the yellow god-第9章

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extremely　pale　even　for　him　and　with　black　rims　round　his　eyes；　asked
her　if　she　were　going　to　golf；　to　which　she　answered　that　she　would
think　it　over。　It　was　a　somewhat　melancholy　meal；　and　as　though　by
common　consent　no　mention　was　made　of　Jeekie's　tale　of　the　Yellow　God；
and　beyond　the　usual　polite　inquiries；　very　little　of　their　host's
seizure。

As　Barbara　went　out　she　whispered　to　Alan；　who　opened　the　door　for
her；　〃Meet　me　at　half…past　ten　in　the　kitchen　garden。〃

Accordingly；　having　changed　his　clothes　surreptitiously；　Alan；
avoiding　the　others；　made　his　way　by　a　circuitous　route　to　this
kitchen　garden；　which　after　the　fashion　of　modern　places　was　hidden
behind　a　belt　of　trees　nearly　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　house。　Here
he　wandered　about　till　presently　he　heard　Barbara's　pleasant　voice
behind　him　saying：

〃Don't　dawdle　so；　we　shall　be　late　for　church。〃

So　they　started；　somewhat　furtively　like　runaway　children。　As　they
went　Alan　asked　how　her　uncle　was。

〃All　right　now；〃　she　answered；　〃but　he　has　had　a　bad　shake。　It　was
that　Yellow　God　story　which　did　it。　I　know；　for　I　was　there　when　he
was　coming　to；　with　Sir　Robert。　He　kept　talking　about　it　in　a　confused
manner；　saying　that　it　was　swimming　to　him　across　the　floor；　till　at
last　Sir　Robert　bent　over　him　and　told　him　to　be　quiet　quite　sternly。
Do　you　know；　Alan；　I　believe　that　your　pet　fetish　has　been　manifesting
itself　in　some　unpleasant　fashion　up　there　in　the　office？〃

〃Indeed。　If　so；　it　must　be　since　I　left；　for　I　never　heard　of　anything
of　the　sort；　nor　are　Aylward　and　your　uncle　likely　people　to　see
ghosts。　In　fact　Sir　Robert　wished　to　give　me　about　￡17；000　for　the
thing　only　the　day　before　yesterday；　which　doesn't　look　as　though　it
had　been　frightening　him。〃

〃Well；　he　won't　repeat　the　offer；　Alan；　for　I　heard　him　promise　my
uncle　only　this　morning　that　it　should　be　sent　back　to　Yarleys　at
once。　But　why　did　he　want　to　buy　it　for　such　a　lot　of　money？　Tell　me
quickly；　Alan；　I　am　dying　to　hear　the　whole　story。〃

So　he　began　and　told　her；　omitting　nothing；　while　she　listened　eagerly
to　every　word；　hardly　interrupting　him　at　all。　As　he　finished　his　tale
they　reached　the　door　of　the　quaint　old　village　church　just　as　the
clock　was　striking　eleven。

〃Come　in；　Alan；〃　she　said　gently；　〃and　thank　Heaven　for　all　its
mercies；　for　you　should　be　a　grateful　man　to…day。〃

Then　without　giving　him　time　to　answer　she　entered　the　church　and　they
took　their　places　in　the　great　square　pew　that　for　generations　had
been　occupied　by　the　owners　of　the　ancient　house　which　Mr。　Haswell
pulled　down　when　he　built　The　Court。　There　were　their　monuments　upon
the　wall　and　their　gravestones　in　the　chancel　floor。　But　now　no　one
except　Barbara　ever　sat　in　their　pew；　even　the　benches　set　aside　for
the　servants　were　empty；　for　those　who　frequented　The　Court　were　not
church…goers　and　〃like　master；　like　man。〃　Indeed　the　gentle…faced　old
clergyman　looked　quite　pleased　and　surprised　when　he　saw　two
inhabitants　of　that　palatial　residence　amongst　his　congregation；
although　it　is　true　that　Barbara　was　his　friend　and　helper。

The　simple　service　went　on；　the　first　lesson　was　read。　It　cried　woe
upon　them　that　joined　house　to　house　and　field　to　field；　that　draw
iniquity　with　cords　of　vanity　and　sin　as　it　were　with　a　cart　rope；
that　call　evil　good　and　good　evil；　that　put　darkness　for　light　and
light　for　darkness；　that　justify　the　wicked　for　reward；　that　feast
full　but　regard　not　the　work　of　the　Lord；　neither　consider　the
operation　of　His　hand；　for　of　such　it　prophesied　that　their　houses
great　and　fair　should　be　without　inhabitant　and　desolate。

It　was　very　well　read；　and　Alan；　listening；　thought　that　the
denunciations　of　the　old　seer　of　thousands　of　years　ago　were　not
inappropriate　to　the　dwellers　in　some　houses　great　and　fair　of　his　own
day；　who；　whatever　they　did　or　left　undone；　regarded　not　the　work　of
the　Lord；　neither　considered　the　operation　of　His　hand。　Perhaps
Barbara　thought　so　too；　at　any　rate　a　rather　sad　little　smile　appeared
once　or　twice　upon　her　sweet；　firm　face　as　the　immortal　poem　echoed
down　the　aisle。

The　peace　that　passeth　understanding　was　invoked　upon　their　heads；　and
rising　with　the　rest　of　the　scanty　congregation　they　went　away。

〃Shall　we　walk　home　by　the　woods；　Alan？〃　asked　Barbara。　〃It　is　three
miles　round；　but　we　don't　lunch　till　two。〃

He　nodded；　and　presently　they　were　alone　in　those　woods；　the　beautiful
woods　through　which　the　breath　of　spring　was　breathing；　treading　upon
carpets　of　bluebells；　violet　and　primrose；　quite　alone；　unaccompanied
save　by　the　wild　things　that　stole　across　their　path；　undisturbed　save
by　the　sound　of　the　singing　birds　and　of　the　wind　among　the　trees。

〃What　did　you　mean；　Barbara；　when　you　said　that　I　should　be　a　grateful
man　to…day？〃　asked　Alan　presently。

Barbara　looked　him　in　the　eyes　in　that　open；　virginal　fashion　of　hers
and　answered　in　the　words　of　the　lesson；　〃'Woe　unto　them　that　draw
iniquity　with　the　cords　of　vanity　and　sin　as　it　were　with　a　cart…rope；
that　lay　house　to　house；'〃　and　through　an　opening　in　the　woods　she
pointed　to　the　roof　of　The　Court　standing　on　one　hill；　and　to　the　roof
of　Old　Hall　standing　upon　another〃'and　field　to　field；'〃　and　with　a
sweep　of　her　hand　she　indicated　all　the　country　round；　〃'for　many
houses　great　and　fair　that　have　music　in　their　feasts　shall　be　left
desolate。'〃　Then　turning　she　said：

〃Do　you　understand　now；　Alan？〃

〃I　think　so；〃　he　answered。　〃You　mean　that　I　have　been　in　bad　company。〃

〃Very　bad；　Alan。　One　of　them　is　my　own　uncle；　but　the　truth　remains
the　truth。　Alan；　they　are　no　better　than　thieves；　all　this　wealth　is
stolen；　and　I　thank　God　that　you　have　found　it　out　in　time　before　you
became　one　of　them　in　heart　as　well　as　in　name。〃

〃If　you　refer　to　the　Sahara　Syndicate；〃　he　said；　〃the　idea　is　sound
enough；　indeed；　I　am　responsible　for　it。　The　thing　can　be　done；　great
benefits　would　result；　too　long　to　go　into。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　Alan；　but　you　know　that　they　never　mean　to　do　it；　they　only
mean　to　get　the　millions　from　the　public。　I　have　lived　with　my　uncle
for　ten　years；　ever　since　my　poor　father　died；　and　I　know　the
backstairs　of　the　business。　There　have　been　half　a　dozen　schemes　like
this；　and　although　they　have　had　their　bad　times；　very　bad　times；　he
and　Sir　Robert　have　grown　richer　and　richer。　But　what　has　happened　to
those　who　have　invested　in　them？　Oh！　let　us　drop　the　subject；　it　is
unpleasant。　For　myself　it　doesn't　matter；　because　although　it　isn't
under　my　control；　I　have　money　of　my　own。　You　know　we　are　a　plebeian
lot　on　the　male　side；　my　grandfather　was　a　draper　in　a　large　way　of
business；　my　father　was　a　coal…merchant　who　made　a　great　fortune。　His
brother；　my　uncle；　in　whom　my　father　always　believed　implicitly；　took
to　what　is　called　Finance；　and　when　my　father　died　he　left　me；　his
only　child；　in　his　guardianship。　Until　I　am　five　and　twenty　I　cannot
even　marry　or　touch　a　halfpenny　without　his　consent；　in　fact　if　I
should　marry　against　his　will　the　most　of　my　money　goes　to　him。〃

〃I　expect　that　he　has　got　it　already；〃　said　Alan。

〃No；　I　think　not。　I　found　out　that；　although　it　is　not　mine；　it　is　not
his。　He　can't　draw　it　without　my　signature；　and　I　steadily　refuse　to
sign　anything。　Again　and　again　they　have　brought　me　documents；　and　I
have　always　said　that　I　would　consider　them　at　five　and　twenty；　when　I
came　of　age　under　my　father's　will。　I　went　on　the　sly　to　a　lawyer　in
Kingswell　and　paid　him　a　guinea　for　his　advice；　and　he　put　me　up　to
that。　'Sign　nothing；'　he　said；　and　I　have　signed　nothing；　so；　except
by　forgery　nothing　can　have　gone。　Still　for　all　that　it　may　have　gone。
For　anything　I　know　I　am　not　worth　more　than　the　clothes　I　stand　in；
although　my　father　was　a　very　rich　man。〃

〃If　so；　we　are　about　in　the　same　boat；　Barbara；〃　Alan　answered　with　a
laugh；　〃for　my　present　possessions　are　Yarleys；　which　brings　in　about
￡100　a　year　less　than　the　interest　on　its　mortgages　and　cost　of
upkeep；　and　the　￡1700　that　Aylward　paid　me　back　on　Friday　for　my
shares。　If　I　had　stuck　to　them　I　understand　that　in　a　week　or　two　I
should　have　been　worth　￡100；000；　and　now　you　see；　here　I　am；　over
thirty　years　of　age　without　a　profession；　invalided　out　of　the　army
and　having　failed　in　finance；　a　mere　bit　of　driftwood　without　hope　and
without　a　trade。〃

Barbara's　brown　eyes　grew　soft　with　sympathy；　or　was　it　tears？

〃You　are　a　curious　creature；　Alan；〃　she　said。　〃Why　didn't　you　take　the
￡17；000　for　that　fetish　of　yours？　It　would　have　been　a　fair　deal　and
have　set　you　on　your　legs。〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　answered　dejectedly。　〃It　went　against　the　grain；　so
what　is　the　use　of　talking　about　it？　I　think　my　old　uncle　Austin　told
me　it　wasn't　to　be　parted　withno；　perhaps　it　was　Jeekie。　Bother　the
Yellow　God！　it　is　always　cropping　up。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Barbara；　〃the　Yellow　God　is　always　cropping　up；
especially　in　this　neighbourhood。〃

They　walked　on　a　while　in　silence；　till　suddenly　Barbara　sat　down　upon
a　bole　of　felled　oak　and　began　to　cry。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　asked　Alan。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　answered。　〃Everything　goes　wrong。　I　live　in　a　kind
of　gilded　hell。　I　don't　like　my　uncle　and　I　loath　the　men　he　brings
about　the　place。　I　have　no　friends；　I　scarcely　know　a　woman
intimately；　I　have　troubles　I　can't　tell　you　andI　am　wretched。　You
are　the　only　creature　I　have　left　to　talk　to；　and　I　suppose　that　after
this　row　you　must　go　away　too　to　make　your　living。〃

Alan　looked　at　her　there　weeping　on　the　log　and　his　heart　swelled
within　him；　for　he　had　loved　this　girl　for　years。

〃Barbara；〃　he　gasped；　〃please　don't　cry；　it　upsets　me。　You　know　you
are　a　great　heiress〃

〃That　remains　to　be　proved；〃　she　answered。　〃But　anyway；　what　has　it　to
do　with　the　case？〃

〃It　has　everything　to　do　with　it；　at　least　so　far　as　I　am　concerned。
If　it　hadn't　been　for　that　I　should　have　asked　you　to　marry　me　a　long
while　ago；　because　I　love　you；　as　I　would　now；　but　of　course　it　is
impossible。〃

Barbara　ceased　her　weeping；　wiped　her　eyes　with　the　back　of　her　hand；
and　looked　up　at　him。

〃Alan；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　that　you　are　the　biggest　fool　I　ever　knew
not　but　that　a　fool　is　rather　refreshing　when　one　lives　among　knaves。〃

〃I　know　I　am　a　fool；〃　he　answered。　〃If　I　wasn't　I　should　not　have
mentioned　my　misfortune　to　you；　but　sometimes　things　are　too　much　for
one。　Forget　it　and　forgive　me。〃

〃Oh！　yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　forgive　you；　a　woman　can　generally　forgive　a
man　for　being　fond　of　her。　Whatever　she　may　be；　she　is　ready　to　take　a
lenient　view　of　his　human　weakness。　But　as　to　forgetting；　that　is　a
different　matter。　I　don't　exactly　see　why　I　should　be　so　anxious　to
forget；　who　haven't　many　people　to　care　about　me；〃　and　she　looked　at
him　in　quite　a　new　fashion；　one　indeed　which　gave　him　something　of　a
shock；　for　he　had　not　thought　the　nymph…like　Barbara　capable　of　such　a
look　as　that。　She　and　any　sort　of　passion　had　always　seemed　so　far
apart。

Now　after　all　Alan　was　very　much　a　man；　if　a　modest　one；　with　all　a
man's　instincts；　and　therefore　there　are　appearances　of　the　female
face　which　even　such　as　he　could　not　entirely　misinterpret。

〃Youdon'tmean；〃