the lesson of the master-第16节
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had passed back together to where the elder man had been standing；
while St。 George said： 〃I hope you're never going away again。
I've been dining here； the General told me。〃 He was handsome； he
was young； he looked as if he had still a great fund of life。 He
bent the friendliest； most unconfessing eyes on his disciple of a
couple of years before； asked him about everything； his health； his
plans； his late occupations； the new book。 〃When will it be out …
soon； soon； I hope？ Splendid； eh？ That's right； you're a comfort；
you're a luxury！ I've read you all over again these last six
months。〃 Paul waited to see if he would tell him what the General
had told him in the afternoon and what Miss Fancourt； verbally at
least； of course hadn't。 But as it didn't come out he at last put
the question。
〃Is it true； the great news I hear … that you're to be married？〃
〃Ah you have heard it then？〃
〃Didn't the General tell you？〃 Paul asked。
The Master's face was wonderful。 〃Tell me what？〃
〃That he mentioned it to me this afternoon？〃
〃My dear fellow； I don't remember。 We've been in the midst of
people。 I'm sorry； in that case； that I lose the pleasure； myself；
of announcing to you a fact that touches me so nearly。 It IS a
fact； strange as it may appear。 It has only just become one。
Isn't it ridiculous？〃 St。 George made this speech without
confusion； but on the other hand； so far as our friend could judge；
without latent impudence。 It struck his interlocutor that； to talk
so comfortably and coolly； he must simply have forgotten what had
passed between them。 His next words； however； showed he hadn't；
and they produced； as an appeal to Paul's own memory； an effect
which would have been ludicrous if it hadn't been cruel。 〃Do you
recall the talk we had at my house that night； into which Miss
Fancourt's name entered？ I've often thought of it since。〃
〃Yes； no wonder you said what you did〃 … Paul was careful to meet
his eyes。
〃In the light of the present occasion？ Ah but there was no light
then。 How could I have foreseen this hour？〃
〃Didn't you think it probable？〃
〃Upon my honour； no；〃 said Henry St。 George。 〃Certainly I owe you
that assurance。 Think how my situation has changed。〃
〃I see … I see；〃 our young man murmured。
His companion went on as if； now that the subject had been
broached； he was； as a person of imagination and tact； quite ready
to give every satisfaction … being both by his genius and his
method so able to enter into everything another might feel。 〃But
it's not only that； for honestly； at my age； I never dreamed … a
widower with big boys and with so little else！ It has turned out
differently from anything one could have dreamed； and I'm fortunate
beyond all measure。 She has been so free； and yet she consents。
Better than any one else perhaps … for I remember how you liked her
before you went away； and how she liked you … you can intelligently
congratulate me。〃
〃She has been so free！〃 Those words made a great impression on
Paul Overt； and he almost writhed under that irony in them as to
which it so little mattered whether it was designed or casual。 Of
course she had been free； and appreciably perhaps by his own act；
for wasn't the Master's allusion to her having liked him a part of
the irony too？ 〃I thought that by your theory you disapproved of a
writer's marrying。〃
〃Surely … surely。 But you don't call me a writer？〃
〃You ought to be ashamed；〃 said Paul。
〃Ashamed of marrying again？〃
〃I won't say that … but ashamed of your reasons。〃
The elder man beautifully smiled。 〃You must let me judge of them；
my good friend。〃
〃Yes； why not？ For you judged wonderfully of mine。〃
The tone of these words appeared suddenly； for St。 George； to
suggest the unsuspected。 He stared as if divining a bitterness。
〃Don't you think I've been straight？〃
〃You might have told me at the time perhaps。〃
〃My dear fellow； when I say I couldn't pierce futurity …！〃
〃I mean afterwards。〃
The Master wondered。 〃After my wife's death？〃
〃When this idea came to you。〃
〃Ah never； never！ I wanted to save you； rare and precious as you
are。〃
Poor Overt looked hard at him。 〃Are you marrying Miss Fancourt to
save me？〃
〃Not absolutely； but it adds to the pleasure。 I shall be the
making of you；〃 St。 George smiled。 〃I was greatly struck； after
our talk； with the brave devoted way you quitted the country； and
still more perhaps with your force of character in remaining
abroad。 You're very strong … you're wonderfully strong。〃
Paul tried to sound his shining eyes； the strange thing was that he
seemed sincere … not a mocking fiend。 He turned away； and as he
did so heard the Master say something about his giving them all the
proof； being the joy of his old age。 He faced him again； taking
another look。 〃Do you mean to say you've stopped writing？〃
〃My dear fellow； of course I have。 It's too late。 Didn't I tell
you？〃
〃I can't believe it！〃
〃Of course you can't … with your own talent！ No； no； for the rest
of my life I shall only read YOU。〃
〃Does she know that … Miss Fancourt？〃
〃She will … she will。〃 Did he mean this； our young man wondered；
as a covert intimation that the assistance he should derive from
that young lady's fortune； moderate as it was； would make the
difference of putting it in his power to cease to work ungratefully
an exhausted vein？ Somehow； standing there in the ripeness of his
successful manhood； he didn't suggest that any of his veins were
exhausted。 〃Don't you remember the moral I offered myself to you
that night as pointing？〃 St。 George continued。 〃Consider at any
rate the warning I am at present。〃
This was too much … he WAS the mocking fiend。 Paul turned from him
with a mere nod for goodnight and the sense in a sore heart that he
might come back to him and his easy grace； his fine way of
arranging things； some time in the far future； but couldn't
fraternise with him now。 It was necessary to his soreness to
believe for the hour in the intensity of his grievance … all the
more cruel for its not being a legal one。 It was doubtless in the
attitude of hugging this wrong that he descended the stairs without
taking leave of Miss Fancourt； who hadn't been in view at the
moment he quitted the room。 He was glad to get out into the honest
dusky unsophisticating night； to move fast； to take his way home on
foot。 He walked a long time； going astray； paying no attention。
He was thinking of too many other things。 His steps recovered
their direction； however； and at the end of an hour he found
himself before his door in the small inexpensive empty street。 He
lingered； questioning himself still before going in； with nothing
around and above him but moonless blackness； a bad lamp or two and
a few far…away dim stars。 To these last faint features he raised
his eyes； he had been saying to himself that he should have been
〃sold〃 indeed； diabolically sold； if now； on his new foundation； at
the end of a year； St。 George were to put forth something of his
prime quality … something of the type of 〃Shadowmere〃 and finer
than his finest。 Greatly as he admired his talent Paul literally
hoped such an incident wouldn't occur； it seemed to him just then
that he shouldn't be able to bear it。 His late adviser's words
were still in his ears … 〃You're very strong； wonderfully strong。〃
Was he really？ Certainly he would have to be； and it might a
little serve for revenge。 IS he？ the reader may ask in turn； if
his interest has followed the perplexed young man so far。 The best
answer to that perhaps is that he's doing his best； but that it's
too soon to say。 When the new book came out in the autumn Mr。 and
Mrs。 St。 George found it really magnificent。 The former still has
published nothing but Paul doesn't even yet feel safe。 I may say
for him； however； that if this event were to occur he would really
be the very first to appreciate it： which is perhaps a proof that
the Master was essentially right and that Nature had dedicated him
to intellectual； not to personal passion。
End
