phyllis of philistia-第11章

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〃I　talked　of　Adamthe　old　one　of　that　name；〃　said　Mr。　Courtland。

〃And　Evethe　new　one　of　that　name；〃　said　Phyllis。

〃Theology　is　in　the　air！〃　cried　Ella。　〃Even　the　stage　of　a　theater　is　not　free　from　the　taint。　It　must　be　the　case　of　Mr。　Holland。　Where　is　Mr。　Holland；　by　the　way；　Lord　Earlscourt？〃

〃I　haven't　seen　him　for　some　time。　He　must　have　gone　away。　I'm　not　Mr。　Holland's　keeper；　thank　Heaven！〃　said　Lord　Earlscourt；　with　heartfelt　devoutness。

〃Now　you　know　that　everyone　holds　you　accountable　for　what　he　has　done！〃　said　Ella。

〃Then　that's　just　where　everyone　makes　a　mistake；〃　said　he。　〃Great　Lord！　is　it　your　idea　of　British　justice　to　persecute　the　wrong　man？　Why　doesn't　the　bishop　do　his　duty？　What　do　we　pay　him　for？〃

〃We　won't　abandon　our　charity　at　the　call　of　theology；〃　said　Ella。

〃Theologyrepresented　by　Lord　Earlscourt；〃　said　Mr。　Courtland。

〃You　don't　know　how　I've　been　abused　during　the　past　fortnight；　indeed　you　don't；〃　moaned　Lord　Earlscourt。　〃Why；　there's　my　own　wife；　she　abused　me　like　a　cab…driver　because　George　Holland　had　been　with　us　on　the　platform　when　the　Chinese　teetotalers　came　here　to　protest　against　the　public　houses　in　England；　she　says　that　his　backsliding　will　put　back　the　cause　a　quarter　of　a　century。　Then　there　are　the　other　churchwardens；　they　look　on　me　as　if　I　had　been　making　a　suggestion　to　raffle　the　sacred　plate。　George　Holland　has　a　run　for　his　money；　but　I've　had　no　fun　out　of　it。〃

〃It　does　seem　hard；〃　said　Courtland。　〃But　it's　plain　that　the　case　calls　for　persecution；　and　why　not　persecute　you？　Someone　must　be　persecuted；　you'll　admit。〃

〃Then　why　the〃

〃I　thought　that　your　good　old　Bunyip　would　look　in　on　us　before　long；〃　said　Courtland。　〃There's　no　possibility　of　discussing　delicate　points　in　theology　without　him。〃

〃I　think　we　had　better　go　home；〃　said　Ella。

〃We　must　have　some　consideration　for　our　host；〃　said　Courtland。　〃We　didn't　all　play　the　part　of　/Cagliostro/　to…night。〃

During　the　movement　of　her　circle　and　the　adjustment　of　wraps；　preparatory　to　the　delivery　of　a　valedictory　word　of　congratulation　to　the　great　actor；　Ella　said　in　a　low　tone　to　Herbert　Courtland：

〃Cagliostro？　No；　we　didn't　all　play　the　part；　butwell；　Cagliostro　was　a　weaver　of　spells。〃

There　was　a　pause　before　he　said：

〃Yes；　but　the　art　did　not　die　with　him。　He　had　a　daughter　to　whom　he　taught　his　art。〃

〃Not　that　I　ever　heard　of；〃　said　she。　〃What　do　you　think　of　Phyllis　Ayrton？〃

〃I　think　that　she　is　the　dearest　friend　of　my　dearest　friend；〃　he　replied。

〃And　I　should　like　her　to　become　the　dearest　friend　of　my　dearest　friend。〃

〃That　would　be　impossible；〃　he　said。

Then　the　felicitous　valedictory　word　was　said　to　the　great　actor　and　actress；　and　Mrs。　Linton's　carriage　received　Phyllis。　Lord　Earlscourt　took　a　seat　in　Mr。　Courtland's　hansom。

〃What　do　you　think　about　Mr。　Courtland？〃　inquired　Ella　of　her　dearest　friend；　as　they　lay　back　with　their　heads　very　close　together。

There　was　a　long　pause　before　Phyllis　replied：

〃I　really　don't　know　what　I　think　about　him。　He　is；　I　suppose；　the　bravest　man　alive　at　present。〃

〃What？　Is　that　the　result　of　your　half　hour's　chat　with　him？〃

〃Oh；　dear；　no！　but　all　the　same；　it's　pleasant　for　a　girl　to　feel　that　she　has　been　talking　to　a　brave　man。　It　gives　one　a　sense　ofofis　it　of　being　quite　safe？〃

〃Good　gracious；　no！　just　the　oppositethat　is　Oh；　you　don't　understand。〃

〃No；　I　don't。〃

〃Never　mind。　Tell　me　what　he　talked　about？〃

〃Oh；　everything！　God。〃

〃I　know　that　it　was　in　the　air。　He　has　ideas；　I　believe。　He　never　talked　on　that　topic　to　me。　I　hope　you　found　him　to　be　quite　sound；　theologically。〃

〃But　it　seems　rather　funny；　doesn't　it？〃　said　Phyllis；　〃but　I　really　don't　think　that　when　I　was　listening　to　him　I　considered　for　a　moment　whether　he　was　sound　or　the　opposite　in　his　views。〃

〃Funny？　It　would　have　been　rather　funny　if　you　had　done　that；〃　laughed　Ella。　〃The　question　that　a　healthy　girland　you　are　a　healthy　girl；　Phyllisasks　herself　after　talking　to　such　a　man　as　Herbert　Courtland　is　not；　Is　his　theology　sound？　What　healthy　girl　cares　the　fraction　of　a　farthing　about　the　theology　of　a　man　with　a　face　like　Herbert　Courtland's　and　arms　like　Herbert　Courtland's？　You　talked　with　him　for　half　an　hour；　and　then　come　to　me　and　say　that　you　suppose　he　is　the　bravest　man　alive　in　the　world。　That　was　rightquite　right。　That　is　just　what　every　healthy　girl　should　say。　We　understand　a　man's　thews　and　sinews；　we　likewise　understand　what　bravery　in　a　man　is；　but　what　do　we　know；　or；　for　that　matter；　care　about　his　theology；　whether　it　is　sound　or　the　opposite？　Nothing。　We　don't　even　care　whether　he　has　any　theology　or　not。〃

〃Good　gracious；　Ella！　one　would　fancy　that　you　thought〃

〃Thought　what？〃

〃I　don't　quite　know。　You　see　I　met　Mr。　Courtland　quite　casually；　just　as　I　met　a　dozen　men　at　various　places　during　the　week。　Why　should　you　question　me　more　closely　about　him　than　about　the　dozen　other　men？　He　only　talked　a　little　more　widely；　and　perhaps　wildly。　His　bravery　is　no　more　to　me　than　his　theology。〃

〃Of　course　it　isn't；　Phyllis。　But　there　was　the　case　of　George　Holland〃

〃That　is　very　different；　Ella。　I　had　engaged　myself　to　marry　George　Holland。　It　would　be　impossible　for　me　to　marry　any　man　who　had　shown　his　contempt　forfor　everything　that　I　regard　as　sacred。〃

〃I　believe　it　would；　if　you　didn't　love　that　man。　But　if　you　loved　the　man　Oh；　when　you　come　to　know　what　it　means　to　love　you　will　understand　all。　A　woman　before　she　loves　iswhat　is　she；　an　egg　before　it　is　hatched？　That　sounds　ridiculous。　Better　say　a　green　chrysalis　before　it　breaks　into　a　butterfly；　for　the　transition　comes　at　once。　Theology！　Oh；　my　Phyllis；　haven't　you　read　in　history；　true　historynovels　written　by　men　who　know　us　and　how　we　were　created；　and　whyhaven't　you　read　what　women　do　when　they　truly　love　a　man？　How　they　fling　every　consideration　to　the　winds：　heavenhomehusband　GodMrs。　Grundy？　Theology！　Ah；　you　are　a　healthy　girl。　You　never　cared　a　scrap　for　George　Holland。　You　were　glad　when　the　excuse　presented　itself　in　order　to　throw　him　over。〃

〃Yes；　I　believe　that　is　quite　true。〃

Ella's　cry　of　surprise；　and　her　laugh　that　followed；　shocked　her　companion；　and　feeling　that　this　was　the　case；　the　one　who　laughed　hastened　to　make　her　apologies。

〃Don't　be　annoyed　with　me；　dear；〃　she　cried。　〃But　I　really　couldn't　help　that　laugh　when　I　thought　of　your　earnestness　the　week　before　last。　Then；　you　will　remember；　you　were　in　great　pain　because　of　the　heterodoxy　of　George　Holland。　Didn't　I　tell　you　at　that　time　that　you　had　never　loved　him？　You　were　ready　to　assure　me　that　you　had；　and　that　you　were　making　a　great　sacrifice　to　your　principles？〃

〃I　remember　very　well；〃　said　Phyllis；　with　a　sound　that　was　not　far　removed　from　a　sob。

〃Ah；　you　are　a　puzzle　to　yourself；　you　poor　little　chrysalis；〃　said　Ella；　putting　the　meteoric　feathers　playfully　down　upon　the　serious　face　of　Phyllisits　seriousness　was　apparent　beneath　the　light　of　the　carriage　lamp。　〃No；　don't　make　the　attempt　to　explain　anything　to　me。　Don't　try　to　reconcile　your　frankness　now　with　your　pretense　then；　because　you'll　certainly　make　a　muddle　of　it；　and　because　no　such　attempt　is　necessary　to　be　made　to　me。　I　know　something　of　the　girl　and　her　moodsnot　a　great　deal；　perhaps；　but　enough　to　prevent　my　doing　you　an　injustice。　You　are　perfectly　consistent；　my　Phyllis。〃

〃Oh；　consistent？〃

〃Perfectly　consistent　with　your　nature　as　a　girl。　It　is　the　nature　of　a　girl　to　change　with　every　wind　that　blows。　It　is　only　the　female　prig　who　acts　consistently　under　all　circumstances。　In　a　world　the　leading　of　which　is　its　men；　inconsistency　is　the　best　nature　of　a　healthy　girl　made　to　be　loved　by　men。　One　doesn't　sneer　at　the　weathercock　because　one　hour　it　points　to　the　north　and　the　next　to　the　east。　'Tis　its　nature　to。　'Tis　our　nature　to　change　with　every　breeze　of　man　that　bears　down　on　us。　That's　why　they　love　us　and　detest　the　prigs。　Here　we　are　at　your　house。　I　hope　you　don't　keep　your　maid　up　for　you。　I　would　scorn　to　keep　a　girl　out　of　her　bed　for　the　sake　of　brushing　my　hair。　Good…night；　dear；　and　dream　of　the　paradise　that　awaits　youa　paradise　in　which　there　are　birds　to　be　shot；　birds　of　paradise　to　make　feather　fans　for　women　who　hold　them　to　their　bosoms　one　minute；　and　the　next　dispose　of　them　to　Mr。　and　Mme。　Abednego　with　last　season's　opera　wrap。　There's　a　parable　for　you　to　sleep　upon。〃

〃And　youyou？〃　cried　Phyllis。

〃Oh；　as　for　me；　I'll；　I'llwell；　I　think　I'll　put　my　meteor　fan　on　the　pillow　beside　my　own　to…night。　I'm　still　newfangled　with　my　toy　andwell；　I'm　a　woman。〃

At　this　instant　the　carriage　pulled　up　to　Mr。　Ayrton's　hall　door　and　the　footman　jumped　down　from　the　box　to　run　up　the　steps　and　ring　the　bell。

〃Good…night；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃I　enjoyed　my　evening　greatly；　and　the　drive　home　best　of　all。〃

Ella　Linton's　laugh　was　smothered　among　the　delicate　floss　of　the　feathers　which　she　held　up　to　her　face。



CHAPTER　X。

IT　IS　THE　PRICE　OF　BLOOD。

Phyllis　had　a　good　deal　to　think　of　after　she　had　sat　for　half　an　hour　with　her　father　in　the　room　where　they　worked　together　for　the　discomfiture　of　the　opposite　party；　and　had　given　him　some　account　of　the　representation　of　the　play　at　the　Parthenon。　Her　father　was　delighted　to　find　her　in　high　spirits。　So　many　people　come　back　from　the　theater　looking　glum　and　worn　out；　yawning　and　mumbling　when　asked　what　they　have　seen　and　what　it　had　all　been　about。　Phyllis　was　not　glum；　nor　did　she　mumble。　She　was　able　to　describe　scene　after　scene；　and　more　than　once　she　sprang　from　her　seat；　carried　away　by　her　own　powers　of　description；　and　began　to　act　the　bits　that　had　impressed　herbits　the　force　of　which　could　only　be　understood　when　described　with　gestures　and　pretty　posturing。

Her　father　thought　he　had　never　seen　anything　so　pretty　in　his　life。　（What　a　girl　she　was；　to　be　sure；　to　have　so　easily　recovered　from　the　effects　of　that　terrible　ordeal　through　which　she　had　passedhaving　to　dismiss　at　a　moment's　notice　the　man　whom　she　had　promised　to　marry！）　He　had　certainly　never　seen　anything　so　fascinating　as　her　pretty　posturing；　with　the　electric　lights　gleaming　over　her　white　neck　with　its　gracious　curves；　and　her　firm　white　arms　from　which　her　gloves　had　been　stripped。

It　had　been　his　intention　to　describe　to　her　a　scene　which　had　taken　place　in　the　House　of　Commons　that　nighta　scene　of　Celt　and　Saxon　mingling　in　wild　turmoil　over　a　question　of　neglected　duty　on　the　part　of　a　Government　official：　not　the　one　who　was　subsequently　decorated　by　the　sovereign　a　few　days　after　his　neglect　of　duty　had　placed　the　country　in　jeopardy；　and　had　precipitated　the　downfall　of　the　ministry　and　the　annihilation　of　his　party　as　a　political　factor；　not　this　man；　but　another；　who　had　referred　to　Trafalgar　Square　as　the　private　thoroughfare　of　the　crown。　The　scene　had　been　an　animated　one；　and　Mr。　Ayrton　had　hoped　to　derive　a　good　deal　of　pleasure　from　describing　it　to　his　daughter；　but　when　he　had　listened　to　her；　and　watched　her　for　a　few　minutes；　he　came　to　the　conclusion　that　it　would　be　absurd　for　him　to　make　an　effort　to　compete　with　her。　What　was　his　wretched　little　story　of　Parliamentary