pgw.adamselindistress-第36章

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ie　as　a　master　mind；　but；　when　it　came　to　find　a　way　out　of　embarrassing　situations；　one　has　to　admit　he　had　the　right　idea。　Do　what　he　did！〃
　Maud　started。　She　half　rose　from　the　stone　seat。　George　could　hear　the　quick　intake　of　her　breath。
　〃You　meanrun　away？〃
　〃Exactly。　Run　away！〃
　An　automobile　swung　round　the　corner　of　the　castle　from　the　direction　of　the　garage；　and　drew　up；　purring；　at　the　steps。　　There　was　a　flood　of　light　and　the　sound　of　voices；　as　the　great　door　opened。　Maud　rose。
　〃People　are　leaving；〃　she　said。　〃I　didn't　know　it　was　so　late。〃　She　stood　irresolutely。　〃I　suppose　I　ought　to　go　in　and　say　good…bye。　But　I　don't　think　I　can。〃
　〃Stay　where　you　are。　Nobody　will　see　you。〃
　More　automobiles　arrived。　The　quiet　of　the　night　was　shattered　by　the　noise　of　their　engines。　Maud　sat　down　again。
　〃I　suppose　they　will　think　it　very　odd　of　me　not　being　there。〃
　〃Never　mind　what　people　think。　Reggie　Byng　didn't。〃
　Maud's　foot　traced　circles　on　the　dry　turf。
　〃What　a　lovely　night；〃　she　said。　〃There's　no　dew　at　all。〃
　The　automobiles　snorted；　tooted；　back…fired；　and　passed　away。　Their　clamour　died　in　the　distance；　leaving　the　night　a　thing　of　peace　and　magic　once　more。　The　door　of　the　castle　closed　with　a　bang。
　〃I　suppose　I　ought　to　be　going　in　now；〃　said　Maud。
　〃I　suppose　so。　And　I　ought　to　be　there；　too；　politely　making　my　farewells。　But　something　seems　to　tell　me　that　Lady　Caroline　and　your　brother　will　be　quite　ready　to　dispense　with　the　formalities。　I　shall　go　home。〃
　They　faced　each　other　in　the　darkness。
　〃Would　you　really　do　that？〃　asked　Maud。　〃Run　away；　I　mean；　and　get　married　in　London。〃
　〃It's　the　only　thing　to　do。〃
　〃But　。　。　。　can　one　get　married　as　quickly　as　that？〃
　〃At　a　registrar's？　Nothing　simpler。　You　should　have　seen　Reggie　Byng's　wedding。　It　was　over　before　one　realized　it　had　started。　A　snuffy　little　man　in　a　black　coat　with　a　cold　in　his　head　asked　a　few　questions；　wrote　a　few　words；　and　the　thing　was　done。〃
　〃That　sounds　rather　。　。　。　dreadful。〃
　〃Reggie　didn't　seem　to　think　so。〃
　〃Unromantic；　I　mean。　。　。　。　Prosaic。〃
　〃You　would　supply　the　romance。〃
　〃Of　course；　one　ought　to　be　sensible。　It　is　just　the　same　as　a　regular　wedding。〃
　〃In　effects；　absolutely。〃
　They　moved　up　the　terrace　together。　On　the　gravel　drive　by　the　steps　they　paused。
　〃I'll　do　it！〃　said　Maud。
　George　had　to　make　an　effort　before　he　could　reply。　For　all　his　sane　and　convincing　arguments；　he　could　not　check　a　pang　at　this　definite　acceptance　of　them。　He　had　begun　to　appreciate　now　the　strain　under　which　he　had　been　speaking。
　〃You　must；〃　he　said。　〃Well　。　。　。　good…bye。〃
　There　was　light　on　the　drive。　He　could　see　her　face。　Her　eyes　were　troubled。
　〃What　will　you　do？〃　she　asked。
　〃Do？〃
　〃I　mean；　are　you　going　to　stay　on　in　your　cottage？〃
　〃No；　I　hardly　think　I　could　do　that。　I　shall　go　back　to　London　tomorrow；　and　stay　at　the　Carlton　for　a　few　days。　Then　I　shall　sail　for　America。　There　are　a　couple　of　pieces　I've　got　to　do　for　the　Fall。　I　ought　to　be　starting　on　them。〃
　Maud　looked　away。
　〃You've　got　your　work；〃　she　said　almost　inaudibly。
　George　understood　her。
　〃Yes；　I've　got　my　work。〃
　〃I'm　glad。〃
　She　held　out　her　hand。
　〃You've　been　very　wonderful。。。　Right　from　the　beginning　。　。　。　You've　been　。　。　。　oh；　what's　the　use　of　me　saying　anything？〃
　〃I've　had　my　reward。　I've　known　you。　We're　friends；　aren't　we？〃
　〃My　best　friend。〃
　〃Pals？〃
　〃Pals！〃
　They　shook　hands。
　
　CHAPTER　25。
　
　〃I　was　never　so　upset　in　my　life！〃　said　Lady　Caroline。
　She　had　been　saying　the　same　thing　and　many　other　things　for　the　past　five　minutes。　Until　the　departure　of　the　last　guest　she　had　kept　an　icy　mand　of　herself　and　shown　an　unruffled　front　to　the　world。　She　had　even　contrived　to　smile。　　But　now；　with　the　final　automobile　whirring　homewards；　she　had　thrown　off　the　mask。　The　very　furniture　of　Lord　Marshmoreton's　study　seemed　to　shrink；　seared　by　the　flame　of　her　wrath。　As　for　Lord　Marshmoreton　himself；　he　looked　quite　shrivelled。
　It　had　not　been　an　easy　matter　to　bring　her　erring　brother　to　bay。　The　hunt　had　been　in　progress　full　ten　minutes　before　she　and　Lord　Belpher　finally　cornered　the　poor　wretch。　His　plea；　through　the　keyhole　of　the　locked　door；　that　he　was　working　on　the　family　history　and　could　not　be　disturbed；　was　ignored；　and　now　he　was　face　to　face　with　the　avengers。
　〃I　cannot　understand　it；〃　continued　Lady　Caroline。　〃You　know　that　for　months　we　have　all　been　straining　every　nerve　to　break　off　this　horrible　entanglement；　and；　just　as　we　had　begun　to　hope　that　something　might　be　done；　you　announce　the　engagement　in　the　most　public　manner。　I　think　you　must　be　out　of　your　mind。　I　can　hardly　believe　even　now　that　this　appalling　thing　has　happened。　I　am　hoping　that　I　shall　wake　up　and　find　it　is　all　a　nightmare。　How　you　can　have　done　such　a　thing；　I　cannot　understand。〃
　〃Quite！〃　said　Lord　Belpher。
　If　Lady　Caroline　was　upset；　there　are　no　words　in　the　language　that　will　adequately　describe　the　emotions　of　Percy。
　From　the　very　start　of　this　lamentable　episode　in　high　life；　Percy　had　been　in　the　forefront　of　the　battle。　It　was　Percy　who　had　had　his　best　hat　smitten　from　his　head　in　the　full　view　of　all　Piccadilly。　It　was　Percy　who　had　suffered　arrest　and　imprisonment　in　the　cause。　It　was　Percy　who　had　been　crippled　for　days　owing　to　his　zeal　in　tracking　Maud　across　country。　　And　now　all　his　sufferings　were　in　vain。　He　had　been　betrayed　by　his　own　father。
　There　was；　so　the　historians　of　the　Middle　West　tell　us；　a　man　of　Chicago　named　Young；　who　once；　when　his　nerves　were　unstrung；　put　his　mother　（unseen）　in　the　chopping…machine；　and　canned　her　and　labelled　her　〃Tongue〃。　It　is　enough　to　say　that　the　glance　of　disapproval　which　Percy　cast　upon　his　father　at　this　juncture　would　have　been　unduly　severe　if　cast　by　the　Young　offspring　upon　their　parent　at　the　moment　of　confession。
　Lord　Marshmoreton　had　rallied　from　his　initial　panic。　The　spirit　of　revolt　began　to　burn　again　in　his　bosom。　Once　the　die　is　cast　for　revolution；　there　can　be　no　looking　back。　One　must　defy；　not　apologize。　Perhaps　the　inherited　tendencies　of　a　line　of　ancestors　who；　whatever　their　shortings；　had　at　least　known　how　to　treat　their　women　folk；　came　to　his　aid。　Possibly　there　stood　by　his　side　in　this　crisis　ghosts　of　dead　and　buried　Marshmoretons；　whispering　spectral　encouragement　in　his　earthe　ghosts；　let　us　suppose；　of　that　earl　who；　in　the　days　of　the　seventh　Henry；　had　stabbed　his　wife　with　a　dagger　to　cure　her　tendency　to　lecture　him　at　night；　or　of　that　other　earl　who；　at　a　previous　date　in　the　annals　of　the　family；　had　caused　two　aunts　and　a　sister　to　be　poisoned　apparently　from　a　mere　whim。　At　any　rate；　Lord　Marshmoreton　produced　from　some　source　sufficient　courage　to　talk　back。
　〃Silly　nonsense！〃　he　grunted。　〃Don't　see　what　you're　making　all　this　fuss　about。　Maud　loves　the　fellow。　I　like　the　fellow。　Perfectly　decent　fellow。　Nothing　to　make　a　fuss　about。　　Why　shouldn't　I　announce　the　engagement？〃
　〃You　must　be　mad！〃　cried　Lady　Caroline。　〃Your　only　daughter　and　a　man　nobody　knows　anything　about！〃
　〃Quite！〃　said　Percy。
　Lord　Marshmoreton　seized　his　advantage　with　the　skill　of　an　adroit　debater。
　〃That's　where　you're　wrong。　I　know　all　about　him。　He's　a　very　rich　man。　You　heard　the　way　all　those　people　at　dinner　behaved　when　they　heard　his　name。　Very　celebrated　man！　　Makes　thousands　of　pounds　a　year。　Perfectly　suitable　match　in　every　way。〃
　〃It　is　not　a　suitable　match；〃　said　Lady　Caroline　vehemently。　　〃I　don't　care　whether　this　Mr。　Bevan　makes　thousands　of　pounds　a　year　or　twopence…ha'penny。　The　match　is　not　suitable。　Money　is　not　everything。〃
　She　broke　off。　A　knock　had　e　on　the　door。　The　door　opened；　and　Billie　Dore　came　in。　A　kind…hearted　girl；　she　had　foreseen　that　Lord　Marshmoreton　might　be　glad　of　a　change　of　subject　at　about　this　time。
　〃Would　you　like　me　to　help　you　tonight？〃　she　asked　brightly。　　〃I　thought　I　would　ask　if　there　was　anything　you　wanted　me　to　do。〃
　Lady　Caroline　snatched　hurriedly　at　her　aristocratic　calm。　　She　resented　the　interruption　acutely；　but　her　manner；　when　she　spoke；　was　bland。
　〃Lord　Marshmoreton　will　not　require　your　help　tonight；〃　she　said。　〃He　will　not　be　working。〃
　〃Good　night；〃　said　Billie。
　〃Good　night；〃　said　Lady　Caroline。
　Percy　scowled　a　valediction。
　〃Money；〃　resumed　Lady　Caroline；　〃is　immaterial。　Maud　is　in　no　position　to　be　obliged　to　marry　a　rich　man。　What　makes　the　thing　impossible　is　that　Mr。　Bevan　is　nobody。　He　es　from　nowhere。　He　has　no　social　standing　whatsoever。〃
　〃Don't　see　it；〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton。　〃The　fellow's　a　thoroughly　decent　fellow。　That's　all　that　matters。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　so　pig…headed！　You　are　talking　like　an　imbecile。　Your　secretary；　Miss　Dore；　is　a　nice　girl。　But　how　would　you　feel　if　Percy　were　to　e　to　you　and　say　that　he　was　engaged　to　be　married　to　her？〃
　〃Exactly！〃　said　Percy。　〃Quite！〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　rose　and　moved　to　the　door。　He　did　it　with　a　certain　dignity；　but　there　was　a　strange　hunted　expression　in　his　eyes。
　〃That　would　be　impossible；〃　he　said。
　〃Precisely；〃　said　his　sister。　〃I　am　glad　that　you　admit　it。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　had　reached　the　door；　and　was　standing　holding　the　handle。　He　seemed　to　gather　strength　from　its　support。
　〃I've　been　meaning　to　tell　you　about　that；〃　he　said。
　〃About　what？〃
　〃About　Miss　Dore。　I　married　her　myself　last　Wednesday；〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton；　and　disappeared　like　a　diving　duck。
　
　CHAPTER　26。
　
　At　a　quarter　past　four　in　the　afternoon；　two　days　after　the　memorable　dinner…party　at　which　Lord　Marshmoreton　had　behaved　with　so　notable　a　lack　of　judgment；　Maud　sat　in　Ye　Cosy　Nooke；　waiting　for　Geoffrey　Raymond。　He　had　said　in　his　telegram　that　he　would　meet　her　there　at　four…thirty：　but　eagerness　had　brought　Maud　to　the　tryst　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ahead　of　time：　and　already　the　sadness　of　her　surroundings　was　causing　her　to　regret　this　impulsiveness。　Depression　had　settled　upon　her　spirit。　She　was　aware　of　something　that　resembled　foreboding。
　Ye　Cosy　Nooke；　as　its　name　will　immediately　suggest　to　those　who　know　their　London；　is　a　tea…shop　in　Bond　Street；　conducted　by　distressed　gentlewomen。　In　London；　when　a　gentlewoman　bees　distressedwhich　she　seems　to　do　on　the　slightest　provocationshe　collects　about　her　two　or　three　other　distressed　gentlewomen；　forming　a　quorum；　and　starts　a　tea…shop　in　the　West…End；　which　she　calls　Ye　Oak　Leaf；　Ye　Olde　Willow…Pattern；　Ye　Linden…Tree；　or　Ye　Snug　Harbour；　according　to　personal　taste。　There；　dressed　in　Tyrolese；　Japanese；　Norwegian；　or　some　other　exotic　costume；　she　and　her　associates　administer　refreshments　of　an　afternoon　with　a　proud　languor　calculated　to　knock　the　nonsense　out　of　the　cheeriest　customer。　　Here　you　will　find　none　of　the　coarse　bustle　and　efficiency　of　the　rival　establishments　of　Lyons　and　Co。；　nor　the　glitter　and　gaiety　of　Rumpelmayer's。　These　places　have　an　atmosphere　of　their　own。　　They　rely　for　their　effect　on　an　insufficiency　of　light；　an　almost　total　lack　of　ventilation；　a　property　chocolate　cake　which　you　are　not　supposed　to　cut；　and　the　sad　aloofness　of　their　ministering　angels。　It　is　to　be　doubted　whether　there　is　anything　in　the　world　more　dampin