He had written to his father after the Countess had left the house in which he lodged13, and his father had answered him. The old man was not much given to the writing of letters. "About Lady Lovel and her daughter," said he, "I won't take no more trouble, nor shouldn't you. She and you is different, and must be." And that was all he said. Yes;—he and Lady Anna were different, and must remain so. Of a morning, when he went fresh to his work, he would resolve that he would send her word that she was entirely14 free from him, and would bid her do according to the nature of the Lovels. But in the evening, as he would wander back, slowly, all alone, tired of his work, tired of the black solitude15 of the life he was leading, longing16 for some softness to break the harsh monotony of his labour, he would remember all her prettinesses, and would, above all, remember the pretty oaths with which she had sworn that she, Anna Lovel, loved him, Daniel Thwaite, with all the woman's love which a woman could give. He would remember the warm kiss which had seemed to make fresh for hours his dry lips, and would try to believe that the bliss17 of which he had thought so much might still be his own. Had she abandoned him, had she assented18 to a marriage with the Earl, he would assuredly have heard of it. He also knew well the day fixed19 for the trial, and understood the importance which would be attached to an early marriage, should that be possible,—or at least to a public declaration of an engagement. At any rate she had not as yet been false to him.
One day he received at his place of work the following note;—
Dear Mr. Thwaite,
I wish to speak to you on most important business. Could you call on me to-morrow at eight o'clock in the evening,—here?
Yours very faithfully and always grateful,
J. Lovel.
And then the Countess had added her address in Keppel Street;—the very address which, about a month back, she had refused to give him. Of course he went to the Countess,—fully believing that Lady Anna would also be at the house, though believing also that he would not be allowed to see her. But at this time Lady Anna was still staying with Mrs. Bluestone in Bedford Square.
It was no doubt natural that every advantage should be taken of the strong position which Lord Lovel held. When he had extracted a promise from Lady Anna that she would write to him at the end of a week, he told Sir William, Sir William told his wife, Lady Patterson told Mrs. Bluestone, and Mrs. Bluestone told the Countess. They were all now in league against the tailor. If they could only get a promise from the girl before the cause came on,—anything that they could even call a promise,—then the thing might be easy. United together they would not be afraid of what the Italian woman might do. And this undertaking20 to write to Lord Lovel was almost as good as a promise. When a girl once hesitates with a lover, she has as good as surrendered. To say even that she will think of it, is to accept the man. Then Mrs. Bluestone and the Countess, putting their heads together, determined21 that an appeal should be made to the tailor. Had Sir William or the Serjeant been consulted, either would have been probably strong against the measure. But the ladies acted on their own judgment, and Daniel Thwaite presented himself in Keppel Street. "It is very kind of you to come," said the Countess.
"There is no great kindness in that," said Daniel, thinking perhaps of those twenty years of service which had been given by him and by his father.
"I know you think that I have been ungrateful for all that you have done for me." He did think so, and was silent. "But you would hardly wish me to repay you for helping22 me in my struggle by giving up all for which I have struggled."
"I have asked for nothing, Lady Lovel."
"Have you not?"
"I have asked you for nothing."
"But my daughter is all that I have in the world. Have you asked nothing of her?"
"Yes, Lady Lovel. I have asked much from her, and she has given me all that I have asked. But I have asked nothing, and now claim nothing, as payment for service done. If Lady Anna thinks she is in my debt after such fashion as that, I will soon make her free."
"She does think so, Mr. Thwaite."
"Let her tell me so with her own lips."
"You will not think that I am lying to you."
"And yet men do lie, and women too, without remorse23, when the stakes are high. I will believe no one but herself in this. Let her come down and stand before me and look me in the face and tell me that it is so,—and I promise you that there shall be no further difficulty. I will not even ask to be alone with her. I will speak but a dozen words to her, and you shall hear them."
"She is not here, Mr. Thwaite. She is not living in this house."
"Where is she then?"
"She is staying with friends."
"With the Lovels,—in Yorkshire?"
"I do not think that good can be done by my telling you where she is."
"Do you mean me to understand that she is engaged to the Earl?"
"I tell you this,—that she acknowledges herself to be bound to you, but bound to you simply by gratitude24. It seems that there was a promise."
"Oh yes,—there was a promise, Lady Lovel; a promise as firmly spoken as when you told the late lord that you would be his wife."
"I know that there was a promise,—though I, her mother, living with her at the time, had no dream of such wickedness. There was a promise, and by that she feels herself to be in some measure bound."
"She should do so,—if words can ever mean anything."
"I say she does,—but it is only by a feeling of gratitude. What;—is it probable that she should wish to mate so much below her degree, if she were now left to her own choice? Does it seem natural to you? She loves the young Earl,—as why should she not? She has been thrown into his company on purpose that she might learn to love him,—when no one knew of this horrid25 promise which had been exacted from her before she had seen any in the world from whom to choose."
"She has seen two now, him and me, and she can choose as she pleases. Let us both agree to take her at her word, and let us both be present when that word is spoken. If she goes to him and offers him her hand in my presence, I would not take it then though she were a princess, in lieu of being Lady Anna Lovel. Will he treat me as fairly? Will he be as bold to abide26 by her choice?"
"You can never marry her, Mr. Thwaite."
"Why can I never marry her? Would not my ring be as binding27 on her finger as his? Would not the parson's word make me and her one flesh and one bone as irretrievably as though I were ten times an earl? I am a man and she a woman. What law of God, or of man,—what law of nature can prevent us from being man and wife? I say that I can marry her,—and with her consent, I will."
"Never! You shall never live to call yourself the husband of my daughter. I have striven and suffered,—as never woman strove and suffered before, to give to my child the name and the rank which belong to her. I did not do so that she might throw them away on such a one as you. If you will deal honestly by us—"
"I have dealt by you more than honestly."
"If you will at once free her from this thraldom28 in which you hold her, and allow her to act in accordance with the dictates29 of her own heart—"
"That she shall do."
"If you will not hinder us in building up again the honour of the family, which was nigh ruined by the iniquities30 of my husband, we will bless you."
"I want but one blessing31, Lady Lovel."
"And in regard to her money—"
"I do not expect you to believe me, Countess; but her money counts as nothing with me. If it becomes hers and she becomes my wife, as her husband I will protect it for her. But there shall be no dealing32 between you and me in regard to money."
"There is money due to your father, Mr. Thwaite."
"If so, that can be paid when you come by your own. It was not lent for the sake of a reward."
"And you will not liberate33 that poor girl from her thraldom."
"She can liberate herself if she will. I have told you what I will do. Let her tell me to my face what she wishes."
"That she shall never do, Mr. Thwaite;—no, by heavens. It is not necessary that she should have your consent to make such an alliance as her friends think proper for her. You have entangled34 her by a promise, foolish on her part, and very wicked on yours, and you may work us much trouble. You may delay the settlement of all this question,—perhaps for years; and half ruin the estate by prolonged lawsuits35; you may make it impossible for me to pay your father what I owe him till he, and I also, shall be no more; but you cannot, and shall not, have access to my daughter."
Daniel Thwaite, as he returned home, tried to think it all over dispassionately. Was it as the Countess had represented? Was he acting36 the part of the dog in the manger, robbing others of happiness without the power of achieving his own? He loved the girl, and was he making her miserable37 by his love? He was almost inclined to think that the Countess had spoken truth in this respect.
END OF VOL. I.
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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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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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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reeked
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的过去式和过去分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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12
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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13
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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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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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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17
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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18
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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27
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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thraldom
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| n.奴隶的身份，奴役，束缚 | |
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29
dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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30
iniquities
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| n.邪恶( iniquity的名词复数 )；极不公正 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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32
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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33
liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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34
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
lawsuits
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| n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 ) | |
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36
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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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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