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第14节

the yellow god-第14节

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conversing in her best French to the foreign gentlemen; who were
paying her compliments。

〃Forgive me for being late;〃 he said; 〃first of all I have been
talking to your uncle; and afterwards skimming through the articles in
yesterday's papers on our little venture which comes out to…morrow。 A
cheerful occupation on the whole; for with one or two exceptions they
are all favourable。〃

〃Mon Dieu;〃 said the French gentlemen on the right; 〃seeing what they
did cost; that is not strange。 Your English papers they are so
expensive; in Paris we have done it for half the money。〃

Barbara and some of the guests laughed outright; finding this
frankness charming。

〃But where have you been; Miss Champers? I thought that we were going
to have a round of golf together。 The caddies were there; I was there;
the greens had been specially rolled this morning; but there was no
You。〃

〃No;〃 she answered; 〃because Major Vernon and I walked to church and
heard a very good sermon upon the observance of the Sabbath。〃

〃You are severe;〃 he said。 〃Do you think it wrong for men who work
hard all the week to play a harmless game on Sunday?〃

〃Not at all; Sir Robert。〃 Then she looked at him and; coming to a
sudden decision; added; 〃If you like I will play you nine holes this
afternoon and give you a stroke a hole; or would you prefer a
foursome?〃

〃No; let us fight alone and let the best player win。〃

〃Very well; Sir Robert; but you mustn't forget that I am handicapped。〃

〃Don't look angry;〃 she whispered to Alan as they strolled out into
the garden after lunch; 〃I must clear things up and know what we have
to face。 I'll be back by tea…time; and we will have it out with my
uncle。〃



The nine holes had been played; and by a single stroke Barbara had won
the match; which pleased her very much; for she had done her best; and
with such heavy odds in his favour Sir Robert; who had also done his
best; was no mean opponent; even for a player of her skill。 Indeed the
fight had been quite earnest; for each party knew that it was but a
prelude to another and more serious fight; and looked upon the result
as in some sense an omen。

〃I am conquered;〃 he said in a voice in which vexation struggled with
a laugh; 〃and by a woman over whom I had an advantage。 It is
humiliating; for I confess I do not like being beaten。〃

〃Don't you think that women generally win if they mean to?〃 asked
Barbara。 〃I believe that when they fail; which is often enough; it is
because they don't care; or can't make up their minds。 A woman in
earnest is a dangerous antagonist。〃

〃Yes;〃 he answered; 〃or the best of allies。〃 Then he gave the clubs
and half…a…crown to the caddies; and when they were out of hearing;
added; 〃Miss Champers; I have been wondering for some time whether it
is possible that you would become such an ally to me。〃

〃I know nothing of business; Sir Robert; my tastes do not lie that
way。〃

〃You know well that I was not speaking of business; Miss Champers。 I
was speaking of another kind of partnership; that which Nature has
ordained between men and womenmarriage。 Will you accept me as a
husband?〃

She opened her lips to speak; but he lifted his hand and went on。
〃Listen before you give that ready answer which it is so hard to
recall; or smooth away。 I know all my disadvantages; my years; which
to you may seem many; my modest origin; my trade; which; not
altogether without reason; you despise and dislike。 Well; the first
two cannot be changed except for the worse; the second can be; and
already is; buried beneath the gold and ermine of wealth and titles。
What does it matter if I am the son of a City clerk who never earned
more than £2 a week and was born in a tenement at Battersea; when I am
one of the rich men of this rich land and shall die a peer in a
palace; leaving millions and honours to my children? As for the third;
my occupation; I am prepared to give it up。 It has served my turn; and
after next week I shall have earned the amount that years ago I
determined to earn。 Thenceforth; set above the accidents of fortune; I
propose to devote myself to higher aims; those of legitimate ambition。
So far as my time would allow I have already taken some share in
politics as a worker; I intend to continue in them as a ruler which I
still have the health and ability to do。 I mean to be one of the first
men in this Empire; to ride to power over the heads of all the
nonentities whose only claim upon the confidence of their countrymen
is that they were born in a certain class; with money in their pockets
and without the need to spend the best of their manhood in work。 With
you at my side I can do all these things and more; and such is the
future that I have to offer you。〃

Again she would have broken in upon his speech and again he stopped
her; reading the unspoken answer on her lips。

〃Listen: I have not told you all。 Perhaps I have put first what should
have come last。 I have not told you that I love you earnestly and
sincerely; with the settled; unalterable love that sometimes comes to
men in middle…age who have never turned their thought that way before。
I will not attempt the rhapsodies of passion which at my time of life
might sound foolish or out of place; yet it is true that I am filled
with this passion which has descended on me and taken possession of
me。 I who often have laughed at such things in other men; adore you。
You are a joy to my eyes。 If you are not in the room; for me it is
empty。 I admire the uprightness of your character; and even your
prejudices; and to your standard I desire to approximate my own。 I
think that no man can ever love you quite so well as I do; Barbara
Champers。 Now speak。 I am ready to meet the best or the worst。〃

After her fashion Barbara looked him straight in the face with her
steady eyes; and answered gently enough; for the man's method of
presenting his case; elaborate and prepared though it evidently was;
had touched her。

〃I fear it is the worst; Sir Robert。 There are hundreds of women
superior to myself in every way who would be glad to give you the help
and companionship you ask; with their hearts thrown in。 Choose one of
them; for I cannot do so。〃

He heard and for the first time his face broke; as it were。 All this
while it had remained masklike and immovable; even when he spoke of
his love; but now it broke as ice breaks at the pressure of a sudden
flood beneath; and she saw the depths and eddies of his nature and
understood their strength。 Not that he revealed them in speech; angry
or pleading; for that remained calm and measured enough。 She did not
hear; she saw; and even then it was marvellous to her that a mere
change in a man's expression could explain so much。

〃Those are very cruel words;〃 he said。 〃Are they unalterable?〃

〃Quite。 I do not play in such matters; it would be wicked。〃

〃May I ask you one question; for if the answer is in the negative; I
shall still continue to hope? Do you care for any other man?〃

Again she looked at him with her fearless eyes and answered:

〃Yes; I am engaged to another man。〃

〃To Alan Vernon?〃

She nodded。

〃When did that happen? Some years ago?〃

〃No; this morning。〃

〃Great Heavens!〃 he muttered in a hoarse voice turning his head away;
〃this morning。 Then last night it might not have been too late; and
last night I should have spoken to you; I had arranged it all。 Yes; if
it had not been for the story of that accursed fetish and your uncle's
illness; I should have spoken to you; and perhaps succeeded。〃

〃I think not;〃 she said。

He turned upon her and notwithstanding the tears in his eyes they
burned like fire。

〃You thinkyou think;〃 he gasped; 〃but I know。 Of course after this
morning it was impossible。 But; Barbara; I say that I will win you
yet。 I have never failed in any object that I set before myself; and
do not suppose that I shall fail in this。 Although in a way I liked
and respected him; I have always felt that Vernon was my enemy; one
destined to bring grief and loss upon me; even if he did not intend to
do so。 Now I understand why; and he shall learn that I am stronger
than he。 God help him! I say。〃

〃I think He will;〃 Barbara answered; calmly。 〃You are speaking wildly;
and I understand the reason and hope that you will forget your words;
but whether you forget or remember; do not suppose that you frighten
me。 You men who have made money;〃 she went on with swelling
indignation; 〃who have made money somehow; and have bought honours
with the moneys somehow; think yourselves great; and in your little
day; your little; little day that will end with three lines in small
type in /The Times/; you are great in this vulgar land。 You can buy
what you want and people creep round you and ask you for doles and
favours; and railway porters call you 'my Lord' at every other step。
But you forget your limitations in this world; and that which lives
above you。 You say you will do this and that。 You should study a book
which few of you ever read; where it tells you that you do not know
what you will be on the morrow; that your life is even as a vapour
appearing for a little time and then vanishing away。 You think that
you can c

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