"You think I grow crooked?" I asked, surprised. "Mentally?"
"Morally," he answered, with a sneer11. "You picked a foolish quarrel to leave me, and now you are back again. Why?"
"Can you tell me?"
"I have a theory," he said, with kindly12 eyes. "Tell me if I am wrong. My wife has become interested in you. She has marked you for a victim. At first you were unwilling13. You could not even bear to be near me. But now you are more callous14."
"You are wrong," I replied—then suddenly remembered that I had given a solemn promise to Lady Helen.
[Pg 195]
No doubt Hubbard marked the change in my expression. His sneer grew more pronounced. But I had a task to get through somehow.
"Lady Helen, with all due deference15 to you, Hubbard," I said slowly, "is not a woman I could ever care about. I feel certain she is even less interested in me than I am in her. But even were the reverse the case with her, as you suspect, what odds16? I have the utmost contempt for her; and I think that she deserves—but there, you have the misfortune to be her husband, so I'll say no more."
"Is it not enough that she has most unwarrantably caused you a great deal of unhappiness?" I retorted. "Besides, you have told me sufficient of her character to convince me that she is one of those flighty butterfly women whom all honest men regard with only one step short of loathing18."
"I try to be," I answered modestly.
He was furious. In order to hide it, he sprang out of bed, flung on his dressing-gown and rushed to the bath. I thought of Lady Helen's acute prevision of the event, and almost contrived20 to smile. Hubbard had come within an ace3 of defending his defamed wife with naked fists on my impertinent face, according to the simple rules of the Supreme21 Court of Appeals of primeval unlettered aborigines.
[Pg 196]
We tabooed the subject by tacit consent for the remainder of the forenoon, but Hubbard announced his intention of accompanying me to the inquest, and as soon as we were seated in the train he opened fire again.
"I am afraid I have given you an exaggerated idea of Lady Helen's shortcomings," he commenced, looking anywhere but at me. "I am afraid I have created a false impression in your mind. I don't want you to consider her entirely22 blameworthy, Pinsent; if she were that I should long ago have ceased to care a pin for her."
He went on presently. "I'm afraid, Pinsent, I have done a foolish thing, perhaps even a caddish thing, in telling you anything about our private quarrel. It did not occur to me at the time that I might prejudice you against her. To be honest, there were faults on both sides, and if you knew all you might consider me the more deserving of censure24, her the more deserving of pity."
"My dear old chap," I answered solemnly, "have I known you all these years for nothing? All you have said only the more assures me of your chivalry25 and generosity26 and tenderness of heart, and makes me feel the angrier at her insensate incapacity to appreciate your qualities. I grant you that you hide yourself at times behind a mask of surliness, but do you mean to tell me that any[Pg 197] true woman, any woman, indeed, even such a frivolous27 creature as she has proved herself to be, could have failed to penetrate28 so transparent29 a disguise? I can't believe it, my boy. In my opinion, Lady Helen knows you perfectly30 for what you are. But instead of responding with an equal or similar nobility of mind, at the instance of her innate31 selfishness she is using her knowledge to put upon you, to hurt you, to trifle with you, and to drain your purse, all that she may pass the sort of existence she prefers without the wheel-brake of your tutelage."
Hubbard moved uncomfortably in his seat. He frowned and bit his lip. Then he coughed and put up a hand to his brow.
"Damme!" at length he blurted32 out. "You're as wrong as you can be. It was I who insisted on the separation."
"But she forced you to it. She broke her marriage vow33 of obedience34, by refusing to accept the rules of life that you had planned."
"I prescribed conditions which she characterised as grossly unreasonable35 and unfair. I am by no means sure now that she was not right."
"Nonsense, Hubbard. It's a woman's first duty to obey and cleave36 to her husband at all costs and whatever be the consequences or fancied consequences to her comfort or convenience. Marriage imposes that obligation on the woman in its sacramental character. It is a sacred obligation and it[Pg 198] cannot be violated without the guilt37 of crime. I could have no mercy on such a criminal."
Hubbard unbuttoned his coat and threw back the lapels. He seemed hot. He puffed38 out his cheeks and began to fan himself with a newspaper.
"Lord!" he muttered. "What strait-laced ideas you have of matrimony. Upon my soul I cannot follow you. They are out of date. There was a time, perhaps, when they were necessary. But now! My dear Hugh, you should reconsider the matter. Your views are somewhat narrow. For years past the world has been allowing an ever-increasing license39 to woman. And who shall say that it is wrong! Woman is a reasoning, responsible being. I——"
"Nonsense, Hubbard," I interrupted. "Woman is the weaker vessel40, and the more she is restricted the better for her own protection. Look at the Divorce Court! Thousands of marriages are every year dissolved. That is all owing to the greater freedom which men have conceded woman of latter years. Divorce was, comparatively speaking, an unknown quantity when men asserted the right to confine their wives in proper bounds and forced them to observe and practise the domestic virtues41 both for occupation and amusement. Look around you and consider what has been brought about by the unwise relaxation42 of the old, sound laws! A race of social moths43 and drones and gad-flies has been created, whose chief business in life it is to amuse[Pg 199] themselves; whose pleasure it is to spend money often earned with difficulty by devoted44 fools; whose delight it is to ensnare and to deceive their former tyrants45; whose estimate of motherhood is an avoidable and loathsome46 human incident; whose morality is a resolution to preserve their immorality47 from public criticism; whose faith is a shibboleth48 composed of superstitious49 formul?, and whose religion is occasionally to attend divine service in some fashionable church arrayed in the latest thing in headgear and a chic50 French gown."
Hubbard straightened his shoulders. His expression had grown quite superior during my tirade51, and when it was over, it was plain that he looked down on me from the heights of a philosophic52 Aconcagua.
"I would not advertise those opinions if I were you," he observed with a slight sneer. "They have a grain of truth in them, but not enough to conceal53 the brand of special advocate. I suppose you do not wish to be regarded as a social reformer?"
"I shall be content to reform one woman—if ever I marry," I answered, with a straight face, though it was hard to keep it straight.
"She has my unmeasured sympathy," said Hubbard. "Once upon a time I was a woman-hater—but in my most uncharitable moments I was never such a fool as you. You will forgive my plain speaking?"
"Certainly, Hubbard, certainly. You are not [Pg 200]responsible. It is plain to me that Lady Helen has bewitched you. One of these days you'll be lauding54 her as a creature of incomparable excellences—a very paragon55 of merit and a pattern of the virtues. I can see it coming. I am sorry, for, of course, I know what she is."
Hubbard turned crimson56. He snapped his teeth together and rapped out: "See here, Pinsent, we are very old friends, but I'll be damned if I allow you to disparage57 my wife. Is that plain?"
I took out my cigarette case. "Perfectly," I murmured.
He glared at me for a moment, then scowled58 still more blackly and growled59 deep in throat: "I can't think what has come over you. You haven't the least right or cause to hate her. It's positively60 unmanly. Especially as she thinks of you far more highly than you deserve. She feels it, too. You must have shown her how you regard her. She made me feel a brute61."
"Look here, Hubbard," I cried, with a nicely assumed show of indignation, "I want to oblige you and I want to keep the peace between us, but I shan't be able to if you keep on defending her when you know as well as I——"
"What?" he thundered.
"That she is a butterfly!" I thundered back.
"She is not!" he shouted.
"She is!" I said.
"You, you, you imbecile!" spluttered my poor[Pg 201] friend. "I tell you once and for all that is only one phase of her. I don't like it, I admit," (he began to cool off), "but still it is only a phase. She is in reality a woman of great depth of character." (He was quite cool by this.) "I had a conversation with her the other night that astonished me. Of course, I have always known that she is an educated woman, but the extent of her knowledge had previously62 escaped me. She has a much more than superficial acquaintance with the modern forms of speculative63 philosophy. She has read Kant and Spencer and Nietzsche with understanding: and she is now engaged in the study of Egyptian history. You have interested her deeply in the subject."
I shrugged my shoulders. "And from all this you conclude?"
"That I have been an idiot not to recognise long ago that she is my intellectual equal. And I have treated her as if she were an irresponsible child."
"But she is a woman."
"Quite so," replied this converted woman-hater, "and because she is a woman, and such a woman, she has the power to bless the man fortunate enough to win her—her affection—as few men are blessed. Now you can appreciate my position. I have blindly sacrificed my chance. I——"
"Pish!" I interrupted. "Tell her what you have told me and be blessed! You'll repent64 it all your life through."
[Pg 202]
"It is too late," he groaned65. "I have been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Pride, if nothing else, would always prevent her from forgiving me. She—liked me once, I think—but now——" He cleared his throat and forced a wry8 smile. "She looks upon me as her treasurer66 and friend. It was my own choice. I have no right to grumble67." Then he burst out suddenly, "But it's damnable, Pinsent, damnable!"
Lady Helen's medicine was working like a charm. I thought it best to let well enough alone. So I made a rude effort and changed the conversation. We soon reached our journey's end.
The inquest was a nightmare dreamed by day. The courtroom was filled with poor Weldon's relatives. His father, the old baron68, ostentatiously turned his back on me. He seemed to think me in some way responsible for his son's fate. Weldon's sisters, too, whom I knew slightly, vouchsafed69 me no sign of recognition. His younger brother—now the heir—was the only member of the family who extended the slightest token of civility. He was so manifestly delighted at the unlooked-for promotion70 of his prospects71 that I read in his warm hand-grip a secret p?an of joy. He had been intended for that limbo72 of younger sons and blue-blooded incompetents73, the bar. Happily, the inquest was soon over. I was only in the box five minutes, and a quarter-hour later the verdict was recorded: "Accidental death."
Hubbard and I returned at once to London. There arrived, I plunged74 into work upon my book and for a space of two days I managed to forget that the world contained anything but steles and obelisks75 and mural hieroglyphic76 inscriptions77 which, though always half obliterate78 with time, had somehow or other to be made sense of and translated into English prose.
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1
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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2
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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3
ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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4
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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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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6
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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10
dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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11
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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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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13
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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15
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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16
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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17
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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18
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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19
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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21
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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22
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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23
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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24
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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25
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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26
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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28
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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29
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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31
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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32
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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35
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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36
cleave
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| v．(clave；cleaved)粘着，粘住；坚持；依恋 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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38
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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39
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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40
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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41
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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42
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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43
moths
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| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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45
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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46
loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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47
immorality
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| n. 不道德, 无道义 | |
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48
shibboleth
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| n.陈规陋习；口令；暗语 | |
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49
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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50
chic
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| n./adj.别致(的)，时髦(的)，讲究的 | |
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51
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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52
philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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53
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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54
lauding
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| v.称赞，赞美( laud的现在分词 ) | |
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55
paragon
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| n.模范，典型 | |
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56
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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57
disparage
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| v.贬抑，轻蔑 | |
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58
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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60
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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61
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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62
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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64
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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65
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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66
treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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67
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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68
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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69
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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70
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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71
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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72
limbo
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| n.地狱的边缘；监狱 | |
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73
incompetents
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| n.无能力的，不称职的，不胜任的( incompetent的名词复数 ) | |
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74
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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75
obelisks
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| n.方尖石塔，短剑号，疑问记号( obelisk的名词复数 ) | |
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hieroglyphic
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| n.象形文字 | |
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77
inscriptions
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| （作者）题词( inscription的名词复数 )； 献词； 碑文； 证劵持有人的登记 | |
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obliterate
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| v.擦去，涂抹，去掉...痕迹，消失，除去 | |
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