pgw.threemenandamaid-第24章

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as　in　no　hurry。　The　night　was　before　him；　promising；　as　far　as　he　could　judge　from　the　way　it　had　opened；　excellent　entertainment。
　Mrs。　Hignett　had　listened　fearfully　to　the　uncouth　noises　from　the　hall。　The　burglarsshe　had　now　discovered　that　there　were　at　least　two　of　themappeared　to　be　actually　romping。　The　situation　had　grown　beyond　her　handling。　If　this　troupe　of　terpsichorean　marauders　was　to　be　dislodged　she　must　have　assistance。　It　was　man's　work。　She　made　a　brave　dash　through　the　hall；　mercifully　unmolested：　found　the　stairs：　raced　up　them：　and　fell　through　the　doorway　of　her　son　Eustace's　bedroom　like　a　spent　Marathon　runner　staggering　past　the　winning…post。
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　In　the　moment　which　elapsed　before　either　of　the　two　could　calm　their　agitated　brains　to　speech；　Eustace　became　aware；　as　never　before；　of　the　truth　of　that　well…known　line；　〃Peace；　perfect　Peace；　with　loved　ones　far　away！〃
　〃Eustace！〃
　Mrs。　Hignett　gasped；　hand　on　heart。
　〃Eustace；　there　are　men　in　the　house！〃
　This　fact　was　just　the　one　which　Eustace　had　been　wondering　how　to　break　to　her。
　〃I　know；〃　he　said　uneasily。
　〃You　know！〃　Mrs。　Hignett　stared。　〃Did　you　hear　them！〃
　〃Hear　them？〃　said　Eustace；　puzzled。
　〃The　drawing…room　window　was　left　open；　and　there　are　two　burglars　in　the　hall。〃
　〃Oh；　I　say；　no！　That's　rather　rotten！〃　said　Eustace。
　〃I　saw　and　heard　them。　e　with　me　and　arrest　them。〃
　〃But　I　can't。　I've　sprained　my　ankle。〃
　〃Sprained　your　ankle？　How　very　inconvenient！　When　did　you　do　that？〃
　〃This　morning。〃
　〃How　did　it　happen？〃
　Eustace　hesitated。
　〃I　was　jumping。〃
　〃Jumping！　Butoh！〃　Mrs。　Hignett's　sentence　trailed　off　into　a　suppressed　shriek；　as　the　door　opened。
　Immediately　following　on　Eustace's　accident；　Jane　Hubbard　had　constituted　herself　his　nurse。　It　was　she　who　had　bound　up　his　injured　ankle　in　a　manner　which　the　doctor　on　his　arrival　had　admitted　himself　unable　to　improve　upon。　She　had　sat　with　him　through　the　long　afternoon。　And　now；　fearing　lest　a　return　of　the　pain　might　render　him　sleepless；　she　had　e　to　bring　him　a　selection　of　books　to　see　him　through　the　night。
　Jane　Hubbard　was　a　girl　who　by　nature　and　training　was　well　adapted　to　bear　shocks。　She　accepted　the　advent　of　Mrs。　Hignett　without　visible　astonishment；　though　inwardly　she　was　wondering　who　the　visitor　might　be。
　〃Good　evening；〃　she　said；　placidly。
　Mrs。　Hignett；　having　rallied　from　her　moment　of　weakness；　glared　at　the　new　arrival　dumbly。　She　could　not　place　Jane。　She　had　the　air　of　a　nurse；　and　yet　she　wore　no　uniform。
　〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　stiffly。
　〃Who　are　　you　？〃　countered　Jane。
　〃I；〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett　portentously；　〃am　the　owner　of　this　house；　and　I　should　be　glad　to　know　what　you　are　doing　in　it。　I　am　Mrs。　Horace　Hignett。〃
　A　charming　smile　spread　itself　over　Jane's　finely…cut　face。
　〃I'm　so　glad　to　meet　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　heard　so　much　about　you。〃
　〃Indeed？〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett。　〃And　now　I　should　like　to　hear　a　little　about　you。〃
　〃I've　read　all　your　books；〃　said　Jane。　〃I　think　they're　wonderful。〃
　In　spite　of　herself；　in　spite　of　a　feeling　that　this　young　woman　was　straying　from　the　point；　Mrs。　Hignett　could　not　check　a　slight　influx　of　amiability。　She　was　an　authoress　who　received　a　good　deal　of　incense　from　admirers；　but　she　could　always　do　with　a　bit　more。　Besides；　most　of　the　incense　came　by　mail。　Living　a　quiet　and　retired　life　in　the　country；　it　was　rarely　that　she　got　it　handed　to　her　face　to　face。　She　melted　quite　perceptibly。　She　did　not　cease　to　look　like　a　basilisk；　but　she　began　to　look　like　a　basilisk　who　has　had　a　good　lunch。
　〃My　favorite；〃　said　Jane；　who　for　a　week　had　been　sitting　daily　in　a　chair　in　the　drawing…room　adjoining　the　table　on　which　the　authoress's　plete　works　were　assembled；　〃is　'The　Spreading　Light。'　I　　do　　like　'The　Spreading　Light！'〃
　〃It　was　written　some　years　ago；〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett　with　something　approaching　cordiality；　〃and　I　have　since　revised　some　of　the　views　I　state　in　it；　but　I　still　consider　it　quite　a　good　text…book。〃
　〃Of　course；　I　can　see　that　'What　of　the　Morrow？'　is　more　profound；〃　said　Jane。　〃But　I　read　'The　Spreading　Light'　first；　and　of　course　that　makes　a　difference。〃
　〃I　can　quite　see　that　it　would；〃　agreed　Mrs。　Hignett。　〃One's　first　step　across　the　threshold　of　a　new　mind；　one's　first　glimpse。。。。〃
　〃Yes；　it　makes　you　feel。。。。〃
　〃Like　some　watcher　of　the　skies；〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett；　〃when　a　new　planet　swims　into　his　ken；　or　like。。。。〃
　〃Yes；　doesn't　it！〃　said　Jane。
　Eustace；　who　had　been　listening　to　the　conversation　with　every　muscle　tense；　in　much　the　same　mental　attitude　as　that　of　a　peaceful　citizen　in　a　Wild　West　saloon　who　holds　himself　in　readiness　to　dive　under　a　table　directly　the　shooting　begins；　began　to　relax。　What　he　had　shrinkingly　anticipated　would　be　the　biggest　thing　since　the　Dempsey…Carpentier　fight　seemed　to　be　turning　into　a　pleasant　social　and　literary　evening　not　unlike　what　he　imagined　a　meeting　of　old　Vassar　alumni　must　be。　For　the　first　time　since　his　mother　had　e　into　the　room　he　indulged　in　the　luxury　of　a　deep　breath。
　〃But　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　asked　Mrs。　Hignett；　returning　almost　reluctantly　to　the　main　issue。
　Eustace　perceived　that　he　had　breathed　too　soon。　In　an　unobtrusive　way　he　subsided　into　the　bed　and　softly　pulled　the　sheets　over　his　head；　following　the　excellent　tactics　of　the　great　Duke　of　Wellington　in　his　Peninsular　campaign。　〃When　in　doubt；〃　the　Duke　used　to　say；　〃retire　and　dig　yourself　in。〃
　〃I'm　nursing　dear　Eustace；〃　said　Jane。
　Mrs。　Hignett　quivered；　and　cast　an　eye　on　the　hump　in　the　bed…clothes　which　represented　dear　Eustace。　A　cold　fear　had　e　upon　her。
　〃'Dear　Eustace'！〃　she　repeated　mechanically。
　〃We're　engaged；〃　said　Jane。　〃We　got　engaged　this　morning。　That's　how　he　sprained　his　ankle。　When　I　accepted　him；　he　tried　to　jump　a　holly…bush。〃
　〃Engaged！　Eustace；　is　this　true？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　a　muffled　voice　from　the　interior　of　the　bed。
　〃And　poor　Eustace　is　so　worried；〃　continued　Jane；　〃about　the　house。〃　She　went　on　quickly。　〃He　doesn't　want　to　deprive　you　of　it；　because　he　knows　what　it　means　to　you。　So　he　is　hopingwe　are　both　hopingthat　you　will　accept　it　as　a　present　when　we　are　married。　We　really　shan't　want　it；　you　know。　We　are　going　to　live　in　London。　So　you　will　take　it；　won't　youto　please　us？〃
　We　all　of　us；　even　the　greatest　of　us；　have　our　moments　of　weakness。　Let　us　then　not　express　any　surprise　at　the　sudden　collapse　of　one　of　the　world's　greatest　female　thinkers。　As　the　meaning　of　this　speech　smote　on　Mrs。　Horace　Hignett's　understanding；　she　sank　weeping　into　a　chair。　The　ever…present　fear　that　had　haunted　her　had　been　exorcised。　Windles　was　hers　in　perpetuity。　The　relief　was　too　great。　She　sat　in　her　chair　and　gulped：　and　Eustace；　greatly　encouraged；　emerged　slowly　from　the　bedclothes　like　a　worm　after　a　thunderstorm。
　How　long　this　poignant　scene　would　have　lasted；　one　cannot　say。　It　is　a　pity　that　it　was　cut　short；　for　I　should　have　liked　to　dwell　upon　it。　But　at　this　moment；　from　the　regions　downstairs；　there　suddenly　burst　upon　the　silent　night　such　a　whirlwind　of　sound　as　effectually　dissipated　the　tense　emotion　in　the　room。　Somebody　had　touched　off　the　orchestrion　in　the　drawing…room；　and　that　willing　instrument　had　begun　again　in　the　middle　of　a　bar　at　the　point　where　it　had　been　switched　off。　Its　wailing　lament　for　the　passing　of　Summer　filled　the　whole　house。
　〃That's　too　bad！〃　said　Jane；　a　little　annoyed。　〃At　this　time　of　night！〃
　〃It's　the　burglars！〃　quavered　Mrs。　Hignett。　In　the　stress　of　recent　events　she　had　pletely　forgotten　the　existence　of　those　enemies　of　society。　〃They　were　dancing　in　the　hall　when　I　arrived；　and　now　they're　playing　the　orchestrion！〃
　〃Light…hearted　chaps！〃　said　Eustace；　admiring　the　sang…froid　of　the　criminal　world。　〃Full　of　spirits！〃
　〃This　won't　do；〃　said　Jane　Hubbard；　shaking　her　head。　〃We　can't　have　this　sort　of　thing。　I'll　go　and　fetch　my　gun。〃
　〃They'll　murder　you；　dear！〃　panted　Mrs。　Hignett；　clinging　to　her　arm。
　Jane　Hubbard　laughed。
　〃Murder　　me　！〃　she　said；　amusedly。　〃I'd　like　to　catch　them　at　it！〃
　Mrs。　Hignett　stood　staring　at　the　door　as　Jane　closed　it　safely　behind　her。
　〃Eustace；〃　she　said；　solemnly；　〃that　is　a　wonderful　girl！〃
　〃Yes！　She　once　killed　a　pantheror　a　puma；　I　forget　whichwith　a　hat…pin！〃　said　Eustace　with　enthusiasm。
　〃I　could　wish　you　no　better　wife！〃　said　Mrs。　Hignett。
　She　broke　off　with　a　sharp　wail。。。。　Out　in　the　passage　something　like　a　battery　of　artillery　had　roared。
　The　door　opened　and　Jane　Hubbard　appeared；　slipping　a　fresh　cartridge　into　the　elephant…gun。
　〃One　of　them　was　popping　about　outside　here；〃　she　announced。　〃I　took　a　shot　at　him；　but　I'm　afraid　I　missed。　The　visibility　was　bad。　At　any　rate　he　went　away。〃
　In　this　last　statement　she　was　perfectly　accurate。　Bream　Mortimer；　who　had　been　aroused　by　the　orchestrion　and　who　had　e　out　to　see　what　was　the　matter；　had　gone　away　at　the　rate　of　fifty　miles　an　hour。　He　had　been　creeping　down　the　passage　when　he　found　himself　suddenly　confronted　by　a　dim　figure　which；　without　a　word；　had　attempted　to　slay　him　with　an　enormous　gun。　The　shot　had　whistled　past　his　ears　and　gone　singing　down　the　corridor。　This　was　enough　for　Bream。　He　had　returned　to　his　room　in　three　strides；　and　was　now　under　the　bed。　The　burglars　might　take　everything　in　the　house　and　wele；　so　that　they　did　not　molest　his　privacy。　That　was　the　way　Bream　looked　at　it。　And　very　sensible　of　him；　too；　I　consider。
　〃We'd　better　go　downstairs；〃　said　Jane。　〃Bring　the　candle。　Not　you；　Eustace；　darling。　Don't　you　stir　out　of　bed！〃
　〃I　won't；〃　said　Eustace　obediently。
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　Of　all　the　leisured　pursuits；　there　are　few　less　attractive　to　the　thinking　man　than　sitting　in　a　dark　cupboard　waiting　for　a　house…party　to　go　to　bed：　and　Sam；　who　had　established　himself　in　the　one　behind　the　piano　at　a　quarter　to　eight；　soon　began　to　feel　as　if　he　had　been　there　for　an　eternity。　He　could　dimly　remember　a　previous　existence　in　which　he　had　not　been　sitting　in　his　present　position；　but　it　seemed　so　long　ago　that　it　was　shadowy　and　unreal　to　him。　The　ordeal　of　spending　the　evening　in　this　retreat　had　not　appeared　formidable　when　he　had　contemplated　it　that　afternoon　in　the　lane：　but；　now　that　he　was　actually　undergoing　it；　it　was　extraordinary　how　many　disadvantages　it　had。
　Cupboards；　as　a　class；　are　badly　ventilated；　and　this　one　seemed　to　contain　no　air　at　all：　and　the　warmth　of　the　night；　bined　with　the　cupboard's　natural　stuffiness；　had　soon　begun　to　reduce　Sam　to　a　condition　of　pulp。　He　seemed　to　himself　to　be　sagging　like　an　ice…cream　in　front　of　a　fire。　The　darkness；　too；　weighed　upon　him。　He　was　abominably　thirsty。　Also　he　wanted　to　smoke。　In　addition　to　this；　the　small　of　his　back　tickled；　and　he　more　than　suspected　the　cupboard　of　harboring　mice。　Not　once　nor　twice　but　many　hundred　times　he　wished　that　the　ingenious　Webster　had　thought　of　something　simpler。
　His　was　a　position　which　would　just　have　suited　one　of　those　Indian　mystics　who　sit　perfectly　still　for　twenty　years；　contemplating　the　Infinite；　but　it　reduced　Sam　to　an　almost　imbecile　state　of　boredom。　He　tried　counting　sheep。　He　tried　going　over　his　past　life　in　his　mind　from　the　ear