Traducción
Original
Capítulo V
Conversación anunciada al concluirse el precedente capítulo
Carlota, que estaba gozosísima de las extravagancias de su prima, no quedó poco admirada de ver que no habían producido efecto alguno en los ánimos de su padre y hermano. En vez de oírlos hablar de sus absurdos, repetían ambos sus observaciones y convenían en que era mujer de talento. Cansada de oír aquellos elogios, no pudo más consigo misma y tomó parte en la conversación.
—Verdad es –dijo– que suelen escapársela algunas cosas buenas, pero es lástima que sus intervalos de razón no sean largos.
—¡Intervalos de razón! ¿Qué quieres dar a entender con eso, hermana mía?
—Que la cabeza de mi pobre prima se va a pájaros muy a menudo139.
Enfureciose Glanville, se levantó, dio algunos paseos por la sala y, luego, mirando a su hermana con airados ojos, la dijo:
—Carlota, si menudeas proposiciones semejantes, te creeré celosa de la superioridad que tu prima tiene sobre ti por todos respetos140.
—¡Celosa yo, y celosa de mi prima! Sospecha es que no esperaba yo de ti, mas te protesto, hermano, que la superioridad que mi prima tiene sobre mí por todos respetos nunca me ha dado celos y sí frecuentemente lástima.
—Basta ya, hermana… –replicó Glanville con sequedad–, no sé qué precio habrás puesto a mi amistad… pero, en fin…, no hablemos más del asunto…
—Pero, hijo mío –repuso buenamente el barón–, no puedes menos de confesar que tiene ideas extraordinarias… Por ejemplo, ¿de dónde sacó la de que Tíncel quería robarla? Porque, a la verdad, solo puede afeársele el haber entrado en su antecámara sin permiso; es, ciertamente, una culpa que ha bastado para prohibirle la entrada en casa, mas…
—No puede darse cosa de mayor majestad que el modo con que pintó la gloria y la virtud –añadió Carlota– y…
—Créeme, hermana, no repitas las expresiones de tu prima, porque te faltan muchas cosas para darlas gracia. p. 206
—Convengo en que esa es una de sus superioridades.
—Sí, Carlota, y aún tiene la ventaja de serte tan superior por las prendas del alma, como por las de su persona.
—Vamos, vamos, hijo mío –interrumpió el anciano–, basta de ofensas: mi sobrina (lo confieso) es una de las mujeres más bellas que pueden presentarse, pero Carlota tiene su mérito y no te abono el que la humilles así141.
Más picada Carlota del elogio de su padre que de la acritud de su hermano, no pudo contener las lágrimas y dio en cara a este con que no la amaba desde que estaba enamorado de su prima. Enternecido, Glanville sacrificó algunas expresiones lisonjeras a su vanidad y restableció la calma en su espíritu. En aquellos mismos instantes se presentó Arabela más hermosa que nunca y justificó el ciego amor de Glanville.
BOOK VIII
Chapter I
Contains the conversation referred to in the last chapter of the preceding
book.
Miss Glanville, who with a malicious pleasure had secretly triumphed in the extravagancies her beautiful cousin had been guilty of, was now sensibly disappointed to find they had had so little effect on her father and brother; for instead of reflecting upon the absurdities to which they had been a witness, Mr. Glanville artfully pursued the subject Arabella had just before been* expatiating upon, taking notice frequently of some observations of hers, [207] and by a well contrived repetition of her words, obliged his father a second time to declare that his niece had spoken extremely well.
Mr. Glanville taking the word launched out into such praises of her wit that Miss Glanville, no longer able to listen patiently, replied:
“It was true Lady Bella sometimes said very sensible things; that it was a great pity she was not always in a reasonable way of thinking, or that her intervals* were not longer—”
“Her intervals, miss!” said Glanville. “Pray what do you mean by that expression?”
“Why, pray,” said Miss Glanville, “don’t you think my cousin is sometimes a little wrong in the head?”
Mr. Glanville, at these words starting from his chair, took a turn across the room in great discomposure, then stopping all of a sudden, and giving his sister a furious look:
“Charlotte,” said he, “don’t give me cause to think you are envious of your cousin’s superior excellencies—”
“Envious!” repeated Miss Glanville. “I envious of my cousin!—I vow I should never have thought of that.—Indeed, brother, you are much mistaken; my cousin’s superior excellencies never gave me a moment’s disturbance.—Though I must confess her unaccountable whims have often excited my pity—”
“No more of this, Charlotte,” interrupted Mr. Glanville, “as you value my friendship— No more of it—”
“Why, really, son,” said Sir Charles, “my niece has very strange whimsies sometimes. How it came into her head to think Mr. Tinsel would [208] attempt to carry her away, I can’t imagine. For after all, he only pressed rather too rudely into her chamber, for which, as you see, I have forbidden his visits.”
“That was of a piece,”* said Miss Glanville sneeringly to her brother, “with her asking you if you had made Mr. Tinsel swear upon your sword that he would never again attempt to carry her away; and applauding you for having given him his liberty, as the generous Atermens did on the same occasion.”p. 284
“I would advise you, Charlotte,” said Mr. Glanville, “not to aim at repeating your cousin’s words till you know how to pronounce them properly.”
“Oh! That’s one of her superior excellencies,” said Miss Glanville.
“Indeed, miss,” said Glanville very provokingly, “she is superior to you in many things; and as much so in the goodness of her heart, as in the beauty of her person—”
“Come, come, Charles,” said the baronet, who observed his daughter sat swelling and biting her lip at this reproach, “personal reflections are better avoided. Your sister is very well, and not to be disparaged; though, to be sure, Lady Bella is the finest woman I ever saw in my life.”
Miss Glanville was, if possible, more disgusted at her father’s palliation than her brother’s reproaches; and, in order to give a loose to* her passion, accused Mr. Glanville of a decrease in his affection for her, since he had been in love with her cousin; and having found this excuse for her tears, very freely gave vent to them.
[209] Mr. Glanville, being softened by this sight, sacrificed a few compliments to her vanity, which soon restored her to her usual tranquillity; then, turning the discourse on his beloved Arabella, pronounced a panegyric on her virtues and accomplishments of an hour long, which if it did not absolutely persuade his sister to change her opinion, it certainly convinced his father that his niece was not only perfectly well in her understanding, but even better than most others of her sex.
Mr. Glanville had just finished her eulogium when Arabella appeared; joy danced in his eyes at her approach; he gazed upon her with a kind of conscious triumph in his looks; her consummate loveliness justifying his passion, and being in his opinion more than an excuse for all her extravagancies.