put yourself in his place-第56部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


r　twice　to　exchange　thoughts　with　him。　　Indeed；　in　the　course　of　the　two　hours；　she　gave　him　quite　a　lesson　how　to　speak　with　the　eyean　art　in　which　he　was　a　mere　child　compared　with　her。

She　conveyed　to　him　that　she　saw　his　mother　and　recognized　her；　and　also　she　hoped　to　know　her。

But　some　of　her　telegrams　puzzled　him。

When　the　gentlemen　came　up　after　dinner；　she　asked　him　if　he　would　not　present　her　to　his　mother。

〃Oh；　thank　you！〃　said　he；　naively；　and　introduced　them　to　each　other。

The　ladies　courtesied　with　grace；　but　a　certain　formality；　for　they　both　felt　the　importance　of　the　proceeding；　and　were　a　little　on　their　guard。

But　they　had　too　many　safe；　yet　interesting　topics；　to　be　very　long　at　a　loss。

〃I　should　have　known　you　by　your　picture；　Mrs。　Little。〃

〃Ah；　then　I　fear　it　must　be　faded　since　I　saw　it　last。〃

〃I　think　not。　　But　I　hope　you　will　soon　judge　for　yourself。〃

Mrs。　Little　shook　her　head。　　Then　she　said；　graciously；　〃I　hear　it　is　to　you　I　am　indebted　that　people　can　see　I　was　oncewhat　I　am　not　now。〃

Grace　smiled；　well　pleased。　　〃Ah；〃　said　she；　〃I　wish　you　could　have　seen　that　extraordinary　scene；　and　heard　dear　Mr。　Raby。　　Oh；　madam；　let　nothing　make　you　believe　you　have　no　place　in　his　great　heart！〃

〃Pray；　pray；　do　not　speak　of　that。　　This　is　no　place。　　How　could　I　bear　it？〃　and　Mrs。　Little　began　to　tremble。

Grace　apologized。　　〃How　indiscreet　I　am；　I　blurt　out　every　thing　that　is　in　my　heart。〃

〃And　so　do　I；〃　said　Henry；　coming　to　her　aid。

〃Ah；　YOU；〃　said　Grace；　a　little　saucily。

〃We　do　not　accept　you　for　our　pattern；　you　see。　　Pray　excuse　our　bad　taste；　Harry。〃

〃Oh；　excuse　ME；　Mrs。　Little。　　In　some　things　I　should　indeed　be　proud　if　I　could　imitate　him；　but　in　othersof　courseyou　know！〃

〃Yes；　I　know。　　My　dear；　there　is　your　friend　Mr。　Applethwaite。〃

〃I　see　him；〃　said　Henry；　carelessly。

〃Yes；　but　you　don't　see　every　thing；〃　said　Grace；　slyly。

〃Not　all　at　once；　like　you　ladies。　　Bother　my　friend　Applethwaite。　Well；　if　I　must；　I　must。　　Here　goesfrom　Paradise　to　Applethwaite。〃

He　went　off；　and　both　ladies　smiled；　and　one　blushed；　and；　to　cover　her　blush；　said；　〃it　is　not　every　son　that　has　the　grace　to　appreciate　his　mother　so。〃

Mrs。　Little　opened　her　eyes　at　first；　and　then　made　her　nearest　approach　to　a　laugh；　which　was　a　very　broad　smile；　displaying　all　her　white　teeth。　　〃That　is　a　turn　I　was　very　far　from　expecting；〃　said　she。

The　ice　was　now　broken；　and；　when　Henry　returned；　he　found　them　conversing　so　rapidly　and　so　charmingly；　that　he　could　do　little　more　than　listen。

At　last　Mr。　Carden　came　in　from　some　other　party；　and　carried　his　daughter　off；　and　the　bright　evening　came　too　soon　to　a　close；　but　a　great　point　had　been　gained：　Mrs。　Little　and　Grace　Carden　were　acquaintances　now；　and　cordially　disposed　to　be　friends。

The　next　time　these　lovers　met；　matters　did　not　go　quite　so　smoothly。　　It　was　a　large　party；　and　Mr。　Coventry　was　there。　　The　lady　of　the　house　was　a　friend　of　his；　and　assigned　Miss　Carden　to　him。　　He　took　her　down　to　dinner；　and　Henry　sat　a　long　way　off　but　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　table。

He　was　once　more　doomed　to　look　on　at　the　assiduities　of　his　rival；　and　it　spoiled　his　dinner　for　him。

But　he　was　beginning　to　learn　that　these　things　must　be　in　society；　and　his　mother；　on　the　other　side　of　the　table；　shrugged　her　shoulders　to　him；　and　conveyed　by　that　and　a　look　that　it　was　a　thing　to　make　light　of。

In　the　evening　the　rivals　came　into　contact。

Little；　being　now　near　her　he　loved；　was　in　high　spirits；　and　talked　freely　and　agreeably。　　He　made　quite　a　little　circle　round　him；　and　as　Grace　was　one　of　the　party；　and　cast　bright　and　approving　eyes　on　him；　it　stimulated　him　still　more；　and　he　became　quite　brilliant。

Then　Coventry；　who　was　smarting　with　jealousy；　set　himself　to　cool　all　this　down　by　a　subtle　cold　sort　of　jocoseness；　which；　without　being　downright　rude；　operates　on　conversation　of　the　higher　kind　like　frost　on　expanding　buds。　　It　had　its　effect；　and　Grace　chafed　secretly；　but　could　not　interfere。　　It　was　done　very　cleverly。　Henry　was　bitterly　annoyed；　but　his　mother；　who　saw　his　rising　ire　in　his　eye；　carried　him　off　to　see　a　flowering　cactus　in　a　hot…house　that　was　accessible　from　the　drawing…room。　　When　she　had　got　him　there；　she　soothed　him　and　lectured　him。　　〃You　are　not　a　match　for　that　man　in　these　petty　acts　of　annoyance；　to　which　a　true　gentleman　and　a　noble　rival　would　hardly　descend；　I　think；　at　all　events；　a　wise　one　would　not；　for；　believe　me；　Mr。　Coventry　will　gain　nothing　by　this。〃

〃Isn't　driving　us　off　the　field　something？　　Oh；　for　the　good　old　days　when　men　settled　these　things　in　five　minutes；　like　men；　the　girl　to　one；　and　the　grave　to　t'other。〃

〃Heaven　forbid　those　savage　days　should　ever　return。　　We　will　defeat　this　gentleman　quietly；　if　you　please。〃

〃How？〃

〃Well；　whenever　he　does　this　sort　of　thing；　hide　your　anger；　be　polite　and　dignified；　but　gradually　drop　the　conversation；　and　manage　to　convey　to　the　rest　that　it　is　useless　contending　against　a　wet　blanket。　　Why；　you　foolish　boy；　do　you　think　Grace　Carden　likes　him　any　the　better？　　Whilst　you　and　I　talk；　she　is　snubbing　him　finely。　　So　you　must　stay　here　with　me；　and　give　them　time　to　quarrel。　　There；　to　lessen　the　penance；　we　will　talk　about　her。　Last　time　we　met　her；　she　told　me　you　were　the　best…dressed　gentleman　in　the　room。〃

〃And　did　she　like　me　any　better　for　that？〃

〃Don't　you　be　ungracious；　dear。　　She　was　proud　of　you。　　It　gratified　her　that　you　should　look　well　in　every　way。　　Oh；　if　you　think　that　we　are　going　to　change　our　very　natures　for　you；　and　make　light　of　dresswhy　did　I　send　you　to　a　London　tailor？　and　why　am　I　always　at　you　about　your　gloves？〃

〃Mother；　I　am　on　thorns。〃

〃Well；　we　will　go　back。　　Stop；　let　me　take　a　peep　first。〃

She　took　a　peep；　and　reported；

〃The　little　circle　is　broken　up。　　Mr。　Coventry　could　not　amuse　them　as　you　did。　　Ah！　she　is　in　the　sulks；　and　he　is　mortified。　　I　know　there's　a　French　proverb　'Les　absens　ont　toujours　tort。'　　But　it　is　quite　untrue；　judicious　absence　is　a　weapon；　and　I　must　show　you　how　and　when　to　use　it。〃

〃Mother；　you　are　my　best　friend。　　What　shall　we　do　next？〃

〃Why；　go　back　to　the　room　with　me；　and　put　on　an　imperturbable　good　humor；　and　ignore　him；　only　mind　you　do　that　politely；　or　you　will　give　him　an　advantage　he　is　too　wise　to　give　you。〃

Henry　was　about　to　obey　these　orders；　but　Miss　Carden　took　the　word　out　of　his　mouth。

〃Well！　the　cactus？〃

Then；　as　it　is　not　easy　to　reply　to　a　question　so　vague；　Henry　hesitated。

〃There；　I　thought　so；〃　said　Grace。

〃What　did　you　think？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Little。

〃Oh；　people　don't　go　into　hot…houses　to　see　a　cactus；　they　go　to　flirt　or　else　gossip。　　I'll　tell　Mrs。　White　to　set　a　short…hand　writer　in　the　great　aloe；　next　party　she　gives。　　Confess；　Mrs。　Little；　you　went　to　criticise　poor　us；　and　there　is　no　cactus　at　all。〃

〃Miss　Carden；　I'm　affronted。　　You　shall　smart　for　this。　　Henry；　take　her　directly　and　show　her　the　cactus；　and　clear　your　mother's　character。〃

Henry　offered　his　arm　directly；　and　they　went　gayly　off。

〃Is　she　gone　to　flirt；　or　to　gossip？〃　asked　a　young　lady。

〃Our　watches　must　tell　us　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Little。　　〃If　they　stay　five　minutesgossip。〃

〃And　how　manyflirtation？〃

〃Ah；　my　dear；　YOU　know　better　than　I　do。　　What　do　you　say？　　Five…　and…twenty？〃

The　young　ladies　giggled。

Then　Mr。　Coventry　came　out　strong。　　He　was　mortified；　he　was　jealous；　he　saw　a　formidable　enemy　had　entered　the　field；　and　had　just　outwitted　and　out…maneuvered　him。　　So　what　does　he　do　but　step　up　to　her；　and　say　to　her；　with　the　most　respectful　grace；　〃May　I　be　permitted　to　welcome　you　back　to　this　part　of　the　world？　　I　am　afraid　I　can　not　exactly　claim　your　acquaintance；　but　I　have　often　heard　my　father　speak　of　you　with　the　highest　admiration。　　My　name　is　Coventry。〃

〃Mr。　Coventry；　of　Bollinghope？〃　　（He　bowed。）　　〃Yes；　I　had　the　pleasure　of　knowing　your　mother　in　former　days。〃

〃You；　have　deserted　us　too　long。〃

〃I　do　not　flatter　myself　I　have　been　missed。〃

〃Is　anybody　ever　missed；　Mrs。　Little？　　Believe　me；　few　persons　are　welcomed　back　so　cordially　as　you　are。〃

〃That　is　very　flattering；　Mr。　Coventry。　　It　is　for　my　son's　sake　I　have　returned　to　society。〃

〃No　doubt；　but　you　will　remain　there　for　your　own。　　Society　is　your　place。　　You　are　at　home　in　it；　and　were　born　to　shine　in　it。〃

〃What　makes　you　think　that；　pray？〃　and　the　widow's　cheek　flushed　a　little。

〃Oh；　Mrs。　Little；　I　have　seen　something　of　the　world。　　Count　me　amongst　your　most　respectful　admirers。　　It　is　a　sentiment　I　have　a　right　to；　since　I　inherit　it。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Coventry；　then　I　give　you　leave　to　admire　meif　you　can。　Ah；　here　they　come。　　Two　minutes！　　I　am　afraid　it　was　neither　gossip　nor　flirtation；　but　only　botany。〃

Grace　and　Henry　came　back；　looking　very　radiant。

〃What　do　you　think？〃　said　Grace；　〃I　never　was　more　surprised　in　my　life；　there　really　is　a　cactus；　and　a　night　cereus　into　the　bargain。　Mrs。　Little；　behold　a　penitent。　　I　bring　you　my　apology；　and　a　jardenia。〃

〃Oh；　how　sweet！　　Never　mind　the　apology。　　Quarrel　with　me　often；　and　bring　me　a　jardenia。　　I'll　always　make　it　up　on　those　terms。〃

〃Miss　White；〃　said　Grace；　pompously；　〃I　shall　require　a　few　dozen　cuttings　from　your　tree；　please　tell　the　gardener。　　Arrangements　are　such；　I　shall　have　to　grow　jardenias　on　a　scale　hitherto　unprecedented。〃

There　was　a　laugh；　and；　in　the；　middle　of　it；　a　servant　announced　Miss　Carden's　carriage。

〃What　attentive　servants　you　have；　Miss　White。　　I　requested　that　man　to　be　on　the　watch；　and；　if　I　said　a　good　thing；　to　announce　my　carriage　directly；　and　he　did　it　pat。　　Now　see　what　an　effective　exit　that　gives　me。　　Good…by；　Miss　White；　good…by；　Mrs。　Little；　may　you　all　disappear　as　neatly。〃

Mr。　Coventry　stepped　smartly　forward；　and　offered　her　his　arm　with　courteous　deference；　she　took　it；　and　went　down　with　him；　but　shot　over　his　shoulder　a　side…glance　of　reproach　at　Little；　for　not　being　so　prompt　as　his　rival。

〃What　spirits！〃　said　a　young　lady。

〃Yes；〃　said　another；　〃but　she　was　as　dull　as　the　grave　last　time　I　met　her。〃

So　ended　that　evening；　with　its　little　ups　and