Vavasor as he sat alone in his room, after Fitzgerald had left him, began to think of the days in which he had before wished to assist his friend in his views with reference to Lady Glencora — or rather he began to think of Alice’s behaviour then, and of Alice’s words. Alice had steadfastly1 refused to give any aid. No less likely assistant for such a purpose could have been selected. But she had been very earnest in declaring that it was Glencora’s duty to stand by her promise to Burgo. “He is a desperate spendthrift,” Kate Vavasor had said to her. “Then let her teach him to be otherwise,” Alice had answered. “That might have been a good reason for refusing his offer when he first made it; but it can be no excuse for untruth, now that she has told him that she loves him!” “If a woman,” she had said again, “won’t venture her fortune for the man she loves, her love is not worth having.” All this George Vavasor remembered now; and as he remembered it he asked himself whether the woman that had once loved him would venture her fortune for him still.
Though his sister had pressed him on the subject with all the vehemence2 that she could use, he had hardly hitherto made up his mind that he really desired to marry Alice. There had grown upon him lately certain Bohemian propensities3 — a love of absolute independence in his thoughts as well as actions — which were antagonistic4 to marriage. He was almost inclined to think that marriage was an old-fashioned custom, fitted indeed well enough for the usual dull life of the world at large — as many men both in heathen and in Christian5 ages have taught themselves to think of religion — but which was not adapted to his advanced intelligence. If he loved any woman he loved his cousin Alice. If he thoroughly6 respected any woman he respected her. But that idea of tying himself down to a household was in itself distasteful to him. “It is a thing terrible to think of”, he once said to a congenial friend in these days of his life, “that a man should give permission to a priest to tie him to another human being like a Siamese twin, so that all power of separate and solitary7 action should be taken from him for ever! The beasts of the field do not treat each other so badly, They neither drink themselves drunk, nor eat themselves stupid — nor do they bind8 themselves together in a union which both would have to hate.” In this way George Vavasor, trying to imitate the wisdom of the brutes9, had taught himself some theories of a peculiar10 nature. But, nevertheless, as he thought of Alice Vavasor on this occasion, he began to feel that if a Siamese twin were necessary for him, she of all others was the woman to whom he would wish to be so bound.
And if he did it at all, he must do it now. Under the joint11 instigation of himself and his sister — as he thought, and perhaps not altogether without reason — she had broken her engagement with Mr Grey. That she would renew it again if left to herself, he believed probable. And then, despite that advanced intelligence which had taught him to regard all forms and ceremonies with the eye of a philosopher, he had still enough of human frailty12 about him to feel keenly alive to the pleasure of taking from John Grey the prize which John Grey had so nearly taken from him. If Alice could have been taught to think as he did as to the absurdity13 of those indissoluble ties, that would have been better. But nothing would have been more impossible than the teaching of such a lesson to his cousin Alice. George Vavasor was a man of courage, and dared do most things — but he would not have dared to commence the teaching of such a lesson to her.
And now, at this moment, what was his outlook into life generally? He had very high ambition, and a fair hope of gratifying it if he could only provide that things should go well with him for a year or so. He was still a poor man, having been once nearly a rich man; but still so much of the result of his nearly acquired riches remained to him, that on the strength of them he might probably find his way into Parliament. He had paid the cost of the last attempt, and might, in a great degree, carry on this present attempt on credit. If he succeeded there would be open to him a mode of life, agreeable in itself, and honourable14 among men. But how was he to bear the cost of this for the next year, or the next two years? His grandfather was still alive, and would probably live over that period. If he married Alice he would do so with no idea of cheating her out of her money. She should learn — nay15, she had already learned from his own lips — how perilous16 was his enterprise. But he knew her to be a woman who would boldly risk all in money, though no consideration would induce her to stir a hair’s breadth towards danger in reputation. Towards teaching her that doctrine17 at which I have hinted, he would not have dared to make an attempt; but he felt that he should have no repugnance18 to telling her that he wanted to spend all her money in the first year or two of their married life!
He was still in his armchair, thinking of all this, with that small untasted modicum19 of brandy and water beside him, when he heard some distant Lambeth clock strike three from over the river. Then he rose from his seat, and taking the candles in his hand, sat himself down at a writing-desk on the other side of the room. “I needn’t send it when it’s written,” he said to himself “and the chances are that I won’t.” Then he took his paper, and wrote as follows:
“DEAR ALICE,
“The time was when the privilege was mine of beginning my letters to you with a warmer show of love than the above word contains — when I might and did call you dearest; but I lost that privilege through my own folly20, and since that it has been accorded to another. But you have found — with a thorough honesty of purpose than which I know nothing greater — that it has behoved you to withdraw that privilege also. I need hardly say that I should not have written as I now write, had you not found it expedient21 to do as you have done.
“I now once again ask you to be my wife. In spite of all that passed in those old days — of all the selfish folly of which I was then guilty, I think you know, and at the time knew, that I ever loved you. I claim to say for myself that my love to you was true from first to last, and I claim from you belief for that statement. Indeed I do not think that you ever doubted my love.
“Nevertheless, when you told me that I might no longer hope to make you my wife, I had no word of remonstrance22 that I could utter. You acted as any woman would act whom love had not made a fool. Then came the episode of Mr Grey; and bitter as have been my feelings whilst that engagement lasted, I never made any attempt to come between you and the life you had chosen. In saying this I do not forget the words which I spoke23 last summer at Basle, when, as far as I knew, you still intended that he should be your husband. But what I said then was nothing to that which, with much violence, I refrained from saying. Whether you remember those few words I cannot tell; but certainly you would not have remembered them — had your would not even have noticed them — had your heart been at Nethercoats.
“But all this is nothing. You are now again a free woman; and once again I ask you to be my wife. We are both older than we were when we loved before, and will both be prone24 to think of marriage in a somewhat different light. Then personal love for each other was most in our thoughts. God forbid that it should not be much in our thoughts now! Perhaps I am deceiving myself in saying that it is not even now stronger in mine than any other consideration. But we have both reached that time of life, when it is probable that in any proposition of marriage we should think more of our adaptability25 to each other than we did before. For myself I know that there is much in my character and disposition26 to make me unfit to marry a woman of the common stamp. You know my mode of life, and what are my hopes and my chances of success. I run great risk of failing. It may be that I shall encounter ruin where I look for reputation and a career of honour. The chances are perhaps more in favour of ruin than of success. But, whatever may be the chances, I shall go on as long as any means of carrying on the fight are at my disposal. If you were my wife tomorrow I should expect to use your money, if it were needed, in struggling to obtain a seat in Parliament and a hearing there. I will hardly stoop to tell you that I do not ask you to be my wife for the sake of this aid — but if you were to become my wife I should expect all your co-operation — with your my wife I should expect all your co-operation — with your money, possibly, but certainly with your warmest spirit.
“And now, once again, Alice — dearest Alice, will you be my wife? I have been punished, and I have kissed the rod — as I never kissed any other rod. You cannot accuse my love. Since the time in which I might sit with my arm round your waist, I have sat with it round no other waist. Since your lips were mine, no other lips have been dear to me. Since you were my counsellor, I have had no other counsellor — unless it be poor Kate, whose wish that we may at length be married is second in earnestness only to my own. Nor do I think you will doubt my repentance27. Such repentance indeed claims no merit, as it has been the natural result of the loss which I have suffered. Providence28 has hitherto been very good to me in not having made that loss irremediable by your marriage with Mr Grey. I wish you now to consider the matter well, and to tell me whether you can pardon me and still love me. Do I flatter myself when I feel that I doubt your pardon almost more than I doubt your love?
“Think of this thing in all its bearings before you answer me. I am so anxious that you should think of it that I will not expect your reply till this day week. It can hardly be your desire to go through life unmarried. I should say that it must be essential to your ambition that you should join your lot to that of some man the nature of whose aspirations29 would be like to your own. It is because this was not so as regarded him whose suit you had accepted, that you found yourself at last obliged to part from him. May I not say that with us there would be no such difference? It is because I believe that in this respect we are fitted for each other, as man and woman seldom are fitted, that I once again ask you to be my wife.
“This will reach you at Vavasor, where you will now be with the old squire30 and Kate. I have told her nothing of my purpose in writing this letter. If it should be that your answer is such as I desire, I should use the opportunity of our re-engagement to endeavour to be reconciled to my grandfather. He has misunderstood me and has ill-used me. But I am ready to forgive that, if he will allow me to do so. In such case you and Kate would arrange that, and I would, if possible, go down to Vavasor while you are there. But I am galloping31 on ahead foolishly in thinking of this, and am counting up my wealth while the crockery in my basket is so very fragile. One word from you will decide whether or no I shall ever bring it into market.
“If that word is to be adverse32 do not say anything of a meeting between me and the Squire. Under such circumstances it would be impossible. But, oh, Alice! Do not let it be adverse. I think you love me. Your woman’s pride towards me has been great and good and womanly; but it has had its way; and, if you love me, might now be taught to succumb33.
“Dear Alice, will you be my wife?
“Yours, in any event, most affectionately, GEORGE VAVASOR.”
Vavasor, when he had finished his letter, went back to his seat over the fire, and there he sat with it close at his hand for nearly an hour. Once or twice he took it up with fingers almost itching34 to throw it into the fire. He took it up and held the corners between his forefinger35 and thumb, throwing forward his hand towards the flame, as though willing that the letter should escape from him and perish if chance should so decide. But chance did not so decide, and the letter was put back upon the table at his elbow. Then when the hour was nearly over he read it again. “I’ll bet two to one that she gives way,” he said to himself, as he put the sheet of paper back into the envelope. “Women are such out-and-out fools.” Then he took his candle, and, carrying his letter with him, went into his bedroom.
The next morning was the morning of Christmas Eve. At about nine o’clock a boy came into his room who was accustomed to call for orders for the day. “Jem,” he said to the boy, “there’s half a crown lying there on the looking-glass.” Jem looked and acknowledged the presence of the half-crown. “Is it a head or a tail, Jem?” asked the boy’s master. Jem scrutinized36 the coin, and declared that the uppermost surface showed a tail. “Then take that letter and post it,” said George Vavasor. Whereupon Jem, asking no question, and thinking but little of the circumstances under which the command was given, did take the letter and did post it. In due accordance with postal37 regulations it reached Vavasor Hall and was delivered to Alice on the Christmas morning.
A merry Christmas did not fall to the lot of George Vavasor on the present occasion. An early Christmas box he did receive in the shape of a very hurried note from his friend Burgo. “This will be brought to you by Stickling,” the note said; but who Stickling was Vavasor did not know. “I send the bill. Couldn’t you get the money and send it me, as I don’t want to go up to town again before the thing comes off? You’re a trump38; and will do the best you can. Don’t let that rogue39 off for less than a hundred and twenty. — Yours, B.F.” Vavasor, therefore, having nothing better to do, spent his Christmas morning in calling on Mr Magruin.
“Oh, Mr Vavasor,” said Magruin; “really this is no morning for business!”
“Time and tide wait for no man, Mr Magruin, and my friend wants his money tomorrow.”
“Oh, Mr Vavasor — tomorrow!”
“Yes, tomorrow. If time and tide won’t wait, neither will love. Come, Mr Magruin, out with your chequebook, and don’t let’s have any nonsense.”
“But is the lady sure, Mr Vavasor?” asked Mr Magruin, anxiously.
“Ladies never are sure,” said Vavasor; “hardly more sure than bills made over to money-lenders. I’m not going to wait here all day. Are you going to give him the money?”
“Christmas Day, Mr Vavasor! There’s no getting money in the City today.”
But Vavasor before he left did get the money from Mr Magruin — ￡122 10 s. — for which an acceptance at two months for ￡500 was given in exchange — and carried it off in triumph. “Do tell him to be punctual,” said Mr Magruin, when Vavasor took his leave. “I do so like young men to be punctual. But I really think Mr Fitzgerald is the most unpunctual young man I ever did know yet.”
“I think he is,” said George Vavasor, as he went away. He ate his Christmas dinner in absolute solitude40 at an eating-house near his lodgings41. It may be supposed that no man dares to dine at his club on a Christmas Day. He at any rate did not so dare — and after dinner he wandered about through the streets, wondering within his mind how he would endure the restraints of married life. And the same dull monotony of his days was continued for a week, during which he waited, not impatiently, for an answer to his letter. And before the end of the week the answer came.
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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antagonistic
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| adj.敌对的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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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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8
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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12
frailty
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| n.脆弱；意志薄弱 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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15
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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modicum
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| n.少量，一小份 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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23
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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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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adaptability
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| n.适应性 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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31
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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32
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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33
succumb
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| v.屈服，屈从；死 | |
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34
itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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postal
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| adj.邮政的，邮局的 | |
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trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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