little novels- 第26部分

He　complied　with　her　requestthe　more　readily；　having　his　own　reasons　for　being　glad　to　escape　the　glaring　scrutiny　of　the　light。

〃I　think　I　will　rest　a　little　on　the　sofa；〃　she　resumed。　In　the　position　which　he　occupied；　his　back　would　have　been　now　turned　on　her。　She　stopped　him　when　he　tried　to　move　his　chair。　〃I　would　rather　not　look　at　you；　Ernest；〃　she　said；　〃when　you　have　lost　confidence　in　me。〃

Not　the　words；　but　the　tone；　touched　all　that　was　generous　and　noble　in　his　nature。　He　left　his　place；　and　knelt　beside　herand　opened　to　her　his　whole　heart。

〃Am　I　not　unworthy　of　you？〃　he　asked；　when　it　was　over。

She　pressed　his　hand　in　silence。

〃I　should　be　the　most　ungrateful　wretch　living；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　did　not　think　of　you；　and　you　only；　now　that　my　confession　is　made。　We　will　leave　Munich　to…morrowand；　if　resolution　can　help　me；　I　will　only　remember　the　sweetest　woman　my　eyes　ever　looked　on　as　the　creature　of　a　dream。〃

She　hid　her　face　on　his　breast；　and　reminded　him　of　that　letter　of　her　writing；　which　had　decided　the　course　of　their　lives。

〃When　I　thought　you　might　meet　the　happy　woman　in　my　life…time；　I　said　to　you；　'Tell　me　of　itand　I　promise　to　tell　_her_　that　she　has　only　to　wait。'　Time　must　pass；　Ernest；　before　it　can　be　needful　to　perform　my　promise。　But　you　might　let　me　see　her。　If　you　find　her　in　the　gallery　to…morrow；　you　might　bring　her　here。〃

Mrs。　Lismore's　request　met　with　no　refusal。　Ernest　was　only　at　a　loss　to　know　how　to　grant　it。

〃You　tell　me　she　is　a　copyist　of　pictures；〃　his　wife　reminded　him。　〃She　will　be　interested　in　hearing　of　the　portfolio　of　drawings　by　the　great　French　artists　which　I　bought　for　you　in　Paris。　Ask　her　to　come　and　see　them；　and　to　tell　you　if　she　can　make　some　copies。　And　say；　if　you　like；　that　I　shall　be　glad　to　become　acquainted　with　her。〃

He　felt　her　breath　beating　fast　on　his　bosom。　In　the　fear　that　she　might　lose　all　control　over　herself；　he　tried　to　relieve　her　by　speaking　lightly。　〃What　an　invention　yours　is！〃　he　said。　〃If　my　wife　ever　tries　to　deceive　me；　I　shall　be　a　mere　child　in　her　hands。〃

She　rose　abruptly　from　the　sofakissed　him　on　the　foreheadand　said　wildly；　〃I　shall　be　better　in　bed！〃　Before　he　could　move　or　speak；　she　had　left　him。

X。

THE　next　morning　he　knocked　at　the　door　of　his　wife's　room　and　asked　how　she　had　passed　the　night。

〃I　have　slept　badly；〃　she　answered；　〃and　I　must　beg　you　to　excuse　my　absence　at　breakfast…time。〃　She　called　him　back　as　he　was　about　to　withdraw。　〃Remember；〃　she　said；　〃when　you　return　from　the　gallery　to…day；　I　expect　that　you　will　not　return　alone。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　*　　*　　*　　*　　*　　*　　*

Three　hours　later　he　was　at　home　again。　The　young　lady's　services　as　a　copyist　were　at　his　disposal；　she　had　returned　with　him　to　look　at　the　drawings。

The　sitting…room　was　empty　when　they　entered　it。　He　rang　for　his　wife's　maidand　was　informed　that　Mrs。　Lismore　had　gone　out。　Refusing　to　believe　the　woman；　he　went　to　his　wife's　apartments。　She　was　not　to　be　found。

When　he　returned　to　the　sitting…room；　the　young　lady　was　not　unnaturally　offended。　He　could　make　allowances　for　her　being　a　little　out　of　temper　at　the　slight　that　had　been　put　on　her；　but　he　was　inexpressibly　disconcerted　by　the　manneralmost　the　coarse　mannerin　which　she　expressed　herself。

〃I　have　been　talking　to　your　wife's　maid；　while　you　have　been　away；〃　she　said。　〃I　find　you　have　married　an　old　lady　for　her　money。　She　is　jealous　of　me；　of　course？〃

〃Let　me　beg　you　to　alter　your　opinion；〃　he　answered。　〃You　are　wronging　my　wife；　she　is　incapable　of　any　such　feeling　as　you　attribute　to　her。〃

The　young　lady　laughed。　〃At　any　rate　you　are　a　good　husband；〃　she　said　satirically。　〃Suppose　you　own　the　truth？　Wouldn't　you　like　her　better　if　she　was　young　and　pretty　like　me？〃

He　was　not　merely　surprisedhe　was　disgusted。　Her　beauty　had　so　completely　fascinated　him；　when　he　first　saw　her；　that　the　idea　of　associating　any　want　of　refinement　and　good　breeding　with　such　a　charming　creature　never　entered　his　mind。　The　disenchantment　to　him　was　already　so　complete　that　he　was　even　disagreeably　affected　by　the　tone　of　her　voice：　it　was　almost　as　repellent　to　him　as　the　exhibition　of　unrestrained　bad　temper　which　she　seemed　perfectly　careless　to　conceal。

〃I　confess　you　surprise　me；〃　he　said；　coldly。

The　reply　produced　no　effect　on　her。　On　the　contrary；　she　became　more　insolent　than　ever。

〃I　have　a　fertile　fancy；〃　she　went　on；　〃and　your　absurd　way　of　taking　a　joke　only　encourages　me！　Suppose　you　could　transform　this　sour　old　wife　of　yours；　who　has　insulted　me；　into　the　sweetest　young　creature　that　ever　lived；　by　only　holding　up　your　fingerwouldn't　you　do　it？〃

This　passed　the　limits　of　his　endurance。　〃I　have　no　wish；〃　he　said；　〃to　forget　the　consideration　which　is　due　to　a　woman。　You　leave　me　but　one　alternative。〃　He　rose　to　go　out　of　the　room。

She　ran　to　the　door　as　he　spoke；　and　placed　herself　in　the　way　of　his　going　out。

He　signed　to　her　to　let　him　pass。

She　suddenly　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck；　kissed　him　passionately；　and　whispered；　with　her　lips　at　his　ear：　〃Oh；　Ernest；　forgive　me！　Could　I　have　asked　you　to　marry　me　for　my　money　if　I　had　not　taken　refuge　in　a　disguise？〃

XI。

WHEN　he　had　sufficiently　recovered　to　think；　he　put　her　back　from　him。　〃Is　there　an　end　of　the　deception　now？〃　he　asked；　sternly。　〃Am　I　to　trust　you　in　your　new　character？〃

〃You　are　not　to　be　harder　on　me　than　I　deserve；〃　she　answered；　gently。　〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　an　actress　named　Miss　Max？〃

He　began　to　understand　her。　〃Forgive　me　if　I　spoke　harshly；〃　he　said。　〃You　have　put　me　to　a　severe　trial。〃

She　burst　into　tears。　〃Love；〃　she　murmured；　〃is　my　only　excuse。〃

From　that　moment　she　had　won　her　pardon。　He　took　her　hand；　and　made　her　sit　by　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　heard　of　Miss　Max　and　of　her　wonderful　powers　of　personationand　I　have　always　regretted　not　having　seen　her　while　she　was　on　the　stage。〃

〃Did　you　hear　anything　more　of　her；　Ernest？〃

〃Yes；　I　heard　that　she　was　a　pattern　of　modesty　and　good　conduct；　and　that　she　gave　up　her　profession；　at　the　height　of　her　success；　to　marry　an　old　man。〃

〃Will　you　come　with　me　to　my　room？〃　she　asked。　〃I　have　something　there　which　I　wish　to　show　you。〃

It　was　the　copy　of　her　husband's　will。

〃Read　the　lines；　Ernest；　which　begin　at　the　top　of　the　page。　Let　my　dead　husband　speak　for　me。〃

The　lines　ran　thus：



〃My　motive　in　marrying　Miss　Max　must　be　stated　in　this　place；　in　justice　to　herand；　I　will　venture　to　add；　in　justice　to　myself。　I　felt　the　sincerest　sympathy　for　her　position。　She　was　without　father；　mother；　or　friends；　one　of　the　poor　forsaken　children；　whom　the　mercy　of　the　Foundling　Hospital　provides　with　a　home。　Her　after　life　on　the　stage　was　the　life　of　a　virtuous　woman：　persecuted　by　profligates；　insulted　by　some　of　the　baser　creatures　associated　with　her；　to　whom　she　was　an　object　of　envy。　I　offered　her　a　home；　and　the　protection　of　a　fatheron　the　only　terms　which　the　world　would　recognize　as　worthy　of　us。　My　experience　of　her　since　our　marriage　has　been　the　experience　of　unvarying　goodness；　sweetness；　and　sound　sense。　She　has　behaved　so　nobly；　in　a　trying　position；　that　I　wish　her　（even　in　this　life）　to　have　her　reward。　I　entreat　her　to　make　a　second　choice　in　marriage；　which　shall　not　be　a　mere　form。　I　firmly　believe　that　she　will　choose　well　and　wiselythat　she　will　make　the　happiness　of　a　man　who　is　worthy　of　herand　that；　as　wife　and　mother；　she　will　set　an　example　of　inestimable　value　in　the　social　sphere　that　she　occupies。　In　proof　of　the　　heartfelt　sincerity　with　which　I　pay　my　tribute　to　her　virtues；　I　add　to　this　my　will　the　clause　that　follows。〃

With　the　clause　that　followed；　Ernest　was　already　acquainted。

〃Will　you　now　believe　that　I　never　loved　till　I　saw　your　face　for　the　first　time？〃　said　his　wife。　〃I　had　no　experience　to　place　me　on　my　guard　against　the　fascinationthe　madness　some　people　might　call　itwhich　possesses　a　woman　when　all　her　heart　is　given　to　a　man。　Don't　despise　me；　my　dear！　Remember　that　I　had　to　save　you　from　disgrace　and　ruin。　Besides；　my　old　stage　remembrances　tempted　me。　I　had　acted　in　a　play　in　which　the　heroine　didwhat　I　have　done！　It　didn't　end　with　me；　as　it　did　with　her　in　the　story。　_She_　was　represented　as　rejoicing　in　the　success　of　her　disguise。　_I_　have　known　some　miserable　hours　of　doubt　and　shame　since　our　marriage。　When　I　went　to　meet　you　in　my　own　person　at　the　picture…galleryoh；　what　relief；　what　joy　I　felt；　when　I　saw　how　you　admired　meit　was　not　because　I　could　no　longer　carry　on　the　disguise。　I　was　able　to　get　hours　of　rest　from　the　effort；　not　only　at　night；　but　in　the　daytime；　when　I　was　shut　up　in　my　retirement　in　the　music…room；　and　when　my　maid　kept　watch　against　discovery。　No；　my　love！　I　hurried　on　the　disclosure；　because　I　could　no　longer　endure　the　hateful　triumph　of　my　own　deception。　Ah；　look　at　that　witness　against　me！　I　can't　bear　even　to　see　it！〃

She　abruptly　left　him。　The　drawer　that　she　had　opened　to　take　out　the　copy　of　the　will　also　contained　the　false　gray　hair　which　she　had　discarded。　It　had　only　that　moment　attracted　her　notice。　She　snatched　it　up；　and　turned　to　the　fireplace。

Ernest　took　it　from　her；　before　she　could　destroy　it。　〃Give　it　to　me；〃　he　said。

〃Why？〃

He　drew　her　gently　to　his　bosom；　and　answered：　〃I　must　not　forget　my　old　wife。〃


MISS　JEROMETTE　AND　THE　CLERGYMAN。

I。

MY　brother；　the　clergyman；　looked　over　my　shoulder　before　I　was　aware　of　him；　and　discovered　that　the　volume　which　completely　absorbed　my　attention　was　a　collection　of　famous　Trials；　published　in　a　new　edition　and　in　a　popular　form。

He　laid　his　finger　on　the　Trial　which　I　happened　to　be　reading　at　the　moment。　I　looked　up　at　him；　his　face　startled　me。　He　had　turned　pale。　His　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　open　page　of　the　book　with　an　expression　which　puzzled　and　alarmed　me。

〃My　dear　fellow；〃　I　said；　〃what　in　the　world　is　the　matter　with　you？〃

He　answered　in　an　odd　absent　manner；　still　keeping　his　finger　on　the　open　page。

〃I　had　almost　forgotten；〃　he　said。　〃And　this　reminds　me。〃

〃Reminds　you　of　what？〃　I　asked。　〃You　don't　mean　to　say　you　know　anything　about　the　Trial？〃

〃I　know　this