the chaperon-第11章
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had taken Lord Whiteroy's yacht and were going to Constantinople。
His mother and the girls； poor things； were at the Grand Hotel； but
he was on the yacht with the Veseys； where they had Lord Whiteroy's
cook。 Wasn't the food in Venice filthy； and wouldn't they come and
look at the yacht？ She wasn't very fast； but she was awfully jolly。
His mother might have come if she would； but she wouldn't at first；
and now； when she wanted to； there were other people； who naturally
wouldn't turn out for her。 Mr。 Mangler sat down； he alluded with
artless resentment to the way； in July； the door of his friends had
been closed to him。 He was going to Constantinople； but he didn't
careif THEY were going anywhere； meanwhile his mother hoped awfully
they would look her up。
Lady Maresfield； if she had given her son any such message； which
Rose disbelieved； entertained her hope in a manner compatible with
her sitting for half an hour； surrounded by her little retinue；
without glancing in the direction of Mrs。 Tramore。 The girl；
however； was aware that this was not a good enough instance of their
humiliation； inasmuch as it was rather she who； on the occasion of
their last contact； had held off from Lady Maresfield。 She was a
little ashamed now of not having answered the note in which this
affable personage ignored her mother。 She couldn't help perceiving
indeed a dim movement on the part of some of the other members of the
group； she made out an attitude of observation in the high…plumed
head of Mrs。 Vaughan…Vesey。 Mrs。 Vesey； perhaps； might have been
looking at Captain Jay； for as this gentleman walked back to the
hotel with our young lady （they were at the 〃Britannia；〃 and young
Mangler； who clung to them； went in front with Mrs。 Tramore） he
revealed to Rose that he had some acquaintance with Lady Maresfield's
eldest daughter； though he didn't know and didn't particularly want
to know； her ladyship。 He expressed himself with more acerbity than
she had ever heard him use （Christian charity so generally governed
his speech） about the young donkey who had been prattling to them。
They separated at the door of the hotel。 Mrs。 Tramore had got rid of
Mr。 Mangler； and Bertram Jay was in other quarters。
〃If you know Mrs。 Vesey； why didn't you go and speak to her？ I'm
sure she saw you；〃 Rose said。
Captain Jay replied even more circumspectly than usual。 〃Because I
didn't want to leave you。〃
〃Well； you can go now； you're free；〃 Rose rejoined。
〃Thank you。 I shall never go again。〃
〃That won't be civil；〃 said Rose。
〃I don't care to be civil。 I don't like her。〃
〃Why don't you like her？〃
〃You ask too many questions。〃
〃I know I do；〃 the girl acknowledged。
Captain Jay had already shaken hands with her； but at this he put out
his hand again。 〃She's too worldly；〃 he murmured； while he held Rose
Tramore's a moment。
〃Ah； you dear！〃 Rose exclaimed almost audibly as； with her mother；
she turned away。
The next morning； upon the Grand Canal； the gondola of our three
friends encountered a stately barge which； though it contained
several persons； seemed pervaded mainly by one majestic presence。
During the instant the gondolas were passing each other it was
impossible either for Rose Tramore or for her companions not to
become conscious that this distinguished identity had markedly
inclined itselfa circumstance commemorated the next moment； almost
within earshot of the other boat； by the most spontaneous cry that
had issued for many a day from the lips of Mrs。 Tramore。 〃Fancy； my
dear； Lady Maresfield has bowed to us！〃
〃We ought to have returned it；〃 Rose answered； but she looked at
Bertram Jay； who was opposite to her。 He blushed； and she blushed；
and during this moment was born a deeper understanding than had yet
existed between these associated spirits。 It had something to do
with their going together that afternoon； without her mother； to look
at certain out…of…the…way pictures as to which Ruskin had inspired
her with a desire to see sincerely。 Mrs。 Tramore expressed the wish
to stay at home； and the motive of this wisha finer shade than any
that even Ruskin had ever found a phrase forwas not translated into
misrepresenting words by either the mother or the daughter。 At San
Giovanni in Bragora the girl and her companion came upon Mrs。
Vaughan…Vesey； who； with one of her sisters； was also endeavouring to
do the earnest thing。 She did it to Rose； she did it to Captain Jay；
as well as to Gianbellini； she was a handsome； long…necked； aquiline
person； of a different type from the rest of her family； and she did
it remarkably well。 She secured our friendsit was her own
expressionfor luncheon； on the morrow； on the yacht； and she made
it public to Rose that she would come that afternoon to invite her
mother。 When the girl returned to the hotel； Mrs。 Tramore mentioned；
before Captain Jay； who had come up to their sitting…room； that Lady
Maresfield had called。 〃She stayed a long timeat least it seemed
long！〃 laughed Mrs。 Tramore。
The poor lady could laugh freely now； yet there was some grimness in
a colloquy that she had with her daughter after Bertram Jay had
departed。 Before this happened Mrs。 Vesey's card； scrawled over in
pencil and referring to the morrow's luncheon； was brought up to Mrs。
Tramore。
〃They mean it all as a bribe；〃 said the principal recipient of these
civilities。
〃As a bribe？〃 Rose repeated。
〃She wants to marry you to that boy； they've seen Captain Jay and
they're frightened。〃
〃Well； dear mamma； I can't take Mr。 Mangler for a husband。〃
〃Of course not。 But oughtn't we to go to the luncheon？〃
〃Certainly we'll go to the luncheon；〃 Rose said； and when the affair
took place； on the morrow； she could feel for the first time that she
was taking her mother out。 This appearance was somehow brought home
to every one else； and it was really the agent of her success。 For
it is of the essence of this simple history that； in the first place；
that success dated from Mrs。 Vesey's Venetian dejeuner； and in the
second reposed； by a subtle social logic； on the very anomaly that
had made it dubious。 There is always a chance in things； and Rose
Tramore's chance was in the fact that Gwendolen Vesey was； as some
one had said； awfully modern； an immense improvement on the exploded
science of her mother； and capable of seeing what a 〃draw〃 there
would be in the comedy； if properly brought out； of the reversed
positions of Mrs。 Tramore and Mrs。 Tramore's diplomatic daughter。
With a first…rate managerial eye she perceived that people would
flock into any roomand all the more into one of hersto see Rose
bring in her dreadful mother。 She treated the cream of English
society to this thrilling spectacle later in the autumn； when she
once more 〃secured〃 both the performers for a week at Brimble。 It
made a hit on the spot； the very first eveningthe girl was felt to
play her part so well。 The rumour of the performance spread； every
one wanted to see it。 It was an entertainment of which； that winter
in the country； and the next season in town； persons of taste desired
to give their friends the freshness。 The thing was to make the
Tramores come late； after every one had arrived。 They were engaged
for a fixed hour； like the American imitator and the Patagonian
contralto。 Mrs。 Vesey had been the first to say the girl was awfully
original； but that became the general view。
Gwendolen Vesey had with her mother one of the few quarrels in which
Lady Maresfield had really stood up to such an antagonist （the elder
woman had to recognise in general in whose veins it was that the
blood of the Manglers flowed） on account of this very circumstance of
her attaching more importance to Miss Tramore's originality （〃Her
originality be hanged！〃 her ladyship had gone so far as
unintelligently to exclaim） than to the prospects of the unfortunate
Guy。 Mrs。 Vesey actually lost sight of these pressing problems in
her admiration of the way the mother and the daughter； or rather the
daughter and the mother （it was slightly confusing） 〃drew。〃 It was
Lady Maresfield's version of the case that the brazen girl （she was
shoc
