贵妇人画像The Portrait of a Lady-13

old ideals. I want to save those ideals, Mr. Touchett, and that's where you come in.""Not surely as an ideal?""Well, I hope not," Henrietta replied promptly. "I've got a fear in my heart that she's going tomarry one of these fell Europeans, and I want to prevent it."Ah, I see," cried Ralph; "and to prevent it you want me to step in and marry her?""Not quite; that remedy would be as bad as the disease, for you're the typical, the fell Europeanfrom whom I wish to rescue her. No; I wish you to take an interest in another person-- a youngman to whom she once gave great encouragement and whom she now doesn't seem to think goodenough. He's a thoroughly grand man and a very dear friend of mine, and I wish very much youwould invite him to pay a visit here."Ralph was much puzzled by this appeal, and it is perhaps not to the credit of his purity of mind thathe failed to look at it at first in the simplest light. It wore, to his eyes, a tortuous air, and his faultwas that he was not quite sure that anything in the world could really be as candid as this requestof Miss Stackpole's appeared. That a young woman should demand that a gentleman whom shedescribed as her very dear friend should be furnished with an opportunity to make himselfagreeable to another young woman, a young woman whose attention had wandered and whosecharms were greater--this was an anomaly which for the moment challenged all his ingenuity ofinterpretation. To read between the lines was easier than to follow the text, and to suppose thatMiss Stackpole wished the gentleman invited to Gardencourt on her own account was the sign notso much of a vulgar as of an embarrassed mind. Even from this venial act of vulgarity, however,Ralph was saved, and saved by a force that I can only speak of as inspiration. With no moreoutward light on the subject than he already possessed he suddenly acquired the conviction that itwould be a sovereign injustice to the correspondent of the Interviewer to assign a dishonourablemotive to any act of hers. This conviction passed into his mind with extreme rapidity; it wasperhaps kindled by the pure radiance of the young lady's imperturbable gaze. He returned thischallenge a moment, consciously, resisting an inclination to frown as one frowns in the presence oflarger luminaries. "Who's the gentleman you speak of?""Mr. Caspar Goodwood--of Boston. He has been extremely attentive to Isabel--just as devoted toher as he can live. He has followed her out here and he's at present in London. I don't know hisaddress, but I guess I can obtain it.""I've never heard of him," said Ralph."Well, I suppose you haven't heard of every one. I don't believe he has ever heard of you; but that'sno reason why Isabel shouldn't marry him."Ralph gave a mild ambiguous laugh. "What a rage you have for marrying people! Do youremember how you wanted to marry me the other day?""I've got over that. You don't know how to take such ideas. Mr. Goodwood does, however; andthat's what I like about him. He's a splendid man and a perfect gentleman, and Isabel knows it."第 85 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"Is she very fond of him?""If she isn't she ought to be. He's simply wrapped up in her.""And you wish me to ask him here," said Ralph reflectively."It would be an act of true hospitality.""Caspar Goodwood," Ralph continued--"it's rather a striking name.""I don't care anything about his name. It might be Ezekiel Jenkins, and I should say the same. He'sthe only man I have ever seen whom I think worthy of Isabel.""You're a very devoted friend," said Ralph."Of course I am. If you say that to pour scorn on me I don't care.""I don't say it to pour scorn on you; I'm very much struck with it.""You're more satiric than ever, but I advise you not to laugh at Mr. Goodwood.""I assure you I'm very serious; you ought to understand that," said Ralph.In a moment his companion understood it. "I believe you are; now you're too serious.""You're difficult to please.""Oh, you're very serious indeed. You won't invite Mr. Goodwood.""I don't know," said Ralph. "I'm capable of strange things. Tell me a little about Mr. Goodwood.What's he like?""He's just the opposite of you. He's at the head of a cotton-factory; a very fine one.""Has he pleasant manners?" asked Ralph."Splendid manners--in the American style.""Would he be an agreeable member of our little circle?""I don't think he'd care much about our little circle. He'd concentrate on Isabel.""And how would my cousin like that?""Very possibly not at all. But it will be good for her. It will call back her thoughts.""Call them back--from where?""From foreign parts and other unnatural places. Three months ago she gave Mr. Goodwood everyreason to suppose he was acceptable to her, and it's not worthy of Isabel to go back on a real friendsimply because she has changed the scene. I've changed the scene too, and the effect of it has beento make me care more for my old associations than ever. It's my belief that the sooner Isabelchanges it back again the better. I know her well enough to know that she would never be trulyhappy over here, and I wish her to form some strong American tie that will act as a preservative.""Aren't you perhaps a little too much in a hurry?" Ralph enquired. "Don't you think you ought togive her more of a chance in poor old England?""A chance to ruin her bright young life? One's never too much in a hurry to save a precious humancreature from drowning.""As I understand it then," said Ralph, "you wish me to push Mr. Goodwood overboard after her.Do you know," he added, "that I've never heard her mention his name?"第 86 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网Henrietta gave a brilliant smile. "I'm delighted to hear that; it proves how much she thinks of him."Ralph appeared to allow that there was a good deal in this, and he surrendered to thought while hiscompanion watched him askance. "If I should invite Mr. Goodwood," he finally said, "it would beto quarrel with him.""Don't do that; he'd prove the better man.""You certainly are doing your best to make me hate him! I really don't think I can ask him. Ishould be afraid of being rude to him.""It's just as you please," Henrietta returned. "I had no idea you were in love with her yourself.""Do you really believe that?" the young man asked with lifted eyebrows."That's the most natural speech I've ever heard you make! Of course I believe it," Miss Stackpoleingeniously said."Well," Ralph concluded, "to prove to you that you're wrong I'll invite him. It must be of course asa friend of yours.""It will not be as a friend of mine that he'll come; and it will not be to prove to me that I'm wrongthat you'll ask him--but to prove it to yourself!"These last words of Miss Stackpole's (on which the two presently separated) contained an amountof truth which Ralph Touchett was obliged to recognise; but it so far took the edge from too sharpa recognition that, in spite of his suspecting it would be rather more indiscreet to keep than tobreak his promise, he wrote Mr. Goodwood a note of six lines, expressing the pleasure it wouldgive Mr. Touchett the elder that he should join a little party at Gardencourt, of which MissStackpole was a valued member. Having sent his letter (to the care of a banker whom Henriettasuggested) he waited in some suspense. He had heard this fresh formidable figure named for thefirst time; for when his mother had mentioned on her arrival that there was a story about the girl'shaving an "admirer" at home, the idea had seemed deficient in reality and he had taken no pains toask questions the answers to which would involve only the vague or the disagreeable. Now,however, the native admiration of which his cousin was the object had become more concrete; ittook the form of a young man who had followed her to London, who was interested in a cotton-mill and had manners in the most splendid of the American styles. Ralph had two theories aboutthis intervenes. Either his passion was a sentimental fiction of Miss Stackpole's (there was alwaysa sort of tacit understanding among women, born of the solidarity of the sex, that they shoulddiscover or invent lovers for each other), in which case he was not to be feared and would probablynot accept the invitation; or else he would accept the invitation and in this event prove himself acreature too irrational to demand further consideration. The latter clause of Ralph's argument mighthave seemed incoherent; but it embodied his conviction that if Mr. Goodwood were interested inIsabel in the serious manner described by Miss Stackpole he would not care to present himself atGardencourt on a summons from the latter lady. "On this supposition," said Ralph, "he must regardher as a thorn on the stem of his rose; as an intercessor he must find her wanting in tact."Two days after he had sent his invitation he received a very short note from Caspar Goodwood,thanking him for it, regretting that other engagements made a visit to Gardencourt impossible and第 87 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网presenting many compliments to Miss Stackpole. Ralph handed the note to Henrietta, who, whenshe had read it, exclaimed: "Well, I never have heard of anything so stiff!""I'm afraid he doesn't care so much about my cousin as you suppose," Ralph observed."No, it's not that; it's some subtler motive. His nature's very deep. But I'm determined to fathom it,and I shall write to him to know what he means."His refusal of Ralph's overtures was vaguely disconcerting; from the moment he declined to cometo Gardencourt our friend began to think him of importance. He asked himself what it signified tohim whether Isabel's admirers should be desperadoes or laggards; they were not rivals of his andwere perfectly welcome to act out their genius. Nevertheless he felt much curiosity as to the resultof Miss Stackpole's promised enquiry into the causes of Mr. Goodwood's stiffness--a curiosity forthe present ungratified, inasmuch as when he asked her three days later if she had written toLondon she was obliged to confess she had written in vain. Mr. Goodwood had not replied."I suppose he's thinking it over," she said; "he thinks everything over; he's not really at allimpetuous. But I'm accustomed to having my letters answered the same day." She presentlyproposed to Isabel, at all events, that they should make an excursion to London together. "If I musttell the truth," she observed, "I'm not seeing much at this place, and I shouldn't think you wereeither. I've not even seen that aristocrat-- what's his name?--Lord Washburton. He seems to let youseverely alone.""Lord Warburton's coming to-morrow, I happen to know," replied her friend, who had received anote from the master of Lockleigh in answer to her own letter. "You'll have every opportunity ofturning him inside out.""Well, he may do for one letter, but what's one letter when you want to write fifty? I've describedall the scenery in this vicinity and raved about all the old women and donkeys. You may say whatyou please, scenery doesn't make a vital letter. I must go back to London and get some impressionsof real life. I was there but three days before I came away, and that's hardly time to get in touch."As Isabel, on her journey from New York to Gardencourt, had seen even less of the British capitalthan this, it appeared a happy suggestion of Henrietta's that the two should go thither on a visit ofpleasure. The idea struck Isabel as charming; he was curious of the thick detail of London, whichhad always loomed large and rich to her. They turned over their schemes together and indulged invisions of romantic hours. They would stay at some picturesque old inn--one of the inns describedby Dickens-- and drive over the town in those delightful hansoms. Henrietta was a literary woman,and the great advantage of being a literary woman was that you could go everywhere and doeverything. They would dine at a coffee-house and go afterwards to the play; they would frequentthe Abbey and the British Museum and find out where Doctor Johnson had lived, and Goldsmithand Addison. Isabel grew eager and presently unveiled the bright vision to Ralph, who burst into afit of laughter which scarce expressed the sympathy she had desired."It's a delightful plan," he said. "I advise you to go to the Duke's Head in Covent Garden, an easy,informal, old-fashioned place, and I'll have you put down at my club."第 88 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"Do you mean it's improper?" Isabel asked. "Dear me, isn't anything proper here? With Henriettasurely I may go anywhere; she isn't hampered in that way. She has travelled over the wholeAmerican continent and can at least find her way about this minute island.""Ah then," said Ralph, "let me take advantage of her protection to go up to town as well. I maynever have a chance to travel so safely!"CHAPTER XIVMiss Stackpole would have prepared to start immediately; but Isabel, as we have seen, had beennotified that Lord Warburton would come again to Gardencourt, and she believed it her duty toremain there and see him. For four or five days he had made no response to her letter; then he hadwritten, very briefly, to say he would come to luncheon two days later. There was something inthese delays and postponements that touched the girl and renewed her sense of his desire to beconsiderate and patient, not to appear to urge her too grossly; a consideration the more studied thatshe was so sure he "really liked" her. Isabel told her uncle she had written to him, mentioning alsohis intention of coming; and the old man, in consequence, left his room earlier than usual and madehis appearance at the two o'clock repast. This was by no means an act of vigilance on his part, butthe fruit of a benevolent belief that his being of the company might help to cover any conjoinedstraying away in case Isabel should give their noble visitor another hearing. That personage droveover from Lockleigh and brought the elder of his sisters with him, a measure presumably dictatedby reflexions of the same order as Mr. Touchett's. The two visitors were introduced to MissStackpole, who, at luncheon, occupied a seat adjoining Lord Warburton's. Isabel, who was nervousand had no relish for the prospect of again arguing the question he had so prematurely opened,could not help admiring his good-humoured self-possession, which quite disguised the symptomsof that preoccupation with her presence it was natural she should suppose him to feel. He neitherlooked at her nor spoke to her, and the only sign of his emotion was that he avoided meeting hereyes. He had plenty of talk for the others, however, and he appeared to eat his luncheon withdiscrimination and appetite. Miss Molyneux, who had a smooth, nun-like forehead and wore alarge silver cross suspended from her neck, was evidently preoccupied with Henrietta Stackpole,upon whom her eyes constantly rested in a manner suggesting a conflict between deep alienationand yearning wonder. Of the two ladies from Lockleigh she was the one Isabel had liked best;there was such a world of hereditary quiet in her. Isabel was sure moreover that her mild foreheadand silver cross referred to some weird Anglican mystery--some delightful reinstitution perhaps ofthe quaint office of the canoness. She wondered what Miss Molyneux would think of her if sheknew Miss Archer had refused her brother; and then she felt sure that Miss Molyneux would neverknow--that Lord Warburton never told her such things. He was fond of her and kind to her, but onthe whole he told her little. Such, at least, was Isabel's theory; when, at table, she was not occupiedin conversation she was usually occupied in forming theories about her neighbours. According toIsabel, if Miss Molyneux should ever learn what had passed between Miss Archer and LordWarburton she would probably be shocked at such a girl's failure to rise; or no, rather (this was ourheroine's last position) she would impute to the young American but a due consciousness ofinequality.第 89 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网Whatever Isabel might have made of her opportunities, at all events, Henrietta Stackpole was byno means disposed to neglect those in which she now found herself immersed. "Do you knowyou're the first lord I've ever seen?" she said very promptly to her neighbour. "I suppose you thinkI'm awfully benighted.""You've escaped seeing some very ugly men," Lord Warburton answered, looking a trifle absentlyabout the table."Are they very ugly? They try to make us believe in America that they're all handsome andmagnificent and that they wear wonderful robes and crowns.""Ah, the robes and crowns are gone out of fashion," said Lord Warburton, "like your tomahawksand revolvers.""I'm sorry for that; I think an aristocracy ought to be splendid," Henrietta declared. "If it's not that,what is it?""Oh, you know, it isn't much, at the best," her neighbour allowed. "Won't you have a potato?""I don't care much for these European potatoes. I shouldn't know you from an ordinary Americangentleman.""Do talk to me as if I were one," said Lord Warburton. "I don't see how you manage to get onwithout potatoes; you must find so few things to eat over here."Henrietta was silent a little; there was a chance he was not sincere. "I've had hardly any appetitesince I've been here," she went on at last; "so it doesn't much matter. I don't approve of you, youknow; I feel as if I ought to tell you that.""Don't approve of me?""Yes; I don't suppose any one ever said such a thing to you before, did they? I don't approve oflords as an institution. I think the world has got beyond them--far beyond.""Oh, so do I. I don't approve of myself in the least. Sometimes it comes over me--how I shouldobject to myself if I were not myself, don't you know? But that's rather good, by the way--not to bevainglorious.""Why don't you give it up then?" Miss Stackpole enquired."Give up--a--?" asked Lord Warburton, meeting her harsh inflexion with a very mellow one."Give up being a lord.""Oh, I'm so little of one! One would really forget all about it if you wretched Americans were notconstantly reminding one. However, I do think of giving it up, the little there is left of it, one ofthese days.""I should like to see you do it!" Henrietta exclaimed rather grimly."I'll invite you to the ceremony; we'll have a supper and a dance.""Well," said Miss Stackpole, "I like to see all sides. I don't approve of a privileged class, but I liketo hear what they have to say for themselves.""Mighty little, as you see!"第 90 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"I should like to draw you out a little more," Henrietta continued. "But you're always lookingaway. You're afraid of meeting my eye. I see you want to escape me.""No, I'm only looking for those despised potatoes.""Please explain about that young lady--your sister--then. I don't understand about her. Is she aLady?""She's a capital good girl.""I don't like the way you say that--as if you wanted to change the subject. Is her position inferior toyours?""We neither of us have any position to speak of; but she's better off than I, because she has none ofthe bother.""Yes, she doesn't look as if she had much bother. I wish I had as little bother as that. You doproduce quiet people over here, whatever else you may do.""Ah, you see one takes life easily, on the whole," said Lord Warburton. "And then you know we'revery dull. Ah, we can be dull when we try!""I should advise you to try something else. I shouldn't know what to talk to your sister about; shelooks so different. Is that silver cross a badge?""A badge?""A sign of rank."Lord Warburton's glance had wandered a good deal, but at this it met the gaze of his neighbour.