pgw.adamselindistress-第13章

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at　Britain　extremely　seriouslyheartily　disliked　it　in　practice。　More　than　once　he　had　been　obliged　to　exit　hastily　by　a　further　door　in　order　to　keep　from　being　discovered　by　a　drove　of　tourists　intent　on　inspecting　the　library　or　the　great　drawing…room；　and　now　it　was　his　custom　to　retire　to　his　bedroom　immediately　after　lunch　and　not　to　emerge　until　the　tide　of　invasion　had　ebbed　away。
　Keggs；　the　butler；　always　looked　forward　to　Thursdays　with　pleasurable　anticipation。　He　enjoyed　the　sense　of　authority　which　it　gave　him　to　herd　these　poor　outcasts　to　and　fro　among　the　surroundings　which　were　an　every…day　monplace　to　himself。　Also　he　liked　hearing　the　sound　of　his　own　voice　as　it　lectured　in　rolling　periods　on　the　objects　of　interest　by　the　way…side。　But　even　to　Keggs　there　was　a　bitter　mixed　with　the　sweet。　　No　one　was　better　aware　than　himself　that　the　nobility　of　his　manner；　excellent　as　a　means　of　impressing　the　mob；　worked　against　him　when　it　came　to　a　question　of　tips。　Again　and　again　had　he　been　harrowed　by　the　spectacle　of　tourists；　huddled　together　like　sheep；　debating　among　themselves　in　nervous　whispers　as　to　whether　they　could　offer　this　personage　anything　so　contemptible　as　half　a　crown　for　himself　and　deciding　that　such　an　insult　was　out　of　the　question。　It　was　his　endeavour；　especially　towards　the　end　of　the　proceedings；　to　cultivate　a　manner　blending　a　dignity　fitting　his　position　with　a　sunny　geniality　which　would　allay　the　timid　doubts　of　the　tourist　and　indicate　to　him　that；　bizarre　as　the　idea　might　seem；　there　was　nothing　to　prevent　him　placing　his　poor　silver　in　more　worthy　hands。
　Possibly　the　only　member　of　the　castle　munity　who　was　absolutely　indifferent　to　these　public　visits　was　Lord　Marshmoreton。　He　made　no　difference　between　Thursday　and　any　other　day。　Precisely　as　usual　he　donned　his　stained　corduroys　and　pottered　about　his　beloved　garden；　and　when；　as　happened　on　an　average　once　a　quarter；　some　visitor；　strayed　from　the　main　herd；　came　upon　him　as　he　worked　and　mistook　him　for　one　of　the　gardeners；　he　accepted　the　error　without　any　attempt　at　explanation；　sometimes　going　so　far　as　to　encourage　it　by　adopting　a　rustic　accent　in　keeping　with　his　appearance。　This　sort　thing　tickled　the　simple…minded　peer。
　George　joined　the　procession　punctually　at　two　o'clock；　just　as　Keggs　was　clearing　his　throat　preparatory　to　saying；　〃We　are　now　in　the　main　'all；　and　before　going　any　further　I　would　like　to　call　your　attention　to　Sir　Peter　Lely's　portrait　of〃　It　was　his　custom　to　begin　his　Thursday　lectures　with　this　remark；　but　today　it　was　postponed；　for；　no　sooner　had　George　appeared；　than　a　breezy　voice　on　the　outskirts　of　the　throng　spoke　in　a　tone　that　made　petition　impossible。
　〃For　goodness'　sake；　George。〃
　And　Billie　Dore　detached　herself　from　the　group；　a　trim　vision　in　blue。　She　wore　a　dust…coat　and　a　motor　veil；　and　her　eyes　and　cheeks　were　glowing　from　the　fresh　air。
　〃For　goodness'　sake；　George；　what　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃I　was　just　going　to　ask　you　the　same　thing。〃
　〃Oh；　I　motored　down　with　a　boy　I　know。　We　had　a　breakdown　just　outside　the　gates。　We　were　on　our　way　to　Brighton　for　lunch。　He　suggested　I　should　pass　the　time　seeing　the　sights　while　he　fixed　up　the　sprockets　or　the　differential　gear　or　whatever　it　was。　　He's　ing　to　pick　me　up　when　he's　through。　　But；　on　the　level；　George；　how　do　you　get　this　way？　You　sneak　out　of　town　and　leave　the　show　flat；　and　nobody　has　a　notion　where　you　are。　Why；　we　were　thinking　of　advertising　for　you；　or　going　to　the　police　or　something。　For　all　anybody　knew；　you　might　have　been　sandbagged　or　dropped　in　the　river。〃
　This　aspect　of　the　matter　had　not　occurred　to　George　till　now。　　His　sudden　descent　on　Belpher　had　seemed　to　him　the　only　natural　course　to　pursue。　He　had　not　realized　that　he　would　be　missed；　and　that　his　absence　might　have　caused　grave　inconvenience　to　a　large　number　of　people。
　〃I　never　thought　of　that。　Iwell；　I　just　happened　to　e　here。〃
　〃You　aren't　living　in　this　old　castle？〃
　〃Not　quite。　I've　a　cottage　down　the　road。　I　wanted　a　few　days　in　the　country　so　I　rented　it。〃
　〃But　what　made　you　choose　this　place？〃
　Keggs；　who　had　been　regarding　these　disturbers　of　the　peace　with　dignified　disapproval；　coughed。
　〃If　you　would　not　mind；　madam。　We　are　waiting。〃
　〃Eh？　How's　that？〃　Miss　Dore　looked　up　with　a　bright　smile。　〃I'm　sorry。　e　along；　George。　Get　in　the　game。〃　She　nodded　cheerfully　to　the　butler。　〃All　right。　All　set　now。　　You　may　fire　when　ready；　Gridley。〃
　Keggs　bowed　austerely；　and　cleared　his　throat　again。
　〃We　are　now　in　the　main　'all；　and　before　going　any　further　I　would　like　to　call　your　attention　to　Sir　Peter　Lely's　portrait　of　the　fifth　countess。　Said　by　experts　to　be　in　his　best　manner。〃
　There　was　an　almost　soundless　murmur　from　the　mob；　expressive　of　wonder　and　awe；　like　a　gentle　breeze　rustling　leaves。　　Billie　Dore　resumed　her　conversation　in　a　whisper。
　〃Yes；　there　was　an　awful　lot　of　excitement　when　they　found　that　you　had　disappeared。　They　were　phoning　the　Carlton　every　ten　minutes　trying　to　get　you。　You　see；　the　summertime　number　flopped　on　the　second　night；　and　they　hadn't　anything　to　put　in　its　place。　But　it's　all　right。　They　took　it　out　and　sewed　up　the　wound；　and　now　you'd　never　know　there　had　been　anything　wrong。　The　show　was　ten　minutes　too　long；　anyway。〃
　〃How's　the　show　going？〃
　〃It's　a　riot。　They　think　it　will　run　two　years　in　London。　　As　far　as　I　can　make　it　out　you　don't　call　it　a　success　in　London　unless　you　can　take　your　grandchildren　to　see　the　thousandth　night。〃
　〃That's　splendid。　And　how　is　everybody？　All　right？〃
　〃Fine。　That　fellow　Gray　is　still　hanging　round　Babe。　It　beats　me　what　she　sees　in　him。　Anybody　but　an　infant　could　see　the　man　wasn't　on　the　level。　Well；　I　don't　blame　you　for　quitting　London；　George。　This　sort　of　thing　is　worth　fifty　Londons。〃
　The　procession　had　reached　one　of　the　upper　rooms；　and　they　were　looking　down　from　a　window　that　manded　a　sweep　of　miles　of　the　countryside；　rolling　and　green　and　wooded。　Far　away　beyond　the　last　covert　Belpher　Bay　gleamed　like　a　streak　of　silver。　Billie　Dore　gave　a　little　sigh。
　〃There's　nothing　like　this　in　the　world。　I'd　like　to　stand　here　for　the　rest　of　my　life；　just　lapping　it　up。〃
　〃I　will　call　your　attention；〃　boomed　Keggs　at　their　elbow；　〃to　this　window；　known　in　the　fem'ly　tredition　as　Leonard's　Leap。　It　was　in　the　year　seventeen　'undred　and　eighty…seven　that　Lord　Leonard　Forth；　eldest　son　of　'Is　Grace　the　Dook　of　Lochlane；　'urled　'imself　out　of　this　window　in　order　to　avoid　promising　the　beautiful　Countess　of　Marshmoreton；　with　oom　'e　is　related　to　'ave　'ad　a　ninnocent　romance。　Surprised　at　an　advanced　hour　by　'is　lordship　the　earl　in　'er　ladyship's　boudoir；　as　this　room　then　was；　'e　leaped　through　the　open　window　into　the　boughs　of　the　cedar　tree　which　stands　below；　and　was　fortunate　enough　to　escape　with　a　few　'armless　contusions。〃
　A　murmur　of　admiration　greeted　the　recital　of　the　ready　tact　of　this　eighteenth…century　Steve　Brodie。
　〃There；〃　said　Billie　enthusiastically；　〃that's　exactly　what　I　mean　about　this　country。　It's　just　a　mass　of　Leonard's　Leaps　and　things。　I'd　like　to　settle　down　in　this　sort　of　place　and　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　milking　cows　and　taking　forkfuls　of　soup　to　the　deserving　villagers。〃
　〃We　will　now；〃　said　Keggs；　herding　the　mob　with　a　gesture；　〃proceed　to　the　Amber　Drawing…Room；　containing　some　Gobelin　Tapestries　'ighly　spoken　of　by　connoozers。〃
　The　obedient　mob　began　to　drift　out　in　his　wake。
　〃What　do　you　say；　George；〃　asked　Billie　in　an　undertone；　〃if　we　side…step　the　Amber　Drawing…Room？　I'm　wild　to　get　into　that　garden。　There's　a　man　working　among　those　roses。　　Maybe　he　would　show　us　round。〃
　George　followed　her　pointing　finger。　Just　below　them　a　sturdy；　brown…faced　man　in　corduroys　was　pausing　to　light　a　stubby　pipe。
　〃Just　as　you　like。〃
　They　made　their　way　down　the　great　staircase。　The　voice　of　Keggs；　saying　plimentary　things　about　the　Gobelin　Tapestry；　came　to　their　ears　like　the　roll　of　distant　drums。　They　wandered　out　towards　the　rose…garden。　The　man　in　corduroys　had　lit　his　pipe　and　was　bending　once　more　to　his　task。
　〃Well；　dadda；〃　said　Billie　amiably；　〃how　are　the　crops？〃
　The　man　straightened　himself。　He　was　a　nice…looking　man　of　middle　age；　with　the　kind　eyes　of　a　friendly　dog。　He　smiled　genially；　and　started　to　put　his　pipe　away。
　Billie　stopped　him。
　〃Don't　stop　smoking　on　my　account；〃　she　said。　〃I　like　it。　　Well；　you've　got　the　right　sort　of　a　job；　haven't　you！　If　I　was　a　man；　there's　nothing　I'd　like　better　than　to　put　in　my　eight　hours　in　a　rose…garden。〃　She　looked　about　her。　〃And　this；〃　she　said　with　approval；　〃is　just　what　a　rose…garden　ought　to　be。〃
　〃Are　you　fond　of　rosesmissy？〃
　〃You　bet　I　am！　You　must　have　every　kind　here　that　was　ever　invented。　All　the　fifty…seven　varieties。〃
　〃There　are　nearly　three　thousand　varieties；〃　said　the　man　in　corduroys　tolerantly。
　〃I　was　speaking　colloquially；　dadda。　You　can't　teach　me　anything　about　roses。　I'm　the　guy　that　invented　them。　Got　any　Ayrshires？〃
　The　man　in　corduroys　seemed　to　have　e　to　the　conclusion　that　Billie　was　the　only　thing　on　earth　that　mattered。　This　revelation　of　a　kindred　spirit　had　captured　him　pletely。　　George　was　merely　among　those　present。
　〃Thosethemover　there　are　Ayrshires；　missy。〃
　〃We　don't　get　Ayrshires　in　America。　At　least；　I　never　ran　across　them。　I　suppose　they　do　have　them。〃
　〃You　want　the　right　soil。〃
　〃Clay　and　lots　of　rain。〃
　〃You're　right。〃
　There　was　an　earnest　expression　on　Billie　Dore's　face　that　George　had　never　seen　there　before。
　〃Say；　listen；　dadda；　in　this　matter　of　rose…beetles；　what　would　you　do　if〃
　George　moved　away。　The　conversation　was　being　too　technical　for　him；　and　he　had　an　idea　that　he　would　not　be　missed。　There　had　e　to　him；　moreover；　in　a　flash　one　of　those　sudden　inspirations　which　great　generals　get。　He　had　visited　the　castle　this　afternoon　without　any　settled　plan　other　than　a　vague　hope　that　he　might　somehow　see　Maud。　He　now　perceived　that　there　was　no　chance　of　doing　this。　Evidently；　on　Thursdays；　the　family　went　to　earth　and　remained　hidden　until　the　sightseers　had　gone。　But　there　was　another　avenue　of　munication　open　to　him。　This　gardener　seemed　an　exceptionally　intelligent　man。　He　could　be　trusted　to　deliver　a　note　to　Maud。
　In　his　late　rambles　about　Belpher　Castle　in　the　pany　of　Keggs　and　his　followers；　George　had　been　privileged　to　inspect　the　library。　It　was　an　easily　accessible　room；　opening　off　the　main　hail。　He　left　Billie　and　her　new　friend　deep　in　a　discussion　of　slugs　and　plant…lice；　and　walked　quickly　back　to　the　house。　　The　library　was　unoccupied。
　George　was　a　thorough　young　man。　He　believed　in　leaving　nothing　to　chance。　The　gardener　had　seemed　a　trustworthy　soul；　but　you　never　knew。　It　was　possible　that　he　drank。　He　might　forget　or　lose　the　precious　note。　So；　with　a　wary　eye　on　the　door；　George　hastily　scribbled　it　in　duplicate。　This　took　him　but　a　few　minutes。　He　went　out　into　the　garden　again　to　find　Billie　Dore　on　the　point　of　stepping　into　a　blue　automobile。
　〃Oh；　there　you　are；　George。　I　wondered　where　you　had　got　to。　Say；　I　made　quite　a　hit　with　dadda。　I've　given　him　my　address；　and　he's　pro