第 10 节
作者:指点迷津      更新:2021-02-20 05:05      字数:9322
  tragedian。 There was much in her nature; she felt; that did not
  find expression in her popular representation of the soldier in
  the chimney。
  By three o'clock the local visitors had arrived; and tennis was
  proceeding in four courts; rolled and prepared by Smilash。 The
  two curates were there; with a few lay gentlemen。 Mrs。 Miller;
  the vicar; and some mothers and other chaperons looked on and
  consumed light refreshments; which were brought out upon trays by
  Smilash; who had borrowed and put on a large white apron; and was
  making himself officiously busy。
  At a quarter past the hour a message came from Miss Wilson;
  requesting Miss Wylie's attendance。 The visitors were at a loss
  to account for the sudden distraction of the young ladies'
  attention which ensued。 Jane almost burst into tears; and
  answered Josephs rudely when he innocently asked what the matter
  was。 Agatha went away apparently unconcerned; though her hand
  shook as she put aside her racket。
  In a spacious drawing…room at the north side of the college she
  found her mother; a slight woman in widow's weeds; with faded
  brown hair; and tearful eyes。 With her were Mrs。 Jansenius and
  her daughter。 The two elder ladies kept severely silent whilst
  Agatha kissed them; and Mrs。 Wylie sniffed。 Henrietta embraced
  Agatha effusively。
  〃Where's Uncle John?〃 said Agatha。 〃Hasn't he come?〃
  〃He is in the next room with Miss Wilson;〃 said Mrs。 Jansenius
  coldly。 〃They want you in there。〃
  〃I thought somebody was dead;〃 said Agatha; 〃you all look so
  funereal。 Now; mamma; put your handkerchief back again。 If you
  cry I will give Miss Wilson a piece of my mind for worrying you。〃
  〃No; no;〃 said Mrs。 Wylie; alarmed。 〃She has been so nice!〃
  〃So good!〃 said Henrietta。
  〃She has been perfectly reasonable and kind;〃 said Mrs。
  Jansenius。
  〃She always is;〃 said Agatha complacently。 〃You didn't expect to
  find her in hysterics; did you?〃
  〃Agatha;〃 pleaded Mrs。 Wylie; 〃don't be headstrong and foolish。〃
  〃Oh; she won't; I know she won't;〃 said Henrietta coaxingly。
  〃Will you; dear Agatha?〃
  〃You may do as you like; as far as I am concerned;〃 said Mrs。
  Jansenius。 〃But I hope you have more sense than to throw away
  your education for nothing。〃
  〃Your aunt is quite right;〃 said Mrs。 Wylie。 〃And your Uncle John
  is very angry with you。 He will never speak to you again if you
  quarrel with Miss Wilson。〃
  〃He is not angry;〃 said Henrietta; 〃but he is so anxious that you
  should get on well。〃
  〃He will naturally be disappointed if you persist in making a
  fool of yourself;〃 said Mrs。 Jansenius。
  〃All Miss Wilson wants is an apology for the dreadful things you
  wrote in her book;〃 said Mrs。 Wylie。 〃You'll apologize; dear;
  won't you?〃
  〃Of course she will;〃 said Henrietta。
  〃I think you had better;〃 said Mrs。 Jansenius。
  〃Perhaps I will;〃 said Agatha。
  〃That's my own darling;〃 said Mrs。 Wylie; catching her hand。
  〃And perhaps; again; I won't。〃
  〃You will; dear;〃 urged Mrs。 Wylie; trying to draw Agatha; who
  passively resisted; closer to her。 〃For my sake。 To oblige your
  mother; Agatha。 You won't refuse me; dearest?〃
  Agatha laughed indulgently at her parent; who had long ago worn
  out this form of appeal。 Then she turned to Henrietta; and said;
  〃How is your caro sposo? I think it was hard that I was not a
  bridesmaid。〃
  The red in Henrietta's cheeks brightened。 Mrs。 Jansenius hastened
  to interpose a dry reminder that Miss Wilson was waiting。
  〃Oh; she does not mind waiting;〃 said Agatha; 〃because she thinks
  you are all at work getting me into a proper frame of mind。 That
  was the arrangement she made with you before she left the room。
  Mamma knows that I have a little bird that tells me these things。
  I must say that you have not made me feel any goody…goodier so
  far。 However; as poor Uncle John must be dreadfully frightened
  and uncomfortable; it is only kind to put an end to his suspense。
  Good…bye!〃 And she went out leisurely。 But she looked in again to
  say in a low voice: 〃Prepare for something thrilling。 I feel just
  in the humor to say the most awful things。〃 She vanished; and
  immediately they heard her tapping at the door of the next room。
  Mr。 Jansenius was indeed awaiting her with misgiving。 Having
  discovered early in his career that his dignified person and fine
  voice caused people to stand in some awe of him; and to move him
  into the chair at public meetings; he had grown so accustomed to
  deference that any approach to familiarity or irreverence
  disconcerted him exceedingly。 Agatha; on the other hand; having
  from her childhood heard Uncle John quoted as wisdom and
  authority incarnate; had begun in her tender years to scoff at
  him as a pompous and purseproud city merchant; whose sordid mind
  was unable to cope with her transcendental affairs。 She had
  habitually terrified her mother by ridiculing him with an
  absolute contempt of which only childhood and extreme ignorance
  are capable。 She had felt humiliated by his kindness to her (he
  was a generous giver of presents); and; with the instinct of an
  anarchist; had taken disparagement of his advice and defiance of
  his authority as the signs wherefrom she might infer surely that
  her face was turned to the light。 The result was that he was a
  little tired of her without being quite conscious of it; and she
  not at all afraid of him; and a little too conscious of it。
  When she entered with her brightest smile in full play; Miss
  Wilson and Mr。 Jansenius; seated at the table; looked somewhat
  like two culprits about to be indicted。 Miss Wilson waited for
  him to speak; deferring to his imposing presence。 But he was not
  ready; so she invited Agatha to sit down。
  〃Thank you;〃 said Agatha sweetly。 〃Well; Uncle John; don't you
  know me?〃
  〃I have heard with regret from Miss Wilson that you have been
  very troublesome here;〃 he said; ignoring her remark; though
  secretly put out by it。
  〃Yes;〃 said Agatha contritely。 〃I am so very sorry。〃
  Mr。 Jansenius; who had been led by Miss Wilson to expect the
  utmost contumacy; looked to her in surprise。
  〃You seem to think;〃 said Miss Wilson; conscious of Mr。
  Jansenius's movement; and annoyed by it; 〃that you may transgress
  over and over again; and then set yourself right with us;〃 (Miss
  Wilson never spoke of offences as against her individual
  authority; but as against the school community) 〃by saying that
  you are sorry。 You spoke in a very different tone at our last
  meeting。〃
  〃I was angry then; Miss Wilson。 And I thought I had a
  grievanceeverybody thinks they have the same one。 Besides; we
  were quarrellingat least I was; and I always behave badly when
  I quarrel。 I am so very sorry。〃
  〃The book was a serious matter;〃 said Miss Wilson gravely。 〃You
  do not seem to think so。〃
  〃I understand Agatha to say that she is now sensible of the folly
  of her conduct with regard to the book; and that she is sorry for
  it;〃 said Mr。 Jansenius; instinctively inclining to Agatha's
  party as the stronger one and the least dependent on him in a
  pecuniary sense。 Have you seen the book?〃 said Agatha eagerly。
  〃No。 Miss Wilson has described what has occurred。〃
  〃Oh; do let me get it;〃 she cried; rising。 〃It will make Uncle
  John scream with laughing。 May I; Miss Wilson?〃
  〃There!〃 said Miss Wilson; indignantly。 〃It is this incorrigible
  flippancy of which I have to complain。 Miss Wylie only varies it
  by downright insubordination。〃
  Mr。 Jansenius too was scandalized。 His fine color mounted at the
  idea of his screaming。 〃Tut; tut!〃 he said; 〃you must be serious;
  and more respectful to Miss Wilson。 You are old enough to know
  better now; Agathaquite old enough。〃
  Agatha's mirth vanished。 〃What have I said  What have I done?〃
  she asked; a faint purple spot appearing in her cheeks。
  〃You have spoken triflingly ofof the volume by which Miss
  Wilson sets great store; and properly so。〃
  〃If properly so; then why do you find fault with me?〃
  〃Come; come;〃 roared Mr。 Jansenius; deliberately losing his
  temper as a last expedient to subdue her; 〃don't be impertinent;
  Miss。〃
  Agatha's eyes dilated; evanescent flushes played upon her cheeks
  and neck; she stamped with her heel。 〃Uncle John;〃 she cried; 〃if
  you dare to address me like that; I will never look at you; never
  speak to you; nor ever enter your house again。 What do you know
  about good manners; that you should call me impertinent? I will
  not submit to intentional rudeness; that was the beginning of my
  quarrel with Miss Wilson。 She told me I was impertinent; and I
  went away and told her that she was wrong by writing it in the
  fault book。 She has been wrong all through; and I would have said
  so before but that I wanted to be reconciled to her and to let
  bygones be bygones。 But if she insists on quarrelling; I cannot
  help it。〃
  〃I have already explained to you; Mr。 Jansenius;〃 said Miss
  Wilson; concentrating her resentment by an effort to suppress it;
  〃that Miss Wylie has ignored all the opportunities that have been
  made for her to reinstate herself here。 Mrs。 Miller and I have
  waived merely personal considerations; and I have only required a
  simple acknowledgment of this offence against the college and its
  rules。〃
  〃I do not care that for