colouredcostumeschafferingovertheirproduce。Ilookedabovethemtothetallcampanileofthechurchwhichfilledonesideofthesquare。Irecededastepandadjustedmygunontheledgeofthewindowtomysatisfaction。Ithenlookeddownthestreetinwhichtheprisonwassituated,andwhichdebouchedonthesquare,andawaitedevents。AttenminutespasttenIsawthesoldiersatthedooroftheprisonformup,andthenIknewthatthetwentyprisonersofwhomtheyformedtheescortwerestarting;butthemomenttheybegantomoveI
firedatthebigbellinthecampanile,whichrespondedwithaloudclang。Allthepeopleinthesquarelookedup。Astheprisonersenteredthesquare,whichtheyhadbeguntocrossinitswholebreadth,Ifiredagainandagain。Thebellbangedtwice,andthepeoplebegantobuzzabout。"Now,"Ithought,"Imustlettheoldbellhaveit。"Bythetimefivemoreballshadstruckthebellwitharesoundingdinthewholesquarewasincommotion。Amiraclewasevidentlyinprogressorthecampanilewasbewitched。Peoplebegantorunhitherandthither;allthesoldiersformingtheescortgapedopen-mouthedatthesteepleastheclangourcontinued。AssoonasthelastshothadbeenfiredIlookeddownintothesquareandsawallthis,andIsawthattheprisonerswereattemptingtoescape,andinmorethanoneinstancehadsucceeded,forthesoldiersbegantoscatterinpursuit,andthecountrypeopletoformthemselvesintoimpedingcrowdsasthoughbyaccident;butnowherecouldIseeValeria。WhenIwasquitesureshehadescapedIwentdownandjoinedthecrowd。Isawthreeprisonerscapturedandbroughtback,andwhenI
askedtheofficerincommandhowmanyhadescapedhesaidthree——
Croppo’swife,thepriest,andanother。
WhenImetmycavalryfriendsatdinnerthateveningitwasamusingtohearthemspeculateupontheremarkableoccurrencewhichhad,infact,upsetthewitsofthewholetown。Priestsandvergersandsacristanshadvisitedthecampanile,andoneofthemhadbroughtawayaflattenedpieceoflead,whichlookedasifitmighthavebeenabullet;butthesuggestionthateightbulletscouldhavehitthebellinsuccessionwithoutanybodyhearingasoundwastreatedwithridicule。Ibelievethebellwassubsequentlyexorcisedwithholywater。Iwasafraidtoremainwiththeregimentwithmyair-gunafterthis,lestsomeoneshoulddiscoveritandunravelthemystery;
besides,Ifeltasortoftraitortothebravefriendswhohadsogenerouslyofferedmetheirhospitality;soIinventedurgentprivateaffairswhichdemandedmyimmediatereturntoNaples,andonthemorningofmydeparturefoundmyselfembracedbyalltheofficersoftheregimentfromthecoloneldownward,whointhefervouroftheirkissesthrustsixteenwaxedmoustache-pointsagainstmycheeks。
AbouteighteenmonthsafterthisIheardofthecaptureandexecutionofCroppo,andIknewthatValeriawasfree;butIhadunexpectedlyinheritedapropertyandwasengagedtobemarried。Iamnowacountrygentlemanwithalargefamily。Mysanctumisstockedwithvariousmementosofmyyouthfuladventures,butnoneawakensinmesuchthrillingmemoriesasareexcitedbythebreviaryofthebrigandpriestandtheportraitofthebrigand’sbride。
MRS。GENERALTALBOYS
BY
ANTHONYTROLLOPE
WhyMrs。GeneralTalboysfirstmadeuphermindtopassthewinterof1859atRomeIneverclearlyunderstood。TomyselfsheexplainedherpurposessoonafterherarrivalattheEternalCity,bydeclaring,inherownenthusiasticmanner,thatshewasinspiredbyaburningdesiretodrinkfreshatthestilllivingfountainsofclassicalpoetryandsentiment。ButIalwaysthoughtthattherewassomethingmorethanthisinit。Classicalpoetryandsentimentweredoubtlessverydeartoher,butsoalso,Iimagine,werethesubstantialcomfortsofHardoverLodge,thegeneral’shouseinBerkshire;andIdonotthinkthatshewouldhaveemigratedforthewinterhadtherenotbeensomeslightdomesticmisunderstanding。Letthis,however,befullymadeclear——
thatsuchmisunderstanding,ifitexisted,musthavebeensimplyanaffairoftemper。Noimproprietyofconducthas,Iamverysure,everbeenimputedtothelady。Thegeneral,asalltheworldknows,ishot;
andMrs。Talboys,whenthesweetriversofherenthusiasmareunfedbycongenialwaters,can,Ibelieve,makeherselfdisagreeable。
Butbethisasitmay,inNovember,1859,Mrs。TalboyscameamongusEnglishatRome,andsoonsucceededinobtainingforherselfacomfortablefootinginoursociety。Weallthoughthermoreremarkableforhermentalattributesthanforphysicalperfection,butneverthelessshewasinherownwayasightlywoman。Shehadnospecialbrilliance,eitherofeyeorcomplexion,suchaswouldproducesuddenflamesinsusceptiblehearts,nordidsheseemtodemandinstanthomagebytheformandstepofagoddess;butwefoundhertobeagood-lookingwomanofsomethirtyorthirty-threeyearsofage,withsoft,peach-likecheeks,——rathertoolikethoseofacherub,——
withsparklingeyeswhichwerehardlylargeenough,withgoodteeth,awhiteforehead,adimpledchin,andafullbust。SuchoutwardlywasMrs。GeneralTalboys。Thedescriptionoftheinwardwomanisthepurporttowhichthesefewpageswillbedevoted。
Therearetwoqualitiestowhichthebestofmankindaremuchsubject,whicharenearlyrelatedtoeachother,andastowhichtheworldhasnotyetdecidedwhethertheyaretobeclassedamongthegoodorevilattributesofournature。Menandwomenareundertheinfluenceofthemboth,butmenoftenestundergotheformer,andwomenthelatter。
Theyareambitionandenthusiasm。NowMrs。Talboyswasanenthusiasticwoman。
Astoambition,generallyastheworldagreeswithMarkAntonyinstigmatisingitasagrievousfault,Iammyselfclearthatitisavirtue;butwithambitionatpresentwehavenoconcern。Enthusiasmalso,asIthink,leanstovirtue’sside,or,atleast,ifitbeafault,ofallfaultsitistheprettiest。Butthen,topartakeatallofvirtueoreventobeinanydegreepretty,theenthusiasmmustbetrue。
Badcoinisknownfromgoodbytheringofit,andsoisbadenthusiasm。Letthecoinerbeeversocleverathisart,inthecoiningofenthusiasmthesoundoftruegoldcanneverbeimpartedtothefalsemetal;andIdoubtwhetherthecleverestsheintheworldcanmakefalseenthusiasmpalatabletothetasteofman;tothetasteofanywomantheenthusiasmofanotherwomanisneververypalatable。
WeunderstoodatRomethatMrs。Talboyshadaconsiderablefamily,——
fourorfivechildren,weweretold,——butshebroughtwithheronlyonedaughter,alittlegirlabouttwelveyearsofage。Shehadtornherselfasunder,asshetoldme,fromtheyoungernurslingsofherheart,andhadleftthemtothecareofadevotedfemaleattendant,whoselovewasallbutmaternal。Andthenshesaidawordortwoaboutthegeneralintermswhichmademealmostthinkthatthisquasi-
maternalloveextendeditselfbeyondthechildren。Theidea,however,wasamistakenone,arisingfromthestrengthofherlanguage,towhichIwasthenunaccustomed。IhavesincebecomeawarethatnothingcanbemoredecorousthanoldMrs。Upton,theexcellentheadnurseatHardoverLodge;andnogentlemanmorediscreetinhisconductthanGeneralTalboys。
AndImayaswellheredeclarealsothattherecouldbenomorevirtuouswomanthanthegeneral’swife。Hermarriagevowwastoherparamounttoallothervowsandbondswhatever。Thegeneral’shonourwasquitesafewhenhesentherofftoRomebyherself,andhenodoubtknewthatitwasso。/Illiroburetoestriplex/,ofwhichI
believenoweaponsofanyassailantcouldgetthebetter。Butneverthelessweusedtofancythatshehadnorepugnancetoimproprietyinotherwomen——towhattheworldgenerallycallsimpropriety。Invinciblyattachedherselftothemarriagetie,shewouldconstantlyspeakofitasbynomeansnecessarilybindingonothers;andvirtuousherselfasanygriffinofpropriety,sheconstantlypatronised,atanyrate,thetheoryofinfidelityinherneighbours。ShewasveryeagerindenouncingtheprejudicesoftheEnglishworld,declaringthatshefoundexistenceamongthemtobenolongerpossibleforherself。ShewashotagainstthesternunforgivenessofBritishmatrons,andequallyeagerinreprobatingthestiffconventionalitiesofareligioninwhichshesaidthatnoneofitsvotarieshadfaith,thoughtheyallallowedthemselvestobeenslaved。
WehadatthattimeasmallsetatRomeconsistingchieflyofEnglishandAmericans,whohabituallymetatoneanother’srooms,andspentmanyofoureveninghoursindiscussingItalianpolitics。Wewere,mostofus,painters,poets,novelists,orsculptors——perhapsIshouldsaywould-bepainters,poets,novelists,andsculptors,aspirantshopingtobecomesomedayrecognised;andamongusMrs。Talboystookherplacenaturallyenoughonaccountofaveryprettytasteshehadforpainting。Idonotknowthatsheeveroriginatedanythingthatwasgrand,butshemadesomenicecopiesandwasfond,atanyrate,ofartconversation。Shewroteessaystoo,whichsheshowedinconfidencetovariousgentlemen,andhadsomeideaoftakinglessonsinmodelling。
InallourcircleConradMackinnon,anAmerican,wasperhapsthepersonmostqualifiedtobestyleditsleader。Hewasonewhoabsolutelydidgainhisliving,andanamplelivingtoo,byhispen,andwasregardedonallsidesasaliterarylion,justifiedbysuccessinroaringatanytonehemightplease。Hisusualroarwasnotexactlythatofasuckingdoveoranightingale,butitwasagood-humouredroar,notveryoffensivetoanymanandapparentlyacceptableenoughtosomeladies。Hewasabig,burlyman,neartofifty,asIsuppose,somewhatawkwardinhisgait,andsomewhatloudinhislaugh。Butthoughnightofifty,andthusungainly,helikedtobesmiledonbyprettywomen,andliked,assomesaid,tobeflatteredbythemalso。
Ifsoheshouldhavebeenhappy,fortheladiesatRomeatthattimemademuchofConradMackinnon。
OfMrs。Mackinnonnoonedidmakeverymuch,andyetshewasoneofthesweetest,dearest,quietestlittlecreaturesthatevermadegladaman’sfireside。Shewasexquisitelypretty,alwaysingoodhumour,neverstupid,self-denyingtoafault,andyetshewasgenerallyinthebackground。Shewouldseldomcomeforwardofherownwill,butwascontentedtositbehindherteapotandhearMackinnondohisroaring。
HewascertainlymuchgiventowhattheworldatRomecalledflirting,butthisdidnotintheleastannoyher。Shewastwentyyearshisjunior,andyetsheneverflirtedwithanyone。Womenwouldtellher——
good-naturedfriends——howMackinnonwenton,butshereceivedsuchtidingsasanexcellentjoke,observingthathehadalwaysdonethesame,andnodoubtalwayswoulduntilhewasninety。Idobelievethatshewasahappywoman,andyetIusedtothinkthatsheshouldhavebeenhappier。Thereis,however,noknowingtheinsideofanotherman’shouseorreadingtheriddlesofanotherman’sjoyandsorrow。
Wehadalsothereanotherlion,——alioncub,——entitledtoroaralittle,andofhimalsoImustsaysomething。CharlesO’Brienwasayoungmanabouttwenty-fiveyearsofage,whohadsentoutfromhisstudiointheprecedingyearacertainbustsupposedbyhisadmirerstobeunsurpassedbyanyeffortofancientormoderngenius。Iamnojudgeofsculpture,andwillnotthereforepronounceanopinion,butmanywhoconsideredthemselvestobejudgesdeclaredthatitwasa"goodishheadandshoulders"andnothingmore。Imerelymentionthefact,asitwasonthestrengthofthatheadandshouldersthatO’BrienseparatedhimselffromathrongofotherssuchashimselfinRome,walkedsolitaryduringthedays,andthrewhimselfatthefeetofvariousladieswhenthedayswereover。Hehadriddenontheshouldersofhisbustintoaprominentplaceinourcircle,andthereencounteredmuchfeminineadmiration——fromMrs。GeneralTalboysandothers。
SomeeighteenortwentyofususedtomeeteverySundayeveninginMrs。Mackinnon’sdrawing-room。Manyofus,indeed,wereinthehabitofseeingoneanotherdailyandofvisitingtogetherthehauntsinRomewhicharebestlovedbyart-lovingstrangers;buthereinthisdrawing-roomweweresuretocometogether,andherebeforetheendofNovemberMrs。Talboysmightalwaysbefound,notinanyaccustomedseat,butmovingabouttheroomasthedifferentmalementalattractionsofoursocietymightchancetomovethemselves。ShewasatfirstgreatlytakenbyMackinnon,whoalsowas,Ithink,alittlestirredbyheradmiration,thoughhestoutlydeniedthecharge。Shebecame,however,verydeartousallbeforesheleftus,andcertainlyweowedtoherourlove,forsheaddedinfinitelytothejoysofourwinter。
"Ihavecomeheretorefreshmyself,"shesaidtoMackinnononeevening——toMackinnonandmyself,forwewerestandingtogether。
"ShallIgetyoutea?"saidI。
"Andwillyouhavesomethingtoeat?"Mackinnonasked。
"No,no,no,"sheanswered。"Tea,yes;butforheaven’ssakeletnothingsoliddispeltheassociationsofsuchameetingasthis!"
"Ithoughtyoumighthavedinedearly,"saidMackinnon。NowMackinnonwasamanwhoseowndinnerwasverydeartohim。Ihaveseenhimbecomehastyandunpleasant,evenunderthepillarsoftheForum,whenhethoughtthatthepartywereplacinghisfishinjeopardybytheirdesiretolingertheretoolong。
"Early!Yes——no;Iknownotwhenitwas。Onedinesandsleepsinobediencetothatdullclaywhichweighsdownsogenerallytheparticleofourspirit;buttheclaymaysometimesbeforgotten;hereIcanalwaysforgetit。"
"Ithoughtyouaskedforrefreshment,"Isaid。Sheonlylookedatme,whosesmallattemptsatprosecompositionhaduptothattimebeenaltogetherunsuccessful,andthenaddressedherselftoreplytoMackinnon。
"Itistheairwhichwebreathethatfillsourlungsandgivesuslifeandlight;itisthatwhichrefreshesusifpureorsinksusintostagnationifitbefoul。Letmeforawhileinhalethebreathofaninvigoratingliterature。Sitdown,Mr。Mackinnon;IhaveaquestionthatImustputtoyou。"Andthenshesucceededincarryinghimoffintoacorner。AsfarasIcouldseehewentwillinglyenoughatthattime,thoughhesoonbecameaversetoanylongretirementincompanywithMrs。Talboys。
Wenoneofusquiteunderstoodwhatwereherexactideasonthesubjectofrevealedreligion。Somebody,Ithink,hadtoldherthattherewereamongusoneortwowhoseopinionswerenotexactlyorthodoxaccordingtothedoctrinesoftheestablishedEnglishchurch。
Ifsoshewasdeterminedtoshowusthatshealsowasadvancedbeyondtheprejudicesofanoldanddryschooloftheology。"Ihavethrowndownallthebarriersofreligion,"shesaidtopoorMrs。Mackinnon,"andamlookingforthesentimentsofapureChristianity。"
"Throwndownallthebarriersofreligion!"saidMrs。Mackinnon,inatoneofhorrorwhichwasnotappreciated。
"Indeed,yes,"saidMrs。Talboys,withanexultingvoice。"Arenotthedaysforsuchtrammelsgoneby?"
"ButyetyouholdbyChristianity?"
"ApureChristianity,unstainedbybloodandperjury,byhypocrisyandverbosegenuflection。CanInotworshipandsaymyprayersamongtheclouds?"Andshepointedtotheloftyceilingandthehandsomechandelier。
"ButIdagoestochurch,"saidMrs。Mackinnon。IdaTalboyswasherdaughter。Nowitmaybeobservedthatmanywhothrowdownthebarriersofreligion,sofarasthosebarriersmayaffectthemselves,stillmaintainthemonbehalfoftheirchildren。"Yes,"saidMrs。Talboys;
"dearIda!hersoftspiritisnotyetadaptedtoreceivetheperfecttruth。Weareobligedtogovernchildrenbythestrengthoftheirprejudices。"Andthenshemovedaway,foritwasseldomthatMrs。
Talboysremainedlonginconversationwithanylady。
Mackinnon,Ibelieve,soonbecametiredofher。Helikedherflattery,andatfirstdeclaredthatshewascleverandnice,buthernicenesswastoopurelycelestialtosatisfyhismundanetastes。Mackinnonhimselfcanrevelamongthecloudsinhisownwritings,andcanleaveussometimesindoubtwhetherheevermeanstocomebacktoearth,butwhenhisfootisonterrafirmahelovestofeeltheearthysubstratumwhichsupportshisweight。Withwomenhelikesahandthatcanremainanunnecessarymomentwithinhisown,aneyethatcanglistenwiththesparkleofchampagne,aheartweakenoughtomakeitsowner’sarmtremblewithinhisownbeneaththemoonlightgloomoftheColosseumarches。Adashofsentimentthewhilemakesallthesethingsthesweeter,butthesentimentalonewillnotsufficeforhim。Mrs。
Talboysdid,Ibelieve,drinkherglassofchampagne,asdootherladies,butwithherithadnosuchpleasingeffect。Itloosenedonlyhertongue,butneverhereyes。Herarm,Ithink,nevertrembledandherhandneverlingered。Thegeneralwasalwayssafe,andhappyperhapsinhissolitarysafety。
Itsohappenedthatwehadunfortunatelyamongustwoartistswhohadquarrelledwiththeirwives。O’Brien,whomIhavebeforementioned,wasoneofthem。InhiscaseIbelievehimtohavebeenalmostasfreefromblameasamancanbewhosemarriagewasinitselfafault。
However,hehadawifeinIrelandsometenyearsolderthanhimself,andthoughhemightsometimesalmostforgetthefact,hisfriendsandneighbourswerewellawareofit。Intheothercasethewholefaultprobablywaswiththehusband。Hewasanill-tempered,bad-heartedman,cleverenough,butwithoutprinciple;andhewascontinuallyguiltyofthegreatsinofspeakingevilofthewomanwhosenameheshouldhavebeenanxioustoprotect。Inbothcasesourfriend,Mrs。
Talboys,tookawarminterest,andineachofthemshesympathisedwiththepresenthusbandagainsttheabsentwife。
OftheconsolationwhichsheofferedinthelatterinstanceweusedtohearsomethingfromMackinnon。Hewouldrepeattohiswifeandtomeandmywifetheconversationswhichshehadwithhim。"PoorBrown!"
shewouldsay;"Ipityhimwithmyveryheart’sblood。"
"Youareawarethathehascomfortedhimselfinhisdesolation,"
Mackinnonreplied。
"Iknowverywelltowhatyouallude。IthinkImaysaythatIamconversantwithallthecircumstancesofthisheart-blightingsacrifice。"Mrs。Talboyswasapttoboastofthethoroughconfidencereposedinherbyallthoseinwhomshetookaninterest。"Yes,hehassoughtsuchcomfortinanotherloveasthehardcruelworldwouldallowhim。"
"Orperhapssomethingmorethanthat,"saidMackinnon。"HehasafamilyhereinRome,youknow;twolittlebabies。"
"Iknowit,Iknowit,"shesaid;"cherubangels!"AndasshespokeshelookedupintotheuglyfaceofMarcusAurelius,fortheywerestandingatthemomentunderthefigureofthegreathorsemanontheCampidoglio。"Ihaveseenthem,andtheyarechildrenofinnocence。IfallthebloodofalltheHowardsranintheirveinsitcouldnotmaketheirbirthmorenoble!"
"NotifthefatherandmotherofalltheHowardshadneverbeenmarried,"saidMackinnon。
"What!thatfromyou,Mr。Mackinnon!"saidMrs。Talboys,turningherbackwithenergyupontheequestrianstatueandlookingupintothefacesfirstofPolluxandthenofCastor,asthoughfromthemshemightgainsomeinspirationonthesubject,whichMarcusAureliusinhiscoldnesshaddeniedtoher。"Fromyou,whohavesonoblyclaimedformankindthedivineattributesoffreeaction!Fromyou,whohavetaughtmymindtosoarabovethepettybondswhichonemaninhislittlenesscontrivesforthesubjectionofhisbrother。Mackinnon——youwhoaresogreat!"Andshenowlookedupintohisface。"Mackinnon,unsaythosewords。"
"They/are/illegitimate,"saidhe,"andiftherewasanylandedproperty——"
"Landedproperty!andthatfromanAmerican!"
"ThechildrenareEnglish,youknow。"
"Landedproperty!Thetimewillshortlycome——ay,andIseeitcoming——whenthathatefulwordshallbeexpungedfromthecalendar,whenlandedpropertyshallbenomore。What!shallthefreesoulofaGod-
bornmansubmititselfforevertosuchtrammelsasthat?Shallweneverescapefromtheclaywhichsolonghasmanacledthesubtlerparticlesofthedivinespirit?Ay,yes,Mackinnon!"andthenshetookhimbythearm,andledhimtothetopofthehugestepswhichleaddownfromtheCampidogliointothestreetsofmodernRome。"Lookdownuponthatcountlessmultitude。"Mackinnonlookeddown,andsawthreegroupsofFrenchsoldiers,withthreeorfourlittlemenineachgroup;hesawalsoacoupleofdirtyfriars,andthreepriestsveryslowlybeginningthesideascenttothechurchoftheAraCoeli。"Lookdownuponthatcountlessmultitude,"saidMrs。Talboys,andshestretchedherarmsoutoverthehalf-desertedcity。"Theyareescapingnowfromthosetrammels——now,now——nowthatIamspeaking。"
"Theyhaveescapedlongagofromallsuchtrammelsasthatoflandedproperty,"saidMackinnon。
"Ay,andfromallterrestrialbonds,"shecontinued,notexactlyremarkingthepithofhislastobservation;"frombondsquasi-
terrestrialandquasi-celestial。Thefull-formedlimbsofthepresentage,runningwithquickstreamsofgenerousblood,willnolongerbeartheligatureswhichpasttimehavewovenforthedecrepit。Lookdownuponthatmultitude,Mackinnon;theyshallallbefree。"Andthen,stillclutchinghimbythearmandstillstandingatthetopofthosestairs,shegaveforthherprophecywiththefuryofasibyl。
"Theyshallallbefree。ORome,thoueternalone!thouwhohastbowedthynecktoimperialprideandpriestlycraft,thouwhohassufferedsorelyeventothishour,fromNerodowntoPioNono,thedaysofthineoppressionareover。Gonefromthyenfranchisedwaysforeveristheclangofthepraetoriancohortsandthemoreodiousdroneofmeddlingmonks!"Andyet,asMackinnonobserved,therestillstoodthedirtyfriarsandthesmallFrenchsoldiers,andtherestilltoiledtheslowpriests,wendingtheirtediouswayuptothechurchoftheAraCoeli。Butthatwasthemundaneviewofthematter,aviewnotregardedbyMrs。Talboysinherecstasy。"OItalia,"shecontinued,"O
Italiauna,oneandindivisibleinthyrights,andindivisiblealsointhywrongs!tousisitgiventoseetheaccomplishmentofthyglory。
ApeopleshallarisearoundthinealtarsgreaterintheannalsoftheworldthanthyScipios,thyGracchi,orthyCaesars。Notintorrentsofbloodorwithscreamsofbereavedmothersshallthynewtriumphsbestained;butmindshalldominateovermatter,and,doomedtogetherwithpopesandBourbons,withcardinals,diplomatists,andpolicespies,ignoranceandprejudiceshallbedrivenfromthysmilingterraces。AndthenRomeshallagainbecomethefaircapitalofthefairestregionofEurope。Hithershallflocktheartisansoftheworld,crowdingintothymartsallthatGodandmancangive。Wealth,beauty,andinnocenceshallmeetinthystreets——"
"Therewillbeaconsiderablechangebeforethattakesplace,"saidMackinnon。
"Thereshallbeaconsiderablechange,"sheanswered。"Mackinnon,totheeitisgiventoreadthesignsofthetime;andhastthounotread?WhyhavethefieldsofMagentaandSolferinobeenpiledwiththecorpsesofdyingheroes?WhyhavethewatersoftheMinciorunredwiththebloodofmartyrs?ThatItalymightbeunitedandRomeimmortal。Here,standingontheCapitoliumoftheancientcity,Isaythatitshallbeso;andthou,Mackinnon,whohearestmeknowestthatmywordsaretrue。"
TherewasnottheninRome——ImayalmostsaytherewasnotinItaly——
anEnglishmanoranAmericanwhodidnotwishwelltothecauseforwhichItalywasandisstillcontending,asalsothereishardlyonewhodoesnotnowregardthatcauseaswell-nightriumphant;butneverthelessitwasalmostimpossibletosympathisewithMrs。Talboys。
AsMackinnonsaid,sheflewsohighthattherewasnocomfortinflyingwithher。
"Well,"saidhe,"Brownandtherestofthemaredownbelow。Shallwegoandjointhem?"
"PoorBrown!Howwasitthatinspeakingofhistroubleswewereledontothisheart-stirringtheme?Yes,Ihaveseenthem,thesweetangels;andItellyoualsothatIhaveseentheirmother。IinsistedongoingtoherwhenIheardherhistoryfromhim。"
"Andwhatwasshelike,Mrs。Talboys?"
"Well,educationhasdonemoreforsomeofusthanforothers,andtherearethosefromwhosemoralsandsentimentswemightthankfullydrawalesson,whosemannersandoutwardgesturesarenotsuchascustomhasmadeagreeabletous。You,Iknow,canunderstandthat。I
haveseenher,andfeelsurethatsheispureinheartandhighinprinciple。Hasshenotsacrificedherself,andisnotself-sacrificethesurestguaranteefortruenobilityofcharacter?WouldMrs。
Mackinnonobjecttomybringingthemtogether?"
Mackinnonwasobligedtodeclarethathethoughthiswifewouldobject,andfromthattimeforthheandMrs。Talboysceasedtobeverycloseintheirfriendship。ShestillcametothehouseeverySundayevening,stillrefreshedherselfatthefountainsofhisliteraryrills,butherspecialpropheciesfromhenceforthwerepouredintootherears;anditsohappenedthatO’Briennowbecameherchiefally。
Idonotrememberthatshetroubledherselfmuchfurtherwiththecherubangelsorwiththeirmother,andIaminclinedtothinkthat,takingupwarmlyasshedidthestoryofO’Brien’smatrimonialwrongs,sheforgotthelittlehistoryoftheBrowns。Bethatasitmay,Mrs。
TalboysandO’Briennowbecamestrictlyconfidential,andshewouldenlargebythehalf-hourtogetheronthemiseriesofherfriend’spositiontoanyonewhomshecouldgettohearher。
"I’lltellyouwhat,Fanny,"Mackinnonsaidtohiswifeoneday——tohiswifeandtomine,forwewerealltogether——"weshallhavearowinthehouseifwedon’ttakecare。O’BrienwillbemakinglovetoMrs。Talboys。"
"Nonsense,"saidMrs。Mackinnon;"youarealwaysthinkingthatsomebodyisgoingtomakelovetosomeone。"
"Somebodyalwaysis,"saidhe。
"She’soldenoughtobehismother,"saidMrs。Mackinnon。
"WhatdoesthatmattertoanIrishman?"saidMackinnon。"Besides,I
doubtifthereismorethanfiveyears’differencebetweenthem。"
"Theremustbemorethanthat,"saidmywife。"IdaTalboysistwelve,Iknow,andIamnotquitesurethatIdaistheeldest。"
"IfshehadasonintheGuardsitwouldmakenodifference,"saidMackinnon。"Therearemenwhoconsiderthemselvesboundtomakelovetoawomanundercertaincircumstances,lettheageoftheladybewhatitmay。O’Brienissuchaone;andifshesympathiseswithhimmuchoftenerhewillmistakethematterandgodownonhisknees。Yououghttoputhimonhisguard,"hesaid,addressinghimselftohiswife。
"Indeed,Ishalldonosuchthing,"saidshe;"iftheyaretwofoolstheymust,likeotherfools,paythepriceoftheirfolly。"AsaruletherecouldbenosoftercreaturethanMrs。Mackinnon,butitseemedtomethathertendernessneverextendeditselfinthedirectionofMrs。Talboys。
Justatthistime,towardtheend,thatis,ofNovember,wemadeapartytovisitthetombswhichliealongtheAppianWaybeyondthatmostbeautifulofallsepulchres,thetombofCeciliaMetella。Itwasadeliciousday,andwehaddrivenalongthisroadforacoupleofmilesbeyondthewallsofthecity,enjoyingthemostlovelyviewwhichtheneighborhoodofRomeaffords,lookingoverthewondrousruinsoftheoldaqueductsuptowardTivoliandPalestrina。OfalltheenvironsofRomethisis,onafairday,themostenchanting;andhereperhaps,amongaworldoftombs,thoughtsandalmostmemoriesoftheold,olddayscomeupononewiththegreatestforce。ThegrandeurofRomeisbestseenandunderstoodfrombeneaththewallsoftheColosseum,anditsbeautyamongthepillarsoftheForumandthearchesoftheSacredWay;butitshistoryandfallbecomemorepalpabletothemindandmoreclearlyrealisedouthereamongthetombs,wheretheeyesrestuponthemountains,whoseshadeswerecooltotheoldRomansastous,thananywherewithinthewallsofthecity。HerewelookoutatthesameTivoliandthesamePraenesteglitteringinthesunshine,emboweredamongthefar-offvalleys,whichweredeartothem;andthebluemountainshavenotcrumbledawayintoruins。WithinRomeitselfwecanseenothingastheysawit。
Ourpartyconsistedofsomedozenorfifteenpersons,and,asahamperwithluncheoninithadbeenleftonthegrassyslopeatthebaseofthetombofCeciliaMetella,theexpeditionhadinitsomethingofthenatureofapicnic。Mrs。Talboyswasofcoursewithus,andIdaTalboys。O’Brienalsowasthere。ThehamperhadbeenpreparedinMrs。
Mackinnon’sroomundertheimmediateeyeofMackinnonhimself,andtheythereforewereregardedasthedominantspiritsoftheparty。MywifewasleaguedwithMrs。Mackinnon,aswasusuallythecase;andthereseemedtobeageneralopinion,amongthosewhowerecloselyinconfidencetogether,thatsomethingwouldhappenintheO’Brien-
Talboysmatter。Thetwohadbeeninseparableonthepreviousevening,forMrs。TalboyshadbeenurgingontheyoungIrishmanhercounselsrespectinghisdomestictroubles。SirCresswellCresswell,shehadtoldhim,washisrefuge。"Whyshouldhissoulsubmittobondswhichtheworldhadnowdeclaredtobeintolerable?Divorcewasnotnowtheprivilegeofthedissoluterich。Spiritswhichwereincompatibleneednolongerbecompelledtofretbeneaththesamecouples。"Inshort,shehadrecommendedhimtogotoEnglandandgetridofhiswife,asshewouldwithalittleencouragementhaverecommendedanymantogetridofanything。Iamsurethat,hadshebeenskilfullybroughtontothesubject,shemighthavebeeninducedtopronounceaverdictagainstsuchligaturesforthebodyascoats,waistcoats,andtrousers。Heraspirationsforfreedomignoredallbounds,andintheorytherewerenobarrierswhichshewasnotwillingtodemolish。
PoorO’Brien,asweallnowbegantosee,hadtakenthematteramiss。
HehadofferedtomakeabustofMrs。Talboys,andshehadconsented,expressingawishthatitmightfindaplaceamongthosewhohaddevotedthemselvestotheenfranchisementoftheirfellow-creatures。I
reallythinkshehadbutlittleofawoman’scustomarypersonalvanity。Iknowshehadanideathathereyewaslightedupinherwarmermomentsbysomespecialfire,thatsparksoflibertyshoneroundherbrow,andthatherbosomheavedwithgloriousaspirations;
butallthesefeelingshadreferencetoherinnergenius,nottoanyoutwardbeauty。ButO’Brienmisunderstoodthewoman,andthoughtitnecessarytogazeintoherfaceandsighasthoughhisheartwerebreaking。Indeed,hedeclaredtoayoungfriendthatMrs。Talboyswasperfectinherstyleofbeauty,andbeganthebustwiththisidea。Itwasgraduallybecomingcleartousallthathewouldbringhimselftogrief;butinsuchamatterwhocancautionaman?
Mrs。Mackinnonhadcontrivedtoseparatetheminmakingthecarriagearrangementsonthisday,butthisonlyaddedfueltothefirewhichwasnowburningwithinO’Brien’sbosom。Ibelievethathereallydidloveherinhiseasy,eager,susceptibleIrishway。Thathewouldgetoverthelittleepisodewithoutanyseriousinjurytohisheartnoonedoubted;butthenwhatwouldoccurwhenthedeclarationwasmade?HowwouldMrs。Talboysbearit?"
"Shedeservesit,"saidMrs。Mackinnon。
"Andtwiceasmuch,"mywifeadded。Whyisitthatwomenaresospitefultooneanother?
EarlyinthedayMrs。Talboysclambereduptothetopofatomb,andmadealittlespeech,holdingaparasoloverherhead。Beneathherfeet,shesaid,reposedtheashesofsomebloatedsenator,somegluttonoftheempire,whohadswallowedintohismawtheprovisionnecessaryforatribe。OldRomehadfallenthroughsuchselfishnessasthat,butnewRomewouldnotforgetthelesson。Allthiswasverywell,andthenO’Brienhelpedherdown;butafterthistherewasnoseparatingthem。Forherownpart,shewouldsoonerhavehadMackinnonatherelbow;butMackinnonnowhadfoundsomeotherelbow。"Enoughofthatwasasgoodasafeast,"hehadsaidtohiswife。AndthereforeMrs。Talboys,quiteunconsciousofevil,allowedherselftobeengrossedbyO’Brien。
Andthen,aboutthreeo’clock,wereturnedtothehamper。Luncheonundersuchcircumstancesalwaysmeansdinner,andwearrangedourselvesforaverycomfortablemeal。TothosewhoknowthetombofCeciliaMetellanodescriptionofthesceneisnecessary,andtothosewhodonotnodescriptionwillconveyafairideaofitsreality。Itisitselfalargelowtowerofgreatdiameter,butofbeautifulproportion,standingfaroutsidethecity,closeontothesideoftheoldRomanway。Ithasbeenembattledonthetopbysomelatter-daybaroninorderthatitmightbeusedforprotectiontothecastlewhichhasbeenbuiltonandattachedtoit。IfIrememberrightly,thiswasdonebyoneoftheFrangipani,andaverylovelyruinhehasmadeofit。Iknownocastellatedoldtumble-downresidenceinItalymorepicturesquethanthisbaronialadjuncttotheoldRomantomb,orwhichbettertallieswiththeideasengenderedwithinourmindsbyMrs。Radcliffeand"TheMysteriesofUdolpho。"Itliesalongtheroad,protectedonthesideofthecitybytheproudsepulchreoftheRomanmatron,anduptothelongruinedwallsofthebackofthebuildingstretchesagrassyslope,atthebottomofwhicharetheremainsofanoldRomancircus。Beyondthatisthelong,thin,gracefullineoftheClaudianaqueduct,withSoracteinthedistancetotheleft,andTivoli,Palestrina,andFrascatilyingamongthehillswhichboundtheview。ThatFrangipanibaronwasintherightofit,andIhopehegotthevalueofhismoneyoutoftheresidencewhichhebuiltforhimself。Idoubt,however,thathedidbutlittlegoodtothosewholivedinhiscloseneighbourhood。
Wehadaverycomfortablelittlebanquetseatedonthebrokenlumpsofstonewhichlieaboutunderthewallsofthetomb。IwonderwhethertheshadeofCeciliaMetellawaslookingdownuponus。Wehaveheardmuchofherintheselatterdays,andyetweknownothingabouther,norcanconceivewhyshewashonouredwithabiggertombthananyotherRomanmatron。Therewerethosethenamongourpartywhobelievedthatshemightstillcomebackamongus,and,withdueassistancefromsomecognatesusceptiblespirit,explaintousthecauseofherwidowedhusband’sliberality。Alas,alas!ifwemayjudgeoftheRomansbyourselvesthetruereasonforsuchsepulchralgrandeurwouldredoundlittletothecreditoftheladyCeciliaMetellaherselfortothatofCrassus,herbereavedanddesolatelord。
Shedidnotcomeamongusontheoccasionofthisbanquet,possiblybecausewehadnotablestheretoturninpreparationforherpresence;buthadshedoneso,shecouldnothavebeenmoreeloquentofthingsoftheotherworldthanwasMrs。Talboys。IhavesaidthatMrs。Talboys’seyeneverglancedmorebrightlyafteraglassofchampagne,butIaminclinedtothinkthatonthisoccasionitmayhavedoneso。O’BrienenactedGanymede,andwasperhapsmoreliberalthanotherlatter-dayGanymedestowhoseservicesMrs。Talboyshadbeenaccustomed。Letitnot,however,besuspectedbyanyonethatsheexceededthelimitsofadiscreetjoyousness。Bynomeans!Thegenerouswinepenetrated,perhaps,tosomeinnercellsofherheart,andbroughtforththoughtsinsparklingwordswhichotherwisemighthaveremainedconcealed;buttherewasnothinginwhatshethoughtorspokecalculatedtogiveumbrageeithertoananchoretortoavestal。
Awordortwoshesaidorsungabouttheflowingbowl,andonceshecalledforFalernian;butbeyondthisherconversewaschieflyoftherightsofmanandtheweaknessofwomen,oftheironagesthatwerepast,andofthegoldentimethatwastocome。
Shecalledatoastanddranktothehopesofthelatterhistoriansofthenineteenthcentury。ThenitwasthatshebadeO’Brien"fillhighthebowlwithSamianwine。"TheIrishmantookheratherword,andsheraisedthebumperandwaveditoverherheadbeforesheputittoherlips。Iamboundtodeclarethatshedidnotspilladrop。"Thetrue’Falerniangrape,’"shesaid,asshedepositedtheemptybeakeronthegrassbeneathherelbow。VilerchampagneIdonotthinkIeverswallowed;butitwasthetheoryofthewine,notitspalpablebodypresentthere,asitwereintheflesh,whichinspiredher。Therewasreallysomethinggrandaboutheronthatoccasion,andherenthusiasmalmostamountedtoreality。
Mackinnonwasamused,andencouragedher,asImustconfessdidI
also。Mrs。Mackinnonmadeuselesslittlesignstoherhusband,reallyfearingthattheFalernianwoulddoitsgoodofficestoothoroughly。
Mywife,gettingmeapartasIwalkedroundthecircledistributingviands,remarkedthat"thewomanwasafoolandwoulddisgraceherself。"ButIobservedthatafterthedisposalofthatbumpersheworshippedtherosygodintheoryonly,andthereforesawnooccasiontointerfere。"Come,Bacchus,"shesaid,"andcome,Silenus,ifthouwilt;Iknowthatyearehoveringroundthegravesofyourdepartedfavourites。Andye,too,nymphsofEgeria,"andshepointedtotheclassicgrovewhichwasallbutclosetousaswesatthere。"Inoldendaysyedidnotalwaysdespisetheabodesofmen。Butwhyshouldweinvokethepresenceofthegods——wewhocanbecomegodlikeourselves!
Weourselvesarethedeitiesofthepresentage。Forusshallthetablesbespreadwithambrosia,forusshallthenectarflow。"
Uponthewholeitwasaverygoodfooling——forawhile;andassoonasweweretiredofitwearosefromourseatsandbegantostrollabouttheplace。Itwasbeginningtobealittleduskandsomewhatcool,buttheeveningairwaspleasant,andtheladies,puttingontheirshawls,didnotseeminclinedatoncetogetintothecarriages。Atanyrate,Mrs。Talboyswasnotsoinclined,forshestarteddownthehilltowardthelonglowwalloftheoldRomancircusatthebottom,andO’Brien,closeatherelbow,startedwithher。
"Ida,mydear,youhadbetterremainhere,"shesaidtoherdaughter;
"youwillbetiredifyoucomeasfaraswearegoing。"
"Ohno,mamma,Ishallnot,"saidIda;"yougettiredmuchquickerthanIdo。"
"Ohyes,youwill;besides,Idonotwishyoutocome。"TherewasanendofitforIda,andMrs。TalboysandO’Brienwalkedofftogether,whilewealllookedintooneanother’sfaces。
"Itwouldbeacharitytogowiththem,"saidMackinnon。
"Doyoubecharitablethen,"saidhiswife。
"Itshouldbealady,"saidhe。
"Itisapitythatthemotherofthespotlesscherubimisnotherefortheoccasion,"saidshe。"Ihardlythinkthatanyonelessgiftedwillundertakesuchaself-sacrifice。"Anyattemptofthekindwould,however,nowhavebeentoolate,fortheywerealreadyatthebottomofthehill。O’Brienhadcertainlydrunkfreelyoftheperniciouscontentsofthoselong-neckedbottles,and,thoughnoonecouldfairlyaccusehimofbeingtipsy,neverthelessthatwhichmighthavemadeothersdrunkhadmadehimbold,andhedaredtodoperhapsmorethanmightbecomeaman。IfunderanycircumstanceshecouldbefoolenoughtomakeanavowaloflovetoMrs。Talboyshemightbeexpected,asweallthought,todoitnow。
Wewatchedthemastheymadeforagapinthewallwhichledthroughintothelargeenclosedspaceoftheoldcircus。Ithadbeenanarenaforchariotgames,andtheyhadgonedownwiththeavowedpurposeofsearchingwheremighthavebeenthemetaandascertaininghowthedriverscouldhaveturnedwhenattheirfullspeed。Forawhilewehadheardtheirvoices,orratherhervoiceespecially。"Theheartofaman,O’Brien,shouldsufficeforallemergencies,"wehadheardhersay。Shehadassumedastrangehabitofcallingmenbytheirsimplenames,asmenaddressoneanother。WhenshedidthistoMackinnon,whowasmucholderthanherself,wehadbeenallamusedbyit,andotherladiesofourpartyhadtakentocallhim"Mackinnon"whenMrs。
Talboyswasnotby;butwehadfeltthecomedytobelesssafewithO’Brien,especiallywhenononeoccasionweheardhimaddressherasArabella。Shedidnotseemtobeinanywaystruckbyhisdoingso,andwesupposedthereforethatithadbecomefrequentbetweenthem。
WhatreplyhemadeatthemomentabouttheheartofamanIdonotknow,andtheninafewminutestheydisappearedthroughthegapinthewall。
Noneofusfollowedthem,althoughitwouldhaveseemedthemostnaturalthingintheworldtodosohadnothingoutofthewaybeenexpected。Asitwas,weremainedthereroundthetombquizzingthelittlefoiblesofourdearfriendandhopingthatO’Brienwouldbequickinwhathewasdoing。Thathewouldundoubtedlygetaslapintheface,metaphorically,weallfeltcertain,fornoneofusdoubtedtherigidproprietyofthelady’sintentions。Someofusstrolledintothebuildingsandsomeofusgotoutontotheroad,butweallofuswerethinkingthatO’BrienwasveryslowaconsiderabletimebeforewesawMrs。Talboysreappearthroughthegap。
Atlast,however,shewasthere,andweatoncesawthatshewasalone。Shecameon,breastingthehillwithquicksteps,andwhenshedrewnearwecouldseethattherewasafrownasofinjuredmajestyonherbrow。Mackinnonandhiswifewentforwardtomeether。Ifshewerereallyintroubleitwouldbefittinginsomewaytoassisther,andofallwomenMrs。Mackinnonwasthelasttoseeanotherwomansufferfromillusagewithoutattemptingtoaidher。"Icertainlyneverlikedher,"Mrs。Mackinnonsaidafterward,"butIwasboundtogoandhearhertalewhenshereallyhadataletotell。"
AndMrs。Talboysnowhadataletotell——ifshechosetotellit。TheladiesofourpartydeclaredafterwardthatshewouldhaveactedmorewiselyhadshekepttoherselfbothO’Brien’swordstoherandheranswer。"Shewaswellabletotakecareofherself,"Mrs。Mackinnonsaid;"andafterallthesillymanhadtakenananswerwhenhegotit。"Not,however,thatO’Brienhadtakenhisanswerquiteimmediately,asfarasIcouldunderstandfromwhatweheardofthematterafterward。
AtthepresentmomentMrs。Talboyscameuptherisinggroundallaloneandataquickpace。"Themanhasinsultedme,"shesaidaloud,aswellasherpantingbreathwouldallowher,andassoonasshewasnearenoughtoMrs。Mackinnontospeaktoher。
"Iamsorryforthat,"saidMrs。Mackinnon。"Isupposehehastakenalittletoomuchwine。"
"No;itwasapremeditatedinsult。Thebase-heartedchurlhasfailedtounderstandthemeaningoftrue,honestsympathy。"
"Hewillforgetallaboutitwhenheissober,"saidMackinnon,meaningtocomforther。
"WhatcareIwhatheremembersorwhatheforgets?"shesaid,turninguponpoorMackinnonindignantly。"Youmengrovelsoinyourideas——"
("Andyet,"asMackinnonsaidafterward,"shehadbeentellingmethatIwasafoolforthelastthreeweeks。")"Youmengrovelsoinyourideasthatyoucannotunderstandthefeelingsofatrue-heartedwoman。
Whatcanhisforgetfulnessorhisremembrancebetome?MustnotI
rememberthisinsult?IsitpossiblethatIshouldforgetit?"
Mr。andMrs。Mackinnononlyhadgoneforwardtomeether,butneverthelessshespokesoloudthatallheardherwhowerestillclusteredroundthespotonwhichwehaddined。
"WhathasbecomeofMr。O’Brien?"aladywhisperedtome。
Ihadafield-glasswithme,and,lookinground,Isawhishatashewaswalkinginsidethewallsofthecircusinthedirectiontowardthecity。"Andveryfoolishhemustfeel,"saidthelady。
"Nodoubtheisusedtoit,"saidanother。
"Butconsideringherage,youknow,"saidthefirst,whomighthavebeenperhapsthreeyearsyoungerthanMrs。Talboys,andwhowasnotherselfaversetotheexcitementofamoderateflirtation。Butthenwhyshouldshehavebeenaverse,seeingthatshehadnotasyetbecomesubjecttothewillofanyimperiallord?
"Hewouldhavefeltmuchmorefoolish,"saidthethird,"ifshehadlistenedtowhathesaidtoher。"
"Well,Idon’tknow,"saidthesecond;"nobodywouldhaveknownanythingaboutitthen,andinafewweekstheywouldhavegraduallybecometiredofeachotherintheordinaryway。"
ButinthemeantimeMrs。Talboyswasamongus。Therehadbeennoattemptatsecrecy,andshewasstillloudlyinveighingagainstthegrovellingpropensitiesofmen。"That’squitetrue,Mrs。Talboys,"
saidoneoftheelderladies;"butthenwomenarenotalwayssocarefulastheyshouldbe。OfcourseIdonotmeantosaythattherehasbeenanyfaultonyourpart。"
"Faultonmypart!Ofcoursetherehasbeenfaultonmypart。Noonecanmakeanymistakewithoutfaulttosomeextent。Itookhimtobeamanofsense,andheisafool。GotoNaplesindeed。"
"DidhewantyoutogotoNaples?"askedMrs。Mackinnon。
"Yes;thatwaswhathesuggested。WeweretoleavebythetrainforCivitaVecchiaatsixto-morrowmorning,andcatchthesteamerwhichleavesLeghornto-night。Don’ttellmeofwine。Hewaspreparedforit!"Andshelookedroundaboutonuswithanairofinjuredmajestyinherfacewhichwasalmostinsupportable。
"Iwonderwhetherhetooktheticketsovernight,"saidMackinnon。
"Naples!"shesaid,asthoughnowspeakingexclusivelytoherself,"theonlygroundinItalywhichhasasyetmadenostruggleonbehalfoffreedom——afittingresidenceforsuchadastard!"
"Youwouldhavefounditverypleasantatthisseason,"saidtheunmarriedladywhowasthreeyearsherjunior。
MywifehadtakenIdaoutofthewaywhenthefirstcomplainingnotefromMrs。Talboyshadbeenheardascendingthehill。Butnow,whenmattersbegangraduallytobecomequiescent,shebroughtherback,suggestingasshedidsothattheymightbegintothinkofreturning。
"Itisgettingverycold,Idadear,isitnot?"saidshe。
"ButwhereisMr。O’Brien?"saidIda。
"Hehasfled——aspoltroonsalwaysfly,"saidMrs。Talboys。Ibelieveinmyheartthatshewouldhavebeengladtohavehadhimthereinthemiddleofthecircle,andtohavetriumphedoverhimpubliclyamongusall。Nofeelingofshamewouldhavekepthersilentforamoment。
"Fled!"saidIda,lookingupintohermother’sface。
"Yes,fled,mychild。"Andsheseizedherdaughterinherarms,andpressedhercloselytoherbosom。"Cowardsalwaysfly。"
"IsMr。O’Brienacoward?"Idaasked。
"Yes,acoward,averycoward!Andhehasfledbeforetheglanceofanhonestwoman’seye。Come,Mrs。Mackinnon,shallwegobacktothecity?Iamsorrythattheamusementofthedayshouldhavereceivedthischeck。"Andshewalkedforwardtothecarriageandtookherplaceinitwithanairthatshowedthatshewasproudofthewayinwhichshehadconductedherself。
"Sheisalittleconceitedaboutitafterall,"saidthatunmarriedlady。"IfpoorMr。O’BrienhadnotshownsomuchprematureanxietywithreferencetothatlittlejourneytoNaples,thingsmighthavegonequietlyafterall。"
Buttheunmarriedladywaswronginherjudgment。Mrs。Talboyswasproudandconceitedinthematter,butnotproudofhavingexcitedtheadmirationofherIrishlover。Shewasproudofherownsubsequentconduct,andgaveherselfcreditforcomingoutstronglyasthenoble-mindedmatron。"Ibelieveshethinks,"saidMrs。Mackinnon,"thathervirtueisquiteSpartanandunique;andifsheremainsinRomeshe’llboastofitthroughthewholewinter。"
"Ifshedoes,shemaybecertainthatO’Brienwilldothesame,"saidMackinnon。"Andinspiteofhishavingfledfromthefield,itisuponthecardsthathemaygetthebestofit。Mrs。Talboysisaveryexcellentwoman。Shehasprovedherexcellencebeyondadoubt。Butneverthelesssheissusceptibleofridicule。"
WeallfeltalittleanxietytohearO’Brien’saccountofthematter,andafterhavingdepositedtheladiesattheirhomesMackinnonandI
wentofftohislodgings。Atfirsthewasdeniedtous,butafterawhilewegothisservanttoacknowledgethathewasathome,andthenwemadeourwayuptohisstudio。Wefoundhimseatedbehindahalf-
formedmodel,orratheramerelumpofclaypunchedintosomethingresemblingtheshapeofahead,withapipeinhismouthandabitofstickinhishand。Hewaspretendingtowork,thoughwebothknewthatitwasoutofthequestionthatheshoulddoanythinginhispresentframeofmind。
"IthinkIheardmyservanttellyouthatIwasnotathome,"saidhe。
"Yes,hedid,"saidMackinnon,"andwouldhaveswornittooifwewouldhavelethim。Come,don’tpretendtobesurly。"
"Iamverybusy,Mr。Mackinnon。"
"CompletingyourheadofMrs。Talboys,Isuppose,beforeyoustartforNaples。"
"Youdon’tmeantosaythatshehastoldyouallaboutit?"Andheturnedawayfromhiswork,andlookedupintoourfaceswithacomicalexpression,halfoffunandhalfofdespair。
"Everywordofit,"saidI。"Whenyouwantaladytotravelwithyouneveraskhertogetupsoearlyinwinter。"
"But,O’Brien,howcouldyoubesuchanass?"saidMackinnon。"Asithasturnedout,thereisnoverygreatharmdone。Youhaveinsultedarespectablemiddle-agedwoman,themotherofafamilyandthewifeofageneralofficer,andthereisanendofit——unless,indeed,thegeneralofficershouldcomeoutfromEnglandtocallyoutoaccount。"
"Heiswelcome,"saidO’Brienhaughtily。
"Nodoubt,mydearfellow,"saidMackinnon;"thatwouldbeadignifiedandpleasantendingtotheaffair。ButwhatIwanttoknowisthis:
whatwouldyouhavedoneifshehadagreedtogo?"
"Henevercalculatedonthepossibilityofsuchacontingency,"saidI。
"Byheavens,then,Ithoughtshewouldlikeit,"saidhe。
"Andtoobligeheryouwerecontenttosacrificeyourself,"saidMackinnon。
"Well,thatwasjustit。Whatthedeuceisafellowtodowhenawomangoesoninthatway?Shetoldmedownthere,upontheoldrace-course,youknow,thatmatrimonialbondsweremadeforfoolsandslaves。WhatwasItosupposethatshemeantbythat?But,tomakeallsure,I
askedherwhatsortofafellowthegeneralwas。’Dearoldman,’shesaid,claspingherhandstogether。’Hemight,youknow,havebeenmyfather。’’Iwishhewere,’saidI,’becausethenyou’dbefree。’’Iamfree,’saidshe,stampingontheground,andlookingupatmesomuchastosaythatshecaredfornoone。’Then,’saidI,’acceptallthatisleftoftheheartofWenceslausO’Brien,’andIthrewmyselfbeforeherinherpath。’Hand,’saidI,’Ihavenonetogive,butthebloodwhichrunsredthroughmyveinsisdescendedfromadoublelineofkings。’Isaidthatbecausesheisalwaysfondofridingahighhorse。
Ihadgottencloseunderthewallsothatnoneofyoushouldseemefromthetower。"
"Andwhatanswerdidshemake?"saidMackinnon。
"Why,shewaspleasedasPunch——gavemebothherhandsanddeclaredthatwewouldbefriendsforever。Itismybelief,Mackinnon,thatthatwomanneverheardanythingofthekindbefore。Thegeneral,nodoubt,diditbyletter。"
"Andhowwasitthatshechangedhermind?"
"Why,Igotup,putmyarmroundherwaist,andtoldherthatwewouldbeofftoNaples。I’mblessedifshedidn’tgivemeaknockintheribsthatnearlysentmebackward。Shetookmybreathaway,sothatI
couldn’tspeaktoher。"
"Andthen————"
"Oh,therewasnothingmore。OfcourseIsawhowitwas。SoshewalkedoffonewayandItheother。Onthewhole,IconsiderthatIamwelloutofit。"
"AndsodoI,"saidMackinnon,verygravely。"Butifyouwillallowmetogiveyoumyadvice,Iwouldsuggestthatitwouldbewelltoavoidsuchmistakesinfuture。"
"Uponmyword,"saidO’Brien,excusinghimself,"Idon’tknowwhatamanistodoundersuchcircumstances。IgiveyoumyhonourthatIdiditalltoobligeher。"
WethendecidedthatMackinnonshouldconveytotheinjuredladythehumbleapologyofherlateadmirer。Itwassettledthatnodetailedexcusesshouldbemade。Itshouldbelefttohertoconsiderwhetherthedeedwhichhadbeendonemighthavebeenoccasionedbywineorbythefollyofamoment,orbyherownindiscreetenthusiasm。Noonebutthetwowerepresentwhenthemessagewasgiven,andthereforewewereobligedtotrusttoMackinnon’saccuracyforanaccountofit。
Shestoodonveryhighgroundindeed,hesaid,atfirstrefusingtohearanythingthathehadtosayonthematter。Thefoolishyoungman,shedeclared,wasbelowherangerandbelowhercontempt。
"HeisnotthefirstIrishmanthathasbeenmadeindiscreetbybeauty,"saidMackinnon。
"Atrucetothat,"shereplied,wavingherhandwithanairofassumedmajesty。"Theincident,contemptibleasitis,hasbeenunpleasanttome。ItwillnecessitatemywithdrawalfromRome。"
"Ohno,Mrs。Talboys;thatwillbemakingtoomuchofhim。"
"Thegreatestherothatlives,"sheanswered,"mayhavehishousemadeuninhabitablebyaverysmallinsect。"Mackinnonsworethatthosewereherownwords。ConsequentlyasobriquetwasattachedtoO’Brienofwhichhebynomeansapproved,andfromthatdaywealwayscalledMrs。
Talboys"thehero。"
Mackinnonprevailedatlastwithher,andshedidnotleaveRome。ShewaseveninducedtosendamessagetoO’Brienconveyingherforgiveness。TheyshookhandstogetherwithgreateclatinMrs。
Mackinnon’sdrawing-room;butIdonotsupposethatsheeveragainofferedtohimsympathyonthescoreofhismatrimonialtroubles。