贵妇人画像The Portrait of a Lady-29

back in her chair and looking round the room. "You've made a very good impression, and I'for myself that you've received one. You've not come to Mrs. Touchett's seven times to oblige me."(ve seen) "The girl's not disagreeable," Osmond quietly conceded.Madame Merle dropped her eye on him a moment, during which her lips closed with a certainfirmness. "Is that all you can find to say about that fine creature?""All? Isn't it enough? Of how many people have you heard me say more?"She made no answer to this, but still presented her talkative grace to the room. "You'reunfathomable," she murmured at last. "I'm frightened at the abyss into which I shall have cast her."He took it almost gaily. "You can't draw back--you've gone too far.""Very good; but you must do the rest yourself.""I shall do it," said Gilbert Osmond.Madame Merle remained silent and he changed his place again; but when she rose to go he alsotook leave. Mrs. Touchett's victoria was awaiting her guest in the court, and after he had helped hisfriend into it he stood there detaining her. "You're very indiscreet," she said rather wearily; "youshouldn't have moved when I did."第 192 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网He had taken off his hat; he passed his hand over his forehead. "I always forget; I'm out of thehabit.""You're quite unfathomable," she repeated, glancing up at the windows of the house, a modernstructure in the new part of the town.He paid no heed to this remark, but spoke in his own sense. "She's really very charming. I'vescarcely known any one more graceful.""It does me good to hear you say that. The better you like her the better for me.""I like her very much. She's all you described her, and into the bargain capable, I feel, of greatdevotion. She has only one fault.""What's that?""Too many ideas.""I warned you she was clever.""Fortunately they're very bad ones," said Osmond."Why is that fortunate?""Dame, if they must be sacrificed!"Madame Merle leaned back, looking straight before her; then she spoke to the coachman. But herfriend again detained her. "If I go to Rome what shall I do with Pansy?""I'll go and see her," said Madame Merle.CHAPTER XXVIII may not attempt to report in its fulness our young woman's response to the deep appeal of Rome,to analyse her feelings as she trod the pavement of the Forum or to number her pulsations as shecrossed the threshold of Saint Peter's. It is enough to say that her impression was such as mighthave been expected of a person of her freshness and her eagerness. She had always been fond ofhistory, and here was history in the stones of the street and the atoms of the sunshine. She had animagination that kindled at the mention of great deeds, and wherever she turned some great deedhad been acted. These things strongly moved her, but moved her all inwardly. It seemed to hercompanions that she talked less than usual, and Ralph Touchett, when he appeared to be lookinglistlessly and awkwardly over her head, was really dropping on her an intensity of observation. Byher own measure she was very happy; she would even have been willing to take these hours for thehappiest she was ever to know. The sense of the terrible human past was heavy to her, but that ofsomething altogether contemporary would suddenly give it wings that it could wave in the blue.Her consciousness was so mixed that she scarcely knew where the different parts of it would leadher, and she went about in a repressed ecstasy of contemplation, seeing often in the things shelooked at a great deal more than was there, and yet not seeing many of the items enumerated in herMurray. Rome, as Ralph said, confessed to the psychological moment. The herd of reechoingtourists had departed and most of the solemn places had relapsed into solemnity. The sky was ablaze of blue, and the plash of the fountains in their mossy niches had lost its chill and doubled itsmusic. On the corners of the warm, bright streets one stumbled on bundles of flowers. Our friends第 193 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网had gone one afternoon--it was the third of their stay--to look at the latest excavations in theForum, these labours having been for some time previous largely extended. They had descendedfrom the modern street to the level of the Sacred Way, along which they wandered with areverence of step which was not the same on the part of each. Henrietta Stackpole was struck withthe fact that ancient Rome had been paved a good deal like New York, and even found an analogybetween the deep chariot-ruts traceable in the antique street and the overjangled iron grooveswhich express the intensity of American life. The sun had begun to sink, the air was a golden haze,and the long shadows of broken column and vague pedestal leaned across the field of ruin.Henrietta wandered away with Mr. Bantling, whom it was apparently delightful to her to hearspeak of Julius Caesar as a "cheeky old boy," and Ralph addressed such elucidations as he wasprepared to offer to the attentive ear of our heroine. One of the humble archeologists who hoverabout the place had put himself at the disposal of the two, and repeated his lesson with a fluencywhich the decline of the season had done nothing to impair. A process of digging was on view in aremote corner of the Forum, and he presently remarked that if it should please the signori to go andwatch it a little they might see something of interest. The proposal commended itself more toRalph than to Isabel, weary with much wandering; so that she admonished her companion tosatisfy his curiosity while she patiently awaited his return. The hour and the place were much toher taste--she should enjoy being briefly alone. Ralph accordingly went off with the cicerone whileIsabel sat down on a prostrate column near the foundations of the Capitol. She wanted a shortsolitude, but she was not long to enjoy it. Keen as was her interest in the rugged relics of theRoman past that lay scattered about her and in which the corrosion of centuries had still left somuch of individual life, her thoughts, after resting a while on these things, had wandered, by aconcatenation of stages it might require some subtlety to trace, to regions and objects charged witha more active appeal. From the Roman past to Isabel Archer's future was a long stride, but herimagination had taken it in a single flight and now hovered in slow circles over the nearer andricher field. She was so absorbed in her thoughts, as she bent her eyes upon a row of cracked butnot dislocated slabs covering the ground at her feet, that she had not heard the sound ofapproaching footsteps before a shadow was thrown across the line of her vision. She looked up andsaw a gentleman--a gentleman who was not Ralph come back to say that the excavations were abore. This personage was startled as she was startled; he stood there baring his head to herperceptibly pale surprise."Lord Warburton!" Isabel exclaimed as she rose."I had no idea it was you. I turned that corner and came upon you."She looked about her to explain. "I'm alone, but my companions have just left me. My cousin'sgone to look at the work over there.""Ah yes; I see." And Lord Warburton's eyes wandered vaguely in the direction she had indicated.He stood firmly before her now; he had recovered his balance and seemed to wish to show it,though very kindly. "Don't let me disturb you," he went on, looking at her dejected pillar. "I'mafraid you're tired.""Yes, I'm rather tired." She hesitated a moment, but sat down again. "Don't let me interrupt you,"she added.第 194 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"Oh dear, I'm quite alone, I've nothing on earth to do. I had no idea you were in Rome. I've justcome from the East. I'm only passing through.""You've been making a long journey," said Isabel, who had learned from Ralph that LordWarburton was absent from England."Yes, I came abroad for six months--soon after I saw you last. I've been in Turkey and Asia Minor;I came the other day from Athens." He managed not to be awkward, but he wasn't easy, and after alonger look at the girl he came down to nature. "Do you wish me to leave you, or will you let mestay a little?"She took it all humanely. "I don't wish you to leave me, Lord Warburton; I'm very glad to seeyou.""Thank you for saying that. May I sit down?"The fluted shaft on which she had taken her seat would have afforded a resting-place to severalpersons, and there was plenty of room even for a highly-developed Englishman. This finespecimen of that great class seated himself near our young lady, and in the course of five minuteshe had asked her several questions, taken rather at random and to which, as he put some of themtwice over, he apparently somewhat missed catching the answer; had given her too someinformation about himself which was not wasted upon her calmer feminine sense. He repeatedmore than once that he had not expected to meet her, and it was evident that the encounter touchedhim in a way that would have made preparation advisable. He began abruptly to pass from theimpunity of things to their solemnity, and from their being delightful to their being impossible. Hewas splendidly sunburnt; even his multitudinous beard had been burnished by the fire of Asia. Hewas dressed in the loose-fitting, heterogeneous garments in which the English traveller in foreignlands is wont to consult his comfort and affirm his nationality; and with his pleasant steady eyes,his bronzed complexion, fresh beneath its seasoning, his manly figure, his minimising manner andhis general air of being a gentleman and an explorer, he was such a representative of the Britishrace as need not in any clime have been disavowed by those who have a kindness for it. Isabelnoted these things and was glad she had always liked him. He had kept, evidently in spite ofshocks, every one of his merits--properties these partaking of the essence of great decent houses, asone might put it; resembling their innermost fixtures and ornaments, not subject to vulgar shiftingand removable only by some whole break-up. They talked of the matters naturally in order; heruncle's death, Ralph's state of health, the way she had passed her winter, her visit to Rome, herreturn to Florence, her plans for the summer, the hotel she was staying at; and then of LordWarburton's own adventures, movements, intentions, impressions and present domicile. At lastthere was a silence, and it said so much more than either had said that it scarce needed his finalwords. "I've written to you several times.""Written to me? I've never had your letters.""I never sent them. I burned them up.""Ah," laughed Isabel, "it was better that you should do that than I!""I thought you wouldn't care for them," he went on with a simplicity that touched her. "It seemedto me that after all I had no right to trouble you with letters."第 195 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"I should have been very glad to have news of you. You know how I hoped that--that--" But shestopped; there would be such a flatness in the utterance of her thought."I know what you're going to say. You hoped we should always remain good friends." Thisformula, as Lord Warburton uttered it, was certainly flat enough; but then he was interested inmaking it appear so.She found herself reduced simply to "Please don't talk of all that"; a speech which hardly struckher as improvement on the other."It's a small consolation to allow me!" her companion exclaimed with force."I can't pretend to console you," said the girl, who, all still as she sat there, threw herself back witha sort of inward triumph on the answer that had satisfied him so little six months before. He waspleasant, he was powerful, he was gallant; there was no better man than he. But her answerremained."It's very well you don't try to console me; it wouldn't be in your power," she heard him saythrough the medium of her strange elation."I hoped we should meet again, because I had no fear you would attempt to make me feel I hadwronged you. But when you do that-- the pain's greater than the pleasure." And she got up with asmall conscious majesty, looking for her companions."I don't want to make you feel that; of course I can't say that. I only just want you to know one ortwo things--in fairness to myself, as it were. I won't return to the subject again. I felt very stronglywhat I expressed to you last year; I couldn't think of anything else. I tried to forget--energetically,systematically. I tried to take an interest in somebody else. I tell you this because I want you toknow I did my duty. I didn't succeed. It was for the same purpose I went abroad--as far away aspossible. They say travelling distracts the mind, but it didn't distract mine. I've thought of youperpetually, ever since I last saw you. I'm exactly the same. I love you just as much, andeverything I said to you then is just as true. This instant at which I speak to you shows me againexactly how, to my great misfortune, you just insuperably charm me. There--I can't say less. I don'tmean, however, to insist; it's only for a moment. I may add that when I came upon you a fewminutes since, without the smallest idea of seeing you, I was, upon my honour, in the very act ofwishing I knew where you were." He had recovered his self-control, and while he spoke it becamecomplete. He might have been addressing a small committee--making all quietly and clearly astatement of importance; aided by an occasional look at a paper of notes concealed in his hat,which he had not again put on. And the committee, assuredly, would have felt the point proved."I've often thought of you, Lord Warburton," Isabel answered. "You may be sure I shall always dothat." And she added in a tone of which she tried to keep up the kindness and keep down themeaning: "There's no harm in that on either side."They walked along together, and she was prompt to ask about his sisters and request him to letthem know she had done so. He made for the moment no further reference to their great question,but dipped again into shallower and safer waters. But he wished to know when she was to leaveRome, and on her mentioning the limit of her stay declared he was glad it was still so distant."Why do you say that if you yourself are only passing through?" she enquired with some anxiety.第 196 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"Ah, when I said I was passing through I didn't mean that one would treat Rome as if it wereClapham Junction. To pass through Rome is to stop a week or two.""Say frankly that you mean to stay as long as I do!"His flushed smile, for a little, seemed to sound her. "You won't like that. You're afraid you'll seetoo much of me.""It doesn't matter what I like. I certainly can't expect you to leave this delightful place on myaccount. But I confess I'm afraid of you.""Afraid I'll begin again? I promise to be very careful."They had gradually stopped and they stood a moment face to face. "Poor Lord Warburton!" shesaid with a compassion intended to be good for both of them."Poor Lord Warburton indeed! But I'll be careful.""You may be unhappy, but you shall not make ME so. That I can't allow.""If I believed I could make you unhappy I think I should try it." At this she walked in advance andhe also proceeded. "I'll never say a word to displease you.""Very good. If you do, our friendship's at an end.""Perhaps some day--after a while--you'll give me leave.""Give you leave to make me unhappy?"He hesitated. "To tell you again--" But he checked himself. "I'll keep it down. I'll keep it downalways."Ralph Touchett had been joined in his visit to the excavation by Miss Stackpole and her attendant,and these three now emerged from among the mounds of earth and stone collected round theaperture and came into sight of Isabel and her companion. Poor Ralph hailed his friend with joyqualified by wonder, and Henrietta exclaimed in a high voice "Gracious, there's that lord!" Ralphand his English neighbour greeted with the austerity with which, after long separations, Englishneighbours greet, and Miss Stackpole rested her large intellectual gaze upon the sunburnt traveller.But she soon established her relation to the crisis. "I don't suppose you remember me, sir.""Indeed I do remember you," said Lord Warburton. "I asked you to come and see me, and younever came.""I don't go everywhere I'm asked," Miss Stackpole answered coldly."Ah well, I won't ask you again," laughed the master of Lockleigh."If you do I'll go; so be sure!"Lord Warburton, for all his hilarity, seemed sure enough. Mr. Bantling had stood by withoutclaiming a recognition, but he now took occasion to nod to his lordship, who answered him with afriendly "Oh, you here, Bantling?" and a hand-shake."Well," said Henrietta, "I didn't know you knew him!""I guess you don't know every one I know," Mr. Bantling rejoined facetiously."I thought that when an Englishman knew a lord he always told you."第 197 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"Ah, I'm afraid Bantling was ashamed of me," Lord Warburton laughed again. Isabel took pleasurein that note; she gave a small sigh of relief as they kept their course homeward.The next day was Sunday; she spent her morning over two long letters--one to her sister Lily, theother to Madame Merle; but in neither of these epistles did she mention the fact that a rejectedsuitor had threatened her with another appeal. Of a Sunday afternoon all good Romans (and thebest Romans are often the northern barbarians) follow the custom of going to vespers at SaintPeter's; and it had been agreed among our friends that they would drive together to the greatchurch. After lunch, an hour before the carriage came, Lord Warburton presented himself at theHotel de Paris and paid a visit to the two ladies, Ralph Touchett and Mr. Bantling having gone outtogether. The visitor seemed to have wished to give Isabel a proof of his intention to keep thepromise made her the evening before; he was both discreet and frank--not even dumblyimportunate or remotely intense. He thus left her to judge what a mere good friend he could be. Hetalked about his travels, about Persia, about Turkey, and when Miss Stackpole asked him whetherit would "pay" for her to visit those countries assured her they offered a great field to femaleenterprise. Isabel did him justice, but she wondered what his purpose was and what he expected togain even by proving the superior strain of his sincerity. If he expected to melt her by showingwhat a good fellow he was, he might spare himself the trouble. She knew the superior strain ofeverything about him, and nothing he could now do was required to light the view. Moreover hisbeing in Rome at all affected her as a complication of the wrong sort--she liked so complicationsof the right. Nevertheless, when, on bringing his call to a close, he said he too should be at SaintPeter's and should look out for her and her friends, she was obliged to reply that he must follow hisconvenience.In the church, as she strolled over its tesselated acres, he was the first person she encountered. Shehad not been one of the superior tourists who are "disappointed" in Saint Peter's and find it smallerthan its fame; the first time she passed beneath the huge leathern curtain that strains and bangs atthe entrance, the first time she found herself beneath the far-arching dome and saw the light drizzledown through the air thickened with incense and with the reflections of marble and gilt, of mosaicand bronze, her conception of greatness rose and dizzily rose. After this it never lacked space tosoar. She gazed and wondered like a child or a peasant, she paid her silent tribute to the seatedsublime. Lord Warburton walked beside her and talked of Saint Sophia of Constantinople; shefeared for instance that he would end by calling attention to his exemplary conduct. The servicehad not yet begun, but at Saint Peter's there is much to observe, and as there is something almostprofane in the vastness of the place, which seems meant as much for physical as for spiritualexercise, the different figures and groups, the mingled worshippers and spectators, may followtheir various intentions without conflict or scandal. In that splendid immensity individualindiscretion carries but a short distance. Isabel and her companions, however, were guilty of none;for though Henrietta was obliged in candour to declare that Michael Angelo's dome suffered bycomparison with that of the Capitol at Washington, she addressed her protest chiefly to Mr.Bantling's ear and reserved it in its more accentuated form for the columns of the Interviewer.Isabel made the circuit of the church with his lordship, and as they drew near the choir on the leftof the entrance the voices of the Pope's singers were borne to them over the heads of the largenumber of persons clustered outside the doors. They paused a while on the skirts of this crowd,第 198 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网composed in equal measure of Roman cockneys and inquisitive strangers, and while they stoodthere the sacred concert went forward. Ralph, with Henrietta and Mr. Bantling, was apparentlywithin, where Isabel, looking beyond the dense group in front of her, saw the afternoon light,silvered by clouds of incense that seemed to mingle with the splendid chant, slope through theembossed recesses of high windows. After a while the singing stopped and then Lord Warburtonseemed disposed to move off with her. Isabel could only accompany him; whereupon she foundherself confronted with Gilbert Osmond, who appeared to have been standing at a short distancebehind her. He now approached with all the forms --he appeared to have multiplied them on thisoccasion to suit the place."So you decided to come?" she said as she put out her hand."Yes, I came last night and called this afternoon at your hotel. They told me you had come here,and I looked about for you.""The others are inside," she decided to say."I didn't come for the others," he promptly returned.She looked away; Lord Warburton was watching them; perhaps he had heard this. Suddenly sheremembered it to be just what he had said to her the morning he came to Gardencourt to ask her tomarry him. Mr. Osmond's words had brought the colour to her cheek, and this reminiscence hadnot the effect of dispelling it. She repaired any betrayal by mentioning to each companion thename of the other, and fortunately at this moment Mr. Bantling emerged from the choir, cleavingthe crowd with British valour and followed by Miss Stackpole and Ralph Touchett. I sayfortunately, but this is perhaps a superficial view of the matter; since on perceiving the gentlemanfrom Florence Ralph Touchett appeared to take the case as not committing him to joy. He didn'thang back, however, from civility, and presently observed to Isabel, with due benevolence, that shewould soon have all her friends about her. Miss Stackpole had met Mr. Osmond in Florence, butshe had already found occasion to say to Isabel that she liked him no better than her other