we two-第53章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Leslie　Cunningham　seemed　as　if　he　intended　to　stay　forever；　however；　every　one　was　quite　content　to　sit　out　on　the　lawn　talking　and　watching　the　children　at　their　play。　　It　was　one　of　those　still；　soft　September　evenings　when　one　is　glad　of　any　excuse　to　keep　out　of　doors。

At　last　the　dressing　bell　rang；　and　Leslie　took　out　his　watch　with　an　air　of　surprise。

〃The　afternoon　has　flown！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　had　no　idea　it　was　so　late。　　I　wanted　to　ask　you；　by　the　bye；　whether　I　could　see　the　coffee　tavern　at　Greyshot。　　We　are　going　to　start　one　down　at　our　place；　and　I　want　to　see　one　or　two　well…managed　ones　first。　　Whereabouts　is　it？　　I　think　I'll　ride　on　now；　and　have　a　look　at　it。〃

〃Dine　with　us　first；〃　said　Donovan；　〃and　I'll　ride　over　with　you　between　eight　and　nine；　that　is　the　best　time　for　seeing　it　in　full　swing。〃

So　Leslie　Cunningham　stayed　to　dinner；　and　talked　a　great　deal　about　temperance　work；　but　did　not　succeed　in　blinding　his　host；　who　knew　well　enough　that　Erica　had　been　the　real　cause　of　his　desire　to　go　over　to　Greyshot。

Temperance；　however；　proved　a　fortunate　subject；　for　it　was；　of　course；　one　in　which　she　was　deeply　interested；　all　the　more　so　now　that　it　formed　one　of　the　strongest　bonds　remaining　between　herself　and　her　father's　followers。　　A　large　number　of　the　Raeburnites　were　either　teetotalers　or　very　strong　temperance　advocates；　and　Erica；　who　was　constantly　out　and　about　in　the　poorer　parts　of　London；　had　realized　forcibly　the　terrible　national　evil；　and　was　an　enthusiastic　temperance　worker。

Donovan；　perhaps　out　of　malice　prepense；　administered　a　good　many　dry　details　about　the　management　of　coffee　taverns；　personal　supervision；　Etzenberger's　machines；　the　necessity　of　a　good　site　and　attractive　building；　etc。；　etc。　　Erica　only　wished　that　Tom　could　have　been　there；　he　would　have　been　so　thoroughly　in　his　element。　　By　and　by　the　conversation　drifted　away　to　other　matters。　　And　as　Leslie　Cunningham　was　a　good　and　very　amusing　talker；　and　Gladys　the　perfection　of　a　hostess；　the　dinner　proved　very　lively；　an　extraordinary　contrast　to　the　dreary；　vapid　table　talk　to　which　Erica　had　lately　been　accustomed。　　After　the　ladies　had　left　the　room；　Donovan；　rather　to　his　amusement；　found　the　talk　veering　round　to　Luke　Raeburn。　　Presently；　Leslie　Cunningham　hazarded　a　direct　question　about　Erica　in　a　would…be　indifferent　tone。　　In　reply；　Donovan　told　him　briefly　and　without　comment　what　he　knew　of　her　history；　keeping　on　the　surface　of　things　and　speaking　always　with　a　sort　of　careful　restraint。　　He　was　never　very　fond　of　discussing　people；　and　perhaps　in　this　case　the　realization　of　the　thousand　objections　to　any　serious　outcome　of　Leslie's　sudden　admiration　strengthened　his　reserve。　　However；　fate　was　apparently　kinder　though　perhaps　really　more　cruel　than　the　host；　for　Donovan　was　summoned　into　the　library　to　interview　an　aggrieved　constituent；　and　Leslie　finding　his　way　to　the　drawing　room；　was　only　too　delighted　to　meet　Gladys　going　upstairs　to　see　her　children。

The　lamps　were　lighted　in　the　drawing　room；　but　the　curtains　were　not　drawn；　and　beside　the　open　window　he　saw　a　slim；　white…robed　figure。　　Erica　was　looking　out　into　the　gathering　darkness。　　He　crossed　the　room；　and　stood　beside　her；　his　heart　beating　quickly；　all　the　more　because　she　did　not　move　or　take　any　notice　of　his　presence。　　It　was　unconventional；　but　perhaps　because　he　was　so　weary　of　the　ordinary　young　ladies　who　invariably　smiled　and　fluttered　the　moment　he　approached　them；　and　were　so　perfectly　ready　to　make　much　of　him；　this　unconventionality　attracted　him。　　He　watched　her　for　a　minute　in　silence。　　She　was　very　happy；　and　was　looking　her　loveliest。　　Presently　she　turned。

〃I　think　it　is　the　stillness　which　is　so　wonderful！〃　she　exclaimed。

It　was　spoken　with　the　frankness　of　a　child；　with　the　spontaneous　confidence　of　the　pure　child…nature；　which　instinctively　recognizes　all　the　lovable　and　trustable。　　The　clear；　golden　eyes　looked　right　into　his　for　a　moment。　　A　strange　reverence　awoke　within　him。　　He　had　seen　more　beautiful　eyes　before；　but　none　so　entirely　wanting　in　that　unreality　of　expression　arising　from　a　wish　to　produce　an　effect；　none　so　beautifully　sincere。

〃The　country　stillness；　you　mean？〃　he　replied。

〃Yes；　it　is　rest　in　itself。　　I　have　never　stayed　in　the　country　before。〃

〃Is　it　possible！〃　he　exclaimed。

He　had　often　languidly　discussed　the　comparative　advantages　of　Murren　and　Zermatt　with　girls　who　took　a　yearly　tour　abroad　as　naturally　as　their　dinner；　but　to　talk　to　one　who　had　spent　her　whole　life　in　towns；　who　could　enjoy　a　country　evening　so　absolutely　and　unaffectedly；　was　a　strange　and　delightful　novelty。

〃You　are　one　of　those　who　can　really　enjoy；〃　he　said。　　〃You　are　not　blasee　you　are　one　of　the　happy　mortals　who　keep　the　faculty　of　enjoyment　as　strongly　all　through　life　as　in　childhood。〃

〃Yes；　I　think　I　can　enjoy；〃　said　Erica。　　〃But　I　suppose　we　pay　for　our　extra　faculty　of　enjoyment。

〃You　mean　by　being　more　sensitive　to　pain？〃

〃Yes；　though　that　sounds　rather　like　Dickens's　Mrs。　Gummidge；　when　she　thought　she　felt　smoky　chimneys　more　than　other　people。〃

He　laughed。

〃How　I　wish　you　could　turn　over　your　work　to　me；　and　go　to　Switzerland　tomorrow　in　my　place！　　Only　I　should　wish　to　be　there；　too；　for　the　sake　of　seeing　you　enjoy　it。〃

〃Do　you　go　tomorrow？〃

〃Yes；　with　my　father。〃

〃Ah！　　How　delightful！　　I　confess　I　do　envy　you　a　little。　　I　do　long　to　see　snow　mountains。　　Always　living　in　London　makes　me〃

He　interrupted　her　with　a　sort　of　exclamation　of　horror。

〃Oh！　Don't　abuse　London！〃　she　said；　laughing。　　〃If　one　must　live　all　the　year　round　in　one　place；　I　would　rather　be　there　than　anywhere。　　When　I　hear　people　abusing　it；　I　always　think　they　don't　know　how　to　use　their　eyes。　　What　can　be　more　lovely；　for　instance；　than　the　view　from　Greenwich　Park　by　the　observatory？　　Don't　you　know　that　beautiful　clump　of　Scotch　firs　in　the　foreground；　and　then　the　glimpse　of　the　river　through　the　trees？　　And　then　there　is　that　lovely　part　by　Queen　Elizabeth's　oak。　　The　view　in　Hyde　Park；　too；　over　the　Serpentine；　how　exquisite　that　is　on　a　summer　afternoon；　with　the　Westminster　towers　standing　up　in　a　golden　haze。　　Or　Kensington　Gardens　in　the　autumn；　when　the　leaves　are　turning；　and　there　is　blue　mist　in　the　background　against　the　dark　tree　trunks。　　I　think　I　love　every　inch　of　London！〃

Leslie　Cunningham　would　have　listened　to　the　praises　of　the　Black　Country；　if　only　for　the　sake　of　hearing　her　voice。

〃Well；　as　far　as　England　goes；　you　are　in　the　right　place　for　scenery　now；　I　know　a　few　lovelier　parts　than　this。〃

〃What　are　those　lights　on　the　lower　terrace？〃　asked　Erica；　suddenly。

〃Glow　worms。　　Have　you　never　seen　them？　　Come　and　look　at　them　nearer。〃

〃Oh；　I　should　like　to！〃　she　said；　with　the　charming　enthusiasm　and　eagerness　which　delighted　him　so　much。

To　guide　her　down　the　steps　in　the　dusky　garden；　to　feel　her　hand　on　his　arm；　to　hear　her　fresh；　naive　remarks；　and　then　to　recall　what　Donovan　Farrant　had　just　told　him　about　her　strange；　sad　story；　all　seemed　to　draw　him　on　irresistibly。　　He　had　had　three　or　four　tolerably　serious　flirtations；　but　now　he　knew　that　he　had　never　before　really　loved。

Erica　was　delighted　with　the　glow　worms；　and　delighted　with　the　dewy　fragrance　of　the　garden；　and　delighted　with　the　soft；　balmy　stillness　of　the　night。　　She　was　one　of　those　who　revel　in　Nature；　and　all　that　she　said　was　evidently　the　overflow　of　a　rapturous　happiness；　curiously　contrasting　with　the　ordinary　set　remarks　of　admiration；　or　falsely　sentimental　outbursts　too　much　in　vogue。　　But　Leslie　Cunningham　found　that　the　child…likeness　was　not　only　in　manner；　but　that　Erica　had　no　idea　of　flirting；　she　was　bright；　and　merry；　and　talkative；　but　she　had　no　thought；　no　desire　of　attracting　his　attention。　　She　had　actually　and　literally　come　out　into　the　garden　to　see　the　glow　worms；　not　to　monopolize　the　much…run…after　young　M。P；　and　as　soon　as　she　had　seen　them　she　said　she　felt　cold；　and　suggested　going　back　again。

He　was　disappointed；　but　the　words　were　so　perfectly　sincere；　so　free　from　suspicion　of　mere　conventionality；　that　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　return。　　Half　amused；　half　piqued；　but　wholly　in　love；　he　speedily　forgot　himself　in　real　anxiety。

〃I　hope　you　haven't　taken　cold；〃　he　said；　with　great　solicitude。

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Erica；　〃but　I　want　to　be　careful　for　the　night…school　work　will　be　beginning　soon；　and　I　must　go　home　fresh　for　that。〃

Something　in　her　words　broke　the　spell　of　perfect　happiness　which　had　hitherto　held　him。　　Was　it　the　mention　of　her　every…day　life；　with　its　surroundings　unknown　to　him？　　Or　was　it　some　faint　perception　that　in　the　world　of　duty　to　which　she　referred　their　paths　could　not　rightly　converge？　　A　cold　chill　crept　over　him。

〃You　were　quite　right；〃　he　said　with　an　involuntary　shiver。　　〃It　is　decidedly　cold　out　here；　the　mist　rises　from　the　river；　I　expect；　or　else　your　reference　to　the　working…day　world　has　recalled　me　from　fairy…land。　　You　should　not　speak　of　work　in　such　a　place　as　this　it　is　incongruous。〃

She　smiled。

〃Ernst　ist　das　leben；〃　she　replied　quietly。　　〃One　can't　forget　that　even　at　such　a　time　as　this；　and　in　such　a　place。〃

〃How　is　it　that　some　never　forget　that　for　a　moment；　while　others　never　remember　it　at　all？〃　he　said　musingly。

〃Some　of　us　have　no　excuse　for　ever　forgetting；〃　she　answered　〃hardly　a　chance　either。〃

And　though　the　words　were　vague；　they　shadowed　out　to　him　much　of　her　life　a　life　never　free　from　sorrow；　burdened　with　constant　care　and　anxiety；　and　ever　confronted　by　some　of　the　most　perplexing　world　problems。　　A　longing　to　shield；　and　protect；　and　comfort　her　rose　in　his　heart；　yet　all　the　time　he　instinctively　knew　that　hers　was　the　stronger　nature。

It　seemed　that　the　seriousness　of　life　was　to　be　borne　in　upon　them　specially　that　evening；　for；　returning　to　the　drawing　room；　they　found　Donovan　released　from　his　interview；　and　relating　with　some　indignation　the　pitiable　story　he　had　just　heard。　　It　only　reached　Leslie　Cunningham　in　fragments；　however　over　crowding；　children　sleeping　six　in　a　bed；　two　of　them　with　scarlet　fever；　no　fever　hospital；　no　accommodation　for　them；　an　inspector；　medical　officer；　the　board　how　drearily　dry　all　the　details　seemed　to　him。　　He　could　do　nothing　but　watch　Erica's　eager　face　with　its　ever…varying　play　of　expression。　　He　hardly　knew　whether　to　be　angry　with　Donovan　Farrant　for　alluding　to　matters　which　brought　a　look　of　sadness　to　her　eyes；　or　to　thank　him　for　the　story　which　made　her　face　light　up　with　indignation　and　look；　if　possible；　more　beautiful　than　before。

〃Don't　offer　to　put　up　a　fever　shanty　on　the　lawn；〃　said　Gladys　when　her　husband　paused。

〃I　wish　we　had　an　empty　cottage　where　we　could　put　them〃　said　Donovan；　〃but　I　am　afraid　all　I　can　do　is　to　bring　pressure　to　bear　upon　the　authorities。　　We'll　ride　over　together；　Cunningham；　and　Jack　Trevethan；　our　manager；　shall　show　you　the　tavern　while　I　rout　out　this　medical　officer。〃

They　had　had　tea；　there　was　no　longer　any　excuse　for　delaying。　　Leslie；　with　an　outward　smile　and　an　inward　sigh；　turned　to　take　leave　of　Erica。　　She　was　bending　over　a　bas