five tales-第20节

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ke　a　large　cherub。　　And　suddenly　he　blew　his　ocarina　in　a　dreadful　manner。　　Mrs。　Larne　launched　a　box　at　his　ears；　and　receiving　the　wind　of　it　he　fell　prone。

〃That's　the　way　he　behaves。　　Be　off　with　you；　you　awful　boy。　　I　want　to　talk　to　Guardy。〃

The　boy　withdrew　on　his　stomach；　and　sat　against　the　wall　cross…　legged；　fixing　his　innocent　round　eyes　on　old　Heythorp。　　Mrs。　Larne　sighed。

〃Things　are　worse　and　worse；　Guardy。　　I'm　at　my　wits'　end　to　tide　over　this　quarter。　　You　wouldn't　advance　me　a　hundred　on　my　new　story？　　I'm　sure　to　get　two　for　it　in　the　end。〃

The　old　man　shook　his　head。

〃I've　done　something　for　you　and　the　children；〃　he　said。　　〃You'll　get　notice　of　it　in　a　day　or　two；　ask　no　questions。〃

〃Oh！　　Guardy！　　Oh！　　you　dear！〃　　And　her　gaze　rested　on　Bob　Pillin；　leaning　over　the　piano；　where　Phyllis　again　sat。

Old　Heythorp　snorted。　　〃What　are　you　cultivating　that　young　gaby　for？　She　mustn't　be　grabbed　up　by　any　fool　who　comes　along。〃

Mrs。　Larne　murmured　at　once：

〃Of　course；　the　dear　gairl　is　much　too　young。　　Phyllis；　come　and　talk　to　Guardy！〃

When　the　girl　was　installed　beside　him　on　the　sofa；　and　he　had　felt　that　little　thrill　of　warmth　the　proximity　of　youth　can　bring；　he　said：

〃Been　a　good　girl？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Can't；　when　Jock's　not　at　school。　　Mother　can't　pay　for　him　this　term。〃

Hearing　his　name；　the　boy　Jock　blew　his　ocarina　till　Mrs。　Larne　drove　him　from　the　room；　and　Phyllis　went　on：

〃He's　more　awful　than　anything　you　can　think　of。　　Was　my　dad　at　all　like　him；　Guardy？　　Mother's　always　so　mysterious　about　him。　　I　suppose　you　knew　him　well。〃

Old　Heythorp；　incapable　of　confusion；　　answered　stolidly：

〃Not　very。〃

〃Who　was　his　father？　　I　don't　believe　even　mother　knows。〃

〃Man　about　town　in　my　day。〃

〃Oh！　　your　day　must　have　been　jolly。　　Did　you　wear　peg…top　trousers；　and　dundreary's？〃

Old　Heythorp　nodded。

〃What　larks！　　And　I　suppose　you　had　lots　of　adventures　with　opera　dancers　and　gambling。　　The　young　men　are　all　so　good　now。〃　　Her　eyes　rested　on　Bob　Pillin。　　〃That　young　man's　a　perfect　stick　of　goodness。〃

Old　Heythorp　grunted。

〃You　wouldn't　know　how　good　he　was；〃　Phyllis　went　on　musingly；　〃unless　you'd　sat　next　him　in　a　tunnel。　　The　other　day　he　had　his　waist　squeezed　and　he　simply　sat　still　and　did　nothing。　　And　then　when　the　tunnel　ended；　it　was　Jock　after　all；　not　me。　　His　face　was　Oh！　　ah！　　ha！　　ha！　　Ah！　　ha！〃　　She　threw　back　her　head；　displaying　all　her　white；　round　throat。　　Then　edging　near；　she　whispered：

〃He　likes　to　pretend；　of　course；　that　he's　fearfully　lively。　　He's　promised　to　take　mother　and　me　to　the　theatre　and　supper　afterwards。　Won't　it　be　scrummy！　　Only；　I　haven't　anything　to　go　in。〃

Old　Heythorp　said：　〃What　do　you　want？　　Irish　poplin？〃

Her　mouth　opened　wide：　〃Oh！　　Guardy！　　Soft　white　satin！〃

〃How　many　yards'll　go　round　you？〃

〃I　should　think　about　twelve。　　We　could　make　it　ourselves。　　You　are　a　chook！〃

A　scent　of　hair；　like　hay；　enveloped　him；　her　lips　bobbed　against　his　nose；and　there　came　a　feeling　in　his　heart　as　when　he　rolled　the　first　sip　of　a　special　wine　against　his　palate。　　This　little　house　was　a　rumty…too　affair；　her　mother　was　a　humbug；　the　boy　a　cheeky　young　rascal；　but　there　was　a　warmth　here　he　never　felt　in　that　big　house　which　had　been　his　wife's　and　was　now　his　holy　daughter's。　　And　once　more　he　rejoiced　at　his　day's　work；　and　the　success　of　his　breach　of　trust；　which　put　some　little　ground　beneath　these　young　feet；　in　a　hard　and　unscrupulous　world。　　Phyllis　whispered　in　his　ear：

〃Guardy；　do　look；　he　will　stare　at　me　like　that。　　Isn't　it　awful　like　a　boiled　rabbit？〃

Bob　Pillin；　attentive　to　Mrs。　Larne；　was　gazing　with　all　his　might　over　her　shoulder　at　the　girl。　　The　young　man　was　moonstruck；　that　was　clear！　　There　was　something　almost　touching　in　the　stare　of　those　puppy　dog's　eyes。　　And　he　thought　'Young　beggarwish　I　were　his　age！'　　The　utter　injustice　of　having　an　old　and　helpless　body；　when　your　desire　for　enjoyment　was　as　great　as　ever！　　They　said　a　man　was　as　old　as　he　felt！　　Fools！　　A　man　was　as　old　as　his　legs　and　arms；　and　not　a　　day　younger。　　He　heard　the　girl　beside　him　utter　a　discomfortable　sound；　and　saw　her　face　cloud　as　if　tears　were　not　far　off；　she　jumped　up；　and　going　to　the　window；　lifted　the　little　dog　and　buried　her　face　in　its　brown　and　white　fur。　　Old　Heythorp　thought：　'She　sees　that　her　humbugging　mother　is　using　her　as　a　decoy。'　　But　she　had　come　back；　and　the　little　dog；　rolling　its　eyes　horribly　at　the　strange　figure　on　the　sofa；　in　a　desperate　effort　to　escape　succeeded　in　reaching　her　shoulder；　where　it　stayed　perched　like　a　cat；　held　by　one　paw　and　trying　to　back　away　into　space。　　Old　Heythorp　said　abruptly：

〃Are　you　very　fond　of　your　mother？〃

〃Of　course　I　am；　Guardy。　　I　adore　her。〃

〃H'm！　　Listen　to　me。　　When　you　come　of　age　or　marry；　you'll　have　a　hundred　and　twenty　a　year　of　your　own　that　you　can't　get　rid　of。　Don't　ever　be　persuaded　into　doing　what　you　don't　want。　　And　remember：　Your　mother's　a　sieve；　no　good　giving　her　money；　keep　what　you'll　get　for　yourselfit's　only　a　pittance；　and　you'll　want　it　all　every　penny。

Phyllis's　eyes　had　opened　very　wide；　so　that　he　wondered　if　she　had　taken　in　his　words。

〃Oh！　　Isn't　money　horrible；　Guardy？〃

〃The　want　of　it。〃

〃No；　it's　beastly　altogether。　　If　only　we　were　like　birds。　　Or　if　one　could　put　out　a　plate　overnight；　and　have　just　enough　in　the　morning　to　use　during　the　day。〃

Old　Heythorp　sighed。

〃There's　only　one　thing　in　life　that　mattersindependence。　　Lose　that；　and　you　lose　everything。　　That's　the　value　of　money。　　Help　me　up。〃

Phyllis　stretched　out　her　hands；　and　the　little　dog；　running　down　her　back；　resumed　its　perch　on　the　window…sill；　close　to　the　blind　cord。

Once　on　his　feet；　old　Heythorp　said：

〃Give　me　a　kiss。　　You'll　have　your　satin　tomorrow。〃

Then　looking　at　Bob　Pillin；　he　remarked：

〃Going　my　way？　　I'll　give　you　a　lift。〃

The　young　man；　giving　Phyllis　one　appealing　look；　answered　dully：　〃Tha…anks！〃　　and　they　went　out　together　to　the　taxi。　　In　that　draughtless　vehicle　they　sat；　full　of　who　knows　what　contempt　of　age　for　youth；　and　youth　for　age；　the　old　man　resenting　this　young　pup's　aspiration　to　his　granddaughter；　the　young　man　annoyed　that　this　old　image　had　dragged　him　away　before　he　wished　to　go。　　Old　Heythorp　said　at　last：

〃Well？〃

Thus　expected　to　say　something；　Bob　Pillin　muttered

〃Glad　your　meetin'　went　off　well；　sir。　　You　scored　a　triumph　I　should　think。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Oh！　　I　don't　know。　　I　thought　you　had　a　good　bit　of　opposition　to　contend　with。〃

Old　Heythorp　looked　at　him。

〃Your　grandmother！〃　　he　said；　then；　with　his　habitual　instinct　of　attack；　added：　〃You　make　the　most　of　your　opportunities；　I　see。〃

At　this　rude　assault　Bob　Pillin's　red…cheeked　face　assumed　a　certain　dignity。　　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　sir。　　Mrs。　Larne　is　very　kind　to　me。〃

〃No　doubt。　　But　don't　try　to　pick　the　flowers。〃

Thoroughly　upset；　Bob　Pillin　preserved　a　dogged　silence。　　This　fortnight；　since　he　had　first　met　Phyllis　in　old　Heythorp's　hall；　had　been　the　most　singular　of　his　existence　up　to　now。　　He　would　never　have　believed　that　a　fellow　could　be　so　quickly　and　completely　bowled；　could　succumb　without　a　kick；　without　even　wanting　to　kick。　To　one　with　his　philosophy　of　having　a　good　time　and　never　committing　himself　too　far；　it　was　in　the　nature　of　〃a　fair　knock…out；〃　and　yet　so　pleasurable；　except　for　the　wear　and　tear　about　one's　chances。　　If　only　he　knew　how　far　the　old　boy　really　counted　in　the　matter！　　To　say：　〃My　intentions　are　strictly　honourable〃　would　be　old…fashioned；　besidesthe　old　fellow　might　have　no　right　to　hear　it。　　They　called　him　Guardy；　but　without　knowing　more　he　did　not　want　to　admit　the　old　curmudgeon's　right　to　interfere。

〃Are　you　a　relation　of　theirs；　sir？〃

Old　Heythorp　nodded。

Bob　Pillin　went　on　with　desperation：

〃I　should　like　to　know　what　your　objection　to　me　is。〃

The　old　man　turned　his　head　so　far　as　he　was　able；　a　grim　smile　bristled　the　hairs　about　his　lips；　and　twinkled　in　his　eyes。　　What　did　he　object　to？　　Whyeverything！　　Object　to！　　That　sleek　head；　those　puppy…dog　eyes；　fattish　red　cheeks；　high　collars；　pearl　pin；　spats；　and　drawl…pah！　　the　imbecility；　the　smugness　of　his　mug；　no　go；　no　devil　in　any　of　his　sort；　in　any　of　these　fish…veined；　coddled…up　young　bloods；　nothing　but　playing　for　safety！　　And　he　wheezed　out：

〃Milk　and　water　masquerading　as　port　wine。〃

Bob　Pillin　frowned。

It　was　almost　too　much　for　the　composure　even　of　a　man　of　the　world。　That　this　paralytic　old　fellow　should　express　contempt　for　his　virility　was　really　the　last　thing　in　jests。　　Luckily　he　could　not　take　it　seriously。　　But　suddenly　he　thought：　'What　if　he　really　has　the　power　to　stop　my　going　there；　and　means　to　turn　them　against　me！'　And　his　heart　quailed。

〃Awfully　sorry；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　don't　think　I'm　wild　enough。　Anything　I　can　do　for　you　in　that　line〃

The　old　man　grunted；　and　realising　that　he　had　been　quite　witty；　Bob　Pillin　went　on：

〃I　know　I'm　not　in　debt；　no　entanglements；　got　a　decent　income；　pretty　good　expectations　and　all　that；　but　I　can　soon　put　that　all　right　if　I'm　not　fit　without。〃

I