the black robe-第54节
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Mrs。 Eyrecourt cocked her head； with the artless vivacity of a
bird。 〃Ah； but it might； though！〃 she suggested； slyly。
Father Benwell once more remonstrated in dumb show； and Romayne
lost his temper。
〃Mrs。 Eyrecourt！〃 he cried； sternly。
Mrs。 Eyrecourt screamed； and lifted her hands to her ears。 〃I am
not deaf； dear Romayne； and I am not to be put down by any
ill…timed exhibition of； what I may call； domestic ferocity。
Father Benwell sets you an example of Christian moderation。 Do；
please； follow it。〃
Romayne refused to follow it。
〃Talk on any other topic that you like； Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 I request
youdon't oblige me to use a harder wordI request you to spare
Father Benwell and myself any further expression of your opinion
on controversial subjects。〃
A son…in…law may make a request； and a mother…in…law may decline
to comply。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt declined to comply。
〃No； Romayne； it won't do。 I may lament your unhappy temper； for
my daughter's sakebut I know what I am about； and you can't
provoke me。 Our reverend friend and I understand each other。 He
will make allowances for a sensitive woman； who has had sad
experience of conversions in her own household。 My eldest
daughter； Father Benwella poor foolish creaturewas converted
into a nunnery。 The last time I saw her （she used to be sweetly
pretty； my dear husband quite adored her）the last time I saw
her she had a red nose； and； what is even more revolting at her
age； a double chi n。 She received me with her lips pursed up； and
her eyes on the ground； and she was insolent enough to say that
she would pray for me。 I am not a furious old man with a long
white beard； and I don't curse my daughter and rush out into a
thunderstorm afterwardbut _I_ know what King Lear felt； and _I_
have struggled with hysterics just as he did。 With your wonderful
insight into human nature； I am sure you will sympathize with and
forgive me。 Mr。 Penrose； as my daughter tells me； behaved in the
most gentleman…like manner。 I make the same appeal to your kind
forbearance。 The bare prospect of our dear friend here becoming a
Catholic〃
Romayne's temper gave way once more。
〃If anything can make me a Catholic；〃 he said； 〃your interference
will do it。 〃
〃Out of sheer perversity； dear Romayne？〃
〃Not at all； Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 If I became a Catholic； I might
escape from the society of ladies； in the refuge of a monastery。〃
Mrs。 Eyrecourt hit him back again with the readiest dexterity。
〃Remain a Protestant； my dear； and go to your club。 There is a
refuge for you from the ladiesa monastery； with nice little
dinners； and all the newspapers and periodicals。〃 Having launched
this shaft； she got up； and recovered her easy courtesy of look
and manner。 〃I am so much obliged to you； Father Benwell。 I have
not offended you； I hope and trust？〃
〃You have done me a service； dear Mrs。 Eyrecourt。 But for your
salutory caution； I _might_ have drifted into controversial
subjects。 I shall be on my guard now。〃
〃How very good of you！ We shall meet again； I hope； under more
agreeable circumstances。 After that polite allusion to a
monastery； I understand that my visit to my son…in…law may as
well come to an end。 Please don't forget five o'clock tea at my
house。〃
As she approached the door； it was opened from the outer side。
Her daughter met her half…way。 〃Why are you here； mamma？〃 Stella
asked。
〃Why； indeed； my love！ You had better leave the room with me。 Our
amiable Romayne's present idea is to relieve himself of our
society by retiring to a monastery。 Don't you see Father
Benwell？〃
Stella coldly returned the priest's bowand looked at Romayne。
She felt a vague forewarning of what had happened。 Mrs。 Eyrecourt
proceeded to enlighten her； as an appropriate expression of
gratitude。 〃We are indeed indebted to Father Benwell； my dear。 He
has been most considerate and kind〃
Romayne interrupted her without ceremony。 〃Favor me；〃 he said；
addressing his wife； 〃by inducing Mrs。 Eyrecourt to continue her
narrative in some other room。〃
Stella was hardly conscious of what her mother or her husband had
said。 She felt that the priest's eyes were on her。 Under any
other circumstances； Father Benwell's good breeding and knowledge
of the world would have impelled him to take his departure。 As
things were； he knew perfectly well that the more seriously
Romayne was annoyed； in his presence； the better his own private
interests would be served。 Accordingly； he stood apart； silently
observant of Stella。 In spite of Winterfield's reassuring reply
to her letter； Stella instinctively suspected and dreaded the
Jesuit。 Under the spell of those watchful eyes she trembled
inwardly； her customary tact deserted her； she made an indirect
apology to the man whom she hated and feared。
〃Whatever my mother may have said to you； Father Benwell； has
been without my knowledge。〃
Romayne attempted to speak； but Father Benwell was too quick for
him。
〃Dear Mrs。 Romayne； nothing has been said which needs any
disclaimer on your part。〃
〃I should think not！〃 Mrs。 Eyrecourt added。 〃Really； Stella； I
don't understand you。 Why may I not say to Father Benwell what
you said to Mr。 Penrose？ You trusted Mr。 Penrose as your friend。
I can tell you thisI am quite sure you may trust Father
Benwell。〃
Once more Romayne attempted to speak。 And； once more； Father
Benwell was beforehand with him。
〃May I hope；〃 said the priest； with a finely ironical smile；
〃that Mrs。 Romayne agrees with her excellent mother？〃
With all her fear of him； the exasperating influence of his tone
and his look was more than Stella could endure。 Before she could
restrain them； the rash words flew out of her lips。
〃I am not sufficiently well acquainted with you； Father Benwell；
to express an opinion。〃
With that answer； she took her mother's arm and left the room。
The moment they were alone； Romayne turned to the priest；
trembling with anger。 Father Benwell； smiling indulgently at the
lady's little outbreak； took him by the hand； with peace…making
intentions； 〃Now don'tpray don't excite yourself！〃
Romayne was not to be pacified in that way。 His anger was trebly
intensified by the long…continued strain on his nerves of the
effort to control himself。
〃I must； and will； speak out at last！〃 he said。 〃Father Benwell；
the ladies of my household have inexcusably presumed on the
consideration which is due to women。 No words can say how ashamed
I am of what has happened。 I can only appeal to your admirable
moderation and patience to accept my apologies； and the most
sincere expression of my regret。〃
〃No more； Mr。 Romayne！ As a favor to Me； I beg and entreat you
will say no more。 Sit down and compose yourself。〃
But Romayne was impenetrable to the influence of friendly and
forgiving demonstrations。 〃I can never expect you to enter my
house again！〃 he exclaimed。
〃My dear sir； I will come and see you again； with the greatest
pleasure； on any day that you may appointthe earlier day the
better。 Come！ come！ let us laugh。 I don't say it disrespectfully；
but poor dear Mrs。 Eyrecourt has been more amusing than ever。 I
expect to see our excellent Archbishop to…morrow； and I must
really tell him how the good lady felt insulted when her Catholic
daughter offered to pray for her。 There is hardly anything more
humorous； even in Moliere。 And the double chin； and the red
noseall the fault of those dreadful Papists。 Oh； dear me； you
still take it seriously。 How I wish you had my sense of humor！
When shall I come again； and tell you how the Archbishop likes
the story of the nun's mother？〃
He held out his hand with irresistible cordiality。 Romayne took
it gratefullystill bent； however； on making atonement。
〃Let me first do myself the honor of calling on You；〃 he said。 〃I
am in no state to open my mindas I might have wished to open it
to youafter what has happened。 In a day or two more〃
〃Say the day after to…morrow；〃 Father Benwell hospitably
suggested。 〃Do me a great favor。 Come and eat your bit of mutton
at my lodgings。 Six o'clock； if you likeand some remarkably
good claret； a prese
