little novels-第66章
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been forced to come forward and state the truth。 His lordship's wife is the guilty person； the bracelet was hersa present from her husband。 Harassed by debts that she dare not acknowledge； she sold it； my lord discovered that it was gone； and in terror of his anger the wretched woman took refuge in a lie。
She declared that the bracelet had been stolen from her。 Asked for the name of the thief； the reckless woman （having no other name in her mind at the moment） mentioned the man who had innocently bought the jewel of her agent； otherwise my unfortunate son…in…law。 Oh； the profligacy of the modern Babylon！ It was well I went to the secretary when I did or we should really have had the police in the house。 Marmaduke found them in consultation over the supposed robbery； asking for his address。 There was a dreadful exhibition of violence and recrimination at his lordship's residence： in the end he re…purchased the bracelet。 My son…in…law's money has been returned to him； and Mr。 Helmsley has sent me a written apology。
In a worldly sense； this would； I suppose； be called a satisfactory ending。
It is not so to my mind。 I freely admit that I too hastily distrusted Marmaduke； but am I； on that account； to give him back immediately the place which he once occupied in my esteem？ Again this evening he mysteriously quitted the house； leaving me alone with Felicia； and giving no better excuse for his conduct than that he had an engagement。 And this when I have a double claim on his consideration； as his father…in…law and his guest。
September 11th。The day began well enough。 At breakfast； Marmaduke spoke feelingly of the unhappy result of my visit to his lordship； and asked me to let him look at the list of repairs。 〃It is just useless to expect anything from my lord； after what has happened；〃 I said。 〃Besides； Mr。 Helmsley gave me no hope when I stated my case to him。〃 Marmaduke still held out his hand for the list。 〃Let me try if I can get some subscribers；〃 he replied。 This was kindly meant； at any rate。 I gave him the list； and I began to recover some of my old friendly feeling for him。 Alas！ the little gleam of tranquillity proved to be of short duration。
We made out our plans for the day pleasantly enough。 The check came when Felicia spoke next of our plans for the evening。 〃My father has only four days more to pass with us；〃 she said to her husband。 〃Surely you won't go out again to…night； and leave him？〃 Marmaduke's face clouded over directly； he looked embarrassed and annoyed。 I sat perfectly silent； leaving them to settle it by themselves。
〃You will stay with us this evening； won't you？〃 says Felicia。 No： he was not free for the evening。 〃What！ another engagement？ Surely you can put it off？〃 No； impossible to put it off。 〃Is it a ball； or a party of some kind？〃 No answer； he changed the subjec the offered Felicia the money repaid to him for the bracelet。 〃Buy one for yourself； my dear； this time。〃 Felicia handed him back the money； rather too haughtily； perhaps。 〃I don't want a bracelet；〃 she said； 〃I want your company in the evening。〃
He jumped up； good…tempered as he was； in something very like a ragethen looked at me； and checked himself on the point （as I believe） of using profane language。 〃This is downright persecution！〃 he burst out； with an angry turn of his head toward his wife。 Felicia got up； in her turn。 〃Your language is an insult to my father and to me！〃 He looked thoroughly staggered at this： it was evidently their first serious quarrel。
Felicia took no notice of him。 〃I will get ready directly； father； and we will go out together。〃 He stopped her as she was leaving the roomrecovering his good temper with a readiness which it pleased me to see。 〃Come； come； Felicia！ We have not quarreled yet； and we won't quarrel now。 Let me off this one time more； and I will devote the next three evenings of your father's visit to him and to you。 Give me a kiss； and make it up。〃 My daughter doesn't do things by halves。 She gave him a dozen kisses； I should thinkand there was a happy end of it。
〃But what shall we do to…morrow evening？〃 says Marmaduke； sitting down by his wife； and patting her hand as it lay in his。
〃Take us somewhere；〃 says she。 Marmaduke laughed。 〃Your father objects to public amusements。 Where does he want to go to？〃 Felicia took up the newspaper。 〃There is an oratorio at Exeter Hall；〃 she said； 〃my father likes music。〃 He turned to me。 〃You don't object to oratorios； sir？〃 〃I don't object to music；〃 I answered； 〃so long as I am not required to enter a theater。〃 Felicia handed the newspaper to me。 〃Speaking of theaters； father； have you read what they say about the new play？ What a pity it can't be given out of a theater！〃 I looked at her in speechless amazement。 She tried to explain herself。 〃The paper says that the new play is a service rendered to the cause of virtue； and that the great actor； Barrymore； has set an example in producing it which deserves the encouragement of all truly religious people。 Do read it； father！〃 I held up my hands in dismay。 My own daughter perverted！ pinning her faith on a newspaper！ speaking； with a perverse expression of interest； of a stage…play and an actor！ Even Marmaduke witnessed this lamentable exhibition of backsliding with some appearance of alarm。 〃It's not her fault； sir；〃 he said； interceding with me。 〃It's the fault of the newspaper。 Don't blame her！〃 I held my peace； determining inwardly to pray for her。 Shortly afterward my daughter and I went out。 Marmaduke accompanied us part of the way； and left us at a telegraph office。 〃Who are you going to telegraph to？〃 Felicia asked。 Another mystery！ He answered； 〃Business of my own； my dear〃and went into the office。
September 12th。Is my miserable son…in…law's house under a curse？ The yellow…haired woman in the open carriage drove up to the door at half…past ten this morning； in a state of distraction。 Felicia and I saw her from the drawing…room balconya tall woman in gorgeous garments。 She knocked with her own hand at the doorshe cried out distractedly； 〃Where is he？ I must see him！〃 At the sound of her voice； Marmaduke （playing with his little dog in the drawing…room） rushed downstairs and out into the street。 〃Hold your tongue！〃 we heard him say to her。 〃What are you here for？〃
What she answered we failed to hear； she was certainly crying。 Marmaduke stamped on the pavement like a man beside himselftook her roughly by the arm； and led her into the house。
Before I could utter a word； Felicia left me and flew headlong down the stairs。
She was in time to hear the dining…room locked。 Following her； I prevented the poor jealous creature from making a disturbance at the door。 God forgive menot knowing how else to quiet herI degraded myself by advising her to listen to what they said。 She instantly opened the door of the back dining…room； and beckoned to me to follow。 I naturally hesitated。 〃I shall go mad；〃 she whispered； 〃if you leave me by myself！〃 What could I do？ I degraded myself the second time。 For my own childin pity for my own child！
We heard them； through the flimsy modern folding…doors； at those times when he was most angry； and she most distracted。 That is to say； we heard them when they spoke in their loudest tones。
〃How did you find out where I live？〃 says he。 〃Oh； you're ashamed of me？〃 says she。 〃Mr。 Helmsley was with us yesterday evening。 That's how I found out！〃 〃What do you mean？〃 〃I mean that Mr。 Helmsley had your card and address in his pocket。 Ah； you were obliged to give your address when you had to clear up that matter of the bracelet！ You cruel； cruel man； what have I done to deserve such a note as you sent me this morning？〃 〃Do what the note tells you！〃 〃Do what the note tells me？ Did anybody ever hear a man talk so； out of a lunatic asylum？ Why； you haven't even the grace to carry out your own wicked deceptionyou haven't even gone to bed！〃 There the voices grew less angry； and we missed what followed。 Soon the lady burst out again； piteously entreating him this time。 〃Oh； Marmy； don't ruin me！ Has anybody offended you？ Is there anything you wish to have altered？ Do you want more money？ It is too cruel to treat me in this wayit is indeed！〃 He made some answer；
