confidence-第25章
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by falling in love with； and that poor Gordon knew very much better what he was about in this case than he had done in trying to solve the deep problem of a comfortable life with Angela Vivian。 This was what your strong； solid； sensible fellows always came to； they paid； in this particular； a larger tribute to pure fancy than the people who were supposed habitually to cultivate that muse。 Blanche Evers was what the French call an article of fantasy； and Gordon had taken a pleasure in finding her deliciously useless。 He cultivated utility in other ways； and it pleased and flattered him to feel that he could afford； morally speaking； to have a kittenish wife。 He had within himself a fund of common sense to draw upon； so that to espouse a paragon of wisdom would be but to carry water to the fountain。 He could easily make up for the deficiencies of a wife who was a little silly； and if she charmed and amused him； he could treat himself to the luxury of these sensations for themselves。 He was not in the least afraid of being ruined by it； and if Blanche's birdlike chatter and turns of the head had made a fool of him； he knew it perfectly well； and simply took his stand upon his rights。 Every man has a right to a little flower…bed； and life is not all mere kitchen…gardening。 Bernard rapidly extemporized this rough explanation of the surprise his friend had offered him； and he found it all…sufficient for his immediate needs。 He wrote Blanche a charming note； to which she replied with a great deal of spirit and grace。 Her little letter was very prettily turned； and Bernard； reading it over two or three times； said to himself that； to do her justice； she might very well have polished her intellect a trifle during these two or three years。 As she was older； she could hardly help being wiser。 It even occurred to Bernard that she might have profited by the sort of experience that is known as the discipline of suffering。 What had become of Captain Lovelock and that tender passion which was apparently none the less genuine for having been expressed in the slang of a humorous period？ Had they been permanently separated by judicious guardians； and had she been obliged to obliterate his image from her lightly…beating little heart？ Bernard had felt sure at Baden that； beneath her contemptuous airs and that impertinent consciousness of the difficulties of conquest by which a pretty American girl attests her allegiance to a civilization in which young women occupy the highest placehe had felt sure that Blanche had a high appreciation of her handsome Englishman； and that if Lovelock should continue to relish her charms； he might count upon the advantages of reciprocity。 But it occurred to Bernard that Captain Lovelock had perhaps been faithless； that； at least； the discourtesy of chance and the inhumanity of an elder brother might have kept him an eternal prisoner at the Hotel de Hollande （where； for all Bernard knew to the contrary； he had been obliged to work out his destiny in the arduous character of a polyglot waiter）； so that the poor young girl； casting backward glances along the path of Mrs。 Vivian's retreat； and failing to detect the onward rush of a rescuing cavalier； had perforce believed herself forsaken； and had been obliged to summon philosophy to her aid。 It was very possible that her philosophic studies had taught her the art of reflection； and that； as she would have said herself； she was tremendously toned down。 Once； at Baden； when Gordon Wright happened to take upon himself to remark that little Miss Evers was bored by her English gallant； Bernard had ventured to observe； in petto； that Gordon knew nothing about it。 But all this was of no consequence now； and Bernard steered further and further away from the liability to detect fallacies in his friend。 Gordon had engaged himself to marry； and our critical hero had not a grain of fault to find with this resolution。 It was a capital thing； it was just what he wanted； it would do him a world of good。 Bernard rejoiced with him sincerely； and regretted extremely that a series of solemn engagements to pay visits in England should prevent his being present at the nuptials。
They were well over； as I have said； when he reached New York。 The honeymoon had waned； and the business of married life had begun。 Bernard； at the end； had sailed from England rather abruptly。 A friend who had a remarkably good cabin on one of the steamers was obliged by a sudden detention to give it up； and on his offering it to Longueville； the latter availed himself gratefully of this opportunity of being a little less discomposed than usual by the Atlantic billows。 He therefore embarked at two days' notice； a fortnight earlier than he had intended and than he had written to Gordon to expect him。 Gordon； of course； had written that he was to seek no hospitality but that which Blanche was now preparedthey had a charming houseso graciously to dispense； but Bernard； nevertheless； leaving the ship early in the morning； had betaken himself to an hotel。 He wished not to anticipate his welcome； and he determined to report himself to Gordon first and to come back with his luggage later in the day。 After purifying himself of his sea…stains； he left his hotel and walked up the Fifth Avenue with all a newly…landed voyager's enjoyment of terrestrial locomotion。 It was a charming autumn day； there was a golden haze in the air； he supposed it was the Indian summer。 The broad sidewalk of the Fifth Avenue was scattered over with dry leavescrimson and orange and amber。 He tossed them with his stick as he passed； they rustled and murmured with the motion； and it reminded him of the way he used to kick them in front of him over these same pavements in his riotous infancy。 It was a pleasure； after many wanderings； to find himself in his native land again； and Bernard Longueville； as he went； paid his compliments to his mother…city。 The brightness and gayety of the place seemed a greeting to a returning son； and he felt a throb of affection for the freshest； the youngest； the easiest and most good…natured of great capitals。 On presenting himself at Gordon's door； Bernard was told that the master of the house was not at home； he went in； however； to see the mistress。 She was in her drawing…room； alone； she had on her bonnet； as if she had been going out。 She gave him a joyous； demonstrative little welcome； she was evidently very glad to see him。 Bernard had thought it possible she had 〃improved；〃 and she was certainly prettier than ever。 He instantly perceived that she was still a chatterbox； it remained to be seen whether the quality of her discourse were finer。
〃Well； Mr。 Longueville；〃 she exclaimed； 〃where in the world did you drop from； and how long did it take you to cross the Atlantic？ Three days； eh？ It could n't have taken you many more； for it was only the other day that Gordon told me you were not to sail till the 20th。 You changed your mind； eh？ I did n't know you ever changed your mind。 Gordon never changes his。 That 's not a reason； eh； because you are not a bit like Gordon。 Well； I never thought you were； except that you are a man。 Now what are you laughing at？ What should you like me call you？ You are a man； I suppose； you are not a god。 That 's what you would like me to call you； I have no doubt。 I must keep that for Gordon？ I shall certainly keep it a good while。 I know a good deal more about gentlemen than I did when I last saw you； and I assure you I don't think they are a bit god…like。 I suppose that 's why you always drop down from the skyyou think it 's more divine。 I remember that 's the way you arrived at Baden when we were there together； the first thing we knew； you were standing in the midst of us。 Do you remember that evening when you presented yourself？ You came up and touched Gordon on the shoulder； and he gave a little jump。 He will give another little jump when he sees you to…day。 He gives a great many little jumps； I keep him skipping about！ I remember perfectly the way we were sitting that evening at Baden； and the way you looked at me when you came up。 I saw you before GordonI see a good many things before Gordon。 What did you look at me that way for？ I always meant to ask you
