The old hallucinations still remained. She spoke4 of George Penwyn as living, and she could not be brought to understand that the child who had been taken from her an infant was now a woman. She had little memory—no thought of the past or of the future—but she clung to her father affectionately, and was grateful for his love.
Maurice had made all arrangements for Muriel’s journey before leaving Cornwall, after his interview with Churchill. It had been settled that Martin should bring his sister to the neighbourhood of London, accompanied by Ph?be, as her attendant. This Ph?be was a bright active girl, quite able to manage Muriel. Maurice was to find pleasant apartments in the suburbs, where Muriel might be comfortably lodged5. In less than twenty-four hours after his departure from Borcel he had telegraphed Martin to the effect that he had found pleasant lodgings6 in a house between Kentish Town and Highgate, a house with a good garden.
Three days later Muriel came to take possession of these lodgings, worn out with the long journey, but very tranquil. Her daughter was waiting to receive her on the threshold of this new home.
Very sad, very strange was that meeting. The mother could not be made to comprehend that this noble-looking girl who held her in her arms, and sustained her feeble steps, was verily the child she had been robbed of years ago. Her darling was to her mind still an infant. If they had placed some feeble, wailing7 babe in her arms and called it hers, she would have believed them, and hugged the impostor to her breast and been happy; but she did not believe in Justina.
‘You are very kind to come,’ she said, gently, ‘and I like you; but it is foolish of them to say you are my child. I am a little wrong in my head, I know, but not so foolish as to believe that.’
On one occasion she was suddenly struck by Justina’s likeness8 to her father.
‘You are like George,’ she said. ‘Are you his sister?’
Martin brought a famous doctor from Cavendish Square, one of the kindest of men, to see Muriel. He talked to her for some time, inquired into the history of her malady9, and considered her attentively10. His verdict was that her case was hopeless.
‘I do not fear that her case will ever be otherwise than gentle,’ he said, ‘nor do I recommend any more restraint than she has been accustomed to, but I have no hope of cure. The shock which broke her heart shattered her mind for ever.’
Justina heard this with deepest sorrow. All that filial love could offer to this gentle sufferer she freely gave, devoting her days to her mother, while her nights were given to the public. None could have guessed how the brilliant actress—all sparkle and vivacity11, living in the character her art had created—spent the quiet hours of her daily life. But she had Maurice always near her, and his presence brightened every hour of her life.
He had laid his case before his lawyers, and even the cautious family solicitor12 had been compelled to own that it was not altogether a bad case. What was his astonishment13, however, when, three days later, he was told that Messrs. Pergament and Pergament had met his solicitors14, examined documents, discussed the merits of the case, and finally pronounced their client’s willingness to surrender the estate, in its entirety, without litigation.
‘But I told Mr. Penwyn of his cousin’s willingness to accept a compromise, to take half the value of the estate, and leave him in possession of the land,’ said Maurice.
‘Mr. Penwyn elects to surrender the estate altogether. An eccentric gentleman, evidently.’
‘Then the whole business is settled; there will be no law suit.’
‘Apparently not,’ said the solicitor, drily.
Lawyers could hardly live if people were in the habit of surrendering their possessions so quickly.
Maurice called on Messrs. Pergament and Pergament, and explained to the head of that firm that the young lady for whom he was acting15 had no desire to exact her full claim under Squire16 Penwyn’s will, that she would prefer a compromise to depriving Mr. Penwyn and his wife of house and home.
‘Very generous, very proper,’ replied Mr. Pergament. ‘I will communicate that desire to my client.’
Justina was horrified17 at the idea of Churchill Penwyn’s renunciation. All her old distrust of him vanished out of her mind—she thought of him as generous, disinterested—abandoning estate and position from an exalted18 sense of justice.
‘But it is not justice,’ she argued, ‘though it may be right according to my grandfather’s will. It is not just that the child of the elder-born should take all. Maurice, you must make some one explain my wishes to Mr. Penwyn. I will not rob him and his wife of house and home. I cannot have such a sin upon my head.’
‘My dearest, I fully19 explained your views to Mr. Penwyn. He treated me with scornful indifference20, and declared that he would fight for his rights to the last. He has chosen to see things in a new light since then. His line of conduct is beyond my comprehension.’
‘There must be some mistake, some misapprehension on his part. You must see him again, Maurice, for my sake.’
‘My dear love, I don’t mind oscillating between London and Penwyn Manor21 for the next six weeks if my so doing will in the smallest degree enhance your happiness; but I do not believe I can make your views any clearer to Mr. Penwyn than I made them at our last interview.’
‘My dear Justina,’ interposed Mr. Elgood, pompously22, ‘the estate is yours, and why should you hesitate to take possession of it? Think of the proud position you will hold in the county; your brilliant table, at which the humble23 comedian24 may occupy his unobtrusive corner. And I think,’ he added, with a conciliatory glance at Maurice, ‘there is some consideration due to your future husband in this matter.’
‘Her future husband would be as well pleased to take her without a shilling as with Penwyn Manor,’ said Maurice, with his arm round Justina.
‘Of course, my dear boy,—
“Love is not love
When it mingled25 with respects that stand
Aloof26 from the entire point.”
Shakespeare. You would take your Cordelia without a rood of her father’s kingdom; but that is no reason why she should not have all she can get. And if this Mr. Churchill Penwyn chooses to be Quixotic, let him have his way.’
‘I will write to him,’ said Justina. ‘I am his kinswoman, and I will write to him from my heart, as cousin to cousin. He shall not be reduced to beggary because my grandfather’s will gives me power to claim his estate. God’s right and man’s right are wide apart.’
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1
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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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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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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4
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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5
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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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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7
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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8
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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10
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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11
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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12
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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13
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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14
solicitors
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| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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15
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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16
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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17
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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18
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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19
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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20
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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21
manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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22
pompously
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| adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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24
comedian
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| n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员 | |
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25
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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