manalive-第7章

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　　　　　　　　　　　For　the　glitter　is　the　gold。〃


〃And　who　wrote　that？〃　asked　Rosamund；　amused。

〃No　one　will　ever　write　it；〃　answered　Smith；　and　cleared　the　rockery
with　a　flying　leap。

〃Really；〃　said　Rosamund　to　Michael　Moon；　〃he　ought　to　be　sent　to　an　asylum。
Don't　you　think　so？〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　inquired　Michael；　rather　sombrely；　his　long；
swarthy　head　was　dark　against　the　sunset；　and；　either　by　accident　or　mood；
he　had　the　look　of　something　isolated　and　even　hostile　amid　the　social
extravagance　of　the　garden。

〃I　only　said　Mr。　Smith　ought　to　go　to　an　asylum；〃　repeated　the　lady。

The　lean　face　seemed　to　grow　longer　and　longer；　for　Moon　was
unmistakably　sneering。　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　think　it's
at　all　necessary。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Rosamund　quickly。　　〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　he　is　in　one　now；〃　answered　Michael　Moon；　in　a　quiet　but　ugly　voice。
〃Why；　didn't　you　know？〃

〃What？〃　cried　the　girl；　and　there　was　a　break　in　her　voice；
for　the　Irishman's　face　and　voice　were　really　almost　creepy。
With　his　dark　figure　and　dark　sayings　in　all　that　sunshine
he　looked　like　the　devil　in　paradise。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　continued；　with　a　sort　of　harsh　humility。
〃Of　course　we　don't　talk　about　it　much。。。　but　I　thought　we
all　really　knew。〃

〃Knew　what？〃

〃Well；〃　answered　Moon；　〃that　Beacon　House　is　a　certain　rather　singular
sort　of　housea　house　with　the　tiles　loose；　shall　we　say？　　Innocent　Smith
is　only　the　doctor　that　visits　us；　hadn't　you　come　when　he　called　before？
As　most　of　our　maladies　are　melancholic；　of　course　he　has　to　be　extra　cheery。
Sanity；　of　course；　seems　a　very　bumptious　eccentric　thing　to　us。
Jumping　over　a　wall；　climbing　a　treethat's　his　bedside　manner。〃

〃You　daren't　say　such　a　thing！〃　cried　Rosamund　in　a　rage。
〃You　daren't　suggest　that　I〃

〃Not　more　than　I　am；〃　said　Michael　soothingly；　〃not　more　than　the　rest　of　us。
Haven't　you　ever　noticed　that　Miss　Duke　never　sits　stilla　notorious　sign？
Haven't　you　ever　observed　that　Inglewood　is　always　washing　his　hands
a　known　mark　of　mental　disease？　　I；　of　course；　am　a　dipsomaniac。〃

〃I　don't　believe　you；〃　broke　out　his　companion；　not　without　agitation。
〃I've　heard　you　had　some　bad　habits〃

〃All　habits　are　bad　habits；〃　said　Michael；　with　deadly　calm。
〃Madness　does　not　come　by　breaking　out；　but　by　giving　in；　by　settling　down
in　some　dirty；　little；　self…repeating　circle　of　ideas；　by　being　tamed。
YOU　went　mad　about　money；　because　you're　an　heiress。〃

〃It's　a　lie；〃　cried　Rosamund　furiously。　　〃I　never　was　mean　about　money。〃

〃You　were　worse；〃　said　Michael；　in　a　low　voice　and　yet　violently。
〃You　thought　that　other　people　were。　　You　thought　every　man　who　came　near
you　must　be　a　fortune…hunter；　you　would　not　let　yourself　go　and　be　sane；
and　now　you're　mad　and　I'm　mad；　and　serve　us　right。〃

〃You　brute！〃　said　Rosamund；　quite　white。　　〃And　is　this　true？〃

With　the　intellectual　cruelty　of　which　the　Celt　is　capable
when　his　abysses　are　in　revolt；　Michael　was　silent　for
some　seconds；　and　then　stepped　back　with　an　ironical　bow。
〃Not　literally　true；　of　course；〃　he　said；　〃only　really　true。
An　allegory；　shall　we　say？　a　social　satire。〃

〃And　I　hate　and　despise　your　satires；〃　cried　Rosamund　Hunt；
letting　loose　her　whole　forcible　female　personality　like　a　cyclone；
and　speaking　every　word　to　wound。　　〃I　despise　it　as　I　despise
your　rank　tobacco；　and　your　nasty；　loungy　ways；　and　your　snarling；
and　your　Radicalism；　and　your　old　clothes；　and　your　potty
little　newspaper；　and　your　rotten　failure　at　everything。
I　don't　care　whether　you　call　it　snobbishness　or　not；　I　like
life　and　success；　and　jolly　things　to　look　at；　and　action。
You　won't　frighten　me　with　Diogenes；　I　prefer　Alexander。〃

〃Victrix　causa　deae〃　said　Michael　gloomily；　and　this　angered
her　more；　as；　not　knowing　what　it　meant；　she　imagined　it
to　be　witty。

〃Oh；　I　dare　say　you　know　Greek；〃　she　said；　with　cheerful　inaccuracy；
〃you　haven't　done　much　with　that　either。〃　　And　she　crossed　the　garden；
pursuing　the　vanished　Innocent　and　Mary。

In　doing　so　she　passed　Inglewood；　who　was　returning　to　the　house　slowly；
and　with　a　thought…clouded　brow。　　He　was　one　of　those　men　who　are
quite　clever；　but　quite　the　reverse　of　quick。　　As　he　came　back
out　of　the　sunset　garden　into　the　twilight　parlour；　Diana　Duke
slipped　swiftly　to　her　feet　and　began　putting　away　the　tea　things。
But　it　was　not　before　Inglewood　had　seen　an　instantaneous　picture　so　unique
that　he　might　well　have　snapshotted　it　with　his　everlasting　camera。
For　Diana　had　been　sitting　in　front　of　her　unfinished　work　with　her　chin
on　her　hand；　looking　straight　out　of　the　window　in　pure　thoughtless　thought。

〃You　are　busy；〃　said　Arthur；　oddly　embarrassed　with　what　he　had　seen；
and　wishing　to　ignore　it。

〃There's　no　time　for　dreaming　in　this　world；〃　answered　the　young　lady
with　her　back　to　him。

〃I　have　been　thinking　lately；〃　said　Inglewood　in　a　low　voice；
〃that　there's　no　time　for　waking　up。〃

She　did　not　reply；　and　he　walked　to　the　window　and　looked　out　on　the　garden。

〃I　don't　smoke　or　drink；　you　know；〃　he　said　irrelevantly；
〃because　I　think　they're　drugs。　　And　yet　I　fancy　all　hobbies；
like　my　camera　and　bicycle；　are　drugs　too。　　Getting　under　a
black　hood；　getting　into　a　dark　roomgetting　into　a　hole　anyhow。
Drugging　myself　with　speed；　and　sunshine；　and　fatigue；　and　fresh　air。
Pedalling　the　machine　so　fast　that　I　turn　into　a　machine　myself。
That's　the　matter　with　all　of　us。　　We're　too　busy　to　wake　up。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　girl　solidly；　〃what　is　there　to　wake　up　to？〃

〃There　must　be！〃　cried　Inglewood；　turning　round　in　a　singular
excitement〃there　must　be　something　to　wake　up　to！
All　we　do　is　preparationsyour　cleanliness；　and　my　healthiness；
and　Warner's　scientific　appliances。　　We're　always　preparing
for　somethingsomething　that　never　comes　off。　　I　ventilate
the　house；　and　you　sweep　the　house；　but　what　is　going　to　HAPPEN
in　the　house？〃

She　was　looking　at　him　quietly；　but　with　very　bright　eyes；
and　seemed　to　be　searching　for　some　form　of　words　which　she
could　not　find。

Before　she　could　speak　the　door　burst　open；　and　the　boisterous　Rosamund　Hunt；
in　her　flamboyant　white　hat；　boa；　and　parasol；　stood　framed　in　the　doorway。
She　was　in　a　breathing　heat；　and　on　her　open　face　was　an　expression　of
the　most　infantile　astonishment。

〃Well；　here's　a　fine　game！〃　she　said；　panting。　　〃What　am　I　to　do　now；
I　wonder？　　I've　wired　for　Dr。　Warner；　that's　all　I　can　think　of　doing。〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　Diana；　rather　sharply；　but　moving
forward　like　one　used　to　be　called　upon　for　assistance。

〃It's　Mary；〃　said　the　heiress；　〃my　companion　Mary　Gray：
that　cracked　friend　of　yours　called　Smith　has　proposed　to　her
in　the　garden；　after　ten　hours'　acquaintance；　and　he　wants
to　go　off　with　her　now　for　a　special　licence。〃

Arthur　Inglewood　walked　to　the　open　French　windows　and　looked
out　on　the　garden；　still　golden　with　evening　light。
Nothing　moved　there　but　a　bird　or　two　hopping　and　twittering；
but　beyond　the　hedge　and　railings；　in　the　road　outside
the　garden　gate；　a　hansom　cab　was　waiting；　with　the　yellow
Gladstone　bag　on　top　of　it。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　IV

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Garden　of　the　God


Diana　Duke　seemed　inexplicably　irritated　at　the　abrupt　entrance
and　utterance　of　the　other　girl。

〃Well；〃　she　said　shortly；　〃I　suppose　Miss　Gray　can　decline　him　if　she
doesn't　want　to　marry　him。〃

〃But　she　DOES　want　to　marry　him！〃　cried　Rosamund　in　exasperation。
〃She's　a　wild；　wicked　fool；　and　I　won't　be　parted　from　her。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Diana　icily；　〃but　I　really　don't　see　what　we　can　do。〃

〃But　the　man's　balmy；　Diana；〃　reasoned　her　friend　angrily。
〃I　can't　let　my　nice　governess　marry　a　man　that's　balmy！
You　or　somebody　MUST　stop　it！Mr。　Inglewood；　you're　a　man；
go　and　tell　them　they　simply　can't。〃

〃Unfortunately；　it　seems　to　me　they　simply　can；〃　said　Inglewood；
with　a　depressed　air。　　〃I　have　far　less　right　of　intervention
than　Miss　Duke；　besides　having；　of　course；　far　less　moral
force　than　she。〃

〃You　haven't　either　of　you　got　much；〃　cried　Rosamund；
the　last　stays　of　her　formidable　temper　giving　way；
〃I　think　I'll　go　somewhere　else　for　a　little　sense　and　pluck。
I　think　I　know　some　one　who　will　help　me　more　than　you　do；
at　any　rate。。。　he's　a　cantankerous　beast；　but　he's　a　man；
and　has　a　mind；　and　knows　it。。。〃　And　she　flung　out　into　the　garden；
with　cheeks　aflame；　and　the　parasol　whirling　like　a　Catherine　wheel。

She　found　Michael　Moon　standing　under　the　garden　tree；　looking　over
the　hedge；　hunched　like　a　bird　of　prey；　with　his　large　pipe　hanging　down
his　long　blue　chin。　　The　very　hardness　of　his　expression　pleased　her；
after　the　nonsense　of　the　new　engagement　and　the　shilly…shallying
of　her　other　friends。

〃I　am　sorry　I　was　cross；　Mr。　Moon；〃　she　said　frankly。　　〃I　hated　you
for　being　a　cynic；　but　I've　been　well　punished；　for　I　want　a　cynic
just　now。　　I've　had　my　fill　of　sentimentI'm　fed　up　with　it。
The　world's　gone　mad；　Mr。　Moonall　except　the　cynics；　I　think。
That　maniac　Smith　wants　to　marry　my　old　friend　Mary；　and　she
and　shedoesn't　seem　to　mind。〃

Seeing　his　attentive　face　still　undisturbedly　smoking；　she　added　smartly；
〃I'm　not　joking；　that's　Mr。　Smith's　cab　outside。　　He　swears　he'll
take　her　off　now　to　his　aunt's；　and　go　for　a　special　licence。
Do　give　me　some　practical　advice；　Mr。　Moon。〃

Mr。　Moon　took　his　pipe　out　of　his　mouth；　held　it　in　his　hand
for　an　instant　reflectively；　and　then　tossed　it　to　the　other　side
of　the　garden。　　〃My　practical　advice　to　you　is　this；〃　he　said：
〃Let　him　go　for　his　special　licence；　and　ask　him　to　get　another
one　for　you　and　me。〃

〃Is　that　one　of　your　jokes？〃　asked　the　young　lady。
〃Do　say　what　you　really　mean。〃

〃I　mean　that　Innocent　Smith　is　a　man　of　business；〃
said　Moon　with　ponderous　precision〃a　plain；　practical　man：
a　man　of　affairs；　a　man　of　facts　and　the　daylight。
He　has　let　down　twenty　ton　of　good　building　bricks　suddenly
on　my　head；　and　I　am　glad　to　say　they　have　woken　me　up。
We　went　to　sleep　a　little　while　ago　on　this　very　lawn；　in　this
very　sunlight。　　We　have　had　a　little　nap　for　five　years　or　so；
but　now　we're　going　to　be　married；　Rosamund；　and　I　can't　see
why　that　cab。。。〃

〃Really；〃　said　Rosamund　stoutly；　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃

〃What　a　lie！　cried　Michael；　advancing　on　her　with　brightening　eyes。
〃I'm　all　for　lies　in　an　ordinary　way；　but　don't　you　see　that　to…night
they　won't　do？　　We've　wandered　into　a　world　of　facts；　old　girl。
That　grass　growing；　and　that　sun　going　down；　and　that　cab　at　the　door；
are　facts。　　You　used　to　torment　and　excuse　yourself　by　saying　I
was　after　your　money；　and　didn't　really　love　you。　　But　if　I　stood
here　now　and　told　you　I　didn't　love　youyou　wouldn't　believe　me：
for　truth　is　in　this　garden　to…night。〃

〃Really；　Mr。　Moon。。。〃　said　Rosamund；　rather　more　faintly。

He　kept　two　big　blue　magnetic　eyes　fixed　on　her　face。
〃Is　my　name　Moon？〃　he　asked。　　〃Is　your　name　Hunt？　　On　my　honour；
they　sound　to　me　as　quaint　and　as　distant　as　Red　Indian　names。
It's　as　if　your　name　was　‘Swim'　and　my　name　was　‘Sunrise。'　But　our
real　names　are　Husband　and　Wife；　as　they　were　when　we　fell　asleep。〃

〃It　is　no　good；〃　said　Rosamund；　with　real　tears　in　h