confidence-第31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！


；　with　a　good　deal　of　an　effort；　rose　to　his　feet。　The　effort；　doubtless；　kept　the　movement　from　being　either　as　light　or　as　swift　as　it　might　have　been；　and　it　vaguely　attracted　his　neighbor's　attention。　　She　turned　her　head　and　glanced　at　him；　with　a　glance　that　evidently　expected　but　to　touch　him　and　pass。　It　touched　him；　and　it　was　on　the　point　of　passing；　then　it　suddenly　checked　itself；　she　had　recognized　him。　　She　looked　at　him；　straight　and　open…eyed；　out　of　the　shadow　of　her　parasol；　and　Bernard　stood　theremotionless　nowreceiving　her　gaze。　How　long　it　lasted　need　not　be　narrated。　　It　was　probably　a　matter　of　a　few　seconds；　but　to　Bernard　it　seemed　a　little　eternity。　He　met　her　eyes；　he　looked　straight　into　her　face；　now　that　she　had　seen　him　he　could　do　nothing　else。　　Bernard's　little　eternity；　however；　came　to　an　end；　Miss　Vivian　dropped　her　eyes　upon　her　book　again。　She　let　them　rest　upon　it　only　a　moment；　then　she　closed　it　and　slowly　rose　from　her　chair；　turning　away　from　Bernard。　He　still　stood　looking　at　herstupidly；　foolishly；　helplessly　enough；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　no　sign　of　recognition　had　been　exchanged。　Angela　Vivian　hesitated　a　minute；　she　now　had　her　back　turned　to　him；　and　he　fancied　her　light；　flexible　figure　was　agitated　by　her　indecision。　She　looked　along　the　sunny　beach　which　stretched　its　shallow　curve　to　where　the　little　bay　ended　and　the　white　wall　of　the　cliffs　began。　She　looked　down　toward　the　sea；　and　up　toward　the　little　Casino　which　was　perched　on　a　low　embankment；　communicating　with　the　beach　at　two　or　three　points　by　a　short　flight　of　steps。　　Bernard　saw　or　supposed　he　sawthat　she　was　asking　herself　whither　she　had　best　turn　to　avoid　him。　　He　had　not　blushed　when　she　looked　at　him　he　had　rather　turned　a　little　pale；　but　he　blushed　now；　for　it　really　seemed　odious　to　have　literally　driven　the　poor　girl　to　bay。　Miss　Vivian　decided　to　take　refuge　in　the　Casino；　and　she　passed　along　one　of　the　little　pathways　of　planks　that　were　laid　here　and　there　across　the　beach；　and　directed　herself　to　the　nearest　flight　of　steps。　　Before　she　had　gone　two　paces　a　complete　change　came　over　Bernard's　feeling；　his　only　wish　now　was　to　speak　to　her　to　explainto　tell　her　he　would　go　away。　　There　was　another　row　of　steps　at　a　short　distance　behind　him；　he　rapidly　ascended　them　and　reached　the　little　terrace　of　the　Casino。　　Miss　Vivian　stood　there；　she　was　apparently　hesitating　again　which　way　to　turn。　Bernard　came　straight　up　to　her；　with　a　gallant　smile　and　a　greeting。　The　comparison　is　a　coarse　one；　but　he　felt　that　he　was　taking　the　bull　by　the　horns。　　Angela　Vivian　stood　watching　him　arrive。

〃You　did　n't　recognize　me；〃　he　said；　〃and　your　not　recognizing　me　made　me　made　me　hesitate。〃

For　a　moment　she　said　nothing；　and　then

〃You　are　more　timid　than　you　used　to　be！〃　she　answered。

He　could　hardly　have　said　what　expression　he　had　expected　to　find　in　her　face；　his　apprehension　had；　perhaps；　not　painted　her　obtrusively　pale　and　haughty；　aggressively　cold　and　stern；　but　it　had　figured　something　different　from　the　look　he　encountered。　　Miss　Vivian　was　simply　blushingthat　was　what　Bernard　mainly　perceived；　he　saw　that　her　surprise　had　been　extremecomplete。　Her　blush　was　re…assuring；　it　contradicted　the　idea　of　impatient　resentment；　and　Bernard　took　some　satisfaction　in　noting　that　it　was　prolonged。

〃Yes；　I　am　more　timid　than　I　used　to　be；〃　he　said。

In　spite　of　her　blush；　she　continued　to　look　at　him　very　directly；　but　she　had　always　done　thatshe　always　met　one's　eye；　and　Bernard　now　instantly　found　all　the　beauty　that　he　had　ever　found　before　in　her　pure；　unevasive　glance。

〃I　don't　know　whether　I　am　more　brave；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　must　tell　the　truth　I　instantly　recognized　you。〃

〃You　gave　no　sign！〃

〃I　supposed　I　gave　a　striking　onein　getting　up　and　going　away。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Bernard；　〃as　I　say；　I　am　more　timid　than　I　was；　and　I　did　n't　venture　to　interpret　that　as　a　sign　of　recognition。〃

〃It　was　a　sign　of　surprise。〃

〃Not　of　pleasure！〃　said　Bernard。　　He　felt　this　to　be　a　venturesome；　and　from　the　point　of　view　of　taste　perhaps　a　reprehensible；　remark；　but　he　made　it　because　he　was　now　feeling　his　ground；　and　it　seemed　better　to　make　it　gravely　than　with　assumed　jocosity。

〃Great　surprises　are　to　me　never　pleasures；〃　Angela　answered；　〃I　am　not　fond　of　shocks　of　any　kind。　　The　pleasure　is　another　matter。　I　have　not　yet　got　over　my　surprise。〃

〃If　I　had　known　you　were　here；　I　would　have　written　to　you　beforehand；〃　said　Bernard；　laughing。

Miss　Vivian；　beneath　her　expanded　parasol；　gave　a　little　shrug　of　her　shoulders。

〃Even　that　would　have　been　a　surprise。〃

〃You　mean　a　shock；　eh？　　Did　you　suppose　I　was　dead？〃

Now；　at　last；　she　lowered　her　eyes；　and　her　blush　slowly　died　away。

〃I　knew　nothing　about　it。〃

〃Of　course　you　could　n't　know；　and　we　are　all　mortal。　　It　was　natural　that　you　should　n't　expectsimply　on　turning　your　head　to　find　me　lying　on　the　pebbles　at　Blanquais…les…Galets。　You　were　a　great　surprise　to　me；　as　well；　but　I　differ　from　you　I　like　surprises。〃

〃It　is　rather　refreshing　to　hear　that　one　is　a　surprise；〃　said　the　girl。

〃Especially　when　in　that　capacity　one　is　liked！〃　　Bernard　exclaimed。

〃I　don't　say　thatbecause　such　sensations　pass　away。　I　am　now　beginning　to　get　over　mine。〃

The　light　mockery　of　her　tone　struck　him　as　the　echo　of　an　unforgotten　air。　He　looked　at　her　a　moment；　and　then　he　said

〃You　are　not　changed；　I　find　you　quite　the　same。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　that！〃　　And　she　turned　away。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　asked。　　〃Where　are　you　going？〃

She　looked　about　her；　without　answering；　up　and　down　the　little　terrace。　The　Casino　at　Blanquais　was　a　much　more　modest　place　of　reunion　than　the　Conversation…house　at　Baden…Baden。　It　was　a　small；　low　structure　of　brightly　painted　wood；　containing　but　three　or　four　rooms；　and　furnished　all　along　its　front　with　a　narrow　covered　gallery；　which　offered　a　delusive　shelter　from　the　rougher　moods　of　the　fine；　fresh　weather。　　It　was　somewhat　rude　and　shabbythe　subscription　for　the　season　was　lowbut　it　had　a　simple　picturesqueness。　Its　little　terrace　was　a　very　convenient　place　for　a　stroll；　and　the　great　view　of　the　ocean　and　of　the　marble…white　crags　that　formed　the　broad　gate…way　of　the　shallow　bay；　was　a　sufficient　compensation　for　the　absence　of　luxuries。　　There　were　a　few　people　sitting　in　the　gallery；　and　a　few　others　scattered　upon　the　terrace；　but　the　pleasure…seekers　of　Blanquais　were；　for　the　most　part；　immersed　in　the　salt　water　or　disseminated　on　the　grassy　downs。

〃I　am　looking　for　my　mother；〃　said　Angela　Vivian。

〃I　hope　your　mother　is　well。〃

〃Very　well；　thank　you。〃

〃May　I　help　you　to　look　for　her？〃　　Bernard　asked。

Her　eyes　paused　in　their　quest；　and　rested　a　moment　upon　her　companion。

〃She　is　not　here；〃　she　said　presently。　　〃She　has　gone　home。〃

〃What　do　you　call　home？〃　　Bernard　demanded。

〃The　sort　of　place　that　we　always　call　home；　a　bad　little　house　that　we　have　taken　for　a　month。〃

〃Will　you　let　me　come　and　see　it？〃

〃It　's　nothing　to　see。〃

Bernard　hesitated　a　moment。

〃Is　that　a　refusal？〃

〃I　should　never　think　of　giving　it　so　fine　a　name。〃

〃There　would　be　nothing　fine　in　forbidding　me　your　door。　Don't　think　that！〃　said　Bernard；　with　rather　a　forced　laugh。

It　was　difficult　to　know　what　the　girl　thought；　but　she　said；　in　a　moment

〃We　shall　be　very　happy　to　see　you。　　I　am　going　home。〃

〃May　I　walk　with　you　so　far？〃　asked　Bernard。

〃It　is　not　far；　it　's　only　three　minutes。〃　　And　Angela　moved　slowly　to　the　gate　of　the　Casino。






CHAPTER　XX

Bernard　walked　beside　her；　and　for　some　moments　nothing　was　said　between　them。　　As　the　silence　continued；　he　became　aware　of　it；　and　it　vexed　him　that　she　should　leave　certain　things　unsaid。　She　had　asked　him　no　questionneither　whence　he　had　come；　nor　how　long　he　would　stay；　nor　what　had　happened　to　him　since　they　parted。　He　wished　to　see　whether　this　was　intention　or　accident。　　He　was　already　complaining　to　himself　that　she　expressed　no　interest　in　him；　and　he　was　perfectly　aware　that　this　was　a　ridiculous　feeling。　He　had　come　to　speak　to　her　in　order　to　tell　her　that　he　was　going　away；　and　yet；　at　the　e