the man between(夹在中间的人)-第4章
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must defend me； that I was not ‘sly；' and Basil was not ‘a sneak；' and
father kissed me； and said he would settle with any man； and every man；
who presumed to call me either sly or a flirt。〃
〃I think Mr。 Denning acted beautifully。 What did Bryce say？〃
〃He turned to Basil； and said： ‘Mr。 Stanhope； if you are not a cad； you
will leave the house。 You have no right to intrude yourself into family
affairs and family quarrels。' Basil had seated mother； and was standing
with one hand on the back of her chair； and he did not answer Brycethere
was no need； father answered quick enough。 He said Mr。 Stanhope had
asked to become one of the family； and for his part he would welcome him
freely； and then he asked mother if she was of his mind； and mother
smiled and reached her hand backward to Basil。 Then father kissed me
again； and somehow Basil's arm was round me； and I know I looked
lovely almost like a bride！ Oh； Ethel； it was just heavenly！〃
〃I am sure it was。 Did Bryce leave the room then？〃
〃Yes； he went out in a passion； declaring he would never notice me
again。 This morning at breakfast I said I was sorry Bryce felt so hurt； but
father was sure Bryce would find plenty of consolation in the fact that his
disapproval of my choice would excuse him from giving me a wedding
present。 You know Bryce is a mean little miser！〃
〃On the contrary； I thought he was very； luxurious and extravagant。〃
〃Where Bryce is concerned； yes； toward everyone else his conduct is
too mean to consider。 Why； father makes him an allowance of 20；000 a
year and he empties father's cigar boxes whenever he can do so without
〃
〃Let us talk about Mr。 Stanhope he is far more interesting。 When are
you going to marry him？〃
〃In the Spring。 Father is going to give me some money and I have the
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fortune Grandmother Cahill left me。 It has been well invested； and father
told me this morning I was a fairly rich little woman。 Basil has some
private fortune； also his stipendwe shall do very well。 Basil's family is
one of the finest among the old Boston aristocrats； and he is closely
connected with the English Stanhopes； who rank with the greatest of the
nobility。〃
〃I wish Americans would learn to rely on their own nobility。 I am tired
of their everlasting attempts to graft on some English noble family。 No
matter how great or clever a man may be； you are sure to read of his
descent from some Scottish chief or English earl。〃
〃They can't help their descent； Ethel。〃
〃They need not pin all they have done on to it。 Often father frets me in
the same way。 If he wins a difficult case； he does it naturally； because he is
a Rawdon。 He is handsome； gentlemanly； honorable； even a perfect
horseman； all because； being a Rawdon； he was by nature and inheritance
compelled to such perfection。 It is very provoking； Dora； and if I were you
I would not allow Basil to begin a song about ‘the English Stanhopes。'
Aunt Ruth and I get very tired often of the English Rawdons； and are
really thankful for the separating Atlantic。〃
〃I don't think I shall feel in that way； Ethel。 I like the nobility； so does
father； he says the Dennings are a fine old family。〃
〃Why talk of genealogies when there is such a man as Basil Stanhope
to consider？ Let us grant him perfection and agree that he is to marry you
in the Spring； well then； there is the ceremony； and the wedding garments！
Of course it is to be a church wedding？〃
〃We shall be married in Basil's own church。 I can hardly eat or sleep
for thinking of the joy and the triumph of it！ There will be women there
ready to eat their hearts with envyI believe indeed； Ethel； that every
woman in the church is in love with Basil。〃
〃You have said that before； and I am sure you are wrong。 A great many
of them are married and are in love with their own husbands； and the kind
of girls who go to St。 Jude's are not the kind who marry clergymen。 Mr。
Stanhope's whole income would hardly buy their gloves and parasols。〃
〃I don't think you are pleased that I am going to marry。 You must not
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be jealous of Basil。 I shall love you just the same。〃
〃Under no conditions； Dora； would I allow jealousy to trouble my life。
All the same； you will not love me after your marriage as you have loved
me in the past。 I shall not expect it。〃
Passionate denials of this assertion； reminiscences of the past；
assurances for the future followed； and Ethel accepted them without
dispute and without faith。 But she understood that the mere circumstance
of her engagement was all that Dora could manage at present； and that the
details of the marriage merged themselves constantly in the wonderful fact
that Basil Stanhope loved her； and that some time； not far off； she was
going to be his wife。 This joyful certainty filled her heart and her
comprehension； and she had a natural reluctance to subject it to the details
of the social and religious ceremonies necessary； Such things permitted
others to participate in her joy； and she resented the idea。 For a time she
wished to keep her lover in a world where no other thought might trouble
the thought of Dora。
Ethel understood her friend's mood； and was rather relieved when her
carriage arrived。 She felt that her presence was preventing Dora's absolute
surrender of herself to thoughts of her lover； and all the way home she
marveled at the girl's infatuation； and wondered if it would be possible for
her to fall into such a dotage of love for any man。 She answered this query
positively 〃No； if I should lose my heart； I shall not therefore lose my
head〃and then； before she could finish assuring herself of her
determinate wisdom； some mocking lines she had often quoted to love…
sick girls went laughing through her memory
〃O Woman！ Woman！ O our frail； frail sex！ No wonder tragedies
are made from us！ Always the samenothing but loves and cradles。〃
She found Ruth Bayard dressed for dinner； but her father was not
present。 That was satisfactory； for he was always a little impatient when
the talk was of lovers and weddings； and just then this topic was
uppermost in Ethel's mind。
〃Ruth；〃 she said； 〃Dora is engaged；〃 and then in a few sentences she
told the little romance Dora had lived for the past year； and its happy
culmination。 〃Setting money aside； I think he will make a very suitable
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husband。 What do you think； Ruth？〃
〃From what I know of Mr。 Stanhope； I should doubt it。 I am sure he
will put his duties before every earthly thing； and I am sure Dora will
object to that。 Then I wonder if Dora is made on a pattern large enough to
be the moneyed partner in matrimony。 I should think Mr。 Stanhope was a
proud man
