pgw.threemenandamaid-第21章

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rally；　when　you　came　in　and　called　me　Miss　Milliken；　and　brandished　a　revolver；　I　was　very　frightened。　I　thought　it　would　be　useless　to　tell　you　that　I　wasn't　Miss　Milliken；　so　I　tried　to　persuade　you　that　I　was；　and　hadn't　jilted　you　after　all。〃
　〃Good　gracious！〃　said　Mr。　Peters；　vastly　relieved；　and　yetfor　always　there　is　bitter　mixed　with　the　sweeta　shade　disappointed。　〃Theneryou　don't　love　me　after　all？〃
　〃No！〃　said　Billie。　〃I　am　engaged　to　Bream　Mortimer；　and　I　love　him　and　nobody　else　in　the　world！〃
　The　last　portion　of　her　observation　was　intended　for　the　consumption　of　Mr。　Bennett；　rather　than　that　of　Mr。　Peters；　and　he　consumed　it　joyfully。　He　folded　Billie　in　his　ample　embrace。
　〃I　always　thought　you　had　a　grain　of　sense　hidden　away　somewhere；〃　he　said；　paying　her　a　striking　tribute。　〃I　hope　now　that　we've　heard　the　last　of　all　this　foolishness　about　that　young　hound　Marlowe。〃
　〃You　certainly　have！　I　don't　want　ever　to　see　him　again！　I　hate　him！〃
　〃You　couldn't　do　better；　my　dear；〃　said　Mr。　Bennett；　approvingly。　〃And　now　run　away。　Mr。　Peters　and　I　have　some　business　to　discuss。〃
　A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　Webster；　the　valet；　sunning　himself　in　the　stable…yard；　was　aware　of　the　daughter　of　his　employer　approaching　him。
　〃Webster；〃　said　Billie。　She　was　still　pale。　Her　face　was　still　hard；　and　her　eyes　still　gleamed　coldly。
　〃Miss？〃　said　Webster　politely；　throwing　away　the　cigarette　with　which　he　had　been　refreshing　himself。
　〃Will　you　do　something　for　me？〃
　〃I　should　be　more　than　delighted；　miss。〃
　Billie　whisked　into　view　an　envelope　which　had　been　concealed　in　the　recesses　of　her　dress。
　〃Do　you　know　the　country　about　here；　well；　Webster？〃
　〃Within　a　certain　radius；　not　unintimately；　Miss。　I　have　been　for　several　enjoyable　rambles　since　the　fine　weather　set　in。〃
　〃Do　you　know　the　place　where　there　is　a　road　leading　to　Havant；　and　another　to　Cosham？　It's　about　a　mile　down。。。。〃
　〃I　know　the　spot　well；　miss。〃
　〃Well；　straight　in　front　of　you　when　you　get　to　the　sign…post　there　is　a　little　lane。。。。〃
　〃I　know　it；　miss；〃　said　Webster。　〃A　delightfully　romantic　spot。　What　with　the　overhanging　trees；　the　wealth　of　blackberry　bushes；　the　varied　wild…flowers。。。。〃
　〃Yes；　never　mind　about　the　wild…flowers　now。　I　want　you　after　lunch　to　take　this　note　to　a　gentleman　you　will　find　sitting　on　the　gate　at　the　bottom　of　the　lane。。。。〃
　〃Sitting　on　the　gate；　miss。　Yes；　miss。〃
　〃Or　leaning　against　it。　You　can't　mistake　him。　He　is　rather　tall　and。。。。　Oh；　well；　there　isn't　likely　to　be　anybody　else　there；　so　you　can't　make　a　mistake。　Give　him　this；　will　you？〃
　〃Certainly；　miss。　Erany　message？〃
　〃Any　what？〃
　〃Any　verbal　message；　miss？〃
　〃No；　certainly　not！　You　won't　forget；　will　you；　Webster？〃
　〃On　no　account　whatever；　miss。　Shall　I　wait　for　an　answer？〃
　〃There　won't　be　any　answer；〃　said　Billie；　setting　her　teeth　for　an　instant。　〃Oh；　Webster！〃
　〃Miss？〃
　〃I　can　rely　on　you　to　say　nothing　to　anybody？〃
　〃Most　undoubtedly；　miss。　Most　undoubtedly！〃
　〃Does　anybody　know　anything　about　a　feller　named　S。　Marlowe？〃　enquired　Webster；　entering　the　kitchen。　〃Don't　all　speak　at　once！　S。　Marlowe。　Ever　heard　of　him？〃
　He　paused　for　a　reply；　but　nobody　had　any　information　to　impart。
　〃Because　there's　something　jolly　well　up！　Our　Miss　B。　is　sending　me　with　notes　for　him　to　the　bottom　of　lanes。〃
　〃And　her　engaged　to　young　Mr。　Mortimer！〃　said　the　scullery…maid　shocked。　〃The　way　they　go　on！　Chronic！〃　said　the　scullery…maid。
　〃Don't　you　go　getting　alarmed。　And　don't　you；〃　added　Webster；　〃go　shoving　your　ear　in　when　your　social　superiors　are　talking。　I've　had　to　speak　to　you　about　that　before。　My　remarks　were　addressed　to　Mrs。　Withers　here。〃
　He　indicated　the　cook　with　a　respectful　gesture。
　〃Yes；　here's　the　note；　Mrs。　Withers。　Of　course；　if　you　had　a　steamy　kettle　handy；　in　about　half　a　moment　we　could　。。。　but　no；　perhaps；　it's　wiser　not　to　risk　it。　And；　e　to　that；　I　don't　need　to　unstick　the　envelope　to　know　what's　inside　here。　It's　the　raspberry；　ma'am；　or　I've　lost　all　my　power　to　read　the　human　female　countenance。　Very　cold　and　proud…looking　she　was！　I　don't　know　who　this　S。　Marlowe　is；　but　I　do　know　one　thing；　in　this　hand　I　hold　the　instrument　that's　going　to　give　it　him　in　the　neck；　proper！　Right　in　the　neck；　or　my　name　isn't　Montagu　Webster！〃
　〃Well！〃　said　Mrs。　Withers　fortably；　pausing　for　a　moment　from　her　labours。　〃Think　of　that！〃
　〃The　way　I　look　at　it；〃　said　Webster；　〃is　that　there's　been　some　sort　of　understanding　between　our　Miss　B。　and　this　S。　Marlowe；　and　she's　thought　better　of　it　and　decided　to　stick　to　the　man　of　her　parent's　choice。　She's　chosen　wealth　and　made　up　her　mind　to　hand　the　humble　suitor　the　mitten。　There　was　a　rather　similar　situation　in　'Cupid　or　Mammon；'　that　Nosegay　Novelette　I　was　reading　in　the　train　ing　down　here；　only　that　ended　different。　For　my　part　I'd　be　better　pleased　if　our　Miss　B。　would　let　the　cash　go；　and　obey　the　dictates　of　her　own　heart；　but　these　modern　girls　are　all　alike。　All　out　for　the　stuff；　they　are！　Oh；　well；　it's　none　of　my　affair；〃　said　Webster；　stifling　a　not　unmanly　sigh。　For　beneath　that　immaculate　shirt…front　there　beat　a　warm　heart。　Montagu　Webster　was　a　sentimentalist。
　
　CHAPTER　FIFTEEN
　
　A　half…past　two　that　afternoon；　full　of　optimism　and　cold　beef；　gaily　unconscious　that　Webster；　with　measured　strides　was　approaching　ever　nearer　with　the　note　that　was　to　give　it　him　in　the　neck；　proper；　Samuel　Marlowe　dangled　his　feet　from　the　top　bar　of　the　gate　at　the　end　of　the　lane　and　smoked　contentedly　as　he　waited　for　Billie　to　make　her　appearance。　He　had　had　an　excellent　lunch；　his　pipe　was　drawing　well；　and　all　Nature　smiled。　The　breeze　from　the　sea　across　the　meadows；　tickled　pleasantly　the　back　of　his　head；　and　sang　a　soothing　song　in　the　long　grass　and　ragged…robins　at　his　feet。　He　was　looking　forward　with　a　roseate　glow　of　anticipation　to　the　moment　when　the　white　flutter　of　Billie's　dress　would　break　the　green　of　the　foreground。　How　eagerly　he　would　jump　from　the　gate！　How　lovingly　he　would。。。。
　The　elegant　figure　of　Webster　interrupted　his　reverie。　Sam　had　never　seen　Webster　before；　and　it　was　with　no　pleasure　that　he　saw　him　now。　He　had　e　to　regard　this　lane　as　his　own　property；　and　he　resented　trespassers。　He　tucked　his　legs　under　him；　and　scowled　at　Webster　under　the　brim　of　his　hat。
　The　valet　advanced　towards　him　with　the　air　of　an　affable　executioner　stepping　daintily　to　the　block。
　〃Mr。　Marlowe；　sir？〃　he　enquired　politely。
　Sam　was　startled。　He　could　make　nothing　of　this。
　〃Eh？　What？〃
　〃Have　I　the　pleasure　of　addressing　Mr。　S；　Marlowe？〃
　〃Yes；　that's　my　name。〃
　〃Mine　is　Webster；　sir；　I　am　Mr。　Bennett's　personal　gentleman's　gentleman。　Miss　Bennett　entrusted　me　with　this　note　to　deliver　to　you；　sir。〃
　Sam　began　to　grasp　the　situation。　For　some　reason　or　other；　the　dear　girl　had　been　prevented　from　ing　this　afternoon；　and　she　had　written　to　explain　and　to　relieve　his　anxiety。　It　was　like　her。　It　was　just　the　sweet；　thoughtful　thing　he　would　have　expected　her　to　do。　His　contentment　with　the　existing　scheme　of　things　returned。　The　sun　shone　out　again；　and　he　found　himself　amiably　disposed　towards　the　messenger。
　〃Fine　day；〃　he　said；　as　he　took　the　note。
　〃Extremely；　sir；〃　said　Webster；　outwardly　unemotional；　inwardly　full　of　a　grave　pity。
　It　was　plain　to　him　that　there　had　been　no　previous　little　rift　to　prepare　the　young　man　for　the　cervical　operation　which　awaited　him；　and　he　edged　a　little　nearer；　in　order　to　be　handy　to　catch　Sam　if　the　shock　knocked　him　off　the　gate。
　As　it　happened；　it　did　not。　Having　read　the　opening　words　of　the　note；　Sam　rocked　violently；　but　his　feet　were　twined　about　the　lower　bars　and　this　saved　him　from　overbalancing。　Webster　stepped　back；　relieved。
　The　note　fluttered　to　the　ground。　Webster；　picking　it　up　and　handing　it　back；　was　enabled　to　get　a　glimpse　of　the　first　two　sentences。　They　confirmed　his　suspicions。　The　note　was　hot　stuff。　Assuming　that　it　continued　as　it　began；　it　was　about　the　warmest　thing　of　its　kind　that　pen　had　ever　written。　Webster　had　received　one　or　two　heated　epistles　from　the　sex　in　his　timeyour　man　of　gallantry　can　hardly　hope　to　escape　these　unpleasantnessesbut　none　had　got　off　the　mark　quite　so　swiftly；　and　with　quite　so　much　frigid　violence　as　this。
　〃Thanks；〃　said　Sam；　mechanically。
　〃Not　at　all；　sir。　You　are　very　wele。〃
　Sam　resumed　his　reading。　A　cold　perspiration　broke　out　on　his　forehead。　His　toes　curled；　and　something　seemed　to　be　crawling　down　the　small　of　his　back。　His　heart　had　moved　from　its　proper　place　and　was　now　beating　in　his　throat。　He　swallowed　once　or　twice　to　remove　the　obstruction；　but　without　success。　A　kind　of　pall　had　descended　on　the　landscape；　blotting　out　the　sun。
　Of　all　the　rotten　sensations　in　this　world；　the　worst　is　the　realisation　that　a　thousand…to…one　chance　has　e　off；　and　caused　our　wrong…doing　to　be　detected。　There　had　seemed　no　possibility　of　that　little　ruse　of　his　being　discovered；　and　yet　here　was　Billie　in　full　possession　of　the　facts。　It　almost　made　the　thing　worse　that　she　did　not　say　how　she　had　e　into　possession　of　them。　This　gave　Sam　that　feeling　of　self…pity；　that　sense　of　having　been　ill…used　by　Fate；　which　makes　the　bringing　home　of　crime　so　particularly　poignant。
　〃Fine　day！〃　he　muttered。　He　had　a　sort　of　subconscious　feeling　that　it　was　imperative　to　keep　engaging　Webster　in　light　conversation。
　〃Yes；　sir。　Weather　still　keeps　up；〃　agreed　the　valet　suavely。
　Sam　frowned　over　the　note。　He　felt　injured。　Sending　a　fellow　notes　didn't　give　him　a　chance。　If　she　had　e　in　person　and　denounced　him　it　would　not　have　been　an　agreeable　experience；　but　at　least　it　would　have　been　possible　then　to　have　pleaded　and　cajoled　andand　all　that　sort　of　thing。　But　what　could　he　do　now？　It　seemed　to　him　that　his　only　possible　course　was　to　write　a　note　in　reply；　begging　her　to　see　him。　He　explored　his　pockets　and　found　a　pencil　and　a　scrap　of　paper。　For　some　moments　he　scribbled　desperately。　Then　he　folded　the　note。
　〃Will　you　take　this　to　Miss　Bennett；〃　he　said；　holding　it　out。
　Webster　took　the　missive；　because　he　wanted　to　read　it　later　at　his　leisure；　but　he　shook　his　head。
　〃Useless；　I　fear；　sir；〃　he　said　gravely。
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　am　afraid　it　would　effect　little　or　nothing；　sir；　sending　our　Miss　B。　notes。　She　is　not　in　the　proper　frame　of　mind　to　appreciate　them。　I　saw　her　face　when　she　handed　me　the　letter　you　have　just　read；　and　I　assure　you；　sir；　she　is　not　in　a　malleable　mood。〃
　〃You　seem　to　know　a　lot　about　it！〃
　〃I　have　studied　the　sex；　sir；〃　said　Webster　modestly。
　〃I　mean；　about　my　business；　confound　it！　You　seem　to　know　all　about　it！〃
　〃Why；　yes；　sir；　I　think　I　may　say　that　I　have　grasped　the　position　of　affairs。　And；　if　you　will　permit　me　to　say　so；　sir；　you　have　my　respectful　sympathy。〃
　Dignity　is　a　sensitive　plant　which　flourishes　only　under　the　fairest　conditions。　Sam's　had　perished　in　the　bleak　east　wind　of　Billie's　note。　In　other　circumstances　he　might　have　resented　this　intrusion　of　a　stranger　into　his　most　intimate　concerns。　His　only　emotion　now；　was　one　of　dull　but　distinct　gratitude。　The　four　winds　of　heaven　blew　chilly　upon　his　raw　and　unprot