lucile-第10章
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rested Unreclaim'd in your hands。〃 A reproach seem'd suggested By these words。 To meet it； Lord Alfred look'd up （His gaze had been fix'd on a blue Sevres cup With a look of profound connoisseurshipa smile Of singular interest and care； all this while。） He look'd up； and look'd long in the face of Lucile； To mark if that face by a sign would reveal At the thought of Miss Darcy the least jealous pain。 He look'd keenly and long； yet he look'd there in vain。 〃You are generous； Madam；〃 he murmur'd at last； And into his voice a light irony pass'd。 He had look'd for reproaches； and fully arranged His forces。 But straightway the enemy changed The position。
XIII。
〃Come！〃 gayly Lucile interposed； With a smile whose divinely deep sweetness disclosed Some depth in her nature he never had known； While she tenderly laid her light hand on his own； 〃Do not think I abuse the occasion。 We gain Justice； judgment； with years； or else years are in vain。 From me not a single reproach can you hear。 I have sinn'd to myselfto the worldnay； I fear To you chiefly。 The woman who loves should； indeed； Be the friend of the man that she loves。 She should heed Not her selfish and often mistaken desires； But his interest whose fate her own interest inspires； And rather than seek to allure； for her sake； His life down the turbulent； fanciful wake Of impossible destinies； use all her art That his place in the world find its place in her heart。 I； alas！I perceived not this truth till too late； I tormented your youth； I have darken'd your fate。 Forgive me the ill I have done for the sake Of its long expiation！〃
XIV。
Lord Alfred； awake； Seem'd to wander from dream on to dream。 In that seat Where he sat as a criminal； ready to meet His accuser； he found himself turn'd by some change； As surprising and all unexpected as strange； To the judge from whose mercy indulgence was sought。 All the world's foolish pride in that moment was naught； He felt all his plausible theories posed； And； thrill'd by the beauty of nature disclosed In the pathos of all he had witness'd； his head He bow'd； and faint words self…reproachfully said； As he lifted her hand to his lips。 'Twas a hand White； delicate； dimpled； warm； languid； and bland。 The hand of a woman is often； in youth； Somewhat rough； somewhat red； somewhat graceless； in truth； Does its beauty refine； as its pulses grow calm； Or as Sorrow has cross'd the life…line in the palm？
XV。
The more that he look'd； that he listen'd； the more He discover'd perfections unnoticed before。 Less salient than once； less poetic； perchance； This woman who thus had survived the romance That had made him its hero； and breathed him its sighs； Seem'd more charming a thousand times o'er to his eyes。 Together they talk'd of the years since when last They parted； contrasting the present； the past。 Yet no memory marr'd their light converse。 Lucile Question'd much； with the interest a sister might feel； Of Lord Alfred's new life；of Miss Darcyher face； Her temper； accomplishmentspausing to trace The advantage derived from a hymen so fit。 Of herself； she recounted with humor and wit Her journeys； her daily employments； the lands She had seen； and the books she had read； and the hands She had shaken。 In all that she said there appear'd An amiable irony。 Laughing； she rear'd The temple of reason； with ever a touch Of light scorn at her work； reveal'd only so much As their gleams； in the thyrsus that Bacchanals bear； Through the blooms of a garland the point of a spear。 But above； and beneath； and beyond all of this； To that soul； whose experience had paralyzed bliss； A benignant indulgence； to all things resign'd； A justice； a sweetness； a meekness of mind； Gave a luminous beauty； as tender and faint And serene as the halo encircling a saint。
XVI。
Unobserved by Lord Alfred the time fleeted by。 To each novel sensation spontaneously He abandon'd himself with that ardor so strange Which belongs to a mind grown accustom'd to change。 He sought； with well…practised and delicate art； To surprise from Lucile the true state of her heart； But his efforts were vain； and the woman； as ever； More adroit than the man； baffled every endeavor。 When he deem'd he had touch'd on some chord in her being； At the touch it dissolved； and was gone。 Ever fleeing As ever he near it advanced； when he thought To have seized； and proceeded to analyze aught Of the moral existence； the absolute soul； Light as vapor the phantom escaped his control。
XVII。
From the hall； on a sudden； a sharp ring was heard。 In the passage without a quick footstep there stirr'd； At the door knock'd the negress； and thrust in her head； 〃The Duke de Luvois had just enter'd；〃 she said； 〃And insisted〃 〃The Duke！〃 cried Lucile （as she spoke； The Duke's step； approaching； a light echo woke）。 〃Say I do not receive till the evening。 Explain；〃 As she glanced at Lord Alfred； she added again； 〃I have business of private importance。〃 There came O'er Lord Alfred at once； at the sound of that name； An invincible sense of vexation。 He turn'd To Lucile； and he fancied he faintly discern'd On her face an indefinite look of confusion。 On his mind instantaneously flash'd the conclusion That his presence had caused it。 He said； with a sneer Which he could not repress； 〃Let not ME interfere With the claims on your time； lady！ when you are free From more pleasant engagements； allow me to see And to wait on you later。〃 The words were not said Ere he wish'd to recall them。 He bitterly read The mistake he had made in Lucile's flashing eye。 Inclining her head as in haughty reply； More reproachful perchance than all utter'd rebuke； She said merely； resuming her seat； 〃Tell the Duke He may enter。〃 And vex'd with his own words and hers； Alfred Vargrave bow'd low to Lucile de Nevers； Pass'd the casement and enter'd the garden。 Before His shadow was fled the Duke stood at the door。
XVIII。
When left to his thoughts in the garden alone； Alfred Vargrave stood； strange to himself。 With dull tone Of importance； through cities of rose and carnation； Went the bee on his business from station to station。 The minute mirth of summer was shrill all around； Its incessant small voices like stings seem'd to sound On his sore angry sense。 He stood grieving the hot Solid sun with his shadow； nor stirr'd from the spot。 The last look of Lucile still bewilder'd； perplex'd； And reproach'd him。 The Duke's visit goaded and vex'd。 He had not yet given the letters。 Again He must visit Lucile。 He resolved to remain Where he was till the Duke went。 In short； he would stay； Were it only to know when the Duke went away。 But just as he form'd this resolve； he perceived Approaching towards him； between the thick…leaved And luxuriant laurels； Lucile and the Duke。 Thus surprised； his first thought was to seek for some nook Whence he might； unobserved； from the garden retreat。 They had not yet seen him。 The sound of their feet And their voices had warn'd him in time。 They were walking Towards him。 The Duke （a true Frenchman） was talking With the action of Talma。 He saw at a glance That they barr'd the sole path to the gateway。 No chance Of escape save in instant concealment！ Deep…dipp'd In thick foliage； an arbor stood near。 In he slipp'd； Saved from sight； as in front of that ambush they pass'd； Still conversing。 Beneath a laburnum at last They paused； and sat down on a bench in the shade； So close that he could not but hear what they said。
XIX。
LUCILE。
Duke； I scarcely conceive 。 。 。
LUVOIS。
Ah！ forgive！ 。 。 。 I desired So deeply to see you to…day。 You retired So early last night from the ball 。 。 。 this whole week I have seen you pale； silent； preoccupied 。 。 。 speak； Speak； Lucile； and forgive me！ 。 。 。 I know that I am A rash foolbut I love you！ I love you； Madame。 More than language can say！ Do not deem； O Lucile； That the love I no longer have strength to conceal Is a passing caprice！ It is strange to my nature； It has made me； unknown to myself； a new
