第 3 节
作者:曾氏六合网      更新:2021-09-29 13:04      字数:9322
  marry M。 Lacordaire。
  And then; as regarded the man; could she in her heart say that she
  was prepared to love; honour; and obey M。 Lacordaire?  She certainly
  knew no reason why she should not do so。  She did not know much of
  him; she said to herself at first; but she knew as much; she said
  afterwards; as she had known personally of Mr。 Thompson before their
  marriage。  She had known; to be sure; what was Mr。 Thompson's
  profession and what his income; or; if not; some one else had known
  for her。  As to both these points she was quite in the dark as
  regarded M。 Lacordaire。
  Personally; she certainly did like him; as she said to herself more
  than once。  There was a courtesy and softness about him which were
  very gratifying to her; and then; his appearance was so much in his
  favour。  He was not very young; she acknowledged; but neither was
  she young herself。  It was quite evident that he was fond of her
  children; and that he would be a kind and affectionate father to
  them。  Indeed; there was kindness in all that he did。
  Should she marry again;and she put it to herself quite
  hypothetically;she would look for no romance in such a second
  marriage。  She would be content to sit down in a quiet home; to the
  tame dull realities of life; satisfied with the companionship of a
  man who would be kind and gentle to her; and whom she could respect
  and esteem。  Where could she find a companion with whom this could
  be more safely anticipated than with M。 Lacordaire?
  And so she argued the question within her own breast in a manner not
  unfriendly to that gentleman。  That there was as yet one great
  hindrance she at once saw; but then that might be remedied by a
  word。  She did not know what was his income or his profession。  The
  chambermaid; whom she had interrogated; had told her that he was a
  〃marchand。〃  To merchants; generally; she felt that she had no
  objection。  The Barings and the Rothschilds were merchants; as was
  also that wonderful man at Bombay; Sir Hommajee Bommajee; who was
  worth she did no know how many thousand lacs of rupees。
  That it would behove her; on her own account and that of her
  daughters; to take care of her own little fortune in contracting any
  such connection; that she felt strongly。  She would never so commit
  herself as to put security in that respect out of her power。  But
  then she did not think that M。 Lacordaire would ever ask her to do
  so; at any rate; she was determined on this; that there should never
  be any doubt on that matter; and as she firmly resolved on this; she
  again took up her book; and for a minute or two made an attempt to
  read。
  〃Mamma;〃 said Mummy; 〃will M。 Lacordaire go up to the school to see
  Lilian when you go away from this?〃
  〃Indeed; I cannot say; my dear。  If Lilian is a good girl; perhaps
  he may do so now and then。〃
  〃And will he write to you and tell you how she is?〃
  〃Lilian can write for herself; can she not?〃
  〃Oh yes; I suppose she can; but I hope M。 Lacordaire will write too。
  We shall come back here some day; shan't we; mamma?〃
  〃I cannot say; my dear。〃
  〃I do so hope we shall see M。 Lacordaire again。  Do you know what I
  was thinking; mamma?〃
  〃Little girls like you ought not to think;〃 said Mrs。 Thompson;
  walking slowly out of the room to the top of the stairs and back
  again; for she had felt the necessity of preventing Mimmy from
  disclosing any more of her thoughts。  〃And now; my dear; get
  yourself ready; and we will go up to the school。〃
  Mrs。 Thompson always dressed herself with care; though not in
  especially fine clothes; before she went down to dinner at the table
  d'hote; but on this occasion she was more than usually particular。
  She hardly explained to herself why she did this; but; nevertheless;
  as she stood before the glass; she did in a certain manner feel that
  the circumstances of her future life might perhaps depend on what
  might be said and done that evening。  She had not absolutely decided
  whether or no she would go to the Prince's chateau; but if she did
  go …。  Well; if she did; what then?  She had sense enough; as she
  assured herself more than once; to regulate her own conduct with
  propriety in any such emergency。
  During the dinner; M。 Lacordaire conversed in his usual manner; but
  said nothing whatever about the visit to Polignac。  He was very kind
  to Mimmy; and very courteous to her mother; but did not appear to be
  at all more particular than usual。  Indeed; it might be a question
  whether he was not less so。  As she had entered the room Mrs。
  Thompson had said to herself that; perhaps; after all; it would be
  better that there should be nothing more thought about it; but
  before the four of five courses were over; she was beginning to feel
  a little disappointed。
  And now the fruit was on the table; after the consumption of which
  it was her practice to retire。  It was certainly open to her to ask
  M。 Lacordaire to take tea with her that evening; as she had done on
  former occasions; but she felt that she must not do this now;
  considering the immediate circumstances of the case。  If any further
  steps were to be taken; they must be taken by him; and not by her;
  or else by Mimmy; who; just as her mother was slowly consuming her
  last grapes; ran round to the back of M。 Lacordaire's chair; and
  whispered something into his ear。  It may be presumed that Mrs。
  Thompson did not see the intention of the movement in time to arrest
  it; for she did nothing till the whispering had been whispered; and
  then she rebuked the child; bade her not to be troublesome; and with
  more than usual austerity in her voice; desired her to get herself
  ready to go up stairs to their chamber。
  As she spoke she herself rose from her chair; and made her final
  little bow to the table; and her other final little bow and smile to
  M。 Lacordaire; but this was certain to all who saw it; that the
  smile was not as gracious as usual。
  As she walked forth; M。 Lacordaire rose from his chairsuch being
  his constant practice when she left the table; but on this occasion
  he accompanied her to the door。
  〃And has madame decided;〃 he asked; 〃whether she will permit me to
  accompany her to the chateau?〃
  〃Well; I really don't know;〃 said Mrs。 Thompson。
  〃Mees Meemy;〃 continued M。 Lacordaire; 〃is very anxious to see the
  rock; and I may perhaps hope that Mees Lilian would be pleased with
  such a little excursion。  As for myself〃 and then M。 Lacordaire
  put his hand upon his heart in a manner that seemed to speak more
  plainly than he had ever spoken。
  〃Well; if the children would really like it; andas you are so very
  kind;〃 said Mrs。 Thompson; and so the matter was conceded。
  〃To…morrow afternoon?〃 suggested M。 Lacordaire。  But Mrs。 Thompson
  fixed on Saturday; thereby showing that she herself was in no hurry
  for the expedition。
  〃Oh; I am so glad!〃 said Mimmy; when they had re…entered their own
  room。  〃Mamma; do let me tell Lilian myself when I go up to the
  school to…morrow!〃
  But mamma was in no humour to say much to her child on this subject
  at the present moment。  She threw herself back on her sofa in
  perfect silence; and began to reflect whether she would like to sign
  her name in future as Fanny Lacordaire; instead of Fanny Thompson。
  It certainly seemed as though things were verging towards such a
  necessity。  A marchand!  But a marchand of what?  She had an
  instinctive feeling that the people in the hotel were talking about
  her and M。 Lacordaire; and was therefore more than ever averse to
  asking any one a question。
  As she went up to the school the next afternoon; she walked through
  more of the streets of Le Puy than was necessary; and in every
  street she looked at the names which she saw over the doors of the
  more respectable houses of business。  But she looked in vain。  It
  might be that M。 Lacordaire was a marchand of so specially high a
  quality as to be under no necessity to put up his name at all。  Sir
  Hommajee Bommajee's name did not appear over any door in Bombay;at
  least; she thought not。
  And then came the Saturday morning。  〃We shall be ready at two;〃 she
  said; as she left the breakfast…table; 〃and perhaps you would not
  mind calling for Lilian on the way。〃
  M。 Lacordaire would be delighted to call anywhere for anybody on
  behalf of Mrs。 Thompson; and then; as he got to the door of the
  salon; he offered her his hand。  He did so with so much French
  courtesy that she could not refuse it; and then she felt that his
  purpose was more tender than ever it had been。  And why not; if this
  was the destiny which Fate had prepared for her?
  Mrs。 Thompson would rather have got into the carriage at any other
  spot in Le Puy than at that at which she was forced to do sothe
  chief entrance; namely; of the Hotel des Ambassadeurs。  And what
  made it worse was this; that an appearance of a special fate was
  given to the occasion。  M。 Lacordaire was dressed in more than his
  Sunday best。  He had on new yellow kid gloves。  His coat; if not
  new; was newer than any Mrs。 Thompson had yet observed; and was
  lined with silk up to the very collar。  He had on patent leather
  boots; which glittered; as Mrs。 Thompson thought; much too
  conspicuously。  And as for his hat; it was quite evident that it