little novels-第48章

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　to　the　owner　of　Cauldkirk　and　the　country　round　about；　he　strongly　urged　me　to　draw　up　a　list　of　repairs　that　were　most　needful；　before　I　waited　on　my　lord。　This　advice；　vicious　and　degraded　as　the　man　who　offered　it　may　be；　is　sound　advice　nevertheless。　I　shall　assuredly　take　it。

So　far　I　had　written　in　my　Diary；　in　the　forenoon。　Returning　to　my　daily　record；　after　a　lapse　of　some　hours；　I　have　a　new　mystery　of　iniquity　to　chronicle。　My　abominable　son…in…law　now　appears　（I　blush　to　write　it）　to　be　nothing　less　than　an　associate　of　thieves！

After　the　meal　they　call　luncheon；　I　thought　it　well　before　recreating　myself　with　the　sights　of　London；　to　attend　first　to　the　crying　necessities　of　the　kirk　and　the　manse。　Furnished　with　my　written　list；　I　presented　myself　at　his　lordship's　residence。　I　was　immediately　informed　that　he　was　otherwise　engaged；　and　could　not　possibly　receive　me。　If　I　wished　to　see　my　lord's　secretary；　Mr。　Helmsley；　I　could　do　so。　Consenting　to　this；　rather　than　fail　entirely　in　my　errand；　I　was　shown　into　the　secretary's　room。

Mr。　Helmsley　heard　what　I　had　to　say　civilly　enough；　expressing；　however；　grave　doubts　whether　his　lordship　would　do　anything　for　me；　the　demands　on　his　purse　being　insupportably　numerous　already。　However；　he　undertook　to　place　my　list　before　his　employer；　and　to　let　me　know　the　result。　〃Where　are　you　staying　in　London？〃　he　asked。　I　answered：　〃With　my　son…in…law；　Mr。　Marmaduke　Falmer。〃　Before　I　could　add　the　address；　the　secretary　started　to　his　feet　and　tossed　my　list　back　to　me　across　the　table　in　the　most　uncivil　manner。

〃Upon　my　word；〃　says　he；　〃your　assurance　exceeds　anything　I　ever　heard　of。　Your　son…in…law　is　concerned　in　the　robbery　of　her　ladyship's　diamond　braceletthe　discovery　was　made　not　an　hour　ago。　Leave　the　house；　sir；　and　consider　yourself　lucky　that　I　have　no　instructions　to　give　you　in　charge　to　the　police。〃　I　protested　against　this　unprovoked　outrage；　with　a　violence　of　language　which　I　would　rather　not　recall。　As　a　minister；　I　ought；　under　every　provocation；　to　have　preserved　my　self…control。

The　one　thing　to　do　next　was　to　drive　back　to　my　unhappy　daughter。

Her　guilty　husband　was　with　her。　I　was　too　angry　to　wait　for　a　fit　opportunity　of　speaking。　The　Christian　humility　which　I　have　all　my　life　cultivated　as　the　first　of　virtues　sank；　as　it　were；　from　under　me。　In　terms　of　burning　indignation　I　told　them　what　had　happened。　The　result　was　too　distressing　to　be　described。　It　ended　in　Felicia　giving　her　husband　back　the　bracelet。　The　hardened　reprobate　laughed　at　us。　〃Wait　till　I　have　seen　his　lordship　and　Mr。　Helmsley；〃　he　said；　and　left　the　house。

Does　he　mean　to　escape　to　foreign　parts？　Felicia；　womanlike；　believes　in　him　still；　she　is　quite　convinced　that　there　must　be　some　mistake。　I　am　myself　in　hourly　expectation　of　the　arrival　of　the　police。



With　gratitude　to　Providence；　I　note　before　going　to　bed　the　harmless　termination　of　the　affair　of　the　braceletso　far　as　Marmaduke　is　concerned。　The　agent　who　sold　him　the　jewel　has　been　forced　to　come　forward　and　state　the　truth。　His　lordship's　wife　is　the　guilty　person；　the　bracelet　was　hersa　present　from　her　husband。　Harassed　by　debts　that　she　dare　not　acknowledge；　she　sold　it；　my　lord　discovered　that　it　was　gone；　and　in　terror　of　his　anger　the　wretched　woman　took　refuge　in　a　lie。

She　declared　that　the　bracelet　had　been　stolen　from　her。　Asked　for　the　name　of　the　thief；　the　reckless　woman　（having　no　other　name　in　her　mind　at　the　moment）　mentioned　the　man　who　had　innocently　bought　the　jewel　of　her　agent；　otherwise　my　unfortunate　son…in…law。　Oh；　the　profligacy　of　the　modern　Babylon！　It　was　well　I　went　to　the　secretary　when　I　did　or　we　should　really　have　had　the　police　in　the　house。　Marmaduke　found　them　in　consultation　over　the　supposed　robbery；　asking　for　his　address。　There　was　a　dreadful　exhibition　of　violence　and　recrimination　at　his　lordship's　residence：　in　the　end　he　re…purchased　the　bracelet。　My　son…in…law's　money　has　been　returned　to　him；　and　Mr。　Helmsley　has　sent　me　a　written　apology。

In　a　worldly　sense；　this　would；　I　suppose；　be　called　a　satisfactory　ending。

It　is　not　so　to　my　mind。　I　freely　admit　that　I　too　hastily　distrusted　Marmaduke；　but　am　I；　on　that　account；　to　give　him　back　immediately　the　place　which　he　once　occupied　in　my　esteem？　Again　this　evening　he　mysteriously　quitted　the　house；　leaving　me　alone　with　Felicia；　and　giving　no　better　excuse　for　his　conduct　than　that　he　had　an　engagement。　And　this　when　I　have　a　double　claim　on　his　consideration；　as　his　father…in…law　and　his　guest。



September　11th。The　day　began　well　enough。　At　breakfast；　Marmaduke　spoke　feelingly　of　the　unhappy　result　of　my　visit　to　his　lordship；　and　asked　me　to　let　him　look　at　the　list　of　repairs。　〃It　is　just　useless　to　expect　anything　from　my　lord；　after　what　has　happened；〃　I　said。　〃Besides；　Mr。　Helmsley　gave　me　no　hope　when　I　stated　my　case　to　him。〃　Marmaduke　still　held　out　his　hand　for　the　list。　〃Let　me　try　if　I　can　get　some　subscribers；〃　he　replied。　This　was　kindly　meant；　at　any　rate。　I　gave　him　the　list；　and　I　began　to　recover　some　of　my　old　friendly　feeling　for　him。　Alas！　the　little　gleam　of　tranquillity　proved　to　be　of　short　duration。

We　made　out　our　plans　for　the　day　pleasantly　enough。　The　check　came　when　Felicia　spoke　next　of　our　plans　for　the　evening。　〃My　father　has　only　four　days　more　to　pass　with　us；〃　she　said　to　her　husband。　〃Surely　you　won't　go　out　again　to…night；　and　leave　him？〃　Marmaduke's　face　clouded　over　directly；　he　looked　embarrassed　and　annoyed。　I　sat　perfectly　silent；　leaving　them　to　settle　it　by　themselves。

〃You　will　stay　with　us　this　evening；　won't　you？〃　says　Felicia。　No：　he　was　not　free　for　the　evening。　〃What！　another　engagement？　Surely　you　can　put　it　off？〃　No；　impossible　to　put　it　off。　〃Is　it　a　ball；　or　a　party　of　some　kind？〃　No　answer；　he　changed　the　subjec　the　offered　Felicia　the　money　repaid　to　him　for　the　bracelet。　〃Buy　one　for　yourself；　my　dear；　this　time。〃　Felicia　handed　him　back　the　money；　rather　too　haughtily；　perhaps。　〃I　don't　want　a　bracelet；〃　she　said；　〃I　want　your　company　in　the　evening。〃

He　jumped　up；　good…tempered　as　he　was；　in　something　very　like　a　ragethen　looked　at　me；　and　checked　himself　on　the　point　（as　I　believe）　of　using　profane　language。　〃This　is　downright　persecution！〃　he　burst　out；　with　an　angry　turn　of　his　head　toward　his　wife。　Felicia　got　up；　in　her　turn。　〃Your　language　is　an　insult　to　my　father　and　to　me！〃　He　looked　thoroughly　staggered　at　this：　it　was　evidently　their　first　serious　quarrel。

Felicia　took　no　notice　of　him。　〃I　will　get　ready　directly；　father；　and　we　will　go　out　together。〃　He　stopped　her　as　she　was　leaving　the　roomrecovering　his　good　temper　with　a　readiness　which　it　pleased　me　to　see。　〃Come；　come；　Felicia！　We　have　not　quarreled　yet；　and　we　won't　quarrel　now。　Let　me　off　this　one　time　more；　and　I　will　devote　the　next　three　evenings　of　your　father's　visit　to　him　and　to　you。　Give　me　a　kiss；　and　make　it　up。〃　My　daughter　doesn't　do　things　by　halves。　She　gave　him　a　dozen　kisses；　I　should　thinkand　there　was　a　happy　end　of　it。

〃But　what　shall　we　do　to…morrow　evening？〃　says　Marmaduke；　sitting　down　by　his　wife；　and　patting　her　hand　as　it　lay　in　his。

〃Take　us　somewhere；〃　says　she。　Marmaduke　laughed。　〃Your　father　objects　to　public　amusements。　Where　does　he　want　to　go　to？〃　Felicia　took　up　the　newspaper。　〃There　is　an　oratorio　at　Exeter　Hall；〃　she　said；　〃my　father　likes　music。〃　He　turned　to　me。　〃You　don't　object　to　oratorios；　sir？〃　〃I　don't　object　to　music；〃　I　answered；　〃so　long　as　I　am　not　required　to　enter　a　theater。〃　Felicia　handed　the　newspaper　to　me。　〃Speaking　of　theaters；　father；　have　you　read　what　they　say　about　the　new　play？　What　a　pity　it　can't　be　given　out　of　a　theater！〃　I　looked　at　her　in　speechless　amazement。　She　tried　to　explain　herself。　〃The　paper　says　that　the　new　play　is　a　service　rendered　to　the　cause　of　virtue；　and　that　the　great　actor；　Barrymore；　has　set　an　example　in　producing　it　which　deserves　the　encouragement　of　all　truly　religious　people。　Do　read　it；　father！〃　I　held　up　my　hands　in　dismay。　My　own　daughter　perverted！　pinning　her　faith　on　a　newspaper！　speaking；　with　a　perverse　expression　of　interest；　of　a　stage…play　and　an　actor！　Even　Marmaduke　witnessed　this　lamentable　exhibition　of　backsliding　with　some　appearance　of　alarm。　〃It's　not　her　fault；　sir；〃　he　said；　interceding　with　me。　〃It's　the　fault　of　the　newspaper。　Don't　blame　her！〃　I　held　my　peace；　determining　inwardly　to　pray　for　her。　Shortly　afterward　my　daughter　and　I　went　out。　Marmaduke　accompanied　us　part　of　the　way；　and　left　us　at　a　telegraph　office。　〃Who　are　you　going　to　telegraph　to？〃　Felicia　asked。　Another　mystery！　He　answered；　〃Business　of　my　own；　my　dear〃and　went　into　the　office。



September　12th。Is　my　miserable　son…in…law's　house　under　a　curse？　The　yellow…haired　woman　in　the　open　carriage　drove　up　to　the　door　at　half…past　ten　this　morning；　in　a　state　of　distraction。　Felicia　and　I　saw　her　from　the　drawing…room　balconya　tall　woman　in　gorgeous　garments。　She　knocked　with　her　own　hand　at　the　doorshe　cried　out　distractedly；　〃Where　is　he？　I　must　see　him！〃　At　the　sound　of　her　voice；　Marmaduke　（playing　with　his　little　dog　in　the　drawing…room）　rushed　downstairs　and　out　into　the　street。　〃Hold　your　tongue！〃　we　heard　him　say　to　her。　〃What　are　you　here　for？〃

What　she　answered　we　failed　to　hear；　she　was　certainly　crying。　Marmaduke　stamped　on　the　pavement　like　a　man　beside　himselftook　her　roughly　by　the　arm；　and　led　her　into　the　house。

Before　I　could　utter　a　word；　Felicia　left　me　and　flew　headlong　down　the　stairs。

She　was　in　time　to　hear　the　dining…room　locked。　Following　her；　I　prevented　the　poor　jealous　creature　from　making　a　disturbance　at　the　door。　God　forgive　menot　knowing　how　else　to　quiet　herI　degraded　myself　by　advising　her　to　listen　to　what　they　said。　She　instantly　opened　the　door　of　the　back　dining…room；　and　beckoned　to　me　to　follow。　I　naturally　hesitated。　〃I　shall　go　mad；〃　she　whispered；　〃if　you　leave　me　by　myself！〃　What　could　I　do？　I　degraded　myself　the　second　time。　For　my　own　childin　pity　for　my　own　child！

We　heard　them；　through　the　flimsy　modern　folding…doors；　at　those　times　when　he　was　most　angry；　and　she　most　distracted。　That　is　to　say；　we　heard　them　when　they　spoke　in　their　loudest　tones。

〃How　did　you　find　out　where　I　live？〃　says　he。　〃Oh；　you're　ashamed　of　me？〃　says　she。　〃Mr。　Helmsley　was　with　us　yesterday　evening。　That's　how　I　found　out！〃　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　〃I　mean　that　Mr。　Helmsley　had　your　card　and　address　in　his　pocket。　Ah；　you　were　obliged　to　give　your　address　when　you　had　to　clear　up　that　matter　of　the　bracelet！　You　cruel；　cruel　man；　what　have　I　done　to　deserve　such　a　note　as　you　sent　me　this　morning？〃　〃Do　what　the　note　tells　you！〃　〃Do　what　the　note　tells　me？　Did　anybody　ever　hear　a　man　talk　so；　out　of　a　lunatic　asylum？　Why；　you　haven't　even　the　grace　to　carry　out　your　own　wicked　deceptionyou　haven't　even　gone　to　bed！〃　There　the　voices　grew　less　angry；　and　we　missed　what　followed。　Soon　the　lady　burst　out　again；　piteously　entreating　him　this　time。　〃Oh；　Marmy；　don't　ruin　me！　Has　anybody　offended　you？　Is　there　anything　you　wish　to　have　altered？　Do　you　want　more　money？　It　is　too　cruel　to　treat　me　in　this　wayit　is　indeed！〃　He　made　some　answer；