little novels-第22章

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enary　motive。　Did　she　propose　to　brighten　those　dreary　prospects　to　which　he　had　alluded　in　speaking　of　his　own　life？　When　he　presented　himself　at　her　house　the　next　evening；　would　she　introduce　him　to　a　charming　daughter？

He　smiled　as　the　idea　occurred　to　him。　〃An　appropriate　time　to　be　thinking　of　my　chances　of　marriage！〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃In　another　month　I　may　be　a　ruined　man。〃

III。

THE　gentleman　who　had　so　urgently　requested　an　interview　was　a　devoted　friendwho　had　obtained　a　means　of　helping　Ernest　at　a　serious　crisis　in　his　affairs。

It　had　been　truly　reported　that　he　was　in　a　position　of　pecuniary　embarrassment；　owing　to　the　failure　of　a　mercantile　house　with　which　he　had　been　intimately　connected。　Whispers　affecting　his　own　solvency　had　followed　on　the　bankruptcy　of　the　firm。　He　had　already　endeavored　to　obtain　advances　of　money　on　the　usual　conditions；　and　had　been　met　by　excuses　for　delay。　His　friend　had　now　arrived　with　a　letter　of　introduction　to　a　capitalist；　well　known　in　commercial　circles　for　his　daring　speculations　and　for　his　great　wealth。

Looking　at　the　letter；　Ernest　observed　that　the　envelope　was　sealed。　In　spite　of　that　ominous　innovation　on　established　usage；　in　cases　of　personal　introduction；　he　presented　the　letter。　On　this　occasion；　he　was　not　put　off　with　excuses。　The　capitalist　flatly　declined　to　discount　Mr。　Lismore's　bills；　unless　they　were　backed　by　responsible　names。

Ernest　made　a　last　effort。

He　applied　for　help　to　two　mercantile　men　whom　he　had　assisted　in　_their_　difficulties；　and　whose　names　would　have　satisfied　the　money…lender。　They　were　most　sincerely　sorrybut　they；　too；　refused

The　one　security　that　he　could　offer　was　open；　it　must　be　owned；　to　serious　objections　on　the　score　of　risk。　He　wanted　an　advance　of　twenty　thousand　pounds；　secured　on　a　homeward…bound　ship　and　cargo。　But　the　vessel　was　not　insured；　and；　at　that　stormy　season；　she　was　already　more　than　a　month　overdue。　Could　grateful　colleagues　be　blamed　if　they　forgot　their　obligations　when　they　were　asked　to　offer　pecuniary　help　to　a　merchant　in　this　situation？　Ernest　returned　to　his　office；　without　money　and　without　credit。

A　man　threatened　by　ruin　is　in　no　state　of　mind　to　keep　an　engagement　at　a　lady's　tea…table。　Ernest　sent　a　letter　of　　apology　to　Mrs。　Call　ender；　alleging　extreme　pressure　of　business　as　the　excuse　for　breaking　his　engagement。

〃Am　I　to　wait　for　an　answer；　sir？〃　the　messenger　asked。

〃No；　you　are　merely　to　leave　the　letter。〃

IV。

IN　an　hour's　timeto　Ernest's　astonishmentthe　messenger　returned　with　a　reply。

〃The　lady　was　just　going　out；　sir；　when　I　rang　at　the　door；〃　he　explained；　〃and　she　took　the　letter　from　me　herself。　She　didn't　appear　to　know　your　handwriting；　and　she　asked　me　who　I　came　from。　When　I　mentioned　your　name；　I　was　ordered　to　wait。〃

Ernest　opened　the　letter。



〃DEAR　MR。　LISMOREOne　of　us　must　speak　out；　and　your　letter　of　apology　forces　me　to　be　that　one。　If　you　are　really　so　proud　and　so　distrustfull　as　you　seem　to　be；　I　shall　offend　you。　If　not；　I　shall　prove　myself　to　be　your　friend。

〃Your　excuse　is　'pressure　of　business。'　The　truth　（as　I　have　good　reason　to　believe）　is　'want　of　money。'　I　heard　a　stranger；　at　that　public　meeting；　say　that　you　were　seriously　embarrassed　by　some　failure　in　the　City。

〃Let　me　tell　you　what　my　own　pecuniary　position　is　in　two　words。　I　am　the　childless　widow　of　a　rich　man〃



Ernest　paused。　His　anticipated　discovery　of　Mrs。　Callender's　〃charming　daughter〃　was　in　his　mind　for　the　moment。　〃That　little　romance　must　return　to　the　world　of　dreams；〃　he　thoughtand　went　on　with　the　letter。



〃After　what　I　owe　to　you；　I　don't　regard　it　as　repaying　an　obligationI　consider　myself　as　merely　performing　a　duty　when　I　offer　to　assist　you　by　a　loan　of　money。

〃Wait　a　little　before　you　throw　my　letter　into　the　wastepaper　basket。

〃Circumstances　（which　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　mention　before　we　meet）　put　it　out　of　my　power　to　help　youunless　I　attach　to　my　most　sincere　offer　of　service　a　very　unusual　and　very　embarrassing　condition。　If　you　are　on　the　brink　of　ruin；　that　misfortune　will　plead　my　excuseand　your　excuse；　too；　if　you　accept　the　loan　on　my　terms。　In　any　case；　I　rely　on　the　sympathy　and　forbearance　of　the　man　to　whom　I　owe　my　life。

〃After　what　I　have　now　written；　there　is　only　one　thing　to　add。　I　beg　to　decline　accepting　your　excuses；　and　I　shall　expect　to　see　you　tomorrow　evening；　as　we　arranged。　I　am　an　obstinate　old　womanbut　I　am　also　your　faithful　friend　and　servant；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MARY　CALLENDER。〃



Ernest　looked　up　from　the　letter。　〃What　can　this　possibly　mean？〃　he　wondered。

But　he　was　too　sensible　a　man　to　be　content　with　wonderinghe　decided　on　keeping　his　engagement。

V。

WHAT　Doctor　Johnson　called　〃the　insolence　of　wealth〃　appears　far　more　frequently　in　the　houses　of　the　rich　than　in　the　manners　of　the　rich。　The　reason　is　plain　enough。　Personal　ostentation　is；　in　the　very　nature　of　it；　ridiculous。　But　the　ostentation　which　exhibits　magnificent　pictures；　priceless　china；　and　splendid　furniture；　can　purchase　good　taste　to　guide　it；　and　can　assert　itself　without　affording　the　smallest　opening　for　a　word　of　depreciation；　or　a　look　of　contempt。　If　I　am　worth　a　million　of　money；　and　if　I　am　dying　to　show　it；　I　don't　ask　you　to　look　at　meI　ask　you　to　look　at　my　house。

Keeping　his　engagement　with　Mrs。　Callender；　Ernest　discovered　that　riches　might　be　lavishly　and　yet　modestly　used。

In　crossing　the　hall　and　ascending　the　stairs；　look　where　he　might；　his　notice　was　insensibly　won　by　proofs　of　the　taste　which　is　not　to　be　purchased；　and　the　wealth　which　uses　but　never　exhibits　its　purse。　Conducted　by　a　man…servant　to　the　landing　on　the　first　floor；　he　found　a　maid　at　the　door　of　the　boudoir　waiting　to　announce　him。　Mrs。　Callender　advanced　to　welcome　her　guest；　in　a　simple　evening　dress　perfectly　suited　to　her　age。　All　that　had　looked　worn　and　faded　in　her　fine　face；　by　daylight；　was　now　softly　obscured　by　shaded　lamps。　Objects　of　beauty　surrounded　her；　which　glowed　with　subdued　radiance　from　their　background　of　sober　color。　The　influence　of　appearances　is　the　strongest　of　all　outward　influences；　while　it　lasts。　For　the　moment；　the　scene　produced　its　impression　on　Ernest；　in　spite　of　the　terrible　anxieties　which　consumed　him。　Mrs。　Callender；　in　his　office；　was　a　woman　who　had　stepped　out　of　her　appropriate　sphere。　Mrs。　Callender；　in　her　own　house；　was　a　woman　who　had　risen　to　a　new　place　in　his　estimation。

〃I　am　afraid　you　don't　thank　me　for　forcing　you　to　keep　your　engagement；〃　she　said；　with　her　friendly　tones　and　her　pleasant　smile。

〃Indeed　I　do　thank　you；〃　he　replied。　〃Your　beautiful　house　and　your　gracious　welcome　have　persuaded　me　into　forgetting　my　troublesfor　a　while。〃

The　smile　passed　away　from　her　face。　〃Then　it　is　true；〃　she　said　gravely。

〃Only　too　true。〃

She　led　him　to　a　seat　beside　her；　and　waited　to　speak　again　until　her　maid　had　brought　in　the　tea。

〃Have　you　read　my　letter　in　the　same　friendly　spirit　in　which　I　wrote　it？〃　she　asked；　when　they　were　alone　again。

〃I　have　read　your　letter　gratefully；　but〃

〃But　you　don't　know　yet　what　I　have　to　say。　Let　us　understand　each　other　before　we　make　any　objections　on　either　side。　Will　you　tell　me　what　your　present　position　isat　its　worst？　I　can　and　will　speak　plainly　when　my　turn　comes；　if　you　will　honor　me　with　your　confidence。　Not　if　it　distresses　you；〃　she　added；　observing　him　attentively。

He　was　ashamed　of　his　hesitationand　he　made　amends　for　it。

〃Do　you　thoroughly　understand　me？〃　he　asked；　when　the　whole　truth　had　been　laid　before　her　without　reserve。

She　summed　up　the　result　in　her　own　words。

〃If　your　overdue　ship　returns　safely；　within　a　month　from　this　time；　you　can　borrow　the　money　you　want；　without　difficulty。　If　the　ship　is　lost；　you　have　no　alternative　（when　the　end　of　the　month　comes）　but　to　accept　a　loan　from　me　or　to　suspend　payment。　Is　that　the　hard　truth？〃

〃It　is。〃

〃And　the　sum　you　require　istwenty　thousand　pounds？〃

〃Yes　〃

〃I　have　twenty　times　as　much　money　as　that；　Mr。　Lismore；　at　my　sole　disposalon　one　condition。〃

〃The　condition　alluded　to　in　your　letter？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Does　the　fulfillment　of　the　condition　depend　in　some　way　on　any　decision　of　mine？〃

〃It　depends　entirely　on　you。〃

That　answer　closed　his　lips。

With　a　composed　manner　and　a　steady　hand　she　poured　herself　out　a　cup　of　tea。

〃I　conceal　it　from　you；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　want　confidence。　Here〃　（she　pointed　to　the　cup）　〃is　the　friend　of　women；　rich　or　poor；　when　they　are　in　trouble。　What　I　have　now　to　say　obliges　me　to　speak　in　praise　of　myself。　I　don't　like　itlet　me　get　it　over　as　soon　as　I　can。　My　husband　was　very　fond　of　me：　he　had　the　most　absolute　confidence　in　my　discretion；　and　in　my　sense　of　duty　to　him　and　to　myself。　His　last　words；　before　he　died；　were　words　that　thanked　me　for　making　the　happiness　of　his　life。　As　soon　as　I　had　in　some　degree　recovered；　after　the　affliction　that　had　fallen　on　me；　his　lawyer　and　executor　produced　a　copy　of　his　will；　and　said　there　were　two　clauses　in　it　which　my　husband　had　expressed　a　wish　that　I　should　read。　It　is　needless　to　say　that　I　obeyed。〃

She　still　controlled　her　agitationbut　she　was　now　unable　to　conceal　it。　Ernest　made　an　attempt　to　spare　her。

〃Am　I　concerned　in　this？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes。　Before　I　tell　you　why；　I　want　to　know　what　you　would　doin　a　certain　case　which　I　am　unwilling　even　to　suppose。　I　have　heard　of　men；　unable　to　pay　the　demands　made　on　them；　who　began　business　again；　and　succeeded；　and　in　course　of　time　paid　their　creditors。〃

〃And　you　want　to　know　if　there　is　any　likelihood　of　my　following　their　example？〃　he　said。　〃Have　you　also　heard　of　men　who　have　made　that　second　effortwho　have　failed　againand　who　have　doubled　the　debts　they　owed　to　their　brethren　in　business　who　trusted　them？　I　knew　one　of　those　men　myself。　He　committed　suicide。〃

She　laid　her　hand　for　a　moment　on　his。

〃I　understand　you；〃　she　said。　〃If　ruin　comes〃

〃If　ruin　comes；〃　he　interposed；　〃a　man　without　money　and　without　credit　can　make　but　one　last　atonement。　Don't　speak　of　it　now。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　horror。

〃I　didn't　mean　_that！_〃　she　said。

〃Shall　we　go　back　to　what　you　read　in　the　will？〃　he　suggested。

〃Yesif　you　will　give　me　a　minute　to　compose　myself。〃

VI。

IN　less　than　the　minute　she　had　asked　for；　Mrs。　Callender　was　calm　enough　to　go　on。

〃I　now　possess　what　i　s　called　a　life…interest　in　my　husband's　fortune；〃　she　said。　〃The　money　is　to　be　divided；　at　my　death；　among　charitable　institutions；　excepting　a　certain　event〃

〃Which　is　provided　for　in　the　will？〃　Ernest　added；　helping　her　to　go　on。

〃Yes。　I　am　to　be　absolute　mistress　of　the　whole　of　the　four　hundred　thousand　pounds〃　her　voice　dropped；　and　her　eyes　looked　away　from　him　as　she　spoke　the　next　words〃on　this　one　condition；　that　I　marry　again。〃

He　looked　at　her　in　amazement。

〃Surely　I　have　mistaken　you；〃　he　said。　〃You　mean　on　this　one　condition；　that　you　do　_not_　marry　again？〃

〃No；　Mr。　Lismore；　I　mean　exactly　what　I　have　said。　You　now　know　that　the　recovery　of　your　credit　and　your　peace　of　mind　rests　entirely　with　yourself。〃

After　a　moment　of