twice-told tales- the prophetic pictures-第2部分

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living　pictures　of　youth　and　beauty；　gladdened　by　bright　fortune。

The　artist　was　evidently　struck。

　　　〃My　easel　is　occupied　for　several　ensuing　days；　and　my　stay　in

Boston　must　be　brief；〃　said　he；　thoughtfully；　then；　after　an　observant

glance；　he　added：　〃but　your　wishes　shall　be　gratified；　though　I

disappoint　the　Chief　Justice　and　Madam　Oliver。　I　must　not　lose　this

opportunity；　for　the　sake　of　painting　a　few　ells　of　broadcloth　and

brocade。〃

　　　The　painter　expressed　a　desire　to　introduce　both　their　portraits

into　one　picture；　and　represent　them　engaged　in　some　appropriate

action。　This　plan　would　have　delighted　the　lovers；　but　was　necessarily

rejected；　because　so　large　a　space　of　canvas　would　have　been　unfit　for

the　room　which　it　was　intended　to　decorate。　Two　half…length

portraits　were　therefore　fixed　upon。　After　they　had　taken　leave；

Walter　Ludlow　asked　Elinor；　with　a　smile；　whether　she　knew　what　an

influence　over　their　fates　the　painter　was　about　to　acquire。

　　　〃The　old　women　of　Boston　affirm；〃　continued　he；　〃that　after　he

has　once　got　possession　of　a　person's　face　and　figure；　he　may　paint

him　in　any　act　or　situation　whatever…　and　the　picture　will　be

prophetic。　Do　you　believe　it？〃

　　　〃Not　quite；〃　said　Elinor；　smiling。　〃Yet　if　he　has　such　magic；　there

is　something　so　gentle　in　his　manner　that　I　am　sure　he　will　use　it

well。〃

　　　It　was　the　painter's　choice　to　proceed　with　both　the　portraits　at

the　same　time；　assigning　as　a　reason；　in　the　mystical　language　which

he　sometimes　used；　that　the　faces　threw　light　upon　each　other。

Accordingly　he　gave　now　a　touch　to　Walter；　and　now　to　Elinor；　and

the　features　of　one　and　the　other　began　to　start　forth　so　vividly　that

it　appeared　as　if　his　triumphant　art　would　actually　disengage　them

from　the　canvas。　Amid　the　rich　light　and　deep　shade；　they　beheld　their

phantom　selves。　But；　though　the　likeness　promised　to　be　perfect；

they　were　not　quite　satisfied　with　the　expression；　it　seemed　more

vague　than　in　most　of　the　painter's　works。　He；　however；　was

satisfied　with　the　prospect　of　success；　and　being　much　interested　in

the　lovers；　employed　his　leisure　moments；　unknown　to　them；　in　making　a

crayon　sketch　of　their　two　figures。　During　their　sittings；　he

engaged　them　in　conversation；　and　kindled　up　their　faces　with

characteristic　traits；　which；　though　continually　varying；　it　was　his

purpose　to　combine　and　fix。　At　length　he　announced　that　at　their

next　visit　both　the　portraits　would　be　ready　for　delivery。

　　　〃If　my　pencil　will　but　be　true　to　my　conception；　in　the　few　last

touches　which　I　meditate；〃　observed　he；　〃these　two　pictures　will　be　my

very　best　performances。　Seldom；　indeed；　has　an　artist　such　subjects。〃

　　　While　speaking；　he　still　bent　his　penetrative　eye　upon　them；　nor

withdrew　it　till　they　had　reached　the　bottom　of　the　stairs。

　　　Nothing；　in　the　whole　circle　of　human　vanities；　takes　stronger　hold

of　the　imagination　than　this　affair　of　having　a　portrait　painted。

Yet　why　should　it　be　so？　The　looking…glass；　the　polished　globes　of　the

andirons；　the　mirror…like　water；　and　all　other　reflecting　surfaces；

continually　present　us　with　portraits；　or　rather　ghosts；　of　ourselves；

which　we　glance　at；　and　straightway　forget　them。　But　we　forget　them

only　because　they　vanish。　It　is　the　idea　of　duration…　of　earthly

immortality…　that　gives　such　a　mysterious　interest　to　our　own

portraits。　Walter　and　Elinor　were　not　insensible　to　this　feeling；

and　hastened　to　the　painter's　room；　punctually　at　the　appointed

hour；　to　meet　those　pictured　shapes　which　were　to　be　their

representatives　with　posterity。　The　sunshine　flashed　after　them　into

the　apartment；　but　left　it　somewhat　gloomy　as　they　closed　the　door。

　　　Their　eyes　were　immediately　attracted　to　their　portraits；　which

rested　against　the　farthest　wall　of　the　room。　At　the　first　glance；

through　the　dim　light　and　the　distance；　seeing　themselves　in　precisely

their　natural　attitudes；　and　with　all　the　air　that　they　recognized

so　well；　they　uttered　a　simultaneous　exclamation　of　delight。

　　　〃There　we　stand；〃　cried　Walter；　enthusiastically；　〃fixed　in

sunshine　forever！　No　dark　passions　can　gather　on　our　faces！〃

　　　〃No；〃　said　Elinor；　more　calmly；　〃no　dreary　change　can　sadden　us。〃

　　　This　was　said　while　they　were　approaching；　and　had　yet　gained

only　an　imperfect　view　of　the　pictures。　The　painter；　after　saluting

them；　busied　himself　at　a　table　in　completing　a　crayon　sketch；　leaving

his　visitors　to　form　their　own　judgment　as　to　his　perfected　labors。　At

intervals；　he　sent　a　glance　from　beneath　his　deep　eyebrows；　watching

their　countenances　in　profile；　with　his　pencil　suspended　over　the

sketch。　They　had　now　stood　some　moments；　each　in　front　of　the

other's　picture；　contemplating　it　with　entranced　attention；　but

without　uttering　a　word。　At　length；　Walter　stepped　forward…　then　back…

viewing　Elinor's　portrait　in　various　lights；　and　finally　spoke。

　　　〃Is　there　not　a　change？〃　said　he；　in　a　doubtful　and　meditative

tone。　〃Yes；　the　perception　of　it　grows　more　vivid　the　longer　I　look。

It　is　certainly　the　same　picture　that　I　saw　yesterday；　the　dress…

the　features…　all　are　the　same；　and　yet　something　is　altered。〃

　　　〃Is　then　the　picture　less　like　than　it　was　yesterday？〃　inquired　the

painter；　now　drawing　near；　with　irrepressible　interest。

　　　〃The　features　are　perfect；　Elinor；〃　answered　Walter；　〃and；　at　the

first　glance；　the　expression　seemed　also　hers。　But；　I　could　fancy　that

the　portrait　has　changed　countenance；　while　I　have　been　looking　at　it。

The　eyes　are　fixed　on　mine　with　a　strangely　sad　and　anxious

expression。　Nay；　it　is　grief　and　terror！　Is　this　like　Elinor？〃

　　　〃Compare　the　living　face　with　the　pictured　one；〃　said　the　painter。

　　　Walter　glanced　sidelong　at　his　mistress；　and　started。　Motionless

and　absorbed…　fascinated；　as　it　were…　in　contemplation　of　Walter's

portrait；　Elinor's　face　had　assumed　precisely　the　expression　of

which　he　had　just　been　complaining。　Had　she　practised　for　whole

hours　before　a　mirror；　she　could　not　have　caught　the　look　so

successfully。　Had　the　picture　itself　been　a　mirror；　it　could　not

have　thrown　back　her　present　aspect　with　stronger　and　more

melancholy　truth。　She　appeared　quite　unconscious　of　the　dialogue

between　the　artist　and　her　lover。

　　　〃Elinor；〃　exclaimed　Walter；　in　amazement；　〃what　change　has　come

over　you？〃

　　　She　did　not　hear　him；　nor　desist　from　her　fixed　gaze；　till　he

seized　her　hand；　and　thus　attracted　her　notice；　then；　with　a　sudden

tremor；　she　looked　from　the　picture　to　the　face　of　the　original。

　　　〃Do　you　see　no　change　in　your　portrait？〃　asked　she。

　　　〃In　mine？　None！〃　replied　Walter；　examining　it。　〃But　let　me　see！

Yes；　there　is　a　slight　change…　an　improvement；　I　think；　in　the

picture；　though　none　in　the　likeness。　It　has　a　livelier　expression

than　yesterday；　as　if　some　bright　thought　were　flashing　from　the　eyes；

and　about　to　be　uttered　from　the　lips。　Now　that　I　have　caught　the

look；　it　becomes　very　decided。〃

　　　While　he　was　intent　on　these　observations；　Elinor　turned　to　the

painter。　She　regarded　him　with　grief　and　awe；　and　felt　that　he

repaid　her　with　sympathy　and　commiseration；　though　wherefore；　she

could　but　vaguely　guess。

　　　〃That　look！〃　whispered　she；　and　shuddered。　〃How　came　it　there？〃

　　　〃Madam；〃　said　the　painter；　sadly；　taking　her　hand；　and　leading

her　apart；　〃in　both　these　pictures；　I　have　painted　what　I　saw。　The

artist…　the　true　artist…　must　look　beneath　the　exterior。　It　is　his

gift…　his　proudest；　but　often　a　melancholy　one…　to　see　the　inmost

soul；　and；　by　a　power　indefinable　even　to　himself；　to　make　it　glow

or　darken　upon　the　canvas；　in　glances　that　express　the　thought　and

sentiment　of　years。　Would　that　I　might　convince　myself　of　error　in　the

present　instance！〃

　　　They　had　now　approached　the　table；　on　which　were　heads　in　chalk；

hands　almost　as　expressive　as　ordinary　faces；　ivied　church　towers；

thatched　cottages；　old　thunder…stricken　trees；　Oriental　and　antique

costume；　and　all　such　picturesque　vagaries　of　an　artist's　idle

moments。　Turning　them　over；　with　seeming　carelessness；　a　crayon　sketch

of　two　figures　was　disclosed。

　　　〃If　I　have　failed；〃　continued　he；　〃if　your　heart　does　not　see

itself　reflected　in　your　own　portrait…　if　you　have　no　secret　cause

to　trust　my　delineation　of　the　other…　it　is　not　yet　too　late　to

alter　them。　I　might　change　the　action　of　these　figures　too。　But

would　it　influence　the　event？〃

　　　He　directed　her　notice　to　the　sketch。　A　thrill　ran　through　Elinor's

frame；　a　shriek　was　upon　her　lips；　but　she　stifled　it；　with　the

self…command　that　becomes　habitual　to　all　who　hide　thoughts　of　fear

and　anguish　within　their　bosoms。　Turning　from　the　table；　she　perceived

that　Walter　had　advanced　near　enough　to　have　seen　the　sketch；　though

she　could　not　determine　whether　it　had　caught　his　eye。

　　　〃We　will　not　have　the　pictures　altered；〃　said　she；　hastily。　〃If

mine　is　sad；　I　shall　but　look　the　gayer　for　the　contrast。〃

　　　〃Be　it　so；〃　answered　the　painter；　bowing。　〃May　your　griefs　be

such　fanciful　ones　that　only　your　picture　may　mourn　for　them！　For　your

joys…　may　they　be　true　and　deep；　and　paint　themselves　upon　this　lovely

face　till　it　quite　belie　my　art！〃

　　　After　the　marriage　of　Walter　and　Elinor；　the　pictures　formed　the

two　most　splendid　ornaments　of　their　abode。　They　hung　side　by　side；

separated　by　a　narrow　panel；　appearing　to　eye　each　other　constantly；

yet　always　returning　the　gaze　of　the　spectator。　Travelled　gentlemen；

who　professed　a　knowledge　of　such　subjects；　reckoned　these　among　the

most　admirable　specimens　of　modern　portraiture；　while　common　observers

compared　them　with　the　originals；　feature　by　feature；　and　were

rapturous　in　praise　of　the　likeness。　But　it　was　on　a　third　class…

neither　travelled　connoisseurs　nor　common　observers；　but　people　of

natural　sensibility…　that　the　pictures　wrought　their　strongest　effect。

Such　persons　might　gaze　carelessly　at　first；　but；　becoming　interested；

would　return　day　after　day；　and　study　these　painted　faces　like　the

pages　of　a　mystic　volume。　Walter　Ludlow's　portrait　attracted　their

earliest　notice。　In　the　abs