the patagonia-第10章

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！





〃I'll　tell　him　why；〃　I　replied；　and　Mrs。　Nettlepoint　said　she　should

be　exceedingly　obliged　to　me　and　repeated　that　she　would　indeed　take

the　field。



I　looked　for　Jasper　above　that　same　evening；　but　circumstances　didn't

favour　my　quest。　　I　found　himthat　is　I　gathered　he　was　again

ensconced　behind　the　lifeboat　with　Miss　Mavis；　but　there　was　a

needless　violence　in　breaking　into　their　communion；　and　I　put　off　our

interview　till　the　next　day。　　Then　I　took　the　first　opportunity；　at

breakfast；　to　make　sure　of　it。　　He　was　in　the　saloon　when　I　went　in

and　was　preparing　to　leave　the　table；　but　I　stopped　him　and　asked　if

he　would　give　me　a　quarter　of　an　hour　on　deck　a　little　laterthere

was　something　particular　I　wanted　to　say　to　him。　　He　said　〃Oh　yes；　if

you　like〃with　just　a　visible　surprise；　but　I　thought　with　plenty　of

assurance。　　When　I　had　finished　my　breakfast　I　found　him　smoking　on

the　forward…deck　and　I　immediately　began：　　〃I'm　going　to　say

something　you　won't　at　all　like；　to　ask　you　a　question　you'll

probably　denounce　for　impertinent。〃



〃I　certainly　shall　if　I　find　it　so；〃　said　Jasper　Nettlepoint。



〃Well；　of　course　my　warning　has　meant　that　I　don't　care　if　you　do。

I'm　a　good　deal　older　than　you　and　I'm　a　friendof　many　yearsof

your　mother。　　There's　nothing　I　like　less　than　to　be　meddlesome；　but

I　think　these　things　give　me　a　certain　righta　sort　of　privilege。

Besides　which　my　inquiry　will　speak　for　itself。〃



〃Why　so　many　damned　preliminaries？〃　my　young　man　asked　through　his

smoke。



We　looked　into　each　other's　eyes　a　moment。　　What　indeed　was　his

mother's　mannerher　best　mannercompared　with　his？　　〃Are　you

prepared　to　be　responsible？〃



〃To　you？〃



〃Dear　noto　the　young　lady　herself。　　I'm　speaking　of　course　of　Miss

Mavis。〃



〃Ah　yes；　my　mother　tells　me　you　have　her　greatly　on　your　mind。〃



〃So　has　your　mother　herselfnow。〃



〃She's　so　good　as　to　say　soto　oblige　you。〃



〃She'd　oblige　me　a　great　deal　more　by　reassuring　me。　　I　know

perfectly　of　your　knowing　I've　told　her　that　Miss　Mavis　is　greatly

talked　about。〃



〃Yes；　but　what　on　earth　does　it　matter？〃



〃It　matters　as　a　sign。〃



〃A　sign　of　what？〃



〃That　she's　in　a　false　position。〃



Jasper　puffed　his　cigar　with　his　eyes　on　the　horizon；　and　I　had；　a

little　unexpectedly；　the　sense　of　producing　a　certain　effect　on　him。

〃I　don't　know　whether　it's　YOUR　business；　what　you're　attempting　to

discuss　but　it　really　strikes　me　it's　none　of　mine。　　What　have　I　to

do　with　the　tattle　with　which　a　pack　of　old　women　console　themselves

for　not　being　sea…sick？〃



〃Do　you　call　it　tattle　that　Miss　Mavis　is　in　love　with　you？〃



〃Drivelling。〃



〃Then；〃　I　retorted；　〃you're　very　ungrateful。　　The　tattle　of　a　pack　of

old　women　has　this　importance；　that　she　suspects；　or　she　knows；　it

exists；　and　that　decent　girls　are　for　the　most　part　very　sensitive　to

that　sort　of　thing。　　To　be　prepared　not　to　heed　it　in　this　case　she

must　have　a　reason；　and　the　reason　must　be　the　one　I've　taken　the

liberty　to　call　your　attention　to。〃



〃In　love　with　me　in　six　days；　just　like　that？〃and　he　still　looked

away　through　narrowed　eyelids。



〃There's　no　accounting　for　tastes；　and　six　days　at　sea　are　equivalent

to　sixty　on　land。　　I　don't　want　to　make　you　too　proud。　　Of　course　if

you　recognise　your　responsibility　it's　all　right　and　I've　nothing　to

say。〃



〃I　don't　see　what　you　mean；〃　he　presently　returned。



〃Surely　you　ought　to　have　thought　of　that　by　this　time。　　She's

engaged　to　be　married；　and　the　gentleman　she's　engaged　to　is　to　meet

her　at　Liverpool。　　The　whole　ship　knows　itthough　_I_　didn't　tell

them！and　the　whole　ship's　watching　her。　　It's　impertinent　if　you

like；　just　as　I　am　myself；　but　we　make　a　little　world　here　together

and　we　can't　blink　its　conditions。　　What　I　ask　you　is　whether　you're

prepared　to　allow　her　to　give　up　the　gentleman　I've　just　mentioned

for　your　sake。〃



Jasper　spoke　in　a　moment　as　if　he　didn't　understand。　　〃For　my　sake？〃



〃To　marry　her　if　she　breaks　with　him。〃



He　turned　his　eyes　from　the　horizon　to　my　own；　and　I　found　a　strange

expression　in　them。　　〃Has　Miss　Mavis　commissioned　you　to　go　into

that？〃



〃Not　in　the　least。〃



〃Well　then；　I　don't　quite　see！〃



〃It　isn't　as　from　another　I　make　it。　　Let　it　come　from　yourselfTO

yourself。〃



〃Lord；　you　must　think　I　lead　myself　a　life！〃　he　cried　as　in

compassion　for　my　simplicity。　　〃That's　a　question　the　young　lady　may

put　to　me　any　moment　it　pleases　her。〃



〃Let　me　then　express　the　hope　that　she　will。　　But　what　will　you

answer？〃



〃My　dear　sir；　it　seems　to　me　that　in　spite　of　all　the　titles　you've

enumerated　you've　no　reason　to　expect　I'll　tell　you。〃　　He　turned

away；　and　I　dedicated　in　perfect　sincerity　a　deep　sore　sigh　to　the

thought　of　our　young　woman。　　At　this；　under　the　impression　of　it；　he

faced　me　again　and；　looking　at　me　from　head　to　foot；　demanded：　　〃What

is　it　you　want　me　to　do？〃



〃I　put　it　to　your　mother　that　you　ought　to　go　to　bed。〃



〃You　had　better　do　that　yourself！〃　he　replied。



This　time　he　walked　off；　and　I　reflected　rather　dolefully　that　the

only　clear　result　of　my　undertaking　would　probably　have　been　to　make

it　vivid　to　him　that　she　was　in　love　with　him。　　Mrs。　Nettlepoint　came

up　as　she　had　announced；　but　the　day　was　half　over：　　it　was　nearly

three　o'clock。　　She　was　accompanied　by　her　son；　who　established　her

on　deck；　arranged　her　chair　and　her　shawls；　saw　she　was　protected

from　sun　and　wind；　and　for　an　hour　was　very　properly　attentive。

While　this　went　on　Grace　Mavis　was　not　visible；　nor　did　she　reappear

during　the　whole　afternoon。　　I　hadn't　observed　that　she　had　as　yet

been　absent　from　the　deck　for　so　long　a　period。　　Jasper　left　his

mother；　but　came　back　at　intervals　to　see　how　she　got　on；　and　when

she　asked　where　Miss　Mavis　might　be　answered　that　he　hadn't　the　least

idea。　　I　sat　with　my　friend　at　her　particular　request：　　she　told　me

she　knew　that　if　I　didn't　Mrs。　Peck　and　Mrs。　Gotch　would　make　their

approach；　so　that　I　must　act　as　a　watch…dog。　　She　was　flurried　and

fatigued　with　her　migration；　and　I　think　that　Grace　Mavis's　choosing

this　occasion　for　retirement　suggested　to　her　a　little　that　she　had

been　made　a　fool　of。　　She　remarked　that　the　girl's　not　being　there

showed　her　for　the　barbarian　she　only　could　be；　and　that　she　herself

was　really　very　good　so　to　have　put　herself　out；　her　charge　was　a

mere　bore：　　that　was　the　end　of　it。　　I　could　see　that　my　companion's

advent　quickened　the　speculative　activity　of　the　other　ladies　they

watched　her　from　the　opposite　side　of　the　deck；　keeping　their　eyes

fixed　on　her　very　much　as　the　man　at　the　wheel　kept　his　on　the　course

of　the　ship。　　Mrs。　Peck　plainly　had　designs；　and　it　was　from　this

danger　that　Mrs。　Nettlepoint　averted　her　face。



〃It's　just　as　we　said；〃　she　remarked　to　me　as　we　sat　there。　　〃It's

like　the　buckets　in　the　well。　　When　I　come　up　everything　else　goes

down。〃



〃No；　not　at　all　everything　elsesince　Jasper　remains　here。〃



〃Remains？　　I　don't　see　him。〃



〃He　comes　and　goesit's　the　same　thing。〃



〃He　goes　more　than　he　comes。　　But　n'en　parlons　plus；　I　haven't　gained

anything。　　I　don't　admire　the　sea　at　allwhat　is　it　but　a　magnified

water…tank？　　I　shan't　come　up　again。〃



〃I've　an　idea　she'll　stay　in　her　cabin　now；〃　I　said。　　〃She　tells　me

she　has　one　to　herself。〃　　Mrs。　Nettlepoint　replied　that　she　might　do

as　she　liked；　and　I　repeated　to　her　the　little　conversation　I　had　had

with　Jasper。



She　listened　with　interest；　but　〃Marry　her？　　Mercy！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃I　like　the　fine　freedom　with　which　you　give　my　son　away。〃



〃You　wouldn't　accept　that？〃



〃Why　in　the　world　should　I？〃



〃Then　I　don't　understand　your　position。〃



〃Good　heavens；　I　HAVE　none！　　It　isn't　a　position　to　be　tired　of　the

whole　thing。〃



〃You　wouldn't　accept　it　even　in　the　case　I　put　to　himthat　of　her

believing　she　had　been　encouraged　to　throw　over　poor　Porterfield？〃



〃Not　evennot　even。　　Who　can　know　what　she　believes？〃



It　brought　me　back　to　where　we　had　started　from。　　〃Then　you　do

exactly　what　I　said　you　wouldyou　show　me　a　fine　example　of　maternal

immorality。〃



〃Maternal　fiddlesticks！　　It　was　she　who　began　it。〃



〃Then　why　did　you　come　up　today？〃　I　asked。



〃To　keep　you　quiet。〃



Mrs。　Nettlepoint's　dinner　was　served　on　deck；　but　I　went　into　the

saloon。　　Jasper　was　there；　but　not　Grace　Mavis；　as　I　had　half…

expected。　　I　sought　to　learn　from　him　what　had　become　of　her；　if　she

were　illhe　must　have　thought　I　had　an　odious　pertinacityand　he

replied　that　he　knew　nothing　whatever　about　her。　　Mrs。　Peck　talked　to

meor　tried　toof　Mrs。　Nettlepoint；　expatiating　on　the　great

interest　it　had　been　to　see　her；　only　it　was　a　pity　she　didn't　seem

more　sociable。　　To　this　I　made　answer　that　she　was　to　be　excused　on

the　score　of　health。



〃You　don't　mean　to　say　she's　sick　on　this　pond？〃



〃No；　she's　unwell　in　another　way。〃



〃I　guess　I　know　the　way！〃　Mrs。　Peck　laughed。　　And　then　she　added：　　〃I

suppose　she　came　up　to　look　after　her　pet。〃



〃Her　pet？〃　I　set　my　face。



〃Why　Miss　Mavis。　　We've　talked　enough　about　that。〃



〃Quite　enough。　　I　don't　know　what　that　has　had　to　do　with　it。　　Miss

Mavis；　so　far　as　I've　noticed；　hasn't　been　above　today。〃



〃Oh　it　goes　on　all　the　same。〃



〃It　goes　on？〃



〃Well；　it's　too　late。〃



〃Too　late？〃



〃Well；　you'll　see。　　There'll　be　a　row。〃



This　wasn't　comforting；　but　I　didn't　repeat　it　on　deck。　　Mrs。

Nettlepoint　returned　early　to　her　cabin；　professing　herself

infinitely　spent。　　I　didn't　know　what　〃went　on；〃　but　Grace　Mavis

continued　not　to　show。　　I　looked　in　late；　for　a　good…night　to　my

friend；　and　learned　from　her　that　the　girl　hadn't　been　to　her。　　She

had　sent　the　stewardess　to　her　room　for　news；　to　see　if　she　were　ill

and　needed　assistance；　and　the　stewardess　had　come　back　with　mere

mention　of　her　not　being　there。　　I　went　above　after　this；　the　night

was　not　quite　so　fair　and　the　deck　almost　empty。　　In　a　moment　Jasper

Nettlepoint　and　our　young　lady　moved　past　me　together。　　〃I　hope

you're　better！〃　　I　called　after　her；　and　she　tossed　me　over　her

shoulder〃Oh　yes；　I　had　a　headache；　but　the　air　now　does　me　good！〃



I　went　down　againI　was　the　only　person　there　but　they；　and　I　wanted

not　to　seem　to　dog　their　stepsand；　returning　to　Mrs。　Nettlepoint's

room；　found　（her　door　was　open　to　the　little　passage）　that　she　was

still　sitting　up。



〃She's　all　right！〃　I　said。　　〃She's　on　the　deck　with　Jasper。〃



The　good　lady　looked　up　at　me　from　her　book。　　〃I　didn't　know　you

called　that　all　right。〃



〃Well；　it's　better　than　something　else。〃



〃Than　what　else？〃



〃Something　I　was　a　little　afraid　of。〃　　Mrs。　Nettlepoint　continued　to

look　at　me；　she　asked　again　what　that　might　be。　　〃I'll　tell　you　when

we're　ashore；〃　I　said。



The　next　day　I