phyllis of philistia-第36章

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But　though　Ella　had　undoubtedly　given　Herbert　to　understand　that　she　was　anxious　to　have　him　at　The　Mooring　while　Phyllis　was　there；　in　order　that　he　might　have　an　opportunity　of　seeing　more　of　her；　and　to　obtain　his　agreement　that　her　theory　that　the　man　who　truly　loves　a　woman　should　be　ready　to　marry　that　woman's　dearest　friend；　still　it　must　be　confessed　that　she　was　surprised　to　observe　the　course　adopted　by　both　Phyllis　and　Herbert。　She　had　expected　that　all　her　tact　and　diplomacy　would　be　required　in　order　to　bring　the　young　peoplewith　all　the　arrogance　of　the　wife　of　twenty…six　years　of　age　she　alluded　to　a　girl　of　twenty…three　and　a　man　of　thirty…two　as　the　young　people　together。

She　had　had　visions　of　sitting　in　the　stern　of　an　out…rigger　built　for　two；　remonstrating　with　Herberthe　would　of　course　be　at　the　oars　for　choosing　to　paddle　her　up　the　river　while　he　allowed　some　of　the　other　men　to　carry　off　Phyllis　in；　say；　the　Canadian　canoe。　A　picture　had　come　before　her　of　the　aggrieved　expression　upon　the　face　of　Herbert　when　she　would　insist　on　his　going　out　by　the　side　of　Phyllis　to　feed　the　peacocks　on　the　terraces　in　the　twilight；　and　she　had　more　than　once　seemed　to　hear　his　sigh　of　resignation　as　she；　with　a　firmness　which　she　would　take　pains　to　develop；　pleaded　a　headache　so　that　he　and　Phyllis　might　play　a　game　of　billiards　together。

She　soon　found　out　that　her　imagination　had　not　been　prophetic。　Immediately　after　drinking　teait　was　a　few　minutes　past　sixon　the　evening　of　the　arrival　of　Herbert；　she　went　out　of　doors　to　find　him　and　give　him　a　lecture　on　the　need　there　was　for　him　to　refrain　from　waiting　about　the　garden　far　from　the　other　guests　until　she；　Ella；　could　go　on　the　river　with　him　for　a　quiet　drift　before　dinner；　the　other　guests　would　certainly　think　him　worse　than　rude；　she　was　ready　to　explain。　The　explanation　was　not　needed；　she　learned　that　Mr。　Courtland　had　just　taken　Miss　Ayrton　out　in　one　of　the　punts。

Of　course　she　was　pleasedafter　an　hour　by　the　side　of　her　husband　to　perceive　that　Herbert　had　lost　no　time　in　making　an　effort　to　prove　to　her　how　amply　he　recognized　her　object　in　asking　him　to　The　Mooring。　But　at　the　same　time；　if　pleased；　she　was　also　surprised。　At　any　rate；　she　would　take　good　care　that　he　did　not　lapse　in　his　attentions　to　Phyllis；　as　she　knew　lovers　are　but　too　apt　to　lapse；　especially　when　they　begin　well。　She　would；　for　instance；　send　him　from　her　side　in　the　garden　after　dinner；　to　walk　with　Phyllis　up　to　the　woods　where　a　nightingale　was　said　to　be　in　the　habit　of　singing　when　the　lovely　summer　twilight　had　waned　into　the　lovely　summer　night。　With　the　nightingale's　song　in　their　ears；　two　ordinary　young　persons　with　no　preconceived　theories　on　the　subject　of　love；　have　been　known；　she　was　well　aware；　to　become　lovers　of　the　most　aggressive　type。　Yes；　she　had　great　hopes　of　the　nightingale。

So；　apparently；　had　Herbert　Courtland。

After　dinner　there　was　smoking　in　the　garden；　some　feeding　of　the　peacocks　on　the　terraces；　while　the　blackbirds　uttered　protests　against　such　an　absorption　by　foreign　immigrants　of　the　bread　that　was　baked　for　native　consumption。　Then　there　was　some　talk　of　the　nightingale。　One　man　suggested　that　it　was　a　nightingale　attached　to　a　music　box　which　the　enterprise　of　a　local　inn　had　hired　for　the　summer　months；　sending　a　man　to　wind　it　up　every　night　for　the　attraction　of　visitors。　Then　it　was　that　Mr。　Courtland　said　he　knew　a　spot　where　a　nightingale　had　been　in　the　habit　of　singing　long　ago；　when　his　explorations　of　the　Thames　River　had　preceded　those　of　the　Fly　River。　He　found　three　persons　who　expressed　their　willingness　to　accept　his　guidance　on　the　spot；　if　it　were　not　too　far　away。　One　of　these　was　Phyllis；　the　other　two　were　notorious　lovers。　Off　they　started　without　hats　or　caps。

This　Ella　heard　when　she　returned　to　the　garden；　whence　she　had　been　called　away　for　ten　minutes　to　interview　a　man　who　had　an　electric　launch　for　sale。

The　news；　communicated　to　her　by　her　husband　in　answer　to　her　inquiry；　had　surprised　her。　That　was　why　she　had　given　a　little　laugh　with　a　tone　of　derision　in　it　when　she　had　said：

〃A　nightingale！　How　lovely！　I　hope　they　may　find　it。　It　shouldn't　prove　so　arduous　as　the　quest　of　the　meteor…bird。　I　do　hope　that　those　children　will　not　catch　cold。　It　is　a　trifle　imprudent。〃

〃Imprudent？〃

〃Going　off　that　way　with　nothing　on　their　heads。〃

〃Or　in　them。　Happy　children！〃　cried　a　moralizing　novelist；　who　was　smoking　an　extremely　good　cigarit　had　not　come　from　his　own　tobacconist。

〃We　can't　all　be　novel…writers；〃　said　one　of　the　women。

〃Thank　the　Lord！〃　said　one　of　the　men；　with　genuine　piety。

In　three…quarters　of　an　hour　the　members　of　the　quest　party　returned。　They　had　been　fully　rewarded　for　their　trouble；　they　had　been　listening　to　the　nightingale　for　nearly　twenty　minutes；　they　said；　it　had　been　very　lovely；　they　agreed；　without　a　single　dissentient　voice。　It　probably　was；　at　any　rate　they　were　very　silent　for　the　rest　of　the　night。

〃You　have　begun　well；〃　said　Ella　to　Herbert；　when　they　found　themselves　together　in　the　drawing　room；　later　on；　shortly　before　midnight。　Someone　was　playing　on　the　piano；　so　that　the　general　conversation　and　yawning　were　not　interfered　with。　〃You　have　begun　well。　You　will　soon　get　to　know　her　if　your　others　days　here　are　like　to…day。　That　nightingale！　Oh；　yes；　you　will　soon　get　to　know　her。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃I　doubt　it；〃　said　he；　in　a　low　tone。　His　eyes　were　turned　in　the　direction　of　Phyllis。　She　was　on　a　seat　at　an　open　window；　the　twilight　of　moonlight　and　lamplight　glimmering　about　her　hair。　〃I　doubt　it。　It　takes　a　man　such　as　I　am　a　long　time　to　know　such　a　girl　as　Phyllis　Ayrton。〃

That　was　a　saying　which　had　a　certain　amount　of　irritation　for　Ella。　He　had　never　said　anything　in　the　past　about　her；　Ella；　being　beyond　the　knowledge　of　ordinary　men。

〃That's　a　very　good　beginning；〃　said　she；　with　a　little　laugh　that　meant　much。　〃But　don't　despair。　After　all；　girls　are　pretty　much　alike。　I　was　a　girl　onceit　seems　a　long　time　ago。　I　thought　then　that　I　knew　a　great　deal　about　men。　Alas！　all　that　I　have　learned　since　is　simply　that　they　know　a　great　deal　about　me。　Am　I　different　from　other　women；　I　wonder？　Am　I　more　shallowmore　transparent？　Was　I　ever　an　enigma　to　you；　Bertie？〃

〃You　were　always　a　woman；〃　he　said。　〃That　is　why〃

〃That　is　why〃

〃That　is　why　I　am　here　to…night。　If　you　were　not　a　true　woman　I　should　be　far　away。〃

〃You　are　far　awayfrom　me；　Bertie。〃

〃No；　no！　I　am　only　beginning　to　appreciate　youto　understand　you。〃

〃I　am　to　be　understood　through　the　medium　of　Phyllis　Ayrton？　Isn't　that　like　looking　at　happiness　through　another's　eyes？〃

He　did　not　appear　to　catch　her　meaning　at　once。　He　looked　at　her　and　then　his　eyes　went　across　the　room　to　Phyllis。　At　the　same　instant　the　performance　on　the　piano　ceased。　Everyone　said　〃Thanks；　awfully　good；〃　and　there　were　some　audible　yawns。

There　was　a　brandy　and　soda　yearning　in　the　men's　eyes。

〃We'll　get　off　to　bed；　someone　may　begin　to　play　something　else；〃　whispered　the　hostess　to　one　of　her　lady　guests。

The　men　looked　as　if　they　had　heard　the　suggestion　and　heartily　approved　of　it。

The　next　evening　Ella　was　fortunate　enough　to　get　beside　Herbert　once　againshe　had　scarcely　had　an　opportunity　of　exchanging　a　word　with　him　all　day。　He　had　been　with　Phyllis　alone　in　the　Canadian　canoe。　It　only　held　two　comfortably；　otherwise　But　no　one　had　volunteered　to　put　its　capacity　to　the　test。　Ella　had　gone　in　one　of　the　punts　with　four　or　five　of　her　guests；　but　the　punt　never　overtook　the　canoe。　It　was　those　of　the　guests　who　had　been　in　the　punt　that　afterward　said　it　was　very　funny　to　observe　the　chagrin　of　Queen　Guinevere　when　she　found　that　her　Sir　Lancelot　had　discovered　an　Elaine。

〃You　have　had　a　delightful　day；　I'm　sure；〃　said　Ella。　She　had　found　him　at　the　bottom　of　the　garden　just　before　dinner。　It　was　not　for　her　he　was　loitering　there。

〃Delightful？　Perhaps。　I　shall　know　more　about　it　ten　years　hence；〃　he　replied。

〃You　are　almost　gruff　as　well　as　unintelligible；〃　said　she。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　cried。　〃Pray　forgive　me；　Ella。〃

〃I'll　forgive　your　gruffness　if　you　make　yourself　intelligible；〃　said　she。　〃You　frighten　me。　Ten　years　hence？　What　has　happened　to…day？〃

〃Oh；　nothing　whatever　has　happened！　and　as　for　ten　years　hencewell；　in　ten　years　hence　I　shall　be　looking　back　to　this　day　either　as　one　of　the　happiest　of　my　life；　or　as　Francesca　looked　back　upon　her　/tempo　felice/。〃

〃Oh；　now　that　you　get　into　a　foreign　language　you　are　quite　intelligible。　You　have　not　spoken？〃

〃Spoken？　I？　To　herto　her？　I　have　not　spoken。　I　don't　believe　that　I　shall　ever　have　the　courage　to　speak　to　her　in　the　sense　you　mean。〃

Ella　smiled　as　she　settled　a　rose　on　the　bodice　of　her　evening　dress　its　red　petals　were　reposing　in　that　little　interspace　that　dimpled　the　soft　shell…pink　of　her　bosom。　The　man　before　her　had　once　kissed　her。

She　smiled；　as　she　knew　that　he　was　watching　her。　She　wondered　if　he　had　forgotten　that　kiss。

〃Why　should　you　lose　courage　at　this　juncture？〃　she　asked。　〃She　hasn't；　up　to　the　present；　shown　any　very　marked　antipathy　to　you；　so　far　as　I　can　see。　She　is　certainly　not　wanting　in　courage；　if　you　are。〃

〃Ella；〃　he　cried；　but　in　a　low　voice；　〃Ella；　when　I　look　at　her；　when　I　think　of　her；　I　feel　inclined　to　throw　my　bag　into　a　trap　and　get　back　to　townget　back　to　New　Guinea　with　as　little　delay　as　possible。〃

〃You　would　run　away？〃　said　she；　still　smiling。　She　had　begun　to　work　with　the　rose　in　her　bosom　once　more。　〃You　would　run　away？　Well；　you　ran　away　once　before；　you　know。〃

She　could　not　altogether　keep　the　sneer　out　of　her　voice；　she　could　not　quite　deprive　her　words　of　their　sting。　They　sounded　to　her　own　ears　like　the　hiss　of　a　lash　in　the　air。　She　was　amazed　at　the　amount　of　bitterness　in　her　voiceamazed　and　ashamed。

He　stood　before　her；　silently　looking　at　her。　There　was　no　reproach　in　his　eyes。

〃Oh；　Bertie；　Bertie；　forgive　me！〃　she　said；　laying　her　hand　on　his　arm。　〃Forgive　me；　I　don't　know　what　I　am　saying。〃

There　was　some　piteousness　in　her　voice　and　eyes。　She　was　appealing　to　him　for　pity；　but　he　did　not　know　it。　Every　man　thinks　that　the　world　was　made　for　himself　alone；　and　he　goes　tramping　about　it；　quite　careless　as　to　where　he　plants　his　heavy　feet。　When　occasionally　he　gets　a　thorn　in　one　of　his　feet；　he　feels　quite　aggrieved。　He　never　stops　to　think　of　all　the　things　his　foot　crushes　quite　casually。

Herbert　Courtland　had　no　capacity　for　knowing　how　the　woman　before　him　was　suffering。　He　should　have　known；　from　the　words　he　had　just　heard　her　speak。　He　should　have　known　that　they　had　been　wrung　from　her。　He　did　not　know；　however；　he　was　not　thinking　of　her。

〃Bertie；〃　she　said　again；　〃Bertie；　you　are　not　angry？　I　did　not　know　what　I　was　saying。〃

〃You　are　a　woman；〃　he　said　gently；　and　it　was　just　by　reason　of　this　gentleness　that　there　seemed　to　be　a　reproach　in　his　voice。　He　reproached　her　for　being　a　woman。

〃I　am　a　womanjust　as　other　women；　just　as　other　women。〃　Her　voice　sounded　like　a　moan。　〃I　thought　myself　different；　strongerperhaps　worse　than　other　women。　I　was　wrong。　Oh；　Bertie！