the man between-第8章

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〃Yes；　they　might。　When　Good　Fortune　calls；　and　the　called　‘will　not　when　they　may；'　then；　‘when　they　will'　Good　Fortune　has　become　Misfortune。　Welcome　a　pleasure　or　a　gain　at　once；　or　don't　answer　it　at　all。　It　was　on　this　rock；　Ethel；　the　bark　that　carried　my　love　went　to　pieces。　I　know；　yes；　I　know！〃

〃My　dear　aunt！〃

〃It　is　all　right　now；　dear；　but　things　might　have　been　that　are　not。　As　to　Dora；　I　think　she　may　be　trusted　with　Basil　Stanhope。　He　is　one　of　the　best　and　handsomest　men　I　ever　saw；　and　he　has　now　rights　in　Dora's　love　no　one　can　tamper　with。　Mostyn　is　an　honorable　man。〃

〃All　right；　but

　　〃Love　will　venture　in；　　　　　　Where　he　daurna　well　be　seen；　　　O　Love　will　venture　in；　　　　　　Where　Wisdom　once　has　been

and　then；　aunt；　what　then？〃




PART　SECOND

PLAYING　WITH　FIRE



CHAPTER　V

THE　next　day　after　lunch　Ethel　said　she　was　going　to　walk　down　to　Gramercy　Park　and　spend　an　hour　or　two　with　her　grandmother；　and　〃Will　you　send　the　carriage　for　me　at　five　o'clock？〃　she　asked。

〃Your　father　has　ordered　the　carriage　to　be　at　the　Holland　House　at　five　o'clock。　It　can　call　for　you　first；　and　then　go　to　the　Holland　House。　But　do　not　keep　your　father　waiting。　If　he　is　not　at　the　entrance　give　your　card　to　the　outside　porter；　he　will　have　it　sent　up　to　Fred's　apartments。〃

〃Then　father　is　calling　on　Fred？　What　for？　Is　he　sick？〃

〃Oh；　no；　business　of　some　kind。　I　hope　you　will　have　a　pleasant　walk。〃

〃There　is　no　doubt　of　it。〃

Indeed；　she　was　radiant　with　its　exhilaration　when　she　reached　Gramercy　Park。　As　she　ran　up　the　steps　of　the　big；　old…fashioned　house　she　saw　Madam　at　the　window　picking　up　some　dropped　stitches　in　her　knitting。　Madam　saw　her　at　the　same　moment；　and　the　old　face　and　the　young　face　both　alike　kindled　with　love；　as　well　as　with　happy　anticipation　of　coveted　intercourse。

〃I　am　so　glad　to　see　you；　darling　Granny。　I　could　not　wait　until　to…morrow。〃

〃And　why　should　you；　child？　I　have　been　watching　for　you　all　morning。　I　want　to　hear　about　the　Denning　dinner。　I　suppose　you　went？〃

〃Yes；　we　went；　we　had　to。　Dinners　in　strange　houses　are　a　common　calamity；　I　can't　expect　to　be　spared　what　everyone　has　to　endure。〃

〃Don't　be　affected；　Ethel。　You　like　going　out　to　dinner。　Of　course；　you　do！　It　is　only　natural；　considering。〃

〃I　don't；　Granny。　I　like　dances　and　theaters　and　operas；　but　I　don't　like　dinners。　However；　the　Denning　dinner　was　a　grand　exception。　It　gave　me　and　the　others　a　sensation。〃

〃I　expected　that。〃

〃It　was　beautifully　ordered。　Major…domo　Parkinson　saw　to　that。　If　he　had　arranged　it　for　his　late　employer；　the　Duke　of　Richmond；　it　could　not　have　been　finer。　There　was　not　a　break　anywhere。〃

〃How　many　were　present？〃

〃Just　a　dozen。〃

〃Mr。　Denning　and　Bryce；　of　course。　Who　were　the　others？〃

〃Mr。　Stanhope；　of　course。　Granny；　he　wore　his　clerical　dress。　It　made　him　look　so　remarkable。〃

〃He　did　right。　A　clergyman　ought　to　look　different　from　other　men。　I　do　not　believe　Basil　Stanhope；　having　assumed　the　dress　of　a　servant　of　God；　would　put　it　off　one　hour　for　any　social　exigency。　Why　should　he？　It　is　a　grander　attire　than　any　military　or　naval　uniform；　and　no　court　dress　is　comparable；　for　it　is　the　court　dress　of　the　King　of　kings。〃

〃All　right；　dear　Granny；　you　always　make　things　clear　to　me；　yet　I　meet　lots　of　clergymen　in　evening　dress。〃

〃Then　they　ought　not　to　be　clergymen。　They　ought　not　to　wear　coats　in　which　they　can　hold　any　kind　of　opinions。　Who　was　your　companion？〃

〃Jamie　Sayer。〃

〃I　never　heard　of　the　man。〃

〃He　is　an　artist；　and　is　painting　Dora's　likeness。　He　is　getting　on　now；　but　in　the　past；　like　all　artists；　he　has　suffered　a　deal。〃

〃God's　will　be　done。　Let　them　suffer。　It　is　good　for　genius　to　suffer。　Is　he　in　love　with　you？〃

〃Gracious；　Granny！　His　head　is　so　full　of　pictures　that　no　woman　could　find　room　there；　and　if　one　did；　the　next　new　picture　would　crowd　her　out。〃

〃End　that　story；　it　is　long　enough。〃

〃Do　you　know　Miss　Ullman？〃

〃I　have　heard　of　her。　Who　has　not？〃

〃She　has　Bryce　Denning　on　trial　now。　If　he　marries　her　I　shall　pity　him。〃

〃Pity　him！　Not　I；　indeed！　He　would　have　his　just　reward。　Like　to　like；　and　Amen　to　it。〃

〃Then　there　was　Claudine　Jeffrys；　looking　quite　ethereal；　but　very　lovely。〃

〃I　know。　Her　lover　was　killed　in　Cuba；　and　she　has　been　the　type　of　faithful　grief　ever　since。　She　looks　it　and　dresses　it　to　perfection。〃

〃And　feels　it？〃

〃Perhaps　she　does。　I　am　not　skilled　in　the　feelings　of　pensive；　heart…broken　maidens。　But　her　case　is　a　very　common　one。　Lovers　are　nowhere　against　husbands；　yet　how　many　thousands　of　good　women　lose　their　husbands　every　year？　If　they　are　poor；　they　have　to　hide　their　grief　and　work　for　them…　selves　and　their　families；　if　they　are　rich；　very　few　people　believe　that　they　are　really　sorry　to　be　widows。　Are　any　poor　creatures　more　jeered　at　than　widows？　No　man　believes　they　are　grieving　for　the　loss　of　their　husbands。　Then　why　should　they　all　sympathize　with　Claudine　about　the　loss　of　a　lover？〃

〃Perhaps　lovers　are　nicer　than　husbands。〃

〃Pretty　much　all　alike。　I　have　known　a　few　good　husbands。　Your　grandfather　was　one；　your　father　another。　But　you　have　said　nothing　about　Fred。　Did　he　look　handsome？　Did　he　make　a　sensation？　Was　he　a　cousin　to　be　proud　of？〃

〃Indeed；　Granny；　Fred　was　the　whole　party。　He　is　not　naturally　handsome；　but　he　has　distinction；　and　he　was　well…dressed。　And　I　never　heard　anyone　talk　as　he　did。　He　told　the　most　delightful　stories；　he　was　full　of　mimicry　and　wit；　and　said　things　that　brought　everyone　into　the　merry　talk；　and　I　am　sure　he　charmed　and　astonished　the　whole　party。　Mr。　Denning　asked　me　quietly　afterwards　‘what　university　he　was　educated　at。'　I　think　he　took　it　all　as　education；　and　had　some　wild　ideas　of　finishing　Bryce　in　a　similar　manner。〃

Madam　was　radiant。　〃I　told　you　so；〃　she　said　proudly。　〃The　Mostyns　have　intellect　as　well　as　land。　There　are　no　stupid　Mostyns。　I　hope　you　asked　him　to　play。　I　think　his　way　of　handling　a　piano　would　have　taught　them　a　few　things　Russians　and　Poles　know　nothing　about。　Poor　things！　How　can　they　have　any　feelings　left？〃

〃There　was　no　piano　in　the　room；　Granny；　and　the　company　separated　very　soon　after　dinner。〃

〃Somehow　you　ought　to　have　managed　it；　Ethel。〃　Then　with　a　touch　of　anxiety；　〃I　hope　all　this　cleverness　was　naturalI　mean；　I　hope　it　wasn't　champagne。　You　know；　Ethel；　we　think　as　we　drink；　and　Fred　isn't　used　to　those　frisky　wines。　Mostyn　cellars　are　full　of　old　sherry　and　claret；　and　Fred's　father　was　always　against　frothing；　sparkling　wines。〃

〃Granny；　it　was　all　Fred。　Wine　had　nothing　to　do　with　it；　but　a　certain　woman　had；　in　fact；　she　was　the　inspirer；　and　Fred　fell　fifty　fathoms　deep　in　love　with　her　the　very　moment　she　entered　the　room。　He　heard　not；　felt　not；　thought　not；　so　struck　with　love　was　he。　Ruth　got　him　to　a　window　for　a　few　moments　and　so　hid　his　emotion　until　he　could　get　himself　together。〃

〃Oh；　what　a　tale！　What　a　cobweb　tale！　I　don't　believe　a　word　of　it；〃　and　she　laughed　merrily。

〃　'Tis　true　as　gospel；　Granny。〃

〃Name　her；　then。　Who　was　the　woman？〃

〃Dora。〃

〃It　is　beyond　belief；　above　belief；　out　of　all　reason。　It　cannot　be；　and　it　shall　not　be；　and　if　you　are　making　up　a　story　to　tease　me；　Ethel　Rawdon〃

〃Grandmother；　let　me　tell　you　just　how　it　came　about。　We　were　all　in　the　room　waiting　for　Dora；　and　she　suddenly　entered。　She　was　dressed　in　soft　amber　silk　from　head　to　feet；　diamonds　were　in　her　black　hair；　and　on　the　bands　across　her　shoulders；　on　her　corsage；　on　her　belt；　her　hands；　and　even　her　slippers。　Under　the　electric　lights　she　looked　as　if　she　was　in　a　golden　aura；　scintillating　with　stars。　She　took　Fred's　breath　away。　He　was　talking　to　Ruth；　and　he　could　not　finish　the　word　he　was　saying。　Ruth　thought　he　was　going　to　faint〃

〃Don't　tell　me　such　nonsense。〃

〃Well；　grandmother；　this　nonsense　is　truth。　As　I　said　before；　Ruth　took　him　aside　until　he　got　control　of　himself；　then；　as　he　was　Dora's　escort；　he　had　to　go　to　her。　Ruth　introduced　them；　and　as　she　raised　her　soft；　black　eyes　to　his；　and　put　her　hand　on　his　arm；　something　happened　again；　but　this　time　it　was　like　possession。　He　was　the　courtier　in　a　moment；　his　eyes　flashed　back　her　glances；　he　gave　her　smile　for　smile；　and　then　when　they　were　seated　side　by　side　he　became　inspired　and　talked　as　I　have　told　you。　It　is　the　truth；　grandmother。〃

〃Well；　there　are　many　different　kinds　of　fools；　but　Fred　Mostyn　is　the　worst　I　ever　heard　tell　of。　Does　he　not　know　that　the　girl　is　engaged？〃

〃Knows　it　as　well　as　I　do。〃

〃None　of　our　family　were　ever　fools　before；　and　I　hope　Fred　will　come　round　quickly。　Do　you　think　Dora　noticed　the　impression　she　made？〃

〃Yes；　Aunt　Ruth　noticed　Dora；　and　Ruth　says　Dora　‘turned　the　arrow　in　the　heart　wound'　all　the　evening。〃

〃What　rubbish　you　are　talking！　Say　in　good　English　what　you　mean。〃

〃She　tried　every　moment　they；　were　to…　gether　to　make　him　more　and　more　in　love　with　her。〃

〃What　is　her　intention？　A　girl　doesn't　carry　on　that　way　for　nothing。〃

〃I　do　not　know。　Dora　has　got　beyond　me　lately。　And；　grandmother；　I　am　not　troubling　about　the　event　as　it　regards　Dora　or　Fred　or　Basil　Stanhope；　but　as　it　regards　Ethel。〃

〃What　have　you　to　do　with　it？〃

〃That　is　just　what　I　want　to　have　clearly　understood。　Aunt　Ruth　told　me　that　father　and　you　would　be　disappointed　if　I　did　not　marry　Fred。〃

〃Well？〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　disappoint　you；　but　I　never　shall　marry　Fred　Mostyn。　Never！〃

〃I　rather　think　you　will　have　to　settle　that　question　with　your　father；　Ethel。〃

〃No。　I　have　settled　it　with　myself。　The　man　has　given　to　Dora　all　the　love　that　he　has　to　give。　I　will　have　a　man's　whole　heart；　and　not　fragments　and　finger…ends　of　it。〃

〃To　be　sure；　that　is　right。　But　I　can't　say　much；　Ethel；　when　I　only　know　one　side　of　the　case；　can　I？　I　must　wait　and　hear　what　Fred　has　to　say。　But　I　like　your　spirit　and　your　way　of　bringing　what　is　wrong　straight　up　to　question。　You　are　a　bit　Yorkshire　yet；　whatever　you　think　gets　quick　to　your　tongue；　and　then　out　it　comes。　Good　girl；　your　heart　is　on　your　lips。〃

They　talked　the　afternoon　away　on　this　subject；　but　Madam's　last　words　were　not　only　advisory；　they　were　in　a　great　measure　sympathetic。　〃Be　straight　with　yourself；　Ethel；〃　she　said；　〃then　Fred　Mostyn　can　do　as　he　likes；　you　will　be　all　right。〃

She　accepted　the　counsel　with　a　kiss；　and　then　drove　to　the　Holland　House　for　her　father。　He　was　not　waiting；　as　Ruth　had　supposed　he　would　be；　but　then　she　was　five　minutes　too　soon。　She　sent　up　her　card；　and　then　let　her　eyes　fall　upon　a　wretched　beggar　man　who　was　trying　to　play　a　violin；　but　was　unable　by　reason　of　hunger　and　cold。　He　looked　as　if　he　was　dying；　and　she　was　moved　with　a　great　pity；　and　longed　for　her　father　to　come　and　give　some　help。　While　she　was　anxiously　watching；　a　young　man　was　also　struck　with　the　suffering　on　the　violinist's　face。　He　spoke　a　few　words　to　him；　and　taking　the　violin；　drew　from　it　such　strains　of　melody；　that　in　a　few　moments　a　crowd　had　gathered　within　the　hotel　and　before　it。　First　there　was　silence；　then　a　shout　of　delight；　and　when　it　ceased　the　player's　voice　thrilled　every　heart　to　passionate　patriotism；　as　he　san