little novels-第73部分

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ad　cast　off　my　mother　before　me。

So　I　lived　in　retirement　with　my　good　aunt；　and　studied　industriously　to　improve　my　mind　until　my　twenty…first　birthday　came。　I　was　now　an　heiress；　privileged　to　think　and　act　for　myself。　My　aunt　kissed　me　tenderly。　We　talked　of　my　poor　mother；　and　we　cried　in　each　other's　arms　on　the　memorable　day　that　made　a　wealthy　woman　of　me。　In　a　little　time　more；　other　troubles　than　vain　regrets　for　the　dead　were　to　try　me；　and　other　tears　were　to　fill　my　eyes　than　the　tears　which　I　had　given　to　the　memory　of　my　mother。

II。

I　MAY　now　return　to　my　visit；　in　June；　1817；　to　the　healing　springs　at　Maplesworth。

This　famous　inland　watering…place　was　only　between　nine　and　ten　miles　from　my　new　home　called　Nettlegrove　Hall。　I　had　been　feeling　weak　and　out　of　spirits　for　some　months；　and　our　medical　adviser　recommended　change　of　scene　and　a　trial　of　the　waters　at　Maplesworth。　My　aunt　and　I　established　ourselves　in　comfortable　apartments；　with　a　letter　of　introduction　to　the　chief　doctor　in　the　place。　This　otherwise　harmless　and　worthy　man　proved；　strangely　enough；　to　be　the　innocent　cause　of　the　trials　and　troubles　which　beset　me　at　the　outset　of　my　new　life。

The　day　after　we　had　presented　our　letter　of　introduction；　we　met　the　doctor　on　the　public　walk。　He　was　accompanied　by　two　strangers；　both　young　men；　and　both　（so　far　as　my　ignorant　opinion　went）　persons　of　some　distinction；　judging　by　their　dress　and　manners。　The　doctor　said　a　few　kind　words　to　us；　and　rejoined　his　two　companions。　Both　the　gentlemen　looked　at　me；　and　both　took　off　their　hats　as　my　aunt　and　I　proceeded　on　our　walk。

I　own　I　thought　occasionally　of　the　well…bred　strangers　during　the　rest　of　the　day；　especially　of　the　shortest　of　the　two；　who　was　also　the　handsomest　of　the　two　to　my　thinking。　If　this　confession　seems　rather　a　bold　one；　remember；　if　you　please；　that　I　had　never　been　taught　to　conceal　my　feelings　at　Saint　Domingo；　and　that　the　events　which　followed　our　arrival　in　England　had　kept　me　completely　secluded　from　the　society　of　other　young　ladies　of　my　age。

The　next　day；　while　I　was　drinking　my　glass　of　healing　water　（extremely　nasty　water；　by　the　way）　the　doctor　joined　us。

While　he　was　asking　me　about　my　health；　the　two　strangers　made　their　appearance　again；　and　took　off　their　hats　again。　They　both　looked　expectantly　at　the　doctor；　and　the　doctor　（in　performance　of　a　promise　which　he　had　already　made；　as　I　privately　suspected）　formally　introduced　them　to　my　aunt　and　to　me。　First　（I　put　the　handsomest　man　first）　Captain　Arthur　Stanwick；　of　the　army；　home　from　India　on　leave；　and　staying　at　Maplesworth　to　take　the　waters；　secondly；　Mr。　Lionel　Varleigh；　of　Boston；　in　America；　visiting　England；　after　traveling　all　over　Europe；　and　stopping　at　Maplesworth　to　keep　company　with　his　friend　the　Captain。

On　their　introduction；　the　two　gentlemen；　observing；　no　doubt；　that　I　was　a　little　shy；　forbore　delicately　from　pressing　their　society　on　us。

Captain　Stanwick；　with　a　beautiful　smile；　and　with　teeth　worthy　of　the　smile；　stroked　his　whiskers；　and　asked　me　if　I　had　found　any　benefit　from　taking　the　waters。　He　afterward　spoke　in　great　praise　of　the　charming　scenery　in　the　neighborhood　of　Maplesworth；　and　then；　turning　away；　addressed　his　next　words　to　my　aunt。　Mr。　Varleigh　took　his　place。　Speaking　with　perfect　gravity；　and　with　no　whiskers　to　stroke；　he　said：

〃I　have　once　tried　the　waters　here　out　of　curiosity。　I　can　sympathize；　miss；　with　the　expression　which　I　observed　on　your　face　when　you　emptied　your　glass　just　now。　Permit　me　to　offer　you　something　nice　to　take　the　taste　of　the　waters　out　of　your　mouth。〃　He　produced　from　his　pocket　a　beautiful　little　box　filled　with　sugar…plums。　〃I　bought　it　in　Paris；〃　h　e　explained。　〃Having　lived　a　good　deal　in　France；　I　have　got　into　a　habit　of　making　little　presents　of　this　sort　to　ladies　and　children。　I　wouldn't　let　the　doctor　see　it；　miss；　if　I　were　you。　He　has　the　usual　medical　prejudice　against　sugar…plums。〃　With　that　quaint　warning；　he；　too；　made　his　bow　and　discreetly　withdrew。

Thinking　it　over　afterward；　I　acknowledged　to　myself　that　the　English　Captainalthough　he　was　the　handsomest　man　of　the　two；　and　possessed　the　smoothest　mannershad　failed；　nevertheless；　to　overcome　my　shyness。　The　American　traveler's　unaffected　sincerity　and　good…humor；　on　the　other　hand；　set　me　quite　at　my　ease。　I　could　look　at　him　and　thank　him；　and　feel　amused　at　his　sympathy　with　the　grimace　I　had　made；　after　swallowing　the　ill…flavored　waters。　And　yet；　while　I　lay　awake　at　night；　wondering　whether　we　should　meet　our　new　acquaintances　on　the　next　day；　it　was　the　English　Captain　that　I　most　wanted　to　see　again；　and　not　the　American　traveler！　At　the　time；　I　set　this　down　to　nothing　more　important　than　my　own　perversity。　Ah；　dear！　dear！　I　know　better　than　that　now。

The　next　morning　brought　the　doctor　to　our　hotel　on　a　special　visit　to　my　aunt。　He　invented　a　pretext　for　sending　me　into　the　next　room；　which　was　so　plainly　a　clumsy　excuse　that　my　curiosity　was　aroused。　I　gratified　my　curiosity。　Must　I　make　my　confession　plainer　still？　Must　I　acknowledge　that　I　was　mean　enough　to　listen　on　the　other　side　of　the　door？

I　heard　my　dear　innocent　old　aunt　say：　〃Doctor！　I　hope　you　don't　see　anything　alarming　in　the　state　of　Bertha's　health。〃

The　doctor　burst　out　laughing。　〃My　dear　madam！　there　is　nothing　in　the　state　of　the　young　lady's　health　which　need　cause　the　smallest　anxiety　to　you　or　to　me。　The　object　of　my　visit　is　to　justify　myself　for　presenting　those　two　gentlemen　to　you　yesterday。　They　are　both　greatly　struck　by　Miss　Bertha's　beauty；　and　they　both　urgently　entreated　me　to　introduce　them。　Such　introductions；　I　need　hardly　say；　are　marked　exceptions　to　my　general　rule。　In　ninety…nine　cases　out　of　a　hundred　I　should　have　said　No。　In　the　cases　of　Captain　Stanwick　and　Mr。　Varleigh；　however；　I　saw　no　reason　to　hesitate。　Permit　me　to　assure　you　that　I　am　not　intruding　on　your　notice　two　fortune…hunting　adventurers。　They　are　both　men　of　position　and　men　of　property。　The　family　of　the　Stanwicks　has　been　well　known　to　me　for　years；　and　Mr。　Varleigh　brought　me　a　letter　from　my　oldest　living　friend；　answering　for　him　as　a　gentleman　in　the　highest　sense　of　the　word。　He　is　the　wealthiest　man　of　the　two；　and　it　speaks　volumes　for　him；　in　my　opinion；　that　he　has　preserved　his　simplicity　of　character　after　a　long　residence　in　such　places　as　Paris　and　Vienna。　Captain　Stanwick　has　more　polish　and　ease　of　manner；　but；　looking　under　the　surface；　I　rather　fancy　there　may　be　something　a　little　impetuous　and　domineering　in　his　temper。　However；　we　all　have　our　faults。　I　can　only　say；　for　both　these　young　friends　of　mine；　that　you　need　feel　no　scruple　about　admitting　them　to　your　intimacy；　if　they　happen　to　please　youand　your　niece。　Having　now；　I　hope；　removed　any　doubts　which　may　have　troubled　you；　pray　recall　Miss　Bertha。　I　am　afraid　I　have　interrupted　you　in　discussing　your　plans　for　the　day。〃

The　smoothly　eloquent　doctor　paused　for　the　moment；　and　I　darted　away　from　the　door。

Our　plans　for　the　day　included　a　drive　through　the　famous　scenery　near　the　town。　My　two　admirers　met　us　on　horseback。　Here；　again；　the　Captain　had　the　advantage　over　his　friend。　His　seat　in　the　saddle　and　his　riding…dress　were　both　perfect　things　in　their　way。　The　Englishman　rode　on　one　side　of　the　carriage　and　the　American　on　the　other。　They　both　talked　well；　but　Mr。　Varleigh　had　seen　more　of　the　world　in　general　than　Captain　Stanwick；　and　he　made　himself　certainly　the　more　interesting　and　more　amusing　companion　of　the　two。

On　our　way　back　my　admiration　was　excited　by　a　thick　wood；　beautifully　situated　on　rising　ground　at　a　little　distance　from　the　high…road：　〃Oh；　dear；〃　I　said；　〃how　I　should　like　to　take　a　walk　in　that　wood！〃　Idle；　thoughtless　words；　but；　oh；　what　remembrances　crowd　on　me　as　I　think　of　them　now！

Captain　Stanwick　and　Mr。　Varleigh　at　once　dismounted　and　offered　themselves　as　my　escort。　The　coachman　warned　them　to　be　careful；　people　had　often　lost　themselves；　he　said；　in　that　wood。　I　asked　the　name　of　it。　The　name　was　Herne　Wood。　My　aunt　was　not　very　willing　to　leave　her　comfortable　seat　in　the　carriage；　but　it　ended　in　her　going　with　us。

Before　we　entered　the　wood；　Mr。　Varleigh　noted　the　position　of　the　high…road　by　his　pocket…compass。　Captain　Stanwick　laughed　at　him；　and　offered　me　his　arm。　Ignorant　as　I　was　of　the　ways　of　the　world　and　the　rules　of　coquetry；　my　instinct　（I　suppose）　warned　me　not　to　distinguish　one　of　the　gentlemen　too　readily　at　the　expense　of　the　other。　I　took　my　aunt's　arm　and　settled　it　in　that　way。

A　winding　path　led　us　into　the　wood。

On　a　nearer　view；　the　place　disappointed　me；　the　further　we　advanced；　the　more　horribly　gloomy　it　grew。　The　thickly…growing　trees　shut　out　the　light；　the　damp　stole　over　me　little　by　little　until　I　shivered；　the　undergrowth　of　bushes　and　thickets　rustled　at　intervals　mysteriously；　as　some　invisible　creeping　creature　passed　through　it。　At　a　turn　in　the　path　we　reached　a　sort　of　clearing；　and　saw　the　sky　and　the　sunshine　once　more。　But；　even　here；　a　disagreeable　incident　occurred。　A　snake　wound　his　undulating　way　across　the　open　space；　passing　close　by　m