English
Weallmetagainatdinner-time.
SirPercivalwasinsuchboisteroushighspiritsthatIhardlyrecognisedhimasthesamemanwhosequiettact,refinement,andgoodsensehadimpressedmesostronglyattheinterviewofthemorning.
TheonlytraceofhisformerselfthatIcoulddetectreappeared,everynowandthen,inhismannertowardsMissFairlie.
Alookorawordfromhersuspendedhisloudestlaugh,checkedhisgayestflowoftalk,andrenderedhimallattentiontoher,andtonooneelseattable,inaninstant.
Althoughheneveropenlytriedtodrawherintotheconversation,heneverlosttheslightestchanceshegavehimoflettingherdriftintoitbyaccident,andofsayingthewordstoher,underthosefavourablecircumstances,whichamanwithlesstactanddelicacywouldhavepointedlyaddressedtoherthemomenttheyoccurredtohim.
Rathertomysurprise,MissFairlieappearedtobesensibleofhisattentionswithoutbeingmovedbythem.
Shewasalittleconfusedfromtimetotimewhenhelookedather,orspoketoher;butsheneverwarmedtowardshim.
Rank,fortune,goodbreeding,goodlooks,therespectofagentleman,andthedevotionofaloverwereallhumblyplacedatherfeet,and,sofarasappearanceswent,wereallofferedinvain.
Onthenextday,theTuesday,SirPercivalwentinthemorning(takingoneoftheservantswithhimasaguide)toTodd’sCorner.
Hisinquiries,asIafterwardsheard,ledtonoresults.
OnhisreturnhehadaninterviewwithMr.Fairlie,andintheafternoonheandMissHalcomberodeouttogether.Nothingelsehappenedworthyofrecord.Theeveningpassedasusual.
TherewasnochangeinSirPercival,andnochangeinMissFairlie.
TheWednesday’spostbroughtwithitanevent—thereplyfromMrs.Catherick.Itookacopyofthedocument,whichIhavepreserved,andwhichImayaswellpresentinthisplace.Itranasfollows—
“MADAM,—Ibegtoacknowledgethereceiptofyourletter,inquiringwhethermydaughter,Anne,wasplacedundermedicalsuperintendencewithmyknowledgeandapproval,andwhetherthesharetakeninthematterbySirPercivalGlydewassuchastomerittheexpressionofmygratitudetowardsthatgentleman.
Bepleasedtoacceptmyanswerintheaffirmativetoboththosequestions,andbelievemetoremain,yourobedientservant,
“JANEANNECATHERICK.”
Short,sharp,andtothepoint;informratherabusiness-likeletterforawomantowrite—insubstanceasplainaconfirmationascouldbedesiredofSirPercivalGlyde’sstatement.
Thiswasmyopinion,andwithcertainminorreservations,MissHalcombe’sopinionalso.
SirPercival,whentheletterwasshowntohim,didnotappeartobestruckbythesharp,shorttoneofit.
HetoldusthatMrs.Catherickwasawomanoffewwords,aclear-headed,straightforward,unimaginativeperson,whowrotebrieflyandplainly,justasshespoke.
Thenextdutytobeaccomplished,nowthattheanswerhadbeenreceived,wastoacquaintMissFairliewithSirPercival’sexplanation.
MissHalcombehadundertakentodothis,andhadlefttheroomtogotohersister,whenshesuddenlyreturnedagain,andsatdownbytheeasy-chairinwhichIwasreadingthenewspaper.
SirPercivalhadgoneoutaminutebeforetolookatthestables,andnoonewasintheroombutourselves.
“Isupposewehavereallyandtrulydoneallwecan?”shesaid,turningandtwistingMrs.Catherick’sletterinherhand.
“IfwearefriendsofSirPercival’s,whoknowhimandtrusthim,wehavedoneall,andmorethanall,thatisnecessary,”Ianswered,alittleannoyedbythisreturnofherhesitation.
“Butifweareenemieswhosuspecthim——”
“Thatalternativeisnoteventobethoughtof,”sheinterposed.
“WeareSirPercival’sfriends,andifgenerosityandforbearancecanaddtoourregardforhim,weoughttobeSirPercival’sadmirersaswell.
YouknowthathesawMr.Fairlieyesterday,andthatheafterwardswentoutwithme.”
“Yes.Isawyouridingawaytogether.”
“WebegantheridebytalkingaboutAnneCatherick,andaboutthesingularmannerinwhichMr.Hartrightmetwithher.
Butwesoondroppedthatsubject,andSirPercivalspokenext,inthemostunselfishterms,ofhisengagementwithLaura.
Hesaidhehadobservedthatshewasoutofspirits,andhewaswilling,ifnotinformedtothecontrary,toattributetothatcausethealterationinhermannertowardshimduringhispresentvisit.
If,however,therewasanymoreseriousreasonforthechange,hewouldentreatthatnoconstraintmightbeplacedonherinclinationseitherbyMr.Fairlieorbyme.
Allheasked,inthatcase,wasthatshewouldrecalltomind,forthelasttime,whatthecircumstanceswereunderwhichtheengagementbetweenthemwasmade,andwhathisconducthadbeenfromthebeginningofthecourtshiptothepresenttime.
If,afterduereflectiononthosetwosubjects,sheseriouslydesiredthatheshouldwithdrawhispretensionstothehonourofbecomingherhusband—andifshewouldtellhimsoplainlywithherownlips—hewouldsacrificehimselfbyleavingherperfectlyfreetowithdrawfromtheengagement.”
“Nomancouldsaymorethanthat,MissHalcombe.Astomyexperience,fewmeninhissituationwouldhavesaidasmuch.”
ShepausedafterIhadspokenthosewords,andlookedatmewithasingularexpressionofperplexityanddistress.
“Iaccusenobody,andIsuspectnothing,”shebrokeoutabruptly.“ButIcannotandwillnotaccepttheresponsibilityofpersuadingLauratothismarriage.”
“ThatisexactlythecoursewhichSirPercivalGlydehashimselfrequestedyoutotake,”Irepliedinastonishment.“Hehasbeggedyounottoforceherinclinations.”
“Andheindirectlyobligesmetoforcethem,ifIgiveherhismessage.”
“Howcanthatpossiblybe?”
“ConsultyourownknowledgeofLaura,Mr.Gilmore.
IfItellhertoreflectonthecircumstancesofherengagement,Iatonceappealtotwoofthestrongestfeelingsinhernature—toherloveforherfather’smemory,andtoherstrictregardfortruth.
Youknowthatsheneverbrokeapromiseinherlife—youknowthatsheenteredonthisengagementatthebeginningofherfather’sfatalillness,andthathespokehopefullyandhappilyofhermarriagetoSirPercivalGlydeonhisdeathbed.”
IownthatIwasalittleshockedatthisviewofthecase.
“Surely,”Isaid,“youdon’tmeantoinferthatwhenSirPercivalspoketoyouyesterdayhespeculatedonsucharesultasyouhavejustmentioned?”
Herfrank,fearlessfaceansweredforherbeforeshespoke.
“DoyouthinkIwouldremainaninstantinthecompanyofanymanwhomIsuspectedofsuchbasenessasthat?”sheaskedangrily.
Ilikedtofeelherheartyindignationflashoutonmeinthatway.Weseesomuchmaliceandsolittleindignationinmyprofession.
“Inthatcase,”Isaid,“excusemeifItellyou,inourlegalphrase,thatyouaretravellingoutoftherecord.
Whatevertheconsequencesmaybe,SirPercivalhasarighttoexpectthatyoursistershouldcarefullyconsiderherengagementfromeveryreasonablepointofviewbeforesheclaimsherreleasefromit.
Ifthatunluckyletterhasprejudicedheragainsthim,goatonce,andtellherthathehasclearedhimselfinyoureyesandinmine.
Whatobjectioncansheurgeagainsthimafterthat?
Whatexcusecanshepossiblyhaveforchanginghermindaboutamanwhomshehadvirtuallyacceptedforherhusbandmorethantwoyearsago?”
“Intheeyesoflawandreason,Mr.Gilmore,noexcuse,Idaresay.
Ifshestillhesitates,andifIstillhesitate,youmustattributeourstrangeconduct,ifyoulike,tocapriceinbothcases,andwemustbeartheimputationaswellaswecan.”
Withthosewordsshesuddenlyroseandleftme.
Whenasensiblewomanhasaseriousquestionputtoher,andevadesitbyaflippantanswer,itisasuresign,inninety-ninecasesoutofahundred,thatshehassomethingtoconceal.
Ireturnedtotheperusalofthenewspaper,stronglysuspectingthatMissHalcombeandMissFairliehadasecretbetweenthemwhichtheywerekeepingfromSirPercival,andkeepingfromme.
Ithoughtthishardonbothofus,especiallyonSirPercival.
Mydoubts—ortospeakmorecorrectly,myconvictions—wereconfirmedbyMissHalcombe’slanguageandmannerwhenIsawheragainlaterintheday.
Shewassuspiciouslybriefandreservedintellingmetheresultofherinterviewwithhersister.
MissFairlie,itappeared,hadlistenedquietlywhiletheaffairoftheletterwasplacedbeforeherintherightpointofview,butwhenMissHalcombenextproceededtosaythattheobjectofSirPercival’svisitatLimmeridgewastoprevailonhertoletadaybefixedforthemarriageshecheckedallfurtherreferencetothesubjectbybeggingfortime.
IfSirPercivalwouldconsenttospareherforthepresent,shewouldundertaketogivehimhisfinalanswerbeforetheendoftheyear.
Shepleadedforthisdelaywithsuchanxietyandagitation,thatMissHalcombehadpromisedtouseherinfluence,ifnecessary,toobtainit,andthere,atMissFairlie’searnestentreaty,allfurtherdiscussionofthemarriagequestionhadended.
Thepurelytemporaryarrangementthusproposedmighthavebeenconvenientenoughtotheyounglady,butitprovedsomewhatembarrassingtothewriteroftheselines.
Thatmorning’sposthadbroughtaletterfrommypartner,whichobligedmetoreturntotownthenextdaybytheafternoontrain.
ItwasextremelyprobablethatIshouldfindnosecondopportunityofpresentingmyselfatLimmeridgeHouseduringtheremainderoftheyear.
Inthatcase,supposingMissFairlieultimatelydecidedonholdingtoherengagement,mynecessarypersonalcommunicationwithher,beforeIdrewhersettlement,wouldbecomesomethinglikeadownrightimpossibility,andweshouldbeobligedtocommittowritingquestionswhichoughtalwaystobediscussedonbothsidesbywordofmouth.
IsaidnothingaboutthisdifficultyuntilSirPercivalhadbeenconsultedonthesubjectofthedesireddelay.
Hewastoogallantagentlemannottogranttherequestimmediately.
WhenMissHalcombeinformedmeofthisItoldherthatImustabsolutelyspeaktohersisterbeforeIleftLimmeridge,anditwas,therefore,arrangedthatIshouldseeMissFairlieinherownsitting-roomthenextmorning.
Shedidnotcomedowntodinner,orjoinusintheevening.
Indispositionwastheexcuse,andIthoughtSirPercivallooked,aswellhemight,alittleannoyedwhenheheardofit.
Thenextmorning,assoonasbreakfastwasover,IwentuptoMissFairlie’ssitting-room.
Thepoorgirllookedsopaleandsad,andcameforwardtowelcomemesoreadilyandprettily,thattheresolutiontolectureheronhercapriceandindecision,whichIhadbeenformingallthewayupstairs,failedmeonthespot.
Iledherbacktothechairfromwhichshehadrisen,andplacedmyselfoppositetoher.
Hercross-grainedpetgreyhoundwasintheroom,andIfullyexpectedabarkingandsnappingreception.
Strangetosay,thewhimsicallittlebrutefalsifiedmyexpectationsbyjumpingintomylapandpokingitssharpmuzzlefamiliarlyintomyhandthemomentIsatdown.
“Youusedoftentositonmykneewhenyouwereachild.mydear,”Isaid,“andnowyourlittledogseemsdeterminedtosucceedyouinthevacantthrone.Isthatprettydrawingyourdoing?”
IpointedtoalittlealbumwhichlayonthetablebyhersideandwhichshehadevidentlybeenlookingoverwhenIcamein.
Thepagethatlayopenhadasmallwater-colourlandscapeveryneatlymountedonit.
Thiswasthedrawingwhichhadsuggestedmyquestion—anidlequestionenough—buthowcouldIbegintotalkofbusinesstoherthemomentIopenedmylips?
“No,”shesaid,lookingawayfromthedrawingratherconfusedly,“itisnotmydoing.”
Herfingershadarestlesshabit,whichIrememberedinherasachild,ofalwaysplayingwiththefirstthingthatcametohandwheneveranyonewastalkingtoher.
Onthisoccasiontheywanderedtothealbum,andtoyedabsentlyaboutthemarginofthelittlewater-colourdrawing.
Theexpressionofmelancholydeepenedonherface.
Shedidnotlookatthedrawing,orlookatme.
Hereyesmoveduneasilyfromobjecttoobjectintheroom,betrayingplainlythatshesuspectedwhatmypurposewasincomingtospeaktoher.
Seeingthat,Ithoughtitbesttogettothepurposewithaslittledelayaspossible.
“Oneoftheerrands,mydear,whichbringsmehereistobidyougood-bye,”Ibegan.
“ImustgetbacktoLondonto-day:and,beforeIleave,Iwanttohaveawordwithyouonthesubjectofyourownaffairs.”
“Iamverysorryyouaregoing,Mr.Gilmore,”shesaid,lookingatmekindly.“Itislikethehappyoldtimestohaveyouhere.
“IhopeImaybeabletocomebackandrecallthosepleasantmemoriesoncemore,”Icontinued;“butasthereissomeuncertaintyaboutthefuture,ImusttakemyopportunitywhenIcangetit,andspeaktoyounow.
Iamyouroldlawyerandyouroldfriend,andImayremindyou,Iamsure,withoutoffence,ofthepossibilityofyourmarryingSirPercivalGlyde.”
Shetookherhandoffthelittlealbumassuddenlyasifithadturnedhotandburnther.
Herfingerstwinedtogethernervouslyinherlap,hereyeslookeddownagainatthefloor,andanexpressionofconstraintsettledonherfacewhichlookedalmostlikeanexpressionofpain.
“Isitabsolutelynecessarytospeakofmymarriageengagement?”sheaskedinlowtones.
“Itisnecessarytorefertoit,”Ianswered,“butnottodwellonit.
Letusmerelysaythatyoumaymarry,orthatyoumaynotmarry.
Inthefirstcase,Imustbeprepared,beforehand,todrawyoursettlement,andIoughtnottodothatwithout,asamatterofpoliteness,firstconsultingyou.
Thismaybemyonlychanceofhearingwhatyourwishesare.
Letus,therefore,supposethecaseofyourmarrying,andletmeinformyou,inasfewwordsaspossible,whatyourpositionisnow,andwhatyoumaymakeit,ifyouplease,inthefuture.”
Iexplainedtohertheobjectofamarriage-settlement,andthentoldherexactlywhatherprospectswere—inthefirstplace,onhercomingofage,andinthesecondplace,onthedeceaseofheruncle—markingthedistinctionbetweenthepropertyinwhichshehadalife-interestonly,andthepropertywhichwasleftatherowncontrol.
Shelistenedattentively,withtheconstrainedexpressionstillonherface,andherhandsstillnervouslyclaspedtogetherinherlap.
“Andnow,”Isaidinconclusion,“tellmeifyoucanthinkofanyconditionwhich,inthecasewehavesupposed,youwouldwishmetomakeforyou—subject,ofcourse,toyourguardian’sapproval,asyouarenotyetofage.”
Shemoveduneasilyinherchair,thenlookedinmyfaceonasuddenveryearnestly.
“Ifitdoeshappen,”shebeganfaintly,“ifIam——”
“Ifyouaremarried,”Iadded,helpingherout.
“Don’tlethimpartmefromMarian,”shecried,withasuddenoutbreakofenergy.“Oh,Mr.Gilmore,praymakeitlawthatMarianistolivewithme!”
UnderothercircumstancesImight,perhaps,havebeenamusedatthisessentiallyfeminineinterpretationofmyquestion,andofthelongexplanationwhichhadprecededit.
Butherlooksandtones,whenshespoke,wereofakindtomakememorethanserious—theydistressedme.
Herwords,fewastheywere,betrayedadesperateclingingtothepastwhichbodedillforthefuture.
“YourhavingMarianHalcombetolivewithyoucaneasilybesettledbyprivatearrangement,”Isaid.
“Youhardlyunderstoodmyquestion,Ithink.
Itreferredtoyourownproperty—tothedisposalofyourmoney.
Supposingyouweretomakeawillwhenyoucomeofage,whowouldyoulikethemoneytogoto?”
“Marianhasbeenmotherandsisterbothtome,”saidthegood,affectionategirl,herprettyblueeyesglisteningwhileshespoke.“MayIleaveittoMarian,Mr.Gilmore?”
“Certainly,mylove,”Ianswered.“Butrememberwhatalargesumitis.WouldyoulikeitalltogotoMissHalcombe?”
Shehesitated;hercolourcameandwent,andherhandstolebackagaintothelittlealbum.
“Notallofit,”shesaid.“ThereissomeoneelsebesidesMarian——”
Shestopped;hercolourheightened,andthefingersofthehandthatresteduponthealbumbeatgentlyonthemarginofthedrawing,asifhermemoryhadsetthemgoingmechanicallywiththeremembranceofafavouritetune.
“YoumeansomeothermemberofthefamilybesidesMissHalcombe?”Isuggested,seeingheratalosstoproceed.
Theheighteningcolourspreadtoherforeheadandherneck,andthenervousfingerssuddenlyclaspedthemselvesfastroundtheedgeofthebook.
“Thereissomeoneelse,”shesaid,notnoticingmylastwords,thoughshehadevidentlyheardthem;“thereissomeoneelsewhomightlikealittlekeepsakeif—ifImightleaveit.
TherewouldbenoharmifIshoulddiefirst——”
Shepausedagain.Thecolourthathadspreadoverhercheekssuddenly,assuddenlyleftthem.
Thehandonthealbumresigneditshold,trembledalittle,andmovedthebookawayfromher.
Shelookedatmeforaninstant—thenturnedherheadasideinthechair.
Herhandkerchieffelltothefloorasshechangedherposition,andshehurriedlyhidherfacefrommeinherhands.
Sad!Torememberher,asIdid,theliveliest,happiestchildthateverlaughedthedaythrough,andtoseehernow,intheflowerofherageandherbeauty,sobrokenandsobroughtdownasthis!
InthedistressthatshecausedmeIforgottheyearsthathadpassed,andthechangetheyhadmadeinourpositiontowardsoneanother.
Imovedmychairclosetoher,andpickedupherhandkerchieffromthecarpet,anddrewherhandsfromherfacegently.
“Don’tcry,mylove,”Isaid,anddriedthetearsthatweregatheringinhereyeswithmyownhand,asifshehadbeenthelittleLauraFairlieoftenlongyearsago.
ItwasthebestwayIcouldhavetakentocomposeher.Shelaidherheadonmyshoulder,andsmiledfaintlythroughhertears.
“Iamverysorryforforgettingmyself,”shesaidartlessly.
“Ihavenotbeenwell—Ihavefeltsadlyweakandnervouslately,andIoftencrywithoutreasonwhenIamalone.
Iambetternow—IcanansweryouasIought,Mr.Gilmore,Icanindeed.”
“No,no,mydear,”Ireplied,“wewillconsiderthesubjectasdonewithforthepresent.
Youhavesaidenoughtosanctionmytakingthebestpossiblecareofyourinterests,andwecansettledetailsatanotheropportunity.
Letushavedonewithbusinessnow,andtalkofsomethingelse.”
Iledheratonceintospeakingonothertopics.Intenminutes’timeshewasinbetterspirits,andIrosetotakemyleave.
“Comehereagain,”shesaidearnestly.“Iwilltrytobeworthierofyourkindfeelingformeandformyinterestsifyouwillonlycomeagain.”
Stillclingingtothepast—thatpastwhichIrepresentedtoher,inmyway,asMissHalcombedidinhers!
Ittroubledmesorelytoseeherlookingback,atthebeginningofhercareer,justasIlookbackattheendofmine.
“IfIdocomeagain,IhopeIshallfindyoubetter,”Isaid;“betterandhappier.Godblessyou,mydear!”
Sheonlyansweredbyputtinguphercheektometobekissed.Evenlawyershavehearts,andmineachedalittleasItookleaveofher.
Thewholeinterviewbetweenushadhardlylastedmorethanhalfanhour—shehadnotbreathedaword,inmypresence,toexplainthemysteryofherevidentdistressanddismayattheprospectofhermarriage,andyetshehadcontrivedtowinmeovertohersideofthequestion,Ineitherknewhownorwhy.
Ihadenteredtheroom,feelingthatSirPercivalGlydehadfairreasontocomplainofthemannerinwhichshewastreatinghim.
Ileftit,secretlyhopingthatmattersmightendinhertakinghimathiswordandclaimingherrelease.
Amanofmyageandexperienceoughttohaveknownbetterthantovacillateinthisunreasonablemanner.
Icanmakenoexcuseformyself;Icanonlytellthetruth,andsay—soitwas.
Thehourformydeparturewasnowdrawingnear.
IsenttoMr.FairlietosaythatIwouldwaitonhimtotakeleaveifheliked,butthathemustexcusemybeingratherinahurry.
Hesentamessageback,writteninpencilonaslipofpaper:“Kindloveandbestwishes,dearGilmore.
Hurryofanykindisinexpressiblyinjurioustome.Praytakecareofyourself.Good-bye.”
JustbeforeIleftIsawMissHalcombeforamomentalone.
“HaveyousaidallyouwantedtoLaura?”sheasked.
“Yes,”Ireplied.“Sheisveryweakandnervous—Iamgladshehasyoutotakecareofher.”
MissHalcombe’ssharpeyesstudiedmyfaceattentively.
“YouarealteringyouropinionaboutLaura,”shesaid.“Youarereadiertomakeallowancesforherthanyouwereyesterday.”
Nosensiblemaneverengages,unprepared,inafencingmatchofwordswithawoman.Ionlyanswered—
“Letmeknowwhathappens.IwilldonothingtillIhearfromyou.”
Shestilllookedhardinmyface.“Iwishitwasallover,andwellover,Mr.Gilmore—andsodoyou.”Withthosewordssheleftme.
SirPercivalmostpolitelyinsistedonseeingmetothecarriagedoor.
“Ifyouareeverinmyneighbourhood,”hesaid,“praydon’tforgetthatIamsincerelyanxioustoimproveouracquaintance.
Thetriedandtrustedoldfriendofthisfamilywillbealwaysawelcomevisitorinanyhouseofmine.”
Areallyirresistibleman—courteous,considerate,delightfullyfreefrompride—agentleman,everyinchofhim.
AsIdroveawaytothestationIfeltasifIcouldcheerfullydoanythingtopromotetheinterestsofSirPercivalGlyde—anythingintheworld,exceptdrawingthemarriagesettlementofhiswife.
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