“Sutternly, sir, I did see her boxes in the station, but I didn’t read the directions.”
Foiled there, Charley inquired of the booking-clerk.
“O yes, sir; remember it perfectly2 well. Mr Max Bray asked the very same question only this morning. She took a ticket for London, sir.”
“Max Bray asking,” mused3 Charley. “Then he did not know where she was, and there could be no undercurrent at work there. Max wanted to know her address, confound him! He had better mind how he stood in his way.”
But, save when his thoughts turned in the direction of Laura Bray, which complication in his affairs troubled him, Charley Vining felt lighter5 of heart; for though Max held that ring, and so ostentatiously displayed it, there was no reason why he might not have obtained it by some hazard, as he himself had once gained possession of a plain golden cross. Matters were not so desperate after all, and he need not give up hope. And yet what misery6 for her to leave Lexville like that, without one word of farewell—flying, as it were, from his persecution7, as well as from that of Max Bray!
Thinking over the words, too, of Nelly, how he could imagine the wretched life the poor girl must have led! and then, with brightened eye, he determined8 to find out where she had taken refuge. But London—the place of all others where a quest seemed vain.
Charley’s musings were interrupted by one of the servants handing him a letter.
“John Dudgeon, Mr Bray’s man, sir, gave it to our Thomas this morning.”
Charley hastily tore open the thimble-sealed epistle, to find it written on a very dirty sheet of paper, and in a character that was almost undecipherable; but fortunately the note was not long, and he read as follows:
“Hon’d Sur,—This comes hoppin to fine you verry wel, as it leves me at presen. Mr Maxy Million comes a hordrin an a swerin at a pore suvvant lik ennythink, an thare aint know pleesing im. An that ante the wa 2 get ennythink out of him as nose. E say wairs Mis Bedfors bocksis drecty 2, an off korse I wasn goin 2 tel he; but mi gal9 jain, she se an rede em bofe, an I lik doin gents a good turn as has sivil tungs for a por suwant, and shes gon to missus Brandins Kops all laintun; an if Mr Macks Million wan4 2 no, dont let im kum to ure umbel suwant to kommarn,
“Jhon Dugegin.
“P.S. Wich you wone sa i tole u, ples, or yung marsta wil get me the sak.”
Mrs Brandon’s, Copse Hall, Laneton! Why, across country that was, not above a dozen miles off, on a branch of the South Midland Railway. Nothing could have happened more fortunately. He would have the dogcart and drive over at once—no, not at once: he would go the next day; and, come what might, he would see her again. Surely she would not be so hard, so cruel, with him—
His musings were brought to an end by the entrance of Sir Philip with a note in his hand.
The old gentleman looked pale and troubled, but his words were gentle, as he said: “A note from Mr Bray, Charley: he asks us to dinner there to-morrow. Shall I say that we will go?”
“To the Elms?—to-morrow?” said Charley. “No, I cannot; I have an engagement.”
“An engagement!—to-morrow, Charley!” said Sir Philip sadly.
“Yes, I am going out—I cannot go,” said Charley hastily.
Sir Philip said no more, but he sighed deeply as he turned and left the room to decline the invitation, thinking bitterly the while of her who had robbed him of his son’s confidence and affection; for hitherto father and son had lived almost for one another, and now there was coldness and estrangement10.
Laura Bray’s eyes sparkled as she saw the servant returning on horseback with the reply from Blandfield Court, for there was a strange excitement now pervading11 her. In obedience12 to her brother’s wish she had consented to try and prevail upon Ella Bedford to stay; but it was a source of infinite pleasure to her when she had written to tell Max, in London, that, in spite of all persuasion13, Miss Bedford had insisted upon leaving, and had gone—bearing his reproaches and anger with the greatest of patience, when he came down by the fast train, and abused her, and charged her with counterplotting, in the midst of which scene he was interrupted, as we know, by the coming of Charley Vining. As for the events of the next quarter of an hour, they were burned in Laura’s memory; and, her rival gone, her heart was light, and she had sat longing14 for the time when she should next see him who so engrossed15 her thoughts.
It was at her instigation that a dinner-party had been arranged at the shortest of short notices, ostensibly so that Maximilian Bray might have Charley Vining to see him—a pleasant fiction, which formed the text for much good-humoured banter16 at the Bray table, while Laura blushed and looked conscious.
The man was a terrible while before he took in that letter, and Laura’s colour came and went a score of times. Then it seemed as if the footman would never bring the letter up. But at last it was handed to Mr Bray, who was so long getting out his glasses, that Laura, unable to contain herself, exclaimed:
“Let me look for you, papa.”
Seizing the letter, she tore it open, read a few lines, and then dropped it with a look of the utmost disappointment. Then she walked to the window; but only to hurry the next moment from the room, so as to conceal17 her tears.
Max joined her, though, ten minutes after. “I thought you two had made it up?” he said inquiringly.
“Yes—no—I don’t know,” she answered passionately18.
“He’s going out to-morrow, is he?” continued Max musingly19. “What’s he going to do?—where’s he going?”
“Have you found out what you want?” said Laura, to turn the current of the conversation.
“Not yet,” he said. “You ought never to have given me the trouble. But I am at work, and so is he.”
“What!” cried Laura eagerly, as she caught her brother’s hand.
“He’s at work too,” said Max. “Bai Jove! he thinks himself very cunning, but he won’t get over me.”
“But you do not mean to say that he is trying to get that creature’s address?” cried Laura pitifully.
“Raving mad after it, bai Jove!” said Max. “You see you want me, Laury. I must take her out of your way altogether, or it’s no good. He won’t throw her up till he hears something.”
“Hears something?” said Laura slowly.
“Yes,” said Max in a whisper; “hears something. I had nearly ripened20 my plans, only this evasion21 of hers disturbs them, and now I have to begin all over again.”
“But are you sure he has been trying to find out where she is gone?”
“Certain of it; yes, bai Jove, I am!”
“How cruel!—how treacherous22!” muttered Laura.
“There, don’t go into the high flights, and spoon!” said Max roughly. “Set your wits to work. And look here, Laury, take my advice. Now, then, are you listening?”
“Yes—yes!” cried Laura, for she had been pressing her hands abstractedly together.
“Then look here. Don’t show that you either hear or see anything. I have him on the hip23 in a way he little thinks for. What you have to do is to meet him always with the same gentle unvarying kindness. Wink24 at everything you hear about him; and even if he comes to you straight from her, you must receive him with open arms. Do you hear me?”
“Yes,” said Laura bitterly; “I hear.”
“For, bai Jove! he’s not the man to be played with! Any show of jealousy25, or whim26, or snubbing, or any of that confounded tabby-foolery you women are so well up in, will drive him away.”
Laura sighed.
“There, don’t be a fool, Laury! Bai Jove, I’m ashamed of you! I thought you were a woman of more spirit. But look here: I was put out—I was, bai Jove!—when I came down and found the little dove had spread her soft little wings and flown away, for it put me to a great deal of trouble and inconvenience and expense; but you trust to me, and you shall be Lady Vining—of course, I mean when the old gentleman drops off. But Charley will come back to you like a great sheep as he is.”
“How dare you, Max!” cried Laura, firing up.
“O, there, I don’t want to upset the fair sister’s sweet prejudices,” said Max, with a sneer27. “There, we’ll call him the noble baronet-apparent. He’ll come back to you by and by to soothe28 the pains in his great soft heart, and you shall heal them for him.”
Laura bit her pocket—handkerchief fiercely, and kept tearing it again from between her teeth.
“I have him, I tell you; and, bai Jove! the day shall come when he shall frown at the very mention of the little soft dove’s name!”
“But when—when?” cried Laura.
“When!” said Max coolly; “bai Jove! how can I tell? I shall work hard as soon as I have found out the address, and when the proper time comes, my charming sister, I shall want your help in a scene I have in petto. It may be a month, or it may be two, or perhaps three; but,” he said excitedly, as he again threw off the drawl, and effeminate way, to let flash out the evil passions of his heart, “I am in earnest, Laury, and I’ll have that address before many days are gone by.”
“But how—how will you get it?” cried Laura.
“Well,” said Max, sinking back into his old way, “I’ve got a plan for that too—one that will give but little trouble, and so I don’t mind telling you.”
“Well—quick, tell me!” cried Laura.
“Bai Jove! how excited you are!” said Max, laughing insolently29, and taking evident delight in probing his sister’s wounds. “Charley is hard at work trying to find out her address.”
“Yes, yes!” cried Laura, pressing her hand to her side.
“And he’ll be sure to find it sooner or later.”
“Yes, yes!” cried Laura pitifully, her eyes flashing with jealous hate the while she stood before her brother, the style of woman who, had she lived at an earlier period, would have gladly taken a leaf from the book of Lucrezia Borgia, and ridded herself of her rival.
“Well,” said Max coolly, “I said he’d be sure to find it out, didn’t I?”
“Max—Max! why do you torture me?” cried Laura. “Tell me how you will manage, when you say that you will leave him to find out what should be yours to do, if there is to be any faith in your promise!”
“Faith!—yes, bai Jove, you may have faith in me! And there, I won’t hurt your feelings any more. Charley will find out the address, and so shall I.”
“But how?” cried Laura passionately, stamping her foot.
“How? Why, bai Jove, I shall watch him!”
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收听单词发音
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1
bray
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| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
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2
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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3
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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4
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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6
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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7
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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8
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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estrangement
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| n.疏远，失和，不和 | |
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11
pervading
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的现在分词 ) | |
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12
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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13
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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14
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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15
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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16
banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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17
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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18
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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19
musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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20
ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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22
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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23
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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24
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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25
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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26
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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27
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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28
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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29
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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