phyllis of philistia-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！




CHAPTER　XX。

I　HAVE　HEARD　THE　PASSIONATE　GALLOP　OF　THOSE　FIERY…FOOTED　STEEDS。

Ella　was　standing　waiting　for　her　outside　the　open　door　of　a　drawing　room。　She　was　wearing　a　lovely　evening　dress　with　a　corsage　of　white　lace　covered　with　diamonds　and　sapphires。　Her　hairit　was　of　the　darkest　brown　and　was　very　plentifulwas　also　glittering　with　gems　under　the　light　that　flowed　through　the　open　door。　The　same　light　showed　Phyllis　how　deathly　white　Ella's　face　and　neck　werehow　tumultuously　her　bosom　was　heaving。　She　had　one　hand　pressed　to　her　side；　and　the　other　on　the　handle　of　the　door　when　Phyllis　met　her；　and　in　that　attitude；　even　though　the　expanse　of　white　flesh；　with　its　gracious　curves　that　forced　out　her　bodice；　had　no　roseate　tint　upon　it；　she　looked　lovelyintoxicating　to　the　eyes　of　men。

Phyllis　was　certainly　surprised。　The　hour　was　scarcely　eleven；　but　Ella　had　given　no　notice　of　her　intention　to　pay　a　visit　to　her　friend　that　night。　When　the　girl　raised　her　hands　with　a　laugh　of　admiration；　of　pleasure；　Ella　grasped　her　hands　with　both　of　her　own　and　drew　her　into　the　drawing　room　without　a　word。　Then　with　a　cry；a　laugh　and　a　cry　mingled；she　literally　flung　herself　into　the　girl's　arms　and　kissed　her　convulsively　a　dozen　times；　on　the　throat；　on　the　neck；　on　the　shoulder　whereon　her　head　lay。

〃My　darling；　my　darling！〃　she　cried；and　now　and　again　her　voice　was　broken　with　a　sob；〃my　darling　Phyllis！　I　have　come　to　youI　want　to　be　with　youto　be　near　youto　keep　my　arms　about　you；　so　tightly　that　no　one　can　pluck　us　asunder。　Oh；　you　don't　know　what　men　are　they　would　pluck　us　asunder　if　they　could；　but　they　can't　now。　With　you　I　am　safethat　is　why　I　have　come　to　you；　my　Phyllis。　I　want　to　be　safeindeed　I　do！〃

She　had　now　raised　her　head　from　Phyllis'　shoulder；　but　was　still　holding　her　tightlya　hand　on　each　of　her　arms；　and　her　face　within　an　inch　of　the　girl's　face。

Phyllis　kissed　her　softly　on　each　cheek。

〃My　poor　dear！〃　she　said；　〃what　can　have　happened　to　you？〃

〃Nothingnothing！　I　tell　you　that　nothing　has　happened　to　me；〃　cried　Ella；　with　a　vehemence　that　almost　amounted　to　fierceness　in　her　voice。　〃Would　I　be　here　with　you　now　if　anything　had　happened　to　me？　tell　me　that。　I　came　to　youah！　women　have　no　guardian　angels；　but　they　have　sisters　who　are　equally　good　and　pure；　and　you　are　my　sister　my　sisterbetter　than　all　the　angels　that　ever　sang　a　dirge　over　a　lost　soul　that　they　put　forth　no　hand　to　save。　You　will　not　let　me　go；　darling　Phyllis；　you　will　not　let　me　go　even　if　I　tell　you　that　I　want　to　go。　Don't　believe　me；　Phyllis；　I　don't　want　to　goI　don't　want　to　be　lost；　and　if　I　leave　you　I　am　lost。　You　will　keep　me；　dear；　will　you　not？〃

〃Until　the　end　of　the　world；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃Come；　dearest　Ella；　tell　me　what　is　the　matterwhy　you　have　come　to　me　in　that　lovely　costume。　You　look　as　if　you　were　dressed　for　a　bridal。〃

〃A　bridala　bridal？　What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　said　Ella；　with　curious　eagernessa　suggestion　of　suspicion　was　in　her　tone。　She　had　loosed　her　hold　upon　the　girl's　arms。

Phyllis　laughed。　She　put　a　hand　round　Ella's　waist　and　led　her　to　a　sofa；　saying：

〃Let　us　sit　down　and　talk　it　all　over。　That　is　the　lace　you　told　me　you　picked　up　at　Munich。　What　a　designlilies！〃

〃The　Virgin's　flowerthe　Virgin's　flower！　I　never　thought　of　that；〃　laughed　Ella。　〃It　is　for　younot　me；　this　lace。　I　shall　tear　it　off　and〃

〃You　shall　do　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　cried　Phyllis。　〃I　have　heaps　of　lacemore　than　I　shall　ever　wear。　What　a　lovely　idea　that　is　of　yours；I'm　sure　it　is　yours；sewing　the　diamonds　around　the　cup　of　the　lilies；　like　dewdrops。　I　always　did　like　diamonds　on　lace。　Some　people　would　have　us　believe　that　diamonds　should　only　be　worn　with　blue　velvet。　How　commonplace！　Where　have　you　been　to…night？〃

〃Where　have　I　been？　I　have　been　at　home。　Where　should　a　good　woman　be　in　the　absence　of　her　husband；　but　at　homehis　home　and　her　home？〃

Ella　laughed　loud　and　long　with　her　head　thrown　back　on　the　cushion　of　the　sofa；　and　the　diamonds　in　her　hair　giving　back　flash　for　flash　to　the　electric　candles　above　her　head。　〃Yes；　I　was　at　homeI　dined　at　home；　and；　God　knows　why；　I　conceived　a　sudden　desire　to　go　to　the　opera；Melba　is　the　/Juliet/；and　forgetting　that　you　were　engaged　to　the　Earlscourtsyou　told　me　last　week　that　you　were　going；　but　I　stupidly　forgot；　I　drove　across　here　to　ask　you　to　be　my　companion。　Oh；　yes；　I　have　been　here　sincesince　nine；　mind　that！　ninenine　ask　the　servants。　When　I　heard　that　you　were　dining　out　I　thought　that　I　was　lostone　cannot　drive　about　the　streets　all　night；　can　one？　Ah！　I　thought　that　God　was　against　me　now；　as　he　ever　has　been；　and　as　for　my　guardian　angelah！　our　guardian　angels　are　worse　than　the　servants　of　nowadays　who　have　no　sense　of　responsibility。　Thompson；　your　butler；　is　worth　a　whole　heavenful　of　angels；　for　it　was　he　who　asked　me　if　I　would　come　in　and　wait　for　your　returnask　him；　if　you　doubt　my　word。〃

〃Good　Heavens；　Ella；　what　do　you　say？　Doubt　your　wordI　doubt　your　word？　You　wound　me　deeply。〃

〃Forgive　me；　my　Phyllis。　I　don't　quite　know　what　I　said。　Ah；　let　me　nestle　herehere。〃　She　had　put　her　head　down　to　Phyllis'　bare　neck　and　was　looking　up　to　her　face　as　a　child　might　have　done。　〃There　is　no　danger　here。　Now　pet　me；　and　say　that　you　forgive　me　for　having　said　whatever　I　did　say。〃

Phyllis　laughed　and　put　her　lips　down　among　the　myriad　diamonds　that　glowed　amid　the　other's　hair；　like　stars　seen　among　the　thick　foliage　of　a　copper　beech。

〃I　forgive　you　for　whatever　you　said；〃　she　cried。　〃I；　too；　have　forgotten　what　it　was；　but　you　must　never　say　so　again。　But　had　you　really　no　engagement　for　to…night　that　you　took　that　fancy　for　going　to　'Romeo'？〃

〃No　engagement？　Had　I　no　engagement；　do　you　ask　me？〃　cried　Ella。　〃Oh；　yes；　yes！　I　had　an　engagement；　but　I　broke　itI　broke　itI　broke　it；　and　that　is　why　I　am　here。　Whatever　may　come　of　it；　I　am　here；　and　here　I　mean　to　stay。　I　am　safe　here。　At　home　I　am　in　danger。〃

Phyllis　wondered　greatly　what　had　come　to　her　friend　to　make　her　talk　in　this　wild　strain。

〃Where　were　you　engaged？〃　she　inquired　casually。　She　had　come　to　the　conclusion　that　there　was　safety　in　the　commonplace：　she　would　not　travel　out　of　the　region　of　commonplaces　with　Ella　in　her　present　state。

〃Where　was　I　engaged？　Surely　I　told　you。　Didn't　I　say　something　about　the　opera'Romeo　and　Juliet'？that　was　to　be　the　place；　but　I　came　to　you　instead。　Ah；　what　have　we　missed！　Was　there　ever　such　a　poem　written　as　'Romeo　and　Juliet'？　Was　there　ever　such　music　as　Gounod's？　I　thought　the　first　time　that　I　went　to　the　opera　that　it　would　spoil　Shaksperehow　could　it　do　otherwise？　I　asked。　Could　supreme　perfection　be　improved　upon？　Before　the　balcony　scene　had　come　to　an　end　I　found　that　I　had　never　before　understood　the　glory　of　the　poem。　Ah；　if　you　could　understand　what　love　means；　my　Phyllis；　you　would　appreciate　the　poem　and　the　music；　the　note　of　doom　runs　through　it；　thatthat　is　wherein　its　greatness　liespassion　and　doompassion　and　doomthat　is　my　own　lifethe　life　of　us　women。　We　live　in　a　whirlwind　of　passion；　and　fancy　that　we　can　step　out　of　the　whirlwind　into　a　calm　at　any　moment。　We　marry　our　husbands　and　we　fancy　that　all　the　tragedy　of　human　passion　is　over　so　far　as　we　are　concerned。　'The　haven　entered　and　the　tempest　passed。'　Philip　Marston's　terrible　poem；　you　have　read　it；'A　Christmas　Vigil'？　'The　haven　entered；'the　whirlwind　of　passion　has　been　left　far　away；　we　fancy。　Oh；　we　are　fools！　It　sweeps　down　upon　us　and　thendoomdoom！〃

〃My　poor　dear；　you　are　talking　wildly。〃

〃If　you　only　understoodperhaps　you　will　some　day　understand；　and　then　you　will　know　what　seems　wild　in　my　speech　is　but　the　incoherence　of　a　poor　creature　who　has　been　beaten　to　the　ground　by　the　whirlwind；　and　only　saved　from　destruction　by　a　miracle。〃

She　had　sprung　from　her　place　on　the　sofa　and　was　pacing　the　room；　her　diamonds　quivering；　luminous　as　a　shower　of　meteorsthat　was　the　fancy　that　flashed　from　her　to　Phyllis。　Meteorsmeteorswhat　a　splendid　picture　she　made　flashing　from　place　to　place！　Meteorsah；　surely　there　was　the　meteor…bird　flashing　across　the　drawing　room！

〃Come　and　sit　down；　my　dear　Ella；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃You　are；　as　you　know；　quite　unintelligible　to　me。〃

〃Unintelligible　to　you？　I　am　unintelligible　to　myself；〃　cried　Ella。　〃Why　should　I　be　tramping　up　and　down　your　room　when　I　might　be　at　this　very　moment〃　She　clutched　Phyllis'　arm。　〃I　want　to　stay　with　you　all　night；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　want　to　sleep　in　your　bed　with　you；　Phyllis。　I　want　to　feel　your　arms　around　me　as　I　used　to　feel　my　mother's　long　ago。　Whatever　I　may　say；　you　will　not　let　me　go；　Phyllis？〃

〃I　will　load　you　with　chains；〃　said　Phyllis；　patting　her　lovely　hair　it　was　no　longer　smooth。　〃Why　should　you　want　to　go　away　from　me？　Cannot　we　be　happy　together　once　again　as　we　used　to　be　long　ago？〃

〃How　long　ago　that　was！　And　we　read　'Romeo　and　Juliet'　together；　and　fancied　that　we　had　gone　down　to　the　very　depths　of　its　meaning。　We　fancied　that　we　had　sounded　the　very　depths　of　its　passion　and　pathos。　We　were　only　girls。　Ah；　Phyllis；　I　tell　youI；　who　knowI；　who　have　found　it　out；I　tell　you　that　the　tragedy　is　the　tragedy　of　all　lovers　who　have　ever　lived　in　the　world。　I　tell　you　that　it　is　the　tragedy　of　love　itself。　'Gallop　apace；　ye　fiery…footed　steeds！'　That　is　the　poem　that　the　heart　of　the　lover　sings　all　dayall　day！　I　have　heard　itmy　heart　has　sung　it。　I　have　heard　the　passionate　gallop　of　those　fiery…footed　steeds。　I　have　listened　to　them　while　my　heart　beat　in　unison　with　their　frantic　careerall　day　counting　the　moments　with　fiery　face；　and　thenthensomething　that　was　not　passion　forced　me　to　fly　from　it　for　the　salvation　of　my　soul。　I　was　a　fool！　Why　am　I　here；　when　I　should　be　where　he　What　is　the　hour？　Why；　it　is　scarcely　twelve　o'clock！　Did　I　say　nine　in　my　letter？　What　does　it　matter？　I　wonder　if　on　that　wonderful　nightGounod　translated　its　glory　into　musicJuliet　kept　her　lover　waiting　for　three　hours。〃

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　cried　Phyllis；　rising。

Ella　had　picked　up　her　theatre　wrapit　was　a　summer　cloud　brocaded　with　golden　threads　of　quivering　sunlight；　and　had　flung　it　around　her。

She　held　out　a　hand　to　Phyllis。　Phyllis　grasped　her　round　the　waist。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　she　said。

〃To　hell！〃

She　had　whispered　the　words；　and　at　their　utterance　Phyllis　gave　a　cry　of　horror　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。

Had　she　seen　a　suggestion　of　the　satyr　in　the　expression　of　that　lovely　face　before　her？

In　the　pause　that　followed　the　sound　of　footsteps　upon　the　stairs　outside　was　heard；　the　sound　of　footsteps　and　of　men's　friendly　laughter。　Some　persons　were　in　the　act　of　ascending。

〃My　God！〃　whispered　Ella。　〃He　has　followed　me　here！〃

〃Hush！〃　said　Phyllis。　〃Papa　is　bringing　someone　to　us。〃

〃Whomwhom？〃

They　were　both　standing　together　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　both　having　their　eyes　fixed　on　the　door；　when　the　door　opened　and　Mr。　Ayrton　appeared；　having　by　his　side　a　man　with　iron…gray　hair　and　a　curiously　pallid　face。

At　the　sight　of　that　man　Ella's　hands；　that　had　been　holding　her　wrap　close　to　her　throat；　feeling　for　its　silver　clasp；　fell　limp；　and　the　splendid　mass　of　white　brocade　slipped　to　the　floor