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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
little old romantic cities in the most frolicsome aesthetic way） she
liked their companion better than she had ever liked him before。 She
did him the justice to recognise that if he was not quite honest with
himself he was at least wholly honest with HER。 She reckoned up
everything he had been since he joined them； and put upon it all an
interpretation so favourable to his devotion that； catching herself
in the act of glossing over one or two episodes that had not struck
her at the time as disinterested she exclaimed； beneath her breath；
〃Look outyou're falling in love！〃 But if he liked correctness
wasn't he quite right？ Could any one possibly like it more than SHE
did？ And if he had protested against her throwing in her lot with
her mother； this was not because of the benefit conferred but because
of the injury received。 He exaggerated that injury； but this was the
privilege of a lover perfectly willing to be selfish on behalf of his
mistress。 He might have wanted her grandmother's money for her； but
if he had given her up on first discovering that she was throwing
away her chance of it （oh； this was HER doing too！） he had given up
her grandmother as much： not keeping well with the old woman； as
some men would have done； not waiting to see how the perverse
experiment would turn out and appeasing her； if it should promise
tolerably； with a view to future operations。 He had had a simple…
minded； evangelical； lurid view of what the girl he loved would find
herself in for。 She could see this nowshe could see it from his
present bewilderment and mystification； and she liked him and pitied
him； with the kindest smile； for the original naivete as well as for
the actual meekness。 No wonder he hadn't known what she was in for；
since he now didn't even know what he was in for himself。 Were there
not moments when he thought his companions almost unnaturally good；
almost suspiciously safe？ He had lost all power to verify that
sketch of their isolation and declassement to which she had treated
him on the great square at Milan。 The last thing he noticed was that
they were neglected； and he had never； for himself； had such an
impression of society。
It could scarcely be enhanced even by the apparition of a large；
fair； hot； red…haired young man； carrying a lady's fan in his hand；
who suddenly stood before their little party as； on the third evening
after their arrival in Venice； it partook of ices at one of the
tables before the celebrated Cafe Florian。 The lamplit Venetian dusk
appeared to have revealed them to this gentleman as he sat with other
friends at a neighbouring table； and he had sprung up； with
unsophisticated glee； to shake hands with Mrs。 Tramore and her
daughter。 Rose recalled him to her mother； who looked at first as
though she didn't remember him but presently bestowed a sufficiently
gracious smile on Mr。 Guy Mangler。 He gave with youthful candour the
history of his movements and indicated the whereabouts of his family：
he was with his mother and sisters； they had met the Bob Veseys； who
had taken Lord Whiteroy's yacht and were going to Constantinople。
His mother and the girls； poor things； were at the Grand Hotel； but
he was on the yacht with the Veseys； where they had Lord Whiteroy's
cook。 Wasn't the food in Venice filthy； and wouldn't they come and
look at the yacht？ She wasn't very fast； but she was awfully jolly。
His mother might have come if she would； but she wouldn't at first；
and now； when she wanted to； there were other people； who naturally
wouldn't turn out for her。 Mr。 Mangler sat down； he alluded with
artless resentment to the way； in July； the door of his friends had
been closed to him。 He was going to Constantinople； but he didn't
careif THEY were going anywhere； meanwhile his mother hoped awfully
they would look her up。
Lady Maresfield； if she had given her son any such message； which
Rose disbelieved； entertained her hope in a manner compatible with
her sitting for half an hour； surrounded by her little retinue；
without glancing in the direction of Mrs。 Tramore。 The girl；
however； was aware that this was not a good enough instance of their
humiliation； inasmuch as it was rather she who； on the occasion of
their last contact； had held off from Lady Maresfield。 She was a
little ashamed now of not having answered the note in which this
affable personage ignored her mother。 She couldn't help perceiving
indeed a dim movement on the part of some of the other members of the
group； she made out an attitude of observation in the high…plumed
head of Mrs。 Vaughan…Vesey。 Mrs。 Vesey； perhaps； might have been
looking at Captain Jay； for as this gentleman walked back to the
hotel with our young lady （they were at the 〃Britannia；〃 and young
Mangler； who clung to them； went in front with Mrs。 Tramore） he
revealed to Rose that he had some acquaintance with Lady Maresfield's
eldest daughter； though he didn't know and didn't particularly want
to know； her ladyship。 He expressed himself with more acerbity than
she had ever heard him use （Christian charity so generally governed
his speech） about the young donkey who had been prattling to them。
They separated at the door of the hotel。 Mrs。 Tramore had got rid of
Mr。 Mangler； and Bertram Jay was in other quarters。
〃If you know Mrs。 Vesey； why didn't you go and speak to her？ I'm
sure she saw you；〃 Rose said。
Captain Jay replied even more circumspectly than usual。 〃Because I
didn't want to leave you。〃
〃Well； you can go now； you're free；〃 Rose rejoined。
〃Thank you。 I shall never go again。〃
〃That won't be civil；〃 said Rose。
〃I don't care to be civil。 I don't like her。〃
〃Why don't you like her？〃
〃You ask too many questions。〃
〃I know I do；〃 the girl acknowledged。
Captain Jay had already shaken hands with her； but at this he put out
his hand again。 〃She's too worldly；〃 he murmured； while he held Rose
Tramore's a moment。
〃Ah； you dear！〃 Rose exclaimed almost audibly as； with her mother；
she turned away。
The next morning； upon the Grand Canal； the gondola of our three
friends encountered a stately barge which； though it contained
several persons； seemed pervaded mainly by one majestic presence。
During the instant the gondolas were passing each other it was
impossible either for Rose Tramore or for her companions not to
become conscious that this distinguished identity had markedly
inclined itselfa circumstance commemorated the next moment； almost
within earshot of the other boat； by the most spontaneous cry that
had issued for many a day from the lips of Mrs。 Tramore。 〃Fancy； my
dear； Lady Maresfield has bowed to us！〃
〃We ought to have returned it；〃 Rose answered； but she looked at
Bertram Jay； who was opposite to her。 He blushed； and she blushed；
and during this moment was born a deeper understanding than had yet
existed between these associated spirits。 It had something to do
with their going together that afternoon； without her mother； to look
at certain out…of…the…way pictures as to which Ruskin had inspired
her with a desire to see sincerely。 Mrs。 Tramore expressed the wish
to stay at home； and the motive of this