an unsocial socialist-第39节

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amiable　under　the　influence　of　hemlock　than　under　that　of　the
social　system　which　has　made　her　so　unhappy。〃

〃Well！〃　exclaimed　Gertrude；　outraged。　Then；　after　a　pause；　〃I　was
under　the　impression　that　I　had　accepted　the　escort　of　a
gentleman。〃　Then；　after　another　pause；　Trefusis　being　quite
undisturbed；　〃How　do　you　know　that　I　am　unhappy？〃

〃By　a　certain　defect　in　your　countenance；　which　lacks　the
crowning　beauty　of　happiness；　and　a　certain　defect　in　your　voice
which　will　never　disappear　until　you　learn　to　love　or　pity　those
to　whom　you　speak。〃

〃You　are　wrong；〃　said　Gertrude；　with　calm　disdain。　〃You　do　not
understand　me　in　the　least。　I　am　particularly　attached　to　my
friends。〃

〃Then　I　have　never　seen　you　in　their　company。〃

〃You　are　still　wrong。〃

〃Then　how　can　you　speak　as　you　do；　look　as　you　do；　act　as　you
do？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？　HOW　do　I　look　and　act？〃

〃Like　one　of　the　railings　of　Belgrave　Square；　cursed　with
consciousness　of　itself；　fears　of　the　judgment　of　the　other
railings；　and　doubts　of　their　fitness　to　stand　in　the　same　row
with　it。　You　are　cold；　mistrustful；　cruel　to　nervous　or　clumsy
people；　and　more　afraid　of　the　criticisms　of　those　with　whom　you
dance　and　dine　than　of　your　conscience。　All　of　which　prevents　you
from　looking　like　an　angel。〃

〃Thank　you。　Do　you　consider　paying　compliments　the　perfection　of
gentlemanly　behavior？〃

〃Have　I　been　paying　you　many？　That　last　remark　of　mine　was　not
meant　as　one。　On　my　honor；　the　angels　will　not　disappoint　me　if
they　are　no　lovelier　than　you　should　be　if　you　had　that　look　in
your　face　and　that　tone　in　your　voice　I　spoke　of　just　now。　It　can
hardly　displease　you　to　hear　that。　If　I　were　particularly
handsome　myself；　I　should　like　to　be　told　so。〃

〃I　am　sorry　I　cannot　tell　you　so。〃

〃Oh！　Ha！　ha！　What　a　retort；　Miss　Lindsay！　You　are　not　sorry
either；　you　are　rather　glad。〃

Gertrude　knew　it；　and　was　angry　with　herself；　not　because　her
retort　was　false；　but　because　she　thought　it　unladylike。　〃You
have　no　right　to　annoy　me；〃　she　exclaimed；　in　spite　of　herself。

〃None　whatever；〃　he　said；　humbly。　〃　If　I　have　done　so；　forgive　me
before　we　part。　I　will　go　no　further　with　you；　Max　will　give　the
alarm　if　you　faint　in　the　avenue；　which　I　don't　think　you　are
likely　to　do；　as　you　have　forgotten　all　about　the　hemlock。〃

〃Oh；　how　maddening！〃　she　cried。　〃I　have　left　my　basket　behind。〃

〃Never　mind；　I　will　find　it　and　have　it　filled　and　sent　to　you。〃

〃Thank　you。　I　am　sorry　to　trouble　you。〃

〃Not　at　all。　I　hope　you　do　not　want　the　hemlock　to　help　you　to
get　rid　of　the　burden　of　life。〃

〃Nonsense。　I　want　it　for　my　father；　who　uses　it　for　medicine。〃

〃I　will　bring　it　myself　to…morrow。　Is　that　soon　enough？〃

〃Quite。　I　am　in　no　hurry。　Thank　you；　Mr。　Trefusis。　Good…bye。〃

She　gave　him　her　hand；　and　even　smiled　a　little；　and　then　hurried
away。　He　stood　watching　her　as　she　passed　along　the　avenue　under
the　beeches。　Once；　when　she　came　into　a　band　of　sunlight　at　a　gap
in　the　trees；　she　made　so　pretty　a　figure　in　her　spring　dress　of
violet　and　white　that　his　eyes　kindled　as　he　gazed。　He　took　out
his　note…book；　and　entered　her　name　and　the　date；　with　a　brief
memorandum。

〃I　have　thawed　her；〃　he　said　to　himself　as　he　put　up　his　book。
〃She　shall　learn　a　lesson　or　two　to　hand　on　to　her　children
before　I　have　done　with　her。　A　trifle　underbred；　too；　or　she
would　not　insist　so　much　on　her　breeding。　Henrietta　used　to　wear
a　dress　like　that。　I　am　glad　to　see　that　there　is　no　danger　of
her　taking　to　me　personally。〃

He　turned　away；　and　saw　a　crone　passing；　bending　beneath　a　bundle
of　sticks。　He　eyed　it　curiously；　and　she　scowled　at　him　and
hurried　on。

〃Hallo；〃　he　said。

She　continued　for　a　few　steps；　but　her　courage　failed　her　and　she
stopped。

〃You　are　Mrs。　Hickling；　I　think？〃

〃Yes；　please　your　worship。〃

〃You　are　the　woman　who　carried　away　an　old　wooden　gate　that　lay
on　Sir　Charles　Brandon's　land　last　winter　and　used　it　for
firewood。　You　were　imprisoned　for　seven　days　for　it。〃

〃You　may　send　me　there　again　if　you　like；〃　she　retorted；　in　a
cracked　voice；　as　she　turned　at　bay。　〃But　the　Lord　will　make　me
even　with　you　some　day。　Cursed　be　them　that　oppress　the　poor　and
needy；　it　is　one　of　the　seven　deadly　sins。〃

〃Those　green　laths　on　your　back　are　the　remainder　of　my　garden
gate；〃　he　said。　〃You　took　the　first　half　last　Saturday。　Next　time
you　want　fuel　come　to　the　house　and　ask　for　coals；　and　let　my
gates　alone。　I　suppose　you　can　enjoy　a　fire　without　stealing　the
combustibles。　Stow



256　pay　me　for　my　gate　by　telling　me　something　I　want　to　know。〃

〃And　a　kind　gentleman　too；　sir；　blessings。〃

〃What　is　the　hemlock　good　for？〃

〃The　hemlock；　kind　gentleman？　For　the　evil；　sir；　to　be　sure。〃

〃Scrofulous　ulcers！〃　he　exclaimed；　recoiling。　〃The　father　of　that
beautiful　girl！〃　He　turned　homeward；　and　trudged　along　with　his
head　bent；　muttering；　〃All　rotten　to　the　bone。　Oh；　civilization！
civilization！　civilization！〃



CHAPTER　XIV

〃What　has　come　over　Gertrude？〃　said　Agatha　one　day　to　Lady
Brandon。

〃Why？　Is　anything　the　matter　with　her？〃

〃I　don't　know；　she　has　not　been　the　same　since　she　poisoned
herself。　And　why　did　she　not　tell　about　it？　But　for　Trefusis　we
should　never　have　known。〃

〃Gertrude　always　made　secrets　of　things。〃

〃She　was　in　a　vile　temper　for　two　days　after；　and　now　she　is
quite　changed。　She　falls　into　long　reveries；　and　does　not　hear　a
word　of　what　is　going　on　around。　Then　she　starts　into　life　again；
and　begs　your　pardon　with　the　greatest　sweetness　for　not　catching
what　you　have　said。〃

〃I　hate　her　when　she　is　polite；　it　is　not　natural　to　her。　As　to
her　going　to　sleep；　that　is　the　effect　of　the　hemlock。　We　know　a
man　who　took　a　spoonful　of　strychnine　in　a　bath；　and　he　never　was
the　same　afterwards。〃

〃I　think　she　is　making　up　her　mind　to　encourage　Erskine；〃　said
Agatha。　〃When　I　came　here　he　hardly　dared　speak　to　herat　least；
she　always　snubbed　him。　Now　she　lets　him　talk　as　much　as　he
likes；　and　actually　sends　him　on　messages　and　allows　him　to　carry
things　for　her。〃

〃Yes。　I　never　saw　anybody　like　Gertrude　in　my　life。　In　London；　if
men　were　attentive　to　her；　she　sat　on　them　for　being　officious；
and　if　they　let　her　alone　she　was　angry　at　being　neglected。
Erskine　is　quite　good　enough　for　her；　I　think。〃

Here　Erskine　appeared　at　the　door　and　looked　round　the　room。

〃She's　not　here；〃　said　Jane。

〃I　am　seeking　Sir　Charles；〃　he　said；　withdrawing　somewhat
stiffly。

〃What　a　lie！〃　said　Jane；　discomfited　by　his　reception　of　her
jest。　〃He　was　talking　to　Sir　Charles　ten　minutes　ago　in　the
billiard　room。　Men　are　such　conceited　fools！〃

Agatha　had　strolled　to　the　window；　and　was　looking　discontentedly
at　the　prospect；　as　she　had　often　done　at　school　when　alone；　and
sometimes　did　now　in　society。　The　door　opened　again；　and　Sir
Charles　appeared。　He；　too；　looked　round；　but　when　his　roving
glance　reached　Agatha；　it　cast　anchor；　and　he　came　in。

〃Are　you　busy　just　now；　Miss　Wylie？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　said　Jane　hastily。　〃She　is　going　to　write　a　letter　for
me。〃

〃Really；　Jane；〃　he　said；　〃I　think　you　are　old　enough　to　write
your　letters　without　troubling　Miss　Wylie。〃

〃When　I　do　write　my　own　letters　you　always　find　fault　with　them；〃
she　retorted。　

〃I　thought　perhaps　you　might　have　leisure　to　try　over　a　duet　with
me；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Agatha。

〃Certainly；〃　she　replied；　hoping　to　smooth　matters　by　humoring
him。　〃The　letter　will　do　any　time　before　post　hour。〃

Jane　reddened；　and　said　shortly；　〃I　will　write　it　myself；　if　you
will　not。〃

Sir　Charles　quite　lost　his　temper。　〃How　can　you　be　so　damnably
rude？〃　he　said；　turning　upon　his　wife。　〃What　objection　have　you
to　my　singing　duets　with　Miss　Wylie？〃

〃Nice　language　that！〃　said　Jane。　〃I　never　said　I　objected；　and
you　have　no　right　to　drag　her　away　to　the　piano　just　when　she　is
going　to　write　a　letter　for　me。〃

〃I　do　not　wish　Miss　Wylie　to　do　anything　except　what　pleases　her
best。　It　seems　to　me　that　writing　letters　to　your　tradespeople
cannot　be　a　very　pleasant　occupation。〃

〃Pray　don't　mind　me；〃　said　Agatha。　〃It　is　not　the　least　trouble
to　me。　I　used　to　write　all　Jane's　letters　for　her　at　school。
Suppose　I　write　the　letter　first；　and　then　we　can　have　the　duet。
You　will　not　mind　waiting　five　minutes？〃

〃I　can　wait　as　long　as　you　please；　of　course。　But　it　seems　such
an　absurd　abuse　of　your　good　nature　that　I　cannot　help　protest！〃

〃Oh；　let　it　wait！〃　exclaimed　Jane。　〃Such　a　ridiculous　fuss　to
make　about　asking　Agatha　to　write　a　letter；　just　because　you
happen　to　want　her　to　play　you　your　duets！　I　am　certain　she　is
heartily　sick　and　tired　of　them。〃

Agatha；　to　escape　the　altercation；　went　to　the　library　and　wrote
the　letter。　When　she　returned　to　the　drawing…room；　she　found　no
one　there；　but　Sir　Charles　came　in　presently。

〃I　am　so　sorry；　Miss　Wylie；〃　he　said；　as　he　opened　the　piano　for
her；　〃that　you　should　be　incommoded　because　my　wife　is　silly
enough　to　be　jealous。〃

〃Jealous！〃

〃Of　course。　Idiocy！〃

〃Oh；　you　are　mistaken；〃　said　Agatha；　incredulously。　〃How　could
she　possibly　be　jealous　of　me？〃

〃She　is　jealous　of　everybody　and　everything；〃　he　replied