Now it was too late. When Peter arrived in Hamingburgh his uncle was already unconscious, and he did not recover sufficiently4 to recognise his nephew. A sudden seizure5 ended with a rush of blood to the brain; and Peter was left heir to a personal estate of over ￡90,000. Peter had to be content with his mother's assurance that his uncle died with entire faith in his nephew's ability to spend a fortune.
The next weeks passed in ending all connection with Hamingburgh, which Peter now found intolerable, and in preparing for life in London commensurate with his new ideas. He took rooms for himself and his mother in Curzon Street, to be made ready for the autumn season.
"We will have everything very beautiful, and we will have only what is necessary," he told his[Pg 217] mother as they talked things over in their flat at Golder's Green. "Of course we must sell all this stuff."
He waved his hands in an inclusive gesture toward the chairs and tables. Mrs. Paragon6 mildly looked about her.
"But, Peter, I thought you liked all this pretty furniture."
"It's modern," said Peter briefly7. "There is no such thing as modern furniture. Ask Marbury."
He came and sat on the arm of his mother's chair.
"I must get Marbury to help. I want to see you talking to Lady Mary over a tea-table by the Brother's Adam."
"Peter, this is the third time to-day you have mentioned Lord Marbury's sister."
"Naturally, mother. This is polling day at Highbury. I've been wondering how things are going."
A few days later Marbury came to town and took his seat as member for Sandhaven. Peter secured him for the following evening, and they all three dined together at the flat in Golder's Green. Marbury was called upon for advice as to Curzon Street.
"Peter," he said, "this is a new phase. Don't encourage him, Mrs. Paragon. He wasn't intended for an exquisite8. He's too robust9."
"He does not need encouraging," said Mrs.[Pg 218] Paragon. She had calmly accepted Peter's new enthusiasm, and now only wondered how long it would endure.
"Peter has already sold all our furniture," she added by way of information. "It will disappear at the end of the week."
"What are you going to do in the meantime?" asked Marbury, exchanging an intelligible10 smile with Mrs. Paragon.
Mrs. Paragon quietly answered him, unaware11 of the irony12 which lurked13 in her undisturbed acceptance of the inevitable14.
"Peter says that no one stays in London during these next months. He says we must go to the North of Scotland."
"What are you going to do there?" asked Marbury.
"Peter is going to fish," said Mrs. Paragon.
When the time came Mrs. Paragon discovered that her part in the holiday in North Britain was to attend Peter during long happy days in lonely places where Peter mysteriously dangled15 in lakes and rivers. She dreamed away the time beside the basket of food and shared with Peter pleasant meals under the sky, quickened with his lively account of the morning's work.
News came once into their wilderness16 when Eustace Haversham died. In the letters Peter exchanged with Marbury and his sister he learned that the end had come at the close of a happy day[Pg 219] in the sun, with people arriving and departing upon the terrace at Highbury. Haversham had smilingly received the congratulations of his friends upon his better health; then, with a look in his eyes showing that he at any rate knew better, he had died as the light fell from the bronze figure fronting the moor17.
In long hours upon loch and river Peter sometimes thought of Lady Mary and their last meeting. He thought of her less as a woman than a lovely symbol of the life he was now called to lead. She stood in his eye, radiant and proud, thrown into relief by a mutter of poverty and ill-will. She was for Peter the supreme18 achievement of the time. The cool touch of her hand on his lips raised in him no remembered rapture19. It had been not a personal caress20 but an act of worship, for which he could imagine no other possible expression. She charmed him, and made him afraid. The delicate play of her mind was intimately enjoyed by Peter in retrospect21 when he was able to realise the indulgence with which she had met his blundering.
Peter remembered his father and his years of revolt without misgiving22 for the way he now seemed to be taking. These memories enforced him towards all for which Lady Mary now stood. He so clearly had been wrong.
Early in September Peter and his mother returned to London. Peter, fearing to be bantered,[Pg 220] furnished the rooms in Curzon Street without advice. The season was just beginning when they took possession.
Peter soon read in the fashionable intelligence that Lord Haversham—Marbury had shed the younger title—had come to town for the autumn session. He also saw that Wenderby had been staying at Highbury as the guest of Lady Mary and her brother. This displeased23 Peter. He would not surrender his animosity against Wenderby, or admit that he was mistaken. He owed this to himself in justification24 of his outbreak during the election. Now that he read Wenderby's name beside the name of Lady Mary, Peter was surprised to find how much he distrusted the man. He threw down the paper in a small passion.
"Why, Peter," said Mrs. Paragon, "what's the matter?"
"Nothing, mother."
Mrs. Paragon tried another way of approach.
"What's the news this morning?" she lightly inquired.
"Lord Haversham has come to town."
"With Lady Mary?" Mrs. Paragon quickly asked.
"Yes," said Peter. "Also with Lord Wenderby." He kicked the newspaper and went to the window.
"I see," said Peter's mother.
Perhaps Mrs. Paragon was right, and Peter was really jealous. Wenderby clearly belonged to the[Pg 221] party which had arrived in town. He knew the language. He did not make heroically foolish scenes at a public meeting. Probably he had never incurred25 the laughter of Lady Mary. She did not make allowances for him, or look at him with protection in her eyes, or take an interest in him as someone from a strange world. Wenderby knew all that Peter had yet to learn.
Peter himself was worried to account for his ill humour, and even came to the point of asking himself the question which his mother had already answered. He decided26 that he was not personally jealous. Rather he was jealous of the privilege and experience which made Wenderby at home and at ease in the world which Peter desired to enjoy. Haversham had told him that Wenderby was a charming fellow. Peter wondered whether he would ever be a charming fellow; and, in a fit of misgiving, began to exhaust the possibilities of self-contempt. He had had a glimpse of the beautiful life; but suppose he were not worthy27 to enter. Suppose Haversham could not be the friend of a young colt who had nothing in the world to fit him for an agreeable part in the social comedy. Suppose he would never again come into touch with exquisite creatures like Lady Mary. Suppose he were doomed28 to follow the witty29 pageant30 of London life (which now was a Paradise in Peter's fancy) only through the columns of the fashionable intelligence. Suppose it were his destiny henceforth to hear of Lady[Pg 222] Mary only when she happened to be entertaining Wenderby.
Peter was chewing this bitter cud at his mother's tea-table in Curzon Street when his man-servant (Peter, to his mother's dismay, had insisted on a man-servant) announced the figures of his meditation31 by name. Peter rose in a whirl, and before he had possession of his mind Haversham and Wenderby were taking tea with Mrs. Paragon. Mrs. Paragon received her guests with monumental calm, answered their inquiries32 after her holiday in Scotland with a quiet precision which suggested an irony of which really she was quite incapable33, and wondered meanwhile why Peter was less talkative than a meeting with his best friend seemed to require.
"Peter," said Haversham at last, "you seem depressed34."
"Not at all." Peter was the more laconic35 because he was suffering a quiet, persistent36 scrutiny37 from Wenderby.
"This," said Wenderby, "is surely not the sanguine young man who brought me to judgment38."
"You remember that?" asked Peter briefly.
"I have come to apologise," Wenderby explained.
"I told you he should apologise," said Haversham.
"Isn't that for me to do?" asked Peter.
"I don't think so," Wenderby smiled. "You lost your collar and were nearly strangled."
[Pg 223]
"I would do it again," said Peter cheerfully.
"I admit the provocation," agreed Wenderby. He was quite unruffled by the vibrant39 conviction of Peter's voice.
"You must make allowances, Peter," put in Haversham. "It was a misfortune for all of us. That speech might have lost me the seat. Wenderby always puts public interest before personal feeling."
"The speech was a great success," said Wenderby. "It did not lose the seat, but it won the Cabinet. I have wrung40 out fifty-seven millions. The Tories could hardly have done better."
"No politics," protested Haversham. "Peter doesn't understand."
"How is Lady Mary?" asked Peter suddenly.
Haversham's phrase about "personal feeling" had stuck in his mind.
Wenderby glanced keenly at Peter, so keenly that Peter at once felt his question had touched a nerve.
"You must come and see for yourself," said Haversham. "We're moving into Arlington Street and Mary is being worried with decorators. She has even interviewed a plumber41. I suggest that you look in at the Ballet to-night and encourage her."
"How shall I encourage her?" Peter gloomily asked.
"You are young, Peter, and youth is infectious."
[Pg 224]
"I wish I could catch it," said Wenderby; and Peter detected envy.
Shortly after they had left Peter made ready for Covent Garden. His master-thought was to get into touch with the life which at Highbury had so urgently attracted him. An encounter with Lady Mary would be the touchstone of his claim to be socially accepted. Also Peter knew that Wenderby would be there. He had seen in Wenderby the faintest gesture of annoyance42 when Haversham had mentioned the Ballet. Peter was sensitive to the least indication in Wenderby of a special interest in Lady Mary. Already there was a mutual43 faint dislike. Peter resented the keen appraisement44 of Wenderby's searching eyes. He felt the rapid working of a trained and subtle mind busily estimating his value. Wenderby, for his part, detected in Peter a wilful45 energy which, as a politician, he abhorred46.
Mrs. Paragon preferred not to accompany Peter. He dined alone with her, and she found him clouded and cold. Afterwards he picked his way by cab to the Opera House, sitting bolt upright with a vague presage47 of complications to ensue. He joined the happy few carried to pleasure through the shining streets. Summer lingered wherever a foothold was offered to the green. It was warm, with cool air soft as the hum of the London traffic. But Peter's senses were shut to his position of ease. He was restive48 still under the penetrating49 eyes of Wenderby. He felt as if[Pg 225] he were going into an arena50. More than one woman turned in the crush of cars at Covent Garden to look at Peter's vivid, ingenuous51 face as he sat erect52, frowning a little, staring blindly ahead. He was not actually thinking. Curious faint emotions came and went. His consciousness was ruled by a shimmering53 figure, infinite in grace and promise; but it rested under the threat of a cloud, which now was seen to grow dark and then to vanish.
A little later Peter found Lady Mary with his glasses; Wenderby stood beside her in the box. She saw Peter almost as his glasses were levelled, and leaned eagerly forward to greet him. Wenderby looked like one interrupted, and Peter could see how thoughtful he suddenly became. Then the lights were lowered.
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1
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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paragon
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| n.模范，典型 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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10
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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16
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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18
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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20
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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retrospect
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| n.回顾，追溯；v.回顾，回想，追溯 | |
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22
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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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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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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28
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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32
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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33
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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34
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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35
laconic
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| adj.简洁的；精练的 | |
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36
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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38
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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39
vibrant
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| adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的 | |
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40
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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41
plumber
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| n.(装修水管的)管子工 | |
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42
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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43
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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44
appraisement
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| n.评价，估价；估值 | |
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45
wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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46
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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47
presage
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| n.预感，不祥感；v.预示 | |
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48
restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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49
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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50
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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51
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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52
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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53
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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