phyllis of philistia-第27章

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il　or　for　good。　Its　mouthings　of　the　past　had　become　its　mumblings　of　the　present。　The　cave　at　the　mouth　of　which　this　toothless　giant　sat　was　very　dark；　and　intelligent　people　went　by　with　a　good…natured　and　tolerant　laugh。

This　article　was　published　in　the　/Review/　on　Tuesday。　Phyllis　read　it　on　the　evening　of　that　day。　On　Wednesday　the　newspapers　were　full　of　this　further　development　of　the　theories　of　the　writer；　and　on　Thursday　afternoon　the　writer　paid　a　visit　to　Phyllis。

As　he　entered　the　drawing　room　he　found　himself　face　to　face　with　Herbert　Courtland；　who　was　in　the　act　of　leaving。



CHAPTER　XXIV。

SHE　WAS　A　WIFE；　AND　SHE　HAD　A　LOVER　WHO　DISAPPOINTED　HER。

The　prayer　of　Ella　Linton　had　not　been　answered。　She　had　prayed；　not　that　her　heart　wherewith　she　loved　Herbert　Courtland　might　be　changed　that　she　knew　would　be　difficult；　not　that　her　love　for　Herbert　Courtland　might　ceasethat　she　believed　to　be　impossible；　but　simply　that　Herbert　Courtland　might　be　kept　away　from　herthat　she　knew　to　be　the　most　sensible　course　her　scheme　of　imploration　could　take。

She　was　well　aware　of　the　fact　that　God　had　given　her　strength　to　run　away　from　Herbert　Courtland；　and　for　that　she　was　sincerely　thankful；　she　did　not　pause　to　analyze　her　feelings；　to　ask　herself　if　her　thanks　were　due　to　her　reflection　upon　the　circumstance　of　her　husband's　return；　at　the　very　hour　when　she　had　appointed　to　meet　Herbert　Courtland；　she　only　felt　that　God　had　been　good　to　her　in　giving　her　sufficient　strength　to　run　away　from　that　appointment。　Then　it　was　that　she　had　prayed　that　he　might　be　kept　away　from　her。　Surely　God　would　find　it　easy　to　do　that；　she　thought。　Surely　she　might　assume　that　God　was　on　her　side；　and　that　he　would　not　leave　his　work　half　done。

But　when　she　began　to　think　of　the　thorough　manner　in　which　God　does　his　work　she　began　to　wish　that　she　had　not　prayed　quite　so　earnestly。　Supposing　that　God　should　think　it　fit　to　keep　him　away　from　her　by　sending　a　blast　from　heaven　to　capsize　that　yacht　in　the　deep　sea；　what　would　she　think　of　the　fervency　of　her　prayer　then？

The　terror　of　her　reflection　upon　the　possibility　of　this　occurrence　flung　her　from　her　bed　and　sent　her　pacing；　with　bare　feet　and　flying　lace；　the　floor　of　her　bedroom　in　the　first　pearly　light　of　dawn；　just　as　she　had　paced　the　floor　of　Phyllis'　drawing　room　beneath　the　glow　of　the　electric　lights。

She　wished　that　she　had　not　prayed　quite　so　earnestly　that　he　might　be　kept　apart　from　her。　But　one　cannot　pray　hot　and　cold；　she　felt　that　she　had　no　right　now　to　lay　down　any　conditions　to　Heaven　in　the　matter　of　keeping　Herbert　Courtland　away　from　her。　She　had　prayed　her　prayer；　only；　if　he　were　drowned　before　she　saw　him　again；　she　would　never　say　another　prayer。

This　feeling　that　she　would　be　even　with　Heaven；　so　to　speak；　had　the　effect　of　soothing　her。　She　threw　herself　upon　her　bed　once　more　and　was　able　to　fall　asleep；　she　had　a　considerable　amount　of　confidence　in　the　discrimination　of　Heaven。

But　before　she　had　come　down　to　the　breakfast　room　where　her　husband　was　reading　a　newspaper　in　the　morning；　she　had　thought　a　good　deal　upon　another　matter　that　disquieted　her　in　some　degree。　She　had　been　exuberant　（she　thought）　at　having　had　sufficient　strength　given　to　her　to　run　away　from　her　lover；　but　then　she　had　not　dwelt　upon　the　rather　important　circumstance　that　all　the　running　away　had　not　been　on　her　side。　What　were　the　facts　as　revealed　by　the　narrative　of　Mr。　Ayrton？　Why；　simply；　that　while　she　was　putting　on　that　supreme　toilet　which　she　had　prepared　for　the　delight　of　the　eyes　of　her　lover　（feeling　herself　to　be　a　modern　Cleopatra）；　that　lover　of　hers　was　sitting　on　the　cushions　of　a　first…class　carriage；　flying　along　to　Southampton；　and　while　she　had　been　lying　among　the　cushions　of　her　drawing　room；　waiting　tremulously；　nervously；　ecstatically；　for　the　dreary　minutes　to　crawl　on　until　the　clock　should　chime　the　hour　of　nine；　he　was　probably　lighting　his　first　pipe　aboard　the　yacht　/Water　Nymph/。　What　did　it　matter　that　she　had　lifted　her　hot　face　from　her　cushions　and　had　fled　in　wild　haste　to　the　arms　of　Phyllis　Ayrton？　The　fact　remained　the　same；　it　was　he　who　had　run　away　from　her。

That　was　a　terrible　reflection。　Hitherto　she　had　never　felt　humiliated。　She　had　not　felt　that　he　had　insulted　her　by　his　kisses；　she　had　given　him　kiss　for　kiss。　She　had　but　to　hold　up　her　finger　and　he　was　ready　to　obey　her。　But　nowwhat　was　she　to　think　of　him？　Had　ever　man　so　humiliated　woman？　She　had　offered　him；　not　her　heart　but　her　soulhad　he　not　told　her　a　few　days　before　that　he　meant　her　to　give　him　her　soul？　and　when　she　had　laid　heart　and　soul　at　his　feet　that　was　how　she　put　it　to　herselfhe　had　not　considered　it　worth　his　while　to　take　the　priceless　gift　that　she　offered　to　him。

〃He　will　answer　to　me　for　that；〃　she　said；　as　she　thought　over　her　humiliation；　in　front　of　her　dressing…glass　that　morning；　while　her　maid　was　absent　from　the　room。

Her　wish　was　now　not　that　her　prayer　had　been　less　earnest；　but　that　it　had　not　been　uttered　at　all。　It　was　necessary　for　her　to　meet　him　again　in　order　that　he　might　explain　to　her　how　it　came　that　he　had　preferred　the　attractions　incidental　to　a　cruise　with　Lord　Earlscourt　and　his　friends　to　all　that　she　had　written　to　offer　him。

And　yet　when　her　husband；　after　having　quite　finished　with　his　paper；　said：

〃It's　very　awkward　that　Herbert　Courtland　is　not　in　town；〃

She　merely　raised　her　shoulders　an　inch；　saying：

〃I　suppose　that　he　has　a　right　to　take　a　holiday　now　and　then。　If　you　didn't　telegraph　to　him　from　Paris；　you　cannot　complain。〃

〃I　felt　certain　that　I　should　find　him　here；〃　said　the　husband。

〃Here？〃　said　the　wife；　raising　her　eyebrows　and　casting　an　offended　glance　at　her　husband。　〃Here？〃

He　smiled　in　the　face　of　her　offended　glance。

〃Herein　London；　I　mean；　of　course。　Heavens；　Ella！　did　you　fancy　for　a　moment　that　I　meant　Ah；　by　the　way；　you　have　seen　him　recently？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　quite　recentlyon　Tuesday；　I　think　it　was；　we　met　at　the　Ayrton's　dinner　partyyes；　it　was　Tuesday。　There　was　some　fuss；　or　attempted　fuss；　about　his　adventures　in　New　Guinea；　and　a　question　was　being　asked　about　the　matter　in　the　House　of　Commons。　Mr。　Ayrton　got　rid　of　some　of　his　superfluous　cleverness　in　putting　a　counter　questionyou　know　the　way。〃

〃Oh；　perfectly　well！　And　that　is　how　you　met　on　Tuesdayif　it　was　Tuesday？〃

〃Yes；　he　went　to　thank　Mr。　Ayrton；　and　Mr。　Ayrton　asked　him　to　dinner。　It　was　a　small　party；　and　not　very　brilliant。　Herbert　came　here　with　me　afterwardfor　five　minutes。〃

〃Ah！　To　get　the　taste　of　the　party　off　his　mouth；　I　suppose？　He　didn't　say　anything　to　you　then　about　being　tired　of　his　London　season？〃

〃Not　a　word。　He　seemed　tired　of　the　dinner　party。　He　yawned。〃

〃And　I'm　sure　that　you　yawned　in　sympathy。　When　a　man　so　far　forgets　himself　as　to　yawn　in　the　presence　of　a　woman；　she　never　fails　to　respond　with　one　of　more　ample　circumference。　When　a　woman　so　far　remembers　herself　as　to　yawn　in　the　presence　of　a　man；　he　tries　to　say　something　witty。〃

〃Yes；　when　the　woman　is　not　his　wife。　If　she　is　his　wife；　he　asks　her　if　she　doesn't　think　it's　about　time　she　was　in　bed。〃

〃I　dare　say　you're　right；　you　have　observed　menand　women；　for　that　mattermuch　more　closely　than　I　have　had　time　to　do。　It's　very　awkward　that　he　isn't　here。　I　must　bring　him　back　at　once。〃

She　felt　a　little　movement　at　her　heart；　but　she　only　said：

〃I　wouldn't　do　that；　if　I　were　you。　Why　shouldn't　he　be　allowed　to　enjoy　his　holiday　in　peace？〃

〃It's　a　matter　of　business；　the　mine；　I　told　you。〃

〃What's　wrong　with　the　mine　that　could　be　set　right　by　his　coming　back　at　once？　Are　you　not　making　enough　out　of　it？〃

〃We're　making　quite　as　much　as　is　good　for　us　out　of　it。　But　if　we　can　get　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　pounds　for　a　few　yards　of　our　claim　further　east；　without　damaging　the　prospects　of　the　mine　itself；　I　don't　think　we　should　refuse　itat　any　rate；　I　don't　think　that　we　should　refuse　to　consider　the　offer。〃

〃What　is　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　pounds？〃　said　she。

〃I　wonder　why　you　dressed　yourself　as　you　did　last　night？〃　said　he。

The　suddenness　of　the　words　did　not　cause　her　to　quail　as　the　guilty　wife　quailsyes；　under　a　properly　managed　lime…light。　She　did　not　even　color。　But　then；　of　course；　she　was　not　a　guilty　wife。

She　lay　back　on　her　chair　and　laughed。

He　watched　hernot　eagerly；　but　pleasantly；　admiringly。

〃My　dear　Stephen；　if　you　could　understand　why　I　dressed　myself　that　way　you　would　be　able　to　give　me　a　valuable　hint　as　to　where　the　connection　lies　between　your　mine　and　my　toiletI　need　such　a　hint；　now；　I　can　assure　you。〃

She　was　sitting　up　now　looking　at　him　with　lovely　laughing　eyes。　（After　all；　she　was　no　guilty　wife。）

〃What；　you　can't　see　the　connection？〃　he　said　slowly。　〃You　can　sew　over　your　dress　about　fifty　thousand　pounds'　worth　of　diamonds；　and　yet　you　don't　see　the　connection　between　the　wearing　of　that　dress　and　the　development　of　a　gold　mine　by　your　husband？〃

〃I　think　I　see　it　nowsomething　of　a　connection。　But　I　don't　want　any　more　diamonds；　I　don't　care　if　you　take　all　that　are　sewed　about　the　dress　and　throw　them　into　the　river。　That's　how　I　feel　this　morning。〃

〃I　heard　some　time　ago　of　a　woman　who　had　something　of　your　mood　upon　her　one　day。　She　had　some　excellent　diamonds；　and　in　one　of　her　moods；　she　flung　them　into　the　river。　She　was　a　wife　and　she　had　a　lover　who　disappointed　her。　The　story　reads　very　smoothly　in　verse。〃

She　laughed。

〃I　have　no　lover；〃　she　saidwas　it　mournfully？　〃I　have　a　husband；　it　is　true；　but　he　is　not　exactly　of　the　type　of　King　Arthurnor　Sir　Galahad；　for　that　matter。　I　hope　you　found　Paris　as　enjoyable　as　ever？〃

〃Quite。　I　never　saw　at　Paris　a　more　enrapturing　toilet　than　yours　of　last　night。　You　are；　I　know；　the　handsomest　woman　of　my　acquaintance；　and　you　looked　handsomer　than　I　had　ever　before　seen　you　in　that　costume。　I　wonder　why　you　put　it　on。〃

〃Didn't　someonewas　it　Phyllis？suggest　that　it　was　an　act　of　inspiration；　that　I　had　a　secret；　mysterious　prompting　to　put　it　on　to　achieve　the　object　whichwell；　which　I　did　achieve。〃

〃Object？　What　object？〃

〃To　make　my　husband　fall　in　love　with　me　again。〃

〃Ah！　In　love　there　is　no　again。　I　wonder　where　a　telegram　would　find　Herbert。〃

〃Don't　worry　yourself　about　him。　Let　him　enjoy　his　holiday。〃

〃Do　you　fancy　he　is　enjoying　himself　with　Earlscourt　and　his　boon　companions？　They'll　be　playing　poker　from　morning　till　night　certainly　from　night　till　morning。〃

〃Why　should　he　go　on　the　cruise　if　he　was　not　certain　to　enjoy　himself？〃

〃Ah；　that　question　is　too　much　for　me。　Think　over　it　yourself　and　let　me　know　if　you　come　to　a　solution；　my　dear。〃

He　rose　and　left　the　room　before　she　could　make　any　answerbefore　she　could　make　an　attempt　to　find　out　in　what　direction　his　thoughts　regarding　the　departure　of　Herbert　Courtland　were　moving。

She　wondered　if　he　had　any　suspicion　in　regard　to　Herbert　and　herself。　He　was　not　a　man　given　to　suspicion；　or　at　any　rate；　given　to　allowing　whatever　suspicion　he　may　have　felt；　to　be　apparent。　He　had　allowed　her　to　drive　and　to　ride　with　Herbert　Courtland　during　the　four　months　the