little novels-第83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！
e was Herne Wood。 My aunt was not very willing to leave her comfortable seat in the carriage； but it ended in her going with us。
Before we entered the wood； Mr。 Varleigh noted the position of the high…road by his pocket…compass。 Captain Stanwick laughed at him； and offered me his arm。 Ignorant as I was of the ways of the world and the rules of coquetry； my instinct （I suppose） warned me not to distinguish one of the gentlemen too readily at the expense of the other。 I took my aunt's arm and settled it in that way。
A winding path led us into the wood。
On a nearer view； the place disappointed me； the further we advanced； the more horribly gloomy it grew。 The thickly…growing trees shut out the light； the damp stole over me little by little until I shivered； the undergrowth of bushes and thickets rustled at intervals mysteriously； as some invisible creeping creature passed through it。 At a turn in the path we reached a sort of clearing； and saw the sky and the sunshine once more。 But； even here； a disagreeable incident occurred。 A snake wound his undulating way across the open space； passing close by me； and I was fool enough to scream。 The Captain killed the creature with his riding…cane； taking a pleasure in doing it which I did not like to see。
We left the clearing and tried another path； and then another。 And still the horrid wood preyed on my spirits。 I agreed with my aunt that we should do well to return to the carriage。 On our way back we missed the right path； and lost ourselves for the moment。 Mr。 Varleigh consulted his compass； and pointed in one direction。 Captain Stanwick； consulting nothing but his own jealous humor； pointed in the other。 We followed Mr。 Varleigh's guidance； and got back to the clearing。 He turned to the Captain； and said； good…humoredly： 〃You see the compass was right。〃 Captain Stanwick； answered； sharply： 〃There are more ways than one out of an English wood； you talk as if we were in one of your American forests。〃
Mr。 Varleigh seemed to be at a loss to understand his rudeness； there was a pause。 The two men looked at each other； standing face to face on the brown earth of the clearingthe Englishman's ruddy countenance； light auburn hair and whiskers； and well…opened bold blue eyes； contrasting with the pale complexion； the keenly…observant look； the dark closely…cut hair； and the delicately…lined face of the American。 It was only for a moment： I had barely time to feel uneasy before they controlled themselves and led us back to the carriage； talking as pleasantly as if nothing had happened。 For days afterward； nevertheless； that scene in the clearingthe faces and figures of the two men； the dark line of trees hemming them in on all sides； the brown circular patch of ground on which they stoodhaunted my memory； and got in the way of my brighter and happier thoughts。 When my aunt inquired if I had enjoyed the day； I surprised her by saying No。 And when she asked why； I could only answer： 〃It was all spoiled by Herne Wood。〃
III。
THREE weeks passed。
The terror of those dreadful days creeps over me again when I think of them。 I mean to tell the truth without shrinking； but I may at least consult my own feelings by dwelling on certain particulars as briefly as I can。 I shall describe my conduct toward the two men who courted me in the plainest terms； if I say that I distinguished neither of them。 Innocently and stupidly I encouraged them both。
In books； women are generally represented as knowing their own minds in matters which relate to love and marriage。 This is not my experience of myself。 Day followed day； and； ridiculous as it may appear； I could not decide which of my two admirers I liked best！
Captain Stanwick was； at first； the man of my choice。 While he kept his temper under control； h e charmed me。 But when he let it escape him； he sometimes disappointed； sometimes irritated me。 In that frame of mind I turned for relief to Lionel Varleigh； feeling that he was the more gentle and the more worthy man of the two； and honestly believing； at such times； that I preferred him to his rival。 For the first few days after our visit to Herne Wood I had excellent opportunities of comparing them。 They paid their visits to us together； and they divided their attentions carefully between me and my aunt。 At the end of the week； however； they began to present themselves separately。 If I had possessed any experience of the natures of men； I might have known what this meant； and might have seen the future possibility of some more serious estrangement between the two friends； of which I might be the unfortunate cause。 As it was； I never once troubled my head about what might be passing out of my presence。 Whether they came together； or whether they came separately； their visits were always agreeable to me。 and I thought of nothing and cared for nothing more。
But the time that was to enlighten me was not far off。
One day Captain Stanwick called much earlier than usual。 My aunt had not yet returned from her morning walk。 The Captain made some excuse for presenting himself under these circumstances which I have now forgotten。
Without actually committing himself to a proposal of marriage he spoke with such tender feeling； he managed his hold on my inexperience so delicately； that he entrapped me into saying some words； on my side； which I remembered with a certain dismay as soon as I was left alone again。 In half an hour more； Mr。 Lionel Varleigh was announced as my next visitor。 I at once noticed a certain disturbance in his look and manner which was quite new in my experience of him。 I offered him a chair。 To my surprise he declined to take it。
〃I must trust to your indulgence to permit me to put an embarrassing question to you；〃 he began。 〃It rests with you； Miss Laroche； to decide whether I shall remain here； or whether I shall relieve you of my presence by leaving the room。〃
〃What can you possibly mean？〃 I asked。
〃Is it your wish；〃 he went on； 〃that I should pay you no more visits except in Captain Stanwick's company； or by Captain Stanwick's express permission？〃
My astonishment deprived me for the moment of the power of answering him。 〃Do you really mean that Captain Stanwick has forbidden you to call on me？〃 I asked as soon as I could speak。
〃I have exactly repeated what Captain Stanwick said to me half an hour since；〃 Lionel Varleigh answered。
In my indignation at hearing this； I entirely forgot the rash words of encouragement which the Captain had entrapped me into speaking to him。 When I think of it now； I am ashamed to repeat the language in which I resented this man's presumptuous assertion of authority over me。 Having committed one act of indiscretion already； my anxiety to assert my freedom of action hurried me into committing another。 I bade Mr。 Varleigh welcome whenever he chose to visit me； in terms which made his face flush under the emotions of pleasure and surprise which I had aroused in him。 My wounded vanity acknowledged no restraints。 I signed to him to take a seat on the sofa at my side； I engaged to go to his lodgings the next day； with my aunt； and see the collection of curiosities which he had amassed in the course of his travels。 I almost believe； if he had tried to kiss me； that I was angry enough with the Captain to have let him do it！
Remember what my life had beenremember how ignorantly I had passed the precious days of my youth； how insidiously a sudden accession of wealth and importance had encouraged my folly and my prideand try； like good Christians； to make some allowance for me！
My aunt came in from her walk； before Mr。 Varleigh's visit had ended。 She received him rather coldly； and he perceived it。 After reminding me of our appointment for the next day； he took his leave。
〃What appointment does Mr。 Varleigh mean？〃 my aunt asked； as soon as we were alone。 〃Is it wise； under the circumstances； to make appointments with Mr。 Varleigh？〃 she said； when I had answered her question。 I naturally inquired what she meant。 My aunt replied； 〃I have met Captain Stanwick while I was out walking。 He has told me something which I am quite at a loss to understand。 Is it possible； Bertha； that you have received a proposal of marriage from him
