phyllis of philistia-第40章

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　fairly　claim　to　be　asked　to　enter　the　house　of　her　dearest　friend；　especially　after　a　double　railway　journey。〃

Ella　had　not　moved　from　her　place　at　the　open　space　of　the　window　while　Phyllis　was　speaking；　but　the　moment　that　the　girl's　laugh　sounded；　she　too　laughed。　She　ran　down　the　steps　and　put　her　arms　about　Phyllis；　kissing　her　on　the　face。

〃This　is　more　than　the　most　exacting　of　ghosts　could　reasonable　look　for；〃　cried　Phyllis。　〃Oh；　Ella！　I'm　so　glad　that　I　followed　my　own　impulse　and　came　back　to　you。　I　thought　you　were　here　all　alonehow　could　I　know　that　Mr。　Courtland　would　return　in　the　meantime　to　complete　his　visit？and　when　I　looked　out　on　the　dust　and　the　smoke　of　the　town　and　thought　of　thisthisthis　exquisite　stillness；you　can　just　hear　the　water　of　the　weir；this　garden；　this　scent　of　roses；　but　chiefly　when　I　thought　of　you　sitting　in　your　loneliness　Well；　is　it　any　wonder　that　I　am　here　now？you　implored　of　me　to　stay；　you　know；　Ella。〃

〃It　is　no　wonder　indeed；　being　what　you　area　good　angel；　my　good　angel；　Phyllis；〃　cried　the　woman。　〃Oh；　dearest；　you　are　welcome！　Why　did　you　leave　me　Phyllis？　Why　did　you　leave　me？　Oh；　the　good　angels　can　never　be　trusted。　You　should　not　have　left　me　to　myself；　dear。　I　am　only　a　woman。　Ah；　you　don't　yet　know　what　a　woman　is。　That　is　the　worst　of　angels　and　men；　they　don't　know　what　a　woman　is。　Come　into　the　house；　Phyllis。　Come　in；　Herbert。　How　did　you　manage　to　meet？〃

〃You　know　I　went　out　to　the　garden〃　said　the　man。

〃Yes；　I　knew　thatyou　left　me　alone；〃　said　the　woman；　and　she　gave　a　laugh。

〃I　strolled　from　the　garden　to　the　roadI　had　to　ask　the　people　at　the　Old　Bell　to　keep　a　room　for　me；　of　course。〃

〃Of　course。〃

〃And　just　outside　the　inn　I　came　face　to　face　with　Miss　Ayrton's　fly。　Miss　Ayrton　was　good　enough　to　get　out　and　walk　with　me；　sending　the　fly　on　with　her　maid。　I　told　the　man　to　wait　in　order　to　take　my　portmanteau　to　the　inn。　It　must　be　at　the　hall　door　now。　We　entered　by　the　garden　gate。〃

〃Nothing　could　be　simpler；〃　said　Ella。　They　had　by　this　time　walked　up　the　steps　into　the　drawing　room。　〃Nothing　could　be　simpler。〃　Then　she　turned　to　Phyllis。　〃But　how　did　you　contrive　to　evade　the　great　function　to…night？〃

〃Papa　did　not　feel　very　well；〃　said　Phyllis；　〃and　I　know　that　he　was　only　too　glad　of　an　excuse　to　stay　at　home。〃

〃And　you　forsook　your　sick　father　to　come　to　me？　Oh；　my　dear　Phyllis；　what　have　you　done？〃

〃If　you　ask　me　in　confidence　I　should　say　that　papa　is　not　quite　so　ill　as　to　stand　in　need　of　a　nurse；〃　she　whispered。　〃Oh；　no！　Make　your　mind　easy。　I　have　neglected　no　duty　in　coming　to　you。〃

〃Except　your　duty　to　yourself；　you　could　not　have　had　time　to　take　any　dinner　at　home。　I　shall　have　you　a　servants'　hall　supper　in　ten　minutes。〃

〃Please　get　nothing　for　me。　I　had　a　capital　sort　of　dinner　at　home。　But　I　should　dearly　like　a　cup　of　tea。〃

〃It　will　be　ready　for　you　the　moment　you　return　from　taking　off　your　hat。　I'll　go　up　with　you　to　your　room；　Mr。　Courtland　knows　that　even　I　make　myself　at　home　in　this　house。　He　will　pardon　us。〃

〃I　mustn't　keep　the　fly　waiting　for　my　portmanteau；〃　said　Mr。　Courtland。　〃If　you　will　allow　me；　I　shall　look　to　it　now；　and　say　good…night。〃

〃What！　Oh；　you　mustn't　think　of　running　off　in　this　way；〃　said　Ella。　〃What　reason　had　you　for　returning　at　all　if　you　run　off　at　this　hour？〃

〃It　is　getting　quite　late。　I　mustn't　keep　the　good　people　of　the　Old　Bell　up　on　my　account；〃　said　he。　〃Besides；　a　man　represents　a　certain　inharmonious　element　upon　such　an　occasion　as　this。　Miss　Ayrton　returned　expecting　to　be　with　you　alone。　I　know　the　disabilities　of　a　man　quite　well。　Yes；　I　must　say　good…night。〃

〃Nonsense！　Pray　talk　to　him；　Phyllis；〃　cried　Ella。　〃You　may　make　him　amenable　to　reason。〃

But　Phyllis　stood　mute　with　her　hand　on　the　handle　of　the　door；　she　only　smiled；　and　there　is　neither　reason　nor　argument　in　a　smile。

〃Good…night！〃　said　he。

〃Oh；　well；　if　you　really　have　nothing　to　say　to　either　of　us；to　either　Phyllis　or　me；you　had　better　go；　I　suppose；〃　said　Ella；　giving　him　her　hand；　but　she　did　not　look　at　him　in　the　face　while　his　hand　was　touching　hers。

Curiously　enough；　neither　did　Phyllis　look　at　him　as　was　her　wont。

And　so　he　left　them　that　night。



CHAPTER　XXXIV。

GIVE　HIM　BACK　TO　MEGIVE　HIM　BACK　TO　ME！

They　seemed　to　have　been　parted　for　months　instead　of　hours；　so　much　had　they　to　say　to　each　other；　and　so　rapidly　did　they　say　it。　Rapidly？feverishly　rather。　Phyllis　had　only　to　remove　her　hat　and　smooth　her　hair　at　places；　disordering　it　at　others；　in　order　to　be　all　right；　but　half　an　hour　had　gone　by　before　they　went　downstairs；　arm　in　arm；　after　the　manner　of　girls　who　have　been　talking　feverishly　and　kissing　every　now　and　again。

It　was　madness　for　Phyllis　to　think　of　tea　at　that　hour　of　the　night；　Ella　declared；　but　she　knew　Phyllis'　fancies　in　the　pastshe　knew　that　what　would　set　other　girls'　nerves　in　motion；　would　only　have　the　effect　of　soothing　hers。　So　Phyllis　drank　her　tea　and　ate　her　cake　in　the　drawing　room；　and　Ella　lay　back　on　the　sofa　and　watched　her　with　a　curious　interest　in　her　eyes。

〃I　am　so　glad　that　we　are　spending　together　in　this　way　the　last　night　of　our　delightful　week；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃What　a　lovely　week　it　has　been！　and　the　charm　of　it　is；　of　course；　to　be　found　in　the　fact　that　it　has　been　stolen　from　the　best　part　of　the　season。　In　another　month　it　would　not　be　nearly　so　delightfuleveryone　will　be　hurrying　off　to　the　river　or　elsewhere。〃

〃Such　a　week　is　one　of　the　incidents　that　a　person　plans　but　that　rarely　comes　off　according　to　one's　views；〃　said　Ella。　〃I　told　you　when　I　set　my　heart　upon　Hurley　what　my　idea　was。〃

〃And　you　have　certainly　realized　it　during　this　week。　What　a　pity　it　is　that　this　is　our　last　night　together！〃

〃Do　you　know；　Phyllis；　the　way　you　said　that　suggested　to　me　that　you　meant　'What　a　pity　it　is　that　Herbert　Courtland　is　not　one　of　our　party　to…night'！〃

Ella　was　still　lying　on　the　broad　pillows　of　the　couch；　her　hands　clasped　at　the　back　of　her　head。　She　was　still　watching　Phyllis　through　her　half…closed　eyes。

〃I　was　not　thinking　about　Mr。　Courtland　in　the　least　when　I　spoke。　How　can　you　fancy　that　I　should　be　so　insincere？　I　say　it　is　delightful　for　us；　you　and　me　only；　mind；　to　be　together　to…night；　because　we　can　say　just　whatever　occurs　to　usI　thought　we　could；　you　know；　but　since　you　made　that　horrid　suggestion　I　think　I　must　take　back　all　that　I　said。　It　is；　after　all；　not　nearly　so　nice　to　be　alone　with　you　as　one　would　imagine。〃

〃That　was；　I'm　afraid；　the　conclusion　that　Herbert　Courtland　came　to　some　time　ago；〃　said　Ella。　〃He　was　alone　with　me　hereyes；　for　some　minutes；　but　he　left　mehe　left　me　and　found　you。〃

〃It　was　so　funny！〃　cried　Phyllis。　〃Who　would　have　thought　of　seeing　such　a　figurebareheaded　and　in　evening　dresson　the　road？　I　knew　him　at　once；　however。　And　he　was　walking　so　quickly　toowalking　as　if　as　if〃

〃As　if　the　devil　were　behind　himthat's　how　men　put　it；〃　said　Ella。　〃It　would　never　do　for　us　to　say　that；　of　course；　but　in　this　particular　case　we　might　venture　on　it　for　the　sake　of　strict　accuracy；　the　devil　was　behind　him。　He　escaped　from　it　by　the　aid　of　his　good　angel。　Didn't　he　call　you　his　good　angel　once；　my　Phyllis？〃

〃Yes；　he　called　me　so　once；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃But　why　should　we　talk　about　Mr。　Courtland？　Why　should　we　talk　about　anybody　to…night？　Dearest　Ella；　let　us　talk　about　ourselves。　You　are　of　more　interest　to　me　than　anyone　in　the　world；　and　I　know　that　I　am　of　more　interest　to　you　than　to　anyone　else。　Let　us　talk　about　ourselves。〃

〃Certainly　we　shall　talk　about　ourselves；〃　said　Ella。　〃To　begin；　I　should　like　very　much　to　know　if　you　were　aware　that　Herbert　had　returned　to　this　house　after　his　day　or　two　in　town。〃

Phyllis　undoubtedly　colored　before　she　said；　with　a　laugh：

〃Didn't　you　promise　to　talk　solely　about　ourselves？　I　decline　to　talk　on　any　other　topic。〃

She　arose　from　where　she　had　been　sitting　before　a　cup　of　tea　at　a　little　table　that　also　held　cake；　and　threw　herself　back　in　a　fanciful　seat　shaped　like　a　shell。

〃That　being　so；　I　should　like　very　much　to　know　how　you　learned　that　he　meant　to　return；〃　pursued　Ella。

〃You　are　becoming　quite　horrid；　and　I　expected　you　to　be　so　nice；〃　said　Phyllis；　pouting　very　prettily。

〃And　I　expected　you　to　confide　in　me；〃　said　Ella　reproachfully。　〃I　have　been　watching　you　for　some　timenot　merely　during　the　past　week；　but　long　before；　and　I　have　seenwhat　I　have　seen。　He　could　not　have　told　you　that　he　meant　to　returnyou　must　have　crossed　each　other　in　the　trains。　How　did　you　know；　my　dear　girl？　Let　me　coax　it　out　of　you。〃

Phyllis　made　no　answer　for　some　time；　she　was　examining；　with　a　newly　acquired；　but　very　intense　interest；　the　texture　of　the　sheen　of　the　blouse　which　she　was　wearing。　At　last　she　raised　her　eyes；　and　saw　how　Ella　was　looking　at　her。　Then　she　said　slowly：

〃I　saw　him　in　the　train　that　was　leaving　when　our　train　arrived。〃

〃Heavens！　that　is　a　confession！〃　cried　Ella　quite　merrily。

〃You　forced　it　from　me；〃　said　Phyllis。　〃But　why　should　there　be　any　mystery　between　us？　I'm　sure　I　may　tell　you　all　the　secrets　of　my　life。　Such　as　they　are；　you　know　them　already。〃

〃They　are　safe　in　my　keeping。　My　dear　Phyllis；　don't　you　know　that　it　has　always　been　my　dearest　hope　to　see　you　and　Herbert　Courtland　well；　interested　in　each　other？　I　saw　that　he　was　interested　in　you　long　ago；　but　I　wasn't　sure　of　you。　That　is　just　why　I　was　so　anxious　for　you　to　come　down　here　for　the　week　we　have　just　passed。　I　wanted　to　bring　you　both　together。　I　wanted　to　see　you　in　love　with　each　other；　I　wanted　to　see　you　both　married。〃

〃EllaElla！〃

〃I　wanted　it；　I　tell　you；　not　because　I　loved　you；　though　you　know　that　I　love　you　better　than　anyone　in　the　world。〃

〃Dearest　Ella！〃

〃Not　because　I　knew　that　you　and　he　would　be　happy；　but　because　I　wished　to　snatch　my　own　soul　from　perdition。　I　think　it　is　safe　now　but　oh；　my　God！　it　is　like　the　souls　of　many　other　mortalssaved　in　spite　of　myself！　Phyllis；　you　have　been　my　salvation。　You　are　a　girl；　you　cannot　understand　how　near　a　woman　may　go　to　the　bottomless　pit　through　the　love　of　a　man。　You　fancy　that　love　lifts　one　to　the　heaven　of　heavens；　that　it　means　purityself…sacrifice。　Well；　there　is　a　love　that　means　purity；　and　there　is　a　love　that　means　self…sacrifice。　Self…sacrifice：　that　is；　that　a　woman　is　ready　to　sacrifice　herself　her　lifeher　soulfor　the　man　whom　she　loves。　I　tell　youI；　who　know　the　truthI；　who　have　been　at　the　brink。　It　is　not　that　the　pit　is　dear　to　us；　it　is　that　the　man　is　dear　to　us；　and　we　must　go　with　him；wherever　he　goes；even　down　into　hell　itself　with　him。〃

〃Oh；　Ella；　Ella！　this　is　the　love　of　the　satyr。　It　is　not　the　love　of　the　one　who　is　made　in　the　image　of　God。〃

〃Let　it　be　what　it　is；　it　is　a　power　that　has　to　be　reckoned　upon　so　long　as　we　remain　creatures　of　the　earth；　earthy。〃

〃It　is　a　thing　that　we　should　beat　into　the　earth　from　which　it　came。〃　The　girl　had　sprung　to　her　feet；　and　was　speaking　with　white　face　and　clenched　hands。　〃Down　into　the　earth〃she　stamped　upon　the　floor　〃even　if　we　have　to　throw　our　bodies　into　the　grave　into　which　we　trample　it。　Woman；　I　tell　you　that　the　othe