the lion and the unicorn-第2节

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After　he　had　been　in　London　a　month　he　wrote　less　and　was　more
frequently　abroad；　sallying　forth　in　beautiful　raiment；　and
coming　home　by　daylight。

And　he　gave　suppers　too；　but　they　were　less　noisy　than　the
Captain's　had　been；　and　the　women　who　came　to　them　were　much　more
beautiful；　and　their　voices　when　they　spoke　were　sweet　and　low。　
Sometimes　one　of　the　women　sang；　and　the　men　sat　in　silence　while
the　people　in　the　street　below　stopped　to　listen；　and　would　say；
〃Why；　that　is　So…and…So　singing；〃　and　the　Lion　and　the　Unicorn
wondered　how　they　could　know　who　it　was　when　they　could　not　see
her。

The　lodger's　visitors　came　to　see　him　at　all　hours。　　They
seemed　to　regard　his　rooms　as　a　club；　where　they　could　always
come　for　a　bite　to　eat　or　to　write　notes；　and　others　treated　it
like　a　lawyer's　office　and　asked　advice　on　all　manner　of　strange
subjects。　　Sometimes　the　visitor　wanted　to　know　whether　the
American　thought　she　ought　to　take　L？0　a　week　and　go　on　tour；　or
stay　in　town　and　try　to　live　on　L？；　or　whether　she　should　paint
landscapes　that　would　not　sell；　or　racehorses　that　would；　or
whether　Reggie　really　loved　her　and　whether　she　really　loved
Reggie；　or　whether　the　new　part　in　the　piece　at　the　Court　was
better　than　the　old　part　at　Terry's；　and　wasn't　she　getting　too
old　to　play　〃ingenues〃　anyway。

The　lodger　seemed　to　be　a　general　adviser；　and　smoked　and
listened　with　grave　consideration；　and　the　Unicorn　thought　his
judgment　was　most　sympathetic　and　sensible。

Of　all　the　beautiful　ladies　who　came　to　call　on　the　lodger　the
one　the　Unicorn　liked　the　best　was　the　one　who　wanted　to　know
whether　she　loved　Reggie　and　whether　Reggie　loved　her。　　She
discussed　this　so　interestingly　while　she　consumed　tea　and
thin　slices　of　bread　that　the　Unicorn　almost　lost　his　balance　in
leaning　forward　to　listen。　　Her　name　was　Marion　Cavendish　and　it
was　written　over　many　photographs　which　stood　in　silver　frames　in
the　lodger's　rooms。　　She　used　to　make　the　tea　herself；　while　the
lodger　sat　and　smoked；　and　she　had　a　fascinating　way　of　doubling
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