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THE AMERICAN SENATOR
all this is going on. That softens one you know. Have you ever
heard of Lord Rufford?”
“Lord Rufford; — the young man?”
“Yes; — the young man.”
“Never particularly. I knew his father.”
“But not this man? Mr. Morton never spoke to you of him.”
“Not a word.”
“I have been engaged to him since I became engaged to
your nephew.”
“Engaged to Lord Rufford, — to marry him?”
“Yes, — indeed.”
“And will you marry him?”
“I cannot say. I tell you this, Lady Ushant, because I must
tell somebody in this house. I have behaved very badly to Mr.
Morton, and Lord Rufford is behaving as badly to me.”
“Did John know of this?”
“No; — but I meant to tell him. I determined that I would
tell him had he lived. When he sent for me I swore that I would
tell him. If he is dying, — how can I say it?” Lady Ushant
sat bewildered, thinking over it, understanding nothing of
the world in which this girl had lived, and not knowing now
how things could have been as she described them. It was not
as yet three months since, to her knowledge, this young woman
had been staying at Bragton as the affianced bride of the owner of the house, — staying there with her own mother and his
grandmother, — and now she declared that since that time she
had become engaged to another man and that that other man
had already jilted her! And yet she was here that she might
make a deathbed parting with the man who regarded himself
261
ANTHONY TROLLOPE
as her affianced husband. “If I were sure that he were dying,
why should I trouble him?” she said again.
Lady Ushant found herself utterly unable to give any coun-
sel to such a condition of circumstances. Why should she be
asked? This young woman had her mother with her. Did her
mother know all this, and nevertheless bring her daughter to
the house of a man who had been so treated! “I really do not
know what to say,” she replied at last.
“But I was determined that I would tell some one. I thought
that Mrs. Morton would have been here.” Lady Ushant shook
her head. “I am glad she is not, because she was not civil to me
when I was here before. She would have said hard things to
me, — though not perhaps harder than I have deserved. I suppose I may still see him to-morrow.”
“Oh yes; he expects it.”
“I shall not tell him now. I could not tell him if I thought
he were dying. If he gets better you must tell him all.”
“I don’t think I could do that, Miss Trefoil.”
“Pray do; — pray do. I call upon you to tell him everything.”
“Tell him that you will be married to Lord Rufford?”
“No; — not that. If Mr. Morton were well to-morrow
I would have him, — if he chose to take me after what I have
told you.”
“You do love him then?”
“At any rate I like no one better.”
“Not the young lord?”
“No! why should I like him? He does not love me. I hate
him. I would marry Mr. Morton to-morrow, and go with him to
Patagonia, or anywhere else, — if he would have me after hear-
262
THE AMERICAN SENATOR
ing what I have done.” Then she rose from her chair; but before she left the room she said a word further. “Do not speak
a word to my mother about this. Mamma knows nothing of my
purpose. Mamma only wants me to marry Lord Rufford, and to
throw Mr. Morton over. Do not tell anyone else, Lady Ushant;
but if he is ever well enough then you must tell him.” After
that she went, leaving Lady Ushant in the room astounded by
the story she had heard.
Литературно-художественное издание
Anthony Trollope
The American Senator · II
Выпускающий редактор: H. Головлева
Компьютерная верстка: А. Дятлов
Художественное оформление: М. Соколова
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