phyllis of philistia-第24章

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r　and　lay　in　folds　about　her　feet；　revealing　her　lovely　figure　sparkling　from　the　hem　of　her　dress　to　the　top　of　her　shapely　head。



CHAPTER　XXI。

THAT　TOILET　SHOULD　NOT　HAVE　BEEN　WASTED。

For　several　seconds　the　tableau　remained　unchanged：　the　two　women　standing　side　by　side；　the　two　men　motionless　at　the　half…open　door。

Ella　was　staring　at　the　man　who　had　entered　with　Mr。　Ayrton。　There　was　some　apprehension　in　her　eyes。

The　man　had　his　eyes　fixed　upon　her。　But　his　face　was　wholly　devoid　of　expression。

Phyllis　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence　that　made　a　frame；　so　to　speak；　for　the　picture。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Linton？〃　she　said；　taking　a　step　toward　the　door。

〃I　am　very　well；　thank　you；　Miss　Ayrton；〃　the　man　replied；　shaking　hands　with　her。　〃Rather　a　singular　hour　for　a　visit；　is　it　not？〃

〃Oh；　no！　only　Ella　didn't　tell　me　that　you〃

She　turned　to　Ella；　and　noticed　that　the　expression　of　apprehension　on　her　face　had　increased。　She　was　still　gazing　at　her　husband　as　one　shut　up　in　a　room　with　a　snake　might　gaze　at　it；　waiting　for　it　to　strike。

〃Ella　didn't　tell　you　that　I　was　coming？〃　said　he。　〃She　had　the　best　of　reasons　for　her　reticence。〃

〃Ah！〃

The　sound　came　from　Ella。　There　was　a　little　scornful　smile　on　her　face。

〃The　best　of　reasons？〃　said　Phyllis　interrogatively。

〃The　very　best；　she　had　no　idea　that　I　was　coming。　I　wonder　if　she　is　glad　to　see　me。　She　has　not　spoken　a　word　to　me　yet。〃

〃You　have　startled　her　by　your　sudden　appearance；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃She　is　not　certain　whether　you　are　flesh　and　blood　or　a　ghost。〃

Then　Ella　gave　a　laugh。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　she　said。　〃He　is　my　husband。　Go　on　with　what　you　have　to　say；　Stephen。　I　will　not　run　away。〃

〃Run　away？　What　nonsense　is　this；　my　dear？　Run　away？　Who　said　anything　about　your　running　away？〃

Her　husband　had　advanced　to　her　as　he　spoke。　He　put　a　hand　caressingly　on　one　of　her　bare　arms　and　the　other　at　the　back　of　her　head。　She　suffered　him　to　press　her　head　forward　until　he　put　his　lips　upon　her　forehead。

When　he　had　released　her；　and　had　taken　a　step　back　from　her；he　seemed　abut　to　address　Phyllis；a　little　cry　forced　itself　from　her。　She　called　his　name　twice；the　second　time　louder；and　threw　herself　into　his　arms；　burying　her　face　on　his　shoulder；　as　she　had　buried　it　on　Phyllis'　shoulder。

In　a　few　moments；　however；　she　looked　up。　Her　husband　was　patting　her　on　the　arm。　She　had　acquired　two　new　gems　since　she　had　bent　her　head。　They　were　shining　in　her　eyes。

〃Don't　go　away；　Phyllis　dear；〃　she　said。　Phyllis　and　her　father　were　standing　at　the　/portiere/　between　the　drawing　rooms。　Mr。　Ayrton　had　a　hand　at　the　embroidered　edge　in　the　act　of　raising　it。　〃Don't　go　away。　I　am　all　right　now。　I　was　quite　dazed　at　Stephen's　sudden　appearance。　I　thought　that　perhaps　he　hadhad　Ah；　I　scarcely　know　what　I　thought。　How　did　you　come　herewhy　did　you　come　here？〃

She　had　turned　to　her　husband。　In　spite　of　her　manifestation　of　affection；the　result　of　a　certain　relief　which　she　experienced　at　that　moment；there　was　a　note　of　something　akin　to　indignation　in　her　voice。

〃It　is　very　simple；　my　dear；〃　replied　her　husband。　His　curiously　sallow　face　had　resumed　its　usual　expressionless　appearance。　〃Nothing　could　be　more　simple。　I　got　a　telegram　at　Paris　regarding　the　mine；　and　I　had　to　start　at　a　moment's　notice。　I　wrote　out　a　telegram　to　send　to　you；　and　that　idiotic　courier　put　it　into　the　pocket　of　my　overcoat　instead　of　sending　it。　I　found　it　in　my　pocket　when　we　had　come　as　far　as　Canterbury。　I　am　not　one　of　those　foolish　husbands　who　keep　these　pleasant　surprises　for　their　wivesit　is　usually　the　husband　who　receives　the　surprise　in　such　cases。〃

〃And　the　coachman　told　you　that　he　had　driven　me　here？〃　said　Ella。

〃Quite　so；〃　replied　the　husband。　〃But；　you　see；　I　had　some　little　hesitation　in　coming　here　at　half…past　ten　o'clock　to　make　inquiries　about　my　wifeyou　might　have　gone　to　some　place　else；　you　know；　in　which　case　I　should　have　looked　a　trifle　foolish；　so　I　though　that；　on　the　whole；　my　best　plan　would　be　to　drop　in　upon　Mr。　Ayrton　at　the　House　of　Commons　and　drive　here　with　him　when　he　was　coming　home　for　the　night。　I　took　it　for　granted　that　even　so　earnest　a　legislator　as　Mr。　Ayrton　allows　himself　his　nightsafter　twelve；　of　courseat　home。　I'm　very　sorry　I　startled　you；　Ella。　It　shall　not　occur　again。〃

〃What　time　did　you　reach　home？〃　inquired　Ella　casuallyso　casually　that　her　husband；　who　had　a　very　discriminating　ear；　gave　a　little　glance　in　her　direction。　She　was　disengaging　a　corner　of　her　lace　trimming　that　had　become　entangled　with　a　large　sapphire　in　a　pendant。

〃I　reached　home　at　nine；〃　he　replied。

〃At　nine？〃　She　spoke　the　words　after　him　in　a　little　gasp。　Then　she　said；　walking　across　the　room　to　a　sofa；　〃I　could　not　have　left　many　minutes　before　you　arrived。　I　intended　going　to　the　opera。〃

〃That　toilet　should　not　have　been　wasted；〃　said　he。　〃It　is　exquisite　/ravissante/！〃

〃It　was　an　inspiration；　your　putting　it　on；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃I　wonder　if　she　really　had　no　subtle　suggestion　from　her　own　heart　that　you　were　on　your　way　to　her；　Mr。　Linton；〃　she　added；　turning　to　the　husband。

〃I　dare　say　it　was　some　inward　prompting　of　that　mysterious　nature；　Miss　Ayrton；〃　he　replied。　〃A　woman's　heart　is　barometric　in　its　nature；　it　is　not？　Its　sensitiveness　is　so　great　that　it　moves　responsive　to　a　suggestion　of　what　is　to　come。　Is　a　woman's　heart　prophetic；　I　wonder？〃

〃It　would　be　a　rank　heresy　to　doubt　it；　after　the　example　we　have　had　to…night；〃　said　Mr。　Ayrton。　〃Yes；　a　woman's　heart　is　a　barometer　suggesting　what　is　coming　to　her；　and　her　toilet　is　a　thermometer　indicating　the　degree　of　expectancy。〃

〃A　charming　phrase；〃　said　Mr。　Linton；　〃a　charming　principle；　only　one　that　demands　some　years　of　close　study　to　be　rendered　practical。　For　instance；　look　at　my　wife's　toilet：　it　is　bridal；　and　yet　we　have　been　married　three　years。〃

〃Quite　so；　and　that　toilet　means　that　you　are　the　luckiest　fellow　in　the　world；〃　said　Mr。　Ayrton。

〃I　admit　the　interpretation；〃　said　her　husband。　〃I　told　the　hansom　to　wait　for　me。　He　is　at　the　door　now。　You　have　had　no　opera　to…night；　my　dear？〃

〃You　would　not　expect　me　to　go　alone？　Phyllis　was　dining　at　the　Earlscourts'；〃　said　the　wife。

〃You　are　the　soul　of　discretion；　my　beloved；〃　said　the　husband。　〃Is　your　stock　of　phrases　equal　to　a　suggestion　as　to　what　instrument　is　the　soul　of　a　woman；　Ayrton？〃　he　added。　〃Her　heart　is　a　barometer；　her　toilet　a　thermometer；　and　her　soul〃

〃The　soul　of　a　woman　is　not　an　instrument；　but　a　flowera　lily；〃　said　Mr。　Ayrton。

〃And　my　wife　wears　her　soul　upon　her　sleeve；〃　said　Mr。　Linton；　touching　the　design　on　the　lace　that　fell　from　her　shoulders。

〃But　not　for　daws　to　peck　atthat　is　the　heart；〃　laughed　Mr。　Ayrton。　〃Talking　of　woman's　soul；　how　is　Lady　Earlscourt？〃　he　added；　to　his　daughter。

〃I　was　so　sorry　that　I　was　at　that　stupid　dinner；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃I　might　have　enjoyed　the　music　of　'Romeo　and　Juliet。'　But　I　had　engaged　myself　to　Lady　Earlscourt　a　fortnight　ago。〃

〃You　did　not　see　Lord　Earlscourt；　at　any　rate；〃　said　her　father。

〃No；　he　left　us　in　the　evening　for　Southampton；〃　said　Phyllis。

〃And；　curiously　enough；　I　dined　with　him　at　the　club；〃　said　her　father。　〃Yes；　he　came　in　with　Herbert　Courtland　at　half…past　seven；　he　had　met　Courtland　and　persuaded　him　to　join　him　in　his　cruise　to　Norway。　They　dined　at　my　table；　and　by　the　time　we　had　finished　Courtland's　man　had　arrived　with　his　bag。　He　had　sent　the　man　a　message　from　the　club　to　pack。　They　left　by　the　eight…forty　train；　and　I　expect　they　are　well　under　way　by　this　time。〃

〃That's　quite　too　bad　of　Courtland；〃　said　Mr。　Linton。　〃I　wanted　to　have　a　talk　with　hima　rather　serious　talk。〃

Ella　had　listened　to　Mr。　Ayrton's　account　of　that　little　dinner　party　at　the　club　with　white　cheeksa　moment　before　they　had　been　redand　with　her　lips　tightly　closed。　Her　hands　were　clenched　until　the　tips　of　the　nails　were　biting　into　each　of　her　palms；　before　he　had　come　to　the　end　of　his　storya　story　of　one　incident。　But　when　her　husband　had　spoken　her　hands　relaxed。　The　blaze　that　had　come　to　her　eyes　for　a　second　went　out　without　a　flicker。

〃A　serious　talk？〃　she　murmured。

〃A　serious　talkabout　the　mine；〃　replied　her　husband。

〃About　the　mine；〃　she　repeated；　and　a　moment　after　burst　into　a　laugh　that　was　almost　startling　in　its　insincerity。　〃It　is　so　amusing；　this　chapter　of　cross…purposes；〃　she　cried。　〃What　a　sight　it　has　been！　a　night　of　thrilling　surprises　to　all　of　us！　I　miss　Phyllis　by　half　an　hour　and　my　husband　misses　me　by　less　than　half　an　hour。　He　comes　at　express　speed　from　Paris　to　have　a　talk；　a　serious　talk；　with　Mr。　Courtland　about　the　mine；　and　while　he　is　driving　from　Victoria；　Mr。　Courtland　is　driving　to　the　same　station　with　Lord　Earlscourt！〃

〃What　a　series　of　fatalities！〃　said　Mr。　Ayrton。　〃But　what　seemed　to　me　most　amusing　was　the　persuasiveness　of　Earlscourt。　He　has　only　to　speak　half　a　dozen　words　to　Courtland；　and　off　he　goes　to　Norway　at　a　moment's　notice　with　probably　the　most　uncongenial　boat's　load　that　Courtland　ever　sailed　with；　and　he　must　have　done　a　good　deal　in　that　way　in　New　Guinea　waters。　Now；　why　should　Courtland　take　such　a　turn？〃

〃Ah；　why；　indeed！〃　cried　Mrs。　Linton。　〃Yes；　that　is；　as　you　say；　the　most　amusing　part　of　the　whole　evening　of　cross…purposes。　Why　should　he　run　away　just　at　this　timeto…nightto…night？〃

〃What　is　there　particular　about　to…night　that　Courtland's　running　away　should　seem　doubly　erratic？〃　asked　Mr。　Linton；　after　a　little　pause。　He　had　his　eyes　fixed　coldly　upon　his　wife's　face。

She　turned　to　him　and　laughed　quite　merrily。

〃What　is　there　particular　about　to…night？〃　she　repeated。　〃Why；　have　you　not　arrived　from　Paris　to…night　to　have　that　serious　talk　with　him　about　the　mine？　Doesn't　it　seem　to　you　doubly　provoking　that　he　didn't　stay　until　to…morrow　or　that　you　didn't　arrive　yesterday？　Why；　why；　why　did　he　run　away　to…night　before　nine？〃

〃Why　before　nine？〃　said　her　husband。

〃Heavens！　Was　not　that　the　hour　when　you　arrived　home？　You　said　so　just　now；〃　she　cried。　Then　she　picked　up　her　wrap。　Phyllis　had　thrown　it　over　a　chair　when　it　had　lain　in　a　heap　on　the　floor　as　Cleopatra's　wrap　may　have　lain　when　she　was　carried　into　the　presence　of　her　lover。　〃My　dear　Stephen；　don't　you　think　that　as　it　is　past　nine；　and　Mr。　Courtland　is　probably　some　miles　out　at　sea　with　his　head　reposing　on　something　hard；there　is　nothing　soft　about　a　yacht；we　should　make　a　move　in　the　direction　of　home？　It　seems　pretty　clear　that　you　will　have　no　serious　talk　with　him　to…night。　Alas！　my　Phyllis；　our　dream　of　happiness　is　over。　We　are　to　be　separated　by　the　cruelty　of　man；　as　usual。　Good…night；　my　dear！　Good…night；　Mr。　Ayrton！　Pray　forgive　us　for　keeping　you　out　of　bed　so　long；　and　receive　my　thanks　for　restoring　my　long…lost　husband　to　my　arms。　Didn't　you　say　that　the　hansom　was　waiting；　Stephen？〃

〃I　expect　the　man　has　been　asleep　for　the　last　half…hour；〃　said　her　husband。

〃I　hope　nothing　has　gone　astray　with　the　gold　mine；〃　said　she。　〃Hasn't　someone　made　a　calculation　regarding　the　accumulation　of　a　shilling　hansom　fare　at　compound　interest　when　the　driver　is　kept　waiting？　It　is　like　the　sum　about　the　nails