And how long would her nerves last? To be forced to live under the same roof with a man whose mere glance made her nerves crawl was bad enough, but to sleep night after night, for months on end (save when she could persuade him to visit), a few yards from a possible lunatic, must wear down the stoutest5 defences of will and reason. There was a double cause for sleeping with one pistol under her pillow and another under a book on the table beside her bed. The situation had something of grim humor in it as well as adventurous6 excitement, and Julia shrugged7 her shoulders and felt grateful that she had inherited her mother’s nerves.
But she thought as little as possible, since thinking did no good. Moreover, in years she was young, and although her spirit was curdled8 and dark at present, its quality was fine and high; and for such spirits life is rarely long enough to bury hope, save for brief moments, alive.
For the present she read and walked and rode, her surface contentment increased by the cheering news from Ishbel that one of her powerful aunts, who was a personal friend of the outraged9 royal lady, had made a satisfactory explanation; and the princess, to signify her forgiveness and sympathy, had ordered several hats sent to her for inspection10. It was not to be expected that she would risk a second shock by venturing into the shop in Bond Street again, but she was a conscientious11 soul, always recognizing the duties toward mere mortals imposed upon those of divine origin; and as discretion12 was a part of her equipment, the story never got about town. Ishbel’s business was saved. But it was a long time before Julia dared to enter that shop again.
She heard France return, late one night. She rose at once, put on her dressing-gown, and sat on the edge of her bed-sofa, waiting. But although he made an even greater noise and fuss than usual, summoning the entire staff of servants from their beds to wait on him, and spent at least an hour in the dining-room, he did not pass her door.
She met him on the following day in the living-room, a few moments before luncheon13. He greeted her with an almost regal courtesy, asked after her health, and then preceded her into the dining-room. During the meal, although he looked the personification of serene14 amiability15, he did not address a remark to her. Julia, puzzled but relieved, noted16 that he looked far better than when he had gone to Bosquith, that his hands were steadier, and that he drank nothing. At the end of the meal he rose with a slight bow as if dismissing her—from his thoughts, no doubt!—and left the room without smoking. It was probable that he was nursing his nerves.
The next day she learned that he had bought a string of hunters and a pack of fifty couples. A corresponding number of grooms17 and helpers appeared in the stables, as well as a pack huntsman, a kennel18 huntsman, and whippers-in. Hunting is the most expensive luxury, counting out dissipations, in which an Englishman can indulge, and Julia wondered at his sudden extravagance. True, he had never stinted19 himself in anything, and he was one of the best-dressed men in England, but, then, he had always schemed to make some one else pay, and since his social restoration his tailor had “carried” him. Relieved as she was at his avoidance of her, and to be excused from making conversation at the table, curiosity overcame her in the course of a week, and one night at dinner, when the servants had left the room, she asked him if he had joined the Hertfordshire.
“I have,” he said graciously.
“I thought hunting was so terribly expensive.”
“What of that?” he asked, with his new grand air. “Whatever is due my position I am not likely to forget.”
He uttered this copy-book sentiment, so different from his usual loose slang, as if he had rehearsed it, and Julia began to perceive that he had cut out a new r?le for himself, and was wearing it with his usual methodical consistency20.
“But can you afford it? You know this is a matter which does not admit of debt?—”
“I am not in the habit of being catechised, but I am willing to gratify you. I satisfied myself at Bosquith that neither my cousin nor his child has many months to live.”
“But I heard that the child was healthy, and that the duke was uncommonly21 well.”
“They are both in the last stages of tuberculosis22, Bright’s disease, or diabetes23, I have not made up my mind which. And I also satisfied myself that Margaret will have no more children.”
“Oh! I see. Then you expect to succeed shortly.”
“Within a year.”
“Then perhaps when you have what you’ve always most wanted in life, you will let me go my own way.”
For the first time his glassy eyes lit a small sinister24 torch, although they did not meet hers. They had not met hers since his return.
“You will be my duchess and do your little to support the prestige of the great house into which you have had the good fortune to marry. If you leave me, or in any way bring discredit25 upon me and my family, you know one penalty. Others you will learn if you cause me even the lightest displeasure.”
Julia laughed outright26. “Really, Harold, you were about the only man I had never thought funny—for good and sufficient reasons! Now you are too absurd, with your airs of superiority over the mere female, and your new r?le of stage lord. You were more impressive when you were the ordinary male brute27, for at least you were natural. You never were intended for an actor.”
“Actor?” His tones were still even. It seemed impossible to ruffle28 him. “I have told you that I expect to be Duke of Kingsborough in six months.”
“Even so. What duke do you know that puts on such airs? Even Kingsborough pretends to be simple and democratic.”
“The great peers of England have made a mistake in affecting a democracy it is impossible they should feel. They have only lowered the dignity of their position. I propose to raise it. When I am Kingsborough, I shall restore the ancient glories of Bosquith, and live as the old feudal29 lords lived, with an army of retainers, and a tenantry to whom my lightest word is law. I shall entertain as kings have forgotten how to entertain, and in no village on my estates anywhere shall an election ever be held again.”
“Good Lord! Do you fancy you can turn back the clock? This is the twentieth century.”
“I am not the only one who believes that the clock will turn back—to absolute monarchy30. It is the only solution—barring Socialism—if we are to escape mob rule.”
This was the one thoughtful remark he had made, and she looked at him with a trifle less suspicion, then remembered having read an intensely conservative article in one of the reviews, not long since. She had left it in the library, she recalled. But it was odd that he should open a review. She had never known him to read anything but French novels and the Pink ’Un. Was he trying to educate his mind, late in life? Far be it from her to discourage him, even if it did lead to impossible dreams. She rose from the table.
“Well, it will be picturesque,” she said. “I suppose I shall wear gold brocade to breakfast?—”
“I have not risen,” said France, in an even remote tone.
“Oh? What? Are you practising on me?”
France turned almost purple. But he made no reply. He merely rose with great dignity and left the room. Julia watched him cross the court with as much interest as amusement. His back was imposing31, regal. Nature certainly had started in a lavish32 mood to fashion him, then suffered from a fit of spleen when she finished his shoulders, and vented33 it on his head—without and within! Poor devil, what mortifications awaited him! For the moment she forgot the bitter debt she owed him.
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1
cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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curdled
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| v.（使）凝结( curdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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15
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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16
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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17
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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stinted
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| v.限制，节省（stint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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tuberculosis
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| n.结核病，肺结核 | |
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diabetes
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| n.糖尿病 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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ruffle
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| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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30
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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32
lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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