第16章 Chapter 2(7)

‘Quite a model family!' said Mr Fairlie, leering at the cherubs. ‘Such nice round faces, and such nice soft wings, and -- nothing else. No dirty little legs to run about on, and no noisy little lungs to scream with.

How immeasurably superior to the existing construction! I will close my eyes again, if you will allow me. And you really can manage the drawings?

So glad. Is there anything else to settle? if there is, I think I have forgotten it. Shall we ring for Louis again?'

Being, by this time, quite as anxious, on my side, as Mr Fairlie evidently was on his, to bring the interview to a speedy conclusion, I thought I would try to render the summoning of the servant unnecessary, by offering the requisite suggestion on my own responsibility.

‘The only point, Mr Fairlie, that remains to be discussed,' I said, ‘refers, I think, to the instruction in sketching which I am engaged to communicate to the two young ladies.'

‘Ah! just so,' said Mr Fairlie. ‘I wish I felt strong enough to go into that part of the arrangement -- but I don't. The ladies who profit by your kind services, Mr Hartright, must settle, and decide, and so on, for themselves.

My niece is fond of your charming art. She knows just enough about it to be conscious of her own sad defects. Please take pains with her. Yes. Is there anything else? No. We quite understand each other -- don't we? I have no right to detain you any longer from your delightful pursuit -- have I? So pleasant to have settled everything -- such a sensible relief to have done business. Do you mind ringing for Louis to carry the portfolio to your own room?'

‘I will carry it there myself, Mr Fairlie, if you will allow me.'

‘Will you really? Are you strong enough? How nice to be so strong I Are you sure you won't drop it? So glad to possess you at Limmeridge, Mr Hartright. I am such a sufferer that I hardly dare hope to enjoy much of your society. Would you mind taking great pains not to let the doors bang, and not to drop the portfolio? Thank you. Gently with the curtains, please -- the slightest noise from them goes through me like a knife. Yes. Good morning!'

When the sea-green curtains were closed, and when the two baize doors were shut behind me, I stopped for a moment in the little circular hall beyond, and drew a long, luxurious breath of relief. It was like coming to the surface of the water after deep diving, to find myself once more on the outside of Mr Fairlie's room.

As soon as I was comfortably established for the morning in my pretty little studio, the first resolution at which I arrived was to turn my steps no more in the direction of the apartments occupied by the master of the house, except in the very improbable event of his honouring me with a special invitation to pay him another visit. Having settled this satisfactory plan of future conduct in reference to Mr Fairlie, I soon recovered the serenity of temper of which my employer's haughty familiarity and impudent politeness had, for the moment, deprived me. The remaining hours of the morning passed away pleasantly enough, in looking over the drawings, arranging them in sets, trimming their ragged edges, and accomplishing the other necessary preparations in anticipation of the business of mounting them. I ought, perhaps, to have made more progress than this; but, as the luncheon-time drew near, I grew restless and unsettled, and felt unable to fix my attention on work, even though that work was only of the humble manual kind.

At two o'clock I descended again to the breakfast-room, a little anxiously.

Expectations of some interest were connected with my approaching reappearance in that part of the house. My introduction to Miss Fairlie was now close at hand; and, if Miss Halcombe's search through her mother's letters had produced the result which she anticipated, the time had come for clearing up the mystery of the woman in white.