If it were true that she was in love, she was certainly very quiet about it; but the Doctor was of course prepared to admit that her quietness might mean volumes.
She had told Morris Townsend that she would not mention him to her father, and she saw no reason to retract1 this vow2 of discretion3.
It was no more than decently civil, of course, that after having dined in Washington Square, Morris should call there again; and it was no more than natural that, having been kindly4 received on this occasion, he should continue to present himself.
He had had plenty of leisure on his hands; and thirty years ago, in New York, a young man of leisure had reason to be thankful for aids to self-oblivion.
Catherine said nothing to her father about these visits, though they had rapidly become the most important, the most absorbing thing in her life.
The girl was very happy.
She knew not as yet what would come of it; but the present had suddenly grown rich and solemn.
If she had been told she was in love, she would have been a good deal surprised; for she had an idea that love was an eager and exacting5 passion, and her own heart was filled in these days with the impulse of self-effacement and sacrifice.
Whenever Morris Townsend had left the house, her imagination projected itself, with all its strength, into the idea of his soon coming back; but if she had been told at such a moment that he would not return for a year, or even that he would never return, she would not have complained nor rebelled, but would have humbly6 accepted the decree, and sought for consolation7 in thinking over the times she had already seen him, the words he had spoken, the sound of his voice, of his tread, the expression of his face.
Love demands certain things as a right; but Catherine had no sense of her rights; she had only a consciousness of immense and unexpected favours.
Her very gratitude8 for these things had hushed itself; for it seemed to her that there would be something of impudence9 in making a festival of her secret.
Her father suspected Morris Townsend's visits, and noted10 her reserve.
She seemed to beg pardon for it; she looked at him constantly in silence, as if she meant to say that she said nothing because she was afraid of irritating him.
But the poor girl's dumb eloquence11 irritated him more than anything else would have done, and he caught himself murmuring more than once that it was a grievous pity his only child was a simpleton.
His murmurs12, however, were inaudible; and for a while he said nothing to any one. He would have liked to know exactly how often young Townsend came; but he had determined13 to ask no questions of the girl herself--to say nothing more to her that would show that he watched her.
The Doctor had a great idea of being largely just:
he wished to leave his daughter her liberty, and interfere14 only when the danger should be proved.
It was not in his manner to obtain information by indirect methods, and it never even occurred to him to question the servants. As for Lavinia, he hated to talk to her about the matter; she annoyed him with her mock romanticism.
But he had to come to this.
Mrs. Penniman's convictions as regards the relations of her niece and the clever young visitor who saved appearances by coming ostensibly for both the ladies--Mrs. Penniman's convictions had passed into a riper and richer phase.
There was to be no crudity15 in Mrs. Penniman's treatment of the situation; she had become as uncommunicative as Catherine herself.
She was tasting of the sweets of concealment16; she had taken up the line of mystery.
"She would be enchanted18 to be able to prove to herself that she is persecuted," said the Doctor; and when at last he questioned her, he was sure she would contrive19 to extract from his words a pretext20 for this belief.
"Be so good as to let me know what is going on in the house," he said to her, in a tone which, under the circumstances, he himself deemed genial21.
"Going on, Austin?" Mrs. Penniman exclaimed.
"Why, I am sure I don't know!
I believe that last night the old grey cat had kittens!"
"At her age?" said the Doctor.
"The idea is startling--almost shocking.
Be so good as to see that they are all drowned.
But what else has happened?"
"Ah, the dear little kittens!" cried Mrs. Penniman.
"I wouldn't have them drowned for the world!"
Her brother puffed22 his cigar a few moments in silence.
"Your sympathy with kittens, Lavinia," he presently resumed, "arises from a feline23 element in your own character."
"Cats are very graceful24, and very clean," said Mrs. Penniman, smiling.
"And very stealthy.
You are the embodiment both of grace and of neatness; but you are wanting in frankness."
"You certainly are not, dear brother."
"I don't pretend to be graceful, though I try to be neat.
Why haven't you let me know that Mr. Morris Townsend is coming to the house four times a week?"
Mrs. Penniman lifted her eyebrows25.
"Four times a week?"
"Five times, if you prefer it.
I am away all day, and I see nothing. But when such things happen, you should let me know."
Mrs. Penniman, with her eyebrows still raised, reflected intently. "Dear Austin," she said at last, "I am incapable26 of betraying a confidence.
I would rather suffer anything."
"Never fear; you shall not suffer.
To whose confidence is it you allude28?
Has Catherine made you take a vow of eternal secrecy29?"
"By no means.
Catherine has not told me as much as she might.
She has not been very trustful."
"It is the young man, then, who has made you his confidante?
Allow me to say that it is extremely indiscreet of you to form secret alliances with young men.
You don't know where they may lead you."
"I don't know what you mean by an alliance," said Mrs. Penniman.
"I take a great interest in Mr. Townsend; I won't conceal17 that.
But that's all."
"Under the circumstances, that is quite enough.
What is the source of your interest in Mr. Townsend?"
"Why," said Mrs. Penniman, musing30, and then breaking into her smile, "that he is so interesting!"
The Doctor felt that he had need of his patience.
"And what makes him interesting?--his good looks?"
"His misfortunes, Austin."
"Ah, he has had misfortunes?
That, of course, is always interesting. Are you at liberty to mention a few of Mr. Townsend's?"
"I don't know that he would like it," said Mrs. Penniman.
"He has told me a great deal about himself--he has told me, in fact, his whole history.
But I don't think I ought to repeat those things.
He would tell them to you, I am sure, if he thought you would listen to him kindly.
With kindness you may do anything with him."
The Doctor gave a laugh.
"I shall request him very kindly, then, to leave Catherine alone."
"Ah!" said Mrs. Penniman, shaking her forefinger31 at her brother, with her little finger turned out, "Catherine had probably said something to him kinder than that."
"Said that she loved him?
Do you mean that?"
Mrs. Penniman fixed32 her eyes on the floor.
"As I tell you, Austin, she doesn't confide27 in me."
"You have an opinion, I suppose, all the same.
It is that I ask you for; though I don't conceal from you that I shall not regard it as conclusive33."
Mrs. Penniman's gaze continued to rest on the carpet; but at last she lifted it, and then her brother thought it very expressive34.
"I think Catherine is very happy; that is all I can say."
"Townsend is trying to marry her--is that what you mean?"
"He is greatly interested in her."
"He finds her such an attractive girl?"
"Catherine has a lovely nature, Austin," said Mrs. Penniman, "and Mr. Townsend has had the intelligence to discover that."
"With a little help from you, I suppose.
My dear Lavinia," cried the Doctor, "you are an admirable aunt!"
"So Mr. Townsend says," observed Lavinia, smiling.
"Do you think he is sincere?" asked her brother.
"In saying that?"
"No; that's of course.
But in his admiration35 for Catherine?"
"Deeply sincere.
He has said to me the most appreciative36, the most charming things about her.
He would say them to you, if he were sure you would listen to him--gently."
"I doubt whether I can undertake it.
He appears to require a great deal of gentleness."
"He is a sympathetic, sensitive nature," said Mrs. Penniman.
Her brother puffed his cigar again in silence.
"These delicate qualities have survived his vicissitudes37, eh?
All this while you haven't told me about his misfortunes."
"It is a long story," said Mrs. Penniman, "and I regard it as a sacred trust.
But I suppose there is no objection to my saying that he has been wild--he frankly38 confesses that.
But he has paid for it."
"That's what has impoverished39 him, eh?"
"I don't mean simply in money.
He is very much alone in the world."
"Do you mean that he has behaved so badly that his friends have given him up?"
"He has had false friends, who have deceived and betrayed him."
"He seems to have some good ones too.
He has a devoted40 sister, and half-a-dozen nephews and nieces."
Mrs. Penniman was silent a minute.
"The nephews and nieces are children, and the sister is not a very attractive person."
"I hope he doesn't abuse her to you," said the Doctor; "for I am told he lives upon her."
"Lives upon her?"
"Lives with her, and does nothing for himself; it is about the same thing."
"He is looking for a position--most earnestly," said Mrs. Penniman. "He hopes every day to find one."
He is looking for it here--over there in the front parlour.
The position of husband of a weak-minded woman with a large fortune would suit him to perfection!"
Mrs. Penniman was truly amiable42, but she now gave signs of temper. She rose with much animation43, and stood for a moment looking at her brother.
"My dear Austin," she remarked, "if you regard Catherine as a weak-minded woman, you are particularly mistaken!"
And with this she moved majestically44 away.
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retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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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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exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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crudity
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| n.粗糙，生硬；adj.粗略的 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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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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feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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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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conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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38
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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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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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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