lucile-第3章
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ites； Whom necessity； not inclination； unites。
ALFRED。
Indeed！
JOHN。
When she broke off with you Her engagement； her heart did not break with it？
ALFRED。
Pooh！ Pray would you have had her dress always in black； And shut herself up in a convent； dear Jack？ Besides； 'twas my fault the engagement was broken。
JOHN。
Most likely。 How was it？
ALFRED。
The tale is soon spoken。 She bored me。 I show'd it。 She saw it。 What next？ She reproach'd。 I retorted。 Of course she was vex'd。 I was vex'd that she was so。 She sulk'd。 So did I。 If I ask'd her to sing； she look'd ready to cry。 I was contrite； submissive。 She soften'd。 I harden'd。 At noon I was banish'd。 At eve I was pardon'd。 She said I had no heart。 I said she had no reason。 I swore she talk'd nonsense。 She sobb'd I talk'd treason。 In short； my dear fellow； 'twas time； as you see； Things should come to a crisis； and finish。 'Twas she By whom to that crisis the matter was brought。 She released me。 I linger'd。 I linger'd； she thought； With too sullen an aspect。 This gave me； of course； The occasion to fly in a rage； mount my horse； And declare myself uncomprehended。 And so We parted。 The rest of the story you know。
JOHN。
No； indeed。
ALFRED。
Well； we parted。 Of course we could not Continue to meet； as before； in one spot。 You conceive it was awkward？ Even Don Ferdinando Can do； you remember； no more than he can do。 I think that I acted exceedingly well； Considering the time when this rupture befell； For Paris was charming just then。 It deranged All my plans for the winter。 I ask'd to be changed Wrote for Naples； then vacantobtain'd itand so Join'd my new post at once； but scarce reach'd it； when lo！ My first news from Paris informs me Lucile Is ill； and in danger。 Conceive what I feel。 I fly back。 I find her recover'd； but yet Looking pale。 I am seized with a contrite regret； I ask to renew the engagement。
JOHN。
And she？
ALFRED。
Reflects； but declines。 We part； swearing to be Friends ever； friends only。 All that sort of thing！ We each keep our letters 。 。 。 a portrait 。 。 。 a ring 。 。 。 With a pledge to return them whenever the one Or the other shall call for them back。
JOHN。
Pray go on。
ALFRED。
My story is finish'd。 Of course I enjoin On Lucile all those thousand good maxims we coin To supply the grim deficit found in our days； When love leaves them bankrupt。 I preach。 She obeys。 She goes out in the world； takes to dancing once more A pleasure she rarely indulged in before。 I go back to my post； and collect （I must own 'Tis a taste I had never before； my dear John） Antiques and small Elzevirs。 Heigho！ now； Jack； You know all。
JOHN （after a pause）。
You are really resolved to go。 back？
ALFRED。
Eh； where？
JOHN。
To that worst of all placesthe past。 You remember Lot's wife？
ALFRED。
'Twas a promise when last We parted。 My honor is pledged to it。
JOHN。
Well； What is it you wish me to do？
ALFRED。
You must tell Matilda； I meant to have call'dto leave word To explainbut the time was so pressing
JOHN。
My lord； Your lordship's obedient！ I really can't do 。 。 。
ALFRED。
You wish then to break off my marriage？
JOHN。
No； no！ But indeed I can't see why yourself you need take These letters。
ALFRED。
Not see？ would you have me； then； break A promise my honor is pledged to？
JOHN （humming）。
〃Off； off And away！ said the stranger〃 。 。 。
ALFRED。
Oh； good！ oh； you scoff！
JOHN。
At what； my dear Alfred？
ALFRED。
At all things！ JOHN。 Indeed？
ALFRED。
Yes； I see that your heart is as dry as a reed： That the dew of your youth is rubb'd off you： I see You have no feeling left in you； even for me！ At honor you jest； you are cold as a stone To the warm voice of friendship。 Belief you have none； You have lost faith in all things。 You carry a blight About with you everywhere。 Yes； at the sight Of such callous indifference； who could be calm？ I must leave you at once； Jack； or else the last balm That is left me in Gilead you'll turn into gall。 Heartless； cold； unconcern'd 。 。 。
JOHN。
Have you done？ Is that all？ Well； then； listen to me！ I presume when you made up your mind to propose to Miss Darcy； you weigh'd All the drawbacks against the equivalent gains； Ere you finally settled the point。 What remains But to stick to your choice？ You want money： 'tis here。 A settled position： 'tis yours。 A career： You secure it。 A wife； young； and pretty as rich； Whom all men will envy you。 Why must you itch To be running away； on the eve of all this； To a woman whom never for once did you miss All these years since you left her？ Who knows what may hap？ This letterto MEis a palpable trap。 The woman has changed since you knew her。 Perchance She yet seeks to renew her youth's broken romance。 When women begin to feel youth and their beauty Slip from them； they count it a sort of a duty To let nothing else slip away unsecured Which these； while they lasted； might once have procured。 Lucile's a coquette to the end of her fingers； I will stake my last farthing。 Perhaps the wish lingers To recall the once reckless； indifferent lover To the feet he has left； let intrigue now recover What truth could not keep。 'Twere a vengeance； no doubt A triumph；but why must YOU bring it about？ You are risking the substance of all that you schemed To obtain； and for what？ some mad dream you have dream'd。
ALFRED。
But there's nothing to risk。 You exaggerate； Jack； You mistake。 In three days； at the most； I am back。
JOHN。
Ay； but how？ 。 。 。 discontented； unsettled； upset； Bearing with you a comfortless twinge of regret。 Preoccupied； sulky； and likely enough To make your betroth'd break off all in a huff。 Three days； do you say？ But in three days who knows What may happen？ I don't； nor do you； I suppose。
V。
Of all the good things in this good world around us； The one most abundantly furnish'd and found us； And which； for that reason； we least care about； And can best spare our friends； is good counsel； no doubt。 But advice； when 'tis sought from a friend （though civility May forbid to avow it）； means mere liability In the bill we already have drawn on Remorse； Which we deem that a true friend is bound to indorse。 A mere lecture on debt from that friend is a bore。 Thus； the better his cousin's advice was； the more Alfred Vargrave with angry resentment opposed it。 And； having the worst of the contest； he closed it With so firm a resolve his bad ground to maintain； That； sadly perceiving resistance was vain； And argument fruitless； the amiable Jack Came to terms and assisted his cousin to pack A slender valise （the one small condescension Which his final remonstrance obtain'd）； whose dimension Excluded large outfits； and； cursing his stars； he Shook hands with his friend and return'd to Miss Darcy。
VI。
Lord Alfred； when last to the window he turn'd； Ere he lock'd up and quitted his chamber； discern'd Matilda ride by； with her cheek beaming bright In what Virgil has call'd； 〃Youth's purpureal light〃 （I like the expression； and can't find a better）。 He sigh'd as he look'd at her。 Did he regret her？ In her habit and hat； with her glad golden hair； As airy and blithe as a blithe bird in air； And her arch rosy lips； and her eager blue eyes； With her little impertinent look of surprise； And her round youthful figure； and fair neck； below The dark drooping feather； as radiant as snow； I can only declare； that if I had the chance Of passing three days in the exquisite glance Of those eyes； or caressing the hand that now petted That fine English mare； I should much have reg
