THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. Генри Джеймс

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      “Before that,” said Miss Archer. “She’s coming down to dinner — at eight o’clock. Don’t you forget a quarter to seven,” she added, turning with a smile to Ralph.

      “What’s to happen at a quarter to seven?”

      “I’m to see my mother,” said Ralph.

      “Ah, happy boy!” the old man commented. “You must sit down — you must have some tea,” he observed to his wife’s niece.

      “They gave me some tea in my room the moment I got there,” this young lady answered. “I’m sorry you’re out of health,” she added, resting her eyes upon her venerable host.

      “Oh, I’m an old man, my dear; it’s time for me to be old. But I shall be the better for having you here.”

      She had been looking all round her again — at the lawn, the great trees, the reedy, silvery Thames, the beautiful old house; and while engaged in this survey she had made room in it for her companions; a comprehensiveness of observation easily conceivable on the part of a young woman who was evidently both intelligent and excited. She had seated herself and had put away the little dog; her white hands, in her lap, were folded upon her black dress; her head was erect, her eye lighted, her flexible figure turned itself easily this way and that, in sympathy with the alertness with which she evidently caught impressions. Her impressions were numerous, and they were all reflected in a clear, still smile. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful as this.”

      “It’s looking very well,” said Mr. Touchett. “I know the way it strikes you. I’ve been through all that. But you’re very beautiful yourself,” he added with a politeness by no means crudely jocular and with the happy consciousness that his advanced age gave him the privilege of saying such things — even to young persons who might possibly take alarm at them.

      What degree of alarm this young person took need not be exactly measured; she instantly rose, however, with a blush which was not a refutation. “Oh yes, of course I’m lovely!” she returned with a quick laugh. “How old is your house? Is it Elizabethan?”

      “It’s early Tudor,” said Ralph Touchett.

      She turned toward him, watching his face. “Early Tudor? How very delightful! And I suppose there are a great many others.”

      “There are many much better ones.”

      “Don’t say that, my son!” the old man protested. “There’s nothing better than this.”

      “I’ve got a very good one; I think in some respects it’s rather better,” said Lord Warburton, who as yet had not spoken, but who had kept an attentive eye upon Miss Archer. He slightly inclined himself, smiling; he had an excellent manner with women. The girl appreciated it in an instant; she had not forgotten that this was Lord Warburton. “I should like very much to show it to you,” he added.

      “Don’t believe him,” cried the old man; “don’t look at it! It’s a wretched old barrack — not to be compared with this.”

      “I don’t know — I can’t judge,” said the girl, smiling at Lord Warburton.

      In this discussion Ralph Touchett took no interest whatever; he stood with his hands in his pockets, looking greatly as if he should like to renew his conversation with his new-found cousin.

      “Are you very fond of dogs?” he enquired by way of beginning. He seemed to recognise that it was an awkward beginning for a clever man.

      “Very fond of them indeed.”

      “You must keep the terrier, you know,” he went on, still awkwardly.

      “I’ll keep him while I’m here, with pleasure.”

      “That will be for a long time, I hope.”

      “You’re very kind. I hardly know. My aunt must settle that.”

      “I’ll settle it with her — at a quarter to seven.” And Ralph looked at his watch again.

      “I’m glad to be here at all,” said the girl.

      “I don’t believe you allow things to be settled for you.”

      “Oh yes; if they’re settled as I like them.”

      “I shall settle this as I like it,” said Ralph. It’s most unaccountable that we should never have known you.”

      “I was there — you had only to come and see me.”

      “There? Where do you mean?”

      “In the United States: in New York and Albany and other American places.”

      “I’ve been there — all over, but I never saw you. I can’t make it out.”

      Miss Archer just hesitated. “It was because there had been some disagreement between your mother and my father, after my mother’s death, which took place when I was a child. In consequence of it we never expected to see you.”

      “Ah, but I don’t embrace all my mother’s quarrels — heaven forbid!” the young man cried. “You’ve lately lost your father?” he went on more gravely.

      “Yes; more than a year ago. After that my aunt was very kind to me; she came to see me and proposed that I should come with her to Europe.”

      “I see,” said Ralph. “She has adopted you.”

      “Adopted me?” The girl stared, and her blush came back to her, together with a momentary look of pain which gave her interlocutor some alarm. He had underestimated the effect of his words. Lord Warburton, who appeared constantly desirous of a nearer view of Miss Archer, strolled toward the two cousins at the moment, and as he did so she rested her wider eyes on him.

      “Oh no; she has not adopted me. I’m not a candidate for adoption.”

      “I beg a thousand pardons,” Ralph murmured. “I meant — I meant— “ He hardly knew what he meant.

      “You meant she has taken me up. Yes; she likes to take people up. She has been very kind to me; but,” she added with a certain visible eagerness of desire to be explicit, “I’m very fond of my liberty.”

      “Are you talking about Mrs. Touchett?” the old man called out from his chair. “Come here, my dear, and tell me about her. I’m always thankful for information.”

      The girl hesitated again, smiling. “She’s really very benevolent,” she answered; after which she went over to her uncle, whose mirth was excited by her words.

      Lord Warburton was left standing with Ralph Touchett, to whom in a moment he said: “You wished a while ago to see my idea of an interesting woman. There it is!”

Chapter III

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      Mrs. Touchett СКАЧАТЬ