Traducción
Original
Capítulo III
Continuación de la aventura
Entretanto Arabela no cesaba de pensar en su aventura; no se la apartaba de su imaginación el extranjero: su persona, su traje y sus penetrantes miradas, todo la daba a creer que era un hombre de muy distinguida clase atraído y prendado de su mérito. Aguardaba de día en día tener pruebas de su pasión y revolvía en su pensamiento el modo con que había de recibirlas.
Así que Arabela regresó a su casa, corrió a su cuarto a entregarse, sin obstáculos, a sus dulces meditaciones. Llamó, siguiendo el estilo de las heroínas, a su confidenta o, para servirme de sus expresiones, a la depositaria de sus más ocultos pensamientos.
—Querida Lucía –la preguntó, ¿observaste en la iglesia aquel bello extranjero que nos miró tanto?
Lucía, a pesar de su sencillez, conoció que aquel era el caso de adular y respondió que sin duda nunca habría visto otra mujer tan hermosa como ella.
—No tengo la hermosura que me supones, pero como estaba circundada de gentes rústicas, pude, acaso, parecer bella; no obstante –prosiguió con gravedad–, por si aquel extranjero se atreviese a entablar pretensiones a mi corazón, te prohíbo, bajo pena de mi desagrado, el encargarte de los mensajes o cartas que sus deseos indiscretos pudieran dirigirme; te ofrecerá, sin duda, regalos: guárdate de recibirlos, porque eso sería vender tu fidelidad y un delito que... pero no te creo capaz de tal.
Lucía, que recogió la primera idea de lo que podía esperar de los amantes de su ama, se graduó de sujeto de más importancia de lo que ella creía: vio con gusto que su puesto de confidenta podía ser lucrativo y prometió la obediencia solo de boca. Pasáronse ocho días sin que Arabela oyese hablar del extranjero; admirábase sumamente de ello y preguntaba diariamente a Lucía para saber cuándo intentaban corromperla.
Hervey empleó todo aquel tiempo en buscar medios para conocer a Arabela. La conquista de aquella hermosura la parecía infalible si hallaba ocasión de hablarla, porque él tenía altísima idea de su persona y de su mérito. p. 45
Las reflexiones de su primo no se le apartaban de la memoria; agradables esperanzas lisonjeaban su orgullo, pero el apego del marqués a la soledad y la aspereza de su carácter hacían su acceso tan difícil que Hervey solía desesperar de conseguir su intento. Una tarde, que volvía de cazar, se encontró con un labrador, a quien hizo mañosamente preguntas sobre el marqués, cuyos soberbios jardines se presentaban a cierta distancia. Díjole el mozo que él era hermano de una de las criadas de Arabela y le dio señas de toda su casa, tales cuales las había recibido de su hermana Lucía.
Contentísimo quedó Hervey de haber encontrado, por acaso, con alguno que pudiera servirlo y, así, le mostró grandísimo deseo de continuar su trato y, bajo pretexto de tomar lecciones de agricultura, iba a verlo a menudo. Lucía era el objeto de sus visitas. Pasaron muchos días antes de encontrarse con ella, pero la encontró por fin.
Conoció a Hervey la sencilla confidenta; se avergonzó acordándose de los encargos de su ama y no se sorprendió de las tentativas de Hervey para hablarla aparte. Cuando iba a hacerlo, se le anticipó Lucía diciéndole que la estaba prohibido encargarse de mensajes ni de cartas bajo pena de disgustar...
—Suplícoos, señor –añadió Lucía–, que no seduzcáis mi fidelidad, porque no me atrevo a desobedecer.
Admirado Hervey de lo que oía, no supo qué pensar, pero, después de una corta reflexión, atribuyó a grosera astucia lo que no era más que efecto de sencillez. Dio a Lucía dos guineas pidiéndola que intentase desobedecer a su señora, entregándola una carta de su parte y la prometió mayores recompensas si cumplía bien con su encargo.
Lucía puso algunas dificultades, pero, no determinándose a rehusar el primer regalo de aquella especie que la habían hecho en su vida, consintió en encargarse de la carta, recibió las dos guineas y dejó solo a Hervey, después de que su hermano le hubo dado lo necesario para escribir.
Chapter III
In which the adventure goes on after the accustomed manner.
Arabella, in the meantime, was wholly taken up with the adventure, as she called it, at church: the person and dress of the gentleman who had so particularly gazed on her there was so different from what she had been accustomed to see that she immediately concluded he was of some distinguished rank. It was past a doubt, she thought, that he was excessively in love with her; and as she soon expected to have some very extraordinary proofs of his passion, her thoughts were wholly employed on the manner in which she should receive them.
As soon as she came home, and had paid her duty to the marquis, she hurried to her chamber, to be at liberty to indulge her agreeable [10] reflections. And, after the example of her heroines, when anything extraordinary happened to them, called her favourite woman; or, to use her own language, “her, in whom she confided her most secret thoughts.”
“Well, Lucy,” said she, “did you observe that stranger who eyed usa so heedfully today at church?”
This girl, notwithstanding her country simplicity, knew a compliment was expected from her on this occasion; and therefore replied that she did not wonder at the gentleman’s staring at her, for she was sure he had never seen anybody so handsome as her ladyship before.
“I have not all the beauty you attribute to me,” said Arabella, smiling a little. “And with a very moderate share of it, I might well fix the attention of a person who seemed to be not over much pleased with the objects* about him. However,” pursued she, assuming a more serious air, “if this stranger be weak enough to entertain any sentiments more than indifferent for me; I charge you, upon pain of my displeasure, do not be accessary to the conveying his presumptuous thoughts to me, either by letters or messages; nor suffer him to corrupt your fidelity with the presents he will very probably offer you.”
Lucy, to whom this speech first gave a hint of what she ought to expect from her lady’s lovers, finding herself of more importance [11] than she imagined, was so pleased at the prospect which opened to her that it was with some hesitation she promised to obey her orders.
Arabella, however, was satisfied with her assurances of observing her directions; and dismissed her from her presence, not without an apprehension of being too well obeyed.p. 47
A whole week being elapsed without meeting with the importunities she expected, she could hardly conceal her surprise at so mortifying a disappointment; and frequently interrogated Lucy, concerning any attempts the stranger had made on her fidelity; but the answers she received only increased her discontent, as they convinced her, her charms had not had the effect she imagined.
Mr. Hervey, however, had been all this time employed in thinking of some means to get acquainted with the marquis; for, being possessed with an extraordinary opinion of his wit and personal accomplishments, he did not fear making some impression on the heart of the young lady, provided he could have an opportunity of conversing with her.
His cousin’s advice was continually in his mind, and flattered his vanity with the most agreeable hopes. But the marquis’s fondness for solitude, and that haughtiness which was natural to him, rendered him so difficult of access that Hervey, from the intelligence he received of his humour, despaired of being able to prosecute his scheme; when, meeting with a young farmer in one of his evening walks, and entering into conversation with him [12] upon several country subjects, the discourse at last turned upon the marquis of …, whose fine house and gardens were within their view, upon which the young fellow informed him, he was brother to a young woman that attended the lady Arabella; and, being fond of lengthening out the conversation with so fine a gentleman, gave him, without being desired, the domestic history* of the whole family, as he had received it from Lucy, who was the sister he mentioned.
Hervey, excessively delighted at this accidental meeting with a person so capable of serving his design, affected a great desire of being better acquainted with him. And, under pretence of acquiring some knowledge in rural affairs, accustomed himself to call so often at William’s farm that, at last, he met with the person whom the hopes of seeing had so often carried him thither.
Lucy, the moment she saw him enter, knowing him again, blushed at the remembrance of the discourse which had passed between her lady and herself concerning him; and was not at all surprised at the endeavours he used to speak to her apart. But, as soon as he began a conversation concerning Arabella, she interrupted him by saying: “I know, sir, that you are distractedly* in love with my lady, but she has forbid me to receive any letters or messages from you; and therefore I beg you will not offer to bribe me, for I dare not disobey her.”
Mr. Hervey was at first so astonished at her speech that he knew not what to think of it. But, after a little reflection, attributing to an [13] excess of awkward cunning what, in reality, was an effect of her simplicity, he resolved to make use of the hint she had given him; and, presenting her with a couple of guineas,* entreated her to venture displeasing her lady, by bearing a letter from him, promising to reward her better if she succeeded.
Lucy made some difficulty to comply; but, not being able absolutely to refuse the first bribe that ever was offered to her, she, after some entreaties, consented to take the letter; and receiving the money he presented her, left him at liberty to write, after she had got her brother to furnish him with materials for that purpose.
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a The heroines always speak of themselves in the plural number.