pgw.uneasymoney-第12章

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ith　which　Nutty；　though　he　had　known　her　so　long；　was　but　imperfectly　acquainted。　Elizabeth　had　never　been　angrier　with　her　brother；　but　an　innate　goodness　of　heart　had　prevented　her　falling　upon　him　before　he　had　had　rest　and　refreshment。
　She　wanted　to　massacre　him；　but　at　the　same　time　she　told　herself　that　the　poor　dear　must　be　feeling　very；　very　ill；　and　should　have　a　reasonable　respite　before　the　slaughter　menced。
　It　was　plain　that　in　her　opinion　this　respite　had　now　lasted　long　enough。　She　looked　over　her　shoulder　to　make　sure　that　she　had　closed　the　door；　then　leaned　a　little　forward　and　spoke。
　'Now；　Nutty！'
　The　wretched　youth　attempted　bluster。
　'What　do　you　mean〃Now；　Nutty〃？　What's　the　use　of　looking　at　a　fellow　like　that　and　saying　〃Now；　Nutty〃？　Where's　the　sense'
　His　voice　trailed　off。　He　was　not　a　very　intelligent　young　man；　but　even　he　could　see　that　his　was　not　a　position　where　righteous　indignation　could　be　assumed　with　any　solid　chance　of　success。　As　a　substitute　he　tried　pathos。
　'Oo…oo；　my　head　does　ache！'
　'I　wish　it　would　burst；'　said　his　sister；　unkindly。
　'That's　a　nice　thing　to　say　to　a　fellow！'
　'I'm　sorry。　I　wouldn't　have　said　it'
　'Oh；　well！'
　'Only　I　couldn't　think　of　anything　worse。'
　It　began　to　seem　to　Nutty　that　pathos　was　a　bit　of　a　failure　too。　As　a　last　resort　he　fell　back　on　silence。　He　wriggled　as　far　down　as　he　could　beneath　the　sheets　and　breathed　in　a　soft　and　wounded　sort　of　way。　Elizabeth　took　up　the　conversation。
　'Nutty；'　she　said；　'I've　struggled　for　years　against　the　conviction　that　you　were　a　perfect　idiot。　I've　forced　myself；　against　my　better　judgement；　to　try　to　look　on　you　as　sane；　but　now　I　give　in。　I　can't　believe　you　are　responsible　for　your　actions。　Don't　imagine　that　I　am　going　to　heap　you　with　reproaches　because　you　sneaked　off　to　New　York。　I'm　not　even　going　to　tell　you　what　I　thought　of　you　for　not　sending　me　a　telegram；　letting　me　know　where　you　were。　I　can　understand　all　that。　You　were　disappointed　because　Uncle　Ira　had　not　left　you　his　money；　and　I　suppose　that　was　your　way　of　working　it　off。　If　you　had　just　run　away　and　e　back　again　with　a　headache；　I'd　have　treated　you　like　the　Prodigal　Son。　But　there　are　some　things　which　are　too　much；　and　bringing　a　perfect　stranger　back　with　you　for　an　indefinite　period　is　one　of　them。　I'm　not　saying　anything　against　Mr　Chalmers　personally。　I　haven't　had　time　to　find　out　much　about　him；　except　that　he's　an　Englishman；　but　he　looks　respectable。　Which；　as　he's　a　friend　of　yours；　is　more　or　less　of　a　miracle。'
　She　raised　her　eyebrows　as　a　faint　moan　of　protest　came　from　beneath　the　sheets。
　'You　surely；'　she　said；　'aren't　going　to　suggest　at　this　hour　of　the　day；　Nutty；　that　your　friends　aren't　the　most　horrible　set　of　pests　outside　a　prison？　Not　that　it's　likely　after　all　these　months　that　they　are　outside　a　prison。　You　know　perfectly　well　that　while　you　were　running　round　New　York　you　collected　the　most　pernicious　bunch　of　rogues　that　ever　fastened　their　talons　into　a　silly　child　who　ought　never　to　have　been　allowed　out　without　his　nurse。'　After　which　plicated　insult　Elizabeth　paused　for　breath；　and　there　was　silence　for　a　space。
　'Well；　as　I　was　saying；　I　know　nothing　against　this　Mr　Chalmers。　Probably　his　finger…prints　are　in　the　Rogues'　Gallery；　and　he　is　better　known　to　the　police　as　Jack　the　Blood；　or　something；　but　he　hasn't　shown　that　side　of　him　yet。　My　point　is　that；　whoever　he　is；　I　do　not　want　him　or　anybody　else　ing　and　taking　up　his　abode　here　while　I　have　to　be　cook　and　housemaid　too。　I　object　to　having　a　stranger　on　the　premises　spying　out　the　nakedness　of　the　land。　I　am　sensitive　about　my　honest　poverty。　So；　darling　Nutty；　my　precious　Nutty；　you　poor　boneheaded　muddler；　will　you　kindly　think　up　at　your　earliest　convenience　some　plan　for　politely　ejecting　this　Mr　Chalmers　of　yours　from　our　humble　home？because　if　you　don't；　I'm　going　to　have　a　nervous　breakdown。'
　And；　pletely　restored　to　good　humour　by　her　own　eloquence；　Elizabeth　burst　out　laughing。　It　was　a　trait　in　her　character　which　she　had　often　lamented；　that　she　could　not　succeed　in　keeping　angry　with　anyone　for　more　than　a　few　minutes　on　end。　Sooner　or　later　some　happy　selection　of　a　phrase　of　abuse　would　tickle　her　sense　of　humour；　or　the　appearance　of　her　victim　would　bee　too　funny　not　to　be　laughed　at。　On　the　present　occasion　it　was　the　ridiculous　spectacle　of　Nutty　cowering　beneath　the　bedclothes　that　caused　her　wrath　to　evaporate。　She　made　a　weak　attempt　to　recover　it。　She　glared　at　Nutty；　who　at　the　sound　of　her　laughter　had　emerged　from　under　the　clothes　like　a　worm　after　a　thunderstorm。
　'I　mean　it；'　she　said。　'It　really　is　too　bad　of　you！　You　might　have　had　some　sense　and　a　little　consideration。　Ask　yourself　if　we　are　in　a　position　here　to　entertain　visitors。　Well；　I'm　going　to　make　myself　very　unpopular　with　this　Mr　Chalmers　of　yours。　By　this　evening　he　will　be　regarding　me　with　utter　loathing；　for　I　am　about　to　persecute　him。'
　'What　do　you　mean？'　asked　Nutty；　alarmed。
　'I　am　going　to　begin　by　asking　him　to　help　me　open　one　of　the　hives。'
　'For　goodness'　sake！'
　'After　that　I　shallwith　his　assistancetransfer　some　honey。　And　after　thatwell；　I　don't　suppose　he　will　be　alive　by　then。　If　he　is；　I　shall　make　him　wash　the　dishes　for　me。　The　least　he　can　do；　after　swooping　down　on　us　like　this；　is　to　make　himself　useful。'
　A　cry　of　protest　broke　from　the　appalled　Nutty；　but　Elizabeth　did　not　hear　it。　She　had　left　the　room　and　was　on　her　way　downstairs。
　Lord　Dawlish　was　smoking　an　after…breakfast　cigar　in　the　grounds。　It　was　a　beautiful　day；　and　a　peaceful　happiness　had　e　upon　him。　He　told　himself　that　he　had　made　progress。　He　was　under　the　same　roof　as　the　girl　he　had　deprived　of　her　inheritance；　and　it　should　be　simple　to　establish　such　friendly　relations　as　would　enable　him　to　reveal　his　identity　and　ask　her　to　reconsider　her　refusal　to　relieve　him　of　a　just　share　of　her　uncle's　money。　He　had　seen　Elizabeth　for　only　a　short　time　on　the　previous　night；　but　he　had　taken　an　immediate　liking　to　her。　There　was　something　about　the　American　girl；　he　reflected；　which　seemed　to　put　a　man　at　his　ease；　a　charm　and　directness　all　her　own。　Yes；　he　liked　Elizabeth；　and　he　liked　this　dwelling…place　of　hers。　He　was　quite　willing　to　stay　on　here　indefinitely。
　Nature　had　done　well　by　Flack's。　The　house　itself　was　more　pleasing　to　the　eye　than　most　of　the　houses　in　those　parts；　owing　to　the　black　and　white　paint　which　decorated　it　and　an　unconventional　flattening　and　rounding　of　the　roof。　Nature；　too；　had　made　so　many　improvements　that　the　general　effect　was　unusually　delightful。
　Bill　perceived　Elizabeth　ing　toward　him　from　the　house。　He　threw　away　his　cigar　and　went　to　meet　her。　Seen　by　daylight；　she　was　more　attractive　than　ever。　She　looked　so　small　and　neat　and　wholesome；　so　extremely　unlike　Miss　Daisy　Leonard's　friend。　And　such　was　the　reaction　from　what　might　be　termed　his　later　Reigelheimer's　mood　that　if　he　had　been　asked　to　define　feminine　charm　in　a　few　words；　he　would　have　replied　without　hesitation　that　it　was　the　quality　of　being　as　different　as　possible　in　every　way　from　the　Good　Sport。　Elizabeth　fulfilled　this　qualification。　She　was　not　only　small　and　neat；　but　she　had　a　soft　voice　to　which　it　was　a　joy　to　listen。
　'I　was　just　admiring　your　place；'　he　said。
　'Its　appearance　is　the　best　part　of　it；'　said　Elizabeth。　'It　is　a　deceptive　place。　The　bay　looks　beautiful；　but　you　can't　bathe　in　it　because　of　the　jellyfish。　The　woods　are　lovely；　but　you　daren't　go　near　them　because　of　the　ticks。'
　'Ticks？'
　'They　jump　on　you　and　suck　your　blood；'　said　Elizabeth；　carelessly。　'And　the　nights　are　gorgeous；　but　you　have　to　stay　indoors　after　dusk　because　of　the　mosquitoes。'　She　paused　to　mark　the　effect　of　these　horrors　on　her　visitor。　'And　then；　of　course；'　she　went　on；　as　he　showed　no　signs　of　flying　to　the　house　to　pack　his　bag　and　catch　the　next　train；　'the　bees　are　always　stinging　you。　I　hope　you　are　not　afraid　of　bees；　Mr　Chalmers？'
　'Rather　not。　Jolly　little　chaps！'
　A　gleam　appeared　in　Elizabeth's　eye。
　'If　you　are　so　fond　of　them；　perhaps　you　wouldn't　mind　ing　and　helping　me　open　one　of　the　hives？'
　'Rather！'
　'I'll　go　and　fetch　the　things。'
　She　went　into　the　house　and　ran　up　to　Nutty's　room；　waking　that　sufferer　from　a　troubled　sleep。
　'Nutty；　he's　bitten。'
　Nutty　sat　up　violently。
　'Good　gracious！　What　by？'
　'You　don't　understand。　What　I　meant　was　that　I　invited　your　Mr　Chalmers　to　help　me　open　a　hive；　and　he　said　〃Rather！〃　and　is　waiting　to　do　it　now。　Be　ready　to　say　good…bye　to　him。　If　he　es　out　of　this　alive；　his　first　act；　after　bathing　the　wounds　with　ammonia；　will　be　to　leave　us　for　ever。'
　'But　look　here；　he's　a　visitor'
　'Cheer　up！　He　won't　be　much　longer。'
　'You　can't　let　him　in　for　a　ghastly　thing　like　opening　a　hive。　When　you　made　me　do　it　that　time　I　was　picking　stings　out　of　myself　for　a　week。'
　'That　was　because　you　had　been　smoking。　Bees　dislike　the　smell　of　tobacco。'
　'But　this　fellow　may　have　been　smoking。'
　'He　has　just　finished　a　strong　cigar。'
　'For　Heaven's　sake！'
　'Good…bye；　Nutty；　dear；　I　mustn't　keep　him　waiting。'
　Lord　Dawlish　looked　with　interest　at　the　various　implements　which　she　had　collected　when　she　rejoined　him　outside。　He　relieved　her　of　the　stool；　the　smoker；　the　cotton…waste；　the　knife；　the　screwdriver；　and　the　queen…clipping　cage。
　'Let　me　carry　these　for　you；'　he　said；　'unless　you've　hired　a　van。'
　Elizabeth　disapproved　of　this　flippancy。　It　was　out　of　place　in　one　who　should　have　been　trembling　at　the　prospect　of　doom。
　'Don't　you　wear　a　veil　for　this　sort　of　job？'
　As　a　rule　Elizabeth　did。　She　had　reached　a　stage　of　intimacy　with　her　bees　which　rendered　a　veil　a　superfluous　precaution；　but　until　to…day　she　had　never　abandoned　it。　Her　view　of　the　matter　was　that；　though　the　inhabitants　of　the　hives　were　familiar　and　friendly　with　her　by　this　time　and　recognized　that　she　came　among　them　without　hostile　intent；　it　might　well　happen　that　among　so　many　thousands　there　might　be　one　slow…witted　enough　and　obtuse　enough　not　to　have　grasped　this　fact。　And　in　such　an　event　a　veil　was　better　than　any　amount　of　explanations；　for　you　cannot　stick　to　pure　reason　when　quarrelling　with　bees。
　But　to…day　it　had　struck　her　that　she　could　hardly　protect　herself　in　this　way　without　offering　a　similar　safeguard　to　her　visitor；　and　she　had　no　wish　to　hedge　him　about　with　safeguards。
　'Oh；　no；'　she　said；　brightly；　'I'm　not　afraid　of　a　few　bees。　Are　you？'
　'Rather　not！'
　'You　know　what　to　do　if　one　of　them　flies　at　you？'
　'Well；　it　would；　anywaywhat？　What　I　mean　to　say　is；　I　could　leave　most　of　the　doing　to　the　bee。'
　Elizabeth　was　more　disapproving　than　ever。　This　was　mere　bravado。　She　did　not　speak　again　until　they　reached　the　hives。
　In　the　neighbourhood　of　the　hives　a　vast　activity　prevailed。　What；　heard　from　afar；　had　been　a　pleasant　murmur　became　at　close　quarters　a　menacing　tumult。　The　air　was　full　of　beesbees　sallying　forth　for　honey；　bees　returning　with　honey；　bees　trampling　on　each　other's　heels；　bees　pausing　in　mid…air　to　pass　the　time　of　day　with　rivals　on　peting　lines　of　traffic。　Blunt…bodied　drones　whizzed　to　and　fro　w