第 12 节
作者:
小秋 更新:2021-03-11 17:56 字数:9321
me。 Not that I mind being made hot; it is surely better than
being made cold。 He and Mrs。 Staveley shook hands。
They seemed to be old friends。 I wished I had been an old
friendnot for any bad reason; I hope。 I only wanted to shake
hands; too。 What Mrs。 Staveley said to him escaped me; somehow。 I
think the picture escaped me also; I don't remember noticing
anything except the young gentleman; especially when he took off
his hat to me。 He looked at me twice before he went away。 I got
hot again。 I said to Mrs。 Staveley: 〃Who is he?〃
She laughed at me。 I said again: 〃Who is he?〃 She said: 〃He is
young Mr。 Dunboyne。〃 I said: 〃Does he live in London?〃 She
laughed again。 I said again: 〃Does he live in London?〃 She said:
〃He is here for a holiday; he lives with his father at Fairmount;
in Ireland。〃
Young Mr。 Dunboynehere for a holidaylives with his father at
Fairmount; in Ireland。 I have said that to myself fifty times
over。 And here it is; saying itself for the fifty…first time in
my Journal。 I must indeed be a simpleton; as Helena says。 I had
better go to bed again。
CHAPTER XIII。
EUNICE'S DIARY。
NOT long before I left home; I heard one of our two servants
telling the other about a person who had been 〃bewitched。〃 Are
you bewitched when you don't understand your own self? That has
been my curious case; since I returned from the picture show。
This morning I took my drawing materials out of my box; and tried
to make a portrait of young Mr。 Dunboyne from recollection。 I
succeeded pretty well with his frock…coat and cane; but; try as I
might; his face was beyond me。 I have never drawn anything so
badly since I was a little girl; I almost felt ready to cry。 What
a fool I am!
This morning I received a letter from papait was in reply to a
letter that I had written to himso kind; so beautifully
expressed; so like himself; that I felt inclined to send him a
confession of the strange state of feeling that has come over me;
and to ask him to comfort and advise me。 On second thoughts; I
was afraid to do it。 Afraid of papa! I am further away from
understanding myself than ever。
Mr。 Dunboyne paid us a visit in the afternoon。 Fortunately;
before we went out。
I thought I would have a good look at him; so as to know his face
better than I had known it yet。 Another disappointment was in
store for me。 Without intending it; I am sure; he did what no
other young man has ever donehe made me feel confused。 Instead
of looking at him; I sat with my head down; and listened to his
talk。 His voicethis is high praisereminded me of papa's
voice。 It seemed to persuade me as papa persuades his
congregation。 I felt quite at ease again。 When he went away; we
shook hands。 He gave my hand a little squeeze。 I gave him back
the squeezewithout knowing why。 When he was gone; I wished I
had not done itwithout knowing why; either。
I heard his Christian name for the first time to…day。 Mrs。
Staveley said to me: 〃We are going to have a dinner…party。 Shall
I ask Philip Dunboyne?〃 I said to Mrs。 Staveley: 〃Oh; do!〃
She is an old woman; her eyes are dim。 At times; she can look
mischievous。 She looked at me mischievously now。 I wished I had
not been so eager to have Mr。 Dunboyne asked to dinner。
A fear has come to me that I may have degraded myself。 My spirits
are depressed。 This; as papa tells us in his sermons; is a
miserable world。 I am sorry I accepted the Staveleys' invitation。
I am sorry I went to see the pictures。 When that young man comes
to dinner; I shall say I have got a headache; and shall stop
upstairs by myself。 I don't think I like his Christian name。 I
hate London。 I hate everybody。
What I wrote up above; yesterday; is nonsense。 I think his
Christian name is perfect。 I like London。 I love everybody。
He came to dinner to…day。 I sat next to him。 How beautiful a
dress…coat is; and a white cravat! We talked。 He wanted to know
what my Christian name was。 I was so pleased when I found he was
one of the few people who like it。 His hair curls naturally。 In
color; it is something between my hair and Helena's。 He wears his
beard。 How manly! It curls naturally; like his hair; it smells
deliciously of some perfume which is new to me。 He has white
hands; his nails look as if he polished them; I should like to
polish my nails if I knew how。 Whatever I said; he agreed with
me; I felt satisfied with my own conversation; for the first time
in my life。 Helena won't find me a simpleton when I go home。 What
exquisite things dinner…parties are!
My sister told me (when we said good…by) to be particular in
writing down my true opinion of the Staveleys。 Helena wishes to
compare what she thinks of them with what I think of them。
My opinion of Mr。 Staveley isI don't like him。 My opinion of
Miss Staveley isI can't endure her。 As for Master Staveley; my
clever sister will understand that _he_ is beneath notice。 But;
oh; what a wonderful woman Mrs。 Staveley is! We went out
together; after luncheon today; for a walk in Kensington Gardens。
Never have I heard any conversation to compare with Mrs。
Staveley's。 Helena shall enjoy it here; at second hand。 I am
quite changed in two things。 First: I think more of myself than I
ever did before。 Second: writing is no longer a difficulty to me。
I could fill a hundred journals; without once stopping to think。
Mrs。 Staveley began nicely; 〃I suppose; Eunice; you have often
been told that you have a good figure; and that you walk well?〃
I said: 〃Helena thinks my figure is better than my face。 But do I
really walk well? Nobody ever told me that。〃
She answered: 〃Philip Dunboyne thinks so。 He said to me; 'I
resist the temptation because I might be wanting in respect if I
gave way to it。 But I should like to follow her when she goes
outmerely for the pleasure of seeing her walk。' 〃
I stood stockstill。 I said nothing。 When you are as proud as a
peacock (which never happened to me before); I find you can't
move and can't talk。 You can only enjoy yourself。
Kind Mrs。 Staveley had more things to tell me。 She said: 〃I am
interested in Philip。 I lived near Fairmount in the time before I
was married; and in those days he was a child。 I want him to
marry a charming girl; and be happy。〃
What made me think directly of Miss Staveley? What made me mad to
know if she was the charming girl? I was bold enough to ask the
question。 Mrs。 Staveley turned to me with that mischievous look
which I have noticed already。 I felt as if I had been running at
the top of my speed; and had not got my breath again; yet。
But this good motherly friend set me at my ease。 She explained
herself: 〃Philip is not much liked; poor fellow; in our house。 My
husband considers him to be weak and vain and fickle。 And my
daughter agrees with her father。 There are times when she is
barely civil to Philip。 He is too good…natured to complain; but
_I_ see it。 Tell me; my dear; do you like Philip?〃
〃Of course I do!〃 Out it came in those words; before I could stop
it。 Was there something unbecoming to a young lady in
saying what I had just said? Mrs。 Staveley seemed to be more
amused than angry with me。 She took my arm kindly; and led me
along with her。 〃My dear; you are as clear as crystal; and as
true as steel。 You are a favorite of mine already。〃
What a delightful woman! as I said just now。 I asked if she
really liked me as well as she liked my sister。
She said: 〃Better。〃
I didn't expect that; and didn't want it。 Helena is my superior。
She is prettier than I am; cleverer than I am; better worth
liking than I am。 Mrs。 Staveley shifted the talk back to Philip。
I ought to have said Mr。 Philip。 No; I won't; I shall call him
Philip。 If I had a heart of stone; I should feel interested in
him; after what Mrs。 Staveley has told me。
Such a sad story; in some respects。 Mother dead; no brothers or
sisters。 Only the father left; he lives a dismal life on a lonely
stormy coast。 Not a severe old gentleman; for all that。 His
reasons for taking to retirement are reasons (so Mrs。 Staveley
says) which nobody knows。 He buries himself among his books; in
an immense library; and he appears to like it。 His son has not
been brought up。 like other young men; at school and college。 He
is a great scholar; educated at home by his father。 To hear this
account of his learning depressed me。 It seemed to put such a
distance between us。 I asked Mrs。 Staveley if he thought me
ignorant。 As long as I live I shall remember the reply: 〃He
thinks you charming。〃
Any other girl would have been satisfied with this。 I am the
miserable creature who is always making mistakes。 My stupid
curiosity spoiled the charm of Mrs。 Staveley's conversation。 And
yet it seemed to be a harmless question; I only said I should
like to know what profession Philip belonged to。
Mrs。 Staveley answered: 〃No profession。〃
I foolishly put a wrong meaning on this。 I said: 〃Is he idle?〃
Mrs。 Staveley laughed。 〃My dear; he is an only sonand his
father is a rich man。〃
That stopped meat last。
We have enough to live on in comfort at homeno more。 Papa has
told us himself that he is not (and can never hope to be) a rich
man。 This is not the worst of it。 Last year; he refused