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！
admired her； but I was aware that I differed from her inexpressibly。
Then I suspected； what I afterwards definitely knew and have already
intimated； that the poor lady felt small taste for her husband's so
undisguised disciple； and this of course was not encouraging。 She
thought me an obtrusive and designing； even perhaps a depraved； young
man whom a perverse Providence had dropped upon their quiet lawn to
flatter his worst tendencies。 She did me the honour to say to Miss
Ambient； who repeated the speech； that she didn't know when she had
seen their companion take such a fancy to a visitor； and she measured
apparently my evil influence by Mark's appreciation of my society。 I
had a consciousness； not oppressive but quite sufficient； of all
this； though I must say that if it chilled my flow of small…talk it
yet didn't prevent my thinking the beautiful mother and beautiful
child； interlaced there against their background of roses； a picture
such as I doubtless shouldn't soon see again。 I was free； I
supposed； to go into the house and write letters； to sit in the
drawing…room； to repair to my own apartment and take a nap； but the
only use I made of my freedom was to linger still in my chair and say
to myself that the light hand of Sir Joshua might have painted Mark
Ambient's wife and son。 I found myself looking perpetually at the
latter small mortal； who looked constantly back at me； and that was
enough to detain me。 With these vaguely…amused eyes he smiled； and I
felt it an absolute impossibility to abandon a child with such an
expression。 His attention never strayed； it attached itself to my
face as if among all the small incipient things of his nature
throbbed a desire to say something to me。 If I could have taken him
on my own knee he perhaps would have managed to say it； but it would
have been a critical matter to ask his mother to give him up； and it
has remained a constant regret for me that on that strange Sunday
afternoon I didn't even for a moment hold Dolcino in my arms。 He had
said he felt remarkably well and was especially happy； but though
peace may have been with him as he pillowed his charming head on his
mother's breast； dropping his little crimson silk legs from her lap；
I somehow didn't think security was。 He made no attempt to walk
about； he was content to swing his legs softly and strike one as
languid and angelic。
Mark returned to us with his sister； and Miss Ambient； repeating her
mention of the claims of her correspondence； passed into the house。
Mark came and stood in front of his wife； looking down at the child；
who immediately took hold of his hand and kept it while he stayed。
〃I think Mackintosh ought to see him；〃 he said； 〃I think I'll walk
over and fetch him。〃
〃That's Gwendolen's idea； I suppose；〃 Mrs。 Ambient replied very
sweetly。
〃It's not such an out…of…the…way idea when one's child's ill；〃 he
returned。
〃I'm not ill； papa； I'm much better now；〃 sounded in the boy's silver
pipe。
〃Is that the truth； or are you only saying it to be agreeable？
You've a great idea of being agreeable； you know。〃
The child seemed to meditate on this distinction； this imputation；
for a moment； then his exaggerated eyes； which had wandered； caught
my own as I watched him。 〃Do YOU think me agreeable？〃 he inquired
with the candour of his age and with a look that made his father turn
round to me laughing and ask； without saying it； 〃Isn't he adorable？〃
〃Then why don't you hop about； if you feel so lusty？〃 Ambient went on
while his son swung his hand。
〃Because mamma's holding me close！〃
〃Oh yes； I know how mamma holds you when I come near！〃 cried Mark
with a grimace at his wife。
She turned her charming eyes up to him without deprecation or
concession。 〃You can go for Mackintosh if you like。 I think myself
it would be better。 You ought to drive。〃
〃She says that to get me away；〃 he put to me with a gaiety that I
thought a little false； after which he started for the Doctor's。
I remained there with Mrs。 Ambient； though even our exchange of
twaddle had run very thin。 The boy's little fixed white face seemed；
as before； to plead with me to stay； and after a while it produced
still another effect； a very curious one； which I shall find it
difficult to express。 Of course I expose myself to the charge of an
attempt to justify by a strained logic after the fact a step which
may have been on my part but the fruit of a native want of
discretion； and indeed the traceable consequences of that perversity
were too lamentable to leave me any desire to trifle with the
question。 All I can say is that I acted in perfect good faith and
that Dolcino's friendly little gaze gradually kindled the spark of my
inspiration。 What helped it to glow were the other influencesthe
silent suggestive garden…nook； the perfect opportunity （if it was not
an opportunity for that it was an opportunity for nothing） and the
plea I speak of； which issued from the child's eyes and seemed to
make him say： 〃The mother who bore me and who presses me here to her
bosomsympathetic little organism that I amhas really the kind of
sensibility she has been represented to you as lacking； if you only
look for it patiently and respectfully。 How is it conceivable she
shouldn't have it？ How is it possible that _I_ should have so much
of itfor I'm quite full of it； dear strange gentlemanif it
weren't also in some degree in her？ I'm my great father's child； but
I'm also my beautiful mother's； and I'm sorry for the difference
between them！〃 So it shaped itself before me； the vision of
reconciling Mrs。 Ambient with her husband； of putting an end to their
ugly difference。 The project was absurd of course； for had I not had
his word for itspoken with all the bitterness of experiencethat
the gulf dividing them was well…nigh bottomless？ Nevertheless； a
quarter of an hour after Mark had left us； I observed to my hostess
that I couldn't get over what she had told me the night before about
her thinking her husband's compositions 〃objectionable。〃 I had been
so very sorry to hear it； had thought of it constantly and wondered
whether it mightn't be possible to make her change her mind。 She
gave me a great cold stare； meant apparently as an admonition to me
to mind my business。 I wish I had taken this mute counsel； but I
didn't take it。 I went on to remark that it seemed an immense pity
so much that was interesting should be lost on her。
〃Nothing's lost upon me；〃 she said in a tone that didn't make the
contradiction less。 〃I know they're very interesting。〃
〃Don't you like papa's books？〃 Dolcino asked； addressing his mother
but still looking at me。 Then he added to me： 〃Won't you read them
to me； American gentleman？〃
〃I'd rather tell you some stories of my own；〃 I said。 〃I know some
that are awfully good。〃
〃When will you tell them？ To…morrow？〃
〃To…morrow with pleasure； if that suits you。〃
His mother took this in silence。 Her husband； during our walk； had
asked me to remain another day； my promise to her son was an
implication that I had consented； and it wasn't possible the news
could please her。 This ought doubtless to ha