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a room with a view-第17章

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easier; the world be happier; if she could give and receive some

human love。 The impulse had come before to…day; but never so

strongly。 She knelt down by her cousin's side and took her in her

arms。



Miss Bartlett returned the embrace with tenderness and warmth。

But she was not a stupid woman; and she knew perfectly well that

Lucy did not love her; but needed her to love。 For it was in

ominous tones that she said; after a long pause:



〃Dearest Lucy; how will you ever forgive me?〃



Lucy was on her guard at once; knowing by bitter experience what

forgiving Miss Bartlett meant。 Her emotion relaxed; she modified

her embrace a little; and she said:



〃Charlotte dear; what do you mean? As if I have anything to

forgive!〃



〃You have a great deal; and I have a very great deal to forgive

myself; too。 I know well how much I vex you at every turn。〃



〃But no〃



Miss Bartlett assumed her favourite role; that of the prematurely

aged martyr。



〃Ah; but yes! I feel that our tour together is hardly the success

I had hoped。 I might have known it would not do。 You want some

one  younger and stronger and more in sympathy with you。 I am too

uninteresting and old…fashionedonly fit to pack and unpack your

things。〃



〃Please〃



〃My only consolation was that you found people more to your

taste; and were often able to leave me at home。 I had my own poor

ideas of what a lady ought to do; but I hope I did not inflict

them on you more than was necessary。 You had your own way about

these rooms; at all events。〃



〃You mustn't say these things;〃 said Lucy softly。



She still clung to the hope that she and Charlotte loved each

other; heart and soul。 They continued to pack in silence。



〃I have been a failure;〃 said Miss Bartlett; as she struggled

with the straps of Lucy's trunk instead of strapping her own。

〃Failed to make you happy; failed in my duty to your mother。 She

has been so generous to me; I shall never face her again after

this disaster。〃



〃But mother will understand。 It is not your fault; this trouble;

and it isn't a disaster either。〃



〃It is my fault; it is a disaster。 She will never forgive me; and

rightly。 Fur instance; what right had I to make friends with Miss

Lavish?〃



〃Every right。〃



〃When I was here for your sake? If I have vexed you it is equally

true that I have neglected you。 Your mother will see this as

clearly as I do; when you tell her。〃



Lucy; from a cowardly wish to improve the situation; said:



〃Why need mother hear of it?〃



〃But you tell her everything?〃



〃I suppose I do generally。〃



〃I dare not break your confidence。 There is something sacred in

it。 Unless you feel that it is a thing you could not tell her。〃



The girl would not be degraded to this。



〃Naturally I should have told her。 But in case she should blame

you in any way; I promise I will not; I am very willing not to。 I

will never speak of it either to her or to any one。〃



Her promise brought the long…drawn interview to a sudden close。

Miss Bartlett pecked her smartly on both cheeks; wished her

good…night; and sent her to her own room。



For a moment the original trouble was in the background。 George

would seem to have behaved like a cad throughout; perhaps that

was the view which one would take eventually。 At present she

neither acquitted nor condemned him; she did not pass judgment。

At the moment when she was about to judge him her cousin's voice

had intervened; and; ever since; it was Miss Bartlett who had

dominated; Miss Bartlett who; even now; could be heard sighing

into a crack in the partition wall; Miss Bartlett; who had really

been neither pliable nor humble nor inconsistent。 She had worked

like a great artist; for a timeindeed; for yearsshe had been

meaningless; but at the end there was presented to the girl the

complete picture of a cheerless; loveless world in which the

young rush to destruction until they learn bettera shamefaced

world of precautions and barriers which may avert evil; but which

do not seem to bring good; if we may judge from those who have

used them most。



Lucy was suffering from the most grievous wrong which this world

has yet discovered: diplomatic advantage had been taken of her

sincerity; of her craving for sympathy and love。 Such a wrong is

not easily forgotten。 Never again did she expose herself without

due consideration and precaution against rebuff。 And such a wrong

may react disastrously upon the soul。



The door…bell rang; and she started to the shutters。 Before she

reached them she hesitated; turned; and blew out the candle。 Thus

it was that; though she saw some one standing in the wet below;

he; though he looked up; did not see her。



To reach his room he had to go by hers。 She was still dressed。 It

struck her that she might slip into the passage and just say that

she would be gone before he was up; and that their extraordinary

intercourse was over。



Whether she would have dared to do this was never proved。 At the

critical moment Miss Bartlett opened her own door; and her voice

said:



〃I wish one word with you in the drawing…room; Mr。 Emerson;

please。〃



Soon their footsteps returned; and Miss Bartlett said:

〃Good…night; Mr。 Emerson。〃



His heavy; tired breathing was the only reply; the chaperon had

done her work。



Lucy cried aloud: 〃It isn't true。 It can't all be true。 I want

not to be muddled。 I want to grow older quickly。〃



Miss Bartlett tapped on the wall。



〃Go to bed at once; dear。 You need all the rest you can get。〃



In the morning they left for Rome。









Part Two





Chapter VIII: Medieval



The drawing…room curtains at Windy Corner had been pulled to

meet; for the carpet was new and deserved protection

from the August sun。 They were heavy curtains; reaching almost to

the ground; and the light that filtered through them was subdued

and varied。 A poetnone was presentmight have quoted; 〃Life

like a dome of many coloured glass;〃 or might have compared the

curtains to sluice…gates; lowered against the intolerable tides

of heaven。 Without was poured a sea of radiance; within; the

glory; though visible; was tempered to the capacities of man。



Two pleasant people sat in the room。 Onea boy of nineteenwas

studying a small manual of anatomy; and peering occasionally at a

bone which lay upon the piano。 From time to time he bounced in

his chair and puffed and groaned; for the day was hot and the

print small; and the human frame fearfully made; and his mother;

who was writing a letter; did continually read out to him what

she had written。 And continually did she rise from her seat and

part the curtains so that a rivulet of light fell across the

carpet; and make the remark that they were still there。



〃Where aren't they?〃 said the boy; who was Freddy; Lucy's

brother。 〃I tell you I'm getting fairly sick。〃



〃For goodness' sake go out of my drawing…room; then?〃 cried Mrs。

Honeychurch; who hoped to cure her children of slang by taking it

literally。



Freddy did not move or reply。



〃I think things are coming to a head;〃 she observed; rather

wanting her son's opinion on the situation if she could obtain it

without undue supplication。



〃Time they did。〃



〃I am glad that Cecil is asking her this once more。〃



〃It's his third go; isn't it?〃



〃Freddy I do call the way you talk unkind。〃



〃I didn't mean to be unkind。〃 Then he added: 〃But I do think Lucy

might have got this off her chest in Italy。 I don't know how

girls manage things; but she can't have said 'No' properly

before; or she wouldn't have to say it again now。 Over the whole

thingI can't explainI do feel so uncomfortable。〃



〃Do you indeed; dear? How interesting!〃



〃I feelnever mind。〃



He returned to his work。



〃Just listen to what I have written to Mrs。 Vyse。 I said: 'Dear

Mrs。 Vyse。'〃



〃Yes; mother; you told me。 A jolly good letter。〃



〃I said: 'Dear Mrs。 Vyse; Cecil has just asked my permission

about it; and I should be delighted; if Lucy wishes it。 But'〃

She stopped reading; 〃I was rather amused at Cecil asking my

permission at all。 He has always gone in for unconventionality;

and parents nowhere; and so forth。 When it comes to the point; he

can't get on without me。〃



〃Nor me。〃



〃You?〃



Freddy nodded。



〃What do you mean?〃



〃He asked me for my permission also。〃



She exclaimed: 〃How very odd of him!〃



〃Why so?〃 asked the son and heir。 〃Why shouldn't my permission be

asked?〃



〃What do you know about Lucy or girls or anything? What ever did

you say?〃



〃I said to Cecil; 'Take her or leave her; it's no business of

mine!'〃



〃What a helpful answer!〃 But her own answer; though more normal

in its wording; had been to the same effect。



〃The bother is this;〃 began Freddy。



Then he took up his work again; too shy to say wh
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