English
WhenIrosethenextmorninganddrewupmyblind,theseaopenedbeforemejoyouslyunderthebroadAugustsunlight,andthedistantcoastofScotlandfringedthehorizonwithitslinesofmeltingblue.
Theviewwassuchasurprise,andsuchachangetome,aftermywearyLondonexperienceofbrickandmortarlandscape,thatIseemedtoburstintoanewlifeandanewsetofthoughtsthemomentIlookedatit.
Aconfusedsensationofhavingsuddenlylostmyfamiliaritywiththepast,withoutacquiringanyadditionalclearnessofideainreferencetothepresentorthefuture,tookpossessionofmymind.
Circumstancesthatwerebutafewdaysoldfadedbackinmymemory,asiftheyhadhappenedmonthsandmonthssince.
Pesca’squaintannouncementofthemeansbywhichhehadprocuredmemypresentemployment;thefarewelleveningIhadpassedwithmymotherandsister;evenmymysteriousadventureonthewayhomefromHampstead—hadallbecomelikeeventswhichmighthaveoccurredatsomeformerepochofmyexistence.
Althoughthewomaninwhitewasstillinmymind,theimageofherseemedtohavegrowndullandfaintalready.
Alittlebeforenineo’clock,Idescendedtotheground-floorofthehouse.
Thesolemnman-servantofthenightbeforemetmewanderingamongthepassages,andcompassionatelyshowedmethewaytothebreakfast-room.
Myfirstglanceroundme,asthemanopenedthedoor,disclosedawell-furnishedbreakfast-table,standinginthemiddleofalongroom,withmanywindowsinit.
Ilookedfromthetabletothewindowfarthestfromme,andsawaladystandingatit,withherbackturnedtowardsme.
Theinstantmyeyesrestedonher,Iwasstruckbytherarebeautyofherform,andbytheunaffectedgraceofherattitude.
Herfigurewastall,yetnottootall;comelyandwell-developed,yetnotfat;herheadsetonhershoulderswithaneasy,pliantfirmness;herwaist,perfectionintheeyesofaman,foritoccupieditsnaturalplace,itfilledoutitsnaturalcircle,itwasvisiblyanddelightfullyundeformedbystays.
Shehadnotheardmyentranceintotheroom;andIallowedmyselftheluxuryofadmiringherforafewmoments,beforeImovedoneofthechairsnearme,astheleastembarrassingmeansofattractingherattention.Sheturnedtowardsmeimmediately.
Theeasyeleganceofeverymovementofherlimbsandbodyassoonasshebegantoadvancefromthefarendoftheroom,setmeinaflutterofexpectationtoseeherfaceclearly.
Sheleftthewindow—andIsaidtomyself,Theladyisdark.
Shemovedforwardafewsteps—andIsaidtomyself,Theladyisyoung.
Sheapproachednearer—andIsaidtomyself(withasenseofsurprisewhichwordsfailmetoexpress),Theladyisugly!
Neverwastheoldconventionalmaxim,thatNaturecannoterr,moreflatlycontradicted—neverwasthefairpromiseofalovelyfiguremorestrangelyandstartlinglybeliedbythefaceandheadthatcrownedit.
Thelady’scomplexionwasalmostswarthy,andthedarkdownonherupperlipwasalmostamoustache.
Shehadalarge,firm,masculinemouthandjaw;prominent,piercing,resolutebrowneyes;andthick,coal-blackhair,growingunusuallylowdownonherforehead.
Herexpression—bright,frank,andintelligent—appeared,whileshewassilent,tobealtogetherwantinginthosefeminineattractionsofgentlenessandpliability,withoutwhichthebeautyofthehandsomestwomanaliveisbeautyincomplete.
Toseesuchafaceasthissetonshouldersthatasculptorwouldhavelongedtomodel—tobecharmedbythemodestgracesofactionthroughwhichthesymmetricallimbsbetrayedtheirbeautywhentheymoved,andthentobealmostrepelledbythemasculineformandmasculinelookofthefeaturesinwhichtheperfectlyshapedfigureended—wastofeelasensationoddlyakintothehelplessdiscomfortfamiliartousallinsleep,whenwerecogniseyetcannotreconciletheanomaliesandcontradictionsofadream.
“Mr.Hartright?”saidtheladyinterrogatively,herdarkfacelightingupwithasmile,andsofteningandgrowingwomanlythemomentshebegantospeak.
“Weresignedallhopeofyoulastnight,andwenttobedasusual.
Acceptmyapologiesforourapparentwantofattention;andallowmetointroducemyselfasoneofyourpupils.Shallweshakehands?
Isupposewemustcometoitsoonerorlater—andwhynotsooner?”
Theseoddwordsofwelcomewerespokeninaclear,ringing,pleasantvoice.
Theofferedhand—ratherlarge,butbeautifullyformed—wasgiventomewiththeeasy,unaffectedself-relianceofahighly-bredwoman.
Wesatdowntogetheratthebreakfast-tableinascordialandcustomaryamannerasifwehadknowneachotherforyears,andhadmetatLimmeridgeHousetotalkoveroldtimesbypreviousappointment.
“Ihopeyoucomeheregood-humouredlydeterminedtomakethebestofyourposition,”continuedthelady.
“Youwillhavetobeginthismorningbyputtingupwithnoothercompanyatbreakfastthanmine.
Mysisterisinherownroom,nursingthatessentiallyfemininemalady,aslightheadache;andheroldgovernness,Mrs.Vesey,ischaritablyattendingonherwithrestorativetea.
Myuncle,Mr.Fairlie,neverjoinsusatanyofourmeals:heisaninvalid,andkeepsbachelorstateinhisownapartments.
Thereisnobodyelseinthehousebutme.
Twoyoungladieshavebeenstayinghere,buttheywentawayyesterday,indespair;andnowonder.
Allthroughtheirvisit(inconsequenceofMr.Fairlie’sinvalidcondition)weproducednosuchconvenienceinthehouseasaflirtable,danceable,small-talkablecreatureofthemalesex;andtheconsequencewas,wedidnothingbutquarrel,especiallyatdinner-time.
Howcanyouexpectfourwomentodinetogetheraloneeveryday,andnotquarrel?
Wearesuchfools,wecan’tentertaineachotherattable.
YouseeIdon’tthinkmuchofmyownsex,Mr.Hartright—whichwillyouhave,teaorcoffee?
—nowomandoesthinkmuchofherownsex,althoughfewofthemconfessitasfreelyasIdo.Dearme,youlookpuzzled.Why?
Areyouwonderingwhatyouwillhaveforbreakfast?
orareyousurprisedatmycarelesswayoftalking?
Inthefirstcase,Iadviseyou,asafriend,tohavenothingtodowiththatcoldhamatyourelbow,andtowaittilltheomelettecomesin.
Inthesecondcase,Iwillgiveyousometeatocomposeyourspirits,anddoallawomancan(whichisverylittle,by-the-bye)toholdmytongue.”
Shehandedmemycupoftea,laughinggaily.
Herlightflowoftalk,andherlivelyfamiliarityofmannerwithatotalstranger,wereaccompaniedbyanunaffectednaturalnessandaneasyinbornconfidenceinherselfandherposition,whichwouldhavesecuredhertherespectofthemostaudaciousmanbreathing.
Whileitwasimpossibletobeformalandreservedinhercompany,itwasmorethanimpossibletotakethefaintestvestigeofalibertywithher,eveninthought.
Ifeltthisinstinctively,evenwhileIcaughttheinfectionofherownbrightgaietyofspirits—evenwhileIdidmybesttoanswerherinherownfrank,livelyway.
“Yes,yes,”shesaid,whenIhadsuggestedtheonlyexplanationIcouldoffer,toaccountformyperplexedlooks,“Iunderstand.
Youaresuchaperfectstrangerinthehouse,thatyouarepuzzledbymyfamiliarreferencestotheworthyinhabitants.
Naturalenough:Ioughttohavethoughtofitbefore.Atanyrate,Icansetitrightnow.
SupposeIbeginwithmyself,soastogetdonewiththatpartofthesubjectassoonaspossible?
MynameisMarianHalcombe;andIamasinaccurateaswomenusuallyare,incallingMr.Fairliemyuncle,andMissFairliemysister.
Mymotherwastwicemarried:thefirsttimetoMr.Halcombe,myfather;thesecondtimetoMr.Fairlie,myhalf-sister’sfather.
Exceptthatwearebothorphans,weareineveryrespectasunlikeeachotheraspossible.
Myfatherwasapoorman,andMissFairlie’sfatherwasarichman.
Ihavegotnothing,andshehasafortune.
Iamdarkandugly,andsheisfairandpretty.
Everybodythinksmecrabbedandodd(withperfectjustice);andeverybodythinkshersweet-temperedandcharming(withmorejusticestill).
Inshort,sheisanangel;andIam——Trysomeofthatmarmalade,Mr.Hartright,andfinishthesentence,inthenameoffemalepropriety,foryourself.
WhatamItotellyouaboutMr.Fairlie?Uponmyhonour,Ihardlyknow.
Heissuretosendforyouafterbreakfast,andyoucanstudyhimforyourself.
Inthemeantime,Imayinformyou,first,thatheisthelateMr.Fairlie’syoungerbrother;secondly,thatheisasingleman;andthirdly,thatheisMissFairlie’sguardian.
Iwon’tlivewithouther,andshecan’tlivewithoutme;andthatishowIcometobeatLimmeridgeHouse.
MysisterandIarehonestlyfondofeachother;which,youwillsay,isperfectlyunaccountable,underthecircumstances,andIquiteagreewithyou—butsoitis.
Youmustpleasebothofus,Mr.Hartright,orpleaseneitherofus:and,whatisstillmoretrying,youwillbethrownentirelyuponoursociety.
Mrs.Veseyisanexcellentperson,whopossessesallthecardinalvirtues,andcountsfornothing;andMr.Fairlieistoogreataninvalidtobeacompanionforanybody.
Idon’tknowwhatisthematterwithhim,andthedoctorsdon’tknowwhatisthematterwithhim,andhedoesn’tknowhimselfwhatisthematterwithhim.
Weallsayit’sonthenerves,andwenoneofusknowwhatwemeanwhenwesayit.
However,Iadviseyoutohumourhislittlepeculiarities,whenyouseehimto-day.
Admirehiscollectionofcoins,prints,andwater-colourdrawings,andyouwillwinhisheart.
Uponmyword,ifyoucanbecontentedwithaquietcountrylife,Idon’tseewhyyoushouldnotgetonverywellhere.
Frombreakfasttolunch,Mr.Fairlie’sdrawingswilloccupyyou.
Afterlunch,MissFairlieandIshoulderoursketch-books,andgoouttomisrepresentNature,underyourdirections.
Drawingisherfavouritewhim,mind,notmine.
Womencan’tdraw—theirmindsaretooflighty,andtheireyesaretooinattentive.
Nomatter—mysisterlikesit;soIwastepaintandspoilpaper,forhersake,ascomposedlyasanywomaninEngland.
Asfortheevenings,Ithinkwecanhelpyouthroughthem.MissFairlieplaysdelightfully.
Formyownpoorpart,Idon’tknowonenoteofmusicfromtheother;butIcanmatchyouatchess,backgammon,ecarte,and(withtheinevitablefemaledrawbacks)evenatbilliardsaswell.Whatdoyouthinkoftheprogramme?
Canyoureconcileyourselftoourquiet,regularlife?
ordoyoumeantoberestless,andsecretlythirstforchangeandadventure,inthehumdrumatmosphereofLimmeridgeHouse?”
Shehadrunonthusfar,inhergracefullybanteringway,withnootherinterruptionsonmypartthantheunimportantreplieswhichpolitenessrequiredofme.
Theturnoftheexpression,however,inherlastquestion,orrathertheonechanceword,“adventure,”lightlyasitfellfromherlips,recalledmythoughtstomymeetingwiththewomaninwhite,andurgedmetodiscovertheconnectionwhichthestranger’sownreferencetoMrs.FairlieinformedmemustoncehaveexistedbetweenthenamelessfugitivefromtheAsylum,andtheformermistressofLimmeridgeHouse.
“EvenifIwerethemostrestlessofmankind,”Isaid,“Ishouldbeinnodangerofthirstingafteradventuresforsometimetocome.
TheverynightbeforeIarrivedatthishouse,Imetwithanadventure;andthewonderandexcitementofit,Icanassureyou,MissHalcombe,willlastmeforthewholetermofmystayinCumberland,ifnotforamuchlongerperiod.”
“Youdon’tsayso,Mr.Hartright!MayIhearit?”
“Youhaveaclaimtohearit.Thechiefpersonintheadventurewasatotalstrangertome,andmayperhapsbeatotalstrangertoyou;butshecertainlymentionedthenameofthelateMrs.Fairlieintermsofthesincerestgratitudeandregard.”
“Mentionedmymother’sname!Youinterestmeindescribably.Praygoon.”
IatoncerelatedthecircumstancesunderwhichIhadmetthewomaninwhite,exactlyastheyhadoccurred;andIrepeatedwhatshehadsaidtomeaboutMrs.FairlieandLimmeridgeHouse,wordforword.
MissHalcombe’sbrightresoluteeyeslookedeagerlyintomine,fromthebeginningofthenarrativetotheend.
Herfaceexpressedvividinterestandastonishment,butnothingmore.
ShewasevidentlyasfarfromknowingofanycluetothemysteryasIwasmyself.
“Areyouquitesureofthosewordsreferringtomymother?”sheasked.
“Quitesure,”Ireplied.“Whoevershemaybe,thewomanwasonceatschoolinthevillageofLimmeridge,wastreatedwithespecialkindnessbyMrs.Fairlie,and,ingratefulremembranceofthatkindness,feelsanaffectionateinterestinallsurvivingmembersofthefamily.
SheknewthatMrs.Fairlieandherhusbandwerebothdead;andshespokeofMissFairlieasiftheyhadknowneachotherwhentheywerechildren.”
“Yousaid,Ithink,thatshedeniedbelongingtothisplace?”
“Yes,shetoldmeshecamefromHampshire.”
“Andyouentirelyfailedtofindouthername?”
“Entirely.”
“Verystrange.Ithinkyouwerequitejustified,Mr.Hartright,ingivingthepoorcreatureherliberty,forsheseemstohavedonenothinginyourpresencetoshowherselfunfittoenjoyit.
ButIwishyouhadbeenalittlemoreresoluteaboutfindingouthername.
Wemustreallyclearupthismystery,insomeway.
YouhadbetternotspeakofityettoMr.Fairlie,ortomysister.
Theyarebothofthem,Iamcertain,quiteasignorantofwhothewomanis,andofwhatherpasthistoryinconnectionwithuscanbe,asIammyself.
Buttheyarealso,inwidelydifferentways,rathernervousandsensitive;andyouwouldonlyfidgetoneandalarmtheothertonopurpose.
Asformyself,Iamallaflamewithcuriosity,andIdevotemywholeenergiestothebusinessofdiscoveryfromthismoment.
Whenmymothercamehere,afterhersecondmarriage,shecertainlyestablishedthevillageschooljustasitexistsatthepresenttime.
Buttheoldteachersarealldead,orgoneelsewhere;andnoenlightenmentistobehopedforfromthatquarter.
TheonlyotheralternativeIcanthinkof——”
Atthispointwewereinterruptedbytheentranceoftheservant,withamessagefromMr.Fairlie,intimatingthathewouldbegladtoseeme,assoonasIhaddonebreakfast.
“Waitinthehall,”saidMissHalcombe,answeringtheservantforme,inherquick,readyway.“Mr.Hartrightwillcomeoutdirectly.
Iwasabouttosay,”shewenton,addressingmeagain,“thatmysisterandIhavealargecollectionofmymother’sletters,addressedtomyfatherandtohers.
Intheabsenceofanyothermeansofgettinginformation,Iwillpassthemorninginlookingovermymother’scorrespondencewithMr.Fairlie.
HewasfondofLondon,andwasconstantlyawayfromhiscountryhome;andshewasaccustomed,atsuchtimes,towriteandreporttohimhowthingswentonatLimmeridge.
Herlettersarefullofreferencestotheschoolinwhichshetooksostronganinterest;andIthinkitmorethanlikelythatImayhavediscoveredsomethingwhenwemeetagain.
Theluncheonhouristwo,Mr.Hartright.
Ishallhavethepleasureofintroducingyoutomysisterbythattime,andwewilloccupytheafternoonindrivingroundtheneighbourhoodandshowingyouallourpetpointsofview.Tilltwoo’clock,then,farewell.”
Shenoddedtomewiththelivelygrace,thedelightfulrefinementoffamiliarity,whichcharacterisedallthatshedidandallthatshesaid;anddisappearedbyadooratthelowerendoftheroom.
Assoonasshehadleftme,Iturnedmystepstowardsthehall,andfollowedtheservant,onmyway,forthefirsttime,tothepresenceofMr.Fairlie.
Share this article to
FINISH