pgw.adamselindistress-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　without　an　introduction；　whose　brother's　hat　you　have　smashed　beyond　repair；　whose　family　wishes　her　to　marry　some　other　man：　who　wants　to　marry　some　other　man　herselfand　not　the　same　other　man；　but　another　other　man；　who　is　closely　immured　in　a　mediaeval　castle　。　。　。　Well；　all　I　say　istry　it。　And　then　go　back　to　your　porch　with　a　chastened　spirit　and　admit　that　you　might　be　a　whole　lot　worse　off。
　George；　as　I　say；　had　not　envisaged　the　peculiar　difficulties　of　his　position。　Nor　did　he　until　the　evening　of　his　second　day　at　the　Marshmoreton　Arms。　Until　then；　as　I　have　indicated；　he　roamed　in　a　golden　mist　of　dreamy　meditation　among　the　soothing　by…ways　of　the　village　of　Belpher。　But　after　lunch　on　the　second　day　it　came　upon　him　that　all　this　sort　of　thing　was　pleasant　but　not　practical。　Action　was　what　was　needed。　　Action。
　The　first；　the　obvious　move　was　to　locate　the　castle。　Inquiries　at　the　Marshmoreton　Arms　elicited　the　fact　that　it　was　〃a　step〃　up　the　road　that　ran　past　the　front　door　of　the　inn。　But　this　wasn't　the　day　of　the　week　when　the　general　public　was　admitted。　　The　sightseer　could　invade　Belpher　Castle　on　Thursdays　only；　between　the　hours　of　two　and　four。　On　other　days　of　the　week　all　he　could　do　was　to　stand　like　Moses　on　Pisgah　and　take　in　the　general　effect　from　a　distance。　As　this　was　all　that　George　had　hoped　to　be　able　to　do；　he　set　forth。
　It　speedily　became　evident　to　George　that　〃a　step〃　was　a　euphemism。　Five　miles　did　he　tramp　before；　trudging　wearily　up　a　winding　lane；　he　came　out　on　a　breeze…swept　hill…top；　and　saw　below　him；　nestling　in　its　trees；　what　was　now　for　him　the　centre　of　the　world。　He　sat　on　a　stone　wail　and　lit　a　pipe。　　Belpher　Castle。　Maud's　home。　There　it　was。　And　now　what？
　The　first　thought　that　came　to　him　was　practical；　even　prosaic　the　thought　that　he　couldn't　possibly　do　this　five…miles…there　and…five…miles…back　walk；　every　time　he　wanted　to　see　the　place。　He　must　shift　his　base　nearer　the　scene　of　operations。　One　of　those　trim；　thatched　cottages　down　there　in　the　valley　would　be　just　the　thing；　if　he　could　arrange　to　take　possession　of　it。　They　sat　there　all　round　the　castle；　singly　and　in　groups；　like　small　dogs　round　their　master。　They　looked　as　if　they　had　been　there　for　centuries。　Probably　they　had；　as　they　were　made　of　stone　as　solid　as　that　of　the　castle。　There　must　have　been　a　time；　thought　George；　when　the　castle　was　the　central　rallying…point　for　all　those　scattered　homes；　when　rumour　of　danger　from　marauders　had　sent　all　that　little　munity　scuttling　for　safety　to　the　sheltering　walls。
　For　the　first　time　since　he　had　set　out　on　his　expedition；　a　certain　chill；　a　disforting　sinking　of　the　heart；　afflicted　George　as　he　gazed　down　at　the　grim　grey　fortress　which　he　had　undertaken　to　storm。　So　must　have　felt　those　marauders　of　old　when　they　climbed　to　the　top　of　this　very　hill　to　spy　out　the　land。　And　George's　case　was　even　worse　than　theirs。　They　could　at　least　hope　that　a　strong　arm　and　a　stout　heart　would　carry　them　past　those　solid　walls；　they　had　not　to　think　of　social　etiquette。　Whereas　George　was　so　situated　that　an　unsympathetic　butler　could　put　him　to　rout　by　refusing　him　admittance。
　The　evening　was　drawing　in。　Already；　in　the　brief　time　he　had　spent　on　the　hill…top；　the　sky　had　turned　from　blue　to　saffron　and　from　saffron　to　grey。　The　plaintive　voices　of　homing　cows　floated　up　to　him　from　the　valley　below。　A　bat　had　left　its　shelter　and　was　wheeling　around　him；　a　sinister　blot　against　the　sky。　A　sickle　moon　gleamed　over　the　trees。　George　felt　cold。　　He　turned。　The　shadows　of　night　wrapped　him　round；　and　little　things　in　the　hedgerows　chirped　and　chittered　mockery　at　him　as　he　stumbled　down　the　lane。
　George's　request　for　a　lonely　furnished　cottage　somewhere　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　castle　did　not；　as　he　had　feared；　strike　the　Belpher　house…agent　as　the　demand　of　a　lunatic。　Every　well…dressed　stranger　who　es　to　Belpher　is　automatically　set　down　by　the　natives　as　an　artist；　for　the　picturesqueness　of　the　place　has　caused　it　to　be　much　infested　by　the　brothers　and　sisters　of　the　brush。　In　asking　for　a　cottage；　indeed；　George　did　precisely　as　Belpher　society　expected　him　to　do；　and　the　agent　was　reaching　for　his　list　almost　before　the　words　were　out　of　his　mouth。　In　less　than　half　an　hour　George　was　out　in　the　street　again；　the　owner　for　the　season　of　what　the　agent　described　as　a　〃gem〃　and　the　employer　of　a　farmer's　wife　who　lived　near…by　and　would；　as　was　her　custom　with　artists；　e　in　the　morning　and　evening　to　〃do〃　for　him。　The　interview　would　have　taken　but　a　few　minutes；　had　it　not　been　prolonged　by　the　chattiness　of　the　agent　on　the　subject　of　the　occupants　of　the　castle；　to　which　George　listened　attentively。　He　was　not　greatly　encouraged　by　what　he　heard　of　Lord　Marshmoreton。　The　earl　had　made　himself　notably　unpopular　in　the　village　recently　by　his　firmthe　house…agent　said　〃pig…headed〃attitude　in　respect　to　a　certain　dispute　about　a　right…of…way。　It　was　Lady　Caroline；　and　not　the　easy…going　peer；　who　was　really　to　blame　in　the　matter；　but　the　impression　that　George　got　from　the　house…agent's　description　of　Lord　Marshmoreton　was　that　the　latter　was　a　sort　of　Nero；　possessing；　in　addition　to　the　qualities　of　a　Roman　tyrant；　many　of　the　least　lovable　traits　of　the　ghila　monster　of　Arizona。　Hearing　this　about　her　father；　and　having　already　had　the　privilege　of　meeting　her　brother　and　studying　him　at　first　hand；　his　heart　bled　for　Maud。　It　seemed　to　him　that　existence　at　the　castle　in　such　society　must　be　little　short　of　torture。
　〃I　must　do　something；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　must　do　something　quick。〃
　〃Beg　pardon；〃　said　the　house…agent。
　〃Nothing；〃　said　George。　〃Well；　I'll　take　that　cottage。　I'd　better　write　you　a　cheque　for　the　first　month's　rent　now。〃
　So　George　took　up　his　abode；　full　of　strenuousif　vaguepurpose；　in　the　plainly…furnished　but　not　unfortable　cottage　known　locally　as　〃the　one　down　by　Platt's。〃　He　might　have　found　a　worse　billet。　It　was　a　two…storied　building　of　stained　red　brick；　not　one　of　the　thatched　nests　on　which　he　had　looked　down　from　the　hill。　Those　were　not　for　rent；　being　occupied　by　families　whose　ancestors　had　occupied　them　for　generations　back。　　The　one　down　by　Platt's　was　a　more　modern　structurea　speculation；　in　fact；　of　the　farmer　whose　wife　came　to　〃do〃　for　George；　and　designed　especially　to　acmodate　the　stranger　who　had　the　desire　and　the　money　to　rent　it。　It　so　departed　from　type　that　it　possessed　a　small　but　undeniable　bath…room。　Besides　this　miracle；　there　was　a　cosy　sitting…room；　a　larger　bedroom　on　the　floor　above　and　next　to　this　an　empty　room　facing　north；　which　had　evidently　served　artist　occupants　as　a　studio。　The　remainder　of　the　ground　floor　was　taken　up　by　kitchen　and　scullery。　　The　furniture　had　been　constructed　by　somebody　who　would　probably　have　done　very　well　if　he　had　taken　up　some　other　line　of　industry；　but　it　was　mitigated　by　a　very　fine　and　fortable　wicker　easy　chair；　left　there　by　one　of　last　year's　artists；　and　other　artists　had　helped　along　the　good　work　by　relieving　the　plainness　of　the　walls　with　a　landscape　or　two。　In　fact；　when　George　had　removed　from　the　room　two　antimacassars；　three　group　photographs　of　the　farmer's　relations；　an　illuminated　text；　and　a　china　statuette　of　the　Infant　Samuel；　and　stacked　them　in　a　corner　of　the　empty　studio；　the　place　became　almost　a　home　from　home。
　Solitude　can　be　very　unsolitary　if　a　man　is　in　love。　George　never　even　began　to　be　bored。　The　only　thing　that　in　any　way　troubled　his　peace　was　the　thought　that　he　was　not　acplishing　a　great　deal　in　the　matter　of　helping　Maud　out　of　whatever　trouble　it　was　that　had　befallen　her。　The　most　he　could　do　was　to　prowl　about　roads　near　the　castle　in　the　hope　of　an　accidental　meeting。　And　such　was　his　good　fortune　that；　on　the　fourth　day　of　his　vigil；　the　accidental　meeting　occurred。
　Taking　his　morning　prowl　along　the　lanes；　he　was　rewarded　by　the　sight　of　a　grey　racing…car　at　the　side　of　the　road。　It　was　empty；　but　from　underneath　it　protruded　a　pair　of　long　legs；　while　beside　it　stood　a　girl；　at　the　sight　of　whom　George's　heart　began　to　thump　so　violently　that　the　long…legged　one　might　have　been　pardoned　had　he　supposed　that　his　engine　had　started　again　of　its　own　volition。
　Until　he　spoke　the　soft　grass　had　kept　her　from　hearing　his　approach。　He　stopped　close　behind　her；　and　cleared　his　throat。　　She　started　and　turned；　and　their　eyes　met。
　For　a　moment　hers　were　empty　of　any　recognition。　Then　they　lit　up。　She　caught　her　breath　quickly；　and　a　faint　flush　came　into　her　face。
　〃Can　I　help　you？〃　asked　George。
　The　long　legs　wriggled　out　into　the　road　followed　by　a　long　body。　The　young　man　under　the　car　sat　up；　turning　a　grease…streaked　and　pleasant　face　to　George。
　〃Eh；　what？〃
　〃Can　I　help　you？　I　know　how　to　fix　a　car。〃
　The　young　man　beamed　in　friendly　fashion。
　〃It's　awfully　good　of　you；　old　chap；　but　so　do　I。　It's　the　only　thing　I　can　do　well。　Thanks　very　much　and　so　forth　all　the　same。〃
　George　fastened　his　eyes　on　the　girl's。　She　had　not　spoken。
　〃If　there　is　anything　in　the　world　I　can　possibly　do　for　you；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃I　hope　you　will　let　me　know。　I　should　like　above　all　things　to　help　you。〃
　The　girl　spoke。
　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice　almost　inaudible。
　George　walked　away。　The　grease…streaked　young　man　followed　him　with　his　gaze。
　〃Civil　cove；　that；〃　he　said。　〃Rather　gushing　though；　what？　American；　wasn't　he？〃
　〃Yes。　I　think　he　was。〃
　〃Americans　are　the　civillest　coves　I　ever　struck。　I　remember　asking　the　way　of　a　chappie　at　Baltimore　a　couple　of　years　ago　when　I　was　there　in　my　yacht；　and　he　followed　me　for　miles；　shrieking　advice　and　encouragement。　I　thought　it　deuced　civil　of　him。〃
　〃I　wish　you　would　hurry　up　and　get　the　car　right；　Reggie。　　We　shall　be　awfully　late　for　lunch。〃
　Reggie　Byng　began　to　slide　backwards　under　the　car。
　〃All　right；　dear　heart。　Rely　on　me。　It's　something　quite　simple。〃
　〃Well；　do　be　quick。〃
　〃Imitation　of　greased　lightningvery　difficult；〃　said　Reggie　encouragingly。　〃Be　patient。　Try　and　amuse　yourself　somehow。　　Ask　yourself　a　riddle。　Tell　yourself　a　few　anecdotes。　I'll　be　with　you　in　a　moment。　I　say；　I　wonder　what　the　cove　is　doing　at　Belpher？　Deuced　civil　cove；〃　said　Reggie　approvingly。　〃I　liked　him。　And　now；　business　of　repairing　breakdown。〃
　His　smiling　face　vanished　under　the　car　like　the　Cheshire　cat。　Maud　stood　looking　thoughtfully　down　the　road　in　the　direction　in　which　George　had　disappeared。
　
　CHAPTER　8。
　
　The　following　day　was　a　Thursday　and　on　Thursdays；　as　has　been　stated；　Belpher　Castle　was　thrown　open　to　the　general　public　between　the　hours　of　two　and　four。　It　was　a　tradition　of　long　standing；　this　periodical　lowering　of　the　barriers；　and　had　always　been　faithfully　observed　by　Lord　Marshmoreton　ever　since　his　accession　to　the　title。　By　the　permanent　occupants　of　the　castle　the　day　was　regarded　with　mixed　feelings。　Lord　Belpher；　while　approving　of　it　in　theory；　as　he　did　of　all　the　family　traditionsfor　he　was　a　great　supporter　of　all　things　feudal；　and　took　his　position　as　one　of　the　hereditary　aristocracy　of　Great　Britain　extremely　seriouslyheartily　disliked　it　in　practice。　More　than　once　he　had　been　obliged　t