the man between(夹在中间的人)-第29章
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comparison is a mockery。 Basil is the finest gentleman I ever saw。 Socially；
he is perfection； and〃
〃He is only a clergyman。〃
〃Even as a clergyman he is of religiously royal descent。 There are
generations of clergymen behind him； and he is a prince in the pulpit。
Every man that knows him gives him the highest respect； every woman
thinks you the most fortunate of wives。 No one cares for Fred Mostyn。
Even in his native place he is held in contempt。 He had nine hundred votes
to young Rawdon's twelve thousand。〃
〃I don't mind that。 I am going to the matinee to…morrow with Fred。 He
wanted to take me out in his auto this afternoon； but when I said I would
go if you would he drew back。 What is the reason？ Did he make you offer
of his hand？ Did you refuse it？〃
〃He never made me an offer。 I count that to myself as a great
compliment。 If he had done such a thing； he would certainly have been
refused。〃
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〃I can tell that he really hates you。 What dirty trick did you serve him
about Rawdon Court？〃
〃So he called the release of Squire Rawdon a ‘dirty trick'？ It would
have been a very dirty trick to have let Fred Mostyn get his way with
Squire Rawdon。〃
〃Of course； Ethel； when a man lends his money as an obligation he
expects to get it back again。〃
〃Mostyn got every farthing due him； and he wanted one of the finest
manors in Eng… land in return for the obligation。 He did not get it； thank
God and my father！〃
〃He will not forget your father's interference。〃
〃I hope he will remember it。〃
〃Do you know who furnished the money to pay Fred？ He says he is
sure your father did not have it。〃
〃Tell him to ask my father。 He might even ask your father。 Whether my
father had the money or not was immaterial。 Father could borrow any sum
he wanted； I think。〃
〃Whom did he borrow from？〃
〃I am sure that Fred told you to ask that question。 Is he writing to you；
Dora？〃
〃Suppose he is？〃
〃I cannot suppose such a thing。 It is too impossible。〃
This was the beginning of a series of events all more or less qualified
to bring about unspeakable misery in Basil's home。 But there is nothing in
life like the marriage tie。 The tugs it will bear and not break； the wrongs it
will look over； the chronic misunderstandings it will forgive； make it one
of the mysteries of humanity。 It was not in a day or a week that Basil
Stanhope's dream of love and home was shattered。 Dora had frequent and
then less frequent times of return to her better self； and every such time
renewed her husband's hope that she was merely passing through a period
of transition and assimilation； and that in the end she would be all his
desire hoped for。
But Ethel saw what he did not see； that Mostyn was gradually
inspiring her with his own opinions； perhaps even with his own passion。 In
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this emergency； however； she was gratified to find that Dora's mother
appeared to have grasped the situation。 For if Dora went to the theater with
Mostyn； Mrs。 Denning or Bryce was also there； and the reckless auto
driving； shopping； and lunching had at least a show of respectable
association。 Yet when the opera season opened； the constant
companionship of Mostyn and Dora became entirely too remarkable； not
only in the public estimation； but in Basil's miserable conception of his
own wrong。 The young husband used every art and persuasionand failed。
And his failure was too apparent to be slighted。 He became feverish and
nervous； and his friends read his misery in eyes heavy with unshed tears；
and in the wasting pallor caused by his sleepless； sorrowful nights。
Dora also showed signs of the change so rapidly working on her。 She
was sullen and passionate by turns； she complained bitterly to Ethel that
her youth and beauty had been wasted； that she was only nineteen； and her
life was over。 She wanted to go to Paris； to get away from New York
anywhere and anyhow。 She began to dislike even the presence of Basil。
His stately beauty offended her； his low； calm voice was the very keynote
of irritation。
One morning near Christmas he came to her with a smiling； radiant
face。 〃Dora；〃 he said； 〃Dora； my love； I have something so interesting to
tell you。 Mrs。 Colby and Mrs。 Schaffler and some other ladies have a
beautiful idea。 They wish to give all the children of the church under eight
years old the grandest Christmas tree imaginable really rich presents and
they thought you might like to have it here。〃
〃What do you say； Basil！〃
〃You were always so fond of children。 You〃
〃I never could endure them。〃
〃We all thought you might enjoy it。 Indeed； I was so sure that I
promised for you。 It will be such a pleasure to me also； dear。〃
〃I will have no such childish nonsense in my house。〃
〃I promised it； Dora。〃
〃You had no right to do so。 This is my house。 My father bought it and
gave me it； and it is my own。 I〃
〃It seems； then； that I intrude in your house。 Is it so？ Speak； Dora。〃
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〃If you will ask questions you must take the answer。 You do intrude
when you come with such ridiculous proposalsin fact； you intrude very
often lately。〃
〃Does Mr。 Mostyn intrude？〃
〃Mr。 Mostyn takes me out； gives me a little sensible pleasure。 You
think I can be interested in a Christmas tree。 The idea！〃
〃Alas； alas； Dora； you are tired of me！ You do not love me！ You do not
love me！〃
〃I love nobody。 I am sorry I got married。 It was all a mistake。 I will go
home and then you can get a divorce。〃
At this last word the whole man changed。 He was suffused；
transfigured with an anger that was at once righteous and impetuous。
〃How dare you use that word to me？〃 he demanded。 〃To the priest of
God no such word exists。 I do not know it。 You are my wife； willing or
unwilling。 You are my wife forever； whether you dwell with me or not。
You cannot sever bonds the Almighty has tied。 You are mine； Dora
Stanhope！ Mine for time and eternity！ Mine forever and ever！〃
She looked at him in amazement； and saw a man after an image she
had never imagined。 She was terrified。 She flung herself on the sofa in a
whirlwind of passion。 She cried aloud against his claim。 She gave herself
up to a vehement rage that was strongly infused with a childish dismay
and panic。
〃I will not be your wife forever！〃 she shrieked。 〃I will never be your
wife again never； not for one hour！ Let me go！ Take your hands off me！〃
For Basil had knelt down by the distraught woman； and clasping her in his
arms said； even on her lips； 〃You ARE my dear wife！ You are my very
own dear wife！ Tell me what to do。 Anything that is right； reasonable I will
do。 We can never part。〃
〃I will go to my father。 I will never come back to you。〃 And with these
words she rose； threw off his embrace； and with a sobbing cry ran； like a
terrified child； out of the room。
He sat down exhausted by his emotion； and sick with the thought she
had evoked in that one evil word。 The publicity； the disgrace； the wrong to
Holy Churchah； that was the cruelest wound！ His own wrong was hard
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enough； but that he； who would gladly die for the Church； should put her
to open shame！ How could he bear it？ Though it killed him； he must
prevent that wrong； yes； if the right eye offended it must be plucked out。
He must throw off his cassock； and turn away from the sacred aisles； he
musthe could not say the word； he would wait a little。 Dora would not
leave him； it was impossible。 He waited in a trance of aching suspense。
Nothing for an hour or more broke itno footfall； no sound of command
or complaint。 He was finally in hopes that Dora slept。 Then he was called
to lunch； and he made a pretense of eating it alone。 Dora sent no excuse
for her absence； and he could not trust himself to make inquiry about her。
In the middle of the afternoon he heard a carriage drive to the door； and
Dora； with her jewel… case in her hand； entered it and was driven away。
The sight astounded him。 He ran to her room； and found her maid packing
her clothing。 The woman answered his questions sullenly。 She said 〃Mrs。
Stanhope had gone to Mrs。 Denning's； and had left orders for her trunks to
be sent there。〃 Beyond this she was silent and ignorant。 No sympathy for
either husband or wife was in her heart。 Their quarrel was interfering with
her own plans； she hated both of them in consequence。
In the meantime Dora had reached her home。 Her mother was
dismayed and hesitating； and her attitude raised again in Dora's heart the
passion which had provoked the step she had taken。 She wept like a lost
child。 She exclaimed against the horror of being Basil's wife forever and
ever。 She reproached her mother for suffering her to marry while she was
only a child。 She said she had been cruelly used in order to get the family
into social recognition。 She was in a frenzy of grief at her supposed
sacrifice when her father came home。 Her case was then won。 With her
arms round his neck； sobbing against his heart； her tears and entreaties on
his lips； Ben Denning had no feeling and no care for anyone but his
daughter。 He took her view of things at once。 〃She HAD been badly used。
It WAS a shame to tie a girl like Dora to sermons and such like。 It was like
shutting her up in a convent。〃 Dora's tears and complaints fired him
beyond reason。 He promised her freedom whatever it cost
