第 30 节
作者:津鸿一瞥      更新:2021-03-08 19:41      字数:9322
  great republic; every body but the fortune…hunters; an exceedingly
  contemptible class; considers a match without money; quite as much a
  matter of course; as a match with。 But; the governess had been
  educated under a different system; and it struck her imagination as very
  proper; that she should make both herself and her lover miserable;
  because he had two hundred thousand dollars; and she had not as many
  hundreds。 All this strangely conflicted with Betts' preconceived opinion
  of a French woman's selfishness; and; while he was disposed to believe
  his adored perfection; he almost feared it was a trick。 Of such
  contradictory materials is the human mind composed!
  At length the eyes of Betts fell on me; who was still in the hand of
  Mademoiselle Hennequin; and had several times been applied to her
  eyes unheeded。 It was evident I revived unpleasant recollections; and
  the young man could not avoid letting an expression escape him; that
  sufficiently betrayed his feelings。
  〃This handkerchief!〃 exclaimed the young governess〃Ah! it is that of
  Mademoiselle Julie; which I must have taken by mistake。 But; why
  should this handkerchief awaken any feeling in you; monsieur? You are
  not about to enact the Moor; in your days of wooing?〃
  {the Moor = from Shakespeare's 〃Othello〃}
  This was said sweetly; and withal a little archly; for the poor girl was
  glad to turn the conversation from its harassing and painful points; but
  Betts was in no humor for pleasantry; and he spoke out in a way to give
  his mistress some clue to his thoughts。
  〃That cursed handkerchief〃it is really indecent in young men to use
  such improper language; but they little heed what they say when strongly
  excited〃that cursed handkerchief has given me as much pain; as it
  appears also to have given you。 I wish I knew the real secret of its
  connection with your feelings; for I confess; like that of Desdemona's; it
  has excited distrust; though for a very different cause。
  The cheeks of Mademoiselle Hennequin were pale; and her brow
  thoughtful。 Still; she had a sweet smile for Betts; and; though ignorant of
  the nature of his suspicions; which she would have scarcely pardoned; it
  was her strongest wish to leave no darker cloud between them; than the
  one she felt it her duty to place there herself。 She answered; therefore;
  frankly and simply; though not without betraying strong emotion as she
  proceeded。
  〃This handkerchief is well known to me;〃 answered the young French
  woman; 〃it revives the recollections of some of the most painful scenes
  of a life that has never seen much sunshine。 You have heard me speak
  of a grandmother; Mr。 Shoreham; who took care of my childhood; and
  who died in my arms。 That handkerchief; I worked for her support in
  her last illness; and this laceyes; this beautiful lace was a part of that
  beloved grandmother's bridal trousseau。 I put it where you see it; to
  enhance the value of my labors。〃
  〃I see it all!〃 exclaimed the repentant Betts〃FEEL it all; dearest;
  dearest Mademoiselle Hennequin; and I hope this exquisite work; this
  refined taste brought all the comfort and reward you had a right to
  anticipate。
  A shade of anguish crossed the face of Adriennefor it was no other
  as she gazed at me; and recalled all the scenes of her sufferings and
  distress。 Then I knew her again; for time and a poor memory; with
  some development of person; had caused me to forget the appearance
  of the lovely creature who may be said to have made me what I am; but
  one glance at her; with that expression of intense suffering on her
  countenance; renewed all my earlier impressions。
  〃I received as much as I merited; perhaps;〃 returned the meek…minded
  girlfor she was proud only in insisting on what she fancied right〃and
  enough to give my venerated parent Christian burial。 They were days of
  want and sorrow that succeeded; during which; Betts; I toiled for bread
  like an Eastern slave; the trodden…on and abused hireling of a selfish
  milliner。 Accident at length placed me in a family as a governess。 This
  family happened to be acquainted with Madame Monson; and an offer
  that was brilliant to me; in my circumstances; brought me to America。
  You see by all this how unfit I am to be your wife; monsieur。 You would
  blush to have it said you had married a French milliner!〃
  〃But you are not a milliner; in that sense; dearest Adriennefor you
  must suffer me to call you by that nameyou are a lady reduced by
  revolutions and misfortunes。 The name of Hennequin I know is
  respectable; and what care I for money; when so much worth is to be
  found on your side of the scale。 Money would only oppress me; under
  such circumstances。〃
  〃Your generosity almost overcomes my scruples; but it may not be。 The
  name to which I am entitled is certainly not one to be ashamed ofit is
  far more illustrious than that of Hennequin; respectable as is the last; but
  of what account is a NAME to one in my condition!〃
  〃And your family name is not Hennequin?〃 asked the lover; anxiously。
  〃It is not。 My poor grandmother assumed the name of Hennequin; when
  we went last to Paris; under an apprehension that the guillotine might
  follow the revolution of July; as it had followed that of '89。 This name
  she enjoined it on me to keep; and I have never thought it prudent to
  change it。 I am of the family of de la Rocheaimard。〃
  The exclamation which burst from the lips of Betts Shoreham;
  betokened both surprise and delight。 He made Adrienne repeat her
  declarations; and even desired her to explain her precise parentage。 The
  reader will remember; that there had been an American marriage in
  Adrienne's family; and that every relative the poor girl had on earth; was
  among these distant connections on this side of the Atlantic。 One of
  these relatives; though it was no nearer than a third cousin; was Betts
  Shoreham; whose great…grandmother had been a bona fide de la
  Rocheaimard; and who was enabled; at once; to point out to the poor
  deserted orphan some forty or fifty persons; who stood in the same
  degree of affinity to her。 It is needless to say that this conversation was
  of absorbing interest to both; so much so; indeed; that Betts
  momentarily forgot his love; and by the time it had ended; Adrienne was
  disposed to overlook most of her over scrupulous objections to
  rewarding that very passion。 But the hour admonished them of the
  necessity of separating。
  〃And now; my beloved cousin;〃 said Betts Shoreham; as he rose to quit
  the room; seizing Adrienne's unresisting hand〃now; my own Adrienne;
  you will no longer urge your sublimated notions of propriety against my
  suit。 I am your nearest male relative; and have a right to your
  obedienceand I command that you be the second de la Rocheaimard
  who became the wife of a Shoreham。〃
  〃Tell me; mon cher cousin;〃 said Adrienne; smiling through her tears
  〃were your grand…parents; my good uncle and aunt; were they happy?
  Was their union blessed?〃
  {mon cher cousin = my dear cousin}
  〃They were miracles of domestic felicity; and their happiness has passed
  down in tradition; among all their descendants。 Even religion could not
  furnish them with a cause for misunderstanding。 That example which
  they set to the last century; we will endeavor to set to this。〃
  Adrienne smiled; kissed her hand to Betts; and ran out of the room;
  leaving me forgotten on the sofa。 Betts Shoreham seized his hat; and left
  the house; a happy man; for; though he had no direct promise as yet; he
  felt as reasonably secure of success; as circumstances required。
  CHAPTER XVII。
  Five minutes later; Tom Thurston entered; and Julia Monson came
  down to receive HIM; her pique not interfering; and it being rather
  stylish to be disengaged on the morning of the day when the household
  was in all the confusion of a premeditated rout。
  {premeditated rout = planned party}
  〃This is SO good of you; Miss Monson;〃 said Tom; as he made his
  bowI heard it all; being still on the sofa〃This is SO good of you;
  when your time must have so many demands on it。〃
  〃Not in the least; Mr。 Thurstonmamma and the housekeeper have
  settled every thing; and I am really pleased to see you; as you can give
  me the history of the new play〃
  〃Ah! Miss Monson; my heartmy facultiesmy ideas〃 Tom was
  getting bothered; and he made a desperate effort to extricate himself
  〃In short; my JUDGMENT is so confused and monopolized; that I have
  no powers left to think or speak of plays。 In a word; I was not there。〃
  〃That explains it; thenand what has thus confused your mind; Mr。
  Thurston?〃
  〃The approach of this awful night。 You will be surrounded by a host of
  admirers; pouring into your ears their admiration and love; and then
  what shall I have to support me; but that 'yes;' with which you once
  raised me from the depths of despair to an elevation of happiness that
  was high as the highest pinnacle of the caverns of Kentucky; raising me
  from the depths of Chimborazo。〃
  {caverns of Kentucky = Mammoth Cave; Chimborazo = a 20;500 foot
  volcano in Ecuador}
  Tom meant to reverse this image; but love is proverbially desperate in
  its figures of speech; and any thing was better than appearing to
  hesitate。 Nevertheless; Miss Monson was too well instruct