lucile-第26章
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ought。
XIX。
〃So！〃 he thought； 〃they meet thus： and reweave the old charm！ And she hangs on his voice； and she leans on his arm； And she heeds me not； seeks me not； recks not of me！ Oh； what if I show'd her that I； too； can be Loved by oneher own rivalmore fair and more young？〃 The serpent rose in him； a serpent which； stung； Sought to sting。 Each unconscious； indeed； of the eye Fix'd upon them； Lucile and my lord saunter'd by； In converse which seem'd to be earnest。 A smile Now and then seem'd to show where their thoughts touch'd。 Meanwhile The muse of this story； convinced that they need her； To the Duke and Matilda returns； gentle Reader。
XX。
The Duke with that sort of aggressive false praise Which is meant a resentful remonstrance to raise From a listener （as sometimes a judge； just before He pulls down the black cap； very gently goes o'er The case for the prisoner； and deals tenderly With the man he is minded to hang by and by）； Had referr'd to Lucile； and then stopp'd to detect In the face of Matilda the growing effect Of the words he had dropp'd。 There's no weapon that slays Its victim so surely （if well aim'd） as praise。 Thus； a pause on their converse had fallen： and now Each was silent； preoccupied； thoughtful。 You know There are moments when silence； prolong'd and unbroken； More expressive may be than all words ever spoken。 It is when the heart has an instinct of what In the heart of another is passing。 And that In the heart of Matilda； what was it？ Whence came To her cheek on a sudden that tremulous flame？ What weighed down her head？ All your eye could discover Was the fact that Matilda was troubled。 Moreover That trouble the Duke's presence seem'd to renew。 She； however； broke silence； the first of the two。 The Duke was too prudent to shatter the spell Of a silence which suited his purpose so well。 She was plucking the leaves from a pale blush rose blossom Which had fall'n from the nosegay she wore in her bosom。 〃This poor flower；〃 she said； 〃seems it not out of place In this hot； lamplit air； with its fresh； fragile grace？〃 She bent her head low as she spoke。 With a smile The Duke watch'd her caressing the leaves all the while； And continued on his side the silence。 He knew This would force his companion their talk to renew At the point that he wish'd； and Matilda divined The significant pause with new trouble of mind。 She lifted one moment her head； but her look Encounter'd the ardent regard of the Duke； And dropp'd back on her flowret abash'd。 Then； still seeking The assurance she fancied she show'd him by speaking； She conceived herself safe in adopting again The theme she should most have avoided just then。
XXI。
〃Duke；〃 she said； 。 。 。 and she felt； as she spoke； her cheek burn'd； 〃You know； then； this 。 。 。 lady？〃 〃Too well！〃 he return'd。
MATILDA。
True； you drew with emotion her portrait just now。
LUVOIS。
With emotion？
MATILDA。
Yes； yes！ you described her； I know； As possess'd of a charm all unrivall'd。
LUVOIS。
Alas！ You mistook me completely！ You； madam； surpass This lady as moonlight does lamplight； as youth Surpasses its best imitations； as truth The fairest of falsehood surpasses； as nature Surpasses art's masterpiece； ay； as the creature Fresh and pure in its native adornment surpasses All the charms got by heart at the world's looking…glasses！ 〃Yet you said；〃she continued with some trepidation； 〃That you quite comprehended〃 。 。 。 a slight hesitation Shook the sentence； 。 。 。 〃a passion so strong as〃 。 。 。
LUVOIS。
〃True； true！ But not in a man that had once look'd at you。 Nor can I conceive； or excuse； or〃 。 。 。 Hush； hush！〃 She broke in； all more fair for one innocent blush。 〃Between man and woman these things differ so！ It may be that the world pardons 。 。 。 （how should I know？） In you what it visits on us； or 'tis true； It may be that we women are better than you。〃
LUVOIS。
Who denies it？ Yet； madam； once more you mistake。 The world； in its judgment； some difference may make 'Twixt the man and the woman； so far as respects Its social enchantments； but not as affects The one sentiment which it were easy to prove； Is the sole law we look to the moment we love。
MATILDA。
That may be。 Yet I think I should be less severe。 Although so inexperienced in such things； I fear I have learn'd that the heart cannot always repress Or account for the feelings which sway it。 〃Yes！ yes！ That is too true； indeed！〃 。 。 。 the Duke sigh'd。 And again For one moment in silence continued the twain。
XXII。
At length the Duke slowly； as though he had needed All this time to repress his emotions； proceeded： 〃And yet！ 。 。 。 what avails； then； to woman the gift Of a beauty like yours； if it cannot uplift Her heart from the reach of one doubt； one despair； One pang of wrong'd love； to which women less fair Are exposed； when they love？〃 With a quick change of tone； As though by resentment impell'd he went on： 〃The name that you bear； it is whisper'd； you took From love； not convention。 Well； lady； 。 。 。 that look So excited； so keen； on the face you must know Throughout all its expressionsthat rapturous glow； Those eloquent featuressignificant eyes Which that pale woman sees； yet betrays no surprise；〃 （He pointed his hand； as he spoke； to the door； Fixing with it Lucile and Lord Alfred） 。 。 。 〃before； Have you ever once seen what just now you may view In that face so familiar？ 。 。 。 no； lady； 'tis new。 Young； lovely； and loving； no doubt； as you are； Are you loved？〃 。 。 。
XXIII。
He look'd at herpausedfelt if thus far The ground held yet。 The ardor with which he had spoken； This close； rapid question； thus suddenly broken； Inspired in Matilda a vague sense of fear； As though some indefinite danger were near。 With composure； however； at once she replied： 〃'Tis three years since the day when I first was a bride； And my husband I never had cause to suspect； Nor ever have stoop'd； sir； such cause to detect。 Yet if in his looks or his acts I should see See； or fancysome moment's oblivion of me； I trust that I too should forget it；for you Must have seen that my heart is my husband's。〃 The hue On her cheek； with the effort wherewith to the Duke She had uttered this vague and half…frightened rebuke； Was white as the rose in her hand。 The last word Seem'd to die on her lip； and could scarcely be heard。 There was silence again。 A great step had been made By the Duke in the words he that evening had said。 There； half drown'd by the music； Matilda； that night； Had listen'dlong listen'dno doubt； in despite Of herself； to a voice she should never have heard； And her heart by that voice had been troubled and stirr'd。 And so having suffer'd in silence his eye To fathom her own； he resumed； with a sigh：
XXIV。
〃Will you suffer me； lady； your thoughts to invade By disclosing my own？ The position；〃 he said； 〃In which we so strangely seem placed may excuse The frankness and force of the words which I use。 You say that your heart is your husband's： You say That you love him。 You think so； of course； lady 。 。 。 nay； Such a love； I admit； were a merit； no doubt。 But； trust me； no true love there can be without Its dread penaltyjealousy。 〃Well； do not start！ Until now；either thanks to a singular art Of supreme self…control； you have held them all down Unreveal'd in your heart；or you never have known Even one of those fierce irresistible pangs Which deep passion engenders； that anguish which hangs On the heart like a nightmare； by jealousy bred。 But if； lady； the love you describe； in the bed Of a blissful security thus hath reposed Undisturb'd； with mild eyelids on happiness closed； Were it not to expose to a peril unjust； And most cruel； that happy repose
