Henry James: Complete Stories 1864-1874 (78 page)

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Authors: Henry James

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Page 461
extreme a satisfaction he could take in his wrongs. She would not sit down again; she only lingered by the fire, pretending to warm her feet, and he walked to and fro in the long room, where the lamplight to-night was limited, stepping on certain figures of the carpet as if his triumph were alloyed with hesitation.
I never know how to talk to youyou are so beastly clever, he said. I can't treat you like a little girl in a pinaforeand yet of course you are only a young lady. You're so deuced goodthat makes it worse, he went on, stopping in front of her with his hands in his pockets and the air he himself had of being a good-natured but dissipated boy; with his small stature, his smooth, fat, suffused face, his round, watery, lightcoloured eyes and his hair growing in curious infantile rings. He had lost one of his front teeth and always wore a stiff white scarf, with a pin representing some symbol of the turf or the chase. I don't see why
she
couldn't have been a little more like you. If I could have had a shot at you first!
I don't care for any compliments at my sister's expense, Laura said, with some majesty.
Oh I say, Laura, don't put on so many frills, as Selina says. You know what your sister is as well as I do! They stood looking at each other a moment and he appeared to see something in her face which led him to addYou know, at any rate, how little we hit it off.
I know you don't love each otherit's too dreadful.
Love each other? she hates me as she'd hate a hump on her back. She'd do me any devilish turn she could. There isn't a feeling of loathing that she doesn't have for me! She'd like to stamp on me and hear me crack, like a black beetle, and she never opens her mouth but she insults me. Lionel Berrington delivered himself of these assertions without violence, without passion or the sting of a new discovery; there was a familiar gaiety in his trivial little tone and he had the air of being so sure of what he said that he did not need to exaggerate in order to prove enough.
Oh, Lionel! the girl murmured, turning pale. Is that the particular thing you wished to say to me?
And you can't say it's my faultyou won't pretend to do that, will you? he went on. Ain't I quiet, ain't I kind, don't
 
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I go steady? Haven't I given her every blessed thing she has ever asked for?
You haven't given her an example! Laura replied, with spirit. You don't care for anything in the wide world but to amuse yourself, from the beginning of the year to the end. No more does sheand perhaps it's even worse in a woman. You are both as selfish as you can live, with nothing in your head or your heart but your vulgar pleasure, incapable of a concession, incapable of a sacrifice! She at least spoke with passion; something that had been pent up in her soul broke out and it gave her relief, almost a momentary joy.
It made Lionel Berrington stare; he coloured, but after a moment he threw back his head with laughter. Don't you call me kind when I stand here and take all that? If I'm so keen for my pleasure what pleasure do
you
give me? Look at the way I take it, Laura. You ought to do me justice. Haven't I sacrificed my home? and what more can a man do?
I don't think you care any more for your home than Selina does. And it's so sacred and so beautiful, God forgive you! You are all blind and senseless and heartless and I don't know what poison is in your veins. There is a curse on you and there will be a judgment! the girl went on, glowing like a young prophetess.
What do you want me to do? Do you want me to stay at home and read the Bible? her companion demanded with an effect of profanity, confronted with her deep seriousness.
It wouldn't do you any harm, once in a while.
There will be a judgment on
her
that's very sure, and I know where it will be delivered, said Lionel Berrington, indulging in a visible approach to a wink. Have I done the half to her she has done to me? I won't say the half but the hundredth part? Answer me truly, my dear!
I don't know what she has done to you, said Laura, impatiently.
That's exactly what I want to tell you. But it's difficult. I'll bet you five pounds she's doing it now!
You are too unable to make yourself respected, the girl remarked, not shrinking now from the enjoyment of an advantagethat of feeling herself superior and taking her opportunity.
 
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Her brother-in-law seemed to feel for the moment the prick of this observation. What has such a piece of nasty boldness as that to do with respect? She's the first that ever defied me! exclaimed the young man, whose aspect somehow scarcely confirmed this pretension. You know all about herdon't make believe you don't, he continued in another tone. You see everythingyou're one of the sharp ones. There's no use beating about the bush, Laurayou've lived in this precious house and you're not so green as that comes to. Besides, you're so good yourself that you needn't give a shriek if one is obliged to say what one means. Why didn't you grow up a little sooner? Then, over there in New York, it would certainly have been you I would have made up to.
You
would have respected meeh? now don't say you wouldn't. He rambled on, turning about the room again, partly like a person whose sequences were naturally slow but also a little as if, though he knew what he had in mind, there were still a scruple attached to it that he was trying to rub off.
I take it that isn't what I must sit up to listen to, Lionel, is it? Laura said, wearily.
Why, you don't want to go to bed at nine o'clock, do you? That's all rot, of course. But I want you to help me.
To help youhow?
I'll tell youbut you must give me my head. I don't know what I said to you before dinnerI had had too many brandy and sodas. Perhaps I was too free; if I was I beg your pardon. I made the governess boltvery proper in the superintendent of one's children. Do you suppose they saw anything? I shouldn't care for that. I did take half a dozen or so; I was thirsty and I was awfully gratified.
You have little enough to gratify you.
Now that's just where you are wrong. I don't know when I've fancied anything so much as what I told you.
What you told me?
About her being in Paris. I hope she'll stay a month!
I don't understand you, Laura said.
Are you very sure, Laura? My dear, it suits my book! Now you know yourself he's not the first.
Laura was silent; his round eyes were fixed on her face and she saw something she had not seen beforea little shining
 
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point which on Lionel's part might represent an idea, but which made his expression conscious as well as eager. He? she presently asked. Whom are you speaking of?
Why, of Charley Crispin, G And Lionel Berrington accompanied this name with a startling imprecation.
What has he to do?
He has everything to do. Isn't he with her there?
How should I know? You said Lady Ringrose.
Lady Ringrose is a mere blindand a devilish poor one at that. I'm sorry to have to say it to you, but he's her lover. I mean Selina's. And he ain't the first.
There was another short silence while they stood opposed, and then Laura askedand the question was unexpectedWhy do you call him Charley?
Doesn't he call me Lion, like all the rest? said her brother-in-law, staring.
You're the most extraordinary people. I suppose you have a certain amount of proof before you say such things to me?
Proof, I've oceans of proof! And not only about Crispin, but about Deepmere.
And pray who is Deepmere?
Did you never hear of Lord Deepmere? He has gone to India. That was before you came. I don't say all this for my pleasure, Laura, Mr. Berrington added.
Don't you, indeed? asked the girl with a singular laugh. I thought you were so glad.
I'm glad to know it but I'm not glad to tell it. When I say I'm glad to know it I mean I'm glad to be fixed at last. Oh, I've got the tip! It's all open country now and I know just how to go. I've gone into it most extensively; there's nothing you can't find out to-dayif you go to the right place. I'veI've He hesitated a moment, then went on: Well, it's no matter what I've done. I know where I am and it's a great comfort. She's up a tree, if ever a woman was. Now we'll see who's a beetle and who's a toad! Lionel Berrington concluded, gaily, with some incongruity of metaphor.
It's not trueit's not trueit's not true, Laura said, slowly.
That's just what she'll saythough that's not the way
she'll
 
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say it. Oh, if she could get off by your saying it for her!for you, my dear, would be believed.
Get offwhat do you mean? the girl demanded, with a coldness she failed to feel, for she was tingling all over with shame and rage.
Why, what do you suppose I'm talking about? I'm going to haul her up and to have it out.
You're going to make a scandal?
Make
it? Bless my soul, it isn't me! And I should think it was made enough. I'm going to appeal to the laws of my countrythat's what I'm going to do. She pretends I'm stopped, whatever she does. But that's all gammonI ain't!
I understandbut you won't do anything so horrible, said Laura, very gently.
Horrible as you please, but less so than going on in this way; I haven't told you the fiftieth partyou will easily understand that I can't. They are not nice things to say to a girl like youespecially about Deepmere, if you didn't know it. But when they happen you've got to look at them, haven't you? That's the way I look at it.
It's not trueit's not trueit's not true, Laura Wing repeated, in the same way, slowly shaking her head.
Of course you stand up for your sisterbut that's just what I wanted to say to you, that you ought to have some pity for
me
and some sense of justice. Haven't I always been nice to you? Have you ever had so much as a nasty word from me?
This appeal touched the girl; she had eaten her brother-in-law's bread for months, she had had the use of all the luxuries with which he was surrounded, and to herself personally she had never known him anything but good-natured. She made no direct response however; she only saidBe quiet, be quiet and leave her to me. I will answer for her.
Answer for herwhat do you mean?
She shall be bettershe shall be reasonablethere shall be no more talk of these horrors. Leave her to melet me go away with her somewhere.
Go away with her? I wouldn't let you come within a mile of her, if you were
my
sister!
Oh, shame, shame! cried Laura Wing, turning away from him.
 
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She hurried to the door of the room, but he stopped her before she reached it. He got his back to it, he barred her way and she had to stand there and hear him. I haven't said what I wantedfor I told you that I wanted you to help me. I ain't cruelI ain't insultingyou can't make out that against me; I'm sure you know in your heart that I've swallowed what would sicken most men. Therefore I will say that you ought to be fair. You're too clever not to be;
you
can't pretend to swallow He paused a moment and went on, and she saw it was his ideaan idea very simple and bold. He wanted her to side with himto watch for himto help him to get his divorce. He forbore to say that she owed him as much for the hospitality and protection she had in her poverty enjoyed, but she was sure that was in his heart. Of course she's your sister, but when one's sister's a perfect bad 'un there's no law to force one to jump into the mud to save her. It
is
mud, my dear, and mud up to your neck. You had much better think of her childrenyou had much better stop in
my
boat.
Do you ask me to help you with evidence against her? the girl murmured. She had stood there passive, waiting while he talked, covering her face with her hands, which she parted a little, looking at him.
He hesitated a moment. I ask you not to deny what you have seenwhat you feel to be true.
Then of the abominations of which you say you have proof, you haven't proof
Why haven't I proof?
If you want
me
to come forward!
I shall go into court with a strong case. You may do what you like. But I give you notice and I expect you not to forget that I have given it. Don't forgetbecause you'll be askedthat I have told you to-night where she is and with whom she is and what measures I intend to take.
Be askedbe asked? the girl repeated.
Why, of course you'll be cross-examined.
Oh, mother, mother! cried Laura Wing. Her hands were over her face again and as Lionel Berrington, opening the door, let her pass, she burst into tears. He looked after her, distressed, compunctious, half-ashamed, and he exclaimed to

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