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书虫5级《纯真年代》3. 伯爵夫人招惹麻烦

所属教程:书虫5级 纯真年代

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2022年07月22日

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3. THE COUNTESS CAUSES TROUBLE

The Countess had said, 'After five,' and at half past five the next day Newland was ringing the bell of her house in West Twenty-third Street. She had rented it from her aunt Medora, who was travelling again, but it was a strange area to live in – a narrow street of poor-looking houses which needed painting, a street inhabited by dressmakers and writers.

The Count must have robbed her of her fortune as well as her dreams,' Newland thought as he looked around him.

The young man had not had an enjoyable day. He had lunched at the Wellands', hoping for some time alone with May. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she had looked the night before, and to beg her to bring forward the date of their marriage, which was planned for next autumn. But when he mentioned the idea at lunch, Mrs Welland had just shaken her head at him in hurt surprise, saying, 'May needs twelve sets of everything, and every piece must be sewn by hand...'

Then he had been forced to go with the ladies on their afternoon of social visits, calling on several families in turn to announce the engagement. As he left the Wellands' house, May's mother called after him, 'Tomorrow we'll do the Chiverses and the Dallases.' And to his horror Newland realized her plan was to visit the friends of both families in alphabetical order, and that they were only in the first quarter of the alphabet. He knew he would not enjoy the next few months.

He had meant to tell May of the Countess's request – or command, rather – that he should call on her that afternoon, but in the short time they had been alone, he had had more urgent things to say to May, and the moment for telling her had passed.

The door was opened by a dark-haired servant girl, who did not speak English. She showed him into a sitting room, and disappeared. Newland looked around curiously. The room was unlike any he had known. There were a few pieces of fine old furniture, some Italian-looking pictures, and just two roses in a tall thin vase, perfectly positioned. The room had its own special atmosphere which seemed to wrap around him – even the smell was different, suggesting exotic places like Samarkand in central Asia. 'How will May furnish our house?' he thought. 'Probably in the same purple and yellow as at her parents'. At least I'll be able to arrange my library as I like.'

After a while he heard a carriage arrive outside, and looking through the curtains he caught sight of Julius Beaufort helping Madame Olenska out. In a few moments she entered the room.

How do you like my funny house?' she asked, showing no surprise at seeing him. 'To me it's like heaven.'

You've arranged it delightfully,' he said.

I suppose what I like is the wonderful feeling of being here in my own country and my own town, of being alone in it.'

You like being alone so much?'

Yes, as long as my friends prevent me from feeling lonely.' She sat down, lying back in her chair and putting her hands behind her head. 'This is the hour I like best, don't you?'

A sense of his own importance made him say, 'I was afraid you'd forgotten the time. Beaufort must have been a very interesting companion.'

She looked amused. 'Why – have you waited long? Mr Beaufort took me to see some houses – my family want me to move to a better area. But what does it matter where one lives?'

This street just isn't fashionable.'

Fashionable! Do you all think so much of that? Why not make one's own fashions? But I suppose I've lived too independently. Now I want to do what you all do. I want to feel cared for and safe.'

He was touched. 'That's what your friends want you to feel.' But he suspected she still did not realize how close to social disaster she had been, before the van der Luydens had saved her. So he said, 'last night the best families in New York were looking after you.'

I know, it was such a nice party!' she replied lightly.

These words were hardly adequate, Newland felt, for the social importance of that event.

The van der Luydens,' he said seriously, 'are the most influential people in New York. Unfortunately, because they are elderly and in poor health, they do not often receive guests.'

Isn't that the reason for their great influence?' she said thoughtfully. 'It's because they are hardly ever seen.'

He stared at her, and suddenly realized she was right. He laughed, and thought no more about the van der Luydens.

But you'll explain these things to me, won't you?' Madame Olenska continued. 'You'll tell me all I ought to know?'

It's you who are telling me, opening my eyes to things I've looked at so long that I no longer really see them.' He wanted to say, 'Don't be seen driving about the streets with Beaufort,' but he was being too deeply drawn into the atmosphere of the room to give advice of that kind. He felt a long way from New York; he was in Samarkand, from where New York looked strangely small and distant, as indeed it would.

The Countess bent over the fire, holding her thin hands out to the flames, and her face seemed pale in the firelight.

Your family,' Newland added, 'can advise you, especially the older women.'

She shook her head. 'Oh, I know! All my aunts, and my grandmother. But only if they don't hear anything unpleasant! Does no one want to know the truth here, Mr Archer? The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask me to pretend!' She put her head in her hands and started crying.

Madame Olenska! Oh, don't, Ellen!' he cried, jumping up and bending over her. He took one of her hands, holding and rubbing it like a child's, but she soon freed herself and looked up at him with wet eyes.

Does no one cry here, either? I suppose there's no need to, in heaven,' she said with a laugh.

Newland realized with horror that he had called her 'Ellen'. The use of first names between young people was only permitted if they were engaged. Somewhere in his mind's eye he could see the tall white figure of May Welland – she seemed very far away.

Suddenly the servant came in and spoke in Italian to the Countess. She showed in a strange-looking couple – the Duke of St Austrey and Mrs Struthers, a large lady with unnaturally black hair, painted lips, and an expensive fur coat. They had come to invite Madame Olenska to a musical evening at Mrs Struthers' house on Sunday evening. Madame Olenska accepted with delight, and Mrs Struthers waved a cheerful hand at Newland.

And bring your young gentleman with you,' she said.

Newland escaped as quickly as he could. He had no wish to become involved with the socially unacceptable Mrs Struthers. As he went out into the wintry night, the feeling of Samarkand disappeared. New York was all around him again, and May Welland the loveliest woman in it.

He went straight to a flower shop, to send her the daily box of sweet-smelling white flowers, which he realized he had forgotten to send that morning. While in the shop, he noticed a huge bunch of yellow roses. They were not May's kind of flower – too rich, too strong, too exotic for her. He gave the assistant the Countess's address and told him to send them there at once, but he did not like to put his name on the card.

The next day he persuaded May to escape for a walk in the park. It was a sunny winter's day, with snow on the ground, and the cold air brought out the colour in May's lovely face. Newland felt proud to have such beauty walking next to him, and he felt his doubts and worries disappear.

They talked about the flowers he sent her every day, and he confessed that he had sent roses to the Countess. May was delighted he was being so kind to her cousin. Then Newland started talking about their own plans, their future, and Mrs Welland's insistence on a long engagement.

But aren't we very happy as we are?' May asked, smiling brilliantly up at him.

But aren't we very happy as we are?' May asked.

We could be even happier. We could be together all the time. We could be travelling.'

That would be lovely,' she replied. 'But Mother would not understand us wanting to do things so differently from other couples.'

Suddenly he felt quite desperate. Would he ever be able to reach the real May Welland, through the wall of custom and social expectation which divided them? And what if, when he finally broke down the wall, there was nobody there?

Do we have to do things the way everyone else does?' he cried, almost wildly. 'Can't you and I be different, May?'

Her eyes rested on him with a bright, unclouded admiration. 'But we can't just run away together, can we?' she asked. 'You know, like people in books.'

Why not – why not – why not?'

She looked a little bored by his insistence. 'I'm not clever enough to argue with you. But that sort of thing is rather – vulgar, isn't it?'

Are you so much afraid of being vulgar?'

She was clearly shocked by his question. 'Of course I am – and so are you,' she replied sharply. Then, sure of having found the right way to close the discussion, she went on lightheartedly: 'Oh, did I tell you that I showed Ellen my ring? She thinks it's the most beautiful one she ever saw...'

All next day he felt depressed. He could see his life stretching tidily ahead of him, with no excitement, no unplanned events, and he was filled with unreasoning horror at the thought of doing the same thing every day at the same hour. The word 'sameness!' repeated itself maddeningly inside his head.

In the afternoon Janey came to see him in his library.

Newland, Mother's very angry,' she said.

Angry? With whom? About what?'

Your friend Madame Olenska. She was at Mrs Struthers' party last night, on a Sunday evening, Newland, when people are at church. She went with the Duke and Mr Julius Beaufort.'

When he heard the last name, a senseless anger took hold of Newland, but he controlled himself and just laughed. 'Well, what of it? I knew she meant to go.'

Janey went pale. 'You knew she meant to go and you didn't try to stop her? To warn her?'

Stop her? Warn her?' He laughed again. 'I'm not engaged to the Countess Olenska!' The words sounded strange in his ears.

Well, I think you'd better come down and speak to Mother.'

In the sitting room Mrs Archer was looking very anxious. 'I'm so worried the van der Luydens will be offended,' she said.

Why should they be offended?' Newland asked.

Because she went to the house of that vulgar woman.'

Well, Mrs Struthers may be vulgar,' said Newland, 'but she has good music, and amuses people on Sunday evenings, when the whole of New York is dying of boredom.'

Good music? All I know is, there was a woman who got up on a table and sang the things they sing at the places you go to in Paris. There was smoking and champagne.'

Well, that kind of thing happens in other places, and the world still goes on.'

At this moment in the argument the servant came to the door and announced, 'Mr Henry van der Luyden.'

A visit from this gentleman was such an unusual event that both ladies looked quite frightened, but Newland remained calm.

Come in, sir,' he said, going forward to greet his relation. 'We were just talking about you – and the Countess Olenska.'

Mrs Archer went pale, and put a hand to her heart.

Ah – a delightful woman,' replied Mr van der Luyden. 'I have just been to see her. The Duke told me to go and see how cleverly she's arranged her sitting room. And it's true – quite remarkable! I would take Louisa to see the Countess if the area were less unpleasant.' There was dead silence. Mr van der Luyden continued, 'The fact is, between ourselves, I wanted to give her a friendly warning about allowing the Duke, or anyone else, to carry her off to parties with him.'

Has the Duke been carrying her off to parties?' asked Mrs Archer innocently.

I'm afraid so, dear Adeline. But Madame Olenska was very grateful for my few words of guidance.'

And so Mrs Archer's anxiety about Ellen Olenska's behaviour was calmed, for the moment, at least.

Two weeks later Newland was sitting doing nothing in the offices of Letterblair, Lamson and low, the firm of lawyers whom he worked for, when he was called to the private office of the head of the firm, Mr Letterblair. The old man was clearly a little worried. It appeared that the Countess Olenska wished to get a divorce from her husband. Her family, especially old Mrs Manson Mingott, wanted to avoid the scandal this would cause. They had sent a number of papers to Mr Letterblair, asking that Newland Archer, as a future member of the family, should take on the case. They wanted Newland, on behalf of the Letterblair firm, to advise the Countess against divorce.

Newland was at first unwilling to get involved in the Countess's private life. But once he had read the papers, which included letters from her husband, he was so horrified by her suffering at the hands of the Count that he agreed to take on the case. He was determined to give her his support, no matter what she decided to do. So he made an appointment with her, at her house, in order to discuss the case.

* * *

inhabit v. if animals or people inhabit an area or place, they live there 居住于

call on to visit someone for a short time 拜访,探望

alphabetical adj. arranged according to the order of letters in the alphabet 按字母顺序的

alphabet n. a set of letters, arranged in a particular order, and used in writing 字母表

atmosphere n. the feeling or mood that a person has in a particular place or situation 氛围

exotic adj. seeming exciting or unusual because it is connected with foreign countries 异国情调的

carriage n. a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse, used in the past 马车

curtain n. a piece of hanging cloth that can be pulled across to cover a window, divide a room etc 窗帘

companion n. someone you spend a lot of time with, especially a friend 同伴

independently adv. confidently and do things by yourself in your own way, without needing help or advice from other people 不受约束地

suspect v. to think that something is probably true, especially something bad 推测

adequate adj. enough in quantity or of a good enough quality for a particular purpose 适当的,足够的

thoughtfully adv. in a way serious and quiet because you are thinking a lot 沉思地,思考地

firelight n. the light produced by a small fire 火光

loneliness n. a feeling of unhappiness because you are alone or do not have anyone to talk to 孤独

unnaturally adv. in a way different from anything produced by nature 假地,非天然地

fur n. the skin of an animal with the hair still on it 毛皮

cheerful adj. happy, or behaving in a way that shows you are happy 兴高采烈的,高兴的

wintry adj. cold or typical of winter 冬天的

assistant n. someone whose job is to help customers in a shop 店员

insistence n. an act of demanding that something should happen and refuse to let anyone say no 坚持

all the time continuously or very often 一直,始终

desperate adj. willing to do anything to change a very bad situation, and not caring about danger 绝望的

expectation n. a felling or belief about the way something should be done or how someone should behave 期望

vulgar adj. low, common, coarse, lacking in manners 粗俗的

light-heartedly adv. in a way cheerful and not worried about anything 心情轻松地

unreasoning adj. an unreasoning feeling is not based on facts or good reasons 缺乏理智的

maddeningly adv. very annoyingly 使人疯狂地,叫人受不了地

senseless adj. happening or done for no good reason or with no purpose 无意义的,无目的的

offend v. to make someone angry or upset by doing or saying something that they think is rude, unkind etc 使生气,冒犯

boredom n. the feeling you have when you are bored, or the quality of being boring 无聊,厌烦

champagne n. a French white wine with a lot of bubbles, drunk on special occasions 香槟

remarkable adj. unusual or surprising and therefore deserving attention or praise 非凡的

firm n. a company or business 事务所;公司

horrify v. to make someone feel very shocked and upset or afraid 使震惊;使恐惧

at the hands of caused or done by a particular person — used about something bad or unpleasant that someone does 从……那里,由于……的作用

appointment n. an arrangement for a meeting at an agreed time and place, for a particular purpose 约会,约定

3. 伯爵夫人招惹麻烦

伯爵夫人说“五点钟以后”,于是第二天五点半,纽兰来到西二十三街,摁响了伯爵夫人家的门铃。房子是她从梅多拉姑妈手中租下的——梅多拉姑妈眼下又去旅游了。不过,选择住在这种地方颇为奇怪——狭窄的街道两边立着一幢幢外观简陋、需要粉刷的房屋,里面住的都是裁缝和作家。

“那个伯爵肯定不仅掠夺了她的梦想,还抢走了她的财产。”纽兰环顾四周,心里这样想。

年轻人今天过得不太愉快。他在韦兰家吃的午餐,指望单独跟梅处一会儿。他想告诉她昨天晚上她看起来有多么漂亮,并想恳求她将定于明年秋天的婚期提前。可当他在午餐提到这个想法时,韦兰太太面露惊讶受伤之情。她对他摇摇头说:“梅每样东西都需要十二件套,每一件都得手工缝制……”

之后,他被迫跟随女士们进行下午的社交拜访,逐家去告知订婚的消息。他离开韦兰家时,梅的母亲在他身后喊道:“明天我们去奇弗斯家和达拉斯家。”纽兰这才发现,她打算按照字母顺序去拜访两个家族的友人,而他们目前还处在字母表的前四分之一,这让他感到惊恐。他知道,接下来的几个月他不会好过了。

他本来打算告诉梅有关伯爵夫人要求——或者该说是命令——他今天下午去看她,可是在他俩单独相处的短暂时刻,他还有更要紧的事情要对梅讲,于是告诉她的时机就这样错过了。

来开门的女佣是个黑头发的姑娘,不会讲英语。她领着他走进会客厅,然后就不见了踪影。纽兰好奇地四处张望,这屋子与他之前见过的任何房间都不一样:屋里有几件精致的旧家具,一些意大利风格的绘画,一个仅插了两枝玫瑰的细长花瓶,玫瑰摆放的角度完美无瑕。这房间以一种独特的氛围包围着他——甚至连气味都有所不同,令人想起像撒马尔罕之类,位于中亚地区的异域。“梅会怎样布置我们的家呢?”他想,“应该会和她父母家一样使用紫色和黄色,但至少我能按照自己的意愿布置我的图书室。”

过了一会儿,他听见外面来了一辆马车。透过窗帘,他看见朱利叶斯·博福特正搀扶着奥兰斯卡夫人下车。片刻之后,她便走进会客厅。

“你觉得我这可笑的房子怎么样?”她问。见到纽兰,她毫不惊讶。“对我来说,这就是天堂了。”

“你把它布置得很温馨。”他说。

“我想,我喜欢的是一个人呆在这里的感觉。这里是我自己的国家、自己的城市。”

“你这么喜欢一个人呆着?”

“是的,只要朋友们别让我觉得孤单就行。”她坐下来,靠在椅背上,把双手放在脑后。“这是我最喜欢的时光,你呢?”

出于自尊,他说道:“我刚才还担心你忘了时间呢。想必博福特是个很有趣的伴儿吧。”

她像是被逗乐了。“怎么——你等了很久吗?博福特先生带我去看了几处房子——家人希望我搬到较佳的地段。可一个人住在哪里又有什么关系呢?”

“这条街完全不够时尚。”

“时尚!你们都很看重这点吗?为什么不创造自己的时尚呢?不过我想,我过去生活得太独立了。现在,我想要跟着大家的做法去做,我想要得到关心和安全感。”

她的话触动了他。“那正是你的朋友们希望你感受到的。”不过他推测,她仍然不知道自己曾经险些遭遇社交灾难,直到范德卢顿夫妇挽救了她。于是他说:“昨晚,纽约最上层的几个家族都在关注你。”

“我知道,那次聚会非常愉快!”她轻松地说。

纽兰觉得,她的说法完全表达不出那场聚会的社交重要性。

他严肃地说:“范德卢顿夫妇是纽约最有影响力的人物。可惜他们上了年纪而且健康状况不佳,所以不常接待客人。”

“那难道不是他们拥有巨大影响力的原因吗?”她若有所思地说,“正因为他们很少露面。”

他瞪大眼睛看着她,突然意识到她是正确的。他笑了起来,不再去想范德卢顿夫妇。

“不过你会向我解释这些事情,对吗?”奥兰斯卡夫人接着说,“所有我应当了解的情况,你都会告诉我吧?”

“现在是你在开导我,让我睁开眼睛认清那些我因为看得太久而不能真正看清的事情。”他本想说,“不要让人看见你跟博福特一起坐车逛街。”然而,此刻他已经深深沉浸在屋子的气氛里,无法提出那样的忠告。他觉得自己离纽约好远,仿若身处撒马尔罕,从那儿看,纽约显得异常渺小和遥远。他的感觉跟真实无异。

伯爵夫人屈身靠近炉火,将瘦削的双手伸向火焰,在火光的映照下,她的脸显得苍白。

纽兰又说:“你的家人可以给你忠告,尤其是年长的女士们。”

她摇摇头说:“噢,我知道!我那些姑妈,还有我的奶奶。不过前提是她们没有听见过任何不愉快的事!这里难道没有人想了解真相吗,阿彻先生?活在所有这些只会要求我伪装的好人中间,那才真的孤单呢!”她用双手捂住脸哭了起来。

“奥兰斯卡夫人!噢,别这样,埃伦。”他喊道,并且跳起来,弯下身子去看她。他抓起她一只手,握在手里,像抚摸孩子的手似的抚摸着。但她很快便挣脱开,抬起泪眼看着他。

“这儿也没有人哭,对吗?在天堂里,我想压根儿就没有哭的必要。”她笑着说。

纽兰意识到自己刚才叫她“埃伦”,感到惊恐。年轻人之间,只有在订婚后才获允许以彼此的名字称呼。他脑子里依稀看见梅·韦兰那高挑的白色身影——看起来很远很远。

突然,女佣走进来,用意大利语跟伯爵夫人交谈。她领进来两位打扮奇怪的客人——圣奥斯特雷公爵和斯特拉瑟斯太太。后者是一位身材高大的女士,头发黑得不太自然,唇上涂着口红,身穿一件价格不菲的皮毛大衣。他们来邀请奥兰斯卡夫人参加周日晚上在斯特拉瑟斯太太家举行的音乐会,奥兰斯卡夫人欣然接受。斯特拉瑟斯太太兴高采烈地朝纽兰挥手致意。

“你带着这位年轻绅士一起来。”她说。

纽兰找机会迅速脱身,他可不想与这位在社交界不受欢迎的斯特拉瑟斯太太扯上任何关系。当纽兰离开房子,走进冬季的黑夜时,那种身处撒马尔罕的感觉消失了。纽约再一次包围着他,而那位最可爱的女子梅·韦兰就身在其中。

他径直走向花店,让店员为梅送去一匣芬芳的白色鲜花,他每天都会给梅送花,那天早上却给忘了。在花店里,他注意到一大束黄色的玫瑰。梅不会喜欢这些花——对她来说,它们太浓烈、太绚丽、太富有异国情调。他给店员留下伯爵夫人的地址,吩咐他立刻把这些黄玫瑰送过去,可是他不想在卡片上留下自己的姓名。

第二天,他说服梅从家脱出身来,到公园去散步。这是一个晴朗的冬日,地面上覆盖着白雪,寒冷的空气让梅俏丽的脸庞红粉绯绯。有这样一位美人走在身旁,纽兰为此感到自豪,他觉得自己的疑惑和忧虑由此一扫而光。

他们谈到他每天送给她的花,然后,他坦承自己给伯爵夫人送了玫瑰。梅听到他如此善待自己的表姐,非常高兴。接着,纽兰开始谈论他们自己的计划,他们的未来,以及韦兰太太对漫长订婚期的坚持。

“但我们这样不是很快乐吗?”梅问道,并朝他露出灿烂的笑容。

“我们可以过得更快乐,我们可以整天在一起,我们可以去旅行。”

“那倒是很美好。”她回答说,“不过,要是我们想做的事情,跟其他情侣的那么不同,妈妈是不会理解的。”

突然间他感到十分绝望。他能否打破他和梅之间,那道由规矩和世人期许所筑起的屏障?万一他到了彼方,发现那里空无一人时该怎么办?

“我们非得遵从别人做事的方式吗?”他几近失控地大喊,“梅,你和我难道就不能与众不同吗?”

她望着他,目光中流露出对他的倾慕,清澈明亮。“可我们总不能就这样远走高飞吧,对吗?”她问,“你知道,就像书本中的人物那样。”

“为什么不能——为什么不能——为什么不能?”

她看上去对他的执拗有些厌烦。“我没那么聪明,无法和你争论。可那种事情有些——粗俗,不是吗?”

“你就这么害怕粗俗吗?”

她显然被他这个问题惊呆了。“我当然害怕了——你也会的。”她毫不客气地回答。接着,她确信自己找到了结束讨论的好办法,于是心情轻松地续道:“噢,我告诉过你了吗?我给埃伦看过我的戒指了,她觉得这是她见过的最美的戒指了……”

第二天一整天,纽兰都感觉闷闷不乐。他可以预见自己未来的生活将有条不紊地延续下去,没有波澜,没有意外。想到每天在同一时间都做同样的事,他心中便充满了莫名的恐惧。“千篇一律!”这个词在脑海中不停回转,让他无法忍受。

下午,珍妮来图书室找他。

“纽兰,妈妈非常生气。”她说。

“生气?跟谁?为什么?”

“你的朋友奥兰斯卡夫人。昨天是周日,是人们去教堂的日子。她昨晚却去参加斯特拉瑟斯太太的聚会。她是跟公爵和朱利叶斯·博福特先生一起去的。”

当纽兰听到最后那个名字的时候,一团无名怒火涌上心头,不过他克制住自己,只是笑了笑:“好了,这有什么大不了?我原本就知道她要去的。”

珍妮脸色煞白。“你原本就知道她要去,而你却没有设法阻止她?或者警告她?”

“阻止她?警告她?”他又笑了起来,“我又没有和奥兰斯卡伯爵夫人订婚!”这句话他自己听着有一种奇怪的感觉。

“我想,你最好下楼和妈妈谈谈。”

客厅里,阿彻太太看起来非常焦虑。“我很担心范德卢顿夫妇会生气。”她说。

“他们为什么要生气?”纽兰问。

“因为她去了那样一个粗俗的女人家里。”

“哦,斯特拉瑟斯太太也许是有些粗俗,”纽兰说,“不过,她那儿有曼妙的音乐,在星期天晚上整个纽约无聊得要命的时候给人们提供消遣。”

“曼妙的音乐?据我所知,有个女人站到了桌子上,唱着那种你在巴黎去的那些地方才唱的东西。还抽烟喝香槟呢。”

“嗯,那种事情在其他地方也有,可世界还是如常运作。”

争论至此,用人来到门口通报说:“亨利·范德卢顿先生来访。”

这位绅士的来访太不寻常,因此两位女士看起来惊恐万分,但纽兰却很镇静。

“请进,先生。”纽伦说着,走上前去欢迎这位亲戚,“我们刚才正在谈论您,还有奥兰斯卡伯爵夫人呢。”

阿彻太太脸色煞白,一只手放在胸口。

“啊——一个讨人喜欢的女子。”范德卢顿先生说,“我刚去看过她。公爵让我去看看她把客厅布置得有多巧妙。确实不错——相当不同凡响!如果周围的环境不那么让人不愉快,我会带路易莎去看她的。”接下来是一片死寂。范德卢顿先生又说:“事实上,我跟你私底下讲,我是去忠告她,叫她别让公爵或者其他任何人带着她去参加聚会。”

“公爵总是带着她参加聚会吗?”阿彻太太率真地问道。

“恐怕是这样的,亲爱的阿德琳。不过,奥兰斯卡夫人很感激我寥寥数言的规劝。”

阿彻太太对于埃伦·奥兰斯卡行为的焦虑因此终于平息下来,至少目前是这样。

两个星期之后,在纽兰就职的莱特布莱尔—拉姆森—洛律师事务所中,他正坐在自己的办公室里无所事事时,被叫到事务所负责人莱特布莱尔先生的私人办公室。这位老先生显然有些焦虑。原来是奥兰斯卡伯爵夫人想和丈夫离婚。她的家人,尤其是曼森·明戈特老太太,希望避免由此可能引发的丑闻。他们给莱特布莱尔先生寄来了许多文件,并指名要作为家族未来一员的纽兰·阿彻接手这件案子。他们想让纽兰代表莱特布莱尔事务所,劝说伯爵夫人不要离婚。

起初,纽兰并不愿意卷入伯爵夫人的私生活。可是当他看过那些文件,其中包括她丈夫的来信之后,她在伯爵那里遭受的苦难让他惊恐万分。于是他同意接手这件案子。他下定决心,无论她作何决定,都要给予她支持。然后,他和她约好在她家里对案子进行讨论。

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