第 29 节
作者:津鸿一瞥      更新:2021-03-08 19:41      字数:9318
  any other feeling; but; by holding it in reserve; presuming on it gradually;
  and using it in a crisis; it might be worth〃let me see;〃 calculated Tom;
  as he went whistling down Broadway; 〃that 'yes' may be made to yield
  at least a cool 100;000。 There are John; this girl; and two little ones。
  Old Monson is worth every dollar of 700;000none of your
  skyrockets; but a known; old fortune; in substantial houses and lands
  let us suppose the old woman outlive him; and that she gets her full
  thirds; THAT will leave 466;660。 Perhaps John may get a couple of
  hundred thousand; and even THEN each of the girls will have 88;888。
  If one of the little things should happen to die; and there's lots of scarlet
  fever about; why that would fetch it up at once to a round hundred
  thousand。 I don't think the old woman would be likely to marry again at
  her time of life。 One mustn't calculate too confidently on THAT;
  however; as I would have her myself for half of SUCH thirds。〃
  {full thirds = Old Monson's widow would under American common law
  receive a life interest in one…third of his real property; called a dower
  right; which would revert to his children if she died without remarrying。}
  CHAPTER XVI。
  For a week nothing material transpired。 All that time I lay in the drawer;
  gaining a knowledge of what passed; in the best manner I could。 Betts
  Shoreham was a constant visitor at the house; and Tom Thurston made
  his appearance with a degree of punctuality that began to attract notice;
  among the inmates of the house on the opposite side of the street。 All
  this time; however; Tom treated Julia with the greatest respect; and
  even distance; turning more of his attention toward Mrs。 Monson。 He
  acted in this manner; because he thought he had secured a sufficient lien
  on the young lady; by means of her 〃yes;〃 and knew how important it
  was for one who could show none of the usual inducements for consent;
  to the parents; to obtain the good…will of the 〃old lady。〃
  At the end of the week; Mrs。 Monson opened her house to receive the
  world。 As a matter of course; I was brought out on this occasion。 Now;
  Betts Shoreham and Mademoiselle Hennequin had made great progress
  toward an understanding in the course of this week; though the lady
  becoming more and more conscious of the interest she had created in
  the heart of the gentleman; her own conduct got to be cautious and
  reserved。 At length; Betts actually carried matters so far as to write a
  letter; that was as much to the point as a man could very well come。 In
  a word; he offered his hand to the excellent young French woman;
  assuring her; in very passionate and suitable terms; that she had been
  mistress of his affections ever since the first month of their acquaintance。
  In this letter; he implored her not to be so cruel as to deny him an
  interview; and there were a few exceedingly pretty reproaches; touching
  her recent coy and reserved deportment。
  Mademoiselle Hennequin was obliged to read this letter in Julia's room;
  and she took such a position to do it; as exposed every line to my
  impertinent gaze; as I lay on the bed; among the other finery that was
  got out for the evening。 Mrs。 Monson was present; and she had
  summoned the governess; in order to consult her on the subject of some
  of the ornaments of the supper table。 Fortunately; both Julia and her
  mother were too much engaged to perceive the tears that rolled down
  the cheeks of the poor stranger; as she read the honest declaration of a
  fervid and manly love; nor did either detect the manner in which the
  letter was pressed to Mademoiselle Hennequin's heart; when she had
  done reading it the second time。
  Just at this instant a servant came to announce Mr。 Shoreham's
  presence in the 〃breakfast…room。〃 This was a retired and little
  frequented part of the house at that hour; Betts having been shown into
  it; in consequence of the preparations that were going on in the proper
  reception…rooms。
  〃Julia; my dear; you will have to go belowalthough it is at a most
  inconvenient moment。〃
  〃No; motherlet Mr。 Betts Shoreham time his visits betterGeorge;
  say that the ladies are ENGAGED。〃
  〃That will not do;〃 interrupted the mother; in some concern〃we are
  too intimate for such an excusewould YOU; Mademoiselle
  Hennequin; have the goodness to see Mr。 Shoreham for a few minutes…
  …you must come into our American customs sooner or later; and this
  may be a favorable moment to commence。〃
  Mrs。 Monson laughed pleasantly as she made this request; and her
  kindness and delicacy to the governess were too marked and
  unremitted to permit the latter to think of hesitating。 She had laid her
  own handkerchief down at my side; to read the letter; but feeling the
  necessity of drying her eyes; she caught me up by mistake; smiled her
  assent; and left the apartment。
  Mademoiselle Hennequin did not venture below; until she had gone into
  her own room。 Here she wept freely for a minute or two; and then she
  bathed her eyes in cold water; and used the napkin in drying them。
  Owing to this circumstance; I was fortunately a witness of all that
  passed in her interview with her lover。
  The instant Betts Shoreham saw that he was to have an interview with
  the charming French girl; instead of with Julia Monson; his countenance
  brightened; and; as if supposing the circumstance proof of his success;
  he seized the governess' hand; and carried it to his lips in a very
  carnivorous fashion。 The lady; however; succeeded in retaining her
  hand; if she did not positively preserve it from being devoured。
  〃A thousand; thousand thanks; dearest Mademoiselle Hennequin;〃 said
  Betts; in an incoherent; half…sane manner; 〃you have read my letter; and
  I may interpret this interview favorably。 I meant to have told all to Mrs。
  Monson; had SHE come down; and asked her kind interferencebut it
  is much; much better as it is。〃
  〃You will do well; monsieur; not to speak to Madame Monson on the
  subject at all;〃 answered Mademoiselle Hennequin; with an expression
  of countenance that I found quite inexplicable; since it was not happy;
  nor was it altogether the reverse。 〃This must be our last meeting; and it
  were better that no one knew any thing of its nature。〃
  〃Then my vanitymy hopes have misled me; and I have no interest in
  your feelings!〃
  〃I do not say THAT; monsieur; oh! nonnonI am far from saying as
  much as THAT〃poor girl; her face declared a hundred times more
  than her tongue; that she was sincere〃I do notCANNOT say I have
  no interest in one; who so generously overlooks my poverty; my utter
  destitution of all worldly greatness; and offers to share with me his
  fortune and his honorable position〃
  〃This is not what I askwhat I had hoped to earngratitude is not
  love。〃
  〃Gratitude easily becomes love in a woman's heart〃answered the dear
  creature; with a smile and a look that Betts would have been a mere
  dolt not to have comprehended〃and it is my duty to take care that
  MY gratitude does not entertain this weakness。〃
  〃Mademoiselle Hennequin; for mercy's sake; be as frank and simple as
  I know your nature promptsDO you; CAN you love me?〃
  Of course such a direct question; put in a very categorical way; caused
  the questioned to blush; if it did not induce her to smile。 The first she did
  in a very pretty and engaging manner; though I thought she hesitated
  about indulging in the last。
  〃Why should I say 'yes;' when it can lead to no good result?〃
  〃Then destroy all hope at once; and say NO。〃
  〃That would be to give youto give us both unnecessary pain。 Besides;
  it might not be strictly trueI COULD loveOh! No one can tell how
  my heart COULD love where it was right and proper。〃
  After this; I suppose it is unnecessary for me to say; that Betts soon
  brought the category of possibilities into one of certainty。 To own the
  truth; he carried every thing by his impetuosity; reducing the governess
  to own that what she admitted she COULD do so well; she had already
  done in a very complete and thorough manner。 I enjoyed this scene
  excessively; nor was it over in a minute。 Mademoiselle Hennequin used
  me several times to wipe away tears; and it is strong proof how much
  both parties were thinking of other matters; that neither discovered who
  was present at so interesting a tete…a…tete。
  At length came the denouement。 After confessing how much she loved
  Betts; how happy she would be could she be his slave all the days of
  her life; how miserable she was in knowing that he had placed his
  affections on HER; and how much more miserable she should be; had
  she learned he had NOT; Mademoiselle Hennequin almost annihilated
  the young man by declaring that it was utterly impossible for her to
  consent to become his wife。 The reason was the difference in fortune;
  and the impossibility that she should take advantage of his passion to
  lead him into a connection that he might afterwards regret。 Against this
  decision; Betts reasoned warmly; but seriously; in vain。 Had
  Mademoiselle Hennequin been an American; instead of a French; girl;
  her feelings would not have been so sensitive on this point; for; in this
  great republic; every body but the fortune…hunters; an exceedingly
  contemptible class; considers a match without