TherewasnolatedinneratSomervilleVilla。Indeed,ladies,lefttothemselves,seldomdinelate。Natureisstronginthem,andtheyarehungriestwhenthesunishigh。Atseveno\'clockZoeVizardwasseatedatherdesktryingtowritetoLordUxmoor。Shesighed,shemoaned,shebegan,anddroppedthepenandhidherface。Shebecamealmostwild;andinthatstatesheatlastdashedoffwhatfollows:
\"DEARLORDUXMOOR——Forpity\'ssake,forgivethemadwordsIsaidtoyoutoday。Itisimpossible。Icandonomorethanadmireandesteemyou。Myheartisgonefrommeforever。Prayforgiveme,thoughIdonotdeserveit;andneverseemenorlookatmeagain。Iaskpardonformyvacillation。Ithasbeendisgraceful;butithasended,andIwasunderagreaterror,whichIcannotexplaintoyou,whenIledyoutobelieveI
hadahearttogiveyou。Myeyesareopened。Ourpathslieasunder。Pray,prayforgiveme,ifitispossible。Iwillneverforgivemyself,norceasetoblessandrevereyou,whomIhaveusedsoill。
ZOEVIZARD。\"
ThatdayUxmoordinedalonewithhismother,forawonder,andhetoldherhowMissVizardhadcomeround;hetoldheralsoaboutthebull,butsovilelythatshehardlycomprehendedhehadbeeninanydanger:theseencountersarerarelydescribedtothelife,exceptbyuswhoavoidthem——exceptonpaper。
LadyUxmoorwasmuchpleased。Shewasaproud,politiclady,andthiswasajudiciousunionoftwopowerfulhousesinthecounty,andonethatwouldalmostcommandtheelections。But,aboveall,sheknewherson\'sheartwasinthematch,andshegavehimamother\'ssympathy。
Assheretired,shekissedhimandsaid,\"Whenyouarequitesureoftheprize,tellme,andIwillcalluponher。\"
Beingalone,LordUxmoorlightedacigarandsmokeditinmeasurelesscontent。Theservantbroughthimanoteonasalver。Ithadcomebyhand。
Uxmooropeneditandreadeverywordstraightthrough,downto\"ZoeVizard;\"readit,andsatpetrified。
Hereaditagain。Hefeltasortofsicknesscomeoverhim。Heswallowedatumblerofport,awineherarelytouched;buthefeltworsenowthanafterthebullfight。Thisdone,heroseandstalkedlikeawoundedlionintothedrawing-room,whichwasonthesamefloor,andlaidtheletterbeforehismother。
\"Youareawomantoo,\"saidhe,alittlehelplessly。\"Tellme——whatonearthdoesthismean?\"
Thedowagerreaditslowlyandkeenly,andsaid,\"Itmeans——anotherman。\"
\"Ah!\"saidUxmoor,withasortofsnarl。
\"Haveyouseenanyoneabouther?\"
\"No;notlately。AtVizardCourttherewas。Butthatisallovernow,I
conclude。ItwasaMr。Severne,anadventurer,afellowthatwascaughtoutinaliebeforeusall。VizardtellsmealadycameandclaimedhimbeforeMissVizard,andheranaway。\"
\"Anunworthyattachment,inshort?\"
\"Veryunworthy,ifitwasanattachmentatall。\"
\"WasheatVizardCourtwhenshedeclinedyourhand?\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Didheremain,afteryouwent?\"
\"Isupposeso。Yes,hemusthave。\"
\"Thenthewholethingisclear:thatmanhascomeforwardagainunexpectedly,orwritten,andshedismissesyou。Mydarling,thereisbutonethingforyoutodo。Leaveher,andthankherfortellingyouintime。Alesshonorablefoolwouldhavehiddenit,andthenwemighthavehadaCountessofUxmoorintheDivorceCourtsomedayorother。
\"Ihadbettergoabroad,\"saidUxmoor,withagroan。\"Thiscountryispoisonedforme。\"
\"Go,byallmeans。LetJannewaypackupyourthingsto-morrow。\"
\"Ishouldliketokillthatfellowfirst。\"
\"Youwillnotevenwasteathoughtonhim,ifyouaremyson。\"
\"Youareright,mother。WhatamItosaytoher?\"
\"Notaword。\"
\"What,notanswerherletter?Itishumbleenough,Iamsure——poorsoul!
Mother,Iamwretched,butIamnotbitter,andmyrivalwillrevengeme。\"
\"Uxmoor,yourgoingabroadistheonlyanswersheshallhave。Thewisestman,inthesematters,whoeverlivedhasleftaruleofconducttoeverywell-bornman——arulewhich,believeme,iswisdomitself:
\"Lebruitestpourlefat,laplainteestpourlesot;L\'honnetehommetrompe\';s\'e\'loigne,etneditmot。\"
Youwillmakeatour,andnotsayawordtoMissVizard,good,bad,norindifferent。Iinsistuponthat。\"
\"Verywell。Thankyou,dearmother;youguideme,anddon\'tletmemakeafoolofmyself,forIamterriblycutup。YouwillbetheonlyCountessofUxmoorinmyday。\"
Thenhekneltatherfeet,andshekissedhisheadandcriedoverhim;
buthertearsonlymadethisproudladystronger。
Nextdayhestartedonhistravels。
Now,butforZoe,hewouldonnoaccounthaveleftEnglandjustthen;forhewasjustgoingtobuildmodelcottagesinhisownvillage,upondesignsofhisown,eachwithalittleplot,andapublicwarehouseorgranary,withdivisionsfortheirpotatoesandapples,etc。However,heturnedthisoverinhismindwhile。hewaspacking;heplacedcertainplansandpapersinhisdispatchbox,andtookhistickettoTaddington,insteadofgoingatoncetoLondon。FromTaddingtonhedroveovertoHillstokeandaskedforMissGale。TheytoldhimshewasfixedatVizardCourt。Thatvexedhim:hedidnotwanttomeetVizard。HethoughtitthepartofaJerrySneaktogoandhowltoabrotheragainsthissister。YetifVizardquestionedhim,howcouldheconcealtherewassomethingwrong?
However,hewentdowntoVizardCourt;butsaidtotheservantwhoopenedthedoor,\"Iamratherinahurry,sir:doyouthinkyoucouldprocuremeafewminuteswithMissGale?YouneednottroubleMr。Vizard。\"
\"Yes,mylaud。Certainly,mylaud。Pleasestepinthemorning-room,mylaud。Mr。Vizardisout。\"
Thatwasfortunate,andMissGalecamedowntohimdirectly。
FannytookthatopportunitytochatterandtellMademoiselleKloskingallaboutLordUxmoorandhispassionforZoe。\"Andhewillhaveher,too,\"
saidshe,boldly。
LordUxmoortoldMissGalehehadcalleduponbusiness。Hewasobligedtoleavehomeforatime,andwishedtoplacehisprojectsunderthecareofapersonwhocouldreallysympathizewiththem,andmakeadditionstothem,ifnecessary。\"Men,\"saidhe,\"arealwaysmakingoversightsinmattersofdomesticcomfort:besides,youarefullofideas。Iwantyoutobeviceroywithfullpower,andactjustasyouwouldifthevillagebelongedtoyou。\"
Rhodacoloredhighatthecompliment。
\"Wells,cows,granary,realeducation——whatyoulike\"saidhe。\"Iknowyourmind。Beginabolishingthelowerordersintheonlywaytheycanbegotridof——byraisingthemincomfort,cleanliness,decency,andknowledge。ThenIshallnotbemissed。I\'mgoingabroad。\"
\"Goingabroad?\"
\"Yes。Herearemyplans:alterthemforthebetterifyoucan。Alltheworktobedonebythevillagers。Weeklywages。Webuymaterials。Theywillbemorereconciledtoimproveddwellingswhentheybuildthemthemselves。Herearetheaddressesofthepeoplewhowillfurnishmoney。
Itwillentailtraveling;butmypeoplewillalwaysmeetyouatthestation,ifyoutelegraphfromTaddington。Youaccept?Athousandthanks。
IamafraidImustbeoff。\"
Shewentintothehallwithhim,halfbewildered,andonlyatthedoorfoundtimetoaskafterZoeVizard。
\"Alittlebetter,Ithink,thanwhenshecame。\"
\"Doessheknowyouaregoingabroad?\"
\"No;Idon\'tthinkshedoes,yet。Itwassettledallinahurry。\"
Heescapedfurtherquestioningbyhurryingaway。
MissGalewasstilllookingafterhim,whenInaKloskingcamedown,dressedforawalk,andleaninglightlyonMissDover\'sarm。ThiswasbypreviousconsentofMissGale。
\"Well,dear,\"saidFanny,\"whatdidhesaytoyou?\"
\"Somethingthathassurprisedandpuzzledmeverymuch。\"Shethenrelatedthewholeconversation,withherusualprecision。
InaKloskingobservedquietlytoFannythatthisdidnotlooklikesuccessfulwooing。
\"Idon\'tknowthat,\"saidFanny,stoutly。\"Oh,MissGale,didyounotaskhimabouther?\"
\"CertainlyIdid;andhesaidshewasbetterthanwhenshefirstcame。\"
\"There!\"saidFanny,triumphantly。
MissGalegaveheralittlepinch,andshedroppedthesubject。
Vizardreturned,andfoundMademoiselleKloskingwalkingonhisgravel。
Heofferedherhisarm,andwasahappyman,paradingherveryslowly,andsupportinghersteps,andpurringhiscongratulationsintoherear。
\"SupposeIweretoinviteyoutodinner,whatwouldyousay?\"
\"IthinkIshouldsay,\'To-morrow。\'\"
\"Andaverygoodanswer,too。To-morrowshallbea_fete。\"_
\"Youspoilme?\"
\"Thatisimpossible。\"
Itwasstrangetoseethemtogether;hesohappy,shesoapathetic,yetgracious。
Nextmorningcameabitofhumannature——aletterfromZoetoFanny,almostentirelyoccupiedwithpraisesofLordUxmoor。ShetoldthebullstorybetterthanIhave——ifpossible——and,inshort,madeUxmooraheroofromance。
Fannycarriedthisintriumphtotheotherladies,andreaditout。
\"There!\"saidshe。\"Didn\'tItellyou?\"
Rhodareadtheletter,andownedherselfpuzzled。\"Iamnot,then,\"saidFanny:\"theyareengaged——overthebull;likeEuropaandIforgotwho——andsoheisnotafraidtogoabroadnow。Thatisjustlikethemen。
Theycooldirectlythechaseisover。\"
NowthetruthwasthatZoewastryingtosootheherconsciencewithelegantpraisesofthemanshehaddismissed,andfeltguilty。
InaKloskingsaidlittle。Shewaspuzzledtooatfirst。SheaskedtoseeZoe\'shandwriting。Theletterwashandedtoher。Shestudiedthecharacters。\"Itisagoodhand,\"shesaid;\"nothingmeanthere。\"Andshegaveitback。
But,withaglance,shehadreadtheaddress,andlearnedthattheposttownwasBagley。
Allthatday,atintervals,shebroughtherpowerfulunderstandingtobearontheparadox;andthoughshehadnotthefactsandtheclewIhavegiventhereader,shecamenearthetruthinanessentialmatter。ShesatisfiedherselfthatLordUxmoorwasnotengagedtoZoeVizard。
Clearly,ifso,hewouldnotleaveEnglandformonths。Sheresolvedtoknowmore;andjustbeforedinnershewrotealinetoAshmead,andrequestedhimtocallonherimmediately。
ThatdayshedinedwithVizardandtheladies。ShesatatVizard\'srighthand,andhetoldherhowproud,andhappyhewastoseeherthere。
Sheblushedfaintly,butmadenoreply。
Sheretiredsoonafterdinner。
AllnextdaysheexpectedAshmead。
Hedidnotcome。
ShedinedwithVizardnextday,andretiredtothedrawing-room。Thepianowasopened,andsheplayedoneortwoexquisitethings,andafterwardtriedhervoice,butonlyinscales,andsomewhattimidly,forMissGalewarnedhershemightloseitorspoilitifshestrainedthevocalchordwhileherwholesystemwasweak。
NextdayAshmeadcamewithapologies。
Hehadspentadayinthecathedraltownonbusiness。Hedidnottellherhowhehadspentthatday,goingaboutpuffingherasthegreatestsingerofsacredmusicintheworld,andpavingthewaytoherengagementatthenextfestival。Yetthesingle-heartedJosephhadreallyraisedthatcommercialsuperstructureuponthesentimentsshehadutteredonhisfirstvisittoVizardCourt。
Inanowheldaprivateconferencewithhim。\"Ithink,\"saidshe,\"Ihaveheardyousayyouwereonceanactor。\"
\"Iwas,madam,andaverygoodone,too。\"
_\"Celavasansdire。_Ineverknewonethatwasnot。Atallevents,youcandisguiseyourself。\"
\"Anything,madam,fromGrandfatherWhiteheadtoaboyinapinafore。
Famousformymake-ups。\"
\"Iwishyoutowatchacertainhouse,andnotberecognizedbyapersonwhoknowsyou。\"
\"Well,madam,nothingis_infradig,_ifdoneforyou;nothingisdistastefulifdoneforyou。\"
\"Thankyou,myfriend。Ihavethoughtitwelltoputmyinstructionsonpaper。\"
\"Ay,thatisthebestway。\"
Shehandedhimtheinstructions。Hereadthem,andhiseyessparkled。
\"Ah,thisisacommissionIundertakewithpleasure,andI\'llexecuteitwithzeal。\"
Helefther,soonafter,tocarryouttheseinstructions,andthatveryeveninghewasinthewardrobeofthelittletheater,rummagingoutasuitablecostume,andalsoincloseconferencewiththewigmaker。
NextdayVizardhadhismother\'ssablestakenoutandaired,anddroveMademoiselleKloskingintoTaddingtoninanopencarriage。Fannytoldhertheywerehismother\'ssables,andnonetocomparewiththeminthecountry。
Onreturning,shetriedhervoicetotheharmoniuminherownantechamber,andfounditwasgainingstrength——likeherself。
MeantimeZoeVizardmetSeverneinthegarden,andtoldhimshehadwrittentoLordUxmoor,andhewouldnevervisitheragain。Butshedidnotmakelightofthesacrificethistime。Shehadsacrificedherownself-respectaswellasUxmoor\'s,andshewassullenandtearful。
Hehadtobeverywaryandpatient,orshewouldhavepartedwithhimtoo,andfledfrombothofthemtoherbrother。
Uxmoor\'swoundedpridewouldhavebeensoothedcouldhehavebeenpresentatthefirstinterviewofthispair。HewouldhaveseenSevernetreatedwithahauteurandasortofsavagenesshehimselfwassafefrom,safeinherunshakenesteem。
Buttheworldismadeforthosewhocankeeptheirtemper,especiallythefemalepartoftheworld。
Sad,kind,andloving,butneverirritable,Severnesmootheddownandsoothedandcomfortedthewoundedgirl;and,seeinghertwoorthreetimesaday——forshewascompletelymistressofhertime——gothercompletelyintohispoweragain。
Uxmoordidnotreply。
Shehadmadeherselection。Lovebeckonedforward。Itwasuselesstolookback。
Lovewasomnipotent。Theybothbegantorecovertheirgoodlooksasifbymagic;andasSeverne\'spassion,thoughwicked,wasearnest,nopoorbirdwasevermorecompletelyentangledbybird-limethanZoewascaughtbyEdwardSeverne。
TheirusualplaceofmeetingwastheshrubberyattachedtoSomervilleVilla。Thetrees,beingyoung,madealltheclosershade,andthegravel-walkmeandered,andshutthemoutfromview。
Severneusedtoenterthisshrubberybyalittlegateleadingfromthemeadow,andwaitunderthetreestillZoecametohim。Vizard\'sadvertisementsalarmedhim,andheusedtoseethecoastclearbeforeheenteredtheshrubbery,andalsobeforeheleftit。Hewassoparticularinthisthat,observingonedayanoldmandodderingaboutwithabasket,hewouldnotgointillhehadtakenalookathim。Hefounditwasanancientwhite-hairedvillagergatheringmushrooms。Theoldfellowwassostiff,andhishandsotrembling,thatittookhimaboutaminutetogatherasinglefungus。
Togiveareasonforcominguptohim,Severnesaid,\"Howoldareyou,oldman?\"
\"Ibeninety,measter,nextMartinmas-day。\"
\"Onlyninety?\"saidourAdonis,contemptuously;\"youlookahundredandninety。\"
Hewouldhavebeenlesscontemptuoushadheknownthatthemushroomswerealltoad-stools,andthevillagecentenairewasMr。JosephAshmead,resuminghisoriginalarts,andplayingGrandfatherWhiteheadonthegreengrass。
CHAPTERXXV。
MADEMOISELLEKLOSKINGtoldVizardthetimedrewnearwhenshemustleavehishospitablehouse。
\"Sayamonthhence,\"saidhe。
Sheshookherhead。
\"Ofcourseyouwillnotstaytogratifyme,\"saidhe,halfsadly,halfbitterly。\"Butyouwillhavetostayaweekortwolonger_parordonnancedume\'decin。\"_
\"Myphysicianisreconciledtomygoing。Wemustallbowtonecessity。\"
Thiswassaidtoofirmlytoadmitareply。\"Theoldhousewillseemverydarkagainwheneveryoudogo,\"saidVizard,plaintively。
\"Itwillsoonbebrightenedbyherwhoisitstrueandlastinglight,\"
wasthesteadyreply。
Adayortwopassedwithnothingtorecord,exceptthatVizardhungaboutInaKlosking,andbecame,ifpossible,moreenamoredofherandmoreunwillingtopartwithher。
Mr。Ashmeadarrivedoneafternoonaboutthreeo\'clock,andwasmorethananhourwithher。Theyconversedveryearnestly,andwhenhewent,MissGalefoundheragitated。
\"Thiswillnotdo,\"saidshe。
\"Itwillpass,myfriend,\"saidIna。\"Iwillsleep。\"
Shelaidherselfdownandsleptthreehoursbeforedinner。
Shearoserefreshed,anddinedwiththelittleparty;andonretiringtothedrawing-room,sheinvitedVizardtojointhemathisconvenience。Hemadeithisconvenienceintenminutes。
Thensheopenedthepiano,playedanintroduction,andelectrifiedthemallbysingingtheleadingsonginSiebel。Shedidnotsingitsopowerfullyasinthetheater;shewouldnothavedonethatevenifshecould:butstillshesungitout,andnobly。Itseemedamiracletohearsuchsinginginaroom。
Vizardwasinraptures。
Theycooledsuddenlywhensheremindedhimwhathehadsaid,thatshemuststaytillshecouldsingSiebel\'ssong。\"Ikeeptotheletterofthecontract,\"saidshe。\"Myfriends,thisismylastnightatVizardCourt。\"
\"Pleasetryandshakethatresolution,\"saidVizard,gravely,toMesdemoisellesDoverandGale。
\"Theycannot,\"saidIna。\"Itismydestiny。Andyet,\"saidshe,afterapause,\"Iwouldnothaveyouremembermebythatflimsything。Letmesingyouasongyourmotherloved;letmeberememberedinthishouse,asasinger,bythat。\"
ThenshesungHandel\'ssong:
\"WhatthoughItraceeachherbandflowerThatdecksthemorningdew?DidInotownJehovah\'spower,HowvainwereallIknew。\"
Shesungitwithamazingpurity,volume,grandeur,andpower;thelustersrangandshook,theheartswerethrilled,andtheverysoulsofthehearersravished。Sheherselfturnedalittlepaleinsingingit,andthetearsstoodinhereyes。
Thesonganditsinterpretationweresofarabovewhatpassesformusicthattheyallfeltcomplimentswouldbeanimpertinence。Theireyesandtheirlongdrawnbreathpaidthetruehomagetothatgreatmasterrightlyinterpreted——averyrareoccurrence。
\"Ah!\"saidshe;\"thatwasthehandcouldbrandishGoliath\'sspear。\"
\"Andthisishowyoureconcileustolosingyou,\"saidVizard。\"Youmightstay,atleast,tillyouhadgonethroughmypoormother\'scollection。\"
\"Ah!IwishIcould。ButIcannot。Imustnot。MyFateforbidsit。\"
\"\'Fate\'and\'destiny,\'\"saidVizard,\"stuffandnonsense。Wemakeourowndestiny。Mineistobeeternallydisappointed,andhappinesssnatchedoutofmyhands。\"
Hehadnosoonermadethisprettyspeechthanhewasashamedofit,andstalkedoutoftheroom,nottosayanymoreunwisethings。
ThisburstofspleenalarmedFannyDover。\"There,\"saidshe,\"nowyoucannotgo。Heisveryangry。\"
InaKloskingsaidshewassorryforthat;buthewastoojustamantobeangrywithherlong:thedaywouldcomewhenhewouldapproveherconduct。Herlipquiveredalittleasshesaidthis,andthewaterstoodinhereyes:andthiswasrememberedandunderstood,longafter,bothbyMissDoverandRhodaGale。
\"WhendoesyourRoyalHighnessproposetostart?\"inquiredRhodaGale,veryobsequiously,andjustalittlebitterly。
\"To-morrowathalf-pastnineo\'clock,dearfriend,\"saidIna。
\"Thenyouwillnotgowithoutme。YouwillgetthebetterofMr。Vizard,becauseheisonlyaman;butIamawoman,andhaveawillaswellasyou。Ifyoumakeajourneyto-morrow,Igowithyou。Denyme,andyoushan\'tgoatall。\"Hereyesflasheddefiance。
Inamovedonestep,tookRhoda\'slittledefianthead,andkissedhercheek。\"Sweetphysicianandkindfriend,ofcourseyoushallgowithme,ifyouwill,andbeagreatblessingtome。\"
ThisreconciledMissGaletotheproceedings。Shepackedupacarpet-bag,andwasupearly,makingprovisionsofeverysortforherpatient\'sjourney:airpillows,softwarmcoverings,medicaments,stimulants,etc。,inalittlebagslungacrosshershoulders。Thusfurnished,andequippedinauniformsuitofgrayclothandwideawakehat,shecutaverysprightlyandcommandingfigure,butmorelikeDianathanHebe。
TheKloskingcamedown,apaleJuno,intravelingcostume;andaquarterofanhourbeforethetimeapair-horseflywasatthedoorandMr。
Ashmeadinthehall。
Theladieswerebothready。
ButVizardhadnotappeared。
Thiscausedanuneasydiscussion。
\"Hemustbeveryangry,\"saidFanny,inahalfwhisper。
\"Icannotgowhileheis,\"sighedLaKlosking。\"Thereisalimiteventomycourage。\"
\"Mr。Harris,\"saidRhoda,\"wouldyoumindtellingMr。Vizard?\"
\"Well,miss,\"saidHarris,softly,\"Ididstepinandtellhim。Whichhetoldmetogotothedevil,miss——ahobservationIneverknewhimtomakebefore。\"
Thiswasnotencouraging。YettheKloskingquietlyinquiredwherehewas。
\"Inthere,ma\'am,\"saidHarris。\"Inhisstudy。\"
MademoiselleKlosking,placedbetweentwoalternatives,decidedwithherusualresolution。Shewalkedimmediatelytothedoorandtappedatit;
then,scarcelywaitingforaninstant,openeditandwalkedinwithseemingfirmness,thoughherheartwasbeatingratherhigh。
Thepeopleoutsidelookedatoneanother。\"Iwonderwhetherhewilltell_her_togotothedevil,\"saidFanny,whowasgettingtiredofbeinggood。
\"Nouse,\"saidMissGale;\"shedoesn\'tknowtheroad。\"
WhenLaKloskingenteredthestudy,Vizardwasseated,disconsolate,withtwopicturesbeforehim。Hisfacewasfullofpain,andLaKlosking\'sheartsmoteher。Shemovedtowardhim,hangingherhead,andsaid,withinimitablesweetnessandtenderness,\"Hereisaculpritcometotryandappeaseyou。\"
Therecameatimethathecouldhardlythinkofthesewordsandherpenitent,submissivemannerwithdryeyes。Butjustthenhisblackdoghadbittenhim,andhesaid,sullenly,\"Oh,nevermindme。Itwasalwaysso。Yoursexhavealwaysmademesmartfor——Ifflyingfrommyhousebeforeyouarehalfrecoveredgivesyouhalfthepleasureitgivesmepainandmortification,saynomoreaboutit。\"
\"Ah!whysayitgivesmepleasure?myfriend,youcannotreallythinkso。\"
\"Idon\'tknowwhattothink。Youladiesareallriddles。\"
\"ThenImusttakeyouintomyconfidence,and,withsomereluctance,I
own,letyouknowwhyIleavethisdear,kindroofto-day。\"
Vizard\'sgenerositytookthealarm。\"No,\"said,\"Iwillnotextortyourreasons。Itisashameofme。Yourbarewilloughttobelawinthishouse;andwhatreasonscouldreconcilemetolosingyousosuddenly?Youarethejoyofoureyes,thedelightofourears,theidolofallourhearts。Youwillleaveus,andtherewillbedarknessandgloom,insteadofsunshineandsong。Well,go;butyoucannotsoftentheblowwithreasons。\"
MademoiselleKloskingflushed,andherbosomheaved;forthiswasastrongman,greatlymoved。Withinstinctivetact,shesawthebestwaytobringhimtohissenseswastogivehimagoodopeningtoretreat。
\"Ah,monsieur,\"saidshe,\"youare_tropgrandseigneur。_Youentertainapoorwoundedsingerinachamberfewprincescanequal。Youplaceeverythingatherdisposal;suchaphysicianandnurseasnoqueencancommand;achoirtosingtoher;royalsablestokeepthewindfromher,andladiestowaitonher。Andwhenyouhavebroughtherbacktolife,yousaytoyourself,Sheisawoman;shewillnotbethoroughlycontentunlessyoutellhersheisadorable。So,outofpoliteness,youdescendtothelanguageofgallantry。Thiswasnotneeded。Idispensewiththatkindofcomfort。Ileaveyourhousebecauseitismyduty,andleaveityourgratefulservantandtruefriendtomylasthour。\"
Shehadopenedthedoor,andVizardcouldnowescape。Hisobstinacyandhisheartwouldnotlethim。
\"Donotfencewithme,\"saidhe。\"Leavethattoothers。Itisbeneathyou。Ifyouhadbeencontenttostay,Iwouldhavebeencontenttoshowmyheartbyhalves。Butwhenyouoffertoleaveme,youdrawfrommeanavowalIcannolongerrestrain,andyoumustandshalllistentoit。
WhenIsawyouonthestageatHomburg,Iadmiredyouandlovedyouthatverynight。ButIknewfromexperiencehowseldominwomenoutwardgracesgowiththevirtuesofthesoul。Idistrustedmyjudgment。IfearedyouandIfledyou。Butourdestinybroughtyouhere,andwhenIheldyou,paleandwounded,inmyveryarms,myheartseemedtogooutofmybosom。\"
\"Oh,nomore!nomore,pray!\"criedMademoiselleKlosking。
Butthecurrentoflovewasnottobestemmed。\"SincethatterriblehourIhavebeeninheaven,watchingyourgradualandsurerecovery;butyouhaverecoveredonlytoabandonme,andyourhurrytoleavemedrivesmetodesperation。No,Icannotpartwithyou。Youmustnotleaveme,eitherthisdayoranyday。Givemeyourhand,andstayhereforever,andbethequeenofmyheartandofmyhouse。\"
ForsometimeLaKloskinghadlostherusualcomposure。Herbosomheavedtumultuously,andherhandstrembled。Butatthisdistinctproposalthewholewomanchanged。Shedrewherselfup,withherpalecheekflushingandhereyesglittering。
\"What,sir?\"saidshe。\"Haveyoureadmesoill?DoyounotknowIwouldratherbethemeanestdrudgethatgoesonherkneesandscrubsyourfloors,thanbequeenofyourhouse,asyoucallit?Ah,Jesu,areallmenalike,then;thathewhomIhavesorevered,whosemother\'ssongsI
havesungtohim,makesmeaproposaldishonorabletomeandtohimself?\"
\"Dishonorable!\"criedVizard。\"Why,whatcananymanoffertoanywomanmorehonorablethanIofferyou?Iofferyoumyheartandmyhand,andI
say,donotgo,mydarling。Stayhereforever,andbemyqueen,mygoddess,mywife!\"
\"YOURWIFE?\"Shestaredwildlyathim。\"Yourwife?AmIdreaming,orareyou?\"
\"Neither。DoyouthinkIcanbecontentwithlessthanthat?Ina,Iadoreyou。\"
Sheputherhandtoherhead。\"Iknownotwhoistoblameforthis,\"saidshe,andshetrembledvisibly。
\"I\'lltaketheblame,\"saidhe,gayly。
SaidIna,verygravely。\"You,whodomethehonortooffermeyourname,haveyouaskedyourselfseriouslywhathasbeenthenatureofmyrelationwithEdwardSeverne?\"
\"No!\"criedVizard,violently;\"andIdonotmeanto。Iseeyoudespisehimnow;andIhavemyeyesandmysensestoguidemeinchoosingawife。
Ichooseyou——ifyouwillhaveme。\"
Shelistened,thenturnedhermoisteyesfulluponhim,andsaidtohim,\"Thisisthegreatesthonoreverbefellme。Icannottakeit。\"
\"Nottakeit?\"
\"No;butthatismymisfortune。Donotbemortified。Youhavenorivalinmyesteem。WhatshallIsay,myfriend?——atleastImaycallyouthat。IfIexplainnow,Ishallweepmuch,andlosemystrength。WhatshallIdo?
Ithink——yes,thatwillbebest——_youshallgowithmeto-day。\"_
\"Totheendoftheworld!\"
\"Somethingtellsmeyouwillknowall,andforgiveme。\"
\"ShallItakemybag?\"
\"Youmighttakeaneveningdressandsomelinen。\"
\"Verywell。Iwon\'tkeepyouamoment,\"saidhe,andwentupstairswithgreatalacrity。
Shewentintothehall,withhereyesbentontheground,andwasimmediatelypinnedbyRhodaGale,whosepiercingeye,andinquisitivefingeronherpulse,soondiscoveredthatshehadgonethroughatryingscene。\"Thisisabadbeginningofanimprudentjourney,\"saidshe:\"I
haveagreatmindtocountermandthecarriage。\"
\"No,no,\"saidIna;\"Iwillsleepintherailwayandrecovermyself。\"
Theladiesnowgotintothecarriage;Ashmeadinsistedongoinguponthebox;andVizardsoonappeared,andtookhisseatoppositeMissGaleandMademoiselleKlosking。Thelatterwhisperedherdoctress:\"Itwouldbewiseofmenottospeakmuchatpresent。\"LaGalecommunicatedthistoVizard,andtheydrovealongindeadsilence。Buttheywerenaturallycurioustoknowwheretheyweregoing;sotheyheldsomecommunicationwiththeireyes。TheyverysoonfoundtheyweregoingtoTaddingtonStation。
Thencameadoubt——weretheygoingupordown?
Thatwassoonresolved。
Mr。Ashmeadhadhiredasalooncarriageforthem,withcouchesandconveniences。
Theyenteredit;andMademoiselleKloskingsaidtoMissGale,\"ItisnecessarythatIshouldsleep。\"
\"Youshall,\"saidMissGale。
Whileshewasarrangingthepillowsandthings,LaKloskingsaidtoVizard,\"Weartistslearntosleepwhenwehaveworktodo。WithoutitI
shouldnotbestrongenoughthisday。\"Shesaidthisinahalf-apologetictone,asoneanxiousnottogivehimanyshadowofoffense。