pgw.adamselindistress-第31章

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t！　I　tell　you；　when　they　brought　me　his　card　last　night　after　the　first　act　and　I　went　down　to　take　a　slant　at　this　Lord　Marshmoreton　and　found　dadda　hanging　round　the　stage　door；　you　could　have　knocked　me　over　with　a　whisk…broom。〃
　〃I　have　not　stood　at　the　stage…door　for　twenty…five　years；〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton　sadly。
　〃Now；　it's　no　use　your　pulling　that　Henry　W。　Methuselah　stuff；〃　said　Billie　affectionately。　〃You　can't　get　away　with　it。　　Anyone　can　see　you're　just　a　kid。　Can't　they；　George？〃　She　indicated　the　blushing　earl　with　a　wave　of　the　hand。　〃Isn't　dadda　the　youngest　thing　that　ever　happened？〃
　〃Exactly　what　I　told　him　myself。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　giggled。　There　is　no　other　verb　that　describes　the　sound　that　proceeded　from　him。
　〃I　feel　young；〃　he　admitted。
　〃I　wish　some　of　the　juveniles　in　the　shows　I've　been　in；〃　said　Billie；　〃were　as　young　as　you。　It's　getting　so　nowadays　that　one's　thankful　if　a　juvenile　has　teeth。〃　She　glanced　across　the　room。　〃Your　pals　are　walking　out　on　you；　George。　The　people　you　were　lunching　with；〃　she　explained。　〃They're　leaving。〃
　〃That's　all　right。　I　said　good…bye　to　them。〃　He　looked　at　Lord　Marshmoreton。　It　seemed　a　suitable　opportunity　to　break　the　news。　〃I　was　lunching　with　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Byng；〃　he　said。
　Nothing　appeared　to　stir　beneath　Lord　Marshmoreton's　tanned　forehead。
　〃Reggie　Byng　and　his　wife；　Lord　Marshmoreton；〃　added　George。
　This　time　he　secured　the　earl's　interest。　Lord　Marshmoreton　started。
　〃What！〃
　〃They　are　just　off　to　Paris；〃　said　George。
　〃Reggie　Byng　is　not　married！〃
　〃Married　this　morning。　I　was　best　man。〃
　〃Busy　little　creature！〃　interjected　Billie。
　〃Butbut！〃
　〃You　know　his　wife；〃　said　George　casually。　〃She　was　a　Miss　Faraday。　I　think　she　was　your　secretary。〃
　It　would　have　been　impossible　to　deny　that　Lord　Marshmoreton　showed　emotion。　His　mouth　opened；　and　he　clutched　the　tablecloth。　　But　just　what　the　emotion　was　George　was　unable　to　say　till；　with　a　sigh　that　seemed　to　e　from　his　innermost　being；　the　other　exclaimed　〃Thank　Heaven！〃
　George　was　surprised。
　〃You're　glad？〃
　〃Of　course　I'm　glad！〃
　〃It's　a　pity　they　didn't　know　how　you　were　going　to　feel。　It　would　have　saved　them　a　lot　of　anxiety。　I　rather　gathered　they　supposed　that　the　shock　was　apt　to　darken　your　whole　life。〃
　〃That　girl；〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton　vehemently；　〃was　driving　me　crazy。　Always　bothering　me　to　e　and　work　on　that　damned　family　history。　Never　gave　me　a　moment's　peace　。　。　。〃
　〃I　liked　her；〃　said　George。
　〃Nice　enough　girl；〃　admitted　his　lordship　grudgingly。　〃But　a　damned　nuisance　about　the　house；　always　at　me　to　go　on　with　the　family　history。　As　if　there　weren't　better　things　to　do　with　one's　time　than　writing　all　day　about　my　infernal　fools　of　ancestors！〃
　〃Isn't　dadda　fractious　today？〃　said　Billie　reprovingly；　giving　the　Earl's　hand　a　pat。　〃Quit　knocking　your　ancestors！　You're　very　lucky　to　have　ancestors。　I　wish　I　had。　The　Dore　family　seems　to　go　back　about　as　far　as　the　presidency　of　Willard　Filmore；　and　then　it　kind　of　gets　discouraged　and　quite　cold。　　Gee！　I'd　like　to　feel　that　my　great…great…great…grandmother　had　helped　Queen　Elizabeth　with　the　rent。　I'm　strong　for　the　fine　old　stately　families　of　England。〃
　〃Stately　old　fiddlesticks！〃　snapped　the　earl。
　〃Did　you　see　his　eyes　flash　then；　George？　That's　what　they　call　aristocratic　rage。　It's　the　fine　old　spirit　of　the　Marshmoretons　boiling　over。〃
　〃I　noticed　it；〃　said　George。　〃Just　like　lightning。〃
　〃It's　no　use　trying　to　fool　us；　dadda；〃　said　Billie。　〃You　know　just　as　well　as　I　do　that　it　makes　you　feel　good　to　think　that；　every　time　you　cut　yourself　with　your　safety…razor；　you　bleed　blue！〃
　〃A　lot　of　silly　nonsense！〃　grumbled　the　earl。
　〃What　is？〃
　〃This　foolery　of　titles　and　aristocracy。　Silly　fetish…worship！　One　man's　as　good　as　another。　。　。　。〃
　〃This　is　the　spirit　of　'76！〃　said　George　approvingly。
　〃Regular　I。W。W。　stuff；〃　agreed　Billie。　〃Shake　hands　the　President　of　the　Bolsheviki！〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　ignored　the　interruption。　There　was　a　strange　look　in　his　eyes。　It　was　evident　to　George；　watching　him　with　close　interest；　that　here　was　a　revelation　of　the　man's　soul；　that　thoughts；　locked　away　for　years　in　the　other's　bosom　were　crying　for　utterance。
　〃Damned　silly　nonsense！　When　I　was　a　boy；　I　wanted　to　be　an　engine…driver。　When　I　was　a　young　man；　I　was　a　Socialist　and　hadn't　any　idea　except　to　work　for　my　living　and　make　a　name　for　myself。　I　was　going　to　the　colonies。　Canada。　The　fruit　farm　was　actually　bought。　Bought　and　paid　for！〃　He　brooded　a　moment　on　that　long…lost　fruit　farm。　〃My　father　was　a　younger　son。　And　then　my　uncle　must　go　and　break　his　neck　hunting；　and　the　baby；　poor　little　chap；　got　croup　or　something　。　。　。　And　there　I　was；　saddled　with　the　title；　and　all　my　plans　gone　up　in　smoke　。　。　。　Silly　nonsense！　Silly　nonsense！〃
　He　bit　the　end　of　a　cigar。　〃And　you　can't　stand　up　against　it；〃　he　went　on　ruefully。　〃It　saps　you。　It's　like　some　damned　drug。　　I　fought　against　it　as　long　as　I　could；　but　it　was　no　use。　I'm　as　big　a　snob　as　any　of　them　now。　I'm　afraid　to　do　what　I　want　to　do。　Always　thinking　of　the　family　dignity。　I　haven't　taken　a　free　step　for　twenty…five　years。〃
　George　and　Billie　exchanged　glances。　Each　had　the　unfortable　feeling　that　they　were　eavesdropping　and　hearing　things　not　meant　to　be　heard。　George　rose。
　〃I　must　be　getting　along　now；〃　he　said。　〃I've　one　or　two　things　to　do。　Glad　to　have　seen　you　again；　Billie。　Is　the　show　going　all　right？〃
　〃Fine。　Making　money　for　you　right　along。〃
　〃Good…bye；　Lord　Marshmoreton。〃
　The　earl　nodded　without　speaking。　It　was　not　often　now　that　he　rebelled　even　in　thoughts　against　the　lot　which　fate　had　thrust　upon　him；　and　never　in　his　life　before　had　he　done　so　in　words。　　He　was　still　in　the　grip　of　the　strange　discontent　which　had　e　upon　him　so　abruptly。
　There　was　a　silence　after　George　had　gone。
　〃I'm　glad　we　met　George；〃　said　Billie。　〃He's　a　good　boy。〃　She　spoke　soberly。　She　was　conscious　of　a　curious　feeling　of　affection　for　the　sturdy；　weather…tanned　little　man　opposite　her。　　The　glimpse　she　had　been　given　of　his　inner　self　had　somehow　made　him　e　alive　for　her。
　〃He　wants　to　marry　my　daughter；〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton。　　A　few　moments　before；　Billie　would　undoubtedly　have　replied　to　such　a　statement　with　some　jocular　remark　expressing　disbelief　that　the　earl　could　have　a　daughter　old　enough　to　be　married。　But　now　she　felt　oddly　serious　and　unlike　her　usual　flippant　self。
　〃Oh？〃　was　all　she　could　find　to　say。
　〃She　wants　to　marry　him。〃
　Not　for　years　had　Billie　Dore　felt　embarrassed；　but　she　felt　so　now。　She　judged　herself　unworthy　to　be　the　recipient　of　these　very　private　confidences。
　〃Oh？〃　she　said　again。
　〃He's　a　good　fellow。　I　like　him。　I　liked　him　the　moment　we　met。　He　knew　it；　too。　And　I　knew　he　liked　me。〃
　A　group　of　men　and　girls　from　a　neighbouring　table　passed　on　their　way　to　the　door。　One　of　the　girls　nodded　to　Billie。　　She　returned　the　nod　absently。　The　party　moved　on。　Billie　frowned　down　at　the　tablecloth　and　drew　a　pattern　on　it　with　a　fork。
　〃Why　don't　you　let　George　marry　your　daughter；　Lord　Marshmoreton？〃
　The　earl　drew　at　his　cigar　in　silence。
　〃I　know　it's　not　my　business；〃　said　Billie　apologetically；　interpreting　the　silence　as　a　rebuff。
　〃Because　I'm　the　Earl　of　Marshmoreton。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃No　you　don't；〃　snapped　the　earl。　〃You　think　I　mean　by　that　that　I　think　your　friend　isn't　good　enough　to　marry　my　daughter。　You　think　that　I'm　an　incurable　snob。　And　I've　no　doubt　he　thinks　so；　too；　though　I　took　the　trouble　to　explain　my　attitude　to　him　when　we　last　met。　You're　wrong。　It　isn't　that　at　all。　When　I　say　'I'm　the　Earl　of　Marshmoreton'；　I　mean　that　I'm　a　poor　spineless　fool　who's　afraid　to　do　the　right　thing　because　he　daren't　go　in　the　teeth　of　the　family。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。　What　have　your　family　got　to　do　with　it？〃
　〃They'd　worry　the　life　out　of　me。　I　wish　you　could　meet　my　sister　Caroline！　That's　what　they've　got　to　do　with　it。　Girls　in　my　daughter's　unfortunate　position　have　got　to　marry　position　or　money。〃
　〃Well；　I　don't　know　about　position；　but　when　it　es　to　moneywhy；　George　is　the　fellow　that　made　the　dollar…bill　famous。　He　and　Rockefeller　have　got　all　there　is；　except　the　little　bit　they　have　let　Andy　Carnegie　have　for　car…fare。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？　He　told　me　he　worked　for　a　living。〃　Billie　was　being　herself　again。　Embarrassment　Red。
　〃If　you　call　it　work。　He's　a　poser。〃
　〃I　know。　Writes　tunes　and　things。〃
　Billie　regarded　him　passionately。
　〃And　I　suppose；　living　out　in　the　woods　the　way　that　you　do　that　you　haven't　a　notion　that　they　pay　him　for　it。〃
　〃Pay　him？　Yes；　but　how　much？　posers　were　not　men　in　my　day。〃
　〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　talk　of　'your　day'　as　if　you　telling　the　boys　down　at　the　corner　store　about　the　good　they　all　had　before　the　Flood。　You're　one　of　the　Younger　Set　and　don't　let　me　have　to　tell　you　again。　Say；　listen！　You　know　that　show　you　saw　last　night。　The　one　where　I　was　supported　by　a　few　underlings。　Well；　George　wrote　the　music　for　that。〃
　〃I　know。　He　told　me　so。〃
　〃Well；　did　he　tell　you　that　he　draws　three　per　cent　of　the　gross　receipts？　You　saw　the　house　we　had　last　night。　It　was　a　fair　average　house。　We　are　playing　to　over　fourteen　thousand　dollars　a　week。　George's　little　bit　of　that　isI　can't　do　it　in　my　head；　but　it's　a　round　four　hundred　dollars。　That's　eighty　pounds　of　your　money。　And　did　he　tell　you　that　this　same　show　ran　over　a　year　in　New　York　to　big　business　all　the　time；　and　that　there　are　three　panies　on　the　road　now？　And　did　he　mention　that　this　is　the　ninth　show　he's　done；　and　that　seven　of　the　others　were　just　as　big　hits　as　this　one？　And　did　he　remark　in　passing　that　he　gets　royalties　on　every　copy　of　his　music　that's　sold；　and　that　at　least　ten　of　his　things　have　sold　over　half　a　million？　No；　he　didn't；　because　he　isn't　the　sort　of　fellow　who　stands　around　blowing　about　his　ine。　But　you　know　it　now。〃
　〃Why；　he's　a　rich　man！〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　call　rich；　but；　keeping　on　the　safe　side；　I　should　say　that　George　pulls　down　in　a　good　year；　during　the　seasonaround　five　thousand　dollars　a　week。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　was　frankly　staggered。
　〃A　thousand　pounds　a　week！　I　had　no　idea！〃
　〃I　thought　you　hadn't。　And；　while　I'm　boosting　George；　let　me　tell　you　another　thing。　He's　one　of　the　whitest　men　that　ever　happened。　I　know　him。　You　can　take　it　from　me；　if　there's　anything　rotten　in　a　fellow；　the　show…business　will　bring　it　out；　and　it　hasn't　e　out　in　George　yet；　so　I　guess　it　isn't　there。　　George　is　all　right！〃
　〃He　has　at　least　an　excellent　advocate。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　strong　for　George。　I　wish　there　were　more　like　him　。　。　。　Well；　if　you　think　I've　butted　in　on　your　private　affairs　sufficiently；　I　suppose　I　ought　to　be　moving。　We've　a　rehearsal　this　afternoon。〃
　〃Let　it　go！〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton　boyishly。
　〃Yes；　and　how　quick　do　you　think　they　would　let　me　go；　if　I　did？　I'm　an　honest　working…girl；　and　I　can't　afford　to　lose　jobs。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　fiddled　with　his　cigar…butt。
　〃I　could　offer　you　an　alternative　position；　if　you　cared　to　accept　it。〃
　Billie　looked　at　him　keenly。　Other　men　in　similar　circumstances　had　made　much　the　same　remark　to　her。　She　was　con