CHAPTER 9

  CharityinFullDress

  THEculminationofMaggiescareerasanadmiredmemberofsocietyinStOggswascertainlythedayoftheBazaar,whenhersimplenoblebeauty,cladinawhitemuslinofsomesoft-floatingkind,whichIsuspectmusthaveefromthestoresofauntPulletswardrobe,appearedwithmarkeddistinongthemoreadornedandventionalwomenaroundher.Weperhapseuchofoursocialdemeanourismadeupofartificialairs,untilweseeapersonwhoisatoifulandsimple:withoutthebeautyttocallsimplicityawkwardheMissGuestsweremuchtoowell-bredtohaveanyofthegrimadaffectedtohatbelongtopretentiousvulgarity;buttheirstallbeiotheonewhereMaggiesat,itseemednewlyobvioustodaythatMissGuestheldhertoohigh,andthatMissLauraspokeandmovedtinuallywithaviewtoeffect.Allwell-drestStOggsanditsneighbourhoodwerethere,anditwouldhavebeenworthwhiletoeevenfromadistaoseethefineoldHall,withitsopenroofandcarvedoakenraftersaoakenfolding-doors,andlightsheddownfromaheightonthemany-colouredshowbeh-averyquaintplacewithbroadfadedstripespaihewallsandhereandthereashowofheraldiimalsofabristly,long-snoutedcharacter,thecherishedemblemsofanoblefamilyoheseigniorsofthisnowcivichall.Agrandarch,theupperwallatoneend,surmountedanoakenorchestraenroombehindit,wherehothouseplantsandstallsforrefreshmentsweredisposed-averyagreeableresortfentlemendisposedtoloiteraoexgetheoccasionalcrushdownbelowforamoreodiouspointofview.Infact,theperfectfitnessofthisabuildingforanadmirablemodernpurposethatmadecharitytrulyelegant,ahroughvanityuptothesupplyofadeficit,wassostrikingthathardlyapersoheroomwithoutexgingtheremarkmorethanonearthegreatarchovertheorchestrawasthestoneorielwithpaintedglasswhichwasohevenerableinsisteheoldHall;anditwasclosebythisthatLucyhadherstallforthevenienceofcertainlargeplainarticleswhichshehadtakenchargeofforMrsKenn.Maggiehadbeggedtositattheopenendofthestalltohavethesaleofthesearticlesratherthanofbeadmatsandotherelaborateproductsofwhichshehadbutadimuanding.Butitsoonappearedthatthegentlemensdressing-gowns,whichwereamongherodities,wereobjectsofsueralattentionandinquiryaedsotroublesomeacuriosityastotheirliningandparativemeritstogetherwithadeterminatiohembytryingon,astomakeherpostaveryspicuousoheladieswhohadoditiesoftheirowntosell,anddidnotwantdressing-gowns,sawatohefrivolityandbadtasteofthismasepreferencefoodswhiytailorcouldfurnish;anditispossiblethattheemphatioticeofvariouskindswhichwasdrawntowardsMissTulliveronthispublicoccasionthrewaverystrongandunmistakablelightonhersubsequentdumanymindsthe.Notthatangeronatofspurydwellinthecelestialbreastsofcharitableladies,butrather,thattheerrorsofpersonswhohaveoncebeenmuchadmirednecessarilytakeadeepertingefromthemereforceoftrast,andalso,thattodayMaggiesspicuouspositionforthefirsttimemadeevideaincharacteristicswhichweresubsequentlyfelttohaveanexplanatorybearing.TherewassomethingratherboldinMissTulliversdirectgaze,andsomethingundefinablycoarseiyleofherbeauty,whichplacedher,intheopinionofallfemininejudges,farbelowhercousinMissDeane;fortheladiesofStOggshadnowpletelycededtoLucytheirhypotheticclaimsontheadmirationofMrStephe.

  AsfordearlittleLucyherself,herlatebenevolenttriumphabouttheMill,andalltheaffeateprojectsshewascherishingfieandPhilip,helpedtogiveherthehighestspiritstoday,anothingbutpleasureintheevidenaggiesattractiveness.Itistrue,shewaslookingverycharmingherself,andStephenayiheutmostattentiononthispublicoccasion-jealouslybuyingupthearticleshehadseenunderherfingersintheproaking,andgailyhelpiocajolethemaleersintothepurchaseofthemosteffemiilities.HechosetolayasidehishatandwearascarletFezofherembr,butbysuperficialobserversthiswasnecessarilyliabletobeinterpretedlessasaplimenttoLucythanasamarkofbry.`Guestisagreatb,youngTorryobserved,`butthenheisaprivilegedpersoninStOggs-hecarriesallbeforehim:ifanotherfellowdidsuchthings,everybodywouldsayhemadeafoolofhimself.(YoungTorryhadredhair.)

  AndStephenpurchasedabsolutelynothingfromMaggie,untilLucysaid,inratheravexeduone,

  `See,now;allthethingsofMaggiesknittingwillbegone,andyouwillnothaveboughtoherearethosedeliciouslysoftwarmthingsforthewrists-dobuythem.

  `Oh,no,saidStephen,`theymustbeintendedfinativepersonswhochillthemselvesonthiswarmdaybythinkingofthefrostyCaucasus.Sternreasonismyforte,youknow.YoumustgetPhiliptobuythose.Bytheway,whydoesnthee?

  `Heneverlikesgoiherearemanypeople,thoughIenjoinedhimtoe.Hesaidhewouldbuyupanyofmygoodsthattherestoftheworldrejected.Butnow,dogoandbuysomethingofMaggie.

  `No,no-see-shehasgotaer:thereisoldWakemhimselfjustingup.

  LucyseyesturhanxiousiowardsMaggie,toseehowshewentthroughthisfirstinterviewsinceasadlymemorabletimewithamantowardswhomshemusthaveseamixtureoffeelings,butsheleasedtonoticethatWakemhadtaoughtoeootalkaboutthebazaarwaresandappeariedinpurchasing,smilingnowandthenkindlyatMaggie,andnotcallingoospeakmuch,asifheobservedthatshewasratherpaleandtremulous.

  `Why,Wakemismakinghimselfparticularlyamiabletoyourcousin,saidStephen,inaooLucy.`Isitpuremagnanimity?Youtalkedofafamilyquarrel.

  `O,thatwillsooehealed,Ihope,saidLucy,beingalittleindiscreetiisfa,andspeakingwithanairofsignifice.ButStephendidnotappeartonoticethis,andassomelady-purchaserscameup,helouowardsMaggiesend,handlingtriflesandstandingaloofuntilWakem,whohadtakenouthispurse,hadfinishedhistransas.

  `Mysohme,heoverheardWakemsaying,`buthehasvaosomeotherpartofthebuilding,andhasleftallthesecharitablegallaome.Ihopeyoullreproachhimforhisshabbyduct.

  Shereturnedhissmileandbow,withoutspeaking,aurnedaway,onlythenStephenandnoddingtohim.Maggie,sciousthatStephenwasstillthere,busiedherselfwithtingmoney,andavoidedlookingup.ShehadbeenwellpleasedthathehaddevotedhimselftoLucytoday,andhadnotenearher.Theyhadbegunthemwithanindifferentsalutationandbothhadrejoibeingalooffromeachother,likeapatientwhohasactuallydohouthisopium,inspiteofformerfailuresinresolution.Anddurifewdaystheyhadevenbeenmakinguptheirmindstofailures,lookingtotheoutwardeventsthatmustsoooseparatethem,asareasonfordispensingwithself-questiail.

  Stepheepbystepasifhewerebeingunwillinglydragged,untilhehadgotroundtheopenendofthestallandwashalfhiddenbyasofdraperies.Maggiewentontinghermoillshesuddenlyheardadeepgentlevoicesaying,`Arentyouverytired?Doletmebringyousomething-somefruitorjelly-mayntI?

  Theuedtonesshookherlikeasuddenactalvibrationofaharpclosebyher.

  `Ono,thankyou,shesaid,faintly,andonlyhalflookingupforaninstant.

  `Youlooksopale,Stepheninsisted,inamoreeingtone.`Imsureyoureexhausted.Imustdisobeyyou,andbringsomething.

  `No,indeedIcouldnttakeit.

  `Areyouangrywithme?WhathaveIdone?Dolookatme.

  `Pray,goaway,saidMaggie,lookingathimhelplessly,hereyesglangimmediatelyformhimtotheoppositeeroftheorchestra,whichwashalfhiddenbythefoldsoftheoldfadedgreencurtain.Maggiehadnosooeredthisehanshewaswretchedattheadmissionitimplied,butStephenturnedawayatond,followingherupwardglance,hesawPhilipWakemseatedinthehalf-hiddener,sothathecouldandlittlemorethanthatahehallinwhichMaggiesat.AirelyhoughtoccurredtoStephen,and,linkingitselfwithwhathehadobservedofWakemsmanner,andwithLucysreplytohisobservation,itvincedhimthattherehadbeensomeformerrelatioweenPhilipandMaggiebeyondthatchildishoneofwhichhehadheard.Morethanoneimpulsemadehimimmediatelyleavethehall,andgoupstairstotherefreshmentroom,where,walkinguptoPhilip,hesatdownbehindhim,andputhishandonhisshoulder.

  `Areyoustudyingforaportrait,Phil,hesaid,`orforasketchofthatorielwindow?ByGee,itmakesacapitalbitfromthisdarker,withthecurtainjustmarkingitoff.

  `Ihavebeenstudyingexpression,saidPhilipcurtly.

  `What,MissTullivers?Itsratherofthesavage-moodyordertoday,Ithink-somethingofthefallenprincessservingbehindater.Hercousimetoherwithacivilethersomerefreshment,butIhavebeensnubbed,asusual.Theresanaturalantipathybetweenus,Isuppose-Ihaveseldomthehonourtopleaseher.

  `ocriteyouare!saidPhilip,flushingangrily.

  `What,becauseexperiehavetoldmethatImuniversallypleasing?Iadmitthelaw,buttheressomedisturbingforcehere.

  `Iamgoing,saidPhilip,risingabruptly.

  `SoamI-togetabreathoffreshair;thisplacegetsoppressive.IthinkIhavedoandservigenough.

  Thetwofriendswalkeddownstairstogetherwithoutspeaking.Philipturhroughtheouterdoorintothechurchyard,butStephen,saying,`Obytheby,Imustcallinhere,wentonalongthepassagetooheroomsattheotherendofthebuilding,whichropriatedtothetownlibrary.Hehadtheroomalltohimselfandamanrequiresnothihanthis,whestodashhisthetable,throwhimselfastrideachairandstareatahighbrickwallwithafrownwhichwouldnothavebeeheoccasionifhehadbeenslayingtheGiantPython.Theductthatissuesfromamoralflicthasoftensoclosearesemblaovice,thatthedistinescapesalloutwardjudgments,foundedonamereparisonofas.Itiscleartoyou,Ihope,thatStephenwasnotahypocrite-capableofdeliberatedoublenessforaselfishend;ahisfluctuatioweentheindulgenceofafeelingaematicealmentofitmighthavemadeagoodcaseinsupportofPhilipsaccusation.

  Meanwhile,Maggiesateatherstallcoldandtrembling,withthatpainfulsensationintheeyeswhiesfromresolutelyrepressedtears.Washerlifetobealwayslikethis?-alwaysbringingsomenewsourceofinwardstrife?Sheheardfusedlythebusyindifferentvoicesaroundherandwishedhermindcouldflowintothateasy,babblingcurrent.ItwasatthismomentthatDrKenn,whohadquitelatelyeintothehall,andwasnowwalkingdownthemiddlewithhishandsbehindhim,takingageneralview,fixedhiseyesonMaggieforthefirsttime,andwasstruckwiththeexpressionofpainonherbeautifulface.Shewassittingquitestill,forthestreamofershadlessehislatehouriernoolemenhadchieflychosenthemiddleoftheday,andMaggiesstallwaslookingratherbare.This,withherabsent,painedexpression,fihetrastbetweenherandherpanions,whowereallbright,eagerandbusy.Hewasstronglyarrested.HerfacehadnaturallydrawnhisattentionasanewandstrikichurdhehadbeenintroducedtoherduringashortcallonbusiMrDeanes,buthehadneverspokehanthreewordstoher.Hewalkedtowardshernow,andMaggie,perceivingsomeoneapproag,rousedherselftolookupandbepreparedtospeak.Shefeltachild-like,instinctiverelieffromthesenseofuneasinessinthisexertion,whenshesawitwasDrKennsfacethatwaslookingather:-thatplain,middle-agedface,withagrave,peingkindnessinit,seemingtotellofahumanbeingwhohadreachedafirm,safestrand,butwaslookingwithhelpfulpitytowardsthestrugglersstilltossedbythewaves,hadaonMaggieatthatmomentwhichwasafterwardsrememberedbyherasifithadbeenapromise.Themiddle-aged,whohavelivedthroughtheirstroemotions,butareyetiimewhenmemoryisstillhalfpassionateandnotmerelyplative,shouldsurelybeasortofnaturalpriesthoodwhomlifehasdisciplinedandsecratedtobetherefugeandrescueofearlystumblersandvictimsofself-despair:mostofusatsomemomentinouryounglives,wouldhaveweledapriestofthatnaturalorderinanysortoficalsorunicals,buthadtoscrambleupwardsintoallthedifficultiesofeeirelywithoutsuchaid,asMaggiedid.

  `Youfindyourofficeratherafatiguingone,Ifear,MissTulliver?saidDrKenn.

  `Itis,rather,saidMaggie,simply,notbeingacedtosimperamiabledenialsofobviousfacts.

  `ButItellMrsKennthatyouhavedisposedoodsveryquickly,headded.`Shewillbeverymuchobligedtoyou.

  `OIhavedohing:thegentlemencameveryfasttobuythedressing-gownsandembroideredwaistcoatsbutIthinkanyoftheotherladieswouldhavesoldmore:Ididntknowwhattosayaboutthem.

  DrKennsmiled.`IhopeImgoingtohaveyouasapermaparishionernow,MissTulliver-amI?Youhavebeenatadistanushitherto.

  `Ihavebeenateacherinaschool,andImgoingintoauationofthesamekindverysoon.

  `Ah?Iingyouwouldremainamongyourfriendswhoareallinthisneighbourhood,Ibelieve.

  `OImustgo,saidMaggie,early,lookingatDrKennressionofreliance,asifshehadtoldhimherhistoryinthosethreewords.Itwasohosemomentsofimplicitrevelationwhichwillsometimeshappeweenpeoplewhomeetquitetraly-onamilesjourney,perhaps,orwheingbythewayside.Thereisalwaysthispossibilityofawordorlookfromastraokeepalivethesenseofhumanbrotherhood.

  DrKennsearaookinallthesignsthatthisbrieffidenaggieswaschargedwithmeaning.

  `Iuand,hesaid;`youfeelitrighttogo.Butthatwillnotpreventourmeetingagain,Ihope-itwillnotpreventmyknowingyoubetter,ifIbeofanyservicetoyou.

  Heputouthishandandpressedherskindly,beforeheturnedaway.

  `Shehassometroubleorotheratheart,hethought.`Poorchild!shelooksasifshemightturnouttobeoneof

  `Thesoulsbynaturepitchdtoohigh,Bysufferingplungdtoolow.

  Theressomethingwonderfullyhointhosebeautifuleyes.

  ItmaybesurprisingthatMaggie,amongwhosemanyimperfesanexcessivedelightinadmirationandaowledgedsupremacywerenotabsentnow,anymorethanwhenshewasinstrugthegypsieswithaviewtowardsachievingaroyalpositionamongthem,wasnotmoreelatedonadaywhenshehadhadthetributeofsomanylooksandsmiles,togetherwiththatsatisfactorysciousnesswhichhadnecessarilyefrombeingtakenbeforeLucyschevalglassandmadetolookatthefulllengthofhertallbeauty,edbythenightofhermassyhair.Maggiehadsmiledatherselfthen,andforthemomenthadfottehinginthesenseofherowy.Ifthatstateofmindcouldhavelasted,herchoicewouldhavebeentohaveStepheherfeet,heralifefilledwithallluxuries,withdailyinseofadorationnearanddistant,ossibilitiesofcultureatherand.Buttherewerethingsirohanvanity-passion,andaffe,andlongdeepmemoriesofearlydisciplineandeffort,ofearlyclaimsonherloveandpity;areamofvanitywassooalongandmingledimperceptiblywiththatwidercurrentwhichwasatitshighestforcetoday,uhedoubleurgencyoftheeventsandinwardimpulsesbroughtbythelastweek.

  Philiphadnotspokentoherhimselfabouttheremovalofobstaclesbetweenthemonhisfathersside-heshrankfromthat-buthehadtoldeverythingtoLucy,withthehopethatMaggie,beinginformedthroughher,mightgivehimsomeencingsignthattheirbeingbroughtthusmuearertoeachotherioher.TherushoffligfeelingswastoogreatfietosaymuchwhenLucywithafacebreathingplayfuljoy,likeoneioscherubs,pouredforthhertriumphantrevelation,andLucycouldhardlybesurprisedthatshecoulddolittlemorethancrywithgladthethoughtofherfatherswishbeingfulfilledandofTomsgettingtheMillagaininrewardforallhishardstriving.ThedetailsofpreparationforthebazaarhadtheousurpLucysattentionforthefewdays,andnothinghadbeensaidbythecousinsonsubjectsthatwerelikelytorousedeeperfeelings.PhiliphadbeentothehousemorethaMaggiehadhadnoprivateversationwithhim,andthusshehadbeeofightherinwardbattlewithoutinterference.

  Butwhenthebazaarwasfairlyended,andthecousinswerealoneagaiingtogetherathome,Lucysaid,

  `YoumustgiveupgoingtostaywithyourauntMossthedayaftertomorrow,Maggie:writeaoher,andtellheryouhaveputitoffatmyrequestandIllsendthemanwithit.Shewontbedispleased-youllhaveplentyoftimetogobyandby.AndIdontwantyoutogooutofthewayjustnow.

  `Yes,indeedImustgo,dear-Itputitoff.IwouldntleaveauntGrittyoutfortheworld.AndIshallhaveverylittletime,foingawaytoauationowentyfifthofJune.

  `Maggie!saidLucy,almostwhitewithastonishment.

  `Ididnttellyou,dear,saidMaggie,makingagreatefforttoandherself,`becauseyouvebeensobusy.Butsometimeago,Iwrotetoverness,MissFirniss,toaskhertoletmeknowifshemetwithanysituationthatIcouldfill,aherdayIhadaletterfromhertelliIcouldtakethreeorphanpupilsofherstothecoastduringtheholidaysandtherialofasituationwithherasteacher.Iwroteyesterdaytoaccepttheoffer.

  Lucyfeltsohurtthatforsomemomentsshewasuospeak.

  `Maggie,shesaidatlast,`howcouldyoubesounkindtome-nottotellme-totakesuchastep-andnow!Shehesitatedalittle,andthenadded-`AndPhilip?Ithoughteverythingwasgoingtobesohappy.OMaggie-whatisthereason?Giveitup-letmewrite.ThereisnothingnowtokeepyouandPhilipapart.

  `Yes,saidMaggie,faintly.`ThereisTomsfeeling.HesaidImustgivehimup,ifImarriedPhilip.AndIknowhewillnotge-atleastnotforalongwhile-unlesssomethinghappeosoftenhim.

  `ButIwilltalktohim-hesingbackthisweek.AndthisgoodnewsabouttheMillwillsoftenhim.AndIlltalktohimaboutPhilip.Tomsalwaysveryplianttome-Idontthinkhessoobstinate.

  `ButImustgo,saidMaggie,inadistressedvoice.`Imustleavesometimetopass.Dontpressmetostay,dearLucy.

  Lucywassilentfortwoorthreeminutes,lookingawayandruminating.Atlengthshekdownbyhercousinandlookingupinherfacewithanxiousseriousness,said--

  `Maggie,isitthatyoudontlovePhilipwellenoughtomarryhim?-tellme-trustme.

  MaggieheldLucyshandstightlyinsiletlewhile.Herownshandswerequitecold.Butwhenshespoke,hervoicewasquietlyclearanddistinct.

  `Yes,Lucy-Iwouldchoosetomarryhim.Ithinkitwouldbethebestandhighestlotforme-tomakehislifehappy.Helovedmefirst.Nooneelsecouldbequitewhatheistome.ButItdividemyselffrommybrotherforlife.Imustgoaway,andraydoomeagainaboutit.

  Lucyobeyedinpainandwohewordshesaidwas,

  `Well,dearMaggie,atleastyouwillgotothedaParkHousetomorrow,andhavesomemusidbrightness,beforeyougotopaythesedull,dutifulvisits.Ah!hereeauntyaea.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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