English
MyconductorledmeupstairsintoapassagewhichtookusbacktothebedchamberinwhichIhadsleptduringthepastnight;andopeningthedoornexttoit,beggedmetolookin.
“Ihavemymaster’sorderstoshowyouyourownsitting-room,sir,”saidtheman,“andtoinquireifyouapproveofthesituationandthelight.”
Imusthavebeenhardtoplease,indeed,ifIhadnotapprovedoftheroom,andofeverythingaboutit.
Thebow-windowlookedoutonthesamelovelyviewwhichIhadadmired,inthemorning,frommybedroom.
Thefurniturewastheperfectionofluxuryandbeauty;thetableinthecentrewasbrightwithgailyboundbooks,elegantconveniencesforwriting,andbeautifulflowers;thesecondtable,nearthewindow,wascoveredwithallthenecessarymaterialsformountingwater-colourdrawings,andhadalittleeaselattachedtoit,whichIcouldexpandorfoldupatwill;thewallswerehungwithgailytintedchintz;andthefloorwasspreadwithIndianmattinginmaize-colourandred.
Itwastheprettiestandmostluxuriouslittlesitting-roomIhadeverseen;andIadmireditwiththewarmestenthusiasm.
Thesolemnservantwasfartoohighlytrainedtobetraytheslightestsatisfaction.
Hebowedwithicydeferencewhenmytermsofeulogywereallexhausted,andsilentlyopenedthedoorformetogooutintothepassageagain.
Weturnedacorner,andenteredalongsecondpassage,ascendedashortflightofstairsattheend,crossedasmallcircularupperhall,andstoppedinfrontofadoorcoveredwithdarkbaize.
Theservantopenedthisdoor,andledmeonafewyardstoasecond;openedthatalso,anddisclosedtwocurtainsofpalesea-greensilkhangingbeforeus;raisedoneofthemnoiselessly;softlyutteredthewords,“Mr.Hartright,”andleftme.
Ifoundmyselfinalarge,loftyroom,withamagnificentcarvedceiling,andwithacarpetoverthefloor,sothickandsoftthatitfeltlikepilesofvelvetundermyfeet.
Onesideoftheroomwasoccupiedbyalongbookcaseofsomerareinlaidwoodthatwasquitenewtome.
Itwasnotmorethansixfeethigh,andthetopwasadornedwithstatuettesinmarble,rangedatregulardistancesonefromtheother.
Ontheoppositesidestoodtwoantiquecabinets;andbetweenthem,andabovethem,hungapictureoftheVirginandChild,protectedbyglass,andbearingRaphael’snameonthegilttabletatthebottomoftheframe.
Onmyrighthandandonmyleft,asIstoodinsidethedoor,werechiffoniersandlittlestandsinbuhlandmarquetterie,loadedwithfiguresinDresdenchina,withrarevases,ivoryornaments,andtoysandcuriositiesthatsparkledatallpointswithgold,silver,andpreciousstones.
Atthelowerendoftheroom,oppositetome,thewindowswereconcealedandthesunlightwastemperedbylargeblindsofthesamepalesea-greencolourasthecurtainsoverthedoor.
Thelightthusproducedwasdeliciouslysoft,mysterious,andsubdued;itfellequallyuponalltheobjectsintheroom;ithelpedtointensifythedeepsilence,andtheairofprofoundseclusionthatpossessedtheplace;anditsurrounded,withanappropriatehaloofrepose,thesolitaryfigureofthemasterofthehouse,leaningback,listlesslycomposed,inalargeeasy-chair,withareading-easelfastenedononeofitsarms,andalittletableontheother.
Ifaman’spersonalappearance,whenheisoutofhisdressing-room,andwhenhehaspassedforty,canbeacceptedasasafeguidetohistimeoflife—whichismorethandoubtful—Mr.Fairlie’sage,whenIsawhim,mighthavebeenreasonablycomputedatoverfiftyandundersixtyyears.
Hisbeardlessfacewasthin,worn,andtransparentlypale,butnotwrinkled;hisnosewashighandhooked;hiseyeswereofadimgreyishblue,large,prominent,andratherredroundtherimsoftheeyelids;hishairwasscanty,softtolookat,andofthatlightsandycolourwhichisthelasttodiscloseitsownchangestowardsgrey.
Hewasdressedinadarkfrock-coat,ofsomesubstancemuchthinnerthancloth,andinwaistcoatandtrousersofspotlesswhite.
Hisfeetwereeffeminatelysmall,andwerecladinbuff-colouredsilkstockings,andlittlewomanishbronze-leatherslippers.
Tworingsadornedhiswhitedelicatehands,thevalueofwhichevenmyinexperiencedobservationdetectedtobeallbutpriceless.
Uponthewhole,hehadafrail,languidly-fretful,over-refinedlook—somethingsingularlyandunpleasantlydelicateinitsassociationwithaman,and,atthesametime,somethingwhichcouldbynopossibilityhavelookednaturalandappropriateifithadbeentransferredtothepersonalappearanceofawoman.
Mymorning’sexperienceofMissHalcombehadpredisposedmetobepleasedwitheverybodyinthehouse;butmysympathiesshutthemselvesupresolutelyatthefirstsightofMr.Fairlie.
Onapproachingnearertohim,IdiscoveredthathewasnotsoentirelywithoutoccupationasIhadatfirstsupposed.
Placedamidtheotherrareandbeautifulobjectsonalargeroundtablenearhim,wasadwarfcabinetinebonyandsilver,containingcoinsofallshapesandsizes,setoutinlittledrawerslinedwithdarkpurplevelvet.
Oneofthesedrawerslayonthesmalltableattachedtohischair;andnearitweresometinyjeweller’sbrushes,awash-leather“stump,”andalittlebottleofliquid,allwaitingtobeusedinvariouswaysfortheremovalofanyaccidentalimpuritieswhichmightbediscoveredonthecoins.
Hisfrailwhitefingerswerelistlesslytoyingwithsomethingwhichlooked,tomyuninstructedeyes,likeadirtypewtermedalwithraggededges,whenIadvancedwithinarespectfuldistanceofhischair,andstoppedtomakemybow.
“SogladtopossessyouatLimmeridge,Mr.Hartright,”hesaidinaquerulous,croakingvoice,whichcombined,inanythingbutanagreeablemanner,adiscordantlyhightonewithadrowsilylanguidutterance.“Praysitdown.
Anddon’ttroubleyourselftomovethechair,please.
Inthewretchedstateofmynerves,movementofanykindisexquisitelypainfultome.Haveyouseenyourstudio?Willitdo?”
“Ihavejustcomefromseeingtheroom,Mr.Fairlie;andIassureyou——”
Hestoppedmeinthemiddleofthesentence,byclosinghiseyes,andholdinguponeofhiswhitehandsimploringly.Ipausedinastonishment;andthecroakingvoicehonouredmewiththisexplanation—
“Prayexcuseme.Butcouldyoucontrivetospeakinalowerkey?
Inthewretchedstateofmynerves,loudsoundofanykindisindescribabletorturetome.Youwillpardonaninvalid?
Ionlysaytoyouwhatthelamentablestateofmyhealthobligesmetosaytoeverybody.Yes.Andyoureallyliketheroom?”
“Icouldwishfornothingprettierandnothingmorecomfortable,”Ianswered,droppingmyvoice,andbeginningtodiscoveralreadythatMr.Fairlie’sselfishaffectationandMr.Fairlie’swretchednervesmeantoneandthesamething.
“Soglad.Youwillfindyourpositionhere,Mr.Hartright,properlyrecognised.
ThereisnoneofthehorridEnglishbarbarityoffeelingaboutthesocialpositionofanartistinthishouse.
Somuchofmyearlylifehasbeenpassedabroad,thatIhavequitecastmyinsularskininthatrespect.
IwishIcouldsaythesameofthegentry—detestableword,butIsupposeImustuseit—ofthegentryintheneighbourhood.
TheyaresadGothsinArt,Mr.Hartright.
People,Idoassureyou,whowouldhaveopenedtheireyesinastonishment,iftheyhadseenCharlestheFifthpickupTitian’sbrushforhim.
Doyoumindputtingthistrayofcoinsbackinthecabinet,andgivingmethenextonetoit?
Inthewretchedstateofmynerves,exertionofanykindisunspeakablydisagreeabletome.Yes.Thankyou.”
Asapracticalcommentaryontheliberalsocialtheorywhichhehadjustfavouredmebyillustrating,Mr.Fairlie’scoolrequestratheramusedme.
Iputbackonedrawerandgavehimtheother,withallpossiblepoliteness.
Hebegantriflingwiththenewsetofcoinsandthelittlebrushesimmediately;languidlylookingatthemandadmiringthemallthetimehewasspeakingtome.
“Athousandthanksandathousandexcuses.Doyoulikecoins?Yes.
SogladwehaveanothertasteincommonbesidesourtasteforArt.
Now,aboutthepecuniaryarrangementsbetweenus—dotellme—aretheysatisfactory?”
“Mostsatisfactory,Mr.Fairlie.”
“Soglad.And—whatnext?Ah!Iremember.Yes.
Inreferencetotheconsiderationwhichyouaregoodenoughtoacceptforgivingmethebenefitofyouraccomplishmentsinart,mystewardwillwaitonyouattheendofthefirstweek,toascertainyourwishes.And—whatnext?Curious,isitnot?
Ihadagreatdealmoretosay:andIappeartohavequiteforgottenit.Doyoumindtouchingthebell?Inthatcorner.Yes.Thankyou.”
Irang;andanewservantnoiselesslymadehisappearance—aforeigner,withasetsmileandperfectlybrushedhair—avaleteveryinchofhim.
“Louis,”saidMr.Fairlie,dreamilydustingthetipsofhisfingerswithoneofthetinybrushesforthecoins,“Imadesomeentriesinmytablettesthismorning.Findmytablettes.
Athousandpardons,Mr.Hartright,I’mafraidIboreyou.”
Ashewearilyclosedhiseyesagain,beforeIcouldanswer,andashedidmostassuredlyboreme,Isatsilent,andlookedupattheMadonnaandChildbyRaphael.
Inthemeantime,thevaletlefttheroom,andreturnedshortlywithalittleivorybook.
Mr.Fairlie,afterfirstrelievinghimselfbyagentlesigh,letthebookdropopenwithonehand,andheldupthetinybrushwiththeother,asasigntotheservanttowaitforfurtherorders.
“Yes.Justso!”
saidMr.Fairlie,consultingthetablettes.“Louis,takedownthatportfolio.”
Hepointed,ashespoke,toseveralportfoliosplacednearthewindow,onmahoganystands.“No.
Nottheonewiththegreenback—thatcontainsmyRembrandtetchings,Mr.Hartright.Doyoulikeetchings?Yes?
Sogladwehaveanothertasteincommon.Theportfoliowiththeredback,Louis.Don’tdropit!
YouhavenoideaofthetorturesIshouldsuffer,Mr.Hartright,ifLouisdroppedthatportfolio.Isitsafeonthechair?DoYOUthinkitsafe,Mr.Hartright?Yes?Soglad.
Willyouobligemebylookingatthedrawings,ifyoureallythinktheyarequitesafe.Louis,goaway.Whatanassyouare.Don’tyouseemeholdingthetablettes?DoyousupposeIwanttoholdthem?
Thenwhynotrelievemeofthetabletteswithoutbeingtold?
Athousandpardons,Mr.Hartright;servantsaresuchasses,aretheynot?
Dotellme—whatdoyouthinkofthedrawings?
Theyhavecomefromasaleinashockingstate—Ithoughttheysmeltofhorriddealers’andbrokers’fingerswhenIlookedatthemlast.CANyouundertakethem?”
AlthoughmynerveswerenotdelicateenoughtodetecttheodourofplebeianfingerswhichhadoffendedMr.Fairlie’snostrils,mytastewassufficientlyeducatedtoenablemetoappreciatethevalueofthedrawings,whileIturnedthemover.
Theywere,forthemostpart,reallyfinespecimensofEnglishwater-colourart;andtheyhaddeservedmuchbettertreatmentatthehandsoftheirformerpossessorthantheyappearedtohavereceived.
“Thedrawings,”Ianswered,“requirecarefulstrainingandmounting;and,inmyopinion,theyarewellworth——”
“Ibegyourpardon,”interposedMr.Fairlie.“Doyoumindmyclosingmyeyeswhileyouspeak?Eventhislightistoomuchforthem.Yes?”
“Iwasabouttosaythatthedrawingsarewellworthallthetimeandtrouble——”
Mr.Fairliesuddenlyopenedhiseyesagain,androlledthemwithanexpressionofhelplessalarminthedirectionofthewindow.
“Ientreatyoutoexcuseme,Mr.Hartright,”hesaidinafeebleflutter.“ButsurelyIhearsomehorridchildreninthegarden—myprivategarden—below?”
“Ican’tsay,Mr.Fairlie.Iheardnothingmyself.”
“Obligeme—youhavebeensoverygoodinhumouringmypoornerves—obligemebyliftingupacorneroftheblind.
Don’tletthesuninonme,Mr.Hartright!Haveyougottheblindup?Yes?
Thenwillyoubesoverykindastolookintothegardenandmakequitesure?”
Icompliedwiththisnewrequest.Thegardenwascarefullywalledin,allround.
Notahumancreature,largeorsmall,appearedinanypartofthesacredseclusion.
IreportedthatgratifyingfacttoMr.Fairlie.
“Athousandthanks.Myfancy,Isuppose.
Therearenochildren,thankHeaven,inthehouse;buttheservants(personsbornwithoutnerves)willencouragethechildrenfromthevillage.Suchbrats—oh,dearme,suchbrats!ShallIconfessit,Mr.Hartright?
—Isadlywantareformintheconstructionofchildren.
Nature’sonlyideaseemstobetomakethemmachinesfortheproductionofincessantnoise.
SurelyourdelightfulRaffaello’sconceptionisinfinitelypreferable?”
HepointedtothepictureoftheMadonna,theupperpartofwhichrepresentedtheconventionalcherubsofItalianArt,celestiallyprovidedwithsittingaccommodationfortheirchins,onballoonsofbuff-colouredcloud.
“Quiteamodelfamily!”saidMr.Fairlie,leeringatthecherubs.
“Suchniceroundfaces,andsuchnicesoftwings,and—nothingelse.
Nodirtylittlelegstorunabouton,andnonoisylittlelungstoscreamwith.
Howimmeasurablysuperiortotheexistingconstruction!
Iwillclosemyeyesagain,ifyouwillallowme.Andyoureallycanmanagethedrawings?Soglad.Isthereanythingelsetosettle?
ifthereis,IthinkIhaveforgottenit.ShallweringforLouisagain?”
Being,bythistime,quiteasanxious,onmyside,asMr.Fairlieevidentlywasonhis,tobringtheinterviewtoaspeedyconclusion,IthoughtIwouldtrytorenderthesummoningoftheservantunnecessary,byofferingtherequisitesuggestiononmyownresponsibility.
“Theonlypoint,Mr.Fairlie,thatremainstobediscussed,”Isaid,“refers,Ithink,totheinstructioninsketchingwhichIamengagedtocommunicatetothetwoyoungladies.”
“Ah!justso,”saidMr.Fairlie.
“IwishIfeltstrongenoughtogointothatpartofthearrangement—butIdon’t.
Theladieswhoprofitbyyourkindservices,Mr.Hartright,mustsettle,anddecide,andsoon,forthemselves.Mynieceisfondofyourcharmingart.
Sheknowsjustenoughaboutittobeconsciousofherownsaddefects.Pleasetakepainswithher.Yes.Isthereanythingelse?No.
Wequiteunderstandeachother—don’twe?
Ihavenorighttodetainyouanylongerfromyourdelightfulpursuit—haveI?
Sopleasanttohavesettledeverything—suchasensiblerelieftohavedonebusiness.
DoyoumindringingforLouistocarrytheportfoliotoyourownroom?”
“Iwillcarryittheremyself,Mr.Fairlie,ifyouwillallowme.”
“Willyoureally?Areyoustrongenough?Hownicetobesostrong!Areyousureyouwon’tdropit?
SogladtopossessyouatLimmeridge,Mr.Hartright.
IamsuchasuffererthatIhardlydarehopetoenjoymuchofyoursociety.
Wouldyoumindtakinggreatpainsnottoletthedoorsbang,andnottodroptheportfolio?Thankyou.
Gentlywiththecurtains,please—theslightestnoisefromthemgoesthroughmelikeaknife.Yes.GOODmorning!”
Whenthesea-greencurtainswereclosed,andwhenthetwobaizedoorswereshutbehindme,Istoppedforamomentinthelittlecircularhallbeyond,anddrewalong,luxuriousbreathofrelief.
Itwaslikecomingtothesurfaceofthewaterafterdeepdiving,tofindmyselfoncemoreontheoutsideofMr.Fairlie’sroom.
AssoonasIwascomfortablyestablishedforthemorninginmyprettylittlestudio,thefirstresolutionatwhichIarrivedwastoturnmystepsnomoreinthedirectionoftheapartmentsoccupiedbythemasterofthehouse,exceptintheveryimprobableeventofhishonouringmewithaspecialinvitationtopayhimanothervisit.
HavingsettledthissatisfactoryplanoffutureconductinreferencetoMr.Fairlie,Isoonrecoveredtheserenityoftemperofwhichmyemployer’shaughtyfamiliarityandimpudentpolitenesshad,forthemoment,deprivedme.
Theremaininghoursofthemorningpassedawaypleasantlyenough,inlookingoverthedrawings,arrangingtheminsets,trimmingtheirraggededges,andaccomplishingtheothernecessarypreparationsinanticipationofthebusinessofmountingthem.
Iought,perhaps,tohavemademoreprogressthanthis;but,astheluncheon-timedrewnear,Igrewrestlessandunsettled,andfeltunabletofixmyattentiononwork,eventhoughthatworkwasonlyofthehumblemanualkind.
Attwoo’clockIdescendedagaintothebreakfast-room,alittleanxiously.
Expectationsofsomeinterestwereconnectedwithmyapproachingreappearanceinthatpartofthehouse.
MyintroductiontoMissFairliewasnowcloseathand;and,ifMissHalcombe’ssearchthroughhermother’slettershadproducedtheresultwhichsheanticipated,thetimehadcomeforclearingupthemysteryofthewomaninwhite.
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