little novels-第41节
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e faults of composition in the letter found on the child were exactly the faults likely to have been committed by the French maidany person who follows these traces can find his way to the truth as I found mine。
Returning for a moment to the hopes which I had formed of being of some service to Michael； I have only to say that they were at once destroyed； when I heard of the death by drowning of the man to whom the evidence pointed as his father。 The prospect looked equally barren when I thought of the miserable mother。 That she should openly acknowledge her son in her position was perhaps not to be expected of any woman。 Had she courage enough； or； in plainer words； heart enough to acknowledge him privately？
I called to mind again some of the apparent caprices and contradictions in Lady Claudia's conduct； on the memorable day when Michael had presented himself to fill the vacant place。 Look back with me to the record of what she said and did on that occasion； by the light of your present knowledge； and you will see that his likeness to his father must have struck her when he entered the room； and that his statement of his age must have correctly described the age of her son。 Recall the actions that followed； after she had been exhausted by her first successful efforts at self…controlthe withdrawal to the window to conceal her face； the clutch at the curtain when she felt herself sinking； the harshness of manner under which she concealed her emotions when she ventured to speak to him； the reiterated inconsistencies and vacillations of conduct that followed； all alike due to the protest of Nature； desperately resisted to the lastand say if I did her injustice when I believed her to be incapable of running the smallest risk of discovery at the prompting of maternal love。
There remained； then； only Michael to think of。 I remember how he had spoken of the unknown parents whom he neither expected nor cared to discover。 Still； I could not reconcile it to my conscience to accept a chance outbreak of temper as my sufficient ju stification for keeping him in ignorance of a discovery which so nearly concerned him。 It seemed at least to be my duty to make myself acquainted with the true state of his feelings； before I decided to bear the burden of silence with me to my grave。
What I felt it my duty to do in this serious matter； I determined to do at once。 Besides； let me honestly own that I felt lonely and desolate； oppressed by the critical situation in which I was placed； and eager for the relief that it would be to me only to hear the sound of Michael's voice。 I sent my maid to say that I wished to speak to him immediately。 The crisis was already hanging over my head。 That one act brought it down。
XI。
He came in； and stood modestly waiting at the door。
After making him take a chair； I began by saying that I had received his message； and that； acting on my uncle's advice； I must abstain from interfering in the question of his leaving； or not leaving； his place。 Having in this way established a reason for sending for him； I alluded next to the loss that he had sustained； and asked if he had any prospect of finding out the person who had entered his room in his absence。 On his reply in the negative； I spoke of the serious results to him of the act of destruction that had been committed。 〃Your last chance of discovering your parents；〃 I said； 〃has been cruelly destroyed。〃
He smiled sadly。 〃You know already； miss； that I never expected to discover them。〃
I ventured a little nearer to the object I had in view。
〃Do you never think of your mother？〃 I asked。 〃At your age； she might be still living。 Can you give up all hope of finding her； without feeling your heart ache？〃
〃If I have done her wrong； in believing that she deserted me；〃 he answered； 〃the heart…ache is but a poor way of expressing the remorse that I should feel。〃
I ventured nearer still。
Even if you were right；〃 I began〃even it she did desert you〃
He interrupted me sternly。 〃I would not cross the street to see her；〃 he said。 〃A woman who deserts her child is a monster。 Forgive me for speaking so； miss！ When I see good mothers and their children it maddens me when I think of what _my_ childhood was。〃
Hearing these words； and watching him attentively while he spoke； I could see that my silence would be a mercy； not a crime。 I hastened to speak of other things。
〃If you decide to leave us；〃 I said； 〃when shall you go？〃
His eyes softened instantly。 Little by little the color faded out of his face as he answered me。
〃The General kindly said； when I spoke of leaving my place〃 His voice faltered； and he paused to steady it。 〃My master；〃 he resumed； 〃said that I need not keep my new employer waiting by staying for the customary month； providedprovided you were willing to dispense with my services。〃
So far； I had succeeded in controlling myself。 At that reply I felt my resolution failing me。 I saw how he suffered； I saw how manfully he struggled to conceal it。
〃I am not willing；〃 I said。 〃I am sorryvery； very sorry to lose you。 But I will do anything that is for your good。 I can say no more。〃
He rose suddenly； as if to leave the room； mastered himself； stood for a moment silently looking at methen looked away again； and said his parting words。
〃If I succeed； Miss Mina； in my new employmentif I get on to higher thingsis itis it presuming too much； to ask if I might； some dayperhaps when you are out riding aloneif I might speak to youonly to ask if you are well and happy〃
He could say no more。 I saw the tears in his eyes； saw him shaken by the convulsive breathings which break from men in the rare moments when they cry。 He forced it back even then。 He bowed to meoh； God； he bowed to me； as if he were only my servant！ as if he were too far below me to take my hand； even at that moment！ I could have endured anything else； I believe I could still have restrained myself under any other circumstances。 It matters little now； my confession must be made； whatever you may think of me。 I flew to him like a frenzied creatureI threw my arms round his neckI said to him； 〃Oh； Michael； don't you know that I love you？〃 And then I laid my head on his breast； and held him to me； and said no more。
In that moment of silence； the door of the room was opened。 I started； and looked up。 Lady Claudia was standing on the threshold。
I saw in her face that she had been listeningshe must have followed him when he was on his way to my room。 That conviction steadied me。 I took his hand in mine； and stood side by side with him； waiting for her to speak first。 She looked at Michael； not at me。 She advanced a step or two； and addressed him in these words：
〃It is just possible that _you_ have some sense of decency left。 Leave the room。〃
That deliberate insult was all that I wanted to make me completely mistress of myself。 I told Michael to wait a moment； and opened my writing desk。 I wrote on an envelope the address in London of a faithful old servant； who had attended my mother in her last moments。 I gave it to Michael。 〃Call there to…morrow morning；〃 I said。 〃You will find me waiting for you。〃
He looked at Lady Claudia； evidently unwilling to leave me alone with her。 〃Fear nothing；〃 I said； 〃I am old enough to take care of myself。 I have only a word to say to this lady before I leave the house。 〃With that； I took his arm； and walked with him to the door； and said good…by almost as composedly as if we had been husband and wife already。
Lady Claudia's eyes followed me as I shut the door again and crossed the room to a second door which led into my bed…chamber。 She suddenly stepped up to me； just as I was entering the room； and laid her hand on my arm。
〃What do I see in your face？〃 she asked as much of herself as of mewith her eyes fixed in keen inquiry on mine。
〃You shall know directly；〃 I answered。 〃Let me get my bonnet and cloak first。〃
〃Do you mean to leave the house？〃
〃I do。〃
She rang the bell。 I quietly dressed myself； to go out。
The servant answered the bell； as I returned to the sitting…room。
〃Tell your master I wish to see him instantly；〃 said Lady Claudia。
〃My master has gone out； my lady。〃
〃To his club？〃
〃I believe so； my lady。〃
〃I will send you with a letter to him。 Come back when I ring again。〃 She turned to me as the man withdrew。 〃Do you refuse to stay here until the General returns？〃
〃I shall be happy to see the General； if you will inclose my address in your letter to him。〃
Replying in those terms； I wrote the address for the second time。 Lady Claudia knew perfectly well； when I gave it to her； that I was going to a respectable house kept by a woman who had nursed me when I was a child。
〃One last question；〃 she said。 〃Am I to tell the General that it is your intention to marry your groom？〃
Her tone stung me into making an answer which I regretted the moment it had passed my lips。
〃You can put it more plainly； if you like；〃 I said。 〃You can tell the General that it is my intention to marry _your_ son。〃
She was near the door； on the point of leaving me。 As I spoke； she turned with a ghastly stare of horrorfelt about her with her hands as if she was groping in darknessand dropped on the floo
