pgw.threemenandamaid-第2章

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en　she　reached　New　York。　He　had　egged　on　a　friend　of　his；　a　Mr。　Mortimer；　to　continue　the　persecution　in　that　city。　And；　this　very　morning；　among　the　letters　on　Mrs。　Hignett's　table；　the　buff　envelope　of　a　cable　from　Mr。　Bennett　had　peeped　out；　nearly　spoiling　her　breakfast。　No　wonder；　then；　that　Sam's　allusion　to　the　affair　had　caused　the　authoress　of　〃The　Spreading　Light〃　momentarily　to　lose　her　customary　calm。
　〃Nothing　will　induce　me　ever　to　let　Windles；〃　she　said　with　finality；　and　rose　significantly。　Sam；　perceiving　that　the　audience　was　at　an　endand　glad　of　italso　got　up。
　〃Well；　I　think　I'll　be　going　down　and　seeing　about　that　state…room；〃　he　said。
　〃Certainly。　I　am　a　little　busy　just　now；　preparing　notes　for　my　next　lecture。〃
　〃Of　course；　yes。　Mustn't　interrupt　you。　I　suppose　you're　having　a　great　time；　gassing　awayI　meanwell；　good…bye！〃
　〃Good…bye！〃
　Mrs。　Hignett；　frowning；　for　the　interview　had　ruffled　her　and　disturbed　that　equable　frame　of　mind　which　is　so　vital　to　the　preparation　of　lectures　on　Theosophy；　sat　down　at　the　writing…table　and　began　to　go　through　the　notes　which　she　had　made　overnight。　She　had　hardly　succeeded　in　concentrating　herself　when　the　door　opened　to　admit　the　daughter　of　Erin　once　more。
　〃Ma'am　there　was　a　gentleman。〃
　〃This　is　intolerable！〃　cried　Mrs。　Hignett。　〃Did　you　tell　him　that　I　was　busy？〃
　〃I　did　not。　I　loosed　him　into　the　dining…room。〃
　〃Is　he　a　reporter　from　one　of　the　newspapers？〃
　〃He　is　not。　He　has　spats　and　a　tall…shaped　hat。　His　name　is　Bream　Mortimer。〃
　〃Bream　Mortimer！〃
　〃Yes；　ma'am。　He　handed　me　a　bit　of　a　kyard；　but　I　dropped　it；　being　slippy　from　the　dishes。〃
　Mrs。　Hignett　strode　to　the　door　with　a　forbidding　expression。　This；　as　she　had　justly　remarked；　was　intolerable。　She　remembered　Bream　Mortimer。　He　was　the　son　of　the　Mr。　Mortimer　who　was　the　friend　of　the　Mr。　Bennett　who　wanted　Windles。　This　visit　could　only　have　to　do　with　the　subject　of　Windles；　and　she　went　into　the　dining…room　in　a　state　of　cold　fury；　determined　to　squash　the　Mortimer　family　once　and　for　all。
　Bream　Mortimer　was　tall　and　thin。　He　had　small；　bright　eyes　and　a　sharply　curving　nose。　He　looked　much　more　like　a　parrot　than　most　parrots　do。　It　gave　strangers　a　momentary　shock　of　surprise　when　they　saw　Bream　Mortimer　in　restaurants　eating　roast　beef。　They　had　the　feeling　that　he　would　have　preferred　sun…flower　seeds。
　〃Morning；　Mrs。　Hignett。〃
　〃Please　sit　down。〃
　Bream　Mortimer　sat　down。　He　looked　as　though　he　would　rather　have　hopped　on　to　a　perch；　but　he　sat　down。　He　glanced　about　the　room　with　gleaming；　excited　eyes。
　〃Mrs。　Hignett；　I　must　have　a　word　with　you　alone！〃
　〃You　　are　　having　a　word　with　me　alone。〃
　〃I　hardly　know　how　to　begin。〃
　〃Then　let　me　help　you。　It　is　quite　impossible。　I　will　never　consent。〃
　Bream　Mortimer　started。
　〃Then　you　have　heard！〃
　〃I　have　heard　about　nothing　else　since　I　met　Mr。　Bennett　in　London。　Mr。　Bennett　talked　about　nothing　else。　Your　father　talked　about　nothing　else。　And　now；〃　cried　Mrs。　Hignett　fiercely；　〃you　e　and　try　to　reopen　the　subject。　Once　and　for　all　nothing　will　alter　my　decision。　No　money　will　induce　me　to　let　my　house。〃
　〃But　I　didn't　e　about　that！〃
　〃You　did　not　e　about　Windles？〃
　〃Good　Lord；　no！〃
　〃Then　will　you　kindly　tell　me　why　you　have　e？〃
　Bream　Mortimer　looked　embarrassed。　He　wriggled　a　little　and　moved　his　arms　as　if　he　were　trying　to　flap　them。
　〃You　know；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　not　a　man　who　butts　into　other　people's　affairs。〃　。。。　He　stopped。
　〃No？〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett。
　Bream　began　again。
　〃I'm　not　a　man　who　gossips　with　servants。〃
　〃No？〃
　〃I'm　not　a　man　who。。。。〃
　Mrs。　Hignett　was　never　a　very　patient　woman。
　〃Let　us　take　all　your　negative　qualities　for　granted；〃　she　said　curtly。　〃I　have　no　doubt　that　there　are　many　things　which　you　do　not　do。　Let　us　confine　ourselves　to　issues　of　definite　importance。　What　is　it；　if　you　have　no　objection　to　concentrating　your　attention　on　that　for　a　moment；　that　you　wish　to　see　me　about？〃
　〃This　marriage。〃
　〃What　marriage？〃
　〃Your　son's　marriage。〃
　〃My　son　is　not　married。〃
　〃No；　but　he's　going　to　be。　At　eleven　o'clock　this　morning　at　the　Little　Church　Round　the　Corner！〃
　Mrs。　Hignett　stared。
　〃Are　you　mad？〃
　〃Well；　I'm　not　any　too　well　pleased；　I'm　bound　to　say；〃　admitted　Mr。　Mortimer。　〃You　see；　darn　it　all；　I'm　in　love　with　the　girl　myself！〃
　〃Who　is　this　girl？〃
　〃Have　been　for　years。　I'm　one　of　those　silent；　patient　fellows　who　hang　around　and　look　a　lot；　but　never　tell　their　love。。。。〃
　〃Who　is　this　girl　who　has　entrapped　my　son？〃
　〃I've　always　been　one　of　those　men　who。。。。〃
　〃Mr。　Mortimer！　With　your　permission　we　will　take　your　positive　qualities；　also；　for　granted。　In　fact；　we　will　not　discuss　you　at　all。　You　e　to　me　with　this　absurd　story。。。。〃
　〃Not　absurd。　Honest　fact。　I　had　it　from　my　valet；　who　had　it　from　her　maid；　and；　though　I'm　not　a　man　who　gossips　with　servants；　I'm　bound　to　say。。。。〃
　〃Will　you　please　tell　me　who　is　the　girl　my　misguided　son　wishes　to　marry？〃
　〃I　don't　know　that　I'd　call　him　misguided；〃　said　Mr。　Mortimer；　as　one　desiring　to　be　fair；　〃I　think　he's　a　right　smart　picker！　She's　such　a　corking　girl；　you　know。　We　were　children　together；　and　I've　loved　her　for　years。　Ten　years　at　least。　But　you　know　how　it　issomehow　one　never　seems　to　get　in　line　for　a　proposal。　I　thought　I　saw　an　opening　in　the　summer　of　nineteen…twelve；　but　it　blew　over。　I'm　not　one　of　these　smooth；　dashing　guys；　you　see；　with　a　great　line　of　talk。　I'm　not。。。。〃
　〃If　you　will　kindly；〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett　impatiently；　〃postpone　this　essay　in　psycho…analysis　to　some　future　occasion　I　shall　be　greatly　obliged。　I　am　waiting　to　hear　the　name　of　the　girl　my　son　wishes　to　marry。〃
　〃Haven't　I　told　you？〃　said　Mr。　Mortimer；　surprised。　〃That's　odd。　I　haven't！　It's　funny　how　one　doesn't　do　the　things　one　thinks　one　does。　I'm　the　sort　of　man。。。〃
　〃What　is　her　name？〃
　〃Bennett。〃
　〃Bennett？　Wilhelmina　Bennett？　The　daughter　of　Mr。　Rufus　Bennett？　The　red…haired　girl　I　met　at　lunch　one　day　at　your　father's　house？〃
　〃That's　it。　You're　a　great　guesser。　I　think　you　ought　to　stop　the　thing。〃
　〃I　intend　to。〃
　〃Fine！〃
　〃The　marriage　would　be　unsuitable　in　every　way。　Miss　Bennett　and　my　son　do　not　vibrate　on　the　same　plane。〃
　〃That's　right。　I've　noticed　it　myself。〃
　〃Their　auras　are　not　the　same　colour。〃
　〃If　I've　thought　that　once；〃　said　Bream　Mortimer；　〃I've　thought　it　a　hundred　times。　I　wish　I　had　a　dollar　for　every　time　I've　thought　it。　Not　the　same　colour！　That's　the　whole　thing　in　a　nutshell。〃
　〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you　for　ing　and　telling　me　of　this。　I　shall　take　immediate　steps。〃
　〃That's　good！　But　what's　the　procedure？　How　are　you　going　to　form　a　flying…wedge　and　buck…centre？　It's　getting　late。　She'll　be　waiting　at　the　church　at　eleven。　With　bells　on；〃　said　Mr。　Mortimer。
　〃Eustace　will　not　be　there。〃
　〃You　think　you　can　fix　it？〃
　〃Eustace　will　not　be　there；〃　repeated　Mrs。　Hignett。
　Bream　Mortimer　hopped　down　from　his　chair。
　〃Well；　you've　taken　a　weight　off　my　mind。〃
　〃A　mind；　I　should　imagine；　scarcely　constructed　to　bear　great　weights。〃
　〃I'll　be　going。　Haven't　had　breakfast　yet。　Too　worried　to　eat　breakfast。　Relieved　now。　This　is　where　three　eggs　and　a　rasher　of　ham　get　cut　off　in　their　prime。　I　feel　I　can　rely　on　you。〃
　〃You　can！〃
　〃Then　I'll　say　good…bye。〃
　〃Good…bye。〃
　〃I　mean　really　good…bye。　I'm　sailing　for　England　on　Saturday　on　the　　Atlantic　。〃
　〃Indeed？　My　son　will　be　your　fellow…traveller。〃
　Bream　Mortimer　looked　somewhat　apprehensive。
　〃You　won't　tell　him　that　I　was　the　one　who　spilled　the　beans？〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon。〃
　〃You　won't　wise　him　up　that　I　threw　a　spanner　into　the　machinery？〃
　〃I　do　not　understand　you。〃
　〃You　won't　tell　him　that　I　crabbed　his　actgave　the　thing　awaygummed　the　game？〃
　〃I　shall　not　mention　your　chivalrous　intervention。〃
　〃Chivalrous？〃　said　Bream　Mortimer　doubtfully。　〃I　don't　know　that　I'd　call　it　absolutely　chivalrous。　Of　course；　all's　fair　in　love　and　war。　Well；　I'm　glad　you're　going　to　keep　my　share　in　the　business　under　your　hat。　It　might　have　been　awkward　meeting　him　on　board。〃
　〃You　are　not　likely　to　meet　Eustace　on　board。　He　is　a　very　indifferent　sailor　and　spends　most　of　his　time　in　his　cabin。〃
　〃That's　good！　Saves　a　lot　of　awkwardness。　Well；　good…bye。〃
　〃Good…bye。　When　you　reach　England　remember　me　to　your　father。〃
　〃He　won't　have　forgotten　you；〃　said　Bream　Mortimer　confidently。　He　did　not　see　how　it　was　humanly　possible　for　anyone　to　forget　this　woman。　She　was　like　a　celebrated　chewing…gum。　The　taste　lingered。
　Mrs。　Hignett　was　a　woman　of　instant　and　decisive　action。　Even　while　her　late　visitor　was　speaking　schemes　had　begun　to　form　in　her　mind　like　bubbles　rising　to　the　surface　of　a　rushing　river。　By　the　time　the　door　had　closed　behind　Bream　Mortimer　she　had　at　her　disposal　no　fewer　than　seven；　all　good。　It　took　her　but　a　moment　to　select　the　best　and　simplest。　She　tip…toed　softly　to　her　son's　room。　Rhythmic　snores　greeted　her　listening　ears。　She　opened　the　door　and　went　noiselessly　in。
　
　CHAPTER　TWO
　
　The　White　Star　liner　　Atlantic　　lay　at　her　pier　with　steam　up　and　gangway　down　ready　for　her　trip　to　Southampton。　The　hour　of　departure　was　near　and　there　was　a　good　deal　of　mixed　activity　going　on。　Sailors　fiddled　about　with　ropes。　Junior　officers　flitted　to　and　fro。　White…jacketed　stewards　wrestled　with　trunks。　Probably　the　captain；　though　not　visible；　was　also　employed　on　some　useful　work　of　a　nautical　nature　and　not　wasting　his　time。　Men；　women；　boxes；　rugs；　dogs；　flowers　and　baskets　of　fruit　were　flowing　on　board　in　a　steady　stream。
　The　usual　drove　of　citizens　had　e　to　see　the　travellers　off。　There　were　men　on　the　passenger…list　who　were　being　seen　off　by　fathers；　by　mothers；　by　sisters；　by　cousins；　and　by　aunts。　In　the　steerage　there　was　an　elderly　Jewish　lady　who　was　being　seen　off　by　exactly　thirty…seven　of　her　late　neighbours　in　Rivington　Street。　And　two　men　in　the　second　cabin　were　being　seen　off　by　detectives；　surely　the　crowning　pliment　a　great　nation　can　bestow。　The　cavernous　customs　shed　was　congested　with　friends　and　relatives；　and　Sam　Marlowe；　heading　for　the　gang…plank；　was　only　able　to　make　progress　by　employing　all　the　muscle　and　energy　which　Nature　had　bestowed　upon　him；　and　which　during　the　twenty…five　years　of　his　life　he　had　developed　by　athletic　exercise。　However；　after　some　minutes　of　silent　endeavour；　now　driving　his　shoulder　into　the　midriff　of　some　obstructing　male；　now　courteously　lifting　some　stout　female　off　his　feet；　he　had　succeeded　in　struggling　to　within　a　few　yards　of　his　goal；　when　suddenly　a　sharp　pain　shot　through　his　right　arm　and　he　spun　round　with　a　cry。
　It　seemed　to　Sam　that　he　had　been　bitten；　and　this　puzzled　him；　for　New　York　crowds；　though　they　may　shove　and　jostle；　rarely　bite。
　He　found　himself　face　to　face　with　an　extraordinarily　pretty　girl。
　She　was　a　red…haired　girl　with　the　beautiful　ivory　skin　which　goes　with　red　hair。　Her　eyes；　though　they　were　under　the　shadow　of　her　hat；　and　he　could　not　be　certain；　he　diagnosed　as　green；　or　maybe　blue；　or　possibly　grey。　Not　that　it　mattered；　for　he　had　a　catholic　taste　in　feminine　eyes。　So　long　as　they　were　large　and　bright；　as