第 30 节
作者:
小秋 更新:2021-03-11 17:56 字数:9321
could look into this di ary!
Maria opened the door; she told me that my sister had already
returned; accompanied by Miss Jillgall。 There had been apparently
some difference of opinion between them; before they entered the
house。 Eunice had attempted to go on to some other place; and
Miss Jillgall had remonstrated。 Maria had heard her say: 〃No; you
would degrade yourself〃and; with that; she had led Eunice
indoors。 I understood; of course; that my sister had been
prevented from following Philip to the hotel。 There was probably
a serious quarrel in store for me。 I went straight to the
bedroom; expecting to find Eunice there; and prepared to brave
the storm that might burst on me。 There was a woman at Eunice's
end of the room; removing dresses from the wardrobe。 I could only
see her back; but it was impossible to mistake _that_
figureMiss Jillgall。
She laid the dresses on Eunice's bed; without taking the
slightest notice of me。 In significant silence I pointed to the
door。 She went on as coolly with her occupation as if the room
had been; not mine but hers; I stepped up to her; and spoke
plainly。
〃You oblige me to remind you;〃 I said; 〃that you are not in your
own room。〃 There; I waited a little; and found that I had
produced no effect。 〃With every disposition;〃 I resumed; 〃to make
allowance for the disagreeable peculiarities of your character; I
cannot consent to overlook an act of intrusion; committed by a
Spy。 Now; do you understand me?〃
She looked round her。 〃I see no third person here;〃 she said。
〃May I ask if you mean me?〃
〃I mean you。〃
〃Will you be so good; Miss Helena; as to explain yourself?〃
Moderation of language would have been thrown away on this woman。
〃You followed me to the park;〃 I said。 〃It was you who found me
with Mr。 Dunboyne; and betrayed me to my sister。 You are a Spy;
and you know it。 At this very moment you daren't look me in the
face。〃
Her insolence forced its way out of her at last。 Let me record
itand repay it; when the time comes。
〃Quite true;〃 she replied。 〃If I ventured to look you in the
face; I am afraid I might forget myself。 I have always been
brought up like a lady; and I wish to show it even in the company
of such a wretch as you are。 There is not one word of truth in
what you have said of me。 I went to the hotel to find Mr。
Dunboyne。 Ah; you may sneer! I haven't got your good looksand a
vile use you have made of them。 My object was to recall that base
young man to his duty to my dear charming injured Euneece。 The
hotel servant told me that Mr。 Dunboyne had gone out。 Oh; I had
the means of persuasion in my pocket! The man directed me to the
park; as he had already directed Mr。 Dunboyne。 It was only when I
had found the place; that I heard some one behind me。 Poor
innocent Euneece had followed me to the hotel; and had got her
directions; as I had got mine。 God knows how hard I tried to
persuade her to go back; and how horribly frightened I wasNo! I
won't distress myself by saying a word more。 It would be too
humiliating to let _you_ see an honest woman in tears。 Your
sister has a spirit of her own; thank God! She won't inhabit the
same room with you; she never desires to see your false face
again。 I take the poor soul's dresses and things awayand as a
religious person I wait; confidently wait; for the judgment that
will fall on you!〃
She caught up the dresses all together; some of them were in her
arms; some of them fell on her shoulders; and one of them towered
over her head。 Smothered in gowns; she bounced out of the room
like a walking milliner's shop。 I have to thank the wretched old
creature for a moment of genuine amusement; at a time of
devouring anxiety。 The meanest insect; they say; has its use in
this worldand why not Miss Jillgall?
In half an hour more; an unexpected event raised my spirits。 I
heard from Philip。
On his return to the hotel he had found a telegram waiting for
him。 Mr。 Dunboyne the elder had arrived in London; and Philip had
arranged to join his father by the next train。 He sent me the
address; and begged that I would write and tell him my news from
home by the next day's post。
Welcome; thrice welcome; to Mr。 Dunboyne the elder! If Philip can
manage; under my advice; to place me favorably in the estimation
of this rich old man; his presence and authority may do for us
what we cannot do for ourselves。 Here is surely an influence to
which my father must submit; no matter how unreasonable or how
angry he may be when he hears what has happened。 I begin already
to feel hopeful of the future。
CHAPTER XXX。
EUNICE'S DIARY。
THROUGH the day; and through the night; I feel a misery that
never leaves meI mean the misery of fear。
I am trying to find out some harmless means of employing myself;
which will keep evil remembrances from me。 If I don't succeed; my
fear tells me what will happen。 I shall be in danger of going
mad。
I dare not confide in any living creature。 I don't know what
other persons might think of me; or how soon I might find myself
perhaps in an asylum。 In this helpless condition; doubt and
fright seem to be driving me back to my Journal。 I wonder whether
I shall find harmless employment here。
I have heard of old people losing their memories。 What would I
not give to be old! I remember! oh; how I remember! One day after
another I see Philip; I see Helena; as I first saw them when I
was among the trees in the park。 My sweetheart's arms; that once
held me; hold my sister now。 She kisses him; kisses him; kisses
him。
Is there no way of making myself see something else? I want to
get back to remembrances that don't burn in my head and tear at
my heart。 How is it to be done?
I have tried booksno! I have tried going out to look at the
shopsno! I have tried saying my prayersno! And now I am
making my last effort; trying my pen。 My black letters fall from
it; and take their places on the white paper。 Will my black
letters help me? Where can I find something consoling to write
down? Where? Where?
Selinapoor Selina; so fond of me; so sorry for me。 When I was
happy; she was happy; too。 It was always amusing to hear her
talk。 Oh; my memory; be good to me! Save me from Philip and
Helena。 I want to remember the pleasant days when my kind little
friend and I used to gossip in the garden。
No: the days in the garden won't come back。 What else can I think
of?
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
The recollections that I try to encourage keep away from me。 The
other recollections that I dread; come crowding back。 Still
Philip! Still Helena!
But Selina mixes herself up with them。 Let me try again if I can
think of Selina。
How delightfully good to me and patient with me she was; on our
dismal way home from the park! And how affectionately she excused
herself for not having warned me of it; when she first suspected
that my own sister and my worst enemy were one and the same!
〃I know I was wrong; my dear; to let my love and pity close my
lips。 But remember how happy you were at the time。 The thought of
making you miserable was more than I could endureI am so fond
of you! Yes; I began to suspect them; on the day when they first
met at the station。 And; I am afraid; I thought it just likely
that you might be as cunning as I was; and have noticed them;
too。〃
Oh; how ignorant she must have been of my true thoughts and
feelings! How strangely people seem to misunderstand their
dearest friends! knowing; as I did; that I could never love any
man but Philip; could I be wicked enough to suppose that Philip
would love any woman but me?
I explained to Selina how he had spoken to me; when we were
walking together on the bank of the river。 Shall I ever forget
those exquisite words? 〃I wish I was a better man; Eunice; I wish
I was good enough to be worthy of you。〃 I asked Selina if she
thought he was deceiving me when he said that。 She comforted me
by owning that he must have been in earnest; at the timeand
then she distressed me by giving the reason why。
〃My love; you must have innocently said something to him; when
you and he were alone; which touched his conscience (when he
_had_ a conscience); and made him ashamed of himself。 Ah; you
were too fond of him to see how he changed for the worse; when yo
ur vile sister joined you; and took possession of him again。 It
made my heart ache to see you so unsuspicious of them。 You asked
me; my poor dear; if they had quarreledyou believed they were
tired of walking by the river; when it was you they were tired
ofand you wondered why Helena took him to see the school。 My
child! she was the leading spirit at the school; and you were
nobody。 Her vanity saw the chance of making him compare you at a
disadvantage with your clever sister。 I declare; Euneece; I lose
my head if I only think of it! All the strong points in my
character seem to slip away from me。 Would you believe it?I
have neglected that sweet infant at the cottage; I have even let
Mrs。 Molly have her baby back again。 If I had the making of the
laws; Philip Dunboyne and Helena Gracedieu should be hanged
together on the same gallows。 I see I shock you。 Don't let us
talk of it! Oh; don't let us talk of it!〃
And here