phyllis of philistia-第39章

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ad　exchanged　half　a　dozen　wordsbefore　she　had　time　to　ask　him　why　he　had　returned。

And　at　the　table；　with　a　servant　at　each　end；　what　could　they　say？

Well；　she　gave　in　detail；　with　the　accuracy　of　a　railway　time…table；　the　hours　of　the　departure　of　the　various　guests；　down　to　the　last　departed　guest；　who　chanced　to　be　Miss　Ayrton。　Yes；　she　was　obliged　to　go　up　to　town　to　be　present　at　that　important　function　which　was　to　be　given　in　the　presence　of　Royalty；　though；　she；　Mrs。　Linton；　was　convinced　that　Phyllis　would　much　prefer　remaining　in　the　midst　of　that　exquisite　quietude　which　seemed　to　be　found　only　up　the　river。　She　had　wanted　her　dear　Phyllis　to　stay　until　the　morrow；　but　poor　Phyllis'　sense　of　duty　had　been；　as　unfortunately　it　always　was；　too　great　for　her　inclination。

〃Unfortunately？〃　said　Herbert。

〃Did　I　say　unfortunately？〃　she　cried。　〃How　funny！　I　meant　of　course；　unfortunately　for　her　friendsfor　myself　in　this　particular　case。　But；　after　all；　we　had　a　delightful　week　together。　It　has　done　us　all　goodeven　you。〃

〃Why　the　'even'？〃　he　asked；　with　a　laugh。

〃Oh；　well；　because　you　are　not　expected　to　feel　the　fatigues　of　a　London　season。　And　then　you　must　remember　that　you　had　a　yachting　cruise　which　must　have　done　you　a　world　of　good；〃　she　added；　with　a　smile　born　of　the　mood　which　was　on　hera　mood　of　joy　and　laughter　and　daring。　She　felt　that　she　could　say　anything　she　pleased　to　say　to　him　now；　she　could　have　referred　with　a　laugh　to　his　running　away　on　that　strange　cruise　of　his。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it　did　me　a　great　deal　of　good。〃

He　spoke　slowly；　and　her　quick　ear　detected　a　tone　of　gravity　in　his　voice。　What　could　he　mean？　Oh；　yes。

〃I　hope　that　that　last　phase　of　the　mine　will　soon　be　settled；〃　said　she。　〃It　was　that　which　curtailed　your　cruise；　you　will　remember。〃

〃I　certainly　do　remember。〃

〃I　hope　the　business　will　soon　be　settled　one　way　or　another。　I　don't　think　this　running　to　Paris　so　frequently　is　good　for　Stephen。　Haven't　you　noticed　how　poorly　he　has　been　looking　of　late？〃

〃He　didn't　seem　to　me　to　be　particularly　robust。　But　I　think　that　he　pulled　himself　together　while　he　was　here。　Oh；　yes！　another　week　will　see　us　free　from　this　business。〃

〃And　with　an　extra　million　or　so　in　your　pockets。〃

〃Well；　something　in　that　way。〃

That　was　how　they　talked　while　the　servants　were　presentabout　business　and　money　and　matters　that　may　be　discussed　in　the　presence　of　servants。

Then　they　went　together　into　the　drawing　room。　It　was　not　yet　dark　enough　for　the　candles　to　be　lighted。　The　exquisite　summer　twilight　was　hanging　over　the　river　and　the　banks　opposite；　wooded　from　the　water's　edge　to　the　summit。　It　was　the　hour　of　delicate　blue　touched　with　pink　about　the　borders。　The　hour　of　purple　and　silver　stars　had　not　yet　come。

She　threw　open　one　of　the　windows　on　its　hinges；　and　in　a　moment　the　room　was　flooded　with　the　perfume　of　the　roses　of　the　garden。　She　stood　in　the　opening　of　the　window　and　seemed　to　drink　in　the　garden　scents　before　they　floated　into　the　room。　Then　from　some　secret　nestling　place　in　the　dark　depths　of　the　clipped　hedge　there　came　the　even…song　of　a　blackbird。　It　was　replied　to　from　the　distance；　and　the　silence　that　followed　only　seemed　to　be　silence。　It　was　a　silence　made　vocal　by　the　bending　of　a　thousand　notesall　musical。　The　blackbirds；　the　thrushes；　the　robins　made　up　a　chorus　of　harmony　as　soothing　to　the　soul　as　silence。　Then　came　the　cooings　of　the　wood　pigeons。　The　occasional　shriek　of　a　peacock　was　the　only　note　out　of　harmony　with　the　feeling　breathed　by　the　twilight。

She　stood　at　the　open　window；　her　back　turned　to　him；　for　some　time。　He　felt　slightly　embarrassed。　Her　attitude　somehow　suggested　to　him　an　imprisonment；　he　was　captured；　she　was　standing　between　him　and　the　open　air；　she　was　barring　his　passage。

Suddenly　she　turned。　With　her　movement　there　seemed　to　float　into　the　room　a　great　breath　of　rose…scent。　It　was　only　that　the　light　showed　him　more　clearly　at　that　moment　the　glowing　whiteness　of　her　neck　and　shoulders　and　arms。

〃Why　have　you　come　back？〃　she　cried；　almost　piteously。

〃Surely　you　know　why；　Ella；〃　said　he。

〃I　know　nothing：　a　man　is　one　thing　one　day　and　quite　the　opposite　the　next　day。　How　can　I　know　anything　of　what　is　in　your　mind　to…dayin　your　heart　to…day？〃

〃I　came　back　thinking　to　find　her　here　stillI　fancied　that　you　said　she　would　stay　until　you　were　returning　to…morrow。〃

〃You　came　back　for　her？〃

〃I　came　back　to　see　herI　find　that　I　cannot　live　without　seeing　her。〃

〃You　have　only　found　that　out　since　you　left　here　yesterday　morning？〃

〃Only　since　I　left　here。　I　told　you　that　I　was　not　sure　of　myself。　That　is　why　I　went　away。〃

〃You　went　away　to　make　sure　of　yourself；　and　now　you　return　to　make　sure　of　her？〃

〃Ah；　if　I　could　but　think　that！　If　I　could　only　be　as　sure　of　her　as　I　am　of　myself。　But　what　am　I　that　I　should　dare　to　hope？　Oh；　she　is　above　all　womankinda　crown　of　girlhood！　What　am　I　that　I　should　ask　to　wear　this　crown　of　girlhood？〃

〃You　are　a　king　of　men；　Bertie。　Only　for　the　king　of　men　is　such　a　crown。〃

She　laughed　as　she　stood　looking　at　him　as　she　leaned　against　the　half　open　door　of　the　window；　one　hand　being　on　the　framework　above　her　head。

〃Ella；　you　know　her！〃　he　cried；　facing　her。　She　began　to　swing　gently　to　the　extent　of　an　inch　or　two；　still　leaning　on　the　edge　of　the　hinged　window。　She　was　looking　at　him　through　half…closed；　curious　eyes。　〃Ella；　you　know　hershe　has　always　been　your　friend；　tell　me　if　I　should　speak　to　her　or　if　I　should　go　back　to　the　work　that　I　have　begun　in　New　Guinea。〃

〃Would　you　be　guided　by　me；　Bertie？〃　she　asked；　suddenly　ceasing　her　movement　with　the　window　and　going　very　close　to　him　indeedso　close　that　he　could　feel　the　gracious　warmth　of　her　face　and　bare　neck　and　shoulders。　〃Would　you　be　guided　by　me；　I　wonder？〃

〃Have　I　not　been　guided　by　you　up　to　the　present；　Ella？〃　said　he。　〃Should　I　be　here　to…night　if　it　were　not　for　your　goodness？　I　laughed　some　time　agohow　long　ago　it　seems！when　you　told　meyou　said　it　was　your　dearest　wishI　did　not　then　believe　it　possible〃

〃And　do　you　fancy　that　I　believed　it　possible？〃　she　asked；　with　some　sadness　in　her　voice。

〃Great　Heavens！　Ella；　do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　you　Oh；　no；　it　is　impossible！　You　knew　me。〃

〃I　fancied　that　I　knew　you；　Bertie。　I　fancied　that　I　knew　myself。〃

〃Ella；　Ella；　for　God's　sake　don't　let　us　drift　again。　Have　you　no　recollection　of　that　terrible　time　through　which　we　both　passedthat　ordeal　by　fire。　Ella；　we　were　plucked　from　the　fireshe　plucked　us　from　the　very　fire　of　hell　itselfoh；　don't　let　us　drift　in　that　direction　again！〃

He　had　walked　away　from　her。　He　was　beginning　to　recall　too　vividly　the　old　days；　under　the　influence　of　her　gracious　presence　so　close　to　himnot　so　close　as　it　had　been；　but　still　close　enough　to　bring　back　old　memories。

〃Come　here　and　stand　beside　me；　Bertie；〃　said　she。

After　a　moment's　hesitation　he　went　to　her；　slowly；　not　with　the　rapture　of　a　lovernot　with　the　old　passion　trembling　in　his　hands；　on　his　lips。

He　went　to　her。

She　put　her　hands　behind　her　and　looked　at　him　in　the　face　for　a　long　time。　The　even…songs　of　the　birds　mixed　with　the　scent　of　the　roses；　the　blue　shadow　of　the　twilight　was　darkening　over　the　trees　at　the　foot　of　her　garden。

〃Do　you　remember　the　oleanders？〃　she　said。　〃I　never　breathe　in　such　a　twilight　as　this　without　seeing　before　me　the　oleanders　outlined　against　its　blue。　It　was　very　sweet　at　that　old　place　on　the　Arno。〃

〃Ella；　Ellafor　God's　sake〃

〃You　told　me　that　terrible　secret　of　your　lifethat　you　loved　me。　I　wonder　if　I　knew　what　it　meant；　Bertie？　I　told　you　that　I　loved　you：　that　was　more　terrible　still。　I　wonder　if　you　knew　what　that　meant；　Bertie？〃

He　did　not　speak。

The　bird's　songs　outside　were　becoming　softer　and　more　intermittent。

She　gave　a　sudden　cry　as　if　stung　with　pain；　and　started　away　from　the　window。　She　threw　herself　down　on　the　couch；　burying　her　face　in　the　pillowshe　could　see　through　the　dim　room　the　whiteness　of　her　arms。　She　was　breathing　convulsively；　but　she　was　not　sobbing。

He　remained　beside　the　open　window。　He；　too；　was　not　breathing　so　regularly　as　he　had　breathed　a　short　time　before。

He　heard　the　sigh　that　came　from　her　as　she　raised　her　head　from　the　pillow。

Then　she　said：

〃I　wonder　if　you　ever　really　loved　me；　Bertie。〃

〃Oh；　my　God！〃

〃I　wonder　if　you　ever　loved　me；　and　I　wonder　if　I　ever　loved　you　until　this　moment。〃

There　was　a　silence。　Outside　there　was　a　little　whisper　of　moving　wings；　but　no　voice　of　bird。

There　was　a　silence；　and　out　of　it　a　low　voice　cried　softly；　softly：

〃Bertie；　Bertie；　my　love；　come　to　me。〃

He　took　a　step　toward　her；　a　second　stepand　then　he　stood；　rigid；　breathless；　for　he　heard　another　soft　voice　that　said：

〃/His　honor　is　the　honor　of　his　mother　and　his　sister；　upon　which　no　stain　must　come。/〃

He　heard　that　voice；　and　with　a　cry　he　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　and　turning；　fled　through　the　open　window　into　the　garden。



She　lay　there　on　her　couch；　that　lovely　white　creature　who　had　been　saved　so　as　by　fire。　There　are　two　fires：　the　one　is　the　fire　that　consumes　the　heart　until　all　that　is　left　of　it　is　the　dust　of　ashes；　the　other　is　the　fire　that　purifies　the　soul　even　unto　its　salvation；　and　yet　both　fires　burn　alike；　so　that　men　and　women　know　not　which　is　burning　within　them。

Did　she　know　that　she　was　saved　so　as　by　fire？

She　laughed　as　though　he　could　still　hear　her；　but　after　her　laugh　there　came　a　few　moments　of　overwhelming　bitterness　that　sent　her　on　her　knees　by　the　side　of　the　couch　in　self…abasement。

〃Kill　mekill　me；　O　God！〃　she　wailed。　〃Kill　me；　for　I　am　not　fit　to　live！〃

But　she　was　spared。

After　a　time　she　found　strength　to　rise。　She　seemed　surprised　to　find　that　the　room　was　in　darkness。　She　struck　a　light；　and　in　a　few　minutes　a　dozen　candles　were　flaring　round　the　walls；　and　then　she　went　mechanically　to　close　the　window。　One　side　she　had　just　fastened　when　it　seemed　to　her　that　she　heard　the　sound　of　voices　approaching。　She　listened；　her　head　bent　forward　through　the　side　of　the　window　that　remained　unclosed。

Yes；　their　voices　were　sounding　clearly　through　the　still　nighthis　voice　andwhat　trick　was　being　played　upon　her　by　her　hearing？　Phyllis'　voice？　How　could　it　be　Phyllis'　voice？　Phyllis　had　returned　to　London。　Oh；　it　was　some　trick！　Her　nerves　were　playing　some　trick　upon　herthey　were　out　of　order；　they　were　beyond　her　control。　Phyllis'　voice　Great　Heavens！　it　was　Phyllis　herself　who　was　walking　through　the　garden　by　his　side！

Ella　stood　at　the　open　side　of　the　window　staring　out　at　them。　They　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　half　dozen　steps　that　lead　up　to　the　window。　Phyllis　laughed；was　there　a　trace　of　mockery　in　her　laugh？but　he　was　silent。

〃I　don't　wonder　at　your　fancying　that　I　am　a　ghost；　Ella；〃　cried　the　girl。　〃I　feel　that　I　deserve　to　be　treated　as　discourteously　as　most　poor　ghosts　are　treated　when　they　visit　their　friends。　You　never　yet　heard　of　a　ghost　being　asked　to　stay　to　dinner；　did　you；　Mr。　Courtland？　But　a　ghost　may　fairly　claim　to　be　asked　to　enter　the　house　of　her　dearest　friend；　especially　after　a　double　railwa