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a room with a view-第19章

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tennis…lawn and the dahlia…bed; until they reached the kitchen

garden; and there; in the presence of the potatoes and the peas;

the great event would be discussed。



Smiling indulgently; he lit a cigarette; and rehearsed the events

that had led to such a happy conclusion。



He had known Lucy for several years; but only as a commonplace

girl who happened to be musical。 He could still remember his

depression that afternoon at Rome; when she and her terrible

cousin fell on him out of the blue; and demanded to be taken to

St。 Peter's。 That day she had seemed a typical touristshrill;

crude; and gaunt with travel。 But Italy worked some marvel in

her。 It gave her light; andwhich he held more preciousit gave

her shadow。 Soon he detected in her a wonderful reticence。 She

was like a woman of Leonardo da Vinci's; whom we love not so much

for herself as for the things that she will not tell us; The

things are assuredly not of this life; no woman of Leonardo's

could have anything so vulgar as a 〃story。〃 She did develop most

wonderfully day by day。



So it happened that from patronizing civility he had slowly

passed if not to passion; at least to a profound uneasiness。

Already at Rome he had hinted to her that they might be suitable

for each other。 It had touched him greatly that she had not

broken away at the suggestion。 Her refusal had been clear and

gentle; after itas the horrid phrase wentshe had been exactly

the same to him as before。 Three months later; on the margin of

Italy; among the flower…clad Alps; he had asked her again in

bald; traditional language。 She reminded him of a Leonardo more

than ever; her sunburnt features were shadowed by fantastic rock;

at his words she had turned and stood between him and the light

with immeasurable plains behind her。 He walked home with her

unashamed; feeling not at all like a rejected suitor。 The things

that really mattered were unshaken。



So now he had asked her once more; and; clear and gentle as ever;

she had accepted him; giving no coy reasons for her delay; but

simply saying that she loved him and would do her best to make

him happy。 His mother; too; would be pleased; she had counselled

the step; he must write her a long account。



Glancing at his hand; in case any of Freddy's chemicals had come

off on it; he moved to the writing table。 There he saw 〃Dear Mrs。

Vyse;〃 followed by many erasures。 He recoiled without reading any

more; and after a little hesitation sat down elsewhere; and

pencilled a note on his knee。



Then he lit another cigarette; which did not seem quite as divine

as the first; and considered what might be done to make Windy

Corner drawing…room more distinctive。 With that outlook it should

have been a successful room; but the trail of Tottenham Court

Road was upon it; he could almost visualize the motor…vans of

Messrs。 Shoolbred and Messrs。 Maple arriving at the door and

depositing this chair; those varnished book…cases; that

writing…table。 The table recalled Mrs。 Honeychurch's letter。 He

did not want to read that letterhis temptations never lay in

that direction; but he worried about it none the less。 It was his

own fault that she was discussing him with his mother; he had

wanted her support in his third attempt to win Lucy; he wanted to

feel that others; no matter who they were; agreed with him; and

so he had asked their permission。 Mrs。 Honeychurch had been

civil; but obtuse in essentials; while as for Freddy〃He is only

a boy;〃 he reflected。 〃I represent all that he despises。 Why

should he want me for a brother…in…law?〃



The Honeychurches were a worthy family; but he began to realize

that Lucy was of another clay; and perhapshe did not put it

very definitelyhe ought to introduce her into more congenial

circles as soon as possible。



〃Mr。 Beebe!〃 said the maid; and the new rector of Summer Street

was shown in; he had at once started on friendly relations; owing

to Lucy's praise of him in her letters from Florence。



Cecil greeted him rather critically。



〃I've come for tea; Mr。 Vyse。 Do you suppose that I shall get

it?〃



〃I should say so。 Food is the thing one does get hereDon't sit

in that chair; young Honeychurch has left a bone in it。〃



〃Pfui!〃



〃I know;〃 said Cecil。 〃I know。 I can't think why Mrs。 Honeychurch

allows it。〃



For Cecil considered the bone and the Maples' furniture

separately; he did not realize that; taken together; they kindled

the room into the life that he desired。



〃I've come for tea and for gossip。 Isn't this news?〃



〃News? I don't understand you;〃 said Cecil。 〃News?〃



Mr。 Beebe; whose news was of a very different nature; prattled

forward。



〃I met Sir Harry Otway as I came up; I have every reason to hope

that I am first in the field。 He has bought Cissie and Albert

from Mr。 Flack!〃



〃Has he indeed?〃 said Cecil; trying to recover himself。 Into what

a grotesque mistake had he fallen! Was it likely that a clergyman

and a gentleman would refer to his engagement in a manner so

flippant? But his stiffness remained; and; though he asked who

Cissie and Albert might be; he still thought Mr。 Beebe rather a

bounder。



〃Unpardonable question! To have stopped a week at Windy Corner

and not to have met Cissie and Albert; the semi…detached villas

that have been run up opposite the church! I'll set Mrs。

Honeychurch after you。〃



〃I'm shockingly stupid over local affairs;〃 said the young man

languidly。 〃I can't even remember the difference between a Parish

Council and a Local Government Board。 Perhaps there is no

difference; or perhaps those aren't the right names。 I only go

into the country to see my friends and to enjoy the scenery。 It

is very remiss of me。 Italy and London are the only places where

I don't feel to exist on sufferance。〃



Mr。 Beebe; distressed at this heavy reception of Cissie and

Albert; determined to shift the subject。



〃Let me see; Mr。 VyseI forgetwhat is your profession?〃



〃I have no profession;〃 said Cecil。 〃It is another example of my

decadence。 My attitude quite an indefensible oneis that so long

as I am no trouble to any one I have a right to do as I like。

I know I ought to be getting money out of people; or devoting

myself to things I don't care a straw about; but somehow; I've

not been able to begin。〃



〃You are very fortunate;〃 said Mr。 Beebe。 〃It is a wonderful

opportunity; the possession of leisure。〃



His voice was rather parochial; but he did not quite see his way

to answering naturally。 He felt; as all who have regular

occupation must feel; that others should have it also。



〃I am glad that you approve。 I daren't face the healthy person

for example; Freddy Honeychurch。〃



〃Oh; Freddy's a good sort; isn't he?〃



〃Admirable。 The sort who has made England what she is。〃



Cecil wondered at himself。 Why; on this day of all others; was he

so hopelessly contrary? He tried to get right by inquiring

effusively after Mr。 Beebe's mother; an old lady for whom he had

no particular regard。 Then he flattered the clergyman; praised

his liberal…mindedness; his enlightened attitude towards

philosophy and science。



〃Where are the others?〃 said Mr。 Beebe at last; 〃I insist on

extracting tea before evening service。〃



〃I suppose Anne never told them you were here。 In this house one

is so coached in the servants the day one arrives。 The fault of

Anne is that she begs your pardon when she hears you perfectly;

and kicks the chair…legs with her feet。 The faults of Mary

I forget the faults of Mary; but they are very grave。 Shall we

look in the garden?〃



〃I know the faults of Mary。 She leaves the dust…pans standing on

the stairs。〃



〃The fault of Euphemia is that she will not; simply will not;

chop the suet sufficiently small。〃



They both laughed; and things began to go better。



〃The faults of Freddy〃 Cecil continued。



〃Ah; he has too many。 No one but his mother can remember the

faults of Freddy。 Try the faults of Miss Honeychurch; they are

not innumerable。〃



〃She has none;〃 said the young man; with grave sincerity。



〃I quite agree。 At present she has none。〃



〃At present?〃



〃I'm not cynical。 I'm only thinking of my pet theory about Miss

Honeychurch。 Does it seem reasonable that she should play so

wonderfully; and live so quietly? I suspect that one day she will

be wonderful in both。 The water…tight compartments in her will

break down; and music and life will mingle。 Then we shall have

her heroically good; heroically badtoo heroic; perhaps; to be

good or bad。〃



Cecil found his companion interesting。



〃And at present you think her not wonderful as far as life goes?〃



〃Well; I must say I've only seen her at Tunbridge Wells; where

she was not wonderful; and at Florence。 Since I came to Summer

Street she has been away。 You saw her; didn't you; at Rome and in

the Alps。 Oh; I forgot; of course; you knew
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