in the cage-第17章

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allusion　was　to　the　aristocracy　the　girl　could　quite　wonder　why；　if

they　were　so　in　〃one　way；〃　they　should　require　to　be　so　in　two。

She　thoroughly　knew；　however；　how　many　ways　Mrs。　Jordan　counted　in。

It　all　meant　simply　that　her　fate　was　pressing　her　close。　　If　that

fate　was　to　be　sealed　at　the　matrimonial　altar　it　was　perhaps　not

remarkable　that　she　shouldn't　come　all　at　once　to　the　scratch　of

overwhelming　a　mere　telegraphist。　　It　would　necessarily　present　to

such　a　person　a　prospect　of　regretful　sacrifice。　　Lord　Ryeif　it

WAS　Lord　Ryewouldn't　be　〃kind〃　to　a　nonentity　of　that　sort；　even

though　people　quite　as　good　had　been。



One　Sunday　afternoon　in　November　they　went；　by　arrangement；　to

church　together；　after　whichon　the　inspiration　of　the　moment　the

arrangement　had　not　included　itthey　proceeded　to　Mrs。　Jordan's

lodging　in　the　region　of　Maida　Vale。　　She　had　raved　to　her　friend

about　her　service　of　predilection；　she　was　excessively　〃high；〃　and

had　more　than　once　wished　to　introduce　the　girl　to　the　same　comfort

and　privilege。　　There　was　a　thick　brown　fog　and　Maida　Vale　tasted

of　acrid　smoke；　but　they　had　been　sitting　among　chants　and　incense

and　wonderful　music；　during　which；　though　the　effect　of　such　things

on　her　mind　was　great；　our　young　lady　had　indulged　in　a　series　of

reflexions　but　indirectly　related　to　them。　　One　of　these　was　the

result　of　Mrs。　Jordan's　having　said　to　her　on　the　way；　and　with　a

certain　fine　significance；　that　Lord　Rye　had　been　for　some　time　in

town。　　She　had　spoken　as　if　it　were　a　circumstance　to　which　little

required　to　be　addedas　if　the　bearing　of　such　an　item　on　her　life

might　easily　be　grasped。　　Perhaps　it　was　the　wonder　of　whether　Lord

Rye　wished　to　marry　her　that　made　her　guest；　with　thoughts　straying

to　that　quarter；　quite　determine　that　some　other　nuptials　also

should　take　place　at　Saint　Julian's。　　Mr。　Mudge　was　still　an

attendant　at　his　Wesleyan　chapel；　but　this　was　the　least　of　her

worriesit　had　never　even　vexed　her　enough　for　her　to　so　much　as

name　it　to　Mrs。　Jordan。　　Mr。　Mudge's　form　of　worship　was　one　of

several　thingsthey　made　up　in　superiority　and　beauty　for　what

they　wanted　in　numberthat　she　had　long　ago　settled　he　should　take

from　her；　and　she　had　now　moreover　for　the　first　time　definitely

established　her　own。　　Its　principal　feature　was　that　it　was　to　be

the　same　as　that　of　Mrs。　Jordan　and　Lord　Rye；　which　was　indeed　very

much　what　she　said　to　her　hostess　as　they　sat　together　later　on。

The　brown　fog　was　in　this　hostess's　little　parlour；　where　it　acted

as　a　postponement　of　the　question　of　there　being；　besides；　anything

else　than　the　teacups　and　a　pewter　pot　and　a　very　black　little　fire

and　a　paraffin　lamp　without　a　shade。　　There　was　at　any　rate　no　sign

of　a　flower；　it　was　not　for　herself　Mrs。　Jordan　gathered　sweets。

The　girl　waited　till　they　had　had　a　cup　of　teawaited　for　the

announcement　that　she　fairly　believed　her　friend　had；　this　time；

possessed　herself　of　her　formally　at　last　to　make；　but　nothing

came；　after　the　interval；　save　a　little　poke　at　the　fire；　which　was

like　the　clearing　of　a　throat　for　a　speech。







CHAPTER　XXV







〃I　think　you　must　have　heard　me　speak　of　Mr。　Drake？〃　　Mrs。　Jordan

had　never　looked　so　queer；　nor　her　smile　so　suggestive　of　a　large

benevolent　bite。



〃Mr。　Drake？　　Oh　yes；　isn't　he　a　friend　of　Lord　Rye？〃



〃A　great　and　trusted　friend。　　AlmostI　may　saya　loved　friend。〃



Mrs。　Jordan's　〃almost〃　had　such　an　oddity　that　her　companion　was

moved；　rather　flippantly　perhaps；　to　take　it　up。　　〃Don't　people　as

good　as　love　their　friends　when　they　I　trust　them？〃



It　pulled　up　a　little　the　eulogist　of　Mr。　Drake。　　〃Well；　my　dear；　I

love　YOU〃



〃But　you　don't　trust　me？〃　the　girl　unmercifully　asked。



Again　Mrs。　Jordan　pausedstill　she　looked　queer。　　〃Yes；〃　she

replied　with　a　certain　austerity；　〃that's　exactly　what　I'm　about　to

give　you　rather　a　remarkable　proof　of。〃　　The　sense　of　its　being

remarkable　was　already　so　strong　that；　while　she　bridled　a　little；

this　held　her　auditor　in　a　momentary　muteness　of　submission。　　〃Mr。

Drake　has　rendered　his　lordship　for　several　years　services　that　his

lordship　has　highly　appreciated　and　that　make　it　all　the　morea

unexpected　that　they　should；　perhaps　a　little　suddenly；　separate。〃



〃Separate？〃　　Our　young　lady　was　mystified；　but　she　tried　to　be

interested；　and　she　already　saw　that　she　had　put　the　saddle　on　the

wrong　horse。　　She　had　heard　something　of　Mr。　Drake；　who　was　a

member　of　his　lordship's　circlethe　member　with　whom；　apparently；

Mrs。　Jordan's　avocations　had　most　happened　to　throw　her。　　She　was

only　a　little　puzzled　at　the　〃separation。〃　　〃Well；　at　any　rate；〃

she　smiled；　〃if　they　separate　as　friends！〃



〃Oh　his　lordship　takes　the　greatest　interest　in　Mr。　Drake's　future。

He'll　do　anything　for　him；　he　has　in　fact　just　done　a　great　deal。

There　MUST；　you　know；　be　changes！〃



〃No　one　knows　it　better　than　I；〃　the　girl　said。　　She　wished　to　draw

her　interlocutress　out。　　〃There　will　be　changes　enough　for　me。〃



〃You're　leaving　Cocker's？〃



The　ornament　of　that　establishment　waited　a　moment　to　answer；　and

then　it　was　indirect。　　〃Tell　me　what　YOU'RE　doing。〃



〃Well；　what　will　you　think　of　it？〃



〃Why　that　you've　found　the　opening　you　were　always　so　sure　of。〃



Mrs。　Jordan；　on　this；　appeared　to　muse　with　embarrassed　intensity。

〃I　was　always　sure；　yesand　yet　I　often　wasn't！〃



〃Well；　I　hope　you're　sure　now。　　Sure；　I　mean；　of　Mr。　Drake。〃



〃Yes；　my　dear；　I　think　I　may　say　I　AM。　　I　kept　him　going　till　I

was。〃



〃Then　he's　yours？〃



〃My　very　own。〃



〃How　nice！　　And　awfully　rich？〃　our　young　woman　went　on。



Mrs。　Jordan　showed　promptly　enough　that　she　loved　for　higher

things。　　〃Awfully　handsomesix　foot　two。　　And　he　HAS　put　by。〃



〃Quite　like　Mr。　Mudge；　then！〃　that　gentleman's　friend　rather

desperately　exclaimed。



〃Oh　not　quite！〃　Mr。　Drake's　was　ambiguous　about　it；　but　the　name　of

Mr。　Mudge　had　evidently　given　her　some　sort　of　stimulus。　　〃He'll

have　more　opportunity　now；　at　any　rate。　　He's　going　to　Lady

Bradeen。〃



〃To　Lady　Bradeen？〃　　This　was　bewilderment。　　〃'Going'？〃



The　girl　had　seen；　from　the　way　Mrs。　Jordan　looked　at　her；　that　the

effect　of　the　name　had　been　to　make　her　let　something　out。　　〃Do　you

know　her？〃



She　floundered；　but　she　found　her　feet。　　〃Well；　you'll　remember

I've　often　told　you　that　if　you've　grand　clients　I　have　them　too。〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Jordan；　〃but　the　great　difference　is　that　you　hate

yours；　whereas　I　really　love　mine。　　DO　you　know　Lady　Bradeen？〃　she

pursued。



〃Down　to　the　ground！　　She's　always　in　and　out。〃



Mrs。　Jordan's　foolish　eyes　confessed；　in　fixing　themselves　on　this

sketch；　to　a　degree　of　wonder　and　even　of　envy。　　But　she　bore　up

and；　with　a　certain　gaiety；　〃Do　you　hate　HER？〃　she　demanded。



Her　visitor's　reply　was　prompt。　　〃Dear　no！not　nearly　so　much　as

some　of　them。　　She's　too　outrageously　beautiful。〃



Mrs。　Jordan　continued　to　gaze。　　〃Outrageously？〃



〃Well；　yes；　deliciously。〃　　What　was　really　delicious　was　Mrs。

Jordan's　vagueness。　　〃You　don't　know　heryou've　not　seen　her？〃　her

guest　lightly　continued。



〃No；　but　I've　heard　a　great　deal　about　her。〃



〃So　have　I！〃　our　young　lady　exclaimed。



Jordan　looked　an　instant　as　if　she　suspected　her　good　faith；　or　at

least　her　seriousness。　　〃You　know　some　friend？〃



〃Of　Lady　Bradeen's？　　Oh　yesI　know　one。〃



〃Only　one？〃



The　girl　laughed　out。　　〃Only　onebut　he's　so　intimate。〃



Mrs。　Jordan　just　hesitated。　　〃He's　a　gentleman？〃



〃Yes；　he's　not　a　lady。〃



Her　interlocutress　appeared　to　muse。　　〃She's　immensely　surrounded。〃



〃She　WILL　bewith　Mr。　Drake！〃



Mrs。　Jordan's　gaze　became　strangely　fixed。　　〃Is　she　VERY　good…

looking？〃



〃The　handsomest　person　I　know。〃



Mrs。　Jordan　continued　to　brood。　　〃Well；　I　know　some　beauties。〃

Then　with　her　odd　jerkiness：　　〃Do　you　think　she　looks　GOOD？〃



〃Because　that's　not　always　the　case　with　the　good…looking？〃the

other　took　it　up。　　〃No；　indeed；　it　isn't：　　that's　one　thing

Cocker's　has　taught　me。　　Still；　there　are　some　people　who　have

everything。　　Lady　Bradeen；　at　any　rate；　has　enough：　　eyes　and　a

nose　and　a　mouth；　a　complexion；　a　figure〃



〃A　figure？〃　Mrs。　Jordan　almost　broke　in。



〃A　figure；　a　head　of　hair！〃　　The　girl　made　a　little　conscious

motion　that　seemed　to　let　the　hair　all　down；　and　her　companion

watched　the　wonderful　show。　　〃But　Mr。　Drake　IS　another？〃



〃Another？〃Mrs。　Jordan's　thoughts　had　to　come　back　from　a

distance。



〃Of　her　ladyship's　admirers。　　He's　'going；'　you　say；　to　her？〃



At　this　Mrs。　Jordan　really　faltered。　　〃She　has　engaged　him。〃



〃Engaged　him？〃our　young　woman　was　quite　at　sea。



〃In　the　same　capacity　as　Lord　Rye。〃



〃And　was　Lord　Rye　engaged？〃







CHAPTER　XXVI







Mrs。　Jordan　looked　away　from　her　nowlooked；　she　thought；　rather

injured　and；　as　if　trifled　with；　even　a　little　angry。　　The　mention

of　Lady　Bradeen　had　frustrated　for　a　while　the　convergence　of　our

heroine's　thoughts；　but　with　this　impression　of　her　old　friend's

combined　impatience　and　diffidence　they　began　again　to　whirl　round

her；　and　continued　it　till　one　of　them　appeared　to　dart　at　her；　out

of　the　dance；　as　if　with　a　sharp　peck。　　It　came　to　her　with　a

lively　shock；　with　a　positive　sting；　that　Mr。　Drake　wascould　it

be　possible？　　With　the　idea　she　found　herself　afresh　on　the　edge　of

laughter；　of　a　sudden　and　strange　perversity　of　mirth。　　Mr。　Drake

loomed；　in　a　swift　image；　before　her；　such　a　figure　as　she　had　seen

in　open　doorways　of　houses　in　Cocker's　quartermajestic；　middle…

aged；　erect；　flanked　on　either　side　by　a　footman　and　taking　the

name　of　a　visitor。　　Mr。　Drake　then　verily　WAS　a　person　who　opened

the　door！　　Before　she　had　time；　however；　to　recover　from　the　effect

of　her　evocation；　she　was　offered　a　vision　which　quite　engulfed　it。

It　was　communicated　to　her　somehow　that　the　face　with　which　she　had

seen　it　rise　prompted　Mrs。　Jordan　to　dash；　a　bit　wildly；　at

something；　at　anything；　that　might　attenuate　criticism。　　〃Lady

Bradeen's　re…arrangingshe's　going　to　be　married。〃



〃Married？〃　　The　girl　echoed　it　ever　so　softly；　but　there　it　was　at

last。



〃Didn't　you　know　it？〃



She　summoned　all　her　sturdiness。　　〃No；　she　hasn't　told　me。〃



〃And　her　friendshaven't　they？〃



〃I　haven't　seen　any　of　them　lately。　　I'm　not　so　fortunate　as　you。〃



Mrs。　Jordan　gathered　herself。　　〃Then　you　haven't　even　heard　of　Lord

Bradeen's　death？〃



Her　comrade；　unable　for　a　moment　to　speak；　gave　a　slow　headshake。

〃You　know　it　from　Mr。　Drake？〃　　It　was　better　surely　not　to　learn

things　at　all　than　to　learn　them　by　the　butler。



〃She　tells　him　everything。〃



〃And　he　tells　YOUI　see。〃　　Our　young　lady　got　up；　recovering　her

muff　and　her　gloves　she　smiled。　　〃Well；　I　haven't　unfortunately　any

Mr。　Drake。　　I　cong