five tales-第17章

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at　you'll　get　for　yourselfit's　only　a　pittance；　and　you'll　want　it　all　every　penny。

Phyllis's　eyes　had　opened　very　wide；　so　that　he　wondered　if　she　had　taken　in　his　words。

〃Oh！　　Isn't　money　horrible；　Guardy？〃

〃The　want　of　it。〃

〃No；　it's　beastly　altogether。　　If　only　we　were　like　birds。　　Or　if　one　could　put　out　a　plate　overnight；　and　have　just　enough　in　the　morning　to　use　during　the　day。〃

Old　Heythorp　sighed。

〃There's　only　one　thing　in　life　that　mattersindependence。　　Lose　that；　and　you　lose　everything。　　That's　the　value　of　money。　　Help　me　up。〃

Phyllis　stretched　out　her　hands；　and　the　little　dog；　running　down　her　back；　resumed　its　perch　on　the　window…sill；　close　to　the　blind　cord。

Once　on　his　feet；　old　Heythorp　said：

〃Give　me　a　kiss。　　You'll　have　your　satin　tomorrow。〃

Then　looking　at　Bob　Pillin；　he　remarked：

〃Going　my　way？　　I'll　give　you　a　lift。〃

The　young　man；　giving　Phyllis　one　appealing　look；　answered　dully：　〃Tha…anks！〃　　and　they　went　out　together　to　the　taxi。　　In　that　draughtless　vehicle　they　sat；　full　of　who　knows　what　contempt　of　age　for　youth；　and　youth　for　age；　the　old　man　resenting　this　young　pup's　aspiration　to　his　granddaughter；　the　young　man　annoyed　that　this　old　image　had　dragged　him　away　before　he　wished　to　go。　　Old　Heythorp　said　at　last：

〃Well？〃

Thus　expected　to　say　something；　Bob　Pillin　muttered

〃Glad　your　meetin'　went　off　well；　sir。　　You　scored　a　triumph　I　should　think。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Oh！　　I　don't　know。　　I　thought　you　had　a　good　bit　of　opposition　to　contend　with。〃

Old　Heythorp　looked　at　him。

〃Your　grandmother！〃　　he　said；　then；　with　his　habitual　instinct　of　attack；　added：　〃You　make　the　most　of　your　opportunities；　I　see。〃

At　this　rude　assault　Bob　Pillin's　red…cheeked　face　assumed　a　certain　dignity。　　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　sir。　　Mrs。　Larne　is　very　kind　to　me。〃

〃No　doubt。　　But　don't　try　to　pick　the　flowers。〃

Thoroughly　upset；　Bob　Pillin　preserved　a　dogged　silence。　　This　fortnight；　since　he　had　first　met　Phyllis　in　old　Heythorp's　hall；　had　been　the　most　singular　of　his　existence　up　to　now。　　He　would　never　have　believed　that　a　fellow　could　be　so　quickly　and　completely　bowled；　could　succumb　without　a　kick；　without　even　wanting　to　kick。　To　one　with　his　philosophy　of　having　a　good　time　and　never　committing　himself　too　far；　it　was　in　the　nature　of　〃a　fair　knock…out；〃　and　yet　so　pleasurable；　except　for　the　wear　and　tear　about　one's　chances。　　If　only　he　knew　how　far　the　old　boy　really　counted　in　the　matter！　　To　say：　〃My　intentions　are　strictly　honourable〃　would　be　old…fashioned；　besidesthe　old　fellow　might　have　no　right　to　hear　it。　　They　called　him　Guardy；　but　without　knowing　more　he　did　not　want　to　admit　the　old　curmudgeon's　right　to　interfere。

〃Are　you　a　relation　of　theirs；　sir？〃

Old　Heythorp　nodded。

Bob　Pillin　went　on　with　desperation：

〃I　should　like　to　know　what　your　objection　to　me　is。〃

The　old　man　turned　his　head　so　far　as　he　was　able；　a　grim　smile　bristled　the　hairs　about　his　lips；　and　twinkled　in　his　eyes。　　What　did　he　object　to？　　Whyeverything！　　Object　to！　　That　sleek　head；　those　puppy…dog　eyes；　fattish　red　cheeks；　high　collars；　pearl　pin；　spats；　and　drawl…pah！　　the　imbecility；　the　smugness　of　his　mug；　no　go；　no　devil　in　any　of　his　sort；　in　any　of　these　fish…veined；　coddled…up　young　bloods；　nothing　but　playing　for　safety！　　And　he　wheezed　out：

〃Milk　and　water　masquerading　as　port　wine。〃

Bob　Pillin　frowned。

It　was　almost　too　much　for　the　composure　even　of　a　man　of　the　world。　That　this　paralytic　old　fellow　should　express　contempt　for　his　virility　was　really　the　last　thing　in　jests。　　Luckily　he　could　not　take　it　seriously。　　But　suddenly　he　thought：　'What　if　he　really　has　the　power　to　stop　my　going　there；　and　means　to　turn　them　against　me！'　And　his　heart　quailed。

〃Awfully　sorry；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　don't　think　I'm　wild　enough。　Anything　I　can　do　for　you　in　that　line〃

The　old　man　grunted；　and　realising　that　he　had　been　quite　witty；　Bob　Pillin　went　on：

〃I　know　I'm　not　in　debt；　no　entanglements；　got　a　decent　income；　pretty　good　expectations　and　all　that；　but　I　can　soon　put　that　all　right　if　I'm　not　fit　without。〃

It　was　perhaps　his　first　attempt　at　irony；　and　he　could　not　help　thinking　how　good　it　was。

But　old　Heythorp　preserved　a　deadly　silence。　　He　looked　like　a　stuffed　man；　a　regular　Aunt　Sally　sitting　there；　with　the　fixed　red　in　his　cheeks；　his　stivered　hair；　square　block　of　a　body；　and　no　neck　that　you　could　see…only　wanting　the　pipe　in　his　mouth！　　Could　there　really　be　danger　from　such　an　old　idol？　　The　idol　spoke：

〃I'll　give　you　a　word　of　advice。　　Don't　hang　round　there；　or　you'll　burn　your　fingers。　　Remember　me　to　your　father。　　Good…night！〃

The　taxi　had　stopped　before　the　house　in　Sefton　Park。　　An　insensate　impulse　to　remain　seated　and　argue　the　point　fought　in　Bob　Pillin　with　an　impulse　to　leap　out；　shake　his　fist　in　at　the　window；　and　walk　off。　　He　merely　said；　however：

〃Thanks　for　the　lift。　　Good…night！〃　　And；　getting　out　deliberately；　he　walked　off。

Old　Heythorp；　waiting　for　the　driver　to　help　him　up；　thought　'Fatter；　but　no　more　guts　than　his　father！'

In　his　sanctum　he　sank　at　once　into　his　chair。　　It　was　wonderfully　still　there　every　day　at　this　hour；　just　the　click　of　the　coals；　just　the　faintest　ruffle　from　the　wind　in　the　trees　of　the　park。　　And　it　was　cosily　warm；　only　the　fire　lightening　the　darkness。　　A　drowsy　beatitude　pervaded　the　old　man。　　A　good　day's　work！　　A　triumphthat　young　pup　had　said。　　Yes！　　Something　of　a　triumph！　　He　had　held　on；　and　won。　　And　dinner　to　look　forward　to；　yet。　　A　napa　nap！　　And　soon；　rhythmic；　soft；　sonorous；　his　breathing　rose；　with　now　and　then　that　pathetic　twitching　of　the　old　who　dream。




III

1

When　Bob　Pillin　emerged　from　the　little　front　garden　of　23；　Millicent　Villas　ten　days　later；　his　sentiments　were　ravelled；　and　he　could　not　get　hold　of　an　end　to　pull　straight　the　stuff　of　his　mind。

He　had　found　Mrs。　Larne　and　Phyllis　in　the　sitting…room；　and　Phyllis　had　been　crying；　he　was　sure　she　had　been　crying；　and　that　memory　still　infected　the　sentiments　evoked　by　later　happenings。　　Old　Heythorp　had　said：　〃You'll　burn　your　fingers。〃　　The　process　had　begun。　　Having　sent　her　daughter　away　on　a　pretext　really　a　bit　too　thin；　Mrs。　Larne　had　installed　him　beside　her　scented　bulk　on　the　sofa；　and　poured　into　his　ear　such　a　tale　of　monetary　woe　and　entanglement；　such　a　mass　of　present　difficulties　and　rosy　prospects；　that　his　brain　still　whirled；　and　only　one　thing　emerged　clearly…that　she　wanted　fifty　pounds；　which　she　would　repay　him　on　quarter…day；　for　their　Guardy　had　made　a　settlement　by　which；　until　the　dear　children　came　of　age；　she　would　have　sixty　pounds　every　quarter。　　It　was　only　a　question　of　a　few　weeks；　he　might　ask　Messrs。　　Scriven　and　Coles；　they　would　tell　him　the　security　was　quite　safe。　　He　certainly　might　ask　Messrs。　　Scriven　and　Colesthey　happened　to　be　his　father's　solicitors；　but　it　hardly　seemed　to　touch　the　point。　　Bob　Pillin　had　a　certain　shrewd　caution；　and　the　point　was　whether　he　was　going　to　begin　to　lend　money　to　a　woman　who；　he　could　see；　might　borrow　up　to　seventy　times　seven　on　the　strength　of　his　infatuation　for　her　daughter。　　That　was　rather　too　strong！　　Yet；　if　he　didn't　she　might　take　a　sudden　dislike　to　him；　and　where　would　he　be　then？　Besides；　would　not　a　loan　make　his　position　stronger？　　And　thensuch　is　the　effect　of　love　even　on　the　younger　generationthat　thought　seemed　to　him　unworthy。　　If　he　lent　at　all；　it　should　be　from　chivalryulterior　motives　might　go　hang！　　And　the　memory　of　the　tear…marks　on　Phyllis's　pretty　pale…pink　cheeks；　and　her　petulantly　mournful：　〃Oh！　　young　man；　isn't　money　beastly！〃　scraped　his　heart；　and　ravished　his　judgment。　　All　the　same；　fifty　pounds　was　fifty　pounds；　and　goodness　knew　how　much　more；　and　what　did　he　know　of　Mrs。　Larne；　after　all；　except　that　she　was　a　relative　of　old　Heythorp's　and　wrote　storiestold　them　too；　if　he　was　not　mistaken？　　Perhaps　it　would　be　better　to　see　Scrivens'。　　But　again　that　absurd　nobility　assaulted　him。　　Phyllis！　　Phyllis！　　Besides；　were　not　settlements　always　drawn　so　that　they　refused　to　form　security　for　anything？　Thus；　hampered　and　troubled；　he　hailed　a　cab。　　He　was　dining　with　the　Ventnors　on　the　Cheshire　side；　and　would　be　late　if　he　didn't　get　home　sharp　to　dress。

Driving；　white…tiedand　waist…coated；　in　his　father's　car；　he　thought　with　a　certain　contumely　of　the　younger　Ventnor　girl；　whom　he　had　been　wont　to　consider　pretty　before　he　knew　Phyllis。　And　seated　next　her　at　dinner；　he　quite　enjoyed　his　new　sense　of　superiority　to　her　charms；　and　the　ease　with　which　he　could　chaff　and　be　agreeable。　And　all　the　time　he　suffered　from　the　suppressed　longing　which　scarcely　ever　left　him　now；　to　think　and　talk　of　Phyllis。　　Ventnor's　fizz　was　good　and　plentiful；　his　old　Madeira　absolutely　first　chop；　and　the　only　other　man　present　a　teetotal　curate；　who　withdrew　with　the　ladies　to　talk　his　parish　shop。　　Favoured　by　these　circumstances；　and　the　perception　that　Ventnor　was　an　agreeable　fellow；　Bob　Pillin　yielded　to　his　secret　itch　to　get　near　the　subject　of　his　affections。

〃Do　you　happen；〃　he　said　airily；　〃to　know　a　Mrs。　Larnerelative　of　old　Heythorp'srather　a　handsome　woman…she　writes　stories。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　shook　his　head。　　A　closer　scrutiny　than　Bob　Pillin's　would　have　seen　that　he　also　moved　his　ears。

〃Of　old　Heythorp's？　　Didn't　know　he　had　any；　except　his　daughter；　and　that　son　of　his　in　the　Admiralty。〃

Bob　Pillin　felt　the　glow　of　his　secret　hobby　spreading　within　him。

〃She　is；　thoughlives　rather　out　of　town；　got　a　son　and　daughter。　　I　thought　you　might　know　her　storiesclever　woman。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　smiled。　　〃Ah！〃　he　said　enigmatically；　〃these　lady　novelists！　　Does　she　make　any　money　by　them？〃

Bob　Pillin　knew　that　to　make　money　by　writing　meant　success；　but　that　not　to　make　money　by　writing　was　artistic；　and　implied　that　you　had　private　means；　which　perhaps　was　even　more　distinguished。　　And　he　said：

〃Oh！　　she　has　private　means；　I　know。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　reached　for　the　Madeira。

〃So　she's　a　relative　of　old　Heythorp's；〃　he　said。　　〃He's　a　very　old　friend　of　your　father's。　　He　ought　to　go　bankrupt；　you　know。〃

To　Bob　Pillin；　glowing　with　passion　and　Madeira；　the　idea　of　bankruptcy　seemed　discreditable　in　connection　with　a　relative　of　Phyllis。　　Besides；　the　old　boy　was　far　from　that！　　Had　he　not　just　made　this　settlement　on　Mrs。　Larne？　　And　he　said：

〃I　think　you're　mistaken。　　That's　of　the　past。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　smiled。

〃Will　you　bet？〃　　he　said。

Bob　Pillin　also　smiled。　　〃I　should　be　bettin'　on　a　certainty。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　passed　his　hand　over　his　whiskered　face。　　〃Don't　you　believe　it；　he　hasn't　a　mag　to　his　name。　　Fill　your　glass。〃

Bob　Pillin　said；　with　a　certain　resentment：

〃Well；　I　happen　to　know　he's　just　made　a　settlement　of　five　or　six　thousand　pounds。　　Don't　know　if　you　call　that　being　bankrupt。〃

〃What！　　On　this　Mrs。　Larne？〃

Confused；　uncertain　whether　he　had　said　something　derogatory　or　indiscreet；　or　something　which　added　distinction　to　Phyllis；　Bob　Pillin　hesitated；　then　gave　a　nod。

Mr。　Ventnor　rose　and　extended　his　short　legs　before　the　fire。

〃No；　my　boy；〃　he　said。　　〃No！〃

Unaccustomed　to　flat　contradiction；