the law and the lady-第43节

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lightly　as　a　monkey；　on　his　hands。　The　grotesque　horror　of　the
scene　culminated　in　his　hopping　away　on　his　hands；　at　a
prodigious　speed；　until　he　reached　the　fire…place　in　the　long
room。　There　he　crouched　over　the　dying　embers；　shuddering　and
shivering；　and　muttering；　〃Oh；　pity　me；　pity　me！〃　dozens　and
dozens　of　times　to　himself。

This　was　the　man　whose　advice　I　had　come　to　askwho　assistance　I
had　confidently　counted　on　in　my　hour　of　need。



CHAPTER　XXV。

MISERRIMUS　DEXTERSECOND　VIEW

　THOROUGHLY　disheartened　and　disgusted；　and　（if　I　must　honestly
confess　it）　thoroughly　frightened　too；　I　whispered　to　Mrs。
Macallan；　〃I　was　wrong；　and　you　were　right。　Let　us　go。〃

The　ears　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　must　have　been　as　sensitive　as　the
ears　of　a　dog。　He　heard　me　say；　〃Let　us　go。〃

〃No！〃　he　called　out。　〃Bring　Eustace　Macallan's　second　wife　in
here。　I　am　a　gentlemanI　must　apologize　to　her。　I　am　a　student
of　human　characterI　wish　to　see　her。〃

The　whole　man　appeared　to　have　undergone　a　complete
transformation。　He　spoke　in　the　gentlest　of　voices；　and　he　sighed
hysterically　when　he　had　done；　like　a　woman　recovering　from　a
burst　of　tears。　Was　it　reviving　courage　or　reviving　curiosity？
When　Mrs。　Macallan　said　to　me；　〃The　fit　is　over　now；　do　you　still
wish　to　go　away？〃　I　answered；　〃No；　I　am　ready　to　go　in。〃

〃Have　you　recovered　your　belief　in　him　already？〃　asked　my
mother…in…law；　in　her　mercilessly　satirical　way。

〃I　have　recovered　from　my　terror　of　him；〃　I　replied。

〃I　am　sorry　I　terrified　you；〃　said　the　soft　voice　at　the
fire…place。　〃Some　people　think　I　am　a　little　mad　at　times。　You
came；　I　suppose；　at　one　of　the　timesif　some　people　are　right。　I
admit　that　I　am　a　visionary。　My　imagination　runs　away　with　me；
and　I　say　and　do　strange　things。　On　those　occasions；　anybody　who
reminds　me　of　that　horrible　Trial　throws　me　back　again　into　the
past；　and　causes　me　unutterable　nervous　suffering。　I　am　a　very
tender…hearted　man。　As　the　necessary　consequence　（in　such　a　world
as　this）；　I　am　a　miserable　wretch。　Accept　my　excuses。　Come　in；
both　of　you。　Come　in　and　pity　me。〃

A　child　would　not　have　been　frightened　of　him　now。　A　child　would
have　gone　in　and　pitied　him。

The　room　was　getting　darker　and　darker。　We　could　just　see　the
crouching　figure　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　at　the　expiring　fireand
that　was　all。

〃Are　we　to　have　no　light？〃　asked　Mrs。　Macallan。　〃And　is　this　lady
to　see　you；　when　the　light　comes；　out　of　your　chair？〃

He　lifted　something　bright　and　metallic；　hanging　round　his　neck；
and　blew　on　it　a　series　of　shrill；　trilling；　bird…like　notes。
After　an　interval　he　was　answered　by　a　similar　series　of　notes
sounding　faintly　in　some　distant　region　of　the　house。

〃Ariel　is　coming；〃　he　said。　〃Compose　yourself；　Mamma　Macallan；
Ariel　with　make　me　presentable　to　a　lady's　eyes。〃

He　hopped　away　on　his　hands　into　the　darkness　at　the　end　of　the
room。　〃Wait　a　little；　said　Mrs。　Macallan；　〃and　you　will　have
another　surpriseyou　will　see　the　'delicate　Ariel。'〃

We　heard　heavy　footsteps　in　the　circular　room。

〃Ariel！〃　sighed　Miserrimus　Dexter　out　of　the　darkness；　in　his
softest　notes。

To　my　astonishment　the　coarse；　masculine　voice　of　the　cousin　in
the　man's　hatthe　Caliban's；　rather　than　the　Ariel's
voiceanswered；　〃Here！〃

〃My　chair；　Ariel！〃

The　person　thus　strangely　misnamed　drew　aside　the　tapestry；　so　as
to　let　in　more　light；　then　entered　the　room；　pushing　the　wheeled
chair　before　her。　She　stooped　and　lifted　Miserrimus　Dexter　from
the　floor；　like　a　child。　Before　she　could　put　him　into　the　chair；
he　sprang　out　of　her　arms　with　a　little　gleeful　cry；　and　alighted
on　his　seat；　like　a　bird　alighting　on　its　perch！

〃The　lamp；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter；　〃and　the
looking…glass。Pardon　me；〃　he　added；　addressing　us；　〃for　turning
my　back　on　you。　You　mustn't　see　me　until　my　hair　is　set　to
rights。Ariel！　the　brush；　the　comb；　and　the　perfumes！〃

Carrying　the　lamp　in　one　hand；　the　looking…glass　in　the　other；
and　the　brush　（with　the　comb　stuck　in　it）　between　her　teeth；
Ariel　the　Second；　otherwise　Dexter's　cousin；　presented　herself
plainly　before　me　for　the　first　time。　I　could　now　see　the　girl's
round；　fleshy；　inexpressive　face；　her　rayless　and　colorless　eyes；
her　coarse　nose　and　heavy　chin。　A　creature　half　alive；　an
imperfectly　developed　animal　in　shapeless　form　clad　in　a　man's
pilot　jacket；　and　treading　in　a　man's　heavy　laced　boots；　with
nothing　but　an　old　red…flannel　petticoat；　and　a　broken　comb　in
her　frowzy　flaxen　hair；　to　tell　us　that　she　was　a　womansuch　was
the　inhospitable　person　who　had　received　us　in　the　darkness　when
we　first　entered　the　house。

This　wonderful　valet；　collecting　her　materials　for　dressing　her
still　more　wonderful　master's　hair；　　gave　him　the　looking…glass　（a
hand　…mirror）；　and　addressed　herself　to　her　work。

She　combed；　she　brushed；　she　oiled；　she　perfumed　the　flowing
locks　and　the　long　silky　beard　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　with　the
strangest　mixture　of　dullness　and　dexterity　that　I　ever　saw。　Done
in　brute　silence；　with　a　lumpish　look　and　a　clumsy　gait；　the　work
was　perfectly　well　done　nevertheless。　The　imp　in　the　chair
superintended　the　whole　proceeding　critically　by　means　of　his
hand…mirror。　He　was　too　deeply　interested　in　this　occupation　to
speak　until　some　of　the　concluding　touches　to　his　beard　brought
the　misnamed　Ariel　in　front　of　him；　and　so　turned　her　full　face
toward　the　part　of　the　room　in　which　Mrs。　Macallan　and　I　were
standing。　Then　he　addressed　us；　taking　especial　care；　however；
not　to　turn　his　head　our　way　while　his　toilet　was　still
incomplete。

〃Mamma　Macallan；〃　he　said；　〃what　is　the　Christian　name　of　your
son's　second　wife？〃

〃Why　do　you　want　to　know？〃　asked　my　mother…in…law。

〃I　want　to　know　because　I　can't　address　her　as　'Mrs。　Eustace
Macallan。'〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃It　recalls　_the　other_　Mrs。　Eustace　Macallan。　If　I　am　reminded
of　those　horrible　days　at　Gleninch　my　fortitude　will　give　wayI
shall　burst　out　screaming　again。〃

Hearing　this；　I　hastened　to　interpose。

〃My　name　is　Valeria；〃　I　said。

〃A　Roman　name；〃　remarked　Miserrimus　Dexter。　〃I　like　it。　My　mind
is　cast　in　the　Roman　mold。　My　bodily　build　would　have　been　Roman
if　I　had　been　born　with　legs。　I　shall　call　you　Mrs。　Valeria；
unless　you　disapprove　of　it。〃

I　hastened　to　say　that　I　was　far　from　disapproving　of　it。

〃Very　good；〃　said　Miserrimus　Dexter　〃Mrs。　Valeria；　do　you　see　the
face　of　this　creature　in　front　of　me？〃

He　pointed　with　the　hand…mirror　to　his　cousin　as　unconcernedly　as
he　might　have　pointed　to　a　dog。　His　cousin；　on　her　side；　took　no
more　notice　than　a　dog　would　have　taken　of　the　contemptuous
phrase　by　which　he　had　designated　her。　She　went　on　combing　and
oiling　his　beard　as　composedly　as　ever。

〃It　is　the　face　of　an　idiot；　isn't　it？〃　pursued　Miserrimus
Dexter！　〃Look　at　her！　She　is　a　mere　vegetable。　A　cabbage　in　a
garden　has　as　much　life　and　expression　in　it　as　that　girl
exhibits　at　the　present　moment。　Would　you　believe　there　was
latent　intelligence；　affection；　pride；　fidelity；　in　such　a
half…developed　being　as　this？〃

I　was　really　ashamed　to　answer　him。　Quite　needlessly！　The
impenetrable　young　woman　went　on　with　her　master's　beard。　A
machine　could　not　have　taken　less　notice　of　the　life　and　the　talk
around　it　than　this　incomprehensible　creature。

〃_I_　have　got　at　that　latent　affection；　pride；　fidelity；　and　the
rest　of　it；〃　resumed　Miserrimus　Dexter。　〃_I_　hold　the　key　to　that
dormant　Intelligence。　Grand　thought！　Now　look　at　her　when　I
speak。　（I　named　her；　poor　wretch；　in　one　of　my　ironical　moments。
She　has　got　to　like　her　name；　just　as　a　dog　gets　to　like　his
collar。）　Now；　Mrs。　Valeria；　look　and　listen。Ariel！〃

The　girl's　dull　face　began　to　brighten。　The　girl's　mechanically
moving　hand　stopped；　and　held　the　comb　in　suspense。

〃Ariel！　you　have　learned　to　dress　my　hair　and　anoint　my　beard；
haven't　you？〃

Her　face　still　brightened。　〃Yes！　yes！　yes！〃　she　answered；
eagerly。　〃And　you　say　I　have　learned　to　do　it　well；　don't　you？〃

〃I　say　that。　Would　you　like　to　let　anybody　else　do　it　for　you？〃

Her　eyes　melted　softly　into　light　and　life。　Her　strange　unwomanly
voice　sank　to　the　gentlest　tones　that　I　had　heard　from　her　yet。

〃Nobody　else　shall　do　it　for　me；〃　she　said　at　once　proudly　and
tenderly。　〃Nobody；　as　long　as　I　live；　shall　touch　you　but　me。〃

〃Not　even　the　lady　there？〃　asked　Miserrimus　Dexter；　pointing
backward　with　his　hand…mirror　to　the　place　at　which　I　was
standing。

Her　eyes　suddenly　flashed；　her　hand　suddenly　shook　the　comb　at
me；　in　a　burst　of　jealous　rage。

〃Let　her　try！〃　cried　the　poor　creature；　raising　her　voice　again
to　its　hoarsest　notes。　〃Let　her　touch　you　if　she　dares！〃

Dexter　laughed　at　the　childish　outbreak。　〃That　will　do；　my
delicate　Ariel；〃　he　said。　〃I　dismiss　your　Intelligence　for　the
present。　Relapse　into　your　former　self。　Finish　my　beard。〃

She　passively　resumed　her　work。　The　new　light　in　her　eyes；　the
new　expression　in　her　face；　faded　little　by　little　and　died　out。
In　another　minute　the　face　was　as　vacant　and　as　lumpish　as
before；　the　hands　did　their　work　again　with　the　lifeless
dexterity　which　had　so　painfully　impressed　me　when　she　first　took
up　the　brush。　Miserrimus　Dexter