pgw.adamselindistress-第18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！


r　made　their　appearance；　the　superior　attractions　of　the　main　floor　having　exercised　a　great　appeal；　and　for　the　past　hour　George　had　been　alone　with　the　maid　and　his　thoughts。　The　maid；　having　asked　George　if　he　knew　her　cousin　Frank；　who　had　been　in　America　nearly　a　year；　and　having　received　a　reply　in　the　negative；　seemed　to　be　disappointed　in　him；　and　to　lose　interest；　and　had　not　spoken　for　twenty　minutes。
　George　scanned　the　approaches　to　the　balcony　for　a　sight　of　Albert　as　the　shipwrecked　mariner　scans　the　horizon　for　the　passing　sail。　It　was　inevitable；　he　supposed；　this　waiting。　It　would　be　difficult　for　Maud　to　slip　away　even　for　a　moment　on　such　a　night。
　〃I　say；　laddie；　would　you　mind　getting　me　a　lemonade？〃
　George　was　gazing　over　the　balcony　when　the　voice　spoke　behind　him；　and　the　muscles　of　his　back　stiffened　as　he　recognized　its　genial　note。　This　was　one　of　the　things　he　had　prepared　himself　for；　but；　now　that　it　had　happened；　he　felt　a　wave　of　stage…fright　such　as　he　had　only　once　experienced　before　in　his　lifeon　the　occasion　when　he　had　been　young　enough　and　inexperienced　enough　to　take　a　curtain…call　on　a　first　night。　Reggie　Byng　was　friendly；　and　would　not　wilfully　betray　him；　but　Reggie　was　also　a　babbler；　who　could　not　be　trusted　to　keep　things　to　himself。　It　was　necessary；　he　perceived；　to　take　a　strong　line　from　the　start；　and　convince　Reggie　that　any　likeness　which　the　latter　might　suppose　that　he　detected　between　his　panion　of　that　afternoon　and　the　waiter　of　tonight　existed　only　in　his　heated　imagination。
　As　George　turned；　Reggie's　pleasant　face；　pink　with　healthful　exercise　and　Lord　Marshmoreton's　finest　Bollinger；　lost　most　of　its　colour。　His　eyes　and　mouth　opened　wider。　The　fact　is　Reggie　was　shaken。　All　through　the　earlier　part　of　the　evening　he　had　been　sedulously　priming　himself　with　stimulants　with　a　view　to　amassing　enough　nerve　to　propose　to　Alice　Faraday：　and；　now　that　he　had　drawn　her　away　from　the　throng　to　this　secluded　nook　and　was　about　to　put　his　fortune　to　the　test；　a　horrible　fear　swept　over　him　that　he　had　overdone　it。　He　was　having　optical　illusions。
　〃Good　God！〃
　Reggie　loosened　his　collar；　and　pulled　himself　together。
　〃Would　you　mind　taking　a　glass　of　lemonade　to　the　lady　in　blue　sitting　on　the　settee　over　there　by　the　statue；〃　he　said　carefully。
　He　brightened　up　a　little。
　〃Pretty　good　that！　Not　absolutely　a　test　sentence；　perhaps；　like　'Truly　rural'　or　'The　intricacies　of　the　British　Constitution'。　But　nevertheless　no　mean　feat。〃
　〃I　say！〃　he　continued；　after　a　pause。
　〃Sir？〃
　〃You　haven't　ever　seen　me　before　by　any　chance；　if　you　know　what　I　mean；　have　you？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃You　haven't　a　brother；　or　anything　of　that　shape　or　order；　have　you；　no？〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　have　often　wished　I　had。　I　ought　to　have　spoken　to　father　about　it。　Father　could　never　deny　me　anything。〃
　Reggie　blinked。　His　misgiving　returned。　Either　his　ears；　like　his　eyes；　were　playing　him　tricks；　or　else　this　waiter…chappie　was　talking　pure　drivel。
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃I　said；　'No；　sir；　I　have　no　brother'。〃
　〃Didn't　you　say　something　else？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　Reggie's　worst　suspicions　were　confirmed。
　〃Good　God！〃　he　muttered。　〃Then　I　am！〃　　Miss　Faraday；　when　he　joined　her　on　the　settee；　wanted　an　explanation。
　〃What　were　you　talking　to　that　man　about；　Mr。　Byng？　You　seemed　to　be　having　a　very　interesting　conversation。〃
　〃I　was　asking　him　if　he　had　a　brother。〃
　Miss　Faraday　glanced　quickly　at　him。　She　had　had　a　feeling　for　some　time　during　the　evening　that　his　manner　had　been　strange。
　〃A　brother？　What　made　you　ask　him　that？〃
　〃HeI　meanthat　is　to　saywhat　I　mean　is；　he　looked　the　sort　of　chap　who　might　have　a　brother。　Lots　of　those　fellows　have！〃
　Alice　Faraday's　face　took　on　a　motherly　look。　She　was　fonder　of　Reggie　than　that　love…sick　youth　supposed；　and　by　sheer　accident　he　had　stumbled　on　the　right　road　to　her　consideration。　Alice　Faraday　was　one　of　those　girls　whose　dream　it　is　to　be　a　ministering　angel　to　some　chosen　man；　to　be　a　good　influence　to　him　and　raise　him　to　an　appreciation　of　nobler　things。　　Hitherto；　Reggie's　personality　had　seemed　to　her　agreeable；　but　negative。　A　positive　vice　like　over…indulgence　in　alcohol　altered　him　pletely。　It　gave　him　a　significance。
　〃I　told　him　to　get　you　a　lemonade；〃　said　Reggie。　〃He　seems　to　be　taking　his　time　about　it。　Hi！〃
　George　approached　deferentially。
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Where's　that　lemonade？〃
　〃Lemonade；　sir？〃
　〃Didn't　I　ask　you　to　bring　this　lady　a　glass　of　lemonade？〃
　〃I　did　not　understand　you　to　do　so；　sir。〃
　〃But；　Great　Scott！　What　were　we　chatting　about；　then？〃
　〃You　were　telling　me　a　diverting　story　about　an　Irishman　who　landed　in　New　York　looking　for　work；　sir。　You　would　like　a　glass　of　lemonade；　sir？　Very　good；　sir。〃
　Alice　placed　a　hand　gently　on　Reggie's　arm。
　〃Don't　you　think　you　had　better　lie　down　for　a　little　and　rest；　Mr。　Byng？　I'm　sure　it　would　do　you　good。〃
　The　solicitous　note　in　her　voice　made　Reggie　quiver　like　a　jelly。　He　had　never　known　her　speak　like　that　before。　For　a　moment　he　was　inclined　to　lay　bare　his　soul；　but　his　nerve　was　broken。　He　did　not　want　her　to　mistake　the　outpouring　of　a　strong　man's　heart　for　the　irresponsible　ravings　of　a　too　hearty　diner。　It　was　one　of　Life's　ironies。　Here　he　was　for　the　first　time　all　keyed　up　to　go　right　ahead；　and　he　couldn't　do　it。
　〃It's　the　heat　of　the　room；〃　said　Alice。　〃Shall　we　go　and　sit　outside　on　the　terrace？　Never　mind　about　the　lemonade。　I'm　not　really　thirsty。〃
　Reggie　followed　her　like　a　lamb。　The　prospect　of　the　cool　night　air　was　grateful。
　〃That；〃　murmured　George；　as　he　watched　them　depart；　〃ought　to　hold　you　for　a　while！〃
　He　perceived　Albert　hastening　towards　him。
　
　CHAPTER　13。
　
　Albert　was　in　a　hurry。　He　skimmed　over　the　carpet　like　a　water…beetle。
　〃Quick！〃　he　said。
　He　cast　a　glance　at　the　maid；　George's　co…worker。　She　was　reading　a　novelette　with　her　back　turned。
　〃Tell　'er　you'll　be　back　in　five　minutes；〃　said　Albert；　jerking　a　thumb。
　〃Unnecessary。　She　won't　notice　my　absence。　Ever　since　she　discovered　that　I　had　never　met　her　cousin　Frank　in　America；　I　have　meant　nothing　in　her　life。〃
　〃Then　e　on。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃I'll　show　you。〃
　That　it　was　not　the　nearest　and　most　direct　route　which　they　took　to　the　trysting…place　George　became　aware　after　he　had　followed　his　young　guide　through　doors　and　up　stairs　and　down　stairs　and　had　at　last　e　to　a　halt　in　a　room　to　which　the　sound　of　the　music　penetrated　but　faintly。　He　recognized　the　room。　　He　had　been　in　it　before。　It　was　the　same　room　where　he　and　Billie　Dore　had　listened　to　Keggs　telling　the　story　of　Lord　Leonard　and　his　leap。　That　window　there；　he　remembered　now；　opened　on　to　the　very　balcony　from　which　the　historic　Leonard　had　done　his　spectacular　dive。　That　it　should　be　the　scene　of　this　other　secret　meeting　struck　George　as　appropriate。　　The　coincidence　appealed　to　him。
　Albert　vanished。　George　took　a　deep　breath。　Now　that　the　moment　had　arrived　for　which　he　had　waited　so　long　he　was　aware　of　a　return　of　that　feeling　of　stage…fright　which　had　e　upon　him　when　he　heard　Reggie　Byng's　voice。　This　sort　of　thing；　it　must　be　remembered；　was　not　in　George's　usual　line。　　His　had　been　a　quiet　and　uneventful　life；　and　the　only　exciting　thing　which；　in　his　recollection；　had　ever　happened　to　him　previous　to　the　dramatic　entry　of　Lady　Maud　into　his　taxi…cab　that　day　in　Piccadilly；　had　occurred　at　college　nearly　ten　years　before；　when　a　festive　room…mateno　doubt　with　the　best　motiveshad　placed　a　Mexican　horned　toad　in　his　bed　on　the　night　of　the　Yale　football　game。
　A　light　footstep　sounded　outside；　and　the　room　whirled　round　George　in　a　manner　which；　if　it　had　happened　to　Reggie　Byng；　would　have　caused　that　injudicious　drinker　to　abandon　the　habits　of　a　lifetime。　When　the　furniture　had　returned　to　its　place　and　the　rug　had　ceased　to　spin；　Maud　was　standing　before　him。
　Nothing　is　harder　to　remember　than　a　once…seen　face。　It　had　caused　George　a　good　deal　of　distress　and　inconvenience　that；　try　as　he　might；　he　could　not　conjure　up　anything　more　than　a　vague　vision　of　what　the　only　girl　in　the　world　really　looked　like。　　He　had　carried　away　with　him　from　their　meeting　in　the　cab　only　a　confused　recollection　of　eyes　that　shone　and　a　mouth　that　curved　in　a　smile；　and　the　brief　moment　in　which　he　was　able　to　refresh　his　memory；　when　he　found　her　in　the　lane　with　Reggie　Byng　and　the　broken…down　car；　had　not　been　enough　to　add　definiteness。　The　consequence　was　that　Maud　came　upon　him　now　with　the　stunning　effect　of　beauty　seen　for　the　first　time。　He　gasped。　In　that　dazzling　ball…dress；　with　the　flush　of　dancing　on　her　cheeks　and　the　light　of　dancing　in　her　eyes；　she　was　so　much　more　wonderful　than　any　picture　of　her　which　memory　had　been　able　to　produce　for　his　inspection　that　it　was　as　if　he　had　never　seen　her　before。
　Even　her　brother；　Percy；　a　stern　critic　where　his　nearest　and　dearest　were　concerned；　had　admitted　on　meeting　her　in　the　drawing…room　before　dinner　that　that　particular　dress　suited　Maud。　It　was　a　shimmering　dream…thing　of　rose…leaves　and　moon…beams。　That；　at　least；　was　how　it　struck　George；　a　dressmaker　would　have　found　a　longer　and　less　romantic　description　for　it。　　But　that　does　not　matter。　Whoever　wishes　for　a　cold　and　technical　catalogue　of　the　stuffs　which　went　to　make　up　the　picture　that　deprived　George　of　speech　may　consult　the　files　of　the　Belpher　Intelligencer　and　Farmers'　Guide；　and　read　the　report　of　the　editor's　wife；　who　〃does〃　the　dresses　for　the　Intelligencer　under　the　pen…name　of　〃Birdie　Bright…Eye〃。　As　far　as　George　was　concerned；　the　thing　was　made　of　rose…leaves　and　moon…beams。
　George；　as　I　say；　was　deprived　of　speech。　That　any　girl　could　possibly　look　so　beautiful　was　enough　to　paralyse　his　faculties；　but　that　this　ethereal　being　straight　from　Fairyland　could　have　stooped　to　love　himhiman　earthy　brute　who　wore　sock…suspenders　and　drank　coffee　for　breakfast　。　。　。　that　was　what　robbed　George　of　the　power　to　articulate。　He　could　do　nothing　but　look　at　her。
　From　the　Hills　of　Fairyland　soft　music　came。　Or；　if　we　must　be　exact；　Maud　spoke。
　〃I　couldn't　get　away　before！〃　Then　she　stopped　short　and　darted　to　the　door　listening。　〃Was　that　somebody　ing？　　I　had　to　cut　a　dance　with　Mr。　Plummer　to　get　here；　and　I'm　so　afraid　he　may。　。　。〃
　He　had。　A　moment　later　it　was　only　too　evident　that　this　was　precisely　what　Mr。　Plummer　had　done。　There　was　a　footstep　on　the　stairs；　a　heavy　footstep　this　time；　and　from　outside　the　voice　of　the　pursuer　made　itself　heard。
　〃Oh；　there　you　are；　Lady　Maud！　I　was　looking　for　you。　　This　is　our　dance。〃
　George　did　not　know　who　Mr。　Plummer　was。　He　did　not　want　to　know。　His　only　thought　regarding　Mr。　Plummer　was　a　passionate　realization　of　the　superfluity　of　his　existence。　It　is　the　presence　on　the　globe　of　these　Plummers　that　delays　the　ing　of　the　Millennium。
　His　stunned　mind　leaped　into　sudden　activity。　He　must　not　be　found　here；　that　was　certain。　Waiters　who　ramble　at　large　about　a　feudal　castle　and　are　discovered　in　conversation　with　the　daughter　of　the　house　excite　ment。　And；　conversely；　daughters　of　the　house　who　talk　in　secluded　rooms