The rest of the day passed in vain speculations6 on Philip’s motive7 for this sudden departure. What poor weak creatures we are! I persuaded myself to hope that anxiety for our marriage had urged him to make an effort to touch the heart of his mean father. Shall I see him to-morrow? And shall I have reason to be fonder of him than ever?
We met again to-day as usual. He has behaved infamously9.
When I asked what had been his object in going to London, I was told that it was “a matter of business.” He made that idiotic10 excuse as coolly as if he really thought I should believe it. I submitted in silence, rather than mar8 his return to me by the disaster of a quarrel. But this was an unlucky day. A harder trial of my self-control was still to come. Without the slightest appearance of shame, Philip informed me that he was charged with a message from Mrs. Tenbruggen! She wanted some Irish lace, and would I be so good as to tell her which was the best shop at which she could buy it?
Was he really in earnest? “You,” I said, “who distrusted and detested11 her—you are on friendly terms with that woman?”
He remonstrated12 with me. “My dear Helena, don’t speak in that way of Mrs. Tenbruggen. We have both been mistaken about her. That good creature has forgiven the brutal13 manner in which I spoke14 to her, when she was in attendance on my father. She was the first to propose that we should shake hands and forget it. My darling, don’t let all the good feeling be on one side. You have no idea how kindly15 she speaks of you, and how anxious she is to help us to be married. Come! come! meet her half-way. Write down the name of the shop on my card, and I will take it back to her.”
Sheer amazement16 kept me silent: I let him go on. He was a mere17 child in the hands of Mrs. Tenbruggen: she had only to determine to make a fool of him, and she could do it.
But why did she do it? What advantage had she to gain by insinuating18 herself in this way into his good opinion, evidently with the intention of urging him to reconcile us to each other? How could we two poor young people be of the smallest use to the fashionable Masseuse?
My silence began to irritate Philip. “I never knew before how obstinate19 you could be,” he said; “you seem to be doing your best—I can’t imagine why—to lower yourself in my estimation.”
I held my tongue; I assumed my smile. It is all very well for men to talk about the deceitfulness of women. What chance (I should like to ask somebody who knows about it) do the men give us of making our lives with them endurable, except by deceit! I gave way, of course, and wrote down the address of the shop.
He was so pleased that he kissed me. Yes! the most fondly affectionate kiss that he had given me, for weeks past, was my reward for submitting to Mrs. Tenbruggen. She is old enough to be his mother, and almost as ugly as Miss Jillgall—and she has made her interests his interests already!
On the next day, I fully20 expected to receive a visit from Mrs. Tenbruggen. She knew better than that. I only got a polite little note, thanking me for the address, and adding an artless concession21: “I earn more money than I know what to do with; and I adore Irish lace.”
The next day came, and still she was careful not to show herself too eager for a personal reconciliation22. A splendid nosegay was sent to me, with another little note: “A tribute, dear Helena, offered by one of my grateful patients. Too beautiful a present for an old woman like me. I agree with the poet: ‘Sweets to the sweet.’ A charming thought of Shakespeare’s, is it not? I should like to verify the quotation23. Would you mind leaving the volume for me in the hall, if I call to-morrow?”
Well done, Mrs. Tenbruggen! She doesn’t venture to intrude24 on Miss Gracedieu in the drawing-room; she only wants to verify a quotation in the hall. Oh, goddess of Humility25 (if there is such a person), how becomingly you are dressed when your milliner is an artful old woman!
While this reflection was passing through my mind, Miss Jillgall came in—saw the nosegay on the table—and instantly pounced26 on it. “Oh, for me! for me!” she cried. “I noticed it this morning on Elizabeth’s table. How very kind of her!” She plunged27 her inquisitive28 nose into the poor flowers, and looked up sentimentally29 at the ceiling. “The perfume of goodness,” she remarked, “mingled with the perfume of flowers!” “When you have quite done with it,” I said, “perhaps you will be so good as to return my nosegay?” “Your nosegay!” she exclaimed. “There is Mrs. Tenbruggen’s letter,” I replied, “if you would like to look at it.” She did look at it. All the bile in her body flew up into her eyes, and turned them green; she looked as if she longed to scratch my face. I gave the flowers afterward30 to Maria; Miss Jillgall’s nose had completely spoiled them.
It would have been too ridiculous to have allowed Mrs. Tenbruggen to consult Shakespeare in the hall. I had the honor of receiving her in my own room. We accomplished31 a touching32 reconciliation, and we quite forgot Shakespeare.
She troubles me; she does indeed trouble me.
Having set herself entirely33 right with Philip, she is determined34 on performing the same miracle with me. Her reform of herself is already complete. Her vulgar humor was kept under strict restraint; she was quiet and well-bred, and readier to listen than to talk. This change was not presented abruptly35. She contrived36 to express her friendly interests in Philip and in me by hints dropped here and there, assisted in their effort by answers on my part, into which I was tempted37 so skillfully that I only discovered the snare38 set for me, on reflection. What is it, I ask again, that she has in view in taking all this trouble? Where is her motive for encouraging a love-affair, which Miss Jillgall must have denounced to her as an abominable39 wrong inflicted40 on Eunice? Money (even if there was a prospect41 of such a thing, in our case) cannot be her object; it is quite true that her success sets her above pecuniary42 anxiety. Spiteful feeling against Eunice is out of the question. They have only met once; and her opinion was expressed to me with evident sincerity43: “Your sister is a nice girl, but she is like other nice girls—she doesn’t interest me.” There is Eunice’s character, drawn44 from the life in few words. In what an irritating position do I find myself placed! Never before have I felt so interested in trying to look into a person’s secret mind; and never before have I been so completely baffled.
I had written as far as this, and was on the point of closing my Journal, when a third note arrived from Mrs. Tenbruggen.
She had been thinking about me at intervals45 (she wrote) all through the rest of the day; and, kindly as I had received her, she was conscious of being the object of doubts on my part which her visit had failed to remove. Might she ask leave to call on me, in the hope of improving her position in my estimation? An appointment followed for the next day.
What can she have to say to me which she has not already said? Is it anything about Philip, I wonder?
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1
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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infamously
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| 不名誉地 | |
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idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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14
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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15
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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17
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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18
insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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19
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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20
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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24
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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26
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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27
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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28
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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32
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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37
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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38
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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39
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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40
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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42
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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43
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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44
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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45
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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