beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第41章
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There was an unusual sense of luxury in being able to talk to an aunt
as though one was talking to the Evil One； but Nicholas knew； with
childish discernment； that such luxuries were not to be over…indulged in。
He walked noisily away； and it was a kitchenmaid； in search of parsley；
who eventually rescued the aunt from the rain… water tank。
Tea that evening was partaken of in a fearsome silence。 The tide
had been at its highest when the children had arrived at Jagborough
Cove； so there had been no sands to play on … a circumstance that the
aunt had overlooked in the haste of organising her punitive expedition。
The tightness of Bobby's boots had had disastrous effect on his temper
the whole of the afternoon； and altogether the children could not have
been said to have enjoyed themselves。 The aunt maintained the frozen
muteness of one who has suffered undignified and unmerited detention
in a rain…water tank for thirty…five minutes。 As for Nicholas； he； too；
was silent； in the absorption of one who has much to think about； it
was just possible； he considered； that the huntsman would escape with
his hounds while the wolves feasted on the stricken stag。
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FUR
〃YOU look worried； dear；〃 said Eleanor。
〃I am worried；〃 admitted Suzanne； 〃not worried exactly； but anxious。
You see； my birthday happens next week … 〃
〃You lucky person；〃 interrupted Eleanor； 〃my birthday doesn't come
till the end of March。〃
〃Well； old Bertram Kneyght is over in England just now from the
Argentine。 He's a kind of distant cousin of my mother's； and so
enormously rich that we've never let the relationship drop out of sight。
Even if we don't see him or hear from him for years he is always Cousin
Bertram when he does turn up。 I can't say he's ever been of much solid
use to us； but yesterday the subject of my birthday cropped up； and he
asked me to let him know what I wanted for a present。〃
〃Now I understand the anxiety；〃 observed Eleanor。
〃As a rule when one is confronted with a problem like that；〃 said
Suzanne； 〃all one's ideas vanish； one doesn't seem to have a desire in the
world。 Now it so happens that I have been very keen on a little
Dresden figure that I saw somewhere in Kensington； about thirty… six
shillings； quite beyond my means。 I was very nearly describing the
figure； and giving Bertram the address of the shop。 And then it
suddenly struck me that thirty…six shillings was such a ridiculously
inadequate sum for a man of his immense wealth to spend on a birthday
present。 He could give thirty…six pounds as easily as you or I could
buy a bunch of violets。 I don't want to be greedy； of course； but I don't
like being wasteful。〃
〃The question is；〃 said Eleanor； 〃what are his ideas as to present…
giving？ Some of the wealthiest people have curiously cramped views
on that subject。 When people grow gradually rich their requirements
and standard of living expand in proportion； while their present…giving
instincts often remain in the undeveloped condition of their earlier days。
Something showy and not…too… expensive in a shop is their only
conception of the ideal gift。 That is why even quite good shops have
their counters and windows crowded with things worth about four
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shillings that look as if they might be worth seven…and… six； and are priced
at ten shillings and labelled seasonable gifts。' 〃
〃I know；〃 said Suzanne； 〃that is why it is so risky to be vague when
one is giving indications of one's wants。 Now if I say to him： 'I am
going out to Davos this winter； so anything in the travelling line would
be acceptable；' he might give me a dressing…bag with gold… mounted
fittings； but； on the other hand； he might give me Baedeker's Switzerland；
or ‘Skiing without Tears；' or something of that sort。〃
〃He would be more likely to say： 'She'll be going to lots of dances； a
fan will be sure to be useful。' 〃
〃Yes； and I've got tons of fans； so you see where the danger and
anxiety lies。 Now if there is one thing more than another that I really
urgently want it is furs。 I simply haven't any。 I'm told that Davos is
full of Russians； and they are sure to wear the most lovely sables and
things。 To be among people who are smothered in furs when one hasn't
any oneself makes one want to break most of the Commandments。〃
〃If it's furs that you're out for；〃 said Eleanor； 〃you will have to
superintend the choice of them in person。 You can't be sure that your
cousin knows the difference between silver…fox and ordinary squirrel。〃
〃There are some heavenly silver…fox stoles at Goliath and
Mastodon's；〃 said Suzanne； with a sigh； 〃if I could only inveigle Bertram
into their building and take him for a stroll through the fur department！〃
〃He lives somewhere near there； doesn't he？〃 said Eleanor。 〃Do
you know what his habits are？ Does he take a walk at any particular
time of day？〃
〃He usually walks down to his club about three o'clock； if it's a fine
day。 That takes him right past Goliath and Mastodon's。〃
〃Let us two meet him accidentally at the street corner to…morrow；〃
said Eleanor； 〃we can walk a little way with him； and with luck we
ought to be able to side… track him into the shop。 You can say you want
to get a hair…net or something。 When we're safely there I can say： 'I
wish you'd tell me what you want for your birthday。' Then you'll have
everything ready to hand … the rich cousin； the fur department； and the
topic of birthday presents。〃
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〃It's a great idea；〃 said Suzanne； 〃you really are a brick。 Come
round to…morrow at twenty to three； don't be late； we must carry out our
ambush to the minute。〃
At a few minutes to three the next afternoon the fur…trappers walked
warily towards the selected corner。 In the near distance rose the
colossal pile of Messrs。 Goliath and Mastodon's famed establishment。
The afternoon was brilliantly fine； exactly the sort of weather to tempt
a gentleman of advancing years into the discreet exercise of a leisurely
walk。
〃I say； dear； I wish you'd do something for me this evening；〃 said
Eleanor to her companion； 〃just drop in after dinner on some pretext or
other； and stay on to make a fourth at bridge with Adela and the aunts。
Otherwise I shall have to play； and Harry Scarisbrooke is going to come
in unexpectedly about nine…fifteen； and I particularly want to be free to
talk to him while the others are playing。〃
〃Sorry； my dear； no can do；〃 said Suzanne； 〃ordinary bridge at
threepence a hundred； with such dreadfully slow players as your aunts；
bores me to tears。 I nearly go to sleep over it。〃 〃But I most
particularly want an opportunity to talk with Harry；〃 urged Eleanor； an
angry glint coming into her eyes。
〃Sorry； anything to oblige； but not that；〃 said Suzanne cheerfully； the
sacrifices of friendship were beautiful in her eyes as long as she was not
asked to make them。
Eleanor said nothing further on the subject； but the corners of her
mouth rearranged themselves。
〃There's our man！〃 exclaimed Suzanne suddenly； 〃hurry！〃
Mr。 Bertram Kneyght greeted his cousin and her friend with genuine
heartiness； and readily accepted their invitation to explore the crowded
mart that stood temptingly at their elbow。 The plate…glass doors swung
open and the trio plunged bravely into the jostling throng of buyers and
loiterers。
〃Is it always as full as this？〃 asked Bertram of Eleanor。
〃More or less； and autumn sales are on just now；〃 she replied。
Suzanne； in her anxiety to pilot her cousin to the desired haven of the
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fur department； was usually a few paces ahead of the others； coming
back to them now and then if they lingered for a moment at some
attractive counter； with the nervous solicitude of a parent rook
encouraging its young ones on their first flying expedition。
〃It's Suzanne's birthday on Wednesday next；〃 confided Eleanor to
Bertram Kneyght at a moment when Suzanne had left them unusually far
behind； 〃my birthday comes the day before； so we are both on the look…
out for something to give each other。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Bertram。 〃Now； perhaps you can advise me on that very
point。 I want to give Suzanne something； and I haven't the least idea
what she wants。〃
〃She's rather a problem；〃 said Eleanor。 〃She seems to have
everything one can think of； lucky girl。 A fan i
