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You are sorry? Indeed!
Yes, Lady Bligh, and disappointed too; for Id been hoping to find youd been ever so much beneath Sir James. Dont you see, if you had been ever so much beneath him, you arent a bit now; and it would have proved that the wife can become what the husband is, if she isnt that to begin with and if she tries hard. No you mustnt interrupt unless its to send me away. I want you to suppose a case. Look back, and imagine that your own case was the opposite to what it really was. That Sir James was of a very good family. That you were not only not that, but were stupid and ignorant, and a worse thing vulgar. That you had lived your rough life in another country; so that when he brought you to England as his wife, your head was full of nothing but that other country, which nobody wanted to know anything about. That you couldnt even talk like other people, but gave offence, not only without meaning to, but without knowing how. That
Lady Bligh could hear no more. Oh, Gladys! she exclaimed in a voice of pain, you are not thinking of yourself?
Thats a question! Still, as its your first, I dont mind telling you youve hit it, Lady Bligh. I am thinking of myself. But you must let me finish. Suppose to make short work of it that you had been me, what would you have done to get different, like?
My poor child! I cannot bear to hear you talk like this!
Nonsense, Lady Bligh. I want you to tell me how youd have gone about it you know what I mean.
I cant tell you, Gladys; I cant indeed!
What! Cant tell me what you would have done what I ought to do?
I cannot! Lady Bligh commanded her voice with difficulty. I cannot!
Oh! then its no good saying anything more about that. There was a touch of bitterness in the girls tone. But, at any rate, you might give me a hint or two how to be more like what you are . Cant you do that, even?
No, my dear how can I? I am no model, Heaven knows!
Arent you? Then I will get up. I am going, Lady Bligh. Its no good staying and bothering you any longer. I have asked my questions.
She rose sadly from the stool, and her eyes met Lady Blighs again. For some minutes she had kept her face turned steadily to the fire. The rich warm glow of the fire still flushed her face and lingered in her luminous eyes. In the half-lit room, with the rain rattling ceaselessly against the panes, the presence of the Bride was especially attractive and comforting; but perhaps it was chiefly the rarity of her companionship to Lady
Bligh that made the latter clutch Gladyss hand so eagerly.
Dont go, my dear. Stop, and let us talk. This is practically our first talk together, Gladys, dear; you neednt be in such a hurry to end it. Sit down again. And and I do wish you would not always call me Lady Bligh!
Then what am I to call you, pray? Gladys smiled up into the old ladys face; she could not help facing her now, for Lady Bligh would hold her hand; she was even forced to draw the footstool closer to the easy-chair; and thus she was now sitting at Lady Blighs feet, touching her, and holding her hand.
Could you not sometimes call me mother?
Gladys laughed. It wouldnt be easy.
But why not?
Because you could never be a mother to me . You might to another daughter-in-law, but not to me. You, who are so gentle and graceful and and everything , could never seem like a mother to a well, to me. People would say so, too, if they heard me call you mother. It would make everybody laugh.
Gladys! Gladys! How cruel you are to yourself! You are not what you say you are. Here just now
Ah, said the Bride, sadly. Here! Just now! Yes, it is easy enough here and now. Here in the quiet, by the fireside, alone with you, it is easy enough to be well-behaved. I am on my good behaviour, and no one knows it better than I do. And I know it, too, when I behave badly; but not till afterwards. I go forgetting myself, you see. I believe its principally when they talk to me about Australia. I suppose I lose my head, and talk wildly, and less like a lady than usual even. Alfred has told me, you see; though I dont know where it was I went wrong yesterday. I thought I was so very good all day. I hardly opened my mouth to anybody. But somehow I cant help it when the Bush crops up. You see, Im a Bush girl. All the girls out there arent like me; dont you believe it. They would think me as bad as you do. Im not a sample, you see. I should be riled if I was taken for one; nothing riles me so much as people speaking or thinking meanly of Australia! But here, alone with you, with everything so quiet, it would be difficult not to be quiet too. Whats more, I like it, Lady Bligh I do indeed. I cant come lady-like all at once, perhaps; but if I was oftener beside you, like just now, I might by degrees get more like you, Lady Bligh.
Then you shall be oftener with me you shall, my dear!
Thank you thank you so much! And I shant mind if you send me away; yet I wont speak if youre busy. If youll only let me come in sometimes, for a little bit, thats all I ask.