Mrs. Gallilee saw her housekeeper1 as usual, and gave her orders for the day. “If there is anything forgotten,” she said, “I must leave it to you. For the next hour or two, don’t let me be disturbed.”
Some of her letters of the morning were still unread, others required immediate2 acknowledgment. She was not as ready for her duties as usual. For once, the most unendurably industrious3 of women was idle, and sat thinking.
Even her unimaginative nature began to tremble on the verge4 of superstition5. Twice, had the subtle force of circumstances defeated her, in the attempt to meddle6 with the contemplated7 marriage of her son. By means of the music-master, she had planned to give Ovid jealous reasons for doubting Carmina — and she had failed. By means of the governess, she had planned to give Carmina jealous reasons for doubting Ovid — and she had failed. When some people talked of Fatality8, were they quite such fools as she had hitherto supposed them to be? It would be a waste of time to inquire. What next step could she take?
Urged by the intolerable sense of defeat to find reasons for still looking hopefully to the future, the learned Mrs. Gallilee lowered herself to the intellectual level of the most ignorant servant in the house. The modern Muse9 of Science unconsciously opened her mind to the vulgar belief in luck. She said to herself, as her kitchen-maid might have said, We will see what comes of it, the third time!
Benjulia’s letter was among the other letters waiting on the table. She took it up, and read it again.
In her present frame of mind, to find her thoughts occupied by the doctor, was to be reminded of Ovid’s strange allusion10 to his professional colleague, on the day of his departure. Speaking of Carmina, he had referred to one person whom he did not wish her to see in his absence; and that person, he had himself admitted to be Benjulia. He had been asked to state his objection to the doctor — and how had he replied? He had said, “I don’t think Benjulia a fit person to be in the company of a young girl.”
Why?
There are many men of mature age, who are not fit persons to be in the company of young girls — but they are either men who despise, or men who admire, young girls. Benjulia belonged neither to the one nor to the other of these two classes. Girls were objects of absolute indifference11 to him — with the one exception of Zo, aged12 ten. Never yet, after meeting him in society hundreds of times, had Mrs. Gallilee seen him talk to young ladies or even notice young ladies. Ovid’s alleged13 reason for objecting to Benjulia stood palpably revealed as a clumsy excuse.
In the present posture14 of events, to arrive at that conclusion was enough for Mrs. Gallilee. Without stopping to pursue the idea, she rang the bell, and ordered her carriage to be ready that afternoon, at three o’clock.
Doubtful, and more than doubtful, though it might be, the bare prospect15 of finding herself possessed16, before the day was out, of a means of action capable of being used against Carmina, raised Mrs. Gallilee’s spirits. She was ready at last to attend to her correspondence.
One of the letters was from her sister in Scotland. Among other subjects, it referred to Carmina.
“Why won’t you let that sweet girl come and stay with us?” Lady Northlake asked. “My daughters are longing17 for such a companion; and both my sons are ready to envy Ovid the moment they see her. Tell my nephew, when you next write, that I thoroughly18 understand his falling in love with that gentle pretty creature at first sight.”
Carmina’s illness was the ready excuse which presented itself in Mrs. Gallilee’s reply. With or without an excuse, Lady Northlake was to be resolutely19 prevented from taking a foremost place in her niece’s heart, and encouraging the idea of her niece’s marriage. Mrs. Gallilee felt almost pious20 enough to thank Heaven that her sister’s palace in the Highlands was at one end of Great Britain, and her own marine21 villa22 at the other!
The marine villa reminded her of the family migration23 to the sea-side.
When would it be desirable to leave London? Not until her mind was relieved of the heavier anxieties that now weighed on it. Not while events might happen — in connection with the threatening creditors24 or the contemplated marriage — which would baffle her latest calculations, and make her presence in London a matter of serious importance to her own interests. Miss Minerva, again, was a new obstacle in the way. To take her to the Isle25 of Wight was not to be thought of for a moment. To dismiss her at once, by paying the month’s salary, might be the preferable course to pursue — but for two objections. In the first place (if the friendly understanding between them really continued) Carmina might communicate with the discarded governess in secret. In the second place, to pay Miss Minerva’s salary before she had earned it, was a concession27 from which Mrs. Gallilee’s spite, and Mrs. Gallilee’s principles of paltry28 economy, recoiled29 in disgust. No! the waiting policy in London, under whatever aspect it might be viewed, was, for the present, the one policy to pursue.
She returned to the demands of her correspondence. Just as she had taken up her pen, the sanctuary30 of the boudoir was violated by the appearance of a servant.
“What is it now? Didn’t the housekeeper tell you that I am not to be disturbed?”
“I beg your pardon, ma’am. My master —”
“What does your master want?”
“He wishes to see you, ma’am.”
This was a circumstance entirely31 without parallel in the domestic history of the house. In sheer astonishment32, Mrs. Gallilee pushed away her letters, and said “Show him in.”
When the boys of fifty years since were naughty, the schoolmaster of the period was not accustomed to punish them by appealing to their sense of honour. If a boy wanted a flogging, in those days, the educational system seized a cane33, or a birch-rod, and gave it to him. Mr. Gallilee entered his wife’s room, with the feelings which had once animated34 him, on entering the schoolmaster’s study to be caned35. When he said “Good-morning, my dear!” his face presented the expression of fifty years since, when he had said, “Please, sir, let me off this time!”
“Now,” said Mrs. Gallilee, “what do you want?”
“Only a little word. How well you’re looking, my dear!”
After a sleepless36 night, followed by her defeat in Carmina’s room, Mrs. Gallilee looked, and knew that she looked, ugly and old. And her wretched husband had reminded her of it. “Go on!” she answered sternly.
Mr. Gallilee moistened his dry lips. “I think I’ll take a chair, if you will allow me,” he said. Having taken his chair (at a respectful distance from his wife), he looked all round the room with the air of a visitor who had never seen it before. “How very pretty!” he remarked softly. “Such taste in colour. I think the carpet was your own design, wasn’t it? How chaste37!”
“Will you come to the point, Mr. Gallilee?”
“With pleasure, my dear — with pleasure. I’m afraid I smell of tobacco?”
“I don’t care if you do!”
This was such an agreeable surprise to Mr. Gallilee, that he got on his legs again to enjoy it standing26 up. “How kind! Really now, how kind!” He approached Mrs. Gallilee confidentially38. “And do you know, my dear, it was one of the most remarkable39 cigars I ever smoked.” Mrs. Gallilee laid down her pen, and eyed him with an annihilating40 frown. In the extremity41 of his confusion Mr. Gallilee ventured nearer. He felt the sinister42 fascination43 of the serpent in the expression of those awful eyebrows44. “How well you are looking! How amazingly well you are looking this morning!” He leered at his learned wife, and patted her shoulder!
For the moment, Mrs. Gallilee was petrified45. At his time of life, was this fat and feeble creature approaching her with conjugal46 endearments47? At that early hour of the day, had his guilty lips tasted his favourite champagne48, foaming49 in his well-beloved silver mug, over his much-admired lump of ice? And was this the result?
“Mr. Gallilee!”
“Yes, my dear?”
“Sit down!”
Mr. Gallilee sat down.
“Have you been to the club?”
Mr. Gallilee got up again.
“Sit down!”
Mr. Gallilee sat down. “I was about to say, my dear, that I’ll show you over the club with the greatest pleasure — if that’s what you mean.”
“If you are not a downright idiot,” said Mrs. Gallilee, “understand this! Either say what you have to say, or —” she lifted her hand, and let it down on the writing-table with a slap that made the pens ring in the inkstand —“or, leave the room!”
Mr. Gallilee lifted his hand, and searched in the breast-pocket of his coat. He pulled out his cigar-case, and put it back in a hurry. He tried again, and produced a letter. He looked piteously round the room, in sore need of somebody whom he might appeal to, and ended in appealing to himself. “What sort of temper will she be in?” he whispered.
“What have you got there?” Mrs. Gallilee asked sharply. “One of the letters you had this morning?”
Mr. Gallilee looked at her with admiration50. “Wonderful woman!” he said. “Nothing escapes her! Allow me, my dear.”
He rose and presented the letter, as if he was presenting a petition. Mrs. Gallilee snatched it out of his hand. Mr. Gallilee went softly back to his chair, and breathed a devout51 ejaculation. “Oh, Lord!”
It was a letter from one of the tradespeople, whom Mrs. Gallilee had attempted to pacify52 with a payment “on account.” The tradesman felt compelled, in justice to himself, to appeal to Mr. Gallilee, as master of the house (!). It was impossible for him (he submitted with the greatest respect) to accept a payment, which did not amount to one-third of the sum owing to him for more than a twelvemonth. “Wretch!” cried Mrs. Gallilee. “I’ll settle his bill, and never employ him again!” She opened her cheque-book, and dipped her pen in the ink. A faint voice meekly53 protested. Mr. Gallilee was on his legs again. Mr. Gallilee said. “Please don’t!”
His incredible rashness silenced his wife. There he stood; his round eyes staring at the cheque-book, his fat cheeks quivering with excitement. “You mustn’t do it,” he said, with a first and last outburst of courage. “Give me a minute, my dear — oh, good gracious, give me a minute!”
He searched in his pocket again, and produced another letter. His eyes wandered towards the door; drops of perspiration54 oozed55 out on his forehead. He laid the second letter on the table; he looked at his wife, and — ran out of the room.
Mrs. Gallilee opened the second letter. Another dissatisfied tradesman? No: creditors far more formidable than the grocer and the butcher. An official letter from the bankers, informing Mr. Gallilee that “the account was overdrawn56.”
She seized her pass-book, and her paper of calculations. Never yet had her rigid58 arithmetic committed an error. Column by column she revised her figures — and made the humiliating discovery of her first mistake. She had drawn57 out all, and more than all, the money deposited in the bank; and the next half-yearly payment of income was not due until Christmas.
There was but one thing to be done — to go at once to the bank. If Ovid had not been in the wilds of Canada, Mrs. Gallilee would have made her confession59 to him without hesitation60. As it was, the servant called a cab, and she made her confession to the bankers.
The matter was soon settled to her satisfaction. It rested (exactly as Miss Minerva had anticipated) with Mr. Gallilee. In the house, he might abdicate61 his authority to his heart’s content. Out of the house, in matters of business, he was master still. His “investments” represented excellent “security;” he had only to say how much he wanted to borrow, and to sign certain papers — and the thing was done.
Mrs. Gallilee went home again, with her pecuniary62 anxieties at rest for the time. The carriage was waiting for her at the door.
Should she fulfil her intention of visiting Benjulia? She was not a person who readily changed her mind — and, besides, after the troubles of the morning, the drive into the country would be a welcome relief. Hearing that Mr. Gallilee was still at home, she looked in at the smoking-room. Unerring instinct told her where to find her husband, under present circumstances. There he was, enjoying his cigar in comfort, with his coat off and his feet on a chair. She opened the door. “I want you, this evening,” she said — and shut the door again; leaving Mr. Gallilee suffocated63 by a mouthful of his own smoke.
Before getting into the carriage, she only waited to restore her face with a flush of health (from Paris), modified by a sprinkling of pallor (from London). Benjulia’s humour was essentially64 an uncertain humour. It might be necessary to fascinate the doctor.
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1
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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fatality
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| n.不幸，灾祸，天命 | |
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muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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migration
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| n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙 | |
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creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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caned
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| vt.用苔杖打（cane的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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annihilating
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的现在分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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45
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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conjugal
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| adj.婚姻的，婚姻性的 | |
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endearments
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| n.表示爱慕的话语，亲热的表示( endearment的名词复数 ) | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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51
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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52
pacify
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| vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰 | |
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53
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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54
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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55
oozed
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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56
overdrawn
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| 透支( overdraw的过去分词 )； (overdraw的过去分词) | |
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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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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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61
abdicate
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| v.让位，辞职，放弃 | |
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62
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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63
suffocated
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| （使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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