little novels-第29章
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ing too fat。 Even to a man's eye； her dressmaker appeared to have made the most of that favorable circumstance。 Her figure had its defects concealed； and its remaining merits set off to advantage。 At the same time she evidently held herself above the common deceptions by which some women seek to conceal their age。 She wore her own gray hair； and her complexion bore the test of daylight。 On entering the room； she made her apologies with some embarrassment。 Being the embarrassment of a stranger （and not of a youthful stranger）； it failed to impress Mr。 Lismore favorably。
〃I am afraid I have chosen an inconvenient time for my visit；〃 she began。
〃I am at your service；〃 he answered a little stiffly； 〃especially if you will be so kind as to mention your business with me in few words。〃
She was a woman of some spirit； and that reply roused her。
〃I will mention it in one word； 〃 she said smartly。 〃My business isgratitude。〃
He was completely at a loss to understand what she meant； and he said so plainly。 Instead of explaining herself； she put a question。
〃Do you remember the night of the eleventh of March； between five and six years since？〃
He considered for a moment。
〃No；〃 he said； 〃I don't r emember it。 Excuse me； Mrs。 Callender； I have affairs of my own to attend to which cause me some anxiety〃
〃Let me assist your memory； Mr。 Lismore； and I will leave you to your affairs。 On the date that I have referred to； you were on your way to the railway…station at Bexmore； to catch the night express from the North to London。〃
As a hint that his time was valuable the ship…owner had hitherto remained standing。 He now took his customary seat； and began to listen with some interest。 Mrs。 Callender had produced her effect on him already。
〃It was absolutely necessary；〃 she proceeded； 〃that you should be on board your ship in the London Docks at nine o'clock the next morning。 If you had lost the express； the vessel would have sailed without you。〃
The expression of his face began to change to surprise。 〃Who told you that？〃 he asked。
〃You shall hear directly。 On your way into the town； your carriage was stopped by an obstruction on the highroad。 The people of Bexmore were looking at a house on fire。〃
He started to his feet。
〃Good heavens！ are you the lady？〃
She held up her hand in satirical protest。
〃Gently； sir！ You suspected me just now of wasting your valuable time。 Don't rashly conclude that I am the lady； until you find that I am acquainted with the circumstances。〃
〃Is there no excuse for my failing to recognize you？〃 Mr。 Lismore asked。 〃We were on the dark side of the burning house； you were fainting； and I〃
〃And you；〃 she interposed； 〃after saving me at the risk of your own life； turned a deaf ear to my poor husband's entreaties； when he asked you to wait till I had recovered my senses。〃
〃Your poor husband？ Surely； Mrs。 Callender； he received no serious injury from the fire？〃
〃The firemen rescued him under circumstances of peril；〃 she answered； 〃and at his great age he sank under the shock。 I have lost the kindest and best of men。 Do you remember how you parted from himburned and bruised in saving me？ He liked to talk of it in his last illness。 'At least' （he said to you）； 'tell me the name of the man who has preserved my wife from a dreadful death。' You threw your card to him out of the carriage window； and away you went at a gallop to catch your train！ In all the years that have passed I have kept that card； and have vainly inquired for my brave sea…captain。 Yesterday I saw your name on the list of speakers at the Mansion House。 Need I say that I attended the meeting？ Need I tell you now why I come here and interrupt you in business hours？〃
She held out her hand。 Mr。 Lismore took it in silence； and pressed it warmly。
〃You have not done with me yet；〃 she resumed with a smile。 〃Do you remember what I said of my errand； when I first came in？〃
〃You said it was an errand of gratitude。〃
〃Something more than the gratitude which only says 'Thank you；' 〃 she added。 〃Before I explain myself； however； I want to know what you have been doing； and how it was that my inquiries failed to trace you after that terrible night。〃
The appearance of depression which Mrs。 Callender had noticed at the public meeting showed itself again in Mr。 Lismore's face。 He sighed as he answered her。
〃My story has one merit；〃 he said； 〃it is soon told。 I cannot wonder that you failed to discover me。 In the first place； I was not captain of my ship at that time； I was only mate。 In the second place； I inherited some money； and ceased to lead a sailor's life； in less than a year from the night of the fire。 You will now understand what obstacles were in the way of your tracing me。 With my little capital I started successfully in business as a ship…owner。 At the time； I naturally congratulated myself on my own good fortune。 We little know； Mrs。 Callender； what the future has in store for us。〃
He stopped。 His handsome features hardenedas if he was suffering （and concealing） pain。 Before it was possible to speak to him； there was a knock at the door。 Another visitor； without an appointment； had called； the clerk appeared again； with a card and a message。
〃The gentleman begs you will see him； sir。 He has something to tell you which is too important to be delayed。〃
Hearing the message； Mrs。 Callender rose immediately。
〃It is enough for to…day that we understand each other；〃 she said。 〃Have you any engagement to…morrow； after the hours of business？〃
〃None。〃
She pointed to her card on the writing…table。 〃Will you come to me to…morrow evening at that address？ I am like the gentleman who has just called； I； too； have my reason for wishing to see you。〃
He gladly accepted the invitation。 Mrs。 Callender stopped him as he opened the door for her。
〃Shall I offend you；〃 she said； 〃if I ask a strange question before I go？ I have a better motive； mind； than mere curiosity。 Are you married？〃
〃No。〃
〃Forgive me again；〃 she resumed。 〃At my age； you cannot possibly misunderstand me； and yet〃
She hesitated。 Mr。 Lismore tried to give her confidence。 〃Pray don't stand on ceremony； Mrs。 Callender。 Nothing that _you_ can ask me need be prefaced by an apology。〃
Thus encouraged； she ventured to proceed。
〃You may be engaged to be married？〃 she suggested。 〃Or you may be in love？〃
He found it impossible to conceal his surprise。 But he answered without hesitation。
〃There is no such bright prospect in _my_ life；〃 he said。 〃I am not even in love。〃
She left him with a little sigh。 It sounded like a sigh of relief。
Ernest Lismore was thoroughly puzzled。 What could be the old lady's object in ascertaining that he was still free from a matrimonial engagement？ If the idea had occurred to him in time； he might have alluded to her domestic life； and might have asked if she had children？ With a little tact he might have discovered more than this。 She had described her feeling toward him as passing the ordinary limits of gratitude； and she was evidently rich enough to be above the imputation of a mercenary motive。 Did she propose to brighten those dreary prospects to which he had alluded in speaking of his own life？ When he presented himself at her house the next evening； would she introduce him to a charming daughter？
He smiled as the idea occurred to him。 〃An appropriate time to be thinking of my chances of marriage！〃 he said to himself。 〃In another month I may be a ruined man。〃
III。
THE gentleman who had so urgently requested an interview was a devoted friendwho had obtained a means of helping Ernest at a serious crisis in his affairs。
It had been truly reported that he was in a position of pecuniary embarrassment； owing to the failure of a mercantile house with which he had been intimately connected。 Whispers affecting his own solvency had followed on the bankruptcy of the firm。 He had already endeavored to obtain advances of money on the usual conditions； and had been met by excuses for delay。 His friend had now arrived with a letter of introduction to a capitalist； well known in commercial circles for his daring speculations and for his great wealth。
Looking at the letter； Ernest ob
