For the second time on this eventful day Aaron felt as if his sin were about to be brought home to him, as if the temple which, by long years of honourable and upright conduct, he had built for himself, were about to crumble2 to dust. In that temple was enshrined not only his good name, but what was far more precious to him, his wife's happiness and peace of mind. He had not yet nerved himself to the effort to go to her frankly3 and say, "Ruth is not our child." Out of Rachel's innate4 goodness and sweetness sprang the love she bore for the young girl. The suggestion of love may come from without, but the spirit of love is the offspring of one's own heart, and it is made enduring and ennobling by one's own higher qualities; and in a like manner it is one's lower passions which debase and degrade it. In whatever fashion Rachel would receive her husband's confession5, he knew full well that it would inflict6 upon her the most exquisite7 suffering; the cherished ideal of her life would be shattered, and she would sit for ever afterwards in sackcloth and ashes. This was his torturing belief; it was not that he dreaded8 exposure for his own sake; he had no wish to spare himself, but to spare Rachel inevitable9 suffering. He knew that the truth could not be much longer hidden, and yet he was too weak to take the deciding step. He had sown a harvest of woe10, and his constant fervent11 prayer was that he might not be compelled to reap it with his own hands.
Agitated12 as he was, he did not betray himself by word or sign, but by a courteous13 movement of his hand invited his visitor to proceed.
"It is a family matter," said Mr. Dillworthy, "of a peculiarly delicate nature, and my client thought it could best be arranged in a private personal interview."
"Being of such a nature," observed Aaron, "would it not have been better that it should be arranged privately14 between the parties interested instead of through an intermediary?"
"Possibly, possibly; but my client holds strong views, and feels he could scarcely trust himself."
"Favour me with the name of your client."
"Lord Storndale."
"Lord Storndale? I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance."
"But you are familiar with his name."
"Not at all. It is the first time I have heard it."
"You surprise me. Lord Storndale is a peer."
"I know very few peers, and have had no occasion to study the peerage."
"But, pardon me, Storndale is the name; it may have escaped you."
"I repeat, the name is strange to me."
"I do not presume to doubt you, but it introduces a new element into the matter. Your daughter, then, has never mentioned the Honourable Percy Storndale to you?"
"Never, and I am at a loss to understand the association of their names."
The lawyer paused. In this unexpected turn of affairs a deviation15 suggested itself to his legal mind which would be likely to assist him.
"Mr. Cohen, you have the reputation of being an earnest and sincere Jew."
"I follow the precepts16 and the obligations of my faith," said Aaron, with a searching glance at his visitor.
"In this back-sliding and time-serving age orthodoxy--especially, I should say, in the Jewish religion--has a hard time of it. The customs and duties of an enlightened civilisation17 must clash severely18 with the precepts and obligations you speak of. It is because of the difficulty--perhaps the impossibility--of following the hard and fast laws of the Pentateuch that divisions have taken place, as in all religions, and that you have among you men who call themselves Reformed Jews."
"Surely it is not part of your mission to debate this matter with me," said Aaron, who had no desire to discuss these questions with a stranger.
"No, it is not, and I do not pretend to understand it; but in a general way the subject is interesting to me. If you will permit me, I should like to ask you one question." Aaron signified assent19. "What is your opinion of mixed marriages?"
Aaron did not answer immediately; he had a suspicion that there was something behind, but the subject was one regarding which both he and Rachel held a strong view, and he felt he would be guilty of an unworthy evasion20 if he refused to reply.
"I do not approve of them," he said.
"You set me at ease," said the lawyer, "and it will gratify Lord Storndale to hear that you and he are in agreement upon the question. As our interview is private I may speak freely. Unhappily, Lord Storndale is a poor peer. Since he came into the title he has had great difficulties to contend with, and as his estates lay chiefly in Ireland these difficulties have been of late years increased. Happily or unhappily, also, he has a large family, two daughters and six sons. Of these sons the Honourable Percy Storndale is the youngest. I do not know who is more to be pitied, a poor peer struggling with mortgages, decreased rents, and the expenses of a large family, or a younger son who comes into the world with the expectation that he is to be provided for, and whose father can allow him at the utmost two hundred and fifty or three hundred a year. Father and son have both to keep up appearances, and the son's allowance will scarcely pay his tailor's and his glover's bills. There are a thousand things he wants, and to which he believes himself entitled. Flowers, horses, clubs, a stall at the theatre, and so on and so on, ad infinitum. The consequence is that the young gentleman gets into debt, which grows and grows. Perhaps he thinks of a means of paying his creditors21--he plunges22 on a horse, he plays for high stakes at his club. You know the result. Into the mire23, deeper and deeper. A sad picture, Mr. Cohen."
"Very sad," said Aaron, who had listened patiently, and knew that the crucial part of the lawyer's mission--that which affected24 himself and Ruth--had not yet been reached.
"Lord Storndale," continued the lawyer, "is a gentleman of exclusive views, and is perhaps prouder in his poverty than he would be with a rent-roll of a hundred thousand a year. His son's extravagances and debts are not hidden from his knowledge--the moneylenders take care of that. From time to time, and at a great sacrifice, he extricates25 the young scapegrace from temporary difficulties, but at length he comes to a full stop. His own means are exhausted26, and willing as he may be to keep putting his hand in his pocket, it is useless to do so, because the pocket is empty. But he has some influence in a small way, and he obtains for his son the offer of a post in the colonies; not very grand certainly, but affording an opening which may lead to something better, if the young gentleman will only condescend27 to look at life seriously--which, as a rule, such young fellows decline to do until it is too late. However, a father, whether he be a peer or a common labourer, can do no more than his duty. He informs his son of the appointment he has obtained for him, and the scapegrace--I am speaking quite openly, Mr. Cohen; the Honourable Percy Storndale is one--declines to accept it. 'Why?' asks the astonished father. 'I cannot live on it,' replies the son. Then the father points out how he can live on it by cutting down some of his extravagances, and that he may find opportunities in the colonies which he can never meet with here. The son remains28 obdurate29. 'There is another reason for your refusal,' says the father. 'There is,' the son admits. 'I prefer to remain in London; it is the only city in the world worth living in.' 'And starving in,' suggests the father. The scapegrace shrugs30 his shoulders, and says something will turn up here, and that he will not submit to banishment31 because he happens to have been born a few years too late--a reflection upon his brother, the eldest32 son, who in course of time will inherit the family embarrassments33 and mortgages. The father remonstrates35, argues, entreats36, but the young man will not give way. Meanwhile the appointment is bestowed37 upon another and a worthier38 gentleman, and the chance is lost. I trust I am not wearying you."
"No. I am attending to all you say, and waiting to hear how my daughter's name comes to be mixed up with the family history you are giving me."
"You will understand everything presently. My object is to make the matter perfectly39 clear, and to have no concealment40. For this reason I wish you to be aware of the character of the young gentleman, and I am describing it carefully at the express wish of his father. At the same time I lay no positive charge against him; I am not saying he is a bad man, but an undesirable41 man. There are thousands of young fellows who are living just such a careless, irresponsible, reckless life, who get into debt, who gamble, and who ultimately find themselves passing through the bankruptcy42 court. Young men without balance, Mr. Cohen, and who, in consequence, topple over. They sow trouble wherever they go, and they are always smiling, self-possessed, and pleasant-mannered. Women especially are caught by these externals; but speaking myself as the father of grown-up daughters, I should be sorry to see one of that class visiting my house as a suitor to one of my girls."
Aaron started, but did not speak.
"Lord Storndale suspected that there was another reason which his son had not mentioned for his refusal of the colonial appointment, and in a short time his suspicions were confirmed. It came to his knowledge that his son was paying attentions to a young lady whom he was in the habit of meeting at garden parties and tennis, and probably by arrangement in the parks, and he taxed the young gentleman with it. His son did not deny it; he said that he loved the lady, that her father was very wealthy, and that she was in every way presentable. 'I do not know,' said the young man, 'whether the circumstance of her father being a commoner will prejudice you against him.' Lord Storndale replied that he would have preferred his son had chosen from his own rank, but that marriages between rich commoners and members of the aristocracy were not unusual in these days, and that he would sanction the match if the lady's father were a gentleman. To be honest with you, Mr. Cohen, Lord Storndale has no liking43 for commoners who have made fortunes in trade or by speculating; but he did not allow these scruples44 to weigh with him, his hope being that the proposed union would be the means of extricating45 his son from his difficulties, and of steadying him. The young man said that the lady's father was a gentleman widely known for his benevolence46 and uprightness of character, and that he was held in universal esteem47. Up to this point the interview had been of an amicable48 nature, but then arose an insurmountable difficulty. 'Who is the gentleman?' inquired Lord Storndale. 'Mr. Aaron Cohen,' replied the young man."
Observing Aaron's agitation49 the lawyer suspended his narration50, and said,--
"Pardon me; you were about to speak."
Aaron by a great effort controlled himself.
"I will wait till you have quite finished, Mr. Dillworthy. Before I commit myself it will be as well that I should be in possession of all the facts."
"Quite so. I have been explicit51 and circumstantial in order that there shall be no mistake. When I have finished you will have few, if any, questions to ask, because you will know everything it is in my power to tell. Upon hearing your name, his lordship remarked that it was a Jewish name. 'Yes,' said the young man, 'Mr. Cohen is a Jew.' Lord Storndale was angry and distressed52. I admit that it is an unreasonable53 prejudice; but he has an invincible54 dislike to Jews, and it shocked him to think that his son contemplated55 a marriage with a Jewess. I need dwell no longer upon the interview, which now took a stormy turn, and it ended by the son abruptly56 leaving the room. On no account, whatever, Mr. Cohen, will Lord Storndale or any member of his family consent to such an alliance; if it is accomplished57 the young man will be thrown upon his own resources, and his wife will not be recognised by his kinsfolk. The trouble has already reached a climax58. The young gentleman is hot-headed--a Storndale failing--and he declines to listen to remonstrances59; the consequence is, that he has been forbidden his father's home till he comes to reason. But despite his extravagances and the constant and perplexing involvements issuing therefrom, his father has an affection for him, and is bent60 upon saving his family from----"
The lawyer pausing here, with an awkward cough, as though he was choking down a word, Aaron quietly added it.
"Disgrace?"
"Well, yes," said Mr. Dillworthy, briskly; "we will not mince61 matters. It is not my word, but Lord Storndale's. He would account such an alliance a disgrace. I will say nothing in his excuse. In all civilised countries we have living evidences of happy unions between members of the aristocracy and wealthy daughters of Israel, and also living evidences of happy mixed marriages between persons neither aristocratic nor wealthy; and these might be brought forward as powerful arguments against the view my client entertains. But they would have no weight with him. We must take into consideration the pride of race."
"Yes," said Aaron, still speaking in a quiet tone, "we must take that into consideration. You have not quite finished, sir?"
"Not quite. As a last resource, Lord Storndale consulted me, and entrusted62 me with a painful task. He requested me to call upon you, and represent the matter in the plainest terms, which I have endeavoured to do, omitting or concealing63 no single incident of the unhappy affair. I am deputed to ask you to take a course with your daughter similar to that he has taken with his son--that is, to absolutely forbid the union. The young gentleman is in a state of extreme pecuniary64 embarrassment34, and it is possible--I do not state it as a fact, but merely as a presumption--that he reckons upon your aid to settle with his creditors. When he finds that this aid will not be forthcoming, and that he cannot depend upon your making a suitable settlement upon your daughter, he is not unlikely, for prudential reasons, to beat a retreat."
"What is the inference you wish me to draw from this expression of opinion?"
"That Mr. Storndale is following your daughter for your money."
"And that he has no love for her?"
The lawyer shrugged65 his shoulders. The interview was taking a turn not exactly pleasing to him.
"You are not flattering the young gentleman," Aaron said.
"I had no intention of doing so. Of course, it is for you to consider the matter from your own point of view. First, as a father----"
He paused.
"Yes, first as a father," repeated Aaron.
"Next, as a Jew."
"Yes, next as a Jew," said Aaron, again repeating the lawyer's words.
He was agitated by conflicting emotions, which no man but he could have understood--and which, indeed, in the light of the revelation which had been made, he himself could scarcely grasp, so strongly did it affect the secret of his life. But that secret still was his, and he had still to play his part.
"You are commissioned to take my answer to Lord Storndale?"
"He is anxiously awaiting it."
"I may trust you to convey that answer as nearly as possible in my own words?"
"It shall be my endeavour."
"You will tell him, then, that the mission with which he has entrusted you comes upon me as a surprise. As I have already informed you, I have never, until this day, heard his name or the name of his son. As to the character you give the young gentleman, it may or may not be correct, for you speak of him as an advocate on the other side----"
"But surely," interrupted the lawyer, "that would not affect the religious aspect of the question."
"No, it would not affect it. But whether correct or not, it seems clear that the young gentleman has not acted as a man of honour, although he is Lord Storndale's son. A young girl's trustfulness and innocence66 should be her safeguard; but here they have been basely used, according to your own statement, by a man whose external accomplishments67 have unhappily attracted her."
"And from such a man," said the lawyer, rather too eagerly, "it is a fathers duty to protect his daughter."
"Undoubtedly," replied Aaron, who could not dispute the lawyer's reasoning. "That my wife and I should have been kept in ignorance of Mr. Storndale's attentions is to be deplored68; and it appears certain that he must have bound Miss Cohen by a promise to say nothing to us about them. You speak of the pride of race as affecting Lord Storndale. We have also that pride, and if any Jewish parent were so far forgetful of the obligations of his faith as to admit your client's son into his family, it is upon him and upon Lord Storndale that honour would be conferred."
"It is a fair retort," said the lawyer. "I beg you to believe that the views I have expressed are not mine, but Lord Storndale's, in whose interests I am acting69. I am, as you say, an advocate--merely a mouthpiece, as it were--and I am bound to follow out my instructions. Your disapproval70 of mixed marriages gives me confidence that my mission has not failed, and it will be a satisfaction to Lord Storndale. May I take it that you will pursue the course with your daughter that he has taken with his son, and that you will forbid the union?"
"Have I not made myself sufficiently71 clear?" asked Aaron, with an inward rebellion against the evasion he felt himself compelled to practise.
"Yes, yes," said the lawyer, hastily, too astute72 to press for precise words. "And I may inform Lord Storndale that you distinctly disapprove73 of marriages between Jews and Christians74?"
"You may."
Mr. Dillworthy, believing he had gained his point, wisely dropped the subject, and expressing his obligations to Aaron, rose to take his departure. Before he reached the door, however, he turned, and in a tone of courteous deference75, asked if Mr. Cohen could spare him a few moments more. Aaron assenting76, the lawyer resumed his seat, and taking a pocket-book from his pocket searched in it for a letter.
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1
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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crumble
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| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 | |
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3
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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8
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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9
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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11
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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14
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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15
deviation
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| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
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precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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extricates
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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shrugs
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| n.耸肩（以表示冷淡，怀疑等）( shrug的名词复数 ) | |
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banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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embarrassments
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| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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remonstrates
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的第三人称单数 )；告诫 | |
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entreats
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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worthier
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| 应得某事物( worthy的比较级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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41
undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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42
bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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43
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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45
extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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46
benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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47
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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48
amicable
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| adj.和平的，友好的；友善的 | |
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49
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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50
narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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51
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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52
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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53
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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54
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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55
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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56
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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57
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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58
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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59
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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60
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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61
mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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62
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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64
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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65
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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66
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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67
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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68
deplored
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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70
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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71
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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72
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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73
disapprove
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| v.不赞成，不同意，不批准 | |
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74
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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75
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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76
assenting
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| 同意，赞成( assent的现在分词 ) | |
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