the lion and the unicorn-第2章

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the　thin　slices　of　bread　into　long　strips　and　nibbling　at　them
like　a　mouse　at　a　piece　of　cheese。　　She　had　wonderful　little
teeth　and　Cupid's…bow　lips；　and　she　had　a　fashion　of　lifting　her
veil　only　high　enough　for　one　to　see　the　two　Cupid…bow　lips。　
When　she　did　that　the　American　used　to　laugh；　at　nothing
apparently；　and　say；　〃Oh；　I　guess　Reggie　loves　you　well　enough。〃
　　　　
〃But　do　I　love　Reggie？〃　she　would　ask　sadly；　with　her　tea…cup
held　poised　in　air。
　　　　
〃　I　am　sure　I　hope　not；〃　the　lodger　would　reply；　and　she
would　put　down　the　veil　quickly；　as　one　would　drop　a　curtain　over
a　beautiful　picture；　and　rise　with　great　dignity　and　say；　〃if　you
talk　like　that　I　shall　not　come　again。〃
　　　　
She　was　sure　that　if　she　could　only　get　some　work　to　do　her
head　would　be　filledwith　more　important　matters　than　whether
Reggie　loved　her　or　not。

〃But　the　managers　seem　inclined　to　cut　their　cavendish　very　fine
just　at　present；〃　she　said。　　〃If　I　don't　get　a　part　soon；〃　she
announced；　〃I　shall　ask　Mitchell　to　put　me　down　on　the　list　for
recitations　at　evening　parties。〃

〃That　seems　a　desperate　revenge；〃　said　the　American；　〃and
besides；　I　don't　want　you　to　get　a　part；　because　some　one　might
be　idiotic　enough　to　take　my　comedy；　and　if　he　should；　you　must
play　Nancy。〃

〃I　would　not　ask　for　any　salary　if　I　could　play　Nancy；〃　Miss
Cavendish　answered。

They　spoke　of　a　great　many　things；　but　their　talk　always　ended　by
her　saying　that　there　must　be　some　one　with　sufficient　sense　to
see　that　his　play　was　a　great　play；　and　by　his　saying　that　none
but　she　must　play　Nancy。

The　Lion　preferred　the　tall　girl　with　masses　and　folds　of　brown
hair；　who　came　from　America　to　paint　miniatures　of　the　British
aristocracy。　　Her　name　was　Helen　Cabot；　and　he　liked　her　because
she　was　so　brave　and　fearless；　and　so　determined　to　be
independent　of　every　one；　even　of　the　lodgerespecially　of
the　lodger；　who　it　appeared　had　known　her　very　well　at　home。　　The
lodger；　they　gathered；　did　not　wish　her　to　be　independent　of　him
and　the　two　Americans　had　many　arguments　and　disputes　about　it；
but　she　always　said；　〃It　does　no　good；　Philip；　it　only　hurts　us
both　when　you　talk　so。　　I　care　for　nothing；　and　for　no　one　but　my
art；　and；　poor　as　it　is；　it　means　everything　to　me；　and　you　do
not；　and；　of　course；　the　man　I　am　to　marry；　must。〃　　Then　Carroll
would　talk；　walking　up　and　down；　and　looking　very　fierce　and
determined；　and　telling　her　how　he　loved　her　in　such　a　way　that
it　made　her　look　even　more　proud　and　beautiful。　　And　she　would
say　more　gently；　〃It　is　very　fine　to　think　that　any　one　can　care
for　like　that；　and　very　helpful。　　But　unless　I　cared　in　the　same
way　it　would　be　wicked　of　me　to　marry　you；　and　besides〃　　She
would　add　very　quickly　to　prevent　his　speaking　again〃　　I　don't
want　to　marry　you　or　anybody；　and　I　never　shall。　　I　want　to　be
free　and　to　succeed　in　my　work；　just　as　you　want　to　succeed　in
your　work。　　So　please　never　speak　of　this　again。〃　　When　she
went　away　the　lodger　used　to　sit　smoking　in　the　big　arm…chair　and
beat　the　arms　with　his　hands；　and　he　would　pace　up　and　down　the
room　while　his　work　would　lie　untouched　and　his　engagements　pass
forgotten。

Summer　came　and　London　was　deserted；　dull；　and　dusty；　but　the
lodger　stayed　on　in　Jermyn　Street。　　Helen　Cabot　had　departed　on　a
round　of　visits　to　country　houses　in　Scotland；　where；　as　she
wrote　him；　she　was　painting　miniatures　of　her　hosts　and　studying
the　game　of　golf。　　Miss　Cavendish　divided　her　days　between　the
river　and　one　of　the　West　End　theatres。　　She　was　playing　a　small
part　in　a　farce…comedy。

One　day　she　came　up　from　Cookham　earlier　than　usual；　looking　very
beautiful　in　a　white　boating　frock　and　a　straw　hat　with　a　Leander
ribbon。　　Her　hands　and　arms　were　hard　with　dragging　a　punting
pole　and　she　was　sunburnt　and　happy；　and　hungry　for　tea。

〃Why　don't　you　come　down　to　Cookham　and　get　out　of　this　heat？〃
Miss　Cavendish　asked。　　〃You　need　it；　you　look　ill。〃

〃I'd　like　to；　but　I　can't；〃　said　Carroll。　　〃The　fact　is；　I　paid
in　advance　for　these　rooms；　and　if　I　lived　anywhere　else　I'd　be
losing　five　guineas　a　week　on　them。〃

Miss　Cavendish　regarded　him　severely。　　She　had　never　quite
mastered　his　American　humor。

〃But　five　guineaswhy　that's　nothing　to　you；〃　she　said。　
Something　in　the　lodger's　face　made　her　pause。　　〃You　don't
mean〃

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　said　the　lodger；　smiling。　　〃You　see；　I　started　in　to
lay　siege　to　London　without　sufficient　ammunition。　　London　is　a
large　town；　and　it　didn't　fall　as　quickly　as　I　thought　it　would。　
So　I　am　economizing。　　Mr。　Lockhart's　Coffee　Rooms　and　I　are　no
longer　strangers。〃

Miss　Cavendish　put　down　her　cup　of　tea　untasted　and　leaned　toward
him

〃Are　you　in　earnest？〃　she　asked。　　〃For　how　long？〃

〃Oh；　for　the　last　month；〃　replied　the　lodger；　〃they　are　not　at
all　badclean　and　wholesome　and　all　that。〃

〃But　the　suppers　you　gave　us；　and　this；〃　she　cried；　suddenly；
waving　her　hands　over　the　pretty　tea…things；　〃and　the　cake
and　muffins？〃

〃My　friends；　at　least；〃　said　Carroll；　〃need　not　go　to
Lockhart's。〃

〃And　the　Savoy？〃　asked　Miss　Cavendish；　mournfully　shaking　her
head。

〃A　dream　of　the　past；〃　said　Carroll；　waving　his　pipe　through　the
smoke。　　〃Gatti's？　　Yes；　on　special　occasions；　but　for　necessity；
the　Chancellor's；　where　one　gets　a　piece　of　the　prime　roast　beef
of　Old　England；　from　Chicago；　and　potatoes　for　ninepencea　pot
of　bitter　twopence…halfpenny；　and　a　penny　for　the　waiter。　　It's
most　amusing　on　the　whole。　　I　am　learning　a　little　about　London；
and　some　things　about　myself。　　They　are　both　most　interesting
subjects。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　like　it；〃　Miss　Cavendish　declared　helplessly。　
〃When　I　think　of　those　suppers　and　the　flowers；　I　feelI　feel
like　a　robber。〃

〃Don't；〃　begged　Carroll。　　〃I　am　really　the　most　happy　of　men
that　is；　as　the　chap　says　in　the　play；　I　would　be　if　I　wasn't　so
damned　miserable。　　But　I　owe　no　man　a　penny　and　I　have　assetsI
have　L？0　to　last　me　through　the　winter　and　two　marvellous
plays；　and　I　love；　next　to　yourself；　the　most　wonderful　woman　God
ever　made。　　That's　enough。〃

〃But　I　thought　you　made　such　a　lot　of　money　by　writing？〃　asked
Miss　Cavendish。

〃I　dothat　is；　I　could；〃　answered　Carroll；　〃if　I　wrote　the
things　that　sell；　but　I　keep　on　writing　plays　that　won't。〃

〃And　such　plays！〃　exclaimed　Marion；　warmly；　〃and　to　think　that
they　are　going　begging。〃　　She　continued　indignantly；　〃I　can't
imagine　what　the　managers　do　want。〃

〃I　know　what　they　don't　want；〃　said　the　American。　　Miss　Cavendish
drummed　impatiently　on　the　tea…tray。

〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　be　so　abject　about　it；〃　she　said。　　〃If　I
were　a　man　I'd　make　them　take　those　plays。〃

〃How？〃　asked　the　American；　〃with　a　gun？〃

〃Well；　I'd　keep　at　it　until　they　read　them；〃　declared　Marion。　
〃I'd　sit　on　their　front　steps　all　night　and　I'd　follow　them　in
cabs；　and　I'd　lie　in　wait　for　them　at　the　stage…door。　　I'd　just
make　them　take　them。〃

Carroll　sighed　and　stared　at　the　ceiling。　　〃I　guess　I'll　give　up
and　go　home；〃　he　said。

〃Oh；　yes；　do；　run　away　before　you　are　beaten；〃　said　Miss
Cavendish；　scornfully。　　〃Why；　you　can't　go　now。　　Everybody　will
be　back　in　town　soon；　and　there　are　a　lot　of　new　plays　coming　on；
and　some　of　them　are　sure　to　be　failures；　and　that's　our　chance。　
You　rush　in　with　your　piece　and　somebody　may　take　it　sooner　than
close　the　theatre。〃

〃I'm　thinking　of　closing　the　theatre　myself；〃　said　Carroll。　
〃What's　the　use　of　my　hanging　on　here？〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃It
distresses　Helen　to　know　I　am　in　London；　feeling　about　her　as　I
doand　the　Lord　only　knows　how　it　distresses　me。　　And；　maybe；　if
I　went　away；〃　he　said；　consciously；　〃she　might　miss　me。　　She
might　see　the　difference。〃

Miss　Cavendish　held　herself　erect　and　pressed　her　lips　together
with　a　severe　smile。　　〃If　Helen　Cabot　doesn't　see　the　difference
between　you　and　the　other　men　she　knows　now；〃　she　said；　〃I　doubt
if　she　ever　will。　　Besides〃　she　continued；　and　then　hesitated。　
〃Well；　go　on；〃　urged　Carroll。

〃Well；　I　was　only　going　to　say；〃　she　explained；　〃that　leaving　the
girl　alone　never　did　the　man　any　good　unless　he　left　her　alone
willingly。　　If　she's　sure　he　still　cares；　it's　just　the　same　to
her　where　he　is。　　He　might　as　well　stay　on　in　London　as　go　to
South　Africa。　　It　won't　help　him　any。　　The　difference　comes　when
she　finds　he　has　stopped　caring。　　Why；　look　at　Reggie。　　He　tried
that。　　He　went　away　for　ever　so　long；　but　he　kept　writing　me　from
wherever　he　went；　so　that　he　was　perfectly　miserableand　I　went
on　enjoying　myself。　　Then　when　he　came　back；　he　tried　going　about
with　his　old　friends　again。　　He　used　to　come　to　the　theatre　with
themoh；　with　such　nice　girlsbut　he　always　stood　in　the　back
of　the　box　and　yawned　and　scowledso　I　knew。　　And；　anyway；　he'd
always　spoil　it　all　by　leaving　them　and　waiting　at　the　stage
entrance　for　me。　　But　one　day　he　got　tired　of　the　way　I　treated
him　and　went　off　on　a　bicycle　tour　with　Lady　Hacksher's　girls　and
some　men　from　his　regiment；　and　he　was　gone　three　weeks　and　never
sent　me　even　a　line；　and　I　got　so　scared；　I　couldn't　sleep；　and
I　stood　it　for　three　days　more；　and　then　I　wired　him　to　come
back　or　I'd　jump　off　London　Bridge；　and　he　came　back　that　very
night　from　Edinburgh　on　the　express；　and　I　was　so　glad　to　see　him
that　I　got　confused；　and　in　the　general　excitement　I　promised　to
marry　him；　so　that's　how　it　was　with　us。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　American；　without　enthusiasm；　〃but　then　I　still
care；　and　Helen　knows　I　care。〃

〃Doesn't　she　ever　fancy　that　you　might　care　for　some　one　else？　
You　have　a　lot　of　friends；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　but　she　knows　they　are　just　thatfriends；〃　said　the
American。

Miss　Cavendish　stood　up　to　go；　and　arranged　her　veil　before　the
mirror　above　the　fireplace。

〃I　come　here　very　often　to　tea；〃　she　said。

〃It's　very　kind　of　you；〃　said　Carroll。　　He　was　at　the　open
window；　looking　down　into　the　street　for　a　cab。

〃Well；　no　one　knows　I　am　engaged　to　Reggie；〃　continued　Miss
Cavendish；　〃except　you　and　Reggie；　and　he　isn't　so　sure。　　SHE
doesn't　know　it。〃

〃Well？〃　said　Carroll。

Miss　Cavendish　smiled　a　mischievous　kindly　smile　at　him　from　the
mirror。

〃Well？〃　she　repeated；　mockingly。　　Carroll　stared　at　her　and
laughed。　　After　a　pause　he　said：　　〃It's　like　a　plot　in　a　comedy。　
But　I'm　afraid　I'm　too　serious　for　play…acting。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　serious；〃　said　Miss　Cavendish。　　She　seated　herself
again　and　regarded　the　American　thoughtfully。　　〃You　are　too　good
a　man　to　be　treated　the　way　that　girl　is　treating　you；　and　no　one
knows　it　better　than　she　does。　　She'll　change　in　time；　but　just
now　she　thinks　she　wants　to　be　independent。　　She's　in　love　with
this　picture…painting　idea；　and　with　the　people　she　meets。　　It's
all　new　to　herthe　fuss　they　make　over　her　and　the　titles；　and
the　way　she　is　asked　about。　　We　know　she　can't　paint。　　We　know
they　only　give　her　commissions　because　she's　so　young　and　pretty；
and　American。　　She　amuses　them；　that's　all。　　Well；　that　cannot
last；　she'll　find　it　out。　　She's　too　clever　a　girl；　and　she　is
too　fine　a　girl　to　be　content　with　that　long。　　Thenthen　she'll
come　back　to　you。　　She　feels　now　that　she　has　both　you　and　the
others；　and　she's　making　you　wait：　so　wait　and　be　che