little novels-第37章

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r　twice　added　a　word　of　well…deserved　approval。　The　offering　of　flowers　was　evidently　intended　to　express　my　pupil's　grateful　sense　of　the　interest　taken　in　her　by　her　teacher。

I　had　no　reason；　this　time；　to　suppose　that　Mrs。　Rymer　entertained　an　unfriendly　feeling　toward　me。　At　the　first　words　of　greeting　that　passed　between　us　I　perceived　a　change　in　her　manner；　which　ran　in　the　opposite　extreme。　She　overwhelmed　me　with　the　most　elaborate　demonstrations　of　politeness　and　respect；　dwelling　on　her　gratitude　for　my　kindness　in　receiving　her；　and　on　her　pride　at　seeing　her　daughter's　flowers　on　my　table；　until　I　made　a　resolute　effort　to　stop　her　by　asking　（as　if　it　was　actually　a　matter　of　importance　to　me！）　whether　she　was　in　London　on　business　or　on　pleasure。

〃Oh；　on　business；　sir！　My　poor　husband　invested　his　little　savings　in　bank　stock；　and　I　have　just　been　drawing　my　dividend。　I　do　hope　you　don't　think　my　girl　over…bold　in　venturing　to　send　you　a　few　flowers。　She　wouldn't　allow　me　to　interfere。　I　do　assure　you　she　would　gather　and　arrange　them　with　her　own　hands。　In　themselves　I　know　they　are　hardly　worth　accepting；　but　if　you　will　allow　the　motive　to　plead〃

I　made　another　effort　to　stop　Mrs。　Rymer；　I　said　her　daughter　could　not　have　sent　me　a　prettier　present。

The　inexhaustible　woman　only　went　on　more　fluently　than　ever。

〃She　is　so　grateful；　sir；　and　so　proud　of　your　goodness　in　looking　at　her　exercises。　The　difficulty　of　the　French　language　seem　as　nothing　to　her；　now　her　motive　is　to　please　you。　She　is　so　devoted　to　her　studies　that　I　find　it　difficult　to　induce　her　to　take　the　exercise　necessary　to　her　health；　and；　as　you　may　perhaps　remember；　Susan　was　always　rather　weakly　as　a　child。　She　inherits　her　father's　constitution；　Mr。　Lepelnot　mine。〃

Here；　to　my　infinite　relief；　the　servant　appeared；　announcing　that　my　horse　was　at　the　door。

Mrs。　Rymer　opened　her　mouth。　I　saw　a　coming　flood　of　apologies　on　the　point　of　pouring　outand　seized　my　hat　on　the　spot。　I　declared　I　had　an　appointment；　I　sent　kind　remembrances　to　Susan　（pitying　her　for　having　such　a　mother　with　my　whole　heart）；　I　said　I　hoped　to　return　to　my　uncle's　house　soon；　and　to　continue　the　French　lessons。　The　one　thing　more　that　I　remember　was　finding　myself　safe　in　the　saddle；　and　out　of　the　reach　of　Mrs。　Rymer's　tongue。

Reflecting　on　what　had　passed；　it　was　plain　to　me　that　this　woman　had　some　private　end　in　view；　and　that　my　abrupt　departure　had　prevented　her　from　finding　the　way　to　it。　What　motive　could　she　possibly　have　for　that　obstinate　persistence　in　presenting　poor　Susan　under　a　favorable　aspect；　to　a　man　who　had　already　shown　that　he　was　honestly　interested　in　her　pretty　modest　daughter？　I　tried　hard　to　penetrate　the　mysteryand　gave　it　up　in　despair。

Three　days　before　the　date　at　which　Rothsay　and　I　were　to　pay　our　visit　to　Lord　Lepel；　I　found　myself　compelled　to　undergo　one　of　the　minor　miseries　of　human　life。　In　other　words　I　became　one　of　the　guests　at　a　large　dinner…party。　It　was　a　rainy　day　in　October。　My　position　at　the　table　placed　me　between　a　window　that　was　open　and　a　door　that　was　hardly　ever　shut。　I　went　to　bed　shivering；　and　woke　the　next　morning　with　a　headache　and　a　difficulty　in　breathing。　On　consulting　the　doctor；　I　found　that　I　was　suffering　from　an　attack　of　bronchitis。　There　was　no　reason　to　be　alarmed。　If　I　remained　indoors；　and　submitted　to　the　necessary　treatment；　I　might　hope　to　keep　my　engagement　with　my　uncle　in　ten　days　or　a　fortnight。

There　was　no　alternative　but　to　submit。　I　accordingly　arranged　with　Rothsay　that　he　should　present　himself　at　Lord　Lepel's　house　（taking　the　picture　with　him）；　on　the　date　appointed　for　our　visit；　and　that　I　should　follow　as　soon　as　I　was　well　enough　to　travel。

On　the　day　when　he　was　to　leave　London；　my　friend　kindly　came　to　keep　me　company　for　a　while。　He　was　followed　into　my　room　by　Mrs。　Mozeen；　with　a　bottle　of　medicine　in　her　hand。　This　worthy　creature；　finding　that　the　doctor's　directions　occasionally　escaped　my　memory；　devoted　herself　to　the　duty　of　administering　the　remedies　at　the　prescribed　intervals　of　time。　When　she　left　the　room；　having　performed　her　duties　as　usual；　I　saw　Rothsay's　eyes　follow　her　to　the　door　with　an　expression　of　sardonic　curiosity。　He　put　a　strange　question　to　me　as　soon　as　we　were　alone。

〃Who　engaged　that　new　servant　of　yours？〃　he　asked。　〃I　mean　the　fat　fellow；　with　the　curly　flaxen　hair。〃

〃Hiring　servants；〃　I　replied；　〃is　not　much　in　my　way。　I　left　the　engagement　of　the　new　man　to　Mrs。　Mozeen。〃

Rothsay　walked　gravely　up　to　my　bedside。

〃Lepel；〃　he　said；　〃your　respectable　housekeeper　is　in　love　with　the　fat　young　footman。〃

It　is　not　easy　to　amuse　a　man　suffering　from　bronchitis。　But　this　new　outbreak　of　absurdity　was　more　than　I　could　resist；　even　with　a　mustard…plaster　on　my　chest。

〃I　thought　I　should　raise　your　spirits；〃　Rothsay　proceeded。　〃When　I　came　to　your　house　this　morning；　the　valet　opened　the　door　to　me。　I　expressed　my　surprise　at　his　condescending　to　take　that　trouble。　He　informed　me　that　Joseph　was　otherwise　engaged。　'With　anybody　in　particular？'　I　asked；　humoring　the　joke。　'Yes；　sir；　with　the　housekeeper。　She's　teaching　him　how　to　brush　his　hair；　so　as　to　show　off　his　good　looks　to　the　best　advantage。'　Make　up　your　mind；　my　friend；　to　lose　Mrs。　Mozeenespecially　if　she　happens　to　have　any　money。〃

〃Nonsense；　Rothsay！　The　poor　woman　is　old　enough　to　be　Joseph's　mother。〃

〃My　good　fellow；　that　won't　make　any　difference　to　Joseph。　In　the　days　when　we　were　rich　enough　to　keep　a　man…servant；　our　footmanas　handsome　a　fellow　as　ever　you　saw；　and　no　older　than　I　ammarried　a　witch　with　a　lame　leg。　When　I　asked　him　why　he　had　made　such　a　fool　of　himself　he　looked　quite　indignant；　and　said：　'Sir！　she　has　got　six　hundred　pounds。'　He　and　the　witch　keep　a　public　house。　What　will　you　bet　me　that　we　don't　see　your　housekeeper　drawing　beer　at　the　bar；　and　Joseph　getting　drunk　in　the　parlor；　before　we　are　a　year　older？〃

I　was　not　well　enough　to　prolong　my　enjoyment　of　Rothsay's　boyish　humor。　Besides；　exaggeration　to　be　really　amusing　must　have　some　relation；　no　matter　how　slender　it　may　be；　to　the　truth。　My　housekeeper　belonged　to　a　respectable　family；　　and　was　essentially　a　person　accust　omed　to　respect　herself。　Her　brother　occupied　a　position　of　responsibility　in　the　establishment　of　a　firm　of　chemists　whom　I　had　employed　for　years　past。　Her　late　husband　had　farmed　his　own　land；　and　had　owed　his　ruin　to　calamities　for　which　he　was　in　no　way　responsible。　Kind…hearted　Mrs。　Mozeen　was　just　the　woman　to　take　a　motherly　interest　in　a　well…disposed　lad　like　Joseph；　and　it　was　equally　characteristic　of　my　valetespecially　when　Rothsay　was　thoughtless　enough　to　encourage　himto　pervert　an　innocent　action　for　the　sake　of　indulging　in　a　stupid　jest。　I　took　advantage　of　my　privilege　as　an　invalid；　and　changed　the　subject。

A　week　passed。　I　had　expected　to　hear　from　Rothsay。　To　my　surprise　and　disappointment　no　letter　arrived。

Susan　was　more　considerate。　She　wrote；　very　modestly　and　prettily；　to　say　that　she　and　her　mother　had　heard　of　my　illness　from　Mr。　Rothsay；　and　to　express　the　hope　that　I　should　soon　be　restored　to　health。　A　few　days　later；　Mrs。　Rymer's　politeness　carried　her　to　the　length　of　taking　the　journey　to　London　to　make　inquiries　at　my　door。　I　did　not　see　her；　of　course。　She　left　word　that　she　would　have　the　honor　of　calling　again。

The　second　week　followed。　I　had　by　that　time　perfectly　recovered　from　my　attack　of　bronchitisand　yet　I　was　too　ill　to　leave　the　house。

The　doctor　himself　seemed　to　be　at　a　loss　to　understand　the　symptoms　that　now　presented　themselves。　A　vile　sensation　of　nausea　tried　my　endurance；　and　an　incomprehensible　prostration　of　strength　depressed　my　spirits。　I　felt　such　a　strange　reluctance　to　exert　myself　that　I　actually　left　it　to　Mrs。　Mozeen　to　write　to　my　uncle　in　my　name；　and　say　that　I　was　not　yet　well　enough　to　visit　him。　My　medical　adviser　tried　various　methods　of　treatment；　my　housekeeper　administered　the　prescribed　medicines　with　unremitting　care；　but　nothing　came　of　it。　A　physician　of　great　authority　was　called　into　consultation。　Being　completely　puzzled；　he　retreated　to　the　last　refuge　of　bewildered　doctors。　I　asked　him　what　was　the　matter　with　me。　And　he　answered：　〃Suppressed　gout。〃

FIFTH　EPOCH。

MIDWAY　in　the　third　week；　my　uncle　wrote　to　me　as　follows：


〃I　have　been　obliged　to　request　your　friend　Rothsay　to　bring　his　visit　to　a　conclusion。　Although　he　refuses　to　confess　it；　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　he　has　committed　the　folly　of　falling　seriously　in　love　with　the　young　girl　at　my　lodge　gate。　I　have　tried　remonstrance　in　vain；　and　I　write　to　his　father　at　the　same　time　that　I　write　to　you。　There　is　much　more　that　I　might　say。　I　reserve　it　for　the　time　when　I　hope　to　have　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you；　restored　to　health。〃


Two　days　after　the　receipt　of　this　alarming　letter　Rothsay　returned　to　me。

Ill　as　I　was；　I　forgot　my　sufferings　the　moment　I　looked　at　him。　Wild　and　haggard；　he　stared　at　me　with　bloodshot　eyes　like　a　man　demented。

〃Do　you　think　I　am　mad？　I　dare　say　I　am。　I　can't　live　without　her。〃　Those　were　the　first　words　he　said　when　we　shook　hands。

But　I　had　more　influence　over　him　than　any　other　person；　and；　weak　as　I　was；　I　exerted　it。　Little　by　little；　he　became　more　reasonable；　he　began　to　speak　like　his　old　self　again。

To　have　expressed　any　surprise；　on　my　part；　at　what　had　happened；　would　have　been　not　only　imprudent；　but　unworthy　of　him　and　of　me。　My　first　inquiry　was　suggested　by　the　fear　that　he　might　have　been　hurried　into　openly　confessing　his　passion　to　Susanalthough　his　position　forbade　him　to　offer　marriage。　I　had　done　him　an　injustice。　His　honorable　nature　had　shrunk　from　the　cruelty　of　raising　hopes；　which；　for　all　he　knew　to　the　contrary；　might　never　be　realized。　At　the　same　time；　he　had　his　reasons　for　believing　that　he　was　at　least　personally　acceptable　to　her。

〃She　was　always　glad　to　see　me；〃　said　poor　Rothsay。　〃We　constantly　talked　of　you。　She　spoke　of　your　kindness　so　prettily　and　so　gratefully。　Oh；　Lepel；　it　is　not　her　beauty　only　that　has　won　my　heart！　Her　nature　is　the　nature　of　an　angel。〃

His　voice　failed　him。　For　the　first　time　in　my　remembrance　of　our　long　companionship；　he　burst　into　tears。

I　was　so　shocked　and　distressed　that　I　had　the　greatest　difficulty　in　preserving　my　own　self…control。　In　the　effort　to　comfort　him；　I　asked　if　he　had　ventured　to　confide　in　his　father。

〃You　are　the　favorite　son；〃　I　reminded　him。　〃Is　there　no　gleam　of　hope　in　the　future？〃

He　had　written　to　his　father。　In　silence　he　gave　me　the　letter　in　reply。

It　was　expressed　with　a　moderation　which　I　had　hardly　dared　to　expect。　Mr。　Rothsay　the　elder　admitted　that　he　had　himself　married　for　love；　and　that　his　wife's　rank　in　the　social　scale　（although　higher　than　Susan's）　had　not　been　equal　to　his　own。

〃In　such　a　family　as　ours；〃　he　wroteperhaps　with　pardonable　pride〃we　raise　our　wives　to　our　own　degree。　But　this　young　person　labors　under　a　double　disadvantage。　She　is　obscure；　and　she　is　poor。　What　have　you　to　offer　her？　Nothing。　And　what　have　I　to　give　you？　Nothing。〃

This　meant；　as　I　interpreted　it；　that　the　main　obstacle　in　the