five tales-第15节

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〃You　know　this　house　well？〃

She　shook　her　head。　　〃But　it's　rather　scrummy；　isn't　it？〃

Bob　Pillin；　who　had　never　yet　thought　so　answered：

〃Quite　O。K。〃

The　girl　threw　up　her　head　to　laugh　again。　　〃O。K。？　　What's　that？〃

Bob　Pillin　saw　her　white　round　throat；　and　thought：　'She　is　a　ripper！'　　And　he　said　with　a　certain　desperation：

〃My　name's　Pillin。　　Yours　is　Larne；　isn't　it？　　Are　you　a　relation　here？〃

〃He's　our　Guardy。　　Isn't　he　a　chook？〃

That　rumbling　whisper　like　〃Scratch　a　Poll；　Poll！〃　　recurring　to　Bob　Pillin；　he　said　with　reservation：

〃You　know　him　better　than　I　do。〃　　〃Oh！　　Aren't　you　his　grandson；　or　something？〃

Bob　Pillin　did　not　cross　himself。

〃Lord！　　No！　　My　dad's　an　old　friend　of　his；　that's　all。〃

〃Is　your　dad　like　him？〃

〃Not　much。〃

〃What　a　pity！　　It　would　have　been　lovely　if　they'd　been　Tweedles。〃

Bob　Pillin　thought：　'This　bit　is　something　new。　　I　wonder　what　her　Christian　name　is。'　　And　he　said：

〃What　did　your　godfather　and　godmothers　in　your　baptism…？〃

The　girl　laughed；　she　seemed　to　laugh　at　everything。

〃Phyllis。〃

Could　he　say：　〃Is　my　only　joy〃？　　Better　keep　it！　　But…for　what？　　He　wouldn't　see　her　again　if　he　didn't　look　out！　　And　he　said：

〃I　live　at　the　last　house　in　the　park…the　red　one。　　D'you　know　it？　Where　do　you？〃

〃Oh！　　a　long　way23；　Millicent　Villas。　　It's　a　poky　little　house。　　I　hate　it。　　We　have　awful　larks；　though。〃

〃Who　are　we？〃

〃Mother；　and　myself；　and　Jockhe's　an　awful　boy。　　You　can't　conceive　what　an　awful　boy　he　is。　　He's　got　nearly　red　hair；　I　think　he'll　be　just　like　Guardy　when　he　gets　old。　　He's　awful！〃

Bob　Pillin　murmured：

〃I　should　like　to　see　him。〃

〃Would　you？　　I'll　ask　mother　if　you　can。　　You　won't　want　to　again；　he　goes　off　all　the　time　like　a　squib。〃　　She　threw　back　her　head；　and　again　Bob　Pillin　felt　a　little　giddy。　　He　collected　himself；　and　drawled：

〃Are　you　going　in　to　see　your　Guardy？〃

〃No。　　Mother's　got　something　special　to　say。　　We've　never　been　here　before；　you　see。　　Isn't　he　fun；　though？〃

〃Fun！〃

〃I　think　he's　the　greatest　lark；　but　he's　awfully　nice　to　me。　　Jock　calls　him　the　last　of　the　Stoic'uns。〃

A　voice　called　from　old　Heythorp's　den：

〃Phyllis！〃　　It　had　a　particular　ring；　that　voice；　as　if　coming　from　beautifully　formed　red　lips；　of　which　the　lower　one　must　curve　the　least　bit　over；　it　had；　too；　a　caressing　vitality；　and　a　kind　of　warm　falsity。

The　girl　threw　a　laughing　look　back　over　her　shoulder；　and　vanished　through　the　door　into　the　room。

Bob　Pillin　remained　with　his　back　to　the　fire　and　his　puppy　round　eyes　fixed　on　the　air　that　her　figure　had　last　occupied。　　He　was　experiencing　a　sensation　never　felt　before。　　Those　travels　with　a　lady　of　Spain；　charitably　conceded　him　by　old　Heythorp；　had　so　far　satisfied　the　emotional　side　of　this　young　man；　they　had　stopped　short　at　Brighton　and　Scarborough；　and　been　preserved　from　even　the　slightest　intrusion　of　love。　　A　calculated　and　hygienic　career　had　caused　no　anxiety　either　to　himself　or　his　father；　and　this　sudden　swoop　of　something　more　than　admiration　gave　him　an　uncomfortable　choky　feeling　just　above　his　high　round　collar；　and　in　the　temples　a　sort　of　buzzingthose　first　symptoms　of　chivalry。　　A　man　of　the　world　does　not；　however；　succumb　without　a　struggle；　and　if　his　hat　had　not　been　out　of　reach；　who　knows　whether　he　would　not　have　left　the　house　hurriedly；　saying　to　himself：　〃No；　no；　my　boy；　Millicent　Villas　is　hardly　your　form；　when　your　intentions　are　honourable〃？　For　somehow　that　round　and　laughing　face；　bob　of　glistening　hair；　those　wide…opened　grey　eyes　refused　to　awaken　the　beginnings　of　other　intentionssuch　is　the　effect　of　youth　and　innocence　on　even　the　steadiest　young　men。　　With　a　kind　of　moral　stammer；　he　was　thinking：　'Can　Idare　I　offer　to　see　them　to　their　tram？　　Couldn't　I　even　nip　out　and　get　the　car　round　and　send　them　home　in　it？　　No；　I　might　miss　thembetter　stick　it　out　here！　　What　a　jolly　laugh！　　What　a　tipping　facestrawberries　and　cream；　hay；　and　all　that！　　Millicent　Villas！'　And　he　wrote　it　on　his　cuff。

The　door　was　opening；　he　heard　that　warm　vibrating　voice：　〃Come　along；　Phyllis！〃the　girl's　laugh　so　high　and　fresh：　〃Right…o！　Coming！〃　　And　with；　perhaps；　the　first　real　tremor　he　had　ever　known；　he　crossed　to　the　front　door。　　All　the　more　chivalrous　to　escort　them　to　the　tram　without　a　hat！　　And　suddenly　he　heard：　〃　I've　got　your　hat；　young　man！〃　　And　her　mother's　voice；　warm；　and　simulating　shock：　〃Phyllis；　you　awful　gairl！　　Did　you　ever　see　such　an　awful　gairl；　Mr。…〃

〃Pillin；　Mother。〃

And　thenhe　did　not　quite　know　howinsulated　from　the　January　air　by　laughter　and　the　scent　of　fur　and　violets；　he　was　between　them　walking　to　their　tram。　　It　was　like　an　experience　out　of　the　〃Arabian　Nights；〃　or　something　of　that　sort；　an　intoxication　which　made　one　say　one　was　going　their　way；　though　one　would　have　to　come　all　the　way　back　in　the　same　beastly　tram。　　Nothing　so　warming　had　ever　happened　to　him　as　sitting　between　them　on　that　drive；　so　that　he　forgot　the　note　in　his　pocket；　and　his　desire　to　relieve　the　anxiety　of　the　〃old　man；〃　his　father。　　At　the　tram's　terminus　they　all　got　out。　　There　issued　a　purr　of　invitation　to　come　and　see　them　some　time；　a　clear：　〃Jock'll　love　to　see　you！〃　　A　low　laugh：　〃You　awful　gairl！〃　　And　a　flash　of　cunning　zigzagged　across　his　brain。　　Taking　off　his　hat；　he　said：

〃Thanks　awfully；　rather！〃　and　put　his　foot　back　on　the　step　of　the　tram。　　Thus　did　he　delicately　expose　the　depths　of　his　chivalry！

〃Oh！　　you　said　you　were　going　our　way！　　What　one…ers　you　do　tell！　Oh！〃　　The　words　were　as　music；　the　sight　of　those　eyes　growing　rounder；　the　most　perfect　he　had　ever　seen；　and　Mrs。　Larne's　low　laugh；　so　warm　yet　so　preoccupied；　and　the　tips　of　the　girl's　fingers　waving　back　above　her　head。　　He　heaved　a　sigh；　and　knew　no　more　till　he　was　seated　at　his　club　before　a　bottle　of　champagne。　　Home！　　Not　he！　　He　wished　to　drink　and　dream。　　〃The　old　man〃　would　get　his　news　all　right　to…morrow！




3

The　words：　〃A　Mrs。　Larne　to　see　you；　sir；〃　had　been　of　a　nature　to　astonish　weaker　nerves。　　What　had　brought　her　here？　　She　knew　she　mustn't　come！　　Old　Heythorp　had　watched　her　entrance　with　cynical　amusement。　　The　way　she　whiffed　herself　at　that　young　pup　in　passing；　the　way　her　eyes　slid　round！　　He　had　a　very　just　appreciation　of　his　son's　widow；　and　a　smile　settled　deep　between　his　chin　tuft　and　his　moustache。　　She　lifted　his　hand；　kissed　it；　pressed　it　to　her　splendid　bust；　and　said：

〃So　here　I　am　at　last；　you　see。　　Aren't　you　surprised？〃

Old　Heythorp；　shook　his　head。

〃I　really　had　to　come　and　see　you；　Guardy；　we　haven't　had　a　sight　of　you　for　such　an　age。　　And　in　this　awful　weather！　　How　are　you；　dear　old　Guardy？〃

〃Never　better。〃　　And；　watching　her　green…grey　eyes；　he　added：

〃Haven't　a　penny　for　you！〃

Her　face　did　not　fall；　she　gave　her　feather…laugh。

〃How　dreadful　of　you　to　think　I　came　for　that！　　But　I　am　in　an　awful　fix；　Guardy。〃

〃Never　knew　you　not　to　be。〃

〃Just　let　me　tell　you；　dear；　it'll　be　some　relief。　　I'm　having　the　most　terrible　time。〃

She　sank　into　a　low　chair；　disengaging　an　overpowering　scent　of　violets；　while　melancholy　struggled　to　subdue　her　face　and　body。

〃The　most　awful　fix。　　I　expect　to　be　sold　up　any　moment。　　We　may　be　on　the　streets　to…morrow。　　I　daren't　tell　the　children；　they're　so　happy；　poor　darlings。　　I　shall　be　obliged　to　take　Jock　away　from　school。　　And　Phyllis　will　have　to　stop　her　piano　and　dancing；　it's　an　absolute　crisis。　　And　all　due　to　those　Midland　Syndicate　people。　I've　been　counting　on　at　least　two　hundred　for　my　new　story；　and　the　wretches　have　refused　it。〃

With　a　tiny　handkerchief　she　removed　one　tear　from　the　corner　of　one　eye。　　〃It　is　hard；　Guardy；　I　worked　my　brain　silly　over　that　story。〃

》From　old　Heythorp　came　a　mutter　which　sounded　suspiciously　like：


〃Rats！〃

Heaving　a　sigh；　which　conveyed　nothing　but　the　generosity　of　her　breathing　apparatus；　Mrs。　Larne　went　on：

〃You　couldn't；　I　suppose；　let　me　have　just　one　hundred？〃

〃Not　a　bob。〃

She　sighed　again；　her　eyes　slid　round　the　room；　then　in　her　warm　voice　she　murmured：

〃Guardy；　you　were　my　dear　Philip's　father；　weren't　you？　　I've　never　said　anything；　but　of　course　you　were。　　He　was　so　like　you；　and　so　is　Jock。〃

Nothing　moved　in　old　Heythorp's　face。　　No　pagan　image　consulted　with　flowers　and　song　and　sacrifice　could　have　returned　less　answer。　　Her　dear　Philip！　　She　had　led　him　the　devil　of　a　life；　or　he　was　a　Dutchman！　　And　what　the　deuce　made　her　suddenly　trot　out　the　skeleton　like　this？　　But　Mrs。　Larne's　eyes　were　still　wandering。

〃What　a　lovely　house！　　You　know；　I　think　you　ought　to　help　me；　Guardy。　　Just　imagine　if　your　grandchildren　were　thrown　out　into　the　street！〃

The　old　man　grinned。　　He　was　not　going　to　deny　his　relationshipit　was　her　look…out；　not　his。　　But　neither　was　he　going　to　let　her　rush　him。

〃And　they　will　be；　you　couldn't　look　on　and　see　it。　　Do　come　to　my　rescue　this　once。　　You　really　might　do　something　for　them。〃

With　a　rumbling　sigh　he　answered：

〃Wait。　　Can't　give　you　a　penny　now。　　Poor　as　a　church　mouse。〃

〃Oh！　　Guardy

〃Fact。〃

Mrs。　Larne　heaved　one　of　her　most　buoyant　sighs。　　She　certai