Traducción
Original
Capítulo XV
Incidente naturalísimo
Cada día iba ganando más Glanville en la estimación de Arabela. El marqués lo advertía con gusto y deseaba apresurar su unión, pero las reflexiones le aconsejaron que no era tiempo todavía. Fueron las cosas siguiendo naturalmente su curso y se pasaron algunos meses con el mayor sosiego. Cayó enfermo el marqués y, por los primeros síntomas, se graduó su enfermedad de peligrosa35. La ternura que manifestó Arabela con aquel motivo, sus inquietudes y la atención con que servía a su padre, fueron nuevos atractivos que obraron sobre el corazón de Glanville. A proporción de cómo la enfermedad progresaba crecía el dolor, el interés, el cuidado y la asistencia continua de Arabela. A nadie permitía que velara a su padre, sufrió su humor impertinente con admirable paciencia y solo dormía en un sillón de brazos cuando la fatiga la precisaba a tomar algunos momentos de descanso.
Después de haber luchado el marqués con la enfermedad quince días, murió en los brazos de su hija, tiernamente clavados en ella los ojos. Arrodillado Glanville delante de la cama, tenía entre las suyas una de las manos de su tío, que mojaba con lágrimas. Un desmayo que sobrevino a Arabela le quitó de aquella postura. Socorriola inmediatamente y empleó, en vano, por mucho tiempo cuantos medios fueron posibles para que volviera en sí. Como estaba privada de sentimiento y de respiración y pálida y desfigurada, concibió Glanville por algunos instantes la idea horrorosa de que había expirado. Abrió Arabela los ojos, pero seguidamente los volvió a cerrar. Lleváronla a su cama y los médicos la graduaron de muy de riesgo. Las disposiciones funerarias para el entierro del marqués no tocaban a otro que a Glanville. ¡Qué situación tan triste! Suministráronle fuerzas la necesidad y la obligación. Su primera atención fue enviar a buscar a su padre, nombrado curador de su prima36. Tuvo el consuelo de que llegara prontamente y se desembarazó de las lúgubres ocupaciones del entierro.
No estuvo Arabela peligrosamente enferma más que algunos días. Así que Glanville la juzgó convaleciente, la hizo saber que Carlos, su padre, había llegado y que deseaba verla. Este caballero, que no sabía ni una palabra de la etiqueta de las heroínas, no aguardó respuesta y pasó al cuarto de su sobrina. Esta dormitaba a la sazón y, mientras Glanville hacía en la antecámara la enumeración de sus admirables prendas, con el entusiasmo de un enamorado verdadero, le interrumpió la voz de Arabela.
Chapter II
Which contains a very natural incident.
From this time Mr. Glanville, though he was far from coming up to Lady Bella’s idea of a lover, yet, by the pains he apparently seemed to be at in obliging her, made every day some progress in her esteem. The marquis was extremely pleased at the harmony which subsisted between them, though he could have wished to have seen their marriage advance a little faster; but Glanville, who was better acquainted with Arabella’s foible than the marquis, assured him, he would ruin all his hopes if he pressed her to marry; and entreated him to leave it entirely to him, to dispose her to consent to both their wishes.
The marquis was satisfied with his reasons, and resolving not to importune his daughter upon that subject any more, they lived for some months in a perfect tranquillity, to which an illness the marquis was seized with, and which was from the first thought to be dangerous, gave a sad interruption.
Arabella’s extreme tenderness upon this occasion, her anxious solicitude, her pious cares and never-ceasing attendance at the bedside of her sick father were so many new charms [85] that engaged the affection of Glanville more strongly. As the marquis’s indisposition increased, so did her care and assiduity: she would not allow anyone to give him anything but herself; bore all the pettish humours of a sick man with a surprising sweetness and patience; watched whole nights successively by his bedside; and when, at his importunity, she consented to take any rest, it was only on a couch in his chamber, from whence no entreaties could make her remove. Mr. Glanville partook with her in these fatigues; and, by his care of her father and tenderness for her, confirmed her in the esteem she had entertained of him.
The marquis, who had struggled with the violence of his distemper for a fortnight, died on the fifteenth day in the arms of Arabella, who received his last looks; his eyes never removing themselves from her face till they were closed by death. Her spirits, which the desire she had of being useful to him, had alone supported, now failed her at once; and she fell upon the bed, without sense or motion, as soon as she saw him expire.p. 83
Mr. Glanville, who was kneeling on the other side, and had been holding one of his uncle’s hands, started up in the most terrible consternation, and, seeing the condition she was in, flew to her relief. Her women, while he supported her, used all the endeavours they could think of to recover her, but she continued so long in her swoon that they apprehended she was dead; and Glanville was resigning himself up to the most bitter sorrow, when she opened her eyes, but it was only to close them again. [86] Her faintings continued the whole day; and the physicians declaring she was in great danger, from her extreme weakness, she was carried to bed in a condition that seemed to promise very little hopes of her life.
The care of the marquis’s funeral devolving upon Mr. Glanville, he sent a messenger express for his father, who was appointed guardian to Lady Bella, the marquis having first asked her if she was willing it should be so. This gentleman arrived time enough to be witness of that sad ceremony, which was performed with a magnificence suitable to the birth and fortune of the marquis.
Lady Bella kept her bed several days, and her life was thought to be in danger; but her youth and the strength of her constitution overcame her disease, and, when she was so well recovered as to be able to admit of a visit from her uncle, Mr. Glanville sent for permission to introduce him. The afflicted Arabella granted his request; but, being then more indisposed than usual, she entreated they would defer their visit for an hour or two, which they complied with; and, returning at the appointed time, were conducted into her dressing room by Lucy, who informed them her lady was just fallen into a slumber.
Mr. Glanville, who had not seen her for some days, expected her waking with great impatience; and pleased himself with describing her, with a lover’s fondness, to his father, when the sound of her voice in the next room interrupted him.