beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第42章
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everything one can think of； lucky girl。 A fan is always useful； she'll be
going to a lot of dances at Davos this winter。 Yes； I should think a fan
would please her more than anything。 After our birthdays are over
we inspect each other's muster of presents； and I always feel dreadfully
humble。 She gets such nice things； and I never have anything worth
showing。 You see； none of my relations or any of the people who give
me presents are at all well off； so I can't expect them to do anything
more than just remember the day with some little trifle。 Two years ago
an uncle on my mother's side of the family； who had come into a small
legacy； promised me a silver…fox stole for my birthday。 I can't tell
you how excited I was about it； how I pictured myself showing it off to
all my friends and enemies。 Then just at that moment his wife died； and；
of course； poor man； he could not be expected to think of birthday
presents at such a time。 He has lived abroad ever since； and I never got
my fur。 Do you know； to this day I can scarcely look at a silver…fox pelt
in a shop window or round anyone's neck without feeling ready to burst
into tears。 I suppose if I hadn't had the prospect of getting one I
shouldn't feel that way。 Look； there is the fan counter； on your left； you
can easily slip away in the crowd。 Get her as nice a one as you can see
… she is such a dear； dear girl。〃
〃Hullo； I thought I had lost you；〃 said Suzanne； making her way
through an obstructive knot of shoppers。 〃Where is Bertram？〃
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〃I got separated from him long ago。 I thought he was on ahead
with you；〃 said Eleanor。 〃We shall never find him in this crush。〃
Which turned out to be a true prediction。
〃All our trouble and forethought thrown away；〃 said Suzanne sulkily；
when they had pushed their way fruitlessly through half a dozen
departments。
〃I can't think why you didn't grab him by the arm；〃 said Eleanor； 〃I
would have if I'd known him longer； but I'd only just been introduced。
It's nearly four now； we'd better have tea。〃
Some days later Suzanne rang Eleanor up on the telephone。
〃Thank you very much for the photograph frame。 It was just what I
wanted。 Very good of you。 I say； do you know what that Kneyght
person has given me？ Just what you said he would … a wretched fan。
What？ Oh yes； quite a good enough fan in its way； but still 。 。 。〃
〃You must come and see what he's given me；〃 came in Eleanor's
voice over the 'phone。
〃You！ Why should he give you anything？〃
〃Your cousin appears to be one of those rare people of wealth who
take a pleasure in giving good presents；〃 came the reply。
〃I wondered why he was so anxious to know where she lived；〃
snapped Suzanne to herself as she rang off。
A cloud has arisen between the friendships of the two young women；
as far as Eleanor is concerned the cloud has a silver…fox lining。
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THE PHILANTHROPIST AND
THE HAPPY CAT
JOCANTHA BESSBURY was in the mood to be serenely and
graciously happy。 Her world was a pleasant place； and it was wearing
one of its pleasantest aspects。 Gregory had managed to get home for a
hurried lunch and a smoke afterwards in the little snuggery； the lunch
had been a good one； and there was just time to do justice to the coffee
and cigarettes。 Both were excellent in their way； and Gregory was； in
his way； an excellent husband。 Jocantha rather suspected herself of
making him a very charming wife； and more than suspected herself of
having a first…rate dressmaker。
〃I don't suppose a more thoroughly contented personality is to be
found in all Chelsea；〃 observed Jocantha in allusion to herself； 〃except
perhaps Attab；〃 she continued； glancing towards the large tabby…marked
cat that lay in considerable ease in a corner of the divan。 〃He lies there；
purring and dreaming； shifting his limbs now and then in an ecstasy of
cushioned comfort。 He seems the incarnation of everything soft and
silky and velvety； without a sharp edge in his composition； a dreamer
whose philosophy is sleep and let sleep； and then； as evening draws on；
he goes out into the garden with a red glint in his eyes and slays a
drowsy sparrow。〃
〃As every pair of sparrows hatches out ten or more young ones in the
year； while their food supply remains stationary； it is just as well that the
Attabs of the community should have that idea of how to pass an
amusing afternoon；〃 said Gregory。 Having delivered himself of this
sage comment he lit another cigarette； bade Jocantha a playfully
affectionate good…bye； and departed into the outer world。
〃Remember； dinner's a wee bit earlier to…night； as we're going to the
Haymarket；〃 she called after him。
Left to herself； Jocantha continued the process of looking at her life
with placid； introspective eyes。 If she had not everything she wanted in
this world； at least she was very well pleased with what she had got。
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She was very well pleased； for instance； with the snuggery； which
contrived somehow to be cosy and dainty and expensive all at once。
The porcelain was rare and beautiful； the Chinese enamels took on
wonderful tints in the firelight； the rugs and hangings led the eye through
sumptuous harmonies of colouring。 It was a room in which one might
have suitably entertained an ambassador or an archbishop； but it was
also a room in which one could cut out pictures for a scrap…book without
feeling that one was scandalising the deities of the place with one's litter。
And as with the snuggery； so with the rest of the house； and as with the
house； so with the other departments of Jocantha's life； she really had
good reason for being one of the most contented women in Chelsea。
From being in a mood of simmering satisfaction with her lot she
passed to the phase of being generously commiserating for those
thousands around her whose lives and circumstances were dull； cheap；
pleasureless； and empty。 Work girls； shop assistants and so forth； the
class that have neither the happy…go…lucky freedom of the poor nor the
leisured freedom of the rich； came specially within the range of her
sympathy。 It was sad to think that there were young people who； after
a long day's work； had to sit alone in chill； dreary bedrooms because
they could not afford the price of a cup of coffee and a sandwich in a
restaurant； still less a shilling for a theatre gallery。
Jocantha's mind was still dwelling on this theme when she started
forth on an afternoon campaign of desultory shopping； it would be rather
a comforting thing； she told herself； if she could do something； on the
spur of the moment； to bring a gleam of pleasure and interest into the life
of even one or two wistful… hearted； empty…pocketed workers； it would add
a good deal to her sense of enjoyment at the theatre that night。 She
would get two upper circle tickets for a popular play； make her way into
some cheap tea…shop； and present the tickets to the first couple of
interesting work girls with whom she could casually drop into
conversation。 She could explain matters by saying that she was unable
to use the tickets herself and did not want them to be wasted； and； on
the other hand； did not want the trouble of sending them back。 On
further reflection she decided that it might be better to get only one
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ticket and give it to some lonely…looking girl sitting eating her frugal
meal by herself； the girl might scrape acquaintance with her next…seat
neighbour at the theatre and lay the foundations of a lasting friendship。
With the Fairy Godmother impulse strong upon her； Jocantha
marched into a ticket agency and selected with immense care an upper
circle seat for the 〃Yellow Peacock；〃 a play that was attracting a
considerable amount of discussion and criticism。 Then she went forth
in search of a tea…shop and philanthropic adventure； at about the same
time that Attab sauntered into the garden with a mind attuned to sparrow
stalking。 In a corner of an A。B。C。 shop she found an unoccupied table；
whereat she promptly installed herself； impelled by the fact that at the
next table was sitting a young girl； rather plain of feature； with tired；
listless eyes； and a general air of uncomplaining forlornness。 Her dress
was of poor material； but aimed at being in the fashion； her hair wa
