villa rubein and other stories-第55节
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drop； and suddenly he thought： 'This is tremendous！' For a long time
he stood there in the window； close to the dark pine…trees。
XI
In the early morning he awoke； full of the discomfort of this strange
place and the medley of his dreams。 Lying； with his nose peeping
over the quilt； he was visited by a horrible suspicion。 When he
could bear it no longer； he started up in bed。 What if it were all a
plot to get him to marry her？ The thought was treacherous； and
inspired in him a faint disgust。 Still； she might be ignorant of it！
But was she so innocent？ What innocent girl would have come to his
room like that？ What innocent girl？ Her father； who pretended to be
caring only for his country？ It was not probable that any man was
such a fool； it was all part of the game…a scheming rascal！
Kasteliz； toohis threats！ They intended him to marry her！ And the
horrid idea was strengthened by his reverence for marriage。 It was
the proper； the respectable condition； he was genuinely afraid of
this other sort of liaisonit was somehow too primitive！ And yet
the thought of that marriage made his blood run cold。 Considering
that she had already yielded； it would be all the more monstrous！
With the cold； fatal clearness of the morning light he now for the
first time saw his position in its full bearings。 And； like a fish
pulled out of water； he gasped at what was disclosed。 Sullen
resentment against this attempt to force him settled deep into his
soul。
He seated himself on the bed； holding his head in his hands； solemnly
thinking out what such marriage meant。 In the first place it meant
ridicule； in the next place ridicule； in the last place ridicule。
She would eat chicken bones with her fingersthose fingers his lips
still burned to kiss。 She would dance wildly with other men。 She
would talk of her 〃dear Father…town；〃 and all the time her eyes would
look beyond him； some where or other into some dd place he knew
nothing of。 He sprang up and paced the room； and for a moment
thought he would go mad。
They meant him to marry her！ Even sheshe meant him to marry her！
Her tantalising inscrutability； her sudden little tendernesses； her
quick laughter； her swift； burning kisses； even the movements of her
hands； her tearsall were evidence against her。 Not one of these
things that Nature made her do counted on her side； but how they
fanned his longing； his desire； and distress！ He went to the glass
and tried to part his hair with his fingers； but being rather fine；
it fell into lank streaks。 There was no comfort to be got from it。
He drew his muddy boots on。 Suddenly he thought： 'If I could see her
alone； I could arrive at some arrangement！' Then； with a sense of
stupefaction； he made the discovery that no arrangement could
possibly be made that would not be dangerous； even desperate。 He
seized his hat； and； like a rabbit that has been fired at； bolted
from the room。 He plodded along amongst the damp woods with his head
down； and resentment and dismay in his heart。 But； as the sun rose；
and the air grew sweet with pine scent； he slowly regained a sort of
equability。 After all； she had already yielded； it was not as if。。。！
And the tramp of his own footsteps lulled him into feeling that it
would all come right。
'Look at the thing practically；' he thought。 The faster he walked
the firmer became his conviction that he could still see it through。
He took out his watchit was past sevenhe began to hasten back。
In the yard of the inn his driver was harnessing the horses； Swithin
went up to him。
〃Who told you to put them in？〃 he asked。
The driver answered； 〃Der Herr。〃
Swithin turned away。 'In ten minutes；' he thought； 'I shall be in
that carriage again； with this going on in my head！ Driving away
from England； from all I'm used to…driving to…what？' Could he face
it？ Could he face all that he had been through that morning； face it
day after day； night after night？ Looking up； he saw Rozsi at her
open window gazing down at him； never had she looked sweeter； more
roguish。 An inexplicable terror seized on him； he ran across the
yard and jumped into his carriage。 〃To Salzburg！〃 he cried； 〃drive
on！〃 And rattling out of the yard without a look behind； he flung a
sovereign at the hostler。 Flying back along the road faster even
than he had come； with pale face； and eyes blank and staring like a
pug…dog's； Swithin spoke no single word； nor； till he had reached the
door of his lodgings； did he suffer the driver to draw rein。
XII
Towards evening； five days later； Swithin； yellow and travel…worn；
was ferried in a gondola to Danielli's Hotel。 His brother； who was
on the steps； looked at him with an apprehensive curiosity。
〃Why； it's you！〃 he mumbled。 〃So you've got here safe？〃
〃Safe？〃 growled Swithin。
James replied； 〃I thought you wouldn't leave your friends！〃 Then；
with a jerk of suspicion； 〃You haven't brought your friends？〃
〃What friends？〃 growled Swithin。
James changed the subject。 〃You don't look the thing；〃 he said。
〃Really！〃 muttered Swithin； 〃what's that to you？〃
He appeared at dinner that night； but fell asleep over his coffee。
Neither Traquair nor James asked him any further question； nor did
they allude to Salzburg； and during the four days which concluded the
stay in Venice Swithin went about with his head up； but his eyes
half…closed like a dazed man。 Only after they had taken ship at
Genoa did he show signs of any healthy interest in life； when；
finding that a man on board was perpetually strumming； he locked the
piano up and pitched the key into the sea。
That winter in London he behaved much as usual； but fits of
moroseness would seize on him； during which he was not pleasant to
approach。
One evening when he was walking with a friend in Piccadilly； a girl
coming from a side…street accosted him in German。 Swithin； after
staring at her in silence for some seconds； handed her a five…pound
note； to the great amazement of his friend； nor could he himself have
explained the meaning of this freak of generosity。
Of Rozsi he never heard again。。。。
This； then； was the substance of what he remembered as he lay ill in
bed。 Stretching out his hand he pressed the bell。 His valet
appeared； crossing the room like a cat； a Swede； who had been with
Swithin many years； a little man with a dried face and fierce
moustache； morbidly sharp nerves； and a queer devotion to his master。
Swithin made a feeble gesture。 〃Adolf；〃 he said； 〃I'm very bad。〃
〃Yes； sir！〃
〃Why do you stand there like a cow？〃 asked Swithin； 〃can't you see
I'm very bad？〃
〃Yes； sir！〃 The valet's face twitched as though it masked the dance
of obscure emotions。
〃I shall feel better after dinner。 What time is it？〃
〃Five o'clock。〃
〃I thought it was more。 The afternoons are very long。〃
〃Yes； sir！〃Swithin sighed； as though he had expected the consolation
of denial。
〃Very likely I shall have a nap。 Bring up hot water at half…past six
and shave me before dinner。〃
The valet moved towards the door。 Swithin raised himself。
〃What did Mr。 James say to you？〃
〃He said you ought to have another doctor； two doctors； he said；
better than one。 He said； also； he would look in again on his way
'home。'〃
Swithin grunted； 〃Umph！ What else did he say？〃
〃He said you didn't take care of yourself。〃
Swithin glared。
〃Has anybody else been to see me？〃
The valet turned away his eyes。 〃Mrs。 Thomas Forsyte came last
Monday fortnight。〃
〃How long have I been ill？〃
〃Five weeks on Saturday。〃
〃Do you think I'm very bad？〃
Adolf's face was covered suddenly with crow's…feet。 〃You have no
business to ask me question like that！ I am not paid； sir； to answer
question like that。〃
Swithin said faintly： 〃You're a peppery fool！ Open a bottle of
champagne！〃
Adolf took a bottle of champagnefrom a cupboard and held nippers to
it。 He fixed his eyes on Swithin。 〃The doctor said〃
〃Open the bottle！〃
〃It is not〃
〃Open the bottleor I give you warning。〃
Adolf removed the cork。 He wiped a glass elaborately； filled it； and
bore it scrupulously to the bedside。 Suddenly twirling his
moustaches； he wrung his hands； and burst out： 〃It is poison。〃
Swithin grinned faintly。 〃You foreign fool！〃 he said。 〃Get out！〃
The valet vanished。
'He forgot himself！' thought Swithin。 Slowly he raised the glass；
slowly put it back； and sank gasping on his pillows。 Almost at once
he fell asleep。
He dreamed that he was at his club； sitting after dinner in the
crowded smoking…room； with its bright walls and trefoils of light。
It was there that he sat every evening； patient； solemn； lonely； and
sometimes fell asleep； his square； pale old face nodding to one side。
He
