the lion and the unicorn-第7章

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he　would　like　to　hear　it　from　you　to…night。〃

Philip　was　standing　in　the　centre　of　the　stage；　surrounded　by
many　pretty　ladies　and　elderly　men。　　Wimpole　was　hovering　over
him　as　though　he　had　claims　upon　him　by　the　right　of　discovery。

But　when　Philip　saw　Helen；　he　pushed　his　way　toward　her　eagerly
and　took　her　hand　in　both　of　his。

〃I　am　so　glad；　Phil；〃　she　said。　　She　felt　it　all　so　deeply　that
she　was　afraid　to　say　more；　but　that　meant　so　much　to　her　that
she　was　sure　he　would　understand。

He　had　planned　it　very　differently。　　For　a　year　he　had　dreamed
that；　on　the　first　night　of　his　play；　there　would　be　a　supper；
and　that　he　would　rise　and　drink　her　health；　and　tell　his　friends
and　the　world　that　she　was　the　woman　he　loved；　and　that　she　had
agreed　to　marry　him；　and　that　at　last　he　was　able；　through　the
success　of　his　play；　to　make　her　his　wife。

And　now　they　met　in　a　crowd　to　shake　hands；　and　she　went　her　way
with　one　of　her　grand　ladies；　and　he　was　left　among　a　group　of
chattering　strangers。　　The　great　English　playwright　took　him　by
the　hand　and　in　the　hearing　of　all；　praised　him　gracefully　and
kindly。　　It　did　not　matter　to　Philip　whether　the　older　playwright
believed　what　he　said　or　not；　he　knew　it　was　generously　meant。

〃I　envy　you　this；〃　the　great　man　was　saying。　　〃Don't　lose　any　of
it；　stay　and　listen　to　all　they　have　to　say。　　You　will　never　live
through　the　first　night　of　your　first　play　but　once。〃

〃Yes；　I　hear　them；〃　said　Philip；　nervously；　〃they　are　all　too
kind。　　But　I　don't　hear　the　voice　I　have　been　listening　for；〃　he
added　in　a　whisper。　　The　older　man　pressed　his　hand　again
quickly。　　〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　sorry。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　Philip　answered。

Within　a　week　he　had　forgotten　the　great　man's　fine　words　of
praise；　but　the　clasp　of　his　hand　he　cherished　always。

Helen　met　Marion　as　she　was　leaving　the　stage　door　and　stopped　to
congratulate　her　on　her　success　in　the　new　part。　　Marion　was
radiant。　　To　Helen　she　seemed　obstreperously　happy　and　jubilant。

〃And；　Marion；〃　Helen　began　bravely；　〃I　also　want　to　congratulate
you　on　something　else。　　Youyouneither　of　you　have　told　me
yet；〃　she　stammered；　〃but　I　am　such　an　old　friend　of　both　that　I
will　not　be　kept　out　of　the　secret。〃　　At　these　words　Marion's　air
of　triumphant　gayety　vanished；　she　regarded　Helen's　troubled　eyes
closely　and　kindly。

〃What　secret；　Helen？〃　she　asked。

〃I　came　to　the　door　of　Philip's　room　the　other　day　when　you　did
not　know　I　was　there；〃　Helen　answered；　〃and　I　could　not　help
seeing　how　matters　were。　　And　I　do　congratulate　you　bothand
wish　youoh；　such　happiness！〃　　Without　a　word　Marion　dragged　her
back　down　the　passage　to　her　dressing…room；　and　closed　the　door。

〃Now　tell　me　what　you　mean；〃　she　said。

〃I　am　sorry　if　I　discovered　anything　you　didn't　want　known　yet；〃
said　Helen；　〃but　the　door　was　open。　　Mr。　Wimpole　had　just　left
you　and　had　not　shut　it；　and　I　could　not　help　seeing。〃

Marion　interrupted　her　with　an　eager　exclamation　of
enlightenment。

〃Oh；　you　were　there；　then；〃　she　cried。　　〃And　you？〃　she　asked
eagerly〃you　thought　Phil　cared　for　methat　we　are　engaged；　and
it　hurt　you；　you　are　sorry？　　Tell　me；〃　she　demanded；　〃are　you
sorry？〃

Helen　drew　back　and　stretched　out　her　hand　toward　the　door。

〃How　can　you！　she　exclaimed；　indignantly。　　〃You　have　no　right。〃

Marion　stood　between　her　and　the　door。

〃I　have　every　right；〃　she　said；　〃to　help　my　friends；　and　I　want
to　help　you　and　Philip。　　And　indeed　I　do　hope　you　ARE　sorry。　
I　hope　you　are　miserable。　　And　I'm　glad　you　saw　me　kiss　him。　
That　was　the　first　and　the　last　time；　and　I　did　it　because　I　was
happy　and　glad　for　him；　and　because　I　love　him　too；　but　not　in
the　least　in　the　way　he　loves　you。　　No　one　ever　loved　any　one　as
he　loves　you。　　And　it's　time　you　found　it　out。　　And　if　I　have
helped　to　make　you　find　it　out　I'm　glad；　and　I　don't　care　how
much　I　hurt　you。〃

〃Marion！〃　exclaimed　Helen；〃　what　does　it　mean？　　Do　you　mean
that　you　are　not　engaged；　that〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　Marion　answered。　　〃I　am　going　to　marry　Reggie。　
It　is　you　that　Philip　loves；　and　I　am　very　sorry　for　you　that　you
don't　love　him。〃

Helen　clasped　Marion's　hands　in　both　of　hers。

〃But；　Marion！〃　she　cried；　〃I　do；　oh；　I　do！〃


There　was　a　thick　yellow　fog　the　next　morning；　and　with　it　rain
and　a　sticky；　depressing　dampness　which　crept　through　the　window…
panes；　and　which　neither　a　fire　nor　blazing　gas…jets　could
overcome。

Philip　stood　in　front　of　the　fireplace　with　the　morning　papers
piled　high　on　the　centre…table　and　scattered　over　the　room　about
him。

He　had　read　them　all；　and　he　knew　now　what　it　was　to　wake　up
famous；　but　he　could　not　taste　it。　　Now　that　it　had　come　it　meant
nothing；　and　that　it　was　so　complete　a　triumph　only　made　it　the
harder。　　In　his　most　optimistic　dreams　he　had　never　imagined
success　so　satisfying　as　the　reality　had　proved　to　be；　but　in
his　dreams　Helen　had　always　held　the　chief　part；　and　without　her；
success　seemed　only　to　mock　him。

He　wanted　to　lay　it　all　before　her；　to　say；　〃If　you　are　pleased；
I　am　happy。　　If　you　are　satisfied；　then　I　am　content。　　It　was
done　for　you；　and　I　am　wholly　yours；　and　all　that　I　do　is　yours。〃

And；　as　though　in　answer　to　his　thoughts；　there　was　an　instant
knock　at　the　door；　and　Helen　entered　the　room　and　stood　smiling
at　him　across　the　table。

Her　eyes　were　lit　with　excitement；　and　spoke　with　many　emotions；
and　her　cheeks　were　brilliant　with　color。　　He　had　never　seen　her
look　more　beautiful。

〃Why；　Helen！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃how　good　of　you　to　come。　　Is　there
anything　wrong？　　Is　anything　the　matter？〃

She　tried　to　speak；　but　faltered；　and　smiled　at　him　appealingly。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked　in　great　concern。

Helen　drew　in　her　breath　quickly；　and　at　the　same　moment　motioned
him　awayand　he　stepped　back　and　stood　watching　her　in　much
perplexity。

With　her　eyes　fixed　on　his　she　raised　her　hands　to　her　head；
and　her　fingers　fumbled　with　the　knot　of　her　veil。　　She　pulled　it
loose；　and　then；　with　a　sudden　courage；　lifted　her　hat　proudly；
as　though　it　were　a　coronet；　and　placed　it　between　them　on　his
table。

〃Philip；〃　she　stammered；　with　the　tears　in　her　voice　and　eyes；
〃if　you　will　let　meI　have　come　to　stay。〃

The　table　was　no　longer　between　them。　　He　caught　her　in　his　arms
and　kissed　her　face　and　her　uncovered　head　again　and　again。　　From
outside　the　rain　beat　drearily　and　the　fog　rolled　through　the
street；　but　inside　before　the　fire　the　two　young　people　sat　close
together；　asking　eager　questions　or　sitting　in　silence；　staring
at　the　flames　with　wondering；　happy　eyes。


The　Lion　and　the　Unicorn　saw　them　only　once　again。　　It　was　a
month　later　when　they　stopped　in　front　of　the　shop　in　a　four…
wheeler；　with　their　baggage　mixed　on　top　of　it；　and　steamer…
labels　pasted　over　every　trunk。

〃And；　oh；　Prentiss！〃　Carroll　called　from　the　cab…window。　　〃I　came
near　forgetting。　　I　promised　to　gild　the　Lion　and　the　Unicorn
if　I　won　out　in　London。　　So　have　it　done；　please；　and　send　the
bill　to　me。　　For　I've　won　out　all　right。〃　　And　then　he　shut　the
door　of　the　cab；　and　they　drove　away　forever。

〃Nice　gal；　that；〃　growled　the　Lion。　　〃I　always　liked　her。　　I　am
glad　they've　settled　it　at　last。〃

The　Unicorn　sighed；　sentimentally。　　〃The　other　one's　worth　two　of
her；〃　he　said。



ON　THE　FEVER　SHIP

There　were　four　rails　around　the　ship's　sides；　the　three　lower
ones　of　iron　and　the　one　on　top　of　wood；　and　as　he　looked　between
them　from　the　canvas　cot　he　recognized　them　as　the　prison…bars
which　held　him　in。　　Outside　his　prison　lay　a　stretch　of　blinding
blue　water　which　ended　in　a　line　of　breakers　and　a　yellow　coast
with　ragged　palms。　　Beyond　that　again　rose　a　range　of　mountain…
peaks；　and；　stuck　upon　the　loftiest　peak　of　all；　a　tiny　block…
house。　　It　rested　on　the　brow　of　the　mountain　against　the　naked
sky　as　impudently　as　a　cracker…box　set　upon　the　dome　of　a　great
cathedral。

As　the　transport　rode　on　her　anchor…chains；　the　iron　bars　around
her　sides　rose　and　sank　and　divided　the　landscape　with　parallel
lines。　　From　his　cot　the　officer　followed　this　phenomenon　with
severe；　painstaking　interest。　　Sometimes　the　wooden　rail　swept　up
to　the　very　block…house　itself；　and　for　a　second　of　time
blotted　it　from　sight。　　And　again　it　sank　to　the　level　of　the
line　of　breakers；　and　wiped　them　out　of　the　picture　as　though
they　were　a　line　of　chalk。

The　soldier　on　the　cot　promised　himself　that　the　next　swell　of
the　sea　would　send　the　lowest　rail　climbing　to　the　very　top　of
the　palm…trees　or；　even　higher；　to　the　base　of　the　mountains；　and
when　it　failed　to　reach　even　the　palm…trees　he　felt　a　distinct
sense　of　ill　use；　of　having　been　wronged　by　some　one。　　There　was
no　other　reason　for　submitting　to　this　existence；　save　these
tricks　upon　the　wearisome；　glaring　landscape；　and；　now；　whoever
it　was　who　was　working　them　did　not　seem　to　be　making　this　effort
to　entertain　him　with　any　heartiness。

It　was　most　cruel。　　Indeed；　he　decided　hotly；　it　was　not　to　be
endured；　he　would　bear　it　no　longer；　he　would　make　his　escape。　
But　he　knew　that　this　move；　which　could　be　conceived　in　a
moment's　desperation；　could　only　be　carried　to　success　with　great
strategy；　secrecy；　and　careful　cunning。　　So　he　fell　back　upon　his
pillow　and　closed　his　eyes；　as　though　he　were　asleep；　and
then　opening　them　again；　turned　cautiously；　and　spied　upon　his
keeper。　　As　usual；　his　keeper　sat　at　the　foot　of　the　cot　turning
the　pages　of　a　huge　paper　filled　with　pictures　of　the　war　printed
in　daubs　of　tawdry　colors。　　His　keeper　was　a　hard…faced　boy
without　human　pity　or　consideration；　a　very　devil　of　obstinacy
and　fiendish　cruelty。　　To　make　it　worse；　the　fiend　was　a　person
without　a　collar；　in　a　suit　of　soiled　khaki；　with　a　curious　red
cross　bound　by　a　safety…pin　to　his　left　arm。　　He　was　intent　upon
the　paper　in　his　hands；　he　was　holding　it　between　his　eyes　and
his　prisoner。　　His　vigilance　had　relaxed；　and　the　moment　seemed
propitious。　　With　a　sudden　plunge　of　arms　and　legs；　the　prisoner
swept　the　bed　sheet　from　him；　and　sprang　at　the　wooden　rail　and
grasped　the　iron　stanchion　beside　it。　　He　had　his　knee　pressed
against　the　top　bar　and　his　bare　toes　on　the　iron　rail　beneath
it。　　Below　him　the　blue　water　waited　for　him。　　It　was　cool　and
dark　and　gentle　and　deep。　　It　would　certainly　put　out　the　fire　in
his　bones；　he　thought；　it　might　even　shut　out　the　glare　of　the
sun　which　scorched　his　eyeballs。　

But　as　he　balanced　for　the　leap；　a　swift　weakness　and　nausea
swept　over　him；　a　weight　seized　upon　his　body　and　limbs。　　He
could　not　lift　the　lower　foot　from　the　iron　rail；　and　he　swayed
dizzily　and　trembled。　　He　trembled。　　He　who　had　raced　his　men　and
beaten　them　up　the　hot　hill　to　the　trenches　of　San　Juan。　　But　now
he　was　a　baby　in　the　hands　of　a　giant；　who　caught　him　by　the
wrist　and　with　an　iron　arm　clasped　him　around　his　waist　and
pulled　him　down；　and　shouted；　brutally；　〃Help；　some　of　you'se；
quick；　he's　at　it　again。　　I　can't　hold　him。〃

More　giants　grasped　him　by　the　arms　and　by　the　legs。　　One　of　them
took　the　hand　that　clung　to　the　stanchion　in　both　of　his；　and
pulled　back　the　fingers　one　by　one；　saying；　〃Easy　now；
Lieutenanteasy。〃

The