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 Law and the Lady
by Wilkie Collins
NOTE：
ADDRESSED TO THE READER。
IN offering this book to you； I have no Preface to write。 I have
only to request that you will bear in mind certain established
truths； which occasionally escape your memory when you are
reading a work of fiction。 Be pleased； then； to remember （First）：
That the actions of human beings are not invariably governed by
the laws of pure reason。 （Secondly）： That we are by no means
always in the habit of bestowing our love on the objects which
are the most deserving of it； in the opinions of our friends。
（Thirdly and Lastly）： That Characters which may not have
appeared； and Events which may not have taken place； within the
limits of our own individual experience； may nevertheless be
perfectly natural Characters and perfectly probable Events； for
all that。 Having said these few words； I have said all that seems
to be necessary at the present time； in presenting my new Story
to your notice。
W。 C。
LONDON； February 1； 1875。
THE LAW AND THE LADY。
PART I。
PARADISE LOST。
CHAPTER I。
THE BRIDE'S MISTAKE。
〃FOR after this manner in the old time the holy women also who
trusted in God adorned themselves； being in subjection unto their
own husbands； even as Sarah obeyed Abraham； calling him lord；
whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well； and are not afraid
with any amazement。〃
Concluding the Marriage Service of the Church of England in those
well…known words； my uncle Starkweather shut up his book； and
looked at me across the altar rails with a hearty expression of
interest on his broad； red face。 At the same time my aunt； Mrs。
Starkweather； standing by my side； tapped me smartly on the
shoulder； and said；
〃Valeria； you are married！〃
Where were my thoughts？ What had become of my attention？ I was
too bewildered to know。 I started and looked at my new husband。
He seemed to be almost as much bewildered as I was。 The same
thought had； as I believe； occurred to us both at the same
moment。 Was it really possiblein spite of his mother's
opposition to our marriagethat we were Man and Wife？ My aunt
Starkweather settled the question by a second tap on my shoulder。
〃Take his arm！〃 she whispered； in the tone of a woman who had
lost all patience with me。
I took his arm。
〃Follow your uncle。〃
Holding fast by my husband's arm； I followed my uncle and the
curate who had assisted him at the marriage。
The two clergymen led us into the vestry。 The church was in one
of the dreary quarters of London； situated between the City and
the West End； the day was dull； the atmosphere was heavy and
damp。 We were a melancholy little wedding party； worthy of the
dreary neighborhood and the dull day。 No relatives or friends of
my husband's were present； his family； as I have already hinted；
disapproved of his marriage。 Except my uncle and my aunt； no
other relations appeared on my side。 I had lost both my parents；
and I had but few friends。 My dear father's faithful old clerk；
Benjamin； attended the wedding to 〃give me away；〃 as the phrase
is。 He had known me from a child； and； in my forlorn position； he
was as good as a father to me。
The last ceremony left to be performed was； as usual； the signing
of the marriage register。 In the confusion of the moment （and in
the absence of any information to guide me） I committed a
mistakeominous； in my aunt Starkweather's opinion； of evil to
come。 I signed my married instead of my maiden name。
〃What！〃 cried my uncle； in his loudest and cheeriest tones； 〃you
have forgotten your own name already？ Well； well！ let us hope you
will never repent parting with it so readily。 Try again；
Valeriatry again。〃
With trembling fingers I struck the pen through my first effort；
and wrote my maiden name； very badly indeed； as follows：
Valeria Brinton
When it came to my husband's turn I noticed； with surprise； that
his hand trembled too； and that he produced a very poor specimen
of his customary signature：
Eustace Woodville
My aunt； on being requested to sign； complied under protest。 〃A
bad beginning！〃 she said； pointing to my first unfortunate
signature with the feather end of her pen。 〃I hope； my dear； you
may not live to regret it。〃
Even then； in the days of my ignorance and my innocence； that
curious outbreak of my aunt's superstition produced a certain
uneasy sensation in my mind。 It was a consolation to me to feel
the reassuring pressure of my husband's hand。 It was an
indescribable relief to hear my uncle's hearty voice wishing me a
happy life at parting。 The good man had left his north…country
Vicarage （my home since the death of my parents） expressly to
read the service at my marriage； and he and my aunt had arranged
to return by the mid…day train。 He folded me in his great strong
arms； and he gave me a kiss which must certainly have been heard
by the idlers waiting for the bride and bridegroom outside the
church door。
〃I wish you health and happiness； my love； with all my heart。 You
are old enough to choose for yourself； andno offense； Mr。
Woodville； you and I are new friendsand I pray God； Valeria； it
may turn out that you have chosen well。 Our house will be dreary
enough without you； but I don't complain； my dear。 On the
contrary； if this change in your life makes you happier； I
rejoice。 Come； come！ don't cry； or you will set your aunt
offand it's no joke at her time of life。 Besides； crying will
spoil your beauty。 Dry your eyes and look in the glass there； and
you will see that I am right。 Good…by； childand God bless you！〃
He tucked my aunt under his arm； and hurried out。 My heart sank a
little； dearly as I loved my husband； when I had seen the last of
the true friend and protector of my maiden days。
The parting with old Benjamin came next。 〃I wish you well； my
dear； don't forget me；〃 was all he said。 But the old days at home
came back on me at those few words。 Benjamin always dined with us
on Sundays in my father's time； and always brought some little
present with him for his master's child。 I was very near to
〃spoiling my beauty〃 （as my uncle had put it） when I offered the
old man my cheek to kiss； and heard him sigh to himself； as if he
too were not quite hopeful about my future life。
My husband's voice roused me； and turned my mind to happier
thoughts。
〃Shall we go； Valeria？〃 he asked。
I stopped him on our way out to take advantage of my uncle's
advice； in other words； to see how I looked in the glass over the
vestry fireplace。
What does the glass show me？
The glass shows a tall and slender young woman of
three…and…twenty years of age。 She is not at all the sort of
person who attracts attention in the street； seeing that she
fails to exhibit the popular yellow hair and the popular painted
cheeks。 Her hair is black； dressed； in these later days （as it
was dressed years since to please her father）； in broad ripples
drawn back from the forehead； and gathered into a simple knot
behind （like the hair of the Venus de Medicis）； so as to show the
neck beneath。 Her complexion is pale： except in moments of
violent agitation there is no color to be seen in her face。 Her
eyes are of so dark a blue that they are generally mistaken for
black。 Her eyebrows are well enough in form； but they are too
dark and too strongly marked。 Her nose just inclines toward the
aquiline bend； and is considered a little too large by persons
difficult to please in the matter of noses。 The mouth； her best
feature； is very delicately shaped； and is capable of presenting
great varieties of expression。 As to the face in general； it is
too narrow and too long at the lower part； too broad and too low
in the higher regions of the eyes and the head。 The whole
picture； as reflected in the glass； represents a woman of some
elegance； rather too pale； and rather too sedate and serious in
her moments of silence and reposein short； a person who fails
to strike the ordinary observer at first sight； but who gains in
general estimation on a second； and sometimes on a third view。 As
for her dress； it studiously conceals； instead of proclaiming；
that she has been married that morning。 She wears a gray cashmere
tunic trimmed with gray silk； and having a skirt of the same
material and color beneath it。 On her head is a bonnet to match；
relieved by a quilling of white muslin with one deep red rose； as
a morsel of positive color； to complete the effect of the whole
dress。
Have I succeeded or failed in describing the picture of myself
which I see in the glass？ It is not for me to say。 I have done my
best to keep clear of the two vanitiesthe vanity of
depreciating and the vanity of praising my own personal
appearance。 For the rest； well written or badly written； thank
Heaven it is done！
And whom do I see in the glass standing by my side？
I see a man who is not quite so tall as I am； and who has the
misfortune of looking older than his years。 His forehead is
prematurely bald。 His big chestnut…colored beard and his long
overhanging mustache are prematurely streaked with gray。 He has
the color in the face which my face wants； and the firmness in
his figure which my figure wants。 He