the riverman-第35节

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Orde　sat　without　moving；　while　two　red　lines　slowly　defined　

themselves　across　his　face。　　The　theatrical　quality　of　the　scene　and　

the　turgid　rhetorical　bathos　of　the　boy's　speeches　attested　his　

youth　and　the　unformed　violence　of　his　emotions。　　Did　they　also　

indicate　a　rehearsal；　or　had　the　boy　merely　been　goaded　to　vague　

action　by　implicit　belief　in　a　woman's　vagaries？　　Orde　did　not　know；　

but　the　incident　brought　home　to　him；　as　nothing　else　could；　the　

turmoil　of　that　household。



〃Poor　youngster！〃　he　concluded　his　reverie；　and　went　to　wash　his　

face　in　hot　water。



He　had　left　Carroll　that　afternoon　in　a　comparatively　philosophical　

and　hopeful　frame　of　mind。　　The　next　day　she　came　to　him　with　

hurried；　nervous　steps；　her　usually　pale　cheeks　mounting　danger　

signals　of　flaming　red；　her　eyes　swimming。　　When　she　greeted　him　she　

choked；　and　two　of　the　tears　overflowed。　　Quite　unmindful　of　the　

nursemaids　across　the　square；　Orde　put　his　arm　comfortingly　about　

her　shoulder。　　She　hid　her　face　against　his　sleeve　and　began　softly　

to　cry。



Orde　did　not　attempt　as　yet　to　draw　from　her　the　cause　of　this　

unusual　agitation。　　A　park　bench　stood　between　two　dense　bushes；　

screened　from　all　directions　save　one。　　To　this　he　led　her。　　He　

comforted　her　as　one　comforts　a　child；　stroking　clumsily　her　hair；　

murmuring　trivialities　without　meaning；　letting　her　emotion　relieve　

itself。　　After　awhile　she　recovered　somewhat　her　control　of　herself　

and　sat　up　away　from　him；　dabbing　at　her　eyes　with　a　handkerchief　

dampened　into　a　tiny　wad。　　But　even　after　she　had　shaken　her　head　

vigorously　at　last；　and　smiled　up　at　him　rather　tremulously　in　token　

that　the　storm　was　over；　she　would　not　tell　him　that　anything　

definite　had　happened　to　bring　on　the　outburst。



〃I　just　needed　you；〃　she　said；　〃that's　all。　　It's　just　nothing　but　

being　a　woman；　I　think。　　You'll　get　used　to　little　things　like　

that。〃



〃This　thing　has　got　to　quit！〃　said　he　grimly。



She　said　nothing；　but　reached　up　shyly　and　touched　his　face　where　

Kendrick's　whip　had　stung；　and　her　eyes　became　very　tender。　　A　

carriage　rolled　around　Washington　Arch；　and；　coming　to　a　stand；　

discharged　its　single　passenger　on　the　pavement。



〃Why；　it's　Gerald！〃　cried　Carroll；　surprised。



The　young　man；　catching　sight　of　them；　picked　his　way　daintily　and　

leisurely　toward　them。　　He　was；　as　usual；　dressed　with　meticulous　

nicety；　the　carnation　in　his　button…hole；　the　gloss　on　his　hat　and　

shoes；　the　freshness　on　his　gloves；　the　correct　angle　on　his　stick。　　

His　dark；　long　face　with　its　romantic　moustache；　and　its　almost　

effeminate　soft　eyes；　was　as　unemotional　and　wearied　as　ever。　　As　he　

approached；　he　raised　his　stick　slightly　by　way　of　salutation。



〃I　have　brought；〃　said　he；　〃a　carriage；　and　I　wish　you　would　both　do　

me　the　favour　to　accompany　me　on　a　short　excursion。〃



Taking　their　consent　for　granted；　he　signalled　the　vehicle；　which　

rapidly　approached。



The　threeCarroll　and　Orde　somewhat　bewilderedtook　their　seats。　　

During　a　brief　drive；　Gerald　made　conversation　on　different　topics；　

apparently　quite　indifferent　as　to　whether　or　not　his　companions　

replied。　　After　an　interval　the　carriage　drew　up　opposite　a　brown…

stone　dwelling　on　a　side　street。　　Gerald　rang　the　bell；　and　a　moment　

later　the　three　were　ushered　by　a　discreet　and　elderly　maid　into　a　

little　square　reception…room　immediately　off　the　hall。　　The　maid　

withdrew。



Gerald　carefully　deposited　his　top　hat　on　the　floor；　placed　in　it　

his　gloves；　and　leaned　his　stick　against　its　brim。



〃I　have　brought　you　here；　among　other　purposes；　to　hear　from　me　a　

little　brief　wisdom　drawn　from　experience　and　the　observation　of　

life；〃　he　began；　addressing　his　expectant　and　curious　guests。　　〃That　

wisdom　is　briefly　this：　there　comes　a　time　in　the　affairs　of　every　

household　when　a　man　must　assert　himself　as　the　ruler。　　In　all　the　

details　he　may　depend　on　the　woman's　judgment；　experience；　and　

knowledge；　but　when　it　comes　to　the　big　crises；　where　life　is　

deflected　into　one　channel　or　the　other；　then；　unless　the　man　does　

the　deciding；　he　is　lost　for　ever；　and　his　happiness；　and　the　

happiness　of　those　who　depend　on　him。　　This　is　abstruse；　but　I　come　

to　the　particular　application　shortly。



〃But　moments　of　decision　are　always　clouded　by　many　considerations。　　

The　decision　is　sure　to　cut　across　much　that　is　expedient；　much　that　

seems　to　be　necessary；　much　that　is　dear。　　Carroll　remembers　the　

case　of　our　own　father。　　The　general　would　have　made　a　name　for　

himself　in　the　army；　his　wife　demanded　his　retirement；　he　retired；　

and　his　career　ended。　　That　was　the　moment　of　his　decision。　　It　is　

very　easy　to　say；　in　view　of　that　simple　statement；　that　the　general　

was　weak　in　yielding　to　his　wife；　but　a　consideration　of　the　

circumstances〃



〃Why　do　you　say　all　this？〃　interrupted　Orde。



Gerald　raised　his　hand。



〃Believe　me；　it　is　necessary；　as　you　will　agree　when　you　have　heard　

me　through。　　Mrs。　Bishop　was　in　poor　health；　the　general　in　poor　

financial　circumstances。　　The　doctors　said　the　Riviera。　　Mrs。　

Bishop's　parents；　who　were　wealthy；　furnished　the　money　for　her　

sojourn　in　that　climate。　　She　could　not　bear　to　be　separated　from　

her　husband。　　A　refusal　to　resign　then；　a　refusal　to　accept　the　

financial　aid　offered；　would　have　been　cast　against　him　as　a　

reproachhe　did　not　love　his　wife　enough　to　sacrifice　his　pride；　

his　ambition；　his　what…you…will。　　Nevertheless；　that　was　his　moment　

of　decision。



〃I　could　multiply　instances；　yet　it　would　only　accumulate　needless　

proof。　　My　point　is　that　in　thes

e　great　moments　a　man　can　afford　to　

take　into　consideration　only　the　affair　itself。　　Never　must　he　think　

of　anything　but　the　simple　elements　of　the　problemhe　must　ignore　

whose　toes　are　trodden　upon；　whose　feelings　are　hurt；　whose　

happiness　is　apparently　marred。　　For　note　this：　if　a　man　does　

fearlessly　the　right　thing；　I　am　convinced　that　in　the　readjustment　

all　these　conflicting　interests　find　themselves　bettered　instead　of　

injured。　　You　want　a　concrete　instance？　　I　believe　firmly　that　if　

the　general　had　kept　to　his　army　life；　and　made　his　wife　conform　to　

it；　after　the　storm　had　passed　she　would　have　settled　down　to　a　

happy　existence。　　I　cannot　prove　itI　believe　it。〃



〃This　may　be　all　very　true；　Gerald；〃　said　Orde；　〃but　I　fail　to　see　

why　you　have　brought　us　to　this　strange　house　to　tell　it。〃



〃In　a　moment；〃　replied　Gerald。　　〃Have　patience。　　Believing　that　

thoroughly；　I　have　come　in　the　last　twenty…four　hours　to　a　decision。　　

That　this　happens　not　to　affect　my　own　immediate　fortunes　does　not　

seem　to　me　to　invalidate　my　philosophy。〃



He　carefully　unbuttoned　his　frock　coat；　crossed　his　legs；　produced　a　

paper　and　a　package　from　his　inside　pocket；　and　eyed　the　two　before　

him。



〃I　have　here；〃　he　went　on　suddenly；　〃marriage　papers　duly　made　out；　

in　this　package　is　a　plain　gold　ring；　in　the　next　room　is　waiting；　

by　prearrangement；　a　very　good　friend　of　mine　in　the　clergy。　　

Personally　I　am　at　your　disposal。〃



He　looked　at　them　expectantly。



〃The　very　thing！〃　　〃Oh；　no！〃　cried　Orde　and　Carroll　in　unison。



Nevertheless；　in　spite　of　this　divergence　of　opinion；　ten　minutes　

later　the　three　passed　through　the　door　into　the　back　apartment

Carroll　still　hesitant；　Orde　in　triumph；　Gerald　as　correct　and　

unemotional　as　ever。



In　this　back　room　they　found　waiting　a　young　clergyman　conversing　

easily　with　two　young　girls。　　At　the　sight　of　Carroll；　these　latter　

rushed　forward　and　overwhelmed　her　with　endearments。　　Carroll　broke　

into　a　quickly　suppressed　sob　and　clasped　them　close　to　her。



〃Oh；　you　dears！〃　she　cried；　〃I'm　so　glad　you're　here！〃　　She　flashed　

a　grateful　look　in　Gerald's　direction；　and　a　moment　later　took　

occasion　to　press　his　arm　and　whisper：



〃You've　thought　of　everything！　　You're　the　dearest　brother　in　the　

world！〃



Gerald　received　this　calmly；　and　set　about　organising　the　ceremony。　　

In　fifteen　minutes　the　little　party　separated　at　the　front　door；　

amid　a　chatter　of　congratulations　and　good　wishes。　　Mr。　and　Mrs。　

Orde　entered　the　cab　and　drove　away。







XX





〃Oh；　it　IS　the　best　way；　dear；　after　all！〃　cried　Carroll；　pressing　

close　to　her　husband。　　〃A　few　minutes　ago　I　was　all　doubts　and　

fears；　but　now　I　feel　so　safe　and　settled；〃　she　laughed　happily。　　

〃It　is　as　though　I　had　belonged　to　you　always；　you　old　Rock　of　

Gibraltar！　and　anything　that　happens　now　will　come　from　the　outside；　

and　not　from　the　inside；　won't　it；　dear？〃



〃Yes；　sweetheart；〃　said　Orde。



〃Poor　mother！　I　wonder　how　she'll　take　it。〃



〃We'll　soon　know；　anyway；〃　replied　Orde；　a　little　grimly。



In　the　hallway　of　the　Bishop　house　Orde　kissed　her。



〃Be　brave；　sweetheart；〃　said　he；　〃but　remember　that　now　you're　my　

wife。〃



She　nodded　at　h