confidence-第19章
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f able to persuade the person most interested that he had renounced his advantage。
He remembered her telling him that she cared very much what he should say of her on Gordon Wright's return； and he felt that this declaration had a particular significance。 After this； of her own movement； she never spoke of Gordon； and Bernard made up his mind that she had promised her mother to accept him if he should repeat his proposal； and that as her heart was not in the matter she preferred to drop a veil over the prospect。 〃She is going to marry him for his money；〃 he said； 〃because her mother has brought out the advantages of the thing。 Mrs。 Vivian's persuasive powers have carried the day； and the girl has made herself believe that it does n't matter that she does n't love him。 Perhaps it does n'tto her； it 's hard； in such a case； to put one's self in the woman's point of view。 But I should think it would matter； some day or other； to poor Gordon。 She herself can't help suspecting it may make a difference in his happiness； and she therefore does n't wish to seem any worse to him than is necessary。 She wants me to speak well of her； if she intends to deceive him she expects me to back her up。 The wish is doubtless natural； but for a proud girl it is rather an odd favor to ask。 Oh yes； she 's a proud girl； even though she has been able to arrange it with her conscience to make a mercenary marriage。 To expect me to help her is perhaps to treat me as a friend； but she ought to rememberor at least I ought to remember that Gordon is an older friend than she。 Inviting me to help her as against my oldest friendis n't there a grain of impudence in that？〃
It will be gathered that Bernard's meditations were not on the whole favorable to this young lady； and it must be affirmed that he was forcibly struck with an element of cynicism in her conduct。 On the evening of her so…called midnight visit to the Kursaal she had suddenly sounded a note of sweet submissiveness which re…appeared again at frequent intervals。 She was gentle； accessible； tenderly gracious； expressive； demonstrative； almost flattering。 From his own personal point of view Bernard had no complaint to make of this maidenly urbanity； but he kept reminding himself that he was not in question and that everything must be looked at in the light of Gordon's requirements。 There was all this time an absurd logical twist in his view of things。 In the first place he was not to judge at all； and in the second he was to judge strictly on Gordon's behalf。 This latter clause always served as a justification when the former had failed to serve as a deterrent。 When Bernard reproached himself for thinking too much of the girl； he drew comfort from the reflection that he was not thinking well。 To let it gradually filter into one's mind； through a superficial complexity of more reverent preconceptions； that she was an extremely clever coquettethis； surely； was not to think well！ Bernard had luminous glimpses of another situation； in which Angela Vivian's coquetry should meet with a different appreciation； but just now it was not an item to be entered on the credit side of Wright's account。 Bernard wiped his pen； mentally speaking； as he made this reflection； and felt like a grizzled old book…keeper； of incorruptible probity。 He saw her； as I have said； very often； she continued to break her vow of shutting herself up； and at the end of a fortnight she had reduced it to imperceptible particles。 On four different occasions； presenting himself at Mrs。 Vivian's lodgings； Bernard found Angela there alone。 She made him welcome； receiving him as an American girl； in such circumstances； is free to receive the most gallant of visitors。 She smiled and talked and gave herself up to charming gayety； so that there was nothing for Bernard to say but that now at least she was off her guard with a vengeance。 Happily he was on his own！ He flattered himself that he remained so on occasions that were even more insidiously relaxingwhen； in the evening； she strolled away with him to parts of the grounds of the Conversation…house； where the music sank to sweeter softness and the murmur of the tree…tops of the Black Forest； stirred by the warm night…air； became almost audible； or when； in the long afternoons； they wandered in the woods apart from the others from Mrs。 Vivian and the amiable object of her more avowed solicitude； the object of the sportive adoration of the irrepressible； the ever…present Lovelock。 They were constantly having parties in the woods at this timedriving over the hills to points of interest which Bernard had looked out in the guide…book。 Bernard； in such matters； was extremely alert and considerate； he developed an unexpected talent for arranging excursions； and he had taken regularly into his service the red…waistcoated proprietor of a big Teutonic landau； which had a courier's seat behind and was always at the service of the ladies。 The functionary in the red waistcoat was a capital charioteer； he was constantly proposing new drives； and he introduced our little party to treasures of romantic scenery。
CHAPTER XIII
More than a fortnight had elapsed； but Gordon Wright had not re…appeared； and Bernard suddenly decided that he would leave Baden。 He found Mrs。 Vivian and her daughter； very opportunely； in the garden of the pleasant； homely Schloss which forms the residence of the Grand Dukes of Baden during their visits to the scene of our narrative； and which； perched upon the hill…side directly above the little town； is surrounded with charming old shrubberies and terraces。 To this garden a portion of the public is admitted； and Bernard； who liked the place； had been there more than once。 One of the terraces had a high parapet； against which Angela was leaning； looking across the valley。 Mrs。 Vivian was not at first in sight； but Bernard presently perceived her seated under a tree with Victor Cousin in her hand。 As Bernard approached the young girl； Angela； who had not seen him； turned round。
〃Don't move；〃 he said。 〃You were just in the position in which I painted your portrait at Siena。〃
〃Don't speak of that；〃 she answered。
〃I have never understood；〃 said Bernard； 〃why you insist upon ignoring that charming incident。〃
She resumed for a moment her former position； and stood looking at the opposite hills。
〃That 's just how you werein profilewith your head a little thrown back。〃
〃It was an odious incident！〃 Angela exclaimed； rapidly changing her attitude。
Bernard was on the point of making a rejoinder； but he thought of Gordon Wright and held his tongue。 He presently told her that he intended to leave Baden on the morrow。
They were walking toward her mother。 She looked round at him quickly。
〃Where are you going？〃
〃To Paris；〃 he said； quite at hazard； for he had not in the least determined where to go。
〃To Parisin the month of August？〃 And she gave a little laugh。 〃What a happy inspiration！〃
She gave a little laugh； but she said nothing more； and Bernard gave no further account of his plan。 They went and sat down near Mrs。 Vivian for ten minutes； and then they got up again and strolled to another part of the garden。 They had it all to themselves； and it was filled with things that Bernard likedinequalities of level； with mossy steps connecting them； rose…trees trained upon old brick walls； horizontal trellises arranged like Italian pergolas； and here and there a towering poplar； looking as if it had survived from some more primitive stage of culture； with its stiff boughs motionless and its leaves forever trembling。 They made almost the whole circuit of the garden； and then Angela mentioned very quietly that she had heard that morning from Mr。 Wright； and that he would not return for another week。
〃You had better stay；〃 she presently added； as if Gordon's continued absence were an added reason。
〃I don't know；〃 said Bernard。 〃It is sometimes difficult to say what one had better do。〃
I hesitate to bring against him that most inglorious of all charges； an accusation of sentimental fatuity； of the disposition to invent obstacles to enjoyment so that he might have the pleasure of seeing a pretty girl attempt to remove them。 But
