the yellow god-第10章

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face　which　even　such　as　he　could　not　entirely　misinterpret。

〃Youdon'tmean；〃　he　said　doubtfully；　〃you　don't　really　mean〃
and　he　stood　hesitating　before　her。

〃If　you　would　put　your　question　a　little　more　clearly；　Alan；　I　might
be　able　to　give　you　an　answer；〃　she　replied；　that　quaint　little　smile
of　hers　creeping　to　the　corners　of　her　mouth　like　sunshine　through　a
mist　of　rain。

〃You　don't　really　mean；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　you　care　anything　about　me；
like；　like　I　have　cared　for　you　for　years？〃

〃Oh！　Alan；〃　she　said；　laughing　outright；　〃why　in　the　name　of　goodness
shouldn't　I　care　about　you？　I　didn't　say　that　I　do；　mind；　but　why
shouldn't　I？　What　is　the　gulf　between　us？〃

〃The　old　one；〃　he　answered；　〃that　between　Dives　and　Lazarusthat
between　the　rich　and　the　poor。〃

〃Alan；〃　said　Barbara；　looking　down；　〃I　don't　know　what　has　come　over
me；　but　for　some　unexplained　and　inexplicable　reason　I　am　inclined　to
give　Lazarus　a　leadacross　that　gulf；　the　first　one；　I　mean；　not　the
second！〃

Like　the　glance　which　preceded　it；　this　was　a　saying　that　even　Alan
could　not　misunderstand。　He　sat　himself　on　the　log　beside　her；　while
she；　still　looking　down；　watched　him　out　of　the　corners　of　her　eyes。
He　went　red；　he　went　white；　his　heart　beat　very　violently。　Then　he
stretched　out　his　big　brown　hand　and　took　her　small　white　one；　and　as
this　familiarity　produced　no　remonstrance；　let　it　fall；　and　passing
his　arm　about　her；　drew　her　to　him　and　embraced　her；　not　once；　but
often；　with　such　vigour　that　a　squirrel　which　had　been　watching　these
proceedings　from　a　neighbouring　tree；　bolted　round　it　scandalized　and
was　seen　no　more。

〃I　love　you；　I　love　you；〃　he　said　huskily。

〃So　I　gather；〃　she　answered　in　a　feeble　voice。

〃Do　you　care　for　me？〃　he　asked。

〃It　would　seem　that　I　must；　Alan；　otherwise　I　should　scarcelyoh！　you
foolish　Alan；〃　and　heedless　of　her　Sunday　hat；　which　never　recovered
from　this　encounter；　but　was　kept　as　a　holy　relic；　she　let　her　head
fall　upon　his　shoulder　and　began　to　cry　again；　this　time　for　very
happiness。

He　kissed　her　tears　away；　then　as　he　could　think　of　nothing　else　to
say；　asked　her　if　she　would　marry　him。

〃It　is　the　general　sequel　to　this　kind　of　thing；　I　believe；〃　she
answered；　〃or　at　any　rate　it　ought　to　be。　But　if　you　want　a　direct
answeryes；　I　will；　if　my　uncle　will　let　me；　which　he　won't；　as　you
have　quarrelled　with　him；　or　at　any　rate　two　years　hence；　when　I　am
five　and　twenty　and　my　own　mistress；　that　is　if　we　have　anything　to
marry　on；　for　one　must　eat。　At　present　our　worldly　possessions　seem　to
consist　chiefly　of　a　large　store　of　mutual　affection；　a　good　stock　of
clothes　and　one　Yellow　God；　which　after　what　happened　last　night；　I　do
not　think　you　will　get　another　chance　of　turning　into　cash。〃

〃I　must　make　money　somehow；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　Alan；　but　I　am　afraid　it　is　not　easy　to　dohonestly。　Nobody
wants　people　without　capital　whose　only　stock　in　trade　is　a　brief　but
distinguished　military　career；　and　a　large　experience　of　African
fever。〃

Alan　groaned　at　this　veracious　but　discouraging　remark；　and　she　went
on　quickly：

〃I　mean　to　spend　another　guinea　upon　my　friend　the　lawyer　at
Kingswell。　Perhaps　he　can　raise　the　wind；　by　a　post…obit；　or
something；〃　she　added　vaguely；　〃I　mean　a　post…uncle…obit。〃

〃If　he　does；　Barbara；　I　can't　live　on　your　money　alone；　it　isn't
right。〃

〃Oh！　don't　you　trouble　about　that；　Alan。　If　once　I　can　get　hold　of
those　dim　thousands　you　will　soon　be　able　to　make　more；　for　unto　him
that　hath　shall　be　given。　But　at　present　they　are　very　dim；　and　for
all　I　know　may　be　represented　by　stock　in　deceased　companies。　In
short；　the　financial　position　is　extraordinarily　depressed；　as　they
say　in　the　Market　Intelligence　in　/The　Times/。　But　that's　no　reason
why　we　should　be　depressed　also。〃

〃No；　Barbara；　for　at　any　rate　we　have　got　each　other。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　springing　up；　〃we　have　got　each　other；　dear；
until　Death　do　us　part；　and　somehow　I　don't　think　he'll　do　that　yet
awhile；　it　comes　into　my　heart　that　he　won't　do　that；　Alan；　that　you
and　I　are　going　to　live　out　our　days。　So　what　does　the　rest　matter？　In
two　years　I　shall　be　a　free　woman。　In　fact；　if　the　worst　comes　to　the
worst；　I'll　defy　them　all；〃　and　she　set　her　little　mouth　like　a　rock；
〃and　marry　you　straight　away；　as　being　over　age；　I　can　do；　even　if　it
costs　me　every　halfpenny　that　I've　got。〃

〃No；　no；〃　he　said；　〃it　would　be　wrong；　wrong　to　yourself　and　wrong　to
your　descendants。〃

〃Very　well；　Alan；　then；　we　will　wait；　or　perhaps　luck　will　come　our
waywhy　shouldn't　it？　At　any　rate　for　my　part　I　never　felt　so　happy
in　my　life；　for；　dear　Alan；　we　have　found　what　we　were　born　to　find；
found　it　once　and　for　always；　and　the　rest　is　mere　etceteras。　What
would　be　the　use　of　all　the　gold　of　the　Asiki　people　that　Jeekie　was
talking　about　last　night；　to　either　of　us；　if　we　had　not　each　other？
We　can　get　on　without　the　wealth；　but　we　couldn't　get　on　apart；　or　at
least　I　couldn't　and　I　don't　mind　saying　so。〃

〃No；　my　darling；　no；〃　he　answered；　turning　white　at　the　very　thought；
〃we　couldn't　get　on　apartnow。　In　fact　I　don't　know　how　I　have　done
so　so　long　already；　except　that　I　was　always　hoping　that　a　time　would
come　when　we　shouldn't　be　apart。　That　is　why　I　went　into　that　infernal
business；　to　make　enough　money　to　be　able　to　ask　you　to　marry　me。　And
now　I　have　gone　out　of　the　business　and　asked　you　just　when　I
shouldn't。〃

〃Yes；　so　you　see　you　might　as　well　have　done　it　a　year　or　two　ago　when
perhaps　things　would　have　been　simpler。　Well；　it　is　a　fine　example　of
the　vanity　of　human　plans；　and；　Alan；　we　must　be　going　home　to　lunch。
If　we　don't；　Sir　Robert　will　be　organizing　a　search　party　to　look　for
us；　in　fact；　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　he　is　doing　that　already；　in　the
wrong　direction。〃

The　mention　of　Sir　Robert　Aylward's　name　fell　on　them　both　like　a
blast　of　cold　wind　in　summer；　and　for　a　while　they　walked　in　silence。

〃You　are　afraid　of　that　man；　Barbara；〃　said　Alan　presently；　guessing
her　thoughts。

〃A　little；〃　she　answered；　〃so　far　as　I　can　be　afraid　of　anything　any
more。　And　you？〃

〃A　little　also。　I　think　that　he　will　give　us　trouble。　He　can　be　very
malevolent　and　resourceful。〃

〃Resourceful；　Alan；　well；　so　can　I。　I'll　back　my　wits　against　his　any
day。　He　shan't　separate　us　by　anything　short　of　murder；　which　he　won't
go　in　for。　Men　like　that　don't　like　to　break　the　law；　they　have　too
much　to　lose。　But　no　doubt　he　will　make　things　uncomfortable　for　you；
if　he　can；　for　several　reasons。〃

Again　they　walked　on　lost　in　reflections；　when　Barbara　suddenly　saw
her　lover's　face　brighten。

〃What　is　it；　Alan？〃　she　asked。

〃Something　that　is　rare　enough　with　me；　Barbaraan　idea。　You　remember
speaking　about　that　Asiki　gold　just　now。　Well；　why　shouldn't　I　go　and
get　it？〃

She　stared　at　him。

〃It　sounds　a　little　speculative；〃　she　said；　〃something　like　one　of　my
uncle's　companies。〃

〃Not　half　so　speculative　as　you　think。　I　have　no　doubt　it　is　there　and
Jeekie　knows　the　way。　Also　I　seem　to　remember　that　there　is　a　map　and
an　account　of　the　whole　thing　in　Uncle　Austin's　diaries；　though　to
tell　you　the　truth　the　old　fellow　wrote　such　a　fearful　hand；　that　I
have　never　taken　the　trouble　to　read　it。　You　see；〃　he　went　on　with
enthusiasm；　〃it　is　the　kind　of　business　that　I　can　do。　I　am　thoroughly
salted　to　fever；　I　know　the　West　Coast；　where　I　spent　three　years　on
that　Boundary　Commission；　I　have　studied　the　natives　and　can　talk
several　of　their　dialects。　Of　course　there　would　be　a　risk；　but　there
are　risks　in　everything；　and　like　you　I　am　not　afraid　about　that；　for
I　believe　that　we　have　got　our　lives　before　us。〃

〃Read　up　those　diaries；　Alan；　and　we　will　talk　the　thing　over　again。
I'll　pump　Jeekie；　who　will　tell　me　anything　by　coaxing；　and　try　to　get
at　the　truth。　Meanwhile　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　my　uncle？〃

〃Speak　to　him；　of　course；　and　have　the　row　over。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　〃that　is　the　best　and　the　most　honest。　Of　course
he　can　turn　you　out；　but　he　can't　prevent　my　seeing　you。　If　he　does；
go　home　to　Yarleys　and　I'll　come　over　and　call。　Here　we　are；　let　us　go
in　by　the　back　door；〃　and　she　pointed　to　her　crushed　hat；　and　laughed。



CHAPTER　V

BARBARA　MAKES　A　SPEECH

While　Alan　and　Barbara；　on　the　most　momentous　occasion　of　their　lives；
were　seated　upon　the　fallen　oak　in　the　woods　that　thrilled　with　the
breath　of　spring；　another　interview　was　taking　place　in　Mr。　Champers…
Haswell's　private　suite　at　The　Court；　the　decorations　of　which；　as　he
was　wont　to　inform　his　visitors；　had　cost　nearly　￡2000。　Sir　Robert；
whose　taste　at　any　rate　was　good；　thought　them　so　appalling　that　while
waiting　for　his　host　and　partner；　whom　he　had　come　to　see；　he　took　a
seat　in　the　bow　window　of　the　sitting…room　and　studied　the　view　that
nobody　had　been　able　to　spoil。　Presently　Mr。　Haswell　emerged　from　his
bedroom；　wrapped　in　a　dressing　gown　and　looking　very　pale　and　shaky。

〃Delighted　to　see　you　all　right　again；〃　said　Sir　Robert　as　he　wheeled
up　a　chair　into　which　Mr。　Haswell　sank。

〃I　am　not　all　right；　Aylward；〃　he　answered；　〃I　am　not　all　right　at
all。　Never　had　such　an　upset　in　my　life；　thought　I　was　going　to　die
when　that　accursed　savage　told　his　beastly　tale。　Aylward；　you　are　a
man　of　the　world；　tell　me；　what　is　the　meaning　of　the　thing？　You
remember　what　we　thought　we　saw　in　the　office；　and　thenthat　story。〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　answered；　〃frankly　I　don't　know。　I　am　a　man　who　has
never　believed　in　anything　I　cannot　see　and　test；　one　who　utterly
lacks　faith。　In　my　leisure　I　have　examined　into　the　various　religious
systems　and　found　them　to　be　rubbish。　I　am　convinced　that　we　are　but
highly…developed　mammals　born　by　chance；　and　when　our　day　is　done；
departing　into　the　black　nothingness　out　of　which　we　came。　Everything
else；　that　is；　what　is　called　the　higher　and　spiritual　part；　I
attribute　to　the　superstitions　incident　to　the　terror　of　the　hideous
position　in　which　we　find　ourselves；　that　of　gods　of　a　sort　hemmed　in
by　a　few　years　of　fearful　and　tormented　life。　But　you　know　the　old
arguments；　so　why　should　I　enter　on　them？　And　now　I　am　confronted　with
an　experience　which　I　cannot　explain。　I　certainly　thought　that　in　the
office　on　Friday　evening　I　saw　that　gold　mask　to　which　I　had　taken　so
strange　a　fancy　that　I　offered　to　give　Vernon　￡17；000　for　it　because　I
thought　that　it　brought　us　luck；　swim　across　the　floor　of　our　room　and
look　first　into　your　face　and　then　into　mine。　Well；　the　next　night
that　negro　tells　his　story。　What　am　I　to　make　of　it？〃

〃Can't　tell　you；〃　answered　Mr。　Champers…Haswell　with　a　groan。　〃All　I
know　is　that　it　nearly　made　a　corpse　of　me。　I　am　not　like　you；
Aylward；　I　was　brought　up　as　an　Evangelical；　and　although　I　haven't
given　much　thought　to　these　matters　of　late　yearswell；　we　don't
shake　them　off　in　a　hurry。　I　daresay　there　is　something　somewhere；　and
when　the　black　man　was　speaking；　that　something　seemed　uncommonly
near。　It　got　up　and　gripped　me　by　the　throat；　shaking　the　mortal
breath　out　of　me；　and　upon　my　word；　Aylward；　I　have　been　wishing　all
the　morning　that　I　had　led　a　different　kind　of　life；　as　my　old　parents
and　my　brother　John；　Barbara's