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！
jealous and chary was he of anything pertaining to the appreciation
of this beloved sister。
But if it had been to spend an evening at the dentist's； I believe I
should have welcomed the invitation； so weary was I of the monotony
of the nights in our lodgings； and as for Miss Duncan； an invitation
to tea was of itself a pure and unmixed honour； and one to be
accepted with all becoming form and gratitude： so Mr。 Dawson's sharp
glances over his spectacles failed to detect anything but the truest
pleasure； and he went on。
〃You'll find it very dull； I dare say。 Only a few old fogies like
myself； and one or two good sweet young women： I never know who'll
come。 Margaret is obliged to lie in a darkened roomonly half…
lighted I mean；because her eyes are weak；oh； it will be very
stupid； I dare say： don't thank me till you've been once and tried
it； and then if you like it； your best thanks will be to come again
every Monday； from half…past seven to nine； you know。 Good…bye；
good…bye。〃
Hitherto I had never been out to a party of grown…up people； and no
court ball to a London young lady could seem more redolent of honour
and pleasure than this Monday evening to me。
Dressed out in new stiff book…muslin； made up to my throat；a frock
which had seemed to me and my sisters the height of earthly grandeur
and fineryAlice； our old nurse； had been making it at home； in
contemplation of the possibility of such an event during my stay in
Edinburgh； but which had then appeared to me a robe too lovely and
angelic to be ever worn short of heavenI went with Miss Duncan to
Mr。 Dawson's at the appointed time。 We entered through one small
lofty room； perhaps I ought to call it an antechamber； for the house
was old…fashioned； and stately and grand； the large square drawing…
room； into the centre of which Mrs。 Dawson's sofa was drawn。 Behind
her a little was placed a table with a great cluster candlestick upon
it； bearing seven or eight wax…lights； and that was all the light in
the room； which looked to me very vast and indistinct after our
pinched…up apartment at the Mackenzie's。 Mrs。 Dawson must have been
sixty； and yet her face looked very soft and smooth and child…like。
Her hair was quite gray： it would have looked white but for the
snowiness of her cap； and satin ribbon。 She was wrapped in a kind of
dressing…gown of French grey merino： the furniture of the room was
deep rose…colour； and white and gold；the paper which covered the
walls was Indian； beginning low down with a profusion of tropical
leaves and birds and insects； and gradually diminishing in richness
of detail till at the top it ended in the most delicate tendrils and
most filmy insects。
Mr。 Dawson had acquired much riches in his profession； and his house
gave one this impression。 In the corners of the rooms were great
jars of Eastern china； filled with flower…leaves and spices； and in
the middle of all this was placed the sofa； which poor Margaret
Dawson passed whole days； and months； and years； without the power of
moving by herself。 By…and…by Mrs。 Dawson's maid brought in tea and
macaroons for us； and a little cup of milk and water and a biscuit
for her。 Then the door opened。 We had come very early； and in came
Edinburgh professors； Edinburgh beauties； and celebrities； all on
their way to some other gayer and later party； but coming first to
see Mrs。 Dawson； and tell her their bon…mots； or their interests； or
their plans。 By each learned man； by each lovely girl； she was
treated as a dear friend； who knew something more about their own
individual selves； independent of their reputation and general
society…character； than any one else。
It was very brilliant and very dazzling； and gave enough to think
about and wonder about for many days。
Monday after Monday we went； stationary； silent； what could we find
to say to any one but Mrs。 Margaret herself？ Winter passed； summer
was coming； still I was ailing； and weary of my life； but still Mr。
Dawson gave hopes of my ultimate recovery。 My father and mother came
and went； but they could not stay long； they had so many claims upon
them。 Mrs。 Margaret Dawson had become my dear friend； although；
perhaps； I had never exchanged as many words with her as I had with
Miss Mackenzie； but then with Mrs。 Dawson every word was a pearl or a
diamond。
People began to drop off from Edinburgh； only a few were left； and I
am not sure if our Monday evenings were not all the pleasanter。
There was Mr。 Sperano； the Italian exile； banished even from France；
where he had long resided； and now teaching Italian with meek
diligence in the northern city； there was Mr。 Preston； the
Westmoreland squire； or； as he preferred to be called； statesman；
whose wife had come to Edinburgh for the education of their numerous
family； and who； whenever her husband had come over on one of his
occasional visits； was only too glad to accompany him to Mrs。
Dawson's Monday evenings； he and the invalid lady having been friends
from long ago。 These and ourselves kept steady visitors； and enjoyed
ourselves all the more from having the more of Mrs。 Dawson's society。
One evening I had brought the little stool close to her sofa； and was
caressing her thin white hand； when the thought came into my head and
out I spoke it。
〃Tell me； dear Mrs。 Dawson；〃 said I； 〃how long you have been in
Edinburgh； you do not speak Scotch； and Mr。 Dawson says he is not
Scotch。〃
〃No； I am LancashireLiverpool…born；〃 said she； smiling。 〃Don't you
hear it in my broad tongue？〃
〃I hear something different to other people； but I like it because it
is just you； is that Lancashire？〃
〃I dare say it is； for； though I am sure Lady Ludlow took pains
enough to correct me in my younger days； I never could get rightly
over the accent。〃
〃Lady Ludlow；〃 said I； 〃what had she to do with you？ I heard you
talking about her to Lady Madeline Stuart the first evening I ever
came here； you and she seemed so fond of Lady Ludlow； who is she？〃
〃She is dead； my child； dead long ago。〃
I felt sorry I had spoken about her； Mrs。 Dawson looked so grave and
sad。 I suppose she perceived my sorrow； for she went on and said
〃My dear； I like to talk and to think of Lady Ludlow： she was my
true； kind friend and benefactress for many years； ask me what you
like about her； and do not think you give me pain。〃
I grew bold at this。
〃Will you tell me all about her； then； please； Mrs。 Dawson？〃
〃Nay；〃 said she； smiling； 〃that would be too long a story。 Here are
Signor Sperano； and Miss Duncan； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Preston are coming
to…night； Mr。 Preston told me； how would they like to hear an old…
world story which； after all； would be no story at all； neither
beginning； nor middle； nor end； only a bundle of recollections？〃
〃If you speak of me； madame；〃 said Signor Sperano； 〃I can only say
you do me one great honour by recounting in my pres