太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the three partners >

第14节

the three partners-第14节

小说: the three partners 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




but he was willing to believe it pained and discomposed her if he

showed it before company。  He would not have her change even this

peculiarityit was part of herselfno more than he would have

changed himself。  And behind what he had conceived was her clear;

practical common sense; all this time had been her belief that she

had deceived her father!  Poor dear; dear Kitty!  And she had

suffered because stupid people had conceived that her father had

led him away in selfish speculations。  As if heBarkerwould not

have first discovered it; and as if anybodyeven dear Kitty

herselfwas responsible for HIS convictions and actions but

himself。  Nevertheless; this gentle egotist was unusually serious;

and when the child awoke at last; and with a fretful start and

vacant eyes pushed his caressing hand away; he felt lonelier than

before。  It was with a slight sense of humiliation; too; that he

saw it stretch its hands to the mere hireling; Norah; who had never

given it the love that he had seen even in the frivolous Mrs。

Horncastle's eyes。  Later; when his wife came in; looking very

pretty in her elaborate dinner toilette; he had the same

conflicting emotions。  He knew that they had already passed that

phase of their married life when she no longer dressed to please

him; and that the dictates of fashion or the rivalry of another

woman she held superior to his tastes; yet he did not blame her。

But he was a little surprised to see that her dress was copied from

one of Mrs。 Horncastle's most striking ones; and that it did not

suit her。  That which adorned the maturer woman did not agree with

the demure and slightly austere prettiness of the young wife。



But Barker forgot all this when Stacyreserved and somewhat

severe…looking in evening dressarrived with business punctuality。

He fancied that his old partner received the announcement that they

would dine in the public room with something of surprise; and he

saw him glance keenly at Kitty in her fine array; as if he had

suspected it was her choice; and understood her motives。  Indeed;

the young husband had found himself somewhat nervous in regard to

Stacy's estimate of Kitty; he was conscious that she was not

looking and acting like the old Kitty that Stacy had known; it did

not enter his honest heart that Stacy had; perhaps; not appreciated

her then; and that her present quality might accord more with his

worldly tastes and experience。  It was; therefore; with a kind of

timid delight that he saw Stacy apparently enter into her mood; and

with a still more timorous amusement to notice that he seemed to

sympathize not only with her; but with her half…rallying; half…

serious attitude towards his (Barker's) inexperience and

simplicity。  He was glad that she had made a friend of Stacy; even

in this way。  Stacy would understand; as he did; her pretty

willfulness at last; she would understand what a true friend Stacy

was to him。  It was with unfeigned satisfaction that he followed

them in to dinner as she leaned upon his guest's arm; chatting

confidentially。  He was only uneasy because her manner had a slight

ostentation。



The entrance of the little party produced a quick sensation

throughout the dining…room。  Whispers passed from table to table;

all heads were turned towards the great financier as towards a

magnet; a few guests even shamelessly faced round in their chairs

as he passed。  Mrs。 Barker was pink; pretty; and voluble with

excitement; Stacy had a slight mask of reserve; Barker was the only

one natural and unconscious。



As the dinner progressed Barker found that there was little chance

for him to invoke his old partner's memories of the past。  He

found; however; that Stacy had received a letter from Demorest; and

that he was coming home from Europe。  His letters were still sad;

they both agreed upon that。  And then for the first time that day

Stacy looked intently at Barker with the look that he had often

worn on Heavy Tree Hill。



〃Then you think it is the same old trouble that worries him?〃 said

Barker in an awed and sympathetic voice。



〃I believe it is;〃 said Stacy; with an equal feeling。  Mrs。 Barker

pricked up her pretty ears; her husband's ready sympathy was

familiar enough; but that this cold; practical Stacy should be

moved at anything piqued her curiosity。



〃And you believe that he has never got over it?〃 continued Barker。



〃He had one chance; but he threw it away;〃 said Stacy energetically。

〃If; instead of going off to Europe by himself to brood over it; he

had joined me in business; he'd have been another man。〃



〃But not Demorest;〃 said Barker quickly。



〃What dreadful secret is this about Demorest?〃 said Mrs。 Barker

petulantly。  〃Is he ill?〃



Both men were silent by their old common instinct。  But it was

Stacy who said 〃No〃 in a way that put any further questioning at an

end; and Barker was grateful and for the moment disloyal to his

Kitty。



It was with delight that Mrs。 Barker had seen that the attention of

the next table was directed to them; and that even Mrs。 Horncastle

had glanced from time to time at Stacy。  But she was not prepared

for the evident equal effect that Mrs。 Horncastle had created upon

Stacy。  His cold face warmed; his critical eye softened; he asked

her name。  Mrs。 Barker was voluble; prejudiced; and; it seemed;

misinformed。



〃I know it all;〃 said Stacy; with didactic emphasis。  〃Her husband

was as bad as they make them。  When her life had become intolerable

WITH HIM; he tried to make it shameful WITHOUT HIM by abandoning

her。  She could get a divorce a dozen times over; but she won't。〃



〃I suppose that's what makes her so very attractive to gentlemen;〃

said Mrs。 Barker ironically。



〃I have never seen her before;〃 continued Stacy; with business

precision; 〃although I and two other men are guardians of her

property; and have saved it from the clutches of her husband。  They

told me she was handsomeand so she is。〃



Pleased with the sudden human weakness of Stacy; Barker glanced at

his wife for sympathy。  But she was looking studiously another way;

and the young husband's eyes; still full of his gratification; fell

upon Mrs。 Horncastle's。  She looked away with a bright color。

Whereupon the sanguine Barkerperfectly convinced that she

returned Stacy's admirationwas seized with one of his old boyish

dreams of the future; and saw Stacy happily united to her; and was

only recalled to the dinner before him by its end。  Then Stacy duly

promenaded the great saloon with Mrs。 Barker on his arm; visited

the baby in her apartments; and took an easy leave。  But he grasped

Barker's hand before parting in quite his old fashion; and said;

〃Come to lunch with me at the bank any day; and we'll talk of Phil

Demorest;〃 and left Barker as happy as if the appointment were to

confer the favor he had that morning refused。  But Mrs。 Barker; who

had overheard; was more dubious。



〃You don't suppose he asks you to talk with you about Demorest and

his stupid secret; do you?〃 she said scornfully。



〃Perhaps not only about that;〃 said Barker; glad that she had not

demanded the secret。



〃Well;〃 returned Mrs。 Barker as she turned away; 〃he might just as

well lunch here and talk about HERand see her; too。〃



Meantime Stacy had dropped into his club; only a few squares

distant。  His appearance created the same interest that it had

produced at the hotel; but with less reserve among his fellow

members。



〃Have you heard the news?〃 said a dozen voices。  Stacy had not; he

had been dining out。



〃That infernal swindle of a Divide Railroad has passed the

legislature。〃



Stacy instantly remembered Barker's absurd belief in it and his

reasons。  He smiled and said carelessly; 〃Are you quite sure it's a

swindle?〃



There was a dead silence at the coolness of the man who had been

most outspoken against it。



〃But;〃 said a voice hesitatingly; 〃you know it goes nowhere and to

no purpose。〃



〃But that does not prevent it; now that it's a fact; from going

anywhere and to some purpose;〃 said Stacy; turning away。  He passed

into the reading…room quietly; but in an instant turned and quickly

descended by another staircase into the hall; hurriedly put on his

overcoat; and slipping out was a moment later re…entering the

hotel。  Here he hastily summoned Barker; who came down; flushed and

excited。  Laying his hand on Barker's arm in his old dominant way;

he said:



〃Don't delay a single hour; but get a written agreement for that

Ditch property。〃



Barker smiled。  〃But I have。  Got it this afternoon。〃



〃Then you know?〃 ejaculated Stacy in surprise。



〃I only know;〃 said Barker; coloring; 〃that you said I could back

out of it if it wasn't signed; and that's what Kitty said; too。

And I thought it looked awfully mean for me to hold a man to that

kind of a bargain。  And soyou won't be mad; old fellow; will

you?I thought I'd

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的