an unsocial socialist-第48节

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Brown's。〃

〃I　doubt　it。　Most　likely　he　talked　Brown　into　signing　it　just　as
he　talked　us。　I　tell　you　his　ways　are　all　crooked；　like　his
ideas。　Did　you　hear　how　he　lied　about　Miss　Lindsay？〃

〃Oh；　you　were　mistaken　about　that。　He　does　not　care　two　straws
for　her　or　for　anyone。〃

〃Well；　if　you　are　satisfied；　I　am　not。　You　would　not　be　in　such
high　spirits　over　it　if　you　had　taken　as　little　wine　as　I。〃

〃Pshaw！　you're　too　ridiculous。　It　was　capital　wine。　Do　you　mean
to　say　I　am　drunk？〃

〃No。　But　you　would　not　have　signed　if　you　had　not　taken　that
second　goblet。　If　you　had　not　forced　meI　could　not　get　out　of
it　after　you　set　the　exampleI　would　have　seen　him　dd　sooner
than　have　had　anything　to　do　with　his　petition。〃

〃I　don't　see　what　harm　can　come　of　it；〃　said　Sir　Charles；　braving
out　some　secret　disquietude。

〃I　will　never　go　into　his　house　again；〃　said　Erskine　moodily。　〃We
were　just　like　two　flies　in　a　spider's　web。〃

Meanwhile；　Trefusis　was　fulfilling　his　promise　to　write　to
Donovan　Brown。

〃Sallust's　House。

〃Dear　Brown：　I　have　spent　the　forenoon　angling　for　a　couple　of
very　young　fish；　and　have　landed　them　with　more　trouble　than　they
are　worth。　One　has　gaudy　scales：　he　is　a　baronet；　and　an　amateur
artist；　save　the　mark。　All　my　arguments　and　my　little　museum　of
photographs　were　lost　on　him；　but　when　I　mentioned　your　name；　and
promised　him　an　introduction　to　you；　he　gorged　the　bait　greedily。
He　was　half　drunk　when　he　signed；　and　I　should　not　have　let　him
touch　the　paper　if　I　had　not　convinced　myself　beforehand　that　he
means　well；　and　that　my　wine　had　only　freed　his　natural
generosity　from　his　conventional　cowardice　and　prejudice。　We　must
get　his　name　published　in　as　many　journals　as　possible　as　a
signatory　to　the　great　petition；　it　will　draw　on　others　as　your
name　drew　him。　The　second　novice；　Chichester　Erskine；　is　a　young
poet。　He　will　not　be　of　much　use　to　us；　though　he　is　a　devoted
champion　of　liberty　in　blank　verse；　and　dedicates　his　works　to
Mazzini；　etc。　He　signed　reluctantly。　All　this　hesitation　is　the
uncertainty　that　comes　of　ignorance；they　have　not　found　out　the
truth　for　themselves；　and　are　afraid　to　trust　me；　matters　having
come　to　the　pass　at　which　no　man　dares　trust　his　fellow。

〃I　have　met　a　pretty　young　lady　here　who　might　serve　you　as　a
model　for　Hypatia。　She　is　crammed　with　all　the　prejudices　of　the
peerage；　but　I　am　effecting　a　cure。　I　have　set　my　heart　on
marrying　her　to　Erskine；　who；　thinking　that　I　am　making　love　to
her　on　my　own　account；　is　jealous。　The　weather　is　pleasant　here；
and　I　am　having　a　merry　life　of　it；　but　I　find　myself　too　idle。
Etc。；　etc。；　etc。〃



CHAPTER　XVI

One　sunny　forenoon；　as　Agatha　sat　reading　on　the　doorstep　of　the
conservatory；　the　shadow　of　her　parasol　deepened；　and　she；
looking　up　for　something　denser　than　the　silk　of　it；　saw
Trefusis。

〃Oh！〃

She　offered　him　no　further　greeting；　having　fallen　in　with　his
habit　of　dispensing；　as　far　as　possible；　with　salutations　and
ceremonies。　He　seemed　in　no　hurry　to　speak；　and　so；　after　a
pause；　she　began；　〃Sir　Charles〃

〃Is　gone　to　town；〃　he　said。　〃Erskine　is　out　on　his　bicycle。　Lady
Brandon　and　Miss　Lindsay　have　gone　to　the　village　in　the
wagonette；　and　you　have　come　out　here　to　enjoy　the　summer　sun　and
read　rubbish。　I　know　all　your　news　already。〃

〃You　are　very　clever；　and；　as　usual；　wrong。　Sir　Charles　has　not
gone　to　town。　He　has　only　gone　to　the　railway　station　for　some
papers；　he　will　be　back　for　luncheon。　How　do　you　know　so　much　of
our　affairs？〃

〃I　was　on　the　roof　of　my　house　with　a　field…glass。　I　saw　you　come
out　and　sit　down　here。　Then　Sir　Charles　passed。　Then　Erskine。
Then　Lady　Brandon；　driving　with　great　energy；　and　presenting　a
remarkable　contrast　to　the　disdainful　repose　of　Gertrude。〃

〃Gertrude！　I　like　your　cheek。〃

〃You　mean　that　you　dislike　my　presumption。〃

〃No；　I　think　cheek　a　more　expressive　word　than　presumption；　and　I
mean　that　I　like　itthat　it　amuses　me。〃

〃Really！　What　are　you　reading？〃

〃Rubbish；　you　said　just　now。　A　novel。〃

〃That　is；　a　lying　story　of　two　people　who　never　existed；　and　who
would　have　acted　very　differently　if　they　had　existed。〃

〃Just　so。〃

〃Could　you　not　imagine　something　just　as　amusing　for　yourself？〃

〃Perhaps　so；　but　it　would　be　too　much　trouble。　Besides；　cooking
takes　away　one's　appetite　for　eating。　I　should　not　relish　stories
of　my　own　confection。〃

〃Which　volume　are　you　at？〃

〃The　third。〃

〃Then　the　hero　and　heroine　are　on　the　point　of　being　united？〃

〃I　really　don't　know。　This　is　one　of　your　clever　novels。　I　wish
the　characters　would　not　talk　so　much。〃

〃No　matter。　Two　of　them　are　in　love　with　one　another；　are　they
not？〃

〃Yes。　It　would　not　be　a　novel　without　that。〃

〃Do　you　believe；　in　your　secret　soul；　AgathaI　take　the　liberty
of　using　your　Christian　name　because　I　wish　to　be　very　solemndo
you　really　believe　that　any　human　being　was　ever　unselfish　enough
to　love　another　in　the　story…book　fashion？〃

〃Of　course。　At　least　I　suppose　so。　I　have　never　thought　much
about　it。〃

〃I　doubt　it。　My　own　belief　is　that　no　latter…day　man　has　any
faith　in　the　thoroughness　or　permanence　of　his　affection　for　his
mate。　Yet　he　does　not　doubt　the　sincerity　of　her　professions；　and
he　conceals　the　hollowness　of　his　own　from　her；　partly　because　he
is　ashamed　of　it；　and　partly　out　of　pity　for　her。　And　she；　on　the
other　side；　is　playing　exactly　the　same　comedy。〃

〃I　believe　that　is　what　men　do；　but　not　women。〃

〃Indeed！　Pray　do　you　remember　pretending　to　be　very　much　in　love
with　me　once　when〃

Agatha　reddened　and　placed　her　palm　on　the　step　as　if　about　to
spring　up。　But　she　checked　herself　and　said：　〃Stop；　Mr。　Trefusis。
If　you　talk　about　that　I　shall　go　away。　I　wonder　at　you！　Have　you
no　taste？'；

〃None　whatever。　And　as　I　was　the　aggrieved　party　on　thatstay；
don't　go。　I　will　never　allude　to　it　again。　I　am　growing　afraid　of
you。　You　used　to　be　afraid　of　me。〃

〃Yes；　and　you　used　to　bully　me。　You　have　a　habit　of　bullying
women　who　are　weak　enough　to　fear　you。　You　are　a　great　deal
cleverer　than　I；　and　know　much　more；　I　dare　say；　but　I　am　not　in
the　least　afraid　of　you　now。〃　

〃You　have　no　reason　to　be；　and　never　had　any。　Henrietta；　if　she
were　alive；　could　testify　that　it　there　is　a　defect　in　my
relations　with　women；　it　arises　from　my　excessive　amiability。　I
could　not　refuse　a　woman　anything　she　had　set　her　heart
uponexcept　my　hand　in　marriage。　As　long　as　your　sex　are　content
to　stop　short　of　that　they　can　do　as　they　please　with　me。〃

〃How　cruel！　I　thought　you　were　nearly　engaged　to　Gertrude。〃

〃The　usual　interpretation　of　a　friendship　between　a　man　and　a
woman！　I　have　never　thought　of　such　a　thing；　and　I　am　sure　she
never　has。　We　are　not　half　so　intimate　as　you　and　Sir　Charles。〃

〃Oh；　Sir　Charles　is　married。　And　I　advise　you　to　get　married　if
you　wish　to　avoid　creating　misunderstandings　by　your
friendships。〃

Trefusis　was　struck。　Instead　of　answering；　he　stood；　after　one
startled　glance　at　her；　looking　intently　at　the　knuckle　of　his
forefinger。

〃Do　take　pity　on　our　poor　sex；〃　said　Agatha　maliciously。　〃You　are
so　rich；　and　so　very　clever；　and　really　so　nice　looking　that　you
ought　to　share　yourself　with　somebody。　Gertrude　would　be　only　too
happy。

Trefusis　grinned　and　shook　his　head；　slowly　but　emphatically。

〃I　suppose　_I_　should　have　no　chance；〃　continued　Agatha
pathetically。

〃I　should　be　delighted；　of　course；〃　he　replied　with　simulated
confusion；　but　with　a　lurking　gleam　in　his　eye　that　might　have
checked　her；　had　she　noticed　it。

〃Do　marry　me；　Mr。　Trefusis；〃　she　pleaded；　clasping　her　hands　in　a
rapture　of　mischievous　raillery。　〃Pray　do。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Trefusis　determinedly；　〃I　will。〃

〃I　am　very　sure　you　shan't；〃　said　Agatha；　after　an　incredulous
pause；　springing　up　and　gathering　her　skirt　as　if　to　run　away。
〃You　do　not　suppose　I　was　in　earnest；　do　you？〃

〃Undoubtedly　I　do。　_I_　am　in　earnest。〃

Agatha　hesitated；　uncertain　whether　he　might　not　be　playing　with
her　as　she　had　just　been　playing　with　him。　〃Take　care；〃　she　said。
〃I　may　change　my　mind　and　be　in　earnest；　too；　and　then　how　will
you　feel；　Mr。　Trefusis？〃

〃I　think；　under　our　altered　relations；　you　had　better　call　me
Sidney。〃

〃I　think　we　had　better　drop　the　joke。　It　was　in　rather　bad　taste；
and　I　should　not　have　made　it；　perhaps。〃

〃It　would　be　an　execrable　joke；　therefore　I　have　no　intention　of
regarding　it　as　one。　You　shall　be　held　to　your　offer；　Agatha。　Are
you　in　love　with　me？〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　Not　the　very　smallest　bit　in　the　world。　I　do
not　know　anybody　with　whom　I　am　less　in　love　or　less　likely　to　be
in　love。〃

〃Then　you　must　marry　me。　If　you　were　in　love　with　me；　I　should
run　away。　My　sainted　Henrietta　adored　me；　and　I　proved　unworthy
of　adorationthough　I　was　immensely　flattered。〃　

〃Yes；　exactly！　The　way　you　treated　your　first　wife　ought　to　be
sufficient　to　warn　any　woman　against　becoming　your　second。〃

〃Any　woman　who　loved　me；　you　mean。　But　you　do　not　love　me；　and　if
I　run　away　you　will　have　the　advantage　of　being　rid　of　me。　Our
settlements　can　be　drawn　so　as　to　secure　you　half　my　fortune　in
such　an　event。〃

〃You　will　neve