pgw.adamselindistress-第27章

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ce　of　a　hinterruption；　were　you　to　proceed　to　the　lane　outside　the　heast　entrance　of　the　castle　grounds　and　wait　there。　You　will　find　in　the　field　at　the　roadside　a　small　disused　barn　only　a　short　way　from　the　gates；　where　you　would　be　sheltered　from　the　rain。　In　the　meantime；　I　would　hinform　'er　ladyship　of　your　movements；　and　no　doubt　it　would　be　possible　for　'er　to　slip　off。〃
　〃It　sounds　all　right。〃
　〃It　is　all　right；　sir。　The　chances　of　a　hinterruption　may　be　said　to　be　reduced　to　a　minimum。　Shall　we　say　in　one　hour's　time？〃
　〃Very　well。〃
　〃Then　I　will　wish　you　good　evening；　sir。　Thank　you；　sir。　　I　am　glad　to　'ave　been　of　assistance。〃
　He　withdrew　as　he　had　e；　with　a　large　impressiveness。　　The　room　seemed　very　empty　without　him。　George；　with　trembling　fingers；　began　to　put　on　a　pair　of　thick　boots。
　For　some　minutes　after　he　had　set　foot　outside　the　door　of　the　cottage；　George　was　inclined　to　revile　the　weather　for　having　played　him　false。　On　this　evening　of　all　evenings；　he　felt；　the　elements　should；　so　to　speak；　have　rallied　round　and　done　their　bit。　The　air　should　have　been　soft　and　clear　and　scented：　there　should　have　been　an　afterglow　of　sunset　in　the　sky　to　light　him　on　his　way。　Instead；　the　air　was　full　of　that　peculiar　smell　of　hopeless　dampness　which　es　at　the　end　of　a　wet　English　day。　The　sky　was　leaden。　The　rain　hissed　down　in　a　steady　flow；　whispering　of　mud　and　desolation；　making　a　dreary　morass　of　the　lane　through　which　he　tramped。　A　curious　sense　of　foreboding　came　upon　George。　It　was　as　if　some　voice　of　the　night　had　murmured　maliciously　in　his　ear　a　hint　of　troubles　to　e。　He　felt　oddly　nervous；　as　he　entered　the　barn。
　The　barn　was　both　dark　and　dismal。　In　one　of　the　dark　corners　an　intermittent　dripping　betrayed　the　presence　of　a　gap　in　its　ancient　roof。　A　rat　scurried　across　the　floor。　The　dripping　stopped　and　began　again。　George　struck　a　match　and　looked　at　his　watch。　He　was　early。　Another　ten　minutes　must　elapse　before　he　could　hope　for　her　arrival。　He　sat　down　on　a　broken　wagon　which　lay　on　its　side　against　one　of　the　walls。
　Depression　returned。　It　was　impossible　to　fight　against　it　in　this　beast　of　a　barn。　The　place　was　like　a　sepulchre。　No　one　but　a　fool　of　a　butler　would　have　suggested　it　as　a　trysting…place。　　He　wondered　irritably　why　places　like　this　were　allowed　to　get　into　this　condition。　If　people　wanted　a　barn　earnestly　enough　to　take　the　trouble　of　building　one；　why　was　it　not　worth　while　to　keep　the　thing　in　proper　repair？　Waste　and　futility！　That　was　what　it　was。　That　was　what　everything　was；　if　you　came　down　to　it。　Sitting　here；　for　instance；　was　a　futile　waste　of　time。　　She　wouldn't　e。　There　were　a　dozen　reasons　why　she　should　not　e。　So　what　was　the　use　of　his　courting　rheumatism　by　waiting　in　this　morgue　of　dead　agricultural　ambitions？　None　whateverGeorge　went　on　waiting。
　And　what　an　awful　place　to　expect　her　to　e　to；　if　by　some　miracle　she　did　ewhere　she　would　be　stifled　by　the　smell　of　mouldy　hay；　damped　by　raindrops　andreflected　George　gloomily　as　there　was　another　scurry　and　scutter　along　the　unseen　floorgnawed　by　rats。　You　could　not　expect　a　delicately…nurtured　girl；　accustomed　to　all　the　forts　of　a　home；　to　be　bright　and　sunny　with　a　platoon　of　rats　crawling　all　over　her。。。。
　The　grey　oblong　that　was　the　doorway　suddenly　darkened。
　〃Mr。　Bevan！〃
　George　sprang　up。　At　the　sound　of　her　voice　every　nerve　in　his　body　danced　in　mad　exhilaration。　He　was　another　man。　　Depression　fell　from　him　like　a　garment。　He　perceived　that　he　had　misjudged　all　sorts　of　things。　The　evening；　for　instance；　was　a　splendid　eveningnot　one　of　those　awful　dry；　baking　evenings　which　make　you　feel　you　can't　breathe；　but　pleasantly　moist　and　full　of　a　delightfully　musical　patter　of　rain。　And　the　barn！　He　had　been　all　wrong　about　the　barn。　It　was　a　great　little　place；　fortable；　airy；　and　cheerful。　What　could　be　more　invigorating　than　that　smell　of　hay？　Even　the　rats；　he　felt；　must　be　pretty　decent　rats；　when　you　came　to　know　them。
　〃I'm　here！〃
　Maud　advanced　quickly。　His　eyes　had　grown　accustomed　to　the　murk；　and　he　could　see　her　dimly。　The　smell　of　her　damp　raincoat　came　to　him　like　a　breath　of　ozone。　He　could　even　see　her　eyes　shining　in　the　darkness；　so　close　was　she　to　him。
　〃I　hope　you've　not　been　waiting　long？〃
　George's　heart　was　thundering　against　his　ribs。　He　could　scarcely　speak。　He　contrived　to　emit　a　No。
　〃I　didn't　think　at　first　I　could　get　away。　I　had　to　。　。　。〃　She　broke　off　with　a　cry。　The　rat；　fond　of　exercise　like　all　rats；　had　made　another　of　its　excitable　sprints　across　the　floor。
　A　hand　clutched　nervously　at　George's　arm；　found　it　and　held　it。　And　at　the　touch　the　last　small　fragment　of　George's　self…control　fled　from　him。　The　world　became　vague　and　unreal。　　There　remained　of　it　but　one　solid　factthe　fact　that　Maud　was　in　his　arms　and　that　he　was　saying　a　number　of　things　very　rapidly　in　a　voice　that　seemed　to　belong　to　somebody　he　had　never　met　before。
　
　CHAPTER　19。
　
　With　a　shock　of　dismay　so　abrupt　and　overwhelming　that　it　was　like　a　physical　injury；　George　became　aware　that　something　was　wrong。　Even　as　he　gripped　her；　Maud　had　stiffened　with　a　sharp　cry；　and　now　she　was　struggling；　trying　to　wrench　herself　free。　She　broke　away　from　him。　He　could　hear　her　breathing　hard。
　〃Youyou〃　She　gulped。
　〃Maud！〃
　〃How　dare　you！〃
　There　was　a　pause　that　seemed　to　George　to　stretch　on　and　on　endlessly。　The　rain　pattered　on　the　leafy　roof。　Somewhere　in　the　distance　a　dog　howled　dismally。　The　darkness　pressed　down　like　a　blanket；　stifling　thought。
　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Bevan。〃　Her　voice　was　ice。　〃I　didn't　think　you　werethat　kind　of　man。〃
　She　was　moving　toward　the　door；　and；　as　she　reached　it；　George's　stupor　left　him。　He　came　back　to　life　with　a　jerk；　shaking　from　head　to　foot。　All　his　varied　emotions　had　bee　one　emotiona　cold　fury。
　〃Stop！〃
　Maud　stopped。　Her　chin　was　tilted；　and　she　was　wasting　a　baleful　glare　on　the　darkness。
　〃Well；　what　is　it？〃
　Her　tone　increased　George's　wrath。　The　injustice　of　it　made　him　dizzy。　At　that　moment　he　hated　her。　He　was　the　injured　party。　It　was　he；　not　she；　that　had　been　deceived　and　made　a　fool　of。
　〃I　want　to　say　something　before　you　go。〃
　〃I　think　we　had　better　say　no　more　about　it！〃
　By　the　exercise　of　supreme　self…control　George　kept　himself　from　speaking　until　he　could　choose　milder　words　than　those　that　rushed　to　his　lips。
　〃I　think　we　will！〃　he　said　between　his　teeth。
　Maud's　anger　became　tinged　with　surprise。　Now　that　the　first　shock　of　the　wretched　episode　was　over；　the　calmer　half　of　her　mind　was　endeavouring　to　soothe　the　infuriated　half　by　urging　that　George's　behaviour　had　been　but　a　momentary　lapse；　and　that　a　man　may　lose　his　head　for　one　wild　instant；　and　yet　remain　fundamentally　a　gentleman　and　a　friend。　She　had　begun　to　remind　herself　that　this　man　had　helped　her　once　in　trouble；　and　only　a　day　or　two　before　had　actually　risked　his　life　to　save　her　from　embarrassment。　When　she　heard　him　call　to　her　to　stop；　she　supposed　that　his　better　feelings　had　reasserted　themselves；　and　she　had　prepared　herself　to　receive　with　dignity　a　broken；　stammered　apology。　But　the　voice　that　had　just　spoken　with　a　crisp；　biting　intensity　was　not　the　voice　of　remorse。　　It　was　a　very　angry　man；　not　a　penitent　one；　who　was　mandingnot　beggingher　to　stop　and　listen　to　him。
　〃Well？〃　she　said　again；　more　coldly　this　time。　She　was　quite　unable　to　understand　this　attitude　of　his。　She　was　the　injured　party。　It　was　she；　not　he　who　had　trusted　and　been　betrayed。
　〃I　should　like　to　explain。〃
　〃Please　do　not　apologize。〃
　George　ground　his　teeth　in　the　gloom。
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　intention　of　apologizing。　I　said　I　would　like　to　explain。　When　I　have　finished　explaining；　you　can　go。〃
　〃I　shall　go　when　I　please；〃　flared　Maud。
　This　man　was　intolerable。
　〃There　is　nothing　to　be　afraid　of。　There　will　be　no　repetition　of　theincident。〃
　Maud　was　outraged　by　this　monstrous　misinterpretation　of　her　words。
　〃I　am　not　afraid！〃
　〃Then；　perhaps；　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　listen。　I　won't　detain　you　long。　My　explanation　is　quite　simple。　I　have　been　made　a　fool　of。　I　seem　to　be　in　the　position　of　the　tinker　in　the　play　whom　everybody　conspired　to　delude　into　the　belief　that　he　was　a　king。　First　a　friend　of　yours；　Mr。　Byng；　came　to　me　and　told　me　that　you　had　confided　to　him　that　you　loved　me。〃
　Maud　gasped。　Either　this　man　was　mad；　or　Reggie　Byng　was。　She　choose　the　politer　solution。
　〃Reggie　Byng　must　have　lost　his　senses。〃
　〃So　I　supposed。　At　least；　I　imagined　that　he　must　be　mistaken。　But　a　man　in　love　is　an　optimistic　fool；　of　course；　and　I　had　loved　you　ever　since　you　got　into　my　cab　that　morning　。　。　。〃
　〃What！〃
　〃So　after　a　while；〃　proceeded　George；　ignoring　the　interruption；　〃I　almost　persuaded　myself　that　miracles　could　still　happen；　and　that　what　Byng　said　was　true。　And　when　your　father　called　on　me　and　told　me　the　very　same　thing　I　was　convinced。　It　seemed　incredible；　but　I　had　to　believe　it。　Now　it　seems　that；　for　some　inscrutable　reason；　both　Byng　and　your　father　were　making　a　fool　of　me。　That's　all。　Good　night。〃
　Maud's　reply　was　the　last　which　George　or　any　man　would　have　expected。　There　was　a　moment's　silence；　and　then　she　burst　into　a　peal　of　laughter。　It　was　the　laughter　of　over…strained　nerves；　but　to　George's　ears　it　had　the　ring　of　genuine　amusement。
　〃I'm　glad　you　find　my　story　entertaining；〃　he　said　dryly。　　He　was　convinced　now　that　he　loathed　this　girl；　and　that　all　he　desired　was　to　see　her　go　out　of　his　life　for　ever。　〃Later；　no　doubt；　the　funny　side　of　it　will　hit　me。　Just　at　present　my　sense　of　humour　is　rather　dormant。〃
　Maud　gave　a　little　cry。
　〃I'm　sorry！　I'm　so　sorry；　Mr。　Bevan。　It　wasn't　that。　It　wasn't　that　at　all。　Oh；　I　am　so　sorry。　I　don't　know　why　I　laughed。　It　certainly　wasn't　because　I　thought　it　funny。　It's　tragic。　There's　been　a　dreadful　mistake！〃
　〃I　noticed　that；〃　said　George　bitterly。　The　darkness　began　to　afflict　his　nerves。　〃I　wish　to　God　we　had　some　light。〃
　The　glare　of　a　pocket…torch　smote　upon　him。
　〃I　brought　it　to　see　my　way　back　with；〃　said　Maud　in　a　curious；　small　voice。　〃It's　very　dark　across　the　fields。　I　didn't　light　it　before；　because　I　was　afraid　somebody　might　see。〃
　She　came　towards　him；　holding　the　torch　over　her　head。　The　beam　showed　her　face；　troubled　and　sympathetic；　and　at　the　sight　all　George's　resentment　left　him。　There　were　mysteries　here　beyond　his　unravelling；　but　of　one　thing　he　was　certain：　this　girl　was　not　to　blame。　She　was　a　thoroughbred；　as　straight　as　a　wand。　She　was　pure　gold。
　〃I　came　here　to　tell　you　everything；〃　she　said。　She　placed　the　torch　on　the　wagon…wheel　so　that　its　ray　fell　in　a　pool　of　light　on　the　ground　between　them。　〃I'll　do　it　now。　Onlyonly　it　isn't　so　easy　now。　Mr。　Bevan；　there's　a　manthere's　a　man　that　father　and　Reggie　Byng　mistookthey　thought　。　。　。　You　see；　they　knew　it　was　you　that　I　was　with　that　day　in　the　cab；　and　so　they　naturally　thought；　when　you　came　down　here；　that　you　were　the　man　I　had　gone　to　meet　that　daythe　man　II〃
　〃The　man　you　love。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Maud　in　a　small　voice；　and　there　was　silence　again。
　George　could　feel　nothing　but　sympathy。　It　mastered　other　emotion　in　him；　even