CHAPTER XXXII. THE FIRST LETTER.
關燈
小
中
大
ence,notwithoutsymptomsofabstraction.Then,turningtome,inadiffident,half-appealingvoice—“Lucy—”
“Well,Iamatyourside.”
“IsmycousinGinevrastillatMadameBeck’s?”
“Yourcousinisstillthereyoumustbelongingtoseeher.”
“No—notmuch.”
“Youwanttoinvitehertospendanotherevening?”
“No…Isupposeshestilltalksaboutbeingmarried?”
“Nottoanyoneyoucarefor.”
“ButofcourseshestillthinksofDr.Bretton?Shecannothavechangedhermindonthatpoint,becauseitwassofixedtwomonthsago.”
“Why,youknow,itdoesnotmatter.Yousawthetermsonwhichtheystood.”
“Therewasalittlemisunderstandingthatevening,certainlydoessheseemunhappy?”
“Notshe.Tochangethesubject.Haveyouheardorseennothingof,orfrom,Grahamduringyourabsence?”
“Papahadlettersfromhimonceortwiceaboutbusiness,Ithink.Heundertookthemanagementofsomeaffairwhichrequiredattentionwhilewewereaway.Dr.Brettonseemstorespectpapa,andtohavepleasureinobliginghim.”
“Yes:youmethimyesterdayontheboulevardyouwouldbeabletojudgefromhisaspectthathisfriendsneednotbepainfullyanxiousabouthishealth?”
“Papaseemstohavethoughtwithyou.Icouldnothelpsmiling.Heisnotparticularlyobservant,youknow,becauseheisoftenthinkingofotherthingsthanwhatpassbeforehiseyesbuthesaid,asDr.Brettonrodeaway,Reallyitdoesamangoodtoseethespiritandenergyofthatboy.’HecalledDr.BrettonaboyIbelievehealmostthinkshimso,justashethinksmealittlegirlhewasnotspeakingtome,butdroppedthatremarktohimself.Lucy….”
Againfelltheappealingaccent,andatthesameinstantsheleftherchair,andcameandsatonthestoolatmyfeet.
Ilikedher.ItisnotadeclarationIhaveoftenmadeconcerningmyacquaintance,inthecourseofthisbook:thereaderwillbearwithitforonce.Intimateintercourse,closeinspection,disclosedinPaulinaonlywhatwasdelicate,intelligent,andsincerethereforemyregardforherlaydeep.Anadmirationmoresuperficialmighthavebeenmoredemonstrativemine,however,wasquiet.
“WhathaveyoutoaskofLucy?”saidI“bebrave,andspeakout.”
Buttherewasnocourageinhereyeasitmetmine,itfellandtherewasnocoolnessonhercheek—notatransientsurface-blush,butagatheringinwardexcitementraiseditstintanditstemperature.
“Lucy,IdowishtoknowyourthoughtsofDr.Bretton.Do,dogivemeyourrealopinionofhischaracter,hisdisposition.”
“Hischaracterstandshigh,anddeservedlyhigh.”
“Andhisdisposition?Tellmeabouthisdisposition,”sheurged“youknowhimwell.”
“Iknowhimprettywell.”
“Youknowhishome-side.Youhaveseenhimwithhismotherspeakofhimasason.”
“Heisafine-heartedsonhismother’scomfortandhope,herprideandpleasure.”
Sheheldmyhandbetweenhers,andateachfavourablewordgaveitalittlecaressingstroke.
“Inwhatotherwayishegood,Lucy?”
“Dr.Brettonisbenevolent—humanelydisposedtowardsallhisrace,Dr.Brettonwouldhavebenignityforthelowestsavage,ortheworstcriminal.”
“Iheardsomegentlemen,someofpapa’sfriends,whoweretalkingabouthim,saythesame.Theysaymanyofthepoorpatientsatthehospitals,whotremblebeforesomepitilessandselfishsurgeons,welcomehim.”
“TheyarerightIhavewitnessedasmuch.HeoncetookmeoverahospitalIsawhowhewasreceived:yourfather’sfriendsareright.”
Thesoftestgratitudeanimatedhereyeasshelifteditamoment.Shehadyetmoretosay,butseemedhesitatingabouttimeandplace.Duskwasbeginningtoreignherparlourfirealrea