pgw.threemenandamaid-第15章

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o　occupy　his　mind　by　knitting　jumpers。
　〃Well；　you　seem　to　be　in　great　spirits；〃　said　Sir　Mallaby　approvingly。　〃It's　pleasant　to　hear　your　merry　laugh　again；　isn't　it；　Miss　Milliken？〃
　〃Extremely　exhilarating；〃　agreed　the　stenographer；　adjusting　her　spectacles　and　smiling　at　Sam；　for　whom　there　was　a　soft　spot　in　her　heart。
　A　sense　of　the　futility　of　life　oppressed　Sam。　As　he　gazed　in　the　glass　that　morning；　he　had　thought；　not　without　a　certain　gloomy　satisfaction；　how　remarkably　pale　and　drawn　his　face　looked。　And　these　people　seemed　to　imagine　that　he　was　in　the　highest　spirits。　His　laughter；　which　had　sounded　to　him　like　the　wailing　of　a　demon；　struck　Miss　Milliken　as　exhilarating。
　〃On　behalf　of　our　client；　Mr。　Wibblesley　Eggshaw；〃　said　Sir　Mallaby；　swooping　back　to　duty　once　more；　〃we　beg　to　state　that　we　are　prepared　to　accept　service　。。。　sounds　like　a　tennis　match；　eh；　Sam？　It　isn't；　though。　This　young　ass；　Eggshaw　。。。　what　time　did　you　dock　this　morning？〃
　〃I　landed　nearly　a　week　ago。〃
　〃A　week　ago！　Then　what　the　deuce　have　you　been　doing　with　yourself？　Why　haven't　I　seen　you？〃
　〃I've　been　down　at　Bingley…on…the…Sea。〃
　〃Bingley！　What　on　earth　were　you　doing　at　that　Godforsaken　place？〃
　〃Wrestling　with　myself；〃　said　Sam　with　simple　dignity。
　Sir　Mallaby's　agile　mind　had　leaped　back　to　the　letter　which　he　was　answering。
　〃We　should　be　glad　to　meet　you。。。。　Wrestling；　eh！　Well；　I　like　a　boy　to　be　fond　of　manly　sports。　Still；　life　isn't　all　athletics。　Don't　forget　that。　Life　is　real！　Life　is　。。。　how　does　it　go；　Miss　Milliken？〃
　Miss　Milliken　folded　her　hands　and　shut　her　eyes；　her　invariable　habit　when　called　upon　to　recite。
　〃Life　is　real！　Life　is　earnest！　And　the　grave　is　not　its　goal；　Dust　thou　art　to　dust　returnest；　Was　not　spoken　of　the　soul。　Art　is　long　and　time　is　fleeting。　And　our　hearts　though　stout　and　brave；　Still　like　muffled　drums　are　beating　Funeral　marches　to　the　grave。　Lives　of　great　men　all　remind　us　we　can　make　our　lives　sublime；　and；　departing；　leave　behind　us　footsteps　on　the　sands　of　Time。　Let　us　then　。。。〃　said　Miss　Milliken　respectfully　。。。　〃be　up　and　doing。。。。〃
　〃All　right；　all　right；　all　right！〃　said　Sir　Mallaby。　〃I　don't　want　it　all。　Life　is　real！　Life　is　earnest；　Sam。　I　want　to　speak　to　you　about　that　when　I've　finished　answering　these　infernal　letters。　Where　was　I？　'We　should　be　glad　to　meet　you　at　any　time；　if　you　will　make　an　appointment。。。'　Bingley…on…the…Sea！　Good　heavens！　Why　Bingley…on…the…Sea？　Why　not　Margate；　while　you　are　about　it？〃
　〃Margate　is　too　bracing。　I　did　not　wish　to　be　braced。　Bingley　suited　my　mood。　It　was　gray　and　dark；　and　it　rained　all　the　time；　and　the　sea　slunk　about　in　the　distance　like　some　baffled　beast。。。。〃
　He　stopped；　being　aware　that　his　father　was　not　listening。　Sir　Mallaby's　attention　had　returned　to　the　letter。
　〃Oh；　what's　the　good　of　answering　the　dashed　thing　at　all？〃　said　Sir　Mallaby。　〃Brigney；　Goole　and　Butterworth　know　perfectly　well　that　they　have　got　us　in　a　cleft　stick。　Butterworth　knows　it　better　than　Goole；　and　Brigney　knows　it　better　than　Butterworth。　This　young　fool；　Eggshaw；　Sam；　admits　that　he　wrote　the　girl　twenty…three　letters；　twelve　of　them　in　verse；　and　twenty…one　specifically　asking　her　to　marry　him；　and　he　es　to　me　and　expects　me　to　get　him　out　of　it。　The　girl　is　suing　him　for　ten　thousand。〃
　〃How　like　a　woman！〃
　Miss　Milliken　bridled　reproachfully　at　this　slur　on　her　sex。　Sir　Mallaby　took　no　notice　of　it　whatever。
　〃。。。　If　you　will　make　an　appointment；　when　we　can　discuss　the　matter　without　prejudice。　Get　those　typed；　Miss　Milliken。　Have　a　cigar；　Sam。　Miss　Milliken；　tell　Peters　as　you　go　out　that　I　am　occupied　with　a　conference　and　can　see　nobody　for　half　an　hour。〃
　When　Miss　Milliken　had　withdrawn；　Sir　Mallaby　occupied　ten　seconds　of　the　period　which　he　had　set　aside　for　munion　with　his　son　in　staring　silently　at　him。
　〃I'm　glad　you're　back；　Sam；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃I　want　to　have　a　talk　with　you。　You　know；　it's　time　you　were　settling　down。　I've　been　thinking　about　you　while　you　were　in　America；　and　I've　e　to　the　conclusion　that　I've　been　letting　you　drift　along。　Very　bad　for　a　young　man。　You're　getting　on。　I　don't　say　you're　senile；　but　you're　not　twenty…one　any　longer；　and　at　your　age　I　was　working　like　a　beaver。　You've　got　to　remember　that　life　isdash　it！　I've　forgotten　it　again。〃
　He　broke　off　and　puffed　vigorously　into　the　speaking　tube。　〃Miss　Milliken；　kindly　repeat　what　you　were　saying　just　now　about　life。。。。　Yes；　yes；　that's　enough！〃　He　put　down　the　instrument。　〃Yes；　life　is　real；　life　is　earnest；〃　he　said；　gazing　at　Sam　seriously；　〃and　the　grave　is　not　our　goal。　Lives　of　great　men　all　remind　us　we　can　make　our　lives　sublime。　In　fact；　it's　time　you　took　your　coat　off　and　started　work。〃
　〃I　am　quite　ready；　father。〃
　〃You　didn't　hear　what　I　said；〃　exclaimed　Sir　Mallaby　with　a　look　of　surprise。　〃I　said　it　was　time　you　began　work。〃
　〃And　I　said　I　was　quite　ready。〃
　〃Bless　my　soul！　You've　changed　your　views　a　trifle　since　I　saw　you　last。〃
　〃I　have　changed　them　altogether。〃
　Long　hours　of　brooding　among　the　red　plush　settees　in　the　lounge　of　the　Hotel　Magnificent　at　Bingley…on…the…Sea　had　brought　about　this　strange；　even　morbid；　attitude　of　mind　in　Samuel　Marlowe。　Work；　he　had　decided　even　before　his　conversation　with　Eustace；　was　the　only　medicine　for　his　sick　soul。　Here；　he　felt；　in　this　quiet　office；　far　from　the　tumult　and　noise　of　the　world；　in　a　haven　of　torts　and　misdemeanours　and　Vic。　I　Cap　3's；　and　all　the　rest　of　it；　he　might　find　peace。　At　any　rate；　it　was　worth　taking　a　stab　at　it。
　〃Your　trip　has　done　you　good；〃　said　Sir　Mallaby　approvingly；　〃The　sea　air　has　given　you　some　sense。　I'm　glad　of　it。　It　makes　it　easier　for　me　to　say　something　else　that　I've　had　on　my　mind　for　a　good　while。　Sam；　it's　time　you　got　married。〃
　Sam　barked　bitterly。　His　father　looked　at　him　with　concern。
　〃Swallow　some　smoke　the　wrong　way？〃
　〃I　was　laughing；〃　explained　Sam　with　dignity。
　Sir　Mallaby　shook　his　head。
　〃I　don't　want　to　discourage　your　high　spirit；　but　I　must　ask　you　to　approach　this　matter　seriously。　Marriage　would　do　you　a　world　of　good；　Sam。　It　would　brace　you　up。　You　really　ought　to　consider　the　idea。　I　was　two　years　younger　than　you　are　when　I　married　your　poor　mother；　and　it　was　the　making　of　me。　A　wife　might　make　something　of　you。〃
　〃Impossible！〃
　〃I　don't　see　why　she　shouldn't。　There's　lots　of　good　in　you；　my　boy；　though　you　may　not　think　so。〃
　〃When　I　said　it　was　impossible；〃　said　Sam　coldly；　〃I　was　referring　to　the　impossibility　of　the　possibility。。。。　I　mean；　that　it　was　impossible　that　I　could　possibly　。。。　in　other　words；　father；　I　can　never　marry。　My　heart　is　dead。〃
　〃Your　what？〃
　〃My　heart。〃
　〃Don't　be　a　fool。　There's　nothing　wrong　with　your　heart。　All　our　family　have　had　hearts　like　steam…engines。　Probably　you　have　been　feeling　a　sort　of　burning。　Knock　off　cigars　and　that　will　soon　stop。〃
　〃You　don't　understand　me。　I　mean　that　a　woman　has　treated　me　in　a　way　that　has　finished　her　whole　sex　as　far　as　I　am　concerned。　For　me；　women　do　not　exist。〃
　〃You　didn't　tell　me　about　this；〃　said　Sir　Mallaby；　interested。　〃When　did　this　happen？　Did　she　jilt　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃In　America　was　it？〃
　〃On　the　boat。〃
　Sir　Mallaby　chuckled　heartily。
　〃My　dear　boy；　you　don't　mean　to　tell　me　that　you're　taking　a　shipboard　flirtation　seriously。　Why；　you're　expected　to　fall　in　love　with　a　different　girl　every　time　you　go　on　a　voyage。　You'll　get　over　this　in　a　week。　You'd　have　got　over　it　now　if　you　hadn't　gone　and　buried　yourself　in　a　depressing　place　like　Bingley…on…the…Sea。〃
　The　whistle　of　the　speaking…tube　blew。　Sir　Mallaby　put　the　instrument　to　his　ear。
　〃All　right；〃　he　turned　to　Sam。　〃I　shall　have　to　send　you　away　now；　Sam。　Man　waiting　to　see　me。　Good…bye。〃
　Miss　Milliken　intercepted　Sam　as　he　made　for　the　door。
　〃Oh；　Mr。　Sam！〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Excuse　me；　but　will　you　be　seeing　Sir　Mallaby　again　to…day？　If　so；　would　youI　don't　like　to　disturb　him　now；　when　he　is　busywould　you　mind　telling　him　that　I　inadvertently　omitted　a　stanza。　It　runs；〃　said　Miss　Milliken；　closing　her　eyes；　〃'Trust　no　future；　howe'er　pleasant。　Let　the　dead　past　bury　its　dead！　Act；　act　in　the　living　Present；　Heart　within　and　God　o'erhead！'　Thank　you　so　much。　Good　afternoon。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TEN
　
　At　about　the　time　when　Sam　Marlowe　was　having　the　momentous　interview　with　his　father；　described　in　the　last　chapter；　Mr。　Rufus　Bennett　woke　from　an　after…luncheon　nap　in　Mrs。　Hignett's　delightful　old…world　mansion；　Windles；　in　the　county　of　Hampshire。　He　had　gone　to　his　room　after　lunch；　because　there　seemed　nothing　else　to　do。　It　was　still　raining　hard；　so　that　a　ramble　in　the　picturesque　garden　was　impossible；　and　the　only　alternative　to　sleep；　the　society　of　Mr。　Henry　Mortimer；　had　bee　peculiarly　distasteful　to　Mr。　Bennett。
　Much　has　been　written　of　great　friendships　between　man　and　man；　friendships　which　neither　woman　can　mar　nor　death　destroy。　Rufus　Bennett　had　always　believed　that　his　friendship　for　Mr。　Mortimer　was　of　this　order。　They　had　been　boys　together　in　the　same　small　town；　and　had　kept　together　in　after　years。　They　had　been　Damon　and　Pythias；　David　and　Jonathan。　But　never　till　now　had　they　been　cooped　up　together　in　an　English　country…house　in　the　middle　of　a　bad　patch　of　English　summer　weather。　So　this　afternoon　Mr。　Bennett；　in　order　to　avoid　his　life…long　friend；　had　gone　to　bed。
　He　awoke　now　with　a　start；　and　a　moment　later　realized　what　it　was　that　had　aroused　him。　There　was　music　in　the　air。　The　room　was　full　of　it。　It　seemed　to　be　ing　up　through　the　floor　and　rolling　about　in　chunks　all　round　his　bed。　He　blinked　the　last　fragments　of　sleep　out　of　his　system；　and　became　filled　with　a　restless　irritability。
　He　rang　the　bell　violently；　and　presently　there　entered　a　grave；　thin；　intellectual　man　who　looked　like　a　duke；　only　more　respectable。　This　was　Webster；　Mr。　Bennett's　English　valet。
　〃Is　that　Mr。　Mortimer？〃　he　barked；　as　the　door　opened。
　〃No；　sir。　It　is　IWebster。〃　Not　even　the　annoyance　of　being　summoned　like　this　from　an　absorbing　game　of　penny　nap　in　the　housekeeper's　room　had　the　power　to　make　the　valet　careless　of　his　grammar。　〃I　fancied　that　I　heard　your　bell　ring；　sir。〃
　〃I　wonder　you　could　hear　anything　with　that　infernal　noise　going　on；〃　snapped　Mr。　Bennett；　〃Is　Mr。　Mortimer　playing　thatthat　damned　gas…engine　in　the　drawing…room？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Tosti's　Goodbye。　A　charming　air；　sir。〃
　〃Charming　air　be！　Tell　him　to　stop　it。〃
　〃Very　good；　sir。〃
　The　valet　withdrew　like　a　duke　leaving　the　royal　presence；　not　actually　walking　backwards；　but　giving　the　impression　of　doing　so。　Mr。　Bennett　lay　in　bed　and　fumed。　Presently　the　valet　returned。　The　music　still　continued　to　roll　about　the　room。
　〃I　am　sorry　to　have　to　inform　you；　sir；〃　said　Webster；　〃that　Mr。　Mortimer　declines　to　accede　to　your　request。〃
　〃Oh；　he　said　that；　did　he！〃
　〃That　is　the　gist　of　his　remarks；　sir。〃
　〃Did　you　tell　him　I　was　trying　to　get　to　sleep？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I　understood　him　to　reply　that　he　should　worry　and　get　a　pain　in　the　neck。〃
　〃Go　down　again　and　say　that　I　insist　on　his　stopping　the　thing。　It's　an　outrage。〃
　〃Very　good；　sir。〃
　In　a　few　minutes；　Webster；　like　the　do