Lady Deepbell filled a middle situation, half way between the established superiority of Brook3 Park and the recognised humility4 of Beetham. Her title went for something; but her husband had been only a Civil Service Knight5, who had deserved well of his country by a meritorious6 longevity7. She lived in a pretty little cottage half way between Brook Park and Beetham, which was just large enough to enable her to talk of her grounds. She loved Brook Park dearly, and all the county people; but in her love for social intercourse8 generally she was unable to eschew9 the more frequent gatherings10 of the village. She was intimate not only with Mrs. Rossiter, but with the Tweeds and Dugdales and Simkinses, and, while she could enjoy greatly the grandeur11 of the Wanless aristocracy, so could she accommodate herself comfortably to the cosy12 gossip of the Beethamites. It was she who first spread the report in Beetham that Major Rossiter was,—as she called it,—“off.”
She first mentioned the matter to Mrs. Rossiter{402} herself; but this she did in a manner more subdued13 than usual. The “alliance” had been high, and she was inclined to think that Mrs. Rossiter would be disappointed. “We did think, Mrs. Rossiter, that these young people at Brook Park had meant something the other day.”
Mrs. Rossiter did not stand in awe14 of Lady Deepbell, and was not pleased at the allusion15. “It would be much better if young people could be allowed to arrange their own affairs without so much tattling about it,” she said angrily.
“That’s all very well, but tongues will talk, you know, Mrs. Rossiter. I am sorry for both their sakes, because I thought that it would do very well.”
“Very well indeed, if the young people, as you call them, liked each other.”
“But I suppose it’s over now, Mrs. Rossiter?”
“I really know nothing about it, Lady Deepbell.” Then the old woman, quite satisfied after this that the “alliance” had fallen to the ground, went on to the Tweeds.
“I never thought it would come to much,” said Mrs. Tweed.
“I don’t see why it shouldn’t,” said Matilda Tweed. “Georgiana Wanless is good-looking in a certain way; but they none of them have a penny, and Major Rossiter is quite a fashionable man.” The Tweeds were quite outside the Wanless pale; and it was the feeling of this that made Matilda love to talk about the second Miss Wanless by her Christian16 name.{403}
“I suppose he will go back to Alice now,” said Clara, the younger Tweed girl.
“I don’t see that at all,” said Mrs. Tweed.
“I never believed much in that story,” said Lady Deepbell.
“Nor I either,” said Matilda. “He used to walk about with her, but what does that come to? The children were always with them. I never would believe that he was going to make so little of himself.”
“But is it quite sure that all the affair at Brook Park will come to nothing, after the party and everything?” asked Mrs. Tweed.
“Quite positive,” said Lady Deepbell authoritatively18. “I am able to say certainly that that is all over.” Then she toddled19 off and went to the Simkinses.
The rumour1 did not reach the doctor’s house on that day. The conviction that Major Rossiter had behaved badly to Alice,—that Alice had been utterly20 thrown over by the Wanless “alliance,” had been so strong, that even Lady Deepbell had not dared to go and probe wilfully21 that wound. The feeling in this respect had been so general that no one in Beetham had been hard-hearted enough to speak to Alice either of the triumph of Miss Wanless, or of the misconduct of the Major; and now Lady Deepbell was afraid to carry her story thither22.
It was the doctor himself who first brought the tidings to the house, and did not do this till some days after Lady Deepbell had been in the village. “You had better not say anything to Alice about it.” Such at first had been the doctor’s injunction to his wife. “One{404} way or the other, it will only be a trouble to her.” Mrs. Dugdale, full of her secret, anxious to be obedient, thinking that the gentleman relieved from his second love, would be ready at once to be on again with his first, was so fluttered and fussy23 that Alice knew that there was something to be told. “You have got some great secret, mamma,” she said.
“What secret, Alice?”
“I know you have. Don’t wait for me to ask you to tell it. If it is to come, let it come.”
“I’m not going to say anything.”
“Very well, mamma. Then nothing shall be said.”
“Alice, you are the most provoking young woman I ever had to deal with in my life. If I had twenty secrets I would not tell you one of them.”
On the next morning Alice heard it all from her father. “I knew there was something by mamma’s manner,” she said.
“I told her not to say anything.”
“So I suppose. But what does it matter to me, papa, whether Major Rossiter does or does not marry Miss Wanless? If he has given her his word, I am sure I hope that he will keep it.”
“I don’t suppose he ever did.”
“Even then it doesn’t matter. Papa, do not trouble yourself about him.”
“But you?”
“I have gone through the fire, and have come out without being much scorched24. Dear papa, I do so wish that you should understand it all. It is so nice{405} to have some one to whom everything can be told. I did like him.”
“And he?”
“I have nothing to say about that;—not a word. Girls, I suppose, are often foolish, and take things for more than they are intended to mean. I have no accusation25 to make against him. But I did,—I did allow myself to be weak. Then came this about Miss Wanless, and I was unhappy. I woke from a dream, and the waking was painful. But I have got over it. I do not think that you will ever know from your girl’s manner that anything has been the matter with her.”
“My brave girl!”
“But don’t let mamma talk to me as though he could come back because the other girl has not suited him. He is welcome to the other girl,—welcome to do without her,—welcome to do with himself as it may best please him; but he shall not trouble me again.” There was a stern strength in her voice as she said this, which forced her father to look at her almost with amazement26. “Do not think that I am fierce, papa.”
“Fierce, my darling!”
“But that I am in earnest. Of course, if he comes to Beetham we shall see him. But let him be like anybody else. Don’t let it be supposed that because he flitted here once, and was made welcome, like a bird that comes in at the window, and then flitted away again, that he can be received in at the window just as before, should he fly this way any more. That’s all, papa.” Then, as before, she went off by herself,{406}—to give herself renewed strength by her solitary27 thinkings. She had so healed the flesh round that wound that there was no longer danger of mortification28. She must now take care that there should be no further wound. The people around her would be sure to tell her of this breach29 between her late lover and the Wanless young lady. The Tweeds and the Simkinses, and old Lady Deepbell would be full of it. She must take care so to answer them at the first word that they should not dare to talk to her of Major Rossiter. She had cured herself so that she no longer staggered under the effects of the blow. Having done that, she would not allow herself to be subject to the little stings of the little creatures around her. She had had enough of love,—of a man’s love, and would make herself happy now with Bobby and the other bairns.
“He’ll be sure to come back,” said Mrs Dugdale to her husband.
“We shall do no good by talking about it,” said the doctor. “If you will take my advice, you will not mention his name to her. I fear that he is worthless and unworthy of mention.” That might be very well, thought Mrs. Dugdale; but no one in the village doubted that he had at the very least ￡1,500 a year, and that he was a handsome man, and such a one as is not to be picked up under every hedge. The very men who go about the world most like butterflies before marriage “steady down the best” afterwards. These were her words as she discussed the matter with Mrs.{407} Tweed, and they both agreed that if the hero showed himself again at the doctor’s house “bygones ought to be bygones.”
Lady Wanless, even after her husband’s return from London, declared to herself that even yet the game had not been altogether played out. Sir Walter, who had been her only possible direct messenger to the man himself, had been, she was aware, as bad a messenger as could have been selected. He could be neither authoritative17 nor persuasive30. Therefore when he told her, on coming home, that it was easy to perceive that Major Rossiter’s father could not have been educated at Christchurch, she did not feel very much disappointed. As her next step she determined31 to call on Mrs. Rossiter. If that should fail she must beard the lion in his den32, and go herself to Major Rossiter at the Horse Guards. She did not doubt but that she would at least be able to say more than Sir Walter. Mrs. Rossiter, she was aware, was herself favourable33 to the match.
“My dear Mrs. Rossiter,” she said in her most confidential34 manner, “there is a little something wrong among these young people, which I think you and I can put right if we put our heads together.”
“If I know one of the young people,” said Mrs. Rossiter, “it will be very hard to make him change his mind.”
“He has been very attentive35 to the young lady.”
“Of course I know nothing about it, Lady Wanless. I never saw them together.{408}”
“Dear Georgiana is so very quiet that she said nothing even to me, but I really thought that he had proposed to her. She won’t say a word against him, but I believe he did. Now, Mrs. Rossiter, what has been the meaning of it?”
“How is a mother to answer for her son, Lady Wanless?”
“No;—of course not. I know that. Girls, of course, are different. But I thought that perhaps you might know something about it, for I did imagine you would like the connection.”
“So I should. Why not? Nobody thinks more of birth than I do, and nothing in my opinion could have been nicer for John. But he does not see with my eyes. If I were to talk to him for a week it would have no effect.”
“Is it that girl of the doctor’s, Mrs. Rossiter?”
“I think not. My idea is that when he has turned it all over in his mind he has come to the conclusion that he will be better without a wife than with one.”
“We might cure him of that, Mrs. Rossiter. If I could only have him down there at Brook Park for another week, I am sure he would come to.” Mrs. Rossiter, however, could not say that she thought it probable that her son would be induced soon to pay another visit to Brook Park.
A week after this Lady Wanless absolutely did find her way into the Major’s presence at the Horse Guards,—but without much success. The last words at that interview only shall be given to the reader,—the last{409} words as they were spoken both by the lady and by the gentleman. “Then I am to see my girl die of a broken heart?” said Lady Wanless, with her handkerchief up to her eyes.
“I hope not, Lady Wanless; but in whatever way she might die, the fault would not be mine.” There was a frown on the gentleman’s brow as he said this which cowed even the lady.
As she went back to Slowbridge that afternoon, and then home to Brook Park, she determined at last that the game must be looked upon as played out. There was no longer any ground on which to stand and fight. Before she went to bed that night she sent for Georgiana. “My darling child,” she said, “that man is unworthy of you.”
“I always thought he was,” said Georgiana. And so there was an end to that little episode in the family of the Wanlesses.
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1
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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meritorious
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| adj.值得赞赏的 | |
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longevity
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| n.长命；长寿 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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eschew
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| v.避开，戒绝 | |
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gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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19
toddled
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| v.（幼儿等）东倒西歪地走( toddle的过去式和过去分词 )；蹒跚行走；溜达；散步 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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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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