pgw.threemenandamaid-第8章

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　of　marriage。　When　Samuel　Marlowe's　grandfather　had　convinced　himself；　after　about　a　year　and　a　half　of　respectful　aloofness；　that　the　emotion　which　he　felt　towards　Samuel　Marlowe's　grandmother…to…be　was　love；　the　fashion　of　the　period　pelled　him　to　approach　the　matter　in　a　roundabout　way。　First；　he　spent　an　evening　or　two　singing　sentimental　ballads；　she　acpanying　him　on　the　piano　and　the　rest　of　the　family　sitting　on　the　side…lines　to　see　that　no　rough　stuff　was　pulled。　Having　noted　that　she　drooped　her　eyelashes　and　turned　faintly　pink　when　he　came　to　the　〃Theeonly　thee！〃　bit；　he　felt　a　mild　sense　of　encouragement；　strong　enough　to　justify　him　in　taking　her　sister　aside　next　day　and　asking　if　the　object　of　his　affections　ever　happened　to　mention　his　name　in　the　course　of　conversation。　Further　　pour…parlers　　having　passed　with　her　aunt；　two　more　sisters；　and　her　little　brother；　he　felt　that　the　moment　had　arrived　when　he　might　send　her　a　volume　of　Shelley；　with　some　of　the　passages　marked　in　pencil。　A　few　weeks　later；　he　interviewed　her　father　and　obtained　his　consent　to　the　paying　of　his　addresses。　And　finally；　after　writing　her　a　letter　which　began　〃Madam！　you　will　not　have　been　insensible　to　the　fact　that　for　some　time　past　you　have　inspired　in　my　bosom　feelings　deeper　than　those　of　ordinary　friendship。。。。〃　he　waylaid　her　in　the　rose…garden　and　brought　the　thing　off。
　How　different　is　the　behaviour　of　the　modern　young　man。　His　courtship　can　hardly　be　called　a　courtship　at　all。　His　methods　are　those　of　Sir　W。　S。　Gilbert's　Alphonso。
　　　　〃Alphonso；　who　for　cool　assurance　all　creation　licks；　　　　　He　up　and　said　to　Emily　who　has　cheek　enough　for　six：　　　　　'Miss　Emily；　I　love　you。　Will　you　marry？　Say　the　word！'　　　　　And　Emily　said：　'Certainly；　Alphonso；　like　a　bird！'〃
　Sam　Marlowe　was　a　warm　supporter　of　the　Alphonso　method。　He　was　a　bright　young　man　and　did　not　require　a　year　to　make　up　his　mind　that　Wilhelmina　Bennett　had　been　set　apart　by　Fate　from　the　beginning　of　time　to　be　his　bride。　He　had　known　it　from　the　moment　he　saw　her　on　the　dock；　and　all　the　subsequent　strolling；　reading；　talking；　soup…drinking；　tea…drinking；　and　shuffle…board…playing　which　they　had　done　together　had　merely　solidified　his　original　impression。　He　loved　this　girl　with　all　the　force　of　a　fiery　naturethe　fiery　nature　of　the　Marlowes　was　a　byword　in　Bruton　Street；　Berkeley　Squareand　something　seemed　to　whisper　that　she　loved　him。　At　any　rate　she　wanted　somebody　like　Sir　Galahad；　and；　without　wishing　to　hurl　bouquets　at　himself；　he　could　not　see　where　she　could　possibly　get　anyone　liker　Sir　Galahad　than　himself。　So；　wind　and　weather　permitting；　Samuel　Marlowe　intended　to　propose　to　Wilhelmina　Bennett　this　very　day。
　He　let　down　the　trick　basin　which　hung　beneath　the　mirror　and；　collecting　his　shaving　materials；　began　to　lather　his　face。
　〃I　am　the　Bandolero！〃　sang　Sam　blithely　through　the　soap；　〃I　am；　I　am　the　Bandolero！　Yes；　yes；　I　am　the　Bandolero！〃
　The　untidy　heap　of　bedclothes　in　the　lower　berth　stirred　restlessly。
　〃Oh；　God！〃　said　Eustace　Hignett　thrusting　out　a　tousled　head。
　Sam　regarded　his　cousin　with　miseration。　Horrid　things　had　been　happening　to　Eustace　during　the　last　few　days；　and　it　was　quite　a　pleasant　surprise　each　morning　to　find　that　he　was　still　alive。
　〃Feeling　bad　again；　old　man？〃
　〃I　was　feeling　all　right；〃　replied　Hignett　churlishly；　〃until　you　began　the　farmyard　imitations。　What　sort　of　a　day　is　it？〃
　〃Glorious！　The　sea。。。。〃
　〃Don't　talk　about　the　sea！〃
　〃Sorry！　The　sun　is　shining　brighter　than　it　has　ever　shone　in　the　history　of　the　race。　Why　don't　you　get　up？〃
　〃Nothing　will　induce　me　to　get　up。〃
　〃Well；　go　a　regular　buster　and　have　an　egg　for　breakfast。〃
　Eustace　Hignett　shuddered。
　〃Do　you　think　I　am　an　ostrich？〃　He　eyed　Sam　sourly。　〃You　seem　devilish　pleased　with　yourself　this　morning！〃
　Sam　dried　the　razor　carefully　and　put　it　away。　He　hesitated。　Then　the　desire　to　confide　in　somebody　got　the　better　of　him。
　〃The　fact　is；〃　he　said　apologetically；　〃I'm　in　love！〃
　〃In　love！〃　Eustace　Hignett　sat　up　and　bumped　his　head　sharply　against　the　berth　above　him。　〃Has　this　been　going　on　long？〃
　〃Ever　since　the　voyage　started。〃
　〃I　think　you　might　have　told　me；〃　said　Eustace　reproachfully。　〃I　told　you　my　troubles。　Why　did　you　not　let　me　know　that　this　awful　thing　had　e　upon　you？〃
　〃Well；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　old　man；　during　these　last　few　days　I　had　a　notion　that　your　mind　was；　so　to　speak；　occupied　elsewhere。〃
　〃Who　is　she？〃
　〃Oh；　a　girl　I　met　on　board。〃
　〃Don't　do　it！〃　said　Eustace　Hignett　solemnly。　〃As　a　friend　I　entreat　you　not　to　do　it！　Take　my　advice；　as　a　man　who　knows　women；　and　don't　do　it！〃
　〃Don't　do　what？〃
　〃Propose　to　her。　I　can　tell　by　the　glitter　in　your　eye　that　you　are　intending　to　propose　to　this　girlprobably　this　morning。　Don't　do　it。　Women　are　the　devil；　whether　they　marry　you　or　jilt　you。　Do　you　realise　that　women　wear　black　evening　dresses　that　have　to　be　hooked　up　in　a　hurry　when　you　are　late　for　the　theatre；　and　that；　out　of　sheer　wanton　malignity；　the　hooks　and　eyes　on　those　dresses　are　also　made　black？　Do　you　realise。。。？〃
　〃Oh；　I've　thought　it　all　out。〃
　〃And　take　the　matter　of　children。　How　would　you　like　to　bee　the　fatherand　a　mere　glance　around　you　will　show　you　that　the　chances　are　enormously　in　favour　of　such　a　thing　happeningof　a　boy　with　spectacles　and　protruding　front　teeth　who　asks　questions　all　the　time？　Out　of　six　small　boys　whom　I　saw　when　I　came　on　board；　four　wore　spectacles　and　had　teeth　like　rabbits。　The　other　two　were　equally　revolting　in　different　styles。　How　would　you　like　to　bee　the　father。。。？〃
　〃There　is　no　need　to　be　indelicate；〃　said　Sam　stiffly。　〃A　man　must　take　these　chances。〃
　〃Give　her　the　miss　in　baulk；〃　pleaded　Hignett。　〃Stay　down　here　for　the　rest　of　the　voyage。　You　can　easily　dodge　her　when　you　get　to　Southampton。　And；　if　she　sends　messages；　say　you're　ill　and　can't　be　disturbed。〃
　Sam　gazed　at　him；　revolted。　More　than　ever　he　began　to　understand　how　it　was　that　a　girl　with　ideals　had　broken　off　her　engagement　with　this　man。　He　finished　dressing；　and；　after　a　satisfying　breakfast；　went　on　deck。
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　It　was；　as　he　had　said；　a　glorious　morning。　The　sample　which　he　had　had　through　the　porthole　had　not　prepared　him　for　the　magic　of　it。　The　ship　swam　in　a　vast　bowl　of　the　purest　blue　on　an　azure　carpet　flecked　with　silver。　It　was　a　morning　which　impelled　a　man　to　great　deeds；　a　morning　which　shouted　to　him　to　chuck　his　chest　out　and　be　romantic。　The　sight　of　Billie　Bennett；　trim　and　gleaming　in　a　pale　green　sweater　and　a　white　skirt　had　the　effect　of　causing　Marlowe　to　alter　the　programme　which　he　had　sketched　out。　Proposing　to　this　girl　was　not　a　thing　to　be　put　off　till　after　lunch。　It　was　a　thing　to　be　done　now　and　at　once。　The　finest　efforts　of　the　finest　cooks　in　the　world　could　not　put　him　in　better　form　than　he　felt　at　present。
　〃Good　morning；　Miss　Bennett。〃
　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Marlowe。〃
　〃Isn't　it　a　perfect　day？〃
　〃Wonderful！〃
　〃It　makes　all　the　difference　on　board　ship　if　the　weather　is　fine。〃
　〃Yes；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Shall　we　walk　round？〃　said　Billie。
　Sam　glanced　about　him。　It　was　the　time　of　day　when　the　promenade　deck　was　always　full。　Passengers　in　cocoons　of　rugs　lay　on　chairs；　waiting　in　a　dull　trance　till　the　steward　should　arrive　with　the　eleven　o'clock　soup。　Others；　more　energetic；　strode　up　and　down。　From　the　point　of　view　of　a　man　who　wished　to　reveal　his　most　sacred　feelings　to　a　beautiful　girl；　the　place　was　practically　Fifth　Avenue　and　Forty…second　Street。
　〃It's　so　crowded；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　go　on　to　the　upper　deck。〃
　〃All　right。　You　can　read　to　me。　Go　and　fetch　your　Tennyson。〃
　Sam　felt　that　fortune　was　playing　into　his　hands。　His　four…days'　acquaintance　with　the　bard　had　been　sufficient　to　show　him　that　the　man　was　there　forty　ways　when　it　came　to　writing　about　love。　You　could　open　his　collected　works　almost　anywhere　and　shut　your　eyes　and　dab　down　your　finger　on　some　red…hot　passage。　A　proposal　of　marriage　is　a　thing　which　it　is　rather　difficult　to　bring　neatly　into　the　ordinary　run　of　conversation。　It　wants　leading　up　to。　But；　if　you　once　start　reading　poetry；　especially　Tennyson's；　almost　anything　is　apt　to　give　you　your　cue。　He　bounded　light…heartedly　into　the　state…room；　waking　Eustace　Hignett　from　an　uneasy　dose。
　〃Now　what？〃　said　Eustace。
　〃Where's　that　copy　of　Tennyson　you　gave　me？　I　left　itah；　here　it　is。　Well；　see　you　later！〃
　〃Wait！　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃Oh；　that　girl　I　told　you　about；〃　said　Sam　making　for　the　door。　〃She　wants　me　to　read　Tennyson　to　her　on　the　upper　deck。〃
　〃Tennyson？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃On　the　upper　deck？〃
　〃That's　the　spot。〃
　〃This　is　the　end；〃　said　Eustace　Hignett；　turning　his　face　to　the　wall。
　Sam　raced　up　the　panion…way　as　far　as　it　went；　then；　going　out　on　deck；　climbed　a　flight　of　steps　and　found　himself　in　the　only　part　of　the　ship　which　was　ever　even　paratively　private。　The　main　herd　of　passengers　preferred　the　promenade　deck；　two　layers　below。
　He　threaded　his　way　through　a　maze　of　boats；　ropes；　and　curious…shaped　steel　structures　which　the　architect　of　the　ship　seemed　to　have　tacked　on　at　the　last　moment　in　a　spirit　of　sheer　exuberance。　Above　him　towered　one　of　the　funnels；　before　him　a　long；　slender　mast。　He　hurried　on；　and　presently　came　upon　Billie　sitting　on　a　garden　seat；　backed　by　the　white　roof　of　the　smoke…room；　beside　this　was　a　small　deck　which　seemed　to　have　lost　its　way　and　strayed　up　here　all　by　itself。　It　was　the　deck　on　which　one　could　occasionally　see　the　patients　playing　an　odd　game　with　long　sticks　and　bits　of　woodnot　shuffleboard　but　something　even　lower　in　the　mental　scale。　This　morning；　however；　the　devotees　of　this　pastime　were　apparently　under　proper　restraint；　for　the　deck　was　empty。
　〃This　is　jolly；〃　he　said；　sitting　down　beside　the　girl　and　drawing　a　deep　breath　of　satisfaction。
　〃Yes；　I　love　this　deck。　It's　so　peaceful。〃
　〃It's　the　only　part　of　the　ship　where　you　can　be　reasonably　sure　of　not　meeting　stout　men　in　flannels　and　nautical　caps。　An　ocean　voyage　always　makes　me　wish　that　I　had　a　private　yacht。〃
　〃It　would　be　nice。〃
　〃A　private　yacht；〃　repeated　Sam　sliding　a　trifle　closer。　〃We　would　sail　about；　visiting　desert　islands　which　lay　like　jewels　in　the　heart　of　tropic　seas。〃
　〃We？〃
　〃Most　certainly　we。　It　wouldn't　be　any　fun　if　you　were　not　there。〃
　〃That's　very　plimentary。〃
　〃Well；　it　wouldn't。　I'm　not　fond　of　girls　as　a　rule。。。。〃
　〃Oh；　aren't　you？〃
　〃No！〃　said　Sam　decidedly。　It　was　a　point　which　he　wished　to　make　clear　at　the　outset。　〃Not　at　all　fond。　My　friends　have　often　remarked　upon　it。　A　palmist　once　told　me　that　I　had　one　of　those　rare　spiritual　natures　which　cannot　be　satisfied　with　substitutes　but　must　seek　and　seek　till　they　find　their　soul…mate。　When　other　men　all　round　me　were　frittering　away　their　emotions　in　idle　flirtations　which　did　not　touch　their　deeper　natures；　I　was　。。。　I　was　。。。　well；　I　wasn't；　if　you　see　what　I　mean。〃
　〃Oh；　you　wasn't　。。。　weren't？〃
　〃No。　Some　day　I　knew　I　should　meet　the　only　girl　I　could　possibly　love；　and　then　I　would　pour　out　upon　her　the　stored…up　devotion　of　a　lifetime；　lay　an　unblemished　heart　at