brideshead+revisited-第71章
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Next morning I asked her how the night had passed。
'He went to sleep almost at once。 I came in to see him at two to make up the fire； the lights were on； but he was asleep again。 He must have woken up and turned them on； he had to get out of bed to do that。 I think perhaps he is afraid of the dark。'
It was natural； with her hospital experience； that Cordelia should take charge of her father。 When the doctors came that day they gave their instructions to her； instinctively。
'Until he gets worse；' she said； 'I and the valet can look after him。 We don't want nurses in the house before they are needed。' At this stage the doctors had nothing to remend except to keep him fortable and administer certain drugs when his attacks came on。
'How long will it be？'
'Lady Cordelia； there are men walking about in hearty old age whom their doctors gave a week to live。 I have learned one thing in medicine； never prophesy。'
These two men had made a long journey to tell her this； the local doctor was there to accept the same advice in technical phrases。
That night Lord Marchmain reverted to the topic of his new daughter…in…law； it had never been long out of his mind； finding expression in various sly hints throughout the day； now he lay back in his pillows and talked of her at length。
'I have never been much moved by family piety until now；' he said； 'but I am frankly appalled at the prospect of … of Beryl taking what was once my mother's place in this house。 Why should that uncouth pair sit here childless while the place crumbles about their ears？ I will not disguise from you that I have taken a dislike to Beryl。
'Perhaps it was unfortunate that we met in Rome。 Anywhere else might have been more sympathetic。 And yet； if one es to consider it； where could I have met her without repugnance？ We dined at Ranieri's； it is a quiet little restaurant I have frequented for years … no doubt you know it。 Beryl seemed to fill the place。 I； of course； was host； though to hear Beryl press my son with food you might have thought otherwise。 Brideshead was always a greedy boy… a wife who has his best interests at heart should seek to restrain him。 However； that is a matter of small importance。
'She had no doubt heard of me as a man of irregular life。 I can only describe her manner to me as roguish。 A naughty old man； that's what she thought I was。 I suppose she had met naughty old admirals and knew how they should be humoured。。。I could not attempt to reproduce her conversation。 I will give you one example。
'They had been to an audience at the Vatican that morning； a blessing for their marriage … I did not follow attentively something of the kind had happened before； I gathered； some previous husband； some previous Pope。 She described； rather vivaciously； how on this earlier occasion she had gone with a whole body … of newly married couples； mostly Italians of all ranks； some or the simpler girls in their wedding dresses； and how each had appraised the other； the bridegrooms looking the brides over； paring their own with one another's； and so forth。 Then she said； 〃This time； of course； we were in private； …but do you know； Lord Marchmain； I felt as though it was I who was leading in the bride。〃
'It was said with great indelicacy。 I have not yet quite fathomed her meaning。 Was she making a play on my son's name； or was she； do you think； referring to his undoubted virginity？ I fancy the latter。 Anyway； it was with pleasantries of that kind that we passed the evening。
'I don't think she would be quite in her proper element here； do you？ Who shall I leave it to？ The entail ended with me； you know。 Sebastian； alas； is out of the question。 Who wants it？ Quis？ Would you like it； Cara？ No； of course you would not。 Cordelia？ I think I shall leave it to Julia and Charles。'
'Of course not； papa； it's Bridey's。'
'And。。。Beryl's？ I will have Gregson down one day soon and go over the matter。 It is time I brought my will up to date； it is full of anomalies and anachronisms。。。I have rather a fancy for the idea of installing Julia here； so beautiful this evening； my dear； so beautiful always； much； much more suitable。'
Shortly after this he sent to London for his solicitor； but； on the day he came； Lord Marchmain was suffering from an attack and would not see him。 'Plenty of time；' he said； between painful gasps for breath； 'another day； when I am stronger；' but the choice of his heir was constantly in his mind； and he referred often to the time when Julia and I should be married and in possession。
'Do you think he really means to leave it to us？' I asked Julia。
'Yes； I think he does。'
'But it's monstrous for Bridey。'
'Is it？ I don't think he cares much for the place。 I do； you know。 He and Beryl would be much more content in some little house somewhere。'
'You mean to accept it？'
'Certainly。 It's papa's to leave as he likes。 I think you and I could be very happy here。'
It opened a prospect； the prospect one gained at the turn of the avenue； as I had first seen it with Sebastian； of the secluded valley； the lakes falling away one below the other； the old house in the foreground； the rest of the world abandoned and forgotten； a world of its own of peace and love and beauty； a soldier's dream in a foreign bivouac； such a prospect perhaps as a high pinnacle of the temple afforded after the hungry days in the desert and the jackal…haunted nights。 Need I reproach myself if sometimes I was taken by the vision？
The weeks of illness wore on and the life of the house kept pace with the faltering strength of the sick man。 There were days when Lord Marchmain was dressed； when he stood at the window or moved on his valet's arm from fire to fire through the rooms of the ground floor； when visitors came and went neighbours and people from the estate； men of business from London … parcels of new books were opened and discussed； a piano was moved into the Chinese drawing…room； once at the end of February； on a single； unexpected day of brilliant sunshine； he called for a car and got as far as the hall； had on his fur coat； and reached the front door。 Then suddenly he lost interest in the drive； said 'Not now。 Later。 One day in the summer；' took his man's arm again and was led back to his chair。 Once he had the humour of changing his room and gave detailed orders for a move to the Painted Parlour； the chinoiserie； he said； disturbed his rest … he kept the lights full on at night … but again lost heart； countermanded everything； and kept his room。
On other days the house was hushed as he sat high in bed； propped by his pillows； with labouring breath； even then he wanted to have us round him； night or day he could not bear to be alone； when he could not speak his eyes followed us； and if anyone left the room he would look distressed； and Cara； sitting often for hours at a time by his side against the pillows with an arm in his； would say； 'It's all right； Alex； she's ing back。'
Brideshead and his wife returned from their honeymoon and stayed a few nights； it was one of the bad times； and Lord Marchmain refused to have them near him。 It was Beryl's first visit； and she would have been unnatural if she had shown no curiosity about what had nearly been； and now again promised soon to be； her home。 Beryl was natural enough； and surveyed the place fairly thoroughly in the days she was there。 In the strange disorder caused by Lord Marchmain's illness； it must have seemed capable of much improvement； she referred once or twice to the way in which establishments of similar size had been managed at various Government Houses she had visited。 Brideshead took her visiting among the tenants by day； and in the evenings； she talked to me of painting； or to Cordelia of hospitals； or to Julia of clothes； with cheerful assurance。 The shadow of betrayal； the knowledge of how precarious were their just expectations； was all one…sided。 I was not easy with them； but that was no new thing to Brideshead； in the little circle of shyness in which he was used to move； my guilt passed unseen。
Eventually it became clear that Lord Marchmain did not intend to see more of them。 Brideshead was admitted
