little novels-第52章

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rance；　as　if　he　had　been　at　the　other　end　of　the　world。〃

Percy　Linwood　swallowed　this　last　outrageous　assertion　with　an　effort　which　he　was　quite　unable　to　conceal。　〃Many　thanks；　madam；〃　he　said；　〃I　wish　you　good…night。〃

Returning　to　the　waiting…room；　he　noticed　the　money…box　fixed　to　the　table。　〃These　people　look　poor；〃　he　thought　to　himself；　〃and　I　feel　really　indebted　to　them　for　an　amusing　evening。　Besides；　I　can　afford　to　be　liberal；　for　I　shall　certainly　never　go　back。〃　He　dropped　a　five…pound　note　into　the　money…box；　and　left　the　house。

Walking　toward　his　club；　Percy's　natural　serenity　of　mind　was　a　little　troubled　by　the　remembrance　of　Captain　Bervie's　language　and　conduct。　The　Captain　had　interested　the　young　man　in　spite　of　himself。　His　first　idea　was　to　write　to　Bervie；　and　mention　what　had　happened　at　the　renewed　consultation　with　Doctor　Lagarde。　On　second　thoughts；　he　saw　reason　to　doubt　how　the　Captain　might　receive　such　an　advance　as　this；　on　the　part　of　a　stranger。　〃After　all；〃　Percy　decided；　〃the　whole　thing　is　too　absurd　to　be　worth　thinking　about　seriously。　Neither　he　nor　I　are　likely　to　meet　again；　or　to　see　the　Doctor　againand　there's　an　end　of　it。〃

He　never　was　more　mistaken　in　his　life。　The　end　of　it　was　not　to　come　for　many　a　long　day　yet。

PART　II。THE　FULFILLMENT。

CHAPTER　V。

THE　BALLROOM。

WHILE　the　consultation　at　Doctor　Lagarde's　was　still　fresh　in　the　memory　of　the　persons　present　at　it；　Chance　or　Destiny；　occupied　in　sowing　the　seeds　for　the　harvest　of　the　future；　discovered　as　one　of　its　fit　instruments　a　retired　military　officer　named　Major　Mulvany。

The　Major　was　a　smart　little　man；　who　persisted　in　setting　up　the　appearance　of　youth　as　a　means　of　hiding　the　reality　of　fifty。　Being　still　a　bachelor；　and　being　always　ready　to　make　himself　agreeable；　he　was　generally　popular　in　the　society　of　women。　In　the　ballroom　he　was　a　really　welcome　addition　to　the　company。　The　German　waltz　had　then　been　imported　into　England　little　more　than　three　years　since。　The　outcry　raised　against　the　dance；　by　persons　ski　lled　in　the　discovery　of　latent　impropriety；　had　not　yet　lost　its　influence　in　certain　quarters。　Men　who　could　waltz　were　scarce。　The　Major　had　successfully　grappled　with　the　difficulties　of　learning　the　dance　in　mature　life；　and　the　young　ladies　rewarded　him　nobly　for　the。　effort。　That　is　to　say；　they　took　the　assumption　of　youth　for　granted　in　the　palpable　presence　of　fifty。

Knowing　everybody　and　being　welcome　everywhere；　playing　a　good　hand　at　whist；　and　having　an　inexhaustible　fancy　in　the　invention　of　a　dinner；　Major　Mulvany　naturally　belonged　to　all　the　best　clubs　of　his　time。　Percy　Linwood　and　he　constantly　met　in　the　billiard…room　or　at　the　dinner…table。　The　Major　approved　of　the　easy；　handsome；　pleasant…tempered　young　man。　〃I　have　lost　the　first　freshness　of　youth；〃　he　used　to　say；　with　pathetic　resignation；　〃and　I　see　myself　revived；　as　it　were；　in　Percy。　Naturally　I　like　Percy。〃

About　three　weeks　after　the　memorable　evening　at　Doctor　Lagarde's；　the　two　friends　encountered　each　other　on　the　steps　of　a　club。

〃Have　you　got　anything　to　do　to…night？〃　asked　the　Major。

〃Nothing　that　I　know　of；〃　said　Percy；　〃unless　I　go　to　the　theater。〃

〃Let　the　theater　wait；　my　boy。　My　old　regiment　gives　a　ball　at　Woolwich　to…night。　I　have　got　a　ticket　to　spare；　and　I　know　several　sweet　girls　who　are　going。　Some　of　them　waltz；　Percy！　Gather　your　rosebuds　while　you　may。　Come　with　me。〃

The　invitation　was　accepted　as　readily　as　it　was　given。　The　Major　found　the　carriage；　and　Percy　paid　for　the　post…horses。　They　entered　the　ballroom　among　the　earlier　guests；　and　the　first　person　whom　they　met；　waiting　near　the　door；　wasCaptain　Bervie。

Percy　bowed　a　little　uneasily。　〃I　feel　some　doubt；〃　he　said；　laughing；　〃whether　we　have　been　properly　introduced　to　one　another　or　not。〃

〃Not　properly　introduced！〃　cried　Major　Mulvany。　〃I'll　soon　set　that　right。　My　dear　friend；　Percy　Linwood；　my　dear　friend；　Arthur　Berviebe　known　to　each　other！　esteem　each　other！〃

Captain　Bervie　acknowledged　the　introduction　by　a　cold　salute。　Percy；　yielding　to　the　good…natured　impulse　of　the　moment；　alluded　to　what　had　happened　in　Doctor　Lagarde's　consulting…room。

〃You　missed　something　worth　hearing　when　you　left　the　Doctor　the　other　night；〃　he　said。　〃We　continued　the　sitting；　and　_you_　turned　up　again　among　the　persons　of　the　drama；　in　a　new　character〃

〃Excuse　me　for　interrupting　you；〃　said　Captain　Bervie。　〃I　am　a　member　of　the　committee；　charged　with　the　arrangements　of　the　ball；　and　I　must　really　attend　to　my　duties。〃

He　withdrew　without　waiting　for　a　reply。　Percy　looked　round　wonderingly　at　Major　Mulvany。　〃Strange！〃　he　said；　〃I　feel　rather　attracted　toward　Captain　Bervie；　and　he　seems　to　have　taken　such　a　dislike　to　me　that　he　can　hardly　behave　with　common　civility。　What　does　it　mean？〃

〃I'll　tell　you；〃　answered　the　Major；　confidentially。　〃Arthur　Bervie　is　madly　in　lovemadly　is　really　the　wordwith　a　Miss　Bowmore。　And　（this　is　between　ourselves）　the　young　lady　doesn't　feel　it　quite　in　the　same　way。　A　sweet　girl；　I've　often　had　her　on　my　knee　when　she　was　a　child。　Her　father　and　mother　are　old　friends　of　mine。　She　is　coming　to　the　ball　to…night。　That's　the　true　reason　why　Arthur　left　you　just　now。　Look　at　himwaiting　to　be　the　first　to　speak　to　her。　If　he　could　have　his　way；　he　wouldn't　let　another　man　come　near　the　poor　girl　all　through　the　evening；　he　really　persecutes　her。　I'll　introduce　you　to　Miss　Bowmore；　and　you　will　see　how　he　looks　at　us　for　presuming　to　approach　her。　It's　a　great　pity；　she　will　never　marry　him。　Arthur　Bervie　is　a　man　in　a　thousand；　but　he's　fast　becoming　a　perfect　bear　under　the　strain　on　his　temper。　What's　the　matter？　You　don't　seem　to　be　listening　to　me。〃

This　last　remark　was　perfectly　justified。　In　telling　the　Captain's　love…story；　Major　Mulvany　had　revived　his　young　friend's　memory　of　the　lady　in　the　blue　dress；　who　had　haunted　the　visions　of　Doctor　Lagarde。

〃Tell　me；〃　said　Percy；　〃what　is　Miss　Bowmore　like？　Is　there　anything　remarkable　in　her　personal　appearance？　I　have　a　reason　for　asking。〃

As　he　spoke；　there　arose　among　the　guests　in　the　rapidly…filling　ballroom　a　low　murmur　of　surprise　and　admiration。　The　Major　laid　one　hand　on　Percy's　shoulder；　and；　lifting　the　other；　pointed　to　the　door。

〃What　is　Miss　Bowmore　like？〃　he　repeated。　〃There　she　is！　Let　her　answer　for　herself。〃

Percy　turned　toward　the　lower　end　of　the　room。

A　young　lady　was　entering；　dressed　in　plain　silk；　and　the　color　of　it　was　a　pale　blue！　Excepting　a　white　rose　at　her　breast；　she　wore　no　ornament　of　any　sort。　Doubly　distinguished　by　the　perfect　simplicity　of　her　apparel；　and　by　her　tall；　supple；　commanding　figure；　she　took　rank　at　once　as　the　most　remarkable　woman　in　the　room。　Moving　nearer　to　her　through　the　crowd；　under　the　guidance　of　the　complaisant　Major；　young　Linwood　gained　a　clearer　view　of　her　hair；　her　complexion；　and　the　color　of　her　eyes。　In　every　one　of　these　particulars　she　was　the　living　image　of　the　woman　described　by　Doctor　Lagarde！

While　Percy　was　absorbed　over　this　strange　discovery；　Major　Mulvany　had　got　within　speaking　distance　of　the　young　lady　and　of　her　mother；　as　they　stood　together　in　conversation　with　Captain　Bervie。　〃My　dear　Mrs。　Bowmore；　how　well　you　are　looking！　My　dear　Miss　Charlotte；　what　a　sensation　you　have　made　already！　The　glorious　simplicity　（if　I　may　so　express　myself）　of　your　dress　isiswhat　was　I　going　to　say？the　ideas　come　thronging　on　me；　I　merely　want　words。〃

Miss　Bowmore's　magnificent　brown　eyes；　wandering　from　the　Major　to　Percy；　rested　on　the　young　man　with　a　modest　and　momentary　interest；　which　Captain　Bervie's　jealous　attention　instantly　detected。

〃They　are　forming　a　dance；〃　he　said；　pressing　forward　impatiently　to　claim　his　partner。　〃If　we　don't　take　our　places　we　shall　be　too　late。〃

〃Stop！　stop！〃　cried　the　Major。　〃There　is　a　time　for　everything；　and　this　is　the　time　for　presenting　my　dear　friend　here；　Mr。　Percy　Linwood。　He　is　like　me；　Miss　Charlotte_he_　has　been　struck　by　your　glorious　simplicity；　and　_he_　wants　words。〃　At　this　part　of　the　presentation；　he　happened　to　look　toward　the　irate　Captain；　and　instantly　gave　him　a　hint　on　the　subject　of　his　temper。　〃I　say；　Arthur　Bervie！　we　are　all　good…humored　people　here。　What　have　you　got　on　your　eyebrows？　It　looks　like　a　frown；　and　it　doesn't　become　you。　Send　for　a　skilled　waiter；　and　have　it　brushed　off　and　taken　away　directly！〃

〃May　I　ask；　Miss　Bowmore；　if　you　are　disengaged　for　the　next　dance？〃　said　Percy；　the　moment　the　Major　gave　him　an　opportunity　of　speaking。

〃Miss　Bowmore　is　engaged　to　_me_　for　the　next　dance；〃　said　the　angry　Captain；　before　the　young　lady　could　answer。

〃The　third　dance；　then？〃　Percy　persisted；　with　his　brightest　smile。

〃With　pleasure；　Mr。　Linwood；〃　said　Miss　Bowmore。　She　would　have　been　no　true　woman　if　she　had　not　resented　the　open　exhibition　of　Arthur's　jealousy；　it　was　like　asserting　a　right　over　her　to　which　he　had　not　the　shadow　of　a　claim。　She　threw　a　look　at　Percy　as　her　partner　led　her　away；　which　was　the　severest　punishment　she　could　inflict　on　the　man　who　ardently　loved　her。

The　third　dance　stood　in　the　programme　as　a　waltz。

In　jealous　distrust　of　Percy；　the　Captain　took　the　conductor　of　the　band　aside；　and　used　his　authority　as　committeeman　to　substitute　another　dance。　He　had　no　sooner　turned　his　back　on　the　orchestra　than　the　wife　of　the　Colonel　of　the　regiment；　who　had　heard　him；　spoke　to　the　conductor　in　her　turn；　and　insisted　on　the　original　programme　being　retained。　〃Quote　the　Colonel's　authority；〃　said　the　lady；　〃if　Captain　Bervie　ventures　to　object。〃　In　the　meantime；　the　Captain；　on　his　way　to　rejoin　Charlotte；　was　met　by　one　of　his　brother　officers；　who　summoned　him　officially　to　an　impending　debate　of　the　committee　charged　with　the　administrative　arrangements　of　the　supper…table。　Bervie　had　no　choice　but　to　follow　his　brother　officer　to　the　committee…room。

Barely　a　minute　later　the　conductor　appeared　at　his　desk；　and　the　first　notes　of　the　music　rose　low　and　plaintive；　introducing　the　third　dance。

〃Percy；　my　boy！〃　cried　the　Major；　recognizing　the　melody；　〃you're　in　luck's　wayit's　going　to　be　a　wa　ltz！〃

Almost　as　he　spoke；　the　notes　of　the　symphony　glided　by　subtle　modulations　into　the　inspiriting　air　of　the　waltz。　Percy　claimed　his　partner's　hand。　Miss　Charlotte　hesitated；　and　looked　at　her　mother。

〃Surely　you　waltz？〃　said　Percy。

〃I　have　learned　to　waltz；〃　she　answered；　modestly；　〃but　this　is　such　a　large　room；　and　there　are　so　many　people！〃

〃Once　round；〃　Percy　pleaded；　〃only　once　round！〃

Miss　Bowmore　looked　again　at　her　mother。　Her　foot　was　keeping　time　with　the　music；　under　her　dress；　her　heart　was　beating　with　a　delicious　excitement；　kind…hearted　Mrs。　Bowmore　smiled　and　said：　〃Once　round；　my　dear；　as　Mr。　Linwood　suggests。〃

In　another　moment　Percy's　arm　took　possession　of　her　waist；　and　they　were　away　on　the　wings　of　the　waltz！

Could　words　describe；　could　thought　realize；　the　exquisite　enjoyment　of　the　dance？　Enjoyment？　It　was　moreit　was　an　epoch　in　Charlotte's　lifeit　was　the　first　time　she　had　waltzed　with　a　man。　What　a　difference　between　the　fervent　clasp　of　Percy's　arm　and　the　cold；　formal　c