pgw.threemenandamaid-第19章

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not　so　much　because　he　knew　what　he　meant；　for　he　would　have　been　the　first　to　admit　that　he　did　not；　but　because　it　sounded　well。
　〃Oh！〃　said　Mr。　Bennett　〃You　do；　do　you？〃
　Mr。　Bennett　sat　down。　He　put　away　his　handkerchief；　which　had　certainly　earned　a　rest。　Then　he　fastened　a　baleful　stare　upon　his　newly…discovered　son。　It　was　not　the　sort　of　look　a　proud　and　happy　father…in…law…to…be　ought　to　have　directed　at　a　prospective　relative。　It　was　not；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　the　sort　of　look　which　anyone　ought　to　have　directed　at　anybody　except　possibly　an　exceptionally　prudish　judge　at　a　criminal　in　the　dock；　convicted　of　a　more　than　usually　atrocious　murder。　Billie；　not　being　in　the　actual　line　of　fire；　only　caught　the　tail　end　of　it；　but　it　was　enough　to　create　a　misgiving。
　〃Oh；　father！　You　aren't　angry。〃
　〃Angry！〃
　〃You　　can't　　be　angry！〃
　〃Why　can't　I　be　angry！〃　demanded　Mr。　Bennett；　with　that　sense　of　injury　which　es　to　self…willed　men　when　their　whims　are　thwarted。　〃Why　the　devil　shouldn't　I　be　angry？　I　　am　　angry！　I　e　here　and　find　you　likelike　this；　and　you　seem　to　expect　me　to　throw　my　hat　in　the　air　and　give　three　rousing　cheers！　Of　course　I'm　angry！　You　are　engaged　to　be　married　to　an　excellent　young　man　of　the　highest　character；　one　of　the　finest　young　men　I　have　ever　met。。。。〃
　〃Oh；　well！〃　said　Sam；　straightening　his　tie　modestly。　〃Of　course；　if　you　say　so　。。。　It's　awfully　good　of　you。。。。〃
　〃But；　father；〃　cried　Billie；　〃I　never　really　loved　Bream。　I　like　him　very　much；　but　I　could　never　love　him。　I　only　got　engaged　to　him　because　you　were　so　anxious　for　it；　and　because　。。。　because　I　had　quarrelled　with　the　man　I　really　loved　。。。　I　don't　want　to　marry　Bream。〃
　〃Naturally！〃　said　Sam。　〃Naturally！　Quite　out　of　the　question。　In　a　few　days　we'll　all　be　roaring　with　laughter　at　the　very　idea。〃
　Mr。　Bennett　scorched　him　with　a　look　pared　with　which　his　earlier　effort　had　been　a　loving　glance。
　〃Wilhelmina；〃　he　said；　〃go　into　the　outer　office。〃
　〃But；　father；　you　don't　understand。　You　don't　realise　that　Sam　has　just　saved　my　life。〃
　〃Saved　your　life？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃There　was　a　lunatic　in　here　with　a　pistol；　and　Sam　saved　me。〃
　〃It　was　nothing；〃　said　Sam　modestly。　〃Nothing。〃
　〃Go　into　the　outer　office！〃　thundered　Mr。　Bennett；　quite　unmoved　by　this　story。
　〃Very　well；〃　said　Billie。　〃I　shall　always　love　you；　Sam；〃　she　said；　pausing　mutinously　at　the　door。
　〃I　shall　always　love　　you　；〃　said　Sam。
　〃Nobody　can　keep　us　apart。〃
　〃They're　wasting　their　time；　trying；〃　said　Sam。
　〃You're　the　most　wonderful　man　in　the　world。〃
　〃There　never　was　a　girl　like　you！〃
　〃Get　　out　！〃　bellowed　Mr。　Bennett；　on　whose　equanimity　this　love…scene；　which　I　think　beautiful；　was　jarring　profoundly。
　〃Now；　sir！〃　he　said　to　Sam；　as　the　door　closed。
　〃Yes；　let's　talk　it　over　calmly；〃　said　Sam。
　〃I　will　not　talk　it　over　calmly！〃
　〃Oh；　e！　You　can　do　it　if　you　try。〃
　〃Bream　Mortimer　is　the　son　of　Henry　Mortimer。〃
　〃I　know；〃　said　Sam。　〃And；　while　it　is　no　doubt　unfair　to　hold　that　against　him；　it's　a　point　you　can't　afford　to　ignore。　Henry　Mortimer！　You　and　I　have　Henry　Mortimer's　number。　We　know　what　Henry　Mortimer　is　like！　A　man　who　spends　his　time　thinking　up　ways　of　annoying　you。　You　can't　seriously　want　to　have　the　Mortimer　family　linked　to　you　by　marriage。〃
　〃Henry　Mortimer　is　my　oldest　friend。〃
　〃That　makes　it　all　the　worse。　Fancy　a　man　who　calls　himself　your　friend　treating　you　like　that！〃
　〃The　misunderstanding　to　which　you　allude　has　been　pletely　smoothed　over。　My　relations　with　Mr。　Mortimer　are　thoroughly　cordial。〃
　〃Well；　have　it　your　own　way。　Personally；　I　wouldn't　trust　a　man　like　that。　And；　as　for　letting　my　daughter　marry　his　son。。。！〃
　〃I　have　decided　once　and　for　all。。。。〃
　〃If　you'll　take　my　advice；　you　will　break　the　thing　off。〃
　〃I　will　not　take　your　advice。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　expect　to　charge　you　for　it；〃　explained　Sam；　reassuringly。　〃I　give　it　you　as　a　friend；　not　as　a　lawyer。　Six…and…eightpence　to　others；　free　to　you。〃
　〃Will　you　understand　that　my　daughter　is　going　to　marry　Bream　Mortimer？　What　are　you　giggling　about？〃
　〃It　sounds　so　silly。　The　idea　of　anyone　marrying　Bream　Mortimer；　I　mean。〃
　〃Let　me　tell　you　he　is　a　thoroughly　estimable　young　man。〃
　〃And　there　you　put　the　whole　thing　in　a　nutshell。　Your　daughter　is　a　girl　of　spirit。　She　would　hate　to　be　tied　for　life　to　an　estimable　young　man。〃
　〃She　will　do　as　I　tell　her。〃
　Sam　regarded　him　sternly。
　〃Have　you　no　regard　for　her　happiness？〃
　〃I　am　the　best　judge　of　what　is　best　for　her；〃
　〃If　you　ask　me；〃　said　Sam　candidly；　〃I　think　you're　a　rotten　judge。〃
　〃I　did　not　e　here　to　be　insulted！〃
　〃I　like　that！　You　have　been　insulting　me　ever　since　you　arrived。　What　right　have　you　to　say　that　I'm　not　fit　to　marry　your　daughter？〃
　〃I　did　not　say　that。〃
　〃You've　implied　it。　And　you've　been　looking　at　me　as　if　I　were　a　leper　or　something　the　Pure　Food　mittee　has　condemned。　Why？　That's　what　I　ask　you；〃　said　Sam；　warming　up。　This；　he　fancied；　was　the　way　Widgery　would　have　tackled　a　troublesome　client。　〃Why？　Answer　me　that！〃
　〃I。。。。〃
　Sam　rapped　sharply　on　the　desk。
　〃Be　careful；　sir。　Be　very　careful！〃　He　knew　that　this　was　what　lawyers　always　said。　Of　course；　there　is　a　difference　in　position　between　a　miscreant　whom　you　suspect　of　an　attempt　at　perjury　and　the　father　of　the　girl　you　love；　whose　consent　to　the　match　you　wish　to　obtain；　but　Sam　was　in　no　mood　for　these　nice　distinctions。　He　only　knew　that　lawyers　told　people　to　be　very　careful；　so　he　told　Mr。　Bennett　to　be　very　careful。
　〃What　do　you　mean；　be　very　careful？〃　said　Mr。　Bennett。
　〃I'm　dashed　if　I　know；〃　said　Sam　frankly。　The　question　struck　him　as　a　mean　attack。　He　wondered　how　Widgery　would　have　met　it。　Probably　by　smiling　quietly　and　polishing　his　spectacles。　Sam　had　no　spectacles。　He　endeavoured；　however；　to　smile　quietly。
　〃Don't　laugh　at　me！〃　roared　Mr。　Bennett。
　〃I'm　not　laughing　at　you。〃
　〃You　are！〃
　〃I'm　not！〃
　〃Well；　don't　then！〃　said　Mr。　Bennett。　He　glowered　at　his　young　panion。　〃I　don't　know　why　I'm　wasting　my　time；　talking　to　you。　The　position　is　clear　to　the　meanest　intelligence。　You　cannot　have　any　difficulty　in　understanding　it。　I　have　no　objection　to　you　personally。。。。〃
　〃e；　this　is　better！〃　said　Sam。
　〃I　don't　know　you　well　enough　to　have　any　objection　to　you　or　any　opinion　of　you　at　all。　This　is　the　first　time　I　have　ever　met　you　in　my　life。〃
　〃Mark　you；〃　said　Sam。　〃I　think　I　am　one　of　those　fellows　who　grow　on　people。。。。〃
　〃As　far　as　I　am　concerned；　you　simply　do　not　exist。　You　may　be　the　noblest　character　in　London　or　you　may　be　wanted　by　the　police。　I　don't　know。　And　I　don't　care。　It　doesn't　matter　to　me。　You　mean　nothing　in　my　life。　I　don't　know　you。〃
　〃You　must　persevere；〃　said　Sam。　〃You　must　buckle　to　and　get　to　know　me。　Don't　give　the　thing　up　in　this　half…hearted　way。　Everything　has　to　have　a　beginning。　Stick　to　it；　and　in　a　week　or　two　you　will　find　yourself　knowing　me　quite　well。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　know　you！〃
　〃You　say　that　now；　but　wait！〃
　〃And　thank　goodness　I　have　not　got　to！〃　exploded　Mr。　Bennett；　ceasing　to　be　calm　and　reasonable　with　a　suddenness　which　affected　Sam　much　as　though　half　a　pound　of　gunpowder　had　been　touched　off　under　his　chair。　〃For　the　little　I　have　seen　of　you　has　been　quite　enough！　Kindly　understand　that　my　daughter　is　engaged　to　be　married　to　another　man；　and　that　I　do　not　wish　to　see　or　hear　anything　of　you　again！　I　shall　try　to　forget　your　very　existence；　and　I　shall　see　to　it　that　Wilhelmina　does　the　same！　You're　an　impudent　scoundrel；　sir！　An　impudent　scoundrel！　I　don't　like　you！　I　don't　wish　to　see　you　again！　If　you　were　the　last　man　in　the　world　I　wouldn't　allow　my　daughter　to　marry　you！　If　that　is　quite　clear；　I　will　wish　you　good　morning！〃
　Mr。　Bennett　thundered　out　of　the　room；　and　Sam；　temporarily　stunned　by　the　outburst；　remained　where　he　was；　gaping。　A　few　minutes　later　life　began　to　return　to　his　palsied　limbs。　It　occurred　to　him　that　Mr。　Bennett　had　forgotten　to　kiss　him　good…bye；　and　he　went　into　the　outer　office　to　tell　him　so。　But　the　outer　office　was　empty。　Sam　stood　for　a　moment　in　thought；　then　he　returned　to　the　inner　office；　and；　picking　up　a　time…table；　began　to　look　out　trains　to　the　village　of　Windlehurst　in　Hampshire；　the　nearest　station　to　his　aunt　Adeline's　charming　old…world　house；　Windles。
　
　CHAPTER　FOURTEEN
　
　As　I　read　over　the　last　few　chapters　of　this　narrative；　I　see　that　I　have　been　giving　the　reader　a　rather　too　jumpy　time。　To　almost　a　painful　degree　I　have　excited　his　pity　and　terror；　and；　though　that　is　what　Aristotle　tells　one　ought　to　do；　I　feel　that　a　little　respite　would　not　be　out　of　order。　The　reader　can　stand　having　his　emotions　churned　up　to　a　certain　point；　after　that　he　wants　to　take　it　easy。　It　is　with　pleasure；　therefore；　that　I　turn　now　to　depict　a　quiet；　peaceful　scene　in　domestic　life。　It　won't　last　longthree　minutes；　perhaps；　by　a　stop…watchbut　that　is　not　my　fault。　My　task　is　to　record　facts　as　they　happened。
　The　morning　sunlight　fell　pleasantly　on　the　garden　of　Windles；　turning　it　into　the　green　and　amber　Paradise　which　Nature　had　intended　it　to　be。　A　number　of　the　local　birds　sang　melodiously　in　the　under…growth　at　the　end　of　the　lawn；　while　others；　more　energetic；　hopped　about　the　grass　in　quest　of　worms。　Bees；　mercifully　ignorant　that；　after　they　had　worked　themselves　to　the　bone　gathering　honey；　the　proceeds　of　their　labour　would　be　collared　and　consumed　by　idle　humans；　buzzed　industriously　to　and　fro　and　dived　head　foremost　into　flowers。　Winged　insects　danced　sarabands　in　the　sunshine。　And　in　a　deck…chair　under　the　cedar…tree　Billie　Bennett；　with　a　sketching…block　on　her　knee；　was　engaged　in　drawing　a　picture　of　the　ruined　castle。　Beside　her；　curled　up　in　a　ball；　lay　her　Pekinese　dog；　Pinky…Boodles。　Beside　Pinky…Boodles　slept　Smith；　the　bulldog。　In　the　distant　stable…yard；　unseen　but　audible；　a　boy　in　shirt　sleeves　was　washing　the　car　and　singing　as　much　as　treacherous　memory　would　permit　of　a　popular　sentimental　ballad。
　You　may　think　that　was　all。　You　may　suppose　that　nothing　could　be　added　to　deepen　the　atmosphere　of　peace　and　content。　Not　so。　At　this　moment；　Mr。　Bennett　emerged　from　the　French　windows　of　the　drawing…room；　clad　in　white　flannels　and　buckskin　shoes；　supplying　just　the　finishing　touch　that　was　needed。
　Mr。　Bennett　crossed　the　lawn；　and　sat　down　beside　his　daughter。　Smith；　the　bull…dog；　raising　a　sleepy　head；　breathed　heavily；　but　Mr。　Bennett　did　not　quail。　Of　late；　relations　of　distant　but　solid　friendship　had　e　to　exist　between　them。　Sceptical　at　first；　Mr。　Bennett　had　at　length　allowed　himself　to　be　persuaded　of　the　mildness　of　the　animal's　nature　and　the　essential　purity　of　his　motives；　and　now　it　was　only　when　they　encountered　each　other　unexpectedly　round　sharp　corners　that　he　ever　betrayed　the　slightest　alarm。　So　now；　while　Smith　slept　on　the　grass；　Mr。　Bennett　reclined　in　the　chair。　It　was　the　nearest　thing　modern　civilization　had　seen　to　the　lion　lying　down　with　the　lamb。
　〃Sketching？〃　said　Mr。　Bennett。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Billie；　for　there　were　no　secrets　between　this　girl　and　her　father。　At　least；　not　many。　She　occasionally　omitted　to　tell　him　some　such　trifle　as　tha