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！
don't borrow money of them。 I have written to Romayne； under
cover to one of my friends living in Rome。 Wherever he may be；
there my letter will find him。〃
So far； I listened quietly enough； naturally supposing that Mrs。
Eyrecourt trusted to her own arguments and persuasions。 I confess
it even to myself； with shame。 It was a relief to me to feel that
the chances （with such a fanatic as Romayne） were a hundred to
one against her。
This unworthy way of thinking was instantly checked by Mrs。
Eyrecourt's next words。
〃Don't suppose that I am foolish enough to attempt to reason with
him；〃 she went on。 〃My letter begins and ends on the first page。
His wife has a claim on him； which no newly…married man can
resist。 Let me do him justice。 He knew nothing of it before he
went away。 My lettermy daughter has no suspicion that I have
written ittells him plainly what the claim is。〃
She paused。 Her eyes softened； her voice sank lowshe became
quite unlike the Mrs。 Eyrecourt whom I knew。
〃In a few months more； Winterfield；〃 she said； 〃my poor Stella
will be a mother。 My letter calls Romayne back to his wife_and
his child。〃_
Mrs。 Eyrecourt paused； evidently expecting me to offer an opinion
of some sort。 For the moment I was really unable to speak。
Stella's mother never had a very high opinion of my abilities。
She now appeared to consider me the stupidest person in the
circle of her acquaintance。
〃Are you a little deaf； Winterfield？〃 she asked。
〃Not that I know of。〃
〃Do you understand me？〃
〃Oh； yes。〃
〃Then why can't you say something？ I want a man's opinion of our
prospects。 Good gracious； how you fidget！ Put yourself in
Romayne's place； and tell me this。 If _you_ had left Stella〃
〃I should never have left her； Mrs。 Eyrecourt。〃
〃Be quiet。 You don't know what you would have done。 I insist on
your supposing yourself to be a weak； superstitious； conceited；
fanatical fool。 You understand？ Now； tell me； then。 Could you
keep away from your wife； when you were called back to her in the
name of your firstborn child？ Could you resist that？〃
〃Most assuredly not！〃
I contrived to reply with an appearance of tranquillity。 It was
not very easy to speak with composure。 Envious； selfish；
contemptibleno language is too strong to describe the turn my
thoughts now took。 I never hated any human being as I hated
Romayne at that moment。
〃Damn him； he will come back！〃 There was my inmost feeling
expressed in words。
In the meantime； Mrs。 Eyrecourt was satisfied。
She dashed at the next subject as fluent and as confident as
ever。
〃Now； Winterfield； it is surely plain to your mind that you must
not see Stella againexcept when I am present to tie the tongue
of scandal。 My daughter's conduct must not allow her husbandif
you only knew how I detest that man！must not； I say； allow her
husband the slightest excuse for keeping away from her。 If we
give that odious old Jesuit the chance； he will make a priest of
Romayne before we know where we are。 The audacity of these
Papists is really beyond belief。 You remember how they made
Bishops and Archbishops here； in flat defiance of our laws？
Father Benwell follows that example； and sets our other laws at
defianceI mean our marriage laws。 I am so indignant I can't
express myself as clearly as usual。 Did Stella tell you that he
actually shook Romayne's belief in his own marriage？ Ah； I
understandshe kept that to herself； poor dear； and with good
reason； too。 〃
I thought of the turned…down page in the letter。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt
readily revealed what her daughter's delicacy had forbidden me to
readincluding the monstrous assumption which connected my
marriage before the registrar with her son…in…law's scruples。
〃Yes；〃 she proceeded； 〃these Catholics are all alike。 My
daughterI don't mean my sweet Stella； I mean the unnatural
creature in the nunnerysets herself above her own mother。 Did I
ever tell you she was impudent enough to say she would pray for
me？ Father Benwell and the Papal Aggression over again！ Now tell
me； Winterfield； don't you think； taking the circumstances into
considerationthat you will act like a thoroughly sensible man
if you go back to Devonshire while we are in our present
situation？ What with foot…warmers in the carriage； and newspapers
and magazines to amuse you； it isn't such a very long journey。
And then Beauparkdear Beauparkis such a remarkably
comfortable house in the winter； and you； you enviable creature；
are such a popular man in the neighborhood。 Oh； go back！ go
back！〃
I got up and took my hat。 She patted me on the shoulder。 I could
have throttled her at that moment。 And yet she was right。
〃You will make my excuses to Stella？〃 I said。
〃You dear； good fellow； I will do more than make your excuses； I
will sing your praisesas the poet says。〃 In her ungovernable
exultation at having got rid of me； she burst into extravagant
language。 〃I feel like a mother to you；〃 she went on； as we shook
hands at parting。 〃I declare I could almost let you kiss me。〃
There was not a single kissable place about Mrs。 Eyrecourt；
unpainted； undyed； or unpowdered。 I resisted temptation and
opened the door。 There was still one last request that I could
not help making。
〃Will you let me know；〃 I said； 〃when you hear from Rome？〃
〃With the greatest pleasure；〃 Mrs。 Eyrecourt answered； briskly。
〃Good…by； you best of friendsgood…by。〃
I write these lines while the servant is packing my portmanteau。
Traveler knows what that means。 My dog is glad； at any rate； to
get away from London。 I think I shall hire a yacht； and try what
a voyage round the world will do for me。 I wish to God I had
never seen Stella！
Second Extract。
Beaupark； February 10。News at last from Mrs。 Eyrecourt。
Romayne has not even read the letter that she addressed to
himit has actually been returned to her by Father Benwell。 Mrs。
Eyrecourt writes； naturally enough； in a state of fury。 Her one
consolation； under this insulting treatment； is that her daughter
knows nothing of the circumstances。 She warns me （quite
needlessly） to keep the secretand sends me a copy of Father
Benwell's letter：
〃Dear MadamMr。 Romayne can read nothing that diverts his
attention from his preparation for the priesthood； or that
recalls past associations with errors which he has renounced