Chapter V
關燈
小
中
大
NEXTday,afterluncheon,MissLeyretiredtothedrawing-roomandunpackedthebookswhichhadjustarrivedfromMudie.Shelookedthroughthem,andreadapagehereandtheretoseewhattheywerelike,thinkingmeanwhileofthemealtheyhadjustfinished.EdwardCraddockhadbeensomewhatnervous,sittinguncomfortablyonhischair,tooofficious,perhaps,inhandingthingstoMissLey,saltandpepperandthelike,ashesawshewantedthem.Heevidentlywishedtomakehimselfamiable.Atthesametimehewassubdued,andnotgailyenthusiasticasmightbeexpectedfromahappylover.MissLeycouldnothelpaskingherselfifhereallylovedherniece.Berthawasobviouslywithoutadoubtonthesubject.Shehadbeenradiant,keepinghereyesallthewhilefixedupontheyoungmanasifhewerethemostdelightfulandwonderfulobjectshehadeverseen.MissLeywassurprisedatthegirl’sexpansiveness,contrastingwithheroldreserve.Sheseemednownottocareastrawifalltheworldsawheremotions.Shewasnotonlyhappytobeinlove,shewasproudalso.MissLeylaughedaloudatthedoctor’sideathathecoulddisturbthecourseofsuchpassion....ButifMissLey,wellawarethatthewatering-potsofreasoncouldnotputoutthoseragingfires,hadnointentionofhinderingthematch,neitherhadsheadesiretowitnessthepreliminariesthereofandafterluncheon,remarkingthatshefelttiredandmeanttoliedown,wentintothedrawing-roomalone.Itpleasedhertothinkshecouldatthesametimesuitthelovers’pleasureandherownconvenience.
Shechosethatbookfromthebundlewhichseemedmostpromising,andbegantoread.Presentlythedoorwasopenedbyaservant,andMissGloverwasannounced.AnexpressionofannoyancepassedoverMissLey’sface,butwasimmediatelysucceededbyoneofmellifluousamiability.
“Oh,don’tgetup,dearMissLey,”saidthevisitor,asherhostessslowlyrosefromthesofa.
MissLeyshookhandsandbegantotalk.ShesaidshewasdelightedtoseeMissGlover,thinkingmeanwhilethatthisestimableperson’ssenseofetiquettewasverytedious.TheGlovershaddinedatCourtLeysduringthepreviousweek,andpunctuallysevendaysafterwardsMissGloverwaspayingaceremoniouscall.
MissGloverwasaworthyperson,butdullandthatMissLeycouldnotforgive.Bettertenthousandtimes,inheropinion,wasittobeBeckySharpandamonsterofwickednessthanAmeliaandamonsterofstupidity.
“Pardonme,Madam,itiswellknownthatThackeray,inAmelia,gaveusatypeofthepure-hearted,sweet-mindedEnglishmaiden,whosequalitiesarethefoundationofthegreatnessofGreatBritain,andthesuperiorityoftheAnglo-Saxonrace.”
“Ihavenodoubtthatsuchwashisintention.Butwhydoyouthinknovelists,whentheydrawtheaverageEnglishgirl,shouldinvariablyproduceanutterfool?”
“Madam,Madam,thisisheresy.”
“No,sir,itismerelyaquestion—promptedbyadesireforinformation.”
“Itmustbetheirwantofskill.”
“Ihopeso.”
MissGloverwasoneofthebestnaturedandmostcharitablecreaturesuponthefaceoftheearth,amiracleofabnegationandunselfishnessbutapersontobeamusedbyhercouldhavebeenonlyanabsolutelunatic.
“She’sreallyadearkindthing,”saidMissLeyofher,“andshedoesendlessgoodintheparish—butshe’sreallytoodull:she’sonlyfitforheaven!”
AndtheimagepassedthroughMissLey’smind,unsoberedbyadvancingyears,ofMissGlover,withhercolourlesshairhangingdownherback,wings,andagoldenharp,singinghymnsinasqueakyvoice,morning,noon,andnight.Indeed,thegeneralconceptionofparadisaicalcostumesuitedMissGloververyill.Shewasawomanofabouteightandtwenty,butmighthavebeenanyagebetweenonescoreandtwoyoufeltthatshehadalwaysbeenthesameandthatyearswouldhavenopoweroverherstrengthofmind.Shehadnofigure,andherclothesweresostiffandunyieldingastogiveanimpressionofarmour.Shewasnearlyalwaysdressedinatightblackjacketofribbedcloththatwasevidentlymostdurable,theplainestofskirts,andstrong,reallystrongboots!Herhatwassuitedforallweathersandshehadmadeitherself!Sheneverworeaveil,andherskinwasdryandhard,drawnsotightlyoverthebonesastogiveherfaceextraordinaryangularityoverherprominentcheek-boneswasaredflush,thecolourofwhichwasnotuniformlysuffused,butwiththecapillariesstandingoutdistinctly,forminganetwork.Hernos