an unsocial socialist-第30章

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upon　them　is　led　by　a　man　who　prefers　photography　to　etching。〃

〃But　I　assure　youYou　quite　mistake　me；〃　said　Erskine；　taken
aback。　〃I〃

He　stopped；looked　to　Sir　Charles　for　support；　and　then　said
airily：　〃I　don't　doubt　that　you　are　quite　right。　I　hate　business
and　men　of　business；　and　as　to　social　questions；　I　have　only　one
article　of　belief；　which　is；　that　the　sole　refiner　of　human
nature　is　fine　art。〃

〃Whereas　I　believe　that　the　sole　refiner　of　art　is　human　nature。
Art　rises　when　men　rise；　and　grovels　when　men　grovel。　What　is
your　opinion？〃

〃I　agree　with　you　in　many　ways；〃　replied　Sir　Charles　nervously；
for　a　lack　of　interest　in　his　fellow…creatures；　and　an　excess　of
interest　in　himself；　had　prevented　him　from　obtaining　that　power
of　dealing　with　social　questions　which；　he　felt；　a　baronet　ought
to　possess；　and　he　was　consequently　afraid　to　differ　from　anyone
who　alluded　to　them　with　confidence。　〃If　you　take　an　interest　in
art；　I　believe　I　can　show　you　a　few　things　worth　seeing。〃

〃Thank　you。　In　return　I　will　some　day　show　you　a　remarkable
collection　of　photographs　I　possess；　many　of　them　taken　by　me。　I
venture　to　think　they　will　teach　you　something。〃

〃No　doubt；〃　said　Sir　Charles。　〃Shall　we　return　to　the　gallery？　I
have　a　few　treasures　there　that　photography　is　not　likely　to
surpass　for　some　time　yet。〃

〃Let's　go　through　the　conservatory；〃　said　Jane。　〃Don't　you　like
flowers；　Mr。　SmiI　never　can　remember　your　proper　name。〃

〃Extremely；〃　said　Trefusis。

They　rose　and　went　out　into　a　long　hothouse。　Here　Lady　Brandon；
finding　Erskine　at　her　side；　and　Sir　Charles　before　her　with
Gertrude；　looked　round　for　Trefusis；　with　whom　she　intended　to
enjoy　a　trifling　flirtation　under　cover　of　showing　him　the
flowers。　He　was　out　of　sight；　but　she　heard　his　footsteps　in　the
passage　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　greenhouse。　Agatha　was　also
invisible。　Jane；　not　daring　to　rearrange　their　procession　lest
her　design　should　become　obvious；　had　to　walk　on　with　Erskine。

Agatha　had　turned　unintentionally　into　the　opposite　alley　to　that
which　the　others　had　chosen。　When　she　saw　what　she　had　done；　and
found　herself　virtually　alone　with　Trefusis；　who　had　followed
her；　she　blamed　him　for　it；　and　was　about　to　retrace　her　steps
when　he　said　coolly：

〃Were　you　shocked　when　you　heard　of　Henrietta's　sudden　death？〃

Agatha　struggled　with　herself　for　a　moment；　and　then　said　in　a
suppressed　voice：　〃How　dare　you　speak　to　me？〃

〃Why　not？〃　said　he；　astonished。

〃I　am　not　going　to　enter　into　a　discussion　with　you。　You　know
what　I　mean　very　well。〃

〃You　mean　that　you　are　offended　with　me；　that　is　plain　enough。
But　when　I　part　with　a　young　lady　on　good　terms；　and　after　a
lapse　of　years；　during　which　we　neither　meet　nor　correspond；　she
asks　me　how　I　dare　speak　to　her；　I　am　naturally　startled。〃

〃We　did　not　part　on　good　terms。〃

Trefusis　stretched　his　eyebrows；　as　if　to　stretch　his　memory。　〃If
not；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　forgotten　it；　on　my　honor。　When　did　we
part；　and　what　happened？　It　cannot　have　been　anything　very
serious；　or　I　should　remember　it。〃

His　forgetfulness　wounded　Agatha。　〃No　doubt　you　are　well
accustomed　to〃　She　checked　herself；　and　made　a　successful
snatch　at　her　normal　manner　with　gentlemen。　〃I　scarcely　remember
what　it　was；　now　that　I　begin　to　think。　Some　trifle；　I　suppose。
Do　you　like　orchids？〃

〃They　have　nothing　to　do　with　our　affairs　at　present。　You　are　not
in　earnest　about　the　orchids；　and　you　are　trying　to　run　away　from
a　mistake　instead　of　clearing　it　up。　That　is　a　short…sighted
policy；　always。〃

Agatha　grew　alarmed；　for　she　felt　his　old　influence　over　her
returning。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　speak　of　it；〃　she　said　firmly。

Her　firmness　was　lost　on　him。　〃I　do　not　even　know　what　it　means
yet；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　want　to　know；　for　I　believe　there　is　some
misunderstanding　between　us；　and　it　is　the　trick　of　your　sex　to
perpetuate　misunderstandings　by　forbidding　all　allusions　to　them。
Perhaps；　leaving　Lyvern　so　hastily；　I　forgot　to　fulfil　some
promise；　or　to　say　farewell；　or　something　of　that　sort。　But　do
you　know　how　suddenly　I　was　called　away？　I　got　a　telegram　to　say
that　Henrietta　was　dying；　and　I　had　only　time　to　change　my
clothesyou　remember　my　disguiseand　catch　the　express。　And；
after　all；　she　was　dead　when　I　arrived。〃

〃I　know　that；〃　said　Agatha　uneasily。　〃Please　say　no　more　about
it。〃

〃Not　if　it　distresses　you。　Just　let　me　hope　that　you　did　not
suppose　I　blamed　you　for　your　share　in　the　matter　or　that　I　told
the　Janseniuses　of　it。　I　did　not。　Yes；　I　like　orchids。　A　plant
that　can　subsist　on　a　scrap　of　board　is　an　instance　of　natural
econ〃

〃YOU　blame　ME！〃　cried　Agatha。　〃_I_　never　told　the　Janseniuses。
What　would　they　have　thought　of　you　if　I　had？〃

〃Far　worse　of　you　than　of　me；　however　unjustly。　You　were　the
immediate　cause　of　the　tragedy；　I　only　the　remote　one。　Jansenius
is　not　far…seeing　when　his　feelings　are　touched。　Few　men　are。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you　in　the　least。　What　tragedy　do　you　mean？〃

〃Henrietta's　death。　I　call　it　a　tragedy　conventionally。
Seriously；　of　course；　it　was　commonplace　enough。〃

Agatha　stopped　and　faced　him。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　what　you　said
just　now？　You　said　that　I　was　the　immediate　cause　of　the　tragedy；
and　you　say　that　you　were　talking　of　Henrietta'sof　Henrietta。　I
had　nothing　to　do　with　her　illness。〃

Trefusis　looked　at　her　as　if　considering　whether　he　would　go　any
further。　Then；　watching　her　with　the　curiosity　of　a　vivisector；
he　said：　〃Strange　to　say；　Agatha；〃　（she　shrank　proudly　at　the
word）；　〃Henrietta　might　have　been　alive　now　but　for　you。　I　am
very　glad　she　is　not；　so　you　need　not　reproach　yourself　on　my
account。　She　died　of　a　journey　she　made　to　Lyvern　in　great
excitement　and　distress；　and　in　intensely　cold　weather。　You
caused　her　to　make　that　journey　by　writing　her　a　letter　which
made　her　jealous。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　accuse　me〃

〃No；　stop！〃　he　said　hastily；　the　vivisecting　spirit　in　him
exorcised　by　her　shaking　voice；　〃I　accuse　you　of　nothing。　Why　do
you　not　speak　honestly　to　me　when　you　are　at　your　ease？　If　you
confess　your　real　thoughts　only　under　torture；　who　can　resist　the
temptation　to　torture　you？　One　must　charge　you　with　homicide　to
make　you　speak　of　anything　but　orchids。〃

But　Agatha　had　drawn　the　new　inference　from　the　old　facts；　and
would　not　be　talked　out　of　repudiating　it。　〃It　was　not　my　fault；〃
she　said。　〃It　was　yoursaltogether　yours。〃

〃Altogether；〃　he　assented；　relieved　to　find　her　indignant　instead
of　remorseful。

She　was　not　to　be　soothed　by　a　verbal　acquiescence。　〃Your
behavior　was　most　unmanly；　and　I　told　you　so；　and　you　could　not
deny　it。　You　pretended　that　youYou　pretended　to　have
feelingsYou　tried　to　make　me　believe　that　Oh；　I　am　a　fool　to
talk　to　you；　you　know　perfectly　well　what　I　mean。〃

〃Perfectly。　I　tried　to　make　you　believe　that　I　was　in　love　with
you。　How　do　you　know　I　was　not？〃

She　disdained　to　answer；　but　as　he　waited　calmly　she　said；　〃You
had　no　right　to　be。〃

〃That　does　not　prove　that　I　was　not。　Come；　Agatha；　you　pretended
to　like　me　when　you　did　not　care　two　straws　about　me。　You
confessed　as　much　in　that　fatal　letter；　which　I　have　somewhere　at
home。　It　has　a　great　rent　right　across　it；　and　the　mark　of　her
heel；　she　must　have　stamped　on　it　in　her　rage；　poor　girl！　So　that
I　can　show　your　own　hand　for　the　very　deception　you　accused
mewithout　proofof　having　practiced　on　you。〃

〃You　are　clever；　and　can　twist　things。　What　pleasure　does　it　give
you　to　make　me　miserable？〃

〃Ha！〃　he　exclaimed；　in　an　abrupt；　sardonic　laugh。　〃I　don't　know；
you　bewitch　me；　I　think。〃

Agatha　made　no　reply；　but　walked　on　quickly　to　the　end　of　the
conservatory；　where　the　others　were　waiting　for　them。

〃Where　have　you　been；　and　what　have　you　been　doing　all　this
time？〃　said　Jane；　as　Trefusis　came　up；　hurrying　after　Agatha。　〃I
don't　know　what　you　call　it；　but　I　call　it　perfectly
disgraceful！〃

Sir　Charles　reddened　at　his　wife's　bad　taste；　and　Trefusis
replied　gravely：　〃We　have　been　admiring　the　orchids；　and　talking
about　them。　Miss　Wylie　takes　an　interest　in　them。〃



CHAPTER　XIII

One　morning　Gertrude　got　a　letter　from　her　father：

〃My　Dear　Gerty：　I　have　just　received　a　bill　for　L110　from　Madame
Smith　for　your　dresses。　May　I　ask　you　how　long　this　sort　of　thing
is　to　go　on？　I　need　not　tell　you　that　I　have　not　the　means　to
support　you　in　such　extravagance。　I　am；　as　you　know；　always
anxious　that　you　should　go　about　in　a　style　worthy　of　your
position；　but　unless　you　can　manage　without　calling　on　me　to　pay
away　hundreds　of　pounds　every　season　to　Madame　Smith；　you　had
better　give　up　society　and　stay　at　home。　I　positively　cannot
afford　it。　As　far　as　I　can　see；　going　into　society　has　not　done
you　much　good。　I　had　to　raise　L500　last　month　on　Franklands；　and
it　is　too　bad　if　I　must　raise　more　to　pay　your　dressmaker。　You
might　at　least　employ　some　civil　person；　or　one　whose　charges　are
moderate。　Madame　Smith　tells　me　that　she　will　not　wait　any
longer；　and　charges　L50　for　a　single　dress。　I　hope　you　fully
understand　that　there　must　be　an　end　to　this。

〃I　hear　from　your　mother　that　young　Erskine　is　with　you　at
Brandon's。　I　do　not　think　much　of　him。　He　is　not　well　off；　nor
likely　to　get　on；　as　he　has　taken　to　poetry　and　so　forth。　I　am
told　also　that　a　man　named　Trefusis　visits　at　the　Beeches　a　good
deal　now。　He　must　be　a　fool；　for　he　contested　the　last　Birmingham
election；　and　came　out　at　the　foot　of　the　poll　with　thirty…two
votes　through　calling　himself　a　Social　Democrat　or　some　such
foreign　rubbish；　instead　of　saying　out　like　a　man　that　he　was　a
Radical。　I　suppose　the　name　stuck　in　his　throat；　for　his　mother
was　one　of　the　Howards　of　Breconcastle；　so　he　has　good　blood　in
him；　though　his　father　was　nobody。　I　wish　he　had　your　bills　to
pay；　he　could　buy　and　sell　me　ten　times　over；　after　all　my
twenty…five　years'　service。

〃As　I　am　thinking　of　getting　something　done　to　the　house；　I　had
rather　you　did　not　come　back　this　month；　if　you　can　possibly　hold
on　at　Brandon's。　Remember　me　to　him；　and　give　our　kind　regards　to
his　wife。　I　should　be　obliged　if　you　would　gather　some　hemlock
leaves　and　send　them　to　me。　I　want　them　for　my　ointment；　the
stuff　the　chemists　sell　is　no　good。　Your　mother's　eyes　are　bad
again；　and　your　brother　Berkeley　has　been　gambling；　and　seems　to
think　I　ought　to　pay　his　debts　for　him。　I　am　greatly　worried　over
it　all；　and　I　hope　that；　until　you　have　settled　yourself；　you
will　be　more　reasonable；　and　not　run　these　everlasting　bills　upon
me。　You　are　enjoying　yourself　out　of　reach　of　all　the
unpleasantness；　but　it　bears　hardly　upon

〃Your　affectionate　father；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃C。B。　LINDSAY。〃

A　faint　sketch　of　the　lines　Time　intended　to　engrave　on
Gertrude's　brow　appeared　there　as　she　read　the　letter；　but　she
hastened　to　give　the　admiral's　kind　regards　to　her　host　and
hostess；　and　discussed　her　mother's　health　feelingly　with　them。
After　breakfast　she　went　to　the　library；　and　wrote　her　reply：

〃BRANDON　BEECHES；　　　〃Tuesday。

〃Dear　Papa：　Considering　that　it　is　more　than　three　years　since
you　paid　Madame　Smith　last；　and　that　then　her　bill；　which
included　my　court　dress；　was　only　L150；　I　cannot　see　how