phyllis of philistia-第7章

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theatre　and　give　the　audience　a　chance　of　recognizing　her　from　her　portraits　that　have　already　appeared　in　the　illustrated　papers。　The　block　printing　has　done　that　too。　There's　not　a　theatre　manager　in　London　who　wouldn't　give　his　best　box　to　a　woman　who　has　come　straight　from　the　divorce　court。　The　managers　recognize　the　fact　that　she　is　in　the　same　line　as　themselves。　But　for　you；　my　dear　Phyllisoh；　you　will　never　do　him　the　injustice　to　keep　your　throwing　over　of　him　a　secret。〃

〃Injustice？　Oh；　Ella！〃

〃I　say　injustice。　Good　gracious；　child！　cannot　you　see　that　if　it　becomes　known　that　the　girl　who　had　promised　to　marry　him　has　broken　off　her　engagement　to　him　simply　because　he　has　written　that　book；　the　interest　that　attaches　to　him　on　account　of　his　unorthodoxy　will　be　immeasurably　increased？〃

〃I　will　not　do　him　the　injustice　of　fancying　for　a　moment　that　he　would　be　gratified　on　this　account。　Whatever　he　may　be；　Ella；　he　is　at　least　sincere　and　single…minded　in　his　aims。〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　of　it；　my　only　joy。　But　however　sincere　a　man　may　be　in　his　aims；　he　still　cannot　reasonably　object　to　the　distinction　that　is　thrust　upon　him　when　he　has　done　something　out　of　the　common。　The　men　who　make　books　know　that　that　sort　of　thing　pays。　Someone　told　me　the　other　dayI　believe　it　was　Herbert　Courtlandthat　it　is　the　men　who　write　books　embodying　a　great　and　noble　aim　who　make　the　closest　bargains　with　their　publishers。　I　heard　of　a　great　and　good　clergyman　the　other　day　who　wrote　a　Life　of　Christ；　and　then　complained　in　the　papers　of　his　publishers　having　only　given　him　a　miserable　percentage　on　the　profits。　That　is　how　they　talk　nowadays；　the　profit　resulting　from　the　Life　of　Christ　is　to　be　measured　in　pounds；　shillings；　and　pence。〃

〃Mr。　Holland　is　not　a　man　of　this　stamp；　Ella。〃

〃I'm　sure　he　is　not。　At　the　same　time　if　he　isn't　prosecuted　for　heterodoxy　no　one　will　be　more　disappointed　than　Mr。　Holland；　unless；　indeed；　it　be　Mr。　Holland's　publisher。　Who　would　begrudge　the　martyr　his　halo；　dear？　Even　the　most　sincere　and　single…minded　martyr　has　an　eye　on　that　halo。　The　halo　of　the　up…to…date　martyr　is　made　up　of　afternoon　teas　provided　by　fair　women；　and　full…page　portraits　in　the　illustrated　papers。〃

〃And　all　this　leads　towhat？〃

〃It　leads　tolet　me　seeoh；　yes；　it　leads　to　your　appearance　at　my　little　gathering。　Of　course；　you'll　come。　Believe　me；　you'll　not　feel　the　least　uncomfortable。　You　will　be　The　Girl　who　Sacrificed　her　Love　for　Conscience'　Sake。　That's　a　good　enough　qualification　for　distinction　on　the　part　of　any　girl　in　these　hard　times。　But　I　might　have　known　long　ago　that　you　would　play　this　part。　That　sweetly　pathetic　voice；　with　that　firm　mouth　and　those　lovely　soft　gray　eyes　that　would　seem　to　a　casual　observer　to　neutralize　the　firmness　of　the　mouth。　Oh；　yes；　my　Phyllis；　you　have　undoubtedly　/la　physionomie　du　role/。〃

〃What　/role/？〃

〃The　/role/　of　the　girl　who　is　on　the　side　of　the　Bible。〃

〃I　am　certainly　on　the　side　of　the　Bible。〃

〃And　so　am　I。　So　I　will　look　for　you　to　be　by　my　side　on　Tuesday　week；　and　as　often　as　you　please　in　the　meantime。　By　the　way；　you　will　probably　meet　Herbert　Courtland　at　our　house。　He　is　the　New　Guinea　man；　you　know。〃

〃Of　course　I　know。　You　talk　of　wanting　heroes　in　orthodoxy　at　your　house；　while　you　have　Mr。　Courtland；　the　New　Guinea　explorer；　drinking　his　tea　at　your　elbow？　Oh；　go　away！〃

〃I　hope　you　will　like　him。　We　saw　a　good　deal　of　him　in　Italy；　and　will　probably　see　a　good　deal　of　him　here。〃

〃I'm　certain　to　like　him：　you　like　him。〃

〃Ah；　that's　what　you　said　to　the　young　women　who　put　off　their　colors　and　took　to　sackcloth　in　the　presence　of　Mr。　Holland。　Don't　be　too　sure　that　you　will　like　any　man　because　other　women　like　him。　Now；　I　have；　as　usual；　remained　too　long　with　you。　I'm　greatly　impressed　with　the　situation　of　the　moment。　I　don't　say　that　I　think　you　are　wrong；　mind　you。　Girls　should　always　be　on　the　side　of　the　Bible。　At　any　rate　you　have；　I　repeat；　/la　physionomie　du　role/；　and　you　can't　be　far　astray　if　you　act　up　to　it。　Good…bye；　my　dearest。〃



CHAPTER　VII。

THE　DEFENSE　OF　HOLLAND。

Ella　Linton　drove　to　a　certain　shop　not　far　from　Piccadilly；the　only　shop　where　the　arranging　of　feathers　is　treated　as　a　science　independent　of　the　freaks　of　fashion；and　at　the　door　she　met　a　tall　man　with　the　complexion　of　mahogany　but　with　fair　hair　and　mustache。　People　nudged　one　another　and　whispered　his　name　as　they　walked　past　him　before　standing　at　the　shop　window；　pretending　to　admire　the　feathers；　but　in　reality　to　glance　furtively　round　at　the　man。

The　name　that　they　whispered　to　one　another　after　the　nudge　was　Herbert　Courtland。

He　took　off　his　hatit　was　a　tall　silk　one；　but　no　one　who　knew　anything　could　avoid　feeling　that　it　should　have　been　a　solar　toupee　when　Mrs。　Linton　stepped　from　her　victoria。

〃Oh；　you　here！〃　said　she。　〃Who　on　earth　would　expect　to　see　you　here？〃

〃You；〃　said　he。

〃What？〃

〃You　asked　me　a　question。　I　answered　it。〃

She　laughed　as　they　walked　together　to　the　door　of　the　feather　shop。

〃It　appears　to　me　that　you　have　a　very　good　opinion　of　yourself　and　a　very　bad　one　of　me；〃　she　remarked；　smiling　up　to　his　face。

〃That's　just　where　you　make　a　mistake；〃　said　he。

〃How？〃

〃If　I　did　not　think　well　of　you　I　should　not　have　ordered　Parkinson　to　make　you　a　fan　of　the　tail　of　the　meteor。〃

〃Oh；　Bertie；　you　have　done　that？〃

〃Why　should　I　not　do　it？〃

〃But　it　is　the　only　one　in　the　world。〃

〃Ah；　that's　just　it。　You　are　the　only　one　in　the　world。〃

She　laughed　again；　looking　up　to　his　face。

〃Well；　we'll　have　a　look　at　it；　anyway；〃　said　she。

They　went　into　the　shop　to　see　the　tail　feathers　of　that　wonderful　meteor…bird　which　Herbert　Courtland　had　just　brought　back　from　New　Guinea　with　himthe　most　glorious　thing　that　nature　had　produced　and　a　great　explorer　had　risked　his　life　to　acquire；　in　order　that　Mrs。　Linton　might　have　a　unique　feathered　fan。



About　the　same　time　the　Rev。　George　Holland　met　in　the　same　thoroughfare　his　friend　and　patron；　the　Earl　of　Earlscourt。

〃By　the　Lord　Harry；　you've　done　for　yourself　now；　my　hearty！〃　cried　the　earl。　〃What　the　blazes　do　you　mean　by　attacking　the　Word　of　God　in　that　fashion？〃

〃Tommy；〃　said　the　Rev。　George　Holland；　smiling　a　patronizing　smile　at　his　patron；　〃Tommy；　my　friend；　if　you　take　my　advice　you'll　not　meddle　with　what　doesn't　concern　you。　You're　a　peer；　better　leave　the　Word　of　God　to　me。　I'm　not　a　peer；　but　a　parson。〃

〃I'll　not　leave　it　with　you；　it　isn't　safe；〃　said　the　peer。　〃Anything　more　damnably　atheistical　than　that　book　of　yours　I　never　read。〃

〃And　you　didn't　read　it；　Thomas；　you　know　you　only　read　a　screeching　review　of　it；　and　you　didn't　even　read　that　through；〃　said　the　parson。

〃Who　told　you　that？〃　asked　the　patron。　〃Well；　at　any　rate　I　read　what　you　said　about　Ruth。　It　was　quite　scandalous！　Ruth！　Good　Lord！　what　character　is　safe　nowadays？　One　of　the　loveliest　of　the　women　of　the　Biblemy　wife　says　so。　She　knows　all　about　them。　And　the　best　painters　in　the　world　have　shown　her　standing　among　the　field　of　oats。　By　the　Lord；　sir；　it's　sheer　blasphemy！　and　worse　than　that；　it's　making　peoplegood；　religious　people；　mind；　not　the　ruckit's　making　them　ask　why　the　blazes　I　gave　you　the　living。　It's　a　fact。〃

〃I'm　sorry　for　you；　Tommyvery　sorry。　I'm　also　sorry　for　your　good　religious　people；　and　particularly　sorry　for　the　phraseology　of　their　earnest　inquiries　on　what　I　am　sure　is　a　matter　of　life　and　death　to　themspiritually。　That's　my　last　word；　Thomas。〃

〃And　you　were　doing　so　well　at　the　Joss…house；　too。〃　Lord　Earlscourt　was　shaking　his　head　sorrowfully；　as　he　spoke。　〃We　were　all　getting　on　so　comfortably。　That　was　what　people　said　to　methey　said〃

〃Pardon　me；　I'm　a　parson；　therefore　I'm　not　particular；　but　I　can't　stand　the　way　your　good　religious　people　express　themselves。〃

〃They　said；　'It's　so　d　pleasant　to　get　hold　of　a　parson　who　can　be　trusted　in　the　pulpitsermons　with　a　good　healthy　moral　tone；　and　so　forth。　You　might　bring　your　youngest　daughter　to　St。　Chad's　in　the　certainty　that　she　would　hear　nothing　that　would　make　her　ask　uncomfortable　questions　when　she　got　home。'　It's　a　fact；　they　said　that；　and　now　you　go　and　spoil　all。　The　bishop　will　have　a　word　to　say　to　you　some　of　these　days；　my　lad。　He　ran　away　to　the　Continent；　they　tell　me；　when　your　book　was　published；　and　it's　perfectly　well　known　that　he　never　runs　away　unless　things　look　serious。　When　the　bishop　is　serious；　those　that　can't　swim　had　best　take　to　the　boats。〃

〃I'll　ask　you　for　a　seat　in　your　yacht；　Tommy。　Meantime　kindest　regards　to　her　ladyship。〃

〃Oh！　by　the　way；　it's　not　true；　is　it；　that　the　girl　has　thrown　you　over　on　account　of　the　book？〃

For　an　instant　there　came　a　little　flush　to　the　face　of　the　Rev。　George　Holland；　then　he　shifted　his　umbrella　from　one　hand　to　the　other；　saying：

〃If　you　mean　Phyllis；　all　I　can　say　in　reply　is　that　she　is　the　best　and　the　truest　girl　alive　at　present。　I've　an　engagement　at　a　quarter…　past　six。〃

〃Well；　good…by。　It　was　my　missus　who　said　that　the　girl　would　throw　you　over　on　account　of　that　book。〃

〃Ah！　Good…by。〃

〃Honestly　speaking；　George；　old　man；　I　think　you've　made　a　mistake　this　time。　People　don't　mind　much　about　Jacob　and　Jonah　and　Jeremiah　and　the　whole　job　lot　of　Sheenies；　but　they　do　mind　about　Ruth。　Hang　it　all　man！　she　was　a　woman。〃

〃Ah！　so　was　Jezebel；　and　yetah！　good…by。　I'll　be　late　for　my　appointment。〃

〃See　you　on　Sunday；〃　said　the　earl；　with　a　broadish　smile。

And　so　he　did。

So　did　the　largest　congregation　that　had　ever　assembled　within　the　venerable　walls　of　St。　Chad's。　They　heard　him　also；　and　so　did　the　dozen　reporters　of　the　morning　papers　who　were　presentsome　to　describe；　with　the　subtle　facetiousness　of　the　newspaper　reporter；　the　amusing　occurrences　incidental　to　the　church　service　of　the　day；　and　others　to　take　down　his　sermon　to　the　extent　of　half　a　column　to　be　headed　〃The　Rev。　George　Holland　Defends　Himself。〃　One　reporter；　however；　earned　an　increase　in　his　salary　by　making　his　headline；　〃The　Defense　of　Holland。〃　It　was　supposed　that　casual　readers　would　fancy　that　the　kingdom　of　Holland　had　been　repelling　an　invader；　and　would　not　find　out　their　mistake　until　they　had　read　half　through　the　sermon。

George　Holland　had　not　been　mistaken　when　he　had　assumed　that　his　appearance　in　the　church　and　his　sermon　this　day　would　attract　a　large　amount　of　attention。　As　a　matter　of　fact　the　building　was　crowded　with　notable　persons：　Cabinet　ministers　（2）；　judges　of　the　superior　courts　（4）；　company　promoters　（47）；　actors　and　actresses　（3）；　music　hall　and　variety　artists　（22）；　Royal　Academician　（1）。　Literature　was　represented　by　a　lady　who　had　written　a　high…church　novel；　and　fashion　by　the　publisher　who　had　produced　it。　Science　appeared　in　the　person　of　a　professional　thought…reader　（female）。　These　were　all　strangers　to　St。　Chad's；　though　some　of　them　could　follow　the　service　quite　easily。　The　habitues　of　the　church　included　several　peers；　the　members　of　a　foreign　embassy；　a　few　outside　brokers；　quite　a　number　of　retired　officers　of　both　services；　and　some　Members　of　Parliament　and　the　London　County　Council。

One　of　the　chaplains　of　the　bish