an unsocial socialist-第43章

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marry。　He　had；　in　his　serious　moments；　striven　to　make　her
sensible　of　the　baseness　he　saw　in　her　worldliness；　flattering
her　by　his　apparent　convictionwhich　she　sharedthat　she　was
capable　of　a　higher　life。　Almost　in　the　same　breath；　a　strain　of
gallantry　which　was　incorrigible　in　him；　and　to　which　his　humor
and　his　tenderness　to　women　whom　he　liked　gave　variety　and　charm；
would　supervene　upon　his　seriousness　with　a　rapidity　which　her
far　less　flexible　temperament　could　not　follow。　Hence　she；
thinking　him　still　in　earnest　when　he　had　swerved　into　florid
romance；　had　been　dangerously　misled。　He　had　no　conscientious
scruples　in　his　love…making；　because　he　was　unaccustomed　to
consider　himself　as　likely　to　inspire　love　in　women；　and　Gertrude
did　not　know　that　her　beauty　gave　to　an　hour　spent　alone　with　her
a　transient　charm　which　few　men　of　imagination　and　address　could
resist。　She；　who　had　lived　in　the　marriage　market　since　she　had
left　school；　looked　upon　love…making　as　the　most　serious　business
of　life。　To　him　it　was　only　a　pleasant　sort　of　trifling；　enhanced
by　a　dash　of　sadness　in　the　reflection　that　it　meant　so　little。

Of　the　ceremonies　attending　her　departure；　the　one　that　cost　her
most　was　the　kiss　she　felt　bound　to　offer　Agatha。　She　had　been
jealous　of　her　at　college；　where　she　had　esteemed　herself　the
better　bred　of　the　two；　but　that　opinion　had　hardly　consoled　her
for　Agatha's　superior　quickness　of　wit；　dexterity　of　hand；
audacity；　aptness　of　resource；　capacity　for　forming　or　following
intricate　associations　of　ideas；　and　consequent　power　to　dazzle
others。　Her　jealousy　of　these　qualities　was　now　barbed　by　the
knowledge　that　they　were　much　nearer　akin　than　her　own　to　those
of　Trefusis。　It　mattered　little　to　her　how　she　appeared　to
herself　in　comparison　with　Agatha。　But　it　mattered　the　whole
world　（she　thought）　that　she　must　appear　to　Trefusis　so　slow；
stiff；　cold；　and　studied；　and　that　she　had　no　means　to　make　him
understand　that　she　was　not　really　so。　For　she　would　not　admit
the　justice　of　impressions　made　by　what　she　did　not　intend　to　do；
however　habitually　she　did　it。　She　had　a　theory　that　she　was　not
herself；　but　what　she　would　have　liked　to　be。　As　to　the　one
quality　in　which　she　had　always　felt　superior　to　Agatha；　and
which　she　called　〃　good　breeding；〃　Trefusis　had　so　far　destroyed
her　conceit　in　that；　that　she　was　beginning　to　doubt　whether　it
was　not　her　cardinal　defect。

She　could　not　bring　herself　to　utter　a　word　as　she　embraced　her
schoolfellow；　and　Agatha　was　tongue…tied　too。　But　there　was　much
remorseful　tenderness　in　the　feelings　that　choked　them。　Their
silence　would　have　been　awkward　but　for　the　loquacity　of　Jane；
who　talked　enough　for　all　three。　Sir　Charles　was　without；　in　the
trap；　waiting　to　drive　Gertrude　to　the　station。　Erskine
intercepted　her　in　the　hall　as　she　passed　out；　told　her　that　he
should　be　desolate　when　she　was　gone；　and　begged　her　to　remember
him；　a　simple　petition　which　moved　her　a　little；　and　caused　her
to　note　that　his　dark　eyes　had　a　pleading　eloquence　which　she　had
observed　before　in　the　kangaroos　at　the　Zoological　Society's
gardens。

On　the　way　to　the　train　Sir　Charles　worried　the　horse　in　order　to
be　excused　from　conversation　on　the　sore　subject　of　his　guest's
sudden　departure。　He　had　made　a　few　remarks　on　the　skittishness
of　young　ponies；　and　on　the　weather；　and　that　was　all　until　they
reached　the　station；　a　pretty　building　standing　in　the　open
country；　with　a　view　of　the　river　from　the　platform。　There　were
two　flies　waiting；　two　porters；　a　bookstall；　and　a　refreshment
room　with　a　neglected　beauty　pining　behind　the　bar。　Sir　Charles
waited　in　the　booking　office　to　purchase　a　ticket　for　Gertrude；
who　went　through　to　the　platform。　The　first　person　she　saw　there
was　Trefusis；　close　beside　her。

〃I　am　going　to　town　by　this　train；　Gertrude；〃　he　said　quickly。
〃Let　me　take　charge　of　you。　I　have　something　to　say；　for　I　hear
that　some　mischief　has　been　made　between　us　which　must　be　stopped
at　once。　You〃

Just　then　Sir　Charles　came　out；　and　stood　amazed　to　see　them　in
conversation。

〃It　happens　that　I　am　going　by　this　train；〃　said　Trefusis。　〃I
will　see　after　Miss　Lindsay。〃

〃Miss　Lindsay　has　her　maid　with　her；〃　said　Sir　Charles；　almost
stammering；　and　looking　at　Gertrude；　whose　expression　was
inscrutable。

〃We　can　get　into　the　Pullman　car；〃　said　Trefusis。　〃There　we　shall
be　as　private　as　in　a　corner　of　a　crowded　drawing…room。　I　may
travel　with　you；　may　I　not？〃　he　said；　seeing　Sir　Charles's
disturbed　look；　and　turning　to　her　for　express　permission。

She　felt　that　to　deny　him　would　be　to　throw　away　her　last　chance
of　happiness。　Nevertheless　she　resolved　to　do　it；　though　she
should　die　of　grief　on　the　way　to　London。　As　she　raised　her　head
to　forbid　him　the　more　emphatically；　she　met　his　gaze；　which　was
grave　and　expectant。　For　an　instant　she　lost　her　presence　of
mind；　and　in　that　instant　said；　〃　Yes。　I　shall　be　very　glad。〃

〃Well；　if　that　is　the　case；〃　said　Sir　Charles；　in　the　tone　of　one
whose　sympathy　had　been　alienated　by　an　unpardonable　outrage；　〃
there　can　be　no　use　in　my　waiting。　I　leave　you　in　the　hands　of
Mr。　Trefusis。　Good…bye；　Miss　Lindsay。〃

Gertrude　winced。　Unkindness　from　a　man　usually　kind　proved　hard
to　bear　at　parting。　She　was　offering　him　her　hand　in　silence　when
Trefusis　said：

〃Wait　and　see　us　off。　If　we　chance　to　be　killed　on　the
journeywhich　is　always　probable　on　an　English　railwayyou　will
reproach　yourself　afterwards　if　you　do　not　see　the　last　of　us。
Here　is　the　train；　it　will　not　delay　you　a　minute。　Tell　Erskine
that　you　saw　me　here；　that　I　have　not　forgotten　my　promise；　and
that　he　may　rely　on　me。　Get　in　at　this　end；　Miss　Lindsay。〃

〃My　maid；〃　said　Gertrude　hesitating；　for　she　had　not　intended　to
travel　so　expensively。　〃She〃

〃She　comes　with　us　to　take　care　of　me；　I　have　tickets　for
everybody；〃　said　Trefusis；　handing　the　woman　in。

〃But〃

〃Take　your　seats；　please；〃　said　the　guard。　〃Going　by　the　train；
sir？〃

〃Good…bye；　Sir　Charles。　Give　my　love　to　Lady　Brandon；　and　Agatha；
and　the　dear　children；　and　thanks　so　much　for　a　very　pleasant〃
Here　the　train　moved　off；　and　Sir　Charles；　melting；　smiled　and
waved　his　hat　until　he　caught　sight　of　Trefusis　looking　back　at
him　with　a　grin　which　seemed；　under　the　circumstances；　so
Satanic；　that　he　stopped　as　if　petrified　in　the　midst　of　his
gesticulations；　and　stood　with　his　arm　out　like　a　semaphore。

The　drive　home　restored　him　somewhat；　but　he　wee　still　full　of
his　surprise　when　he　rejoined　Agatha；　his　wife；　and　Erskine　in
the　drawing…room　at　the　Beeches。　The　moment　he　entered；　he　said
without　preface；　〃She　has　gone　off　with　Trefusis。〃

Erskine；　who　had　been　reading；　started　up；　clutching　his　book　as
if　about　to　hurl　it　at　someone；　and　cried；　〃Was　he　at　the　train？〃

〃Yes；　and　has　gone　to　town　by　it。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Erskine；　flinging　the　book　violently　on　the　floor；
〃he　is　a　scoundrel　and　a　liar。〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　Agatha　rising；　whilst　Jane　stared
open…mouthed　at　him。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Miss　Wylie；　I　forgot　you。　He　pledged　me　his
honor　that　he　would　not　go　by　that　train。　I　will。〃　He　hurried
from　the　room。　Sir　Charles　rushed　after　him；　and　overtook　him　at
the　foot　of　the　stairs。

〃Where　are　you　going？　What　do　you　want　to　do？〃

〃I　will　follow　the　train　and　catch　it　at　the　next　station。　I　can
do　it　on　my　bicycle。〃

〃Nonsense！　you're　mad。　They　have　thirty…five　minutes　start；　and
the　train　travels　forty…five　miles　an　hour。〃

Erskine　sat　down　on　the　stairs　and　gazed　blankly　at　the　opposite
wall。

〃You　must　have　mistaken　him；〃　said　Sir　Charles。　〃He　told　me　to
tell　you　that　he　had　not　forgotten　his　promise；　and　that　you　may
rely　on　him。〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　Agatha；　coming　down；　followed　by　Lady
Brandon。

〃Miss　Wylie；〃　said　Erskine；　springing　up；　〃he　gave　me　his　word
that　he　would　not　go　by　that　train　when　I　told　him　Miss　Lindsay
was　going　by　it。　He　has　broken　his　word　and　seized　the
opportunity　I　was　mad　and　credulous　enough　to　tell　him　of。　If　I
had　been　in　your　place；　Brandon；　I　would　have　strangled　him　or
thrown　him　under　the　wheels　sooner　than　let　him　go。　He　has　shown
himself　in　this　as　in　everything　else；　a　cheat；　a　conspirator；　a
man　of　crooked　ways；　shifts；　tricks；　lying　sophistries；　heartless
selfishness；　cruel　cynicism〃　He　stopped　to　catch　his　breath；
and　Sir　Charles　interposed　a　remonstrance。

〃You　are　exciting　yourself　about　nothing；　Chester。　They　are　in　a
Pullman；　with　her　maid　and　plenty　of　people；　and　she　expressly
gave　him　leave　to　go　with　her。　He　asked　her　the　question　flatly
before　my　face；　and　I　must　say　I　thought　it　a　strange　thing　for
her　to　consent　to。　However；　she　did　consent；　and　of　course　I　was
not　in　a　position　to　prevent　him　from　going　to　London　if　he
pleased。　Don't　let　us　have　a　scene；　old　man。　It　can't　be　helped。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　said　Erskine；　hanging　his　head。　〃I　did　not
mean　to　make　a　scene。　I　beg　your　pardon。〃

He　went　away　to　his　room　without　another　word。　Sir　Charles
followed　and　attempted　to　console　him；　but　Erskine　caught　his
hand；　and　asked　to　be　left　to　himself。　So　Sir　Charles　returned　to
the　drawing…room；　where　his　wife；　at　a　loss　for　once；　hardly
ventured　to　remark　that　she　had　never　heard　of　such　a　thing　in
her　life。

Agatha　kept　silence。　She　had　long　ago　come　unconsciously　to　the
conclusion　that　Trefusis　and　she　were　the　only　members　of　the
party　at　the　Beeches　who　had　much　common…sense；　and　this　made　her
slow　to　believe　that　he　could　be　in　the　wrong　and　Erskine　in　the
right　in　any　misunderstanding　between　them。　She　had　a　slovenly
way　of　summing　up　as　〃asses〃　people　whose　habits　of　thought
differed　from　hers。　Of　all　varieties　of　man；　the　minor　poet
realized　her　conception　of　the　human　ass　most　completely；　and
Erskine；　though　a　very　nice　fellow　indeed；　thoroughly　good　and
gentlemanly；　in　her　opinion；　was　yet　a　minor　poet；　and　therefore
a　pronounced　ass。　Trefusis；　on　the　contrary；　was　the　last　man　of
her　acquaintance　whom　she　would　have　thought　of　as　a　very　nice
fellow　or　a　virtuous　gentleman；　but　he　was　not　an　a~s；　although
he　was　obstinate　in　his　Socialistic　fads。　She　had　indeed
suspected　him　of　weakness　almost　asinine　with　respect　to
Gertrude；　but　then　all　men　were　asses　in　their　dealings　with
women；　and　since　he　had　transferred　his　weakness　to　her　own
account　it　no　longer　seemed　to　need　justification。　And　now；　as
her　concern　for　Erskine；　whom　she　pitied；　wore　off；　she　began　to
resent　Trefusis's　journey　with　Gertrude　as　an　attack　on　her
recently　acquired　monopoly　of　him。　There　was　an　air　of
aristocratic　pride　about　Gertrude　which　Agatha　had　formerly
envied；　and　which　she　still　feared　Trefusis　might　mistake　for　an
index　of　dignity　and　refinement。　Agatha　did　not　believe　that　her
resentment　was　the　common　feeling　called　jealousy；　for　she　still
deemed　herself　unique；　but　it　gave　her　a　sense　of　meanness　that
did　not　improve　her　spirits。

The　dinner　was　dull。　Lady　Brandon　spoke　in　an　undertone；　as　if
someone　lay　dead　in　the　next　room。　Erskine　was　depressed　by　the
consciousness　of　having　lost　his　head　and　acted　foolishly　in　the
afternoon。　Sir　Charles　did　not　pretend　to　ignore　the　sus