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！
be out of it as in it； for all the advantage it is。 If you are out of health； at any rate you can come abroad。 It was Gordon's discoveryhe 's always making discoveries。 You see it 's because I 'm so silly； he can always put it down to my being an invalid。 What I should like to do； Mrs。 Vivian； would be to spend the winter with you just sitting on the sofa beside you and holding your hand。 It would be rather tiresome for you； but I really think it would be better for me than anything else。 I have never forgotten how kind you were to me before my marriagethat summer at Baden。 You were everything to meyou and Captain Lovelock。 I am sure I should be happy if I never went out of this lovely room。 You have got it so beautifully arrangedI mean to do my own room just like it when I go home。 And you have got such lovely clothes。 You never used to say anything about it； but you and Angela always had better clothes than I。 Are you always so quiet and seriousnever talking about chiffons always reading some wonderful book？ I wish you would let me come and stay with you。 If you only ask me； Gordon would be too delighted。 He would n't have to trouble about me any more。 He could go and live over in the Latin Quarterthat 's the desire of his heartand think of nothing but old bottles。 I know it is n't very good manners to beg for an invitation；〃 Blanche went on； smiling with a gentler radiance； 〃but when it 's a question of one's health。 One wants to keep one's self alive does n't one？ One wants to keep one's self going。 It would be so good for me； Mrs。 Vivian； it would really be very good for me！〃
She had turned round more and more to her hostess as she talked； and at last she had given both her hands to Mrs。 Vivian； and sat looking at her with a singular mixture of earnestness and jocosity。 It was hard to know whether Blanche were expressing a real desire or a momentary caprice； and whether this abrupt little petition were to be taken seriously； or treated merely as a dramatic pose in a series of more or less effective attitudes。 Her smile had become almost a grimace； she was flushed； she showed her pretty teeth； but there was a little passionate quiver in her voice。
〃My dear child；〃 said Mrs。 Vivian； 〃we should be delighted to have you pay us a visit； and we should be so happy if we could do you any good。 But I am afraid you would very soon get tired of us； and I ought to tell you； frankly； that our little home is to bea broken up。 You know there is to be aa change；〃 the good lady continued； with a hesitation which apparently came from a sense of walking on uncertain ground； while she glanced with a smile at Bernard and Angela。
Blanche sat there with her little excited； yet innocent too innocentstare； her eyes followed Mrs。 Vivian's。 They met Bernard's for an instant； and for some reason； at this moment； Bernard flushed。
He rose quickly and walked away to the window where he stood looking out into the darkness。 〃The devilthe devil！〃 he murmured to himself； 〃she does n't even know we are to be married Gordon has n't been able to trust himself to tell her！〃 And this fact seemed pregnant with evidence as to Gordon's state of mind； it did not appear to simplify the situation。 After a moment； while Bernard stood there with his back turned he felt rather awkward and foolishhe heard Blanche begin with her little surprised voice。
〃Ah； you are going away？ You are going to travel？ But that 's charming； we can travel together。 You are not going to travel？ What then are you going to do？ You are going back to America？ Ah； but you must n't do that； as soon as I come abroad； that 's not nice or friendly； Mrs。 Vivian； to your poor little old Blanche。 You are not going back to America？ Ah； then； I give it up！ What 's the great mystery？ Is it something about Angela？ There was always a mystery about Angela。 I hope you won't mind my saying it； my dear； but I was always afraid of you。 My husbandhe admires you so much； you knowhas often tried to explain you to me； but I have never understood。 What are you going to do now？ Are you going into a convent？ Are you going to beA…a…h！〃
And； suddenly； quickly； interrupting herself； Mrs。 Gordon gave a long； wondering cry。 Bernard heard her spring to her feet； and the two other ladies rise from their seats。 Captain Lovelock got up as well； Bernard heard him knock over his little gilded chair。 There was a pause； during which Blanche went through a little mute exhibition of amazement and pleasure。 Bernard turned round； to receive half a dozen quick questions。
〃What are you hiding away for？ What are you blushing for？ I never saw you do anything like that before！ Why do you look so strange； and what are you making me say？ Angela； is it true is there something like that？〃 Without waiting for the answer to this last question； Blanche threw herself upon Mrs。 Vivian。 〃My own Mrs。 Vivian；〃 she cried； 〃is she married？〃
〃My dear Blanche；〃 said Bernard； coming forward； 〃has not Gordon told you？ Angela and I are not married； but we hope to be before long。 Gordon only knew it this morning； we ourselves have only known it a short time。 There is no mystery about it； and we only want your congratulations。〃
〃Well； I must say you have been very quiet about it！〃 cried Blanche。 〃When I was engaged； I wrote you all a letter。〃
〃By Jove； she wrote to me！〃 observed Captain Lovelock。
Angela went to her and kissed her。
〃Your husband does n't seem to have explained me very successfully！〃
Mrs。 Gordon held Bernard's intended for a moment at arm's length； with both her hands； looking at her with eyes of real excitement and wonder。 Then she folded her in a prolonged； an exaggerated； embrace。
〃Why did n't he tell mewhy did n't he tell me？〃 she presently began。 〃He has had all day to tell me； and it was very cruel of him to let me come here without knowing it。 Could anything be more absurdmore awkward？ You don't think it 's awkwardyou don't mind it？ Ah well； you are very good！ But I like it； AngelaI like it extremely； immensely。 I think it 's delightful； and I wonder it never occurred to me。 Has it been going on long？ Ah； of course； it has been going on！ Did n't it begin at Baden； and did n't I see it there？ Do you mind my alluding to that？ At Baden we were all so mixed up that one could n't tell who was attentive to whom！ But Bernard has been very faithful； my dear； I can assure you of that。 When he was in America he would n't look at another woman。 I know something about that！ He stayed three months in my house and he never spoke to me。 Now I know why； Mr。 Bernard； but you might have told me at the time。 The reason was certainly good enough。 I always want to know why； you know。 Why Gordon never told me； for instance； that 's what I want to know！〃
Blanche refused to sit down again； she declared that she was so agitated by this charming news that she could not be quiet； and that she must presently take her departure。 Meanwhile she congratulated each of her friends half a dozen times； she kissed Mrs。 Vivian again； she almost kissed Bernard； she inquired about details； she longed to hear all about Angela's 〃things。〃 Of course they would stop for the wedding； but meantime she mu