little novels-第67章

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ingcharming！〃

For　a　moment　Lady　Howel　hesitated。　After　a　little　reflection；　she　decided　that　it　was　her　duty　to　trust　her　excellent　husband。　〃I　will　receive　the　charming　widow；〃　she　said；　〃to…morrow　at　twelve　o'clock；　and；　if　she　produces　the　right　impression；　I　promise　to　overlook　the　weakness　of　her　eyes。〃

IV。

BEAUCOURT　had　prolonged　the　period　appointed　for　the　trial　trip　of　his　yacht　by　a　whole　week。　His　apology　when　he　returned　delighted　the　kind…hearted　old　lady　who　had　made　him　a　present　of　the　vessel。

〃There　isn't　such　another　yacht　in　the　whole　world；〃　he　declared。　〃I　really　hadn't　the　heart　to　leave　that　beautiful　vessel　after　only　three　days　experience　of　her。〃　He　burst　out　with　a　torrent　of　technical　praises　of　the　yacht；　to　which　his　wife　listened　as　attentively　as　if　she　really　understood　what　he　was　talking　about。　When　his　breath　and　his　eloquence　were　exhausted　alike；　she　said；　〃Now；　my　dear；　it's　my　turn。　I　can　match　your　perfect　vessel　with　my　perfect　lady。〃

〃What！　you　have　found　a　companion？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Did　Dick　find　her　for　you？〃

〃He　did　indeed。　You　shall　see　for　yourself　how　grateful　I　ought　to　be　to　your　friend。〃

She　opened　a　door　which　led　into　the　next　room。　〃Mary；　my　dear；　come　and　be　introduced　to　my　husband。〃

Beaucourt　started　when　he　heard　the　name；　and　instantly　recovered　himself。　He　had　forgotten　how　many　Marys　there　are　in　the　world。

Lady　Howel　returned；　leading　her　favorite　by　the　hand；　and　gayly　introduced　her　the　moment　they　entered　the　room。

〃Mrs。　Evelin；　Lord〃

She　looked　at　her　husband。　The　utterance　of　his　name　was　instantly　suspended　on　her　lips。　Mrs。　Evelin's　hand；　turning　cold　at　the　same　moment　in　her　hand；　warned　her　to　look　round。　The　face　of　the　woman　more　than　reflected　the　inconcealable　agitation　in　the　face　of　the　man。

The　wife's　first　words；　when　she　recovered　herself；　were　addressed　to　them　both。

〃Which　of　you　can　I　trust；〃　she　asked；　〃to　tell　me　the　truth？〃

〃You　can　trust　both　of　us；〃　her　husband　answered。

The　firmness　of　his　tone　irritated　her。　〃I　will　judge　of　that　for　myself；〃　she　said。　〃Go　back　to　the　next　room；〃　she　added；　turning　to　Mrs。　Evelin；　〃I　will　hear　you　separately。〃

The　companion；　whose　duty　it　was　to　obeywhose　modesty　and　gentleness　had　won　her　mistress's　heartrefused　to　retire。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　been　deceived　too。　I　have　_my_　right　to　hear　what　Lord　Howel　has　to　say　for　himself。〃

Beaucourt　attempted　to　support　the　claim　that　she　had　advanced。　His　wife　sternly　signed　to　him　to　be　silent。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　said；　addressing　the　question　to　Mrs。　Evelin。

〃I　mean　this。　The　person　whom　you　speak　of　as　a　nobleman　was　presented　to　me　as　'Mr。　Vincent；　an　artist。'　But　for　that　deception　I　should　never　have　set　foot　in　your　ladyship's　house。〃

〃Is　this　true；　my　lord？〃　Lady　Howel　asked；　with　a　contemptuous　emphasis　on　the　title　of　nobility。

〃Quite　true；〃　her　husband　answered。　〃I　thought　it　possible　that　my　rank　might　prove　an　obstacle　in　the　way　of　my　hopes。　The　blame　rests　on　me；　and　on　me　alone。　I　ask　Mrs。　Evelin　to　pardon　me　for　an　act　of　deception　which　I　deeply　regret。〃

Lady　Howel　was　a　just　woman。　Under　other　circumstances　she　might　have　shown　herself　to　be　a　generous　woman。　That　brighter　side　of　her　character　was　incapable　of　revealing　itself　in　the　presence　of　Mrs。　Evelin；　young　and　beautiful；　and　in　possession　of　her　husband's　heart。　She　could　say；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　madam；　I　have　not　treated　you　justly。〃　But　no　self…control　was　strong　enough　to　restrain　the　next　bitter　words　from　passing　her　lips。　〃At　my　age；〃　she　said；　〃Lord　Howel　will　soon　be　free；　you　will　not　have　long　to　wait　for　him。〃

The　young　widow　looked　at　her　sadlyanswered　her　sadly。

〃Oh；　my　lady；　your　better　nature　will　surely　regret　having　said　that！〃

For　a　moment　her　eyes　rested　on　Beaucourt；　dim　with　rising　tears。　She　left　the　roomand　left　the　house。

There　was　silence　between　the　husband　and　wife。　Beaucourt　was　the　first　to　speak　again。

〃After　what　you　have　just　heard；　do　you　persist　in　your　jealousy　of　that　lady；　and　your　jealousy　of　me？〃　he　asked。

〃I　have　behaved　cruelly　to　her　and　to　you。　I　am　ashamed　of　myself；〃　was　all　she　said　in　reply。　That　expression　of　sorrow；　so　simple　and　so　true；　did　not　appeal　in　vain　to　the　gentler　side　of　Beaucourt's　nature。　He　kissed　his　wife's　hand；　he　tried　to　console　her。

〃You　may　forgive　me；〃　she　answered。　〃I　cannot　forgive　myself。　That　poor　lady's　last　words　have　made　my　heart　ache。　What　I　said　to　her　in　anger　I　ought　to　have　said　generously。　Why　should　she　not　wait　for　you？　After　your　life　with　mea　life　of　kindness；　a　life　of　self…sacrificeyou　deserve　your　reward。　Promise　me　that　you　will　marry　the　woman　you　loveafter　my　death　has　released　you。〃

〃You　distress　me；　and　needlessly　distress　me；〃　he　said。　〃What　you　are　thinking　of；　my　dear；　can　never　happen；　no；　not　even　if〃　He　left　the　rest　unsaid。

〃Not　even　if　you　were　free？〃　she　asked。

〃Not　even　then。〃

She　looked　toward　the　next　room。　〃Go　in；　Howel；　and　bring　Mrs。　Evelin　back；　I　have　something　to　say　to　her。〃

The　discovery　that　she　had　left　the　house　caused　no　fear　that　she　had　taken　to　flight　with　the　purpose　of　concealing　herself。　There　was　a　prospect　before　the　poor　lonely　woman　which　might　be　trusted　to　preserve　her　from　despair；　to　say　the　least　of　it。

During　her　brief　residence　in　Beaucourt's　house　she　had　shown　to　Lady　Howel　a　letter　received　from　a　relation；　who　had　emigrated　to　New　Zealand　with　her　husband　and　her　infant　children　some　years　since。　They　had　steadily　prospered；　they　were　living　in　comfort；　and　they　wanted　for　nothing　but　a　trustworthy　governess　to　teach　their　children。　The　mother　had　accordingly　written；　asking　if　her　relative　in　England　could　recommend　a　competent　person；　and　offering　a　liberal　salary。　In　showing　the　letter　to　Lady　Howel；　Mrs。　Evelin　had　said：　〃If　I　had　not　been　so　happy　as　to　attract　your　notice；　I　might　have　offered　to　be　the　governess　myself。〃

Assuming　that　it　had　now　occurred　to　her　to　act　on　this　idea；　Lady　Howel　felt　assured　that　she　would　apply　for　advice　either　to　the　publishers　who　had　recommended　her；　　or　to　Lord　Howel's　old　friend。

Beaucourt　at　once　offered　to　make　th　e　inquiries　which　might　satisfy　his　wife　that　she　had　not　been　mistaken。　Readily　accepting　his　proposal；　she　asked　at　the　same　time　for　a　few　minutes　of　delay。

〃I　want　to　say　to　you；〃　she　explained；　〃what　I　had　in　my　mind　to　say　to　Mrs。　Evelin。　Do　you　object　to　tell　me　why　she　refused　to　marry　you？　I　couldn't　have　done　it　in　her　place。〃

〃You　would　have　done　it；　my　dear；　as　I　think；　if　her　misfortune　had　been　your　misfortune。〃　With　those　prefatory　words　he　told　the　miserable　story　of　Mrs。　Evelin's　marriage。

Lady　Howel's　sympathies；　strongly　excited；　appeared　to　have　led　her　to　a　conclusion　which　she　was　not　willing　to　communicate　to　her　husband。　She　asked　him；　rather　abruptly；　if　he　would　leave　it　to　her　to　find　Mrs。　Evelin。　〃I　promise；〃　she　added；　〃to　tell　you　what　I　am　thinking　of；　when　I　come　back。〃

In　two　minutes　more　she　was　ready　to　go　out；　and　had　hurriedly　left　the　house。

V。

AFTER　a　long　absence　Lady　Howel　returned；　accompanied　by　Dick。　His　face　and　manner　betrayed　unusual　agitation；　Beaucourt　noticed　it。

〃I　may　well　be　excited；〃　Dick　declared；　〃after　what　I　have　heard；　and　after　what　we　have　done。　Lady　Howel；　yours　is　the　brain　that　thinks　to　some　purpose。　Make　our　reportI　wait　for　you。〃

But　my　lady　preferred　waiting　for　Dick。　He　consented　to　speak　first；　for　the　thoroughly　characteristic　reason　that　he　could　〃get　over　it　in　no　time。〃

〃I　shall　try　the　old　division；〃　he　said；　〃into　First；　Second；　and　Third。　Don't　be　afraid；　I　am　not　going　to　preachquite　the　contrary；　I　am　going　to　be　quick　about　it。　First；　then；　Mrs。　Evelin　has　decided；　under　sound　advice；　to　go　to　New　Zealand。　Second；　I　have　telegraphed　to　her　relations　at　the　other　end　of　the　world　to　tell　them　that　she　is　coming。　Third；　and　last；　Farleigh　&　Halford　have　sent　to　the　office；　and　secured　a　berth　for　her　in　the　next　ship　that　sailsdate　the　day　after　to…morrow。　Done　in　half　a　minute。　Now；　Lady　Howel！〃

〃I　will　begin　and　end　in　half　a　minute　too；〃　she　said；　〃if　I　can。　First；〃　she　continued；　turning　to　her　husband；　〃I　found　Mrs。　Evelin　at　your　friend's　house。　She　kindly　let　me　say　all　that　I　could　say　for　the　relief　of　my　poor　heart。　Secondly〃

She　hesitated；　smiled　uneasily；　and　came　to　a　full　stop。

〃I　can't　do　it；　Howel；〃　she　confessed；　〃I　speak　to　you　as　usual；　or　I　can　never　get　on。　Saying　many　things　in　few　wordsif　the　ladies　who　assert　our　rights　will　forgive　me　for　confessing　itis　an　accomplishment　in　which　we　are　completely　beaten　by　the　men。　You　must　have　thought　me　rude；　my　dear；　for　leaving　you　very　abruptly；　without　a　word　of　explanation。　The　truth　is；　I　had　an　idea　in　my　head；　and　I　kept　it　to　myself　（old　people　are　proverbially　cautious；　you　know）　till　I　had　first　found　out　whether　it　was　worth　mentioning。　When　you　were　speaking　of　the　wretched　creature　who　had　claimed　Mrs。　Evelin's　husband　as　her　own；　you　said　she　was　an　inveterate　drunkard。　A　woman　in　that　state　of　degradation　is　capable；　as　I　persist　in　thinking；　of　any　wickedness。　I　suppose　this　put　it　into　my　head　to　doubt　herno；　I　mean；　to　wonder　whether　Mr。　Evelindo　you　know　that　she　keeps　her　husband's　name　by　his　own　entreaty　addressed　to　her　on　his　deathbed？oh；　I　am　losing　myself　in　a　crowd　of　words　of　my　own　collecting！　Say　the　rest　of　it　for　me；　Sir　Richard！〃

〃No；　Lady　Howel。　Not　unless　you　call　me　'Dick。'　〃

〃Then　say　it　for　meDick。〃

〃No；　not　yet；　on　reflection。　Dick　is　too　short；　say　'Dear　Dick。'　〃

〃Dear　Dickthere！〃

〃Thank　you；　my　lady。　Now　we　had　better　remember　that　your　husband　is　present。〃　He　turned　to　Beaucourt。　〃Lady　Howel　had　the　idea；〃　he　proceeded；　〃which　ought　to　have　presented　itself　to　you　and　to　me。　It　was　a　serious　misfortune　（as　she　thought）　that　Mr。　Evelin's　sufferings　in　his　last　illness；　and　his　wife's　anxiety　while　she　was　nursing　him；　had　left　them　unfit　to　act　in　their　own　defense。　They　might　otherwise　not　have　submitted　to　the　drunken　wretch's　claim；　without　first　making　sure　that　she　had　a　right　to　advance　it。　Taking　her　character　into　due　consideration；　are　we　quite　certain　that　she　was　herself　free　to　marry；　when　Mr。　Evelin　unfortunately　made　her　his　wife？　To　that　serious　question　we　now　mean　to　find　an　answer。　With　Mrs。　Evelin's　knowledge　of　the　affair　to　help　us；　we　have　discovered　the　woman's　address；　to　begin　with。　She　keeps　a　small　tobacconist's　shop　at　the　town　of　Grailey　in　the　north　of　England。　The　rest　is　in　the　hands　of　my　lawyer。　If　we　make　the　discovery　that　we　all　hope　for；　we　have　your　wife　to　thank　for　it。〃　He　paused；　and　looked　at　his　watch。　〃I've　got　an　appointment　at　the　club。　The　committee　will　blackball　the　best　fellow　that　ever　lived　if　I　don't　go　and　stop　them。　Good…by。〃

The　last　day　of　Mrs。　Evelin's　sojourn　in　England　was　memorable　in　more　ways　than　one。

On　the　first　occasion　in　Beaucourt's　experience　of　his　married　life；　his　wife　wrote　to　him　instead　of　speaking　to　him；　although　they　were　both　in　the　house　at　the　time。　It　was　a　little　note　only　containing　these　words：　〃I　thought　you　would　like　to　say　good…by　to　Mrs。　Evelin。　I　have　told　her　to　ex