"If she has him there on purpose to throw him in your way, I shall think very badly of her."
"But he has been in the habit of being there, papa. Of course if you are decided3 about this, it is better that I should not see him."
"Did I not tell you that I was decided?"
"You said you would make some further inquiry4 and speak to me again." Now Mr. Wharton had made inquiry, but had learned nothing to reassure5 himself;—neither had he been able to learn any fact, putting his finger on which he could point out to his daughter clearly that the marriage would be unsuitable for her. Of the man's ability and position, as certainly also of his manners, the world at large seemed to speak well. He had been blackballed at two clubs, but apparently6 without any defined reason. He lived as though he possessed7 a handsome income, and yet was in no degree fast or flashy. He was supposed to be an intimate friend of Mr. Mills Happerton, one of the partners in the world-famous commercial house of Hunky and Sons, which dealt in millions. Indeed there had been at one time a rumour8 that he was going to be taken into the house of Hunky and Sons as a junior partner. It was evident that many people had been favourably9 impressed by his outward demeanour, by his mode of talk, and by his way of living. But no one knew anything about him. With regard to his material position Mr. Wharton could of course ask direct questions if he pleased, and require evidence as to alleged10 property. But he felt that by doing so he would abandon his right to object to the man as being a Portuguese11 stranger, and he did not wish to have Ferdinand Lopez as a son-in-law, even though he should be a partner in Hunky and Sons, and able to maintain a gorgeous palace at South Kensington.
"I have made inquiry."
"Well, papa?"
"I don't know anything about him. Nobody knows anything about him."
"Could you not ask himself anything you want to know? If I might see him I would ask him."
"That would not do at all."
"It comes to this, papa, that I am to sever12 myself from a man to whom I am attached, and whom you must admit that I have been allowed to meet from day to day with no caution that his intimacy13 was unpleasant to you, because he is called—Lopez."
"It isn't that at all. There are English people of that name; but he isn't an Englishman."
"Of course, if you say so, papa, it must be so. I have told Aunt Harriet that I consider myself to be prohibited from meeting Mr. Lopez by what you have said; but I think, papa, you are a little—cruel to me."
"Cruel to you!" said Mr. Wharton, almost bursting into tears.
"I am as ready to obey as a child;—but, not being a child, I think I ought to have a reason." To this Mr. Wharton made no further immediate14 answer, but pulled his hair, and shuffled15 his feet about, and then escaped out of the room.
A few days afterwards his sister-in-law attacked him. "Are we to understand, Mr. Wharton, that Emily is not to meet Mr. Lopez again? It makes it very unpleasant, because he has been intimate at our house."
"I never said a word about her not meeting him. Of course I do not wish that any meeting should be contrived16 between them."
"As it stands now it is prejudicial to her. Of course it cannot but be observed, and it is so odd that a young lady should be forbidden to meet a certain man. It looks so unpleasant for her,—as though she had misbehaved herself."
"I have never thought so for a moment."
"Of course you have not. How could you have thought so, Mr. Wharton?"
"I say that I never did."
"What must he think when he knows,—as of course he does know,—that she has been forbidden to meet him? It must make him fancy that he is made very much of. All that is so very bad for a girl! Indeed it is, Mr. Wharton." Of course there was absolute dishonesty in all this on the part of Mrs. Roby. She was true enough to Emily's lover,—too true to him; but she was false to Emily's father. If Emily would have yielded to her she would have arranged meetings at her own house between the lovers altogether in opposition17 to the father. Nevertheless there was a show of reason about what she said which Mr. Wharton was unable to overcome. And at the same time there was a reality about his girl's sorrow which overcame him. He had never hitherto consulted any one about anything in his family, having always found his own information and intellect sufficient for his own affairs. But now he felt grievously in want of some pillar,—some female pillar,—on which he could lean. He did not know all Mrs. Roby's iniquities18; but still he felt that she was not the pillar of which he was in need. There was no such pillar for his use, and he was driven to acknowledge to himself that in this distressing19 position he must be guided by his own strength, and his own lights. He thought it all out as well as he could in his own chamber20, allowing his book or his brief to lie idle beside him for many a half-hour. But he was much puzzled both as to the extent of his own authority and the manner in which it should be used. He certainly had not desired his daughter not to meet the man. He could understand that unless some affront21 had been offered such an edict enforced as to the conduct of a young lady would induce all her acquaintance to suppose that she was either very much in love or else very prone22 to misbehave herself. He feared, indeed, that she was very much in love, but it would not be prudent23 to tell her secret to all the world. Perhaps it would be better that she should meet him,—always with the understanding that she was not to accept from him any peculiar25 attention. If she would be obedient in one particular, she would probably be so in the other;—and, indeed, he did not at all doubt her obedience26. She would obey, but would take care to show him that she was made miserable27 by obeying. He began to foresee that he had a bad time before him.
And then as he still sat idle, thinking of it all, his mind wandered off to another view of the subject. Could he be happy, or even comfortable, if she were unhappy? Of course he endeavoured to convince himself that if he were bold, determined28, and dictatorial29 with her, it would only be in order that her future happiness might be secured. A parent is often bound to disregard the immediate comfort of a child. But then was he sure that he was right? He of course had his own way of looking at life, but was it reasonable that he should force his girl to look at things with his eyes? The man was distasteful to him as being unlike his idea of an English gentleman, and as being without those far-reaching fibres and roots by which he thought that the solidity and stability of a human tree should be assured. But the world was changing around him every day. Royalty30 was marrying out of its degree. Peers' sons were looking only for money. And, more than that, peers' daughters were bestowing31 themselves on Jews and shopkeepers. Had he not better make the usual inquiry about the man's means, and, if satisfied on that head, let the girl do as she would? Added to all this there was growing on him a feeling that ultimately youth would as usual triumph over age, and that he would be beaten. If that were so, why worry himself, or why worry her?
On the day after Mrs. Roby's attack upon him he again saw that lady, having on this occasion sent round to ask her to come to him. "I want you to understand that I put no embargo32 on Emily as to meeting Mr. Lopez. I can trust her fully33. I do not wish her to encourage his attentions, but I by no means wish her to avoid him."
"Am I to tell Emily what you say?"
"I will tell her myself. I think it better to say as much to you, as you seemed to be embarrassed by the fear that they might happen to see each other in your drawing-room."
"It was rather awkward;—wasn't it?"
"I have spoken now because you seemed to think so." His manner to her was not very pleasant, but Mrs. Roby had known him for many years, and did not care very much for his manner. She had an object to gain, and could put up with a good deal for the sake of her object.
"Very well. Then I shall know how to act. But, Mr. Wharton, I must say this, you know Emily has a will of her own, and you must not hold me responsible for anything that may occur." As soon as he heard this he almost resolved to withdraw the concession34 he had made;—but he did not do so.
Very soon after this there came a special invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Roby, asking the Whartons, father and daughter, to dine with them round the corner. It was quite a special invitation, because it came in the form of a card,—which was unusual between the two families. But the dinner was too, in some degree, a special dinner,—as Emily was enabled to explain to her father, the whole speciality having been fully detailed35 to herself by her aunt. Mr. Roby, whose belongings36 were not generally aristocratic, had one great connexion with whom, after many years of quarrelling, he had lately come into amity37. This was his half-brother, considerably38 older than himself, and was no other than that Mr. Roby who was now Secretary to the Admiralty, and who in the last Conservative Government had been one of the Secretaries to the Treasury39. The oldest Mr. Roby of all, now long since gathered to his fathers, had had two wives and two sons. The elder son had not been left as well off as friends, or perhaps as he himself, could have wished. But he had risen in the world by his wits, had made his way into Parliament, and had become, as all readers of these chronicles know, a staff of great strength to his party. But he had always been a poor man. His periods of office had been much shorter than those of his friend Rattler, and his other sources of income had not been certain. His younger half-brother, who, as far as the great world was concerned, had none of his elder brother's advantages, had been endowed with some fortune from his mother, and,—in an evil hour for both of them,—had lent the politician money. As one consequence of this transaction, they had not spoken to each other for years. On this quarrel Mrs. Roby was always harping40 with her own husband,—not taking his part. Her Roby, her Dick, had indeed the means of supporting her with a fair comfort, but had, of his own, no power of introducing her to that sort of society for which her soul craved41. But Mr. Thomas Roby was a great man,—though unfortunately poor,—and moved in high circles. Because they had lent their money,—which no doubt was lost for ever,—why should they also lose the advantages of such a connexion? Would it not be wiser rather to take the debt as a basis whereon to found a claim for special fraternal observation and kindred social intercourse42? Dick, who was fond of his money, would not for a long time look at the matter in this light, but harassed43 his brother from time to time by applications which were quite useless, and which by the acerbity44 of their language altogether shut Mrs. Roby out from the good things which might have accrued45 to her from so distinguished46 a brother-in-law. But when it came to pass that Thomas Roby was confirmed in office by the coalition47 which has been mentioned, Mrs. Dick became very energetic. She went herself to the official hero and told him how desirous she was of peace. Nothing more should be said about the money,—at any rate for the present. Let brothers be brothers. And so it came to pass that the Secretary to the Admiralty with his wife were to dine in Berkeley Street, and that Mr. Wharton was asked to meet them.
"I don't particularly want to meet Mr. Thomas Roby," the old barrister said.
"They want you to come," said Emily, "because there has been some family reconciliation48. You usually do go once or twice a year."
"I suppose it may as well be done," said Mr. Wharton.
"I think, papa, that they mean to ask Mr. Lopez," said Emily demurely49.
"I told you before that I don't want to have you banished50 from your aunt's home by any man," said the father. So the matter was settled, and the invitation was accepted. This was just at the end of May, at which time people were beginning to say that the coalition was a success, and some wise men to predict that at last fortuitous parliamentary atoms had so come together by accidental connexion, that a ministry51 had been formed which might endure for a dozen years. Indeed there was no reason why there should be any end to a ministry built on such a foundation. Of course this was very comfortable to such men as Mr. Roby, so that the Admiralty Secretary when he entered his sister-in-law's drawing-room was suffused52 with that rosy53 hue54 of human bliss55 which a feeling of triumph bestows56. "Yes," said he, in answer to some would-be facetious57 remark from his brother, "I think we have weathered that storm pretty well. It does seem rather odd, my sitting cheek by jowl with Mr. Monk58 and gentlemen of that kidney; but they don't bite. I've got one of our own set at the head of our own office, and he leads the House. I think upon the whole we've got a little the best of it." This was listened to by Mr. Wharton with great disgust,—for Mr. Wharton was a Tory of the old school, who hated compromises, and abhorred59 in his heart the class of politicians to whom politics were a profession rather than a creed60.
Mr. Roby senior, having escaped from the House, was of course the last, and had indeed kept all the other guests waiting half-an-hour,—as becomes a parliamentary magnate in the heat of the Session. Mr. Wharton, who had been early, saw all the other guests arrive, and among them Mr. Ferdinand Lopez. There was also Mr. Mills Happerton,—partner in Hunky and Sons,—with his wife, respecting whom Mr. Wharton at once concluded that he was there as being the friend of Ferdinand Lopez. If so, how much influence must Ferdinand Lopez have in that house! Nevertheless, Mr. Mills Happerton was in his way a great man, and a credit to Mrs. Roby. And there were Sir Damask and Lady Monogram61, who were people moving quite in the first circles. Sir Damask shot pigeons, and so did also Dick Roby,—whence had perhaps arisen an intimacy. But Lady Monogram was not at all a person to dine with Mrs. Dick Roby without other cause than this. But a great official among one's acquaintance can do so much for one! It was probable that Lady Monogram's presence was among the first fruits of the happy family reconciliation that had taken place. Then there was Mrs. Leslie, a pretty widow, rather poor, who was glad to receive civilities from Mrs. Roby, and was Emily Wharton's pet aversion. Mrs. Leslie had said impertinent things to her about Ferdinand Lopez, and she had snubbed Mrs. Leslie. But Mrs. Leslie was serviceable to Mrs. Roby, and had now been asked to her great dinner party.
But the two most illustrious guests have not yet been mentioned. Mrs. Roby had secured a lord,—an absolute peer of Parliament! This was no less a man than Lord Mongrober, whose father had been a great judge in the early part of the century, and had been made a peer. The Mongrober estates were not supposed to be large, nor was the Mongrober influence at this time extensive. But this nobleman was seen about a good deal in society when the dinners given were supposed to be worth eating. He was a fat, silent, red-faced, elderly gentleman, who said very little, and who when he did speak seemed always to be in an ill-humour. He would now and then make ill-natured remarks about his friends' wines, as suggesting '68 when a man would boast of his '48 claret; and when costly62 dainties were supplied for his use, would remark that such and such a dish was very well at some other time of the year. So that ladies attentive63 to their tables and hosts proud of their cellars would almost shake in their shoes before Lord Mongrober. And it may also be said that Lord Mongrober never gave any chance of retaliation64 by return dinners. There lived not the man or woman who had dined with Lord Mongrober. But yet the Robys of London were glad to entertain him; and the Mrs. Robys, when he was coming, would urge their cooks to superhuman energies by the mention of his name.
And there was Lady Eustace! Of Lady Eustace it was impossible to say whether her beauty, her wit, her wealth, or the remarkable65 history of her past life, most recommended her to such hosts and hostesses as Mr. and Mrs. Roby. As her history may be already known to some, no details of it shall be repeated here. At this moment she was free from all marital66 persecution67, and was very much run after by a certain set in society. There were others again who declared that no decent man or woman ought to meet her. On the score of lovers there was really little or nothing to be said against her; but she had implicated68 herself in an unfortunate second marriage, and then there was that old story about the jewels! But there was no doubt about her money and her good looks, and some considered her to be clever. These completed the list of Mrs. Roby's great dinner party.
Mr. Wharton, who had arrived early, could not but take notice that Lopez, who soon followed him into the room, had at once fallen into conversation with Emily, as though there had never been any difficulty in the matter. The father, standing24 on the rug and pretending to answer the remarks made to him by Dick Roby, could see that Emily said but little. The man, however, was so much at his ease that there was no necessity for her to exert herself. Mr. Wharton hated him for being at his ease. Had he appeared to have been rebuffed by the circumstances of his position the prejudices of the old man would have been lessened69. By degrees the guests came. Lord Mongrober stood also on the rug, dumb, with a look of intense impatience70 for his food, hardly ever condescending71 to answer the little attempts at conversation made by Mrs. Dick. Lady Eustace gushed72 into the room, kissing Mrs. Dick and afterwards kissing her great friend of the moment, Mrs. Leslie, who followed. She then looked as though she meant to kiss Lord Mongrober, whom she playfully and almost familiarly addressed. But Lord Mongrober only grunted73. Then came Sir Damask and Lady Monogram, and Dick at once began about his pigeons. Sir Damask, who was the most good-natured man in the world, interested himself at once and became energetic; but Lady Monogram looked round the room carefully, and seeing Lady Eustace, turned up her nose, nor did she care much for meeting Lord Mongrober. If she had been taken in as to the Admiralty Robys, then would she let the junior Robys know what she thought about it. Mills Happerton, with his wife, caused the frown on Lady Monogram's brow to loosen itself a little, for, so great was the wealth and power of the house of Hunky and Sons, that Mr. Mills Happerton was no doubt a feature at any dinner party. Then came the Admiralty Secretary with his wife, and the order for dinner was given.
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1
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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4
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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6
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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8
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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9
favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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sever
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| v.切开，割开；断绝，中断 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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15
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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iniquities
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| n.邪恶( iniquity的名词复数 )；极不公正 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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dictatorial
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| adj. 独裁的，专断的 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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embargo
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| n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商） | |
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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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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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harping
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| n.反复述说 | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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acerbity
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| n.涩，酸，刻薄 | |
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accrued
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| adj.权责已发生的v.增加( accrue的过去式和过去分词 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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50
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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bestows
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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monogram
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| n.字母组合 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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marital
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| adj.婚姻的，夫妻的 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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68
implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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69
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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72
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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