pgw.adamselindistress-第15章

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member。　And　then；　for　the　first　time；　her　mind　condescended　to　dwell　for　a　moment　on　the　author　of　that　act；　George　Bevan；　the　friend　in　need；　whom　she　had　met　only　the　day　before　in　the　lane。　What　was　George　doing　at　Belpher？　　His　presence　there　was　significant；　and　his　words　even　more　so。　　He　had　stated　explicitly　that　he　wished　to　help　her。
　She　found　herself　oppressed　by　the　irony　of　things。　A　knight　had　e　to　the　rescuebut　the　wrong　knight。　Why　could　it　not　have　been　Geoffrey　who　waited　in　ambush　outside　the　castle；　and　not　a　pleasant　but　negligible　stranger？　Whether；　deep　down　in　her　consciousness；　she　was　aware　of　a　fleeting　sense　of　disappointment　in　Geoffrey；　a　swiftly　passing　thought　that　he　had　failed　her；　she　could　hardly　have　said；　so　quickly　did　she　crush　it　down。
　She　pondered　on　the　arrival　of　George。　What　was　the　use　of　his　being　somewhere　in　the　neighbourhood　if　she　had　no　means　of　knowing　where　she　could　find　him？　Situated　as　she　was；　she　could　not　wander　at　will　about　the　countryside；　looking　for　him。　　And；　even　if　she　found　him；　what　then？　There　was　not　much　that　any　stranger；　however　pleasant；　could　do。
　She　flushed　at　a　sudden　thought。　Of　course　there　was　something　George　could　do　for　her　if　he　were　willing。　He　could　receive；　despatch　and　deliver　letters。　If　only　she　could　get　in　touch　with　him；　she　couldthrough　himget　in　touch　with　Geoffrey。
　The　whole　world　changed　for　her。　The　sun　was　setting　and　chill　little　winds　had　begun　to　stir　the　lily…pads；　giving　a　depressing　air　to　the　scene；　but　to　Maud　it　seemed　as　if　all　Nature　smiled。　With　the　egotism　of　love；　she　did　not　perceive　that　what　she　proposed　to　ask　George　to　do　was　practically　to　fulfil　the　humble　role　of　the　hollow　tree　in　which　lovers　dump　letters；　to　be　extracted　later；　she　did　not　consider　George's　feelings　at　all。　　He　had　offered　to　help　her；　and　this　was　his　job。　The　world　is　full　of　Georges　whose　task　it　is　to　hang　about　in　the　background　and　make　themselves　unobtrusively　useful。
　She　had　reached　this　conclusion　when　Albert；　who　had　taken　a　short　cut　the　more　rapidly　to　acplish　his　errand；　burst　upon　her　dramatically　from　the　heart　of　a　rhododendron　thicket。
　〃M'lady！　Gentleman　give　me　this　to　give　yer！〃
　Maud　read　the　note。　It　was　brief；　and　to　the　point。
　　　　〃I　am　staying　near　the　castle　at　a　cottage　they　call　'the　　　　　one　down　by　Platt's'。　It　is　a　rather　new；　red…brick　place。　　　　　You　can　easily　find　it。　I　shall　be　waiting　there　if　you　want　　　　　me。〃
　It　was　signed　〃The　Man　in　the　Cab〃。
　〃Do　you　know　a　cottage　called　'the　one　down　by　Platt's'；　Albert？〃　asked　Maud。
　〃Yes；　m'lady。　It's　down　by　Platt's　farm。　I　see　a　chicken　killed　there　Wednesday　week。　Do　you　know；　m'lady；　after　a　chicken's　'ead　is　cut　orf；　it　goes　running　licketty…split？〃
　Maud　shivered　slightly。　Albert's　fresh　young　enthusiasms　frequently　jarred　upon　her。
　〃I　find　a　friend　of　mine　is　staying　there。　I　want　you　to　take　a　note　to　him　from　me。〃
　〃Very　good；　m'lady。〃
　〃And；　Albert〃
　〃Yes；　m'lady？〃
　〃Perhaps　it　would　be　as　well　if　you　said　nothing　about　this　to　any　of　your　friends。〃
　In　Lord　Marshmoreton's　study　a　council　of　three　was　sitting　in　debate。　The　subject　under　discussion　was　that　other　note　which　George　had　written　and　so　ill…advisedly　entrusted　to　one　whom　he　had　taken　for　a　guileless　gardener。　The　council　consisted　of　Lord　Marshmoreton；　looking　rather　shamefaced；　his　son　Percy　looking　swollen　and　serious；　and　Lady　Caroline　Byng；　looking　like　a　tragedy　queen。
　〃This〃；　Lord　Belpher　was　saying　in　a　determined　voice；　〃settles　it。　From　now　on　Maud　must　not　be　allowed　out　of　our　sight。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　spoke。
　〃I　rather　wish〃；　he　said　regretfully；　〃I　hadn't　spoken　about　the　note。　I　only　mentioned　it　because　I　thought　you　might　think　it　amusing。〃
　〃Amusing！〃　Lady　Caroline's　voice　shook　the　furniture。
　〃Amusing　that　the　fellow　should　have　handed　me　of　all　people　a　letter　for　Maud；〃　explained　her　brother。　〃I　don't　want　to　get　Maud　into　trouble。〃
　〃You　are　criminally　weak；〃　said　Lady　Caroline　severely。　〃I　really　honestly　believe　that　you　were　capable　of　giving　the　note　to　that　poor；　misguided　girl；　and　saying　nothing　about　it。〃　She　flushed。　〃The　insolence　of　the　man；　ing　here　and　settling　down　at　the　very　gates　of　the　castle！　If　it　was　anybody　but　this　man　Platt　who　was　giving　him　shelter　I　should　insist　on　his　being　turned　out。　But　that　man　Platt　would　be　only　too　glad　to　know　that　he　is　causing　us　annoyance。〃
　〃Quite！〃　said　Lord　Belpher。
　〃You　must　go　to　this　man　as　soon　as　possible；〃　continued　Lady　Caroline；　fixing　her　brother　with　a　manding　stare；　〃and　do　your　best　to　make　him　see　how　abominable　his　behaviour　is。〃
　〃Oh；　I　couldn't！〃　pleaded　the　earl。　〃I　don't　know　the　fellow。　　He'd　throw　me　out。〃
　〃Nonsense。　Go　at　the　very　earliest　opportunity。〃
　〃Oh；　all　right；　all　right；　all　right。　Well；　I　think　I'll　be　slipping　out　to　the　rose　garden　again　now。　There's　a　clear　hour　before　dinner。〃
　There　was　a　tap　at　the　door。　Alice　Faraday　entered　bearing　papers；　a　smile　of　sweet　helpfulness　on　her　pretty　face。
　〃I　hoped　I　should　find　you　here；　Lord　Marshmoreton。　You　promised　to　go　over　these　notes　with　me；　the　ones　about　the　Essex　branch〃
　The　hunted　peer　looked　as　if　he　were　about　to　dive　through　the　window。
　〃Some　other　time；　some　other　time。　II　have　important　matters〃
　〃Oh；　if　you're　busy〃
　〃Of　course；　Lord　Marshmoreton　will　be　delighted　to　work　on　your　notes；　Miss　Faraday；〃　said　Lady　Caroline　crisply。　　〃Take　this　chair。　We　are　just　going。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　gave　one　wistful　glance　through　the　open　window。　Then　he　sat　down　with　a　sigh；　and　felt　for　his　reading…glasses。
　
　CHAPTER　10。
　
　Your　true　golfer　is　a　man　who；　knowing　that　life　is　short　and　perfection　hard　to　attain；　neglects　no　opportunity　of　practising　his　chosen　sport；　allowing　neither　wind　nor　weather　nor　any　external　influence　to　keep　him　from　it。　There　is　a　story；　with　an　excellent　moral　lesson；　of　a　golfer　whose　wife　had　determined　to　leave　him　for　ever。　〃Will　nothing　alter　your　decision？〃　he　says。　〃Will　nothing　induce　you　to　stay？　Well；　then；　while　you're　packing；　I　think　I'll　go　out　on　the　lawn　and　rub　up　my　putting　a　bit。〃　George　Bevan　was　of　this　turn　of　mind。　He　might　be　in　love；　romance　might　have　sealed　him　for　her　own；　but　that　was　no　reason　for　blinding　himself　to　the　fact　that　his　long　game　was　bound　to　suffer　if　he　neglected　to　keep　himself　up　to　the　mark。　His　first　act　on　arriving　at　Belpher　village　had　been　to　ascertain　whether　there　was　a　links　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　thither；　on　the　morning　after　his　visit　to　the　castle　and　the　delivery　of　the　two　notes；　he　repaired。
　At　the　hour　of　the　day　which　he　had　selected　the　club…house　was　empty；　and　he　had　just　resigned　himself　to　a　solitary　game；　when；　with　a　whirr　and　a　rattle；　a　grey　racing…car　drove　up；　and　from　it　emerged　the　same　long　young　man　whom；　a　couple　of　days　earlier；　he　had　seen　wriggle　out　from　underneath　the　same　machine。　It　was　Reggie　Byng's　habit　also　not　to　allow　anything；　even　love；　to　interfere　with　golf；　and　not　even　the　prospect　of　hanging　about　the　castle　grounds　in　the　hope　of　catching　a　glimpse　of　Alice　Faraday　and　exchanging　timorous　words　with　her　had　been　enough　to　keep　him　from　the　links。
　Reggie　surveyed　George　with　a　friendly　eye。　He　had　a　dim　recollection　of　having　seen　him　before　somewhere　at　some　time　or　other；　and　Reggie　had　the　pleasing　disposition　which　caused　him　to　rank　anybody　whom　he　had　seen　somewhere　at　some　time　or　other　as　a　bosom　friend。
　〃Hullo！　Hullo！　Hullo！〃　he　observed。
　〃Good　morning；〃　said　George。
　〃Waiting　for　somebody？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃How　about　it；　then？　Shall　we　stagger　forth？〃
　〃Delighted。〃
　George　found　himself　speculating　upon　Reggie。　He　was　unable　to　place　him。　That　he　was　a　friend　of　Maud　he　knew；　and　guessed　that　he　was　also　a　resident　of　the　castle。　He　would　have　liked　to　question　Reggie；　to　probe　him；　to　collect　from　him　inside　information　as　to　the　progress　of　events　within　the　castle　walls；　but　it　is　a　peculiarity　of　golf；　as　of　love；　that　it　temporarily　changes　the　natures　of　its　victims；　and　Reggie；　a　confirmed　babbler　off　the　links；　became　while　in　action　a　stern；　silent；　intent　person；　his　whole　being　centred　on　the　game。　With　the　exception　of　a　casual　remark　of　a　technical　nature　when　he　met　George　on　the　various　tees；　and　an　occasional　expletive　when　things　went　wrong　with　his　ball；　he　eschewed　conversation。　It　was　not　till　the　end　of　the　round　that　he　became　himself　again。
　〃If　I'd　known　you　were　such　hot　stuff；〃　he　declared　generously；　as　George　holed　his　eighteenth　putt　from　a　distance　of　ten　feet；　〃I'd　have　got　you　to　give　me　a　stroke　or　two。〃
　〃I　was　on　my　game　today；〃　said　George　modestly。　〃Some　times　I　slice　as　if　I　were　cutting　bread　and　can't　putt　to　hit　a　haystack。〃
　〃Let　me　know　when　one　of　those　times　es　along；　and　I'll　take　you　on　again。　I　don't　know　when　I've　seen　anything　fruitier　than　the　way　you　got　out　of　the　bunker　at　the　fifteenth。　　It　reminded　me　of　a　match　I　saw　between〃　Reggie　became　technical。　At　the　end　of　his　observations　he　climbed　into　the　grey　car。
　〃Can　I　drop　you　anywhere？〃
　〃Thanks；〃　said　George。　〃If　it's　not　taking　you　out　your　way。〃
　〃I'm　staying　at　Belpher　Castle。〃
　〃I　live　quite　near　there。　Perhaps　you'd　care　to　e　in　and　have　a　drink　on　your　way？〃
　〃A　ripe　scheme；〃　agreed　Reggie
　Ten　minutes　in　the　grey　car　ate　up　the　distance　between　the　links　and　George's　cottage。　Reggie　Byng　passed　these　minutes；　in　the　intervals　of　eluding　carts　and　foiling　the　apparently　suicidal　intentions　of　some　stray　fowls；　in　jerky　conversation　on　the　subject　of　his　iron…shots；　with　which　he　expressed　a　deep　satisfaction。
　〃Topping　little　place！　Absolutely！〃　was　the　verdict　he　pronounced　on　the　exterior　of　the　cottage　as　he　followed　George　in。　〃I've　often　thought　it　would　be　a　rather　sound　scheme　to　settle　down　in　this　sort　of　shanty　and　keep　chickens　and　grow　a　honey　coloured　beard；　and　have　soup　and　jelly　brought　to　you　by　the　vicar's　wife　and　so　forth。　Nothing　to　worry　you　then。　Do　you　live　all　alone　here？〃
　George　was　busy　squirting　seltzer　into　his　guest's　glass。
　〃Yes。　Mrs。　Platt　es　in　and　cooks　for　me。　The　farmer's　wife　next　door。〃
　An　exclamation　from　the　other　caused　him　to　look　up。　　Reggie　Byng　was　staring　at　him；　wide…eyed。
　〃Great　Scott！　Mrs。　Platt！　Then　you're　the　Chappie？〃
　George　found　himself　unequal　to　the　intellectual　pressure　of　the　conversation。
　〃The　Chappie？〃
　〃The　Chappie　there's　all　the　row　about。　The　mater　was　telling　me　only　this　morning　that　you　lived　here。〃
　〃Is　there　a　row　about　me？〃
　〃Is　there　what！〃　Reggie's　manner　became　solicitous。　〃I　say；　my　dear　old　sportsman；　I　don't　want　to　be　the　bearer　of　bad　tidings　and　what　not；　if　you　know　what　I　mean；　but　didn't　you　know　there　was　a　certain　amount　of　angry　passion　rising　and　so　forth　because　of　you？　At　the　castle；　I　mean。　I　don't　want　to　seem　to　be　discussing　your　private　affairs；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing；　but　what　I　mean　is。。。　Well；　you　don't　expect　you　can　e　charging　in　the　way　you　have　without　touching　the　family　on　the　raw　a　bit。　The　daughter　of　the　house　falls　in　love　with　you；　the　son　of　the　house　languishes　in　chokey　because　he　has　a　row　with　you　in　Piccadilly；　and　on　top　of　a