phyllis of philistia-第25章

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ansom　fare　at　compound　interest　when　the　driver　is　kept　waiting？　It　is　like　the　sum　about　the　nails　in　the　horse's　shoe。　We　shall　be　ruined　if　we　remain　here　much　longer。〃

〃Ah；　my　dear；〃　said　Mr。　Ayrton；　when　he　had　kissed　her　hand；　and　straightened　the　sable　collar　of　her　wrap；　〃ah；　my　dear；　a　husband　is　a　husband。〃

〃Even　when　he　stays　away　from　his　wife　for　three　months　at　a　time？〃　said　Ella。

〃Not　in　spite　of　that；　but　on　account　of　it；〃　said　Mr。　Ayrton。　〃Have　you　been　married　all　these　years　without　finding　that　out？〃

〃Good…night！〃　said　she。



CHAPTER　XXII。

HE　HAD　EXPLAINED　TO　PHYLLIS　ONCE　THAT　HE　THOUGHT　OF　GOD　ONLY　AS　A　PRINCIPLE。

The　sound　of　the　hansom　wheels　died　away　before　the　father　and　daughter　exchanged　a　word。　Mr。　Ayrton　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃It　seems　to　have　been　a　night　of　mischance；〃　said　he。

〃I　am　very　glad　that　Mr。　Linton　has　returned；〃　said　she。

〃What？　Now；　why　should　you　be　glad　of　that　very　ordinary　incident？〃

〃Why？　Oh；　papa；　I　am　so　fond　of　her！〃

〃She　may　be　fond　of　him；　after　all。〃

Mr。　Ayrton　spoke　musingly。

〃Of　course　she　is；〃　said　Phyllis；　with　a　positiveness　that　was　designed　to　convince　herself　that　she　believed　her　own　statement。

〃And　he　may　be　fond　of　heryes；　at　times；〃　resumed　Mr。　Ayrton。　〃That　toilet　of　hers　seems　to　have　been　the　only　happy　element　in　the　game　of　cross…purposes　which　was　played　to…night。〃

〃Ah；〃　whispered　the　girl。

〃Yes；　it　was　in　inspiration。　She　could　not　have　expected　her　husband　to…night。　What　a　dress！　Even　a　husband　would　be　compelled　to　admit　its　fascination。　And　she　said　she　meant　to　wear　it　at　the　opera　to…night。　It　was　scarcely　an　opera　toilet；　was　it？〃

〃Ella's　taste　is　never　at　fault；　papa。〃

〃I　suppose　not。　I　wonder　if　he　is　capable　of　appreciating　thethe　let　us　say；　the　inspiration　of　that　toilet。　Is　that；　I　wonder；　the　sort　of　dress　that　a　man　likes　his　wife　to　wear　when　she　welcomes　him　home　after　an　absence　of　some　months？　No　matter　it　was　exquisite　in　every　detail。　Curious；　her　coming　here　and　waiting　after　she　had　learned　that　you　were　out；　was　it　not；　from　nine　o'clockthat　fateful　hour！to…night。〃

〃I　think　she　must　have　feltlonely；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃She　seemed　so　glad　to　see　meso　relieved。　She　meant　to　stay　with　me　all　night；　poor　thing！　Oh；　why　should　her　husband　stay　away　from　her　for　months　at　a　time？　It　is　quite　disgraceful！〃

〃I　think　that　we　had　better　go　to　bed；〃　said　her　father。　〃If　we　begin　to　discuss　abstract　questions　of　temperament　we　may　abandon　all　hope　of　sleep　tonight。　We　might　as　well　try　to　fathom　Herbert　Courtland's　reasons　for　going　to　yacht　with　so　uncongenial　a　party　as　Lord　Earlscourt's。　Good…night；　my　dear！〃

He　kissed　her　and　went　upstairs。　She　did　not　follow　him　immediately。　She　stood　in　the　center　of　the　room；　and　over　her　sweet　face　a　puzzled　expression　crept；　as　a　single　breath　of　wind　passes　over　the　smooth　surface　of　a　lake　on　a　day　when　no　wind　stirs　a　leaf。

She　thought　first　of　Herbert　Courtland；　which　of　itself　was　a　curious　incident。　How　did　it　come　that　he　had　yielded　so　easily　to　the　invitation　of　Lord　Earlscourt　to　accompany　him　on　his　cruise　in　the　yacht　/Water　Nymph/？　（Lord　Earlscourt's　imagination　in　the　direction　of　the　nomenclature　of　his　boats　as　well　as　his　horses　was　not　unlimited。）

But　this　was　just　the　question　which　her　father　had　suggested　as　an　example　of　a　subject　of　profitless　discussion。　She　remembered　this；　and　asked　herself　if　it　was　likely　that　she；　having　at　her　command　fewer　data　than　her　father　bearing　upon　this　case；　should　make　a　better　attempt　than　he　made　at　its　solution。　Her　father　had　seen　Herbert　Courtland　since　he　had　agreed　to　go　on　the　cruise；　and　was　therefore　in　the　better　position　to　arrive　at　a　reasonable　conclusion　in　regard　to　the　source　of　the　impulse　upon　which　Mr。　Courtland　had　acted；　so　much　she　thought　certain。　And　yet　her　father　had　suggested　the　profitless　nature　of　such　an　investigation；　and　her　father　was　certainly　right。

Only　for　a　single　moment　did　it　occur　to　her　that　something　she　had　said　to　Herbert　Courtland　when　he　was　sitting　there；　there　in　that　chair　beside　her；　might　have　had　its　influence　upon　himonly　for　a　single　moment；　however；　then　she　shook　her　head。

No；　no！　that　supposition　was　too；　too　ridiculous　to　be　entertained　for　a　moment。　He　had；　to　be　sure；　shown　that　he　felt　deeply　the　words　which　she　had　quoted　as　they　came　from　Mrs。　Haddon；　but　what　could　those　words　have　to　do　with　his　sudden　acceptance　of　Lord　Earlscourt's　invitation　to　go　to　Norway？

She　made　up　her　mind　that　it　was　nothing　to　her　what　course　Herbert　Courtland　had　pursued；　consequently　the　endeavors　to　fathom　his　reason　for　adopting　such　a　course　would　be　wholly　profitless。　But　the　question　of　the　singular　moods　suggested　by　the　conduct　and　the　words　of　her　friend　Ella　Linton　stood　on　a　very　different　basis。　Ella　was　her　dearest　friend；　and　nothing　that　she　had　said　or　done　should　be　dismissed　as　profitless。

What　on　earth　had　Ella　meant　by　appearing　in　that　wonderful　costume　that　night？　It　was　not　a　toilet　for　the　opera；　even　on　a　Melba　night；　even　on　a　〃Romeo　and　Juliet〃　night；　unless；　indeed；　the　wearer　meant　to　appear　on　the　stage　as　/Juliet/；　was　the　thought　which　occurred　to　the　girl。　Her　fantastic　thoughtshe　thought　it　was　a　fantastic　thoughtmade　her　smile。　Unless

And　then　another　thought　came　to　her　which；　not　being　fantastic；　banished　her　smile。

/Unless/

She　got　to　her　feetvery　slowlyand　walked　very　slowlyacross　the　room。　She　seated　herself　on　the　sofa　where　Ella　had　sat；　and　she　remained　motionless　for　some　minutes。　Then　she　made　a　motion　with　one　of　her　hands　as　if　sweeping　from　before　her　eyes　some　flimsy　repulsivenessthe　web　of　an　unclean　thing　flashing　in　the　air。　In　another　instant　she　had　buried　her　face　in　the　pillow　that　still　bore　the　impress　of　Ella's　face。

〃Oh；　Godmy　God；　forgive　meforgive　meforgive　me！〃　was　her　silent；　passionate　prayer　as　she　lay　there　sobbing。　〃How　could　I　ever　have　such　a　thought；　so　terrible　a　thought。　She　is　my　friendmy　sister　and　she　put　herself　into　her　husband's　arms　and　kissed　him！　Oh；　God；　forgive　me！〃

That　was　her　prayer　for　the　greater　part　of　the　night　as　she　lay　in　her　white　bed。

She　felt　that　she　had　sinned　grievously　in　thought　against　her　friend；　when　she　recalled　the　way　in　which　her　friend　had　thrown　herself　into　the　arms　of　her　husband。　That　was　the　one　action　which　the　girl　felt　should　entitle　Ella　Linton　to　be　the　subject　of　no　such　horrid　thought　as　had　been　for　a　shocking　instant　forced　upon　her　mind；　when　she　reflected　upon　the　strange　passion　which　had　tingled　through　Ella's　repetition　of　the　fiery　words　of　/Juliet/。

She　recalled　every　strange　element　in　the　incident　of　Ella's　appearance　in　the　drawing　room：　the　way　in　which　Ella　had　kissed　her　and　clung　to　her　as　a　child　might　have　done　on　finding　someone　to　protect　it；　she　recalled　the　wild　words　which　Ella　had　uttered；　and；　finally；　the　terrible　expression　which　had　appeared　on　her　face　as　she　whispered　that　reckless　answer　to　Phyllis'　question；　when　she　had　picked　up　her　wrap　and　flung　it　around　her　just　before　the　sound　of　footsteps　had　come　to　their　ears。　All　that　she　recalled　in　connection　with　that　extraordinary　visit　of　Ella's　was　quite　intelligible　to　her；　but　the　mystery　of　all　was　more　than　neutralized　by　her　recollection　of　the　way　Ella　had　thrown　herself　into　her　husband's　arms。　That　action　should；　she　felt；　be　regarded　as　the　one　important　factor；　as　it　were；　in　the　solution　of　the　problem　of　Ella's　moodElla's　series　of　moods。　Nothing　else　that　she　had　done；　nothing　that　she　had　said；　was　worthy　of　being　taken　account　of；　alongside　that　dominant　act　of　the　true　wife。

The　little　whisper　which　suggested　to　her　that　there　was　a　good　deal　that　was　mysterious　in　the　incident　of　her　friend's　visit　she　refused　to　regard　as　rendering　it　less　obligatory　on　herPhyllisto　pray　that　she　might　be　forgiven　that　horrid　suspicion　which；　for　an　instant；　had　come　to　her；　and　so　she　fell　asleep　praying　to　God　to　forgive　her　for　her　sin　（in　thought）　against　her　friend。

And　while　Phyllis　was　praying　her　prayer；　her　friend；　the　True　Wife；　was　praying　with　her　face　down　upon　her　pillow；　and　her　bare　arms　stretched　out　over　the　white　lace　of　the　bed：

〃Forgive　me；　O　God；　forgive　me！　and　keep　him　away　from　meforever　and　ever　and　ever。　Amen。〃

And　while　both　these　prayers　were　being　prayed；　Herbert　Courtland　was　sitting　on　one　of　the　deck　stools　of　the　yacht　/Water　Nymph/；　looking　back　at　the　many　lights　that　gleamed　in　clusters　along　the　southern　coast　of　England；　now　far　astern；　for　a　light　breeze　was　sending　the　boat　along　with　a　creaming；　quivering　wake。　In　the　bows　a　youth　was　making　the　night　hideous　through　the　agency　of　a　banjo　and　a　sham　negro　melody。　Amidships；　Lord　Earlscourt　and　two　other　men　were　playing；　by　the　light　of　a　lantern　slung　from　the　backstay；　a　game　called　poker；　Lord　Earlscourt；　at　every　fresh　deal；　trying　to　make　the　rest　understand　how　greatly　the　worry　of　being　held　responsible；　as　the　patron　of　the　living　of　St。　Chad's；　for　the　eccentricities　of　his　rector；　had　affected　his　nervesa　matter　upon　which　his　friends　assured　him；　with　varied　degrees　of　emphasis；　they　were　in　no　way　interested。

Within　a　few　feet　of　these　congenial　shipmates　Herbert　Courtland　sat　looking　across　the　shining　ripples　to　the　shining　lights　of　the　coast；　wondering　how　he　came　to　be　on　the　sea　instead　of　on　the　shore。　Was　this　indeed　the　night　over　which　his　imagination　had　gloated　for　months？　Was　it　indeed　possible　that　this　was　the　very　night　following　the　dayThursdayfor　which　he　had　engaged　himself　in　accordance　with　the　letter　that　he　still　carried　in　his　pocket？

How　on　earth　did　it　come　that　he　was　sitting　with　his　arm　over　the　bulwarks　of　a　yacht　instead　of　Oh；　the　thing　was　a　miraclea　miracle！　He　could　think　of　it　in　no　other　light　than　that　of　a　miracle。

Well；　if　it　were　a　miracle；　it　had　been　the　work　of　God；　and　God　had　to　be　thanked　for　it。　He　had　explained　to　Phyllis　once　that　he　thought　of　God　only　as　a　Principleas　the　Principle　which　worked　in　opposition　to　the　principle　of　nature。　That　was　certainly　the　God　which　had　been　evolved　out　of　modern　civilization。　The　pagan　gods　had　been　just　the　opposite。　They　had　been　founded　on　natural　principles。　The　Hebrew　tradition　that　God　had　made　man　in　his　own　image　was　the　reverse　of　the　scheme　of　the　pagan　man　who　had　made　God　after　his　own　image；　in　the　image　of　man　created　he　God。

But　holding　the　theory　that　he　heldthat　God　was　the　sometimes　successful　opponent　to　the　principles　of　nature　（which　he　called　the　Devil）Herbert　Courtland　felt　that　this　was　the　very　God　to　whom　his　thanks　were　due　for　the　miracle　that　had　been　performed　on　his　behalf。

〃Thank　Godthank　Godthank　God！〃　he　murmured；　looking　out　over　the　rippling　waters；　steel　gray　in　the　soft　shadow　of　the　summer's　night。

But　then　he　held　that　〃thank　God〃　was　but　a　figure　of　speech。

〃Tinky…tink；　tinky…tink；　tinky…tinky…tinky…tinky…tinky…tinky…tink；〃　went　the　youth　with　the　banjo　in　the　bows。



CHAPTER　XXIII。

ITS　MOUTHINGS　OF　THE　PAST　HAD　BECOME　ITS　MUMBLINGS　OF　THE　PRESENT。

It　was　very　distressingvery　disappointing！　The　bishop　would　neither　institute　proceedings