st. ives-第67章
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and cursed my fate and my host。 He remembered suddenly that I was
to attend the Assembly Ball on Thursday; and had only attended to…
night by way of a preparative。 This put it into his head to
present me to another young lady; but I managed this interview with
so much art that; while I was scrupulously polite and even cordial
to the fair one; I contrived to keep Robbie beside me all the time
and to leave along with him when the ordeal was over。 We were just
walking away arm in arm; when I spied my friend the Major
approaching; stiff as a ramrod and; as usual; obtrusively clean。
'Oh! there's a man I want to know;' said I; taking the bull by the
horns。 'Won't you introduce me to Major Chevenix?'
'At a word; my dear fellow;' said Robbie; and 'Major!' he cried;
'come here and let me present to you my friend Mr。 Ducie; who
desires the honour of your acquaintance。'
The Major flushed visibly; but otherwise preserved his composure。
He bowed very low。 'I'm not very sure;' he said: 'I have an idea
we have met before?'
'Informally;' I said; returning his bow; 'and I have long looked
forward to the pleasure of regularising our acquaintance。'
'You are very good; Mr。 Ducie;' he returned。 'Perhaps you could
aid my memory a little? Where was it that I had the pleasure?'
'Oh; that would be telling tales out of school;' said I; with a
laugh; 'and before my lawyer; too!'
'I'll wager;' broke in Mr。 Robbie; 'that; when you knew my client;
Chevenix … the past of our friend Mr。 Ducie is an obscure chapter
full of horrid secrets … I'll wager; now; you knew him as St。
Ivey;' says he; nudging me violently。
'I think not; sir;' said the Major; with pinched lips。
'Well; I wish he may prove all right!' continued the lawyer; with
certainly the worst…inspired jocularity in the world。 'I know
nothing by him! He may be a swell mobsman for me with his aliases。
You must put your memory on the rack; Major; and when ye've
remembered when and where ye met him; be sure ye tell me。'
'I will not fail; sir;' said Chevenix。
'Seek to him!' cried Robbie; waving his hand as he departed。
The Major; as soon as we were alone; turned upon me his impassive
countenance。
'Well;' he said; 'you have courage。'
'It is undoubted as your honour; sir;' I returned; bowing。
'Did you expect to meet me; may I ask?' said he。
'You saw; at least; that I courted the presentation;' said I。
'And you were not afraid?' said Chevenix。
'I was perfectly at ease。 I knew I was dealing with a gentleman。
Be that your epitaph。'
'Well; there are some other people looking for you;' he said; 'who
will make no bones about the point of honour。 The police; my dear
sir; are simply agog about you。'
'And I think that that was coarse;' said I。
'You have seen Miss Gilchrist?' he inquired; changing the subject。
'With whom; I am led to understand; we are on a footing of
rivalry?' I asked。 'Yes; I have seen her。'
'And I was just seeking her;' he replied。
I was conscious of a certain thrill of temper; so; I suppose; was
he。 We looked each other up and down。
'The situation is original;' he resumed。
'Quite;' said I。 'But let me tell you frankly you are blowing a
cold coal。 I owe you so much for your kindness to the prisoner
Champdivers。'
'Meaning that the lady's affections are more advantageously
disposed of?' he asked; with a sneer。 'Thank you; I am sure。 And;
since you have given me a lead; just hear a word of good advice in
your turn。 Is it fair; is it delicate; is it like a gentleman; to
compromise the young lady by attentions which (as you know very
well) can come to nothing?'
I was utterly unable to find words in answer。
'Excuse me if I cut this interview short;' he went on。 'It seems
to me doomed to come to nothing; and there is more attractive
metal。'
'Yes;' I replied; 'as you say; it cannot amount to much。 You are
impotent; bound hand and foot in honour。 You know me to be a man
falsely accused; and even if you did not know it; from your
position as my rival you have only the choice to stand quite still
or to be infamous。'
'I would not say that;' he returned; with another change of colour。
'I may hear it once too often。'
With which he moved off straight for where Flora was sitting amidst
her court of vapid youths; and I had no choice but to follow him; a
bad second; and reading myself; as I went; a sharp lesson on the
command of temper。
It is a strange thing how young men in their teens go down at the
mere wind of the coming of men of twenty…five and upwards! The
vapid ones fled without thought of resistance before the Major and
me; a few dallied awhile in the neighbourhood … so to speak; with
their fingers in their mouths … but presently these also followed
the rout; and we remained face to face before Flora。 There was a
draught in that corner by the door; she had thrown her pelisse over
her bare arms and neck; and the dark fur of the trimming set them
off。 She shone by contrast; the light played on her smooth skin to
admiration; and the colour changed in her excited face。 For the
least fraction of a second she looked from one to the other of her
pair of rival swains; and seemed to hesitate。 Then she addressed
Chevenix:…
'You are coming to the Assembly; of course; Major Chevenix?' said
she。
'I fear not; I fear I shall be otherwise engaged;' he replied。
'Even the pleasure of dancing with you; Miss Flora; must give way
to duty。'
For awhile the talk ran harmlessly on the weather; and then
branched off towards the war。 It seemed to be by no one's fault;
it was in the air; and had to come。
'Good news from the scene of operations;' said the Major。
'Good news while it lasts;' I said。 'But will Miss Gilchrist tell
us her private thought upon the war? In her admiration for the
victors; does not there mingle some pity for the vanquished?'
'Indeed; sir;' she said; with animation; 'only too much of it! War
is a subject that I do not think should be talked of to a girl。 I
am; I have to be … what do you call it? … a non…combatant? And to
remind me of what others have to do and suffer: no; it is not
fair!'
'Miss Gilchrist has the tender female heart;' said Chevenix。
'Do not be too sure of that!' she cried。 'I would love to be
allowed to fight myself!'
'On which side?' I asked。
'Can you ask?' she exclaimed。 'I am a Scottish girl!'
'She is a Scottish girl!' repeated the Major; looking at me。 'And
no one grudges you her pity!'
'And I glory in every grain of it she has to spare;' said I。 'Pity
is akin to love。'
'Well; and let us put that question to Miss Gilchrist。 It is for
her to decide; and for us to bow to the decision。 Is pity; Miss
Flora; or is admiration; nearest love?'
'Oh come;' said I; 'let us be more concrete。 Lay before the lady a
complete case: describe your man; then I'll describe MINE; and Miss
Flora shall decide。'
'I think I see your meaning;' said he; 'and I'll try。 You think
that pity … and the kindred sentiments … have the greatest power
upon the heart。 I think more nobly of women。 To my view; the man
they love will first of all command their respect; he will be
steadfast … proud; if you please; dry; possibly … but of all things
steadfast。 They will look at him in doubt; at last they will see
that stern face which he presents to all the rest of the world
soften to them alone。 First; trust; I say。 It is so that a woman
loves who is worthy of heroes。'
'Your man is very ambitious; sir;' said I; 'and very much of a
hero! Mine is a humbler; and; I would fain think; a more human
dog。 He is one with no particular trust in himself; with no
superior steadfastness to be admired for; who sees a lady's