　commit　herself　in　words；　this　lady　expressed　doubt　and　disapprobation　by　her　looks。　She　had　white　hair；　iron…gray　eyebrows；　and　protuberant　eyes；　her　looks　were　unusually　expressive。　One　evening；　she　caught　poor　Mr。　Atherton　alone；　and　consulted　him　confidentially　on　the　subject　of　Mr。　Cosway's　income。　This　was　the　first　warning　which　opened　the　eyes　of　the　good　lawyer　to　the　nature　of　the　〃friendship〃　already　established　between　his　two　guests。　He　knew　Miss　Restall's　illustrious　father　well；　and　he　feared　that　it　might　soon　be　his　disagreeable　duty　to　bring　Cosway's　visit　to　an　end。

On　a　certain　Saturday　afternoon；　while　Mr。　Atherton　was　still　considering　how　he　could　most　kindly　and　delicately　suggest　to　Cosway　that　it　was　time　to　say　good…by；　an　empty　carriage　arrived　at　the　villa。　A　note　from　Mr。　Restall　was　delivered　to　Mrs。　Atherton；　thanking　her　with　perfect　politeness　for　her　kindness　to　his　daughter。　Circumstances；〃　he　added；　〃rendered　it　necessary　that　Miss　Restall　should　return　home　that　afternoon。〃

The　〃circumstances〃　were　supposed　to　refer　to　a　garden…party　to　be　given　by　Mr。　Restall　in　the　ensuing　week。　But　why　was　his　daughter　wanted　at　home　before　the　day　of　the　party？

The　ladies　of　the　family；　still　devoted　to　Cosway's　interests；　entertained　no　doubt　that　Mrs。　Margery　had　privately　communicated　with　Mr。　Restall；　and　that　the　appearance　of　the　carriage　was　the　natural　result。　Mrs。　Atherton's　married　daughter　did　all　that　could　be　done：　she　got　rid　of　Mrs。　Margery　for　one　minute；　and　so　arranged　it　that　Cosway　and　Miss　Restall　took　leave　of　each　other　in　her　own　sitting…room。

When　the　young　lady　appeared　in　the　hall　she　had　drawn　her　veil　down。　Cosway　escaped　to　the　road　and　saw　the　last　of　the　carriage　as　it　drove　away。　In　a　little　more　than　a　fortnight　his　horror　of　a　second　marriage　had　become　one　of　the　dead　and　buried　emotions　of　his　nature。　He　stayed　at　the　villa　until　Monday　morning；　as　an　act　of　gratitude　to　his　good　friends；　and　then　accompanied　Mr。　Atherton　to　London。　Business　at　the　Admiralty　was　the　excuse。　It　imposed　on　nobody。　He　was　evidently　on　his　way　to　Miss　Restall。

〃Leave　your　business　in　my　hands；〃　said　the　lawyer；　on　the　journey　to　town；　〃and　go　and　amuse　yourself　on　the　Continent。　I　can't　blame　you　for　falling　in　love　with　Miss　Restall；　I　ought　to　have　foreseen　the　danger；　and　waited　till　she　had　left　us　before　I　invited　you　to　my　house。　But　I　may　at　least　warn　you　to　carry　the　matter　no　further。　If　you　had　eight　thousand　instead　of　eight　hundred　a　year；　Mr。　Restall　would　think　it　an　act　of　presumption　on　your　part　to　aspire　to　his　daughter's　hand；　unless　you　had　a　title　to　throw　into　the　bargain。　Look　at　it　in　the　true　light；　my　dear　boy；　and　one　of　these　days　you　will　thank　me　for　speaking　plainly。〃

Cosway　promised　to　〃look　at　it　in　the　true　light。〃

The　result；　from　his　point　of　view；　led　him　into　a　change　of　residence。　He　left　his　hotel　and　took　a　lodging　in　the　nearest　bystreet　to　Mr。　Restall's　palace　at　Kensington。

On　the　same　evening　he　applied　（with　the　confidence　due　to　a　previous　arrangement）　for　a　letter　at　the　neighboring　post…office；　addressed　to　E。　C。the　initials　of　Edwin　Cosway。　〃Pray　be　careful；〃　Miss　Restall　wrote；　〃I　have　tried　to　get　you　a　card　for　our　garden　party。　But　that　hateful　creature；　Margery；　has　evidently　spoken　to　my　father；　I　am　not　trusted　with　any　invitation　cards。　Bear　it　patiently；　dear；　as　I　do；　and　let　me　hear　if　you　have　succeeded　in　finding　a　lodging　near　us。〃

Not　submitting　to　this　first　disappointment　very　patiently；　Cosway　sent　his　reply　to　the　post…office；　addressed　to　A。　R。the　initials　of　Adela　Restall。　The　next　day　the　impatient　lover　applied　for　another　letter。　It　was　waiting　for　him；　but　it　was　not　directed　in　Adela's　handwriting。　Had　their　correspondence　been　discovered？　He　opened　the　letter　in　the　street；　and　read；　with　amazement；　these　lines：

〃Dear　Mr。　Cosway；　my　heart　sympathizes　with　two　faithful　lovers；　in　spite　of　my　age　and　my　duty。　I　inclose　an　invitation　to　the　party　tomorrow。　Pray　don't　betray　me；　and　don't　pay　too　marked　attention　to　Adela。　Discretion　is　easy。　There　will　be　twelve　hundred　guests。　Your　friend；　in　spite　of　appearances；　Louisa　Margery。〃

How　infamously　they　had　all　misjudged　this　excellent　woman！　Cosway　went　to　the　party　a　grateful；　as　well　as　a　happy　man。　The　first　persons　known　to　him；　whom　he　discovered　among　the　crowd　of　strangers；　were　the　Athertons。　They　looked；　as　well　they　might；　astonished　to　see　him。　Fidelity　to　Mrs。　Margery　forbade　him　to　enter　into　any　explanations。　Where　was　that　best　and　truest　friend？　With　some　difficulty　he　succeeded　in　finding　her。　Was　there　any　impropriety　in　seizing　her　hand　and　cordially　pressing　it？　The　result　of　this　expression　of　gratitude　was；　to　say　the　least　of　it；　perplexing。

Mrs。　Margery　behaved　like　the　Athertons！　She　looked　astonished　to　see　him　and　she　put　precisely　the　same　question：　〃How　did　you　get　here？〃　Cosway　could　only　conclude　that　she　was　joking。　〃Who　should　know　that；　dear　lady；　better　than　yourself？〃　he　rejoined。　〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　Mrs。　Margery　answered；　sharply。　After　a　moment's　reflection；　Cosway　hit　on　another　solution　of　the　mystery。　Visitors　were　near　them；　and　Mrs。　Margery　had　made　her　own　private　use　of　one　of　Mr。　Restall's　invitation　cards。　She　might　have　serious　reasons　for　pushing　caution　to　its　last　extreme。　Cosway　looked　at　her　significantly。　〃The　least　I　can　do　is　not　to　be　indiscreet；〃　he　whispered　and　left　her。

He　turned　into　a　side　walk；　and　there　he　met　Adela　at　last！

It　seemed　like　a　fatality。　_She_　looked　astonished；　and　_she_　said：　〃How　did　you　get　here？〃　No　intrusive　visitors　were　within　hearing；　this　time。　〃My　dear！〃　Cosway　remonstrated；　〃Mrs。　Margery　must　have　told　you；　when　she　sent　me　my　invitation。〃　Adela　turned　pale。　〃Mrs。　Margery？〃　she　repeated。　〃Mrs。　Margery　has　said　nothing　to　me；　Mrs。　Margery　detests　you。　We　must　have　this　cleared　up。　No；　not　nowI　must　attend　to　our　guests。　Expect　a　letter；　and；　for　heaven's　sake；　Edwin；　keep　out　of　my　father's　way。　One　of　our　visitors　whom　he　particularly　wished　to　see　has　sent　an　excuseand　he　is　dreadfully　angry　about　it。〃

She　left　him　before　Cosway　could　explain　that　he　and　Mr。　Restall　had　thus　far　never　seen　each　other。

He　wandered　away　toward　the　extremity　of　the　grounds；　troubled　by　vague　suspicions；　hurt　at　Adela's　cold　reception　of　him。　Entering　a　shrubbery；　which　seemed　intended　to　screen　the　grounds；　at　this　point；　from　a　lane　outside；　he　suddenly　discovered　a　pretty　little　summer…house　among　the　trees。　A　stout　gentleman；　of　mature　years；　was　seated　alone　in　this　retreat。　He　looked　up　with　a　frown。　Cosway　apologized　for　disturbing　him；　and　entered　into　conversation　as　an　act　of　politeness。

〃A　brilliant　assembly　to…day；　sir。〃

The　stout　gentleman　replied　by　an　inarticulate　soundsomething　between　a　grunt　and　a　cough。

〃And　a　splendid　house　and　grounds；〃　Cosway　continued。

The　stout　gentleman　repeated　the　inarticulate　sound。

Cosway　began　to　feel　amused。　Was　this　curious　old　man　deaf　and　dumb？

〃Excuse　my　entering　into　conversation；〃　he　persisted。　〃I　feel　like　a　stranger　here。　There　are　so　many　people　whom　I　don't　know。〃

The　stout　gentleman　suddenly　burst　into　speech。　Cosway　had　touched　a　sympathetic　fiber　at　last。

〃There　are　a　good　many　people　here　whom　_I_　don't　know；〃　he　said；　gruffly。　〃You　are　one　of　them。　What's　your　name？〃

〃My　name　is　Cosway；　sir。　What's　yours？〃

The　stout　gentleman　rose　with　fury　in　his　looks。　He　burst　out　with　an　oath；　and　　added　the　in　tolerable　question；　already　three　times　repeated　by　others：　〃How　did　you　get　here？〃　The　tone　was　even　more　offensive　than　the　oath。　〃Your　age　protects　you；　sir；　〃　said　Cosway；　with　the　loftiest　composure。　〃I'm　sorry　I　gave　my　name　to　so　rude　a　person。〃

〃Rude？〃　shouted　the　old　gentleman。　〃You　want　my　name　in　return；　I　suppose？　You　young　puppy；　you　shall　have　it！　My　name　is　Restall。〃

He　turned　his　back　and　walked　off。　Cosway　took　the　only　course　now　open　to　him。　He　returned　to　his　lodgings。

The　next　day　no　letter　reached　him　from　Adela。　He　went　to　the　postoffice。　No　letter　was　there。　The　day　wore　on　to　eveningand；　with　the　evening；　there　appeared　a　woman　who　was　a　stranger　to　him。　She　looked　like　a　servant；　and　she　was　the　bearer　of　a　mysterious　message。

〃Please　be　at　the　garden…door　that　opens　on　the　lane；　at　ten　o'clock　to…morrow　morning。　Knock　three　times　at　the　doorand　then　say　'Adela。'　Some　one　who　wishes　you　well　will　be　alone　in　the　shrubbery；　and　will　let　you　in。　No；　sir！　I　am　not　to　take　anything；　and　I　am　not　to　say　a　word　more。〃　She　spokeand　vanished。

Cosway　was　punctual　to　his　appointment。　He　knocked　three　times；　he　pronounced　Miss　Restall's　Christian　name。　Nothing　happened。　He　waited　a　while；　and　tried　again。　This　time　Adela's　voice　answered　strangely　from　the　shrubbery　in　tones　of　su