little novels-第66章

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young　ones　and　pretty　ones　with　fortunes　to　tempt　you。　It　seems　odd　that　you　haven't　tried　your　luck　with　one　of　them。〃

〃No；　Dick。　It　would　have　been　odd；　and　worse　than　odd；　if　I　had　tried　my　luck　with　a　young　woman。〃

〃I　don't　see　that。〃

〃You　shall　see　it　directly。　If　I　marry　an　old　woman　for　her　money；　I　have　no　occasion　to　be　a　hypocrite；　we　both　know　that　our　marriage　is　a　mere　matter　of　form。　But　if　I　make　a　young　woman　my　wife　because　I　want　her　money；　and　if　that　young　woman　happens　to　be　worth　a　straw；　I　must　deceive　her　and　disgrace　myself　by　shamming　love。　That；　my　boy；　you　may　depend　upon　it；　I　will　never　do。〃

Dick's　face　suddenly　brightened　with　a　mingled　expression　of　relief　and　triumph。

〃Ha！　my　mercenary　friend；〃　he　burst　out；　〃there's　something　mixed　up　in　this　business　which　is　worthier　of　you　than　anything　I　have　heard　yet。　Stop！　I'm　going　to　be　clever　for　the　first　time　in　my　life。　A　man　who　talks　of　love　as　you　do；　must　have　felt　love　himself。　Where　is　the　young　one　and　the　pretty　one？　And　what　　has　she　done；　poor　dear；　to　be　deserted　for　an　old　woman？　Good　God！　how　you　look　at　me！　I　have　hurt　your　feelingsI　have　been　a　greater　fool　than　everI　am　more　ashamed　of　myself　than　words　can　say！〃

Beaucourt　stopped　him　there；　gently　and　firmly。

〃You　have　made　a　very　natural　mistake；〃　he　said。　〃There　_was_　a　young　lady。　She　has　refused　meabsolutely　refused　me。　There　is　no　more　love　in　my　life。　It's　a　dark　life　and　an　empty　life　for　the　rest　of　my　days。　I　must　see　what　money　can　do　for　me　next。　When　I　have　thoroughly　hardened　my　heart　I　may　not　feel　my　misfortune　as　I　feel　it　now。　Pity　me　or　despise　me。　In　either　case　let　us　say　goodnight。〃

He　went　out　into　the　hall　and　took　his　hat。　Dick　went　out　into　the　hall　and　took　_his_　hat。

〃Have　your　own　way；〃　he　answered；　〃I　mean　to　have　mineI'll　go　home　with　you。〃

The　man　was　simply　irresistible。　Beaucourt　sat　down　resignedly　on　the　nearest　of　the　hall　chairs。　Dick　asked　him　to　return　to　the　dining…room。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃it's　not　worth　while。　What　I　can　tell　you　may　be　told　in　two　minutes。〃　Dick　submitted；　and　took　the　next　of　the　hall　chairs。　In　that　inappropriate　place　the　young　lord's　unpremeditated　confession　was　forced　out　of　him；　by　no　more　formidable　exercise　of　power　than　the　kindness　of　his　friend。

〃When　you　hear　where　I　met　with　her；〃　he　began；　〃you　will　most　likely　not　want　to　hear　any　more。　I　saw　her；　for　the　first　time；　on　the　stage　of　a　music　hall。〃

He　looked　at　Dick。　Perfectly　quiet　and　perfectly　impenetrable；　Dick　only　said；　〃Go　on。〃　Beaucourt　continued　in　these　words：

〃She　was　singing　Arne's　delicious　setting　of　Ariel's　song　in　the　'Tempest；'　with　a　taste　and　feeling　completely　thrown　away　on　the　greater　part　of　the　audience。　That　she　was　beautifulin　my　eyes　at　leastI　needn't　say。　That　she　had　descended　to　a　sphere　unworthy　of　her　and　new　to　her；　nobody　could　doubt。　Her　modest　dress；　her　refinement　of　manner；　seemed　rather　to　puzzle　than　to　please　most　of　the　people　present；　they　applauded　her；　but　not　very　warmly；　when　she　retired。　I　obtained　an　introduction　through　her　music…master；　who　happened　to　be　acquainted　professionally　with　some　relatives　of　mine。　He　told　me　that　she　was　a　young　widow；　and　he　assured　me　that　the　calamity　through　which　her　family　had　lost　their　place　in　the　world　had　brought　no　sort　of　disgrace　on　them。　If　I　wanted　to　know　more；　he　referred　me　to　the　lady　herself。　I　found　her　very　reserved。　A　long　time　passed　before　I　could　win　her　confidenceand　a　longer　time　still　before　I　ventured　to　confess　the　feeling　with　which　she　had　inspired　me。　You　know　the　rest。〃

〃You　mean；　of　course；　that　you　offered　her　marriage？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃And　she　refused　you　on　account　of　your　position　in　life。〃

〃No。　I　had　foreseen　that　obstacle；　and　had　followed　the　example　of　the　adventurous　nobleman　in　the　old　story。　Like　him；　I　assumed　a　name；　and　presented　myself　as　belonging　to　her　own　respectable　middle　class　of　life。　You　are　too　old　a　friend　to　suspect　me　of　vanity　if　I　tell　you　that　she　had　no　objection　to　me；　and　no　suspicion　that　I　had　approached　her　（personally　speaking）　under　a　disguise。〃

〃What　motive　could　she　possibly　have　had　for　refusing　you？〃　Dick　asked。

〃A　motive　associated　with　her　dead　husband；〃　Beaucourt　answered。　〃He　had　married　hermind；　innocently　married　herwhile　his　first　wife　was　living。　The　woman　was　an　inveterate　drunkard；　they　had　been　separated　for　years。　Her　death　had　been　publicly　reported　in　the　newspapers；　among　the　persons　killed　in　a　railway　accident　abroad。　When　she　claimed　her　unhappy　husband　he　was　in　delicate　health。　The　shock　killed　him。　His　widowI　can't；　and　won't；　speak　of　her　misfortune　as　if　it　was　her　faultknew　of　no　living　friends　who　were　in　a　position　to　help　her。　Not　a　great　artist　with　a　wonderful　voice；　she　could　still　trust　to　her　musical　accomplishments　to　provide　for　the　necessities　of　life。　Plead　as　I　might　with　her　to　forget　the　past；　I　always　got　the　same　reply：　'If　I　was　base　enough　to　let　myself　be　tempted　by　the　happy　future　that　you　offer；　I　should　deserve　the　unmerited　disgrace　which　has　fallen　on　me。　Marry　a　woman　whose　reputation　will　bear　inquiry；　and　forget　me。'　I　was　mad　enough　to　press　my　suit　once　too　often。　When　I　visited　her　on　the　next　day　she　was　gone。　Every　effort　to　trace　her　has　failed。　Lost；　my　friendirretrievably　lost　to　me！〃

He　offered　his　hand　and　said　good…night。　Dick　held　him　back　on　the　doorstep。

〃Break　off　your　mad　engagement　to　Miss　Dulane；〃　he　said。　〃Be　a　man；　Howel；　wait　and　hope！　You　are　throwing　away　your　life　when　happiness　is　within　your　reach；　if　you　will　only　be　patient。　That　poor　young　creature　is　worthy　of　you。　Lost？　Nonsense！　In　this　narrow　little　world　people　are　never　hopelessly　lost　till　they　are　dead　and　underground。　Help　me　to　recognize　her　by　a　description；　and　tell　me　her　name。　I'll　find　her；　I'll　persuade　her　to　come　back　to　youand；　mark　my　words；　you　will　live　to　bless　the　day　when　you　followed　my　advice。〃

This　well…meant　remonstrance　was　completely　thrown　away。　Beaucourt's　despair　was　deaf　to　every　entreaty　that　Dick　had　addressed　to　him。　〃Thank　you　with　all　my　heart；〃　he　said。　〃You　don't　know　her　as　I　do。　She　is　one　of　the　very　few　women　who　mean　No　when　they　say　No。　Useless；　Dickuseless！〃

Those　were　the　last　words　he　said　to　his　friend　in　the　character　of　a　single　man。

Part　II

PLATONIC　MARRIAGE。

III。

〃SEVEN　months　have　passed；　my　dear　Dick；　since　my　'inhuman　obstinacy'　（those　were　the　words　you　used）　made　you　one　of　the　witnesses　at　my　marriage　to　Miss　Dulane；　sorely　against　your　will。　Do　you　remember　your　parting　prophecy　when　you　were　out　of　the　bride's　hearing？　'A　miserable　life　is　before　that　woman's　husbandand；　by　Jupiter；　he　has　deserved　it！'

〃Never；　my　dear　boy；　attempt　to　forecast　the　future　again。　Viewed　as　a　prophet　you　are　a　complete　failure。　I　have　nothing　to　complain　of　in　my　married　life。

〃But　you　must　not　mistake　me。　I　am　far　from　saying　that　I　am　a　happy　man；　I　only　declare　myself　to　be　a　contented　man。　My　old　wife　is　a　marvel　of　good　temper　and　good　sense。　She　trusts　me　implicitly；　and　I　have　given　her　no　reason　to　regret　it。　We　have　our　time　for　being　together；　and　our　time　for　keeping　apart。　Within　our　inevitable　limits　we　understand　each　other　and　respect　each　other；　and　have　a　truer　feeling　of　regard　on　both　sides　than　many　people　far　better　matched　than　we　are　in　point　of　age。　But　you　shall　judge　for　yourself。　Come　and　dine　with　us；　when　I　return　on　Wednesday　next　from　the　trial　trip　of　my　new　yacht。　In　the　meantime　I　have　a　service　to　ask　of　you。

〃My　wife's　niece　has　been　her　companion　for　years。　She　has　left　us　to　be　married　to　an　officer；　who　has　taken　her　to　India；　and　we　are　utterly　at　a　loss　how　to　fill　her　place。　The　good　old　lady　doesn't　want　much。　A　nice…tempered　refined　girl；　who　can　sing　and　play　to　her　with　some　little　taste　and　feeling；　and　read　to　her　now　and　then　when　her　eyes　are　wearythere　is　what　we　require；　and　there；　it　seems；　is　more　than　we　can　get；　after　advertising　for　a　week　past。　Of　all　the　'companions'　who　have　presented　themselves；　not　one　has　turned　out　to　be　the　sort　of　person　whom　Lady　Howel　wants。

〃Can　you　help　us？　In　any　case；　my　wife　sends　you　her　kind　remembrances；　and　（true　to　the　old　times）　I　add　my　love。〃

~　On　the　day　which　followed　the　receipt　of　this　letter；　Dick　paid　a　visit　to　Lady　Howel　Beaucourt。

〃You　seem　to　be　excited；〃　she　said。　〃Has　anything　remarkable　happened？〃

〃Pardon　me　if　I　ask　a　question　first；〃　Dick　replied。　〃Do　you　object　to　a　young　widow？〃

〃That　depends　on　the　widow。〃

〃Then　I　have　found　the　very　person　you　want。　And；　oddly　enough；　your　husband　has　had　something　to　do　with　it。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that　my　husband　has　recommended　her？〃

There　was　an　undertone　of　jealousy　in　Lady　Howel's　voice…jealousy　excited　not　altogether　without　a　motive。　She　had　left　it　to　Beaucourt's　sense　of　honor　to　own　the　truth；　if　there　had　been　any　love　affair　in　his　past　life　which　ought　to　make　him　hesitates　before　he　married。　He　had　justified　Miss　Dulane's　confidence　in　him；　acknowledging　an　attachment　to　a　young　widow；　and　adding　that　she　had　positively　refused　　him。　〃We　have　not　met　since；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　shall　never　meet　again。〃　Under　those　circumstances；　Miss　Dulane　had　considerately　abstained　from　asking　for　any　further　details。　She　had　not　thought　of　the　young　widow　again；　until　Dick's　language　had　innocently　inspired　her　first　doubt。　Fortunately　for　both　of　them；　he　was　an　outspoken　man；　and　he　reassured　her　unreservedly　in　these　words：　〃Your　husband　knows　nothing　about　it。〃

〃Now；〃　she　said；　〃you　may　tell　me　how　you　came　to　hear　of　the　lady。〃

〃Through　my　uncle's　library；〃　Dick　replied。　〃His　will　has　left　me　his　collection　of　booksin　such　a　wretchedly　neglected　condition　that　I　asked　Beaucourt　（not　being　a　reading　man　myself）　if　he　knew　of　any　competent　person　who　could　advise　me　how　to　set　things　right。　He　introduced　me　to　Farleigh　&　Halford；　the　well…known　publishers。　The　second　partner　is　a　book　collector　himself；　as　well　as　a　bookseller。　He　kindly　looks　in　now　and　then；　to　see　how　his　instructions　for　mending　and　binding　are　being　carried　out。　When　he　called　yesterday　I　thought　of　you；　and　I　found　he　could　help　us　to　a　young　lady　employed　in　his　office　at　correcting　proof　sheets。〃

〃What　is　the　lady's　name？〃

〃Mrs。　Evelin。〃

〃Why　does　she　leave　her　employment？〃

〃To　save　her　eyes；　poor　soul。　When　the　senior　partner；　Mr。　Farleigh；　met　with　her；　she　was　reduced　by　family　misfortunes　to　earn　her　own　living。　The　publishers　would　have　been　only　too　glad　to　keep　her　in　their　office；　but　for　the　oculist's　report。　He　declared　that　she　would　run　the　risk　of　blindness；　if　she　fatigued　her　weak　eyes　much　longer。　There　is　the　only　objection　to　this　otherwise　invaluable　personshe　will　not　be　able　to　read　to　you。〃

〃Can　she　sing　and　play？〃

〃Exquisitely。　Mr。　Farleigh　answers　for　her　music。〃

〃And　her　character？〃

〃Mr。　Halford　answers　for　her　character。〃

〃And　her　manners？〃

〃A　perfect　lady。　I　have　seen　her　and　spoken　to　her；　I　answer　for　her　manners；　and　I　guarantee　her　personal　appearance。　Charmingcharming！〃

For　a　moment　Lady　Howel　hesitated。　After　a　little　reflection；　she　decided　that　it　w