phyllis of philistia-第31章

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Then　she　began　to　think；　as　she　had　thought　once　before；　of　her　husband's　sudden　return；the　return　of　a　husband　at　the　exact　hour　named　in　the　letter　to　a　lover　was　by　no　means　an　unknown　incident　in　a　play　of　Sarah　Bernhardt's；and　before　she　had　continued　upon　this　course　of　thought　for　many　minutes；　she　had　come　to　the　conclusion　that　she　would　not　be　too　hard　on　Herbert　Courtland。

She　was　not　too　hard　on　him。

He　had　an　interview　with　Mr。　Linton　at　the　city　offices　of　the　great　Taragonda　Creek　Mine。　（The　mine　had；　as　has　already　been　stated；　been　discovered　by　Herbert　Courtland　during　his　early　explorations　in　Australia；　and　he　had　acquired　out　of　his　somewhat　slender　resources　he　had　been　poor　in　those　daysabout　a　square　mile　of　the　wretched　country　where　it　was　situated；　and　had　then　communicated　his　discovery　to　Stephen　Linton；　who　understood　the　science　and　arts　necessary　for　utilizing　such　a　discovery；　the　result　being　that　in　two　years　everyone　connected　with　the　Taragonda　Mine　was　rich。　The　sweepings　of　the　crushing　rooms　were　worth　twenty　thousand　pounds　a　year：　and　Herbert　Courtland　had　spent　about　ten　thousand　poundsa　fourth　of　his　year's　incomein　the　quest　of　the　meteor…bird　to　make　a　feather　fan　for　Ella　Linton。）　And　when　the　business　for　which　he　had　been　summoned　to　London　had　been　set　/en　train/；　he　had　paid　a　visit　to　his　publishers。　（They　wondered　could　he　give　them　a　novel　on　New　Guinea。　If　he　introduced　plenty　of　dialect　and　it　was　sufficiently　unintelligible　it　might　thrust　the　kail　yard　out　of　the　market；　but　the　novel　must　be　in　dialect；　they　assured　him。）　After　promising　to　give　the　matter　his　attention；　he　paid　his　visit　to　Phyllis；　and　then　went　to　his　rooms　to　dress；　for　when　Stephen　Linton　had　said：

〃Of　course　you'll　dine　with　us　to…night：　I　told　Ella　you　would　come。〃

He　had　said；　〃Thanks；　I　shall　be　very　pleased。〃

〃Come　early；　eight　sharp；〃　Mr。　Linton　had　added。

And　thus　it　was　that　at　five　minutes　to　eight　o'clock　Herbert　found　himself　face　to　face　alone　with　the　woman　whom　he　had　so　grossly　humiliated。

Perhaps　she　was　hard　on　him　after　all：　she　addressed　him　as　Mr。　Courtland。　She　felt　that　she；　at　any　rate；　had　returned　to　the　straight　path　of　duty　when　she　had　done　that。　（It　was　Herbert　Courtland　who　had　talked　to　Phyllis　of　the　modern　philosophera　political　philosopher　or　a　philosophical　politicianwho；　writing　against　compromise；　became　the　leading　exponent　of　that　science；　and　had　hoped　to　solve　the　question　of　a　Deity　by　using　a　small　g　in　spelling　God。　On　the　same　principle　Ella　had　called　Herbert　〃Mr。　Courtland。〃）

He　felt　uneasy。　Was　he　ashamed　of　himself；　she　wondered？

〃Stephen　will　be　down　in　a　moment；　Mr。　Courtland；〃　she　said。

He　was　glad　to　hear　it。

〃How　warm　it　has　been　all　day！〃　she　added。　〃I　thought　of　you　toiling　away　over　figures　in　the　city；　when　you　might　have　been　breathing　the　lovely　air　of　the　sea。　It　was　too　bad　of　Stephen　to　bring　you　back。〃

〃I　assure　you　I　was　glad　to　get　his　letter　at　Leith；〃　said　he。　〃I　was　thinking　for　the　two　days　previous　how　I　could　best　concoct　a　telegram　to　myself　at　Leith　in　order　that　I　might　have　some　excuse　for　running　away。〃

〃That　is　assuming　that　running　away　needs　some　excuse；〃　said　she。

There　was　a　considerable　pause　before　he　said；　in　a　low　tone：

〃Ella；　Ella；　I　know　everythingthat　night。　We　were　saved。〃

At　this　moment　Mr。　Linton　entered　the　room。　He　was；　after　all；　not　late；　he　said：　it　wanted　a　minute　still　of　being　eight　o'clock。　He　had　just　been　at　the　telephone　to　receive　a　reply　regarding　a　box　at　Covent　Garden。　In　the　earlier　part　of　the　day　none　had　been　vacant；　he　had　been　told；　but　the　people　at　the　box　office　promised　to　telephone　to　him　if　any　became　vacant　in　the　course　of　the　afternoon。　He　had　just　come　from　the　telephone；　and　had　secured　a　good　enough　box　on　the　first　tier。　He　hoped　that　Ella　would　not　mind　〃Carmen〃；　there　was　to　be　a　new　/Carmen/。

Ella　assured　him　that　she　could　not　fail　to　be　interested　in　any　/Carmen/；　new　or　old。　It　was　so　good　of　him　to　take　all　that　trouble　for　her；　knowing　how　devoted　she　was　to　opera。　She　hoped　that　Herbert　she　called　him　Herbert　in　the　presence　of　her　husbandwas　in　a　/Carmen/　mood。

〃I'm　always　in　a　mood　to　study　anything　that's　unreservedly　savage；〃　said　he。

〃There's　not　much　reservation　about　our　little　friend　/Carmen/；〃　said　Mr。　Linton。　〃She　tells　you　her　philosophy　in　her　first　moment　before　you。〃

He　hummed　the　habanera。

〃There　you　are：　/Misteroso　e　l'amore/that's　the　philosophy　of　your　pretty　savage；　Herbert。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Herbert；　〃it's　that　philosophy　which　consists　in　an　absence　of　philosophynot　the　worst　kind；　either；　it　seems　to　me。　It's　the　philosophy　of　impulse。〃

〃I　thought　that　the　aim　of　all　philosophy　was　to　check　every　impulse；〃　said　Ella。

〃So　it　is；　that's　why　women　do　not　make　good　philosophers；〃　said　her　husband。

〃Or；　for　that　matter；　good　mothers　of　philosophers；〃　said　Herbert。

〃That's　rather　a　hard　saying；　isn't　it？〃　said　the　other　man。

〃No；〃　said　his　wife；　〃it's　as　transparent　as　air。〃

〃London　air　in　November？〃　suggested　her　husband。

〃He　means　that　there's　no　such　thing。〃

〃As　air　in　London　in　November？　I'm　with　him　there。〃

〃He　means　that　there's　no　such　thing　as　a　good　philosopher。〃

〃Then　I　hope　he　has　an　appetite　for　dinner。　The　man　without　philosophy　usually　has。〃

The　butler　had　just　announced　dinner。

There　was　not　much　talk　among　them　of　philosophy　so　long　as　the　footmen　were　floating　round　them　like　mighty　tropical　birds。　They　talked　of　the　House　of　Commons　instead。　A　new　measure　was　to　be　introduced　the　next　night：　something　that　threatened　beer　and　satisfied　no　party；　not　even　the　teetotalersonly　the　wives　of　the　teetotalers。　Then　they　had　a　few　words　regarding　George　Holland's　article　in　the　/Zeit　Geist/。　Mr。　Linton　seemed　to　some　extent　interested　in　the　contentions　of　the　rector　of　St。　Chad's；　and　Herbert　agreed　with　him　when　he　expressed　the　opinion　that　the　two　greatest　problems　that　the　Church　had　to　face　were：　How　to　get　people　with　intelligence　to　go　to　church；　and　what　to　do　with　them　when　they　were　there。

In　an　hour　they　were　in　their　box　at　Covent　Garden　listening　to　the　sensuous　music　of　〃Carmen；〃　and　comparing　the　sauciness　of　the　charming　little　devil　who　sang　the　habanera；　with　the　piquancy　of　the　last　/Carmen/　but　three；　and　with　the　refinement　of　the　one　who　had　made　so　great　a　success　at　Munich。　They　agreed　that　the　savagery　of　the　newest　was　very　fascinating；Stephen　Linton　called　it　womanly；　but　they　thought　they　should　like　to　hear　her　in　the　third　act　before　pronouncing　a　definite　opinion　regarding　her　capacity。

Then　the　husband　left　the　box　to　talk　to　some　people　who　were　seated　opposite。

〃You　know　everything？〃　she　said。

〃Everything；〃　said　Herbert。　〃Can　you　ever　forgive　me？〃

〃For　running　away？　Oh；　Bertie；　you　cannot　have　heard　all。〃

〃For　forcing　you　to　write　me　that　lettercan　you　ever　forgive　me？〃

〃Oh；　the　letter？　Oh；　Bertie；　we　were　both　wrongterribly　wrong。　But　we　were　saved。〃

〃Yes；　we　were　saved。　Thank　Godthank　God！〃

〃That　was　my　first　cry；　Bertie；　when　I　felt　that　I　was　safethat　we　both　had　been　saved：　Thank　God！　It　seemed　as　if　a　miracle　had　been　done　to　save　us。〃

〃So　it　wasa　miracle。〃

〃I　spent　the　night　praying　that　you　might　be　kept　away　from　me；　Bertie　away　for　ever　and　ever。　I　felt　that　I　was　miserably　weak；　I　felt　that　I　could　not　trust　myself；　but　now　that　you　are　here　beside　me　again　I　feel　strong。　Oh；　Bertie；　we　know　ourselves　better　now　than　we　did　a　week　agois　it　only　a　week　ago？　It　seems　monthsyearsa　lifetime！〃

〃Yes；　I　think　that　we　know　each　other　better　now；　Ella。　That　night　aboard　the　yacht　all　the　history　of　the　past　six　months　seemed　to　come　before　me。　I　saw　what　a　wretch　I　had　been；　and　I　was　overwhelmed　with　self…contempt。〃

〃It　was　all　my　fault；　dear　Bertie。　I　was　foolishvaina　mere　woman！　Do　not　say　that　I　did　not　take　pride　in　what　I　called；　in　my　secret　moments；　my　conquest。　Oh；　Bertie！　I　had　sunk　into　the　depths。　And　then　that　letter！　But　we　were　saved；　and　I　feel　that　we　have　been　saved　forevermore。　I　feel　strong　by　your　side　now。　And　you；　I　know；　feel　strong；　Bertie？〃

〃I　have　awakened　from　my　dream；　Ella。　You　called　her　your　good　angel　too。　Surely　it　was　my　good　angel　that　sent　me　to　her　that　evening！〃

Ella　was　staring　at　him。　He　said　that　he　knew　everything。　It　appeared　that　she　was　the　one　who　was　not　in　the　fortunate　position　of　knowing　all。

She　stared。

〃Phyllis　Ayrtonyou　were　with　her？〃

〃For　half　an　hour。　She　was　unconscious　of　the　effect　her　words　had　upon　me；the　words　of　another　woman；leading　me　back　to　the　side　of　those　who　have　gone　forever。　I　listened　to　her；　and　then　it　was　that　I　awoke。　She　did　not　know。　How　could　she　tell　that　the　light　of　heaven　was　breaking　in　upon　a　soul　that　was　on　the　brink　of　hell？　She　saved　me。〃

〃She　told　me　nothing　of　that。〃　There　was　a　curious　eagerness　in　her　voice。　〃She　told　me　nothing。　Oh；　how　could　she　tell　me　anything？　She　knew　nothing　of　it　herself。　She　looked　on　you　as　an　ordinary　visitor。　She　told　you　that　I　fled　to　her。　Oh；　Bertie；　Bertie！　those　hours　that　I　passedthe　terrible　conflict。　But　when　I　felt　her　arms　about　me　I　knew　that　I　was　safe。　Then　Stephen　entered。　I　thought　that　we　were　lostyou　and　I；　that　he　had　returned　to　find　you　waiting。　I　don't　know　if　he　had　a　suspicion。　At　any　rate　we　were　saved；　and　by　her　dear　Phyllis。　Oh；　will　she　ever　know；　I　wonder；　what　it　is　to　be　a　woman？　Bertie；　she　is　my　dearest　friendI　told　you　so。　I　thought　of　her　and　youlong　ago。　Oh；　why　should　you　not　think　of　her　now　that　you　have　awakened　and　are　capable　of　thoughtthe　thought　of　a　sane　man？〃

He　sat　with　an　elbow　resting　on　the　front　of　the　opera　box；　his　head　upon　his　hand。　He　was　not　looking　at　her；　but　beyond　her。　He　seemed　to　be　lost　in　thought。

Was　he　considering　that　curious　doctrine　which　she　had　propounded；　that　if　a　man　really　loves　a　woman　he　will　marry　her　dearest　friend？　He　made　no　reply　to　her。　The　point　required　a　good　deal　of　thought；　apparently。

〃You　hear　me；　Bertiedear　Bertie？〃　she　said。

He　only　nodded。

She　remembered　that；　upon　a　previous　occasion；　when　she　had　made　the　same　suggestion　to　him；　he　had　put　it　aside　as　unworthy　of　comment　unworthy　of　a　moment's　thought。　How　could　it　be　possible　for　him；　loving　her　as　he　did；　to　admit　the　possibility　of　another's　attractiveness　in　his　eyes？　The　idea　had　seemed　ludicrous　to　him。

But　now　he　made　no　such　protest。　He　seemed　to　consider　her　suggestion　and　to　think　itwell；　worthy　of　consideration；　and　this　should　have　been　very　pleasing　to　her；　for　did　it　not　mean　that　she　had　gained　her　point？

〃You　will　think　over　it；　Bertie？〃　she　said。　Her　voice　was　now　scarcely　so　full　of　eagerness　as　it　had　been　before。　Was　that　because　she　did　not　want　to　weary　him　by　her　persistence？　Even　the　suggestion　to　a　man　that　he　should　love　a　certain　woman　should；　she　knew；　be　made　with　tact。

〃I　have　been　thinking　over　it；〃　he　said　at　last；　but　only　after　a　long　pause。

〃Oh；　I　am　so　glad！〃

And　she　actually　believed　that　she　was　glad。

〃I　thought　about　her　aboard　the　yacht。〃

〃Did　you？　I　fancied　that　you　would　think　of　But　I　am　so　glad！〃

〃I　thought　of　her　as　my