A Chapter Containing Great Political News and Therewith an Intrusion of the Love-God
Dacier was pacing about the drawing-room, as in a place too narrow for him.
Diana stood at the door. ‘Have you forgotten to tell me anything I ought to know?’
He came up to her and shut the door softly behind her, holding her hand. ‘You are near it. I returned.. But tell me first:—You were slightly under a shadow this evening, dejected.’
‘Did I show it?’
She was growing a little suspicious, but this cunning touch of lover-like interest dispersed1 the shade.
‘To me you did.’
‘It was unpardonable to let it be seen.’
‘No one else could have observed it.’
Her woman’s heart was thrilled; for she had concealed2 the dejection from Emma.
‘It was nothing,’ she said; ‘a knot in the book I am writing. We poor authors are worried now and then. But you?’
His face rippled3 by degrees brightly, to excite a reflection in hers.
‘Shall I tune4 you with good news? I think it will excuse me for coming back.’
‘Very good news?’
‘Brave news, as far as it goes.’
‘Then it concerns you!’
‘Me, you, the country.’
‘Oh! do I guess?’ cried Diana. ‘But speak, pray; I burn.’
‘What am I to have for telling it?’
‘Put no price. You know my heart. I guess—or fancy. It relates to your Chief?’
Dacier smiled in a way to show the lock without the key; and she was insensibly drawn5 nearer to him, speculating on the smile.
‘Try again,’ said he, keenly appreciating the blindness to his motive6 of her studious dark eyes, and her open-lipped breathing.
‘Percy! I must be right.’
‘Well, you are. He has decided7!’
‘Oh! that is the bravest possible. When did you hear?’
‘He informed me of his final decision this afternoon.’
‘And you were charged with the secret all the evening, and betrayed not a sign! I compliment the diplomatic statesman. But when will it be public?’
‘He calls Parliament together the first week of next month.’
‘The proposal is—? No more compromises!’
‘Total!’
Diana clapped hands; and her aspect of enthusiasm was intoxicating8. ‘He is a wise man and a gallant9 Minister! And while you were reading me through, I was blind to you,’ she added meltingly.
‘I have not made too much of it?’ said he.
‘Indeed you have not.’
She was radiant with her dark lightnings, yet visibly subject to him under the spell of the news he had artfully lengthened10 out to excite and overbalance her:—and her enthusiasm was all pointed11 to his share in the altered situation, as he well knew and was flattered in knowing.
‘So Tony is no longer dejected? I thought I could freshen you and get my excuse.’
‘Oh! a high wind will make a dead leaf fly like a bird. I soar. Now I do feel proud. I have longed for it—to have you leading the country: not tugged12 at like a waggon13 with a treble team uphill. We two are a month in advance of all England. You stand by him?—only to hear it, for I am sure of it!’
‘We stand or fall together.’
Her glowing look doated on the faithful lieutenant14.
‘And if the henchman is my hero, I am but a waiting-woman. But I must admire his leader.’
‘Tony!’
‘Ah! no,’ she joined her hands, wondering whither her armed majesty15 had fled; ‘no softness! no payments! Flatter me by letting me think you came to a head not a silly woman’s heart, with one name on it, as it has not to betray. I have been frank; you need no proofs...’ The supplicating16 hands left her figure an easy prey17 to the storm, and were crushed in a knot on her bosom18. She could only shrink. ‘Ah! Percy.. you undo19 my praise of you—my pride in receiving you.’
They were speechless perforce.
‘You see, Tony, my dearest, I am flesh and blood after all.’
‘You drive me to be ice and door-bolts!’
Her eyes broke over him reproachfully.
‘It is not so much to grant,’ he murmured.
‘It changes everything between us.’
‘Not me. It binds20 me the faster.’
‘It makes me a loathsome21 hypocrite.’
‘But, Tony! is it so much?’
‘Not if you value it low.’
‘But how long do you keep me in this rag-puppet’s state of suspension?’
‘Patience.’
‘Dangling22 and swinging day and night!’
‘The rag-puppet shall be animated23 and repaid if I have life. I wish to respect my hero. Have a little mercy. Our day will come: perhaps as wonderfully as this wonderful news. My friend, drop your hands. Have you forgotten who I am? I want to think, Percy!’
‘But you are mine.’
‘No, by heaven!’
‘Worse, dear friend; you are lowering yourself to the woman who loves you.’
‘You must imagine me superhuman.’
‘I worship you—or did.’
‘Be reasonable, Tony. What harm! Surely a trifle of recompense? Just to let me feel I live! You own you love me. Then I am your lover.’
‘My dear friend Percy, when I have consented to be your paramour, this kind of treatment of me will not want apologies.’
The plain speaking from the wound he dealt her was effective with a gentleman who would never have enjoyed his privileges had he been of a nature unsusceptible to her distinct wish and meaning.
He sighed. ‘You know how my family bother me. The woman I want, the only woman I could marry, I can’t have.’
‘You have her in soul.’
‘Body and soul, it must be! I believe you were made without fire.’
‘Perhaps. The element is omitted with some of us happily, some think. Now we can converse25. There seems to be a measurement of distances required before men and women have a chance with their brains:—or before a man will understand that he can be advised and seconded. When will the Cabinet be consulted?’
‘Oh, a few days. Promise me...’
‘Any honourable26 promise!’
‘You will not keep me waiting longer than the end of the Session?’
‘Probably there will be an appeal to the country.’
‘In any case, promise me: have some compassion27.’
‘Ah, the compassion! You do not choose your words, Percy, or forget who is the speaker.’
‘It is Tony who forgets the time she has kept her lover dangling. Promise, and I will wait.’
‘You hurt my hand, sir.’
‘I could crack the knuckles28. Promise!’
‘Come to me tomorrow.’
‘To-morrow you are in your armour-triple brass29! All creation cries out for now. We are mounted on barbs30 and you talk of ambling31.’
‘Arthur Rhodes might have spoken that.’
‘Rhodes!’ he shook off the name in disgust. ‘Pet him as much as you like; don’t...’ he was unable to phrase his objection.
She cooled him further with eulogies32 of the chevaleresque manner of speaking which young Mr. Rhodes could assume; till for very wrath33 of blood—not jealousy34: he had none of any man, with her; and not passion; the little he had was a fitful gust—he punished her coldness by taking what hastily could be gathered.
Her shape was a pained submission35; and she thought: Where is the woman who ever knows a man!—as women do think when one of their artifices36 of evasion37 with a lover, or the trick of imposingness, has apparently38 been subduing39 him. But the pain was less than previously40, for she was now mistress of herself, fearing no abysses.
Dacier released her quickly, saying: ‘If I come tomorrow, shall I have the promise?’
She answered: ‘Be sure I shall not lie.’
‘Why not let me have it before I go?’
‘My friend, to tell you the truth, you have utterly41 distracted me.’
‘Forgive me if I did hurt your hand.’
‘The hand? You might strike it off.’
‘I can’t be other than a mortal lover, Tony. There’s the fact.’
‘No; the fault is mine when I am degraded. I trust you: there’s the error.’
The trial for Dacier was the sight of her quick-lifting; bosom under the mask of cold language: an attraction and repulsion in union; a delirium42 to any lover impelled43 to trample44 on weak defences. But the evident pain he inflicted45 moved his pity, which helped to restore his conception of the beauty of her character. She stood so nobly meek46. And she was never prudish47, only self-respecting. Although the great news he imparted had roused an ardent48 thirst for holiday and a dash out of harness, and he could hardly check it, he yielded her the lead.
‘Trust me you may,’ he said. ‘But you know—we are one. The world has given you to me, me to you. Why should we be asunder49? There’s no reason in it.’
She replied: ‘But still I wish to burn a little incense50 in honour of myself, or else I cannot live. It is the truth. You make Death my truer friend, and at this moment I would willingly go out. You would respect me more dead than alive. I could better pardon you too.’
He pleaded for the red mouth’s pardon, remotely irritated by the suspicion that she swayed him overmuch: and he had deserved the small benevolences and donations of love, crumbs51 and heavenly dews!
‘Not a word of pardon,’ said Diana. ‘I shall never count an iota52 against you “in the dark backward and abysm of Time.” This news is great, and I have sunk beneath it. Come tomorrow. Then we will speak upon whatever you can prove rational. The hour is getting late.’
Dacier took a draught53 of her dark beauty with the crimson54 he had kindled55 over the cheeks. Her lips were firmly closed, her eyes grave; dry, but seeming to waver tearfully in their heavy fulness. He could not doubt her love of him; and although chafing56 at the idea that she swayed him absurdly—beyond the credible57 in his world of wag-tongues—he resumed his natural soberness, as a garment, not very uneasily fitting: whence it ensued—for so are we influenced by the garb58 we put on us—that his manly59 sentiment of revolt in being condemned60 to play second, was repressed by the refreshment61 breathed on him from her lofty character, the pure jewel proffered62 to his, inward ownership.
‘Adieu for the night,’ he said, and she smiled. He pressed for a pressure of her hand. She brightened her smile instead, and said only: ‘Good night, Percy.’
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1
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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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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intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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supplicating
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的现在分词 ) | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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binds
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| v.约束( bind的第三人称单数 )；装订；捆绑；（用长布条）缠绕 | |
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21
loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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22
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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23
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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abasing
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| 使谦卑( abase的现在分词 )； 使感到羞耻； 使降低（地位、身份等）； 降下 | |
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25
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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26
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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27
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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28
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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29
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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barbs
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| n.（箭头、鱼钩等的）倒钩( barb的名词复数 )；带刺的话；毕露的锋芒；钩状毛 | |
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31
ambling
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的现在分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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32
eulogies
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| n.颂词，颂文( eulogy的名词复数 ) | |
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33
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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34
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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artifices
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| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
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37
evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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38
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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subduing
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| 征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗 | |
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40
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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42
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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43
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
trample
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| vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯 | |
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45
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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47
prudish
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| adj.装淑女样子的，装规矩的，过分规矩的；adv.过分拘谨地 | |
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48
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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49
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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50
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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51
crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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52
iota
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| n.些微，一点儿 | |
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53
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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54
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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55
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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56
chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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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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60
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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61
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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62
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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