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！
done already。 But the will had been duly signed and witnessed before the
American vice…consul； and she must get what good she could out of an
accomplished fact。 It was at least a consolation to know that it put an
end to her sister…in…law's patronage of the girl； and it would be
interesting to see Mrs。 Milray adapt her behavior to Clementina's
fortunes。 She did not really dislike her sister…in…law enough to do her
a wrong； she was only willing that she should do herself a wrong。
But one of the most disappointing things in all hostile operations is
that you never can know what the enemy would be at； and Mrs。 Milray's
manoevres were sometimes dictated by such impulses that her strategy was
peculiarly baffling。 The thought of her past unkindness to Clementina
may still have rankled in her； or she may simply have felt the need of
outdoing Miss Milray by an unapproachable benefaction。 It is certain
that when Baron Belsky came to Venice a few weeks after her own arrival；
they began to pose at each other with reference to Clementina； she with
a measure of consciousness； he with the singleness of a nature that was
all pose。 In his forbearance to win Clementina from Gregory he had
enjoyed the distinction of an unique suffering； and in allowing the fact
to impart itself to Mrs。 Milray； he bathed in the warmth of her
flattering sympathy。 Before she withdrew this； as she must when she got
tired of him； she learned from him where Gregory was； for it seemed that
Gregory had so far forgiven the past that they had again written to each
other。
During the fortnight of Belsky's stay in Venice Mrs。 Lander was much
worse； and Clementina met him only once； very briefly She felt that he
had behaved like a very silly person； but that was all over now； and she
had no wish to punish him for it。 At the end of his fortnight he went
northward into the Austrian Tyrol； and a few days later Gregory came down
from the Dolomites to Venice。
It was in his favor with Clementina that he yielded to the impulse he had
to come directly to her； and that he let her know with the first words
that he had acted upon hopes given him through Belsky from Mrs。 Milray。
He owned that he doubted the authority of either to give him these hopes；
but he said he could not abandon them without a last effort to see her；
and learn from her whether they were true or false。
If she recognized the design of a magnificent reparation in what Mrs。
Milray had done； she did not give it much thought。 Her mind was upon
distant things as she followed Gregory's explanation of his presence；
and in the muse in which she listened she seemed hardly to know when he
ceased speaking。
〃I know it must seem to take something for granted which I've no right to
take for granted。 I don't believe you could think that I cared for
anything but you； or at all for what Mrs。 Lander has done for you。〃
〃Do you mean her leaving me her money？〃 asked Clementina； with that
boldness her sex enjoys concerning matters of finance and affection。
〃Yes；〃 said Gregory； blushing for her。 〃As far as I should ever have a
right to care； I could wish there were no money。 It could bring no
blessing to our life。 We could do no good with it； nothing but the
sacrifice of ourselves in poverty could be blessed to us。〃
〃That is what I thought； too；〃 Clementina replied。
〃Oh； then you did think〃
But afterwards； I changed my Mind。 If she wants to give me her money I
shall take it。〃
Gregory was blankly silent again。
〃I shouldnt know how to refuse； and I don't know as I should have any
right to。 Gregory shrank a little from her reyankeefied English； as well
as from the apparent cynicism of her speech； but he shrank in silence
still。 She startled him by asking with a kindness that was almost
tenderness； 〃Mr。 Gregory； how do you think anything has changed？〃
〃Changed？〃
〃You know how it was when you went away from Florence。 Do you think
differently now？ I don't。 I don't think I ought to do something for
you； and pretend that I was doing it for religion。 I don't believe the
way you do； and I know I neva shall。 Do you want me in spite of my
saying that I can neva help you in your work because I believe in it？〃
〃But if you believe in me〃
She shook her bead compassionately。 〃You know we ahgued that out before。
We are just whe'e we were。 I am sorry。 Nobody had any right to tell you
to come he'e。 But I am glad you came〃 She saw the hope that lighted up
his face； but she went on unrelentingly 〃I think we had betta be free。〃
〃Free？〃
〃Yes； from each other。 I don't know how you have felt； but I have not
felt free。 It has seemed to me that I promised you something。 If I did；
I want to take my promise back and be free。〃
Her frankness appealed to his own。 〃You are free。 I never held you
bound to me in my fondest hopes。 You have always done right。〃
〃I have tried to。 And I am not going to let you go away thinking that
the reason I said is the only reason。 It isn't。 I wish to be free
becausethere is some one else； now。〃 It was hard to tell him this；
but she knew that she must not do less； and the train that carried him
from Venice that night bore a letter from her to Hinkle。
XXXIII。
Clementina told Miss Milray what had happened； but with Mrs。 Milray the
girl left the sudden departure of Gregory to account for itself。
They all went a week later； and Mrs。 Milray having now done her whole
duty to Clementina had the easiest mind concerning her。 Miss Milray felt
that she was leaving her to greater trials than ever with Mrs。 Lander；
but since there was nothing else； she submitted； as people always do with
the trials of others； and when she was once away she began to forget her。
By this time； however； it was really better for her。 With no one to
suspect of tampering with her allegiance； Mrs。 Lander returned to her
former fondness for the girl； and they were more peaceful if not happier
together again。 They had long talks； such as they used to have； and in
the first of these Clementina told her how and why she had written to
Mr。 Hinkle。 Mrs。 Lander said that it suited her exactly。
〃There ha'n't but just two men in Europe behaved like gentlemen to me；
and one is Mr。 Hinkle； and the other is that lo'd； and between the two I
ratha you'd have Mr。 Iiinkle； I don't know as I believe much in American
guls marryin' lo'ds； the best of 'em。〃
Clementina laughed。 〃Why； Mrs。 Landa； Lo'd Lioncou't never thought of me
in the wo'ld！〃
〃You can't eva know。 Mrs。 Milray was tellin' that he's what they call a
pooa lo'd； and that he was carryin' on with the American girls like
everything down there in Egypt last winta。 I guess if it comes to money
you'd have enough to buy him and sell him again。〃
The mention of money cast a chill upon their talk； and Mrs。 Lander said
gloomily； 〃I don't know as I ca'e so much for that will Mr。 Milray made
for me； after all。 I did want to say ten thousand apiece for Mr。 Landa's
relations； but I hated to befo'e him； I'd told the whole kit of 'em so
much about you； and I knew what they would think。〃
She looked at Clementina with recurring grudge； and the girl