the quest of the golden girl-第24节
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Strange； in truth； are the ministrations to which Beauty is called。 Out of the high heaven is she summoned； from mystic communion with her own perfection； from majestic labours in the Sistine Chapel of the Stars；yea； she must put aside her gold…leaf and purples and leave unfinished the very panels of the throne of God；that Circe shall have her palace； and her worshippers their gilded sty。
As there were at least a score of 〃worshippers〃 round each Circe； my nervousness became unimportant； and therefore passed。 Thus； as my companion and I sat at one of the little tables； from which we might gaze upon the sea without and Aphrodite within； my eyes were able to fly like bees from one fair face to another。 Finally； they settled upon a Circe less besieged of the hoarse and grunting mob。 She was conspicuously less in height； her hair was rather bright red than golden； and her face had more meanings than the faces of her fellows。
〃Why；〃 in a flash it came to me； 〃it's Rosalind！〃 and clean forgetting to be shy； or polite to my companion； I hastened across to her； to be greeted instantly in a manner so exclusively intimate that the little crowd about her presently spread itself among the other crowds； and we were left to talk alone。
〃Well；〃 I said； 〃you're a nice girl！ Whatever are you doing here？〃
〃Yes； I'm afraid you'll have but a strange opinion of me；〃 she said； 〃but I love all experience；it's such fun；and when I heard that there was a sudden vacancy for a golden…haired beauty in this place； I couldn't resist applying； and to my surprise they took meand here I am！ Of course I shall only stay till Orlando appearswhich；〃 she added mournfully〃he hasn't done yet。〃
Her hours were long and late； but she had two half…days free in the week； and for these of course I engaged myself。
Meanwhile I spent as much time as I decently could at her side； but it was impossible to monopolise her； and the rest of my time there was no difficulty in filling up； you may be sure； in so gay a place。
Two or three nights after this； a little before dinner…time； while I was standing talking to her； she suddenly went very white； and in a fluttering voice gasped； 〃Look yonder！〃 I looked。 A rather slight dark… haired young man was entering the bar； with a very stylish pretty woman at his side。 As they sat down and claimed the waiter； some distance away； Rosalind whispered； 〃That's my husband！〃
〃Oh！〃 I said； 〃but that's no reason for your fainting。 Pull yourself together。 Take a drop of brandy。〃 But woman will never take the most obvious restorative； and Rosalind presently recovered without the brandy。 She looked covertly at her husband； with tragic eyes。
〃He's much younger than I imagined him；〃 I said；reserving for myself the satisfaction which this discovery had for me。
〃Oh； yes； he's really quite a boy；〃 said Rosalind； adding under her breath； 〃Dear fellow！ how I love him！〃
〃And hate him too！〃 she superadded； as she observed his evident satisfaction with his present lot。 Indeed the experiment appeared to be working most successfully with him； nor； looking at his companion； could I wonder。 She was a sprightly young woman； very smart and merry and decorously voluptuous； and of that fascinating prettiness that wins the hearts of boys and storms the footlights。 One of her characteristics soothed the heart of Rosalind。 She had splendid red hair； almost as good as her own。
〃He's been faithful to my hair； at all events；〃 she said； trying to be nonchalant。
〃And the eyes are not unlike；〃 I added； meaning well。
〃I'm sorry you think so；〃 said Rosalind； evidently piqued。
〃Well； never mind；〃 I tried to make peace； 〃she hasn't your hands；〃I knew that women cared more about their hands than their faces。
〃How do you know？〃 she retorted； 〃you cannot see through her gloves。〃
〃Would any gloves disguise your hands？〃 I persisted。 〃They would shine through the mittens of an Esquimau。〃
〃Well； enough of that！ SeeI know it's wickedly mean of mebut couldn't you manage to sit somewhere near them and hear what they are saying？ Of course you needn't tell me anything it would be mean to hear； but only what〃
〃You would like to know。〃
But this little plot died at its birth； for that very minute the threatened couple arose； and went out arm in arm； apparently as absurdly happy as two young people can be。
As they passed out； one of Rosalind's fellow bar…maids turned to her and said；
〃You know who that was？〃
〃Who？〃 said Rosalind； startled。
〃That pretty woman who went out with that young Johnny just now？〃
〃No； who is she？〃
〃Why； that's〃and readers with heart… disease had better brace themselves up for a great shock〃that's SYLVIA JOY； the famous dancer！〃
CHAPTER IX
SYLVIA JOY
Sylvia Joy！ And I hadn't so much as looked at her petticoat for weeks！ But I would now。 The violet eyes and the heavy chestnut hair rose up in moralising vision。 Yes！ God knows； they were safe in my heart； but petticoats were another matter。 Sylvia Joy！
Well； did you ever？ Well； I'm dd！ Sylvia Joy！
I should have been merely superhuman had I been able to control the expression of surprise which convulsed my countenance at the sound of that most significant name。
〃The name seems familiar to you；〃 said Rosalind； a little surprised and a little eagerly； 〃do you know the lady？〃
〃Slightly；〃 I prevaricated。
〃How fortunate！〃 exclaimed Rosalind； 〃you'll be all the better able to help me！〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃but since things have turned out so oddly； I may say that our relations are of so extremely delicate a nature that I shall have very carefully to think out what is best to be done。 Meanwhile； do you mind lending me that ring for a few hours？〃
It was a large oblong opal set round with small diamonds；a ring of distinguished design you could hardly help noticing； especially on a man's hand； for which it was too conspicuously dainty。 I slipped it on the little finger of my left hand； and； begging Rosalind to remain where she was meanwhile； and to take no steps without consulting me； I mysteriously； not to say officiously； departed。
I left the twelfth Golden…Haired Bar…maid not too late to stalk her husband and her under…study to their hotel； where they evidently proposed to dine。 There was； therefore； nothing left for me but to dine also。 So I dined； and when the courses of my dining were ended； I found myself in a mellow twilight at the Cafe du Ciel。 And it was about the hour of the sirens' singing。 Presently the little golden butterflies flitted once more through the twilight； and again the woman's voice rose like a silver bird on the air。
As I have a partiality for her songs； I transcribe this Hymn of the Daughters of Aphrodite； which you must try to imagine transfigured by her voice and the sunset。
Queen Aphrodite's Daughters are we； She that was born Of the morn And the sea； White are our limbs As the foam on the wave； Wild are our hymns And our lovers are brave！
Queen Aphrodite； Born of the sea； Beautiful dutiful daughters Are we！
You who would follow； Fear not to come； For love is for love As dove is for dove； The harp of Apollo Shall lull you to rest； And your head find its home On this beautiful breast。
Queen Aphrodite； Born of the sea； Beautiful dutiful daughters Are we！
Born of the Ocean； Wave…like are we！ Rising and falling Like waves of the sea； Changing for ever； Yet ever the same； Music in motion And marble in flame。
Queen Aphrodite； Born of the sea； Beautiful dutiful daughters Are we！
When I alighted once more upon the earth from the heaven of this song； who should I find seated within a table of me but the very couple I was at the moment so unexpectedly interested in？ But they were far too absorbed in each other to notice me； and consequently I was able to hear all of importance that was said。 I regret that I cannot gratify the reader with a report of their conversation； for the excuse I had for listening was one that is not transferable。 A woman's happiness was at stake。 No other consideration could have persuaded me to means so mean save an end so noble。 I didn't even tell Rosalind all I heard。 Mercifully for her； the candour of fools is not among my superstitions。 Suffice it for all third persons to knowwhat Rosalind indeed has never known； and what I hope no reader will be fool enough to tell herthat Orlando was for the moment hopelessly and besottedly faithless to his wife； and that my services had been bespoken in the very narrowest nick of time。
Having； as the reader has long known； a warm personal interest in his attractive companion； and desiring； therefore； to think as well of her as possible； I was pleased to deduce； negatively； from their conversation； that Sylvia Joy knew nothing of Rosalind； and believed Orlando to be a free； that is； an unmarried man。 From the point of view； therefore； of her code； there was no earthly reason why she should not fall in with Orlando's proposal that they should leave for Paris by the 〃Mayflower〃 on the following morning。 Orlando； I
