phyllis of philistia-第30章

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〃A　bridal　toilet？〃

〃We　thought　it　such　a　pity　that　it　should　be　wasted。　She　didn't　go　to　the　opera；　of　course。〃

〃And　it　was　wastedwasted？〃

〃Oh；　no！　When　her　husband　came　in　with　papa；　about　midnight；　we　laughed　and　said　that　her　dressing　herself　in　that　way　was　an　inspiration；　that　something　told　her　that　he　was　returning。〃

〃Probably　a　telegram　from　Paris　had　told　her；　that　was　the　source　of　her　inspiration。〃

〃Oh；　no！　what　was　so　funny　about　the　matter　was　that　Mr。　Linton's　servant　bungled　sending　the　telegram；　so　that　Ella　knew　nothing　of　his　coming。〃

〃Great　Heavens！〃

〃You　have　not　seen　Ella　since　your　return？〃

〃No；　I　have　been　with　her　husband　on　business　all　day；　however。〃

〃And　of　course　he　would　not　have　occasion　to　refer　to　so　casual　an　incident　as　his　wife's　wearing　a　new　toilet。〃

〃Of　course　not。　The　word　inspiration　has　no　place　in　a　commercial　vocabulary；　Miss　Ayrton。〃

〃But　it　is　a　good　word　elsewhere；　Mr。　Courtland。

〃Yes；　it　has　its　meaning。　You　think　that　it　may　be　safely　applied　to　the　wearing　of　an　effective　toilet。　I　wonder　if　you　would　think　of　applying　it　to　the　words　you　said　to　me　on　the　last　evening　I　was　here？〃

It　was　in　a　very　low　tone；　and　after　a　long　pause；　that　she　said：

〃I　hope　if　what　I　told　you　Mrs。　Haddon　said　was　an　inspiration；　it　was　a　good　one。　I　felt　that　I　must　tell　you；　Mr。　Courtland；　though　I　fear　that　I　gave　you　some　paingreat　pain。　I　know　what　it　is　to　be　reminded　of　an　irreparable　loss。〃

〃Painpain？〃　said　he。　Then　he　raised　his　eyes　to　hers。　〃I　wonder　if　you　will　ever　know　what　effect　your　words　had　upon　me；　Miss　Ayrton？〃　he　added。　〃I　don't　suppose　that　you　will　ever　know；　but　I　tell　you　that　it　would　be　impossible　for　me　ever　to　cease　to　think　of　you　as　my　good　angel。〃

She　flushed　slightly；　very　slightly；　before　saying：

〃How　odd　that　Ella　should　call　me　her　good　angel；　too；　on　that　same　night！〃

〃And　she　spoke　the　truth；　if　ever　truth　was　spoken；〃　he　cried。

Her　face　was　very　serious　as　she　said：

〃Of　course　I　don't　understand　anything　of　this；　Mr。　Courtland。〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃it　would　be　impossible　for　you　to　understand　anything　of　it。　It　would　be　impossible　for　you　to　understand　how　I　feel　toward　youhow　I　have　felt　toward　you　since　you　spoke　those　words　in　this　room；　those　words　that　came　to　me　as　the　light　from　heaven　came　to　Saul　of　Tarsus；　words　of　salvation。　Believe　me；　I　shall　never　forget　them。〃

〃I　am　so　glad；〃　said　she。　〃I　am　glad；　though；　as　I　say；　I　understand　nothing。〃

Then　there　had　been　a　long　interval　of　silence　before　she　had　asked　him　something　further　regarding　the　yachting　party。

And　now　she　was　lying　on　her　bed　trying　to　recall　every　word　that　he　had　spoken；　and　with　a　dread　over　her　that　what　he　had　said　would　bear　out　that　terrible　suspicion　which　she　had　prayed　to　God　to　forgive　her　for　entertaining　on　that　night　when　Ella　had　gone　home　with　her　husband。

No　rumor　had　reached　her　ears　regarding　the　closeness　of　the　intimacy　existing　between　Mr。　Courtland　and　Mrs。　Linton；　and　thus　it　was　that　when　that　suspicion　had　come　upon　her；　after　Ella　had　left　her；　she　felt　that　she　was　guilty　of　something　akin　to　a　crimea　horrible　breach　of　friendship；　only　to　be　expiated　by　tears　and　prayers。

That　terrible　thought　had　been　borne　upon　her　as　a　suggestion　to　account　for　much　that　she　could　not　understand　in　the　words　and　the　behavior　of　Ella　during　that　remarkable　evening；　and；　in　spite　of　her　remorse　and　her　prayers；　she　could　not　rid　herself　of　it。　It　left　its　impression　upon　her　mind；　upon　her　heart。　Hitherto　she　had　only　heard　about　the　way　an　unlawful　passion　sweeps　over　two　people；　causing　them　to　fling　to　the　winds　all　considerations　of　home；　of　husband；　of　religion；　of　honor；　and　she　felt　it　to　be　very　terrible　to　be　brought　face　to　face　with　such　a　power；　it　seemed　to　her　as　terrible　as　to　be　brought　face　to　face　with　that　personal　Satan　in　whom　she　believed。

It　only　required　such　a　hint　as　that　which　had　come　from　George　Holland　to　set　her　smoldering　suspicionsuspicion　of　a　suspicionin　a　flame。　It　had　flamed　up　before　him　in　those　words　which　she　had　spoken　to　him。　If　Ella　were　guilty；　he；　George　Holland；　was　to　be　held　responsible　for　her　guilt。

But　Ella　was　not　guilty；　Herbert　Courtland　was　not　guilty。

〃No；　no；　no！〃　she　cried；　in　the　solitude　of　her　chamber。　〃She　did　not　talk　as　a　guilty　woman　would　talk；　and　hehe　went　straight　out　of　the　room　where　I　had　told　him　what　Mrs。　Haddon　said　about　his　mother；　his　sisterstraight　aboard　the　yacht；　and　she〃

All　at　once　the　truth　flashed　upon　her；　the　truthshe　felt　that　it　was　the　truth；　and　both　of　them　were　guiltless。　It　was　for　Herbert　Courtland　that　Ella　had　put　on　that　lovely　dress；　but　she　was　guiltless；　he　was　guiltless。　（Curiously　enough；　she　felt　quite　as　happy　in　the　thought　that　he　was　guiltless。）　Yes；　Ella　had　come　to　her　wearing　that　dress　instead　of　waiting　for　him；　and　he　Ah；　she　now　knew　what　he　had　meant　when　he　had　called　her　his　good　angel。　She　had　saved　him。

She　flung　herself　on　her　knees　in　a　passion　of　thanksgiving　to　God　for　having　made　her　the　means　of　saving　a　soul　from　hellyes；　for　the　time　being。

And　then　she　began　to　think　what　she　should　do　in　order　that　that　soul　should　be　saved　forever。

It　was　time　for　her　to　dress　for　dinner　before　she　had　finished　working　out　that　great　question；　possibly　the　greatest　question　that　ever　engrossed　the　attention　of　a　young　woman：　how　to　save　the　soul　of　a　man；　not　temporarily；　but　eternally。

And　all　the　time　that　she　was　in　her　room　alone　she　had　not　a　single　thought　regarding　the　scene　through　which　she　had　passed　with　the　Rev。　George　Holland。　She　had　utterly　forgotten　him　and　his　wickednesshis　vain　sophistries。　She　had　forgotten　all　that　he　had　said　to　herhis　monstrous　calumny　leveled　against　her　dearest　friend；　she　even　forgot　her　unjust　treatment　of　George　Holland　and　her　rudenessher　unparalleled　rudeness　toward　him。　She　was　thinking　over　something　very　much　more　important。　What　was　a　question　of　mere　etiquette　compared　to　the　question　of　saving　a　man's　soul　alive？

But　when　she　dined　opposite　to　her　father　it　was　to　the　visit　of　George　Holland　she　referred　rather　than　to　the　visit　of　Herbert　Courtland。

〃What　had　George　Holland　got　to　say　that　was　calculated　to　interest　you？〃　her　father　inquired。　The　peaches　were　on　the　table　and　the　servant　had；　of　course；　left　the　room。

〃He　had　nothing　to　say　of　interest　to　me；〃　she　replied。

〃Nothing；　except；　of　course；　that　his　respectful　aspiration　to　marry　you〃　suggested　Mr。　Ayrton。

〃You　need　not　put　the　'except'　before　that；　my　papa；〃　said　she。

〃And　yet　I　have　for　some　years　been　under　the　impression　that　even　when　a　man　whom　she　recoils　from　marrying　talks　to　a　young　woman　about　his　aspirations　in　the　direction　of　marriage；　she　is　more　interested　than　she　would　be　when　the　man　whom　she　wishes　to　marry　talks　on　some　other　topic。〃

〃At　any　rate；　George　Holland　didn't　interest　me　so　long　as　he　talked　of　his　aspirations。　Then　he　talked　ofwell；　of　something　else；　and　I'm　afraid　that　I　was　rude　to　him。　I　don't　think　that　he　will　come　here　again。　I　know　that　I　shall　never　go　to　St。　Chad's　again。〃

〃Heavens　above！　This　is　a　pretty　story　to　tell　a　father。　How　were　you　rude　to　him？　I　should　like　to　have　a　story　of　your　rudeness；　merely　to　hold　up　against　you　for　a　future　emergency。〃

〃I　pointed　to　the　door　in　the　attitude　of　the　heroine　of　one　of　the　old　plays；　and　when　he　didn't　leave　at　once；　I　left　the　room。〃

〃You　mean　to　say　that　you　left　him　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room　while　you　went　away？〃

〃I　told　you　that　I　was　rude。〃

〃Rude；　yes；　but　it's　one　thing　to　omit　to　leave　cards　upon　a　hostess；　and　quite　another　to　stare　her　in　the　face　when　she　bows　to　you　in　the　street。　It's　one　thing　to　omit　sending　a　man　a　piece　of　your　bridescake；　and　quite　another　to　knock　off　his　hat　in　the　street。　Rude；　oh；　my　dear　Phyllis！〃

〃If　you　knew　what　he　said　aboutabout　someone　whom　I　loveif　you　knew　how　angry　I　was；　you　would　not　say　that　I　acted　so　atrociously；　after　all。〃

〃Oh！　Did　he　say　something　more　about　Ruth？〃

〃He　said　too　muchfar　too　much；　I　cannot　tell　you。　If　any　other　man　said　so　much　I　would　treat　him　in　the　same　way。　You　must　not　ask　me　anything　further；　please。〃

〃Rude　and　unrepentant；　shocking　and　not　ashamed。　This　is　terrible。　But　perhaps　it's　better　that　you　should　be　rude　when　you're　young　and　beautiful；　later　on；　when　you're　no　longer　young；　it　will　not　be　permitted　in　you。　I'll　question　you　no　further。　Only　how　about　Sunday？〃

〃I　have　promised　Ella　to　go　with　her　party　to　The　Mooring　for　a　week。〃

〃That　will　get　over　the　matter　of　the　church；　but　only　for　one　Sunday。　How　about　the　next　Sundaysuntil　the　prorogation？　Now；　don't　say　the　obvious　'sufficient　unto　the　Sunday　is　the　sermon　thereof。'　〃

〃I　certainly　will　not。　I　have　done　forever　with　St。　Chad's；　unless　the　bishop　interferes　and　we　get　a　new　rector。〃

〃Then　that's　settled。　And　so　we　can　drink　our　coffee　in　the　drawing　room　with　easy　minds。　Rude！　Great　Heavens！〃



CHAPTER　XXVII。

THAT'S　WHY　WOMEN　DO　NOT　MAKE　GOOD　PHILOSOPHERS。

She　had　prayed　to　God　that　he　might　be　kept　away　from　her；　but　immediately　afterward；　as　has　already　been　stated；　when　she　began　to　think　over　the　situation　of　the　hour；　she　came　to　the　conclusion　that　she　had　been　a　little　too　precipitate　in　her　petition。　She　felt　that　she　would　like　to　ask　him　how　it　had　come　about　that　he　had　played　that　contemptible　part。　Such　a　contemptible　part！　Was　it　on　record；　she　wondered；　that　any　man　had　ever　played　that　contemptible　part？　To　run　away！　And　she　had　designed　and　worn　that　wonderful　toilet；　such　a　toilet　as　Helen　might　have　worn　（she　thought）；　such　a　toilet　as　Cleopatra　might　have　worn　（she　fancied）；　such　a　toilet　asas　Sarah　Bernhardt　（she　was　certain）　would　wear　when　impersonating　a　woman　who　had　lost　her　soul　for　the　love　of　a　man。　Oh；　had　ever　woman　been　so　humiliated！　She　thought　of　the　way　Sarah　Bernhardt　would　act　the　part　of　one　of　those　women　if　her　lover　had　run　away　from　her　outstretched　arms；and　such　a　toilet；only　it　was　not　on　record　that　the　lover　of　any　one　of　them　had　ever　run　away。　The　lovers　had　been　only　too　faithful；　they　had　remained　to　be　hacked　to　pieces　with　a　mediaeval　knife　sparkling　with　jewels；　or　to　swallow　some　curious　poison　out　of　a　Byzantine　goblet。　She　would　have　a　word　or　two　to　say　to　Herbert　Courtland　when　he　returned。　She　would　create　the　part　of　the　woman　whose　lover　has　humiliated　her。

This　was　her　thought　until　her　husband　told　her　that　he　had　sent　that　letter　to　Herbert　Courtland；　and　he　would　most　likely　dine　with　them　on　the　evening　of　his　return。

Then　it　was　it　occurred　to　her　that　Herbert　Courtland　might　by　some　curious　mischancemischances　occurred　in　many　of　Sarah　Bernhardt's　playshave　come　to　hear　that　she　had　paid　that　rather　singular　visit　to　Phyllis　Ayrton；　just　at　the　hour　that　she　had　named　in　that　letter　which　she　had　written　to　him。　What　difference　did　that　make　in　regard　to　his　unparalleled　flight？　He　was　actually　aboard　the　yacht　/Water　Nymph/　before　she　had　rung　for　her　brougham　to　take　her　to　Phyllis'。　He　had　been　the　first　to　fly。

Then　she　began　to　think；　as　she　had　thought　once　before；　of　he