the man between(夹在中间的人)-第12章
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called it 〃friendship；〃 but this misnomer deceived no one； not even Dora。
And when Dora encouraged his attentions； how was Ethel to prevent them
without some explanation which would give a sort of reality to what was
as yet a nameless suspicion？
Yet every day the familiarity increased。 He seemed to divine their
engagements。 If they went to their jeweler's； or to a bazaar； he was sure to
stroll in after them。 When they came out of the milliner's or modiste's；
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Fred was waiting。 〃He had secured a table at Sherry's； he had ordered
lunch； and all was ready。〃 It was too great an effort to resist his entreaty。
Perhaps no one wished to do so。 The girls were utterly tired and hungry；
and the thought of one of Fred's lunches was very pleasant。 Even if Basil
Stanhope was with them； it appeared to be all the better。 Fred always
included Dora's lover with a charming courtesy； and； indeed； at such hours；
was in his most delightful mood。 Stanhope appeared to inspire him。 His
mentality when the clergyman was present took possession of every
incident that came and went； and clothed it in wit and pleasantry。 Dora's
plighted lover honestly thought Dora's undeclared lover the cleverest and
most delightful of men。 And he had no opportunity of noting； as Ethel did；
the difference in Fred's attitude when he was not present。 Then Mostyn's
merry mood became sentimental； and his words were charged with soft
meanings and looks of adoration； and every tone and every movement
made to express far more than the tongue would have dared to utter。
As this flirtation progressedfor on Dora's part it was only vanity and
flirtationEthel grew more and more uneasy。 She almost wished for some
trifling overt act which would give her an excuse for warning Dora； and
one day； after three weeks of such philandering； the opportunity came。
〃I think you permit Fred Mostyn to take too much liberty with you；
Dora；〃 she said as soon as they were in Dora's parlor； and as she spoke she
threw off her coat in a temper which effectively emphasized the words。
〃I have been expecting this ill…nature； Ethel。 You were cross all the
time we were at lunch。 You spoiled all our pleasure Pray； what have I been
doing wrong with Fred Mostyn？〃
〃It was Fred who did wrong。 His compliments to you were outrageous。
He has no right to say such things； and you have no right to listen to
them。〃 〃I am not to blame if he compliments me instead of you。 He was
simply polite； but then it was to the wrong person。〃
〃Of course it was。 Such politeness he had no right to offer you。〃
〃It would have been quite proper if offered you； I suppose？〃 〃It
would not。 It would have been a great impertinence。 I have given him
neither claim nor privilege to address me as ‘My lovely Ethel！' He called
you many times ‘My lovely Dora！' You are not his lovely Dora。 When he
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put on your coat； he drew you closer than was proper； and I saw him take
your hand and hold it in a claspnot necessary。〃
〃Why do you listen and watch？ It is vulgar。 You told me so yourself。
And I am lovely。 Basil says that as well as Fred。 Do you want a man to lie
and say I am ugly？〃
〃You are fencing the real question。 He had no business to use the word
‘my。' You are engaged to Basil Stanhope； not to Fred Mostyn。〃
〃I am Basil's lovely fiancee； I am Fred's lovely friend。〃
〃Oh！ I hope Fred understands the difference。〃
〃Of course he does。 Some people are always thinking evil。〃
〃I was thinking of Mr。 Stanhope's rights。〃
〃Thank you； Ethel； but I can take care of Mr。 Stanhope's rights without
your assistance。 If you had said you were thinking of Ethel Rawdon's
rights you would have been nearer the truth。〃
〃Dora； I will not listen〃
〃Oh； you shall listen to me！ I know that you expected Fred to fall in
love with you； but if he did not like to do so； am I to blame？〃 Ethel was
resuming her coat at this point in the conversation； and Dora understood
the proud silence with which the act was being accomplished。 Then a
score of good reasons for preventing such a definite quarrel flashed
through her selfish little mind； and she threw her arms around Ethel and
begged a thousand pardons for her rudeness。 And Ethel had also reasons
for avoiding dissension at this time。 A break in their friendship now would
bring Dora forward to explain； and Dora had a wonderful cleverness in
presenting her own side of any question。 Ethel shrunk from her
innuendoes concerning Fred； and she knew that Basil would be made to
consider her a meddling； jealous girl who willingly saw evil in Dora's
guileless enjoyment of a clever man's company。
To be misunderstood； to be blamed and pitied； to be made a pedestal
for Dora's superiority； was a situation not to be contemplated。 It was better
to look over Dora's rudeness in the flush of Dora's pretended sorrow for it。
So they forgave each other； or said they did； and then Dora explained
herself。 She declared that she had not the least intention of any wrong。
〃You see； Ethel； what a fool the man is about me。 Somebody says we
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ought to treat a fool according to his folly。 That is all I was doing。 I am
sure Basil is so far above Fred Mostyn that I could never put them in
comparisonand Basil knows it。 He trusts me。〃
〃Very well； Dora。 If Basil knows it； and trusts you； I have no more to
say。 I am now sorry I named the subject。〃
〃Never mind； we will forget that it was named。 The fact is； Ethel； I
want all the fun I can get now。 When I am Basil's wife I shall have to be
very sedate； and of course not even pretend to know if any other man
admires me。 Little lunches with Fred； theater and opera parties； and even
dances will be over for me。 Oh； dear； how much I am giving up for Basil！
And sometimes I think he never realizes how dreadful it must be for me。〃
〃You will have your lover all the time then。 Surely his constant
companionship will atone for all you relinquish。〃
〃Take off your coat and hat； Ethel； and sit down comfortably。 I don't
know about Basil's constant companionship。 Tete…a…tetes are tiresome
affairs sometimes。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Ethel； as she half…reluc… tantly removed her coat； 〃they
were a bore undoubtedly even in Paradise。 I wonder if Eve was tired of
Adam's conversation； and if that made her listen tothe other party。〃
〃I am so glad you mentioned that circumstance； Ethel。 I shall
remember it。 Some day； no doubt； I shall have to remind Basil of the
failure of Adam to satisfy Eve's idea of perfect companionship。〃 And Dora
put her pretty； jeweled hands up to her ears and laughed a low； musical
laugh with a childish note of malice running through it。
This pseudo…reconciliation was not conducive to pleasant intercourse。
After a short delay Ethel made an excuse for an early departure； and Dora
accepted it without her usual remonstrance。 The day had been one of
continual friction； and Dora's irritable pettishness hard to bear； because it
had now lost that childish unreason which had always induced Ethel's
patience； for Dora had lately put away all her ignorant immaturities。 She
had become a person of importance； and had realized the fact。 The young
ladies of St。 Jude's had made a pet of their revered rector's love； and the
elder ladies had also shown a marked interest in her。 The Dennings' fine
house was now talked about and visited。 Men of high financial power
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respected Mr。 Dan Denning； and advised the social recognition of his
family； and Mrs。 Denning was not now found more eccentric than many
other of the new rich； who had been tolerated in the ranks of the older
plutocrats。 Even Bryce had made the standing he desired。 He was seen
with the richest and idlest young men； and was invited to the best houses。
Those fashionable women who had marriageable daughters considered
him not ineligible； and men temporarily hampered for cash knew that they
could find smiling assistance for a consideration at Bryce's little office on
William Street。
These and other points of reflection troubled Ethel； and she was glad
the long trial was nearing its end； for she knew quite well the disagreement
of that evening had done no good。 Dora would certainly repeat their
conversation； in her own way of interpreting it； to both Basil Stanhope and
Fred Mostyn。 More than likely both Bryce and Mrs。 Denning would also
hear how her innocent kindness had been misconstrued； and in each case
she could imagine the conversation that took place； and the subsequent
bestowal of pitying； scornful or angry feeling that would insensibly find its
way to her consciousness without any bird of the air to carry it。
She felt； too； that reprisals of any kind were out of the question。 They
were not only impolitic； they were difficult。 Her father had an aversion to
Dora； and was likely to seize the first opportunity for requesting Ethel to
drop the girl's acquaintance。 Ruth also had urged her to withdraw from any
active part in the wedding； strengthening her advice with the assurance
that when a friendship began to decline it ought to be abandoned at once。
There was only her grandmother to go to； and at first she did not find her
at all interested in the trouble。 She had just had a dispute with her milkman；
was inclined to give him all her suspicions and all her angry words〃an
impertinent； cheating creature
