按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
what I have noticedand I say with all my heart； Stella； I am
sorry for you。〃
She rose； and； with intuitive delicacy； changed the subject。 〃I
am going out earlier than usual this morning；〃 she resumed。 〃Is
there anything I can do for you？〃 She laid her hand tenderly on
Stella's shoulder； waiting for the reply。 Stella lifted the hand
and kissed it with passionate fondness。
〃Don't think me ungrateful；〃 she said； 〃I am only ashamed。〃 Her
head sank on her bosom； she burst into tears。
Lady Loring waited by her in silence。 She well knew the girl's
self…contained nature； always shrinking； except in moments of
violent emotion； from the outward betrayal of its trials and its
sufferings to others。 The true depth of feeling which is marked
by this inbred modesty is most frequently found in men。 The few
women who possess it are without the communicative consolations
of the feminine heart。 They are the noblest…and but too often
the unhappiest of their sex。
〃Will you wait a little before you go out？〃 Stella asked softly。
Lady Loring returned to the chair that she had lefthesitated
for a momentand then drew it nearer to Stella。 〃Shall I sit by
you？〃 she said。
〃Close by me。 You spoke of our school days just now Adelaide。
There was some difference between us。 Of all the girls I was the
youngestand you were the eldest； or nearly the eldest； I
think？〃
〃Quite the eldest； my dear。 There is a difference of ten years
between us。 But why do you go back to that？〃
〃It's only a recollection。 My father was alive then。 I was at
first home…sick and frightened in the strange place； among the
big girls。 You used to let me hide my face on your shoulder； and
tell me stories。 May I hide in the old way and tell _my_ story？〃
She was now the calmest of the two。 The elder woman turned a
little pale； and looked down in silent anxiety at the darkly
beautiful head that rested on her shoulder。
〃After such an experience as mine has been；〃 said Stella； 〃would
you think it possible that I could ever again feel my heart
troubled by a manand that man a stranger？〃
〃My dear！ I think it quite possible。 You are only now in your
twenty…third year。 You were innocent of all blame at that
wretched by…gone time which you ought never to speak of again。
Love and be happy； Stellaif you can only find the man who is
worthy of you。 But you frighten me when you speak of a stranger。
Where did you meet with him？〃
〃On our way back from Paris。〃
〃Traveling in the same carriage with you？〃
〃Noit was in crossing the Channel。 There were few travelers in
the steamboat； or I might never have noticed him。〃
〃Did he speak to you？〃
〃I don't think he even looked at me。〃
〃That doesn't say much for his taste； Stella。〃
〃You don't understand。 I mean； I have not explained myself
properly。 He was leaning on the arm of a friend； weak and worn
and wasted； as I supposed； by some long and dreadful illness。
There was an angelic sweetness in his facesuch patience！ such
resignation！ For heaven's sake keep my secret。 One hears of men
falling in love with women at first sight。 But a woman who looks
at a man； and feelsoh； it's shameful！ I could hardly take my
eyes off him。 If he had looked at me in return； I don't know what
I should have doneI burn when I think of it。 He was absorbed in
his suffering and his sorrow。 My last look at his beautiful face
was on the pier； before they took me away。 The perfect image of
him has been in my heart ever since。 In my dreams I see him as
plainly as I see you now。 Don't despise me； Adelaide！〃
〃My dear； you interest me indescribably。 Do you suppose he was in
our rank of life？ I mean； of course； did he look like a
gentleman？〃
〃There could be no doubt of it。〃
〃Do try to describe him； Stella。 Was he tall and well dressed？〃
〃Neither tall nor shortrather thinquiet and graceful in all
his movementsdressed plainly； in perfect taste。 How can I
describe him？ When his friend brought him on board； he stood at
the side of the vessel； looking out thoughtfully toward the sea。
Such eyes I never saw before； Adelaide； in any human faceso
divinely tender and sadand the color of them that dark violet
blue； so uncommon and so beautifultoo beautiful for a man。 I
may say the same of his hair。 I saw it completely。 For a minute
or two he removed his hathis head was fevered； I thinkand he
let the sea breeze blow over it。 The pure light brown of his hair
was just warmed by a lovely reddish tinge。 His beard was of the
same color； short and curling； like the beards of the Roman
heroes one sees in pictures。 I shall never see him againand it
is best for me that I shall not。 What can I hope from a man who
never once noticed me？ But I _should_ like to hear that he had
recovered his health and his tranquillity； and that his life was
a happy one。 It has been a comfort to me； Adelaide； to open my
heart to you。 I am get ting bold enough to confess everything。
Would you laugh at me； I wonder； if I？〃
She stopped。 Her pale complexion softly glowed into color； her
grand dark eyes brightenedshe looked her loveliest at that
moment。
〃I am far more inclined； Stella； to cry over you than to laugh at
you；〃 said Lady Loring。 〃There is something； to my mind； very sad
about this adventure of yours。 I wish I could find out who the
man is。 Even the best description of a person falls so short of
the reality！〃
〃I thought of showing you something；〃 Stella continued； 〃which
might help you to see him as I saw him。 It's only making one more
acknowledgment of my own folly。〃
〃You don't mean a portrait of him！〃 Lady Loring exclaimed。
〃The best that I could do from recollection；〃 Stella answered
sadly。
〃Bring it here directly！〃
Stella left the room and returned with a little drawing in
pencil。 The instant Lady Loring looked at it； she recognized
Romayne and started excitedly to her feet。
〃You know him！〃 cried Stella。
Lady Loring had placed herself in an awkward position。 Her
husband had described to her his interview with Major Hynd； and
had mentioned his project for bringing Romayne and Stella
together； after first exacting a promise of the strictest secrecy
from his wife。 She felt herself bounddoubly bound； after what
she had now discoveredto respect the confidence placed in her；
and this at the time when she had betrayed herself