barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第77节
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‘I throw off；’ said Mr Chester； ‘the restraint which natural
affection would impose on some men； and reject all bonds but
those of truth and duty。 Miss Haredale； you are deceived； you are
deceived by your unworthy lover； and my unworthy son。’
Still she looked at him steadily； and still said not one word。
‘I have ever opposed his professions of love for you； you will do
me the justice； dear Miss Haredale； to remember that。 Your uncle
and myself were enemies in early life； and if I had sought
retaliation； I might have found it here。 But as we grow older； we
grow wiser—bitter； I would fain hope—and from the first； I have
opposed him in this attempt。 I foresaw the end； and would have
spared you； if I could。’
‘Speak plainly； sir；’ she faltered。 ‘You deceive me； or are
deceived yourself。 I do not believe you—I cannot—I should not。’
‘First；’ said Mr Chester； soothingly； ‘for there may be in your
mind some latent angry feeling to which I would not appeal； pray
take this letter。 It reached my hands by chance； and by mistake；
and should have accounted to you （as I am told） for my son’s not
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answering some other note of yours。 God forbid； Miss Haredale；’
said the good gentleman； with great emotion； ‘that there should be
in your gentle breast one causeless ground of quarrel with him。
You should know； and you will see； that he was in no fault here。’
There appeared something so very candid； so scrupulously
honourable； so very truthful and just in this course something
which rendered the upright person who resorted to it； so worthy of
belief—that Emma’s heart； for the first time； sunk within her。 She
turned away and burst into tears。
‘I would；’ said Mr Chester； leaning over her； and speaking in
mild and quite venerable accents； ‘I would； dear girl； it were my
task to banish； not increase； those tokens of your grief。 My son； my
erring son；—I will not call him deliberately criminal in this； for
men so young； who have been inconstant twice or thrice before；
act without reflection； almost without a knowledge of the wrong
they do；—will break his plighted faith to you； has broken it even
now。 Shall I stop here； and having given you this warning； leave it
to be fulfilled； or shall I go on？’
‘You will go on； sir；’ she answered； ‘and speak more plainly yet；
in justice both to him and me。’
‘My dear girl；’ said Mr Chester； bending over her more
affectionately still； ‘whom I would call my daughter； but the Fates
forbid； Edward seeks to break with you upon a false and most
unwarrantable pretence。 I have it on his own showing； in his own
hand。 Forgive me； if I have had a watch upon his conduct； I am his
father； I had a regard for your peace and his honour； and no better
resource was left me。 There lies on his desk at this present
moment； ready for transmission to you； a letter； in which he tells
you that our poverty—our poverty； his and mine； Miss Haredale—
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forbids him to pursue his claim upon your hand； in which he
offers； voluntarily proposes； to free you from your pledge； and
talks magnanimously （men do so； very commonly； in such cases） of
being in time more worthy of your regard—and so forth。 A letter；
to be plain； in which he not only jilts you—pardon the word； I
would summon to your aid your pride and dignity—not only jilts
you； I fear； in favour of the object whose slighting treatment first
inspired his brief passion for yourself and gave it birth in wounded
vanity； but affects to make a merit and a virtue of the act。’
She glanced proudly at him once more； as by an involuntary
impulse； and with a swelling breast rejoined； ‘If what you say be
true； he takes much needless trouble； sir； to compass his design。
He’s very tender of my peace of mind。 I quite thank him。’
‘The truth of what I tell you； dear young lady；’ he replied； ‘you
will test by the receipt or non…receipt of the letter of which I speak。
Haredale； my dear fellow； I am delighted to see you； although we
meet under singular circumstances； and upon a melancholy
occasion。 I hope you are very well。’
At these words the young lady raised her eyes； which were
filled with tears； and seeing that her uncle indeed stood before
them； and being quite unequal to the trial of hearing or of
speaking one word more； hurriedly withdrew； and left them。 They
stood looking at each other； and at her retreating figure； and for a
long time neither of them spoke。
‘What does this mean？ Explain it；’ said Mr Haredale at length。
‘Why are you here； and why with her？’
‘My dear friend；’ rejoined the other； resuming his accustomed
manner with infinite readiness； and throwing himself upon the
bench with a weary air； ‘you told me not very long ago； at that
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delightful old tavern of which you are the esteemed proprietor
（and a most charming establishment it is for persons of rural
pursuits and in robust health； who are not liable to take cold）； that
I had the head and heart of an evil spirit in all matters of
deception。 I thought at the time； I really did think； you flattered
me。 But now I begin to wonder at your discernment； and vanity
apart； do honestly believe you spoke the truth。 Did you ever
counterfeit extreme ingenuousness and honest indignation？ My
dear fellow； you have no conception； if you never did； how faint
the effort makes one。’
Mr Haredale surveyed him with a look of cold contempt。 ‘You
may evade an explanation； I know；’ he said； folding his arms。 ‘But
I must have it。 I can wait。’
‘Not at all。 Not at all； my good fellow。 You shall not wait a
moment；’ returned his friend； as he lazily crossed his legs。 ‘The
simplest thing in the world。 It lies in a nutshell。 Ned has written
her a letter—a boyish； honest； sentimental composition； which
remains as yet in his desk； because he hasn’t had the heart to send
it。 I have taken a liberty； for which my parental affection and
anxiety are a sufficient excuse； and possessed myself of the
contents。 I have described them to your niece （a most enchanting
person； Haredale； quite an angelic creature）； with a little colouring
and description adapted to our purpose。 It’s done。 You may be
quite easy。 It’s all over。 Deprived of their adherents and mediators；
her pride and jealousy roused to the utmost； with nobody to
undeceive her； and you to confirm me； you will find that their
intercourse will close with her answer。 If she receives Ned’s letter
by to…morrow noon； you may date their parting from to…morrow
night。 No thanks； I beg； you owe me none。 I have acted for myself；
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and if I have forwarded our compact with all the ardour even you
could have desired； I have done so selfishly； indeed。’
‘I curse the compact； as you call it； with my whole heart and
soul；’ returned the other。 ‘It was made in an evil hour。 I have
bound myself to a lie； I have leagued myself with you； and though I
did so w
