little novels-第24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！



When　he　returned　to　the　sitting…room；　the　young　lady　was　not　unnaturally　offended。　He　could　make　allowances　for　her　being　a　little　out　of　temper　at　the　slight　that　had　been　put　on　her；　but　he　was　inexpressibly　disconcerted　by　the　manneralmost　the　coarse　mannerin　which　she　expressed　herself。

〃I　have　been　talking　to　your　wife's　maid；　while　you　have　been　away；〃　she　said。　〃I　find　you　have　married　an　old　lady　for　her　money。　She　is　jealous　of　me；　of　course？〃

〃Let　me　beg　you　to　alter　your　opinion；〃　he　answered。　〃You　are　wronging　my　wife；　she　is　incapable　of　any　such　feeling　as　you　attribute　to　her。〃

The　young　lady　laughed。　〃At　any　rate　you　are　a　good　husband；〃　she　said　satirically。　〃Suppose　you　own　the　truth？　Wouldn't　you　like　her　better　if　she　was　young　and　pretty　like　me？〃

He　was　not　merely　surprisedhe　was　disgusted。　Her　beauty　had　so　completely　fascinated　him；　when　he　first　saw　her；　that　the　idea　of　associating　any　want　of　refinement　and　good　breeding　with　such　a　charming　creature　never　entered　his　mind。　The　disenchantment　to　him　was　already　so　complete　that　he　was　even　disagreeably　affected　by　the　tone　of　her　voice：　it　was　almost　as　repellent　to　him　as　the　exhibition　of　unrestrained　bad　temper　which　she　seemed　perfectly　careless　to　conceal。

〃I　confess　you　surprise　me；〃　he　said；　coldly。

The　reply　produced　no　effect　on　her。　On　the　contrary；　she　became　more　insolent　than　ever。

〃I　have　a　fertile　fancy；〃　she　went　on；　〃and　your　absurd　way　of　taking　a　joke　only　encourages　me！　Suppose　you　could　transform　this　sour　old　wife　of　yours；　who　has　insulted　me；　into　the　sweetest　young　creature　that　ever　lived；　by　only　holding　up　your　fingerwouldn't　you　do　it？〃

This　passed　the　limits　of　his　endurance。　〃I　have　no　wish；〃　he　said；　〃to　forget　the　consideration　which　is　due　to　a　woman。　You　leave　me　but　one　alternative。〃　He　rose　to　go　out　of　the　room。

She　ran　to　the　door　as　he　spoke；　and　placed　herself　in　the　way　of　his　going　out。

He　signed　to　her　to　let　him　pass。

She　suddenly　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck；　kissed　him　passionately；　and　whispered；　with　her　lips　at　his　ear：　〃Oh；　Ernest；　forgive　me！　Could　I　have　asked　you　to　marry　me　for　my　money　if　I　had　not　taken　refuge　in　a　disguise？〃

XI。

WHEN　he　had　sufficiently　recovered　to　think；　he　put　her　back　from　him。　〃Is　there　an　end　of　the　deception　now？〃　he　asked；　sternly。　〃Am　I　to　trust　you　in　your　new　character？〃

〃You　are　not　to　be　harder　on　me　than　I　deserve；〃　she　answered；　gently。　〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　an　actress　named　Miss　Max？〃

He　began　to　understand　her。　〃Forgive　me　if　I　spoke　harshly；〃　he　said。　〃You　have　put　me　to　a　severe　trial。〃

She　burst　into　tears。　〃Love；〃　she　murmured；　〃is　my　only　excuse。〃

From　that　moment　she　had　won　her　pardon。　He　took　her　hand；　and　made　her　sit　by　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　heard　of　Miss　Max　and　of　her　wonderful　powers　of　personationand　I　have　always　regretted　not　having　seen　her　while　she　was　on　the　stage。〃

〃Did　you　hear　anything　more　of　her；　Ernest？〃

〃Yes；　I　heard　that　she　was　a　pattern　of　modesty　and　good　conduct；　and　that　she　gave　up　her　profession；　at　the　height　of　her　success；　to　marry　an　old　man。〃

〃Will　you　come　with　me　to　my　room？〃　she　asked。　〃I　have　something　there　which　I　wish　to　show　you。〃

It　was　the　copy　of　her　husband's　will。

〃Read　the　lines；　Ernest；　which　begin　at　the　top　of　the　page。　Let　my　dead　husband　speak　for　me。〃

The　lines　ran　thus：



〃My　motive　in　marrying　Miss　Max　must　be　stated　in　this　place；　in　justice　to　herand；　I　will　venture　to　add；　in　justice　to　myself。　I　felt　the　sincerest　sympathy　for　her　position。　She　was　without　father；　mother；　or　friends；　one　of　the　poor　forsaken　children；　whom　the　mercy　of　the　Foundling　Hospital　provides　with　a　home。　Her　after　life　on　the　stage　was　the　life　of　a　virtuous　woman：　persecuted　by　profligates；　insulted　by　some　of　the　baser　creatures　associated　with　her；　to　whom　she　was　an　object　of　envy。　I　offered　her　a　home；　and　the　protection　of　a　fatheron　the　only　terms　which　the　world　would　recognize　as　worthy　of　us。　My　experience　of　her　since　our　marriage　has　been　the　experience　of　unvarying　goodness；　sweetness；　and　sound　sense。　She　has　behaved　so　nobly；　in　a　trying　position；　that　I　wish　her　（even　in　this　life）　to　have　her　reward。　I　entreat　her　to　make　a　second　choice　in　marriage；　which　shall　not　be　a　mere　form。　I　firmly　believe　that　she　will　choose　well　and　wiselythat　she　will　make　the　happiness　of　a　man　who　is　worthy　of　herand　that；　as　wife　and　mother；　she　will　set　an　example　of　inestimable　value　in　the　social　sphere　that　she　occupies。　In　proof　of　the　　heartfelt　sincerity　with　which　I　pay　my　tribute　to　her　virtues；　I　add　to　this　my　will　the　clause　that　follows。〃

With　the　clause　that　followed；　Ernest　was　already　acquainted。

〃Will　you　now　believe　that　I　never　loved　till　I　saw　your　face　for　the　first　time？〃　said　his　wife。　〃I　had　no　experience　to　place　me　on　my　guard　against　the　fascinationthe　madness　some　people　might　call　itwhich　possesses　a　woman　when　all　her　heart　is　given　to　a　man。　Don't　despise　me；　my　dear！　Remember　that　I　had　to　save　you　from　disgrace　and　ruin。　Besides；　my　old　stage　remembrances　tempted　me。　I　had　acted　in　a　play　in　which　the　heroine　didwhat　I　have　done！　It　didn't　end　with　me；　as　it　did　with　her　in　the　story。　_She_　was　represented　as　rejoicing　in　the　success　of　her　disguise。　_I_　have　known　some　miserable　hours　of　doubt　and　shame　since　our　marriage。　When　I　went　to　meet　you　in　my　own　person　at　the　picture…galleryoh；　what　relief；　what　joy　I　felt；　when　I　saw　how　you　admired　meit　was　not　because　I　could　no　longer　carry　on　the　disguise。　I　was　able　to　get　hours　of　rest　from　the　effort；　not　only　at　night；　but　in　the　daytime；　when　I　was　shut　up　in　my　retirement　in　the　music…room；　and　when　my　maid　kept　watch　against　discovery。　No；　my　love！　I　hurried　on　the　disclosure；　because　I　could　no　longer　endure　the　hateful　triumph　of　my　own　deception。　Ah；　look　at　that　witness　against　me！　I　can't　bear　even　to　see　it！〃

She　abruptly　left　him。　The　drawer　that　she　had　opened　to　take　out　the　copy　of　the　will　also　contained　the　false　gray　hair　which　she　had　discarded。　It　had　only　that　moment　attracted　her　notice。　She　snatched　it　up；　and　turned　to　the　fireplace。

Ernest　took　it　from　her；　before　she　could　destroy　it。　〃Give　it　to　me；〃　he　said。

〃Why？〃

He　drew　her　gently　to　his　bosom；　and　answered：　〃I　must　not　forget　my　old　wife。〃


MISS　JEROMETTE　AND　THE　CLERGYMAN。

I。

MY　brother；　the　clergyman；　looked　over　my　shoulder　before　I　was　aware　of　him；　and　discovered　that　the　volume　which　completely　absorbed　my　attention　was　a　collection　of　famous　Trials；　published　in　a　new　edition　and　in　a　popular　form。

He　laid　his　finger　on　the　Trial　which　I　happened　to　be　reading　at　the　moment。　I　looked　up　at　him；　his　face　startled　me。　He　had　turned　pale。　His　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　open　page　of　the　book　with　an　expression　which　puzzled　and　alarmed　me。

〃My　dear　fellow；〃　I　said；　〃what　in　the　world　is　the　matter　with　you？〃

He　answered　in　an　odd　absent　manner；　still　keeping　his　finger　on　the　open　page。

〃I　had　almost　forgotten；〃　he　said。　〃And　this　reminds　me。〃

〃Reminds　you　of　what？〃　I　asked。　〃You　don't　mean　to　say　you　know　anything　about　the　Trial？〃

〃I　know　this；〃　he　said。　〃The　prisoner　was　guilty。〃

〃Guilty？〃　I　repeated。　〃Why；　the　man　was　acquitted　by　the　jury；　with　the　full　approval　of　the　judge！　What　call　you　possibly　mean？〃

〃There　are　circumstances　connected　with　that　Trial；〃　my　brother　answered；　〃which　were　never　communicated　to　the　judge　or　the　jurywhich　were　never　so　much　as　hinted　or　whispered　in　court。　_I_　know　themof　my　own　knowledge；　by　my　own　personal　experience。　They　are　very　sad；　very　strange；　very　terrible。　I　have　mentioned　them　to　no　mortal　creature。　I　have　done　my　best　to　forget　them。　Youquite　innocentlyhave　brought　them　back　to　my　mind。　They　oppress；　they　distress　me。　I　wish　I　had　found　you　reading　any　book　in　your　library；　except　_that_　book！〃

My　curiosity　was　now　strongly　excited。　I　spoke　out　plainly。

〃Surely；〃　I　suggested；　〃you　might　tell　your　brother　what　you　are　unwilling　to　mention　to　persons　less　nearly　related　to　you。　We　have　followed　different　professions；　and　have　lived　in　different　countries；　since　we　were　boys　at　school。　But　you　know　you　can　trust　me。〃

He　considered　a　little　with　himself。

〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　I　can　trust　you。〃　He　waited　a　moment；　and　then　he　surprised　me　by　a　strange　question。

〃Do　you　believe；〃　he　asked；　〃that　the　spirits　of　the　dead　can　return　to　earth；　and　show　themselves　to　the　living？〃

I　answered　cautiouslyadopting　as　my　own　the　words　of　a　great　English　writer；　touching　the　subject　of　ghosts。

〃You　ask　me　a　question；〃　I　said；　〃which；　after　five　thousand　years；　is　yet　undecided。　On　that　account　alone；　it　is　a　question　not　to　be　trifled　with。〃

My　reply　seemed　to　satisfy　him。

〃Promise　me；〃　he　resumed；　〃that　you　will　keep　what　I　tell　you　a　secret　as　long　as　I　live。　After　my　death　I　care　little　what　happens。　Let　the　story　of　my　strange　experience　be　added　to　the　published　experience　of　those　other　men　who　have　seen　what　I　have　seen；　and　who　believe　what　I　believe。　The　world　will　not　be　the　worse；　and　may　be　the　better；　for　knowing　one　day　what　I　am　now　about　to　trust　to　your　ear　alone。〃

My　brother　never　again　alluded　to　the　narrative　which　he　had　confided　to　me；　until　the　later　time　when　I　was　sitting　by　his　deathbed。　He　asked　if　I　still　remembered　the　story　of　Jeromette。　〃Tell　it　to　others；〃　he　said；　〃as　I　have　told　it　to　you。〃

I　repeat　it　after　his　deathas　nearly　as　I　can　in　his　own　words。

II。

ON　a　fine　summer　evening；　many　years　since；　I　left　my　chambers　in　the　Temple；　to　meet　a　fellow…student；　who　had　proposed　to　me　a　night's　amusement　in　the　public　gardens　at　Cremorne。

You　were　then　on　your　way　to　India；　and　I　had　taken　my　degree　at　Oxford。　I　had　sadly　disappointed　my　father　by　choosing　the　Law　as　my　profession；　in　preference　to　the　Church。　At　that　time；　to　own　the　truth；　I　had　no　serious　intention　of　following　any　special　vocation。　I　simply　wanted　an　excuse　for　enjoying　the　pleasures　of　a　London　life。　The　study　of　the　Law　supplied　me　with　that　excuse。　And　I　chose　the　Law　as　my　profession　accordingly。

On　reaching　the　place　at　which　we　had　arranged　to　meet；　I　found　that　my　friend　had　not　kept　his　appointment。　After　waiting　vainly　for　ten　minutes；　my　patience　gave　way　and　I　went　into　the　Gardens　by　myself。

I　took　two　or　three　turns　round　the　platform　devoted　to　the　dancers　without　discovering　my　fellow…student；　and　without　seeing　any　other　person　with　whom　I　happened　to　be　acquainted　at　that　time。

For　some　reason　which　I　cannot　now　remember；　I　was　not　in　my　usual　good　spirits　that　evening。　The　noisy　music　jarred　on　my　nerves；　the　sight　of　the　gaping　crowd　round　the　platform　irritated　me；　the　blandishments　of　the　painted　ladies　of　the　profession　of　pleasure　saddened　and　disgusted　me。　I　opened　my　cigar…case；　and　turned　aside　into　one　of　the　quiet　by…walks　of　the　Gardens。

A　man　who　is　habitually　careful　in　choosing　his　cigar　has　this　advantage　over　a　man　who　is　habitually　careless。　He　can　always　count　on　smoking　the　best　cigar　in　his　case；　down　to　the　last。　I　was　still　absorbed　in　choosing　_my_　cigar；　when　I　heard　these　words　behind　mespoken　in　a　foreign　ac