the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第10节
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tumult； with her hands clasped under her chin。 Her face was colorless；
but lit with the excitement of the moment； and he saw that she was crying。
Lady Gower； from behind her； was clapping her hands delightedly。
〃But； my dear Helen；〃 she remonstrated breathlessly； 〃you never told
me he was so good…looking。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Helen； rising abruptly； 〃he isvery good…looking。〃
She crossed the box to where her cloak was hanging； but instead of
taking it down buried her face in its folds。
〃My dear child！〃 cried Lady Gower； in dismay。 〃What is it？ The
excitement has been too much for you。〃
〃No； I am just happy；〃 sobbed Helen。 〃I am just happy for him。〃
〃We will go and tell him so then；〃 said Lady Gower。 〃I am sure he
would like to hear it from you to…night。〃
Philip was standing in the centre of the stage； surrounded by many
pretty ladies and elderly men。 Wimpole was hovering over him as
though he had claims upon him by the right of discovery。
But when Philip saw Helen； he pushed his way toward her eagerly and
took her hand in both of his。
〃I am so glad； Phil；〃 she said。 She felt it all so deeply that she was
afraid to say more； but that meant so much to her that she was sure he
would understand。
He had planned it very differently。 For a year he had dreamed that；
on the first night of his play； there would be a supper； and that he would
rise and drink her health； and tell his friends and the world that she was the
woman he loved； and that she had agreed to marry him； and that at last he
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was able； through the success of his play； to make her his wife。
And now they met in a crowd to shake hands； and she went her way
with one of her grand ladies； and he was left among a group of chattering
strangers。 The great English playwright took him by the hand and in the
hearing of all； praised him gracefully and kindly。 It did not matter to
Philip whether the older playwright believed what he said or not； he knew
it was generously meant。
〃I envy you this；〃 the great man was saying。 〃Don't lose any of it；
stay and listen to all they have to say。 You will never live through the
first night of your first play but once。〃
〃Yes； I hear them；〃 said Philip； nervously； 〃they are all too kind。 But
I don't hear the voice I have been listening for；〃 he added in a whisper。
The older man pressed his hand again quickly。 〃My dear boy；〃 he said； 〃I
am sorry。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Philip answered。
Within a week he had forgotten the great man's fine words of praise；
but the clasp of his hand he cherished always。
Helen met Marion as she was leaving the stage door and stopped to
congratulate her on her success in the new part。 Marion was radiant。
To Helen she seemed obstreperously happy and jubilant。
〃And； Marion；〃 Helen began bravely； 〃I also want to congratulate you
on something else。 Youyouneither of you have told me yet；〃 she
stammered； 〃but I am such an old friend of both that I will not be kept out
of the secret。〃 At these words Marion's air of triumphant gayety vanished；
she regarded Helen's troubled eyes closely and kindly。
〃What secret； Helen？〃 she asked。
〃I came to the door of Philip's room the other day when you did not
know I was there；〃 Helen answered； 〃and I could not help seeing how
matters were。 And I do congratulate you bothand wish youoh； such
happiness！〃 Without a word Marion dragged her back down the passage
to her dressing…room； and closed the door。
〃Now tell me what you mean；〃 she said。
〃I am sorry if I discovered anything you didn't want known yet；〃 said
Helen； 〃but the door was open。 Mr。 Wimpole had just left you and had
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not shut it； and I could not help seeing。〃
Marion interrupted her with an eager exclamation of enlightenment。
〃Oh； you were there； then；〃 she cried。 〃And you？〃 she asked eagerly…
…〃you thought Phil cared for methat we are engaged； and it hurt you； you
are sorry？ Tell me；〃 she demanded； 〃are you sorry？〃
Helen drew back and stretched out her hand toward the door。
〃How can you！ she exclaimed； indignantly。 〃You have no right。〃
Marion stood between her and the door。
〃I have every right；〃 she said； 〃to help my friends； and I want to help
you and Philip。 And indeed I do hope you ARE sorry。 I hope you are
miserable。 And I'm glad you saw me kiss him。 That was the first and
the last time； and I did it because I was happy and glad for him； and
because I love him too； but not in the least in the way he loves you。 No
one ever loved any one as he loves you。 And it's time you found it out。
And if I have helped to make you find it out I'm glad； and I don't care how
much I hurt you。〃
〃Marion！〃 exclaimed Helen；〃 what does it mean？ Do you mean that
you are not engaged； that〃
〃Certainly not；〃 Marion answered。 〃I am going to marry Reggie。 It
is you that Philip loves； and I am very sorry for you that you don't love
him。〃
Helen clasped Marion's hands in both of hers。
〃But； Marion！〃 she cried； 〃I do； oh； I do！〃
There was a thick yellow fog the next morning； and with it rain and a
sticky； depressing dampness which crept through the window… panes； and
which neither a fire nor blazing gas…jets could overcome。
Philip stood in front of the fireplace with the morning papers piled
high on the centre…table and scattered over the room about him。
He had read them all； and he knew now what it was to wake up
famous； but he could not taste it。 Now that it had come it meant nothing；
and that it was so complete a triumph only made it the harder。 In his
most optimistic dreams he had never imagined success so satisfying as the
reality had proved to be； but in his dreams Helen had always held the chief
part； and without her； success seemed only to mock him。
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He wanted to lay it all before her； to say； 〃If you are pleased； I am
happy。 If you are satisfied； then I am content。 It was done for you； and
I am wholly yours； and all that I do is yours。〃
And； as though in answer to his thoughts； there was an instant knock at
the door； and Helen entered the room and stood smiling at him across the
table。
Her eyes were lit with excitement； and spoke with many emotions； and
her cheeks were brilliant with color。 He had never seen her look more
beautiful。
〃Why； Helen！〃 he exclaimed； 〃how good of you to come。 Is there
anything wrong？ Is anything the matter？〃
She tried to speak； but faltered； and smiled at him appealingly。
〃What is it？〃 he asked in great concern。
Helen drew in her breath quickly； and at the same moment motioned
him awayand he stepped back and stood watching her in much
perplexity。
With her eyes fixed on his she raised her hands to her head； and her
fingers fumbled with the knot of her veil。 She pulled it loose； and then；
with a sudden courage； lifted her hat proudly； as though it were a coronet；
and placed it between them on his table。
〃Philip；〃 she stammered； with the tears in her voice and eyes； 〃if you
will let meI have come to stay。〃
The table was no longer between them。 He caught her in his arms
and kissed her face and her uncovered head again and again。 From
outside the rain beat drearily and the fog rolled through the street； but
inside before the fire the two young people sat close together； asking eager
questions or sitting in silence； staring at the flames with wondering； happy
eyes。
The Lion and the Unicorn saw them only once again。 It was a
month later when they stopped in fron
