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！
As he rose to return to the lodge； the keeper's little terrier； prowling about the garden； looked into the summer…house。 Seeing a stranger； the dog showed his teeth and growled。
Mirabel shrank back against the wall behind him； trembling in every limb。 His eyes stared in terror as the dog came nearer： barking in high triumph over the discovery of a frightened man whom he could bully。 Mirabel called out for help。 A laborer at work in the garden ran to the placeand stopped with a broad grin of amusement at seeing a grown man terrified by a barking dog。 〃Well；〃 he said to himself； after Mirabel had passed out under protection； 〃there goes a coward if ever there was one yet！〃
Mirabel waited a minute behind the lodge to recover himself。 He had been so completely unnerved that his hair was wet with perspiration。 While he used his handkerchief； he shuddered at other recollections than the recollection of the dog。 〃After that night at the inn；〃 he thought； 〃the least thing frightens me！〃
He was received by the young ladies with cries of derisive welcome。 〃Oh； for shame！ for shame！ here are the potatoes already cut； and nobody to fry them！〃
Mirabel assumed the mask of cheerfulnesswith the desperate resolution of an actor； amusing his audience at a time of domestic distress。 He astonished the keeper's wife by showin g that he really knew how to use her frying…pan。 Cecilia's omelet was toughbut the young ladies ate it。 Emily's mayonnaise sauce was almost as liquid as waterthey swallowed it nevertheless by the help of spoons。 The potatoes followed； crisp and dry and deliciousand Mirabel became more popular than ever。 〃He is the only one of us；〃 Cecilia sadly acknowledged； 〃who knows how to cook。〃
When they all left the lodge for a stroll in the park； Francine attached herself to Cecilia and Miss Plym。 She resigned Mirabel to Emilyin the happy belief that she had paved the way for a misunderstanding between them。
The merriment at the luncheon table had revived Emily's good spirits。 She had a light…hearted remembrance of the failure of her sauce。 Mirabel saw her smiling to herself。 〃May I ask what amuses you？〃 he said。
〃I was thinking of the debt of gratitude that we owe to Mr。 Wyvil；〃 she replied。 〃If he had not persuaded you to return to Monksmoor； we should never have seen the famous Mr。 Mirabel with a frying pan in his hand； and never have tasted the only good dish at our luncheon。〃
Mirabel tried vainly to adopt his companion's easy tone。 Now that he was alone with her； the doubts that Francine had aroused shook the prudent resolution at which he had arrived in the garden。 He ran the risk； and told Emily plainly why he had returned to Mr。 Wyvil's house。
〃Although I am sensible of our host's kindness；〃 he answered； 〃I should have gone back to my parsonagebut for You。〃
She declined to understand him seriously。 〃Then the affairs of your parish are neglectedand I am to blame！〃 she said。
〃Am I the first man who has neglected his duties for your sake？〃 he asked。 〃I wonder whether the masters at school had the heart to report you when you neglected your lessons？〃
She thought of Albanand betrayed herself by a heightened color。 The moment after； she changed the subject。 Mirabel could no longer resist the conclusion that Francine had told him the truth。
〃When do you leave us；〃 she inquired。
〃To…morrow is SaturdayI must go back as usual。〃
〃And how will your deserted parish receive you？〃
He made a desperate effort to be as amusing as usual。
〃I am sure of preserving my popularity；〃 he said； 〃while I have a cask in the cellar； and a few spare sixpences in my pocket。 The public spirit of my parishioners asks for nothing but money and beer。 Before I went to that wearisome meeting； I told my housekeeper that I was going to make a speech about reform。 She didn't know what I meant。 I explained that reform might increase the number of British citizens who had the right of voting at elections for parliament。 She brightened up directly。 'Ah；' she said； 'I've heard my husband talk about elections。 The more there are of them （_he_ says） the more money he'll get for his vote。 I'm all for reform。' On my way out of the house； I tried the man who works in my garden on the same subject。 He didn't look at the matter from the housekeeper's sanguine point of view。 'I don't deny that parliament once gave me a good dinner for nothing at the public…house；' he admitted。 'But that was years agoand （you'll excuse me； sir） I hear nothing of another dinner to come。 It's a matter of opinion； of course。 I don't myself believe in reform。' There are specimens of the state of public spirit in our village！〃 He paused。 Emily was listeningbut he had not succeeded in choosing a subject that amused her。 He tried a topic more nearly connected with his own interests； the topic of the future。 〃Our good friend has asked me to prolong my visit； after Sunday's duties are over；〃 he said。 〃I hope I shall find you here； next week？〃
〃Will the affairs of your parish allow you to come back？〃 Emily asked mischievously。
〃The affairs of my parishif you force me to confess itwere only an excuse。〃
〃An excuse for what？〃
〃An excuse for keeping away from Monksmoorin the interests of my own tranquillity。 The experiment has failed。 While you are here； I can't keep away。〃
She still declined to understand him seriously。 〃Must I tell you in plain words that flattery is thrown away on me？〃 she said。
〃Flattery is not offered to you；〃 he answered gravely。 〃I beg your pardon for having led to the mistake by talking of myself。〃 Having appealed to her indulgence by that act of submission； he ventured on another distant allusion to the man whom he hated and feared。 〃Shall I meet any friends of yours；〃 he resumed； 〃when I return on Monday？〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I only meant to ask if Mr。 Wyvil expects any new guests？〃
As he put the question； Cecilia's voice was heard behind them； calling to Emily。 They both turned round。 Mr。 Wyvil had joined his daughter and her two friends。 He advanced to meet Emily。
〃I have some news for you that you little expect；〃 he said。 〃A telegram has just arrived from Netherwoods。 Mr。 Alban Morris has got leave of absence； and is coming here to…morrow。〃
CHAPTER XLIV。
COMPETING。
Time at Monksmoor had advanced to the half hour before dinner； on Saturday evening。
Cecilia and Francine； Mr。 Wyvil and Mirabel； were loitering in the conservatory。 In the drawing…room； Emily had been considerately left alone with Alban。 He had missed the early train from Netherwoods； but he had arrived in time to dress for dinner； and to offer the necessary explanations。
If it had been possible for Alban to allude to the anonymous letter； he might have owned that his first impulse had led him to destroy it； and to assert his confidence in Emily by refusing Mr。 Wyvil's invitation。 But try as he might to forget them； the base words that he had read remained in his memory。 Irritating him at the outset； they had ended in rousing his jealousy。 Under that delusive influence； he persuaded himself that he had acted； in the first instance； without due consideration。 It was surely his interestit might even be his dutyto go to Mr。 Wyvi