barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第87章
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offers； voluntarily proposes； to free you from your pledge； and
talks magnanimously （men do so； very commonly； in such cases） of
being in time more worthy of your regard—and so forth。 A letter；
to be plain； in which he not only jilts you—pardon the word； I
would summon to your aid your pride and dignity—not only jilts
you； I fear； in favour of the object whose slighting treatment first
inspired his brief passion for yourself and gave it birth in wounded
vanity； but affects to make a merit and a virtue of the act。’
She glanced proudly at him once more； as by an involuntary
impulse； and with a swelling breast rejoined； ‘If what you say be
true； he takes much needless trouble； sir； to compass his design。
He’s very tender of my peace of mind。 I quite thank him。’
‘The truth of what I tell you； dear young lady；’ he replied； ‘you
will test by the receipt or non…receipt of the letter of which I speak。
Haredale； my dear fellow； I am delighted to see you； although we
meet under singular circumstances； and upon a melancholy
occasion。 I hope you are very well。’
At these words the young lady raised her eyes； which were
filled with tears； and seeing that her uncle indeed stood before
them； and being quite unequal to the trial of hearing or of
speaking one word more； hurriedly withdrew； and left them。 They
stood looking at each other； and at her retreating figure； and for a
long time neither of them spoke。
‘What does this mean？ Explain it；’ said Mr Haredale at length。
‘Why are you here； and why with her？’
‘My dear friend；’ rejoined the other； resuming his accustomed
manner with infinite readiness； and throwing himself upon the
bench with a weary air； ‘you told me not very long ago； at that
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delightful old tavern of which you are the esteemed proprietor
（and a most charming establishment it is for persons of rural
pursuits and in robust health； who are not liable to take cold）； that
I had the head and heart of an evil spirit in all matters of
deception。 I thought at the time； I really did think； you flattered
me。 But now I begin to wonder at your discernment； and vanity
apart； do honestly believe you spoke the truth。 Did you ever
counterfeit extreme ingenuousness and honest indignation？ My
dear fellow； you have no conception； if you never did； how faint
the effort makes one。’
Mr Haredale surveyed him with a look of cold contempt。 ‘You
may evade an explanation； I know；’ he said； folding his arms。 ‘But
I must have it。 I can wait。’
‘Not at all。 Not at all； my good fellow。 You shall not wait a
moment；’ returned his friend； as he lazily crossed his legs。 ‘The
simplest thing in the world。 It lies in a nutshell。 Ned has written
her a letter—a boyish； honest； sentimental composition； which
remains as yet in his desk； because he hasn’t had the heart to send
it。 I have taken a liberty； for which my parental affection and
anxiety are a sufficient excuse； and possessed myself of the
contents。 I have described them to your niece （a most enchanting
person； Haredale； quite an angelic creature）； with a little colouring
and description adapted to our purpose。 It’s done。 You may be
quite easy。 It’s all over。 Deprived of their adherents and mediators；
her pride and jealousy roused to the utmost； with nobody to
undeceive her； and you to confirm me； you will find that their
intercourse will close with her answer。 If she receives Ned’s letter
by to…morrow noon； you may date their parting from to…morrow
night。 No thanks； I beg； you owe me none。 I have acted for myself；
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and if I have forwarded our compact with all the ardour even you
could have desired； I have done so selfishly； indeed。’
‘I curse the compact； as you call it； with my whole heart and
soul；’ returned the other。 ‘It was made in an evil hour。 I have
bound myself to a lie； I have leagued myself with you； and though I
did so with a righteous motive； and though it cost me such an
effort as haply few men know； I hate and despise myself for the
deed。’
‘You are very warm；’ said Mr Chester with a languid smile。
‘I am warm。 I am maddened by your coldness。 ‘Death； Chester；
if your blood ran warmer in your veins； and there were no
restraints upon me； such as those that hold and drag me back—
well； it is done； you tell me so； and on such a point I may believe
you。 When I am most remorseful for this treachery； I will think of
you and your marriage； and try to justify myself in such
remembrances； for having torn asunder Emma and your son； at
any cost。 Our bond is cancelled now； and we may part。’
Mr Chester kissed his hand gracefully； and with the same
tranquil face he had preserved throughout—even when he had
seen his companion so tortured and transported by his passion
that his whole frame was shaken—lay in his lounging posture on
the seat and watched him as he walked away。
‘My scapegoat and my drudge at school；’ he said； raising his
head to look after him； ‘my friend of later days； who could not
keep his mistress when he had won her； and threw me in her way
to carry off the prize； I triumph in the present and the past。 Bark
on； ill…favoured； ill…conditioned cur； fortune has ever been with
me—I like to hear you。’
The spot where they had met； was in an avenue of trees。 Mr
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Haredale not passing out on either hand； had walked straight on。
He chanced to turn his head when at some considerable distance；
and seeing that his late companion had by that time risen and was
looking after him； stood still as though he half expected him to
follow and waited for his coming up。
‘It may come to that one day； but not yet；’ said Mr Chester；
waving his hand； as though they were the best of friends； and
turning away。 ‘Not yet； Haredale。 Life is pleasant enough to me；
dull and full of heaviness to you。 No。 To cross swords with such a
man—to indulge his humour unless upon extremity—would be
weak indeed。’
For all that； he drew his sword as he walked along； and in an
absent humour ran his eye from hilt to point full twenty times。 But
thoughtfulness begets wrinkles； remembering this； he soon put it
up； smoothed his contracted
