frances waldeaux-第4章

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〃I　was　thinking　of　my　mother；〃　she　said　gently；　holding　out　her　hand　to　him。

He　took　it　and　said　presently；　〃Will　you　not　talk　to　me　about　her；　Lisa？　　You　have　not　told　me　any　thing　of　your　people；　my　darling。　　Nor　of　yourself。　　Why；　I　don't　even　know　whether　you　are　French　or　German。〃

〃Oh；　you　shall　hear　the　whole　story　when　we　are　married；〃　she　replied　softly；　a　wicked　glitter　in　her　eyes。　　〃Some　of　the　noblest　blood　in　Europe　is　in　my　veins。　　I　will　give　you　my　genealogical　tree　to　hang　up　in　that　old　homestead　of　yours。　　It　will　interest　the　people　of　Weirand　please　your　mother。〃

〃It　is　good　in　you　to　think　of　her；〃　he　said；　tenderly　looking　down　at　her。

He　was　not　blind。　　He　saw　the　muddy　skin；　the　thick　lips；　the　soiled；　ragged　lace。　　They　would　have　disgusted　him　in　another　woman。

But　this　wasLisa。　　There　was　no　more　to　be　said。

These　outside　trifles　would　fall　off　when　she　came　into　his　life。　　Even　with　them　she　was　the　breath　and　soul　of　it。

She　saw　the　difference　between　them　more　sharply　than　he　did。　　She　had　been　cast　for　a　low　part　in　the　play；　and　knew　it。　　Sometimes　she　had　earned　the　food　which　kept　her　alive　in　ways　of　which　this　untempted　young　priest　had　never　even　heard。　　There　was　something　in　this　clean　past　of　his；　in　his　cold　patrician　face　and　luxurious　habits　new　to　her；　and　she　had　a　greedy　relish　for　it　all。

She　had　been　loved　before；　caressed　as　men　caress　a　dog；　kicking　it　off　when　it　becomes　troublesome。　　George's　boyish　shyness；　his　reverent　awe　of　her；　startled　her。

〃He　thinks　Lisa　Arpent　a　jeune　fillelike　these　others。　　A　little　white　rose！〃　she　thought；　and　laughed。　　She　would　not　tell　him　why　she　laughed；　and　muttered　an　oath　when　he　stupidly　insisted　on　knowing。

He　was　the　first　lover　who　had　ever　believed　in　her。

She　had　begun　this　affair　simply　to　punish　the　〃old　woman〃；　the　man　in　it　had　counted　for　nothing。　　But　now；　as　they　crossed　the　gangway；　she　looked　up　at　him　with　eyes　that　for　the　moment　were　honest　and　true　as　a　child's；　and　her　firm　hand　suddenly　trembled　in　his。


Three　weeks　later　Mrs。　Waldeaux　came　into　Miss　Vance's　little　parlor　on　Half　Moon　Street。　　Her　face　was　red　from　the　wind；　her　eyes　sparkled；　and　she　hummed　some　gay　air　which　an　organ　ground　outside。　　Clara　laid　down　her　pen。

〃Where　have　you　been；　Frances？　　It　is　a　week　since　I　saw　you。〃

〃Oh；　everywhere！　　George　has　been　showing　me　London！〃　She　sat　down　before　the　fire　with　a　gurgle　of　comfort　and　dropped　her　bonnet　and　gloves　on　the　floor　beside　her。　　〃Yesterday　we　spent　at　the　Museum。　　George　explained　the　Elgin　marbles　to　me。　　I　don't　suppose　any　body　in　London　has　studied　their　history　so　thoroughly。　　I　did　wish　you　could　have　heard　him。　　And　the　day　before　I　was　at　the　Housein　the　ladies'　gallery。　　I　can't　imagine　how　he　got　admission　for　me。　　He　IS　so　clever！〃

〃We　are　going　down　to　Canterbury　for　a　couple　of　days；〃　said　Clara。　　〃We　start　at　noon。　　Will　you　go　with　us？〃

〃No；　I　think　not。　　George　does　not　seem　to　care　for　cathedrals。　　And　he　has　plans　for　me；　no　doubt。〃

Miss　Vance　brushed　the　bonnet　and　carefully　rolled　up　the　strings。　　〃Are　you　satisfied？　　Is　London　the　London　you　have　been　thinking　of　these　twenty　years？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　a　thousand　times　more！　　And　George　has　been　with　me　every　dayevery　day！〃

Miss　Vance　picked　up　the　gloves；　looking　impatiently　at　the　poor　lady's　happy　face。　　〃Now　she　has　gone　off　into　one　of　her　silly　transports　of　delight；　and　for　no　earthly　reason！〃

〃I　noticed　that　George　has　seen　very　little　of　Lisa　lately；〃　she　said　tentatively。　　〃If　he　really　means　to　marry　her〃

〃Marry　her！　　Clara！　　You　surely　never　feared　THAT？〃

〃He　certainly　told　us　plainly　enough　that　he　would　do　it；〃　said　Miss　Vance　testily。

〃Oh；　you　don't　understand　him！　　You　have　had　so　little　to　do　with　young　men。　　They　are　all　liable　to　attacks　like　thatas　to　measles　and　scarlet　fever。　　But　they　pass　off。　　Now；　George　is　not　as　susceptible　as　most　of　them。　　But；〃　lowering　her　voice；　〃he　was　madly　in　love　with　the　butcher's　Kate　when　he　was　ten；　and　five　years　afterward　offered　to　marry　the　widow　Potts。　　I　thought　he　had　outgrown　the　disease。　　There　has　been　nothing　of　the　kind　since；　until　this　fancy。　　It　is　passing　off。　　Of　course　it　is　mortifying　enough　to　think　that　such　a　poor　creature　as　that　could　attract　him　for　an　hour。〃

〃I　was　to　blame；〃　Miss　Vance　said；　with　an　effort。　　〃I　brought　her　in　his　way。　　But　how　was　I　to　know　that　she　was　such　a　cat；　and　he　such　　If　he　should　marry　her〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux　laughed　angrily。　　〃You　are　too　absurd；　Clara。　　A　flirtation　with　such　a　woman　was　degrading　enough；　but　George　is　not　quite　mad。　　He　has　not　even　spoken　of　her　for　days。　　Oh；　here　he　comes！　　That　is　his　step　on　the　stairs。〃　　She　ran　to　the　door。　　〃He　found　that　I　was　out　and　has　followed　me。　　He　is　the　most　ridiculous　mother's　boy！　　Well；　George；　here　I　am！　　Have　you　thought　of　some　thing　new　for　me　to　see？〃　　She　glanced　at　Miss　Vance；　well　pleased　that　she　should　see　the　lad's　foolish　fondness　for　her。

George　forced　a　smile。　　He　looked　worn　and　jaded。　　Miss　Vance　noticed　that　his　usually　neat　cravat　was　awry　and　his　hands　were　gloveless。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　a　lit…　tle　church。　　The　oldest　in　London。　　I　want　to　show　it　to　you。〃

Miss　Vance　tied　on　Mrs。　Waldeaux's　bonnet；　smoothing　her　hair　affectionately。　　〃There　are　too　many　gray　hairs　here　for　your　age；　Frances；〃　she　said。　　〃George；　you　should　keep　your　mother　from　worry　and　work。　　Don't　let　her　hair　grow　gray　so　soon。〃

George　bowed。　　〃I　hope　I　shall　do　my　duty；〃　he　said；　with　dignity。　　〃Come；　mother。〃

As　they　drove　down　Piccadilly　Mrs。　Waldeaux　chattered　eagerly　to　her　son。　　She　could　not　pour　out　her　teeming　fancies　about　this　new　world　to　any　body　else；　but　she　could　not　talk　fast　enough　to　him。　　Had　they　not　both　been　waiting　for　a　lifetime　to　see　this　London？

〃The　thing；〃　she　said　earnestly；　as　she　settled　herself　beside　him；　〃the　thing　that　has　impressed　me　most；　I　think；　were　those　great　Ninevite　gods　yesterday。　　I　sat　for　hours　before　them　while　you　were　gone。　　There　they　sit；　their　hands　on　their　knees；　and　stare　out　of　their　awful　silence　at　the　London　fog；　just　as　they　stared　at　the　desert　before　Christ　was　born。　　I　felt　so　miserably　young　and　sham！〃

George　adjusted　his　cravat　impatiently。　　〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　quite　follow　you；　mother。　　These　little　flights　of　yours　　They　belong　to　your　generation；　I　suppose。　　It　was　a　more　sentimental　one　than　mine。　　You　are　not　very　young。　　And　you　certainly　are　not　a　sham。　　The　statues　are　interesting；　but　I　fail　to　see　why　they　should　have　had　such　an　effect　upon　you。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Frances。　　〃But　you　did　not　stay　alone　with　them　as　long　as　I　did；　or　you　would　have　felt　it　too。　　Now　I　am　sure　that　the　debates　in　Parliament　impressed　you　just　as　they　did　me？〃

George　said　nothing；　but　she　went　on　eagerly。　　It　never　occurred　to　her　that　he　could　be　bored　by　her　impressions　in　these　greatest　days　of　her　life。　　〃To　see　a　half…dozen　well…groomed　young　men　settle　the　affairs　of　India　and　Australia　in　a　short；　indifferent　colloquy！　　How　shy　and　awkward　they　were；　too！　　They　actually　stuttered　out　their　sentences　in　their　fear　of　posing　or　seeming　pretentious。　　So　English！　　Don't　you　think　it　was　very　English；　George？〃

〃I　really　did　not　think　about　it　at　all。　　I　have　had　very　different　things　to　occupy　me；〃　said　George；　coldly　superior　to　all　mothers　and　Parliaments。　　This　is　the　church。〃

The　cab　stopped　before　an　iron　door　between　two　shops　in　the　most　thronged　part　of　Bishopsgate　Street。　　He　pushed　it　open；　and　they　passed　suddenly　out　of　the　hurrying　crowd　into　the　solemn　silence　of　an　ancient　dingy　building。　　A　dim　light　fell　through　a　noble　window　of　the　thirteenth　century　upon　cheap　wooden　pews。　　The　church　was　empty；　and　had　that　curious　significance　and　half…spoken　message　of　its　own　which　belongs　to　a　vacant　house。

〃I　remember；〃　whispered　Frances；　awestruck。　　〃This　was　built　by　the　first　Christian　convert；　St。　Ethelburga。〃

〃You　believe　every　thing；　mother！〃　said　George　irritably。　She　wandered　about；　looking　at　the　sombre　walls　and　inscriptions；　and　then　back　uneasily；　to　his　moody　face。

Suddenly　she　came　up　to　him　as　he　stood　leaning　against　a　pillar。　　〃Something　has　happened！〃　she　said。　　〃You　did　not　bring　me　here　to　look　at　the　church。　　You　have　something　to　tell　me。〃

The　young　man　looked　at　her　and　turned　away。　　〃Yes；　I　have。　　It　isn't　a　death；〃　he　said；　with　a　nervous　laugh。　　〃You　need　not　look　in　that　way。　　It　issomething　very　different。　　II　was　married　in　this　church　yesterday　to　Lisa　Arpent。〃

Frances　did　not　at　first　comprehend　the　great　disaster　that　bulked　black　across　her　whole　life；　but；　woman…like；　grasped　at　a　fragment　of　it。

〃You　were　married　and　I　was　not　there！　　Yesterday！　　My　boy　was　married　and　he　forgot　me！〃

〃Mother！　　Don't　look　like　that！　　Here；　sit　down；〃　grabbing　her　helplessly　by　the　arms。　　〃I　didn't　want　to　hurt　you。　　I　brought　you　here　to　tell　you　quietly。　　Cry！　　Why　don't　you　cry　if　you're　worried！　　Oh！　I　believe　she's　dying！〃　he　shouted；　staring　around　the　empty　church。

She　spoke　at　last。

〃You　were　married　and　I　couldn't　say　God　bless　you！　　You　forgot　me！　　I　never　forgot　you；　George；　for　one　minute　since　you　were　born。〃

〃Mother；　what　fool　talk　is　that？　　I　only　didn't　want　a　scene。　　I　kept　away　from　Lisa　for　weeks　so　as　not　to　vex　you。　　Forget　you！　　I　think　I　have　been　very　considerate　of　you　under　the　circumstances。　　You　have　a　dislike　to　Lisa；　a　most　groundless　dislike〃

〃Oh；　what　is　Lisa？　〃　said　Frances　haughtily。　　〃It　is　that　you　have　turned　away　from　me。　　She　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　relation　between　you　and　me。　　How　can　any　woman　come　between　me　and　my　son？〃　　She　held　up　her　hands。　　〃Why；　you　are　my　boy；　Georgy。　　You　are　all　I　have！〃

He　looked　at　the　face；　curiously　pinched　and　drawn　as　if　by　death；　that　was　turned　up　to　his；　and　shrugged　his　shoulders　impatiently。　　〃Now　this　is　exactly　what　I　tried　to　escape　yesterday。　　Am　I　never　to　be　a　man；　nor　have　the　rights　of　a　man？　　You　must　accept　the　situation；　mother。　　Lisa　is　my　wife；　and　dearer　to　me　than　all　the　world　beside。〃

He　saw　her　lips　move。　　〃Dearer？　　Dearer　than　me！〃　She　sat　quite　still　after　that；　and　did　not　seem　to　hear　when　he　spoke。　　Something　in　her　silence　frightened　him。　　She　certainly　had　been　a　fond；　indulgent　mother；　and　he　perhaps　had　been　abrupt　in　cutting　the　tie　between　them。　　It　must　be　cut。　　He　had　promised　Lisa　the　whole　matter　should　be　settled　to…day。　　But　his　mother　certainly　was　a　weak　woman；　and　he　must　be　patient　with　her。　　Secretly　he　approved　the　manliness　of　his　patience。

〃The　cab　is　waiting；　dear；〃　he　said。　　She　rose　and　walked　to　the　street；　standing　helpless　there　while　the　crowd　jostled　her。　　Was　she　blind　and　deaf？　　He　put　her　into　the　cab　and　sat　down　opposite　to　her。　　〃Half　Moon　Street；〃　he　called　to　the　driver。

〃Mother；〃　touching　her　on　the　knee。

〃Yes；　George。〃

〃I　told　him　to　drive　to　Half　Moon　Street。　　I　will　take　you　to　Clara　Vance。　　We　may　as　well　arrange　things　now；　finally。　　You　do　not　like　my　wife。　　That　is　clear。　　For　the　present；　therefore；　it　is　better　that　we　should　separate。　　I　have　consulted　with　Lisa；　and　she　has　suggested　that　you　shall　joi