agnes grey(艾格尼丝·格累)-第42章
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with Mr。 Murray。
Rosalie was pleased with the thoughts of becoming mistress of Ashby
Park； she was elated with the prospect of the bridal ceremony and its
attendant splendour and eclat； the honeymoon spent abroad； and the
subsequent gaieties she expected to enjoy in London and elsewhere； she
appeared pretty well pleased too； for the time being； with Sir Thomas
himself； because she had so lately seen him； danced with him； and been
flattered by him； but； after all； she seemed to shrink from the idea of being
so soon united： she wished the ceremony to be delayed some months； at
least； and I wished it too。 It seemed a horrible thing to hurry on the
inauspicious match； and not to give the poor creature time to think and
reason on the irrevocable step she was about to take。 I made no
pretension to 'a mother's watchful； anxious care；' but I was amazed and
horrified at Mrs。 Murray's heartlessness； or want of thought for the real
good of her child； and by my unheeded warnings and exhortations； I
vainly strove to remedy the evil。 Miss Murray only laughed at what I
said； and I soon found that her reluctance to an immediate union arose
chiefly from a desire to do what execution she could among the young
gentlemen of her acquaintance； before she was incapacitated from further
mischief of the kind。 It was for this cause that； before confiding to me
the secret of her engagement； she had extracted a promise that I would not
mention a word on the subject to any one。 And when I saw this； and
when I beheld her plunge more recklessly than ever into the depths of
heartless coquetry； I had no more pity for her。 'Come what will；' I
thought； 'she deserves it。 Sir Thomas cannot be too bad for her； and the
sooner she is incapacitated from deceiving and injuring others the better。'
The wedding was fixed for the first of June。 Between that and the
critical ball was little more than six weeks； but； with Rosalie's
accomplished skill and resolute exertion； much might be done； even within
that period； especially as Sir Thomas spent most of the interim in London；
whither he went up； it was said； to settle affairs with his lawyer； and make
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other preparations for the approaching nuptials。 He endeavoured to
supply the want of his presence by a pretty constant fire of billets…doux；
but these did not attract the neighbours' attention； and open their eyes； as
personal visits would have done； and old Lady Ashby's haughty； sour spirit
of reserve withheld her from spreading the news； while her indifferent
health prevented her coming to visit her future daughter…in…law； so that；
altogether； this affair was kept far closer than such things usually are。
Rosalie would sometimes show her lover's epistles to me； to convince
me what a kind； devoted husband he would make。 She showed me the
letters of another individual； too； the unfortunate Mr。 Green； who had not
the courage； or； as she expressed it； the 'spunk；' to plead his cause in
person； but whom one denial would not satisfy： he must write again and
again。 He would not have done so if he could have seen the grimaces his
fair idol made over his moving appeals to her feelings； and heard her
scornful laughter； and the opprobrious epithets she heaped upon him for
his perseverance。
'Why don't you tell him； at once； that you are engaged？' I asked。
'Oh； I don't want him to know that；' replied she。 'If he knew it； his
sisters and everybody would know it； and then there would be an end of
my … ahem！ And； besides； if I told him that； he would think my
engagement was the only obstacle； and that I would have him if I were
free； which I could not bear that any man should think； and he； of all
others； at least。 Besides； I don't care for his letters；' she added；
contemptuously； 'he may write as often as he pleases； and look as great a
calf as he likes when I meet him； it only amuses me。'
Meantime； young Meltham was pretty frequent in his visits to the
house or transits past it； and； judging by Matilda's execrations and
reproaches； her sister paid more attention to him than civility required； in
other words； she carried on as animated a flirtation as the presence of her
parents would admit。 She made some attempts to bring Mr。 Hatfield
once more to her feet； but finding them unsuccessful； she repaid his
haughty indifference with still loftier scorn； and spoke of him with as
much disdain and detestation as she had formerly done of his curate。 But；
amid all this； she never for a moment lost sight of Mr。 Weston。 She
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embraced every opportunity of meeting him； tried every art to fascinate
him； and pursued him with as much perseverance as if she really loved
him and no other； and the happiness of her life depended upon eliciting a
return of affection。 Such conduct was completely beyond my
comprehension。 Had I seen it depicted in a novel； I should have thought
it unnatural； had I heard it described by others； I should have deemed it a
mistake or an exaggeration； but when I saw it with my own eyes； and
suffered from it too； I could only conclude that excessive vanity； like
drunkenness； hardens the heart； enslaves the faculties； and perverts the
feelings； and that dogs are not the only creatures which； when gorged to
the throat； will yet gloat over what they cannot devour； and grudge the
smallest morsel to a starving brother。
She now became extremely beneficent to the poor cottagers。 Her
acquaintance among them was more widely extended； her visits to their
humble dwellings were more frequent and excursive than they had ever
been before。 Hereby； she earned among them the reputation of a
condescending and very charitable young lady； and their encomiums were
sure to be repeated to Mr。 Weston： whom also she had thus a daily
chance of meeting in one or other of their abodes； or in her transits to and
fro； and often； likewise； she could gather； through their gossip； to what
places he was likely to go at such and such a time； whether to baptize a
child； or to visit the aged； the sick； the sad； or the dying； and most skilfully
she laid her plans accordingly。 In these excursions she would sometimes
go with her sister … whom； by some means； she had persuaded or bribed to
enter into her schemes … sometimes alone； never； now； with me； so that I
was debarred the pleasure of seeing Mr。 Weston； or hearing his voice even
in conversat
