the chaperon-第9章
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Homburg； and somehow it was inveterately only gentlemen who sat next
to her at the table d'hote at Cadenabbia。 Gentlemen had never been
of any use to Mrs。 Tramore for getting back into society； they had
only helped her effectually to get out of it。 She once dropped； to
her daughter； in a moralising mood； the remark that it was
astonishing how many of them one could know without its doing one any
good。 Fifty of themeven very clever onesrepresented a value
inferior to that of one stupid woman。 Rose wondered at the offhand
way in which her mother could talk of fifty clever men； it seemed to
her that the whole world couldn't contain such a number。 She had a
sombre sense that mankind must be dull and mean。 These cogitations
took place in a cold hotel； in an eternal Swiss rain； and they had a
flat echo in the transalpine valleys； as the lonely ladies went
vaguely down to the Italian lakes and cities。 Rose guided their
course； at moments； with a kind of aimless ferocity； she moved
abruptly； feeling vulgar and hating their life； though destitute of
any definite vision of another life that would have been open to her。
She had set herself a task and she clung to it； but she appeared to
herself despicably idle。 She had succeeded in not going to Homburg
waters； where London was trying to wash away some of its stains； that
would be too staring an advertisement of their situation。 The main
difference in situations to her now was the difference of being more
or less pitied； at the best an intolerable danger； so that the places
she preferred were the unsuspicious ones。 She wanted to triumph with
contempt； not with submission。
One morning in September； coming with her mother out of the marble
church at Milan； she perceived that a gentleman who had just passed
her on his way into the cathedral and whose face she had not noticed；
had quickly raised his hat； with a suppressed ejaculation。 She
involuntarily glanced back； the gentleman had paused； again
uncovering； and Captain Jay stood saluting her in the Italian
sunshine。 〃Oh； good…morning！〃 she said； and walked on； pursuing her
course； her mother was a little in front。 She overtook her in a
moment； with an unreasonable sense； like a gust of cold air； that men
were worse than ever； for Captain Jay had apparently moved into the
church。 Her mother turned as they met； and suddenly； as she looked
back； an expression of peculiar sweetness came into this lady's eyes。
It made Rose's take the same direction and rest a second time on
Captain Jay； who was planted just where he had stood a minute before。
He immediately came forward； asking Rose with great gravity if he
might speak to her a moment； while Mrs。 Tramore went her way again。
He had the expression of a man who wished to say something very
important； yet his next words were simple enough and consisted of the
remark that he had not seen her for a year。
〃Is it really so much as that？〃 asked Rose。
〃Very nearly。 I would have looked you up； but in the first place I
have been very little in London； and in the second I believed it
wouldn't have done any good。〃
〃You should have put that first；〃 said the girl。 〃It wouldn't have
done any good。〃
He was silent over this a moment； in his customary deciphering way；
but the view he took of it did not prevent him from inquiring； as she
slowly followed her mother； if he mightn't walk with her now。 She
answered with a laugh that it wouldn't do any good but that he might
do as he liked。 He replied without the slightest manifestation of
levity that it would do more good than if he didn't； and they
strolled together； with Mrs。 Tramore well before them； across the
big； amusing piazza； where the front of the cathedral makes a sort of
builded light。 He asked a question or two and he explained his own
presence： having a month's holiday； the first clear time for several
years； he had just popped over the Alps。 He inquired if Rose had
recent news of the old lady in Hill Street； and it was the only
tortuous thing she had ever heard him say。
〃I have had no communication of any kind from her since I parted with
you under her roof。 Hasn't she mentioned that？〃 said Rose。
〃I haven't seen her。〃
〃I thought you were such great friends。〃
Bertram Jay hesitated a moment。 〃Well； not so much now。〃
〃What has she done to you？〃 Rose demanded。
He fidgeted a little； as if he were thinking of something that made
him unconscious of her question； then； with mild violence； he brought
out the inquiry： 〃Miss Tramore； are you happy？〃
She was startled by the words； for she on her side had been
reflectingreflecting that he had broken with her grandmother and
that this pointed to a reason。 It suggested at least that he
wouldn't now be so much like a mouthpiece for that cold ancestral
tone。 She turned off his questionsaid it never was a fair one； as
you gave yourself away however you answered it。 When he repeated
〃You give yourself away？〃 as if he didn't understand； she remembered
that he had not read the funny American books。 This brought them to
a silence； for she had enlightened him only by another laugh； and he
was evidently preparing another question； which he wished carefully
to disconnect from the former。 Presently； just as they were coming
near Mrs。 Tramore； it arrived in the words 〃Is this lady your
mother？〃 On Rose's assenting； with the addition that she was
travelling with her； he said： 〃Will you be so kind as to introduce
me to her？〃 They were so close to Mrs。 Tramore that she probably
heard； but she floated away with a single stroke of her paddle and an
inattentive poise of her head。 It was a striking exhibition of the
famous tact； for Rose delayed to answer； which was exactly what might
have made her mother wish to turn； and indeed when at last the girl
spoke she only said to her companion： 〃Why do you ask me that？〃
〃Because I desire the pleasure of making her acquaintance。〃
Rose had stopped； and in the middle of the square they stood looking
at each other。 〃Do you remember what you said to me the last time I
saw you？〃
〃Oh； don't speak of that！〃
〃It's better to speak of it now than to speak of it later。〃
Bertram Jay looked round him； as if to see whether any one would
hear； but the bright foreignness gave him a sense of safety； and he
unexpectedly exclaimed： 〃Miss Tramore； I love you more than ever！〃
〃Then you ought to have come to see us；〃 declared the girl； quickly
walking on。
〃You treated me the last time as if I were positively offensive to
you。〃
〃So I did； but you know my reason。〃
〃Because I protested against the course you were taking？ I did； I
did！〃 the young man rang out； as if he still； a little； stuck to
that。
His tone made Rose say gaily： 〃Perhaps you do so yet？〃
〃I can't tell till I've seen more of your circumstances；〃 he replied
with eminent honesty。
The girl stared； her light laugh filled the air。 〃And it's in order
to see more of them and judge that you wish to make my mother's
acquaintance？〃
He coloured at this and he evaded； then he broke out with a confused
〃Miss Tramore； let me stay with you a little！〃 which made her stop
again。
〃Your company will do us great honour； but there must be a rigid
condition attached to our acceptance of it。〃
〃Kindly mention it；〃 said Captain Jay； staring at the facade of the
cathedral。
〃You don't take us on trial。〃
〃On trial？〃
〃You don't make an observation to menot a single one； ever； ever！
on the matter that； in Hill Street； we had our last words about。〃
Captain Jay appeared to be counting the thousand pinnacles of the
church。 〃I think you really must be right；〃 he remarked at last。
〃There you are！〃 cried Rose Tramore； and walked rapidly away。
He caught up with her； he laid his hand upon her arm to stay her。
〃If you're going to Venice； let me go to Venice with you！〃
〃You don't even understand my condition。〃
〃I'm sure you're right； then： you must be right about everything。〃
〃That's not in the least true； and I don't care a fig whether you're
sure or not。 Please let me go。〃
He had barred her way； he kept her longer。 〃I'll go and speak to
your mother mys
