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！
The Queen of Hearts
by Wilkie Collins
LETTER OF DEDICATION。
…
TO
EMILE FORGUES。
…
AT a time when French readers were altogether unaware of the
existence of any books of my writing； a critical examination of
my novels appeared under your signature in the _Revue des Deux
Moudes_。 I read that article； at the time of its appearance； with
sincere pleasure and sincere gratitude to the writer； and I have
honestly done my best to profit by it ever since。
At a later period； when arrangements were made for the
publication of my novels in Paris； you kindly undertook； at some
sacrifice of your own convenience； to give the first of the
series〃The Dead Secret〃the great advantage of being rendered
into French by your pen。 Your excellent translation of 〃The
Lighthouse〃 had already taught me how to appreciate the value of
your assistance； and when 〃The Dead Secret〃 appeared in its
French form； although I was sensibly gratified； I was by no means
surprised to find my fortunate work of fiction； not translated；
in the mechanical sense of the word； but transformed from a novel
that I had written in my language to a novel that you might have
written in yours。
I am now about to ask you to confer one more literary obligation
on me by accepting the dedication of this book； as the earliest
acknowledgment which it has been in my power to make of the debt
I owe to my critic； to my translator； and to my friend。
The stories which form the principal contents of the following
pages are all； more or less； exercises in that art which I have
now studied anxiously for some years； and which I still hope to
cultivate； to better and better purpose； for many more。 Allow me；
by inscribing the collection to you； to secure one reader for it
at the outset of its progress through the world of letters whose
capacity for seeing all a writer's defects may be matched by many
other critics； but whose rarer faculty of seeing all a writer's
merits is equaled by very few。
WILKIE COLLINS。
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS。
CHAPTER I。
OURSELVES。
WE were three quiet； lonely old men； and SHE was a lively；
handsome young woman； and we were at our wits' end what to do
with her。
A word about ourselves； first of alla necessary word； to
explain the singular situation of our fair young guest。
We are three brothers； and we live in a barbarous； dismal old
house called The Glen Tower。 Our place of abode stands in a
hilly； lonesome district of South Wales。 No such thing as a line
of railway runs anywhere near us。 No gentleman's seat is within
an easy drive of us。 We are at an unspeakably inconvenient
distance from a town； and the village to which we send for our
letters is three miles off。
My eldest brother； Owen； was brought up to the Church。 All the
prime of his life was passed in a populous London parish。 For
more years than I now like to reckon up； he worked unremittingly；
in defiance of failing health and adverse fortune； amid the
multitudinous misery of the London poor； and he would； in all
probability； have sacrificed his life to his duty long before the
present time if The Glen Tower had not come into his possession
through two unexpected deaths in the elder and richer branch of
our family。 This opening to him of a place of rest and refuge
saved his life。 No man ever drew breath who better deserved the
gifts of fortune； for no man； I sincerely believe； more tender of
others； more diffident of himself； more gentle； more generous；
and more simple…hearted than Owen； ever walked this earth。
My second brother； Morgan； started in life as a doctor； and
learned all that his profession could teach him at home and
abroad。 He realized a moderate independence by his practice；
beginning in one of our large northern towns and ending as a
physician in London； but； although he was well known and
appreciated among his brethren； he failed to gain that sort of
reputation with the public which elevates a man into the position
of a great doctor。 The ladies never liked him。 In the first
place； he was ugly （Morgan will excuse me for mentioning this）；
in the second place； he was an inveterate smoker； and he smelled
of tobacco when he felt languid pulses in elegant bedrooms； in
the third place； he was the most formidably outspoken teller of
the truth as regarded himself； his profession； and his patients；
that ever imperiled the social standing of the science of
medicine。 For these reasons； and for others which it is not
necessary to mention； he never pushed his way； as a doctor； into
the front ranks； and he never cared to do so。 About a year after
Owen came into possession of The Glen Tower； Morgan discovered
that he had saved as much money for his old age as a sensible man
could want； that he was tired of the active pursuitor； as he
termed it； of the dignified quackery of his profession； and that
it was only common charity to give his invalid brother a
companion who could physic him for nothing； and so prevent him
from getting rid of his money in the worst of all possible ways；
by wasting it on doctors' bills。 In a week after Morgan had
arrived at these conclusions； he was settled at The Glen Tower；
and from that time； opposite as their characters were； my two
elder brothers lived together in their lonely retreat； thoroughly
understanding； and； in their very different ways； heartily loving
one another。
Many years passed before I； the youngest of the threechristened
by the unmelodious name of Griffithfound my way； in my turn； to
the dreary old house； and the sheltering quiet of the Welsh
hills。 My career in life had led me away from my brothers； and
even now； when we are all united； I have still ties and interests
to connect me with the outer world which neither Owen nor Morgan
possess。
I was brought up to the Bar。 After my first year's study of the
law； I wearied of it； and strayed aside idly into the brighter
and more attractive paths of literature。 My occasional occupation
with my pen was varied by long traveling excursions in all parts
of the Continent； year by year my circle of gay friends and
acquaintances increased； and I bade fair to sink into the
condition of a wandering desultory man； without a fixed purpose
in life of any sort； when I was saved by what has saved many
another in my situationan attachment to a good and a sensible
woman。 By the time I had reached the age of thirty…five； I had
done what neither of my brothers had done before meI had
married。
As a single man； my own small independence； aided by what little
additions to it I could pick up with my pen； had been sufficient
for my wants； but with marriage and its responsibilities came the
necessity for serious exertion。 I returned to my neglected
studies； and grappled resolutely； this time； with the intricate
difficulties of the law。 I was called to the Bar。 My wife's
father aided me with his interest； and I started into practice
without difficulty and without delay。
For the next twenty years my married life was a scene of
happiness and prosperity； on which I now look back with a
grateful tenderness that no words of mine can express。 The memory
of my wife is busy at my heart while I think of those past times。
The forgotten tears rise in my eyes again； and trouble the course
of my pen while it traces these simple lines。
Let me pass rapidly over the one unspeakable misery of my life；
let me try to remember now； as I tried to remember then； that she
lived to see our only childour son； who was so good to her； who
is still so good to megrow up to manhood； that her head lay on
my bosom when she died； and that the last frail movement of her
hand in this world was the movement that brought it closer to her
boy's lips。
I bore the blowwith God's help I bore it； and bear it still。
But it struck me away forever from my hold on social life； from
the purposes and pursuits； the companions and the pleasures of
twenty years； which her presence had sanctioned and made dear to
me。 If my son George had desired to follow my profession； I
should still have struggled against myself； and have kept my
place in the world until I had seen h im prosperous and settled。
But his choice led him to the army； and before his mother's death
he had obtained his commission； and had entered on his path in
life。 No other responsibility remained to claim from me the
sacrifice of myself； my brothers had made my place ready for me
by their fireside； my heart yearned； in its desolation； for the
friends and companions of the old boyish days； my good； brave son
promised that no year should pass； as long as he was in England；
without his coming to cheer me； and so it happened that I； in my
turn； withdrew from the world； which had once been a bright and a
happy world to me； and retired to end my days； peacefully；
contentedly； and gratefully； as my brothers are ending theirs； in
the solitude of The Glen Tower。
How many years have passed since we have all three been united it
is not necessary to relate。 It will be more to the purpose if I
briefly record that we have never been separated since the day
which first saw us assembled together in our hillside retreat；
that we have never yet wearied of the