Traducción
Original
Capítulo V
Aunque terminada la aventura, parece que todavía promete algo
Lucía empezaba a creer que había en aquel asunto más de lo que ella imaginó primeramente. Hervey no la había parecido enfermo, mas era tanta la confianza que en su ama tenía, que se determinó a llevarle inmediatamente el recado. Fue a casa de su hermano pensando hallar allí a Hervey; no lo encontró y lo envió a llamar. Guillelmo (así se nombraba el hermano) admitido a la confianza pensó que había que dar alguna buena noticia y no se descuidó en la diligencia. Supo que Hervey estaba en cama y que no quería ver a nadie. Aquella nueva espantó a Lucía y dio parte a Guillelmo de sus inquietudes, de sus temores y, en fin, de las predicciones de su ama, pero de un modo tan extraordinario que Guillelmo nada comprendió. Dejolo con la boca abierta y fue corriendo a la quinta a noticiar a su señora que Hervey se moría. Así lo esperaba Arabela y preguntó con seriedad si Hervey estaba visible.
—No, señora.
—¿Pues cómo sabes que está enfermo?
—Por mi hermano... ¿Había de haber ido a su casa para que el señor marqués lo supiese?
—Mi padre no puede ofenderse de una acción generosa.
— Pues bien, señora, permitidme que corra a su casa, porque temo mucho que el mal de aquel pobre caballero no vaya en aumento.
—Sosiégate que, cuando se halle en la última extremidad, bastará una palabra mía para restablecerlo: ¿oíste nunca decir que haya muerto un amante desesperado, cuando su amada le manda que viva?... Pero no vayas a verlo... Mejor será que le escribas unos pocos renglones que te voy a dictar: tu hermano los llevará de parte tuya y te aseguro de que, pocas horas después, no se hablará más que de agradecimiento.
Entró en su gabinete Arabela y dictó lo que sigue:
Lucía al desventurado amante de su señora
La más humana y generosa entre todas las amas me ha encargado haceros saber que, no obstante la temeridad de vuestras intenciones, no quiere que fallezcáis y aun llega su bondad hasta mandaros que viváis: sed dócil y esperad vuestro perdón si os resolvéis a no salir jamás de los límites del respeto que debe prescribiros vuestra pasión.
Lucía
p. 49
Examinado el billete, la pareció a Arabela que había algunas expresiones sobradamente tiernas y ya iba a corregirlas cuando Lucía, que deseaba mucho la vida de Hervey, la rogó que lo dejase todo tal cual estaba. Acordose entonces Arabela de que, en muchas circunstancias, las más celebradas heroínas habían mitigado su severidad en favor de sus confidentas y la dijo, con graciosa sonrisa, que se rendía a sus ruegos y se fue a acostar con aquel gozo que experimenta una grande alma después de haber hecho una acción buena.
Enviose, al día siguiente, la carta a Guillelmo, con orden de que la entregara inmediatamente al enfermo; pero Guillelmo, con la curiosidad de ver una carta del estilo de su hermana, la abrió y, como no la entendiese, la guardó hasta poder entenderla. Hervey llegó algunas horas después al paraje de la cita: su enfermedad no fue más que una jaqueca a que estaba sujeto y, como no pudiera aguardarse, ofreció acudir al día siguiente y se volvió a casa de su primo.
Apenas había salido cuando entró Lucía apresurada en casa de su hermano para saber el efecto de la carta y supo que Hervey acababa de salir bueno y sano.
—¡Dios mío! –exclamó juntando las manos–. Bien me dijo mi ama que aunque estuviera agonizando lo curaría, pero no pude imaginarme una curación tan pronta.
—¡Tu ama! ¿Pues no eres tú quien ha...
—No, por cierto: ¿soy yo capaz de escribir de aquel modo? La señora compuso la carta de un cabo al otro, que yo no hice más que escribirla.
Guillelmo, por no confesar su falta, dejó creer a Lucía lo que quiso y aguardó la ocasión de justificarse en caso necesario.
Recibió Arabela la noticia del restablecimiento de Hervey como una cosa indefectible y mandó a Lucía que nunca más la hablara de dicho amante.
—Si me ama con pureza –continuó diciendo– no me importunará más y, por mucho que suba de punto su pasión, su mismo respeto y obediencia lo forzarán al silencio; la conformidad que acaba de mostrar no aguardando a que se le diga dos veces que viva me asegura de que no tengo que temer nueva temeridad de su parte.
Viendo, pues, Lucía que nada había ya que hacer en favor de Hervey, no solamente no volvió más a hablar de él, sino que aun dejó de ir en casa de su hermano.
Impaciente Hervey de no ver a Lucía, diputó a Guillelmo a la quinta para que pidiese una cita6, mas Lucía la negó y se hizo un mérito de ello con su ama.
Indignada Arabela con aquella nueva audacia, se arrepintió del acto de humanidad hecho; alabó mucho la fidelidad de su confidenta y la mandó que dijese al insolente incógnito que, si continuaba en sus tentativas, nunca más conseguiría el perdón de su desobediencia.
Hervey, que se vio abandonado de Lucía, renunció a sus proyectos, se felicitó de no habérselos confiado a su primo y se consoló muy luego.
Ya no se acordaba de Arabela cuando un suceso imprevisto se la puso delante y le valió una tremenda mortificación.
6 ‘envió a Guillelmo’.
Chapter V
In which one would imagine the adventure concluded, but for a promise that something
else is to come.
Lucy now began to think there was something more than she imagined in this affair. Mr. Hervey, indeed, in her opinion, had seemed to be very far from having any design to attempt his own life; but her [18] lady, she thought, could not possibly be mistaken; and therefore she resolved to carry her message to him immediately, though it was then late in the evening.
Accordingly, she went to her brother’s, where she had some hope of meeting with him; but not finding him there, she obliged him to go to the house where he lived, and tell him she desired to speak with him.
William, being let into the secret of his sister’s frequent meetings with Mr. Hervey, imagined she had some agreeable news to acquaint him with; and therefore ran immediately to his relation’s house, which was but at a small distance; but he was told Mr. Hervey was in bed, very much indisposed, and could not be seen.
This news put Lucy in a terrible fright: she told her apprehensions to her brother, which being such as her lady had put into her head, and were now confirmed by Mr. Hervey’s illness, the young farmer stood amazed, not being able to comprehend her meaning; and she, without staying to explain herself any further, went home to the castle, and told her lady that what she feared was come to pass, the gentleman would certainly die; for he was very ill in bed. This being no more than what Arabella expected, she discovered no surprise; but only asked Lucy if she had delivered her message to him.
“Would you have me, madam,” replied she, “go to his house? I am afraid the marquis will hear of it.”
[19] “My father,” replied Arabella, “can never be offended with me for doing a charitable action.”
“Ah! Madam,” interrupted Lucy, “let me go then immediately, for fear the poor gentleman should grow worse.”
“If he be sick almost to death,” resumed Arabella, “he will recover if I command him to do so. When did you hear of a lover dying through despair, when his mistress let him know it was her pleasure he should live? But as it will not be altogether so proper for you to go to his house, as it may be suspected you come from me; I’ll write a few lines, which you shall copy, and your brother may carry them to him tomorrow, and I’ll engage he shall be well in a few hours.”
Saying this, she went into her closet, and, having written a short note, made Lucy write it over again. It was as follows:
Lucy, to the unfortunate lover of her lady:
My lady, who is the most generous person in the world, has commanded me to tell you
that, presumptuous as you are, she does not desire your death; nay, more, she
commands you to live, and permits you, in case you obey her, to hope for her pardon,
provided you keep within the bounds she prescribes to you.
Adieu.
This letter Lucy copied, and Arabella, examining it again, thought it rather too kind; [20] and, seeming desirous of making some alteration in it, Lucy, who was extremely anxious for Mr. Hervey’s life, fearing lest she should alter it in such a manner that the gentleman might be at liberty to die if he chose it, conjured her lady in such pressing terms to let it remain as it was that Arabella suffered herself to be prevailed upon* by her entreaties; and, remembering that it was not uncommon for the ladies in romances to relax a little in their severity through the remonstrances of their women, told her, with an enchanting smile, that she would grant her desire; and went to bed with that pleasing satisfaction, which every generous mind experiences at the consciousness of having done some very benevolent action. In the morning, this life-restoring billet was dispatched by Lucy to her brother, enclosed in one to him, charging him to carry it to the sick gentleman immediately.p. 51
William, having a strong curiosity to see what his sister had written, ventured to open it; and, not being able to imagine Lady Bella had really given her orders to write what appeared to him the most unintelligible stuff in the world, resolved to suppress this letter till he had questioned her a little concerning it.
A few hours after, Mr. Hervey, who expected to meet Lucy at her brother’s, came in. His illness having been only a violent headache, to which he was subject, being now quite off, he remembered the appointment he had made; but, having waited some time, and she not coming, he returned again to his [21] cousin’s, leaving word for her that he would see her the next day.
Scarce was he gone out, when Lucy, who longed to know what effect her letter had produced in his health, came in; and eagerly enquiring of her brother how Mr. Hervey was, received for answer that he had been there a moment before she came.
“Well,” cried she, clasping her hands together with surprise, “my lady said her letter would cure him if he was ever so sick; but I did not imagine he would have been well enough to come abroad so soon.”
“Your lady!” interrupted William. “Why, was it not yourself that wrote the letter* you gave to me?”
“No, truly, brother,” resumed she. “How was it possible I should write so fine a letter? My lady made every word of it, and I only wrote it after her.”
William, hearing this, would not own the indiscretion he now thought he had been guilty of, in keeping the letter; but suffered his sister to return to her lady, in the belief that he had delivered it; resolving, when he saw her next, to say he had lost it; for he knew not what excuse to make to Mr. Hervey for not giving it to him when he saw him.
Arabella received the account of her lover’s recovery as a thing she was absolutely sure of before; and thinking she had now done all that could be expected from her compassion, resumed her usual severity, and commanded Lucy to mention him no more.
“If he loves me with that purity he ought to do,” pursued [22] she, “he will cease to importune me any further. And though his passion be ever so violent, his respect and submission to my commands will oblige him to silence. The obedience he has already shown in recovering at the first intimation I gave that it was my will he should do so, convinces me I need not apprehend he will renew his follies to displease me.”
Lucy, who found by this discourse of her lady’s that her commission was at an end with regard to Mr. Hervey, followed her directions so exactly that she not only spoke no more of him to her; but also, in order to avoid him, neglected to go to her brother’s.
His impatience at not seeing her made him prevail upon her brother to go to the castle, and entreat her to give him another interview. But Lucy positively refused; and, to make a merit with her lady of her obedience, informed her what he had requested.
Arabella, resenting a boldness which argued so little respect to her commands, began now to repent of the compassion she had shown him; and, commending Lucy for what she had done, bid her tell the insolent unknown, if he ever sent to her again, that she was resolved never to pardon the contempt he had shown for her orders.
Mr. Hervey, finding himself deserted by Lucy, resolved to give over his attempts, congratulating himself for his discretion in not acquainting his cousin with what he had already done. His heart not being very much engaged, he found no great difficulty in [23] consoling himself for his bad success. In a few days he thought of Lady Bella no more than if he had never seen her; but an accident bringing her again in his way, he could not resist the inclination he felt to speak to her, and by that means drew upon himself a very sensible mortification.