XXXV
關燈
小
中
大
LadySusantoMr.DeCourcy.
UpperSeymourStreet.
Iwillnotattempttodescribemyastonishmentinreadingthenotethismomentreceivedfromyou.IambewilderedinmyendeavourstoformsomerationalconjectureofwhatMrs.Mainwaringcanhavetoldyoutooccasionsoextraordinaryachangeinyoursentiments.HaveInotexplainedeverythingtoyouwithrespecttomyselfwhichcouldbearadoubtfulmeaning,andwhichtheill-natureoftheworldhadinterpretedtomydiscredit?Whatcanyounowhaveheardtostaggeryouresteemforme?HaveIeverhadaconcealmentfromyou?Reginald,youagitatemebeyondexpression,IcannotsupposethattheoldstoryofMrs.Mainwaring’sjealousycanberevivedagain,oratleastbelistenedtoagain.Cometomeimmediately,andexplainwhatisatpresentabsolutelyincomprehensible.Believeme,thesinglewordofLangfordisnotofsuchpotentintelligenceastosupersedethenecessityofmore.Ifwearetopart,itwillatleastbehandsometotakeyourpersonalleave—butIhavelittlehearttojestintruth,Iamseriousenoughfortobesunk,thoughbutforanhour,inyouresteemisahumiliationtowhichIknownothowtosubmit.Ishallcounteveryminutetillyourarrival.
S.V.
UpperSeymourStreet.
Iwillnotattempttodescribemyastonishmentinreadingthenotethismomentreceivedfromyou.IambewilderedinmyendeavourstoformsomerationalconjectureofwhatMrs.Mainwaringcanhavetoldyoutooccasionsoextraordinaryachangeinyoursentiments.HaveInotexplainedeverythingtoyouwithrespecttomyselfwhichcouldbearadoubtfulmeaning,andwhichtheill-natureoftheworldhadinterpretedtomydiscredit?Whatcanyounowhaveheardtostaggeryouresteemforme?HaveIeverhadaconcealmentfromyou?Reginald,youagitatemebeyondexpression,IcannotsupposethattheoldstoryofMrs.Mainwaring’sjealousycanberevivedagain,oratleastbelistenedtoagain.Cometomeimmediately,andexplainwhatisatpresentabsolutelyincomprehensible.Believeme,thesinglewordofLangfordisnotofsuchpotentintelligenceastosupersedethenecessityofmore.Ifwearetopart,itwillatleastbehandsometotakeyourpersonalleave—butIhavelittlehearttojestintruth,Iamseriousenoughfortobesunk,thoughbutforanhour,inyouresteemisahumiliationtowhichIknownothowtosubmit.Ishallcounteveryminutetillyourarrival.
S.V.