贵妇人画像The Portrait of a Lady-14

"Oh yes," he answered in a moment; "the women go in for those things. The silver cross is worn bythe eldest daughters of Viscounts." Which was his harmless revenge for having occasionally hadhis credulity too easily engaged in America. After luncheon he proposed to Isabel to come into thegallery and look at the pictures; and though she knew he had seen the pictures twenty times shecomplied without criticising this pretext. Her conscience now was very easy; ever since she senthim her letter she had felt particularly light of spirit. He walked slowly to the end of the gallery,staring at its contents and saying nothing; and then he suddenly broke out: "I hoped you wouldn'twrite to me that way.""It was the only way, Lord Warburton," said the girl. "Do try and believe that.""If I could believe it of course I should let you alone. But we can't believe by willing it; and Iconfess I don't understand. I could understand your disliking me; that I could understand well. Butthat you should admit you do--""What have I admitted?" Isabel interrupted, turning slightly pale."That you think me a good fellow; isn't that it?" She said nothing, and he went on: "You don't seemto have any reason, and that gives me a sense of injustice.""I have a reason, Lord Warburton." She said it in a tone that made his heart contract."I should like very much to know it.""I'll tell you some day when there's more to show for it.""Excuse my saying that in the mean time I must doubt of it."第 91 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"You make me very unhappy," said Isabel."I'm not sorry for that; it may help you to know how I feel. Will you kindly answer me aquestion?" Isabel made no audible assent, but he apparently saw in her eyes something that gavehim courage to go on. "Do you prefer some one else?""That's a question I'd rather not answer.""Ah, you do then!" her suitor murmured with bitterness.The bitterness touched her, and she cried out: "You're mistaken! I don't."He sat down on a bench, unceremoniously, doggedly, like a man in trouble; leaning his elbows onhis knees and staring at the floor. "I can't even be glad of that," he said at last, throwing himselfback against the wall; "for that would be an excuse."She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "An excuse? Must I excuse myself?"He paid, however, no answer to the question. Another idea had come into his head. "Is it mypolitical opinions? Do you think I go too far?""I can't object to your political opinions, because I don't understand them.""You don't care what I think!" he cried, getting up. "It's all the same to you."Isabel walked to the other side of the gallery and stood there showing him her charming back, herlight slim figure, the length of her white neck as she bent her head, and the density of her darkbraids. She stopped in front of a small picture as if for the purpose of examining it; and there wassomething so young and free in her movement that her very pliancy seemed to mock at him. Hereyes, however, saw nothing; they had suddenly been suffused with tears. In a moment he followedher, and by this time she had brushed her tears away; but when she turned round her face was paleand the expression of her eyes strange. "That reason that I wouldn't tell you--I'll tell it you after all.It's that I can't escape my fate.""Your fate?""I should try to escape it if I were to marry you.""I don't understand. Why should not that be your fate as well as anything else?""Because it's not," said Isabel femininely. "I know it's not. It's not my fate to give up--I know itcan't be."Poor Lord Warburton stared, an interrogative point in either eye. "Do you call marrying me givingup?""Not in the usual sense. It's getting--getting--getting a great deal. But it's giving up other chances.""Other chances for what?""I don't mean chances to marry," said Isabel, her colour quickly coming back to her. And then shestopped, looking down with a deep frown, as if it were hopeless to attempt to make her meaningclear."I don't think it presumptuous in me to suggest that you'll gain more than you'll lose," hercompanion observed."I can't escape unhappiness," said Isabel. "In marrying you I shall be trying to."第 92 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"I don't know whether you'd try to, but you certainly would: that I must in candour admit!" heexclaimed with an anxious laugh."I mustn't--I can't!" cried the girl."Well, if you're bent on being miserable I don't see why you should make me so. Whatever charmsa life of misery may have for you, it has none for me.""I'm not bent on a life of misery," said Isabel. "I've always been intensely determined to be happy,and I've often believed I should be. I've told people that; you can ask them. But it comes over meevery now and then that I can never be happy in any extraordinary way; not by turning away, byseparating myself.""By separating yourself from what?""From life. From the usual chances and dangers, from what most people know and suffer."Lord Warburton broke into a smile that almost denoted hope. "Why, my dear Miss Archer," hebegan to explain with the most considerate eagerness, "I don't offer you any exoneration from lifeor from any chances or dangers whatever. I wish I could; depend upon it I would! For what do youtake me, pray? Heaven help me, I'm not the Emperor of China! All I offer you is the chance oftaking the common lot in a comfortable sort of way. The common lot? Why, I'm devoted to thecommon lot! Strike an alliance with me, and I promise you that you shall have plenty of it. Youshall separate from nothing whatever--not even from your friend Miss Stackpole.""She'd never approve of it," said Isabel, trying to smile and take advantage of this side-issue;despising herself too, not a little, for doing so."Are we speaking of Miss Stackpole?" his lordship asked impatiently. "I never saw a person judgethings on such theoretic grounds.""Now I suppose you're speaking of me," said Isabel with humility; and she turned away again, forshe saw Miss Molyneux enter the gallery, accompanied by Henrietta and by Ralph.Lord Warburton's sister addressed him with a certain timidity and reminded him she ought toreturn home in time for tea, as she was expecting company to partake of it. He made no answer-apparentlynot having heard her; he was preoccupied, and with good reason. Miss Molyneux--as ifhe had been Royalty--stood like a lady-in-waiting."Well, I never, Miss Molyneux!" said Henrietta Stackpole. "If I wanted to go he'd have to go. If Iwanted my brother to do a thing he'd have to do it.""Oh, Warburton does everything one wants," Miss Molyneux answered with a quick, shy laugh."How very many pictures you have!" she went on, turning to Ralph."They look a good many, because they're all put together," said Ralph. "But it's really a bad way.""Oh, I think it's so nice. I wish we had a gallery at Lockleigh. I'm so very fond of pictures," MissMolyneux went on, persistently, to Ralph, as if she were afraid Miss Stackpole would address heragain. Henrietta appeared at once to fascinate and to frighten her."Ah yes, pictures are very convenient," said Ralph, who appeared to know better what style ofreflexion was acceptable to her.第 93 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"They're so very pleasant when it rains," the young lady continued. "It has rained of late so veryoften.""I'm sorry you're going away, Lord Warburton," said Henrietta. "I wanted to get a great deal moreout of you.""I'm not going away," Lord Warburton answered."Your sister says you must. In America the gentlemen obey the ladies.""I'm afraid we have some people to tea," said Miss Molyneux, looking at her brother."Very good, my dear. We'll go.""I hoped you would resist!" Henrietta exclaimed. "I wanted to see what Miss Molyneux would do.""I never do anything," said this young lady."I suppose in your position it's sufficient for you to exist!" Miss Stackpole returned. "I should likevery much to see you at home.""You must come to Lockleigh again," said Miss Molyneux, very sweetly, to Isabel, ignoring thisremark of Isabel's friend. Isabel looked into her quiet eyes a moment, and for that moment seemedto see in their grey depths the reflexion of everything she had rejected in rejecting LordWarburton--the peace, the kindness, the honour, the possessions, a deep security and a greatexclusion. She kissed Miss Molyneux and then she said: "I'm afraid I can never come again.""Never again?""I'm afraid I'm going away.""Oh, I'm so very sorry," said Miss Molyneux. "I think that's so very wrong of you."Lord Warburton watched this little passage; then he turned away and stared at a picture. Ralph,leaning against the rail before the picture with his hands in his pockets, had for the moment beenwatching him."I should like to see you at home," said Henrietta, whom Lord Warburton found beside him. "Ishould like an hour's talk with you; there are a great many questions I wish to ask you.""I shall be delighted to see you," the proprietor of Lockleigh answered; "but I'm certain not to beable to answer many of your questions. When will you come?""Whenever Miss Archer will take me. We're thinking of going to London, but we'll go and see youfirst. I'm determined to get some satisfaction out of you.""If it depends upon Miss Archer I'm afraid you won't get much. She won't come to Lockleigh; shedoesn't like the place.""She told me it was lovely!" said Henrietta.Lord Warburton hesitated. "She won't come, all the same. You had better come alone," he added.Henrietta straightened herself, and her large eyes expanded. "Would you make that remark to anEnglish lady?" she enquired with soft asperity.Lord Warburton stared. "Yes, if I liked her enough."第 94 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"You'd be careful not to like her enough. If Miss Archer won't visit your place again it's becauseshe doesn't want to take me. I know what she thinks of me, and I suppose you think the same-- thatI oughtn't to bring in individuals." Lord Warburton was at a loss; he had not been made acquaintedwith Miss Stackpole's professional character and failed to catch her allusion. "Miss Archer hasbeen warning you!" she therefore went on."Warning me?""Isn't that why she came off alone with you here--to put you on your guard?""Oh dear, no," said Lord Warburton brazenly; "our talk had no such solemn character as that.""Well, you've been on your guard--intensely. I suppose it's natural to you; that's just what I wantedto observe. And so, too, Miss Molyneux--she wouldn't commit herself. You have been warned,anyway," Henrietta continued, addressing this young lady; "but for you it wasn't necessary.""I hope not," said Miss Molyneux vaguely."Miss Stackpole takes notes," Ralph soothingly explained. "She's a great satirist; she sees throughus all and she works us up.""Well, I must say I never have had such a collection of bad material!" Henrietta declared, lookingfrom Isabel to Lord Warburton and from this nobleman to his sister and to Ralph. "There'ssomething the matter with you all; you're as dismal as if you had got a bad cable.""You do see through us, Miss Stackpole," said Ralph in a low tone, giving her a little intelligentnod as he led the party out of the gallery. "There's something the matter with us all."Isabel came behind these two; Miss Molyneux, who decidedly liked her immensely, had taken herarm, to walk beside her over the polished floor. Lord Warburton strolled on the other side with hishands behind him and his eyes lowered. For some moments he said nothing; and then, "Is it trueyou're going to London?" he asked."I believe it has been arranged.""And when shall you come back?""In a few days; but probably for a very short time. I'm going to Paris with my aunt.""When, then, shall I see you again?""Not for a good while," said Isabel. "But some day or other, I hope.""Do you really hope it?""Very much."He went a few steps in silence; then he stopped and put out his hand. "Good-bye.""Good-bye," said Isabel.Miss Molyneux kissed her again, and she let the two depart. After it, without rejoining Henriettaand Ralph, she retreated to her own room; in which apartment, before dinner, she was found byMrs. Touchett, who had stopped on her way to the salon. "I may as well tell you," said that lady,"that your uncle has informed me of your relations with Lord Warburton."Isabel considered. "Relations? They're hardly relations. That's the strange part of it: he has seen mebut three or four times."第 95 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"Why did you tell your uncle rather than me?" Mrs. Touchett dispassionately asked.Again the girl hesitated. "Because he knows Lord Warburton better.""Yes, but I know you better.""I'm not sure of that," said Isabel, smiling."Neither am I, after all; especially when you give me that rather conceited look. One would thinkyou were awfully pleased with yourself and had carried off a prize! I suppose that when you refusean offer like Lord Warburton's it's because you expect to do something better.""Ah, my uncle didn't say that!" cried Isabel, smiling still.CHAPTER XVIt had been arranged that the two young ladies should proceed to London under Ralph's escort,though Mrs. Touchett looked with little favour on the plan. It was just the sort of plan, she said,that Miss Stackpole would be sure to suggest, and she enquired if the correspondent of theInterviewer was to take the party to stay at her favourite boarding-house."I don't care where she takes us to stay, so long as there's local colour," said Isabel. "That's whatwe're going to London for.""I suppose that after a girl has refused an English lord she may do anything," her aunt rejoined."After that one needn't stand on trifles.""Should you have liked me to marry Lord Warburton?" Isabel enquired."Of course I should.""I thought you disliked the English so much.""So I do; but it's all the greater reason for making use of them.""Is that your idea of marriage?" And Isabel ventured to add that her aunt appeared to her to havemade very little use of Mr. Touchett."Your uncle's not an English nobleman," said Mrs. Touchett, "though even if he had been I shouldstill probably have taken up my residence in Florence.""Do you think Lord Warburton could make me any better than I am?" the girl asked with someanimation. "I don't mean I'm too good to improve. I mean that I don't love Lord Warburton enoughto marry him.""You did right to refuse him then," said Mrs. Touchett in her smallest, sparest voice. "Only, thenext great offer you get, I hope you'll manage to come up to your standard.""We had better wait till the offer comes before we talk about it. I hope very much I may have nomore offers for the present. They upset me completely.""You probably won't be troubled with them if you adopt permanently the Bohemian manner oflife. However, I've promised Ralph not to criticise.""I'll do whatever Ralph says is right," Isabel returned. "I've unbounded confidence in Ralph.""His mother's much obliged to you!" this lady dryly laughed.第 96 页 共 391 页原版英语阅读网"It seems to me indeed she ought to feel it!" Isabel irrepressibly answered.Ralph had assured her that there would be no violation of decency in their paying a visit--the littleparty of three--to the sights of the metropolis; but Mrs. Touchett took a different view. Like manyladies of her country who had lived a long time in Europe, she had completely lost her native tacton such points, and in her reaction, not in itself deplorable, against the liberty allowed to youngpersons beyond the seas, had fallen into gratuitous and exaggerated scruples. Ralph accompaniedtheir visitors to town and established them at a quiet inn in a street that ran at right angles toPiccadilly. His first idea had been to take them to his father's house in Winchester Square, a large,dull mansion which at this period of the year was shrouded in silence and brown holland; but hebethought himself that, the cook being at Gardencourt, there was no one in the house to get themtheir meals, and Pratt's Hotel accordingly became their resting-place. Ralph, on his side, foundquarters in Winchester Square, having a "den" there of which he was very fond and being familiarwith deeper fears than that of a cold kitchen. He availed himself largely indeed of the resources ofPratt's Hotel, beginning his day with an early visit to his fellow travellers, who had Mr. Pratt inperson, in a large bulging white waistcoat, to remove their dish-covers. Ralph turned up, as he said,after breakfast, and the little party made out a scheme of entertainment for the day. As Londonwears in the month of September a face blank but for its smears of prior service, the young man,who occasionally took an apologetic tone, was obliged to remind his companion, to MissStackpole's high derision, that there wasn't a creature in town."I suppose you mean the aristocracy are absent," Henrietta answered; "but I don't think you couldhave a better proof that if they were absent altogether they wouldn't be missed. It seems to me theplace is about as full as it can be. There's no one here, of course, but three or four millions ofpeople. What is it you call them--the lower-middle class? They're only the population of London,and that's of no consequence."Ralph declared that for him the aristocracy left no void that Miss Stackpole herself didn't fill, andthat a more contented man was nowhere at that moment to be found. In this he spoke the truth, forthe stale September days, in the huge half-empty town, had a charm wrapped in them as a colouredgem might be wrapped in a dusty cloth. When he went home at night to the empty house inWinchester Square, after a chain of hours with his comparatively ardent friends, he wandered intothe big dusky dining-room, where the candle he took from the hall-table, after letting himself in,constituted the only illumination. The square was still, the house was still; when he raised one of