for the term of his natural life-第102章

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　consented；　and　〃Mr。　Richard〃　soon　came　to　be　regarded　as　a　martyr　to　circumstances；　a　man　conscious　of　his　own　imperfections；　and　one　whose　imperfections　were　therefore　lightly　dwelt　upon。　　So　the　returned　prodigal　had　his　own　suite　of　rooms；　his　own　servants；　his　own　bank　account；　drank；　smoked；　and　was　merry。　For　five　or　six　months　he　thought　himself　in　Paradise。　　Then　he　began　to　find　his　life　insufferably　weary。　　The　burden　of　hypocrisy　is　very　heavy　to　bear；　and　Rex　was　compelled　perpetually　to　bear　it。　　His　mother　demanded　all　his　time。　　She　hung　upon　his　lips；　she　made　him　repeat　fifty　times　the　story　of　his　wanderings。　　She　was　never　tired　of　kissing　him；　of　weeping　over　him；　and　of　thanking　him　for　the　〃sacrifice〃　he　had　made　for　her。

〃We　promised　never　to　speak　of　it　more；　Richard；〃　the　poor　lady　said　one　day；　〃but　if　my　lifelong　love　can　make　atonement　for　the　wrong　I　have　done　you〃

〃Hush；　dearest　mother；〃　said　John　Rex；　who　did　not　in　the　least　comprehend　what　it　was　all　about。　　〃Let　us　say　no　more。〃

Lady　Devine　wept　quietly　for　a　while；　and　then　went　away；　leaving　the　man　who　pretended　to　be　her　son　much　bewildered　and　a　little　frightened。　There　was　a　secret　which　he　had　not　fathomed　between　Lady　Devine　and　her　son。　The　mother　did　not　again　refer　to　it；　and；　gaining　courage　as　the　days　went　on；　Rex　grew　bold　enough　to　forget　his　fears。　　In　the　first　stages　of　his　deception　he　had　been　timid　and　cautious。　　Then　the　soothing　influence　of　comfort；　respect；　and　security　came　upon　him；　and　almost　refined　him。　He　began　to　feel　as　he　had　felt　when　Mr。　Lionel　Crofton　was　alive。　The　sensation　of　being　ministered　to　by　a　loving　woman；　who　kissed　him　night　and　morning；　calling　him　〃son〃of　being　regarded　with　admiration　by　rustics；　with　envy　by　respectable　folkof　being　deferred　to　in　all　thingswas　novel　and　pleasing。　　They　were　so　good　to　him　that　he　felt　at　times　inclined　to　confess　all；　and　leave　his　case　in　the　hands　of　the　folk　he　had　injured。　　Yethe　thoughtsuch　a　course　would　be　absurd。　　It　would　result　in　no　benefit　to　anyone；　simply　in　misery　to　himself。　　The　true　Richard　Devine　was　buried　fathoms　deep　in　the　greedy　ocean　of　convict…discipline；　and　the　waves　of　innumerable　punishments　washed　over　him。　　John　Rex　flattered　himself　that　he　had　usurped　the　name　of　one　who　was　in　fact　no　living　man；　and　that；　unless　one　should　rise　from　the　dead；　Richard　Devine　could　never　return　to　accuse　him。　So　flattering　himself；　he　gradually　became　bolder；　and　by　slow　degrees　suffered　his　true　nature　to　appear。　　He　was　violent　to　the　servants；　cruel　to　dogs　and　horses；　often　wantonly　coarse　in　speech；　and　brutally　regardless　of　the　feelings　of　others。　　Governed；　like　most　women；　solely　by　her　feelings；　Lady　Devine　had　at　first　been　prodigal　of　her　affection　to　the　man　she　believed　to　be　her　injured　son。　But　his　rash　acts　of　selfishness；　his　habits　of　grossness　and　self…indulgence；　gradually　disgusted　her。　　For　some　time　shepoor　womanfought　against　this　feeling；　endeavouring　to　overcome　her　instincts　of　distaste；　and　arguing　with　herself　that　to　permit　a　detestation　of　her　unfortunate　son　to　arise　in　her　heart　was　almost　criminal；　but　she　was　at　length　forced　to　succumb。

For　the　first　year　Mr。　Richard　conducted　himself　with　great　propriety；　but　as　his　circle　of　acquaintance　and　his　confidence　in　himself　increased；　he　now　and　then　forgot　the　part　he　was　playing。　　One　day　Mr。　Richard　went　to　pass　the　day　with　a　sporting　friend；　only　too　proud　to　see　at　his　table　so　wealthy　and　wonderful　a　man。　　Mr。　Richard　drank　a　good　deal　more　than　was　good　for　him；　and　returned　home　in　a　condition　of　disgusting　drunkenness。　　I　say　disgusting；　because　some　folks　have　the　art　of　getting　drunk　after　a　humorous　fashion；　that　robs　intoxication　of　half　its　grossness。　　For　John　Rex　to　be　drunk　was　to　be　himselfcoarse　and　cruel。　　Francis　Wade　was　away；　and　Lady　Devine　had　retired　for　the　night；　when　the　dog…cart　brought　home　〃Mr。　Richard〃。　　The　virtuous　butler…porter；　who　opened　the　door；　received　a　blow　in　the　chest　and　a　demand　for　〃Brandy！〃　The　groom　was　cursed；　and　ordered　to　instant　oblivion。　　Mr。　Richard　stumbled　into　the　dining…roomveiled　in　dim　light　as　a　dining…room　which　was　〃sitting　up〃　for　its　master　ought　to　beand　ordered　〃more　candles！〃　The　candles　were　brought；　after　some　delay；　and　Mr。　Richard　amused　himself　by　spilling　their　meltings　upon　the　carpet。　　〃Let's　have　'luminashon！〃　he　cried；　and　climbing　with　muddy　boots　upon　the　costly　chairs；　scraping　with　his　feet　the　polished　table；　attempted　to　fix　the　wax　in　the　silver　sconces；　with　which　the　antiquarian　tastes　of　Mr。　Francis　Wade　had　adorned　the　room。

〃You'll　break　the　table；　sir；〃　said　the　servant。

〃Damn　the　table！〃　said　Rex。　　〃Buy　'nother　table。　　What's　table　t'you？〃　〃Oh；　certainly；　sir；〃　replied　the　man。

〃Oh；　c'ert'nly！　Why　c'ert'nly？　　What　do　you　know　about　it？〃

〃Oh；　certainly　not；　sir；〃　replied　the　man。

〃If　I　hadstockwhip　hereI'd　make　youhicskip！　Whar's　brandy？〃

〃Here；　Mr。　Richard。〃

〃Have　some！　Good　brandy！　Send　for　servantsh　and　have　dance。　D'you　dance；　Tomkins？〃

〃No；　Mr。　Richard。〃

〃Then　you　shall　dance　now；　Tomkins。　　You'll　dance　upon　nothing　one　day；　Tomkins！　Here！　Halloo！　Mary！　Susan！　Janet！　William！　Hey！　Halloo！〃　And　he　began　to　shout　and　blaspheme。

〃Don't　you　think　it's　time　for　bed；　Mr。　Richard？〃　one　of　the　men　ventured　to　suggest。

〃No！〃　roared　the　ex…convict；　emphatically；　〃I　don't！　I've　gone　to　bed　at　daylight　far　too　long。　　We'll　have　'luminashon！　I'm　master　here。　Master　everything。　　Richard　'Vine's　my　name。　　Isn't　it；　Tomkins；　you　villain？〃

〃Oh…h…h！　Yes；　Mr。　Richard。〃

〃Course　it　is；　and　make　you　know　it　too！　I'm　no　painter…picture；　crockery　chap。　　I'm　genelman！　Genelman　seen　the　world！　　Knows　what's　what。　There　ain't　much　I　ain't　fly　to。　　Wait　till　the　old　woman's　dead；　Tomkins；　and　you　shall　see！〃　More　swearing；　and　awful　threats　of　what　the　inebriate　would　do　when　he　was　in　possession。　　〃Bring　up　some　brandy！〃　　Crash　goes　the　bottle　in　the　fire…place。　　〃Light　up　the　droring…rooms；　we'll　have　dance！　I'm　drunk！　What's　that？　　If　you'd　gone　through　what　I　have；　you'd　be　glad　to　be　drunk。　　I　look　a　fool〃this　to　his　image　in　another　glass。　〃I　ain't　though；　or　I　wouldn't　be　here。　　Curse　you；　you　grinning　idiot〃　crash　goes　his　fist　through　the　mirror〃don't　grin　at　me。　　Play　up　there！　Where's　old　woman？　　Fetch　her　out　and　let's　dance！〃

〃Lady　Devine　has　gone　to　bed；　Mr。　Richard；〃　cried　Tomkins；　aghast；　attempting　to　bar　the　passage　to　the　upper　regions。

〃Then　let's　have　her　out　o'　bed；〃　cried　John　Rex；　plunging　to　the　door。

Tomkins；　attempting　to　restrain　him；　is　instantly　hurled　into　a　cabinet　of　rare　china；　and　the　drunken　brute　essays　the　stairs。　　The　other　servants　seize　him。　　He　curses　and　fights　like　a　demon。　　Doors　bang　open；　lights　gleam；　maids　hover；　horrified；　asking　if　it's　〃fire？〃　and　begging　for　it　to　be　〃put　out〃。　　The　whole　house　is　in　an　uproar；　in　the　midst　of　which　Lady　Devine　appears；　and　looks　down　upon　the　scene。　　Rex　catches　sight　of　her；　and　bursts　into　blasphemy。　　She　withdraws；　strangely　terrified；　and　the　animal；　torn；　bloody；　and　blasphemous；　is　at　last　got　into　his　own　apartments；　the　groom；　whose　face　had　been　seriously　damaged　in　the　encounter；　bestowing　a　hearty　kick　on　the　prostrate　carcase　at　parting。

The　next　morning　Lady　Devine　declined　to　see　her　son；　though　he　sent　a　special　apology　to　her。

〃I　am　afraid　I　was　a　little　overcome　by　wine　last　night；〃　said　he　to　Tomkins。　〃Well；　you　was；　sir；〃　said　Tomkins。

〃A　very　little　wine　makes　me　quite　ill；　Tomkins。　　Did　I　do　anything　very　violent？〃

〃You　was　rather　obstropolous；　Mr。　Richard。〃

〃Here's　a　sovereign　for　you；　Tomkins。　　Did　I　say　anything？〃

〃You　cussed　a　good　deal；　Mr。　Richard。　　Most　gents　do　when　they've　bin　humdining　out；　Mr。　Richard。〃

〃What　a　fool　I　am；〃　thought　John　Rex；　as　he　dressed。　　〃I　shall　spoil　everything　if　I　don't　take　care。〃　He　was　right。　　He　was　going　the　right　way　to　spoil　everything。　　However；　for　this　bout　he　made　amends…　money　soothed　the　servants'　hall；　and　apologies　and　time　won　Lady　Devine's　forgiveness。

〃I　cannot　yet　conform　to　English　habits；　my　dear　mother；〃　said　Rex；　〃and　feel　at　times　out　of　place　in