the queen of hearts-第6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！
doubt； even if we made the attempt； whether we should succeed； by
fair means； in getting him beyond the servants' hall。
Dismissing； therefore； all idea of inviting visitors to entertain
our guest； and feeling； at the same time； more than doubtful of
her chance of discovering any attraction in the sober society of
the inmates of the house； I finish my dressing and go down to
breakfast； secretly veering round to the housekeeper's opinion
that Miss Jessie will really bring matters to an abrupt
conclusion by running away。 I find Morgan as bitterly resigned to
his destiny
as ever； and Owen so affectionately anxious to make himself of
some use； and so lamentably ignorant of how to begin； that I am
driven to disembarrass myself of him at the outset by a
stratagem。
I suggest to him that our visitor is sure to be interested in
pictures； and that it would be a pretty attention； on his part；
to paint her a landscape to hang up in her room。 Owen brightens
directly； informs me in his softest tones that he is then at work
on the Earthquake at Lisbon； and inquires whether I think she
would like that subject。 I preserve my gravity sufficiently to
answer in the affirmative； and my brother retires meekly to his
studio； to depict the engulfing of a city and the destruction of
a population。 Morgan withdraws in his turn to the top of the
tower； threatening； when our guest comes； to draw all his meals
up to his new residence by means of a basket and string。 I am
left alone for an hour； and then the upholsterer arrives from the
county town。
This worthy man； on being informed of our emergency； sees his
way； apparently； to a good stroke of business； and thereupon wins
my lasting gratitude by taking； in opposition to every one else；
a bright and hopeful view of existing circumstances。
〃You'll excuse me； sir；〃 he says； confidentially； when I show him
the rooms in the lean…to； 〃but this is a matter of experience。
I'm a family man myself； with grown…up daughters of my own； and
the natures of young women are well known to me。 Make their rooms
comfortable； and you make 'em happy。 Surround their lives； sir；
with a suitable atmosphere of furniture； and you never hear a
word of complaint drop from their lips。 Now； with regard to these
rooms； for example； siryou put a neat French bedstead in that
corner； with curtains conformablesay a tasty chintz； you put on
that bedstead what I will term a sufficiency of bedding； and you
top up with a sweet little eider…down quilt； as light as roses；
and similar the same in color。 You do that； and what follows？ You
please her eye when she lies down at night； and you please her
eye when she gets up in the morningand you're all right so far；
and so is she。 I will not dwell； sir； on the toilet…table； nor
will I seek to detain you about the glass to show her figure； and
the other glass to show her face； because I have the articles in
stock； and will be myself answerable for their effect on a lady's
mind and person。〃
He led the way into the next room as he spoke； and arranged its
future fittings； and decorations； as he had already planned out
the bedroom； with the strictest reference to the connection which
experience had shown him to exist between comfortable furniture
and female happiness。
Thus far； in my helpless state of mind； the man's confidence had
impressed me in spite of myself； and I had listened to him in
superstitious silence。 But as he continued to rise； by regular
gradations； from one climax of upholstery to another； warning
visions of his bill disclosed themselves in the remote background
of the scene of luxury and magnificence which my friend was
conjuring up。 Certain sharp professional instincts of bygone
times resumed their influence over me； I began to start doubts
and ask questions； and as a necessary consequence the interview
between us soon assumed something like a practical form。
Having ascertained what the probable expense of furnishing would
amount to and having discovered that the process of transforming
the lean…to （allowing for the time required to procure certain
articles of rarity from Bristol） would occupy nearly a fortnight；
I dismissed the upholsterer with the understanding that I should
take a day or two for consideration； and let him know the result。
It was then the fifth of September； and our Queen of Hearts was
to arrive on the twentieth。 The work； therefore； if it was begun
on the seventh or eighth； would be begun in time。
In making all my calculations with a reference to the twentieth
of September； I relied implicitly； it will be observed； on a
young lady's punctuality in keeping an appointment which she had
herself made。 I can only account for such extraordinary
simplicity on my part on the supposition that my wits had become
sadly rusted by long seclusion from society。 Whether it was
referable to this cause or not； my innocent trustfulness was at
any rate destined to be practically rebuked before long in the
most surprising manner。 Little did I suspect； when I parted from
the upholsterer on the fifth of the month； what the tenth of the
month had in store for me。
On the seventh I made up my mind to have the bedroom furnished at
once； and to postpone the question of the sitting…room for a few
days longer。 Having dispatched the necessary order to that
effect； I next wrote to hire the piano and to order the box of
novels。 This done； I congratulated myself on the forward state of
the preparations； and sat down to repose in the atmosphere of my
own happy delusions。
On the ninth the wagon arrived with the furniture； and the men
set to work on the bedroom。 From this moment Morgan retired
definitely to the top of the tower； and Owen became too nervous
to lay the necessary amount of paint on the Earthquake at Lisbon。
On the tenth the work was proceeding bravely。 Toward noon Owen
and I strolled to the door to enjoy the fine autumn sunshine。 We
were sitting lazily on our favorite bench in front of the tower
when we were startled by a shout from above us。 Looking up
directly； we saw Morgan half in and half out of his narrow window
In the seventh story； gesticulating violently with the stem of
his long meerschaum pipe in the direction of the road below us。
We gazed eagerly in the quarter thus indicated； but our low
position prevented us for some time from seeing anything。 At last
we both discerned an old yellow post…chaise distinctly and
indisputably approaching us。
Owen and I looked at one another in panic…stricken silence。 It
was coming to usand what did it contain？ Do pianos travel in
chaises？ Are boxes of novels conveyed to their destination by a
postilion？ We expected the piano and expected the novels； but
nothing elseunquestionably nothing else。
The chaise took the turn in the road； passed through the gateless
gap in our rough inclosure…wall of loose stone； and rapidly
approached us。 A bonnet appeared at the window and a hand gayly
waved a white handkerchief。
Powers of caprice； confusion； and dismay！ It was Jessie Yelverton
herselfarriving； without a word of warning； exactly ten days
before her time。
CHAPTER III。
OUR QUEEN OF' HEARTS。
THE chaise stopped in front of us； and before we had recovered
from our bewilderment the gardener had opened the door and let
down the steps。
A bright； laughing face； prettily framed round by a black veil
passed over the head and tied under the china traveling…dress
of a nankeen color； studded with blue buttons and trimmed with
white braida light brown cloak over itlittle neatly…gloved
hands； which seized in an instant on one of mine and on one of
Owen'stwo dark blue eyes； which seemed to look us both through
and through in a momenta clear； full； merrily confident
voicea look and manner gayly and gracefully
self…possessedsuch were the characteristics of our fair guest
which first struck me at the moment when she left the postchaise
and possessed herself of my hand。
〃Don't begin by scolding me；〃 she said； before I could utter a
word of welcome。 〃There will be time enough for that in the
course of the next six weeks。 I beg pardon； with all possible
humility； for the offense of coming ten days before my
