第 25 节
作者:
津鸿一瞥 更新:2021-03-08 19:41 字数:9322
person。 It is true; I had not yet seen her; but my mesmeritic impulses
induced me to fancy as much。
〃What say the YOUNG gentlemen to this?〃 asked Mr。 Monson;
laughing。 〃This is a question not to be settled altogether by ladies; old or
young。〃
〃Betts Shoreham has substantially told you what HE thinks; and now I
claim a right to give MY opinion;〃 cried John Monson。 〃Like Betts; I
will not decry my countrywomen; but I shall protest against the doctrine
of their having ALL the beauty in the world。 By Jove! I have seen in
ONE opera…house at Rome; more beautiful women than I ever saw
together; before or since; in any other place。 Broadway never equals
the corso; of a carnival。〃
{corso; of a carnival = the Corso; a main street in Rome; at Carnival
time}
〃This is not sticking to the subject;〃 observed Mrs。 Monson。 〃Pocket…
handkerchiefs and housekeepers are our themes; and not pretty
women。 Mademoiselle Hennequin; you are French enough; I am sure;
to like more sugar in your tea。〃
This changed the subject; which became a desultory discourse on the
news of the day。 I could not understand half that was said; laboring
under the disadvantage of being shut up in a close drawer; on another
floor; and that; too; with six dozen of chattering French gloves lying
within a foot of me。 Still I saw plainly enough; that Mademoiselle
Hennequin; notwithstanding she was a governess; was a favorite in the
family; and; I may add; out of it alsoBetts Shoreham being no sort of
a connection of the Monsons。 I thought; moreover; that I discovered
signs of cross…purposes; as between the young people; though I think a
pocket…handkerchief subject to those general laws; concerning secrets;
that are recognized among all honorable persons。 Not having been
actually present on this occasion; should I proceed to relate ALL that
passed; or that I fancied passed; it would be degrading myself to the
level of those newspapers which are in the habit of retailing private
conversations; and which; like most small dealers in such things; never
retail fairly。
I saw no more of my mistress for a week。 I have reason to think that
she had determined never to use me; but female resolutions; in matters
of dress; are not of the most inflexible nature。 There was a certain Mrs。
Leamington; in New York; who gave a great ball about this time; and
being in the same set as the Monsons; the family was invited as a matter
of course。 It would have surpassed the powers of self…denial to keep
me in the back…ground on such an occasion; and Julia; having first
cleared the way by owning her folly to a very indulgent father; and a
very tormenting brother; determined nobly to bring me out; let the effect
on Betts Shoreham be what it might。 As the father had no female friends
to trouble him; he was asked to join the Monsonsthe intimacy fully
warranting the step。
Julia never looked more lovely than she did that night。 She anticipated
much pleasure; and her smiles were in proportion to her anticipations。
When all was ready; she took me from the drawer; let a single drop of
lavender fall in my bosom; and tripped down stairs toward the drawing…
room; Betts Shoreham and Mademoiselle Hennequin were together;
and; for a novelty; alone。 I say; for a novelty; because the governess
had few opportunities to see any one without the presence of a third
person; and because her habits; as an unmarried and well educated
French woman; indisposed her to tete…a…tetes with the other sex。 My
mistress was lynx…eyed in all that related to Betts Shoreham and the
governess。 A single glance told her that their recent conversation had
been more than usually interesting; nor could I help seeing it myselfthe
face of the governess being red; or in that condition which; were she
aught but a governess; would be called suffused with blushes。 Julia felt
uncomfortableshe felt herself to be de trop; and making an incoherent
excuse; she had scarcely taken a seat on a sofa; before she arose; left
the room; and ran up stairs again。 In doing so; however; the poor girl
left me inadvertently on the sofa she had so suddenly quitted herself。
{de trop = one too many}
Betts Shoreham manifested no concern at this movement; though
Mademoiselle Hennequin precipitately changed her seat; which had
been quite nearapproximately near; as one might sayto the chair
occupied by the gentleman。 This new evolution placed the governess
close at my side。 Now whatever might have been the subject of
discourse between these two young personsfor Mademoiselle
Hennequin was quite as youthful as my mistress; let her beauty be as it
mightit was not continued in my presence; on the contrary; the young
lady turned her eyes on me; instead of looking at her companion; and
then she raised me in her hand; and commenced a critical examination
of my person。
〃That is a very beautiful handkerchief; Mademoiselle Hennequin;〃 said
Betts Shoreham; making the remark an excuse for following the young
lady to the sofa。 〃Had we heard of its existence; our remarks the other
night; on such a luxury; might have been more guarded。〃
No answer was given。 The governess gazed on me intently; and tears
began to course down her cheeks; notwithstanding it was evident she
wished to conceal them。 Ashamed of her weakness; she endeavored to
smile them away; and to appear cheerful。
〃What is there in that pocket…handkerchief; dear Mademoiselle
Hennequin;〃 asked Betts Shoreham; who had a pernicious habit of
calling young ladies with whom he was on terms of tolerable intimacy;
〃dear;〃a habit that sometimes misled persons as to the degree of
interest he felt in his companions〃what CAN there be in that pocket…
handkerchief to excite tears from a mind and a heart like yours?〃
〃My mind and heart; Mr。 Shoreham; are not as faultless; perhaps; as
your goodness would make them out to be。 ENVY is a very natural
feeling for a woman in matters of dress; they say; and; certainly; I am
not the owner of so beautiful a pocket…handkerchiefpardon me; Mr。
Shoreham; I cannot command myself; and must be guilty of the
rudeness of leaving you alone; if〃
Mademoiselle Hennequin uttered no more; but rushed from the room;
with an impetuosity of manner and feeling that I have often had occasion
to remark in young French women。 As a matter of course; I was left
alone with Betts Shoreham。
I shall conceal nothing that ought to be told。 Betts Shoreham;
notwithstanding her dependent situation; and his own better fortunes;
loved the governess; and the governess loved Betts Shoreham。 These
were facts that I discovered at a later day; though I began to suspect
the truth from that moment。 Neither; however; knew of the other's
passion; though each hoped as an innocent and youthful love will hope;
and each trembled as each hoped。 Nothing explicit had been said that
evening; but much; very much; in the way of sympathy and feeling had
been revealed; and but for the inopportune entrance of Julia and myself;
all might have been told。
CHAPTER XV。
There is no moment in the life of man; when he is so keenly sensitive on
the subject of the perfection of his mistress; as that in which he
completely admits her power。 All his jealousy is actively alive to the
smallest shade of fault; although his feelings so much indispose him to
see any blemish。 Betts Shoreham felt an unpleasant pang; evenyes; it
amounted to a pangfor in a few moments he would have offered his
handand men cannot receive any drawback with indifference at such
an instanthe felt an unpleasant pang; then; as the idea crossed his mind
that Mademoiselle Hennequin could be so violently affected by a feeling
as unworthy as that of envy。 He had passed several years abroad; and
had got the common notion about the selfishness of the French; and
more particularly their women; and his prejudices took the alarm。 But
his love was much the strongest; and soon looked down the distrust;
however reasonable; under the circumstances; the latter might have
appeared to a disinterested and cool…headed observer。 He had seen so
much meek and pure…spirited self…denial; so much high principle in the
conduct of Mademoiselle Hennequin; during an intimacy which had now
lasted six months; that no passing feeling of doubt; like the one just felt;
could unsettle the confidence created by her virtues。 I know it may take
more credit than belongs to most pocket…handkerchiefs; to maintain the
problem of the virtues of a French governessa class of unfortunate
persons that seem doomed to condemnation by all the sages of our
modern imaginative literature。 An English governess; or even an
American governess; if; indeed; there be such a being in nature; may be
every thing that is respectable; and prudent; and wise; and good; but the
French governess has a sort of ex…officio moral taint about her; that
throws her without the pale of literary charities。 Nevertheless; one or
two of the most excellent women I have ever known; have been French
governesses; though I do not choose to reveal what this particular
individual of the class turned out to be in the end; until the moment for
the denouement of her character shall regularly arrive。
There was not much time for B