按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Emily approaches the sofa…throne； breathlessfollowed by her partner； entreating her to give him 〃one turn more。〃 She is not to be tempted； she means to rest。 Cecilia sees an act of mercy； suggested by the presence of the disengaged young man。 She seizes his arm； and hurries him off to poor Miss Darnaway； sitting forlorn in a corner； and thinking of the nursery at home。 In the meanwhile a circumstance occurs。 Mr。 Mirabel's all…embracing arm shows itself in a new character； when Emily sits by his side。
It becomes； for the first time； an irresolute arm。 It advances a littleand hesitates。 Emily at once administers an unexpected check； she insists on preserving a free waist； in her own outspoken language。 〃No； Mr。 Mirabel； keep that for the others。 You can't imagine how ridiculous you and the young ladies look； and how absurdly unaware of it you all seem to be。〃 For the first time in his life； the reverend and ready…witted man of the world is at a loss for an answer。 Why？
For this simple reason。 He too has felt the magnetic attraction of the irresistible little creature whom every one likes。 Miss Jethro has been doubly defeated。 She has failed to keep them apart； and her unexplained misgivings have not been justified by events： Emily and Mr。 Mirabel are good friends already。 The brilliant clergyman is poor； his interests in life point to a marriage for money； he has fascinated the heiresses of two rich fathers； Mr。 Tyvil and Mr。 de Sorand yet he is conscious of an influence （an alien influence； without a balance at its bankers）； which has； in some mysterious way； got between him and his interests。
On Emily's side； the attraction felt is of another nature altogether。 Among the merry young people at Monksmoor she is her old happy self again； and she finds in Mr。 Mirabel the most agreeable and amusing man whom she has ever met。 After those dismal night watches by the bed of her dying aunt； and the dreary weeks of solitude that followed； to live in this new world of luxury and gayety is like escaping from the darkness of night； and basking in the fall brightn ess of day。 Cecilia declares that she looks； once more； like the joyous queen of the bedroom； in the bygone time at school； and Francine （profaning Shakespeare without knowing it）； says； 〃Emily is herself again！〃
〃Now that your arm is in its right place； reverend sir；〃 she gayly resumes； 〃I may admit that there are exceptions to all rules。 My waist is at your disposal； in a case of necessitythat is to say； in a case of waltzing。〃
〃The one case of all others；〃 Mirabel answers； with the engaging frankness that has won him so many friends； 〃which can never happen in my unhappy experience。 Waltzing； I blush to own it； means picking me up off the floor； and putting smelling salts to my nostrils。 In other words； dear Miss Emily； it is the room that waltzesnot I。 I can't look at those whirling couples there； with a steady head。 Even the exquisite figure of our young hostess； when it describes flying circles； turns me giddy。〃
Hearing this allusion to Cecilia； Emily drops to the level of the other girls。 She too pays her homage to the Pope of private life。 〃You promised me your unbiased opinion of Cecilia；〃 she reminds him； 〃and you haven't given it yet。〃
The ladies' friend gently remonstrates。 〃Miss Wyvil's beauty dazzles me。 How can I give an unbiased opinion？ Besides； I am not thinking of her； I can only think of you。〃
Emily lifts her eyes； half merrily； half tenderly； and looks at him over the top of her fan。 It is her first effort at flirtation。 She is tempted to engage in the most interesting of all games to a girlthe game which plays at making love。 What has Cecilia told her； in those bedroom gossipings； dear to the hearts of the two friends？ Cecilia has whispered； 〃Mr。 Mirabel admires your figure； he calls you 'the Venus of Milo； in a state of perfect abridgment。'〃 Where is the daughter of Eve； who would not have been flattered by that pretty complimentwho would not have talked soft nonsense in return？ 〃You can only think of Me；〃 Emily repeats coquettishly。 〃Have you said that to the last young lady who occupied my place； and will you say it again to the next who follows me？〃
〃Not to one of them！ Mere compliments are for the othersnot for you。〃
〃What is for me； Mr。 Mirabel？〃
〃What I have just offered youa confession of the truth。〃
Emily is startled by the tone in which he replies。 He seems to be in earnest； not a vestige is left of the easy gayety of his manner。 His face shows an expression of anxiety which she has never seen in it yet。 〃Do you believe me？〃 he asks in a whisper。
She tries to change the subject。
〃When am I to hear you preach； Mr。 Mirabel？〃
He persists。 〃When you believe me；〃 he says。
His eyes add an emphasis to that reply which is not to be mistaken。 Emily turns away from him； and notices Francine。 She has left the dance； and is looking with marked attention at Emily and Mirabel。 〃I want to speak to you；〃 she says； and beckons impatiently to Emily。
Mirabel whispers； 〃Don't go！〃
Emily rises neverthelessready to avail herself of the first excuse for leaving him。 Francine meets her half way； and takes her roughly by the arm。
〃What is it？〃 Emily asks。
〃Suppose you leave off flirting with Mr。 Mirabel； and make yourself of some use。〃
〃In what way？〃
〃Use your earsand look at that girl。〃
She points disdainfully to innocent Miss Plym。 The rector's daughter possesses all the virtues； with one exceptionthe virtue of having an ear for music。 When she sings； she is out of tune； and； when she plays； she murders time。
〃Who can dance to such music as that？〃 says Francine。 〃Finish the waltz for her。〃
Emily naturally hesitates。 〃How can I take her place； unless she asks me？〃
Francine laughs scornfully。 〃Say at once； you want to go back to Mr。 Mirabel。〃
〃Do you think I should have got up； when you beckoned to me；〃 Emily rejoins； 〃if I had not wanted to get away from Mr。 Mirabel？〃
Instead of resenting this sharp retort； Francine suddenly breaks into good humor。 〃Come along； you little spit…fire； I'll manage it for you。〃
She leads Emily to the piano； and stops Miss Plym without a word of apology： 〃It's your turn to dance now。 Here's Miss Brown waiting to relieve you。〃
Cecilia has not been unobservant； in her own quiet way； of what has been going on。 Waiting until Francine and Miss Plym are out of hearing； she bends over Emily； and says； 〃My dear； I really do think Francine is in love with Mr。 Mirabel。〃
〃After having only been a week in the same house with him！〃 Emily exclaims。
〃At any rate；〃 said Cecilia； more smartly than usual； 〃she is jealous of _you_。〃
CHAPTER XXXIX。
FEIGNING。
The next morning； Mr。 Mirabel took two members of the circle at Monksmoor by surprise。 One of them was Emily； and one of them was the master of the house。
Seeing Emily alone in the garden before breakfast； he left his room and joined her。 〃Let me say one word；〃 he pleaded； 〃before we go to breakfast。 I am grieved to think that I was so unfortunate as to offend you； last night。〃
Emily's look of astonishment answered for her before she could speak。 〃What can I have said or done；〃 she asked； 〃to make you